John C. Fremont correspondence with Trenor W. Park
Finding aid created by San Francisco History Center staff using RecordEXPRESS
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
2018
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Title: John C. Fremont correspondence with Trenor W. Park
Dates: 1860
Collection Number: SFH 162
Creator/Collector:
Fremont, John Charles, 1813-1890.
Extent: 2 folders
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: Fremont's letters to Park, manager of the Mariposa estate, sent from Bear Valley and San Francisco
Language of Material: English
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John C. Fremont correspondence with Trenor W. Park. San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
From the library of John Francis Neylan (with his bookplate).
Biography/Administrative History
John C. Fremont acquired the extensive Mariposa grant in 1847, and gold was later found in the area. Fremont became wealthy,
and beginning in September 1850 served for the short term as California’s first senator. In 1856 he ran for President on
the new Republican ticket, was defeated, and returned to develop his Mariposa grant. Lawyer and financier Trenor W. Park managed
Fremont’s estate, as well as some other properties in California, and had a one-eighth interest in the Mariposa. Park had
been junior partner in the firm of Halleck, Peachy, Billings and Park, which chiefly dealt with land titles. Fremont would
lose his Mariposa property in 1863 and suffer other financial losses.
Scope and Content of Collection
One folder includes seven letters written by Fremont, dating February 27, 1860 through April 23, 1860, chiefly concerning
his California properties, ejectment suits, returns of bullion, his debts, creditors, and his finances. Fremont directs
Park to manage different business and legal transactions, including those involving Hall McAllister, Fremont’s counsel; banker
Mark Brumagim; H. G. Worthington, Fremont’s agent; Charles James, Republican friend of Fremont’s; mining engineer Dr. Justus
Adelberg; and A. A. Selover, in real estate. Another Fremont attorney, D. W. Perley, figures in several letters. Properties
mentioned or obliquely discussed, besides the Mariposa estate, include those for Alcatrases Island; the Pescadero Trust; San
Emidio. A second folder includes typewritten transcriptions of the letters.
Attorneys -- California
Bankers -- California
Gold mines and mining -- California -- Mariposa County
Gold mines and mining -- California -- History -- 19th century
Land titles -- California -- History
Park, T. W. (Trenor William), 1823-1882
Fremont, John Charles, 1813-1890 -- Correspondence
Perley, D. W. (Duncan), d. 1874
McAllister, Hall, 1826-1888
Brumagim, Mark, d. 1914
Worthington, H. G. (Henry Gaither), 1828-1909
James, Charles, d. 1901
Adelberg, Justus, -1868
Selover, Abia A., 1824-1898
Mariposa Land and Mining Company of California
California -- Biography
Bear Valley (Mariposa County, Calif.)
Alcatraz Island (Calif.) -- History
Rancho El Pescadero (San Joaquin County, Calif.)
Rancho San Emidio (Kern County, Calif.)
Mariposa County (Calif.) -- History