The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926 Page: 37
330 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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From Texas to California in 1849
main in Mission San Gabriel for the winter. With two of his
companions, he started for the mines December 4, and reached
Stockton February 6, 1850.
His experiences in California were similar to those of hundreds
of others. He arrived too late to pick up the big nuggets, and
found mining a slow, tedious, unprofitable business. He first
tried his luck in the southern mines, of which Stockton was the
emporium. When he arrived there he found a city of tents where
gold was more plentiful than provisions, so he and the two com-
panions engaged in the dual business of mining and hauling freight.
Soon competition ruined the freighting business, so they "jumped"
their claim, in a restless fashion, and moved to another with no
better luck. Then they engaged in the cattle business, buying
cattle for $18 a head in southern California, and selling them for
$50 or $60 at the mines. They also operated a butcher shop at
a small profit. At length the partnership broke up because one
of the men wanted to return to Texas. The other two tried farm-
ing, then quartz mining with no success; but the next venture was
more satisfactory for Cox.
Sacramento was to the northern mines what Stockton was to
the southern. To this place he went next. Here he found his
old friend and traveling companion, Lewis B. Harris, who had
been elected county clerk. Harris employed Cox as a deputy at
a salary of $200 per month. This seemed to Cox good pay, but
the high cost of living and the gay life of Sacramento took much
of it, and he returned to Texas little richer than when he left.
Leaving San Francisco in October, 1855, the return trip was made
via Panama, acress the Isthmus on the new Panama railroad to
Aspinwall, and thence to New York. He visited relatives in Ohio
and Kentucky, and then returned once again to the home of his
sister in Texas.
II
COX'S NOTES AND MEMORANDA OF AN OVERLAND TRIP FROM TEXAS
TO CALIFORNIA IN THE YEAR 1849
Having completed our outfit and made all needful preparations,
and the season of the year being propitious, our little company,
consisting of Lewis B. Harris and wife, James McAllister, two
negroes, Bob and Jane, belonging to Mr. Harris, and myself, set
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926, periodical, 1926; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117141/m1/45/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.