Yolo-Sacramento County CA Archives Biographies.....Witham, Gilbert T. 1832 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 10, 2005, 11:13 am

Author: Tom Gregory

GILBERT T. WITHAM

    After a six months' stormy trip around the Horn, G. T. Witham landed in San
Francisco May 6, 1850. The journey was made in the old sailing bark Carlomarand,
long ago gone to the graveyard of worn-out ships, and during the entire voyage
from Boston to San Francisco she called only at one place, and that the Island
of San Juan Fernandez, off the coast of Chile—the place made famous by being the
isle where Alexander Selkirk was marooned for seven years and which occasioned
the writing of "Robinson Crusoe." The young Argonaut—he was seventeen years of
age —came as supercargo of the vessel, having superintended the loading of the
vessel with lumber at Boston, and on her arrival in San Francisco he
superintended the discharge of the vessel.

    G. T. Witham was born at Alfred, York county, Me., in 1832, and was educated
in the public schools, after which he was employed in a general store in
Portland until he came to California. For several years his life was the usual
life of the young men wandering in the yellow haze of the Eldorado. He was a
miner, teamster and all-round rustler wherever there was something to do. At
Kanaka valley, on the American river, he found for a partner John Milliken, a
fellow-Maine man—native of Portland—and they picked and shoveled together,
working many a ton of sand and other debris into the Sacramento river—and some
"dust" into their pockets. They ran a store at Michigan Bar—a typical
mining-camp store, such as described so vividly by Bret Harte and other early
California writers. They sold out and afterwards opened and ran the old New
England house on J street, Sacramento, until the big fire of 1851-52, when they
were burned out. Mr. Witham ran the first hack that rolled up and down the
streets of the state capital. The vehicle cost him $3,000 in San Francisco. His
stand was at the Orleans hotel, a lively hostelry in those exceedingly lively
times. In 1854 he entered the employ of C. K. Doughty & Co., and was in their
service for many years. He also saw military service during the war as captain
of Company M, First California Cavalry, though his campaigning happened to be in
New Mexico chasing hostile Indians. One of his fellow troopers was the famous
scout, Kit Carson, and many a wild ride have these two taken together with the
Apaches either close before or behind. Captain Witham met the secretary of war
in New Mexico and by that official was offered a commission in the regular army.
But the captain declined the honor, preferring the freer life of a civilian.
After the conflict he returned to Sacramento, re-entered the employ of Doughty &
Co., running for that firm the first steam trading and produce boat on the river.

   From the river to the road was but a short step, and he took it, becoming a
Central Pacific trainman—and a faithful one. As conductor he ran the first train
out of Sacramento en route to Chico, Tehama and Red Bluff; and took the first
carload of freight to the "Summit" from Sacramento. The stuff was blasting
powder, and it was used to open the way for the road through the mountains.
Judge Crocker was in charge of the train bossing the job. Captain Witham saw
Stanford turn the first shovelful of earth on the levee between J and K streets,
Sacramento, for the Central Pacific Railroad Company. Afterward he was assistant
superintendent and train dispatcher of the Sacramento division, and later was
offered the position of superintendent, but declined it. He is the oldest living
Central Pacific conductor. In 1900 he retired from the "road" and is now in the
insurance business in Washington.

   In Sacramento, October 28, 1857, Captain Witham was married to Jemima Reid, a
native of New York City. Her father, James Reid, was a forty-niner, and Mrs.
Witham joined him in 1852, she also coming via Cape Horn. Born to Captain and
Mrs. Witham were the following children: Frederick, William, Albert, Edith and
Cyrus, of whom only William and Edith are living. Captain Witham was made a
Mason in Union Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., is a member of Union Chapter, Union
Commandery, K. T., all of Sacramento, and is a member of the California
Commandery, Militant Order of the Loyal Legion. He can claim for himself the
distinction of casting the first Republican vote in (Washington) Broderick.
Eighty years of age finds this hearty old pioneer enjoying life after his
strenuous time through the other days. So his last years flow on as peacefully
as the great river that ripples past his door.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]


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