Placer
County
Biographies
GEORGE C. WEST
The honored and popular manager of
the American Hotel at Auburn is a native of Placer County, born in Todd Valley
on the 4th of March, 1859. He
is of English and Irish lineage. His
father, Elliot West, was born in Belleville, Canada, on the 3rd of
April, 1832. He married Charlotte Carr
and in 1856 came to California by way of the Isthmus route, and by steamer
proceeded up the river from San Francisco to Sacramento, whence he came on foot
to Placer County. He spent the first
night at Auburn in the American Hotel, of which his son George C. was afterward
to become the proprietor and manager.
For a short time he engaged in mining and then he purchased a ranch in
Todd Valley. His wife afterward joined
him in his new home and he continued farming and stock raising
with good success until the winter of 1861-2, when in a snowstorm most of his
stock died, causing him to lose heavily.
He afterward engaged in teaming from Auburn station to Todd’s Valley and
other mining camps in the mountains.
In 1864 he returned to Auburn, where
he purchased sixty-five acres of land, where the Freeman Hotel now stands. He built that hotel and managed it until
1869, his efforts being attended with excellent success. The land extended from
the railroad to the present residence of Dr. Todd. He laid out Railroad Street and donated it to
the town, and this led to the upbuilding of that portion of the city, Railroad
Street becoming one of the most important thoroughfares in Auburn. He disposed of this property in 1869. At length he became interested in various
mining claims in the county, both quartz and gravel mines, but his speculations
in that direction did not prove very profitable, and he took up his abode at
Iowa Hill. Here he became superintendent
of the Morning Start mine, and later of the Big Dipper mine, both of which
under his management became good producers.
Mrs. West, his wife and the mother of our
subject, died in 1870, leaving him with two sons: James F., who is now residing at Forest Hill;
and George C., of this review, who has kindly furnished us the history of his
honored father. In 1895 the father came
to live with his son in the American Hotel and died on the 6th of
November, 1897, in the same house in which he spent his first night in Placer
County forty-one years previously. Like
many of the brave pioneers of California, he was a liberal, whole-souled gentleman, physically strong and robust, and in the
early days was considered one of the strongest men in Placer County. He was as generous as he was strong and he
left many warm friends to mourn his loss.
George C. West, the youngest of the
family, was educated and reared to manhood in Placer County, and for some years
was connected with mining interests, following that pursuit until 1884. He then began a successful career as the
proprietor of a hotel, keeping a small hotel on the divide for eleven
years. On the expiration of that period
he sold his property there and came to Auburn, in 1895, purchasing the American
Hotel, of which he has since been the accommodating host. This building is a fire-proof brick
structure, three stories and a basement in height and containing forty
rooms. The brick walls are unusually
thick and it has iron shutters, and iron windows and door frames, making it an
extremely safe building. It is located
in the heart of the best business district of the town, and Mr. West and his
excellent wife give their personal attention to the comfort of their
guests. They are rightfully receiving a
liberal patronage and Mr. West is known as a very popular host, owing to his
uniform courtesy and his earnest desire to please his patrons. Much credit is also due to his wife for the
splendid manner in which the hotel is conducted. Everything about the place is neat and the
dining room is especially popular with its patrons on account of the excellent
table which is there set.
In 1879 Mr. West was united in
marriage to Miss Mary F. Doherty, a native of Forest Hill, California, and a
daughter of Michael Doherty, who came to this state in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. West have a very nice family of
eight children, all born in Placer County, namely: Mary, Elliott, Guy and Clayton, twins,
Michael J., Walter, Agnes and Roy. The
eldest son assists his father in the conduct of the hotel. The family is one of prominence in the
community, its members enjoying the high regard of many friends and the
hospitality of some of the best homes in this locality.
Mr. West is Democratic in his
political affiliations. Socially he is
connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Native Sons of the
Golden West, having served as the president of his parlor. He is a wide-awake, active businessman,
giving close attention to the enterprise which he conducts and has a host of
warm friends in the county in which his entire life has been passed.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 396-398. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.