POWELL S. LAWSON

     Powell S. Lawson is one of the California "Argonauts" who in search of the "golden fleece" came to the Pacific coast in 1849, enduring all the hardships and trials of the long and tedious voyage around Cape Horn.  The history of pioneer life in California is very familiar to him, for he was an active participant in the events which framed the annals of the state.  He was here through the period when, without the restraining hand of law, mob violence was often executed; but later the men who believed in order and justice took affairs into their own hands and chaos was followed by a righteous rule.  The work of civilization was then carried forward until the whole country is proud of the great commonwealth  which borders for so many miles the Pacific ocean.  Its advancement has been remarkable, and its present advanced position is due to such men as Mr. Lawson, who at all times has been a loyal citizen, faithful in the interests of his state and actively interested in its progress and upbuilding.  His business career covers many years, and was one of industry and diligence, but today he is living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil.  His name is endearingly inscribed among the honored pioneers of California, and no history of Sacramento county would be complete without the record of his life.

     Mr. Lawson was born in New York city August 17, 1829.  His father, Martin I. Lawson, was a ship carpenter by trade and was descended from Holland ancestry,  who were among the first settlers of New Amsterdam.  He spent the last years of his life in Ulster county, where he died about 1856, at the very advanced age of one hundred and six years and seven months.  His wife bore the maiden name of Hannah Linas, and was a native of Ulster county and a representative of one of the oldest families in the Empire state.  She died in December 1849, in her fifty-ninth year.

     Powell S. Lawson, whose name heads this review, was reared in the American metropolis, and is indebted to its public school system for the educational privileges he enjoyed.  In his youth he served an apprenticeship as a tinsmith, coppersmith, and sheet-iron worker with Charles Zimmerman at No 232 Hudson Street, remaining with him until nineteen years of age, when he became an expert workman and was employed as a journeyman.  His time was thus occupied until the discovery of gold in California, when, anxious to rapidly secure a fortune, if possible, he determined to proceed to the scene where the precious metal was supposed to be found in abundance.  Early in 1849 a party was organized for this purpose, and with seventy others he started for the Pacific coast on the bark Galindo, which the party purchased and which weighed anchor in the New York Harbor on the 7th of April.  The voyage proved to be a very pleasant one until they reached the mouth of the Amazon river, when they encountered a gale.  However, they continued on their way to Cape Horn, where they lay for thirty-two days under close-reefed sails, while the vessel was one mass of ice!  During two weeks of this time they had no fire even to cook their food with!  When the storm subsided they resumed their voyage, but the rudder head was bursted, and they had to steer by a spar from the stern of the vessel.  Reaching Valparaiso, however, the necessary repairs were made and the journey was continued to San Francisco, arriving at the Golden Gate on the 22nd of November, 1849.

     Mr. Lawson secured work at his trade in the employ of H. Selby & Company, who had a little shop in the alley between Sacramento, California, Kearney & Dupont Streets.  He remained there until March 1850, making from thirty to forty five dollars a day.  In the spring however, as a passenger on the propeller McKim, he made his way to Sacramento, and a few days later proceeded on to Marysville, being introduced on the way to General Sutter, at the latter's farm. At Marysville he secured an ox team, and accompanied by John Kehoe, he went to the south fork of the Feather river, where he obtained a mining claim two miles below Stringtown.  They dug a long ditch and began mining.  Mr. Lawson here dug out his first gold, his find weighing seventy-three cents.  The party mining next below them backed the water upon them and rendered their venture unsuccessful.

     On the 3rd of July, 1850, Mr. Lawson started for Nelson's creek, where he mined with fair success until August 20, when he went to Orion valley. The first night he camped there was the most memorable one of his life.  A terrible storm came up, it was bitter cold and in the morning eight inches of snow covered the ground.  Leaving that place he went to Long Bar, on the Feather river, and then to Smith's Bar, where he was engaged in searching for the precious metal until February.  In that month he and his companion went to Rich Bar, on the north fork of the Feather river, and soon after their arrival a heavy snow storm occurred, and as their supplies gave out they made the attempt to reach Lassen's ranch in order to get flour.  Starting early in the morning they reached the mountain  top by night and there encamped, resuming their journey in the morning.  There was a heavy crust on the snow and it was necessary to get a trail down the mountains in order that the mules might get through.  Only a portion of them were taken at first, and when the bench of the mountain was reached a halt was made and the animals tied for safe keeping while the men returned for those left behind at the camp.  On arriving there it was found that one was missing, but a search revealed the fact that is was lying on the side of the mountain against a log.  In order to release the animal it was found necessary to cut down a sapling and let the log roll away. This was done, Mr. Lawson having hold of the rope to keep the animal from sliding down the mountainside.  This proved only partially effectual, for the animal slipped for about five yards and was finally stopped with its feet in the air by two pack saddles upon its back.  This delay made it almost night when the party again reached the bench where the other animals had been tied and therefore they were forced to wait until morning to resume their journey.  On reaching the north fork of the Feather river it was found that the bridges were washed away and that they could not get across, so they returned to Rich Bar, and a few days later to Long Bar.

      From that point Mr. Lawson proceeded to Marysville, thence to Sacramento, on to Stockton and from there to Smith's Ferry, on the Merced river.  At the latter point he engaged in mining for two weeks, after which he proceeded to Flyaway Gulch, seven miles from Coulterville, where he and his companion struck a claim which they worked a month by means of a rocker, securing on an average twenty-two dollars per day, each.  At the time of the Kern river excitement, Mr. Lawson started for the new gold fields in June 1851, but on the first of August returned to Pleasant Valley on the Merced river, working on the river and in the gulches until September 1852.  That ended his mining experience, and for a number of years there after he was prominently connected with the industrial interests of San Francisco.

      Making his way to that city in September 1852, he entered into partnership with Joseph Vaile in the roofing business, being thus engaged until February 1854, when he returned to the east.  In June of the same year, however, he again started for California, making the trip by way of the isthmus.  He engaged in business for himself in San Francisco until the first of January, 1855, when he went to Mariposa, and in July came to Sacramento, but later again went to San Francisco.  In August he proceeded to Shasta, where he followed mining until April 1859, when, returning to the city, he entered into partnership with George Boehme, in the metal roofing business.  After eleven years this partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Lawson carried on business alone until, having acquired a handsome competence, he retired to private life.

      On the 5th of October 1862 was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss Alice Carrington, who died in 1882. Two children were born of their union:  May Frances, who died at the age of six years; and Alice Belle, the wife of L.H. Drew, by whom she has a son Powell.  Mr. Lawson was again married, his second union being with Hannah Towner.  For forty years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, having joined Sacramento Lodge in December 1859.  The following year he became a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and of Sacramento Council, and in 1865 was created a Knight Templar in Sacramento Commandery.  In 1868 he took the degrees of the Scottish rite and became a member of the grand council. He also belongs to Sacramento Lodge, No 2, I.O.O. F., and the Occidental Encampment.  He is a member of the A.O. U. W., the Knights of Honor, and the Knights and Ladies of Honor.  In the days of the volunteer fire department he was a member of the Knickerbocker Company and its president for five years, while at one time he was also president of the Exempt Firemen's Association.  He joined the Society of California Pioneers, in December 1859, and has since been one of its most active and honored representatives and has filled the office of president thereof.  In his early life his political support was given to the Democracy, but since 1861 he has been a stalwart Republican.  His attention, however, has never been attracted by office-seeking, as he has ever preferred to devote his energies to his business interests, in which he met with very creditable success.  He obtained an unassailable reputation in commercial circles, and by his diligence, enterprise, and perseverance he has won a handsome competence.  In all life's relations he has been true to the duties that devolved upon him, and his example is in many respects well worthy of emulation.