urn:taro:tamu.cush.00255. Inventory of the Thomas William House Papers: 1864-1872. Finding aid prepared by Tiffany Sjogren. Cushing Memorial LibraryTexas A & M University

College Station, TX 77843-5000 Phone: 979/845-1951 Fax: 979/845-1441 Email: cushing-library@tamu.edu

March 2006. Finding aid encoded by Betsy Nitsch in EAD Version 2002 as part of the TARO project. May 2006. Finding aid written inEnglish. Descriptive Summary and Abstract Cushing Memorial Library

College Station, TX 77843-5000

House, Thomas William. Inventory of the Thomas William House Papers: 1864-1872. 1 linear ft. This collection contains 168 letters written by different cotton importers from Liverpool, England, including: Baring Bros. and Company, C. Grimshaw and Company, Fred Huth and Company, and Lemonius and Company, to Thomas Wilson House. The materials are in good condition, however, due to the aging of these materials, not all of the letters are legible, and some have ink bleed-through to the back of the paper. Texas ARCH 00255 English. Biographical Note

Thomas Wilson House was born on March 4, 1814, in Somersetshire, England. House came to the United States in 1835, and later moved to New Orleans.

In 1938, House co-opened the House and Loveridge, bakers and confectioners business in Houston, Texas. In 1939, House opened a business with Charles Shearn. In 1840, House married his partner’s daughter and started accepting bank deposits at the business. He is known for making and selling the first ice cream in the city of Houston. House’s business continued to grow, with one side of the store being confections, and the other side holding dry goods. In 1853, House bought James H. Stevens and Company’s Dry Goods for $40,000, and changed the name to T.W. House and Company. The company was the largest of its kind in the state. House accepted cotton as a form of payment, and as a result, he formed his own private bank. In 1872, House obtained a sugar plantation at Arcola, and maintained a 70000 acre ranch in LaSalle County. House continued to farm cotton on the side, and became a leading cotton merchant.

During this time, he helped organize the Houston and Galveston Navigation Company. House also worked with the Texas Transportation Company, the Houston Direct Navigation Company, as well as the Buffalo Bayou Ship Company. In 862, House was elected mayor of Houston, where he served one term. In 1866, House organized the Houston Gas Company, the city’s first public utility. House also contributed to the city’s first street railway, the Board of Trade and Cotton Exchange, and various railroads, including the Houston Texas Central. During the Civil War, House aided the Confederacy during the Civil War by obtaining supplies from Mexico and organizing blockade runners. House died on January 17, 1880.

Scope and Content Note

The Archive of correspondence to T.W. House is housed in 2 boxes. The first box contains letters to House from Baring Bros. and Company, C. Grimshaw and Company, Fred Huth and Company, Edward Lawrence and Company, Liverpool Cotton Brokers’ Association, and Truman Marshall and Company. The second box contains letters from Lemonius and Company, Reyhers, Schimt, and G.N. Woag. Both boxes contain letters to House concerning the cotton industry and trade.

Organization of the Papers

This collection is organized into 1 series:

Series 1. Correspondence, 1864-1872. Access

No restrictions.

Usage Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Online Catalog Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog of Cushing Memorial Library. Researchers wishing to find related materials should search the catalog under these index terms.

Names House, Thomas Wilson Baring Bros. & Co., Ltd. C. Grimshaw and Company Fred. Huth & Co. Edward Lawrence and Company Liverpool Cotton Association Truman Marshall and Company Lemonius and Company Reyhers, Schimt Woag, G.N. Subjects Cotton trade Houston (Tex.) United States--History--1865-1898. Provenance

Purchased from Texas State Historical Association Charity in March 2006.

Processing Information

Processed by Tiffany Sjogren in March 2006.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1. Correspondence, 1864-1872. 1/10 Baring Bros. and Company. To: House, T.W. 30 July 1866. 1/20 Baring Bros. and Company. To: House, T.W. 22 September 1866. 1/30 Baring Bros. and Company. To: House, T.W. 26 September 1866. 1/40 Baring Bros. and Company. To: House, T.W. 3 October 1866. 1/50 Baring Bros. and Company. To: House, T.W. 13 October 1866. 1/60 Baring Bros. and Company. To: House, T.W. 20 October 1866. 1/70 Baring Bros. and Company. To: House, T.W. 1 December 1866. 1/80 Baring Bros. and Company. To: House, T.W. 22 December 1866. 1/90 Baring Bros. and Company. To: House, T.W. 5 January 1867. 1/100 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 24 February 1867. 1/110 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 6 April 1867. 1/120 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 27 June 1867. 1/130 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 3 August 1867. 1/140 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 8 January 1868. 1/150 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 5 February 1868. 1/160 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 15 February 1868. 1/170 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 28 March 1868. 1/180 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 1 July 1868. 1/190 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 3 October 1868. 1/200 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 21 November 1868. 1/210 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 14 April 1869. 1/220 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 3 June 1869. 1/230 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 24 June 1869. 1/240 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 14 July 1869. 1/250 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 4 August 1869. 1/260 Grimshaw, C. and Company. To: House, T.W. 5 August 1869. 1/270 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 13 March 1869. 1/280 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 22 May 1869. 1/290 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 31 July 1869. 1/300 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 7 August 1869. 1/310 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 15 August 1869. 1/320 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 21 August 1869. 1/330 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 18 September 1869. 1/340 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 25 September 1869. 1/350 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 16 October 1869. 1/360 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 4 December 1869. 1/370 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 24 December 1869. 1/380 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 5 February 1870. 1/390 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 2 April 1870. 1/400 Huth, Fred and Company. To: House, T.W. 17 September 1870. 1/410 Lawrence, Edward and Company. To: House, T.W. 16 December 1865. 1/420 Liverpool Cotton Brokers’ Association. To: House, T.W. 12 December 1867. 1/430 Marshall, Truman and Company. To: House, T.W. 11 May 1867. 1/440 Marshall, Truman and Company. To: House, T.W. 25 May 1867. 1/450 Marshall, Truman and Company. To: House, T.W. 20 July 1867. 1/460 Marshall, Truman and Company. To: House, T.W. 14 September 1867. 2/10 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 17 July. 2/20 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 12 August 1865. 2/30 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 5 January 1865. 2/40 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 13 January 1865. 2/50 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 9 February 1865. 2/60 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 9 March 1866. 2/70 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 16 March 1866. 2/80 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 4 April 1866. 2/90 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 4 May 1866. 2/100 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 10 May 1866. 2/110 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 11 May 1866. 2/120 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 25 May 1866. 2/130 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 22 June 1866. 2/140 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 29 June 1866. 2/150 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 13 July 1866. 2/160 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 25 July 1866. 2/170 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 30 July 1866. 2/180 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 12 September 1866. 2/190 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 12 September 1866. 2/200 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 21 September 1866. 2/210 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 28 September 1866. 2/220 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 3 October 1866. 2/230 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 17 January 1868. 2/240 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 22 January 1868. 2/250 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 24 January 1868. 2/260 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 14 February 1868. 2/270 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 20 February 1868. 2/280 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 21 February 1868. 2/290 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 6 March 1868. 2/300 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 13 March 1868. 2/310 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 3 April 1868. 2/320 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 8 April 1868. 2/330 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 29 April 1868. 2/340 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 1 May 1868. 2/350 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 5 June 1868. 2/360 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 24 June 1868. 2/370 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 27 June 1868. 2/380 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 1 August 1868. 2/390 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 15 August 1868. 2/400 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 29 August 1868. 2/410 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 2 September 1868. 2/420 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 5 September 1868. 2/430 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 9 September 1868. 2/440 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 12 September 1868. 2/450 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 9 October 1868. 2/460 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 30 October 1868. 2/470 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 4 November 1868. 2/480 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 13 November 1868. 2/490 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 20 November 1868. 2/500 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 9 December 1868. 2/510 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 16 December 1868. 2/520 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 1 January 1869. 2/530 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 6 January 1869. 2/540 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 15 January 1869. 2/550 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 27 January 1869. 2/560 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 2 February 1869. 2/570 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 17 February 1869. 2/580 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 5 March 1869. 2/590 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 10 March 1869. 2/600 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 24 March 1869. 2/610 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 7 April 1869. 2/620 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 14 April 1869. 2/630 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 21 April 1869. 2/640 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 30 April 1869. 2/650 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 3 June 1869. 2/660 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 5 June 1869. 2/670 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 17 June 1869. 2/680 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 24 June 1869. 2/690 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 8 July 1869. 2/700 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 5 August 1869. 2/710 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 7 August 1869. 2/720 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 19 August 1869. 2/730 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 28 August 1869. 2/740 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 2 October 1869. 2/750 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 16 October 1869. 2/760 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 4 November 1869. 2/770 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 6 November 1869. 2/780 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 11 November 1869. 2/790 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 13 November 1869. 2/800 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 27 November 1869. 2/810 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 7 December 1869. 2/820 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 16 December 1869. 2/830 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 7 January 1870. 2/840 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 18 January 1870. 2/850 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 22 January 1870. 2/860 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 12 February 1870. 2/870 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 19 February 1870. 2/880 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 1 March 1870. 2/890 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 3 March 1870. 2/900 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 10 March 1870. 2/910 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 2 April 1870. 2/920 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 4 April 1870. 2/930 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 23 April 1870. 2/940 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 26 April 1870. 2/950 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 14 May 1870. 2/960 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 19 May 1870. 2/970 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 24 May 1870. 2/980 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 28 May 1870. 2/990 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 9 June 1870. 2/1000 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 11 June 1870. 2/1010 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 25 June 1870. 2/1020 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 9 July 1870. 2/1030 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 16 July 1870. 2/1040 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 4 August 1870. 2/1050 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 9 August 1870. 2/1060 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 10 September 1870. 2/1070 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 29 October 1870. 2/1080 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 12 November 1870. 2/1090 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 3 December 1870. 2/1100 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 5 January 1871. 2/1110 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 21 January 1871. 2/1120 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 2 February 1871. 2/1130 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 16 February 1871. 2/1140 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 18 February 1871. 2/1150 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 18 March 1871. 2/1160 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 6 April 1871. 2/1170 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 14 June 1871. 2/1180 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 16 December 1871. 2/1190 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 21 December 1871. 2/1200 Lemonius and Company. To: House, T.W. 18 July 1872. 2/1210 Scmidt, Reyhers. To: House, T.W. 21 December 1864. 2/1220 Woag, G.N.. To: House, T.W. 25 November 1865.