VINTAGE 1888 DIGHTON KANSAS HISTORICAL LETTER - ATCHISON TOPEKA & SANTA FE... For Sale

​🚂 Step back in time to the Kansas frontier with this remarkable, original handwritten letter dated April 1, 1888. Written on official Treasurer of Lane County letterhead (Abe Frakes, Treasurer) in Dighton, Kansas, this document captures a fascinating slice of late-19th-century western expansion, open-range cattle ranching, and railroad history.

​Historical Significance & Content

• ​🩺 The Writer: Penned and signed by D.Z. Woods, M.D., who identifies himself as an Assistant Surgeon for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad ("At Fe RR Co").

• ​🐄 The Subject: Dr. Woods writes to landowner Mr. G.J. Barker, who owned the Southeast Quarter of a section near Dighton. Dr. Woods addresses the realities of the open range, politely asking permission for his cattle to graze on wild land adjacent to Barker's property, and promising to protect the grass from prairie fires ("which you know injures it").

• ​📝 The Letterhead & Docketing: Features crisp period printing for the Lane County Treasurer's office. The reverse side features original contemporary manuscript docketing written in ink: "Woods Letter regarding steers on my domain / Kansas Lands".

​Specifications & Condition

• ​📜 Document Type: Original 19th-century manuscript letter on lined paper.

• ​📅 Date: April 1, 1888.

• ​📍 Location: Dighton, Lane County, Kansas.

• ​✍️ Signer: D.Z. Woods, M.D., Assistant Surgeon, AT&SF Railroad.

• ​🔍 Condition: Excellent antique condition for its age, displaying natural fold lines, minor age toning, and crisp, legible iron-gall ink handwriting. Please review the high-resolution scans for exact condition details.

​⭐ Why Buy From 785KansasAntiques? ⭐

​📜 100% Guaranteed Original Documents – No reproductions or modern copies. We specialize in authentic historical paper, ephemera, and Americana.

📦 Secure Shipping – Your historical artifact will be shipped flat, safely protected between rigid boards in a moisture-resistant sleeve to ensure it arrives in pristine condition.

⚡ Fast & Reliable Handling – Ships out quickly so you can add this incredible piece of Kansas history to your collection without delay.

​Add this rare piece of Santa Fe Railroad and Kansas territorial-era history to your collection today!