"California gold diggers, a scene from actual life at the mines," engraving by John Andrew, 18??. Larger.
Imagine a typical Forty-Niner and you might conjure an unkempt, greasy-bearded, flannel-shirted guy with an uncouth air. But, as you might imagine, not everyone fit the stereotype.
Sarah Royce came to California in 1849 with her husband and young daughter. Before settling in Grass Valley, they spent time in a mining camp, where she was pleased to discover some very couth company.
A number of miners passed every morning and afternoon, to and from their work; but none of them stared obtrusively. One, I observed, looked at Mary with interest a time or two, but did not stop, till one day I happened to be walking with her near the door when he paused, bowed courteously, and said, "Excuse me madam, may I speak to the little girl? We see so few ladies and children in California, and she is about the size of a little sister I left at home." "Certainly," I said, leading her towards him. His gentle tones and pleasant words easily induced her to shake hands, and talk with him. He proved to be a young physician, who had not long commenced practice at home, when the news of gold discovery in California induced him to seek El Dorado, hoping thus to secure, more speedily, means of support for his widowed mother and other members of the family. His partner in work was a well-educated lawyer; and another in their party was a scientist who had been applying his knowledge of geology and mineralogy in exploring. . . . Here then was a party of California miners, dressed in the usual mining attire, and carrying pick, shovel, and pans to and from their work; who were yet cultured gentlemen.
Sarah Royce kept a diary of her California experience, eventually published as A Frontier Lady in 1932.
"Horse and wagon camping at Moonstone Beach [McKinleyville]," photographer unknown, 1914. Larger.
Coming to California from the east, travelers can fly, drive, or take the train. But during the Gold Rush Era making your way to continent's end often required a bit of help.
In 1849 Sarah Royce set out for the west with her husband and daughter. But like countless others, they left too late. Struggling to cross the Sierras in late October, the Royce family and their party was lucky enough to meet a Relief Company sent to help the late emigrants over the mountains. Sarah's impressions were recorded in her diary, later published as A Frontier Lady.
. . . the thought of their being heaven-sent—that had so lightly flashed into my mind as I first watched their rapid descent of the hill, with flying garments—grew into a sweetly solemn conviction; and I stood in mute adoration, breathing in my inmost heart, thanksgiving to that Providential Hand which had taken hold of the conflicting movements, the provoking blunders, the contradictory plans, of our lives and those of a dozen other people, who a few days before were utterly unknown to each other, and many miles apart, and had from those rough, broken materials wrought out for us so unlooked-for a deliverance
The Royce's eventually settled in Grass Valley, where Sarah opened a school. One of her pupils was her own son Josiah [Royce], who became a professor of philosophy at Harvard and author of one of California's most important histories.
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