Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of professional correspondence concerning the business of George T. M. Davis, who ran the law firm Davis & Krum in Alton, Illinois, with his partner John M. Krum from about 1832 to 1837.
Born in Malta, George T. M. Davis (1810-1888) moved to Illinois in 1832, where he began his law career. From roughly 1832 to 1837, he ran a law firm with John M. Krum (1810-1883) in Alton, Illinois. Krum, born in Hillsdale, New York, was elected the first mayor of Alton in 1837. He later moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and would serve as a circuit court judge and later mayor of St. Louis. Davis became the editor of the Alton Telegraph in 1841 and served as mayor of Alton from 1844-1846. A prominent supporter of the Whig Party, Davis was a military and civil secretary for General John A. Quitman during the Mexican-American War before eventually resigning his post as the editor of the Alton Telegraph. He later moved to Kentucky, and in 1852 moved to New York City.
This collection contains nine business letters from 1833-1843 regarding the Davis & Krum law firm in Alton, Illinois. This collection includes the original nine letters, as well as transcriptions of these letters. Seven of the letters are addressed directly to George Davis, while two are addressed to Davis & Krum. Included are a letter from W. G. Timberlake, who desired to relocate himself in Alton with the help of Davis; a letter on the collection of funds from Daniel Baldwin; a letter from George Backster saying he is going to visit Alton on account of some business he has with Davis; a statement of bankruptcy by Samuel Legate; and letters regarding land sales and bill collecting.
The collection was acquired by the Library prior to 1967.
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