Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

Items in this collection are largely in the public domain, but individual items may be subject to copyright restrictions. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication .

Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Henry C. Wysor Family Papers, 1869-1918, Ms2023-012, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The collection's materials were purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in July 2018, November 2018, and April 2019.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Henry C. Wysor Family Papers was completed in May 2023.

Biographical / Historical

Henry C. Wysor was born in October 21, 1847, in Washington County, Virginia. Henry enlisted with the Confederacy at the age of 16 in 1864 with the 45th Infantry. He married Mary E. Wysor in 1873. He primarily worked as a Life Insurance Agent who ran his own branch of the New-York Life Insurance Company in southwestern Virginia. He also owned an apple orchard and sold apples to people throughout southwestern Virginia and West Virginia. He passed away on August 07, 1927, in Dublin, Pulaski County, Virginia.

Mary Elizabeth Shipp Wysor was born in 1848 in North Carolina. She married Henry C. Wysor in 1873. She passed away on August 21, 1922 in Dublin, Pulaski County, Virginia.

The two had six children, Mary S., William W., Henry, Cora R., Rufus J., and Davidson C. Wysor. Mary S. was born in May 1876 in Dublin, Virginia, William W. in March 1878, Henry in April 1880, Cora R. in July 1881, Rufus J. in December 1885, and Davidson C. in November 1888. William later resided in West Virginia working for a coal company, and Henry resided in Pennsylvania as a professor.

Sources:

On Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/13820928:60525 . Accessed May 01, 2023.

On Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/13819325:60525 . Accessed May 01, 2023.

Historical Data Systems, Inc.; Duxbury, MA 02331; American Civil War Research Database. On Ancestry.com, Historical Data Systems, comp. U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/676433:1555?tid=&pid=&queryId=faf7aa2c7ce10487ff4d95c7c19701e7&_phsrc=xhy2&_phstart=successSource . Accessed May 01, 2023.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Dublin, Pulaski, Virginia; Roll: 1724; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0044. On Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/72263455:7602 . Accessed May 01, 2023.

Year: 1910; Census Place: Dublin, Pulaski, Virginia; Roll: T624_1643; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0042; FHL microfilm: 1375656. On Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/192715053:7884 . Accessed May 01, 2023.

Scope and Content

This collection includes three series of papers of Henry C. Wysor and his family members. The first series comprises of personal correspondence sent to Henry C. Wysor, his wife Mary E. Wysor who is sometimes referred to as Mrs. Henry C. Wysor, and his daughter Mary S. Wysor. The second series consists of papers regarding Henry C. Wysor's two businesses, his Apple Orchard and Life Insurance Branch. The Apple Orchard papers include correspondences and ledger paper sheets. The Life Insurance Branch consists of correspondences from the insurance company and clients inquiring about their policy or making payments. The third series consists of personal papers from Henry C. Wysor and his son Henry Wysor. There are two handwritten agreements between Henry C. Wysor and others. Henry C. Wysor Writings contains letters written by him and short stories. His personal invoices and receipts are also included in this series.

In Series I: Personal Correspondence, there are three subseries of correspondence. These letters contain details that are personal to the family members, rather than focusin on the business endeavors of Henry C. Wysor.

The collection contains many letters addressed to Henry C. Wysor from his wife, sons while they attended Virginia Tech, his daughter Mary S. Wysor, family members, and friends. Some letters briefly discuss business and job opportunities, such as one letter explaining, "I have secured a job with Mr. Janney in the Wells Branch Coal Co. 3 miles above Dunlow [West Virginia]." Others discuss family health concerns, such as "Mary's illness. I know you are anxious about her. She will soon be her usual self." Another letter contains information on Henry purchasing a train ticket with Southern Railway Company. He also received letters from his son Henry Wysor who worked as a prfoessor at Lafayettel College in Easton, Pennsylvania. One letter discusses the apple orchard, and he inquires about "the news in last nights and todays papers of the Hillsville affair. Judge Massie is the only one of the victims whose name I recognize as one of our old citizens of Pulaski. I trust ... speedy arrest and punishments of these murderers." Later letters inform from Henry to his father discuss how his children Henry and Elizabeth have the whooping cough.

There are many letters addressed to Mary E. Wysor, or Mrs. Henry C. Wysor. Many of these come from her children. Many letters arrive from her son Henry Wysor in Duquesne, Pennsylvania. She often received letters from her husband during his travels. With one letter, he included a short story titled, "Little Corners." Throughout 1905, she received many letters from Henry during his travels, and he sent newspaper clippings to her. The subseries includes a wedding invitation and a graduation invitation.

The daughter Mary S. Wysor received letters over the years. She often received letters from friends around the Pulaski area and from her brothers. Her brothers addressed her as "Sitta." One of her brother's letters discusses their father's apple orchard business where he explains how someone purchased the apples but did not have enough for apple butter.

In Series II: Business Papers, there are papers related to Henry C. Wysor's apple orchard business and life insurance branch business. The apple orchard business contains correspondences and individual ledger papers. Correspondences relate to the harvesting, seasons, and details of the orchard. The life insurance branch was part the New York Life Insurance Company, and Henry C. Wysor had a branch in southwestern Virginia. Many correspondences relate to policy payments and loans. Other correspondences discuss policy applicants for branch. Others discuss the policy options and promote the policies to individuals considering the work.

In Series III: Personal Papers, there are multiple types of papers such as handwritten agreements, short stories, and invoices. One agreement is between Henry C. Wysor and James M. Miller, and the other between Henry C. Wysor, James M. Miller, John B. Baskerville, and George W. Wysor. Henry Wysor wrote an outline for one of his classes at Virginia Tech. Henry C. Wysor's writings are placed together, including letters he wrote and short stories. Both of his short stories relate to the Bible. Some letters are written for his children and family, rather than individual family members which is why they are located with henry C. Wysor's writings. The invoices and receipts deal with his personal purchases.

Box 5 also contains the original collection notes with brief 1-2 sentence descriptions of majority of the letters. Print outs from ancestry.com are also found in this folder.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Ledgers (account books)
• Letters
• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• Pulaski County (Va.)
• Receipts (financial records)
• Virginia, Southwest

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Henry C. Wysor Family Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).