California; Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Hartland (Vt.); Native American
Chandler addresses his friends regarding his stay in California as a gold prospector. He writes, "I am bound to stick a while longer." He also wonders why someone named John "would be content to settle in Hartland." He guesses that "there must be...
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; Pioneers; Correspondence; Mining claims; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Utah; Truckee River (Calif. and Nev.); Carson River (Nev.)
Chandler has moved to Utah Territory in the vicinity of the Carson and Truckee Rivers. He built a stone cabin, and is boarding a family from Massachusetts at present. He writes that he “sometimes gets homesick for a while, but when I come to...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; Pioneers; Correspondence; Virginia City (Nev.); Mining claims; West (U.S.) History 1860-1890; Northern copperhead; Medford (Mass.)
Chandler gives an update of his mining investments and property holdings. He lists many common acquaintances, mostly from Medford, whom he has seen. He writes Jane to “Tell father to be a peace Democrat, if they do call him Copperhead, I am with...
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 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.)
Chandler writes that “water has failed at our claims so we cannot work to advantage…” “Wages are lower now on act of so many being idle in the Dry diggins [sic] $3.50 is the common price on the river for 10 hours work.” “I have...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.)
Chandler writes that he likes “the mining business first rate although it is very hard generally.” Chandler also writes to his wife that he feels bad because he hasn’t been able to send Jane and others money, but “we can’t pick up the...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.)
Chandler writes that “it takes a person who is a stranger in Cala [California] some considerable time to get the right hang of mining profitably it is much better to have experienced friends here.” He also mentions that there are “plenty of...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.)
Chandler describes his brother Charles’s arrival and writes that he “doesn’t think mining will suit Charlie very well.” When Charles first arrived, Chandler “did not know him from the man in the moon, neither did he me.” If he does well...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.)
Chandler is unhappy that Jane hasn’t written in “about two months,” and pleads with Jane to write “oftener.” Chandler mentions his assessment fees and writes that he does not plan to get in any more debt if he can avoid it. Chandler has...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); California Social life and customs 19th century
Chandler writes that his steam engine has failed, and they are putting up a water wheel to pump in the mean time. He hired a “Chinaman” to work with a rocker, and the “Chinaman” made “between 24 + 25 Dollars pr Day.” Chandler also...
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 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); Fraser Canyon (B.C.)
Chandler writes of a party of Indians who skirmished with a party of overland emigrant prospectors on the way to Vancouver Island gold prospects. Chandler also writes on the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush on Vancouver Island and the difficulty that...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); Frémont, John Charles, 1813-1890; Sons of Temperance of North America
Chandler writes that he has been forced to put up a water wheel at a cost of 500 dollars, and has been "Camping on the Bank of the Yuba in a factory cloth cabin and not sewed together very well." Jane is advised to “tell the boys not to vote for...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); Frontier and pioneer life; Hydraulic mining
Chandler is working for the Ditch Company on "the big Tunnell [sic]." Chandler writes that the conditions for women in California are very good, with women earning from 40 to 60 dollars per month for housekeeping, nursing, etc. He also thinks that...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); Mining claims
Chandler writes of his struggles against claim jumpers, who are a "real Murder and Robber party" and a lawsuit that resulted in a hung jury. Chandler finds legal justice difficult, writing that "It is hard to get justice in Cala [California],...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); Mining claims
Chandler writes that his “luck has been poor,” and pleads for Jane to not be discouraged. Chandler writes of his new partner, Simon Adams, and mentions that Adams is “quite a gunner he kills hares, Quail, and we have had a nice hare for...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); Mining claims; Hydraulic mining
Chandler writes that one man from a "party of raskals [sic]" that drove Chandler from his claim tried to repay him, but a thief stole the money from the man. Chandler washes his dirt by hydraulicking. Chandler writes about a storekeeper in Alpha...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); Sons of Temperance of North America
Chandler mentions that he had a good Christmas dinner, “cooked first rate by the Lady Cook.” He also writes that “Alpha is the most temperate town or village in the mountains” and that “most of the boys belong to the Sons of...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); Utah Expedition, 1857-1858
Chandler writes that he has received Jane’s letters from October and November, which were miscarried to Omega. He also writes that “the Mormons have been moving for Salt Lake and sell out cheap.” He predicts that “Uncle Sam will have a...
