DATE: September 1869, December 1870
CREATOR: Ruggles, Stillman
ABSTRACT: Two letters written by Stillman Ruggles in Rolla, Missouri to his cousin C. Fischer Ruggles in Windsor, Vermont, dated September 1869 and December 1870.
SCOPE: In these two letters, Stillman Ruggles describes life in Rolla, Missouri. According to Ruggles, Rolla contains 2500 residents, including 150 Black residents, churches and other places of worship, and a variety of industry, including a grist mill, stores, and railroad routes. Ruggles discusses his work in agriculture, wagon construction and repair, carpentry, and in the Post Master’s office. He also compares the prices of food and other basic goods in Rolla versus Vermont. Ruggles explains the train times and routes, including the mail route, routes that travel south and east of town, and the coach to Jefferson City, Missouri.
HISTORY: Ruggles was born in 1808 in Vermont and lived in Rolla at the time of the 1870 Census with his wife, Fannie, and his 9-year-old grandson, Willie Farenworth.
EXTENT: Two letters, one post-script
ACCESS: This is collection P-129. This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, depending on condition. Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building. More information about conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page.
Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is "From the collections of the Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library at the University of Missouri - St. Louis.”
