Manuscripts
Charles Frederick Holder letter to John Vance Chaney
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Frederick Billings letter to John Townsend
Manuscripts
In this brief letter, Billings notifies Townsend that Townsend has been elected to the town council of San Francisco. Also signed by Samuel Fletcher.
mssHM 35191
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Frederick Billings letters to Solomon Foot
Manuscripts
Billings writes that he would consider the vacant law commissioner office of the Southern District of California (HM 20713, written 1851, December 15 in San Francisco), and asks Foot to impress that he would be for Vermont, though he believes he has lived in California long enough to be called a Californian. He writes further of the open office (HM 20714, 1851, December 31, from San Francisco), saying that he would be gratified by the appointment, but does not want "to exhibit too much anxiety for any political office." In HM 20715, written 1862, March 10 in New York, Billings is leaving for California with his wife, and asks Foot to communicate with several mutual friends, including Hiram Barney and Samuel Ford.
mssHM 20713-20715
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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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Charles Plummer letters to his family
Manuscripts
These manuscripts are a series of letters written by Charles Plummer to his family. The first four letters (HM 23343-23346) are addressed to his father, Farnham Plummer, with the final letter (HM 23347) written to his sister Elizabeth. The first letter, HM 23343 dated 1849, February 4 - July 7, also contains a table of daily observations taken by Charles during his trip to California from his home state of Massachusetts, via Cape Horn. The chart is divided by latitude and longitude, and includes barometer and thermometer readings for each date. Also included are incidental details such as landmarks sighted, other ships sighted, and Charles' health (eg. "A little unwell. Took medicine"). The letter is dated 1849, June 30 and July 4, and describes the latter part of Charles' voyage and arrival at San Francisco. He writes that the voyage by sea (as a while has been a pleasant and a lucky one." HM 23344, dated 1851, March 14, sees Charles in San Francisco, and in fine health, but concerned about how he might make some money. He describes local gold mines, each being different from the next, and says he will send home some of the "gold burning quartz" he has found. He writes of meeting Chinese and French immigrants, and asks about family back home in Massachusetts. In HM 23345 (1853, March 10), Charles wishes to hear news of home, in his father's hand in particular, for he has had none for a good while. He has made new friends, and has met a few people he knew from home. He closes his letter as follows: "I would like much to see my native town once more, and trust I may ere another frontier shall pass away." HM 23346, dated 1855, January 1, finds Charles asking once more for a letter from home. He wishes everyone a Happy New Year, and says that the day is marked in California much like it is in New York or Massachusetts, and most of the local stores are closed. He is astonished by how much liquor has been consumed in San Francisco for the occasion. Included in HM 23347 (dated 1856, August 4) is a print of the public execution of Hetherington and Brace, "The Murderers of Baldwin, Randall, West, and Marion, July 29th, 1856" outside Fort Vigilance, upon which Charles has made handwritten notes. In the letter, written to his sister Elizabeth, Charles describes being a witness at this execution, which he went to because "business was suspended all about town and I could accomplish nothing." He writes of the fruit industry in San Francisco, and how it differs in operation compared to back home.
mssHM 23343-23347
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Peter Frederick Hummel letter to "Dear Wife & Children,"
Manuscripts
In this 3-page letter, Hummel describes his overland journey to California from Illnois. He talks about arriving in Fort Laramie and describes in detail the bad weather he encountered, the deaths of mules, cattle and horses along the way, and the physical landscape of the desert and the Sierra Nevadas. He also talks about his life in Sacramento, the gold he has found at Sutter's Mill and the difficulty of gold mining. Hummel gives prices for items and suggests that his wife and children come to California to be with him and states that they "could get rich in 2 years time." The letters is on letterhead from "J. M. Hummel Wholesale and Retail" in Sandwich, Illinois.
mssHM 70759
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J. I. Stickney letter to his family
Manuscripts
Stickney enthusiastically describes the city of San Francisco and the activities of its inhabitants. He considers California the greatest place he has ever been. With lithograph view of San Francisco on first page.
mssHM 4194