Beschreibung:

200+ items, mostly correspondence, as well as some family photographs, ca 1812-1883, from the pioneering Hockaday family as well as the Mills family, both from Missouri and Kentucky. Includes: 77 letters, ca 1822-1870, from John and Lucy Mills of Winchester, KY to their daughter Emily Hockaday or other members of the Hockaday family, including Irvine O. Hockaday; 37 letters to Irvine from friends and family, 1812-1863; 4 letters, 1812-1818, concerning the Boone family and Missouri; 27 legal documents, mostly lists of taxable property, that includes the numbers and ages of Hockaday’s slaves; December 18, 1824 issue of the Missouri Intelligencer No. 6 Vol. VI 4 pp. with article speaking about the Convention of St. Petersburg concerning compensating slaves from slave holding states Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, as well as a second article about the Treaty of Ghent and compensation for property taken including slaves; February 21, 1829 page from The Jeffersonian with at least two cases presided over by I.O. Hockaday; 1827 manuscript land survey for a tract surveyed by Benjamin George; a broadside of The Expunged Resolution of the US Senate on March 28, 1834 published in Washington March 28, 1864; Andrew Jackson presidential signed land grant for area in Missouri signed on March 1, 1831; three John Quincy Adams signed land grants for land in Missouri, dated May 1, 1826 and January 1, 1828 (2); sixth plate early daguerreotype portrait of who appears to be an elderly John Mills, although this cannot be confirmed, and printed photographs of Mills and his daughter Emily Mills Hockaday. The Hockadays were long-time residents of Kentucky and settled there early in its history. They knew the Boone family, and Irvine Hockaday was friendly enough with Alphonso Boone, Daniel Boone’s grandson, to share a few letters; one of which is included in the lot. Consistent with the pioneering spirit of Daniel Boone Alphonso and his father set out for Missouri as early as 1818 to survey territory. They expect to be gone all winter, Irvine’s aunt, Margret, wrote to him (Ohio, October 18, 1818). Less than two years later, Irvine followed his friend west to Missouri. Before he departed for the frontier, he proposed to Emily Mills, the daughter of Dr. John and Lucy Mills of Winchester, KY. From the plains, Irvine wrote his sweetheart about territory and his prospects: I arrived in this place on yesterday in good health, after being on the road twenty five days, you will say that I have traveled slowly to be that length of time traveling about 600 miles, but in coming to this place I spent a good deal of time in viewing the country adjacent to the road which retarded my progress very much. I am sorry to say that I am disappointed in the country it does not by any means come to my expectations, it is true there is a great deal of rich land in this country, but at the same time the objections to the country are very serious, good water, timber, and healthy situations are hard to find; notwithstanding I am disappointed in the country I still wish to settle here provided I situate myself advantageously. I think a young man situated as I am can do much better in this country than in Kentucky although the situation may not be so pleasant at first. I am quite distressed at the idea of bringing you to this country in its present state of improvement, your situation will be so materially changed as I prefer the worse from what it is at present, that I cannot think of it but with the most painful censations, though I hope you will not become discouraged, I flatter myself that it will terminate our mutual advantage and happiness. I am well apprised and convinced that young men situated as I am cannot prosper and do well without undergoing many privations and conveniences in the early part of life and I do consider myself one of the happiest men when I recollect that one like yourself has consented to become the partner of my cares and per