The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-13
NJ w. MARSHALL,
The Man Who Discovered Gold in California
The History of a Great Event.

PLAcERvILLE, CAL, Aug. IL. Yesterday,
there died at his home in Coloma, a poverty
stricken, disappointed old man, four years past
the allotted three-scoreand-ten, who laid the
foundation Of CALIFORNIA; wealth by his intelli-
gence aud sagacity. This man, whom California
has so shamefully treated, was James w. Mar
shall, who, in January, 184S, made the discovery
OF gold at Suffers Fort, and worked such a revo-
luton in a wilderness country that, in less than
three years thereafter, it was received into the
sisterhood of States.
The history of Marshalls life reads almost
like q romance. He was born in Hope town
ship, n. j., in 1872. After receiving a plain
education, he learned the trade Of a coach and
wagon builder He was smitten with the West
ern fever when about twenty-one years old,
and, having travelled in Indiana and Illinois,
bought a farm on the Platte Purchase, near Fort
Leavenworth, Kan. His health was poor and
his doctor said he must either die or seek a
change of air. May /, 1914, ne Joined a train
OF one hundred wagons bound for that, at the
time, almost unknown land, California The
party reached its destination in June, 1S45, and
camped at Cache creek, about forty miles from
where Sacramento now stands. From that point
its members took their several ways. Marshall
and a few others went to Suffers Fort, Sacra-
mento county, where he entered the service of
General Suffer.
About a year after this, and after Marshall
had begun life in the stock business on a farm of
two leagues in area, the Mexicans made an
attempt to prevent a body Of American emf
grants from entering California. This led to the
Bear Flag war, in which General Suffer, Mar
shall, and others assisted as volunteers General
ER nm p fhn NIT SfatnS OlEta
post at Suffer Buttes, in the defense of their
Countrymen. Fighting was frequent and severe.
Marshall took part in all the engagemen hts of the
campaign, which resulted in a treaty signed
March, l647, recognizing the independence Of
California. Marshall procured his discharge and
returned to Suffers Fort. Upon his arrival he
found that most of the cattle he had left upon
his farm had been stolen, or strayedlduring his
absence. he therefore gave up his farm and
began arrangements to start in the lumber
business at Coloma, Amador county, as active
partner with General Suffer, who undertook to
furnish the necessary capital. Work was begun
on the mill in August, 1S47.
The 18th of January following Marshall was
experimenting the building of the mill race.
After shutting off the water at the head of the
race he walked down the ditch to see what sand
and gravel had been removed during the pre-
vious 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 a crevice
Dn b flL0o OF sou granite. lie stopped ana
picked up the substance. 1t was heavy, of a
peculiar color, and different from anything he
had seen in the stream before. He was satisfied
that he had indeed made an important discovery.
In several days he collected a few ounces of the
precious metal, and as he had occasion to visit
Suffers Fort in a short time he took the speci-
mems with him. He informed Suffer of his
discovery, but the General was incredulous, and
1t was not until chemical experiments had set
tied the question beyond all doubt that he would
admit the mineral was gold. At last all doubts
faded, ard the excitement began to spread. The
news flew over the country like wildtire, and
those whites who were then in California went
into the quest for gold with great ardor and
energy. Additional revelations 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 adventures.
They knew that gold had first been found in
Coloma, and many went thither. Without
inquiry or negotiation they squatted upon
Marshalls land about the mill, seized his work
oxen for food, confscated his horses, and marked
the land off into town lots and distributed them
among themselves. Thus robbed Of his prop
erty he perforce became a prospector, but never
succeeded in finding much gold. The neighbors
who had spoiled his possessions added insult to
injury by presuming that he knew the where
abouts Of rich deposits of gold and refused to
give information to them, and prosecuted him on
these false suppositions. To add to his troubles
his title to tho land he had purchased prior to
his great discovery was questioned, and he lost it
all. The State has helped him a little, but only
a little, in his hard light against poverty, all the
more severe by reason of advanced age.