Manuscript Collection Inventory
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Note: Unless otherwise specified, documents and other materials listed on the following
pages are available for research at the Illinois Historical and Lincoln Collections, located
in the Main Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Additional
background information about the manuscript collection inventoried is recorded in the
Manuscript Collections Database (http://www.library.illinois.edu/ihx/archon/index.php)
under the collection title; search by the name listed at the top of the inventory to locate
the corresponding collection record in the database.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections
http://www.library.illinois.edu/ihx/index.html
phone: (217) 333-1777
email: ihlc@library.illinois.edu
The -letters are arranged chronologically, beginning in
Folder 4, They are preceded by r:ther miscellaneous manuscripts,
also in chronological order,
f n addit.ion t,o William Osman himself , the
correspondents, either as authors or recipients
represented in the collection:
M. Beck
B. C " Cook
W" Dumon ?
W. H. German
R. E. Goodell
George William Heilie
Jacob Hise
John Hise
Jesse Klinger
Ro]lin Means
?
t'
"Mother
Joshua Osman
Moses Osman
Robert
Osman
Samuel Osman
Wiltiam Osman (nephew)
J. M. Roberts
George Schreiber
John T. Stuart
Willet Terr;.
Jacob Walder
W. H. L. Wallace
Georgie F. Weaver
C. Witmer
f
ollowing
r:f lett.ers, are
1 item).
3 iterns ) .
1 item).
I item).
1 itern).
5 itens ) .
1 item).
7 items ) .
2 items ) .
1 item).
1 item).
2 items ) .
18 items ) .
(conformed cop5' af Will ) .
(12 items ) .
(1 item)"
( I iten).
(1 item).
{ 1 item, addressed t,o Stuart
( 1 item).
(2 iterns ) .
( 1 i tem, acldressed to
Wallace ) .
1l items, + 3 itens
2 items ) .
?)
)
WII,LIAM OSMAN PAPERS INVENTORY
Folder
No.
L
i.
2
,
3.
4
,
5.
6.
7.
8.
S.
10.
11.
1?,
13
.
14
,
15.
16
.
17,
18.
19.
tetter Book, Feb. 1836-Aug. 1838 (internittent),
50 pages; 31 entries.
[Pag* numbers refer to the
L,ett.er Book itage numbers , ]
William Osman (Harrisburg, Pa.) to "Mr, G. I.I{. F,
W._"fi,e.,
George F. Weaver?.|. Feb. 29, 1846.
(pp. 1-3).
I{iilliam Osrnan { Harrisbr,rrg ) to "Mother. " June 7 , 1836.
(pp. 3_I).
"{i. F, w-__"
Ii.e., George F. Weaver] (Aaronsbur-q,
Pa. ) tr: William Osman. Sept, B, 1836. (pp. 5-7\,
William Osman ( near Gratz, Pa. ) to "Fred-erick" I i . e. ,
George F. Weaverl (Aaronsburg ) . Sept. 15, 1836.
{pp. 7-10)"
George F. Weaver (Aaronsburg) to WiIli,an Osman.
Nov. L4, 1836" (pp. 10-13),
William {)sman (Harrisburg) to "Dear Brother" Ii.e.,
Moses Osmanl (Gratz). Apr. 18, i837. (pp. 13*16).
Moses Osman (Gratzl) t,: William Osman. Apr. 22, 183?.
(pp. 16-181.
Samuel Osman {Bellefonte, Pa" } to William Osman
(Harrisburg).
Apr, 4, 1837. (p. lB).
"(f. P. Q. " (?) to "Editor"--"Fair
Dealing. "
Apr. B, 1837. {pp. 18-20).
Kl inger (Lower Mahantango, Schur.l ki11 Cio. o Pa . ) to
'lesse
I,\Iilliam Osman {Harrisburg}.
Jrrne 15, lBgT. {p. Z0).
William Osman (Harrisbnrg) to "Nephe*" ( i.e, , Jesse
Itlinger) (Lor,rer }fahentango). June 2I , 1837.
{pp" 20*22\.
lloses Osman (Halifax, Pa.) to william Osman.
Jr"rJ.y 8, 1837. (p . 22\ ,
william Inlases ( I{arrisburg ) to lt{oses Osman.
August, 31,183?. (pp. 23-24\ ,
lfr:ses Osman
Osman. Sept. 3 , i 8g? .
{ Gratz ) to william
l)i
t^^
otr\
La-LJ
\lJlr.
t.
Iloses Osman (Gratz ) to William Osman. Oct. 5, 1gg?,
(p. 26t,
1,\'i11iam Osman (Harrisburg ) to lloses Osman { Gratz ) .
Oct. 18, 1837. (p,26-29),
"Speech on t,he quest,ion 'Do the signs of the Ti.mes
indicate the d,:wnf al1 of the repuhlic?'
Del iv'ered
before the Jefferson Debating Societp.. olri t.he 1Qth of
No\-. 7837," (i:1:. 29-31).
"Sl:eech d-e1ir,-ered bef ore the Young men, s Debati ng
Society ori the Question: 'Should Negro Slaver_v in the
{-I. S. be imnediately abo}ished, ' on the Bth of Januar--v,
1837" fi.e., 1B3Bl. {pp. 32-34\,
William Osman (Harris]:urg) to Samuel Osman.
Jan. 10, 1838. (pp, 34-36).
2
20,
"Speech d.elivered before the young men,s Dehrating
Soclety on t.he 22 of January, 1838, on the er_restion:
'Is Trades t LInion benef icial to the communitS;f r "
(pp. 36-39).
2L " Speech , d-el ivered bef ore the young men , s De]:at ing
Society on the Questir:n: 'Shor-rld Teras ire aclrnltted j,nto
the Union, ' on the 30th r:f January, 1838. "
(pp. 39-41).
22. Samuel Osman ( Be11efonte to William Osman.
I\1a"r' 13, 1838. (P. 41).
23 " Wi11iam Osman ( Harrisburg
to Samuel Osman.
Ma.. 15, 1838. (p. 41).
21 , t{i11iam Osman {Gettyshrurg r Pa. ) to "Dear Weirich" I i . e. ,
George F. I,{eaver ?1 May 2G, 1818. {pi:. 4I-121 .
25, "W. F. Pentz" Ii.e. , George F. Weaver?] {Harrisburg) to
William Osman. June 4, 1836 [i.e., 1938].
(pp. 42-43).
26 , Samuel Osman ( Bellef onte ) to William Osman.
)
)
June 7 , 1838. (p. 43 ) .
Wiltiam Osman (Gett.ysblrrg) to ,Sanuel Osman.
June 11, 1838. (pp. 44-15\.
28. William Osman (Get.t;rsburg) to W, H. German (Harrisburg).
July 5, 1838. (p . 45-47 \ .
29 , C, Witmer, "Conscience. " Aug. 1 , 1838. ( pp , 47 - 49) .
30. William Osman, "Conscience A Correct. Guirfe."
Aug. 4, 1838. (pp. 48-49).
31. I{illiam osman, "'The violent par:ty politicians'
Reacl
bef ore Prof . Reynolds of Prep. Dep. pa . colleg:e,
Augr.rst 23, 1B3B." (pp, 49-50),
27
2
.
"Adventures of Joshua and William"-*Nov. l--11 , 1838.
24 irregiular pages, one partially cut off , and ot.hers
partially defaced with pencil marks. tA chronology
rvritten in the satirical "travel adl'enture" t,raclit,ion
of Henrl- Fielding's Jrsseph r{nrjrer.:s and Tam Jones,
telling r:f the travels of the two brothers_ in and
around Dauphin Count,;., Pennsylvania during the f irst
days of November, 1838.
)
Diary Fragments--Apr. 4-16, 1839. 12 pages, 13 entr:ies
(2 pages cut in half ). (William Osmarr r\'as working for
a printer in Philadelphia at this time.)
Letter:s--1838. 6 items
"
f See also the 14 entries in the Letter Book (Folder
with dates from Jan.-Aug. 1B3Il
From W. Drrmon ?, AFr. 19, 1838.
language fGerman ?1.
George Schreiber to Holyon ( ? ) .
In a foreign
Aug. 1 , 1838.
1)
3
3.
4.
George F. Weaver (Harrisburg) to William Osman
(Gettysburg ) . Aug. 30, 1838.
Unsigned. Sept. 8, 1838. Appears to be a draft of
a
form WiIliam f)sman at college in Gettl'sburg to a
5.
letter
brot,her.
George F. Weaver (Harrisburg) to william
( Gettl'sfuurg ) . Sept . 10 , l" I3B .
6.
[See also items for Nov. 1-110 1B3B in Folder 21,
Unsigned (Gettysbure!) tc William osman. Dec. 5., 1838.
Appears t,o he from a fellors college student; pages
apparentl y missing.
5
tetters--1839.
1
.
2
,
3.
4
,
5.
6
.
7
,
Osman
2l items.
Samuel Osman ( Bellef onte ) to William Osman (Harrisbr"lrg ) .
Jan. 2A , 1839 .
C. I{it,mer ( Gettystrurg ) to i{ilIiam Osman { Pottstown ' Pa. ) '
c. Feh. 24 , 1839 .
John Hise (Ilarrisfugrg) to Willian Osman {Pottstorvn}.
Feb. 25 , 1839.
Jghn FIise ( Harrisburg ) to William Osman ( Pott.stown ) .
Mar. 3 ' 1839.
(Harrisfuurg) tr1 William Osman {Pc'ttstown).
John Hise
Mar. 4, 1839,
John Hise ( Harrisburg ) t.o William Osman
Pa. } . Mar . 12 , 1839 .
{ Phi}adelphia,
(Harrisburg)
t,o william Ctsman (Philadelphia) .
John Hise
also includes a previous
This
letter
Mar, 29, 1839.
person
rshose name is illegible;
a
l-etter to Hise from
paper
for his letter to
the
reused
Hise apparentl.rOsman '
I.
9.
10.
11"
72,
i3.
1,4
,
lsee also diary entries for Apr. 4-16' 1839 in
Folder 3. l
Unsignecl (Philadelphia ) . Llnaddressed. May 16 ' 1839 .
Possiblv a. draft letter b:' williarn Osmani notes and
quotations on reverse sicle.
John Hise ( Harrisbtrrg ) to william Osman (Philadelphia)
May 29, 1839.
william Osman (Philadelphia) to John Hise. May 31'
1839" Appears to be an uncompleted draft letter.
Samuel Clsman (Bellefonte) to Willian Osman
(Philaclelphia).
June 9, 1839.
Harrisburg
Weaver
F.
} tc, William Osman
Geclrge
{
.
1839
22
.
June
,
{ Philade}phia )
(Harrisburg
Osman.
W11liarn
t.o
Osman
Moses
)
26
1839.
June o
George F ' Weaver ( Harristrurg ) to williarn Osman
(Philadelphia).
c. June' 1839.
.
,i
15. George F. Weal'er (Harrisburg) to William Osman {unsigned
and r-rnadclressed, b,ut author and recipient are apparent
from the context ) . July 1, 1839.
i6 . M. Beck ( Harrisl:urg ) t,o Wiltiam Osman { trhiladelphia ) .
July 6 , 1839 . (Itrritten in German. ) Also contains note
from Moses Osman to William Osman.
17, George F. Weaver {Harrishrurg) to Wl11iam Osman
Sept. 15 1839.
t Philadelphia ) .
18. William Osman (Philadelphia)' to George Wiltiam Heilie.
Oct. 1, 1839. Appears t,o be an uncompleted draft
letter.
19. George william Heilie {Harrisburg) to witliam osman
( Philadelphia ) .
0ct. 27 , 1839
20. Moses Osman (Harrisburg) to william Osman.
Nov" 1, 1839.
Samuel Osman { Be1lef ont,e ) to Wi 1I iam Osman
21, ,
(Philadelrrhia).
Nov. 10, 1839.
.
8 items.
6
tetters--1840.
1.
Samuel Osman (Bellefonte) to William Osman (Harrisburg).
May 77 , 1840.
George F. Weaver (Cltt'awa, I1') t.o I'di.lliam Osman
(Harrisburg).
MaJ' 25, 1839 [i.e. ' 1840].
Osman (Harrisburg ) .
George F. Weaver (Ot,t.ar"{a ) to William
2,
3.
June 29, 1840.
Llnsigned (Harrisburg) to William Osman (Ottawa).
Aug. 21, 1840.
Moses Osman ( Harrisbr-rrg ) to william Osman.
5.
Sept , 29, 1840.
6.
Samuel f)sman (Bellef onte ) to william osman { ot.t,awa ) .
Oct . 3, 1840.
7. George William Heilig (Harrisburg) to william osman
{Ottawa). Nov. 3, 1840.
B, Moses Osman (Harrishurg) to William Osman'
Nov. 10, 1840.
4.
7
1.
2.
3.
4.
5,
6
6 items.
GeorEie WilIian Heilig (Harrisburg) to william osman
(Ottawa) . May L, 1841.
Samuel- Osman (Bel1ef onte ) to william Osman (Ottawa ) .
May 4, 1841.
Moses Osman (Harrisburg) to I{illiam Osman {Ottar'ra) .
Ma5' 30' 1841.
George Witfiam Heilie {Harrisburg) t'o William Osman
(Ottawa ) . Jul.v 29, 1841'
Moses Osman {Harrisburg) to William Osman {Ottawa).
Aug. 17, 1841,
L\ril1iam Osman ( Ot,tarva ) to Mcses Osman { Harrishurg ) .
Oct. 1.2, 1841.
Letters--1841.
.
5
B
1.
2,
3.
I
Letters*-1842.
3 items.
Willet Terry {Ottarva} to John ?. Ster^rart, li.e,, Striartl
{Washington City, D.C. ). Jan. 3, 7842. f stuart r^ras a
memLrer of Congress at, this time.l
Moses Osman {Harris'brirg ) to wil liam C}sman.
Jan. 28, \842,
"Tacoh Walder (Wilkes-Barre, Pa. ) to I{illiam Osman
{0ttawa ) . Mal' 9, 1842,
tetters--1843.
3 items.
1". Moses Osman (Ftrarrishurg ) to Willian Osman (Ottawa) ,
Jan. 27 , 1843.
2, Joshua Osman (Peach Bottom, Pa. ) to will.iam Osman
{Ottar^'a). Mar. 24, 1843,
3,
R. E. Gr:odell { Chicago, I} , ) to William Osman { Ot,tarra.
Mar. ZB, 1843.
l0
tetters--1844.
11
tetters--1845.
)
.
4 items.
1. B. C. Co,:k (Cato, N.Y.) to Mases and William Osman
(Ottarsa). Ju15' 16' 1844. Incl,ucles a nerr's repart by
Cook d-ated July 13, 7844 from Osrrego, N.Y. , of
Democratic party political actj-vities in the Polk &
Dallas presicl-ent.iaf campaign.
2,
J, M. Br:Lrerts ( St. Louis, Mo. ) ta Williarn Osman
{Ot.tawa). Sept,. 19, 1844.
3.
Balssett,s I Brlssett, ' s ? I School Patron Meet ing Minut,es .
Dec. 77, 1844 " William Osman, Secretary.
"A1ice" to "Dear Friend" [wh,: from the context, appears
4"
ta be Wiltiam Osmanl. Dec. 30, 7844,
1.
2,
3
.
1,
12
1.
4 items.
B. C. Cook (Springfield, fI.) to William Osman {fJt,t.awa}.
Jan. 2A, 1845. (Includes a letter t.o the "Editors"-presumably of Witliam Osman's Free Trad.er, I
Jacob Walder (Wilkes-Barre) tr: William Osman (Ott.awa)
June 29, 1845.
Rollin Means ? { Jacksonville, 11. } to Williarn {)sman and
Briton C, Cook (Ottarva) . Oct. 77 , 1845,
Llnsigned (Littleford,
?) to "Brother Bil-1," Dec, 2,
1845. Appears to be an unfinished letter draft.
"
Letters-*1846.
I item.
Jacob Hise {Ottaway Isic.J)
Mar. 22 n 1846.
to "Son" {Pittshur€h, Pa.).
6
13
1
.
14
Letters--1847,
I item.
William Osman ( Salti-Ilo , Mexico ) to W, H. L. Wallace
( 1st I1l. Vol. ) . Apr. 12, 1847.
Letters--Unascertainable
Date.
B items.
1.
Llndated. Unsigned. Appears to be a draft of a school
essa)' on the "t'ittts" use of language.
2. Undated. "W" Ii.e., William Osman]. Appears to be an
essay on the timelessness of defaming prr:minent people.
lAccording to the Webster's New Internatjonaf
Dictionary, r_rnabriclged 2nd ed"it.ion, a "Roorback" ( or
"Roorbach" ) is a defamatory falsehood published for
political
effect,
It states further that. the word
originated in L844, when there was published, tc, the
detriment of James K. Pofk, t.hen a candidate for
Presidentr on extract purporting to be from Raorbackts
Tour through the Western and Southern States in 1956,)
3. William Osman Inephew of Willian Osman](St, Louis] to
William Osman (Ottarva) . Aug. 2A, 184?. Nephew i^rrites
his uncle asking for money, as he is sick and_ cannnt
pay rent ; nephew's landlord,, H, G. Barret.t , also
encloses a note, entreating unc].e tc pa1' nephewrE ,1eht,
4. IJndated, Llnsignecl to "Dear brother. "
5. I-hdated. Linsignecl. Fragmentary notes on nl assical
hist'or-v and literatr"rre.
6.
Fragment of letter , with s ignature "Cous in Ba,rneJr " "
I-lndated. Unsignerl . "To Colorrr Green" ; 'nTo Color.rr
7,
Scar1et."; "To Cr:Iour Pink" (d--r'1r'r* inst.rr-tctions ) .
B. Llndaterl . I-lnsi.gned " Speeeh on the responsib j I i f es of
child rearing.
15
tegal Paper:s. 2 items.
1" Llndated. t-lsigned. Dr:aft cf Partnership Dissolut,ion
Agreement r.lissolvin.g the partnership formerlS' entitled
"Hise &. osman" and recent,ly entitled- "Wm* Osman & Co."
2, Conformed copy of the Witl. of Robert Osman, dated
Aug. 21 , 1826; indicates Letters Testamentar.v grant.eri
to the Co-Executors under the Will by Register in
Dauphin Count.y, Pennsylvaniar on Mar. 23, 1fi:1 ,
1.6 Obituary of William Osman. 2 items.
1. Photocopy of the Obituary of trrillinm {)sman nr-inf*-d ir,
The Daif y Free Trader, Trrescl,ar... .Tanrrar-r- 1q . l 9nq.
p, 2,
2, Original iqsr.te of Thp !)ail.t, .7r*e Trader. Tr.resda...,
JanLrarr' 19 , i 909 .
L7
1.
I
e
A
0.
Newspapers.
The rfLinois,state
Register & rLLinctis Advocate, Friday,
March 25, 1836.
(Reprintl The New York HearJd, Saturday, April 1b, 196b.
The Ottawa Free Trader, Saturday, March Z, 1867.
Free Trader-JournaL and ottawa Fair DeaJer, wednesd"ay,
January 5, 1927 ,
"Ot,tawats Civif War Veterans Honorecl , " The DaiJy Tines
(Ottawa, fllinois),
Wednesday, October 1S, 1ggB, p. g
(discusses Col. Douglas Hapeman, who was William
Osman's trus j-ness partner f rom 1BGT to 1BBB ) .
The Daily Tines (Ottawa, Illinois),
Special lS0th
Anniversary Section, Friday October I4, 1gg4 {cover
showing pedigree of the newspaper, including Willian
Osman and The Ottawa Free Trader\.
1B Miscellanous.
I
q
6 items
3 items.
Miscellanous newspaper clippings regarding members of
the Osman family, 1898-1946.
crarence Griggs, €d., sauvenir: one Hundreth Anniversary
of Christ Episcopal Church, Ottawa, fflinois,
A,D,
1838-A"D, 1938 {October 16, 1938) (discusses William
Osman's 19th-century affiliation
with the church)
Edmund R. Travers, M.D. "The Therapeutical Value of
Lime as Contained in the Ottawa Mineral Springs " "
Amboy, Lee County, f 1l-inois, April 7, lBTb . "John
E.
scott" written on the back of the last page. Encroserf
in envelope pr:stmarked. October 31, 1908.
"