John Wesley Longyear Papers, 1837-1875

Summary

Creator:

Longyear, John Wesley, 1820-1875

Abstract:

Republican congressman and U.S. district judge from Lansing, Michigan. Correspondence, business and legal papers, manuscript addresses, photographs, and miscellaneous items; include material concerning Michigan politics and his Civil War activities as a member of Congress; journal, 1871 containing a few brief entries on business matters.

Extent:

2 linear feet
2 oversize folders

Language:

English.

Call Number:

Aa 2; Ac; 851729

Authors:

Finding aid prepared by: Michigan Historical Collections staff

Background

Scope and Content:

The papers of John Wesley Longyear spans the period from 1837 to 1875. The bulk of the collection covers two periods of Longyear's life: his two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1863-1866) and his service as U.S. district court judge (1870-1875).

Biographical / Historical:

John Wesley Longyear, lawyer, U.S. congressman, and judge, was born in 1820 in Shandaken, New York. After being educated at seminaries in Amenia and Lima, New York, Longyear taught school and studied law. In April 1844, he moved to Mason, Michigan in Ingham County where he continued to teach school and study law. He was admitted to the bar in 1846. When the state capitol was moved to nearby Lansing in 1847, Longyear moved there and formed a law partnership with his brother Ephraim Longyear. He was married in June 1849 to Harriet M. Munroe.

In 1862, Longyear was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's third district, composed of Calhoun, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson, and Washtenaw counties. He was reelected in 1864 and served on the Committee on Common Expenditures and as chairman of the controversial extension of U.S. land grants to the Amboy, Hillsdale, Lansing, and Traverse Bay Railroad. The ensuing controversy may have cost Longyear his seat in Congress.

Longyear was a delegate to the 1866 Loyalist Convention in Philadelphia, a convention called to influence public opinion against the Johnson Reconstruction policy. He also served as a member of the Michigan Constitutional convention in 1867.

In 1870, Longyear was appointed U.S. district court judge for the eastern district of Michigan. He moved to Detroit the following year and developed a national reputation for expertise in bankruptcy and admiralty law. He died suddenly in March 1875.

Acquisition Information:

The papers were donated in 1941 and 1942 by Longyear's granddaughter Helen S. Paul (donor no. 1264 ).

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Selective Index to Correspondents and Subjects

Bagley, John Judson, 1832-1881.	Letter, Feb. 20, 1870, inviting Longyear to meet the lawyers and prominent citizens of Detroit at Bagley's home
Beaman, F. C. (Fernando C.), 1814-1882.	Letter, Jan. 31, 1871, to Longyear concerning salaries of federal judges.
Blair, Austin, 1818-1894.	Letter to Longyear, Jan. 14, 1864, concerning an appointment to be made; letters, Jan. 12 and 20, 1864, concerning the sentence of Allen G. Maxson of Leoni, a deserter; letter, May 16, 1871, concerning the remission of a convict's fine.
Civil War.	Civil War letters, many from soldiers requesting discharge, transfer, promotion, etc. while Longyear was in Congress.
Cooley, Thomas McIntyre, 1824-1898.	Letter to Longyear, March 14, 1864, recommending a prospective army paymaster; letters, Feb. 13, March 12, 13, 16, 31, 1865; April 5, 1865, concerning an appointment and political affairs; letters, June 21, 1866; March 28, 1872, concerning the naturalization of Prof. Robert Harbison.
Copper Mines and Mining	Letter, May 18, 1866, of William A. Howard of Washington, concerning the proposed duty on copper and its effect on the mining industry of northern Michigan.
Cutcheon, Sullivan M., 1843-1900.	Correspondence, 1864-1867, with Sullivan M. Cutcheon political matters.
Duffield, D. Bethune (Divie Bethune), 1821-1891.	Letters of Divie B. and H.M. Duffield, 1871, concerning a legal case; also letter, Apr. 3, 1871, concerning a meeting of the Detroit bar on the occasion of the death of Jacob M. Howard.
Ferry, Thomas White, 1827-1896.	Letters, 1866, 1871, of T.W. Ferry to Longyear concerning appropriations by Congress for harbors at Muskegon and Manistee and salary increase for federal judges.
Homestead Act.	Letter, Dec. 26, 1864, of E.L. Gray to J.W. Longyear concerning homestead act and its effect on the settlement of northern Michigan. (Newaygo).
Howard, William Alanson, 1813-1880.	Letter, May 18, 1866, concerning the proposed duty on copper and its effect on the mining industry of northern Michigan; Aug. 24, 1866.
Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad.	Correspondence during 1866 from persons interested in the Congressional bill for extension of the land grant to the Amboy, Lansing and Traverse Bay Railroad.
Longyear, Ephraim, 1827-1889.	Scattered letters of Ephraim Longyear to his brother, John W. Longyear.
McKinney, John, 1803-1870.	Letter, Jan. 16, 1865, of A.R. Burr, to Longyear, concerning the bond and sureties of John McKinney, late state treasurer.
Manistee, Mich.	Letter, May 9, 1866, of Thomas W. Ferry to Longyear concerning appropriations by Congress for harbors at Muskegon and Manistee.
Mayhew, Ira, 1814-1894.	Letter, July 15, 1866 of Ira Mayhew, Albion, concerning the extension of the land grant to the Amboy, Lansing and Traverse Bay Railroad.
Michigan Female Seminary, Kalamazoo.	Letters to Miss A. C. Rogers, Lansing, to Longyear on Jan. 19, 1864, May 30 1866, June 19, 1866, Dec. 17, 1866, concerning the granting to land to female colleges and the future of female education: Carrie Edgerton, Lansing Jan. 8, 1864, to Longyear asking for a contribution for the purchase of portraits of Mrs. Rogers, founder of the Michigan Female Seminary.
Mines and mineral resources.	Letters, May 18, 1866 of William A. Howard to John W. Longyear, Washington, concerning proposed study on copper and its effect on the mining industry of northern Michigan.
Muskegon, Mich.	Letter, May 9, 1866, of Thomas W. Ferry to Longyear, concerning appropriations by Congress for harbors at Muskegon and Manistee.
Newaygo County, Mich.	Letter, Dec. 26, 1864, of E.L. Gray to J.W. Longyear, concerning homestead act and its effect on the settlement of northern Michigan. (Newaygo).
Newberry, John Stoughton, 1826-1887.	Letter, May 4, 1870, to Longyear concerning a legal case.
Olds, Schuyler Seager	Petition and recommendations of Schuyler S. Olds for West Point, July 5, 1866; letter of Schuyler S. Olds, Lansing, Feb. 26, 1870 to Longyear concerning a legal case; letters, Jan. 6 and Dec. 12, 1872, concerning an appointment for Olds.
Republican Party.	Political correspondence during his terms in Congress (1863-1867), concerning the Republican party, national and state politics, etc.
Turner, James, 1820-1869.	Letter, Feb. 12, 1864, of James Turner, Lansing, to Longyear offering land in Lansing on Grand River Road for sale.
Upper Peninsula (Mich.)	Papers concerning the development of the resources of the Upper Peninsula, May 18, 1866, December 26, 1864, August 24, 1866.
Withey, Solomon L., 1820-1886.	Letters, 1870-1874, of Solomon Withey to Longyear concerning judicial matters, 1870-1874.
Woman--Education--United States	Papers concerning the education of women, January 19, 1864, May 30, June 19, and December 17, 1866.

Subjects

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Subjects:

Business records.
Copper mines and mining -- Michigan -- Upper Peninsula.
Homestead law -- Michigan.
Judges -- Michigan -- Lansing.
Railroads -- Michigan.
Women -- Education -- United States.
Dwellings.

Formats:

Diaries.
Photographs.
Prints.

Names:

Amboy, Lansing and Traverse Bay Railroad Company.
Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad Company.
Michigan Female College (Lansing, Mich.)
Republican Party (Mich.)
United States. Congress. House.
United States Military Academy.
Longyear, John Wesley, 1820-1875.
Bagley, John Judson, 1832-1881.
Beaman, F. C. (Fernando C.), 1814-1882.
Blair, Austin, 1818-1894.
Cooley, Thomas McIntyre, 1824-1898.
Cutcheon, Sullivan M., 1843-1900.
Duffield, D. Bethune (Divie Bethune), 1821-1891.
Ferry, Thomas White, 1827-1896.
Howard, William Alanson, 1813-1880.
Longyear, Ephraim, 1827-1889.
McKinney, John, 1803-1870.
Mayhew, Ira, 1814-1894.
Newberry, John Stoughton, 1826-1887.
Olds, Schuyler Seager.
Turner, James, 1820-1869.
Withey, Solomon L., 1820-1886.

Places:

Lansing (Mich.)
Manistee (Mich.)
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1837-1950.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1845-1860.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1866-1876.
Muskegon (Mich.)
Newaygo County (Mich.)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1845-1861.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1865-1877.
Upper Peninsula (Mich.)