The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-03-14
THE LAST OF THE FoRTY.NINERs
Man Who Crossed The Plains During
California Gold Rush Found
Indians Friendly


One of the few "Forty-Niners" who
are still living is c. r. Post, of this
city, now 80 years old. He crossed
the Great Divide to California, start
ing from st. Louis when 1t was a
town of 5000 or 10000. He was one
of "a party of 400 who went West in
the search for gold, most of them
being Illinoisans, Posts former home
being in Sangamon County. The party
on leaving st. Louis had 100 oxen to
draw the wagons, but Post found this
method of travelling too slow, and so,
with a few companions and four OK
en-, he set out ahead and beat the
rest of the party to California by a
month.
Post is still vigorous, and takes
great interest in business and church
affairs, In September he returned
from a visit to San Francisco, where
he had been in its early days and had
seen some of its thrilling events
many of which are mentioned in THE
Gray Dawn" story by Stewart Ed
ward White. Post knew Judge Terry,
who was sought by mob, and other
characters whom White names.
On his visit to San Francisco Post
was able to find the site of the old
boarding house where he stayed more
than a half century ago, now part OF
Portsmouth square.
The journey across the great plains
was not accomplished without great
hardship. Often they ran short of
iood and frequently there was insult
ficient grass for the cattle. On the
way they caught up with one party
that had been reduced to such straits
that its members became cannibals
and actually ate one of their number.
While modern novels and the NOV
les depict the Forty-Niners as having
been attacked by Indians, their wo.
men stolen, men scalped and killed,
Post says ne found the Indians ex-
ceptionally friendly all the way
across, although their party was a
small one. Even the Sioux were hos
pitable.
After reaching Humboldt River the
party followed the stream until it dis
appeared under "a desert, to reappear
after stretch of many miles Posts
party took two days to cross the des-
ert, two of the oxen dying on the trip.
But, once across, there was the river
again, cool and refreshing, and Post
recalls how he stood on its banks for
10 minutes contemplating 1t as the
most beautiful sight he had ever seen,
before quenching his thirst,
Post was one of the fortunates who
found gold. He located near Downey-
vile, and soon after beginning his
hunt he dug his spade behind rock
in II shallow stream and drew 1t forth
laden with pay dirt" contained $500
worth OF gold,
Later Post engaged in the lumber
trade. AS San Francisco was paying
sky.high prices for building material
lie sawed trees into lumber and made
big money at IT, In 1852 he left San
Francisco for St Louis, via the 18th
mus of Panama, and crossed the 18th.
mus along mountain trail used for
several centuries.
While every Western town and min.
ing camp was largely given over to
gambling and drinking, Post says he
has never taken drink in his life,
and that he gambled but 10 cents.
This was in 1862 in San Francisco,
when he loaned man in dance
hall that amount and lost,
Mr. Post is the father of the late
C.. W. Post, the millionaire manufac.
turer of Battle Creek, Mich, who left
him $4,000 He does not appear to
be over 40, His wife. a St Louis wo.
man, died only year ago.-Ft Worth
Tex, Cor. New York World