(Missouri) " 'Last Resort' Near Weston, July 18th 1857". Dateline on 7-page letter signed "Ben" by Ben Holladay to James Denver, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, accompanied by faulty original hand-carried legal-size cover endorsed per "Mr. Waters"; letter concerns secret land speculation with Denver starting: "My Dear Genl, I send the kind Mr Waters, as a special messenger - believing our business demands it, and not wishing to hurt the mails- You can rely on what he tells you about the "Halbria Lands"…He knows nothing about our private matters of course - only knows that we are friends…I feel confident that the purchases already made will make us fifty thousand dollars…", Very Fine and fascinating letter between Holladay and Denver.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Ben Holladay was Weston, Missouri's most prominent citizen. He began his career by keeping a log tavern in 1839. From 1841 to 1845 he served as postmaster. Holladay's fortune was based on a contract he secured to supply Stephen W. Kearny's expedition to Santa Fe during the Mexican War. After the war he began freighting over the California Trail. He was a major creditor of Russell, Majors & Waddell. When that firm went bankrupt he acquired it, together with their freighting business and mail routes to Denver and Salt Lake City. In later years the Holladay Overland Stage Line extended branches to California and Oregon. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(Nebraska) Fort Kearney, N.T., Dec 19 (Nebraska Territory). Clear black cds and grid cancel ties 3¢ rose (65), light bend, on 1864 orange cover to Sutton N.H., original 4 page letter accompanies with excellent Indian content, Very Fine, ex-David T. Beals, with 2014 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Indian content includes, "My company is still doing Garrison duty at this Fort, and is the only Company which is not mounted. The Indians continue to attack the passing trains and killing teamsters and travelers for the sake of plunder. The Commander is frequently sending out scouting parties after them. One party of a hundred is out now after a lot of Indians who lately attacked a train thirty miles west of here. Capt. Majors, our Capt. commands a post thirty-five miles West of here. The Indians have attacked the trains and stages several times during this Fall and he with his men have killed as many as ten or twelve Indians, but they won't leave us yet. Further West Col. Chivington, a Methodist Preacher, had a fight with a large lot, a few days ago, and it is said he killed about 200 of them." . Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

(Ohio) (Northwest Territory) "Cincinnati June 18th 1799". Dateline on 3pp folded letter from Jacob Burnet, Ohio Supreme Court judge and senator who nominated his friend William Henry Harrison for the presidency in 1839, to Elias Boudinot, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, regarding real estate matters, address leaf with manuscript "12½" rate deleted and updated to "25" cent, endorsed per "Major Kingsbury" at lower left, presumably Jacob Kingsbury, prominent Revolutionary War soldier who served in Wayne's Indian campaign; light toning and small tears, Fine and rare early Northwest Territory cover.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400