A Chinese Boy in the Gold Rush

by Ellen Osborn

This unusual old photograph of a young Chinese man raises some interesting questions. What brought a young Chinese man and a small American child together? What was their relationship?

Dressed in Western clothes, this young man, Sam Wam, with his serene face, presents a contrast to the rebellious expression on the face of little John Calhoun Johnson Jr. Note the firm grip on the wrist of the camera-shy youngster. Was Sam Wam included in the picture to restrain the rambunctious two-year-old? Or because he was considered a part of the family of John Calhoun Johnson? We do know that the picture was taken at the ranch home of Emily and John C. Johnson, located six miles east of Placerville. Photographs of all their children were made that day.

Photography in the 19th century wasn’t like today. In those days, portraits were taken by a professional photographer. The exposure took time, so the subject had to sit very still for the camera. It was an expensive luxury. Pictures were taken on special occasions with the resulting image treasured and kept.

The clothes Sam Wam was wearing appear to be too large for him. Perhaps they were borrowed from Johnson, or the photographer carried extra clothing for his subjects to wear. Unfortunately, we are unable to see Sam Wam’s hair, hidden under his hat to give him a more Westernized appearance. A traditional hair style would give a clue to the Chinese province from which he came. might have been made possible by his familiarity with American customs and language, learned during his years in the Johnson household.

We have to rely on a family tradition to learn how Sam Wam became a part of the Johnson household. The story is that Johnson found a little Chinese boy, about eight years of age, wandering in the streets of Placerville alone. Historians tell us that it was not uncommon for unaccompanied boys to be included in parties of Chinese departing for “Gold Mountain,” as they called California. Their families intended for them to mine gold and come back with wealth for the family. John and Emily took Sam Wam into their home and raised him. Based on his age as recorded in the 1870 U. S. Census, this event would have taken place in the late 1850s. He was fortunate to live in a household that would insulate him from the prejudice and violence that surrounded the Chinese in California.

The Chinese were not generally welcomed by the miners in the gold fields, where the number of Chinese had grown until by 1852, in some mining camps, the ratio of Chinese to all others was three out of ten. The growing number of Asiatics alarmed the American miners who reacted with increasing violence and resentment. Placerville had a large and thriving Chinatown that experienced several fires, some thought to be caused by arson. Sam Wam undoubtedly visited there, keeping him in touch with his culture and countrymen, but also with the division between Chinese and Americans.

One response to the influx of Chinese was the passage of the Foreign Miner’s License Law of 1850. This law was largely enforced only on the Chinese. One correspondent of the Mountain Democrat went so far as to express the opinion that the Chinese, by paying for a foreign Miner’s License, were supporting El Dorado County! While serving in the Sixth State Assembly in 1855, Johnson himself sponsored a bill that provided for a graduated tax on those foreign miners who were ineligible for citizenship. This tax included the Chinese. Following a long and inglorious period of restrictive local laws and acts of violence, the issue was resolved to the satisfaction of the legislature in 1882, when a bill to exclude all Chinese emigrants was approved. Later this law was extended well into the twentieth century, preventing further emigration from China.

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For Johnson, his relationship with the Chinese miners was similarly conflicted. The June 15, 1867, Mountain Democrat carried the following article about the proceedings of the local Democratic Convention, of which Johnson had been elected secretary. In addressing the topic of the Chinese in California, the committee passed the following resolution: “Resolved, that the continued emigration of Mongolians to this State, to be used as the ill-paid slaves of capital are evils of startling and increasing magnitude, that to the utmost extent consistent with public faith and humanity, should be corrected by Federal and State legislation.”

It was a popular sentiment expressed repeatedly throughout the diggings,

The Chinese issue became a personal one for Johnson

In the Chinese culture parents are honored and children are valued.

Ellen Osborn lives in Pollock Pines, CA. She recently published a book of early El Dorado County history, A Lovely And Comfortable Heritage Lost available at local booksellers, Amazon or slyparkbooks@gmail.com.

The 1870 U. S. Census confirms Sam Wam’s presence at the ranch. At age 22, he had come of age. In 1867, he is also listed as an occasional laborer in the records of the Vallejo Mining Company, located on the Johnson Ranch. Following the 1870 Census, he disappears from the official record. It is probable he returned to his home in China. Sam Wam’s leaving of his American family could have been the occasion for this picture.

The family story is Sam Wam returned to China as an adult where he enjoyed success in the export business. If this is true, his success

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The Guide Dogs for the Blind Cameron Park Puppy Raisers always welcome those interested in learning more about what we do, and in becoming involved with our group. Please find more information about puppy raising by visiting www.guidedogs.com.

A parent or guardian can sit with the child and dog and read to them. For more information or to register, you can call the Cameron Park library at 530-621-5500. Sign-up and release paperwork is required before a child can participate and is available at the library.

The “Paws for a Cause” group has also visited retirement centers and volunteered by giving presentations in El Dorado County on an asrequested basis.

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Since 1989, American River Conservancy has completed 88 conservation projects protecting over 29,300 acres of native fisheries, endangered species habitat and recreational lands. ARC also provides interpretive hikes, educational programs to schools and volunteer opportunities to the greater Sacramento region. Learn more at ARConservancy.org.

Paws for a Cause

“Paws for a Cause” is an independent group that was formed in 2009 with dogs that were career-changed or retired from Guide Dogs for the Blind service work and then went on to work as therapy dogs. Part of this group participates in the Cameron Park Library “Paws for Reading” program. This group of therapy dogs spends most Tuesdays from 4pm to 5pm at the Cameron Park library, offering their listening services to young readers. Children who want to improve their reading skills, can sign up for 15-minute reading sessions. They come prepared with a book to read and sit down with one of our calm and loving dogs. As the child reads their book, they pet and snuggle with their assigned dog. The dog’s handler is there to ensure the dog is maintaining proper etiquette, but for the most part, fades into the background to leave the student and the dog to do their work. The program is also available to children who are only just learning about reading.