Carl Joseph Friedrichs
After his father came home from working on the fields getting the bad news he suffered an Apopletic fit and was then half-page paralyzed.
In 1848, during the hightime of German revolutions of 1848–49, Friedrichs decided to change the educational printery and moved to Wittlich to continue his apprenticeship.
After his father died in 1849 and after and argue with his apprentice's employer in 1850 he left Germany with the intend to emigrate to the United States.
Then he worked in Buffalo, in Cincinnati for the Republican, in Indianapolis for the Indiana Volksblatt and for Henry Boernsteins Anzeiger des Westens in St. Louis.
Having enough money saved over the years, he decided to travel with friends by horses through the U.S. states Kansas, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado.
In August 1864 after rumors had been spread around from Emigrants coming from the Canadian border through the Lake Superior reporting about significant gold findings up in the north, Friedrichs moved from Denver through Wyoming to Bannack.
On the way he met again his three friends Alexander Campbell, Thaddeus Judson and John Schönemann[2] and they continued to move on together towards Virginia City.
But the most difficulties he observed when they started to excavate the Gold was, as he wrote it on 22 May 1866 to his friend and owner of the Merchants National Bank of Helena, Louis Henry Hershfield (1836–1910),[4] that there was over three feet of frost in the ground.
[5] During the following summer Friedrichs send Hershfield every time accompanying letters given in hands of his messenger bringing the packages with Gold dust to the Merchants National Bank.
"[7] Since Friedrichs fear about these Road Agents increased more and more and his reduced physical condition brought him more problems, he decided to leave Diamond City.
"[8] In the morning of 18 August 1866 two freight wagons each carrying half a ton Gold dust escorted by 15 men were brought to and deposited at Hershfield & Co.´s bank on Bridge street in Helena.
Marshal and member of the Montana Vigilantes John X. Beidler (1831–1890)[10][11] drew two and half tons of Gold from Helena to Fort Benton.
Kelly F. Flynn: "Although Charles Friedrichs worked in Diamond City for a very short period of time, his extraordinary find on Montana Bar propelled him into ranks of Millionaires.
[13][12] Friedrichs mentioned in a letter dated 26 August 1866 to Hershfield, that they arrived safe and sound in Fort Benton, haven't seen any road agents and that they tomorrow want to leave there in Mackinaw boats down the Missouri towards Cow Island (where the steamship Luella with Captain Grant Marsh (1834–1916) was waiting for them).
"[17]After 32 days Friedrichs journey with the steamship ended in Leavenworth in Kansas and they handed over their gold dust to the American Express Company.
Friedrichs moved than from Leavenworth to St. Louis by train, while the gold was safely escorted and delivered to the United States Essay Office in New York City.
Upon his arrival in New York Friedrichs received his certificate from the assay office and bought for all the amount United States 6% Bonds in the bank of Isett, Kerr & Co. in No.
The banker was surprised about his visit, but Mr. Kerr gave him 20 minutes later – after Friedrichs experienced an alp and started sweating – not his already otherwise used, but other new bonds.
One great-great-grandson of Alponse Friedrichs is the German artistic director of the International Jazzfestival Münster Fritz Schmücker (* 1961).
