Gold Rush letter from George W. Twist to his brother R. P. Twist of Yellow Spring, Ohio
“I haven’t had a letter [from] Elizabeth for more than two years. I don’t know what has become of her and the children…” George W. Twist, California February 28, 1859
Santa Clara
—February 28, 1859
Dear Brother…
It has been almost [sic] two years since I have heard from you or any of the family and I feel very anxious to hear from you and the balance of the family. I have got all most [sic] tired of writing and not getting any answer. I write once more to stir up your mind in remembrance of me. I am well at present but I have just got over a severe spell of sickness. I was taken sick with the fever in October last and then it turned to ague and now I have just barely got over it. Now I am in very good health.
I have had very bad luck for the last two years. My mining operations
[sic]
proved a failure and I lost everything that I had and and a great deal more and I had just got squared up hwen I was taken sick. So now I have to commence again without a cent in my mining operations. I lost over two thousands dollars and then being sick so long it has made my financial affairs [sic] rather slim and now I have made up my mind to come home as soon as I can make money enough to take me there—that will be next Fall, for wages is very small here now and it will take some time to make enough. The fairs [sic] is so high now.
I haven’t had a letter [from] Elizabeth for more than two years. I don’t know what has become of her and the children. I feel very anxious to hear from her and the children. I wish you would see her and have her to write to me as soon as possible, for I am very uneasy about them. I wrote so much and haven’t got any answer that I don’t know where she is and where to direct my letters. If you get this letter, I wish you would write immediately and let me know how you and family is getting along and let me know how Mother’s health is. Give me all the news in general.
Direct your letter to Santa Clara, Santa Clara Co., Cal.
Very truly yours, Brother, Geo. W. Twist.