SELIM E. WOODWORTH
Selim E. Woodworth, whose death occurred at his home in the City of San
Francisco in the year 1871, was not only a pioneer of the Pacific Coast and
especially of California, but was also a man whose career was marked by much of
spirited adventure and by large and worthy achievements, including
distinguished service in the United States Navy, in which he gained the rank of
commodore.
Commodore Woodworth was born in New York City, on the 15th of
November, 1815, and was a son of Samuel Woodworth, scholar and poet, best known
in history through having been the author of the loved poem entitled "The
Old Oaken Bucket." Selim M. Woodworth gained good educational advantages,
as gauged by the standards of the period, and he was eighteen years of age
when, in 1834, he sailed from the Port of New York City for a three years’
cruise in the South Pacific Ocean, on a vessel commanded by Capt. Benjamin
Morrell and of the primitive type common to that day. This ship was wrecked on
the coast of Madagascar and all on board perished in the disaster with the
exception of the subject of this memoir and one member of the crew. He was
protected by a native woman and thus escaped death, and a considerable time
elapsed ere he was able to make his escape on a whaling vessel that visited the
island. He returned home, where he was greeted as one from the dead, as all
hope for his return had been abandoned. In 1838 he was appointed midshipman in
the United States Navy, and he continued in active service until April 1, 1846,
when he obtained leave of absence and set forth for the settlements along the
Columbia River, he having come to the Pacific Coast by way of the historic old
Oregon trail. In the winter of 1846-47 Commodore Woodworth came to San
Francisco, and after the completion of his service in connection with the
Donner relief expedition, on which he had come to the coast, he was ordered to
the sloop of war named the "Warren." Later he was placed in command
of the transport Anita, and in 1849, upon his election to the California Senate
from Monterey he resigned his commission in the navy. He resigned his naval
commission in 1867 and returned to San Francisco, in which city he continued to
reside, a distinguished and honored pioneer citizen, until the time of his
death in 1871. It should here be made a matter of historic record that
Commodore Woodworth erected in San Francisco the first house on the water front
of the bay, this building having been on the north side of Clay Street, at the
water’s edge and on the site of what was later known at the Clay Street Market.
Here he and his brother Frederick lived and carried on a successful commission
business. Commodore Woodworth was a man of fine character, loyal and true in
all of the relations of life, and eminently endowed with human sympathy and
tolerance, as shown in his constant leadership in the protection of human life
and property and in works of charity and benevolence. He was of small physical
stature, but had the heart and courage of a lion, was firm in his convictions,
broad in his views, and always ready to support the right. He served in 1851 as
president of the local Vigilance Committee. He was fond of the great outdoors
from his youth to the close of his life, and it may be noted in this connection
that in 1854 he established a shooting box on Red Rock, a tiny isle midway
between San Francisco and San Pablo Bay. He and his brother Frederick owned a
lot at the corner of Market and Second streets in San Francisco, and in the
period of squatter’s trouble here the brothers were compelled to camp on their
lot, which was then a mere sand hill, and to defend the same with shotguns, to
prevent inroads by squatters. This lot is a portion of the ground on which the
Grand Hotel later was erected and now stands. Commodore Woodworth married, and
the one surviving child was a son, Selim E. II, whose death occurred several
years ago, on a steamship on which he was enroute to South America. Selim E.
Woodworth II was graduated in the United Stattes Naval Academy at Annapolis,
Maryland, and continued his service in the navy until his death, he being
survived by his widow, who was his cousin and a daughter of the late James S.
Wethered. Three children likewise survive him, and Mrs. Woodworth still
maintains her home in San Francisco.
Transcribed by Elaine Sturdevant
Source: "The San
Francisco Bay Region" Vol. 3 page 194-196 by Bailey Millard. Published by
The American Historical Society, Inc. 1924.
© 2004 Elaine
Sturdevant.