L. C. Chandler

 

L. C. Chandler, one of the prominent Sacramentans entitled to the distinction of being a California pioneer, is a native of New York State, born at Columbus, Chenango County, on the 15^th of August, 1826, his parents being Elijah and Mary (Whitney) Chandler. His father, who was a farmer, was a native of Vermont. The Whitneys were an old Connecticut family. L. C. Chandler, the subject of this sketch, was reared at his native place to the age of sixteen, and there he received his school training.  In 1842 he went to Boston, and commenced the printer’s trade in the office of the Boston Journal. He served a regular apprenticeship there, and worked as a journeyman in Boston and other eastern cities. When the news of the discovery of gold in California, in 1848, electrified the country, he was working in a book and job office in New York city, and he was not slow in making up his mind to try his fortunes in the new El Dorado. He interested himself with others in forming a party for that purpose, and an organization was effected under the leadership of a physician, who, however, finally backed out, and did not go. There were 141 in the company, each of whom put $21.50 in a common fund for expenses.  They chartered the bark Mara (Captain Parks), and on the 30^th of January, 1849, left New York harbor. They sailed to Vera Cruz, and thence proceeded by the National road through Jalapa, Pueblo, City of Mexico and Guadalajara, to Mazatlan. It had been their intention to take shipping at that port for California, and most of them did so, but Mr. Chandler was one of twenty who decided to take the trip by land, and, as he expressed it, they “took the hurricane deck of a mule.” While in Sonora the party divided and Mr. Chandler continued his journey via Hermosillo, Tucson, Los Angeles, San Buenaventura and Pacheco Pass, up into Mariposa mines. He afterward went to Stockton, and from there down Livermore Valley. In the spring of 1850 he went back to Stockton, thence to Calaveras mines, and worked along the Stanislaus River, at Mormon Gulch and Angel’s Creek. The next scene of his mining efforts was at Ohio Bar, on the Yuba. When the Smith River excitement came on , he went to Crescent City. From there he went to San Francisco, and thence to Marysville.  His finances were then at a low ebb, and he obtained employment driving mules from Marysville to American Valley, in Plumas County. In the fall of 1853 he went to work on the Marysville Herald. He afterward went up into the mountains and worked for some time on the Mountain Messenger.  In that country he also carried express on snow-shoes for Adams & Co.  In 1855 he came to Sacramento, and went to work at the case on the Union. He was one of the five men that started the Bee, and followed the fortunes of the paper for nearly a year, then went to work on the Union again. He followed the printing trade until 1864, and since that time has been engaged in the real estate business, which he has made a success.  Mr. Chandler has always been a champion for the cause of temperance, and has been for twenty years Treasurer of Siloam (Good Templars’) Lodge.  He was a charter member of Cosumnes Tribe, Red Men.  He is now the only living representative of his family. A brother, Bradley Chandler, was a soldier in the Mexican war, and was at the battle of Palo Alto, a private in Company B, First Illinois Infantry Regiment. He was honorably discharged on expiration of service, at Camary, Mexico, June 17, 1847.  Since that time trace of him has been lost. Mr. Chandler has been actively associated with Sacramento for over a third of a century, and has been an eye-witness to the vast change which has taken place here in that time. He is a good representative of the better type of the early comers to this State. He has been for many years a member of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers.