Gold Rush Era Letters

I have wrote home semi monthly [semi-monthly] since I returned to my old winter quarters in my last I gave you a detail of my quartz prospect but O dear I have had no letters from home since July 22.

I expected one at sanfrancisco [San Francisco] what can be the matter I tremble at the thought if my dear Wife and family were all sick i [I] should think some person would write. I feel as much disapointed [disappointed] at not returning home this fall as any of family are but it appeared to me to be my duty when the door was opened for me to engage in an enterprise that was likely to succeed, to make a still further sacrifice of my most ardent wish that is to again embrace my darling wife and children.

I shall now remain until I succeed in getting machinery started or abandon the concern if it succeeds well I will send funds to James and have him come and take my place and what future arrangements I cannot tell -- I think you had better make some arrangements about the farm but what I do not Know. I at present think it would be well to let Mr Sawyer have it or Mr Bass. They perhaps can make some arrangement about the division fences but do not let it to any person and be accountable for damages sustained.

I would much rather the farm would lay idle than you should have any trouble about it but if it lays vacant Sawyers stock will have the fall feed

the money in brother Freers hands I presume is so that you can get it when you want money. I hope you will make yourselves comfortable and contented make some arrangement to get a good suply [supply] of wood and be as careful of the timber on the lot as possible -- we have not had any rain to raise the water in the ravines yet. I fear that we will not be able to get any machinery before Spring on account of bad hauling since writing this, five teams loaded with quartz machinery have passed my cabin going up about nine miles. There are three quartz veins that will be worked within three miles quartz is all the rage now the streams are nearly all dug out. I think by what I can learn that most of the quartz that is worked by good heavy machinery are doing verry [very]. I shall continue to write home every mail. I sent a newspaper from sanfrancisco [San Francisco]. I hope you will continue to write I look for some reason for my not getting any letters since July. I do Know my darling wife would not neglect me -- There has been some daring roberies [robberies] and horrid murders comit [commit] in this vicinity done by Mexicans the mode by throwing a lasso around a mans neck and then putting spur to the horse drag the poor fellow off into the chaparals [chaparrals] -- We all go in companies and go armed to the teeth -- You are aware of my bump of Caution. I assure you I shall not expose my self I have A rifle a comon [common] pistol and have just purchased a fine Colts revolver at Sacramento for $40 so you see I make quite A formidable appearance

Frezno [Fresno] river June 5th 1852

Dr [Dear] Wife & children first I am well & enjoy in good health and Spirits -- last Sunday night James Bowen returned from Mariposa and brot [brought] me Six letters two from that woman, in the stone house dated March 3 & 14th informing me of the receipt of the two drafts &c, also two letters from D. Oatman [J. C. Oatman] informing me of his intention to come to California he wishes me to write what I think of the place. Well he will find California verry [very] different from what it was when he left here but I have not a doubt but he can do well here and accumulate a fortune in a few years. I am glad to hear that he and James and Benjamin Bowen are a coming.

I have been very much in hopes that James would come ever since I have been on Frezno [Fresno] river for I think he could have a chance to do a good business this fall here and his having the advantage of having friends here we will do all we can for them. We have quite a large claim to work out and I shall be in favour [favor] of their Joining us I wish they were here now. I have directed two letters to James one to Sanfrancisco [San Francisco] one to Marysville informing him where I am. If it is James full determination to come to Cal he had by far better come while I am here and if he can have patience and economy & industry and by holding on to the quartz interest he can in time do well.

Sacramento City August 28^th 1850

Dear Brother

This is to inform you that we Are Reasonable well Although Since I had the dysentary [dysentery] in Panama I have been subject to diarea [diarrhea] Now and then which is a common complaint in this country and not very Agreeable one hoping these few lines may find you all in good health I Recieved your two letters one dated May 30^th 1850 and yours dated June 30^th 1850 Both I Recived [received] at this citty [city] — Augst [August] 26^th 1850 on the same Day with the three Bills of Laden But No Bill of Amount of wates [weights] of Butter lost and Epences [expenses] there With send in Next the cost Expences [expenses] In shurance [insurance] and alt all Expences [expenses] Deliverd [delivered] on ship Board in very small figures so i will take up not much Room of Each lot. I Arrived at San Francisco on the 7^th or 8^th of July of which you have Received our letters to that Effect we Remained there a few Days and then went the River to Sacramento City which Both Places are great Places of Business Beyond my Expectation the streets look like the Buisness streets of New York thronged with People and goods about 160 Miles apart then started to see the mines We Went to Place caled [Called] colloma Coloma about fifty miles of Sacramento City and Work in the mines about two weeks of [off] and on and traded a little Not thinking to work in the mines for the Work is two [too] hard for us or you Either if you was here and so very hot Allong [along] the Rivers and cook for ourselves and Nothing But our Blankets on the ground and some times without any thing over us like a tent they [there] is a great many People

over 50 thousand fighting men with 8 or 10 peaces [pieces] of Cannon with any amount of other arms Should the general government step in now to protect Scoundrals [Scoundrels] of every Hue and stripe Death will be the consequence

it is a perfect State of excitement in this State The Elections have been Controled [controlled] and those that are in power have been elected by ballot Box stuffing Murderers & gamblers have Reighned [reigned] Supreme untill [until] the people can Bear it No Longer and have Rose in their Majesty to proclaim the puriety [purity] of the Ballot Box and Downfall of Drunker and gambling Politicain [Politician] and Detestable Brawlers and Ruffans [Ruffians] who Rule our Courts of Justace [Justice]

The excitement on the Receipt of the news of the massicure [massacre] at panama [Panama] was Dreadful Could there have been any way of passage Down got thousand would have gone to Revenge the Death of those Slain, and now the News of the the Dreadfull [dreadful] catastrophy [catastrophe] which has happened upon the Railroad and the events that are now transpiring in San Francisco has nearly turned the people of this State into a state of lunaticy [lunatics] the mail Has just arrived and I will go up and see if there is any letter I have not got any letter I do not see why I do not get More letters than I Do

My Health is good My wife [wife's] Health is poor