Ohio Postmaster's Brother Asks Sam Houston to Prevent Mail Route Change; Fears It Would Create Financial Harm

SAM HOUSTON (March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was an American soldier and politician. His victory at the Battle of San Jacinto secured independence of Texas from Mexico. He was also the only governor within a future Confederate state to oppose secession and to refuse the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy, which led to his being removed from office by the Texas secession convention.

Houston was active in the War of 1812 and in 1827 was elected Governor of Tennessee as a Jacksonian.  In 1832, he moved to Coahuila y Tejas, then a Mexican state, and became a leader of the Texas Revolution.  Houston became a key figure in Texas and was elected as the first and third President of the Republic of Texas.  He supported annexation by the United States and became a U.S. Senator upon achieving it in 1845 and finally a governor of the State of Texas in 1859.

7 ½ x 10, 1 ½ pp, T. Pomeroy, ALS, to Houston as a U.S. Senator, March 7 185_ seeking his help to prevent a mail route from changing, following Pomeroy’s brother’s death.  Pomeroy’s brother was the Postmaster. He is concerned that if the route is moved from Cincinnati to Sulpher Springs Bluff, the move will devalue the ferry that was part of his late brother’s estate and financially harm his late brother’s children.

“From the kind manner in which you spoke of my Brother-late of Cincinnati when I met you in Pittsburgh in December last, I take the liberty of writing to you in reference to a matter that effects the interests of the two orphan children of my Brother. I am informed that G.A. Wiser, T.S. Birdwell, B.S. Wilson & others are making an attempt to get the mail route changed so as to cross the Trinity River at Sulphur Springs bluff instead of Cincinnati. Should this be effected it would materially depreciate the value of the Ferry at Cincinnati, which belongs to my Brother’s Estate.

“The proposed road would be several miles longer than the one now in use and the majority of the people…would not be as well accommodated as they are at present…

“The people of Cincinnati and & vicinity are desirous of having Dr. Smith appointed as Postmaster in the place left vacant by the death of my brother.  By using your influence to prevent this change, you would gratify the majority of the inhabitants & serve the cause of humanity by protecting the interests of the orphans …T.Y. Pomeroy”

The letter has staining and some fire damage along the right margin, affecting some wording.

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