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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Alsalan and Corneel to Asa W. Slayton

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03955.10 Author/Creator: Alsalan and Corneel Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: no date Pagination: 3 p. ; 21 x 13.1 cm. Order a Copy

Mentions death of neighbors Emily Dugal, local foster child, and Armenia [Mason] and whose father must return for NY to have a burial. Mentions farm productivity and that the house has been painted. They describe other improvements and activities on the farm. They instruct Asa to tell Chester that his wife, Sara's apples have been stolen. A cow had baby, but Asa does not want more livestock so other relatives will take it. Request that Asa write to Alsalan in Corneels letters and that he write more frequently. Also requests that this letter and the plan to write to Alsalan in Corneel's letters be kept secret.

Asa W. Slayton and Chester M. Slayton were brothers from Grattan, Michigan who served in the 25th Michigan Infantry Regiment. Asa W. Slayton enlisted as a sergeant at age 30 and Chester as a corporal at age 27, the later being promoted to full sergeant on 15 July 1864 during his participation in the Atlanta Campaign. Asa resigned from his position in the army in 1864 and returned to Grattan where he worked a school teacher, farmer and amateur artist. Chester served as a surveyor and draughtsman in the Engineers Department of the 25th Infantry until the end of the war. After being mustered out in June of 1865, he returned to Grattan to live as a farmer.

Slayton, Chester

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