James W. Marshall

James Wilson Marshall ( born October 8, 1810 in Lambertville (New Jersey); † August 10, 1885 in Kelsey, California ) was held on January 19, 1848, the Sutter 's Mill the first gold nugget, sparking a gold rush.

James W. Marshall built for the Swiss Johann August Sutter in Cullomah Valley on the south arm of the American River, a sawmill and found in these works in 1848 a gold nugget in the then value of $ 5. Despite attempts to keep the discovery secret, did not succeed, after the California Gold Rush broke out.

1885 James W. Marshall died destitute in Kelsey.