Letter-1865, April 19-B

Washington
April 19, 1865

Hon J.P. Usher
Sec. of the Interior

Dear Sir

   The undersigned having satisfied themselves that a patent is about to be made to one Johnston or Johnson, to certain lands in Kansas, in some way connected with the Wyandott Indians, to which lands we believe the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States has a  just and lawful claim, & knowing further that the claim of the said Johnson or Johnston, to the lands aforesaid are based upon a pretended claim of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, a thoroughly disloyal & rebel organization, the undersigned, ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, residing in this city, earnestly protest against the issuing of such patent until the authorities of the Methodist Episcopal Church can have time & opportunity to present their counter claim with the proof on which it rests.

John Lanahan
22 East Capitol St.

B.H. Nadal
434 F St., bet 6 & 7th.

[Photostat in MSS. Dept., K.S.H.S.]