The following
interesting letter was received by Mrs. S. A. Colvin, of Spencerburg, from her
husband, who left his county with the Pike train last spring. The news it
contains is not the latest, but is of general interest to those of this section
of the State who have friends in California on account of its particularizing
names. We omit that portion of it which relates to the trip across the plains.
Nevada City, Upper California, County of Yuba
Oct. 6th, 1850
I found here a number of
my old acquaintances who came out last year, to wit: Robert Shaw, Dudley
Phears, Harvey Wilson, Isaac and Joel Riperdan, Macur Ocheltree and C. F.
Kirtley of Palmyra, Mo. I also saw George Ogle, D. J. Almond, Henry Crow
and Dr. B. F. Todd, who came this year. They were all in good health,
except Ogle, who looked quite badly, but he was able to work. George told
me he had seen T. Ford a few days before on the Yuba river, he was well,
but had had bad luck, he bought some cattle to sell again and had driven off by
Indians. As there are many here who had relations and friends in Pike and
adjoining counties, who may be anxious about them, I wish you to send a copy of
this to the Banner and Record, at Louisiana, and have it published, and keep the
original yourself.
I will tell you their
names and places of abode at present, so far as I know: Mr. Crow and Co., are at
the mouth of Feather river with their cattle, J. Z. and T. H. Jameson of
Lincoln county, Mo. are on Yuba river, 25 miles distant, Z.W. and Robert
Brown, of the same county , are on Bear river, 15 miles , Ephrian Culloip,
Dennis Grandfiele, B.A. Williams, H. C. Reeds, John F. McNutt, Wm Coffee, George
Hammock and J. R. Myers of Lincoln, are here at Nevada, J. W.
Gilmore of Lincoln, on the Yuba.
I will now give the
names from Pike: J. P. Patterson of Paynesville is here, John Worthley
and William F. Jacobs, are on Bear River, 15 miles. Leonard Peck
went with Crow to Mr. Vernon at the mouth of Feather river, also James
T. Eastin, T. C. Johnson, William Doake, and Richard Ficklin. Francis and
William Mc Manama, from Scotland county, with Crow. J. W. Gillum of
Lincoln is at Steep Hollow. I sent by express to Sacramento City for letters,
but did not get any, nor have I received a single line from any one since I left
home. I concluded not to write till I got news from Sacramento, but being
disappointed in getting letters, thought proper not to wait any longer, thinking
you would be anxious to hear from me as soon as possible. Martin Crow
received a letter bearing the sad intelligence of our affictions in the death of
our little babe, and Sarch A. Corker. I did not see the letter, and could
not learn the dates of their.....
.
Sincerely, Blanche Spence in Montana
Transcribed courtesy of Kathleen Wilham