1823 Oliver Granger ALS Stampless Letter Zanesville OH Mormon Founder LDS D&C For Sale

Up for sale is an extraordinary stampless folded letter, postmarked Zanesville, Ohio, May 1, 1823, with a bold “PAID 25” manuscript rate (25¢ for over 400 miles, per the 1816 postal act). The cover retains remnants of its red wax seal and shows fascinating routing notations, including an initial forwarding attempt to Buffalo, N.Y., later redirected to Mount Pleasant, Wayne County, Pennsylvania.

This is far more than a postal history item — it is a rare family manuscript that brings together four members of the Granger family:

• James Granger (author of the main letter)

• Oliver Granger (later honored in LDS scripture, Doctrine & Covenants 117)

• Seth Granger (adds a response on the same sheet)

• John Granger, Esq. (the addressee, in Mount Pleasant, PA)

Such a convergence of signatures and references from one prominent family is nearly unheard of in early 19th-century correspondence.

(James Granger writes the main section)

“We have had a hard task here and we have not got on so fast as we have had to expect, but we have gained a foothold. It has been with us as with one who has lost his balance and got precipitated down a hill. He is forced to proceed on catching at everything in his way till nearly at the bottom he gets a firm stand — then gains his way back again… The estate is heavily involved… We have not yet paid anything on account of Prof. and other few creditors… We are all well. Mrs. O. Granger has been stretched or had serious fits… She with St. Eliza wishes you to remember them. I should like to hear from you often and remain yours…”

James Granger

(Oliver Granger adds his own plea)

“…and we ought to write three or four times a year, and I will promise to write as soon as I get a letter from you and know where to direct my letter. Don’t fail to write.”

Oliver Granger

(Seth Granger responds briefly on the same sheet)

“Dear Brother, I received your letter of the 18th inst. and am glad to learn that you are well. I hope you will succeed in relieving your farm and buildings from surety as I want some assistance from you and can never pay my debts without… I had to mortgage part of the farm and buildings… If you will help me, I think we can clear off the debts and spend the remainder of our days in quiet.”

Seth Granger

(Back endorsement, in another hand)

“All the creditors are not secured neither indeed can be.”

This 1823 folded letter captures the Granger family at a moment of financial crisis in Ohio, with debts, mortgages, and creditors threatening to strip away farms and estates.

• James details the situation with metaphors of tumbling down a hill.

• Oliver appeals for more frequent family correspondence.

• Seth writes urgently that he cannot pay his debts without help and has already mortgaged property.

• John, though silent in writing, is central as the addressee — the brother expected to provide aid or advice.

Together, these voices paint a vivid picture of post-Revolutionary family struggles, land speculation, and economic instability on the Ohio frontier. The anxieties expressed here foreshadow Oliver’s later years in Kirtland, where he was again burdened with debts — and where Joseph Smith would enshrine his name in LDS scripture as a model of faithfulness despite financial ruin.

Oliver Granger (1794–1841)
Land agent and businessman, Oliver later became a trusted figure in early Mormon history. Joseph Smith appointed him as a financial agent for the Church, praising his loyalty in Doctrine & Covenants 117:12–13: “His name shall be had in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever.” Oliver died in Kirtland, Ohio in 1841, his legacy cemented in LDS memory. Pre-1830 Oliver Granger manuscripts are extremely rare.

James Granger
Oliver’s brother, James appears here as the main voice of reason and record-keeper, explaining the dire financial situation of the family estate. Though not as well-documented as Oliver, he clearly played a major role in managing the family’s affairs in Ohio during the 1820s. His steady, almost secretarial hand complements Oliver’s more personal plea.

Seth Granger
Another brother, Seth adds his own voice on the same sheet, making this a true multi-author family document. His brief but urgent note reveals his personal mortgage troubles and the need for help from his siblings. While not well-known in broader history, Seth’s participation in this letter is genealogically significant, tying the Granger brothers together in one surviving artifact.

John Granger, Esq.
The recipient of the letter, John was based in Mount Pleasant, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. While less is known about his life, he is here recognized by his brothers as a figure of stability and means — the one to whom they turned for aid and counsel. His role completes the family circle represented in this correspondence.

• Folded stampless letter, with age toning and edge wear.

• Wax seal loss with minor paper tears, some wear to folds.

• Zanesville, Ohio oval postmark (“MAY 1”) is crisp and legible.

• Original rate marking “Paid 25” present.

• Redirection notations include two crossed-out attempts to route through Buffalo, N.Y., an appealing postal history feature.

• Four Granger men in one document (James, Oliver, Seth, and John).

• A rare pre-Mormon Oliver Granger autograph, nearly a decade before his name entered LDS scripture.

• Rich financial content on mortgages, creditors, and estate struggles.

• Postal history appeal with Zanesville, OH stampless use and redirection markings.

✨ A unique family cluster letter from 1823, linking four Granger brothers — including Oliver Granger, immortalized in LDS scripture. A true rarity bridging early Ohio postal history, family genealogy, and Mormon history.