Yavapai-La Paz County AZ Archives Biographies.....Groom, Robert W. 1824 - living in 1896
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 8, 2005, 5:07 am

Author: McFarland & Poole

p. 607-608

  HON. ROBERT W. GROOM. The career of this gentleman is an example of industry,
perseverance and good management, rewarded by substantial results, well worthy
the imitation of all. He was born in Clark County, Kentucky, August 28, 1824,
but his parents were native Virginians. When three years old he was taken to
Missouri by them and there remained until twenty-four years old, attending the
country school. He then returned to Kentucky, attended school there for a year
or so, and took up surveying. Later he became deputy county surveyor of Trigg
County, Kentucky, holding that position from 1845 till 1848. From there he
started for Oregon, but getting as far as St. Louis he met an old class-mate,
and together they finally decided to go to Chicago and engage in the real estate
business. After reaching that city Mr. Groom was taken very ill with malaria
fever, and after recovering did not like the outlook. Hearing that Fremont was
near Kansas City he decided to go there and go with him to the Pacific coast. He
arrived one day too late for Colonel Fremont, and then returned to Kentucky. In
1849 he returned to Liberty, but in the year 1850 started for California, making
the trip by way of Salt Lake City. At Houghton he engaged in mining for a short
time, but went from there to Salmon Falls, on the American River, where he again
resumed mining. This he gave up a little later and wandered to Nevada City,
thence to Sacramento, Gibsonville, and in 1851 went to another place, where
there were excellent prospects. Mr. Groom located his ground, but woke up one
morning to find that there was no water in the town of one hundred tents.
Leaving that place he went to Marysville, where he arrived with his feet on the
ground, having walked most of the distance. Here he worked at cradling wheat
until he had earned about $20 and then started for Nevada City, Cal. From the
last named place he went to South Yuba and thence to Frenchman's Bar, where he
struck good prospects and earned fifty dollars a day. However he saved nothing
and soon took a notion to go to the coast. Arriving in San Francisco he heard so
much about Los Angeles that he decided to go there, and went by steamer. While
in the latter city he secured a position as surveyor to locate a line from San
Bernardino Mountain to the boundary of Old Mexico. He was engaged in other
enterprises in California, and after finishing the surveying returned to Los
Angeles, where he and a partner put up a trading post about half way between
that point and Yuma. He had numerous adventures during his journeys here and
there and some narrow escapes from death. He was elected county surveyor of San
Diego County, served about four years, and was also elected deputy United States
surveyor. In 1857 he was elected to the Legislature' from San Diego County and
served one term. He was the only one to locate the country not yet surveyed. In
1859 he was again elected to the Legislature from San Diego County, and before
the session had adjourned he was attracted to the noted Comstock Mines, Nev., by
the excitement there, and remained in the mines, never returning to the
Legislature. In 1860 he went to San Francisco and later began searching for
another Comstock mine. He went as far as San Bernardino Mountains in search of
silver, but was unsuccessful. After wandering around until 1862 he went to La
Paz, on the Colorado, where rich mines had been struck (it was said), but
nothing found. Later, after a number of false moves, he went to (old)
Albuquerque, New Mexico, and at that place was advised to go to Santa Fe, or he
and his companions would be arrested as rebel spies. They remained in the last
named place a week or ten days, and were then arrested, all their animals
confiscated, and they marched to Fort Union, a distance of one hundred miles, in
irons. There a chain and ball were attached to each, and a shovel, to build
breastworks, was given each one. Affairs began to look serious, for there was
danger of them being shot as spies any day. Mr. Groom wrote a letter to General
James McDougall of California describing his situation, and the answer that was
returned had the desired effect, for he was soon after liberated. From there he
went to Santa Fe and thence to Placentas. In the meantime Mr. Groom learned that
General Carleton was going to send a party to Walker's Camp, at the head of the
creek, and he asked permission to go with the party. While at General Carleton's
office he met Kit Carson and others and received much attention from all. He was
chosen as guide to find the camp. In ascending a large mountain his companions
became discouraged and turned back, but Mr. Groom reached the top and said it
was the grandest sight he had ever seen. He was above the clouds and before the
clouds settled down on him he had picked out the spot where Walker's Camp should
be. He then retraced his steps, and joining his companions found that they had
been through a six hours' rain, although he had not been touched by a drop. A
few days later they reached the camp all right, the only incident of note during
that time was the killing of a grizzly bear by Mr. Groom. Later the latter was
employed to lay out the town of Prescott, and he concluded this work in the
summer of 1864. Afterward he continued prospecting and had discovered the Bully
Buena in 1863, but did not work this mine until the fall of 1864. He also
established Groom Creek in 1863, this being the first quartz mining done in that
part of the country. Since that time he has been engaged in prospecting.


Additional Comments:
From:

A Historical and Biographical Record of the Territory of Arizona
Published by
McFarland & Poole, Chicago, 1896

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/az/yavapai/bios/gbs112groom.txt

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