Jotham H. Howland
Jotham H. Howland - Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, April 19, 1828, was educated at the Friends' Academy of that city, and Spring Hill Academy, Sandwich, Massachusetts. When twenty years of age he left his native place and sailed from Boston on the bark "Carib," December 20,1848, for San Francisco via Cape Horn, and arrived in that city June 23,1849, The " Carib " was the first vessel which left the Atlantic coast for California after the news of the discovery of gold. On arriving in San Francisco, Mr. Rowland, with two young friends, Charles Lombard and Thomas Q. Bates, camped on the lot on which the What Cheer House now stands. After remaining there a few days he left for Coloma and reached there July 4th. He immediately went to mining, washing out with an ordinary hand rocker one ounce per day. Not being satisfied with this, he proceeded to Big Bar where miners were averaging $100 per day. In consequence of the illness of his partner, Charles Lumbard, he remained there only a few days and returned to San Francisco. December 15, 1850, he left that city and returned to New Bedford. May 21, 1851, the day of the big fire, he arrived in San Francisco for the second time. He went from there to Jacksonville, Tuolumne County, where with fifty others, after working six months, succeeded in turning the river. When their hopes were highest for an immediate return for their great exertions, the very night of its completion the dam gave way and all their labor was lost and they were left in debt and without anything. Mr. Howland then returned to San Francisco and became a member of the firm of Collins, Cushman & Co. In February, 1852, he again returned to New Bedford. April 8,1852, he was married to Miss Potter, of that city. He left the 20ih of April for California, arriving in San Francisco May 21,1852. In July, 1852, he came to Napa and entered into the general merchandise business in the building now occupied by G. Earth, on Brown street. In 1853 he was elected Public Administrator of Napa County. In 1855 he returned to the city and revisited New Bedford in 1856, spending fifteen months there. He returned to San Francisco in 1857 and again went into business in Napa where he has since continued to reside. In 1864 he was elected County Recorder and ex-officio Auditor, to which office he was three successive times elected. In 1875 he was appointed Postmaster by President Grant, and re-appointed in 1879 by President Hayes, which position he held till September, 1881. In all the various positions to which he has been called, he has given universal satisfaction.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, June 2007 Pages 486-487
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