Manuscripts

Riggin/Pettyjohn family papers

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Description: About one-half of the correspondence is made up of letters between James C. Riggin and his wife Rebeca Jane Pettyjohn. The other half of the correspondence is made up of letters written by various members of the Pettyjohn family. The letters tell of the journey to California along the Oregon Trail, and discuss, in detail, Fort Kearny; Fort Laramie; Fort Des Moines and Keokuk, Iowa; and Sacramento, and Yuba County, California. The letters also describe life in a California gold mining town including gold discoveries, prices of supplies, and rumors of murders in the area. Two of James C. Riggin's letters are on pictorial lettersheets. The collection also includes one account book, bills, receipts, and canceled checks.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1841-1874.
Call number: mssHM 27960-27963, HM 63287-63326
Provenance: Purchased from Rebecca P. Tait, February 1965.

Riggin/Pettyjohn Family Papers

Manuscripts

The collection contains 43 pieces of correspondence, one half of which is letters between James C. Riggin and his wife, Rebeca Jane Riggin. His letters give great detail regarding his journey to California along the Oregon Trail, including the physical conditions, hardships, and fellow emigrants he encountered along the way. He often advises his family against making the journey; he says that it is not worth the trouble. His letters also discuss his life in a gold mining camp, including gold discoveries near him, prices for supplies, and rumors of murders taking place in the area. The other half of the correspondence consists of letters written by or to members of the Pettyjohn family, including Rebeca Riggin's parents, Nide and Elizabeth Pettyjohn, and her three brothers, William, Washington, and Columbus Pettyjohn. Some of the locations discussed in the letters are: Andrew County, Missouri; Fort Kearny; Fort Laramie; Keokuk, and Fort Des Moines, Iowa; and Sacramento, Lewiston, Red Bluff, San Jose, and Oregon House, California. HM 27960 and HM 63308 are written on pictorial lettersheets, "A View of the Elephant," published by Cooke & Le Count, and "View of Coloma, the Place Where the First Gold was Discovered," published by Forrest & Borden. One letter discusses Fort Des Moines, Iowa (James C. Lourey letter to James C. Riggin, 1849 March 11, HM 63288). The collection also includes 67 pieces of ephemera including one account book, bills, receipts, and canceled checks.

mssHM 27960-27963, mssHM 63287-63326

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James C. Riggin letter to Rebeca Jane Riggin

Manuscripts

Letter is written on pictorial letterhead, "A View of the Elephant," published by Cooke & Le Count. Also includes carte-de-visite photograph of James Riggin, one tintype of James Riggin, and one copy print of a photograph of Rebeca Riggin.

HM 27960.

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Pillot family papers

Manuscripts

The majority of this collection is made up of correspondence between Julian Pillot and his wife Petra (although there is also correspondence from family in Chile and Argentina to Julian and Petra Pillot). There is also correspondence from others in California including letters by the Pillots' sons, Adolph and Antonio, written from Guadalupe, California. The subjects of the letters include: Julian Pillot's voyage to California, early life in California, gold mining, personal events in the family, news from the family back in Chile, etc. There is one folder of documents which includes a deed for land in California. The material is in Spanish and French; there is one document in English.

mssPillot

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Pillot family papers

Manuscripts

mssPillot

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Saxton family papers

Manuscripts

In 1860, William Carroll traveled from Oswego Co., N.Y. to California where he taught school and was engaged in a "medical business." D. Carroll served with a New York regiment and worked at the defenses of Fort Merriam, near City Point, Va. in 1864-1865. His daughter Clarissa married Gates Saxton, a New York farmer, in 1864

mssHM 19802-19813, HM 27863-27911

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Speed Family Papers

Manuscripts

The collection consists of 305 letters, indentures, announcements, and receipts. There are also 19 pieces of ephemera and 39 albumen, tintype, and daguerreotype photographs. The majority of the correspondence in the collection (179 letters) was sent to John James Speed (1803-1867) from business associates and family members. George James Pumpelly wrote more letters than any other associate, sending 99 letters to Speed between 1853-1863. He talks about business finances, owing and collecting money, and various business ventures that Speed is involved in at the time. Some of his letters discuss investigating the purchase of coal mines and Speed's attempt to build a telegraph line from St. Louis, Missouri, to the West coast. Several of the letters sent by various people during 1832 congratulate Speed on his appointment to the New York State legislature. Ann Speed (d. 1881) writes 5 letters to her husband during the period while he is in the legislature and living in Albany, New York. Her family also corresponds with her husband, and her father, Charles Horton Morrell, wrote 13 of these letters. Morrell and his son, Lewis H. Morrell (Ann's brother who sends 2 letters) refer to Speed as "Son" and "Brother," respectively. Speed receives 5 letters from his cousin, Joshua J. Speed; he also receives a few letters from his children. Most of these letters discuss family matters, travel plans, and the weather. Perhaps the most noteworthy item in the collection is an unsigned speech made by John James Speed (1803-1867) at the National Republican Convention in June 1864 in Baltimore, Maryland. He touches on several subjects including President Abraham Lincoln, Vice-Presidential nominee Andrew Johnson, and the Civil War. He also mentions the death of his son, William Johnson Speed (1832-1863) at Gettysburg. The collection also includes 29 indentures written during the early 1800s between John James Speed (d. 1860) and others. Three folders containing ephemera include invitations to a Fourth of July celebration (June 1822) and a New Year's Day (Dec. 1822) party. The collection also contains 39 photographs (Boxes 6-7). A few of the Speed family members have been identified including John James Speed (1803-1867), Cornelia Speed (1847-1884) and Frederic Speed (b. 1841). There is also a photograph of Ezra Cornell (1807-1874) and one of Mrs. Cornell in Box 7. Note: The maiden name of Ann Speed, the wife of John James Speed (1803-1867), was Anne Sophia Morrell, and she signed each of her letters using her married name. She appears in this collection as: Ann Speed, d. 1881.

Riggin/Pettyjohn family papers

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Riggin/Pettyjohn Family Papers

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