Sarah Muir Galloway
Sarah Muir Galloway is naturalist John Muir’s older sister, and was born on February 29, 1836 in East Lothian, Scotland. The first time Sarah sees the United States is when the Warren leaves Glasgow, Scotland and arrives in the New York harbor on April 10, 1849. Sarah and her family purchase a half section of […]
John and Margaret Muir Reid
Margaret Muir Reid was born on August 30, 1834 in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland. She is John Muir’s older sister. The first time Margaret sees the United States is when the Warren leaves Glasgow, Scotland and arrives in the New York harbor on April 10, 1849. Margaret’s father (Daniel Muir) purchases a half section of […]
Eliza Nottingham
For many years and printed reports, Eliza Nottingham was known as the nine-year-old girl who while on a family outing, saved a four-year-old boy from drowning in a creek. The boy’s name was Abraham Lincoln. Eliza Nottingham went to her grave on September 12, 1880 in the Martinez, CA Alhambra Cemetery. Among her children was […]
Captain Joseph Walker
Captain Joseph Walker was a pioneer, trailblazer, explorer, and mountain man. He was honorable, kind and courageous. The love of his life was adventure and exploring unknown territories. He was born on December 13, 1798 in Knoxville, Roane County, Tennessee. Joseph Walker’s true adventures started at the age of 16 when his brother Joel, cousin […]
Don Juan Salvio Pacheco
This weathered and eroded headstone found buried near this site is believed to be the grave of Don Juan Salvio Pacheco, founder of Concord, and his wife, Juana Flores Pacheco. Don Juan Salvio Pacheco was born July 15, 1793 in Mission San Carlos de Monterey, Alta California. He was married on November 14, 1817 in […]
David Muir
David Gilrye Muir was born in Scotland on July 11, 1840. He was the brother of naturalist, John Muir. In 1849, David sailed from Scotland and came with the rest of his family to Wisconsin. In 1863, David was 22 years old and a clerk when he filled out his Civil War Draft Registration in […]
Griffin Family Photos:
A Real Life Gothic Novel With a Local Twist
Editor Notes by Harriett Burt Editor’s Note: It seemed to this writer like a good time to take a break from street names for a bit and look at some other subjects. It was hard to make a choice from the many interesting columns written by the late City Historian, Charlene Perry. But this one, […]
Fran Hammond Recollections, Including a Childhood on Granger’s Wharf
Frances Mary (Gianno) Hammond, a fourth-generation Martizian, was born in Carmel Valley at the Peninsula Hospital on January 7, 1937. Her father, Pietro Gianno, was born in Tropani, Italy on February 15, 1903. He came to the United States via Ellis Island when he was 18 years old, taking a train to California to stay […]
Here to Stay: The Second Generation of Griffins In Alhambra Valley
ditor’s Note: Part 2 of the Griffin family story centers around George Griffin, a hard-working farmer, horseman and surveyor who was a friend of John Muir and John Swett. He lived all his 96 years on the ranch the family still owns in Alhambra Valley. George and his three sisters, Lilly, May and Eva, were the children of Thomas and Alice Griffin who arrived in California in the 1860s from Ireland by way of Australia. Thomas Griffin bought the Alhambra Valley property in 1868 after several years as superintendent of the Black Diamond Mine near Antioch.