The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-01-13
JAMES WILSON MARSHALL.

Jaues WILSON marshall, VINO nfSt dis
covered gold in the State of California,
was, for several years, in his early life
president of Lambertvile. State
ments respecting his life have been
repeatedly published, here and else
where, but these have contained errors
as to the place and date of his birth
The writer has recently been fur.
nished with accurate information on
these and other points in this con.
nection, by Mr.. Marshall's niece, Miss
Mary A. Hofi, the only near relative
now remaining in Lambertville.
1t has been stated, and quite gen
orally believed, that Marshall wa,
was born in Lambertville and that his
birth took place i'll 1912. Both these
statements are erroneous. The place
of his birth was Marshall's Corners.
Mercer County, N. j., and the date
was October sth, 1910. When he was
about six years of age his father,
Philip Marshall. removed, with his
family, to I4ambertville, in Hunter
don County and, in 1916, erected the
brick house which is now No. 60
Bridge Street, and is owned by the
Roman Catholic Church.
This was one of the earliest brick
houses in IIambertyile and here,
Wilson, as he was generally called,
lived during several years of his early
life. Mr.. Philip Marshall became an
active member of the little community
in which he thus cart his lot. In tho
movement for the establishment of
the first church in the place, the Pres
byterian, we find him taking an activ Q
part and only declining an offered
position of Importance in connection
with the enterprise because of his
being member of the Baptist denomi-
nation. The latter had, however, no
organization in Lambertville until
this was effected. on February 10th.
1926. in the house of Mr.. Marshall GA
Bridge street, built and then occu-
pied by him, he and his wife, Sarah,
being two of the five original men,
bers.
The son, who followed his father in
the trade of carriage building, went to
California in 1916. There after many
vicissitudes. he entered into partner
ship with General Suffer- in the lum.
Der business. 1t was while engaged
i'll constructing saw mill, in connect
ion with that business. that he made.
on January 10Th, 1s4s, the discovery
which made him famous and which
gave rise to the gold fever" and the
consequent prosperity of the State of
California.
In view of the great benefit to the
State, from this discovery of Mar,
shall, he was granted pension,
which, however, was not continued
until his death and he died compare
lively poor. in 1868, surrounded by the
prosperity which had resulted from
his discovery. About 1872 he revisit
ell Lambertville, and while here call.
ed on the writer, who was then living
i'll the old Marshall residence, aud
showed great interest in looking over
the home of his boyhood.
The State erected monument tic
his memory at Coloma, the place O
the discovery, aud II monument wa,
also erected in the City OF San Fran
cisco, to the memory of the early pio
neers. including Marshall. This Sal
Francisco monument was seriously
injured in the earthquake which de
vastated the City few years ago.
Besides the son, whose name has he
come 40 widely known. Mr.. PhiliI
Marshall had four daughters, who
were residents of Lnmbertville, Abb
gail, first wife of Smith Ely; Rebecca,
wife of Thomas b. Carr; Mary, wife oil
Martin l.. Reeve and Sarah, wife OF
Peter 9. Ho6, OF the next generation
there are now living Mrs. Sarah Il
Gage. of Beaufort, $. c., George II.
Carr, few miles South of Lambert
Vile; Miss Mary A. Hofl. of Lambert
vile; Mrs. Abigail Il. Blackwell, Of
Hightstown, N. j., and Mrs. Eliza
beth II. Lawrence of Atlantic City,
N. j.
Through the courtesy OF Miss Hofi
the writer has recently been permitted
to copy an excellent likeness of her
uncle, and Mr.. Kline has agreed
to put this and picture of the Mar
shall residence among his collection
OF Post Cards pertaining to Lambert
vile and vicinity.
A ANDERaaN