Rare Books

Honest farmer from Arkansaw on a lark seein' the west

Image not available

Description: An account of the author's trip to Oklahoma and throughout the American West, Southwest, and Northwest at the beginning of the twentieth century written in a series of letters and short narratives from Milam to his wife Mollie and his son. Additionally, a long section is addressed to his sister and daughter. In the course of the narrative, Milam travels to Fort Sill, Lawton, and Comanche County in Indian Territory, continuing through the west by rail to Corpus Christi. After taking a train from Jacksonville Florida to Lufkin, Texas, he continues on to Oregon for the Lewis and Clark Exposition. Milam also visits and comments on Galveston, San Antonia, Saint Louis, Boise, Vancouver, Wyoming, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and other locales.
Type: Rare Books(Opens in new tab)
Publication date: [1905]
Call number: 653852
Creator

Reminiscences of John Wesley Hillman, Famous Forty-Niner and Discoverer of Crater Lake as dictated to Bentley B. Mackay

Manuscripts

In this 33 page document, John Wesley Hillman relates his travels and colorfully details life mostly in California and Oregon from 1849-1854. Beginning with the journey from Louisiana to St. Joseph, Missouri over the Oregon Trail to Oregon City, by ship to San Francisco and then to the mines in Mariposa County. Hillman returned to San Francisco after his father returned home to Louisiana. He describes the San Francisco fire of 1851, a trip to Mt. Shasta and Yreka and environs and then to his home base for many years in Jacksonville, Oregon. After driving pack and wagon trains, Hillman signed on to be a member of a party contracted to search for a shorter route to the gold fields in Florence Basin and the Salmon River in Idaho. After engaging in their own prosperous mining, the contact was fulfilled. Back in Jacksonville, he learned that a party of Californians were going on a search for the Lost Cabin Mine and decided to follow them. It was on this journey that he expectantly stumbled upon Crater Lake, a place that he said cannot be described in mere words, but one of the six wonders of the American continent that must been seen to be fully appreciated.

mssHM 19977

Image not available

The Oregon Trail : The Highway of the Pioneers to the Pacific Northwest

Rare Books

"From Westport, now Kansas City to Oregon City by way of Fort Kearney, Laramie, Bridger, Hall and Boise, also the Sublette and Lander Cutoffs and the Boseman and Appplegate Trails and the Overland Trail to the Sacramento Valley and the California Gold Mines." A colorful pictorial map of the West. Prime meridian: GM. Relief: pictorial & hachures. Projection: Birds-eye view. Printing Process: Lithography.

302408

Image not available

George B. Currey letter to L. R. Webster

Manuscripts

In this letter to Judge Webster, Currey discusses the potential sale of "the property" in Oregon. He writes, "I trust some Republican will become the purchaser," and states he may be coming to Jacksonville soon to visit Webster.

mssHM 16547

Image not available

Jonathan Heywood letter to Jane Heywood

Manuscripts

Heywood writes to his wife that he and his companions have built a log cabin outside Jacksonville, California, and are beginning to prospect, but have not found anything so far. They have several neighbors nearby, all prospectors in cabins, from different parts of the country.

mssHM 4182

Image not available

Mollie J. Jones journal

Manuscripts

The journal opens on Jan. 1861, when Mollie, a vivacious and well read young woman who thoroughly enjoyed her life as a local society belle, set out to "endeavor to keep a record of passing events, and jot down thoughts as they occur." She vividly describes her friends and beaux, in particular an exciting month she spent in New Orleans in February and March of 1861, going on "shopping excursions," and attending dances, theaters, (she was smitten with a Varieties Theater production of Jeannie Deans, starring Charlotte Thompson (1843-1898) and Fanny Brown (1837- after 1870) and opera performances with Adeline Patti (1843-1919), parties, parades, and other diversions, including a visit to the studio of Alenson G. Powers (ca. 1817 - ca. 1867), the renown New Orleans portraitist. The diary follows Mollie's tortuous romance with Richard J. Hancock, 3rd Lieutenant of Co. D of the 9th Louisiana Infantry, her feelings about the war and growing anxiety in the wake of the taking of New Orleans, and devastating family news. The diary breaks off in October 1863, on the last night Mollie Jones spent in Sunny Dell. An entry, in another hand, records her death, along with deaths of friends and family members.

mssHM 62472

Image not available

Daniel C. Ehrhart letters to Mollie Davis

Manuscripts

Letters from Daniel C. Ehrhart to his cousin Mollie Davis, including five letters written during his service in Pennsylvania. The letters describe the life in Camp Curtin and Scranton and discuss rather animatedly the family news and the comings and goings of his many female cousins and friends. Includes transcripts.

mssHM 68880-68887

Honest farmer from Arkansaw on a lark seein' the west

Opening Hours

Admission Info and Tickets

You might also be interested in

Reminiscences of John Wesley Hillman, Famous Forty-Niner and Discoverer of Crater Lake as dictated to Bentley B. Mackay

The Oregon Trail : The Highway of the Pioneers to the Pacific Northwest

George B. Currey letter to L. R. Webster

Jonathan Heywood letter to Jane Heywood

Mollie J. Jones journal

Daniel C. Ehrhart letters to Mollie Davis