Finding Aid to the Elihu Benjamin Washburne Letter

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VA 24501
(434) 846-0501
ELIHU BENJAMIN WASHBURNE (1816-1887) LETTER
The collection contains a typed copy of a letter from Elihu Benjamin WASHBURNE,
Paris, France, 17 June 1874, to John Lawrence WINSTON, of Lynchburg, Virginia,
recalling events that took place in Appomattox Court House, in April 1865, as part of the
surrender proceedings. Also included are letters about how the copy was found and
indicating that the original is in the WASHBURNE Papers at the Library of Congress.
ELIHU BENJAMIN WASHBURNE (1816-1887)
Elihu Benjamin WASHBURNE, son of Israel WASHBURN [sic] and Martha
BENJAMIN, was born 23 September 1816, in Livermore, Androscoggin County, Maine.
A lawyer, WASHBURNE served in the House of Representatives from 1853 until 1869.
Following the surrender on 9 April 1865, WASHBURNE was sent by General U.S.
GRANT to observe the negotiation proceedings in Appomattox. [U.S. Congress. Biographical
Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949 (Washington: U.S. Government Printing Off., 1950), p.
1980; Dumas Malone, ed., Dictionary of American Biography, Vol. 19 (New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons, 1936), pp. 504-506; Letter, 17 June 1874, The Elihu Benjamin Washburne Letter, MS1474, Jones
Memorial Library, Lynchburg, VA.]

E. B. WASHBURNE was appointed as Secretary of State in 1869 by President U.S.
GRANT, but he later resigned to accept a post as minister to France. In this capacity, he
served from 1869 until 1877. He returned to the United States where he served as
President of the Chicago Historical Society (1884-1887). WASHBURNE died 22
October 1887, in Chicago, Illinois. [Biographical Directory, loc.cit.; Dictionary of
American Biography, loc.cit.]

JOHN LAWRENCE WINSTON (1819-1884)
John Lawrence WINSTON, son of Alanson WINSTON and Frances TALBOT, was
born 24 July 1819, in Lynchburg, Virginia. [Tombstone inscription, Presbyterian Cemetery,

Lynchburg, VA, Range 7, Lot 10, 27 Feb. 1995; "Marriage Bonds of Campbell County, Virginia," William
Wade Hinshaw, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. 6 (Ann Arbor, MI: Edwards Brothers,
1950), p. 866. Marriage bond of Alanson Winston and Frances Talbot dated May 1816.]

John L. WINSTON was a furniture maker in Lynchburg and was partnered at one time
with Edward J. FOLKES in the firm of FOLKES and WINSTON. [Business Directory,

Lynchburg, VA, 1873, pp. 30, 71; Obituary, John L. Winston, Lynchburg Daily News, 21 September 1884,
p. 3 col. 1; Obituary, Lynchburg Virginian, 22 September 1884, p. 1 col. 3, 5.]

(Continued)

MS1474

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VA 24501
(434) 846-0501
ELIHU BENJAMIN WASHBURNE (1816-1887) LETTER (Contd)
John Lawrence WINSTON died 20 September 1884 in Lynchburg and was buried in
the Presbyterian Cemetery. [Obituary, Lynchburg Daily News, loc.cit.; Obituary, Lynchburg
Virginian, loc.cit.; Burial records, Presbyterian Cemetery, Lynchburg, VA, Book 1, Range 7, Lot 10; Parish
Register 1876-1893, p. 222, Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, Lynchburg, VA. Name given in parish
register is "J. Lawrence WINSTON."]

In his will, John Lawrence WINSTON bequeathed sums to his sisters and to his
"adopted daughter, Mary Ann WINSTON," as well as to the daughters of his deceased
brother, Granville WINSTON. He also requested that monuments be erected to his
"beloved father and mother" and to his deceased brother, Alanson Merritt WINSTON.

[Will of John L.Winston, Lynchburg, VA, Corporation Court, Will Book H, p. 189, written 29 August
1882, codicil dated 30 August 1882, probated 23 September 1884.]

MS1474