2.1 Linear Feet, Summary: 2 ft. 1 in. (5 document cases, 5 in. each)
Creator
Armentrout, Hunter F.
Location
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown,
WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.
Conditions Governing Access
No special access restriction applies.
Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Hunter Armentrout, Collector, Gilmer County Historical Records, A&M 3659,
West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Amie Evaline Sexton was born on Sunday, May 29, 1836, at French Creek, Lewis County, Virginia, now Upshur County, West Virginia.
She was the daughter of Augustus W. Sexton (1792-1870) and Anna Young Sexton (1796-1880), both of whom were born in Massachusetts
and were part of the significant migration of settlers from New England to western Virginia after 1800. Amie Sexton Silcott
was the youngest of five children. Her siblings included: Louisa Anna Sexton Hays (1822-1899); Freeman Sexton (1827-1911);
Worthington Sexton (b. 1829); and Almira Emmaline Sexton Farmington (1834-1900).
Anna Young Sexton was the first school teacher in French Creek, and Augustus Sexton taught in schools for more than forty
years. Amie's oldest sister, Louisa, was a teacher before her marriage, as was her brother. Born into a family that valued
education, it's likely that Amie began her education at an early age. When school wasn't in session she studied various subjects
on her own.
Since Amie's father was away during the winter months teaching, and her mother was busy managing a farm, it seems probable
that Louisa, who was fourteen years older than Amie, looked after her. In May 1849 Louisa married Peregrine "Perry" Hays of
Gilmer County and moved to Glenville. In June, Amie joined her on a visit. Thereafter she spent most of her remaining life
with or near Louisa.
From an early age Amie liked to write letters and poetry, which was sometimes published in local newspapers. Amie first taught
in Glenville at age sixteen. She later taught at schools in Harrison and Calhoun counties.
In 1859 Amie married George W. Silcott (1830-1903), the county clerk of Calhoun County. They built a home at Arnoldsburg,
then the county seat. Their daughter, Ella Louise "Nellie" Silcott was born in 1860. When the Civil War broke out George Silcott
supported the Confederate cause. Captured and later exchanged at Vicksburg in 1863, he returned to the Confederate army under
General W. L. Jackson. In December 1864 Amie traveled to Monroe County to see her husband. She returned to Arnoldsburg in
April 1865.
Amie Sexton Silcott fell ill after her return and in July 1865 she was too sick to get out of bed. Her health continued to
decline and on November 30, 1865, she died of "Lung fever". She was buried at Arnoldsburg.
(Based on article authored by Hunter Armentrout that appeared in the Calhoun Chronicle in 2007.)
Minter Jackson:
Minter Jackson speculated on land in central western Virginia (West Virginia). Milton Norris conducted surveys of and drew
plats for some of these lands, and in some cases, Jackson sold lands to Norris a year after he had surveyed them. Just before
the Civil War Jackson moved to Marion, Virginia, in southwestern Virginia, where he was involved in banking.
Papers of historian and collector Hunter F. Armentrout of Gilmer County, West Virginia, primarily documenting the history
of the Gilmer County region in the 19th century. Collection chiefly contains correspondence, writings, financial papers, and
photographs, One major component of the collection includes the letters of Amie Evaline Sexton Silcott (1836-1865), a member
of the Sexton family from New England who settled in western Virginia. Her letters contain much information regarding life
in Upshur, Gilmer, and Calhoun Counties before and during the Civil War (transcriptions are available). There are also letters
of her immediate family as well as other members of the Hays, Young, and Sexton families (circa 1840-1890). Other materials
include Armentrout's research notes, land speculation papers of Minter Jackson (ca. 1840-1860), a local World War II era newsletter
(1942-1945), court documents regarding distribution of abolitionist literature (1857), and photographs regarding Glenville
Normal School (ca. 1880-1920).
Two Accessions to Map Collection: 1) Farm Line Maps of North-Central West Virginia (16 maps and 1 index map); 1958-1961 (The
maps show boundaries of properties and names of owners, and location of oil and gas wells, for Gilmer County and surrounding
areas in the counties of Calhoun, Ritchie, Doddridge, Lewis, and Braxton. The legend on the index map includes a key for symbols
that identify the following on the maps: gas wells, oil wells, gas and oil wells, gas wells with a "show of oil", and locations
of abandoned gas or oil wells.) 2) Map of Roane and Calhoun Counties with Grantsville and Spencer, West Virginia; 2006 (Includes
roads and cities.)
This series includes research notes and other materials as compiled by Hunter F. Armentrout chiefly related to Amie Sexton
Silcott, including detailed listings and transcripts of her letters as well as a chronological listing of the letters (note
that this chronological order was broken down by the donor and re-filed alphabetically but that the numerical annotations
were retained). Research materials also include Sexton and Young family genealogies; information about Butler, Pennsylvania,
and Arnoldsburg, West Virginia; and genealogy of the Burr, Gould, Hays, Haymaker, and Silcott families.
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1-3a
Letters of Amie Sexton Silcott (compiled by Hunter A. Armentrout; includes detailed listing of letters and relatives of Amie
Sexton Silcott)
2007-2008, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3b
Transcriptions of outgoing letters of Amie Sexton-Silcott (Word file on Compact Disc)
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4-5
Transcriptions of outgoing letters of Amie Sexton-Silcott, 1849-1865.
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6-7
Butler, Pennsylvania (Pa.) (Amie Sexton went to school in Butler, and lived with her aunt and uncle in Butler part of the
time; includes information on the Young family, and on the Underground Railroad that the Young family participated in; includes
other information on Butler as well)--Chiefly photocopies of printed material related to the history of Butler, Pa.
1895–2007
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8
Letter Index to Letters in Armentrout Collection (numerical index by Armentrout to letters; letters were numbered with pencil;
numerical arrangement was broken by donor and re-filed alphabetically, but numerical annotations were retained)
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
Amie Sexton
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10
Silcott family
1962, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1
Hays, Sexton, and Young family genealogy and history notes
2006, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
Historic calendars for period 1800-2050
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
Arnoldsburg--Photocopy of map and handwritten notes
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4
Burr family--Handwritten notes on family genealogy
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5
Gould family--Handwritten notes on family genealogy
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6
Hays and Haymaker families--Handwritten notes on family genealogy
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7
Sexton family--Handwritten notes on family genealogy
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 8
Silcott and Snyder families--Handwritten notes on family genealogy
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 9
Young family--Handwritten notes on family genealogy
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 10
"Epilogue"--Handwritten brief biographies of Hays, Sexton, and Young family members
This series contains two groupings, A. and B., that were organized by collector Hunter Armentrout. Letters in Correspondence
A. are arranged in alphabetical order by correspondent and include the incoming and outgoing letters of Amie Sexton Silcott
(1836-1865), as well as letters to and from her close family members, including her parents, Augustus and Annie Young Sexton;
her sisters, Almira Sexton Farmington and Louisa Sexton Hays; and her daughter, Ella Louis "Nellie" Silcott. Letters chiefly
date from 1840 to 1880, though many are undated.
Incoming letters to Amie Sexton Silcott are organized by correspondent; letters written by Silcott are organized in chronological
order from 1849 to 1865. Silcott's letters contain much information regarding life in Upshur, Gilmer, and Calhoun counties
before and during the Civil War. (A paper copy of transcriptions of letters authored by her is available in box 1, folders
4 and 5; a compact disc containing a Word file of transcriptions of her letters is filed in box 1, folder 3b; another electronic
copy of same is filed with the Curator of Manuscripts.)
Amie Silcott's letters chiefly include news about friends and family; her delicate health; the weather; household activities
(chores, sewing, reading, gardening, and cooking); social activities (church, visits with friends, and parties); nature and
her physical surroundings (Butler, Pennsylvania; Glenville and Arnoldsburg, West Virginia); education; and marriage. Topics
related to the Civil War include Silcott's allegiance to the South; news of friends and family in the Confederate army; and
the impact of war on her home. Significant items include an 1859 letter in defense of slavery and an 1864 letter about her
desire for peace and the sacrifices of soldiers.
Letters in Correspondence B. are also arranged in alphabetical order by correspondent. Many folders contain only one or two
items and most items date from 1840 to 1890. These letters were written or received by members of the Farnsworth, Hays, Sexton,
Silcott, and Young families--including Moses Farnsworth, Amy Hays Haymaker, Peregrine Hays, Samuel Hays, Augustus Sexton,
Elizabeth Sexton, Nellie Silcott, Henry Young, Lydia Young, and Robert Young, as well as other friends and relatives. Researchers
are encouraged to consult both groupings of correspondence as letters to or from various family members can be found in each
section.
Letters in Correspondence A. are arranged in alphabetical order by correspondent and include the incoming and outgoing letters
of Amie Sexton Silcott (1836-1865), as well as letters to and from her close family members, including her parents, Augustus
and Annie Young Sexton; her sisters, Almira Sexton Farmington and Louisa Sexton Hays; and her daughter, Ella Louis "Nellie"
Silcott. Letters chiefly date from 1840 to 1880, though many are undated.
Incoming letters to Amie Sexton Silcott are organized by correspondent; letters written by Silcott are organized in chronological
order from 1849 to 1865. Silcott's letters contain much information regarding life in Upshur, Gilmer, and Calhoun counties
before and during the Civil War. (A paper copy of transcriptions of letters authored by her is available in box 1, folders
4 and 5; a compact disc containing a Word file of transcriptions of her letters is filed in box 1, folder 3b; another electronic
copy of same is filed with the Curator of Manuscripts.)
Amie Silcott's letters chiefly include news about friends and family; her delicate health; the weather; household activities
(chores, sewing, reading, gardening, and cooking); social activities (church, visits with friends, and parties); nature and
her physical surroundings (Butler, Pennsylvania; Glenville and Arnoldsburg, West Virginia); education; and marriage. Topics
related to the Civil War include Silcott's allegiance to the South; news of friends and family in the Confederate army; and
the impact of war on her home. Significant items include an 1859 letter in defense of slavery and an 1864 letter about her
desire for peace and the sacrifices of soldiers.
Young, Loyal (from Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, among other places)
1824–1839
Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 14
Young, Loyal (from Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, among other places)
1845–1868
Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 15
Young, Robert
1813
Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16-59
Correspondence B
1814-1895
Scope and Contents
Letters in Correspondence B. are also arranged in alphabetical order by correspondent. Many folders contain only one or two
items and most items date from 1840 to 1890. These letters were written or received by members of the Farnsworth, Hays, Sexton,
Silcott, and Young families--including Moses Farnsworth, Amy Hays Haymaker, Peregrine Hays, Samuel Hays, Augustus Sexton,
Elizabeth Sexton, Nellie Silcott, Henry Young, Lydia Young, and Robert Young, as well as other friends and relatives. Researchers
are encouraged to consult both groupings of correspondence as letters to or from various family members can be found in each
section.
This series chiefly contains the poetry and penmanship exercises of the Sexton sisters, Almira Sexton Farmington, Louisa Sexton
Hays, and Amie Sexton Silcott, as well as writings by their uncle, Loyal Young, and Silcott's daughter, Ella Louise "Nellie"
Silcott. Where materials could be identified by author, including a six-page 1851 diary and poetry written by Amie Sexton
Silcott, items are arranged in alphabetical order according to creator. Some items are dated between 1847 and 1855, but much
of this material is undated and its authors are unknown.
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1
Sexton, Nellie (Ella Louise)
1877, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 2
Silcott, Amie Sexton--Diary
1851
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 3
Silcott, Amie Sexton--Poetry and miscellaneous
1849-1855, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 4
Silcott, Amie Sexton--Incoming writings
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 5
Young, Loyal
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 6-7
Miscellaneous manuscripts (includes fragments of letters and poetry).
ca. 1840s-1850s
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 8-9
Poetry and penmanship exercises
ca. 1840s-1850s
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 10
Penmanship books (includes bound volumes of practice manuscript; and textbook titled "Practical and Scientific Penmanship"
by Henry F. Briggs published in 1839, in poor condition)
undated, 1839
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 11
Recipes (four items, referred to as "receipts"; includes: "receipt for making salve"; "cure for prickly heat"; "receipt for
making crackers"; "syrup for preserves"
This series primarily contains receipts, bills, deeds, and tax tickets from the 1850s to the 1880s. Some documents are related
to Augustus and Annie Young Sexton, and these have been separated from the general financial materials.
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 20-21 ca. 1840-1920
Scope and Contents
This series includes correspondence, financial records, photographs, land speculation records pertaining to lands, Jackson
genealogy information, and some papers of Walter Jackson that extensively document Minter Jackson's land speculation in north
central western Virginia (now West Virginia) in the 1840s and 1850s.
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 20-21
Papers of Minter Jackson, a merchant and banker, who speculated on land in central western Virginia (now in the state of West
Virginia).
This series contains advertisements and circulars, almanacs from 1883 and 1902, Confederate currency, the entire run of the
newsletter "Horse's Mouth," regarding Glenville residents in World War II, and mostly undated pamphlets, probably from the
late nineteenth century or the early twentieth century.
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 1
Advertisements and circulars (14 items; includes among other items: announcement of lottery by P.A. Egerton of Wilmington,
Delaware, 1860; "The New Woman" with listing of health products, ca. 1890-1900; Krell Piano Company of Cincinnati, 1892; Marietta
Chair Company, 1895)
1860, 1880-1890
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 2
Advertisements and circulars (19 items; includes mostly material advertising books, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.)
1880–1890
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 3
Almanacs (Two items)
1883, 1902
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 4
Confederate currency (Three items)
1864
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 5-8
Horse's Mouth (publication for residents of Glenville, West Virginia reporting on involvement of residents in World War II;
it was mailed to Glenville residents who were in the armed forces; the paper was founded by Everett Withers; contains complete
run of newspaper)
April 1942-September 1945
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 9
Pamphlets--Education (Several pamphlets related to education)
This series is composed of miscellaneous subject files that contain information related to: the distribution of abolitionist
literature in Gilmer County (3 pages, 1857); the Civil War in Gilmer County; land speculation in Lewis County; and the Buckhannon
and Little Kanawha Turnpike (1854).
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 10
Abolition -- Court Case Regarding Distribution of Abolitionist Literature in Gilmer County by Charles Elliott (1 page).
1857
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 11
Abolition -- Court Case Regarding Distribution of Abolitionist Literature in Gilmer County by Levi Parks (2 pages).
1857
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 12
Civil War (2 items) -- Letter Regarding Collection of Rent for Abandoned Rebel Property; Fragment of Letter From Quartermaster
in Wheeling to French Creek.
1864
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 13
Civil War -- Battle of Arnoldsburg (map drawn by Michael A. Ayers from Smithfield, Virginia [West Virginia] who fought in
the battle as a Union officer).
ca. 1880-1900
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 14
Land Speculation -- Lewis County, Virginia (VA) (includes letters from William Brodie to Thomas Marshall).
1844–1845
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 15
Turnpike (includes appointment letter and certificates for W.L. Sexton as "Director on behalf of the State in the Buckhannon
and Little Kanawha Turnpike").
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 16-22 ca. 1880-1920, 1990-2000, undated
Scope and Contents
The photographs in this series are primarily of the Glenville Normal School but also include a photograph of Hunter Armentrout.
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 16
Glenville Normal School -- Marshall, T.M., Principal (and wife Olive) (copies)
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 17
Glenville Normal School / Glenville State College (includes staff, students, facilities, and activities) (copies)
ca. 1880-1920
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 18
Mcginnis Home (boarding house for students of Glenville Normal School (2 original photographs)
ca. 1890-1910
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 19
Gilmer County (contains 3 photos: 1. oldest house in County; 2. workers with pipes at Ellis Fork of Tanner Creek; 3. brickyard)
(1 original photograph)
ca. 1900-1910
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 20
Non-Gilmer County (includes people and other subjects for central West Virginia) (copies)
ca. 1880-1920
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 21
Coal Tipple in Bower, Braxton County, West Virginia (1 original photo)
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