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Title: 1860 Presidential Election Returns from Holt County, Missouri
Description: This document presents the election returns from Holt County, Missouri for the Presidential election held on November 6, 1860: Stephen A. Douglas and Herschel V. Johnson received 453 votes; John Bell and Edward Everett received 348 votes; Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin received 202 votes; and John C. Breckenridge and Joseph Lane received 171 votes. On November 9, James Scott, Clerk of the Holt County Court, certifies the results and notes that Thomas Thoroughman received 313 votes for Circuit Attorney with no opposition.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: November 6, 1860

Title: From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description: This letter was written on December 13, 1860 by Florella Brown Adair in Hudson, Ohio, to her husband Samuel Lyle Adair. Florella writes that she has been reading in the papers about “the troubles in Kansas,” and that she occasionally reads Samuel’s letters to relatives who are interested in events in the Territory. She adds that Lincoln’s election has caused “great excitement” in Hudson, where “every kind of business seems to be out of joint & in a depressed state.”
Date: December 13, 1860

Title: Republican Banner for 1860
Description: Republican Party banner for the 1860 Presidential campaign featuring Abraham Lincoln of Illinois for president and Hannibal Hamlin of Maine for vice president.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1860

Title: From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description: This letter was written on February 26 and 27, 1861 by Florella Brown Adair in Grafton, Ohio, to her husband Samuel Lyle Adair. Florella writes that “much excitement prevails here in anticipation of the inauguration of Pres. Lincoln, many fears are expressed in his behalf, there is a good deal of war spirit felt most every where I go, most feel that the time for compromise has passed. I hope we shall not have war but I fear it.”
Date: February 26, 1861-February 27, 1861

Title: Presidents Buchanan and Lincoln Entering the Senate Chamber Before the Inauguration
Description: Harper's Weekly illustration of Abraham Lincoln and James Buchanan prior to Lincoln's inauguration as President.
Object Type: Image
Date: March 16, 1861

Title: Abraham Lincoln-Hannibal Hamlin Campaign Button for 1860 Presidential Election
Description: Double-sided campaign button featuring presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln's name and photograph on the front and running mate Hannibal Hamlin's name and photograph on the reverse.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1860

Title: A Defence of Republicanism
Description: This address, titled "A Defense of Republicanism," was delivered by John Johnson, former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, to the Kansas City Republican Club on September 15, 1860. In the address, Johnson attempts to dispel false beliefs about Republican principles, including the accusations that the party "will destroy your property in negroes should it come into power," and that "the Republican party is a negro stealing party." Johnson also expresses Republican support of the Lincoln-Hamlin ticket.
Object Type: Speech

Title: From Calvin Iserman to Brother William
Description: This letter, ca. April 1861, was sent by Calvin Iserman in Independence, Missouri, to his brother William. Calvin writes that Independence “is the strongest secession town” in Missouri. He writes that men from Independence “seized the State Arsenal” at Liberty, and Lincoln has ordered federal troops to retake it. Calvin declares that all Union supporters “who can get away” are leaving the area. The letter includes a brief note addressed to “sister Gusta,” presumably written by Calvin's wife.

Civil War on the Western Border: The Missouri-Kansas Conflict, 1854-1865