Judee, The letters were wonderful beyond words!!! For me, they were especially meaningful, as I am at the local cemeteries almost daily. Each time I look at a tombstone I can envision such happenings as you shared. Thank You. Karen sumrg@jps.net ~~~~ Historic Cemeteries of Nevada County http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~historic

Dear Folks, James and his brothers left Grissly Flat about 1860 and went to Dutch Flat where they continued to mine. After they built a house there their Mother and little sister joined them. James married there in Dutch Flat at the age of 45, had three children and moved to San Jose about 1890 so his children could have a better education. He died in San Jose in 1898. "In their heyday the Staples Brothers owned and operated the Summerset gold claims near Dutch Flat and were one of the big hydraulic miners of the day." from the Colfax Sentinel. Judee

Sac City Oct. 25th, 1854 Dear Mother, I suppose you are anxious to hear from your boys by this time. We arived at Sacramento the 6th of Oct. in good health and spirits. We had tolerable good luck with our stock. The boys stood the trip first rate. We traveled from Missouri with an old friend of mine that lives here by the name of Barber, he has horses. You have heard me speak of him. We came all the way together. A family by the name of (blank) joined my train in Iowa and were very unfortunate. Our cattle were dying very fast in Carson Valley. He opened an ox, the skin was broke on his arm, the blood of the ox was poisonous, his arm commenced swelling. We was in the Sierra Nevadas not much feed for our stock and about out of provisions. Our train had to come on. I staid back with him. His hands had left him some time before. Four days from the time I stopped he died. I got a Physician but it did no good, the poison kept spreading through his system. He had been here before and returned last year to bring his family and make this country his home. It was hard after traveling so far to lay down and die within four miles of California leaving a wife and three little children amongst the snow clad peaks of the Sierras. Tell Sis the little girl that kissed her.....lost her father. I staid to the last moment. A murmur never came from his lips. I never was placed in such a disagreeable situation. He died in the night. It was hard for me to take the wife and children away while I prepared the corpse for burial. I made a rough coffin out of the wagon box. A train came along that day. A couple of men stopped and helped me bury him. There were no procession of relatives and friends as to assist and comfort the bereft wife and children or sing a hymm repeat a prayer while we performed the last sad office. I brought them over the mountains into a mining town, got them a house, raised some means among the miners got washing engaged as soon as she is able to go to work. I have been to San Francisco. There was no letter there for us. We found two at Sac city. We are very anxious to hear from you all. Tell Francis or Sis I should call her she could not kiss me now I have got such heavy whiskers and mustash. I have not shaved since I left the states. My old acquainstances all seem glad to see me back once more. The boys have worked one day for $5 each. The lowest wages are $50 a month. We send you $100 in this letter by Page and Bacon. We wrote a letter to Malbon from Salt Lake city also sent him some papers should like to hear from them. Write often. Let us know how you are circumstanced. By so doing you will oblidge your boys. You will hear from us often. Your Affectionate Direct your letters to Son Sac City. J.T.Staples We have not got that letter with the particulars and are not likely to. We would like to receive a copy of the same or something near. Kiss the Baby for us All. Jas. T. Staples John P. Staples Charles W. Staples P.S. And Spank her when she needs it.

thank you for sharing! diane

Wood River, Nebraska May 21st, 1854 Dear Mother, I take the present opportunity to write. We are now about 250 miles west of Council Bluffs, in good health and spirits. We are camped a short distance from the Mail station. The mail runs from here to the Bluffs twice a month and leaves here in about a week. We shall probably be about 4 months on the road from the Missouri to California as we don't intend to hurry. We have got along very well thus far. There is 8 wagons in our company 14 men and some women and children. We shall probably write again before we get through. Your affectionate son J.T.Staples Dear Friends, We are getting along fine, the boys especially they are on hand like a thousand of Bricks. I was appointed Captain of our train. We send love and remembrances to all inquiring friends. Our stock stand is very well. I lost one horse worth $150. Yours Jas. T. Staples

Council Bluffs, May 4th 1854 Dear Mother This will be my last chance to send you a few lines for a while. You have received so many it will be nothing new. John and Charles have wrote you all the particulars. I reckoned you would like to hear something about our babys. They are doing fine are well and hearty. My health has improved fine. The boys think I could come home as stout as I am and with my wiskers and you would not know me. Tomorrow we cross the Missouri and roll for the Pacific. We have a fine lot of stock every thing that is needed to add to the safety and convenience of the journey. There is one thing I forgot that is paying Capt. Spinney the rent. I was affraid it might cause you unesiness. If he blows around about it I want you to let me know. I expect to arive in Sacrimento by the midle of August certain. I will send you some money the first thing I do. If Mary Kinn colt let you have a line for me keep it until you hear from me in California. Kiss little Sis for me. Tell her it would do me a great deal of good to rub my whiskers on her face. I miss her whenever I want to kick up a row. She will get a present from me as soon as I get across the plains. It is time I was abed. It is two o'c in the morning. We have had a hard days drive. I have wrote to big Benjamin Baker to night. We send love to you all, remembrances to all inquiring Friends. Your Affectionate Son J.T.Staples

Judee: Thank you so much for sharing the letters. You are so fortunate to have this voice from the past! Beth Lias

About James T. Staples. James born in Mass. in 1829 moved with family to upstate NY. At the age of 18 he went to live with family in Maine for a year and worked as a lumberjack. Not satisfied he returned to NY and when gold was discovered in CA decided to seek his fortunes there. He worked his way there on a ship around the horn and arrived in CA in December of 1849. He made his way to Grissly Flat. In 1851 his father died and his family sent for him to come home. He took a ship as far as Panama and crossed on foot catching another ship up to NY. In 1854 he returned to CA and his gold claim with his two brothers. This time by wagon train. I have copies of 5 letters he wrote home. Three are from the wagon train and two are from Grissly Flat. This is letter #2 from Grissly Flat. Judee > Grissly Flat, August 9th, 1855 > > Dear Mother, > > I was down to the City a few days ago. Was happy to receive a few lines from you to hear you > were all well and enjoying yourselves. We get letters pretty regular at present. I guess we get > all the letters you write all the trouble there is at present you do not start them often enough. We > are all well and have got our hands full of business. I think we will make the (blank) come down > between this and a year from now. Stock has been quite low a long back. They commence > bearing a better price at present. I am going to sell off some this fall and I will remit you a few > dimes. Our expenses are very heavy at present, from two to three hundred dollars per month. > We are fetching water into our Diggins. I think it will take us 4 or 5 years to work them out. It is > the best show I ever had for a fortune. The boys are in fine spirits. We shall have our ditch and > flume completed in about two months. I discovered the diggins and would not take $3000 for my > chance now. I am at the city often and shall receive the letters as soon as they arrive. Provisions > bear a stiff price. The boys are anxious for me as soon as we get our operations under good > headway to come home and bring you and little Sis to this country. I do not know whether it > would be for the best or not. We all send love. I shal write to Malbon and Sis next time. > Remember us to all enquiring Friends > Your affectionate son > Jas. T. Staples

Amen !! © Phil Van Camp, pvc@vancamp.org ----- Original Message ----- From: Charles J. LaRobardier <chjlarob@peaknet.net> To: <CA-GOLDRUSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2000 8:47 PM Subject: Re: [GOLDRUSH] Letter To Home #2 > Judee - > > The letters you share are little windows through which we all see our > ancestors as real and living people. The understanding they give us is > priceless! > > Please keep them coming. > > Charly LaRobardier > >

Judee - The letters you share are little windows through which we all see our ancestors as real and living people. The understanding they give us is priceless! Please keep them coming. Charly LaRobardier

Silas CAULKINS was born in Clark Co., IN but came with his father and stepmother to Morgan Co., IL (later to Scott Co.) as a child. He went back to IN to enlist for the Mexican War and fought in the Buena Vista battle, getting his discharge papers in Morgan Co., IL. He purchased land in CA and lived there in 1858 (Sierra Co) and was in Mariposa Co., CA in the 1860 census as a clerk, possibly for a gold mine since most of the people listed on that page were miners. In 1860 to 1867 Silas lived in Carson City, NV, where he was the Ormsby County clerk and then a federal clerk for some of those years. Unfortunately, he never married or had children and died a pauper in the Old Soldiers' Home in Los Angeles, CA. If anyone has more information on Silas Caulkins, I'd appreciate hearing from you. He was a fascinating man! After reading Bill Allen's e-mail, I'm wondering if Joseph Allen and Silas Caulkins could have traveled to CA together. Linda

Lee, Here are my CREAGERs that were in Wythe Co VA about the same time as yours. Do any of them ring any bells? Mine is the one married to the UTT-OTT. Below you will find some of my CA surnames as well. Let me know if anything connects. Nancy in OR ~~~ Researching (Father) CREAGER [MO-VA-Germany] DEAN [CA-TX-KY-TN]*Gilbert Lafayette Moulder DEAN FERRILL [TN-MO-1800-1850] FERGUSON/FURGUSON [MO-1840's] FLOYD [CA-MO-KY-1800-1850] HILL [CA-MO-VA]*John Christopher HILL HOFFARTH [VA 1700-1850] SHAW [CA-NE-UT-PA]*James B SHAW UTT [CA-NV-MO-VA-PA-Germany] WOOLLEY [CA-MO-IL-KY] (Some Lateral Families) APALATEA [CA-early 1900's]*possible Native American surname around Lake Isabella-Kern Co CA JOB or JOBE [CA-MO-1800-1850]*md WOOLLEYs in MO & CA ORR, William Harrison [CA-MO-SC-1800-1900]*2nd husband of Casandra Melinda FLOYD-HILL-ORR-PORTER PORTER, Jerry [CA-early 1900's]*3rd husband of Casandra Melinda FLOYD First Generation - -------------------------------------- 1. John Jacob -KREIGER- Creager. Born abt 1724 in Froschen Pfatz Germany. John Jacob -KREIGER- died in Wythe Co VA on 16 Jun 1806, he was 82. John Jacob -KREIGER- married Anna Barbara Brandstetter, in Froschen Pfatz Germany. Born on 14 May 1730 in Froschen Pfatz Germany. They had the following children: i. Henry Jacob -KREIGER-. Born on 7 Nov 1745 in Froschen Pfalz Germany. ii. Anna Margaret -KREIGER-. Born on 16 Mar 1748 in Froschen Pfalz Germany. Anna Margaret -KREIGER- died in Froschen Pfalz Germany on 16 Sep 1753, she was 5. iii. John George -KRIEGER-. Born on 19 Dec 1751 in Froschen Pfalz Germany. iv. Eva Katherine -KREIGER-. Born abt Sep 1754 in Froschen Pfalz Germany. Eva Katherine -KREIGER- died in Froschen Pfalz Germany on 28 Jul 1756, she was 1. v. Eva Katherine -KREIGER-. Born on 16 Jun 1757 in Froschen Pfalz Germany. 2 vi. Hans Michael -KRIEGER-CRIGGER- (1762-~1827) vii. Hans Theobold "Dewald" -KRIEGER-. Born on 31 Jan 1762 in Froschen Pfalz Germany. viii. Anna Margaret -KREIGER-. Born abt 1764 in Froschen Pfalz Germany.  Second Generation - -------------------------------------- 2. Hans Michael -KRIEGER-CRIGGER- Creager. Born on 31 Jan 1762 in Froschen Pfatz Germany. Hans Michael -KRIEGER-CRIGGER- died in Wythe Co VA abt May 1827, he was 65. abt 1784 when Hans Michael -KRIEGER-CRIGGER- was 21, he married -CREAGER- Christina, in Montgomery Co VA. Born abt 1765 in Montgomery Co VA. -CREAGER- Christina died aft 1827, she was 62. They had the following children: i. Michael Nathaniel. Born abt 1786 in Montgomery Co VA. Michael Nathaniel died in Black Lick Wythe Co VA on 18 May 1863, he was 77. Buried in Kimberling Church Cem Black Lick Wythe Co VA. Michael Nathaniel married Mary Sluss. Born abt 1785 in Ceres Bland Co VA. Mary died in Black Lick Wythe Co VA on 4 May 1880, she was 95. ii. Henry. Born abt 1788 in Wythe VA. Henry died bef 8 Nov 1841, he was 53. On 2 Aug 1809 when Henry was 21, he married Margaret "Peggy" Cline, in Wythe VA. Born abt 1790 in Wythe VA. iii. John. Born abt 1790 in Wythe Co VA. On 15 Jun 1815 when John was 25, he married Anne Rader, in Wythe Co VA. Born abt 1795 in Wythe Co VA. iv. George. Born on 2 Apr 1792 in Black Lick Wythe Co VA. George died in Crockett Wythe Co VA on 18 Oct 1863, he was 71. Buried in St Paul's Cem Crockett Wythe Co VA. abt 1816 when George was 23, he married Nancy Jane Lanter, in Wythe Co VA. Born on 20 Oct 1794 in VA. Nancy Jane died in Crockett Wythe Co VA on 14 Sep 1858, she was 63. v. Margaret. Born abt 1793 in Black Lick Wythe Co VA. Margaret died on 28 Dec 1868, she was 75. On 11 Nov 1815 when Margaret was 22, she married George Lindamood, in Wythe Co VA. Born abt 1793 in Wythe Co VA. vi. Mary or "Sally". Born abt 1797 in Wythe Co VA. Mary or "Sally" died in Johnson Co MO ABT 1842/1849, she was 45. On 31 Jul 1821 when Mary or "Sally" was 24, she married John Wesley OTT Utt, in Wythe Co VA. Born on 17 Jun 1796 in Blacksburg Montgomery Co VA. John Wesley OTT died in Johnson Co MO abt 1849, he was 52. vii. Abraham. Born abt 1800 in Wythe Co VA. Abraham died in Wythe Co VA bef 14 Jun 1847, he was 47. Buried in St Paul's Cem Crockett Wythe Co VA. On 22 Sep 1825 when Abraham was 25, he married Nancy Umbarger. Born on 29 May 1802 in Wythe Co VA. Nancy died in Wythe Co VA on 18 Jul 1893, she was 91. viii. Elizabeth. Born on 27 May 1805 in Wythe VA. On 27 Sep 1827 when Elizabeth was 22, she married Daniel Robinette, in Wythe Co VA. Born abt 1802 in Wythe Co VA. Daniel died in Smyth Co VA bef Jul 1871, he was 69. ----- Original Message ----- From: MRS. LEE REILLY To: CA-GOLDRUSH-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 5:56 PM Subject: [GOLDRUSH] web site -- FREE GENEALOGY LOOK UP. for Birth, Death, Cem., Marriage and Etc. http://www.expage.com/page/genealogylookup CHECK OUT OUR FAMILY TREE WEB SITE., OVER 7,000 NAMES. Surnames: REILLY of Ireland PARROTT of England ORPHEY of Germany MORRISON From ? to OH CRAGER of Germany to KY to ? and many, many more. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~parrottreilly/ mailto:reilly@accnorwalk.com THANK YOU AHEAD OF TIME LEE REILLY

Dear Listmembers, I thought you might like a little peek at what one miner had to say about life in the goldfields. Judee > Grissly Flat, Jan. 20th 1855. > > Dear Mother, > > All well. The boys have both had a hard spell of the mountain fever. Since I wrote last they have > commenced mining. They seem to like it very (much) well. We have received two letters from > you lately. Sorry to hear such bad news. I wrote John Foote a letter soon after we got in. It is > rather hard times at present we have very little rain. Money is scarce. Provisions cheap. There is > no religious meetings here. There is about 15 familys lives in our town. We have a dance or two > every week. Sundays there is a great rush to town. Whiskey has to suffer. We live 75 miles > from Sac city. Have a good house partitioned off in three rooms plenty of provisions and good > mining claims as far as we prospected. We need more rain to work them effectively. The > Bedsworth's live within ten miles of us at a place called Indian Diggins. I was over making them > a visit last Sunday. Staid with them two days. That was the first I have seen of them since we > got back. They were both well and doing well. They showed me the letter you wrote to them. All > my old chums seemed glad to see me back. > > I make it a rule to put the boys in mind of home once a month. I tell them about their mother and > little sister and give them good advice but I am affraid they do not heed it much.

Hello Nancy, We don't recvognize any of the ALLEN names you cite. Wish we could help. Yours truly, Bill and Loydean Allen ballensr@home.com end ----- Original Message ----- From: Nancy C Waite To: William D. Allen Sr. ; CA-GOLDRUSH-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 10:08 PM Subject: Re: [GOLDRUSH] Goldrushers from Illinois Bill, Would you have a Elihu Marcellus ALLEN in your data? Born 14 May 1791 NY, died 11 Oct 1850 UT, married Lola Ann CLAWSON. Several of their children were born in various places in Illinois. One of his daughters, Laura Albina ALLEN b 19 Sep 1829 NY, d 6 Jun 1871 Santa Clara Co CA, md 1) James B SHAW; 2) Cyrus CANFIELD. Laura is my ancestor. Is anyone researching any of these names? Nancy in OR > >[snipped] > >

Bill, Would you have a Elihu Marcellus ALLEN in your data? Born 14 May 1791 NY, died 11 Oct 1850 UT, married Lola Ann CLAWSON. Several of their children were born in various places in Illinois. One of his daughters, Laura Albina ALLEN b 19 Sep 1829 NY, d 6 Jun 1871 Santa Clara Co CA, md 1) James B SHAW; 2) Cyrus CANFIELD. Laura is my ancestor. Is anyone researching any of these names? Nancy in OR ----- Original Message ----- From: William D. Allen Sr. To: CA-GOLDRUSH-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 12:46 PM Subject: Re: [GOLDRUSH] Goldrushers from Illinois Hello Charles, Here's another Illini who went to the gold fields. Joseph S. Allen is my second great-granduncle. He was born in Casey county in 1790 and arrived in what became Scott county, Illinois in 1819. After serving in the Mexican War From Scott county [his name is on the Scott county website] he left for Nevada county, California in 1849. He believe he married Marry Ann Cleveland in 1850 in Nevada county. He applied for a military pension in 1887 but apparently died there in Nevada county before receiving it. Incidentally, years ago we lived in Ranch Cordova just west of Auburn, Placer county, California, but knew nothing about Joseph then. If you see a connection with your gold country ancestors please let us know. Yours truly, Bill and Loydean Allen ballensr@home.com end ----- Original Message ----- From: Charles J. LaRobardier <chjlarob@peaknet.net> To: <CA-GOLDRUSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 5:04 PM Subject: [GOLDRUSH] Goldrushers from Illinois > Is anyone researching folks from IL who went to the gold rush, particularly Indian Diggings, El Dorado Co? > I am learning (to my surprise) of more from IL all the time who went there, and would be happy to trade data on those from here in IL. I can also do lookups at nearby Belleville (St. Clair County seat) IL, which has an extensive obituary index for one thing. Also in Catholic church records. > > Charly LaRobardier > Belleville, IL >

-- FREE GENEALOGY LOOK UP. for Birth, Death, Cem., Marriage and Etc. http://www.expage.com/page/genealogylookup CHECK OUT OUR FAMILY TREE WEB SITE., OVER 7,000 NAMES. Surnames: REILLY of Ireland PARROTT of England ORPHEY of Germany MORRISON From ? to OH CRAGER of Germany to KY to ? and many, many more. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~parrottreilly/ mailto:reilly@accnorwalk.com THANK YOU AHEAD OF TIME LEE REILLY

Hello Charles, Here's another Illini who went to the gold fields. Joseph S. Allen is my second great-granduncle. He was born in Casey county in 1790 and arrived in what became Scott county, Illinois in 1819. After serving in the Mexican War From Scott county [his name is on the Scott county website] he left for Nevada county, California in 1849. He believe he married Marry Ann Cleveland in 1850 in Nevada county. He applied for a military pension in 1887 but apparently died there in Nevada county before receiving it. Incidentally, years ago we lived in Ranch Cordova just west of Auburn, Placer county, California, but knew nothing about Joseph then. If you see a connection with your gold country ancestors please let us know. Yours truly, Bill and Loydean Allen ballensr@home.com end ----- Original Message ----- From: Charles J. LaRobardier <chjlarob@peaknet.net> To: <CA-GOLDRUSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 5:04 PM Subject: [GOLDRUSH] Goldrushers from Illinois > Is anyone researching folks from IL who went to the gold rush, particularly Indian Diggings, El Dorado Co? > I am learning (to my surprise) of more from IL all the time who went there, and would be happy to trade data on those from here in IL. I can also do lookups at nearby Belleville (St. Clair County seat) IL, which has an extensive obituary index for one thing. Also in Catholic church records. > > Charly LaRobardier > Belleville, IL >

Is anyone researching folks from IL who went to the gold rush, particularly Indian Diggings, El Dorado Co? I am learning (to my surprise) of more from IL all the time who went there, and would be happy to trade data on those from here in IL. I can also do lookups at nearby Belleville (St. Clair County seat) IL, which has an extensive obituary index for one thing. Also in Catholic church records. Charly LaRobardier Belleville, IL

Lee, You may have already seen this - but if not - this site will tell you LOTS about the trails to the West. Move around and explore what all they have to offer. Oregon California Trail Association (OCTA) http://w3.trib.com/~lwisch/octa.html Happy trails, RUTH ___________________ Ruth(Grady) & Don Skewis ruth4527@pacbell.net > -----Original Message----- > From: LEE [mailto:reilly@accnorwalk.com] > Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2000 5:51 PM > To: CA-GOLDRUSH-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [GOLDRUSH] Looking for PARROTT > > > Hello everyone, > I'm looking for Info., on a John PARROTT and Roger McDonald and his son > A. McDonald that went to the CA gold Rush about 1850 though 1851. > In the book of California Wagon Train List vol#1 by Louis J. Rasmussen > page 29 and 30. states that the Fifth OH wagon Train was from > Steubenville, OH. > my John PARROTT and Family lived in Huron Co. OH. > Is there a map of this tail they may have taken? > or any other Info would be greatly appreciated. > Thank you a head of time. > > > -- > Check out our family tree web page., Over 7,000 names. > surnames: > REILLY of Ireland > PARROTT of England > ORPHEY of Germany > MORRISON From ? to OH > CRAGER of Germany to KY to ? > and many, many more. > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~parrottreilly/ LEE mailto:reilly@accnorwalk.com

> Hi everyone, > Looking for Info on William PARROTT and Hannah (LEE) PARROTT children. > William and Hannah (LEE) PARROTT came from Somersetshire, England to > Huron CO. OH., in 1841. > They Had the following children: Mary, John, Charlotte, Frederick, > William, Hannah, Angeline, Eliza and George PARROTT. The last name > spelling may also be PARRATT. > > John PARROTT of Huron Co. North Fairfield, OH > Frederick PARRATT of Huron Co. North Fairfield, OH > William PARRATT of Huron CO. North Fairfield, OH > These three I have Info on. > > >From another family Info., some maybe in these area. > Portland, Oregon > Toledo, OH > Bloomington, ILL > and/or near Goshen, Ind. > > Some went to the CA Gold Rush between 1850 - 1851 > > Any Info., would be greatly appreciated. > Thank you a head of time. > > -- > Check out our family tree web page., Over 7,000 names. > surnames: > REILLY of Ireland > PARROTT of England > ORPHEY of Germany > MORRISON From ? to OH > CRAGER of Germany to KY to ? > and many, many more. > > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~parrottreilly/ > > LEE > > mailto:reilly@accnorwalk.com -- Check out our family tree web page., Over 7,000 names. surnames: REILLY of Ireland PARROTT of England ORPHEY of Germany MORRISON From ? to OH CRAGER of Germany to KY to ? and many, many more. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~parrottreilly/ LEE mailto:reilly@accnorwalk.com