Almarin B. Paul's memoir is 36 typed pages in a daily journal from 1898, recalling events from 1849-1851. It details his investment in hardware merchandise to be shipped to California, and his departure with his future business partner Dr. Thomas J. White and his family, across the plains to California, noting the deadly national outbreak of cholera. Paul unexpectedly has to return to St. Louis to settle a problem with his purchased merchandise, and makes new arrangements to reach California via New Orleans to Panama to San Francisco. Once he arrives in San Francisco, he goes to Sacramento where his partner White has settled with his family, and they open their hardware store Paul, White & Co. By November of 1850, Paul convinced his business partners to close their hardware store, and moved to the Nevada City mountains to mine quartz. The are 2 letters in the second folder, both from Paul, having to do with the Society of California Pioneers.

Almarin B. Paul, of San Francisco, is numbered among the promoters of the substantial upbuilding and progress of California. Coming to the state about the time of the discovery of gold, he has taken cognizance of existing conditions, has labored for their improvement and has instituted many movements resulting in the material benefit of his city and state.

2.0 folders 1 typescript memoir (36 pages), 2 letters

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Collection open for research.