Sacramento County
Biographies
ALBION
CHASE SWEETSER
A. C. SWEETSER,
one of the old-time residents of Sacramento, and California pioneer, is a
native of Waterville, Maine, born November 3, 1819, his parents being Richard
and Sarah A. (Low) Sweetser. Richard Sweetser, a
ship builder, died at the age of forty-seven; he was a son of a Revolutionary
veteran, who live to be ninety-four years of age. The mother of the subject of this sketch was
native of Maine, and was a daughter of Rev. Robert Low. A. C. Sweetser was
in his seventh year when the family removed to Belfast, Maine, and there he was
reared and educated in public and private schools, and also in the schools of
Winterport, Maine. He was but a mere lad
when his father’s death occurred, and on arriving at suitable age he went to
learn the trade of house and ship joiner.
He followed that business in all its branches at Belfast and Frankfort
until 1847, when he engaged in the shoe trade at Cambridgeport,
Massachusetts, but was induced to leave there to go into business at
Boston. The latter part of the plan was
not carried out, however, and instead he embarked in contracting. In the fall of 1848 he became interested in
the talk of California, then agitating the country, and became associated with one
of the companies being organized to go to the new El Dorado. The movement resulted in the formation of the
Boston and Newton Joint Stock Association, consisting of twenty-five men. One year’s provisions were purchased, and
sent to California around Cape Horn, while the party left Boston April 16,
1849, proceeding to Buffalo, thence by lake Sandusky,
by rail to Cincinnati, and by steamer to St. Louis. Thence they went by steamer to Independence,
where they completed their outfit.
Saddles and harness they brought from Boston. The next stopping point, Mr. Sweetser went on to St. Joseph to look after provisions,
and returned with supplies to Independence.
From the latter place the party started on the 16th of
May. They followed the regular route to
Salt Lake City, and there sold their wagons and harness, purchasing
pack-saddles instead. After a rest of
ten days at the Morman capital, they resumed their
journey to California, making their first stop in this State near Placerville,
and proceeding next day to Sacramento, where they arrived on the 27th
of September. Sending to San Francisco
for their provisions, they sold their horses, mules and trappings, divided out
the provisions, and the party broke up.
They had had a rather enjoyable trip, and most of them had got in the
habit of walking a great deal. Their
last provisions were eaten at Shingle Springs, where they lodged the last night
before reaching Sacramento. Mr. Sweetser and two others camped the first night at
Sacramento north of the ridge, and the first they had to eat for that entire
day was a loaf of bread and some syrup that one of the party
brought out there. The next day they
came down to what is now the State Capitol grounds,
and there they sold for $400 a large military tent which cost them $60. Mr. Sweetser had to
wait for his tools, which had gone around Cape Horn, and then he took charge of
a company of men engaged in clearing off lots.
He next took charge of a gang of men unloading the brig “Belfast,” at
$10 per day. He next proceeded, with
five others, to the North Fork of the American River, four miles north of
Beal’s Bar. A
few days later he came back to Sacramento with a team to get provisions to sell
to the miners. The roads were bad and it
two days to get to Sacramento. The rain
came down in torrents while they were here, and Mr. Sweetser
told one of his companions that he “guessed he would take his chances in
Sacramento,” at the same time offering to sell his interest for $100. The offer was accepted, and he remained. He made $16 to $20 a day, and in company with
a school-mate bought a lot where Campbell’s furniture store now stands, for the
purpose of putting up a building. Willow
poles were utilized for posts, and Mr. Sweetser paid
$20 for a board, which he carried up to the building on his back. The structure was covered over with canvas,
and tarred, and when it was completed a building for a residence was put up
on the alley. One side of the roof was
completed when the weather cleared up, and the north wind caused a rise in the
river. About four o’clock in the
afternoon the water was running down the alley like a river. They were living in a tent, but they put down
a floor three feet above ground, and on this put their little cook-stove and
their bedding. Before morning the water
was above their floor, and they had to pack up and move. They hired a boatman to take them down on the
levee, where they boarded a brig. A
friend of Mr. Sweetser had charge of the brig, and
kept it as a boarding-house, and as the berths were wide Mr. Sweetser was taken into that of his friend. Board was $30 a week, and there was plenty to
eat, although there was no butter. Mr. Sweetser got some lumber at $400 per thousand, and with the
assistance of another man, built a boat, for which, on completion, he was
offered $100. One
evening. On one trip, he took in $7 with the boat. On a pile of lumber, with water all around,
he made from $10 to $20 per day, making boats and oars. He made a lot of bath
tubs, and built a bath house for a man, at $20 a day. When the waters receded, he went up to his
own building, fitted it up, and engaged in contracting, fitting up stores,
etc., which he followed until the fire of 1852.
After this he turned his attention to architecture and the superintending
of buildings. He also embarked in mining
to some extent, but without success. In
1860 he commenced in the real estate and insurance business, which has since
been his vocation, and in which he has met with deserved success. Mr. Sweetser was
married in Sacramento, in December, 1853, to Miss Sarah S. Pratt, a native of
Portland, Maine, who came out here from Cambridgeport,
Massachusetts, in 1852. They have had
one child Sarah Emma, who died in November, 1857. Mr. Sweetser is a
member of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers. He is the only one of the organizers of the
Congregational Church now among its members of living here. The next year after organization he was
elected deacon, and has filled that post for a long time. He is also treasurer of the
congregation. He was also for four years
superintendent of the Sunday-school. He
was one of the organizers of the First Division, Sons of Temperance, and has
always taken a lively interest in temperance and church work. In the days of the volunteer fire department
Mr. Sweetser was a member, and for some time
assistant foreman of Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1. During the last year, however, he was a
member of Young America Company, No. 6.
He is a member of Eureka Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Pacific Encampment, and
has passed the chairs in both, and is a veteran Odd Fellow. He was a Whig in the days of that party, but
later a Republican. He has been a member
of the board of education, secretary of that body, and ex-officio city
superintendent. He is at this time a
notary public. Mr. Sweetser
has been at all times an active and influential citizen, and holds a high place
in the esteem of the community. The
various events in the history of Sacramento have passed as a panorama before
his vision, and he has witnessed the growth of the city from a frontier outpost
to its present proud position.
Transcribed by Karen Pratt.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An
Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 566-567. Lewis Publishing
Company. 1890.
© 2006
Karen Pratt.