Sohon, Gustav, 1825-1903

Gustavus Sohon (1825-1903), a German immigrant, was employed by the U.S. government between 1852 and 1863 as an illustrator and cartographer of explorations of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest.

German-born painter accompanying expeditions of the Army in the Western United States.

Gustavus Sohon (1825-1903), a German immigrant, was employed by the U.S. government between 1852 and 1863 as an illustrator and cartographer of explorations of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest.

During his last five years of federal service, he worked under Col. George Wright, who headed a military expedition associated with the building of the Mullan Road, a 624-mile long military wagon road constructed to connect the Columbia and Missouri rivers.

Gustavus Sohon was born in Tilsit, Germany on December 10, 1825. He came to America at the age of 17 and lived in Brooklyn, New York. On July 2, 1852, he enlisted as a private in the United States Army, at the age of 26. He was ordered West for service on the Pacific Coast.

A gifted linguist (he spoke English, French, and German), Sohon quickly learned the Salishan languages of the Flathead and Pend D'Oreille Indians. He also made drawings of the country and important landmarks while working on expeditions. These drawings were useful in later expeditions.

At the request of Washington Governor Stevens, Sohon was transferred to his command. Stevens had been very impressed with Sohon's work. On later expeditions Sohon worked as map maker and barometrical observer as well as sketcher and interpreter. Sohon was involved in the building of the Mullan Road, the first wagon road from Fort Walla Walla to Fort Benton.

On July 29, 1863, Sohon married Juliana Goh and moved to San Francisco, California. There Sohon opened a Photographic and Ambrotype Gallery. He finally closed his shop and moved back to the East Coast in 1865 or 1866 and lived in Washington, D.C. There he died on September 3, 1903.