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