Unsigned letter of [James P. Groot], St. Louis, to his sister Maria. ". . . .Rachel feels very lonely & dispirited. You ought to write to her and act more like sisters. . . . I have not met with that success since I came west that I had anticipated when I left my native state as the times have been growing worse & harder than I have ever seen before. The times are worse than they were in 1847. Speculation fast living and extravagance are the cause of all such changes every 7 or 8 years. . . .", 1860[?] June 3

Item — Box: 1, Folder: 7

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists primarily of Groot family correspondence. Most of the letters were written by James P. Groot. Notable content includes three letters signed Rachel Mull to her sister Maria—dated September 2, 1855, April 5, 1856, and February 25, no year—that describe the abusive relationship with her husband, Barney Mull. The collection also includes 12 Civil War–era letters signed James P. Groot describing affairs in St. Louis and his military service in the 6th Iowa Infantry.