"Gone West" Pennsylvanians in California, 1856

"Gone \Vest" Pennsylvanians in California, 1856 Compiled by EFFINGHAM P. HUMPHREY, JR. PHRASE that occurs often in the pre-Civil War period in genealogies of Eastern families is 'Left home when a young man and was never heard from again." These men often went to sea, to the "big city," and, especially in the 1849-60 period, to California as part of the Gold Rush. Some of this latter group can be identified in the "Index to the 1850 Census of the State of California," compiled by Alan P. Bowman, and published by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1972. This census (the count was taken in 1850 and into the Spring of 1851) gave not only the name of the individual, but also his age and state of origin. Equally helpful, though for a limited area, in the later Miners & Business A Men's Directory. For the Year Commencing January 1st, 1856. Embracing a General Directory of the Citizens of Tuolumne, and portions of Calaveras. Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties. Together with the Mining Laws of Each District, A Description of the Difierent Camps, and Other Interesting Statistical Matter., by Heckendorn & Wilson (Columbia: Printed at the Clipper Office, Fulton St., Near Main. 1856.). This small pamphlet, in the Rare Book Room of the New York Public Library, consists of 104 pages, plus paper covers, four pages of advertising, a title page, and a view of Columbia, one of the richest and most important settlements in the Mother Lode. The brief preface disclaims completeness and accuracy, because of the lack of cooperation in certain mining camps, and states, "we have not given over one-eight [sic] part of the population." Nonetheless, several thousand names, with occupations and states of origin, are included, listed by town, mining camp or district. The names of the Pennsylvanians (either born there or previous residents) are presented here exactly as shown in the original, alphabetized by first letter of surname only, and with a few variations in spelling, occasional omission of initial(s) and/or occupation, and other idiosyncracies. In a few cases, Philadelphia is mentioned instead of Pennsylvania, and that is so indicated. 173 174 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Tuolumne County, one of the original 27 counties of California, was organized on 18 February 1850, and the County Seat in 1856 was Sonora. It lies at the southern end of the gold mining area, and the three other counties mentioned are neighboring areas to the west and north. Grateful acknowledgement for valuable assistance is made to Carlo M. De Ferrari, Tuolumne County Historian, Sonora. COLUMBIA DISTRICT SONORA Abrams & Co, Fruiters Barger, B., Miner Barton, J., Miner Beardslee, B., Miner Brown, J. H., Miner Canon, J. S., Wheelwright Campbell, R. 0., Miner Coffrotte, J. W., Printer Courtright, N., Miner Connell, D., Miner Cunningham [no initials], Miner Dimond, b., Miner Dunkel, H., Miner Evans, Chas., Engineer Flynn, J., Miner Heckendorn, J., Editor Johnson, E., Miner Kenower, W. D., Miner Massey, J. J., Jeweller Marshall, — Dentist McCannan, P., Miner McCloxy, H., Miner McGonegla., P.. Miner McLean, Jas., Blacksmith McWilliams, G., Miner McWhorter, 3. A., Miner Nesbitt, F. A., Miner Patten, J., Miner Rumsey, J. G., Miner Sloan, R., Miner Stevens, I. A., Miner Stout, B., Brick mason Swigert, Jonas, Miner Taylor, W., Miner Thompson, R., Miner Trainer, J. A., Miner White, W., Miner Wilson, P., Miner Wilson, R. M., Civ. Eng. Willent, R., Miner Whean, W., Miner Wetherow, J. Miner Bruner, Dr., Physician FeriaII, John, Liquor Dealer Gilson, L., Merchant, Philadelphia Guinn, Dr. L. C., Druggist, Philadelphia Haines, J. T., Miner Holmes, J. D., Engineer Kemmel, S., Tinman McFarland, J. F., — McFarland, Wm.,. Miner McFarland, J., Miner Rhtnedollar, J., Saloon JAMESTOWN Ana, C. W., Miner, Chambers, Wm., Miner Davis, M. J., Miner Foulkes, Thos., Miner Gorman: J. B., Clerk Gorman, W. T., Miner Greene, Wm., Miner Horrell, A. J., Miner Johnson, J. M., Miner Leeland, G. A., Miner Luberg, Wm, Painter Newcomber, F., Miner Newcomber, J., Miner Ramsay, T. A., Miner Rist, B., Miner Snyder, P. H., Miner Yonker, S. H., Miner SHAW'S FLAT Bowen, J., Miner Cross, J., Miner Davis, H., Miner Davis, R. T., Miner Donoho, P., Miner Hutchison, W., Miner Ivens. E., Miner Jones, M., Miner Morris, Y.* Miner "Gone West" Phillips, W. D.. Miner Powell, M. C., Miner Pugh, T., Miner Reese, D., Miner Reese, E., Miner Stevens, 0. W., Merchant Tyis, W., Miner Williams, J., Miner SPRINGFIELD Amer, D., Miner Beaumont, R., Miner Bingham, G. R., Miner Boston, E., Miner Burbank, H. C., Miner Campbell, C., Miner Clingsmith, J., Miner Crawford, W. R., Miner Crawford, R. J., Miner Davis, E. L, Miner Drebelbis, C., Miner Eddy, P., Miner Fosnot, P., Miner Forrester, —., Miner Frey, L. T., Miner Grant, A., Miner Hale, G. W., Merchant Halderman, —., Miner Harbaugh, A. J., Miner Hubbs, A., Miner Huey, R. B., Miner Irvey, T., Miner Jacobs, J. M., Miner Livingston, G. W., Miner Livingston, L.. Miner Machling, S., Miner Machling, J. H., Miner Metear, J., Miner Rank, T., Jr., Teamster Ren, J., Miner Say, S., Miner Say, A. G., Miner Shoemaker, J., Miner Smoyer, C., Miner Stevens, Y., Miner Stevens, H., Miner Swigart, J., Miner Thomas, W. F., Miner Zillefrow, M. S., Miner Barclay, A. J., Miner Birney, J., Miner Potter, J., Miner YANKEE HILL Biddell, —., Merchant Bynnent, T., Miner Dunicliff, 5.. Merchant Gearrotson, J. L., Merchant Jones, W. H.. Miner Lambert, C„ Miner Lambert, J., Miner Lambert, H., Miner Lane, J. Miner Paul, E. W., Miner Shankland, C. H., Miner Sinclair, T., Miner Steele, C. H.. Miner Steele, E., Miner Steele, S. C., Miner Steele, E. R., Miner SAW MILL FLAT Bacon, E. G., Miner Garagan, 0., Miner Garagan, M., Miner BROWN'S FLAT Asdale, Alexander, Miner Bowman, 0. G., Miner Bock, J. G., Miner Brov.n. Robt., Miner Butler, S.. Miner Dailey, J. S., Miner Gault, Marcus, Miner Gray, A., Miner Mabery, R. W., Miner Miller, J. S., Miner McCullough. C., Miner McMaster, Thos., Miner McMaster, Saml., Miner McMaster, James, Miner Norwood. S., Miner Orr, John, Miner Orr, A., Miner Ruvy, Johnson, Miner Weaver, J. 0, Miner Williams, J H., Miner MONTEZUMA GOLD SPRINGS Arnold, F. 0. W., Blacksmith Carroll, J., Miner Gilmon, T.. Miner 175 176 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Matthews, J., Miner, Philadelphia Patterson, S., Clerk CHINESE CAMP Bossart, P. Carpenter Cary, R., Ditchman Clayton, Barnes, Jeweler Harris, S., Miner Jordan, S. A., Miner Jordan, J., Miner Miller, S. M., Pacific Express Agent Mundorff, J., Hotel Keeper Peacock, J. C. M., Druggist Sill, H. C., Physician Stair, A., Salloou Tibbot, A., Miner Welty, J. A., Carpenter Whita, J., Miner Whita, T., Miner Williams, Wm., — Burrows. E. D., Miner Curley, John, Miner Davis, E., Miner George, I., Miner Hoult, Richard, Miner Martin, J., Miner Sheren, T., Miner Thomas, Richard, Miner Thomas, L. B., Miner LA GRANGE Allen, Chas. H., Carpenter Daugherty, —., Ranchero Fry, M. L., Miner Griffith, James, Miner Power, N. C., Miner Smith, D. H., Cook MURPHY'S CAMP Belding, C., Soda Manufacturer Briner, J. K., Miner Douglass, G. B., Miner Stiver, James, Miner JACKSONVILLE Daugherty, G., Miner Johnson, George, Miner Mackey, Wm., Miner Douglass' Flat POVERTY HILL John, George, Printer Bager, Geo., Miner Beering, J. P., Miner Beering, James, Miner Valliceto Rea, I. W., Miner YORKTOWN French Creek: Flanagan, R., Miner McGlaughlan, —., Miner Angel's Camp: Thomas, Ellis, Blacksmith Hawk Eye: Wier, Wm., Miner Hughes, D., Merchant Morris, James, Miner Small camps or districts Quartz Mountain, Ryan, E. W., Miner Wood's Crossing, Detweiler, J., Teamster Snyder, P. H., Toll-bridge Campo Seco, Kettering, M., Miner Kettering, Jno., Miner Kettering, A., Blacksmith Morehand, J., Miner Montgomery, A. W., Miner Welty, J., Miner Curtisville, Scott, S., Miner BIG OAK FLAT, & GAROTE, NO. 1 & Bousman, J. R., Livery Stable 2 Knight's Ferry Bennett, George B., — Boehm, John, Miner Crosby, John, Miner Daugherty, George, Miner Hutton, Michael, Miner Columbia: Mapes, C. W., Miner Meredith, A. R., Miner Riter, Jos. D., Teamster Sonora: John G. Miller. Miner Twist's Ranch: Shanklin, J. W., Miner Table Mountain: Edwards, W. T., Miner Buena Vista: Carey, A. W, Miner 177 "Gone West" [in miscellaneous list at end] Black, .1. A., Empire Ranch, Ranchero Campbell, E. W., Empire Ranch, Ranchero Cameron, J. A., Amazon Gulch, Miner Daniels, D., Table Mountain, Miner Hutchings, J. M., Humbug Flat, Miner Johnson, P., Cooper's Flat, Miner Lorenzen R., Half oz Gulch, Merchant Matthews, J., Peora Bar, Miner, Philadelphia Moore, R. A., French Camp, Miner Olive, D., Humbug Hill, Miner Sitherwood, .1., Amazon Gulch, Miner Walker, J. H.. Wood's Creek, Miner NOTE A ditchman was employed to walk the lines of the hydraulic ditches serving the mines, check them for breakage and water stealing, and coffect the fees for the water which was sold at so much a "miner's inch"— the price usually being whatever the market would bear. Genealogy, as a form of human archaeology, is essentially a search for the truth, wherein the generation strata are laid bare one by one. Like the archaeologist, the family researcher takes his clues as to where to 'dig' from the visible and the written evidence (if any). Legend, too, plays its part in both disciplines, as a guide to be cautiously followed or thoughtfully eschewed, as the case may be. With the true situation at last revealed, attention may be turned to the psychology of the legend where it has diverged from the truth as a result of the inflations, ignorant assumptions or inventiveness of successive generations, to become enshrined as family 'history'. It is only if this story has been committed to writing and preserved apart from the accretions of later research that such an examination can be made effectively. from Genealogists' Magazine, London Vol. 17, no. 4 (December 1972), 177. Ancestry. Of all the affections of man, those which connect him with ancestry are among the most natural and generous. They enlarge the sphere of his interests, multiply his motives to virtue, and give intensity to his sense of duty to generations to come, by the perception of obligation to those which are past. Ho. Josiah QuinCY