Jacob Faser letters

Collection

Identifier: MSS-0506

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Civil War materials

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Scope and Contents

A collection of letters written from Mobile, Alabama, where Faser was working as a sword maker, to his wife in Macon, Mississippi. They deal principally with personal news and information on the prices of available goods.

Dates

Creation: 1861 - 1865

Creator

Faser, Jacob (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections. For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

Jacob Oscar Faser was born on October 22, 1822, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of five, and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was apprenticed to F. W. Widmann, a famous metal worker and sword maker. Faser was apparently very talented as Widmann, upon his death in 1848, bequeathed his pattern (sword) book/catalog to Faser.

After Widmann's death, Faser stayed in Philadelphia and worked for William H. Horstmann who had bought Widmann's stock and equipment. He married Louise Elizabeth Mentzinger on October 19, 1848. The couple had nine children, four of whom died very young: Jacob Edward (1849-1853); Emma Virginia "Emmie" (1851-1853); Pamelia (1853-1941); Christian (1955-?); Catherine Matilda "Katie" (1958-1932); Lillie Elfrida (1860-1864); William (1864-1866); Joseph Oliver (1867-1943); and Clara Irene (1872-?).

In 1854, Faser moved his family to Macon, Mississippi, where he set up a silversmith shop. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he left his family in Macon, and went to Mobile, Alabama, in 1861, to help set up a sword factory on St. Francis Street for James Conning. During the war, he also worked at the Confederate Briarfield Arsenal in Columbus, Mississippi, and at the Selma Arsenal in Selma, Alabama.

He returned to Macon in 1864 where he reopened his silversmith shop and making guns and swords. He was elected mayor of Macon and later was an alderman. He died in Macon on August 4, 1891.

Extent

0.13 Linear Feet (16 items)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Letters written from Mobile, Alabama, where Faser was working as a sword maker, to his wife in Macon, Mississippi, dealing mainly with personal news and information on the prices of available goods.