Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-05-02
late FROM CALIFOl1NIA.
GMRRIoNN RIVER, CALIEoaNIA, ,
59, ~ aat March Ah, 1851.
MEssRs. STREET a. WARDEN,

'' Editors Of Des Noiaes Courier:
The following is for the purpose of
giving information to the parents or
friends of a small boy who find in this
country, without friends or relations
Believing that you will have the good
ness 10 aid in giving information to dis
tant mother Of a lost child, through the
columns Of your excellent paper, take
the liberty Of addressing you the boys
history. II is something like this
lie says that his father lived on the Nod
AWAY River in the State of Iowa, tina,
there. were no white people lived near
,hem--some Winnebago Indians lived
close about: his father had mill and
large sarm-that his father started 10
California with wagon and mule team,
bringing this boy and younger brother,
and leaving the mother and the balance
Of the family on the farm; that they
came to St. Joseph In Missouri, and
stopped about week. Whilst there his
father agreed with man who was going
10 drive some sheep 10 Salt Lake, for
this Toy to help him drive up to Traders
Point, as his father was going up to that
place 10 cross the riyer-his father star
ted one day before they did with the
sheep. On the evening after leaving ST.
Joseph, they drove on until dark and
stopped alta house, and the sheep driver
said to the boy, Ego into the house and
stay there until drive the sheep 20
field short distance off, and then will
return and stay with you." The boy
accepted the offer, went into the house,
and the sheep driver never came back.
The boy waited there two or three days,
and supposing his father would still be
waiting at Traders Point for him, land
hearing no tidngs from the sheep driver,
whose name the boy says was Stewart
he set out foot and alone for Traders
Point and arrived there after suffering
much with hunger, but could hear moth
ing Of his father. He says there were
many people and wagons there. He
. then went to Kanesville, where he says
he saw great many persons and wag-
ons, but all were strangers. He could
hear nothing of his father. About this
time man came 10 him, talked very
kindly, and told him it was most proba-
bic that his father had crossed the River
and gone on, and proposed to take him
along and oyertake his father las he had
a very good team, TO which the boy a.
greed. This mans name, the boy says,
is Howe, and lives in the town of Wa
pello, Louisa county, Iowa, and Is
Doctor. When they came 10 The forks
of the road, the boy told DIR. Howe he
though, his father was going by The way
Of Salt Lake, but the DIR. took him along
with him on he Fort Hal! route, and az
ter much suffering they arrivedat George
town in California, without hearing d
word of The boys father. After remain
ing there a few days, provisions scarce
and mining poor he says the DR.. offered
him for sale, and asked two hundred
dollars for him; but finding no purchaser,
the DR.. brought him TO Cold Springs,
which is on The direction towards Sac
-amento City, sill offering to sell him.
Here The DR.. finally put him up at pub
lie auction to the highest bidder, and
while in the act of selling, the boy slip
ed around through the company and
made his escape, and found his way to
this neighborhood. Some time in No
vember he lived about and went from
place 10 place during the winter, bu: ]
never learned his situation until few
weeks since, when he came TO my house
crying and said he was in want of a
home, that he had no nome, no parents,
no friends in the country, and says that
his name is John and his fathers name
is Walter WcAllister and his mothers
name Isabella, that he was Is years of
age last December He does not know
the county nor the nearest post Office
where his mother resides. have taken
him under my care and have published
his history in one Of our city papers. 1;
is hoped that through the philanthropy
Of the printers in Iowa and Missouri his
history will be published until it meets
:he eye Of perhaps tender and heart
broken mother. | shall take care of the
boy. il possible. This is bad country
FOR boys, and the sooner his parents get
him the better. The history given is
from the boy himself. ] have lately
seen one Of the men who came Ihrough
with DR.. Howe, who informs me tina. he
DR.. has returned home. And says also !
thar the company opposed the DR.. in
moving the boy from the Missouri River.
| have no knowledge Of the affair nor
any Of the parties, only as ! have recei-
we'd the same Of the boy. There ap.
pears 10 be wrong somewhere, but on
whom j, rests do not presume to offer
an opinion. Any communication from
the friends of the boy directed to me al
Sacramento City. shall receive prompt
attention.
Permit me TO say to you Messrs. Ed