00868.xml W. H. C. Folsom and Family: An Inventory of Their Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul, MN.

Manuscripts Collection

 Finding aid encoded by Shelby Edwards, April 2011. Finding aid written in English January 2013 Inventory updated by David B. Peterson when an addition was made to the collection. OVERVIEW Minnesota Historical Society Folsom, William H. C. (William Henry Carman), 1817-1900. W. H. C. Folsom and family papers. 1836-1950s. Materials in English. Business and personal correspondence, diaries, financial papers, scrapbooks, clippings, photographs, and other papers of Taylors Falls, Minnesota lumberman William H. C. Folsom; the family of his wife, Mary Jane Folsom; their sons, Wyman X. and Frank W. Folsom; and of the related Paine, Wyman, and Smith families. 7.5 cubic feet (9 boxes, 1 oversize folder, unboxed, and 2 items in Reserve). See Detailed Description for shelf locations. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

William Henry Carman (W. H. C.) Folsom was born June 22, 1817 in New Brunswick, Canada. He and his wife, Mary Jane Folsom (nee Wyman) of Maine, were early Minnesota pioneers of the 1840s, who settled in Taylors Falls in 1850. W. H. C. Folsom was best known as a lumberman, but he was also a merchant, legislator, speculator, manufacturer, real estate dealer, historian, and writer, authoring several papers and the book, Fifty Years in the Northwest (St. Paul: Pioneer Press Company, 1888).

The Folsoms had a large extended family, with several members settling in Taylors Falls, including Mary Jane's brother, Edward P. Wyman, and sister, Caroline Weston, both of whom would later commit suicide. W. H. C.'s son, Wyman X. Folsom and his cousin, Philander E. Folsom, both served in the Civil War, 7th Regiment, Company C and 3rd Regiment, Company K respectively. W. H. C.'s younger son, Frank W. Folsom, was one of the first students at the University of Minnesota.

Folsom was active in both county and state government, serving as County Treasurer, State Representative, and State Senator in the 1st, 9th, 10th, and 17th districts, where he was involved in the navigational development of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers, railway building, the Wisconsin boundary dispute, design of the State Seal, and the Five Million Dollar Loan. Additionally, Folsom was involved in several local organizations, including the Kahbakong Cemetery Association, the Methodist Episcopal Church of Taylors Falls, and the Chisago Seminary.

William H. C. Folsom died in 1900 in Taylors Falls, preceded in death by his wife Mary Jane (1896), and his son, Frank W. Folsom (1881).

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

The collection documents W. H. C. Folsom and related families' personal lives and careers, covering the periods of Folsom's arrival in Wisconsin and Minnesota territories in the 1840s through the 1950s. The collection also contains materials and papers of their large extended families, the Wymans, Smiths, and Paines.

There is documentation for Folsom's business activities, including real estate transactions and logging, saw milling, merchandising, and farming; the St. Croix Boom Company and the Chippewa Logging Company; his Taylors Falls house; and his writings, including his autobiographical book, Fifty Years in the Northwest. Other papers concern Minnesota railroads, railroad bonds, and land grants; navigation on the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers; state and local politics and government; the Mille Lacs Ojibwe; temperance; the Kahbakong Cemetery Association of Taylors Falls; and mail service, churches, and life in Taylors Falls.

Includes Civil War letters of Wyman X. Folsom in the Seventh Minnesota Infantry and his cousin, Philander E. Folsom, in the Third Minnesota Infantry; correspondence of Wyman's sons, Erwin W. and John M. Folsom, during World War I; and correspondence of the Wyman family in Maine and Taylors Falls.

Several photographs and albums document the Folsom and extended family legacy, including several hundred photographs of family members, and the Folsom house and Taylors Falls Methodist Episcopal Church, both recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey.

CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: Dakota Indians -- Minnesota. Elections -- Minnesota. Gold mines and mining -- California. Lumbering -- Minnesota. Lumbering -- Wisconsin. Ojibwa Indians -- Land tenure. Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota. Poll tax -- Minnesota -- Chisago County. Railroads -- Minnesota -- Finance. Railroads -- Minnesota. Steamboats -- Saint Croix River (Wis. and Minn.). Steam-navigation -- Mississippi River. Steam-navigation -- Saint Croix River (Wis. and Minn.). Temperance. World War, 1914-1918. Persons: Donnelly, Ignatius, 1831-1901. Ellison, Smith, 1823-1899. Folsom, Erwin W. (Erwin Wieck), 1888- Folsom, Frank W. (Frank William), 1852-1881. Folsom, Geneva Smith. Folsom, John Gordon. Folsom, John M. (John Mendell), 1892- Folsom, Levi Woodbury, 1821- Folsom, Mary Jane Wyman, 1818-1896. Folsom, Philander E., ca. 1840- Folsom, Simeon P. (Simeon Pearl), 1819-1907. Folsom, Ward W., 1824- Folsom, William H. C. (William Henry Carman), 1817-1900 -- Fifty years in the Northwest. Folsom, William H. C. (William Henry Carman), 1817-1900 -- Homes and haunts. Folsom, Wyman X., 1844-1929. Folsom family. Hauser, Kaspar. Jenson, Marion Folsom. Le Duc, William Gates, 1823-1917. Paine, Cordelia Ayer. Payne family. Ramsey, Alexander, 1815-1903. Sabin, Dwight M. (Dwight May), 1843-1902. Smith family. Stannard, L. K. (Lucas Kingsbury), 1824-1914. Stevens, Frederick C. (Frederick Clement), 1861-1923. Upham, Warren, 1850-1934. Washburne, E. B. (Elihu Benjamin), 1816-1887. Wilder, Amherst H. (Amherst Holcomb), 1828-1894. Wyman, Edward P., 1829-1957. Wyman family. Organizations: Chippewa Logging Company (Nelson, Wis.). Ellison and Folsom. Kahbakong Cemetery Association (Taylors Falls, Minn.). Methodist Episcopal Church -- Minnesota. St. Croix Boom Corporation. Taylors Falls Agricultural and Driving Park Association (Taylors Falls, Minn.). United States. Army. Minnesota Infantry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1865). United States. Army. Minnesota Infantry Regiment, 7th (1862-1865). University of Minnesota. Places: Chisago County (Minn.) -- History. Minnesota -- Economic conditions. Minnesota -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. Minnesota -- Politics and government. Taylors Falls (Minn.) Document Types: Photographs. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. W. H. C. Folsom and Family Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 8037; 8502; 11,076; 11,320; 12,398; AV2005.29; 16,704

 Processing Information:

Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Catalog ID number: 001730390

RELATED MATERIALS

W.H.C. Folsom's books Fifty years in the northwest and History of lumbering in the St. Croix Valley are in the Minnesota Historical Society reference library.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION Folsom and related families

Includes correspondence, personal ephemera, bibliographical materials, newspaper clippings, drawings, and other related materials kept by the Folsoms and extended families.

 123.D.15.2F Personal Correspondence,

Contains letters of Mary Jane Folsom and her extended family back East, particularly her brother, Edward; letters from Wyman and Philander during the Civil War; and letters from Erwin W. and John N. Folsom to their father Wyman, while serving during World War I. W. H. C.'s personal correspondence includes exchanges between Ignatius Donnelly, Alexander Ramsey, Elihu Washburne, William LeDuc, and A. B. Webber. Correspondence interlaces and overlaps with business papers.

 1840-1927. 12 folders. Res. 107 W. D. Washburne's letter to W. H. C. Folsom, April 10, 1868.

A denunciation of Ignatius Donnelly.

 123.D.15.3B Miscellaneous Folsom materials, Clippings and photographs from a family scrapbook, 1863-1944. Compositions of Erwin Folsom, 1902-1904. Kahbakong Cemetery Association, Taylors Falls, 1862-1919. Lumbering in the St. Croix Valley, with bibliographic sketches, 1899. 1 volume. Data collected by Wyman X. Folsom, 1880-1928. Addresses by W. H. C. Folsom, 1876-1900. Papers relating to the Five Million Dollar Loan, 1876-1900. Recipes, undated. 148.H.11.10F Biographical materials, circa 1850s-1945. Clippings, circa 1890s-1900s. Levi W. Folsom papers, circa 1840s-1910s. 4 folders. Caspar Hauser papers, circa 1850s-1880s.

May have been kept by Levi Folsom as attorney for the Hauser estate.

 Lucas K. Stannard papers, 1858-1876. Postcards and stereo views, undated and circa 1905-1926. 4 folders.

Mostly non-Minnesota postcards and stereo views, several are blank.

 148.H.12.1B Geneva (Gene) Smith Folsom papers, undated and circa 1900-1958. 4 folders. Smith family papers, circa 1860s-1906. Marion Folsom Jenson papers, circa 1920s-1940s. 2 folders. Folsom house remodeling, 1940. John Gordon Folsom papers, circa 1920s-1945. 4 folders. Paine Family papers:

Mrs. Bertha Paine (nee Weicks) was the sister of Wyman X. Folsom's second wife, Mary C. Folsom, who was also the adopted daughter of Levi Folsom, W. H. C. Folsom's brother.

 Cordelia Ayer Paine, circa 1900-1950s. 7 folders.

Includes biographical information, photographs, poetry, essays, and other miscellaneous related papers.

 142.D.9.5 Portrait, undated. 148.H.12.2F Genealogical materials, circa 1900s-1950s. 8 folders. +331 Oversized items: O. A. Clark's survey of Taylors Falls Town Site, 1854. L. K. Stannard's survey of Kahbakong Cemetery, Taylors Falls, 1868. Wyman X. Folsom navigational map of the St. Croix River, 1860s-1870s. Identification of family pews at Taylors Falls Methodist Church, circa 1860. Edward P. Wyman's Third Degree of Masonry certificate, 1853. Marriage certificate of Mary C. Weick and Wyman X. Folsom, 1885. Broadside, Temperance meeting at Folsom's Hall, 1885. +Res. 33 "Railroad Extra," St. Paul Pioneer and Democrat, March 1858.

Newspaper sheet or supplement concerning the Five Million Dollar Loan.

 142.D.9.5 Folsom House drawings: WPA [Works Progress Administration], 1934. Renovation, 1940. Railroad bond newspaper clippings, 1850s-1870s. Miscellaneous newspaper clippings, 1870s-1900. Miscellaneous, 1850s-1950s.

Includes insurance policies, 1870s-1880s; J. Gordon Folsom memorial certificate, 1945.

 Fourth Corp Flare newspapers, 1919. Deeds, circa 1860s-1880s. Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad, Taylors Falls extension, right of way maps, undated. 2 maps. Wyman X. Folsom Civil War military record, undated. Business papers

Papers document the many interests and business ventures of W. H. C. Folsom and family, including financial documents; deeds; bills of sale; bonds; committee minutes; legislative records, such as affidavits, resolutions, and correspondence; and related miscellaneous papers. May interlace and overlap with Folsom and related families materials.

 123.D.15.2FBusiness papers, 1845-1911. 10 folders. 148.H.11.10F Folsom family miscellaneous papers, undated and circa 1840s-1850s. 3 folders. W. H. C. Folsom tax receipts, circa 1850s-1890s. Railroad bond clippings, circa 1870s. Taylors Falls Agricultural and Driving Park Association records, circa 1870s-1880s. 2 volumes and 1 envelope. Kahbakong Cemetery Association records, circa 1857-1920s Frank W. Folsom timber surveyor's book of township maps, circa 1878. Ellison and Folsom ledger, circa 1880s. Diaries, notebooks, ledgers, autograph books, composition books, financial books, and scrapbooks 123.D.15.3B Volume 1: Diary of W. H. C. Folsom, 1836-1854. Volume 2: Diary of W. H. C. Folsom, 1896-1900. Volume 3: Miscellaneous data collection of W. H. C. Folsom, undated. Volume 4: Clippings, Minnesota politics, 1874-1876. Volume 5: Early elections and other historical sketches, 1845-1900. Volume 6: Diary of Edward P. Wyman, 1855. Volume 7: Diary of Edward P. Wyman, 1856. Volume 8: Diary of Frank W. Folsom, 1866. Volume 9: Autograph book, kept by Mary C. Folsom, 1866. Volume 10: Composition book, kept by Erwin W. Folsom, 1920. Volume 11: Log marks in the St. Croix Valley, 1840-1880. Volume 12: Accounts, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1847-1850. Volume 13: Accounts, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1850. Volume 14: Receipt book, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1851-1877. Volume 15: Notes and bills, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1852-1877. Volume 16: Accounts, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1853. Volume 17: Time book, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1854-1856. Volume 18: Poll tax list, Taylors Falls, 1870. Volume 19: Accounts, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1877. Volume 20: Pine Mill Rover ledger, kept by Wyman X. Folsom, 1878. 123.G.12.1B-2 Volume 21: Ledger, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1870-1888. Volume 22: Business affairs of W. H. C. Folsom, 1888-1899. Volume 23: General store ledger, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1851-1852. 123.G.12.2F-1 Volume 24: Journal, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1852-1878. Volume 25: Federal land grants, 1853-1957. Volume 26: Real estate transactions, abstracts, and judgments, 1860-1895. Volume 27: Temperance literature selections, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, undated. Volume 28: Notebook, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1897-1899. 123.G.12.1B-2 Volume 29: Notebook and scrapbook, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1900. Volume 30: General store ledger, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1859-1860. Volume 31: Accounts, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1859-1860. Volume 32: Accounts, kept by W. H. C. Folsom, 1863-1864. Photographs and albums

Comprised of 5 carte-de-visite albums, 2 photographic albums, and loose photographs of landscapes, residences, several generations of Folsoms, extended family members, and others; some identified.

 123.D.15.9B Volume 1, undated. Album featuring 85 cabinet card images, several blank pages: b&w, tinted; 7.5 x 5.5 x 3 in.

Mostly unidentified portraits, some landscapes.

 Volume 2, undated. Album featuring 92 cabinet cards and tintype images, some blank pages: b&w, tinted; 7.5 x 5.5 x 3 in. Volume 3, undated and circa 1860s. Album featuring 30 cabinet cards, tintype images, and drawn portraits: b&w, tinted; 6 x 5 x 2.5 in.

Includes several portraits of Wyman X. throughout his life, Frank Folsom, and several unidentified individuals, possibly including a hand drawn portrait of Philander E. Folsom. The hinge is broken.

 Volume 4: M. C. Folsom, circa 1885. Album featuring 22 cabinet cards: b&w; 10.5 x 8.5 x 2.5 in.

Presented to Mary A. Folsom by W. X. Folsom, June 12, 1885. Includes portraits of Mrs. Wiecks [sic], Minnie Walker, Bertha Paine, Emma Fisher, Walter Watkins, Anna Watkins and child, and other unidentified individuals.

Volume 5, circa 1889. Album featuring 21 cabinet cards: b&w; 10.5 x 8.5 x 2.5 in.

Inscribed "From Father and Mary, November 1889." Includes portraits of Mrs. Peaslee, Aunt Gray, Daisy Hayman [nee Folsom], Mrs. Fanny Folsom Newberry, Marie Folsom, Harlow Folsom, Winona Folsom, Walter Folsom, Marie Watkins, Stanley Folsom, and other unidentified individuals. The hinge is broken.

 Volume 6, undated and circa 1890s. Album featuring 48 images: b&w; 4.75 x 5.75 x .75 in.

Includes several landscape images of Taylors Falls, the Folsom House, trains, and the Taylors Falls Methodist Episcopal Church, as well as portraits of W. H. C. Folsom and other unidentified individuals.

 Volume 7, circa 1909-1939. Album featuring 37 images: b&w; 7.25 x 11.25 x 1.75 in.

Includes mostly landscape images of Taylors Falls and surrounding scenery, as well as portraits and snapshots of Wyman X. Folsom, and several other unidentified individuals.

 142.D.9.5 Loose photographs: Oversized, undated and 1918.

Includes an undated photograph of John N. Folsom and residence and Erwin W. Folsom and his World War I Company (1918).

 148.H.12.2F Folsom family snapshots, undated. 2 folders. Folsom family portraits, undated. 3 folders. Possible Folsom family members, undated. Paine family, undated. Postcards: note correspondence, undated. Folsom lumbering, undated. Folsom House, undated. 3 folders.

Interior and exterior shots.

 Taylors Falls and surrounding area, undated. 2 folders. Portraits and snapshots: non-Folsom, undated. 3 folders. Residences in Wisconsin, undated.