Marin-San Francisco County CA Archives Biographies.....Deffenbach, Thomas Boileau 1822 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 6, 2007, 3:27 pm Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. Publishers (1880) Thomas Boileau Deffenbach. The subject of this sketch was born in Georgetown, Pennsylvania, on the 25th day of July, 1822. His father's name was Lewis, and he was a pioneer printer of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He founded the Doylestown Democrat in 1816, and the paper still nourishes. Young Thomas spent his early years at Millford, New Jersey, on a farm. During the years he attended a country school, five miles away, over the mountains, for a few months during the Winter season. This constituted his school days. He went to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1837, and became apprenticed to the printer's trade with an uncle, Charles Kemle (better known as "Grey Eagle;" while in the Black Hawk War the Chief Black Hawk gave him that name), who was at that time publishing the St. Louis Reveille. His apprenticeship lasted for eight years. He then continued with his uncle as a journeyman printer till 1850, in January of which year he started for the then far-fabled land of gold-California. He chose the Panama route, and after reaching New Orleans he took the steamer "Fashion" to the mouth of the Chagres river; thence up that river to the Pacific side of the Isthmus. From there to San Francisco he came on a British brig. This trip required eighty-eight days. He arrived in San Francisco in March, 1850; went at once into the mines where he remained till the Spring of 1853. He then began the printing business in the old Whig office. In 1856, in connection with Thomas H. Agnew, as senior partner, he opened a general job and printing business. In 1866 he became the sole proprietor of the business, and continued in this business till 1869, when he disposed of it. In August, 1868, he came to old Juan Read homestead, and has since resided there with his family, following dairying chiefly. He was united in marriage with Donna Inez Read, daughter of Juan and Hilaria Read, February 17, 1864. Donna Inez was born on the Read homestead. They have had children as follows:-Inez, born December 16, 1864, died December, 1868; Mary Matilda, born April 14, 1866; Caroline Hilaria, born November 26, 1867, died April 7, 1873; Thomas Boileau, born June 4, 1869, died December 9, 1876; Jessie Oliver, born December 9, 1876; Mary Halaria, born March 31, 1879. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA; INCLUDING ITS Geography, Geology, Topography and Climatography; TOGETHER WITH A Full and Particular Record of the Mexican Grants; Its Early History and Settlement, Compiled from the most Authentic Sources; Names of Original Spanish and American Pioneers; A Full Record of its Organization; A Complete Political History, including a Tabular Statement of Office-holders since the Formation of the County; Separate Histories of Bolinas, Nicasio, Novato, Point Reyes, San Antonio, San Rafael, Saucelito, and Tomales Townships; Incidents of Pioneer Life, and Biographical Sketches of its Early and Prominent Settlers and Representative Men; ALSO An Historical Sketch of the State of California, In which is embodied the Raising of the Bear Flag ILLUSTRATED. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1880. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/marin/bios/deffenba899gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb