Painter family.

Quaker family of West Chester, Pa.

Samuel Marshall Painter (1809-1884) was a successful newspaper publisher, book dealer, and local official. Both he and his wife, Ann Vickers Painter (1810-1890), were active abolitionists. Samuel aided in the escape of freedom seeker Rachel Harris and Ann Vickers Painter was the daughter of noted Underground Railroad conductor, John Vickers. The collection also includes the correspondence of their children: John Vickers Painter (1835-1903) railroad man and banker; Uriah Hunt Painter (1837-1900), West Chester businessman (railroad, telegraph, ice, lumber), early financial backer of Thomas A. Edison, Civil War correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and possible Union intelligence agent; Gen. William Painter (1838-1884) Civil War soldier, at Gettysburg given responsibility of transportation of Army of Potomac; Capt. Francis James Painter (b. 1841) Civil War Navy pay master; Dr. Joseph Elwood Painter (1842-1878) Civil War surgeon in charge of the hospital at Camp Curtin, later served in Japan; Henry Painter (1847-1893) Board of Chester County Prison Inspectors; Howard Painter (1851-1876) mining engineer; and Ellen Painter (1865-1948), daughter of Uriah Hunt Painter.