San
Joaquin County
Biographies
MRS. SOPHIA HARRINGTON
A native daughter of California,
Mrs. Sophia Harrington was born at Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County. She was in maidenhood Sophia Buyck, her father being John Francis Buyck,
a native of Belgium, who, having been left an orphan as a small boy, made his
way to New York City and there made his own livelihood. When he heard of the discovery of gold in
California he resolved to come hither, and became one of the Argonauts of ’49. Coming via Panama to San Francisco, he
immediately made his way to the mines in Calaveras County, where he followed
mining until 1851. He returned east via
Panama and was married that same year to Miss Mary Bruton,
a native of the great metropolis, of Scotch-Irish parentage. In 1852 Mr. Buyck
brought his bride via the Isthmus to San Francisco. On the way they were wrecked on the “Georgia”
and they spent three days in an open boat, when they were picked up, and their
boat was the only one ever accounted for.
On his arrival in California, Mr. Buyck again followed mining, being located at Mokelumne
Hill, residing there until he died. His
widow spent her last days in Stockton.
Of their family of eight children four are living. Sophia, who is the fourth in order of birth,
was brought up at Mokelumne Hill, receiving a good education in the public
schools. About this time her mother
removed to Railroad Flat, in the same county, and soon after this in 1875
Sophia was married to Frederick J. Harrington, who was a native of Brighton,
Massachusetts, born November 24, 1847, a son of Joshua and Rosina (Wright) Harrington. He came with his parents to California in
1859, where the elder Harrington owned a big copper mine at Campo Seco,
Calaveras County, and there he attended public schools and assisted his father
until he volunteered his services for the Civil War. On November 29, 1864, he enlisted in Company
E, Seventh California Infantry, serving until he was mustered out in San
Francisco, May 28, 1866, after which he resumed mining and in time became owner
of the Bonanza Mine at Mokelumne Hill.
After disposing of it he continued mining, and unfortunately at a
cave-in at the Gwinn Mine in 1900 he was severely injured, being laid up for
some years. On recovery he came to
Stockton in 1906, being in the employ of Robert Powell, the contractor, as
timekeeper until 1918. He was taken ill
by paralysis and he passed away July 16, 1918.
He was a past commander of Rawlins Post No. 29, G. A. R.
Mr. and Mrs. Harrington had seven
children: George F., of Rio Vista;
Samuel S., deceased; Charles R.; Mrs. Grace G. Gallagher; Mrs. Mary A. Folsom;
Frederick, Jr.; and Leonard McKinley, all of Stockton. Since her husband’s death Mrs. Harrington
continues to reside in Stockton, surrounded by her family and many
friends. She is a member of Rawlins
Relief Corps and attends the Christian Church, in both of which she is
deservedly popular.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1383. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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