It is October 13, 1850.
Bill Warren is writing to his father while on his overland journey to the California gold fields.
“Dear Father
I take up my pen for to write you a few lines hoping they will finde you and Mother ... Lucian ... Larry and the babe (I have forgot its name) all well.
I have enjoyed good health moste of the time cince I left home.
When we got to St Joseph [Missouri] Uncle Cody had taking in a Hongarian by the name of John Cowen.
All things got right as we supposed we crossed the Missouria river Saturday the 20th and Sunday mornning we started for the Plains.
But the two horses that was hitched to the little waggon took fright and ran down the bluff and turned over the waggon broke one wheal all to smash.
This put an end to our start then so we rehiched the horses and piched our tent and made our selves at home saying a bad begining made a good ending.
Wednesday the 29th of Apral the waggon wheale being fixed we started again bidding fairwell to the States and thinking rather soberly of the future for our prospects were not very promising.
The Praries as bean as when they was first burnt but for all we had a very pleasant time.
I helped to kill an olde Buffalow but did not consider that any great feat for he was so poor that he could not get out of the way.
We had nothing more than imagionary trouble with the Indians, not so with all.
Some had their horses stolen.
Some were wounded with arrows and had to be lefte behind and more than one poor fellow loste his life by the shafts of these barberous heathans.
I saw one young man gasping his last caused by a wound made by an Indians arrow near the heart.
He was standing guard and whale he was walking from one point to another the Indian arose in the grass a few steps from him and shot intending to kill him on the spot, but he gave the alarm and the Indian fled.
I am sorry that I have to tell you that we did not get to Calefornia as we expected when we left home but the truth must be told.
Our provision began to get rather short and Uncle Cody concluded that it was best for him to go ahead and see if he could not get through and find a place to stop in the mines.
That day Miner tolde me that he was a going to take the horses and hes clothing.
Hes taken very sick with the Mountain fever and then some of us was sick all the way to Salt lake.
After Mr Miner began to get a little better Uncle Cody was taken sick.
None escaped except Uncle John.
I was taken when within fifteen miles of Salt Lake and had to be in the wagon going down the mountain.
When we got to the valley Uncle John went and found Aunt Abigales house.
They was all well.
We stayed thare three days.
Aunt Abigal and cousin Unis and Susan were very kinde to me while I was sick.
They washed and mended my clothes.
Made me a broad brim straw hat which I am wereing now.
Uncle William took Uncle John and myself in his waggon to the warm springs where we took a bathe which so much revived me that we all concluded to make a start again on our longe and drearry journey.
I would like to have time and room to tell you more about our journey but Uncle John wating for me to go withe him a prospecting and I maust be short.
Uncle John and myself live together.
We have a tent and things quite comfoteable.
We are going to hunt winter quarters now.
The prospects of the mines are not as faverable as they have been.
Wages are found to 5 dollars a day and board yorself.
I must quit writing.
Give my regerdes to all the friends and relations.
I am in hopes that I will see you all again in a year or two.
Please to write me a letter as soon as you get this.
Direct your letters to Sacramento City Upper California.
In haste from your afectionate son
William P. Warren”
I’ll see you tomorrow.
— Brenda
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