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American River, Water & Mining Co. Stock Certificate, Gold Rush [166954]

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Stock & Bond - Mining Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 400.00 USD
American River, Water & Mining Co. Stock Certificate, Gold Rush [166954]
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Rare Gold Rush location: Mormon Island. No. 19, issued to company president Amos. Catlin for 20 shares in 1854 in Mormon Island. Signed by Catlin and secretary WA Eliason. Pen cancelled. Black border and print with allegorical vignette. Printed by Britton & Rey. 4.5 x 9" Many folds and creases. Written on the reverse are three notes on share division and work at the river's bars. The company was working placer works at Mormon Island and "Doton's Bar" on branches of the American River early on. The company was formed in December 1854 to build a ditch to divert water from the North Fork of the American River. According to Gudde the 1850 census lists forty-two miners living at Doton's Bar and another forty-two at nearby Longs Bar. Hutchings describes it as a very busy little town in 1855, after it obtained water from the North Fork Canal. The North Fork Ditch was dug from 1854-1856, and provided water for drinking, irrigation and to area mining operations. Mormon Island was located on the South Fork of the American River, three miles from the junction with the North Fork. It was actually a sand bar, not an island. According to Gudde, it was the first regular gold camp after the discovery at Sutter's Mill. Two Mormons discovered gold at the spot on March 2, 1848. Gudde argues that the findings at this place actually started the Gold Rush. Mormon Island is currently under Folsom Lake.

Date: 1854
Country (if not USA):
State: California
City: Mormon Island
Provenance: