Jervis Joslin letter to D.A. Smally

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  George Henry Williams letter to Ogden Hoffman

  Manuscripts

  Williams writes of a Bill that has been introduced to him and that he has forwarded to Hoffman for his opinion. He reports that the Bill "has been favorably received & I hope it will meet with your approval."

  mssHM 19021

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  J. K. Lum letter to "dear sir,"

  Manuscripts

  Letter from J.K. Lum in Skookumchuck, Washington, to an unknown recipient. Lum offers the recipient mountain beavers for $3.00, and writes that he can "send you almost any of the birds or mammals of this country...at reasonable prices." He lists some of the animals he has for sale, and notes some prices, which vary according to the "size and difficulty of capture." He asks for a list of desired animals along with the prices the recipient is willing to pay. He also offers to make an exchange for a spider monkey, which he wants to "complete a group for the fair."

  mssHM 29249

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  John Groom letter to "My dier Wife and Children,"

  Manuscripts

  This letter was written by John Groom to "My dier Wife and Children," on September 22, 1850 from Georgetown, California. In this letter to his family, Groom describes his difficult journey from the Missouri River to California. He opens the letter about the hardships of his journey, which includes contracting the flu and mountain fever. He passes numerous graves while crossing the plains, which disheartens him. In California, he states that the prospects of mining for gold "looks very Gloomy." According to Groom, the chances are very slim. "I am speaking now of the late emegrtion per haps 1 in 20 makes theire half ounce a day and 1 in 50 is doing what we all expect to do that is to do well by hard work and aconemy while 1 in a 1000 is makeing there fortunes..." He reveals the harsh reality of the California Gold Rush, "...I tell you now that the dark side of callafornia has been kept hid while the good side has been mutch Exagerated there is not 1 man in 100 but wishes himself at home of this years emegration and every man almost without exepttion that can Raise the money is a going and has gone already for my part I am here without the means to get home..." He also includes details about the costly supplies in California. He concludes the letter, "...be content to stay where you are doing well or not for God forbid that I ever should be the cause of any man coming to Calafornia to get Gold..."

  mssHM 68184

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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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  W.R. Isaacs MacKay letter to Joseph Libbey Folsom

  Manuscripts

  MacKay hopes that Folsom's health is improving, and writes to Folsom that "Congress could not fail to exonerate you from all accountability" and that "one thing is certain, you have not been dealt fairly with." He hopes that Folsom's "business troubles are finally closed." He laments the choice of John Bigler for governor of California, saying "I could hardly suppose that California could have sunk so low."

  mssHM 19075

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  Thomas F. Seward letter to Lucy F. Seward

  Manuscripts

  In this letter to his wife, Thomas F. Seward writes that wages have fallen in California, calling twenty-five to fifty dollars a month "extraordinary." His job, however, is safe, as he is good at it. He writes of a recent event where a man killed another for not allowing him to marry his daughter. The murderer has been hanged. A second murder soon followed. Seward also writes of a fire in the city, and reports of similar recent blazes in Marysville and Sacramento. A ship from China brought cholera with it, and many in the city have gotten sick. He has received the daguerrotype sent from home, and writes, "I have got the Home Fever to night - the worse kind." Small booklet, bound in red paper.

  mssHM 20721