American Historical Ephemera & Photography

RODGERS, John (1772-1838). Integral address panel written in Rodgers' hand. 10 x 8 in. "City of Washington / Jun 29 / Free" postmark. Addressed to Commodore James Barrow, Philadelphia (loss where seal was previously affixed, with seal on opposite side of panel, fold lines, small holes at two corners). Commodore John Rodgers was a senior US naval officer who served under six Presidents during its formative years in the 1790s through the late 1830s. His service took him through many operations in the Quasi- War with France, both Barbary Wars in North Africa, and the War of 1812 with Britain. As a senior officer in the American Navy, he played a major role in the development of the standards, customs and traditions that emerged during this time. During the War of 1812, Rodgers fired the first shot of the war aboard his flagship, the USS President, and played a leading role in the recapture of Washington after the capital was burned by the British. Later in his career he headed the Navy Board of Commissioners and served briefly as Secretary of the Navy.

[With:] TIPTON, John (1786-1839). Autograph letter signed ("John Tipton") and free frank signed on stampless folded letter ("Free John Tipton"). "Falls of the Wabash." 21 September 1835. With rare postmark, "Logansport Indiana Sept. 25." Addressed to John P. Hedge Esq., Fort Wayne, Indiana. 1p., 7 3/4 x 10 in. (fold lines, some soiling near fold lines). A letter from Tipton in which he discusses business matters, interestingly datelined "Falls of the Wabash." This is a scarce marking, and possibly one of the earliest known Logansport covers, with another known 1833 cover held in private hands. John Tipton was a senator and Indian Agent for the Miami and Pottawatamie. Following his participation in the Battle of Tippecanoe and other campaigns, Tipton was elected to the US Senate from Indiana and served as Chairman of the Native American Affairs Committee. Logansport was settled circa 1826 and named after a Shawnee warrior named James Logan, better known as "Captain Logan," who served as a scout for US forces in the surrounding area during the War of 1812.

[With:] McARTHUR, Duncan (1772-1839). Manuscript survey document for a military warrant land survey signed ("D. McArthur"). Likely Bainbridge, Ohio. Ca 1820s-1830s. 1p., 7 1/2 x 13 in. (fold lines, toning to document). The document reads in part, "Surveyed for Thomas McDonald 50 acres of lands on parts of military warrant No. 5747 on the waters of the East Fork of Paint Creek beginning at the southwest corner of Thomas Hoff's survey No. 3704..." The document further explains Thomas McDonald's claim and amendment for an additional 100 acres of land per military warrants granted to many soldiers who served in the War of 1812. Signed by War of 1812 General and the 11th Governor of Ohio, Duncan McArthur as well as 3 county commissioners.

[With:] SPENCER, John Canfield (1788-1855). Letter signed ("J.C. Spencer") as Secretary of the Treasury. Treasury Department. 21 December 1843. 1p., 7 1/4 x 10 in. (chipping to edges). Addressed to Hon. Levi Woodbury, US Senator. A recommendation Captain Samuel Langley as "Wreck Master" on Lake Michigan. During the War of 1812, Spencer served in the US Army where he was appointed brigade judge advocate general for the northern frontier. He later served as Secretary of Treasury. 

[With:] PIERCE, Benjamin Kendrick (1790-1850). Autograph letter signed ("B.K. Pierce") as Lt. Colonel Commanding, 1st Regt. Head Quarters, 1st Regt, Plattsburgh, [NY]. 1 October 1839. 2p., 7 1/2 x 9 3/4 in. (fold lines, few separations at folds). Stampless folded letter with "Steamboat" marking in red. Addressed to US District Attorney Nathaniel Benton in Albany, NY, the letter discusses an accused deserter named Martin Oates who was held in jail. The letter also references President Van Buren's opinion on the case.
Benjamin Kendrick Pierce was a career officer in the United States Army. He was a son of New Hampshire Governor Benjamin Pierce and brother of President Franklin Pierce. Benjamin K. Pierce was a veteran of the War of 1812, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican–American War, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army and Colonel in the Florida Militia.

[With:] CASS, Lewis (1782-1866). Autograph letter signed ("Lewis Cass"). Washington City, DC. January 1848. Number of pages difficult to discern (letter has separated into several panels, but portions may be pieced together). Stampless letter with "Washington City DC / Jan 8" postmark, addressed to C.H. Waddell. Lewis Cass was a former military officer, Governor of Michigan, US Senator from Michigan, and first Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge in Michigan. He was the losing nominee of the Democratic party for US President in 1848. The letter reads, in part, "I have not written because I had nothing to communicate which was worth troubling you about.
You see by the paper the general course of things here, and can appreciate them as well as I can see. All the information which reaches us from the ( ? west)) is so favorable so the most dangerous. I shall leave here next February the 14th. I shall stay that day and the 15th in Baltimore. I shall reach York on the 16th where our friends from Harrisburg will join us and shall (?) at that for the next morning. I have no doubt they will give me a kinder reception that I am at all enitled to. I shall stay there a day or two when I shall go west though by what route I have not yet determined. I shall stay for a short ( while?) at Zanesville then go on to the  Columbus area and then after that to (? Cincinnati)
from there I shall visit Detroit"

[With:] CASS, Lewis (1782-1866). Panel from envelope with autographed free frank ("Lewis Cass"). With "Detroit Mich. Aug. 1" red postmark, addressed to Hon. Thomas W. Dorr (1805-1854), leader of Dorr's Rebellion. He later served as Governor of Rhode Island (toning to panel, tipped on an old album page).

[With:] LINNARD, William (1749-1835). Letter signed ("Wm. Linnard") as Dept. Quartermaster General. Philadelphia, PA. 31 October 1817. 1p., 7 3/4 x 10 in. (horizontal separation near center). Addressed to Captain Milo Mason, the letter discusses shipping a package to be delivered to Fort Independence.

[With:] PERKINS, Simon (1771-1844). Autograph letter signed ("Simon Perkins"). Warren, OH. 28 February 1824. 1p., 8 x 9 1/2 in. (soiling to fold lines, some chipping, loss to edges). Stampless folded letter addressed to Andrew Vinnsbury. Perkins was an early settler, businessman and surveyor of the Western Reserve of Connecticut, which would later become northeast Ohio. He co-founded Akron, Ohio with Paul Williams in 1825. Previously, he served as a brigadier-general during the War of 1812.

[With:] JONES, Roger (1789-1852). Letter signed ("R. Jones, Adj. Gen."). Adjutant Genl's Office, Washington. 1 April 1845. 1p., 8 x 10 in. (wear near fold lines, slight tear to middle of letter). Stampless folded letter with "Washington City DC Apr. 1" postmark, addressed to Henry Vineyards. A letter in which Adjutant General Jones discusses the service of Francis Vineyards.

[With:] DENNY, James, and OSBORN, Ralph (1780-1835). Partially printed State of Ohio summons signed ("James Denny") as Clerk, verso with autograph note signed (R. Osborn") as atty. Pickaway County, Ohio. 9 February 1814. 1p., 8 x 6 1/2 in. (folds, small edge tear/ pinhole). A State of Ohio, Pickaway County sheriff summons  to "... take Tallmage Ross if he is to be found in your bailiwick, and him safely keep... to answer unto William Pierson of a plea of Trespass...," signed James Denny (Clerk). The undated note on verso from Osborn reads, "This is an action brought on a certain note in writing commonly called a promissory Note, payable in money  R. Osborn  Atty for pltff." 

Ralph Osborn moved to Franklinton, Ohio in 1806 (now part of Columbus). He began the practice of law, but soon moved to Circleville, Ohio in Pickaway County.  He was clerk of the Ohio House of Representatives and in 1815 was chosen as State Auditor. In 1824, in his capacity as State Auditor, Osborn was sued for actions related to the Banking Crisis of 1819 (Osborn vs. Bank of the United States). James Denny, the first clerk of the courts, was a native of Pennsylvania and one of the prominent pioneers of that part of Ohio. During the War of 1812 he was major of a regiment raised in the Scioto Valley of which Duncan McArthur was colonel. He served in and around Detroit but was included in General Hull's ignominious surrender at Detroit on the 16 August 1812 and was paroled and sent home. The year following Major Denny raised a regiment in the valley counties of which he was made colonel and again entered the service and was promoted to major general before the close of the war.

[With:] [DEARBORN, Henry (1751-1829)]. Stampless cover addressed to Henry Dearborn, "Honorable Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War, Washington City." Postmark of "Charles SC May 7" (fold lines, some chipping to edges).

[Also with:] SIMONSON, John S. (1796-1881) and ROGERS, Aquila, both military officers. Manuscript bill of sale of the property of John Schwartz, signed by John S. Simonson and Aquila Rogers. July and September 1831. -- ALBRIGHT, Jacob, War of 1812 hero who participated in the Battle of Tippecanoe and Fort Harrison. Autograph letter signed ("Jacob Albright"). Church Town. 5 April 1852. Letter discussing bounty lands. -- SCALES, William (1785-1848), War of 1812 officer, Indiana Territory pioneer. Manuscript summons signed ("Wm. Scales"). Evansville, IN. 1 November 1845. Stampless folded document with "Evansville Ia. Nov 1" postmark (crossed out) (wear to document, including splitting near fold lines).