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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
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
No special access restriction applies.
Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Stephen B. Elkins Papers, A&M 0053, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
A&M 53 - Gift of Davis Elkins, 1937. Eleven boxes (approximately 1,220 items) including correspondence, maps, speeches, newspaper clippings, congressional records, and scrapbooks dating from 1874-1912.
A&M 53 - Purchase of Maury Bromsen Associates, 1977. Letter by Stephen B. Elkins to Col. William Lilley, 1868 April 3 (1 item, Box 1, Folder 1).
Processing Information
Reprocessed by Danielle Emerling and Leo Gmeindl, 2016, and Erica Uszak, 2023
Biographical Note
Stephen Benton Elkins represented West Virginia in the U.S. Senate from 1895 to 1911. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, practiced law in the Territory of New Mexico in 1864, and was a member of the Territorial House of Representatives from 1864 to 1865. From 1866 to 1870, Elkins was first the district attorney, then attorney general, and then U.S. district attorney for the Territory. Around 1890, he moved to the town that he founded, Elkins, WV. President Benjamin Harrison appointed him Secretary of War from 1891 to 1893. Elkins died in Washington, D.C., during his third term in the U.S. Senate.
Born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1841, Elkins attended public schools in Westport, Missouri, and graduated in 1860 from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he studied law. He then became a school teacher in Harrisonville, Missouri. Among his pupils there was Cole Younger—future Confederate guerrilla and outlaw in the James-Younger Gang. According to accounts provided by both men, Younger later rescued Elkins from execution by Confederate guerrillas during the Civil War. More than 30 years later, Elkins was instrumental in securing parole for Younger, who received a life sentence when convicted of bank robbery.
After enlisting in the Union Army, Elkins served as a captain in the Kansas Militia until 1863. In 1864, he began to practice law in Mesilla, New Mexico, after being admitted to the bar in the Territory of New Mexico. He then served in the Territorial House of Representatives from 1864 to 1865. Elkins also was the district attorney (1866–1867), attorney general (1867), and then U.S. district attorney (1867–1870) for the Territory. In 1872, Elkins was elected to Congress as a Republican representative for the Territory of New Mexico, and served in the Forty-third and Forty-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1873–March 3, 1877); he was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1876.
In 1866, Elkins married Sarah Simms Jacobs. She died prior to Elkins' election to Congress, and was survived by two daughters, Elizabeth and Sallie. In 1875, Elkins married Hallie Davis, daughter of Senator Henry Gassaway Davis of West Virginia. Elkins partnered with Davis in developing natural resources industries in West Virginia, and in 1878, Elkins became a West Virginia citizen. Around 1890, Elkins and his family moved to the town that he founded, Elkins, WV. Together with Davis, Elkins formed the West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway, which had main lines emanating from Elkins, WV, and he was associated with the Davis Coal and Coke Company, one of the largest coal companies in existence.
After being elected executive chairman of the National Republican Committee in 1884, Elkins gave his first political speech in West Virginia on February 29, 1888, in Wheeling. President Benjamin Harrison appointed Elkins Secretary of War, and he served from December 17, 1891 to March 5, 1893. Elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate, Elkins served from March 4, 1895, until his death on January 4, 1911. He was chairman of the Committee on the Geological Survey (Fifty-sixth and Fifty-ninth Congresses) and member of the Committee on Interstate Commerce (Fifty-seventh through Sixty-first Congresses). Elkins was interred in Maplewood Cemetery, Elkins, WV.
Sources:
Clarke, Alan R. The West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway: a Western Maryland Predecessor. Lynchburg: TLC Publishing, 2003.
"Elkins, Stephen Benton, (1841 - 1911)." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-present. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=E000110
Lambert, Oscar Doane. Stephen Benton Elkins: American Foursquare. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1955.
Spears, Jae. "Stephen B. Elkins." The West Virginia Encyclopedia. http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/2199
Scope and Contents
The Stephen B. Elkins papers consists of correspondence; scrapbooks and newspaper clippings; financial, legal, and land records; speeches; photographs, maps; personal papers; and research files related to Elkins' political and business careers. Some materials also relate to the development of the New Mexico Territory and its admission as a state.
The Correspondence series contains letters with political and business associates. Correspondents include several presidents, such as Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Grant, James A. Garfield, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft. Governors and other prominent correspondents include Andrew Carnegie, J.G. Blaine, J.N. Camden, H.G. Davis, M. Hanna, W.S. Herndon, C.C. Catron, R.C. Kerens, J.P. Morgan, and Chauncey Depew. Some selected correspondence is available on microfilm.
The Scrapbooks and Newspaper Clippings series consists of 26 volumes of scrapbooks and loose newspaper stories related to Elkins' political and business careers, personal life, and West Virginia politics and campaigns.
The Financial, Legal, and Land Records series contains papers mainly concerning railroads, mining (coal and silver) and lumbering in West Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, and California.
The Speeches series includes printed speeches made by Elkins throughout his life, and several speeches date to his time in the U.S. Senate.
The Photographs series consists of several images of Elkins, West Virginia, and Halliehurst Mansion. Photographs are available online at http://wvhistoryonview.org/.
The Maps series includes plans for railroads in the eastern United States and property and mine plans in New Mexico.
The Personal Papers series contains some genealogical materials about the Elkins family.
The Senate Papers series contains bills, Congressional Records, and reports.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Civil War - veterans - Union.
- Davis, Henry Gassaway, 1823-1916
- Elkins (W. Va.)
- Politicians
- Politicians -- United States
- Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
- United States -- Politics and government
- United States Congressmen - West Virginia.
- West Virginia - Politics and government.
- West Virginia - politics.
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Davis, Henry Gassaway, 1823-1916
- Elkins, Stephen B. (Stephen Benton), 1841-1911
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Elkins (W. Va.)
- United States -- Politics and government
Container List
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 1861 July-1879 December 25English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 1880 February 1-1881 October 30English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 1881 November 14-1883 August 30English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 1884 May 17-1886 March 13English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 1886 April 4-1887 February 24English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 1887 March 1-April 29English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 1887 May 3-December 28English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1 1888 January 2-March 30English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2 1888 April 3-July 30English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2a 1888 August-DecemberEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3 1888 August 3-December 31English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4 1889 January 1-September 28English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5 1889 October 3-December 22English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6 1890 January-FebruaryEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1 1890 March 3-December 8English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1a 1891 January 9-June 30
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2 1891 July 2-December 23English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3 1892 JanuaryEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4 1892 February 1-April 30English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 5 1892 May-DecemberEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 1893 January-DecemberEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 2 1894 January-DecemberEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 3 1895 January 5-July 20English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 4 1895 August-DecemberEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 5 1896 January 4-DecemberEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 6 1897 January-MayEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 1 1897 June 1-1898 May 23English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 2 1898 June 2-July 29English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 3 1898 August 10-November 30English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 4 1898 December 3-1899 January 28English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 5 1899 February 3-March 30English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 6 1899 April 1-July 31English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 7 1899 August 4-December 25English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 8 1900 January 2-31English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 1 1900 FebruaryEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 2 1900 March 1-13English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 3 1900 March 14-15English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 4 1900 March 16-17English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 5 1900 March 18-20English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 6 1900 March 21-22English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 7 1900 March 23-25English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 8 1900 March 26-28English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 9 1900 March 29-31English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 1 1900 April 2-12English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 2 1900 April 13-16English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 3 1900 April 17-19English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 4 1900 April 20-22English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 5 1900 April 23-24English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 6 1900 April 25-27English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 7 1900 April 28-30English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 1 1900 May-JulyEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 2 1900 August-DecemberEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 3 1901-1902 JuneEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 4 1902 July-1904 December English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 5 1905-1906 AprilEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 6 1906 May-DecemberEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 1 1907 January-DecemberEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 2 1908 January-FebruaryEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 3 1908 March-DecemberEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 4 1909 January-JuneEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 5 1909 July-DecemberEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 6-A 1910 January 7-May 7English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 6-B 1910 May 9-December 21English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 7 1911-1946English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 8 undatedEnglish.
-
Selected Correspondence of Stephen B. Elkins (Microfilm)2 Reels 1 reel of microfilm and 1 partial reel of microfilm shared with A&M 591undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 24
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 261853-1865English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 6
Newspaper clippings1874-1931
- Mixed Materials Box: 17
S.B. Elkins Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 21884English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 19
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 101884-1912English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 14
Centennial Celebration of Inauguration of George Washington—Programme1889English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 19
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 91894-1897English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 17
Newspaper clippings scrapbookca. 1895English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 20
Scrapbook1895-1905English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 18
S.B. Elkins Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 8ca. 1896English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 7
Newspaper clippings1896-1949
- Mixed Materials Box: 17
Scrap Albumca. 1896English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 3
Newspaper clippings: maritime shipping legislationca. 1899English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 18
S.B. Elkins Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 7ca. 1901English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 9
Newspaper clippings1902
- Mixed Materials Box: 20
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 131902-1913English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 17
Scrapbookca. 1904English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 21
Newspaper Clippings Scrapbook Vol. 151904-1908English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 20
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 121904-1911English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 21
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 161905English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 22
Paper Clipping Scrap Book Vol. 171905 December 1-1906 January 18English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 22
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 191906English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 5
Newspaper clippings19061949English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 22
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 201906-1907English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 22
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 181906 February 17-April 5English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 21
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 141907 February 1-1910 January 1English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 4
Newspaper clippings1908English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 8
Cole Younger clipping1909
- Mixed Materials Box: 25
Newspaper clippings scrapbook1909-1910English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 18
Scrap Book1910English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 23
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 22, American Lumberman1910English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 23
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 231911English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 23
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 241911English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 18
S.B. Elkins Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 6ca. 1911English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 9
Elkins, WV, Queen of the Seneca Trail1929English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 24
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Vol. 25undatedEnglish.
A copy of the West Virginia Office of the Tax Commissioner, 8th Biennial report (1928/1930) was removed due to damage. A copy is available in the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference collection.
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 1
Land purchase certificates1871English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 10
Bonds, agreements, wills, land patents, appointments, certificates1874-1933
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 13
U.S. vs. B. & O. Railroad Co., Judge Jackson's Opinion1875 November 17English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 7
New Mexico Otiz and Department of Interior Land Office papers1876
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 5
Contracts and agreements1881-1906
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 1
Charters, by-laws, certificates of incorporation, stock distribution, organization, stock certificates, briefs, decisions, transcripts1881-1906
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 2
Surveyor's and engineer's reports and field notes, Caperton land description, assayer's reports, tables of distances1882-1901
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 3
Deeds, leases, mortgages, affadavit1886-1897
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 4
Financial statements, stockholder lists1889-1898
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 5
Stockholder lists, statements, estimates1891-1898
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 6
Mining records1893-1896
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 12
Supreme Court of Appeals—Fulmer Coal vs. Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad1904English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 11
Elkins Coal & Coke monthly set up book1909-1916
- Mixed Materials Box: 13
Speeches (bound)1874-1910
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 6
Admission of New Mexico as a State1874 May 21
- Mixed Materials Box: 15B Folder: 5
Congressional Records1876 April 20-1910 March 21
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 4
Speeches and editorials1888-1906
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 7
Opening Campaign Speech1892 September 16
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 4
League of Republican Clubs1894 June 19
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 5
Senate speech1896 January 3
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 3
American Merchant Marine Discriminating Duties1897 April 5
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 2
Payment of Bonds1898 January 28
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 8
Aggression of Canadian Railroads1898 March 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 9
Intervention in Cuba1898 April 16
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 1
War-Revenue Bill—Tax on the Gross Receipts of Corporations1898 May 31
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 10
Appointment of Hon. M.S. Quay as Senator1900 March 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 1
Candidates and Platforms of the Two Parties1900 July 11
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 2
The Shipping Bill1902 March 15
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 3
Admission to Cuba1902 June 30
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 4
Protection is the Greatest Friend the Wage Earner Ever Had1904 July 12
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 5
West Virginia State Bankers Association1906 January 20
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 6
Regulation of Railroad Rates1906 April 6
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 7
S.B. 3584 Argument in Support1908 March 4
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 8
The Tariff1909 March 29
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 9
Tariff on Lumber1909 May 22
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 10
Tariff Rates on Petroleum1909 June 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 15A Folder: 11
Tariff Rates on Coal1909 June 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 15B Folder: 1
Teachers' Institute1909 September 16
- Mixed Materials Box: 15B Folder: 2
The Unveiling of the Statue of Francis Harrison Pierpont1910 April 30
- Mixed Materials Box: 15B Folder: 3
Welfare of our People First statementundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 15B Folder: 4
League of Nationsundated
- Maps Map case
Map of the Western Maryland Railroad and proposed connections1890English.
- Maps Map case
Partial sketch of streams etc. on preserve of Sportsman's Association of Cheat Mountain1891English.
- Maps Map case
Map showing proposed location of the Baltimore and Cumberland Railway1892 JanuaryEnglish.
- Maps Map case
Map of the West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Railway and proposed extensions showing coal fields and connecting roads1895English.
- Maps Map case
Map of Elkins, Randolph County, WV, showing Elkins, Davis and Kerens Estatesca. 1900English.
- Maps Map case
Plan of "Capote Stope" 146 foot level showing percentage of copper1901 June 1English.
- Maps Map case
Coal & Iron Railway mapundatedEnglish.
- Maps Map case
Blueprint of "Hallihurst," country home of Mrs. Stephen B. ElkinsundatedEnglish.
- Maps Map case
Profile from Cumberland to Hancock blueprintundatedEnglish.
- Maps Map case
Comparative Grade Profiles blueprint: several railroads in WV and MarylandundatedEnglish.
- Maps Map case
The C & W route by Dry River, Franklin, Big Run and Greenbrier to MarlintonundatedEnglish.
- Maps Map case
Proposed Piedmont and Cumberland with connectionsundatedEnglish.
- Maps Map case
Map showing railroads in interior of WVundatedEnglish.
- Maps Map case
Plat of the Cunningham Mine and Cunningham Addition NorthundatedEnglish.
- Maps Map case
Plan of properties of the Cananea Consolidated Copper Company, Sonora, NMundatedEnglish.
- Maps Map case
Plats of the Cunningham Mine, Cunningham Extension and Cunningham Addition on NorthundatedEnglish.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 10 1859-1860English.
- Books Box: 16
Mitchell's Modern Atlas1871English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 2
Certificate, international exhibition, Ulysses S. Grant1874English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 1
Miscellaneous printed matter1874-1908English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 6
Certificate, International Gold Mining Convention1897English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 2
Biography and genealogyundatedEnglish.