BAECHTEL, HENRY, GORDON

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, August 08, 2009 at 05:18:45 :

Marin Journal
Thursday June 24, 1915
Page 4

Samuel S. Baechtel, Sheriff in 1850-51 Died at Willits Last Week

Samuel S. Baechtel, one of the earliest pioneers of Marin county, died at his home at Willits in Mendocino county last Thursday. He was a member of the Baltimore Company which came to Marin county in 1849, landing at Corte Madera in November of that year, and started the first saw mill in Marin county. He was accompanied by his brother, by Ai Barney and Dan T. Taylor of this city, who is now the only survivor of the company.

News of the death was received here by Chas. S. Barney, a son of Ai Barney.

The Baltimore company did not exist long. The mill was sold to B. R. Buckelew, grandfather of Supervisor Casper Gardner.

Samuel Baechtel for a time ran a cattle ranch where the Lagunitas Lake of the Water Company is now located. He was elected the first sheriff of Marin county and served during the years 1850 and 51. Dan T. Taylor was his deputy. Later Mr. Baechtel and his brother moved to Mendocino county where they engaged in cattle raising and resided until their death. He moved from Marin to Mendocino more than forty years ago.

Mr. Baechtel was an uncle of Miss Olivia Gordon. The Misses Gordon came up from Pacific Grove to attend the funeral and were in San Rafael on Monday.

The Willits News gives the following account of the death of Mr. Baechtel:
Friday morning, June 18, at 5:30 the Angel of Death touched the aged Little Lake pioneer, Samuel S. Baechtel and bade him rest from the cares and suffering of this life, The end was peaceful, the aged sufferer falling into his last long sleep naturally and without pain. At 11 o’clock on Thursday night he retired and appeared as usual without any alarming symptoms or evidences of the impending end and at 5:30 Friday morning Mrs. Baechtel asked if there was any service she could render; no answer was given but Mr. Baechtel turned over on the pillow and passed away in peaceful slumber. The funeral was held at the home on Humboldt street at 2:30 Sunday p.m. Rev. Whitaker preached the sermon and interment was in the Old Cemetery.
Samuel S. Baechtel was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, September 26, 1826, and would have been 89 years of age his next birthday. He and his brother Harry helped organize a mercantile company in the fall of ’49 and came to California by way of Panama, settling in Marin county where they entered into the saw-mill business.
The deceased was honored by being elected the first sheriff of Marin county when it was organized. In 1855 Harry and Samuel came to the Little Lake Valley with a drove of 250 head of cattle and were the first white settler. A little later their brother Martin joined them and the three followed ranching for some years and then opened a general-merchandise store. The business changed hands several times and finally was incorporated as the Irvine & Muir Lumber Co. Samuel and Martin are both large stockholders in that corporation. The older brother, “Uncle Harry,” died a year ago last winter. Martin has lived in Oakland for a number of years.
In 1861 Samuel Baechtel married Miss Harriet Henry who survives him. Four children also remain to mourn a kind and loving father. They are Gordon, William, Miss Lizzie and Luther.