Daniel said he constructed and finished the
first school house in San Francisco, November 29, 1847.
He then built a large home and printing house
for Sam Brannan in San Francisco, and a home for himself, and moved into it February 1,
1848. It was in this new home on February 19, 1848, his first daughter Annie Francis Stark
was born. On March 4, 1848 his wife Annie, slowly recovering from her confinement began
boarding Elder Addison Pratt, who had stopped off in San Francisco, on his way from the
Society Islands where he had been laboring with great success as a missionary. Pratt found
the Brooklyn saints scattered and indifferent in attendance at meetings. By his
enthusiastic work the San Francisco Branch was officially organized. Many cottage meetings
were held in Daniel Starks' new home. Daniel rendered valuable assistance to Elder Pratt
in rounding up the Brooklyn Saints.
Daniel said on 24 Jan 1848, while the Mormon
Battalion Boys were working for Captain J A Sutter, under James W Marshall, they noticed
some yellow sands, and called Mr. Marshall's attention to them and upon examination it
proved very rich deposit of gold. He further stated that on May 13, 1848, he went to the
mines, being of the first on the scene. He entered into an agreement with Captain Sutter
to dig for gold on a payment to him of one half, and later one third, of the gold he dug
from his property. Mr. J W Marshall directed him where to dig for the gold on the Mormon
Island along the American River. Here Daniel garnered quite a large amount of the gold.
Feeling the need of his presence at home, he left the gold fields and went home, reaching
there July 8, 1848, having been gone nearly two months. Others returned home to their
families bringing plenty of gold dust to back up their astonishing tales. Daniel's itchy
hands for the easy money compelled him to stay home less than ten days, when he journeyed
back to the mines July 17, 1848, taking with him Elder Addison Pratt lured from his
Missionary work for some of the Filthy lucre. Accompanying him also was John M Horner.
Daniel said Brother Pratt soon became disgruntled and said, "It's all nonsense, the
gold in not worth working for" so he went back to San Francisco and resumed boarding
with Annie Cook Stark, and encouraged the Saints to right living. It was the hot part of
the year and Daniel did not stay long at the gold fields, reaching home August 8, 1848.
Looking over the San Francisco Bay Daniel said vessels from many parts of the world were
anchored there, and rough looking characters filled the streets. Some found it easier to
rob the diggers of their gold than to go dig it for themselves.
Staying home about a month, Daniel went back to
the "diggins" on September 18, 1848 and back to the Mormon Gold for more of the
precious metal. Working there