Wesley Young papers
Scope and Content
The Wesley Young papers contain twelve diaries, two account books, and one day book. The account books contain records of business transactions and cash accounts of Wesley Young & Son and of Wesley Young and Henry Priston. The diaries contain records of chronicled events in Nelsonville and several surrounding townships of Athens County from 1859 through 1912. Most entries document Young's daily activities on his farm, daily temperatures (morning and evening), weather conditions, deaths, births, and marriages that occurred on a particular day. Important activities, celebrations and/or events relevant to the expansion and improvement of Nelsonville were also recorded in the diaries.
There is a supplement to the collection that contains four diaries that compliment the diaries received in the original collection. The first diary includes an entry with Young's observation of Morgan's Raid in Nelsonville in July 1863.
Dates
- Creation: 1859-1912
Language of Materials
The records are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Ohio University Libraries.
Conditions Governing Use
Ohio University retains all property rights to the collection.
Ohio University retains all copyrights unless retained by the donor, other correspondents, or other artists.
Biography of Wesley Young
Farmer and businessman Wesley Young was born on October 26, 1829 in Waterloo Township, Athens County, Ohio. He spent most of his life in Waterloo Township as a farmer. He left the Athens area several years after he was married (1848) and moved to Laport County, Indiana. He remained there for one year, and then returned to Nelsonville, Athens County, Ohio. Young participated in two businesses: Wesley Young & Son; and partnership Wesley Young and Henry Priston which formed in 1870.
On June 22, 1848 Young married Melinda Ladd. The couple had ten children; eight boys and two girls, four of whom died in infancy. The six remaining children were: Wesley Webster, Harrison Monroe, Charles Robbins, Francis Leroy, Emma Almira, and Edward Harley. Young's first wife, Melinda, died on September 1, 1894. On March 4, 1894, he married Martha J. Hastings. Wesley Young died in Nelsonville, Ohio on September 9, 1912.
Extent
1.33 cubic feet (in four 5" legal manuscript boxes)
Abstract
The Wesley Young papers contain twelve diaries, two account books, and one day book.
Statement of Arrangement
This collection remains in its original arrangement.
Other Finding Aid
A paper copy of the folder list is available.
Acquisition Information
The Ohio University Archives received the collection as a donation by Miss Lillian C. Young (granddaughter) on August 18, 1980. The supplement to the collection was donated by Debbie Young of San Antonio, Texas on July 25, 1994. She received it from Miss Lillian C. Young many years ago.
Existence and Location of Copies
Ohio University will entertain requests to photocopy reasonable amounts of material from the collection for the convenience of individual researchers.
Description Note
Original, legacy collection inventories may contain inaccuracies or be incomplete. Collection descriptions may change or be updated as they are verified. Please contact Mahn Center staff if you note any errors or discrepancies.
Subject
- Young, Wesley (1829 October 26-1912 September 9) (Person)
- Prison, Henry (Person)
- Wesley Young & Son (Organization)
- Wesley Young and Henry Prison (Organization)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Wesley Young papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Carolyn Copper in February 1986 and George Bain in July 1994
- Date
- 2020
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- The finding aid was converted into EAD with funding support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Revision Statements
- 5 January 2024: Subjects and other notes added from ALICE MARC records and Mahn Center Microsoft Office finding aids by Ohio University Libraries Metadata Services Department Python scripts.
Repository Details
Part of the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections Repository
