Gold Rush Era Collections

San Francisco, November 30 1851 Mrs A Richmond We weould respectfully call your attention to our entire New and Splendid stock of Drugs and Medicines, Perfunery, Fancy Articles, &c., &c., just received, and superior in quality and variety, to any heretofore offered in this market. We have to offer, in the list of Drugs, a most splendid assortment of Select Powders, for Physicians' Phamacopeas; with Dental, and other Instruments, from the best Manufactures. Our stock of Perfumery consists of the most celebrated French, English and American productions, and of Fancy Articles, such as Teeth, Nail and Hair Brushes; Soaps, Creams, Pomades, Oils, Toilet Appurtenances, &c., &c., an almost endless variety-all of which we are disposed to sell you at the lowest market rates. To Druggists-wishing to furnish themselves with Bottles, Show Jars, and all the neccessary appurtenances of a Drug Store-we would state, that we have all you want-comprised in part of Pill Tiles, Pill Machines, Spatulas, Glassware, Seales, Weights, Mortars, Graduates, Funnels, &c., &c. ; all of which we are disposed to sell at low rates. ---------------------------------------------------- TO THE COMMISSION MERCHANT AND WHOLESALE DEALER. We are prepared to offer you great inducements in the filling of your country orders, for all articles in our line- of which facts call and assure yourselves. To the shipmaster, or Consignee.- Your Medicine Chests can be filled and all your Medical Stores obtained, of the best quality, and at the lowest prices, at C.C. RICHMOND & CO.'S At the old Stand, in Jackson Street, between Montgomery and Sansome Sts. C.C. RICHMOND F.A. BABCOCK

San Francisco Dec 4th 1851 My Dear Mother, A thousand thanks to you for your last letter for it had been very long since we have heard from you I know not why it is but it is so, and I must be content My Dear Mother at last I feel contented I have now got a fine brick store in Montgomery St. Mr Daugny the man who owns it has fitted it up in splendid style and tis really one of the finest stores in the city and perfectly Fire Proof" I hear that Dock Megquire is coming out here I should like to see him. but if he does not come soon, ask him to write me and send it through Adams Co Express and I shall receive it. I have not received but one letter from him since I arrived and so far as trying to effect a settlement

with his agent without a letter from him. It is almost impossible. Of course his agent has his own story to tell and I mine but when I have offered to leave it out to men of character & some of the first merchants in the city He chosing one, two or even six & I the same number and agree to abide their decision I do think tis all I ought to do. Tell Doctor to be sure and write me immediately for I do wish the whole business settled. Fanny will write you by the mail. We are well & happy and she never enjoyed so good health in her life as she does now. Ever Your Happy Son Cyrus

Mother

San Francisco Dec 28th 1851 Friend Richmond Allow me without an apology for mhy semming neglect to greet you with a "how do you do" it gives me pleasure to have an opportunity of expressing to you my obligations, for you favour, and the appreci ation of the care and watchfulness over those loved ones of mine while I am absent, as I have been informed from time to time of your kindness and interest manifested to them, words but feebly express the gratitude I feel, and may the assurance that they are held in grateful remembrance suffice for the present. I presume in the first place you would like to hear from your Brother C C I have not seen him lately for the reason that it has been after business hours when I happened there however he is well and says he is doing a first rate business, and I should so judge by appearances, he has moved from his store in Jackson street to a fire proof building on Montgomery street a much more sesirable location for his trade, his store is fitted up in splendid style and makes quite a show, he told me that he had an application for his store to lease as a public house, it would make a good one it is so large Now friend Richmond what can I write that would interest you is the question, it must of course

--- my kind wishes to your wife and all inquiring friends and hope I shall hear from you personaly again soon

be on California and her citizens but as there is so many returning that you have an interview with, and many have written at length, and seemingly learned, upon the geography, the climate the mineral welath, and the productions of the whole country, that there is not a chance to give any thing new, but as every one does not entertain opinions the same, as you will perceive by the following comparison, one man deeply buried in the "blues" weary and desponding contrasting the comfort of home and its firesides with the privations incident to this country gives a sad account of every thing around him he sees but the sombre colour of his own mind, and views every thing with a squint of mental vision, and pours forth his gall, without stint on the whole Pacific slope, all such an one think of is he has not made his pile in less than three weeks and got ready to go Home, Another Hombre happy in himself and in all around him for he has struck a rich lead, looks at every thing in a happy frame of mind and embued for the time with plenty of the milk of human kindness he has it not in his heart to find fault with any thing or any body he paints the country as he sees it in his golden dreams and bright anticipations, both perhaps convey erroneous ideas the fact is less is known of California taking into consideration the intelligence and number of her population that almost any other country the

developement of the mineral wealth is thought yet to be in its infancy, and when the soil once brought under improvement, will convince the most skeptical by its enormous yield, that California is as rich in agricultural, as she is in mineral wealth, Now all that has been said for or against this country has not biased my mind as to her present of future greatness, in my opinion, God has stamped upon California, the seal of empire and endowed her with every element of greatness, in view of all this, the question might be asked, do you always intend to live there; I answer emphatically "no" however much I desire it for there are considerations of more importance, than my own personal gratification I have a family that are dearer to me than all else and the advantages of education here are limited, which forbid that it should be otherwise then they remain where they are, yes you might say, and I might stay untill I made my pile; I will answer by asking you if it is not by the fireside, and Home, that the highest virtues are enjoyed, where the young and beautiful are leaning on us for protection, that are the instructors that teach us how to love and sacrifice for their welfare I again resume my pen to give you a quota of my visionary brain, for I dont know but I am a little visinary at times, California is the theatre where the great experiment is to be tried in harmonising the nations of the earth prepatory to the millenium, let one take a stroll

through the streets of the City on a pleasant sunday afternoon and he will retire to rest at night with the impression swimming in his brain, that Babel has just adjourned "Sine die" all the people and nations which inhabit the globe, are represented here, the people all smile at each other and each is disposed in his own way to extend to the other the courtesies of a greeting, the Spaniard is trying to learn English, the Frenchman, Spanish, the American, French, Spanish, Dutch, Kanaka, and Indian the German is creeping out of his native tongue, as fast as possible in his endeavours to talk with every one, the result will be that if they keep on in less than a year no one will know where he belongs and by the time the Frenchman has prepared to converse in English the English will have crossed over and become a Frenchman and so on through the whole series when they all come out at the other end and find nobody at home, that every tongue is wandering from its native dialect in search of another and each one greeting his neighbour with his thumb to his nose and his little finger gracefully waving the quiet, but significant leer of the eye, California will then present the first specimen, of that universal language concerning which, Philosophers have dreamed, and divines have preached about, so you see, theres a good time a coming Boys, Now friend Richmond, I feel as if I might have written on subjects of more interest to you but such as I give you, that ye recieve, and let none see this except in the House, Yours in Friendship B W Sawyer

Winthrop Maine Oct. 23' 1903 Cyrus C Richmond Esq Augusta Maine My dear Cyrus: Replying to your letter of yesterday, I found you copy of account of your mother estate I have sent no copy to George nor Edith. If they are not satisfied they can appear in court when the account is advertised for settlement and object. Very truly yours Elliott Wood

To all whom it may concern know ye. That I Narcissa H. Richmond of Winthrop in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, of lawful age, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament, and herein dispose of all my worldly estate in manner following, to wit: Item first. I order and direct my executor herein named to pay all my just debts and funeral charges as soon as may be after my decease. Item second. I order and direct my executor to cause the date of my birth and the date of my death to be marked upon the stone monument in the cemetery similar to those thereon marked: also to place a granite curb stone on the side of the lot in the cemetery at Winthrop next the drive way and to pay for the same out of my estate. Item third. I give and bequeath to my beloved son George Q. Richardson five dollars. Item fourth. I give and bequeath to my beloved grand son Willie S. Richmond five dollars. Item fifth. I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Edith A. Robie my sewing machine and all my wearing apparel. Item sixth. I give and bequeath to my beloved son Cyrus C. Richmond and my daughter Edith A. Robie all my silver ware and household goods to be divided equally between them. Item seventh. I give, bequeath and devise to my son Cyrus C. Richmond and my daughter Edith A. Robie, their heirs and assigns forever, all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal and mixed, wherever found and however situated, of which I may be possessed at my decease. Item eighth. I hereby appoint Elliott Wood sole executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 16th day of March A.D. 1889. Narcissa H. Richmond. (seal) Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Narcissa H. Richmond to be her last will and testament in presence of us, who, at her request, in her presence and in the presence of one another, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto, this 16th day of March A.D. 1889. Elliott Wood Abbie L. Kimball Etta F. Maxim