Santa Clara County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BACHMAN
 
            Benjamin Franklin Bachman traces his ancestors back to 1696, when 
his grandmother�s father, John Rohrer, of the Bachman family, was born in 
Alsace, now a part of Germany.  John Rohrer came to America when quite young, 
and in 1732 married Maria Saunders, who was born in Manheim, Germany, February 
29, 1716.  She died May 11, 1769, and her husband, November 28, 1771.  The 
Rohrer family were Huguenots.  His great-grandfather, John Bachman, married Anna 
Miller, June 15, 1744.  He died October 3, 1757.  His grandfather, John Bachman, 
was born March 20, 1746, at Big Spring, now part of Lampeter Township, Lancaster 
County, Pennsylvania.  He was married April 9, 1771, to Maria Rohrer, who was 
born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1749.  His father, Jacob 
Bachman, was born in what is now Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, 
Pennsylvania, April 25, 1782, and died May 10, 1849.  His great-grandfather, on 
his mother�s side, Jacob Eshleman, was born in Switzerland, July 4, 1710.  He 
sailed from Rotterdam in the ship Mortonhouse, James Coultas captain, and 
arrived in Philadelphia August, 1729.  He married Barbara Barr, who was born 
February 22, 1714.  On May 4, 1748, he bought a large tract of land on Pequea 
Creek, now a part of Paradise Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  He died 
December 15, 1758.  His grandfather, Jacob Eshleman, was born in Pennsylvania 
November 7, 1742, and married Barbara Groff January 15, 1767.  Barbara Groff was 
born March 5, 1747. Her father, Jacob Groff, was born April 2, 1699.  Her 
mother�s maiden name was Brackbill.  Mr. Bachman�s mother, Barbara Eshleman, was 
born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1789.  Her marriage to Jacob 
Bachman took place March 31, 1814, and her death occurred October 3, 1867.
            Benjamin Franklin Bachman was born in Lancaster County, 
Pennsylvania, February 25, 1829.  He was reared on his father�s farm, and in his 
younger days attended the public schools of his neighborhood, and afterward 
attended the Strasburg Academy at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, Rev. David Mc Carter 
Principal.  After the discovery of gold in California, he sailed from New York, 
November 26, 1849, in the brig Emma Prescott, around Cape Horn, and arrived in 
Monterey, California, May 1, 1850.  He then fell in with a party of young men, 
who hired mules and a guide and started for the mines in Mariposa, where he 
lived for thirty years.  In February, 1851, he joined the Mariposa Battalion of 
Mounted Volunteers, and served against the Indians until the following July.  
The world-renowned Yo Semite Valley was discovered in March, 1851, by a portion 
of this battalion on one of their expeditions, Mr. Bachman being one of the 
party.  He served as postmaster of Mariposa from 1862 to 1865.  For three years 
he worked in the mines, and afterward followed trading and other pursuits. 
During the last ten years of his residence there he was engaged in the cattle 
business.  In 1880 he moved to Santa Clara County and purchased fifty acres of 
land in and adjoining the town of Los Gatos, which at that time was a village of 
a dozen houses.  He has thirty-two acres of land planted to the leading 
varieties of fruits grown in this section of the country.  He has 500 French 
prunes, 500 peaches, 400 apricots, and 700 almonds, together with a small number 
of cherries, pears, and plums.  Mr. Bachman has never married.
 
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, 
Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 
1888.
Pg. 321-322
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
Proofread by Betty Vickroy