San Luis Obispo County Biographies DAVID F. NEWSOM Submitted by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm DAVID F. NEWSOM is a native of Petersburg, Virginia, born September 5, 1832. He attended school at his home, pursuing his studies at Wake Forest College for one year. At this time, his father failing in business, David went to New York and learned the brass turnishers' trade. While there he attended a free school at night, being anxious to perfect himself in his studies. So desirous was he to accomplish this that he worked ten hours for his employer during the day, and was ready to study when night came. After being in the city two years he returned to Petersburg, where be clerked in a store for two years and a half. At the age of twenty-one he came to California and to San Luis Obispo County, taking his first meal in San Luis Obispo October 28, 1853. This meal Mr. Newsom remembers well. The restaurant, so called, was adjacent to the old Mission, and was patronized on that occasion by a curious mixture of races, no less than seventeen nationalities being represented. This illustrates very forcibly the cosmopolitan character of the settlement in the city then. Mr. Newsom was County Clerk two terms, 1853 to 1857, the first term by appointment and the second by election. In 1854 he was instrumental in organizing the first public school of the county. School sessions were then held in the Mission building. He was superintendent of the school and conducted it for three years, having entire charge of arrangements. Mr. Newsom re- signed his position as County Clerk before his term of office expired, and went to Oregon and Washington Territory on a prospecting tour, seeking for good business opportunities. In April, 1858, he opened a store in Bellingham Bay, Washington Territory, the first store in the history of the town. Here he met with great success, clearing $30,000 in eight weeks, which included the profits of real-estate transactions in connection with his regular business. In December, 1858, Mr. Newsom went to the town of Fort Hope, on the Fraser River in British Columbia, and there remained until June, 1859. About this time he was injured and was advised to return to California, but owing to subsequent events he did not follow this advice. He arrived at San Juan just at the time of Captain Pickett's arrival with his troops to prevent the arrest of certain individuals by the English. In the meantime three large English men of war were anchored in the bay, and, hearing that Captain Pickett had trespassed on Her Majesty's domains, the officers in charge issued orders for his immediate arrest. Captain Pickett received the officer bearing the order for arrest, with civility, and told him to tell his superiors that he would light as long as he had a man left, and that he was waiting for them. A detachment of 500 soldiers was ordered to assist Captain Pickett, and when General Scott arrived he was allowed to de- part in peace. Mr. Newsom had, in the meantime, organized a company of sharp- shooters, which formed a part of the command under Captain Pickett. Arrangements were subsequently made for the joint occupation of the island, and two magistrates were cho- sen to represent the different factions. Mr. Newsom had the honor of being chosen the American magistrate, and Major DeCoursey the English. This excitement quickly sub- sided, and Mr. Newsom looked with longing toward his old home and first love � San Luis Obispo. He returned here in 1862, and that same year he was elected Justice of the Peace. Since then he has held several offices of responsibility and trust. Always taking an active interest in educational matters, Mr. Newsom has done much toward improving the system of study in tiie schools of the county and in the district where he has re- sided. He opened the district school in Arroyo Grande in 1864; and was District Clerk of that district for eight years,� 1864-'72. The Newsom School District was organized in 1885. In 1863 Mr. Newsom was married to Miss Anna Branch, daughter of F. Z. Branch, the well-known pioneer, and has a family of twelve children. In 1864 he came with his wife to their present ranch, near Arroyo Grande,� a fine estate of 1,200 acres, for- merly in the Branch tract. Since their occupancy Mr. Newsom has been engaged in stock-raising, and during the past few years has established a very desirable health resort on the property. The place is naturally well adapted for such an institution, being well located and conveniently situated within two miles of Arroyo Grande. Valuable hot springs have been located on the premises, and adjacent to these Mr. Newsom has built his sanitarium. The bath houses are well equipped, and the institution throughout indicates a painstaking care on the part of its proprietor, which is worthy of great praise. History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California - by C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II. -Lewis Publ. Co., Chicago, 1917.