Napa County Biographies
Turner G. Baxter
Turner G. Baxter - Was born in Adair County, Kentucky, January, 10,1821. He resided at his birthplace until he was
fifteen years of age, when he started out into the world to do for himself. His first move was to go to Sangamon
County, Illinois, ascending the Sangamon River in the little steamer " Talisman," which was the first steamboat that
had ever plowed the bosom of that stream. In going up the Sangamon River, they were detained by a mill-dam across
the river. There he made his first acquaintance with that good man, Abraham Lincoln, who was clerking in a grocery
store, and he will never forget how he looked This was in a little village by the name of New Salem, twenty miles
below Springfield, and the mill belonged to a man by the name of Cameron. This was in
1836. He remained here for three years, learning the cabinet and carpenter's trade in the meantime. In 1839
he moved to Jackson County, Missouri, where he had an uncle living, and was engaged chiefly, during his brief
sojourn in that locality, in journey work. He then went to Platt's Purchase, on the north side of the Missouri
River, where he spent two winters. His next move was to Louisiana, Missouri, where he followed his trade
until March 15,1849, when he started across the plains, with ox teams, for the land of gold. He arrived at
Sacramento, September l5th of that year. Here he met an old friend, Mr. Martin, and they proceeded to
Readings Springs, and started a trading post. But this was of short duration, and on the 13th day of November,
1849, in company with Dr. Brackett, he first set foot within the limits of Napa City. He at once opened a
grocery store and saloon, which he continued till the following spring. He then built the Valley House Hotel,
which was situated on the ground now occupied by David L. Haas' store. After conducting this enterprise but a
short time he sold out, with the intention of going East, but the cholera was very bad at the Isthmus just at
that time, so he abandoned the idea. In the summer of 1850 he purchased the steamer " Dolphin," in San Francisco.
He took her to Benicia, and after undergoing repairs, put her on the Napa River route. This was the pioneer
steamer of Napa, and the first one that ever came up the river. At first he made trips between Napa and San
Francisco, but soon changed his terminal point to Benicia, being thus able to make close connections with
the river steamers in both directions. At the end of two years he sold the " Dolphin," and again engaged in
the hotel-keeping business at his old stand. This he followed but a short time, when he went upon the steamer
" Jack Hays," which was soon afterwards sold. During all this time he had not been neglectful of his best
financial interests, but had purchased several lots in Napa City and had erected thereon several buildings.
In 1856 he went to South America, seeking a suitable place to run a steamboat. At Valparaiso he secured the
exclusive right to run a tow-boat about the harbor for twenty years, but the enterprise was soon abandoned.
He then returned to Napa and opened the Valley House restaurant, which he conducted for one year. In 1860 he
began work for the California Steam Navigation Company, and ran on the Napa River in their employ for three
years. He then ran awhile on the Sacramento River for the company, and then took charge of a boat plying between
Napa and Vallejo, in opposition to the railroad. He remained in the employ of this company until 1870. In 1874,
in company two others, he bought the steamer " Vaquero," and ran it between San Francisco and Napa for one
summer, and then sold her. In 1877 he was on the steamer "Princess " for one summer, and since that time Mr.
Baxter has been engaged at the carpenter's trade.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February, 2007 Pages 406-407
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Last updated February 1, 2007