1857 ALs by Two Presbyterian Colporteurs concerning Religion and Religious Book Distribution in Missouri and Kansas Territory.

16-page letter from cousins R. Hamill Nassau and R. Hamill Davis report from Princeton Theological Seminary about their western sojourn

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Lengthy, substantial letter from cousins R. Hamill Nassau and R. Hamill Davis concerning religious book distribution or colportage in western Missouri and nearby parts of Kansas Territory.

Writing from Princeton Theological Seminary, they describe the progress and difficulties of their work as book agents for the Presbyterian Board of Publication.

The almost 16-page letter is addressed to “Winthrop Sergeant,” quite possibly author and historian Winthrop Sargent (1825–1870). It includes the cousins’ account of their western sojourn and a “Statistical Report.”

We met kind Presbyterian brethren, who opened their homes to us, & gave their cordial assistance. Their kindness we shall never forget, & we take this opportunity of bearing our testimony to it. May they be rewarded for their generous hospitality to the colporteur.
Our labors were confined (in Mo. [Missouri]) more particularly to Platte & Buchanan Cos., although we extended them to the contiguous parts of adjoining ones, as far as Independence, Jackson Co., Liberty, Clay Co. & Savannah, Andrew Co. (pp4–5)

The cousins also mention that their assigned district included parts of Kansas Territory, which bordered all of the Missouri counties in which they worked. They also mention an aborted plan to obtain books in Iowa:

Of our time we anticipated spending a part in the region about Council Bluffs. In accordance with your directions, we wrote to Mr. Brown of Omaha City, shortly after we crossed the Mississippi, & he replied that the bill of lading had reached him, that the books had not, that he would inform us by letter whenever they should arrive ... Up to the 1st of August, no letter came, we had disposed of the books you had sent us, our great distance from Philadelphia made it impracticable to order a new invoice in time, & nothing was left us but to turn our faces homeward. (p2)

They made with several difficulties including poor book selection, bigotry against Presbyterians, and the permanent presence of a colporteur of the American Tract Society who preceded them. Frontier life was also uncertain:

Again, the unprecedented mania for [land?] speculation at present raging on the border seems uncontrollable, & religion and religious books are but little cared for… This spirit of avarice was increased by the expected failure of crops. Never before had this part of the country been so directly threatened with want as during the past season. ... But Providence closed the windows of Heaven, crops began to wither under an unprecedentedly long drought, & man grew anxious. (pp6–7)

Approximately five pages, page 8 to page 13, report on the potential of Presbyterianism in Missouri and Kansas Territory: “When Kansas becomes more thickly populated it will be fine field for the sale of religious books.” (p12) The letter concludes with a list of their expenses—principally for a horse, carriage and harness—for which they seek reimbursement from the Board.

R. Hamill Nasau, M.D. later served as a missionary in Gaboon, West Africa (French Congo). His cousin Rev. R. Hamill Davis later served as the head of a female school in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.¹

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