The Gellert Schnee Collection
This collection was donated all or in part by Velda P. Gochis in 1983. Together with the other Schnee family papers, it documents the activities of a prominent New Harmony family.
Gellert Schnee, 1812-1883, was the fifth of eleven children of Jacob and Catherine Schnee. Born in Pennsylvania, he moved with his family to New Harmony and became a successful businessman. He was involved in real estate and in the settling of estates.
He kept letters from his many family members who lived away from New Harmony. Particularly interesting are the letters from his brother-in-law and numerous nephews during the Civil War.
When Gellert was nearing 60, he and his second wife, his junior by about 30 years moved to Kansas. Portions of the collection are concerned with his Kansas descendents.
BOX I
Folder 1 Schnee, Gellert, Genealogy
Folder 2 Gex, Luis, Genealogy and Estate (witnessed by Gellert Schnee)
Folder 3 Estate of Jacob Bowers, (administered by Luther Schnee, 1842)
Folder 4 Estate of Thomas Brown (administered by Gellert Schnee)
Folder 5 Victoria Pelham re: William Pelham’s pension, Rev. War Veteran. John P. Duval to Mrs. Victoria Pelham, Tallahassee, FL, 18 Nov. 1849. Re: pension due deceased surgeon William Pelham, VA Cont’l Line. Petition to U.S. Congress, 13 Jan. 1848. State of Indiana.
William C. Pelham estate, 15 Apr. 1850. 20 pp. listing of furniture, books, etc., room by room of former Schnee mansion, now owned by Victoria Pelham. SE room, rm. near entry, etc., wash house, wood shed, saddle house, dry house, bee house, yard, cellar, garret, kitchen, hall closet, hall, E room upstairs, W room upstairs, NW room, list of boks … store. Schedules A-D. Inventory, $6060.
Folder 6 Estate of William Gibbs. Sale of property, sale of notes, list of articles. n.d.
Folder 7 Saltzman, George Washingtion & Lousia M., papers
Folder 8 Schnee, Gellert & David, correspondence (before 1870)
Folder 9 Schnee, Gellert & David, correspondence (after 1870)
Folder 10 Schnee, David and Gellert. Business papers.
Folder 11 Account book, record of daily runs of whiskey at Schnee distillery, 1837-38. List of sales to individuals and outlets in New Harmony, Evansville, Louisville, Henderson, Albion, Mt. Carmel, Princeton, Vincennes, Mt. Vernon – River warehouse for shipment down river to New Orleans.
Gellert Schnee notebook, family expenses, dated 15 August 1838, date of Jacob Schnee’s death. Medicine for family, order to sell enough personal property to keep mills in operation, but not at a loss.
Account book, beginning 2 August 1852, in hand of Gellert Schnee.
Notebook, may have belonged to W. C. Pelham, later used by Gellert Schnee. Page 1. Cincinnatti: Eng. paper for printing/ guns, cartridge boxes/bayonet scabbard. Louisville: Call at P.O., enquire of W. Taylor, P.O. clerk for Neef and his daughter.
Page 2. 27 July 1827. Expense account of trip from New Harmony to Mt. Vernon, steamboat Cleopatra, Capt. Hill. Left 7:00 a.m. for Henderson … Shippingport, pd. $3.00 transportation of Mrs. Neef’s freight to Louisville. 7:00 p.m…. Stage here to Lancaster (4:00) … Lebanon … Wilmington … 28 Jan. 1828 – Roman K. Double pica. Land for lots. Surtout and pants to alter …etc.
Gellert later used the notebook for mill business. Inserted family affairs: death of his youngest sister, Charlotte C. Bonner, 13 Sept 1848; birth of her children – Sarah Elisab. Bonner, Mar. 3, 1841; Charlotte Jane, Feb. 17, 1846; Charles Bonner, July 17, 1848.
Another entry: Henrietta Catherine Bonner, Jan. 7, 1837, d. Jan. 29, 1843; Mary Bonner, June 22, 1839, d. Aug. 30, 1840; John A. Bonner, Feb. 22, 1844, d. Oct. 8, 1844.
Folder 12 Schnee, Gellert, Business papers
Folder 13 Ferguson, Esther, Estate of
Folder 14 Felch, Nelson, Estate of
Folder 15 Rowe, Michael, Estate of
Folder 16 Rvark, Shadrach & Juliann, Papers
Folder 17 Schnee, Luther, Papers
BOX 2
Folder 1 Book belonging to William Creese Pelham. First part is famous quotations and passages from books. The back part gives land descriptions in Janesville, Ohio.
Docket Account, 1839-1851
Two small leather accordion folders with no contents.
Two account books.
Folder 2 Pelham, William C. and Victoria, handmade cloth organizer for business papers.
Folder 3 Schnee, Gellert, business papers.
Folder 4 Schnee, Gellert, Diaries. Includes diary entries for trip to New Orleans in 1844.
Folder 5 Gochis, Velda, Letters to and from Mary Lou Fleming, 1982-1983. Gochis is a descendent of Gellert Schnee.
Folder 6 Schnee, Luther, Estate of
Folder 7 Speech, July 4th 1849
Folder 8 Schnee, Gellert, Oddfellows, New Harmony
Folder 9 Schnee, Jacob, Business and family papers.
BOX 3 Schnee, Gellert, Correspondence
The bulk of the correspondence is from family members. The Civil War correspondence is particularly interesting because Gellert had so many relatives writing to him from various places describing events in their area. Most letters come from the following people:
Charlotte E. Foster, sister
John Allen, brother-in-law, with a WI unit
Susanna Allen, sister
Augustus F. Schnee , brother
J. W. Bonner, nephew, Co. D, 26th Reg., WI Vol.
George W. Schnee, nephew, Co. F, 20th Reg., WI Vol.
Luther Abney, nephew, Co. D, 91st Reg., IN Vol.
A.M. (Anne Marie) Lankford, sister
Henry Schnee, nephew, probably with Luther Abney in Co. D, 91st Reg., IN Vol. [They both sent a letter in one envelope to Gellert from Cumberland Gap, TN.]
Alonzo Foster, nephew, with a WI unit, possibly cavalry, died in the war
Robert S. Allen, nephew, with A WI unit
Folder A 1830-1859
1830 – Three business notes. Two business letters, one original and one photocopy concerning affairs of Jacob and Gellert Schnee.
1840 – One business paper belonging to Gellert Schnee. Set of notes, payee Martin Peters.
1850 – Business, mostly notes, Gellert Schnee.
1 Jan. 1855 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From C. E. Foster, Montfort, WI
28 Jnue 1855 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From C. E. Foster, Montfort, WI
29 Aug. 1854 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From C.E. Foster, Montfort, WI
26 Sept. 1858 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From John and Susanna Allen, Montfort, WI
10 Apr. 1859 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. F. Schnee, Montfort, WI
Folder B 1860-1869, Business Papers
Folder 1 1860-1861, Correspondence
28 Mar. 1860 To Adam Wilmoth [New Harmony?]. From R.A. Wilsey, New Harmony. Gellert as a lodge brother may have been a mediator (see 28 July 1861.)
10 July 1860 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. W. Bonner, Bridgeport, IL
13 Sept. 1860 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From P.A. Egerton, General Lottery & Exchange Agency, Wilmington, DE.
6 May 1861 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. G. W. Warren, Evansville. Concerning sale of drum.
July 28, 1861 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Adam Wilmoth (lodge brother), McNully Gulch, Snow Shoe District. Wilmoth is a gold miner.
18 Sept. 1861 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Lloyds American Railroad Guide, New York.
20 Oct. 1861 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George W. Schnee, Montfort, WI.
7 Dec. 1861 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A.F. Schnee, Montfort, WI.
22 Dec. 1861 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. W. Bonner, Carlyle.
Folder 2 1862, Correspondence
27 June 1862 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Lloyds American Railroad Guide, New York.
18 July 1862 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From John Grant, New Harmony. IOOF business.
Folder 3 1863 Correspondence
26 Apr. 1863 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A.F. Schnee (aka Snow), Montfort, WI. (See A.F. Schnee, Oct. 23, 1869).
24 May 1863 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. W. Bonner, Pilot Knob, MO
31 May 1863 To Frank Leslie, New York. From Julius C. Millen, PM, New Harmony. Forwarded to Gellert Schnee.
5 July 1863 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Robert Allen, Montfort, WI.
5 July 1863 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Charlotte E. Foster, Montfort, WI
22 Aug. 1863 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Luther Abney, Russellville, KY
29 Aug. 1863 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George W. Schnee, Camp near Carrolton, LA.
25 Oct. 1863 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From C. E. Foster, Montfort, WI.
25 Nov. 1863 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George W. Schnee, Brownsville, TX.
Folder 4 January – June 1864 Correspondence
17 Jan. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. M. Lankford, Indianapolis
29 Jan. 1864. To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George Schnee, Brownsville, TX
21 Feb. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George Schnee, Brownsville, TX
8 Mar. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Luther Abney, Cumberland Gap.
10 Mar. 1864. To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George Schnee, Brownsville, TX.
3 Apr. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George Schnee, Brownsville, TX
27 Apr. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Luther Abney, Cumberland Gap, TN. Includes in envelope a letter to Gellert from Henry Schnee also at Cumberland Gap, TN.
27 May 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. W. Bonner, Napoleonville, LA
Folder 5 July – December 1864 Correspondence
4 July 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. W. Bonner, Donaldsville, LA
10 July 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Luther Abney, in camp on the Chattahoochie.
23 July 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Banking House of W. J. Lowry & Co., Evansville, IN
24 July 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Charlotte E. Foster, Montfort, WI
15 Aug. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. Foster, Camp near Middleton, VA
23 Sept. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George W. Schnee, Mobile Point, AL
2 Oct. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George W. Schnee, Mobile Point, AL
28 Oct. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. Foster, Middleton, VA
2 Nov. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Charlotte Foster. Montfort, WI
17 Nov. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Robert S. Allen, Nashville [TN], Hospital
29 Nov. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. Form J. W. Bonner, Donaldsville, LA
21 Dec. 1864 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. Robert S. Allen, Nashville, TN, Hospital.
Folder 6 Jan. – June 1865 Correspondence
6 Jan. 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George W. Schnee, Griffins Mills, MI
19 Jan. 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George W. Schnee, Camp near Williams Mills near East Pascagoula, MI
27 Jan. 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. Foster, Wrights Station, VA. Discusses naval battle on James River.
2 Feb. 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George W. Schnee, Mobile Point, AL
3 Feb. 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. W. Bonner, Thibadaux, LA. Guarding New Orleans.
18 Mar. 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Charlotte Foster, Montfort, WI. Reporting death of nephew Robert Allen.
19 Mar. 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. A. Forster, Wrights Station, VA. Reports he is ill.
8 April 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Susan Allen, Montfort, WI. Reporting death of her son Allen and sister Charlotte.
15 April 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Luther Abney in camp near Raleigh. Reports hearing rumors of Lee’s surrender.
24 April 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From John G. Allen, Montfort, WI
2 June 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. J. W. Bonner, Meridian, MS.
23 June 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. F. Schnee, Montfort, WI
Folder 7 July – Dec. 1865 Correspondence
1 July 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From John G. Allen, Montfort, WI
2 July 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George W. Schnee, Galveston, TX
7 July 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. W. Bonner, Macon, MI.
27 July 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George Schnee, on board steamship Columbia going home.
8 Aug. 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From George W. Schnee. Home at last.
24 Sept. 1965 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. George W. Schnee, Montfort, WI.
11 Dec. 1865 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Lloyd’s American Railroad Weekly, New York, NY
Undated To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. Concerning soldier’s pay.
Folder 8 1866 Correspondence
20 Feb. 1866 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. W. Bonner, Indianapolis, IN
2 May 1866 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. M. (Ann Marie) Lankford, Indianapolis, IN
11 Sept. 1866 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. M. (Ann Marie) Lankford, Indianapolis, IN
4 Dec. 1866 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. A. F. Schnee, Montfort, WI
Folder 9 1867 Correspondence
27 Jan, 1867 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A.M. Lankford, Indianapolis, IN
14 Feb. 1867 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Salome Fisher, Poseyville, IN
1 April 1867 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From John Tansy, Carlisle, IN. IOOF business
26 April 1867 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From John Tansy, Carlisle, IN. IOOF business
25 June 1867 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Philip Schnee (Uncle), Mt. Pleasant Mills, PA
9 July 1867 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From H [Daloymple]. Business.
14 Aug. 1867 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Susanna Allen, Montfort, WI.
10 Oct. 1867 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Susanna Allen, Montfort, WI.
Folder 10 1868-1869 Correspondence
5 Jan. 1868 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. B. Gardener, Mt. Vernon. Business.
23 July 1868 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From H. Fisher, M.D., Bayou, IN. [postmark Evansville] Business.
11 Feb. 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Salome Fisher, Evansville, IN
13 Feb. 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From John Allen, Montfort, WI.
14 Feb. 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. M. Lankford, Indianapolis, IN.
21 Feb. 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Emma Keeler (niece), Wabash City, IN.
16 May 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. M. Lankford, Indianapolis, IN.
30 May 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From John Allen, Montfort, WI
18 July 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. A. M. Lankford, Indianapolis, IN.
29 July 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Susanna Allen, Montfort, WI.
2 Aug. 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. W. Bonner, Walesboro, IN
12 Oct. 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. M. Lankford, Indianapolis, IN
23 Oct. 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. F. Snow [Schnee], Boscobel, WI.
31 Oct. 1869 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. W. Bonner, Walesboro, IN.
Folder 11 1870s Business and Correspondence
23 Jan 1870 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From J. B. Davis, Poseyville, IN
24 Jan 1870 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Wiley Edwards [Missouri]
7 Feb. 1870 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Ira Luther Schnee, Grayville. With response of Gellert Schnee to Richard Harris, New Harmony 5 Mar. 1870
16 Feb. 1870 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Alonzo Foster, Mt. Vernon, IA
20 Feb. 1870 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Lizzy Scott (niece), Carlyle, MS
28 Mar. 1870 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Alonzo Foster, Mt. Vernon, IA
11 May 1870 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. M. Lankford, Indianapolis, IN
26 June 1870 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From A. M. Lankford, Indianapolis, IN
28 Dec. 1870 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Susanna Allen, Montfort, WI
8 May 1871 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Susanna Allen, Boscobel, WI
19 Mar. 1871 To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. A. M. Lankford, Indianapolis, IN
22 Dec. 1873 To Gellert Schnee, Arkansas City, KA. From William Holton, New Harmony
11 April 1875 To Gellert Schnee, Arkansas City, KA. From David Schnee, New Harmony
23 June 1876 To Gellert Schnee, Arkansas City, KA. From David Schnee, New Harmony
20 Oct. 1879 To Gellert Schnee, Arkansas City, KA. From David Schnee, New Harmony
Undated To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony. From Maria Lankford, [Indianapolis, IN]
Undated To Gellert Schnee, New Harmony, IN. Insurance Flyer
Folder 12 Schnee, Louise (Louise Klink Scott)
Newspaper articles concerning the daughter of Gellert Schnee and his second wife and the family history in Kansas.