Series 1. Correspondence (Boxes 1-2), 1818-1885, undated

The majority of this series consists of incoming letters to George W. Smith from his family and business associates. It is a narrative of business, local politics, and social conditions in West Virginia before and after statehood. Letters from 1818-1860 are to George W. Smith; letters after 1860 are to Nathan Smith, Frederick F. Smith, Ellen Smith, and subsequent family members.

Most letters concern business. Topics include economic conditions, local banking, textile and general store business, land speculation, local politics, the Parkersburg Turnpike (in Gilmer County), and the Ripley and Ohio Turnpike Company.

Other letters regard personal and family matters. Topics include finances, politics (Whig Party), social and recreational events, health (cholera, measles, and whooping cough), and the temperance movement. There are letters from sons in school at Morgantown, and at Washington, Pennsylvania, 1858-1860; a few grade reports are also included. Civil War related items have been collated into a separate sequence of folders (box 2, folders 29-33).

In addition to the letters there are land indentures, plat maps, and printed speeches, among other types of material.

Primary authors include:
Copehart, Joseph (Friend; Cole's Mouth, WV)
Denniston, Charles C. (Friend; Evansville, WV)
Smith, Frederick F. (Son; Washington, PA)
Smith, James (Brother; Iroquois County, IL)
Smith, Jonas (Father; Danville, Iroquois County, IL)
Smith, Mary Jane (Sister; Point Pleasant, WV)
Smith, Nancy (Sister; Point Pleasant, WV)
Smith, Nathan (Brother; Point Pleasant, WV)
Smith, Nehemiah (Brother; Ripley, WV)
Wheeler, Marenus V. (Cousin; Esopus, Ulster County, NY)

Secondary authors include:
Armstrong, Dr. James (Friend; Glensville, WV)
Boyle, Barnet (Friend; Myer's Bottom, WV)
Bureau, J. M. (Business Associate; Gallipolis, WV)
Camden, Gideon D. (Business Associate; Clarksburg, WV)
Church, Samuel (Friend; Pittsburgh, PA)
Cochran, Benjamin ( Friend; Pittsburgh, PA)
Cooper, William H. (Friend; Lewisburg, WV)
Craig, C.W. (Business Associate; Beardstown, IL)
Elroy, Wilson M. (Business Associate; Pittsburgh, PA)
Ganey, John (Business Associate; Evansville, WV)
Hampton, Wade (Business Associate; Pittsburgh, PA)
Howard, Edward (Friend; Steubenville, WV)
Howell, John B. (Friend; Morgantown, WV)
Jacion, George B. (Lawyer, Middleport, IL)
Kinnaird, A.L. (Business Associate; Williamsport, VA)
Kirby, P.A. (Soldier; Point Lookout, MD)
Kouns, M.K. (Friend; Point Pleasant, WV)
Mairs, Sr., Benjamin (Business Associate; Steubenville, WV)
Newton, E.W. (Friend; Kanawha, WV)
Otts, R.M. (Family Friend; Point Lookout, MD)
Parker, S.H. (Business Associate; Richmond, VA)
Poindexter, Robert W. (Business Associate; Pittsburgh, PA)
Roseberry, E. (Business Associate; Perrysville, WV)
Shirling, G.W. (Friend; Point Pleasant, WV)
Smith, Adrian Addison (Son; Morgantown, WV)
Smith, Benjamin H. (Friend; Charleston, WV)
Smith, James S. (Nephew; Pittsburgh, PA)
Smith, John P.R.B. (Nephew; Point Pleasant, WV)
Smithç Mary (Sister-in-law; Spring Creek, Iroquois County, IL)
Stanley, M. (Business Associate; Middleport, IL)
Thurman, John. M. W. (Friend; Millbourne, WV)
Walker, J.P. (Family Lawyer; Danville, IL)
Williams, B.D. (Business Associate; Spencer, WV)

Notable Items in the Correspondence Series include: a letter regarding measles outbreak in Point Pleasant, WV and cholera in Charleston, WV (located in box 1, folder 1; letter of undated/05/27);

a letter including written invitation to attend and gamble at a horse race (located in box 1, folder 6; letter of 1834/08/05);

a letter concerning outbreak of whooping cough in Point Pleasant, WV (located in box 1, folder 8; letter of 1836/07/24);

a letter regarding land speculation information from a contact among Van Buren’s Cabinet (located in box 1, folder 9; letter of 1836/10/14);

a letter regarding banking reforms disputed in Congress that undermine local banks, blame put on Van Buren, and fears of him being elected (located in box 1, folder 9; letter of 1836/10/31);

a letter regarding effort to avoid residents in tri-state area that support Jacksonism, and effort to evade districts containing Van Buren supporters (located in box 1, folder 10; letter of 1837/06/20);

a letter containing Charles C. Denniston’s statement that John Quincy Adams views himself as "little more than considerable of a Van Buren man" (located in box 1, folder 10; letter of 1837/08/08);

a letter including report on a vote for a proposed (Ripley and OH) turnpike that resulted in a tie in a local government meeting, and then voted down (located in box 1, folder 12; letter of 1839/03/21);

a letter mentioning deer skins that sold for less in Philadelphia than originally estimated (located in box 1, folder 14; letter of 1840/07/06);

a letter reporting that cotton prices are up from 37 1/2 cents to one dollar (located in box 1, folder 14; letter of 1840/09/03);

a letter reporting election results in support of the Whig Party in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Maine, Oklahoma, Delaware, Maryland, OH, and Georgia (located in box 1, folder 14; letter of 1840/10/19);

a letter reporting election results of the congressional delegation in OH, favoring Whigs over Van Burenism (located in box 1, folder 14; letter of 1840/10/19);

a letter referring to results in Illinois of presidential election of 1840 -- "swayed by pledged Roman [Catholic] ethnic Irish and foreigners in support of Van Buren" (located in box 1, folder 14; 1840/12/04);

a letter including reference to land grant signed by James Monroe for Levi Jobbet (facsimile of land grant in box 1, folder 4) (letter located in box 1, folder 16; letter of 1842/03/28);

a letter containing plea from James Smith’s widow, Mary (sister-in-law), for George W. Smith to send money to her for her doctor’s bill, as well as for food, clothing and schooling for her children (located in box 1, folder 17; letter of 1843/06/25);

a printed copy of the speech of Mr. Summers of Virginia entitled "the Contested Election" that had been delivered before the U.S. House of Representatives (located in box 1, folder 18; document of 1844/02/10);

documentation of the appointment of George W. Smith as an elector for the Commonwealth of Virginia for a presidential election (located in box 1, folder 18; document of 1844/07/06);

a letter referencing Whig politics (located in box 1, folder 19; letter of 1845/01/29);

a letter referring to the hiring of Kit Carson as a guide to California via the Rocky Mountains for gold speculation (located in box 1, folder 26; letter of 1849/03/08);

a letter regarding the “borrowing” of an enslaved woman, "Betia,” from her owner Peter Kelly (located in box 2, folder 15; letter of 1857/12/18);

a letter referring to Professor Morse, superintendent of the Washington Female Seminary (in Washington, Pennsylvania), and to social events (located in box 2, folder 18; letter of 1858/11/03);

a report card of A.A. Smith from Monongalia Academy in Morgantown, Virginia (located in box 2, folder 18; document of 1859/04/15);

a letter to Frederick Smith from Phi Kappa Psi student at Washington College (Washington and Jefferson College) describing social event that included dancing and fiddle (violin) music; names are included with reference to "Maiden Street crowd" (located in box 2, folder 20; letter of 1860/07/05);

a commencement program of Washington College (Washington and Jefferson College) (located in box 2, folder 20; 1860/09/05);

a letter referencing boring for oil near Dunkard Creek (in Greene County, Pennsylvania) (located in box 2, folder 21; letter of 1861/03/10);

a letter reporting the late shipment of tobacco to Clark and Carr commission merchants in Cincinnati, OH (located in box 2, folder 21; letter of 1862/01/22);

and a letter regarding political status of country: "...the political condition of the Country has changed a great deal since we met but it is impossible that such noble structure as our government presented only a year ago, should be destroyed. The ambition of men, the folly of others may for a while endeavor to injure the edifice, but it will soon be repaired" (located in box 2, folder 21; letter of 1862/06/03).

Civil War items include:

a letter concerning the threat of Western Virginia invasion from OH and political opponents (located in box 2, folder 29; letter of 1861/06/03);

a letter referring to trouble in Jackson County, including rumors of Rangers deserting, and federal troops in the area (located in box 2, folder 29; letter of 1862/07/20);

a letter reporting that the men of Capt. Frederick F. Smith’s Company H of the 17th Virginia Cavalry are in good spirits; and that Company H is attached to French’s Battalion of General Jenkins' Brigade (Frederick F. Smith is George W. Smith's son) (located in box 2, folder 29; letter of 1862/12/20);

a letter referencing that Company H is afflicted by sickness (located in box 2, folder 29; letter of 1863/01/21);

a letter regarding hopes the war will be over by end of fall (located in box 2, folder 29; letter of 1863/09/10);

a letter regarding the sale of Army horses, mares, and oxen at auction (located in box 2, folder 29; letter of 1863/09/09);

a letter reporting that two men of Company H have been killed, two taken prisoner, and four deserted (located in box 2, folder 29; letter of 1863/09/10);

a letter requesting money needed for assistance at Point Lookout (prison) in Maryland, care of Major Brady, Company D, 1st Division (located in box 2, folder 30; letter of 1864/09/26);

and a letter thanking Ellen Smith (George Smith's daughter) for money given to a previously unknown soldier at Point Lookout (prison), MD, and his appreciation of it (located in box 2, folder 30; letter of 1864/09/26).