Letters and manuscripts related to Northern California pioneer Joseph Aram and his family.

Joseph Aram and his family came to California from Illinois in 1846, arriving after the outbreak of the Mexican War. Aram served as a captain in the war, as a delegate to the first California Constitutional Convention, and as a member of the first state legislature. From 1849 until his death in 1898 he lived in and near San Jose, where he established the first tree nursery in Santa Clara County. Only two of his children reached old age. Eugene, the youngest, practiced law in San Jose, Woodland, and Sacramento, and was elected to the State Senate. Sarah, the oldest, married Methodist preacher Peter Y. Cool in 1855. Reverend Cool had begun his California career in 1850 as a miner in Amador County, but in 1852 he received a license to preach. He filled many appointments, among them that of Presiding Elder of the Santa Barbara District. After his death in 1882, his widow spent the remaining thirty years of her life in Los Angeles.

1.2 Linear Feet (1 box and two envelopes)

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