Papers, 1797-1878.

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Papers, 1797-1878.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56434074

Letters from family (32) back in Vermont discuss family affairs, politics and current events. One letter from niece, Olive Lee discusses the War of 1812, with two of the four letters in the collection written by Messinger being responses to this niece with references to the War of 1812 and its effect on the Illinois territory. Letters from Matthew Lyon (17) discuss the new territorial government and appointment of a governor, mail contracts, Illinois statehood, bounty lands in Illinois, trading in Arkansas, and Messinger's appointment as surveyor in Illinois. Letters (12) from Chittendon Lyon, brother-in-law, discuss Washington politics, bounty lands in Illinois, Kentucky to Illinois post road, refunding of the fine imposed on his father under the Sedition Act and there are references to John Reynolds and Joseph Duncan. One letter from Messinger to Jesse Burgess Thomas declining job as sheriff and one to Lyon about the division of the territory. Other correspondents include Edward Coles, Hiram Rountree, Jarel Mansfield (surveyor general), Nathaniel Pope, Elijah Galusha, Benaiah Robinson and others.

.42 linear feet (1 box)

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

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SNAC Resource ID: 7753899

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

Messinger family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65b9gwp (family)

Lyon family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6192mz0 (family)

Lyon, Matthew, 1749-1822

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6z046qx (person)

Matthew Lyon had a notable political and military career before settling the area named for him as Lyon County. He was born in Ireland in 1750 and emigrated to America at the age of fifteen. After working as an indentured servant to repay his passage, he purchased lands and settled in Vermont. Lyon began his military career following Ethan Allen at Ticonderoga and later became an adjutant in a Vermont regiment. After leaving the regular army, Lyon became a Vermont legislator and a colonel in its...

Messinger, John, 1771-1846.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60p3pfz (person)

Mathematician and surveyor from Massachusetts who came to Illinois, settling in Clinton Hill and worked as a school teacher, was made deputy to the Surveyor General of Ohio, surveyed much of Randolph and St. Clair Counties in Illinois and the northern part of the state, served in the Indiana territorial legislature, helped form the first Illinois constitution, served in and was elected speaker of the house in the first Illinois legislature. He married Anne Lyon, daughter of Matthew Lyon, congres...