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 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; Eureka (Nev.); Spiritualism; Fortune-telling
Chandler has been working as a stonecutter. He corrects Jane’s notion that people in Eureka “are all a rough set of people.” He asserts that “this is a much better place to be poor in than New England.” Chandler discourages consulting...
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 1860-1890; Pioneers; Correspondence; Virginia City (Nev.); Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 Assassination
Chandler writes that he is thinking of settling down soon, countering Jane’s assertion that Chandler will not come home. He writes on the reaction to Lincoln’s assassination.
Notations in pencil on the first page at the top...
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.); Caribou Mines (N.S.); Sacramento Valley (Calif.)
Chandler writes that “Sacramento and all the valley has been all under water” and that “Horses, Cattle, and Houses have been carried away.” He writes that there is much excitement over some discoveries above Oregon called the Caraboo...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1860-1890; Pioneers; Correspondence; Virginia City (Nev.); Territorial enterprise (Carson City, Nev.)
Chandler writes that “it has been very hard times here in Mineing [sic] operations this year.” Chandler laments separation from his wife and regards his condition as if “everyone’s curse is on me.” He mentions that the editor of the...
Virginia Serenaders; Minstrels; Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Nevada County (Calif.); Mining claims; Lowell (Mass.)
Chandler discourages Jane from working in the mills. He compares factory girls to servants and then describes California women, writing that "you would think to see them that they were mostly queens." He writes of the variety of females from...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1848-1860; Pioneers; Correspondence; Virginia City (Nev.); Utah; Paiute Indians; Dodge, Richard Irving, 1827-1895; Mormons West (U.S.)
Chandler describes his new prospects in Nevada near the Carson and Truckee Rivers. He describes the Mormons in the area as an “awful looking set of people” who “look nearly as bad off as the Piute [sic] Indians which are our neighbors.” He...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1860-1890; Pioneers; Correspondence; Hamilton (Nev.)
Chandler addresses concerns that he has been unfaithful to Jane, and asserts his innocence. He has had some “sickness and bruises by a fall from a building which hurt [him] very bad.” He writes of his living circumstances for the past several...
Gold miners; Gold mines and mining; West (U.S.) History 1860-1890; Pioneers; Correspondence; Virginia City (Nev.); Spiritualism; Fortune-telling; Civil War America
Chandler writes about his financial losses, and a visit that he made to a fortune teller. He writes what an “Old Fortune Teller” told him regarding his past and future. He recounts the excitement of the city on Lee’s surrender to Grant, but...
