The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-08-20

Death Of the Original Discoverer Of
Gold on the Pacific
Coast.
he Dies in Extreme Poverty-The Ro--
mantle Story of His Life and
Struggles.
[PlaceryiIIe Cal special

There has just died at his home, in
Coloma, a poverty stricken, disappointed
old man, four years past the allotted three,
score and ten, who laid the foundation of
CALIFORNIA; wealth by his intelligence and
sagacity. This man. whom California has.
SO shamefully treated. was James w. Mar
shall, who, in January, 1913, made the dis
covery of gold at Suffers Fort, and worked
such revolution in a wilderness country
that in less than three years thereafter it
was received into the sisterhood of States.
The history of Marshall's life reads al
most like romance. He was born in Hope
Township New Jersey, in 1872. After re-
ceiving plain education he learned the
trade of q coach and wagon builder. He
was smitten with the western fever" when
about twenty one years old, and, having
travelled in Indiana and Illinois, bought O.
farm on the Platte Purchase, near Fort
Leavenworth. Kansas. His health was
poor, aud his doctor said he must either
die or seek a change Of air. May l, 1874,
be joined O train Of 100 wagons bound for
that, at the time, almost unknown land,
California. The party reached its destina-
ton in June, 1S45, and camped at Cache
Creek, about forty miles from where Sacra-
mento now stands. From that point it's
members took their several ways. Mar
shall and a few others went to Suffers
Fort, Sacramento County. where he en-
tered the service of Gen. Suffer.
About year after this, and after Mar
shall had begun life in the stock business
on farm of two leagues in area, the Mexi-
cans made an attempt to prevent body of
American emigrants from entering Cali
fornia. This led to the Bear Flag war, in
G.,ft ohon nd 9th
assisted, as volunteers, Gen. Fremont, of
the United States military post at Suffer
Buttes, in the defense of their country
men. Fighting was frequent and severe.
Marshall took part in all the engagements
of the campaign, which resulted in "a
treaty signed March, 1S4T, recognizing
the independence of California. Mar
shall procured his discharge and re-
turned 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 abse ce. He
therefore gave up his farm and began ar
judgements to start in the lumber business
at Coloma, Amador County, as active part
ner with Gen. Suffer. who undertook to-
furnish the necessary capital. Work was
begun on the mill in August lS47.
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 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 rifle of soft
granite. He stopped and picked up the sub
stance. 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 discov-
cry. In several days he collected a few
ounces of the precious metal. and as he
had occasion to visit Suffers Fort in short
time he took the specimens with him. He
informed Suffer of his discovery but the
General was incredu Gus. 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 to.
spread. The news flew over the country
ike wildfiP, and those whites who were
then in California went into the quest for
gold with great ardor and energy. Addition
al revelations were made daily, and the news
of the discoveries was spread.
Then came the mad rush from the East
and the old world. Ii was furious race
for wealth. In 1S49 every sailing vessel and
steamer landing at San Francisco was.
crowded with adventurers. They knew
that gold had first been found in Coloma,
and many went thither. Without inquiry
or negotiation they squatted upon Mar
shalls land about the mill, seized his work
oxen for iood, confiscated his horses, and
marked the land off into town lots and dis
tributed them among themselves. Thus
robbed of his property he perforce became
a prospector, but never succeeded in find
ing much gold. The neighbors who had
spelled his possessions added insult to in
jury by presuming that he knew the where
abouts of rich deposits of gold and refused
to give information to them, and persecut-
ed him on these false suppositions. To.
add to his troubles his title to the land he
had purchased prior to his great discovery
was questioned, and he lost it all. The
State has helped him little, but only a
little, in his hard fight against poverty, all
the more severe by reason of his advanced
age.