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Pleasants family papers, 1859-1917.
BANC MSS 2002/192 cmLOCAL
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Collection Overview
Title:
Pleasants family papers, 1859-1917Creator/Contributor:
Pleasants, James M., 1809-1899Creator/Contributor:
Pleasants, William J. (William James), 1834-1919Creator/Contributor:
Pleasant family.Abstract:
Consists of correspondence between the Pleasants' friends and family including James M. Pleasants, William J. Pleasants, the
Pleasants family in Kentucky, fellow wagon train members the Hopper family and the Rhea family, the George Miller family (son-in-law
to J.M. Pleasants), W.S. Reavis family, H.H. Bancroft & Co. and the History Co. Letter topics include the Pleasants family
fruit business, Native Americans, horse thieves, Mazatlan, Mexico, and stage coach robber and fellow wagon train member John
Houx. Also includes business documents covering their fruit business, distillery and horses.
Date:
1859 (issued)Subject:
n-us-ca -- n-us-ky -- n-mx---Crime -- California -- History -- 19th century
Indians of North America -- California -- History -- 19th century
Fruit trade -- California
Horse stealing -- California, Northern
Vol de chevaux -- Californie (Nord)
Crime
Fruit trade
Horse stealing
Indians of North America
Travel
Solano County (Calif.) -- History -- Sources
Mazatlán (Sinaloa, Mexico) -- Description and travel
Kentucky -- Description and travel
Kentucky -- Descriptions et voyages
California
Northern California
California -- Solano County
Kentucky
Mexico -- Mazatlán (Sinaloa)
H.H. Bancroft and Company.
History Company.
H.H. Bancroft and Company.
Hopper family
Ray family
Miller family
Reavis, W. S
Pleasant family
Houx, John
Miller (Famille)
Hopper family
Miller family
Pleasant family
Ray family
Note:
In 1849 the Pleasants family, living in Van Buren County, Mo., heard of the gold discoveries in Calif. Consequently father
James M. and sons William J. and Joseph E. traveled west to Calif. In 1850, they settled near Winters, Calif. in valley that
now bears their name. In 1856, William J. was sent back to Mo. to bring his three sisters and brother back to Calif. The family
raised fruit and cattle in Solano County. In 1906, William published an account of his travels to Calif. entitled, "Twice
across the plains: 1849 ... 1856."
John Houx, a member of the same 1856 wagon train to Calif. as William J. Pleasants, became famous in Sonoma County, Calif.
in 1871 for stage coach robberies. He was the leader of the Big Foot Houx Gang that attacked 6 stage coaches, stealing Wells
Fargo treasure boxes and killing one man. After his capture, Houx betrayed his partners to law enforcement officials for a
lighter sentence. In 1875, he is noted as farming in the Sebastopol area.
Type:
History.Sources.
Physical Description:
print
1 box (.4 linear ft.)
Language:
English
Identifier:
BANC MSS 2002/192 cmLOCAL