Evertson Family Papers, 1832-1897, bulk 1847-1866

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Summary

Creators:
Evertson (Family)
Abstract:
This collection contains the papers of John R. Evertson, of Poughkeepsie, New York, and his family, chiefly dating from 1847-1866. Includes correspondence between Evertson family members with three distinct sections: Mexican-American War, Civil War, and California.
Extent:
56 items in 2 boxes
Language:
The records are in English .

Background

Scope and content:

The collection is arranged chronologically and includes 56 items including 7 pieces of ephemera. The first four items are land grants and plats for land in Georgia (1832-1843). The majority of the rest of the collection is correspondence between Evertson family members with three distinct sections: Mexican-American War, Civil War and California. There are four letters concerning John R. Evertson's work which was somehow related to the Mexican-American War. In his letters he talks about the war, General Zachary Taylor, Antonio Santa Anna, and the battle of Buena Vista. These letters also discuss family matters and there are letters by John R. Evertson to two of his sons warning them to be diligent, do their school work and listen to their Mother while he is away. The second section consists of twelve letters from various correspondents to Evert C. Evertson while he was being held as a political prisoner in Carroll and Point Lookout prisons in Washington, D.C. and Maryland from 1863 to 1865 (there is one note by Evert). The letters by family friends, mostly William H. Richards, discusses their attempts to free Evert from prison and clear his name and express their sympathy with his situation. Richards also talks about the family situation in California at the time. (The collection also includes three documents related to Evert's release from prison including a letter of exemption from the Confederate States of America's War Department Bureau of Conscription, a parole and a pass for Evert issued by the United States' Office of the Provost Marshal General - all dated 1865). The third section of correspondence relates to John R. Evertson, Jr.'s life in Havilah and San Francisco, California in April-December 1866. These letters which are written to his mother, sister and brother-in-law in Los Angeles, talk chiefly about Evertson's search for stable employment, his attempts at mining (gold and quartz), his bad health and his general depression about his current situation. He often mentions Los Angeles in his letters. The last few items of the collection include documents about real estate in Los Angeles and a letter related to the estate of John R. Evertson.

Biographical / historical:

John R. Evertson, of Poughkeepsie, New York, and Laura Morin, of Savannah, Georgia, were married in the 1830s. The couple had four children: John Jr., Clinton, Evert and Laura. Evertson spent some time in Camargo, Mexico, during the Mexican-American War (his exact business is unclear). In the 1850s, the family moved to Los Angeles, California, where Evertson took a job as a census enumerator. In 1862, Laura, by that time a widow, tried to secure properties in New York and Georgia. She sent her son Evert back East to look out for the family properties. While in New York he stayed with a family friend, William H. Richards. On Evert's way to Savannah, however, he was arrested by federal troops and spent the next two years as a citizen prisoner in federal prisons, first in Carroll (Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D.C.) and then Point Lookout, Maryland.

John R. Evertson, Jr., remained in Los Angeles and ran, unsuccessfully, for the office of the county of assessor. Evertson, Jr., moved up north first to Havilah, Kern County, where he tried, also without visible success, to practice law and pursue "mining interests," and then on to San Francisco where he held a string of various low paying jobs (he never kept one for very long). Laura C. Evertson married Andrew Jackson King, one of the proprietors and editors of the Los Angeles Times, City Attorney and County Judge. She wrote a number of sketches of life in San Gabriel Valley for the Historical Society of Southern California.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Ellen H. Ellis, November 26, 2007.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged chronologically, followed by ephemera.

Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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