Pattalome City, Sonoma County,
California
Dear Children: After my best respects to you all I can inform you that I am yet
on the land of the living and we are all well and hearty and hope these lines
may find you all in good health. I have many things to write to you. I left the
state line on the 13th day of April 1853 and landed in Jackson, California on
the 16th of September 1853, after a long and tedious trip of five months and
five days. I stopped there a month. John BOUSE stopped there and J.J. HENSLEY
stopped about twenty miles below on Consbia River. Hugh S. ENLOEs wife had a
five daughter on September the 18th day and calls its name Rachel. Hugh went
south down near. I think we were all wore out and tired of traveling and our
cattle so too. The intention of the boys was to go about 230 miles south to
where Abraham and J.H. MURRAY live. We saw Abraham and family--they came to see
us in Jackson. He told us that Joshua and himself was farming together and in a
good country, and about 170 miles from any place of trade, and doubted the
health being so good as it was on the sea breezes. I then studied my judgement
and concluded I and the old woman was old and had a seasoning to go through in
the country. I then set out myself and old woman and three little girls to cross
the Sacramento river at Sacramento City about 50 miles, and the continued our
course in northwest about 100 miles further and in about 12 miles of the ocean
and there rested my stock about two weeks. I have now passed two places of tide
water and then I went back about 6 or 8 miles and stopped one-half of a mile
above this city, and myself and a young man from Ohio taken us up a claim of 160
acres apiece and built us a frame house about 40 steps from tide water and our
spring is about 40 feet from the house and first rat water and about 3 feet
deep. Our land is rich and black gumbo land. Guess this land is like all other
land in this part of the country. It is in dispute between the United States and
a Spanish grant and if the government gains it I have made my file, and if the
Spanish grant gains it I lose it all, but we think our chances good. We have got
seven lots in this city enclosed and intend improving them this season. There is
three steam boats running here and about twelve sail vessels. These boats run
from here to San Francisco City. There is large bounds of good family farming
country around here. We shall run our wagon and team, hauling in good business.
Here we are about 50 miles north of Sancisco City and all the way by water. I
see this morning plenty of snow on the mountains about 8 miles off. The wild
oats is entirely green all over the valley and hills, stock is doing first rate
on the range. The climate is mild and healthy. The people look fresh and well.
There is about 20 warehouses in this city and mostly filled with Irish potatoes,
and they are of a little demand. I saw Mark HUNTER on his way to the states, he
told me he had lived by a good many of the Cole County people Judge EWING, some
of the WALSERS. We started too soon, we had to lay back on account of grass. Our
company all landed safe though, we had but very sickness. On the way the old
woman took the mountain fever at the Willow Springs, which lasted her a few
days, she then recovered and stood the trip well. She became very poor and lean
in flesh, but she walks into the Saravadia mountains without drawing a breath. I
never lost but one meal on the road and the reason of that was that I was about
9 or 10 miles from camp after a cow, and about dusk the Indians got after me and
made me lay in a bunch of grass, two hours before day, when I made my escape to
safety. Some of our stock got lame and we had to sell it to the traders at a
reduced price, but on Carson river our cattle began to die; our oxen died so I
had to leave one of my wagons. I had to sell my mare, she got so poor, and I got
into Jackson with one wagon and four yoke of oxen and then I lost one in a mine
hole, then I sold three of my oxen for $225. We run out of provisions on Humbolt
river then we had to give 40 c a pound for flour and bacon from 50c to 75 c a
pound; coffee 50 c, rice from 30 c to 40 c; beef 30 c a pound. My lost property
and expenses coming over here is a little over $1000, the health was good on the
road for the people, but bad on stock of all kinds. It is thought by all who is
acquainted that there is a loss of one-third of stock in crossing last season.
Peary HENSLEY and us got parted, he went on a little ahead one evening and we
were detained a hunting stock and the Indians done a little depredation, and he
had to go on with the company he was with, and he beat us in about ten days. Old
Mrs. HENSLEY died in Carson Valley with old age, aged 69 years. I am well and
hearty and well satisfied with my trip and believe it to be a good healthy
country. The trip is not bad as I expected. Am here with the expectation of
being where most of my children are, but really my boys are about 300 miles from
me. I have not seen Joshua since he left the states. Barbara Ann is about 150
miles from here and Margaret is 130 miles from here; Rachel is well and hearty
and weighs 150 pounds and has made $50; Sallie looks fresh and well and has
about 16 hens and paid $2 a piece for them; I sold some eggs for about a $1 a
dozen. We have some hogs. I think we are about 2600 miles from your country. I
wish you would let Jane ENLOE read this letter and we will write her the next
mail, and I want you to write to is without fail. Direct to Patlaloma City,
Sonoma County, California. No more at present but still yours until death.
Thos. Murry and Barbara Murry
Submitted by:
Kelly Hagen
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