Collection: Books and Periodicals

About This Item:

Title: A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California (1891) Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Publisher: Lewis Publishing Company Published: 1891 Copyright: In the public domain or published before 1925 Source(s): Google Books # of Pages: 713 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2024-07-22 00:25:09 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 03:11:29 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 06:30:36

Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

Page: of 713  

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. 845 in 1844, and died in 1875. His mother, Tennessee (Weeks) Bird, was a native of North Carolina, and died May 1, 1858. In 1876 our subject went to Caldwell, Kansas, where he engaged in business as a stationery dealer and remained there some four years, when he sold out his business and engaged for a time in mining. Later he embarked in the hotel business at Columbus, Colorado, for five years, then retarned to Pana, Illinois, and learned the art of photography, inthe studio of C. B. Tracy. Afterward he traveled through the State for one season, taking landscape views, etc. He next located at the town of Carbondale, l1linois, and followed his business successfully three years. In 1888 he went to Charleston, Missouri, and engaged ip business one year, thence by rail to California, locating at Folsom for one year. He next located at Placerville, and has established himself permanently. He is a single man, a Republican politically, but takes no active part in political matters. Socially he affiliates with the F, & A. M., Pana Lodge, No. 220, of Pana, Illinois. HED GL one of the oldest residents of Grass Valley, having been here since 1852, and one of the most highly respected, bas been connected with the office either as Postmaster or as deputy for the past nineteen years. He is a native of Southampton, Massachusetts, born ' February 9, 1824. The family removed shortly afterward to West Springfield, in the same state, where he was raised. His grandfather, Zadok Bosworth, was a Revolutionary hero, taking part, among other battles, in that of White Plains, under Washington. His father, also named Zadok, took part in the war of 1812. He lived to the great age of eightyseven years, dying in 1878. It will thus be seen that Mr. Bosworth springs from a good old Massachusetts family, which has seen service He: .S. D. BOSWORTH, Postinaster, and for its country. He received his higher education at Union College, where he graduated July 27, 1851. One of his college mates at the college was Chester A. Arthur, the late President of the United Statee. They were fellowmembers also of the celebrated Greek letter society, the Psi Upsilon. Previous to this we should etate that Mr. Bosworth had tanght in the South and elsewhere, earning the money himself that put him through college, and being a typical instance of that best product of American civilization, the self-made man. He determined to try his fortune in California, marrying, however, before setting out for the Pacific coast, his bride being Miss Emma Lansing, of Schenectady, New York. He made his westward trip by way of Panama, and came at once to Grass Valley, and began to mine in the vicinity. A couple of years later, in 1854, he became interested in the Grass Valley Tunnel, the whole of the hillside being now washed off, and Mr. Bosworth and associates then went to Alta Hill and began sinking a shaft to reach the gravel-bed known to exist beneath it, accomplishing his purpose at a depth of 220 teet. He was the pioneer of the Alta Hill diggings, putting the first Cornish pump into operation on his works. This was the Alta Hill No.1. He and associates also developed the Alta Hill No. 2, ainking again, but to a greater depth, to reach the same channel. Finally, in 1859, he returned East via Panama, remaining a short time. On coming back he continued interested in mining, but with poor success. During the war he took an active interest in politics, of course on the Republican side, spending a great deal of money for the cause of the Union and to checkmate the Southern element which was exceedingly powerful and virulent in Grass Valley. Early in the ’70s Mr. Bosworth entered the postoftice of this city as deputy under J. J. Sykes, continuing his connection with it until 1884, when he was appointed Postmaster, holding office for four years, but dropping out under the Cleveland regime. In 1890 he was again appointed