William M. Zearing papers, 1799-1956
- Creator Names Zearing, William M. (William Mitchell), 1824-1899.
- Title William M. Zearing papers [manuscript], 1799-1956, bulk 1851-1875.
- Physical description
- ca. 300 items (15 folders)
- 1 oversize folder. (deeds 1862-1871).
- Collection summary Letters to William M. Zearing, who was a notary public and lawyer in Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois, and later a judge of the Cook County circuit court; with annotations or separate copies of his replies and letters; deeds, account books (daybooks and ledgers); notes for debates and speeches; notes on arguments presented in court cases between 1851-1855, 1855-1856; poetry and notes by women, 1860s. Topics discussed in the papers include claims for bounty lands awarded to veterans of the War of 1812; land speculation in Illinois and Iowa; collection of debts; Democratic politics and patronage; Fourth of July celebrations (1851); family; Civil War recruitment and camp life; a proposal for a national charity farm (1875); and common schools in Illinois and Wisconsin. Correspondents include Thomas Dent, John Gross of Shiremanstown and Eberlys Mills, Pennsylvania, and Mt. Carroll, Ill., and Zearing's brother James R. Zearing. Copies of letters to Stephen A. Douglas, James Buchanan, and Abraham Lincoln are present as well.
- Finding Aids Note Descriptive inventory available online.
- Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the James Roberts Zearing papers and other materials cataloged separately about W. Zearing and other members of the family.
- Names
- Zearing, William M. (William Mitchell), 1824-1899 Archives.
- Zearing, James Roberts, 1828-1911 Archives.
- Zearing family.
- Democratic Party (Ill.)
- Illinois. Circuit Court (Cook County)
- Princeton Literary Society (Princeton, Illinois)
- Buchanan, James, 1791-1868, recipient. rcp 1856 Oct; 1857 Jan. 26.
- Dent, Thomas, 1831-1925.
- Douglas, Stephen A, (Stephen Arnold), 1813-1861, recipient. rcp 1855 Nov 17; 1857 Dec 22.
- Grimm, Donald H. Zearing, Iowa.
- Gross, John C.
- Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, recipient. rcp
- Zearing, James Roberts, 1828-1911.
- Princeton Literary Society (Princeton, Illinois)
- Subjects
- Bounties, Military Illinois 19th century.
- Fourth of July celebrations Illinois 19th century. 1851.
- Judges Illinois Cook Court 19th century.
- Lawyers Illinois 19th century.
- Literature Illinois Princeton Societies, etc. 19th century.
- Notaries Illinois 19th century.
- Real estate investment Illinois 19th century.
- Trial practice Illinois 19th century.
- Geographic coverage
- Bureau County (Ill.) Politics and government 19th century.
- Cook County (Ill.) Politics and government 19th century.
- Princeton (Ill.) Economic conditions 19th century.
- Illinois Politics and government To 1865.
- Illinois Politics and government 1861-1865.
- Illinois Politics and government 1865-1950.
- Iowa Description and travel 1855.
- United States History Civil War, 1861-1865. 1862 Aug. 14; 1865.
- Zearing (Iowa) History.
- Genre
- Account books. aat
- Certificates. aat
- Correspondence. aat
- Daybooks. aat
- Deeds. aat
- Licenses. aat
- Maps. aat
- Speeches. aat
- Geographic name
- United States Illinois Bureau County Princeton.
- United States Illinois Cook County.
- United States Pennsylvania Cumberland County.
- Finding aid URL Finding aid available online http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/M-XYZ/ZearingW-inv.htm