Manuscripts

Charles H. Hayden letters

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Description: The letters are written to Hayden's brothers and discuss his experience in the mining camp of Fox Creek, California including his attempts at mining and running a butchering business. He also includes details about the bad weather and its effects on the mines in the area. One of the letters is written by friends of Hayden, who also lived in California
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1858-1859.
Call number: mssHM 63723-63727
Creator: Hayden, Charles H(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Gift of Kenneth S. Greenberg, March 31, 1970.
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Daniel S. Hayden journal

Manuscripts

The journal covers Hayden's voyage from Maine to California onboard the Brig Siroc, as well as his time living in California. Hayden recorded the voyage to California in detail. Because he had some previous knowledge of nautical science, he was asked by the captain to assist in keeping the ship's official log and records; his own table of longitude and latitude are recorded at the end of the journal. Hayden recorded in detail the everyday activities of everyone on board including his duties to care for the pigs and chickens on board, and the passengers' attempts to catch various sea animals such as porpoises, dolphins, and sharks. After he arrived in San Francisco, Hayden briefly tried his hand at mining, but his main pursuit is to sell the lumber he had brought along with him on the ship. Hayden also talked about the activities of the Vigilance Committee of San Francisco, and provided details about mining methods, tools and equipment. Hayden also gave descriptions of the places he visits including Rio de Janeiro, and Coloma, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Stockton, California.

mssHM 65753

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Rocky Mountain Region Hayden Survey letters received :

Manuscripts

Photostats were published by the National Archives in 1945. The letters were received by F. V. Hayden from 1873 to 1879 during his survey of the Rocky Mountain Region.

mssHM 84346

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J. H. Settlemier & Son letters

Manuscripts

The letters are written by Will S. Fawcett of the Quaker Colony Nurseries in Whittier, California, and James A. Anderson a nurseryman from Lodi, California. The letters discuss prices for trees and supplies and the fear that business will suffer due to bad weather.

mssHM 68323-68324

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Aaron H. Hyde letters to John Hyde

Manuscripts

In these letters to his father, Aaron Hyde writes of the difficult time he has been having in California. In HM 16597, dated 1851, January 26, he writes that the miners are "disappointed" and that business in San Francisco is "dull." He laments that "California is a very bad place to make and carry out plans." In HM 16598. Aaron reports that he has come into business with a Mr. Cilley, who will be delivering the letter by hand when he returns to New Hampshire to gather his family for relocation to California. Aaron says he will come home himself in a year or two if the business does not work out.

mssHM 16597-16598

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Charles H. Bilke letter

Manuscripts

The letter, which Bilke wrote to the Evans Brothers in Virginia City, Nevada, talks about employment opportunities, or the lack of employment opportunities in Butte, Montana, as well as the availability of work in Salt Lake City, Utah and Nevada. Bilke advises his friends to stay in Nevada and not to come to Montana.

mssHM 68219

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H. B. Lansing diaries

Manuscripts

Lansing's diaries give a detailed account of his life in California as a gold miner. He talks about his life in the mining camp, his friends and business partners, his home sickness, his desire to "sell out" and go home, as well as the specifics of mining for gold (buying and selling of claims, equipment problems, bad weather, boils on his hands, etc.). Lansing also describes in detail how he and his friends spend their leisure time: gambling, bowling, drinking and going to dances. Lansing mentions the Chinese he works with in the mines, Joaquin Murieta and the hanging of several Mexicans for murder. Lansing works in and travels to several different places in California including San Andreas, Sonora, Chinese Camp, Murphy's Camp and Yackee (Yaqui) Camp. Lansing also gives a daily tally of the gold he finds in his diggings by dollar amount. The first volume covers all of 1853 and second volume only covers January to May 1855.

mssHM 70409-70410

Charles H. Hayden letters

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Daniel S. Hayden journal

Rocky Mountain Region Hayden Survey letters received :

J. H. Settlemier & Son letters

Aaron H. Hyde letters to John Hyde

Charles H. Bilke letter

H. B. Lansing diaries