Treasures

Of all my treasures, this letter, written by my Great Great Grandfather “Coleman Harwell,” is one of my favorites. The letter is from Coleman to his wife and child, during the California Gold Rush 1852. He wrote in beautiful cursive, with such eloquence. Proud he was one my "Papa's!

Sacramento CityMarch 18^th 1852

My Dear Mary,

With great pleasure, I write you tonight though I would take more delight in writing, if I could only get a letter from you to answer. I thank God that I am well and hearty. Hoping that you are enjoying the like blessing of God. This is a fine country for health, making money, but it is a terrible place for misleadings, and dissipation. But I can say of a truth, that I have less to tempt me, to do evil, than I ever had, or else I am more on my guard. I have attached myself to the Methodist church the same day I got here. I never enjoyed a more pleasant Sabbath day in all my life. It appeared to me that the windows of heaven were open to my soul. I hope dear, you are serving God and praying for me. I want you to remember me night, and morning, and at noon, in your devotion to our God. I hope you dedicated our dear little Candace unto the Lord, by baptism and prayer, and may He bless you in raising the dear little creature, and take care of you both. When I talked of coming to California, you said you were fearful that I would suffer for something to eat. Now let me assure you that you need not give yourself any more uneasiness about that, for I have everything heart could wish, and can eat more than a common dog. We have the best provision in California of any other state in the union. I only wish that you had as good living in Georgia. When I left home, you know my weight was 145 lbs. It was the same when I left Panama, or about that. But now I weigh, one hundred and sixty four or five, and I don’t recollect which, though I was weighed this morning. You would hardly know me if you were to see me. My cloths that I brought from home are all too small for me. You know my old red coat was too large for me, but now I cannot button it around me, and my pants will not hold me much longer, if I keep growing, for they are bursting themselves now, in trying to keep me in. I must hold, or you will think me in a state of exaggeration. I reckon you want to know whether I am doing anything or not. Well I am not making much money certain, for I am only getting the sum of 50 dollars per month, and boarded, but I should not have worked at that, if I had not been afraid to go into the mines, after being sick so long. There is a better chance in the mines now, than has been for a long time, for it has been raining several days, which affords water for washing. I expect to start to the mines in the morning. McLemore has gone on to the mines more than a week ago. I beat them all to California in just 8 days. I find that I can get along as well by myself as in company with any acquaintance. There is no need of company to get on here, not like there used to be. The country is settling up very much. People cannot make money here like they did in 1849 and 50. Good hands, if they will be saving and careful can make 50 to 100 dollars per month. I certainly cannot advice my friends to come to this country, to make a fortune, unless they want to settle in this country for life. It is getting late and I must come to a conclusion. I want you to write me every two weeks certain, now do not fail. You cannot imagine how much I want to hear from you. I am perfectly impatient to hear from home.

I want you to tell me all about everything, about the place particularly, and Ann, and my old sow, and pigs, and everybody you know. I must acknowledge that I never knew what it was to want you before, but that is out of the question. So fare thee well.

                                                 Your Loving Companion,          
                                                                            Coleman

Post Script

Oh my dear, my love, and my all. I want to write more, if I knew what to write. It has been so long since I talked with you that I want to say many things, while the tears of love wet this sheet, my heart throbs and beats for you. If I ever were to sit here till daylight and write with all the eloquence of Demosthenes, or Shakespeare, I could not express my feeling, and my love to you. Shall I ever meet your kind embrace again, and my dear little babe? Shall I ever have the opportunity of stealing another sweet kiss from that smiling little face and quivering lips that I left sleeping on the bed on the morning of the 6^th of Jan. 1852? Oh God preserve them, and may I meet them again this side of eternity.

Coleman did return from the “California Gold Rush” to his loving family in Georgia. He and Mary had more children.