Stated in David T. Loofbourrow's biographical information, "The blood of Scotch and English ancestry is in his constitution and in his life he has exemplified many of the best characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon race."

Contained in the below source, David T. Loofbourrow states, "The blood of Scotch and English ancestry is in his constitution and in his life he has exemplified many of the best characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon race."

‏(also see Research tab)‏

DAVID T. ‏(Thomas)‏ LOOFBOURROW, son of Wade, ½ brother to David Loofbourrow I

David T. Loofbourrow:
One of the leading influential citizens of Eldorado county living at Diamond Springs is David T. Loofbourrow, whose residence in California covers half a century, the date of his arrival being Sept. 9, 1850, the very day on which California was admitted into the Union. He has already reached the Psalmist's span of three-score years and ten, for he was born in Ohio, December 6, 1829. The blood of Scotch and English ancestry is in his constitution and in his life he has exemplified many of the best characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon race. The first of the name to settle in America located in Pennsylvania. His father, Wade Loofbourrow, ‏[son of David Loofbourrow I and his first wife Amy Gaskill]‏ was born in the Keystone state and on emigrating to Ohio located in Washington, Fayette county, where he married Miss Nancy Swinney. ‏[Wade's second of three wives]‏ He was a lawyer by profession, attained prominence at the bar and was elected and served as judge of the district court. Many positions of honor and trust were conferred upon him and he was accorded an eminent place in the ranks of the legal fraternity. He died in 1852, at the age of sixty-seven years, and his wife passed away at the age of forty-seven years, leaving four children, all of whom yet survive. ‏[as of the writing of this book, 1901]‏
Mr. Loofbourrow of this review, the only one of the family in California, pursued his education in the academy at Chillicothe, Ohio, and entered upon his business career as a salesman in a store. Hoping to better his financial condition in the far west he crossed the plains to California in 1850, allured by the discovery of gold and the prospect of securing a fortune in the gold fields. He traveled with a company of one hundred and thirty men who with thirty wagons crossed the hot and arid plains. They were annoyed by the Indians, but a guard was kept on watch most of the time and thus they avoided an attack. Ten of their number died of cholera and the route was marked by many a new-made grave. For ten days they were without bread and they suffered other hardships and difficulties. A short time after leaving Salt Lake they abandoned the wagons and packed the oxen with their goods. On reaching Humboldt, Nevada, they sold their oxen and came on foot to Placerville, which was one of the historic places in California in the early mining days - the scene of its most noted gold diggings. Thus the long journey was safely pursued but the experiences of that trip will never be forgotten by those who made it. During a part of the time they made bread of bran without salt, but although it was not very palatable they had keen appetites and were glad to get what they could.
After reaching California Mr. Loofbourrow engaged in mining for a number of years on Webber Creek, also in the neighborhood of Kelsey and Auburn and in various places in Nevada county. He never met with more than moderate success, although he found one nugget of gold that was worth sixty dollars, another worth eighty and a third worth ninety dollars. Like other miners, he traveled over the country a great deal to see what he could find, when it would have been more profitable to have remained at the mines when they were meeting with fair success, - thus "letting well enough alone." During his first day's mining on Webber creek he dug a little hole in the bed of the creek and from thirty-five panfuls of dirt he took out gold to the value of seventeen and a half dollars. The hole filled with water and they abandoned it, but had they been more experienced they would have continued there and probably would have realized a handsome fortune.
In 1860 Mr. Loofbourrow returned to Eldorado county and took charge of the Gold Hill canal and continued in that occupation for five years. In 1866 he began merchandising at Cold Springs. For seven years he engaged in trade at Grizzly Flat, and in 1879 he removed to Eldorado, where he sold goods for fourteen years, meeting with excellent success. He next went to Tacoma, Washington, ‏[about 1892]‏ and dealt in town lots, meeting with some success during the boom. He was fortunate enough to leave just before the boom subsided, and since then has been engaged in merchandising in Placerville, and also at his present location at Diamond Springs and Eldorado.
Until 1896 Mr. Loofbourrow affiliated with the Democratic party, but since then he has entertained socialistic and populist ideas. In 1858 he was elected by his party a member of the state legislature and in 1873-4 was the chief clerk of the state assembly.
He was married in 1863 to Miss Elizabeth Englesfreid, a native of Illinois, and unto them were born ten children, all of whom are living, ‏[as of 1901]‏ namely: Wade, who resides in the state of Washington; Reno Paul, who is with his father in the store; Charles F., an agent of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company; Nancy, the wife of E. F. Roussin; Kate, the wife of R. M. Wren; Twinney, the wife of Albert Bliss; Margaret and Emma, who are attending school at San Jose; and Clance, his youngest son, and Agnes, who also are students. Mr. Loofbourrow has never been identified with any social or fraternal society, giving his attention exclusively to his business, and by an upright and honorable course he has prospered.

Source: "A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California"
1901, David T. Loofbourrow biography, pgs. 599-600, including biographies of many of those who have passed away, Illustrated, Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, Chicago. Website online book, Martha A. Crosley Graham, site created 06 Jul 2010. This site is part of "The California Biography Project" and "The US Biographies Project." Pgs. 599-600 copied by Marjorie Hockaday Kinnaman for personal Loofbourrow family use only, 27 Sep 2010.

Passing of the California Pioneer, In Memoriam:
"David T. Loofbourrow, who came across the plains to California in 1850, and for 50 years followed mining and merchandising at Placerville, died at Oakland, March 29th. He was an Assemblyman in the ninth session of the State Legislature. Deceased was 85 years, and is survived by a widow and ten children."

Source: Online books, "The Grizzly Bear Magazine": Vols. 15-17- Pg. iv, authors: J Rush Brown, Clarence Hunt, Native Sons of the Golden West, May 1914, Grizzly Bear Publishing Company; article, Passing of the California Pioneer, In Memoriam.






Contained in the below source, David T. Loofbourrow states, "The blood of Scotch and English ancestry is in his constitution and in his life he has exemplified many of the best characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon race."

‏(also see Research tab)‏

DAVID T. ‏(Thomas)‏ LOOFBOURROW, son of Wade, ½ brother to David Loofbourrow I

David T. Loofbourrow:
One of the leading influential citizens of Eldorado county living at Diamond Springs is David T. Loofbourrow, whose residence in California covers half a century, the date of his arrival being Sept. 9, 1850, the very day on which California was admitted into the Union. He has already reached the Psalmist's span of three-score years and ten, for he was born in Ohio, December 6, 1829. The blood of Scotch and English ancestry is in his constitution and in his life he has exemplified many of the best characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon race. The first of the name to settle in America located in Pennsylvania. His father, Wade Loofbourrow, ‏[son of David Loofbourrow I and his first wife Amy Gaskill]‏ was born in the Keystone state and on emigrating to Ohio located in Washington, Fayette county, where he married Miss Nancy Swinney. ‏[Wade's second of three wives]‏ He was a lawyer by profession, attained prominence at the bar and was elected and served as judge of the district court. Many positions of honor and trust were conferred upon him and he was accorded an eminent place in the ranks of the legal fraternity. He died in 1852, at the age of sixty-seven years, and his wife passed away at the age of forty-seven years, leaving four children, all of whom yet survive. ‏[as of the writing of this book, 1901]‏
Mr. Loofbourrow of this review, the only one of the family in California, pursued his education in the academy at Chillicothe, Ohio, and entered upon his business career as a salesman in a store. Hoping to better his financial condition in the far west he crossed the plains to California in 1850, allured by the discovery of gold and the prospect of securing a fortune in the gold fields. He traveled with a company of one hundred and thirty men who with thirty wagons crossed the hot and arid plains. They were annoyed by the Indians, but a guard was kept on watch most of the time and thus they avoided an attack. Ten of their number died of cholera and the route was marked by many a new-made grave. For ten days they were without bread and they suffered other hardships and difficulties. A short time after leaving Salt Lake they abandoned the wagons and packed the oxen with their goods. On reaching Humboldt, Nevada, they sold their oxen and came on foot to Placerville, which was one of the historic places in California in the early mining days - the scene of its most noted gold diggings. Thus the long journey was safely pursued but the experiences of that trip will never be forgotten by those who made it. During a part of the time they made bread of bran without salt, but although it was not very palatable they had keen appetites and were glad to get what they could.
After reaching California Mr. Loofbourrow engaged in mining for a number of years on Webber Creek, also in the neighborhood of Kelsey and Auburn and in various places in Nevada county. He never met with more than moderate success, although he found one nugget of gold that was worth sixty dollars, another worth eighty and a third worth ninety dollars. Like other miners, he traveled over the country a great deal to see what he could find, when it would have been more profitable to have remained at the mines when they were meeting with fair success, - thus "letting well enough alone." During his first day's mining on Webber creek he dug a little hole in the bed of the creek and from thirty-five panfuls of dirt he took out gold to the value of seventeen and a half dollars. The hole filled with water and they abandoned it, but had they been more experienced they would have continued there and probably would have realized a handsome fortune.
In 1860 Mr. Loofbourrow returned to Eldorado county and took charge of the Gold Hill canal and continued in that occupation for five years. In 1866 he began merchandising at Cold Springs. For seven years he engaged in trade at Grizzly Flat, and in 1879 he removed to Eldorado, where he sold goods for fourteen years, meeting with excellent success. He next went to Tacoma, Washington, ‏[about 1892]‏ and dealt in town lots, meeting with some success during the boom. He was fortunate enough to leave just before the boom subsided, and since then has been engaged in merchandising in Placerville, and also at his present location at Diamond Springs and Eldorado.
Until 1896 Mr. Loofbourrow affiliated with the Democratic party, but since then he has entertained socialistic and populist ideas. In 1858 he was elected by his party a member of the state legislature and in 1873-4 was the chief clerk of the state assembly.
He was married in 1863 to Miss Elizabeth Englesfreid, a native of Illinois, and unto them were born ten children, all of whom are living, ‏[as of 1901]‏ namely: Wade, who resides in the state of Washington; Reno Paul, who is with his father in the store; Charles F., an agent of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company; Nancy, the wife of E. F. Roussin; Kate, the wife of R. M. Wren; Twinney, the wife of Albert Bliss; Margaret and Emma, who are attending school at San Jose; and Clance, his youngest son, and Agnes, who also are students. Mr. Loofbourrow has never been identified with any social or fraternal society, giving his attention exclusively to his business, and by an upright and honorable course he has prospered.

Source: "A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California"
1901, David T. Loofbourrow biography, pgs. 599-600, including biographies of many of those who have passed away, Illustrated, Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, Chicago. Website online book, Martha A. Crosley Graham, site created 06 Jul 2010. This site is part of "The California Biography Project" and "The US Biographies Project." Pgs. 599-600 copied by Marjorie Hockaday Kinnaman for personal Loofbourrow family use only, 27 Sep 2010.

Passing of the California Pioneer, In Memoriam:
"David T. Loofbourrow, who came across the plains to California in 1850, and for 50 years followed mining and merchandising at Placerville, died at Oakland, March 29th. He was an Assemblyman in the ninth session of the State Legislature. Deceased was 85 years, and is survived by a widow and ten children."

Source: Online books, "The Grizzly Bear Magazine": Vols. 15-17- Pg. iv, authors: J Rush Brown, Clarence Hunt, Native Sons of the Golden West, May 1914, Grizzly Bear Publishing Company; article, Passing of the California Pioneer, In Memoriam.






Source: Internet site: www.mormontrails.org/Tours/Emigration/royteaversion.htm

John Wood another 49er on his way to California in 1850 via Salt Lake City and Hastings Cutoff, wrote:
July ‏[1850]‏: '24th. --Today we had squally times, passing over some of the worst roads imaginable, some times passed over mountains covered with rocks, and at other times we wound our way through long groves of beautiful cottonwood trees interspersed with pine and cedar, and all day we traveled where the tall cedars grow And the bright waters flow Vegetation is springing forth here in abundance, and the soil appears more productive than further back, and mountains present a bold and sublime appearance."

John Wood again:
"‏[July]‏ 25th.--The timber to-day is of some larger growth, being more pine and some few shrubby oaks. To-day our path led over some exceedingly high mountains; the road was desperate. Our cattle are wearing away very fast, on these mountains, but we have got the most of them along so far. We pitched our tents this evening near a great spring."

John Wood continues with his journal of July 26, 1850:
"26th.--This morning we started down what is called the Kanyon, and exceedingly deep and narrow ravine, through which flow a beautiful stream of water, cold as ice; this stream we crossed thirty times, in traveling eight miles, the length of the Kanyon; some of these crossings were very bad, the mud being very deep. this Kanyon leads down to the great Salt Lake valley, and along it grows some beautiful shrubbery, which served to animate us a little, when we were toiling through. The road through this Kanyon is certainly the worst on earth at least, I think that I have already passed over some awful bad roads, but this is so much worse that it baffles all description. But adieu to the Rocky Mountains, we have at last triumphed over the last obstacle which they presented..."

Source: Online www.scienceviews.com/historical/hastings1850.html
HASTINGS CUTOFF - PILOT CREEK VALLEY
"We traveled over one of the most uninhabitable parts of God's creation, ... but I suppose if it were not for these there would be no pretty places"
John Wood Aug. 10, 1850
1998 Trails West Inc. P.O. Box 12045 Reno, NV. HN-2

Source: Online www.scienceviews.com/historical/hastings1850.html
"In earlier years the only supply points along the California Trail were Fort Laramie, Fort Bridger, and Fort Hall. The great gold rush of 1850 completely overwhelmed these small posts, making it necessary for a great many of those in need to go by way of Great Salt Lake City. In 1849, wagons had been overloaded with supplies, which later had to be abandoned along the trail; in 1850 the opposite mistake was made and additional supplies had to be obtained somewhere. But the greatest necessity for those on the trail this year was fresh oxen and horses to replace animals which had been driven too hard or were half starved for lack of grass on the overcrowded trail. Many impatient men found wagons too slow and wanted to trade for horses, saddles, and pack outfits. The Hastings Cutoff from Fort Bridger to Salt Lake was jammed with traffic, but its original name had been forgotten. A new road called the "Golden Pass" had just been opened from Weber River to the new settlement by Parley P. Pratt, which came down Parleys Canyon and thus eliminated many steep grades and difficulties of the original Hastings-Donner routes, besides furnishing better feed for animals. After obtaining fresh supplies in Salt Lake Valley the preferred route was still by way of the Salt Lake Cutoff, intersecting the Fort Hall road at City of Rocks. But hundreds of frantic men, led to believe they could reach California from 14 to 20 days sooner, decided to try the Hastings Cutoff. Where others had gone, they dared to go."

JOHN WOOD 1850
All journals of 1850 so far quoted here were written by men traveling by pack train. Fortunately we have in the journal of John Wood the well-written account of his experiences with a group of 24 men with wagons and oxen. There is some reason to think that Wood's party carried a copy of Jefferson's map. Beginning at Salt Lake City, Wood writes:

"July 30th.-. . . . Our cattle seem to be considerably revived. We traveled 16 miles over a very dusty road to a good spring-encamped and found good grass ‏[near Garfield]‏."
"July 31st.-Started early this morning and traveled until 9 o'clock, when we reached the Great Salt Lake, which is certainly a great curiosity. . . . We traveled 22 miles and encamped at a good spring and good grass, but had awful dusty roads. The water generally along here is brackish ‏[near Grantsville]‏."

"August lst.-This morning we met some Mormon men who had been conducting some emigrants out 10 or 12 days travel on this road,20 and they told us that we were within 28 miles of an 80 mile desert, and that we would have to cut grass here to feed our cattle, while crossing, so we took our scythes and mowed each team a large pile of grass and loaded it into the wagons and got ready to start by 2 o'clock this evening. We now have to travel 28 miles from here before we reach water, so after cooking enough here to do us this evening and in the morning, and filled our kegs with water, we started on and traveled late; our cattle must suffer all night, for water, and travel all day tomorrow, through the dust until night, before we reach it-this is too hard."

"August 2nd.-Bright and early this morning we were on the road and traveled on through dust and heat for 18 miles, when we reached two good springs, away upon the side of a mountain, two miles from the road, ‏[Dell Spring]‏ and going these last two miles, up hill, you ought to have seen the bullocks heave when they smelt the water; some of them, however, gave up and would not pull a pound, for they couldn't. At these springs is a great camping place, and about 50 wagons are now camped here. . . . We are now 17 miles from the starting point across the desert, and having good water and plenty of wood, all are engaged in cooking for the desert."

"August 3rd.-This forenoon all were engaged in cooking yet. . . . We stayed at the springs until 2 o'clock, then started and drove six miles to another good spring and camped for the night ‏[Hope Wells]‏."

"August 4th.-This morning we filled all the kegs we had, for this is the last fresh water spring for perhaps over a hundred miles, and started on and went 11 miles to the last spring on this side of the desert ‏[Redlum]‏ and camped for the day. Here we found only tolerably good grass and the water uncommon brackish and scarce, so we cannot get enough for our stock."

"August 5th.-This morning there are hundreds here preparing to make a start about 12 o'clock into the dreaded desert. Hundreds are gathered around this spring, which is very brackish, and contains a portion of sulphur, quarreling about who shall fill their cask first or get water for their famishing cattle or horses. Many are fearful they will never get any of their stock across. No one knows the exact distance across the desert, but the most that are here now are filling everything that will hold water. It is from this spring about 90 miles to the City of the Desert, which we left six days ago."

"About one o'clock today we started into the field of desolation; for the first 14 miles we had to travel over ‏[p.22]‏ a very high and rough mountain ‏[Cedar Mountains]‏, the road over which being so rough and sliding that we had to hold our wagons from upsetting, with ropes. We reached the foot of the mountain on the other side about sunset, where we rested a short time and took some refreshment; then we started on our nocturnal journey. The road is exceedingly dusty, and appears to be perfectly level. Nothing grows along here but wild sage, which grows in dry sand, and after traveling until midnight the country appears to assume a different appearance somewhat, being an extensive plain, destitute of everything, even of wild sage, and yet we crossed a steep hill in the night, when we had to put our shoulders to the wheel in earnest, lifting the wheels over rocks three and four feet high almost perpendicular ‏[Grayback ridge]‏."

"We passed a wagon which had a sick man in it, who was about to perish for water, so Captain Robinson put him in his wagon and we traveled until daylight, when we found that some of our cattle were nearly gone, and some of us not much better."

"August 6th.-This morning we stopped and rested about an hour, taking a little breakfast, giving our cattle about a quart of water apiece and some hay. It has the appearance of being cloudy today and of rain; if it does it will be almost an interposition of divine providence, in our favor."

"The road has now become good, being very level smooth and solid, and now while I am sitting here by the wagon wheel I discover that one of our steers is so near gone that he will not eat any hay; poor fellow, we will have to make a mile stone of you shortly, and probably all the rest."

"We suppose that we are about 35 miles from water and can it be possible that the cattle can ever take these wagons through. The desert is a barren waste, generally level, and mostly covered with a thin saline crust; some places the ground being very soft. We had not gone far until the steer spoken of above gave way, but on we went pushing for life and death, not knowing how far we have to go, but rather expect to reach the water by dark; we traveled on hard until night and reached a high bluff of rocks ‏[Silver Island]‏, where we were told we could find ‏[p.23]‏ plenty of water, but lo and behold, it was 25 miles farther on ‏[actually about 15]‏."

"Ah, who can imagine our feelings; disappointment sinks the heart of man. Here, around these rocks, our hopes had lingered the live-long day, but now they are transplanted 25 miles ahead, around a beautiful group of springs."

"Before reaching these bluffs, we met an old lady, with some water in a coffee-pot, going back to meet her husband, who had lost his wagon tire and had gone back to hunt for it, but she found him ready to perish; he had laid down to die. We also passed Mrs. ‏[E. S.]‏ Hall, a lady from Cincinnati, on the road, who had stayed with the wagon, while her husband drove the cattle to the water, which he expected to find in a short distance, but found it to be 40 miles, and was unable to return; his wife was left to perish or be supplied by others; our company gave her some water to do her until morning."

"At the bluffs we fed the last of our hay and gave the cattle the last drop of water, and started on; now we begin to pass a great many dead and dying cattle, and we see men suffering extremely for water, but here some men have hauled out water to relieve the emigrants, which they sell at $1 a gallon."

"Several of our cattle about dark are giving way and cannot go much farther, they look awful bad, and I know they feel worse than they look. I judge them by myself. Soon after dark another steer in our team gave way, and he was left, and some others in the company have also gone the way of all flesh, but we are going to see how many can go through, roll on is the cry now with everyone; we are going through or die. We have not an ox in the company now but what will take hard cracking with the whip and never flinch, but they certainly can endure more fatigue than I ever expected."

"About 10 o'clock two more steers gave out, which left us but two yoke to take our wagons through; some other teams gave way entirely and stopped for the night. When we got within 10 miles of the water our cattle seemed to know, by some instinct, that water was not far ahead and became animated with new life, and the two small yoke we had attached to our big wagon, walked as fast as I could, and sometimes would trot, and when we got within a mile of the water, I had to walk before them to keep them from running. Who could ‏[p.24]‏ not sympathize with flesh and blood, suffering in this way?"

"It was one o'clock at night when we got through. This was the severest trial I have had by far, the desert proving to be 93 miles instead of 75, as we had understood and having to walk all the way almost without stopping, with but little to eat and drink, and no sleep, was soul-trying in the extreme. We dropped our bodies under the wagons and in less than five minutes were in a state of unconsciousness. . . ."

"August 7th.-This morning we found ourselves near a burning mountain, surrounded by a number of good springs and good grass. This morning our case is deplorable, notwithstanding it is heart-cheering to see water and grass; our team is broken and we must leave McLean's last wagon; the only resort we now have is to make pack saddles and pack our provisions on our remaining cattle, as many others have had to do."

"Emigrants are arriving here all the time from the desert, almost famished for water; they say men, women and children are dying with thirst and fatigue. All start in ignorance of the distance across, and many take but little water and they must perish. Mr. Hall, who left his wife on the desert yesterday, is preparing to go back after his wife and wagon."

"Our company rigged out a team loaded with water and have gone back on the desert to relieve the suffering, without money and without price. They found many at the point of death, and saved them, many suffering extremely. Mr. Ogle, who carried water back in the desert, on his back, 20 or 30 miles, tells of one man that could not speak, whom he relieved, and many others almost in similar condition."


Source: Online books, "The Grizzly Bear Magazine": Vols. 15-17- Pg. iv, authors: J Rush Brown, Clarence Hunt, Native Sons of the Golden West, May 1914, Grizzly Bear Publishing Company; article, Passing of the California Pioneer, In Memoriam.
"David T. Loofbourrow, who came across the plains to California in 1850, and for 50 years followed mining and merchandising at Placerville, died at Oakland, March 29th. He was an Assemblyman in the ninth session of the State Legislature. Deceased was 85 years, and is survived by a widow and ten children." MHK 5-14-12


Exerpt from Wikipedia, "California Trail" ‏(online)‏ 12-27-11 MHK
" ..."
1849 was also the first year of large scale cholera epidemics in the United States and the rest of the world, and thousands are thought to have died along the trail on their way to California— most buried in unmarked graves in Kansas and Nebraska. The 1850 census showed this rush was overwhelmingly male as the ratio of women to men in California over 16 was about 1:18.‏[101]‏
Combined with the settlers that came by sea, the California settlers that came over the California Trail by 1850 were sufficient ‏(at about 93,000)‏ for California to choose a boundary, write a Constitution, and apply for and receive statehood, which it did as a free state.
The busy times on the trail were from late April to early October with almost no winter traffic ‏(several parts of the trail were impassable in winter)‏. In busy years the trail was more like a large immigrating village hundreds of miles long, as thousands used the same parts of the trail in the same short traveling season. Many signed up to wagon trains that traveled the whole route together. Many large trains broke up into several smaller trains to take better advantage of available camping spots, traveling schedules, conditions of teams, etc.. Others, usually traveling as family groups of various sizes, joined and left various trains as their own schedule and traveling conditions dictated. Because of the numerous scrabbles often present in a given wagon train, a typical train may have several different leaders elected at various times to lead the train. Possible Indian troubles was about the only condition that kept large trains together for mutual protection. The 1849 travelers went in a wet year and found good grass almost the entire way and that most had taken too many supplies. The 1850 migration was in a dry year and with roughly double the amount of travelers on the trail it suffered seriously from lack of grass and good water. To make things worse many had cut down on the amount of supplies they carried and began running out of food as they traveled down the Humboldt. Emergency relief expeditions led by the U.S. Army and others from California managed to save most of these 1850 travelers.