POWELL SAMUEL LAWSON

Sacramento County

Biographies

POWELL SAMUEL LAWSON

POWELL SAMUEL LAWSON. Holding a place of prominence among the representative citizens of Sacramento is Powell S. Lawson, one of the best known and widely esteemed men of this section. He is a native of New York City, and was born August 17, 1829. His father, Martin I. Lawson, was a ship carpenter by trade, and his ancestors in this country, who were from Holland, were among the first settlers of New Amsterdam. He spent the latter years of his life on a farm in Ulster county, where he died about 1856, at the advanced age of one hundred and six years and seven months. The mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Linas, was a native of Ulster county and was also from one of the oldest families of the Empire state. She died in December,1849, in her fifty-ninth year.

Powell S. Lawson, the subject of this sketch, was reared in New York City, and received his education in the public schools of that place. He served his time as tinsmith, coppersmith and sheet iron worker with Charles Zimmerman, at No. 232 Hudson street, remaining with him until he had reached the age of nineteen years, when he worked at his trade as journeyman. When the discovery of gold was made in California he soon made up his mind to go in person to the scene. Early in 1849 a party was organized for this purpose. They purchased the bark Galindo and left New York April 7, under the command of Captain Macy, there being seventy in the party. The voyage was a pleasant one until off the mouth of the Amazon river, when their first rough weather was experienced. Off Cape Horn 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. At the conclusion of the storm they started to resume their voyage, but the rudder-head was disabled and they had to steer by a spar over the stern of the vessel. When they reached Valparaiso they refitted and thenceforward had a pleasant trip to California, arriving in San Francisco November 22, 1849. Mr. Lawson obtained work at his trade with Thomas H. Selby & Co., who were located in the alley between Sacramento and California, Kearney and Dupont streets. He remained there until March, 1850, and when working piecework on stoves would make from $30 to $45 per day.

Mr. Lawson then came to Sacramento on the boat McKim, and a few days later proceeded to Marysville, being introduced on the way to General Sutter, at the latter’s farm. From Marysville he set out with an ox-team, in company with John Kehoe and John Lawrence, and went to the south fork of the Feather river, taking up a mining claim two miles below Stringtown. There they dug a long ditch and commenced mining, Mr. Lawson taking out his first find of gold. The party mining just below them backed the water upon them, and they were thus unsuccessful. On the 3^rd of July Mr. Lawson started for Nelson’s creek, and remained there with better success until August 20, when he went to Onion valley. The first night he camped there was the most memorable one of his life. A terrible storm came up, the night was bitter cold, and in the morning snow to the depth of eighteen inches was all about him. He left there and went to Long bar, on Feather river, and thence to Smith’s bar, where he mined until February. Then, with his companions, he went to Rich bar, on the north fork of the Feather river. Soon after their arrival they were snowed in, and being out of flour they made an attempt to go to Lassen’s ranch to lay in a supply of that article. Starting early in the morning they reached the top of the mountain that night and there encamped. The next morning the journey was resumed. There was a heavy crust on the snow and it was necessary to cut a trail down the mountain for the mules. Only a portion of them were taken at first, and when the summit of the mountain was reached a halt was made and the animals tied for safe-keeping, while a trip was made for those left behind in the camp. On arriving there it was found that one was missing, and a search revealed the fact that she was lying on the side of the mountain against a log. In order to release her it was found necessary to cut down a sapling and let the log roll away. This was done, Mr. Lawson having hold of a rope to keep the mule from going down. When the log started the mule tried to get up, but slipped and started to roll, the skin being torn from Mr. Lawson’s hands. The mule rolled down for fifty yards, and was finally stopped, with feet in air, by the two pack-saddles which she carried. Mr. Lawson went down and shoved her over and remarked that she was all right. It was a laughable incident, but it was nearly night when they got back to the mountain to camp for the night. The next morning the trip was resumed. But when they got back to the north fork of the Feather river it was found that the bridges were gone and they could not cross, so they went back to Rich bar and a few days later to Long bar. Mr. Lawson went from there to Marysville, thence to Sacramento, next to Stockton and from there to Smith’s Ferry on the Merced river. After mining there for a couple of weeks he went to Flyaway gulch, seven miles from Coulterville, and then he and his companions struck a claim which they worked by means of a rocker. For one month they averaged $23 a day to the man.

The Kern river excitement then coming on, in June, 1851, Mr. Lawson started for the new fields. After prospecting on Kern river for a time he left there and on the 1^st of August got back to Pleasant valley, on the Merced river. He worked off and on in the river and gulches until September, 1852, and then went to San Francisco and entered into partnership with Joseph Vaile in the roofing business, which he continued until February, 1854. He then went east by the Nicaragua route, but returned in June via Panama and went into business for himself in San Francisco. On the 1^st of January, 1855, he went to Mariposa, in July came to Sacramento, and from here went again to San Francisco. In August he proceeded to Shasta, and mined about two miles above Redding until April, 1859. He then came to Sacramento, took up his permanent residence here, and went into partnership with George Boehme in the metal roofing business. After eleven years this partnership was dissolved and Mr. Lawson has since carried on the business alone, meeting with success in his work and constantly increasing his trade.

October 5, 1862, Mr. Lawson was united in marriage with Alice Carrington, who died in 1882. Two children were born of this union, May Frances, who died at the age of six years, and Alice Belle. Mr. Lawson was again married, his present wife having been H. Augusta Towner.

Mr. Lawson is an old time Mason, having joined Sacramento Lodge in December, 1859. He was raised to the Royal Arch in Sacramento Chapter No.3, R. A. M., of which he is past high priest; and to Sacramento Commandery No. 2, K. T., of which he is past commander, in 1865. As a Scottish Rite Mason he is Past Grand Master of the Grand Council, also a member of Naomi Chapter No. 36 of the Order of the Eastern Star, Past Patron of the same, and Past Associate Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of the State of California. In 1882 he received the thirty-third degree. He is also a member of Sacramento Lodge No. 2, I. O. O. F., and of Occidental Encampment No. 42. In the days of the volunteer fire department he was a member of Knickerbocker Company No. 5, and was its president for five years. He joined the Society of California Pioneers in December, 1859, and has ever since taken an active interest in the welfare of the society. He was elected president of the local body in 1888 and re-elected in 1889. He is also a member of Union Lodge No. 21, A. O. U. W., and was charter member of the first lodge of Knights of Honor organized here. He has been a Republican in politics since 1861, though he was previously a Democrat. Mr. Lawson is one of the most respected and honored citizens of Sacramento, and his open-hearted ways have won for him the respect and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. Having been a resident of California since the early mining days, he has been an eye-witness to the great changes and progress made since that time, and has an extended acquaintance throughout the length and breadth of the state. He has invested largely in the real estate of Sacramento, where he also owns a handsome residence at No.1511 O street.

Transcribed by Louise E. Shoemaker October 29^th 2007.

Source: “History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, California” by J. M. Guinn. Pages 851-852. Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1906.