El Dorado County
Biographies
WILLIAM J. FOWLER
Was the only child by the marriage of Benjamin and Elizabeth Fowler. He first saw the light of day at Dunstable, Bedsfordshire, England, on the 28th day of July, 1827. His boyhood days were numbered in various pursuits, such as clerking, driving a team and as a sailor on the high seas, which he began while only sixteen years old. In 1831 he came with his parents to Canada. From 1843 or about that time he began a sailor’s life, he called America his home; previous to 1848, for some time, he had made Rochester, New York his home. On the 8th of March, 1851, he arrived in California, and in company with Samuel Lawson, in the interest of Gregory Yale and William Thornton, prospected for and discovered the first coal mine in the State. After a short time spent in the lighterage business in San Francisco, he went to Coloma, where he arrived July 4th, 1851, and during the latter part of August, of the same year, he located at Dufftown, in Kelsey township. There was about twenty log cabins there at the time, and n each Sunday Messrs. Fowler and Lawson would celebrate their sailor custom of having plum duff for dinner and hence the name of Dufftown. In 1857 he removed to Kelsey, and in 1860 to their present home in St. Albans’ Cottage, located on section 13 township 11 north, range 10 east. Here they began some improvements of a crude kind, however, as they did not intend to remain or make it a home; a few fruit trees were bought and planted, thinking they would some one good if not themselves. In time the brush fence gave away and a board fence was erected, and that also decayed and was replaced. The original cabin failed to afford the comforts desired by Mr. Fowler and his partner, and their present structure was built. It is neat and commodious, well and tastefully furnished.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p – 241-242
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler