Lodi in San Joaquin County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Survivors of Death Valley in 1849

Survivors of Death Valley 1849 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brock Wiley, August 15, 2021

1. Survivors of Death Valley 1849 Marker

Inscription. The Rev. James W. Brier, Mrs. Juliette Brier, and their three sons, John W. Brier, Christopher Columbus Brier, and Kirk W. Brier, were among the ill-fated Gold Seekers who wandered into Death Valley over Christmas of 1849. Tagging along behind the “Jayhawkers” they were able to make their way out of Death Valley. They were “nothing but skeletons” when they finally straggled into Rancho San Francisco on February 4th, 1850. Mrs. Brier, widely credited with pulling her family through, was called the heroine of Death Valley. When her children could not walk any further, she would carry them. When her husband was too tired, she would help him raise in the morning break camp on her own, urge him on during the day, and set camp in the evening. When a Jayhawker fell ill or was hurt, she was there to help. The Briers eventually settled in Lodi where Rev. Brier started the First Methodist Church in town. In her final years Mrs. Brier frequently hosted the annual reunion of the surviving Jayhawkers.

Erected 2001 by Tuleburgh Chapter No. 69, E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant day of the year for for this entry is February 4.

Location.

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38° 7.985′ N, 121° 14.844′ W. Marker is in Lodi, California, in San Joaquin County. It is on East Pine Street. Located on the north west side of Lodi cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5750 East Pine Street, Lodi CA, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the San Joaquin Valley

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hale Park (approx. 1.2 miles away); City Hall, Fire House and Jail (approx. 1.3 miles away); Lodi Mission Arch (approx. 1.3 miles away); Old Lodi (Mokelumne Station) (approx. 1.3 miles away); Lodi Arch (approx. 1.3 miles away); The First A&W Root Beer (approx. 1.4 miles away); Lodi Opera House (approx. 1.4 miles away); Hotel Lodi (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lodi.

Also see . . .
1. Juliet Brier (National Park Service).

Overview: Juliet Brier was one of the first Euro-American travelers to cross Death Valley as part of the original and ill-fated ‘49ers party. Her strength and resilience not only kept her entire family alive during their dangerous journey across Death Valley, but also brought them to prosperity once they reached Los Angeles. Fellow ‘49er William Lewis Manly wrote that among the travelers, “all agreed she was the best man of the party.”

(Submitted on April 20, 2023.)

2. Reunion of Death Valley '49ers Who Found Salvation in SCV (SCVhistory.com)

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. Reprints of articles on the Death Valley 49ers reunions from the San Francisco Call in 1913. (Submitted on April 20, 2023.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2023, by Brock Wiley of Modesto, California. This page has been viewed 793 times since then and 92 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on April 12, 2023, by Brock Wiley of Modesto, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide view photo of the marker showing its location in context. • Can you help?