Title:

Autobiography and Reminiscence of Francis George Bornemann, San Francisco, 1901.

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

Creator/Contributor:

Bornemann, Francis George, 1822-1913, creator

Autobiographies and Reminiscences of California Pioneers, p. 18-31, Vol. 4. This is a typed transcript 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. Covering the period of Bornemann's life from 1839 to 1901, it includes many details about Bornemann's experience as a miner and provides insight into miners' living conditions. When mining, Bornemann and companions were told by a "Committee of three Missourians" that "foreigners" weren't welcome to mine in the area they chose. However, once it became clear that they were German and not Italian, Spanish, or Chilean, it was found they would have no problem. Bornemann describes losing his business in two fires in San Francisco, the first in May of 1851 and the second in June 1852.

Date:

1901 (issued)

Subject:

Bornemann, Francis George -- 1822-1913

Pioneers -- California -- Biography

Frontier and pioneer life

Gold mines and mining -- California.

Gold mines and mining -- California -- Personal narratives

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

Fires -- California -- San Francisco -- Personal narratives

German Americans -- California.

Voyages to the Pacific Coast

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 Francis George Bornemann, San Francisco, 1901. The Society of California Pioneers

Francis George Bornemann was born in the city of Verden, Germany on October 31, 1822. His early years were spent working in a Dry Goods Store and then later as a bookkeeper for a French Commission house. On March 15, 1849, Bornemann left Germany on board the "Talisman", reaching California on September 12 after a stop in Rio de Janeiro. When Bornemann reached S.F. he disposed of his goods, at a loss, and headed for the mines. By late September 1849 he and some of his fellow passengers set out for Stockton and then to Mormon Gulch. They mined all winter and stayed at Mormon Camp. That winter one of Bornemann's companions died and was buried on the mountain. In June of 1850 Bornemann left Calaveras with two companions for S.F. While there, Bornemann purchased a cigar store with a partner, expanding to include a wholesale store, but later was destroyed in the fire of May 1851. They located another store to rent which was again devastated by a fire that June. By January of 1852, Bornemann's partner had returned to Germany and Bornemann sold the store. In August 1861, Bornemann was appointed Memorandum Clerk and Cashier in the San Francisco Mint and kept the position of Cashier until 1886. In 1889 he was appointed to a clerkship in the United States Mint

Type:

Autobiographies.

[14] p. ; 35 x 21 cm.

English

\LowResSCANS\Volume04\ARBornemann,F01.jpg14

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