Placerville Mountain Democrat, April 16, 1892, p. 4.

In Memorium

On Monday, April 11th, the citizens of White Rock and vicinity were called upon to follow to their last resting place, the remains of two of our oldest and most highly respected citizens, Wm. Toombs and wife , Frances M. Toombs. They were both taken sick on Sunday evening, April 3rd. Mr. Toombs died on Friday afternoon April 8th. Mrs. Toombs lingered until Sunday night, when death came to her relief. All that willing hands and loving hearts could do was to relieve them of their suffering, and if possible, to restore them to health, but it was manifest that their disease was to prove fatal. It is so unusual for father and mother both to be buried on the same day, and the old couple were held in such high esteem by all their acquaintances, that their death is felt by the entire community and general sorrow prevails. Wm. Toombs was born in Buckingham County, England, January 31, 1824, and his parents landed in New York when but four years old. A few years later he removed to near Racine, Wisconsin, where he resided until 1849. Mrs. Toombs, nee Frances M. Smith, was born in the state of New York, Sept. 24, 1825. When quite young, her parents removed to Racine, Wisconsin, where she and Mr. Toombs were married on August 24, 1847. In the fall of 1849, Mr. Toombs started for California, by the overland route, and arrived here in the the early spring of 1850. Mrs. Toombs came around by water and joined her husband in 1851, at what was called "Hangtown." They have resided in El Dorado county ever since. Mr. Toombs followed mining at Texas Hill, Coon Hollow and White Rock with both good and bad success. They, like all early pioneers, had their ups and downs, but were always cheerful and brave under trying difficulties.

An old miner informs the writer that at Texas Hill, Mr. Toombs was called "Honest Billy," and we can truly say that he was entitled to the name to the end. When the Texas Hill miners had their buck-skin sacks well filled with gold dust, Mrs. Toombs was considered the proper person to take care of their wealth, as they considered it safer in her hands than in their own.

The home of Mr. Toombs was always open to the sick and unfortunate miner of those trying days. They had nine children, four of whom died when small. Ellen, wife of James Forbes, died a few years ago, at Sacramento, leaving two children to the care of the grand-daughters, and to these children comes the great loss. The four living are Sarah F. Sexton, Mary L. Swansborough, Wm. L. and Charles G. Toombs. They also leave ten grand-children.

Mrs. Toombs joined the Presbyterian church in her youth, but when she came here there was no organization of that denomination and she joined the M.E. church. Mr. Toombs, while a believer, was not a member of the church, and was more in favor of practicing than in professing religion, and those who were acquainted with him will say that he practiced Christianity.

The funeral services were held on Monday last, under the auspices of the I.O.O.F., of which order Mr. Toombs was a member. The religious exercises were conducted by Rev. C.C. Pierce and Rev. Jas. Young. The acquaintances of the deceased couple turned out in large numbers to show their respect to the memory of the old people. The neighbors hereby extend their sympathies to the bereved family.

A. FRIEND
White Rock, April 12, 1892

Placerville Mountain Democrat, April 16, 1892, p. 4.

In Memorium

On Monday, April 11th, the citizens of White Rock and vicinity were called upon to follow to their last resting place, the remains of two of our oldest and most highly respected citizens, Wm. Toombs and wife , Frances M. Toombs. They were both taken sick on Sunday evening, April 3rd. Mr. Toombs died on Friday afternoon April 8th. Mrs. Toombs lingered until Sunday night, when death came to her relief. All that willing hands and loving hearts could do was to relieve them of their suffering, and if possible, to restore them to health, but it was manifest that their disease was to prove fatal. It is so unusual for father and mother both to be buried on the same day, and the old couple were held in such high esteem by all their acquaintances, that their death is felt by the entire community and general sorrow prevails. Wm. Toombs was born in Buckingham County, England, January 31, 1824, and his parents landed in New York when but four years old. A few years later he removed to near Racine, Wisconsin, where he resided until 1849. Mrs. Toombs, nee Frances M. Smith, was born in the state of New York, Sept. 24, 1825. When quite young, her parents removed to Racine, Wisconsin, where she and Mr. Toombs were married on August 24, 1847. In the fall of 1849, Mr. Toombs started for California, by the overland route, and arrived here in the the early spring of 1850. Mrs. Toombs came around by water and joined her husband in 1851, at what was called "Hangtown." They have resided in El Dorado county ever since. Mr. Toombs followed mining at Texas Hill, Coon Hollow and White Rock with both good and bad success. They, like all early pioneers, had their ups and downs, but were always cheerful and brave under trying difficulties.

An old miner informs the writer that at Texas Hill, Mr. Toombs was called "Honest Billy," and we can truly say that he was entitled to the name to the end. When the Texas Hill miners had their buck-skin sacks well filled with gold dust, Mrs. Toombs was considered the proper person to take care of their wealth, as they considered it safer in her hands than in their own.

The home of Mr. Toombs was always open to the sick and unfortunate miner of those trying days. They had nine children, four of whom died when small. Ellen, wife of James Forbes, died a few years ago, at Sacramento, leaving two children to the care of the grand-daughters, and to these children comes the great loss. The four living are Sarah F. Sexton, Mary L. Swansborough, Wm. L. and Charles G. Toombs. They also leave ten grand-children.

Mrs. Toombs joined the Presbyterian church in her youth, but when she came here there was no organization of that denomination and she joined the M.E. church. Mr. Toombs, while a believer, was not a member of the church, and was more in favor of practicing than in professing religion, and those who were acquainted with him will say that he practiced Christianity.

The funeral services were held on Monday last, under the auspices of the I.O.O.F., of which order Mr. Toombs was a member. The religious exercises were conducted by Rev. C.C. Pierce and Rev. Jas. Young. The acquaintances of the deceased couple turned out in large numbers to show their respect to the memory of the old people. The neighbors hereby extend their sympathies to the bereved family.

A. FRIEND
White Rock, April 12, 1892