MEMORIALS
424 SOUTH BROADWAY
YREKA, CALIFORNIA
Dec 1st 1946
My Father James Howard Russell told me of His
Earley Life:
"Mother Died when I was about 6 weaks old. Father about one year later.
His Brother's Wife took care of me for about 7 or 8 yrs. Then my two
Sisters
Hortense and Mable who never married took me. and some 10 yrs later
they
sold a horse to a man living about 40 miles away. Put me on the
horse
to take it to him. told me not to trot or runn the horse. gave me an
old
quilt and bridal and to bring them back. It was an awfull
cold
Windy Day. I had to walk to keep warm as I had a very thin coat.
It was almost dark when I went to a house to ask how far it was to the
place. I was told I had passed by it. He lived off the road about
a mile up the first lain I come to I got there after Dark.
The man was mad told a niger Boy to show me and to sleep in the Hay
mow.
I had no Supper and had to use old Quilt to cover with.
They
called me Earley for Breckfast. and started me Home. It was
awfull
fogey and i could not tell the way I came. Ant Mable gave me
about
1.00 in small money. To get on Boat come home I walked a long
time
It seamed before I saw a Boat Then a man said come on & help load
this
Wood Then I had to run get my Bridle & Quilt nearley missed getting
on. I had supper and he told me when to sleep. next
morning
I piled wood near the man that burned It Then had Breakfast. They
all left the Boat. I followed but lost sight of man.
Wandered
around all Day and I asked where Hortense and Mable Lived No one
Knowed
Late in after noon I saw a sigh in a Window Saying Wanted a Boy to
Learn
the Trade I knocked on the Door no Body answered. Then a
man
come out and asked What you Want. told Him the Window had Wanted a
Boy
He opened Door told me to go to that man. I told Him Wanted a
Boy.
Yes he asked my name. Where I lived I told Him with Hortense
&
Mable. Then I told him How I got Here He Said a
Runaway.
I did not know what that was. I asked for a Place to go
out.
When I came back He Put me up a Lader in a room with corn husks to
Sleep
on and Went out Locked Room. Next morning He come and because I
was
Laying Down Called me a sleepy Head. Gave me an apple &
Bisquite.
The First I had after leaving Boat. Then showed me How to Rub
Tootstones.
After Dinner i got another apple and two Piases Bread with Butter on
Them.
but no Supper I workded untill Dark. Went Back to Bead.
Next
morning I got Baked Pottato 2 Biskits cut mild and Was ask again Wher I
Lived I told Store over again to 2 other men. Then They asked me
to Sign a Paper that i would Work 5 yrs to Learn Trade. and that
He John Beard to Pay me Wages & Keep me. I stayed about 6
yrs.
Then McDonald got a Job Building a Stone Bridge and Wanted me to
help.
Later we set up a Stone Shop
Then the 49 Gold Rush, Landed at Feather River Then
we
got pack Train come to Yreka Fall 51 - Here we are packing Met
your
mother and Brought Her in 1856 when you 2 months old -
You are our visitor --
thanks
for stopping by!
Last updated by William P. Russell onSaturday, 08-Sep-2018 09:40:23 MDT