Manuscripts Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
79.001 |
Title |
Bristow, E. Lafayette, 1832-1887 |
Date |
1857-1959 |
Scope & Content |
E. LAFAYETTE BRISTOW, 1832-1887 Inventory and description. Papers, 1857-1887 E. Lafayette Bristow crossed the Plains to Oregon in 1848 and settled near his father, Elijah Bristow, at Pleasant Hill. In 1862 he went to the Salmon River mines in Idaho, remaining there through 1863. He then returned to Eugene to continue hs association in the mercantile business with T. G. Hendricks. The collection consists of a typescript of a pioneer narrative written by Bristow in 1878 for Hubert H. Bancroft, miscellaneous legal documents, and a "manifold writer" carbon copybook containing his letters, 1857-1864. Of particular interest is Bristow's correspondence from the Salmon River mines. "You speake of being Sick. I think if you would emigrate to this country, it would restore you to health qicker than any thing else. But you know as well as any boddy, the congeniality of this climate, to persons in a feeble state of health. And the trip here would be a great healp either by Sea or across the plains. Should you remain in that Sickly country, I am convinced you will not be above the clod, by the time another season rolls around. Especially if you are afflected in the maner you speak of - And perhaps I can give you annother inducement to come to this country again. It is this. The people here are all takeing the California fever and are selling out and moveing to the country. Claims with titles are Selling out very low. One which lays adjoining me Sold for $400-00, and another for $7.00. and still another which lays near me sold for $1.300. All half Section - or 320 acre -claims, and all of them took there pay very nearly all in property. This country is - like all other new country - settled up with characters who will never be contented in anyone place very long at a time." "Wm. Davisons two oldest are like to die they had fits, too, the old lady Parsons, was thrown from her horse while riding alone and had her thigh broken and the doctors went to cut if off. They held a consultation and concluded that she would die any how so they cut if off that was about three weeks ago and she is liveing yet - -" The copybook was published by the Lane County Historical Society in 1961. |