Letters from Denver to his wife, 1857 - 1858
Scope and Contents
These letters were sent by Denver to his wife in Wilmington, Ohio while he was serving as governor of the Kansas Territory. All of the letters, written within two years of Denver's marriage to Louise Catherine Rombach, are addressed to "My dear wife" or "My dear love" and signed "Will"; he occasionally refers to his wife as "Lou."
The letters frequently mention the weather and Denver's health, and Denver often complains about the free staters and Republicans in the territory, as well as other partisans creating trouble. He also had to do all his own writing, having been denied a clerk, and he often states that he will give up the governorship as soon as he is able. He frequently references another Wilmington, OH community member who had come to Kansas, Henry Harvey. He also frequently notes how much he misses his wife and is torn about asking her to join him in the territory when it remains so dangerous. He also discusses members of both their families, particularly his sister Elizabeth (referring to her as Mrs. Samuel Johns) and brother Arthur.
Dates
- Creation: 1857 - 1858
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository