Lake County Biography
William Travis
William Travis - Was born in Putnam County, New York, November 6,1826. At the age of nineteen he learned the bricklaying and plasterer's trade, and followed it until 1849, when he came to California via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco about the middle of September. He proceeded to the mines at Hangtown, and engaged in that business till the spring of 1850, when he went to one of the forks of the American River, where, in company with Colonel William Hagan, he prosecuted mining till fall He then went to Nevada County and mined for two months. During the summer of 1851 he and Colonel Hagan cut hay at the sink of Putah Creek, which they lost by floods. He then went to Sonoma County and settled about one and a half miles from Santa Rosa, where a year was spent He then moved to Vallejo Township, that county, where he lived till 1856. In 1852 he, with Colonel Hagan, returned East via Nicaragua, and purchased a drove of cattle, which they brought across the plains in 1853. In 1856 Mr. Travis located on Mark West Greek, and discovered the hot springs there. In the fall of 1858 he went to Mendocino County and remained till the fall of 1859, when he sold his cattle, and went to Petaluma and purchased an interest in a livery stable. In 1860 he went to Nevada and engaged in mining until 1864, when he returned to California and spent two years in dealing in stock in Sonoma County. In 1866 he settled in Pope Valley, Napa County, where he farmed till 1869. He then moved to Napa City and spent a year. In 1871 he came to Lake County and located in Long Valley, where he has since resided, being engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1855 he took a drove of horses from California to Illinois, and disposed of them in 1856.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, October, 2007 Pages 278-284
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