Mendocino County
Biographies
Baechtel, Samuel S.
Samuel S. Baechtel. Was born in Washington county, Maryland, September 26, 1826; received his education at the common schools of his native county; resided there until the spring of 1844; went to Springfield Illinois; remained there until the ensuing fall; left, enroute for Clarke county, Missouri; passed through the Mormon city of Nauvoo; spent a few days among the saints; remained in Clarke county, Missouri, until about the 1st of December; left for St. Louis, Missouri; spent the remainder of the winter on the Mississippi river between St. Louis and New Orleans. In the spring of 1845 went back to Clarke county, Missouri; remained there until fall, then went to Stark county, Ohio; remained there until the spring of 1846. Then left for Maryland, his native place; engaged there in farming and milling for three years, until the spring of 1849. Became a member of the Baltimore and Frederick Mining and Trading Company, organized for the purpose of engaging in those pursuits in California. Left Baltimore City in April, 1849, in a sailing vessel, for Chagres; ascended the Chagres river in steamboat and small boats to Gorgona, thence by mule-back and foot-back to Panama. Remained there three weeks, amidst harrowing scenes of death in an unacclimated land; cholera was raging. We lost two of our company there, with cholera. Took passage on an English brig, Corbie; banged around on the Pacific Ocean eighty-five days; landed in the city of San Francisco in September, 1849. Then went to Corte de Madera, in Marin county; assisted in building a saw-mill there. Remained there until the spring of 1851, then removed to Laqunitas, Marin county, and engaged in stock-raising and farming. Remained there until March, 1854; left for my native home in Maryland; remained there until February, 1855; returned to California in the spring of 1855; joined a hunting party at San Rafael, Marin county; spent two months in Sonoma and Lake (now Mendocino) counties. In July, 1855, left Marin county for Mendocino county. In August, selected a ranch site in Little Lake valley, his present home. He and his brothers, being the first settlers in the valley, were engaged in stock-raising until 1864; drove a band of cattle to Idaho Territory, returned late in the fall, engaged in farming and running a hotel in connection with his brother on the ranch until 1875. Bought sheep, stocked the ranch with them, and has been engaged in sheep-raising since. Was married, October 17, 1861, to Miss Harriet E. Henry, a native of Williamson county, Illinois, born October 4, 1841. Their children are as follows: Fannie E., born February 26, 1863, died August 17, 1864; Gordon, born April 24, 1864; William Henry, born March 25, 1866; Lizzie May, born September 5, 1869; Luther Shelby, born January 19, 1872.
SOURCE: History of Mendocino County, California - San Francisco, Cal. Alley, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1880 Pp. 578, 579
Transcribed by Pat Howard
Baechtel, Martin
Martin Baechtel. Was born in Washington county, Maryland, May 18, 1832, being of Swiss and French stock. He received his early education at the common schools and academy, and at seventeen years of age was sent to Marshall College, at Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, which was, shortly after his going there, moved to Lancaster City, Lancaster county of that State, and at that place he received his diploma in August, 1853. After sojourning for a few months at his home he, in January, 1854, sailed from New York City to California, arriving in San Francisco February 2d of that year. He immediately joined his brothers in Marin county, where he remained for six months, when he went to San Francisco and embarked in the hotel business, which he continued for one year. He then returned to Marin county, and in August, 1855, in connection with his brothers, drove cattle to Mendocino county and located where he now resides. In 1860 Mr. Baechtel was elected to the Assembly, which position he filled one year, he being the second representative of Mendocino county. Again, in 1865, he filled the office of County Supervisor for one term. He was also the first magistrate in Little Lake valley before it was known as Mendocino county, but he did not serve. In the spring of 1872 was appointed Commissioner by the Board of Supervisors, to represent Mendocino county in establishing the boundary lines between Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity and Klamath counties. His associates were Messrs. Lewis of Humboldt, Martin of Klamath, and Finnin of Trinity. The business was completed in August of the same year. He is now serving his fifth term as Notary Public. He married, October 9, 1861, Esther Newman Hopkins, a native of Quincy, Illinois, born January 31, 1838, and by this union they have two children, Minnie W., born January 19, 1863, and Harry L., born August 17, 1869.
SOURCE: History of Mendocino County, California - San Francisco, Cal. Alley, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1880 Pp. 579
Transcribed by Pat Howard
Baechtel, Henry S.
Henry S. Baechtel. Was born in Washington county, Maryland, March 30, 1825. He resided as his birthplace till 1849, during which time he was educated in the common schools of his native State. April 26, 1849, he, with his brother Samuel, together with the Baltimore and Frederick Mining Company, sailed for California, arriving September 9th of that year. They, with the company, went to Corte Madera, Marin county, where they operated one year in the saw-mill and lumber business. When the company was dissolved Mr. Baechtel and his brother Samuel went into the stock business at Lagunitas in that county. They continued in the stock business and hauling lumber for the Bolinas Mill Company to the landing till the spring of 1854. in 1852 and 1853 he served as one of the Supervisors of Marin county, and in 1854 was appointed Deputy Sheriff of that county, and served six months. In the fall of 1855 he, in partnership with his brother Samuel, brought a drove of cattle to Mendocino county, and settled on their present farm in Little Lake valley. He remained a partner till 1865, when he sold his interest to his brothers. In the spring of 1862 he visited the mines in Idaho and the Salmon river country, where he mined for three years. In 1865 he returned to his native home, where he engaged in the foundry and machine business, which he followed till 1876, when he came back to Mendocino county, and is now living with his brother. Mr. Baechtel is unmarried.
SOURCE: History of Mendocino County, California - San Francisco, Cal. Alley, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1880 Pp. 579, 580
Transcribed by Pat Howard