To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 10 February 1804
From Albert Gallatin
[10 Feb. 1804]
Israel Ludlow the Regr. Land office is dead
The applicants are
—Kilgore who has for 18 months done the duties of the office with great correctness.
—Symmes, the judge’s son, recommended by Smith & Morrow.
As the office is kept shut, & the sales & paymts. stopt, an early appointmt. is necessary
A.G.
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); undated, but written on verso of Enclosure No. 2. Enclosures: (1) Charles Killgore to Gallatin, Cincinnati, 23 Jan., informing the Treasury secretary of the death of Israel Ludlow; although Killgore has conducted business for Ludlow, the land office is now shut as he does not “think it proper to transact any business untill some appointment is made”; he assures Gallatin that if he receives the appointment, he can give any security the government requires (RC in same). (2) Ohio senator John Smith and Representative Jeremiah Morrow to Gallatin, Washington, 10 Feb., announcing the sudden death of Ludlow, “making it indispensable to appoint a successor” as soon as possible; both recommend Daniel Symmes as “well qualified to do the duties” of the office (RC in same, in Smith’s hand, signed by Smith and Morrow; ).
Charles Killgore (kilgore), a Federalist, began corresponding with Gallatin and submitting land office returns on behalf of Ludlow in September 1802. The president sent Killgore’s nomination to the Senate on 24 Feb. His commission is dated the 29th. When Killgore died in 1807, TJ appointed Republican Daniel symmes, nephew of John Cleves Symmes, to the office (commission in Lb in DNA: RG 59, MPTPC; , 7:531, 582; 8:25, 584, 698; John Cleves Symmes to TJ, 5 Oct. 1807; Thomas Henderson to TJ, 6 Oct. 1807; TJ to the Senate, 2 Dec. 1807).