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John F. Willis papers, 1849-1915 (bulk 1849-1896).
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Collection Overview
Title:
John F. Willis papers, 1849-1915 (bulk 1849-1896)Creator/Contributor:
Willis, John F., 1821-1896, creatorCreator/Contributor:
Willis, Marcella, 1836-1915, correspondent.Creator/Contributor:
Tiffany, George O., correspondent.Creator/Contributor:
Hosmer, Charles, correspondent.Abstract:
Contains a bound volume diary of Willis's overland trip to California along the Platte River and other related materials from
his life and family including legal documents, correspondence, and funeral receipts. Willis traveled from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
to St. Louis, Missouri by river and then by land across Missouri, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada, reaching Sacramento,
California in four months. The Idaho passage included a new route pointed out to them by another man that claimed to save
300 miles. Daily entries mostly include details of weather and miles traveled, other teams encountered, etc. Legal documents
include his certificate of election and oath of office for sherriff of "Colusi [i.e. Colusa] County, California," and his
marriage certificate. Correspondence includes a letter of recommendation from George O. Tiffany to Charles and Edward Hosmer,
a letter to Willis's wife Marcella from an unknown author, and a letter from Willis's sister to Marcella and her daughter
after his death. Also includes receipts of Marcella Willis for cemetery care of John's grave, and an invoice of funeral expenses
addressed to Mary M. Willis for Marcella Willis, who died in 1915.
Date:
1849 (issued)Subject:
n-us-caOverland journeys to the Pacific -- Personal narratives
Gold mines and mining -- California
Gold miners -- California
Sheriffs -- California -- Colusa County -- Elections
Voyages par terre jusqu'au Pacifique -- Récits personnels
Gold miners
Gold mines and mining
Overland journeys to the Pacific
California -- Gold discoveries
Colusa County (Calif.)
Californie -- Découvertes d'or
California
California -- Colusa County
Willis, John F -- 1821-1896 -- Archives
Willis, John F -- 1821-1896 -- Diaries
Willis, Marcella -- 1836-1915 -- Correspondence
Tiffany, George O -- Correspondence
Hosmer, Charles -- Correspondence
Hosmer, Edward -- Correspondence
Willis, Mary M
Hosmer, Edward -- correspondent.
Note:
Diary has printed title page: "Marsh's new diary or daily remembrancer for 1850, containing a blank for every day in the year,
for the record of daily occurences, appointments, bills payable and receivable, &c. &c." Collection includes a typescript
transcription of the diary in box 1.
Purchase; William Reese Co.; 20120313.
Photographs transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library (BANC PIC 2012.097).
John F. Willis was from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He traveled to California via the Platte River in 1850 and in 1852 was elected
sherriff of Colusi County, California. In 1859, he married Marcella Moran, a native of Ireland, in St. Francis Church, San
Francisco, California.
Preferred citation: John F. Willis papers, BANC MSS 2012/148, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
In English.
Type:
CookbookPersonal Narrative
recipes.
invoices.
cookbooks.
Recipes
Archives
Diaries
Personal narratives
Personal correspondence
Personal narratives.
Recipes.
Cookbooks.
Diaries.
Legal instruments.
Certificates.
Recettes.
Factures.
Récits personnels.
Livres de cuisine.
Physical Description:
print
1 box, 1 volume (0.3 linear feet)
Language:
English