AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY THE CALIFORNIA PIONEER

Brief holographic letter and receipt, both dated October 24, 1859, regarding payment in the amount of $100 from A.B. Caldwell, Public Administrator of Santa Clara County, for medical services rendered by James L. Ord to the late Maria Josefa de Chabolla. The letter measures 5 ½" x 8 ½" and is written on cream stock, while the receipt measures roughly 7 7/8" x 6 ½" and is written on ruled white paper. Both were folded for mailing, and bear the ink stamp of the Wilson Collection in the upper left corner.

Born in Georgetown, District of Columbia, Dr. James Lycurgus Ord (1824-98) came to California in 11847 as a surgeon with Company F, 3rd U.S. (truncated) Artillery. He remained in the Golden State, establishing himself as a surgeon and rancher. In 1856, Ord married Maria de las Angustias de la Guerra (1815-90), a member of the prominent Californio family, and settled in Santa Barbara. He later spent a few years in Mexico as consul general, and also served for a short time as attending surgeon to the U.S. troops at Fort Point, San Francisco. (Inventory #: 77079)