Gold Rush Era Collections

[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]

Mr Bowen & James wishes you to inform Steven they intend sending some funds by me. Think I shall start for home as soon as I get through with the claims we have on hand or rather as soon as the Snow drives us out of the mountains -- We bought one share in A claim for $155 and one of us work on it. the claim paid for itself in one week ending last night. we have another paid for and A large amount of work done such as striking clearing off, &c and have A fair prospect, but every thing [everything] is prospect in California. Some men are making piles some doing nothing others spending all they get. Mr Bowen & James think the will not start for home before Spring they feel very anxious to make something to compensate them for the journey. wages is five dollars per day here -- our pump cost $32 - shovels $8. pick 6$, we paid $11 for A piece of sheet iron 18 by 30 inches punched full of 3/4 inch holes for a sive [sieve] or screen our living costs about one dollar per day. I wish you to look after the mules see that they do not stray off. The last I heard from home you was attending School in Joliet I wish you to go to school this winter at home and take care of things till I return. If you can do better for yourself, I wish you to do so but some person must be there. I wish if hay can be had to have A good yoke of oxen and A faithful hired man could be well employed in hauling manure on the first ten acres East of the turn rows -- and on the orchard. I am determined to have any load out as soon as possible it could be come much better this fall than next Spring and I leave it as you may think best. Your Affectionate father R J Boylan

If James is determined to try his fortunes in California I think he had better come before I leave so that I can give him all the information I can, I wish him to bring with him or have sent to him a copy or description -- or what would be better a satisfactory piece made out from the mortgage held in his name and Mary Janes so that he can sign and acknowledge the year here the time he becomes of age. I wish to have it done for fear Sawyer Elderkin or Bill Turner or some of the good folks may not rest easy.

Brother Pain will make it from the mortgage you can consult your father about the plank road business and do as you think best in that respect and every thing [everything] else pertaining to our affairs -- I have not news to write to the children. I have a chance to send this letter to Mariposa P. O. in the morning so I am writing in haste and when I ought to be asleep if you do not get your letters regular it will be owing to my not having an oportunity [opportunity] of sending to the P. O.

I have not received a line from James since last June and I expect Mary Jane cant [can't] get time to write. Well when daughter Vena learns to write papa will get some letters try all you can to have Clarras eyes restored but nothing can be accomplished with out [without] dieting. I fear you can not [cannot] read this miserable hasty scrawl, but once more farewell dear wife and children from your own true husband

R J Boylan

Mrs N N Boylan