Title:

Autobiography and Reminiscence of William Kennedy Casement, Elmhurst, Cal., 1901.

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

Creator/Contributor:

Casement, William Kennedy, 1830-1909, creator

Autobiographies and Reminiscences of California Pioneers, p. 12-21, Vol. 6. 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 original handwritten version exists in the member's biographical file. This reminiscence includes a reference to a photograph of the member in a set of bound volumes. It appears that the photographs in this set were dispersed throughout the regular photography collection, but the photographs referenced in the related materials may or may not be these same photographs. This biography covers from 1845 to 1867, and offers a description of the events leading to Casement's move to California and lists people who were instrumental in settling and mining parts of Northern California. A description of Monterey in 1847-1848 includes his impressions of Bull and Grizzly Bear fights. Information about where Casement mined for gold is given, as well as details on costs of provisions and tools and methods used for mining. Part of the reminiscence recalls the lynchings Casement witnessed in California, and outlines the stories and crimes behind each one, as well as the names of those involved.

Date:

1901 (issued)

Subject:

Casement, William Kennedy -- 1830-1909

Pioneers -- California -- Biography

Gold mines and mining -- California -- Tuolumne County.

Copper mines and mining -- California.

Irish Americans -- California -- Biography

Lynching -- California.

California -- Gold discoveries -- Calaveras County.

Monterey (Calif.) -- History

Available also in the original handwritten form in the member's Biographical File, and online

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 William Kennedy Casement, Elmhurst, Calif., 1901. The Society of California Pioneers

William Kennedy Casement was born July 28, 1830 in Ballymena, 20 miles from Belfast, in County Antrim, Ireland. In Belfast he was trained as an apothecary. In September 1845 he sailed from Liverpool for the United States on the "Virginian" arriving in New York January 1846. While there, Casement served during the War with Mexico joining the Company of Artillery, Co. F of the 3rd, on board the Sloop of War, "Lexington". He arrived in Monterey January 23, 1847 via Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso. Casement left Monterey to mine in Tuolumne County in September 1848. He and his partner, James H. Carson, mined successfully in Sonora, or "Sonoranian Camp", for some months before a prospecting tour across the Stanislaus River. They discovered what would become known as "Carson's Creek" in Calaveras County. In 1861, Casement moved his family to Copperopolis after hearing news of a rich copper ore find. They were the first family in the village. He worked in the Union Copper Mine without much success. Casement was involved in gold and copper mining until 1867 when he with his wife and four children moved to San Francisco

Type:

Autobiographies.

[10] 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