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Volume 054-1 - January 2000 (8 pages)
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Page: of 8
NCHS Bulletin January 2000
mountains and near the summit at Beckwourth’s Ranch I
heard of him again. I then started for the Carson Valley
through the woods and mountains, crossed the Truckee
and arrived in Carson Valley two days from the ranch.
There I heard of him again. He had purchased a fine mule
and some provisions and started on.
I did the same, he having one and a half days start. I
then crossed the desert and started up the Humboldt and
about 125 miles from the sink, I heard of him again from
an emigrant train. I still pursued him in hopes of overtaking him before I arrived at the head of the Humboldt, but
I followed 120 miles beyond and found as near as I could
judge that I was not gaining on him and I knew that unless I could overtake him before he arrived amongst the
Mormons, it would be of no use and if I went to Salt Lake
in all probability I should have to remain on east side of
the mountains tlll spring or take a long trip to the south.
So I gave up the chase and turned back.
You perhaps think it was a great piece of folly to follow him alone and that if I had overtaken him, it would
have done no good—that I would not have been able to
get the money. But here you are greatly mistaken for I
had that with me that would have made him as passive
and as harmless as a dove. I found some use for those
little persuaders before I got back to the settlements and
the emigrants that cross the plains next season will have
some seven or eight Diggers and two less Palutes to
watch against than there were before.
Henderson returned to the Yuba area, moved to Graniteville
and continued mining. I wonder, did he ever make it home?
Dr. William Henderson
R. WILLIAM HENDERSON ARRIVED in Nevada City
October 2, 1859 and moved on to Omega. He writes
his wife, Weltha, on December 10:
The water is so high we cannot do anything in the
river until the first of June. We have six claims here and
two on the river. If I make enough to pay my way home
next fall, you will see one fellow taking a bee line for his
wife and children. A man has to be very lucky or else he
does not make much in this country. It is just like a lottery, if a man happens to be lucky and gets on to a first
rate claim, he makes something. If not, he makes nothing
but grub and water.
{March 25,1860] We are still at Omega and I think we
shall stay here or near here until we come home.. .
will sent you a paper this week, the Sacramento Weekly
Union. We have about two feet of snow here now. It is
the third storm. The first two had three feet each.
This country is made up of all sorts of people. There
are gamblers, sluice robbers, murderers .. they have
three in Nevada City for murdering a man and one of
them is the murdered man’s son. The son held the light
while the others cut his father’s throat. They are to be
tried this week.
I have had three sick spells since I have been here. Just
as soon as I get enough to come home with I shall come.
. . For grub, for breakfast we have bread, potatoes, meat
and cold water, for dinner cold water, meat, potatoes and
bread, for supper the same.
In June he was so ill that he was confined to bed for
several days. On July 16 he writes: “If I should stay in this
place another spring, I should not live to get home for I have
been unwell all of this spring.”
On December 6, 1860, Lorenzo Henderson, the doctor’s
brother, writes to his sister-in-law:
I sit down to write you a few lines to inform you of
Doc’s health which ain’t as bad as you think it is. He is
able to get his own wood and do a good many chores ..
as far as money, I think I can get enough for him to come
home next spring. I think that he will get over it, but he
can’t mine anymore. It won’t do, for it is the worst work
in the world for a man.
On December 28 the doctor writes his wife that he has
consumption, but that he has hopes of getting home before
he dies. Then there is a final letter from Lorenzo with the
news that Henderson died on the tenth of February.
Henderson was buried in the Omega cemetery. In the
1960s the Grand Lodge of the Masons of California obtained the deed to the cemetery and had markers placed
there for three of their members. In the late 1970s a Captain
D. L. Brown of Westlake, Oregon, and his wife came to
Nevada County attempting to find Henderson’s grave. Unable to locate the exact spot, they went ahead and placed a
marker bearing his name there.
i
Lf athe <.
Flattened and
broken headstones
at the Omega
cemetery, showing
the results of
vandalism and lack
of care in the 1960s.
(Photo by
Lyle White)