Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-08-19
HE DIED IN POVERTY.
James Wilson Marshall, the Discovers
of Gold in California.

! James wilson Marshall, the DiscOverer
| of Gold I'm California.
PLACERvILLE, CAL, Aug. 11.-Yes-
terday there died at his home, in
Coloma, q poverty stricken, disap-
pointed old man, four years past the
allotted three score and ten, who laid
the foundation of California's wealth
by his intelligence and sagacity. This
man, whom California has so shame
fully treated, was James W. Marshall,
who, IN January, 1848, made the dis
covery Of gold at Suffers Fort, and
worked such revolution in q wilder
ness country that in less than three
| years thereafter it was received into
the sisterhood of states. The history
of MarshalPs life reads almost like a
romance. He was bornin Hope Town
ship, New Jersey, in 1912. After re-
ceiving q plain education he learned
the trade of q coach and wagon build
er. He was smitten with the ''west-
ern fever when about 21 years old,
and having Travelled in Indiana and
Illinois, bought q farm on the Platte
Purchase, near Fort Leavenworth,
Kas. His health was poor, and his
doctor said he must either die or seek
q change Of air. May ], 1914, he
joined q train of 100 wagons bound
for that. at the time, almost unknown
land, California. Theparty reached it's
destination in June, 1915, 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, Sac
ramentO County, where he entered the
service OF Gen. Suffer. About year
after this, and after Marshall had be-
gun life IL the stock business on farm
OF two leagues in area, the Mexicans
made an attempt to prevent q, body
OF American emigrants from entering
! California. This led to the Bear Flag
war, IN which Gen. Suffer, Marshall,
and others assisted as volunteers Gen.
Fremont, of the United States mill
tary post at Suffer Buttes, in the de-
tense of their countrymen Fighting
was frequent and severe. Marshall
took part in all the engagements of
the campaign, which resulted in a
treaty signed March, 1847, recognizing
the independence of California. Mar
shall procured his discharge and re-
turned to Suffers Fort. Upon his
tie he had left upon his farm had been
stolen or strayed during his absence.
He therefore gave up his farm, and be-
gan arrangements to start in the lun1-
Der business at Coloma, Amado Coun-
ty, as active partner with Gen. Suffer,
VINO undertook to furnish the neces-
sary capital. Work was begun on
the mill in August, 1847. 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 look
ing down at the mass Of debris. At
this Juncture mis- eye caught the glitter
OF something that lay lodged in a
crevlce on a rifle Of soft granite. He
| stopped and picked up the substance.
1t was heavy, of a peculiar color, and
different from anything he had seen
in the stream before. He was salts
fed that he had indeed made an i'm
portant discovery. In several days
he collected a few ounces Of the pre-
ciOus metal and as hehad occasion to
visit Suffers Fort in a short time he
took the specimens with him He in
formed Suffer of his discovery, but
the General was incredulOus. and it
was not until chemical experiments
had settled the question beyond all
doubt that he would admit the miner
al was gold. At last all doubts faded,
and the excitement began to spread.
The news flew over the country like
wlldtire, 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 furious race
for wealth. In 1849 every sailing YES
sci and steamer landing at San Fran
cisco was crowded with Adventures.
They knew that gold had first been
found III Coloma, and many went
thlther. Without inquiry or negOtia
ton they squatted upon Marshall's
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 re-
fused to give information to them, and
they prosecuted him on thesefalse sup
positions. To add to his troubles his
title to the land he had purchased
prior to his great discovery was cues
toned and he lost it all. The state
has helped him little, but only a lit
tie in his hard fight against poverty,
all the more severe by reason of ad-
vanced age.
The doctors saw that hnt tea Is q