Copyright has not been assigned to The Society of California Pioneers. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Society of California Pioneers as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the reader.
Description
Copyright has not been assigned to The Society of California Pioneers. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Society of California Pioneers as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the reader Autobiography & Reminiscence of Henry Koster, "Veterans Home" - Yountville, 1901. The Society of California Pioneers Henry Koster, born in Germany(1824) traveled to America at age 14 aboard the bark "Bath" from Maine. He arrived in Baltimore and walked to New York, joining the ship "Jewess" leaving for Hull, England. The ship was destroyed and Koster was sent back to New York by the American Consul in London. In New York he took the "William Taff" from Warren, Rhode Island, for a 3 year whaling cruise. From then until 1848, Koster traveled to Portugal, Brazil, the West Indies, and ports in America. During the U.S.-Mexican war Koster survived a shipwreck and afterwards returned to New York joining the steamer "California" as water-tender, headed to California. In Panama, Koster switched ships and sailed to Cal. with Capt. Jordan aboard the brig "Belfast", arriving in San Francisco May 1849. From S.F. Koster went to the mines: Coloma, North Fork, Auburn, Placerville, Shasta, Weaverville, Sonora and Columbia. He returned to S.F. "almost broke" and started a coffee business outside a canvas tent on Pacific and Sansome Streets, later renting a small store. After his business success, Koster returned to New York and soon returned to California. Koster and Capt. Short built the "Washington Baths" (burning down in 1852), and then he built his wholesale cigar and tobacco store. Koster claims to be the first importer of Havana cigars, direct from Havana. From 1853 to 1901, Koster traveled between California and the world. He fought in the Civil War and at the battle of Bull Run. He built a road hotel in Rise River, Nevada, but moved back to S.F. in 1867 after losing much of his money. Koster worked as a traveling agent, selling merchandise for F.B. Taylor & Co. and then went into business on his own selling general merchandise Autobiographies and Reminiscences of California Pioneers, p.186-192, Vol. 1. This is a typed transcript, bound into a volume, of the member's autobiographical reminiscence created as an institutional record for the Society of California Pioneers. The transcription includes a reference to a photograph of the member in a set of bound volumes. It appears that the photographs in this set were dispersed throughout the regular photography collection, but the photographs referenced in the related materials may or may not be these same photographs. This reminiscence covers the years from 1824 to 1901 and details Koster's career aboard many ships. He names the ships he traveled on and describes many of his journeys. Cost of renting property is mentioned. Koster details his journeys around the world and his various businesses.
Koster, Henry--1824-1907 Pioneers--California--Biography Frontier and pioneer life Gold mines and mining Voyages and travels Adventures and adventurers Mexican War, 1846-1848 California--History--19th century
Time Period
California -- History -- 19th century
Place
Pioneers California Biography History 19th century. California, Northern.
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