• In one of the histories of Utah there is an article prepared by Dr. Oliver Ormsby, who passed through Sessions Settlement when he was twelve years old, on the way to California. Quote from history: “Major William Ormsby and his brother John S. Ormsby, left Pennsylvania in 1849 and went to California. Early in 1852 Major Ormsby went back to Pennsylvania to bring his and his brother’s families to California. There were about one hundred souls in the company and they were fitted out with the finest horses and equipment. However, when they reached Salt Lake, they had lost all of their horses and carriages and remained in Salt Lake two weeks to rest and recruit.”5747

• John S came to California during the 49r rush along with his brother Maj. William M. Ormsby. They departed St. Joseph, Missouri, by wagon train on April 14th, 1849. This wagon train consisted of four wagons, six mules to each, and necessary provisions. On May 20, they joined the Newton-Boston Company near Independence, Missouri, and arrived in Sacramento in late September of early October. They founded and operated the first private mint in Sacramento, J. S. Ormsby and Company (Note – a $10 gold piece, dated 1849, imprinted with the name J.S. Ormsby & Co is valued at over $185,000, today, 3/19/99). They also operated an assay office. This company was the first private gold coiner in Sacramento, the largest trade center near the gold fields. It was located on K Street below the site of the Golden Eagle. They were minting the coins in 1849 and 1850 although none was dated. The gold pieces were struck by sledge hammer (rather than a coining press) from unalloyed native gold. The community readily accepted them as legal tender.
Minting the gold coins was lucrative. Dr. Ormsby received $4.00 in gold for each $20.00 worth minted. There are only 5 pieces known still in existence today and two have been impounded.
Later Dr. Ormsby practiced medicine in Sacramento, Sonoma County, and Marysville, Sutter Co., California. He served as an Assemblyman in the California Legislature of 1857, serving Sonoma and Mendocino counties.
During the first week of June 1860 he was with Captain Stewart’s regulars and volunteers in battle with Indians in Nevada. On June 3, 1860 he was among the soldiers who located his brother Maj. W. Ormsby’s body on an Indian battlefield near Pyramid Lake, Nevada. He sent a letter to the Major’s widow, Margaret Ormsby, with graphic detail of the battles he personally witnessed and advising her that the body of her dead husband was found and that he witnessed the burial.
In the early 1860s he moved to Nevada, drawn by more “mining prospects.” He moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1866, where he continued his medical practice. He died on October 4, 1876, at the home of a son (probably Oliver C Ormsby) in Logan, Cache County, Utah.5777

• 1840 Census: Borough of Salem, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (a few miles east of Pittsburgh)5777
• 1850 Census: Hempfield, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. Age 43, b PA. Physician. $5000.4607
• 1850 Census: Sacramento, Sacramento, California. Age 42, b PA. Livery Stable. Living with his brother, W. M. Ormsby.5769
• 1860 Census: Healdsburg, Sonoma, California. Age 53, b PA. Physician. $10000; $2000.4608
• 1870 Census: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. Age 64, b NY [sic]. Surgeon. Living in household of Mary Pike.4609