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Sacramento City & County,CA - c. 1838-1870 - Waddell and Russell Pony Express Archive :

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Sacramento City & County,CA - c. 1838-1870 - Waddell and Russell Pony Express Archive :
Original archive of William Waddell and William Russell of the famous Pony Express and Pikes Peak Express. This archive contains more than 110 pieces including receipts, letters, and legal documents of Waddell and Russell, as well as other members of Waddell's family. Most of these documents were executed in Lexington, Missouri, their home between 1838 and 1870. The majority are dated during the Westward Expansion Period, as you might expect, which took place from the late 1840's through the 1860's. This is not part of the Russell, Majors, and Waddell archive sold several years ago.

Russell was a wealthy businessman who engaged in numerous freighting businesses. His friend and partner William Waddell invested in many of his businesses. This archive shows the high degree to which Waddell conducted business in and around Lexington; where he loaned money to individuals, businesses, and rented properties. He bought collateral notes from others, acting as a banker. Both Russell & Waddell purchased many properties, with one of these documents addressing a lawsuit against the two in 1870 because they did not convey title on a property they sold in a timely manner. Needless to say, the pair was probably engaged heavily in the express business during the 1860's, which itself may have led to this suit. Documents from California and Colorado in this archive have been sseparatedin this catalog. The content of this archive is rather remarkable, stretching from deeds for property with and without slaves, receipts for slave clothing, loans for money, receipts for taxes paid on early land lots, etc. At least half of the documents are signed by Waddell. As such, each of the signed documents represents a significant Pony Express autographed piece. However, we feel it would be historically detrimental to break up this archive, other than sseparatingthe California and Colorado pieces. Generally fine.