1850 Endor Illinois, stories about California gold rush, next spring?

$150.00 CAD

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Moses Cook is writing to his friend George Wilber with the tales of people he has talked to who went on the California Gold rush and returned with stories of easy fortunes. He is trying to convince his friend to go with him next spring. 

Endor April 8th 1850

Dear Brother Wilber,

I now take this opportunity to to write you a few lines to let you know my P.O. address it being Endor Hill Co. Ill. I have written 2 letters to Mich before I could find out where you was and one to Belvidere that has not yet been answered. I looked all winter to see if you was not coming till at length I was compelled to give it up as bad job we are anxious to see you soon as there is rare chances to make something now a days which I would like to consult you about there is a great stir for the gold region in this region as there is some 10 or a dozen that have been & returned and all have made well one of the Lockport company that went from this Co. has returned with fifty thousand $ the result of 6 hands that went last spring by the overland route he said that there is any quantity in the quartz rock for a 1000 Ms in length they average 150$ a day by pounding the rock to pieces with a hammer, separated it with quicksilver. I think of going next next spring if the Co. that has left here this spring writes favourable. I have got out rails to fence a 40 & got out timber for a barn 32 x 48 and got 20 loggs to the mill. We are all well and it is a general time of health the spring rather cold my wife sends a large bundle of love to be distributed to all the friends in B. together with mine, please write soon, yours in haste and affection and good wishes to all enquiring friends

Moses H. Cook

M. Geoge Wilber Esq.

Adressed to 'Mr. George Wilber Belvidere Ill.' Some hand-written markings at top for postage paid.

Moses died during the Civil War.

Paper with embossing UL corner, paper maker.

Folds and creases. Some age toning on folds. Outside smudged. Paper missing where opened on seal.

12 ½” x 7 ⅝”

The discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley in early 1848 sparked the California Gold Rush, arguably one of the most significant events to shape American history during the first half of the 19th century. As news spread of the discovery, thousands of prospective gold miners traveled by sea or over land to San Francisco and the surrounding area; by the end of 1849, the non-native population of the California territory was some 100,000 (compared with the pre-1848 figure of less than 1,000). A total of $2 billion worth of precious metal was extracted from the area during the Gold Rush, which peaked in 1852.


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