Shelf List

 

 

R         Missouri and Illinois Mineral and Land Company.

58                    Papers, 1834-1900.

                                    11 folders.

 

 

 

These are records of the acquisition and disposition of lands in a speculative development ef­fort in Jefferson, Ste. Genevieve, Perry, Cape Girardeau, and Madison counties in Missouri.

 

 

Folder 1: CORRESPONDENCE, 1868-1900.

 

There are 66 items of correspondence, dated from 1868 to 1900.  This file breaks into three major chronological sections.  The letters dated from 1868 to 1875 deal mostly with the dis­po­sition of the company's property holdings by Walter H. Bidwell.  The letters dated from 1879 to 1882 deal with the disposition of the Bidwell estates.  The letters dated from 1885 to 1900 are concerned with the efforts of the Bidwells’ kinsman, heir, and executor, Edward R. Pelton, to dispose of the remaining property in Missouri.

 

Folder 2: FINANCIAL PAPERS, 1839-1881.

 

Most of these items are concerned with the financial affairs of the Bidwell brothers.

 

Folder 3: LEGAL PAPERS, 1844-1882.

 

Most of these eighteen items are concerned with the Bidwells’ land dealings in Missouri and Walter H. Bidwell’s separation from his wife, Susan.

 

Folder 4: BIDWELL ESTATES DOCUMENTS, 1875-1883.

 

Walter H. Bidwell died on 11 September 1881.  His brother, Oliver B. Bidwell, apparently pre­ceded him in death by only a few weeks.  These eight items pertain to their respective es­tates.

 

Folder 5: PAPERS CONCERNING THE INTERMENT OF MRS. CATHARINE A. SAFFORD, 1864.

 

There is no obvious connection between these three items and the rest of the collection.

 

Folder 6: DEEDS, 1834-1892.

 

These 27 deeds relate to land in Missouri acquired by the Missouri and Illinois Mineral and Land Company.

 

Folder 7: PROPERTY TAXES, 1870-1898.

 

These 60 items, arranged chronologically, are mostly receipts for property taxes paid in Madi­son and Cape Girardeau counties, 1870-1898.  Early receipts are in the name of For­rest Shepherd, Walter H. Bidwell, and Oliver B. Bidwell.  After 1880 all receipts are in the name of Edward R. Pelton.

 

 

 

Folder 8: MISCELLANY, 1839-1888.

 

These 16 items fell into no convenient category.  They have been arranged chronologically, where possible.

 

Folder 9: BOUND VOLUME, 1898.

 

This volume contains lists of land parcels acquired by the company, with hand-drawn maps in­di­cating their locations.  In most cases the date and reason for the acquisition of a par­ticular par­cel are given.

 

Folder 10: LAND PATENTS, 1841-1851 (Foldered in 3 parts).

 

There are 28 federal land patents, apparently pertaining to lands purchased by the company.

 

Folder 11: DAMAGED ITEMS, ca. 1841-1851.

 

This plastic bag contains unidentifiable fragments and damaged items.

 

 

THE RESEARCHER IS URGED TO CONSULT THE “INVENTORY AND DE­SCRIPTION OF THE MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS MINERAL AND LAND COMPANY PA­PERS,” WHICH IS FILED IN THE INFORMATION FOLDER.

 

 

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