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I just finished reading Gold: The California Story by Mary Hill. Reading this book is part of my research into the life of my 3rd Great Grandfather’s first cousin, David Rohrer Leeper. I also wanted to read a book about the California Gold Country after attending my cousin’s wedding in Placerville. Last month I wrote an entry about the wedding titled Gold Country Wedding.

I really found this book interesting as it followed the history of both the discovery of gold in California and also the different mining methods used throughout California’s history.

Rocker Box

The discovery of gold in California had a far reaching affect. People from all over the United States and all over the world flocked to California to prospect for gold. What was really interesting was that the people that really made money during the gold rush were not the prospectors, but rather the merchants. Prices skyrocketed as goods became scarce and those who were lucky enough to have a good supply chain were able to profit the most.

One of the chapters of the book covered tales of lost gold. A lot of gold was lost in shipwrecks while being shipped back to the East Cost. Also, a lot of gold was lost when people hid it and never came back for it. Even today small discoveries are occasionally made of lost caches of gold.

Gold is still being mined in California using the latest technology and methods, but the fever that has drawn immigrants to California is no longer Gold. Instead it is technology.

Hangtown – The Argonauts of ‘Forty-Nine

Sometimes Californians do look for gold elsewhere.  There were California athletes competing in the London Olympics this month that came home with gold medals :-).

David Rohrer Leeper

My research on David Rohrer Leeper continues. David wrote a book about his experience in California. Not only the time that he spent in California, but the trip across the country. After the gold rush he also went to Northern California and worked in the timber industry. I plan on trying to visit the places that he wrote about in The Argonauts of ‘Forty-Nine. The book also has great illustrations by O. Marion Elbel. The illustrations here are all out of his book.

Fortunately for me, David not only wrote a wonderful book about his experiences in the gold rush, he also wrote a book about the Leeper Family. It has been a good guide toward researching the family.

Look for more about David R. Leeper in the future as I learn more about the places he worked at in California.

Steven