Description
The diary and 13 letters concern Eastland's overland trip from Nashville, Tenn. to Mazatlan where he boarded the steamer Oregon for the remainder of the trip to San Francisco.
Background
The route followed by Eastland was through Texas and Mexico, but after 4 months enroute West Eastland wrote to his wife "...we
are still 170 miles from El Paso...gross ignorance or willful design has governed those who induced the government to make
a road this route...". On Sept. 11,1849 Eastland decided to strike out on his own--to continue to Chichuahua and there book
passage to San Francisco. He arrived in San Francisco aboard the steamer Oregon on Dec. 1, 1848. By 1850 he and his son had formed Eastland and Son, a diversified business venture. Thomas Eastland returned
to his family in Nashville in 1853. In addition to his business venture with his son he had purchased mining claims in Chinese
Camp and Indian Gulch and lots for resale in the short-lived town of Ora in what was then Sutter Co., now Placer Co.
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to The North Baker Research Library. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing
to the Library Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of The North Baker Research Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be
obtained by the reader.
Availability
Collection is open for research.