Harvey Family Diaries C058757
Nick Scales
Society of California Pioneers
July 14, 2016
101 Montgomery Street, Suite 150
Presidio of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94129
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Title: Harvey Family Diaries
Creator:
Harvey, Isaac Julian
Creator:
Harvey, Absolam Benton
Creator:
Swinnerton, Eleanor Josephine Harvey
Creator:
Baker, Mabel Harvey
Identifier/Call Number: C058757
Physical Description:
1 folder
4 typed transcripts, 94 pages total
Date (inclusive): 1850-1875
Abstract: The Harvey Family Diaries are comprised of 4 documents created by the family of Isaac Julian Harvey. The first is a recollection
by Isaac Harvey describing his overland journey from Indiana to Oregon in 1850. The second is the diary of A.B. Harvey of
an overland trip from Los Angeles to Tucson in 1864. The third is recollections by Eleanor Josephine Harvey Swinnerton of
her childhood at Spanish Ranch, Plumas Co, California. The last is a short memoir by Mabel Harvey Barker of girlhood at Spanish
Ranch and in early Salinas
Language of Material:
English
.
The Harvey Family Diaries are comprised of 4 transcripts created by the family of Isaac Julian Harvey.
The first is a recollection by Isaac Harvey describing his overland journey from Indiana to Oregon in 1850.Harvey finances
the journey with 12 hired mechanics who want to settle in Portland. They travel via the South Platte across South Pass and
up the Snake and Columbia to Portland.
The second is the diary of A.B. Harvey of an overland trip from Los Angeles to Tucson in 1864. The left San Francisco on Feb
10 travelling by boat to Los Angeles. From Feb 21 until May 13 they were on the trail on horseback across "some of the worst
country in the world to travel over." The purpose to the trip was to discover the mining prospects in Pinos Altos, AZ, which
turned out to be bleak. On July 24, they sold out all their equipment and returned to San Francisco via Guaymas, Mexico.
The third is recollections by Eleanor Josephine Harvey Swinnerton of her childhood at Spanish Ranch, Plumas Co, California.
The last is a short memoir by Mabel Harvey Barker of girlhood at Spanish Ranch and in early Salinas
Isaac Julian Harvey was a successful merchant, entreprenuer and businessman from Saint Joseph, MO. He came west overland in
1850 to Portland, Oregon where he managed a merchantile business. He returned to Missouri and brought his family to Marysville,
CA in 1853. He bought the Spanish Ranch in Plumas, CA. It served as a distribution center for the mining camps in the area,
hotel, restaurant, post office and store. In 1868 the family moved to Salinas where he opened Harvey and Company a successful
general store. He became an influential citizen and was the 1st Mayor of Salinal
Collection open for research
There are no restrictions on access
Harvey Family Diaries, The Society of California Pioneers
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Florence M. Baker, date unknown
Existence and Location of Copies
The Society of California Pioneers
Existence and Location of Originals
The Bancroft Library, University of California
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Overland journeys to the Pacific
Gold mines and mining -- California -- Shasta County
Mines and mineral resources -- Oregon
Arizona History 19th century.
Pioneers -- California -- History -- 19th century
Salinas (Calif.)--History.
Carson, Kit