I am getting in on this rather late, but one of my historical interests in California is music, and specifically, the 5 string banjo. One reprint of an 1858 banjo manual recently reprinted mentions that the author, Thomas F Briggs, died in San Francisco shortly after arriving with the Christy Minstrel troupe(the OLD christy minstels). I looked up the following obituary in the Oct. 25, 1854 Alta California in the CA Room of the state library: "On Monday evening, the 23d inst., of typhoid fever, Mr. Thomas F Briggs of New York City, well known as a performer of extraordinary merit in Ethiopian representations, aside from his worth as a man and a gentleman. His sudden demise will be deeply regretted by his numerous friends thoughout the States. He was a member of Christy's Minstrels and arrived in San Francisco recently on the Golden Age." So that is the Golden Age link...Thanks for the info on the Golden Age. There was a lengthy tribute to Briggs in a later issue of a different newspaper(name I can not remember) that is quite hilarious; it describes his death and his final words after he tries to play the banjo: "Alas, I can not play the old Cremona anymore..." The interesting thing to me is that this minstrel troupe, by all accounts a widely respected one, found it worth their while to undergo a 3 month sea voyage to perform in San Francisco. My guess is that there were two reasons: 1) declining audiences for this type of entertainment or 2) they could charge enough at inflated CA prices that it was worth their while. Andy Alexis, THE WEB SITE: http://www.calweb.com/~ndlxs [email protected] Sacramento, CA. "The Pearl of the Central Valley"

Howdy, Hope you folks enjoyed exploring Echo Cave. Would have gone with you; but the cave's five foot entrance might have conflicted with my claustrophobee:-). Now let's rejoin Mrs. Mary C. FISH on the Northern Trail in 1860 as she reaches Salt Lake City: SALT LAKE CITY "Tuesday July 31[1860]. We traveled 11 miles & arrived in SALT LAKE CITY about noon. Before descending into the Valley the lake appeared higher than the city & with its blue tint made quite an addition to the landscape. This lake is 90 miles long & 30 wide and although it receives the water of Bear River, the river ... the constant evaporation of the lake renders an outlet of its waters unnecessary. The shores of the lake are covered with salt which is used by the inhabitants just as they take it from the banks of the lake. This is a beautfiful valley & is very well improved although the land has to be irrigated.They raise all kinds of green vegetables, &c. "The City is laid out with considerable taste the streets all being wide & crossing each other in straight lines. These houses are built of adobes or unburned brick & the water privileges are such that there is a stream of water running by every door[:-)]. There are several beautiful dwellings here first of which is the residence of Brigham YOUNG... "We camped in the city & as soon as our tents were pitched our camp was visited by numerous mormon women who brought all kinds of vegetables to sell & also, butter, eggs, cheese &c. They were all well behaved and very cleanly dressed. This valley is surrounded. by mountains which in a smoky atmosphere resemble clouds. We received news to day of the great TORONADO[??] which has passed over a portion of IOWA." HUMBOLDT "Friday August 17th. We traveled 22 miles to day & camped six miles from HUMBOLDY SPRINGS. I saw the grave of a man who belonged to a train which was destroyed by the Mormons & Indians July 27, 1851[1859?]. This man was wounded in the attack but escaped & crawled five miles from the place where the train were attacked & was picked up by another train & died the fifth of August 1859[1851?].... "Saturday August 18th. We traveled 14 miles to day & camped on Canon Creek at the mouth of Humboldt Canon which canon we came through this afternoon & this canon caps the climax for rocky road as in many places the rocks were so close together that there was barely room for a wagon to pass between them & then the rocks were so high in the middle of the road that the bottom of the wagon would come in contact with them. There are several boiling springs in this canon which boil up from the solid rock & are so hot that an egg could be cooked in them..." "Monday August 20th. We traveled a part of to day ..& camped on HUMBOLDT River. This river is about the width of a good sized creek & the scenery & productions are as follows: Tall brush & course grass along the river while in the back ground naked mountains with out the sign of a tree ... "Wednesday August 22nd. We have traveled... & nothing to be seen but the filthy looking sluggish river & still more filthy looking Indians. There are several now partaking of their evening meal which consists of small fish or minows boiled entrails & all into a perfect jelly & they swallow this mess with infinite relish[:-(]. "Friday September 1st. We ...camped at Lassen's Meadows where... Emigrants cut hay to feed their stock while crossing the Desert....The company will divide at this place, a part of them going by the way of CARSON VALLEY & they will continue down this Humboldt River to the sink by which they have to cross the great American Desert which is 55 miles across.. Two thirds of the company will go by way of Honey Lake Valley & we shall go by the LAST named route is said to the the best. HONEY LAKE VALLEY to RED BLUFF "Sunday September 9th. We traveled 18 miles over an awful rough road it being perfectly macadamized with rocks only the rocks were about a foot high[:-)] We camped in HONEY LAKE VALLEY on Susan River which is about as large as a small creek. The Indians have been troublesome here last Spring they murdered several of the inhabitants & committed numerous depredations. ...This is a beautiful valley the land being level and fertile but the soil has to be irrigated to raise vegetables. The farmers here have large herds of cattle which are at present very fat. "Monday September 10th. We traveled 20 miles to day having continued up the valley & camped within two miles of SUSANVILLE. The Sierra Nevada Mountains bound this valley on the west & SHASTA Peak has been visible for the preceding four days.... "Wednesday September 12th. The company remained in camp for the two preceding days preparatory to crossing the mountains.[Freedonyer ?].. Susanville is rather a small place there being but few houses & those appear to have been recently built. The mountains are close to the town & we commenced the ascent directly on leaving the city & the rise is quite gradual but the road is somewhat raocky... The greater portion of the company took the road to MARYSVILLE while the remaining portion & OURSELVES included have taken the RED BLUFF ROAD. "Thursday September 13th. We...camped on Tins Creek. There is plenty of water & grass in places & timber in inexhaustible quantities consisting of pines, spruce, cedar &c. The timber here grows to an amazing size there being timber enough in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to supply the continent of America[:-)] There is also plenty of game in the mountains consisting of Grizzly Bears, Mountain Sheep, Deer, Foxes, etc. " Friday September 14th..... We.....camped on Butte Creek. Last night it was cold enough to freeze the creek over & it has been cold all day. There has been snow capped mountains in sight for the last week. This evening Shasta Peak, Mt. Lassen &c are in plain view & they resemble large banks of snow. "Saturday September 15..... We crossed Hat Creek this morning it is a rapid mountain stream.. Hat Creek Mountain is the hardest and rockiest place that we have passed yet & the ground at the foot ot the hill is called Hells Half Acre, but it is nearer 200 acres. I saw the largest loose rocks here that I ever saw." "Monday September 17th. We traveled... over a dry barren country & have at last entered the Sacramento Valley. Everything is at present as dry as tinder & there is no grass to be had. There is a flowing mill not far from where we are camped & many good dwelling houses but the soil looks poor being full of gravel. We camped near a house at which the company procured hay for the stock. "Tuesday September 18th. We...left our last nights encampment...having crossed the Sacramento River...& have camped at RED BLUFFS[Bluff] the principal town of Tehama Co. This is a small place although business appears rather brisk as this is as far as the Sacramento River is navigable for steamboats. This town is built on the west bank of the Sacramento River & receives its name from a bank of reddish early nearly 40 feet hight above the steamboat landing. Shasta Peak rises in its snowy mantle to the north of the town whle Mt. Lassen in the east rises it snow capped peak nearly to the skies." NOTE: Folks, if I missed your favorite Northern Trail spot, I'm sorry. Maybe I'll catch it in our next Northern Trail trip. But this diary, with NO annotations and written in 1860, covers a new trail for me after Salt Lake - had my difficulties in trail identification:-) AND I again thank BARBARA<[email protected]>, a relative of Mrs. Mary C FISH, for sending me this unpublished diary, which was copied on "19June 1955 -[Col.] R. Dana FISH." - another Mary C. Fish relative ONE fun thing before I close: In going over my copy of the diary, I noted that on August 13th, Mary Fish wrote, "We passed the City of BLACKS[???] this morning." Then I read on,. "This place to be seen in moonlight would make a very good representative of a city built by human hands as the spires & steeples of churches are very curiously represented. Geatto lines in regard to Melrose Abbey would be quite applicable to this place" Don't you suppose Col. Fish misread his ancestor's handwriting? Instead of Blacks, she was writing about the "City of ROCKS" with its Cathedral Rocks.:-))))) I really enjoyed reading Mary C's diary:-)) Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

I will check for that name in the census records for you -T200 in the 1880 sndx. Is Mayfield in the Grass Valley area? Not familiar with the town name. So I am looking for John TEAGUE Jane TEAGUE children: John (age 4 in 1880) Julia (poss age 1/2 in 1880) Elizbeth (also poss age 1/2 in 1880?) Did the family leave CA by 1900? Where did John remain and die? In CA? Have you checked the CADI for his death? Sandra ====================your message================ You wrote: > >Hi Sandra, > If it is not too much trouble please could you look up the 1870 >and 1880 censuses for Grass Valley and the 1880 for Mayfield. I'm looking >for the name TEAGUE, specifically John TEAGUE and Jane (Goldsworthy) >TEAGUE; and, I hope, their children: John born around 1876 in Grass Valley, >Julia Alexandrienne born around 1880 in Mayfield and Elizabeth Henrietta >born around 1879 (according to her death certificate in BC!). Of course, >if you find any other TEAGUEs I'd like to know, fortunately it is not a >very common name, so I hope I am not asking for too much. > Thanks in advance, bye for now, > Dorothy, Victoria, BC Canada >If you need any lookups in BC I'd be happy to have a try. > > > >

Just got bounced from another Rootsweb list, so want to see if I'm still going to get CA-GOLDRUSH! PJ

Sorry, no 1890 census is out there. As to the SULLIVAN names you want, I would be happy to look but I am sure I will come up with quite a few. I am puzzled - if you go to the State library why haven't you looked these up yourself?? Sandra You wrote: > >If you have time, I have a few requests for the 1860-1890 census lookups, >all in San Francisco. They are listed in order of importance to me in the >event you you don't have time or don't feel like doing them all. > >They are as follows: > >* 1860, 1870, 1880: James Sullivan; native of Ireland, aged either 45 or >46. There's probably several James Sullivans, I know. His wife was Bridget, >age 42 or 43, also a native of Ireland; they had seven children, including >Mary (15/16), Delia (12/13, Ellen (9/10) (all three natives of Australia), >Margaret/Maggie (8/9), James/Jimmy (age unknown), and two other daughters >whose names and birthdates I don't know -- these last four were all born in >San Francisco. James was a carpenter or a cooper or some such. If he's not >there look for Bridget by herself, since I am not sure exactly when he >died. They lived on Sullivan Alley at Mission Street until his death; >afterwards, she lived at 15 Polk St. > >* 1890: Bridget Sullivan, 15 Polk St. Widow of James Sullivan. (She may >have died by then; I'm not sure). > >* 1870: Mattias and Mary (Sullivan) Riehm and infants Edward and Grace. >(Grace was born in 1870; may not have made the census). > >* 1860: Mattias (aka Matt or Mott) Riehm, age about 23-25, native of >Illinois, parents born in Germany. He may not have even been in California >at this stage of the game, so if you don't have time to hunt for him, >that's OK. > >If there's anything I can do for you at a future date, don't hestiate to >ask. I'm in Sacramento myself and usually can go to the state library on >Wednesdays. > > >Joann Betschart | [email protected] | Give me Macintosh or give me death >| Genealogy: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/4646 | Work: >http://www.sacbee.com/neighbors/zones/eg_laguna (I'm just the copy editor) > > >

A new discussion list has just been announced by the American Local History Network (ALHN). http://www.alsirat.com/ALHNCA/mlist.html ALHNCalhist A Mailing List for Alta California History ALHNCalhist is a list reserved for the discussion of California history. Carolyn

Howdy, Hope you folks had a good 4th of July, 1860 celebration. Let's get back on the trail and join our diarist Mrs. Mary C. Fish as she travels across present day Wyoming: WILLOW SPRINGS "Monday July 9th[1860]. We left the Platte River this morning after having traveled along its banks for a distance of 1,000 miles. We traveled 20 miles & camped four miles west of WILLOW SPRINGS. The grass around the Springs is very poor being all eat up by the number of Emigrant stock & there are large number of dead cattle lying by the roadside as this is a famous place for alkali as there is larger lakes of it along the road although now mostly in a dry state & there could be bushels of SALERATUS gathered here. It is often used by the Emigrants in the place of baking soda but I think that I would rather have none at all then to use this as a small quantity of the water will kill an animals. We took dinner on a creek called POISON CREEK & the banks were white with Saleatus.The creek was a small rivulet & the water was so sluggish that it could scarcely be observed to run & it is so poisonous that a pint of it will kill a horse. The water at our caming place is not very good." INDEPENDENCE ROCK and DEVIL'S GATE "Tuesday July 10th. We traveled 21 miles today & camped on the Sweetwater River within a half mile of INDEPENDENCE ROCK. This rock is situated about 300 yards from the right bank of the Sweetwater & is a solid mass of naked Granite rising to a height of 300 feet & covers a circumference of four acres of land. The form of it is oval with the exception of a slight hollow in its summit where a scanty soil supports a few shrubs & a solidtary dwarf pine. This rock derives its name from a party on their way to Oregon who celebrated the Fourth of July here they being the first company that made the trip from the States vis South Pass. The surface of the rock is covered with the names of travellers, traders, trappers & emigrants written on it where it is practicable & there is also a grave at the base of the rock. The name written on it is William WATERS. He died 1859 aged 49 years. "Wednesday July 11th. We left camp this morning, traveled 6 miles & stopped to pay a visit to the DEVILS GATE, a deep gorge situated in the Sweetwater Mountains. After traveling aound the base of the mountain & following up the river for a distance of half a mile we arrived at the entrance of the chasm. It is a deep cut in the solid rock through which the Sweetwater rushes with a noise almost deafening. The Gorge is apparently from 30 to 40 feet wide & the rocks at the sides rise perpendicularly to a height of 400 feet & are slightly shelving at the base. To stand at the base of the rocks & look up to the top makes me dizzy. This place like Independence Rock is covered with names of the Emigrants, Trappers &c, & I saw names of two women here. The names are written wherever tiz possible to obtain a foothold. SOUTH PASS - the Continental Divide "Saturday July 14th. This evening we camped in view of the Rocky Mountains many of the peaks being capped with snow.." " Sunday July 15th. We traveled 20 miles & camped three miles from GILBERTS STATION...Tomorrow we commence the ascent of the Rocky Mountains, vis South Pass. " Monday July 16th. We commenced the ascent of the mountains this morning & the ascent was so gradual that I should never suppose that we were crossing the ROCKY MOUNTAINS. The road has been very good thus far with the exception of a short distance where it was rather rocky.There is plenty of good water along the road, as there are numerous Springs of cold water gushing from the low hills.... "I saw the PONY EXPRESS pass the train to day. The ponies are not allowed to go slower than a gallop. The Express passes twice in a week. There is also a line of stages which run between California & the States. Each stage is drawn by six mules[:-)] & they are driven at a gallop over some awful rough road. I saw two graves to day they were covered with small rocks & if there were ever any boards at the head & feet they were gone..." "Tuesday July 17th. We have traveled ...& camped at Pacific Springs. We passed two trading Stations today. The last one was on the Sweetwater at the junction of the Salt Lake & Landor Road."{Mary Fish & her folks took the SALT LAKE Road}. GREEN RIVER, FORT BRIDGER & BEAR RIVER MOUNTAINS "Friday July 20th. We....crossed GREEN RIVER over which we ferried & camped 6 miles below the Ferry. The water of this river is of a greenish hue which gives the river its name. There is a large trading Station above our camp where there is everything to be had in the eating and clothing line. The proprietor ownes large numbers of horses & cattle & ownes property in the States & California. It is astonishing to see the number of trading posts there is on some portions of this road often as many as three in the space of a mile.The traders are mostly FRENCHMAN who usually marry Squaws & they therefore agree very well with the Indians. I saw one grave today, the name written on it was E. HALL of Missouri who died in June 1852 aged 69 years.. "Wednesday July 25th. The company remained in camp yesterday preparatory to crossing the Bear River Mountains which were in plain view.from our encampment. We broke up our camp this morning, passed FORT BRIDGER which is rather a small place. It is well supplied with water as there are several mountain streams flowing thorugh the town....I did not see a tree or the remotest sign of a garden in the place, nothing but a few Soldiers lounging about... "Thursday July 26. It has rained all day & the roads are in a miserable plight. In crossing the Bear River Mountains we obtained an elevation of 7315 feet.... "Friday July 27th. We crossed the Bear River this morning. It is not very wide or deep & is easily forded at this place. We traveled 16 miles from the river & camped on Echo Creek nearly opposite to a cave called ECHO CAVE." TO BE CONTINUED A good stopping place. You folks go check out Echo Cave - pretty neato. Meanwhile, I'll get things ready for tomorrow's LONG final leg from Salt Lake City to Red Bluff:-) Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

Thanks, Bob, for referring my request to Ruth. I think I'll order the books she mentioned. You also taked about "The Clipper Ship Era" by Arthur Clark. Do you think that would have additional information for me? (My ggf went from the gold fields to the East Coast by ship in 1853. He had taken the overland route out and then went back by land again later in 1853.) You do a great service for this list. We appreciate it! Diantha

[email protected] wrote: What was Pacific Mail? (Perhaps a company > providing mail service by sea?) > > Thanks, > Diantha > Hi Diantha, yes the Pacific Mail Steamship Co was originally a fleet of three paddle-wheel steamers, the California, the Oregon and the Panama. They were built to deliver the US mail from Panama to Oregon. The mail came from New York to Chagres, eastern side of Panama, then carried across the Isthmus to Panama City. It was then transported up the California coast, stopping at San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Francisco. The years between 1849 and 1851 kept the company so busy with passengers and mail from Panama to San Francisco that they did not go , as originally planned, up to Oregon. They transferred the mail in San Francisco to sailing ships that went on up to Oregon. In 1851, the Columbia was commissioned especially for the route up the northern coastal route. She stopped at Humboldt Bay, Crescent City, Port Orford, and Coos Bay on her way up to the Columbia River and Puget Sound. In 1867 the Pacific Mail Co began carrying US mail to Japan and China. Ships on this route included the Colorado, the Great Republic and the China. Trip time from SF to to Hong Kong was 32 days and 10 hours! Passage cost-$300.00 In 1925 the Pacific Mail Co was taken over by the Dollar line. (The American President Line then purchased the Dollar Line sometime later) It must have been such a grand time for the folks to see these ships enter the harbors carrying the precious mail from home! Have fun, Carolyn

Diantha, You asked for information on the James Delgado book TO "CALIFORNIA BY SEA" that Bob Norris used as reference for his really interesting post about the Isthmus trip many of our ancestors took to San Francisco. THE GOLDEN AGE (Steamship) is mentioned in this book on page 63, the book was published by University of South Caroline Press, and my paperback edition was published in 1990. (by 1863, this steamship is your ship, rather than the clipper ship, mentioned in a reply post, which arrived in SF in 1853) I ordered this book along with another wonderful little paperback book "SEA ROUTES TO THE GOLD FIELDS", by Oscar Lewis, Comstock Editions, Inc. 1949, from AMAZON.COM. Your would really love reading BOTH of these books as they both give a very clear picture of what our ancestors went through to get to the Gold Fields in Sunny California. Both of these books set me back a whole $20.00 with shipping and handling! Hope you order them and enjoy them as much as it did. I'm proud to have them in my library. Good luck, RUTH P.S. I don't own any shares of Amazon.com - but I'm thinking about it! <G> > In a message dated 98-08-19 17:35:55 EDT, [email protected] writes: > > >My great-grandmother traveled from Panama to San Francisco on the "Golden > >Age" > >in 1863. I was pleased to see Bob's post and would like to > pursue it. Do you > >think the two books were talking about different ships with the > same name? > >I'd > >appreciate more info about the James Delagado book (publishing > info and page > >number of "Golden Age" info. What was Pacific Mail? (Perhaps a company > >providing mail service by sea?) > > > >Thanks, > >Diantha > > _____________________________ Ruth & Don Skewis [email protected]

<<I can do lookups in the index for the entire state of CA in the other years. Let me know what name(s) you need. Sandra>> Thanks for your offer. I'd appreciate a check of the Grass Valley census of 1860 for Edward Coleman (I'm not sure exactly when he got there); the 1870 census for Edward Coleman, John Coleman, Edward Williams and any Nortons who might have been there; the 1880 census for all of the above. Many thanks, Diantha

My great-grandmother traveled from Panama to San Francisco on the "Golden Age" in 1863. I was pleased to see Bob's post and would like to pursue it. Do you think the two books were talking about different ships with the same name? I'd appreciate more info about the James Delagado book (publishing info and page number of "Golden Age" info. What was Pacific Mail? (Perhaps a company providing mail service by sea?) Thanks, Diantha <<Apparently, I have a little on two "Golden Age". Arthur L CLARK in Appendix II of "The Clipper Ship Era", which he calls "Record Passages of the California Clipper Ships made in 110 days or less from 1850 to 1860, inclusive.states that the GOLDEN AGE (barque), departing from Boston, arrived at San Francisco on May 31, 1853 - a passage of 103 days. James DELGADO in this "To California by Sea" mentions a steamer - the 2,181 ton GOLDEN AGE, one of the large steamers that helped secure Pacific Mail's domination of the Panama route and Pacific coastal navigation. Nothing further.>>

Hi folks, I was surprised to see an entry in Coys_California County Boundaries_,for a "Pautah County, 1852-1859"! It seems that the California legislators were hoping to form this county from land that lay within the Utah Territory and completely beyond the CA state boundaries. Many settlers _from_ California and others _bound for_ California were settling in the valleys of the Truckee, Carson and Walker rivers on the eastern boundary of California. Estimates are that 22,500 settlers passed through the Truckee Meadows in 1849, then 45,000 in 1850 and up to 52,000 in 1852. This land was near the mining region of California (see the proposed boundaries below) and on the route of the overland trails. In 1852 California enacted a law to gain this land as a California County. The boundaries of Pautah County were defined as follows: "Commencing at the northeast corner of Sierra County, thence in a southeasterly direction to the northeast extremity of Pyramid Lake; thence in a southeast line to the northwestern boudary of Carson Lake; thence running south to the eastern border of Walker Lake, following said border to the southern limit of said Lake;thence in a southwesterly direction to the southeast corner of Calaveras County; thence following the eastern boundary of Calaveras, El Dorado, Placer, Nevada and Sierra counties to the place of begining". (Basically if you were looking at a map of today you would see the area as the Carson, Reno, Sparks area and the land from Pyramid Lake down to Walker Lake.) The act declared that "Carsonville" be the county seat and that the act should take effect WHEN the Congress of the United States had ceded to California the territory as described! Nice try California, but the law was repealled in 1859. I wonder why as Nevada didn't became a state until 1864, and in Jan of 1896 (after 50 years of trying) Utah finally became a state. There are always more questions than answers it seems and that makes it fun! Carolyn

Howdy, You may remember I previously posted a bit of the unpublished diary of Mrs. Mary C. Fish as she passed Council Bluffs and Omaha in May, 1860. Now, I plan to spotlight some of her diary entries as she travels to CA via the Northern Trail - Platte - South Pass -Salt Lake City - Humboldt - Susanville & Red Bluff. Again, your having an old map would help - not essential. It's almost a month later, as we join our diarist Mrs. Mary on the Northern Trail traveling along the Platte River in present day western Nebraska: ASH HOLLOW - the PLATTE RIVER "Wednesday June 20th(1860) We traveled 23 miles today & camped on the Platte. There is plenty of alkali on the road and thousands of Prairie Dog Villages. The alkali here resembles strong lye. We took dinner opposite to ASH HOLLOW, a place on the south bank of the Platte at which a battle was fought between the United States troops commanded by Col. HARNEY & the Indians. The Indians were defeated & a large number of them killed. The entrenchments thrown up by the troops are plainly visible from the north bank of the river & are in a deep hollow or raving between two steep hills.which extend to the water's edge. "There was a band of Indians passed us today. They were Sioux warriors on an expedition against the Pawnee with whom they are at war. They were all well armed & mounted & caused us some little uneasiness until they were well by us. We came by an Indian village this afternoon. There were plenty of papooses & dogs. Many of the papooses were perfectly naked & some of the seniors did not come very far from the same predicament. I saw a white man in one of the lodges in company with a squaw." CHIMNEY ROCK "Saturday June 23rd. We traveled 20 miles today & camped four miles above CHIMNEY ROCK. This singular formation surmounts a conical eminence which rises in the open prairie & reaches a height of 300 feet. It is composed of limestone & marl shaped like the spire of a church six feet by ten at the base & rising to a height of 200 feet, making with the mound an elevation of 500 feet. The Chimney was formerly much higher than it is at present & could be seen on a clear day as far as Ash Creek. The rain & wind are constantly reducing its atitude & it is said to be be full fifty feet less than it was nine years since. Calculating from this date what must have been its height no longer remote than a couple of centuries. "This afternoon it rained & the wind blew very hard.... As soon as we saw the gathering clouds which were of an inky blackness the company all left the road & started with all haste for the hills which appeared about a mile distant... The wind for several moments blew a hurricane but fortunately without overturning or damaging our wagons.... When the storm cleared up it was a grand spectacle to see the clouds hovering on the mountains. It looked as though the mountains were enveloped in dense clouds of smoke which appeared to be issuing from their sides." FORT LARAMIE "We...are now camped opposite to FORT LARAMIE...Laramie Peak is distinctly visible from here although 75 miles distant. This peak has snow on the summit the greater portin of the year. Fort Laramie makes quite imposing appearance although it is built on the South side of the Platte. The buildings are mostly painted white & make rather a neat appearance. Soon after camping we were visited by several Indians, one who wished to see the captain of our company, Mr. CARTER. He gave Mr. C[arter] a very pressing invitation to pass the night at his lodge which he declined doing. The honored guest is not only expected to partake with his host of the bounties of the table or rather ground, but also of his connubial privileges which renders the acceptance of such an invitation a rather delicate business. All kinds of provisions are high here as all trade & business is a government monopoly, the Ferry over the rivier included." THE FOURTH OF JULY "Wednesday July 4th.[1860] Today we gladly left the Black Hills behind & came to a more level road. The grass through those hills is very poor, it being all dried up with the drouth. We camped this afternoon in sight of four different companies having concluded to pay some respect to the glorious FOURTH. They had the Stars & Stripes hosted from two of the encampments & our company not having a banner have camped as near one as possible for they feel as partiotic as any of them. "There was to be an oration delivered at two o'clock p.m. & we all went over to the hall of reception to hear it. (Said) hall consisting of a few stakes planted in the ground & covered with green boughs. The seats being composed of ox yokes. These useful animals being at liberty to feast on the few bunches of dry grass which this favored place afforded. The orator was an old man. He spoke very well mostly on religious subjects & I think he was a minister of the Gospel. The audience were very respectful & well represented by the softer sex(:-) & I saw several very pretty girls who were dressed as tasteful as though in the midst of civilization." TO BE CONTINUTED. You folks stay here and enjoy the Fourth. I'll go on ahead and check out the trail ahead. Ought to be back by tomorrow:-) Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

In a message dated 98-08-19 12:03:55 EDT, [email protected] writes: << Nice try California, but the law was repealled in 1859. I wonder why as Nevada didn't became a state until 1864, and in Jan of 1896 (after 50 years of trying) Utah finally became a state. >> It might have something to do with the Mormans.. There was problems with them as they wanted it to be their State... Just a thought, Shirl

I have added your name to the list for Monday. The only STATE CA census is for 1852 - none other were taken. Sandra You wrote: > >Ms Harris, > Saw your posting to Diantha and was wondering if you would take another >request? My gggrandfather left Illinois in about 1858 to 1860,went >around the horn on a ship to Ca. His name was Robert Smith Kennedy b. >April 6,1818 in Pa. or Ny. I would really appreciate it if you would >check your Ca. index for him in 1860 or 1870. Was there a Ca. state >census conducted in 1865? If so, has it been indexed. Thanks in advance >for your help!! >Jack Kennedy >Winterset, Iowa >

Surfing the net, I came upon the following web page of sea voyages from Prince Edward Island, Canada. Scroll halfway down the page and find three links for the Voyage of the Brig, Fanny. The Fanny sailed from P.E.Island to California, Nov 1849 - June 1850. One link is the ships passenger list. This was a stock venture where all hands shared expenses and the crew members were also the passengers. <A HREF="http://www.isn.net/~dhunter/ships.html">The Island Register Ships Page</A> http://www.isn.net/~dhunter/ships.html Walt G. <A HREF="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A> http://members.aol.com/Gentala/Wickes.htm ( Wickes Family Photos ) __________________________________________wjg___________

Goldrushers - Ruth<[email protected]> just sent me a rundown on Jim Smith's Rassmussen Ships as shown in the below URL.. Neato - I recommend it to all who are interested in SFpassenger lists - doesn't give all the anwers.But a bunch. Ole Jimbo Smith did a lot of work on it. Take care, Bob Norris In a message Jim Smith wrote: >The dates are in my writeup on it in the NORCAL Genealogical Index. > >See: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~yvonne/NORCAL%20index/rasships.html > >Also, there is a Cuban Index (has nothing to do with Cuba) that has ships >and passengers DEPARTING San Francisco. > >Gotta run, >Jim > > >On Tue, 18 Aug 1998 [email protected] wrote: > >> Folks, >> I need to pick yur brains. We have received partial answers piece-meal in >> previous postings. So, let's see if we can pull it all together - add some >> too.. >> Maybe, because I have recently posted some sea/SF stuff. Not only I >> have noticed a bunch of postings for missing ship passengers , but I have >> privately received a number. Unfortunately, I have made only half-way >replies. >> Please help me remedy this. >> ARE there shiip passengers lists of folks arriving in San Francisco? >> Where? And what period do they cover? >> 1). "San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists" by Louis J. >RASMUSSEN(Balitmore: >> Generalogical Publishing Company, 1978. >> Will whoever either owns or has access to this book/books, >please >> tell us what arrival/departure years it covers? Anyone other info it >contains. >> Also, PLEASE check the bibliography for his sources.I must assume a major >> source is SF's "Alta California". What others? >> 2). Any other Sources? - Other newspapers/ books/journals/etc, which >list >> or codified passenger lists. And their sources .Did another SF or CA >> newspaper either simultaneously with Alta California or later also publish >> these SF lists. >> 3) Does Rasumussen or anyone else list CREWS, along with passengers? >> 4) Are we missing a bet by concentrating only on the SF- the arrival >> port? Are there now lists available from points of departure like NYC, >> Boston,Philly, NO, etc? >> Please excuse the mish-mash presentation. But I just got this bug in >my >> ear last nite:-))) >> Take care, >> Bob Norris Dallas >> <BNorris166aol.com> >> >>

GoldRush Lister, Here is a query I am today posting on a list or two: I need to pick yur brains. We have received partial answers piece-meal in previous postings. So, let's see if we can pull it all together - add some too.. Maybe, because I have recently posted some sea/SF stuff. Not only I have noticed a bunch of postings for missing ship passengers , but I have privately received a number. Unfortunately, I have made only half-way replies. Please help me remedy this. ARE there shiip passengers lists of folks arriving in San Francisco? Where? And what period do they cover? 1). "San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists" by Louis J. RASMUSSEN(Balitmore: Generalogical Publishing Company, 1978. Will whoever either owns or has access to this book/books, please tell us what arrival/departure years it covers? Anyone other info it contains. Also, PLEASE check the bibliography for his sources.I must assume a major source is SF's "Alta California". What others? 2). Any other Sources? - Other newspapers/ books/journals/etc, which list or codified passenger lists. And their sources .Did another SF or CA newspaper either simultaneously with Alta California or later also publish these SF lists. 3) Does Rasumussen or anyone else list CREWS, along with passengers? 4) Are we missing a bet by concentrating only on the SF- the arrival port? Are there now lists available from points of departure like NYC, Boston,Philly, NO, etc? Please excuse the mish-mash presentation. But I just got this bug in my ear last nite:-))) Take care, Bob Norris Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>

Diantha - first of all, there is NO 1890 census. Next, I can do lookups in the index for the entire state of CA in the other years. Let me know what name(s) you need. Sandra Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1998 16:48:17 EDT From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [CA-GOLDRUSH-L] CA Census, 1860-1890 Does anyone have access to the census for people in Grass Valley in 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1890? If so, I'd be grateful for a few look-ups. Diantha ______________________________