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Title: James Hicklin Documents
Description: These documents attest that James Hicklin, a citizen of Lexington, Missouri, provided supplies and money to the Union army several times during the course of the war. Hicklin purchased $2,000 in state defense bonds on June 15, 1861, and received orders of protection from the army in February, September, and November 1862. He gave an oath of loyalty to the United States on July 8, 1862, which limited his movements to “Lafayette and Saline Counties.”
Object Type: Legal Document

Title: Applications of Sarah Corder
Description: These are Sarah S. Corder’s applications for compensation from the United States government for the military service of John Corder’s slaves, Daniel, Henry, Jack, and Strother. The applications, dated December 4 and 22, 1866, include oaths of allegiance to the United States, statements that John Corder lawfully acquired his slaves, and the signatures of five witnesses and two notary publics in Lafayette County, Missouri. Pencil notes on the ninth, thirteenth, and seventeenth pages indicate that three of the applications were rejected.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: December 4, 1866-December 22, 1866

Title: John R. Howe against William Mitchell
Description: Dated November 7, 1859, this document states that its signers will pay a sum of $400 to John P. Bowman, Lafayette County sheriff, for a female slave aged about 42 years. The slave was “sold by said sheriff...in the Probate Court of Lafayette County” as part of a lawsuit brought by John R. Howe against William Mitchell.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: November 7, 1859

Title: Application of John H. Peacock
Description: This is John H. Peacock’s application for compensation from the United States government for the military service of his slave, Antony Mason. The application, dated December 11, 1866, includes an oath of allegiance to the United States and the signatures of four witnesses and a notary public in Lafayette County, Missouri. Also attached is a signed statement that Peacock lawfully purchased another slave, Archie, and the October 9, 1854 bill of sale for Archie.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: October 9, 1854 and December 11, 1866

Title: Slave Bill of Sale
Description: This slave bill of sale, dated March 31, 1860, is signed by Lafayette County sheriff John P. Bowman. Bowman attests that he sold a female slave and a slave boy named John to Nathaniel Mitchell at auction on November 7, 1859. Mitchell paid $400 for the female slave and $150 for John.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: March 31, 1860

Title: Applications of Moses Chapman
Description: These are Moses Chapman’s applications for compensation from the United States government for the military service of his slaves, Joseph Clark and Samuel A. Creel. The applications, dated November 21, 1866 and January 18, 1867, each include an oath of allegiance to the United States, a statement that Chapman lawfully obtained his slaves, and the signatures of four witnesses and a notary public in Lafayette County, Missouri. Notes on pages six and ten indicate that the applications were rejected.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: November 21, 1864-January 18, 1867

Title: Application of William C. Hall
Description: This is William C. Hall’s application for compensation from the United States government for the military service of his slave, Stephen Smith. The application, dated November 13, 1866, includes an oath of allegiance to the United States, a power of attorney transfer to Isaac C. Dodge, and a statement that Hall lawfully purchased his slave. The application is signed by four witnesses and a notary public in Lafayette County, Missouri. A note in pencil on the second page indicates that the application was rejected. Attached is the November 18, 1843 bill declaring the sale of Stephen Smith to William C. Hall.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: November 18, 1843-November 13, 1866

Title: Wyllys C. Ransom vs. George C. Bingham
Description: These documents, created between 1866 and 1867, relate to the Jackson County, Missouri court case Wyllys C. Ransom vs. George C. Bingham. Ransom accuses Bingham of slander, asserting that Bingham publicly and repeatedly said he was a “murderer, robber, thief and a house burner” during the Civil War. Portions of testimony are from Ransom’s fellow officers in the Kansas Volunteers. Ransom seeks $30,000 in damages.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: 1866-1867

Civil War on the Western Border: The Missouri-Kansas Conflict, 1854-1865