Oregon Territory Sept. 13, 1850
Dear Wife:
I am happy to have this opportunity of writing to you and letting you
know that I am well at this time and hope that this letter will find
you in the same happy situation.
Juliet, prepare yourself to hear a long story. You have it up to
Fort Laramie. I will begin where I left off. We went on till we
come to the crossing of the Platte. We ferried ourselves in a wagon
bed. I was taken sick while in the water with the bilious fever and
did not git over it for three weeks. Then I was taken with the
dyerear that come near my last. I was unable to walk anymore till
we got to the Oregon road. There David M and me spliced with JL. Nail
from Schyler County, Illinois, for Oregon. We went on fine for a week
I tuck sick. They hauled me 300 miles and got tired one morning.
D. went to get the oxen. L. Nail came to me whare I laid and told me
that he wanted me to take my things out of the wagon. I wanted to
know what was the mater. He could not tell but said I could not go
any farther. I told him they could set them out. He done so. D.said
nothing. I told them that they must leave a yoke of oxen. They did.
L. talked to D. and he got 6 pound of flour with other things in pro-
portion and left me laying half mile from Fort Bois, 300 miles from
Oregon City. We never had one word of a fuss but I will tell the rest
when I get home.
I am now at the Cascades at work at $100 per month and boarded, 30
miles from Oregon City. I have seen no country in Oregon that I call
good. It is nothing but mountains. I am helping to get timber for a
mill. I am going to winter in Oregon and go to California in the
spring. I see men from California and they all say that it is very
sickly and not much to be made in the mines. Tell all my friends
there is not gold enough in California to pay them for crossing the
plains and if they are wise they will stay where they are. I was two
weeks that did not taste bread and some days nothing else. I had
potatoes for dinner today. I will not try to tell all the particulars
if I was at home and knowed as much as I do now I would not cross the
plain for California. I have sent on to Sacramento to have your let-
ters forwarded.
I have been here one week, Dear Juliet, it is hard for me to tell you
more than you know what it is to be separated from them. We love more
than life as is the case with me. Your comfort is my daily thoughts.
I want you to write to Oregon City as soon as you get this and tell me
how you are doing or if you are as I left you. I am like you was
about California that there is more in the gold mines than will get
rich. Dear I say dear because you are my daily thoughts and nightly
dreams. I intend going to the mines in the spring and if it is no
better than people say it is I will not stay long.
Remember me to all my friends. Tell them I am well and doing well.
Dave and me is done forever if we live a hundred years. Nail, I want
to see him about five minutes. Dear Juliet, do not forget to write
as a letter would give more pleasure than gold. I intend to write
weekly to you and the rest. Once more, farewell no more but till
death remain yours
William McClelland