Central California Biographies

A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California : illustrated : containing 
a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its discovery to the 
present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future, illustrations and full-page portraits of 
some of its eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers, and prominent citizens of 
to-day (1893)

Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Author: Barrows, Henry D; Ingersoll, Luther A

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

 


GEORGE CHALMERS, one of the well-known citizens of San Juan, came to California in 
1850, from Boston, Massachusetts. 

Our subject is a native of Fifeshire, Scotland, but came, with his parents, in 1858 to 
America. His father, William Chalmers, a farmer by occupation, and his mother, Isabel 
(Barker) Chalmers were both natives of Scotland. Upon arrival in America Mr. Chal- 
mers, Sr., located in Orange county, Vermont, town of Newbury, where he reared his 
family and there died. Of his eleven children, two are residents of California, our 
subject and a brother, Alexander, a resident of Watsonville. 

Our subject sailed from New York city to California, via the Isthmus of Panama, on 
the steamer " Georgia." After arrival at the Isthmus Mr. Chalmers spent six months 
at the town of Panama, working at his trade of mechanic. He there fitted up the first 
theater in the town, and also aided in the fitting oat of a steamer. He then proceeded 
on his journey westward and landed in San Francisco in August, 1850. Like almost all 
of the emigrants of that day he went into the mines, choosing those of Calaveras county. 
Later he returned to San Francisco and worked at his trade. He then followed building 
and contracting in various portions of the State until 1856, when he located in San 
Benito county and engaged in stock-raising, continuing there until the winter of 
1863-'64. During the dry season of that year memorable to stockmen he suffered the 
loss of about 3,000 head of cattle. He then invested in the first steam threshing machine 
that came into San Benito county and likely the third in the State. Mr. Chalmers also 
engaged in the milling business at Castroville, building the Castroville mills, in 1865. 
This property he finally disposed of and located at San Juan, where he has since con- 
tinuously resided. 

Our subject was married, October 26, 1856, to Mary S., a daughter of the late Edward 
L. B. Smith, one of the first residents and a time-honored citizen of San Juan. (See sketch 
of his life in this work.) Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Chalmers, four are 
now living, namely: Lillie G., now Mrs. J. Cabera, of Fresno; Florence, wife of J. P. Mitchel, 
Esq., of Castroville; and Angle M., a single lady, a resident of San Jose. The fourth child, 
Leona Z., is still at home. 

Mr. Chalmers has led a very busy life and has born an honorable part in the material 
development of his chosen locality. He has served the local public several times as 
Justice of the Peace, and is at present a member of the Town Board of Trustees of 
San Juan. He is well-known throughout San Benito and Monterey counties as a man 
of strict integrity and upright principles.