David Saville letters to "My beloved wife"

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  David Saville letters to "My beloved wife,"

  Manuscripts

  In HM 16646, dated 1861, January 31, Saville writes to his wife that he is confident he will be able to provide for them both financially. In HM 16647, dated 1861, April 30, he writes that he regrets some of his investing, and of the importance of preserving the Union "even if it should cost all the Treasure in the Country."

  mssHM 16646-16647

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  Jonathan Heywood letter to Jane Heywood

  Manuscripts

  Jonathan Heywood writes to his wife, Jane, about his experiences digging for gold outside Sacramento. He has had a rough go of it, and remarks "I would not advise any of my friends to come here if they can make a comfortable living at home."

  mssHM 4174

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  Chauncey Edgar Stearns letters to friends and family

  Manuscripts

  This is a series of letters written by Chauncey Edgar Stearns, describing his experiences during his journey from Illinois to California. The letters are written to friends and family at his home in Vermont, but many are written to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Stearns. The first letter, HM 21283, is dated 1855, October 19, and Chauncey Stearns writes that he has traveled by boat up the St. Lawrence River to Lake Ontario. He became seasick during the voyage, particularly upon reaching the lake. He has gotten work as a clerk at a local store in Lockport, Illinois, but does not know how long he will stay. Of the town, he writes: "although it is a good country it is to sickly I say sickly it is not so with folks that live hear." He urges his brother Henry to stay at home. In HM 21285, dated 1855, December 6, he writes of homesickness: "If I had thirty Dollars and was back to Vermont I would never say any thing more about the West." He begs his parents "do not tell anyone that I want to come home for they would laugh at me when I get home." Stearns was in Iowa in early 1856, and stayed with various friends and relatives in Wisconsin during the spring and summer of 1856, where he worked at farms to save money to finance his travels to California. He writes that he prefers Wisconsin to Illinois (HM 21294, 1856, June 1), and says "I could make up my mind to go home but I shall not at present for the reason I can do better out here than in old Vermont & for that reason I shall stay." By 1858, Stearns has earned enough to buy his own land (HM 21295, dated 1858, November), and by early 1859, he is on his way to Pike's Peak in Colorado (HM 21296, dated 1859, March) before finally heading for California. Stearns seems almost resigned of going to what he calls "the new El Dorado", for as he writes, "there is Gold there without a doubt but not of a sufficient quantity to pay a man for going." By late 1859, he is in Sacramento (HM 21298, written 1859, September 30), and writes that wages are fine, when work can be found. He is very impressed with the bounty of California and its "fertile vallies." However, as he writes in April, 1860, "the society I am mingling with does not harmonize with my feelings" as "gambling and rowdyisms are the principal productions of the mining towns in California & thus it is why so many young men are ruined for life from character as well as health." Of the money made from mining, Stearns remarks, "it is very easy to spend it as fast as it is dug out," but he has not succumbed to the temptations offered in Sacramento. By late 1861 (HM 21303) Stearns declares that California will be his home for the rest of his life, and relocates to San Francisco, where he enlists for three years as a soldier because he believes "it would be better for my health" (HM 21302, dated 1864, August 23). He has had a change of heart, as he writes "should I be fortunate enough to out live the term of my enlistment I shall come home never to leave the Atlantic States again while I live." Regarding his enlistment, he tells his mother not to worry, as "Soldiers here have no fighting to do." In 1866 (HM 21306, written April 17), Stearns writes to his brother "exsposure & hard work has made an old man of me in some respects." The final letter is dated 1867, October 7, and Stearns writes from San Francisco that "I think my health will never be very good again California has been a very hard country with me at times." He laments, one last time, the separation from his family.

  mssHM 21282-21308

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  Andrew McKinley letter to John McKinley

  Manuscripts

  In this letter addressed to "my dear father," Andrew McKinley writes he is stricken with illness which "has somewhat increased my expenses....I would be obliged if you would send me some money." He also says he is thinking over his father's suggestion to move his business to the Eastern cities.

  mssHM 29252

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  Frederick Billings letters to Solomon Foot

  Manuscripts

  Billings writes that he would consider the vacant law commissioner office of the Southern District of California (HM 20713, written 1851, December 15 in San Francisco), and asks Foot to impress that he would be for Vermont, though he believes he has lived in California long enough to be called a Californian. He writes further of the open office (HM 20714, 1851, December 31, from San Francisco), saying that he would be gratified by the appointment, but does not want "to exhibit too much anxiety for any political office." In HM 20715, written 1862, March 10 in New York, Billings is leaving for California with his wife, and asks Foot to communicate with several mutual friends, including Hiram Barney and Samuel Ford.

  mssHM 20713-20715

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  Samuel Hopkins Willey letter to Miss Lord

  Manuscripts

  Letter from Samuel Hopkins Willey to a Miss Lord, sent from San Francisco. In the hastily written letter Willey writes that he has put up "articles of my soliciting" and that he has mislaid a prospectus and would like to be sent another copy. He also writes that "it is very hard for me in the press of care to do work for this school."

  mssHM 73058