The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-03-29
A MORMON PATRIARCH DIES.
James S. Brown, One of the Men Who
Discovered Gold in 1913.

James ;. Brown, who was with Jo-
| seph w. Marshall when the first dis
| covery of gold was made in California
| Jan. a, 1S4S died at his home, 81 North
| First West street, Tuesday morning.
Mr.. Brown had been a resident OF
Salt Lake since the fall of 184S and was
one of the most active workers in the
| Church of Latter-day Saints up to the
| time of his death, which was caused
by Bright's disease
When the trip across the mountains
to Zion was proposed by Brigham
Young he was one of the first 10 enlist.
His father and mother tried to dis
suade him at first and then decided to
go themselves.
When the Mormons had reached the
Missouri river in their march, there
came the call from the government for
volunteers to go to California and as
sist in checking the Mexicans in their
advance on California. a battalion of
500 was formed for this purpose, and
Mr.. Brown was one of the first to join
this.
After, journey filed with terrible
hardships and exciting adventures, the
battalion arrived just in time to render
effective assistance in stopping the
raids of the Mexicans.
In the fall of 1S47 the battalion was
mustered out of the governments SER
vice and the members prepared to go to
Salt Lake. On account of the hard
ships of the winter travel, however,
most of them decided to wait until
spring and meanwhile to secure work
in California.
A number of them managed TO get
work near Suffers fort from Captain
D. a. Suffer and Joseph w. Marshall
in constructing a saw mill
MIR. Brown, in his Life of Pioneer"
tells the whole story of the finding of
the gold by Marshall and the excite
ment that prevailed. On the morning
of Jan. a. 1S4S, the mea of the camp
were aroused by the shout of Marshall,
who had arisen early in the morning
in order to prosecute his search for
he gold which he was sure existed in
the streams whereabouts.
Mr.. Brown was the first one to reach
his side as Marshall came up the hill
Marshall had ten or more 1aky pieces
of gold in his hat. Mr.. Brown took
piece of the gold and bit it. He found
it so hard that he felt sure it wa.s gold.
He turned to the others and shouted:
Gold. boys, gold!"
He then tested the pieces of metal
first by pounding them with a ham
ner, ana tnen Dy neaIlnS. After these
two tests there was no longer any
doubt as to the find. Everyone then
started out in search of gold and al
most all were successful in finding
small amounts of it in the stream
which ran by the camp. Afterward the |
search was carried further and they |
began to realize the importance of their |
discovery.
The first intention was to keep the |
find a secret. but after it had once |
eaked out letter was written to Sam |
lel Brannon, a Mormon, who was edit
ng a newspaper in San Francisco, and |
he first news of it was given to the
world through this paper.
In the fall of 1S4S James T. Brown,
Who felt more devoted to his religious
,ause than to the finding of gold, left i
California and Travelled to Salt Lake
With some OF his brother Mormons.
Mr.. Browns last mission was to the
society islands in 1892 Since then he
las lived in the city. He was mem
er of the Seventies" and a patriarch
# the church. He left twenty-one
children and 125 grandchildren.