Brophy-Beeson papers, 1827-1900, bulk 1849-1890

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Summary

Abstract:
Papers belonging to California and Oregon miner and rancher John Brophy and Oregon farmer John Beeson.
Extent:
3.6 Linear Feet (3 boxes and 1 volume)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Brophy-Beeson papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains letters, documents, and one account book related to a variety of subjects, including: gold mining and ranching in Yuba County in the 1850s; disputed California land titles; California and national politics (1856-1861); rural life in La Salle County, Illinois (1856-1864) and in Jackson County, Oregon (1860-1885); life of the Oregon militia (1863-1866); and aid to the Native Americans.

Biographical / historical:

John Brophy (died 1866) came to California in 1849, engaged in mining, and purchased land in Yuba County from early pioneer John Rose before bringing his family to settle in the West. He participated in Democratic politics and prospered in ranching until about 1857, when he suffered reverses, and subsequently moved to a farm in Oregon in 1865. John Beeson (1803-1889) brought his family from Illinois to Oregon in 1853 and took up farming. Beeson's distress with the cruel treatment of the Native Americans caused him to go east to write and lecture on their behalf in 1856. His son, Welborn Beeson, married John Brophy's daughter, Mary Katherine, and continued the management of the family farm and served in the Oregon militia.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Edwin Grabhorn, January 1945.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library staff in approximately 1950. In 2020, Charla DelaCuadra created the finding aid derived from a legacy in-house summary report. Finding aid encoded by Charla DelaCuadra in August 2020.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Brophy-Beeson papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

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