wife Anna Margaret Backhouse M.06/16/1840
parents Joseph H. Coulter and Mary J. Wilson
6 children
--------------
On the roll of those who arrived in California in 1849 appears the name of George Wilson Coulter, and as one of the honored pioneers of the state well does he deserve mention in this volume; but not alone on that account, as for more than half a century he has been active in advancing a substantial upbuilding of the commonwealth and the town of Coulterville, his works standing as monuments to his enterprise and progressive spirit. He is now the owner of the Coulter Hotel at Chinese Station, conducting a popular and well-appointed hostelry. Mr. Coulter is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Westmoreland County on the 12th of July, 1818. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Wilson) Coulter, were both natives of the Keystone state and were descended from good old Revolutionary stock, their ancestors having aided in the establishment of American independence. The father died in the forty-sixth year of his age and the mother passed away at the age of eighty-seven, having long survived her husband. George Wilson Coulter, the eldest of their six children, was educated in the common schools, and when the country became engaged in war with Mexico he joined the American forces and with his command proceeded to Santa Fe, where he was stationed until hostilities had ceased. He then received an honorable discharge and returned to the east to his family, for in the meantime he had married in Pennsylvania Miss Margaret Backhouse, a descendant of an old Philadelphia family. They resided in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1843 until 1846, when Mr. Coulter served in the Mexican War a year. Next he removed with his wife and two little sons to Santa Fe where another son, George, was born. There he engaged in conducting a hotel until the discovery of gold in California, when, hoping to benefit his financial condition, he crossed the plains from Santa Fe to Mariposa, where he engaged in mining until the 5th of November, 1849. He then went to San Jose and after passing the winter in that place he returned in the following spring to Mariposa, where he resumed his mining operations. In connection with a partner he took out a nugget valued at four hundred and seventy dollars, and on another occasion took out one worth three hundred and fifteen dollars. Two months’ labor resulted in bringing to him twenty-four hundred dollars, and with the capital he had thus acquired he opened a store on Merced River, at the mouth of Solomon’s Gulch. Subsequently he founded the town which has since born his name, Coulterville, and there erected a number of buildings and was its leading citizen for a long period, continuing to make it his principal place of abode until 1897. In the meantime he conducted a hotel at the Yosemite for two years, and in 1897 he erected his hotel at Chinese Station. The Sierra Railroad had just been completed to Jamestown. He built a near and substantial hotel building, conveniently arranged for the purpose, and has since been identified with the business and public interests of Chinese Station. In 1851 Mr. Coulter was joined by his wife and three children, Joseph S., Angney and George. After their arrival in California the family was increased by the birth of a son and a daughter, Alexander Stair and Anna M. The last named and George are now the only surviving children of the family. The daughter is the wife of George W. Kenney, who resides at the Yosemite during the summer months, and has a winter home in Madera. Mrs. Coulter departed this life in 1890, having traveled happily by the side of her husband on the journey of life for fifty-one and one-half years. She had been to him a most faithful companion and helpmate, and her venerable husband feels her loss keenly. His son George is now associated with him in the hotel business and relieves him of the care and responsibility connected with its conduct. In his political affiliations he has been a life-long Democrat. His career has been one of uprightness in which he has shaped his life by manly principles, and those who know him render him the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded those who have advanced far on life’s journey, Mr. Coulter now having passed the eighty-second milestone. Source: “A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California”, Pages 608-610. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901. Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
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Mariposa Gazette, Number 44, 11 January 1902: Death of a Well Known Pioneer George W. Coulter died at his home at Chinese on Friday of last week at the age of 84 years. months and 21 days. He returned Sunday from Madera, where he spent the holidays with his daughter Mrs. George Kinney, and complained of feeling ill. He took to his bed and steadily grew worse until the end came. The remains were conveyed to Coulterville and interred beside his deceased wife and children last Sunday, in presence of a vast concourse of his friends, His daughter Mrs Kinney and his son George and their families were present. Thus passed one of the most honorable human land-marks of this county. Mr.Coulter was a native of West Moreland county, Pa. At the breaking out of the Mexican War he enlisted in St. Louis and served under General Kearney until peace was declared. Where living in Santa Fe the news of the California gold strike reached there, and he started with the first party for this State Attracted by the report that gold had been found at White's Gulch and Maxwell Creek, Mariposa county. Mr Coulter procured a stock of goods in Stockton early in 1850, and started to Maxwell's Creek to open a store. On the way the team, mules and goods were stolen by Mexicans. He went back, bought a new stock, and the same year reached the present site of Coulterville He opened a store in a large tent under the same oak tree which now stands in front of McCarthy's drug store. A small flag ornamented the pinnacle of the tent, and the Mexican miners named the place Itaudcrita, which means "little flag." This name attached to the infant village until a post office was asked; when Mr. Coulter's friends insisted on naming the post office and town Coulterville in honor of the first merchant. Mr. Coulter built the first log house and the first hotel in the town. It was as a landlord that he was best known, having conducted hotels in San Francisco, Merced and Coulterville. Coulter was one of the first white men to visit Yosemite Valley, He served as guardian and also as a Commissioner. He was an enterprising, energetic citizen and generous to fault. Probably no man ever lived in this county who had fewer enemies or who was more universally respected and admired than George W. Coulter. No name will be more generally missed than his from Mariposa's rollcall of pioneers.
parents Joseph H. Coulter and Mary J. Wilson
6 children
--------------
On the roll of those who arrived in California in 1849 appears the name of George Wilson Coulter, and as one of the honored pioneers of the state well does he deserve mention in this volume; but not alone on that account, as for more than half a century he has been active in advancing a substantial upbuilding of the commonwealth and the town of Coulterville, his works standing as monuments to his enterprise and progressive spirit. He is now the owner of the Coulter Hotel at Chinese Station, conducting a popular and well-appointed hostelry. Mr. Coulter is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Westmoreland County on the 12th of July, 1818. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Wilson) Coulter, were both natives of the Keystone state and were descended from good old Revolutionary stock, their ancestors having aided in the establishment of American independence. The father died in the forty-sixth year of his age and the mother passed away at the age of eighty-seven, having long survived her husband. George Wilson Coulter, the eldest of their six children, was educated in the common schools, and when the country became engaged in war with Mexico he joined the American forces and with his command proceeded to Santa Fe, where he was stationed until hostilities had ceased. He then received an honorable discharge and returned to the east to his family, for in the meantime he had married in Pennsylvania Miss Margaret Backhouse, a descendant of an old Philadelphia family. They resided in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1843 until 1846, when Mr. Coulter served in the Mexican War a year. Next he removed with his wife and two little sons to Santa Fe where another son, George, was born. There he engaged in conducting a hotel until the discovery of gold in California, when, hoping to benefit his financial condition, he crossed the plains from Santa Fe to Mariposa, where he engaged in mining until the 5th of November, 1849. He then went to San Jose and after passing the winter in that place he returned in the following spring to Mariposa, where he resumed his mining operations. In connection with a partner he took out a nugget valued at four hundred and seventy dollars, and on another occasion took out one worth three hundred and fifteen dollars. Two months’ labor resulted in bringing to him twenty-four hundred dollars, and with the capital he had thus acquired he opened a store on Merced River, at the mouth of Solomon’s Gulch. Subsequently he founded the town which has since born his name, Coulterville, and there erected a number of buildings and was its leading citizen for a long period, continuing to make it his principal place of abode until 1897. In the meantime he conducted a hotel at the Yosemite for two years, and in 1897 he erected his hotel at Chinese Station. The Sierra Railroad had just been completed to Jamestown. He built a near and substantial hotel building, conveniently arranged for the purpose, and has since been identified with the business and public interests of Chinese Station. In 1851 Mr. Coulter was joined by his wife and three children, Joseph S., Angney and George. After their arrival in California the family was increased by the birth of a son and a daughter, Alexander Stair and Anna M. The last named and George are now the only surviving children of the family. The daughter is the wife of George W. Kenney, who resides at the Yosemite during the summer months, and has a winter home in Madera. Mrs. Coulter departed this life in 1890, having traveled happily by the side of her husband on the journey of life for fifty-one and one-half years. She had been to him a most faithful companion and helpmate, and her venerable husband feels her loss keenly. His son George is now associated with him in the hotel business and relieves him of the care and responsibility connected with its conduct. In his political affiliations he has been a life-long Democrat. His career has been one of uprightness in which he has shaped his life by manly principles, and those who know him render him the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded those who have advanced far on life’s journey, Mr. Coulter now having passed the eighty-second milestone. Source: “A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California”, Pages 608-610. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901. Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
-------------
Mariposa Gazette, Number 44, 11 January 1902: Death of a Well Known Pioneer George W. Coulter died at his home at Chinese on Friday of last week at the age of 84 years. months and 21 days. He returned Sunday from Madera, where he spent the holidays with his daughter Mrs. George Kinney, and complained of feeling ill. He took to his bed and steadily grew worse until the end came. The remains were conveyed to Coulterville and interred beside his deceased wife and children last Sunday, in presence of a vast concourse of his friends, His daughter Mrs Kinney and his son George and their families were present. Thus passed one of the most honorable human land-marks of this county. Mr.Coulter was a native of West Moreland county, Pa. At the breaking out of the Mexican War he enlisted in St. Louis and served under General Kearney until peace was declared. Where living in Santa Fe the news of the California gold strike reached there, and he started with the first party for this State Attracted by the report that gold had been found at White's Gulch and Maxwell Creek, Mariposa county. Mr Coulter procured a stock of goods in Stockton early in 1850, and started to Maxwell's Creek to open a store. On the way the team, mules and goods were stolen by Mexicans. He went back, bought a new stock, and the same year reached the present site of Coulterville He opened a store in a large tent under the same oak tree which now stands in front of McCarthy's drug store. A small flag ornamented the pinnacle of the tent, and the Mexican miners named the place Itaudcrita, which means "little flag." This name attached to the infant village until a post office was asked; when Mr. Coulter's friends insisted on naming the post office and town Coulterville in honor of the first merchant. Mr. Coulter built the first log house and the first hotel in the town. It was as a landlord that he was best known, having conducted hotels in San Francisco, Merced and Coulterville. Coulter was one of the first white men to visit Yosemite Valley, He served as guardian and also as a Commissioner. He was an enterprising, energetic citizen and generous to fault. Probably no man ever lived in this county who had fewer enemies or who was more universally respected and admired than George W. Coulter. No name will be more generally missed than his from Mariposa's rollcall of pioneers.
wife Anna Margaret Backhouse M.06/16/1840
parents Joseph H. Coulter and Mary J. Wilson
6 children
--------------
On the roll of those who arrived in California in 1849 appears the name of George Wilson Coulter, and as one of the honored pioneers of the state well does he deserve mention in this volume; but not alone on that account, as for more than half a century he has been active in advancing a substantial upbuilding of the commonwealth and the town of Coulterville, his works standing as monuments to his enterprise and progressive spirit. He is now the owner of the Coulter Hotel at Chinese Station, conducting a popular and well-appointed hostelry. Mr. Coulter is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Westmoreland County on the 12th of July, 1818. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Wilson) Coulter, were both natives of the Keystone state and were descended from good old Revolutionary stock, their ancestors having aided in the establishment of American independence. The father died in the forty-sixth year of his age and the mother passed away at the age of eighty-seven, having long survived her husband. George Wilson Coulter, the eldest of their six children, was educated in the common schools, and when the country became engaged in war with Mexico he joined the American forces and with his command proceeded to Santa Fe, where he was stationed until hostilities had ceased. He then received an honorable discharge and returned to the east to his family, for in the meantime he had married in Pennsylvania Miss Margaret Backhouse, a descendant of an old Philadelphia family. They resided in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1843 until 1846, when Mr. Coulter served in the Mexican War a year. Next he removed with his wife and two little sons to Santa Fe where another son, George, was born. There he engaged in conducting a hotel until the discovery of gold in California, when, hoping to benefit his financial condition, he crossed the plains from Santa Fe to Mariposa, where he engaged in mining until the 5th of November, 1849. He then went to San Jose and after passing the winter in that place he returned in the following spring to Mariposa, where he resumed his mining operations. In connection with a partner he took out a nugget valued at four hundred and seventy dollars, and on another occasion took out one worth three hundred and fifteen dollars. Two months’ labor resulted in bringing to him twenty-four hundred dollars, and with the capital he had thus acquired he opened a store on Merced River, at the mouth of Solomon’s Gulch. Subsequently he founded the town which has since born his name, Coulterville, and there erected a number of buildings and was its leading citizen for a long period, continuing to make it his principal place of abode until 1897. In the meantime he conducted a hotel at the Yosemite for two years, and in 1897 he erected his hotel at Chinese Station. The Sierra Railroad had just been completed to Jamestown. He built a near and substantial hotel building, conveniently arranged for the purpose, and has since been identified with the business and public interests of Chinese Station. In 1851 Mr. Coulter was joined by his wife and three children, Joseph S., Angney and George. After their arrival in California the family was increased by the birth of a son and a daughter, Alexander Stair and Anna M. The last named and George are now the only surviving children of the family. The daughter is the wife of George W. Kenney, who resides at the Yosemite during the summer months, and has a winter home in Madera. Mrs. Coulter departed this life in 1890, having traveled happily by the side of her husband on the journey of life for fifty-one and one-half years. She had been to him a most faithful companion and helpmate, and her venerable husband feels her loss keenly. His son George is now associated with him in the hotel business and relieves him of the care and responsibility connected with its conduct. In his political affiliations he has been a life-long Democrat. His career has been one of uprightness in which he has shaped his life by manly principles, and those who know him render him the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded those who have advanced far on life’s journey, Mr. Coulter now having passed the eighty-second milestone. Source: “A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California”, Pages 608-610. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901. Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
-------------
Mariposa Gazette, Number 44, 11 January 1902: Death of a Well Known Pioneer George W. Coulter died at his home at Chinese on Friday of last week at the age of 84 years. months and 21 days. He returned Sunday from Madera, where he spent the holidays with his daughter Mrs. George Kinney, and complained of feeling ill. He took to his bed and steadily grew worse until the end came. The remains were conveyed to Coulterville and interred beside his deceased wife and children last Sunday, in presence of a vast concourse of his friends, His daughter Mrs Kinney and his son George and their families were present. Thus passed one of the most honorable human land-marks of this county. Mr.Coulter was a native of West Moreland county, Pa. At the breaking out of the Mexican War he enlisted in St. Louis and served under General Kearney until peace was declared. Where living in Santa Fe the news of the California gold strike reached there, and he started with the first party for this State Attracted by the report that gold had been found at White's Gulch and Maxwell Creek, Mariposa county. Mr Coulter procured a stock of goods in Stockton early in 1850, and started to Maxwell's Creek to open a store. On the way the team, mules and goods were stolen by Mexicans. He went back, bought a new stock, and the same year reached the present site of Coulterville He opened a store in a large tent under the same oak tree which now stands in front of McCarthy's drug store. A small flag ornamented the pinnacle of the tent, and the Mexican miners named the place Itaudcrita, which means "little flag." This name attached to the infant village until a post office was asked; when Mr. Coulter's friends insisted on naming the post office and town Coulterville in honor of the first merchant. Mr. Coulter built the first log house and the first hotel in the town. It was as a landlord that he was best known, having conducted hotels in San Francisco, Merced and Coulterville. Coulter was one of the first white men to visit Yosemite Valley, He served as guardian and also as a Commissioner. He was an enterprising, energetic citizen and generous to fault. Probably no man ever lived in this county who had fewer enemies or who was more universally respected and admired than George W. Coulter. No name will be more generally missed than his from Mariposa's rollcall of pioneers.
parents Joseph H. Coulter and Mary J. Wilson
6 children
--------------
On the roll of those who arrived in California in 1849 appears the name of George Wilson Coulter, and as one of the honored pioneers of the state well does he deserve mention in this volume; but not alone on that account, as for more than half a century he has been active in advancing a substantial upbuilding of the commonwealth and the town of Coulterville, his works standing as monuments to his enterprise and progressive spirit. He is now the owner of the Coulter Hotel at Chinese Station, conducting a popular and well-appointed hostelry. Mr. Coulter is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Westmoreland County on the 12th of July, 1818. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Wilson) Coulter, were both natives of the Keystone state and were descended from good old Revolutionary stock, their ancestors having aided in the establishment of American independence. The father died in the forty-sixth year of his age and the mother passed away at the age of eighty-seven, having long survived her husband. George Wilson Coulter, the eldest of their six children, was educated in the common schools, and when the country became engaged in war with Mexico he joined the American forces and with his command proceeded to Santa Fe, where he was stationed until hostilities had ceased. He then received an honorable discharge and returned to the east to his family, for in the meantime he had married in Pennsylvania Miss Margaret Backhouse, a descendant of an old Philadelphia family. They resided in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1843 until 1846, when Mr. Coulter served in the Mexican War a year. Next he removed with his wife and two little sons to Santa Fe where another son, George, was born. There he engaged in conducting a hotel until the discovery of gold in California, when, hoping to benefit his financial condition, he crossed the plains from Santa Fe to Mariposa, where he engaged in mining until the 5th of November, 1849. He then went to San Jose and after passing the winter in that place he returned in the following spring to Mariposa, where he resumed his mining operations. In connection with a partner he took out a nugget valued at four hundred and seventy dollars, and on another occasion took out one worth three hundred and fifteen dollars. Two months’ labor resulted in bringing to him twenty-four hundred dollars, and with the capital he had thus acquired he opened a store on Merced River, at the mouth of Solomon’s Gulch. Subsequently he founded the town which has since born his name, Coulterville, and there erected a number of buildings and was its leading citizen for a long period, continuing to make it his principal place of abode until 1897. In the meantime he conducted a hotel at the Yosemite for two years, and in 1897 he erected his hotel at Chinese Station. The Sierra Railroad had just been completed to Jamestown. He built a near and substantial hotel building, conveniently arranged for the purpose, and has since been identified with the business and public interests of Chinese Station. In 1851 Mr. Coulter was joined by his wife and three children, Joseph S., Angney and George. After their arrival in California the family was increased by the birth of a son and a daughter, Alexander Stair and Anna M. The last named and George are now the only surviving children of the family. The daughter is the wife of George W. Kenney, who resides at the Yosemite during the summer months, and has a winter home in Madera. Mrs. Coulter departed this life in 1890, having traveled happily by the side of her husband on the journey of life for fifty-one and one-half years. She had been to him a most faithful companion and helpmate, and her venerable husband feels her loss keenly. His son George is now associated with him in the hotel business and relieves him of the care and responsibility connected with its conduct. In his political affiliations he has been a life-long Democrat. His career has been one of uprightness in which he has shaped his life by manly principles, and those who know him render him the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded those who have advanced far on life’s journey, Mr. Coulter now having passed the eighty-second milestone. Source: “A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California”, Pages 608-610. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901. Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
-------------
Mariposa Gazette, Number 44, 11 January 1902: Death of a Well Known Pioneer George W. Coulter died at his home at Chinese on Friday of last week at the age of 84 years. months and 21 days. He returned Sunday from Madera, where he spent the holidays with his daughter Mrs. George Kinney, and complained of feeling ill. He took to his bed and steadily grew worse until the end came. The remains were conveyed to Coulterville and interred beside his deceased wife and children last Sunday, in presence of a vast concourse of his friends, His daughter Mrs Kinney and his son George and their families were present. Thus passed one of the most honorable human land-marks of this county. Mr.Coulter was a native of West Moreland county, Pa. At the breaking out of the Mexican War he enlisted in St. Louis and served under General Kearney until peace was declared. Where living in Santa Fe the news of the California gold strike reached there, and he started with the first party for this State Attracted by the report that gold had been found at White's Gulch and Maxwell Creek, Mariposa county. Mr Coulter procured a stock of goods in Stockton early in 1850, and started to Maxwell's Creek to open a store. On the way the team, mules and goods were stolen by Mexicans. He went back, bought a new stock, and the same year reached the present site of Coulterville He opened a store in a large tent under the same oak tree which now stands in front of McCarthy's drug store. A small flag ornamented the pinnacle of the tent, and the Mexican miners named the place Itaudcrita, which means "little flag." This name attached to the infant village until a post office was asked; when Mr. Coulter's friends insisted on naming the post office and town Coulterville in honor of the first merchant. Mr. Coulter built the first log house and the first hotel in the town. It was as a landlord that he was best known, having conducted hotels in San Francisco, Merced and Coulterville. Coulter was one of the first white men to visit Yosemite Valley, He served as guardian and also as a Commissioner. He was an enterprising, energetic citizen and generous to fault. Probably no man ever lived in this county who had fewer enemies or who was more universally respected and admired than George W. Coulter. No name will be more generally missed than his from Mariposa's rollcall of pioneers.
Inscription
G. W. COULTER
BORN
July 12, 1818.
DIED
Jan. 4, 1902.
Also his Wife
MARGARETTE,
BORN
Jan. 10, 1817
DIED
Feb. 2, 1891
SGT.
G. W. COULTER
LACLADE
RANGERS
MEX./AMER. WAR
1846-1847
Family Members
Siblings
