Thomas Waters Latham
Thomas was born in 1805 in Greene County, New York, which is about 120 miles up the Hudson River from New York City. No information has been found about his life there before he went to New York City about thirty years later. At that time he was married with two daughters and a son and was living on Troy street on the North side of town near the Hudson River.
As the years went by, Thomas slowly located further south in the city. His occupation was always listed as "Clerk" but his profession, or the business, was never named. That is, until 1842. He then went into business at 71 Fulton with Smith Ely. How Ely knew or found Latham is unknown, but they became partners in a Paper Warehouse business. He also joins Eugene Ely making Bartlett's playing cards.
Ads from 1843
By 1846 the Ely & Latham partnership ends and Thomas moved on to having his own business on John Street near Lemuel Smith. His occupation in the city business directory was listed as "Paper Seller". He also left the city to live across the river in Williamsburg, Long Island. It would officially become the city of Williamsburgh in 1851 and then drop the "h" in 1855.
Thomas's Locations Between 1835 and 1850
White Arrow 1839 21 Troy
Yellow Arrow 1840 128 Spring
Red Arrow 1841 208 Walker
Green Arrow 1842 96 Henry
Blue Arrow 1843/46 71 Fulton
Purple Arrow 1846/50 John Street 107 and 114
Gray Arrow 1845/50 Williamsburg
By 1849 Latham's life would change.....
On January 24th, 1848, gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California, near what was to become Sacramento. The news of gold would bring approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United States and abroad. The sudden influx of gold into the money supply reinvigorated the American economy; the sudden population increase allowed California to go rapidly to statehood in the Compromise of 1850.
The next year in March Thomas headed to San Francisco with the Rising Sun Mining & Trading Association. Groups were formed by people buying into them to pay for the trip to the gold fields, equipment and supplies. He and 57 other members of his association left together on their own ship "The Rising Sun".
The Rising Sun was a barque similar to this ship
After several trips he moved to Yolo County about 20 miles west of the new town of Sacramento. He is remembered as one of the county's pioneers. He was even elected to be the Deputy Sheriff. Then in 1852 he moved his family to a ranch he had started southwest of the little town of Cottonwood.
A correspondent of a New York paper wrote that Yolo County was amongst the most barren, worthless sections of the State.
A correspondent of a New York paper wrote that Yolo County was amongst the most barren, worthless sections of the State.
Five days before the Lathams first Christmas together in California Thomas died. He was the first to be buried in a tiny cemetery on his ranch. The cemetery is now known as the Corbin Farm Cemetery. His daughter Gertrude married a Corbin and would eventually take over the ranch.
Thomas W Latham's Stone