Henry Eddy Papers, 1816-1848 | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

Scope and Contents:

This collection is largely comprised of typed transcripts of nearly 900 original manuscripts dating from 1816-1848. Correspondents include prominent figures in the early years of Illinois statehood, including Benjamin Bond, Shadrach Bond, Sidney Breese, Daniel Cook, Ninian Edwards, Alexander P. Field, and Elias K. Kane. The materials cover a wide range of topics, including prominent political figures of the day; state and national politics and laws; Eddy's presses and publications; banks; land speculation; and slavery.

In addition, the collection contains one original document, a letter from Isaac Barger to Henry Eddy date January 27, 1834, concerning a debt Barger owed to Eddy. The collection is also supplemented by name and chronological card indexes.

Biographical/Historical Context:

Henry Eddy was born in Pittsfield, Vermont in 1798, and attended school in Buffalo, New York. He served two months in the New York militia during of the War of 1812 and was wounded at the Battle of Black Rock. After his service, Eddy moved to Pittsburgh, where he learned printing and studied law, and then in 1818 he moved to Shawneetown, Illinois. He established the second newspaper in the state, originally named the Shawnee Chief, and headed it until 1826. He became well-known as a lawyer with a successful practice, and was also elected to the Illinois General Assembly, serving terms in 1820 and 1846 as a member of the Whig party. During the Black Hawk War of the 1830s, Eddy served as Quartermaster General of the Regular Illinois Militia. He died June 29, 1849.

Acquisition Source: The transcripts in this collection were created by the Illinois Historical Survey from 1912 to 1916, when the originals were loaned to the University by Henry Eddy's grandson, Charles Carroll. Most of the originals were donated by Charles Carroll III to the Illinois State Historical Library, now part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, in 1970.