Manuscripts
Edgar Jacob letters to family
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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
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Frank Hubbard letters to family
Manuscripts
These seven letters were written by Frank Hubbard to his family back in New Jersey. The letters are addressed to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Hubbard, and his brother William C. Hubbard. Hubbard wrote these letters from Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado. He talks about trying to find employment, traveling in the area, going to social events, etc. He also mentions that observing the Sabbath is making it difficult to find a job. Hubbard also talks about perhaps going further west to Wyoming or Nevada.
mssHM 78272-78278
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John Hunt letters
Manuscripts
The four letters which John wrote to his family back in England describe in detail his life in a mining town in California. He talks about the climate and conditions in California, the hardships of mining, how easy it is to spend money in town on gambling and alcohol, his relationship with his Spanish girlfriend, and his desire to buy a ranch and have his family join him in California. Hunt specifically talks about Deadwood, Weaverville, San Francisco, and the following mines: French Gulch, Big Bear Mine, the Wheeler Claim and South Fork.
mssHM 68215-68218
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Edgar Lewis letters to Mrs. W. B. Lewis
Manuscripts
A group of six autograph letters, with envelopes, written by Edgar Lewis to his mother in Mystic Bridge, Connecticut. The letters provide a first-hand account of post-Civil War military life in the Western Frontier during the late 1860s. Lewis chronicles some of his activities while stationed at Fort Gibson, on the Arkansas river, Fort Arbuckle in the Cherokee portion of Indian Territory, and Wewoka in the Seminole region of the Territory. He describes episodes of his life on army posts including his particular passion for hunting, refers to encounters with various Native Americans and to various military duties he had to perform; Lewis also comments on life in the Indian Territory, including episodes of crime and violence. The letters and envelopes are in good condition, though one letter appears to be burned along the bottom edge, there is no loss of text.
mssLewise
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Jacob Primer Leese letter to David Waldo
Manuscripts
In this letter, Leese tells Waldo that he has heard of Waldo's intent to visit California, and if he does, he should visit Leese at "San Francisco, Sonoma Town."
mssHM 16379
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Abbott Lawrence Whitney letter to Katherine Whitney Crandall
Manuscripts
In this letter, insurance broker A. L. Whitney talks about his father William Whitney, who moved to San Francisco from New York in 1849. He also talks about several other family members as well as his life in San Francisco. With the letter are copies of 4 photogarphs of Whitney family members including: Katherine Whitney Wakelee, Abbott Larwrence Whitney, William Whitney and Matilde Whitney.
mssHM 75108