Alameda County
Biographies
NATHANIEL L. BABB
Was born in Saccarappa, Cumberland County, Maine, January 14, 1837, where he received his education and resided with his father, who owned and carried on an iron and brass foundry. Was a molder and foundryman until starting for the Pacific Coast. On June 16, 1852, being then fifteen years of age, our subject sailed for California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and arrived in San Francisco per steamer Daniel Webster, on the 9th August of the same year, coming direct to J. B. Sweetser’s farm, at what is now Centreville, Alameda County, where he continued until the fall of 1857, when he revisited his home in Maine. During his absence his parents had removed to Portland, where he spent the winter of 1857-58. In the following spring he returned to California and located on his present place, having previously purchased a hundred acres of land situated three miles west from Washington Corners, has there made many extensive improvements and resided ever since, with the exception of a trip, starting in April, 1863, and returning in October, the same year, to Washington Territory, by the way of Carson, Humboldt, Snake, Burnt, and Powder Rivers, back across the Blue and Cascade Mountains to Eugene City, Oregon, thence back by stage road through California home. He went on horseback, as a great part of the way there was not even a trail. He also made a visit to Arizona by Tulare Lake, Fort Tejon, Mohave River to Fort Mojave thence returning by San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and then the coast road home. Went with light spring wagon. His companions returned from Los Angeles by steamer, but he returned on horseback with as many of their animals as were able to stand the trip. They started in the fall of 1863, returning in January, 1864. Mr. Babb occupies himself with general farming and running a threshing machine in the proper season. Beyond being one of the organizers of the Washington Township Pioneer Association and one of its charter members, Mr. Babb has held no office. Our subject also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land on the Patterson Pass road seven miles from Livermore, which he leases.
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 841
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
CAPTAIN THOMAS W. BADGER
The subject of this sketch, one of Oakland’s best-known citizens, was born in Northampton County, Virginia, July 28, 1827, and is the son of T. W. and Margaret (Chearn) Badger. Having resided with his parents until he was fifteen years of age, he then commenced a seafaring life, which lasted until 1849. In that year, so dear to every pioneer, our subject came to California and entered upon the navigation of those streams which before that time had known no more violent commotion than the ripple left by the native canoe, or the wake behind the whale-boat of the more advanced settlers. Settling in San Francisco, Captain Badger engaged in the shipping business, having several vessels employed not only navigating the coast and inner waters of California, but also in the Sandwich Island, Chinese, Australian, Mexican, and Japan trades. In the month of September, 1857, he took passage, with his wife, in the ill-fated steamer Central America from Aspinwall to New York, during which, so bad was the weather experienced, she shipped green seas from figure-head to stern, putting out the engine-room fires and leaving the vessel a helpless wreck, to the mercy of the waves. The master and officers were lost overboard, therefore Captain Badger took command of the craft, which, by his great experience, he kept afloat until relief was obtained from a Norwegian bark, who cared for the survivors. To his skill and management are due the saving of the remainder of the lives, two hundred of whom were duly taken from the wreck four hours before she sank. On his landing in New York, the intrepid conduct of Captain Badger was rewarded by a committee of its citizens, with the presentation of a handsome silver trumpet, bearing the following well-deserved tribute: “Presented to Captain Thos. W. Badger, by the Central America Fund Committee, in token of their high appreciation of his conduct on board the steamer Central America, at the time of the loss of that ill-fated vessel. PETITIA PERIT, President; LLOYD ASPINWALL, Secretary. New York, May 17, 1857.” Remaining at the East until 1861, in that year he returned to California, and coming to Alameda County purchased the beautiful demesne which he has since transformed into one of the most beautiful public parks in the State. Early in 1872 he commenced building the large pavilion and preparing the ground ere throwing it open to the public. His improvements cost him between forty and fifty thousand dollars, but this immense outlay has been rewarded by perennial success. During the administration of Governor Haight he was called upon to discharge the functions of Pilot Commissioner for the port of San Francisco, and also under Governor William Irwin’s administration he held the same office. At a still earlier date he was Marine Surveyor for one of the principal insurance companies in that city. He married, December 29, 1856, Mrs. Jennie A., widow of Captain Chas. A. Falkingburg, by whom he has no issue.
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 841-842
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler