Transcribed by Leslie Eugene Rasmussen December 1976.
George W. Kimball sailed from New York City early in 1849 on the steamer Senator with a full complement of others who intended to make their fortunes in the newly discovered gold mines in California. His letters to the folks back home chronicling his trip and adventures give a remarkable insight into the life, times and philosophy of the age.
George W. Kimball was the son of Joseph Kimball and Precindia Huntington Kimball. Joseph and Precindia Kimball are the Great Great Grandparents of John Detlef Detlefsen and Ruth Detlefsen Rasmussen through their daughter and George's sister Mary Precindia Kimball Kellogg.
To the extent possible of reading the original letters George Kimball's spelling, punctuation and grammar have been followed. The copy attached is a line by line copy from the original letters.
This HTML copy produced by John Atwell Rasmussen in February 2003. I am the son of Ruth Detlefsen and Leslie Eugene Rasmussen. In 1991, Ruth Detlefsen Rasmussen donated the original copies of these letters to the Jefferson County Historical Museum in Watertown, NY. Original oil paintings of Joseph and Precindia Kimball were also donated to the same museum.