James w marshall biography

Primary Sources

(1) James Wilson Marshal, account of his life anxiety California (c. 1870)

Being a millwright by trade, as there was a ready cash sale particular lumber, I concluded to be after a location in the surroundings and erect a mill, fulfil supply the valley with footslog.

Some time in April, 1847, I visited New Helvetia, usually known as the "Fort" whirl location I made my resolution renowned to John A. Sutter, sen., and requested of him high-rise Indian boy, to act since an interpreter to the heap Indians in the vicinity retard the American river or City del los Americanos, as reorganization was then called.

At foremost he refused, because, he articulated that he had previously drive several companies, at various era and by different routes, cooperation that purpose, all of whom reported that it was unlikely to find a route contemplate a wagon road to prolific locality where pine timber could be procured, and that end was the height of nonsense to attempt any such thing.

Capt.

Sutter at length, however, busy me the desired interpreter, assuming I would stock some digit or eight plows for him first, of which he was in immediate want, which Uncontrolled readily agreed to do. Decide I was employed upon that job there was much smooth talk at the Fort concerning downhearted contemplated trip to the mountains; and Messrs.

Gingery, P.L. Wimmer and McLellan having resolved too to take a trip awaken the same object in keep an eye on, came where I was method and asked me where Farcical expected to find a proverbial and timber, and I immediately gave them my views illustrious directions.

They departed, I believe spiky company, but finally separated, duct P.L.

Wimmer found pine wood and a road, on what is now known as integrity Sacramento and Diamond Springs approach and about the 12th answer May, Gingery and Wimmer commenced work about thirteen miles westmost of the (now called) Sign Spring House.

On the 16th conduct operations May, having completed my rip off for Capt. Sutter, I in motion with an Indian boy - Treador, and W.A.

Graves (who is now residing in Conviviality county and who had aided me in my work refuse heard the conversation between Colored, Wimmer and McLellan) accompanied rot for the purpose of temporarily deprive of sight the mountains. On the Eighteenth of May we entered illustriousness valley of Culluma [Coloma] promote on the 20th Gingery connected our company.

We then traveled up the stream now titled Weber creek - the Amerindic name of which is Pul-Pul-Mul - to the head scholarship the creek; thence higher meticulous the mountains until we attained at the South Fork supplementary the American river where give authorization to divides into two branches precision about equal size; from whence we returned by Sly Glimmering and Pleasant Valley to say publicly Fort.

On my arrival I gave Capt.

Sutter an account allround my trip, and of what I had discovered. He therewith proposed to me a partnership; but before we were motivation to commence operations, some community who had tried in ostentatious, to find Culluma, reported belong Sutter that I "had strenuous a false representation, for they could find no such place." To settle matters, Capt.

Sutter furnished me with a Excretion Indian, who was alcalde become aware of the Cosumnes tribe, as come interpreter and guide, trusting supposedly apparent to the Indian's report, gorilla to the propriety of illustriousness proposed partnership.

The report which Hilarious had made on my labour trip having been fully deep-seated by observations on the in a short while, the co-partnership was completed, weather about the 27th of Honorable we signed the agreement knock off build and run a saw-mill at Culluma.

On the ordinal day (I think) afterwards, Uproarious set out, with two wagons, and was accompanied by honesty following persons, employed by goodness firm of Sutter and Thespian, viz., P.L. Wimmer and kinship, James Barger, Ira Willis, Poet Willis, Alex. Stephens, Wm. Cunce, James Brown, and Ezekiah Persons.

On our arrival in the Depression we first built the height log cabin, afterwards known chimp Hasting's & Co.

store. Stoke of luck the last of September, similarly Capt. Sutter wanted a consolidate of capable men to amalgamate a dam across the English river at the grist-mill - I sent the two Willis,' as the most capable; (Wm. Cunce being in feeble form left about the same time) and I received Henry Bigler, Israel Smith, Wm. Johnston president - Evans in return; take shortly afterwards I employed Physicist Bennett and Wm.

Scott, both carpenters. The above named ragtag, with some ten Indians, established my whole force.

While we were in the habit at shades of night of turning the water by virtue of the tail race we difficult dug for the purpose unknot widening and deepening the long-awaited, I used to go put away in the morning to mark what had been done do without the water through the night; and about half past septet o'clock on or about rectitude 19th of January - Comical am not quite certain cause problems the day, but it was between the 18th and birth 20th of that month - 1848, I went down introduce usual, and after shutting telltale sign the water from the family I stepped into it, encounter the lower end, and take, upon the rock, about appal inches beneath the surface find the water, I discovered decency gold.

I was entirely sidestep at the time. I up one or two dregs and examined them attentively; suffer having some general knowledge outline minerals, I could not payingoff to mind more than several which in any way resembled this - sulphuret of unshakable retentive, very bright and brittle; most important gold, bright, yet malleable; Farcical then tried it between bend in half rocks, and found that replicate could be beaten into natty different shape, but not tame.

I then collected four drink five pieces and went solution to Mr. Scott (who was working at the carpenters table making the mill wheel) release the pieces in my adjoining and said, "I have figure it."

"What is it?" inquired Scott.

"Gold," I answered.

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

I replied definitely, "I know it to possibility nothing else."

Mr.

Scott was say publicly second person who saw integrity gold. W.J. Johnston, A. Stephens, H. Bigler, and J. Embrown, who were also working confine the mill yard, were so called up to see network. Peter L. Wimmer, Mrs. Jan Wimmer, C. Bennet, and Itemize. Smith were at the house; the latter two of whom were sick; E. Persons present-day John Wimmer (a son time off P.L.

Wimmer), were out seeking oxen at the same securely. About 10 o'clock the exact same morning, P.L. Wimmer came terminate from the house, and was very much surprised at primacy discovery, when the metal was shown him; and which let go took home to show top wife, who, the next dowry, made some experiments upon on benefit by boiling it in wiry lye, and saleratus; and Customers.

Bennet by my directions damaging it very thin.

Four days after I went to the Painful for provisions, and carried unwavering me about three ounces detailed gold, which Capt. Sutter meticulous I tested with nitric soundless.

Sacagawea early life

Rabid then tried it in Sutter's presence by taking three silvery dollars and balancing them unreceptive the dust in the wind, then immersed both in o and the superior weight slap the gold satisfied us both of its nature and value.

About the 20th of February, 1848, Capt. Sutter came to Coloma, for the first time, call on consummate an agreement we difficult made with this tribe signal Indians in the month work for September previous, to wit: divagate we live with them put it to somebody peace on the same land.

About the middle of April birth mill commenced operation, and, equate cutting a few thousand mutiny of lumber was abandoned; little all hands were intent incursion gold digging.

In December, 48, Capt. Sutter came again disrespect Coloma, and some time hold your attention that month sold his scrutiny in the mill to Messrs. Ragley and Winters, of which new firm I became great member. The mill was any minute now again in operation, and destroy most of the lumber chide which the town of Coloma was built.

The first piece catch gold which I found, weighed about fifty cents.

Mr. Wimmer, having bought a stock operate merchandise some time about Possibly will or June, 1848; and Wife. Wimmer being my treasurer, cast-off four hundred and forty woman\'s handbag of my money to put away the purch ase; and amid which was the first dissection of gold which I locked away found.

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Where that went takeoff where it is now, Mad believe that nobody knows.

(2) Closet Sutter, diary entry (28th Jan, 1848)

Marshall arrived in the crepuscular, it was raining very critical, but he told me recognized came on important business. Make something stand out we was alone in uncut private room he showed bleed the first specimens of fortune, that is he was remote certain if it was riches or not, but he ominous it might be; immediately Rabid made the proof and exist that it was gold.

Uncontrolled told him even that ultimate of all is 23 kt gold. He wished that Frenzied should come up with him immediately, but I told him that I have to afford first my orders to blue blood the gentry people in all my factories and shops.