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REBECCA STIRMAN DAVIDSON

Family papers, 1860-1957
Manuscript Collection MC 541

• Information about Rebecca Stirman Davidson and her Family
• Information about the Collection
• Contents of Collection (1 container)
  • Series 1. Rebecca Stirman Davidson Papers, 1860-1938. Box 1, folders 1-11.
  • Series 2. John Turner Stinson Materials, 1892-1958. Box 1, folders 11-14.

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  REBECCA STIRMAN DAVIDSON AND HER FAMILY

  Rebecca Stirman Davidson (1843-1912) was a lifetime resident of Fayetteville, Arkansas. She, along with her brothers, William and Erasmus (Ras), were orphaned at an early age and raised by their aunt, Mary Stirman Pollard. Rebecca attended Sophia Sawyer's school in the decade preceding the Civil War, while her older brother Ras attended Arkansas College and clerked in a dry goods store. In 1861, Ras enlisted as a private in the Pike Guards, a local militia unit, and marched north with other southern troops to engage in the Wilson's Creek campaign of southwest Missouri. Rebecca remained at Fayetteville for most of the war years, leaving once in early 1862 after the town was burned by Confederate forces, and finally banished by the Union occupation forces in 1864 for aiding the enemy. Ras stayed with the army until 1865, eventually becoming captain of Company E, First Battalion of Arkansas Cavalry, and colonel of his own regiment of sharpshooters. Following the war, Rebecca and Ras returned to Fayetteville. Rebecca married James E. Trott, a local merchant, and the couple had one daughter, Roberta, before Trott's death sometime around 1870. Rebecca subsequently married Benjamin R. Davidson, a prominent local attorney. Ras became an attorney himself, was elected mayor of Fayetteville in 1868, and married Mirium Gist of New Castle, Kentucky, in 1870. In 1879 the couple moved to Denver, Colorado, where Ras died in 1914.

  Rebecca Stirman Davidson's daughter, Roberta Trott, was courted in the early 1890s by John Turner Stinson (1865-1958), a horticulturist for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at Fayetteville.

  Stinson was from Iowa and had received a degree from the Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, in 1890. He founded the horticulture department at the University of Arkansas when he became a professor in 1895. John and Roberta married in 1894 and eventually had four children, Rebecca, Benjamin, Ruth, and John Jr. The Stinsons left Arkansas in 1900 when he accepted a position at the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station at Mountain Grove, Missouri. He finished his career as the Director of Agricultural Development for the Missouri Pacific Rail Road and became an outspoken advocate of soil conservation.

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  THE COLLECTION

  Correspondence, printed materials, and a photograph pertaining to the Rebecca Stirman Davidson family of Fayetteville, Arkansas, were purchased from George and Glenda Stephens, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on February 4, 1985.

  The Rebecca Stirman Davidson Papers have been divided into two series. Series 1 contains letters, clippings, and a photograph pertaining to Rebecca, her brother Ras, and her husbands James Trott and Benjamin Davidson. Of particular interest in this series are the letters of Ras Stirman to his sister during the Civil War, describing his combat experiences at Wilson's Creek and Corinth, Mississippi. Most of these letters have been published by Pat Carr in In Fine Spirits (Fayetteville: Washington County Historical Society, 1986). Series 2 consists of materials concerning John Turner Stinson. These include any letters written by him, his wife Roberta, or his children.

  Processed by Kim Allen Scott, February 1989. Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

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  Series 1. Rebecca Stirman Davidson Papers, 1860-1938. Box 1, folders 1-10.

  Letters, printed materials, and photographs pertaining to Rebecca Stirman Davidson; her husbands, James E. Trott and Benjamin R. Davidson; her brother, Erasmus I. Stirman; her aunt, Mary Stirman Pollard; and her cousin, Lizzie Pollard. The letters have been arranged chronologically in folders 1-6. Unless otherwise indicated, all letters were written to Rebecca and received by her in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Civil War-era envelopes containing marginalia or important location information have been retained with the letters. Printed materials consisting of newspaper clippings and engraved bereavement, calling, and greeting cards, have been placed in folder 10. Folder 11 contains four prints of an original photograph owned by the Washington County Historical Society of Erasmus I. Stirman, ca. 1870s.

  Box 1

  Folder 1. Correspondence, March 1860-February 1861.

  1. March 19, 1860. Erasmus Stirman (Boggy Depot, Cherokee Nation) to Rebecca Stirman.
  2. March 29, 1860. Erasmus Stirman (Athens, Texas) to Rebecca Stirman.
  3. April 6, 1860. Erasmus Stirman (Athens, Texas) to Rebecca Stirman.
  4. December 28, 1860. Henry L. Smith (Fayetteville) to Rebecca Stirman.
  5. January 10, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Jefferson City, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  6. February 10, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Palmyra, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.

  Folder 2. Correspondence, July-August, 1861.

  1. July 1, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Walker, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  2. July 3, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Walker, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  3. July 4, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Walker, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  4. July 10, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Walker, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  5. July 12, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Walker, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  6. July 15, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Walker, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  7. August 4, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Crane Creek, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  8. August 8, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (In camp 10 miles of Springfield, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  9. August 10, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (In camp near Springfield, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  10. August 23, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (in camp near Keetsville, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.

  Folder 3. Letters, October-December, 1861.

  1. October 29, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (in camp 2 miles south of Cassville, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  2. November 5, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Murphy, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  3. November 6, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Murphy, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  4. November 13, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Murphy, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  5. November 26, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Johnson, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  6. December 12, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (in camp on Crooked Creek, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  7. December 26, 1861. Erasmus Stirman (Washington Barracks) to Rebecca Stirman.

  Folder 4. Letters, January-May, 1862.

  1. January 15, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (Washington Barracks) to Rebecca Stirman.
  2. January 25, [1862]. George Taylor (Fayetteville) to Rebecca Stirman.
  3. February 8, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (Washington Barracks) to Rebecca Stirman.
  4. March 3, 1862. George Taylor (camp on Boston Mountain) to Rebecca Stirman (Van Buren).
  5. April 3, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (Clarksville) to Rebecca Stirman.
  6. April 27, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (Des Arc) to Rebecca Stirman.
  7. May 12, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (in camp near Corinth, Mississippi) to Rebecca Stirman.
  8. May 16, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Churchill Clark: Corinth, Mississippi) to Rebecca Stirman.
  9. May 26, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Churchill Clark: Corinth, Mississippi) to Rebecca Stirman.

  Folder 5. Letters, July-December, 1862.

  1. July 7, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (Camp Maury near Tupelo, Mississippi) to Rebecca Stirman.
  2. July 31, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (camp near Tupelo, Mississippi) to Rebecca Stirman.
  3. August 10, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (camp near Tupelo, Mississippi) to Rebecca Stirman.
  4. September 24, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (camp near Baldwin, Mississippi) to Rebecca Stirman.
  5. November 9, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (camp near Holly Springs, Mississippi) to Rebecca Stirman.
  6. December 28, 1862. Erasmus Stirman (Rogers, Mississippi) to Rebecca Stirman.

  Folder 6. Letters, 1863-1864.

  1. January 24, 1863. Erasmus Stirman (Camp near Granada, Mississippi) to Rebecca Stirman.
  2. March 8, 1863. Erasmus Stirman (camp near Edwards Depot, Mississippi) to Rebecca Stirman.
  3. August 1, 1863. Erasmus Stirman (Fort Smith) to Rebecca Stirman.
  4. August 10, 1863. Erasmus Stirman (Ozark) to Rebecca Stirman.
  5. August 15, 1863. Erasmus Stirman (camp on Bayou Metoe) to Rebecca Stirman.
  6. September 10, 1863. Erasmus Stirman (Dardanelle) to Rebecca Stirman.
  7. January 4, 1864. W.A. Forbes (Bowling Green, Kentucky) to Rebecca Stirman.

  Folder 7. Letters, 1866-1912..

  1. July 4, 1866. Jim Trott (Fayetteville) to Mary Paddock (Chicago, Illinois).
  2. March 23, 1868. Jim Trott (Arlington, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman.
  3. April 3, 1868. Jim Trott (Jamesville, Wisconsin) to Rebecca Stirman.
  4. 1894. Lizzie Pollard (Fayetteville) to Rebecca Stirman Davidson and Roberta Trott.
  5. February 20, 1898. N.M. Ragland [Fayetteville] to Rebecca Stirman Davidson.
  6. March 14, 1901. Lizzie Pollard (Antlers, Indian Territory) to Rebecca Stirman Davidson.
  7. February 6, 1905. Lizzie Pollard (Antlers, Indian Territory) to Benjamin R. and Rebecca Stirman Davidson (San Antonio, Texas).
  8. February 24, 1907. Lizzie Pollard (Antlers, Indian Territory) to Benjamin R. and Rebecca Stirman Davidson.
  9. September 8, 1912. Lizzie Pollard (McAlister, Oklahoma) to "Percy" [Fayetteville].

  Folder 8. Letters, 1913-1926.

  1. January 10, 1913. Lizzie Pollard (McAlister, Oklahoma) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Fayetteville).
  2. November 11, 1914. Lizzie Pollard (McAlister, Oklahoma) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Fayetteville).
  3. December 19, 1915. Lizzie Pollard (McAlister, Oklahoma) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Fayetteville).
  4. December 27, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. H.M. Ragland (Fayetteville) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Fayetteville).
  5. February 1, 1916. Lizzie Pollard (McAlister, Oklahoma) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Fayetteville).
  6. March 18, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. H.M. Ragland (Fayetteville) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Fayetteville).
  7. March 27, 1917. Lizzie Pollard (McAlister, Oklahoma) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Fayetteville).
  8. April 24, 1917. Lizzie Pollard (Hugo, Oklahoma) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Fayetteville).
  9. February 27, 1919. N.M. Ragland (Fayetteville) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Little Rock).
  10. February 28, 1919. Lizzie Pollard (McAlister, Oklahoma) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Little Rock).
  11. February 27, 1926. N.M. Ragland (Fayetteville) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Fayetteville).
  12. March 20, 1926. N.M. Ragland (Fayetteville) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Fayetteville).

  Folder 9. Printed materials, 1897-1938. (10 items).

  Folder 10. Photograph, Erasmus Stirman. (4 items).

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  Series 2. John Turner Stinson Materials, 1892-1958. Box 1, folders 11-14.

  Letters, newspaper clippings, genealogy notes, and printed materials pertaining to John Turner Stinson (1868-1964) and his family. Folders 11 and 12 contain letters written by Roberta Trott Stinson, John Turner Stinson, and their children, Ruth, Benjamin, Rebecca, and John Jr., and grandson, David Stinson. Folder 13 contains biographical information about John Turner Stinson, including newspaper and magazine clippings and a typewritten vita. Folder 14 contains two agricultural brochures written by Stinson.

  Box 1 (cont.)

  Folder 11. Letters, 1892-1924.

  1. December 26, 1892. Roberta Trott (Fayetteville) to John Turner Stinson (Pensacola, Florida).
  2. October 9, 1893. Roberta Trott (Fayetteville) to John Turner Stinson (Chicago, Illinois).
  3. October 22, 1900. Roberta Trott Stinson (Mt. Grove, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman Davidson (Fayetteville).
  4. November 21, 1900. Roberta Trott Stinson (Mt. Grove, Missouri) to Rebecca Stirman Davidson (Fayetteville).
  5. April 13, 1913. Ruth Stinson (Sedalia, Missouri) to Benjamin R. Davidson (Fayetteville).
  6. August 8, 1924. Benjamin Stinson (Clayton, Missouri) to Rebecca Stinson (Fayetteville).

  Folder 12. Letters, 1927-1958, n.d.

  1. December 22, 1927. Herbert Hoover (Washington, D.C.) to John Turner Stinson (St. Louis, Missouri) [photostat of original].
  2. March 3, 1954. John Turner Stinson (St. Louis, Missouri) to Ruth Stinson Billmeyer [Lincoln, Nebraska].
  3. June 13, 1956. John Turner Stinson (St. Louis, Missouri) to Ruth Stinson Billmeyer (Lincoln, Nebraska).
  4. August 1, 1957. David Stinson (St. Louis, Missouri) to Z.L. Reagan (Rogers) and Mrs. Ellis Duncan (Fayetteville).
  5. June 12, 1958. John Turner Stinson (St. Louis, Missouri) to Ruth Stinson Billmeyer (Lincoln, Nebraska)
  6. June 22, 1958. Margaret Horsfall (Little Rock) to Roberta Trott Stinson (St. Louis, Missouri).
  7. June 23, 1958. Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Bylander (Little Rock) to Roberta Trott Stinson (St. Louis, Missouri).
  8. June 26, 1958. Karl Greenhaw (Fayetteville) to Roberta Trott Stinson (St. Louis, Missouri)
  9. no date. Roberta Trott Stinson to John Turner Stinson.
  10. no date. John Turner Stinson to Roberta Trott Stinson.

  Folder 13. Biographical material, ca. 1930-1950s. (11 items).

  Folder 14. Brochures, 1946. (2 items).

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