Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Society of California Pioneers

Title: Hezekiah J. Crumpton Memoir

creator: Crumpton, H.J. (Hezekiah John), , 1828-

Identifier/Call Number: C057891

Physical Description: 1 folder 1 Folder (1 handwritten memoir, 57 pages)

Date (inclusive): 1890-1904

Abstract: This is the original handwritten version of the member's Autobiography and Reminiscence created as an institutional record for the Society of California Pioneers. The original and transcription have been digitized and are available at the Online Archive of California. The reminiscence details his overland journey to California from Alabama, offering a description of the trip, tales about Indians and challenges on the trail. His life in California, mining years and some family history are discussed as well. A member of the American Medical Assn. and the California State Medical Society, he served 4 terms in the Cal. State Legislature and in the municipal government of Sausalito. He served as Vice President of the Society of California Pioneers and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

This reminiscence includes a reference to a photograph of the member in a set of bound volumes. It appears that the photographs in this set were dispersed throughout the regular photography collection, but the photographs referenced in the related materials may or may not be these same photographs. Crumpton wrote this reminiscence when he was 72-years old. The reminiscence details his overland journey to California from Alabama, offering a description of the trip, tales about Indians and challenges on the trail. His life in California, mining years and some family history are discussed. Covering roughly 1849 to 1852, he writes briefly about his later years in California. Crumpton was born in Waltenborough, South Carolina (1828), the son of Henry Tally Crumpton and Matilda Smith Bryant. Crumpton lived in Alabama on his father's farm, which was sold and the family moved to Barbersville (Camden), Alabama to run a hotel. The hotel failed and Crumpton worked in a printing office, resolving to attend medical school. After 2 terms Crumpton left for California with about 500 people on April 1st, 1849. The first California points reached were Warner's, then Workman's and William's Ranches. He then went to Los Angeles, San Pedro, then on Bark "Hector" to San Francisco. While in L.A., Crumpton worked with a wealthy merchant, who took him under his wing until getting a job on a cargo ship to San Francisco. Once there, Crumpton worked at manual labor until a mining outfit was secured. By 1851 he had saved enough money to return home and resume his medical studies. He went back and forth between Alabama and California 3 times while in school, each time returning to California compelled by a "fascination with mining". A member of the American Medical Assn. and the California State Medical Society, he served 4 terms in the California State Legislature and in the municipal government of Sausalito. He served as Vice President of the Society of California Pioneers and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Crumpton was born in Waltenborough, South Carolina (1828), the son of Henry Tally Crumpton and Matilda Smith Bryant. Crumpton lived in Alabama on his father's farm, which was sold and the family moved to Barbersville (Camden), Alabama to run a hotel. The hotel failed and Crumpton worked in a printing office, resolving to attend medical school. After 2 terms Crumpton left for California with about 500 people on April 1st, 1849. The first California places he reached were Warner's, then Workman's and William's Ranches. He then went to Los Angeles, San Pedro, then on Bark "Hector" to San Francisco. While in Los Angeles, Crumpton worked with a wealthy merchant, who took him under his wing until getting a job on a cargo ship to San Francisco. Once there, Crumpton worked at manual labor until a mining outfit was secured. By 1851 he had saved enough money to return home and resume his medical studies. He went back and forth between Alabama and California 3 times while in school, each time returning to California compelled by a "fascination with mining". A member of the American Medical Assn. and the California State Medical Society, he served 4 terms in the California State Legislature and in the municipal government of Sausalito. He joined the Society of California Pioneers on June 2, 1890, served as Vice President of the Society and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He died in Piedmont, Calif., on April 8, 1913.

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

Source and date of acquisition not known

The Hezekiah John Crumpton Memoir. The Society of California Pioneers

The Society houses the following institutional records on Crumpton: Archive Record, vol. 5, p.104; Autobiography and Reminiscence, vol. 1, p.53; Obituary Record, vol. 12, p.136; Marshall Record, vol. I, p.252; Mortuary Record, 1906-33, p. 272.