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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
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Source
MSS2.R183 RATHBUN, SYLVAN GOLD RUSH LETTERS
Owning Institution
University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections.
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Recommended Citation
Rathbun, Sylvan, "Letter from Sylvan Rathbun to Albert Rathbun 1850 Oct. 25" (1850). Gold Rush Life. 6.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/grcc/6
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