Gold Rush
In the 1850s a number of men from Wayne County, Ohio and surrounding counties contracted gold fever and left Ohio in pursuit of gold in California or Australia.
The best known is the company formed by Luther M. Dennison in March of 1850 that numbered 259 men and one female, of which 131 people were from Wayne County, Ohio.[1]
California
While in California, the Dennison Company, mined for gold primarily in the Yuba Valley. Many suffered the hardships of gold mining and a few never made it home from either death or insanity. There were also problems that came to light in 1859 between Jacobina Kimberlin, the only woman in the Dennison Company, wife of David Kimberlin, and Benjamin Eason. See Wooster Republican newspaper, 1859-OCT-06 p.2 and Wayne County Democrat newspaper 1859-SEP-29 p.2 for long depositions concerning the California goings on.
Reported Deaths while in California
- David Kimberlin, died of sickness in 1850[2]
- Alexander Eason, died of sickness in 1850[3]
- Lewis Gibson, died on the Yuba at Long's Bar[4]
- John Bell, left the Yuba camp on Jesse Weirich's horse, was seen next at Maysville, CA a maniac. Bell was last seen insane at Sacramento from which he disappeared and was never seen again.
- Charles Miller, died in California on Apr. 15, 1852 when he drowned in attempting to cross the Feather River, at Brown's Bar in a boat with two others while they were cordelling themselves across the river and the rope parted and the boat was carried over the rapids below. The two men that were with Charles in the boat succeeded in saving themselves, but Charles drowned.[5]
Individuals from Blachleyville, Wayne County, Ohio
Reportedly left for California on March 21, 1850 on their own taking an overland route:
Simon Swartz
Christian Wile
John Wile Jr.
James Hull
Thomas Willson
John Donaldson
J. L. Hull
Thomas Conner
Peter Baker
Sylvester Huff
Samuel Sidle
John Shelby
Joseph Swords
A. C. Hunter
Jesse Wynn
Philip Linn
J. H. Phillips
Lewis Brighton
Charles Hoefler
Daniel Baney
Dennison Company Messes
1st Mess
Captain: Luther M. Dennison, Wooster, Ohio
Daniel C. Loyd, Wooster, Ohio
Frederick Hawk, Wooster, Ohio
William Duck, Dalton, Ohio
Henry Duck, Dalton, Ohio
John Morrow, Dalton, Ohio
Cyrus Yocum, Plain Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Benjamin Eason, Plain Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
David Soliday, Plain Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Henry Soliday, Plain Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Alexander Eason, Plain Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Joshua Eberhart, Plain Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Eli Jones, Plain Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
William Allesbaugh, Plain Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
John Kimmel, Canaan Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Lewis Barrett, Canaan Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Baltzer Hawk, Canaan Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Henry Mowery, East Union Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
N. Ames, East Union Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
John Keffer, Wooster Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
David Bower, Chester Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
George R. McIntire, Franklin Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Benjamin Muterspaugh, Plain Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Henry Drabenstott, Green Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
2nd Mess
Captain: Samuel Hanson, Wooster, Ohio
Henry Ammermon, Wooster, Ohio
Samuel Campbell, Wooster, Ohio
Joseph Jackson, Wooster, Ohio
Lewis Gibson, Wooster, Ohio
Wesley P. Yoder, Wooster, Ohio
Jacob Mendonhall, Lakeport, Indiana
3rd Mess
Captain: John Huffstott, Wooster, Ohio
Thomas Smith, Wooster, Ohio
Charles Miller, Wooster, Ohio
Mathew McClure, Wooster, Ohio
J. McClure, Wooster, Ohio
Andrew Thorton, Milton Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
James Jackson, Milton Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
4th Mess
Captain: David Peffer, Wooster, Ohio
John France, Wooster, Ohio
John P. McHaffy, Wooster, Ohio
George Flack, Wooster, Ohio
5th Mess
Captain: Jesse Weirick, Dalton, Ohio
Alexander Clark, Dalton, Ohio
Samuel Thomas, Dalton, Ohio
Franklin Thomas, Dalton, Ohio
John Bell, Dalton, Ohio
6th Mess
Captain: Charles N. Lamison, Dalton, Ohio
Isaac Bailey, Dalton, Ohio
James Elder, Dalton, Ohio
Henry Wertz, Dalton, Ohio
Franklin Myer, Dalton, Ohio
7th Mess
Captain: Mark Elder, Dalton, Ohio
Joseph Spurgis, Dalton, Ohio
Jacob Uptegraff, Dalton, Ohio
Israel Hamlin, Dalton, Ohio
8th Mess
Captain: Martin Hoover, Dalton, Ohio
Daniel Hoover, Dalton, Ohio
Joseph Hoover, Dalton, Ohio
9th Mess
Captain: Thomas Marshall, Dalton, Ohio
Edward Briggs, Dalton, Ohio
Levi Scott, Dalton, Ohio
John Keller, Dalton, Ohio
10th Mess
Captain: Joseph Harper, Dalton, Ohio
Elijah McDowell, Dalton, Ohio
11th Mess
Captain: John Cully, Dalton, Ohio
Peter Cully, Dalton, Ohio
Henry Oberlin, Dalton, Ohio
12th Mess
Captain: Samuel McClelland, Dalton, Ohio
W. F. E. Clark, Dalton, Ohio
Boyd Clark, Dalton, Ohio
William H. Smith, Edinburg, Ohio
13th Mess
Captain: David Gearhart, Dalton, Ohio
Dr. George Keller, Dalton, Ohio
Benjamin Wilcox, Dalton, Ohio
James M. Vaughn, Wooster Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
14th Mess
Captain: John Pearson, Dalton, Ohio
Thomas McClelland, Sugar Creek, Ohio
Thomas Lattermore, Sugar Creek, Ohio
Christian Foulk^, Dalton, Ohio ^ left the boat at Cincinnati and returned home
15th Mess
Captain: Andrew Murray, Dalton, Ohio
R. R. Gailey, Dalton, Ohio
S. Coe, Baughman Twp. Wayne County, Ohio
16th Mess
Newspaper unreadable contained only two members
17th Mess
Captain: Dr. Daniel Weaver, Wooster, Ohio
Quinby Jones, Wooster, Ohio
Joseph R. Jones, Wooster, Ohio
18th Mess
Captain: Peter Gerlach, Edinburg, Ohio
Samuel Motter, Edinburg, Ohio
James Brown, Edinburg, Ohio
19th Mess
Captain: Edwin E. Gorgas, Edinburg, Ohio
John Elder, Edinburg, Ohio
John Reiser, Edinburg, Ohio
James Atkinson, Edinburg, Ohio
R. K. Devenney, Edinburg, Ohio
20th Mess
Captain: Jacob Stiver, Wooster, Ohio
Jacob Paulis, Wooster, Ohio
N. Paulis, Wooster, Ohio
Benjamin Layman, Wayne Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
21st Mess
Captain: George Sonedecker, Wayne Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
A. Sonedecker, Wayne Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
P. Troutman, Wayne Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
William Yost, Wayne Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
22nd Mess
Captain: Jacob Oswald, Wayne Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Simon Ihrig, Wayne Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
George Wolf, Wayne Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Jesse Beighley, Milton Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
23nd Mess
Captain: David Kimberlin, Green Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Mrs. Jacobina Kimberlin, Green Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
John Long, Green Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Hugh McDavitt, Green Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
James Hay, Sugar Creek, Ohio
24th Mess
Captain: William McConnell, Massillon, Stark County, Ohio
Samuel Marsh, Massillon, Stark County, Ohio
Gabriel Messersmith, Dover, Tuscarawas County, Ohio
David Gochenour, East Union Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
25th Mess
Captain: E. H. Webb, Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio
S. R. Middleton, Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio
26th Mess
Captain: David Karnes, Canaan Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Albert Hosilton (Hoisington), Canaan Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
John Robinson, Canaan Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Martin Mathis, Canaan Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
27th Mess
Captain: Joseph Karnes, Canaan Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Abram Smith, Canaan Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Philip Swartz, Canaan Twp., Wayne County, Ohio
Edward H. Mills, Gilford, Medina County, Ohio
28th Mess
Captain: John Coole, Lake Twp., Ashland County, Ohio
Elijah Runyan, Lake Twp., Ashland County, Ohio
William Doolittle, Lake Twp., Ashland County, Ohio
29th Mess
Captain: John Stover, Lake Twp., Ashland County, Ohio
Simon Steward, Lake Twp., Ashland County, Ohio
Michael Steward, Lake Twp., Ashland County, Ohio
James Steward, Washington Twp., Holmes County, Ohio
30th Mess
Captain: John W. Everstine, Loudonville, Ashland County, Ohio
Cornelius Dill, Loudonville, Ashland County, Ohio
Peter Sumbert, Loudonville, Ashland County, Ohio
J Miller, Loudonville, Ashland County, Ohio
31st Mess
Captain: Samuel Miller, Mohican Twp., Ashland County, Ohio
Jacob Likes, Ashland County, Ohio
Abram Likes, Ashland County, Ohio
Jacob Emerick, Ashland County, Ohio
Thomas Peterson, Monroe Twp., Holmes County, Ohio
32nd Mess
Captain: Stutley Whitford, Wayne County, Ohio
Samuel Charlton, Lake Twp., Ashland County, Ohio
John Springer, Lake Twp., Ashland County, Ohio
William Rice, Medina County, Ohio
George Miller, Lake Twp., Ashland County, Ohio
Philip Wolf, Wayne County, Ohio
33rd Mess
Captain: William Lessig, Dalton, Ohio
D. Fletcher, Dalton, Ohio
M. Barclay, Dalton, Ohio
J. Fletcher, Dalton, Ohio
34th Mess
Captain: Slemon Lisle, Berlin Twp., Holmes County, Ohio
P. C. Chesrown, Berlin Twp., Holmes County, Ohio
J. Marvin, Berlin Twp., Holmes County, Ohio
Manasus Troyer, Berlin Twp., Holmes County, Ohio
Isaac Molen, Berlin Twp., Holmes County, Ohio
Unknown Mess
Joseph Sturgis - It was reported that he made it as far as Fort Laramie in the eastern part of Wyoming, but was left sick at the Fort and after recovering returned to Wayne County, Ohio.
Note: Some messes of the Dennison Company were omitted from being printed in the newspaper as they were individuals principally from other counties or States.
Dennison Company Numbers[6]
259 men
1 woman
54 horses
56 mules
60 wagons
2 hacks
2 buggies
1 carriage
1 omnibus
Fare for each person from Wellsville, Ohio to St. Joseph $16 per man, $8 per mule or horse, 10cents per hundred lbs on all buggies, wagons, etc. taken on board.
Note: Some messes of the Dennison Company were omitted from being printed in the newspaper as they were individuals principally from other counties or States. Also, about 10-15 Wayne County men took another boat at Wellsville, Ohio and the reporter missed getting their names.
Unknown Individuals from Wayne County
19 from Moreland left on March 21, 1850
4 from Fredericksburg left on March 21, 1850
a number from Millbrook left on March 21, 1850
Australia
In March of 1853 a small group of Wayne County men left to look for gold in Australia. The men sailed from the New York harbor on the ship, PANAMA, and went directly to Melbourne, Australia and on to the gold fields. The company of men was composed of the following individuals: G. W. Donnelly, J. T. Hemphill, Dr. Kenworthy, F. Rice, Jos. Robison* (*did not go), D. R. Lorah, Geo. Howard, Daniel Weaver, T. M. Weaver, Ephriam Cutter, Isaiah Taylor, Isaac Jewell, Thomas Metzler, P. A. Dagle, Cushman Cunningham, J. Raffensperger, Henry M. Marchand all of Wayne County, and W. G. Page of Massillon, Stark County.[7][8] Henry Marchand, would die in Australia in pursuit of gold.[9]
References
- ↑ Wayne County Democrat newspaper, 1850-MAR-28 p.3
- ↑ Wooster Republican newspaper, 1859-OCT-06 p.2
- ↑ Wayne County Democrat newspaper 1859-SEP-29 p.2
- ↑ Wayne County Democrat newspaper 1850-NOV-21 p.1, Letter from C.N. Lamison to C.C. Parsons published
- ↑ Daily Alto California newspaper, 1852-APR-27
- ↑ Wayne County Democrat newspaper, 1850-MAR-28 p.3
- ↑ Wayne County Democrat newspaper, 1853-MAR-17 p.3
- ↑ Wayne County Democrat newspaper, 1853-MAR-03 p.3
- ↑ Wooster Republican newspaper, 1853-NOV-24 p.4
Wayne County Democrat newspaper, 1849-JAN-25 p.1
Wayne County Democrat newspaper, 1849-FEB-08 p.2
Wayne County Democrat newspaper, 1850-SEP-05 p.1, Letter from C. N. Lamison to editor J. A. Marchand published.
Wayne County Democrat newspaper, 1851-MAR-13 p.3, Returned from California, Benjamin Eason, Luther Dennison.
Wayne County Democrat newspaper, 1850-NOV-14 p.3, Letter from Col. Eason, Placerville, CA