March 1, 1850--Stephen to Sophia Sherwood (Part 1 of 2)

Stephen arrived at the San Francisco Harbor
February 25, 1850

(Part 1 of 2)
Sacrament March 1, 1850

Dear Wife i in good health take my pen in hand this Evning to rite you   i was Deprived the privilege at the isthmus on account of mr Fergeson leaving so quick   we had a pretty hard trip   we landed at San Francisco on February 25   i Did not rite be fore Since I arivd I want ed to find York and Ingarsalls fokes  I can not find them a toll in narry (?) citty   i found Kimball   he is well   we start tomorrow morning for the mines   the prospects for mining is a good (?) here as at home but all bisness is over _____  in the sittes th (are?) thousands without a Dollar and we shant have per haps a Dollar left when in the mine (go to part 2 of this letter)



Quote from an article published in Sacramento, California April 1, 1850.  Perhaps this reflected the thinking of Stephen Sherwood at this time.

"The Middle Fork is now easy of access..........I find tht a great many persons are packing up provisions to supply the miners.  The Dry Diggings between the North and Middle Forks I think will prove richer than any yet discovered.........If my health permits me to remain in the mines my course is marked out.  I  shall go up the Middle Fork as far as I can get and work on the river until the very hot weather drives me off.  I shall then go up to the dry digging and prepare ground for a winter's work, throwing up as much as I can."

March 1, 1850--Stephen to Sophia Sherwood--(Part 2 of 2)

Sacramento (before flood)



Sacramento, California, January 1850

Sacramento had a  flood in January of 1850 which devastated the commercial operations on the embarcadero.  In March, after Stephen Sherwood arrived, there was another flood, but not as serious  as levees and dams had been built by that time.   In October of 1850,  Sacramento had an outbreak of the cholera which caused about eighty percent of the population to leave the city, and  the death of seventeen of the physicians.  (Wikipedia)

(Part 2 of 2)
Mr Fergeson  probly has told you all a bout the Calofornia prises  as yet i could not in vite any wane to come to this country  my pen cant Describe the sufring I have seen sene since i started from home  there was 3 Died on the ship and a grate many sick with out a Dollar   give my best respects to all inquiring friends  give my love to all the children  i Endever to remember you all Daly by my prayers and i trust i am a subject of your prayers   be fath full and we shall reape if we fant not   give my respects to misses Fergeson & children brother Engleman(?) and family Do the best(?)    yes (?) i can rite to Sutters Mill on the account of the post office being ____   it may be  3 or 4 (?) months be fore you get another letter   i sopose(?)  you have writ (?) a grate many times (?) before you have got this
Latt and Harmann (??)  is with me      S. Sherwood