James Stratton letter to Isaac Goodnow

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  James T. Stratton letter to Isaac T. Goodnow

  Manuscripts

  Stratton relates personal details, including the health of his family and how finely trimmed his home shrubbery is: "I take a good deal of personal pride in them as they have all been cultivated at my own expense and with my own hands." He also writes of local political matters. The letter is incomplete, with only the first two pages being present.

  mssHM 16733

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  Isaac Brower letter to George W. Berrian

  Manuscripts

  In this letter addressed to "my dear Nephew", Isaac Brower writes of his stay in San Francisco, California for health reasons. He wishes everyone well at home, and reports on the doings of acquaintances who are in California. He visited Los Angeles, describing the city as follows: "...the weather was Angelic but the Inhabitants were Devils in human form."

  mssHM 19764

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  Samuel Hopkins Willey letter to Miss Lord

  Manuscripts

  Letter from Samuel Hopkins Willey to a Miss Lord, sent from San Francisco. In the hastily written letter Willey writes that he has put up "articles of my soliciting" and that he has mislaid a prospectus and would like to be sent another copy. He also writes that "it is very hard for me in the press of care to do work for this school."

  mssHM 73058

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  James Warren letter to Edwin Hunt Frost

  Manuscripts

  James Warren writes of his life experiences, such as crossing the Atlantic Ocean, riding the first railroad, and owning railroad stock. He bemoans the "wretched, unfortunate Strikes that has so much deranged all Business and Prosperity." He also writes of the newspaper industry, in particular the San Francisco-based California Farmer, and lists items of historical interest in its offices in great detail. He tells Frost, "If we don't surprise & astonish you by the Magnitude, the Rarity, the Intrinsic Value of our collection - we will pay you the cost of your Trip!" It appears Frost is a prospective buyer. Signed "Col. Warren."

  mssHM 39963

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  Reverdy Johnson letter to James W. Denver

  Manuscripts

  Letter written by Reverdy Johnson to General James W. Denver and sent from San Francisco. Johnson writes that he will not be able to attend a meeting for the "friends of Judge Douglas" due to previous engagements. He mentions that he recently gave a speech supporting Douglas in Boston and had distributed related pamphlets. He also notes that he was having the speech copied in several California newspapers. Includes envelope and typed transcription of the letter.

  mssHM 79958

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  James Clarke letters to his family

  Manuscripts

  This series of letters were written by James Clarke to his family in Maine, mostly his brother and his wife, from California between 1854 and 1856. The letters will be described chronologically. HM 21248, written 1854, May 16, and addressed to "Dear Brother," writes of acquiring room and board in San Francisco. HM 21310, dated 1854, September 3, sees Clarke moving to Los Angeles in search of more money. He wishes to eventually purchase a lot of land outside the city and build on it. HM 21353 (dated 1854, May 31; the letter is incomplete, being the middle four pages only) describes his journey to San Francisco. HM 21244 (1854, October 7) is partly written from Santa Barbara, and is also addressed "Dear Brother." Clarke writes of his profits from farming, but he thinks he may have to relocate. The second part of the letter finds Clarke in a boarding house 130 miles outside of Santa Barbara, where he has found work as a carpenter. The next letter is dated 1854, October 7 and 12, and is written in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles (HM 21245). The first part, written in pencil, is addressed to "Mrs. James Clarke", and Clarke is leaving Santa Barbara for Los Angeles, where he hopes to find better fortune. In the second part, Clarke writes he has arrived in Los Angeles after a fifty-day overland journey, and that he hopes to remain there for the rest of the five years of his stay in the West. HM 21247, dated 1854, November 3 and addressed once again to "Mrs. James Clarke," Clarke writes he has sent "some half dozzen letters" home but has gotten nothing in response. The following letter (HM 21246) was written November 1854, and is addressed "Dear Family." Clarke is now also working in a vineyard, and describes the Los Angeles orange groves in detail, and speaks in glowing terms of California produce. HM 21351 is written to Clarke's brother, and dated 1854, December 6. In it, Clarke describes the produce of Los Angeles, as well as the "exceeding agreeableness" of the area's climate. HM 21352 is dated 1855, March 1, and is also addressed to Clarke's brother, and discusses his work in a vineyard. HM 21242 is addressed to "Mrs. James Clarke" and is dated 1855, July 22. He is concerned that the letters and money he is sending home is not making it there, as "every thing is unsettled in Cal. now." He would like to make more money, but says "there is no money to be had." He remains confident that his stay will be financially productive. HM 21243, written to his family on 1856, March 7, contains Clarke's report that after a year's hard work, he now has a house and lot in El Monte, which he calls "the Egypt of California." He is excited about the prospect of farming on his land.

  mssHM 21242-21248, 21310, & 21351-21353