Gold Rush Era Collections

Sacramento February 3/56

Dear Brother,

Yours of January 28^nd came to hand yesterday and am happy to hear you are again mucho Bueno may you so continue regret to hear Cornelia is so unwell but Suppose there is nothing dangerous and hope to hear she has recovered next mail what is the reason you say nothing about the new member of your family, what cognome is he known by or has he not proceeded that far yet, I suppose however it will be Senator John, Father writes me that he is not quite as well and is a little fearful that his flesh is inclined to bloat up again, I shall write him next mail. I wrote Mother last one in rather low spirits as I was nearly discouraged trying to check my cough but I have benefited it very much by the use of Onion Syrup and feel somewhat improved, but I think it very doubtful as to the effect the change of going home may have on me it will probably bring out my bilious complaint and all my friends here say the cold water cure will eradicate it will it in about

[Sideways on left of letter] the grain at the prices I took it from Leete did not pay us in full with our expenses it fell about $495.00 it was the profit that paid us

Ten days I hope such may be the case I shall give a fair trial if I have the strength, I have at least got the Leete affairs settled up and credited you and John Post your portion of the same it pays the note and interest in full and a small proffit besides it has paid well for holding it so long, but if I haven't had anything but a plesant time in the matter until I got the Crop off the Ranch every one of Leets creditors was a trying any and every way to get hold of something either mine or his. I thought much about being as wise as serpents and harmless as a Dove, but actually felt about the disposition of a fretted Ratnelsnake and as nervous as an old setting Hen every hour on the Ranch was questioned and pumped in every way to find out if they could not possibly learn something whereby they get five dollars but I fought my way through and at last have come out all right, but I will never fight another one through again under similar circumstances, our original note was $998.94 and the interest on same amounted to $484.48, makeing the whole amount $1483.42 giveing cash $494.47 they proffit on the Grain make $54 more to each of us but there is a waggon maker who has a little Bill also or Blacksmith which reduces it to about 30 or $35 I think I intended to have sent you home this mail what I owed you but did not get the money on the first note of $2000 due on the Store yesterday but

$500 and the balance in a few days I have taken the time paper and credited to you and will pay the 7 percent on the same as long as I keep it which will not be very long as I intend to leave here in two months but possibly may not until the following Steamer. Jordan thinks now he shall not go but send Silvia by me or with me, I shall go to Marysville again in a few days. Webb promised me some money when he got his pay in Marysville but he came in and drew the money and spent it for a lot of old netts and Boats if they were good for anything I would attach them but it wont pay to do so. My horse sprained or hurt his shoulder one night about two weeks since so badly that he could not use the left fore leg at all and I did not think he would even be worth a Dollar but he is now getting better and can beare his weight on it when he walks but I doubt of its ever being entirely sound again. I shall turn him out to grass as soon as it gets high enough to give him sufficient nourishment, so in all probability I shall never get anything for him I could sell him at any time for a few Hundred Dollars but I wont do it unless he gets all right I shall never dispose of him or until I have had him a Year or so longer I suppose I could give you an Order or El arent due you as I think he owes me sufficient but am not certain as I cannot find out from him whether he

ever got any pay for the Wool or what it bought, although he has said in most every letter that he would send a/c sales in the next, he wrote me about eight months ago that the note was due in a few days and he thought it would be paid. I shall never write for it again if I never hear from it, a small portion of it was Grahams and he had instructions to forward him the proceeds I cannot learn of his ever doing so. I can hardly think that his being short of money is the reason as he never mentioned any such thing to me which he would have done had such have been the case when I have sent orders he has attended to them closely and paid for them without saying anything about the funds, if he is short and wants money that he cant raise home at a reasonable interest, I would help him any time to from 10 to $15,000 but don't think he wants it and I can get three per cent for it here. Were you to be in New York before the next Steamer leaves I wish you to ascertain the amount the Wool brought if he got the money and if he sent Graham his amount he sent me at last the account sales of the Solomon

[Sideways on left of letter] My love to you all Your Brother Saml P. Bushnell

Metropolitan Hotel May 13/57

Dear Mother

I arrived back here yesterday from New Haven and Hartford where I had been to get some papers – executed to send to California and intended to have gone up to see you to day, but Bell come up from down the Island to day and I stoped over to see her, and as the California mail is due shall stay to get my letters.

My health remains about the same as when I left. I have not been Home and shall not go this time.

Serena is improving rapidly.

Uncle Barken died about ten days agoe

in haste Your son Saml. P. Bushnell

it there has formly been and believe if you were out here you would do very well this season, there is a Man down to San Francisco who has 22 netts 8½ & 9 inch mesh from 30 to 45 meshes deep for which I offered him $30 each and I think I shall get them if so think I will do very well with them they are good Thread and from 6 to 8 threaded, and very well made, I have been rather Homesick since I have been out here this time not being very well and if I could get my matters settled up I would leave for Home the first of April but I cannot get Leetes matters right until Harvest and I intend then to leave unless it is to late in the season, I am boarding with Mrs. Helen the Lady who went out with me who has been very kind to me and I have an excellent Home but I suppose she won't want me after I get right strong and I shall be compelled to look another place but I can get along anywhere when I feel well, I have finished all the repairs on the Store and they will fall a little short of a $1000 and I think will Rent for $50 more than it would without it, if so it will pay very well for the improvement the most I was offered for it before was $7000 I am now offered $8000 but it is a very low price for it if I can get $9000 I shall sell it but we cant do as well with our money in any other investment the Taxes are high to be share but it nett us over 2 per cent per month over and above all, and if the property is not a going to decrease in Value we had better hold it I think, and as to that there are various opinions some

New York Oct 24^th 1848

Dear Brother I take pleasure in introducing to you the bearer Mr. Bushnell one whom I have known for a long time and think you will find him a perfect gentleman he is rather out of health and visits Franklin this winter in the sure changes Capt Post and will Most likely remain there during the winter any favours shown to him will be duly received and appreciated by your aff. Brother

Thawbridge

P.S. Isaac please introduce him to your acquaintance and should he at any time want to draw on his Brother E. L. Bushnell his drafts will be good and paid

T. G.

Mr Isaac Trouwily Jr. Franklin La [Louisiana] for Mr. Bushnell

Mr. & Mrs. S. K. Jones

Phebe Caroline Bennett

Capt. & Mrs. Ezra Bushnell

Present