Mendocino County Biographies

Charles T. Silberhorn

Transcribed by: Pat Howard

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

 
	Born in Strasburg, Germany, January 22, 1817. When about 
five years of age he, with his parents, crossed the waters to New York. Here his 
father engaged in the packing business, and the son grew up with a common school 
education, and learned the trade of watch-case making, which business he had to 
stop at the age of sixteen on account of weak eyes. He then engaged in the same 
business as that of his father, which he followed until 1849. In November of 
that year an acquaintance of Mr. Silberhorn and a brother-in-law to Mr. Marshall 
(the first discoverer of gold in California), received a letter from the latter 
named gentleman that �gold had been discovered and prospects were flattering.� 
Mr. Silberhorn, in company with thirty-nine other men, set about at once to come 
hither, leaving New York January 18, 1849, and arriving at San Francisco July 
4th of the same year. On account of ill health the subject of this sketch did 
not go to the mines, but engaged in merchandising at Sacramento until the fall 
of 1849, when, by high water, he lost goods to the amount of $12,000 dollars. He 
then engaged in butchering, which he followed until the fall of 1850, when he 
sold out and returned to New York via Panama. He returned in March, 1851 by the 
same route, bringing his family with him. He again engaged in butchering at 
Sacramento, which he continued until the spring of 1852, when he went to El 
Dorado county and engaged in trade, which he continued until 1858; then mined 
until 1868, when he came to Mendocino county and settled where he now resides, 
in Redwood valley. Mr. Silberhorn married, May 4, 1845, Miss Anna Kandinggonda, 
and by this union they have six children: Harriet, Charles H., Sophiah, John, 
Louisa, and Addie. They have lost three. 
 
SOURCE: History of Mendocino County, California - San Francisco, Cal. Alley, 
Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1880 Pp. 571, 572