John Wesley Hillman ( March 29 , 1832 -- March 19 , 1915 ) was an American prospector during the California Gold Rush and explorer who was among the first European Americans to see Crater Lake in the U.S. state of Oregon .
John Wesley Hillman ( March 29 , 1832 -- March 19 , 1915 ) was an American prospector during the California Gold Rush . He was also an explorer who was among the first European Americans to see Crater Lake in the U.S. state of Oregon .