Files

Download

Download Full Text (8.6 MB)

Creator

Sylvan Rathbun

Recipient

Albert Rathbun

Transcription

Albert Rathbun. Almond. Allegany. Co. N.Y. Stockton Cal. Oct. 30 Kieffers Ranch Calaveras River Oct. 25, 50 Dear Brother I have met with many disapointments and [losses] since I wrote you last of which I will give you a summary account. After finishing the brush play house which I told you I was building I lost my mule lost about four days time looking after him he was stole affter that I commensed diging again and when my partner could not tend the store alone I [assisted] him in the mean time wee had to trust out considerable provision to people turning the river [the river] or loose custom so when they had got the river turning completed there came a hevy rain which broke the dam away and knocked evry thing in the head the company disolved and went evry which way and wee will have to whistle for our [ ] it was then about the 20th of September and [our] funds wer too small to buy a winters stock of provision so wee made proposels to a man by the name of Benit who came on the [vessal] with us to join us. As he had plenty of capital and was a good cook and baker wee thought it would be the best thing wee could do to buy a teem and for me to draw our own goods. Benit attend to the cooking and baking and Rouse to the store so Benit and me went to Sacramento City bought teem and load of goods after returning Rouse wanted to quit the buisiness altogether all our persuasion was of no use so we bought him out directly Benit got sick of the [business] and wanted to sell out to me at the same time the adjoining firm made a proposal told me if I wished to join them they would tend to the bakeing and cooking and I might drive teem and then there would be no competition So I joined them and gave Benit our note for his part of the store I then went to Stocton [Stockton] bought a load of goods and took them to the bar and returned back to Kieffers ranch which is half way on my rode to Stocton I am here now scribling with a steel pen half split open I sill enjoy first rate helth which I prize above evry thing els that earth can aford When I joined this last company I joined with the expectation of making a hansom little some of money through the winter and [then] [come] home but my prospects are once more [ ] I plainly se that I will make nothing while I remain in the company one of the company has a felon on his hand and other two dos not half tend to their [buisiness] so I will quit the company and in what maner I do not know yet if I should get the cattle I would leave them on Kieffers ranch till febuary where they would be safe and have plenty of feed and for that space of time work at mining myself then take the cattle and teemit the rest of the winter I will write you again as soon as I get [buisiness] settleed you mus not forget to write if paper is plenty and you do not know what to write about spin some long yarns about what my old school mates are doing give my best respects to the crowd Sylvan Rathbun

Location

Kieffers Ranch Calaveras River

Date Original

10-25-1850

Images

This item was originally represented in 2 individual JPEG image(s) and has been converted to a single file PDF.

Source

MSS2.R183 RATHBUN, SYLVAN GOLD RUSH LETTERS

Owning Institution

University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections.

Copyright Statement

To view additional information on copyright and related rights of this item beyond that of educational use - such as to purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish them, click here to view the Holt-Atherton Special Collections policies.

Upload File

wf_yes

html

Letter from Sylvan Rathbun to Albert Rathbun 1850 Oct. 25
COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.

 
 

Rights Statement

Rights Statement

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).