The Old-Time Miners
By Charles Carroll Goodwin in 1913
The American story is interwoven with the enduring legacy of its pioneers, those intrepid men and women who, nearly three centuries ago, embarked on a westward journey that would forever shape the nation’s character. These individuals, initially arriving in modest vessels along the Atlantic shores, gradually ventured into the untamed wilderness, forging paths through the territories of Native American tribes. With each generation, they pressed onward, transforming dense forests into thriving communities that stretched across the land, reaching beyond the vast expanse of the Mississippi River.
Reflecting on their monumental achievements, we are struck by the sheer magnitude of their unwavering commitment, their indomitable spirit in the face of adversity, the pervasive poverty that relentlessly tested their resolve, and the selfless sacrifices they embraced as an inherent part of their existence. They staunchly defended their rights as free citizens, steadfastly upholding the principles of liberty and self-governance. Integral to their westward expansion was the establishment of the quintessential "little red schoolhouse," a symbol of their unwavering dedication to education and enlightenment. The embodiment of high ideals, both masculine and feminine, sustained them as they relentlessly pushed forward.
As we cast our gaze back upon the trails they blazed and the values they championed, a captivating tableau emerges, one that retains its brilliance and allure undiminished by the passage of time. For all Americans, their story serves as a timeless inspiration, a testament to the enduring power of courage, resilience, and unwavering determination.
However, the established order of over a century and a half underwent a dramatic transformation. Despite the persistent endeavors of generations spanning more than two centuries, and their heroic feats that reshaped a significant portion of the New World, the nation remained deficient in that vital catalyst of progress and equitable compensation: money. While the country teemed with immense natural resources, the lack of readily available capital hindered its full potential.
Then came a whisper, a tantalizing rumor that gold had been unearthed on the far side of the continent. Subsequent reports swiftly corroborated this revelation, igniting a mass exodus of unprecedented proportions.
Within a mere matter of months, approximately 250,000 individuals converged upon the western coastline. Predominantly young men, they hailed from every state within the then-existing union, each drawn by the irresistible allure of striking it rich in the goldfields.
The arduous journey, whether undertaken by arduous overland treks across the vast continent, perilous voyages around Cape Horn aboard crowded ships, or hasty transits across the disease-ridden Isthmus of Panama, had a profound impact on these adventurers. Each individual emerged transformed, broadened in perspective and imbued with newfound insights gleaned from their shared experiences. The arduousness of the journey to reach the destination of The Old-Time Miners had seasoned these young men and molded them into a hardened and resolute group, ready to face the challenges that awaited them.
In general, they were largely home-bound individuals, each carrying a distinct degree of provincialism ingrained within them.
However, these parochial tendencies swiftly dissipated, faster than ever observed in any other country.
The underlying reason for this rapid assimilation stemmed from the fact that the mothers they had bid farewell to upon embarking on their journey were, above all else, American mothers. The only disparities that existed among them were those arising from their diverse environments. It did not take long for their sons to recognize this shared heritage.
While many of the newcomers chose to settle along the coastline or in the neighboring valleys, the focus here lies with those who pressed onward, driven by an insatiable desire for the elusive native gold. These men refused to rest by the sea or in tranquil valleys; their sole objective was to reach the rugged hills where the precious metal lay hidden. The methods for extracting gold were simple and readily mastered. When night fell, they panned, cleansed, and weighed the day’s yield, marveling at the sight of the glittering dust and uttering the now-iconic phrase, "That’s the stuff."
But who were these The Old-Time Miners? In essence, they were ordinary American boys and young men, drawn from every field of endeavor and every level of society. They represented a microcosm of the nation, observed through the wide end of an opera glass.
Despite finding themselves in a land devoid of established government, they organized themselves into distinct camps and resolved that, in the absence of formal laws, order would prevail and every individual would be secure in their rightful possessions.
Petty criminals steered clear of these settlements. Disputes over business matters occasionally arose, and when private resolution proved unattainable, a court would be swiftly convened. Jurors were never questioned regarding potential biases or prejudices, nor were they asked whether they had formed or expressed any prior opinions. Instead, they were simply asked if they could impartially hear the case and render a verdict based on the law and the evidence presented. An affirmative response was deemed sufficient.
Many of these trials were remarkably picturesque. Will Campbell, a miner working in a ravine a mile or two outside Downieville, California, was approached one morning by a group of miners. One of them inquired, "Mister, did you study law back in the States?"
Campbell confirmed that he had. They then explained that a large Pennsylvania Dutchman was attempting to lay claim to land rightfully owned by one of their comrades. A trial had been scheduled for that very afternoon, and they sought Campbell’s assistance in representing them. Campbell agreed, stipulating that one of them work his claim while he was away. The arrangement was accepted, and Campbell proceeded to the camp, where he successfully argued the case and secured a favorable outcome for his clients. He recounted this incident years later, after having become a prominent lawyer and judge.
He said, "I was 19 years old. I had just graduated; all the practice I had ever had any experience in was in the moot courts in the law school. I did not know a vast amount of law, but I had brought all my gall with me to California, and I suppose my argument that day was one calculated to scare away a mountain lion if he was an old and wary one and wished to avoid trouble." The The Old-Time Miners often needed to use their wits to protect their claims.
"I have never since experienced the self-satisfaction that was mine as I emerged from that room and walked out on the cleared space in front of the building. Many people congratulated me, and I swallowed it all as though it was my due. At last, the big Dutchman came along and said: ‘Mister Campbell, dot vas one great speech vot you made today.’ ‘Ah,’ I replied, ‘do you really think so, Uncle Billie?’"
"’Yaw, I think so,’ he said. ‘It just lacked but von ding to make it one very great speech.’"
"’You really think so, Uncle Billie?’ I responded, ‘And pray, what did it lack?’"
"’It lacked sense’ was the curt answer. ‘The boys heard it, and it cost me all the dust I had mined for a week previous to get out of camp. I have heard of it from time to time ever since. But it did me lots of good. I have never since talked as learnedly as I did on that day. You see, the ordinary intellect can only stand about so much.’"
Men who endure months without seeing children experience a profound longing that those in settled communities can scarcely comprehend.
The absence of women and children often unleashed the untamed nature lurking within many souls residing in the hills. Without the moderating influence of family and community, some succumbed to their baser instincts. As a result, drinking, gambling, and deadly quarrels became commonplace. Many became unruly and reckless, squandering lives that, under the gentle guidance of virtuous women, might have achieved greatness. It is said that the renowned Prussian General Blucher, while surveying a battlefield strewn with corpses, remarked to an aide overwhelmed by the carnage, "Control yourself, General! When the winds and the deep-sea surges engage in battle, the shore next morning is piled deep with seaweed and other storm debris. It is nature’s way; these, too, are but debris cast up by yesterday’s storm."
The graves scattered across the Sierra’s peaks and slopes serve as stark reminders of the debris cast ashore by that tumultuous era.
However, the character of these men was also forged in other ways. Their resourcefulness, born from the challenging environment, blossomed into remarkable individuals and exemplary citizens. They achieved extraordinary feats with the limited resources at their disposal. Their unwavering resolve concealed deep suffering within their hearts. The gradual extinguishing of their brightest hopes, the selfless sacrifices made with a smile of contentment, and the relinquishing of what was more precious than life itself – all these unseen tragedies unfolded in those remote locations, leaving indelible shadows upon the landscape.
What was readily apparent was the prevailing joy and enthusiasm. The songs that were sung, the stories that were told, and the expansion of the language to create words that perfectly captured every occasion – the echoes of these experiences still resonate through the hills like the ethereal beat of phantom drums.
Let no one underestimate the patriotism that thrived in these camps. Newspapers from the established cities were avidly read and reread, and magazines from the East were devoured. The burgeoning literature of California, expressed through the words of Bret Harte, Caxton of La Conte, Barstow, Bartlett, Stout, Coolbrith, O’Connell, Marshall, and others, became household knowledge. The letters arriving via the semi-monthly steamers were particularly cherished. What greater testament to patriotism could there be than a letter arriving from a young man’s mother, or the daughter of another young man’s mother, from 5,000 miles away? Such a letter inspired a love for one’s country and gratitude for the stokers who tirelessly fed the coal to the furnaces of the ship that carried it. The lives of The Old-Time Miners were sustained by these links to home.
From among these men emerged a generation of scientists who, lacking formal instructors, deciphered the hieroglyphics etched by nature upon the rocks, trees, and hills. They translated these symbols into words, creating their own histories and unlocking the secrets of the processes that had shaped the land over eons. They studied the forces of earthquakes, glaciers, winds, heat, cold, and sunlight – all the agents employed by the Infinite in molding the world into its present form.
No other field of study is more profound. With each page turned in that book of nature, the majesty, mercy, and power of the Infinite Architect become ever more apparent. Ages before the existence of humankind, God conceived and approved the plans that would provide a place where man’s mind and hands could find purpose, and where earnest work would be rewarded. As man gains the wisdom to understand the creation of that reward, he will feel compelled to remove his shoes, for he will be standing on holy ground.
Another type of individual also emerged: strong leaders, captains of industry who, upon leaving the hills and entering into competition with ordinary men, proved to be masters capable of taking charge of any undertaking. Their battles with the forces of nature and their victories over the mountains’ defenses had forged them into stronger beings.
Like Jacob, who wrestled with the Lord throughout the night, they were strengthened by their labors and, as a result, earned new titles among men.
If the preceding has been made clear, it will be evident that while there were miners before and after those first California miners, and while there have been miners who surpassed them in skill, there has never been, and never will be, quite the same kind of group of men as The Old-Time Miners.
They lacked the anchoring influence of home and family, but their tenderness and consideration for others grew in its absence. They had no children of their own, yet they became fathers to all the world’s children. Many were wild and reckless, initially unrestrained by societal norms, but they turned their gaze upward not to church spires but to the towering trees and the boundless sky under which they slept. Perhaps they were closer to God because of their surroundings and the watchful stars that kept solemn vigil above them.
They lived out their lives, and most of them have been personally forgotten. However, because they lived, toiled, and kept watch, society must remain vigilant against injustice, and the flag above them must remain untarnished. Their impact uplifted the character of the entire coast and has been an ennobling force ever since.
Charles Carroll Goodwin, 1913. Compiled and edited by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated May 2024.
About the Author: Charles Carroll Goodwin was a Nevada Judge, journalist, and newspaper editor interested in Nevada mining. During his lifetime, he authored numerous newspaper articles, short stories, poetry, and several books, including As I Remember Them in 1913. The Old-Time Miners is a chapter of that publication.
Also See:
Gold Mining in America
Mining Methods and Claims
Mining on the American Frontier
Historical Accounts of American History