Wilcox, Alfred Henry. Papers,, 1876-1895.

Series

Identifier: Series 2.10.

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The bulk of this series consists of bills paid to San Francisco service providers and merchants on behalf of Wilcox, and after his death in August 1883, on behalf of his widow, and of his divorced daughter, Mrs. Mary W. Longstreet, most probably by John Bermingham, who served as Wilcox's executor in San Francisco. The stationery and forms vividly illustrate the state of graphic design in 1880's San Francisco. The series also contains a series of letters from Bermingham to Wilcox concerning the activities of the steamer Newbern, as well as correspondence between the banker, entrepeneur, and property developer Edward Falles Spence (1832-1892)--Wilcox's agent, and after his death, Los Angeles executor--and Wilcox (to 1883) and Bermingham (from 1883). The legal papers consist almost exclusively of documents collected or created in the course of the probate of Wilcox's will, and include executor accounts, certificates of title, copies of mortgages, lists of accounts receivable and payable, receipts and demands for payments, and powers of attorney.

Dates

Creation: 1876-1895.

Creator

From the Collection: McPherson, William (Creator, Person)

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research.

Biography

Alfred Henry Wilcox (1823-1883), born in Connecticut, was a Colorado River steamboat captain and director of the California and Mexican Steam Ship Line. In 1852, Wilcox's Colorado River Navigation Company began side-wheel steamship service on the Colorado River, transporting supplies from San Francisco and San Diego to the army fort in Yuma, Arizona, and to and between towns in Arizona along the Colorado River. In 1863, he married Maria Antonio Argüello (1835-1909), of the prominent San Diego County and Tijuana, Baja California, family. He also had ranching and mining interests in Julian and the surrounding area, and was active in banking, as founder and president of Commercial Bank (later First National Bank) of San Diego. He maintained homes on G Street in San Diego and at 808 West Adams, in Los Angeles (the distinctive Yuma Building in San Diego and Wilcox Building in Los Angeles were built by his family after his death). He died in August 1883, leaving as his executors John Bermingham in San Francisco and Edward Falles Spence in Los Angeles.