William Mansfield Buffum

[1] In 1850, Buffum's brother George was appointed postmaster of Stockton, California, by President Zachary Taylor.

Soon after his appointment, George sent for his brother to assist him in the post office and in May, 1850, Buffum took passage at New York City for San Francisco, traveling by way of the Isthmus of Panama.

With thousands flocking to the gold fields, and the mail transportation methods relying entirely upon the Pony Express and the long route from the East by water, the difficulties that beset the Buffum brothers were so manifold as to divert from the mind of the two all thought of hunting for the gold that everyone had gone to California to seek.

In a short time, however, the gold fever finally entered the veins of young Buffum and he joined a party in a prospecting trip to Calaveras.

[1] At the time Buffum went to Arizona, General George Crook was governor of the military post at Prescott, and here the firm opened its store.

He was made cashier of the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad company, sharing the difficult tasks that met these projects in their organic state.

For twenty years, he remained with Clark and Sherman, at the same time engaging in the realty business and in general investments on his personal account.

Buffum throughout his life had been a prominent member of the Royal Arch Chapter of Masonry and of the California Society.

[1] This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Press Reference Library's "Being the Portraits and Biographies of the Progressive Men of the West" (1915)