"Snowshoe" Thompson, A Gold Rush Hero
John A. Thompson saw this ad in a local newspaper about 1856, and answered the call, and in doing so became a legend and an inspirational hero of the Gold Rush.
John A. Thompson, a Norwegian-American known far and wide to all in the Gold Rush days of California as "Snowshoe Thompson" was one of the most amazing and enduring characters to place his mark on the history of the Gold Trail.
Jon Torsteinson-Rue, also known as John A. Thompson & also known with admiration by his nickname "Snowshoe Thompson", emigrated as a child with his parents from the mountains of Tinn, Norway . Always drawn to the beauty of high snow covered mountains by his memory of Norway, John left home on the plains of midwest America and journeyed to California and the mountains he would come to love. He fulfilled a vision by his mother that Jon would go west and do what no other man had done, or could do.
Between 1856 and 1876, "Snowshoe Thompson" delivered mail between Placerville, California and Genoa, Nevada and later Virginia City, Nevada. This was no small feat to put it mildly. Many had tried and many had died trying to cross the Sierras Nevadas in the middle of winter. It was thought to be impossible for a human, and any attempting such was thought to be not of sound mind. Brushing off the jeers of naysayers Thompson accomplished the impossible through his strong will and determination.
John "Snowshoe" Thompson portrait. Courtesy of the
El Dorado County Historical Museum
El Dorado County Historical Museum
John fashioned a pair of 10 foot skis out of solid wood from what he remembered from his childhood days in Norway. He taught himself how to ski on a mountain area near Placerville, Ca. using a single pole for balance. Since no one in the Gold Rush days had seen skis, everyone referred to them as Norwegian snowshoes, and thus John's nickname was born, "Snowshoe Thompson". Today he is considered the father of California skiing. His style of cross country skiing is still in use today. Actual skis made by Snowshoe Thompson can be seen in the Fountain Talman Museum at 524 Main St, Placerville, CA Tel: (530) 626-0773 in Placerville. These skis were formerly on loan to the Smithsonian.
Thompson made the eastward trip in three days over the Sierras, and the return trip in two days. He mostly traveled the "Johnson's Cutoff", which is today U.S. Highway 50 from Placerville, California to South Lake Tahoe. A super human feat of endurance, confidence, pride and determination that defined John's spirit of the Gold Rush. He would do this without pay from the postal service for 20 years. He delivered the mail.
In the course of delivering mail, he rescued stranded travelers, once made a round trip to get chloroform for a victim of frostbit, and even performed a life saving surgery. Seemingly all in a days work.
Thompson lived and farmed near Putah Creek California which is west of Sacramento, and homesteaded a 160 acre ranch in Diamond Valley in Alpine county. Ditches he dug there by hand are still in use today. He tried his luck at Gold prospecting only to find his true love of the mountains outweighing all prospects of Gold riches. He found riches in the beauty of the Sierras Nevadas. Thompson and his wife Agnes had a son named, Arthur.
Several statues commemorate Thompson, one in Genoa, Nevada, and one at Boreal Ski Resort in California. There are numerous plaques, celebrating Snowshoe Thompson. The post office in Placerville, California is named after him. He still has not been paid for his services however.
Hopefully, someday perhaps a fitting recognition his service to the citizens of California and Nevada might also be in the form of US Postal Stamp commemorating the life, times, and spirit of one the the greatest legendary figures to be found along the Gold Trail.
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