Livingston County, Illinois - Chapter 23: A Gold Sebker's Reminiscences, 1909

Several Expeditions

EXPERIENCE OF A PARTY OF ARGONAUTS OF 1849 - STORY OF THREE EXPEDITIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA GOLD MINES - THE MINING EXPERIENCE SUCCESSFUL, BUT THE RETURNING GOLD-SEEKERS BECOME THE VICTIMS OF MEXICAN BANDITS AND MISSISSIPPI RIVER THIEVES - A THIRD EXPEDITION TURNS AWAY FROM PIKE'S PEAK TO THE PACIFIC COAST - LIST OF MEMBERS OF THESE SEVERAL EXPEDITIONS.

First EXPEDITION. - In the fall of 1848 and thefollowing winter, there was great interest among the early settlers of Livingston County, as well as throughout the entire civilized world, concerning the wonderful discoveries of gold in California. The "gold fever" became an epidemic all over the Western country, and many of themost hardy and adventurous victims were carried off by the "yellow peril." This county, although sparsely settled, contributed its quota of these overland argonauts who "went the plains across" to the Pacific coast. In the spring of 1849, James Blake of Avoca, and Henry Jonesand G. B. Foster of Owego, started out with an ox team on the perilous journey of 2,000 miles through an almost unexplored wilderness. The Indians were hostile from the Missouri river to the Pacific Ocean, and while many of the gold seekers were killed by the savages or perished on the way from disease or thirst and starvation, the contingent from this county landed safely in the Sacramento valley in the fall of 1849, and continued on their journey to the mines in northern California. The mines were rich, and in eighteen months the three partners - Blake, Jones and Foster - had accumulated over $25,- 000 in gold. Jones and Blake had families in this county, and Foster's people lived in Pontiac, and having about as much gold as they could conveniently carry - not a very large fortune, but enough to have bought at that time an entire township of thirty-six sections of the best land in Livingston County, worth to-day over $4,000,- 000 - they began making preparations for the return trip. They went to San Francisco, and with several other returning miners, engaged passage on a schooner to Panama. The passengers were so poorly fed and brutally treated by the officers and crew of the schooner that they revolted and compelled the captain to run the ship into the harbor of Acupuleo, Mexico. The matter was taken up by the American consul at that port, and after a settlement with the captain, the vessel was allowed to continue her journey to Panama. The miners then bought fifteen horses, for riding and packing, bought food and camp equipage, engaged a guide and interpreter, and started over the mountains for the City of Mexico, over 200 miles distant. This was soon after the close of the war with Mexico, and there was very bitter feeling against the "gringos," as the Americans were called. The mountains through which the trail passed were infested with bandits and outlaws, and it was necessary for self protection to not only go well armed but to keep a vigilant guard over their treasure day and night. The gold belonging to the company from this county was divided into three parts, sewed up in buckskin bags, and Blake, Jones and Foster each took possession of a part to carry and protect on the journey. On the third day out from Acupulco, the trip so far having been surprisingly delightful, the men began to get careless and less vigilant, and Foster allowed himself to lag behind. Before he was aware of his dangerous position, he was surrounded by armed bandits, overcome, disarmed and robbed of his share of the gold. The robbers made a hasty retreat back over the trail, and by the time Foster could ride forward, overtake his comrades and give the alarm, the bandits had left the trail and entered the rocky, wooded canyons where their capture was impossible. The party then concluded that the best thing to do was to make all haste possible to reach the City of Mexico, and from that time on be more vigilant than ever. Six days after leaving Acapulco, the party arrived in the City of Mexico. There they discharged their guide and interpreter, and began making preparations to continue their journey to Vera Cruz, on the gulf of Mexico. By this time, one of the party had picked up enough the capital of Mexico, they again started on their journey to Vera Cruz, over 300 miles distant. Without further adventure, they arrived at Vera Cruz in seven days. There they disposed of their horses and camp outfit, and engaged passage on a sailing vessel to New Orleans, and being favored with fine weather they made the trip across the gulf in six days. Arriving in New Orleans, the party went direct from the ship to the mint to deposit their gold for coinage, and to leave it there where it would be safe until they were ready to resume their journey to their homes in this county. Their stay in New Orleans was brief but exciting. After securing passage on a boat for St. Louis and getting their baggage on board, they went to the mint to get their money. They learned that their gold had not been coined, but that the dust and nuggets had been melted down to bricks, assayed and the value ascertained. The cashier at the mint informed the men that they could then have the coin for their gold bricks, and counted out and paid the party $17.400 in new $20 gold pieces The three partners then counted out $1,400, divided it among the three for the necessary expenses of the remainder of their journey, placed the balance in their canvas bags supplied by 'the mint, and started with the coin to the boat, which was to start up the river that night or the next morning. After boarding the boat, they went immediately to their state room, deposited the bags of coin in a strong trunk, and agreed that at least one of the party should be in the room with the trunk until they arrived at St. Louis. When supper was announced, Jones and Foster went to the dining room and left Blake to guard the trunk containing the money. When the two were almost through with their meal, they were surprised to see Blake come into the dining room. Jones and Foster at once jumped up from the table and hurried to their room. They found the door unlocked, the trunk broken open and the three bags of coin missing. The alarm was given and the officers of the boat notified that their state room had been robbed. The police were put on the trail of the two robbers who had been seen leaving the room carrying heavy loads and hurrying down the gang plank. The boat did not start until the next afternoon, and during the night and day following the robbery, every effort was made to cap- ture the thieves, but without results, and the matter was left with the police, who never did anything. The men were anxious to get home, did not care to lose the passage money they had paid, and concluded to stay with the boat. The only excuse Blake could make for violating their agreement to guard the trunk was that he thought they were again in a civilized country and that there was no danger. Besides, he said, he was thirsty and hungry, and had locked the state room door, gone to the bar and from there to the dining room. The three men arrived at their homes a little over two years after starting for California, with only a few hundred dollars each, but rich in experience.

SECOND EXPEDITION. - Jones was dissatisfied with the results of his first trip to the gold mines of California, and in the spring of 1852 organized the. second expedition of gold-seekers, and left Richmond, two miles east of Pontiac, with an ox team for the gold fields of the Pacific coast to make their fortunes. This second party consisted of Henry Jones, John Popejoy, Theodore Popejoy and Edwin Jones. Henry Jones having made the trip across the plains in 1849 and having experience with Indians on the way and afterwards in California, was made the leader of the party. There had been such a large emigration across the plains in 1849, '50 and '51, that the road had become plain and easy to follow and the Indians made less trouble. This party met with but few adventures and arrived at the mines the fall following. They at once located mines and were quite successful as gold miners. After two and a half years spent in the gold mines, Henry Jones and Edwin Jones returned via Panama and New York to Pontiac In 1855, and built the first brick building ever erected in Pontiac and engaged in general merchandising. John and Theodore Popejoy never returned to this county, but remained in the mines on the Pacific coast.

THIRD ExPEDITION. - In 1858-59 another gold craze spread over the entire country, and while the fever was not as wide-spread nor the excítement as intense as that created by the discovery of gold in California ten years before, yet throughout the Western states and territories many thousands of fortune hunters prepared to visit the newly discoveed gold fields. The discovery was made near Pike's Peak, in Western Kansas, (now Colorado,) and fabulous stories about the great quantities of the yellow metal that could be shoveled up in the new mines were printed in the newspapers throughout the land. Of course the young men of Livingston County, as well as many of the older ones, became aflicted with the contagion, and began to look about for ways and means to make the trip to the Pike's Peak gold mines. Judge Jones of Pontiac, being an experienced gold miner, and haying become familiar with the route across the plains, was persuaded to resign the office of County Judge and pilot a third expedition from this county in the search for gold. This party, which left Pontiac on the 6th day of April, 1859, with two ox teams, was made up of the following named persons: Judge Henry Jones, Robert Aerl. Jesse Green, C. L. Paige, J. E. Morrow, Isaac Act SL Frost, H. C. Jones, Charles Hughes, William Earp, Elias Thompson, Lyman Smith, Eli Morlage, Joe Millham, D. Conklin and Daniel McArthur. Later the party was joined by John Johnson, Oliver Johnson and William Cherry of Rooks Creek, with their ox team. 'The party from Pontiac was governed by a set of rules, one of which was that every man should walk the entire distance, if he was able to walk, and carry his gun, if he had one. It was known to be a dangerous practice to climb in and out of a wagon with a loaded gun. Another rule was that the men should not shoot at or molest stock or poultry while passing through the settlements, nor fire at an Indian without orders from the Judge. This rule was necessary because reckless shooting had involved previous expeditions in serious trouble. Each one had his work allotted to him, and the Judge saw that all performed their respective duties. The expedition crossed the Mississippi river at Fort Madison, Iowa, and the Missouri at St. Joseph, Mo. There were no railroads west of St. Joseph and Kansas City at that time, and after leaving the Missouri river there were but few settlements. The broad prairies of Kansas and Nebraska were still the hunting grounds of the "untutored savage." Deer, antelope and countless thousands of buffalo still roamed the verdant plains, In May, the roads having become more settled, the party made rapid progress, considering the motive power, and by the exercise of caution and vigilance met with no trouble from marauding bands of Indians, as many other parties did. After passing Fort Kearney, Nebraska, many gold seekers were met returning from Pikes Peak, declaring that the stories about the great golá discoveries in Western Kansas were unfounded; that there was no gold there, etc., etc. So many of these disappointed people were met, a great many of whom had never reached the mines, all telling the same doleful story, that some of the Livingston County delegation began to feel discouraged, but they continued on their journey. The party reached the crossing of the South Platte, where the Pike's Peak road branched off from the old California road, and there they went into camp. For three days they met and talked with disappointed gold seekers, returning from the mines, and then discussed among themselves as to what course they should take - go on to Pike's Peak or cross the river and continue the journey on to California, where there was no doubt about the gold. It was agreed finally to take a vote on the question. with the result that all voted to go on to the Pacific Coast. The next day the party replenished their stock of provisions by purchasing supplies from returning gold hunters, and in the evening crossed the Platte river and pulled out for a long, tedious and. dangerous trip acoss the mountains and plains to California. Many adventures and dangers were met with by the expedition that would be tedious and out of place to narrate here, and will be omitted. In October, just six months after starting from Pontiac, the party arrived at the mines in Northern California. In 1861 Robert Aerl, Isaac Aerl and C. L. Paíge returned, vía Panama and New York, to Pontiac. In 1862, J. E. Morrow and Jesse Green returned and in 1863, H. C. Jones returned, via Nicaragua, on a visit, and later returned to stay, all having been reasonably successful in the mines. Judge Jones and the other members of the expedition remained in California. Soon after his return from California, C. L. Paige enlisted in the 20th Illinois Volunteers, and was killed in battle at Atlanta, Ga. Isaac Aerl enlisted and served over three years, and was through the seige of Vicksburg. On his return to Pontiac. J. E. Morrow enlisted and marched with Sherman to the Atlantic Ocean, having previously walked from Pontiac to the Pacific. After the war was over, Mr. Morrow was elected circuit clerk for Livingston County, and after the expiration of his term of office he organized the National Bank of Pontiac, and was its president until his death. Isaac Aerl, Jesse Green and H.

his most intimate friends, that Isaac Aerl ls e veteran of two wars. In 1860 a bitter war raged between the gamblers, saloon keepers and their following, of Shasta, Cal., on one side, and the gold miners on the other, over some rich gold mines. Mr, Aerl, of course, was with the miners, and taking his trusty rifle in one hand and hislife in the other, he went into the rifle pits, built on what is still known as Bunker Hill, and there assisted in the defeat of the enemy, over 100: strong, and well armed, when they made an attack on the miners, and helped drive them back to the city. It Us generally believed that an ox team cannot be "successfully managed d unless the driver is profuse Tn the use of profanity, but Jesse Green drove an ox team from | m Livi ingston County to "California without using a profane