LOT Holabird-Kagin Americana  /  Mueller ~ Schmidtmann Western Americana BONANZA  / 

116

c1860s-1880s - Denver, J. W. Correspondence, Covers and Article :

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 800.00 USD
c1860s-1880s - Denver, J. W. Correspondence, Covers and Article :
Lot of 3 groups of Denver correspondence, plus 4 covers and an article. Group 1) Invitation and associated correspondence inviting Denver to attend the Eleventh Reunion of the Army of the Cumberland and the unveiling of the (Gen.) Thomas Statue, in Washington D.C. on November 19th and 20th, 1879. Two reply cards are enclosed, plus a personal note from A.M. Kenaday and another letter on the letterhead of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, signed by Brv’t Major General U.S.A. (illegible name), inviting Denver to the same event. The cover is Dated Nov. 4, 1879, postmarked Washington D.C., and addressed to Gen. J.W. Denver, in Wilmington, Ohio, as The President, Mexican Veterans Association. Group 2) Contains a printed Circular dated 1 November 1866, announcing the opening of the offices of the law firm of Hughes, Denver & Peck in Washington D.C. At the bottom is a letter to Denver’s wife dated Dec. 26, 1866. It describes his Christmas and its festivities, and then notes: “You will recollect that it was the ancestors of our Puritan friends who by solemn Act of Parliament abolished Christmas, and then they fixed on a day of Thanksgiving in lieu of it. The New England Puritans don’t seem to know that the act is no longer in force, but have supposed that Christmas was not (to) be observed more than any other day, or if observed at all that every one was to put on a long face and as gloomy an exterior as possible. They can’t understand why people should rejoice on the birthday of the Redeemer of mankind, and their conduct on that day would indicate that they are sorry instead of being rejoiced at the return of that day.” He goes on to note, “…I received a long letter today from Bela M. Hughes. He has determined he says to cut loose from Ben Holladay—that he is puffed up with his wealth, is arrogant and over-bearing—in face a changed man, --and that henceforth he shall be a stranger to him. He says further, ‘If I was in Mr. Rombach’s place I would have a division of property with Mr. Holladay and without day, for a partnership with him is disagreeable…’” 3 covers are included in this group. Group 3) Contains a long letter to Denver’s wife in Ohio, dated Feb. 29th, 1880, with accompanying cover. He describes his trip from Washington to Norfolk in great detail—the Navy yard destroyed in war now but partially rebuilt--and a visit to the Fortress Monroe Old Soldiers’ Home. Cover is postmarked Washington D.C. Mar. 7, 1880. The separate article is from the Louisville Daily Courier and is a long speech of the Hon. Humphrey Marshall, dated 1860.

Virginia-born James W. Denver (1817-1892) was a lawyer and the holder of numerous political and government positions. He served in California as the Secretary of State and a Democrat for California in the House of Representatives, as well as an officer in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War of 1847-48, under General Winfield Scott. President Jas. Buchanan appointed him governor of Kansas Territory just at the time the citizens there voted their state pro-slavery. Later that decision was overturned and Kansas entered the Union as a free state. In the 1850s Denver was appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and during the Civil War he served as a Brigadier General for the Union. The city of Denver was named for him.

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