Son of Dorothy Drake and Lewis Hanford. Married to a woman named Elizabeth "Betsy" W. Borden on 03 Feb 1834 by Rev James W. Woodward in the church in Shrewsbury, NJ. They had one daughter, Lauretta, who married a Mr. Cook and died in her early twenties. William left Betsy and their 11-year-old daughter Lauretta behind in 1849 and headed to California to join the Gold Rush. He didn't return for nearly 4 years.
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These [New Brunswick Presbyterian] records were copied by Monmouth Court House Chapter, D.A.R., and published through the Monmouth Historical Association, Freehold, N. J. and released by (Mrs. William R.) Laura V. Conover, Registrar
Handford, William H. and Elizabeth W. Borden, both of Shrewsbury 1834 Feb 3, By James W. Woodward, Minister
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 5, Number 708, 30 June 1853 — The Big Tree.
Our fellow citizen, Mr. J. M. Freeman has recently, in company with Alvin Adams, made a tour to that eighth wonder of the world, the Mammoth Tree, and has politely placed us in possession of many facts relating thereto, which we take pleasure in laying before our readers. It is truly a wonderful production, even in this land, where be many strange things do abound.
All that has been said or written in the journals of the day is inadequate to convey any idea of its grandeur, extent and magnificence; one must behold, to appreciate the majesty of this King of Trees.
It is distant from this city about one hundred and twenty-five miles, and situate at the source of the Stanislaus and San Antonio rivers, in the foot hills near the base of the Sierra Nevada, in Calaveras county. It shoots aloft its towering head (as nearly perpendicular as may be) to the height of two hundred and eighty-seven feet; at the base, it measures ninety-six feet in circumference, and five feet above the ground, ninety feet, at which height the tree is being felled, in order to fill it.
The bark has been taken off to the height of forty-five feet, in sections, each piece being numbered and packed for transportation to San Francisco; thence it will be shipped to New York, where it will be set up around frame work for exhibition. The bark varies in thickness from six to sixteen inches. Mr. Freeman has in his possession a piece of the bark fourteen inches thick; also foliage with two buds attached, which he culled with his rifle from the top most branches. The lower limb of any material size, is one hundred and fifty feet above the ground, and measures four feet and a half in diameter. In the immediate vicinity are many very large trees measuring from thirty to seventy-five feet, and all around the scenery is grand and picturesque in the extreme.
The following incident, related to us by Mr. F. will give our readers some faint idea of the immense magnitude of this monarch of California forests. The lower section of bark being taken off was set up on a large platform, prepared for the purpose, the bark fitting together closely—-thither strolled a party of ladies and gentlemen with music, &c., and inside the bark thus put together, danced three quadrilles at the same time, there being ample room beside for some ten gentlemen who were spectators of the novel scene.
Mr. Freeman brought away also a piece of the wood split from the side of the tree, which shows the average number of zones to be thirty to the inch, which, if a correct manner of calculating the age of his treeship, would show him to be upwards of four thousand years old — a fact calculated to upset certain geological theories of the savans in regard to this State. There is no authentic record extant of the discovery of any tree comparable to this in size, and California therefore may justly claim that within her borders is to be found the largest trees on the globe.
The Big Tree is a species of red cedar, and is the property of Captain Hanford and four other stock holders of the Union Water Company.
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Daily Alta California, Number 331, 2 December 1858
Salt Spring Mining Ditch, in Calaveras County
Salt Spring Valley is an isolated mining (and to some extent, an agricultural) district, some six miles south-west of Angels, and seven miles north of the Sanislaus (sic). Toward the eastern end of the valley is situated Tule Lake—-a body of water fed in summer from a number of springs, and in winter from five or six small creeks, which empty into it. Tule Lake covers some seventy-five or eighty acres of space, and when full, is from six to eight feet in depth of water. It is surrounded by a dense growth of tule, which, in the spring and early summer months, is the resort of vast numbers of duck, geese and brant, that here lay and breed their young. In the early part of the past spring, Messrs. Dennis Corcoran and J. P. Haskill, of San Andreas, conceived the idea of cutting a ditch from the mining district below this lake, for the purpose of draining its water for the use of the miners. The ditch will be finished next week, and will be three miles in length, and for a considerable portion of this distance runs through solid rock, to a depth of seven feet. This secures to these gentlemen the right to all the water the lake will hold; and they inform us that their supply will probably not exhaust itself until the month of October, in average seasons.
Four miles down the main stream, through which the lake debouches in wet weather, when its banks overflow, Hanford & Co. have constructed another reservoir, to catch and save the waste-water that escapes from the lake in the winter. This is also nearly completed, and is one of the most astonishing proofs of the genius and energy of our mining projectors anywhere to be seen in the State. The dam is two miles in length, forty feet high, and when it is filled (as it doubtless will be, by the January rains), will cover an area of irregular shape two or three miles in diameter, creating a perfect "inland sea" of water. The reservoir is constructed in the most solid manner, and is capable of resisting any pressure of water that may oppose it. Should it break, however, woe be unto the neighboring low-lands, and the farms that lie in the neighboring Stockton plains. This immense body of water will be trained through ditches, to run among a system of rich gulches, flats and hills, of placer and quartz mines, extending from the reservoir to the hills that stud the Stanislaus—seven miles below. — San Andreas Independent.
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 17, Number 2658, 4 October 1859--(This article documented William H. Hanford's commission as county clerk for Calaveras County, CA.)
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 19, Number 2856, 22 May 1860
NEWS OF THE MORNING....Rich Gulch.— The recent introduction of water into Rich Gulch, from Hanford's large reservoir, in Salt Spring Valley, says the San Andreas Independent, has attracted many miners to that place. Their prospect for making money is believed to be good. All are busily engaged building reservoirs, prospecting and opening claims.
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 21, Number 3147, 29 April 1861
Mining in Calaveras
The San Andreas Independent chronicles the following: A vein of rock containing silver ore has recently been discovered on Pennsylvania Gulch, near Murphy's, by Sayre and Barnes. Two assays of the rock have been made; the first assay yielded $320 per ton; the second, $500 per ton. The rock is said to be plentiful and easily obtained.
Mills and Nichols, miners, on Thursday last obtained from a single pan of dirt taken from their drift claim which is located directly under one of the main streets of San Andreas, $78 75. They have taken as much as $100 to the pan from the same claim.
Messrs. Caldwell & Co. recently struck new diggings at Vallecito, or near that place, on what is known as the Italian Ranch. The gold obtained is coarse.
Chile Gulch is the name of a camp between San Andreas and Mokelumne Hill, but the mines known as the Chile Gulch Diggings extend along a small creek for several miles, and are from recent developments just at this time the most productive in this county. Several hundred miners are employed in them. We heard of one claim last week, which in three days washing (five men employed), cleaned up $1,100.
It was mentioned in last week's Independent that Hanford & Shear's quartz vein, located near Angels and known as the Broderick Mine, had paid $4,000 to 100 tons of rock. Since then we learn that the proprietors of the mine have obtained from 80 tons of rock, which was crushed in 16 days, $13,380.
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 39, Number 6012, 6 July 1870
The latest accounts from San Gregorio say all of the party poisoned by eating mussels on Sunday, except Captain Hanford, are out of danger. Captain Hanford came here in 1849, and was widely known as a civil engineer. He built the first flume which carried water into Angels Camp, cut down the big tree of Calaveras, and in 1859 built the first reservoir for the Spring Valley Water Company, and has been ever since in the employ of that company.
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Daily Alta California [San Francisco], Volume 22, Number 7411, 6 July 1870
At San Gregorio, July 3d, Captain William H. Hanford, aged about 64 year, formerly Clerk of Calaveras County, and a native of Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend the funeral this day (Wednesday) at 3 o'clock P.M., from 641 Sacramento street.
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Sentinel, Number 19, 9 July 1870
FATAL POISONING BY EATING MUSSELS.--
The San Francisco Bulletin of July 5th says on Sunday a party of about fourteen ladies and gentlemen, residents of San Mateo county, went on a fishing excursion in the vicinity of San Gregorio, and, as the creek of that name did not yield sufficient for their proposed feast, they went to the beach and gathered from the rocks and sands a large quantity of mussels. These they cooked, and nearly the whole party partook of them plenteously. In a short time ten or twelve of the number became dangerously ill. They hastened to the hotel, and a messenger was sent in all haste to Spanishtown, twenty-five miles distant, but the nearest point from which a physician could be procured. While he was gone such remedies as suggested themselves were administered; but, before the physician came, one of the number--Captain William H. Hanford of this city--expired. The rest of the party were properly cared for, and it was thought they would all recover. The body of Captain Hanford will be brought to this city and the funeral will take place to-morrow. Captain Hanford was sixty-three years of age. He formerly resided in Calaveras county.
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The Portland [OR] Oregonian, 12 Jul 1870, Tuesday
In San Mateo county (Cal) recently, twelve persons were poisoned by eating mussels one fatally. The unfortunate person was Capt William Hanford, of San Francisco.
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The Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle, 19 Jul 1870, Tuesday
A BROOKLYNITE POISONED
The Result of Eating Mussels--Twelve Persons Poisoned and one Dies.
(From the San Francisco Daily Call)
On Saturday last, Capt. W. H. Hanford, accompanied by Samuel McCall and ____ Coulters, left their camp at the lands claimed by the San Francisco Water Company, and proceeded to Pescadero, for the purpose of enjoying a few days' fishing. They made their headquarters at the San Gregorio House, where they remained until Sunday morning, when the Captain went out and fished during the entire forenoon. When they were ready to return to the hotel, Captain Hanford collected a quantity of mussels from the rocks on the beach, and carrying them with him, gave them to the cook with instructions to prepare them for dinner.
The order was obeyed, and the persons already named, together with Mr. Powers, Mr. Rea, wife and two children, and five others, whose name we did not learn, ate of it. The Captain, being very fond of the dish, ate very heartily, and after dinner went out and resumed his fishing, but returned in the course of a half hour, complaining of feeling unwell. He was soon after taken with severe pains in the stomach, and then commenced to vomit. At this time all those who had partaken of the mussels were attacked with vomiting and cramps. Messengers were at once dispatched to Spanishtown, some twelve miles distant, for a physician, but before he arrived Captain Hanford had died. The doctor immediately administered proper remedies, and in a short time had the pleasure of finding all his patients improving. When our informant left for San Francisco, they were all considered out of danger.
Captain Hanford came to California in 1849, and has remained here ever since, and was widely known as a skillful and competent civil engineer. He built the first flume that carried water into Angel's Camp, and he also projected and built several other flumes and ditches in Calaveras county. He was the person who cut down one of the big trees in Calaveras, and at one time he was the County Clerk of Calaveras county. In 1859 he built the first reservoir for the Spring Valley Water Company, and since that time has been engaged in quite a number of enterprises, and at the time of his death, was engaged in making surveys, etc., for the San Francisco Water Company. He was a native of New Jersey, aged sixty-four years, and leaves a wife in Brooklyn, New York. His remains will be brought to this city for interment.
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Sonoma Democrat, Number 41, 23 July 1870
Capt. Hanford died in Monterrey from eating poisonous mussels. Several of his party also are sick.
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Daily Alta California, Volume 22, Number 7424, 19 July 1870 & The Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel, 30 Jul 1870, Saturday
POISONOUS MUSSELS.--The Monterrey Democrat says, "The death of Captain Hanford, and the illness of the rest of his party from eating mussels at San Gregorio, coast of San Mateo, the other day, did not surprise people here who are acquainted with the shellfish in question. The summer months are not the proper season to eat it no more than for the oyster; and at all times it is necessary to use discretion in gathering it. The mussel must be taken from the rocks at dead low water, where it is always wet. If high enough up to be exposed fully to the sun or moon's rays, upon most stomachs it will operate as a powerful poison.
****************************************
These [New Brunswick Presbyterian] records were copied by Monmouth Court House Chapter, D.A.R., and published through the Monmouth Historical Association, Freehold, N. J. and released by (Mrs. William R.) Laura V. Conover, Registrar
Handford, William H. and Elizabeth W. Borden, both of Shrewsbury 1834 Feb 3, By James W. Woodward, Minister
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 5, Number 708, 30 June 1853 — The Big Tree.
Our fellow citizen, Mr. J. M. Freeman has recently, in company with Alvin Adams, made a tour to that eighth wonder of the world, the Mammoth Tree, and has politely placed us in possession of many facts relating thereto, which we take pleasure in laying before our readers. It is truly a wonderful production, even in this land, where be many strange things do abound.
All that has been said or written in the journals of the day is inadequate to convey any idea of its grandeur, extent and magnificence; one must behold, to appreciate the majesty of this King of Trees.
It is distant from this city about one hundred and twenty-five miles, and situate at the source of the Stanislaus and San Antonio rivers, in the foot hills near the base of the Sierra Nevada, in Calaveras county. It shoots aloft its towering head (as nearly perpendicular as may be) to the height of two hundred and eighty-seven feet; at the base, it measures ninety-six feet in circumference, and five feet above the ground, ninety feet, at which height the tree is being felled, in order to fill it.
The bark has been taken off to the height of forty-five feet, in sections, each piece being numbered and packed for transportation to San Francisco; thence it will be shipped to New York, where it will be set up around frame work for exhibition. The bark varies in thickness from six to sixteen inches. Mr. Freeman has in his possession a piece of the bark fourteen inches thick; also foliage with two buds attached, which he culled with his rifle from the top most branches. The lower limb of any material size, is one hundred and fifty feet above the ground, and measures four feet and a half in diameter. In the immediate vicinity are many very large trees measuring from thirty to seventy-five feet, and all around the scenery is grand and picturesque in the extreme.
The following incident, related to us by Mr. F. will give our readers some faint idea of the immense magnitude of this monarch of California forests. The lower section of bark being taken off was set up on a large platform, prepared for the purpose, the bark fitting together closely—-thither strolled a party of ladies and gentlemen with music, &c., and inside the bark thus put together, danced three quadrilles at the same time, there being ample room beside for some ten gentlemen who were spectators of the novel scene.
Mr. Freeman brought away also a piece of the wood split from the side of the tree, which shows the average number of zones to be thirty to the inch, which, if a correct manner of calculating the age of his treeship, would show him to be upwards of four thousand years old — a fact calculated to upset certain geological theories of the savans in regard to this State. There is no authentic record extant of the discovery of any tree comparable to this in size, and California therefore may justly claim that within her borders is to be found the largest trees on the globe.
The Big Tree is a species of red cedar, and is the property of Captain Hanford and four other stock holders of the Union Water Company.
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Daily Alta California, Number 331, 2 December 1858
Salt Spring Mining Ditch, in Calaveras County
Salt Spring Valley is an isolated mining (and to some extent, an agricultural) district, some six miles south-west of Angels, and seven miles north of the Sanislaus (sic). Toward the eastern end of the valley is situated Tule Lake—-a body of water fed in summer from a number of springs, and in winter from five or six small creeks, which empty into it. Tule Lake covers some seventy-five or eighty acres of space, and when full, is from six to eight feet in depth of water. It is surrounded by a dense growth of tule, which, in the spring and early summer months, is the resort of vast numbers of duck, geese and brant, that here lay and breed their young. In the early part of the past spring, Messrs. Dennis Corcoran and J. P. Haskill, of San Andreas, conceived the idea of cutting a ditch from the mining district below this lake, for the purpose of draining its water for the use of the miners. The ditch will be finished next week, and will be three miles in length, and for a considerable portion of this distance runs through solid rock, to a depth of seven feet. This secures to these gentlemen the right to all the water the lake will hold; and they inform us that their supply will probably not exhaust itself until the month of October, in average seasons.
Four miles down the main stream, through which the lake debouches in wet weather, when its banks overflow, Hanford & Co. have constructed another reservoir, to catch and save the waste-water that escapes from the lake in the winter. This is also nearly completed, and is one of the most astonishing proofs of the genius and energy of our mining projectors anywhere to be seen in the State. The dam is two miles in length, forty feet high, and when it is filled (as it doubtless will be, by the January rains), will cover an area of irregular shape two or three miles in diameter, creating a perfect "inland sea" of water. The reservoir is constructed in the most solid manner, and is capable of resisting any pressure of water that may oppose it. Should it break, however, woe be unto the neighboring low-lands, and the farms that lie in the neighboring Stockton plains. This immense body of water will be trained through ditches, to run among a system of rich gulches, flats and hills, of placer and quartz mines, extending from the reservoir to the hills that stud the Stanislaus—seven miles below. — San Andreas Independent.
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 17, Number 2658, 4 October 1859--(This article documented William H. Hanford's commission as county clerk for Calaveras County, CA.)
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 19, Number 2856, 22 May 1860
NEWS OF THE MORNING....Rich Gulch.— The recent introduction of water into Rich Gulch, from Hanford's large reservoir, in Salt Spring Valley, says the San Andreas Independent, has attracted many miners to that place. Their prospect for making money is believed to be good. All are busily engaged building reservoirs, prospecting and opening claims.
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 21, Number 3147, 29 April 1861
Mining in Calaveras
The San Andreas Independent chronicles the following: A vein of rock containing silver ore has recently been discovered on Pennsylvania Gulch, near Murphy's, by Sayre and Barnes. Two assays of the rock have been made; the first assay yielded $320 per ton; the second, $500 per ton. The rock is said to be plentiful and easily obtained.
Mills and Nichols, miners, on Thursday last obtained from a single pan of dirt taken from their drift claim which is located directly under one of the main streets of San Andreas, $78 75. They have taken as much as $100 to the pan from the same claim.
Messrs. Caldwell & Co. recently struck new diggings at Vallecito, or near that place, on what is known as the Italian Ranch. The gold obtained is coarse.
Chile Gulch is the name of a camp between San Andreas and Mokelumne Hill, but the mines known as the Chile Gulch Diggings extend along a small creek for several miles, and are from recent developments just at this time the most productive in this county. Several hundred miners are employed in them. We heard of one claim last week, which in three days washing (five men employed), cleaned up $1,100.
It was mentioned in last week's Independent that Hanford & Shear's quartz vein, located near Angels and known as the Broderick Mine, had paid $4,000 to 100 tons of rock. Since then we learn that the proprietors of the mine have obtained from 80 tons of rock, which was crushed in 16 days, $13,380.
****************************************
Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 39, Number 6012, 6 July 1870
The latest accounts from San Gregorio say all of the party poisoned by eating mussels on Sunday, except Captain Hanford, are out of danger. Captain Hanford came here in 1849, and was widely known as a civil engineer. He built the first flume which carried water into Angels Camp, cut down the big tree of Calaveras, and in 1859 built the first reservoir for the Spring Valley Water Company, and has been ever since in the employ of that company.
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Daily Alta California [San Francisco], Volume 22, Number 7411, 6 July 1870
At San Gregorio, July 3d, Captain William H. Hanford, aged about 64 year, formerly Clerk of Calaveras County, and a native of Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend the funeral this day (Wednesday) at 3 o'clock P.M., from 641 Sacramento street.
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Sentinel, Number 19, 9 July 1870
FATAL POISONING BY EATING MUSSELS.--
The San Francisco Bulletin of July 5th says on Sunday a party of about fourteen ladies and gentlemen, residents of San Mateo county, went on a fishing excursion in the vicinity of San Gregorio, and, as the creek of that name did not yield sufficient for their proposed feast, they went to the beach and gathered from the rocks and sands a large quantity of mussels. These they cooked, and nearly the whole party partook of them plenteously. In a short time ten or twelve of the number became dangerously ill. They hastened to the hotel, and a messenger was sent in all haste to Spanishtown, twenty-five miles distant, but the nearest point from which a physician could be procured. While he was gone such remedies as suggested themselves were administered; but, before the physician came, one of the number--Captain William H. Hanford of this city--expired. The rest of the party were properly cared for, and it was thought they would all recover. The body of Captain Hanford will be brought to this city and the funeral will take place to-morrow. Captain Hanford was sixty-three years of age. He formerly resided in Calaveras county.
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The Portland [OR] Oregonian, 12 Jul 1870, Tuesday
In San Mateo county (Cal) recently, twelve persons were poisoned by eating mussels one fatally. The unfortunate person was Capt William Hanford, of San Francisco.
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The Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle, 19 Jul 1870, Tuesday
A BROOKLYNITE POISONED
The Result of Eating Mussels--Twelve Persons Poisoned and one Dies.
(From the San Francisco Daily Call)
On Saturday last, Capt. W. H. Hanford, accompanied by Samuel McCall and ____ Coulters, left their camp at the lands claimed by the San Francisco Water Company, and proceeded to Pescadero, for the purpose of enjoying a few days' fishing. They made their headquarters at the San Gregorio House, where they remained until Sunday morning, when the Captain went out and fished during the entire forenoon. When they were ready to return to the hotel, Captain Hanford collected a quantity of mussels from the rocks on the beach, and carrying them with him, gave them to the cook with instructions to prepare them for dinner.
The order was obeyed, and the persons already named, together with Mr. Powers, Mr. Rea, wife and two children, and five others, whose name we did not learn, ate of it. The Captain, being very fond of the dish, ate very heartily, and after dinner went out and resumed his fishing, but returned in the course of a half hour, complaining of feeling unwell. He was soon after taken with severe pains in the stomach, and then commenced to vomit. At this time all those who had partaken of the mussels were attacked with vomiting and cramps. Messengers were at once dispatched to Spanishtown, some twelve miles distant, for a physician, but before he arrived Captain Hanford had died. The doctor immediately administered proper remedies, and in a short time had the pleasure of finding all his patients improving. When our informant left for San Francisco, they were all considered out of danger.
Captain Hanford came to California in 1849, and has remained here ever since, and was widely known as a skillful and competent civil engineer. He built the first flume that carried water into Angel's Camp, and he also projected and built several other flumes and ditches in Calaveras county. He was the person who cut down one of the big trees in Calaveras, and at one time he was the County Clerk of Calaveras county. In 1859 he built the first reservoir for the Spring Valley Water Company, and since that time has been engaged in quite a number of enterprises, and at the time of his death, was engaged in making surveys, etc., for the San Francisco Water Company. He was a native of New Jersey, aged sixty-four years, and leaves a wife in Brooklyn, New York. His remains will be brought to this city for interment.
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Sonoma Democrat, Number 41, 23 July 1870
Capt. Hanford died in Monterrey from eating poisonous mussels. Several of his party also are sick.
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Daily Alta California, Volume 22, Number 7424, 19 July 1870 & The Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel, 30 Jul 1870, Saturday
POISONOUS MUSSELS.--The Monterrey Democrat says, "The death of Captain Hanford, and the illness of the rest of his party from eating mussels at San Gregorio, coast of San Mateo, the other day, did not surprise people here who are acquainted with the shellfish in question. The summer months are not the proper season to eat it no more than for the oyster; and at all times it is necessary to use discretion in gathering it. The mussel must be taken from the rocks at dead low water, where it is always wet. If high enough up to be exposed fully to the sun or moon's rays, upon most stomachs it will operate as a powerful poison.
Son of Dorothy Drake and Lewis Hanford. Married to a woman named Elizabeth "Betsy" W. Borden on 03 Feb 1834 by Rev James W. Woodward in the church in Shrewsbury, NJ. They had one daughter, Lauretta, who married a Mr. Cook and died in her early twenties. William left Betsy and their 11-year-old daughter Lauretta behind in 1849 and headed to California to join the Gold Rush. He didn't return for nearly 4 years.
****************************************
These [New Brunswick Presbyterian] records were copied by Monmouth Court House Chapter, D.A.R., and published through the Monmouth Historical Association, Freehold, N. J. and released by (Mrs. William R.) Laura V. Conover, Registrar
Handford, William H. and Elizabeth W. Borden, both of Shrewsbury 1834 Feb 3, By James W. Woodward, Minister
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 5, Number 708, 30 June 1853 — The Big Tree.
Our fellow citizen, Mr. J. M. Freeman has recently, in company with Alvin Adams, made a tour to that eighth wonder of the world, the Mammoth Tree, and has politely placed us in possession of many facts relating thereto, which we take pleasure in laying before our readers. It is truly a wonderful production, even in this land, where be many strange things do abound.
All that has been said or written in the journals of the day is inadequate to convey any idea of its grandeur, extent and magnificence; one must behold, to appreciate the majesty of this King of Trees.
It is distant from this city about one hundred and twenty-five miles, and situate at the source of the Stanislaus and San Antonio rivers, in the foot hills near the base of the Sierra Nevada, in Calaveras county. It shoots aloft its towering head (as nearly perpendicular as may be) to the height of two hundred and eighty-seven feet; at the base, it measures ninety-six feet in circumference, and five feet above the ground, ninety feet, at which height the tree is being felled, in order to fill it.
The bark has been taken off to the height of forty-five feet, in sections, each piece being numbered and packed for transportation to San Francisco; thence it will be shipped to New York, where it will be set up around frame work for exhibition. The bark varies in thickness from six to sixteen inches. Mr. Freeman has in his possession a piece of the bark fourteen inches thick; also foliage with two buds attached, which he culled with his rifle from the top most branches. The lower limb of any material size, is one hundred and fifty feet above the ground, and measures four feet and a half in diameter. In the immediate vicinity are many very large trees measuring from thirty to seventy-five feet, and all around the scenery is grand and picturesque in the extreme.
The following incident, related to us by Mr. F. will give our readers some faint idea of the immense magnitude of this monarch of California forests. The lower section of bark being taken off was set up on a large platform, prepared for the purpose, the bark fitting together closely—-thither strolled a party of ladies and gentlemen with music, &c., and inside the bark thus put together, danced three quadrilles at the same time, there being ample room beside for some ten gentlemen who were spectators of the novel scene.
Mr. Freeman brought away also a piece of the wood split from the side of the tree, which shows the average number of zones to be thirty to the inch, which, if a correct manner of calculating the age of his treeship, would show him to be upwards of four thousand years old — a fact calculated to upset certain geological theories of the savans in regard to this State. There is no authentic record extant of the discovery of any tree comparable to this in size, and California therefore may justly claim that within her borders is to be found the largest trees on the globe.
The Big Tree is a species of red cedar, and is the property of Captain Hanford and four other stock holders of the Union Water Company.
****************************************
Daily Alta California, Number 331, 2 December 1858
Salt Spring Mining Ditch, in Calaveras County
Salt Spring Valley is an isolated mining (and to some extent, an agricultural) district, some six miles south-west of Angels, and seven miles north of the Sanislaus (sic). Toward the eastern end of the valley is situated Tule Lake—-a body of water fed in summer from a number of springs, and in winter from five or six small creeks, which empty into it. Tule Lake covers some seventy-five or eighty acres of space, and when full, is from six to eight feet in depth of water. It is surrounded by a dense growth of tule, which, in the spring and early summer months, is the resort of vast numbers of duck, geese and brant, that here lay and breed their young. In the early part of the past spring, Messrs. Dennis Corcoran and J. P. Haskill, of San Andreas, conceived the idea of cutting a ditch from the mining district below this lake, for the purpose of draining its water for the use of the miners. The ditch will be finished next week, and will be three miles in length, and for a considerable portion of this distance runs through solid rock, to a depth of seven feet. This secures to these gentlemen the right to all the water the lake will hold; and they inform us that their supply will probably not exhaust itself until the month of October, in average seasons.
Four miles down the main stream, through which the lake debouches in wet weather, when its banks overflow, Hanford & Co. have constructed another reservoir, to catch and save the waste-water that escapes from the lake in the winter. This is also nearly completed, and is one of the most astonishing proofs of the genius and energy of our mining projectors anywhere to be seen in the State. The dam is two miles in length, forty feet high, and when it is filled (as it doubtless will be, by the January rains), will cover an area of irregular shape two or three miles in diameter, creating a perfect "inland sea" of water. The reservoir is constructed in the most solid manner, and is capable of resisting any pressure of water that may oppose it. Should it break, however, woe be unto the neighboring low-lands, and the farms that lie in the neighboring Stockton plains. This immense body of water will be trained through ditches, to run among a system of rich gulches, flats and hills, of placer and quartz mines, extending from the reservoir to the hills that stud the Stanislaus—seven miles below. — San Andreas Independent.
****************************************
Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 17, Number 2658, 4 October 1859--(This article documented William H. Hanford's commission as county clerk for Calaveras County, CA.)
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 19, Number 2856, 22 May 1860
NEWS OF THE MORNING....Rich Gulch.— The recent introduction of water into Rich Gulch, from Hanford's large reservoir, in Salt Spring Valley, says the San Andreas Independent, has attracted many miners to that place. Their prospect for making money is believed to be good. All are busily engaged building reservoirs, prospecting and opening claims.
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 21, Number 3147, 29 April 1861
Mining in Calaveras
The San Andreas Independent chronicles the following: A vein of rock containing silver ore has recently been discovered on Pennsylvania Gulch, near Murphy's, by Sayre and Barnes. Two assays of the rock have been made; the first assay yielded $320 per ton; the second, $500 per ton. The rock is said to be plentiful and easily obtained.
Mills and Nichols, miners, on Thursday last obtained from a single pan of dirt taken from their drift claim which is located directly under one of the main streets of San Andreas, $78 75. They have taken as much as $100 to the pan from the same claim.
Messrs. Caldwell & Co. recently struck new diggings at Vallecito, or near that place, on what is known as the Italian Ranch. The gold obtained is coarse.
Chile Gulch is the name of a camp between San Andreas and Mokelumne Hill, but the mines known as the Chile Gulch Diggings extend along a small creek for several miles, and are from recent developments just at this time the most productive in this county. Several hundred miners are employed in them. We heard of one claim last week, which in three days washing (five men employed), cleaned up $1,100.
It was mentioned in last week's Independent that Hanford & Shear's quartz vein, located near Angels and known as the Broderick Mine, had paid $4,000 to 100 tons of rock. Since then we learn that the proprietors of the mine have obtained from 80 tons of rock, which was crushed in 16 days, $13,380.
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 39, Number 6012, 6 July 1870
The latest accounts from San Gregorio say all of the party poisoned by eating mussels on Sunday, except Captain Hanford, are out of danger. Captain Hanford came here in 1849, and was widely known as a civil engineer. He built the first flume which carried water into Angels Camp, cut down the big tree of Calaveras, and in 1859 built the first reservoir for the Spring Valley Water Company, and has been ever since in the employ of that company.
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Daily Alta California [San Francisco], Volume 22, Number 7411, 6 July 1870
At San Gregorio, July 3d, Captain William H. Hanford, aged about 64 year, formerly Clerk of Calaveras County, and a native of Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend the funeral this day (Wednesday) at 3 o'clock P.M., from 641 Sacramento street.
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Sentinel, Number 19, 9 July 1870
FATAL POISONING BY EATING MUSSELS.--
The San Francisco Bulletin of July 5th says on Sunday a party of about fourteen ladies and gentlemen, residents of San Mateo county, went on a fishing excursion in the vicinity of San Gregorio, and, as the creek of that name did not yield sufficient for their proposed feast, they went to the beach and gathered from the rocks and sands a large quantity of mussels. These they cooked, and nearly the whole party partook of them plenteously. In a short time ten or twelve of the number became dangerously ill. They hastened to the hotel, and a messenger was sent in all haste to Spanishtown, twenty-five miles distant, but the nearest point from which a physician could be procured. While he was gone such remedies as suggested themselves were administered; but, before the physician came, one of the number--Captain William H. Hanford of this city--expired. The rest of the party were properly cared for, and it was thought they would all recover. The body of Captain Hanford will be brought to this city and the funeral will take place to-morrow. Captain Hanford was sixty-three years of age. He formerly resided in Calaveras county.
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The Portland [OR] Oregonian, 12 Jul 1870, Tuesday
In San Mateo county (Cal) recently, twelve persons were poisoned by eating mussels one fatally. The unfortunate person was Capt William Hanford, of San Francisco.
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The Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle, 19 Jul 1870, Tuesday
A BROOKLYNITE POISONED
The Result of Eating Mussels--Twelve Persons Poisoned and one Dies.
(From the San Francisco Daily Call)
On Saturday last, Capt. W. H. Hanford, accompanied by Samuel McCall and ____ Coulters, left their camp at the lands claimed by the San Francisco Water Company, and proceeded to Pescadero, for the purpose of enjoying a few days' fishing. They made their headquarters at the San Gregorio House, where they remained until Sunday morning, when the Captain went out and fished during the entire forenoon. When they were ready to return to the hotel, Captain Hanford collected a quantity of mussels from the rocks on the beach, and carrying them with him, gave them to the cook with instructions to prepare them for dinner.
The order was obeyed, and the persons already named, together with Mr. Powers, Mr. Rea, wife and two children, and five others, whose name we did not learn, ate of it. The Captain, being very fond of the dish, ate very heartily, and after dinner went out and resumed his fishing, but returned in the course of a half hour, complaining of feeling unwell. He was soon after taken with severe pains in the stomach, and then commenced to vomit. At this time all those who had partaken of the mussels were attacked with vomiting and cramps. Messengers were at once dispatched to Spanishtown, some twelve miles distant, for a physician, but before he arrived Captain Hanford had died. The doctor immediately administered proper remedies, and in a short time had the pleasure of finding all his patients improving. When our informant left for San Francisco, they were all considered out of danger.
Captain Hanford came to California in 1849, and has remained here ever since, and was widely known as a skillful and competent civil engineer. He built the first flume that carried water into Angel's Camp, and he also projected and built several other flumes and ditches in Calaveras county. He was the person who cut down one of the big trees in Calaveras, and at one time he was the County Clerk of Calaveras county. In 1859 he built the first reservoir for the Spring Valley Water Company, and since that time has been engaged in quite a number of enterprises, and at the time of his death, was engaged in making surveys, etc., for the San Francisco Water Company. He was a native of New Jersey, aged sixty-four years, and leaves a wife in Brooklyn, New York. His remains will be brought to this city for interment.
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Sonoma Democrat, Number 41, 23 July 1870
Capt. Hanford died in Monterrey from eating poisonous mussels. Several of his party also are sick.
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Daily Alta California, Volume 22, Number 7424, 19 July 1870 & The Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel, 30 Jul 1870, Saturday
POISONOUS MUSSELS.--The Monterrey Democrat says, "The death of Captain Hanford, and the illness of the rest of his party from eating mussels at San Gregorio, coast of San Mateo, the other day, did not surprise people here who are acquainted with the shellfish in question. The summer months are not the proper season to eat it no more than for the oyster; and at all times it is necessary to use discretion in gathering it. The mussel must be taken from the rocks at dead low water, where it is always wet. If high enough up to be exposed fully to the sun or moon's rays, upon most stomachs it will operate as a powerful poison.
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These [New Brunswick Presbyterian] records were copied by Monmouth Court House Chapter, D.A.R., and published through the Monmouth Historical Association, Freehold, N. J. and released by (Mrs. William R.) Laura V. Conover, Registrar
Handford, William H. and Elizabeth W. Borden, both of Shrewsbury 1834 Feb 3, By James W. Woodward, Minister
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 5, Number 708, 30 June 1853 — The Big Tree.
Our fellow citizen, Mr. J. M. Freeman has recently, in company with Alvin Adams, made a tour to that eighth wonder of the world, the Mammoth Tree, and has politely placed us in possession of many facts relating thereto, which we take pleasure in laying before our readers. It is truly a wonderful production, even in this land, where be many strange things do abound.
All that has been said or written in the journals of the day is inadequate to convey any idea of its grandeur, extent and magnificence; one must behold, to appreciate the majesty of this King of Trees.
It is distant from this city about one hundred and twenty-five miles, and situate at the source of the Stanislaus and San Antonio rivers, in the foot hills near the base of the Sierra Nevada, in Calaveras county. It shoots aloft its towering head (as nearly perpendicular as may be) to the height of two hundred and eighty-seven feet; at the base, it measures ninety-six feet in circumference, and five feet above the ground, ninety feet, at which height the tree is being felled, in order to fill it.
The bark has been taken off to the height of forty-five feet, in sections, each piece being numbered and packed for transportation to San Francisco; thence it will be shipped to New York, where it will be set up around frame work for exhibition. The bark varies in thickness from six to sixteen inches. Mr. Freeman has in his possession a piece of the bark fourteen inches thick; also foliage with two buds attached, which he culled with his rifle from the top most branches. The lower limb of any material size, is one hundred and fifty feet above the ground, and measures four feet and a half in diameter. In the immediate vicinity are many very large trees measuring from thirty to seventy-five feet, and all around the scenery is grand and picturesque in the extreme.
The following incident, related to us by Mr. F. will give our readers some faint idea of the immense magnitude of this monarch of California forests. The lower section of bark being taken off was set up on a large platform, prepared for the purpose, the bark fitting together closely—-thither strolled a party of ladies and gentlemen with music, &c., and inside the bark thus put together, danced three quadrilles at the same time, there being ample room beside for some ten gentlemen who were spectators of the novel scene.
Mr. Freeman brought away also a piece of the wood split from the side of the tree, which shows the average number of zones to be thirty to the inch, which, if a correct manner of calculating the age of his treeship, would show him to be upwards of four thousand years old — a fact calculated to upset certain geological theories of the savans in regard to this State. There is no authentic record extant of the discovery of any tree comparable to this in size, and California therefore may justly claim that within her borders is to be found the largest trees on the globe.
The Big Tree is a species of red cedar, and is the property of Captain Hanford and four other stock holders of the Union Water Company.
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Daily Alta California, Number 331, 2 December 1858
Salt Spring Mining Ditch, in Calaveras County
Salt Spring Valley is an isolated mining (and to some extent, an agricultural) district, some six miles south-west of Angels, and seven miles north of the Sanislaus (sic). Toward the eastern end of the valley is situated Tule Lake—-a body of water fed in summer from a number of springs, and in winter from five or six small creeks, which empty into it. Tule Lake covers some seventy-five or eighty acres of space, and when full, is from six to eight feet in depth of water. It is surrounded by a dense growth of tule, which, in the spring and early summer months, is the resort of vast numbers of duck, geese and brant, that here lay and breed their young. In the early part of the past spring, Messrs. Dennis Corcoran and J. P. Haskill, of San Andreas, conceived the idea of cutting a ditch from the mining district below this lake, for the purpose of draining its water for the use of the miners. The ditch will be finished next week, and will be three miles in length, and for a considerable portion of this distance runs through solid rock, to a depth of seven feet. This secures to these gentlemen the right to all the water the lake will hold; and they inform us that their supply will probably not exhaust itself until the month of October, in average seasons.
Four miles down the main stream, through which the lake debouches in wet weather, when its banks overflow, Hanford & Co. have constructed another reservoir, to catch and save the waste-water that escapes from the lake in the winter. This is also nearly completed, and is one of the most astonishing proofs of the genius and energy of our mining projectors anywhere to be seen in the State. The dam is two miles in length, forty feet high, and when it is filled (as it doubtless will be, by the January rains), will cover an area of irregular shape two or three miles in diameter, creating a perfect "inland sea" of water. The reservoir is constructed in the most solid manner, and is capable of resisting any pressure of water that may oppose it. Should it break, however, woe be unto the neighboring low-lands, and the farms that lie in the neighboring Stockton plains. This immense body of water will be trained through ditches, to run among a system of rich gulches, flats and hills, of placer and quartz mines, extending from the reservoir to the hills that stud the Stanislaus—seven miles below. — San Andreas Independent.
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 17, Number 2658, 4 October 1859--(This article documented William H. Hanford's commission as county clerk for Calaveras County, CA.)
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 19, Number 2856, 22 May 1860
NEWS OF THE MORNING....Rich Gulch.— The recent introduction of water into Rich Gulch, from Hanford's large reservoir, in Salt Spring Valley, says the San Andreas Independent, has attracted many miners to that place. Their prospect for making money is believed to be good. All are busily engaged building reservoirs, prospecting and opening claims.
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 21, Number 3147, 29 April 1861
Mining in Calaveras
The San Andreas Independent chronicles the following: A vein of rock containing silver ore has recently been discovered on Pennsylvania Gulch, near Murphy's, by Sayre and Barnes. Two assays of the rock have been made; the first assay yielded $320 per ton; the second, $500 per ton. The rock is said to be plentiful and easily obtained.
Mills and Nichols, miners, on Thursday last obtained from a single pan of dirt taken from their drift claim which is located directly under one of the main streets of San Andreas, $78 75. They have taken as much as $100 to the pan from the same claim.
Messrs. Caldwell & Co. recently struck new diggings at Vallecito, or near that place, on what is known as the Italian Ranch. The gold obtained is coarse.
Chile Gulch is the name of a camp between San Andreas and Mokelumne Hill, but the mines known as the Chile Gulch Diggings extend along a small creek for several miles, and are from recent developments just at this time the most productive in this county. Several hundred miners are employed in them. We heard of one claim last week, which in three days washing (five men employed), cleaned up $1,100.
It was mentioned in last week's Independent that Hanford & Shear's quartz vein, located near Angels and known as the Broderick Mine, had paid $4,000 to 100 tons of rock. Since then we learn that the proprietors of the mine have obtained from 80 tons of rock, which was crushed in 16 days, $13,380.
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Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 39, Number 6012, 6 July 1870
The latest accounts from San Gregorio say all of the party poisoned by eating mussels on Sunday, except Captain Hanford, are out of danger. Captain Hanford came here in 1849, and was widely known as a civil engineer. He built the first flume which carried water into Angels Camp, cut down the big tree of Calaveras, and in 1859 built the first reservoir for the Spring Valley Water Company, and has been ever since in the employ of that company.
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Daily Alta California [San Francisco], Volume 22, Number 7411, 6 July 1870
At San Gregorio, July 3d, Captain William H. Hanford, aged about 64 year, formerly Clerk of Calaveras County, and a native of Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend the funeral this day (Wednesday) at 3 o'clock P.M., from 641 Sacramento street.
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Sentinel, Number 19, 9 July 1870
FATAL POISONING BY EATING MUSSELS.--
The San Francisco Bulletin of July 5th says on Sunday a party of about fourteen ladies and gentlemen, residents of San Mateo county, went on a fishing excursion in the vicinity of San Gregorio, and, as the creek of that name did not yield sufficient for their proposed feast, they went to the beach and gathered from the rocks and sands a large quantity of mussels. These they cooked, and nearly the whole party partook of them plenteously. In a short time ten or twelve of the number became dangerously ill. They hastened to the hotel, and a messenger was sent in all haste to Spanishtown, twenty-five miles distant, but the nearest point from which a physician could be procured. While he was gone such remedies as suggested themselves were administered; but, before the physician came, one of the number--Captain William H. Hanford of this city--expired. The rest of the party were properly cared for, and it was thought they would all recover. The body of Captain Hanford will be brought to this city and the funeral will take place to-morrow. Captain Hanford was sixty-three years of age. He formerly resided in Calaveras county.
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The Portland [OR] Oregonian, 12 Jul 1870, Tuesday
In San Mateo county (Cal) recently, twelve persons were poisoned by eating mussels one fatally. The unfortunate person was Capt William Hanford, of San Francisco.
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The Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle, 19 Jul 1870, Tuesday
A BROOKLYNITE POISONED
The Result of Eating Mussels--Twelve Persons Poisoned and one Dies.
(From the San Francisco Daily Call)
On Saturday last, Capt. W. H. Hanford, accompanied by Samuel McCall and ____ Coulters, left their camp at the lands claimed by the San Francisco Water Company, and proceeded to Pescadero, for the purpose of enjoying a few days' fishing. They made their headquarters at the San Gregorio House, where they remained until Sunday morning, when the Captain went out and fished during the entire forenoon. When they were ready to return to the hotel, Captain Hanford collected a quantity of mussels from the rocks on the beach, and carrying them with him, gave them to the cook with instructions to prepare them for dinner.
The order was obeyed, and the persons already named, together with Mr. Powers, Mr. Rea, wife and two children, and five others, whose name we did not learn, ate of it. The Captain, being very fond of the dish, ate very heartily, and after dinner went out and resumed his fishing, but returned in the course of a half hour, complaining of feeling unwell. He was soon after taken with severe pains in the stomach, and then commenced to vomit. At this time all those who had partaken of the mussels were attacked with vomiting and cramps. Messengers were at once dispatched to Spanishtown, some twelve miles distant, for a physician, but before he arrived Captain Hanford had died. The doctor immediately administered proper remedies, and in a short time had the pleasure of finding all his patients improving. When our informant left for San Francisco, they were all considered out of danger.
Captain Hanford came to California in 1849, and has remained here ever since, and was widely known as a skillful and competent civil engineer. He built the first flume that carried water into Angel's Camp, and he also projected and built several other flumes and ditches in Calaveras county. He was the person who cut down one of the big trees in Calaveras, and at one time he was the County Clerk of Calaveras county. In 1859 he built the first reservoir for the Spring Valley Water Company, and since that time has been engaged in quite a number of enterprises, and at the time of his death, was engaged in making surveys, etc., for the San Francisco Water Company. He was a native of New Jersey, aged sixty-four years, and leaves a wife in Brooklyn, New York. His remains will be brought to this city for interment.
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Sonoma Democrat, Number 41, 23 July 1870
Capt. Hanford died in Monterrey from eating poisonous mussels. Several of his party also are sick.
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Daily Alta California, Volume 22, Number 7424, 19 July 1870 & The Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel, 30 Jul 1870, Saturday
POISONOUS MUSSELS.--The Monterrey Democrat says, "The death of Captain Hanford, and the illness of the rest of his party from eating mussels at San Gregorio, coast of San Mateo, the other day, did not surprise people here who are acquainted with the shellfish in question. The summer months are not the proper season to eat it no more than for the oyster; and at all times it is necessary to use discretion in gathering it. The mussel must be taken from the rocks at dead low water, where it is always wet. If high enough up to be exposed fully to the sun or moon's rays, upon most stomachs it will operate as a powerful poison.
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