History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]

Source Note

History draft; handwriting of
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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; 71 pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 6 August 1838 to 30 December 1839.
Historical Introduction

See Introduction to History Drafts, 1844–1856.

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<Histo[r]y of > When I made the purchse of White & There was were 1 stone house 3 frame houes & two block houes which constitu[te]d the wholee city of . Betwe[e]n And Mr s there was 1 stone hous & 3 Log houses, including the one I live in, & those were all the houses in this vicinity.— & the place was literally a wilderness. The land was mostly cover[e]d with trees & bushes, & much of it so wet that it was with the utmost difficulty a footman could get through & totally impassible for teams. was so unhea[l]thy very few could live there but believing that it might beome a heathy place, by the blessing of heaven to the & no more eligible place presenti[n]g itself I consider[e]d it wisdom to make an attempt to build up a city.

12–13 June 1839 • Wednesday–Thursday

<12> Wednedy & Thuday. I continu[e]d to dictate my history.

< Letter> “ June 13— 1839 (X L. P. 68 & 9, ”

14 June 1839 • Friday

<14> Friday 14[th] Continu[e]d writing history. This even[in]g there was a great excetiment [excitement] abo[u]t the Jail in at Columbia Mo. Several indiv[i]duals went & called for the Jailer but he was abs[e]nt. The next call[e]d for the Jailers wife & offer[e]d her money to let the prison[er]s go.— which she delind [declined], & becoming alarmed raised a cry & <which> brought the whole village togethr armd with bowie knives, guns, pistols &c— but finding no one there, they soon retund [returned] home execept a few to guard the prison. I This row brought diffirt [different] individuals to see the prison[e]rs, & by acquintace [acquaintance], their feelings were softened toward the .—

15 June 1839 • Saturday

<Josep[h]. visits > <15.> Satuday 15[th] <I started with my family to visit .> I spent abroad visiting. with my family, visitig about 4 miles west of we met on the Prairie, about 4 mi W of , found him in good spirits, & went with him to his house in , found his family well, staid [stayed] over night & had a very satisfacto[r]y visit.

16 June 1839 • Sunday

<16> Sunday, 16.— We went to Bro ’s at <in> . near the village of [p. 59]

History of When I made the purchse of White & There were 1 stone house 3 frame houes & two block houes which constituted the wholee city of . Between And Mr s there was 1 stone & 3 Log houses, including the one I live in, & those were all the houses in this vicinity.— & the place was literally a wilderness. The land was mostly covered with trees & bushes, & much of it so wet that it was with the utmost difficulty a footman could get through & totally impassible for teams. was so unhealthy very few could live there but believing that it might beome a heathy place, by the blessing of heaven to the & no more eligible place presenting itself I considered it wisdom to make an attempt to build up a city.

12–13 June 1839 • Wednesday–Thursday

12 Wednedy & Thuday. I continued to dictate my history.

Letter “ June 13— 1839 (X L. P. 68 & 9, ”

14 June 1839 • Friday

14 Friday 14[th] Continued writing history. This evening there was a great excetiment excitement about the Jail at Columbia Mo. Several individuals went & called for the Jailer but he was absent. The next called for the Jailers wife & offered her money to let the prisoners go.— which she delind [declined], & becoming alarmed raised a cry which brought the whole village togethr armd with bowie knives, guns, pistols &c— but finding no one there, they soon retund [returned] home execept a few to guard the prison. This row brought diffirt different individuals to see the prisoners, & by acquintace [acquaintance], their feelings were softened toward the .—

15 June 1839 • Saturday

Joseph. visits 15. Satuday 15[th] I started with my family to visit . we met on the Prairie, about 4 mi W of , found him in good spirits, & went with him to his house in , found his family well, staid [stayed] over night & had a very satisfactory visit.

16 June 1839 • Sunday

16 Sunday, 16.— We went to Bro ’s in . near the village of [p. 59]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]
ID #
8472
Total Pages
74
Handwriting on This Page
- Willard Richards
Footnotes
1. 231
  See 12–13 June 1839 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 954–955.
2. 232
  See 14 June 1839 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 955.
3. 233
  See 15 June 1839 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 955–956.
4. 234
  See 16 June 1839 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 956.

History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]

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