Iowa Old Press

The Gazette
Davenport, Scott, Iowa

Jan 2, 1850
Six monks died of cholera on board the steaboat Constitution near St. Louis,
on the 15th ult. They were from Waterford, Ireland and bound for
Dubuque.---Galena Gazette.

Married
Tuesday evening, 25th ult., by Rev. B.F. Brabrook, Mr. James Duty, of Cedar
co. to Miss Catherine Sauners, of Scott co.

In Davenport, on Tuesday evening, 1st inst., by the same, Mr. W.H. Baker, of
Black River, Crawford Co., Wis., to Miss Elizabeth Henderson, late of
Deposite, Delaware Co., N.Y

At LeClaire, on the 25th ult., by Rev. W. Rutledge, Mr Isaac Hess to Miss
Hannah Birchard.

On the 25th ult., by the same, Mr. Irving Sewell to Mis Mary Little Page.

Died.
Near Davenport, on 29th ult. Mrs. Mary L., wife of Jacob Eldridge and
daughter of Joseph S. and Mary F. Woodward, in the 28th year of her age.

On Thursday, 27th ult., Virginia, daughter of Charles and Louisa Weston,
aged 1 year 11 months 13 days.

On the 24th ult. at the residence of Chas. Brophy, Clinton co., Iowa, of
Scarlet Fever, John Jacob, youngest son of R.C. and M.C. Bourne, age 2 years
and 6 months.The absence of the father in the distant land of California,
renders the above death peculiarly distressing.

Jan 10, 1850
On Wednesday the 26th ult, in this place by the Rev. A Louderback, Mr.
William S. Cooke of Moline, Ills. to Miss Lucy Rutledge of London, Eng.


Jan 10, 1850
Alfred Sanders, Editor

FROM THE CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTS
     Quite a number of letters, from those who went overland from this
county to California, were received in this place last week. A letter from
Mr. Thomas to Mr. Crossin, of Davenport, dated at Sacramento City, the 18th
of Sept., states that his party arrived there on the 5th of that month. Mr.
Hires, of Princeton precinct, Scott county, preceded him several days.
Cheever & Fry of this county and Dr. Brackett of Rock Island, had arrived
previously.-- John Fisher, formerly of this place, who was reported to have
been shot, was at work on the American Fork.
     Mr. Thomas speaks of the hardships of the route, of the quantity of
gold in California, wages, provisions, etc., in the same strain of Mr.
Lambert in the following extract which we are permitted to make from his
letter, dated at Sacramento City, Oct. 2d, 1849:-
     "We have all of us, who started from Davenport, got through safe, with
our two wagons.- Dr. Brown, Daniel Hawley and R. Scroggins with one team;
and David Rogers, S. Stockton and myself with the other. We six have messed
together and traveled together, from Davenport to Sacramento City, at
Sisters Fort. We have traveled over all kinds of roads, and mountains of the
roughest kind; the dust of the roads in many places over our boot tops. But,
thank God, we have all arrived safely in Sacramento.
     We have not lost an ox or broke a wagon since we left home, or any of
us had serious sickness on the route. But there are thousands who have died
and been laid beneath the clods of the prairies, away from their wives and
children, from father, mother, brothers, sisters all the heart holds dear.
And there are thousands who left the States who have lost their teams- some
died and some stolen by the Indians- and a great many have been obliged to
pack through on their own backs. what is to become of those who are behind
us, we are said to number eight thousand teams, some of them four or five we
eks behind! God only knows what will be their fate. There is not feed on all
the roads over the mountains for one-half of the cattle.- God save the
families of women and children that are yet behind. Although the government
has appropriated one hundred thousand dollars and sent over cattle and
provisions to assist the back emigrants, yet many must perish.
     We should have got through three weeks sooner only we took a new trail
from Mary, on Humboldt river, and crossed the mountains up near the Oregon
line, which made our road two or three hundred miles further than the old
road; but we were obliged to take the new road on account of scarcity of
food for our cattle in the old road. There is plenty of gold here if it will
not all be got in fifty years. It has been very sickly in the mines this
summer, but it is said to be now more healthy.
     I cannot tell what I shall do at this time. Carpenter's wages in the
city are from 15 to 20 dollars per day, and any kind of labor, from 8 to 10
dollars per day. Pork sells for 40 dollars per bbl; and flour 16 dollars per
bbl; sugar and coffee 15 cents per lb; cheese 1 dollar per lb; butter the
same; potatoes 50 cents per lb; onions one dollar per lb; fresh beef 25
cents per lb; dry goods are cheap.
     It is now six months, within seven days, since I left home. There is
the best opportunity here now to make money that I ever saw or heard of.
Some make fifty thousand dollars in a few months, and some make nothing.
     We have been very busy this day getting ready to go up to the mines. We
start to-night at 12 o'clock. We are going on the south branch of the
American Fork, about 50 miles from Sacramento City. There are four of us in
company, David Rogers, Robert Scroggins, Daniel Hawley and myself. We are
taking up a load of provisions with our team. I shall write again soon.
     G.W. LAMBERT.

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