Sacramento County
Biographies
SETH H.
GARFIELD
SETH H. GARFIELD, pioneer miller of the “Pioneer Mill,” the man who has been the longest identified with mills and milling interests in Sacramento, came to California from New England in the spring of 1850. He is the youngest son of Colonel Alvis Garfield, a soldier of the war of 1812, and Susan Maynard, of Concord, whose father, Josiah Maynard, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, fighting in the battle of Lexington. Born in the city of Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1831, he received a common-school education, and at the age of nineteen came to California to join his elder brother, Maynard J. Garfield, who was by trade a stair builder, and an expert at the business, and in 1845 was sent to Chili, South America, to superintend the erection of the grand stair-way in the Cathedral at Valparaiso; when that was completed he came to California, and here he was joined by his brother Seth, as was already stated. Seth Garrett, like so many of New England’s sons, was something of a sailor, and upon his arrival at San Francisco, and after a visit to Benicia, we find him engaged as pilot on the “Lucy Long,” and receiving twelve dollars per day; but his brother came down from the mines and together they came to Sacramento; upon their arrival — it was during the cholera epidemic— they camped out on the spot where the St. George building now is, until they could secure an ox team and outfit for the mines; then they went to Bear River; mining district, where his brother had a cabin and a claim; this was in the winter of ‘50; later they went to Scott’s Bar, on the Scott River near the State line, where they traded or sold merchandise, and when the high water came they went to Portland to purchase goods, and set out for Yreka; it was on this trip while in the Rouge River country, that they were surrounded by hostile Indians and only escaped by joining another party and securing the protection of Major Kearny, who had a three days’ fight, Captain Stewart being killed. The fall of 1851 he came to Sacramento, and soon after became identified with the “Old Bay State” mill, located on M street, and from that to the present time he has been actively engaged in milling in this city. Mr. Garfield is of a most genial disposition, a man of excellent judgment and great ability, and authority on all mill matters, thoroughly conversant with the details of his business. The “Pioneer Mill” company are largely indebted to him for the position which they occupy. Married in 1859 to Sarah Smith, his home on M street is a model of “old-time” hospitality.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Page 683. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.