Solano County Biography
William Aspenall
William Aspenall - arrived from Panama, in the ship " Harriet Rockwell," in June, 1850. On landing in San Francisco, he found letters informing him of the whereabouts of former friends and companions in arms, of the Mexican campaign, among them being Col. James M. Stuart, Postmaster of the present House of representatives, Major Cooper and N. K. Swope, ex-Captain of Mexican fame. Mr. Aspenall soon after started for the southern mines, and arrived in Jamestown, Tuolumne county, in July, 1850, and there engaged in mining, with some success, for two years. In 1852, the Scott-river excitement broke out and he, with five others, determined to organize themselves into a party and proceed thither. At that time, provisions were exorbitantly high. They purchased a pack train of mules, in Sacramento, consisting of fifteen head besides saddle animals, loaded them with flour, sugar and tobacco, and made a successful voyage to Trinity valley. When here, the Indians stampeded the animals belonging to the expedition, when everything was lost save.two mats containing two hundred pounds of China sugar. The entire party got snowed in when crossing the Trinity mountains, being twenty-one days in working their way to the summit, which is known as the Devil's Backbone. They endured many hardships on this occasion; food was scarce; they, therefore, contented themselves with mule's flesh and sugar; yet, ultimately, arrived at Scott's river bar in tame to take a hand in the Rogue-river war, which was then being carried on against the Indians; the hostilities were soon terminated on the capture of fifty squaws by Governor Joe Lane. We next find Mr. Aspenall in Oregon, on the banks of the Willamette river, where he had built himself a log cabin, but, getting weary of the solitude of the Oregonian forests, in 1852, he once more returned to California and, for a second time, proceeded to Jamestown, Toulumne county, where he was appointed Deputy, under his friend, Sheriff Swope. In March, 1853, he was joined by his family from New Orleans, who had sustained shipwreck on their journey. In 1854, Mr. A., with others, took a prominent part in the contest which resulted in the location of the county seat of Tuolumne county, at Sonora, whereupon, he, with Charles M. Scott, ex-Member of Congress, James M. Stuart, already mentioned, and Captain Arnix, left Jamestown, the two first going to the county seat at Sonora, while the latter came to Vallejo, where they purchased some property, Arnix, after a while, giving up all his possessions, on account of faulty titles. Mr. Aspenall now erected a store in Vallejo, which was opened on June 1,1855. It was his original intention to make this a one-storied building, but, finding a few Brother Masons in the city, he added another story to it and helped to start a Masonic Lodge in September, 1855, and the Odd Fellows Lodge in the same building in October of that year. Was elected a Justice of the Peace, in 1856, for Vallejo Township, and, on the incorporation of the city of Vallejo by the Legislature, in 1865, Mr. Aspenall was on the first Board of Trustees. In 1874, he once more was elected to the Board of Trustees and became their President for two years, and, in 1877, was again elected a Justice of the Peace for Vallejo township, a position which he still holds.
History of Solano County, California
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February Pages 329-330
Solano County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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