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James William Denver letters

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 1066
 

James William Denver letters

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 1066
Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions

Dates
Creation: 1846 - 1865
Extent
.25 Linear Feet (1 document case)
Related Names
Denver, James William, 1817-1892
United States. Army. Missouri Infantry Regiment, 12th (1847-1848)
Denver family.
Kansas Territory. Governor (1857-1858 : Denver)
Language of Materials
English
Script
Latin

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
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. December 21, 1857
Dates
Creation: Leavenworth City December 29, 1857
Dates
Creation: Lecompton, K.T. January 10, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lawrence K.T. January 17, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lawrence K.T. January 24, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lawrence K.T. January 31, 1858; continued February 1
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. February 7, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lawrence K.T. February 14, 1858
 
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. March 7, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. March 14, 1858

Poem by Denver to his wife, [March 1858?]

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 21
Dates
Creation: [March 1858?]
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. March 31, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. April 11, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. April 18, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. May 5, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. May 9, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. May 23, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. June 6, 1858
Dates
Creation: Lecompton K.T. June 21, 1858
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