Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection
MSS.334
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
March 23, 2016
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Alexander M. Bracken Library
2000 W. University Avenue
Muncie, Indiana, 47306
765-285-5078
libarchives@bsu.edu
Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection MSS.334
Table of Contents
Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 3
Biographical Note.......................................................................................................................................... 4
Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 5
Arrangement...................................................................................................................................................5
Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................5
Related Materials ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................7
Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 8
Series 1: Arthur Andrew Olson III papers and presentations, 2011-2013.............................................. 8
Series 2: Arthur Andrew Olson III research files, 2009-2016................................................................9
Series 3: Arthur Andrew Olson III research correspondence, 2011-2013............................................ 11
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Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection MSS.334
Summary Information
Repository
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Creator
Olson, Arthur Andrew, III
Title
Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection
Date [inclusive]
2009-2016
Extent
0.3 Cubic feet 1 box; 5,721 digital files (16.4 GB)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection, Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University
Libraries
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Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection MSS.334
Biographical Note
Arthur Andrew Olson III (1950- ) of Glenview, Illinois and Marco Island, Florida retired from a career
as an executive search consultant, IBM marketing representative, and lawyer in 2007. As a child, he
spent significant time on his maternal grandparents’ 225-acre farm in Mt. Pleasant Township of Delaware
County, Indiana: The Indian Hill Stock Farm. This land was originally part of a 1000-acre family tract
along White River first permanently occupied by a Lanape/Delaware village in the late eighteenth
and early nineteenth centuries before being settled by Olson’s great, great, great grandfather David
Kilgore between 1830-1840. Following his retirement, Olson began to examine family lore and historical
family records which his ancestors had preserved. Through this work he became a self-taught historical
researcher and genealogist - devoting significant time to examining the life of David Kilgore and the
historical period in which he lived from the era of the Early Republic through the era of the United States
Civil War and Reconstruction.
David Kilgore was born to Obed Kilgore (circa 1771-1853) and Rebecca Cuzick Kilgore (1778-1842) in
Harrison County, Kentucky in 1804. He migrated with his parents and siblings, Martha Kilgore Fletcher
(circa 1796-1876), Alfred Kilgore (circa 1801-1839), and James Kilgore (1802-1862), to Blooming Grove
Township of Franklin County, Indiana in 1819. He became a Captain in the 7th Regiment of the Indiana
Militia in 1824 and was later appointed Brigadier General of the Militia’s 22nd Brigade in 1834. After
completing the study of law in 1830, he migrated to Mt. Pleasant Township, Delaware County, Indiana
where he remained the balance of his life. He married Mary G. VanMatre (1814-1882) there in 1831.
David's prior children included George Washington Kilgore (1825-1902; mother unknown) and James
L. Kilgore (1828-1864; mother unknown) who were likely raised in Franklin County, Indiana. Mary
G. and David Kilgore raised a family which included Henry C. Kilgore (1831; died in infancy), Alfred
Kilgore (1833-1871), Obed Kilgore (1835-1890), Absolom V. Kilgore (1837-1866), Tecumseh Kilgore
(1839-1876), Mary Louisa Kilgore Remington (1841-1914; mother: Elizabeth Dunkin [Duncan]), and
David Kilgore Jr. (1841-1917).
Kilgore practiced law in Mt. Pleasant Township and was appointed (then subsequently elected) President
Judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit from 1839-1846. He was actively involved in local, state, and national
politics on behalf of branches of the Whig, Republican, and a number of third party political movements
including the Know-Nothings, Fusion, Peoples/American, National Union, Liberal Republicans and
Greenbacks/Independents. The highlights of his political involvement included the following,
• 1833-1836, 1838-1839: Whig representative in Indiana General Assembly
• 1850: Delaware County Whig delegate to Indiana Constitutional Assembly
• 1855-1857: Fusionist, Peoples/American, and Republican representative and Speaker of the House (as a
Fusionist in 1855) in Indiana General Assembly
• 1857-1861: Republican representative and Republican Congressional Executive Committee member in
United States House of Representatives
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Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection MSS.334
David Kilgore was also one of the original and the longest-serving board members of the Indianapolis &
Bellefontaine Railroad Company and its successor lines (Indianapolis, Pittsburgh & Cleveland Railroad
Company, The Bellefontaine Rail Road Line, Bellefontaine Railway Company, and the Cleveland,
Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway Company) from 1848-1870. He passed away on January
23, 1879 on his farmstead in Delaware County west of Yorktown, Indiana.
Scope and Contents
This collection includes essays, articles and other research material created or collected by Arthur Andrew
Olson III ranging from 2009 to 2016 regarding the lineage and life of David Kilgore (1804-1879) and
other related topics in Delaware County and Indiana history including the settlement and relocation of
Native American peoples, state and national politics, and railroads during the period between Indiana
statehood and the era of Reconstruction following the United States Civil War.
Arrangement
Series 1: Arthur Andrew Olson III papers and presentations, 2011-2013
Series 2: Arthur Andrew Olson III research files, 2009-2016
Subseries 2.1: Research files, 2009-2013
Subseries 2.2: Electronic research files, 2009-2016
Series 3: Arthur Andrew Olson III correspondence, 2011-2013
Administrative Information
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Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection MSS.334
Publication Information
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Literary rights, including copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their legal heirs and
assigns. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Archives and Special
Collections. The publisher must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as a series of donations from Arthur
Andrew Olson III between 2010 and 2015.
Accruals
Further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2013/05/15 by Stephen Jones. EAD finding aid created 2013/05/16 by
Stephen Jones. EAD finding aid revised 2013/09/03 and 2013/10/03 by Stephen Jones. EAD finding aid
revised 2014/06/26 and 2014/08/18 by Brandon Pieczko
Related Materials
Related Archival Materials
Materials relating to this collection may be found in the following collections in Archives and Special
Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie IN:
CS71.K482 2011: David Kilgore family reunion, June 4, 2011 manuscript
MSS.000.3: Local History Family Files
UAV.295: Third Party Fringe Politics in 19th Century Indiana presentation videorecording
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Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection MSS.334
V.295: David Kilgore family reunion, June 4, 2011 videorecording
Separated Materials
The following items were separated from the collection and individually cataloged:
Anatomy of the 1818 Treaties of St. Marys and the "New Purchase" of Indiana
Heritage and Pedigree of the "Bee Line" Railroads: Struggle for Control of the Cleveland-St.
Louis Rail Corridor
Pioneer and Civil War Era Indiana Politics: The Political Career of David Kilgore
Controlled Access Headings
Geographic Name(s)
• Delaware County (Ind.)--History--19th century--Sources
• Muncie (Ind.)--History--19th century--Sources
Personal Name(s)
• Kilgore, David, 1804-1879
Subject(s)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Delaware Indians
Genealogy
Indiana--History
Indiana--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Indians of North America
Law
Miami Indians
Politics and government
Railroad
United States--Politics and government
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Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection MSS.334
Series 1: Arthur Andrew Olson III papers and presentations, 2011-2013
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Arthur Andrew Olson III papers and presentations, 2011-2013
Scope and Contents
This series includes research papers, presentation scripts, and slide show summaries authored by Arthur
Andrew Olson III ranging from 2010 to 2013 regarding the David Kilgore (1804-1879) family and
related topics in Delaware County and Indiana history. The majority of these papers and presentations
focus upon the business and political career of David Kilgore (1804-1879) and the history of land that
comprised his Indian Hill Stock Farm.
Anatomy of the 1818 Treaties of St. Marys and the "New Purchase" of
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Indiana, 2012/11/03.
David Kilgore Biographical Profile, 2013/03/26
Historical Backdrop to the Presence of Brothertown/Stockbridge/Munsee
Families Along White River Post 1820, 2011/01/11
Kilgore Family Migration from Scotland to Mt. Pleasant Township
Indiana, 2010/05/21
The Kilgore Pact Legend and York Indians in Indiana after 1817,
2011/06/25
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Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection MSS.334
Series 2: Arthur Andrew Olson III research files, 2009-2016
The Kilgore Pact Legend and York Indians in Indiana after 1817
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presentation slide summary, 2011/06/01
The Kilgore Pact Legend and York Indians in Indiana after 1817: A
Synopsis, 2011/06/04
Making Sense of Place: Along the White River at the Old Indian Hill,
Preface, 2011/04/23
Making Sense of Place: Along the White River at the Old Indian Hill,
Chapter 1, 2011/04/23
The New York ("York") Indians Along the White River 1818-1834(?): The
Stockbridge, Brothertown & Munsee-Delaware (Brotherton), 2010/11/18
Pioneer and Civil War Era Indiana Politics: The Political Career of David
Kilgore, 2012/11/20
Search for the York Indians Along White River presentation slide
summary, 2013/04/08
Third Party Fringe Politics: The Political Career of David Kilgore
presentation script and slide summary, 2012/09/08, 2012/09/21
West Fork of White River Through History presentation script and slide
summary, 2011/06/01, 2011/06/04
Series 2: Arthur Andrew Olson III research files, 2009-2016
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Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection MSS.334
Subseries 2.1: Research files, 2009-2013
Scope and Contents
This series includes research notes, family trees, primary source copies, digital images and other research
material collected and prepared by Arthur Andrew Olson III ranging from 2009-2016 regarding the
David Kilgore (1804-1879) family.
Subseries 2.1: Research files includes research notes, papers, family trees, and primary source copies
that predominantly document the lineage, political involvement, business interests and land holdings of
David Kilgore (1804-1879).
The "Olson, Arthur Andrew III research binder indices, 2013" file serves as a guide to additional printed
research material on these topics retained by Arthur Andrew Olson III.
Subseries 2.2: Electronic research files includes digital copies of Andrew Olson III's electronic
research files which contain research trip itineraries, digital images, primary source copies, research
notes, papers, essays, family trees, emails, and other research material documenting the lineage, life,
political involvement, land holdings, and business interests of David Kilgore (1804-1879), related issues
in Delaware County and Indiana history, and the research of Arthur Andrew Olson III.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Electronic research files were originally transferred via flash drive and email attachments. File formats
include JPEG (.JPG), JPEG 2000 (.JP2), Tagged Image File Format (.TIF), Portable Network Graphics
(.PNG), Adobe Portable Document (.PDF), Microsoft Word 97-2003 Document (.DOC) and Microsoft
Office Open XML Document (.DOCX); and Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Worksheet (.XLS) and Microsoft
Office Open XML Spreadsheet (.XLSX).
Subseries 2.1: Research files, 2009-2013
Bellefontaine Railway Company 1864-1868 minutes synopsis, 2013
Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railway company
1868-1874 minutes synopsis, 2013
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Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection MSS.334
Subseries 2.2: Electronic research files, 2009-2016
Davis, Rita. "Rainy Day Revision" of the [Kilgore] Workbook of 1996
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including preface "Johnston's Clan Kilgore and His Influence on Early
Kilgore History", 2009
Fletcher, Calvin Diary excerpts and notes, 2011
Indianapolis and Bellefontaine Railroad and Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and
Cleveland Railroad 1848-1864 minutes synopsis, 2013
Kilgore 1771-1879 family trees, circa 2009-2013
Olson, Arthur Andrew III research binder indices, 2013
Report of a Select Committee on the petition of sundry Indians of the
Stockbridge Nation, 1820/02/24
Thompson, J. V. Journal excerpts and notes, 2010-2011
EF.010 Subseries 2.2: Electronic research files, 2009-2016
Electronic research files guide, 2013
Electronic research files, 2009-2015
Series 3: Arthur Andrew Olson III research correspondence, 2011-2013
Scope and Contents
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Arthur Andrew Olson III research collection MSS.334
Series 3: Arthur Andrew Olson III research correspondence, 2011-2013
This series includes correspondence between Arthur Andrew Olson III and Archives and Special
Collections staff at Ball State University ranging from 2011 to 2013 that explains and clarifies the nature
of the papers, presentations, and research files in this collection.
Research correspondence, 2011-2013
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