© Craig MacDonald
Coloma, CA—In the Holiday Season of 1847, Jennie Wimmer demanded respect in her
job as camp cook and laundress near a sawmill construction site at the South
Fork of the American River. As the only cook in camp, she got quite irritated
when some workers failed to promptly answer her call to meals.
When several men were late to breakfast on Christmas morning, she had enough,
and issued a blistering ultimatum that if they didn't come on time, they'd get
no breakfast!
This prompted Henry Bigler to write in his journal: On Christmas Day in bed she
swore, That she would cook for us no more, Unless we'd come at the first call,
‘For I am mistress of you all.'”
Jennie's bold action irritated six of the fellows, who declared they wouldn't
put up with sass from a woman.” The furious six built their own cabin and
declared they'd cook for themselves! Jennie may have gotten the last laugh
because there were six less mouths to feed.
A month later, on Jan. 24, 1848, James W. Marshall reportedly spotted some
shining flecks in the water” at the sawmill site. He scooped them up, pounded
them with a rock and went off to find out if they were really gold. Was it gold
and did Marshall actually see the first flecks? Most historians say yes” to
both questions.
Jennie heard a commotion that day and saw both Marshall and her young son
approach her with what they thought was gold. She threw it in a kettle, boiling
it with lye and baking soda. The metal did not change. It was indeed gold!
Both Jacob W. Harland and William Wiggins, who were there, wrote independently
that they thought the Wimmer child had found the first gold. No one will ever
know for sure but you can visit the location at Marshall Gold Discovery State
Historic Park, 310 Back Street, Coloma, off historic Highway 49. The annual Gold
Discovery Day is from 10-3, Jan. 24, where there are fabulous living history
demonstrations at the birthplace of the famous California Gold Rush. For further
information, you can Google the park or call 530-622-3470.
Note: If you're an Old West Christmas fan, here's another fantastic, true story,
Santa Claus
Papa.