"Chips": an autobiography : photocopied typescript, [after 1892?].

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"Chips": an autobiography : photocopied typescript, [after 1892?].

Sketch in the first person by an unknown author, probably put together sometime after 1892 using original notes and letters by Pilsbury "Chips" Hodgkins. Describes his early years in the East and trip to California in 1849 on the ship York, landing in San Francisco, then traveling on to the gold fields via Stockton and Benecia. Describes daily life as a miner near Jamestown and at Jackass Gulch, and from 1851, adventures as an agent for Reynold's Express Co., carrying letters and packages to mining camps on the Stanislaus to Merced Rivers in Calaveras, Tuolumne, Merced, and Mariposa counties. Also his experiences as an express agent and messenger for Wells, Fargo & Co. from 1853 to 1886, first in Stockton and after 1869, in San Francisco. At the time of his death in 1892, "Chips" was the oldest employee of Wells, Fargo & Co.

1 portfolio.

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SNAC Resource ID: 7083412

UC Berkeley Libraries

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Wells, Fargo & Company

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62z53vf (corporateBody)

Wells, Fargo & Company was founded in 1852 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo. Wells and Fargo had also established the American Express Company with John Butterfield in 1850. In 1857 Wells Fargo, American Express, Adams Express, and United States Express formed the Overland Mail Company, which Wells Fargo took over in the early 1860s. Nat Stein served as Director of Wells Fargo from 1901-1902. From the description of Letters and receipts relating to Wells, Fargo & Company, ...

York (Ship)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tr0rx2 (corporateBody)

Chartered ship, 475 tons. Principal Managing Owner: Henry Blanshard. Voyages: (1) 1818/9 Bombay. Capt James Talbert. Downs 6 May 1819 - 15 Aug Bombay 17 Oct - 25 Dec Cape - 15 Jan 1820 St Helena - 23 Mar Downs. British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : CorporateBody : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000092.0x000198 ...

Hodgkins, Pilsbury, 1825-1892.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6058b15 (person)

Born in Nobleboro, Maine on 1825 Feb. 17. At age sixteen, Hodgkins went to Boston and was apprenticed to Dolbeare and Sons, Shipwrights and Caulkers. He earned passage to the goldfields as a ship's carpenter, earning the name "Chips". He spent a few years in partnership as a miner and blacksmith in Tuolumne Co., but is known primarily as the most famous express messenger in early California. From the description of "Chips": an autobiography : photocopied typescript, [after 1892?]. (U...