El Dorado County Biographies


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



HON. HENRY LARKIN
 
            Of Diamond Springs, was born at Oneida Lake, Madison county, New 
York, January 2d, 1826.  The discovery of gold brought him early to California.  
He crossed the plains and arrived September 1st, 1849.  Was Deputy Sheriff from 
1852 to 1855, and in 1860 was the Census Marshal for El Dorado.  He was elected 
to the State Senate in 1869; was candidate for Congress in 1875.  On the 19th of 
June, 1878 was elected to represent his county in the Constitutional Convention, 
being elected on the Workingman�s ticket, by a majority of 710 over the 
Independent, and 562 over the non-partisan candidate.
            Mr. Larkin as a law maker is a decided progressist, when a member of 
the Constitutional Convention in 1878, his standpoint towards the anti-coolie 
question was characterized by the following article proposed for adoption into 
the new Constitution of this State:
            Sec. 1.  �No person shall be permitted to settle in this State, who 
is not eligible to become a citizen of the United States, after adoption of this 
constitution.
            Sec. 2.  �All contracts made with such person or persons coming into 
the State contrary to the provisions of the foregoing section, shall be void, 
and any person who shall employ such person, or lease, rent or let a house to 
him or them, or encourage him or them to remain in the State, shall be fined in 
any sum not less than $20, nor more than $1,000.
            Sec. 3.  �All fines which may be collected for violation of the 
provisions of this article, or of any law which may hereafter be passed for the 
purpose of carrying the same into execution, shall be set apart and appropriated 
to the Common School Fund of the State.
            Sec. 4.  �The Legislature shall pass laws to carry out the 
provisions of this article.�
 
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & 
Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo 
Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 250
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler