Frontier and Pioneer Life
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John Lewis RoBards Papers, 1832-1922 (C3609)
0.2 cubic feet (15 folders)
Papers and genealogy of a prominent lawyer, writer and orator of Hannibal, Missouri. Includes incomplete journal of overland trip to California in 1849.
Subjects
Counties
"Robert Levi Todd", no date (C0697)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
The major events in the lives of the family of Robert Levi Todd from the family's settlement in Missouri in 1816 to the death of Robert Levi Todd, Jr., in 1891.
Roff Family Papers, 1844-1888 (C0392)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Documents concerning land transactions in Shelby County, Missouri. Four deeds, five checks, and two memorial poetry cards.
Counties
Isaac W. Rogers Diary, 1865 (C0897)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Diary of a merchant of Virginia City, Montana Territory, records the weather, business, gold fields, and local conditions.
Subjects
Rowland Family Papers, 1844-1893 (C2244)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Copies of letters from Robert A. Rowland to his wife Olive in Howard County, MO, while he was enroute (1849) and in California (1850) and during his imprisonment and banishment to Illinois during the Civil War. Also includes miscellaneous letters from other family members and newspaper article describing death of and memorial services for I.N. Rowland (1893).
Counties
S
Saint Mary's Jesuit Mission and College Records, 1832-1967 (K0330)
0.02 c.f.
Records of the Jesuit mission to the Potawatomi Indians located in present Linn County, KS, which moved to present Pottawatomie County, KS and became St. Mary's College (Saint Marys, KS.). Mission and college records, reports sent to superiors, and priests' diaries. Includes early missionary records of births, deaths and marriages in Buchanan, Clay, and Jackson Counties, MO.
Samuel L. Sawyer Papers, 1838-1849 (C1833)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Letters of a young lawyer from New Hampshire who settled in Missouri. Describes traveling to Missouri, establishing himself, working the court circuits and growth of his family. Also a letter from his father-in-law about the family.
Subjects
Counties
John Freeman Schermerhorn Papers, 1809-1909 (C0160)
0.4 cubic feet
Letters and papers of Schermerhorn and his heirs, located in New York (1809-1840), Indiana (1840-1858), and Missouri (1858-1909). Schermerhorn was a frontier preacher, peacemaker with the Indians, and landowner.
Subjects
Counties
Ernestine Ernst Seiter Papers, 1828-1985 (C4351)
1.75 cubic feet (23 folders), 1 oversize volume, 1 oversize item
The papers contain a transcription of James and Robert Aull letter books and daybooks from 1828-1851. Also includes an unidentified doctor’s account ledger from Lexington, Missouri, from 1872-1875; scrapbook of Ernestine Ernst Seiter; research on Lexington homes; and miscellaneous material.
Counties
Robert B. Seymour Military Land Grant, 1853 (C0504)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Grant of 40 acres of land near Fayette, Missouri, by order of Franklin Pierce.
Subjects
Counties
Thomas Sheppard Papers, 1854-1860 (C0950)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
The papers contain two land deeds, one dated 1854 and signed by President Franklin Pierce, and the other dated 1860 and signed by President James Buchanan.
Subjects
Joseph R. Simmons Diary, 1849-1850 (C1259)
0.11 cubic feet (2 volumes)
Subjects
Thomas Adams Smith Papers, 1798-1864 (C1029)
1 cubic foot; also available on 2 rolls of microfilm
Correspondence, letterbooks, and official papers of a professional soldier, who served in Florida and on the Canadian front and later was commander of the 9th Military Department at Fort Bellefontaine near St. Louis, MO. From 1818 to 1829 Smith was receiver of public monies at the land office in Franklin, MO.
Counties
Thomas Adams Smith Papers, 1852-1919 (C0166)
0.2 cubic feet (11 folders), 2 oversize volumes, 2 rolls of microfilm
The papers of a Saline County, Missouri, doctor, and landowner include family correspondence, clippings, miscellaneous bills and papers, and a copy of a record book providing the births, death, and sales of enslaved people belonging to the estate of Thomas Adams Smith and Crawford Early Smith.
Counties
"Some Spanish Land Grants in the St. Charles District," Lillian H. Oliver, 1965 (C2904)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Brief biographies of some of the earliest holders of Spanish land grants in the St. Charles District. Included are the Boone, Callaway, Howell, Zumwalt, Hays, and Darst families. Also a general highway map of St. Charles County, 1965, showing locations of land grants.
Counties
Abram Sortore Memoirs, 1909 (C2357)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
The collection contains memoirs of Abram Sortore, in which he describes trips west from Scio, NY, to Keokuk, IA, 1845; from Keokuk to California, 1850; and back to Iowa via South America, Jamaica, and New York, 1851-1852. There are comments on Mormons, Indians, cholera, weather, the Black Hills, alkali water, Brigham Young, gold rush, mining, religion, U.S. mint, and railroads.
The Southeast Missouri Collection, 1820-2016 (CG0001)
0.8 c.f.
The Southeast Missouri Collection is a combination of small acquisitions to the State Historical Society related to Missouri places, individuals, organizations, and events.
Subjects
Thomas A. Spalding Letters, 1855-1858 (C0548)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Two letters from Thomas A. Spalding to his brother in Missouri, written from California during the gold rush.
Subjects
Sproull Family Papers, 1822-1839, 1869 (CA6594)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
The collection contains letters of the Sproull and related Fergus and Riddlesbarger families of Cooper, Howard, Saline, and St. Clair Counties, Missouri. Includes a probate record for Francis Sproull.
Counties
Squatter Sovereign (Atchison, Kan.), 1855-1857 (C0800)
1 roll of microfilm
The collection contains a newspaper published by J.H. Stringfellow and R.S. Kelley as a pro-slavery weekly advocating that "the squatter claims the same sovereignty in the Territory that he possessed in the States." In 1857 ownership passed to S.C. Pomeroy and O.F. Short and the policy became pro-free state.
Subjects
St. Charles, Missouri, Leases, 1831-1835 (C1688)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Leases to lots in the city commons to Sarah Ann Cole, 1831, and John Lilly, Jr., 1835.
Counties
Gustavus St. Gem Papers, 1901-1904 (C1642)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
The papers of Gustavus St. Gem contain speeches, essays, and songs about the St. Gem family, Ste. Genevieve, MO, and the Louisiana Territory. Subjects include settlement of Missouri, Kaskaskia, IL, Louisiana Purchase, pioneer conditions, and holiday celebrations.
Counties
James W. Stallings Papers, 1858 (C1924)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Letter to Stallings in Kentucky from his friend Linton in Parkville, MO, describing richness of land and living conditions.
Subjects
Counties
Standley Family Papers, 1852, 1996 (C3432)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
The papers contain a letter from James Standley, Carrollton, Missouri, to his son, Milton in Sacramento, California, 1852. Also, a transcription of the letter, a genealogy of James Standley, and other miscellaneous records of James Standley transcribed by Anne Standley Brunt.
Subjects
William Standley Papers, 1852-1853 (C2717)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Excerpts from four letters from the Oregon Territory. Mention of Indians, typhoid fever, and living conditions.
Subjects
Abner Ford Staples Family Papers, 1814-1865 (K0227)
0.03 c.f.
Letters written by and to Staples family members who moved from Georgia to Tennessee, then Independence, MO. Topics include news from home and notice of deaths, marriages, and births. Also are legal document relating to land purchases.
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Counties
Frederick Starr, Jr. Papers, 1850-1863 (C2073)
0.42 cubic feet (20 folders)
Starr was a colonizationist, free soiler, and Presbyterian clergyman in Weston, MO, 1852-1855. The collection contains correspondence, broadsides, pamphlets, and clippings on settlement of the Kansas-Nebraska Territories, border conflicts, abolitionism vs. slavery, local politics, Indian affairs, public land sales, claims, and prices, popular sovereignty, squatters' rights, and religion on the frontier.
Subjects
Counties
State Historical Society of Missouri Typescript Collection, 1814-1962 (C0995)
14 rolls of microfilm
The State Historical Society of Missouri Typescript Collection consists of typescripts of articles and manuscripts donated over the years to the Historical Society.
Subjects
- African Americans
- Agriculture
- Business and Industry
- Culture
- Education
- Engineering
- Environment, Conservation, and Wildlife
- Family and Personal Papers
- Folklore and Folklife
- Frontier and Pioneer Life
- Genealogy
- Geography and Maps
- Government and Politics
- Language
- Literature
- Media
- Military
- Railroads and Railways
- Religion
- Social and Fraternal Organizations
- Social Reform and Welfare
- Transportation
- Travel and Description
- University of Missouri
- Women
John A. Stauder Diary, 1850 (C0459)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Diary of a trip from LaGrange, MO, to the California gold fields. Route; condition of grass, water and wood; prices of articles on the way. Entries also mention number of miles traveled, streams and rivers crossed, graves, other wagon trains, weather conditions, and seeing Indians. Describes Salt Lake City.
Subjects
Smith A. Sterett Papers, 1861-1899 (C2074)
0.1 cubic feet (5 folders)
The papers of Smith A. Sterett contain letters from business associates, friends, and family; business papers; Sterett's Confederate Army discharge; and an elementary spelling book. Sterett was a Montana Territory prospector, Helena, MT, merchant, and Nevada, MO, hardware merchant.
Walter Barlow Stevens Papers, 1924 (C2108)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Manuscript of article, "From Washington's Farewell Address to the Man Without a Country." Spanish overtures to the West (Kentucky and Tennessee) in the 1790s. Copies of three letters to Carlos De Lassus from Baron de Carondelet, 1796-1797.
Subjects
"The Story of Daniel Yoacham," Adrienne Tinker Christopher, no date (C2927)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Traces the Yoacham family of Westport, Missouri, through three generations, and discusses fur trading in Missouri. Includes anecdotes and legends of fur traders of the 1820s and 1830s.
Counties
Henry K. Story Journal Transcript, 1888-1892 (K1318)
0.01 c.f.
typescript copy of journal , includes details of travel to Australia and return to Kansas City, Missouri. Story was a Civil War veteran, and employee of the Post Office
Counties
Joseph R. Summers Letter, 1850 (C2746)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
From Dry Town, CA, Oct. 30, 1850.
Letter describes trip to California from Indiana; Salt Lake City in 1850; and mining, prices, cholera, and prospects of a fortune in California.
Subjects
T
Tate Family Papers, 1786-1871 (C0174)
0.15 cubic feet (7 folders)
Accounts, family letters, and deeds to land of John, James, and Isaac Tate and their families, who lived in Callaway and Ralls Counties, Missouri, and Greensburgh, Kentucky. Diary of a trip to California in 1849. Papers of the Thespian Society of Greensburgh, Kentucky. See also C2720, James A. Tate Diary, 1849.
Subjects
Counties
James A. Tate Diary, 1849 (C2720)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Travel by wagon train to California gold mines. Diary records agricultural conditions, mileage, and travel conditions. Few place names or comments. Little mention of the gold rush itself. Biographical material in information folder.
Subjects
Counties
Mary and Eliza Thompson Quietus for Delinquent Taxes, 1852 (C0502)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Receipt for taxes paid from the Randolph County register of lands office for a 39-acre tract of land granted for $9.16 to Mary and Eliza Thompson.
Subjects
Counties
Louise Wilder Smith Tierney Papers, 1953 (K0032)
0.08 c.f. (4 folders)
Copy of original script of "Fort Osage-Mother of the West", a play written by Louise Wilder Smith, Missouri native and author, and supporting materials related to its production at the Fort Osage Pageant of 1953.
Subjects
Counties
Toler Family Papers, 1856-1882 (C0949)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Contains four deeds conveying property in Arkansas and Missouri: 1856, Polk County, MO; 1861, Benton County, AR; 1876, Independence County, AR; and 1882, Izard County, AR.
Subjects
Travel Account of Journey from Indiana to Washington, c. 1850 (C3415)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
The collection contains a copy of an unidentified woman’s account of the journey from Indiana to Washington. The copy was made about 1925-1930 and includes a record of the weather, environment, illnesses, encounters with indigenous people, territory covered each day, lists of provisions, and charges and expenses kept by George Royse.
Subjects
Zenon Trudeau Decree, 1796 (C1653)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
The collection contains a decree in French to the inhabitants of St. Charles, MO, settling a land and boundary line dispute as recommended by the arbitrators.
Counties
Dennis Tucker Deeds, 1860-1864 (C0509)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
For Knox County, Missouri, land, originally in the possession of Eber H. Tucker and sold at auction by Amos Poe to D. Tucker and Zachariah Lear, October 27, 1860. For Knox County, Missouri, land sold by Tucker to Zachariah Lear, February 25, 1864.
Subjects
Counties
U
U.S. General Land Office Grants
German Bank, Wooster, Ohio 1, 1869-1873 (C1562)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Grants to land in Missouri, to Moses Garrett and to Andrew J. Croy.
U.S. General Land Office Papers, 1859-1869 (C1282)
0.03 cubic feet (1 volume)
Copies of land grants, certificates and assignments for services in the War of 1812.
U.S. Post Office Department Letters, 1941-1942 (C0906)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
To E.L. Pigg, Jefferson City, Missouri, from Washington, D.C., concerning early mail routes between Richmond and Liberty, Missouri. Includes a list of postmasters at Richmond, 1822-1935, and at Liberty, 1822-1934.
Counties
U.S. Superintendency of Indian Affairs, St. Louis Records, 1807-1855 (C2969)
6 rolls of microfilm
Correspondence, account books and treaties with various Indian tribes. Much of the material is to and from Indian agents at the area agencies. The bulk of the material is from the period when William Clark was superintendent. Also included are records of the Missouri Fur Company, 1812-1817.
Originals at Kansas State Historical Society.
Counties
U.S. Superintendency of Indian Affairs, St. Louis Records, 1824-1851 (C2970)
10 rolls of microfilm
Papers pertain to surveying of Indian lands, expenses of agencies, establishment of trading posts for the Indians, policy for emigrating Indians west of the Mississippi, depredations by Indians and estimates of costs accrued, negotiations and expenses involved with treaties, transcriptions of various chiefs' speeches and reports on the conflicts between various tribal groups.
Counties
V
Van Meter Family Papers, 1834-1968 (C3242)
0.18 cubic feet (9 folders)
Correspondence, financial and legal documents, diaries, and account books of a Saline County, MO, family. The papers deal, for the most part, with the family business, primarily accounts for goods and food sold. There is some material dealing with family matters, including a diary of a trip taken to Montana in 1865 by Abel J. Van Meter.
Counties
Thomas Jefferson Vantine Memoirs, 1860 (C2378)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
An account of Valentine's experiences during a Texas scouting trip, April-October 1860. Mentions Wichita River, Cimarron River, Old Adobe Fort, North Canadian River, Fort Belnap, Indians, and hunting for food and water.
Vantine was born in Huntington County, IN, and moved to Collin County, TX, in 1854.
Subjects
Village à Robert, Missouri, Plat, 1794 (C1667)
0.02 cubic feet (1 folder)
Surveyed by M[onsieur] Bouvet, under the command of Captain F. Dunegan of St. Ferdinand, by order of Zenon Trudeau, lieutenant-governor at St. Louis. Includes names of landholders.