Santa Barbara County Biographies

THOMAS SAULSBURY

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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


THOMAS SAULSBURY, a rancher of Santa Maria, was born in England, in 
1880. He began work in the coal mines at Oleburg, at nine years of age, continuing 
six years. He then worked in the iron factory, and learned the trade of puddler. In 
1848 he came to the United States, first settling in St. Louis, Missouri, where 
he worked at his trade, on the opening of the first iron factory in that city. He remained 
until 1852, when he came across the plains to California. He came with the freight 
train of Ben Holliday, as driver of a mule team, the train being loaded with whisky, 
dry goods and general merchandise. They landed at Sacramento, where Mr. Holliday 
established a store, and our subject remained with him for twelve years, much of the time 
being engaged in driving cattle from Salt Lake to California. At the time of the Mormon 
war, Mr. Holliday bought General Johnson's stock, consisting of 1,000 mules, all of 
them being driven to California, in Mr. Saulsbury's care. In 1864 Mr. Saulsbury 
began farming in Alameda County, where he bought land, and kept 100 head of cattle,  
remaining until 1873, when he came to Guadaloupe, and was one of the pioneers of that 
town. He bought 347 acres of land, and started the dairy business, keeping seventy- 
five cows, and making butter. He still owns the ranch, which he rents with part of his 
stock. He and his sons also own a stock-ranch of 2,000 acres in the Cuyamaca country, 
where he raises horses and cattle. He is now renting a ranch of 160 acres near town, 
thus affording his children the advantages of the school; he and his sons plant 120 acres 
in beans.  

Mr. Saulsbury was married in Alameda County, in 1860, to Miss Isabelle Randall, 
and they have eleven children. 

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.