Alameda County
Biographies
CAPT. HENRY
GOULD
CAPT.
HENRY GOULD. A history of the pioneers of California would not be complete
without mention of Capt. Henry Gould, now a resident and successful
manufacturer of Oakland, though widely known in other parts of the state. Like
the great majority of those who sought their fortunes in the west during the
early days of the state, Captain Gould has experienced both the bright and
adverse sides of life here, but can now look back upon a pathway of many years
without regret, and forward to whatever future is in store for him without
fear; for he has lived in a broad, earnest and kindly way, in the midst of his
efforts for his personal success remembering always to give of his best toward
the succesful development of western resources and a
steady foundation for her statehood. Born in Southport, Fairfield county, Conn., March 12, 1831, he was the youngest
of six sons and two daughters, of whom but himself and one daughter are now
living.
Capt.
Henry Gould was the son of Capt. Abram and Mary (Batterson)
Gould, natives of Fairfield county, the former of
whom, a sea captain, died at the age of forty-two, while the latter died in
Connecticut at the age of ninety-three. The paternal grandfather was a farmer
in Weston, Fairfield county, the representative of an
English family who were early settlers in Connecticut. Reared to manhood in his
native state, Capt. Henry Gould received his education in the public
schools, which he attended until he was fourteen years old. He then went to
sea, following the life of his father, his work lying in coasting trade until
March, 1850, when he left New York City on the bark Somerset, as a sailor
before the mast, rounding the Horn to San Francisco, which he safely reached in
October. In common with the many others who flocked to California in that year,
he went at once to the mines, but also like many others soon found it more
profitable to return to former occupations. Returning to San Francisco, he
purchased an interest in the sloop D. H. Carpenter,
and for a year commanded her on the bay, being known as one of the younger
captains of the port. Disposing of his interests after the lapse of one year,
he entered into partnership with Edward Hancock in the erection of the
first hotel in Redwood City. He raised the first flag and called the town by
its new name. In the course of another year he sold his interest in the hotel
to his partner, after which he and a partner built the sloop
B. G. Whiting, which he ran upon the bay and river for several years.
Later he bought another sloop, the General Taylor, and a landing at
San Pablo, and with the first one operated on the
bay from San Francisco to San Pablo. At San Pablo he built a schooner, which he
called the Mary Gould. Later he built the Merchant, and after a time
fitted out the schooner Active, which he sent to the Bering sea to prospect for
gold, the idea that gold was to be found there having been received from an old
whaler who had discovered it when landing for water. From the description
given, however, Captain Bowen, who was in charge of the expedition, was
unable to locate the gold, and returned south with a
load of fish instead. Captain Gould also built the Reliance, all of these names being familiar to the early boatmen on the bay
and rivers. In 1872 he sold out and located in Oakland, becoming associated
with George Babcock in the purchase of the Venice mills on Third street. The mills were destroyed by fire in November, 1876,
and being well stored with wheat and flour the loss to its owners was $30,000.
Nothing daunted by their ill fortune, they rebuilt the mill, which they
conducted for a year, selling then to B. E. Hickok, under whom
Captain Gould secured work as an employe. Later
he bought an interest in the mill at Rio Vista, on the Sacramento river, being in partnership with William Williamson,
and afterward conceived the idea of moving it to Oakland. Loading it upon a
barge in the Sacramento river it was brought down the
river and into the creek at the foot of Jefferson street. It was then unloaded
and removed to the lot which had been purchased at the corner of Washington and
Fourth streets, when the machinery was set in operation, and since that time–1884–this
has remained one of the prominent industries of the city. In 1893
Captain Gould bought out his partner’s interest and took his sons into
partnership, in 1900 incorporating the firm as
H. Gould & Co., with himself as president, his son,
William H., as vice-president, Abram F. as secretary, and another
son, Jesse, as treasurer. The mill occupies a space 50 x 75 feet, is
equipped with a fifty-horsepower engine, and has a large capacity for the
manufacture of various products, including rye flour, breakfast meals, log
cabin mush, etc.
In
San Francisco, May 15, 1861, Captain Gould was united in marriage with
Clara A. Jones, a native of Boston, Mass., having been born
December 1, 1843. They became the parents of eight children: Mary,
wife of Charles Koch of North Oakland; Abram F., secretary of the milling
company; William H., vice-president of the company; Anna, wife of
Frederick Koch, of Oakland; Jesse, treasurer of the company; Edward, who
is engaged in mining in this state; Clara F., who died
October 23, 1890; and Charles, residing at home. Politically
Captain Gould is independent in his views, giving his support to the man
who he believes to be best equipped for public service.
It
will be seen from a perusal of this brief outline of the career of
Captain Gould that he has been intimately identified with those features
of industrial and commercial life which have been prolific of most beneficial
results in the development of the resources of California from the pioneer
days. He is a prominent representative of that striking type of men who have wrought
for the supremacy of the state along those lines for which it has become famous
during the years of his residence within its borders. Throughout his entire
career his operations have been characterized by a strict integrity, a lively
public spirit and a sincere desire to accomplish all in his power for the
betterment of the condition of the entire community; and those who have watched
his career most closely express the opinion that his labors in this direction
have not been in vain. It is to such men as he that California is indebted for
the rank it now occupies in the great sisterhood of states. The record of his
useful and honorable life should prove a source of inspiration and profound
gratification to his descendants and others who are bound to him by social
ties, for it is the chronicle of one of the pioneer history makers of one of
the great states of the Union, and is entitled to a permanent and prominent
place in the annals of California.
Transcribed
by Marie Hassard 25 October 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
823-824. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.
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