Maine Farmer,

%xmlchars; ]> PUBLIC "-//Cornell University::Cornell University Library::Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections//TEXT(US::NIC::RMA00001::Ezra Cornell Papers, 1746-1888)//EN" "RMA00001.xml" Guide to the Ezra Cornell Papers, 1746-1888 Compiled by Phil McCray and Maggie Hale, assisted by Lisa Sasaki Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library 1999 HTML version by Angela Moll, January 1996. HTML converted to XML by David Ruddy, May 1999. File last modified: Sept 21, 1999- dwr EN Guide to the Ezra Cornell Papers, 1746-1888 Collection Number: 1-1-1 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Cornell University Library Contact Information: &RMCaddress; Compiled by: Phil McCray and Maggie Hale, assisted by Lisa Sasaki Date completed: June 1995 EAD encoding: David Ruddy, 1999 © 1995 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

PREFACE

Ezra Cornell referred to himself as a farmer and mechanic who had spent some time working in the telegraph industry. His ambition and imagination, however, were not so prosaic. Skillful work, uncommon tenacity, and fortuitous circumstances resulted in his amassing a fortune. As soon as it became clear that it was a fortune, he promptly rejected conventional practice and sage advice, and directed that those riches be used to found a unique university: a comprehensive and practical institution dedicated to all forms of intellectual endeavor.

Ezra Cornell spent much of his time far from home, walking through the ante-bellum south, selling plows in Maine, supervising the construction and operation of lines for the telegraph industry, and serving as a New York State legislator in Albany. Throughout these endeavors, he wrote detailed and descriptive letters to many members of a large family. Both he and they were careful to archive those letters, as well as many other documents related to his various enterprises. Similarly, as Cornell and Andrew Dickson White conceived, planned, and founded Cornell University, their correspondence closely noted the evolution of their dreams and their preparations for the University's opening and operation. These letters and documents show a practical but visionary man whose life both exemplified and shaped 19th century America. His close observations provide a contemporary account of the country's cultural development, the profound effects of industrialization and the Civil War, and his own role in engineering the century's principal communication technology and its most innovative educational experiment.

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY Ezra Cornell papers, 1746-1888, 1844-1870 (bulk) 1-1-1 Ezra Cornell, 1807-1874 30.2 cubic ft. Accounts, broadsides, correspondence, estimates, memoranda, maps, newspaper clippings, and other papers. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library Correspondence, financial and legal records, court proceedings, and other documents pertaining principally to the Cornell family, the telegraph industry, and the founding of Cornell University. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE AND CHRONOLOGY

Ezra Cornell was born on January 11, 1807 at Westchester Landing in the town and county of Westchester, New York. His parents, Elijah and Eunice, were members of the Society of Friends, and Ezra and his ten younger siblings were raised as Quakers. During his childhood, Cornell lived in Westchester, Tarrytown, and Westfarms in Winchester County, and in English Neighborhood, Bergen County, before the family settled in DeRuyter, New York. Opportunities for formal education were limited. From the age of thirteen to seventeen Cornell attended school three months each winter.

From the time he was six years old, Cornell helped in whatever way he could in his father's pottery business. At age twelve, he began to work on the family farm in DeRuyter, and at seventeen learned carpentry skills when his father erected a new building for the pottery. In 1825 Cornell constructed a two story house for his parents and family.

Cornell left home in the spring of 1826. He found work in Syracuse as a journeyman carpenter. He helped build sawmills and worked as a contractor getting out timber for shipment by canal. From Syracuse he moved on to Homer, New York where he worked in a shop that produced wool-carding machinery. In his free time, he studied mechanics handbooks.

In the spring of 1828 Cornell arrived in Ithaca, the town he would make his permanent home. He first found work as a carpenter, before being hired as a mechanic by Otis Eddy to work at his cotton mill on Cascadilla Creek. On Eddy's recommendation, Jeremiah S. Beebe then hired Cornell to repair and overhaul his plaster and flour mills on Fall Creek. During Cornell's long association with Beebe he designed and built a tunnel for a new mill race on Fall Creek, a stone dam on Fall Creek—forming Beebe lake—and a new flour mill. By 1832, he was in charge of all Beebe's concerns at Fall Creek.

Ezra Cornell married Mary Ann Wood on March 19, 1831. He bargained with Beebe for a building lot and acreage for a garden and orchard at Fall Creek where he built a one and a half story frame house. In this house, the Nook, Cornell and Mary Ann began housekeeping in the summer of 1831. The Nook remained their home for more than twenty years and nine children were born there. Of these, three sons died in infancy and the eldest daughter died at fifteen. Three sons and two daughters were raised to adulthood.

In the 1830's, Ezra Cornell also became active in local politics and speculated in real estate. As Ithaca's prosperity began to decline in the late 1830's, Beebe and other prominent Ithaca businessmen decided to send a representative to New York City and New England to lay before capitalists and manufacturers the advantages of Ithaca as a manufacturing site, particularly for cotton and woolen mills. A firm believer in Ithaca's potential as center for trade and industry, Cornell made the trips East representing Ithaca in 1840 and 1841.

When Beebe sold his milling concerns in 1839 and 1840, Cornell left his employment and turned to farming. He had an interest in sheep raising and in agricultural experimentation. After several years of farming Cornell looked to other ways to make a living. In 1842 he purchased the patent for the states of Maine and Georgia for Barnaby and Mooers side hill plow. He hoped to make a profit by selling the patent rights county by county to machinists or merchants who would manufacture and sell the plows locally. In the spring of 1842 he left for Maine. After several months of traveling and selling in Maine, Cornell returned to Ithaca for a brief visit before leaving for Georgia in January of 1843. Cornell did not meet with a great deal of success in this business, but made the most of his travels as he passed—often on foot—throughout the counties of Maine and Georgia. He recorded keen observations of the land, the people, and the industries.

Through his meeting with F.O.J. Smith, editor of the Maine Farmer, Cornell became associated with the infant telegraph industry. Following the appropriation by the U.S. Congress of $30,000 for the laying of a test telegraph cable between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Smith had taken a contract from the inventor, Samuel F. B. Morse, to lay the lead pipe which enclosed the telegraph wires. In the summer of 1843, on his second trip to Maine, Cornell visited Smith's office and found him struggling to design a machine to lay the cable underground. At Smith's request, Cornell created a machine that would both dig the trench and lay the cable. Samuel F. B. Morse came to Maine for a demonstration of the machine. He approved of it and Cornell was hired to lay the cable for the test line. Although it was eventually decided to string the cable on poles, this introduction to the telegraph convinced Cornell of the value and potential of the technology referred to as "lightning." His belief in its success led to decades of involvement in the industry. As construction foreman, operator, promoter, superintendent, builder, owner, and stockholder Cornell helped the telegraph expand from the eastern seaboard into the midwest.

Reinvestment of all earnings and endless work and travel kept Cornell on the verge of poverty and exhaustion for years, but his belief in the telegraph was steadfast. With the consolidation of lines into the Western Union Company in 1855, Cornell was in a position to appreciate profit. At the age of forty-nine, he decided to withdraw from further telegraph line building and active management, but his faith in the success of the telegraph continued and he held on to the Western Union stock from which his fortune would come. For years he was the largest stockholder of the Western Union Company.

Returning to Ithaca, Ezra Cornell again became actively involved in farming and politics. In 1857 he purchased a farm of about 300 acres adjoining the village of Ithaca. He moved his family there and named the farm Forest Park. He planted orchards, conducted agricultural experiments, and raised shorthorn cattle and sheep. He was an active member of the New York State Agricultural Society, and as President of this organization attended the International Exposition in London. Cornell and his wife also made an extensive tour of England, Scotland, Wales and Europe. He was elected to the New York State Legislature in 1862 and served six years, two on the Assembly and four years as Senator. His greatest concerns in the Legislature were agriculture and education.

Ezra Cornell's increasing fortune and determination to put the money to some good use led him to various acts of philanthropy. He established the Cornell Public Library, which opened in Ithaca in 1866. His interest in public education and acquaintance with Andrew Dickson White focused his philanthropy on education and led to the establishment of Cornell University, which opened to students in 1868. Cornell applied the same commitment and determination that had led to his success in the telegraph industry to the planning of the University. From his active involvement in the use of the college land scrip available through the Morrill Act to the design of the campus buildings, Cornell never ceased his efforts to create a great university.

CHRONOLOGY 1807, January 11 Born, Westchester Landing, son of Elijah and Eunice Cornell. 1819 Family relocates to DeRuyter. Elijah Cornell operates pottery. 1824 Elijah has new pottery building constructed. Ezra Cornell learns the carpenter's trade. 1826 Leaves home for Syracuse where he finds work building sawmills and as contractor for getting out timber for shipment by canal. Moves on to Homer to work in shop making wool-carding machinery. Studies mechanics handbooks. 1828 Arrives in Ithaca where he finds work as a carpenter and then as a mechanic for Otis Eddy cotton mill on Cascadilla Creek. 1829 Begins working for Jeremiah S. Beebe overhauling and repairing plaster mill on Fall Creek. Other industries on Fall Creek at this time included paper and flouring mills, a machine shop, and establishments for making chairs, iron castings and plows. 1830-1831 Plans and supervises construction of Fall Creek tunnel for a new mill race. 1831 Marries Mary Ann Wood. Builds the Nook at Fall Creek and begins housekeeping. 1832 First child, Alonzo B. Cornell born. Cornell takes charge of Beebe's concerns at Fall Creek. 1833 Second child, Charles Carrol Cornell born. Cornell working for Beebe and speculating in real estate. 1835 Elizabeth Percival Cornell born. 1837-38 Builds new mill for Beebe and constructs stone dam on Fall Creek (forming Beebe lake). Cornell is active in local politics and is delegate to Tompkins County convention of the Whig Party. Charles Carrol Cornell dies. Son Franklin Cuthbert Cornell born. 1839-1840 Beebe sells mill properties on Fall Creek, Cornell leaves his employment and turns to farming. Son Charles Carrol Cornell (second child with this name) born. 1841 Ithaca's prosperity declining. Beebe, Speed, and others decide to send a representative to New York City and New England to lay before capitalists and manufacturers the advantages of Ithaca as a manufacturing site, particularly for cotton and woolen mills. Cornell makes two trips representing Ithaca. Charles Carrol Cornell dies. 1842 Purchases patent rights to Barnaby and Mooers side hill plow for the states of Maine and Georgia. Travels to Maine planning on selling the patent rights county by county to machinists or merchants who would manufacture and sell locally. Meets F.O.J. Smith, publisher of the Maine Farmer. Son Oliver Hazard Perry Cornell born. 1843 Travels to Georgia. Does much traveling on foot, 40 miles a day. 1843, July Returns to Maine, meets with F.O.J Smith and learns of need for pipe-laying and trench digging machine to be used for the laying a test line of telegraph from Baltimore to Washington, D.C. Cornell designs the needed machine. 1843, August Samuel F. B. Morse goes to Maine for demonstration of pipe-layer and approves the design. 1843, October Goes to Baltimore and Washington to begin work on laying the telegraph line. Spends winter evenings in Washington studying works on electricity and magnetism. 1844, May Test line in operation between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Cornell presents telegraph exhibitions in Boston and New York during the summer and autumn. 1845 Magnetic Telegraph Company organized for the extension of the telegraph from Baltimore to Philadelphia and New York. 1845-46 New York, Albany & Buffalo Telegraph Company has line built from New York to Buffalo, Cornell erects portion of line between New York and Albany. 1846 Telegraph industry expands as incorporated companies form under which lines are extended form New York to Boston, Buffalo and Pittsburgh, and with in the next three years to nearly every important town in the United States and Canada. 1846, October-1847, January Employed as the Superintendent of the New York, Albany & Buffalo Magnetic Telegraph Company. Submits resignation to Theodore Faxton in January. 1847, November Sick with typhus, Daughter Mary Emily Cornell born. 1847 Erects line of telegraph from Troy through Vermont to Montreal, under contract with the Troy & Canada Junction Telegraph Company. Cornell produces an assignment from Smith making him and J.J. Speed sole agents for the Morse Patent in the five western states. Organizes the Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company to provide a line of telegraph between Buffalo and Milwaukee, by way of Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago. 1848 Erie & Michigan line completed. Cornell organizes the New York & Erie Telegraph Company for the purpose of building a line of telegraph from New York to Dunkirk through the southern tier of counties of New York. 1849 New York and Erie line completed. Son Ezra Clayton Cornell born. Daughter Elizabeth Percival Cornell dies. 1851 New York & Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company started by Hiram Sibley and Judge Samuel L. Selden. Cornell's son Ezra Clayton Cornell dies. 1852 New York & Erie Telegraph Company fails, Cornell buys it back and renames it the New York & Western Union Telegraph Company. Cornell works as Superintendent of the company. Daughter Emma Pettit Cornell born. Cornell family leaves the Nook and moves into the village of Ithaca. 1855-1856 Has accident and severely injures his arm. Cornell meets with Sibley and associates and joins his interests with theirs. Western Union Telegraph Company is formed. 1856 Goes to Pittsburgh as New York State delegate to the first Republican National Convention. 1857 Purchases farm of about 300 acres, adjoining the village of Ithaca. Moves family there and names farm "Forest Park." Plants orchard, conducts agricultural experiments, and raises short horn cattle, and sheep. Organizes Ithaca Farmers' Club. 1860 Visits oil wells in Titusville, involved in telegraph business, coal oil business, and the New York State Agricultural Society. 1861, October 24 Western Union completes the first transcontinental telegraph. 1861 At home in Ithaca, involved in the Tompkins County Agricultural Society, The Farmers Club, raising sheep and cattle and collecting agricultural statistics. Travels to Washington and attends Lincoln's inauguration. 1862, July 3 Morrill Act passed. 1862 Elected to the New York State Assembly. Also elected president of the New York State Agricultural Society. Attends the Great International Exposition at London and travels extensively through England, Scotland, and Wales as well as through France, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, and Austria. 1863 Serves second year in New York State Assembly. Construction of Cornell Library underway. Nominated and elected State Senator. 1865, February Andrew Dickson White introduces bill in the Senate to establish the Cornell University and to appropriate to it the income of the sale of public lands granted to New York State. 1865, April Cornell University Bill formally passed in the Assembly and Senate. 1866 Takes trip to Wisconsin to locate lands. Involved in University. 1866, December 20 Dedication of the Cornell Public Library Building. 1867 Cornell declines reelection to State Senate, after four years as State Senator representing Broome, Tioga, and Tompkins counties. 1868 Cornell University opens for the reception of students. 1869, Spring Construction starts on Cornell villa. Cornell moves downtown to the corner of Tioga and Seneca. 1869-1873 Cornell involved in photo-lithography business, Albany Agricultural Work, development of the University and western lands. 1874, December 9 Death of Ezra Cornell. COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The Ezra Cornell papers consist of correspondence, financial and legal records, court proceedings, and other documents pertaining principally to the Cornell family, the telegraph industry, and the founding of Cornell University. The papers also show Cornell's career as a farmer, New York State legislator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, and include subsequently printed materials collected in support of his various affairs and enterprises.

After leaving the DeRuyter, New York pottery business of his father Elijah, Ezra Cornell moved to Ithaca to work as a mechanic, engineer, millwright, and dam-builder; soon after, he sold plows and their patent rights in New England, the Mid-Atlantic states, and in the Deep South. During his travels, letters home and closely kept diaries described his view of America in the 1840s and 1850s. During the test-laying of the telegraph cable between Washington and Baltimore, Cornell's ingenuity and industry resulted in his affiliating himself with the new enterprise. Again, diaries and letters home recount in detail the difficulties of procuring equipment, convincing the public of the telegraph's utility, selling subscriptions, managing laborers, and accruing stock. Travels in the midwest provide a view of the special problems in the less well-settled mid-prairie states.

The Civil War was observed by Ezra Cornell as a contributor to the Ithaca Journal. His brother and several cousins and nephews participated in the conflict for both causes, and they wrote many letters to Cornell. It was prior to and during this period that the consolidation of Western Union provided Cornell with enormous stock dividends. Conversations with fellow legislator Andrew Dickson White concerning Cornell's desire to contribute money for an altruistic enterprise led to the founding of the University. Cornell had been cash-poor and far from home for many years; when he announced the establishment of the Cornell University, he was deluged with appeals for help, from close and distant relatives, from needy sufferers and cranks. As a New York State legislator, he received hundreds of letters of appeal from constituents on local and state issues.

Family correspondence occurs throughout the collection. The Cornell family was large, located throughout the United States, and involved in many endeavors and enterprises. The correspondence also documents his farming interests and the establishment of the Cornell family's Forest Park farm, the establishment of the Cornell Public Library in Ithaca, his work in the coal oil business, the photo-lithography business, agricultural supplies and science, and his interest in New York State canals and railroads. In addition to the correspondence, diaries, and letterbooks, the papers also contain documents pertaining to Cornell legal cases, finance, estate records, and family memorabilia.

Phil McCray and Maggie Hale, assisted by Lisa Sasaki, June 1995

SUBJECTS Names: Cornell, Ezra, 1807-1874 Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, Daniel B. Cornell, Elijah Cornell, Mary Ann Cornell family Beebe, Jeremiah Finch, Francis Miles, 1827-1897 Kendall, Amos Morse, Samuel F. B., 1791-1872 Sibley, Hiram Speed, J. J. Tillotson, D. T. White, Andrew Dickson, 1832-1918 Wood, Phebe Cornell University--History Cornell University--Presidents Cornell University--Buildings Cornell University--Curricula Cornell University--Students Cornell Public Library (Ithaca, N.Y.) Barnaby and Mooers New York (State). Legislature. Assembly New York State. Senate Albany Agricultural Works Geneva & Ithaca Railroad Erie Railroad Utica, Ithaca, and Elmira Railroad New York State Agricultural Society Cascadilla Health Resort (Ithaca, N.Y.) Western Union Subjects: Telegraph--History Telegraph--Apparatus and supplies Telegraph--Equipment and supplies Telegraph, Wireless Telegraph--Law and legislation Telegraph--Employees Railroads--New York (State) Plows--New York (State) Plows--Maine Coal trade Cattle--Breeding--New York (State) Family--New York (State)--Ithaca Agriculture--New York (State) Places: United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives Ithaca (N.Y.)--History New York (State)--Politics and government Ithaca (N.Y.)--Social life and customs Maine--Description and travel Georgia--Description and travel INFORMATION FOR USERS Access Restrictions:

Collection is open.

Available Copies:

Many of the documents in the Ezra Cornell Papers have been digitized and are available on-line. Links are provided within this guide.

Processing Note:

Processing in the spring of 1995 has included the construction of the finding aid and index, the digitization of the correspondence by the Library's Department of Conservation and Preservation, and additional refoldering and archival processing. Subject headings were discerned, and from these terms the index was derived, though a few additional headings were supplied. The subject headings listed for each folder are intended to characterize the folder, and do not list every topic or incidence in that folder. Personal names may be additionally considered as access points (as "Alonzo B. Cornell" will lead a researcher to the establishment of telegraph lines in Montreal and Ohio). "Agriculture" implies several aspects of the science, including floriculture on Forest Park farm, cattle breeding, grain experimentation, etc. "Family correspondence" denotes special issues pertaining to the Cornell family, but by no means indicates all examples. Family letters occur in series other than the Correspondence series. It should also be noted that series subjects can be found throughout the papers, (as financial material can be found in the Documents and Legal Papers and in the Estate Records, where they have been kept for the sake of provenance, or as they illustrate other materials in those series). In most cases, cities cited in the finding aid serve to suggest the location of Ezra Cornell's business activity or family concerns, and do not usually serve as references to the cities themselves. Further, all the letters were hand-written by persons of imperfect grammatical abilities and irregular senses of linguistic convention. Ezra Cornell especially, was a poor speller, which may result in confusion of attribution.

Collection processed by Phil McCray and Maggie Hale, assisted by Lisa Sasaki (June 1995). HTML encoding by Angela Moll (January 1996). EAD/XML encoding by David Ruddy (May 1999).

Cite As:

Ezra Cornell Papers, #1-1-1. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

PROVENANCE

The Cornell papers have for the most part been presented to the University by the Cornell family. Some material has been held by the Cornell University Library since the beginning of the University. Upon the establishment of the Collection of Regional History in 1942 and the University Archives in 1951, material has been held there and in its successor organizations, Cornell University Library's Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, and the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections. Additional material was transferred to the University Archives from the DeWitt Historical Society of Ithaca, New York.

RELATED MATERIALS Other collections in Cornell University Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Alonzo B. Cornell papers, 1830-1904. Collection #773.

Correspondence, journals, accounts, clippings, notes, leaflets, blotters, and scrapbooks relating largely to Alonzo Cornell's political activities reflecting his interest in governmental problems. Also information on telegraph stock, his activities in the Republican Party, and papers pertaining to his Governorship of New York State.

Alonzo B. Cornell, collector. Letters for Ezra Cornell Memorial Volume, 1887-1888. Part of Collection #773.

Alonzo Cornell proposed publishing these reminiscences with a Founder's Day speech delivered by Francis M. Finch. It was delivered as a Founder's Day Address in 1890 and published as a pamphlet the same year.

Andrew Dickson White papers, 1832-1919. Collection #1/2/2.

Collection consists of correspondence and other papers relating to White's career as educator, diplomat, and as first President of Cornell University. Includes much correspondence with Ezra Cornell concerning the founding of the University and the establishment of the Cornell Library.

Daniel Willard Fiske papers, 1847-1903. Collection # 13/1/348

Correspondence, scrapbooks, and account books pertaining chiefly to Fiske's activities as a book collector, his career as a journalist, and his activities as a professor and librarian at Cornell University.

David Starr Jordan letter. Collection #3888

Letter from David Starr Jordan to Jacob Gould Schurman on the 100th anniversary of Ezra Cornell's birth, relating to the spirit that animated the students and faculty of the newly-founded university and to the concepts and functions of the university in a democratic society.

Franklin Cuthbert Cornell, Papers, 1857-1938. Collection #1/1/456

Family papers, including financial and legal documents, stock certificates, indentures, public foreclosures, judgments, estate settlements concerning Cornell and his father, Ezra Cornell.

Cornell Public Library Manuscript collections, 1818-1887. Collection #2594

Ezra Cornell papers include minutes of a citizens' meeting (February 5, 1863), at which Cornell's proposal for building the Cornell Public Library was considered, and letters to Cornell, 1863-1874, from William Hodgins, the library architect, and John Henry Selkreg, Francis Miles Finch, and others concerning the operation of the library.

Delta Phi Fraternity records. Collection #37/4/2714

A history of the fraternity and house originally built for Ezra Cornell, known as Llenroc. Floor plans and photographs.

Henry Williams Sage papers, 1814-1930. Collection #1155.

The Sage papers consists of material pertaining to his business interests and the affairs of Cornell University.

Douglass Boardman papers. Collection #18/1/2004

Boardman became a Trustee of Cornell University in 1875. Dean of the Law School. Letters concerning the appointment of the original faculty of the Cornell Law School.

See also the papers held by the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections of early professors and University departments. Related Readings Charter Day 1965 published by Cornell University Library, includes an address by University Historian Morris Bishop, and other accounts of the founding of the University. Becker, Carl L. Cornell University: Founders and the Founding. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1943. Bishop, Morris. A History of Cornell. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1962. Cornell, Alonzo B. True and Firm - A Biography of Ezra Cornell. New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1884. Cornell, John, Rev. Genealogy of the Cornell Family: Being an Account of the Descendants of Thomas Cornell of Portsmouth, R.I. New York: T.A. Wright, 1902. [digital copy available] Cornell, Mary Emily. The Autobiography of Mary Emily Cornell. Ithaca: Cayuga Press, 1929. Dorf, Philip. The Builder: A Biography of Ezra Cornell. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1952. Ogden, Robert Morris. The Diaries of Andrew Dickson White. Ithaca: Cornell University Library, 1959. White, Andrew Dickson. Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White. New York: The Century Co., 1905. Ithaca Journal. (for Civil War, Vermont). PROMINENT PERSONS Cornell Family Elijah Cornell: father Eunice Cornell: mother Mary Ann Wood Cornell: wife, married 1831 Elijah B. Cornell: brother (b. 1808), m. Betsy Ann Benjamin Cornell: brother, (b. 1811, d. 1842) Lucretia Cornell: sister (b. 1813), m.Thomas Chace Phebe Cornell: sister (b. 1816), m. Martin B. Wood. Mary Cornell: sister (b. 1818), m. Hiram Robertson Deborah Cornell: sister, m. James Wood Edward S. Cornell: brother, m. Angeline John H. Cornell: brother, m. Molly Cornell Jane Cornell: sister, m. James Finch Daniel B. Cornell: brother, (b. 1830), m. Maria, Delilah Cornell Alonzo B. Cornell: son (b. 1832) m. Ellen Franklin Cuthbert Cornell: son (b. 1837, m. Sue Oliver Hazard Perry Cornell: son Mary Emily Cornell: daughter Emma P. Cornell: daughter Miller Chase: uncle (half-brother of Elijah Cornell) John W. Cornell, Ezra E. Cornell, and Paul J. Cornell were sons of Paul Cornell, who was son of Ezra Cornell, Elijah Cornell's brother in North Carolina. Keturah Cornell was mother of John, Ezra, and Paul. Wood Family Benjamin Wood: father-in-law Martin B. Wood: Mary Ann's uncle Elmira Wood Bristol: Mary Ann's sister, m. John Bristol Harriet Wood: Mary Ann's sister, m. John Dunham Orrin S. Wood: Mary Ann's brother Otis Eddy Wood: Mary Ann's brother William Irving Wood: nephew, dies in the Civil War Ithaca Business Jeremiah S. Beebe Telegraph Business F.O.J. Smith Samuel F.B. Morse Alfred Vail Amos Kendall Theodore Faxton J.J. Speed D.T. Tillotson E.W. Chester Emory Cobb George Curtiss J. Haviland P. A. Hopkins S.W. Hotchkiss Henry O'Reilly W.P. Pew Hiram Sibley J.H. Wade Other Business Ventures Horace L. Emery Thomas N. Rooker John H. Millspaugh Cornell University Andrew Dickson White Henry Wells Willard Fiske John Stanton Gould Douglas Boardman Goldwin Smith Burt Green Wilder James Law SERIES LIST Series I. Correspondence, 1746-1878 a. Ezra Cornell Correspondence Boxes 1-35Map Case II-8, Folder 1 b. Cornell Family Correspondence Box 36 Series II. Letterbooks, Notebooks, Diaries 1841-1873 Boxes 37-38 Series III. Financial Records, dates throughout 1829-1874 Boxes 39-65 Series IV. Documents and Legal Papers 1831-1874 Boxes 66-70Map Case II-8, Folder 2 Series V. Telegraph Material 1845-1889 (1914) Boxes 71-73, 92-94Map Case II-8, Folder 3 Series VI. Court Proceedings Boxes 74-77 Series VII. Estate Records Boxes 78-80 Series VIII. Scrapbooks, Broadsides, Maps, Photographs, Clippings, Ephemera, and Genealogical Information Boxes 81-91Map Case II-8, Folders 4-5 SERIES DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTAINER LIST Series I. Correspondence 1746-1878 Series Description

Ezra Cornell's correspondence consists of hand-written letters sent and received, drafts of outgoing letters, documents or drafts of documents intended to clarify or develop certain points in the correspondence, and occasionally letters between persons other than Ezra Cornell.

The correspondence closely follows and details Ezra Cornell's many business enterprises, personal interests, family relations, and the founding of Cornell University. In many cases he used his correspondence as the "document of record," declaring that a letter was to serve as instruction, documentation, or mandate. This was true in both business and family correspondence. Cornell was tireless in self-documenting his affairs and those of his family, encouraging correspondents to regard their letters as important works by leaving margins on the pages and improving their spelling. Most letters were subsequently marked by a member of the family with the name of the correspondent. Cornell also kept many handwritten copies of his own outgoing letters.

Cornell and his correspondents—particularly members of his own family—discussed episodes of poor health, journeys, businesses, fires and floods, and myriad family matters (including news, gossip, and criticism of family members). But the letters also display frequent contemporary comment on many of the issues of the nineteenth century: slavery, the Civil War, temperance, religion, and national and local politics.

Ezra Cornell's letters reveal a man whose principal values did not change over the course of a long and busy life. From his first letters to his last, he ceaselessly preached the merits of industriousness, education ("Knowledge is power"), abstemiousness, and familial trust and devotion. He was always generous with his pecuniary accumulations, whether a few dollars or many thousands, so long as the cause in his view was just and embraced his own values of education and honest hard work. He was always interested in the plight and betterment of "colored" people, and employed women from the beginning. He very clearly believed in the common man's ability to prevail if afforded the opportunities his times conventionally denied.

The earliest letters derive from his travels through New England, the Mid-Atlantic states, and the Deep South selling plows and plow patent rights, and exploring America as a place in which his skills and work could be turned into industrial and financial success. A proven aptitude for design, mechanics, and construction, and an acquaintance with Samuel F.B. Morse resulted in his working with the test laying of the buried telegraph cable between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. When the trench system failed, Cornell devised an effective way of stringing the wires on poles, and the result permitted and ensured the telegraph's success. That achievement allowed Cornell to direct the enterprise of establishing several new telegraph lines in the East and Midwest; this involved the selling of stock and the actual engineering of the projects. The demanding work took him far from home, and resulted in his writing very many letters in which he described his work and continued to attempt to maintain control of his family's upbringing by correspondence. By reinvesting his earnings and accruing stock in various telegraph lines, he was in the position to accumulate great wealth when Western Union was formed. The development of the telegraph industry was contentious from the beginning, and letters refer frequently to litigation, patent abuse, and the venal behavior of scoundrels and such "pirates" as Henry O'Reilly. Cornell was regularly dunned for payment of bills, and he frequently noted his extreme poverty; he was occasionally sued for payment. Suits dogged Ezra Cornell for much of the rest of his life. As litigation proceeded, it was not always clear that the Morse patent would prevail in court.

Throughout the papers, even before the establishment of his wealth, Cornell is beseeched for money, a job, or some other kind of favor. These appeals are ubiquitous. He often made small grants. His unquestioned leadership of the family and concerted efforts to formally augment the honor of the Cornell family resulted in his being constantly appealed to for aid. The correspondence is expanded somewhat by responses to Ezra Cornell's instruction that people in the offices of the telegraph lines, or family members apprise him of their actions.

The Civil War consolidated Cornell's relationship with members of his family, including his younger brother Daniel, who was severely wounded at Vicksburg and thereafter endured a difficult, and well documented, recuperation. Nephews of Ezra Cornell fought for the Confederacy, and became prisoners of war. One nephew, Union soldier W. Irving Wood died from wounds received in battle. Many other letters from friends or constituents describe the War, recalling the tedium and politics of army life, the tribulations of living in the field, horrible woundings, and the glory and debasement of battle and the Civil War itself.

One of Cornell's initial philanthropic efforts was to finance the construction of the Cornell Public Library in Ithaca, which housed a library, and also served as a place for the meeting of civil, social, and religious organizations. An exchange of letters in January 1864 "staggered" his lawyer F.M. Finch with news that Cornell intended to devote the largest measure of his fortune to a noble cause that would soon lead to the founding of a new kind of practical university. From this point until his death in 1874, the correspondence traces Cornell's involvement with the design of the university, pertaining particularly to the Land Grant endowment and financing the institution. Cornell had served in the New York State Legislature with Andrew Dickson White, a like-minded educational idealist who would become Cornell University's first president. Letters between them make clear that Cornell would attend to the practical problems of establishing the college, and that White was to nurture the university's intellectual foundation.

During a brief foray into the coal oil business in Ohio and Kentucky, and during his years as a New York State Legislator, Ezra Cornell also kept in close contact with his family by correspondence, still seeking to manage the affairs of his children, and concerning himself with the establishment and development of the family's Forest Park farm—land later to become the central campus of the University. A life-long interest in the science of agriculture is revealed as Cornell pays close attention to matters of cattle and crops, even during his legislative career and while founding the University. A rumored sixty million dollar legacy from the English Cornell family and Cornell's life-long pursuit of news and family history from the DeRuyter Cornells and from other long separated members of the family resulted in an increase in family correspondence. Letters to Legislator Cornell reveal New York State residents' problems and needs. When he founded the University, the newspaper stories resulted in his receiving appeals claiming pathetic need. In many cases, he sent a few dollars or a few books to the petitioner.

A detailed correspondence follows his involvement with two other enterprises late in life: the Albany Agricultural Works, and the American Photo-lithographic Company, which he founded with Thomas N. Rooker. Rooker seems to have enjoyed an especially friendly relation with Cornell, one of the few evidences in the Correspondence Series of non-family cordiality.

Principal correspondents include J.J. Speed, D.T. Tillotson, Amos Kendall, and F.O.J. Smith in the telegraph industry; Andrew Dickson White, Hiram Sibley, and F.M. Finch in matters of Cornell University; his wife Mary Ann, son Alonzo, sister Phebe Wood, and brother D.B. in his family.

Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence :: 1828-1845 1 1 June 17, 1828 - September 22, 1830

35 digital images

Family correspondence family health travel Quaker Meeting personal finances news from friends and acquaintances (death of children, social events).

August 23, 1830. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Manlius:

"It's very sickly about here now, there is about 2 hundred patients under the phisician's care."

DeRuyter, N.Y. Manlius, N.Y. Ithaca, N.Y. Cornell, Elijah Cornell, E.B. Eddy, Otis Cornell, Mary Ann. 1 2 May 19, 1831 - June 12, 1837

57 digital images

Family correspondence birth of son Charles and daughter Elizabeth death of son Charles finance and real estate speculation mills and women mill workers national politics and financial situation.

February 24, 1832. Ezra Cornell's response to expulsion from Quaker Church due to his marriage to Mary Ann Wood:

"I have always considered that choosing a companion for life was a very important affair and that my happyness or misery in this life depended on the choice…"

March 6, 1834. Ezra Cornell to Elijah Cornell:

"I informed thee when thee was out that I had got out of debt and a little to spare but not being able to enjoy sound sleap while I remained in that situation (that some would call happy) I have remedied the evil by running in debt for the large house and lot…"

January 13, 1836. Reference to "distressing conflagration" in New York City.

May 15, 1836. Ezra Cornell to Elijah Cornell discussing Ithaca's potential, mentioning the New York and Erie Railroad and the Sodus Canal.

Fall Creek (Ithaca) DeRuyter Rochester, N.Y. Michigan. Merritt, Nehemiah Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, M.B. Wood, Benjamin Wood, O. S. Bristol, John S. Bristol, Elmira DeWitt family Cornell, Mary Ann. 1 3 June 18, 1837 - September 11, 1838

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Management of Jeremiah Beebe's Ithaca affairs textile mill flour mill women mill workers tannery water power. Ithaca. Cornell, Elijah Cornell, E.B. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Whyte, Thomas Blunt, Joseph Bristol, John S. Bristol, Elmira Cornell, Mary Ann. 1 4 October 27, 1838 - July 15, 1841

54 digital images

Family correspondence family relations business and financial matters pottery Cornell & Wright grocery water power mill machinery Beebe's directives for businesses letters of recommendation for trip East to view improvements in water power and to promote Ithaca as a manufacturing site national politics Loco Focism Whig party.

October 6, 1839. Elijah Cornell to Ezra Cornell, regarding the economy:

"But in observing the signs of the times I think it is time for people to sing small songs…"

Ithaca DeRuyter Fall Creek Michigan. Cornell, Elijah Macy, Anna Beebe, Jeremiah S. Bristol, John S. Bristol, Elmira Cornell, Mary Ann. 1 5 July 15, 1841 - August 13, 1842

78 digital images

Business and financial correspondence plans for rental housing in Ithaca cattle New York State Agricultural Society Barnaby and Mooers side hill plow, and correspondence to Maine pertaining to selling of plows and plow patent rights.

July 15, 1841. Letter to the Trustees of the village of Ithaca concerning complaints about Ezra Cornell's bull.

Ithaca Maine. Dexter, S. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Blunt, Joseph Flagg, J. P. Mooers, Henry Cornell, Mary Ann. 1 6 August 18, 1842 - January 31, 1843

79 digital images

Family correspondence rental properties Ithaca fires agriculture cattle plows pottery temperance.

1842. Ezra Cornell to the editor of the Maine Farmer regarding Maine's potential as an agricultural state.

August 27, 29, and September 29, 1842 concerning Cornell pottery.

January 23, 1843. Samuel F.B. Morse to Archibald L. Linn with sketch of his electromagnetic telegraph instrument. Morse alphabet added to letter by Ezra Cornell, February 18, 1873.

January 31, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children describing a four day journey from Ithaca to New York City via stage, railroad, and steamer, relating conditions of travel, type and cost of food, arrival in the city, and the purchase of a life insurance policy. Visits and describes the Croton Reservoir.

Maine New York City. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Stuvins, E.S. Cornell, Elijah Wood, O. S. Morse, Samuel F.B. Linn, Archibald L. Cornell, Mary Ann. 1 7 February 2, 1843 - August 17, 1843

68 digital images

Personal finances life insurance plow sales and patent arrangements in Maine and Georgia travel conditions (first class travel versus second) hardships of the times Bankruptcy Act Philadelphia Mint and markets steamer travel account of a rough crossing of Chesapeake Bay observations of Southern landscape and agricultural practices business ventures plans for trench digging and pipe laying machine.

February 10, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children:

"…I have got 57 cents left but there is always a way when there is a will and I will get along somehow. I shall have to let you pay the postage on letters…"

March 11, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children:

"I arrived at this place last evening very much fatigued with a walk of 150 miles from Charleston through snow and rain…"

April 2, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children giving instructions on family deportment, an account of a murder trial, and comment on Mesmerism, religion, personal faith versus organized religion, and the difficulties in selling plows.

April 9, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell providing extensive observations of slaves and slavery, race relations, and fatherly advice and concern.

April 18, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"My dear, the duty that devolved wholly on you in my absence of guiding and expanding the minds of our dear children is a laborious one and a responsible one…

"I find that a well-formed, healthy negrow can get as many wives as he wants if it is 3 or 4 at a time but a decrepid fellow can't get the first one by the consent of (her) master or mistress. why is it sow. plain enough 'like begets like' they wish to improve their stock.

"…but the American slaves are all illegitimate. I don't know as it can be different were people are bred as stock and sold in the market a cattel."

May 16, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children concerning superiority of Northern farmers, praise of Southern land, Southern idleness, details of route walked, and gold mines.

Philadelphia Washington, D.C. Norfolk, Va. North Carolina Wilmington, N.C. Charleston, S.C. Augusta, Ga. Lincoln, A.B. Chandler, J. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Mooers, Henry Cornell, Mary Ann. 1 8 August 24, 1843 - February 5, 1844

62 digital images

Family correspondence advice and admonition concerning the children, particularly regarding their education descriptions of travel in Maine, including an account of a rough trip by steamer to New York character of the Maine people phrenology business and finance Ezra Cornell's "new enterprise" a proposal including a description of manufacturing possibilities in the South, and an offer by Ezra Cornell to manage a company if $100,000 were invested plows wool factory (Ithaca) fires in Ithaca the laying of the test telegraph pipe between Washington D.C. and Baltimore rejection of Ezra Cornell's initial patent claim for trench cutter, the Patent Office suggesting amendments description of sights in Washington D.C., including extensive discussion of the Capital.

September 3, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann and children:

"Idleness is to the human mind like rust to iron."

October 28, 1843. Correspondence concerning trench digging and pipe laying machine.

October 29, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell describing telegraph pipe laying; Ezra Cornell's "flattering" business offers; settlement of Ithaca affairs; completion of plow business in Maine:

"I can assure you my Dear that I breathe freer and deeper than I have done for some time past. I feel as though Old Dame Fortune was bestirring herself to make amends as far as may be for her past neglect, but I am cool."

December 27, 1843. Authorization from Samuel F.B. Morse detailing plan of action for Ezra Cornell's role in the test laying at a salary of $1000 per year.

January 19, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"…I have an invention in Embrio that my opperations here has suggested that will open the Eyes of the world, it will be far in advance of anything of the day, and it astonishes me that it should have been overlooked so long."

Augusta, Me. Baltimore Washington, D.C. Ithaca. Lincoln, A.B. Cornell, E.B. Bristol, Eliza Smith, F.O.J. Morse, Samuel F.B. Cornell, Mary Ann. 1 9 February 16, 1844 - March 31, 1844

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Laying of the test cable conversion to telegraph posts from trench pipe government involvement in the project F.O.J. Smith's view of Mr. Vail and the difficulties he causes the project, and Smith's account of other conflicts in the telegraph project patents manuscript patent application description of Mount Vernon and the Princeton Steamship catastrophe Ezra Cornell attends lecture by Daniel Webster Ezra Cornell studies in the United States Patent Office Library Ithaca affairs Ithaca fire family finances instructions and advice on child rearing family news business matters plow business.

February 16, 1844. Description of Franklin's printing press including a sketch, and a suggestion that it be displayed in the National Institute.

February 26, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children describing and providing sketches of items observed in the National Institute, including detailed description of implements of war from the Fiji Islands.

March 31, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell reflecting upon thirteen years of marriage:

"We have avoided the quicksands of jealousy, the whirlpools of dissipation, the rocks of passion, and the many other impediments to a safe and happy voige.

I don't believe that a preparation consists in a belief in Millerism, Jo Smithism, or any of the popular isms of the day, but in doing right…"

Concerning the telegraph:

"…the thirteen miles will be sufficient to test the phylosophical principal and then if it works well we are in hopes that congress will make appropriations for its continuance to Philadelphia."

Washington, D.C. Cornell, E.B. Slater, Justus Morse, Samuel F.B. Cornell, Elijah Smith, F.O.J. Beebe, A. Vail, Alfred Gale, Leonard Cornell, Mary Ann. 1 10 April 1, 1844 - May 8, 1844

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Family correspondence Mesmerism plow business Ithaca elections featuring Loco Foco and Abolitionist Parties Whig Convention in Baltimore telegraph appropriations from Congress.

April 14, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"…for if I could get [Alonzo] a place at a dollar a day it would be better than some men could do, at any rate it would be better than loafing about fall Creek."

April 21, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"We are getting along with the telegraph to a good advantage, and it works well, we have got out 14.5 miles from Washington, and at that distance I can converce with Professor Morse as readily as though I was within two feet of him."

April 25, 1844. F.O.J. Smith to Ezra Cornell:

"In practical matters I do not think there ever was yoked into one team a pair of more decidedly unteachable asses than the Professor and [Vail] without your good common sense to temper their follies, the whole concern would have before this become a laughing stock to the country."

Ithaca Washington, D.C. Baltimore. Cornell, E.B. Smith, F.O.J. Morse, Samuel F.B. Burbank, David Cornell, Mary Ann Vail, Alfred. 2 1 May 13, 1844 - August 9, 1844

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Family correspondence telegraph business correspondence: completion of line between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, conflicts between partners, removal of pipe from trench hoop machine.

n.d. Morse's telegraphic alphabet and phrases written by Samuel F.B. Morse for use of Ezra Cornell on test line between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

July 28, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children describing in detail his journey by coach to Syracuse and train to Albany, his impressions of the State Geological collection, and discussing family businesses, finance, and poles for Benjamin Wood.

July 29, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children describing his trip by steamer "Portsmouth" down the Hudson as far as town of Hudson.

July 29, 1844. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell from New York:

"Things in relation to the Telegraph look well, and if our plans succeed here, you will not want for ample employment."

August 9, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children concerning interest in the telegraph from companies in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York; potential employment with telegraph for family members; continued description of trip down the Hudson, including discussion of the raising of a sunken ship rumored to be that of Capt. Kidd.

Ithaca Washington, D.C. Baltimore Albany, N.Y. Morse, Samuel F.B. Wood, Benjamin Burbank, David Vail, Alfred Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, Mary Ann. 2 2 August 10, 1844 - September 25, 1844

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Family correspondence Ithaca politics Whigs Loco Focos plows telegraph business correspondence telegraph exhibition.

August 18, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children reflecting on slavery and national politics:

"My dear, I am convinced that our 'humble cot' is the dwelling place of more happiness in one day than falls to the lot of many a human being in this portion of our boasted 'land of Liberty' during a long life.

"Slavery as it is garenteed in the states by the Constitution is bad enough and must be indured until it is removed by the fource of enlightened publick opinion acting upon the slaveholder, but for the sake of humanity let it not be extended."

September 2, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children discussing the bustle (women's fashion) and giving detailed directions to Mary Ann concerning her trip to Washington, D.C.

Baltimore Ithaca Washington, D.C. Boston. Burbank, David Cornell, E.B. Cornell, Mary Ann Lincoln, A.B. Slater, Justus Wood, O.S. Morse, Samuel F.B. Smith, F.O.J. 2 3 October 7, 1844 - November 22, 1844

43 digital images

Family correspondence business correspondence telegraph exhibition in Boston telegraph elections "lightning."

November 24, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell quoting "A World of Love at Home," a poem by J.J. Reynolds and giving instructions to his children on how to maintain this at home.

Boston Ithaca. Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, Mary Ann Wood, O.S. Morse, Samuel F.B. Vail, Alfred. 2 4 December 1, 1844 - December 29, 1844

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Business correspondence Family correspondence telegraph telegraph exhibition in Boston electric conductors alarm machine chess games over the telegraph.

December 3, 1844. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell discussing the claims of Dr. Charles T. Jackson that Jackson was the inventor of the telegraph.

December 5, 1844. Orrin S. Wood to Ezra Cornell discussing use of telegraph to report proceedings of Congress.

December 15, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children:

"I had heard while at Providence last Thursday that Mary had recd. proposals from Robert Macy but had decided not to accept them, I was glad to hear of that determination as I detest the practice of cousins marrying or any marriage between persons in which there can be traced the most distant relationship. I go for the improvement instead of the deterioration of our race…"

Alarm machine, telegraph for the Postmaster.

December 22, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children sending New Years wishes and messages to Mary Ann, Alonzo, Frank, Elizabeth, and Oliver Perry to accompany books for each of them.

Boston New York City. Cornell, Mary Ann Speed, J.J. Morse, Samuel F.B. Smith, F.O.J. Wood, O.S. 2 5 January 2, 1845 - January 31, 1845

50 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: line from New York to Boston, materials and supplies, line damaged in storm, New York telegraph exhibition discussion of possible duel between Congressmen Clingman and Yancey conflict with Beebe.

January 15, 1845. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell regarding E.B.'s financial difficulties and hopes for assistance from Ezra Cornell.

January 29, 1845. Jeremiah S. Beebe to Ezra Cornell:

"I think it was 1829 or 30 that I applied to Otis Eddy for a man to mend my plaster mill, and he recommended you. At that time I was worth $40.000 and you perhaps 40/, soon after I employed you to take charge of my affair at Fall Creek. From that time forward for at least 8 or 9 years you was in my employment at a good salary. You had my means to live on and my […] to try your crazy experiments upon, and what is the result. I am now obliged to wear the old clothes about that I had 7 years ago and you are moving upon lightening. You have been brought forward to the world's notice…"

New York City Washington, D.C. Wood, O.S. Smith, F.O.J. Nash, John Burbank, David Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, Mary Ann. 2 6 February 1, 1845 - March 23, 1845

52 digital images

Wool factory (Ithaca) alarm machine telegraph business correspondence: New York telegraph exhibition, Congressional appropriation, plans for telegraphic enterprise hoop machine conflict with Beebe fire at National Theater in Washington Ithaca fire E.B. proposes fresh water business in Chicago. New York City Ithaca Washington, D.C. Burbank, David Avery, Thomas Speed, J.J. Wood, O.S. Smith, F.O.J. Morse, Samuel F.B. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, E.B. 2 7 April 10, 1845 - May 29, 1845

34 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: line maintenance, materials and supplies plow business.

April 19, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Samuel F.B. Morse:

"…my object was to aid in carrying through, what I regarded as a magnificent experiment, and laying a foundation for future profitable employment."

Telegraph conflicts, alarm machine.

May 29, 1845. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell:

"…we are willing to arrange for your employment and services in behalf of the Magnetic Telegraph Company of which you are already a member with this understanding…"

New York City Washington, D.C. Morse, Samuel F.B. Smith, F.O.J. Burbank, David Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Kendall, Amos Lincoln, A.B. 2 8 June 15, 1845 - June 28, 1845

28 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: rights of way, construction, materials and supplies.

June 22, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children describing stage coach journey:

"The night got rather cool and a great coat would have been comfortable but I did not suffer at all for the want of one and I'm inclined to the opinion that the absence of the warmth from an overcoat was all that saved me from stage sickness if so the circumstance may be given as another evidence that 'poverty is a blessing.'

"The children must not be idle, they must study some, work some, and play some, they must be at something all the time."

Health, possible routes out of the city for the telegraph, visit to old neighborhood (Bergen county), Staten Island.

June 30, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children concerning the approaching Fourth of July:

"…the only guarantee the present generation has that our free and hapy form of government will be handed down unimpaired as it came from the hands of our Patriot Fathers, to our children and our children's children is in universal education…Then let Universal Education be the Patriot's wachword…"

New York City. Kendall, Amos Cornell, Mary Ann Smith, F.O.J. Burbank, David. 2 9 July 6, 1845 - July 31, 1845

59 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: routes in New York City and New Jersey, and New York to Philadelphia, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions.

July 11, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children:

"I think Elizabeth is quite romantic to call her Father's letters novels'…but she will find this difference between the two, novels are the coinage of missguided brains, making no instructions to truth or reality, but dealing largely in 'the fancies' while her Father's letters contain truth, plain unvarnished truth, and I hope that is the quality that induces E. to admire them."

On visiting the Old Stone School House where he had gone to school 27 years ago:

"Not being satisfied that I got the worth of the money that my good Father paid for my larning there, I sought to indemnify myself by obtaining some relic of the house itself so I knocked some pieces out of it's 'time honoured walls' which I shall deposit properly labilled in my museum of curiosities."

July 27, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children written to

"appear like a Novel to my little Rosebud."

New York City Ithaca. Cornell, Mary Ann Cornell, Alonzo B. Smith, F.O.J. Kendall, Amos Cornell, E.B. O'Reilly, Henry. 2 10 August 2, 1845 - September 30, 1845

84 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: Utica line, instruments, materials and supplies, river crossing, insulation for wires, magnets Steamship Great Britain Family correspondence.

August 10, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children:

"…I must pay you the compliment of being quite a financier…you must keep a keen eye on your tenants and make them 'Pony up' -- does not Potter trade in something that you want if so try to get something out of him, take candy if you can get nothing else, Perry would soon learn to eat candy if he dont already know how…"

August 17, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children discussing health and fruit, and improvements to telegraph instruments:

"I am making other improvements that I have full confidence will be successful by business superintending my work getting materials, planning and draughting for new improvements writing my letters and accts. keeps me fully employed I don't get half the time to read that I should like to devote to it, things look well and will come out right in the end."

September 19, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann and children describing telegraph exhibit at State Fair in Utica:

"I had about 2000 visiters a room 30 by 40 crowded from morning till night. The wonder with all was how I stood it, to talk so much and so long as I did in explaining the telegraph to such a multitude."

New York City Utica, N.Y. Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, Mary Ann Butterfield, John Messenger, S. Kendall, Amos Cornell, E.B. Vail, Alfred Rogers, H.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. 2 11 October 1, 1845 - October 16, 1845

40 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical issues, instruments, materials and supplies, routes Family correspondence.

October 5, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children:

"…my old hat crown was most out, and a hole in my pants and some buttons off and my shoes riped down the side, but that is nothing my heart is sound and my head clear…"

October 15, 1845. Ezra Cornell to C.G. Page, discussing improvements in instrumentand magnet designs:

"I am unconcious of having done anything wrong in the matter, and am very sorry if you have the impression that I would wrong you in the slightest degree, even were it in my power, I have done nothing and would do nothing that I should not be willing that you should do by me, I act from principle founded upon justice to all men."

Utica New York City. Faxton, Theodore Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, Mary Ann Wood, O.S. Kendall, Amos Butterfield, John Page, C.G. 2 12 October 18, 1845 - October 31, 1845

42 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights, instruments, New York, Albany & Buffalo line, materials and supplies, construction of lines, finances Ithaca schools.

October 30, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children:

"Your going to church I approve as I do your doings in general, I think however the churches are not as usefull as they would be if they would teach their diciples…to practice upon the precepts laid down by Christ. Do unto others, as you would that should do unto you, Love your neighbour as your self, Let him who is free from sin cast the first stone, &c &c &c."

Bible quotations (proverbs) concerning husbands and wives.

New York City Ithaca. Page, C.G. Wells, Henry Wood, O.S. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, Mary Ann Kendall, Amos. 2 13 November 1, 1845 - November 9, 1845

43 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: instruments, materials and supplies, technical issues, patent rights, Buffalo to Lockport line in operation Family correspondence Fall Creek tunnel.

November 6, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"If you go to Dryden, you and Otis and Norman and perhaps one or two other young philosophers might get up a Philosophical Club, and spend your winter evenings profitably…

…the serenade at Unkle Js must have been interesting. Dryden is a great place for musick, but such musicians make poor phylosiphers. I had rather you would study phylosiphy than musick in that school."

November 5, 1845. Ezra Cornell to E.B. Cornell:

"I can't at the present time tell when I shall be at home, nor where I shall spend the winter. The Phil. Co. wants me to stay and keep the charge of working their line. The New York, Albany & Buffalo Co. want me, and offer $2000 for me to take charge of their line and the N.Y. and Boston Co. want me to take theirs, and will do as well by me as either, and I don't know yet which will get me. I want to go where I can be of the most service to the general enterprise."

November 12, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"…I am not shure but I shall contrive some way by which I could kiss you by telegraph. How would you like to be bussed by lightning? It would seem odd no doubt, but there is no telling what will be done yet, these are the times of strange and marvelous things…"

New York City Ithaca. Wood, O.S. Faxton, Theodore Cornell, Mary Ann Cornell, Alonzo B. Monroe, C. 3 1 November 10, 1845 - November 20, 1845

42 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: electricity new lines (Lockport and Buffalo, Washington and Philadelphia). Ithaca Lockport, N.Y. Washington, D.C. Renwick, James Cornell, E.B. Kendall, Amos Wood, O.S. Smith, F.O.J. Sage, H.W. 3 2 November 22, 1845 - November 30, 1845

43 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence Family correspondence.

November 23, 1845. Ezra Cornell:

"My section of the Tel extends to Somerville New Jersey about 70 miles by the rout of the wires."

November 30, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"I want you to be diligent in your studies, for you will soon be wanted for something else. I am going to have a telegraph from Ithaca to Auburn and you may be wanted to take one of the stations. So you see it is important that you should improve the time well, while you have a chance to go to school."

Ithaca Lockport Washington, D.C. New York City. Cornell, Alonzo B.; Kendall, Amos; Smith, F.O.J.; Wells, Henry 3 3 December 2, 1845 - December 13, 1845

58 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, patent rights.

December 7, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"The duty of the mother outweigh the affections of the wife, that is a heavenly emplanted virtue in the breast of woman.

I am bound to make a thousand dollars out of that operation [Ithaca to Auburn telegraph] but this I say to you in confidence and don't want it to go further at present."

New York City. O'Reilly, Henry Faxton, Theodore Kendall, Amos Carter, Samuel P. Goell, A.C. Eddy, James Smith, F.O.J. Wood, O.S. 3 4 December 14, 1845 - December 22, 1845

53 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, finances, materials and supplies Family correspondence.

December 14, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"There is nothing I have to reflect on that gives me more satisfaction than the fact that my life is insured for the benefit of my Dear Wife and children."

New York City. Kendall, Amos Goell, A.C. Wood, O.S. Butterfield, J. Smith, F.O.J. Eddy, James O'Reilly, Henry. 3 5 December 24, 1845 - December 31, 1845

46 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, conflict with Vail and others, question of Ezra Cornell's employment, stock subscriptions offered to Ithaca businessmen.

December 30, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"I thank you for your wish of a 'merry Christmas' and can inform you that I made it merry with work."

New York City Ithaca. O'Reilly, Henry Wood, O.S. Vail, Alfred Kendall, Amos Faxton, Theodore. Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence :: 1846-1847 3 6 January 1, 1846 - January 24, 1846

39 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, patent rights, stock subscriptions.

January 10, 1846. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell:

"At 12 o'clock on Monday and the same on Tuesday at 10 o'clock…you will strike the letter F *--* *--* in the same way from Fort Lee to Philadelphia and also to N York."

New York City. Kendall, Amos Smith, F.O.J. Morse, Samuel F.B. Wood, O. S. Mooers, Henry. 3 7 January 27, 1846 - February 23, 1846

47 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, personal conflict, establishment of new lines, stock subscriptions in Ithaca.

February 8, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell admonishing him for revealing elements of slothful behavior.

February 9, 1846. Ezra Cornell to the Editor of the Herald concerning disputed invention of the telegraph.

February 22, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell calculating in real dollars the lifetime costs of drinking alcohol and using tobacco:

"I am very glad that the temperance reform has reached Fall Creek."

New York City Ithaca. Eddy, James Beebe, Jeremiah S. Wood, O.S. Atwell, Winthrop Cornell, Alonzo B. Faxton, Theodore. 3 8 February 24, 1846 - March 18, 1846

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, Ithaca subscribers "Cornelia" temperance movement in Ithaca letters to Alonzo with advice and counsel on education and responsible living.

March 1, 1846. Description of telegraph lines and bridges.

New York City Ithaca Boston. Smith, F.O.J. Atwell, Winthrop Eddy, James Cornell, Alonzo B. Carter, Samuel P. Cornell, E.B. Faxton, Theodore Livingston, Charles. 3 9 March 20, 1846 - March 30, 1846

50 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, Ithaca stock subscriptions.

March 30, 1846. E.B. Cornell from Ithaca:

"We are now enjoying the Blessings and comforts of revivle of religion in Ithaca - the reverend Mr. John Moffett is here Delivering a Course of lectures on American Literature & pouring forth his Eloquent Irish Soul in the Pulpit every other Evening the Cthouse was cramed full to overflowing yesterday."

Boston New York City Utica Ithaca. Faxton, Theodore Cornell, Franklin C. Wood, O.S. Eddy, James Park, J.D. Cornell, E.B. Smith, F.O.J. 3 10 April 1, 1846 - April 29, 1846

42 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines.

April 29, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"I left the city of NY last eve With the floating Palace Hendrick Hudson. I brought up with me half a dozen flowering trees. I think you had better set them in your nice little dooryard."

Boston New York City Albany Utica. Smith, F.O.J. Carter, Samuel P. Wood, O.S. Faxton, Theodore Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, Mary Ann. 3 11 May 1, 1846 - May 12, 1846

28 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines. New York City Utica. Faxton, Theodore Cornell, E.B. 3 12 May 15, 1846 - May 31, 1846

33 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies Beebe importunes Ezra Cornell for money. Ithaca New York City. Faxton, Theodore Eddy, James Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, E.S. 3 13 June 3, 1846 - June 16, 1846

38 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, finances, establishment of new lines. Albany Boston New York City. Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, E.B. Cornell, Alonzo B. Faxton, Theodore. 3 14 June 17, 1846 - June 29, 1846

37 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines. New York City Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Ithaca Aurora, N.Y. Cornell, E.B. Kendall, Amos Cornell, E.B. Smith, F.O.J. Eddy, James. 3 15 July 1, 1846 - July 9, 1846

32 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines. New York City Albany. Eddy, James Wood, O.S. Cornell, E.B. 3 16 July 10, 1846 - July 21, 1846

26 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines. New York City Poughkeepsie. Smith, F.O.J. Faxton, Theodore Cornell, E.B. Livingston and Wells. 3 17 July 25, 1846 - August 4, 1846

39 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines.

August 3, 1846. F.A. Brown to Ezra Cornell:

"I regret to hear Smith is not more successful than he is on the Boston line. Poor fellow, I am sorry for him, those loafers on the Philadelphia line will now be able to exult over his adversity."

New York City Ithaca Buffalo. King, George W. Wood, O.S. Bristol, John S. Cornell, E.B. Faxton, Theodore. 4 1 August 7, 1846 - August 31, 1846

67 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, stock subscriptions, E.B. Cornell seeks employment, contention with Faxton about the Albany line.

August 31, 1846. F.O.J. Smith to Ezra Cornell:

"I am sorry to learn from various sources of your having frequently made me the subject of much unfavorable conjecture and remark with men in my employ, as well as with others, in connexion with a female with whome you boarded in New York. Now I ask no man to become the keper of my morals or character…"

Ithaca New York City. Faxton, Theodore Eddy, James Wood, Benjamin Cornell, E.B. Brown, F.A. Wood, Phebe Cornell, Alonzo B. Smith, F.O.J. 4 2 September 6, 1846 - October 9, 1846

30 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, proposed line between Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, price per transmission.

October 7, 1846. Incidence of vandalism of the New York line.

Ithaca New York City. Smith, F.O.J. Eddy, James Bullock, A.B. 4 3 October 11, 1846 - October 17, 1846

30 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, proposals for establishment of new lines, finances.

October 15, 1846. Telegraph stock, shares, dividends.

Ithaca Hudson, N.Y. Brown, F.A. Kendall, Amos Bullock, A.B. Cornell, E.B. Eddy, James. 4 4 October 18, 1846 - October 30, 1846

41 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, complication of communication among stations in New York State.

October 20, 1846. Negotiation of stock transfers (Ithaca Telegraph Company).

Ithaca. Brown, F.A. Faxton, Theodore Eddy, James Smith, F.O.J. O'Reilly, Henry Wood, Phebe Speed, J.J. 4 5 November 1, 1846 - November 4, 1846

25 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: magnetic clocks, patent application, articles of agreement. Ithaca. Speed, J.J. 4 6 November 5, 1846 - November 23, 1846

47 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines (Detroit to Milwaukee).

November 9, 1846. Instructions to employee Curtis from Ezra Cornell on operation of telegraph wires:

"Order must be obeyed right or wrong. It is the only way to preserve harmony in the working of the line."

November 19, 1846. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I have had quite a notion lately of learning to write on the telegraph and should like your advice on the subject…for if there is anything to be made by it I should like to have my share."

Ithaca New York City. Eddy, James Speed, J.J. Kendall, Amos Faxton, Theodore Cornell, D.B. 4 7 November 23, 1846 - December 15, 1846

44 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines (Toronto, Binghamton).

December 6, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"To be frank with you I have my doubts whether it would be for your interest to engage in the telegraph business even were you qualified to do it properly, but you are not thus qualifide…"

December 15, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"I was quite surprised to see that you wrote so well on the telegraph with the little chance you have had to learn. I have no objection to your learning to thus write if you will not let it attract your attention from your studdies."

Ithaca New York City Auburn, N.Y. Eddy, James Cornell, Alonzo B. Faxton, Theodore Bullock, A.B. Goell, A.C. 4 8 December 15, 1846 - January 12, 1847

56 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines (Elmira, Corning, Bath), Magnetic Telegraph Company personnel problems.

December 20, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"…I should prefer that you would choose a rural occupation, and become an intelligent scientific farmer. The time is not distant when such farmers will be more respected and they will be more useful than Kings or Princes."

n.d. Faxton to his operators concerning quality of transmissions:

"On the 9th of September last the line of Telegraph was put in operation from New York to Buffalo, working through 8 offices…Its operation appeared to be very perfect…"

January 9, 1847. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell:

"Since I wrote you in reference to the side lines in New York, I have been requested by Prof. Morse not to make the arrangements proposed, including the renewal of your contract upon the Binghamton route."

Ithaca Albany Chicago Auburn. Speed, J.J. Allen, Oliver E. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, E.S. Kendall, Amos Wood, Phebe Wood, O.S. Speed, J.J. 4 9 January 14, 1847 - February 17, 1847

63 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: establishment of new lines (plans for Toronto to Quebec, Quebec to Halifax, Toronto to Buffalo, Toronto to Detroit), patent rights, instruments, finances, magnets, Speed and Tillotson corresponding about telegraph to compete with Morse's Michigan's potential as an agricultural state family news from Michigan.

February 17, 1847. Theodore Faxton to Ezra Cornell:

"I recommended Mr. Cornel for that place as a suitable and competent man, he was employed on the strength of that recomendation…I had recommended a man who was entirely unfit for the business and has spent more of his time for the 3 months in his own business than in that of the company… I felt not "elated" but ashamed and confounded at my own want of judgement in recommending a man who could so soon place me in a wrong position before the Board."

Michigan Ithaca. Kendall, Amos Speed, J.J. Smith, F.O.J. Wood, O.S. Tillotson, D.T. Wood, Phebe Faxton, Theodore. 4 10 February 20, 1847 - February 28, 1847

41 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: notices of new lines in operation (Philadelphia & Pittsburgh, first of Atlantic, Lake and Mississippi), management of lines, attempts to sell stock in Chicago, patent rights, establishment of new lines (Milwaukee and Detroit).

February 20, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson:

"The exisiting lines are doing a first rate business…the Ithaca & Elmira & Auburn line is doing much more business than was expected would be furnished by those places, and will be a paying line."

O'Reilly, Henry Tillotson, D.T. Brown, F.A. Smith, F.O.J. Speed, J.J. 4 11 March 2, 1847 - March 14, 1847

43 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: conflicts, subscription sales in Milwaukee and Detroit, establishment of new lines, finances, patent rights.

March 8, 1847. Proposal of new venture from John Norton to Ezra Cornell, involving communication with Nova Scotia by visual telegraph (Eastern telegraph project).

Smith, F.O.J. Tillotson, D.T. Speed, J.J. Cornell, E.B. Norton, John W. 4 12 March 20, 1847 - April 19, 1847

72 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: subscription sales in Michigan, Chicago and Wisconsin, establishment of new lines, rates, routes Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company visual telegraph.

March 31, 1847. C.F. Johnson to Ezra Cornell, discussing Eastern telegraph project and use of visual telegraph signals over long distances.

April 10, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"…have a book in reach for every leisure moment."

April 17, 1847. Telegraph messages to and from Ezra Cornell.

April 19, 1847. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell discussing family news and possible employment when telegraph is constructed in Michigan.

Ithaca New York City. Tillotson, D.T. Speed, J.J. Norton, John W. Smith, F.O.J. Johnson, C.F. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, E.B. Wood, M.B. 4 13 April 21, 1847 - May 4, 1847

47 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: subscription sales, O'Reilly contract dispute, patent rights, lines (Troy & Montreal) visual telegraph.

April 29, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"…we were out last evening on an experiment, Merrit 12 miles west of Boston on a (hill) and I was 10 miles East of Boston on another, and the result was OK notwithstanding the clouds were thick enough to obscure the full moon, and terra firma was thinly veiled with fog. I have a fine lot of telescopes. I have one with which I can see the Mountains in the Moon…"

May 2, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell discussing telegraph business and proposing idea of telegraph lines outside of this country, in Cuba, Jamaica, and other islands.

Boston. Brown, F.A. Johnson, C.F. Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, O.S. Wood, M.L. Smith, F.O.J. 4 14 May 7, 1847 - May 29, 1847

39 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: instruments, O'Reilly contract dispute, new lines (Troy & Canada Junction) Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company visual telegraph: exploration of coast of Maine for sites.

May 29, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson:

"We find people who on the start laughed at the folly (as they called it) of building telegraphs saying they would find nothing to do, who now furnish daily business for the line, and clamour the loudest if the line is out of order for a few hours so that they cannot be served at the moment."

Regarding the telegraph in Canada:

"See the difference, the Canadians are quarreling for the stock of a line that will never have half the business that the Erie & Michigan line will, while on the later it is dificult to get the necessary stock subscribed to build it."

Telegraph lines (New York, Albany & Buffalo; New York & Boston), new lines (Erie & Michigan), finances.

Maine Montreal. Cornell, E.B. Speed, J.J. Smith, F.O.J. Wood, M.L. Wood, O.S. Tillotson, D.T. Kendall, Amos 4 15 June 1, 1847 - June 10, 1847

36 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: visual telegraph: obstacles to the visual telegraph in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company. Maine Halifax. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Dunham, J. Wood, M.L. Cornell, E.B. Park, J.D. 4 16 June 13, 1847 - June 22, 1847

40 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: line extended from Boston to Portland, proposed line (Quebec & Halifax - Cornell contracted for first section), O'Reilly contract dispute observations in Maine for visual telegraph.

June 21, 1847. British North American Electric Telegraph Association to Ezra Cornell thanking him for assisting in instruction of operators and offering him the contract for crossing the St. Lawrence.

Maine Blue Hill, Me. Grand Manan Island. Tillotson, D.T. Dunham, J. Speed, J.J. Wood, M.L. Thatcher, J.D. 5 1 June 22, 1847 - June 23, 1847

24 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: distribution of lines to Smith and Kendall meteorological observations in Maine in preparation for a visual telegraph, Maine to Nova Scotia. Maine. Brown, F.A. Speed, J.J. 5 2 June 24, 1847 - June 27, 1847

37 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence meteorological observations in Maine in preparation for a visual telegraph, Maine to Nova Scotia. Maine. 5 3 June 27, 1847 - July 7, 1847 Telegraph business correspondence: subscriptions for western lines meteorological observations in Maine in preparation for a visual telegraph, Maine to Nova Scotia Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company. Maine Michigan Milwaukee Montreal. Speed, J.J. Brown, F.A. Wood, M.B. Tillotson, D.T. Wood, O.S. Cornell, E.B. Cornell, Betsy Ann Park, J.D. 5 4 July 8, 1847 - July 20, 1847

61 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights, establishment of new lines Montreal Telegraph Company British North American Electric Telegraph Association.

July 8, 1847. O.S. Wood to Ezra Cornell from Montreal:

"I do not regret getting away from here as there is a fearful contagion raging here among the emigrants and many of the citizens now have the Typhus Fever. Should you conclude to come here keep upon the upper deck as much as possible and not visit the emigrants den of filth. I have been but once to visit the sheds and shall not go again very soon. Between 30 & 40 die daily at the sheds between the lines & canal."

July 11, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"I have this morning returned from Vermont having made a tour through the entire length of Vermont between the Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains, soliciting subscriptions of stock for the Troy and Canada Junction Telegraph and have met with as much success as I could hope for. I have had a publick meeting and adressed the people on the subject in 9 different villages, and I feel assured that I have converted the unbelieving to the true Magnetic faith."

Ontario Quebec Milwaukee Michigan Vermont Chicago. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, E.B. Brown, F.A. Tillotson, D.T. Wood, M.B. Speed, J.J. 5 5 July 21, 1847 - August 14, 1847

63 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights, rights of way and permissions, Canadian lines.

July 25, 1847. Account of a trip from Ithaca to Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Michigan Kingston, Ontario Montreal Chicago Quebec. McRea, W.C. Speed, J.J. Wood, O.S. Thatcher, J.D. Wood, M.L. Smith, F.O.J. 5 6 August 15, 1847 - August 21, 1847

29 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights. Milwaukee. Tillotson, D.T. Selden, Samuel L. Speed, J.J. Rice, H.F. 5 7 August 21, 1847 - August 25, 1847

42 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines Montreal Telegraph Company. Speed, J.J. Wood, O.S. O'Reilly, Henry. 5 8 August 26, 1847 - September 2, 1847

46 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines.

August 27, 1847. Circulars by H.B. Ely denying Ezra Cornell's right to erect telegraph lines on the Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee line:

"My attention has been called to the movements of Mssrs. Speed, Cornell, and others connected with them…And in order to correct any misapprehension or erroneous impression in the minds of the public…Mr. O'Reilly and his associates have made no arrangement with Mssrs. Speed, Cornell and company in relation to the line.

Milwaukee Albany. Smith, F.O.J. O'Reilly, Henry Collins, William R. Wood, M.L. Ely, H.B. 5 9 September 3, 1847 - September 11, 1847

55 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines, response to and effects of Ely's circular, patents Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company (printed address to subscribers) Atlantic, Lake and Mississippi Telegraph Range.

September 8, 1847. M.L. Wood to Ezra Cornell:

"The bold assertion that O'Reilly has the exclusive right to put in opperation Morse's Telegraph upon this line has taken the subscribers rather aback and created much distrust and anxiety for the safety of their investment."

September 11, 1847. Byron Kilbourn to Ezra Cornell and J.J. Speed:

"I have been notified that you have not the exclusive rights to erect a line of the Telegraph from Buffalo to Detroit…"

Printed appeal from citizens of the western states:

"That the Magnetic Telegraph, being the only known agent that annihilates space in transmitting intelligence, should be established between the commercial emporium of the nation and the commercial centre on the Pacific."

Montreal Milwaukee Albany Columbus Detroit Vermont Quebec Ithaca. Tillotson, D.T. Speed, J.J. Cornell, E.B. Wood, M.B. Smith, F.O.J. Wood, M.L. Kilbourn, Byron. 5 10 September 13, 1847 - September 27, 1847

81 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines, response to and effects of Ely's circular.

September 13, 1847. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell:

"Yours is received with its enclosures. The outrageous conduct of O'Reilly and his associates is to me inexplicable, on any other construction than determined and persevering fraud. I am not prepared to make the arrangement you propose. By my arrangement with Mr. Smith he is bound to make me good in this controversy with O'Reilly. It became by that agreement his affair & not mine, and I cannot see why I should put money due out of my hands…"

September 19, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell with advice, instruction, and entreaties concerning the latter's study habits.

Quebec Montreal Chicago. Wood, M.L. Speed, J.J. Smith, F.O.J. Wood, M.L. Cornell, Alonzo B. 5 11 September 28, 1847 - October 6, 1847

50 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines Troy Turnpike and Rail Road Company permission. Chicago Detroit. Cornell, E.B. Park, J.D. Speed, J.J. McRea, M.C. 5 12 October 7, 1847 - October 14, 1847

49 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines, Troy & Canada Junction line Montreal Telegraph Company.

October 8, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson:

"For Hevens sake push on that work. Off with your coat and at it, let us have action as well as talk. The line must be at work from Buffalo to Milwaukee before the 1st of Jan next."

October 11, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"Your account of the Fair represents a meager affair. I am sorry there is no more spirit in the Farmers of Tompkins. I shall have to go at farming again and steer them up.

"I understand that Mr. Eddy wants you to go into the Telegraph business for him. I am surprised at this, at any rate I trust you don't entertain this small potatoe Telegraph Operation of his for a moment. When I wish you to go into the Telegraph business I can put you in some respectable position in the business, but I want you to attend to your studdies and qualify yourself for some respectable position in Society."

Montreal Troy, N.Y. Middlebury, Vt. Burlington, Vt. McRea, W.C. Speed, J.J. Wood, M.L. Wood, M.B. Tillotson, D.T. Cornell, Alonzo B. 5 13 October 15, 1847 - October 18, 1847

46 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines British North American Electric Telegraph Association. Milwaukee Detroit. Bristol, John S. Cornell, E.B. Tillotson, D.T. Speed, J.J. Johnson, C.F. 5 14 October 19, 1847 - October 20, 1847

46 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines British North American Electric Telegraph Association. Detroit Montreal. Speed, J.J. Cornell, E.B. Wood, M.B. 6 1 October 21, 1847 - October 28, 1847

48 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Detroit, Chicago & Milwaukee line, Troy & Canada Junction line), materials and supplies, Irish workers negotiations with British North American Electric Telegraph Association. Vermont. Livingston, Charles Wells, Henry Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Whitney, H.H. Cornell, E.B. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, M.L. 6 2 October 29, 1847 - October 31, 1847

40 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Erie & Michigan line), instruments, materials and supplies sickness in Michigan.

October 29, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson, concerning western lines:

"I am using all my wits - my industry and my friends, to get the material and get it forwarded to you, and I hope you will use corrisponding exertion to collect the subscriptions and forward the work there."

O'Reilly conflict.

October 30, 1847. Formal letter of protest concerning Ezra Cornell's work on Canadian lines;.

Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Wood, Phebe. 6 3 November 1, 1847 - November 7, 1847

47 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Troy & Canada Junction line, Erie & Michigan line, Canadian lines), materials and supplies conflict in Quebec with British North American Electric Telegraph Association Johnson's telegraph invention.

November 5, 1847. Zook and Barnes to Ezra Cornell concerning House's Printing Telegraph.

Canada. Wood, M.L. Speed, J.J. Cornell, E.B. Johnson, C.F. Tillotson, D.T. 6 4 November 8, 1847 - November 12, 1847

49 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, construction of lines (Erie & Michigan line, Troy & Canada Junction line), objections to lines passing people's properties, O'Reilly conflict.

November 11, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell on delays in receiving materials:

"We are flat on our asses for want of some glasses…"

Speed, J.J. Cornell, E.B. Tillotson, D.T. 6 5 November 13, 1847 - November 19, 1847

44 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Troy & Canada Junction line, Erie & Michigan line), materials and supplies, Canadian lines Montreal Telegraph Company Ezra Cornell's ill health. Vermont. Cornell, E.B. Bristol, John S. Speed, J.J. Wood, M.L. 6 6 November 20, 1847 - November 30, 1847

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: Canadian lines, construction of lines (western lines), materials and supplies Ezra Cornell's ill health Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company. Speed, J.J. Griffin, David Wood, M.B. Cornell, E.B. Bristol, John S. Tillotson, D.T. Wood, Otis E. 6 7 December 1, 1847 - December 6, 1847

57 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (western lines and line through Vermont), O'Reilly conflict, materials and supplies, Canadian lines, stock subscriptions.

December 4, 1847. J.J. Speed concerning his wounded knee:

"My knee is still sore, and the doctor says I must keep quiet. Yesterday he put on some serpents or as he called them leeches, and they sucked out a great deal of blood - today it is a little better."

December 5, 1847. J. Haviland to Ezra Cornell from Detroit:

"On Monday last this city was put in communication with Ypsilanti & the line works well. It seems to be completely insulated & a battery of 10 cups is sufficient & perhaps will answer for ten miles further to Ann Arbor."

Rates, materials and supplies, O'Reilly's line, Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.

December 6. 1847. G.W. Benedict to Ezra Cornell with rate proposal for Troy & Canada Junction and Montreal & Troy Telegraph Companies.

December 6, 1847. J.J. Speed:

"I had a letter from Cornell today, dated at N. York the 25th. He has been sick, since the first of Nov…I learn from my wife that Cornell's wife had a baby about those days, and he must have been anxious to get home."

Speed, J.J. Benedict, G.W. Cutter, Isaac H. Haviland, J. Cornell, E.B. Brown, F.A. Faxton, Theodore. 6 8 December 7, 1847 - December 11, 1847

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (western lines, Canadian lines), materials and supplies, stock subscriptions (problems in collection).

December 9, 1847. H. Wells & Company to Ezra Cornell concerning Ezra Cornell's finances:

"Your ill health has certainly got you in a fog about your money matters & if you will come down here we will talk the matter over…"

December 10, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:

"What are your notions respecting N.Y. and Erie line? When, and where, can we get enough subscribed to build it?"

December 11, 1847. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell concerning competition from O'Reilly's line.

December 11, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell, quoting letter to Speed from Smith:

"Our object before was to annihilate House - we did it - we will now try what is left of O'Reilly down the Ohio - North and West. I leave him to your tender mercies - But the day of compromise has gone by - do or die is the motto for us now."

Beebe, Jeremiah S. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Wells, Henry Wood, M.B. Cornell, E.B. Jackson, Tower Parker, Jason. 6 9 December 12, 1847 - December 17, 1847

43 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (western lines, delays and shortage of wires), finances, materials and supplies.

December 15, 1847. L. Morrell to Ezra Cornell discussing feed for livestock.

Detroit Chicago. Speed, J.J. Faxton, Theodore Bristol, John S. Morrell, L. Wood, M.B. Tillotson, D.T. Cornell, E.B. 6 10 December 18, 1847 - December 22, 1847

44 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines, stock subscriptions. Buffalo New York Quebec Chicago Vermont Detroit Montreal. Cornell, E.B. Speed, J.J. Wells, Henry Cutter, Isaac H. Tillotson, D.T. Haviland, J. Wood, O.S. 6 11 December 23, 1847 - December 27, 1847

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines, stock subscriptions, disputes over western lines Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.

December 23, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Chicago:

"You speak of trying to get wire from Buffalo to Cleveland. Had we better not finish this end? I have repeatenly written you that it is utterly impossible to collect our subscriptions until we get the line down…"

December 24, 1847. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Erie:

"…there is no probability of getting any more wire shipped to Detroit this winter as all the harbours are closed up tight along the lake, the sleighing is good now from Buffalo to this place and the wire might be carted cheap…"

Milwaukee Chicago Buffalo Erie, Penn. Detroit Vermont Troy, N.Y. Michigan. Tillotson, D.T. Speed, J.J. Cornell, E.B. Haviland, J. Morse, Samuel F.B. Dunham, J. Wood, Benjamin Wood, M.B. 6 12 December 28, 1847 - December 31, 1847

50 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines, office operations.

December 28, 1847. B.B. French, President of the Magnetic Telegraph Company to Ezra Cornell regarding shares issued as dividend payments and current operations of eastern lines.

Troy New York City Michigan Chicago Vermont. French, B.B. Haviland, J. Speed, J.J. Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence :: 1848-1850 II-8 1 1848 J.J. Speed discussing telegraph routes and business. Sketched map of telegraph routes on reverse. 6 13 January 1, 1848 - January 8, 1848

45 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines, stock subscriptions. Vermont Troy Chicago. Tillotson, D.T. Speed, J.J. Pinkham, F.W. Beaumont, R.J. Morse, Samuel F.B. Cornell, E.B. Smith, F.O.J. 6 14 January 9, 1848 - January 12, 1848

49 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines. Chicago Vermont. Speed, J.J. Robertson, Mary C. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, E.B. Wood, Benjamin. 7 1 January 13, 1848 - January 18, 1848

59 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines British North American Electric Telegraph Association Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.

January 15, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I like the business exceedingly well and the more I have to do the more pleasant it is for me."

Chicago Vermont Milwaukee. Cornell, Alonzo B. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Vail, Alfred. 7 2 January 19, 1848 - January 23, 1848

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines British North American Electric Telegraph Association Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company. Chicago Vermont Milwaukee. Allen, Oliver E. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Wood, M.L. 7 3 January 23, 1848 - January 31, 1848

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines, rates Buffalo and Canada Junction Telegraph Company. Vermont Montreal Burlington, Vt. Troy Buffalo. Haviland, J. Wood, Phebe Cornell, E.B. Wood, M.B. Allen, W.D. 7 4 February 1, 1848 - February 8, 1848

45 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines (in Vermont and the west), Canadian lines, disputes concerning western lines.

February 2, 1848. B.B. French to Ezra Cornell from Washington:

"Receipts of our line last month about $6000! Give you dividend soon."

February 5, 1848. George Vail to Ezra Cornell concerning Morse Telegraph stocks and rights.

February 6, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"I shall put you in the Montreal Office. I now think you are qualified to perform the duties promptly and with accuracy. It will be a very important station."

Vermont Troy Milwaukee. French, B.B. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, John H. Vail, George Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, E.B. Wood, Benjamin Haviland, J. 7 5 February 9, 1848 - February 22, 1848

58 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, rates, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, disputes concerning western lines family cemetery.

February 16, 1848. J. Haviland:

"I see that Mr. O.R. is pushing his line to Chicago and that Springfield has subscribed $8000!!! What do you think of that?

February 18, 1848. AA. Mann to Ezra Cornell:

"I learn that Col. Speed will not purchase the DeWitt farm at your place. I am therefore at liberty to received a proposal from you if you desire to purchase. The lowest price will be the sum as agreed to by Col. Speed, $6000."

Dryden, N.Y. Ithaca Montreal Vermont Buffalo. Wood, Benjamin Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, M.B. Griffin, Emily Curtis, N.T. Haviland, J. Speed, J.J. Mann, A.A. 7 6 February 23, 1848 - March 7, 1848

51 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, Canadian lines, patent rights, rates, dividends, materials and supplies draft of a contract between Speed, Ezra Cornell, and Smith.

March 5, 1848. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"The Fredonians are much delighted with the idea of being connected with all Creation…Our room was literaly thronged with spectators all the afternoon yesterday beholding with astonishment the greatest wonder of the age."

Montreal Vermont New York City. Cornell, E.B. Kendall, Amos Faxton, Theodore Smith, F.O.J. Benedict, G.W. Morse, Samuel F.B. Allen, W.D. Haviland, J. Bristol, John S. Speed, J.J. 7 7 March 9, 1848 - March 31, 1848

86 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, Canadian lines, materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines and conflict with O'Reilly Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company. Erie Montreal Detroit Buffalo Michigan. Allen, W.D. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Wood, M.B. Griffin, David Cornell, E.B. O'Reilly, Henry Cornell, Alonzo B. Buell,W.C. 7 8 April 2, 1848 - April 13, 1848

43 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines and conflict with O'Reilly, stock subscriptions for a New York southern tier line, Canadian lines, New York & Erie Line British North American Electric Telegraph Association. Massachusetts Milwaukee. Cornell, E.B. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Allen, Oliver E. Wells, Henry. 7 9 April 16, 1848 - April 30, 1848

85 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, disputes concerning western lines and conflict with O'Reilly, disputes concerning Canadian lines Montreal Telegraph Company British North American Electric Telegraph Association.

April 18, 1848. Instructions for operating the Michigan lines.

April 29, 1848. Wire from H.B. Ely to E.B. Cornell:

"Three times now have the wires of the Line of the Buffalo and Erie come in contact with those of the Lake Erie Line so as to prevent ours working. I have therefore to request you immediately to remove your line wherever it runs either above or below ours."

Montreal Vermont Troy Detroit Jefferson (Watkins Glen), N.Y. Havana (Montour Falls), N.Y. Speed, J.J. Haviland, J. Rice, H.F. Cornell, E.B. Cornell, Alonzo B. Howland, Charles W. Allen, W.D. Humphrey, William R. Kendall, Amos Hale, Henry Ely, H.B. Bent, George. 7 10 May 1, 1848 - May 12, 1848

45 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines (Halifax to Boston), western lines, materials and supplies, disputes concerning Canadian lines British North American Electric Telegraph Association.

May 9, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I do not care about staying here any longer than till there is a place for me some where in America, or at least out of Canada."

Detroit Montreal Massachusetts Ohio Vermont. Cornell, E.B. Kendall, Amos Speed, J.J. Reed, Augustus Wells and Company Haviland, J. Cornell, Alonzo B. 7 11 May 14, 1848 - May 23, 1848

59 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Canadian lines. Massachusetts Detroit Ohio. Haviland, J. Tillotson, D.T. McFarland, John H.W. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, E.B. Allen, Oliver E. Dunham, J. Wood, M.B. Cobb, Emory. 7 12 May 24, 1848 - May 31, 1848

59 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Canadian lines "transcriptions of telegraph talk." Salem, N.Y. Aurora, N.Y. Milwaukee Illinois Ohio Connecticut. Morgan, E.G. Edwards, E. Wells, Henry Speed, J.J. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Jackson, Tower Cornell, E.B. Allen, Oliver E. 7 13 June 1, 1848 - June 12, 1848

57 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, disputes concerning western lines, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Canadian lines.

June 6, 1848. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Detroit:

"Wilson is fighting the Pirates in good stile, but I much doubt his ability, or any one else, to get the Stock taken for us from Chicago to St. Louis. O'Reilly has a tribe of agents travelling all over the West, setting up meetings and talking to all who will listen to them in favor of their piratical schemes."

Speed, J.J. Wilson, William Duane Cornell, Alonzo B. McFarland, John H.W. Morgan, E.G. Humphrey, William R. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, E.B. 7 14 June 12, 1848 - June 21, 1848

48 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, western lines, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Canadian lines. Detroit Illinois Montreal. Speed, J.J. Curtis, N.T. Wood, O.S. Cutter, Isaac H. Wilson, William Duane Tillotson, D.T. Ely, Charles. 7 15 June 23, 1848 - July 3, 1848

67 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock subscriptions, disputes concerning western lines, materials and supplies, Canadian lines, New-York & Erie line Connecticut & Vermont Telegraph Company Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.

July 1, 1848. Statement of costs, Detroit to Buffalo.

Massachusetts Jefferson (Watkins Glen), N.Y. Montreal. Speed, J.J. Kendall, Amos Smith, F.O.J. Wood, O.S. Allen, Oliver E. Griffin, David. 8 1 July 4, 1848 - July 14, 1848

72 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, western lines, stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, Canadian lines, Troy & Canada Junction line, finances New-York & Erie Telegraph Company Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company. Troy Vermont Montreal Quebec Buffalo. Cornell, E.B. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Allen, Oliver E. Cutter, Isaac H. Smith, F.O.J. Hale, Henry Cornell, Alonzo B. Livingston, Caroline. 8 2 July 15, 1848 - July 19, 1848

60 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, construction of lines, western lines, Canadian lines, New-York & Erie line Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.

July 17, 1848. J. Dunham to Ezra Cornell:

"I am anxious to inform you of the happy change that has taken place on our line within a few days past. Since Alonzo came to Buffalo matters & things have assumed a very tone…His suggestions were concise but very comprehensive & just what was needed in our state of confusion."

Buffalo Sandusky, Ohio Troy. Cornell, Alonzo B. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Dunham, J. 8 3 July 19, 1848 - July 23, 1848

36 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances (Wells & Company), construction of lines, Troy & Canada Junction line, New-York & Erie line, Erie & Michigan line.

July 22, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Buffalo:

"Allen received a letter from Mr. Speed this morning dated July 16th saying he had the wire all up…but thought it was broken in several places towards Detroit & he thought the wire would be ok by tonight…I will notify you instantly when the 'glorious connection' is made."

July 23, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"I am glad to hear also that the editors begin to perceive an improvement in their reports, but I hope you will not be too much flattered with their puffs - the satisfaction of being right and doing right is ample reward for the little extra exertion required to accomplish so desirable an object, and those least worthy generally succeed in getting the most news paper glory - so that sensible men pay but little attention to such endorsements. Take such evidence & O'Reilly is the Lion in Telegraphing - a perfect Lightning King but take fact for evidence and he dwindles to the position of a perloiner of other peoples fame and property."

Also work and education.

Buffalo Montreal Troy. Cornell, Alonzo B. St. John, T.O. Wood, O.S. O'Reilly, Henry. 8 4 July 24, 1848 - July 31, 1848

60 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Connecticut & Vermont line (Bennington to Bridgeport), Erie & Michigan line, New-York & Erie line. Buffalo Ithaca. Kendall, Amos Allen, Oliver E. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, E.B. Tillotson, D.T. 8 5 August 1, 1848 - August 16, 1848

47 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Connecticut & Vermont line, New-York & Erie line, Troy & Whitehall line, Canadian lines Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Cutter, Isaac H. Cornell, Alonzo B. 8 6 August 17, 1848 - August 26, 1848

42 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Erie & Michigan line, New-York & Erie line. Cornell, Alonzo B. Morgan, Grant Speed, J.J. Minor, Charles S. Tillotson, D.T. Cornell, E.B. 8 7 August 27, 1848 - August 30, 1848

41 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: Troy & Whitehall line, Erie & Michigan line, materials and supplies. Buffalo. Speed, J.J.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Morgan, E.G.; Tillotson, D.T. 8 8 September 1, 1848 - September 7, 1848

60 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Erie & Michigan line, Canadian lines. Milwaukee Cleveland. Tillotson, D.T. Cornell, Alonzo B. Kendall, Amos Speed, J.J. 8 9 September 8, - September 12, 1848

48 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: stock subscriptions, New-York & Erie line, finances, materials and supplies, construction of lines, Connecticut & Vermont line. Cornell, E.B. French, B.B. Bristol, John S. Tillotson, D.T. Cutter, Isaac H. 8 10 September 13, 1848 - September 22, 1848

65 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: Erie & Michigan line, finances, Connecticut & Vermont line, stock subscriptions, New-York & Erie line, Canadian lines, materials and supplies. Massachusetts Cleveland. Wood, M.B. Morry, Le Roy Allen, Oliver E. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, O.S. Tillotson, D.T. Speed, J.J. 8 11 September 23, 1848 - September 30, 1848

56 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies, New-York & Erie line, Erie & Michigan line, construction of lines, Connecticut & Vermont line.

September 20, 1848. Patent Office to Ezra Cornell:

"Your application for letters patent for an alleged improvement in insulating telegraphic wires has been examined and rejected for want of novelty."

September 26, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"The arguement in the O'Reilly injunction suit is postponed until the 3rd Monday in Oct. to give time to learn the grounds of the Kentucky decision. I have just had a talk with Gov. Seward on the subject and he says the whole matter looks well."

September 30, 1848. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:

"I have just learned that the Pirates have got their lease renewed for a month. They are certainly a hard animal to tree."

Cornell, Alonzo B. Bristol, John S. Tillotson, D.T. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Allen, Oliver E. Speed, J.J. 8 12 October 2, 1848 - October 9, 1848

56 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Canadian lines, finances, New-York & Erie line, Erie & Michigan line.

October 8, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Cleveland:

"Business is rather dull just now owing to the depression of the produce market…"

Montreal Quebec Cleveland. Wood, O.S. Cutter, Isaac H. Faxton, Theodore Bristol, John S. Whitney, H.H. Cornell, E.B. Cornell, Alonzo B. Norton, J.W. 8 13 October 10, 1848 - October 19, 1848

59 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Connecticut & Vermont line, Erie & Michigan line, finances, construction of lines, Canadian lines, Troy & Whitehall line.

October 11, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"In politicks the Free soilers brag the most but I have the utmost confidence that Old Zach will carry the county of Tompkins & State of N.Y. and hope he will sweep the stakes in Ohio."

October 12, 1848. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Detroit:

"…I wanted their thousand dollars to silence some of the men who are bawling about their pay for poles & board bills; but I can fight them off as I have done. I hardly think they will cut our poles down, altho they threaten to do so, and I think they have actually cut the wire a number of times…"

Cornell, Alonzo B. Speed, J.J. Cornell, E.B. Bristol, John S. 8 14 October 20, 1848 - October 28, 1848

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, auxiliary lines, finances, Erie & Michigan line, stock subscriptions, New-York & Erie line, construction of lines, Canadian lines, O'Reilly conflict.

October 24, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"Yesterday I staked off the ground on the hill for an orchard. I want to get 1000 apple trees agrowing."

Detroit. Speed, J.J. Cutter, Isaac H. Tillotson, D.T. Cornell, E.B. Bristol, John S. Wood, O.S. 8 15 October 28, 1848 - November 1, 1848

24 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, Erie & Michigan line, Connecticut & Vermont line, finances.

October 29, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I think during election we shall pretty nearly if not quite have our hands full to attend to election news and our regular business also…"

Buffalo Cleveland. Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, John H. Smith, F.O.J. 8 16 November 2, 1848 - November 8, 1848

21 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Connecticut & Vermont line, construction of lines, New-York & Erie line.

November 5, 1848. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I think it a pretty hard case that after a person earns money it is such hard work to get it. I don't want to complain but I feel as though I ought to have my pay just as promptly as any of the hands."

Ithaca. Allen, Oliver E. Cornell, E.B. Bristol, John S. 8 17 November 9, 1848 - November 14, 1848

45 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: New-York & Erie line, materials and supplies, Erie & Michigan line, finances, Ithaca & Auburn line, Canadian lines.

November 9, 1848. Letter from John H. Cornell to Ezra Cornell proposing that he carry on the pottery business in Ithaca.

November 10, 1848. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Cleveland:

"Allow me to congratulate you on two important events, first the election of old Zack, and second, but not less important, the fact that we have this day worked through for the first time from Detroit to Buffalo as well as we ever worked from here to Buffalo - the Erie & Michigan line is now complete with thirty poles to the mile and every cap on and works as beautifully as any line ever did…"

Albion Detroit Cleveland Fredonia, N.Y. Newburgh, N.Y. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, John H. Faxton, Theodore Tillotson, D.T. Speed, J.J. Dunham, J. Cornell, E.B. Wood, O.S. 8 18 November 15, 1848 - November 23, 1848

76 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: New-York & Erie line, construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, Speed's new caps, Canadian lines, Ithaca & Auburn line, Connecticut line, Erie & Michigan line.

November 16, 1848. F.O.J. Smith to Ezra Cornell concerning insulators, telegraph conflicts, Henry O'Reilly, and Theodore Faxton.

November 23, 1848. J.J. Speed in Detroit to Ezra Cornell:

"The wolverines have been keeping Thanksgiving today and have consequently done but about half the usual amt. of business.

"I see that Judge Monroe of Kentucky has ordered the Marshall to cut down O'Reilly's poles - is not that a new remedy in law? I wish we had a Judge Monroe here."

Detroit Chicago. Cornell, E.B. Cornell, John H. Bristol, John S. Allen, Oliver E. Smith, F.O.J. Dunham, J. Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, O.S. Backus, A., Jr. Jackson, Tower. 9 1 November 24, 1848 - November 30, 1848

60 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, New-York & Erie Telegraph Company.

November 29, 1848. D.T. Tillotson to E.B. Cornell:

"The office at Jefferson was opened today, and the two Lakes kiss each other by 'Lightning'."

Cleveland Ithaca Fredonia. Cornell, Alonzo B. Speed, J.J. Smith, F.O.J. Wood, Phebe Risley, William Beebe, Jeremiah S. Tillotson, D.T. 9 2 December 1, 1848 - December 13, 1848

67 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines.

December 4, 1848. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell:

"You cannot complain that I have been hard with you, as surely I am not to blame for the unprincipled conduct of those pirates who are leaving no stone unturned to rob me in every way. Please send me the number of miles you and Speed have erected I wish it to oppose to O'Reilly's boast."

December 10, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell on the settlement of the O'Reilly controversy.

December 12, 1848. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell on the financial resolution of the O'Reilly controversy.

Detroit Michigan Montreal. Allen, Oliver E. Cornell, Alonzo B. Speed, J.J. O'Reilly, Henry Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, E.B. Cornell, John H. Wood, M.B. Wood, O.S. Morse, Samuel F.B. 9 3 December 14, 1848 - December 29, 1848

57 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, finances, stock subscriptions, proposed lines, construction of lines.

December 14, 1848. Horace Palmer to Alonzo B. Cornell concerning women, "theatres," and lost love.

December 18, 1848. Douglass Boardman to Ezra Cornell:

"The operator at Jefferson was directed by some one to teach no one the art of Telegraphic writing while at Jefferson. Believing this to be against the future interests of the Company I directed him to teach any one all he knew about it and no member of the Company would object."

December 20, 1848. J.H. McFarland to Ezra Cornell:

"The New York Albany and Buffalo Line refuse to send coms orginating on our line & addressed to points on that line unless we pay their tariff."

December 21, 1848. H.C. Gilbert to Ezra Cornell:

"The language of your letter of the 18th is really astonishing & unreasonable."

Cleveland Ithaca Auburn, N.Y. Detroit. Tillotson, D.T. Palmer, Horace Bristol, John S. Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Boardman, Douglass MacFarland, J.H. Gilbert, H.C. Cornell, E.B. Wood, M.L. Wilson, William Duane Wood, Otis E. 9 4 December 31, 1848 - January 7, 1849

74 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, stock subscriptions, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, patent rights.

December 31, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I see the cholera is approaching the Lakes on every side, both east and south. It is now in Cincinnatti & all the way up the Miss. now."

December 31, 1848. Jane Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"Ezra I believe you belong to the "Sons of Temperance" and if so I will inform you that there has been a society organized in Albion called "Daughters of Temperance" and that Phebe and I have joined and like it first rate."

January 2, 1849. Jane Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"…I have nothing to dress in on that occasion, that is I have no dress that will answer to appear on the stage in. All the young ladies will appear in silk or merino and as I have nothing but a delaine that I have had above a year, I thought that I would write you the circumstances and trust to your generosity in helping me procure one."

Cleveland Albion. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, Jane Allen, Oliver E. Speed, J.J. 9 5 January 8, 1849 - January 24, 1849

68 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, stocks, patent rights cholera.

January 17, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:

"We must have a line from St. Louis to Fort Independence, and ultimately to the great Commercial Emporium on the Pacific, at the bay of San Francisco. If the 'gold diggins' are what they are cracked up to be, there will be a city at San Francisco of more than one hundred thousand inhabitants in less than ten years, Whitneys RRoad will be built and the telegraph along side of it."

Detroit Cleveland. Cornell, Alonzo B. Speed, J.J. O'Reilly, Henry Tillotson, D.T. 9 6 January 25, 1849 - February 9, 1849

63 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, proposed line (Cuba), disputes concerning western lines, O'Reilly's proposed lines cholera gold fever.

January 27, 1849. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"The people are not, in this part of the country, a quarter so much excited about the Cholera as the Gold fever."

Detroit Cleveland. Cornell, E.B. Wood, O.S. O'Reilly, Henry Speed, J.J. Bristol, John S. Hoyt, Byron B. Nutter, J. Tillotson, D.T. Cornell, Alonzo B. 9 7 February 10, 1849 - February 28, 1849

76 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, new lines, patent rights, western lines, Connecticut & Vermont line gold fever. Massachusetts New York City Detroit Montreal. Bristol, John S. Bulkley, Charles S. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Tillotson, D.T. Speed, J.J. Smith, F.O.J. Wood, O.S. 9 8 March 2, 1849 - March 20, 1849

67 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, new lines, stocks.

March 10, 15, and 17, 1849. J.J. Speed's experiments and speculations concerning telegraph science.

Detroit New York City Ithaca Fredonia. Bristol, John S. Smith, F.O.J. Briggs, Amos Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Dunham, J. Cobb, Emory. 9 9 March 20, 1849 - March 31, 1849

42 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines.

March 28, 1849. J.J. Speed on telegraph technology and Morse's patent.

Fredonia Detroit. Tillotson, D.T. Speed, J.J. Park, J.D. Cornell, Jane Pew, W.P. 9 10 April 2, 1849 - April 18, 1849

42 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, Erie & Michigan line.

April 13, 1849. J.J. Speed's experiments and speculations concerning telegraph science.

April 15, 1849. Jane Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"Mary has left of doctoring with a Botanic Doctor, and is taking Myres Sarsaparilla Dandelion & Wild-cherry extract…"

Detroit. Speed, J.J. Cornell, Jane Briggs, Amos Cornell, E.S. Cornell, John H. 9 11 April 19, 1849 - April 30, 1849

45 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, new lines.

April 23, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:

"O'Reilly now refuses to take coms from us to go South from any place where they have an office. Shall we refuse to take coms from them going West? If anything is left to my discretion I give you notice now, that my propensities are decidedly for war."

Also, April 23, 27, 28, 30, 1849: J.J. Speed's speculations concerning telegraph science.

April 29, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell on temperance.

McFarland, J.H. Wood, O.S. Speed, J.J. 9 12 May 1, 1849 - May 18, 1849

66 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, rates, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, Canadian lines.

May 6, 1849. J.J. Speed's speculations concerning telegraph science.

Speed, J.J. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Hicks, Charles C. Allen, Oliver E. 9 13 May 19, 1849 - June 4, 1849

55 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, western lines, stock subscriptions, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, Canadian lines.

May 19, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:

"…our operators here had been supoened to give evidence in relation to private business sent over the line."

May 28, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"…as I have got Fall Creek, I shall have to stay at home and attend to it, and you will have to become Captain General of the lightning."

June 6, 1849. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson:

"…after talking with O'Reilly a short time, Mann said he became convinced that they wished him to engage in a swindling operation to fleece his neighbours & friends…"

Milwaukee Ithaca Indiana Ohio. Speed, J.J. Jackson, Tower Lee, John J.S. 9 14 June 5, 1849 - June 10, 1849

83 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, stock subscriptions, western lines, conflict with O'Reilly's lines. Connecticut Ohio. Speed, J.J. Beebe, Jeremiah S. 10 1 June 23, 1849 - July 2, 1849

36 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Cleveland & Cincinnati line, New-York & Erie line, St. Louis line, O'Reilly conflict, finances Ithaca & Auburn Telegraph Company.

June 30, 1849. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell:

"If you have suffered from the outrageous rascalities of the O'Reilly pirates in any degree, I have suffered tenfold more, but there will soon be an end of their machinations if there is any force in law or justice."

Cleveland Milan, Ohio Ithaca. Wade, J.H. Speed, J.J. Allen, Oliver E. Tillotson, D.T. Spencer, D.D. Bristol, John S. Morse, Samuel F.B. 10 2 July 4, 1849 - July 12, 1849

45 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: Connecticut & Vermont line, proposed lines, stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, new western lines Ithaca & Auburn Telegraph Company.

July 4, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"…Ithaca has a plank road from Hotel to Inlet, one mile, great for Tompkins Company — a dozen has been planed — but have all evaporated in a few set speaches at public meetings — but our Ithaca plank road makes a fine track for the 4th of Julyers to try their nags on."

Also Ezra Cornell's experiments with line connections.

Ithaca Detroit. Cornell, Alonzo B. Tillotson, D.T. Bristol, John S. Faxton, Theodore McGowan, S.W. Speed, J.J. Hotchkiss, S.W. Beebe, Jeremiah S. 10 3 July 13, 1849 - July 26, 1849

33 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, new lines.

July 13, 1849. J.J. Speed in Detroit to Ezra Cornell:

"You have warned me in the past to avoid experiments: but I am making one more. I have got a Mrs. Sheldon to take the office at Jackson and am going to get your sister Mrs. Wood to take the Albion office: both are abundantly qualified to do the business better than any boy, or man, that we can afford to pay in those places. If the ex works as well as I have every confidence to believe it will, I will put a woman in the offices at Ann Arbor, Marshall, & Battle Creek…."

July 15, 1849. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell explaining the working of a telegraph line.

July 20, 1849. S.W. McGowan to Ezra Cornell discussing possible new lines in northern New York and difficulties in selling subscriptions.

Detroit Cleveland Ithaca. Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, M.L. Tillotson, D.T. Faxton, Theodore Bristol, John S. McGowan, S.W. Jackson, Tower. 10 4 July 27, 1849 - August 9, 1849

46 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, new lines in Ithaca area (Waterloo, Seneca Falls, Aurora), reconstruction of Ithaca & Elmira line, stock subscriptions, finances.

July 29, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell concerning travel between New York and Ithaca, telegraph line operations, Ithaca & Owego railroad, Sodus Canal, and purchase of Fall Creek property:

"I think after this year I shall give up the Telegraph business to you and Col. Speed and I will turn my attention to the improvement of the property."

August 6, 1849. J.J. Speed in Detroit describing the effect of the cholera epidemic in the west (mid-west), progress on the Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Cincinnati lines, and finances.

Ithaca Detroit. Cornell, Alonzo B. Speed, J.J. Kendall, Amos Beebe, Jeremiah S. Tillotson, D.T. Jackson, Tower. 10 5 August 11, 1849 - August 23, 1849

40 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: Ithaca & Elmira line, New-York & Erie line, Connecticut & Vermont line, stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, finances.

August 21, 1849. J. H. Wade in Milan to Ezra Cornell reporting on the progress of the Cleveland & Cincinnati line, and the effect of cholera in the region.

August 21, 1849. S.W. Hotchkiss in Galena to Ezra Cornell reporting on progress of new lines in Illinois and Wisconsin and the O'Reilly conflict.

Ithaca Cleveland Galena, Ill. Bush, I.L. Tillotson, D.T. Cornell, Alonzo B. Lewis, A.S. Wade, J.H. Hotchkiss, S.W. Speed, J.J. 10 6 August 25, 1849 - September 10, 1849

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Connecticut & Vermont line, finances, Ithaca & Elmira line, Albany & Newburgh line.

August 25, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"You have a young brother here about 3 days old. He is a fine fellow and will soon want a situation in a Telegraph office."

September 8, 1849. Theodore S. Faxton to Ezra Cornell concerning settlement of Ezra Cornell's accounts with the New York, Albany & Buffalo Telegraph Company.

September 10, 1849. S.W. Hotchkiss to Ezra Cornell from Sheboygan concerning new lines under construction in the west, competition from O'Reilly, and the effects of the cholera epidemic.

Ithaca Connecticut Buffalo. Cornell, Alonzo B. Smith, F.O.J. Bush, I.L. Lewis, A.S. Tillotson, D.T. Dewey, Theodore Speed, J.J. Faxton, Theodore Hotchkiss, S.W. 10 7 September 11, 1849 - September 19, 1849

38 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, New-York & Erie line, finances, Connecticut & Vermont line.

September 17, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell, diagrams and description of new "switch" he had developed which would allow transmitting of messages over long distances without rewriting (connecting circuits). 2nd letter, same date, concerns progress on new western lines (Cleveland & Cincinnati, St. Louis).

Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Boardman, Douglass Allen, T.F. French, B.B. 10 8 September 20, 1849 - October 4, 1849

49 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, new western lines (Zanesville, St. Louis), finances Connecticut & Vermont Telegraph Company railroad convention in St. Louis.

September 20, 1849. Beach Brothers to Ezra Cornell inquiring as to arrangements for transmission of news messages for The New York Sun over the New-York & Erie and the Erie & Michigan lines. (Letter of October 1, 1849 indicates this idea has been abandoned by the Beach Brothers)

September 20, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell concerning prospects looking good for new western lines, O'Reilly conflict, and connecting circuits.

September 23, 1849. Phebe Wood to Ezra Cornell:

"I think that I shall like tellegraphing if I have good instruments. I wish you would come and see us. I could now appreciate some instructions in regard to electricity."

New York City. Speed, J.J. Wood, Phebe Smith, F.O.J. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Tillotson, D.T. Wade, J.H. 10 9 October 5, 1849 - October 18, 1849

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, New-York & Erie line, Cleveland & Cincinnati line, office operations.

October 1849. George B. Prescott's answer to the bill of complaint by Ezra Cornell.

October 7, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell, regarding Speed's new circuit connector:

"You say work the telegraph as it is, and not allow myself to chase Jack-O-Lanterns. I answer yes, if I cannot make the public believe that my Jack-O-Lantern is a real bonafide lighthouse - and induce them to pay me their money to help build it."

October 9, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell reprimanding him for closing his telegraph office early on an election night:

"This will not do and if it cant be reformed we will have some turnouts."

Cleveland. Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Benedict, E.D. Wade, J.H. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Wheeler, M. Allen, T.F. Jackson, Tower. 10 10 October 20, 1849 - October 31, 1849

47 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: Cleveland & Cincinnati line, finances, materials and supplies (brimstone insulators), Wisconsin lines, New-York & Erie line.

October 20, 1849. D.T. Tillotson to Ezra Cornell reporting on survey of Chenango Valley. October 20, 1849. E.D Benedict to operators connected with Cleveland and Pittsburgh line detailing a

"system of doing business in regular order, and promptly, at the same time giving each and every office a fair and equal chance."

October 27, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell describing continued experiments with his switch.

October 29, 1849. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson discussing Ithaca area lines (Waterloo and Elmira), operations of House line and Bain telegraph lines in the east, and the business of the New-York & Erie line.

Ithaca Zanesville, Ohio Milwaukee New York City. Tillotson, D.T. Benedict, E.D. Speed, J.J. Hotchkiss, S.W. Smith, F.O.J. Jackson, G.J. 10 11 November 1, 1849 - November 26, 1849

48 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Erie & Michigan line, Cleveland & Cincinnati line Ohio lines death of Elizabeth Cornell.

November 4, 1849. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell discussing the potential of the Cincinnati, Wheeling, & Pittsburgh line and his view of Speed's switch as an important improvement in telegraph operations.

November 15, 1849. Letters of condolence from H.C. Buell and W.W. Marks to Alonzo B. Cornell on the death of his sister Elizabeth.

November 24, 1849. Phebe Wood to Ezra Cornell, expressing sympathy on Elizabeth's death and discussing the success of women telegraph operators:

"John writes me that Jane intends going to learn the tailors trade but I think she would do better to learn to telegraph. I hear that they employ ladies in ops east."

Ithaca Cleveland Albion. Jackson, G.J. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, E.B. Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Bristol, John S. Cornell, Elizabeth Wood, Phebe. 10 12 November 27, 1849 - December 12, 1849

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies, office operations, New-York & Erie line, stock subscriptions. Tillotson, D.T. Cornell, E.B. Chace, Thomas Cornell, Alonzo B. Speed, J.J. Wade, J.H. 10 13 December 15, 1849 - December 26, 1849

64 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, new lines (Ohio, Wheeling to New Philadelphia), Zanesville line, office operations, materials and supplies.

December 18, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell discussing finances, results of his work in Ohio, and future plans for lines to the west.

December 22, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Board of Directors of Hudson River Railroad Company proposing a reciprocal arrangement for the right to erect poles along the railroad line from New York to Poughkeepsie and for free passage of his men in return for telegraph services for railroad business.

December 25, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann and children, from Peekskill:

"I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Merry, Merry Christmas, and I hope old Santa Claus wont be so verry busy as to pass by…without even droping in to catch a glance of those bewitching merry eyes, of my darling Mary or the cherub smiles of my baby Boy…."

Cornell, Alonzo B. Speed, J.J. O'Reilly, Henry Haviland, J. Dunham, J. 10 14 14 December 27, 1849 - January 14, 1850

50 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: stock subscriptions, finances, Zanesville line, Zanesville & Wheeling-Pittsburgh line, Ithaca area lines (Auburn, Palmyra) New-York & Erie Telegraph Association.

January 5, 1850. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"We miss our dear Elizabeth verry much from our family circle our recollections of her innocent mirth, and cheerful good nature with hopes for her eternal happiness is our only consolation - and her sudden departure should admonish us all to be ready for a like event, and may we all in the end meet her in happiness."

Cleveland Ithaca. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Jackson, Tower Cornell, Alonzo B. Boardman, Douglass Eddy, J. 10 15 January 15, 1850 - January 29, 1850

43 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: stock subscriptions, office operations, finances, materials and supplies New York & Erie Telegraph Association.

January 28, 1850. T.W. Hotchkiss to Ezra Cornell from Milwaukee concerning finances, progress on Wisconsin lines, and the pirates.

January 29, 1850. T. F. Allen to Ezra Cornell giving account of his attempts to raise subscriptions for a line from Towanda to Owego.

Cleveland Milwaukee. Wood, M.L. Brown, Charles L. Tillotson, D.T. Luther, G. Morrell, John J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Hotchkiss, S.W. Smith, F.O.J. Wood, O.S. 10 16 January 30, 1850 - February 19, 1850

59 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock subscriptions New-York & Erie Telegraph Association.

February 25 and 29, 1850. Proposition by Ezra Cornell to New York and Erie Railroad Company.

Cleveland Peekskill, N.Y. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wade, J.H. Northrop, C.C. Tillotson, D.T. 11 1 March 1, 1850 - March 29, 1850

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, patent rights, stocks, finances New-York & Erie Telegraph Association. Ohio New York City Ithaca. Mowrey, LeRoy Tillotson, D.T. Cornell, E.B. 11 2 March 30, 1850 - April 15, 1850

57 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, patent disputes, stocks, finances Magnetic Telegraph Company. New York City. Smith, F.O.J. Speed, J.J. Morse, Samuel F.B. 11 3 April 16, 1850 - May 8, 1850

69 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, patent disputes, stocks, finances.

April 20, 1850. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I am very sorry to hear that you are so strained in your money matters. Though it is not very much to be wondered at considering from whence you expect money."

April 1850. Letters from Speed describing possible improvements to telegraph technology, and a method of preventing steam boilers from exploding.

Detroit Ithaca. Cornell, Alonzo B. Speed, J.J. 11 4 May 9, 1850 - May 22, 1850

48 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances.

May 18, 1850. Statement describing the operations of the New York telegraph station, including transcriptions of messages and comment on illicit use of the line.

New York City. Speed, J.J. Wood, M.L. 11 5 May 25, 1850 - June 11, 1850

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, New York City operations, Erie & Michigan line.

May 27, 1850. Letter from Speed describing possible improvements to telegraph technology.

Ithaca New York City Fredonia. Tyler, A.L. Robinson, Charles B. Speed, J.J. Beebe, Jeremiah S. 11 6 June 12, 1850 - July 4, 1850

43 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, New York City operations, stocks. New York City. Robinson, Charles B. Kendall, Amos Smith, F.O.J. Bagley, B. Speed, J.J. 11 7 July 5, 1850 - July 19, 1850

57 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, disputes concerning western lines.

July 17, 1850. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:

"If the experience of the past is any criterion for the future, the grim specter poverty will always stand staring me in the face. At all events I have to meet his ugly visage daily…"

Detroit New York City. Speed, J.J. Robinson, Charles B. Faxton, Theodore Beebe, Jeremiah S. Ely, Charles. 11 8 July 20, 1850 - July 31, 1850

32 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions Ithaca real estate. Ithaca New York City. Munn, W.H. Cornell, Alonzo B. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Speed, J.J. 11 9 August 1, 1850 - August 28, 1850

84 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, difficulties and breakdowns of lines, rates New-York & Erie Telegraph Company wheat. Ely, Charles Tillotson, D.T. Hotchkiss, S.W. Speed, J.J. Vail, Hector Tillotson, D.T. 11 10 August 29, 1850 - September 20, 1850

68 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies. Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Robinson, Charles B. Wood, M.B. Vail, Hector Tillotson, D.T. 11 11 September 21, 1850 - October 30, 1850

81 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies.

October 2, 1850. Miscellaneous telegraph transcriptions, including account of Utah Indians/Snake Indians battle.

Connecticut. Speed, J.J. 11 12 November 2, 1850 - November 25, 1850

43 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies. New York City Newburgh. Robinson, Charles B. Tillotson, D.T. Ingersoll, Charles M. Speed, J.J. Smith, F.O.J. 11 13 November 26, 1850 - December 13, 1850

46 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies.

November 30, 1850. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:

"I have generally looked on the bright side of the picture, and believed the good time was coming; but since you was here, I have been more discouraged than I have ever been before. The debts unpaid at F, and the bitter curses heaped upon the Telegraph…"

December 5, 1850. Jeremiah S. Beebe to Ezra Cornell:

"The constant habit of smoking in the office keeps me sick at the stomach, and has frequently driven me to the street. It is much more like a bar room of a small tavern than a place of business."

December 5, 1850. Charles Robinson to Ezra Cornell:

"I understand (Mr. Beebe) has written you about the office being like a bar room - I deny this. I should not, were it not through respect to you, allow Mr. Beebe in the office as he is often under the influence of liquor…"

Newburgh New York City. Speed, J.J. Ingersoll, Charles M. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Robinson, Charles B. Ely, Charles Dunham, J. 11 14 December 15, 1850 - December 30, 1850

61 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies.

December 9, 1850. J.J. Speed to Stephen Munn:

"The Telegraph controversy between the Morse Patenters and others has been postponed from time to time or decided against the Morse Patents…"

December 24, 1850. O.S. Wood to Ezra Cornell on Ithacaland, the DeWitt Farm, and the family.

Detroit Newburgh Ithaca Montreal. Speed, J.J. Ingersoll, Charles M. Minot, Charles Cornell, Alonzo B. Bristol, John S. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Wood, O.S. Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence :: 1851-1856 12 1 January 2, 1851 - February 6, 1851

72 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, office operations New-York & Erie Telegraph Company.

1848-1851. Extracts from O'Reilly's letters to Delano.

January 21, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell discussing telegraph office operations, the possible dishonesty of an operator, and business with Hotchkiss.

February 4, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell concerning business with Faxton.

Detroit Ithaca. O'Reilly, Henry Delano, W.J. Speed, J.J. Hotchkiss, S.W. Ingersoll, C.M. Faxton, Theodore Cornell, Alonzo B. 12 2 February 7, 1851 - February 15, 1851

49 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, salaries, patent rights. Penn Yan, N.Y. Detroit Ithaca. Tillotson, L.G. Ingersoll, C.M. Curtis, E.H. Speed, J.J. 12 3 February 17, 1851 - March 4, 1851

49 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances, materials and supplies, consolidation of lines.

February 24, 1851. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed discussing Speeds experiments and proposing that a consolidation of lines be considered.

February 28, 1851. D.T. Tillotson to Ezra Cornell:

"I am getting very short for want of money. My rects. are light & what I have recd. I have been paying up old debts with. I want some clothes very much but can't get them. It is now nearly 2 years since I commenced working for you & for the first 6 months I have hardly recd. a cent & not much for the rest of the time."

March 4, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Detroit:

" I do not know but the cursed rascals will use us up at last. It is absolutely certain that some one is purposely interrupting our lines. It is utterly impossible for so many things to happen by accident without any apparent cause."

Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. 12 4 March 5, 1851 - March 25, 1851

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, demands for payment, office operations.

March 18, 1851. C.M. Ingersoll to Ezra Cornell from Newburgh regarding payment of operators.

Cleveland Ithaca. Speed, J.J. Wade, J.H. Ingersoll, C.M. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, E.B. 12 5 March 27, 1851- May 27, 1851

58 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, demands for payment, materials and supplies.

April 18, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Detroit reporting on western lines (Zanesville & Wheeling, Zanesville & Pittsburgh) and possible agreements with railroads.

May 3, 1851. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell concerning the insurance sold by Alonzo.

May 13, 1851. Report of the Ithaca Falls Company.

Narrowsburgh, N.Y. New York City Honesdale, Penn. Skinner, G.W. Ingersoll, C.M. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, L.G. Wheeler, M. Cornell, Alonzo B. 12 6 May 29, 1851 - June 19, 1851

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations. Speed, J.J. Ingersoll, C.M. Kendall, Amos Shippen, W. 12 7 June 20, 1851 - July 19, 1851

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies, office operations.

July 16, 1851. J. C. Woodruff to Ezra Cornell:

"The stockholders of your company are very much dissatisfied with your management from beginning to end, and are clamorous for a change in its management. Ithaca charges all its misfortunes upon you, and I do not see but you must stand Godfather to them all, fix it as you will. We have a line of telegraph that ought to pay well - substantially built - well arranged, and yet running into debt every day, and becoming a reproach and bye word among telegraphers and laymen…. In short, there is one general complaint - one outcry, and it is evident to me, that though you understand telegraphing well, you either have too much business in hand, or are short of capacity and concentration to manage such a line….

"We stockholders lack confidence in your ability to do anything with it, and the people lack confidence in the line…."

July 8, 1851. S.W. Hotchkiss to Ezra Cornell from Madison reporting of the reorganization of the Milwaukee, Galena & Chicago Telegraph Company under the name of the Northwestern Telegraph Company.

July 13, 19, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell concerning financial arrangements and operations of western lines.

Cleveland. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, L.G. Shippen, W. Ingersoll, C.M. Hotchkiss, S.W. 12 8 July 20, 1851 - August 19, 1851

43 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances, offices in railroad depots (cooperation between the businesses), meeting of directors of the New-York & Erie Telegraph Association.

July 28, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell concerning finances and management of western lines.

Elmira, N.Y. Tillotson, L.G. Speed, J.J. Woodruff, L.C. 12 9 August 27, 1851 - September 29, 1851

49 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances New-York & Erie Telegraph Association wheat.

August 27, 1851. L.C. Woodruff to Ezra Cornell expressing support of leasing the New-York & Erie line to Ezra Cornell.

September 6, 1851. Mckinney Irion to Ezra Cornell from Wolf River, Tennessee:

"My neighbour Mr. McNeal has received some of your beautiful wheat and I am so pleased with it causes me to ask the kind favour of you to send me a small quantity…."

September 16, 1851. Ezra Cornell to Amos Kendall:

"My courage is fast failing. I have worked hard and incessently for the last nine years at the Telegraph business, practicing the most rigid economy, and I am now worse off than when I began. At the time I first embarked in the business I was worth five thousand dollars in real estate which rented for enough to support my family. Now that same real estate is encumbered with a mortgage for money invested in the telegraph business and I am in debt some $15,000 besides for cost of construction of the various lines, and I cannot get the first cent from any of them toards paying interest on what I owe, aside from this is the various claims of patentees for account of patent.

"…My wife well knows my ability to support my family by labour if properly directed. She feels that I have followed the Telegraph quite long enough, and that it would be for our interest to abandon it in toto and all claims upon it, and direct my energies in some more productive channel.

If I had been successful in the business I should not think of an appeal of this kind, but under the circumstances I think I have a claim to my devotion to the interest of Prof. Morse and his great invention entitles me to some concideration tin the settlement of this question of patent."

September 25, 1851. J.J. Speed:

"I can say now with great sincerity that I am used up - nothing under heaven but hope & that rather small…All I can say is I will keep trying & if I do not see a better prospect in 6 months, I will abandon the whole thing & try to get some squatters right in Oregon or elsewhere. Yours, busted all to hell, J.J. Speed Jr."

New York City. Woodruff, L.C. Pew, W.P. Kendall, Amos Wood, Otis E. Speed, J.J. Munn, Stephen B. Irion, Mckinney. 12 10 October 1, 1851 - October 25, 1851

62 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations meeting of New-York & Erie Telegraph Association.

October 5, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:

"I think Faxton is trying to make an arrangement with the OR line to get their bus & give them half of his. As soon as he does so I will make a bargain with the House folks and give them & Bain our Eastern business this side of NY, and the NY bus until you get so you can do it…"

October 6, 1851. J.J. Speed to Directors and Stockholders of New-York & Erie Telegraph Company reporting on telegraph lines and the business they are doing, the problem of brimstone caps, and recommendations for improving the line and business.

Detroit. Hopkins, P.A. Wood, Otis E. Munn, Stephen B. Speed, J.J. Finch, James Tillotson, L.G. Wade, J.H. 12 11 October 27, 1851 - November 22, 1851

47 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies, office operations, New-York & Erie line. Cleveland Narrowsburgh. Speed, J.J. Munn, Stephen B. Hopkins, P.A. 12 12 December 1, 1851 - December 31, 1851

35 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances, materials and supplies, New-York & Erie line, consolidation of lines.

December 21, 1851. John S. Bristol to Ezra Cornell expressing condolences on the death of Ezra Cornell's son Ezra.

1851. Petition for renewal of Patent for "Cornell's improved pipelayer."

Munn, Stephen B. Livingston, Johnston Speed, J.J. Bristol, John S. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, Ezra (son of the Founder). 12 13 January 1, 1852 - January 30, 1852

43 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, New-York & Erie line, finances.

January 15, 1852. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed reporting the sale of the New-York & Erie line:

"I shall soon get the N.Y.&E. in good shape, and get up a good feeling, and I must have a chance at the western business."

Ithaca. Smith, C.M. Munn, Stephen B. Speed, J.J. Livingston, Johnston Dunham, J. Hopkins, P.A. Cornell, Alonzo B. 12 14 February 1, 1852 - February 26, 1852

38 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: New-York & Erie line, office operations, finances.

February 10, 1852. Ezra Cornell to Edmond Coffin of Tarrytown, New York:

"If your self and friends should still be desirous of securing the facilities of an office at Tarrytown either with or without branches extending to your dwellings, I should be hapy of an interview with you on the subject."

February 15, 1852. Ezra Cornell to Orrin S. Wood:

"In regard to my affairs, it is difficult for me to place an estimate upon them. I may be worth an hundred thusand dollars if I live a year or two longer or I may not be worth a cent - it all depends upon the manner in which the Telegraph war which has raged so fiercely in the states the past three years is ended…I however do not despair my confidence is as firm as ever in the future of my enterprises…"

Also Ithaca real estate, Ithaca's growth.

Narrowsburgh. Hopkins, P.A. Coffin, Edmond Wood, O.S. Speed, J.J. 12 15 March 1, 1852 - March 31, 1852

51 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances, New-York & Erie line.

March 20, 1852. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell discussing western business and Speed's proposal of a printing telegraph.

March 22, 1852. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:

"What say you to making one desparate effort to retrieve the past, and provide for the future by going to California & building a line…."

Detroit Ithaca. Speed, J.J. Wood, Otis E. Wood, Benjamin Hopkins, P.A. 13 1 April 2, 1852 - April 23, 1852

50 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, near-collapse of company, transfer of lines, patents and contracts.

April 7, 1852. Transcripts of letters from Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed:

"I was never so poor in my life as now, I am barely able to supply the necessaries of life. This position weighs heavily on my spirits, and I must get relief soon or it will drive me crazy. I have not contributed a dollar to the support of my family in two years, they suffer for the ordinary comforts of life. Smith and Kendall are both as heartless as adamant and as selfish as the devel."

April 27:

"My clothes are getting so ragged I am ashamed of my appearance…I learn this evening that my wife has presented me with another daughter and I feel guilty of abusing the best of women by not being with her during her confinement, but my embarassments, poverty & sickness altogether has prevented…"

May 7:

"This trial has exposed the fact to the satisfaction of my mind that Morse did not invent the local circuit, and that he first learned it from Davies invention which was on exhibition in London when Smith & Morse arrived there."

April 16, 1852. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed concerning New-York & Erie Company, and including technological suggestions.

Cornell, Alonzo B. Kendall, Amos Speed, J.J. Smith, F.O.J. Munn, Stephen. 13 2 April 24, 1852 - May 10, 1852

58 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: transfer of lines, office operations, materials and supplies, patents and contracts, new lines in the South.

April 27, 1852. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed:

"I regard Smith's treatment towards us, in giving O'Reilly the control of the territory in question, as the most shabby character…"

April 27, 1852. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell including comment on the company and speculations on telegraph science.

April 30, 1852. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"I can disern a streak of light, the clouds of adversity appear to be braking, and the sunshine of hope glimmers through the fractured darkness."

May 4, 1852. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"As you requested I have secured your appointment as Agent of the New York Mutual Life insurance Co."

New York City. Speed, J.J. Cornell, Mary Ann Cornell, Alonzo B. 13 3 May 11, 1852 - May 31, 1852

39 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, new lines in the South, transfer of lines, patents and contracts telegraph patent trial in New York Superior Court.

May, 1852. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell on "facsimile telegraph."

May 25, 1852. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed:

"I arrived in N.Y. to day found your letter with facsimilie message, and it was not so bad a specimen…. Don't get excited, and don't neglect the E & M Line, keep that agoing…"

New York City. Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. 13 4 June 4, 1852 - June 25, 1852

56 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, new lines, transfer of lines, patents and contracts.

June 14, 1852. List of lines of the New-York & Erie Telegraph Company, cities and miles.

June 1852. J.J. Speed's experiments and speculations concerning telegraph science.

Ithaca New York City. Speed, J.J. Wood, Benjamin. 13 5 June 26, 1852 - July 8, 1852

60 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, transfer of lines, patents and contracts New York and Western Union Telegraph Company.

June, July 1852. J.J. Speed's experiments and speculations concerning telegraph science.

June 27, 1852. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell reflecting on years of marriage.

July 4, 1852. Ezra Cornell to Jeremiah S. Beebe pleading that he refrain from drinking to avoid losing his employment:

"Total abstinance is the only rallying cry under which victory is sure."

New York City. Cornell, Mary Ann Speed, J.J. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Smith, F.O.J. 13 6 July 9, 1852 - July 23, 1852

47 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, transfer of lines, consolidation of lines New York and Western Union Telegraph Company.

July 10, 1852. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:

"Wood has just come in and I read him your letter. He says you can crawl through a small hole with a whole skin than any other live man."

New York City Ithaca Chicago. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Beebe, Sarah P.T. Speed, J.J. Wade, J.H. Cobb, Emory. 13 7 July 24, 1852 - July 31, 1852

60 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, patents, western lines, materials and supplies, transfer of lines, consolidation of lines New York and Western Union Telegraph Company cholera New York and Erie Railroad Company. Chicago St. Louis Ithaca. Speed, J.J. O'Reilly, Henry Faxton, Theodore Beebe, Jeremiah S. Haviland, J. Bristol, John S. Gordon, D.P. Loder, Benjamin. 13 8 August 1, 1852 - August 23, 1852

44 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, patents, western lines, transfer of lines, consolidation of lines New York and Western Union Telegraph Company. Speed, J.J. 13 9 August 24, 1852 - September 18, 1852

34 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, patents, consolidation of lines, western lines New York and Western Union Telegraph Company cholera.

September 3, 1852. Speed's experiments and speculations concerning telegraph science.

Hopkins, P.A. Skinner, G.W. 13 10 September 20, 1852 - October 24, 1852

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, consolidation of lines, western lines.

October 15, 1852. Ezra Cornell to J.H. Wade:

"If I could have my choice, I should prefer that my name should be immortalized by its connection with some good deed, by alleviating the sufferings of humanity."

Smith, F.O.J. Wade, J.H. Speed, J.J. 13 11 October 26, 1852 - November 30, 1852

55 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, consolidation of lines, western lines New York and Erie Rail Road. Ithaca. Speed, J.J. Wood, Benjamin Haviland, J. Wade, J.H. Wood, Otis E. 13 12 December 1, 1852 - December 31, 1852

57 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, consolidation of lines, western lines.

December 27, 1852. Ezra Cornell's plan to bury telegraph cable.

1852. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"I am homesick, and can't write, I want to go home and stay there. I am sick of telegraphing, sick of business - sick of everything except my wife and I wish I could live with her, but I can't, I have got into the scrape and must stick to it manfully until I can work out."

New York City. Wood, Phebe Wade, J.H. Cornell, Alonzo B. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, Mary Ann. 13 13 January 3, 1853 - January 18, 1853

63 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, consolidation of lines, western lines, transfer of lines, patents and contracts Telegraph Convention New York and Erie Rail Road New York and Western Union Telegraph Company.

January 6, 1853. Speed/Faxton contract.

January 16, 1853. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed:

"O'Reilly sent round to me yesterday to borrow $10, which I did not have…"

Ithaca.

Gordon, D.P. Speed, J.J. Faxton, Theodore Wood, O.S. O'Reilly, Henry. 13 14 January 19, 1853 - February 28, 1853

43 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, materials and supplies, consolidation of lines, transfer of lines, patents and contracts, western lines, New Orleans and Ohio Line. O'Reilly, Henry Speed, J.J. Cornell, John H. Gordon, D.P. Delano, W.J. Mann, Donald. 14 1 March 2, 1853 - March 31, 1853

81 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, consolidation of lines, transfer of lines, patents and contracts, western lines Telegraph Convention in Indianapolis.

March 7, 1853. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell describing a trip from Ithaca to Indianapolis via Cincinnati.

March 20, 1853. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"Hard cider is fast retreating before the colums of the 'cold water army.' The Sons & Daughters of temperance are marching on to a sure and glorious victory."

Indianapolis Indiana. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, Mary Ann Mann, Donald Wade, J.H. Speed, J.J. Delano, W.J. O'Reilly, Henry Haviland, J. Kendall, Amos. 14 2 April 1, 1853 - April 25, 1853

65 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, consolidation of lines, transfer of lines, patents and contracts, western lines Ithaca land.

April 24, 1853. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"The history of Telegraph has therefor been a history of wars, and there are many of those contests unsettled…"

Fall Creek. Wood, Phebe Smith, F.O.J. Kendall, Amos O'Reilly, Henry Delano, W.J. Wood, M.B. Morse, Samuel F.B. 14 3 April 26, 1853 - May 18, 1853

59 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, consolidation of lines, transfer of lines, patents and contracts, western lines. Indiana Montreal Chicago Fall Creek. Cornell, Mary Ann Wood, O.S. Chester, E.W. 14 4 May 20, 1853 - July 4, 1853

60 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, consolidation of lines, transfer of lines, patents and contracts, western lines. Indiana. O'Reilly, Henry Chester, E.W. Speed, C.H. 14 5 July 15, 1853 - July 31, 1853

62 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, materials and supplies.

July 21, 1853. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell from Chicago:

"There are some six hundred to a thousand Odd Fellows in the city from other parts of the state and they are having a celebration - a procession this P.M."

Indiana Indianapolis. Cornell, Mary Ann Speed, C.H. Chester, E.W. 14 6 August 1, 1853 - August 16, 1853

67 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, materials and supplies. Speed, C.H. Speed, J.J. 14 7 August 20, 1853 - September 8, 1853

53 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, materials and supplies, transfer of lines, consolidation of lines account of a family trip west Ithaca land. Ithaca. 14 8 September 10, 1853 - September 26, 1853

56 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations Ithaca land extracts and transcripts of F.O.J. Smith letters.

September 19, 1853. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I…write again to ask what kind of employment you could give me and where would it and so forth if I should abandon the Idea of going to the gold diggins. My mind has been so unsettled since Maria's Death that I could hardly tell what I was going to do."

Cornell, Mary Ann Speed, J.J. Cornell, D.B. Smith, F.O.J. 14 9 September 27, 1853 - October 13, 1853

58 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations. Gordon, D.P. 14 10 October 15, 1853 - October 31, 1853

42 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines. Indiana Ohio Ithaca. 14 11 November 1, 1853 - November 16, 1853

55 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines, transfer of lines Union Telegraph, Speed and O'Reilly Lines.

November 5, 1853. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:

"I think it probable that O'R has got […] & may give us some trouble, in consequence of not carrying out his darling project of a grand consolidated Company, making him Pres't with a salary of five thousand dollars."

Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, Mary Ann Kendall, Amos. 14 12 November 17, 1853 - December 5, 1853

50 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines.

December 1, 1853. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"This is destined to be a great city. Chicago has now a population of over 50 thousand population and this will double and quadruple as rapedly as that of any other city of the union."

Chicago. Cornell, Mary Ann. 14 13 December 6, 1853 - December 20, 1853

38 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines American Telegraph Confederation.

December 6, 1853. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"I have had some tooth ache this P.M. in an old snag that was left some ten years ago, when I went to Ithaca at midnight with Dennis McCoy the Irishman to hold my head. You may recollect the history of that terable night. Dr Miles (I think) pulled on it 3 times with his entire strength, and as offin the irons broke loos. The fourth pull broke the tooth taking the tooth with one prong out, and a piece of the jaw with it."

Bristol, John S. Cornell, Mary Ann. 15 1 December 22, 1853 - January 12, 1854

55 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines.

January 5, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell describing a train trip to the west:

"I received an invitation from Mr. Tubbs to go to the 'Grand Concert of Madame Sontag' who was to appear for the first time on the Cleveland 'boards' -- I accepted, the house was crowded, and the audience have marked evidence of their satisfaction. The pieces were Italian and French excepting 'Home Sweet Home' which was so distorted by artistic skill that it made me nervous."

Ezra Cornell's account of the origins of the Cornell-Speed partnership in the telegraph business.

January 8, 1854. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell recounting her trip via steamer and stage to Syracuse for a wedding.

Ithaca Chicago Fall Creek Indiana. Delano, W.J. O'Reilly, Henry Cornell, Mary Ann Cornell, Alonzo B. 15 2 January 14, 1854 - January 26, 1854

50 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines smallpox. Indiana Ohio. Cornell, E.B. O'Reilly, Henry Cornell, E.S. 15 3 January 27, 1854 - February 20, 1854

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, adjudication of telegraph disputes, transfer of patents smallpox American Telegraph Confederation.

January 27, 1854. Mary C. Robertson to Ezra Cornell:

"Jane says Brother E.B. is in the lottery business some this winter which surprises me very much. I don't know but its honorable business in N.Y. State."

Robertson, Mary C. Wood, M.B. Morse, Samuel F.B. Speed, J.J. 15 4 February 21, 1854 - March 11, 1854

55 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines House Line.

March 5, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell describing a journey west, and plans for the farm in Ithaca.

Indianapolis. Cornell, Franklin C. Wood, Phebe Cornell, John H. Cornell, Mary Ann. 15 5 March 12, 1854 - March 26, 1854

64 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, transfer of lines legal suits.

March 19, 1854. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"…I most sincerely hope that you will finally succeed in geting together enough of this worlds goods so that you can finally make up yuir mind to settle down on some nice spot and enjoy the comforts of 'home sweet home' with your family. Oh, how happy I should be if it could be so, my dear little do you know the many lonely hours I have passed in your twelve years of absence from home, the cares and anxieties of home all resting on me and the still more anxious care for one I loved dearer than life itself…"

March 24, 1854. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell:

"I regret to learn that you and Mr. Wade do not get along amiably. These quarrels kill the telegraph; and no sooner is one quieted than another springs up."

March 26, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"I rejoice that the Great State of N.Y. has granted her sons at last the justice, though tardy, of a prohibitory liquor law; it will save the rising generation if it does not rescue those who are already on the…plain of inebriacy."

Ithaca Indiana. Cornell, E.B. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, Mary Ann Kendall, Amos Speed J.J. 15 6 March 27, 1854 - April 12, 1854

58 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, patent rights, transfer of patents.

April 9, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell from Chicago, describing conditions aboard a crowded train, and the benefits of wholesome air.

Michigan Indiana. Wood, Phebe Kendall, Amos Cornell, Ellen. 15 7 April 13, 1854 - April 22, 1854

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, transfer of lines and stock. Indiana. Cornell, Alonzo B. Speed, J.J. 15 8 April 23, 1854 - May 20, 1854

57 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, transfer of lines and stock Speed's unapproved sale of telegraph stock and lines. Indiana. Speed, J.J. Kendall, Amos Cambridge, Livingston. 15 9 May 21, 1854 - May 30, 1854

55 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, transfer of lines and stock Speed's unapproved sale of telegraph stock and lines. Indiana. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, M.B. Speed, J.J. 15 10 June 1, 1854 - June 9, 1854

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines Speed's unapproved sale of telegraph stock and lines.

June 1, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"This act of perfidy of Speed & W[ade] will lead to new combinations, whether the plans they had formed will all mature, or whether the frosts of treachery may not nip some of them in the bud remains to be seen, I should not be surprised if the latter was the fact."

Cornell, Mary Ann Speed, J.J. 15 11 June 10, 1854 - June 23, 1854

53 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines Speed's unapproved sale of telegraph stock and lines. Wood, Otis E. Cornell, E.S. Cornell, Mary Ann Read, James H. 15 12 June 25, 1854 - July 8, 1854

39 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines Speed's unapproved sale of telegraph stock and lines Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.

June 27, 1854. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell:

"I am disposed to act with you in carrying out, as far as we can, the arrangements of June 1853 and in punishing the conspirators by whom both you and my principal [S.F.B. Morse] have been betrayed and defrauded."

Kendall, Amos Read, James H. 15 13 July 11, 1854 - July 26, 1854

53 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines Speed's unapproved sale of telegraph stock and lines Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.

July 18, 1854. J.J. Speed to J.H. Wade concerning the sale of western lines.

Read, James H. Speed, J.J. Wade, J.H. 16 1 July 27, 1854 - August 15, 1854

51 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, pipelayer and underground telegraph, office operations Ezra Cornell's ill health and treatment.

July 27, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell from Detroit concerning underground telegraph, family news and health, and instructions to Ellen on the care of the children in Ezra and Mary Ann's absence.

Detroit Ithaca Logansport, In. Indiana. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, Mary Ann Cobb, Emory. 16 2 August 16, 1854 - August 31, 1854

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances, consolidation of companies, Ohio, Indiana & Illinois line.

August 20, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Indianapolis reporting on his health and discussing the treatment received for his condition.

August 27, 1854. Ezra Cornell, Mary Emily Cornell, Mary C. Robertson and M.B. Wood to Mary Ann Cornell from Albion sharing family news.

Indianapolis Indiana. Cornell, Mary Ann Curtiss, George Pew, W.P. Robertson, Mary C. Wood, M.B. Cornell, Mary Emily. 16 3 September 1, 1854 - September 7, 1854

37 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company cholera.

September 2, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Detroit:

"It is very sickly about Albion for such as have defective constitutions or shattered health, and many deaths have occurred…"

Family news.

September 3, 1854. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell reporting on telegraph business in New York and possible consolidation of lines.

Detroit Albion. Cornell, Mary Ann Kendall, Amos Cornell, Molly Cornell, Alonzo B. 16 4 September 8, 1854 - September 17, 1854

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stocks, office operations, business conflicts with House and Wade, consolidation of lines.

September 8, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Michigan City:

"Speed and Wades effort at my distruction by their diabolical sale to the enemy has proved a signal failure on their part, and will produce them a harvest of curses from the verry men who were to reap the golden apple of their treachery."

Ezra Cornell's health, telegraph business, and reflections upon his persevering and succeeding in the business despite Mary Ann's father's advice to pursue other things.

Indianapolis Wisconsin Indiana. Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, Mary Ann Speed, J.J. Tillotson, D.T. Pew, W.P. 16 5 September 18, 1854 - September 29, 1854

62 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances.

September 22, 1854. E.B. Sadler to Ezra Cornell concerning F.O.J. Smith's claims.

September 24, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Michigan City:

"I wish you was here with me, I am not as well used when alone as when you are with me, I dont get as good a room, nor as clean a bed, I dont get called to my meals as early or by as pleasant a messenger, and at table I have to wate longer before being wated upon. All those ills are incident to being alone every one of which would banish before the magic presence of a woman.".

Attempts to persuade Mary Ann and Emma to join him and discussion of the advantages of traveling during the winter.

Michigan Indiana Ohio. Cornell, Mary Ann Cornell, Alonzo B. Pew, W.P. Livingston, Cambridge Cornell, John H. Sadler, E.B. Haviland, J. 16 6 September 30, 1854 - October 19, 1854

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois line, finances, new western lines.

October 6, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Chicago concerning family news from Michigan, telegraph business, and New York politics with reference to "fusion."

Indiana Ohio Illinois. Cornell, Alonzo B. Pew, W.P. Cornell, Mary Ann Tillotson, D.T. Hopkins, P.A. Faxton, Theodore. 16 7 October 20, 1854 - November 2, 1854

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, Ohio, Indiana & Illinois line, finances.

October, 20, 1854. George Curtiss of the New York, Albany and Buffalo Telegraph Company to Ezra Cornell requesting that a meeting be held to discuss a permanent Western connection.

Indiana Ohio Illinois. Curtiss, George Speed, J.J. Pew, W.P. Cornell, D.B. Cornell, Mary Ann Cornell, Alonzo B. Hopkins, P.A. 16 8 November 3, 1854 - November 15, 1854

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, Erie & Michigan line, finances Southern Michigan Telegraph Company. Utica Indiana. Pew, W.P. Cornell, D.B. Haviland, J. Curtiss, George Faxton, Theodore Cornell, Alonzo B. Caton, J.D. 16 9 November 16, 1854 - November 24, 1854

51 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances, stock purchases. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, D.B. Skinner, G.W. Curtiss, George. 16 10 November 25, 1854 - December 12, 1854

61 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances House Company. Montreal Ithaca. Cobb, Emory Wood, O.S. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, D.B. 16 11 December 14, 1854 - December 26, 1854

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock, office operations, consolidation of lines Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company House Company.

December 14, 1854. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell discussing finances and Ithaca real estate holdings.

December 15, 1854. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell concerning telegraph business and the actions of the House people.

December 17, 1854. Franklin C. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I am going to school this winter to try to finish my education so that I can be of some help to you. Next time you write to me I want you to tell me what you want me to go at in the spring for I want to begin to make some calculation on it."

Indianapolis Ithaca Detroit. Cornell, Alonzo B. Pew, W.P. Kendall, Amos Speed, J.J. Cornell, Franklin C. Curtiss, George Haas, J. Cornell, D.B. Cornell, John H. 16 12 December 30, 1854 - January 17, 1855

73 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances, Erie & Michigan line, stock, Southern Michigan line House Company. Albion Ithaca Albany Boston. Cornell, D.B. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cobb, Emory Beebe, Jeremiah S. Kendall, Amos Cornell, Mary Ann Curtiss, George Cornell, John H. Wade, J.H. Haas, J. Hopkins, P.A. 16 13 January 18, 1855 - January 30, 1855

61 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, finances, Cleveland, Wheeling and Zanesville line, Ezra Cornell's settlement with Speed, stocks House Company.

January 21, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"Speed evident regrets his treachery toards me and proffers his services, to aid me in any way that I can suggest and at any time that his services can be available. I rarely get cheated twice by the same person."

January 30, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Franklin C. Cornell:

"I hope if you decide to go to school that you will make up your mind to spend your time profitably, remember that knowledge is power."

Albion Utica. Haas, J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Curtiss, George Hopkins, P.A. Cornell, Mary Ann Beebe, Jeremiah S. Chace, Rebecca Pew, W.P. Cornell, Franklin C. 16 14 January 31, 1855 - February 16, 1855

60 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: Erie & Michigan line, finances, Ohio, Indiana & Illinois line, Southern Michigan line, western lines, office operations House Company. Albion Ithaca. Cornell, Franklin C. Cornell, Mary Ann Elwood, Isaac R. Kendall, Amos Wood, O.S. Draper, J.S. 17 1 February 19, 1855 - March 21, 1855

70 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, western lines Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois Telegraph Company.

March 10, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell from Albion:

"Last saturday one of the cars got thrown off the track in which was four of my men, one of them was so injured that he died yesterday. He leaves a wife, who will soon have an heir."

March 15, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"Tell mother & Emma that I look at their daguerratype frequently and think it is the prettyest picture."

March 17, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"…it was a California show, going to California, a panorama of an over land trip to California where you can 'see the Eliphant for two dimes'…"

Michigan. Wood, M.B. Cornell, Mary Ann Cornell, Alonzo B. 17 2 March 22, 1855 - April 10, 1855

65 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: refinancing of stock, office operations, western lines, Ely judgment Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois Telegraph Company smallpox.

March 31, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"…I have a sharp corner to work out of, that Ely judgment is 3471.88. I have got permission to draw on Mr. Chester for $2,500…"

Indiana Ithaca. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, D.B. Wells, Henry. 17 3 April 11, 1855 - May 1, 1855

62 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: refinancing of stock, office operations, western lines, Ely judgment Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois Telegraph Company Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company smallpox.

April 12, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"He may escape as there is not one in twenty who have been vaccinated that take the small-pox on exposure."

April 22, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"Calista was on her way to Windsor Canada to teach in a school of fugitives. They are sent to Canada as teachers by some society who have the educational welfare of the blacks in Canada under their keeping."

April 29, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"I see a lot of boys in front of my window gambling with pennies. I hope my boy Perry is better engaged."

Ithaca Michigan. Speed, J.J. Cornell, Mary Ann. 17 4 May 2, 1855 - May 12, 1855

48 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: refinancing of stock, office operations, western lines, Morse telegraph patent transfer of lines Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois Telegraph Company Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company Southern Michigan Telegraph Company House Company smallpox. Kendall, Amos Chester, E.W. Hopkins, P.A. Cornell, E.B. 17 5 May 13, 1855 - May 31, 1855

69 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, transfer of lines, western lines, office operations Southern Michigan Telegraph Company.

May 13, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"Homeopathy seems to do verry well when there is nothing the matter. It is so nice to take but when I am sick it seems to require the old ugly doses of the 'old butchers' to cure me."

Michigan. Wood, O.S. Wood, M.B. Faxton, Theodore Smith, F.O.J. 17 6 June 2, 1855 - June 22, 1855

68 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, transfer of lines, western lines Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois Telegraph Company.

June 7, 1855. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing unsatisfactory family conditions in Ithaca:

"I wish if money is plenty at the west that you would send me some, as Alonzo is so hard up that I can't get any of him, and I can't well get along without some…I think Ithaca will not hold me long if they go west to live, if your business keeps you there, there is nothing in Ithaca worth living for, and I wish you would sell everything you own here…but if you do come here and try living as I have this thirteen years and then you would be able to judge something about it."

June 10, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"I will pay your expenses out, that is to say, if you can get some body to advance your expenses out I will refund the money."

June 15, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"The next great question of the Day is the Know Nothing convention at Phil. that is of great political moment, not because of its Hindooism but because there is some hundreds of ordinarily inteligent men from all sections of the country and they may be persueded to reflect to some extent the feeling of their several communities feelings on the great issue of the day, liberty, or slavery. The Telegraph announces a split in the convention on that question -- this is a favourable sign, it shows that the concience of the north is being quickened, and may be regarded as the death knell to Southern Slave drivers, and Northern dough faces."

Indiana Ithaca. Cornell, Mary Ann Cornell, E.S. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wells, Henry Curtiss, George. 17 7 June 24, 1855 - July 10, 1855

76 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, transfer of lines, western lines, stock payments due Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois Telegraph Company Southern Michigan Telegraph Company Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company Ezra Cornell's broken arm.

July 7, 1855. Ezra Cornell to E.W. Chester describing his railway accident in which his arm was broken and mutilated.

Cornell, D.B. Chace, Rebecca Cornell, E.B. Cornell, Mary Emily Wood, M.B. Curtiss, George Cornell, Alonzo B. 17 8 July 11, 1855 - July 26, 1855

69 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines New York, Albany & Buffalo Electro Magnetic Telegraph Company. Chester, E.W. 17 9 July 27, 1855 - August 16, 1855

80 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines New York, Albany & Buffalo Electro Magnetic Telegraph Company.

August 8, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell from Detroit:

"I came to De this morning to attend meeting leaving mother at Al. Our meeting has resulted in an agreement with House folks to consolidate, they taking $350,000 and we $150,000, we putting in the E&M line, and they putting in the House line 920, the Lake Erie line 600, the House & Morse Patent, and all other interest they have in the west…"

Wood, M.B. Curtiss, George Makepeace, H.F. Butts, Isaac. 17 10 August 20, 1855 - September 10, 1855

55 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines New York, Albany & Buffalo Electro Magnetic Telegraph Company. Curtiss, George. 17 11 September 12, 1855 - October 20, 1855

76 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines New York, Albany & Buffalo Electro Magnetic Telegraph Company Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.

October 18, 1855. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I think you will recollect of giving me fifteen dollars before you left home. I have used it very prudently…and it is all gone but fifty cents."

Rochester Buffalo Michigan. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, Mary Ann. 17 12 October 22, 1855 - November 28, 1855

78 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines.

November 18, 1855. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I have never heard of so many suden deaths as I have this fall. It teaches us a powerful lesson on the uncertainty of human life."

Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wells, Henry Cornell, Mary Ann Chace, Rebecca Kendall, Amos. 17 13 December 1, 1855 - January 10, 1856

85 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines newly patented register, patent rights, transfer of lines New York and Western Union Telegraph Company.

January 4, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"I reached here at 7:30, after the coldest night ride I ever recollect of having since stage coachs went out of fashion. I sat next to the stove all night, and my feet suffered with cold."

Sholes, C.C. Kendall, Amos Chace, Rebecca Cornell, Mary Ann. 18 1 January 11, 1856 - February 11, 1856

81 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines New York State canals.

January 21, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell on the raising of daughters and deportment of young women.

Cornell, Alonzo B. Curtiss, George Speed, J.J. Sholes, C.C. Chace, Rebecca. 18 2 February 12, 1856 - March 14, 1856

89 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines New York, Albany & Buffalo Electro Magnetic Telegraph Company Associated Press of New York Montreal Telegraph Company.

March 2, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell on the raising of daughters and deportment of young women.

Wood, O.S. Cornell, Mary Ann. 18 3 March 16, 1856 - April 22, 1856

69 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines, stock transfers, leases Cleveland and Cincinnati Telegraph Company New York and Western Union Telegraph Company New York and Erie Railroad Company change of name from New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company to Western Union Telegraph Company. Ithaca Indiana. Cornell, E.S. Kendall, Amos Cornell, Elijah. 18 4 April 23, 1856 - May 30, 1856

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, new lines (Syracuse-Binghamton and Upstate lines) relocation of parents of Ezra Cornell and disposition of their worldly goods Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company Western Union Telegraph Company.

May 12, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell, giving her additional stock in the Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.

Ithaca. Cornell, Eunice Cornell, Elijah Poucher, Thaddeus Curtiss, George Kendall, Amos. 18 5 June 2, 1856 - July 4, 1856

55 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines, stocks Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois Telegraph Company Western Union Telegraph Company.

June 29, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"…had a lovely passage to Detroit, arriving at 3 P.M. yesterday, One of those floating Hotels is the greatest luxury of the hot season and nothing could have rendered the sojourn of a day on the 'Rock' more pleasant except your company and Emma's & Mary's."

July 4, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"The anniversary of Our Independence is being celebrated in various ways but not so as to attract any special notice. I feel more interest just now in knowing how it is being celebrated in Kansas. That has become the second battle ground of freedom, and the day that secures freedom for Kansas will become notable in the annals of history, as the second birthday of freedom."

Curtiss, George Cornell, Mary Ann. 18 6 July 11, 1856 - August 28, 1856

48 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines, stock transfers, O'Reilly lines New York and Erie Railroad Western Union Telegraph Company.

July 20, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"Mary and Jane went to Methodist [church], and H[iram] to the Spiritualist, and Phebe railed about it, and says she don't want any of her friends to call and see her who will go to a Spiritual meeting, so goes the world - and so it always went. Oh! dear me, will it ever be better?"

August 20, 1856. Ezra Cornell's letter to the American Citizen of Ithaca:

"As for the Pope, I am to old to be frightened by his shadow, and am quite sure his shadow or Substance will do less harm to the liberties of my country than will a party, who seek to acquire political power by exciting religious bigotry in the minds of their duped followers."

Barbour, Lucian Cornell, Mary Ann. 18 7 September 8, 1856 - November 9, 1856

58 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, western lines, consolidation of lines, stock transfers slavery national politics.

September 21, 1856. Rebecca Chace to Ezra Cornell on presidential elections.

Providence, R.I. Chace, Rebecca Curtiss, George. 18 8 November 10, 1856 - December 29, 1856

71 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines, stock transfers slavery national politics pottery railroad rights in Lansing, N.Y.

November 30, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"I have begged $110 for the sufferers in Kansas the past 3 days by heading the subscription myself with $10. I got B.G. Ferris $5 & H. Dow $5, the balance from Republicans--I shall pay it to the National Kansas Committee at Chicago."

Chicago Ithaca Iowa Providence. Chace, Rebecca Cornell, Alonzo B. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence :: 1857-1860 18 9 January 1, 1857 - February 6, 1857

68 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines Spiritualism New York and Western Union Telegraph Company Ithaca farm Minnesota State Telegraph Company.

January 22, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"I went with at the urgent request of a friend last night to converse with the spirits, He being a firm believer, and having had satisfactory confabs. The Spirit who conversed with me, the medium said was that of my Grandfather Reuben Barnard, who attempted to answer questions that I asked, but as no one of a dozen questions was answered right, I came to the conclusion that it was not the spirit of my Grand Father for he was a man of great truth, and would not answer questions in this shabby manner."

Ithaca Minnesota. Cornell, E.S. Chester, E.W. Curtiss, George Cornell, D.B. Wade, J.H. Wood, O.S. 18 10 February 7, 1857 - March 5, 1857

79 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, stock transfers purchase of Ithaca farm homeopathy trans-Atlantic cable.

February 23, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"I am sorry to hear that Jane is no better, it is a state of partial insanity, growing out of a morbid religious excitement, it is a religion without reason, reason should be the basis of religion…"

February 27, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"I am planning for the removal to the farm. There is much to do, to get things fixed, but it will be a nice place, and your mother is already pleased as every else appears to be. I can tell you that we intend to have the best farm in Western NY.

"What do you think of my going out with the transatlantic cable? It will be the best opportunity that has ever been presented to test some verry important experiments in telegraphing…"

Ithaca. Cornell, E.B. Cornell, E.S. Cornell, John H. Cornell, Mary Ann Cornell, Alonzo B. 18 11 March 6, 1857 - March 27, 1857

69 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock transfers Ithaca farm (including purchase of cattle, equipment, and other materials pertinent to its establishment) trial of Morse and Vail versus Smith.

March 8, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell detailing the purchases of cattle and other agricultural staples for the Ithaca farm.

Ithaca. Kendall, Amos Cornell, Angeline M. Wood, Eunice. 18 12 April 1, 1857 - May 5, 1857

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Ithaca farm telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock transfers, office operations. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, D.B. Curtiss, George. 18 13 May 6, 1857 - May 30, 1857

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Ithaca farm telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock transfers, office operations, western lines, materials and supplies Forest Park farm.

May 13, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"As to names, I am not decided yet what it shall be, 'Forest Home' I like but don't want to rob F.O.J.S. 'Cascadilla' is good but is so Old that it has lost all the sweetness of originiality, 'Mount Evergreen' Seems discordant 'Forest City Farm' is too long 'Forest Retreat' don't respond in harmony to the proper chords, 'Cascadia' is short and appropriate, 'Cornelia' is the name that Gov Seward gave my old place at fall Creek, and I like it pretty well, 'Caterac Farm' would not be inappropriate considering that the farm is bordered by cataracks on its north & south sides - 'Fairview' would be a name expressive of the facts. 'Mount Prospect' would also be expressive - I should like an Indian name if I could hit upon the right one, but I have not yet practiced in the red skin dialect. As Ithaca & Ulisses are names borrowed from Homer, Illiad or Odessa perhaps it would not be inappropriate to resort to Homer for still another name. So we will pass on and wate for a name."

Ithaca. Wood, Phebe Cornell, Alonzo B. 19 1 June 3, 1857 - July 8, 1857

59 digital images

Ithaca farm Forest Park farm cattle telegraph business correspondence: stock dividends, finances, stock transfers, office operations, telegraph convention, consolidation of lines, trials.

June 26, 1857. Ezra Cornell to E.W. Chester describing the damage caused by a flood in Ithaca.

July 1, 1857. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from New York:

"There is another grand gathering of Telegraphy in town…I suppose it is an attempt on the part of the WU Co. or some one else to form a 'grand confederation'…"

"How do you like the name of 'Forest Park' --How does mother like it?"

Ithaca. Curtiss, George Wood, M.B. Cornell, E.S. Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, Phebe. 19 2 July 9, 1857 - September 11, 1857

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: office operations, western lines, finances, stock transfers cattle. Curtiss, George Hopkins, P.A. Speed, J.J. Craig, D.H. Cornell, E.S. Wood, Phebe Cornell, Jane Smith, F.O.J. Chester, E.W. Kendall, Amos. 19 3 September 12, 1857 - October 19, 1857

47 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights.

October 12, 1857. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell discussing finances, western lines, and national politics, including his response to the Dred Scott decision.

Cornell, D.B. Kendall, Amos Cornell, Alonzo B. Chester, E.W. Speed, J.J. Wood, M.B. 19 4 October 20, 1857 - December 21, 1857

60 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock transfers, conflicts, Smith suit, Pacific line.

October 20, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Dr. S.E. Shepherd describing some of his Ithaca property and proposing its use for a water cure establishment.

November 30, 1857. Ezra Cornell to the President and Directors of the New York, Albany & Buffalo Telegraph Company on behalf of the Directors of the New York and Western Union Telegraph Company offering the sale of their lines.

December 19, 1857. E.W. Chester to Ezra Cornell concerning formation of coal oil company.

Ithaca. Shepard, S.E. Kendall, Amos Chester, E.W. Speed, J.J. Curtiss, George Robertson, Mary Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, Phebe Smith, F.O.J. 19 5 December 26, 1857 - January 28, 1858

54 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, Pacific line cattle Tompkins County Agricultural Society coal oil business. Ithaca. Wood, Deborah C. Cornell, E.S. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, John H. Curtiss, George Chester, E.W. 19 6 January 29, 1858 - March 17, 1858

55 digital images

Cattle coal oil business finances telegraph business correspondence.

February 12, 1858. Henry O'Reilly to Ezra Cornell requesting any documents and papers he may have connected to the establishment of the telegraph for a collection O'Reilly was arranging.

February 28, 1858. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann with news of his travels, telegraph business, and the various responses his "RR Moddle" received.

Ithaca. Wood, O.S. Curtiss, George Wood, M.B. Cornell, John H. O'Reilly, Henry Cornell, E.S. Sibley, Hiram. 19 7 March 19, 1858 - April 29, 1858

45 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock sales and transfers, legal conflicts, office operations cattle.

March 21, 1858. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"The Western Union is doing better this winter than we expected it would. We had made up our mind to be contented if we got through the winter without running in debt, but we shall make something…. With a little increase in these dividends and prompt payment by NY&E I hope to get along and pay my debts, but still the amt. I owe the NY,A & Bu Co. $10,000 worries me more or less…."

Cornell, Alonzo B. Curtiss, George Wood, M.B. Sibley, Hiram Cornell, John H. Cornell, E.S. Beebe, Jeremiah S. 19 8 May 4, 1858 - June 10, 1858

48 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: stock sales and transfers, finances, legal conflicts.

May 28, 1859. Phebe Wood to Ezra Cornell:

"I recieved your letter and read it more in sorrow than anger. Now how a man who never wrote a letter in his life without misspelling some of his words can have the brass to ridicule others is more than I can see…if I applied to my wife for information or kept some one running to the dictionary as often as you do no doubt I would spell better…"

Also: discussion of the Rulloff murder case.

Ithaca. Wood, M.B. Wood, O.S. Wood, Phebe Curtiss, George Elwood, Isaac R. Chester, E.W. 19 9 June 15, 1858 - July 28, 1858

45 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: legal conflicts (Lake Erie suit), finances, stock sales and transfers. Albion, Mich. Chace, Miller Chester, E.W. Elwood, Isaac R. Curtiss, George Craig, D.H. Wood, M.B. Elwood, Isaac R. Cornell, D.B. Speed, J.J. 19 10 August 3, 1858 - October 10, 1858

70 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: stock sales and transfers, finances.

August 30, 1858. Ezra Cornell to the President of the Republican County Convention naming Alonzo B. Cornell as Ezra Cornell's substitute for the position of delegate from Ithaca and speaking of the importance of the coming election and counseling "wisdom and harmony in the deliberation and action of the convention."

Ithaca Pine River. Cornell, D.B. Curtiss, George Hopkins, P.A. Cornell, E.S. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Elwood, Isaac R. Wood, M.B. Cornell, Jane O'Reilly, Henry Smith, F.O.J. 19 11 October 11, 1858 - November 22, 1858

66 digital images

Cornell family genealogy and history cattle telegraph business correspondence: legal conflicts (wool suit), stock sales and transfers. Ithaca Albion, Mich. Rowell, Mary; Wood, M.B.; Curtiss, George; Cornell, John H.; Smith, F.O.J.; Cornell, E.S.; Cornell, Angeline M.; Cornell, D.B. 19 12 November 23, 1858 - January 3, 1859

67 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence: stock sales and transfers cattle.

December 6, 1858. Ezra Cornell to Peter Cooper giving an account of his experiences with submarine telegraph cables.

Albion, Mich. Ithaca. Elwood, Isaac R. Speed, J.J. Wood, M.B. Wood, O.S. Chace, Miller Cooper, Peter. 19 13 January 4, 1859 - February 13, 1859

61 digital images

Agriculture coal oil business cattle telegraph business correspondence: stock sales and transfers finances.

January 19, 1859. Jas. W. Haight to Ezra Cornell concerning stuffing animals for Ezra Cornell.

Ithaca Pine River. Cornell, D.B. Cornell, John H. Chester, E.W. Cornell, Jane Curtiss, George Wood, O.S. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Cornell, E.S. 19 14 February 13, 1859 - March 16, 1859

57 digital images

Coal oil business Cornell family genealogy and history agriculture telegraph business correspondence.

February 16, 1859. Ezra Cornell to John H. Cornell concerning family genealogy with details concerning the families of Elijah Cornell and Eunice Barnard.

Albion, Mich. Ithaca Pine River. Cornell, D.B. Wood, M.B. Dunham, Emily Cornell, John H. Beebe, Jeremiah S. Chester, E.W. Shaffner, T. P. Haight, J.W. Chace, Miller Cornell, E.S. 19 15 March 19, 1859 - April 23, 1859

54 digital images

Cattle telegraph business correspondence: stock sales and transfers coal oil business.

March 28, 1859. Jane Cornell to Ezra Cornell announcing her plans to be married.

April 19, 1859. B.P. Johnson of the New York State Agricultural Rooms to Ezra Cornell concerning the Ithaca Farmers Club and its library.

Chace, Miller Sibley, Hiram Cornell, Jane Curtiss, George Chester, E.W. 20 1 April 24, 1859 - May 1859

56 digital images

Forest Park farm cattle telegraph business correspondence: stock transfers coal oil business.

April, 1859. O.S. Wood to Ezra Cornell providing an account of the telegraph industry's development and his role in it.

Coshocton, Ohio. Wood, James Beebe, Jeremiah S. Wood, M.B. 20 2 June 1, 1859 - July 15, 1859

48 digital images

Forest Park farm telegraph business correspondence: transfer of lines, consolidation of lines coal oil business. Coshocton, Ohio. Robertson, H.D. 20 3 July 16, 1859 - September 8, 1859

48 digital images

Forest Park farm telegraph business correspondence: stock transfers, patents coal oil business.

August 22, 1859. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell describing his business prospects in coal oil business.

Ithaca Dryden, N.Y. Kentucky Coshocton, Ohio. Wood, M.B. Chester, E.W. Curtiss, George Wood, O.S. Cornell, Mary Ann. 20 4 September 11, 1859 - October 21, 1859

57 digital images

Forest Park farm telegraph business correspondence: finances, patents coal oil business Cornelian Oil Company. Coshocton, Ohio. Chace, Miller Wood, Otis E. Faxton, Theodore Smith, F.O.J. 20 5 October 22, 1859 - November 26, 1859

59 digital images

Forest Park farm telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock transfers coal oil business Cornelian Oil Company Western Union Telegraph Company Illinois and Mississippi Telegraph Company Breckenridge Coal and Oil Company. Coshocton, Ohio. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, M.B. Robertson, M.E. Pew, W.P. 20 6 November 28, 1859 - December 31, 1859

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Telegraph business correspondence: transfer of leases, finances, litigation Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Rail Road coal oil business Forest Park farm. Coshocton, Ohio. Cornell, E.S. Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, Jane Faxton, Theodore Sibley, Hiram Pew, W.P. 20 7 January 1, 1860 - March 7, 1860

57 digital images

Forest Park farm telegraph business correspondence cattle Farmers Club (Ithaca) coal oil business.

February 17, 1860. Hiram Sibley to Ezra Cornell from Washington:

"I have been here for three weeks urging a bill through congress in aid of a line to California. By writing at once to any member of Either House with whom you may have influence, you may […] in measure the value of which to our company."

Coshocton, Ohio Ithaca. Sibley, Hiram Curtiss, George Minot, Charles Wood, M.B. Wood, Phebe Smith, F.O.J. Pew, W.P. Robertson, Ezra Cornell Robertson, Mary C. 20 8 March 9, 1860 - April 25, 1860

52 digital images

Telegraph business correspondence coal oil business Forest Park farm Ithaca town elections.

March 11, 1860. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell from Washington:

"Last Tuesday being the Presidents reception night…I called up at the White house, shook hands with 'James the Usurper,' circulated through the gaudy apartments and throng until the crowd became too dense to be pleasant when I returned to the hotel."

Description of Washington conditions and political scene.

Washington, D.C. Pew, W.P. Curtiss, George Wood, Phebe Wood, M.B. Chester, E.W. Smith, F.O.J. Buchanan, James. 20 9 April 26, 1860 - June 20, 1860

53 digital images

Forest Park farm telegraph business correspondence coal oil business livestock wheat. Curtiss, George Faxton, Theodore Cornell, E.S. Wood, M.B. Wood, Arlina. 20 10 June 22, 1860 - July 28, 1860

53 digital images

Forest Park farm cattle coal oil business New York State Agricultural Rooms.

June 26, 1860. Samuel Stone to Ezra Cornell:

"Your generous letter of [ ] inst bringing with it your draft of $100 donated for the benefit of the suffers of the terrible tornado of 3rd inst."

July 21, 1860. Ezra Cornell to Franklin C. Cornell describing a train and steamer journey from Ithaca to Montreal:

"The Thousand Islands however were arranging themselves one after another in raped succession, claiming their tribute of admiration, and we fully enjoyed the freshness of morning vigor, and paid the willing tribute to their surpassing lovelyness."

July 28, 1860. Henry Ingersoll to Ezra Cornell concerning presidential election:

"…that you are well posted in political prospects. I feel a deep interest in how will N.York cast her electoral vote - believing and hoping that it will be given for Lincoln & Hamlin…"

Stone, Samuel Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, D.B. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, E.S. Pew, W.P. Cornell, Franklin C. Ingersoll, Henry. 20 11 August 20, 1860 - October 27, 1860

63 digital images

Coal oil business Forest Park farm cattle telegraph business correspondence national politics New York State Agricultural Rooms Tompkins County agricultural survey.

October 22, 1860. Circular letter from Otis E. Wood:

"It is with no little pain that I announce to you my determination to quit the farm…" [in Etna].

October 22, 1860. Ezra Cornell's printed form:

"I have had blanks prepared for the purpose of having the Agricultural Statistics of the County of Tompkins taken this Fall, to show the crop of the growth of the year of 1860."

October 23, 1860. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell thanking Ezra Cornell for his gifts of books and the Cornells' visit, and describing the welcome accorded the Prince of England in Portland. October 27, 1860. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"We are now having a series of political mass meetings in this section of country, the Hon. John P. Hale is stumping the state for Old Abe. I heard him last wednesday, we expect to give him a rousing majority in this state - Douglas stock is down low and still declining."

Cornell, D.B. Cornell, Jane Wood, M.C. Cornell, Elijah Pew, W.P. Tillotson, D.T. Speed, J.J. Hale, John P. 20 12 October 29, 1860 - December 8, 1860

60 digital images

Forest Park farm coal oil business agriculture American Terraculture Company Tompkins County agricultural survey New York State Agricultural Rooms telegraph business correspondence. Todd, S.E. Smith, Ezra Wood, M.B. O'Reilly, Henry Robertson, Mary C. Cornell, D.B. Chace, Miller Millspaugh, John H. Wood, O.S. 20 13 December 10, 1860 - December 31, 1860

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Telegraph business correspondence: proposed California line coal oil business agriculture Tompkins County agricultural surveys meteorological instruments Cayuga Inlet. Ithaca. Cornell, E.S.; Wood, M.B.; Millspaugh, John H.; Sibley, Hiram. Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence :: 1861-1864 20 14 January 1, 1861 - January 18, 1861

60 digital images

Cattle Tompkins County agricultural surveys coal oil business Cornell family genealogy and history.

January 1861. Letters from Paul J. Cornell to Ezra Cornell discussing Cornell family genealogy and stating the position of the South versus the North regarding slavery and states' rights.

January 8, 1861. Ezra Cornell to Paul J. Cornell discussing Cornell family genealogy and slavery.

Michigan. Cornell, Paul J. Cornell, O.H. Perry Wood, M.B. Millspaugh, John H. Wood, Deborah C. Cornell, J.C. Wood, M.B. 21 1 January 19, 1861 - February 6, 1861

56 digital images

Possible dissolution of the Union slavery Tompkins County agricultural surveys New York State Canal Commissioners Office.

January 20, 1861. Ezra Cornell to I.R. Elwood:

"The great question of the day is, have we a National Government? I have always thought we had, I think we have still."

Cornell, O.H. Perry Robertson, H.D. Cornell, D.B. Rowell, Mary Wood, M.B. Cornell, Angeline. 21 2 February 8, 1861 - March 13, 1861

48 digital images

Tompkins County agricultural surveys wheat Forest Park farm coal oil business national politics Abolition secession slavery.

February 21, 1861. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"Tuesday I was coming down Broadway just before 3 P.M., and the gathering crowd along that popular thoroughfare reminded me that the Prest Elect was to arrive in the city at 3 and triumverate through Broadway to the Astor, I therefore turned into the Musuem when I reached that curiosity shop and got a window commanding the Astor from which I could notice the progress of the Nations Hope from Chamber Street to the Astor. At that distance I saw Mr. Lincoln alight from his carriage and enter his hotel, from which he soon after immerged through a window on the second story…and made a short speech to 25 acres of mottled humanity below. I could not hear a word that he uttered, but the convulsive jerks of his head, and bobing of his body indicated an earnestness of speech, and called forth the wildest shouts of applause from the solid mass of admirers below. As Mr. Lincoln has not called on me I have seen nothing more of him. Mr. L held receptions at the Astor at the city hall, but I regarded it as undignified for a New York farmer to mingle with the bulls, bears, & dead rabbits of this metropolis, I therefore must excuse myself from any description of the scene."

Ithaca New York City Kansas. Robertson, Mary C. Chester, E.W. Curtiss, George Millspaugh, John H. Cornell, Angeline Cornell, D.B. Lincoln, Abraham Chace, Miller Schuyler, Philip C. 21 3 March 14, 1861 - April 8, 1861

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Tompkins County agricultural surveys Forest Park farm agriculture wheat coal oil business New York State Canal Commissioners Office Cayuga Inlet secession. Gloversville, N.Y. DeRuyter, N.Y. Coshocton, Ohio. Chace, Alonzo Cornell, Ezra E. Cornell, D.B. Barnard, D. Wood, O.S. Robertson, Mary C. Wood, M.B. Cornell, Paul J. Pew, W.P. 21 4 April 9, 1861 - May 31, 1861

52 digital images

Forest Park farm coal oil business secession slavery Ovid Agricultural College Farmers Club (Ithaca) New York State Agricultural Rooms Ithaca Volunteer Fund Civil War.

April 22, 1861. Paul J. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"Your predictions, concerning our state, I am ashamed to confess, are…to be realized for the disunionist have or are about to…our good old state into this unholy war against our wishes & better judgment, it is hard for us to fight against the star spangled banner, that which our fathers suffered, bled, dide and won for our enjoyments. The negrows are volunteering there servises all over the state to fight against the north, thay are not made to do so, for thay say the abolissionist doo dem moor harm than they do good…"

May 2, 1861. Ezra Cornell to Paul J. Cornell discussing the political and moral nature of the outbreak of the Civil War.

Kentucky Virginia. Pew, W.P. Cornell, John H. Curtiss, George Cornell, O.H. Perry Cornell, E.S. Wood, Orson B. Chester, E.W. 21 5 June 4, 1861 - October 26, 1861

78 digital images

Coal oil business Forest Park farm telegraph business correspondence Civil War: Battle of Bull Run, prisoners (John W. and Ezra E. Cornell).

June 4, 1861. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:

"The death of Douglass which we have just heard will be regretted by the Nation at this critical juncture. If he had poped off before hatching his Squatter Soverign herricy his death would have been a National blessing."

Chicago. Chace, Miller Wood, O.S. Speed, J.J. Wood, M.B. Cornell, J.W. Chace, Rebecca Cornell, Ezra E. Stone, Samuel. 21 6 November 3, 1861 - November 25, 1861

52 digital images

Cornell family genealogy and history Civil war: contributing supplies coal oil business Tompkins County agricultural surveys (report) Farmers Club (Ithaca). Ithaca. Cornell, D.B. Wood, Otis E. Wood, M.B. 21 7 December 2, 1861 - January 8, 1862

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Coal oil business Civil War New York State Agricultural Rooms Family correspondence Forest Park farm. Wood, M.B. Curtiss, George Cornell, O.H. Perry Wood, O.S. Robertson, Mary C. Smith, F.O.J. Finch, James Finch, Jane Cornell. 21 8 January 10, 1862 - January 22, 1862

59 digital images

New York State Legislature: letters from constituents Civil War Forest Park farm New York State Agricultural Rooms cattle Cayuga Inlet coal oil business New York State Agricultural Society.

January 10, 1862. O.H. Perry Cornell to Ezra Cornell and Mary Ann Cornell:

"I write to ask forgiveness for one or two rather quick speeches in my last letter and to ask you to write to me at least if nothing more for I have done nothing as yet that I deserve to be thus treated by you, to be sure I married very young but Dear Parents Louise is more than twice worthy of me she is good and she is pure and all you can say is she is poor."

January 13, 1862. [Barnard] to Ezra Cornell:

"Father…wished me to write down what he knew in regard to the impresment of American Seamen he says in 1804 he sailed with Timothy Barnard when on the South side of Long Island (in sight of it) the Brittish Frigate Combarine boarded them and took their mate whose name was Cunningham…"

Albany Ithaca. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, O.H. Perry Barnard, D. Cornell, D.B. Cornell, Franklin C. Wood, M.B. Cornell, Ezra E. 21 9 January 22, 1862 - February 6, 1862

66 digital images

New York State Legislature: letters and petitions from constituents, legislation Civil War Forest Park farm New York State Agricultural Rooms coal oil business Western Union Telegraph Company agriculture New York State agricultural survey New York State Agricultural Society diphtheria. Albany Ithaca. Wood, M.B. Cornell, Franklin C. Cornell, O.H. Perry Smith, F.O.J. 21 10 February 6, 1862 - February 24, 1862

68 digital images

Forest Park farm New York State Legislature: letters from constituents and others Civil War cattle agriculture New York State Agricultural Rooms Western Union Telegraph Company. Ithaca Albany. Cornell, E.B. Cornell, Franklin C. Cornell, N.P. Egbert, J.D. Robertson, H.D. Chester, E.W. Finch, Jane Cornell Cornell, O.H. Perry Wood, O.S. 21 11 February 25, 1862 - March 5, 1862

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Civil War New York State Legislature: letters from constituents Forest Park farm coal oil business sheep. Albany Ithaca. Cornell, Alonzo B. Wood, W. Irving Curtiss, George. 21 12 March 6, 1862 - March 13, 1862

66 digital images

Sodus Canal New York State Legislature: letters from constituents Danby farm Forest Park farm coal oil business Cayuga Inlet Vassar College Western Union Telegraph Company: benefits American Telegraph Company.

March 10, 1862. Ezra Cornell to O.H. Perry Cornell:

"I will receive you and your wife as members of the family and trust to the future to determine the wisdom of my decision. I advise you to prepare to move out to the Danby farm which I have possession of on the 1st of Apl next."

Albany Ithaca. Cornell, Alonzo B. Chester, E.W. Curtiss, George Boardman, T. Pew, W.P. Cornell, Franklin C. Cornell, Benjamin Wood, M.B. Speed, J.J. Cornell, O.H. Perry. 21 13 March 14, 1862 - March 29, 1862

78 digital images

Cayuga Inlet Forest Park farm New York Legislature: legislation telegraph industry American Telegraph Company New York State Agricultural Society.

March 23, 1862. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"I am sorry to hear that Frank maintains ill feelings towards Perry. I want to see this feeling dispated, and see you treat each other like brothers."

March 27, 1862. O.S. Wood to Ezra Cornell, telegram:

"Grandfather died at five this evening. Funeral day after tomorrow at one."

March, 1862. Draft of a speech by Ezra Cornell to New York State Assembly.

Albany Ithaca. Cornell, D.B. Wood, M.B. Cornell, Alonzo B. Booth, Mariah Speed, J.J. Chester, E.W. Pew, W.P. Livingston, Cambridge Cornell, Elijah. 21 14 April 1, 1862 - April 30, 1862

60 digital images

Death of Elijah Cornell coal oil business New York State Legislature: legislation, bills passed for Tompkins County New York State agricultural survey New York State Agricultural Rooms New York State Veterinary College cattle telegraph industry transcontinental telegraph line Cayuga Inlet sheep Western Union Company Tompkins County Agricultural Society.

April 22, 1862. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:

"Our appropriations are all right yet, and I think will remain so, but it is something like a band of robbers dividing spoils to get any thing. To see the way new or yearling members are kicked & cuffed about in those scrambles extants vows from many that they will never be caught at Albany again as a Member."

New York City Albany Ithaca. Robertson, Mary C. Wood, M.B. Cornell, John H. Sibley, Hiram Speed, J.J. Cornell, Alonzo B. Tillotson, D.T. 21 15 May 1, 1862 - May 19, 1862

38 digital images

New York State Legislature: legislation Sodus Canal Forest Park farm telegraph industry transcontinental telegraph line International Exhibition (London) European agricultural societies. Cobb, Emory Sibley, Hiram Cornell, J.W. Ritso, Frederick. 22 1 May 20, 1862 - June 27, 1862

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Family correspondence Sodus Canal New York State Agricultural Society letters of introduction for upcoming trip to Europe Western Union Company agriculture sheep.

n.d. Ezra Cornell's itinerary for trip to Europe.

Barnard, D.R. Wright, Avis Smith, F.O.J. Cornell, John H. Cornell, J.W. Sibley, Hiram. 22 2 July 1, 1862 - September 30, 1862

90 digital images

New State Agricultural Society cattle travel (England, Scotland) sheep. England Scotland. Dagwell, John Sherwood, S.P. Cornell, Mary Ann Cornell, Alonzo B. Webb, Jonas Wood, Daniel. 22 3 October 6, 1862 - October 26, 1862

61 digital images

Agriculture coal oil business Family correspondence New York State Agriculture Rooms real estate New York State Agricultural Society sheep finances cattle Cornelian Oil Company. Ithaca Albion. Fink, J. Cornell, E.S. Wilcox, A. Chester, E.W. Wood, Phebe Robertson, Mary C. Cornell, J.W. 22 4 October 27, 1862 - November 11, 1862

62 digital images

New York State Agricultural Society (Road law) cattle sheep New York State Agricultural Rooms Western Union Telegraph Company real estate Cornelian Oil Company agriculture.

November 1, 1862. J. Curd to Ezra Cornell from Lexington, Kentucky discussing the Confederate presence in Kentucky and the impact on his life and farm:

"Well, you may say the Confederate troops were at my door for they were encamped in my front lot for more than a month fifteen hundred or two thousand, just because I was known to be an unconditional union man they tormented me nearly out of my life…"

Ithaca Coshocton Kentucky. Speed, J.J. Cobb, Emory Chester, E.W. Wood, M.B. Cornell, E.E. Osborne, D.M. O'Reilly, Henry Chase, Edward. 22 5 November 12, 1862 - November 25, 1862

54 digital images

New York State Agricultural Society sheep Ezra E. Cornell sick with typhoid fever in Lockport New York State Legislature cattle women's education agriculture New York State Agricultural College (Ovid) telegraph business correspondence.

November 12, 1862. J. M. Haight to Ezra Cornell discussing payment for a collection of stuffed birds in cases.

November 17, 1862. H.J. Raymond to Ezra Cornell discussing state politics, possibility that Cornell's name will be thought of as Speaker in the New York State Assembly, and reporting news of the war.

Coshocton. Haight, J.M. Wood, M.B. Raymond, H.J. Cushman, J.B. Wood, Daniel Chace, Miller Kelly, W. Smith, F.O.J. 22 6 November 26, 1862 - December 12, 1862

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Agriculture telegraph business correspondence sheep New York State Agricultural College (Ovid) New York State Legislature cattle Montezuma Swamp and Sodus Canal Western Union Telegraph Company. Ithaca. Fink, J. Curtiss, George Smith, F.O.J. Geddes, George Sibley, Hiram Joy, Arad Wood, Daniel. 22 7 December 15, 1862 - December 29, 1862

61 digital images

Agriculture sheep cattle telegraph business correspondence death of Ezra E. Cornell People's College (Havana, New York) Land Grant Act New York State Legislature: letters from constituents (Captain in Union army requesting Ezra Cornell's assistance in obtaining promotions for Tompkins County officers) Western Union Company. Pew, W.P. Smith, F.O.J. Johnson, B.P. Sibley, Hiram Cushman, J.B. Elwood, I.R. Randall, H.S. Cornell, Ezra E. Wyckoff, W.O. Riggs, M.C. Chester, E.W. 22 8 December 31, 1862 - January 7, 1863

44 digital images

Western Union Telegraph Company agriculture telegraph business correspondence: Pacific line, stock, dividends real estate cattle.

1862. Listing and description of soldiers sent from London (one Prussian, two Germans, four Hungarians, one Polish).

January 4, 1863. Capt. Isaac S. Tichenor to Ezra Cornell concerning policies followed in promoting officers.

January 7, 1863. Phebe Wood to Ezra Cornell and Mary Ann Cornell concerning war news, family news, and including a photo album from "Santa Claus."

Sibley, Hiram Wade, J.H. Randall, H.S. Wilcox, A. Elwood, I.R. Tichenor, Isaac S. Curtiss, George Dunham, J. Wood, Phebe. 22 9 January 8, 1863 - January 14, 1863

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New York State Legislature: letters from constituents Western Union Telegraph Company: stocks, dividends cattle New York State canals (Sodus Canal) People's College Ithaca real estate Family correspondence. Ithaca Albion. Ramsey, A.B. Wyckoff, W.O. Thomas, E.N. Folger, C. Robertson, Mary C. Cornell, E.S. Elwood, I.R. Cornell, E.B. Wood, M.B. 22 10 January 15, 1863 - January 30, 1863

71 digital images

New York State Agricultural Society telegraph business correspondence: Pacific line sheep cattle Forest Park farm agriculture Civil War salt Family correspondence Western Union Telegraph Company.

January 19, 1863. W. Irving Wood to Ezra Cornell from Army hospital in Alexandria, Va. describing where he is and where he has traveled with the Union Army.

January 26, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Army camp in Louisiana, about 12 miles above Vicksburg describing life in the camp and discussing the family and farm he left in Illinois:

"There has been a great deal of trouble about our getting our mails since we left Jackson Tenn, Nov, and in fact about the amount of what do get that we can depend upon is mouldy bread, musty bacon body lice and curses from drunken officers…"

January 26, 1863. H.W. Sage to Ezra Cornell concerning Ezra Cornell's interest in Sage's Ithaca real estate:

"If I lived at Ithaca & could find one man without fear of his own shadow, to join me, I would undertake to make all that valley properly valuable -- I know it can be done and I know that you comprehend the ways -- & have the means, to do it…"

Ithaca Albany Albion Vicksburg. Cornell, John H. Mumford, G.H. Curtiss, George Cornell, Frank C. Wood, W. Irving Wade, J.H. Elwood, I.R. Wilcox, A. Root, O. Pew, W.P. Cornell, F.C. Cornell, D.B. Sage, H.W. Sibley, Hiram Cornell, E.B. Wood, O.S. Wood, M.B. 22 11 February 1, 1863 - February 8, 1863

54 digital images

Civil war Ithaca real estate New York State Legislature: letters from constituents Forest Park farm Banking Law request for donation for Sabbath School and lecture room. Albany Ithaca. Howard, J.M. Sage, H.W. Wyckoff, W.O. Elwood, I.R. Clark, A.B. Cornell, Franklin C. Esty, Edward S. Wood, Phebe Wood, Daniel Sherwood, S.P. 22 12 February 9, 1863 - February 18, 1863

57 digital images

New York State agricultural survey Cornell Public Library building New York State Legislature: letters from constituents request for donation to Ithaca Academy Danby War Committee Civil War Western Union Telegraph Company.

February 9, 1863. F.H. Moor to Ezra Cornell from Boston offering his services in preparing a plan for the proposed Cornell Public Library.

Ithaca Albany. Moor, F.H. Boardman, Douglass Clark, A.B. Cornell, J.W. Curtiss, E.L.B. Wood, W. Irving Pew, W.P. Sibley, Hiram Sherwood, S.P. 22 13 February 19, 1863 - February 28, 1863

47 digital images

New York State Legislature: letters from constituents subscriptions and bounties salt New York State Agricultural survey cattle agriculture Cornell Public Library.

February 20, 1863. Arad Joy to Ezra Cornell from Ovid requesting Ezra Cornell to have a bill introduced for appropriating lands to the New York State Agricultural College.

Cornell, O.H. Perry Joy, Arad Macy, Philander Finch, F.M. Schuyler, G.W. 22 14 March 2, 1863 - March 10, 1863

61 digital images

Cornell Public Library Civil War International Agricultural Exhibition at Hamburg New York State Legislature: letters from constituents Family correspondence Forest Park farm railroads.

March 2, 1863. Ezra Cornell to F.M. Finch concerning the design of the library building and suggesting that all architects from Ithaca be given an opportunity to submit plans for "an edifice from which the rays of light and knowledge was to eradiate to her present and future generations."

March 2, 1863. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell discussing national politics.

Ithaca Albion Finch, F.M. Wood, M.B. Cornell, E.S. Curtiss, George Wyckoff, W.O. Cornell, J.W. Glenny, William Tarbell, D. Nolte, Adolph Cornell, Franklin C. Cornell, Paul J. Chester, E.W. 22 15 March 11, 1863 - March 17, 1863

66 digital images

Civil War New York State Agricultural Society New York State Legislature: letters from constituents Cornell Public Library agriculture.

March 11, 1863. D. B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from camp at Providence, La.:

"You may rest assured Brother that I will never turn my back to the enemies of our country. I enlisted as a private and sought no higher position but our Lt. Col….appointed me colour bearer. I felt proud of the confidence he placed in me but would rather he had not appointed me to that position yet inasmuch as it his pleasure

I would not express the least wish or word to the contrary, and I know that I will never disgrace that proud emblem of liberty…

"…we are here inactive and are as the saying is spoiling for a fight, we are anxious to be doing something that will tell towards crushing out this rebelion, we have never yet as a regiment had the privelege of facing the foe…

"I shall feel more reconciled to the fate that may await me as a soldier, since I have the assureance that in case I fall you will attend to the wants of my family - yet I cannot think otherwise than that I shall return to them - I only fear that the 95th regt. will never have an opportunity to prove their superiority to their number of rebles…"

Ithaca. Cornell, D.B. Tarbell, D. Schuyler, G.W. Terrey, D. Curtiss, George Pew, W.P. Cornell, E.B. Chester, E.W. 22 16 March 18, 1863 - March 25, 1863

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New York State Legislature: letters from constituents Forest Park farm cattle Cornell Public Library Western Union Telegraph Company land grant appropriations response to address before the New York State Agricultural Society. Ithaca Albany. Cornell, Franklin C. Van Rensselaer, R.H. Mumford, G.H. Curd, John Chace, Miller Curtiss, George Finch, F.M. King, J.H. Wood, W. Irving Macy, Philander Glenny, G. 23 1 March 26, 1863 - April 6, 1863

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Telegraph business correspondence Land Grant Act New York State Legislature: legislation Cornell Public Library Family correspondence Danby farm Civil War Montreal Telegraph Company.

April, 1863:

"Received of E. Cornell seventy three dollars for support of families of Colored Volunteers of Albany County."

Ithaca. Pew, W.P. Wood, O.S. Curtiss, George Finch, F.M. Cornell, O.H. Perry Torrey, William A. Cornell, Franklin C. 23 2 April 7, 1863 - April 13, 1863

47 digital images

New York State Legislature: legislation Copperheads cattle Sodus Canal Cornell Public Library coal oil business Land Grant Act Cayuga and Oswego Canal. New York City. Pew, W.P. Wood, M.B. Finch, F.M. Schuyler, A. Curtiss, George. 23 3 April 14, 1863 - April 29, 1863

50 digital images

New York State Legislature: legislation Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends Land Grant Act People's College (Havana) Wisconsin lands.

April 16, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from encampment in the Union Army.

April 17, 1863. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell:

"We are watching with great anxiety to hear of Charleston being taken by our forces and are preparing for a big jollification on receipt of the news. We have a big national flag ready to raise that cost us $36 in NY city."

Pew, W.P. Finch, F.M. Cornell, D.B. Chester, E.W. 23 4 May 1, 1863 - May 18, 1863

49 digital images

New York State Agricultural College (Ovid) New York State Agricultural survey New York State Canal Commissioner's Office Loyal League of Union Citizens Civil War agriculture Western Union Telegraph Company.

May 1, 1863. W.O. Wyckoff to Ezra Cornell describing life in the Union Army.

Pew, W.P. Chester, E.W. Wood, M.W. Curtiss, George. 23 5 May 19, 1863 - June 28, 1863

47 digital images

Agriculture Cornell Public Library Civil War cattle Cornell family genealogy and history New York State Bureau of Military Statistics Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends.

May 24, 1863. W.O. Wyckoff to Ezra Cornell describing life in the Union Army.

DeRuyter. Sibley, Hiram Wood, O.S. Wood, M.W. Wyckoff, W.O. Barnard, D.R. Cornell, Paul J. Pew, W.P. Carpenter, Eber. 23 6 July 2, 1863 - July 28, 1863

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New York State Legislature: letters from constituents Western Union Telegraph Company: stock. Pew, W.P. Wood, Daniel Curtiss, George. 23 7 August 1, 1863 - September 7, 1863

49 digital images

Agriculture Civil War Cornell Public Library New York State Agricultural Rooms telegraph industry Sodus Canal.

August 3, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell including a meticulous account of his participation in the Battle of Vicksburg and his near fatal injury suffered in the assault:

"I received my wound on the 19th of May at the first charge on the works in the rear of Vicksburg, our Brigade charged on what was called Fort Hill. …my position was colour bearer and I had to go down a small ravine which was in the hillside…I was struck directly under and about 3/4 of an inch from my left eye --I did not fall, nor did the colours go down…I then went and lay down behind a fallen tree expecting to bleed to death…the ball had apparently struck the limb of a tree and was comeing diagonaly down as it passed through my hat rim over my left temple, it passed through the roof of my mouth cutting an ugly gash on the inside of my right cheek and lodged at the angle of my jaw shattering it severely."

Kansas Vicksburg, Ms. Albany. Pew, W.P. Cornell, D.B. Wood, O.S. Chace, Miller Chester, E.W. 23 8 September 8, 1863 - September 28, 1863

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Agriculture cattle Cornell Public Library New York State Agricultural Rooms New York State Legislature Ezra Cornell's election to the State Senate Ezra Cornell's charitable contributions. Kansas Albany. Millspaugh, John H. Cornell, E.S. Pew, W.P. Wood, O.S. 23 9 September 29, 1863 - October 10, 1863

52 digital images

New York State Legislature: letters from constituents Agriculture New York State canals cattle.

October 2, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing life in a convalescent hospital in Illinois.

Wells, Henry Chester, George F. Cornell, D.B. 23 10 October 12, 1863 - October 29, 1863

50 digital images

Civil War Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends New York State Agricultural Rooms.

October 12, 1863. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell describing a battle.

October 18, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing life in a convalescent hospital in Illinois.

Millspaugh, John H. Wood, M.B. Wood, O.S. Cornell, John H. Cornell, D.B. 23 11 November 2, 1863 - November 19, 1863

62 digital images

New York State Legislature: legislation. Robertson, M.O. Wood, O.S. Cornell, John W. Sibley, Hiram Cornell, John H. Pew, W.P. 23 12 November 20, 1863 - December 11, 1863

66 digital images

New York State Legislature agriculture sheep Forest Park farm New York State canals.

November 29, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing life in a convalescent hospital in Illinois.

Curtiss, George Pew, W.P. Robertson, M.O. Faxton, Theodore Cornell, D.B. Wood, O.S. 23 13 December 12, 1863 - December 26, 1863

61 digital images

Agriculture New York State Legislature New York State canals cattle Western Union Telegraph Company. Speed, J.J. Ingersoll, Charles Barnard, D.R. Chester, E.W. Cornell, Paul J. Cornell, Ezra E. 23 14 December 28, 1863 - January 9, 1864

66 digital images

New York State Legislature: legislation real estate Civil War Western Union Telegraph Company: stock New York State Agricultural College (Ovid) Cornell Public Library New York State canals Cascadilla Institute People's College.

December 31, 1863. Benjamin Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing camp life and re-enlistments.

January 6, 1864. J.P.S. Briant to Ezra Cornell:

"The accompanying Pistol and ammunition was captured from a Rebel officer at the Storming of 'St. Mary's Hights,' Fredericksburgh…. As these mementos of the 'Slave Holders Rebellion' will be prized in after times, I take pleasure in placing them in your hands for presentation to the Farmers Club of Tompkins County for preservation."

Ithaca. Cornell, Benjamin Cartwright, Robert Finch, F.M. Greeley, Horace. 23 15 January 10, 1864 - January 17, 1864

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New York State Legislature: legislation New York State canals Western Union Telegraph Company: stock Forest Park farm Cascadilla Institute Ezra Cornell's will Family correspondence Ithaca Savings Bank.

January 13, 1864. Ezra Cornell to F.M. Finch:

"I have five children, it would not benefit them to give them more than $100,000 each, thus less than half is disposed of…The Library will probably absorb $60,000, but supposing it to go to $75,000. What shall I do with the balance? I hope to do much good with it, but I really don't know how to dispose of it in a will so as to do the good with it that I should desire to do."

January 15, 1864. F.M. Finch to Ezra Cornell:

"Your remarks with reference to a will have staggered me. Your reflections have carried you into a region where mine had not entered."

Ithaca. Cornell, Alonzo B. Cornell, Franklin C. Finch, F.M. Curtiss, George Smith, F.O.J. 24 1 January 18, 1864 - January 24, 1864

54 digital images

Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends, stock Cornell Public Library Ezra Cornell's will Cascadilla Institute Ladies Aid Society Civil War Ezra Cornell's charitable contributions Family correspondence New York State Legislature: legislation. Ithaca. Finch, F.M. Speed, J.J. Wood, Phebe Cornell, O.H. Perry Cornell, E.B. 24 2 January 25, 1864 - February 1, 1864

67 digital images

New York State Legislature: legislation, letters from constituents Forest Park farm Civil War gun stock Agriculture New York State canals Cornell Public Library.

January 30, 1864. William Glenny letter describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.

Cornell, Alonzo B. Chester, E.W. Glenny, William Cornell, John H. 24 3 February 2, 1864 - February 8, 1864

76 digital images

New York State Agricultural survey agriculture Wisconsin lands New York State Legislature: legislation, letters from constituents Civil War New York State canals Forest Park farm.

February 6, 8, 1864. William Glenny letters describing life and Army politics in camp in Germania Ford, Virginia.

Parker, Amasa J. Finch, F.M. Cornell, O.H. Perry Wood, W. Irving. 24 4 February 9, 1864 - February 17, 1864

54 digital images

New York State Legislature: legislation, letters from constituents New York State canals Cornell Public Library Land Grant Act People's College Agriculture Cayuga Lake.

February 11, 1864. Douglass Boardman to Ezra Cornell describing a tableaux theatrical presentation in Ithaca.

February 14, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from convalescent hospital where he is a nurse:

"If I were doing any thing to help crush the rebellion I would not murmer, but to have been shot in the way I was, and that too within three minutes after getting in sight of the Devils for the first time, and then not being premitted to go back to the field when I could actualy do more duty than four such men as they have been sending back who have recovered (or rather partialy recovered) from the various ills contracted in camp life, I tell you it is rather chilling."

Ithaca. Pew, W.P. Wood, M.B. Boardman, Douglass Glenny, William Spaulding, Henry C. Wells, Henry Cornell, E.B. Cornell, D.B. 24 5 February 18, 1864 - February 24, 1864

52 digital images

Civil War Cornell family genealogy and history New York State canals New York State Legislature: legislation, letters from constituents.

February 18, 22, 24, 1864. William Glenny letters describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.

Smith, F.O.J. Wood, M.B. Pew, W.P. Beebe, Jessie C. Boardman, Douglass. 24 6 February 25, 1864 - February 29, 1864

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New York State canals New York State Legislature: legislation, letters from constituents Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends, stock Forest Park farm Danby farm Cornell family genealogy and history cattle sheep agriculture.

February 26, 1864. William Glenny letter describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.

February 28, 1864. Franklin C. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"Perry moved last week his stock that he left to danby looks hard I don't think I ever saw a lot of calves that looked worse than his do…"

Pew, W.P. Cornell, John H. Sibley, Hiram Cornell, Franklin C. Millspaugh, John H. 24 7 March 1, 1864 - March 11, 1864

61 digital images

Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends, stock New York State Legislature: legislation, letters from constituents Civil War.

March 3, 10, 1864. William Glenny letters describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.

Spaulding, Henry C. Sibley, Hiram Wood, Phebe Chester, E.W. Glenny, William. 24 8 March 12, 1864 - March 19, 1864

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New York State Legislature: legislation, letters from constituents and others Cornell Public Library Agriculture Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends, stock New York State canals.

March 12, 1864. William Glenny letter describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.

Cornell, E.B. Pew, W.P. Glenny, William. 24 9 March 21, 1864 - March 29, 1864

67 digital images

Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends, stock Cascadilla Place Saratoga Race Course New York State Legislature: legislation Ezra Cornell's donation to Ithaca band New York State Agricultural College (Ovid).

March 21, 1864. William Glenny letter describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.

Ithaca. Nivison, S.S. Curtiss, George Speed, J.J. Glenny, William. 24 10 March 30, 1864 - April 12, 1864

89 digital images

Telegraph industry: western lines Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends, stock New York State Legislature: legislation, letters from constituents and others Steam cultivation Wisconsin lands national legislation Cornelian Band (Ithaca) New York State canals. Sibley, Hiram Wood, M.B. Lee, W. Beebe, A. Speed, J.J. Beebe, Jessie C. 24 11 April 13, 1864 - April 23, 1864

46 digital images

Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends, stock, Russian stock New York State Legislature: legislation, letters from constituents and others national legislation.

April 13, 1864. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"From present appearances there will be no lack of capital to carry the thing through and I do hope you will not allow yourself to get into a position which will cause you the least uneasiness financially. You have worked hard and have secured a fortune…I really hope you will conclude to make your subn. $300,000 instead of $500,00."

Ithaca. Cornell, Alonzo B. Sage, H.W. Sibley, Hiram Speed, J.J. 24 12 April 24, 1864 - May 6, 1864

57 digital images

Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends Russian Telegraph New York State Agricultural Rooms New York State Legislature: legislation Civil War national legislation Cornell family genealogy and history Ithaca Gun Company.

April 26, 1864. W. Irving Wood to Ezra Cornell from camp near Alexandria, Virginia:

"We left Annapolis at 6 A.M. the 23rd inst. we passed through Washington at noon yesterday & was reviewed by Genl. Burnside & the President as we passed, and we made a good appearance but it was very hard work after marching for two days & the night before we laid out through a drenching ravine & had marched 10 miles through the mud besides fording a stream that morning. Quite a number of men died yesterday on the road. Our corps now has 4 divisions the forth is of colored troops."

DeRuyter Ithaca. Sibley, Hiram Wood, W. Irving Chester, E.W. Barnard, Reuben Selkreg, J.H. 24 13 May 7, 1864 - May 20, 1864

50 digital images

Steam cultivation New York Steam Agriculture Company telegraph industry Western Union Telegraph Company: dividends, stock national legislation.

May 13, 1864. Petition by members of New York State Senate to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton:

"The undersigned respectfully request a pass for Hon. Ezra Cornell to go within the lines of our Army to render assistance to the wounded."

May 18, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:

"I am going out into the State of Missouri recruiting for the 29th Ill. Colored Regt."

May 20, 1864. John W. Brown to Ezra Cornell describing at length activities in and battles of the Union Army.

Selkreg, J.H. Sibley, Hiram Cornell, D.B. Brown, John W. 24 14 May 21, 1864 - June 4, 1864

38 digital images

Civil War Cornell family genealogy and history steam cultivator Russian stock.

May 21, 1864. W. Irving Wood to Ezra Cornell describing battles near Spottsylvania.

May 29, 1864. John W. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from New Orleans describing his capture and wounding in a war skirmish:

"Probley you have sean the account of the capchur of the Gun Boat Signal No. 8 the one that I was on."

DeRuyter. Wood, W. Irving Wright, Avis Sibley, Hiram Robinson, R.R. Chester, E.W. Cornell, John W. Speed, J.J. Wood, O.S. Fenton, Reuben. 24 15 June 5, 1864 - June 22, 1864

48 digital images

Agriculture Russian stock Ezra Cornell's Wisconsin lands Civil War: colored regiments. Chester, E.W. Balch, G.W. Cornell, D.B. Pierpont, J.E. Willers, D. 25 1 June 23, 1864 - July 19, 1864

58 digital images

Cattle Montezuma Swamp New York State Legislature Massachusetts "cattle plague" New York State Agricultural Society telegraph business correspondence: Russian Telegraph stock Western Union Company: stocks.

June 25, 1864. Mrs. Paul Cornell (Keturah M.) to Ezra Cornell from Portsmouth, N.C. describing her losses in the war.

July 11, 1864. Paul J. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Portsmouth, N.C. requesting loan from Ezra Cornell to reestablish himself in business in the South, possibly by speculating in cotton.

July 19, 1864. John W. Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing conditions in a naval hospital in Chelsea, Mass.

Palmer, O.H. Spalding, Henry C. Hopkins, P.A. Cornell, Paul J. Chester, E.W. Cornell, J.W. Cornell, Keturah. 25 2 July 20, 1864 - August 9, 1864

54 digital images

Cattle Civil War Cornell Public Library (workers' strike) telegraph business correspondence: Ithaca Telegraph Company offer of natural history collection steam agricultural machinery New York State canals.

July 20, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from camp near Memphis, Tenn.:

"My health is very good & the condition of my jaw's as such that I can eat any rations but hard tack, & I much prefer field to Hospital duty."

July 20, August 1, 1864. J.H. Millspaugh to Ezra Cornell requesting his assistance in starting a photography studio in Ithaca, and making use of a room in the library building.

July 23, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from camp near Memphis, Tenn. requesting his assistance in obtaining a commission in the Veteran Reserve Corps.

July 24, 1864. John G. Apgar to Ezra Cornell informing him of the death of his nephew W. Irving Wood from his wound received in battle:

"He was buried on Arlington Hights on the farm formeraly owned by Gen. R. E. Lee at present commanding the Rebel Army his and all other graves are properly marked and a record kept so that if the friends wish to they can remove the body in the fall…"

July 28, August 3, 1864. Albert H. Chace to Ezra Cornell requesting advise and aid in opening an upholstery business.

Ithaca. Cornell, D.B. Millspaugh, J.H. Beebe, Alvah Chester, E.W. Wood, W. Irving Apgar, J.G. Chace, Albert H. Jewett, E. Boardman, Douglass Palmer, O.H. Cornell, E.B. Lee, W. Lummis, W. 25 3 August 10, 1864 - August 30, 1864

48 digital images

New York State canals offer of natural history collections steam agricultural machinery telegraph business correspondence: stock cattle Cornell Public Library.

August 11, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Camp at St. Charles, Ark.

August 27, 1864. B. Cassedy of the Office of the Commissioners of Emigration to Ezra Cornell concerning laborers for the building of the library.

Howell, R. Cornell, D.B. Adams, W.H. Jewett, E. Lummis, W. Lee, W. Cornell, John H. 25 4 September 1, 1864 - September 18, 1864

54 digital images

New York State Agricultural Company Western Union Telegraph Company New York State Agricultural College (Ovid) telegraph business correspondence: inventions steam agricultural machinery.

September 5, 1864. C.S. Lozier, M.D. to Ezra Cornell concerning a scholarship to the New York Medical College for Women.

Ithaca. Johnson, B.P. Palmer, O.H. Beebe, Alvah Lozier, C.S., M.D. Hawley, G.P. Cornell, John H. Lee, W. Jewett, E. Cornell, J.W. 25 5 September 20, 1864 - October 7, 1864

59 digital images

Cattle New York State Agricultural College real estate (Brooklyn) Cornell Public Library Smith versus Cornell.

October 3, 1864. "Ella" in New Hampshire to Ezra Cornell:

"…I am gifted with what my teachers say, an uncommonly beautiful voice for singing, and being passionately fond of music, I have tried hard to get the means to purchase me an instrument, a Melodeon, is what I have always wished for. My parents have not the means to help me, and having no one else in this wide world to ask assistance of, it gave me encouragement to ask you, an entire stranger, when I read of your generosity. O! kind Sir, if you will enclose me one hundred dollars…"

October 7, 1864. Henry A. Ward to Ezra Cornell describing various fossils he is interested in selling.

Ithaca. Bush, Isaac L. Joy, Arad Lee, W. Finch, F.M. Nichols & Brown Allen, A.B. Cornell, J.W. Shaw, O.F. Chester, E.W. Ward, Henry A. 25 6 October 8, 1864 - October 22, 1864

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New York State Agricultural College family correspondence. Ithaca Albion. Valk, Lawrence B. Joy, Arad Cornell, Keturah Cornell, J.W. Wood, Phebe Chace, Eunice Johnson, B.P. Allen, A.B. Cornell, John H. Raplee, S.S Robertson, Mary C. Lee, W. 25 7 October 26, 1864 - November 17, 1864

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Western Union Telegraph Company: stocks and bonds New York Medical College for Women.

October 24, 1864. P. J. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Portsmouth, N.C. describing his life and business ventures in the South.

October 28, 1864. Wilbur F. Crummer to Ezra Cornell from Pleasant Valley, Ill.:

"I see you have given $50,000 for a public Library to be formed in Ithica N.Y. now can you give a poor wounded invalid soldier, who is closely confined to the house, some few books or magazines to read through the coming winter? I love to read, but am to poor to buy the works I should like to read. The hours pass off slowly when I have nothing to read…the smallest favor will be thankfully received."

Cornell, Paul J. Chace, Eunice Palmer, O.H. Crummer, W.F. Lozier, C.S. Porter, Ira Chace, Baylus Rowell, Mary Wood, O.S. 25 8 November 18, 1864 - December 11, 1864

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Civil War re-election of Lincoln sheep cattle real estate New York State Legislature telegraph business correspondence.

November 18, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from camp at St. Louis, Mo. describing marches and his interest in purchasing farmlands near Sedalia, Mo.

December 16, 1864. Amos Brown to Ezra Cornell from Havana discussing the People's College and asking Ezra Cornell that he consider building his college in Havana or Ovid.

Legg, Louis P. Cornell, D.B. Ingersoll, Henry Bush, I.L. Millspaugh, J.H. Wood, M.B. Brown, Amos Porter, Ira. 25 9 December 12, 1864 - December 31, 1864

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Telegraph business correspondence location of New York State Agricultural College, possible relocation to Ithaca Albany Agricultural Works Cornell University.

December 17, 1864. W.F. Crummer to Ezra Cornell from Pleasant Valley, Illinois:

"The package of books you were so kind in sending me have, after some delay, arrived in safety and I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of the same and to thank you a thousand times for the books…I anticipate a great deal of profit and pleasure in the perusal of them."

December 18, 1864. W. Kelly to Gov. Fenton concerning New York State Agricultural College:

"A most generous offer of endowment has recently been made by a distinguished citizen of this State, on condition that the Legislature shall make a liberal grant from the income of the public lands, and shall authorise the removal of the Institution to Ithaca Tompkins County.

"It is understood that this subject will be brought before the Legislature at its present session. Whatever has a bearing on the advancement of the art of agriculture is entitled to the best consideration of the Legislature."

December 26, 1864. Geo. Geddes to Ezra Cornell:

"…Our Senator White will tell you how deeply I feel in regard to this matter. So let me say go in for the whole fund -- and make the best University -- teaching all useful knowledge."

Ithaca Albany. Curtiss, George Cornell, Betsy Ann Kelly, W. Kennady, J.R. Cornell, Paul J. Chace, Albert H. Fenton, Reuben Geddes, G. Wood, O.S. Cornell, Mary Ann Brown, Amos. Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence :: 1865-1866 25 10 January 1, 1865 - January 12, 1865

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Family correspondence Exhibition of Arts and Industries in Bombay New York State Legislature: letters from constituents. Albany. Cornell, E.S. Cornell, John H. Hopkins, P.A. Wood, M.B. Rowell, Mary Chace, Rebecca Cornell, Alonzo B. 25 11 January 13, 1865 - January 23, 1865

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Cornell Public Library Land Grant Fund telegraph business correspondence Forest Park farm.

January 15, 1865. Ezra Cornell to F.M. Finch:

"You will recv. an invitation to attend a meeting of eminent men, friends of education, at Albany…to inaugurate the movement for our Agricultural College, and a University at Ithaca…

"I have modified my proposition so that it proposes to donate $500,000, for the erection of a college at Ithaca on condition that the state will endow the institution with the entire land grant fund…

"Assuming that Beers is satisfied that the Peoples College is a failure through Cooks refusal to carry out his promised aid, and that he will now go in for our project as I am told many of the Peoples College Trustees will, we want him to come also."

Brown, Amos Lummis, W. Barnard, R. Finch, F.M. Cornell, E.B. Millspaugh, J.H. Palmer, O.H. Taylor, J.J. Wood, O.S. Cornell, Franklin C. Lummis, W. 25 12 January 24, 1865 - January 31, 1865

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Ithaca real estate Cornell Public Library meeting to discuss Cornell's proposed university coal oil business New York State canals.

January 25, 1865. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo Cornell:

"We had a respectable meeting and harmonious action -- Greely was with us and is with us. If the Peoples College dont move soon it must get out of the way and let us pass…"

January 27, 1865. Ezra Cornell to F.M. Finch:

"In reference to the College Movement I am sorry that Ithaca was not represented by any of its invited guests, this is an indifference unworthy the importance of the subject…

"The enterprise expands from an Agricultural College, to a University of the first magnitude -- such as we have to go to Europe now to find. Agriculture and mechanic arts being among its leading objects. The annual income of our strongest (Columbia) College is $65,000, from that our other colleges in this state have incomes of $20,000. $10,000. $8,000, and down to $5,000 per ann. If our plans are successful, I feel confidence in being able to lay a financial basis which will give us an anual permenant income of $100,000. That to be expended at Ithaca yearly for all time to come is the material question to which our citizens are supremely indifferent, cant attend a public meeting when invited to promote such an object. May the Lord be merciful to them and grant them future prosperity and happiness.

"If my life is spared, and prosperity continues I shall be able to make a broad mark on the future prosperity of Ithaca. I shall promise less than I shall perform. If we secure this congressional college fund I am confident that we can make Ithaca the seat of learning in America…"

January 28, 1865. S.B. Howe to Ezra Cornell:

"Capt. D. Tarbell C.S. was taken prisoner by the rebels Sept. 21st 1864 and is now confined in the military prison at Danville Va. He writes that several officers have been exchanged of late by special application; and wishes me to address yoursel