Manuscripts

David Saville letters to "My beloved wife,"

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Description: 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."
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1861.
Call number: mssHM 16646-16647
Creator: Saville, David(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Purchased from George D. Smith Book Company, 1925, March.
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

David Saville letters to "My beloved wife,"

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David Saville letters to "My beloved wife"

Lloyd Magruder letters to Thomas C. Magruder

Jonathan Heywood letters to Jane Heywood

Eben Chapman letters to Eben Hunt

Emile Grisar letters to John Townsend

J.D. Duncan letters to A.H. Campbell