Lafayette "Punch" Choisser
Lafayette is known for his "wild ride" in which
he, as a deputy sheriff in Gold Rush California, saved
an Indian prisoner from a lynch mob by spiriting him
out of Mariposa just minutes ahead of pursuing vigilantes.
For more information about Lafayette and this event,
see this account from
An Illinois Family,
and this article from
Overland
monthly and Out West magazine.
An even more in-depth article about the ride appears
in the August 1965 edition of True West magazine,
back issues of which are still available from
the publisher.
Lafayette is listed as a laboror in a list
of 1872 Mariposa County residents.
Lafayette's horse one day came home without him.
Upon looking for him, they found him dead.
Here is the Verdict of Coroner's Jury
report on his death.
Below are the grave stones of Lafayette and his wife Julia.
Here is Julia's obituary.
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