Stone-Lapsley Family Papers, 1794-1991
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Stone-Lapsley family
Title: Papers, 1794-1991 (bulk 1794-1846)
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Curator of Special Collections.
Size of Collection: 0.66 cubic feet
Locator Number: Mss./A/S877
Scope and Content Note
The Stone-Lapsley family papers consist of correspondence and record books of Stone and Lapsley Family. The majority of the papers are the correspondence of John B. Lapsley (1814-1846), who practiced law in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, in the 1840s. Primarily, the letters pertain to collection claims that lenders hoped Lapsley would aid in collecting, although some letters are of a personal nature and contain references to politics and personal feuds. Also included are record books from Lapsley’s practice and his partnership with Eli Stone that give some detail of cases handled by the firm. Other items include a record book of Davis Stone (c. 1761-1827), detailing his expenditures as well as jobs he performed to earn a living, and a music book belonging to Sarah Ellen Stone (1826-1908). The collection also contains one letter from 1911, and another from 1991 containing a legal document from 1794, pertaining to the family’s history.
Biographical Note
The Lapsley and Stone families represented in this collection lived in or near Elizabethtown, Kentucky during the 19 th and 20 th Centuries. They were a prominent family in the region, and one descendant, Eli H. Brown, III, went on to serve in the Kentucky State General Assembly. The collection consists of documents from several authors, including: Davis Stone (1761-1827), who came to Kentucky sometime between 1790 and 1800 and worked various jobs; Sarah Ellen Stone (1826-1908), who eventually married William Sterrett and lived in Nelson County, Kentucky; John B. Lapsley (1814-1846), a lawyer in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and his half-brother Eli H. Stone (1824-1889), with whom he shared a practice.
Folder List
Folder 1: Personal Correspondence, 1840-1846
Folder 2: Personal Correspondence, 1910, 1991
Folder 3: Business Correspondence, August, 1841-November, 1841
Folder 4: Business Correspondence, December, 1841- June, 1842
Folder 5: Business Correspondence, August, 1842-November, 1842
Folder 6: Business Correspondence, January, 1843-March, 1843
Folder 7: Business Correspondence, April, 1943-November, 1843
Folder 8: Business Correspondence, 1844
Folder 9: Business Correspondence, January, 1845-July, 1845
Folder 10: Business Correspondence. August, 1845-December, 1845
Folder 11: Business Correspondence, 1846, Undated
Folder 12: Davis Stone Account Book, 1803-1826
Folder 13: Davis Stone Account Book, Loose Paper, 1798-1826
Folder 14: J.B. Lapsley Account Book, 1841-1845
Folder 15: J.B. Lapsley Account Book, Loose Paper, 1841-1847
Folder 16: Lapsley & Stone Account Book, 1846
Folder 17: Lapsley & Stone Account Book, Loose Paper, Undated
Folder 18: Sarah Ellen Stone Music Book
Subject Headings
Dueling – Kentucky
Elections – United States – 1840
Finance, Personal – Kentucky – 19th century
Lawyers – Kentucky
Songbooks
Stone-Lapsley family
Whiskey industry – Kentucky
