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Auburn Cal January 4th 1852

Dear Parrents and Relations

I now seat myself. To write you a few lines to let you [k]no[w] that we are all well at present[.] I have nothing 
of importance to write at present but I will try and write you a few lines[.] I have not received a letter from 
home for about four months and I think you have forgotten us or you would write[.] I have not written for two 
months But I hope you write from this time on until you see me. Now I will tel[l] you what I am doing[.] I am 
working by the day[.] I get four dollars and Board[.] Brother Norville is not doing much at present but he is 
well and hearty[.] William P Clarkson is here with us at present he is doing nothing at present[.] Cousing Joseph 
B is doing nothing[.] Cousin Gideon Haines is here in this hous[e] at present[.] Wm Belshe[,] John Wright[,] 
Gideon Wright[,] Evins Haines They are all well at present and Join in sending th[e]ir best respects to you all[.] 
Cousin J.B. Clarkson is not with us but he was well the last we he[a]rd of him[.] 


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Cousin David Ha[i]nes is at George Town[.] he is doing very well[.] all of the Randolph boys is here together and 
as merry as you please[.] that is all I have to say about the boys[.] I would like to see you all very well at 
present but I do not [k]no[w] how long it will [be] before we see each other[.] I do not want you to be uneasy 
about us for we can take care of ourselves very well as we have to from this time on[.] And I like this country 
very well. Some of the miners are doing very well at present[.] we have had some little rain but not anough to do 
much good[.] Tell Mr. Allen tha[t] Joseph Allen is well and hearty[.] I was truly verry sorrow to here[hear of] 
the death of Francis Gray but I hope she has gone to a better world than this so give my best respects to Mr. 
Gray and his family and all the enquireing friends[.] Tell them all that I am the same old Jona yet and have got a 
fiddle and can play it and I hope to live to get home and I will play you all a few tunes That all rite rough but 
when will I get home[.] 


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Dear father I want you to write me all the news and how you are getting along with your farm and [H?]. Write to 
me all about the Children how they are all getting along[.] Dear mother I want you to write me a few lines also[.] 
this is a very short letter but it is as long as yours but I hope you will write more the next time[.] I do not 
expect I have written as much as you want me to in this letter but it must do. Give my best love and Respects to 
all enquireing friends[.] Tell them that Jonna is [growing?] some punkings[pumpkins?][.] Tell the Girls that I will 
be after some of them when I get home[.] That [is] all[.] write on the receipt of this fail not[.]

Your affectionate son

Jonathan H. Biswell
Norville B. Biswell

[P.S.] Pleas[e] excuse all the mistakes for I am in California

To you all

Write to me whether Doctor Howard has got home or not[.] he kept a drug store in Huntsville[.] he owes me 75 
Dollars[.] he borrowed it of[f] me when I first got in to the mines[.] I have got his note and I want him to pay 
you the money and you 


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give him a Receipt for 75 dollars[.] it is drawing six per cent interest for [day?] until paid[.] it was Given in 
Sepetemb[er] 1850[.] it is due [a] good while ago[.] it will be all wright enough if he pays you[.] if he will not 
pay lett [leave?] it until I come home[.]