Charles E. Alexander Letter Written To His Mother In Newburyport, Massachusetts. Letter Written November 12, 1852

CHARLES E. ALEXANDER

Publication: Written by Charles E Alexander, 1852, Grass Valley, California

First edition. Two-page letter written in black ink on blue paper. Some interesting content present, from gold mining to a fire in Sacramento. "... if you must have me at home now say so and I will leave everything and come home but it would make a great deal of difference in my pile of money if I should because I have some mining claims all ready to work as soon as it stops raining it will take me two or three months to work them out, and if you will consent to my staying here a little longer I would like to have you. I shall be ready to come home in the warm months which would be more pleasant for us all [...] Dr. Dow and Son are here keeping store last week they had a large fire at Sacramento it swept thru most of the city a few days ago after they had one at Marysville that served them about the same yesterday. They had one at San Francisco it burnt about 40 buildings ..." This is a very early letter for this infamous gold-rich area. The California Gold Rush began in 1848 and gold was discovered at Gold Hill in October, 1850. Population then began to grow around the mine. The town was officially named Grass Valley in 1851 following the establishment of the post office, although it would not be incorporated until 1860. There are old mailing folds, some light chipping and separations at some fold points, with one loss at middle of center-fold that affects a few words of text. Manuscript is legible and overall very good.

Inventory Number: 52800