Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Jocknick, Gustavus F., 1817-
- Abstract:
- This collection contains the papers of American Civil War Captain Gustavus Ferdinand Jochnick (1817-1890). Chiefly consists of correspondence from Gustavus F. Jocknick to his friend John Wilkin, including discussion of the Civil War and discussing army movements, battles, and political events. Some of the later letters also discuss Jocknick's work as a clerk at the Office of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C., and as a farmer in Colorado.
- Extent:
- 57 items in 2 boxes
- Language:
- English.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection, which is arranged chronologically, contains mostly correspondence from Gustavus F. Jocknick to his friend John Wilkin. In the first two letters, which are written from San Francisco, Jocknick talks about San Francisco and his life in California. In his letters of 1860, Jocknick talks about his attempt to find work in New Jersey, the news of the upcoming war, and secession, the possibility of enlisting in the army, Abraham Lincoln, James G. Bennett and Nehemiah Perry. In his letters from 1861 to 1865, Jocknick talks about the impending war, his decision to enlist, William H. Seward, John C. Ten Eyck, Nathaniel Banks, and the election of Abraham Lincoln; he also talks about his enlistment in the 3rd Regiment of New York Cavalry under James Van Alen and John Mix. Jocknick also talks much about the movements of the armies and possible battles and mentions specifically: George McClellan, Charles P. Stone, Ambrose Burnside, Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin F. Butler, August V. Kautz, G. T. Beauregard, George Mead, and Winfield Scott Hancock. Jocknick also mentions the Emancipation Proclamation and his fellow soldiers’ reaction to it which were mostly negative.
After the war, Jocknick began working as a clerk at the Office of Indian Affairs in Washington D.C. In his letters from this time (1865-1876) he talks about his job and duties as well as James Harlan and President Andrew Johnson. He also talks about the presidential election of Ulysses S. Grant, and the possibility of William Tecumseh Sherman running for president.
In his letters after 1876, May 2, Jocknick is living in Ouray County, Colorado, as a farmer and talks about his life in the West as well as the Ute Indians, land and possible gold and silver mines. There is one letter by Jocknick in 1886 (written from San Diego) to the Pension Bureau. It includes three items regarding his pension.
The last item in the collection is an incomplete letter by Jocknick’s son Clifton to his brother Sidney Jocknick. In this letter (written circa 1922) Clifton talks about living in Southern California, and real estate prices and problems in Los Angeles and Pasadena.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Gustavus Ferdinand Jochnick (1817-1890) (he later modified his name to Gustavus F. Jocknick - in some Civil War records he is referred to as the further Americanized name George F. Jocknick) was born in 1817, probably in Göteborg, Sweden. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1840, and in 1846 was one of the Swedish emigrants to obtain a patent for 40 acres of public land in Lockbridge, Jefferson County, Iowa. In July 1847, he again enlisted in the army and served in Mexico. He married Beatrice Nicholson (1826-1910) in November 1848.
In 1853 and 1854, Jocknick was living in San Francisco, California (his occupation is unknown). In 1860, he and his family were living in Newark, New Jersey. By April 1861 he was out of work and contemplating joining a regiment of volunteers. On October 1, 1861 he enlisted in the 3rd Regiment of New York Cavalry and commissioned Captain of Company I. He fought in North Carolina and Virginia, taking part in the bloodiest campaigns of the war. After the war, he briefly enlisted in the regular army, and by 1866 was employed as a clerk at the Office of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior. In 1869, he was summoned to witness the distribution of a million dollars of government money to the Cherokee Indians. He found himself under arrest, charged with conspiracy to defraud the Indians. In 1874, Jocknick was cleared of all charges by Congress and awarded full compensation (Congressional Bill HR 1151 of June 14, 1874).
The Jocknicks had four children: Sidney (b. 1849), Dehlia, Blanche (b.1858), and Clifton (b.1868). Sidney Jocknick was the author of Early days on the western slope of Colorado first published in 1933.
Around 1870, Sidney Jocknick moved to Colorado and in 1876, the Jocknick family also moved to Colorado. They settled in Ouray County where Gustavus began farming. In 1886 he moved to San Diego for health reasons.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Betty Freymond, July 13, 2009.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged chronologically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191