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| Henry M. Skinner Illinois Photo courtesy Ric Skinner |
This letter is the earliest known letter that I have seen from the gold fields of what is now Boulder County, Colorado. Thank you to Mr. Ric Skinner for sharing your family's story, letter, and photo with me. I wonder if Henry was sitting up on one of the Flatirons above Boulder when he wrote this letter. It's sure easy to picture him there with the description that he gives. Any comments in [brackets] are mine.
Rocky
Mountains
District No.
1 August 6, [18]59
[Sent to
Rockford, Ill.]
My Dear Friends
It’s with pleasure that I pen you a few lines this morning
to let you know our whereabouts and how we are.
I sit here on a mountain that is almost perpendicular. On one side can be seen the Broad
Plains up N. T. [Nebraska Territory] and on the other large mountains covered
with snow from one pass and to another.
I left you alas near Fort Laramie on Sabbath. I spoke of our meetings and what success we were having,
also of a young man that was desirous in regard to his souls best interest.
Our usual house arrived for prayer meeting - there was 7 or
8 of us collected in one of the tents and before our meeting closed his burden
of Sin was removed and he was able to rejoice with us. We had a glorious time. He is now on his way to Heaven with
us. He takes an active part in all
our meetings, which we have Sabbath and Thursday evenings. We arrived at Laramie on Tuesday and
was informed that H. Greely [Horace Greeley] had lectured to the emigrants and Gold
subject and the mines of N. T. Our team was thrown into confusion by this for some
wanted to go to California and some for the Peak and after a days consideration
pack 4 wagons. Started for the
Peak and the rest for Cal. We went
down to the ferry on Wednesday Night and Thursday we crossed the Platte on 3 logs
tied together. Which was a very
tedious job. We all got safe
across at about 5 o’clock and camped for the night. Next morning we started on our journey once more, arrived at
Laramie at 9 P.M. After 2 weeks
travel along the foot of the Black Hills and Rocky Mts we arrived at Boulder
City about 5 o’clock Thursday, 230 miles.
We found it to be a beautiful situation on Boulder Creek. With about 100 houses made of pine
logs. On Friday there was a party
of 5 of us started up the mountains.
With our packs on our backs found it rather difficult work but we
arrived at what is called 12 mile diggings, 12 miles from Boulder. We saw some gould [gold] taken out some
told us they was making from 5 to 8 dollars per day and some as high as
$18. We prospected over a week in
the mountains and got lost and got rather close to the Snowy Range. We have now got our wagons up on the
mts and our cattle are ranched in Boulder vicinity. We have each a claim and are hard at work and 2 of them have
a good Prospector. There is a great
deal of excitement to the gould [gold] on the other side of the mts. The report that some being is a man
take out at the rate of a poun [pound] per day pretty big story but it may be
so but we will soon see for we purchased a pony Friday and one of our men
starts in the morning in ? with 4 others.
It’s rather dangerous ? [lunacy?] on account of the Utah Indians that
they are going in the morning. I
was talking with a Gentleman that has been there. He says there is gould [gold] there and says the Country is
beautiful, plenty of Buffalo, Elk, Antelope, Deer, Mt. Sheep, and Bear and
Panthers and others to numerous to mention. Our party will return in 10 to 12 days and then we shall
know all about it and I can advise my friends in regard to coming out here.
I would say that for these mines that we are at that they
are good but the most of the gould [gold] is in the Quartz and we can not do
anything with it until there is a Quartz mill here. There’s men going after them this fall and have them here in
the Spring but if we go over on the Colorado. It will be all Gulch diggings, where there is no Quartz to
bother us.
I often think of the old house at home and those I love when
I let down and my mind runs back to past suns?. I have a little inclination to be homesick. I often think as I sit down to eat
Beans, Bad Bacon and Corn Bread that if I was at Mother’s ? I would have
something better. But never mind,
better days coming. Just tell some
of the folks to eat 12 large ears of corn for Skinner. We could have plenty of Elk meat,
Antelope or Deer if we could spend time to hunt it but we have no time. I often think of the family alter and
those I loved to kneel with and break out a Prayer to God for his kind care
over us. But thank God I am not
deprived of the privilege of prayer yet.
We meet you Night and Morning at the one common mercy Seat. We are 5 in No [number] now who are all
?. We have some good times. I suppose you have lots of good
meetings which we are ? of but it will not be long before we see each
other again. I suppose there’s a great excitement in
the States in regard to the gold discoveries but tell all of my Friends to keep
cool until next spring and then they can tell something about it. I suppose that Frank’s eyes stick out
some to see the big stories. Betty
spoke of my wife’s mourning on account of my absence but tell her to cheer up
for I hope to see her some day.
Betty I would like to have you see us here living on a mountain where we
have to keep the wagon blocked and the wheel chained in order to prevent it’s
going down the mountain, it’s a Romantic sight, it rains in the mountains most
every day.
Mother, as I am Cook part of the time, I would like you to
see my Table Spread sometimes and see me cook for I think I can make as good Biscuits
as any of them. I shall have to
close for this time.
I would ask your prayers for our Co [company] that we remain
faithful. Give my love to Anna,
Nelly, and Diantha, Mather, Raymond, and all inquiring friends. Betty Jeane faithfull Hopkins remember
me in your Social Devotions, give my love to all my classmates and tell them we
are striving to hold up the Blood Stained Banner of the Cross. May Heaven Bless you all. We will remember you at our Family
alter, for it matters not we are in the mountains in the cold rain with nothing
but a blanket to cover us as in camp .
We will pray for those at home.
Yours ever
Affectionate
Friend and Brother
In Christ
H. M.
Skinner
[Henry Mead
Skinner]
Please send Rockford
Papers
Direct to
Denver City
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