John Newsom diary and letter

Collection

Identifier: Mss 763

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of a pocket diary of John Newsom and a letter that he wrote. The diary describes Newsom's travel to Idaho in 1861 for the purpose of gold mining. The diary also lists Newsom's expenses. The letter, written March 31, 1866, and addressed to G. W. Taylor, concerns wagon construction and purchasing.

Dates

1861; 1866 March 31

Creator

Newsom, John, 1828-1902 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Biographical Note

John Newsom was born in 1828 in Monroe County, Virginia, and emigrated to Oregon in 1852. For the next 12 years, he worked as a surveyor and miner, traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest and California. In 1864, he moved to Salem, Oregon, where he spent the rest of his life, and where he worked as the Marion County surveyor for 18 years. He married Olive Greenwood in 1865; the couple had two children. Newsom died in 1902.

Sources: Oregonpioneers.com; obituaries in the Oregonian and the Weekly Oregon Statesman, October 14, 1902.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder in shared box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Pocket diary of John Newsom (1828-1902) from his travels to Idaho for gold mining, and an 1866 letter from Newsom to G. W. Taylor. Newsom came to Oregon in 1852, and did work mining and surveying in the Pacific Northwest and California until moving to Salem, Oregon, in 1864.