Barber Tract – Lots 6 & 7

On July 23, 1904, Elizabeth J. Barber deeded Lots 6 and 7 to Charles L. and Elizabeth Miel. The Miels were residents of Sacramento where Charles was a clergyman, having formerly been the rector of churches in Sausalito and San Anselmo. Charles was the son of Charles F. Miel, also a clergyman and San Rafael pioneer. His obituary follows:

The Marin Journal
Thursday, November 20, 1902
page 1

Death of Former San Rafael Pioneer

News was received last week of the death in Philadelphia of Rev. CHARLES F. MIEL, D.D. He was born in France in 1816 and was for many years a prominent figure in California. He came to the United States in 1853 with letters from Victor Hugo, and for several years filled the chair of French literature in Harvard University. During the Civil War he was sent by secretary William H. Seward on two confidential missions to France, and it was through these that France declined to follow England in acknowledging the Confederacy as a belligerent power.

Dr. Miel came to California in the early sixties, and to San Rafael about 1867 and started the first girls academy in a two story building on the knoll back of the present Mr. Tamalpais Military Academy building which was afterwards moved to the present academy site, made a three story building and converted into Mt. Tamalpais Hotel.

The Miels were likely well-acquainted with the Barber family.

The Miels deeded the lots to Sanford Sachs, a San Francisco merchant, in January 1907. Sanford Sachs was born in California to Bavarian-born parents who came to California about 1855 and established a very successful dry goods business. Sachs died in 1931 and the lots, vacant until then, were subdivided and developed in the mid 1930s.

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