refersto::Hiram Smith White refersto::Horatio Nelson White refersto::Ebenezer White refersto::Cynthia Sawyer refersto::Friend Adams White refersto::Frances E. White refersto::Mary Ella White

Notes

“Mary White”, a visitor and presumably relative, is probably Mary Ella White. She would be 16 at the time, and her father Artemas is probably still in California.

Sept 19 1850 census in Keeseville finds Artemas at home…

Who is “Hopkins”? ## Synopsis

Hiram in Burlington writes to Horatio Nelson and his family in Panton.

Hiram has caught the “gold fevour” and nothing can dissuade him from going to California. He is following in the tracks of his brother, Artemas, who went west in five monts earlier (in November, 1849: see 1849-11-18-EW-to-HNW). Like Artemas, Hiram would return home before the end of 1850: the census that year shows him with his family in Burlington on August 20.

Transcription

Burlington April 7th 1850

Dear Brother Sister and All As you wrote me a Considerable long letter some time since I fell it my duty to return the same you wrote me that if you thought it would have any weight in stopping me from going to California you would write a sermon I am verry glad you did not for it would not have the least impression on me go I must. Although I think my silf if I could of contented my self at home and be satisfied with my business It would of ben better for me But I have got the fevour and have had it eve sence the first gold was found and since that time I have ben determined to go my mind has not ben on my business nor nothing has ben aright with it The reason is I could not attend to it as had oughto

By this you can see my reasens for going. But enuff of this I mooved last saturday and have got all things streightend out I shall start next wednesday morning in the southern cars if nothing happens more then I now see There will probably be some from vergenz along at the same time but strangers to me most of them but they are agoing in the same ship and probably I shall git acquainted with them. I have moooved my Family to Fathers they are very comfortably situated considering. You may expect a long visit from Cynthia this summer is she is well enufff to go she has got to visit for the purpus of saving her house I tell her. Mary White is here and has ben for about a fornit. I hope she will leave soon for the good of —

If I live to get to California I shall write you a letter I you will do me the same in return and then I will tell you wether that Hopkins has ben Cropped or not Tell Friend not to think of going nor lit such a thought remain in his head for as long as his mind is on the Yellow stuff he nor no one if fit for any other business In the first place he is to young if he had the means given to him and another thing he has not seen enuff of the deceit of this world I have had a chance of seeing considerible more than he has and call my self a regular green one I am but an infant among them tell him for me to hold on untill I write home for if I cannot git some he had not better try. Francis is well and is looking very anxious for a letter she has ben sore lonesome here but I think she will not be so much. My Heifer I thought you would not want for the day I got your letter she was a playing a trick that led me to think she was not acoming in any I expected so I sold her to the Butchers My cow I lent to Father his he sold My Turkeys I sold My Dog was the worst of the lot when I led him away I thought If I had neve thought of going I should of ben glad But all this is nothing whin I come to bid my Family and other Friends I hold dear good buy prehaps foreve that is the trying all for gold the gold I want but I wish it was not so far But it to late now to think of these things go I must It would be the ruin of me to stay heer now and it cannot be no more if I go

Give my love to all

Good By Hiram