El Dorado County
Biographies
BENJAMIN W. HARTLESS
Came to California from Carroll county, Missouri, where he had been residing for six years previous. He came to Missouri from Tennessee with a widowed mother. He was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, February 15th, 1828. After arriving in California he followed mining at Nevada city, Little Fork of the American river, and on Dry creek, near Georgetown, until 1858, then began dairying and farming at Garden valley. His parents were natives of Virginia and moved to Tennessee in a very early day. Mr. Hartless was married to Mrs. Wakefield April 23d, 1871. She had a family of six children, viz.: Claudius B., William B., Jefferson D., Frank, Thomas and John. Mrs. Hartless was born in Saratoga county, New York, and came to California in 1853; she first located at Brighton, Sacramento county, from here to Negro Bar and thence to Garden valley, where they reside on 160 acres of land.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p – 225-226
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
THOMAS JOHNSON
Of Sailor flat, so called on account of being located by sailors, was at one time a lively mining camp and rich in its yield of coarse gold. From quite a populous settlement in the ‘50’s it has left only Messrs. Wagner, Reese and Johnson, the subject of this mention, who was born on the 9th of June, 1843, in Sorain, Denmark. He followed the sea from early boyhood until coming to the United States in 1858. His first location in El Dorado county was at Placerville, in 1864. He followed mining at Mud Springs for some time, and for four years was engaged on the St. Laurence mine. He was married November 19th, 1867, to Mary Little, a widow, who had three children, viz.: Maggie, James A. and Mary. Mr. Johnson was the father of two children, viz.: Ellen and John P., both deceased.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 226
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler