Darden Family Papers
Darden Family Papers digital collection contains selected materials from its corresponding physical collection. Putnam Darden, son of John P. Darden, was born on a plantation in 1836 in Fayette County, Mississippi. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1856, and worked as a farmer until the Civil War broke out in 1861. During the war, he served in the Jefferson Flying Artillery, later known as the Jefferson Artillery and Darden’s Battery. Darden served under Beauregard, Hardy, Joe E. Johnston, and Hood. After the war he was active in the Grange movement, led by the Patrons of Husbandry. Formed in 1967, individual chapters, known as Granges, were created to educate people about farming and to support farmers. Darden was also a key player in the development of the Morrill Land Grant Act, which enabled the founding of Mississippi State A&M in 1878, now known as Mississippi State University (MSU) and the Hatch Experiment Act, which enabled the creation of the MSU Experiment Station in 1886. Known as a gifted orator, Darden gave many speeches in support of Missisisppi State. Putnam Darden died in 1888. He was married four times, had eight children, and was a member of the Christian Church in Fayette and superintendent of the Sunday School. A memorial to him may be found on the MSU campus, located across from the SMART bus stop next to McCool Hall. This digital collection has receipts, checks, and other business documents. For more information, contact the Special Collections faculty and staff at this link.
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Letter, Fannie Sanders to Her Mother; 06/20/1924
Fannie Sanders Lacy
From Fannie Sanders [later Fannie Lacy] age 11 yrs - enroute to Hammond, Louisiana to visit Paul & Ruth with Christie & Dady & G-Dady.
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Bill from Franklin Female College
Bill for Josephine Darden's expenses at Franklin Female College in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
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Exhibit A
J. R. Armstead
A financial report for the Phoenix Cooperative Association by J. R. Armstead, treasurer and clerk.
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Exhibit B
J. R. Armstead
A financial report for the Phoenix Cooperative Association by J. R. Armstead, treasurer and clerk.
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Exhibit C
J. R. Armstead
A financial report for the Phoenix Cooperative Association by J. R. Armstead, treasurer and clerk.
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Patrons' Union Association Stock Certificate
J. B. Bailey
$10 stock certificate for Thomas L. Darden from Patrons' Union Association of Mississippi.
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Attendance Note
Certification that J. M. Cooper was a delegate at the State Alliance of Mississippi.
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$11 to J. H. Beeman
C. T. Smithson
Note for Thomas L. Darden to pay $11 to J. H. Beeman from the expense account.
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$14.40 to J. H. Beeman
C. T. Smithson
Note for Thomas L. Darden to pay $14.40 to J. H. Beeman from the National Alliance account.
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$16 for National Alliance
C. T. Smithson
Note for Thomas L. Darden, treasurer, to pay D. R. Hearn $16 in expenses for attending the National Alliance.
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$25.60 for National Alliance
C. T. Smithson
Note for Thomas L. Darden, treasurer, to pay R. S. Magee $25.60 in expenses for attending the National Alliance.
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$30 to S. R. Land
C. T. Smithson
Note for Thomas L. Darden to pay $30 to S. R. Land from the expense account.
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$40.50 to A. J. Rylee
C. T. Smithson
Note for Thomas L. Darden to pay $40.50 to A. J. Rylee from the Bagging Factory account.
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$6 for National Alliance
C. T. Smithson
Note for Thomas L. Darden, treasurer, to pay R. T. Love $6 in expenses for the National Alliance.
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$10.68 for National Alliance
G. L. Sneed
Note for Thomas L. Darden, treasurer, to pay R. T. Love $10.68 in expenses for attending the National Alliance.
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$15.36 for National Alliance
G. L. Sneed
Note for Thomas L. Darden, treasurer, to pay A. D. Draugh $15.36 in expenses for attending the National Alliance meeting in Jackson, Mississippi.
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$17.36 for National Alliance
G. L. Sneed
Note for Thomas L. Darden, treasurer, to pay J. H. Sanders $17.36 in expenses for attending the National Alliance.
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Attendance Note
Certification that H. C. Wilkins was a delegate at the State Alliance of Mississippi.
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Attendance Note
C. T. Smithson
Certification that E. B. ? attended the State Farmer's Alliance as a delegate.
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Letter, L. D. McCaleb to J. J. Whitney; 11/16/1884
L. D. McCaleb
Letter from Phoenix Grange secretary L. D. McCaleb to Captain J. J. Whitney.
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Check for $3.33 Dues
Check for $3.33 dues from the Phoenix Grange to the State Grange of Mississippi.
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Check for $4.51 Dues
Thomas L. Darden
Check for $4.51 dues from the Phoenix Grange to the State Grange of Mississippi.
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Check for $5.37 Dues
J. J. Whitney
Check for $5.37 dues from the Phoenix Grange to the State Grange.
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Expense for Paper and Envelopes
Statement of 50 cents expense on paper and envelopes for Phoenix Grange.
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Check to Carrie Campbell
J. J. Whitney
Check for $4.50 to Carrie Campbell from the Phoenix Grange, 1883.
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Letter, William H. Ker to Thomas L. Darden; 06/17/1880
William H. Ker
Letter to Thomas L. Darden from William H. Ker, accepting an invitation to speak at the County Grange meeting.
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Appointment of Thomas L. Darden as Overseer
McGinly
Notice from the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors to Thomas L. Darden, appointing him overseer of Road 17, from the Fayette and Natchez Road to the ford of a creek near his residence.
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Members with Late Dues
R. W. Campbell
List of Phoenix Grange members with dues in arrears for two quarters or more.
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Building Lease
James M. Ellis
Contract for James M. Ellis to lease a building to the Phoenix Cooperative Association for $12.50 a month.
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Assets of Phoenix Cooperative Association
1878 statement of assets and liabilities of the Phoenix Cooperative Association.
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Contract with J. P. Tunstall
Contract between J. P. Tunstall and the Phoenix Cooperative Association.
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Statement of Business
Statement of business of Phoenix Cooperative Association from July 1877 to January 1878.
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Certificate of Share in the Phoenix Cooperative Association
J. R. Armstead
Certificate of Share in the Phoenix Cooperative Association, #203 purchased by J. B. McCormick of Rising Star Grange.
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Certificate of Share in the Phoenix Cooperative Association
J. R. Armstead
Certificate of Share in the Phoenix Cooperative Association, #205 purchased by J. B. McCormick of Rising Star Grange.
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Certificate of Share in the Phoenix Cooperative Association
J. R. Armstead
Certificate of Share in the Phoenix Cooperative Association, #204 purchased by J. B. McCormick of Rising Star Grange.
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Certificate of Share in the Phoenix Cooperative Association
J. R. Armstead
Certificate of Share in the Phoenix Cooperative Association, #206 purchased by J. B. McCormick of Rising Star Grange.
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Letter of Resignation
J. R. Armstead
J. R. Armstead's letter of resignation from his position in the Phoenix Cooperative Association in Fayette, Mississippi.
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Darden Account Figures
Putnam Darden
Putnam Darden's figuring of his accounts, handwritten in pencil on State Grange of Mississippi letterhead.
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Minutes from Meeting of Stockholders
Thomas L. Darden
Minutes from a meeting of Phoenix Cooperative Association stockholders.
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Letter of Resignation
C. S. Fairly
C. S. Fairly's letter of resignation from the Phoenix Cooperative Association. At the bottom in pencil is added the Association's response to Fairly's and Armstead's resignations.
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Contract for R. W. Campbell
J. B. McCormick
Contract for R. W. Campbell to work at the Phoenix Cooperative Association for $30 a month.
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Financial Report
J. R. Armstead
A financial report for the Phoenix Cooperative Association by J. R. Armstead, treasurer and clerk. On the back, the report is validated by J. B. McCormick and C. W. Whitney.
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Letter, P. B. Richardson to Thomas L. Darden; 06/22/1877
P. B. Richardson
Letter to Thomas L. Darden from P. B. Richardson, listing the delegates from the Red Lick Club to the County Convention.
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Plot of Darden Land
Dunbar Wade
Plot of John P. Darden's land by Jefferson County, Mississippi surveyor Dunbar Wade, 1875.
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Certificate of Stock
R. W. J. W. J. Arnetic
Certificate of stock for Thomas L. Darden's $75 for three shares in the Jefferson County Planters, Mechanics and Manufacturers Association.
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Certificate of Stock
J. J. Whitney
Certificate of stock for Thomas L. Darden's $25 share in the Jefferson County Planters, Mechanics and Manufacturers Association.
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Certificate of Stock
J. J. Whitney
Certificate of stock for Thomas L. Darden's $25 share in the Jefferson County Planters, Mechanics and Manufacturers Association.
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Certificate of Stock
B. B. Paddock
Certificate of stock for Thomas L. Darden's $25 share in the Jefferson County Planters, Mechanics and Manufacturers Association.
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Minutes from the Neighbors Club
J. Stowers
Minutes from the Neighbors Club (Jefferson County, Miss.), written up by J. Stowers.
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Indenture of Orleans Warner to F. Krauss
Joseph T. Ivey
Indenture agreement of F. Krauss and Orleans Warner at the Darden Place plantation in Jefferson County, Mississippi.
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Indenture of Orleans Warner to F. Krauss
Joseph T. Ivey
Indenture agreement of F. Krauss and Orleans Warner at the Darden Place plantation in Jefferson County, Mississippi.
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Letter from Fleming & Baldwin: 07/27/1865
Fleming & Baldwin
Letter from Fleming & Baldwin to John P. Darden, regarding the amount of cotton he turned over to the Confederate treasury.
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Cotton Owed to Government
Stewart Goodrell
Letter to John P. Darden from the Treasury department in Natchez, regarding cotton sold to the Confederate government and now owed to the U.S. Treasury Department.
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Letter to J. P. Darden; 09/05/1864
Letter to J. P. Darden regarding Mr. Mead and cotton. The bottom portion of the document is missing.
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Letter to Mrs. Duvall; 04/14/1860
John P. Darden
Letter from John P. Darden to Mrs. Duvall, requesting financial assistance. On the reverse is information about Darden repaying the debt.
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Letter, Tho. Reed to John P. Darden; 06/07/1864
Thomas Reed
Note to John P. Darden from Tho. Reed, introducing Mr. Mead.
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Record of Cotton Purchased
Thomas Reed
Tho. Reed's record and letter to John P. Darden regarding cotton he purchased.
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Receipt for Two Horses for the Confederacy
Receipt for the purchase of two horses by A.I. Cameron and Putnam Darden from H. Hill for use in the Confederate army.
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Invoice of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores
Thomas M. Austin
Jefferson Artillery materials: Invoice of ordnance and ordnance stores turned over to Capt. Put Darden at Tupelo by Thomas M. Austin.
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Receipt for a Horse for the Confederacy
Henry M. Buckets
Receipt for the purchase of a horse by A.I. Cameron and Putnam Darden from Henry M. Buckets for use in the Confederate army.
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Receipt for a Horse for the Confederacy
J. M. Cobb
Receipt for the purchase of a horse by A.I. Cameron and Putnam Darden from J. M. Cobb for use in the Confederate army.
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Receipt for a Horse for the Confederacy
F. B. Coleman
Receipt for the purchase of a horse by A. I. Cameron and Putnam Darden from F.B. Coleman for use in the Confederate Army.
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Receipt for a Horse for the Confederacy
F. B. Coleman
Receipt for the purchase of a horse by A.I. Cameron and Putnam Darden from F. B. Coleman for use in the Confederate army.
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List of Horses Purchased
Putnam Darden
Master list of horses purchased by Putnam Darden and A. I. Cameron for the Confederate Artillery Service.
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Receipt for a Horse for the Confederacy
Samuel P. Gilbert
Receipt for the purchase of a horse by A.I. Cameron and Putnam Darden from Samuel P. Gilbert for use in the Confederate army.
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Receipt for a Horse for the Confederacy
David C. Griffing
Receipt for the purchase of a horse by A.I. Cameron and Putnam Darden from David C. Griffing for use in the Confederate army.
