USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of northern California, illustrated. Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy...and biographical mention of many of its most eminent pioneers and also of prominent citizens of today > Part 33
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After sojourning in St. Louis for a time, he made a journey of exploration to New Mexico, where he met hunters and trappers, who had traversed Upper California, and they described to him the beautiful sun-lit valleys, the verdure- covered hills and the magnificent mountains of that remarkable land. These accounts resolved him to make California the field of his future operations.
The only way of reaching the Pacific Coast at that time was to accompany trapping expe- ditions of the English and American fur com- panies. On the 1st of April, 1836, Sutter joined Captain Tripp of the American Fur Company, and traveled with his party to their rendezvous in the Rocky Mountain region. Thence, with six horsemen, he crossed the mountains and after encountering many dangers, arrived at Fort Vancouver. Not finding it practicable to go south from Vancouver by land, he embarked on a vessel bound for the Sand- wich Islands, hoping to find an opportunity of sailing thence to the California coast. He sailed from the Islands in a vessel bound for Sitka, and from there down the coast. The vessel was driven by gales into the Bay of San Fran- cisco on July 2, 1839. (The point at which San Francisco now stands was then called Yerba Buena.) The vessel was boarded by a govern- ment officer, with an armed force, who ordered Sutter to leave, saying that Monterey, ninety miles southward, was the port of entry. Per- mission, however, was obtained to remain forty- eight hours for supplies.
On reaching Monterey, Sutter told the Gov- ernor, General Alvarado, that he desired to occupy and colonize a section of country in Upper California, on the Sacramento River. The governor warmly approved his plan, as he was desirous that the upper country should be subdued and settled. He informed Sutter that the Indians in that country were hostile, that they would not permit the whites to settle there, and that they had robbed the inhabitants of San José and the lower settlements of their cattle, etc; but he readily gave Sutter a passport with authority to explore and occupy any territory which he should consider profitable for his colony, and requested him to return in one year, when he should have his citizenship acknow- ledged and receive a grant of such lands as he might desire.
Sutter returned to Yerba Buena, then con- taining scarcely fifty inhabitants, engaged a schooner and several small boats and with a
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company of ten whites started to ascend the river with no guide, as no one could be found in Yerba Buena, who had ever ascended the Sacra- mento River. After eight days' search he found the month of the Sacramento. Reaching a point about ten miles below the present site of Sacra- mento City, he encountered a party of 200 Indian warriors, who exhibited every indication of hos- tility. Fortunately, two or three of the Indians understood Spanish and Sutter soon soothed them by an assurance that there were no Span- iards in his party,-against whom the Indians were particularly hostile,-and explained to them that he came only to be a peaceable citizen.
Gnided by two Indians, who could speak Spanish, Sutter made his way up the Sacra- mento to the Feather River, and ascended the latter stream some distance; but, on account of the alarm of some of his men, returned down the Sacramento River to the mouth of the American, and on August 16, 1839, landed his effects upon the south bank of that stream, a little above the mouth and near where the city of Sacramento is now located. Here he informed the disappointed whites that they might leave him if they wished, but that the Kanakas were willing to remain. Three of the whites left, with the schooner, for Yerba Buena.
Three weeks later Sutter removed to where he built the fort which has since become famous. But little did he think then that he was to be the most important instrumentality in the found- ing of a magnificent empire. His companions were six wandering whites of various nativities and eight Kanakas, who were ever faithful to him, and who constituted his "colony " and his army. By their aid he was to hold his ground, subdue and colonize a district of country en- tirely unknown, and inhabited only by wild and roving tribes of hostile Indians. This portion of Upper California, though fair to look upon, was peculiarly solitary and nninviting. It was isolated and remote from civilization. The nearest white settlement was a small one at Martinez. The Indians were of that class known as " Diggers."
Born and reared in the atmosphere of royalty and the refined scciety of Europe, with a liberal military education, gentle and polished in man- ners, and of unbounded generosity of heart, we find Sutter successfully planting his little colony in the midst of the wild Digger Indians of the Sacramento country. At length a few pioneers came stealing over the border, then the solid tramp of masses was heard, and then came a human deluge, that overwelmed our bold Swiss pioneer.
The first tide of immigration was entirely from Oregon. In the fall of 1839 there was an accession of eight white men, and in August, 1840, five of those who had crossed the Rocky Mountains with Sutter, and whom he had left in Oregon, joined him. During the fall of that year the Mokelumme Indians, with other tribes, became so troublesome that open war was made against them; and after a severe but short cam- paign they were subdned, and an enduring peace established. Other bands of Indians organized secret expeditions to destroy the colony, but by force and strict vigilance their machinations were defeated, and Sutter conquered the entire Sacramento Valley, bringing into willing sub- jection many of those who had been his fiercest enemies. In time he made them cultivate the soil, build his fort, care for the stock, and make themselves generally useful. In the subsequent military history of California, Sutter and his Indians were a power. Traffic increased apace. He sent hides to San Francisco, furnished the trappers with supplies, and received in exchange or by purchase their furs. The mechanics and laborers who came he employed, or procured them work.
In June, 1841, Sntter visited Monterey, then the capital of the country, was declared a Mex- ican citizen, and received from Governor Alva- rado a grant of the land upon which he had located-eleven "leagues"-under the title of "New Helvetia." The Governor also gave him a commission. Returning to his colony, he was shortly afterward visited by Captain Ringgold, of the United States Exploring Expedition
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under Commodore Wilkes, with officers and men. About the same time Alexander Kotchkoff, Governor of the Russian Possessions in Cali- fornia, visited Sutter and offered to sell him all the possessions of his government known as Ross and Bodega. Accepting the bargain, Sut- ter came into possession of a vast extent of real estate, besides 2,000 cattle, 1,000 horses, fifty Innles and 2,500 sheep, most of which were transferred to New Helvetia.
In 1844 Sutter's improvements were exten- sive, and the amount of his stock was large. During that year he petioned Governor Michel- torena for the grant or purchase of the surplus over the first eleven leagues of land within the bounds of the survey accompanying the Alva- rado grant, and this petition was granted Feb- ruary 5, 1845, in consideration of Sutter's valu- able services and his expenditure ot $8,000 in the suppression of the Castro rebellion.
About 1844 small bodies of emigrants began to find their way to California direct from the States, striking Sutter's Fort, the first settlement after crossing the mountains. Year by year these parties of immigrants increased in size, until after the gold discovery, when they could
be counted by thousands and tens of thousands. It was then that the value of Sutter's settle ment and the generous qualities of the man be- came strikingly apparent. No weary, destitute immigrant reached his fort who was not sup- plied with all that he needed and sent on his way rejoicing. Frequently he even sent sup- plies in advance to those coming through the Sierras. Year after year he did this, without thinking of any return. On one occasion a solitary immigrant was just able to reach the fort and reported that his companions were at some distance back dying of starvation. Sutter immediately caused seven mules to be packed with supplies, and, attended by two Indian boys, started with the immigrant for the scene of distress. On arriving, everything was seized by the crazed wretches and devoured.
Other starving immigrants arriving. they killed Mr. Sutter's seven mules and ate them.
Then they killed the two Indian boys and ate them! Said Sutter, referring to the circum- stance afterward, with much feeling: "They ate my Indian boys all up!"
During the war between the United States and Mexico, Sutter was a Mexican citizen, and the representative of the Mexican government on the frontier; but his sympathies were natu- rally with the United States. Whenever any party of American citizens, civil or military, visited him, his unbounded hospitalities were uniformly and cordially extended to them. When the country surrendered to the United States forces, with joy he raised the American flag, July 10, 1846, and fired a salute from the guns of his fort. In 1849 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention; at the first State election was a candidate for Governor, and was afterward a Brigadier-General in the State Inilitia.
But the day on which gold was discovered was an evil one for him. Ilis mechanics and laborers deserted him, even the Kanakas and Indians. He could not hire laborers to plant or harvest his crops. Neither could he run his mills. For a time after the immense flood of immigration poured in, his rights were re- spected; but it was not for long. When men found that money conld be made in other ways than by mining, many forcibly entered upon his lands and cut his wood, under the plea that they were vacant and unappropriated lands of the United States. By the 1st of January, 1852, the settlers had occupied his lands capable of settlement or appropriation, and others had stolen all his horses, mules, cattle, sheep and hogs, save a small portion used and sold by him- self. One party of five, during the high waters of 1849-'50, when his cattle were partly sur- rounded by water near the Sacramento River, killed and sold enough to amount to $60,000.
Sutter, broken in purse, disheartened, robbed and powerless to help himself, removed to Sut- ter County and took up his residence at Hock Farm, then a beautiful piece of property, but now a waste of sand and debris, never having
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recovered from the devastation of the floods of 1862. For some years he led the quiet life of a farmer there, but afterward was a continual haunter of Congress at Washington, where he sought to obtain redress from the General Gov- ernment for the barefaced robberies that had been practiced upon him. In 1873 he removed to Litiz, Pennsylvania, and on the 18th day of June, 1880, died at Washington, District of Columbia.
Sutter was a generous man. His manners were polished, and the impression he made on every one was favorable. In figure he was of medium height, rather stout but well made. Ilis head was round, features regular, with smiling and agreeable expression, while his complexion was healthy and roseate. He wore his hair cut close, and his moustache trimmed short a la militaire. He dressed very neatly in frock coat, pantaloons and cape of blue.
Such was the man to whom California owes so much, and upon whom she bestowed so little.
Captain John C. Fremont, the " Pathfinder," arrived in this country in March, 1844, and in his narrative thus describes the situation of Sutter and his fort:
"Captain Sutter immigrated to this country from the western part of Missouri, in 1838-'39, and formed the first settlement in the valley, on a large grant of land which he obtained from the Mexican Government. lle had at first some trouble with the Indians; but by the occasional exercise of well-timed authority, he has suc- ceeded in converting them into a peaceful and industrious people. The ditches around his ex- tensive wheat fields; the making of the sun- dried bricks of which his fort is constructed; the plowing, harrowing and other agricultural operations, are entirely the work of these In- dians, for which they receive a very moderate compensation-principally in shirts, blankets and other articles of clothing. In the same manner, on application to the chief of the vil- lage, he readily obtains as many boys and girls as he has any use for. There were at this time
a number of girls at the fort, in training for a future woolen factory; but they were now all busily engaged in constantly watering the gar- dens. Mr. Sutter was about making arrange- ments to irrigate his lands by means of the American River. He had this year sown, and altogether by Indian labor, 300 bushels of wheat.
"A few years since, the neighboring Russian establishment of Ross, being about to withdraw from the country, sold to him a large number of stock, with agricultural and other stores, with a number of pieces of artillery and other munitions of war; for these, a regular yearly payment is made in grain.
"The fort is a quadrangular adobe structure, mounting twelve pieces of artillery (two of them brass), and capable of admitting a garrison of 1,000 men; this at present consists of forty Indians, in uniform: one of whom is always found on duty at the gate. As might be ex- pected, the pieces are not in very good order. The whites in the employ of Captain Sutter, American, French and German, number thirty men. The inner wall is formed into buildings comprising the common quarters, with black- smith and other work-shops, the dwelling- honses with a large distillery house, and other buildings occupying more the center of the area.
" It is built upon a pond-like stream, at times a running creek, communicating with the American River, which enters the Sacramento about two miles below. The latter is here a noble river, about 300 yards broad, deep and tranquil, with several fathoms of water in the channel, and its banks continuously timbered. There were two vessels belonging to Captain Sutter at anchor near the landing-one a large two- masted lighter, and the other a schooner, which was shortly to proceed on a voyage to Fort Vancouver for a cargo of goods."
Nothing now remains of the fort excepting the main two-story building, which is still un- protected against the ravages of the elements and the vandalism of reckless boys. The south-
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ern end was many years ago replaced with fire. burned brick, and a new roof of shingles has supplanted the primitive Mexican tiling. The property is owned by a gentleman in the East.
OTHER NOTED MEN.
Samuel Brannan, Mormon elder and chief of the colony sent from New York on the ship Brooklyn, arrived in California in 1846. He was born in Saco, Maine, in 1819; learned the printers' trade in Ohio from 1833; from 1842 published the New York Messenger and later the Prophet, as organs of the Mormon church; and on coming to California it was evidently his intention to build up his own fortune with those of his church. Being displeased with Brigham Young's change of plans respecting California, his religions fervor gradually cooled down until he became an apostate; meanwhile he published the Star at San Francisco, preached eloquently on Sundays, bought town lots, participated in political controversies, worked zealously for the town's educational and other interests, always aggressive but liberal in his views, showing no signs of sectarianism.
In 1847 he established the firm of C. C. Smith & Co. at Sacramento, later Brannan & Co., in which Mellus & Howard and Wm. Stout were partners. The immense profits of his store after the discovery of gold, in connection with his mining operations at Mormon Island, and the rise of San Francisco real estate, inade him a little later the richest man in California. As a capitalist and speculator his operations were very extensive, and he did more for San Fran- cisco than scores of other capitalists who have lived here. In 1859 he purchased the Calistoga estate, which he vastly improved, establishing thereon also an immense distillery; and here, in 1868, he received eight bullets, and nearly lost his life in a quarrel for the possession of a mill. Meanwhile he had given himself up to strong drink; for twenty years or more he was rarely sober after noon, and he became as well- known for his dissolute habits and drunken
freaks as he had been for his wealth and ability. Domestic tronbles led to divorce from his wife, whom he had married in 1844. Division of the estate was followed by unlucky speculations, and Brannan's vast wealth gradually melted away. He afterward supported the cause of Mexico against Maximilian, obtained a grant of lands in Sonora, and was at last accounts living at Guaymas in that country.
Samnel J. Hensley, a native of Kentucky, came overland in the Chiles-Walker party in 1843, having been for some years a trapper in New Mexico. The next year he was naturalized and obtained a grant of the Agua de Nieves rancho, and entered Sutter's service as super- cargo of his launch; while there he also signed the order for Weber's arrest, and during the Micheltorena campaign he served as com- missary in Sutter's army. Returning to the north, he took charge of Hock farm and attended to Sntter's general business. In 1846 he was prominent in fomenting the Bear revolt; was captain, and later major, of the California Bat- talion in the south; went East with Stockton in 1847 and testified in the Fremont conrt-martial; returning to California he mined a short time and then opened a store in Sacramento, in partnership with Reading. From 1850 he engaged in the navigation of the Sacramento River, and a little later was one of the founders of the California Steam Navigation Company, of which he became president. His residence for many years was at San Jose, and he died at Warm Springs, Alameda County, in 1866, at the age of forty-nine years.
Wm. A. Leidesdorff, a native of the Danish West Indies, came to the United States when a boy and to California in 1841; entered business on a large scale in San Francisco, and after naturalization obtained a grant of the American River ranch, in what is now Sacramento County. In 1847 he launched the first steamer on San Francisco Bay. Also hield local political offices in San Francisco. He was an intelligent man of tair education, speaking several languages, enterprising and public-spirited, but quick-
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tempered. He died in May, 1848, at the age of thirty-eight years.
William Daylor, an English sailor, is said to have left his vessel in 1835. He entered Sutter's service in 1840-'41, and about 1844 settled on the Cosumnes River with Sheldon, his brother- in-law, in Sacramento County. General Kearny camped upon his rancho in 1847. He died in 1850 of cholera. He had in 1847 married Sarah Rhoads, who after his death married, in 1851, Wm. R. Grimshaw.
Joseph Libbey Folsom, a native of New Hampshire, graduated at West Point in 1840, and later was instructor in that institution; came to California as captain in the United States army, and assistant quartermaster in the New York Volunteer Regiment, and was chief of the quartermaster department station at San Francisco, being also collector of the port 1847- '49. He invested all the money he could raise in town lots, which in a few years made him a rich man. During a trip to the East in 1849 he was smart and lucky enough to find the heirs of Wm. A. Leidesdorff, and buy of them for a trifle their immense Leidesdorff estate in. San Francisco. He thus became one of the wealthiest men in California. Among his possessions was the American River rancho, on which the town of Folsom now stands; and there is also a street in San Francisco named after him. His reputa- tion is that of a most enterprising man of busi- ness, an honorable gentleman of superior eduea- tion and refinement, but somewhat haughty and formal in manner. He died at Mission San Jose, in 1855, at the age of only thirty eight years.
Lonis Keseburg, who was forced to subsist upon human flesh longer than any other member of the Donner party, was supereargo for Sutter in 1847 and later for Vallejo at Sonoma; was in the mines in 1848-'49, kept boarding house and hotel at Sacramento, and was later a brewer at Calistoga and Sacramento. He made and lost several fortunes, the losses being mostly by fire and flood. lle was an intelligent man, able in business, and in 1880 was living at Brighton, aged sixty-six, in extreme poverty.
Sebastian Keyser, a native of the Austrian Tyrol, was a trapper who came overland with Sutter to Oregon in 1838, and afterward joined him at New Helvetia. He was naturalized in 1844 and obtained a grant of the Llano Seco rancho. Married Elizabeth Rhoads, who soon left him, but afterward returned to him. In 1849 he sold his interest in the rancho, and subsequently resided ou the Daylor place, run- ning a ferry across the Cosumnes for Daylor & Grimshaw, by the sinking of which craft he was drowned in 1850.
James King of William assumed the affix "of William " at the age of sixteen, from his father's given name, to distinguish him from others named James King. He was a native of Georgetown, District of Columbia, and came to California in 1848, made some money in the mines, elerked for Reading & Co. at Sacramento, and in 1849 opened a bank in San Francisco; 1854-'55 he was employed by Adams & Co .; in October, 1855, he founded the San Francisco Bulletin, through which he attacked local corrup- tion in violent terms, but was apparently honest in his sentiments. He was shot in May, 1856, by James P. Casey, and his murder led to the organization of the famous Vigilance Commitee. He left a widow and six children.
FOUNDING OF SACRAMENTO CITY.
The city of Sacramento is located on the east bank of the Sacramento River, immediately below the month of the American River. The first settlement was made by John A. Sutter, in 1839, and long before there was any thought of establishing a city. The news of the gold discovery attracted to Sutter's Fort a large immigration from all portions of the civilized world, and this point, being practically the head of inland navigation, became the first nucleus of a settlement. At first a town of canvas tents was established, and afterward the city was regularly laid out, the survey being made in December, 1848, by Captain William H. Warner, of the United States army, assisted by W. T. Sherman, now General.
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In 1844, however, an effort was made, under the patronage of Sutter and others, to lay out and build a town at a point three miles below the site of Sacramento City. A survey was made and a village commenced. The first house was erected by Sutter, the second by one Hadel, and the third by George Zins. The last men- tioned was a brick building, and the first of the kind erected in California. Zins afterward manufactured the bricks, in Sacramento, which were used in the first brick buildings erected in this city. He stamped each brick with his initials, and one of them is now preserved in the Crocker Art Gallery Museum of the city, and one in the Museum of the Pioneer Associa- tion. For a time, "Sutterville," as it was called, in honor of its projector, flourished; but after the gold discovery the population centered at Sacramento, or the " Embarcadero," the Spanish name.
At the time of, or shortly after, the discovery of gold, quite a number of stores were estab- lished at the fort; and indeed that was the practical business center in this portion of the territory. The first store, an adobe building, was that of C. C. Smith & Co., Samnel Brannan being the "Co." This was started two months prior to the opening of the mines, and across its counters were made the first exchanges of American goods for California gold. Brannan subsequently became the sole proprietor. Hens- ley & Reading had a store afterward in the fort, and one of the clerks was James King of Wil- liam, just mentioned.
When the city of Sacramento was established Sutter owned its site. After the discovery of gold and the laying out of the city, Sutter con- veyed his entire interest in the plat to his son; and on December 30, 1849, Sutter, Jr., em- ployed Peter H. Burnett-afterward governor- as his lawyer to manage his newly acquired interests. Conveyances were made by Sutter and his son, which resulted in a confusion of titles that were not adjusted until after many years of litigation.
After the establishment of Sacrmento there
was a steady improvement of the town. From a village of canvas tents it grew to be one of wood and brick structures, and the town of Sut- terville soon had an existence only on paper. After the flood of 1861-'62, an effort was made to revive the town of Sutterville, but it again failed.
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