William Edgington
William Edgington - Was born in Garnet County, Kentucky, March 20, 1816, where he resided till 1840. He then emigrated and settled in Flatte County, Missouri, and for the first year he was engaged in the distilling business. He then embarked in farming, which he followed till April 28,1846. He then started with an ox team across the plains for California, arriving in the Sacramento Valley October 22d of that year. On leaving home they expected to go to Oregon, but at Fort Hall they met Messrs. Applegate and Gough, by whom they were persuaded to change their route for California. This route led them down the Humboldt River two hundred miles, and there they found orders from Applegate and Gough that they would find a comfortable camping place near the foot-hill eighteen miles farther on. Finding no water or grass for their stock they held a meeting and took a vote whether they should proceed on to Oregon or come to California, by which it was decided that they would go to California. While on the Humboldt four of the party died, and as above stated they reached the Sacramento Valley on the 22d of October, 1846. On Bear River Mr. Edgington left the party and enlisted in Fremont's battalion, Company E, under Captain Hastings, and was mustered into service at San Francisco, and from there proceeded with the company to Santa Clara Valley. He stayed in the service till March, 1847, when he was mustered out. On arriving at San Francisco he found that the company with whom he had crossed the plains was located in Chiles Valley, Napa County, and he immediately started to go there. He at once began work for Mr. J.B. Chiles, with whom he continued till May, 1848. On the 8th of that month he was united in marriage to Theresa A., daughter of Captain John Grigsby and Nancy Wilson Grigsby, a native of Tennessee, born November 21, 1830. In July, 1848, he, with his wife, went to the mines on the American River, just below Sutter's old mill, where he embarked in mining with good success, which he followed for three months. They then returned to Chiles Valley, and spent the winter of 1848-9 with Captain John Grigsby. In the spring of 1849 he, with Captain John Grigsby, went to the middle fork of the Yuba River, where they "struck rich diggings," and continued mining for two months, returning to this valley with lots of coin. He then went to the redwoods, a few miles north-west of his present home, where he cut, hewed and whipsawed lumber, which he hauled into Napa with ox teams, and there erected his first house and home in California. It was built near where James & Boggs' lumber yard is now situated. He resided there till 1850, when he moved to his present home, and has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He now owns one thousand acres of land in Napa County; also much valuable property in Napa City. By his marriage he has nine children.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February, 2007 Pages 454-455
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Last updated February 1, 2007