Southwestern Sacramento in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Rev. O.C. Wheeler D.D., L.L.D.

1816 – 1891

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 13, 2008

1. Rev. O.C. Wheeler D.D., L.L.D. Marker

Inscription. Organizer Of First Baptist Church of San Francisco, 1849 First Baptist Church of San Jose, 1849 First Baptist Church of Sacramento, 1850 These Churches Have Erected This Monument To His Memory, Oct. 25, 1925

Erected 1925.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.

Location. 38° 33.719′ N, 121° 30.164′ W. Marker is in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. It is in Southwestern Sacramento. It can be reached from Revere Street. Marker and gravesite are located at the Pioneer Cemetery Grove at the Sacramento City Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 Broadway, Sacramento CA 95818, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Sacramento Valley

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Alexander B. Nixon, M.D. (here, next to this marker); Mark Hopkins Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Grove Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Mark Hopkins (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Pioneer Cemetery Grove

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Alfred A. Hart (within shouting distance of this marker); General Albert Maver Winn (within shouting distance of this marker); Margaret Rhodes Crocker (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sacramento.

Other markers no longer nearby. Mark Hopkins Monument (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Pioneer Cemetery Grove (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Dr. O.C. Wheeler, President, California Baptist Historical Society. (Submitted on December 2, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)

Additional commentary.
1. First Baptist Church.—
Organized May 19, 1850, by Rev. O. C. Wheeler, of San Francisco, who was the first Baptist minister on the Pacific Coast. It had only eight members at the beginning. This small membership could not afford to engage a permanent pastor, and arrangements were made by which monthly meetings were held, which were conducted by Mr. Wheeler. In November

Rev. O.C. Wheeler D.D., L.L.D. Marker and Gravesite image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 13, 2008

2. Rev. O.C. Wheeler D.D., L.L.D. Marker and Gravesite

of that year a lot was purchased, and a building erected, at the corner of Third and Santa Clara Streets. Here Rev. L. O. Grenell, from the Baptist Home Missionary Society, took temporary charge, and in the following February was elected permanent pastor. The place of meeting was afterwards moved to the corner of Second and San Antonio Streets, where a brick building had been erected for that purpose. In 1877 a new and commodious structure was built, which was burned in 1882. The present tabernacle was then erected. The pastor now officiating is Rev. A. W. Runyon, who was called in 1887.
Source: Churches of Santa Clara County - http://www.mariposaresearch.net/santaclararesearch/SCBIOS/churchespen.html

— Submitted December 2, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.

2. From the Diary of Dr. Israel Lord:
[Sacramento, California 1850] Saturday, Sept.14. Met Rev. Mr. [Osgood C.] Wheeler at Doct. Temple’s office today. He has come up by invitation, to assist in organizing a church here. This evening a considerable number of brethren met at Judge Willis’, and formed a church. Only five letters of dismission were presented and these were constituted members. Enough letters of recommendatory were than produced to increase the number to 15, and the bearers were then received

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by the church and thus we have the First Baptist Church of Sacramento.

— Submitted December 2, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 2, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,023 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 2, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.