HISTORY of CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA----page 550
Hon.GEORGE G. GOUCHER was born in Parkersburg, Virginia, February 12,
1855. His father, James Goucher, came to California in 1850, and
three years later returned to Virginia, settled up his business, and in
1855 brought his family to this State, coming via the Isthmus of
Panama, and arriving in San Francisco by that celebrated old steamer,
Golden Gate, on April 12, 1855. After farming in different
localities, he located in Oakland, where he now resides, engaged
in the museum department of the State Mining Bureau.
George G. was educated in the public schools of Napa valley, after
which, by his own labors in teaching, beginning at the age of sixteen,
he was enabled to gain a higher education a the Napa Collegiate
Institute at Napa City.
In November, 1875, he went to Mariposa County, and for two years taught
the Bear Valley School, in the meantime studying law. He was
admitted to practice in 1877, and in the fall of that year, at the age
of twenty-two years, he was elected on the Democratic ticket as
District Attorney of Mariposa County, and re-elected in 1879 and
1882. At the expiration of his term in 1884, he was elected
Assembly-man from the Sixty-seventh associate district, composing the
counties of Mariposa and Merced. To make this canvass he declined
the nomination of Democratic elector in the Cleveland campaign of that
year. When his term expired in 1886, he was elected State
Senator from the Thirty-second district, comprising the counties of
Alpine, Mono, Mariposa and Fresno, and was re-elected from the same
district in 1890. In 1887 Mr. Goucher was appointed by governor
Bartlett to fill an unexpired term of the Yo Semite Commission, and was
reappointed in 1888 by Governor Waterman for term of four
years. After serving one year under the latter appointment, Mr.
Goucher resigned in June, 1889. He was a champion of the
irrigation bills in both Assembly and Senate, and an earnest worker for
the interest of his constituents. He also took a prominent part in the
bills pertaining to the mining interests; served as Chairman of the
committee on Corporations, on Mines and mining, and on State Prisons;
in the Senate he was a member of the Committee on Judiciary.
In speaking of Mr. Goucher's political career, it should be further
stated that he has been a delegate to every Democratic State convention
since he was twenty-one years of age. In fraternal
circles his is also prominent, being associated with the following
lodges: Mariposa Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M., of Oso Lodge No.
110, I. O.O.F., at Bear Valley, and of Mono Tribe No. 68, I. O. R. M.,
at Fresno.
Mr. Goucher was married in Mariposa, July 10, 1880, to Miss Marion
Jones, daughter of Judge L. F. Jones, a prominent lawyer and a member
of the last constitutional convention. Mr. and Mrs. Goucher have
two children, Allen H. born NOvember 22, 1881, and Merle M., born
October 18, 1889.
HISTORY of
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA----page 550 Lewis
Publishing, Chicago, Ill (1892) transcribed by Carolyn Feroben
MARIPOSA
FAMILY CHRONICLES
MARIPOSA COUNTY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
CALIFORNIA