596327

[phelps.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #2621, Date of Import: Aug 30, 1998]

Came to North Fairfield, Huron County, Ohio about 1827/8.

A newspaper account copied from the Scrapbook of Bertha Baker.
The newspaper is the "Norwalk Experiment"
The article appears on page six, it was on a Thursday, but the date is unknown
Transcribed April, 1995, D.M. Baker

Old Letters Written by Fairfield Man Describe Perils of Long Trip to Gold Fields of California in 1850

Records Left by Great Grandfather of Miles Burras, County Clerk of Courts, Give Exciting Details of Adventurous Trip

Reuben Burras of Fairfield, great grandfather of Miles Burras, County Clerk, left his home Janaury 1, 1850, for the gold fields of California. On his way and after his arrival in California, he wrote a number of letters to his wife. These are remakable for color and historical interest and have been preserved by his grandson Edwin Burras, who lives on the farm bought by Reuben Burras in 1834. The letters follow:

 

"Kentuckey, Jan. the 5th. Having leisure, being well, I lay this hseet on my truck to write; the boat in motion I lift Scipio next morning in poor health, eating too much, no exercise. We went through a poor county till we came to Mad river. In the towns houses stood without gardens or fence.

Cow Derails Car

" Cost $5.60 on the cars to Cincinnati. I am on the steamboat Silas H. Wright. I pay ten dollars for cabin passage to Orleans. We got alone well on the cars till half past six. It was dark, the snow fell thick. The conducting car was thrown from the track by a cow. Her head was mashed, the body thrown down the banks of the Miami. We stopped three hours to get fixed. Another car came from the south and whistled for us to clear the track. We stood our ground. They came with fire and smoke within a few feet, then stopped; fastened to our car, jerked her on the track, pushed us back that we might get wood and water and let them pass.

"The smallpox is very thick, one captain died at Cincinnati yesterday. It is said there are three thousand cases there. There are a few cakes of ice floating down. Where I got on board the river is as far across as from my house to the school house. Running slow. This mornining at five o;clock I awoke, the boat was standing still in thick fog rising from the river, forty miles from Louisville up. Seamour is with me and is well; got goods for his paper in Cincinnati for one cent on the dollar. I am some afraid of getting the smallpox. Tell the boys to tell no lies nor take strong drink but go to school and lear. On board is Donaldson, minister from Tennessee on his return from England.

I had my letter enveloped and supposed I was done writing. I saw Louisville close at hand. I find our boat fast upon a rock, a pilot is sent for and a steamboat is alongside trying to move us off. We are little above the rapids. There is no ice here. Everything seems to obstruct our getting along, but my face is set like steel to the flint for the yellow sparks.

Donolson: his appearance is like that of Tom Corwin, taller, more corpulent, a boy among boys, a man among men. A large number of steamers are lying in this port, 12o'clock pm.

I shall mail this letter at Louisville when I land. Seamour is a good hand to travel with. The weather is clear but cold is the wind. Good potatoes are here, pineapples and sweet potatoes. I will write what remains next time.
R. Burras

I would like it if I had my best clothes. The people on board are well dressed. i could have taken a deck passage at two dollars fifty cents. That was filled with Dutch and Irish, no pleasant place to sleep, also had to board myself.

Run Into Fog

Mississippi River. Jan the 10th, 1850. "Nothing has happened. We saw not the sun till the 8th after we left. We sopped at Miller's Point on the 6th, remained over night. The fog was thick, the night dark, the reiver crooked. Much driftwood, and snags and islands in the way. It rained, the snow left us. We took on deck fifty Blacks, a lot of mules, chickens, turkeys, and geese, all for Orleans market. The blacks, though some appeared three fourths white, were from 15 to 25 years of age, well formed, male and female, all singing on board. They sang a farewell song. The song was solemn and affecting. They knew they were going one thousand miles from their kinsmen to be sold to the highest bidder, no more to return. They pass their time drinking whiskey and playing cards. The whites gamble with cards much on board. Have three meals a day of the best of food. The river is high, the banks not more than two feet above the water. Beyond the banks it is said to be level to a great distance. After there is high water it is not known where the water will run when it falls. It changes its bed three or four miles, taking off whole plantations, and in some places mounds where the ancients were buried. The river here, Arkansas, is 6 or 7 miles wide, a handsome surface, the wwater looks like soap suds. The trees are covered with moss hanging from the limbs like the beard from a Jew's chin. It is used for beds as we use feathers. We travel 12 miles an hour. Have stopped three nights for fog.

We left Cincinnati the fouth evening, arrived in Orleans the 12th in the morning in good health, have seen on one sick. I have bought a ticket for Chagres. Will be off Tuesday. I've bought the last through ticket. I think I shall go on and rish going up the Pacific. I can buy a ticket to go up from Panama in March for $150. I gave $45 to go on board the stemship Falcon to Chagres. I shall write to Austin from Panama. I want you to keep these letters that I send for the boys to read. I shall no more this side of the Pacific. I have heard not from Lee.

Hit Warm Weather

The shores of the river were strewn with miserable huts till we came to Vicksburg. From there down things looked better. Lemons and oranges hang upon the trees. Sugar cane is green and most all cut. Butterflies, and every appearance of summer is here. I am in my shirtsleeves and quite warm at that. The wharves are filled with ships as far as I can see, about three deep. I raveled three miles to see the ship I shall depart in, all the way crowded thick with vessels. I shall send home some moss from the cypress tree. It has an ashy appearance. There is so much noise and confusion I will stop writing. I should like to se the baby and rock him to sleep.

Reuben Burras

May 26, 1850, California.
Being discouraged and much disappointed because I get no news from home; I write a few words poorly placed and ill written. I am 50 miles from Scramento working on Weaver Creek. Disappointed you will be to learn that I have earned but 200, two hundred. I can at any time hire to drive team for two hundred a month. I began mining the first day of April on the American 9 miles from here. The first two weeks I paid $21 per week for my board. I then purchased a tent and things to cook with which cost $70 and I have worked alone. I have a prospect of getting gold more plenty. I think I can get an ounce d day. The water is getting low. I have made 24 dollars same days the past week. I would like to be at home. I wrote you in March sent ten dollars in coin. In this letter I send you three pieces of gold. I dug the gold with my own hands. Take these bits of gold to Norwalk eyes put on the two small pieces. Let Edgar wear them on the bosom of his nice shirt. The other bit have you a handkercheif made. Have them reaim in their present shape. Oscar, it is not because I love you less I send Edgar these presents. Be a good boy and if I return home I well fetch some presents you will be pleased with.

Write to me as soon as you can. I have an opportunity to send this letter to the postoffice. I have nad no letter from home. I expected letters and newspapers. I wish you would write the first opportunity. If I had some acquaintance to work with I would be glad. There is no one here that I ever knew. I have seen the Partick boys and Thad Sturges. They are five miles from here.

This from Beuben Burras to Sally Burras

Tells of hard Work

California, July 27th, 1850

I being Sunday, being filled iwth thoughts of home, I write. Nothing have I heard from home. I have written three letters home since I have been here. Pieces of gold in two and coin in one. I began to mine in Colona near the place where gold was first seen. A disagreeable place it seemed to me, like one of Nature
s penetentiaries. It is on the south fork of the American river. Is is three miles travel from the river to the top of the hill on either side. The reiver runs very swift, ther water comes from mountains covered with snow which can be seen from here. It makes a noise like a thunder shower nearby, running along the tumbling rocks. Some tall pines grow along the ravines. Other places brush grows about three feet high. Some parts of the banks are barren and rocky. I am 7 miles toward Sacramento. I have... article ends

Plymouth Colony. They had six sons, one of whom, Edgar, was married to Eudolphia Jennings of Connecticut parentage. Edgar and Eudolphia Jennings Burras had two sons, Edwin and Elmer, and one daughter, Mrs. Ralph Hoyt of Norwood Ave. Edwan Burras was born and still lives on the fam bought by Reuben Burras one dundred and one years ago next July. Reuben Burras left Fairfield January 1, 1850, for the gold fields of California. He wned by the way of Cuba, and the Isthmus of Panama and returned in 1851 with gold aplenty for the rest of his days.

Elmer and Lena Lamcureaux Burras have five daughters and two sons. One of these sons, Miles Standish Burras, is now Clerk of Huron County. He was born September 18, 1906, and is a graduate of North Fairfield high school. He was married August 29, 1930, to Dorothy Wheeler, daughter of J.A. and Muad Robertson Wheeler. In November , 1931, Miles Burras was elected Clerk of Fairfield township and served from January 1, 1932 to January 7. 1935 when he resigned to assume his duties as County Clerk to which he had been elected in November 1934.