Thar’s gold in them thar’ hills!
“Thar’s gold in them thar’ hills!”
That’s what people shouted in those old westerns showing the Gold Rush in California. They were full of dance hall ladies, slimy gamblers and dirty men with bags of gold dust. These movies were all based on reality of the California Gold Rush of 1849. If you think that history is someone else’s, think again. Will County had sons in the search for that elusive yellow metal.
In January of 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California. By 1849, the world was beating a path to the Golden State. Dreams of getting rich overnight haunted men across the nation, and here in Will County, several of them followed that dream. Albert Kercheval of Joliet was one of the first to leave. He wrote home whenever he could and those letters were printed in the Joliet Phoenix.
In May of 1849 the Phoenix printed the first news from him; the letter having been written in March of 1849: “We have been permitted to read a letter written by Albert F. Kercheval, at Independence, to his relatives in this vicinity. He left here in company with Armstead Runyon, Wm. Parks, J. W. Newton, and some four or five others, and arrived at Independence on the 8th. The company of which he is a member he says were in fine spirits at the time he wrote, and expected to leave for the land of gold on the 23rd.
“According to Mr. Kercheval’s letter, the number collected at Independence and St. Joseph, preparatory to embarking on the hazardous journey, is not so great as has been estimated would start for the Pacific. He states that it is supposed that not over 15,000 at the highest will attempt to cross the mountains. Teams could be bought in that vicinity at better advantage, than in other portions of the United States. Mules were selling at from 40 ($1,440) to 60 ($2,166) dollars each; and cattle at from 40 ($1,440) to 60 ($2,166) dollars per yoke. Mr. K. says that the excitement among the emigrants was of a more cool order since they had commenced trying the comforts of camp life.”
May found the party still in Independence, waiting for a group from Will County to join them. “We are waiting for Col. Fake and his company to come up. Young, White, Pearson, Waite and Jones and Goodwin (William Goodwin of Wesley Township) of Wilmington, are now with us, and when the balance of the Will County teams join us, we shall launch out into the plains. Phil Haven left us at St. Joseph and went by way of Fort Kearney; Stillman, Doolittle, McIntosh, and Porter go the same route, with mules.
“There was quite a sensation created among the Californians on the appearance of the cholera at St. Joseph, and we hear of large crowds at all the other little towns on the river. There will be all of fifty thousand people crossing the Plains this season. God only knows how many will reach their destination. I think we can, for we have five yoke of cattle and only twenty-five hundred on our wagon – the best team I have seen on the road.”
A month later, “We passed Chimney Rock, June 4th. June 8th, we reached Fort Laramie, where a great deal of property was left. Here the Black Hills commence and continue 80 miles; grass very scarce. We passed within 10 or 12 miles of Laramie’s Peak which is covered with snow. After crossing several rivers and creeks, we reached the Ferry of the North Platte, June 13th, where we were obliged to lay over 3 days before we could cross. Several oxen were poisoned here by eating some unknown plant. The Ferry is kept by Mormons – price per wagon $3. We got over on the 16th, after working hard all day in trying to drive our cattle across – River 205 yards wide, very rapid and from 4 to 25 feet deep. In attempting to swim a horse across, we both came very near being drowned. Mr. Lonergon of our company, also thrown from his horse and had to swim for life. Four or five men were drowned in crossing.
“On the 19th June, we passed several Saleratus (sodium bicarbonate or baking soda) Lakes, where we laid in a supply of the pure stuff. Five miles from this we struck the Sweet Water at Rock Independence, and 5 miles from this is the Devil’s Gate. Here the river passes thro’ a narrow chasm and on either side the rocks rise perpendicular to the height of more than 400 feet. From this place to South Pass there is a gradual ascent over a sandy plain. Grass not very good. To the right, rise the Wind River Mountains, covered with everlasting snow.
“June 24th, we crossed the dividing ridge at 5 minutes past 11 o’clock, and 3 miles from this we came to the Pacific Springs, the first water running into the Pacific. Fifteen miles from this the roads fork, Subletles cut off leading to the right; we took the left-hand road leading to Fort Bridger and Salt Lake, by far the greater number took the other road. For the last 300 miles, dead cattle and mules have appeared occasionally.
“June 27th, we reached Green River. Here is a Ferry kept by Mormons. The river is 150 yards wide, 4 to 10 feet deep and very rapid. We crossed on the next day, paying $5 ($180) per wagon. Crossing Ham’s Fork and Muddy Fork, we came to Bridger’s Fort, July 1st, which is situated on Black Fork – soda springs 16 miles further; road mountainous from Bridger to Bear River. The tar springs are two miles from this river.”
We have another account of the trip from the Joliet Signal, of their first day: “We came to a slough, a pretty bad place about 10 feet wide, which could not be dodged no how. Three or four teams got sloughed (stuck), after which we made a bridge and passed over without any further trouble. There was at this place a stream about a foot wide that sank in places. We called it Mississauga Creek, from the great number of that kind of snake that were killed on its banks. In the space of a few yards, nine were killed by the boys. They were none of your small fry, by any manner of means, but venerable specimens of ‘snakeology,’ measuring near four feet in their stockings and bellies like Aldermen. My recollection is distinct that those boys who had encased their understandings in moccasins, made awful sudden changes for boots.”
After stopping to make camp for the evening, they partied. We read, “A happier set of fellows never stepped the sod than we were. Our supper over, the guard was set, and the boys not on that duty, went to dancing, and the rot gut suffered some. Jigs, reels and cotillions were the order of the night, and Phil knocked the sand right out of his stocking feet on the last pull at Money Musk (a popular dance tune of the day).”
About a week later they spied their first buffalo. To the men, who had lived on salted meat and hard biscuits, the walking pile of fresh meat was a welcome sight. We read what they did next. “Every spare horse was immediately collected – rifles and pistols drawn – and all the spare men in the train started. The buffalo was in full sight by this time, and the boys started at rapid pace. Phil Worcester, Charley Wood, Jim Johnson, Dr. Fravel and John Gray on horseback, and Sam Smith on a donkey; and now, commenced as pretty a race as ever you saw. Captain Worcester fired at full gallop, but missed and the buffalo then turned to fight. John Worrel then jumped off his horse and took a shot and killed the first buffalo. Pell mell, helter skelter came the whole train, and in five minutes the hind quarters were cut off, the tongue was captured as the prize of one of the boys, and we all put for camp, which we formed at four o’clock p.m. We used buffalo chips for fuel, and buffalo steaks was all the go. The race was talked over and run even for the hundredth time, and then we had music and the buffalo dance until ten o’clock.”