PIONEER DIARIES

 

Diaries in the 1800s were often small, and diarists kept them for years, amassing many over their lifetime. Below is an image of one of the Eugene Sampson Diaries, approximately 3 inches by 6 inches in size. These historical diaries have been transcribed verbatim from the originals, spelling errors included, and come as a digital version on a USB stick. 

 

PHOTO DIARY 1885 Eugene Grant Sampson

 

As the Stevens family said their goodbyes and prepared for the trip from Maine to Little River, Etta was gifted her first diary. She kept it daily from 1864 until shortly before her death in the 1930s.The family traveled by land and sea, dodged pirates, traversed Panama on a train (Canal wasn’t built yet), sailed to San Francisco, then to Petaluma, and 31 days later, rode in a wagon to Little River. Their original homes are today’s inns, while their final resting site can be seen in the Little River Pioneer Cemetery.

 

Transcripts for Sale: 

  

  • Etta Stevens Pullen:  The original diaries were burned after being transcribed by Etta’s niece, Dr. May Sampson, in the 1930s. One of the first families to arrive, this record gives a unique picture of early life on the north coast. Daily entries from 1864 to 1933.  COST: $50.00 
  • Eugene & Rachel Sampson:  Rachel was Etta’s younger sister. She and Eugene knew each other in Maine, but Eugene served in the Civil War before traveling to California to marry Rachel. 1865-1885.  COST: $50.00  
  • Eugene Sampson Letters:  Eugene and Rachel corresponded after Rachel arrived in California and Eugene was serving on the SS Calhoun during the Civil War. Each promised to burn the letters, but Rachel could not bare to do it, so they endured to be transcribed. Includes some written to family after the move to California. 1863 - 1892.  COST: $50.00  
  • A.J. Gray Family Diary: Not yet ready for sale. Rosilla was Etta’s youngest sister. She married Arthur Jasper Jewel Gray, and their grandson, AJ Gray, his wife Esther (Johnny) Johnsrud, and her mother kept a daily family diary from 1922 -1977
  • Original minutes from the 1st two years of the Independent Order of Good Templar’s. Not yet ready for sale. Hall of Little River Lodge, #334, Little River, California.  1885 – 1887.