Joseph
Bauquier, one of the old-time Californians, residing in Sacramento, is a native
of France, born in the Department of Haut-Saone, March 5, 1814, his parents
being Antoine and Catherine (Vivier) Bauquier, the father a farmer. He was
reared at his native place, and in 1832 came to America, sailing from Havre to
New Orleans on the ship Concordiere, and landing at the last named city on the
18th of July. He obtained a situation driving a cart for the mayor
of the city, but in fourteen months went back to France on the French vessel
Josephine Bordeaux. After two months in France he started on his return for New
Orleans, and arrived there in September. He engaged as a fireman on a steamboat
to St. Louis, and soon afterward went to St. Clair County, Illinois, where he
was engaged in the coal business and in farming, having three fine farms there.
In 1853 he crossed the plains to California, with three teams of cattle, and
three teams of horses. He outfitted at St. Louis, and proceeded via Fort
Leavenworth, Fort Kearney, Fort Laramie and Sublette’s cut-off. He located at
Sacramento, and built where he now resides. He made five trips back to the East
by water, and each time returned to California overland, and every time by way
of St. Joseph except the first. Three times he brought cattle, and three times
horses. He never had more than fifteen men with him, yet never had any trouble
with the Indians or stock-thieves, and never lost anything to speak of in crossing
the plains except $2,500 worth of fine horses. He farmed about twelve miles
from the city a short time after coming here, but most of the time has followed
contracting, grading, etc. He has considerable land outside the city, besides
retaining a quarter of a block where he lives, and has a horse ranch outside
Sacramento. Mr. Bauquier was married in St. Clair County, Illinois, on the 1st
of August, 1840, to Miss Catherine Granjean, who was born in the same
neighborhood that he was. She died on the 15th of December, 1888,
aged seventy-one years and six months. By this marriage there are four
children, viz.: Peter, Frank (who resides at Roseville), Mary (wife of H. D.
Rode, merchant), and Joseph, Jr., who was born in Sacramento, June 18, 1857,
while Mr. Bauquier was crossing the plains. Mr. Bauquier is a member of Tehama
Lodge, A. F. & A. M., which he joined in 1865, and of the Chapter, Council
and Commandery. He is a Democrat politically. Mr. Bauquier practically knows
every foot of the route across the plains, having gone over it six times before
the days of railroads. He came near coming out when General Sutter came and
also with Fremont. He has had a life full of incident, and his fund of reminiscences
and experience is inexhaustible. He was living at his residence in Sacramento,
when the great flood of December, 1861, came on. He had just taken sixty-two
head of good horses (brought out from Cincinnati) out to his ranch, and when he
returned he found the water up to the roof of the one-story part of the house,
while the family was in the second-story. He had an awful time getting into his
house but finally did so. The family paid $10 to be taken in boat to “Whisky
Hill.”
An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California.
By Hon. Win. J. Davis. Lewis Publishing Company 1890. Page 313-314.
© 2004 Marla Fitzsimmons.