Gold Rush Era Letters

Panama June 15^th 1850

Dear Wife and Children I take this opportunity to Write you a few lines to let you know that I am well hoping these few lines may find you all the same you must not complain that we are so far apart and thenk [think] all of you that I have the worst End of it Intended for your good and the children so do as well as you can and try humor aims to his good and your good and it will End good both attend to buisness as snug and as honerable [honorable] as you can and all will be well I have been very much disappointed in getting on to calafornia California the boat that we have our tickets on arrived here a few days ago and it is supposed she would not leave for two or three weeks to come so we Changed our tickets for tickets on the Panama one of aspenwalls [Aspinwall] Boats which I Expect will start the 17^th June monday [Monday] I hope you have Received my letter I wrote since I have been here I received N. N. Ryersons of 27^th April I sinc [since] I have been here soon after I Wrote I was sick four or five Days with a small of the disentary [dysentery] which is verry [very] comen [commen] here and Proves fatal with some But I have been well since for the last three or four weeks I have made verry [very] near anough [enough] to clear Expences [expenses] Since I have been here & Peter Brown has made som [some] thing more By my being sick it Put me back for two weeks that I did not feel like moving much in this Climate

dirt some considerable money and cannot but hope to do well There are five interrested in the same at San Anton San Antone where I have an interest making one a fifth owner This is the first week that I have had an interest there I pay wages into the Co this week This claim has been paying farely how long it may continue to I cannot say

You desired my opinion on the propricty [prosperity] of selling the farm as you said Father talked some of doing so, also what I thought of emigrating to Cal California I would not wish to interpose my opinions against what you there may think best But you are now surrounded by all the conveniences and comforts of life to become so requires many years of toil and deprivation and I am of the opinion that as man cannot in a life time fit up and enjoy twoo [two] homes As regards coming to Calo California I would not by any means advise such a step the objections are these 1^st to bring a family here will cost a small fortune 2^nd if a man had money enough to buy a ranch or farm here such a one as he would be willing to live on, the interest of the

money which would be required to make this purchase would support him any where without larbor [labor] Land like evry [every] Thing here is verry [very] much dearer Than The Farming I attend has been and is still the most profitable business in Cala. California

That is followed with anything like a certainty of success You say you are determined to see me within a year even if you have to come here to do so Within that time you will have an opportunity that is if we both live, and as for myself I think nothing can kill me now at least if it had been an easy matter to have dome so it would have been done long ago next spring I will return Note that duron! My health is good John is also in good health I have not heard from Ez for a long time and do not know where he is Riley Stiles is living with John at Murpheys Murphys not able to do much work some thinks of going home this fall

I see by the stamp on the paper that I have writen [written] this wrong end up and perhaps if you will turn it over you will find some of these scribblings that will make words as it is. you will find it sufficient

But whatever you do Your Brother bids you Goodnight

Osborn Ayer

You have asked me when I intend returning home Should nothing happen beyond what I can now foresee you may expect me next spring early, without fail I have long since given up the idea of making much of a pile in cala California – and as Old lady Partington his [has] said "I have enjoyed a great deal of hardshit and I am now resolved to suffer some comfort yet" but it is getting late and I am getting tired and sleepy and you no doubt will be glad to find at the end

Osborn Ayer

To P. Ayer S Falls Oct 24^th 1853

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New York May 20 1850

Mr Brown

Sir

We shipped your son Jared in the Steamer Antilope [Antelope] to work his passage as Coal heaver he paid us fifty dollars to get him the chance and we promised him to write you as he had no time she sailed on the 18^th Saturday about three O'clock, he also desired us to give his kind love to you and all inquiring friends and if any of them feel inclined to go to California send them to us

Gooding Lucas & Co 160 South St Corner Dover