127_Luzena Wilson_2015_127 Luzena Wilson 2105 5/17/15 4:49 PM Page 127
PIONEERS
H I S T O R Y
One WOman’s stOry – early Days in
a mining tOWn
SEARLS HISTORICAL LIBRARY
While Luzena Wilson set up a
“hotel,” her husband cut wood
for their shelter.
u
W
omen were not often among
California’s early pioneers;
one was the enterprising
Luzena Wilson who arrived in Sacramento
in September of 1849 with her husband
Mason and two toddlers. She was 28, he
14 years her senior.
Their early efforts and hard work paid
off, but a devastating flood left them with
nothing. Hearing miners were striking it
rich in Nevada City (then called Coyote
Diggins), Luzena arranged transportation,
and they headed for the hills. The wagon
trip took 12 days.
Nevada City in early 1850 consisted of a
row of canvas tents lining ravines that emptied into Deer Creek. The family’s first view
of the town was of brawny miners wielding
picks and shovels, while others stood in the
icy water washing soil from their gold.
The family did not have the luxury of
canvas, so used pine boughs to fashion a
shelter. That first day was productive. While
her husband went to cut wood for a better
dwelling, Luzena opened a “hotel.” Using
credit, she bought provisions, boards for
tables, and by the light of torches fed 20
men. They paid $1 each and indicated they
would be regular customers.
Her business was well patronized, and
she soon made her husband a partner. The
Wilsons prospered. A frame house was
built around the shelter, rooms were added
and from 75 to 200 boarders paid them
$25 a week. Money was made quickly. In
six months, they had $10,000 invested in
the hotel, another $10,000 in goods.
It was a time of prosperity. Rich placer
mines were all around; everyone had
money and spent it. Nevada City grew
quickly and soon had 10,000 residents
most of them men. The most profitable
employment was gambling, and those who
pursued it were the aristocracy of the
town. They were the best-dressed and lived
well. Stakes ran high, into the thousands.
Doctors were busy, as hundreds of men
were sick and dying from cold and exposure. In fact, every profession found
employment, except the clergy. The town
WAYDE CARROLL
In 1881, Luzena Stanley Wilson’s daughter was recovering from a serious illness.
To make time pass, Luzena recounted her early years in California, and her daughter
wrote it down. What follows was adapted from this manuscript and describes Luzena’s
time in Nevada City.
was just too unsettled to require the services of pastor.
The Wilsons had lived in Nevada City 18
months, when disaster struck again. This
time, it was a fire that leveled the town
leaving 8,000 homeless. The town was
quickly rebuilt, and grew to be more substantial and permanent.
After the fire, the Wilsons sold their city
lot for a few dollars. The man who bought
it took $30,000 out of the gravel. Such
was the irony of mining. Land or claims
given up or sold for a few dollars could
make the next owner hundreds if not thousands. Mining was an uncertain business,
and one, by the way, that Luzena’s husband
was opposed to “on general principles.”
Although, the town was more prosperous
than ever, Luzena and her husband decided
it was time to leave. With $500 to their
names, they headed for the valley. Drawn
by the area beyond Sacramento, the family
settled near what is now Vacaville. They
farmed, and Luzena once again successfully
set