GEORGE THOMAS RICH

 

GEORGE THOMAS RICH – Five brothers in England, of a preceding generation, scattered into different parts of that country, but only one, Samuel, who was born in 1805, came to the United States, emigrating hither at the age of twenty-one years, and locating in Michigan. There he carried on the lumber business two or three years, cutting logs in the pineries and rafting them down the streams to the mills. The country there being malarial he moved on to Iowa County, Wisconsin, about forty miles from Galena, Illinois, and followed lead mining there for seven or eight years. In 1848 he began to think of coming to Oregon, as the climate of Wisconsin was too harsh; and while studying over this matter the gold excitement of this State arose, which determined him to come here first and then go to Oregon and settle down at gardening and farming. Leaving Wisconsin April 9, 1849, with wife and one son – the subject of this sketch – he passed through Iowa and arrived at Cainesville, Missouri, on the Missouri River, where he found twenty-one wagons drawn by horses and mules. They all came along together on the north side of the Platte River, through the buffalo regions, by Fort Laramie, and then through the Black Hills, and so on by the old stage route to Salt Lake City, where they stopped for three days. Then they came on by way of the Humboldt and Truckee rivers, crossing the latter twenty-seven times, in some places where it was deep and dangerous, there being many boulders along the bottom. They also came by the place where the Donner party met their ill-fate. The cabins were still standing, and many evidences of terrible suffering were yet visible. This party, too, suffered considerably. After crossing the mountains their first stopping place was Deer Creek, in Nevada County, August 3. Here they remained three weeks, and tried their hand at mining, washing out two or three ounces of gold per day. Coming on down into the plains, they first struck them at Johnson’s Ranch, on Bear River. Beef was then in fine condition, and here they had their first good feast on that article since they left the States. They forded the American River near where the railroad bridge now is, and pitched their tent about where the State Capitol stands, under a large oak tree. The following winter Mr. Rich kept boarding-house on L Street, between Fifth and Sixth. Among his boarders were Judge Searles of Nevada; Charles Mulford, a prominent banker of Grass Valley in early days; George W. Wallace, a carpenter, now deceased, and Israel Luce, engaged in a marble quarry in Inyo County. The flood of that winter being eleven feet deep in his vicinity so damaged everything that he had to quit the business of keeping boarders. During the high water the family sought refuge in the upper story, and was rescued from the windows by boats. The preceding fall Mr. Rich had purchased a lot on J Street, between Sixth and Seventh, from Samuel Brannan, which is now in the possession of George T. In the spring of 1850, while lumber was selling at very high prices, he cut down some sycamore trees and made the frame for a house on his lot, and covered it with canvas. Here he began again to keep boarders, being patronized by miners and by many in town taking their meals there. Bunks were arranged for sleeping purposes. This establishment was called the Miners’ Home. The business of the city was then carried on mainly on Front Street, and on J and K up to Third, while this boarding-house was amid the brush and trees, with only a house here and there in the neighborhood. The first steamer that came up from San Francisco was the McKim, with a band of music on board, playing all the way. Business was lively and crowds of people congregated in Sacramento from every point. The miners paid all their bills in gold dust, and at one time Mr. Rich had thousands of dollars scattered about in the house. One of the principal amusements on Sunday was racing up and down J Street in front of the hotel. All kinds of plugs and old horses, etc., were put upon this track; and this might be called the first race-track in Sacramento County. Along the American River, and especially along the Sutter Lake or “slough,” wild fruit and berries grew in great abundance, which were gathered and sold to the baker by the quart. Mr. George T. Rich made several hundred dollars in this way, with which money he bought a fine piano. This instrument is still in his possession. During 1851 business rapidly increased, and buildings were numerously erected. Business houses then extended up to Fourth Street on both J and K Streets. During this year Mr. Rich, father of George T., abandoned the hotel business and opened a wholesale store at the same place, under the firm name of Rich & Tilley. Up to that time the family residence was in the upper story of this building; but now Mr. Rich bought a lot on L Street, between Sixth and Seventh, and erected a dwelling-house upon it, where they resided some time. That property is still in George’s possession. The fire of 1852 destroyed eleven blocks of the business part of the city, including the front part of Mr. Rich’s store, as it was built of wood. The rear portion was built of brick. Afterward the front part was rebuilt with brick, two stories high, and this property, too, is still in the possession of George T. It is now occupied by the Miss Brothers’ millinery store. The firm of Rich & Tilley continued up to 1855, and Mr. Rich then entered a quarter-section of land from the Government at $1.25 an acre, on the upper Stockton road, about six miles from Sacramento, and settled upon it. This was then nearly all a naked plain, and appeared to most people to be worth nothing. That little hill between the ranch and the city was in early days known as Prospect Hill. The soldiers from Sutter’s Fort would ride out to that point to obtain a commanding view of the country, watching for troops from Mexico. This country, too, was the natural home of a large variety of wild animals – coyotes, bears, wolves, deer, etc., in great abundance. This place now is a well-improved farm, devoted to hay, grain and fruit. The owner has just planted two acres with table grapes. Seven or eight acres are in different varieties of fruit trees, mostly French prunes and peaches. Also there are two acres of strawberries and three acres in blackberries, bearing; ornamental trees, some of them twenty years old, grace the premises. Among them are oranges and lemons, bearing, and arbor-vitae and mountain pine. Samuel Rich made this his home from 1855 to the time of his death, December 6, 1868. His widow is still residing here, eighty-five years of age. Her maiden name was Rosina De Motte, and on her father’s side she is of French descent. Her father, John De Motte, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. She was born at Hempstead, Long Island, in 1804. George Thomas Rich, whose name heads this history, the only son of Samuel Rich, was born in Milford, Pike County, Pennsylvania, on the Delaware, February 17, 1838. His parents moved to Wisconsin and thence to California, this last removal being made when he was about ten years of age. He remained with his father till the time of his death, and took possession of the country property while the city property was retained in his mother’s name. He was united in marriage December 23, 1861, in Santa Clara, California, with Miss Maria Louisa, daughter of Morgan Fine, an old ‘49er, who settled in that county with his family. Mrs. Rich is a native of Lafayette County, Missouri, and was born April 13, 1844. Until she came to California she lived with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Rich have five children, viz.: Nellie F., born May 31, 1864; Carrie Rosina, November 6, 1866; Lulu, June 18, 1869; Edgar George, October 14, 1873; Edna May, November 18, 1878. Two of these are deceased: Nellie F. died February 8, 1882, and Edgar George, April 9, 1876. Carrie Rosina is the wife of Joseph Holmes, and they have an infant daughter who has two great-grandmothers still living. Thus there are four generations residing at one time in the same house. Mr. Rich has taken considerable interest in political matters. His first Presidential vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas, in 1860; since then he has generally voted the Republican ticket, but is discriminating in his choice of candidates. He has been an active worker and a member of a number of county conventions. One year he was justice of the peace of Sutter Township. He is a member of the Pioneer Society of this county, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Pacific School, Sacramento district. Has been superintendent of the Sunday-school, and in many ways he has been efficient in measures for the public welfare. He has been successful in business, contributing largely to the agricultural and horticultural interests of his locality. For a year he was editor of the Sacramento Valley Agriculturalist, and was also special correspondent of the Rural Press and California Patron for Sacramento County for a number of years. Six years he was a member of the board of directors of the G.B.C.A., during which time he was secretary. In 1881 he was appointed by the State Master of the order of Patrons of Husbandry, to the office of Lecturer for the Grangers in this county, which position he filled two years. At one time he was also Master of a Sacramento grange, and filled different chairs in that society at various time. Post office address, 1008 K Street, Sacramento.