Individual Details

Charles Fox Stamps was born Sept. 19, 1809 on a plantation at Gallatin, Tennessee, near Nashville. At the age of 19, he married (1st) Nancy Davis, daughter of Joseph "Joe" Davis. Nancy died Nov. 11, 1828 during a stillborn childbirth. They had no other children.

After Nancy's death, Charlie and his brother, William, moved to St. Louis where they established the first brickyard. They prospered. While in St. Louis, Charlie married (2nd) Carrie Boone, niece of Daniel Boone. By Carrie he had a son, Benjamin "Ben" Boone Stamps. Carrie died on Dec 9,1847 when Ben was two. Charlie soon sold his interest in the brickyard to his brother, William. Then, he joined a wagon train heading West. Ben was just big enough to sit on the wagon seat.

Near Bonner Pass, they came upon the stranded family of William Workman. Indians had stolen their horses, supplies and possessions, leaving them to starve. Charlie took the family as far as Deer Creek Dry Diggins, which was later named Nevada City. The Workmans went on to Los Angeles. (Years later, Mr. Workman's son, William, became a partner with P.F.Temple in the Temple & Workman Bank. He later became Mayor of Los Angeles.)

Charlie and Ben arrived at Deer Creek Dry Diggins in October of 1849. Willing hands helped him to build a log cabin. Later, he built the first brick home in Nevada City, California. It was located on the forks of the ravine in back of Coyote Street.

In March of 1850, an election was held; and, with 250 votes cast, Charlie was elected as "Alcalde", or mayor, with judicial as well as administrative powers. He was the first American so honored in California, still ruled by Mexico. Charlie served in his position until Oct 13, 1850, when Peter Burnett, the first Governor of California elected under American rule, sent Sheriff Olney to relieve him of his mayoral duties. (California was admitted to the Union on Sept 09, 1850.)

"In March of 1850, Stamps and Landen, an ex-minister, were chiefly instrumental in the building of a small shake church; the first in Nevada City, on the corner of Main and Washington Streets.

"Shortly after the church was built, a family of Methodist missionaries came to town in great distress. The Reverend Knighten had been killed by Indians on the trip across the plains and his young widow, Nancy Knighten, was dying of tuberculosis. Charlie took the family into his home where Nancy died Sept 15, 1850. Nancy had a small son, William Amon"Bill" Knighten, who was the age of young Ben Stamps, and an unmarried sister who cared for them. Her name was Matilda Cord. On October 20,1850, Charles Fox Stamps married Matilda Cord ... in what was called "a marriage without courtship"; but it proved to be a very happy one."

Matilda Cord was born Dec 10, 1822 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the sister of J.M. Cord. Matilda became ill and, with her failing health,the Stamps family moved to Ukiah City, California. There, Nestor, Cathmor, Charles, Nancy and Mary Stamps were born. When Matilda's health became worse, the family moved to Old Town, San Diego, where the boys lived a carefree, happy life, fishing for abalone, mining gold, and hunting. Matilda's health continued to fail. She died on Dec 09, 1869 in San Diego and was buried in the Old Town Cemetery.

Charlie left San Diego in 1874 and moved to Orange County, California where he purchased a fruit ranch. He met and married his fourth wife,Cornelia Louise Ziegler, nee Walters. Charlie died Feb 14, 1890 and was buried in Nevada City, California. Cornelia died May 20, 1891.

Birth	19 Sep 1809	Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee
Death	14 Feb 1890	Los Angeles County, California

Father	John Stamps (1764 - 1845)
Mother	Mary "Polly" McGrew (1766 - 1845)
Sibling	Living
Sibling	Nancy Stamps (1793 - 1845)
Sibling	Elizabeth "Betty" Stamps (1797 - 1868)
Sibling	Willis Braziel Stamps (1797 - )
Sibling	John Stamps (1798 - 1867)
Sibling	Angeline Stamps (1805 - )
Sibling	William Shackelford "Shack" Stamps (1807 - 1893)
Sibling	Volney Stamps (1808 - 1879)