Miles Dahmer Papers, 1791-1913 A&M 3390

Miles Dahmer Papers, 1791-1913 A&M 3390


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West Virginia and Regional History Center

1549 University Ave.
P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown, WV 26506-6069
Business Number: 304-293-3536
wvrhcref@westvirginia.libanswers.com
URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu

Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History Center

Repository
West Virginia and Regional History Center
Identification
A&M 3390
Title
Miles Dahmer Papers 1791-1913
URL:
https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/195869
Quantity
1.4 Linear Feet, 1 ft. 3.5 in. (1 document case, 5 in.); (1 small flat storage box, 3 in.); (1 small flat storage box, 1.5 in.); (2 large flat storage boxes, 3 in. each)
Creator
Dahmer, Miles
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/
Language
English
Abstract
Papers of the Dahmer family of Upper Tract, Pendleton County, WV, featuring the papers and artifacts of Miles Dahmer, who served the Confederacy in the 25th Virginia Infantry.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

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

Special access restriction applies.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Miles Dahmer Papers, A&M 3390, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.


Biographical / Historical

Miles Dahmer was born 1825 April 10 and was raised in Upper Tract, Pendleton County, western Virginia. After settling briefly in Grasshopper Falls, Kansas around 1856-1857, he returned to western Virginia around 1858, and was appointed to serve the 3rd Division of the Virginia Militia as a Major. He later served the Confederacy in the 25th Virginia Infantry. He died on 1894 March 14 in Pendleton County, West Virginia. (See: Armstrong, Richard L. 25th Virginia Infantry and 9th Battalion Virginia Infantry. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, 1990.).

Scope and Contents

Papers of the Dahmer family of Upper Tract, Pendleton County, WV, featuring the papers and artifacts of Miles Dahmer, who served the Confederacy in the 25th Virginia Infantry.

There are 6 original documents (ca. 1861-1862) directly related to the service of Miles in the Civil War, including an order to muster troops to active duty (1861 April 29) and a "morning report of officer of the day" (1861 December 10) by Miles to General Jackson of the Army of the Valley. In addition, there is a notebook with very short and sporadic entries recording unit activities for a period during 1861.

There are also several letters from Miles to his aunts "Phebe" and "Anna" (1856-1857) regarding his experiences in traveling to the Kansas Territory (including steamboat travel), impressions of Grasshopper Falls, Kansas Territory (where he settled), and descriptions of Indigenous Americans, among other topics. (Though Grasshopper Falls, Jefferson County, was involved in the contest as to whether its political affairs should be controlled by the Pro-slavery or Free-state party in 1856-1857, there is no mention of this in the letters of Miles or others found in this collection.) Other letters include ones to Miles from his aunts (1857) regarding family and local news; letters from the Harmans (1857-1859), Miles' friends and neighbors in Grasshopper Falls, about local news; and letters from the Harmans (1865-1869) that discuss legal and financial matters pertaining to the disposition of Kansas land purchased by Miles, as well as opinions regarding the Confederacy and Dahmer's participation in the Civil War. (The Harmans had been acquaintances of Miles in Upper Tract, Virginia before moving to Kansas.)

There are miscellaneous financial and legal papers of the Dahmer family (1854-1891), including a 1791 deed to John Skidmore from Virginia Governor Beverley Randolph for land in Upper Tract, West Virginia. (This land was inherited by the Dahmer family.) There is also a 6' x 8' group portrait photograph, ca. 1900-1915, showing what appears to be a reunion of a Civil War Unit.

The collection also includes several artifacts used by Dahhmer during the Civil War.

Series include:
Series 1. Miscellaneous, 1840, 1995, undated (Box 1, Folders 1-2)
Series 2. Virginia Militia Documents, 1858, undated (Box 1, Folder 3a)
Series 3. Civil War Documents, 1861-1862, undated (Box 1, Folder 3b)
Series 4. Diaries, 1859-1861, 1884-1887 (Box 1, Folder 4)
Series 5. Outgoing Letters -- From Miles Dahmer to Aunts Juliana and Phoebe, 1856–1857 (Box 1, Folder 5)
Series 6. Incoming Letters -- To Miles Dahmer from Phoebe and Juliana Dahmer, 1857, undated (Box 1, Folder 6)
Series 7. Incoming Letters -- To Miles Dahmer, 1854-1869, undated (Box 1, Folders 6-8)
Series 8. Miscellaneous Correspondence -- Miles Dahmer, 1886-1891, 1913 (Box 1, Folder 9)
Series 9. Incoming Letters -- To Phoebe and Juliana Dahmer from Emily Harman and James Daughmer, 1857–1858 (Box 1, Folder 10)
Series 10. Incoming Letters -- To Phoebe and Juliana Dahmer from Sallie Dahmer, 1874–1881 (Box 1, Folders 11-12)
Series 11. Ephemera, undated (Box 1, Folder 13)
Series 12. Legal Papers -- Miles Dahmer, 1854–1882 (Box 1, Folder 14)
Series 13. Legal Papers -- General, 1860–1875 (Box 1, Folder 15)
Series 14. Bills and Receipts -- Miles Dahmer, 1860s-1890s, undated (Box 1, Folders 16-20)
Series 15. Bills and Receipts -- Phoebe and Juliana Dahmer, 1866–1887 (Box 1, Folder 20)
Series 16. Printed Material, 1830, 1879-1890, undated (Box 1, Folder 21)
Series 17. Photographs, ca. 1900-1915, 1993 (Box 1, Folders 22-23)
Series 18. Civil War Artifacts, ca. 1858-1862 (Boxes 2-5)

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Civil War - militia - Virginia 46th Regiment.
  • Dahmer family
  • Dahmer, Miles
  • Kansas Territory
  • Kansas Territory - Grasshopper Falls.
  • Militia - Virginia 46th Regiment.
  • Pendleton County (W. Va.)
  • Photographs.
  • Skidmore, John.
  • Steamboats
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
  • Upper Tract.

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Kansas Territory
  • Kansas Territory - Grasshopper Falls.
  • Pendleton County (W. Va.)
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Container List

Series 1. Miscellaneous (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1-2 1840, 1995, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes assorted written material, including receipts, poems, and envelopes.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
    Receipts (3 items: 2 receipts for paints, and 1 for general supplies)
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
    Poems (2 items: 1 lyrical by Caroline Johnson, and one humorous titled "A Week's Trouble with a Woman")
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
    Petition to School Board of Upper Tract
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
    Announcement -- Sons of Confederate Veterans Meeting (featuring presentation by Maryan Dahmer on her grandfather Major Miles Dahmer)
    October 1995
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
    Envelopes (2 items; empty; addressed to Miles Dahmer)
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
    Poem -- "The Golden Rule" (by Miles Dahmer)
    1840 January 12
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
    Pencil Sketch of Design for Furniture
    undated
Series 2. Virginia Militia Documents (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3a 1858, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes documents related to Miles Dahmer's time in the Virginia Militia, including his appointment document as Major in the 46th Regiment of the 18th Brigade and 3rd Division.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3a
    Receipt for Uniform from D.C. Anderson and Brother
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3a
    Appointment Document from the Commonwealth of Virginia (Miles Dahmer as Major in the 46 th Regiment of the 18 th Brigade and 3 rd Division of the Virginia Militia)
    1858 October 18
Series 3. Civil War Documents (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3b 1861-1862, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes various documents relating to the Civil War, including an order to muster troops, a pay voucher, and two soldier rosters.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3b
    "Special Order No. Two" (Order to Major Miles Dahmer to muster troops to Franklin, Virginia)
    1861 April 29
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3b
    "Morning Report of Officer of the Day" (report authored by Miles Dahmer to "Major General Jackson Commanding the Army of the Valley")
    1861 December 10
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3b
    Pay Voucher of the Confederate States of America (for Major Miles Dahmer)
    1862 April 10
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3b
    Medical Furlough (for "Private Dormer of the 25 th Virginia Volunteers of Company E, who was wounded in the arm at the battle of McDowell…" by "Surgeon P.A.C.S.")
    1862 May 28
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3b
    Roster of Companies A, B, and C
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3b
    Roster of Deserters of Companies A, B, and C
    undated
Series 4. Diaries (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 1859-1861, 1884-1887
Scope and Contents

This series includes two of Miles Dahmer's personal diaries.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
    Diary (Labeled "1859"; 3" x 5"; contains short, sporadic entries recording business transactions and activities of [apparently] Miles Dahmer)
    1859
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
    Diary (Labeled "1861;" 3" x 6"; contains short, sporadic entries recording [apparently] 25 th Virginia Infantry activities for the period June-November 1861; entry of May 14 reads "Franklin Guards went into service of Virginia on this day;" there are also entries for 1884-1887 before and after the Civil War entries recording business transactions and activities)
    1861, 1884-1887
Series 5. Outgoing Letters -- From Miles Dahmer to Aunts Juliana and Phoebe (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 1856–1857
Scope and Contents

These letters regard experiences in traveling to the Kansas Territory [including steamboat travel], impressions of Grasshopper Falls, Kansas Territory [where he settled], and descriptions of Indigenous Americans, among other topics. (Note: Though Grasshopper Falls, Jefferson County, was involved in the contest as to whether its political affairs should be controlled by the Pro-slavery or Free-state party in 1856-1857, there is no mention of this in the letters found in this collection.)

Series 6. Incoming Letters -- To Miles Dahmer from Phoebe and Juliana Dahmer (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 1857, undated
Scope and Contents

These letters regard family news and the local news of Upper Tract, West Virginia.

Series 7. Incoming Letters -- To Miles Dahmer (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6-8 1854-1869, undated
Scope and Contents

Five of these letters are from Noah and Emily Harman, friends and neighbors of Miles Dahmer when he had been in Kansas, regarding the local news of Grasshopper Falls, Kansas Territory. Noah had been an acquaintance of Miles in Upper Tract, Virginia before moving to Kansas. Two are from friends in the state of Iowa and Upper Tract, West Virginia.

Four of these letters are from Noah Harman, a neighbor of Miles Dahmer when he had been in Kansas, discussing legal and financial matters pertaining to the disposition of Kansas land purchased by Miles, as well as opinions regarding the Confederacy and Dahmer's participation in the Civil War. Noah had been an acquaintance of Miles in Upper Tract, Virginia before moving to Kansas. The remaining five letters are from a County Clerk regarding the disposition of Dahmer's Kansas land.

Series 8. Miscellaneous Correspondence -- Miles Dahmer (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 1886-1891, 1913
Scope and Contents

This series includes a transcription of marriage contract between "George Dachemer" and "Nancy Skidmore" of 1810 provided by the Clerk of Pendleton County.

Series 9. Incoming Letters -- To Phoebe and Juliana Dahmer from Emily Harman and James Daughmer (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 1857–1858
Scope and Contents

This series includes two letters from Emily Harman regarding Miles Dahmer, life in Grasshopper Falls, produce prices, and other topics.

Series 10. Incoming Letters -- To Phoebe and Juliana Dahmer from Sallie Dahmer (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11-12 1874–1881
Scope and Contents

These letters concern primarily the efforts of Sallie Dahmer to collect a family inheritance.

Series 11. Ephemera (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 13 undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes five empty envelopes that contained letters by Sallie Dahmer postmarked from Little Sandusky, Ohio.

Series 12. Legal Papers -- Miles Dahmer (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14 1854–1882
Scope and Contents

This series includes assorted legal papers belonging to Miles Dahmer, including materials regarding a land dispute and Dahmer's career in the Pendleton County School District.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
    List of Contributions to Point Pleasant School House (Miles Dahmer was the School Superintendent)
    1854
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
    Land Dispute (2 documents regarding land dispute between Mary Dahmer and Miles Dahmer)
    1866
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
    Denial of Deed Request (issued from Franklin, West Virginia)
    1866
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
    Certificate of Trustee's Election (for Miles Dahmer as Trustee of a Pendleton County School District; oath of loyalty on back of document)
    1875
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
    Oath of Loyalty (for discharge of duties as President of School District No. 4 of Pendleton County)
    1881
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
    Denial of Claim by Law, Land and Government Claims Office in Washington, D.C. (by reason of disloyalty)
    1882
Series 13. Legal Papers -- General (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15 1860–1875
Scope and Contents

This series includes assorted legal papers, including material regarding land and the Last Will and Testament of Juliana Dahmer.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15
    Deed Between Laskin Samuels and Martin Hartman for Pendleton County Land
    1860
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15
    "Last Will and Testament" of Juliana Dahmer
    1861
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15
    Claim Investigation (letter from New York agency to "Sarah Dahmer" offering services)
    ca. 1874-1875
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15
    Land -- Definition of Boundaries ("Bearing between Henry Mallow and Jacob Clayton...")
    undated
Series 14. Bills and Receipts -- Miles Dahmer (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 16-20 1860s-1890s, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes assorted bills and receipts of Miles Dahmer.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 16
    1860s (12 items)
    1860s
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 17
    1870s (4 items)
    1870s
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 18
    1880s (9 items)
    1880s
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 19
    1890s, undated (5 items)
    1890s, undated
Series 15. Bills and Receipts -- Phoebe and Juliana Dahmer (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 20 1866–1887
Scope and Contents

This series includes assorted bills and receipts of Phoebe and Juliana Dahmer.

Series 16. Printed Material (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 21 1830, 1879-1890, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes assorted printed material, including an early pocket interest mathematical table, an account and memorandum book, etc.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 21
    "Jelleff & Hull's Patent Pocket Interest Tables" (2" x 4 1/2"; 46 pgs.; published in Winchester by Samuel H. Davis)
    1830
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 21
    Advertisement for Threshing Machines by The Pitts Agricultural Works (5 1/2" x 10"; 2 pgs.; includes three color illustrations)
    1880
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 21
    "The Controllable Bee Hive, and New System of Bee Management" (5 1/4" x 7 1/2"; 12 pgs.; by Mrs. Lizzie E. Cotton; illustrated; includes illustrated mailing envelope)
    1885
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 21
    "Pierce's Memorandum Book and Account Book" (3 1/4" x 5 1/2"; 50 pgs.; includes extensive advertising with illustrations for pharmaceutical products by "Dr. Pierce.")
    1890
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 21
    Miscellaneous (6 items)
    1870s, undated
Series 17. Photographs (box 1)
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 22-23 ca. 1900-1915, 1993
Scope and Contents

This series includes a group portrait of a Confederate veterans reunion and photographs of a Miles Dahmer exhibit.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 22
    Group Portrait -- Confederate Reunion (Reunion of Confederate veterans at the Daugherty Hotel in Franklin, West Virginia; Howard Dahmer, son of Miles Dahmer, is standing in the balcony with son Arthur; 6" x 8" photograph mounted to 9" x 11" board; right edge of board is chipped.)
    ca. 1900-1915
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 23
    Miles Dahmer Exhibit (Photographs record exhibit of Miles Dahmer artifacts and manuscripts in exhibit cases.)
    ca. 1993
Series 18. Civil War Artifacts (boxes 2-5)
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Mixed Materials Box: 3 Mixed Materials Box: 4 Mixed Materials Box: 5 ca. 1858-1862
Scope and Contents

This series includes Civil War artifacts, including several belts, an Eagle Head Sabre, and other pieces of a Confederate officer's uniform. This material is in secure storage; viewing any of these artifacts requires the express permission of a curator of the West Virginia and Regional History Center.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 2
    Two Epaulettes with Insignia
    ca. 1858-1862
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2
    Remington 1858 Army Percussion Revolver #58769
    ca. 1858-1862
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2
    Bullet from Wound Received at Battle of McDowell
    ca. 1858-1862
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3
    Sabre Belt (2 pieces)
    ca. 1858-1862
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3
    Holster
    ca. 1858-1862
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3
    Large Leather Belt
    ca. 1858-1862
  • Mixed Materials Box: 4
    Eagle Head Sabre (blade with fine etching)
    ca. 1858-1862
  • Mixed Materials Box: 4
    Officer's Red Sash (may be constructed with the sprang technique)
    ca. 1858-1862
  • Mixed Materials Box: 5
    Canvas Bag (includes 14 pockets labeled with alphabetical spans such as a-b, c-d, etc.)
    ca. 1858-1862
  • Mixed Materials Box: 5
    Land Deed (12" x 15"; to John Skidmore from the Commonwealth of Virginia; signed by Governor Beverley Randolph)
    1791