Browsing Autographs  Illinois  View Glossary

1. ABRAMSON, Ben (1898-1955). Typed Letter Signed.
If you look carefully under the windows outside the Rare Book Room of Chicago's famed Newberry Library, you might just find the ashes of this famed Chicago bookseller, for that's where his friends distributed him; co-founder of Chicago's noted and eccentric Argus Book Shop, which specialized in stocking the owners favorite authors -- Conan Doyle, Frost, Steinbeck and a few others; as much a literary salon and hangout as a book shop, where figures such as Christopher Morley, Vincent Starrett and Somerset Maugham could be found; as a publisher, Abramson brought out works by avant-garde writers such as H.P. Lovecraft, Anatole France and Pierre Louys. TLS, 1p, 7" X 10½", Chicago, IL, 1934 January 30. Addressed to R.O. Compton. Very good. On Argus Book Shop letterhead (from his first location at 333 South Dearborn Street, described by one writer as "nondescript"), Abramson transmits Louis Adamic's "The Native's Return," commenting: "Mr. Adamic was, for many years, and still is a customer of ours, and I therefore prevailed upon him to inscribe this copy to you... I hope that you will derive much pleasure from reading the book." Signed simply "Ben," with a holograph postscript: "why dont you come down / and see me sometime / B." A colorful bit of Chicago bookselling history. "Ben was one of the last of the sweetly screwy booksellers," wrote Herb Graffis in a "Chicago Sun Times" obituary. "He was a round cultural peg who never was bothered by not fitting into a square economic hole."
Price: $65.00

2. (BANK OF ILLINOIS -- Edwardsville). Document Signed.
The Bank of Illinois was established in 1813, and in 1818 the important early Illinois town of Edwardsville in Madison County was authorized to open the Bank of Illinois at Edwardsville provided it received $50,000 in subscriptions before commencing. The panic of 1819 ensued, however, and by 1821 the much-heralded bank failed and closed. DS, 2pp (single leaf), 7½" X 12¼", Edwardsville, IL, 1821 July 16. Very good. Moderately age toned. This remarkable document is a bond signed by 22 important Illinois settlers "to The President & Directors of the Branch of the State Bank at Edwardsville" -- quite possibly a last-ditch effort stave off the bank's closing. "Know all Men by these Presents," begins the boldly penned boilerplate text, "that we... are held and firmly bound, unto the President and Directors of the Branch of the State Bank of Illinois at Edwardsville in the sum of Sixty thousand Dollars, for the use of the People of the Said State...." Standard legalese text then spells out "The Condition of this obligation." Signed at the bottom of the first page by the five primary participants named in the body of the document and also by four others, with the verso containing the remaining 13 signers in two columns. These 22 signers include the movers and shakers of the Edwardsville area at this time, along with several about whom we know little and a couple who remain unidentified. In order of signing, first the five primary signers named with the text of the document: THEOPHILUS W. SMITH (1784-1846), pro-slavery newspaper editor, quartermaster-general to Governor John Reynolds in the Black Hawk War, state senator, state Supreme Court associate justice from 1825 to 1842 (and subject of Illinois's first impeachment trial for "oppressive conduct, corruption, and high misdemeanors" in 1832, though acquitted). JACOB JUDY (1797-1850), register at the Edwardsville land office from 1845 to 1849; surveyed part of the famed Edwards Trace. SAMUEL WHITESIDE (1783-1868), of the important pioneer family (whose patriarch William W. distinguished himself in the Revolutionary War at the celebrated Battle of King's Mountain), captain in the War of 1812, brigadier general in the Black Hawk War, namesake of Whiteside County, Illinois. ABRAHAM PRUITT (1781-1832), pioneer settler of Goshen and militia soldier who chased a part of Indians who had slaughtered seven white women and children, killing one Indian and finding a white woman's scalp in the Indian's pouch. ELI B. CLEMSON (?-1846), U.S. Army officer active in early Detroit and St. Louis (Fort Clemson nearby named in his honor), real estate investor and businessman who ran stage and mail coaches in Illinois, merchant, farmer, postmaster, Pulaski County Court clerk. In a second column on this first page also appear: R.T. McKENNEY (?-?), second cashier of the Bank of Illinois at Edwardsville. UNIDENTIFIED (illegible). JAMES WATTS (?-?), unidentified. GEORGE LEAS (?-?), unidentified. Two columns of signatures fill the top half of the second leaf. At left, top to bottom: JOSEPH BOROUGH (?-?), a private from St. Clair County in the War of 1812, delegate to the 1818 Illinois state constitutional convention, state representative 1818 to 1820. JOSEPH EBERMAN (?-?), pioneer settler of Troy whose tavern was one of the first structures there; first justice of the peace. JOEL WHITESIDE (1784-1840), pioneer settler who with brother Samuel made the first improvements near what's now Edwardsville, officer in the War of 1812. JUBILEE POSEY (1792-1878), pioneer settle of Troy; only signer to sign with "his mark," a large "X". AARON ARMSTRONG (?-?), unidentified. WILLIAM H. HOPKINS (?-?), Officer in the Illinois militia. At right, top to bottom: JOHN TODD (1787-1865), Mary Todd Lincoln's uncle, a noted physician and surgeon in the War of 1812, taken prisoner by the Indians in 1813 at the Battle of River Raisin (Canada), moved to Edwardsville in 1817 and to Springfield in 1827, register of the U.S. Land Office in Springfield. DANIEL POPE COOK (1794-1827), son-in-law of Governor Ninian Edwards (Edwardsville namesake), editor of "Illinois Intelligencer," Illinois's first attorney general in 1819, at-large Illinois representative 1819 to 1827, namesake of Cook County. ABRAHAM HOWARD (?-?), as commander of the fort at Edwardsville in 1814 when an Indian attack (that never materialized) was feared, he supposedly chased a lone Indian who had "committed some overt act near the fort" 90 miles, killed him and brought his bleeding scalp to the fort. ISAAC FERGUSON (?-?), co-founded the nearby city of Marine in 1813, commanded Chilton's Fort 1812 to 1814. J.L. McCOLLUM (?-?), unidentified. WILLIAM PARKISON (?-?), colonel in the Illinois militia. JAMES ROBINSON (?-?), unidentified. Alongside each of the 22 signatures the word "LS" (for "Legal Seal") within an oval squiggle has been penned -- indicating this was not an official copy, but rather a retained draft kept by one of the parties involved. Below these last columns of signatures Samuel Whiteside signs a second time, beneath "Sealed and delivered / in the presence of." Blank lower portion contains dockets, one signed be E.J. West. A provocative early Illinois document recording what appears to be failed attempt to rescue this struggling bank -- and signed by a "Who's Who" of important Illinois citizens. Extremely unusual and quite desirable.
Price: $950.00

3. BUNDESEN, Herman N. (1881-2960). Typed Letter Signed.
Noted Chicago medical figure -- as Chicago's long-time coroner was the chief investigator into the St. Valentine's Day massacre (February 14, 1929) and was on the scene within a half hour of the slaughter; he later served as the president of the Chicago Board of Health. TLS, 1p, 8½" X 11", Chicago, IL, 1958 January 14. Addressed to Warren A. Reeder. Near fine. On Board of Health letterhead, Bundesen declines an invitation to speak before the Hammond (Indiana) Board of Realtors: "...we are so short of personnel in the Department and I have so many commitments, due to the pressure of time I will have to deprive myself of this privilege..." Large, full signature in blue ballpoint. Rather uncommon.
Price: $95.00

4. DODDS, Samuel F. (?-?). Autograph Document Signed.
The founder of Lena, Illinois and its first postmaster was an Illinois Central Railroad agent who owned 80 acres on what is today Lena, which he laid out in 1854; he built the city's first structure in the late 1840s, the Old Stagecoach Inn, which opened for business in 1848. ADS, 1p, 7½" X 12", Alida, IL, 1850 May 18. Addressed to Jerome Increase Case (1819-91, founder of the J.I. Case Threshing Machine Company, the first American to create steam engines for agricultural use). Very good. Minor soiling and bit of edgewear. Detailed financial notes regarding some promissory notes on which payment is due and their difficulty in collecting on them: "... I received the Rozensteels notes in due time, and have made demand but he is not got the money, Rozensteel says that he will give security if you will wait untill first of October next that it will be certain then with 20 per cent, this I had no authority from you. I did not offer to take a deed of trust I have seen Reben [?] & Herman, I know that Reben is to receive money from Pennsylvania about the first of June He has promised to pay his part then. Herman will secure his to be paid the first of August next According to the statute of this state all demands of the same nature must be put in the same suit, therefore each of these must be commenced in Circuit court [illegible] courts are in March and August. If each note had been assigned to different individuals then they would come under the Jurisdiction of a Justice of the peace but so they are we will have to wait untill court or untill we can receive part pay to reduce the demands that are due against each party below One hundred dollars. I do not think it best to let this event pass without Judgment unless they secure or pay before...." Boldly penned on typical pale blue stock. Very uncommon.
Price: $275.00

5. JONES, John Rice (1759-1824). Autograph Letter Signed.
Influential Welshman in early Illinois history who led the movement which made Illinois a territory; served under George Rogers Clark and was associated with Moses Austin (father of Stephen) in many Illinois and Missouri mining operations. ALS, 1p, St. Genevieve, IL, 1813 July 17. Addressed to Moses Austin (1761-1821). Very good. Minor even age toning. Choice content advising his frequent business partner "that I shall at the next Term of the Court of Common pleas to be holden in and for the County or District of St. Genevieve in the Missouri Territory apply and petition to the said Court to appoint Commissioners for dividing a Tract of land containing Seven thousand one hundred and fifty three arpents thirty two and 2/3 feet situate at the mine a Burton... between you and myself agreeably to our respective Rights and Titles... in pursuance of a Conveyance by you to me... date on or about the 24th Day of June 1807...." Austin had moved from Virginia to Missouri in 1798 and reopened the Mine a Burton, and this provocative document -- which predates the collapse of Austin's fortune in the depression of 1819 but foreshadows it -- suggests an unamicable split between he and Jones. This intriguing document is enhanced further by a docket on the verso by HENRY DODGE (1782-1867), the Wisconsin soldier and pioneer. Raised in the St. Genevieve area, Dodge served as sheriff for the district. Here he notes: "delivered a Copy of the within notice to one Moses Austin on the 19th of July 1813. H Dodge." A superb and attractive piece chronicling an important financial transaction.
Price: $750.00

6. KINGSBURY, Harmon (1826?-1868). Autograph Letter Signed.
This Cleveland merchant became well-known as an abolitionist, reformer and occasional publisher; among his writings are "The Sabbath" (1840), "The Immigrant's Good Samaritan" (1848), "Law and Government" (1849), "Thoughts on the Fugitive Slave Law and Nebraska Bill" (1955), "The Great Law Book" (1857), "Word of Christ" (1857) and "The Slavery Question Settled" (1862). ALS, 1p + integral address leaf, 7 3/4" X 9 3/4", Chicago, IL, 1847 January 26. Addressed to Philip C. Johnson (Illinois secretary of state). Very good. Mildly but evenly age toned; small separations along original folds neatly and archivally repaired on blank verso. Opens, oddly, with a discussion of the price of dried peaches -- Kingsbury was a merchant, after all! "Mr. Grubbs informed me yesterday that he had just rec'd a letter from the Digings, saying that Dormody had just left there for the east -- perhaps Chicago... having sold about all his stock -- that he had not succeeded very well. I am extremely anxious to see him, as, if I could, I have little doubt, in some reasonable way, possession would be obtained." Dormody is no doubt William Dormody (1796-1876), an Irish-born merchant and businessman who left the Midwest around this time to try his luck in the goldfields of California -- and succeeded; here Kingsbury appears to lust after Dormody's unsold merchandise. He then discusses what appears to be the acquisition of a newspaper -- seeking, no doubt, a soapbox from which he could broadcast his controversial abolitionist and reform views. "...I have been negociating for the whole of the Western Herald -- financial as well as Editorial. Today the prospect is less than heretofore, that I shall engage in it -- & for two reasons, vis, the price a little too high, & the want of firm health. The situation would suit my taste very well, but perhaps I could be as useful elsewhere.... My expenses here are so high, $9 or 10 per week, that I may leave in a few days, now when the roads are good...." Fine content addressing both of Kingsbury's concerns: pursuing merchandise to stock his Cleveland store, and pursuing a newspaper purchase to further his reform agenda. Quite uncommon.
Price: $295.00

7. PEABODY, Selim H. (1829-1903). Autograph Note Signed.
This American educator obtained the first legislative grant for the Illinois Industrial University in 1852, which transformed into the University of Illinois in 1885 -- which institution Peabody served as president (1880-91). ANS in pencil, 1p, 5½" X 3½", n.p., n.y. [dated on verso 1890 August 25 in another hand]. Near fine. Courteous note on the blank verso of a portion of a note written to Peabody by what appears to be an incoming freshman. "When you arrive come to the University," notes Peabody," and inquire of the Business Agent, Professor Shattuck, who will tell you all about boarding places. If you care to be here by, say, Friday previous, the 12th, it will be in ample time to get everything settled...." Boldly signed in full. Oh for the days when a university president could personally advise new students! From the collection of University of Chicago geology professor Albert Johannsen (1871-1962), author of "The House of Beadle and Adams and Its Dime and Nickel Novels" (1950), the definitive reference work and bibliography on the subject. Johannsen's original 4" X 7" catalogue slip, bearing his printed "Collection of Albert Johannsen" label (partly filled in by Johannsen), accompanies this item.
Price: $75.00

8. SCHMIDT, Minna Moscherosch (1866-1961). Signed Promotional Leaflet.
Bavarian-born American costumologist and costume designer whose Schmidt Costume Co. was a Chicago fixture for half a century and whose historic costumes display was a hit at Chicago's 1933 "Century of Progress" fair as well as a popular exhibit at the Chicago Historical Society from 1933 to 1950; in 1933 she authored and self-published the classic "400 Outstanding Women of the World and Costumology of Their Time." Signed Promotional Leaflet, 4pp (separate, rectos only), 9¼" X 12", published by Schmidt in Chicago, n.y. [ca. 1930s]. Very good. Single light horizontal fold (not weakened) along center of each sheet; single barely-visible staple hole at upper left of each sheet. Captioned "3,000 Years of Costumes Through History and Literature," these four glossy pictorial sheets feature four rows of costumed female figures per sheet showing a timeline of women's clothing styles from ancient Greece through 1924. On the blank verso of the fourth sheet Schmidt signs large and bold in brown fountain pen near the top. Though not dated, it's likely that these promotional sheets tied in with her pivotal 1933 book and "Century of Progress" showing.
Price: $75.00

9. SHERMAN, Lawrence Y. (1858-1939). Autograph Letter Signed.
Illinois senator (1913-21) and politician. Humorous ALS, 1p, 7¼" X 10½", Springfield, IL, 1922 September 29. Addressed to Waldo C. Moore. Very good. Responding to a request for "my autographed Check for one cent...The chemical basis of all roughage for animals in the framework is cellulose. This sheet of paper contains more of the basic material for the boss animal of our party than a Check and may be used accordingly." Weird but amusing.
Price: $55.00

10. WHEELOCK, Eleazar Lewis Ripley (1793-1847). Autograph Document Signed.
Early Illinois surveyor and soldier; settled in Illinois as a War of 1812 veteran and served in the Black Hawk War in 1832; an investor in Texas, he relocated there in 1833 and founded the city of Wheelock in south central Texas, where he served as land agent, surveyor, rancher and farmer; a friend of Sam Houston, he served in the Texas revolution and throughout the Republic years; under President Anson Jones he served as Indian commissioner. ADS, 1p, 7 3/4" X 6 3/4", n.p. [Illinois], 1819 March 23. Very good. Moderately age toned; bit of minor edgewear. Promissory note in which Wheelock borrows $666.66 from Joseph Bowers and Daniel Converse, to be paid "Twelve months from this date." Boldly, legibly penned and co-signed at lower left by one A.E. Ross as witness. A retained draft, as attested by the squiggly circle drawn by Wheelock at right of his signature in lieu of an official courthouse embossing. Extremely interesting docketing on verso: On 30 May 1819, two months after this promissory note was written, the assignees sign over the note to DANIEL P. COOK (1795-1827). Below this, on 14 June 1819, Cook signs the note over to John T. Lusk. Cook was an important Illinois lawyer, publisher of the influential "Western Intelligencer" and a critical figure in Illinois achieving statehood; in 1818 he was elected to Congress, the state's only representative, and served four terms; dying at the young age of 33, the state's most famous county was named after him four years later. Anything in Cook's hand is quite scarce, and this choice example appears to have made its way into the law books ("Reports of Cases at Common Law and in Chancery, Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, From its First Organization in 1819, to the End of December Term, 1831" by Sidney Breese, second edition, with additional notes by Edwin Beecher; Chicago 1877). There the case of John T. Lusk vs. Daniel P. Cook is recorded, a cryptic case involving the assignments of two promissory notes from Cook to Lusk. Details of this specific Wheelock note are not mentioned there, but the fact that underneath the Cook note another hand (likely Lusk's) pens "Verdict for Lusk on two notes $1495.26" strongly suggests that this was one of the two notes involved in the lawsuit. An intriguing and scarce early Illinois item.
Price: $795.00

11. (WISCONSIN). SPRAGUE, Frederic Augustus (1794-1865). Autograph Letter Signed.
Prominent physician of Eagle, Wisconsin and state senator. ALS, 2pp + integral stampless address leaf, 8" X 12½", Eagle, WI, 1843 December 23. Very good. Minor age toning and bit of mild edgewear. Addressed to Jonathan Parsons (1811-76), fellow Eagle resident who built the first frame house in that city in 1840 and in 1842 was elected to the Territorial Legislature. Delightful contents to the novice legislator on political matters and on his unabashed scorn for Wisconsin's second territorial governor, James D. Doty (1799-1865), who served from 1841 to 1844. Reads in part: "... i was pleased to hear... that old Coon Doty out of the way and some decent man in his place, -- then you and the honorable Gentlemen who compose our Legislature, might enjoy yourselves this winter, and do a great deal of good for the Teritory & the people. -- that old Coons message (i think) is an insult to the Legislature and to the people. -- he says he wants a short session, i presume the reason of that is -- because he wants a litle money left for him to cheat Uncle Sam out of an old Coon when he goes into a cornfield wants the seasons Short so that he can have a plenty of green corn the year round. i often wonder what such things as Gnats, Musquetoes, Skunks, Doty, and Snakes were made for... perhaps were it not for these infernal creatures, we Badgers who are Blest with a good Country, a good Climate, a good Soil, and good inhabitants, (except Doty) might become proud and forget him from whome all Blessings flow." Sprague then transcribes what appears to be an original 6-stanza poem, a satire on Doty and the politics of the day. "So let old Doty still go on," it begins, "With all his monkey shines, / He soon must up Salt River go / And leave us here behind." 2nd stanza: "Yes up Salt River he must go / Along with 'Tyler too' / And Webster, Ewing, Henry Clay, / And all the federal Crew." 3rd stanza: "And then no more these Coons will sing, / 'We'l Burst the Duchmans Boiler' / But all must go to catching froggs / Along with 'Captain Tyler'." 4th stanza: "And then (i think) you'd laugh to see, / So many hairy Coons / Groaning because they lied so much / About the 'Golden Spoons'." 5th stanza: "Their is no use for us to try / To ever till the ground, / While that old Coon is at the Helm / And others lurk around." Last stanza: "But when the Coons they are all dead / Or up salt river gone, / Then we once more will start the plow, / And try to raize some Corn." A superb content letter that doesn't hold back -- better content Wisconsin material from this period seldom surfaces.
Price: $395.00

©1997-2009 Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, Ltd. All rights reserved.