Like the rest of the Caswells, the Donnans were a
family on the move. The lure of cheap
land and employment with the railway seems to be the impetus behind the many
moves. By the time child number two was
born the Donnans had moved to Palmerston along with the rest of the
Caswells. By 1877 the family was on the
move again, this time to Williams, California to join, or travel with John and
Joseph Caswell.[1] Again, a railway job and cheap land were
probably the draw.
Hugh was most likely employed by the Southern
Pacific Railway and when it reached Williams, thought it prudent to fetch or
send for his growing family. Two of
their children were born in Williams, Wallace in 1877 and Emma in 1881. The railroad reached Williams and the first
train entered the town June 23, 1877, Wallace was born in Williams, July 11th
in the same year. I would say Mary
Jane made it none too soon!
Williams is located in Colusa County, not too far
north of Sacramento. From the 1880
directory Williams was described as having “a population of 400 people, and
depends entirely on the agricultural interests for its support. It is on the California Pacific and Northern
Railway. Williams was the terminus for
something more than a year after the first train arrived, before the road was
completed to Willows.”[2]
[1] Where they were
at the senior Andrew Caswells death in 1877:In Palmerston- James Dickson Caswell, merchant; Samuel Caswell, photographer; Alexander Kennedy Caswell, student; Robert Wallace
Caswell, under the age of 21 In California -Joseph Caswell, yeoman; John Caswell, yeoman; Mary Jane Donnan, formerly
Caswell, wife of Hugh Donnan, yeoman In Iowa - William Caswell, school teacher;
Thomas Caswell, yeoman; Andrew Caswell, yeoman; David Caswell, yeoman Muskoka
District - Sarah Case, formerly Caswell; Margaret Styles, formerly Caswell
No comments:
Post a Comment