Daniel Dunklin (1790-1844), Papers, 1815-1877 (C97)

.6 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

The correspondence, financial, and miscellaneous papers of the fifth governor of Missouri. The correspondence is especially rich in the discussion of Missouri elections and of the leading political issues in Missouri and in the United States from 1829 to 1835.

DONOR INFORMATION

The Daniel Dunklin Papers were deposited with the University of Missouri by Charles Holman on 27 February 1957, 9 April 1957, and 8 August 1957 (Accession No. 3314). Additions were made by Samuel Richeson c. 13 January 1956 (Accession No. 3257), by Wesley Duncan on 18 March 1957 (Accession No. 3312), by Mrs. Fred L. Young on 14 September 1957 (Accession No. 3326), and by Lois Holman on 8 December 1994 (Accession No. 5498). Betty Olson donated Dunklin material to the State Historical Society of Missouri on 16 February 1989 (SHS Accession No. 2731).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Daniel Dunklin was born in Greenville, South Carolina, on 14 January 1790 to Sarah (Sullivan) and Joseph Dunklin, Jr. In 1805 Joseph obtained land and built a home in Caldwell County, Kentucky, in order to move his family from South Carolina. After returning to South Carolina to retrieve his family, Joseph died. Sarah carried out Joseph's plan and relocated her family to Kentucky.

In 1810 Daniel obtained a Spanish land grant and settled near Mine-a-Breton (Potosi), Missouri. On 2 May 1815 Daniel married Emily Willis Pamela Haley of Mercer County, Kentucky. They raised five daughters and one son: Mary W., Emily, James L., Sarah, Eliza, and Jane Caroline. The Dunklins built a two-story brick house near Riverside in 1840. On 25 August 1844 Dunklin died of pneumonia at the age of 54. He is buried on the bluffs of the Mississippi River, north of Herculaneum. (For more Dunklin genealogy, please consult reference staff about Collection #995, v.16, #450 and view the WHMC-C reference policies and procedures form.)

Dunklin worked in mining and business during his early years in Potosi. In 1822 Dunklin held his first public post in the state legislature for the term of one year. In 1826 Governor John Miller appointed him Aide-de-Camp to the Commander-in-Chief of the Militia of the State of Missouri. Dunklin did not run for public office again until 1828, when he was elected Lieutenant Governor. Daniel Dunklin served as Missouri's fifth governor from 1832 to 1836. He was a member of the Democratic Party and a fervent supporter of President Andrew Jackson and Senator Thomas Hart Benton. During his term as governor Dunklin championed public education and defended the rights of Mormon residents living in Jackson County. He resigned office a few months early in 1836 to accept President Jackson s appointment as Surveyor General of the public lands in Illinois and Missouri. In performing the duties of this office, Dunklin surveyed and named most of Missouri's counties south of the Missouri River. Dunklin County, Missouri, is named in his honor.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Daniel Dunklin Papers are a combination of photostatic reproductions and original items that are divided into three series:

The most important component of the collection is the correspondence in which Dunklin and his correspondents debated state and national political issues.

The Correspondence ranges from 1820 to 1843 and is arranged chronologically. It is primarily personal correspondence between Dunklin, his friends, and his political allies which included Governor John Miller, Senator Albert G. Harrison, Senator Lewis F. Linn, Secretary of State J. C. Edwards, his son-in-law Falkland H. Martin, and Philip Cole of Potosi. There is much dialogue between Dunklin and other Missouri members of the Democratic Party concerning national political figures and issues such as tariffs, the nullification crisis, and the Bank of the United States. The letters examine such state issues as the influence of the press in Missouri s elections and the subsequent effort to establish a Democratic newspaper at Jefferson City. Other topics include the election of Missouri's national representatives, the qualifications and beliefs of the various Democratic candidates, legal cases, public education, and the Mormons of Jackson County. Dunklin's political views are summarized nicely in correspondence with his cousin, Charles P. Sullivan. Sullivan lived in South Carolina, was critical of Senator Thomas Hart Benton, and was an ardent supporter of John C. Calhoun.

Some correspondence is official in nature, such as Governor Miller's letter appointing Dunklin Aide-de-Camp to the Commander-in-Chief of the Militia of the State of Missouri. Dunklin and postmasters in the region reviewed postal routes in Missouri s rural areas, especially near Potosi. There are letters from N. Towson, Paymaster General of the United States, regarding procurement of the pay due Missouri troops who participated in the Black Hawk War. There is also correspondence from William Milburn, Dunklin s successor as Surveyor General of the public lands in Illinois and Missouri.

A small amount of the correspondence concerns the Dunklin family. There is one letter to Rachel Dunklin from Emily M. Perry (daughter of Moses Austin). Dunklin s letters from another cousin, Joseph Sullivan, contain news of family members residing in South Carolina and Alabama. Other family members corresponding with Dunklin include his brother, Stephen T. Dunklin, and his sister-in-law, Sabret Dunklin.

The Financial Materials, 1828-1877, include accounts and receipts, arranged chronologically, and two journals which appear at the end of this section. The accounts and receipts include a list of materials purchased to build Dunklin s home near Pevely, postal receipts, and miscellaneous accounts. The first journal, 1836-1854, contains Dunklin s bank accounts, his postal accounts, and entries most likely made by his son, James, regarding the financial administration of the Dunklin estate after his death. The second journal, 1836-1877, contains a list of boats and their captains copied from an 1841 newspaper, the strategy Dunklin planned to use in naming his estate near Pevely, and accounts associated with the estate before and after Dunklin's death.

The Miscellaneous Material is arranged chronologically. Located here are three slave agreements, a photographic reproduction of the Dunklin family coat of arms, deeds for land in Georgia and Missouri, an 1815 list of members of the militia at Potosi fined for not appearing at roll call, and a three page history of Daniel Dunklin.

FOLDER LIST

Correspondence

f. 11820-1829
f. 21830-1831
f. 3-41832
f. 51833
f. 6-101834
f. 111835 January-August
f. 121835 September-November
f. 131835 December-1838
f. 141839-1843, no date

Financial

f. 15Accounts/Receipts, 1828-1856
f. 16Account book, 1836-1854
f. 17Account book, 20 October 1836 - 3 August 1841 (p.1-27)
f. 18Account book, 13 September 1841 - 27 March 1851 (p.28-69)
f. 19Account book, 1 April 1851 - 14 April 1855 (p.70-101)
f. 20Account book, 23 April 1855 - 9 May 1877 (p. 102-148)

Miscellaneous

f. 211815-1836
f. 221837-1845, no date

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.

  • Ashley, William Henry (1778-1838)
  • Benton, Thomas Hart (1782-1858)
  • Biddle, Thomas
  • Birch, James H.
  • Black Hawk War, 1832
  • Buckner, Alexander (1785-1833)
  • Bull, John
  • Burnette, Micajah
  • Calhoun, John Caldwell (1782-1850)
  • Cary, Henry
  • Cass, Lewis (1782-1866)
  • Clay, Henry (1777-1852)
  • Cole, Philip
  • Corbin, Abel Rathbone
  • Democratic Party
  • Dueling
  • Dunklin, Daniel
  • Dunklin, Eliza M.
  • Dunklin, Emily W.
  • Dunklin, James L.
  • Dunklin, John
  • Dunklin, Joseph
  • Dunklin, Rachel E.
  • Dunklin, Sabret
  • Dunklin, Stephen T.
  • Education--Elementary, 1830s
  • Edwards, John Cummins
  • Edwards, Livingston
  • Election, 1828, General
  • Election, 1830--Missouri Senatorial
  • Election, 1831--Missouri Congressional
  • Election, 1832, General
  • Election, 1832--Missouri Gubernatorial
  • Election, 1832--Missouri Senatorial
  • Election, 1834--Missouri
  • Election, 1834--Missouri, Howard County
  • Election, 1835--General
  • Election, 1835--Missouri Congressional
  • Election, 1836, General
  • Election, 1836--Missouri Congressional
  • Election, 1838--Missouri Congressional
  • Eversole, Jacob
  • Federalist Party, Missouri
  • Gipson, William
  • Gregory, Polly
  • Haden, Joel H.
  • Harrison, Albert G. (1800-1839)
  • Hase, Fred C.
  • Hicks, Jane Dunklin
  • Hunt, Wilson Price (1782-1842)
  • Iron Industry and trade--Missouri
  • Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845)
  • Jameson, John (1802-1857)
  • Keemle, Charles
  • LaFayette, Marquis de (1757-1834)
  • Lane, Richard W.
  • Linn, Lewis Fields (1796-1843)
  • Maginnis, Arthur L.
  • Manning, Alonzo
  • Martin, Falkland H.
  • McAter, John R.
  • McNeal, John F.
  • Milburn, William
  • Miller, John (1781-1846)
  • Missouri. Militia
  • Mormons--Missouri, Jackson County
  • Nash, William
  • Nullification
  • Payne, William R.
  • Perry, Emily Austin
  • Perry, John
  • Pettis, Spencer Darwin (1802-1831)
  • Politics, Missouri
  • Postal service, Missouri, 1830s
  • Reed, Henry
  • Reese, Joseph
  • Relfe, James H. (1791-1863)
  • Scott, William
  • Shurlds, Henry
  • Slavery--Missouri
  • Slaves, Hiring out--Missouri
  • Slaves--Purchase and sale records
  • Smith, Chauncey
  • Steele, John
  • Strother, George French
  • Sullivan, Charles P.
  • Surveying--Missouri
  • Tariff of 1828
  • Tarrif of 1832
  • Towson, N.
  • U.S., Bank of the
  • Whigs--Missouri, 1830s
  • Wright, William