My dearest Clara: a series of letters from Sheldon Wells to his wife Clara trace the fortune seeker's misadventures in the western wilderness.(Your Story)

Money was scarce for my grandfather, Sheldon Wells, and his brother, Forrest. Stonemasons by trade, there were few demands for their work. Farming in Brome County, in Quebec's eastern townships, was unstable--providing barely enough to live on. So, when reports drifted in of gold discovered in the Yukon, it sparked immediate interest. Accordingly, the brothers sold their Montreal-area granite business and joined thousands of men leaving home, determining that it would be worth the sacrifice if they returned home rich.

In March 1898, with the blessing of their families, the Wells brothers set off, travelling by train from Quebec to Edmonton. Sheldon and Forrest joined five other men heading north to try to find their fortune. Their long, arduous journey--covering hundreds of kilometres of Canadian wilderness--took 92 days to complete.

Sheldon's letters to his wife, Clara, became journals of his adventures. In addition to Clara, the 48-year-old Sheldon left behind four daughters: Mary; Ruth; Agnes; and the eldest, Elsie (age ten), who would become my grandmother. All of them were thrilled when they received one of Sheldon's letters.

Here, in his own words, are excerpts from Sheldon's letters:

Fort Providence, Northwest Territories (June 29, 1898)

Dear Clara and my darling little babies,

I am very glad to tell you that we are safe through Great Slave Lake [Northwest Territories]. I thought a great many times yesterday of the prayers that were offered up by my darling wife and children as I was steering the boat through the last thirty miles of Slave Lake. There was no place we could land in thirty miles. The waves were terrible but we got through safe. Thank God. We got into the mouth of the Mackenzie River last night at twelve. Now we have passed all the bad places and will soon be in the land of gold. Dear Clara, keep up your courage. God bless you.