Craven-Elizabeth_Humes-Sept.26,1855

Elizabeth Humes
Yuba City, California - Sept. 26, 1855

Yuba City, California
Sept. 26th, 1855

My dear Uncle,

I embrace this opportunity in writing you a few lines. I believe that I have not writen to any of your family for six months. I have been waiting and expecting every mail would bring me a letter from someone of you, but have looked in vain that letter has not come yet So I thought that I would write to you one more time favor you with one more of my scrolls. In the letter that I received from Emira Jane she said that she wanted us to keep up a regular correspondence Nothing would afford me any more pleasure than to do so I answered her letter but never have heard from her since except throu others. I am aware that I do not write a good letter that they are uninteresting but I think she mite look over my weakness. We are all in good health and I hope these lines will find all enjoying the same kind blessing. I have not enjoyed as good health in this country as I did in Missouri. We do not no how to appreciate good health until we are deprived of it. Mother has just got home from San Francisco a few days ago. She carried Emily to the Doctor to have her eyes operated on. You remember that she became cross eyed two years previous to our leaving home. She had got almost blind in one eye. The Doctor says she would have been blind in a short time. She is at San Francisco at this time and will have to remain under the Dr. care yet about four weeks. She is there all alone 200 and 50 miles away from home. Uncle James and family was well the last time I heard from them. They have another fine son, though I presume you have got the news before this. We received a letter from Uncle Alexander Brown the last mail. They was all in pretty good health at that time, though times was very hard there. Provisions is much higher in Texas than it is in California. flour is 6 cents. beef from 12 to 15 cents per pound and everything else in proportion. California is certainly the best country that is on the vast Pacific Ocean. This is a better farming country than Missouri is or ever will be And it is supposed that the gold mines will never be worked out as long as time lasts. I presume that it is all nonsense to talk to you of California as you have determined to live and die in the cold prairies of Missouri. I presume you all think we are living away out hear like the heathens, or the roving tribes of Patagonia, but if you do have such ideas you are laboring under a sad mistake. We have splendid schools hear bouth Catholic and Prodistant, expressly for educating young ladys. There is as smart and inteligent people in this country as there is any place on the whole continent. The climate is delightful here. The rainey season will soon be hear and by the first of next February hills and valleys will be covered with green grass and from that time until the first of July California might be compared with the garden of Eden. Give my love to Aunt Betsey and to all the children also to Ann and her Willie** Say to Emira Jane and George that their Cousin Betty is very thankfull for the letter that she has not received. Now Uncle George when you get thru reading this sit right down and write me a long letter. My respects to all enquiring friends. Write soon and often. And believe me your affectionate Neace
Farewell to you all
Elizabeth P. Humes
To George Marshall

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**Ann and Willie, according to notes written on the transcript, are Sarah Ann Marshall and William Anderson

My note: this letter was severely damaged. A large part of it is cut away. However, the transcript was made before that happened and is complete.

One curious thing about this letter is that Elizabeth writes to George rather than Elizabeth Brown Marshall. Mary Brown Humes was Elizabeth’s mother and Elizabeth Brown Marshall’s sister. She did not address the letter, “Dear Uncle and Aunt,” as she could have done.

There are a number of these tantalizing references to relationships that have been lost.