Morning journal and courier., 1889-05-17
SAM BnANN A N,s CA REEaR.
A Californian who Made Several Fort
 unesi and Spent One on Lola NoR-
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.

From the Philadelphia BuIletin.1
 Samuel Brannsn whose death is announced from San Francisco, was once one of the richest men and the most influential citizens of California. He made prinoely fortune in ten years, lost 1t in another decade and year ago, though then broken in health and shattered in fortune, was confident of win ming second fortune from 8 huge land grant in Sonora. MT. Brannan was born in Maine about sixty years ago. He learned the printers trade in Ohio, and when about nineteen years old he bought up his time and engaged in real estate speculation, in which he made no money. While strolling about as journeyman printer he fell in with the Mormons. He joined them, and for three years published their organ, the New York Messenger in New York City. In 1846, with the approval of Brigham Young. he sailed from New York with colony of Mormons for California, then Mexican territory. He showed great administrative ability in man. aging his colonists, 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 de- cision. Returning to the coast with his Mormon enthusiasm greatly cooled, he closed up the concerns of the Mormons and began business on his own account.
 I He erected two four mills in San Francis co, established the Star, the first newspaper published on the coast, started a large store at Sutter's Fort and speculated in town lots. ! On the discovery of gold at Suster's farm he at once bought large quantities of supplies | and shipped them to his store. His sales | amounted to $150, ,0O0 a month and his profits | were about 75 per cent. Sacramento grew | up around his store and be 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 l five business blocks opened streets and took
 a lively interest in the city's affairs. He was President of the first Vigilance Commit l tee and one of the Vice-Presidents of the
 great Vigilance Committee of 1856. He was l the richest man in California in 1857, and ] held that position until 1864. In an un- l lucky hour he purchased the Calistoga
 estate in the Nops Valley and started in to l make it great public resort. He built 8 l costly railroad to the place and spent hun dreds of thousands in trying to beautify 8 naturally sterile and mountainous spot. He
 lost at least $5 1000, ,O00 in the venture
 Tken his mining schemes began to fail.
 Like most of the pioneers he drank great
 deal and when his misfortunes began to de cline he was rarely sober after midday. He had a passion for actresses, and lavished 6 fortune on Lola Montez, but at the same time his charities kept pace with his extrava
 gsnces He soon lost his grip entirely, and
 would have been penniless except for one oi
 his acts wben Maximilian was in Mexico
 At that time he gave money and equipped a regiment to aid the Republican cause
 The Republic afterwards voted him abou
 $100, 900 and g grant of land in Sonora. Go
 ing there in 1880, he gave his energies fo
 several years to improving this property
 He had some success, but in time his healtl
 became broken, and he returned to Cali
 fornia to die.