Placer
County
Biographies
HON. AUGUSTUS LEMUEL CHANDLER
One
of the enterprising old-time pioneers of the Sacramento Valley, who left a deep
impress on his community and aided materially in the development of this
section, was the late Augustus Lemuel Chandler.
A native of Vermont, he was born at St. Johnsbury on July 26, 1831,
being descended from an old and prominent New England family. His mother died when he was two years old,
and he was reared and educated in the home of Deacon Walker, at Strafford, Vt.,
where he attended the local school and also the academy.
In
1852, having become deeply interested in the gold rush and large immigration to
California, Augustus L. Chandler came hither via the Isthmus of Panama, with an
older brother, Charles Chandler; and here in the early days he began ranching
at Nicolaus, in Sutter county, where they became owners of a large ranch
devoted to grain raising. In those days
the best market for the grain was found in the mining towns; and they hauled
the grain over the mountains to Grass Valley and Nevada City, and even as far
as Virginia City, Nev. His brother
Charles having decided to return to his old home in Vermont, A. L. Chandler
purchased his interest in the ranch, and thereafter continued the ranching
operations. He became very successful,
and subsequently added another ranch to his holdings.
On
a trip back to Vermont in 1861, A. L. Chandler was married to Miss Caroline
Jane Noyes. She was also a native of
Vermont, born at Tunbridge on January 9, 1836, of old
New England and Revolutionary stock. Mr.
Chandler immediately brought his bride to his California home, making the
journey to San Francisco via the Isthmus route.
She proved an excellent companion and devoted mother, the happy family
ties being severed only by the death of Mr. Chandler on November 3, 1888.
Mr.
Chandler was a prime mover in the organization of the Farmers’ Co-operative
Union of Sutter County, in Yuba City, and a stockholder and director in this
concern, which built large warehouses on the Feather River. When the debris filled the channel so that
steamers could no longer ply on the river and carry the grain in storage at
their warehouses, the Farmers’ Union was obliged to dismantle their 20,000-ton
warehouse and build a new one on the Southern Pacific Railroad, and ship by
rail. When the Farmers’ Union
established their bank, Mr. Chandler continued as a stockholder in the
institution. In early days he was
interested with a partner, Mr. Keys, in a sawmill manufacturing
redwood lumber in Santa Cruz County.
With other pioneers in Sutter County, he took a leading part in the
anti-debris fight, keeping at it persistently until the anti-debris bill was
passed by the legislature and became a law.
As a Republican, he served acceptably in the State Assembly for several
terms, and then was elected State Senator.
He was reelected and was serving his second term when he died.
Mr.
Chandler was prominent fraternally. He
was a Mason, being a member of Gold Hill Lodge No. 32, F. & A. M., at
Lincoln, and also of the Eastern Star.
He was also a member and Past Grand of Pleasant Grove Lodge of the Odd
Fellows. Active in the Grange, he served
at one time as State Director of the Grange.
After
Senator Chandler’s death, his widow continued to reside on the home ranch,
looking after the management of the ranches until she disposed of them, after
which she made her home in Oakland. She
was a Past Matron and Past District Deputy Grand Matron of the Eastern Star,
and also a Past Grand of the Rebekahs.
When eighty-three years of age, this estimable pioneer woman passed away
at her home in Oakland, in November, 1919.
She was greatly loved for her amiability, charity, and womanly
attributes of mind and heart.
This
worthy pioneer couple had seven children, five of whom are living: Mrs. Carrie A. Gladding, wife of Albert J.
Gladding, whose sketch is given elsewhere; Miss Ida Chandler, of Oakland;
Lizzie, now Mrs. Atwood, of San Francisco; Mayme, the wife of O. L. Berry, of
the same city; and Harry, who lives in Lincoln.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“History of Placer & Nevada Counties,
California”, by W. B. Lardner & M. J. Brock. Pages 460-461.
Historic Record Co., Los Angeles 1924.
© 2013
V. Gerald Iaquinta.