P2294 JOHN A. WILLARD: An Inventory of His Letters at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by Kathryn A. Johnson. Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul MN.

Manuscripts Collection

 Finding aid encoded by Lyda Morehouse, December 7, 1999. Finding aid written inEnglish August 2008 Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman. OVERVIEW Minnesota Historical Society Willard, John A., 1833-1897. John A. Willard correspondence, 1891. Three letters (1891) written to Willard (Mankato) from United States Senators Cushman K. Davis and William D. Washburn and Representative John Line, stating their objections to the proposed free coinage of silver legislation before Congress. Also included is an obituary (Dec. 16, 1897) of Willard. 1 folder, containing 2 items. P2294. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Willard was born in Oneida, New York (1833); was admitted to the Bar in Utica, New York (1854); came to Mankato, Minnesota (1856); and practiced law there (1856-1870); was president (1870-1892) of a railroad constructed from Mankato to Wells, Minnesota; was elected mayor of Mankato (1891-1893); and was president of and associated with a number of banks and manufacturing concerns in Mankato and in other cities in Minnesota. He died in Mankato (December 15, 1897). A biographical sketch of Willard is the first item in the collection.

 SCOPE AND CONTENTS

A letter from Cushman K. Davis (January 6) expresses his stand against further monetary legislation.

One from William D. Washburn (January 7) expresses his view that the free coinage of silver would be disastrous for United States business concerns, and gives details on its presumed financial effects, the role of the Democratic Party in favoring free coinage, and the possibility of a presidential veto of any such legislation.

A long letter from John Lind (January 14) details his opposition to free coinage, discusses financial reverses in England and France because of the gold standard, and the financial help given those countries by the United States.

Photocopies of Willard's obituary (St. Paul Pioneer Press, December 16, 1879) are filed at the beginning of the collection.

 CATALOG HEADINGS

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

Topics: Currency question--United States. Depression--1891--England. Gold standard. Monetary policy--England. Monetary policy--France. Monetary policy--United States. Silver question--United States. Persons: Davis, Cushman Kellogg, 1838-1900. Lind, John, 1854-1930. Washburn, William Drew, 1831-1912. Organizations: Democratic Party (U.S.). Occupations: Lawyers--Minnesota--Mankato. Politicians--Minnesota. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. John A. Willard Letters. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 5470

 Processing Information:

Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, July 1998.

Catalog ID number: 09-00321305