THE PRICE FAMILY OF SONORA, TUOLUMNE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

WILLIAM LUTHER PRICE, Patriarch

by Sue Rydberg Canavan copyright 2006

PG. 2

This plaque explains Mayor Patrick’s personal interest in the Walker River Route.

Bill and Rob Price were with this group when they reached Sonora on 3 Oct. 1853. These
were the early settlers who helped make Sonora “The Queen of the Southern Mines”. Bill
eventually bought land and a house on the main street of Sonora. This property, on the
southern end of South Washington Street, was where he lived the rest of his 90 years.

Of the 300 head of Price cattle, only 50 survived. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of others perished.
What is amazing is that all of the people survived. Surprising, too, that on Oct. 17, two weeks later, other
wagon trains brought in 2000 head of cattle in one week. That most of their 300 head of cattle perished on
this mountain trail, is no surprise.  It tells something about the survivors that they not only endured an
impossible ordeal but that they continued and thrived in a new world – much of it their own creation. Bill
 Price’s life showed this endurance, hard work, and resourcefulness.  It proved his ability to overcome
 adversity and indicated a spirit undaunted by great obstacles.

Continue to Pg. 3