Letter signed Alexander McAlister, Salubria, near St. Louis, to John F. Darby, Frankfort, Kentucky. Regarding a situation with Judge Peck who, on account of the weakness of his eyes, has employed someone to read and write his letters for him. The writer does not know whether to advise for or against Darby taking it as he does not know the nature of the position which he already holds in Kentucky. Writes of the Darby slaves having been sold and describes their new owners. Persons mentioned include J. Charless, Strother, Loye, Brewer, Hiram, J. Ward, Levyna [Levina], Mrs. McAlister, J.R. Walker, Rachel (enslaved woman), A. Gamble, Mary (enslaved woman), John Ward, David (enslaved man), Holloway, Henderson (enslaved man), Hiram, and Nelson (enslaved man). (includes typed transcription), 1826 Sept 25

Item — Box: 1, Folder: 7

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

This collection consists largely of the papers of John F. Darby and his wife Mary F. Darby, and relates mostly to the political, social, and business history of St. Louis. The papers also include family correspondence with relatives in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Missouri, and correspondence regarding legal and business matters. Of special note are the minute books of the Jefferson Society and the St. Louis Debating Club (1827-1828), both regional debating societies of which Darby was a member; letters of Mary F. Darby; correspondence with Montgomery Blair, William T. Sherman, and George Caleb Bingham; and fragments of a history of the Mormons by John Corrill, dated 1839.