Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909

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Davis was a pioneer merchant and landowner, of Calif.

From the description of William Heath Davis papers, 1838-1871. (California Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 122499112

American author.

From the description of Correspondence, 1896-1901. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122480190

From the guide to the William Heath Davis correspondence, 1896-1901, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

California Pioneer. Helped found New San Diego in 1850.

From the description of William Heath Davis Collection, 1837-1905. (California State Library). WorldCat record id: 58745796

William Heath "Kanaka Bill" Davis was born in HI in 1822, the grandson of a Polynesian princess; accompanied his stepfather on voyages to AK, and when he was ten, to CA; learned merchandizing from his uncle Nathan Spear, a wealthy merchant with stores in San Francisco and Monterey; operated store in San Francisco, served briefly on the town council, and became a millionaire by age 28; invested in 160 acre waterfront property, now located between Front Street and Broadway in San Diego; sent for six prefabricated buildings from Portland, ME in 1849 and built a wharf and warehouse called New Town; however it did not attract sufficient business, and became known as Davis' Folly; Davis wrote Sixty years in California (1889) and Seventy-five years in California (published posthumously in 1929); he died in 1909.

From the description of Copies of Heath manuscripts holdings in the California State Library, Sacramento, ca. 1840-1909. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 39886103

William Heath "Kanaka Bill" Davis was born in Hawaii in 1822, the grandson of a Polynesian princess; accompanied his stepfather on voyages to Alaska, and when he was ten, to California; learned merchandizing from his uncle Nathan Spear, a wealthy merchant with stores in San Francisco and Monterey; operated store in San Francisco, served briefly on the town council, and became a millionaire by age 28; invested in 160 acre waterfront property, now located between Front Street and Broadway in San Diego; sent for six prefabricated buildings from Portland, ME in 1849 and built a wharf and warehouse called New Town; however it did not attract sufficient business, and became known as Davis' Folly; Davis wrote Sixty years in California (1889) and Seventy-five years in California (published posthumously after his death in 1929); he died in 1909.

From the description of Papers, 1840-1891. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 39215039

California merchant and ship owner.

From the description of William Heath Davis papers, 1840-1905. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 227468850

California pioneer and one of the founders of new San Diego.

From the description of San Francisco Land Document : San Diego, Calif., 1851 June 30. (University of California, San Diego). WorldCat record id: 53877333

William Heath Davis (1822-1909), San Francisco merchant and author, established his store in San Francisco in 1845. He married María de Jesús Estudillo in 1847 and was associated with many prominent California families. He was instrumental in the founding of Oakland and San Diego, California, and he owned property at both places. His memoirs of early days in California were published as Sixty years in California (1889), and a later enlarged version, Seventy-five years in California (1929) was edited by John Howell.

From the description of Papers of William Heath Davis, 1843-1906. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122499709

William Heath Davis Jr. was an American author, born in 1822 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was one of the early settlers of San Diego. He wrote two books about his life in California. Davis died in April 1909 in San Leandro, California.

From the description of William Heath Davis papers, 1885-1905. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 368052294

Biography

William Heath Kanaka Bill Davis was born in Hawaii in 1822, the grandson of a Polynesian princess; accompanied his stepfather on voyages to Alaska, and when he was ten, to California; learned merchandizing from his uncle Nathan Spear, a wealthy merchant with stores in San Francisco and Monterey; operated store in San Francisco, served briefly on the town council, and became a millionaire by age 28; invested in 160 acre waterfront property, now located between Front Street and Broadway in San Diego; sent for six prefabricated buildings from Portland, Maine in 1849 and built a wharf and warehouse called New Town; however it did not attract sufficient business, and became known as Davis' Folly; Davis wrote Sixty Years in California (1889) and Seventy-Five Years in California (published posthumously in 1929); he died in 1909.

From the guide to the Copies of William Heath Davis Manuscripts Holdings in the California State Library, Sacramento, ca. 1840-1909, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Biography

William Heath Kanaka Bill Davis was born in Hawaii in 1822, the grandson of a Polynesian princess; accompanied his stepfather on voyages to Alaska, and when he was ten, to California; learned merchandizing from his uncle Nathan Spear, a wealthy merchant with stores in San Francisco and Monterey; operated store in San Francisco, served briefly on the town council, and became a millionaire by age 28; invested in 160 acre waterfront property, now located between Front Street and Broadway in San Diego; sent for six prefabricated buildings from Portland, Maine in 1849 and built a wharf and warehouse called New Town; however it did not attract sufficient business, and became known as Davis' Folly; Davis wrote Sixty Years in California (1889) and Seventy-Five Years in California (published posthumously in 1929); he died in 1909.

From the guide to the William Heath Davis Papers, 1840-1891, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Biography

William Heath Davis was born of a Boston sea-faring, ship-owning family, in Honolulu in 1822. Visiting California as a boy, he returned in 1838 to clerk in a store in Monterey owned by his uncle, Nathan Spear, and subsequently engaged in trading trips to Yerba Buena and the Hawaiian Islands. In 1845 he settled in San Francisco, established his own business and became one of the city's most prominent merchants and ship owners. In 1847 he married María de Jesús Estudillo, daughter of Joaquin Estudillo, a wealthy rancher. In addition to his mercantile activities he was instrumental in the founding of San Diego and Oakland. He died at Hayward, California, April 19, 1909.

From the guide to the William Heath Davis Papers, 1840-1905, (The Bancroft Library)

Biographical Information

William Heath Davis (1822-1909) was an early Californian merchant, shipowner, and landowner. Born in Hawaii, he went to work for his uncle Nathan Spear in San Francisco beginning in 1838; served as a supercargo aboard the Don Quixote in 1842-1843; and worked as an agent for Paty, McKinley & Co. in San Francisco between the years 1843 and 1845. The following year he purchased the brig Euphemia with his new partner Hiram Grimes, becoming a major San Francisco merchant in his own right. In 1847, he married the daughter of Joaquin Estudillo, Maria de Jesus, assuming ownership of a large property in what is now San Leandro.

From the guide to the William Heath Davis papers, 1838-1871, (California Historical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. Papers of William Heath Davis, 1843-1906. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Lawton, Charles W. Letter : to William H. Davis / by Charles W. Lawton, 1850 Jun 28. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Reid, Hugo Perfecto, ?-1852. ALS, 1845 June 8 : Santa Anita, [CA], to William Heath Davis in Buena Yerba. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Vischer, Edward. Edward Vischer papers, 1853-1878. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Fitch, Henry Delano, 1799-1849. ALS, 1846 June 9 : Santa Barbara, to William Heath Davis, Los Angeles. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Ozio, Antonio María. Memorias de la Alta California escrita por el Sõr Don Antonio Maria Ozio, 1815-1851. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Larkin, Thomas Oliver, 1802-1858. Thomas O. Larkin papers, 1822-1858. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Hunnewell, James, 1794-1869. Business papers, 1823-1883 (inclusive), 1823-1869 (bulk) [microform]. Harvard Business School, Knowledge and Library Services/Baker Library
creatorOf Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. Papers, 1840-1891. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf William Heath Davis Papers, 1840-1891 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
referencedIn Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. William Heath Davis Collection, 1837-1905. California state library
referencedIn Pedrorena, Miguel de. Document : San Diego, Calif., 1850 Feb. 26. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf Estudillo, Juana Martínez de. Bond, with other members of the Estudillo family, to Thomas W. Mulford, 1859 December 2. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. San Francisco Land Document : San Diego, Calif., 1851 June 30. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf William Heath Davis correspondence, 1896-1901 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn Thomas O. Larkin papers, 1839-1856 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. William Heath Davis papers, 1838-1871. California historical society
creatorOf Forman, Mary A. Gray (Mary Agnes Gray), 1843-1918. Papers of Mary A. Forman, 1853-1908 (bulk 1904-1908). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964. Herbert Hoover letter to John Charles Thomas : ALS, 1945 October 10. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf William Heath Davis Papers, 1840-1905 Bancroft Library
referencedIn Hunnewell, James, 1794-1869. Business papers, 1823-1883 (inclusive), 1823-1869 (bulk). Harvard Business School, Knowledge and Library Services/Baker Library
creatorOf Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. Correspondence, 1896-1901. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Hardy, Grahame H. Grahame Hardy Collection, 1849-1909. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Monterey Public Library. California History Room. Biography clippings : "D" [surname] folder 1890-2008. Monterey Public Library
creatorOf Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. William Heath Davis Collection, 1837-1905. California state library
creatorOf Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. Copies of Heath manuscripts holdings in the California State Library, Sacramento, ca. 1840-1909. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. William Heath Davis papers, 1840-1905. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. Glimpses of the past : statement of William Heath Davis : ms., [undated]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn New San Diego Hotel Registers, 1869 January 1-1877 August 31 San Diego History Center Document Collection
creatorOf Copies of William Heath Davis Manuscripts Holdings in the California State Library, Sacramento, ca. 1840-1909 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
creatorOf Brannan, Sam, 1819-1889. Letter : Escondido, Calif., to William H. Davis, 1888 Oct. 5. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf William Heath Davis papers, 1838-1871 California historical society
creatorOf Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. William Heath Davis papers, 1885-1905. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Flügge, Charles William, d. 1852. Letter from Charles W. Flugge to William H. Davis, Esq. : Pueblo de Los Angeles [Calif.], July 22nd, 1844. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aguirre, Jose Antonio. person
associatedWith Alexander & Mellus, San Pedro. corporateBody
associatedWith Arguello, Santiago E. person
associatedWith Bancroft, H. P. person
associatedWith Blair, Mary J. person
associatedWith Brannan, Sam, 1819-1889. person
associatedWith Cowan, Robert Ernest, 1862-1942. person
associatedWith Cressy, O. S. person
associatedWith Crocker, Templeton, 1884-1948. person
associatedWith Davis, Albert G. person
associatedWith Davis family. person
associatedWith Davis, George Hyde, 1868?- person
associatedWith Davis, Maria de Jesus. person
associatedWith Davis, María de Jesús Estudillo, 1829-1906. person
associatedWith Davis, Robert G. person
associatedWith Davis, William Heath, 1822-1909. person
associatedWith Don Quixote (Ship) corporateBody
associatedWith Don Quixote (Ship). corporateBody
associatedWith Estudillo, Jose Guadalupe. person
associatedWith Estudillo, Jose Joaquin. person
associatedWith Estudillo, Jose Maria. person
associatedWith Estudillo, Juana Martínez de. person
associatedWith Euphemia (Brig) corporateBody
associatedWith Euphemia (Brig). corporateBody
associatedWith Fitch, Henry D. person
associatedWith Fitch, Henry Delano, 1799-1849. person
associatedWith Flügge, Charles William, d. 1852. person
associatedWith Forman, Mary A. Gray (Mary Agnes Gray), 1843-1918. person
associatedWith Gleason, Nellie D. person
correspondedWith Gleason, Nellie D. person
associatedWith Grimes, Hiram. person
associatedWith Hardy, Grahame H. person
associatedWith Honeyman, Robert B. person
associatedWith Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964. person
associatedWith Hunnewell, James, 1794-1869. person
associatedWith Larkin, Thomas Oliver, 1802-1858. person
associatedWith Lawton, Charles W. person
associatedWith Lewis, John G. person
associatedWith Misroon, John Stoney, 1810-1865. person
associatedWith Monterey Public Library. California History Room. corporateBody
associatedWith New San Diego Hotel. corporateBody
associatedWith Norris, Thomas W. (Thomas Wayne). person
associatedWith Nye, Gorham H., 1802-1878. person
associatedWith Online Archive of California. corporateBody
associatedWith Ozio, Antonio María. person
associatedWith Parrott, John, 1811-1884. person
associatedWith Paty, McKinley & Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Paty, McKinley & Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Peck, Sherman. person
associatedWith Pedrorena, Miguel de. person
associatedWith Peter Paul Book Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Peyton, Bernard, Jr. person
associatedWith Reid, Hugo Perfecto, ?-1852. person
associatedWith Revere, Joseph W. (Joseph Warren), 1812-1880. person
associatedWith Reynolds, Stephen. person
associatedWith Ridley, Robert Thomas, 1819?-1851. person
associatedWith Rodriquez, Francisco P. person
associatedWith Semple, Robert, 1806-1854. person
associatedWith Sherman, R. M. person
associatedWith Stearns, Abel, 1798-1871. person
associatedWith Sutter, John Augustus, 1803-1880. person
associatedWith Vischer, Edward. person
associatedWith Vischer, Edward. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
California
California
California, Southern
California
California
San Francisco (Calif.)
Hawaii
San Francisco (Calif.)
California--San Francisco
California
Los Angeles (Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)
Hawaii--Honolulu
Pacific Coast
California--San Francisco
California
California--San Francisco
California, Southern
California
Rancho San Leandro (Calif.)
San Diego (Calif.)
California
Subject
Authors, American
Business enterprises
Businessmen
Businessmen
Businessmen
Correspondence
Frontier and pioneer life
Land titles
Material Types
Merchandising
Merchants
Merchants
Merchants
Merchants
Mines and mineral resources
Pioneers
Real property
Real property
Real estate developers
Shipping
Shipping
Supercargos
Supercargos
Occupation
Merchants
Real estate developers
Activity

Person

Birth 1822

Death 1909

English,

Spanish; Castilian

Information

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