Marin-Amador-Nevada County CA Archives Biographies.....Wilkins, William Wallace 1824 - 
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Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. Publishers (1880)

  William Wallace Wilkins. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait will be
found in this work, was born in Middleton, Essex county, Massachusetts, May 27,
1824, being the fifth child of James and Betsey Wilkins. He remained at his
birth place till he was twenty years of age, attending the common schools during
a few months of the Winter season, and laboring on a farm the remainder of the
time. In 1844 he went to Danvers, a neighboring town, and was engaged in a shoe
manufactory, where he remained for two years. He then returned home and remained
till March 17, 1849, when he united with a joint stock company, which was
fitting out a vessel for California. The vessel was a bark of two hundred and
sixty tons burthen, called the "La Grange," and was under charge of Captain
James Dewing. The vessel was sailed around Cape Horn, and no port was made
except the Falkland Islands. After a fair passage they arrived in San Francisco
bay, September 17, 1849. They at once started up the Sacramento river, but at
Benicia it was found necessary to discharge a part of the cargo, and the entire
outfit for constructing a steamboat which they had brought with them was put off
here, and a part of the company detailed to build the steamer. When completed,
it was called the "Commodore Jones," in honor of Commodore Thomas Ap Catesby
Jones, whose vessel preceded the "La Grange" on its way to Benicia only a mile
or so. This steamer was the first one that ever made the trip from Benicia to
Sacramento, also up the many creeks and inlets of San Francisco bay. She was
disposed of soon, however, by her builders, and her name changed to the "Jack
Hays," under which name she got to herself quite a fame. After discharging the
steamboat part of her cargo, the "La Grange" was sailed to the Embarcadero of
Sacramento and fully discharged. When the town of Sacramento found itself in
need of a calaboose, no house could be found suitable for the purpose, and the
"La Grange" was leased for that use. Later the city purchased her for a city
prison, and she lay at anchor there till she rotted out. When the ship arrived
at Sacramento, Mr. Wilkins, with twenty-five of the company, set out for the
mines, locating at Dry creek, Amador county. After six weeks they returned to
Sacramento, and the company disbanded. He, with others, procured an outfit and
ox-teams to draw it, and returned again to Amador county, where he remained till
1850, when he went to El Dorado county, locating on the north fork of the
American river. Thence he went to Nevada City; thence to Auburn, and finally
located, in the spring of 1851, on a claim on the Missouri Bar, in the middle
fork of the Feather river. While here he was called upon to undertake one of
those perilous journeys so common in those days, which read now more like
fiction than truth. Their larder having become exhausted, it became necessary to
have it replenished. He and another man started for Marysville, their nearest
town, for provisions, and were met by a fearful snow storm, and it became
necessary for them to beat the paths for their animals. Only having provisions
for a two days' journey, their rations were exhausted long before they had
reached the settlements of the valley. During the journey they fell in with
another party of men, and they all traveled together. At the close of the fourth
day out, Mr. Wilkins, accompanied by a man named Stevenson, started out to find
a settlement if possible and to get assistance for the party. Fortunately, at
the end of four miles, they descried a cheerful camp-fire leaping high into the
darkness of the night. Once there speedy relief followed to all the party. After
proceeding to Marysville, and purchasing the provisions and returning to camp,
what was his surprise to find his party all gone in search of the Gold Lake
myth, and that their claim had been jumped. He then went to Ophir, Placer
county, and remained till late in 1852, when he came to Bolinas, having taken
passage from San Francisco on board the sloop "Falmouth," Captain Riley, master.
He at once entered into partnership with Captain Morgan, on the Belvidere ranch,
where he remained till 1860. He then moved on the ridge now owned by Captain
Bourne, and engaged in cutting wood and getting out railroad ties. In 1869 he
purchased his present homestead of one thousand three hundred and ninety-seven
acres, just at the head of Bolinas bay, and is now engaged in the dairy
business. Mr. Wilkins is a man of sterling worth, and one of the many estimable
gentlemen to be found in Marin county. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary
B. Morse, daughter of Joseph H. and Mary E. Girdler Morse, February 12, 1876,
who was born in Manchester, Massachusetts, October 17, 1846. Their children
are:—Mary and Bessie, twins, born December 1, 1876; James G., born August 11, 1878.

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.


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