ARCHIVES INTERNATIONAL HUNTSVILLE SELECTIONS

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V26 2023 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 26, Number 47, November 19, 2023, Article 25

Here are some lots that caught my eye in the upcoming Archives International sale 89, Part 1, of the Huntsville Collection of Arkansas, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, Missouri, and Southern States Obsolete Banknotes & Scrip Notes. -Editor

Lot 3: Carrollton, Arkansas Scrip Note Carrollton, Arkansas. August 5, 1862, Bishop & Snell. $2, Unlisted in Rothert, Issued obsolete scrip note, Dated August 5th, 1862, Printed text on face "Payable in Confederate Notes, Arkansas War Bonds, or Treasury Warrants", Black text, Denomination at top center, Signature at bottom right, S/N 60, VG to Fine to Choice Fine condition with some rough margins and toning. Only 1 other Carrollton issued note has appeared at auction.

Lot 9: Huntsville, Arkansas Scrip Note Huntsville, Arkansas. March 21, 1862, J.C. Smith. $1.00, Unlisted denomination in Rothert, (Rothert 316-?), Issued obsolete scrip note, Printed on blue paper with light black ink, Dated March 21st, 1862, Black text on face "Payable in Confederate Notes when $10, $20 or $50 is presented at my shop in Huntsville", Signature in black ink on back, S/N 452?, Choice Fine to VF condition. Previous unknown denomination that is sure to attract serious interest.

John Calvin Smith was born October 13, 1830 in TN and died January 29, 1901 in Tarrant County, Texas. He married Elizabeth Caroline Fagan on January 28, 1849 in Cannon County, TN. J.C. Smith was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and moved to Huntsville Arkansas in about 1853. he operated a general store on the Huntsville square and thus the reason for issuing this note. This note is dated June 24, 1862 before the Civil War really came home to Huntsville. From late 1862 through 1864, the war would ravage Huntsville as it did most of north west Arkansas.

Lot 24: Fort Gibson, Arkansas Scrip Note Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory (Oklahoma). ND (Mar. 27) ca.1854 to 1862, Extremely desirable and rare 37 1/2 cent denomination. Black printing on off-white paper, seated allegorical woman holding cornucopia in middle between Roman Numeral and Arabic numeral "37 1/2 Cent counters on top and vertical versions on the left and right counterfoils, Black text in middle "In Trade or Current Bank Bills", S/N 88, Signed by F.H. Nash on the lower right, No date or place name on face, back with circular "Fort Gibson - Ark. - Mar. 25" handstamp. Fine to Choice Fine Condition. E.P. Waites (Printer), F.H. Nash operated as a sutler in this fort that had been abandoned by the Federals (Union Forces) in 1857 (named after Col. George Gibson), but was reactivated in 1861 by "The Grays" (Confederate Forces). F. H. Nash, the largest general merchant in Fort Gibson, was born in Louisiana in 1837, and received his education in New Orleans. His father, N. H. Nash, was a native of Massachusetts, who came to Louisiana when a young man.

The family emigrated from England in the seventeenth century and settle in Massachusetts, and the grandfather of F. H. Nash served in the war of the Revolution. F. H. Nash removed to Van Buren, Arkansas, in 1853, having completed his education, and in August of the same year removed to Fort Gibson, of which city he is now the oldest white inhabitant. On his arrival the place was one of the most quiet country towns he had ever visited, and he was first employed by the sutler of the army post. He had a personal acquaintance with every commander of the post from the time of his arrival until the post was removed in 1858; it was returned eight years later and re-established.

Among the most prominent of his acquaintances before the Civil war were: H. M. Black, now United State quartermaster; General William L. Coble, of Dallas, Texas; Colonel Pitcairn Morrison; Captain Henry Little; Colonel Ed Brooks, who afterwards served in the Confederate army; Lieutenant Henry, who was cashiered in 1856 and afterward went to Nicaragua in the Walker Expedition; and many others whose names he cannot now recall, but among whom was General Baxton Bragg, who afterward joined the Confederate army. Conditions in the community during the war were exceedingly disturbing, and Mr. Nash says a person was not safe outside the garrison. The Cherokee Indians divided, the half-bloods going into the Confederate army and full blood Indians into the Union army, thus causing much discord and strife.

Mr. Nash served a short time in the Confederate army as aide de camp to Colonel Cooper, and arrived at the battle of Pea Ridge too late to participate. An extremely rare and desirable Cherokee Nation Scrip note with an extremely desirable denomination. Very possibly unique

Yes, interesting denomination, particularly as expressed in a mix of Roman and Arabic numerals (a fraction, no less). -Editor

Lot 27: Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation Scrip Note Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma). June 11, 1862, Office of the Treasurer. $1, Cr. CHR N-2, Burgett-6, Durand IT-95, Issued obsolete scrip note, Dated June 11th, 1862, Black text with black border, Signed by Lewis Ross as Treasurer, Issued by authority of Law in lieu of Notes of the Confederate States, S/N 116, Choice Fine to VF condition. A desirable May 2, 1862 Act series that evolved from the Cherokee treaty with Brigadier Confederate General Albert Pike, against the advice of Paramount Chief John Ross.

The notes were signed by two Ross family members: Lewis Ross, brother of Chief John Ross and uncle of Clerk Joshua Ross, who was a wealthy slaveholder. The notes did not circulate long and most were seized and destroyed in July 1862. Printed on very thin, translucent rag paper. Without imprint, but now attributed to John Candy in the Shull-Criswell reference. End panels at left and right, composed of linked oval ornaments, enclose the denomination ONE DOLLAR in English at the left and translated into the Sequoyah (named for the Cherokee innovator) alphabet at the right. The interesting use of both language styles helped prevent raising the notes' denominations.

The additional obligation at the top, "Issued by authority of Law in lieu of Notes of the Confederate States," is continued along the bottom margin, "which are retained in the Treasury for the redemption hereof." Signed by Joshua Ross as clerk and Lewis Ross as treasurer. The foxed Ford XX note realized $8,625 in October 2007. The Burgett-Schingoethe note sold in July 2006 by Smythe had a rounded top left edge and realized a strong $10,350, a record price for the issue.

To read the complete lot description, see:
(https://auction.archivesinternational.com/Tahlequah-C-N-Office-of-the-Treasurer-1862-1-Obsolete-Scrip-Note-with-Lewis-Ross-Signature_i50593644)

Lot 28: Wilson's Salt Works Indian Territory Scrip Wilson's Salt Works, Illinois River, Indian Territory. August 25, 1862. A.M. Wilson & Bro. $1, Unlisted in Rothert, August 25th, 1862, Very Low S/N 3. "Payable in Confederate Notes or Salt". Black text with black border, small print on he lower left states "Redeemed by Mayers & Bros., Fort Smith, Ark.", Signature at bottom right, Signature on back slightly covered by archival repair. Choice VG with archival tape repair where note had separated on back. Wilson's Salt Works was probably located in Indian Territory and may be directly related to the Cherokee Nation. Extremely rare note that is an unlisted location in Rothert. Possibly unique.

Lot 60: Harrisonville, Missouri Confederate Sutler Note Harrisonville, Missouri. September 24, 1862, Holloway & Whalon. 25 Cents, Unlisted, Issued obsolete scrip note, Dated September 24th, 1862, Apparently Holloway & Whalon was a sutler attached to Confederate forces operating in the Harrisonville area in 1862. Black text with "Payable in Confederate Notes or Missouri State Defense Bonds, when the sum of $10, $20, or $50 is presented to me at Col. Hunter's Headquarters.", with black border, Faded signatures on back, S/N 14, Fine condition with a large tear at left, split at right and toning, especially at center. Extremely rare note, A lower condition with $1 denomination was auctioned at Heritage in 2016 and sold for $1292. Rare note and very possibly unique with this denomination,

Payable in salt! -Editor