I have been asked to let you folks know the names that I searched for and those that I was able to find in my two books: THE BAY OF SAN FRANCISCO, Lewis Publishing Co. - 1892 & HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNT, CALIF. - B. B. Alley - 1882 I wish I could have found more but I guess 8% is not to bad a record, after all. If you don't find your ancestors names listed here and think they might be included in either of these books, please drop me a note and I will look for them and send you a copy of the sketch. AMARK, ANGELL BARTOMEO, Ferini BATTLES, James BATTLES, Luke BATTLES, Jane BATTLES, John SR BATTLES, John BELL, Timothy BELL, John Robertson BELL, James ************ found him ************ BENNETT, William Washington BENNETT, John Hinds BERGES, Pierre Bernard *********** found him ********* BERMINGHAM, John (ship's captain) BUCKLEY, Patrick John BURMINGHAM, John CHAPMAN, James H CLAY CLEGG COLEMAN, John C COLEMAN, Edward CRONK, Richard (Dick) CRONK, Enoch West CRONK, Samira Mary Denny DENNEY (DENNY), Lorenzo DOBLE, Michael J. DOBLE, Abner DOYLE, Morris or Maurice DOYLE, Bridget. FELTNER/FELTNOR, Lewis FERINI (FERRINI) (FERRINE) (FERRIN), Joseph FERRIER, Francis GALEHOUSE, Frederick GALEHOUSE, Frank C.? GALEHOUSE, Fanny or GRANT, Joseph? GREEN HAGGIN, J. B. ************ found him *********** HATTABOUGH HICKMAN, L.M. HICKMAN, Edward HICKMANN, Hermann H. ********** found him *********** HITCHCOCK HOLLAND, Nicholas JOHN, Jehu JOHN, Burns. KERN, Frederick W. KERN, Charles Julius KERN, Elizabeth KERN, Louis (Ludwig) Adolph KERN, Matthias KERN, Edward Wesley KERN, Anna Margrethe (Margaret) BAUMBACH SCHAUMLOFFEL KERR, Matthew KERR, Maria KUTTNER LARZELERE LEVEY (particularly if middle name is Coleman) LOVEJOY, Samuel LUTZ, Malvina Hart ------see 2 of 2 coming up---------- _____________________________ Ruth & Don Skewis [email protected]

Jennifer Stice Rowe wrote: > I'm interested in Horsetown in Shasta, if anyone has any information. > I have most of the names and dates, and am looking for biographical > and historical info now. Hi Jennifer, I would say you have names and dates::)) I checked out your home page. You've really gathered alot of data. Congratulations! Here is some information on Horsetown (Shasta)- I am combining information taken from both Guddes_California Place Names_ and California Gold Camps_. On Clear Creek, near Readings Bar. The original name was One-Horse Town. Shown on Scholfield's map, 1851. According to Bancroft Scrapbooks (XIII,30), "it was named in honor of a favorite horse, the only one at the time about the camp." Gold was discovered here in March, 1848, by Major P B Reading. John S. Hittell mined here in 1849-1850. A post office was established October 12, 1852. The state census of 1852 lists it under the name One-Horse Town and includes it among the nine principal mining localities of the county. Hutchings diary, December 20, 1855 sates that there were around 600 "Chinamen" n the vicinity of Horsetown. The production was only moderate until the hydraulic mining was introduced in the fall of 1870. It is mentioned as Horse Town as early as 1852 in a letter of S G George to John BIDWELL dated August 27, 1852 (BIDWELL Papers, California State Library, California Section) Also you wrote: >My Shasta surnames are Bidwell (not Gen. John of Chico but probably related) _Historic Spots in California, California Counties of the Coast_ mentions that a nephew of John BIDWELL, a Henry BIDWELL, was the first postmaster of Spanishtown(Half Moon Bay) in San Mateo County. Perhaps another addition to your family? Have fun, Carolyn

Jeni: It is an error to believe that the San Francisco records are gone because of the 1906 "Big One". Many records were never lost and others have been reconstructed. Obviously, some are completely gone. I would suggest that you make specific queries of this group, each of the CAGenWeb counties and NORCAL. Not too long ago there was a great deal of information on NORCAL re your specific Sanford branch. I hope you have better information on your Miller branch than I have been able to find on mine. It is an extremely difficult surname when you have little information. Chico State University should have a fair amount of information on your Bidwell branch that you may be able to access from the campus library via ILL. Good hunting, Lewis M. Ruddick

> I would also like to say welcome to the new and rejoined list members! > I am looking forward to your posts and hearing about your family ,your > geographical areas of interest, your research questions and your > research experiences and advice! 11 of my 16 GG-GPs arrived in northern California between 1850 and 1860. Most of them were in San Francisco, and the rest were in Shasta. While not all of them were miners (at least not for long!) it is safe to say they all came to California because of the Gold Rush. Since I live near Seattle now, and since most of the SF records are gone anyway, I depend on the Internet for research except for my yearly trips to the Bay Area. I'm interested in Horsetown in Shasta, if anyone has any information. I have most of the names and dates, and am looking for biographical and historical info now. My Shasta surnames are Bidwell (not Gen. John of Chico but probably related), Hayburn and Greene. San Francisco surnames are Stanford (not Leland but his first cousin Charles), Lange and Lang, McLean, Brown, Seymour and Bermingham. San Benito Co. and Tehama Co. surname is Stice. Jeni == Jennifer Stice Rowe, MD http://www.accessone.com/~jsrowe Family Medicine, Virgina Mason Medical Center Genealogy research: Stice, Brown, Miller, McCreary, Bermingham, McLean, Greene, Bidwell, Stanford, Custis and others _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

I am typing an index for the book, History of the SF Bay Region Vol. 3, Bailey Millard, The American Historical Society, Inc. 1924 for the Stanislaus County Genealogical Society. If anyone is interested, I will post names that appear in the index 25 at a time. Maiden names are listed separately as are married names for women. Many of these biographical sketches include information on ancestors from the East coast. To give you an idea of how many names there are in this volume, the first 18 pages of text have 110 separate names listed. The book also has pictures. There are a total of 416 pages in this volume. I thought it would be best for the list if I posted as I typed so that the list is not bogged down with lists and lists of names and I won't be swamped with lookup requests. If you would like a lookup, please list the name in the subject along with Millard Lookup to make it easier. I'll try to start posting the first names tomorrow. (It might be a few days between postings because typing names is really boring.) Here's an example: "George W. Root. Of three generations of the Root family conspicuous in the mining industry of the far West, George W. Root of San Francisco represents the second. His father, John F. Root, was a '49er, and a splendid example of the courage, persistence and will to success that made such characters memoral in history. John F. Root was a native of Ohio. He was only a boy when he arrived in California with the fearless argonaunts of 1849, after brazing the perils of the plants in the frontier of the Great West to get the opportunity of confronting the hazards and dangers of work in the California hills. Both success and disaster attended his efforts." The text goes on to describe his mining in El Dorado county and the State of Nevada and gives information on his wife and children.

Howdy, Our conclusion, Part 2 - "A Father's Advice to His Son, Leaving His Home for California" by Rev. John D. GARDINER(died September 13, 1849) "When Fascination spreads her charms But to allure, betray, destroy, Think then a father's faithful arms Are thrown around his wandering boy. So keep him from the fatal snare, Sprung to entrap his youthful feet, And lead his heedless footsteps where Pale ruin holds its gloomy seat. What pangs must rend thy father's soul, To find his consels all are crossed, Are set at naught, without control, And his beloved son is lost. Oh! think what mouning, anguish, grief, Would bathe thy kindred all in tears, That one dear youth in life so brief Should cloud in night their future years. Should those bright hopes that gild thy sky, And cast their spendors on the west, Fade on thy sight, grow dim and die And heart sink down with gloom oppressed. Should sickness chain thee to thy bed In California's distant land, No brother there to hold thy head Nor sister take thy trembling hand, Trust then, my son, that Guardian Power Whose eye beholds the sparrow's fall, He'll watch thee in that lonely hour, Whose gracious care is o'er us all. Then, if beneath the evening star, Beside the great Pacific's wave Thou find'st an early tomb afar, His grace will there thy spirit save. Or, if upon thy safe return Thou find'st no more thy father here, Pay one sad visit to his urn, Drop on his dust one filial tear. May God's rich blessings on thy head, Descend in showers of heavenly grace And keep you safe where e'er you tread As we here end this fond embrace. So live, my son, while here you stand On Time's bleak ever-changing shore, That we may reach that better land Where sons and fathers part no more.": NOTE: The elder GARDINER died on September 13, 1849. Have a nice day:-)), Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

Howdy GoldRushListers, I guess this is my left-handed way:-) of introducing the journal/reminiscences of another 49er, Howard C. GARDINER. An ILL just came through with "In Pursuit of the Golden Dream - Reminiscences of San Francisco and the Northern and Southern Mines, 1849-1857 by Howard C. Gardiner."(ed. Dale L. Morgan;Western Hemisphere, Inc.MCMLXX). I thank friend & fellow CA- GoldRushlist member EMERSON <[email protected]> for recommending it. . Since I only partially copy, Emerson advised me to check the book for this poem, which 49erGardiner's father wrote just prior to his son's leaving for the CA gold rush. Unfortunately, I only copied the poem and not the lead- in material:-)) But I do know that New York's "Journal of Commerce" published this(early 1849?). Maybe Emerson can add/elaborate. Anyway, I think all of us fathers and grandfathers - probably others to - can identify with:: "A Father's Advice to His Son, Leaving His Home for California" by Rev. John D. GARDINER "Farewell my son, the hour has come, The Solemn hour when we must part; The hour that bears thee from thy home, With sorrow fills thy father's heart. Farewell, my son, thou leav'st behind Thy mother, brothers, sisters dear, And goest the far-off land to find Without one friend thy way to cheer. Alone, thou leav'st thy vine-clad cot, Thy childhood's lawn, thy natal bowers, Sweet scenes that ne'er will be forgot, Where life has passed it sunniest hours. When far away in distant lands, 'Mid California's golden streams, Where brightly shine those yellow stands, Oft will "Sweet Home" come o'er thy dreams. Thy father's counsels, prayers, and love Pursue thee through thy dangerous way, And at the mercy seat above, Implore his son may never stray. >From that strait path where virtue guides To purest, noblest joys on high, Where God in holiness presides, And springs perennial never dry. Remember, His omniscient eye Beholds each devious step you take, That you can ne'er His presence fly At home, abroad, asleep, awake. On California's sea-beat shore, Where the Pacific rolls his tide, Where waves on waves eternal roar, You cannot from His notice hide. He holds you There upon His arm, Encircles with His boundless might, Preserves you safe from every harm, 'Mid brightest day and darkest night. Let that great thought be deep impressed Upon the tablets of they heart, Be cherished there within thy breast, And from thy memory ne'er depart. If strong temptations round you rise, Where sin's deceitful smiles betray This thought will prompt you to despise The course that leads the downward way." FOLKS: The entire poem is too long for one posting. Our conclusion will be along in just a minute. Best, Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

Just checked my Learning Co. catalog. They have Classic Oregon Trail for Dos 5.0 for $14.95. They also are running a special on The Oregon Trail, 3rd Edition, Pioneer Adventures for $39.95, Win 95 Pentium 100 MHz and 16 MG RAM or Mac Power PC required. It has full screen super 3D graphics and full motion video and expanded educational content includes natural sciences, geography and social studies. The are also running a special on Oregon Trail II for $39.95. Toll free number is 800 716-8503. They are located in El Dorado Hills, CA. Shipping is $5.95 for first item, $1.00 for each additional item. Colleen

Howdy, NOTE: I picked neither the routes nor the distances in either Part 1 or in this Part 2. I borrowed this trail from "The California Trail - an epic with many heroes" by George R. STEWART (McGraw-Hll -1962) for a couple of reasons: 1). Stewart describes a different California Trail-Ending from my prior postings from the Northern Trail diaries of Edgar REYNOLDS(1852) and Mary C. FISH(1860);and 2). He clearly outlines theTrail and distances - leaving most of the trailside descriptions to the diaries. Also. since I have not as yet nailed my ggmMary's wagon route from KY to Sonoma in 1850, I like to explore various routes:-)) In our first California Trail episode, we traveled 915 miles from Independence, MO to the Continental Divide crossing at South Pass in present day Wyoming. On reflection, I am afraid this Part 2 may be almost impossible to follow without a map. .So, no hard feelings if you DELETE now:-)) .OK, hardy souls remaining, let's continue: 9). Mile Post 935 - LITTLE SANDY CREEK From South Pass, Little Sandy, only 20 miles, is a long day's journey. But it's a leg because here the trail forks. To the southwest is the road to Fort Bridger and due west the main route to California after 1844 - according to Stewart. 10). Mile Post 1,045 - Bear River After a little rest at either Little Sandy or Big Sandy, we travel over, what was known as Sublette's Cufoff, some pretty rough terrain for about 110 miles to the Bear River. Even though we follow the Green River for a portion of this leg, there was a lot of dry country before we got to the river.. 11). Mile Post 1,170 - Fort Hall After Bear River the trail swings northwest for 125 miles to Fort Hall.. Although it is not mentioned in Stewart's text, except on a map, about 70 miles from Bear River, near Soda Springs, the trail splits and the Hudspeth's Cutoff turns southwest for about 130 miles, where it will again intersect our main trail at Cassia Creek just north of City of Rocks/Cathedral Rocks. Fort Hall - in present day Idaho - is not much to brag about. But supplies are available, fewer than at Fort Laramie though. You will note from the mile post that we have traveled almost 1,200 miles, give or take, in about 85 days. AND we're just a little more than halfway to California 12). Mile Post 1,210 - Raft River - From Fort Hall, we travel west along the south bank of the Snake for about 40 miles to a crossing of the Raft River - an insignificant little stream that would bear no mention except that our trail again splits: ahead to Oregon. And for us, to the left to California. 13). Mile Post 1275 - Goose Creek - City of Rocks/Cathedral Rocks The California Trail follows the Raft River southward to the Cassia Creek junction. There the Hudspeth's cutoff joins us from Soda Springs. And a few miles further at Cathedral Rocks, the Cutoff from Salt Lake City some 190 miles distant also joins our trail. We travel this up and down leg for five or six days until we reach Goose Creek. NOTE: Some of your folks may have taken the Hastings Cutoff back there at Little Sandy, just west of South Pass, and have passed through Fort Bridger and Salt Lake City. After some meandering, you Hastings' folks will rejoin us later on at the South Fork of the Humbolt River. 14). Mile Post 1,370 - Humboldt River - It takes us about 5 days and 95 miles from Goose Creek to where we hit the head of Humboldt River - Luckily, we passed bunch of small streams - had easy valley passage with plenty of grass. 15). MIile Post 1,735 - Humboldt Sink - For the 365 miles to the Humboldt Sink, STEWART briefly describes: ""First, you followed it[Humboldt River] toward the southwest, some 70 miles. Then a tight canyon forced the trail away from the river, and you camed one night among the hills. You returned to the river, and followed it west and northwest. Then you followed around the big bend, and went southwest again, a 100 miles and more, to the sink. Sometimes the trail followed the right bank and sometimes the left.. NOTE: At the South Fork of the Humboldt River, the Hastings' cutoff rejoins our California trail. Then about 190 miles west of the Humboldt River's South Fork at Lassen's Meadows, the Applegate Trail splits and bears northwest another 190 miles to Goose Lake. Also, at Goose Lake the Lassen's Route bears 225 miles southwest to Lassen's ranch and then 110 miles south/southeast to Sutter's Fort/Sacramento. 16). Mile Post 1,790 - Truckee River Camped near the sink, we gather a supply of grass and fill all our water containers - never enough:-) Then early in the morning we take the 55 miles in one long pull - never camping, with only a couple of halts to rest the animals. Finally,when we see the cottonwoods along the Truckee river, as Stewart says, "When you came to the trees and the water, it was as close to heaven as you had ever experienced." ALTERNATE CARSON ROUTE : For YOU folks taking the Carson Route, you head south from the sink for about 30(?) miles to Ragtown and the Carson River. Next, you turn west; travel about 155 miles over the Carson pass and down to Placerville. Then take the Carson's final 55 mile leg to Sutter's Fort/Sacramento. PLEASE SEE my postings of the Northern Trail Diary of Edgar Reynolds(1852) where I attempt to describe this Carson River route. 17). Mile Post 1,860 - Truckee Pass Traveling about 70 miles with a steady upgrade, criss-crossing, along the icy swift Truckee river takes us a little more than a week. But we had grass and water. And we make it to the PASS. 18) .Mile Post 1,890 - Bear Valley While it is only 30 miles across the pass to Bear Valley, we had about five of the hardest days of the trip. It took us two or three days to get the wagons to the top of the pass. With the rough downhill, we worried about broken tongues and axles. And as Stewart says, "you eased the wagons down into Bear Valley - at a place still known as Emigrant Gap," Discussing the lack of diary references about the scenic beauties of the Sierra Nevada, Stewart observes, "As far as they were concerned, the sheer pass and the gleaming crags above it and the the sapphire lake at its base - they were all nothing more than a hated barrier to be got across before the snow blocked the way." 19). Mile Post 1,975 Sutter's Fort Beyond Bear Valley, the 85 miles was no piece of cake - made it by working our way down and along the forested ridges, a couple of canyons, foothills and across the level Sacramento Valley. Stewart concludes: "Then you sat in the autumn sunshine by the adobe wall of Sutter's Fort, and the train was about to break up. You talked with the others, and there was a sadness, for through out many days and nights, you and those others had experienced greatly together, and now it was as if the veterans of a long campaign, or sailors who had voyaged far in the same ship, were parting company." POST SCRIPT: While I can't give specifics, I note later on a lot variations in the "California End" of the routes - primarily from the Humboldt River. From a map in Stewart's book, these appear to be some of the variations in the 1850s: 1). Yreka Road 1855 - Humboldt River northwest, but south of Goose Lake to Yreka. 2). Nobles's Road 1852 - Humboldt,Smoke Creek Desert,Honey Lake, Shasta City. 3). Beckworth Road 1851 - Humboldt to Truckee river, north and west to Bidwell's Bar. 4). Placer Co. E.M.[?] Road 1852 - Truckee River to American River, Auburn. 5). Johnson's Cutoff 1852 - Carson River, south of Lake Tahoe to Placerville. 6). Carson Route 1848 - Humboldt, Carson River to Volcano or Placerville 7). Big Trees Road 1857 - split from Carson route south and west to Stockton. 8). Sonora Road 1852 - Humboldt, south to Walker River and west to Sonora. NOTE: I haven't checked/compared. But those interested might look at Thomas Frederick Howard's "Sierra Crossing", UCBerkeley). This book may have more on the above routes and routes AFTER the 1850s. I hope that I haven't muddled more than helped:-))) Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

---------- > From: JoAnn Daniel <jo&[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: History of Sierra County > Date: Wednesday, September 16, 1998 5:19 PM > > My first post to this list, I have been sitting back reading all the really > cool info you folks have. I just realized I have a book that may be of > interest to some of you. It is the HISTORY OF SIERRA COUNTY, "OVER NORTH", > by James J. SINNOTT. It's a great history book of the mining and > communties in and around Sierra County, there is quite a bit on LaPorte, > Gibsonville, Brandy City, also some excerpts from a diary of James > Galloway, and history of snowshoe racing in the area. If anyone has any > interest let me know. > Jo P.S. Also have some articles on Glenn County from a local paper.

Hi, Dan: Yesterday I got over 200 pieces from the weekend downtime, but I understood the one I just announced was another new equipment change, so we'll just have to see tomorrow. (Today I was able to work on my rootsweb admin pages with no problems, and they are supposed to be "down" with the rest.) Cheers, Patricia <[email protected]> Dan wrote: > Yup the down time was this morning, I was online the whole time, I got > plenty of mail , then all at once I got a big bunch, little over 250. > Any one else get swamped ? > Dan >

Notice has been received from Dr. Brian Leverich, that parts of the Rootsweb will be down for a few hours tomorrow while things are transferred to new equipment. Sites to be affected are: www.iigs.org www.rootsweb.com (and rootsweb.com lists) www.usgenweb.com www.usgenweb.net www.usgenweb.org "Tomorrow morning we are moving the server to a T3 (equivalent to about 30 T1s). This will result in some downtime occurring during the move window of 09:30a to 11:30a Pacific." Sorry about the downtime, but this move will guarantee that we can continue to provide fast access to everyone for months to come. -B" -- Dr. Brian Leverich Co-moderator, soc.genealogy.methods/GENMTD-L RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative http://www.rootsweb.com/ P.O. Box 6798, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6798 [email protected]

We are so lucky to have the new spam blocking capabilities of Rootsweb on our side! At least 2 or 3 times each week I am notified of spam that they were able to block. Enjoy your Rootsweb lists, and if interested in becoming a member to help this and other pertinent genealogy causes, please visit their web page at http://www.rootsweb.com You will be happy and so will Rootsweb, a nonprofit group. Patricia Rootsweb Sponsor ListMom for CA-GOLDRUSH

My reference is HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA - B. F. Alley - 1882 This wonderful book has many, many bios. including my Grandfather :-)), and I would be very happy to share with you all. This list of bios is alphabetized and I can find your guy in a second, if he is listed, and could send you a photo copy of the sketch. Please feel free to ask me for a look-up. Good luck, RUTH GRADY SKEWIS _____________________________ Ruth & Don Skewis [email protected]

My reference is THE BAY OF SAN FRANCISCO, Lewis Publishing Co. - 1892. This beautiful 2 volume set has many, many bios. including my Grandfather :-)), and I would be very happy to share with you all. This list of bios is alphabetized and I can find your guy in a second, if he is listed and could send you a photo copy of the sketch. Please feel free to ask me for a look-up. e.g.: I have found quite a long sketch on the life of TIMOTHY ELLSWORTH that might be of interest to anyone researching this line. This is quite a family dating back to (at least) 1600 England. The sketch (after giving us a glimpse of his lineage) goes on to tell of his accomplishments in San Francisco. Good luck, RUTH GRADY SKEWIS _____________________________ Ruth & Don Skewis [email protected]

Howdy, CAVEAT: To many, this will only be just bunch of figures. But to the Northern Trail enthusiast, it may give perspective. I have previously posted from various overland to CA diaries - more from the Southern routes than the more popular Northern - via South Pass - routes. This time I thought it might be fun to interpolate George STEWART's The California Trail," and describe a NORTHERN route and distance traveled. Again, a map of the area will be helpful - not critical though..I hope my little Mile Post gimmick helps - not confuses:-)) Before we start, guess how FAR we will travel from Independence, MO, via South Pass, to Sutter's Fort/Sacramento? OK, wagons Ho!!:-))). 1). . Mile Post 0 - Independence, MO While the overland emigrant used both St Joseph and Council Bluffs, the more conventional point of departure was Independence,MO. So we will leave from there It's early Mayin the year of your choice:-)))). Our first 50 miles are over the ole Santa Fe Trail. When the trail forks, we keep to the right. 2. Mile Post 100 - Kansas River Ferry After traveling six days and 100 miles, we reach the Kansas River where ferries, early on, were maintained by the Shawnees and Delawares. This leg was just a little shakedown - a learning experience. We have to repair some stuff; learn to handle the team and wagon - settle into a routine. 3. Mile Post 320 - Platte River From the ferry we shift from west to northwest. We're probably going to find that this two week leg was the most pleasant of the entire trip. Nothing spectacular, but it is mid- may and the rolling country, emerald grass and wild flowers are beautiful. At length during this 220 mile leg we reach "the coast of Nebraska." According to Stewart,"[T]he phrase is a translation of the French 'la cote de la Nebraska,' in which 'Nebraska' serves as an alternate for Platte, and 'cote' is a term to indicate a line of bluffs along a stream,i.e.- the analogy between the prairies and the sea. 4). Mile Post 455 - South Fork of the Platte For about 10 days we travel west along the Platte's south bank. Now, we are getting into the real west. Things are getting a little arid - a real change for those of you used to cultivated fields and lush forests. We see a few Indians. Also, every now and then, we hear the cry, "Buffalo!" As we reach the ford at the South Fork, it really looks scary. The river has to be "anywhere from six hundred yards to a mile and a half" wide. As someone said,"To enter the water was like taking your wagon out to sea." As a matter of fact, the river was rarely over two feet deep.:-)) 5) . Mile Post 635 - Fort Laramie After fording the South Fork, we angle toward the North Fork of the Platte and follow it along. It's June and the country has become, except in the bottoms, more brown than green - but our animals seem to thrive on the vegetation.. Also, more Indians and buffalo. We pass a bunch of famous places such as: Ash Hollow, Lone Tree, Courthouse and Chimney Rock. We were lucky and it only took us 12 days to pull into Fort Laramie. We find a store or two and pick up a few supplies and make some needed repairs. We have been on the trail for 40 days and have traveled 635 miles. 6). Mile Post 765 - North Fork of the Platte River After Laramie, the road gets a little rougher and for 130 miles we don't follow too close to the river.. It will take us about 10 days to get to the upper crossing. We pass the Black Hills, which are neither large or grand enough to be mountains - sorta colorless because of pines and cedars. The upper crossing was tough, but unlike a bunch of folks, we had little trouble fording - no loss of animals or people, either. 7). Mile Post 815 - Independence Rock It took us three days and 50 miles to reach that famous "great gray mass of rock, like a stranded whale, rising above a broad valley." The trip to Independence Rock was short, but tough. Have water problems, especially with the animals.I think we pass a place called Poison Spring - lots of alkali flats, which some folks scrape and use, like saleatus, for baking. 8). Mile Post 915 - South Pass Now we pass into the valley of the Sweetwater right in the middle of Rocky Mountains. This assures us of water, grass, easy grades and an occasional buffalo and antelope. Also some neato sightseeing - Devil's Gate, Split Rock, Sweetwater Rocks and Ice Slough. After we left the stream, it was an easy day's climb to the famous South Pass. As Stewart says, "Here, at the summit of the Rocky Mountains, the very bvackbone of the continent, the grade was easy, and the pass itself was more like a broad plain, so level that you were never sure when you crossed from the Atlantic to the Pacific watershed." TO BE CONTINUED:-) NOTE: Let's take a break - got a long trip ahead:-) Our conclusion will be along - probably tomorrow, Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

I thought that for anyone who has a family story , document of a birth, marriage, death, homestead, etc relating to Klamath County may find this of interest. The original county seat, Trinidad, was an important depot for miners supplies. Klamath County has the distinction of being the only California county that was "operational" and then was completely disbanded as a political unit. Klamath County was located in the upper left corner of the state and its lands now comprise portions of Del Norte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, and Trinity. ( I do hope I have interpreted the maps correctly and if this is wrong please correct this post) Although other California counties were created by law,(prior posts on a couple-Washoe and Pautah) were never organized, no other county that had been organized has been completely dissolved as a policical unit. Klamath County was created April 25, 1851 and dissolved under an act passed March 28, 1874. (Coy) Here are some communities that once had Klamath County addresses. I have taken this information from the old California Post Offices site. You can see how communities were changed to different counties as the result of boundary changes and new counties being organized. More details on how to read the information below can be found at the site: http://pbbooks.com/caindex.htm Albeeville , Klamath Bald Hills 67-74 , Klamath Beckwith/Beckworth/Beckwourth , Plumas Bed Rock, Klamath Black Bear 69-74 , Klamath " " /Blackbear 74-open , Siskiyou Cottage Grove 57-72 , Klamath " " 75-98 , Siskiyou Crescent City 53-57 ,Klamath " 57-open , Del Norte Elk Camp , Klamath Forks of Salmon 58-74 ,Klamath " " " 74-open , Siskiyou Hoopa Valley 61-74 ,Klamath " " 74-95 , Humboldt Klamath 66-72 , Siskiyou " 87-15 , Humboldt " 27-open , Del Norte Klamath Mill , Siskiyou Klamathon , Siskiyou Klamath River , Siskiyou Martins Ferry 61-62, 65-74 , Klamath " " 74-91 , Humboldt Orleans 57-74 , Klamath " 74-open , Humboldt Sawyers Bar 58-74 , Klamath " " 74-open , Siskiyou Trinidad 51 , Trinity " 51-74 , Klamath " 74-open , Humboldt Weitchpec 58-60 , Klamath " 91-open , Humboldt Yocumville 69-74 , Klamath " 74-91 , Siskiyou I would imagine that tracking down Klamath County records may be an interesting challenge. Has anyone done this? It would be interesting to have someone post their experience in chasing documents from ANY community/county that has had boundary changes. Have fun, Carolyn

Picked up this bit of information about the new system of email now provided by Ancestry.com. I thought some people would be interested. Sandra =================== FREE ANCESTRY.COM EMAIL ACCOUNTS Ancestry.com started providing free email accounts over a month ago. Since that time, hundreds of individuals have started using free Ancestry.com email accounts for all of their family and genealogical correspondence. Every you send an e-mail message from an Ancestry.com account, the world knows you are a genealogist. People will be able to tell by looking at the e-mail address ([email protected]). These accounts can be accessed right through your Internet browser. There's no need to buy any additional software or services. All you need is a connection to the World Wide Web. An Ancestry.com e-mail account also allows you to separate research correspondence from messages sent to another account. An e-mail account from Ancestry.com can also be used to help preserve your privacy as you correspond with other genealogists. Signing up for an Ancestry.com e-mail account is easy. Simply go to http://www.ancestry.com and click on "Ancestry Email" or go to http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/mail/createmail_instructions.asp to create your account. Your account provides many advanced features similar to those supported by many stand-alone e-mail programs. For instance, you can create e-mail groups, add contacts to your address book, forward messages, send attachments, and even access multiple e-mail accounts. In order to activate your free e-mail account, you must be registered as either a guest or as a subscriber to Ancestry.com. Either process will provide you with a username and password you can use to activate your free e-mail account. To create a free guest account at Ancestry.com, go to the following URL: http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/signup/freeaccount.asp Registering for your guest account gives you access to all of the free services provided by Ancestry.com, which now include e-mail accounts. If you haven't created your free Ancestry.com e-mail account yet, now is your chance. Visit Ancestry.com today to set up your free e-mail account.

Is there an index to the 1852 State Census? During what months was the census taken? I'm interested as to whether the following names are listed: James Stocton Anderson Jacob L. Burrows Stephen D. Harris Any information appreciated. Ralph Anderson Boulder, CO [email protected]

Howdy, I started working up the distances &c. to CA via the Northern Trails. Then I remembered that probably most of you folks weren't around when I previously posted the Southern Trail distances from St. Louis to California. Before launching my little Northern Trails distances, let me re-post(acutally retype - can't find my old post) in skeleton form the Table from Joseph E. WARE's "The Emigrants' Guide to California"(St.Louis:J.Halsall-1849?): "TABLE OF DISTANCES FROM ST. LOUIS TO CALIFORNIA, BY WAY OF NEW MEXICO Southern Route To Independence................................................................ 400 miles Crossing of Big Arksansa .................................................. 350 Bent's Fort (ascending Arkansas) ........................................ 225 Santa Fe ........................................................................... 270 Rio Del Norte at San Phillipi ................................................ 30 Albuquerque crossing (Del Norte) ......................................... 35 Descending right bank (Rio Del Norte)[Rio Grande] ........... 210 Copper Mines [Santa Rita] ................................................. 75 River Gila ......................................................................... 40 Pimo village (Indian habitations) ........................................... 500 Mouth of Gila entereing the Colorado .................................... 165 Crossing Colorado [Uma?]................................................... 10 Crossing Cornado (first water) .............................................. 100 First Ranchero in California [Warner's???] .............................. 65 San Diego on Pacific shore ................................................... 45 To San Luis Rey (Mission) .................................................... 46 Pueblo or City of Angels ....................................................... 100 Santa Barbara ..................................................................... 100 Monterey (Capital of California) .............................................. 310 River Rio Selina .................................................................... 15 Rio San Joaquin ................................................................... 85 Rio Tuwaleme ...................................................................... 12 Rio Stanishlow ..................................................................... 10 Sutter's Fort ......................................................................... 90 Total distance from St. Louis to Sutter's Fort ............................3,318 miles" NOTE: Let me again thank Tammy<[email protected]> for getting me parts of the WARE book. Remember that 3,318 mile figure to compare with Northern Trails.Also, I wonder if in the goldrush era, St. Louis was 400 miles from Independence???: Northern Trails distances coming up in a couple of days - I hope:-)) Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>