Howdy, Acknowledging adages, "Haste makes waste" and "Better late than never", I return to the initial chapters of 49er Reuben Cole SHAW's journal. I do so partly/partially because I finally found the name of the guide he called GENERAL:-)) It's March-May, 1849 as we read: "Applicants for membership in our company[The Mount Washington Mining Company of MA] were subjected to rigid examination by the surgeon and many rejected on account of physical disability; yet it is a noteworthy fact that those who seemed the most robust and, to all appearances, best able to battle with the hardships of the journey, were the first to succumb to disease and death. "Joseph THING, an old-time hunter and trapper of the mountains, who, in his wanderings, had crossed the plains many times along the usual route of the trappers, was engaged as GUIDE for our company. His amicable disposition, his experience in mountain life, and his knowledge of Indian character and of the dialect of many of the tribes made him a valuable acquisition to our numbers. "By advice of our guide we determined to cross the plains with saddle- horses and pack-mules, for by this method we could more readily ford rivers, select camping places in isolated grassy spots, navigate among rocks and through canyons, climb and wind around steep mountain sides and through timber where it would be quite impossible for wagoners to make their way, while with a less elaborate outfit we expected to make better time than by any other mode of travel.... "Our company was composed of men from many different walks in life, among them lawyers, doctors, preachers, teachers, students, merchants, clerks, and mechanics. The larger number of them were in the prime of their manhood, though several students from institutions of learning were but little past their majority. "While we formed the only company which left Boston by the overland route, many other organized companies purchased and fitted out ships and took their chances on an ocean voyage of about fifteen thousand miles around Cape Horn(From Reuben Cole Shaw's Across the Plains in'49). I guess it is better to refer to someone as "The General" - rather than "Thing":-)))), Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

I just finished reading "Give Me a Mountain Meadow" by M. Nona McGlashan (1977), her story of Charles F. McGlashan (her father) who is best remembered as the author of "History of the Donner Party", published in 1879. It was the first history and considered the true story of the Donner Party - he was a newspaper editor and owner of the Truckee Republican, a lawyer (his last case was successfully getting my greatgrandfather off from a charge of murder in 1912 in Truckee), scientist (the butterflies displayed at the Nevada County courthouse are his collection, inventor (he invented the display cases the butterflies are displayed in) and helped get the Pioneer Memorial at Donner Lake erected in 1918. Chapter 8 in her book is all about how he came to write the newspaper articles that lead to the book. There's an index to "Give Me a Mountain Meadow" that I could post - it includes surnames etc. from his life beginning in New York 1847 and ending in Truckee in 1931. Colleen Norby

Visit Ghost Towns of the West at: http://www.ghosttowns.com/bottom.html It covers the West and more, has pictures, and music. Lots of interesting information. Hope you enjoy. Cindy in the Sierra

Howdy, As a preface, I suppose I should re-send my two prior posts on Peg Leg SMITH and his LOST GOLD MINE. Because of their length and the probable limited LIST interest, I will not. Therefore, I only post an intro by Shaw and a footnoted Peg Leg Smith bio by editor Milo Milton QUAIFE in 49er Reuben Cole SHAW's "Across the Plains in '49." Also, I omit Shaw's rambling Peg Leg Smith description and meager reference to Peg Leg's later lost Gold Mine. I invite those folks who remember ole Peg Leg to continue - you other folks probably should DELETE. This is IFFY history and zip genealogy:-) Our 49er Reuben Cole SHAW in August, 1849, recalls:: "Near our camp[Idaho?]...lived PEG LEG SMITH, a white man who had a unique history. The General[guide] had been well acquainted with him in former times; had hunted and trapped with him......" NOW, let's examine editor QUAIFE"s footnote: "Peg Leg SMITH was a noted mountain man, concerning whose adventurous life many tales have been told[see my prior posts:-))] Necessarily, some of them are incapable of verification, and the sketch which follows may not be correct in all its details:-)))))))))), "Thomas L. ("Peg Leg") SMITH was born in Garrard County, KY, in 1801. Impelled by the severity of his parents, he left home while still in his teens, and engaged in a variety of adventures on the lower Mississippi and Missouri frontiers. About the year 1824 he crossed the plains to Taos[NM].. "In 1827 in a fight with Indians somewhere on the Upper PLATTE his leg was shattered by a hostile bullet, and since none of his companions had the skill or assurance to amputate it, he performed the task himself with his hunting knife. Borne on a litter to the trappers' headquarters, he there recovered his health, and presently affixed a hickory stick to the amputated stump of his leg. Thereby he gained the sobriquet of "Peg Leg," by which he is still commonly known. He claimed to have crossed the mountains to California in 1829, and about this time predicated its ultimate settlement by Americans....{I]n 1848 he settled for a time on Bear River[Idaho?] athwart the trail to Oregon and California, where our author[SHAW'S] party encountered him. "In a well written letter published in the St. Joseph ADVENTURE, May 19, 1848 he[PegLeg] announced that he was building a trading post for the purpose of supplying the Oregon emigrants with all sorts of vegetables; he would soon have a large farm in cultivation, and he would pay a liberal price to emigrants for their broken down cattle. "Apparently during the next year or two he pauperized himself in extending aid to destitute emigrants, for which he vainly sought repayment by the California Legislature[??] The latter years of his life were passed in poverty in San Francisco. He died in the City and County Hospital, October 19, 1866, and was buried in potter's field. Biographical sketches of his career were published in the San Francisco DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, March 6, 1858 and the EVENING BULLETIN, October 26, 1866, See Also. E. L. Sabin, Kit Carson Days 1809-1868(New York, 1935), index entries." FOLKS, we can't leave ole Peg Leg SMITH without reading this dispatch from Yuma, Arizona Territory, which was published on July 11, 1895, in the Indianapolis JOURNAL: "YUMA, A.T., July 10[1895}: It is now generally believed that the old mine found near India[Indio?], on the desert, by the McHANEY brothers, is the old "Peg Leg" mine. found by "Peg Leg" SMITH and party 60 years ago. The quality of quartz, old workings, human bones, kind of gold, richness of ore and location indicates that it is really the old mine. It is producing from $300 to $1,000 per day in a two-stamp mill. Two million dollars has been offered for the property"(From Shaw's Across the Plains in '49). NOTE: For the still curious, my earlier, archived Peg Leg Smith's Lost Gold Mine postings were: 1).The Black Gold of California - Saga of Pegleg SMITH - TRIVIAL Legend, and 2).CA's Black Gold & Pegleg Smith - an inconclusive conclusion . Their inconsistencies are humongus:-))) Our legend really lived - and I mean lived-)), Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

Dave - Thanks for posting this list of shipwrecked vessels. Is the list from one source or many sources? I'm interested in the manifests of shipwrecked vessels during the 1800s and would like to learn more about them.. Peggy Perazzo David D Norris wrote: > Hi all; > > Perhaps some of you can use this info. > I am searching for shipwrecks near San Francisco 1847-60s. Here is what > I've found so far. > If anyone has information on these or any other ships, please E-mail me. > > -- Dave > > "Carrier Pigeon," ship, 844 tons, built 1852, lost 1852 south of San > Francisco, Calif. Lost on maiden voyage. > > "Colonel Cross," st. p., 160 tons, built 1846, snagged Jan 29, 1850 San > Francisco, Calif. > > "Golden Fleece," clipper, 968 tons, built 1852, wrecked Apr 22, 1854 San > Francisco Bay, Calif. > > "Isabelita Hyne," bark, 350 tons, built 1846, lost Jan 8 1856 near San > Francisco, Calif. > > "Sagamore," st. p., 66 tons, built 1850, exploded Oct 29, 1850 San > Francisco, Calif. 20 lives lost. > > "San Francisco," foundered Dec 24, 1853 off coast of California. 300 > lives lost. > > "San Francisco," clipper, 1,307 tons, built 1853, foundered Feb 8, 1854 > off San Francisco, Calif. Lost on maiden voyage. > > "Tennessee," st. p., 1,275 tons, built 1849, stranded Mar 6, 1853 San > Francisco, Calif. > > __________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. > Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com > or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] > > ==== CA-GOLDRUSH Mailing List ==== > Automatic Administrative Reminder: > Rootsweb no longer accepts HTML coding, Enriched text, or Attachments on > email messages. Your cooperation will help save Rootsweb equipment to > serve us all another day.

Hello: Your query was posted to the CA-GOLDRUSH "Most Wanted" web page (page 4, see #68). It has been edited slightly, so if you have any changes, please let me know directly. Thank you and good luck! Patricia [email protected] Rootsweb Sponsor & ListMom "Finding a new cousin every day breaks the boredom!" Penn Valley CA [email protected] wrote: > Yes, please add my Query. > Looking for any info on James Wilson Marshall, born 10/8/1810, New Jersey, > Died 8/10/1885, Kelsey California. He is the person that discovered gold on > 1/24/1848 at Sutters Mill. He is an ancester of mine. His father may be Philip > Marshall of New York? He died single.

Dear Kathleen: Your SILVERS family query has been posted to the CA-GOLDRUSH "Most Wanted" web page (page 4, entry #66). If you have any corrections, please send them directly to me and not to the list. Thank you and good luck! http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8861/goldrush98.htm Patricia Rootsweb Sponsor & ListMom "Finding a new cousin every day breaks the boredom!" Penn Valley CA DAKAMOORE wrote: > Hi, I'm new to this list. I would like to let you know my interests in > this list. My Great-great Grandfather, John Silvers, drove an oxteam > from Missouri to California in 1854 for a man by the name of Bouse. He > settled in Sonoma County and in December 1860 married Mary Ester Cooper > in Visalia, Tulare County. My great Grandfather, James Covington > Silvers, was born in Pengrove, Sonoma Co. on Juy 26, 1862. In 1889 > James C. Silvers married Anna Campbell in San Diego County. > I would be very interested in any and all information involving James > C., John, or Mary Ester, or any Silvers connected to this line or any > other children they may have had. > Thanks for our time and help, > Kathleen Moore > > ==== CA-GOLDRUSH Mailing List ==== > Automatic Administrative Reminder: > Please remember to stay on topic - this list covers the Gold > Rush period in California's early history (1840s-1880s).

Dear April: Your query has been posted to the CA-GOLDRUSH "Most Wanted" web page (page 4, #67). If you have any corrections please send them directly to me and not to the list. Thank you and good luck! http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8861/goldrush98.htm Patricia [email protected] Rootsweb Sponsor & ListMom Finding a new cousin every day breaks the boredom! Penn Valley CA April Robbins wrote: > I am seeking info on the ancestry of Hiram (possibly "J" for Joseph?) LENT > b May 1826/unknown county NY. He was married and divorced in Aurora, Nevada > by 1874 when he m Elizabeth TERRILL in Inyo Co CA (across the state line > from Aurora, NV). Hiram d in 1916 at age 90/Inyo Co but I can not find any > record of his wife, Elizabeth TERRILL or her family! I have had > difficulties finding him in census records, perhaps because he was possibly > involved in mining endeavors and was on the move. I found a possible > brother of his in 1870 Esmeralda Co NV as follows: LENT, Frank 38/NY, > Prudence 22/England and Annie 3/NV. Annie later m Robert MCCROSKEY in Inyo > Co CA 1888. My Hiram may also be related to William LENT b 1818/NY who was > a big time silver/gold miner and had various mine strikes in NV and CA > including the Bodie Gold Mining Co in Mono Co CA and the Mammoth Mining Co > in Mono. I last find this William LENT in San Francisco, CA 1900 with wife > Frances E b 1830/NY and daughter Fanny b 1860/CA. Please let me know if you > have info on these LENT families so I may properly place my Hiram LENT. > > April > [email protected] > > ==== CA-GOLDRUSH Mailing List ==== > Automatic Administrative Reminder: > When asking for look-up help, remember the following: > CAIF = California Information File (1850-1956). > California state records were not implemented until 1905.

Your query has been posted to the CA-GOLDRUSH "Most Wanted Early CA Ancestors" web page (page 4, #65). Please check it as soon as possible and if you have any corrections, send your message directly to me (not to the list). Thank you, and good luck! Patricia <[email protected]> http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8861/goldrush98.htm Rootsweb Sponsor & ListMom [email protected] wrote: > I have almost given up hope of finding gggrandfather Daniel Farwell OSBORN > (e). > Born in Marlborough NH in 1805 m. in Sudbury Ma in 1828 > (the family tombstone says) > Died in California in 1851 (no town, no county, no death date) > I am pretty sure I found him arriving in Calif. on July 28, 1851 on the Ship > OHIO > where it docked is vague. it says from San Diego, Ca also it had picked up > passengers from another ship FANNY which had put into anchorage off San Luis > Obispo (from Panama) in distress. > He is in the 1850 census in Waltham Ma in 1850 with his family > The family minus a daughter is listed in Waltham Ma in the 1860 census. (Can > not find the daughter's marriage or death in Mass.) > ANY suggestions as how to proceed to find a death certificate for > Daniel Farwell OSBORN (e) in Calif. after July 1851 would be greatly > appreciated. > will take direct e-mails on this question. > [email protected] > PS I did check Mass for a death certificate for him. >

Howdy, While I finish writing up one of 49erReuben Cole SHAW longer ones, let me scatter-shoot several shorties: SCOTTS BLUFFS " Having made camp early in the afternoon near a spring of cool water which was gushing from the base of a high cliff, we had an opportunity of visiting the sandstone formations at that time called SCOTTS BLUFFS[Nebraska], only a mile or two from camp, and were amply paid for the time spent, for among them, with a little stretch of the imagination, could have been found the counterpart of everything in ancient or modern architecture, and on a most stupendous scale. There seemed to be immense buildings, with terraces, domes, turrets and pinnacles, and a bewildering labyrinth of streets, alleys and broad avenues, the whole forming a veritable city done in soft sandstone. "Where the wind had full sweep, sand-dunes were formed, the outlines and artistic curves of which were very intereting; and the innumerable scales of mica mixed with the sand glistened in the sunlight and added beauty to the scene. "In the clear atmosphere of that locality one is easily deceived as to heights and measurements, and we indulged in much wild guessing relative to the height of some of the vertical walls of the larger formations, which were probably from three to five hundred feet high. "I doubt whether there could be found a clearner spot in the world, for there was not a trace of vegetation to be seen, and the point visited by us was as clean as pure gray sand could make it." THE WASHING "...[You] may be curious to know how we did our washing when crossing the plains. We adopted the trappers' system, though we could only practice it when camping on rapid streams of clear water and was managed about as follows: We first secured a pole the length of a fishing rod, but somewhat larger and stronger, and fastened a strong cord five or six feet from the small end and another at the extreme point, then securely tied the loose ends of them to the corners of a blanket to be washed, and to the outer corners of that another blanket, and as many shirts or other garments as we cared to wash. "By placing rocks around the rod it could be set any any desired angle; or, if a rod was not to be found, we tied the cords to rocks and sunk them in the proper place, which gave the same results, though this sometimes necessitated deep wading. This outfit was placed in the current of the stream where the water was a foot or more deep, and the different articles floated near the surface, while the water gave them a GENTLE, undulating motion. Under favorable conditions a washing of this kind was completed in one or two hours... We exercised much care in tying knots and making connections, or we might have been under the necessity of finishing our journey without shirts or blankets.":-) THE DIVIDE "Near nightfall on July 29[1849], we encamped on the Little Sandy river, a tributary of the Colorado. We had passed the DIVIDE[South Pass-Wyoming] and were on the waters that found their way to the Pacific Ocean. We were under the necessity of traveling at a very moderate gait and leading our mules single file, as the trail through rocky gorges and along steep hillsides allowed the passage of only one animals at a time...." WILD ONIONS "We discovered in several localities in the mountains a kind of wild onion, which was used in flavoring soups made of bones and remnants of meat. After having been so long deprived of vegetables, they were a welcome adjunct to our bill of fare. The Doctor{no name] pronounced them healthful, in a general way:-), and also excellent as a preventive of scurvy, from which we were liable to suffer when living on an exclusive flesh diet, and he advised us to use them freely whenever they could be found. These wild onions were not very large, but what they lacked in size was made up in strength. When eating them in liberal quantities it is very doubtful whether we would have been cordially received in refined society." FREMONT PEAK "Early in the morning on the last day of July[1849], we left Big Sandy for a climb over the high mountain ridge which lay to the west... From this elevated point FREMONT's PEAK[Wyoming -but I can't find it on my road map] and adjacent mountains[Wind River?], which lay in a northwest direction, were in plain view, enabling us to realize, to some extent, the immensity of the surroundings. "A small lake, which seemed to be in a deep rent a little south of us, looked like a mirror lost in a wilderness. The pass down the west side of the mountain proved to be very difficult and, in places, quite dangerous; yet we found ourselves at dark encamped at the foot of the mountain in one of the most beautiful of little parks. A portion of the way down was along the brink of a deep canyon, where a false step meant a tumble of many hundred feet. The medicine chest and ammunition were carried down by the men, while our animals were all safely landed in the valley, and the much-abused mule was given credit for being sure-footed and cool-headed." Just some stuff that caught my eye - hope you don't mind:-) Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

Hi all; Perhaps some of you can use this info. I am searching for shipwrecks near San Francisco 1847-60s. Here is what I've found so far. If anyone has information on these or any other ships, please E-mail me. -- Dave "Carrier Pigeon," ship, 844 tons, built 1852, lost 1852 south of San Francisco, Calif. Lost on maiden voyage. "Colonel Cross," st. p., 160 tons, built 1846, snagged Jan 29, 1850 San Francisco, Calif. "Golden Fleece," clipper, 968 tons, built 1852, wrecked Apr 22, 1854 San Francisco Bay, Calif. "Isabelita Hyne," bark, 350 tons, built 1846, lost Jan 8 1856 near San Francisco, Calif. "Sagamore," st. p., 66 tons, built 1850, exploded Oct 29, 1850 San Francisco, Calif. 20 lives lost. "San Francisco," foundered Dec 24, 1853 off coast of California. 300 lives lost. "San Francisco," clipper, 1,307 tons, built 1853, foundered Feb 8, 1854 off San Francisco, Calif. Lost on maiden voyage. "Tennessee," st. p., 1,275 tons, built 1849, stranded Mar 6, 1853 San Francisco, Calif. __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

Howdy, No trip along the Northern Trail to CA would be complete without the traveler's description of these famous landmarks. So let's join 49er Reuben Cole SHAW in 1849: "The fourth of July[1849] was ushered in by discharge of our firearms, and, after thorough cleaning, they were ready for use again... "We made satisfactory progress up the north fork of the Platte, and as a higher altitude was reached, the river became very narrow and rapid, and where it cut through high ridges, it formed very deep canyons. The animals found excellent grazing, the road was as good as could have been desired, and the weather fine, and hot days and cool nights. All of us enjoyed good health, and, barring anxiety as to the future and the scarcity of game, the daily marches to most of the company were quite enjoyable. "CHIMNEY ROCK, situated as it is on a level plain midway between the north fork of the Platte and the lofty sandhills which border the wide river bottom[ present day Nebraska], is an object of interest to all lovers of the grand in nature. In the clear atmosphere peculiar to that region it can be seen 40 miles away. At this distance it looks like a chimney of some great factory. At a distance of 15 or 20 miles it appears to the eye as a smooth, perpendicular shaft. "On arriving in the vicinity of the rock there was found a large symmetrical mound covering more than an acre of ground and about 100 feet high, from the center of which the rock reached a height estimated to be 180 feet. The rock, being composed of a soft, gray sandstone, was fast wearing away and adding its waste to the mound below. It was 50 or 60 fee in diameter at the base, and carried its size well to the top..Altogether it was a rough, ragged pile, and struck one as being more GRAND than beautiful." NOW, skipping ahead a bit; we again join 49er Shaw around July 25th: "As our pack-mules were losing flesh and showing signs of failure, in order to relieve them, our tents were thrown aside as surplus plunder, and we slept in the open air. Many other useless articles were left at different points. A large auger, with a very elaborate extension stem, with which we had intended to prospect the lower regions to any desired depth for the yellow metal, was left in the foothills, and a lot of sheet-iron gold-washers, made for the purpose of separating large quantities of gold from the shining sands found a resting place on the Platte River. Either of the above would have been about as useful in a gold mine as a TEXAS steer in a china shop:-)). "ROCK INDEPENDENCE was near our camp[present day Wyoming]. The granite pile, being isolated and rising from a level plain, is a landmark of enormous proportions and quite worthy to stand as a sentinel over the mountain peaks which are seen from its summit. It is 1,950 feet long and 125 feet high, occupying 21 acres of ground[stats from a guide book?]; yet is only one of the wonders, and quite in keeping with the immensity of objects to be found in that locality. Although having been surfeited with rocks for several days, we spent considerable time and enthusiasm in viewing the monster, which like it might be a mammoth EGG half buried in the earth:-) "Two or three miles from our cap was the DEVIL'S GATE[Wyoming], where the Sweetwater [river] cut thorugh a granite ridge. The length of the canyon is about 1,200 feet and the width 80 feet, while the walls of solid rock were over 400 feet high and appeared to be vertical, but this illusion was dispelled when, after climbing to the summit of the ridge, none of our party of four persons succeeded in throwing a stone across the yawning chasm." THEN on August 2nd[1849] we read: "On reaching the summit a little before noon we halted for dinner and were much interested in the formation of the mountain on which we were resting, and concluded that in some former age it had been a conical peak, but we found it to be a level summit of 10 or 12 acres in extent and in an almost exact circle with well defined outlines. The numberous rocks of a cubical form scattered over its surface, many of them of large dimensions, suggested to our minds vast quarries worked by mythical giants in former ages. Some of the boys named the point the CITY OF ROCKS[Idaho?], while those who discovered or imagined the lowest point on the summit to be in the center, called it the "Camp in the Wash Bowl."(From Shaw's"Across the Plains in '49). Pretty good trailside descriptions:-), Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

I have almost given up hope of finding gggrandfather Daniel Farwell OSBORN (e). Born in Marlborough NH in 1805 m. in Sudbury Ma in 1828 (the family tombstone says) Died in California in 1851 (no town, no county, no death date) I am pretty sure I found him arriving in Calif. on July 28, 1851 on the Ship OHIO where it docked is vague. it says from San Diego, Ca also it had picked up passengers from another ship FANNY which had put into anchorage off San Luis Obispo (from Panama) in distress. He is in the 1850 census in Waltham Ma in 1850 with his family The family minus a daughter is listed in Waltham Ma in the 1860 census. (Can not find the daughter's marriage or death in Mass.) ANY suggestions as how to proceed to find a death certificate for Daniel Farwell OSBORN (e) in Calif. after July 1851 would be greatly appreciated. will take direct e-mails on this question. [email protected] PS I did check Mass for a death certificate for him.

Kathleen, what information do you have? Have you gotten census records on your gggrandfather? Do you have death dates, obituaries, etc. on the family? Is there some way I can help in the CADI or NDGW or CAIF to look up the name and see if he is in the County Historys or ??? Sandra in Sacramento CA Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 13:27:11 -0700 From: DAKAMOORE <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[email protected]> Subject: [CA-GOLDRUSH-L] 1854 Oxteam Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi, I'm new to this list. I would like to let you know my interests in this list. My Great-great Grandfather, John Silvers, drove an oxteam from Missouri to California in 1854 for a man by the name of Bouse. He settled in Sonoma County and in December 1860 married Mary Ester Cooper in Visalia, Tulare County. My great Grandfather, James Covington Silvers, was born in Pengrove, Sonoma Co. on Juy 26, 1862. In 1889 James C. Silvers married Anna Campbell in San Diego County. I would be very interested in any and all information involving James C., John, or Mary Ester, or any Silvers connected to this line or any other children they may have had. Thanks for our time and help, Kathleen Moore

Hi, I'm new to this list. I would like to let you know my interests in this list. My Great-great Grandfather, John Silvers, drove an oxteam from Missouri to California in 1854 for a man by the name of Bouse. He settled in Sonoma County and in December 1860 married Mary Ester Cooper in Visalia, Tulare County. My great Grandfather, James Covington Silvers, was born in Pengrove, Sonoma Co. on Juy 26, 1862. In 1889 James C. Silvers married Anna Campbell in San Diego County. I would be very interested in any and all information involving James C., John, or Mary Ester, or any Silvers connected to this line or any other children they may have had. Thanks for our time and help, Kathleen Moore

A NORTHERN TRAIL EXTRA;-))))))) Howdy, Almost hanky time:-), as our 49er Reuben Cole SHAW recalls a rather touching experience: "For several days before leaving our camp at Independence[1849], there was noticed amoung our animals a MULE which was supposed to be about a year old, but very small for that age. Where he came from or how he happened to be with us no one seemed to know. On leaving the frontier he followed us and soon became a general favorite with the boys, for besides his gentle and playful ways, it was found that he could run faster, jump farther and climb higher than any other animal in our outfit. "Owing to his diminutive size, he was named TOM THUMB, which was soon abbreviated to TOM. When on the march he formed a habit of stopping by the wayside and appropriating to himself such verdure as suited his taste, after which at his best speed he would rush to the head of the column and take his favorite place near the General's[guide] bell-horse. "When crossing the Wind River Mountains he sometimes had trouble in working his way around the pack-mules which had passed him while grazing. On one occasion early in the day, we were carefully making our way along a very dangerous trail on a steep, rocky hillside, TOM, in his hurry to pass a number of pack-mules at a point which was barely wide enough for one mule to pass at a time, was crowded over a mass of rocks 6 or 8 feet high alighting on a smooth ledge which sloped at an angle of 60 or 70 degress, and in a twinkling shot down the incline into a small canyon through which a mountain stream was flowing. "To approach the canyon at that point was out of the question, and, had that been possible, we dare not leave the mules we were leading, consequently Tom received no attention, but we supposed it to be the last of him, and during the dinner hour many regrets were expressed over the untimely death of our PET. Judge of our surprise when, after going into camp for the night, Tom came limping in looking for the bell-horse. He was bruised and bleeding from many wounds, and with one ear torn half way off and hanging down over a badly swollen eye, he looked the picture of despair. His wounds were dressed and he was kindly cared for, yet he never fully recovered from the effects of the adventure, but (limping along) managed to accompany the bell-horse to the end of the race."(From Shaw's "Across the Plains in '49"). NOTE: Just for fun, I checked out a possible Tom Thumb anachronism. Don't think so. In 1842, P.T. BARNUM set up his American Museum in NYC with Tom Thumb(the guy:-), bearded lady, &c. Then in 1850, along came.Jenny Lind. As you probably guessed, both J and C loved this one:-)), Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

Howdy, To continue with 49er Reuben Cole SHAW's Northern trail experiences, we now hunt for a buffalo - a little more detailed than 49er Augustus M.HESLEP's previously posted hunt. Let's see if Shaw is more successful:-)): "On July 8th[1849] I had an opportunity of gratifying my desire to capture at least one buffalo, for I was then one of the hunters. Exchanging my Spanish saddle-mule for a horse said to be a leader in the chase, we were off before sunrise, and in a short time sighted a large herd of buffaloes quietly gazing on the river bottom. There were estimated to be four miles away, but in the clear atmosphere of that locality they seemed much nearer. We managed to keep out of their sight until within a mile of them, when they threw up their heads and were soon in rapid motion for the hills. "We thought to cut them off by taking advantage of the ground, but they beat us to the bluffs and for a short time were out of sight in a perfect labyrinth of low sandhills, among which they scattered in all directions. It would have been useless to attempt to estimate the number of animals in the herd, for they occupied three or four miles of the river bottom, yet it seemed but a few minutes from the time those nearest us became aware of our presence until every buffalo had gained the bluffs and was lost to view. Our horses became excited and did their best to overtake the fleeing herd. Each hunter selected his route and we were soon out of sight of one another. "An immense cloud of dust hung over the landscape and a buffalo could hardly be distinguished 30 yards away, while numerous washouts, or gullies, made rapid riding both difficult and dangerous. "Back in the hills a mile or two I found myself within 20 yards of the game, and, raising my gun, I fired at the nearest buffalo. The animal didn't fall, but I DID:-) At the report of the gun my horse... became terribly frightened and changed his course very suddenly, leaving me in a heap on the hard, gravelly earth. "The fall resulted in my being considerably bruised and shaken up, but not otherwise injured. My clothing received some gaping rents, while my canteen was crushed into a shapeless mass and completely ruined. I was pleased, however, to find that my gun had passed through the ordeal without material injury. "The frightened horse took the back track at once. carrying with him my ammunition and small arms, and leaving me with an empty gun to get out of the hills as best as I could. Slowly and sorrowfully I walked back to the valley, where I found my horse and joined the other hunters, and thus ended my FIRST and LAST buffalo hunt."(From Shaw's "Across the Plains in '49"). And it looked so easy in the movies:-))) Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

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In a message dated 10/18/98 10:17:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: << All the best, Cindy in the Sierra >> Hi Cindy and All, Do you know anyone who does cemetery lookups for Lassen County? I just came into possession of a diary written in 1864 by my great-great uncle as his family made their way by wagon train from Minnesota to California. The trip diary was not completed as the writer, JAMES CRAW, died of pneumonia before they reached their destination. I have reason to believe that he died somewhere in the vicinity of Honey Lake, in Lassen County. Colleen Bill, Turlock, California