California Biographies

Source:
History of Napa and Lake Counties
San Francisco, Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1881

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011

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


Turner G. Baxter

Turner G. Baxter - Was born in Adair County, Kentucky, January, 10,1821. He resided at his birthplace 
until he was fifteen years of age, when he started out into the world to do for himself. His first move was 
to go to Sangamon County, Illinois, ascending the Sangamon River in the little steamer "Talisman," which 
was the first steamboat that had ever plowed the bosom of that stream. In going up the Sangamon River, 
they were detained by a mill-dam across the river. There he made his first acquaintance with that good 
man, Abraham Lincoln, who was clerking in a grocery store, and he will never forget how he looked This 
was in a little village by the name of New Salem, twenty miles below Springfield, and the mill belonged to 
a man by the name of Cameron. This was in 1836. He remained here for three years, learning the cabinet 
and carpenter's trade in the meantime. In 1839 he moved to Jackson County, Missouri, where he had an 
uncle living, and was engaged chiefly, during his brief sojourn in that locality, in journey work. He then 
went to Platt's Purchase, on the north side of the Missouri River, where he spent two winters. His next 
move was to Louisiana, Missouri, where he followed his trade until March 15, 1849, when he started 
across the plains, with ox teams, for the land of gold. He arrived at Sacramento, September l5th of that 
year. Here he met an old friend, Mr. Martin, and they proceeded to Readings Springs, and started a trading 
post. But this was of short duration, and on the 13th day of November, 1849, in company with Dr. 
Brackett, he first set foot within the limits of Napa City. He at once opened a grocery store and saloon, 
which he continued till the following spring. He then built the Valley House Hotel, which was situated on 
the ground now occupied by David L. Haas' store. After conducting this enterprise but a short time he sold 
out, with the intention of going East, but the cholera was very bad at the Isthmus just at that time, so he 
abandoned the idea. In the summer of 1850 he purchased the steamer "Dolphin," in San Francisco. He 
took her to Benicia, and after undergoing repairs, put her on the Napa River route. This was the pioneer 
steamer of Napa, and the first one that ever came up the river. At first he made trips between Napa and 
San Francisco, but soon changed his terminal point to Benicia, being thus able to make close connections 
with the river steamers in both directions. At the end of two years he sold the "Dolphin," and again 
engaged in the hotel-keeping business at his old stand. This he followed but a short time, when he went 
upon the steamer "Jack Hays," which was soon afterwards sold. During all this time he had not been 
neglectful of his best financial interests, but had purchased several lots in Napa City and had erected 
thereon several buildings. In 1856 he went to South America, seeking a suitable place to run a steamboat. 
At Valparaiso he secured the exclusive right to run a tow-boat about the harbor for twenty years, but the 
enterprise was soon abandoned. He then returned to Napa and opened the Valley House restaurant, 
which he conducted for one year. In 1860 he began work for the California Steam Navigation Company, 
and ran on the Napa River in their employ for three years. He then ran awhile on the Sacramento River 
for the company, and then took charge of a boat plying between Napa and Vallejo, in opposition to the 
railroad. He remained in the employ of this company until 1870. In 1874, in company two others, he 
bought the steamer "Vaquero," and ran it between San Francisco and Napa for one summer, and then 
sold her. In 1877 he was on the steamer "Princess" for one summer, and since that time Mr. Baxter has 
been engaged at the carpenter's trade.