Alameda County Biographies CAPTAIN THOMAS W. BADGER Transcribed by Kathy Sedler This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm The subject of this sketch, one of Oakland�s best-known citizens, was born in Northampton County, Virginia, July 28, 1827, and is the son of T. W. and Margaret (Chearn) Badger. Having resided with his parents until he was fifteen years of age, he then commenced a seafaring life, which lasted until 1849. In that year, so dear to every pioneer, our subject came to California and entered upon the navigation of those streams which before that time had known no more violent commotion than the ripple left by the native canoe, or the wake behind the whale-boat of the more advanced settlers. Settling in San Francisco, Captain Badger engaged in the shipping business, having several vessels employed not only navigating the coast and inner waters of California, but also in the Sandwich Island, Chinese, Australian, Mexican, and Japan trades. In the month of September, 1857, he took passage, with his wife, in the ill-fated steamer Central America from Aspinwall to New York, during which, so bad was the weather experienced, she shipped green seas from figure-head to stern, putting out the engine-room fires and leaving the vessel a helpless wreck, to the mercy of the waves. The master and officers were lost overboard, therefore Captain Badger took command of the craft, which, by his great experience, he kept afloat until relief was obtained from a Norwegian bark, who cared for the survivors. To his skill and management are due the saving of the remainder of the lives, two hundred of whom were duly taken from the wreck four hours before she sank. On his landing in New York, the intrepid conduct of Captain Badger was rewarded by a committee of its citizens, with the presentation of a handsome silver trumpet, bearing the following well-deserved tribute: �Presented to Captain Thos. W. Badger, by the Central America Fund Committee, in token of their high appreciation of his conduct on board the steamer Central America, at the time of the loss of that ill-fated vessel. PETITIA PERIT, President; LLOYD ASPINWALL, Secretary. New York, May 17, 1857.� Remaining at the East until 1861, in that year he returned to California, and coming to Alameda County purchased the beautiful demesne which he has since transformed into one of the most beautiful public parks in the State. Early in 1872 he commenced building the large pavilion and preparing the ground ere throwing it open to the public. His improvements cost him between forty and fifty thousand dollars, but this immense outlay has been rewarded by perennial success. During the administration of Governor Haight he was called upon to discharge the functions of Pilot Commissioner for the port of San Francisco, and also under Governor William Irwin�s administration he held the same office. At a still earlier date he was Marine Surveyor for one of the principal insurance companies in that city. He married, December 29, 1856, Mrs. Jennie A., widow of Captain Chas. A. Falkingburg, by whom he has no issue. History of Alameda County, California�, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883, p. 841-842 Capt. Thos. William Badger Transcribed by Peggy Allen, April 22, 2006 Captain Thos. W. Badger, the subject of this sketch, is a well known, enterprising citizen, and a pioneer of the State. He is a native of Virginia, and was born in the year 1828. Until his fifteenth year he was brought up on a plantation, when he went to sea, and followed a seafaring life until he came to San Francisco, on the 5th day of August 1849, via Cape Horn. In San Francisco the Captain engaged in the shipping business, and had many vessels employed in the China, Australian, Mexican and coast trade, all of which he sold when he returned from the trade and opened his public park in Brooklyn, in 1872. He was also employed as Marine Surveyor for one of the principal insurance companies. In December, 1856, the Captain was married in San Francisco; and, in September 1857, he went with his wife on a trip to the east, taking passage on the ill-fated steamer Central America, from Aspinwall. The steamer experienced very rough weather on the passage to New York, and the sea having put her fires out, she was at the mercy of t he waves and wrecked. She had on board 600 passengers, 400 of whom were drowned. The captain and chief officers were among the lost, and Captain Badger took in hands the management of the wreck, which he kept afloat until relief came in the form of a Norwegian bark, which took on board the survivors. She would have gone down in twelve hours after her engines struck, but by his skill and management succeeded in keeping her afloat thirty-six hours. Four hours after relief came she sunk. To his efforts was attributed the saving of nearly 200 valuable human lives. On his arrival in New York he was presented with a silver trumpet, by a committee of citizens, as a token of their appreciation of his humane services, a memento which he will preserve until the day of his death. This trumpet bears the following inscription; �Presented to Capt. Thos. W. Badger, by the Central America Fund Committee, in token of their high appreciation of his conduct on board the steamer Central America, at the time of the loss of that ill-fated vessel. PELETIA PERIT, President; Lloyd Aspinwall, Secretary. New York, May 17th, 1858.� By this sad disaster Captain Badger lost $20,000 in gold coin, which he had with him at the time. Under the administration of Governor Haight he held the position of Pilot commissioner for the Port of San Francisco, which position was renewed to him by the present Governor, and which he holds at present. In 1861 Captain Badger purchased his beautiful place in Brooklyn, and removed to this side of the Bay. Here he resided for several years; cultivating and ornamenting the ten acres of lawn, which he has since converted into a public garden. In the beginning of 1872 he commenced building his great pavilion, and preparing his grounds for the reception of the public, and in April of the same year, after an expenditure of from $40,000 to $50,000, he threw Badger�s Grand Central Park open to the public. The result was an almost immediate success. The great dancing hall is in dimensions 200 by 85 feet, and substantially and conveniently fitted up with seats, galley, etc. The park comprises about ten acres of highly ornamented ground, being planted with rate trees and laid out in lawns and walks, Since the first opening, the proprietor, every winter, has made expensive additions of various kinds, and now the park comprised, besides the pavilion, a large restaurant, dining room, ten-pin alley, museum, amphitheatre for games, menagerie, flower-garden, sailing-pond, etc., etc. The locality furnished beautiful scenic advantages, and is always worthy of a visit. He has lately purchased another block of land adjoining his park on the west, and also owns the property on the north. It is his determination to keep on improving and beautifying until his grounds are absolute perfection and peerless. The leading Societies of the State now regularly choose this park for their annual celebrations, and it is engaged generally several months in advance. It is the proprietor�s intention to fit up the pavilion of evening parties, and probably by next winter it will be the scene of nightly gaiety and festivity. Most people doubted the wisdom of Capt. Badger�s enterprise when he first entered upon it; and no doubt it would have caused many less determined men to falter; but he has gone on steadily and his faith and perseverance have made his efforts eminently successful. Centennial Yearbook of Alameda County, California - Oakland, Calif., 1876 Pages 556-558