Napa County Biographies
Charles Henry Allen
Whose portrait appears in this work, is the fourth son of Rhodes and Rebecca
Bowen Alien. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, April 24, 1817. He resided at his birth-place
until he was twenty years of age, and during this time he received the advantage of a common school
education. In June, 1837, he sailed on the ship "Atlas," of Mystic, Connecticut (touching at one of
the Azores for supplies), for Possession Island, one of the Crozet group in the Indian Ocean, for the
purpose of obtaining sea elephant oil, at which point the ship arrived on the 6th day of September
following. A few days after the ship and tender - a schooner of about eighty tons - were wrecked at the
same time upon that desolate island, six thousand miles from home. The crew and officers numbered
thirty-seven men. Fifty-two days after the men were taken on board of the French frigate " L'Heroine."
While cruising on the Indian Ocean they spoke the whale ship " North America," of Wihnington, Delaware.
She lacked two whales of being full of oil. A number of her men were sick with the scurvy, and therefore
unable to man the boats. Mr. Alien and nine others were placed on board. By their aid everything that
would hold oil was in a few days filled. The ship sailed for Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, for supplies;
thence for the Cape of Good Hope. Upon her arrival a strong gale was blowing from the land, which made
it unsafe to enter the harbor. The ship's course was then changed for the island of St. Helena,
where Mr. Allen arrived in February, 1838. Soon after landing at Jamestown, early in the morning,
the ten ragged and barefooted men were formed in line by the American consul, in front of his office,
and presented with a rupee each and told to go and enjoy themselves. Having experienced many hardships,
and been confined on shipboard at sea for months, they felt like caged birds let loose, and therefore
concluded to try their freedom by making a pilgrimage to Bonaparte's tomb, about four miles distant.
They found a portion of their way difficult to travel without shoes. Upon their return at evening with
bruised and bloody feet, Mr. Alien, being an American citizen and a destitute shipwrecked sailor in a
foreign land, went to the American consul and asked for the assistance and protection of the United States
Government. He received food, clothing, and a passage home on the ship "John and Elizabeth," of New London, Connecticut, at which place he arrive^ in March, 1838, within seven miles of the point of his
departure, being absent nearly ten months. His compensation was an actual knowledge of a sailor's life. In
July, 1838, we find Mr. Allen in Stonington, Connecticut, where he embarked in the hardware and tinware
business, and during his residence in the above named town he was twice honored by being elected to the
Lower House of the State Legislature. This occurring in the years 1845-6. He obtained the title of Colonel
by being elected and commissioned to that position in the Eighth Regiment of the Third Brigade of the
Connecticut State Militia. August 10,1849, he sailed from Stonington on the ship " Calumet" for California
via Cape Horn. The ship sprung a leak, went to St. Catherine, Brazil, for repairs; sailed thence on the
voyage, arriving in San Francisco March 8th, 1850. He, with six of the crew, purchased of the supercargo,
for $406, a small sail boat brought upon the ship, and which he had formerly owned in Stonington, and
valued there at about $40. When loaded with men and provisions the gunwale of the boat was but a few
inches above the water. He left the ship early in the morning, the bay fortunately was calm, and proceeded
up the Sacramento, Feather and Yuba Rivers to Marysville, where he sold the boat for §200, and in that
vicinity commenced prospecting and mining along the river from Parks Bar to the head waters of the north
branch of the north fork of the main Yuba, about ten miles above Downieville. In the fall of 1850 be
returned to Parks Bar. In the spring of 1851 he prospected on the north fork of Feather River, and returned
to the Yuba at Roses Bar in May following, and bought what was considered a worked-out claim, for six ounces.
The miners agreed that the new comer had been badly cheated. By thorough work he struck a rich lead which
extended across several claims, and he took" out gold by the pound instead of ounces. Then the miners said
he was lucky. He became generally known in that vicinity, and was frequently called upon to act as an
arbitrator in settling disputes between miners, and to serve upon miners' juries, to protect them against
thieves and scoundrels. He mined on Sucker Flat during the winter of 1851-2 with good success. In the spring
of 1852 he returned home via Nicaraugua route; staying but a short time he returned to California the following
October. On his arrival for the second time in the Golden State he proceeded to Stockton, where he resided during
the winter of 1852-3. In the spring of 1853 he proceeded to the mines on the Yuba River, above Marysville, where
he became very much reduced with the chills and fever. Learning that the climate of Napa Valley was healthy, on
the 3d of November of that year he came to Napa, discontinued the use of medicine, soon recovered his health,
and has not experienced a sick day since. He purchased a farm in Browns Valley, two miles west of Napa City,
and engaged in farming. In 1855 he opened a hardware and tinware store on Brown street, in which he continued
until 1856, when he sold to Mr. W. Smith. Prior to this time he had experimented with the Napa soda water,
and found he could make it marketable. He then contracted for the Soda Springs, he furnishing everything to
start the business and receiving one-third of the net profits; the contract to run for three years. . Soon
after the business began to pay, the title to the Springs became involved in litigation. He then gave his
attention to his old ranch in Browns Valley, where he continued farming. In 1857 he was elected one of the
County Supervisors, and re-elected in 1858. In 1861 he was elected Sheriff, his term commencing in October
of that year and ending in March, 1864. September 22,1863, he was commissioned Captain of the Napa Guard, a
volunteer military company, composed of loyal men, organized for the purpose. of assisting in preserving the
peace of the State in time of war. His company was attached to the Second Brigade, and was ordered into camp
in Alameda County in October, 1863. In 1873 he was appointed Treasurer of the City of Napa, and elected a City
Trustee in 1874, serying two terms. He made his home in Browns Valley until 1867, when he removed to Napa City,
and in 1869 became a partner in the firm of Allen, Parks & Kimball, in the general hardware business, in which
he continued until 1876, when he removed to his present ranch of fifty-three acres, near Napa City, where he
is engaged in farming and grape growing. He was united in marriage to Miss Caroline A. Forshew, who was born
near Maiden on the Hudson River, New York, October, 1821.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February, 2007 Pages 367-369
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Last updated February 1, 2007