Sacramento County Biographies

AARON HUBBARD POWERS

Transcribed by: Nancy Pratt Melton

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

      

SACRAMENTO TOWNSHIP.
Page 290.
 
	born in New Durham, N. H., March 16, 1829; moved with 
parents to Boston in spring of 1839; at the age of 20 years joined a company of 
150, who purchased the ship "Edward Everett," loaded same with lumber, bricks, 
tools, provisions, mining utensils and a small steamer, and sailed from Boston 
January 12, 1849, arriving in San Francisco July 6, in the same year. The small 
steamer was launched. With 100 of the original company went into the mines on 
the Mokelumne River; but their inexperience in mining made it a losing 
speculation, and so the company dissolved partnership and sold the vessel. Mr. 
Powers then engaged in the lumber business and contracted for furnishing the 
poles for the first telegraph line in the State, also the piling for making the 
first wharf in San Francisco; cut lumber at Redwood City and towed in rafts to 
San Francisco by tug. In one instance a raft worth $4,000 broke away and was a 
total loss. Was Deputy Assessor at San Francisco County in 1853-4. Was married 
in 1853 to a daughter of Judge Sweasy, now doing business at Eureka, Cal., and 
part owner of Steamship Humboldt. They have had borne to them nine children, 
seven of whom are now living, five boys and two girls. Moved to Calaveras County 
in 1855, and engaged in farming and stock raising until 1867; moved to 
Sacramento, where he engaged in the wholesale liquor business, in which he 
remained until the present, being now connected with the firm of Wilcox, Powers 
& Co. of Sacramento. A view of the business block is given elsewhere. 
 
Source: History of Sacramento County, California With Illustrations 1880 by 
Thompson & West.