California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 SAMUEL S. BAECHTEL.� The oldest settler of Little Lake valley has witnessed man}' changes since first he came to Mendocino county. Then all was wild and unimproved, cattle could range for miles in any direction un- molested, settlers were few in any portion of the county, and schools and churches always in the vanguard of a progressive civilization, had not yet entered upon their special labor of mental and spiritual development. Since his birth occurred near Hagerstown, Washington county, Md., September 26. 1826, the United States has entered upon a history of expansion and progress undreamed of in his childhood. The Oregon territory' has been annexed in his lifetime, Texas has been added to the stars in the flag, slavery has been abolished, the telegraph, cable, wireless and telephone have conquered dis- tance, the first steamship sailed across the Atlantic and the first railroad train brought into the new west its possibilities of commerce and trade. He has lived to a serene old age, in the full possession of his faculties, and at his comfortable cottage in Willits is enjoying the peace and contentment right- fully belonging to the closing years of a well-spent existence. His parents, Samuel and Fannie (Snively) Baechtel, natives respectively of Washington county, Md., and Franklin county. Pa., were farmers and he passed his early life upon a Maryland farm. Following the tide of emigration toward the west, in 1844 he became a pioneer of Clark county. Mo. The winter of 1845-46 he spent in Stark county, Ohio, returning to Maryland during the spring of 1846 and continuing there as a farmer until news came concerning the discovery of gold in California. That event changed the entire current of his life and caused him to identify his future with the frontier coast country. The Baltimore and Frederick Mining and Trading Company, in which Samuel S. and his brother Harry Baechtel became partners, was organized in the spring of 1849 for the purpose of speculation in California. The capital stock of $30,000 was raised by a contribution of $1,000 from each of the thirty members, who with their equipment and funds came west via Panama. Imme- diately after their arrival they bought a sawmill and erected it in Marin county at a place still known as Baltimore Gulch, near what is now Larkspur. How- ever, so much lumber was shipped in that the business proved unprofitable and the majority o� the members became dissatisfied, soon giving up the work to try their fortunes in the mines. Two remained besides the Baechtel brothers and in the end the four succeeded in selling the mill for $14,000. During 1851 the brothers removed to Lagunites, Marin county, and spent a year in the stock business, afterward going to Bolinas in the same county and resuming the same business. On the organization of Marin county in 1851 Samuel S. Baechtel was honored by being elected the first sheriff and he served in the office for eight months. During 1853 he returned to his old home near Baltimore, where he remained for ten months. In a search for stock range he and his brother accidentally came into Little Lake valley in 1855. The country pleased him. The range was in excellent condition. The drove of two hundred and fifty head of cattle flourished. It was not until 1870 that the country became settled up to such an extent as to force him to dispose of his cattle and he then took up the sheep industry. Little by little his holdings increased and when in 1893 he and his brother divided their possessions and dissolved their partnership, each was left with an excellent sum to represent returns from their years of labor. For some years after coming to Mendocino county Mr. Baechtel remained a bachelor. His marriage took place October 7, 1861, and united him with Miss Harriet E. Henry, who was born in Illinois and is a daughter of the late William Henry, a pioneer of this county. Of their union four children were born, namely: Gordon, a general contractor, also a member of the firm of Baechtel Bros., at Willits ; William H., cashier of the Bank of Willits ; Lizzie M., who cares for her parents in their advancing years ; and Luther S., head bookkeeper for the Irvine & Muir Lumber Company. For some years the family held mercantile interests in Willits and operated a concern known as the Standard Commercial Company, but this was eventually sold, and since then the father has been retired from business and agricultural enterprises. He still keeps posted in politics and votes the Republican ticket with the same fidelity displayed during the earlier history of that political organization. No one is more interested in the progress of the county than this honored pioneer who always has given of his best to movements for the permanent benefit of the people.