Rare Books
Memoirs, correspondence and reminiscences of William Renick
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Rare Books
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San Marino, CA 91108
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Manuscripts
Crosby writes of events in his life, beginning with his birth in New York on July 18, 1818. After spending his early days on his parents' farm, he studied law and became an attorney in 1841. In 1843, he became "Attorney of the Supreme Court of the State of New York." In this capacity, Crosby began to become aware of the tension between California and Mexico, and upon learning of the opportunities for lawyers in California, he decided to relocate there in 1849. The discovery of gold in California urged his decision. He traveled by steamship, and writes of his journey, including a stop in Cuba. He landed in Panama and traveled up the Chagres River, then across to the Pacific Ocean, where he took another steamship to San Francisco, arriving in late February, 1849. Many of the passengers had traveled to search for gold; as Crosby writes, "There was a general disposition to get away from the city, to the gold mines." Crosby prospects himself at several locations. He describes the events leading up to the California constitutional convention in Monterey, as well as details of the convention itself. He describes the convention as "a very harmonious body and I think the members only had the interest of the people at heart." Crosby also relates his experiences as part of the "Land Commission," the function of which was "to Settle Private Land Claims in California," as well as his experiences serving as an ambassador to Guatemala. Crosby claims to have been given "secret instructions" by the President to see if Guatemala might be suitable for the relocation of the recently freed American slaves, but is skeptical that this plan would work. He describes the country and its inhabitants at length, for he feels "there is a great misapprehension among our people with regard to those tropical countries." Crosby relates of the social order of San Francisco, especially events connected to "a very noted cortezan" known as "the Countess." This manuscript appears to be a copy, for it is written in several different hands, and appears to be incomplete, as it ends abruptly.
mssHM 284
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Rare Books
265317
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Manuscripts
Note: Probably written for his son, Maurice Tuckwell, as an introduction to the letters of Susanna Beever.
HM 62833.
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Manuscripts
In his reminiscences, William Hickman Dolman recounts his childhood in Roseville, Ohio (he also spends several pages on the history of his family). Dolman describes years of moving around looking for full-time work and his decision to go to California to mine for gold. Dolman details his overland journey to California including the bad weather, deaths along the way, and a group from his wagon train deciding to turn around and go back east. While in California and Nevada, Dolman talks about his constant struggle to make money from the mines. Dolman moves around a lot, but spends most of his time in Carson City and Gold Hill, Nevada. Dolman also discusses his disappointment with his loss of money in the Comstock Lode, vigilance activity in Carson City, as well as the Battle of Pyramid Lake where Major William M. Ormsby was killed by Paiute Indians. Part of Dolman's reminiscences have been published: New Mexico historical review, July 1947, and Before the Comstock, 1857-1858: memoirs of William Hickman Dolman, also in 1947. This version of his reminiscences is not the same as the two published versions.
mssHM 66494