Michael Looscan Papers

San Jacinto Museum of History

Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library

Manuscript Collections

Finding Aid

ADELE BRISCOE LOOSCAN COLLECTION

MICHAEL LOOSCAN PAPERS

1859 - 1899 (Bulk: 1880 - 1892)

Manuscript Collection: MC054

Size: 4.8 linear feet

Boxes: 14

OCLC No: 50068083

Acquisition: Mr. and Mrs. George A. Hill, Jr., Houston Public Library, Annie Hume, 1939 - 1940.

Restrictions on Access: None

Terms Governing Use: Open for research by appointment.

Processed by: Sarah Canby Jackson, 2002.

Publication Rights: Copyright has not been assigned to the San Jacinto Museum of History. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Library Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Jacinto Museum of History as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Citation: [Identification of Item], Michael Looscan Papers, MC054, San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston, Texas.

Creator Sketch:

Born in Caher, Ireland, to Michael and Mary Walsh O’Looscan on September 25, 1838, Michael Looscan immigrated to the United States in 1855. After a series of menial jobs in Utica, New York, he traveled to Mobile, Alabama, and worked as a press boy for the Mobile Mercury. Looscan’s lifelong desire for self-education and improvement began at this time. In 1858 he moved to Earpville, Texas, and became a schoolteacher. In 1859 Judge M. H. Bonner encouraged Looscan to read law and to become a lawyer. He worked with Bonner in his law office, lived in his home, and passed the bar examination shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.

In April 1861, Michael Looscan enlisted as a private in the Second Regiment of the Texas Mounted Riflemen, serving in the Trans-Mississippi West Theater. By the end of the war he had attained the rank of Major and was serving as an acting inspector general. After Appomattox Looscan once again taught school, first in Colorado County near Eagle Lake, later in Lampasas County in the home of Dr. Robert McAnally, and finally in Barnes Settlement, Leon River, Hamilton County. By 1866 he saved $200 and moved to Houston to establish a law practice. He began practice with Judge William S. Oldham and upon Oldham’s death Looscan moved to his own office in 1868. In 1870 he was appointed county attorney of Harris County and was elected to that office in 1876. An 1880 lawsuit accusing him of misappropriating county funds – later ruled invalid by the state supreme court – denied Looscan his party’s 1880 nomination. He continued to practice primarily real estate law, arranging land purchases and obtaining clear legal titles to land. His mishandling of the holdings of the Brazoria Land and Cattle Company and the estate of James O’Donnell (1883 – 1892) resulted in an unsuccessful lawsuit against him in 1892 – 1893 and his eventual retirement from the practice of law.

Always an extremely interested and energetic participant in politics, Michael Looscan actively supported the reelection of Governor James S. Hogg in 1892. His role in the election earned him a position on the board of managers of the Confederate Home and a commission as aide-de-camp on the governor’s staff. Looscan belonged to numerous organizations from his earliest days in Houston. Among them are the Irish Benevolent Association, the Emmet Council of Houston, the D. C. F. B. of Houston, the Magnolia Council of O. C. F. (Order of Chosen Friends), and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His interest in Civil War Veterans organizations began as early as 1872.

Michael Looscan married Adele Lubbock Briscoe, the daughter of Andrew Briscoe and Mary Jane Harris Briscoe, on September 13, 1881, thus allying himself with one of the founding families of Texas. They had no children.

Michael Looscan died on September 7, 1897, at his home in Houston, Texas.

Bibliography:

Davis, Ellis A and Edwin H. Grobe, eds. “Major Michael Looscan,” The New Encyclopedia of Texas 852 - 853. Dallas: Texas Development Bureau, 1925.

Scope and Content Note:

Correspondence, legal documents, printed materials, financial documents, creative works, surveyor’s field notes and sketches, and a single scrapbook record the life of Michael Looscan from 1859 – 1898. The papers are divided into two groups: the first comprised of his professional and personal papers and the second group consisting of materials related to the James S. Hogg Campaign in 1892. Photographs are in the Adele Briscoe Looscan Papers.

MICHAEL LOOSCAN PAPERS, 1859 - 1899 (Bulk: 1880 - 1892)

Manuscript Collection: MC054

Size: 4.8 linear feet

Boxes: 14

Inventory

Group: Personal and Professional

Correspondence: 1869 – 1899 (Bulk: 1880 – 1892)

Size: 2.6 linear feet

Boxes: 7

Professional correspondence received by Michael Looscan documents his legal practice and forms the bulk of the correspondence series. Of particular interest is the correspondence of H. A. Lloyd, Charles M. Hayes, J. J. Fisher, A. A. Talmage, L. M. Disney and G. W. Durant relating to the Brazoria Land and Cattle Company of St. Louis and their desire to sell their Texas holdings. Much of the land had been purchased earlier by James O’Donnell, another Looscan client, who died intestate in 1885. The correspondence of James O’Donnell, Mary Virginia O’Donnell, Charles O’Donnell, Rochester Ford, Charles Tinsley, and Shields and Shields concern the management and settlement of the O’Donnell estate. The correspondence of John G. Tod (1883 – 1896) ranges from Tod’s days as a student at Yale Law School to a trusted fellow attorney late in Looscan’s life. Letters from friends and Confederate comrades discuss past experiences. Of particular interest is an 1888 letter from G. H. Bailey discussing the Battle of Sabine Pass. The few letters from family are arranged at the end of the series.

Correspondence sent by Michael Looscan deals primarily with business matters. One folder is comprised of his correspondence from October 1891 and provides a small representation of his legal practice. Some drafts of personal letters record his personal thoughts. The Third Party correspondence is related to his law practice. It may have been removed from client files.

Envelopes are arranged according to the basic correspondence subseries, received, sent, and third party, and in chronological order by year.

Series: Correspondence: Received

Location		Title	Dates
75	1	Anderson & McShan	1883 - 1886
75	2	M. L. Bett, Jr.	1886
75	3	M. H. Bonner	1878 - 1883
75	4	M. H. Bonner, (Mrs.)	1895
75	5	F. H. Bouman	1886 - 1887
75	6	Caro Bryan	1889 - 1894, n.d.
75	7	Guy M. Bryan	1893 - 1895
75	8	M. A. Bryan	1889 - 1890
75	9	B. M. Burks	1881 - 1882
75	10	James R. Burnett	1880 - 1885
Location		Title	Dates
75	11	F. H. Bushnick	1880 - 1881
75	12	Peter Christen	1883 - 1886, n.d.
75	13	Z. Christen	1873
75	14	J. R. Crayton	1884 - 1885
75	15	John L. Croom, Jr.	1883 - 1887
75	16	W. J. Croom	1884
75	17	C. Dart	1891 - 1892
75	18	James Davis	1881 - 1882
75	19	Charles DeMorse	1884 - 1885
75	20	L. M. Disney	1890 - 1892, n.d.
75	21	G. W. Durant	1888 - 1891
75	22	J. J. Fisher	1887
75	23	A. H. Foote	1894
75	24	Rochester Ford	1886 - 1889
75	25	Thomas Freeman	1873 - 1875
75	26	Bernard Garry	1886, 07-12
75	27	Bernard Garry	1887, 01-06
75	28	Bernard Garry	1887, 07-11
75	29	Bernard Garry	1888, 03-08, n.d.
75	30	G. W. Gayle	1889 - 1891
75	31	T. G. George	1895 - 1896
75	32	E. J. Grainger	1883 - 1890
75	33	Gerald Griffin	1888
75	34	H. C. Grisham	1883 - 1884
75	35	H. S. Grosbeeck	1887
75	36	W. G. Halsey	1881 - 1888
75	37	R. H. Hanna	1876 - 1882
75	38	Belle Harris	1877, 1895, n.d.
75	39	Hart & Buchanan	1880 - 1884
75	40	L. W. Hart	1882 - 1884
75	41	A. R. Howard	1880 -1890
75	42	James B. Hawkins	1883 - 1885
75	43	Charles M. Hayes	1886 - 1887
75	44	James Hillyard	1882 - 1884
75	45	James S. Hogg	1880 - 1887
75	46	Jones & Garnett	1882 - 1897
75	47	A. Kearney	1881 - 1890
75	48	B. D. King	1886 - 1889
75	49	W. W. King	1879 - 1887
76	1	R. H. Leonard	1880 - 1884
76	2	H. D. Lidstone	1882 - 1890
76	3	H. A. Lloyd	1887, 10-12
76	4	H. A. Lloyd	1888, 01-03
76	5	H. A. Lloyd	1888, 04-12
Location		Title	Dates
76	6	H. A. Lloyd	1889, 01-05
76	7	H. A. Lloyd	1889, 06
76	8	H. A. Lloyd	1889, 09-12
76	9	H. A. Lloyd	1890, 01-02
76	10	H. A. Lloyd	1890, 03
76	11	H. A. Lloyd	1890, 04
76	12	H. A. Lloyd	1890, 05
76	13	H. A. Lloyd	1890, 06
76	14	H. A. Lloyd	1890, 07
76	15	H. A. Lloyd	1890, 08-10
76	16	H. A. Lloyd	1891, 01
76	17	H. A. Lloyd	1891, 03-05
76	18	H. A. Lloyd	1891, 10-12
76	19	H. A. Lloyd	1892, 01-03
76	20	H. A. Lloyd	1892, 04
76	21	H. A. Lloyd	1892, 05-12
76	22	H. A. Lloyd	n.d.
77	1	Maddox Bros. & Anderson	1889 - 1892
77	2	George E. Mann	1888
77	3	Branch T. Masterson	1884 - 1888, n.d.
77	4	H. Masterson	1885 - 1886
77	5	S. B. Maxey	1878 - 1893
77	6	William McMillan	1887
77	7	L. G. McNair	1884 - 1886
77	8	W. A. H. Miller	1893 - 1894
77	9	John H. Mitchell	1890 - 1891
77	10	J. M. Morphis	1877 - 1888, n.d.
77	11	Charles S. Morse	1882 - 1889
77	12	M. S. Munson	1880 - 1890
77	13	C. F. O'Donnell	1887 - 1889
77	14	James M. O'Donnell	1883 - 1884
77	15	M. V. [Mary Virginia] O'Donnell	1888 - 1889, n.d.
77	16	J. Phillips	1888 - 1896
77	17	C. B. Sabin	1884 - 1888
77	18	William G. Scarff	1894 - 1895
77	19	Jacob Scherer	1873 - 1890
77	20	Mattie A. Secrest	1884 - 1890
77	21	Clara [Shaifer]	1894
77	22	Shields & Shields	1886 - 1887
77	23	Shields & Shields	1888
77	24	Shields & Shields	1889
77	25	R. E. Siegmund	1894 - 1896
77	26	Singer Manufacturing Company	1886 - 1888
77	27	Slater, McLean & Spears	1894
Location		Title	Dates
77	28	W. Fort Smith	1886 - 1891
77	29	F. H. Snider	1882 - 1890
77	30	E. Steiness	1885 - 1888
77	31	Mat Stenssy	1873 - 1885
77	32	Charles Stewart	1888
77	33	Rees P. Sweeny	1890 - 1891
77	34	Seabrook W. Sydnor	1889 - 1892, n.d.
78	1	A. A. Talmage	1884 - 1887
78	2	A. S. Taylor	1878 - 1888
78	3	G. M. Taylor	1882
78	4	N. A. Taylor	1880 - 1886
78	5	N. A. Taylor (Mrs.)	1882 - 1890
78	6	John D. Templeton	1886
78	7	John D. Templeton	1887
78	8	John D. Templeton	1888, n.d.
78	9	Texas Bar Association	1895 - 1897
78	10	Charles Tinsley	1887
78	11	John G. Tod	1883 - 1896
78	12	H. M. Trueheart & Co.	1887
78	13	W. G. Veal	1884 - 1885
78	14	C. G. Vogel	1880 - 1882
78	15	Richard S. Walker	1880 - 1884
78	16	T. N. Waul	1883 - 1892
78	17	N. Weeks	1887 - 1890
78	18	Eugene J. Wilson	1873 - 1892
78	19	Joseph H. Wilson	1894 - 1895
78	20	J. H. Wright	1868 - 1869
78	21	General A	1873 - 1893
78	22	General Ba - Bo	1872 - 1891
78	23	General Br - Bu	1869 - 1896
78	24	General Ca - Ch	1870 - 1897
78	25	General Cl - Cu	1872 - 1896
78	26	General D - F	1873 - 1898
78	27	General G	1873 - 1898
78	28	General H	1874 - 1897
79	1	General I - J	1883 - 1897
79	2	General K	1873 - 1894
79	3	General L	1881 - 1895
79	4	General Ma - Mc	1874 - 1895
79	5	General Mi - Mu	1875 - 1897
79	6	General N - P	1874 - 1897
79	7	General R	1872 - 1892
79	8	General Sa - Sl	1876 - 1891, n.d.
79	9	General Sm - Sy	1871 - 1890
Location		Title	Dates
79	10	General T - V	1873 - 1892
79	11	General W - Z	1874 - 1895
79	12	Unknown, Fragment	1880 - 1881, n.d.
79	13	Family: Mary Jane Britt	1878
79	14	Family: Adele Briscoe Looscan	1880 - 1895
79	15	Family: General	1878 - 1899

Series: Correspondence: Sent

79

16

Charles M. Hayes

1884

79

17

H. A. Lloyd

1889 - 1892

79

18

R. E. Siegmund

1893 - 1895

79

19

F. H. Snider

1883 - 1888

79

20

General - "October Letters"

1891, 10

79

21

General A - H

1870 - 1890

79

22

General J - W

1872 - 1892

79

23

Unknown, Fragment

1886, n.d.

     Series: Correspondence: Third Party

79

24

General

1871 - 1892

79

25

Unknown, Fragment

1871 - 1887, n.d.

     Series: Correspondence: Envelopes

Location

Title

Dates

80

1

Received

1870 - 1881

80

2

Received

1883 - 1884

80

3

Received

1885 - 1886

80

4

Received

1887

80

5

Received

1888

80

6

Received

1889

80

7

Received

1890 - 1891

80

8

Received

1892

81

1

Received

1893 - 1894

81

2

Received

1895 - 1897

81

3

Received

n.d.

81

4

Received

n.d.

81

5

Received: Major and Mrs. Looscan

1891 - 1897, n.d.

81

6

Sent

1895, n.d.

81

7

Third Party

1868 – 1892, n.d.

Financial: 1859 – 1897

Size: .2 linear feet

Boxes:1

Banking records, property assessments, tax and general receipts and promissory notes provide a fragmentary documentation of Michael Looscan’s personal financial transactions. Of particular interest is an 1859 register of pupils taught by Looscan in Harrison County, Texas, and the amount paid. The professional subseries includes records related to running a law office and inventories of property, promissory notes, receipts, and statements of account likely belonging to clients.

     Series: Financial: Personal

Location

Title

Dates

82

1

Banking: Account Books

1869 - 1894

82

2

Banking: Checks

1881

82

3

Banking: Receipts, Deposit Slips

1881 - 1893, n.d.

82

4

Inventory of Property

1892 - 1897

82

5

Property Assessments, including fragments

1882 - 1888, n.d.

82

6

Receipts, Promissory Notes (paid)

1859 - 1894

82

7

Receipt Books

1880 - 1882

82

8

Tax Receipts

1876 - 1897

     Series: Financial: Professional

82

9

Accounts Payable and Receivable

1872 - 1892

82

10

Bills of Lading

1879 - 1890

82

11

Inventory of Property - Third Party, Unknown

1890 - 1891, n.d.

82

12

Promissory Notes - Third Party

1867 - 1887

82

13

Receipts: Post Office

1881 - 1890, n.d.

82

14

Receipts: Texas Bar Association

1884 - 1892

82

15

Receipts: General

1871 - 1896

82

16

Receipts and Statements of Account - Third Party

1871 - 1895

82

17

Tax Receipts: Third Party

1872 - 1895

Legal: 1866 – 1895 (Bulk: 1883 – 1890)

Size: 1.4 linear feet

Boxes: 4

Contracts, leases, and deeds (1866 – 1895) comprise the personal legal documents of Michael Looscan. Of interest are 2 contracts (1866) to teach school in Hamilton County, Texas, for 5-month terms at $250.00 per term. Two contracts with notes and comments in the margins document the materials and techniques used in constructing homes in Houston, Texas ca. 1885 – 1895.

Contracts, deeds, and other documents relating to clients and their interests (1868 – 1892) reveal Looscan’s professional practice. An agreement (1868) between John Mays and Robert Loyd transfers the guardianship of Mays’ son Robert to Loyd due to an inability to support the child. Legal documents and notes and memoranda record Looscan’s tenure as county attorney including his eventual prosecution of Sheriff A. B. Hall in 1874 for misappropriation of $60,000 of county tax monies. Over 130 notes and memoranda ranging from scraps of paper and envelopes to multi-page notes document Looscan’s thoughts and research concerning client and legal matters.

Third party correspondence, financial and legal documents, printed materials, and notes and memoranda relating to specific clients are included in the 31 client files. The Brazoria Land and Cattle Company (1885 – 1892) client file concerns land speculation and the inherent problem of obtaining clear title. Both the George Cokely (1878) and the Delia Costello (1877 – 1879) client files involve personal injury and wrongful death suits against railroads. The John Maher client file (1876 – 1889) contains the business and personal legal affairs of Maher and culminates in a lawsuit against his estate in 1889 to overturn his will on the grounds of insanity due to drunkenness. Five doctors presented their theories of mental competency during the trial. The bulk of the client files is contained in the James M. O’Donnell Estate. As administrator of O’Donnell’s Texas lands, Looscan managed his rental properties, cleared title to lands purchased by O’Donnell, and represented the estate in 6 lawsuits.

     Series: Legal: Personal

Location

Title

Dates

83

1

Contracts: "Specifications of Plans . . . George E. Dickey"

n.d.

83

2

Contracts: "Specifications for a Residence . . ."

n.d.

83

3

Contracts

1866 - 1879

83

4

General

1870 - 1895

     Series: Legal: Professional

83

5

Abstracts of Title

1880 , n.d.

83

6

Contracts - Third Party

1881 - 1889

83

7

Harris County Attorney: Legal Documents, Notes / Memoranda

1874 - 1882

83

8

Deeds: Third Party

1873 - 1891

83

9

Deeds, Register of

n.d.

83

10

General

1868 - 1878

83

11

General

1881 - 1889

83

12

Notes / Memoranda

1871 - 1879

83

13

Notes / Memoranda

1880 - 1889

83

14

Notes / Memoranda

1891 - 1892

83

15

Notes / Memoranda

n.d.

83

16

Notes / Memoranda

n.d.

83

17

Notes / Memoranda

n.d.

83

18

Notes / Memoranda

n.d.

     Series: Legal: Client Files

Location

Title

Dates

84

1

S. E. Allen: Legal

1882, n.d.

84

2

Paulina Becker: Correspondence, Notes / Memoranda

1883 - 1884

84

3

Brazoria Land and Cattle Company: Correspondence

n.d.

84

4

Brazoria Land and Cattle Company: Correspondence

1885 - 1892, n.d.

84

5

Brazoria Land and Cattle Company: Financial

1890 - 1892

84

6

Brazoria Land and Cattle Company: Legal

1885 - 1891

84

7

Brazoria Land and Cattle Company: Notes / Memoranda

1887 - 1888, n.d.

84

8

Mary A. Bryan: Correspondence

1889 - 1894

84

9

Mary A. Bryan: Financial

1885 - 1890, n.d.

84

10

Mary A. Bryan: Legal

1875 - 1894

84

11

Mary A. Bryan: T. H. House v. Mary A. Bryan & W. A. H. Miller

1892

84

12

Mary A. Bryan: Mary A. Bryan v. W. A. H. Miller

1894

84

13

Mary A. Bryan: Notes / Memoranda

n.d.

84

14

George Cokely: Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1878, n.d.

84

15

Delia Costell Delia Costello v. Texas Western Narrow Gauge Railway Company

1877 - 1879

84

16

John Dullahan: Correspondence, Financial, Legal

1876 - 1880, n.d.

84

17

Bernard Garry: Correspondence, Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1886, n.d.

84

18

Sarah Staton Gastrick: Notes / Memoranda, Survey, Legal

1869 - 1879

84

19

Sarah Staton Gastrick: Financial

1870 - 1879

84

20

F. L. George (Mrs.): Financial

1885 - 1890

84

21

Charles J. Grainger: Correspondence, Financial, Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1878 - 1882, n.d.

84

22

Grainger Family: Correspondence, Financial, Notes / Memoranda

1882, n.d.

84

23

Grainger Family: Legal

1879 - 1888

84

24

William G. Halsey: Correspondence, Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1875 - 1888

84

25

Thomas Hart Estate: Correspondence, Financial, Legal

1879 - 1881

84

26

J. M. Highland (Mrs.): Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1893, n.d.

Location

Title

Dates

85

1

C. J. Koehler: Financial, Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1884 - 1885

85

2

John Lawrence Estate: Correspondence, Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1880 - 1886, n.d.

85

3

John Maher: Correspondence

1887 - 1889

85

4

John Maher: Financial

1886 - 1891

85

5

John Maher: Legal: Contracts

1876 - 1887

85

6

John Maher: Kate Maher v. John Maher

1886 - 1887

85

7

John Maher: Probating Will: Testimony of the Contestants

1889

85

8

John Maher: Probating Will: Testimony of the Proponents

1889

85

9

John Maher: Probating Will: Evidence, Letters of John Maher

1889

85

10

John Maher: Probating Will: Charge to the Jury, Court Judgement

1889

85

11

John Maher: Notes / Memoranda

1887, n.d.

85

12

Patrick and Bridget Martin: Correspondence, Financial, Legal, Printed Materials, Envelopes

1872 - 1881

85

13

Thomas McAnallen: Correspondence, Financial, Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1887, n.d.

85

14

J. & F. Metzler Estate: Financial, Legal

1874 - 1882

86

1

James O'Donnell Estate: Correspondence

1881 - 1890, n.d.

86

2

James O'Donnell Estate: Financial:   Receipts

1882 - 1889

86

3

James O'Donnell Estate: Financial: Statements of Account: Bradley & Grosbeck

1885 - 1887

86

4

James O'Donnell Estate: Financial: Statements of Account: Real Estate - Ledger Sheets, Exhibits A - P, Draft.

1887 - 1889

86

5

James O'Donnell Estate: Financial: Statements of Account: Real Estate - Ledger Sheets, Exhibits A - P, Copy 1

1887 - 1889

86

6

James O'Donnell Estate: Financial: Statements of Account: Real Estate - Ledger Sheets, Exhibits A - P, Copy 2

1887 - 1889

86

7

James O'Donnell Estate: Financial: Report to the Probate Court

1887 - 1889

86

8

James O'Donnell Estate: Financial: Real Estate Inventory: San Antonio, Bexar County

1887 - 1890

86

9

James O'Donnell Estate: Financial: Real Estate Inventory: Galveston County

1887 - 1890

86

10

James O'Donnell Estate: Financial: Real Estate Inventory: Harris County

1885 - 1890

Location

Title

Dates

86

11

James O'Donnell Estate: Financial: Real Estate Inventory: Lampasas County

1887 - 1891

86

12

James O'Donnell Estate: Financial: Real Estate Inventory: City of Matagorda

1886

86

13

James O'Donnell Estate: Emily & Nelson Clements v. J. B. Hawkins

1883

86

14

James O'Donnell Estate: William J. Davis v. James B. Hawkins & J. O'Donnell

1883

86

15

James O'Donnell Estate: Daniel J. Kelly v. J. M. O'Donnell

1885

86

16

James O'Donnell Estate: M. Looscan, Adm. / James M. O'Donnell, estate v. C. A. Schmidt & Mina Schmidt

1886 - 1887

86

17

James O'Donnell Estate: D. C. Ruby, Agt. v. M. Looscan, Adm.

1887

86

18

James O'Donnell Estate: C. R. Johns & Sons, et. al. v. Mary O'Donnell, et. al.

1886 - 1887

86

19

James O'Donnell Estate: Legal: Deeds

1881 - 1890

86

20

James O'Donnell Estate: Legal: Drafts

1884 - 1889

86

21

James O'Donnell Estate: Legal: General

1885 - 1886, n.d.

86

22

James O'Donnell Estate: Notes / Memoranda

n.d.

86

23

Mrs. W. Priester: Financial

1881

86

24

Jacob Scherer: Correspondence, Legal

1883 - 1887

86

25

Mattie A. Secrest: Financial, Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1885 - 1893, n.d.

86

26

Singer Manufacturing Company: Correspondence, Legal

1874 - 1887

86

27

Margarethe Stegeman: Correspondence, Financial, Legal, Envelopes

1880 - 1890

86

28

Henrietta Stenssy: Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1883 - 1885, n.d.

86

29

William Sullivan: Correspondence, Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1882 - 1888

86

30

A. A. Talmage: Correspondence, Notes / Memoranda

1884 - 1886, n.d.

86

31

A. A. Talmage: Financial

1886 - 1891

86

32

A. A. Talmage: Legal

1884 - 1887

86

33

A. A. Talmage: Legal: Abstracts of Title

1884 - 1890

86

34

Elizabeth White: Financial, Legal, Notes / Memoranda

1882 - 1890, n.d.

Printed Materials: 1868 - 1898

Size: .3 linear feet

Boxes: 1

Circulars, ephemera, and pamphlets related primarily to politics or organizations and their activities illuminate Michael Looscan’s personal and professional life. Circulars include an 1868 call for the Houston Conservative Convention by T. H. McMahan, an 1876 sample Democratic ballot, and an 1891 petition to the 22^nd Legislature to establish Sealy County out of Brazoria County. Of the 25 pamphlets, 8 are legal appeals (1878 – 1889), most of them written by Looscan. The remaining 17 pamphlets (1869 – 1892) are primarily political in nature. 10 circulars and programs (1872 – 1895) concern activities of Confederate veterans’ organizations.

Series: Printed Materials

Location

Title

Dates

87

1

Circulars: Confederate Veterans Organizations

1872 - 1898

87

2

Circulars: Rail Road Timetables

1874 - 1875

87

3

Circulars: General

1868 - 1887

87

4

Circulars: General

1890 - 1898, n.d.

87

5

Ephemera: Business Cards

n.d.

87

6

Ephemera: By-laws, Membership Cards - Fraternal Organizations

1872 - 1896

87

7

Ephemera: Funeral Notices, Memorial

1882, 1892

87

8

Ephemera: Tickets, Invitations

1867 - 1894

87

9

Ephemera: Forms - Blank

n.d.

87

10

Pamphlets: Legal: "Houston & Texas Central Railway Company, Appellant v. Ellis Randall, Appellee"

1878

87

11

Pamphlets: Legal: "The County of Harris, Appellant v. E. W. Taylor & Peter Gabel, Appellees"

1880

87

12

Pamphlets: Legal: "M. Looscan, et. al., Appellant v. The County of Harris, Appellee"

1881

87

13

Pamphlets: Legal: "G. H. & S. A. Railway Company, Appellant v. John Murphy, Appellee"

1882

87

14

Pamphlets: Legal: "The State of Texas, Appellant v. Talmage & O'Donnell, Appellees"

1886

87

15

Pamphlets: Legal: "The Texas Western Railway Company, Plaintiff in Error v. Mary F. Gentry, Admix, et. al., Defendants in Error"

1887

87

16

Pamphlets: Legal: "P. B. Hurst, Adm. Estate of John Mellinger, Appellant, v. George Mellinger, Appellee"

1889

87

17

Pamphlets: Legal: "Galveston, Harrisburg, & San Antonio Railway Company, Appellant v. Pat Delahunty, Appellee”

n.d.

Location

Title

Dates

87

18

Pamphlets: “Plymouth Pulpit. A Weekly Publication of Sermons Preached by Henry Ward Beecher”

1869

87

19

Pamphlets: “The Historical Society of Texas. Preliminary Organization and Constitution”

1870

87

20

Pamphlets: "Instructions to Revenue Officers of the State of Texas by the Comptroller of Public Accounts"

1871, 05/12

87

21

Pamphlets: "Proceedings of the Texas State Democratic Convention" Corsicana

1872

87

22

Pamphlets: "Minutes of Democratic State Convention of the State of Texas" Austin

1873

87

23

Pamphlets: "Thoughts on the Anti-Monopoly Movement of the Farmers of the North West" by Rufus K. Cage

1873

87

24

Pamphlets: "Message from the Governor of Texas on the Financial Condition of the State. . ."

1874

87

25

Pamphlets: “Prospectus of the Texas Western Narrow Gauge Railway Company”

1876

87

26

Pamphlets: "Address to the People of Texas" (Constitutional Convention of 1876)

n.d.

87

27

Pamphlets: "Address of Maj. M. Looscan to the Voters of Harris County in 1878"

1891

87

28

Pamphlets: "Annual Address to the Texas Bar Association 1883, Judge Richard S. Walker"

1883

87

29

Pamphlets: "Speech of S. B. Maxey Delivered at Fort Worth, Texas"

1886

87

30

Pamphlets: "Remarks of Judge Jas. A. Baker"

1888, 03/05

87

31

Pamphlets: "Bunker Hill Orations" by Daniel Webster

1892

87

32

Pamphlets: "One of the Courts, Reasons Why Houston Should Have It"

n.d.

87

33

Pamphlets: "To the Cattlemen's Association of Texas"

n.d.

87

34

Pamphlets: "Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to Article V of the Constitution"

n.d.

87

35

Periodicals: The Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. XII, No. 3

1884, 03

87

36

Programs: Confederate Veterans Associations

1892 - 1895

87

37

Stationery: Blank

n.d.

Creative Works and Surveys and Sketches: 1869 - 1892

Size: .1 linear feet

Boxes: n/a

Drafts, notes, completed manuscripts, speeches, copied maxims, and collected works reveal the interests of Michael Looscan. Of particular interest are notes and the draft of a constitution for a state historical society taken at a meeting in Houston in ca. 1870.

Seventeen surveyor’s field notes and sketches may be related either to Looscan’s personal or professional land dealings.

   Series: Creative Works

Location

Title

Dates

87

38

Drafts

1869 - 1880, n.d.

87

39

Campaign Materials: “To the Voters of Harris County”

1878

87

40

Notes: The first meeting to establish a Texas State Historical Association

ca. 1870

87

41

Speeches: San Jacinto Day

1892

87

42

Maxims (copied)

n.d.

87

43

Biographical Sketch: “Major Looscan is another citizen of the city . . . .”

n.d.

87

44

Collected Works: “Reunion of Confederate Veterans,” Mrs. Elizabeth Otis Dannelly

1892

     Series: Surveys and Sketches

87

45

Field Notes

1872 - 1887, n.d.

87

46

Sketches

n.d.

Scrapbook: 1867 - 1893

Size: n/a

Boxes: n/a

A single scrapbook of newspaper clippings likely collected by Michael Looscan and assembled at a later date reflect his interests, activities, and creative works. Of particular interest are the newspaper articles related to the accusations brought in 1890 that he participated in a conspiracy to defraud the State of Texas of 200,000 acres of school lands. Also included are clippings concerning state and local politics, Irish issues, and interviews with Looscan.

Range 14

Shelf 3

Scrapbook

1867 - 1893