HomeMy WebLinkAboutSLOWhat October 2017SLO Pioneers 2
You’ve driven along his avenue, most likely passed
his business block, if not shopped in the stores
therein, the railroad goes across his land, part of his
farm is now owned by Cal Poly, he was a member of
the 1861 State Assembly, the “mayor” before such a
title existed, a well-educated and gifted (for his times)
speaker, a San Francisco entrepreneur before it was
popularly known as San Francisco, the Collector
of Customs in Monterey, and one of the earliest
residents of the new county seat by at least 1856.
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known) arrived in this city when he was about 30 years
old and died in 1915, bowing out of this existence just
as the city was inaugurating its status as a Charter
City. In other words, he was here during our pioneer
years and undoubtedly knew just about everyone.
But, we’ll let him tell his story.
Charles Henry Johnson is an encyclopedia of local
lore and he will relate his story personally. You’ll
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best possible with whatever information I have been
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time we’ve had a conversation.
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“Well, thank you for this honor. As you well know, I
am quite use to public speaking and the local press
has even printed some of my remarks in separate
pamphlets.”
Yes, I’ve seen them. Let’s start at the beginning.
We’d appreciate hearing about your early years.
“That was certainly a very long time ago, but I was
born in Baltimore, Maryland on November 17, 1825.
I share my father’s name who was 32 when I was
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and participated in the famous Battle of Waterloo ten
years before and that spelled the end of Napoleon’s
rule and his career. I hope that is correct as I was told
all this.
He came to America and married my mother, Eliza
Green in 1819 when she was 19 or 20 and lived until
she was almost 90. By then, of course, I had long
before left home and was in San Luis Obispo. I was
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Mary Olivia two years later.
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education at the Methodist school, I recall named
Asbury, in Baltimore, was interrupted as my parents
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they were right! My sea adventures also cast my
future leading to the California shores.
I went to sea with my uncle who was an agent for
the East India Company sailing the oceans looking
for goods for the America and Europe. At the time,
the company was a leading merchant in much of the
world and accounted for about 50% of world trade
according to my uncle.
Not only did my health improve but I saw much more
of the world than from Baltimore or a classroom.”
Sorry to say, but we’ve run out of time. Thank you for
recounting what was not a usual youth. Next time, I’d
appreciate your speaking about how you arrived in
California.
“Now that was another grand adventure. I thank you
for your interest and kind attention.
Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com
Please visit: www.joefromslo.com 10/2017
History of SLO: Pioneers’ Story
WITH JOSEPH CAROTENUTI, CITY HISTORIAN/ARCHIVIST
Charles Henry Johnson