"On Jan. 24, 1848, gold was discovered on the American River. James Marshall, the first to find it, never made a fortune from it. On May 12, a pioneer named Sam Brannon ran through the streets of San Francisco shouting, "Gold, gold from the American River!" This ignited the "gold fever" that changed the course of the area. The area's population doubled in a few short years and California became the 31st state by Sept. 9, 1850."
"Sutter was a Swiss immigrant who spoke English, French and Spanish. He traveled the world before coming to California and became a Mexican citizen while establishing the fort. Construction began on August 1839 and Sutter named his land New Helvetia, or "New Switzerland," after his homeland. When the settlement was completed on June 18, 1841, he received title to 48,827 acres on the Sacramento River."
Gold was discovered on the American River on Jan. 24, 1848, by James Marshall, who never profited from the find. Sam Brannon publicized the discovery on May 12, igniting "gold fever," rapidly increasing population and helping California achieve statehood by Sept. 9, 1850. John Sutter, who employed Marshall to build a mill, also failed to capitalize on the discovery. Sutter, a Swiss immigrant who became a Mexican citizen, established New Helvetia and received 48,827 acres on the Sacramento River. Sutter employed or enslaved Native Americans, sought to create an agricultural settlement, and initially prospered. Marshall's discovery was confirmed by Sutter and they tried to keep it quiet, but word got out.
Read at The Mercury News
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