John Dustin Bicknell Papers

The collection consists primarily of correspondence related to the professional activities of John Dustin Bicknell (1838-1911) who was a partner in several Los Angeles law firms. Bicknell specialized in land patents, and many letters are from individuals who wished to buy or sell property or had a claim against someone concerning their land. As an attorney for the Southern Pacific Railroad, Bicknell received correspondence from Collis and Henry Huntington asking for his advice on right-of-ways and other matters related to the railroads and interurban lines.

In addition to the Huntingtons, Bicknell received business letters from several prominent individuals including: Reginaldo F. (Reginaldo Francisco) Del Valle (1854-1938), J. A. (Jackson Alpheus) Graves (1852-1933), Isaias W. Hellman (1842-1920), William F. (William Franklin) Herrin (1854-1921), George Wharton James (1858-1923), Thaddeus Sobieski Coulincourt Lowe (1832-1912), Henry Harrison Markham (1840-1923), William Mulholland (1855-1935), Henry William O'Melveny (1859-1941), Joseph D. (Joseph Deighn) Redding (1859-1932), Frederick Hastings Rindge (1857-1905), William Starke Rosecrans (1819-1898), Charles H. (Charles Hansen) Toll (1850-1901), Moses Hazeltine Sherman (1853-1932), James Slauson (b. 1865), Jonathan Sayre Slauson (1829-1905), Harriet Williams Russell Strong (1844-1926) and Shirley C. Ward (b. 1861). Bicknell is the author of 72 letters in the collection.

A few letters are from various relatives and friends of Bicknell. Perhaps the most prominent of these individuals is Warren Newton Dusenberry (1836-1915), from whom he received seven letters. Dusenberry established Timpanogos University in Provo, Utah, which he presided over until 1875 when it became Brigham Young University and he became superintendent.

The collection also contains approximately 650 letters from 1883-1902 from various individuals who worked or supervised the Frazier Mine near Gorman, California, which Bicknell jointly owned. These detailed letters describe not only the activities of the mine but also the living conditions and the problems of receiving mail, supplies and equipment. At first the mine appeared to be producing ore, with more and more money spent on new processes. By the end of the correspondence, however, the miners urged Bicknell to sell the mine.