Durell, William M. Letter, 1865-1865

This collection contains a letter from William M. Durell in Vermont, Illinois, January 22, 1865. Durell’s letter includes commentary on the draft for the United States Civil War and taxes in Vermont Township.

William M. Durell (1810-1891) was a carpenter in Vermont, a small town in northwestern Illinois. He married Margaret Ann Terry in 1838. The Durells had two sons that fought in the Civil War, Edwin Palemon and William Frank [known as Frank]. Both sons were injured in battle.

This collection contains a letter writer on January 22, 1865, by William M. Durell. The recipient of the letter is unknown, but may have been government officials, since Durell addressed them as, "your Honourable body." Durell wrote about his opposition to raising taxes in order to buy substitutes for a military draft. He mentioned that he had two sons enlist in the Civil War of their own volition who were injured, and he incurred the cost of their care humbly. Durell ends the letter pleading with the recipient to disavow the "unlawful" tax on him and his community.

The Library purchased this record with support from the Bruce C. Creamer fund in 2021.