1876, 1890

Hancock, Winfield Scott, 1824-1886

Header Record

Title: Collection of 3 legal documents with W.S. Hancock photograph [decimalized]

GLC00733

28 December 1876

Hancock, Winfield Scott, 1824-1886

Printed document signed

Title: [Deed of trust for land sale in St. Louis]

Partially printed deed with blanks filled in by hand. Cosigned by Hancock's wife Almira Russell Hancock and Adaline Russell (possibly Almira's sister) as sellers. Also signed by John F. Lee as a buyer (Thomas T. Turner, Trustee for Elizabeth W. McMurray and Rebekah Briggs, is also listed as a buyer). Records the sale of a parcel of land in St. Louis, Missouri. Describes the land. The sale was for one dollar because, as is described, the sellers were indebted to the buyers. Describes pertinent tax details. Notarized and recorded by the county, with attendant signatures. Printed by…

GLC00733.01

28 December 1876

Hancock, George, 1819-1876

Printed document signed

Title: [Promissory note for $104]

Cosigned by Adaline Russell (possibly Hancock's sister). Payable to Thomas T. Turner, Trustee (see GLC00733.01). Drawn upon Lucas Bank in St. Louis, Missouri. The amounts owed to trusts Turner was in charge of are specified by Turner on the verso, where he also signed.

GLC00733.03

1861-1865 ca.

Sarony, Napoleon, 1821-1896

Photograph

Title: Cabinet card portrait of Winfield Scott Hancock

Unsigned, identified on back

GLC00733.04

December 9, 1861

Van Valkenburgh, David H., ?-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father

Written at Camp Barry near Washington D.C. References his father's earlier letter. Says he has not written often because he knows the letters he writes to his wife are read by everyone. Is glad to hear that he might visit Washington. Wishes he could have seen some of the reviews, but says he will see some if he comes as 100,000 troops are to winter in the vicinity of Washington. Says he has "seen McClellan he is a noble looking man but seems young for the responsibilities that rest upon his shoulders, but they all think him competent to fill the place." Says the city has representatives from…

GLC00686.06

March 15, 1862

Van Valkenburgh, David H., ?-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

Written by David to his mother. Says he has not written lately because he knows the letters to his wife were "Common property with you all." Adds that he has marching orders and wanted to write "for when next and in what shape I shall turn up the fates alone Can decide." Says he has been assigned to a group of four batteries under General Silas Casey's division (IV corps). Mentions that he is good health and that a few days of marching will not do him any harm. Will leave everything except essentials with his brother Robert. Makes several references to General George McClellan and events in…

GLC00686.07

June 4, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Edward Porter, fl. 1865-1908

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

Written by Captain Edward Van Valkenburgh of the 107th New York regiment to his mother. Has not heard from her directly in some time, but has heard through his brother Robert that she is in good health. Says he has not written in a long time, but knows she heard of his whereabouts through his letters to Rosa (perhaps Edward's wife). Reports that he seldom has the time to write to anyone. Hopes he will be out of the army in two weeks: "We have been at work very hard both night and day since the review, making out our final roll and discharges preparatory to being mustered out of the service."…

GLC00686.18

18 April 1865

Johnson, Joseph E., 1807-1891

Manuscript document

Title: [Draft of the surrender agreement between Union General William Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston]

Copy made, certified, and signed by Colonel Alexander Robert Chisolm, Confederate General Pierre T. Beauregard's aide-de-camp. Details the terms of the surrender of the Army of Tennessee.

GLC00689

11 January 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Note allowing John Swisher to take the oath of 8 December 1863]

Lincoln autograph endorsement signed on a letter from Edward McPherson to President Lincoln requesting clemency for a man, dated 10 January 1865. Lincoln's endorsement reads, "Let this man, John Swisher take the oath of Dec. 8, 1863 & be discharged." McPherson was Clerk of the House of Representatives.

GLC00693.03

May 20, 1844

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Barbara O'Sullivan Addicks

Thanks her for the copy she sent of her "pocket manual treating the Science of the French Language" ("An elementary practical book for learning to speak the French language, expressly adapted to the capacity of children. Tr. from the German of Doctor J.H.P. Seidenstuecker") and indicates he sent a copy, per her request, to the National Intelligencer. Apologizes for not responding promptly and explains why he cannot give her manual the scrutiny it deserves, citing the volume of letters he receives.

GLC00693.05

circa 1845-1847

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Typed letter

Title: Typed excerpts of compositions by Franklin Van Valkenburgh when he was 12

Not an original document; no date for typed excerpt. Contains 2 excerpts from compositions, one written when Frank was 10 in 1845, the other when he was 12 on 28 September 1847. First composition is about wishing. The second composition is titled "the History of a Black Board." Some handwritten notes in pen on second page. Image of purple and yellow flower on the back of the stationary. Includes an envelope with the words "News Paper Scraps &C &c." The return address is for the Van Valkenburgh family in Milwaukee.

GLC00686.01

November 12, 1848

Van Valkenburgh, Loty, fl. 1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

Written to Frank when he was 13 years old by his sister Loty who seems to be somewhere in the western part of the South. Frank is referred to as "Master" in the address. Frank is separated from his family (GLC00686.19 says he is at "the Academy") and Loty is writing him to alleviate his loneliness. Loty seems to have been married recently and writes of understanding about homesickness: she says "I have learned that contentment is the only true happiness." Goes into further reminisces about her old home. Mentions that the church is 6 miles away and that services are only every other week. Says…

GLC00686.02

January 31, 1849

Van Valkenburgh, Mary, fl. 1849

Autograph letter

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

Incomplete letter from Mary to her 14-year-old brother Frank. References a "little letter" that Frank wrote to her. Writes about her life at school. Says most days are alike and comfortable. Asks him how "the Academy" is going. Asks for an update on family members and reports what she knows to him. Asks him to give her a detailed account of his school, teachers, and studies. Reminisces about how she nursed him through an illness. Philosophizes about their futures and gives him advice.

GLC00686.03

1 June 1854

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Document

Title: [Printed party invitation]

Franklin Van Valkenburgh's name is written in pencil at the bottom. An invitation for "A Cotillion Party." The party will begin in the assembly room of J.M. Brewster in Townsend (unknown state). The party is on 3 July 1854 at 4 p.m. Lists 8 committee members and 2 room managers. Small image of an eagle at the top. Written from "Townsend," with no state given.

GLC00686.04

March 14, 1861

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mollie Van Valkenburgh

Written by Gerrit to his sister Mollie. Attempts to justify his decision, as a transplanted Northerner, to side with the South. Mixes support for his adopted home with love for the family he left in the North. References her letter of 12 February and says he will answer it now even though she takes six months to respond to him. Says he is at Warren, Arkansas attending court and collecting money. Reports that people in Warren are getting over the political excitement which has been the absorbing topic of conversation. Claims they are ending the talk and preparing for war. Says the…

GLC00686.05

October 28, 1862

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Two handwritten copies of the same letter in the file. Says it has been a long time since he wrote, but not because he has not thought of his family in the North. Claims that "although we now belong to sections of our country which are engaged in an unnatural and unholy warfare Yet I cannot say that I love your or my friends less than I did when we were Members of the same great family." Wonders when they will be reunited. Says last letter from the family was July 1861. Says he shed blood for the South and that he is "now in the army fighting for liberty - for the same great principles that…

GLC00686.08

October 26, 1863

Van Valkenburgh, Jacob, 1795-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

Written by Frank's father, J. Van Valkenburgh, to Frank. Says he sent 6 barrels of apples by train to Milwaukee for him and other family members. Declares that he picked 16 barrels by hand from his orchard. Also sent several barrels of better apples. Mentions that they got a new stove and that it heats the whole house. Says his sister Mary has given birth to a daughter. Note in pencil at the top of recto says "From my Grandfather to My Father."

GLC00686.09

May 5, 1864

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

Written by Gerrit, a transplanted Northerner fighting for the South, to his mother Mary. Begins by asking "Can the years that have passed since I saw you last - can the position that I have taken in this Civil War, have alienated me entirely from your love[?]" Says he has only heard from her once in 4 years and that only a short note on a letter she wrote to his brother Frank. Says those words have made him suffer more than the entire war. Asks to be forgiven for not being able to think as she did. Says he did what he thought was right.

GLC00686.10

June 10, 1864

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

Written by Gerrit to his mother Mary. References her letter of 22 May 1864. Is very happy about his mother's letter and says he has thought about her often. Says there is a big difference between them and that he is "a Southerner in word in thought & act." Believes that the Confederates were not as wanton as Northern papers make them out to be. Argues that he did not enter the war blindly, but made a well-thought choice to join the South. Goes into detail about his decision making process. Says he does not blame anyone for wanting to join the Federal army, so people should not blame him…

GLC00686.11

June 3, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

On stationery headed: "Waldo, Ody & Van, Attorneys and Counsellors at Law." Written by Frank to his mother Mary. Says he has not neglected her, but has been busy moving, house cleaning, attending fairs and courts, as well as dealing with visitors. Updates her on what he knows of family news. Says Gerrit, his twin brother, is well at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Hopes to visit him soon.

GLC00686.17

June 10, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Date written in pencil at the top of recto as "June 10 1865?" Content of GLC00686.22 and GLC00686.24 suggest this date might be accurate. Signed twice by Frank, once in pen and once in pencil. Written aboard a ship on his way to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to assist his twin brother Gerrit, who was in trouble with the law. Mailed letter from Memphis. Says he has not stopped thinking about her and their son. Says "Our Crew of say 50 men are mostly negroes, and such a crowd you never saw." Mentions that the "Plantation Darkeys" are toting their plunder onboard. Describes ship, passengers, and…

GLC00686.19

June 11, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Written part in pen, part in pencil. Reports on conditions in the South after the Civil War. Frank was travelling to Arkansas to help his twin brother Gerrit who was in trouble with the law. Says he knows he wrote recently, but since he is stuck in "this God forsaken hole" he is going to write another. Mentions meeting a Confederate soldier who thought he was his twin brother Gerrit. The former soldier was released from prison the week before and Frank relates his story. Reports that many people know his twin brother Gerrit. Says "they say Warren [Arkansas] never saw so exciting a time as was…

GLC00686.20

July 1, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

Unsigned. Letter is apparently missing the ending. Written on Waldo, Ody & Van law firm stationery. Written by Frank to his mother. Says he just arrived back from assisting his twin brother Gerrit. It was a two-day stay with 20 days of travelling. Says he was assured by the commanding officer of the district in Arkansas where his brother was being held that the "charge was entirely false & unfounded - He has taken the Oath of Allegiance & is gain a Citizen &c - He has done what he could for the South under the full conviction that they were right." Reports that everyone…

GLC00686.21

July 3, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. Van Valkenburgh

On Waldo, Ody & Van law firm stationery. Written by Frank to his father in Michigan. Says he received his father's letter of 28 June 1865 with the $50 for Libbie. Says they fed 850 returned soldiers last night and are consequently tired. Sends along family news. Says his father will probably have vistors soon. Wants his mother and father to visit. Mentions that Gerrit, his twin brother, is in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and has been sick.

GLC00686.22

August 18, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

Written by Gerrit to his mother Mary. Says he loves and thinks often of his relatives in the North. Mentions that his brother Frank has already written about his release from the prison. Says the charges against him were false. Since he has been in Pine Bluff, he has been sick with chills and fever - he thinks typhoid. Reports that he is feeling better though. Says he boards with his employer, who is originally from Connecticut. Mentions an uncle who lives in Warren, Arkansas and says "their slaves - or former slaves - [are] still with them." The uncle bought a flour mill and his sons work…

GLC00686.24