The Portland daily press., 1889-05-08
MORMON, MINER AND SPECULATOR.
How Maine Boy Became the Rich
est Man in California,
After Spending Some Years as a
Leader Among the Mormons.
Samuel Brannan's Adventures and
the Fortunes Which He Lost.

New YORK, May IA special despatch
to the New York Tribune from San Francis
co says: samuel Brannan, "a pioneer, died at
Escondido, San Diego county. yesterday of
inflammation Of the bowels"
Samuel Brannan was once one of the rich
est men and the most influential citizens of
California. he made princely fortune in
ten years. lost it in another decade, and a
year ago though then broken in health and
shattered in fortune was again confident Of
winning second fortune from huge land
grant in Sonora. Mr.. Brannan was born in
Maine about 60 years ago. He learned the
printers trade in Ohio, and when 10 years
old he bought up his time and engaged in
real estate speculation, in which he made no
money. While strolling about as journey
man printer he fell in with the Mormons. He
joined them, and for three years published
their organ, ''The New York Messenger" in
this city. In 1876, with the approval of
Brigham Young he sailed from this city
with colony of Mormons for California
then Mexican territory. He showed great
administrative ability in managing his colon.
lists, but he became disgusted when he
learned that Young did not intend to remove
the Mormon headquarters to the Pacific
coast. He made trip to Salt Lake City but
was unable to shake Young's decision. Re-
turning to the coast with his Mormon enthu-
siasm greatly cooled, he closed up the con-
Germs of the Mormons and began business on
his own account
He erected two flour mills lin San Francis
co, established "The STAR the first newspa-
per published on the coast started large
store at Suffers Fort and speculated in town
farm, he at once bought up large quantities
of supplies and shipped them to his store.
His sales amounted to about $150,000 per
month and his profits were about 70 per
cent Sacramento grew up around his store,
and he made large sums In selling town lots.
He also engaged in mining. the China trade
and bought heavily in real estate in San
Francisco. He built five business blocks,
opened streets and took lively interest in
the city's affairs. He was president of the
first vigilance committee and one of the vice
presidents of the great vigilance committee
OF 1856 BE was the richest man in Califor-
MIA in 1857, and held that position until 1864.
In an unlucky hour he purchased the Calls
togo estate in the Napa valley, and started in
to make i great public resort. He builta
costly railroad to the place and spent hund-
reds of thousands in trying to beautify
naturally sterile and mountainous spot. He
lost at least $1,000, 900 in the venture. Then
his mining schemes began to fail. Like
most of the pioneers he drank a great deal,
and when his fortunes began to decline he
was rarely sober after midday. He soon lost
his grip entirely and would have been penni-
less except for one of his acts when Maxi
millian was in Mexico. At that time he
gave money and equipped regiment to aid
the Republican cause. The Republic after
wards granted him about 100000 and
grant of land in Sonora. Going there in 1880
he devoted his energies for several years to
improving his property He had some sue
cess, but in time his health became broken
and he returned to California to die.