Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-05-07
A PIONEERS DEATH.
Sam Brannan's Career In Califor-
MIA I'm Brief.

MIA An Brief.
The wires yesterday conveyed the news
to this city that Sam Brannan had died
in Els condido, near San Diego. The
event demands more than passing no.
tice. Brannan died in almost a condi-
ton of downright poverty, yet he was
for nearly twenty years about the fore
most AN of wealth in the State of Cali
fornia.
The deceased pioneer came to Califor-
mia in 1S47 as the duly accredited agent
of the Mormons, of whom be was one,
and their chief on this Coast. Argonauts
will recall the arrival of the ship Brook
lin ia the year referred to. Brannan was
among her passengers. When gold was
discovered the Mormons came into this
State in herds. They mined at many
points, but particularly at Mormon Bar
on the American river. Here Sam set
up tent and kept store for the supply
of the camp. He became very rich in a
short time; for, in addition to large
profits made on the merchandise he sold,
he was the repository of all tithes due
from the people to the Church. A story
went the rounds of the State in the early
fifties to the effect that the Nor
mons charged Brannan with applying the
revenues of Zion in such way as to
benefit the Lords prophet rather than
the Lords cause. Sam said that was all
right; that he was the proper repository
for the funds, and that he had them,
subject to the Lords orders, but that
the Lord must make demand for them
before he was called upon to give up
their use and fruition.
He and Sutro opened store in Sacra-
mento at later period, and at one time
Brannan owned nearly all that town.
After this he began to secure
property in San Francisco, and he
built some of the finest blocks in that
city in its earliest days. He owned the
block on Montgomery street, between
California and Sacramento, and put up
on one corner of California street the old
Express" block. He owned part of the
other side of Montgomery street, and
built on the corner the "Armory" block,
in which for long time the Examiner
was published. Brannan owned property
all over San Francisco, on Third
street, and the flats along the
stree. are called after him, and
far out into the outskirts. He gave to
the ladies who established the Protestant
Orphan Asylum their grounds on Haight
street, where their building was erected.
In 1S49 Brannan was about the richest
man in the State. He continued to be
one of the richest until we'll into the six
ties. About this time domestic infelicity
and the demon that Turks in every
"inordinate cup" invaded his home,
the demon probably first and in
felicity soon after. He neglected
his business. His wife sued for
divorce and her share of the property.
Then during the French occupation Of
Mexico, when Juarez was cutting such a
big swath for the protection OF his native
land, Brannan sent him over $lO0, 0O0
worth of arms. For this he never re-
ceived payment, excepting in the shape
of great land concession in the 4aquis
country. He got the patent to the land,
but when be came to take possession
he found the ground occupied
by one of the fercest Indian tribes on
the continent. This claim is all the
quondam millionaire has had to call his
own for many years. 1t IS all he leaves
for his heirs to squabble over.
1t has been knewn in this city, for
several weeks, that the old argonaut was
lying very ill at Escondido, and few
weeks since his nephew, Alexander
Badiam, passed through Los Angeles, on
his way north, after paying his uncle
visit.
The deceased lived to reach ripe old
age. He must have been nearly 70
years old. He saw great changes In
this State and passed through all the
vicissitudes of the tickle fortune of the
pioneer days. Among the Mormons for
several years his power was as I'M
limited as that OF the Great Mogul. In
the early years of this State he was