Timeline

1858
Sarah Ann and Fourth Child Die in Childbirth

Henry’s fourth son and Sarah Ann both died in childbirth. The White family stayed with him to help look after the children. Margaret Jane White (Sarah Ann’s sister) was in charge of the children.

1859
Henry Marries Margaret White
Henry Marries Margaret White

A year later, Henry married Margaret Jane White, Sarah Ann’s younger sister.

1860
H.M. Newhall & Co. Expands into Insurance

H.M. Newhall and Co. went from auctioneer to wholesaler and also into insurance. Profits were substantial.

1861
San Francisco & San Jose Railroad CO Created
San Francisco & San Jose Railroad CO Created

Voters approved funds to purchase railroad stock. Henry started organizing and when the second San Francisco and San Jose Railroad Company was organized, Henry was elected Vice President.

1861
Fourth Son is Born
Fourth Son is Born

Henry and Margaret had his fourth and her first son, Walter Scott Newhall.

1863
Fifth Son is Born
Fifth Son is Born

Henry and Margaret had Henry’s fifth and her second son, George Almer Newhall.

1864
Henry Becomes Railroad President

The tracks in the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad company had been laid all the way to San Jose. Because of political issues Henry and two partners bought up all the stock in the Company and Henry became President of the Company.

1865
The California – Locomotive was Built
The California – Locomotive was Built

Henry ordered the first heavy locomotive to be built in California. The “California” as it was known, set a speed record west of the Rockies of sixty-seven miles per hour.

1870
Another Railroad Company – Made them $$$ for Doing Nothing

Henry and partners established the California Southern Railroad Company but never laid a tie. The Central Pacific merged with several smaller railroad companies and became the Southern Pacific Railroad and offered to purchase the “franchise rights” to their new company.

Henry and his partners sold their shares in the railroad for $1,250,000 each. That ended Henry’s 10-year span in the railroad business.

1871
Rancho El Piojo Purchased

He purchased Rancho El Piojo – 13,300 acres – in Monterey County for $70,000.