El Dorado County Biographies

Samuel C. Pelton

Representative Citizens of Northern California pgs. 595-596

Occupying the position of postmaster at Shingle Springs and identified with its mercantile interest, Samuel C. Pelton is numbered among the progressive men of his community. He was born the 1st day of February, 1837, a native of Canada, but his parents were natives of the United States. His father's birth occurred in Vermont, in which state he was married to Miss Margaret Wagner, who also was born in the Green Mountain state. Subsequently they removed to Canada and in 1858 came to California, establishing their home in El Dorado county.

The father became the owner of the Pelton claim located near Shingle Springs. He operated his mine for a number of years and it is still being worked, the yield thus far amounting to one hundred thousand dollars. His political support was given to the Democracy and he served as a justice of the peace for a number of years, discharging his duties without fear or favor. He was a citizen of upright and honest principles, and respected for his sterling worth.

He died in 1882, at the age of eighty-two years, and his wife passes away in 1884, at the age of seventy-three. They had thirteen children, of whom seven are yet living. The mother and her children joined the husband in California, in 1862, making the journey thither by the way of the Nicaragua route. They narrowly escaped shipwreck off Cape Hatteras and were six weeks on the voyage.

Samuel C. Pelton was twenty-five years of age at the time of his arrival in California. He engaged in mining with his father and two brothers, and they have since worked the claim continuously. In 1888 he opened his mercantile establishment, successfully carrying on business until 1898, when his store was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of between six and seven thousand dollars. Phoenix-like, however, his new enterprise arose from the ashes and with characteristic energy he purchased his present store building, secured a new stock of goods and has since engaged in general merchandising, keeping dry goods, boots and shoes, drugs and farm implements, - in fact everything needed by the citizens of Shingle and vicinity. He has also a branch store at Folsom, and is a part owner of a steam laundry at Placerville. He is also interested in several mining enterprises, being apart owner of the Rose Kimberly mining claim. In addition to these he is the owner of a farm and is interested in agricultural pursuits.

In 1882, Mr. Pelton was united in marriage to Miss May Biggs, a native of West Virginia and a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Tomlinson) Biggs. The Biggs family were early settlers of Ohio, while the Tomlinson family were very prominent in West Virginia. His political allegiance is of benefit to the Republican party and its principles he warmly advocates. He attends the county and state conventions and his opinions carry weight there. He has the honor of being the postmaster at Shingle, under the administration of President McKinley. He has seldom sought political preferment as a reward of party service. He is a man of resourceful business ability whose efforts have never been confined to one line and his marked energy and enterprise in industry and commercial affairs have enable him long since to leave the ranks of the many and stand among the successful few. He is one of the substantial residents of El Dorado county.

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Last Updated on: 17 January 2002