Cabell Family Papers, 1852-1929
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Cabell family
Title: Papers, 1852-1929
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Curator of Special Collections.
Size of Collection: .5 cu. ft.
Location Number: Mss. A C114
Scope and Content Note
This collection of letters, diaries and ephemera documents the family life of Frederick Cabell (ca. 1814-1888), Saphonia Helen (Lewis) Cabell (1826-1908) and their children in Green County, Kentucky.
The earliest letters include efforts by Frederick to obtain reimbursement from the United States government for expenses or losses incurred during the Civil War. The majority of the letters in the collection were written by Saphonia and her son William Edwin Cabell (1865-1945). In addition to family and local news they also contain references to state and national political events. Five letters in the collection were written between 1899 and 1901 by William while serving on active duty in the Philippine Insurrection as an officer in the 31st United States Infantry. Several letters between 1913 and 1923 concern the farming activities of another son, Charles R. Cabell (1870-1954)
Saphonia’s diaries which cover the years 1852-1854, 1888-1889, 1891-1895, 1900-1903 and 1906 contain a wealth of information on the daily life of 19th century women, the family, health, the social aspects of death, religious worship, community violence, as well as local, state and national events. There are numerous references to the related Hardin and Penick families as well as members and activities of Green County’s African-American community. Each volume contains a necrology, lists of local marriages and meticulous records of financial accounts and local weather. The diary for 1888-1889 contains a membership roll and necrology for members of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church.
The collection also includes additional documents, including numerous invoices that largely reflect Charles Cabell’s business activities, checks and account books, including the transactions of Penick and Wakefield (1863-1864), and legal documents, including a copy of a 1901 Spencer County deed from W. H. McClain to John W. McClain. Other documents include greeting cards and wedding invitations, postcards, unlabeled photographs, school work, the typescript of a play, and newspaper clippings.
Biographical Note
Frederick Cabell (ca. 1814-1888) and his wife Saphonia Helen (Lewis) Cabell (1826-1908) married and raised a family in Green County, Kentucky. They were prosperous farmers, staunch supporters of the Democratic Party and devout members of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. Frederick’s death was a bitter blow to Saphonia and she never failed to mourn his passing in her diaries. In 1891 she recorded the placement of a marker on his grave and wrote, “I miss him still.”
Saphonia’s sister Caroline Lewis (1825-1891) was the second wife of Parker Calhoun Hardin (1800-1876), and the step-mother of two prominent leaders in Kentucky’s Democratic party, Judge Charles Alfred Hardin (1836-1897) and State Attorney General Parker Watkins Hardin (1841-1920).
Saphonia’s daughter Margaret Elizabeth “Bettie” Cabell (1842-1920) married Isaac Newton “Ike” Penick (1839-1910) of Green County. Saphonia’s son, William Edwin Cabell (1865-1945) was an attorney who served as an officer in the Kentucky volunteers during the Spanish American War and the 31st United States Infantry during the Philippine Insurrection. His brother Charles R. Cabell (1870-1954) was a Green County farmer.
Folder List
Folder 1: Correspondence, 1865-1866.
Folder 2: Correspondence, 1873-1874.
Folder 3: Correspondence, 1881-1887.
Folder 4: Correspondence, 1890-1896.
Folder 5: Correspondence, 1899-1901.
Folder 6: Correspondence, 1903-1910.
Folder 7: Correspondence, 1913-1923.
Folder 8: Correspondence, Undated.
Folder 9: Diary, 1852-1854.
Folder 10: Diary and Account Book, 1888-1889.
Folder 11: Diary and Account Book, 1891-1892.
Folder 12: Diary and Account Book, 1894-1895.
Folder 13: Diary and Account Book, 1900.
Folder 14: Diary and Account Book, 1901-1903.
Folder 15: Diary and Account Book, 1906.
Folder 16: Invoices and Receipts, 1884-1926, Undated.
Folder 17: Checks and Account Books, 1863-1909, Undated.
Folder 18: Legal Documents, 1893-1901.
Folder 19: Greeting Cards and Invitations, 1888-1929, Undated.
Folder 20: Empty Envelopes, 1887-1913, Undated.
Folder 21: Miscellaneous, ca. 1883-ca. 1912.
Subject Headings
Account books – Kentucky – Green County.
African-Americans – Kentucky – Green County.
Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925.
Cabell, Charles R., 1870-1954
Cabell, Lewis Hardin, 1854-1918
Cabell, William Edwin, 1865-1945
Christmas – Kentucky.
Courtship – Kentucky – Green County.
Death– Social aspects – Kentucky – Green County.
Diaries.
Ebenezer Presbyterian Church (Green County, Ky.)
Family life.
Goebel, William, 1856-1900.
Green County (Ky.) – Social life and customs.
Hardin family.
Hardin, Charles Alfred, 1836-1897.
Hardin, Parker Watkins, 1841-1920.
Hobson, Edward Henry, 1825-1901.
Household employees – Kentucky – Green County.
Kentucky – Politics and government – 1865-1950.
McKinley, William, 1843-1901.
Patent medicines – United States.
Penick family
Penick and Wakefield (Green County, Ky.)
Pierce, R. V. (Ray Vaughn), 1840-1914.
Philippines – History – Philippine American War, 1899-1902
Presidents – United States – Election – 1888.
Presidents – United States – Election – 1892.
Presidents – United States – Election – 1896.
United Confederate Veterans.
United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 31st. Company D.
United States. Commissioners of Claims.
Violence – Kentucky – Green County.
Weather.
Willson, Augustus Everett, 1846-1931.
Wolford, Frank L. (Frank Lane), 1817-1895.
Women – Social life and customs.
World Dispensary Medical Association.
