Search results

1 to 20 of 21 Objects

Pages

From Charles Adair and M.L. Davis to Samuel Lyle Adair
Title
From Charles Adair and M.L. Davis to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description
On September 24, 1860, Charles Adair writes from Aunt Marthey’s to his father Samuel Lyle Adair. Charles describes seeing Stephen A. Douglas at the station that morning and says he was unimpressed: “he is a mean looking man if ever I saw one.” On September 30, 1860, Samuel’s sister M.L. Davis finishes the letter Charles began, explaining that Charles left the letter behind when he went away. She writes briefly about Charles's and Florella's activities during their Ohio visit.
Object Type
Letter
Date
September 24, 1860 and September 30, 1860
From Sue Brawner to All at Home
Title
From Sue Brawner to All at Home
Description
This letter of July 24, 1859 is from Sue Brawner in Linneus, Missouri to “all at home.” She describes a recent trip from Lexington, Missouri to Linneus via the city of Brunswick. Along the way she and her traveling companions visited relatives. Sue writes of staying with Tom, a relative in Linneus who owns several slaves: “They have a black girl as large as I am.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
July 24, 1859
From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair and Emma Adair
Title
From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair and Emma Adair
Description
This letter was written between December 20 and 29, 1860 by Florella Brown Adair in Hudson and Grafton, Ohio, to her husband Samuel Lyle Adair and daughter Emma Adair. Florella describes her trip from Hudson to Grafton with her daughter Ada. She states that she has collected $21.00 from friends and relatives to send back to Kansas, and that many people feel a “deep interest in Kansas troubles.” Florella adds that “People here are all awake upon the troubles that threaten our country.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
December 20, 1860-December 29, 1860
From Abishai Stowell to "Distant But Not Forgotten Sister"
Title
From Abishai Stowell to "Distant But Not Forgotten Sister"
Description
On January 8, 1863, Abishai Stowell writes from Elm Springs, Arkansas, to his sister. Stowell reports that he has been in "4 fights:" Maysville, Indian Territory on October 22; Boonsboro, Arkansas on November 28; Prairie Grove, Arkansas on December 7; and Dripping Springs, Arkansas on December 28, which he describes in some detail. Stowell tells his sister not to worry about him, explaining, "I am on the right side as our recent victories will show for. I have never been hit although I have been in the thickest of the fight & have had my clothes cut by bullets."
Object Type
Letter
Date
January 8, 1863
From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Title
From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Description
On April 22, 1865, Abishai Stowell writes from Lewisburg, Arkansas to his sister. Stowell, a member of Co. B, 2nd Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, reports that "the prospect is good for me to go home in a few days for the war is just about ended." He says the assassination of President Lincoln "has caused a great deal of excitement here[,] the Union people feel the loss to be one that can never be repaid while the Secesh are overjoyed with the news."
Object Type
Letter
Date
April 22, 1865
From J.M. Kingsbury to J.J. Webb
Title
From J.M. Kingsbury to J.J. Webb
Description
This September 22, 1856 letter is from J.M. Kingsbury in Kansas City, Missouri to J.J. Webb in Santa Fe. Kingsbury writes that Kansas Territory is still plagued by "difficulties" and that Congress has passed the Army Bill. He expresses hope that the new governor of Kansas, John W. Geary, will "succeed in quieting things there and be able to carry out the law."
Object Type
Letter
Date
September 22, 1856
From Charles T. Gilman to Albert G. Boone
Title
From Charles T. Gilman to Albert G. Boone
Description
In this letter, dated September 16 and 17, 1856, Charles T. Gilman informs Col. Albert G. Boone that 20 abolitionists recently launched an attack on the proslavery citizens living near Council Grove, Kansas. Gilman states that the attackers stole horses and mules, wounded a woman, and threatened to burn down houses and force the proslavery men out of Kansas. They also claimed that they would return in four days with 400 men; Gilman tells Boone that the people of Council Grove have been awaiting their arrival and have plenty of arms and ammunition to defend themselves.
Object Type
Letter
Date
September 16, 1856-September 17, 1856
From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Title
From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description
This letter was written on February 17, 1861 by Florella Brown Adair in Grafton, Ohio, to her husband Samuel Lyle Adair. Florella says she is sorry if Samuel’s feelings are hurt by her letters, but says that she intended no wrong and has tried to do right by her family and herself by staying in Ohio for the winter. She plans to go south to Xenia, Ohio with Charles in March, and adds that although Ada wants to see her father, she “does not care about going back to Kansas.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
February 17, 1861
From Edward Fitch to Dear Friends at Home
Title
From Edward Fitch to Dear Friends at Home
Description
Edward Fitch writes a July 26, 1855 letter from aboard a steamboat on Lake Erie. He tells friends in his hometown of Hopkinton, Massachusetts that he is en route from Boston to Osawatomie, Kansas. He describes the other members of his travelling party, a group of nineteen emigrants he is taking to Kansas for the New England Emigrant Aid Company.
Object Type
Letter
Date
July 26, 1855
From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Title
From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description
This letter was written January 28 and 30, 1861 by Florella Brown Adair in Lafayette, to her husband Samuel Lyle Adair. Florella describes her trip from Grafton, Ohio to Lafayette. She writes that everyone is talking about “Kansas & the political condition of the union…Many think war will be declared before many weeks. Democrats lay all the blame on Republicans & Kansas for all the trouble, but not many are ready to fight for the south.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
January 28, 1861-January 30, 1861
From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair and Emma Adair
Title
From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair and Emma Adair
Description
This letter, dated November 21, 1860, was written by Florella Brown Adair in Hudson, Ohio to her husband Samuel Lyle Adair and daughter Emma in Osawatomie, Kansas. Florella responds to their recent letters, which were “so complaining and discouraging, that I feel more like staying away, than hurrying home…it seems to me that the Territory is cursed of the Lord and that it is fighting against him to try to live there and do anything but barely to exist…I cannot help feeling a perfect disgust for Kansas life, and most of Kansas people.” Florella adds that she read about the “Montgomery and Fort Scott troubles” in the newspapers.
Object Type
Letter
Date
November 21, 1860
From G.H. Forkney to Col. Peery
Title
From G.H. Forkney to Col. Peery
Description
This letter, dated June 13, 1856, is from G.H. Forkney in Basin Knob, Missouri to Col. Peery. Forkney discusses business dealings, then goes on to describe the "deplorable state of affairs" in Kansas Territory: "murders are common & occasionally the women & children fall victim to the fury of the northern fanatics." He reports that President Franklin Pierce has put Kansas under martial law, and that Missourians are preparing for "a war of extermination."
Object Type
Letter
Date
June 13, 1856
From Calvin Iserman to Brother William
Title
From Calvin Iserman to Brother William
Description
In this letter of September 5, 1858, Calvin Iserman writes from Independence, Missouri to his brother William. Calvin declares that Independence is hostile to free-staters: “Most of the head men of this town, and the wealthiest, are slave holders who…hate a free-state man worse than they do the Devil.” Calvin adds that his father plans to move to Kansas Territory in the fall or spring to live “among some free state men.” The letter includes a separate note to “sister Gus,” possibly written by Calvin’s wife.
Object Type
Letter
Date
September 5, 1858
From Samuel Lyle Adair to Charles Adair and Ada Adair
Title
From Samuel Lyle Adair to Charles Adair and Ada Adair
Description
This letter was written on October 19, 1860 by Samuel Lyle Adair in Osawatomie, Kansas, to his son Charles and daughter Ada. Samuel warns that as Charles starts school in Ohio, “you will doubtless find many things to try your feelings in consequence of not having had better opportunities in times past.” Samuel reports on activities in Osawatomie, including two meetings to address the town’s shortage of bread for the winter, which he did not attend. "Money is growing scarcer all the time, and nothing but money will bring bread," he writes.
Object Type
Letter
Date
October 19, 1860
From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Title
From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Description
On May 19, 1862, Abishai Stowell writes from Fort Riley, Kansas, to his sister. Stowell reports that the entire New Mexico Brigade, except his own regiment, was ordered back to Leavenworth, Kansas. He says that Co. A and D of his regiment will soon move to Fort Union in New Mexico to guard a train, while the rest of the regiment will continue to guard Fort Riley. Stowell states that it is unlikely he will visit home again before he is discharged because he will be so far away.
Object Type
Letter
Date
May 19, 1862
From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
Title
From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
Description
This letter, dated December 21, 1863, is from Joseph H. Trego, a lieutenant in the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment, to his wife Alice. He informs Alice that his regiment has just arrived at Fort Smith, Arkansas and that they have settled into warm and comfortable quarters. He jokes about “flirting around with the secesh ladies” and says it is possible he will be home by Christmas.
Object Type
Letter
Date
December 21, 1863
From Lewis Stafford to Kate Newland
Title
From Lewis Stafford to Kate Newland
Description
Lewis Stafford writes a letter from Camp Washington near Clinton, Missouri to Kate Newland on July 6, 1861. Stafford, a member of the 1st Kansas Infantry, Company E, tells Newland that Union troops recently took possession of a printing press that had printed a secession journal. He says that Clinton used to be a “hot bed of secession” but “secession in this place is now pretty generally squelched out.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
July 6, 1861
From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
Title
From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
Description
This letter, dated November 7, 1863, is from Lieut. Joseph H. Trego of the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment to his wife Alice. He tells her that he recently left Fort Scott, Kansas and travelled to Maysville, Arkansas. He adds that he will be marching to Fort Smith soon and does not expect to run into any danger. He also mentions that Capt. Haskell has been relieved of his duties and is leaving the regiment.
Object Type
Letter
Date
November 7, 1863
From Florella Brown Adair to Emma Adair
Title
From Florella Brown Adair to Emma Adair
Description
This letter was written on December 14, 1860 by Florella Brown Adair in Hudson, Ohio, to her daughter Emma Adair. Florella encourages Emma to study and write to increase her knowledge, and also advises her on proper behavior: “I feel very anxious to have you very particular & circumspect in your conversation with Rockwell or any young man you may be in company, and things like familiarity or immodesty in company of the boys is always noticed & will lead to remarks or suspicions…Young ladies & married ones too cannot be to particular, in what they do or say.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
December 14, 1860
From Edward Fitch to Mr. Editor
Title
From Edward Fitch to Mr. Editor
Description
This letter, dated July 4, 1856, is from Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas to the editor of the Hopkinton (MA) Patriot. Fitch states that the Free State Legislature was supposed to convene that day in Topeka, but Colonel Sumner arrived with armed troops and, under orders from Washington, commanded everyone to leave. Fitch declares that “unless the North awakes and men (not fools) are placed in the Presidential chair this fall, Civil War must follow.” He also discusses a group of women who, in response to local rum selling, "took possession of the Liquor, which they spilled without mercy." He signs the letter “Yours for Free men, Free speech, Free Kansas, and Fre-mont.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
July 4, 1856

Pages