1855 and 1856 ALS from California to his brother in Naperville, Illinois

Sacramento, California, 1855. Manuscript. Very Good. No Binding. HOLOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED. Two manuscript letters in ink, both on ruled paper with folding creases, the 1855 letter 8" x 12 1/2", with single spaced writing both sides, approx. 500 words. The 1856 letter 15" x 10", folded in half to make 4 pp., approx. 300 words, with small blindstamp top left corner depicting an eagle. The earlier letter is headed "September 18th 1855 Naperville Dupage County Illinois" and ends "Michael direct your letters Nevada County, Nevada post office, California". George writes to his brother Michael in Naperville that he has "seen a good dele sins i rote you they last (truncated) letter", including a hundred "inshins" and some "Buffellow". He adds that "we had good luck all they way of may we left Council Bluff", and that he is not home sick yet. He then talks of the gold mines, river mining, what they are paying, and the cost of things such as board ("from five to ten dollars a week"), "Beaf" ("wors 15 to 20 cents"), and "potato" ( "4 cent per pound"). He adds that he intends to have some gold before he comes home and that "girls are not so plenty here as they are in state". He closes by asking his brother to write him and to remain at home in Illinois to care for their parents. The 1856 letter, headed Sacramento august 3th 1856, informs his brother that he is well and "down to Sacramento now" working on a farm feeding a "schrasing" (thrashing) machine and that "they times is verry hard in California now". He adds that he had some money "stole" while he was in the mountains, but since coming down into the valley he was making money and will send some home soon. The letter ends with George wishing to see them all soon and that he is not home sick. The third page of the letter bears a drawing of a wing or leaf, eleven smaller versions of the same image interspersed on page 2. A fascinating testimonial on California during the gold rush, written in a strong hand and in a wonderful vernacular style by a good observer.. (Inventory #: 007164)