El Dorado County
Biographies
JOSEPH T. BLUNDELL
A native of Duchess county, New York, where he was born in a hotel on Duchess Turnpike, Nov. 4, 1840. Is the fifth child of a family of nine sons and daughters of John and Mary Blundell; when about one year of age he went with his parents to Bridgeport, Connecticut, and then to Housantonicville, Mass., then to Norwich, Conn., then to California, sailed via Cape Horn to San Francisco, was off Cape Horn Christmas day, arrived at Placerville in March, 1853. They went at once to Uniontown and rented the New York hotel from Harry Lau, at $25.00 per month. Had 90 boarders at $10 per week. At that time there was two stores. Robt. Wood, Jas. Brown and Benj. Smith, both died at New York House and his mother died at Uniontown. In 1858, went to the Frazer River, and was sick for one year after his return. In 1861 J. T. joined the Fourth California Infantry, under Col. Judah, went to Fort Yuma, served three years and was discharged at Fort Yuma. Returned to Coloma and thence to Arizona in the mines at Colorado canyon at the head of navigation on the Colorado river.
On his return from the army he went to Brown’s Valley and engaged in quartz mining (acquainted with Osborne since ’65). For several years he followed the mines. After returning to Coloma he engaged in surface mining in what is known as the Stuckslager mine, in 1880, in company with Oscar Osborne purchased the “Pioneer Garden.” Is a member of F. and A.M., also I.O.G.T. In politics Republican. Never attended school but six months in all, when 14 years old went into the mines. His whiskey bill has been as high as $80.00 per month, now does not touch it. On the organization of the Champion of the Red Cross in California, he and Osborne were both charter members at Brown’s Valley. It was called the Occidental Encampment. Mr. B. has two sisters, Mrs. Norris and Mrs. Stearns.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p – 234-235
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
SOLOMON ADAMS BERRY
One of the Pioneers of El Dorado county, was born in Somerset county, Maine, on the 28th day of November, 1806, and is a son of John and Mary (Bryant) Berry. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and his mother of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Wm. [?] Berry learned the millwright trade in his native State, and soon after removed to Massachusetts, from there, in 1835, he emigrated to Jackson, Michigan, and after three years returned to the East and engaged at work in a cotton mill at Lowell. In 1840 he went to New Orleans, and then to Lafayette, Indiana, where he resided nine years.
In 1849 he came to California by the southern route through Mexico. After arriving on the coast he came to Georgetown and engaged in mining and hotel keeping, and has been known as a popular landlord to the present time. In 1850 he was proprietor of the Georgetown house, after it burned down he kept a house on the hill opposite, where the present hotel stands.
He was married in Massachusetts to Miss Julia Allen. By this union there was one daughter, Frances Ann Bell, born in Lafayette, Indiana, September 17, 1846, now Mrs. B. F. Shepherd.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 235
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler