Autobiography and Reminiscence of Robert Johnson Avery,
Title:
Autobiography and Reminiscence of Robert Johnson Avery,: San Francisco, 1901[Institutional Records Digitization Project: Reminiscences of Early Pioneers: 1900-1904]
Creator/Contributor:
Avery, Robert Johnson, 1826-1902, creatorAbstract:
Autobiographies and Reminiscences of California Pioneers, p.1-5, Vol. 1. 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.
This reminiscence 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 begins with a short description of Avery's passage to San Francisco in
1849. It then details his various business ventures, including theater work and mining. Some financial information is provided
in regards to daily receipts and the price of gold. Avery briefly describes a disturbance involving Indians near the Weaver
Creek divide in 1851. He refers to it as the El Dorado War. There is also mention of distress among the latter portion of
emigrants in October or November of 1850. The period described in this reminiscence ends in 1891.
Date:
1901 (issued)Subject:
Avery, Robert Johnson -- 1826-1902
Pioneers --
California --
Biography
Voyages to the Pacific Coast
Gold mines and mining
Frontier and pioneer life
Theater --
California --
History --
19th century.
California --
Social life and customs --
19th century.
California --
Biography
California --
History --
19th century.
California, Northern.
Note:
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 Robert Johnson Avery, San Francisco, 1901. The Society of California Pioneers
As a member of the "Midas Association" R.J. Avery left New York City in the Barque Josephine on January 10th, 1849. Ten days
were spent in port in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The pilot boat "Anonyma" from Boston and the ship "Sutton" from New York are
mentioned as being in Rio at the same time. After a two-week stop at Valparaiso (Chile), Avery arrived in San Francisco on
July 9th, 1849. The "Midas" company included R.J. Tiffany and B.O. Devoe. The crew was comprised of Sandy Hook pilots shipped
at one dollar per month. R.J. Avery spent the winter of 1849 in Shasta or Redding Springs and returned to Sacramento in March
of 1850. He then bought a shanty and opened a store in "Hangtown" and established three trading posts on the emigrant (Hangtown)
road. Avery opened the "Miner's Eating House" and built a theater and participated as an actor. He later joined a company
of miners and worked in Trinity County and on the Trinity Ditch, and then worked in hotel keeping in Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras
County. Avery went back to New York on the steamer "Golden Age" in 1859. He married and returned to California with his
wife having three children, all born in Calaveras County. In 1867 Avery moved back to San Francisco and worked as a block-maker
and at the Mare Island Navy Yard. He worked as a foreman, and then on his own from 1883 to 1891, closing out his business
in 1891
Type:
Autobiographies.Physical Description:
[4] p. ; 35 x 21 cm.
Language:
English
Identifier:
\LowResSCANS\Volume01\ARAvery,r01.jpg6
Origin:
CaliforniaCopyright Note:
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.
Related Item:
Autobiographies & Reminiscences of California Pioneers, compiled by The Historical Committee of the Society of California
Pioneers.