Famous People of the California Gold Rush

Compiled byKimberley Maywald

February, 2007

These were all people who became famous without mining for gold!

John Sutter

Envisioned an agricultural empire near the American River

Wanted discovery of gold kept secret

Never did appreciate the opportunities of the Gold Rush, and left California penniless

James Marshall

Discovered gold pebbles while building Sutter’s Mill

Feared the effects of potential prospectors, who eventually forced him off his land

Also died nearly penniless

Henry Wells and William Fargo Decided to profit from

Gold Rush by providing services to miners

Created Wells, Fargo & Co. for banking, mail, and stage coach services

Generated tremendous wealth as entrepreneurs

Levi Strauss

Ran a successful dry-goods store

Patented canvas pants with riveted pockets

Now called Levis

Mark Twain

Born Samuel Clemens

Headed West for the Gold Rush

Became a famous writer of his experiences

Sam Brannan

Bought all mining tools in area

Announced gold was found

Made a fortune selling tools, then other necessities, to miners

Became a millionaire

Lotta Crabtree

Began acting on stages at age 6

Made lots of money entertaining miners

Later traveled the world

Nellie Chapman

Married a dentist and studied dentistry from him

Later practiced as a dentist with her own patients

She also wrote and composed: a talented lady!

Eliza Farnham

• As a young widow, she was matron of Sing Sing prison

• Believed women would “civilize” the miners

• Advocated social reforms

Georgiana Kirby

A pioneer of Santa Cruz during the Gold Rush

Advocated education, freedom, and equal rights for all

Has a private school named for her

ResourcesPicture credits: All ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArtSam Brannan, William Fargo, James Marshall, Levis Strauss, John Sutter, & Henry Wells from

en.wikipedia.org Mark Twain: www.marktwainhouse.orgEliza Farnham & Georgiana Kirby: www.goldrush.com/~joann/Nellie Chapman: www.ncgold.com/goldrushtown/people/html.Lotta Crabtree: www.ncgold.com/History/LottaCrabtree/lotta.html

Information: Most of the information regarding the men came from the PBS movie “The Gold Rush”, directed by

Boettcher & Trinklein, 1996.Eliza Farnham & Georgiana Kirby: www.goldrush.com/~joann/ Lotta Crabtree: www.ncgold.com/History/LottaCrabtree/lotta.htmlNellie Chapman: www.ncgold.com/goldrushtown/people/html

Video Clips from United Streaming:chp890500 and chp905920

Excellent sites for the Gold Rush:www.historichwy49.comwww.museumca.org/goldrush/www.ncgold.com/goldrushtown/