Autograph Letter Signed by William C. Quantrill

Autograph Letter Signed by William Clarke Quantrill to His Mother, Dated from Stanton, October 3, 1857, two sheets, wove paper, folded, written on three sides, 9 in. x 6 7/8 in. $6000/9000 Reads in full: Stanton Oct 3d 1857 My Dear Mother. I am about to write to you again after having neglected to do so longer than I should have done, but for certain circumstances which caused me to neglect it. I believe I told you in my last letter that Mr. B. & Mr. T. families were here safe but I tell you they have the blues the men think so much about making money & improving their farms that they have not got any houses better than our little cow shed at home, they have no floors, doors or windows & big cracks between the logs yet- open, & the consequence is that they have all been sick ever since they have been here & it will be worse yet if they don’t fix their houses better. I have to tell you that I do not live with Torrey any longer & have not been for 4 or 5 weeks & never intend to again the reasons I will tell you some time again. The way they have acted here has caused every body to hate them. Nobody has been to see them yet & they cannot hire any body to help them for love or money, the thought every body out here were rascals but they find themselves the only ones every body is down on them, I think Torry will move into Missouri this fall or next spring. Day after tomorrow will be our election day which will decide the great question whether it be a slave state or free state it is certain to be a free state. Next week I want to take a trip about 160 miles south west in the Territory to look at the country and shoot a few deer. That fruit you sent me was very nice I got the woman at the house I am staying to cook them & it made me think of old times. But I often think of them without seeing fruit. I would like very much to see the old folks & old places but I cannot think of seeing them yet for I have not seen enough of Kansas yet to suit me. I wrote a letter to Grandfather but have not received an answer yet nor have I received a letter from you yet since Mrs. Torrey came here I do not know what the reason is. I have been at work cutting up corn for a man here this week. I am well & have been except a little ague but that don’t trouble me much. the next letter I think I will be able to tell you some more news probably some for the boys at least hope so. Well I must bring my letter to a close hoping that it may find you all in better health than I am & remember I am doing all I can not wasting a day unless it rains. When you write don’t forget to direct to (Stanton Kansas Territory). Yours Truly Your son W.C. Quantrill * NO RETURNS ARE ACCEPTED ON THE BASIS OF CONDITION * PLEASE READ ALL CONDITIONS OF LISTED WITH THIS ITEM * PAYMENT DUE WITHIN 10 DAYS! * NO PAY PAL * WE DO NOT SHIP ANY ITEMS or ESTIMATE, SEE BELOW SHIPPING POLICY * LOCATED IN NEW ORLEANS, LA *