Date Original
1860-1888
Description
The materials in this collection includes correspondence, a postscript remark, and literary works. Correspondence included are a letter to Judge John F. Wheeler discussing president of the Arkansas Press Association James Smithee and a photocopied letter to Elias Boudinot where ideas about history, poetry, and literature are reviewed. This collection has a postscript note regarding an error in the Argus Press which cited the wrong location of a speech given by an unknown orator. Literary works included are as follows: “Kansas” is concerning abolitionists; “The Others” is an article about a 4th of July celebration and a short history of prominent figures in Arkansas; "To the Mexican Veteran" is a poem honoring veterans; finally the “Carrier's Address to the Readers of the Western Independent” is a Christmas poem.
Biographical/Historical Note
William "Cush" Quesenbury was born August 21, 1822, in Crawford County, Arkansas. In 1839, he began to write for newspapers in Van Buren, Arkansas. In the 1840s, he studied under the painter, John Mix Stanley, and began a career in drawing sketches, caricatures, and cartoons. Quesenbury fought in the Mexican War in 1846, after which he returned to Arkansas to teach. He started his own newspaper in Fayetteville in 1853, the "South West Independent," which lasted until 1857. In 1860, he took over the Fayetteville newspaper, "Arkansian" for Elias Boudinot, who moved to Little Rock to become the editor for the "True Democrat." When the Civil War began, Quesenbury fought for the Confederacy with Albert Pike in Indian Territory. He moved to Texas following the war but returned to Arkansas in 1876, eventually relocating to Neosho, Missouri, in 1880. He died on August 31, 1888.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas; Missouri
Language
English
Identifier
SMC.013.023
Resource Type
Text
Collection
William Quesenbury papers, SMC.013.023
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
William Quesenbury papers, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
