I found a copy of James Calvin Sly’s Journal online that contains references used in our book. A transcription of the diary is included below the break to allow for searchability.
James Calvin Sly’s Journal
Guide for 1849-1850 Wagon Train
From Great Salt Lake to Sacramento
Adventures during Gold Rush in California
Family Births, Marriages & Deaths
Images & Transcription
by
Jeffrey M. Sly 2003
Guide for 1849-1850 Wagon Train
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1849 June 25th James C. Sly’s Book and [Journal] of life and his travels in 1849
On the 25th of June I left the [Great] Salt Lake [City] in Company with father Thomas [Guston] and Wilmer Brunson as a guide for a Train of wagons from the United States to go the [Sacramento]. James Stuart – The Captain
The first night the 25th we camped at herd Creek, about 28 miles
26th [Cross] weaver and Camped on [Ogden] 20 miles
27th at [Clear] Spring 25 miles
28th at [Bear] River 12 miles
Being 85 files from [Salt Lake City]
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On the 29th at the Blue Spring 25 miles
The water Brackish
On the 30th at the twin springs 32 miles
On the 1st of July camped on Cash Creek 27 miles
On the 2nd at Goose Creek 25 miles
On the 3rd at a spring at the foot
of the [valley] of the well 32 miles
On the 4th at the Warm Spring 25 miles
On the 5th at the forks of the [Humbolt] 40 miles
From the [Bear] river 206 miles
On the 6th to the 2nd fork 25 miles
On the 7th to the 2nd [Canyon] 30 miles
On the 8th to the 3rd [Canyon] 6 miles
[across] the hill 12 miles
[across] the next hill 10 miles
On the 9th to the big Bend 24 miles
Camped in the Bend 18 miles
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On the 10th at the 4th canyon 30 miles
On the 11th at the Sand hill 32 miles
On the 12th around the bend 27 miles
On the 13th down the river 25 miles
On the 14th at the sink 44 miles
Which Being from the forks 283 miles
On the 15th we Crossed the Sandy Plaines
and Camped on Carson river 36 miles
On the 16th up the river to
the Big Bend 20 miles
On the 17th to the next Bend 18 miles
On the 18th at the Big Bend of
Pilot Fork 25 miles
On the 19th in Smokey Hollow 10 miles
On the 20th at the Frost Canyons 10 miles
On the 21st at the head of Canyon 5 miles
On the 22nd at the foot of the
Cierey [Siera] Nevada 10 miles
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On the 23rd in Lake Valley 5 miles
and camped at Rock valley 11 miles
On the 24th at Leek Springs 16 miles
On the 25th at Sly’s Park 25 miles
Here we lay by two days and prospected for gold. But not finding enough to suit us we Continued our Journey and
On the 28th we camped at ??? town 20 miles
On the 29th to Daylys ranch 25 miles
Being from the sink of Humbolt
to Daylys ranch 236 miles
Making the distance from Great Salt Lake City to Daylys ranch on Sacramento City 810 miles
Adventures during Gold Rush in California
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During this Journey I suffered greatly with canker in the mouth. I eat scarcely any thing during the journey. On the 1st of August a Company of nine men prevailed upon me to go and prospect for gold and agreed to board me. I led them to a ban on the Cossumnis River to a mine that had never been opened before, where we were getting considerable gold. But a friend of theirs having told them that on the Macalimna River about 100 miles distance was a place were it could be picked up in large chunks but that
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the Indians had killed those men that went there and no body dare go there. Every one of them was up in arms to go to the place where they could make their fortune. I told them it was nothing but a gold tale and they had better stay where they were. But father [Gustin] was a most angry and said I must be foolish if I wouldn’t go. I at last consented to go and on the 9th of August we took up our Journey for the great prize. And on the 10th we arrived at the Big Bear 50 miles below
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the great prize, and I told them as we could get no further with the wagon that if two men would go with me we would go and see the place. Accordingly two of them volunteered and on the 12th we started. We followed up the river Climb rocks and mountains until we came to the spot. But to our great astonishment we found no dead men, and worse than all no gold. And my two friends turned about very humble and said I wish we had taken your advice.
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We might have had two or three hundred dollars in our [packs]. We then started back and arrived in camp on the 18th after a tedious journey of six days. On the 20th we started back to the Cossumnis. We arrived there on the 23rd and the company broke up. And father Guston and Willmer Brunson and my self in company with two other men went to work. On Friday the 8th of September father Guston was taken sick with a fever. On Tuesday the 12th he seemed much better and talked
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of going to work. But on Wednesday 13th he got so much worse that I called a Doctor and on Sunday 17th he died at 15 minutes before 8 o’clock in the morning. On the 8th of October we left that place and moved 12 miles up the river. Willmen and my self was taken sick and I began to think that all sorts of bad luck attended us. About the 12th of November the rainy season commenced and we were with out a tent or any thing to cover us. We moved down the river 15 miles and I left Willmen with some friends
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and went to the city for a tent and our winter provisions. It was a very rainy time and all the creeks were high. And after fording some six streams some of them to my waist, there and back again, I arrived on the Cossumnes again on the 23rd of November. The rain continued to the first of December and all the mines is idle on account of the high water.
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15th Feb We had our gold stole from us which reduced us to poverty
1st March I was taken with Scurvy very sick
On the 12 father Bun was taken sick and died on the 17th 1850
Family Births
Names and Births of James C. Slys Family
James C. Sly son of Josuhua & Eliza Sly was born Aug 8th 1807 in Town Sodus Wayne County New York State
Mary Bassett Born April 19th 1808 daughter of Nemiah & Mary Basset in the Town Ranclervile State of New York
Neamiah Sly Born November 19th 1829 in the Town of Sandinia, Erie Co. State New York
Margriet Fuller daughter of David & Elizabeth Fuller was Born February 28th 1805 in the Town of Niagara Province Upper Canada
David C. Sly Born April the 6th 1832 in the Town of Granthim, Upper Canada
Susannah Guston Born May 23rd 1832 in the Town of Try Fountain Cost Indianna
[Vernner, Van Buren, Iowa] Daughter of Thomas & Mary Guston
Amos Sly Born January The 19th 1850 in Great Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah Territory, Son of James C. & Susannah Sly
Lodemina Sly Daughter of J. C. & Susannah Sly was Born April 15th 1852 in the City of Manti, San Pete Co., Utah State
James C. sly Junior Born March the 27th 1854 In the Town of Nephi, Juab Co., Utah Territory
Mary Catherine Sly Born August 30th 1856 In Nephi City, Juab Co., UT Daughter of J. C. & Susannah Sly
Nancy Bruster Daughter of Thomas and Mary Guston was born March 21st 1842 Town Vernon, Van Buren Co., Iowa State
Nancy Eliza daughter of James Calvin and Nancy Sly Born in the City of Sanaquin, Utah Co., Utah Territory On the 5th of December 1857
Thomas Guston Son of James C. and Susannah Sly Born Sept 16th 1858 in Santaquin, Utah County Utah Territory
Solloman Son of James C. & Nancy B. Sly was Born February The 21st 1860 in the Town of Moroni, San Pete Co., Utah Territory
Susannah Daughter of James C. and Susannah Sly was Born March 15th 1861 In the Town of Moroni, San Pete Co., Utah Territory
Calvana Daughter of James C. and Nancy Sly Born April the 9th 1862
Mary Jane Daughter of James C. and Nancy Sly Born the 15th of June 1864
Daniel Samuel Son of James C & Susannah Sly Born Sept 7 1864 at Chicken Creek, Juab Co., Utah
Family Marriages
James C. Sly was married to Mary Bassett January 25th 1829 in the Town of Manchester, Ontario Co., State of New York
James C. Sly was married to Margriet J. [Jane] Fuller September 1st 1831 in the Town Granthim, Upper Canada
James C. Sly was Married to Susannah Gustin March the 25th 1849 in Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
Holy Matrimony in the House of the Lord James Calvin Sly Son of Joshua and Eliza Sly was Married and sealed for time and all Eternity with Susannah daughter of Thomas and Mary Gustin by Orcin Pratt one of the twelve apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on the 1st August 1851
And Also with Nancy Gustin on the 19th January 1856 by Isacc Morley Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Family Deaths
James C. Sly Tail from Great Salt Lake to Sly Park California 1849-1850
(800+ miles)