1838 Chilicothe OH handwritten letter NEWSPAPER, ELY

Here's a handwritten folded letter, with postal markings which were applied by the Post Master of the town, CHILICOTHE O. AUG 14, and includes the cost of the postage at the upper right of the front cover area.

The postal markings are on record in Volume I, American Stampless Cover Catalog (reprinted through the years). As for the people mentioned in this letter, or the person or people writing it, you could find them listed in federal census records or local history books.

The letter was addressed to Circleville.

This letter consists of about a half a page of writing. The letter concerns a court case.

Some of the names listed are James Miller, Seneca W. Ely. The top part is written by S.W. Ely, the bottom is written by Pleasant Thurman J.P. There's a newspaper clipping attached.

Wish I had time to go into more detail on the contents of the letter, but time doesn't permit, so I'll leave all the fun of researching the people / postal history to you.

This letter would make a good history project for a student! Show the letter to a student or friend, and ask them who was President when the letter was written.

The history books show a Seneca W. Ely connected with Chillicothe newspapers in the antebellum era. From a biography in a Ross county history book: "SENECA W. ELY, one of the oldest editors and printers now in the harness of ohio, has been editor and principal proprietor of the Scioto Gazette -- a leading Whig journal, founded in 1800, and still in existence [as of this article's writing] -- since 1835, and was known and respected throughout the Stae as an influential writer and politician. Mr. Ely was born in eastern Pennsylvania, learned the trade of printer at Rochester among the New York "Yankees", perfecting his knowledge of "the art perservative of all arts" in Philadelphia. He was an active participator with the older politicians, Ewing, Bond, Stanbery, Creighton, Thrall and a host of others, in forwarding the principles and fortunes of the "grandest old party ever formed," as he used to express it -- the party of Clay, Webster and compatriots. "

Condition of the letter rates good. As usual with stampless letters, after writing on one or more sides of a sheet of paper, the letter was folded several times and mailed. Please note that most stampless letters have faults such file folds, tears at and opposite the sealing wax area, and some stains / wear / tear here and there. I hope the scan gives you a general idea of the condition.