McCanse, William A., Papers, 1856, 1858 (C1290)

1 folder

INTRODUCTION

The William A. McCanse Papers consist of two items: an agreement for the "valuation and division . . . of negroes," 1856, and a letter from Jeremiah McKanse, a former slave, of Olathe, Kansas, to William McCanse, 1868.

DONOR INFORMATION

The McCanse papers were donated to the State Historical Society of Missouri by Raymond E. McCanse on 25 September 1972 (SHS Accession No. 979).

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The agreement for the division of negroes lists the names, ages, and value of ten slaves and the names of the ten people who were taking them. The slaves included a woman named Mary, children that might have been Mary's, possibly Mary's mother and brothers. On the list is eight-year-old Jeremiah who went to William A. McCanse.

The letter from Jeremiah McKanse to William was written from Olathe, Kansas, where Jeremiah and several others listed on the agreement settled. Jeremiah informs William about how the other former slaves are doing and where they are working. He tells him about property he owns in Olathe and about other business dealings. The tone of the letter seems cordial and Jeremiah mentions an earlier letter which he received from William.

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at The State Historical Society of Missouri-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.