The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-10-01

I'll
FORNIA.
JAMES WILSON MARSHALL WHO FIRST FOUND
GOLD IN CALIFORNIA, AND is NOW A POOR MAN,
LIVING NEAR THE SCENE OF HIS GREAT DIS.
CovERY.
To James Wilson Marshall the world Is
indebted for discovery which started the
astonishing prosperity of California and
made an epoch in modern history. His
name will live in history. and his poverty is
a reproach which the citizens of the great
and fourishing State In which he resides
ought promptly to remove. The foundation
of California's wealth was laid by his intelli-
gence and sagacitv. In less than three years
after the time at which he discovered gold,
what bad been previously to his finding the
precious metal a wilderness country, was
received into the sisterhood of the States.
Sacramento has been commemorative the
admission day" of 1850 with pomp and en-
thuslasm, and the presence of the Governor
and other prominet persons. What was said
on that occasion, of the value of Marshalls
discovery, and the honor given his name
will, we trust, be supplemented by the sub
stantial recognition of the claims of public
benefactor, now in old age and poverty after
a worthy life, not only to freedom from
anxiety but to plenty.
The above well-executed portrait is a strik-
ing likeness of Mr.. Marshall. 1t was made
from a crsyon picture Of which the proprie-
tors OF the Sacramento Bee own the COPY
right, and for the use of which we are in
debted TO their kindness
James Wilson Marshall was born in Hope
Township, New jersey, in 1872. After re-
ceivinga plain education he learned the
trade of coach and wagon builder He
was smitten with the "W eStern fever when
about twenty-one years old, and having
travelled in Indiana and Illinois, bought q
Platte PnrphaSQ
LeavenwoTth, Kas. His health was poor
throughout the period of bis residence at
that place, and when his doctor said he must
either die or seek n change of air, he packed
up and left. It was on the 1st of May, 1874,
when he Joined train Of 100 wagons bound
for that, at the time almost unknown land,
California. The party reached its destina-
ton in June, 1915. and camped at Cache
Creek, about forty miles from where Sacra-
mentO now stands. From that point its
members took their several ways. Marshall
and few others went to Suffers Fort, Sac
ramento County, where he entered the SER
vice of General Suffer. About a year
after this, and after Marshall had begun life
in the stock business on farm of two leagues
IN area, the Mexicans made an attempt to
prevent body of American emigrants from
entering California. This led to the Bear
Flag war, in which General Suffer, Marshall
and others assisted as volunteers General
Il
at Suffer Buttes, in the defense of theircoun.
trymen. Fighting was frequent and severe.
Marshall took part in all the engagements OF
the campaign, which resulted in a treaty
signed March, 1917, recognizing the indie
pendence of California. Marshall then pro-
cured his discharge and returned to Suffers
Fort. Upon his arrival he found that most
OF the cattle he had left on his farm had been
stolen or strayed during his absence. He
therefore gave up his farm, and began ar
rangements to start in the lumber business
at Coloma, Amador County, as active part
ner with General Suffer, who undertook to
furnish the necessary capital. Work was be-
gun on the mill in August, 1917.
On the 18th of January following Mar
shall was experimenting the building of the
mill race. After shutting off the water at
the head OF the -ace he walked down the
ditch to see what sand and gravel had been
removed during the previous night. He
strolled to the lower end of the race and
stood looking down at the mass of Debris.
AT this juncture his eye caught the glitter
of something that lay lodged in crevice on
a rifle OF soft granite. He stopped and
picked up the substance. 1t was heavy, of
q peculiar color, and different from any
thing he had seen in the stream before. He
reflected as to what kind of mineral the
specimen could be-, and finally concluded
that il was either mica, sulphurets of cop
per or gold. 1t was too heavy for mica. was
not brittle, as are sulphurets, and, remem-
Numbering that gold is malleable, he placed
the nugget on fiat stone and began strik-
ing it with another. The substance
did not crack or flake oil, but
simply flattened under the blows, aud Mar
shall was satisfied that he had indeed made
an important discovery. In several days he
collected few ounces of the precious metal
and, as be had occasion to visit Suffers For,
in a short time, he took the specimens with
HIM. He informed Suffer of his discovery,
but the General was incredulous, and 1t was
not until chemical experiments had settled
the question beyond all doubt that he would
admit the mineral was gold. At last all
doubts faded, and the excitement began 70
spread. The news flew over the country like
wildfre, and those whites who were then in
California went into the quest for gold with
great ardor and energy. Additional reyela-
tons were made daily, and the news OF the
discoveries was spread. Then came the mad
rush from the East and the Old World. 1t
was a furious race for wealth. In 1849
every sailing vessel and steamer landing
at San Francisco was crowded with ad-
venturers. Thew knew that gold had
first been found at Coloma, and many went
thlther. Without inquiry or negotiation
they squatted upon MarshalPs land about
the mill, seized his work oxen for food, con-
fiscated mis- horses, and marked the land off
into town lots and distributed them among
themselves.
Thus robbed of his property he perforce
became prospector, but never succeeded in
finding much gold. The neighbors who had
.poiled his possessions added insult to injury
by presuming that he knew the whereabouts
Of rich deposits of gold and refused to give
information to them, and prosecuted him
on these false suggestions. To add to his
troubles his title to the land ne had pur-
chased prior to his great discovery, was cues.
toned, and he lost it all. Poor Marshall
still lives ct Coloma. The State has helped
him little, but only little. in his hard
fight against poverty. all the more severe By
reason of advanced age.