Discoverer of oi California Gold Dies at St George Ge 1 Henry W VT v Bigler of St George who i iwas I IS was S one of the first discoverers d of gold goldin I In n California C died at t his hii home Satur Saturday sat day d morning of pneumonia He was wast t 86 8 years ef of age and a pioneer p r of i iUt Utah Ut h his career being one of the most i if f f fr r JI JIT I T I mark A of r any ny in that famous band The Tho deceased was born in Harrison Harri on West Vest Ve t Virginia Aug 28 He joined the Saints soon after the church was established and was as at Nau with the body at of the saints He was one of the first tt tO en enlist list in the t e Mormon battalion H antI and with withstood withstood stood the journey across the plains to fight in the Mexican war After being discharged Ip in California he started to return to the Rocky mountains to re rejoin rejoin rejoin join the pioneers but the th word that there was not sufficient provisions to t provide for all 11 kept him in the Golden state He lie went to work at millrace on or American river along with Alexander Stevens James S Brown Bron James Barger William Johnston and Azariah Smith who were also mem members members membern bers bern of the battalion In January 1848 gold was discovered toy by b this party the th first record ever made of it being on Jan 24 as follows in the diary of Hen lIen Henry HenI I ry W Bigler This days da s some kind kindI of metal was as found J t te e tailrace that I looks like gold goldOn goldOn goldOn On Jan 30 he Our Cur metal has hasI I been tried and proves proven to be gold It is thought to be rich We Ve bave have picked up upI more than than worth orth during d last week I Shortly after af ter this Mr Bigler returned I to Utah having no interest in the this dis discovery I covery which was on prop property property property erty He settled in Salt Lake and in 1860 was a missionary to the Sandwich islands with George Q Cannon and it was due to the combined efforts of the theto two to men that the mission was established eStablished fished Returning turning R in 1864 Mr Bigler took an active part In the settlement of the state He lived the last years I of his life In St S1 George Ge rge surrounded by hosts of friends