2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
A good early Texas land claim letter, 5pp. 4to., written by Postmaster S. W.Kellogg, Wheelock, Texas, Aug. 14, 1847 to a certain P. J. Sullivan, Cincinnaticoncerning the unfinished business of Texas land claims upon the death of Texaspioneer Col. E. R. L. Wheelock. In part: "...I have carefully noted thecontents of your letter and immediately communicated its contents to Gen.Morehouse, now in Houston; urging him to write...to make known...when &where he will have a meeting of directors. I spoke to him...on the importance ofgiving to the company a...name; that the business must be pushed on and that youand others could not be kept in suspense...Mr. J. de Cordona is a particularfriend and one of the most active...men in Texas. He is engaged in the Landagency business in Texas...doing a heavy business. He is not interested in thecompany, but...he may become so...what a pity we had not a president of Col.Wheelock's capacity, I fear Gen. [Edwin] Morehouse [1801-1849 former commanderin the 1830's Texas Army and Comanche Indian commissioner] will not do...I havewritten to Col. Wheelock's son, who is now in Quincy, Illinois, andhave...ordered...all papers...it is important that Mr. Gist or some othergentleman should reside abroad to participate in the business...it is equallyimportant...that there should be an active agent in Texas, acquainted with theLand business of the country...a large amount of Land Patents should be gotready to be offered as security...Col. Wheelock had partly arranged thispart...before he left...the gentlemen who put their names down forstock...are...able to pay up any quality of Land...when Col. Wheelock left here,he took upon himself the whole business of organizing the company and carryingit into operation...his death produced a shock from which we have scarcelyrecovered...nothing in the way of legal instructions can be given until ameeting of the Board of Directors which...I have urged Morehouse to all...hesaid he wanted to see the Colonel's papers. He too being ignorant of what theCol. had done while in Washington...There could not have been muchconfidence...between them while [Wheelock was] in Washington...it is the wish ofthe company that the business should be pushed through...". Col. Eleazor L.R. Wheelock (1793-1847) was a veteran of the War of 1812, Black Hawk war and theTexas War for Independence. He emigrated from Illinois to Texas with his familyin 1833. He became an early Texas Ranger leading a company as early as 1836while also working as a land agent and Indian Commissioner. During this time, heacquired most of land of present day Robertson County, Texas and he also foundeda town which bears his name. Some toning, else very good.
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