Theodore C. Ressler

RESSLER

Posted By: Misty Christner (email)
Date: 5/3/2018 at 09:25:22

Source: Iowa City Press unsure of date

OX-TRAIN TREK IN GOLD RUSH

WILLIAMSBURG, IA. - Theodore C. Ressler, feed manufacturing plant clerk, has compiled a 290-page study of an ox-train expedition which left Iowa City in the 1849 Gold Rush.
The book is based on two auto trips retracing trails followed by the 1849 train to California and 2 1/2 years research of letters, newspaper items of the period, an original diary and records of other expeditions.
Ressler became interested in the trek because his grandfather, John Jacob Ressler, left brief but incomplete written reminiscences, as did three others of the train.
The account, titled "Trails Divided" because the gold rush group eventually split into smaller groups during the six-month-long trek, has been mimeographed by Ressler, who works at Winborn's.
Ressler said 49 wagons and about 150 people, mostly from Johnson, Cedar, Jones, Clinton and Jackson counties, started the trip in the spring of 1849 under the name Sacramento Mining Co.