Democratic banner., 1850-12-30
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
The following interesting letter was received
by Mrs. S. A. Colvin, Of Spencerburg, from hel
husband, who left this 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, OF
account of its particularizing names. We omi
that portion of it which relates 10 the trip acros.
the plains. 1t is dated
Nsyada City. Upper California, }
County Of Yuba, Oct. Sta, 1850. :
] found here number Of my old scquaint'
ances who came out last year; to-wit:-
Robert Shaw, Dudley Phesrs, Harvey Will
son, Isaac and Joel Riperdsn, Marcus Och.
eltree and C. F. Kirtley, of Palmyra, Mo,
/ also saw George Ogle, D. j. Almond.
Henry Grow 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, lie was well, but had had bad
luck lie bought some cattle to sell again,
and had them driven Of by Indians.
As there are many here who have rela-
itions and friends in Pike and the adjoining
counties, who may be anxious about them,
l wish you to send a copy of this to the
Banner and Record, at Louisiana, and
have it published, and keep the original
yourself. ! will tell you their names aud
places Of abode at present, SO far as
know:
Mr.. Crow & Co., are at the mouth of
Feather river with their cattle, ]. q. & Il.
Fl. Jameson of Lincoln county, Mo-, are on
IYnba river, % miles distant, Il. ". and
Robert Brown, Of the same county, are on
Bear river. 10 miles; Ephrsim Cullop, Dem
mis- Grandfele, B. A. Williams, H. C. Reeds,
John +. McNutt, VIM. Coffre, George
Hammock and J. +. Myers, Of Lincoln, are
here st Nevada, ]. w. Gilmore of Lincoln,
on the Yuba. will now give the names
from Pike: ]. p. Patterson, of Paynesville,
is here, John Worthley and William +. ia
.cObs, are on Bear River, Is miles. Leon
ard Peck went on with Crow to Mt. Yer
non, at the mouth of Feather river, also
James L. Eastin, T. c. Johnson, William
Doake, and Richard Ficxlin. Francis and
William McManama, from Scotland county,
went with Crow. ]. ". Gillum of Lincoln,
is at Steep Hollow.
sent by express to Sacramento City for
letters, but did not get any, nor have | re-
.ceived a single line from any one since
left home. concluded not to write till
got news from Sacramento, but being dis
e~pPoinsed in getting letters, thought proper
not to wait any longer, thinking you would
be anxious to hear from me as soon as pos
sible. Martin Crow received a letter bear
ing the sad intelligence of our affections in
the death Of u little babe, and Sarah A.
.Corker. did not see the letter, aud could
not learn the dates of their death.
Marcus Ocheltrse got a letter from home
dated in June, which contained the news of
Sarall's death, but he could not tell me the
precise date. | wrote to you giving the
names Of all who died in our train, but for
fear you did not get those, | will inform you
in this. We lost five out Of fifty, to-wit:-
Levi Armstead, John Mosier, VIM. D. Cla-
ry, Geo. A. Gillum and hardwood Merritt,
all died of cholera, between the 18th and
22d of June, on Platte river.
You and others no doubt, would be glad
to know my opinions IN relation TO Califor-
mia. AS to the country at large, ] have as
yet, no opinion because | have seen but q
very small portion Of it myself. The part ]
have seen is very mountainous, having
barren soil, with timber and water of the
best quality. The timber is mostly large
pine and fir trees, many Of which are more
than $50 feet high, the most majestic | ever
saw. There are oaks among the pine, and
some trees | do not know. AS ] become
more acquainted with the country. | will
give such views of it as | think to be truth.
As to a mans prospects to make money
here, / will inform you that they are dull al
present ; the season is so far advanced, thai
soon the rains will set in, and then a MAJ
cannot do very much at anything. A grea,
many are very much disappointed, and
thousands are daily leaving for the States
if the reports from Sacramento be true
The vast emigration shat came in this sea-
sor, have found the whole country explored
by those here before them, aud all the
streams worked ont, and the best mines