Joshua's Roller Coaster Ride

Joshua put $2,000 down with a contract for the rest on 22 December, 1852. Had things gone as planned, Joshua stood to make a very handsome profit indeed. He sought to avoid his contract on the grounds that he'd been misled. The matter was tied up in litigation for nearly two years at great personal cost. In 1858, every member of the US House of Representatives has to stand for election every two years. This year's midterms were spread between 1858 and 1859 with California holding its midterm election in September 1859.