Letter-1865, March 3

City of Washington D. C.
March 3, 1865

Hon William P Dole
Com. of Indian Affairs

Sir

   The undersigned William L. Harris one of the Secretaries of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church being directed and empowered thereto by proper letters of Attorney from the Board of Managers of the said Society, does, hereby, and on behalf of the said Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church; make claim to the Lands & Property known as the Shawnee Manual Labor School lying and being in the Indian Country within the limits of the present State of Kansas; which lands were possessed and used heretofore by the said Missionary Society, the large and valuable improvements thereon having been  made by the Board of Managers aforesaid; and in regard to which, both lands and improvements the said Missionary Society has not done or consented to any act by which their title and use of said lands and improvements can be invalidated.

   We therefore most respectfully ask that our legal and equitable rights be recognized by your Department and that no act of yours shall prevent our recovering possession thereof.

   Should the claim herein set forth be controverted by any party or parties, we reserve to ourselves the right to file additional papers in proof of the validity of our claim.

Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
William L. Harris Attorney &c.

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