Manuscripts
Chauncey Edgar Stearns letters to friends and family
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Gustave E. Genthner letters to his family
Manuscripts
Twenty-nine of these thirty letters were written by Gustave E. Genthner to various members of his family, located in Boston. The letters were written between 1860 and 1867, from various parts of California. The lone exception is HM 16665, written by Barnas A. Genthner on 1845, January 2, from New York, to "Father and Mother." The names of the relatives are never given. In the letters, Gustave Genthner describes his experiences working on a farm outside San Francisco, and as a soldier during the Civil War. In HM 16642, dated 1860, September 14, he writes, "I am very lonesome sometimes and home-sick too but then the novelty and diversity of life here soon drives it away." He sends money home as often as he can, and writes of his toils ploughing in the fields. In August 1861 (HM 16651), Genthner reports that he has become a soldier of Company B, 1st Brigade for the Union, and writes passionately of his pride defending "one of the most glorious governments that the sun ever shone upon" (HM 16653, 1862, September 29). He does well as a soldier, and writes with pride of receiving a pair of pistols as a gift from the citizens of San Jose (HM 16657, 1863, October 7). In mid-1864, he writes from Fort Yuma, "I could never have advanced myself at home as I have here" (HM 16660, 1864, May 21), but by June, he has resigned from the Army due to his poor health (HM 16661, 1864, June 5). Following his discharge, Genthner works for the San Francisco police force. Soon after, he has a family of his own, as he writes in HM 16668 (1866, March 11) that "Sarah and the baby are well," and in HM 16669, refers to "my darling wife and sweetest of babies."
mssHM 16642-16645, 16648-16673
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Charles Plummer letters to his family
Manuscripts
These manuscripts are a series of letters written by Charles Plummer to his family. The first four letters (HM 23343-23346) are addressed to his father, Farnham Plummer, with the final letter (HM 23347) written to his sister Elizabeth. The first letter, HM 23343 dated 1849, February 4 - July 7, also contains a table of daily observations taken by Charles during his trip to California from his home state of Massachusetts, via Cape Horn. The chart is divided by latitude and longitude, and includes barometer and thermometer readings for each date. Also included are incidental details such as landmarks sighted, other ships sighted, and Charles' health (eg. "A little unwell. Took medicine"). The letter is dated 1849, June 30 and July 4, and describes the latter part of Charles' voyage and arrival at San Francisco. He writes that the voyage by sea (as a while has been a pleasant and a lucky one." HM 23344, dated 1851, March 14, sees Charles in San Francisco, and in fine health, but concerned about how he might make some money. He describes local gold mines, each being different from the next, and says he will send home some of the "gold burning quartz" he has found. He writes of meeting Chinese and French immigrants, and asks about family back home in Massachusetts. In HM 23345 (1853, March 10), Charles wishes to hear news of home, in his father's hand in particular, for he has had none for a good while. He has made new friends, and has met a few people he knew from home. He closes his letter as follows: "I would like much to see my native town once more, and trust I may ere another frontier shall pass away." HM 23346, dated 1855, January 1, finds Charles asking once more for a letter from home. He wishes everyone a Happy New Year, and says that the day is marked in California much like it is in New York or Massachusetts, and most of the local stores are closed. He is astonished by how much liquor has been consumed in San Francisco for the occasion. Included in HM 23347 (dated 1856, August 4) is a print of the public execution of Hetherington and Brace, "The Murderers of Baldwin, Randall, West, and Marion, July 29th, 1856" outside Fort Vigilance, upon which Charles has made handwritten notes. In the letter, written to his sister Elizabeth, Charles describes being a witness at this execution, which he went to because "business was suspended all about town and I could accomplish nothing." He writes of the fruit industry in San Francisco, and how it differs in operation compared to back home.
mssHM 23343-23347
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Edgar Jacob letters to family
Manuscripts
Four of these letters are written by Edgar Jacob (1883) to his family back in England. His letters were written from Rimouski, Québec, Iowa, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Tejon Ranch and Bakersfield, California. In his letters from Salt Lake City Edgar describes the city, talks about the Mormons and the building of their Tabernacle. Edgar also discusses Americans, their customs and religion. His last letter was written while visiting his brother Augustus at Bakersfield and the Tejon Ranch region (after he had taken up ranching). Edgar talks about ranch life, the sheep, the Indians living near the ranch and General Edward Beale. The three letters by Augustus Jacob (1873-1874) were written to his father and sister Edith from San Francisco and Laguna Ranch, California. He talks about the people he meets, life in California and the sights he sees. He also writes in great detail about ranch life and sheep raising in California and his trip from Jamaica to San Francisco.
mssHM 70984-70990
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Colby family correspondence
Manuscripts
This collection of letters were written by James T. Colby and his daughters Sarah and Rebecca, to John M. Anderson and Rebecca Anderson of Salem, Massachusetts, whom Sarah and Rebecca address as "Uncle" and "Aunt." The letters are largely concerned with details of the Colby family's life in San Francisco during the years 1859 to 1861. In the first four letters, HMs 4214, 4216, 4218, and 4219, written between January and April, 1859, James Colby is alone in San Francisco, but has encountered such success working in a Navy yard that he wishes his family to join him. Starting with HM 4220, dated June 3, 1859, letters from his daughters begin to appear. HM 4220 also contains lithographs depicting the city of Sonora as well as the town of Springfield in Tuolumne County. In HM 4224 (July 19, 1859), Rebecca Colby, who appears to be the younger Colby sister, reports that she is to have a tooth extracted that afternoon. There is no correspondence from Mrs. Colby directly, though she is mentioned in several letters (HM 4225, dated August 19, 1859). In HM 4226, written 1859, August 19, Colby addresses his son John A. Colby, who has been left at home, to study hard. It can be inferred that John is staying with the Andersons. It appears, to, that Mrs. Colby gave birth in San Francisco, for in HM 4227 and HM 4228 (dated 1859, September 4 and 19), Sarah and Rebecca both refer to "the baby" for the first time. In HM 4231 (1859, November 29), Colby writes that he has been quite sick, and the doctor has recommended that he return home to Massachusetts, but he is reluctant to give up the money he makes at his job. He reports that Rebecca is learning dress-making. HM 4236, written by Sarah on 1860, January 4, is addressed "Dear Brothers" and is directed to John and William, implying that William Colby is also still in Massachusetts. By February (HM 4237), James Colby is still sick, and writes that "I can't eat anything to speak of and I am getting to be Nothing but a skeleton." James Colby writes of the discovery of a silver mine (HM 4236, 1890, March 4), which has caused great excitement. He reports that he is the foreman on a naval steamer, in charge of seventy-five men, and he is feeling better, after his weight dropped from 155 pounds to 127 pounds in six months. By April 1860, Sarah is working in a sewing factory (HM 4241) and her father has fallen sick again. In HM 4247 (1861, May), James Colby writes of the secession of the South, and the "great Union procession" in the streets of the city, where, Colby writes, there were "16,000 American Flags flying in San Francisco." In the final letter of this group (HM 4254, dated 1862, January 26), James Colby writes of a tremendous flood in Sacramento, and how it has devastated business, but he hopes it will pick up soon.
mssHM 4214, 4216, 4218-4220, 4222-4248, 4250
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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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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