Santa Barbara County Biographies

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TUCKER

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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


BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TUCKER, the first Postmaster of the town of Lompoc, and 
the present efficient agent of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, was born in Washington 
County, Maine, in 1829. At an early age he began working at lumbering and saw-mills, 
until 1850, when, in February, he went to Boston to visit an uncle. In 1850 he sailed 
for California, around Cape Horn. They made but one landing, at Valparaiso, on July 
4, and arrived at San Francisco September 22. Mr. Tucker shipped before the mast, 
which has proved to be his first and last voyage. The vessel was loaded with lumber, 
and they carried but one passenger. He passed the winter in San Francisco, and in 
June, 1851, went to the mines in Tuolumne County, remaining about one year, when
 he went to Santa Cruz. After one year at farming he began the carpenter's trade, 
which he continued for twenty years, the last ten of which were passed in the employ 
of the California Powder Company, in putting up their buildings and then acting as 
repair hand. He became interested and purchased stock in the Lompoc Colony, and to 
attend the first sale of lands he came to Lompoc, in the fall of 1874, but only bought 
town lots. In March, 1875, by Postmaster General Jewell, he was appointed first Post- 
master at Lompoc, and held the office continuously for ten years and nine months, up 
to President Cleveland's Democratic administration. At tire establishment of Wells, 
Fargo & Co.'s express agency in Lompoc Mr. Tucker was appointed agent, which office he 
has held up to the present time. He served one term as Justice of the Peace, having been 
elected in the fall of 1884, and has worked more or less at carpentering ever since he 
settled in the valley. 

Mr. Tucker was married at Santa Cruz, in October, 1853, to Miss Emily E. Hecox, and 
they have four children. Mr. Tucker was a charter member of Lompoc Lodge, No. 248, 
I. O. O. F., which was established July 10, 1876, and also a charter member of Lompoc 
Lodge, ]So. 57, Knights of Pythias. 

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.