They Came Around the Horn - California History for the Young Reader

The Land Known as Alta California

The Conquered Province

Gold Discovered in California

They Came by Way of Panama

They Came Around the Horn

They Came Overland by Train

The Story Ends Where it Began:
Along El Camino Real

Work was in progress on the Transcontinental Railroad line. Workmen employed by the Union Pacific, mostly of whom were Irish, were laying track westward across the prairie from Omaha. Thousands of Chinese were working their way eastward. People continued to come to California, not to dig for gold, but to settle down. Now that Tom Phelan had a stake in his pocket for having fought in the Civil War, he was eager to be on his way.

While staying with his sister in San Francisco, Tom met Lucky Baldwin, the Comstock Lode millionaire who suggested Tom purchase land in the valley of San Gabriel where the cattle had roamed the hills for over a hundred years. Tom and his friend Mr. Woodward joined a cattle drive heading south, again setting out on another long journey.

The material from this book was based on the work of Catherine Phelan along with many other stories handed down by various members of the family.

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ISBN 0-87062-292-7