George Alonzo Johnson facts for kids

George Alonzo Johnson (1824–1903) was an American adventurer, businessman, and politician. He was known as a "49er" because he joined the California Gold Rush in 1849. Johnson became famous for his steamboat business on the Colorado River and later served in California's government.

Early Adventures and Business Ideas

George Alonzo Johnson was born on August 16, 1824, in Palatine Bridge, New York. In 1849, when he was a sailor, he heard exciting news about gold being discovered in California. This news made him leave New York and travel to San Francisco in June 1849, hoping to find his fortune during the California Gold Rush.

From Gold Rush to Ferry Business

When Johnson arrived in San Francisco, he worked unloading ships. He also took a short trip to the gold mines. In 1850, he heard about a terrible event called the Glanton Massacre. This made him realize there was a need for safer travel routes. He gathered a small group of partners, including Benjamin M. Hartshorne, and they decided to build a ferry. They traveled to the Yuma Crossing near San Diego, built their ferry, and started operating it. After a while, they sold the ferry and returned to San Francisco.

Starting a Steamboat Company

Johnson saw a big opportunity in bringing supplies to Fort Yuma, a military post that was very hard to reach. In 1852, he and Benjamin M. Hartshorne tried to carry supplies up the Colorado River using barges pushed by poles. This didn't work well because the river had strong currents and many sandbars.

The Uncle Sam and General Jesup

In 1853, a steam tugboat called the Uncle Sam successfully traveled up the river. This showed Johnson that steamboats were the answer. He then formed a company called George A. Johnson & Company with Hartshorne and Captain Alfred H. Wilcox. They bought a steamboat called the General Jesup. They took it apart, shipped it to the Colorado River Delta, and put it back together. This powerful steamboat began successfully carrying cargo and passengers on the Colorado River from its mouth all the way up to Fort Yuma.

Making Supply Cheaper

The General Jesup could carry 50 tons of supplies to the fort in just five days. This dramatically lowered the cost of supplying the fort from $500 a ton (when shipped across the desert from San Diego) to only $75 a ton. Each trip made the company a lot of money, around $4,000, by shipping goods from larger ships at the river's mouth.

Exploring and Expanding the Business

In 1856, Johnson played a key role in getting money from the U.S. Congress for a military trip to explore the Colorado River beyond Fort Yuma. Although he wasn't chosen to provide the steamboat for the official 1857 expedition led by Lt. Ives, Johnson decided to explore the river himself. He took the General Jesup upriver at his own expense, becoming the first to explore the river all the way to what is now Nevada.

Wealth from Gold and Family Life

Since Johnson's company was the only steamboat business on the river, he and his partners became very wealthy after gold was discovered along the Colorado River in 1858. In 1858, Johnson moved to San Diego. On June 4, 1859, he married Maria Estéfana Alvarado, a well-known beauty. Her parents gave the couple the Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos as a wedding gift. Johnson also built a home in Yuma for his wife, which later became the commanding officer's quarters at the Yuma Quartermaster Depot in 1864. The Johnsons had nine children, but sadly, only two lived to adulthood.

Political Career and Business Challenges

In 1863, George Johnson became a member of the California State Assembly for the 1st District. He served again in 1866–67. While he was busy with his ranch and political life, he left the steamboat operations to his senior captain, Issac Polhamus.

Competition on the River

Johnson didn't invest enough in new ships to keep up with the growing traffic caused by the 1862 Colorado River gold rush. By 1864, there was a huge backlog of freight waiting to be delivered. This led to new companies, called opposition lines, starting their own steamboat services on the Colorado River.

Regaining Control of the River

This competition forced Johnson to expand his fleet of steamboats and start using barges to carry more cargo. After a price war that lasted until 1866, Johnson's company once again became the only steamboat company on the river. He had an advantage because he had contracts to supply U.S. Army posts and a system of wood-yards for fuel. In 1869, he officially named his steamboat company the Colorado Steam Navigation Company. He and his partners owned it until 1877, when they sold their steamboats to the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Later Life and Legacy

Johnson officially gained ownership of the Rancho Los Peñasquitos when the U.S. government granted him the land patent in 1876. However, in 1880, the Johnsons lost their ranch to people they owed money to. Within a few years, they moved to a building in San Diego, now known as the Johnson House. They lived there until George Johnson passed away in 1903 at the age of 79. He was buried in San Diego.