John W. Nelson

NELSON, CALHOUN, PERKINS

Posted By: Larry Nelson (email)
Date: 11/4/2001 at 06:13:08

The following was extracted from the diary of John W. Nelson covering the years of 1854 – 1855.
It contains references to his travels to and in California during the gold rush days.

Sister Ethel (Nelson) Calhoun has written on date of July 11, 1941 from my father's diary (John W. Nelson) of years ago.

My father, John W. Nelson went to Calif., March 6, 1854 (21 years old)

1854
Went to Fairfield by stage March 6, at 3 p.m. cost $.60
Stayed at city hotel till March 8. Bill $.90
Started to Burlington 4 p.m. by stage. Got there at 5 p.m. Paid $3.00
Stayed there till March 10th
Got on steamer McKee at 4 p.m., went to Rock Island, got there at 11 p.m. Lay on mat $.60 (sleep)
Next day got on cars at 8 a.m. for Chicago, landed there at 5 p.m. and put up there till 12th of March
Got ticket to Philadelphia for $18.00 left at 8 a.m.
Stopped at Mansfield and went to arrange…
Went to Uncle Johns on the 14th of Mar. and staid till 15th.
Went to Wooster, left at 4 o’clock the 16th and put up at “Livn Moon Tavern" and took a walk through the city
Got into New York on 17th. Purchased ticket for $155 and bear our own expenses across the Isthmus steerage passage.
Left N.Y. on 20th day of March at 2 o’clock and 20 minutes. Was on Atlantic 9 days. Awful sick—man died and thrown overboard
Landed at Aspinwall at 2 O'clock p.m. Mar. 29th, Staid in railroad house. Got in cars at 9 and got off at 12.
We hired a mule for $10, started across the Isthmus of Panama.
From cars at 1 o'clock and got 2/3 thru that night, hard times.
Started at daylight, 31st day of March.
Got to Panama at 10, had hard times
Got on fleet and went to Golden Gate at 2 o’clock, started that night at 10.
After 14 days landed in San Francisco. Couldn’t get work nor and letters from home.
Out of work and on May 1, took bad with measles and was very bad--and didn't know anything for two nights and days.
At hotel -- all alone--and no one paid any attention and received no care
May 16, Went to work for board. Still weak and sick
May 29, No work. I am resolved to leave Cisco or die trying
Went to work on boat and worked way out to Marysville. Had to leave baggage on board, Later got work for $3 per day.
27 June, Got paid off $66. Sent Hugh a check for $40 on Saint Louis bank.
29 June, Paid stage fare to Shasta. $16.00 Eureka. Traveled without dinner, got to ferry at night.
Got to John Nelson's ranch at 10 a.m.
Commenced to work for J. Lowry for $10 more
Rec'd letter of Joseph Dawson's death July 1854
Commenced a years work for Lowry for $800.
March 6, 1855. I have worked for 39 weeks. First yr., I was away from home.
In April 1855 I sold my land claim to J.M. Brown and crop for $1000.
On May 21st 1855, John W. Nelson and T.M. Johnson contracted to milk 45 cows for 12 months for $1700. Milked 36 in a little over 2 hrs.
then worked on farm from daylight till dark—
In Sept. l855--great excitement about gold mines in Washington Territory.

[He did not go as measles left him with a weakness in breast and could not stand to mine.]
[Extracted by Ethel Nelson Calhoun from John Wilson’s diary]

“When he got to Calif. He had 30 cents in his pocket, and before he got work he got measles and was sick for three months and $50.00 in debt. He sold his body belt to get something to eat, and determined if he ever got on his feet he would never be without money again and he never was. He was 55 days going to California. Five days to N.Y., 9 days on Atlantic ocean, one day or night crossing the Isthmus Ocean, 40 days on Pacific Ocean. He was gone 2 years and came back with $12,000 in gold dust, a nucleus to start with. At his death, Apr. 1,1889 at 56 of age, he owned 840 acres of land, $3200 personal property. Bought with price of a handshake and sacrifice. Mother always there to help. On his return home he had a beautiful watch --cost $150 and was handed down to bro. John and in turn to his son John C. Also he bo't each of his sisters and bros. and father and mother a gold ring, same to be returned to him at their death. Sister Min had one—after Mother's death one came to me. Mamie E. Perkins, whose daughter, Bessie Bole now has.” [Comments of Ethel Nelson Calhoun]

original letter owned by
Mrs. David Perkins, Spokane Wn.
(wife of grandson of Mamie Perkins)
[letter transcribed Feb, 1984, Mrs. David Perkins]

[I calculate the trip to have taken 38 days, not 55 as stated above. He was 14 days on the Pacific Ocean, not 40.] L. Nelson