Doris Wolfinger-Zins

I came to this place called California in 1847.  I was 20 years old, a widow, and destitute.  My husband had perished on the trail at the hands of fellow travelers, and all our possessions were lost.  The surviving travelers and I are more commonly known as the “Ill fated Donner Party Survivors.” 

I am Doris Wolfinger-Zins.  I was born in 1827 in Germany.  My parents were wealthy and I was pampered.  My father arranged for me to marry a much older gentleman, Mr. Wolfinger, who was kind to me for the short time we were together.  In 1845 we set sail for America and soon found ourselves on the road to California. 

In October of 1846, another traveler - Joseph Rinehart, murdered Mr. Wolfinger.  After that, I stayed with the kindhearted George and Tamzen Donner.  When we were trapped up there at Alder Creek, it was Tamzen’s strength that kept me going and inspired me to make something more of myself.  We had talked about when we got off the awful mountain, how we would make changes in society and so on.  I was rescued in February 1847, by the first relief party.  Tamzen never made it off the mountain. 

I then settled in at Sutter’s Fort to try to piece together a new life for myself, for there was no going back for me.  I soon met a Frenchman by the name of George Zins.  He and several German boys had traveled only a few months ahead of me, and had gone up into Oregon first.  We soon formed a strong friendship and on June 20, 1847, I married George Zins. 

George and I lived for a time in a canvas tent in Suttersville (Sacramento City).  I assisted George in his brick-making business for Sutter’s Fort.  We soon built a large brick house, which was the first brick structure in Sacramento City and I believe was the first brick structure in California.  In the spring of 1849, we built another brick house on a riverfront lot that Sutter gave us at Front, Second, M and N Streets.   Ox teams moved enough bricks from the Suttersville operation to build a 35 x 60-foot building.  The two-story building was originally intended as a residence, but now houses two stores on the first floor and a hotel, “Anchor House” on the second floor.   We are currently working on establishing a brewery on 29th Street, between J and K Streets.  It will be the first operating Brewery in Sacramento, so come on down once we finish.