From: JD Macrander
Date: Tue 1/13/2004 12:35 AM
Subject: GOLDRUSH MOST WANTED
Josiah D. SCOTT, b. VA, age 44 in 1850 Fed. census for MO. His home was in
Atchison Co., Tarkio Township, in the close knit Center Grove rural community.
He was a farmer and stock drover, engaged in buying and reselling livestock. It
is unknown if he may have driven a livestock herd to California or traveled
light as other gold-seekers would have.
Sometime after the September 1850 census enumeration in Atchison Co., MO, SCOTT
and three younger rural neighbors, left their wives and children to travel to
California and the goldfields. These were James ROBERTS, Henry BUSH, both
farmers, and Henry MULLIS, a carpenter. These three returned to Missouri, but
Josiah D. SCOTT died in the western lands. One account by his daughter mentioned
him being murdered. Henry BUSH returned via the ocean route around South
America.
The travel to California might have been earlier, in the event that the census
taker may have entered their names as heads of their households in absentia.
Similar name patterns for the three younger men are recorded in 1850 in El
Dorado Co., CA census but SCOTT does not appear to be with them.
Any clue to these mysteries would be invaluable assistance to a hole in the
history.
JD Macrander
Goldrush Most Wanted | California Genealogy | Free Genealogy