[Letter Signed]: Sam Houston, 1856

• Title: [Letter Signed]
• Author: Sam Houston
• Date: Feb 1, 1856
• Condition: See Description
• Inches: 7 3/8 x 9 1/8 [Paper]
• Centimeters: 18.73 x 23.17 [Paper]
• Product ID: 308747

Sam Houston signed letter from February 1856. The letter is quite faint and stained, so a few words are uncertain; transcription with unclear portions is noted in brackets. J. T. Stafford is writing from Houston on February 1, 1856, asking Sam Houston to help him obtain printed material (likely maps, charts, or “chiefs” of some kind) that had been distributed from the U.S. Patent Office, promising to ensure their circulation, and the lower note indicates the letter was referred on to an agent to procure those items.

Transcription

[Top right:]
Houston Feby 1st 1842

[Body of letter:]

Sir,

You would oblige me very much
if you would procure for me one or all of
the Chiefs or Earth [Thomasons?] that have been
been distributed from the patent office – or
some of the [origin?] [laws?] as a part of the [papers?]
[Please?] – I will take it as a great favor & will
pay particular attention to their circulation.

Respectfully
[signed] J. T. Stafford

[Middle, likely address line:]
Gen. Sam Houston

[Bottom section, likely docketing or endorsement:]

Dear Sir,

Referred to I will procure
of the Agent who [is now in Washington?]
being same to distribute.

[signed] Sam Houston

[Further endorsement/signature line at left partly illegible] [Mr…?] [Patent Office?]

Verso Transcription

Enclosed are a few [sheets?] of the Chiefs remaining in the Office.
Feby 4/56.

Condition

Single sheet, heavily toned and foxed with scattered stains and minor edge wear but no major tears; brown ink notably faded—especially in the endorsements—yet the text remains sufficiently legible for reliable transcription.

Background on Houston

Sam Houston (1793–1863) was a military leader and statesman who played a central role in the Texas Revolution and the creation of the Republic of Texas. He commanded Texian forces to victory over General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto in April 1836, securing Texas independence, and later served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas before helping guide its annexation to the United States. After statehood, Houston represented Texas in the U.S. Senate and became its governor, uniquely having also served earlier as governor of Tennessee, making him the only American ever elected governor of two different states.