Osborn Ayer - Gold Rush correspondence

A collection of ten letter, three written in 1853 from the area around Murphys, and the remaining seven written from 1859 through 1861 from Grizzly Flat and Iowa Hill near Colfax. The letters are addressed to Ayer's family back in Schuyler Falls, New York. Ayer is working "deep diggings" and offers details of this aspect of gold mining. In the early letters, Ayer's life is unsettled and he comments on the general lawlessness of life at the mines. Later, in Grizzly Flat, Ayer includes mention of neighbors and local doings; in one letter he has drawn a picture of his cabin there. **Please note that historical materials in the Gold Rush Collections may include viewpoints and values that are not consistent with the values of the California State Library or the State of California and may be considered offensive. Materials must be viewed in the context of the relevant time period but views are in no way endorsed by the State Library. The California State Library’s mission is to provide credible information services to all Californians and, as such, the content of historical materials should be transcribed as it appears in the original document.