Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - George W. Gazley


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features George W. Gazley and one of his descendants down to the second generation.


First Generation
1. George W. Gazley,1 born 1804 in New York, the son of Joseph Gazlay and Annie Marshall;1, 2, 3, 4 died 26 September 1861 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California.1, 5 George married Harriet E. _____ (born ca. 1812 in New York, parents not determined2, 4, 6). George is buried in Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California.1

Identification of George as a son of Joseph and Ann Gazlay is tentative, subject to further evidence. His name has not been associated with any other Gazlay/Gazley families. Joseph and Ann Gazlay’s family composition, based on analysis of the 1810 and 1820 US Censuses for Clinton, Dutchess County, New York, suggests they had son born around the birth year associated with George W. Gazlay.

The first mention of George W. Gazely is as a founding member of the Palmyra, NY, fire company, 23 May 1827.7

He moved with his family to California probably between 1850 and 1852, shortly after the discovery of gold in 1848 by John Sutter, in Colona, California. Gold was also discovered in nearby Placer County, where George settled.

Within a few years, he was the owner of a popular hotel in Auburn, CA, as shown in the below advertisement:8

COTILLION PARTY.

THE undersigned, proprietor of the “American Hotel and Golden Gate Saloon,” at Yankee Jim, will give a Cotillion Party on the evening of the 23rd inst. His hall is large and commodious, and no pains will be spared to make the party the best of the season.

GEO. W. GAZLEY.

George was later the proprietor of other hotels in the Auburn area, including the Grizzly Bear House and the Junction House.9


Child of George W. Gazley and Harriet E. _____:

+2i. George Henry Gazley, born 1828 in New York; died 12 October 1865 in Rio Vista, Solano County, California. Married Henrietta Lucretia Papineau.

  1. Find a Grave (website). Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, George W. Gazley, born: 1804; died: 1861 (from record, which indicates his burial plot is with George H. Gazley).
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1850, New York, Wayne County, Williamson, Page 274, George W. Gazelly, 45, New York, shoemaker; Hariet Gazelly, 38, New York; George Gazelly, 22, New York, shoemaker; Charles Pepper, 19, New York, shoemaker; Frederick Thurstin, 54, New York, shoemaker; Margaret Combern, 20, Michigan.
  3. California State Census, 1852, Placer County, Image 130 of 886, G. W. Gasley, 47, NY; G. H. [or N.] Gazley, 25, NY.
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, California, Placer County, City of Auburn, Page No. 6, George H. Gasley, 32, N.Y., hotell keeper; Henrietta Gasley, 24, N.Y.; George W. Gasley, 55, N.Y., hotell keeper; Hariet E. Gasley, 47, N.Y.; plus several dozen hotel employees, shop keepers, etc.
  5. Daughters of the American Revolution, California State Society, La Puerta de Oro Chapter, San Francisco, California, Vital records from the Daily Evening Bulletin, San Francisco, California, Page 288, 3 October 1861, Deaths: In San Jose, Sept. 26, 1861, George W. Gazley.
  6. U.S. Federal Census, 1870, Oregon, Clackamas County, Oregon City, Page No. 9, Harriett Gazaly, 60, New York.
  7. Landmarks of Wayne County, New York, Edited by Hon. George W. Cowles of Clyde, N.Y. Syracuse, N.Y. D. Mason & Co., Publishers. 1895. (Available at archive.org). Page 184.
  8. The Placer Herald, Auburn, Placer County, California, available at Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.com), 6 September 1856, advertisement for a Cotillion Party at the American Hotel and Golden Gate Saloon, Geo. W. Gazley, proprietor.
  9. The Placer Herald, Auburn, Placer County, California, available at Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.com), 11 September 1858. Ball at the Junction House, Mr. G. W. Gazley, proprietor.
Second Generation
2. George Henry Gazley2 (George1), born 1828 in New York;1, 2, 3, 4 died 12 October 1865 in Rio Vista, Solano County, California.1 George married, 10 November 1856 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, Henrietta Lucretia Papineau11 (born 17 December 1832 in Williamson, Wayne County, New York, the daughter of Daniel Papineau and Sarah Lucretia Green;4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Henrietta died 14 December 1920 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana5). George is buried in Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California.1 Henrietta is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.5

George followed his father to Auburn, Placer County, California. He took over proprietorship of the American Hotel in 1860 after the retirement of his father.12

George was one of the many people killed in the explosion of the steamer Yosemite on 12 October 1865. His death notice reads:1, 13

In Rio Vista, Oct. 12th, from injuries received by the explosion of the steamer Yosemite, George H. Gazley, of San Francisco, formerly of Pultneyville, Wayne County (N.Y.), aged 37 years.

Another death notice from The Commercial Press, Pultneyville, New York, reads as follows:14

George H. Gazlay, son of the late George W. Gazlay formerly of this place was killed Oct. 19th by the explosion of the steamer Yo Semite [sic] on the Sacramento river, Cal. His age was 37 years.


  1. Find a Grave (website). Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, George H. Gazley, born: 1828; died: 12 October 1865 in Rio Vista, Solano County, California (from record, which includes a copy of an article detailing the explosion of the steamer Yosemite, killing several people, including George; also, the text from an article confirming his death on the Yosemite, and indicating he was formerly of Pultneyville, Wayne County, New York, age 37 years).
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1850, New York, Wayne County, Williamson, Page 274, George W. Gazelly, 45, New York, shoemaker; Hariet Gazelly, 38, New York; George Gazelly, 22, New York, shoemaker; Charles Pepper, 19, New York, shoemaker; Frederick Thurstin, 54, New York, shoemaker; Margaret Combern, 20, Michigan.
  3. California State Census, 1852, Placer County, Image 130 of 886, G. W. Gasley, 47, NY; G. H. [or N.] Gazley, 25, NY.
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, California, Placer County, City of Auburn, Page No. 6, George H. Gasley, 32, N.Y., hotell keeper; Henrietta Gasley, 24, N.Y.; George W. Gasley, 55, N.Y., hotell keeper; Hariet E. Gasley, 47, N.Y.; plus several dozen hotel employees, shop keepers, etc.
  5. Find a Grave (website). Mount Hope Cemetery, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan, Henrietta L. Papineau George, born: 17 December 1832 in Williamstown, Oswego County, New York [sic, she was actually born in Williamson, Wayne County, New York]; died: 14 December 1920 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana (from record, which includes a copy of her death certificate [that erroneously shows her birthplace as Williamston]; and provides the names and links for her mother, sister, and one husband).
  6. U.S. Federal Census, 1850, New York, Wayne County, Walworth, Image 44 of 48, Daniel Popennyh [sic, Papineau], 41, NY, laborer; Sarah L. Popennyh, 38, NY; Henrietta Popennyh, 17, NY; Jennett A. Popennyh, 14, NY.
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1870, Michigan, Ingham County, Lansing, Page No. 13, William S. George, 45, Vermont, state printer; Janet George, 34, New York; Louis P. George, 1, Michigan; Sarah Papineau, 38 [sic, she was actually 58], New York; Henrietta Gazley, 37, New York; Kate Moon, 18, Michigan, domestic servant.
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Michigan, Ingham County, Lansing, E.D. 128, Page No. 15, William S. George, 52, Vermont, state printer; wife Henrietta L. George, 47, NY; son Parker L. George, 11, Michigan; daughter Bessie R. George, 9, Michigan; mother in law Sarah L. Papinau, 68, NY, widow; plus one border and three servants.
  9. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Michigan, Ingham County, Lansing, E.D. 36, Sheet No. 6A, Henrietta L. George, 64, New York, Dec. 1835, widow, 2 children, 2 living [sic, these are her sister’s children that she raised]; son-in-law Harry E. Bradner, 32, Michigan, Jan. 1868, trav salesman; daughter Bessie D. Bradner, 29, Michigan, Oct. 1870, married 4 years.
  10. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Michigan, Ingham County, Lansing, E.D. 61, Sheet No. 13A, Harry E. Bradner, 42, Michigan, manager, auto body co.; wife of 15 years Bessie G. Bradner, 39, Michigan, no children; border George W. Stone, 60, North Carolina; border Henrietta L. George, 69, New York, widow, no children.
  11. Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940, Geo. H. Gosley [sic], age 29 years, of Adrian, Mich., and Henrietta S. Papineau, age 24 years, of Detroit, married on 10 November 1856 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan.
  12. The Placer Herald, Auburn, Placer County, California, available at Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.com), 26 May 1860, article indicating the American Hotel has been taken by Mr. G. H. Gazley from Mr. Geo. W. Gazley, the latter having retired.
  13. Deaths, Sacramento Daily Union, Sacramento, California. Available at California Digital Newspaper Collection. 23 October 1865: death of George H. Gazley on 12 October.
  14. Deaths, Pultneyville NY Old Newspaper Notices, Part 11, Wayne County, NY, (Contributed by Allyn Hess Perry, available at https://wayne.nygenweb.net/williamson/oldpulteneyvillenews11.html), The Commercial Press, Pultneyville, NY, Personal Items: Death of George H. Gazley on 19 October 1865 on the Yosemite.