The finding aid for the Romain Camille De Boom Letter C057897

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Society of California Pioneers

Title: Romain Camille De Boom Letter

creator: De Boom, Romain Camille, d. 1857

Identifier/Call Number: C057897

Physical Description: 1 folder 1 Folder (1 handwritten letter)

Date (inclusive): 1911 May 19

Abstract: This file contains one hand written letter from Romain C. De Boom and is dated April 19th, 1911. The letter is addressed to one Z.(Zoeth) S. Eldredge, who appears to have been inquiring about "the 1849 Pioneer C. DeBoom". Eldredge had originally written to Romain's son William. The letter gives many details about Jean Camille's (or John Cornelius's) life before arriving in San Francisco, and then his life while here, and his return to Europe.

This file contains one hand written letter from De Boom and is dated April 19th, 1911. the letter is addressed to one Z.(Zoeth) S. Eldredge, who appears to have written to Romain's son William requesting information on the family's pioneer ancestor, C. De Boom. The letter pertains to De Boom's father , Jean (Corneille) Cornelius Boom, who was the original pioneer in the family to make the voyage to California. According to the letter J.C. De Boom came to California from Chili, where he was engaged in the trade business and was a consulate to that region for Belgium. After gold was discovered in California in 1848 he set out for the "Golden Gate". He arrived in San Francisco on the 18th of February 1849. He quickly purchased a 50 Vara lot on California Street and he went in to the business of selling guano which "became a regular farmers help". In 1850 his brother Peter De Boom came from Antwerp and invested money in his brothers business and purchased some properties of his own and eventually died in San Francisco on March 4th, 1857. Most of his brothers' properties where destroyed in the fires of 1850-51-and 52. In June 1864 C. De Boom left San Francisco for Europe, where his "mother could not live another day without seeing him." When the Franco-Prussian War broke out he was killed in the Siege of Paris. A Cornelius De Boom was a member of the Society, who arrived in California on Feb. 18, 1849, and joined the Society on Aug. 6, 1860.

The letter pertains to Mr R. De Boom's father , Jean Corneille (or John Cornelius) De Boom, who was the original pioneer in the family to make the voyage to California. According to the letter J.C. De Boom came to California from Chili, where he was engaged in the trade business and was a consulate to that region for Belgium. After gold was discovered in California in 1848 he set out for the "Golden Gate". He arrived in San Francisco on the 18th of February 1849. He quickly purchased a 50 Vara lot on California Street and he went in to the business of selling guano which "became a regular farmers help". In 1850 his brother Peter De Broom came from Antwerp and invested money in his brothers business and purchased some properties of his own and eventually died in San Francisco on March 4th, 1857. Most of his brothers' properties were destroyed in the fires of 1850-51-and 52. In June 1864 C. De Boom left San Francisco for Europe, where his "mother could not live another day without seeing him." When the Franco-Prussian War broke out he was killed in the Siege of Paris

Source and date of acquisition unknown.

The Society of California Pioneers, 101 Montgomery St. Suite 150, Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco CA, 94129

The Romain Camille De Boom Papers. The Society of California Pioneers.

Society of California Pioneers Institutional Record: De Boom, Jean Corneille, Mortuary Record, 1865-1884, p. 17