Alameda County Biographies

MAHLON BEACH STURGES

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

Was born in Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio, February 26, 1830, and is the son of 
Thaddeus B. Sturges � at one time District Attorney of that county for a number 
of years, a graduate of Yale College, and a pioneer of 1849 to California � who 
died in Placerville, in 1851.  The subject to our sketch having received his 
early education in the common school of his native place, and finishing at a 
private school at Marcellus, Onondaga County, New York, at the age of eighteen 
prepared to go to college, but owing to the financial embarrassment of his 
father this course was abandoned, and he took to commercial pursuits.  Obtaining 
the position of book-keeper in the Franklin House, Cleveland, Ohio, he there 
remained two years, when he changed to the Durham House, and held a like 
position there until the intelligence of his father�s death caused him to resign 
and proceed to California, to do which he was obliged to raise money by an 
insurance on his life, which has long ago been refunded.  Coming by way of 
Panama, our subject arrived in San Francisco in March, 1852, and immediately on 
arrival secured a ticket for Sacramento, which left him penniless.  On gaining 
that town he found it submerged.  Mr. Sturges proceeded to the mines, in company 
with the late William B. Mastick of Oakland and Judge Carey of San Francisco.  
On arriving at Michigan Bar, where he found his brother, he engaged in mining as 
an occupation (Mr. Mastick and Mr. Carey continued on to the mountains) until 
the fall of that year, when he embarked in the mercantile business.  Having 
proceeded to Sacramento to purchase goods, as ill-fate would have it, his 
newly-bought stock was entirely consumed in the great fire of that season.  
Broke in purse, he was by no means so in spirit, therefore he once more faced 
the mocking world, and proceeded to the mountains, by way of Marysville.  
Arriving at Rabbit Creek � a place now called La Porte, in Plumas County � he 
cooked for a company of miners that winter.  He next worked for wages for about 
one year, when he took up claims in company with J. M. Perry and George Stowe, 
both of Illinois.  After three years� toil he then sold his interest to his 
partners, who afterwards took out $64,000 worth of dust in three weeks, and in 
four years they took out over $300,000.  Mr. Sturges now took up a claim for 
himself adjoining, and �struck it rich,� but owing to a change of the adjoining 
claim it swung him off, and he lost all.  Once more his pocket was at 
�bed-rock.�  Undeterred, he proceeded to Jamison City, Plumas County, and 
conducted a hotel for James Kitts, where he remained until the fall of 1856; 
then moving to Mariposa County, he re-embarked in mining operations for one 
winter, but, the season being dry, and not meeting with much success, he footed 
it to Stockton, whence he found his way to San Francisco.  He now accepted a 
position as steerage steward on board the steamer Sonora, then commanded by 
Captain Bobbie, in which he made several trips to Panama.  He now returned to 
the Bay City, married, and went to the mines at La Porte, but soon  moved to 
Richmond Hill, working for wages at anything that offered; Mrs. Sturges, in the 
first year, making on her own account $1,800.  Our subject now changed his 
habitation to Sawpit Flat, where, purchasing a claim, he commenced working it, 
while his wife carried on the laundry business, at four dollars a dozen, 
clearing thereby from thirty to forty dollars per week.  At the end of four 
years he gave up mining, and sold out his claims.  At this period he served two 
terms as a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public under Governor Low�s 
administration.  Mr. Sturges next purchased the water rights of Onion Valley 
Creek, consisting of eight miles of ditches, which supplied the mines of Sawpit 
Flat and Richmond Hill with water.  Two weeks after purchasing, the miners of 
Sawpit Flat struck rich pay, which made his purchase very valuable.  In one year 
he made enough to pay for his purchase and leave a handsome balance.  He 
continued in this undertaking until 1867, when he sold out on account of 
ill-health.  He removed to San Francisco; and there he was engaged  for a year 
in keeping a lodging-house, when, disposing of it in 1869, he paid a visit to 
his former home in the Eastern States for the purpose of securing a patent on an 
improved gas-burner he had invented.  His intention was to settle in the Eastern 
States, but, owing to the great climatic changes between heat and cold, he 
returned to California in July, 1870, and purchased his present farm of fifty 
acres, situated one and a half miles from Washington Corners, on the main road 
to Centreville, on which he has made many improvements, being engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising, devoting much of his time to the rearing of 
thoroughbred short-horn cattle, a number of his raising having taken premiums at 
the different fairs throughout the State.  Married in San Francisco, April 22, 
1860, Miss Elizabeth Kane, a native of Philadelphia, of Irish parents; no issue.
 
History of Alameda County, California�, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883, p. 981-983