Tuolumne
County
Biographies
JOSEPH WOOLFORD
Joseph Woolford, who is practically
living a retired life in Plymouth, has through his well directed efforts won a
competency that now enables him largely to put aside business cares. He is a native of England, his birth having
occurred in Ramsbury, Wiltshire, on the 7th of February, 1830. For many generations the family resided in
that country. His father, William
Woolford, married Miss Elizabeth Hobbs, a native of his own town, and they had
fourteen children, but only three are living now. He reached the very advanced age of
eighty-four years, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy-two years. They were members of the Church of
England,--honest, industrious and upright people.
Joseph Woolford was early trained to
habits of industry and economy. When
only eight years of age he began to earn his living, and in consequence his
educational privileges were very limited.
He served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith’s trade in the city of
London, after which he worked on the Great Eastern steamship, and in 1857 went
into southern waters, locating in Peru, where he assisted in the building of an
iron mater or wharf which ran out into the sea past the surf. Determining to make his home in California,
he arrived in Plymouth in the spring of 1862, and was for two years engaged in
placer mining in different places in the county, but making only six dollars a
day, he was not satisfied with the wages.
Subsequently he spent eighteen years in the employ of the Haywood Mining
Company, working at his trade and at all kinds of blacksmithing and iron-working
required in the mill and mines. He was
the foreman of their shop, and being an expert workman he gave excellent satisfaction
to his employers. He also worked in the
Empire and Pacific mines for the New London Folks for two years, and in 1872 he
took up two hundred and eighty acres of land adjoining the town of Plymouth. He now resides upon his farm. He has improved the property and erected a
good residence, but in a measure he has retired from active business, although
he still has a shop and his high reputation as a first-class workman brings to
him considerable trade.
Mr. Woolford has always given his
support to the Democratic Party, but has never been an aspirant for office,
preferring to give his time and attention to his business affairs. He adheres to the faith of the Episcopal church and has led an honorable and upright life, his word
being as good as his bond. His marked
industry has been the source of his prosperity, and he belongs to that class of
energetic and reliable men who have truly won the proud American title of
self-made.
Henry Woolford, a nephew of our
subject, with his family, is living on the farm and working it, while Mr.
Woolford makes his home with them.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 238-239. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.