I thought you might like to hear of this..... I'm aware of a really interesting web site that you might enjoy visiting. Have you heard of THE POLITICAL GRAVEYARD? The Political Graveyard, http://www.potifos.com/tpg/ This site is the product of Lawrence Kestenbaum who tells me he would be happy to have you check it out but to keep in mind that BIG changes are ahead, and should be available next week at the earliest. I found the site very interesting as is - but Lawrence says it is to be even better. Hard to believe....... Enjoy, RUTH GRADY SKEWIS _____________________________ Ruth & Don Skewis [email protected]

Howdy, Having previously posted 49er/author Reuben Cole SHAW's trail's end experienes at Carson Pass, Webber town & Sacramento City, let's back track to his earlier Northern Trail journal entries. But first a short bio on our author: Reuben Cole SHAW was born at South Boston, MA on March 14, 1826. Shaw's father died when he was young and his widowed mother(name unknown) raised three small children. As per the fashion of the time, the fatherless Shaw became a BOUND boy; first becoming a carpenter's apprentice, and eventually reaching the rank of master carpenter and joiner. On May 2, 1847, Shaw married Rebecca P. SMITH and in due course they had five children. When their first born, Walter C. SHAW was less than a year old, Shaw decided to join in the gold rush to CA. He remained in CA for two years and rejoined his family in Boston late in 1851 - bringing home little or no gold. For his CA sojourn, Shaw joined the Mount Washington Mining Company of Massachusetts - originally consisting of 50 members mostly from the Boston area, although some were from NJ and VT. Since it might interest how these Bostonian gold seekers reached Independence, MO, their Northern Trails point of embarkation, let's read from Shaw's journal: "After many vexatious delays, we left Boston on the 17th of April[1849] by Boston and Albany railway, thence by New York Central, arriving in Buffalo 40 hours from Boston. After waiting three days, we boarded a lake steamer for Sandusky; then by rail to Cincinnati, and next by river steamer down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where we changed boats for Council Bluffs on the Missouri; but, learning that the animals required for our journey could not be obtained at that place, we decided to make Independence, MO., our starting point, arriving there on the third of May[1849]." I won't elongate this post with the company's prior to departure trials and tribulations - mainly sickness. But they did finally leave Independence for CA around May 26,1849. Now on the Northern Trail, let's join SHAW's journal:: "The eighth day[June?,1849] out we crossed the Kansas River at the ford about 100 miles from Independence and camped for the night on the north bank.... "Having lost five horses and being about to enter the country of the PAWNEE Indians, we began to see the necessity of a more through organization, and at a meeting of the company our guide was elected commander-in-chief, all agreeing to abide by such rules as he saw fit to adopt, and we soon found ourselves in complete working order. " Our guide was at once dubbed GENERAL[can't find his name anywhere], and he retained the title to the day of his death, which ocurred several years later. Guards were arranged for both night and day. Each man was assigned his duties and was expected to execute them with promptness. Powder and lead wre distributed to all; instructions given as to the care of our firearms, with orders to keep them loaded and ready for any emergency; and we were also exercised at target practice....." "Our company was divided into seven messes of six men each. The messes were known by numbers... Each man was provided with a horse or mule to ride, and also a mule to carry his pack, which contained his wearing apparel, provisions, etc. We also had extra pack-mules - one in the care of each mess. One of them was packed with pork, another with rice, another with beans, another with ammunition, another with the medicine chest, and two with navy bread. These mules had pet names. They were known as PIGTAIL,... BEANPOD, POWDER HORN, PILL-BAGS and CRACKER BOXES. "Our mode of travel was as follows: We were aroused at daybreak, the animals turned loose to graze, and breakfast was prepared and eaten with appetites that epicures might envy. At six o'clock the GENERAL and members of one mess, forming the advance guard, left camp and were generally one or two miles in advance of the main body. They were always on the lookout for Indians and game, and it was their duty to select the places for the noon halts and also for camping at night. "The mules being packed and ready for the road, another mess of six men...moved out, and the pack-mules were driven after them. Two other messes took their stations - one on each flank to keep the mules in line - while the three remaining messes brought up the rear in three sections. If a mule threw his pack or got it misplaced, the first rear section took him in hand, adjusted his load and rushed him into the drove - the second section taking the place of the first, which fell in the rear.... "Packs were held in place on the mules by strong surcingles[girth or band], and, in additon to them, we used lash-ropes 20 feet long; yet, with all the precaution we were able to take, it was three or two weeks after leaving the frontier before our wild mules acknowledged themselves conquered and ceased dumping their packs along the road.:-)))))(From "Across the Plains in '49 by Reuben Cole Shaw" ed. Milo Milton Quaile NY: The Citadel Press1966). Stayed tuned for a little different trail stuff:-), Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

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]

Hi Diane, We have been in contact recently through Genforum re: William Coulter. I caught your message on the CA-GOLDRUSH-L regarding John Coulter. Does he happen to be a brother of William Coulter b. 1817? The reason I ask is because William and Hannah had a son named John (born too late to be the John Coulter you're looking for) and they seemed to always name children after someone else in the family. I was just wondering if there is a connection between my William and your John. Also, most of Barbara Coulter Slater's (William and Hannah's daughter, my great-grandmother) children ended up in California at one time or another. I may be able to dig up some information that you are looking for on your John. I live in Shasta County, CA and Butte and Plumas counties are somewhat neighboring counties. Do you have any more information to go on? Do you know which county the accident occured in? I will see what I can find for you. By the way, do you live in CA or OH? Or someplace else? Talk to you soon, Jane Shute Shingletown, CA > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: [CA-GOLDRUSH-L] John Coulter - Tragic Accident > Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1998 18:49:39 -0000 > From: "Diane Schroeder" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > I am seeking information on John Coulter who went to the Feather River in > 1849. He served as a Democratic representative to the legislature from the > 14th District of Butte & Plumas Counties. In 1863 he suffered a tragic > railroad accident and he returned to Ohio an invalid. Does anyone have > information on John and the accident? Thanks. > > ______________________________

This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --part0_908159082_boundary Content-ID: <[email protected]_out.mail.aol.com.1> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Hello, Not sure if anyone can use this but wanted to pass it along anyways. Good luck, Christine In a message dated 10/11/98 5:12:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time, GFS Nance writes: << This is to announce that the 1920 U. S. Population Census for Saint Charles Parish (County), Louisiana is now on line. There is no charge to view. It has been placed there for use by private individuals only. URL http://www.acadiacom.net/will_o The complete census for St. Charles Parish, La. consists of Enumeration Districts 31, 32, 33, 34, & 35. All Enumeration Districts are on line now but only ED 31 has a complete alphbetical index. It has taken me 1 1/2 years to get this far. I have used a standard format on ED 31. ED 32 through 35 have a vertical format with the question # next to each entry. I will convert these to the same format as ED 31 when I prepare their index. I plan to upload all data to the USGENWeb Census Archieves soon. Have fun searching for your family genealogy. I can be reached via email [email protected] >> --part0_908159082_boundary Content-ID: <[email protected]_out.mail.aol.com.2> Content-type: message/rfc822 Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-disposition: inline From: [email protected] Return-path: <[email protected]> To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Subject: Fwd: 1920 Census LA online----PASS IT ON Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1998 20:12:02 EDT Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: multipart/mixed; boundary="part1_908159082_boundary" --part1_908159082_boundary Content-ID: <[email protected]_out.mail.aol.com.3> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII more goodies from barb Nance --part1_908159082_boundary Content-ID: <[email protected]_out.mail.aol.com.4> Content-type: message/rfc822 Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-disposition: inline From: [email protected] Return-path: <[email protected]> To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Subject: Fwd: 1920 Census LA online----PASS IT ON Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 20:46:07 EDT Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: multipart/mixed; boundary="part2_908159082_boundary" --part2_908159082_boundary Content-ID: <[email protected]_out.mail.aol.com.5> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII --part2_908159082_boundary Content-ID: <[email protected]_out.mail.gnofn.org.6> Content-type: message/rfc822 Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-disposition: inline Return-Path: <[email protected]> Received: from rly-za01.mx.aol.com (rly-za01.mail.aol.com [172.31.36.97]) by air-za01.mail.aol.com (v50.16) with SMTP; Sat, 03 Oct 1998 17:51:43 -0400 Received: from bl-30.rootsweb.com (bl-30.rootsweb.com [207.113.245.30]) by rly-za01.mx.aol.com (8.8.8/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0) with ESMTP id RAA05218; Sat, 3 Oct 1998 17:51:37 -0400 (EDT) Received: (from [email protected]) by bl-30.rootsweb.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) id OAA21458; Sat, 3 Oct 1998 14:50:23 -0700 (PDT) Resent-Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 14:50:23 -0700 (PDT) Old-To: [email protected] Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 16:47:38 -0500 From: William P Ouellette <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]> Organization: Greater New Orleans Free-Net Sender: [email protected] Subject: 1920 Census LA online Resent-Message-ID: <"J1BQAB.A.0OF.ZwpF2"@bl-30.rootsweb.com> To: [email protected] Resent-From: [email protected] X-Mailing-List: <[email protected]> archive/latest/7269 X-Loop: [email protected] Precedence: list Resent-Sender: [email protected] Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit This is to announce that the 1920 U. S. Population Census for Saint Charles Parish (County), Louisiana is now on line. There is no charge to view. It has been placed there for use by private individuals only. URL http://www.acadiacom.net/will_o The complete census for St. Charles Parish, La. consists of Enumeration Districts 31, 32, 33, 34, & 35. All Enumeration Districts are on line now but only ED 31 has a complete alphbetical index. It has taken me 1 1/2 years to get this far. I have used a standard format on ED 31. ED 32 through 35 have a vertical format with the question # next to each entry. I will convert these to the same format as ED 31 when I prepare their index. I plan to upload all data to the USGENWeb Census Archieves soon. Have fun searching for your family genealogy. I can be reached via email [email protected] --part2_908159082_boundary-- --part1_908159082_boundary-- --part0_908159082_boundary--

I am seeking information on John Coulter who went to the Feather River in 1849. He served as a Democratic representative to the legislature from the 14th District of Butte & Plumas Counties. In 1863 he suffered a tragic railroad accident and he returned to Ohio an invalid. Does anyone have information on John and the accident? Thanks.

Howdy, Here's Part 2 of my CA book list:: SOUTHERN TRAILS: ABERT, Lieut. J. W.. "Report of Lieut. J.W. Abert[ topo engineer with Gen.Kearny] of his Examination of New Mexico[Santa Fe Trail] in the years 1846-47.".NM: Horn & Wallace, 1962. (NOTE: Even though pre-gold rush era, this 1846 historic diary contains an excellent discription of the Santa Fe Trail.) ALDRICH, Lorenzo D. "A Journal of the Overland Route to California & the Gold Mines.".Notes by Glen Dawson;LA:Dawson's Book Shop 1950. (NOTE:Informative Southern Trail diary). BEIBER, Ralph P. "Southern Trails to CA in 1849." Philly:Porcupine Press 1974. (NOTE:An excellent Southern Trails overview with some diaries.) BROWNLEE, Robert. "An American Odyssey". ed. Patricia A.Etter, Fayetteville:Uof Ark 1986.(NOTE: Another one of my favorites - excellent annotations). ECCLESTON, Robert. "Overland to California on the Southwestern Trail, 1849- Diary of Robert Eccleston".eds.George Hammond & Edward Howes;CA UorCA Press 1950.(NOTE: This diary disappointed. .But it gives a realistic account of the Southern Trail's Apache Pass.) ECCLESTON, Robert "Diaries of Robert Eccleston: The California Gold Rush, Yosemite and the High Sierra."'[The Mariposa Indian War of 1850-51], ed.C. Gregory Crampton Salt Lake City: Univ. of Utah Press 1957 (NOTE: Truly historic diary with good notes.) FOREMAN, Grant. "Marcy & the Gold Seekers-The Journal of Capt. R. B. Marcy, with an account of the Gold Rush over the Southrn Route" - Norman: U ofOK Press 1939.(NOTE: Lots of Southern Trail names.) GRIFFIN, Dr. John S. "The Diary of John S. Griffin, Asst Surgeon with Kearny's Dragoons, 1846-1847;(SF CA Hist. Soc. MCMXLIII)(NOTE: First rate, on the spot CA history). HARRIS, Benjamin Butler. "The Texas Argonauts and the California Gold Rush",ed.Richard H. Dillon,Norman: U of OK Press 1960).(NOTE: Another of my favorites - super, dupper stories with excellent annotations.) HAYES, Judge Benjamin. "Pioneer Notes from the Diaries of Judge Benjamin Hayes, 1849 - 1875". NY: Arno Press 1976. (NOTE: Another winner for Southern Trails researchers - yep, I'm prejudiced:-). HUFF, William P. "Journal of William P. Huff of an Overland Trip from Richmond,Fort Bend County,TX in the years 1849 and 1850".Copyright David Ewing Stewart.(NOTE: Only spot read. Informative, but somewhat rambling.) WILLIAMS, Isaac. "Record Book of the Chino Ranch"; ed.Lindley Bynum,(Hist.Soc. of So. CA Ann.Pub. 1934, Vol. XVI, Part 1. (NOTE: First rate. On the spot CA history).. GENERAL SAIL- TRAIL INFORMATION CORLE, Edwin, "The Gila -River of the Southwest", Lincoln: U. of Neb.Press 1951. (NOTE; A neat history of the Gila River area).. GREGG, Josiah, "Commerce of the Prairies". NY: J.P.Lippincott 1962 (NOTE: One of the all time great plains books) HOWARD, Thomas Frederick. "Sierra Crossing - First Roads to CA." Berkeley: Uof CA Press. (NOTE: A good, recent, scholarly book). JENKINS, Myra Ellen & Albert H.Schroeder, "A Brief History of New Mexico;U of NM Press 1974.(NOTE: Succinctly describes NM history with a lot of the Santa Fe Trail and the Rio Grande portion of the Southern Trail) MARCY, Randolph B. "The Prairie Traveler - A Handbook for Overland Expdiitions". Williamstown,MA,Corner House Publl. 1962 (NOTE: Like Gregg's book, another all time classic.) STEWART, George R., "The California Trail - An Epic with many Heroes". NY: McGraw-Hill 1962. (NOTE: Another excellent overview book.). WARE, Joseph E. "The Emigrant's Guide to California, containing every point of information for the emigrant - including routes, distances, water, grass, timber, crossing of rivers, passes, altitudes, with a large map of routes, and profile of country, &c., with full directions for testing and assaying gold and other ores." St.Louis: J. Halsall 1949 .(NOTE:Fun, fun book that many emigrants carried overland to CA.) LOCAL CALIFORNIA HISTORY: BARRETT, Ila Goss. "Memories of Coulterville". 1954(NOTE:Sorry, didn't copy publication info - another good local history book) BOYD, William Harland. "Stagecoach Heyday in the San Joaquin Valley, 1853 - 1876;Fresno: Pioneer Pub.Co(Kern Co. Historical Society) 1983)(NOTE: Looks pretty good - only scanned it). BUNNELL, Lafayette Houghton. "Discovery of the Yosemite and The Indian War of 1851";Freeport,NY: Books for Libraries Press. (NOTE:A scholarly book with many Yo Semite lithos). CALIFORNIA TRAVELER. "Historic Legends of Mariposa County" ed. Fred Cook; Volcano,CA 1974. (NOTE:Fun book with a lot of Merry Posey tales:-)) CHAMBERLAIN, Newell D. "The Call of Gold - True Tales on the Gold Rush to Yosemite".(NOTE: Sorry, I didn't copy publishing info. This is an excellent history book about Mariposa County and Yo Semite.). REINHARDT, Ricard."Out West on the Overland Train".NJ: Castle Books 1967. (NOTE: Just scanned it. Lots of pretty pixs.). RUNTE, Alfred. "Yosemite - The Embattled Wilderness." -Lincoln,NE:Uof NE Press 1990.(NOTE: Pleasant Yosemite history book). RUSSELL, Carl Parcher. "One Hundred Years in Yosemite"Yosemite: Yosemite Assoc. 1992.(NOTE: A good history book) SALAZAR, Francisco. "The Gold of Old Hornitos" as told to William B. Secrest; Fresno: Saga-West Publ 1964(NOTE: Another fun local history). SHEBL,James. "The American Adventure of Captain Charles M. Weber."Lodi:San Joaquin Hist.Soc.1993. (NOTE: Good bio with Stockton info). WOOD, Raymund F.. "California's Agua Fria - The Early History of Mariposa County." Fresno: Academy Library Guild 1954.(NOTE: Another excellent Mariposa County history book.) That's a bunch of books - thanks again folks . I would have been high(figuratively:-) and dry(literally:-) here in TX without your help. Don't want to be greedy. But I continue to welcome book finding tips, especially on gold rush era diaries/journals and early Merry Posey stuff.:-)))) Have a nice day, Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

Howdy, As I stated in my PREVIEW post, this is a list of the books that I have acquired, either directly or indirectly, in the past one year through the efforts/advice of various listmembers.. Let's start with: NORTHERN TRAILS: COOKE, Lucy Rutledge. "Crossing the Plains in 1852." Modesto,CA Plumas Co. Hist. Soc. 1980.(NOTE: Haven't studied it much -looks good - lots of letters.) FISH, Mary C. 'Across the Plains in 1860".Unpublished;.copied by Col. R. Dana Fish 1955). (NOTE: An interesting Northern Trail diary from Iowa to Red Bluffs - pure diary with no index or annotations.) GARDINER, Howard C. "In Pursuit of the Golden Dream - Reminiscences of San Francisco and the Northern and Southern Mines, 1849-1857";ed.Dale Morgan,Western Hemisphere Inc.,MCMLXX..(NOTE: Another one of my favorites - lots of mining stuff). HAYS, Lorena L. "Land of Gold and Wickedness - The 1848-59 Diary of Lorena L. Hays". ed. Jeanne Hamilton Watson, St. Louis,MO: The Patrice Press1988 (NOTE: Just scanned it - the Northern Trail diary is only for 1853. Long book covering more than goldrush era. Lots of pixs and prints/lithos). MATTES, Merrill J. "Platte River Road Narratives." Urbana & Chicago: Unv/ of ILL. Press 1988.(NOTE:Just got the ILL loan - this monster book thumbnail describes diaries/letters/journals, etc on Northern Trail travel west from 1812 - to 1866 - looks pretty neato.) McKINSTRY, Byron N.."The Gold Rush Overland Diary of Byron N. McKinstry, 1850 - 1852". Glendale: Arthur Clark Co.1975(NOTE: Good diary - with personal comments by diarist's grandson), PRITCHARD, James A. "The Overland Diary of James A. Pritchard from KY to CA in 1849.", ed. Dale L. Morgan; Old West Publishing MCMLIX. (NOTE: A sorta inarticulate diarist -but excellent annotations by Morgan including a list of South Pass diarists crossing in 1849).. REID, Bernard J."Overland to California with the Pioneer Line - The Gold Rush Diary of Bernard J. Reid." ed. Mary McDougall Gordon; Stanford Univ.Press 1983. (NOTE A top notch Northern Trail diary with excellent annotations.) REID, Bernard J.. "Life in the California Goldfields in 1850: The Letters of Bernard J. Reid", ed. Mary M. Gordon, So.Cal. Quarterly, Spring, 1985,Hist. of So. of So CA.(NOTE: Excellent by an articulate author/49er) REYNOLDS, Edgar. "I Am Bound for California - The Overland Diary of Edgar Reynolds, ed.Robert N. Manley, Lincoln,NE Dageforde Pub. 1991 (NOTE: So, so diary. but excellent annotations.). SHAW, Reuben Cole. "Across the Plains in '49". ed.Milo M.Quaife, NY:The Citadel Press 1966.(NOTE: Haven't studied it much. But looks like a fun 49er reminiscence.) BY SEA : CHRISTMAN, Enos. "One Man's Gold - The Letters & Journal of a Forty-Niner, Enos Christman." ed. Florence Morrow Christman. NY: Whittlesey House 1930.(NOTE: One of my favorite 49er mining diaries - very articulate.) CLARK, Arthur H. "The Clipper Ship Era -An Epitome of Famous American and British Clipper Ships, Their Owners, Builders, Commanders, and Crews 1843 - 1869. .Riverside,Conn: 7 C's Press 1970. (NOTE:A wonderful old sailing book with much goldrush era sea stuff.) DELGADO, James P. "To California by Sea - A Maritime History of the California Gold Rush." - Univ. of So.Carolina Press. (NOTE: Superb book for researching goldrushers who arrived in CA by sea.) HEYL, Erik. "Early American Steamers. Vol.V" Buffalo,NY: Erik Heyl 1967. (NOTE: One of a five volume series. Contains drawings and descriptions.) LEWIS, Oscar. "Sea Routes to the Gold Fields - The Migration by Water to California in 1849 - 1852." NY:Alfred A. Knopf 1949.(NOTE: Another good sea travel to CA book). PERKINS, William, "William Perkins' Journal of Life at Sonora, 1849 - 1852,eds.Dale Morgan & J.R.Scobie;Berkeley: U of CA Press 1964(NOTE: Only read portions - excellent so far). PERLOT, Jean-Nicolas. "Gold Seeker - Adventures of a Belgian Argonaut during the Gold Rush Years" ed.Howard R. Lamar; New Haven: Yale Univ. Press,1985.(NOTE: Just scanned -looks good. Has a super-great reputation) PART 2 will be along in a minute, Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

Howdy Folks, Last week, after lisfing a couple of books for an ILL attempt, one appeared very familiar. As it turned out, I had previously received, partially copied, and returned this book. Since something similar happened a month or so ago, I decided to inventory/index my goldrush era diaries - journals - reminiscences & collateral references. It may interest that I have acquired ALL these references within this past YEAR, either directly from listmembers, or from their leads:-)) On most liberry books, I copied less than the entire book - only selected parts. Also, for my early postings, I failed to copy ANY of the liberry book:-(((((((((. NOW, I would like to share a list of these books in two posts. But, before I itemize the books, I would like to recognize the folks who have helped in their acqusition. .With my leaky, once totally destroyed, archives, I have had to rely for folks' names on my somewhat faulty memory and penciled address book notes. I'm sure I've forgot some helpers - really sorry. But, in ALPHABETICAL(I hope:-) order, are the some who have directly, or indirectly, helped me get my California book stuff: ,ALICE [email protected]> BARBARA <[email protected]>, BENRPIERCE @worldnet.att.net>, BETTY <[email protected]>,BETTY <[email protected], CAROLYN<[email protected]>, CHRISS<chrisso @sierratel.com>, CHRISTY <[email protected]>, CINDY [email protected]>, DAN<wb<wvi.com>,ELLEN <[email protected]>, EMERSON <[email protected]>, GEORGE <[email protected]>, HARRIET <[email protected]>, JEANNE <[email protected]>, JIM <[email protected]>, JIM<[email protected]>, JOAN<[email protected], JOE<[email protected]>, JUDY <[email protected]>, KAREN <[email protected]>, LEWIS <[email protected]>, NAN <[email protected]>, NANCY <[email protected]>, PAT <[email protected]>, PATRICIA, <[email protected]>, RITA<Go [email protected]>, ROLO<[email protected]> RUTHIE <[email protected], SHARON <[email protected]>, TAMMY <[email protected]>, SANDRA <[email protected]>, SANDY <[email protected]>, STEVE <[email protected]> , [email protected], TOM<[email protected]>. That's a bunch of super nice folks:-) Parts 1 and 2 will be coming shortly,. Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>..

No, that is a good question. If the funeral home isn't in business anymore SOMETIMES they have been bought out and the new owners have taken over the files. Other times they dump 'em. You have to take your chances. The location of the residence of the deceased is usually noted on the death certificate. Using that for a guide you can sometimes discover what paper the obituary (if there was one) might have been published. Also, sometimes the informant's name AND address is given, another clue to look for. You might also look to see if the hospital is still in business, they MIGHT have information as well. Hope this helps. Sandra You wrote: > >Sandra, > I would never have known the funeral home might have an obit....but what >happens if it is no loner in business? Would their records still be kept? If >so, where are they found? > Sorry to be so uninformed (polite for stupid.) >Janis >

Howdy, As a follow up to yesterday's Carson Pass and Webber town post, let continue with another 49er Reuben Cole SHAW September, 1849 entry: "We left that pleasant camp [near Webber town/Weberville] early on the morning of September 6[1849] for SUTTER'S FORT, or, as it is now called Sacramento City ... "Two days' march from Webber Creek brought us to a point on the American River, three miles from Sacramento City. We met a great many Cape Horners on their way to the mines. The most of them were on foot and carrying their camping outfit on their backs. As they had been from four to six months on shipboard, with very limited space in which to exercise, they found walking and carrying a pack extremely fatiguing; but, as they were puffed up with prospective wealth, they were sure to overcome all difficulties. "Early next morning we moved down to the[Sacramento] city, where we purchased and packed our animals with 1400 pounds of supplies... We were directed to what was said to be the best "feeding place" in the city. Over the main entrance was painted on white canvas, in large letters, CITY HOTEL. On inquiring the price of meals, the landlord informed us that the regular rate was five dollars, but remarked that 'as there were four of us and it being past the dinner hour, he would feed our party for an ounce. An ounce of gold- dust in California at that time was rated equal to $16 in coin, though, if reasonably clean, its intrinsic value was more than $18..... "While dinner was being prepared we improved the opportunity in examining the construction of the hotel building, which we estimated to be 30 feet long and about 12 feet wide. Pine strips, one by three inches, nailed together, formed the frame, and it was covered with the cheapest calico. Eighteen or twenty feet of the front end was used as a dinning-room, while the balance was curtained off for a kitchen.... "Our dinner consisted of navy bread, molasses, boiled potatoes, river water, and tea. I may here remark that a year later, at the City Hotel (a large frame building), excellent meals were furnished for one dollar. ..... "We were deeply interested in the make-up of Sacramento City, which, in a year after our visit, became the capital of the State of California. There was not a complete frame building in the place at that time, though there were a number in course of construction, but there were tents and canvas houses of all sorts and sizes. They were occupied as stores, hotels, boarding houses, gambling and drinking saloons. Gamblers were plying their vocation with a persistency worthy of a better cause, and where shelter was not to be had games were being worked in the open air... "A number of ships which had fought their way around Cape Horn were lying at anchor in the Sacramento and discharging their cagoes on the bank of the river. Hundreds of men who had just arrived in the country and were preparing to go to the mines were loading wagons and packing broken-down horses and mules with their winter stores."(From "Across the Plains in '49 by Reuben Cole SHAW",ed. Milo Milton Quaife, NY: The Citadel Press 1966). NOTE: Thanks to CAROLYN<[email protected]> for snailing me a copy of the "Pioneer Trails West Bibliography" by Carol H. March, which, among many others, lists this 49er Reuben Cole SHAW diary/reminiscences. I understand Ms. March prepared her bibliography from books and materials in the Santa Clara City Library. Another beginning begun:-)) Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

I was checking in the book "Over North" in Sierra County---didn't see anything on Crystal Lake Granite Quarries or Wester Granite & Marble Co.--- I saw some newspaper articles on big finds in Gold Country--- Thought I would post a couple. "Big Nugget from Poker Flat" Frank Descombes took out of his clain the creek (Big Canyon Creek) a few day ago, a piece weighing eleven ounces. The next day he found a piece worth $30.00. The ground has already been worked twice but is paying well this season. Sierra Democrat 10/1/1859 Hurrah! for the Gravel Hill Company of Gibsonville, Today one of the Company while at work in the claims found a gold bearing boulder and tried to stow it away in the claims. The third time he tried to lay it up on the wall and failed, it being covered with clay, he concluded to get water and wash it off to see what made it so heavy. The first dash of water revealed the glittering ore very rich. The boulder is work $1,500.00. In the Nevada Tunnel at Newaark very rich gravel has been struck, which yielded $12.00 to $15.00 to the car-load. The Mountain Messenger 5/16/1863 Gold & Quartz Boulder from Monte Cristo A quartz boulder weighing 48 pounds thickly interspersed with gold was taken from the claims of Byington and McMann (or McMahon) a few days ago. The Mountain Messenger 2/7/1863 jo

For those who have shown a big interest in the Westfall family of northern/central CA lately, here is an extract of an obit that appeared in today's Fresno Bee: Carroll William Westfall, age 93, of Fresno CA. Services Saturday, (tomorrow) 3pm, Tinkler Funeral Chapel (no street address given). Patricia <[email protected]> Rootsweb Sponsor & ListMom

Bob: Perhaps Reuben Cole climbed a nearby 10,000 foot peak for the view of the Sacramento Valley that he describes and this was not the height of the pass. I'm not sure that you can see the valley from Carson pass. Perhaps some one closer can comment. Ralph Anderson Boulder, CO [email protected] ---------- > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: [CA-GOLDRUSH-L] Carson Pass and Webber town - 1849 > Date: Friday, October 09, 1998 11:01 AM > > Howdy, > Just received the liberry loan of another 49er book: "Across the Plains in > '49" by Reuben Cole SHAW,.ed.Milo Milton QAUIFE, NY: The Citadel Press 1966. > If the book pans out:-)), I will post some of the early overland trail > background. Just glancing through, I picked up this near trail's end > narrative: > "About noon on September 3rd[1849], after a climb of over six hours, we > arrived at the summit of the pass[Carson] over the highest range of the Sierra > Nevada Mountains. On reaching the summit of that vast pile, and being > surrounded by the solitude and silence peculiar to high altitudes, we stood > gazing down into the beautiful Sacramento Valley, where we hoped to end our > journey and our sufferings.... "This pass, which is ten thousand and five hundred feet[WHO shrunk the > pass?:-) another diarist and an historian each show Carson Pass at 8,573' - my > road map says 8,650'].above sea level, is the highest point ever reached by > any wagon road in our country, and, though scaling the mountain with wagons > was a difficult task, yet a limited number of them were taken across and, in a > worn and battered condition, sent down into the mines, where they were looked > by Cape Horners as relics of civilization."

Howdy, Just received the liberry loan of another 49er book: "Across the Plains in '49" by Reuben Cole SHAW,.ed.Milo Milton QAUIFE, NY: The Citadel Press 1966. If the book pans out:-)), I will post some of the early overland trail background. Just glancing through, I picked up this near trail's end narrative: "About noon on September 3rd[1849], after a climb of over six hours, we arrived at the summit of the pass[Carson] over the highest range of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. On reaching the summit of that vast pile, and being surrounded by the solitude and silence peculiar to high altitudes, we stood gazing down into the beautiful Sacramento Valley, where we hoped to end our journey and our sufferings.... "This pass, which is ten thousand and five hundred feet[WHO shrunk the pass?:-) another diarist and an historian each show Carson Pass at 8,573' - my road map says 8,650'].above sea level, is the highest point ever reached by any wagon road in our country, and, though scaling the mountain with wagons was a difficult task, yet a limited number of them were taken across and, in a worn and battered condition, sent down into the mines, where they were looked by Cape Horners as relics of civilization." Then a couple of days later, SHAW continues with: "Early next morning we discovered a man at work in a ravine at the foot of the hill on which we had spent the night, and learned from him that we were close to WEBBER CREEK mines, and that a short distance away we should find a wagon store, where we could buy some supplies of all kinds. With our coffee- pot and canteens we visited the peddler's wagon, and from stores there purchased we prepared an excellent breakfast. and for the time being our craving for molasses, vinegar, and salt was fully appeased. The next day or two, SHAW adds: "We spent the afternoon viewing WEBBER town and among the miners along the creek. The town at that early date[Sept.1849?] consisted of about a dozen small tents and serveral covered wagons, one of which was known as THE STORE, while quite a large log house was being constructed for a hotel. The rainy season not yet having set in, many of the miners were cooking and eating in the open air, while their only shelter for the night were very rudely constructed brush huts" For clarification, let me quote a little from editor QUAIFE's excellent notes: "SHAW's party crossed the Sierras by way of CARSON Pass, the route taken by FREMONT on his visit to California in the winter of 1843-44. From Carson Pass, Shaw and his companions made their way, by a route difficult to determine with certainity to and down Webber Creek, and so on to Sacremento. U.S. HIghway 50 from Carson City to Sacramento parallels this route, although somewhat farther north in its eastern portion, where it passes the southern end of Lake Tahoe, and along the South Fork of the American River."... A little redundant because of my recent prior post, but the editor also says: "Webber town," commonly called Weberville, was named for Captain Charles M. WEBER, who in 1848, in cooperation with Indian Chief Jose Jesus began mining operations on the site, about two miles south of Placerville. WEBER opened a store, whose goods he exchanged for the gold mined by Jesus and his 25 followers. The red men as yet had slight knowledge of money values, and Weber utilized his profits to found the town of Tuleberg, which he presently renamed Stockton." Another beginning;sorry about the little overlap:-), Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

I have a few things I can suggest, but the first thing I'm going to do is put your message on the NORCAL and GOLDRUSH groups. Someone on one of those may be able to give some more directions for your research... Sandra You wrote: > >Hello Sandra: > >I know that my grandmother was a long time member of the Native Daughters of >the Golden West as she use to take me to her meetings in Long Beach, CA. I am >interested in joining that group some day as I was born in Long Beach, CA. > >My main purpose in reaching you is for geneology research. Would Native >Daughters have any history on my grandmother, such as early family history. I >know her parents were early pioneers and miner's. I would like to gain any >family history I can but don't know who to contact or how to go about it. Can >you direct me? > >I am trying to also get a copy of my grandmothers record of birth in Angels >Camp, CA in 1895. My grandmother was Myrtle Hawke, born Jan. 13, 1895 in >Angels Camp, CA, Calaveras County. Her parents were Thomas Henry Hawke and >Minny Williams Hawke. They lived in Angels Camp from approx. time period of >1894 to perhaps 1905. I know that the grandfather mined with the father >(Thomas) for a while and that they lived in a canvas tent with a wooden floor >as I have a picture of my grandmother standing in front of it all dressed up >maybe 8 or 10 yr old. > >Please direct me to how to get a copy of record of birth? How to find out >news or history of family while they lived in Angels Camp then? How to find >out what was Angels Camp like during those years? >Thank you for any information you have at all. It is sincerely appreciated. >Mrs. Betty Haslett >EMAIL: [email protected] >or snail mail: 13132 Blue Spruce Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92840 >

George, I don't know which disks you have with your program. I got my program years ago and continue to upgrade it. I now have Ver. 5.0. When I first got my Program I got the Deluxe Edition which included several disks including Vol. 1 and 2 of WFT. I have since ordered WFT disks through Vol. 12. There are lots more after this volume. They show that this tree #2126 was submitted 7/13/1995, has 125 individuals, and shows the oldest date as 1621. The names included are: GILLIAM, PETERSON, LUND, OLENGINSKI, WOBSCHALL, BOJANOWSKI AND GILDERSLEEVE. There are 4 Gildersleeves, William, Walter, and 2 Georges W.)... I wrote to them just now to ask the name of the "submitter" of this Tree #2126 should have an answer by tonight or tomorrow. If it was not you who submitted the tree, you may find someone who has more information on your family. When they give me the name of the submitter, they also send the persons address, which I will forward on to you. Have you checked out Family Tree Maker's web site - LOTS of information on there----- the address is http://www.familytreemaker.com I'll get back to you with the name and address of the submitter. RUTH _____________________________ Ruth & Don Skewis [email protected] > -----Original Message----- > From: George Gildersleeve [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, October 08, 1998 4:19 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [CA-GOLDRUSH-L] David Spicer BOWMAN > > > Ruth, > No, I am not aware that I posted to Family Tree Maker but it > could have happened somehow. I've used PAF 3.0 and am still using it > but it's capacity is limited so I purchased FTM recently and have my > files in both programs. I haven't explored the possibilities of FTM > yet. Would I have the FTM disc you refer to? > George > -----Original Message----- > From: Ruth Skewis <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] <[email protected]> > Date: Thursday, October 08, 1998 12:05 PM > Subject: RE: [CA-GOLDRUSH-L] David Spicer BOWMAN > > > >George, > > > >Are you aware of your family tree being included in Family Tree > Maker's > >World Family Tree. I found it on Vol. 2 - tree #2126. Bet you > submitted > >it.... > > > >RUTH GRADY SKEWIS > > > >_____________________________ > >Ruth & Don Skewis > >[email protected] > >

Hello to all-I subscribed to this list on a family hunch that my great great grandfather might have come to Ca. for the goldrush. I know very little about him and wonder if someone has experience searching for naturalization records in California. Here is what I know-William Johns was naturalized on Aug. 14,1879 in Nevada County, California. I have the original naturalization papers, they have a number on them, 662 and are from the county court. I know his wife’s name was Mary Ellen, don’t know the maiden name. William Johns was from England but no one in the family knows when he might have left England and came to CA. The hunch that he came for the goldrush has to do with mining- family lore says he was from Cornwall and possibly a miner. Their son Willie James Johns was born 9/22/1878 in Dutch Flat, Ca. Willie was baptized on June 8, 1879 in a Methodist Episcopal Church. I have the baptism certificate but that is all it says about the church. Mary Ellen and her son eventually ended up in Iron Mountain, MI(when Willie was 9) and she remarried there so somewhere along the way, William Johns passed away. I am about to start searching the census records here in Washington, D.C. because fortunately for me, I work just down the street from the National Archives. But I did read that there might be information on the naturaliztion records and wondered if anyone had information on the records for Nevada County. Thanks very much for any assistance. I am enjoying learning so much about the Goldrush from the list. Joan Young

George, Are you aware of your family tree being included in Family Tree Maker's World Family Tree. I found it on Vol. 2 - tree #2126. Bet you submitted it.... RUTH GRADY SKEWIS _____________________________ Ruth & Don Skewis [email protected] > -----Original Message----- > From: George Gildersleeve [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 1998 4:39 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [CA-GOLDRUSH-L] David Spicer BOWMAN > > > My ancestor, DS BOWMAN, arrived at Hangtown on 6 Sep 1850 after having > left Independance, MO on 5 Apr 1850. He walked accompanied with three > young companions including his cousin, Clayton BOYLES. One of the > other companions died enroute. David apparently tried mining for a > couple of years in the area then moved on to Sonoma County where he > had one of the first orchards and erected the first wooden structure > in the area. He and his family moved onto the Washington Territory in > 1871. > Is there any way I can research his life in the goldrush area and > Sonoma County. > Any suggestions of search areas is greatly appreciated. > George Gildersleeve > > > ==== CA-GOLDRUSH Mailing List ==== > Automatic Administrative Reminder: > There is a web page devoted to holding queries for the > "Most Wanted of our Lost in California Ancestors" for > members of this mailing list. Visit: > <http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8861/goldrush98.htm> > Short entries generally get the most attention. > > > > > > > > > > >

Howdy, Continuing to spot read my 49er' diaries/journals, I ran into some bits about the town of Stockton in 1849, which some of you folks might like. After relating his early 1849 "tedious and painful voyage of eight days" voyage from SF to Stockton, 49er William PERKINS writes in his journal: "Stockton is one hundred and sixty miles from San Francisco, and situated on a deep slough a few hundred yards from the river, on a plain, level as far as the eye can reach. It was by far the busiest place I had yet seen in California. "Here we were brought in rapport with the gold mines. We began to smell the precious ore. Here were even real live miners:-); men who had actually dug out the shining metal, and who had it in huge buckskin pouches in the pockets of their pantaloons. Men who spoke jestingly, lightly of chunk of gold weighing one, five or ten pounds! Of pockets where a quarter of a bushel of gold-dust had been washed from! These men were awful objects of our curiosity. They were the demi-gods of the dominion of Plutus. Their long rough boots, red shirts, Mexican hats; their huge uncombed beards, covering half the face; the Colt's revolver attached to its belt behind, the CUCHILLO stuck into the leg of the boot - all these things were attributes belonging to another race of men than ourselves; and we looked upon them with a certain degree of respect, and with a determination soon be ourselves as little human-like in appearance as they were." ADDENDUM: The Perkins editors note that Stockton, which was founded by Charles M. Weber in 1847 as Tuleburg, flourished only after gold was discovered. Eveidently, the town was laid out in the spring of 1849, resurveyed by Major R.P. HAMMOND, and named for Commodore R.F.STOCKTON. In the Appendix to his "Map of the Mining District of California," William A. JACKSON states that as of December, 1849: "Stockton is situated on a slough of the same name, three miles from San Joaquin River, and 70 miles from New York of the Pacific. The slough is navigable for steamers and barges of 400 tons. The location is excellent, embracing the peninsula between the two principal sloughs, and extends south to Mormon Slough. Population about 3,000. It contains some good buildings, and presents the appearance of considerable business activity. It is the great depot for the southern mining region, and is destined to be a place of much importance."(From "Three Years in California - William PERKINS' Journal of Life at Sonora, 1849 - 1852," editors Dale Morgan & James Scobie(Berkeley:UCPress,1964). NOTE: For those interested in some more Stockton stuff, may I suggest a book that Ruthie<[email protected]> sent me. It is "The American Adventure of Captain Charles M. WEBER" by James SHEBL,(Lodi,CA: San Joaquin Hist. Soc. 1993). Sorta fun looking at beginnings:-), Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>