Biography
Scope and Contents
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Preferred Citation
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Davis Library, Dept. of Special Collections
Title: Clark Family Correspondence
Creator:
Clark family
Identifier/Call Number: MC325
Physical Description:
20 items
Date (inclusive): 1911-1928
Abstract: Letters sent to George H. Clark of Kennebunkport, Maine by his family living in California between 1911 and 1929.
Physical Location: Researchers should contact Archives and Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Language of Material:
English
.
Biography
George H. Clark lived in Kennebunkport, Maine. His brother, Winfield S. Clark, moved from Maine to Paradise, California sometime
before 1910 and became a farmer. George and Winfield's father Andrew J. Clark was a former sea captain in Maine, living in
Creston, California. George and Winfield also had a half-brother living in Oakland, California.
Scope and Contents
Eighteen full letters plus two partial letters sent to George H. Clark of Kennebunkport, Maine, by his family living in California
between 1911 and 1929. Includes 12 letters (plus the two partial letters) from Winfield S. Clark, a brother living in Paradise,
California; five letters from his father, Andrew J. Clark, in Creston, San Luis Obispo County, California, and a letter from
a half-brother in Oakland, Ca.
Winfield Clark moved from Maine to California sometime before 1910; he became a farmer and his letters pick up in 1911, with
the announcement that he has discovered their long-lost father living in a hotel in Creston, Ca. One of the partial letters
includes a detailed report on their father's condition. In the next letter, dated 1917, Winfield writes about working on a
farm on top of a mine and the agricultural prospects of the region should a proposed irrigation bill be passed:
"I wish you could be here and see where I am working. It is on ground that was mining ground called the 'mineral slide mine.'
This man I work for bought the top of the ground, and the mine still work and work the underneath. They have a gang of 20
men working there now prospecting for gold...The mine is going continuously--never stops...I have a little cabin 12 x 12 where
I stay and cook and sleep...We are having quite a little time here over the water question for watering our fruit trees. They
voted last march to put up an irrigating dam at an expense of $350...It will be a big thing for this country for we can raise
most anything here if we only had water."
Several of the letters are on the letterhead of the Paradise Fruit Growers' Union, of which Winfield was treasurer, or the
Paradise Irrigation District, for which Winfield was tax collector. In the remaining letters, dated 1918 to 1929, Winfield
asks about life back in Maine, discusses his own family matters and describes farming in Paradise, building a house, unusual
weather, and more:
"We are having beautiful weather here now and we are as busy as can be picking berrys and cherrys we have sold nearly half
a ton of cherrys and we picked them all ourselves. The berrys are just coming on now and will keep us busy till after the
4th of July...We have a good market for everything and one man takes everything we raise, and we ship it to him 4 times a
week. We have been very economical the past few years and saving to build us a house."
"The agitators and I.W.W. have about played the dickens with it out this way. I have been pretty busy this winter with orchard
work, and fixing my house over I have had a carpenter about two months and he will get through in about two weeks now. Lumber
is out of sight here common rough lumber $52 per thousand and any kind of finishing or clean lumber from $95 to $125...The
almonds are in blook a mile below us, and another warm day or two and they will all be in bloom around here, and that means
no crop next fall..."
"They are putting in an irrigating plant here, and are laying about 35 miles of Redwood pope from 4 in to 28 in in size. I
am pipe inspector and have an easy job at $4.00 a day."
Another five letters were sent by Captain Andrew Clark (a former sea captain in Maine), Winfield and George's long-lost father,
between 1911 and 1914. He writes about his own health (he appears to be sick or ailing), life in a hotel and on a ranch in
San Luis Obispo County, discusses national politics including the Roosevelt-Taft election, and events such as the Mexican
Border War and WWI:
"I am still on the Bridge and able to eat three square meals every day...I went to San Luis yesterday the grass is 6 inches
high and in every front yard and garden the flowers & roses are in full bloom and the oranges on the trees are turning a bright
yellow well the great International exposition is in full blast now over a million visitors have passed through the gates
to the grounds already it will be a great year for California...I was unfortunate enough to be elected Justice of the Peace
at the last election...no hard work about it had 3 or 4 cases the past month there probably be more after the Ranchers get
through seeding they will have more time to fix up their little neighborhood quarrels."
The last letter was sent by George and Winfield's half-brother from Oakland, informing them of their father's death. He expresses
surprise at their existence, as before Andrew's death he had no idea that they existed.
[Description provided by Caroliana Books]
Access
Collection is open for research.
Processing Information
Liz Phillips created this finding aid with information supplied by Caroliana Books.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Caroliana Books, 2021.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Clark Family Correspondence, MC325, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University
of California, Davis.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Butte County (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century
San Luis Obispo County (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century
Clark family -- Archives
Michael and Margaret B. Harrison Western Research Center