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J. O. Simmons Papers
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
J. O. Simmons (1821-1890) was a merchant, storekeeper, farmer, attorney, surveyor, county clerk, justice of the peace, and homeopathic doctor. He spent the first part of his life in Westfield, Ohio before moving to Little Falls, Minnesota in the mid-1850s. He went to Mississippi in 1865, where he entered into a shipping and provisioning enterprise, first with his brother-in-law, F. B. (Frederick Bradley) Chamberlain, and then on his own. As a merchant and landowner on the Mississippi River during the Reconstruction, he leased his land on the Amy Plantation in Carroll Parish, Louisiana to African American farmers.
After the death of his wife, Harriet Lee Simmons in 1869, Simmons left his business enterprises in the South to his eldest son, Jonathan O. Simmons. He had several other children who also entered into the mercantile trade in the South, and in Minnesota. Simmons returned to Little Falls for a short period before heading west to the Dakota Territory in around 1870. He occupied land on what became the site of Bismarck, North Dakota, and became involved as an attorney in a land dispute case between the Northern Pacific Railroad and white settlers in the Dakota Territory.
The materials in this collection relate to J. O. Simmons' family and work from the late 1830s to 1880s. The collection documents agricultural and mercantile exchanges on the Mississippi River during and after the American Civil War, the employment of African American and immigrant laborers during the early Reconstruction era, and land dispute issues among white settlers in the Territory of Dakota in the 1870s. The collection contains correspondence; ephemera (circulars, pamphlets, and broadsides); financial documents, such as account books, bills, invoices, and receipts; and legal documents, including but not limited to, quit claims, deeds, permits, contracts, agreements, licenses, affidavits, petitions, and court statements and testimonies. There are also some of Simmons' personal writings, which include a few lines of verse and several essays on his politics. The bulk of the collection is the correspondence that spans the 1840s to 1880s, and which cover the span of Simmons' life, beginning in Ohio.
Materials are arranged in the order in which they were received.
Purchased from McBride Rare Books in 2020 (AM 2021-38).
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Amy C. Vo in 2021. The dealer had a folder of materials that was added to the collection in 2017, which had not yet been added to the dealer's arrangement. During processing in 2021, these materials were incorporated according to the dealer's arrangement. Item count noted on each folder may not coincide with the actual count.
Finding aid written by Amy C. Vo in 2021, incorporating description written by the dealer, and retaining dealer-supplied folder titles.
Dealer-supplied research materials were removed from the collection during 2021 processing.
People
Subject
- Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
- African American agricultural laborers -- Southern States -- History -- 19th century
- African American farmers -- Southern States -- Economic conditions -- 19th century
- Agricultural laborers -- Southern States -- History -- 19th century
- Freed persons—Southern States—History—19th century--Sources
- Immigrants -- Southern States -- History -- 19th century
Place
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Amy C. Vo
- Finding Aid Date
- 2021
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
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Collection Inventory
The correspondence in the collection includes letters between Simmons and his wife Harriet Lee Simmons, his children, other relatives, and business associates regarding his entrepreneurial dealings, operations, and day-to-day life, ranging from personal to business topics, and oftentimes a mix of both.
Physical Description26 folders
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The most notable portion of the collection relates to J. O. Simmons' time on the Mississippi River, with materials providing a detailed account of the Southern and Trans-Mississippi economy during the American Civil War and Reconstruction, including river commerce, the employment of African American and immigrant laborers, and political tensions between locals and economic opportunists who came down from Northern states.
Documents in this series specifically relate to J. O. Simmons' mercantile and agricultural business. Materials include correspondence, account books, bills of lading, bills of sale, invoices, receipts, permits, licenses, and various legal documents, such as money and land transfers, lease agreements, contracts, affidavits, and a lawsuit. These documents specifically relate to Simmons' enterprises in cotton farming, storekeeping, and provisioning businesses along the Mississippi River. It was in the course of these businesses that Simmons employed or sold goods to African American laborers, and these interactions are documented in agreements, account books, and legal documents.
For example, there are agreements between African American farm workers, various white property owners, and J. O. Simmons. In these documents, after crop payment was made for use of farmland, payment was also made to J. O. Simmons for "as much as becomes necessary to pay all of [the] store account," which refers to the nearby store that Simmons owned and operated. There are also agreements between Simmons and African American farm workers for use of his land at Amy Plantation.
There are papers which document a dispute between Gary Hood, the owner of the Black Bayou Plantation, and four African American farm workers to whom he had leased his land. In exchange for the cost of farming supplies and interest incurred, J. O. Simmons acted as the attorney for Phelon Dyer (sometimes referred to as Fielding or Dyer), Anthony Owens, Paul Jones, and William Gaiter who sought a settlement over this dispute. The dispute was over crops of cotton and corn the four men had farmed in 1865 and 1866 that they were never paid for, either by Gary Hood or the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.
Physical Description31 folders
In account book "A", names include George Thompson, Charles Riley, Barly Summer, Albert Hall, Jefferson Sims, Isaac Williams, Jack Sims, Nelson Harris, John Floyd, Other Jackson, Nelson Brown, Sanders, Clem Matthews, J. Montgomery, Godfrey Scott, Miner Scott, J. W. Quails, Spry Wilson, Silas Greene, Boston Greene, Lewis Westerfield, Charles Brown, Jake, Dempsey, and Alfred Williams.
In account book "B", names include Boston Greer, Robert Lackey, Charles Brown, J. Montgomery, H. D. Kellum, W. L. Baker, Sandy McFirson, Wilson Harris, George Thompson, Godfrey Scott, Miner Scott, Albert Hill, Alfred Williams, Isaac Williams, Dempsey, Riley Love, Lewis Westerfield, Charles Ginkins, Harris Dickeson, Lewis Red, Tom Woodruff, Sandy McFirson, Robert Ewing, Charles Walker, Billy Woods, Israel Charlton, Ohio Jim, Sanders, and Jake.
In J. O. Simmons' "Memoranda of papers" book, names include: Ruth, Matilda Williams, Dennis Winston, David Grey, Sampson Hamilton, Amelia Cloud, J. M. Murphy, Joseph Wilson, Green Turner, John Richard, Henry Walkins, Reuben Smith, J. W. Bissel, L. M. Hurly, R. M. Lackey, Godfrey Scott, James Alexander, Walter Burke, George Hardin, S. Evans, J. W. Quails, Jack Sims, H. D. Kellum, Jefferson Sims, Boston Green, Montgomery, and Lewis Westerfield.
In "Henry Hawkins Book A", names include Lewis Turner, Granerson Black, Joseph Washington, Anerson Black, Mary, Taylar D, Luster, Henry James, and Francis D.
Physical Description1 folder
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In the "Pltn a/c Book," the following people are documented as purchasing goods from J. O. Simmons: Volantine Owen, Paul Jones, Tom Rhodes, Henry Hankins, Ross Hankins, Allen Ross, Emory Douglas, Jim Randall, Tom Roberson, Anthony Mitcher, William Hall, Amos, Jane Morrison, George Washington, James Chalmers, Jane Roberson, and Ben Brown.
In the account book, "J. H. Wilson's Store a/c 1867 With Plantation Hands," the following people are documented: Hampton, Riley, Willis Hardin, Thomas Collins, Joe Sazzar, S. C. Thompson, Shelby Campbell, Juliann, Charles Bell, Nancy White, Jack Wilson, Anderson Johnson, Larkin, James Chandler, Green berry, Old Abe, Jim Mitchel's daughter, Ester Blackburn, Morris Armstrong, Tom Watson, Jim Mitchel, Walker Mason, Jack Rains, Amanda Jenkins, Tennessee Frank, Mary Ann Hilliard, Bill Blackburn, Tom Bronson, Rachael Leiper, Hayward Ewens, Waltrin Dunn, Willis Ward, Peter, Henry Blackburn, Bill Gooding, Elizabeth Stewart, Nancy Stewart, Stephen, Margaret Miles, Irishman Pete, Dennis, Eliza (house girl), Eliza Wiseman, Peggy, Mariah, and Emeline.
Physical Description1 folder
In the "Store Accounts April 1867" account book, the following people are named: Nelson Field, Paul Jones, Amanda Cordlin, G. W. Scott, Walter Dunn, Lizzie Wiseman, Martha Mitchel, Nancy Stewart, Elizabeth, Tom Collins, Dick Snelling, Little Peter, Tom, Hamp Owens, Hubord, Big Green, Jack Burns, Calhoun Kemp, Jack Wilson, Charles Bell, Riley, Willis Hardin, Jim Chandler, Tom Watson, Morris Armstrong, Ellen Smith, Larkin, Walker Mason, Thurlow Morrison, Susan Ewings, Henry Odgburn, Elizabeth Stewart, Nancy Stewart, Jane Armstrong, Jack Rains, Charly Richard, David Beasly, Haywood Ewings, Anderson Johnson, Spry, Rhoderic, Hubert Carson, Little Tom Bronson, E. F. Stewart, Anthony, Walter Dunn, Tibert McGee, Ester Blackburn, Margaret Tullis, Amanda Burke, Bill Blackly, Green Berry (Greenberry), William Blackburn, Tom Brownson, Nancy White, James Chandler, Jim Mitchels, A. Lewis, J. E. C. Hendrick, Bill Gooding's wife, Elizabeth Steward, Joe Saezar (Caesar), Walton, Sally, James Chalmers, Margaret Fuller, S. B. Clarkson, E. Maby, Peter Gladin, Rily Binks, B. A. Piedman, Walter Mason, Francis Wilson, Amanda Jenkins, Joe Larsen, Oki Jerry, Emily, and William D. Hardiman.
In the account book with board cover, the following people are documented: Dick Nelson, Charlie Bell, William Cullens, A. Jordon, Calhoun, Hamp Owen, Ester Nelson, Henry Brown, Charlie Watson, Archie Nelson (Archy Nelson), Caesar Harris (Seaser Harris, or Seasor Harris), Siger Watson, Frank Nelson, Harry Brown, Ben Roon, John Cockram, Al Solevon, Bob Towsley, Ann Jones, Robert Goodin, Clement Jones, Henry Brown, and Flemin Jones (Flemin Jones).
In the "Plantation a/c Book 1869" account book, the following people are named: Charles Bell, Frank Nelson Sr., Frank Nelson Jr., Caesar Harris, Fleming Jones/Phelan Jones, Archie Nelson, Dick Williams, Easter Williams, Henry Watkens, Charlie Watson, William Cullen, Jerry Bishop, Elijah Watson, Henry Brown, Francis Brown, Martha Anderson, Hamp Owens, Archer Nelson, Amanda Cullen, Tom Jones, Calhoun Wilson, Jenkins, and Susan.
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This is a signed contract between J. O. Simmons and Frank Nelson Sr., Caesar Harris, Fleming Jones, Archie Nelson, and Frank Nelson Jr., witnessed by Jonathan Simmons, Harriett H. Simmons, and P. D. Quays. Simmons leased his land on Amy Plantation in Carroll Parish, Louisiana to this group of men in exchange for the "price of one hundred pounds lint cotton per acre."
Physical Description1 folder
This is a signed contract between J. O. Simmons and Willis Hobbs, witnessed by Richard Wilson and Jonathan Simmons. J. O. Simmons leased his land on Amy Plantation in Carroll Parish, Louisiana in exchange for the "price of one hundred pounds lint cotton per acre and one half of the cotton seed raised on the land." The signed portion of the document has had the signatures cut out.
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The African American laborers signing these agreements include Anderson Owen, Harry Reid, Sam Campbell, Frank Nelson Sr., Frank Nelson Jr., Caesar Harris, Fleming Jones, Elijah Watson, Hamp Owens, Charley Watson, and Archie Nelson.
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This letter regards a Black farmer named John Crawford.
Physical Description1 folder
This series details the legal case in which Simmons acted as an attorney for the white settlers who were in dispute with the Northern Pacific Railroad over ownership of land that would become the town site of Bismarck, North Dakota. These materials include court statements and testimonies, a petition to Congress, and correspondence, as well as several consecutive issues of the Bismarck Tribune which document the case.
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This series documents the interspersed segments of Simmons' life before and after his work as a merchant and landowner on the Mississippi River. They more broadly document his time in Ohio, Minnesota, and Dakota Territory, and consists of accounts, bills and receipts, legal papers, petitions, ephemera, and some of his personal writings, which include a few lines of verse and several essays on his politics and business, particularly as they relate to the Civil War and its impacts.
Physical Description51 folders
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