While researching the history of Green Valley for an earlier post, I read in the May 8, 1876 Sacramento Daily Union of the death in Green Valley of J.W. Beardsley.
His occupation was not given, so I only assume he was a miner, for there was a good deal of mining activity in Green Valley back then. He had been in California for about 18 months.
On the evening of April 17, 1876, he got into a small boat, intending to cross the North Fork American River, but the river was swollen and the boat overturned. J.W. Beardsley was swept downstream. He was 43 years old, and had a wife and two children in Marquette, Michigan.
Two weeks and two days later, on May 3, 1876, his body was found in the Sacramento River near Courtland, downriver from Sacramento and a long distance from Green Valley.
His brother David Beardsley, of Nevada City, identified the body at the undertaking firm of Clark & Davis in Sacramento. He had the remains interred at Sacramento City Cemetery, in Tier 30, Grave 75 1/2.
While in Sacramento today, I stopped by Sacramento City Cemetery to photograph the grave marker for this post, but no marker remains. I spoke with a docent at this historic cemetery. She said that the brother may have wanted to save money on the burial by placing a wood instead of a stone marker on the grave. Only a handful of wood markers remain in the cemetery. "What about the 1/2 number on Grave 75 1/2?," I asked. More cost savings, she replied. After over two weeks in the river, what was left of J.W. Beardsley could fit into a cheaper half-grave plot.
Wow thanks for posting! Joshua W. Beardsley was my great-great-great grandfather. Another brother posted a notice in the paper on May 2 stating that his brother was missing/drowned:
ReplyDeletehttp://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SDU18760502.2.12&srpos=&e=------187-en--20--21--txt-txIN------#
Russell Towle quoted from the Forum paper: "The Beardslay Claim is run as a hydraulic claim in the winter, and as a drift claim in the summer. The claim embraces a large bar in the river. Four men are employed, taking out big pay."
http://www.northforktrails.com/RussellTowle/NorthFork/History/North%20Fork%20History.html
Wondering if this could be the claim? Seems there were at least 3 brothers there working together. Any idea where exactly he would have drowned from all this information? Any idea on how to research mining claims? I don't live anywhere close to there so I'm at a loss as to where to start.
Thanks for posting and for any other helpful information you might be able to offer.
Brent
Well, I certainly didn't expect a reply such as this! Good to know that Joshua's descendants remember him.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the May 2, 1876 entry in the Sacramento Daily Union, I did some more research, and found in the June 24, 1876 newspaper that Joshua's wife and two children were headed by train to California from Michigan.
I have no further information on Joshua or the claim. You might try the Tahoe National Forest offices for information on claims. I know Russell Towle went there for information. I don't think the Placer County government would have much information.
Understanding privacy and the Internet, might you provide a bit of history following the death of Joshua, what became of his family?
Thank you
DIED FOR HIS DOG. —Joshua Beardsley was drowned in the American river, opposite Dutch Flat, on the 17th instant. Deceased had crossed the river in the morning for the purpose of remaining over night at his brother's house. At a late hour in the evening it occurred to him that he had left his dog at home without having provided food for the animal; so, taking his brother's scow, he started across the river for the purpose of assuaging the animal's hunger. The next morning the craft was discovered floating in the stream without an occupant, and Beardsley has not been seen since.
ReplyDeleteMariposa Gazette, Volume 21, Number 46, 6 May 1876
http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=MG18760506.2.15&srpos=10&e=-------en--20-MG-1--txt-txIN-Beardsley------