Cornelius Cole letter to "Friend Avery,"

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  Cornelius Cole letters to John Percival Jones

  Manuscripts

  This small group is comprised of three letters by Cole to Jones, written from Los Angeles, mostly about economic policies in the United States, gold, silver, and currency. He also states that we must "free ourselves from the iron grasp of Wall-Street, and free coinage will go far in that direction."

  mssHM 82393-82395

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  Cornelius Cole letter to Frank M. Rixley

  Manuscripts

  In this letter of recommendation, Cole writes to Rixley: "It affords me great pleasure to speak of your fitness in all respects for the Dist-Attorneyship for Cal[iforni]a.".

  mssHM 21831

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  William Boyd Allison letter to "My dear Mr. Cole,"

  Manuscripts

  In this letter to the otherwise unidentified Mr. Cole, Allison writes that he may not be available as planned due to a scheduled dinner with friends.

  mssHM 29213

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  Cornelius De Boom letters to John Townsend

  Manuscripts

  These three manuscripts deal with affairs of real estate between Cornelius De Boom and John Townsend during the year 1850. HM 35192, dated February 26, is an agreement between the two concerning the construction of buildings upon lots of land located within San Francisco. HM 35193, written August 11, carries further details of the agreement. De Boom requests that the ship bearing his brother may anchor within Townsend's water lots, and more details of this arrangement follow. At the writing of the third letter (HM 35194, dated August 23), De Boom is preparing to depart. His brother has not yet arrived, but he hopes to meet with Townsend to finalize business matters before leaving.

  mssHM 35192-35194

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  John Charles Frémont letter to "Mr. Wright,"

  Manuscripts

  In this letter to the otherwise unidentified "Mr. Wright" of Washington, Frémont writes thata French company called "the Belgian Miners" has arrived in San Francisco, and are under lease to him. He shall put them to work immediately "on a good vein" and writes that "their report to France will be of great importance." During his time in the South, Frémont reports that he "obtained a great deal of information relative to mines." He has found another rich vein, but is not sure of the ore it contains - he has sent a piece to England for identification - and has acquired a large amount of land that may be of considerable value. Frémont states that they have no commissioner, but hopes the President will "send out others without delay." He hopes Mr. Wright will act on his behalf in this and other matters.

  mssHM 21240

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  Chauncey Edgar Stearns letters to friends and family

  Manuscripts

  This is a series of letters written by Chauncey Edgar Stearns, describing his experiences during his journey from Illinois to California. The letters are written to friends and family at his home in Vermont, but many are written to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Stearns. The first letter, HM 21283, is dated 1855, October 19, and Chauncey Stearns writes that he has traveled by boat up the St. Lawrence River to Lake Ontario. He became seasick during the voyage, particularly upon reaching the lake. He has gotten work as a clerk at a local store in Lockport, Illinois, but does not know how long he will stay. Of the town, he writes: "although it is a good country it is to sickly I say sickly it is not so with folks that live hear." He urges his brother Henry to stay at home. In HM 21285, dated 1855, December 6, he writes of homesickness: "If I had thirty Dollars and was back to Vermont I would never say any thing more about the West." He begs his parents "do not tell anyone that I want to come home for they would laugh at me when I get home." Stearns was in Iowa in early 1856, and stayed with various friends and relatives in Wisconsin during the spring and summer of 1856, where he worked at farms to save money to finance his travels to California. He writes that he prefers Wisconsin to Illinois (HM 21294, 1856, June 1), and says "I could make up my mind to go home but I shall not at present for the reason I can do better out here than in old Vermont & for that reason I shall stay." By 1858, Stearns has earned enough to buy his own land (HM 21295, dated 1858, November), and by early 1859, he is on his way to Pike's Peak in Colorado (HM 21296, dated 1859, March) before finally heading for California. Stearns seems almost resigned of going to what he calls "the new El Dorado", for as he writes, "there is Gold there without a doubt but not of a sufficient quantity to pay a man for going." By late 1859, he is in Sacramento (HM 21298, written 1859, September 30), and writes that wages are fine, when work can be found. He is very impressed with the bounty of California and its "fertile vallies." However, as he writes in April, 1860, "the society I am mingling with does not harmonize with my feelings" as "gambling and rowdyisms are the principal productions of the mining towns in California & thus it is why so many young men are ruined for life from character as well as health." Of the money made from mining, Stearns remarks, "it is very easy to spend it as fast as it is dug out," but he has not succumbed to the temptations offered in Sacramento. By late 1861 (HM 21303) Stearns declares that California will be his home for the rest of his life, and relocates to San Francisco, where he enlists for three years as a soldier because he believes "it would be better for my health" (HM 21302, dated 1864, August 23). He has had a change of heart, as he writes "should I be fortunate enough to out live the term of my enlistment I shall come home never to leave the Atlantic States again while I live." Regarding his enlistment, he tells his mother not to worry, as "Soldiers here have no fighting to do." In 1866 (HM 21306, written April 17), Stearns writes to his brother "exsposure & hard work has made an old man of me in some respects." The final letter is dated 1867, October 7, and Stearns writes from San Francisco that "I think my health will never be very good again California has been a very hard country with me at times." He laments, one last time, the separation from his family.

  mssHM 21282-21308