(California Gold Rush)

Fine collection of 4 letters from 49ers.  Vp, 1847–50



Gallaher, Dr. M.  Autograph letter signed, 3 pages (12 1/2 x 7 1/2 in.; 317 x 190 mm) on bifolium, with integral address leaf, Savannah Blues, Oregon Batallion, 26 August 1847, to Rev. C. D. Herbert; vertical and horizontal folds, 1 in. marginal tear with paper loss on lower leaf, 2 small marginal repairs — Schorenhunt, J.  Autograph letter signed, 2 pages (10 5/8 x 8 1/4 in.; 270 x 210 mm) with integral address leaf, Monterey, 15 September 1849, to Don Juan Townsend at Pueblo de San José and San Francisco; horizontal and vertical folds, some marginal staining, creasing, tears to integral address leaf with paper loss — Ealy, E.  Autograph letter signed, 3 pages (9 7/8 x 7 3/4 in.; 251 x 197 mm) on biflium, integral address leaf, Uba River, California, 30 September 1849, to his wife, Sarah Ealy; vertical and horizontal folds, browned, minor paper loss — Tufts, Martin.  Autograph letter signed, 3 pages (10 x 7 7/8 in.; 253 x 200 mm) on bifolium, San Francisco, 28 March 1850, to "Friend George"; horizontal and vertical folds, soiled, creased, few small holes with minimal word loss.  Each letter in a half morocco clamshell case.



 



 

Four vivid accounts of the hard life in California at the time of the Gold Rush.  These letters all empahsize the difficulties encountered by men seeking to make their fortunes by heading west in the middle of the nineteenth century.  For example, E. Ealy writes home to his wife in Dayton, Ohio, on 30 September 1849, "We came to this place 8 days ago, but found the richest diggings all claimed by others.  It is only in places that fortunes are made, but it is exceedingly hard labor to get it out from amongst the rocks .... We went to work and averaged twelve dollars per day, but this is considered here doing a poor business.  The prices of everything here at the mines are very high.  Flour 30 cts per lb, beef 25 cts, sugar 50, bacon hams $1.50 per lb .... The wages of hired men are from ten to 16 Dolr. per day.

".... I intend to leave here & go to some of the dry diggins, south of Sutters Fort where I expect to winter.  It will be the hardest work I ever went at, but I am now hearty & vigorous & will not be idle.  many are making by diggins in the mines one hundred Do every day, but there are a number who do not make over five Dollars.  The merchants & those who deal in provisions are making splendid fortunes."