Contra Costa-Tuolumne-Fresno County CA Archives Biographies.....Hawxhurst, George W. 1827 - 
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Author: W. A. Slocum & Co., Publishers (1882)

GEORGE W. HAWXHURST.—This early and respected resident of Contra Costa county,
whose portrait appears in this work, to whom belongs the honor of being among
the first to discover and develop the Mount Diablo Coal Mines, is a native of
New York City, born December 30, 1827. He there resided and learned the trade of
machinist and engineer, which he followed until May 4, 1850. When he heard of
the gold discoveries in California, he concluded, with many others, to seek his
fortunes in the new Dorado. Consequently, on the above date, he sailed from New
York for Panama. On his arrival at the latter place he, with a party of six,
went to Buena Ventura, South America, then about two hundred miles inland to the
city of Novita, where they prospected for gold, but not finding it in paying
quantities, he remained only a short time, coming back to Panama and shipping on
the steamer Panama, in the Engineer's department, for California and Oregon.
After making the round trip, he landed in San Francisco in the Fall of 1850. He
left the latter place for Wood's creek, in Tuolumne county, and engaged in
mining; from there he went to Fresno county, still engaged in mining; he next
went to the North Fork of the Merced and mined there for a short time; he then
went across the main river, and was within twenty miles of the beautiful
Yosemite valley—the highest bluffs of perpendicular rocks of which could be
distinctly seen. From there he returned to Tuolumne, where he was employed in
putting up the machinery in several large mills in that county until the Winter
of 1853. Our subject again returned to San Francisco and put up the machinery
for H. B. Tichenor, and ways that raised the first square-rigged vessel on the
Pacific Coast. After this, he was engaged in working at his trade as engineer
for the Pacific Mail Company until 1855. At the expiration of this time, he came
to Contra Costa county. In 1860, coal had been discovered by Francis Somers in
the range of hills where the town of Somersville is now located. Mr. Somers and
Mr. Hawxhurst prospected in other locations. The first was what is now known as
the Black Diamond claim, and the next the Cumberland claim. They found the
croppings of coal in both places. They then went to what is now known as the
Central mine to prospect. While working there, Mr. Norton located the Black
Diamond claim, which has been opened and successfully worked up to the present
time. Mr. Hawxhurst then located the Union mine. He took S. B. Whipple, of San
Mateo, as partner, and worked said claim successfully until December, 1876. Mr.
Hawxhurst and J. C. Rouse then bought and opened the Empire mine. After shipping
considerable coal, he sold the same to Messrs. Judson & Belshaw, its present
owners. He then leased a piece of coal land belonging to the Pittsburg Company,
which he is working at the present time. Mr. Hawxhurst was married in Sari
Francisco, April 13, 1865, to Miss Lucie V. La Porte, who is a native of Dixon,
Illinois. By this union they have five living children, named as follows:
Theodosia, Josephine, George H., Leonard and Ernest.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; THE BEAR FLAG WAR; THE MOUNT
DIABLO COAL FIELDS; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST
AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS; FULL
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING
THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AMD OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO: W. A. SLOCUM & CO., PUBLISHERS
1882.

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