Henry Waldron Papers
00005

Summary Information

Repository
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Creator - Correspondent
Baldwin, Henry P., (Henry Porter), 1814-1892
Creator - Correspondent
Bingham, Kinsley S., (Kinsley Scott), 1808-1861
Creator - Correspondent
Brophy, Stephen B.
Creator - Correspondent
Burrows, Julius C., (Julius Caesar), 1837-1915
Creator - Correspondent
Campbell, Lewis D., (Lewis David), 1811-1882
Creator - Correspondent
Chandler, Zachariah, 1813-1879
Creator - Correspondent
Christiancy, Isaac Peckham, 1812-1890
Creator - Correspondent
Colfax, Schuyler, 1823-1885
Creator - Correspondent
Floyd, John B., (John Buchanan), 1806-1863
Creator - Correspondent
Goodell, William, 1792-1878
Creator - Correspondent
Johnson, Henry W., (Abolitionist)
Creator - Correspondent
Luce, Cyrus Gray, 1824-1905
Creator - Correspondent
Marcy, William L., (William Learned), 1786-1857
Creator - Correspondent
Pratt, Abner, 1800-1863
Creator - Correspondent
Stebbins, Cortland Bliss, 1812-1901
Creator - Correspondent
Sutro, Adolph, 1830-1898
Creator
Waldron, Henry, 1819-
Title
Henry Waldron papers
ID
00005
Date [inclusive]
1832-1881
Extent
0.66 Cubic feet
Language
English

Preferred Citation note

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan."

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Biographical Note

Waldron was born in Albany, New York on October 11, 1819. He attended both Albany Academy and Rutgers College, graduating from the latter in 1836. In 1837 he moved to Michigan where he found employment as a civil engineer in railroad work. In 1843 Waldron became a member of the state legislature as director of the Michigan Southern Railroad from 1846-1848. Waldron actively promoted the construction of the Detroit, Hillsdale, and Southwestern Railroad and served as its first president. He also served as president of the Second National Bank of Hillsdale from the date of its founding until 1876. In 1876 he became president of the First National Bank of Hillsdale, a position he held until his death on September 13, 1880.

Waldron was also active in national politics. After serving in the Michigan legislature, he served as a presidential elector on the Whig ticket of Taylor and Fillmore in 1848. From 1855-1861 he was elected as a Republican candidate to the House of Representatives. He returned to the House ten years later and held this post until 1877 when he declined to be a candidate for renomination.

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Scope and Contents note

The Henry Waldron papers include correspondence, financial statements and speeches covering the years 1832-1881.

There is much material of general historical interest scattered throughout the collection. Most of it relates to Hillsdale County, Michigan. There are several items of particular historical interest. There are two letters dated May 1838 from Henry W. Johnson and Stephen Brophy, Patriot invaders, then in Toronto Prison. There is a letter dated October 24, 1871 from the Detroit Central Relief Committee, an organization for aiding forest fire victims. A note from the Secretary of the Treasury dated February 7, 1872 relates to a proposed assay office at Helena, Montana. There are two letters from 1873 and one dated 1878 from Adolph Sutro of the Sutro Tunnel Company of Comstock Lode fame. There is a letter dated March 23, 1858 from William Goodell of the American Abolition Society.

As a congressman, Waldron corresponded with many leading state and national politicians of the time. A list of correspondence from many of these persons follows on the next page.

In addition to letters from politicians there are several other items of political interest. A letter from H. Parker dated October 29, 1837 describes a speech by Daniel Webster. A letter from Abner Pratt dated October 29, 1852 refers to the Election of 1852 and Webster's death. He laments the latter as marking the end of the era of great men. Letters from H. Mead dated February 22 and March 10, 1851 refer to state politics in Lansing. A letter from Fitz Henry Warren (transcribed by his clerk Fisher A. Foster in Washington, D.C.) dated October 18, 1852 refers to Whig party fortunes in Ohio. And a letter from the publisher of the Northern Tribune of Cheboygan, Michigan dated July 10, 1876 thanks Waldron for securing passage of a bill providing lights for its harbor.

Notable Correspondents

  • Baldwin, Henry P. -- November 14, 1871 - a pardon;
  • Bingham, Kinsley -- October 24, 1856-July 8, 1858;
  • Burrows, Julius -- October 12, 1872-April 27, 1877;
  • Campbell, Lewis D. -- November 16, 1854;
  • Chandler, Zachariah -- October 9, 1854-August 20, 1878;
  • Christiancy, Isaac Peckham -- December 15, 1855-July 23, 1875;
  • Colfax, Schuyler -- October 16, 1852-July 5, 1874;
  • Floyd, John B. -- February 11, 1858 - note in response to request for materials while Floyd was Secretary of War;
  • Luce, Cyrus -- January 28, 1869;
  • Marcy, William L. -- March 22, 1856;
  • Stebbins, Cortland -- one undated letter.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections October 1979

Conrad Hall
888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu

Revision Description

  September 2000

Conditions Governing Access note

Collection is open for research.

Legal Status

Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Conditions Governing Use note

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Custodial History

Gift of Charles N. Waldron, transferred by the MSU Museum.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Detroit Central Relief Committee.
  • Detroit, Hillsdale and Southwestern Railroad. (Wayne County, Mich.)
  • First National Bank of Hillsdale. (Mich.)
  • Michigan Southern Railroad.
  • Republican Party. (U.S. : 1854-)
  • Second National Bank of Hillsdale. (Mich.)
  • Whig Party. (U.S.)

Genre(s)

  • Financial records
  • Letters (correspondence)
  • Speeches

Geographic Name(s)

  • Cheboygan (Mich.)
  • Hillsdale (Mich.)
  • United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century

Personal Name(s)

  • Waldron, Henry, 1819-
  • Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Subject(s)

  • Banks and banking -- Michigan
  • Elections -- Michigan -- 19th century
  • Elections -- United States -- 19th century
  • Railroads -- Michigan

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Collection Inventory

Papers 

Scope and Contents note
Box

Correspondence 

 1
Box Folder

 1832-1837 

 1 1

 1839-1840 

 1 2

 1841-1846 

 1 3

 1850-1853 

 1 4

 1854-1855 

 1 5

 1856-1857 

 1 6

 1858-1859 

 1 7

 1869 

 1 8

 January 1870 

 1 9

 February 1870 

 1 10

 March 1870 

 1 11

 April 1870 

 1 12

 May 1870 

 1 13

 June 1870 

 1 14

 July 1870 

 1 15

 August 1870 

 1 16

 September-October 1870 

 1 17

 November 1870 

 1 18

 December 1870 

 1 19

 January-June 1871 

 1 20

 July-December 1871 

 1 21

 January-May 1872 

 1 22

 June-December 1872 

 1 23

 1873 

 1 24

 1874 

 1 25

 1875 

 1 26

 January-April 1876 

 1 27

 July-December 1876 

 1 28

 1877 

 1 29

 1878 

 1 30

 1879 

 1 31

 1880-1881 

 1 32

 undated 

 1 33
Box Folder

Speeches (June 1, 1840) undated 

 1 34

Speech on History of (1845) Hillsdale County Michigan 

 1 35

Financial Records 1836-1879 

 1 36

Legal Records 1845-1870 

 1 37

Commission As Notary Public March 3, 1841 

 1 38

Diploma From Albany Academy March 1, 1832 

 1 39

Congressional Appointment Report to the Committee On Expenditures February 13, 1856 

 1 40

Government Resolutions State of Michigan Senate of the Committee On Internal Improvement 1842-1843 

 1 41

State of Michigan Senate Report of the Committee on Internal Improvement February 6, 1841 

 1 42

Lists of Political Candidates 1844-(1842) 

 1 43

Hillsdale County Gazette Extra February 5, 1841 

 1 44

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