MS 786 - Newton Family Papers (Xenia, Ohio/Ooltwah, Tennessee) (Samuel Donald Newton Papers)
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| Title | MS 786 - Newton Family Papers (Xenia, Ohio/Ooltwah, Tennessee) (Samuel Donald Newton Papers) |
|---|---|
| Biographical Sketch | Samuel Donald Newton (1872-1962) was the only surviving son of Samuel and Mary (Mae) Annette Halley Newton. When Samuel Donald was eighteen, his father moved from Xenia, Ohio to Tennessee to build a blasting powder plant, leaving Donald, as he preferred to be called, in charge of the family, composed of his two sisters, his grandmother, Catherine, and his aunt, Lizzie. Donald continued to work at a dry goods store to earn money for college. Donald earned an engineering degree from Ohio State University and worked for the railroads all of his professional life. Around 1907, he married Mary Wood Guion. Donald and Mary had a son, Alexander Caldwell, and a daughter, Margaret. Alexander was killed in action in France in July 1944. Margaret married and then divorced Albert Peter Hollis. They had one son, Albert Peter Hollis, Jr. After retiring from Southern Railway, Donald spent most of his leisure time at a retreat near Saluda, North Carolina. He died on December 23, 1962, at his home in New Jersey. Mary Wood Guion Newton died in 1950. |
| Scope and Content | The Samuel Donald Newton papers consists mainly of correspondence Donald wrote to his father between 1881 and 1892. Most of the letters are from the time period in which Samuel had moved to Tennessee and left Donald in charge of the family in Xenia. His letters are full of news of events in Xenia, especially business and political activities. A few letters dated in July-August 1944, written to his sister (not sure whether this is Halley or Mary Leslie) discuss his son's (Alexander) activities in France during WWII. The last letter is the telegram with the news of Alexander's death. Donald, as with his sisters, enjoyed writing and included in this collection is a book, The Dolorous Blade: Being a Brief Account of the Adventures of That Good Knight of the Round Table, Sir Balin, Called "Le Savage," written in rhyme by Donald and published in 1907. Completing this collection is a photograph of Mary Guion Newton and her son, Alexander, and a photograph of Alexander as a soldier. |
| Series Description | CORRESPONDENCE CORRESPONDENCE PRINTED MATERIAL BOOK PHOTOGRAPHS |
| Inventory | Box 7
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