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From Elizabeth Peery to George F. Peery
Title
From Elizabeth Peery to George F. Peery
Description
On January 1, 1856, Elizabeth Peery writes a letter from Edinburgh, Missouri to George F. Peery. Elizabeth describes local festivities for the Christmas holiday, including a large party held by slaves. She reports that friends and family in the area are well, and recounts some of their recent activities. Elizabeth writes that she has a new baby boy, as yet unnamed; she asks George to suggest a name.
Date
January 1, 1856
From John Ordway to Dear Friend
Title
From John Ordway to Dear Friend
Description
This letter, dated January 19, 1856, was written by John Ordway in Roxbury, Massachusetts, to a friend, presumably in Missouri. John inquires about the progress of the railroads in Missouri, explaining that the newspapers choose to focus on “the Kansas troubles” instead of Missouri’s “internal improvements.” Of political sentiment in Massachusetts, John writes: “The extreme men here are few but an antislavery feeling is universal and the Kansas difficulties have rather tended to give it deeper root.”
Date
January 19, 1856
1860 Missouri Census Table
Title
1860 Missouri Census Table
Description
This ca. 1860 printed document presents the results of the 1860 Missouri census, showing the population of whites, “free colored” and slaves in each county. The table lists the total state population as 1,182,012, with 1,063,599 whites, 3,572 Free Colored, and 114,931 slaves. Lafayette County has the largest slave population with 6,374 slaves. The table also reveals a small American Indian population in Gasconade and Jackson Counties.
Object Type
Government Document
From Unknown to Dear Brother
Title
From Unknown to Dear Brother
Description
This letter, dated September 30, 1861, is from an unknown writer in Pleasant Nook, Missouri to his or her brother. Since newspaper reports are “entirely one sided,” if not “entirely false,” the letter writer endeavors to provide an account of recent Missouri politics and warfare. The writer refers to Hamilton Gamble’s appointment as governor and his subsequent call for “42 thousand volunteers;” local recruitment efforts have been unsuccessful. The writer also describes battles at Carthage and Springfield, noting that a local boy claims to have ripped General Sigel’s epaulette from his uniform during the Springfield conflict.
Date
September 30, 1861