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; Nevada County (Calif.); Hartland (Vt.)
Chandler writes that he is happy to hear that they have another daughter born to them, and proposes to call her Mary Jane. He writes about a woman named Mrs. Hanabal, who is from Hartland, who may have gotten pregnant without her husband. He asks...
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...
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; San Francisco (Calif.)
Chandler writes that he caught the ague fever in Acapulco, but is now “safe and sound although [he] had a very long passage over 26 days.” A man named Mr. Payne has been quite sick since arriving in California. Chandler finds “trade in Washoe...
