USA > California > Los Angeles County > An historical sketch of Los Angeles county, California. From the Spanish occupancy, by the founding of the mission San Gabriel Archangel, September 8, 1771, to July 4, 1876 > Part 3
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Colonel Fremont had with him when he reached San Fernando, on the 11th of January, Jose Jesus Pico, a native Californian, a resident of San Luis Obispo, a man of some prominence among his fellow countrymen, and who had been captured as a spy and brought into San Luis Obispo by Colo -. nel Fremont's command, where he was tried and sentenced, by a court-mar- tial, to be executed. The sentence was, however, remitted by Colonel Fre- mont, and from that time onward Mr. Pico ever manifested a sincere desire to advance the interests of Colonel Fremont.
The day after Commodore Stockton left San Diego, on his march upon Los Angeles, he sent a bearer of dispatches to Colonel Fremont, informing him of his departure, accompanied by General Kearney, from San Diego. for Los Angeles. The bearer of these dispatches left San Diego by water, and landing at San Buenaventura, overtook Fremont and delivered to him Commodore Stockton's dispatches before he entered San Fernando.
On the night of the 11th, at about midnight, Jose Jesus Pico came into the camp of the Californians, at San Pasqual, and gave them the informa- tion that Colonel Fremont had reached San Fernando, and he urged their leaders to open communications and enter into negotiations with Colonel Fremont, instead of attempting to negotiate with Commodore Stockton.
General Andres Pico, who succeeded to the command upon the depart- ure of Flores, instructed Francisco Rico and Francisco de la Guerra to accompany Jose Jesus Pico on his return to San Fernando that same night, and to have an interview with Colonel Fremont and learn from him his views respecting negotiations. After having met Colonel Fremont at San Fernando, Messrs. Rico and De la Guerra returned to San Pasqual early in the morning of the 12th. Immediately after their return to the camp, Don Jose Antonio Carrillo and Don Agustin Olvera were appointed and commissioned by General Pico, to meet and negotiate terms of capitulation with commis- sioners to be appointed by Colonel Fremont. General Pico immediately broke up his camp at San Pasqual, and with his entire command accompa- nied his commissioners to Providencia. Colonel Fremont with his com- mand, also left San Fernando on the morning of the 12th, and marched to Cahuenga, some four or five miles from Providencia. An interview took place between Colonel Fremont and some two or three of the leading men of General Pico's party, on the road, about midway between San Fernando. and Cahuenga. The commissioners which had been named by General Pico met the commissioners appointed by Colonel Fremont, at Cahuenga, soon after the arrival of Colonel Fremont at the latter place, when the treaty was
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drawn up and signed by the commissioners, and was then ratified by General Pico and Colonel Fremont, and exchanged on the 13th.
It can hardly be presumed that Colonel Fremont, was ignorant at the time he entered into negotiations with the Californians, that Commodore Stockton and General Kearny had taken possession of Los Angeles, and that he could have opened communications with them had he been so inclined.
Commodore Stockton, while on the march upon Los Angeles from San Diego, had been met at San Juan Capistrano by William Workman and Charles Fluggec, the first a native of England, the second of Germany, both old and prominent residents of Los Angeles, who had been sent by General Flores to obtain from Commodore Stockton the terms upon which he would receive the submission of the insurgent forces. They were told by Commo- dore Stockton, that he would guarrantee the lives and property of all others who had taken part in the insurrection, only upon the unconditional surren- der to him of the person of General Flores. To these terms neither the com- missioners or any of the Californians were prepared to accede.
It is apparent that the Californians had good cause to urge them into negotiations with Colonel Fremont, or any other person who could guar- antee them more honorable terms than the unconditional surrender of their commanding officer. But the motive which induced Colonel Fremont to seek for the Californians, and open negotiations with them, instead of attempting to open communications with Stockton and Kearny, must be left to conjecture.
During the time of the insurrection there had been an extra session of the Mexican Territorial Legislature, at Los Angeles City. Commodore Stockton knowing this fact, and wishing to open communications with some person, or some recognized body that had exercised executive or legislative authority during the insurrection, and unable to find any executive or mili- tary officer with whom to treat, did, on the second day after his entrance into the city, send safe conducts to such of the members of the legislative body as he could learn were in the neighborhood, and invited them to repair to Los Angeles and enter into negotiations. He did not meet with success in this attempt. The whereabouts of some of the members could not be found and others declined the invitation.
The arrival of General Fremont on the 14th, and the promulgation of the fact that he had made a treaty with General Pico, caused considerable discussion between Stockton, Kearny and Fremont. Neither Stockton or Kearny was disposed to recognize the treaty made by Fremont as binding on them. Matters continued in an unsatisfactory condition until the 16th, when an additional article having been added to the treaty by the commis- sioners, and ratified by Colonel Fremont and General Pico, who, in the mean time, had come into the city, the treaty was accepted by Commodore Stockton as the basis for the pacification of the country.
The occupation of Los Angeles by the Americans in the month of August, 1846, was, like that of the whole Territory of Upper California in that and the preceeding month, accomplished without bloodshed or the firing of a gun. The discontent, which was manifested by the inhabitants of Span- ish ancestry, and which, in September, culminated in an insurrection which regained possession of all that part of California south and east of Monterey, was caused by the ill-advised acts of some of the American officers left in charge of the little garrisons stationed at the principal centres of population.
In Los Angeles, the officer in command, Lieutenant Gillespie, of the Marine Corps, with numerically an insignificant and undisciplined military force, attempted by a coercive system to effect a moral and social change in the habits, diversions and pastimes of the people, and reduce them to his standard of propriety. The result of this injudicious effort was the rebellion of the inhabitants. The revolt inaugurated in this city immediately spread throughout the country as far north as Monterey.
There was but little or no intercourse between the people of California and those of other nations, or even with those of other parts of New Spain, for the first fifty years after the planting of the missions. Although the mis- sionaries and the military officers were in correspondence with their supe- riors at the cities of Mexico and Chihuahua, this correspondence was not only
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infrequent but irregular, and was chiefly transmitted by vessels between San Blas and California, the passages of which occupied a long time and were far apart.
Between 1820 and 1825 foreign vessels began to call at and to trade in the ports of California. Most of these foreign vessels were American, but they gave to the world but little knowledge of California.
After the Independence of Mexico, and the opening of its ports to for- eign trade, the port of San Pedro was one of the chief points on the Coast of California for the shipping of the products of the country, and for the landing of goods, wares and merchandise from abroad. The three missions in this county, and the owners of stock-farms, and the inhabitants of Los Angeles disposed of their products, chiefly hides and tallow, on board of for- eign merchant vessels at the anchorage of San Pedro, taking imported pro- ducts and manufactures in payment.
Between the people of Sonora, or of New Mexico, and those of Califor- nia, there was comparatively no intercourse until about 1830. The inter- course between those places and California, which commenced about that time, was mainly brought about through the enterprise of American trap- pers or beaver hunters.
Jedediah S. Smith, of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, and a leader of trapping parties, came into California with a party of trappers from the Yellowstone River in 1825, and again in 1826. Through him and his men, others engaged in trapping beaver in the Rocky Mountains, learned some- thing of California. In 1828-9 Ewing Young, of Tennessee, who had for some seasons been engaged in trapping beaver in and north of New Mexico, made a hunt in the Tulare Valley and on the waters of the San Joaquin. He had in his party some natives of New Mexico. He passed through Los Angeles on his way back from his hunting fields to New Mexico. His men, on their return to New Mexico, in the Summer of 1830, spread their reports of California,over the northern part of that Territory. In 1830 William Wolfskill, a native of Kentucky but from Missouri, fitted out, in conjunction with Mr. Young, a trapping party at Taos, New Mexico, to hunt the waters of the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. Failing, in the winter of 1830-31, to get over the mountains between Virgin River and those rivers discharging into the Bay of San Francisco, and his men becoming demoralized and impatient from their sufferings of cold, he changed his line of travel and came with his party into Los Angeles in February, 1831. With Mr. Wolfskill's party there were a number of New Mexicans, some of whom had taken serapes and fresa- das (woolen blankets) with them for the purpose of trading them to the Indi- ans in exchange for beaver skins. On their arrival in California they advan- tageously disposed of their blankets to the rancheros in exchange for mules .. These New Mexicans mostly returned to Santa Fe in the summer of 1831, with the mules they had obtained in California. The appearance of these mules in New Mexico, owing to their large size, compared with those at that time used in the Missouri and Santa Fe trade, and their very fine form, as well as the price at which they had been bought in barter for blankets, caused quite a sensation in New Mexico, out of which sprang up a trade, carried on by means of caravans or pack animals, between the two sections of the same country which flourished for some ten or twelve years. These caravans reached California yearly during the before mentioned time. They brought the woolen fabrics of New Mexico, and carried back mules, and silk, and other Chinese goods.
Los Angeles was the central point in California of this New Mexican trade. Coming by the northern or Green and Virgin River routes, the cara- vans came through the Cajon Pass and reached Los Angeles. From thence they scattered themselves over the country from San Diego to San Jose, and across the Bay to Sonoma and San Rafael. Having bartered and disposed of the goods brought, and procured such as they wished to carry back, and what mules they could drive, they concentrated at Los Angeles for their yearly return.
Between 1831 and 1844 a considerable number of native New Mexicans and some foreign residents of that Territory, came through with the trading
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY.
caravans, in search of homes in this country. Some of them became per- manent citizens, or residents, of this county. Julian Chaves, of this city, and who has served many terms as County Supervisor or Common Council- man of the city, was among the first immigrants. The Martinezes, of San Jose, and the Trujillos, and others, were also among these immigrants. Of foreigners, who were residents of New Mexico, and came during this period and located in this county, were John Rowland, William Workman, John Reed, all of whom are dead, and the Hon. B. D. Wilson, and David W. Alexander, heretofore and now the Sheriff of this county. Doctor John Marsh also came to California in company with these traders, and after resi- ding in Los Angeles some years, he located near Mount Diablo, where he continued to live until he was murdered.
Other parties of Americans found their way from New Mexico to Cali- fornia at different times in the third and fourth decades of this century, numbers of whom became permanent residents of Los Angeles.
Richard Laughlin and Nathaniel Pryor, both of whom died in Los Angeles, and. Jesse Ferguson, who lived here many years, came from New Mexico, by the way of the Gila River, in 1828. In 1831 a Mr. Jackson who had been one of the firm of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, and a part- ner of Jedediah S. Smith, came to Los Angeles from Santa Fe for the pur- pose of buying mules for the Louisiana market. He returned to New Mex- ico with the mules he purchased. With him came J. J. Warner, who remained in this place. A Mr. Bowman, known here as Joaquin Bowman, was one of J. S. Smith's men, He died at San Gabriel, after having been the miller at the Mission Mill for many years.
In the winter of 1832-3 a small party of Americans from New Mexico came over the Gila River route into Los Angeles. In this small party came Joseph Paulding, who, in 1833 and 1834, made the first two billiard tables of mahogony wood made in California. The first was made for George Rice, and the second for John Rhea, both Americans. Mr. Rice came to Califor- nia about 1827, from the Sandwich Islands. Mr. Rhea was from North Car- olina, and came with Mr. Wolfskill. Lemuel Carpenter, of Missouri, was also of this party, and established a soap manufactory on the right bank of the San Gabriel River, not far from the present road to Los Nietos. Subse- quently he became the proprietor of the Santa Gertrudes Ranch, where he died. Wm. Chard was also of this party. After residing in this city some years and planting a vineyard, he removed to the Sacramento Valley. A. Mr. Sill, who also settled in the Sacramento Valley, was of this party.
Ewing Young came into Los Angeles from New Mexico, in March, 1832, with a trapping party of about thirty men. On this occasion he came down the Gila River. With him in this party came a number of men who took up their residence in California; of which number Isaac Williams was a proni- nent citizen of Los Angeles City for about ten years, when he established himself at the Chino Ranch as a farmer and stock-breeder, and was the pro- prietor of and resident upon that ranch at the time of the capture there of B. D. Wilson and party, as heretofore related. He continued to reside there until his death in September, 1856. Moses Carson, a brother of the renowned Kit Carson, came with Young at this time. After residing here a number of years, he removed to Russian River in this State.
The town of Los Angeles, from its settlement onward, for more than fifty years, had a population greater than any other of the towns of Califor- nia. The first census, of which there are any records, was taken in 1836, and the sum total of inhabitants of the city and country, over which the authori- ties of the city exercised jurisdiction, which country included the whole of the present County of Los Angeles, except San Juan Capistrano, which at that time was attached to the district of San Diego, was two thousand two hundred and twenty-eight. Of this number five hundred and fifty-thice were domesticated Indians.
This census gives the number of forty-six of the residents of Los Ange- les as foreigners, and of these twenty-one are classed as AAmericans.
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Knowing that the following letters were in the archives of the Society of California Pioneers, and desirous that the evidence of the discovery and working of gold placeres in this county might be incorporated into this sketch, a request was made to the Secretary of that Society for copies of the letters. Owing to unavoidable delay in their arrival, we were under the necessity of preparing that part of this sketch from the personal recollection of one of the writers, and such other evidence as could be obtained from witnesses still living.
After the preceding pages were printed, copies of the letters were re- ceived. A discrepancy in the date of the discovery as related by Mr. Stearns and that given in these pages will be observed. We believe, however, that the date given by us is the correct one, as, among the many authorities for that date is Don Ygnacio del Valle of Camulos, an intelligent and educated gentleman, a man of careful habits, and whose practice has been to make and preserve notes of the events of his life. In the year of the discovery of these gold fields Mr. Valle was appointed an auxiliary Alcalde, expressly for that mining district, and is less likely to be mistaken than Mr. Stearns when writing upon the subject after a lapse of twenty-five years, and who being a merchant at that time, would upon referring to his books, be more likely to find the date of the purchase of the gold, than that of the discovery of the gold fields.
The letters are given in full, as the one from Mr. Robinson vividly por- trays the secluded state of California at that time.
Los ANGELES, July 8th, 1867.
Louis R. Lull, Esq., Secretary of the Society of Pioneers, San Francisco.
SIR :- On my arrival here from San Francisco, some days since, I re- ceived your letter of June 3d last past, requesting the certificate of assay of gold sent by me to the Mint at Philadelphia in 1842. I find by referring to inty old account books that November 22d, 1842, I sent by Alfred Robinson, Esq., ( who returned from California to the States by the way of Mexico,) twenty ounces California weight (183 ounces Mint weight) of placer gold, to be forwarded by him to the U. S. Mint at Philadelphia for assay.
In his letter to me, dated August 6th, 1843, you will find a copy from the Mint assay of the gold, which letter I herewith enclose to you to be placed in the archives of the Society.
The placer mines from which this gold was taken were first discovered by Francisco Lopez, a native of California, in the month of March, 1843, at a place called San Francisquito, about thirty-five miles north-west from this. city ( Los Angeles.)
The circumstances of the discovery by Lopez, as related by him, are as follows: Lopez, with a companion, was out in search of some stray horses, and about midday they stopped under some trees and tied their horses out to feed, they resting under the shade; when Lopez with his sheatlı knife dug up some wild onions, and in the dirt discovered a piece of gold, and search- ing further found some more. He brought these to town, and showed them to his friends, who at once declared there must be a placer of gold. This news being circulated, numbers of the citizens went to the place and com- mneneed prospecting in the neighborhood, and found it to be a fact that there was a placer of gold. After being satisfied most persons returned; some re- mained, particularly Sonorenses (Sonorians), who were accustomed to work in placers. They met with good success.
From this time the placers were worked with more or less success, and principally by Sonorenses (Sonorians), until the latter part of 1846, when most of the Sonorenses left with Captain Flores for Sonora.
While worked there was some six or eight thousand dollars taken out per annum.
Very respectfully, yours, ABEL STEARNS.
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NEW YORK, August 6th, 1843.
My Dear D. Abel :- I embrace this opportunity of the sailing of a ship from Boston to address you a few lines, and therein to inform you of the re- sult of your shipment of gold, which is as follows, as per statement from the Mint at Philadelphia :
"Memorandum of gold bullion deposited the 8th day of July, 1843, at the mint of the United States at Philadelphia, by Grant & Stone, of weight and value as follows:
"Before melting, 18 34-100 oz .; after melting, 18 1-100 oz .; fineness, 926-1,000; valne, $344 75; deduet expenses, sending to Philadelphia and agency there, $4 02; net, $340 73.
I called upon your brother immediately on my arrival here, and stated to him that I should be prepared to deliver him, on your account, $200, as soon as I had disposed of some gold I had in my possession, belonging to you, and accordingly as soon as realized, I paid over the amount, for which I have a receipt. I have making, and intend to send by this conveyance, the boots you ordered, and the remainder you will receive by a vessel whieli we contemplate sending this fall. Perhaps I may send the jewelry for Dona Arcadia, but the clothing I must defer, as my wife cannot at present attend to the purchasing of it, being rather unwell.
How pleased you would be to make a visit to your native country-your home! What a change you would find-what improvements !
You will be enabled to come via Panama, or rather, I should say, per Canal. The Messrs. Baring & Co., of London, have made a contract with the "Central Government," and in all probability the contract will be fin- ished in five years; so at last the long talked of route through the isthmus will finally be accomplished.
Mexico is still in an unsettled state, and Santa Ana is, to all intents and purposes, Dictator. All and everything is done that he orders, and, in fact, his will is law. I did not see him when I was there, he being so ill-hu- mored that he refused to see any one. The foreign Ministers all had been trying for several days to get at him, but to no purpose. The cause of his wish to be alone was the chagrin he felt at his unsuccessful attempt to sub- due the Yucatanos.
Texas still holds out, and there is a rumor of a negotiation under way between Santa Ana and Houston, relative to a peace between the two countries.
In Spain there is another revolution against the Regent. Espartero has met with great reverses. This country seems doomed to civil discord and strife.
Ireland, also, is in agitation, and England has been pouring in troops by thousands through fear of a revolt.
The Liberals of England have had sympathetic meetings in favor of the repealers. They seem to think that by placing the Irish on an equality with the English, by giving them equal rights, the Irish will be satisfied. O'Connell, by his harangues, is working them up to a determination; and Ireland shall be a Nation.
You will see by the papers that we have had a change in the Cabinet at Washington. Webster retired and Lagare died.
I informed your brother of this opportunity to write, and he said that he was going a journey-that, if he got back in time, he would make you up a bundle.
Remember me kindly to your wife, to Isadora, Don. Juan and lady, and to all our numerous friends in Los Angeles, and believe me, your friend, ROBINSON.
I send you six pairs of boots, each $1 50-$27-which have been made from the best of stock.
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CHAPTER II.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY FROM 1847 TO 1867.
HE YEAR 1847 hails the dawn of a New Era for California. At the close of January, the authority of the United States was established throughout this territory. The principal incidents of the reoccupation of the City of Los Angeles are related in the unpublished Journal of Dr. John S. Griffin, Assistant Sur- geon, U. S. A., attached to the command of General Stephen W. Kearny.
Commodore Stockton and General Kearny took up the line of march from San Diego on the 29th day of December, 1846. The brave little army of six hundred men, was composed of crews of the frigate Congress and sloops of war Portsmouth and Cyane, Company C, First Dragoons of Gen. Kearny, and volunteers, together with thirty native Californians, who were under Captain Santiago E. Arguello. January seventh they encamped at the Rancho of Los Coyotes, about eighteen miles from Los Angeles. For the sequel, we follow the Journal :
January 8th .- We left camp early. It was reported that the enemy would certainly give us a brush, as he had crossed the River San Gabriel in force, with three pieces of artillery. His scouts were hovering around all day. About two and a half P. M. we arrived at an Indian village near the River San Gabriel. There were more scouts. We formed in line of battle. The volunteer riflemen led as scouts; then the dragoons, Cyane's musketeers, four pieces of artillery, marines and sailors; baggage in the centre; cattle and rear guard, with two pieces of artillery. Proceeding thus, the enemy appeared in full force. A hundred or more crossed, threatening our advance, but soon retired and took post on the opposite side. Their grape fell short. Steadily we advanced-the dragoons and Cyane's marines supporting two guns in front; two large guns followed, supported by marines and crew of the Congress. In this shape we took the river, ran off the enemy, and made a lodgment under the first bank,
Our shots here dismounted one or two of their guns-one of these effective shots was aimed and fired by the Commodore. At once we made a rush for the second bank, over a plain of nearly three hundred yards (as I judged) in breadth, between the two points. Across this the charge was made under full fire. When about half way, a charge was threatened; the sailors threw themselves into square, and, with the greatest ease, drove off the enemy. Our charge pressed on and gained the height, many of our men not firing a gun. The Mexicans ran clearly off the field. We had one man killed, eight wounded in the fight, and another by the accidental discharge of a musket. We lost twenty-one horses, of the volunteers, which they had tied up before going into action, and forgot until too late.
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