Charles Worthan Oney in Gold Rush
The lost letter written by Charles Worthan Oney to his wife Phoebe Meredith (Dear Companion... is how it begins) (my GGGGgrandparents) has finally turned up after many moves and deaths in the family. It is written November 22/1850. From El Dorado County. Apparently his death is listed as taking place in Iowa (Van Buren County I suspect) Jan 1851.
I live in California, I have taught Gold Rush History in El Dorado County (yes I have already searched for records), there is NO WAY he could have returned in 9 weeks during the winter. It took 7 months journeying in summer over the mountains to get to California. Somehow this has been overlooked. (not everyone teaches gold rush history?). Now, supposedly his brother James W. went with him. I believe the "W" stands for White, there is a reference in the letter. In 1852 James sells his land to Phoebe. I just read that James marries a woman named Delilah Dofflemyre and apparently lived in Kansas in 1880. I have some more searching to do, but someone out there might know what really happened. Does James have descendents out there? Were there other siblings who might have learned the truth? My GGGgrandmother, Mary Ellen Oney, was 4 years old at that time and Im sure she never knew what happened. I grew up with people who grew up knowing her. Anyway, enough speculation. If you have any ties to this or are interested in having a copy of the letter, my email is
[email protected]
Marcia McLain
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Re: Charles Worthan Oney in Gold Rush
Joseph Smith 5/10/08