James Allen Hardie letter to Peter Warren Van Winkle

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  James Allen Hardie letter to Joseph Libbey Folsom

  Manuscripts

  This letter discusses various business and property dealings, apparently located in California. Hardie hopes Folsom will be interested in purchasing his San Francisco lots, and refers him to an enclosed letter to Peter Warren Van Winkle for further details.

  mssHM 19072

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  Joseph Libbey Folsom letter to Peter Warren Van Winkle

  Manuscripts

  Folsom writes he is traveling to California, and of other various business details regarding property in San Francisco, California. With crosshatched writing on first page.

  mssHM 19074

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  James Warren letter to Edwin Hunt Frost

  Manuscripts

  James Warren writes of his life experiences, such as crossing the Atlantic Ocean, riding the first railroad, and owning railroad stock. He bemoans the "wretched, unfortunate Strikes that has so much deranged all Business and Prosperity." He also writes of the newspaper industry, in particular the San Francisco-based California Farmer, and lists items of historical interest in its offices in great detail. He tells Frost, "If we don't surprise & astonish you by the Magnitude, the Rarity, the Intrinsic Value of our collection - we will pay you the cost of your Trip!" It appears Frost is a prospective buyer. Signed "Col. Warren."

  mssHM 39963

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  James Bushnell letters to Ananias Pond

  Manuscripts

  HM 19385 is dated January 5, 1852, written from Keeseville, New York, and is addressed to "Dear Brother or Son." Bushnell writes that he has heard from Pond's daughter, Fannie, and that Pond seems to want his family to move out to California with him. Bushnell is sorry to hear of Pond's "misfortune" but is sure he will get by it, and writes of relatives and mutual friends. Bushnell has a shop and house at a prison, and hopes to build a forge there as well. He writes "if the Boys take a notion to go to California I would go with them." HM 19386 is written from Browning, Illinois, and dated May 20, 1855. It is addressed to Ananias Pond and Fanny M. Pond, and Bushnell begins the letter "Dear Children." In addition to more details concerning family and friends, Bushnell lists the types of timber on his lot of land, as well as financial details of goods.

  mssHM 19385-19386

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  Alpheus B. Thompson letters to Timothy Wolcott

  Manuscripts

  These three letters were written by Alpheus Thompson to Timothy Wolcott during 1856 and 1857. In HM 18997, written 1856, September 6, from Santa Barbara, Thompson thanks Wolcott for looking after his son, Francis. In HM 18998 (dated 1857, June 2), Thompson writes of the advantageous opportunities in San Francisco in the real estate market, and asks Wolcott to look after Francis "for a few months longer." He also includes business details regarding property and other assets. The final letter in this series was written in San José, California, on June 17, 1857 (HM 18999), and Thompson asks if Wolcott would take Francis under his charge, and to "provide him with suitable Clothing and Board."

  mssHM 18997-18999

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  James Clarke letters to his family

  Manuscripts

  This series of letters were written by James Clarke to his family in Maine, mostly his brother and his wife, from California between 1854 and 1856. The letters will be described chronologically. HM 21248, written 1854, May 16, and addressed to "Dear Brother," writes of acquiring room and board in San Francisco. HM 21310, dated 1854, September 3, sees Clarke moving to Los Angeles in search of more money. He wishes to eventually purchase a lot of land outside the city and build on it. HM 21353 (dated 1854, May 31; the letter is incomplete, being the middle four pages only) describes his journey to San Francisco. HM 21244 (1854, October 7) is partly written from Santa Barbara, and is also addressed "Dear Brother." Clarke writes of his profits from farming, but he thinks he may have to relocate. The second part of the letter finds Clarke in a boarding house 130 miles outside of Santa Barbara, where he has found work as a carpenter. The next letter is dated 1854, October 7 and 12, and is written in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles (HM 21245). The first part, written in pencil, is addressed to "Mrs. James Clarke", and Clarke is leaving Santa Barbara for Los Angeles, where he hopes to find better fortune. In the second part, Clarke writes he has arrived in Los Angeles after a fifty-day overland journey, and that he hopes to remain there for the rest of the five years of his stay in the West. HM 21247, dated 1854, November 3 and addressed once again to "Mrs. James Clarke," Clarke writes he has sent "some half dozzen letters" home but has gotten nothing in response. The following letter (HM 21246) was written November 1854, and is addressed "Dear Family." Clarke is now also working in a vineyard, and describes the Los Angeles orange groves in detail, and speaks in glowing terms of California produce. HM 21351 is written to Clarke's brother, and dated 1854, December 6. In it, Clarke describes the produce of Los Angeles, as well as the "exceeding agreeableness" of the area's climate. HM 21352 is dated 1855, March 1, and is also addressed to Clarke's brother, and discusses his work in a vineyard. HM 21242 is addressed to "Mrs. James Clarke" and is dated 1855, July 22. He is concerned that the letters and money he is sending home is not making it there, as "every thing is unsettled in Cal. now." He would like to make more money, but says "there is no money to be had." He remains confident that his stay will be financially productive. HM 21243, written to his family on 1856, March 7, contains Clarke's report that after a year's hard work, he now has a house and lot in El Monte, which he calls "the Egypt of California." He is excited about the prospect of farming on his land.

  mssHM 21242-21248, 21310, & 21351-21353