These reminiscences were written by Charles Ward himself and first published in an annual newsletter of Society of California Pioneers in 1941. They begin with his journey to California from his home in Boston aboard the English Steamer “Unicorn.” He describes his experiences as a gold miner, in which he did not find monetary success and quickly gave up. He also talks about his role in the Winchester Expedition up the Rogue River in an expedition to explore land for spectators, which also involved both a search for white captives and an attack by a group Native Americans along the river. The reminiscences continue with his life in California with his wife in the 1860s and his concern over California’s role in the Civil War when he returned to San Francisco. He also discusses his position on the San Lorenzo Rancho and role in the formation of the town Haywood. He ends his narrative with his and his wife’s return to his native Boston with her declining health.

Charles T. Ward Jr. (03/19/1829-10/09/1909) was a Boston native who caught “California Fever” in 1848, but was prevented in leaving immediately by his concerned family. Ward arrived in San Francisco on 12/09/1849. Once in San Francisco Ward worked odd jobs, including brief employment on a ship with Captain Bressholm traveling up the river to Sacramento. Afterwards he decided to try his hand as a miner but was not particularly successful and eventually sold his plot and returned to San Francisco. He soon after went on the Winchester Expedition to explore land on the Rogue River. Returning to San Francisco from a journey in 1862 with his wife, Ward was concerned whether he would see Union or Confederate flags flying and was greatly relieved that California remained with the Union. He became an Agent of San Lorenzo Rancho, which later became the bulk of the land for the township of Haywood (now Hayward), for which he was responsible for much of the town layout and planning. He was also elected Fire Commissioner in Haywood for several years. He finally and reluctantly left to return to Boston with his wife’s declining health. He is buried in Hayward, California.

1.0 folder (1 leather bound handwritten memoir, 1 typewritten copy of excerpts from the memoir)

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