David Foreman/Forman

From: Jerry Forman
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 13:49:56 -0800
Subject: GOLDRUSH MOST WANTED - FOR(E)MAN

Looking for confirmation that my ancestors visited California in the Gold Rush Days as family stories are told. David Smith FOR(E)MAN, born 1818 Tompkins County, New York and his son, David Deshler FOR(E)MAN, born 1845 Columbus, Ohio, told stories how they traveled on horse back across the Western waste lands and ended up in Virginia City, Nevada during the Gold Rush Days. They had the pleasure of meeting Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) in Virginia City. Mr. twain was there as a correspondent for an Eastern Newspaper. While in Virginia City, they worked as carpenters and were kept busy building coffins because someone died or was shot every day. They paid $20.00 admission to the dance hall in Virginia City and saw Death Valley Scotty break the bank at roulette in the gambling casino. Scotty brought in two burros with side panniers, loaded all the gold dust into them and armed with two big six shooters, left for Death Valley and his home. At one point enroute west, they paid 25 cents for a bucket of water; so, they bought one bucket and gave it to their horses while they had a drink of liquor at the bar with which they were given a small water chaser. They returned home to Ohio and eventually to Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. The dates given were approximately 1849 - 1851 but I understand that Virginia City, Nevada may not have been in existence yet? Any input greatly appreciated.

1862 - Mark Twain worked for the Virginia City Territory Enterprise newspaper

1863 - Twain lives in Virginia City & adopted the name Mark Twain.

1864 - Moves to San Francisco and works for the S.F. Call newspaper

1865 - Gold mines at Angel Camp, California while writing for the S.F. paper

Either my FOR(E)MAN ancestors visited Virginia City later than told (1860-1862) or they were elsewhere in the California Gold Rush areas (1849-1851)?