By Sandy Vasko

Today, we are leaving Illinois to go to that land of milk and honey – California. The gold rush had a huge impact on Will County. Those who would later be called the “Forty-Niner’s,” had gone out as soon as the gold was discovered. Many of them came back with a sack of gold and a few wild tales.

Others, who waited until the spring of 1850, were afraid the gold would run out by the time they got there. The big secret was, you didn’t have to mine gold to get rich in California. You could mine the miners.

Every letter received from the gold fields was passed around, many of them ended up being published in the Joliet Signal.

Early in the spring of 1850, Dr. M. K. Brownson received a letter from a Mr. Gesford that appeared in the Joliet Signal. It urged the doctor to sell all and come to California; not to dig gold, but to continue his medical practice at a much higher rate.

“If you were here, you would soon make an independent fortune – an instance in proof. I was acquainted with a man who had the scurvy, and employed a doctor ten days, who cured him, upon which he freely paid him $1,000 ($38,500) in gold, not credit six months and then take it in truck, and turn over in the course of next season.

“A great place is California to make money, and a great place to spend it! Provisions in the mines are very high. Pork $1 ($38.50) per pound, flour one hundred dollars per barrel, coffee 50 cents per lb., sugar 50 cents., saleratus, $4, salt $1, dried apples $1.50, and at the same rate for other necessaries. Wages are from $5 to 10 per day – teaming good – hauling 100 miles from $50 to $75 per hundred pounds, although they are lower in the summer than at the present time.”

Opportunity was not limited to the medical practice. The Signal published another letter written by A. B. Paul, to his mother at Bourbonnais’s Grove, (now known simply as Bourbonnais) then part of Will County. They describe him this way, “Mr. Paul is a young gentleman extensively and favorably known in St. Louis, and the utmost confidence in his statements will be had by all who know him in this community.”

The letter reads, “I have been through a good part of California, and must say, that I am more than pleased; and as to gold, all I can say is believe everything you have heard or that may be written. Money is plenty as rocks. I feel greatly encouraged, and firmly believe I shall make a fortune.

“The house alone which I brought with me from St. Louis, can be rented for $600 ($23,000) a month. I have been waiting for our goods, and while waiting I am making from $10 to $20 a day. Dr. White is making from $300 to $550 a day at his profession.

“You may think it strange, and laugh at it, when I tell you I have turned painter. Yesterday I took a contract for painting 3 small frame houses (one coat) that I can do in 2 days, for which I got $100.

“Judge Townsend, of St. Louis, is here and driving an ox team, making from $20 to $50 a day. Professor Shepherd, of Yale College, who, by the by, I was exploring with at the mines on Lake Superior, is doing a cracking business at driving stage. And lots of St. Louis bucks are here with coats off, and sleeves rolled up, all looking for ‘dust.’ Everybody is busy – no time to talk – just suits me exactly and I’m bound to make a fortune. You can scarcely hear yourself talk for the noise of hammers, saws and axes. Buildings run up in a day; whole streets and squares in a week; in fact, it is enough to make it altogether incredible.

“Tell Mr. Higgins not to advise any one, who has not energy and determination to go through ‘A lack gum and thunder,’ to come to California. I believe he could make a fortune here in a year. Money is worth 10 per cent a month, to 40 per cent a quarter. Tell him to sell out everything, at even less than cost, and bring on every dollar he can. There is some fun in doing business here. I have now $15,000 to operate with, and in a few days shall have $30,000.

“A short time ago we made a purchase of some real estate which has advanced to an extent the $20,000 advance on cost is now offered for our interest, in cash. Lots on the greatest business street in the town, are worth $20,000 a piece, and 6 months ago there was scarcely a house to be seen.”

Although I am still perplexed about the reference to bringing a house with him from St. Louis, it seems clear from Mr. Paul’s letter that anyone who wanted to work, but did not want to dig in the dirt, didn’t have to.

We have a Yale College professor driving stage, a judge driving ox teams; it seems that in the gold fields everyone was equal. I guess money is the great leveler.

Sandy Vasko is Director of the Will County Historical Museum & Research Center and President of the Will County Historical Society.