Waste family history

McIntosh family relatives

 

 

The following obituary appeared in the

CHICO DAILY RECORD Thursday, July 20, 1905

"John W. McIntosh Taken By Death"

Was one of those who in early days came West in quest for gold... Twice made Trips Across the Plains Before the Day of Railroads Funeral Takes Place This Morning - - - - - - - - - John W. McIntosh, known to nearly all the old residents of this part of the State, died yesterday morning at the Burke Sanitarium in Sonoma County. His illness had been of considerable duration, and death was not unexpected. John William McIntosh was born in Greenup County, Kentucky, July 16th, 1825. In 1850 with a party from Cythiana, Ky., he came to California, locating first at Diamond Springs, El Dorado County, where he engaged in mining, and in 1851 removed to Trinity, still following mining. In the fall of 1851 he returned to the East by way of Panama, sailing from San Francisco in the historic steamer "Tennessee." He returned again to California in 1852, crossing the plains with his father, mother, sisters and brothers, arriving in Sacramento July 17th. The family immediately thereafter located at the Lone Tree Ranch in Colusa (now Glenn) county, and the various members of the family were all closely identified with the early history and development of Colusa. For many years he engaged in farming, residing for ten years of the period in Chico, removing from here some twenty years ago to Nelson, where he lived up to the time of his death. He was married November 4, 1855, in Colusa County to Miss Elizabeth Molter, who, during almost half a century, has been a devoted wife and mother, and who survives him, together with a son, L.A. McIntosh, the well known mining man of Shasta County, and two daughters, Mrs. T.H. Barnard of Chico and Mrs. F.R. Stansell of Nelson. He is also survived by a brother, L.H. McIntosh, and two sisters, Mrs. George F. Jones of Chico and Mrs. A.M. Barnard of San Francisco. He was a member of Chico Lodge of Odd Fellows. John William McIntosh was a landmark of Butte and Colusa counties, one of that hardy race of pioneers whose ranks are being so rapidly thinned by death. In his business relations honest and trusting, with a deep human sympathy and a faith in the integrity of others that though often taken advantage of to his pecuniary loss, was never lessened. Genial in his intercourse with his fellow men, he leaves behind him none save pleasant memories, and at the end of eighty years goes to his rest holding the respect of all. The remains of deceased arrived in Chico on this morning's express. The funeral will take place at 10 o'clock this morning from the Presbyterian Church, under the auspices of Chico Lodge No. 118 I.O.O.F., in which he was a member.

Here is an illustrated version of the same obituary, with extra notes

"In 1850 with a party from Cythiana, Kentucky, he came to California, locating first at Diamond Springs, El Dorado County, where he engaged in mining, and in 1851 removed to Trinity, still following mining."

See the biography of John's nephew John Francis Cooper for more details about their trip in 1849.

 

 

John William McIntosh's first stop was the end of the trail:

Diamond Springs, El Dorado County, California

 Diamond Springs
This is an 1850's era building still standing in Diamond Springs. The town is a short distance south of Hangtown, known today as Placerville.

 

History of Diamond Springs El Dorado County, California

"In the fall of 1851 John returned to the East by way of Panama, sailing from San Francisco in the historic steamer "Tennessee."

The Steamship Tennessee

The Tennessee was the first American steamship whose service was interrupted to be used in the Panama run. She was provisioned for a Pacific voyage by way of the Straits of Magellan and on her first run, because of storms, she carried only 15 passenger, passing the equator on Dec. 23, 1849. When she reached Panama on March 12, 1850 after 57 days at sea from New York, she was met by 3,000 people waiting for passage to San Francisco.

The SS Tennesse brought thousands of gold-seekers to the City before sinking just outside of San Francisco's fog-shrouded headlands on March 6, 1853 in an area on the Marin County coast which is now named Tennessee Cove in her honor. Her passengers, mail and baggage were saved, but she was a total loss.

In the fall of 1851 John William McIntosh crossed the Isthmus of Panama on his way back to Kentucky to get his family.

The shortcut across Panama required travel through fever-infested jungles. Many gold-seekers died while waiting for the next ship to get them safely back to the United States. Disease killed many in California in those days, as well.

Part 2: the McIntosh family travels to California by land