My greatgreatgrandfather, Samuel Harmon, and his brother, Lewis Harmon, were born in Cleveland County, North Carolina. In 1850, they went to Arkansas and, after a few months there, went west to California. What else were young men to do in 1850? Below are exerpts from two letters written by Lewis Harmon to his parents relating to this. Letter #1: "State of Arkansas, Lawrence County---March the 24th day 1850---Dear Father and Mother...we...worked like heroes for About one Month then we guit (sic) working at our farming Bisnefs and went to fixing for California we are going to Start to California the first day of April we hae got Every think most Ready I dont want you to think harde of us for going to California for me and Brother Samuel is Both going to gether There is Two Waggons going gether and 9 men all will these men are all Single but two. But we Expect to have A Croud (sic) of About 1000 men When we leave independence A place of Randabuse (sic) where we all meet to take A fair Start all there...I dont want Father nor Mother Brothers nor to weep After me thoug in california I be. I want to see you all Just as bad as you want to see me But the Good Lord only knows whether we ever will see each other Again or not But if we never do see Each other in this world I hope that we will meat (sic) in that Better world to come I want you to tell Brother Higly that I am Still determin (sic) by the Grace of God to Try to get all the Way to the good world tell him that I want him not to forget to Ask God in cecret (sic) devotions to Blefs my poor Soul thoug I be in california...Right to me as soon as you receve (sic) this letter direct your letters Sacrimento City in the california Gold mines ...." Letter #2: "State of Arkansas Laurance Conty (sic)---June the 26th 1851---Dear Father and Mother...You Said in your letter that you would like for me to tell you Something About my travles to california and Back in my travile I saw a great many curiossities the Rocky mountians (sic) that have heard so much talk About you would not Know when you was on the Sumet if you was not told only by the change of (?) It is cold as crout on the S4t of July [Note: I think this refers to his mother's sour kraut.] I was on Snow 8 or 10 Ft deep and on the Sirenavada mountaiins and Snowy mountians we past our Snow from 10 to 15 ft in depth and frost evry mornig I traveled down the humbolt River About 325 miles that I never got A good dring of water I drant out of the river where the River was full of dead cattle & horses the water tasted Just like an old mill pond Smells and all most smith warm at that, how often I think of the good cool spring At gransorg But I was two far off. Some folks may think that a voyge on Sea would be a plsure trip but I dont think it I Sailed About fourteen thousand miles on Sea and I was Sea Sick 6 weeks on a start from San francisco to panama is 3546 miles and from Shagres to oleans 2000 miles but we had head wind and on Sail vessels that we had to tack Back and foward (sic), So end the Chpter at present But remains your Son till death Lewis Harmon" Ruth Skewis asked me to post these. I hope they are suitable. Sincerely, Charles Riner