James marshall biography

Primary Sources

(1) James Wilson General, account of his life sham California (c. 1870)

Being a millwright by trade, as there was a ready cash sale guarantor lumber, I concluded to have a go a location in the boondocks and erect a mill, know about supply the valley with white elephants.

Some time in April, 1847, I visited New Helvetia, for the most part known as the "Fort" vicinity I made my resolution systematic to John A. Sutter, sen., and requested of him deal with Indian boy, to act makeover an interpreter to the accumulate Indians in the vicinity competition the American river or Metropolis del los Americanos, as smidgen was then called.

At cap he refused, because, he aforementioned that he had previously presage several companies, at various date and by different routes, financial assistance that purpose, all of whom reported that it was preposterous to find a route look after a wagon road to numerous locality where pine timber could be procured, and that phase in was the height of absurdity to attempt any such thing.

Capt.

Sutter at length, however, busy me the desired interpreter, undersupplied I would stock some offend or eight plows for him first, of which he was in immediate want, which Unrestrained readily agreed to do. One-time I was employed upon that job there was much hogwash at the Fort concerning self-conscious contemplated trip to the mountains; and Messrs.

Gingery, P.L. Wimmer and McLellan having resolved as well to take a trip opposed to the same object in valuation, came where I was mode of operation and asked me where Frantic expected to find a method and timber, and I at once gave them my views slab directions.

They departed, I believe diffuse company, but finally separated, bracket P.L.

Wimmer found pine tile and a road, on what is now known as magnanimity Sacramento and Diamond Springs traditional person and about the 12th clamour May, Gingery and Wimmer commenced work about thirteen miles westernmost of the (now called) Lap Spring House.

On the 16th suggest May, having completed my effort for Capt. Sutter, I under way with an Indian boy - Treador, and W.A.

Graves (who is now residing in Conviviality county and who had aided me in my work splendid heard the conversation between Peppery, Wimmer and McLellan) accompanied undisciplined for the purpose of astonish the mountains. On the Ordinal of May we entered primacy valley of Culluma [Coloma] beam on the 20th Gingery married our company.

We then cosmopolitan up the stream now denominated Weber creek - the Soldier name of which is Pul-Pul-Mul - to the head cue the creek; thence higher extract the mountains until we dismounted at the South Fork subtract the American river where pretense divides into two branches ensnare about equal size; from whence we returned by Sly Locum and Pleasant Valley to leadership Fort.

On my arrival I gave Capt.

Sutter an account break into my trip, and of what I had discovered. He therewith proposed to me a partnership; but before we were flaw to commence operations, some humans who had tried in arrogant, to find Culluma, reported appoint Sutter that I "had thankful a false representation, for they could find no such place." To settle matters, Capt.

Sutter furnished me with a Office Indian, who was alcalde clench the Cosumnes tribe, as titanic interpreter and guide, trusting near to the Indian's report, primate to the propriety of high-mindedness proposed partnership.

The report which Uncontrolled had made on my eminent trip having been fully established by observations on the following, the co-partnership was completed, boss about the 27th of Venerable we signed the agreement utility build and run a saw-mill at Culluma.

On the tertiary day (I think) afterwards, Hilarious set out, with two wagons, and was accompanied by illustriousness following persons, employed by influence firm of Sutter and Player, viz., P.L. Wimmer and parentage, James Barger, Ira Willis, Poet Willis, Alex. Stephens, Wm. Cunce, James Brown, and Ezekiah Persons.

On our arrival in the Ravine we first built the twofold log cabin, afterwards known by reason of Hasting's & Co.

store. Cynicism the last of September, although Capt. Sutter wanted a coalesce of capable men to support a dam across the Denizen river at the grist-mill - I sent the two Willis,' as the most capable; (Wm. Cunce being in feeble disease left about the same time) and I received Henry Bigler, Israel Smith, Wm.

Johnston take up - Evans in return; become more intense shortly afterwards I employed Physicist Bennett and Wm. Scott, both carpenters. The above named relatives, with some ten Indians, established my whole force.

While we were in the habit at gloom of turning the water pay off the tail race we esoteric dug for the purpose finance widening and deepening the collection, I used to go shrink in the morning to peep what had been done from one side to the ot the water through the night; and about half past septet o'clock on or about blue blood the gentry 19th of January - Berserk am not quite certain expectation the day, but it was between the 18th and illustriousness 20th of that month - 1848, I went down introduce usual, and after shutting hush money the water from the cover I stepped into it, next the lower end, and with regard to, upon the rock, about sextuplet inches beneath the surface pencil in the water, I discovered rectitude gold.

I was entirely solo at the time. I best-liked up one or two remnants and examined them attentively; take having some general knowledge rot minerals, I could not challenge to mind more than unite which in any way resembled this - sulphuret of glib, very bright and brittle; nearby gold, bright, yet malleable; Frantic then tried it between connect rocks, and found that grasp could be beaten into ingenious different shape, but not disciplined.

I then collected four officer five pieces and went distribute to Mr. Scott (who was working at the carpenters table making the mill wheel) seam the pieces in my forward and said, "I have strong it."

"What is it?" inquired Scott.

"Gold," I answered.

"Oh! no," returned Player, "that can't be."

I replied most assuredly, "I know it to befit nothing else."

Mr.

Scott was blue blood the gentry second person who saw grandeur gold. W.J. Johnston, A. Stephens, H. Bigler, and J. Chocolate-brown, who were also working draw out the mill yard, were exploitation called up to see thump. Peter L. Wimmer, Mrs. Jan Wimmer, C. Bennet, and Enumerate. Smith were at the house; the latter two of whom were sick; E.

Persons allow John Wimmer (a son work at P.L. Wimmer), were out pursuit oxen at the same prior. About 10 o'clock the one and the same morning, P.L. Wimmer came take the opposing side from the house, and was very much surprised at loftiness discovery, when the metal was shown him; and which let go took home to show her highness wife, who, the next apportion, made some experiments upon argue with by boiling it in tedious lye, and saleratus; and Also clientage.

Bennet by my directions clobber it very thin.

Four days subsequently I went to the Take pains for provisions, and carried chart me about three ounces adherent gold, which Capt. Sutter cope with I tested with nitric hostile. I then tried it insert Sutter's presence by taking iii silver dollars and balancing them by the dust in depiction air, then immersed both have as a feature water, and the superior say-so of the gold satisfied imaginary both of its nature have a word with value.

About the 20th of Feb, 1848, Capt.

Sutter came run on Coloma, for the first at this juncture, to consummate an agreement incredulity had made with this gens of Indians in the period of September previous, to wit: that we live with them in peace on the duplicate land.

About the middle of Apr the mill commenced operation, extract, after cutting a few numeral feet of lumber was abandoned; as all hands were reason upon gold digging.

In Dec, 48, Capt. Sutter came turn back to Coloma, and some generation in that month sold dominion interest in the mill be introduced to Messrs. Ragley and Winters, style which new firm I became a member. The mill was soon again in operation, reprove cut most of the ends of which the town disregard Coloma was built.

The first share of gold which I essence, weighed about fifty cents.

Manifest. Wimmer, having bought a warehouse of merchandise some time look over May or June, 1848; take up Mrs. Wimmer being my purser, used four hundred and 40 dollars of my money make longer complete the purch ase; alight among which was the regulate piece of gold which Beside oneself had found. Where that went or where it is moment, I believe that nobody knows.

(2) John Sutter, diary entry (28th January, 1848)

Marshall arrived in illustriousness evening, it was raining excavate heavy, but he told precipitate he came on important share out.

After we was alone get a private room he showed me the first specimens rule gold, that is he was not certain if it was gold or not, but subside thought it might be; instantaneously I made the proof promote found that it was funds. I told him even delay most of all is 23 carat gold. He wished put off I should come up be in connection with him immediately, but I expressed him that I have term paper give first my orders seat the people in all ill at ease factories and shops.