Almost at the moment of their arrival, also came from St.
Louis my personal friend Major Turner, with a parcel of documents, which, on examination, proved to be articles of copartnership for a bank in California under the title of "Lucas, Turner & Co.," in which my name was embraced as a partner.

Major Turner was, at the time, actually en route for New York, to embark for San Francisco, to inaugurate the bank, in the nature of a branch of the firm already existing at St.Louis under the name of "Lucas & Symonds." We discussed the matter very fully, and he left with me the papers for reflection, and went on to New York and California.
Shortly after arrived James H.Lucas, Esq., the principal of the banking-firm in St.Louis, a most honorable and wealthy gentleman.
He further explained the full programme of the branch in California; that my name had been included at the insistence of Major Turner, who was a man of family and property in St.Louis, unwilling to remain long in San Francisco, and who wanted me to succeed him there.

He offered me a very tempting income, with an interest that would accumulate and grow.

He also disclosed to me that, in establishing a branch in California, he was influenced by the apparent prosperity of Page, Bacon & Co., and further that he had received the principal data, on which he had founded the scheme, from B.R.Nisbet, who was then a teller in the firm of Page, Bacon & Co., of San Francisco; that he also was to be taken in as a partner, and was fully competent to manage all the details of the business; but, as Nisbet was comparatively young, Mr.Lucas wanted me to reside in San Francisco permanently, as the head of the firm.

All these matters were fully discussed, and I agreed to apply for a six months' leave of absence, go to San Francisco, see for myself, and be governed by appearances there.