A few families in the St. Louis area are able to namedrop impressive figures. For example, John Sappington functioned as bodyguard to George Washington at Valley Forge. Then, several years later, after marriage, many children, and small moves Westward — Daniel Boone convinced him to move to Missouri.
Part of the Louisiana Purchase, Missouri was new to the United States in 1805 when the Sappingtons and 40 other families arrived.
Tom, John’s second son, built a grand, brick house for his bride. This home, now restored, still sits at the same location on the same fieldstone and lime mortar foundation.
This portable writing desk, table, chair, and corner table are only a few of the early 1800 furnishings you can see on a tour of this restored home. A prosperous family, they had fine furnishings and added a kitchen to the initial four-room Federal design home in 1818. (I don’t know about you — but at that time my ancestors were recovering from the Napoleon years in Europe.)
By mid-century, immigrants from Ireland and the German States were arriving in large numbers to the American midwest. Find the story of one group as they make their way to fictional Elm Ridge, Illinois (three days by steamboat north of St. Louis). The sweet romance, New Dreams, is the book you want to read for this adventure. Perhaps an established resident of the town had a similar chair.
Link to the book: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE
