Authors: Gilbert, Robert L.
Date: December 5, 1849
Robert Gilbert, a young Englishman studying at Yoxford Academy in England anticipating the Christmas holiday, wrote to his parents summarizing his studies of the past half-year. He was born in Sibton, Suffolk County, England. After graduating from Yoxford, he became a gardener in the Crystal Palace Gardens in London. Gilbert emigrated to the U.S. in 1855 and began farming nine miles north of Lawrence the same year.
Keywords: Douglas County, Kansas Territory; Emigration and immigration; England; Farmers; Gilbert, Robert L.; Immigrants; Lawrence, Kansas Territory; Settlement
Letter, [John Brown, Jr.] to Dear Father [John Brown]
Authors: Brown, Jr., John
Date: June 22, 1855
This rather lengthy letter from John Brown, Jr., at Brownsville, K.T., to his father, John Brown, regarding the Kansas family's current situation, physically and economically. John, Jr., provides a hand-drawn map of the family's settlement in Franklin County (he calls it "Brown Co.") just west of Osawatomie.
Keywords: Agriculture; Brown, John, 1800-1859; Brown, John, Jr.; Crops; Farmers; Franklin County, Kansas Territory; Free state settlers; Land claims; Missourians; Osawatomie, Kansas Territory; Ottawa Indians; Pottawatomie Creek, Kansas Territory
Certificate, Declaration of Intention
Authors: Court of Monroe County, New York State
Date: October 23, 1855
Robert L. Gilbert, a 21-year-old Englishman, had just finished his journey to the United States when he renounced his allegiance to the Queen of England by signing this Declaration of Intention. Gilbert would continue west into Kansas Territory, where he eventually settled nine miles north of Lawrence in late 1855.
Keywords: Emigration and immigration; England; Farmers; Gilbert, Robert L.; Immigrants; Monroe County, New York State; Settlement
Letter, John Brown to Dear Wife [Mary Brown] & Children every one
Authors: Brown, John , 1800-1859
Date: November 2, 1855
In this letter from "Brownsville, Kansas Territory," John Brown made some observations about the harshness of the weather, the health of his Kansas children, their general lack of preparedness for the winter, and the farm work that needed to be accomplished. His only comment about the political situation in the territory came in closing: "I feel more, & more confident that Slavery will soon die out here; & to God be the praise."
Keywords: Agriculture; Brown, John, 1800-1859; Brown, Mary Ann Day, 1816-1884; Crops; Farmers; Free state cause; Free state settlers; Houses; Slavery; Weather
Circular, Information for Kanzas Immigrants, 1855
Authors: Webb, Thomas H. (Hopkins), 1801-1866
Thomas Webb compiled the information in this circular not to "entice people to go to the Kanzas", but rather to "collect the best and most reliable information relative to the Territory, and furnish the same to those desiring it." The circular provides details about the logistics of the trip to Kansas: when and how it should be done, and what provisions to take, for example. It also includes information about subjects such as weather, farming, Indians, and employment, to name a few.
Keywords: American Indians (see also Native Americans); Circulars; Crops; Farmers; Freight and freightage; Land acquisition; Merchandise; Merchants; Native Americans; New England Emigrant Aid Company; Settlement; Timber; Transportation; Travel literature; Weather; Webb, Thomas H. (Thomas Hopkins), 1801-1866
Circular, Information for Kanzas Immigrants, 1856
Authors: Webb, Thomas H. (Hopkins), 1801-1866
Thomas Webb expanded the information in his previous version of this circular to produce a more current edition. Topics such as travel routes, preparation, and provisions are still discussed, while more information regarding town settlements, accommodations, and family life are new additions.
Keywords: American Indians (see also Native Americans); Brown, John Carter; Cities and towns; Crops; Farmers; Freight and freightage; Land acquisition; Lawrence, Amos Adams, 1814-1886; Merchandise; Merchants; Native Americans; New England Emigrant Aid Company; Settlement; Thayer, Eli, 1819-1899; Timber; Town development; Transportation; Travel literature; Weather; Webb, Thomas H. (Thomas Hopkins), 1801-1866
Letter, J. G. Anderson to "Dear Brother"
Date: August 23, 1857
Writing to his brother from Barnesville (Bourbon County) on August 28, 1857, Jeremiah Goldsmith Anderson, a native of Indiana and follower of James Montgomery in southeast Kansas, described a variety of mundane matters regarding conditions in Kansas, including land claims and the construction of a steam sawmill on the river.
Letter, John Vansickle to Dear Father and Mother
Authors: Vansickle, John H.
Date: July 11, 1858
John Vansickle wrote from Bourbon County to his Father and Mother outside Kansas Territory. Vansickle spoke of a recent trip to Iowa, though it was short because he was anxious to return home. He added that grain crops in the area were doing the best he had ever seen. Vansickle also told his parents of his marriage three days earlier to Martha Stevenson, and invited them both for a visit, as the current climate of "perfect peas" [sic, peace] made the journey a safer one.
Keywords: Bourbon County, Kansas Territory; Crops; Daily life; Farmers; Marriage; Vansickle, John H.
Letter, John Vansickle to Dear Sir
Authors: Vansickle, John H.
Date: July 18, 1858
John Vansickle, recently married, wrote from Kansas City, Missouri, where he was purchasing goods and provisions with his wife for their new home. Vansickle communicated the prospect of a good crop this season, along with details referring to the upcoming Lecompton Constitution ratification election and the Marais des Cygnes Massacre, which occurred the past May. He also encouraged the recipient of this letter to come to Kansas Territory for a visit and gave news of his encounter with various friends when in St. Louis.
Keywords: Border ruffians; Crops; Election, Lecompton Constitution ratification, August 1858; Farmers; Gold mines and mining; Kansas City, Missouri; Linn County, Kansas Territory; Marais des Cygnes Massacre; Massacres; Merchandise; Montgomery County, Kansas Territory; Vansickle, John H.
Letter, E. B. Whitman to Friend [Franklin B.] Sanborn
Authors: Whitman, E. B.
Date: December 14, 1858
After returning to Lawrence from a trip east, Whitman wrote Franklin B. Sanborn a mostly personal letter regarding the preparations for the winter and need to extend the loan owed to Sanborn--he had crops enough for subsistence but little cash. Near the end, Whitman commented briefly on the political situation, which was "quiet" at present, but "the difficulties in Linn & Bourbon Counties are renewed" and "J. B. is on the ground and engaged in 'Regulating.'"
Keywords: Agriculture; Border disputes and warfare - Free state perspective; Bourbon County, Kansas Territory; Brown, John, 1800-1859; Crops; Farmers; Free state legislature; Insurance; Kansas Territory. Legislature - Lawrence; Lawrence, Kansas Territory; Linn County, Kansas Territory; Sanborn, F. B. (Franklin Benjamin), 1831-1917; Stearns, Geo. L. (George Luther), 1809-1867; Whitman, E. B.
Letter, W. H. Powell to "Dear Sir" [James Blood]
Authors: Powell, W. H.
Date: August 26, 1860
From Bloomington, Illinois, W. H. Powell, the Illinois State Superintendent of Public Instruction, wrote that he had noticed Blood's call for seed wheat for the "unfortunate settlers of Kansas," and he wondered if they would be interested in trading "for Stock--either Cattle or Stock Hogs." Powell offered to arrange shipment of 2000 bushels of "good seed wheat" immediately if a deal were struck. He wrote that farmers in his area were growing "Red Amber wheat, and that if Blood needed a character reference, he could contact "Mr. Lincoln at Springfield, where I reside, & who can vouch for my good faith &C."