Snowshoe Thompson: Difference between revisions
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| ⚫ | '''Snowshoe Thompson''' (April 30, 1827 – May 15, 1876) was a nickname for the [[Norwegian-American]] '''John Albert Thompson''', an early resident of the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] of [[Nevada]] and [[California]]. He is considered the father of California [[skiing]].<ref>[http://www.nevadamagazine.com/index.php/issues/read/snowshoe_thompson/ ''Famous mail carrier has left an indelible legacy from Genoa to Placerville'' (Nevada Magazine)]</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Thompson typically made the eastward trip in three days, and the return trip in two days. He usually traveled the route known as "Johnson's Cutoff", a pathway first marked by early explorer (and first man to deliver mail over the Sierra) [[John Calhoun Johnson]], which is today the route of [[U.S. Highway 50]] as it winds its way from [[Placerville, California]] to [[South Lake Tahoe]]. Thompson carried no blanket and no gun; he claimed he was never lost even in blizzards. A rescue attributed to him was that of a man trapped in his cabin by unusually deep snow. Thompson reached him, realized the damage to the man's legs from [[frostbite]] was sufficient to kill him, skied out to get [[chloroform]], skied back in with it, and saved his patient by performing the required amputation himself. |
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==Background== |
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'''Jon Torsteinson-Rue''' was born on the Rue farm in [[Tinn]], [[Telemark]] county, [[Norway]]. He was the son of Torsten Olssen Rue and Gro Johnsdatter Hakaland. His father died when Thompson was 2 year old. At the age of 10, Thompson came to America with his family, settling on a farm in [[Illinois]]. The family moved on to [[Missouri]], then [[Iowa]], and eventually Thompson went to stay with his brother in [[Wisconsin]]. In 1851, Thompson drove a herd of milk cows to [[California]] and settled in [[Placerville]]. For a short while he mined in Kelsey Diggins, Coon Hollow and [[Georgetown]]. With the small amount he saved, he bought a small ranch at [[Putah Creek]], in the [[Sacramento Valley]]. Later, he purchased a ranch in Diamond Valley.<ref>[http://www.genoanevada.org/snowshoethompson.htm '' Snowshoe Thompson, mailman and hero ''Snowshoe Thompson, Legendary Skiing Mailman'' (Town of Genoa)]</ref> |
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==Mail delivery== |
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| ⚫ | Between 1856 and 1876, he delivered [[mail]] between [[Placerville, California]] and [[Genoa, Nevada]] and later [[Virginia City, Nevada]]. Despite his nickname, he did not make use of the [[snowshoe]]s that are native to North America, but rather would travel with what the local people applied that term to: ten-foot (over 3-meter) [[ski]]s, and a single sturdy [[Ski pole|pole]] generally held in both hands at once. He knew this version of [[cross-country skiing]] from his native [[Norway]], and employed it during the winter, as one of the earlier pioneers of the skill to the [[United States]]. Thompson delivered the first silver ore to be mined from the [[Comstock Lode]]. Later he taught others how to make skis, as well as the basics of their use. Despite his twenty years of service, he was never paid for delivering the mail.<ref>[http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/stories/snowshoe.html ''Pioneer Skier & Mail Carrier'' (Stories of El Dorado County History)]</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Thompson typically made the eastward trip in three days, and the return trip in two days. He usually traveled the route known as "Johnson's Cutoff", a pathway first marked by early explorer (and first man to deliver mail over the Sierra) [[John Calhoun Johnson]], which is today the route of [[U.S. Highway 50]] as it winds its way from [[Placerville, California]] to [[South Lake Tahoe]]. Thompson carried no blanket and no gun; he claimed he was never lost even in blizzards. A rescue attributed to him was that of a man trapped in his cabin by unusually deep snow. Thompson reached him, realized the damage to the man's legs from [[frostbite]] was sufficient to kill him, skied out to get [[chloroform]], skied back in with it, and saved his patient by performing the required amputation himself.<ref>[http://www.thestormking.com/Sierra_Stories/Snowshoe_Thompson/snowshoe_thompson.html ''Snowshoe Thompson, Legendary Skiing Mailman'' (Mic Mac Media)]</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
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In 1866, Thompson married Agnes Singleton, who had come to America from England. The Thompson’s only child, Arthur Thomas, was born on February 11, 1867. |
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From 1868 to 1872 Thompson served on the Board of Supervisors of [[Alpine County]], and was a delegate to the Republican State Convention in Sacramento in 1871. In spite of a resolution sent to [[Washington, D.C.]] by the [[Nevada Legislature]], the many political contacts he had gathered, and a trip to Washington, D.C. in 1872, Snowshoe Thompson was never paid for his services delivering the United States Mail. |
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| ⚫ | Snowshoe Thompson died of [[appendicitis]] which developed into [[pneumonia]] on May 15, 1876. His grave can be seen in [[Genoa, Nevada]], in [[Douglas County, Nevada|Carson Valley]], east of [[Lake Tahoe]]. His son, Arthur, died two years later of [[diphtheria]], and was buried next to his father at the cemetery in Genoa.<ref>[http://www.ronwatters.com/SnowShoe.htm ''The Soaring Eagle of the Sierras'' (Ron Watters. 2009)]</ref> |
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From a plaque on his grave: |
From a plaque on his grave: |
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{{ |
{{Quotation|We salute John “Snowshoe” Thompson. |
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On his homemade snowshoes John carried the mail and supplies over the snowy Sierras for 20 winters. As he traveled, he saved the lives of seven people who were snowbound in mountain cabins. In 1866, after this tall Norwegian became an American citizen, he homesteaded a {{convert|160|acre|km2|sing=on}} ranch in Diamond Valley. Respected by all who knew him, John was elected to the Alpine County Board of Supervisors.}} |
On his homemade snowshoes, John carried the mail and supplies over the snowy Sierras for 20 winters. As he traveled, he saved the lives of seven people who were snowbound in mountain cabins. In 1866, after this tall Norwegian became an American citizen, he homesteaded a {{convert|160|acre|km2|sing=on}} ranch in Diamond Valley. Respected by all who knew him, John was elected to the Alpine County Board of Supervisors.}} |
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==Thompson in culture== |
==Thompson in culture== |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==Other sources== |
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*Kenneth Bjork, ''Snowshoe Thompson: Fact and Legend'' (Northfield, MN: Norwegian-American Historical Association, Norwegian-American Studies, Vol XIV p 62-88. 1956) |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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*[http://snowshoethompson.org/ Snowshoe Thompson website] |
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*[http://www.nevasport.com/nevablogs/d/snowshoe-thompson/2504 Snowshoe Thompson] |
*[http://www.nevasport.com/nevablogs/d/snowshoe-thompson/2504 Snowshoe Thompson] |
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*[http://www.boogman.com/ecvsst/sst/sstsm.htm Biography of Snowshoe Thompson @ Boogman.com] |
*[http://www.boogman.com/ecvsst/sst/sstsm.htm Biography of Snowshoe Thompson @ Boogman.com] |
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Revision as of 16:13, 6 February 2010
statue in Genoa, Nevada
Snowshoe Thompson (April 30, 1827 – May 15, 1876) was a nickname for the Norwegian-American John Albert Thompson, an early resident of the Sierra Nevada of Nevada and California. He is considered the father of California skiing.[1]
Background
Jon Torsteinson-Rue was born on the Rue farm in Tinn, Telemark county, Norway. He was the son of Torsten Olssen Rue and Gro Johnsdatter Hakaland. His father died when Thompson was 2 year old. At the age of 10, Thompson came to America with his family, settling on a farm in Illinois. The family moved on to Missouri, then Iowa, and eventually Thompson went to stay with his brother in Wisconsin. In 1851, Thompson drove a herd of milk cows to California and settled in Placerville. For a short while he mined in Kelsey Diggins, Coon Hollow and Georgetown. With the small amount he saved, he bought a small ranch at Putah Creek, in the Sacramento Valley. Later, he purchased a ranch in Diamond Valley.[2]
Mail delivery
Between 1856 and 1876, he delivered mail between Placerville, California and Genoa, Nevada and later Virginia City, Nevada. Despite his nickname, he did not make use of the snowshoes that are native to North America, but rather would travel with what the local people applied that term to: ten-foot (over 3-meter) skis, and a single sturdy pole generally held in both hands at once. He knew this version of cross-country skiing from his native Norway, and employed it during the winter, as one of the earlier pioneers of the skill to the United States. Thompson delivered the first silver ore to be mined from the Comstock Lode. Later he taught others how to make skis, as well as the basics of their use. Despite his twenty years of service, he was never paid for delivering the mail.[3]
Thompson typically made the eastward trip in three days, and the return trip in two days. He usually traveled the route known as "Johnson's Cutoff", a pathway first marked by early explorer (and first man to deliver mail over the Sierra) John Calhoun Johnson, which is today the route of U.S. Highway 50 as it winds its way from Placerville, California to South Lake Tahoe. Thompson carried no blanket and no gun; he claimed he was never lost even in blizzards. A rescue attributed to him was that of a man trapped in his cabin by unusually deep snow. Thompson reached him, realized the damage to the man's legs from frostbite was sufficient to kill him, skied out to get chloroform, skied back in with it, and saved his patient by performing the required amputation himself.[4]
Personal life
In 1866, Thompson married Agnes Singleton, who had come to America from England. The Thompson’s only child, Arthur Thomas, was born on February 11, 1867.
From 1868 to 1872 Thompson served on the Board of Supervisors of Alpine County, and was a delegate to the Republican State Convention in Sacramento in 1871. In spite of a resolution sent to Washington, D.C. by the Nevada Legislature, the many political contacts he had gathered, and a trip to Washington, D.C. in 1872, Snowshoe Thompson was never paid for his services delivering the United States Mail.
Snowshoe Thompson died of appendicitis which developed into pneumonia on May 15, 1876. His grave can be seen in Genoa, Nevada, in Carson Valley, east of Lake Tahoe. His son, Arthur, died two years later of diphtheria, and was buried next to his father at the cemetery in Genoa.[5]
From a plaque on his grave:
We salute John “Snowshoe” Thompson. On his homemade snowshoes, John carried the mail and supplies over the snowy Sierras for 20 winters. As he traveled, he saved the lives of seven people who were snowbound in mountain cabins. In 1866, after this tall Norwegian became an American citizen, he homesteaded a 160-acre (0.65 km2) ranch in Diamond Valley. Respected by all who knew him, John was elected to the Alpine County Board of Supervisors.
Thompson in culture
Country and Folk Singer Johnny Horton recorded a song about Thompson's adventures as a mail carrier in his 1956 song Snowshoe Thompson. The song is track 4 on the compilation: Johnny Horton Makes History.
References
- ^ Famous mail carrier has left an indelible legacy from Genoa to Placerville (Nevada Magazine)
- ^ Snowshoe Thompson, mailman and hero Snowshoe Thompson, Legendary Skiing Mailman (Town of Genoa)
- ^ Pioneer Skier & Mail Carrier (Stories of El Dorado County History)
- ^ Snowshoe Thompson, Legendary Skiing Mailman (Mic Mac Media)
- ^ The Soaring Eagle of the Sierras (Ron Watters. 2009)
Other sources
- Kenneth Bjork, Snowshoe Thompson: Fact and Legend (Northfield, MN: Norwegian-American Historical Association, Norwegian-American Studies, Vol XIV p 62-88. 1956)