The following letter was submitted by Mary Bob McClain Richardson on 30 September 2004. This “Gold Rush” letter was from James C. Cooper to his parents, Robert Melville and Catherine Cooper Cooper.

 

June 6th / 50

Dear Father & Mother
I again take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well. It has been sometime since I wrote. I have been waiting to get a letter from home before I would write. I have never recd. the first line since I left home. I think that some of you might write at least once a month. J. Dunham, John Cooper and myself left the southern mine together about 3 or 4 weeks ago believing the northern mine to be best which we found to be the case. We have secured a bar on South Yuba which I believe will prove good. The river is too high to work on the bar now. We can make from $5 to $10 a day in the bank. T. F. McMillan and myself have been in Copartnership ever since we came into the mines about Christmas. We concluded as gold digging was an uncertain business we would buy a lot of mules and one of us go to packing provisions into the mines, but I have written for him to come here and if our claim proves to be as rich as I think it will we will sell our mules and both go to digging, if I am lucky in making money I will come home this fall, but if I am not lucky I will stay here until I make something if I see any prospect ahead. Tell William if he still wants to come here that I will send him the means by Dunham this fall if I stay here. Tell him not to come unless he comes on his own hook, and if he comes he must calculate on staying here 2 or 3 years to make anything worth coming after, unless he is very lucky. We met L.S. Akin*, Gap Porter & J. Minor Pickard as we came up here. They are now about 75 or 100 miles from here. They were all in good health. We did not get to talk with them but half an hour or such a matter. Louis said he brought a letter for me and mailed at Sacramento City for Stockton and I have not got it yet. I want you when you get this to write and direct your letters to Sacramento City. Give my respects to Aunt Sally Barr & family, and all inquiring friends. John Cooper also sends his respects to you and all of the family. I believe that I have nothing more at present but remain you Son

JAMES C. COOPER