Collection: Books and Periodicals

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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  

468 HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. dent; John C. Coleman, Treasurer; E. C. Creller, Vice-President; George W. Hill, Secretary, and M. P. O’Connor. J.C. and Edward Coleman were born in Suffolk County, England, the one in 1823 and the otherin 1830. In 1847 they went to Canada, where they remained until 1851, when they went to New York city. In 1853 they came to California, and mined in various parts until 1860, when they came to Grass Valley, becoming interested in the Idaho ‘a few years later. E. C. Creller was born, in 1848, at Clarenceville, Missiequoi County, Quebec. He came out to Grass Valley in 1869, and has been connected with the Idaho mine ever since. ——8-658— PMLLARLES H. SEYMOUR, or as he is G univereally known, “Harry” Seymour, is one of the most noteworthy of the older residents of the mountains. His life has been one of variety, excitement, change and incident, and of an interest that few life-histories present. It is therefore with no feeling of hesitation or of apology ‘that we present herewith a ‘short sketch of Captain Seymour’s long and busy life. He was born March 22, 1820, on Long Island, New York, and is of Scandinavian descent, his father being a native of Sweden and a graduate of the famous Hartrining Military Academy. He was a ship captain, and yonng Harry also began his sea-life when but a child of less than ten years. He continued the seafaring life until thirty years of age, since which time he has devoted himself to mining and to his profession of mining engineer. In 1843, he joined the United States Navy and was assigned to duty upon the frigate Missouri, Captain J. T. Newton, which set out with Caleb Cushing on board to convey him to Egypt. On August 26, when lying in Gibraltar harbor, the ship was totally destroyed by fire, officers and men losing their entire outfit, a loss that has, to the shame of the Government be it said, not been recoimpensed to them to this day. Later Captain Seymour was commissioned upon ships that saw service during the Mexican war, and thus visited California for the first time October 9, 1848. In 1850, he went to the mines, reaching Nevada City March 24, of that year. For ten years thereafter he mined steadily with some fifteen associates, who during that time took out over $2,500,000 worth of gold dust within two rifle shots of the Nevada court-honse. This was from the famous old Nebraska and adjoining claims, which have still much virgin ground and still contain large sums in gold. and which we are glad to say are now again, after long litigation, again in the ownership of Captain Seymour. He made large sums of money and became very rich, and was for many years a leading figure in social, military and political circles throughout the State. During youth and manhood he was a singularly handsome man, of commanding figure and carriage, strongly resembling in appearance the French Emperor, Napoleon III. In 1860, however, he went to Mexico, and between that date and 1866, from successive reverses, lost his fortune. In the latter year he went up to White Pine, Nevada, and took a forward part, becoming Deputy County Surveyor and Surveyor of the town of Hamilton, by elective choice. Then for several years he was in theemployment of an English company, and was about to go for them to Oregon on a Beach mining speculation, when the whole thing fell through. In 1873, Mr. Seymour went to work in the office of the United States Surveyor; a change of political facing, however, averse to his staunch Republicanism, left him again on the outside, and in March, 1874, he returned to Nevada City where he remained untii 1882, pursuing his professional work, as a Deputy Mineral Surveyor. In that year he was appointed chief clerk of the San Francisco Mint under Hon. E. F. Burton, and as his representative in the Assaying Department. This responsible post he held during the three years of Mr. Burton’s administration of the mint, and for a year and two months under Judge Lawton. Then he was male to give place to