From the collections at the Leavenworth County Historical Society and Museum. Reprinted with permission from The Leavenworth County Historical Society and Museum and the Leavenworth Times. Donated by Debra Graden.

The Anthony Letters

Holiday Dinner Tastes Better When the Landlady Is Pretty

Leavenworth Times, 1956-7

Editors note: This is another in a series of letters written by Col. D. R. Anthony to his family in the east almost 100 years ago when Leavenworth was a new town and Kansas was still a territory. The letters give a clear picture of Leavenworth in its early period. The Times is publishing the letters each Sunday and Thursday.

Leavenworth, K.T.

26th Nov. 1858

Dear Brother Aaron:

Yours of the 17th first came to hand today. Am glad you are getting those big risks. Only yesterday I took a $60,000 risk on a Pork House in Weston. My premiums this month will go well over $3,000.

$1,500 in this territory amounts to $2,000 in one year. I am now loaning money for a New York City firm at 4 to 5 per cent per month. They give me 6 per cent per annum for transacting the business and one half of all I can make over 20 per cent per annum, and no risk on my part. They sent me $25,000 more a few days ago.

Am loaning my own funds at this rate also, with best of security.

Had a good Thanksgiving Dinner yesterday. 1st. Oyster Soup. 2nd. Roast Wild Turkey (O), fried oysters, mashed potatoes, tomatoes, squash, fried apples, cranberries, white and graham bread, pickles, coffee (OK). 3rd Apple and plum pies. No champagne but pleasant company.

Our Thanksgiving wasn't legal, but then rebels in Kansas are not conservative and they do love good dinners, particularly when the landlady is the prettiest and sweetest lady in the world with black eyes and hair. If she hadn't a husband, I'd go in dead in love.

Seriously, we all love her and she divides her love equally among us, necessarily bestowing some little attention on her husband -- Just enough to pacify him -- the dear boy.

It seems good dinners and Mrs. Hamlin are the only subjects over which I get interested lately. With regards to all and hoping you'll just drop a line, I am,

Dan'l R. Anthony