William Wilson Cowan letters | Collections | The Huntington

William Wilson Cowan letters | Collections | The Huntington

You might also be interested in

Image not available
A trip from England to California
Manuscripts
The journal, which is made up of letters Cowan wrote back to friends in England, covers her voyage from Liverpool to New York City on the ship Etruria, and her train trip across the country to Loomis and Monterey, California. Cowan writes in great detail about her fellow passengers and the scenery around her. She also describes the ship Etruria and the train on which she travels and often makes comments regarding the odd cultural behavior of Americans. Cowan also gives detailed descriptions of the events that take place around her including a fire that stopped her train near Truckee, California; Cowan and her fellow passengers eventually had to hike to another train. The handwritten journal is illustrated with clippings from magazines and Cowan's hand-drawn sketches.
mssHM 66797
Image not available
William Whittlesey Abbott letter to Mrs. James F. Whitin
Manuscripts
Abbott wrote this letter from Los Angeles to his aunt in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. In the letter he describes the "hustle and bustle" of downtown Los Angeles, local businesses, agriculture and viticulture, his daily activities, and health reasons. He also has a detailed description of Mission San Gabriel Arcangel in San Gabriel.
mssHM 84025
Image not available
William Hickman Dolman reminiscences
Manuscripts
In his reminiscences, William Hickman Dolman recounts his childhood in Roseville, Ohio (he also spends several pages on the history of his family). Dolman describes years of moving around looking for full-time work and his decision to go to California to mine for gold. Dolman details his overland journey to California including the bad weather, deaths along the way, and a group from his wagon train deciding to turn around and go back east. While in California and Nevada, Dolman talks about his constant struggle to make money from the mines. Dolman moves around a lot, but spends most of his time in Carson City and Gold Hill, Nevada. Dolman also discusses his disappointment with his loss of money in the Comstock Lode, vigilance activity in Carson City, as well as the Battle of Pyramid Lake where Major William M. Ormsby was killed by Paiute Indians. Part of Dolman's reminiscences have been published: New Mexico historical review, July 1947, and Before the Comstock, 1857-1858: memoirs of William Hickman Dolman, also in 1947. This version of his reminiscences is not the same as the two published versions.
mssHM 66494
Image not available
John Downey letter to Erastus Burr
Manuscripts
Written from Chicago, Ill., Downey's letter to Erastus Burr describes his experiences in California as a gold miner. He discusses mining for gold, describes the region (including Sacramento), and mentions the social environment of the time (including some comments on the women in California)
mssHM 56917
Image not available
J. Call letter to "Dear parents, brothers and sisters,"
Manuscripts
This letter was written by J. Call from San Francisco. In it, he describes his overland journey from the East coast to California. He details a cholera break out that killed many, a buffalo hunt, trading with Native Americans, and his arrival to California. He also describes life in California and the mines.
mssHM 83170
Image not available
John B. Wilson letter to Emma Moore Wilson
Manuscripts
Letter from John Bordeaux Wilson to his mother Emma Moore Wilson, written shortly after Wilson had joined the engineering corps of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1868. In the letter, written at Fort Sanders, Dakota Territory, Wilson writes of his dissatisfaction with being removed from Colonel Joseph Opdyke Hudnutt's company and placed instead with a Mr. Lawrence's party, which he writes will "operate much further west" than the other and work east for 250 or 300 miles from the Green River until they meet the other parties. He notes that Colonel Hudnutt's party was headed for the North Platte while John O'Neill's party would work at Medicine Bow, and gives a description of the various supplies carried by each party. The remainder of the letter describes Wilson's attempts to stay warm in his tent and the meals that he has been given. With envelope, marked "Union Pacific Railway Company, Engineer's Office, Fort Sanders - Dakota."
mssHM 74318