Soulsbyville was the first community in Tuolumne County to be founded in 1855 entirely upon the operation of a lode mine. It was the site of the famous Soulsby Mine, discovered by Benjamine Soulsby, which produced over $6,500,00 by 1900. The first hardrock miners who worked the mine were from Cornwall, England, with the first group of 499 arriving in 1858.