The History of Will County, 1878 states, “for those who are old enough...will recall the wonderful excitement which took place all over the land” referring to the Gold Rush. It apparently was what everyone in Will County was talking about in 1849-1851. The Lockport telegraph in 1849 warns individuals to not move west for an uncertain future and to find contentment in Will County. They also jokingly stated when referring to the Gold Rush: “A world-wide malady has at last extended to our midst” “Symptoms about the same as elsewhere, a sensation of nausea at the mere thought of common business...frequent giddiness of the head, optical allusions in which everything is seen in a yellow light, raging appetite for maps...terminating in a frantic effort to sell out and settle up at which the stage of the disease is considered incurable”.
Despite the Lockport telegraph’s advise, numerous individuals set out west in 1849. A few Homer Glen residents were successful which influenced even more individuals in 1850 to find gold out west. The “true Democrat” in 1850 gives a list of about 400 that left in the Spring from Will county which significantly affected the business and created a huge traffic jam out west where wagons would be halted for days. 10-20 teams a day that spring would pass along Jefferson Street including individuals with only a knapsack and rifle who decided to buy everything else once they got out West. Some individuals were successful and some were not and most returned 1-2 years later.
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