Shriver family papers

Box 1

1774-1801. Earliest documents (1774-75, 1778, 1783) are miscellaneous deeds and accounts. Letter of Andrew Shriver to his father, David Shriver, Sr., for advice regarding his marriage to Elizabeth Shultz, 1785. Letter of William Deakins, Jr. of Georgetown, Maryland, to Andrew Shriver to buy land along the Monocacy River to profit from the canal being built at the Great Falls, 1793. A few letters from David Shriver, Jr. while serving in the militia (1794-95) and discussing his trip to Kentucky (1796). Records about the building of the Homestead at Union Mills in 1797-98. Starting in 1801 a considerable amount of correspondence discussing politics in Frederick County, especially the election of Jefferson and the performance of the Republican party; correspondents include Daniel Clarke, Jr., Benjamin Farquhar, Roger Nelson, and Abraham, Andrew, and David Shriver, Sr. Letters also comment on road construction in the county. A series of letters from Finley and Taylor of Baltimore about the flour market there.

Box 2

1802-1807. Majority of the contents concerns politics in Frederick County, especially the use of newspapers and barbecues as political devices, the concerns of the Republicans, and appeals to the German populace. Daniel Clarke, Jr., Roger Nelson, and Abraham and Andrew Shriver are the principal correspondents on the subjects. Some letters regard the Levy Court and justices of the peace, 1802. Andrew Shriver writes regularly concerning the establishment of a post office at Union Mills and a post road; Daniel Heister is his main addressee. Letters from Finley and Taylor of Baltimore about the flour market.

Box 3

1808-1810. A large number of letters written mostly by David Shriver, Jr. regarding the construction of the National Road in western Maryland; other correspondents on this and related subjects include John B. Colvin, C.H. Gist, Philip B. Key, and Samuel Smith. A considerable amount of correspondence on the 1808 Presidential election. Writing on political matters are Alexander McKim, Roger Nelson, Abraham and Andrew Shriver, and Samuel Smith. A lengthy letter from Andrew Shriver to Samuel Smith, October 20, 1808, describing the family's efforts in politics, especially their work with the Germans, since 1797.

Box 4

1811-1819. Many letters discussing politics in Frederick County. Mostly of Abraham and Andrew Shriver. An August 4, 1812 epistle by John S. Shriver describes the riot in Baltimore against Alexander Contee Hanson. A greater portion of the materials concern the Shrivers' involvement in road construction. Commencing in 1813 a series of letters by David Shriver, Jr. concerning his role as Superintendent of the National Road, 1813 and after. Letters from David Shriver, Jr. to W.H. Crawford, the Secretary of the Treasury, discussing the progress of this road, 1819. Some letters discussing James Shriver's work on the National Road. Letters describing Abraham's and Andrew's involvements in banks, particularly in Westminster.

Box 5

Mostly correspondence from or relating to David Shriver, Jr.'s work on the National Road, mostly to W.H. Crawford. Letter to James Shriver to his father, Andrew, February 8, 1820, stating his wish to go into the mercantile business because of the unsteadiness of employment in road construction. Letters from William Schley to Andrew Shriver starting in 1823 discussing politics and from Abraham Shriver about Levy Court business.

Box 6

1826-1837. A number of letters from Joseph Shriver to William Shriver discussing road surveys in Indiana and Missouri, 1828-29. Letters from William T. Steiger of Baltimore to Andrew K. Shriver in 1829 about the Westminster railroad. Letter from John S. Shriver to Andrew K. Shriver discusses riding with Alderman Cooper in his Steam Carriage, 1830. Correspondence and notes, 1832-33 and 1837, about the formation of Carroll County from Frederick County. On February 3, 1834 George Shriver penned a lengthy letter from the Arkansas territory describing life there. Information on the family and conditions at Union Mills with letters between Andrew Shriver and his wife Elizabeth when the former made trips to Baltimore, 1831, 1835, and 1837.

Box 7

1838-1848. Letters from many different Shrivers, principally Thomas, John S., Jacob, and Andrew K. Main subjects are banks, roads, railroads, politics, miscellaneous investments, mail, and canals in western Maryland. In the mid-1840s are letters regarding Thomas's invention of bow springs for wagons and his construction of wagons for sale.

Box 8

1849-1856. Letters discuss canals, roads, and banks. Some materials on education (especially the Carroll Academy) and the sale of slaves. A long series of letters from B. Deford and Sons of Baltimore to Andrew K. Shriver about the leather business and the Shrivers' tannery starting in the mid-1850s. Henry Wirt Shriver corresponds frequently with his brother, Frederick Austin Shriver and his father, Andrew K. Shriver, while in Philadelphia learning the shoe business; Wirt also comments on the general quality of life in the city.

Box 9

1857-1865. A series of letters from Henry Wirt Shriver while in Baltimore, 1857-59, discussing business, attendance at the Maryland Institute, life in the city, and trips to such places as Harper's Ferry, Cumberland, and Frostburg. Materials concerning the leather business and the Carroll Academy. Most interesting papers concern the Shrivers' attitudes toward and activities in the Civil War. Letters from many members of the family, such as Christopher C. Shriver and Frederick A. Shriver, discussing the growing tensions between North and South. A long exchange of letters in 1863 between Wirt and Aust regarding the battle of Gettysburg; the former was in a militia unit of the Union army and the latter describes troop movements and miscellaneous activities at Union Mills. Letters from Mary Winebrenner, Wirt's future wife, of Hanover, Pennsylvania on the same subject.

Box 10A

1866-1899. Central subject matter is the business affairs of the family with an emphasis on the tannery at Union Mills and various land transactions. An interesting letter from Henry Wirt Shriver to Frederick Austin Shriver on May 16, 1889 explaining his hopes of building a perpetual motion machine.

Box 10B

1900-1957. Numerous business letters and accounts principally regarding the sales and purchases of cattle and hogs, bank accounts, and telephone bills. Numerous records related to the estates of Henry Wirt Shriver, Mary Jane Shriver, and Louis E. Shriver. Some of the historical articles by Louis E. Shriver on the family. Most of the miscellaneous items relate to Louis E. Shriver's management of the Union Mills homestead. Also includes undated items and folder of genealogical contents -- obituaries and births -- removal from the Shriver Family Bible.

Box 11

Diaries and Accounts. Memorandum books, 1824-29, 1880-1883; personal account records, 1832-74; and diaries, 1857-58, 1860-61, 1863-64, of Andrew K. Shriver. The memorandum books include short notations in diary form of family and homestead events, and the diaries include concise descriptions of normal daily activities of a Maryland farmer -- weather, crops, and visitors.

Box 12

Diaries and Accounts. Includes diaries of Henry Wirt Shriver, 1855, 1859, 1862-66. Mostly discuss fishing, harvesting of crops, and other daily activities. Starting in 1862 his comments become lengthier and more personal. Numerous comments on his reading, religion, personal habits, work in the tannery, his long courtship of Mary Winebrenner, and his service in the militia at the battle of Gettysburg.

Boxes 13-14

Diaries and Accounts. Includes diaries of Frederick Austin Shriver, 1861-62, 1868-1874, 1876-77; and his account books, 1871-1877. A composite personal account book of Henry Wirt Shriver, Frederick Austin Shriver, and Louis E. Shriver, 1873-93. The latter volume relates to their work on the Union Mills tannery. Aust's accounts refer to his work on the Union Mills farms. His diaries mostly discuss the farm and visitors and are not very personal.

Boxes 15-18

Diaries and Accounts. Diaries of Louis E. Shriver, 1869, 1872-1910, 1913-1944, at the Union Mills Homestead. The diaries chronicle the history of the Homestead with numerous comments on weather, the crops, the upkeep of the farm, visitors, and are very personal and show Louis's opinions on a variety of matters: politics (he was a leading Republican in Carroll County and there are many comments on elections and the condition of the party); his religious activities (he was a Lutheran but was also an acquaintance of James Cardinal Gibbons who visited the Shriver family in Union Mills regularly); and the history of the family and the county. The diaries begin to become more general and more concise in the 1930s and trail off considerably in the 1940s.

Box 19

Diaries and Accounts. Memoranda books of Henry Wirt Shriver, 1875-81; his wife, 1895-96, 1911-14; and Louis E. Shriver, 1893-1910. Estate records for Andrew K. Shriver, 1884; Frederick Austin Shriver, 1890; Henry Wirt Shriver, 1910; and Mrs. H. Wirt Shriver, 1917.

Box 20

Union Mills Farm records. 3 volumes of cash books, 1845-56, 1866-75, 1884-1910.

Box 21

Union Mills Farm records. 3 volumes cash books, 1885-1945 and 1 volume ledger, 1840-1859.

Box 22

Union Mills Farm records. 3 volumes of ledgers, 1866-1909.

Box 23

Union Mills Farm records. 2 volumes of general farm memoranda and crop accounts, 1901-1945.

Box 24

Union Mills tannery records. 4 volumes bank books, 1859-1891.

Box 25

Union Mills tannery records. 3 volumes of tide descriptions, 1866-94, and 1 volume cash book, 1875-94.

Box 26

Miscellaneous. A case book, apparently maintained by Abraham Shriver of the Frederick County Levy Court, 1820-23, with the date of hearing, the principals involved, and the decision made by the Court. An undated exercise book (of Andrew Shriver?) mostly filled with mathematical problems.