Ward Jr. (Charles T.) Reminiscences, ca. 1900

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Summary

Title:
Ward Jr., Charles T. Reminiscences
Dates:
ca. 1900
Creators:
Ward, Charles T., 1829-1909
Abstract:
These reminiscences were written by Charles Ward himself and first published in an annual newsletter of Society of California Pioneers in 1941. They begin with his journey to California from his home in Boston aboard the English Steamer “Unicorn.” He describes his experiences as a gold miner, in which he did not find monetary success and quickly gave up. He also talks about his role in the Winchester Expedition up the Rogue River in an expedition to explore land for spectators, which also involved both a search for white captives and an attack by a group Native Americans along the river. The reminiscences continue with his life in California with his wife in the 1860s and his concern over California’s role in the Civil War when he returned to San Francisco. He also discusses his position on the San Lorenzo Rancho and role in the formation of the town Haywood. He ends his narrative with his and his wife’s return to his native Boston with her declining health.
Containers:
Box: B001651
Folder: C058789
Extent:
1.0 folder (1 leather bound handwritten memoir, 1 typewritten copy of excerpts from the memoir)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Charles T. Ward Jr. Reminiscences. The Society of California Pioneers.

Background

Scope and content:

These reminiscences were written by Charles Ward himself and first published in an annual newsletter of Society of California Pioneers in 1941. They begin with his journey to California from his home in Boston aboard the English Steamer “Unicorn.” He describes his experiences as a gold miner, in which he did not find monetary success and quickly gave up. He also talks about his role in the Winchester Expedition up the Rogue River in an expedition to explore land for spectators, which also involved both a search for white captives and an attack by a group Native Americans along the river. The reminiscences continue with his life in California with his wife in the 1860s and his concern over California’s role in the Civil War when he returned to San Francisco. He also discusses his position on the San Lorenzo Rancho and role in the formation of the town Haywood (now Hayward, California). He ends his narrative with his and his wife’s return to his native Boston with her declining health.

In the front of the memoir there is a handwritten note, which reads: "Meek, Blackwood and Wood furnished the means for purchasing the first printing press, and establishing the first newspaper ever published in Haywood or Haywards, Alameda Co., California - the first copy of the 'Alameda County Advocate' was issued Saturday Dec. 17th 1870. S.S. Lane Editor, and continued weekly."

Biographical / historical:

Charles T. Ward Jr. (03/19/1829-10/09/1909) was a Boston native who caught “California Fever” in 1848, but was prevented in leaving immediately by his concerned family. Ward arrived in San Francisco on 12/09/1849. Once in San Francisco Ward worked odd jobs, including brief employment on a ship with Captain Bressholm traveling up the river to Sacramento. Afterwards he decided to try his hand as a miner but was not particularly successful and eventually sold his plot and returned to San Francisco. He soon after went on the Winchester Expedition to explore land on the Rogue River. Returning to San Francisco from a journey in 1862 with his wife, Ward was concerned whether he would see Union or Confederate flags flying and was greatly relieved that California remained with the Union. He became an Agent of San Lorenzo Rancho, which later became the bulk of the land for the township of Haywood (now Hayward), for which he was responsible for much of the town layout and planning. He was also elected Fire Commissioner in Haywood for several years. He finally and reluctantly left to return to Boston with his wife’s declining health. He is buried in Hayward, California.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Charles T. Ward Jr., date unknown.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Catherine Coffman
Date Prepared:
05/30/2007
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2014-04-30T14:50-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection open for research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions on access.

Preferred citation:

Charles T. Ward Jr. Reminiscences. The Society of California Pioneers.

Location of this collection:
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA 94107, US
Contact:
(415) 957-1849 ext. 160
mmdevine@californiapioneers.org
Website