A diary a prospector's overland journey in 1850 to California, his experience mining in the Northern Sierras for 4 years and his return to the East Coast by steamer across Panama. On his way to California he travelled via Council Bluffs, Fort Laramie, and the Great Salt Lake. His largely unsuccessful mining and prospecting was in Nevada City, Rock Creek, American River, Downeyville, Oak Valley, North Yuba over a 4 year period from 1850 to 1854. His return to the East Coast was by steamer in 1854 via the Panama Canal. Last entries cover a mining expidition to Pikes Peak in 1859. The diary is in the authors hand and appears to have been transcribed from an original journal that he kept in his travels. The handwriting is very legible and the entries provide almost a daily insight into experiences. The end of the Preface says "Which proved in the end and to me as in the case of many others rather the nature of a wild goose chase." A photo of Edward Prime is inside the front cover.`

Prime eventually settled in Greenvill, Plumas County, California

1 folder 1 leather bound diary, 200 pages, handwritten

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Collection open for research