Biography
Scope and Contents
Access
Processing Information
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Preferred Citation
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Davis Library,
Dept. of Special Collections
Title: Clark Family Correspondence
Creator:
Clark family
Identifier/Call Number: MC325
Physical Description:
20
items
Date (inclusive):
1911-1928
Abstract: Letters sent to
George H. Clark of Kennebunkport, Maine by his family living in
California between 1911 and 1929.
Physical Location: Researchers should
contact Archives and Special Collections to request collections,
as many are stored offsite.
Biography
George H. Clark lived in Kennebunkport, Maine. His brother,
Winfield S. Clark, moved from Maine to Paradise, California
sometime before 1910 and became a farmer. George and Winfield's
father Andrew J. Clark was a former sea captain in Maine, living
in Creston, California. George and Winfield also had a
half-brother living in Oakland, California.
Scope and Contents
Eighteen full letters plus two partial letters sent to George
H. Clark of Kennebunkport, Maine, by his family living in
California between 1911 and 1929. Includes 12 letters (plus the
two partial letters) from Winfield S. Clark, a brother living in
Paradise, California; five letters from his father, Andrew J.
Clark, in Creston, San Luis Obispo County, California, and a
letter from a half-brother in Oakland, Ca.
Winfield Clark moved from Maine to California sometime before
1910; he became a farmer and his letters pick up in 1911, with
the announcement that he has discovered their long-lost father
living in a hotel in Creston, Ca. One of the partial letters
includes a detailed report on their father's condition. In the
next letter, dated 1917, Winfield writes about working on a farm
on top of a mine and the agricultural prospects of the region
should a proposed irrigation bill be passed:
"I wish you could be here and see where I am working. It is on
ground that was mining ground called the 'mineral slide mine.'
This man I work for bought the top of the ground, and the mine
still work and work the underneath. They have a gang of 20 men
working there now prospecting for gold...The mine is going
continuously--never stops...I have a little cabin 12 x 12 where I
stay and cook and sleep...We are having quite a little time here
over the water question for watering our fruit trees. They voted
last march to put up an irrigating dam at an expense of $350...It
will be a big thing for this country for we can raise most
anything here if we only had water."
Several of the letters are on the letterhead of the Paradise
Fruit Growers' Union, of which Winfield was treasurer, or the
Paradise Irrigation District, for which Winfield was tax
collector. In the remaining letters, dated 1918 to 1929, Winfield
asks about life back in Maine, discusses his own family matters
and describes farming in Paradise, building a house, unusual
weather, and more:
"We are having beautiful weather here now and we are as busy
as can be picking berrys and cherrys we have sold nearly half a
ton of cherrys and we picked them all ourselves. The berrys are
just coming on now and will keep us busy till after the 4th of
July...We have a good market for everything and one man takes
everything we raise, and we ship it to him 4 times a week. We
have been very economical the past few years and saving to build
us a house."
"The agitators and I.W.W. have about played the dickens with
it out this way. I have been pretty busy this winter with orchard
work, and fixing my house over I have had a carpenter about two
months and he will get through in about two weeks now. Lumber is
out of sight here common rough lumber $52 per thousand and any
kind of finishing or clean lumber from $95 to $125...The almonds
are in blook a mile below us, and another warm day or two and
they will all be in bloom around here, and that means no crop
next fall..."
"They are putting in an irrigating plant here, and are laying
about 35 miles of Redwood pope from 4 in to 28 in in size. I am
pipe inspector and have an easy job at $4.00 a day."
Another five letters were sent by Captain Andrew Clark (a
former sea captain in Maine), Winfield and George's long-lost
father, between 1911 and 1914. He writes about his own health (he
appears to be sick or ailing), life in a hotel and on a ranch in
San Luis Obispo County, discusses national politics including the
Roosevelt-Taft election, and events such as the Mexican Border
War and WWI:
"I am still on the Bridge and able to eat three square meals
every day...I went to San Luis yesterday the grass is 6 inches
high and in every front yard and garden the flowers & roses
are in full bloom and the oranges on the trees are turning a
bright yellow well the great International exposition is in full
blast now over a million visitors have passed through the gates
to the grounds already it will be a great year for California...I
was unfortunate enough to be elected Justice of the Peace at the
last election...no hard work about it had 3 or 4 cases the past
month there probably be more after the Ranchers get through
seeding they will have more time to fix up their little
neighborhood quarrels."
The last letter was sent by George and Winfield's half-brother
from Oakland, informing them of their father's death. He
expresses surprise at their existence, as before Andrew's death
he had no idea that they existed.
[Description provided by Caroliana Books]
Access
Collection is open for research.
Processing Information
Liz Phillips created this finding aid with information
supplied by Caroliana Books.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Caroliana Books, 2021.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Clark Family Correspondence, MC325,
Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of
California, Davis.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Butte County (Calif.) -- History -- 20th
century
San Luis Obispo County (Calif.) --
History -- 20th century
Clark family -- Archives
Michael and Margaret B. Harrison
Western Research Center