The collection consists of business and personal correspondence of the Ripley family including the correspondence of Charles Shepard (Ripley's son-in-law) and his connection with the American Line Steamship Company. The correspondence in this collection gives an account of a man who was financially unsuccessful in his business attempts. These papers give a good picture of the life of the common man in UpstateNew York in the early 1800's. Also included is an article titled "The Ripley Papers" by Atwood Manley.
Collection Overview
Christopher Ripley came to Northern New York about 1827 from Ohio and established the C. Ripley and Company in Ogdensburg, which lasted three years. He then took employment with Molson Davies and Company in Montreal (Commission Merchants) as their agent obtaining consignments for wheat, flour, beef and pork in the State of Ohio. In 1836 Ripley and two associates purchased almost all of Tract 11, No. 10 of Macomb's Purchase which covered the town of Matildaville, now Colton from George Parish. Ripley was unable to resell the land and spent his remaining years trying to recoup his losses. Ripley attended West Point and became a Major-General during the Civil War. Christopher Ripley was born December 12, 1781 married Julia Caulkins on May 11, 1818 and had three children, Lucia, Laura (Mrs. Charles Shepard) and Roswell.