Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-02-18

| was born in Alton, Illinois, on the
18th day oil June, 1897, and am, therefore,
in the seventeenth year of my age. NV
taher's name was VIM. Smith my mothers
maiden name was Jane Cox. l had five
brothers and four sisters. think it was in
the year 1916 that we moved 10 Missouri.
and settled at boat landing or ferry call
ed jamestown, on the North Grand River.
My father kept the ferry.
About eight years ago we moved from
this pace TO Texas, and settled near Paris,
in Lamar County. Here my father and
mother died within one day of each other,
leaving six orphan children behind them.
Three OF my brothers had died before the
death Of my parents. My eldest brother,
who was in ranging company, now came
to settle my fathers affairs and make pro-
visions for our support. He secured homes
for us with different neighbors, but took the
youngest sister, our pet, with him 10 place
her with one OF our aunts.
One days journey from the place where
he left us, he was attacked by the winter
fever, and died in one week. I have three
sisters older than myself. There names
are Elizabeth, Cynthia and Caroline. My
brother James and sister Ellen are younger
than myself. Ellen was four years old
when my parents died. Caroline is a
dwarf, and the neighborS thought that the
medicine the doctors gave her stopped her
growth. She was dear child, and we all
loved her because OF her misfortune. Here
Jane was unable 10 restrain her feelings,
and burst into tears lived with several
neighborS until last February, when l was
married 10 Mr.. James Wilson, a young
farmer, just beginning life with a little
property, consisting in horses and cattle.
He was but nineteen years of age when we
were married. We knew but little of life,
for | was not yet sixteen. fear we were
crazy in getting married while we were so
young. Poor girl when her thoughts went
back TO this period of her life, she wept as
If her heart would break.
We heard that people became rich very
| fast in California, so we concluded 10 move
and commence life in that distant country.
We gathered together the little property
we possessed aud joined party Of emf
grants consisting of fitty-two men, twelve
women and several children. The father
and brothers of my husband were among
this number. There were in all twenty-five
wagons, and the whole company was
placed under the command OF Mr.. Henry
Hickman. We started from Hunt County
on the 9th OF April last, and took the route
for FL Paso. We arrived at the Guadalupe
| Mountains about the 1st of June. Here
the Mescalero Apaches stole from US nine
teen head of cattle six men started in Pur-
suit, but were driven back by the Indians
We went thence to Ell Paso. My husband
not being able to travel we'll with Mr.
Hickman's train, he determined TO remain
at FL Paso till the arrival of another party
of California emgrants. Five of MIR. HIS
men staid with us. While here, the Mex
leans stole nearly all the property we had.
and left US unable to proceed on our Jour-
ney' We could do nothing now except
make our way back to Texas.
About the last OF July we started on our
return, with the fragments of our property
which the thieves had spared. On the
first day of August, my husband and hi.
father left US, and fell into the hands O.
| the Indians. saw them no more aftel