Eli Knapp

Clear Lake Nappa [Napa] Co [County] Cal [California] May 27, 1855

Dear Mabel, I Left Grays valley for the purpose of viewing on May the 8^th went on foot to Marvesville [Marysville] at which place I Bought a Mule Saddle & Bridle & rope Called here Lassoo or Lariet for Stakeing [staking] our animals in this Country and Some Provisions Necessary, Thense followed down the Struck across the valley. West to a Seaport town on the Sacramento River (Collousa) [Colusa] Whare [Whre] A Mr Stewart incited by My Rig Enquired my whereabouts with whom a Mr Gawlens & Mr Handy I accoumpanied to this place, Mr. H has Located in Co with myself they returned on fr last for their Stock & Some Provisions. We Intend to raise or make a Garden and plant Corn & Potatoes suffitvent [sufficent] for Our own use this season. the Seed for which I procured Yesterday. Theese [these] Claims ware [were] first located last faul [fall] a cabin built on It and left hense. It is jumpabbe You can See this is an Interior place firs [for] Settlers came in last Summer A School will commense [commence] in this neighborhood tomorrow of some 15 Schollars [scholars] also one is in progress on Big Valley at the Mouth of the Lake by & by another at Scott flat neer [near] the Middle of the Lake

So by & by this will be a New County. Groceries are packed from Collousa [Colusa] & 50 miles, & Wagoned from Nappa [Napa] City Some 75, thare [there] are 6 families in this neighbourhood & Back farm annumerable My bald friend Rawbens of 64 Years has crossed the Plains with a mule teem [team] he now owns 3 times who with his family will be my nearest Neighbor Soon

Ask Pap Grant if he is to [too] bald to sell at a Sacrafise [sacrifice] travel with the Show of makeing [making] $10000000 & an easy liveing [living] for Life. Now dear Mabel I must the plain in this. Woman here whose hustbands [husbands] have been absent

from them Say they need not ask what my Wife writes. But (Home) what is It. A wife & Children dearer to me that Life itself Kind relative & friends But a Soil & climat [climate] I Sincerely fer. If I ware [were] sick I would greet my family without delay neaver [never] to Leave them morse but as it is I am well Satisfied that with nothing to commense [commence] with with the blessing of Heaven in ten Years I can make ten thousand dollars, how I'll tell, by accquantance [acquaintance] or recommend I can get 1 or 100 cows by raising their values this I am after my part met will bring on his return 12 Sows of his own perhaps take some at halves. Tell Elliott and Horace they think they Imitate cold times Hearding [herding] but if cold Saul & Saved much more a Californian Should See them in their Garb they should not ) but Pity them I called on a poor renter whose house chanse was this he had taken 400 cows for 4 years then he has 1/5 of the bald and new 'Stock' a few miles above this 1 man has 3700 Cattle the latter is Supoased [supposed] to have been made Sinse [since] Goald [Gold] was found some 1/2 million principally in cattle. Thare [there] are some 200 hogs n ow on my place their rooting would not hurt my feelings if owned or rented them. So anough [enough] on this I feel quere [queer] to Step out of my Cabin Because I cant walk without treading on Cloaver [Clover] and Cats equal in quantity to any. I have caves Cultivated my range is preserable to any I have seen we have some 300 acres of valley Low hills that will not be taken probably in our day. Garden Sauce View is abundent among thrifty farmers I have had beets as large as my rist [wrist] It is consceded Green Sauce can be had constant by care

My nerest [nearest] neighbor Mr Music killed 17 Grislaes [grizzlies] Last winter and toald [told] me he had not failed to get game over 5 or 6 times sinse [since] he has been here my Neighbors have hanging by their doors from 1 to 6 Deer each Myself excepted as I have only the half of 1 left Me by my Sacramento ramblers Now a fish story on a stream in Big Valley, Lassen County, California whare [where] we camped I went to get water and found the gravel Literally covered with dead Herrin [Herring] which made me think of the Isrartilish [Israelitish] Camp that is of their camp was equally offensive the jews ware [were] to be pitied Now with what I have seen & what is toald [told] me I am sure in 1 week 4 men can catch Suffitient to fill all the waggons [wagons] in Windsor at this this place Some of our horses strayed on the search I run in an Indian City pop some 1500. I saw 1 Indian with a Scoop net take 2 bushel in 30 minute as an experiment I rooled [rolled] up my sleeves and picked up 1 which did not stur [stir] untin [until] I began to squerse [squeeze] him Now, You see my drift, At a proper time after Indian difficulties are settled I want my family here I want Your fathers family here Mother Knapp Elliott & horace [Horace] and all good neighbors in your last you expressed fers [fears] of costs incuring poverty when you should det [get] here but a wilingness to goe [go] west thare [there] would be a gain in that in getting land (only) but count on ^$500 worth of Stock to Iowa or to cal and then see if we are empoverishd [impoverished] the current in Cal|California for farming is Clear Lake but the chances will be inviting for many Years My Health is good My respects to Brother Alaxanher and Lady tell them I have my Eye on a Farm for them

my opertunities [opportunities] of sending to Nappa [Napa] or collousa [Colusa] will be by people going out so take no concern thare [there] has been a Petition for an office here,.

My farm borders on the lake East we clain [claim] the U valley west entire front witth some 200 rods Low hills west & south without bounds the range of which I am now monarch will be suffitient for manny [many] thousand head of Cattle and Hoarses [horses] Mr Elliott Keeps 100 head of breeding mares this is stock growing consequence tell children I have got a spoted [spotted] watch puppy that will stay all day to the Cabbin and and watch and will sleep out with my little Mule if i want him to whose back is about as high as Ellies Head and who will let children ride him as well as any boddy [anybody]

now Ill show the other (Side) on fr last my Co in Co with Mr Music as patron road over this & Mr Rawlenses Lott early in the Morning returned to Camp satisfied to look no further Mr R being the oaldest [oldest] man I gave him a choice agreeably he took the North Lat.. left the same in my care until his return friday afternoon a lackey of Mr Elliotts or tenant Heardsman professed ignorance & entered on my lot took rails which I had purchased built a Pen or Yard for hearding.. Now says he shall sustain a prefference [preference] a matter I am Sorry to have taken place I have talked with the most of my Neighbrs and even his 1/2 brother all of which tell me to pay no attention to him as they Claim him a speculator now dont let this dsturb [disturb] you.. A Small Streamer will soon run from here to the mouth of the Lake in lumber business the Scenery from my Cabbin [cabin] is not surpassed in nature,, the Lake E. 2 miles wide a Small Streamer may land 10 rods from my door my valley off in short mr R Says a man that will grumble here would grumble to be hanged in looking E. we have a Constant view of Large birds the Sandhill Crain [Crane] Pelican &c. [etc.]. I did intend to put a $10 in this as in my last but If you cannot get along write and I will do in my power we intend to get some Cows and goe [go] to makeing [making] Cheese if we survive a hoap [hope] for better Digings on Deck than I have long Sinse [since] been accustomed to I will try and write often Mr H will remail yours by order. I trust I have your Cooperation my valley will cut to average 2 tons of as profitable hay as earer (wees) cultivated

I have written bad on bad paper, which i have carried some 150 i have written what i know tell Eliott Ho & Pafe if they think i have wrote wrong to come and give me a whiping [whippimg] fore it & ill [I'll] be bound they will not want to goe [go] to reaseing [raising] oats for the sake of feedind [feeding] –

[writtne sideways left-hand margin] whare [where] thare [there] is no necessity of of either to Jre Knapp Eli Knapp