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CULBERTSON STEVENS et al : 1890s ORIGINAL ARCHIVE OF MANUSCRIPT LETTERS BETWEEN ABILENE KANSAS AND ONE LAND AGENT'S FAMILY ABOUT HIS HOLDINGS IN ILLINOIS

4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. On offer is a great, late 19th Century original archive of 16 handwritten letters (30 pages all told) relating to Culbertson Stevens, Real Estate and Loan Agent in Abilene Kansas in the 1890s. Most of the letters have to do with his land back in Galena Illinois and Apple River where his mother still lives. There are letters by her, some by Culbertson and a few written by the men living near the land and finally some letters to and from his brother L. S. Stevens who owns a Mercantile Agency in Chicago. Here are some snippets: "C. Stevens, Real Estate and Load Agent Abilene, Kas., Nov. 3rd, 1890 Dear Mother, Your letter received. Am glad you went out to Apple River. Mr. Emmor is entirely mistaken about what I said and you may read him this letter when he comes in. I wrote him to allow parties to mine on the land but they must fill up the holes after the stopped work. I told him not to pasture any more cattle on the land as the expenses ate up all the profit. He went on and fixed the fence without any authority from me nor did he write me he anticipated fixing the fence and taking in cattle. He never had any authority to cut and sell wood and I am to think he has done this, of course people will tell stories on him or anyone else for that matter who looks after the property. I have always thought Mr. Emmor was honest and would do what was right. With love, C." "Galena, Nov. 5th, 90' Dear Son, I have been looking over your letter this morning and fear my letter in some respects might be misleading….Mr. Euar spoke of working up a party to run a level some place there and spoke of he and Loren being concerned in the scheme, said he had sent L. specimens &c. I suppose L. knows all about it. One thing Ed spoke about was he sent in a petition last spring to have the road changed and it would run on the line between Mr. Martin and us but failed because we were not represented or had not given our consent. He said he knew we should have been written too about it but he did not move in it until so late. He did not have time to speak to you……..I seemed to me it would be better for us to have that road closed up then there would be no traffic through our land….Have heard nothing from Jennie's folks for a long time. I had a paper from Eureka yesterday. The Perry house is burned and a lot of other buildings and she can send it to you…..Your mother, S. C. Stevens." November, 10th, 1890 Dear Brother, I send you a number of letters received from mamma, read them over and you will see what is the matter. I wish you would go over to Galena and straighten this out. I guess Mr. Emmor so instructed to rent the pasture or lay out any money in fixing fences. He had no authority to cut a strip around the land or sell my wood. He has done all this without consulting me and I do not know but what it would be a good idea after you have settled up with him to let Ed Page look after things. I do not like the way Emmor has done. Can't you and Maggie go over for a few days while you attend to this? Mamma would be delighted to have you go. I received the pictures of Culbertson the II. He is a fine boy and I rather judge from his eyes he will make a great shooter. I will have to have to lend my hammerless gun to him sure. With love to you all, C." Overall VG.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Very Good

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