Manuscripts
David Saville letters to "My beloved wife,"
Image not available
You might also be interested in
Image not available
David Saville letters to "My beloved wife"
Manuscripts
In these two letters addressed to "My Beloved Wife," David Saville writes that he hopes to make enough money in San Francisco to "make us independent and pay all our obligations." As business is slow, he has become homesick, as he has "too much time on my hands." He writes "if only Congress would pass a Rail Road bill it would give us new life." Dated 1860, May 14 (HM 16640) and June 1 (HM 16641).
mssHM 16640-16641
Image not available
Lloyd Magruder letters to Thomas C. Magruder
Manuscripts
In these three letters to his brother, Lloyd Magruder writes of his experiences searching for gold in California during the mid-19th century. All three letters were written from the town of Marysville, California. In the first letter, HM 16729, dated 1855, September 17, Lloyd writes he has been elected Justice of the Peace for Marysville. He also campaigned successfully for the office of County Clerk. He also reports that he is a new father of a seven-month-old boy. The next letter, HM 16730, is dated 1861, October 13. Lloyd is still in Marysville, and has just finished assisting with the California census, for which he is awaiting payment from Washington, D.C. While he has not done as well as he'd hoped, he did spend some time in Sacramento as part of the Legislature. His daughter is now thirteen. The final letter of this group, HM 16731, was written 1862, April 28, and contains details concerning delivery of the payment due Lloyd from the Census Bureau. Lloyd writes that he is heading for the Salmon River Mines in Washington Territory.
mssHM 16729-16731
Image not available
Jonathan Heywood letters to Jane Heywood
Manuscripts
In these three letters addressed to his wife, Jane, Jonathan Heywood writes of his experiences in Yreka, California in 1853. HM 4201, dated July 16, Heywood writes that he has returned to California after six weeks in Oregon. He has sent gold dust home to Jane, and hopes to send more soon. He wishes that she send the children to school as much as possible. HM 4202 was written on August 7. Heywood sends more money and asks for news of home, as he has received no response to his letters. In HM 4203, dated September 4, Heywood writes that he is sending money home in the hands of a mutual friend.
mssHM 4201-4203
Image not available
Eben Chapman letters to Eben Hunt
Manuscripts
Chapman discusses the prices of goods and market conditions in San Francisco. He also writes of his own mining and farming prospects, and of other various business dealings. He also discusses the idea of slavery in California in HM 4199. HM 4198, dated July 1, 1852, is incomplete, consisting of only the first three pages. HM 4199 is dated July, 1852.
mssHM 4198-4199
Image not available
Emile Grisar letters to John Townsend
Manuscripts
Here are three letters to Dr. John Townsend from Emile Grisar of San Francisco, CA. The letters are all dated 1850; HM 35196 is dated September 26, HM 35197 is dated October 22, and HM 35198 is dated November 2. Grisar writes of the arrival of a ship that he appears to be interested in purchasing in conjunction with Townsend, but it needs repair. He also writes of the repairs being done on his San Francisco house, which he may have to draw drafts against. In HM 35196, he informs Townsend of the grading of San Francisco streets by the City Authority, and suggests he be given power of attorney in order to best take care of Townsend's business in San Francisco. In the final letter, Grisar relates that he may have to pay for a portion of the grading charges, and plans to formally protest along with several local colleagues.
mssHM 35196-35198
Image not available
J.D. Duncan letters to A.H. Campbell
Manuscripts
In these two letters to his brother, J.D. Duncan writes that he has arrived in the town of Stockton, California from Wisconsin and plans to head north to the gold mines. A year later, he writes that he has found work with "a large Ditch Company." He writes of the current state of crops, of the scarcity of gold, and the danger posed by Indians. Nevertheless, J.D. believes there is still "plenty of gold to be had." HM 25788 is dated 1857, February 4, and HM 25789 is dated 1858, September 13, and both were written in Stockton, California.
mssHM 25788-25789