James White was a 21 year old farmer from Quincy, MA. In 1849 he sailed from Boston around Cape Horn to San Francisco and the gold diggings of California. In all he spent 6 months at sea and a year in California. I've transcribed his journal and am publishing it here as well as on Amazon/Kindle and Apple/iBooks.
Journey to the Northern Mines
Sunday April 14th. May 11th, 1850
From the first of Feb. up to this time, I kept no regular memorandum. Business was very good indeed & nothing transpired with me of any importance except I lost my specimen. It proving nothing but copper. Thribly Gove vanished. This was another stroke upon my efforts to get along What would come next, I did not know. Trouble upon trouble This excited me to go to the mines more than anything else a second time.
Dudley while I was with him made $15,000, but not honestly, but the only way to make money in California. I had about come to the conclusion, that was diamond cut diamond. In the meantime I partly agreed to go in with Mr. Damon. Stopped with him a short time but he being an ? betty [slang for gay?] our contract was broken off & I left him. When I left him, I returned to Sacramento City. Here I found a fresh arrival of Quincy boys (Southers, Bent, Pope & Adams etc). While I stayed in the city, I was engaged Angle & Young Express office for Justin Spear. I stayed here till an opportunity offered for me to go to the mines. The Quincy boys having an over stock of provisions, I bought them and started up the river. Thinking all men honest and especially them, I did not examine the goods, but to my sorrow after arriving at Yuba City I found them damaged so that I did not get my money back by $40.00.
Sunday April 14th. May 11th, 1850 Continued
This was too bad, so I made one more desperate move for the mines. Being acquainted with some western men and Oregonians who were going in to the northern mines through Capt Caleb S. Sutter instrumentality I joined them and on the 13th of May we started on the road for Trinity River (near 200 miles from Yuba) with provisions, picks, pans, hoes, axes, & shovels. Armed & equipped for mining & traveling. Our party consisted of 5 men tough, hardy and strong. Our baggage, consisting of provisions, tools etc., enough & to spare to last us the season, were packed on a Missouri cart & drawn by 2 yoke of oxen.
We left Yuba City at noon and arrived at our first nights campground on the banks of the Rio de las Plumas at dark having made small headway. ( travelled 8 miles) We were started though, however, which was half of our journey.
Tuesday May 14th
Travelled 18 miles up the river. Camped at Morgans. The country level and some parts well wooded we camped at Morgans on the Feather River. We were in hopes we might get some sleep as the night before we were deprived of it by the mosquitoes which was impossible to keep off by smoke or anything else.
Started early today. Travelled across an open and sterile plane devoid of water or life north of the Butte Mts [Possibly Marysville Buttes]. At noon camped at the Butte Creek at night on 2’d Butte having traveled 20 miles, We laid our bones down to know no more till morning. No, not even dreamed. We were so tired.
May 16th.
Travelled 4 miles in the morning over a beautiful bottom land well wooded with beautiful oak trees. Occupied by an old settler (Neill by name), an old settler, but a young man. We came to Big Butte River which was very high. Therefore we had to ford the stream on a log carrying our provisions tools etc. across the log & swimming the oxen across & then fasting a rope to the wagon and drawing that across with some difficulty. After taking lunch we started on, crossed a branch of the Butte, & camped at Potter's on Little Butte River at night. Distance travelled 10 miles. This was a tiresome & harassing day's work.
The 17th.
Got an early start in Company with five other teams all bound to one distention. Clark killed an antelope this morning which came very acceptable in the way of fresh meet. Cross several streams. Hot day. The water low & warm. Travelled 14 miles today & camped on the banks of a small stream that ran through a delightful bottom.
Saturday 18th.
Started at dawn arrived on the Sacramento River about 11 o'clock. Crossed the S. at Moon's Ferry within 4 miles of Lawson's Ranch. Camped up the river about a mile at noon on a comparatively poor bottom. In afternoon travelled up on the banks of the river about 10 miles and camped on Gravelly Creek. Fine bottom covered with wild oats & well wooded. Travelled in all today 17 miles.
Sunday May 17th.
Continued warm as before. We started approaching nearer the coast range of mts & Sierra Nevada Mts. The scenery was beyond description, grand and picturesque. At night camped on the Sacramento. Travelled 19 miles. The country growing more uneven and air cooler than ever.