Several Owsleys are known to have made their way to the California goldfields. Harry Bryan Owsley (HBO) in his "The Owsley Family in England and America" (p. 111) notes that William Henry Owsley (1821 -1851), a son of Henry Hawkins Owsley and uncle of HBO, went with his cousin, Asher Bodine Owsley (1815-1891), to California during the 1849 gold rush. Actually, the two young men probably went on the wagon train organized by Asher's father, Ebsworth Owsley (c1784-1850). In a letter reprinted in "The Whig of Palmyra, Missouri) on 12 July 1849, R. K. Vanlandingham wrote, "....We could have got in a company of 44 wagons, commanded by old Mr. Owsley of Canton, Mo., but would not go with them for the reason that it takes too much time, in so large a company, to pass over rivers, etc...." Indeed, Ebsworth Owsley was 66 years old at this undertaking. He was moderately successful in his venture, seemingly in a short period of time, but never lived to enjoy the fruits of his labors.
William Henry Owsley accidently shot himself while hunting on 4 Oct 1851. The newspaper obituary of his sister, Anna Owsley Sims, adds that he took a small army of negroes with him to work the mines, being very successful in his quest.
Willian Henry Owsley II (b. 09 May 1821, d. 04 Oct 1851)
Notes for Willian Henry Owsley II: