E. Holbrook letters to Mrs. Holbrook

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  E. Holbrook journal

  Manuscripts

  This manuscript is a collection of pages from the journal of E. Holbrook. The pages are dated between 1846 and 1863, and appear to have been removed from longer manuscripts. Most of the journal describes Holbrook's travels through California and attempts at searching for gold. He sees soldiers at drill and participates in the 1854 state election. In July 1857, he writes of the robbing of a Chinese camp by men disguised as Indians and Mexicans. When witnessing a hanging in December 1858, Holbrook writes, "its time public executions were done away with." In 1859, he returns home to New York. In 1861, Holbrook calls the period of secession "exciting and important months in the history of our country and of liberty universally."

  mssHM 2280

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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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  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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  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

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  Mary Jane Brooks letters to Thomas and Priscilla Marsh

  Manuscripts

  These manuscripts are a series of letters from Mary Jane Brooks to her sister Priscilla Marsh and brother Thomas Marsh. HM 19790 is dated 1853, December 14 and 15, and lists the current price of goods in San Francisco. Mary Jane Brooks also writes of her family and friends. In the next letter (HM 19791, dated 1854, February 28), Mary Jane Brooks writes further of family and friends. HM 19792, dated 1854, July 14, tells of a fire in San Francisco, but the Brooks home was undamaged. Mary Jane Brooks writes in the next letter (HM 19793, dated 1855, July 28) that her father is not doing well. He has quit working, and "thinks he is not long for this world." HM 19794, the final letter in this sequence, is dated 1856, March 4. Father is still alive, but is ailing, and Mary Jane Brooks urges Priscilla to prepare their mother for his passing. The letters are written from San Francisco, and all are signed "Aaron and Mary Jane Brooks" but letters are in the handwriting of Mary Jane Brooks. With one-page typescript of an additional letter, dated 1856, July 5.

  mssHM 19790-19794

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  William E. Lovett letters to Elizabeth Lovett Lee Davis

  Manuscripts

  In these two letters to his cousin, dated 1863, September 3 and 1864, January 15, William E. Lovett writes of political details in California, and advises Elizabeth on her own personal legal matters. HM 16515 also contains a short note written in a different hand addressed "Dear Mom" and signed "Your son, John."

  mssHM 16515-16516