“Northren Route to Calafornia”
Elizabeth Myrick

INTRODUCTION

On the 29th of October, 1849, two young people, Horace Augustine Myrick and Elizabeth Tilton Perkins, were married by the Rev. John Lewis, a Congregational minister, in Lima, Grant County, Wisconsin. They lived in neighboring Platteville. Over the next few years they made moves characteristic of mobile Americans on the advancing frontier that brought them ultimately into the northwest corner of California in the redwood country of Humboldt County near the small town of Rohnerville, not far from Humboldt Bay in the Eel River valley.

Elizabeth Myrick was the recorder of a diary that told of the long overland journey to California in 1854.

It was very soon after their marriage that Horace made a long preliminary journey to California as a participant in the gold rush. He got there just in time for the word to come that a strike had been made in the Trinity mountains, so that’s where he went. He took ship from San Francisco to Humboldt Bay and was living in Weaverville when the 1850 United States census taker interviewed him and recorded him as 35-years-old, born in New Hampshire; his profession, a miner.

Another 1850 census taker wrote down the name of Elizabeth Myrick in Grant County, Wisconsin, saying she was 24-years-old, born in Indiana.

Shortly after the census taker’s visit, on September 10, 1850, Elizabeth gave birth in Platteville to a baby girl and named her Harriet Olive Myrick.

Horace returned from California a year or two later with the news of fine farming country in the beautiful redwood empire of coastal northern California. He had observed it on his journeys to and from Weaverville in Trinity County. He told neighbors and friends about all of this and by 1854 had interested several families in going overland with covered wagons to the Pacific shore.

There were John Porter and Caroline A. Langdon, William H. and Julia A. Simmons, Elisha L. and Nancy Davis, and the Grant Myers family, all of whom became pioneer settlers along the banks of the Eel River in Humboldt County. There were other individuals and families who went along to become settlers in other parts of California.

Another baby girl was born to the Myricks in the newly settled land. This was Altheda Myrick, first white child to be born in the Eel River valley. Her date of birth was August 11, 1855. According to the 1860 census records there was another child born to Elizabeth Myrick in 1857, a little girl named Lucy. Nothing seems to be known of her.

The Myricks farmed the rich Eel River valley for many years. Their’s was a general farm with livestock and crops. Some huge redwood trees had to be cut down, and the stumps remained for years. They took their crops to Humboldt Bay for shipment to San Francisco and beyond.

Family records tell of the death of Elizabeth Tilton Myrick in Rohnerville on February 17, 1892, and of Horace Augustine Myrick on September 10, 1895.

Elizabeth Myrick’s diary is plain-spoken, written by a plain-spoken woman. There are no flights of fancy. She saw what she saw and wrote it down with no flourishes. She did note in that year of the Kansas-Nebraska act that the germs of settlement were being established along the route through present Nebraska and Wyoming in 1854. She used the term “trading post” for such a settlement, or sometimes “grocery,” even once “dogery.” These posts were often run by Frenchmen, either from Canada or Louisiana, and there were Indian wives and children about.

The diary itself is a small book, 3¾ by 6¾ inches in size. On the first page she has written, “Elizabeth T Myrick Blank Book Purchased Council Bluffs City May the 10 1854.” On the next page are written the words, “Northren Route to Calafornia.”

She kept her diary faithfully through July 29 with the words, “camped on goose creek.” The actual locale was about where the boundaries of the three modern states of Idaho, Nevada, and Utah meet in what is now called the Sawtooth National Forest.

Why did Elizabeth Myrick stop writing her journal? We don’t know. She had not run out of blank pages in her book. These were later filled with records kept in Rohnerville telling of her income from washing clothes for such as Henry Rohner, the Swiss immigrant for whom the town was named. She sold many dozens of eggs and pounds of butter. And she wrote down her purchases from Rohner’s store such as “I thimble I tooth brush I slate.” It was a telephone call from Wendell C. Gulliksen of Salem, Oregon, that alerted us to the existence of Elizabeth Myrick’s diary. He is a descendant of the lady. Later we got to know his brother, Jorgen Gulliksen of Fortuna, Humboldt County, California, and he added to our knowledge. A photocopy of the original 1854 diary was sent to us by a nephew, David Gulliksen, of Stockton, California. It is kept safely in a bank box there. The family also made available to us their family papers collected over many years for which we are grateful. They have enthusiastically given us permission to publish the diary.

ROSTER OF THE MYRICK WAGON TRAIN OF 1854:

Mr. and Mrs. Blundells and their little boy. This is the spelling as it appears in the Parrish letter. It is variously spelled in Elizabeth Myrick’s diary. Parrish says they were in Tehama, just south of present Red Bluff, in the Sacramento Valley.

Mrs. Cummings gave birth to “a fine son this morning.” Thus wrote Elizabeth on June 7. This was Mrs. Jonathan Cummings. They preempted a homestead on the Eel River some miles upstream from the others in the party. The town of Cummings in Mendocino County is named for the family. According to Wendell Gullikson, there is only one house left. Erwin G. Gudde, California Place Names (Berkeley, 1969), p. 82. The Eel River flows through both Mendocino and Humboldt counties. It is the longest flowing river out of the west side of the California Coast Range.

Elisha and Nancy Davis, 31 and 30-years-old respectively, settled on a farm near that of the Myricks in the Eel River valley. Both families were visited by the census-taker on the same day, July 7, 1860. Elisha’s brother, Eli, a young man in his 20’s lived with them.

Mr., Dr., and Mother Davidson (variously spelled) are mentioned by Elizabeth many times. Parrish in his letter tells of Vance and Doc Davidson. He says Vance was mining on the Feather River. We know nothing more about them.

“Heartsaugh” was living in the rich mining town of George Town in El Dorado County, according to William Parrish. Elizabeth had mentioned a “Mr. Hartsough” on June 17. He had been elected captain of the wagon train. For an apt commentary on George Town see Erwin G. Gudde, California Gold Camps (Berkeley, 1975), p. 129. According to the Gulliksens the name is now spelled “Hartsook.” There is a resort some ten miles south of Garberville with that name. The 1860 census of Mendocino County lists an Isaac Hartsook, a 41-year-old English farmer, living in Mendocino township with two sons, George, age 20, and Isaac, Jr., age 18.

Newton Hough is mentioned by Elizabeth in her diary on July 12. A Charly Hoff is named in the Parrish letter. Nothing more is known about them.

John Porter and Caroline (Simmons) Langdon, were important members of the wagon train. They were New Yorkers by birth. Their Rohnerville farm was named “Langdons’ Ranch.” They were neighbors of the Myrick, Simmons, and Davis families. They were all visited on the same day by the census-taker, July 7, 1860. Elizabeth Myrick in her diary tells of the birth of a baby boy on May 30 to Caroline Langdon on the plains of Nebraska. He was given the name, Thurston Platte Langdon. Shirley Langdon Wilcox of Arlington, Virginia, a descendant of the Langdons, has been most helpful in supplying information about them and other family relationships. She also kindly let us have the use of William C. Parrish’s letter of December 17, 1854. It had been written to the Langdons and is among the family papers. Caroline Langdon was a sister of William Simmons.

“Mr. Myers” is mentioned by Elizabeth in her June 28 entry. This was probably Grant Myers, who went into ranching some 20 miles south of Rohnerville. There is a town there named for him, Myers Flat, Humboldt County. Erwin G. Gudde, California Place Names (Berkeley, 1969), p. 216.

Henry Parr is so-far unidentified.

William C. Parrish, the writer of the letter which here follows the diary, was living in Sutterville, Amador County, when he penned his missive on December 17, 1854. We know nothing more about him except that he was a busy miner. For information about Sutterville see Erwin G. Gudde, California Gold Camps (Berkeley, 1975), pp. 341–42.

William H. and Julia Ann Simmons are so listed in the 1860 census. They settled on the banks of the Eel River as neighbors of the Langdons, Davises, and the Myricks. Caroline Langdon was William H. Simmons’ sister. When they crossed over the trail, they had a six-year-old son, Lofton F. Simmons, born in Michigan. They were both New Yorkers by birth.

THE DIARY

May 10 [1854] Rose early this morning and washed some clothes in the afternoon went to council Bluff City bought a few articles Saw an elk.

11 Started on our journey, got to Council Bluff Stayed there half the day Seen 2 beggar indians. There was a good deal of money given them by the emigrants went from there to the Missouri River an camped for the night

12 Crossed the river in a steam ferry boat went a quarter of a mile an camped oweing to a hard storm of wind and rain the same visited us to day there is a company of 48 persons from Savannah (III.) (men, wemen & children) they have joined our company making in all 64 persons

13 Raining this morning a very cold windy day crossed 2 creeks the men had to dig the banks to make it passable

14 Sun Started early we are now on the banks of Elk horn river waiting to be ferried across, have to pay 2 dollars for each waggon across the cattle swim across the river seen a grave where the indians had buried their dead, they bury their dead on top of the ground all in a heap thrown up onto a mound. Met 6 indians.

15 Mon got to Platt river in the forenoon now we [unreadable] the Platte river valley and will be for 5 hundred miles had a hard storm of wind and rain seen 4 graves to day

[May] 16 Tus Cold wind this morning traveled six miles, camped it is too rainy an windy to travel we are on the big Platte river where some poeple say it storms every day or two a company with a drove of cattle overtook us this evening

17 Wen Very cold & windy another drove of cattle overtook us to day Seen one grave camped on the river

18 thur clear cold wind this morning one cow missing the cow found an [unreadable] to the camp tonight we are camped on the looking glass

19 Fri Clear & windy this morning met an army of indian fighters going to fight the Pawnee indians They were dressed in full indian uniforms with their guns bows an arrows an lances an bayonets & shields camped on a small creek

[May] 20 Sat clear an Pleasant passed a train where the indians had stolen 13 horses the night before eleven men were out in search of them but could not find them but found where the indians had sheared off the main [mane] of their horses camped on large fork of big Platte there is 5 trains in company camped in sight

21 Sun crossed loup fork it is a very difficult ford it is full of quick sand on the bottom of the river camped on the west side of loup fork rained to night

22 Mon Clear and pleasant in camp all day on loup fork some of men are fixing Mr. Davidson mending buggy some are hunting some are fishing some are cooking some are washing The wemen are washing cooking and airing their clothes Some are patching an mending their clothes I have been sewing the waggon sheets for the boys and the buggy

23 tus fair an pleasant traveled all day seen nothing of importance camped on prarie creek

[May] 24 Wedn Fair and warm in the after noon traveled all day on the wrong road camped again on the prarie creek Seen white wolves

25 thur Clear warm an pleasant one of Mr. Brundles sons was thrown from a mule he was riding an badly hurt passed the station wrote one letter an put it in post office kept by Dr. Clark1 the United States Indian Agent passed the station an post office. Crossed wood creek on a toll bridge at 50¢ per waggon traveled 8 or ten miles & camped on the prarie where there is no water for the cattle we carried some to cook with Mr. Davisson left our company this evening one train overtook us that came from ST Francisville Clark Co Mo Rained in the night

26 Fri Raining this morning cloudy at noon Mr Davison has caught up with us again. Seen several companys ahead on their way to California. Raining this evening. Camped to night on the big Platte river.

27 Sat Seen other trains Pleasant day camped on a creek plenty of wood & water

28 Sun Forenoon Showery with some wind we stayed in camp to day 5 or 6 trains some with droves of cattle passed us this morning on buffalo creek Mr Davison is about to leave us again he is dissatisfied with the company because they dont do just as he says after noon Mr Davison has consented to stay with the company

[May] 29 Mon Rained the forenoon the after noon clear and pleasant camped on big Platte plenty of water and grass Seen several trains on the other side of Platte passed 2 droves of cattle one man was accidently shot through the waist & side though not mortally wounded after night a very hard storm of wind & rain

30 Tus clear warm & pleasant muddy roads in the morning Seen pararie dogs to day gathered a variety of beautiful wild flowers see a great deal of prickly pair camped on Platte Mrs Langdon had a fine son.2

31 Wed clear & windy this morning In camp all day Mr Langdon and Mrs Simmons washed I baked some bread

June 1 Thurs foggy in the morning fair an warm at noon cloudy and windy & like for rain this evening Passed by a large Spring to day camped on a Slough not far from big Platte passed through a Swampy country to day

2 Fri Clear pleasant the wind blows considerable this evening camped on a small creek near big Platte we bid farewell to the timber this morning we will have to burn buffalo chips and brush when we can get it for 200 miles rained in the night

3 Sat raining & windy this morning Showery & hard wind all day traveld through the sandy bluffs passed by a camp noon that was called post office some of the company left letters there camped by a Spring near Platte

4 Sun Clear windy & pleasant to traveld through Sand mud & alkali water & camped on rattle snake creek about noon half the day lost 2 indians belonging to the pottawattamie tribe stayed with us to night

[June] 5 Mon Clear & cold very windy traveled through swamps & sand bluffs overtook Mr Davison that is taking a drove of sheep through Mr. Brundles little boy fell out of the wagon to day but not much hurt. Camped on Platte this evening the boys gathered buffalo chips the plains abound in the most beautiful wild flowers I ever seen cold enough for shawls your garden flowers in the States would envy them for their beauty The Turkish crown is a species of the Prickly Pear only it is of a more beautiful form and has a pink & yellow flower on it camped on Platte

6 Tus Very cold wind to day Seen a large train on the other side of platte a drove passed us to day we passed a dogery3 where they had whiskey candy nuts an other articles to sell Camped on green river plenty of grass an water but no wood have to burn buffalo chips cold enough to sleep under blankets & 2 heavy quilts woolen clothes are comfortable.

7 Wed clear & pleasant. Mrs Cummins has a fine son this morning We started on our journey in 2 hours after it was born noon Mrs Cumins is getting along well. Passed an indian camp

8 Thur cold & cloudy windy this morning Some of the boys are out hunting Buffalo & Antelope traveled over high bluffs to day and seen snow at a long distance on the mountains passed 4 graves to day One the man died the 5 of this month his name was Kimble the last one the man died last night at half past 11 oclock his name was Graham he left a wife & one child to mourn their loss noon very cold and windy Mr Simmons went to get some wood brought a lot of cedar 2 more graves seen Camped on Platte 2 indians visited us to night an sold mokisons to the boys passed 7 graves to day

[June] 9 Fri Cloudy and cool this morning passed 2 wigwams where there is lots of squaws & children passed 2 more wigwams seen an old indian one hundred & six years old Noon In sight of what is called the chimney rock passed 3 graves this morning traveled over some rough country this evening an camped on Platte a troup of indians passed us since we stoped cold night the water froze the eighth of an inch of ice

10 Sat Passed a camp where the men had been fighting one shot the other it is thought mortally wounded Noon walked out through lots of prickley pear (Cactus in smaller quantities) an camped on or near Platte

11 Sun traveled over a hard gravel road passed by a traders camp They were white men they had squaws for wifes camped on a small creek the boys are singing this evening Some of the oxen are lame

12 Mon very warm noon still very warm no grass for the cattle some timber in sight on Platte more of the oxen lame clear very warm

[June] 13 Tues Passed traders camp noon Camped on platte I washed this after noon We are in 4 miles of Fort Larimie & hard storm of rain to night

14 Wedn cloudy & calm but pleasant this morning very windy & showery in camp all day 2 miles from Fort Larimie

15 Thurs Clear & pleasant started early this morning passed by Fort Larimie on the oposite side of Platte come to the black hills to day passed 2 or3 white indian stations, noon like for rain passd one grave 2 graves more camped in the black hills

16 Fri Fair & Pleasant passed Dr Davidson company this morn His sister died this morning with the colera She was sick but 24 hours pased 5 graves besides hers hatty [Harriet] fell out the waggon this evening traveled over very rough hilly road to day camped near a creek

17 Sat clear & cool with wind this morning pased one grave Still among the black hills several trains in sight noon Took dinner on Platte camped on the road 1 mile & half from Platte Mr Langdon gave up his office of captun ship. Mr Hartsough elected captain

[June] 18 Sun clear & pleasant this morning noon very warm come through some very high rugged hills Took dinner on Platte camped on Platte Windy & like for rain this evening

19 Mon Cloudy & windy & cool. Traveled over high hills and a very rough road this fore noon noon Stoped on Platte for dinner a hard hail storm met us there an give the men & horses & cattle a good pelting cold wind this evening camped on Platte plenty of grass & wood

20 Tues Clear & cold wind good traveling noon took dinner on camaleon hill see the horned long tailed toads Camped on Platte near a grocery kept by white men

21 Wed Clear & pleasant traveled over very rough roads noon pleasant took dinner in Platte river valley in a grove Mr Davises drove passed by us we passed a black Smith Shop 3 or 4 miles further passed 2 groceries one white woman was living with a man out of civilization camped on Platte

[June] 22 Thurs Clear & warm passed another traders shop trail led over rough hills Seen ice on the hill on the opposite side of Platte noon took dinner on Platte an indian passed by us on horse back & leading one horse Camped on Platte

23 Fri Clear & warm passed a grocery left Platte this morning traveled all day with out crossing any water, no grass for the cattle Seen lots of Alkalis on the ground come to the willow Springs in the evening there overtook several trains & droves of cattle met 2 or 3 companies from Calafornia they packed on mules camped on a branch

24 Sat Clear Started this morning before breakfast traveled 2 miles then took breakfast & found grass for the cattle noon come to a good Spring of living water & found plenty of grass for the cattle a great deal of alkali on the ground met a company returning from Oregon to the States Passed a lone house a family lives there an keeps Store camped on Sweet water.

25 Sun Clear & warm & very windy the company stays in camp all day we are on the rocky mountains close by independants rock it has hundreds of names written on it by the emigrants I went over the independents rock with a company of ladies and gentlemen, it is a great national curiosity

[June] 26 Mon Clear & warm & windy morning pased the Devils Gate in the mountains passed a store camped in the mountains on Sweet water good feed for the cattle

27 Tues Clear & rather cool & windy morning Harriet is not well passed 1 grave Henry Parr lost his pocket book an has gone back a haf days Journey to hunt for it

28 Wed warm & very windy. Dr Davisons boy fell out of the waggon & is badly crushed to pieces though not mortally noon Cloudy after dinner we had a very hard shower of rain & wind very cold hard wind all afternoon cold rocky mountain fashion camped on Sweet water Mr Myers was taken suddenly sick with the Colera morbus an was sick all night Six Snake indians visited us to night

29 Thurs Clear & cool wind Mr Myers is better this morning, it is very windy all day camped on the mountain by a little Spring grass & water rather scarce in sight of the snow caped mountains though one hundred miles off

[June] 30 Fri Hard wind all day & quite cool camped on Sweet water. Some what showery this afternoon

July 1 Sat Clear & warm for the weather in the mountains hard wind Mrs Brundle is very sick all day we Stayed in camp all day Mr Myers brought some snow water off the mountains where there is a snow drift

2 Sun Clear in the morning at noon there come a hard storm of wind & rain an some hail we are over the Rocky Mountains camped on a small creek

3 Mon Clear an warm this morning I in company with several ladies gathered some specimens of icing glass in rocks at the foot of the mountains One days journey west of the Rocky mountains the Savannah company left us they took the road to Salt Lake City we took the northern route, we camped on Sandy creek in company with Dr Davison train

4 Tues Clear warm & windy Crossed big Sandy an struck the desert its productions are sage brush prickly pear a little starved gras & a few stunted flowers over the hills Camped in the desert by a huge Sulphur spring some emigrants here from Calaforney they say there is some indians with them. Several trains are camped here this evening

[July] 5 Wed Clear & warm the fore noon in the after noon there was a hard Storm of wind with but a few drops of rain we are camped all day in the middle of the desert in consequence of there being no water for 30 miles more of the desert. 15 Snake indians visited us to day our company started this evening at six oclock & traveled till mid night then stoped untill day light

6 Thu Clear warm an windy traveled ten miles over rocks an hills to Green River just through the desert, no feed for the cattle. There is a ferry of 14 little flat Boats kept just large enough for one waggon a piece the owners charge 8 dollars per waggon Our train thought that was too much to pay for so little so they went down the river 3 or 4 miles an crossed over to an Island an staid all night found plenty of grass for the cattel horses & sheep Also plenty of first rate wood called the Balm of Gillead4

7 Fri Clear & warm 3 trains here together on the island men are fixing the waggon beds for ferry boats to carry the provisions an dry goods over the main channel of the river the men are taking goods a cross the river in camp all day the men did not get through carrying the freight over the river. Staid on the island another night [In margin:] I setting watching the thousands of grasshopper that inhabit this island

8 Sat Clear & warm Got all over the river against noon it took the ballance of the after noon to [de]ploy & reload the waggons Camped on Green river

[July] 9 Sun Clear an pleasant traveled over the Green River hills or mountains noon took dinner on Fount in nell5 an found plenty of good grass for the cattle traveled on & at night camped on Fount Du Nell Heard that the Savannah company was not far behind us on the road Found good gras no wood but willows cool nights

10 Mon Clear & warm traveled over the mountains noon gathered some gum off the Fir trees a grove in the valley camped ten miles from no where in the mountains, plenty of snow close by. good water an some stinted grass this afternoon passed the conjunction of the 2 roads that divided east of the desert passed some traders an indians huts

11 Tues Clear & warm on bear river mountains, the worst roads and the tallest hills to climb we have seen lots of Firr groves had plenty of snow to eat it looked singular to see snow on the mountains an flowers an grass in full bloom an growing Close by it Mrs Davisons is sick with the mountain fever Camped on hams fork

12 Wed Clear an warm traveled over more mountains some very steep ones Caught up with the savannah company camped on Bear river

[July] 13 Thur Clear & warm traveled on bear river till the after noon then crossed on a bridge Mr. Newton Hough joined our company to day camped on little branch in the mountains of bear river cold frosty nights

14 Fri Clear & warm, traveled over high mountains Noon took dinner in Bear river valley the missouri train caught up with us this morning other trains in sight good roads this after noon camped on a small creek in Bear river valley began a pair of mits

15 Sat Clear and warm very dusty road finished the mits at noon can see trains as far ahead of us as we can see and as far behind us as we can see Camped on bear river

16 Sun Traveled six miles and come to the soda springs an camped for the day The Soda Springs keeps constant boiling some of them are upon mounds Sunday evening I with a company of ladies an gentlemen walked 2 miles to visit the Steamboat Spring it is a natural curiosity it boils furiously all the time we then went to another large soda spring about 20 yards off from that there is a good beer spring all ways effording [affording?] never failing pure clear beer They are all on bear river

[July] 17 Mon In camp all day mother Davidson is too sick to travel Mr. Parish was out on the mountains an found a lake 1 mile wide an long, 10 an 15 feet deep around it there is petrified vegetation they are curious looking things

18 Tues Clear left the warm soda springs traveled over mountain Camped on a branch of the head waters of the Columbia river

19 Wed Clear warm the fore noon traveled only 8 miles to day over the mountains camped on the Braport [?] the after noon there come up a shower of rain hail an dust

20 Thur Clear & warm traveled 22 miles an camped on a branch in the mountains Good road to day

[July] 21 Fri Clear warm

22 Sat Clear & warm

23 Sun

27 Thur Clear an warm passed the Castle rocks [City of Rocks] the fore noon noon come to the conjunction of the Salt river on northern roads traveled 6 miles further an camped in the mountains raining this evening

[July] 28 Fri Clear an warm camped on goose creek

29 Sat Clear warm traveled half the day an camped on goose creek.

[The diary ends here right near the point where the present states of Idaho, Nevada, and Utah make contact.]

LETTER OF WILLIAM C. PARRISH

This letter is from William C. Parrish, of the same overland party as Elizabeth Myrick, to John Porter and Caroline (Simmons) Langdon, of Humboldt County, California. It is now the property of Shirley Langdon Wilcox, of Arlington, Virginia, who has provided us with a photocopy of the manuscript original and given us permission to publish it. The “Bey” he writes of is Humboldt Bay.

Sutter Ville Dec. 17, 1854

Mr. Langdon and family

I embrace this opportunity of writing you a few lines. After so long a time. I had no Idea that it wold be three months before I would write to you but time passes very fast in this country. And I have been very busy. And I thought that I would not write untill I found a place where I would stop for a time. And I have found a place where I shall stay for some time I think I have spent some time traveling and Prospecting. And I find that it Costs some thing to run a round in this Country I have had the best of health since I left you I am on Sutter Creek about three miles above Volcano in Amadore County about 50 miles south of Hangtown. I And [unreadable] Augustin are to gether Sampson is on Feather River near where Vance Davidson Stoped Augustin has Just returned from there And he heard from All of the folks that came across in our train he heard from Doc. Davidson’s folks [unreadable] they got in safe We have heard from all but you and Henry Simmons and the folks that were to the Bey. And we want to hear from you Our Cattle we left at Butte Creek. We have a good mining Claim on this creek we are in New Diggins plenty of water with out buying it if our claim pays as well as it has prospected It will pay 4 hands 5 dollars per day for 2 years Wages here are from 40 to 75 dollars per month Stock is low. Provisions tolerable Cheap. The wet season has not set in yet the weather has been very pleasant this fall Charly Hoff [Hough] is near Diamond springs Heartsaugh [Hartsough] is at Georgetown Blundells are at Tahama. The most of the miners are doing nothing for want of water. We are in a new part of the mines and I think that we will make Grub this winter there are some good Claims here and some that have never been tutched yet. I have not seen any place yet where I wanted to stay and live out my days at. Although I like the Country better than I expected to.

I want you to write and tell me just how times and things are in your part of the Country. I expect to spend five or six years in this Country I may take a notion to come to the Bey before I leave the State. I could not get a School to suit me I like mining very well. Let us know what kind of a school you have what wages are prices of stock &c. Tell us about all the folks that went to the bay with you where they [are] what they are doing and so on Give my respects to all acquaintences that you see Tell them I want them to write

Direct your to Volcano Amadore Co. Cal. I remain yours respectfully.

Wm.C. Parrish

1 This was probably George W. Clarke, who was appointed on August 14, 1854, to be Indian agent to the Pottawatomies farther south in present Kansas. Louise Barry, The Beginning of the West: Annals of the Kansas Gateway to the American West, 1540–1854 (Topeka, 1972), pp. 1191 and 1201. This remarkable book is fundamental to the study of the eastern takeoff points for the western trails. Mary Burrell also made comment in her diary entry for May 13 about “Dr Clarke.” That was twelve days before Elizabeth Myrick ‘s mention of the man. Marv places the encounter on Wood River.

2 The newborn was Thurston Platte Langdon. He was given the middle name, “Platte,” in honor of the river. The parents were John Porter and Caroline (Simmons) Langdon. Information has been supplied us by Shirley Langdon W ilcox, of Arlington, Virginia, great-great-grand-daughter of the Langdons. See roster above.

3 A doggery was a saloon of a cheap or disreputable nature, or sometimes a grocery store with the same characteristics.

4 Balm of Gilead is an old term for the black cottonwood tree.

5 Fontanelle Creek, Wyoming, is a tributary of the G reen River. The present name is a misspelling of Fontenelle. Lucien Fontenelle was a well-known Frenchman out of New Orleans, who was active for many years in the fur trade. There is a fine biography of him by Alan C. Trottman in LeRoy R. Hafen, The Mountain Men and the Fur Trade of the Far West, V, pp. 81–99.