Letter from Adolphus Allen, 13 July 1841

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
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Des Moines July 13th. 1841
Dear Sir
The diagram below represents the land that I spoke to you about a few days since. It lies on a dry & beautiful ridge between two Streams & is skirte[d] on the north & South by timber. It is admirably calculated for a number of Settlers on the north & south borders with One Common field in the Centre which might be extended to 200 acres. (a few more Settlers here would give a preponderance at the polls, in this election precinct). There is a house with 2 rooms, a Barn with 2 stables, & a large corn house on the lot. this lot contains 80 acres. The other of 40 acres which is coloured, has about 20 acres of beautiful crowning priarie & 20 acres of timber, with a fine stream of water running through it. This lot covers a valuable coal bed which is very accessible. These two lots I purchasd at $1000. have paid $500. The residue with interest & cost amts to something short of $700— They are to be sold on the first monday in August next. Should it fall into the original owners hands, it cannot be had presume for 12 Dollars pr acre, as he has lamented much that he <​had​> sold it. The lot East of it I gave $10. pr acre for & the one West of the 40— A. Leving gave 10 Dollars pr acre for, with no improvements on. The title to this land is derived from government— (entered at ) If it can be saved by the , those who may settle on it can be accommodated with land to till adjoining it of mine— for any length of time.
With much respect Your humble servant
[Drawing of land described above; transcript of map notations follows]
Priarie
I gave 10 Dollars pr acre for this
 
Field
80 acres
 
Timber
 
Prairie
 
40. acres
Priarie
 
Timber
Coal Mine
40. as
Beautiful
Priarie
 
$10. Pr acre
A. Levings
 
Samuel Steele
 
Coal Bank
 
J. M. Fadden
 
[end of map] [p. [1]]
Des Moines July 13th. 1841
Dear Sir
The diagram below represents the land that I spoke to you about a few days since. It lies on a dry & beautiful ridge between two Streams & is skirted on the north & South by timber. It is admirably calculated for a number of Settlers on the north & south borders with One Common field in the Centre which might be extended to 200 acres. (a few more Settlers here would give a preponderance at the polls, in this election precinct). There is a house with 2 rooms, a Barn with 2 stables, & a large corn house on the lot. this lot contains 80 acres. The other of 40 acres which is coloured, has about 20 acres of beautiful crowning priarie & 20 acres of timber, with a fine stream of water running through it. This lot covers a valuable coal bed which is very accessible. These two lots I purchasd at $1000. have paid $500. The residue with interest & cost amts to something short of $700— They are to be sold on the first monday in August next. Should it fall into the original owners hands, it cannot be had presume for 12 Dollars pr acre, as he has lamented much that he had sold it. The lot East of it I gave $10. pr acre for & the one West of the 40— A. Leving gave 10 Dollars pr acre for, with no improvements on. The title to this land is derived from government— (entered at ) If it can be saved by the , those who may settle on it can be accommodated with land to till adjoining it of mine— for any length of time.
With much respect Your humble servant
[Drawing of land described above; transcript of map notations follows]
Priarie
I gave 10 Dollars pr acre for this
 
Field
80 acres
 
Timber
 
Prairie
 
40. acres
Priarie
 
Timber
Coal Mine
40. as
Beautiful
Priarie
 
$10. Pr acre
A. Levings
 
Samuel Steele
 
Coal Bank
 
J. M. Fadden
 
[end of map] [p. [1]]
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