Letters written to Ellen Apple during the years 1849 thru 1852

Philadelphia, PA - 30 June 1849

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... . The longer the vessel delays now, the worse it will be for me. Were it not for sweet hope in the future this trial would break me down; and this morning, as it is, my heart has been heavy.

Cabin Of The Europe, Delaware River - 4 July 1849

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... I shall remember that I sailed for San Francisco on the Fourth of July, 1849, leaving all that's near and dear for yellow gold.

Ship Europe, Off Valparaiso, CHL - 19 November 1849

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... To tell you of all the sweets and bitters of this voyage would require a volume, for we have had a very long and in many respects a tedious voyage of twenty weeks, where twelve should have sufficed.

San Francisco, CA - 14 February 1850

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... This day a year ago, I little dreamed that in a twelvemonth I should have encountered the terrors of Cape Horn, and after many days of severe suffering, reached the shores of this golden land...

Stockton, CA - 24 May 1850

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... We were at Mariposa about seven weeks and during a part of that time I worked hard in mud and water two feet deep. I sent you a specimen...

Sonora, CA - 24 July 1850

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... A year has passed since I held thy hand and bid thee a sad adieu. What a short time! Yet how many trials, difficulties and dangers have we passed through during that time!

Sonora, CA - 6 October 1850

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... The longer I am absent and the further I am from you, the stronger my attachment becomes.

Sonora, CA - 20 November 1850

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... Often when in a melancholy mood of mind have I sat down and perused your letters over and over again, and they have nerved me up and driven all such feelings away.

Sonora, CA - 6 March 1851

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... Your highly prized letter of January 13th reached me last evening in fifty-one days after it was written, having made the quickest passage of any I have received since residing in the mining district.

Sonora, CA - 11 May 1851

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... I could not bear the idea of taking a wife where the chances would be against my supporting her, and where one lives just upon what he earns and that just sufficient

Sonora, CA - 10 August 1851

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... Nearly every steamer that arrives now brings a great many ladies. We are having beautiful moonlight evenings and were we together who could tell the pleasures of one evening walk?

Sonora, CA - 25 January 1852

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... Parents should be consulted in regard to such matters, and it is always desirable that they should approve the choice of their children, but I must own to you that opposition from such a source would never dete

Sonora, CA - 28 April 1852

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... The nearer the time approaches for my return, the more impatient and restless I am getting. But time flies on lightning wings and a few weeks will soon roll around.

Sonora, CA - 26 October 1852

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... if a man is quiet and sober he can generally avoid all quarrels in which rowdies and drunken men always see fit to draw the bowie knife and revolver.