Josiah James Hall, Sr. born Sep 25, 1816 in London, England and died Feb 2, 1890 in Sonora.
Josiah came to Brooklyn, New York in the 1830s and worked as a Sea Captain and married Elizabeth Golding in 1836. The couple began a family, and four children were born before 1849 and the discovery of GOLD in California. Whether it was his plan or not, when Josiah arrived in San Francisco aboard the 'Brooklyn' on Aug 12, 1849, he immediately headed for the mines and arrived at Mokelumne Hill to take up mining. In December, he came to Sonora before returning to his family in Brooklyn, New York.
He returned to Sonora in 1850 without family to establish himself as a merchant and prepare for his family to join him which occurred in 1853. Being an early resident of Sonora, Josiah had become a successful merchant and businessman on Washington Street while acquiring several properties.
Not long after her arrival, Elizabeth began an extended illness that required the care of her niece, Sarah Ann Golding, who came out from New York to take charge. Nonetheless, Elizabeth succumbed and died in 1863. Sarah remained in Sonora, and, although 25 years the younger, she married Josiah at his son-in-law's Rock River Ranch outside of Cooperstown in Stanislaus County Jan 22, 1865.
The new couple's first child, Josiah, Jr., arrived later in the year but only lived two years and died in Nov 1867. Three weeks later, and to compound the grief, Josiah's son-in-law, William F. Cooper, murdered his daughter, Levinia Cooper, during a period of insanity on the Rock River Ranch. Josiah contracted the C.B. Burden Undertaking Company to bury Levinia next to her mother as William had fled.
After William's apprehension, the Stanislaus County officials committed him to the Stockton State Insane Asylum. Josiah became guardian of the Cooper estate and the Cooper minor boys. William was released after about one year as cured and again assumed charge of his ranch and children never to remarry.
On a brighter note, Josiah and Sarah would have another six children in the home that Josiah built for Sarah at 198 Bradford Street in 1865. The house continues to stand today. Being civic-minded, Josiah sat on the Sonora City Council and served as long-time treasurer for the local order of Odd Fellows. As a popular city father, Josiah served as Mayor of Sonora three times in 1859, 1868, and 1878. He continued to operate his businesses until shortly before his death.
Best wishes,
Brad Reinhardt
#47216819
Josiah came to Brooklyn, New York in the 1830s and worked as a Sea Captain and married Elizabeth Golding in 1836. The couple began a family, and four children were born before 1849 and the discovery of GOLD in California. Whether it was his plan or not, when Josiah arrived in San Francisco aboard the 'Brooklyn' on Aug 12, 1849, he immediately headed for the mines and arrived at Mokelumne Hill to take up mining. In December, he came to Sonora before returning to his family in Brooklyn, New York.
He returned to Sonora in 1850 without family to establish himself as a merchant and prepare for his family to join him which occurred in 1853. Being an early resident of Sonora, Josiah had become a successful merchant and businessman on Washington Street while acquiring several properties.
Not long after her arrival, Elizabeth began an extended illness that required the care of her niece, Sarah Ann Golding, who came out from New York to take charge. Nonetheless, Elizabeth succumbed and died in 1863. Sarah remained in Sonora, and, although 25 years the younger, she married Josiah at his son-in-law's Rock River Ranch outside of Cooperstown in Stanislaus County Jan 22, 1865.
The new couple's first child, Josiah, Jr., arrived later in the year but only lived two years and died in Nov 1867. Three weeks later, and to compound the grief, Josiah's son-in-law, William F. Cooper, murdered his daughter, Levinia Cooper, during a period of insanity on the Rock River Ranch. Josiah contracted the C.B. Burden Undertaking Company to bury Levinia next to her mother as William had fled.
After William's apprehension, the Stanislaus County officials committed him to the Stockton State Insane Asylum. Josiah became guardian of the Cooper estate and the Cooper minor boys. William was released after about one year as cured and again assumed charge of his ranch and children never to remarry.
On a brighter note, Josiah and Sarah would have another six children in the home that Josiah built for Sarah at 198 Bradford Street in 1865. The house continues to stand today. Being civic-minded, Josiah sat on the Sonora City Council and served as long-time treasurer for the local order of Odd Fellows. As a popular city father, Josiah served as Mayor of Sonora three times in 1859, 1868, and 1878. He continued to operate his businesses until shortly before his death.
Best wishes,
Brad Reinhardt
#47216819
Josiah James Hall, Sr. born Sep 25, 1816 in London, England and died Feb 2, 1890 in Sonora.
Josiah came to Brooklyn, New York in the 1830s and worked as a Sea Captain and married Elizabeth Golding in 1836. The couple began a family, and four children were born before 1849 and the discovery of GOLD in California. Whether it was his plan or not, when Josiah arrived in San Francisco aboard the 'Brooklyn' on Aug 12, 1849, he immediately headed for the mines and arrived at Mokelumne Hill to take up mining. In December, he came to Sonora before returning to his family in Brooklyn, New York.
He returned to Sonora in 1850 without family to establish himself as a merchant and prepare for his family to join him which occurred in 1853. Being an early resident of Sonora, Josiah had become a successful merchant and businessman on Washington Street while acquiring several properties.
Not long after her arrival, Elizabeth began an extended illness that required the care of her niece, Sarah Ann Golding, who came out from New York to take charge. Nonetheless, Elizabeth succumbed and died in 1863. Sarah remained in Sonora, and, although 25 years the younger, she married Josiah at his son-in-law's Rock River Ranch outside of Cooperstown in Stanislaus County Jan 22, 1865.
The new couple's first child, Josiah, Jr., arrived later in the year but only lived two years and died in Nov 1867. Three weeks later, and to compound the grief, Josiah's son-in-law, William F. Cooper, murdered his daughter, Levinia Cooper, during a period of insanity on the Rock River Ranch. Josiah contracted the C.B. Burden Undertaking Company to bury Levinia next to her mother as William had fled.
After William's apprehension, the Stanislaus County officials committed him to the Stockton State Insane Asylum. Josiah became guardian of the Cooper estate and the Cooper minor boys. William was released after about one year as cured and again assumed charge of his ranch and children never to remarry.
On a brighter note, Josiah and Sarah would have another six children in the home that Josiah built for Sarah at 198 Bradford Street in 1865. The house continues to stand today. Being civic-minded, Josiah sat on the Sonora City Council and served as long-time treasurer for the local order of Odd Fellows. As a popular city father, Josiah served as Mayor of Sonora three times in 1859, 1868, and 1878. He continued to operate his businesses until shortly before his death.
Best wishes,
Brad Reinhardt
#47216819
Josiah came to Brooklyn, New York in the 1830s and worked as a Sea Captain and married Elizabeth Golding in 1836. The couple began a family, and four children were born before 1849 and the discovery of GOLD in California. Whether it was his plan or not, when Josiah arrived in San Francisco aboard the 'Brooklyn' on Aug 12, 1849, he immediately headed for the mines and arrived at Mokelumne Hill to take up mining. In December, he came to Sonora before returning to his family in Brooklyn, New York.
He returned to Sonora in 1850 without family to establish himself as a merchant and prepare for his family to join him which occurred in 1853. Being an early resident of Sonora, Josiah had become a successful merchant and businessman on Washington Street while acquiring several properties.
Not long after her arrival, Elizabeth began an extended illness that required the care of her niece, Sarah Ann Golding, who came out from New York to take charge. Nonetheless, Elizabeth succumbed and died in 1863. Sarah remained in Sonora, and, although 25 years the younger, she married Josiah at his son-in-law's Rock River Ranch outside of Cooperstown in Stanislaus County Jan 22, 1865.
The new couple's first child, Josiah, Jr., arrived later in the year but only lived two years and died in Nov 1867. Three weeks later, and to compound the grief, Josiah's son-in-law, William F. Cooper, murdered his daughter, Levinia Cooper, during a period of insanity on the Rock River Ranch. Josiah contracted the C.B. Burden Undertaking Company to bury Levinia next to her mother as William had fled.
After William's apprehension, the Stanislaus County officials committed him to the Stockton State Insane Asylum. Josiah became guardian of the Cooper estate and the Cooper minor boys. William was released after about one year as cured and again assumed charge of his ranch and children never to remarry.
On a brighter note, Josiah and Sarah would have another six children in the home that Josiah built for Sarah at 198 Bradford Street in 1865. The house continues to stand today. Being civic-minded, Josiah sat on the Sonora City Council and served as long-time treasurer for the local order of Odd Fellows. As a popular city father, Josiah served as Mayor of Sonora three times in 1859, 1868, and 1878. He continued to operate his businesses until shortly before his death.
Best wishes,
Brad Reinhardt
#47216819
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