Title:

Autobiography and Reminiscence of Henry F. Williams:: "First Post Offices in San Francisco by Henry F. Williams", San Francisco, 1904

[Institutional Records Digitization Project: Reminiscences of Early Pioneers: 1900-1904]

Creator/Contributor:

Williams, Henry Fairfax, 1827-1911, creator

Autobiographies and Reminiscences of California Pioneers, p. 138-141, Vol. 8. This is a typed transcript, bound into a volume, of the member's autobiographical reminiscence created as an institutional record for the Society of California Pioneers. The subject of this reminiscence is the creation of the U.S. Postal Service on the Pacific Coast, and specifically the first post office in San Francisco. The account also gives details regarding the development of the postal service in San Francisco and names and locates subsequent post offices in the city's early history. The latter part of this brief reminiscence addresses more personal matters by the author and paints a broad portrait of the author's life and experiences in California. The period of time represented in this account is 1847 to 1901.

Date:

1904 (issued)

Subject:

Williams, Henry Fairfax -- 1827-1911

Pioneers -- California -- Biography

Postal service -- California -- San Francisco -- History -- 19th century.

San Francisco (Calif.) -- History

Copyright has not been assigned to The Society of California Pioneers. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Society of California Pioneers as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the reader

Autobiography & Reminiscence of Henry F. Williams, "First Post Offices in San Francisco by Henry F. Williams", San Francisco, 1904. The Society of California Pioneers

Henry Fairfax Williams was born in Virginia, March 2nd, 1826. While a young man, he moved to Washington, D.C., and then left there prior to the news of the discovery of gold in California. He booked passage on the first steamship advertised to leave New York, the "Falcon", on December 1st, 1848. The ship's destination was the Isthmus of Panama, with others en route to San Francisco. The ship was then to connect to the first steamship advertised to run between Panama and San Francisco, the steamer "California." He was a mechanic and carpenter, and brought along a complete outfit of tools to cut lumber and build houses. He arrived in San Francisco, February 28th, 1849 and secured a job building a small post office for Mr. Charles L. Ross, who had been appointed the first Postmaster of San Francisco. Williams then set up a carpenter shop, perhaps the first in the city, located on the East side of Montgomery Street between Washington and Jackson Streets. He went into business with a T. Robinson to build a barge to ferry materials between the ships and the docks, the venture being a success. He then went into business with Capt. William A. Richardson in Sausalito to farm some timber on his land, which he then proceeded to do as well. Williams also constucted the Second Street cut through Rincon Hill, as well as constructing a bridge across Islaia Creek leading to Butchertown and South San Francisco. He passed away in March 16th, 1911, at his home on 1150 Vallejo Street, San Francisco, at the age of 83. He had been active in the early Mechanic's Institute, and was survived by his widow, and nine children - five sons and four daughters

Type:

Autobiographies.

[4] p. ; 35 x 21 cm.

English

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Origin:

California

Copyright has not been assigned to The Society of California Pioneers. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Society of California Pioneers as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the reader.

Collection:

The Society of California Pioneers collection of autobiographies and reminiscences of early pioneers