Mrs. Hein - Dressmaker

Mr. and Mrs Hein arrived in Sacramento City in 1849 as one of the last to come overland before the big snows fell.  The Government Rescue party met them as they reached the base of the Sierra Nevada range.

Abandoning the last of their possessions they made it through and into Sacramento City.  Destitute, Mrs. Hein began sewing for the few women in the city at that time.  As word spread that she had arrived, the men also began bringing her their clothing to be mended.  Mrs. Hein was inundated with work and managed to save a considerable amount of money.  Together they purchased a small wagon and horse for use when Mr. Hein left for the gold fields during the next spring.

Unfortunately, that winter Mr. Hein met with a terrible accident.  He was hit crossing the busy Front Street by a wagon. He had just left Mr. Lee's establishment and was returning home.  With such a crowded busy street, there was no way Mrs. Hein could maneuver the wagon and miss him! 

 How unfortunate for his own wife to be driving that runaway wagon just as the poor man was leaving the gambling establishment. 

 How awful to not only run over your own husband but to also find out what he had been doing all day instead of working!  

A widow with two small children to support, Mrs. Hein stepped up her sewing business. As more women arrived in Sacramento City, Mrs. Hein became overloaded with work.  Miss Abigail Fowler arrived in Sacramento City as a mail order bride in 1850 only to find that her intended had perished. Declining to marry any of the other men in town, Miss Fowler desperately needed to support herself and her young niece. Mrs. Hein stepped up and offered to share her business with Miss Fowler upon discovering that she was a fine needlewoman herself.  Together they have found the California Gold!  The ladies would be happy to design and sew a new frock for you should you come by the establishment.