Thought I would send this transcript. If you want copy of original I will send it snail-mail. Christopher Armitage is the name mentioned in the letter. Benjamin F. Herrold is living in Laporte County Indiana, but his family is still in Athens County, Ohio. He left Athens County when he went to California. He had relatives in LaPorte county, Indiana and ended up settling there. LaPorte county State of Indiana July the 3-1851 Dear Sister I received your letter and was glad to hear from you and should like to see you very much. you say you want me to come after harvest for you if nothing hapens. I shal come if Thomas i Wilson wants to come and see the folks and country and bring you along, that I will pay the expence out and back for horses are very dear in this part of the country and I should have no other use for them after I had made the trip, but I intend to provide some way, Sop, to get you here if I have to come with A whell barrow, for it would be a great comfort to me to have you here where I could see you every day, then I could talk more freely and could tell you all about my California trip which was a hard one, I assure you, but I stood it first rate and am not sorry that I went. Although I did not make a fortune but did better than to staid at home. I avraged 50 dollars per month from the time I started until I got back again. We took a sailing vessel at San Francisco and was 55 days getting to Panama. The fare was hard salt beef and pork and hard bread and for several days we had nothing, but bread and water but we had plenty of lice I assure you. I saw Doctor Mansfield. We ware in company from Chagres to New York. he told me that he saw Christopher Armitage and Isack Desler. I meant to sent some presents by him to them chiln but it was dark when we landed and the captain was drunk and so was the pasengers which caused quite an excitement and I did not see him any more. Tell Thomas he had better come out and bing Barbra along if he will I have got 80 dollars for him and will send it to him or pay it when he comes. no more at present. excuse this imperfect letter and poor writing and bad selling and write soon the next time I will try and do better-- F Herrold Sophia Herrold Frankie (Linda DeFrees Franks) Soda Springs, Idaho [email protected]