Title:

Autobiography and Reminiscence of Jesse Healy, (Deceased), 1901.

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

Creator/Contributor:

Healy, Jesse, 1812-1896, creator

Autobiographies and Reminiscences of California Pioneers, p. 49-66, Vol. 3. 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 transcription includes a reference to a photograph of the member in a set of bound volumes, but there is no longer a photograph of this member in our collection. This reminiscence covers from 1836 to1892 and details Healy's life, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837-1838, his overland journey to California, and subsequent life in California. He describes his experiences gold mining and ranching, in particular the hard winter of 1851-1852. Healy tells of a would-be murderer who attempted to steal money, and recounts the trial of the "Negro Joshua" on July 1852 in Rich Bar. Healy's description of these events is in response to what he deemed an inaccurate portrayal of the case in "Farris and Smith's History". "Negro Joshua" was tried by a team of miners for murder.

Date:

1901 (issued)

Subject:

Healy, Jesse -- 1812-1896

Pioneers -- California -- Biography

Overland journeys to the Pacific

Gold mines and mining -- California -- Feather River.

Gold mines and mining -- California -- Personal narratives

Lynching -- California.

Vigilantes -- California.

Crime -- California -- History -- 19th century.

Canada -- History -- Rebellion, 1837-1838.

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 Jesse Healy, (Deceased), 1901. The Society of California Pioneers

Jesse Healy was born in Elbridge, Onondaga County, New York, on May 22, 1812, moving to Michigan (1836) to work in the livery business. In 1837 Healy sold his business and fought to free Canada from British rule. Healy and others crossed at Detroit on December 4, 1838, expecting to be reinforced by Canadians upon landing but troops never appeared. After a brief skirmish they retreated, eventually returning to Michigan. In 1844 he farmed in Ohio until the fall of 1848, going to St. Joe, Missouri to prepare for the journey to California. Healy and his company - 4 families and 29 wagons - left St. Joe on May 4, 1849, reaching Lassen's Ranch on October 15, 1849. That winter (1849-1850) Healy was taken ill and went to San Francisco. Upon his return to Bidwell's Bar (June 1850), he joined the Edsell Brothers who kept a small store, located a claim and built a dam across the Feather River. In 1853, Healy sold out his interests in Rich Valley Ranch and returned to Ohio to farm until the Civil War broke out. In 1862, Healy was appointed Asst. Quartermaster with the rank of Capt., and assigned to Cleveland, Ohio, and then Washington D.C., where he acted as Inspector of Horses. In 1869, he returned to California with his family, opening a factory producing "Averill Chemical Paint" in S.F. with two partners. He later sold his interest and bought the Pacific Coast rights for the manufacture and sale of "Rubber Paint", continuing in that business until 1879 when he sold out to Whittier, Fuller & Co

Type:

Autobiographies.

[18] 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