Sunday, September 27, 2009

Voted The Republican Ticket

November 1856 started with excitement of the Presidential Election.  A life-long Republican by heart, David Lewis Drew voted for the Republican candidate, John C. Fremont, whose home state was California.  The election was won by Demoncrat James Buchanan.

The month was spent gathering supplies and finding a buyer for his claim.  By the end of the month, an old acquaintance, Web Atwood, from Plymouth County, Massachusetts had purchased the claim and David was free to find other sources of income.  His investments in the New York and Know Nothing Tunnels weren’t performing either but he was able to scratch out a living panning and doing other work for the next few years.

November 1856.

SATURDAY 1, -- Went up to Springfield to attend A barbacue given by the American party.

SUNDAY 2, -- Stayed at home.

MONDAY 3, -- Went up to the Republican meeting this eavning.

TUESDAY 4, -- Election day. Voted the Republican ticket. Sent our horses up on Jim Caapers Ranch. 
    Democrat James Buchanan was elected president with John C. Breckinridge as vice presidentJohn BreckinridgeJames Buchanan

WEDNESDAY 5, -- White arrived back from the states.

THURSDAY 6, -- Went up on the Flat.

FRIDAY 7, -- Went up to Columbia to help White get down his trunk.

SATURDAY 8, -- Jobing around the house.

SUNDAY 9, -- Stayed at home.

MONDAY 10, -- Went to Sonora.  Came back through the flat.

TUESDAY 11, -- Saw Web Atwood and he came down on the river with us.

WEDNESDAY 12, -- Mr. White and myself went A hunting, and got A trout.

THURSDAY 13, -- Rolled ten pins.

FRIDAY 14, -- Looks like rain.

SATURDAY 15, -- Went up on Shaws Flat.

SUNDAY 16, -- Web and myself came down on the river this eavning.

MONDAY 17, -- Len and White went up on the hill and (brought) down some grub.

TUESDAY 18, -- Went up on the Flat.

SUNDAY 23, -- Came down from the flat.  Have been on the flat all week.
    Drew doesn't tell us what he was doing up on the Flat. He probably worked up a deal with Web Atwood for his share of the river claim, as well as looked around for a better claim to buy into.

MONDAY 24, -- Commenced working on the claim.

TUESDAY 25, -- Went up on the flat.

WEDNESDAY 26, -- Worked on the claim to day.

FRIDAY 28, -- Sold out to Web Atwood for $600.  Three hundred down and the rest out of the claime.  Came up on Shaws Flat this afternoon.