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