| Home Surname List Name Index Sources GEDCOM File Email Us | Thirteenth Generation1689. John P Chatfield was born on 11 November 1825 in Kirtland, Lake Co., Ohio, USA. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Bitter Root River, Missoula Co., Montana, USA. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Bitter Root River, Missoula Co., Montana, USA. John died on 10 October 1908 at the age of 82 in Stevensville, Ravalli Co., Montana, USA. He was buried in Maplewood Cmtry., Stevensville, Ravalli Co., Montana, USA. Montana, Death Index Letter from John Chatfield to his father (Isaac Chatfield living in Stark Co., Illinois), postmarked from San Francisco Mary's River O.T. April 10, 1849 It is now upwards of two years since I left home and have been unable to hear from or about you until a few weeks since I received a letter from Olive Lake (dated Feb. 1848) which brought me the agreeable news of your good health up to the date of her kind letter. For which very acceptable letter you will please give Miss Olive my thanks and best wishes. Since I left home I have been favored with excellent health, have met with no serious accidents, endured a few hardships, met with some whole sonled fellows, and some to the contrary, but have not made my fortune yet. However, my prospects are at this time somewhat flattering as I am preparing to go to the California Gold Mines, where gold is very easily obtained. As for Oregon I shall only say that it possesses some important advantages, but all the disadvantages of a new country and is at this time thrown into great confusion by the discovery of the Gold Mines. All things considered if I should give my opinion relative to emigrating to this country it would be (for all those that desire to enjoy this life to the best advantage) to stay at home, especially old people. As regard California if the best information I can get of that Country is correct, it is a poor, sickly, sterile country and only valuable for it's gold mines which are very extensive and rich. Gold has even found on all the streams along the Sierra Nevada of California Mountains as far as have been explored, which is from 800 to 1000 miles. And so rich or plenty that it is not very uncommon for a man to obtain $200 worth in a single day and an average days work is said to be from 2 to 4 ounces. I.C. Avery (?) of this place and formerly of Stark County Ill, dug about $1400. in seven days. The above is the fair side of the picture of the Gold mines and I need hardly tell you that there is another side, such as hardships, privations, sickness and the worst of society. There is a tale circulating here about a young man that had been rather an unsuccessful candidate for matrimony among the girls of Oregon who went to the mines and when digging one day had the good fortune to find a 24 pound lump of Gold. After looking at it for a moment he was heard to exclaim a wife now by G_d... My intention now is to go to the mines this spring, remain there from 12 to 18 months and then return home if my health is spared. Elmira, widow of the late Parker Ward was married a few day since to Dr Saffron of Oregon City. The first part of the road to Oregon as far as Ft Laramie is very good, but the balance of the way it is as bad as can be and traveled with wagons. The first winter I saw in Oregon was very mild but the second one was so cold as to be rather sever upon the stock as it is never fed in this country--There was considerable snow that laid about three weeks--However the friends of Oregon say it was a very, extraordinary winter but I fear these extraordinarys occur too often. You will give my best wishes to Dr Nan and all inquiring friends and especially much joy to E. McNaught Esq - - - Adieu John P Chatfield and Mary Barker were married in Stevensville, Ravalli Co., Montana, USA. Mary Barker was born about 1833 in Montana, USA. She died before 1900 at the age of 67. John P Chatfield and Mary Barker had the following children:
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