R. J. Boylan, Gold Rush Letters, 1850-1853

Mrs. R. J. Boylan Jackson Creek Will Co Illinois

[postmark: Sacramento Cal Aug 29 40]

Onion Valley, California July 5, 1851

Dr [Dear] Wife children and friends, I have this day recd [received] two letters from you March and April 18. I eat [ate] my breakfast this morning before sunrise and traveled on foot to this place over the Snow caped [capped] peaks of the Siere Mader [Sierra Madre] hungry and fatigued but the first thing was to call on the express office and read my letters. it affords me much joy to hear from my darling family and to hear they wair [were] well, but the painful news from brother James -- poor fellow he was called from this world in the [? paper torn] of life to his friends and dear relatives I have no dvise [advice] to give but only remark that when the Disciples of John the Baptist learned the that he was beheaded they said they would go and tell Jesus (tell what) their sorrowes [sorrows] and they -- you and I, can go and do likewise -- I feel to Sympathise [Sympathize] with you all and pour forth the tear of Sorrow & affliction and realize that we one and all must soon or later must follow. I hope you will not give yourself any unnecessary fears about, me yet well do I Know your anxious heart. I shall take all the care of my health that I Posibly [possibly] can rest assured my Dear Wife that I have some warm friends with me yet there is an empty void that cannot or could not be filled in the hour of pain and Sorrow but by my Darling Wife and family but I trust and hope that we shall soon be permited [permitted] to meet again around our family circle and enjoy A season of uninterrupted tranquility. I feel no desire for any greater Earthly

[Written upside down] Elder Kin would do well working at his trade in Cal. [California] sharpening A pick $4.50 shoeing horn $16- crobar [crowbar] from $8 to 16 blacksmiths with tools plenty at the city for cheap blacksmiths in the mines very scarce they are getting rich -- doing better than [mi?]

hapiness [happiness] than that of enjoying the society of my friends and to see them united and hapy [happy] -- Keen and severe was the pang of leaving my darling home but A appeared as the necessity required that I should go it was solely for the sake of my home my darling Wife and Children one and all that I consented to make the sacrafice [sacrifice] -- altho [although] my success has been quite limited but the satisfaction I received in reading one sentence in your letters that no one had any claim against R J Boylan, except the demand of James and Mary. I am -- nothing would have given me more pain than not to have been able to meet that demand. I fell anxious have James have something to make A fair -- early start in life and as well for himself -- I feel to live for my family almost, exclusive when I look round on many who have come to, Cal [California] and underwent the various hardships and privations and many that came a year before me and now have not near as much as I. I am not willing to give names but there are many of my acquaintance from Will Co. [County] that are not able to get home and have enjoyed good health. I feel myself quite fortunate -- and I presume far short of the golden visions of many that are, anxious to come. Since I wrote last month I have done but little we sold our ground that we bought after buying our first claim and made a good hit, by selling -- I have now in my belt about Eight hundred dollars I heartily wish it was home but I will take good care of what I have got and try to get all I can by fall. You have received all that I have remitted except the Specimens, that I sent by Links then you have got before this time

[Written upside down] I wish you to send to the Signal and pay the postage on the letters sent by meu and get them. he requested me to write – my letter to Mattison gave A true detail of the Country – and to Bearley in A Stuyle [Style] congenial to his own Editorials

I am in company yet with Bowens Killey and Canoroey they are all well. also Mr Burson and Wm Gougar [William Gougar] are traveling with us. We have not seen Carroway for 6 weeks we sent him in Co with Mr Joseph Zumwalt and a number of others to prospect the gold region on upper part of feather river [Feather River] the report is favorable and we are on the line of March it is full nearer the valley and much easier getting out in case of early storms of snow than here – I shall return quite early in the fall to [?] Hon cut [Honcut] and if it is sickly on the Coast or Istmus I shall remain till I think it prudent to return. My health is good tho [though] rheumatic pains I aluded [alluded] to in my last letter have nearly left me. We live very comfortable for miners all of us anxious to return to the land of Civelezation [Civilization] and the bosom of our friends and should we be so fortunate – that day will truly be A hapy [happy] day – yet the satisfaction of Knowing and feeling that our financial affairs are perfectly solvent and above the reach of [Clun's?], cheers me in every effort. I regret to hear of the course of my friend Wm E Little [William E. Little] – I was in hopes that James would appreciate his fathers [father's] advise [advice] the last words I ever spoke to him was, that it was imposible [impossible] for him to realize A fathers anxiety – he but little thinks that it was for the purpose of enabling me to meet the demands at the time or before they ware [were] due that I have made an exile of myself but let it rest now till I come home. I approve of the plan of Pain taking the funds. Take good care of yourself and family and may god bless and protect You is my constant prayer Your affectionate husband

R J Boylan

Zumwalt has just come into town and secreted himself to prevent hundreds from following us. he is an old ranger -- he and his family are all well What our future succes [success], may be [maybe] I know not. Verry [Very] probable I may not be able to send another letter next month -- so I wish you to rest as easy as possible. Try to have hay cut for the Stock if consistent if not I will get them wintered. I shall be home as soon as prudent take care of my mules

R J Boylan

[stamp cut out] [postmark: SACRAMENTO CITY Cal. ]

Mrs R J Boylan Jackson Creek Will County Ilinois [Illinois]