John Wilson Peel Papers

Collection

Identifier: MC 927

Staff Only
Select files to request

Scope and Content Note

Letters and genealogy notes pertaining to the John Wilson Peel family of Benton County, Arkansas.

Dates

1862-1875

Creator

Wilson, John Peel, 1806-1904 (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Use Restrictions Apply. No Interlibrary Loan. Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical Note

John Wilson Peel (1806-1904) was a pioneer resident of Independence, Carroll, and Benton counties, Arkansas. Born in Livingston County, Kentucky, John moved to Independence County, Arkansas, with his father's family sometime around 1815. He married Elizabeth West in 1828 and the couple had three children before Elizabeth's death in the mid 1830s: Alice, Harriet, and Samuel. In 1838, Wilson moved to the northwest portion of the state, marrying Malinda Wilson of Washington County and establishing a home on Crooked Creek, Carroll County. Here the couple raised eleven children while John engaged in farming, merchandising, and real estate speculation. Among their children were two who enlisted in the Confederate Army during the Civil War: James Wilson "W.J" Peel and Richard M. "Dick" Peel. James joined Company K, First Arkansas Mounted Rifles, and Richard joined Company E, Sixteenth Arkansas Infantry. Both died before the end of the war. Another member of the Sixteenth Infantry, Captain James A. Walden of Company K, was apparently a family friend and wrote to Peel family after the death of James in 1862.

Extent

.02 Linear Feet (3 folders)

Additional Description

Arrangement of the Papers

The John Wilson Peel papers have been arranged in two folders of letters and genealogy notes. The seven letters in folder one are those written to John or members of his family during and after the Civil War from family members and acquaintances. The genealogy notes in folder two include pages from the Peel family Bible, family pedigree charts, and a biographical sketch of the Peel family prepared by the donor, Mary Coe Marquess.

Acquisition Information

The John Wilson Peel Papers were donated to the Special Collections Department by Mary Coe Marquess of Bentonville, Arkansas, on January 13, 1989. An additional letter (Folder 3) was donated February 2, 1994 and was incorporated into the existing collection. Three additional letters were donated October 7, 1994 and were incorporated (as 2a, 2b, and 3a) into the existing collection.