THE HON. A. C. BLEDSOE
The subject of this
memoir, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Sumner County,
Tennessee, on June 17, 1813. After receiving his primary education in
private schools, he was sent to the Rural Academy in his native county. The
following two years he was engaged as clerk in a store, then enlisted in the
United States army, serving six months, when he was honorably discharged,
and then commenced the study of law, and was a close student for two years.
In 1838 he was appointed Clerk of the (Sumner, Tennessee) County Court,
holding this position for two years; then moved to La Fayette County,
Missouri, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He left this place in 1849 and
crossed the plains to California with ox-teams. He stopped in El Dorado
County and engaged in mining till July, 1851, then returned to Missouri, but
again started for this state on May 10, 1853, crossed the plains, and
arrived in Placerville on September 29th of that year. Here he remained till
March, 1854, when he located on his present estate on Russian River, about
seven miles south of Healdsburg. Since his residence here he has been
elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature one term, and Sheriff of
Sonoma County one term, as well as being appointed United States Marshal.
These are the only offices he has ever held, not from want of opportunity,
but from a decided aversion to political life. He could not, and would not,
stoop to the means which make political preferment easy, but preferred to
hold his honest opinions unbiased and untrammeled, rather than sacrifice his
dignity, independence and honesty of character for the temporary success
which a short hour of office would bring. All who have associated with him
while a resident of Sonoma County, respect and esteem him in the highest
degree for his ability and untarnished character. He married Miss Elizabeth,
daughter of Colonel Lewis Green, of Sumner County, Tennessee, on January 13,
1842. Margaret, Linn Lucilla, Clintonia, Sophia, Isaac L., Sarah A., John
C., William O., Jeff D., and Alexander, are the names of their children.
Source: "History of Sonoma County, Cal.," Alley,
Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1880, pp. 502-503.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, 2007.
Was born in Callaway
County, Missouri, May 11, 1825, and resided there until 1849, when he
emigrated to California, crossing the plains, via Mexico, with ox teams.
After his arrival he engaged in freighting from Stockton to the southern
mines. He followed this business three years, and then returned to his
native State by water, where he remained over winter, and in the following
spring he recrossed the plains, bringing with him a drove of one hundred
cattle. He now located in Santa Clara County, and disposing of his cattle,
remained until the fall of 1856, when he came to this (Sonoma) county, and
settled at the head of Dry Creek Valley, twelve miles above Healdsburg,
where he has a pleasant house and resides there at the present time engaged
in farming and stock-raising. In the fall of 1872 he again visited his
native State, this time going and returning over the Union and Central
Pacific Railroads. He married Miss Mary Hamilton, July 14, 1855. Mrs. Board
was born in Tennessee June 8, 1835, and died in Sonoma County, California,
on the 22d of October, 1875. Her remains are interred in the Oak Mound
Cemetery, at Healdsburg. Four children were the result of this union: Horace
D., born November 4, 1856; Oscar, born March 29, 1858, and died September
28, 1858; Iter A., born July 20, 1861; and Willie A., born September 27,
1863. On the 4th of May, 1879, he married Miss Izora A. Oliver, a native of
Canada, who was born December 24, 1851.
Source: "History of Sonoma County, Cal.," Alley,
Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1880, p. 503.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, July, 2007.