Background on Rufus Kellogg
A notable figure in Amherst, Mass., prior to the founding of Amherst College, Rufus Kellogg was born on July 16, 1794, the child of Jerusha and Joseph Kellogg. Married to Nancy Stetson in June 1820, Kellogg made a successful, if highly varied living, serving as town postmaster (1809-1824), keeping an inn and tavern at the "City" beginning in 1818, and farming, and he became a stalwart of the local Masonic lodge. His son Rufus Bela Kellogg rose even higher on the social ladder, graduating from Amherst College in 1858 and became a prominent banker.
Rufus Kellogg died in Amherst on April 9, 1845.
Scope of collection
A diverse and fairly complicated book of records, the Kellogg ledger is part waste book, day book, memorandum book, and account book, marking records of lending a horse and sleigh are interspersed with accounts for the sale of grain and hay, boarding locals, repairing pumps, and other miscellaneous transactions. Although it is unclear precisely which member or members of the Kellogg family kept any individual record, it appears that Rufus must have initiated the book, although later entries were clearly made by one or more of his children. For example, an 1841 credit to Dr. T. J. Gridley for "visits to my wife" and "visits to Nancy" is followed by a record for "one visit at Father's death" dated April 9, 1845. One of the latest entries consists of accounts with the estate of Kellogg's wife, Nancy Stetson Kellogg, who died Oct. 24, 1850.
Also worthy of note is a rough plan of the ground floor of a center-chimney building, possibly Kellogg's house.
Administrative information
Search terms
Subjects
- Amherst (Mass.)--Economic conditions--19th century
- Farmers--Massachusetts--Amherst
- Hotelkeepers--Massachusetts--Amherst
- Merchants--Massachusetts--Great Amherst
Link to similar SCUA collections
