Judge Ogden Squires, who died in 1880 at Napa, of varied conversations of daily intercourse, at all times, consumption, was a prominent lawyer and citizen of under all circumstances, the impress of divine genius Placerville for nearly 30 years, and has occupied dur- was visible upon the emanations of his mind. ing that time many important offices. In 1851 he The disciples of Esculapius were represented by a was appointed Deputy Sheriff and served in that cap-noble set of kind-hearted men, no time or age can acity for many years; he was elected and served one show a better one. There were Drs. Harvey, Clark, term as a member of the State Legislature, being the Titus, now of San Francisco, Rob. Rankin, Marquis, youngest member of that body. In 1863 he was Chamberlin, Hinman, Crus, Hamm, Fiske, of Brodelected County Judge for a term of four years, show- erick fame, Adams, Taylor, Dolan, Hunters, Ray, ing ability and intelligence. Thereafter he filled the McMeans, Conkling, Th. Hall, L. Ferlong, Turner, office of a Justice of the Peace and Notary. Richardson, Keene, Worthen, Childs, Biron, Sargent, Kunkler, Thomas, Ober and Hook. What has become of all of them. Most of them are gone, and our memories of them are scattered to the winds.

During the time of the secession war a cause being on trial in the County Court, and the Judge had charged the jury, who had retired to determine upon a verdict. The time being evening, they were left in Hon. B. F. Keene, M. D., died of paralysis in the more comfortable court room. To beguile their Placerville on the 5th of September, 1856. Dr. time some of them sang and others joined in the Keene came here as a pioneer, to reside in El Dorado chorus. The Judge was a staunch constitutional Dem-county at a time when society was yet quite unsettled ocrat, and when he entered the Clerk's office, adjoining and the laws very little observed; by his own example the court room, about 8 or 9 o'clock, they were lus- and mental influence he helped to find the way out tily singing "John Brown," in which all had joined, and of this sordid and selfish interest towards the wholethe old fellow's soul was boisterously "marching some state of affairs that surrounds and distinguishes around." He hesitated a moment to satisfy himself a well governed State. His talents and virtues were that his sense of hearing did not deceive him, then he appreciated, and in 1851 he was called away from his rushed at the intervening door, nearly demolishing it active professional duties and important private enterwith his thundering blows, and in a voice stifled with prise by the vote of a rare unanimity to fill the office rage cried out: "If you don't stop singing, I will com- of Senator in the State Legislature. This was a place mit every one of you to the county jail for contempt. for a man to show his ability. The policy of our You were not sent there for any such purpose!" And State government not yet fixed, and the population they didn't sing any more that night. The Judge had filled with prejudice and jealousy toward each other, frightened John Brown's soul and very nearly the caused by different habits of education and associajuror's also out of the court room. tion. It was quite a hazardous experiment to frame. Major Abram T. Ward, who died at Placerville in and adopt a system of laws to suit all the different 1855, was born at Frankfort, Ky., in 1823. Sprung elements of this population; but the following prosfrom a soil prolific of talented, courageous and honor-perity of the people is the best evidence of the perable men, Major Ward was one of the rarest speci- fectness and superiority of the laws as well as of the mens. Among all her gifted sons he stood pre-emi- men who were working hard to show their patriotism. nent. A graduate of Centre College, Danville, he early commenced the practice of the legal profession and became a man of note among his brethren at the bar. A short time after he removed to Missouri, where he continued the practice of law until he determined to journey to California. In 1850 he crossed the plains and resided since uninterrupted in this his adopted State. Originally locating at Sacramento, from which place he removed to Placerville, where his virtues made him many friends.

But Major Ward was not alone a man of mind, he did not win his host of friends by mere mental force; he was eminently sound-hearted and true-souled. Whether pleading the cause of injured innocence, prosecuting the crime-stained villain, exposing the basis of a legal principle, the ground work of constitutional right, at the festal board, or in the chance and

And Dr. Keene was one of the most intimate lawmakers of our statute book, he not only followed the work of the Legislature with ardent zeal, he was a leader. Twice he was honored by his collegues with the election to the presidency of the Senate, and his constituents, to express their pride and contentment with his representation, that he had been repeatedly sent to the Senate for four years, and but a short time before his death he was honored with the nomination to the office of State Treasurer.

"Now every splendid object of ambition
Which lately with their various glosses, passed
Upon his brain-have gone like morning mist,
And all the world is vanished!"

BIOGRAPHY.

ROBERT CHALMERS

the people's money and assistant in making their laws, he gave universal satisfaction to his constituents. He soon abandoned politics and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he always took an active Was the eldest of fourteen children vouchsafed as interest, and at the time of his death (June 2, 1881) blessings to the union of William and Elizabeth (nee had one of the finest vineyards and wine cellars in El Templeton) Chalmers, who were natives of Scotland, Dorado county, known as the "Coloma Vineyard." and united in the bonds of matrimony in Kilmarnock. On the property he erected a large 3-story building Robert was born May 24, 1820, and removed with his used as a residence and hotel. The location is a parents to Haldemand county, Canada in 1834. Boy-beautiful one, on an eminence overlooking the town hood's days were spent on his father's farm, and when of Coloma, and the valley for a long distance. In the but 19 years old he was married to Miss Katie Fer-construction of the residence, wine cellars and surrier, who was also a native of Scotland. For a short roundings, not labor or money was spared to make time he engaged himself at rope making and as a fire-them as they should be. He was a man without the man on a steamer, on Lake Erie, after which he pur-advantages of an education save as acquired by obserchased a farm in the forests of Haldeman county, and vation and reading in later years, as he never attended with an ox team and axe began the tedious task of school after 12 years of age, but being very fond of clearing up a home. The same spirit of progress that reading he had provided himself with one of the finest characterized his entire life was then in its full vigor, libraries in the county and was well informed on all and it was not long ere he had a goodly portion of the topics of interest. heavily timbered land under cultivation. He pur- For a number of years he was an active member of chased and took into the county the first threshing the Coloma band, and tried to cultivate the tastes of machine ever used there, and while operating the same the young by teaching music in the village.

one of

the forefinger of his right hand caught in the machin- In short he was the life of Coloma, being possessed ery and was crushed so as to render amputation nec-of an indomitable will, a s, irit of enterprise and never essary, but in less than 24 hours he was on duty with idle a moment, his life was one of continual activity, his machine again. When the news of the discovery and being possessed of a spirit of adventure and courof gold in California reached Canada he was ageous temperament, he was impelled to rapid achievethe first to catch the inspiration, and at once disposed ments in a multiplicity of enterprises. Being sympa of his farm, settled his family near the old home, and thetic and kind in his nature he was ever a welcome in May, 1850, started for California. The steamer on friend to the society of his associates. He displayed which he took passage up the Missouri river was an active interest in every work that promised the burned, and he with others of his party lost all their elevation and welfare of mankind and through his geneffects save what was on their backs. He was not erous nature was helpful in every society of which he deterred, however, by his misfortune, having set his face became a member. He was an obliging friend, and thither he turned not back for trifles, but continued as such prized while living and mourned since gone. across the plains and arrived at Coloma in the autumn He was a member of the A. O. U. W., of the I. O. O. of the same year. For a while he mined in various F., and of the Masonic fraternity, of which he had claims about Coloma, and eventually began work for taken every degree from 1st to 32d inclusive. a Mr. M. Holmes in his bakery and store. While in He was married three times, the last wife survives this position he saved about twenty-five hundred him and resides at Coloma, and of his children but dollars, and in January, 1852, returned to the East, but three are living, viz: Abraham now in Utah, Hugh after a short time he longed for the climate and activ-now in San Francisco, and Louisa, the youngest child ity of California life and again crossed the plains to now with her mother at Coloma. arrive at Coloma in September of 1852.

In a short time he purchased the Sierra Nevada Hotel, enlarged and improved it and continued as its proprietor until 1865.

For a number of years he was collector of foreign miners' taxes, and after that was abolished he was elected Treasurer of El Dorado county in 1867. In 1876 he was chosen to represent his county in the Legislature. He was a zealous worker in whatever duty he undertook to perform, and as the custodian of

It is not claimed that Robert Chalmers was without his faults. But while it is "Human to err," it is "Divine to do good."

THOMAS Z. ARMSTRONG.

Thomas and Jane (Bell) Armstrong were natives of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. They came to the United States about 1829 and settled at West Union, Adams county, Ohio, where Thomas Z., the subject of our sketch, was born on the 28th day of February,

1831. When about 9 years old his father died; he There was then but an embyro town where now had lived on a small farm and was a contractor on stands the great city. The company at once secured the pikes or toll roads in use at that time. About teams and went to the Mokelumne river mines, where 1846 Thomas went with an uncle to Whiteside in August they disbanded. After a short stay at county, Illinois. On the 22d day of August, 1850, Sacramento, Mr. Bayley went on a prospecting tour

he arrived at Placerville, California, and went to min- through Hangtown and Coloma mining districts. In ing at Fort John on Dry creek. In 1851 he went to October he returned to Sacramento and opened a Volcano canyon in Placer county, and thence to storage house. In March, 1850, he returned to Coloma, where he remained until 1867. For a num- Coloma and took charge of the Winters' Hotel at a ber of years he had charge of the toll bridge, and was salary of $500 per month. On the 25th day of July, in the employ of Thomas H. Williams as ditch agent 1850, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Jones, at the for some time. In 1867 he went to Jones' Hill and Green Springs, by Rev. J. A. Benton; this was the purchased a mining claim which he operated for over second wedding in the county. On this occasion Mr. twelve years. In May, 1880, he became a resident of Bayley hired the first horse and buggy ever in the Georgetown. On June the 1st, 1881, he paid $200 county to go on a wedding trip to Sacramento, paying for the Rich Gulch mine, from which in about sixty-two ounces per day, for the use of it. He was absent five days he took out near $18,000. He associated ten days and on his return, Uncle Billy Rogers, the with him in the ownership of the mine Mr. Amos owner, magnanimously agreed to deduct $20.00 and Baldwin, also an old time Californian. Mr. Arm- settled at $300.00. strong came to California with less than enough to buy one meal to eat, but by perseverance and fair dealing has accumulated a handsome competence. He is a Royal Arch Mason and also an I. O. O. F.

ALCANDER JOHN BAYLEY

In September, 1850, he resigned his position in the hotel at Coloma and erected a hotel at Pilot Hill, known as the Oak Valley House; when completed he gave an opening ball which continued for two days, November 27-28th, 1851, and upon counting his cash found that he was $3,500 ahead. This stimulated him to go on and enlarge his hotel. We herewith insert a copy of the invitation.

"COTILLON PARTY

Was born in Athens, Windham county, Vermont, October 16th, 1827, and was the youngest of three sons descendants of James and Mercy nee (Priest) Bayley. His father was born in Athens in 1780, and died in the same town January 5th, 1832. His To be given at A. J. Bayley's Oak Valley House, mother was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, in 1783, Thursday evening, November 27th, 1851. Managers and died May 14th, 1832. His father was a mer- Robert H. West, John C. Barr, Hon. V. Daniels, chant in the town in which Alcander J. was born. Hon. W. F. Stewart, Wm. R. Hopkins, Dr. D. A. Young Bayley was graduated from Townsend Aca- Cohea, John Orr and Hon. Judge Thomas". When demy when sixteen years old, and always having had the building was enlarged it contained a hall 96x30 a desire to visit the Western States he started on a trip feet, hard finished and covered with fresco paper, and to Brunswick, Missouri, to complete which in that adjoining it was a dining room the same length and early day consumned thirty-five days. He visited twenty feet wide. The first ball given in the new Leavenworth, Kansas, the same year, but in a short hall was on the 19th of October, 1854, to which 156 time returned to Brunswick, Missouri, and engaged tickets were sold at $10.00 each, and one hundred in merchandising. In May, 1848, he returned to and forty ladies present. The total receipts of this his native town, and in August of the same year, under party was $2,200. The last annual ball was given by the firm name of Davis & Bayley, on the day he was Mr. Bayley on the evening of October 25th, 1860, at twenty-one years old, began a commission business in which the receipts were $1,500. On the 16th of May, Boston. Early in December the news of the dis- 1861 the entire structure with all its contents was decovery of gold in California reached the city of Boston, stroyed by fire, and Mr. Bayley began the construcand as Mr. Bayley had spent some years on the frontier tion of his present palatial brick residence, the largest in which he had become accustomed to "roughing" it, in the county, containing about three hundred thouhe was not long in determining to seek the new El sand brick and costing $20,000. It is three full Dorado. He at once organized a company who pur- stories in height. The opening reception was on chased the ship Edward Everett, and on the 11th May 15th, 1862. The residence is located on his day of January, 1849, she weighed anchor in Boston beautiful Oak Valley ranch of 640 acres, forty miles harbor, and after a long and tedious voyage cast from the capital of the State and eight miles from anchor again in San Francisco bay, July 6th, 1849. Coloma and Auburn each. From the observatory,