Raymond, Benjamin Wright (1801-83). Letter, 1851 | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

Scope and Contents: Writing from Elgin, Ill., on March 12, 1851, Benjamin Wright Raymond, a director of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad and former mayor of Chicago (1839-40 and 1842-43), confidentially advised Anson Sperry of Marengo, Ill., of the board's decision to construct the railroad from Elgin to Belvidere, Ill.  This followed the "North Line" rather than the "South Line" that Sperry favored.  The University acquired this letter in 1946.