Almost
every civilized country contributed its quota to the population of San
Francisco in the early days of the gold rush, just as today. The news that gold had been discovered in
California resulted in a movement westward which has culminated in the
present-day magnificent conditions which give to the residents of the Golden
State an existence not obtainable outside of Paradise. One of the pioneers who did not let the
hardships of distance or poor transportation turn him from his purpose to seek
in California a fortune through mining activities was the late Joseph Rassette,
a native of Canada, but a resident of Saint Louis, Missouri, when the news of
the great discovery reached the world.
Deciding
immediately to go to California, he set forth on his journey, and in addition
to the regulation outfit, carried with him his house. The first stage of the journey was made down the Mississippi
River, and he continued it along the coast of South America, around the Horn,
and up the western coast of that continent to San Francisco. Upon his arrival at the little village he
located at the corner of Sansomi and Rush streets, and there erected the house
he brought out with him naming it Rassette House. Afterwards he went to Virginia City and became interested in the
Cholar Potosi, of which he was a third owner. In this mine on the 29th of February, 1864, he lost his life while going
down in the mine in a cage which in some unaccountable manner was
overturned. His nephew, Jean Baptisti
Rassette, and his wife, who was a daughter of the well known Papin family of
L'Assumption, Canada, came out to California with him and they were the parents
of the eight children who now survive them.
Mr. Rassette was a far sighted,
practical man, who instead of wasting his money, prudently invested it in city
real-estate, buying a large amount of property, on which some very important
buildings have been erected, including the present city hall. A man of great force of character, he took a
dominating part in public affairs, beginning with membership in the Vigilantes
Committee and continuing until his death.
Joseph Rassette first married a Miss
Vignet of Canada, but they had no children.
In religious faith he was a Catholic, and he was active in his church.
Many years have passed since this excellent man has been called to his reward,
but what he accomplished, and the influence of his life and character remain,
and are still affecting the life of the city he loved. Mrs. Rassette who died in March of 1894, at
the ripe age of eight-four, was known as a woman of sterling qualities,
charitable to a degree, as many who still survive her can testify.
Louise E. Shoemaker, Transcriber February 23, 2004
Source: "The San
Francisco Bay Region" by Bailey Millard Vol. 3 page 103-104. Published by The
American Historical Society, Inc. 1924.
© 2004 Louise Shoemaker