Will S. Green

William Semple Green (b. December 26, 1832, Kentucky; d. July 2, 1905) was a California pioneer, a steamboat captain, mail carrier, surveyor, newspaper publisher, writer, legislator, United States Surveyor General for California, California State Treasurer, and irrigationist.

Private life

He came to California during the California gold rush, arriving in San Francisco via the Panama Canal at the age of 17 on October 10, 1849, although he never tried his hand at gold mining. His uncle, C.D. Semple, purchased 8,875 acres of land from John Bidwell in then-Colusi County (now Colusa County). In July 1850, Green piloted a steamboat up the Sacramento River, taking his uncle and cousin to their land, where they founded the town of Colusa.

Related Topics:
California gold rush - San Francisco - Panama Canal - October 10 - 1849 - Acre - John Bidwell - Colusa County - 1850 - Sacramento River - Colusa

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Over the next several years, Green held a number of different jobs, such as hotel keeper, joint founder of a bakery, selling fresh vegetables and writing magazine articles. He married his first wife Josephine Davis in 1862 and she bore him a daughter (Lucy) in 1864. Josephine died in 1881, and Green was remarried ten years later to Sally Morgan whom he had met at an irrigation meeting there a few years before in Salt Lake City.

Related Topics:
1862 - 1864 - 1881 - Salt Lake City

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