Prickett, John A. (1822-97). Papers, 1846-51

In 1846, John A. Prickett of Edwardsville, Ill., was active in organizing Co. E, 2nd Ill. Vol. Inf., for action in the U.S.-Mexican War. He served as first lieutenant until he was wounded at the Battle of Buena Vista on Feb. 22, 1847. After returning home, Prickett was elected recorder of deeds, 1847-49, and county clerk, 1849-61, of Madison County. He also operated a flour mill, and in 1869 established a bank, J. A. Prickett and Sons.

This collection contains transcripts of Prickett's Mexican War correspondence, 1846-47, including ten letters to his fiancee, Elisabeth Barnsback of Edwardsville, Ill., and one to her father, J. L. Barnsback. The letters describe army life, the trip to New Orleans and Galveston, the countryside of southern Texas and northern Mexico, and several skirmishes and battles. The collection also contains transcripts of an incomplete set of clippings of articles about the war by "Sub." (Prickett) that were published in Edwardsville's Madison Record in 1850 or 1851.

The transcripts (about 38 typed pages for the letters and about 46 typed pages for the articles) were made in 1912 from the originals in the possession of Mrs. William H. Jones of Edwardsville.