Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1860-1890; Pioneers; Correspondence; Virginia City (Nev.); Spiritualism; Fortune-telling
Chandler writes of his sorrow upon receiving word that his daughter May has died. He writes that he visited a spiritualist in San Francisco in July and was told of the death of a blood relation, but he “did not know that it was our Dear Child...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1860-1890; Pioneers; Correspondence; Virginia City (Nev.); Spiritualism; Fortune-telling; San Francisco (Calif.)
Chandler writes on his interest in mining claims around Virginia City and Alpha. He writes that “fortune has seemed to frown on all my undertakings until the last few months” but now “I can realize more money from my last years work than I...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1860-1890; Pioneers; Correspondence; Virginia City (Nev.); Paiute Indians Wars, 1860; Hays, John Coffee, 1817-1883
Chandler writes about the retaking of the first battle ground of the Paiute Indian War of 1860, the discovery of Captain Edward F. Storey’s body and his burial, which Chandler attended. He writes that General Haven and Colonel Jack Hays came over...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1860-1890; Pioneers; Correspondence; Virginia City (Nev.); San Francisco (Calif.)
Chandler gives Jane an update on his Washoe mining stock and plans to return to Virginia City within a week. He mentions that "[he] holds some of the richest claims there and they are raising in value." He hopes that Jane will write her feelings on...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1860-1890; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); Mining claims; Paiute Indians; Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California
Chandler writes of the hard winter due to cold, but that he has “a very warm stone cabin, a good stove, and plenty wood for the present.” Chandler writes that “the richest diggings ever discovered are here,” and he almost had an interest in...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); Chinese language
Chandler writes that he has been building a log cabin. While he is writing the letter, several men are around and one "Chinaman," a cook, is asking questions about the meaning of words that Chandler is writing. Chandler allows the "Chinaman" to...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1860-1890; Pioneers; Correspondence; Virginia City (Nev.); Paiute Indians; Lowell (Mass.)
Chandler writes on the bonanzas of the Virginia City vicinity, and the large crowds of people. “Every house, stable, and tent is full every night and many sleep in tunnels or holes in the ground.” He has been keeping books for some companies...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Grass Valley (Calif.)
Chandler writes that he washed his gold last week and "got about 50 dollars" in four days. He recounts the story of a man named Brenan [spelled Brannan in the letter], who committed suicide by poison on 21 February 1858 in Grass Valley with his...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1860-1890; Pioneers; Correspondence; Virginia City (Nev.); Nevada History Civil War, 1861-1865; Paiute Indians Wars, 1860
Chandler writes that his “interests have suffered some for want of attention” and that some of his claims were “Jumped.” He still has valuable claims, and has had offers to sell. He writes that “the Southern feeling or Secession people...
