Quarto bifolium (ca. 24,5x20,5 cm or 9 ½ x 7 ¾ in). 4 pp. Brown ink on bluish wove paper; maker’s blind-stamped monogram in the left upper corner of the first leaf. Foldmarks and a couple of mild creases, paper slightly age-toned, but overall a very good letter written in a legible hand.

An interesting early original letter with a contemporary account of Captain William Waldo’s efforts to deliver supplies in 1850 to starving gold prospectors in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, who arrived there during the California Gold Rush (1848-1855).

“William Waldo (1812-1881) was a candidate for Governor of California in 1853. He was born in Harrison County, Virginia (now part of West Virginia) but spent most of his life in Missouri, where he was a merchant and steamboat captain. In 1849 he joined the gold rush to California at the head of a wagon train. In California the next year, reports arrived of impending starvation among numerous immigrants on the Nevada side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Waldo put great effort into recruiting and delivering supplies for them and became well known for his relief attempts. In 1853 the Whig party nominated Waldo as their candidate for Governor, but he narrowly lost to the incumbent John Bigler. Following his defeat, he returned east, first to Minnesota and then back to Missouri where his wife and children had remained. In his later years he moved to Texas, where he died” (Wikipedia).

“About 1852 an act was passed by the California Legislature partly reimbursing Mr. Waldo for his relief and efforts were made in other states to have the legislatures repay him for aid to their citizens or to urge Congress to do so but these appeals were in vain” (St. Clair County Personalities: William Waldo// St. Clair County Courier, Osceola, Missouri, 27 June 1940, p. 2).

The letter starts with the discussion of the compiler’s family issues and proceeds to local news, including “a continuous railroad from this region to the East in a few years,” the expenses of Captain William Waldo and his property stolen by “the emigrants,” actions of other Waldo family members and the author’s initiative to raise awareness of William Waldo’s relief efforts in the Legislatures of Virginia, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky, as well as in the U.S. Congress.  

Excerpts from the letter:
“Dear Father,
Thomas arrived here in good health three days since and your letter came to hand this morning. I think he intends to remain here with me, but it is hard to tell what course he would pursue. You may rest assured I shall make every effect an send him to school. It would have been much better had he arrived a few months either sooner or later, as I then could have given him a fair trial, but I shall have to be absent from home most of the time for the next two months, and he may have leave some time during my absence. I have not yet drawn from Thomas his views, but shall in a day or two make some propositions to him for his future conduct.

Jedidiah is well and making fine progress in his studies, but seems somewhat restless and I must fear will be inclined to go to California or Santa Fe, should he quit school this summer. I think he had better be kept at school until he graduates, which will take one or two years longer, by that time he might become more stable and firm in his views, for it seems to be a crisis in all our family, when passing from boyhood to complete manhood. I have had much conversation with him and write him frequently, and think if he can be kept from committing some act of folly in the next two or three years, that he may make a man of no little importance and if kept at school he would go forth to commence lide a complete scholar, which I think of vast importance and not to be estimated in many. <…>

I find he is very irratable [sic!], which it greatly increased by <…> of spirits occasionally <…> and my impression is that it would be better for him not to return home this summer <…>

My love to Mother and she can rest assured that I will leave nothing under to take care of Thomas. There will be a continuous Railroad from this region to the East in a few years, and then we shall look for you & mother if you do not come sooner. The kins are all well in this country. William Marten in Santa Fe at last accounts. Letters from W. Waldo in California to 8 January, in good health and spirits, but pretty [well through?] in a many way. Spent sum 25 or 30 thousand dollars releasing the emigrants, three months time had a large amount, say 10 or 15 thousand dollars of property stolen during his absence and in any way got through about $50,000 in assisting the emigrants. I have no ideas when he will return. His family are yet in Illinois, but will return. Janus Marten is in bad health in California, but quite rich. Joseph Waldo & [Samuel?] Waldo in Oregon, all well last accounts. Calvin and family are all well, he has recorded his grand health, but is lame. <…> I have had no letter from [Mortimer?] this month. I sent him some papers giving accounts of W. Waldo’s opperations [sic!] in California & hoped he would have resolutions in his favor passed through the Legislation of Va., Missouri, Illinois & Kentucky, have all passed memorials to Congress in his behalf <…>”