Manuscripts
David Shaw Shrode letters to William L. Shrode
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David Coverstone letters
Manuscripts
Set of letters written to David Coverstone in Shenandoah County, Virginia, by acquaintances in California. The first 8 letters were sent by Andrew Cullers between 1874 and 1887, when he was living in Colusa, Leesville, and Little Stony, California. Cullers writes throughout of life in California, including his first impressions, land he has purchased, agricultural prospects, and the price of produce and livestock. He also comments frequently on Southern politics, including his refusal to take an oath of allegiance in Missouri ("I refused to swallow the damnable teste [sic] oath," he wrote on May 10, 1874), his firm stance as a Democrat and hatred of Republican politics and Ulysses S. Grant in particular, and a poem he composed on the death of Robert E. Lee. There are also 9 letters sent by Milton M. Ritenouer to David and Harvey Coverstone from 1853-1856. Ritenouer writes from Virginia of securing passage to California, from the Isthmus of Panama about his journey, and from Columbia, California, about working in the gold mines, lacking enough water to run his claims, and how much profit his fellow miners have made. One of the letters is also signed by Joseph Keyser. Also included is a letter from Morgan, Charles and Sons in New York, written on New York Steamship Line via Nicaragua letterhead and regarding a sea voyage (1857).
mssHM 16840-16857
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David Shaw Shrode letter to W. S. Shrode
Manuscripts
In this letter to his brother, Shrode talks about life in Texas and the South. He also states that he has had "California fever for some time" and that he has plans to go that next Spring.
mssHM 69392
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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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William McKendree Gwin letter to P. Greely, Jr
Manuscripts
Letter from William McKendree Gwin to P. Greely, Jr., sent from Washington City, California. In the letter Gwin writes of his willingness to comply with a request of William Barry (or Berry). He also gives his thoughts on California ("We (the U.S.) must expend vast sums of money to that country and...labor and material must be furnished") and writes of his impending visit with the Secretary of the Treasury regarding the "Revenue System in California." Written sometime in the 1850s. Part of the letter has been torn and is missing.
mssHM 74756
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David Twigg Emanuel letter to Winfield Scott
Manuscripts
David Twigg writes of the resignation of Captain Fulton, as the result of intoxication.
mssHM 3566
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Daniel Miller letter to William Miller
Manuscripts
Letter written from Daniel Miller near Petaluma, California, to his brother William in Newburn, Virginia. Miller writes of the difficulties of driving cattle over the Oregon Trail and through the Salt Lake Valley to California, and of cattle that were "likely stolen" by Mormons in Utah. He writes of stopping with the remaining cattle in the valley outside of San Francisco and of the trouble in owning land since "nearly all the country is claimed by grants made by the Mexican Government." He writes of his trip to San Francisco and details the high cost of goods in the area, but notes that he is also selling cattle for good prices. Miller also writes of gold mining and that he plans to avoid the practice since "many thousand dollars worth of [gold] dust...disappears in a few hours at the gambling tables." Miller concludes that "I have as yet not regrets about the move [to California], except the loss of our children" (Miller's three young daughters died during the journey to California).
mssHM 74319