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10 JAMES BAIRD WEAVER

knight of the saddle-bags, and the old soldiers
had returned, and some of them were domiciled
among us. I took up my elementary studies in
the local school; but news of the discovery of
gold at Slitter's Mill in California in 1848
quickly crossed the continent and became
known to the world. This thrilled and intensely
excited all classes of people, and all the older
pioneers, including myself, caught the fever.
But my parents repressed its rage to the utmost
of their power, and notwithstanding a brother-
in-law, Dr. 0. W. Phelps, pulled out for the
Eldorado in the spring of 1849, I was not per-
mitted to accompany him, but continued to
carry the mail until the latter part of 1851.
After quitting the road I attended three terms
of school. In addition, I had begun to study
law under occasional instructors in the office of
Hon. S. G-. MeAchran, a practicing lawyer at
Bloomfield, during the summer and winter of
1852-1853.

"I was now about nineteen years of age,
strong, and with the rugged experience of the
pioneer lad felt that I was equal to any emer-
gency. Meantime my brother-in-law, Dr.
Phelps, had reached home returning by sea via
New York with a snug quantity of gold, and
was preparing for another trip overland with a
herd of cattle, and would need my help. Fifty
head of steers were secured, all tamed to the



	10 JAMES BAIRD WEAVER knight of the saddle-bags, and the old soldiers had returned, and some of them were domiciled among us. I took up my elementary studies in the local school; but news of the discovery of gold at Slitter's Mill in California in 1848 quickly crossed the continent and became known to the world. This thrilled and intensely excited all classes of people, and all the older pioneers, including myself, caught the fever. But my parents repressed its rage to the utmost of their power, and notwithstanding a brother- in-law, Dr. 0. W. Phelps, pulled out for the Eldorado in the spring of 1849, I was not per- mitted to accompany him, but continued to carry the mail until the latter part of 1851. After quitting the road I attended three terms of school. In addition, I had begun to study law under occasional instructors in the office of Hon. S. G-. MeAchran, a practicing lawyer at Bloomfield, during the summer and winter of 1852-1853. "I was now about nineteen years of age, strong, and with the rugged experience of the pioneer lad felt that I was equal to any emer- gency. Meantime my brother-in-law, Dr. Phelps, had reached home returning by sea via New York with a snug quantity of gold, and was preparing for another trip overland with a herd of cattle, and would need my help. Fifty head of steers were secured, all tamed to the