Short, John Cleves (1792-1864) Papers, 1825-1864

Held by The Filson Historical Society 

Creator:  Short, John Cleves, 1792-1864 

Title:  Papers, 1825-1864 

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department. 

Size of Collection:  0.33 cubic feet 

Location Number:  Mss. A S559a 

Scope and Content Note 

The collection consists of letters, 1825-1849, John Cleves wrote to Charles Wilkins; Charles Wilkins to his daughters and brother John Cleves, 1817-1819, 1854-1859; Samuel H. Carpenter to John Cleves, 1851-1859; and one letter of C. W. Short to William Allen Richardson, ca. 1849. They discuss William Short’s estate (Carpenter served as the Shorts business agent for their late uncle’s estate), land holdings, sale of bonds, especially railroad bonds through broker William Carpenter, crops, methods of ice-making, disadvantages of slave owning, euthanasia, diseases and health problems of inhabitants of the Ohio River Valley, own personal infirmities due to the summer climate and age, references to seeds received from California and Sir William Hooker of Kew Gardens, England, travel itineraries, accommodations and inconveniences of railroads vs. steamboat travel, weather harmful to health and crops, suggestions for the alteration of John Cleves Short’s Ohio home, plants and seeds sent to European collectors, and family. Also included is a chronological record of the families of Charles Wilkins Short and Mary Henry Churchill, compiled by C. W. Short, Louisville, Ky., 1843 Jan., and continued by his daughter, Mary Churchill Richardson, 1879; history of the Chamberlain Society of Centre College by William Short, 1841; and contracts and financial records, 1853-1864, regarding their uncle William Short’s estate. 

Biographical Note 

John Cleves Short (1792-1864), was a farmer and businessman from Ohio. He was the brother of Dr. Charles Wilkins Short the famous botanist. 

Folder List 

Box 1 

1 Correspondence from John Cleves Short to Charles Wilkins Short, 1825 Apr. 5-1845 Dec. 13.

1a-g Correspondence from Charles Wilkins Short to John Cleves Short, 1817-1859.Correspondence of Charles Wilkins Short and his daughters, Jane and Sarah Short, d.; Mary C. Richardson, 1852-1857 and n.d. 

2 A chronological record of the families of Charles Wilkins Short and Mary Henry Churchill, compiled by C. W. Short, Louisville, Ky., 1843 Jan., and continued by his daughter, Mary Churchill Richardson, 1879. 

2a Correspondence from John Cleves Short to Charles Wilkins Short, 1846 Jan. 13-1847 Feb. 6.

3 Correspondence from John Cleves Short to Charles Wilkins Short, 1848 Mar. 23-1849 Aug. 25.

4 Correspondence from William Short to Jane A. Short, 1841 Mar. 14.Letter from William Short to Sarah E. Short, 1841 July 4.

5 Correspondence from Samuel H. Carpenter to John Cleves Short, 1851 Jan. 4-1859 May 18.

6 Correspondence from Charles Wilkins Short to John Cleves Short, 1854 Feb. 23-1859 Nov. 16.

7 Contracts, financial data, 1853 Jan. 11-1864 Jan. 1.

8 History of the Chamberlain Society of Centre College, n.d. Letter from Charles Wilkins Short to William Allen Richardson, n.d. Newspaper clippings from the Louisville Times, 1930 May 1.