Peter Hanchak letter to Thomas G. Sowders

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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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  David P. McCafferty letter to Alexander Pogo, 1893-

  Manuscripts

  In this letter dated August 14, 1966, Florida Bible College student, David P. McCafferty asks Alexander Pogo about a verse in Job 26: 7. He inquires, "I would like to know if there has ever been any place in the north as being empty. Some secular College students will say "where is north"? It seems they just want to argue with everything a Bible College student has to say."

  mssHM 83615

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  George P. Becker letter to William S. Becker

  Manuscripts

  In this letter to his brother William, George Becker gives a description of San Francisco and of his experiences since arriving. Of the city, he writes, "I do not like the place; never did, in preference to any other, and hope one of these days to be able to leave it." He calls California a place of "madness", saying that "it seems there are more cases of lunacy in this state than any two large states of the atlantic seaboard."

  mssHM 16391

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  John Thompson Peters letter to Enoch Perkins

  Manuscripts

  In this letter to a colleague, Peters is asking Perkins' opinion on a pauper case that was being heard in Tolland County. The pauper was a slave of a resident of Haddam, Connecticut. The man "became Free by enlisting in the Continental Army." The man was "hired" in Branford, but was counted to fill the Connecticut Line quota apportioned for his master's town, Haddam. Peters inquires whether or not the veteran could be considered a resident of Haddam. He also refers to a similar case involving Colonel Jonathan Welles, which was decided by the Assembly in May 1782. The letter was written from New London, Connecticut.

  mssHM 82578

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  Wallace Stevens letters

  Manuscripts

  HM 80461. Autograph postcard signed by S.B. to Wallace Stevens. Postcard reads, "Such a lovely legend about Saint Francis! I'm glad I first learned of it on today, his feast day. But I'm sorry you didn't interrupt those [ex?] animations. Sincerely, S.B."

  mssHM 80461-80465

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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