MS 786 - Newton Family Papers (Xenia, Ohio/Ooltwah, Tennessee) (Newton Family)

This record group consists of letters written to and by various Newton family members beginning with Catherine and William Newton. Catherine John (b. 1809) married William Newton in 1832 in the Lebanon/Waynesville, Ohio area. Three children were born to Catherine and William: Samuel Isaac, Chauncey W., and Emma Maria. When William died in 1849, Catherine and the three children moved to Xenia, Ohio, most likely to be closer to her brother, Daniel John. There Catherine remained until her death in December 1901.

Samuel Newton (b. May 1835) grew to adulthood in Xenia and there married Mary (Mae) Annette Halley in 1864. The became the parents of three boys and two girls between 1865 and 1874. The first two boys, Paul and Earle died at the ages of three and four respectively, probably from diptheria. The three surviving children were Frances Halley (1871-1962), Samuel Donald (1872-1962), and Mary Leslie (1874-1944). As stated in Kathryn Jean Tyrone's Dear Ones, Newton Family Letters, 1862-1940, (page 31) Samuel's dream was to own a sugar-cane plantation in Louisiana, but "he never abandoned his civic duties to Xenia. He entered the business community first as an apothecary and later as a bookseller. He was a founder of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and played a vital role in planning its construction." Mae Newton taught at Xenia Female College and also found time to help organize the Xenia Woman's Club in 1869 (the club fictionalized by Xenia native, Helen Hooven Santmyer in the novel, And Ladies of the Club). Mae Newton, after a brief illness, died in September 1888 and two years later Samuel and the three children move to Ooltewah, Tennesee. There Samuel built and managed a blasting powder plant. Samuel's mother, Catherine Newton as well as Mae's sister, Lizzie Halley, soon joined him. In 1893, Samuel married Lizzie. Catherine Newton died at her son's home in December 1901. He died in July 1922.

Most of the letters in this record group consist of personal correspondence between Samuel and his wife, Mae; business letters of Samuel; and, correspondence of Catherine Newton with her children, grandchildren and other family members. These letters have been transcribed by the donor, Kathryn Jean Tryone. Excerpts from many of the letters along with a more detailed family history can be found in her book, Dear Ones: Newton Family Letters, 1862-1940. A series description is not provided as this record group only consists of correspondence. A detailed listing of the letters is provided in the following box/folder inventory.

Box 1

1. Dear Ones: Newton Family Letters, 1862-1940, 1999
2. Family history documents (compiled by Kathryn Jean Tyrone) various dates
3. Eva Halley (Mrs. John) to Mary H. Newton, July 3, 1870
4. Effie Halley Laing to Mary H. Newton, January 1878
5. Eliza John to her sister-in-law Catherine John Newton, January 14, ?
6. William Halley to Mary Newton, 1866-1881
   William Halley to Elizabeth Newton, July 3, 1891, Sept.1, 1902
7. Emily John to Mary (Mae) Newton, Dec. 25, 1871
   Emily John to nephew, Samuel, Feb. 1, 1863
   Emily John to sister, Catherine Newton, Jan. 24, 1871, May 17, 1880
8. Alexander B. Allen to mother-in-law Catherine Newton, 1866, 1876,
   as well as business letters, 1880, 1890-95
9. Mary (Mae) Halley Newton to husband Samuel, 1870-1884
10. Emma L. Woodbridge Newton to Mae Newton, 1880
11. Catherine John Newton to son, Samuel, 1866, 1891-1892
12. Catherine John Newton to sister, Emily John, Dec. 27, 1884
13. Samuel Newton to mother Catherine John Newton, 1873, 1891
14. Samuel Newton business correspondence, 1862-1891
15. Emma Louise Woodbridge Newton to mother-in-law Catherine Newton, 1883-1900
16. Emma Newton Allen to mother Catherine Newton, 1868-1887
17. Emma Newton Allen to husband, Alex, 1887
18. Annis Fitton Newton to husband's grandmother, Catherine, 1868-1887
19. Chauncey Newton to family, 1862-1879
20. Samuel Isaac Newton to wife, Mae, 1870-1881
21. John Halley to sister, Elizabeth Halley Newton, Jan. 6, 1902
22. Elizabeth Halley to Samuel Newton, 1892
23. William L. John to sister, Catherine John Newton, 1894, n.d.
24. Samuel Newton to children, 1891-1892
25. Chauncey Guy Newton to grandmother, Catherine, 1890-1897
26. Harry S. Newton to relatives, (1874), 1880, 1890
27. Mary Emma John Snively to Aunt Catherine John Newton, 1895, 1900
28. Connie M. Guion (M.D.) to Mary Ellen Lynde, mid 1940s?
29. Mary Wood Guion to Mary Ellen Lynde, 1946
30. Mary Ellen Lynde to Mary Wood Newton and Donald Newton, 1944-1949