Abraham Illges Collection (SMC 28)

Biographical Note

According to the vertical file on Illges in the CSU Archives, Abraham Illges was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on April 7, 1830 and died in Columbus, Georgia on April 23, 1915. He was the son of Paul Illges, a native of German who immigrated to Pennsylvania in the early part of 1800. Illges left school at age 13 and five years later came to Columbus and clerked for his brother, Jacob P. Illges, a grocery man. He left the grocery business in 1859 and traveled for two years for health and pleasure. During most of the Civil War he served as an agent in intelligence rather than as a combat soldier, a role he chose believing it likely that some of his brothers were bearing arms for the Union. In 1864, however, he joined the Confederate service as a member of the state troops and was present at the fall of Savanna. In 1867 he again entered the grocery business in Columbus, adding a cotton business two years later. Nine years later he went into the manufacture of jute bagging. In 1889 Mr. Illges became president of the Golden Foundry and Machine Company. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Muscogee Mills, of the Chattahoochee National Bank, of the Georgia Midland & Gulf Railroad and of the Chattahoochee Brewing Company. He also owned interests in rolling mills in Birmingham, Alabama. He married Mary Lou Barnett (July 9, 1857-July 1, 1936) in 1879. They had 7 children.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of the note/account book of A. Illges which he kept during the Civil War and afterwards, 5 receipts from European travels after the War, and a bill or sale for cotton bales.

Permission to Publish

Permission to publish material from the Abraham Illges Collection must be obtained from the Columbus State University Archives at Columbus State University. Use of the following credit line for publication or exhibit is required: Abraham Illges Collection (SMC 27) Columbus State University Archives Columbus, Georgia

Provenance

Gift from the grandchildren of A. Illges, Sr. in 1997.

Folder List

• Folder 1
  • Item 1 - Note book/account book of A. Illges, with very detailed accounts of travel and expenses, 1864-1867
  • Item 2 - 5 receipts from European travels, 1868-1873
  • Item 3 - Bill of sale for bales of cotton, April 13, 1866