Autobiography of Julia Ann Barr Hamilton

Part 8 of 8

In June, I think it was, we got to Benton, Arkansas. We bought a farm and couldn’t get possession until the man gathered his crop. So, Papa bought lumber and built a shop. It was right close to a big spring called Corner Spring. We lived in the shop.

Papa would work at anything he could get to do. He picked up apples at 50 cents for an old man by the name of Hastings. They were old settlers. Also, Mr. Burrows was an old settler. Our nearest neighbors was Mr. Baker; the man we bought the place from.

Well, September came, and the stork came and brought us a sweet boy baby, the 12th, 1868, but we never did move in our house. Bob wanted to go to California. We stayed there until spring and sold out.

Started to travel again, just a two-horse wagon. We went up through Missouri. We went up a river named Roaring River. It wasn’t deep, but we had to cross it about a dozen times and its name sure suited it.

The boys would tie their horses to the back of the wagon. Papa and I and the children slept in the wagon. Bob slept on the ground. We had a good watch dog. One night he began to growl. Bob raised up. There was a little chunk burning where we had our fire and directly he saw a man trying to crawl up to where the horses were tied. He called, “Bill, get your gun.” He already had his. He asked the man what he wanted. He said, “A chunk of fire.” Bob said, “Well, you come get it and if you come back here anymore tonight I will shoot you.”

Well, we never seen or heard of him anymore, but the next morning after we started, we found the chunk where he had threw it down, so we thought if it hadn’t been for the dog, we might have lost our horses.

We traveled on until we came to Kansas City. There Bob got in with a family by the name of Pratt. They were going to California. That was the last we saw him for several years.

Papa got another job, and we had to move. I don’t know how long we stayed there, but we went from there to Omaha. Nebraska.

Papa got work there for a while, sold our wagon and team, gave the dog away to a man we thought would be good to him. put all we had (bed, dishes, and all) in two trunks. Oh, yes. we had a grub box and suitcase, or satchel as we called it. It had the baby clothes and a few for Donia in it. So, one morning, the first or second day of July 1869, we started to California on the first through passenger train that went across that way from Omaha to Sacramento. Had a nice trip except Papa had a spell of sick headache. We never had to change cars but one time on the trip. I don’t remember the name of the place we changed, but we got on the other train. It seems to me it was Agaton we changed in.

Well, we went through mountains, saw snow, sun shining, but we went through a tunnel all the same in crossing those plains. At that time, it was dangerous. In one place I remember the train went as fast as it could. I guess they didn’t have anyone outside. Then in one place we went around the horseshoe bend. We went as slow as we could go, could see both ends of the train. They had two engines in one place. I think that was the place.

We had our grub box, and plenty (food) to do us. Papa made coffee on the stove. That is the way they heated the coaches those days.

Well, July 4th, 1869, on Sunday, we arrived in Sacramento. California. I remember there was so many men howling, this way. this hotel, or another. We couldn’t hardly get to the depot, and I don’t know if they had a waiting room or not, but Papa left me out on the porch sitting on one of our trunks with my two little babies.

He went to hunt Bob as the last we heard from him he was in Sacramento. I don’t think he had a street or number, but (thought he was) in the eastern part as I remember.

Well, we didn’t have much money, just $12 as I remember. We had to go to a hotel. It cost us 50 cents to get our trunks taken up there. I guess we walked. Anyway, we got there. I changed my dresses, cleaned up, and felt better. Stayed all night.

Next day the town celebrated the 4th. We did, too, but oh, how. with Papa hunting a place to put his little family. Every house that was to be had, it seemed to be so high, and they wanted the rent in advance. It was more than we had. But finally, he found a house that needed some repair. He could repair it, live in it a while. So now we had to get moved down there.

Then he went and bought a little stove, a little grub (food), a water bucket, and a few other things that we just had to have. It seems to me that our little bit of money sure did last. It was like the lean we read about.

Well, now for a job. For the next day or two he hunted for a job. Offered to work for nothing just for a trial, but no, they wanted a recommendation. He told them where he comes from they didn’t need any recommendations.

Well, he couldn’t get anything there, but a man told him out near Davisvifle on a ranch he might get work. So, he tied up a suit of underwear and a clean shirt in a red handkerchief. He had $3. He divided it equal and left me and the babies in a strange land.

Well, the time seemed long while my dear husband was away, but I will try to tell of him. He just had $1.50. It taken 50 cents to take him to Davisville on the train. He went to a hotel and stayed all right. It cost him 50 cents for meals. 50 cents for a bed, no job. Had to leave his clothes for his bed.

He went out the next morning and found a job unloading lumber. He carried it on his shoulder all day. At night, he got $1.50 and a blistered shoulder. Couldn’t carry any more lumber.

But God came or sent a friend to help the needy. His name was Jack Striplin, and he was from Missouri, too. He told Papa when anyone asks him if he could do anything, tell them yes.

So, someone told him out on a ranch he might get a job. Well, he thought a ranch was where they had cattle and stock of all kinds, as that was what Tesians called it.

So he went, but when he got out there, they were threshing wheat. He went to the boss and asked for a job. He said no vacant place, but if he would stay until Monday, he would be apt to get a job as some men generally got knocked in the head Saturday night. That was Friday.

This is the end of Julia Ann’s manuscript If there is more, it has never been discovered among her papers.