Rare Books
Reminiscences of William Hasell Wilson (1811-1902)
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Rare Books
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Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
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Manuscripts
In the letters, which Cowan wrote to his wife, daughter and father, he describes his eight-month overland journey from Indiana to California. He includes details regarding the hardships of the trip including disease and the death of several of his traveling companions, problems with the captain of the company, lack of provisions along the way, and delays due to bad weather. In the one letter he wrote from California, he describes California and his life in Weaverville, the conditions in the city, the high prices of food and supplies, the behavior of his fellow gold miners, and the difficulty of mining for gold. Included with the nine letters is a poem, written by Cowan, entitled "A Memento on Leaving for Calafornia [sic]," and a manuscript, written by an unknown person, which gives details about Cowan's life and his sudden death from typhoid fever in December 1849. Also included are negative photostats of all eleven items.
mssHM 68061-68071
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Rare Books
346971
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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