Biography/History:

John Ruthven Cameron, son of Malcolm and Mary Matilda Montgomery Cameron, was born in Canton, Madison County, Mississippi, on July 3, 1846. After attending schools in Madison County, Cameron entered a military academy in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. Six months after entering the academy, Cameron withdrew and returned to Canton. He married Virginia Chick, daughter of Richard A. and Jane Davis Chick of Mississippi, about 1862. Cameron was commissioned by Governor Charles Clark to organize a cavalry unit, known as Cameron’s Company, in 1863. He commanded the company until his surrender in Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, near the end of the Civil War. Cameron and his wife, Virginia, had twins, Lillian and Malcolm, on May 19, 1864. The couple had a third child, Virginia, on September 19, 1866. Cameron was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives from Madison County in 1877. After serving his term, Cameron returned to Canton where he and his wife, Virginia, had a fourth child, Abraham Penquite, on March 11, 1878. Cameron was elected to the Mississippi Senate from Madison County in 1887. He announced his candidacy for governor of Mississippi in 1889. After losing the election, Cameron served the remainder of his state senate term and returned to Canton where he died on July 25, 1899.

Malcolm Cameron, son of John Ruthven and Virginia Chick Cameron, and his twin sister, Lillian, were born in Canton, Madison County, Mississippi, on May 19, 1864. As a young man, Malcolm Cameron oversaw his father’s business interests and land holdings on Deer Creek, near Nitta Yuma, Sharkey County, Mississippi. After his father’s death, Malcolm Cameron became owner of the Deer Creek property and continued to farm there until after 1900. Malcolm Cameron died on October 29, 1913, and he was interred at the family cemetery in Madison County.

This collection consists of correspondence to John Ruthven Cameron and his son, Malcolm. There is a letter to John Ruthven Cameron from his cousin, Annie Coleman Peyton, founder of the Industrial Institute and College, which was the forerunner of Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi. Peyton wrote to her cousin to congratulate him on his candidacy for governor of Mississippi. Another letter to Cameron is from M. Russell of Nitta Yuma relating local news. There is also a letter to Malcolm Cameron from S. A. Slaughter and Company informing him that his order for a suit had been received.

1. Letters (John Ruthven Cameron). 1898.
2. Letters (Malcolm Cameron). ca. 1887; 1899.