This folder contains the original hand written, 71 page, autobiographical reminiscence that was created as an "institutional record for the Society of California Pioneers." Mr. Church was born in New York City on July 26th, 1829 and arrived in San Francisco, on board the "Bark Vernon" on "October 9th, 1849."

Church was born in N.Y. City July 26, 1827. A cashier in Boston, he caught "the fever" and left for California on the "Vernon", arriving in S. F. on Oct. 9, 1849. In Nov., he went to Corte Madera for work, then Mission S. Rafael then back to S.F. In 1849, he left S.F. for Benecia with "gastric fever". Church and his uncle sold goods in the Northern mines and he worked on the "Colusa". In 1851 at Stockton mining he joined a friend in "Barstow & Church". In 1853, he opened a grocery in S.F., "Barstow, Church & Co.", but soon left the business for N.Y. via Nicaragua. Church returned to S.F. via Panama and worked in Columbia. Back in S.F. and the grocery business, he was elected an officer of the Vigilance Committee (1856). In 1860, he went to Virginia City to open a trading post (Church & Co.). In 1862-74 he owned the O.F. Giffin and Brother business in S.F. The Society also has Institutional Records on Church.

1 folder 1 Folder (2 handwritten manuscripts)