Three-page letter signed Ichabod J. Norris, written from Grass Valley on January 17, 1857. Addressed to "Dear Sister" and sent to Mrs. William T. Norris in Danbury, New Hampshire. With transcription. Ichabod Norris is writing to his sister-in-law, the wife of William T. Norris. William and Ichabod Norris were with a group of men from Danbury, New Hampshire, who sailed to California on the "Star of the West" on Oct. 20, 1852. (Ichabod is listed on ship's passenger list as J.J. Norris). Five years later when he writes from Grass Valley, Ichabod relates news of various members of the ship's party: "The Danbury Boys are all well as far as I know. Don't see any of them but Gale and Tilton. They are both well and doing well in the mines. Frazier is in the southern mines. C.C. Dudley is at San Francisco. He left Iowa Hill three weeks ago. What he is going at down at the Bay, I cant say." He has little news of his own to report. "Here is but little news this time." They are all in good health and "... it is something strange that so many as there is of us and all well but we had aught to have some good luck if we cant make money. If we have good health we can make a first rate good living and will make some of that slow money that you spoke about." The real news is that Ichabod is planning to return to Danbury next fall and he asks: "I want you should keep sharp lookout for the ghales. As you know I have got no time to fool away as I am now a youth of thirty summers. And when you write again tel me who is in the market and how you think I would take if you think I wil run hard. I can take one withe me but there some expence attending an operation of that kind and I should like to save the frate because it ant every ghal you meet that is worth the frate."
