Alameda County
Biographies
CAPTAIN GEORGE WILLIAM BOND
Was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, July 19, 1804, where he resided until the year 1821, when, with his brother, who was a physician and an invalid, he made his first voyage to the West Indies. It was his parents’ wish that he should study for the medical profession, but after a few months’ trail, and death of his brother he gave up that study, and for several years after was engaged with his brother-in-law in merchandising, the West India trade, and in ship-building. On coming of age he gave up this business, and shortly after purchased a brigantine and commenced a seafaring life in earnest, principally in the West India trade. In the year 1832 he married Frances Gertrude, the eldest daughter of Richard Carter, of Cheshire, England, and having sold his brig he again tried a mercantile life, but after a few years and not succeeding he gave it up and returned to a seafaring life, which he followed until the year 1847, when, having lost his wife, while absent on the West Coast of Africa, he returned in 1848 to Nova Scotia. In 1849, he with four others, purchased and fitted out a brigantine and left Yarmouth for California, arriving at the latter place in July, 1850, having called at Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso. After a voyage down south he sold his vessel, and in the year 1851 went to a rancho near Vallejo’s Mills, on the Alameda Creek. In the spring of 1852 he went to the mines on the north fork of the American River, but returned in a few months, and in the fall of the same year, in partnership with Charles Hilton, erected at the place now called Centreville the first wheelwright and blacksmith shops in the county, but the following year sold out his interest to James Beazell; from that time until 1860 he was engaged in various occupations with the late Captain Calvin Valpey, purchasing in the latter year a part of Agua Caliente Rancho, on which Captain Valpey resided until his death, but Bond continuing to resided on his property at Centreville, engaged in various occupations, and holding for several years the offices of Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, and Notary Public. In the year 1882 he, with his son Charles, purchased the well-known William Y. Horner Rancho, where he now resides with his son, having rented his property at Centreville. He was married at Neston Church, Cheshire, England, on the 28th day of August, 1832, his wife dying on the 20th day of April, 1847, leaving five children: Eliza Carter (now Mrs. Bingay, residing at Sacramento); Sarah Gertrude (now Mrs. Vroom, residing at St. Johns, New Brunswick); Charles John; Maria (now Mrs. Pope, residing at Sacramento), and Annie Ritchie (now Mrs. Marston, residing in Eastern Oregon).
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 853
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
CHRISTIAN BOTHSOW
(deceased). Was born in the Island of Alse, Denmark, August 6, 1825. Having followed the life of a sailor until he attained the age of twenty-one years, he then returned to his home, there remained two years, and afterwards learned the trade of ship-carpenter, at which he worked on board of different vessels until his arrival in California. First settling in Union City, near Alvarado, he there remained until 1852, when he located upon the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where his family now resides. Married February 16, 1856, Miss Jane Hendry, a native of Morayshire, Scotland, by which union there is a family of three children, viz.: Henry N., Anna Christina, and Harriet E. Mr. Bothsow died November 20, 1879.
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 853
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler