William F. Holcomb

William F. Holcomb was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, January 27th, 1831. His parents moved to Illinois when he was but a few months old and settled near Chicago, where they remained for eight years. About 1840 they removed to Iowa and located in Van Buren County. Here, in 1843, his father died. In 1845, his mother removed to what was then known as "The New Purchase" in Wapello County, and here he began supporting his mother by clearing land, making rails, fencing, breaking land and general farm work. When the gold excitement spread through the country he determined to seek his fortune in California. He left Ottumwa, Iowa, in May. 1850,. outfitted with a wagon and three yoke of oxen and provisions. At the Green River crossing on the Sublette cut-off he lost his wagon and entire outfit, the teams drowned and floated down the mad stream. He continued the journey on foot and met with great destitution on the plains before he reached "Hangtown" in California, now known as Placerville, in August "dead broke." He spent about a year in mining at various points with varying success and then went to Oregon and looked over the country, and returned to California, coming down to the southern part of the state.

"On our arrival at Los Angeles in 1859, we found everything quiet, no work to be had, what to do, we, Jack Martin, my old hunting and mining companion, and I did not know."