E. P. FIGG 

E. P. Figg, one of the pioneers of California, who has resided in Sacramento since the early days, is a native of Mercer (now Boyle) County, Kentucky, born in the suburbs of Danville April 24, 1819, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Roe) Figg. His mother was born in Greene County, Virginia, and was of Scotch ancestry. His father was a native of Virginia, of English ancestry, and died when the subject of this sketch was a mere boy in years. Before he had reached his majority, E.P. Figg went to St. Louis and embarked in the fur business on quite an extensive scale, getting his furs in the interior, and marketing them in St. Louis and Cincinnati. In 1844 he located at Lexington, Missouri, and carried on mercantile business there nearly five years. In 1844 he shipped a lot of goods, mostly furs and hatters’ articles, from Cincinnati to St. Louis, on the steamer Lancet (Captain Hicks), and he boarded a boat at Louisville. By some mischance he had failed to get a shipping receipt. On arriving at St. Louis he applied to a commission merchant to look after the goods. The boat was burned up and he lost his goods, but whether they were consumed by fire or not, he could never learn. In the spring of 1849 a party was made up at Lexington for the purpose of going to California, and Mr. Figg joined the party, making sixteen wagons in all. They traveled together nearly a month, when Mr. Figg and the occupants of another wagon left the party, and proceeded alone. They traveled all night a good deal of the time, and made the trip from Lexington to California in seventy-one days, the fastest time ever made with ox teams. With Mr. Figg there were Messrs. Culver, Phipps and Spencer, and the latter’s two sons; when they arrived at the Sink of the Humboldt, Mr. Figg let Mr. Spencer take his wagon to proceed with it by the Carson route, while he himself prepared to strike straight for the Sacramento River on horseback. He took some hard bread, a piece of bacon and some blankets, and started. On the journey he saw a duck fly into St. Mary’s River, and he went into a clump of willows to try to get a shot at the duck; he was startled, however, to see five Indians rise from the ground and surround him, with bows drawn on him. He was in a bad predicament and supposed that his hour had come. Just at that moment, however, some emigrants appeared in view on an elevated piece of ground across the river, so that they could see Mr. Figg and Indians over the willows. One of them hailed Mr. Figg and asked him if the Indians held him captive. He answered that he did not know how to get away, and the man who had hailed him then headed his horse for the river, crossed and joined Mr. Figg. When the situation was explained, it was agreed that on a given signal they were to level their guns on the Indians, motion for them to go, and if they did not do so Mr. Figg, who was on one side, was to shoot from the right to centre, and the other man, who was on the other side, was to shoot from left to center. When the guns were leveled and the signal given, the Indians concluded it was best not to bring on a fight and left. In company with two men, named Cable and Walsh, Mr. Figg arrived at what were known as Hot Springs, which Mr. Figg knew about from reading a Mormon guide book. Walsh was in advance and reached the spring first. His dog lapped some of the water and at once set up a yell. Walsh’s mule next stuck his nose in the water but withdrew it in a hurry and came near throwing his rider. Walsh then dipped his hand in the water, and turning to Mr. Figg, who was just coming up, shouted, “Hello, Figg! Hell ain’t a half mile from here.” The latter requested Messrs. Walsh and Cable not to drink any of the water, but Walsh allowed some to cool and drank it. After resting awhile, they proceeded on to what is now Wadsworth, where they found plenty of grass and water, and went into camp for the first time, soon after crossing Truckee River. The next morning Mr. Walsh was sick and could not travel, and Cable insisted upon Mr. Figg remaining with him. As the latter had the least food, he said he could not, and started on. He proceeded on to Sacramento, arriving here early in September 1849, and put up under some big trees where the Golden Eagle Hotel now stands, at what was then the horse market. His team reached him soon afterward. Mr. Figg engaged as a clerk for Henry E. Robinson, who had a store where the Tremont House now stands, and received $13 a day for thirteen days. On the 16^th September, he commenced clerking for Alexander Sibley, who had been a sutler with Stephenson’s regiment. He left the item of salary entirely with Mr. Sibley, and the latter paid him $19 a day and board. Mr. Figg remained with him until he had accumulated $5,000, when Mr. Sibley sold out the ground and the building at auction. Mr. Figg bid it in at $8,200, and still owns the property, which fronts on J Street, between Second and Third, and adjoins D.O. Mills’ Bank. Mr. Figg at once embarked in the wholesale trade in provisions and miners’ supplies, and did a very large and successful business. In the great fire of November 1852, he lost $61,000. At that time the firm was Bullard, Figg & Co., composed of E.P. Figg, John G. Bray and James Bullard. They rebuilt with a brick structure, and continued the business as a firm until a year later, when Mr. Figg purchased the interest of his partners. He afterward took in a nephew, and the firm became Figg & Wand. Mr. Figg also bought out his partner afterward, and again carried on the business alone. He carried on a wholesale merchandise business many years, and also dealt extensively in flour, where the Pioneer Mills are now. Mr. Figg has since given his attention largely to general trading and to the fruit business. He and J. Green had 320 acres in fruit in partnership, but the ranch (which is on Grand Island), has been divided, and Mr. Figg has 160 acres, which is principally planted in fine peaches and Barlett pears. He ships fruit to Chicago and San Francisco. He has been for years engaged in the salt business, to a greater or less extent, and now has a large wholesale trade in that staple, handling exclusively the celebrated Mexican and Liverpool salt. Mr. Figg was married in 1855 to Mrs. Hattie McCormack, a widow, whose maiden name was Potter, a native of Deerfield, Ohio. There is one son by her first marriage: Frank H. McCormack. Mr. and Mrs. Figg have two children, viz.: Edward F. and George L. They have also reared two adopted children, viz.: Susie L. and Alvin P. Mr. Figg ranks among the permanent men of Sacramento. He is a member of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers, and a life member of the State Agricultural Society. He is also a life member of the California Museum Association of Sacramento, California. He was a Past Grand in Odd Fellowship before coming to California. Mr. Figg has been a Democrat since the days of Henry Clay, but has never been a seeker for office.

 

Transcribed by Debbie Gramlick.