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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Title: The Andrew S. Church Papers
Identifier/Call Number: C057881
Physical Description:
1 folder
1 Folder (2 handwritten manuscripts)
Date (inclusive): 1901 July 26
Abstract: 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."
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." The vivd and detailed account describes Church's arrival in,
and impressions of, San Francisco in it's earliest years. He details his meals, a few gambling halls, and the state of housing
in the growing city. He recalls the vessel maintained a "drunk captain, a cowardly crew, and lack of provisions." At Colusa
they met angry miners among the mining camps and he recalls animal attacks, hunting, Indian warfare,medicine, and his operations
mining for gold are noted. In 1853, he joined a posse to find a man killed by Indians in the Yosemite Valley and in 1856 he
details the Vigilance Committee and it's involvement in the storming of the prison after James King of William's murder. This
Autobiography and Reminiscence is digitized and available online at the OAC.
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source and Date of Acquisition not known.
Existence and Location of Originals
The Society of California Pioneers, 101 Montgomery St. Suite 150, Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco CA, 94129
The Andrew S. Church Papers. The Society of California Pioneers.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Frontier and pioneer life – California
Pioneers -- California -- History -- 19th century
Voyages to the Pacific coast
Church, Andrew S., b. July 26, 1827