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  

594 HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. there is no more widely known or generally esteemed citizen of Nevada City than he. Mr. Allan was born at Cullen, Banffshire, Scotland, in 1827. His father, James Allan, a Bailie (that is, Alderman and Justice of the Peace), was a schoul-mate of James Simpson, afterward president of the Bank of Montreal; Cruikshank, the great artist who illustrated the works of the only Dickens; and James Gordon Bennett, founder of the New York Herald. When but sixteen years old, George G., being of an independent turn of mind, determined to set out for himself and make his own way. In the fall of 1843 he set ont alone for Quebec, bearing with him letters of introduction to influential gentlemen, which were of no benefit to the bearer except in kind words and wishes for his future welfare. After a short stay in Quebec, independent as a lord, he made his way to Kingston, on Lake Ontario, the seat of government. He went and called on Sir Charles Metcalf, Governor of Canada, to ask for a position, and tailed. Later he inet an old gentleman, Mr. Kerr, at the hotel where he was stopping, and asked him to assist him in getting sumething todo. Theold gentleman took an interest in him at once and promised to help him, advising him meanwhile to go up the Ottawa River with introductory letters to several lumbermen, and be employed there during the winter. Young Allan declined, however, and devoted himself to acquiring the French language. On the opening of navigation he returned to Quebec, where Mr. Kerr obtained for him a position with the Government cnller’s ottice as one of the the forty clerks. While waiting for the timber rafts to arrive, so that he conld get work, he was surprised to be recognized, on what is now called “ Dufferin Terrace,” by a gentleman whom he had noticed in Mr. Kerr’s company when he addressed himself to him (Mr. Kerr) in Kingston. The old gentleman proved to bea Mr, Tibbits, then one of the most extensive lumber dealers in Quebec and a great ship-builder. Ue offered young Allan $100 a year and board, if he would go to work for him until he should learn the business. He accepted the offer at once, and was given the duty of custom-house clerk and keeping the ship’s accounts. At the end of a year Mr. Jessop, Collector of the Port, offered him £125 a year if he would enter his employ. As soon as Mr. Tibbits learned of this, however, he made Allan a counter offer of £100 the first year, and an advance of £50 a year afterward until his salary was equal to any in the city of bis class. This he accepted, continuing with Mr. Tibbits until 1850, when, on account of over-work and too great application, he obtained leave of absence for four months and started for his old home in Scotland, on the packet ship Isaac Wright, and sailed from New York. Mr. Allan remained at home ten months, instead of four, spending a happy time among his old schoolmates and friends, one of them being Stewart Watson, who obtained fame as purser of H. M. gunboat Pandora on the Africin coast in the suppression of the slave traftic, and who became known as “Fighting Watson,” or the “ Fighting Purser.” The Pandora was commanded by Post Captain Tregidjo, father of Alfred Tregidjo, superintendent of the Washington, the Blue Bell and the Peabody mines, in the townships of Washington and Grass Valley. Nevada County, California. When finally Mr. Allan returned to America, his old employers wonld gladly have taken him back; but, his health not yet being fully established, he with two others built a steamboat tug and took some contracts for transportation for the Government. In 1849 his brother, John D. Allan, came out to California, on a visit, and advised him to come out to this State and stay for one year. He finally determined to do so, coming out in 1853, and immediately engaged in mining on Bourbon Hill near NevadaCity. He met with no success, however, and then went over to the Yuba, and in partnership with Mr. Hughes bought a flume there and made money. Sometimes Mr. Allan took out as high as $17 in three pans of dirt, working witharocker. At length