Gold Rush Era Letters

Mr W. says the "new minister" asked him if it did not seem good to get once more into a civilized country? Mr. W. abruptly answered in this wise: "God Almighty do you call this a civilized country? I think we might send missionaries from California, here" --

I think he answered him rightly for I know of no more disgraceful scenes that have occurred in Cal. since I have been here than have occurred in Massachusetts within this past year. What I would like to ask, has occurred here of late so disgraceful to a free and enlightened people as your slave riot in Boston or your Irish riot in Lawrence?

I think the Atlantic people can no longer boast over Californians, as being any more peaceful or law-abiding and for my part I should not wish to call this an uncivilized country. I will now drop my subject and retire.

Friday Eve Sept 29th

I saw Wm. T. Fisk [William T. Fisk] yesterday. He is well and wished to be remembered to you.

Today Mr Walton gave me a call, so you can imagine that I see my New England acquaintances quite often. They are all well and, I think San Francisco is a very healthy place. My health is as good as usual. I have not seen Mr William Shipley since I commenced this letter but presume he is well.

From your loving Son

H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]

[written vertically in the left margin] Give my love to Miss Lewis also to Uncle Bradley and family, Mrs Betsey Tucker &c.

Tell Miss L. that I shall omit writing her this mail.

I was glad you wrote me about Mrs Betsey Tucker and Mr. Samuel Chase, as Sam Tucker [Samuel P. Tucker] being here just now, I was able to tell him what you wrote concerning them. He was glad to hear that his mother continued so smart during the cold weather.

Then you wrote that Henrietta Parker was married about a year ago, which was news to me or else if I ever knew that she was finally married I had forgotten it ere now.

Then again you wrote that Mrs Sewell, heard from Abel P. Lawrence quite often, so I conclude that he is at present away from home although I had never heard of it before, and now you did not write whereabouts he is but merely said he was teaching school and getting $28.00 per month for doing so.

When you answer this, please write me where he is teaching.

Give my love to Charles and Harriet and remember me to Uncle Bradly [Bradley] and family and all others of my friends. Tell them all that I am well, and intend to come home sometime, if I can get there.

Sam, and Chas, do not know for a certainty when they shall start for home, but I guess not at present. Mrs Graves (formerly Miss Chapin) is living at Columbia and Louis C. lives there with them, Augustine (I believe I wrote you) went home about two months ago,)

Your loving son

H A Parker [Henry A. Parker]

[written vertically in left margin] Monday eve, Jany 15th I am as well as usual this evening. Sam. [Samuel P. Tucker] & Charles left here for Columbia this afternoon, all well. - I noticed a few days since, the marriage of Jackson Lewis, of San Jose, Brother to Crosby Lewis. --

I see Mr William Walton occasionally. He is well and I suppose is making money fast, thereby adding to a fortune already made. I rather think that all those who have ever left Pepperell to come out here have got very well paid for doing so at least I hope so for we have all seen some hard times and may see harder ones before we ever get back home again --

Please give my love to Charles and Harriet, and remember me to all my friends, Uncle Bradley and family Mrs Betsey Tucker &c [etc.]. If you see any of Mr. J. A. Tucker's family give my respects to them as I shall be unable to write them by this mail.

With this Dear Mother accept my best wishes for your welfare and believe me Your affectionate Son {[H. A. Parker]] [Henry A. Parker]

To Mrs Ann Parker E. Pepperell Mass

Friday Evening March 23rd. The Steamer leaves here tomorrow morning, so I must put my letters in the Express tonight.

I should like to finish this paper out, but I have got a very violent tooth ache this evening. It has been aching all day, and this afternoon it has pained me very bad, so that it often brings the tears. Still I will write away a few minutes.

You will remember that I wrote about having two teeth pulled a month or two ago, and it now appears that a prong of one of them was left in which is now troubling me, but if it does not get better soon I shall have to get it dug out. ---

Yesterday and today the weather has been very warm and pleasant and our trade has been quite good and if I can only get rid of my toothache I shall be "all right" again

Give my love to Chas. [Charles] & H. [Harriet] also to Uncle Bradley and family, Mrs Betsey Tucker & so on, and write often to

Your affectionate Son H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]

To Mrs Ann Parker East Pepperell Mass

it seems as though more than double the amount of care and work comes upon me, when compared with the share I attend to when Mr N. [Ephraim Noyes] is here with me, still we are in hopes that his trip to Oregon, will prove advantageous to us both, so we are willing to work a trifle harder for a few weeks when we think it is for our mutual interests to do so. Mr. N. [Ephraim Noyes] will have a hard time of it as well as myself, but I hope he will return in good health, after having met with complete success in all of his undertakings.

I may have occasion to speak of this hereafter, when I will give you more full particulars, with regard to our business, as well as the result of it ---

This Day (Sunday) has passed very pleasantly with me --- . In the building where my stand is, are nine different occupants, eight of whom belong in Massachusetts. The lower story of the building is occupied as a paint store, and is kept by Mr. G. D. Wyman from Boston -- a good sociable man. Then in the upper story are four rooms, two of which are occupied by Geo. W. Dor [George W. Dor], Z. N. Dor, his father, and Volney Simmons his Brotherinlaw [brother-in-law], all formerly from Lawrence Mass. They too are good people and very friendly towards me. Mr. G. W. Dor is situated just the same as Mr Noyes [Ephraim Noyes] is in

[written vertically in the left margin and over the horizontal text]

Please say to Mrs Betsey Tucker that I recd [received] a letter from Sam last evening, and that he is well. He received a letter from his Cousin Wm L Chase [William L. Chase] last week, from Nevada, Wm C. was well