San Diego-El Dorado-Butte County CA Archives Biographies.....Pauly, Aaron 1812 - ************************************************ 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 February 21, 2006, 3:16 am Author: Theodore S. Van Dyke AARON PAULY. A CALIFORNIA pioneer and one of the oldest residents of San Diego is Aaron Pauly. Mr. Pauly was born in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, May 24, 1812. His father died when he was five years of age. His youth and early manhood were passed in Warren County, and, until he was fourteen, on a farm. When thirty years old he started West and located in Quincy, Illinois, where he engaged in the mercantile business and remained until the spring of 1849. Gold had been discovered in California, and emigrants were flocking to the new El Dorado from all parts of the civilized world. Mr. Pauly formed a party and started across the plains for the Pacific Coast in the spring of that eventful year. Travelers and tourists of the present day, journeying overland in Pullman coaches, can have but slight conception of the fatigues, dangers, and delays that attended a journey to California in 1849. Each of the different routes had its hardships. The voyager by sea was tossed and buffeted about in closely-packed and ill-provisioned ships for months; those who journeyed by way of the Isthmus, in addition to the discomforts of a sea voyage, were compelled to pass through the fever-stricken districts of the Isthmus; the march across the plains was long and arduous; the trains were liable to attacks from Indians, their cattle often died from want of water and proper pasturage, and, in some cases, the emigrants themselves fell victims to the drought. There were twenty-five persons in the train with which Mr. Pauly crossed the plains. They came by the way of Salt Lake and the Truckee River, stopping finally at Coloma, a mining camp near Sacramento, built on the site of Sutter's Mill, in the race-way of which gold had been discovered two years before, by John W. Marshall. Mr. Pauly remained at Coloma during the winter of 1849-50, but in the spring went to the mines in Butte County, where he remained for two years. Having been quite prosperous in his ventures, he bought a large stock ranch at Spring Valley, Yuba County, twelve miles from Marysville. Here he made his home till 1865. He then disposed of the ranch and removed to Marysville, where he remained three years, engaged in the mercantile business with his sons, F. N. and C. W. Pauly. In 1869, on account of ill health, he disposed of his business in Marysville and moved to San Diego. Morton's Wharf had just been completed and Mr. Pauly landed the first stock of goods upon it. He opened a store, which was connected with the wharf, and had charge of the latter. At this time he had considerable trouble with Ben Holladay, who refused to allow his steamers to touch at Horton's Wharf. Finally, however, after threatening to charter a schooner and transport his goods independent of the steamship line, Holladay gave in and permitted his vessels to load and discharge at the wharf. Mr. Pauly remained in the merchandise business until 1875, when he sold out and went into real estate, commission, and insurance with his son, C. W. Pauly. He has now retired from active business and devotes his time to conducting his private affairs. Mr. Pauly was a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1873-74. He was also Tax Collector for nine years, from 1875 to 1884, and was one of the organizers and first President of the Chamber of Commerce. During the time that he was at the head of this institution, the railroad was built into San Diego, and it is not too much to say that Aaron Pauly's labors did much to bring about that important event. He was one of the founders of the Baptist Society here, selected the lots and aided largely in building the present fine church edifice on the corner of E and Ninth Streets. Mr. Pauly owns considerable real estate in different parts of the city. In conjunction with D. C. Reed he built the tine business block on the corner of E and Sixth Streets, known as the Reed-Pauly Block; and with A. G. Gassen he will soon erect a magnificent four-story brick block on the northeast corner of E and Fourth Streets, which will cost, when completed, fully $100,000. He has lately finished a handsome and spacious residence on the corner of D and Eleventh Streets. It is the Queen Anne style of architecture, and is considered one of the most tasteful private residences in the city. In addition to his interests in San Diego. Mr. Pauly has done much to further and develop the mines of the county, and the mining region of Julian is probably more deeply indebted to him, than to any other individual, for its present prosperous outlook. He was also one of the projectors and president of the company that built the wagon road from Yuma to San Diego. This road was of great benefit to San Diego, and a great deal of business was done over it, which continued until the opening of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Mr. Pauly was one of the organizers of the San Diego Benevolent Association, a society which is still in existence, and has for many years, in an unostentatious way, accomplished much charitable work. Mr. Pauly was married in 1840 to Miss Elmira Nye, a native of Vermont. The result of this union was four children living, two sons and two daughters. Besides he had one daughter by his first wife, to whom he was married in 1834, but she died in a little more than a year afterwards. His eldest daughter is the wife of General Dustin, of Sycamore, Illinois, who served all through the War of the Rebellion. His sons are living in Southern California, one being employed in the First National Bank in Los Angeles and the other being engaged in the real estate business here. One daughter is married and living in Gridley, Butte County. Mr. Pauly has fully realized his early expectations in the present wonderful growth and prosperity of San Diego. He is in excellent health, and bids fair to have many days of usefulness before him. Additional Comments: From: THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO. ILLUSTRATED, AND CONTAINING BI0GRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS. SAN DIEGO, CAL. LEBERTHON & TAYLOR 1888 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sandiego/bios/pauly835nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 6.6 Kb