Samuel Addison Bishop facts for kids

Samuel Addison Bishop (born 1825, died 1893) was an important early settler in the Owens Valley area of California. A "settler" is someone who moves to a new place to live and build a community. He is famous because Bishop Creek in Inyo County, California was named after him. Later, the town of Bishop also got its name from this creek. Samuel Bishop was also a soldier in the Mariposa Battalion, a group that helped explore and settle parts of California. He later became a banker and helped start the streetcar system in San Jose.

Samuel Bishop's Life Story

Samuel Bishop was born on September 2, 1825, in Albemarle County, Virginia. When he was 24, in 1849, he traveled to California. He was looking for gold, which was a big reason many people moved to California back then.

In 1851, Samuel Bishop joined the Mariposa Battalion. This group was involved in the Mariposa War. He helped with the capture of the Ahwahnechee people during this time.

Life in Owens Valley

In 1861, Samuel Bishop brought more than 500 cattle into the Owens Valley. He started a large farm called San Frances Ranch. This ranch was located on what is now called Bishop Creek. It was about three miles southwest of the town of Bishop today.

The ranch was named after his wife, Frances Elle Young. She is believed to be the first white woman to live in the Owens Valley. The San Frances Ranch helped provide food for the miners in the Aurora Mining District nearby.

The Bishops lived on the ranch for about 18 months. After that, they moved to Kern County. In 1866, when Kern County's government was formed, Samuel became one of its first Supervisors. A Supervisor is like a local government leader.

Moving to San Jose

Two years later, the Bishops moved to San Jose. There, Samuel Bishop became a banker. He also helped get permission to build a streetcar line. A streetcar is a type of public transportation that runs on tracks in the street.

San Jose remained his home for the rest of his life. Samuel Addison Bishop passed away on June 3, 1893.

What's Named After Bishop

Bishop Creek was named after Samuel Bishop. Because of this creek, the town of Bishop also got its name. It's a way to remember his important role as an early settler.