Elisha Oscar Crosby letter to Hiram T. Graves

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  Elisha Oscar Crosby letter to J. Wilcoxson

  Manuscripts

  This letter describes an ongoing legal case involving two early California pioneers, John A. Sutter and John Bidwell, in which Sutter sought to affirm his claim to his lands on the American, Sacramento and Feather Rivers.

  mssHM 83159

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  Elisha Oscar Crosby letter to J. Wilcoxson

  Manuscripts

  This letter refers to the land-grant litigation taking place in California during the late 1850s. Crosby refers to John A. Sutter, Henry Wager Halleck, and John Bidwell in his letter.

  mssHM 60664

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  Moses Schallenberger letter to Elisha Oscar Crosby

  Manuscripts

  Schallenberger writes of financial matters concerning a bill for house repairs that should be applied to an estate. The house had recently been purchased by a certain Mr. Watters.

  mssHM 31526

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  Memoirs and reminiscences

  Manuscripts

  Crosby writes of events in his life, beginning with his birth in New York on July 18, 1818. After spending his early days on his parents' farm, he studied law and became an attorney in 1841. In 1843, he became "Attorney of the Supreme Court of the State of New York." In this capacity, Crosby began to become aware of the tension between California and Mexico, and upon learning of the opportunities for lawyers in California, he decided to relocate there in 1849. The discovery of gold in California urged his decision. He traveled by steamship, and writes of his journey, including a stop in Cuba. He landed in Panama and traveled up the Chagres River, then across to the Pacific Ocean, where he took another steamship to San Francisco, arriving in late February, 1849. Many of the passengers had traveled to search for gold; as Crosby writes, "There was a general disposition to get away from the city, to the gold mines." Crosby prospects himself at several locations. He describes the events leading up to the California constitutional convention in Monterey, as well as details of the convention itself. He describes the convention as "a very harmonious body and I think the members only had the interest of the people at heart." Crosby also relates his experiences as part of the "Land Commission," the function of which was "to Settle Private Land Claims in California," as well as his experiences serving as an ambassador to Guatemala. Crosby claims to have been given "secret instructions" by the President to see if Guatemala might be suitable for the relocation of the recently freed American slaves, but is skeptical that this plan would work. He describes the country and its inhabitants at length, for he feels "there is a great misapprehension among our people with regard to those tropical countries." Crosby relates of the social order of San Francisco, especially events connected to "a very noted cortezan" known as "the Countess." This manuscript appears to be a copy, for it is written in several different hands, and appears to be incomplete, as it ends abruptly.

  mssHM 284

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  Oscar A. Wikeen letter to Roger Gurley

  Manuscripts

  Eleven-page letter by Oscar A. Wikeen to his friend Roger Gurley, 1st Lieutenant, 42nd Infantry Division, Co. A ("Rainbow Division"). Wikeen wrote this letter from the American Embarkation Center in France after the war had ended. In the letter he talks about his experience in the war, and what he's been doing since the end of the war. He talks in detail about his experience in the Battle of Lorraine, the Chateau-Thierry Drive, and his training in Paris. He talks about the "boche" soldiers, the dead bodies he saw, the beauty of a night attack, his comrades that would not be going home, etc. After the war, Wikeen traveled throughout France. The letter is written on "American YMCA" letterhead.

  mssHM 83109

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  Masonic record

  Manuscripts

  This manuscript is the Masonic Record summary for Crosby, listing the various stations and honors he earned at San Jose Lodge No. 10 and San Francisco Chapter No. 1, along with the dates for each.

  mssHM 4206