Administrative/Biographical History
Little is known about John Cary (Carey?) Leith and his family. The ancestors of his family moved to Ohio before 1800 and settled in Wyandot County. Leith was born on August 24th, 1843, and enrolled in the Oberlin preparatory department, 1861-63. The entry in the Oberlin College Alumni Catalogue (1908) indicates that Leith hailed from Seal, Ohio and later from Nevada, Ohio. Leith pursued English Studies according to the 1863-64 College Catalogue. John Leith died on March, 11th, 1863 in Seal, Ohio. Leith’s sister, Martha “Mattie” Leith (1855-1904) from Nevada, Ohio, enrolled in the Oberlin Conservatory for the 1876-77 academic year, and later married J.Q. Williams.
Sources Consulted
1863-64 Oberlin College Catalogue (RG 0)
1908 Oberlin College Alumni Catalogue
Student File of John C Leith (RG 28/1)
Author: Jonathan M. Thurn Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative InformationFor additional documents from the Civil War era, consult the “Oberlin File” (RG 21).
See also the “Oberlin and the Civil War” digital collection by the Oberlin College Archives and the Oberlin Heritage Center, 2012.
The John C. Leith papers primarily consist of letters, many of which document various aspects of the Civil War. The most significant letters relating to the Civil War are the letters of soldiers and of John C. Leith. These letters contain passages regarding the hardships faced by the soldiers, and their desire to have news from home. Some legal documents, e.g. affidavits and an Ohio state bill, which concern the Leith family, are also included.
Many other documents, e.g. correspondence and property deeds, from the Birge and Pitkin families, are also included. Photographs, mostly of members of the Birge family are located in Series 4. Former Archivist William Bigglestone established that no relationship exists between the Leith and Birge-Pitkin families.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I. Correspondence, 1851-1973 [span], n.d.
The correspondence series contains letters from the Birge-Pitkin Family with various other individuals and a First National Bank. Other correspondents included here are Souder, Goodbread, Lamberton, and Rock. The series also includes 13 letters written by Leith while in Oberlin, 1861-62, in which he described events of the war period. A second folder contains photocopies of these letters for reference use and some miscellaneous correspondence concerning Leith. Several letters, c. 1901, of Leith’s sister Martha concern her life in Alaska and her possible claim to a mine there. In addition, letters written by soldiers (one from the 123rd Rgt. OVI, and one from the 13th Ohio), 1861-65, are included.
Series II. Miscellaneous Files relating to Birge-Pitkin Family, 1851, 1860-1938 [span], n.d.
This series consists of deeds, some of which concern Oberlin properties, genealogical information, and newspaper clippings relating to the Birge-Pitkin Family. A miscellaneous folder contains other items including a journal entry, a Masonic certificate, and a wedding announcement.
Series III. Miscellaneous Files relating to Leith Family, 1864, 1872, n.d.
This series consists of several affidavits signed by members of the Leith family as well as a copy of a bill from the Ohio Legislature repaying the estate of George W. Leith for funds he used to recruit Union soldiers during the Civil War.
Series IV. Photographs, ca. 1860-64, 1880-1886, 1892, 1897, n.d.
The photographs series contains one portrait of John C. Leith with another man, 1861, as well as various members of the Birge family, ca. 1860-1897 (span). These are primarily cartes-de-visite and cabinet cards. A complete listing of individuals appearing in the photographs can be found in the inventory.
INVENTORY
Series I. Correspondence, 1851-1973 [span], n.d.
Box 1
Letters of Birge-Pitkin Family, 1878,1885,
1893,1898, n.d.
Letters of Leith Family
John C. Leith, 1861-62 (originals
and copies, 2f)
Martha Leith Williams, 1889,1897,
1900,1901,1973
Letters of Soldiers, 1861-1865
Miscellaneous Letters, 1851, 1860,
1864, 1878-1879, 1889, 1938,
1954, 1957
Series II. Miscellaneous Files relating to Birge-Pitkin Family, 1851, 1860-1938 [span], n.d.
Box 1 (cont.)
Deeds, 1860, 1866, 1870-1871, 1882, 1887
Genealogical File, n.d.
Miscellaneous, 1851, 1889, 1894, n.d.
Newspaper Clippings, 1885-1938 [span]
Series III. Miscellaneous Files relating to Leith Family, 1864, 1872, n.d.
Box 1 (cont.)
Legal documents, 1864, 1872, n.d.
Series IV. Photographs, ca. 1860-64, 1880-1886, 1892, 1897, n.d.
Box 1 (cont.)
Elizabeth Wetmore Birge, n.d.
Jean Esther Birge (Mrs. John Rock, Jr.),
1880-86 (6; 1 with Joan Birge)
Margaret L., Jean, and Bessie W. Birge, 1892
(1 cabinet card, Cleveland, OH)
Richard Hart Birge, Margaret Lamberton Birge,
and Alice Lamberton Birge (all cartes-de-visite:
2 of Richard, n.d., 1 taken in Oberlin, the
other in Cleveland; 1 wedding photo of
Richard and Margaret Birge, ca. 1860,
Oberlin; 2 of Alice as a small child, ca.
1863 and 1864, Oberlin)
Grace Birge Clark, n.d. (1 cabinet card,
Cortland, NY)
Ross and Jane Waugh Lamberton, n.d. (2 portraits
of Ross, 1 of Jane)
John C. Leith and unidentified man, 1861
(1 cartes-de-visite, Oberlin, OH)
Jean Margaret Rock, 1897 (2 mounted prints)
