The rich history of gold in North Carolina is filled with adventure and notable discoveries. You have likely heard the tale of Conrad Reed finding the 17-pound gold nugget in 1799, the Carolina Gold Rush being the first gold rush in North America, the Charlotte Mint turning into an art museum, and the first dollar gold coin produced at the Bechtler Mint.
Such names as John Reed of Reed Gold Mine, Christopher Bechtler of the Bechtler Mint, Congressman Abraham Rencher and Sen. Bedford Brown of the Charlotte Mint are commonly mentioned names when it comes to the history of gold in North Carolina.
This article will enrich your understanding of the history of gold in North Carolina by providing more examples of influential people in the original gold rush state. There are four key people in the history of gold in North Carolina that every aspiring NC gold historian should know: Matthias Tobias Barringer, William Thornton, and Clement and Ruffin Hill.
Matthias Tobias Barringer
Matthias Tobias Barringer is best known for discovering and developing the Barringer Gold Mine in Stanley, North Carolina. This German immigrant helped establish one of North Carolina’s most successful mines just a few miles away from Reed Gold Mine.
While hunting for squirrels on his 80 acres, Barringer found a vein of gold and quartz rock and began creating mineshafts. Matthias Tobias Barringer effectively improved gold mining techniques from traditional placer mining (also known as gold panning) to the more modern lode mining which extracts the ore directly from the source. This method of gold mining improved understanding of gold deposits and gold mining and increased the amount of gold that could be extracted from the earth at a lower cost and with less time.
Matthias Tobias Barringer’s mining accomplishments, both in the discovery of a major gold mine and the improvement of gold mining techniques, were pivotal in enhancing the efficiency and output of gold mining in North Carolina, establishing his legacy as a key figure in the history of American mining.
William Thornton
William Thornton was a prominent architect in the United States in the 19th century. He was especially famous for his design contributions to the United States Capitol Building and the Octagon House in Washington, DC. What many may not know about Thornton was his significant contribution to the history of gold in North Carolina.
William Thornton was one of the main owners of the Franklin Gold Mine in Macon County. His financial support of the gold mining efforts in western North Carolina helped the Franklin Gold Mine to become one of the most successful gold mines in the state and helped to spread the word of the Carolina Gold Rush around the country.
William Thornton’s contributions to the history of gold in North Carolina helped bring attention and investment to the region’s gold mining potential. According to North Carolina historian Rebecca Lewis, William Thornton created the North Carolina Gold Mine Company. In turn, Thornton’s involvement underscored the significance of early mining efforts and supported the economic development of western North Carolina during the early 1800s.
The Hill brothers
Brothers Clement and Ruffin Hill were two key figures in the history of gold in North Carolina. In 1824, the Hill brothers helped create the Gold Hill gold mining district and the unincorporated community, Gold Hill, in southeastern Rowan County, near the Cabarrus County line.
In this area, several flourishing gold mines were opened including the Randolph Mine and the Barnhardt Mine. According to reporter Mark Wineka of the Salisbury Post, the successful Hill Bros gold mines in Gold Hill were said to be “the richest and most productive gold mines east of the Mississippi.” Because of the business prowess and gold mining contributions, Clement Hill and Ruffin Hill were able to boost the local and state economy, create jobs, and establish North Carolina as an early leader in the gold industry.
Conclusion
At the peak of gold in North Carolina, as many as 600 gold mines were operating throughout the state. North Carolina’s gold industry in the early to mid 19th century was the second largest industry in the state, second only to agriculture. There were many people involved in the success of gold and gold mining in North Carolina including the famous Conrad Reed, John Reed, Christopher Bechtler, and others.
That success would also not have been possible if it were not for the significant financial contributions and gold mining innovations by Matthias Tobias Barringer, William Thornton, Clement Hill, and Ruffin Hill. Each of these key figures in the history of gold in North Carolina played a noteworthy role in the success of the North Carolina gold industry.