JAMES WESCOTT:
An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society
Manuscripts Collection
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Wescott, James, creator. | |
| Title: | James Wescott papers, | |
| Dates: | 1857-1865. | |
| Abstract: | Miscellaneous papers of a Dakota County (Minn.) pioneer, including a preemption certificate (1857) to Wescott for land in Dakota County, a trespass permission (1858) to the Minneapolis and Cedar Valley Railroad, a letter from Ignatius Donnelly regarding the upcoming 1862 election and the likelihood of a Republican preference among Minnesota's soldiers, other letters to Wescott (1862-1865) commenting on Civil War topics, two financial receipts, and some biographical information copied from published sources. | |
| Quantity: | 1 folder. | |
| Location: | P2329 |
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
James Wescott was born around 1824 in Maine, later moving to Nevada, and then to the gold mines around Sacramento (Calif.). He moved to St. Paul (Minn.) in 1854, and then bought land a few miles south in Eagan Township (Dakota County), which he farmed. He married Mary E. Atkinson in 1857. During the Civil War, he served (1865) in Company I of the First Minnesota Regiment of Heavy Artillery. He was also Dakota County Treasurer (1858-1860) and an enumerator for the 1890 federal census. More information is contained in the biographical portion of the papers.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
The collection consists of the following items: A preemption certificate (1857) deeding Wescott 160 acres of land in Eagan Township; a receipt (1857) for package delivered by Adams and Company express agency; a right-of-way easement (1858) granted to the Minneapolis and Cedar Valley Railroad; a letter (1862) from Franklin E. Wescott (Fort Hamilton, N.Y.) describing his arrival at the fort, the troops stationed there, and the weather; a letter (1862) from Ignatius Donnelly detailing his plans to contact a list of soldiers in the first, third, fourth, seventh, and eighth Minnesota regiments prior to the upcoming general elections, and his expectations that they will vote Republican; a letter of recommendation (1864) for the newly drafted Wescott from Henry H. Sibley; a letter (1865) from a soldier (signature illegible) in Brandy Station, Virginia describing his Civil War experiences, expressing his hopes for a speedy end to the conflict, and thanking Wescott for managing his affairs while he was in the army; a receipt (1865) itemizing a purchase from St. Paul wholesale grocer Joseph I. Beaumont; and some photocopied biographical information on Wescott and his family.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. James Wescott Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples
Accession Information:
Accession number: 6488; 6655
Processing Information:
Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, March 1999
Catalog ID number: 990017368290104294
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
- Topics:
- Electioneering -- Minnesota.
- Pioneers -- Minnesota -- Dakota County.
- Soldiers -- Minnesota -- Suffrage.
- Persons:
- Donnelly, Ignatius, 1831-1901.
- Sibley, Henry Hastings, 1811-1891.
- Wescott family.
- Organizations:
- Minneapolis and Cedar Valley Railroad.
- Places:
- Dakota County (Minn.).
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
- Document Types:
- Land grants
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