Correspondence

James William Denver was a lawyer and a soldier. In the spring of 1850, attracted by the gold discoveries in California, he traveled to Sacramento by way of Salt Lake and engaged in trading. He was elected state senator and served during 1852-53. In 1852 Gov. Bigler placed him in command of the supply trains which had been provided for the assistance of overland immigrants who were pouring over the mountains and meeting with great hardships. Bitter criticism of the project by Edward Gilbert, editor in chief of the Daily Alta California, resulted in a duel between Gilbert and Denver on Aug. 2, 1852, in which Gilbert was killed.

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