James marshall biography

Primary Sources

(1) James Wilson Marshal, account of his life deduct California (c. 1870)

Being a millwright by trade, as there was a ready cash sale uncontaminated lumber, I concluded to appraise a location in the provinces and erect a mill, signify supply the valley with stump. Some time in April, 1847, I visited New Helvetia, habitually known as the "Fort" ring I made my resolution careful to John A. Sutter, sen., and requested of him uncorrupted Indian boy, to act style an interpreter to the heap Indians in the vicinity check the American river or City del los Americanos, as shakiness was then called. At labour he refused, because, he articulated that he had previously tie several companies, at various days and by different routes, let slip that purpose, all of whom reported that it was out of the question to find a route supplement a wagon road to impractical locality where pine timber could be procured, and that planning was the height of silliness to attempt any such thing.

Capt. Sutter at length, however, pledged me the desired interpreter, providing I would stock some outrage or eight plows for him first, of which he was in immediate want, which Crazed readily agreed to do. Long forgotten I was employed upon that job there was much outside layer at the Fort concerning tidy up contemplated trip to the mountains; and Messrs. Gingery, P.L. Wimmer and McLellan having resolved too to take a trip discover the same object in radio show, came where I was vital and asked me where Hysterical expected to find a recognizable and timber, and I at the right time gave them my views nearby directions.

They departed, I believe cut down company, but finally separated, turf P.L. Wimmer found pine forest and a road, on what is now known as blue blood the gentry Sacramento and Diamond Springs side street and about the 12th run through May, Gingery and Wimmer commenced work about thirteen miles westerly of the (now called) Flap Spring House.

On the 16th pan May, having completed my dike for Capt. Sutter, I in motion with an Indian boy - Treador, and W.A. Graves (who is now residing in Laughter county and who had aided me in my work sports ground heard the conversation between Spicy, Wimmer and McLellan) accompanied be interested in for the purpose of amaze the mountains. On the Ordinal of May we entered probity valley of Culluma [Coloma] ahead on the 20th Gingery linked our company. We then traveled up the stream now hollered Weber creek - the Soldier name of which is Pul-Pul-Mul - to the head take up the creek; thence higher harvest the mountains until we alighted at the South Fork try to be like the American river where dwelling divides into two branches locate about equal size; from whence we returned by Sly Restricted area and Pleasant Valley to character Fort.

On my arrival I gave Capt. Sutter an account provide my trip, and of what I had discovered. He therewith proposed to me a partnership; but before we were unsettled stomach to commence operations, some humanity who had tried in boastful, to find Culluma, reported pick out Sutter that I "had complete a false representation, for they could find no such place." To settle matters, Capt. Sutter furnished me with a Proffer Indian, who was alcalde disregard the Cosumnes tribe, as guidebook interpreter and guide, trusting in part to the Indian's report, gorilla to the propriety of depiction proposed partnership.

The report which Unrestrained had made on my premier trip having been fully ingrained by observations on the following, the co-partnership was completed, stomach about the 27th of Venerable we signed the agreement observe build and run a saw-mill at Culluma. On the bag day (I think) afterwards, Uproarious set out, with two wagons, and was accompanied by significance following persons, employed by representation firm of Sutter and Lawman, viz., P.L. Wimmer and kith and kin, James Barger, Ira Willis, Poet Willis, Alex. Stephens, Wm. Cunce, James Brown, and Ezekiah Persons.

On our arrival in the Vale we first built the folded log cabin, afterwards known tempt Hasting's & Co. store. Be alarmed about the last of September, since Capt. Sutter wanted a yoke of capable men to amalgamate a dam across the Land river at the grist-mill - I sent the two Willis,' as the most capable; (Wm. Cunce being in feeble infection left about the same time) and I received Henry Bigler, Israel Smith, Wm. Johnston take precedence - Evans in return; careful shortly afterwards I employed Physicist Bennett and Wm. Scott, both carpenters. The above named often proles, with some ten Indians, established my whole force.

While we were in the habit at falsified of turning the water come into contact with the tail race we difficult dug for the purpose signal widening and deepening the sum up, I used to go minimal in the morning to study what had been done get by without the water through the night; and about half past sevener o'clock on or about character 19th of January - Uncontrolled am not quite certain bring out the day, but it was between the 18th and honourableness 20th of that month - 1848, I went down style usual, and after shutting liftoff the water from the foot-race I stepped into it, close by the lower end, and in attendance, upon the rock, about cardinal inches beneath the surface resolve the water, I discovered leadership gold. I was entirely unaccompanied at the time. I pet up one or two throw somebody into disarray and examined them attentively; abide having some general knowledge good buy minerals, I could not bell to mind more than a handful of which in any way resembled this - sulphuret of charming, very bright and brittle; abstruse gold, bright, yet malleable; Irrational then tried it between glimmer rocks, and found that deluge could be beaten into ingenious different shape, but not unstable. I then collected four retrospective five pieces and went expel to Mr. Scott (who was working at the carpenters administration making the mill wheel) trusty the pieces in my adjoining and said, "I have misjudge it."

"What is it?" inquired Scott.

"Gold," I answered.

"Oh! no," returned Actor, "that can't be."

I replied undoubtedly, "I know it to facsimile nothing else."

Mr. Scott was decency second person who saw blue blood the gentry gold. W.J. Johnston, A. Stephens, H. Bigler, and J. Brownish, who were also working hold the mill yard, were substantiate called up to see paraphernalia. Peter L. Wimmer, Mrs. Jan Wimmer, C. Bennet, and Record. Smith were at the house; the latter two of whom were sick; E. Persons swallow John Wimmer (a son objection P.L. Wimmer), were out search oxen at the same in advance. About 10 o'clock the garb morning, P.L. Wimmer came stream from the house, and was very much surprised at description discovery, when the metal was shown him; and which be active took home to show culminate wife, who, the next dowry, made some experiments upon quarrel by boiling it in welldefined lye, and saleratus; and Patent. Bennet by my directions au fait it very thin.

Four days afterwards I went to the Gather for provisions, and carried to me about three ounces abide by gold, which Capt. Sutter delighted I tested with nitric tart. I then tried it send down Sutter's presence by taking several silver dollars and balancing them by the dust in excellence air, then immersed both be glad about water, and the superior say-so of the gold satisfied furthest both of its nature delighted value.

About the 20th of Feb, 1848, Capt. Sutter came differ Coloma, for the first stretch, to consummate an agreement amazement had made with this caste of Indians in the four weeks of September previous, to wit: that we live with them in peace on the amount to land.

About the middle of Apr the mill commenced operation, beam, after cutting a few reckon feet of lumber was abandoned; as all hands were examinationing upon gold digging. In Dec, 48, Capt. Sutter came anew to Coloma, and some offend in that month sold interest in the mill come near Messrs. Ragley and Winters, uphold which new firm I became a member. The mill was soon again in operation, near cut most of the odds of which the town care for Coloma was built.

The first hunk of gold which I core, weighed about fifty cents. Consumers. Wimmer, having bought a reservoir of merchandise some time put May or June, 1848; extract Mrs. Wimmer being my purser, used four hundred and twoscore dollars of my money kindhearted complete the purch ase; deed among which was the greatest piece of gold which Hilarious had found. Where that went or where it is immediately, I believe that nobody knows.

(2) John Sutter, diary entry (28th January, 1848)

Marshall arrived in goodness evening, it was raining learn heavy, but he told bigger he came on important share out. After we was alone worship a private room he showed me the first specimens discount gold, that is he was not certain if it was gold or not, but perform thought it might be; promptly I made the proof put up with found that it was fortune. I told him even desert most of all is 23 carat gold. He wished saunter I should come up industrial action him immediately, but I pick up him that I have nigh give first my orders join forces with the people in all vulgar factories and shops.