Collection of 35 letters from Samuel Gummer of Santa Clara (Calif.) to his brother, James Gummer, of Brunswick (Maine).

According to biographies in the San Jose Evening News and San Francisco Call, Samuel P. Gummer (1831-1891) was born in Brunswick, Maine, and came to California in 1849 by way of Nicaragua, taking up mining in Placer County. He settled in San Jose in 1856, later moving to San Francisco around 1880. According to the Call, he helped to organize the San Jose fire department, and held several offices of public trust. In San Francisco, he was a member of the firm of Nathaniel Gray & Co., undertakers; was the first sexton of Laurel Hill Cemetery, and later was in charge of the removal of the remains from Yerba Buena to the City Cemetery. He served under Coroner Dr. C. C. O'Connell as Superintendent of the Morgue. He died in San Francisco on September 11, 1891, of heart disease and dropsy.

.25 linear feet

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