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James Montgomery to George L. Stearns

Date: December 12, 1860

Montgomery writes from Mound City, Kansas Territory, to update Stearns on the activities of “old Harney” (General William S. Harney) and the futile federal government efforts at “enforcing the Fugitive…

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James Montgomery to George L. Stearns

Date: November 27, 1860

From Mound City, Kansas Territory, James Montgomery writes George Stearns about recent trouble at Fort Scott and about acting governor George M. Beebe’s visit to Mound City. He came, according…

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Caleb S. Pratt to George L. Stearns

Date: May 30, 1860

Caleb Pratt, who seems to be acting as Stearns’ agent in Lawrence, Kansas Territory, at this time, writes regarding the Joseph Gardner request for firearms. On his own initiative, Pratt…

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Reuben A. Randlett to Ely Thayer

Date: February 25, 1860

This letter concerns clothing sent from New England to “the poor of Kansas in 1856.” R. A. Randlett of Topeka, Kansas Territory, wants to find out if Thayer’s Emigrant Aid…

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Cyrus K. Holliday to Franklin Crane

Date: February 1, 1857

From Meadville, Pennsylvania, Cyrus Holliday writes to Franklin Crane, a prominent doctor in Topeka, Kansas Territory. Holliday is anxious to get back to Kansas Territory but family illness has prevented…

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Masonic Festival announcement

Date: December 27, 1859

Announcement of a Masonic Festival to be held at the Masonic Hall in Lawrence, Kansas Territory, for the public installation of the officers of Lawrence Lodge No. 6 Ancient Free…

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George W. Brown to Fowler

Date: May 13, 1856

George Washington Brown, editor of the “Herald of Freedom” newspaper, was one of seven free state leaders arrested on May 14, 1856, on charges of high treason and held prisoner…

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Massachusetts State Kansas Aid Committee

Date: July 2, 1856

This letter is written by George Stearns, chairman of the Massachusetts State Kansas Aid Committee. He states the purpose of the committee and explains how it differs from the New…

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Joseph Trego diary, 1858-1859

Date: July 25, 1858 through December 9, 1859

Joseph Trego first came to Kansas Territory in June, 1857, and settled near Mound City (originally Sugar Mound) in Linn County, Kansas Territory. These diary entries start on July 25,…

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Joseph Trego’s diary, 1857-1858

Date: September 10, 1857 through July 24, 1858

Joseph Trego first came to Kansas Territory in June, 1857, and settled near Mound City (originally Sugar Mound) in Linn County, Kansas Territory. He returned to his home near Rock…

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L. W. Hover to State Central Committee

Date: October 24, 1856

L. W. Hover, a farmer and freestater who had settled at Wakarusa, Kansas Territory, on June 1, 1856, makes this claim against the funds being distributed by the State Central…

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James Gillpatrick to Samuel C. Pomeroy

Date: October 24, 1856

From Brownville, Kansas Territory, Gillpatrick writes seeking compensation for his losses to the “border ruffins” or, specifically, at the hand of “a miserable horse thief from Missouri.” Gillpatrick had been…

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Appeal for support of Free Kansas

Date: October 20, 1856

This handwritten “appeal” was sent to all those who had supported, or who might be inclined to support, the free state cause in Kansas Territory. The appeal assures them that…

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Augustus Wattles to George W. Brown

Date: October 15, 1856

Augustus Wattles writes to Mr. [?] Brown requesting reimbursement for some $700 he had lost in the cause. Although Wattles had not expected to recoup his losses, and in fact…

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J. D. Webster to James Blood

Date: October 10, 1856

From Chicago, Illinois, headquarters of the National Kansas Committee, the committee’s vice president writes to authorize James Blood to draw on the treasurer for $3,000 “to be expended under authority…

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F. M. Cummins to Samuel N. Wood

Date: November 13, 1859

Writing from El Mendaro in Madison County, Kansas Territory, F. M. Cummins speculates about Wood’s November 8, 1859, election defeat. (Interestingly, when the territorial legislature convened in January, 1860, Wood,…

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Salmon P. Chase to Samuel N. Wood

Date: October 18, 1859

From Columbus, Ohio, Governor Salmon P. Chase writes Samuel Newitt Wood, a former Ohioan, regarding Kansas politics and Chase’s political prospects, speculating about the senatorial contest and the presidential contest…

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J. F. Newton to Samuel N. Wood

Date: October 13, 1859

In this letter from Emporia, Kansas Territory, Newton compliments Wood on an article on Emporia that gave “hell” to the local Republicans and encourages Wood to do it again in…

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Richard M. Young to A. Beach

Date: July 29, 1859

Written on stationery from Young & Niles, Law and Land Agency at Washington City, D. C., this letter to A. [Asahel?] Beach of “Beach Valley,” Rice County, Kansas Territory, discussed…

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Indictment of H. Miles Moore

Date: March 1856

Charles H. Grover, the district attorney for the First District in Kansas Territory, signed an indictment of Henry Miles Moore of Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, for unlawfully exercising the powers of…