Kirtland D. and Jessie Davis papers, 1885-1889

Summary

Creator:

Davis, Jessie Eycleshymer, 1866-1936

Abstract:

The Kirtland D. and Jessie Davis papers contain 15 letters from Kirt to his fiancé and later wife Jessie, while he is away building new railroad lines in southern Michigan for the Michigan Central Railroad Company.

Extent:

15 items

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Philip Heslip, October 2009

Background

Scope and Content:

The Kirtland D. and Jessie Davis papers contain 15 letters from Kirt to his fiancé and later wife Jessie, while he was away building new railroad lines in southern Michigan for the Michigan Central Railroad Company. He described his work, his social life, the scenery, and the towns of southern Michigan during the late 1880s. The letters are endearing and often comical, providing occasional glimpses into the couple's personal lives.

Biographical / Historical:

Kirtland D. Davis was born in Sheridan Township, Michigan, in 1860 to William Davis and Savira Elliot and was one of eight children. In 1886, while living in Barry, Michigan, he married Jessie L. Eycleshymer, born in New York, on September 8, 1866; they had one son, Leon Ward Davis (1889-1960). During the late 1880s, Kirk Davis was an employee of the Michigan Central Railroad, where he worked on the construction of new lines in the southern region of the state. Kirt died in Albion, Michigan, on November 6, 1925; Jessie died there in 1936.

Acquisition Information:

1996. M-3230.1 .

Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the "We the People" project.

Arrangement:

This collection is organized chronologically.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Related Materials

Other collections related to the Michigan Central Railroad include:

• Helen Buchanan collection
• Dwight C. Dewey papers
• Eliza O. Perkins Burke papers

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Courtship--Middle West.
Husband and wife--Michigan.
Railroads--Employees.
Railroads--Michigan.

Formats:

Letters (correspondence)

Names:

Michigan Central Railroad Company.
Davis, Kirtland D., 1860-1925.

Places:

Michigan--Description and travel.