San Luis Obispo Co., CA Biographies

GEORGE W. PROCTOR
Pps 377& 378
Thompson & West 1833

Mr. Proctor, well known as a most enterprising and valuable citizen of San Luis Obispo, was born in Rhode Island May 5 1823. After losing his mother, whose death occurred while the family were still at the place of young George's birth, he proceeded to New Hampshire, and resided there until he attained his majority. Up to the year 1858, Mr. Proctor followed the trade of blackmith, supporting himself and wife, whom he had taken early years, but who died in 1849. The railroad shops of New England furnished him employment mostly during those and following years.

In 1851 he married for his second wife Miss Lucinda Morriss. Seven years later the family took its departure br California, and located at Pine Grove in Amador County, where, for a year or two, Mr. Proctor was to work at his old trade. Then for eight years in Elliott, San Joaquin County, he continued the same way of life, at the end of it coming to San Luis Obispo, as to a certain betterment of his fortunes. First, Cambria knew him, and knew him well for twelve years, while he built a hotel, the Proctor House, mentioned in the account of Cambria, which accompanies this work. Upon his ranch, taken up in the earliest years of Cambria, the town came to be built. The hotel mentioned is, and long has been, a landmark in the town. Its present keeper is George S. Davis, as is already set down. In 1879 the Salinas River country held out much inducement to those whose restlessness prevailed, and across the mountains to San Miguel went Mr. Proctor, permanently locating near that small town. There he proposes to spend his days, and has improved a portion of land by the planting of fruit trees, which already show a splendid growth. The accompanying lithograph shows clearly the natural scenery surrounding his place, with the improvements in the way of trees, wind-mill, house, etc., which he has accomplished in this short time.

Mr. Proctor is now the blacksmith of San Miguel and the Estrella region, and notwithstanding any physical disability, is of irrepressible energy, and equal to whatever emergency may arise. He is full of projects for reform, political religious, or moral; knows all about the value of fertilizers, irrigation, and high cultivation; can discuss the virtues of a tariff much better than many Congressmen, and one may be quite sure of getting a fresh and original stock of ideas by listening to him a few minutes.

Biography Contributed By:
Martha A. Crosley Graham

Benjamin Franklin Mayfield
Thompson and West's "History of San Luis Obispo County, California"
Oakland, CA 1883
"... but with additions made by submitter"

Benjamin Franklin Mayfield is a veteran of the Mexican War and one of the pioneers of California. This gentleman was born in the State of Tennessee, June 27, 1826, remaining in that State until ten years of age, when his parents moved into the State of Illinois. On 16 Jul 1846 he joined the volunteers for the war with Mexico (the Mormon Battalion in Council Bluffs as private, Company A), and under the command of Col. Philip St. George Cooke, marched across the plains, down the Rio Grande through New Mexico, and through Sonora to California. In the spring of 1847 the regiment was disbanded, but he re-enlisted in San Diego for 6 more months of service as a Third Sergeant and was shot in the groin by Indian arrows. When the regiment was disbanded, Mr Mayfield was discharged from service at Los Angeles. Then came the exciting reports of the discovery of gold on the American River, and he was among the first in the diggings at Sutter's Mill in spring of 1848. On the 1850c he was found at Pilot Hill, El Dorado Co, CA. The occupation of a miner he followed until 1852, when he removed into the farming region of Sonoma County, engaging in the cultivation of the soil until 1868.

He married 22 Feb 1860 Petaluma, Sonoma Co, CA to Roxanna M Leffingwell Terrill, widow of Samuel N Terrill (married 14 Feb 1851 Sonoma Co) who was accidentally killed June 1857 by being thrown from a horse. Their children included: Newell Terrill, b 1852; Shelby Terrill, b 1855; Ida Terrill, b 1856. Roxanna was born 1836 Connewango, NY, daughter of William Leffingwell and Eunice Bigelow of New London Co, CT who came west, arriving in Sacramento by the Truckee route in 1849 but who removed to Cambria in 1859. B.F. and Roxanna Mayfield lived near Sebastapol, Sonoma Co, CA for 8 years before moving in 1868 near Cambria, San Luis Obispo Co, CA. They located on San Simeon Creek, where he has since lived, engaged in farming and dairying, milking from twenty-five to thirty cows.

Nine children were born to them including: Lucy Mayfield, b 1861; Marion, b 1863; Frank, b 1865; Clara, b 1867; Mary Ethel Mayfield, b 23 Apr 1873 Cambria; Solan Mayfield; Fred Mayfield; Milton L Mayfield. Ida Terrill m 1878 Cambria to Amost Smithers. Newell Terrill m 1892 San Luis Obispo Co to Josefa Aceves. Ethel Mayfield m 29 Nov 1893 San Luis Obispo Co to Devillow Bovee

Benjamin F Mayfield died at Cambria 16 Dec 1884 and is buried in the Cambria Cemetery along with many members in his family.

Respectfully submitted: Rosemary Flamion

Gilbert Montier Lafayette Bickmore

Gilbert Montier Lafayette BICKMORE was the son of William M Bickmore & Christina Bagley. He was born 20 Jul 1827 Carter, Morgan Co (now Scott) or Madison Co, IL His family joined the Mormon migration, locating in Nauvoo, Hancock Co, IL and thence to Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co, IA. On 16 Jul 1846 he joined Co A as private of the Mormon Battalion in the war with Mexico under the command of Col. Philip St George Cooke and marched from Council Bluffs, IA to California, building the first southern wagon road. He was mustered out on 16 Jul 1847 in Los Angeles, CA. According to his pension papers, he was a wheelwright and was 5 feet 9 inches tall, had black hair, and grey eyes.

On 13 Mar 1849 Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co, IA Gilbert married Katherine J Huntsman, b 27 Sep 1825 Richland Co, OH; daughter of James Huntsman & Mary Johnson. They had the following children;
           Eliza Ann, b 28 Nov 1851 Council Bluffs, IA;
           Amanda Delia, b 9 Mar 1854 San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co, CA
           Christiana Hannah, b 23 Feb 1860 Corralitos, Santa Cruz Co, CA;
           Mary Catherine, b 6 Jan 1862 San Jose, Santa Clara Co, CA;
           Gilbert M L, b 22 Aug 1864 Santa Cruz, CA;
           Willliam “Willie” , b 1869 Santa Cruz, CA.

Gilbert was on the 1850c in Pottawattamie Co, IA; 1860c in Santa Cruz; the 1880c in Gonzales, Monterey Co, CA; the Great Register of San Luis Obispo Co, July 18, 1888 Arroyo Grande, CA. Catherine Huntsman Bickmore was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Johnston Huntsman, who died 15 Aug 1895 Arroyo Grande. Gilbert died on 4 Feb 1896 Arroyo Grande of pneumonia and is buried in an unmarked grave in the Arroyo Grande Cemetery. His wife Catherine died 24 Dec 1903 and is buried in an unmarked grave alongside him. His cousin Elery Bickmore also lived in San Luis Obispo County. Gilbert Bickmore Jr married Mattie Casteel on 14 Sep 1896 in San Luis Obispo, CA. He was a stock raiser in Arroyo Grande. According to the 1892 Great Register, he was 6 feet tall, grey eyes, black hair, scar on left cheek, born in California, ranched in the Huasna area.

Note: This Biography written by Ms Famion using 'Primary Sources'
Respectfully submitted: Rosemary Flamion

History of the State of California
& Biographical Record
of
Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey &
San Luis Obispo Counties.
"An Historical Story of the State's Marvelous Growth from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time"
By
Prof. J.M. Guinn, A.M.
Author of "A History of Los Angeles & Vicinity",
History of Southern California,
Secretary & Curator of the Historical Society of Southern California,
Member of the American Historical Association, Washington, DC
Also
Containing Biographies of Well-Known Citizens of the Past & Present.
The Chapman Publishing Company
Chicago
1903