History of California, Volume IV, Part 76

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 820

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Larkin (Thomas Oliver), 1832, nat. of Mass., b. at Charlestown in 1802, in business at Wilmington, N.C., from '21 to '30, and in '31 accepting an invita- tion from Capt. Cooper, his half-brother, to join him at Monterey. His mother was then married to a 3d husband, Mr Childs. L.'s passport from the gov. of Mass. is dated Sept. 2, '31, and he came on the Newcastle via Honolulu, ar- riving in April '32. iii. 364, 408. In '32 he was employed by Cooper as clerk, or accountant; in Feb .- Sept. '33 he did a small commission business, and then with a capital of $500 he opened a little store at Mont. for the sale of groceries, grog, produce, and dry goods, starting a flour-mill the next year, and dealing to a considerable extent in Inmber. In '33 he was also married on board the Volunteer at Sta B., by Consul Jones of Honolulu, to Mrs Rachel Holuies, née Hobson, his fellow-passenger on the Newcastle, who had come to join her husband, Capt. John C. Holmes, but on arrival had found herself a widow. iii. 365, 408, 652. She was the Ist Amer. woman to live in Cal., and her son Thomas O., born in April'34, was the Ist child born of Amer. parents in Cal. Having the proverbial Yankee shrewdness in trade, with no incon- venicnt veneration for the revenue laws, Larkin prospered from the first. In his ledgers he has left careful memoranda of his wealth on Jan. Ist of each year as follows: '35, $2,650; '36, 84,768; '37, 85,626 (chiefly in house and mill, for he had spent all his money on the house and had no goods); '38, $11,013; '39, $13,788; '40, $15,893; '41, 821,403; '42, 837,958; '43, $19,147; '44, $46,- 505; '45, $60,175; '46, $06,644. He did not seek to become a Mex. citizen, but in '36 obtained a carta, which was renewed from year to year. He took no part openly in politics, but quietly supported Alvarado's movement in '36. iii. 461; iv. 141. I have much of his business corresp. from the first. In '39 he made a special effort to induce whalers to touch at Mont. iv. 92. In '40 he did all that he could for the comfort of the arrested foreigners, but because he did not join in the loud protests aud absurd threats of Graham and his gang he was the subject of some unfavorable criticism at the time and later. iv. 8, 9, 24, 32-3. He visited Mex. in '40-) on business. iv. 102, 207; on his return took a contract to build the Mont. custom-house; and in '42 did good service in maintaining friendly relations between Com. Jones and the Californians. iv. 307, 310, 329. The same year he established a branch store at Sta Cruz in charge of Josiah Belden; but an incendiary fire destroying $6,000 worth of lumber iu '43 made this part of his business unprofitable. In '43-4 he had somewhat inti- mate business relations with Gov. Micheltorena, making loans to the govt, and doubtless was induced by personal interests to look with too much favor on the cholo cause, making also another visit to Mex. on govt business, and bringing back the small-pox, among other results. iv. 364, 366, 401-3, 405, 473, 478-9, 558-9, 563, 631. On his return he assumed the position of U.S. consul at Mont., his appointment having been made at Wash. in '43 and re- newed in '44, and from the first was active in sending accurate information to his govt respecting Cal. affairs, as well as in the routine duties of his office. iv. 385, 408, 428, 430, 450, 454, 561, 589-98. Larkin's closeness in money matters, in contrast with the reckless prodigality affected by many, prevented his ever reaching iu a certain sense the highest popularity, but he was always respected by the better classes of natives and foreigners as a man of honora- ble conduct, of sound judgment, and of conservative though not selfish views on general topics, He was a man of slight education, but of much tact and practical good sense. Duly devoted to the interests of his govt and of the Amer. immigrants, he had no sympathy with filibusterism, and did not ignore the rights and prejudices of the Californians. He fully believed that, either in

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LARKIN-LA ROCQUE.

the event of war with Mex. or by purchase, the people and local rulers might be induced voluntarily to transfer their allegiance to the U.S. At the end of 45 he was formally appointed a secret and confidential agent of the adminis- tration at Wash. to hring about this result; and from the beginning of '46, turning over his private business to Talbot H. Green, he worked earnestly, and as he believed with good prospects of success, to make friends for the U.S. and to counteract the effects of the few who favored an English protectorate. v. 4-28, 54-76, 109, 142, 219-20. Frémont's foolish bravado at Gavilan, and the still more foolish and criminal Bear revolt, were wellnigh fatal blows to his plans; but still he did not despair, and having used his influence with Com. Sloat successfully in favor of a conservative policy, v. 224-54, he went south with Stockton, hoping with the aid of his associate, Abel Stearns, to induce Castro and Pico, with the people of the south, to submit without re- sistance, artfully presenting to them the danger that the U.S. forces, in case the report of war should prove unfounded as in '42, would retire and leave Cal. at the mercy of the Bears. That Stockton took effective and dishonorable steps to prevent the success of these plans, fearing that the submission of the gov. and general would interfere with the immediate prospects of himself and his associate filibusters, is no discredit to Larkin, whose course through- out is worthy of all praise, his statesmanship being incomparably superior to that of the opera-bouffe 'conquerors' of Cal. v. 271-2, 281. Returning to Mont., L. was appointed acting U.S. naval agent, interesting himself also in the release of the Bears' captives at N. Helvetia. v. 281, 298-0, 304. In '45-6 he was a correspondent of the N. Y. Herald and Sun. In Nov., while on his way to visit a sick daughter at S.F., L. was captured by the Califor- nians under Manuel Castro, became a witness of the fight at Natividad, and was carried south to be retained as a captive till the end of the war. He was kindly treated, there being no ill-will toward him, and the intention being to utilize the possession of so prominent a man either in exchange or in making favorable terms of capitulation. v. 358, 364-5, 367-70, 402. Returning northi in '47, he served as naval store-keeper, and his appointment as naval agent was confirmed in Wash. v. 614. He was also a member of the legislative council which never met. v. 433. He took, however, but slight part in public affairs. v. 443, 448, 455, 571; being notified in June '48 that his functions as counsel and confidential agent terminated in May with the treaty of peace. He had become the owner of various S.F. lots, and in partnership with Sem- ple, the founder of Benicia in '47. v. 633, 600, 671-4. In '49 he was a member of the constit. convention, and his naval agency was discontinued by orders from Wash. In '50-3 he resided with his family in N. Y., but returned to S.F. and gave his attention to the care of his property. Though unable to sustain his title to a S.F. grant and the Sta Clara orchard, he was the successful claimant for the Flugge and Jimeno ranchos in the Sac. Val. v. 665-6, 670-1; and these, with his possessions in S.F., Mout., and Benicia, made him a very rich man. His sons had also been the grantees in '44 of a rancho in Colusa. iv. 671. Larkin died at S.F. in '58. He was a man to whom nothing like just credit has hitherto been given for his public services in '45-6. Portraits are given in Colton's Three Years in Cal., Annals of S.F., and there are photograplis in the library of the Soc. Cal. Pion. A street in S.F. bears his name. Mrs L. died in '73, at the age of 66. The children were Thos O. b. in '34; an infant son who died in '36; Fred. H. b. in '37, d. '69; Adelaide who died at S.F. in '46; Francis R. b. '40, d. '74; Alfred O. born in '48; and a daughter who married Sampson Tams. Thomas, Alfred, and Mrs Tams are still living, I think, in 'S5. The Larkin manuscripts furnished for my use as material for history by representatives of the family have been named in my list of au- thorities, with some comments, in i. 49-50. They constitute a most magnifi- cent and unequalled contribution to the history in which the father of the donors took so prominent and honorable a part. L. (Wm M.), 1843, on the roll of the Soc. Cal. Pion. iv. 400. Larragoyli (Rafael), 1822, mr of the S. F. de Paula. ii. 474. La Roche (Eugene), 1846, witness in the Santillan case '53, age 33. La Rocque (Geo.), 1848, Canadian miner from Or. on the

708

PIONEER REGISTER AND INDEX,

IIenry; went back in '49 to Or., where he died in '77, leaving a widow and 4 children. Laskey (Alex. B.), 1847, Co. D, N.Y.Vol. (v. 499); killed by Ind. '48.

Lassen (Peter), 1840, Danish blacksmith who came to Amer. in '19, to Or. overland in '39, and to Cal. by the Lausanne, landing at Bodega, and thence proceeding to Sutter's Fort, S.F., and S. José, where he worked at his trade though the winter of '40-1. iv. 117, 120-1, 136. In the spring of '41 he built a saw-mill near Sta Cruz, which he sold to Graham early in '43. Dr Sandels describes him this year as a travelling blacksmith and hunter between S.José and Sac .; he had a hut on the Cosumnes in Nov .; applied for naturaliza- tion, and selected a rancho. In '44 he got his papers and his land-grant of Bosquejo on Deer Cr., Tehama Co. iv. 670-1. His place is often mentioned in '45-6. iv. 229, 580; v. 22, 24-5, 102; he was with Gillespie and Frémont and probably one of the Bears in '46; but is said to have gone east in the Stockton party of '47, returning, prob. with Chiles, in '48; but I think there may be an error in this, and that L. went no farther east than Fort Hall, his mission being to divert immigration into the Lassen route to the upper Sac. Val. He was owner of a S.F. lot in '47. In '50 he sold half of his raneho and stock, engaging in unfortunate steamboat speculation at Sac. which soon ruined him financially. In '51 be settled in Indian Val., Plumas Co .; and in '55, as ininer and farmer in Honey Lake Val., Lassen Co. In '59, while on a prospecting tour in the region north of Pyramid Lake, he was killed by Ind., or possibly white man disguised as Ind., being then 59 years old. Portrait in Plumas, Lassen, and Sierra Co. Hist., 56. His memory is preserved in the name of Lassen peak and county.

Lasso de la Vega (Ramon), 1781, Mex. alférez of the S.F. comp., aud sometimes habilitado; retired on half pay in '94; later a teacher at S. José; died in 1821, at the age of 04. Biog. i. 470-1; ment. 340, 342-3, 385, 584, 642, 693, 716. Lasuen (Fermin Francisco), 1773, Span. friar who served as missionary, chiefly at S. Diego till 1785, when he was chosen president of the missions, a position held until his death at S. Carlos in 1803. In all the annals of the Fernandinos there is presented no more admirable character than that of Padre Fermin. Biog. ii. 8-10; ment. i. 122, 194-6, 248-9, 266-7, 300, 302-4, 316, 328, 388, 398-406, 417, 422-5, 432, 439, 441, 454-9, 469, 471, 474, 476, 489, 491-3, 498-9, 512-13, 522, 531, 537, 542, 544, 553-5, 557, 559-64, 568, 573-4, 576, 578-99, 600-23, 626, 655, 686, 689, 709-11, 727-8; ii. 3, 146, 159, 163, 378, 623.

Lataillade (Cesáreo), 1842, Span. of French descent, and member of a Mex. trading firm, who came as sup. of the Trinidad. iv. 341, 569. He became well known as a man of business, making Sta B. his home. From '46 he was vice- consul of Spain at Mont., being allowed to reside at Sta B. from '47, and be- ing the grantee of Cuyamas rancho in '46. iv. 590; v. 218, 615, 032. His name often appears in official commun. during the mil, régime of '47-8; he was men- tioned in connection with idle rumors of revolts. v. 586; and took a promi- nent part in arresting the murderers of the Reed family. v. 640. He acci- dentally shot and killed himself at Sta B. in '49. His wife was Maria Antonia de la Guerra, who was claimant for several ranchos, iii. 635; iv. 642, became the wife of Gaspar de Oreña, and is still living in 'S5. Latham, 1846, Cal. Bat. (v. 358). Lathrop (Geo. W.), 1847, Co. H, N. Y. Vol. (v. 499).

Lauber (Matthew), 1846, Co. C, Ist U.S. dragoons (v. 336). Lauff (Chas Angust), 1844, German sailor on the Whaler Warren, transferred to the Tasso, and making a trip to Callao with Capt. Cooper. iv. 453. In '45-6, he worked as a lumberman in Marin; in '46-7 served in the Cal. Bat., Co. B, artill. (v. 358); went to the mines in '48-9; and in '49 was pilot on the bay and S. Joaquin. From '50 he lived at different places in Marin Co., being in 'SO on a rancho near Bolinas, with wife-Maria J. Cibrian, daughter of Gre- gorio Briones, married in '62-and 9 children. Portrait in Maria Co. Hist., 64. Laughlin, 1827, see iii. 160. L. (James), 1848, nat. of S.C., who came from Or. to the mines; died in Stanislaus Co. '78. L. (Richard), 1828, Amer. trapper who came from N. Mex. with Pattie's party, with a passport dated

700

LAUGHLIN-LEAVENWORTH.

Paso del Norte, Apr. 18, 127. iii. 163, 178. He settled at Los Ang. as a carpen- ter. ii. 558; got a carta in '31; and later owned a vineyard, perhaps marrying a native. He is named in various records of '34-43, took part in the Michel- torena campaign of '45. iv. 495; and is said to have had a garden near S. Bnen. in '46. He died at the end of that year, at the age of 44. Laure, 1830, drowned at S. Luis Oh. in attempting to land from a ship. iii. 180. Laurend (M.), 1848, passp. from Hon. Laurencel (Henry), 1848, roll of Soc. Cal. Pion. Lavallette (Eric A. F.), 1847, com. of the U.S. Independence. Lavin (Thos), 1844, Engl. who received a pass.

Lawlor (John), 1827-8, mr of the Karimoko, in trouble in the south by reason of his smuggling operations. ii. 551, 564; iii. 94-5, 134-5, 147. He was lost on a voy. from Hon. to Australia in '34, as mr of the Alpha. Lawrence, 1848, sailor on the Isaac Walton. L. (Henry), 1847, Co. G, N. Y.Vol. (v. 499). L. (J. C.), 1848, died in Utah before '77. L. (John), 1846, Faun- tleroy's dragoons (v. 232, 247). L. (Joseph Vicente), 1821, nat. of N. Y. who landed from the Blackwood at Bodega and came to S.F. in a boat. ii. 478. In '23 he went to Los Ang., where he was baptized in '24, married María Arriola, and in '29 was still there with wife and son, age 32. ii. 496, 526, 558; iii. 179.

Lawrey (Amos G.), 1846, Amer. mason and perhaps overl. immig., who in '47 worked on the Ist brick house built at Mont. for G. D. Dickenson, whose daughter Margaret he married a little later. In the Salinas Index, Oct. 26, '76, 'Jack the Pioneer' (Swan) tells how the young man went to Hon. for a wedding outfit, and attempting to smuggle the goods ashore, had to pur- chase them anew at a round price; and indeed his arrival at Hon. on the Charles in Fcb. '48 is recorded. L. died at S. José in 'S1, having been blind for many years. He left a widow and 3 grown children, one of them Mrs

Hollenbach. Lawson (Henry), 1847, Co. H, N.Y.Vol. (v. 499). L. (John), 1347, Co. B, ditto; died at Mont. '49. L. (John), 1847, Co. B, Morm. Bat.

(v. 469). Lawton, 1848, overl. immig. with Johnson. L., 1848, of Kilborn, L., & Co., S.F. L. (Benj. H.), 1834, mr of the S. Feighton. iii. 384.

Layden (Win), 1847, Co. C, N. Y. Vol. (v. 499); died at Honolulu '54. Layton (Chas), 1847, ordnance sergt Co. F, 3d U.S. artill. v. 519. A nat. of Engl. who had served in the British army; in the mines '49-52; later light- house kecper at Pt Pinos; died at Mont. '55, being fatally wounded while attempting to capture the outlaw García. His widow-née Charlotte Wade, and mar. in '43-was in '78 the wife of Geo. C. Harris at S.F., where a daughter, Mrs Amos Burr, also lived. One son was a sailor and another lived in N. South Wales. Suan. L. (Christopher), 1847, Co. C, Morm. Bat. (v. 469); in '82 at Kaysville, Utah. Lazaref (Andrew), 1815, mr of the Suvárof, and of the Ladoga in '23. iii. 307, 492. L. (Michael), 1823, mr of the Crei- ser. ii. 492, 519. Lázaro (Nicolás), 1805, Span. friar who served for a brief term at S. Fern. and S. Diego, where he died in 1807. ii. 115; iii. 159-60.

Leach (Kendrick N.), 1847, Co. K, N.Y. Vol. (v. 499); in '83 at Fountain Green, Ill. Leahy (Dan.), 1845, Irish cooper at Sutter's Fort '45-6, and prob. an overl. immig. iv. 578, 587. In '47 owner of a lot at S.F., where he still lived in '48-54. He died in Nevada '75, leaving a family in Or. Leandry (Juan B.), 1827, Ital. who came by sea at the age of '23. iii. 176. In '32 he joined the comp. extranjera at Mont. iv. 221; in '36 kept a store at Los Ang. ; was naturalized in '39. Juez de paz '40-1, holding other local offices; owner of part of S. Pedro, and grantee of Los Coyotes, where he died in '43. iii. 614, 633, 637; iv. 629, 633. Leary (Wm), 1844, deserter from the Warren near Mont .; perhaps at Sonoma '48.

Leavens (Wm), 184G, one of the men captured with Alcalde Bartlett by Sanchez at S.F. (v. 377). Leavenworth (Thaddeus M.), 1847, nat. of Coun., physician and episcopal clergyman, who came as chaplain of the N. Y. Vol. v. 504, 511. He took some part in matters pertaining to church and schools, and was alcalde of S.F. in '47-9. v. 648-52, 657. He was also owner of town lots, and a street in the city bears his name. His official acts have been severely criticised, but I find no data for a just estimate of his character. In '50 he went to Sonoma Co., where he was claimant for a part of Agua Caliente ran-

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PIONEER REGISTER AND INDEX.

cho, iii. 711, and where he still lived in '82. Leavy (Owen), 1847, corp. Co. F, 3d U.S. artill. The name was perhaps Leary. v. 529. Lebean (Joseph), 1846, Cal. Bat. (v. 358). Lecky (Wm C.), 1846, Co. C, Ist U.S. dragoons, killed at S. Pascual. v. 346. Lecointe, 1845, com. of the Heroine. iv. 566. Lecoq (Martin), 1834, Frenchman in a Mont. list. Leddy (Michael), 1847, Co. H, N.Y.Vol. (v. 499); died in Mendocino Co. bef. '83. Ledesma (José), grantee of land at S. Gabriel. v. 628.

Lee, 1847, a son said to have been born to Mrs Lee in Jan., at N. Helv. L., 1847, of L. & Reily, bakers, Mont. L., 1848, flogged and imprisoned for attempt at murder near S. José. L. (Barton), 1848, nat. of N. Y., who came from Or. to the mines; member and successor of the Sac. firm of Priest, L., & Co .; prominent also in local politics. He failed for a large amount in '50, and went to live in the Sandwich Isl., but returned to Cal., and died at Sac. in '56. L. (Cornelius R.V.), 1847, Co. F, N.Y. Vol. (v. 499); presid. of the regulators at S.F. '49; died at Sta B. in '63. L. (Elisha), 1847, owner of S.F. lot. L. (James R.), 1847, Co. H, N.Y. Vol. (v. 499); at Vallejo in '82. L. (John C.), 1847, Co. F, ditto. L. (Lawton), 1845, one of the men lost on

the Warren's launch in '46. iv. 587; v. 384. L. (Milton), IS47, trader at Mont. L. (Sam.), 1846, mate of the Euphemia '46-8. L. (Theodore), 1846, mid. on the Congress; act. lieut Co. A, Stockton's naval bat., '46-7. v. 386. Levy (Wm), 1848, miner on the Yuba.

Leese (Jacob Primer), 1833, native of Ohio, b. in 1809, and engaged in the Sta Fé trade from '30, who seems to have come from N. Mex. late in '33, but perhaps went back and came again in July '34, engaging in trade at Los Ang. iii. 388, 409. Iu '36 he came to Mont. with Gov. Chico, whose good-will he succeeded in gaining, formed a partnership with Nathan Spear and Wm S. Hinckley, obtained a lot at S.F., and on it built the Ist solid structure in town before July 4th, being naturalized in Sept. iii. 421, 431, 705, 709; iv. 86, 116; v. 680. The next year he erected a larger store on the beach, and married Rosalía, sister of Gen. Vallejo, much against the general's wishes. He had a lighter, the Isabella, running on the bay and rivers, and the busi- ness of the firm, in exchanging goods for rancho products, was profitable; but he quarrelled with Spear and Hinckley about the division of the $13,000 profits, and the partnership was dissolved in '38, though L. continued the business for several years, failing to get the appointment of receptor in '30, and getting another town lot in '40. iii. 700, 705-6, 709-10; iv. 98; v. 679. Iu '41 he was grantee of the Canada de Guadalupe, Visitacion, y Rodeo Viejo rancho at S.F., and of Huichica at Sonoma; and this year he sold out his store to the H. B. Co. iv. 37, 179, 217, 671. He also transferred his residence and place of business to Sonoma, owning one lighter in comp. with Wm John- son, and another, the Rosalia, with Salv. Vallejo. In '43 he went to Or. with a drove of cattle. iv. 377, 390; and in '44-5 he was alcalde at Sonoma, hav- ing serious quarrels with Victor Prudon. iv. 445, 448, 678-9. In'46 he was to a certain extent a sub-agent for the carrying-out of Larkin's plans. v. 63; and for this reason, perhaps, having accompanied the Bears to Sac. as inter- preter, was thrown into prison by Fremont with the Vallejos and Prudon. v. 112, 119-21, 208-9. His Bear Flag Revolt, an original MS. in my col., is one of the best narratives extant on the subject. v. 187. He had a ' Cal. claim' of $6,189, besides a claim for the construction of a wharf at Mont. v. 467; i. list auth. In '47 he is named as a member of the Sonoma council. v. 668; and is said to have made considerable money in the mines '48-9. He made a voy- age to China in '49 on the Eveline, under an arrangement with Larkin; and subsequently resided at Mont., holding some local offices; being the claimant for several ranchos. iii. 678-9; iv. 671; and in '55 vice-president of the Soc. Cal. Pion. He was an uneducated and not very intelligent man, active and enterprising in business, whose many speculations were marked by boldness rather than ability; and his large property, with that of his wife, all disap- peared. In '63 he obtained, in company with others, a concession of lands for colonization in L. Cal., but the scheme was a failure; and about '65 he left Cal. for the east. I have no definite record of his subsequent career, but in

711

LEESE-LEIVA.

Feb. '85 an apparently reliable newspaper report represents him as living at S. Antonio, Texas, in good health, but extreme poverty, an appeal being made to pioneers in his behalf. Portrait in Annals of S. F. and Hesperian. Mrs Leese lives at Mont. in 'S5, and has 7 grown children. She furnished for my use a History of the Osos, of no special value. A daughter, Rosalia, born at S.F. in '38, and the Ist child born at Yerba Buena, iii. 710, died, and her name was given to a younger daughter. The oldest son, Jacob, was born in '39, and resides in 'S5 at Salinas, where he has been county clerk and deputy sheriff, his wife being an Estrada, a niece of Gov. Alvarado. One of Leese's daughters married a son of José Abrego. (L. returned to Cal. in '85.)

Lefèvre (Minard J.), 1846, Co. C, Ist U.S. dragoons (v. 336). Lefort (Geo.), 1847, Co. F, N. Y.Vol. (v. 499). Le Fourri (François), 1831, from N. Mex. with Wolfskill or Jackson. Legar (Miguel), 1602, sergt in Vizcai-

no's exped. i. 98. Legarda (José), 1841, mr of the Jóven Carolina. iv. 505. Legare (Burnett), 1847, Co. E, N.Y.Vol. (v. 499); died at sea '66. L. (Win H.), 1847, ditto; died at Los Ang. '47. v. 625. Legendre (Louis), 1847, F'r. settler in Russ. Riv. township, where he was murdered after '52. Son. Co. W/ist., 358-60. Legge, 1844, officer in the Modeste. Leggett (Wm), 1847, Co. H, N.Y. Vol. (v. 499). Lehigh, 1847, son said to have been born to Mrs

L .; perhaps 'Leahy,' q. v. Leicer, 1844, Walla Walla chief. iv. 545; see *Elijah.' Leick (Chas), 1847, Co. D, N.Y. Vol. (v. 499).

Leidesdorff (Wm Alex.), 1841, nat. of the Danish West Indies, son of a Dane by a mulattress, who came to the U.S. as a hoy, and became a master of vessels sailing from N. Y. and N. Orleans. He came to Cal. as mr of the Julia Ann, on which he made later trips to the Islands down to '45. iv. 279, 566. Engaging in trade at S.F., he got a lot in '43 at the cor. of Clay and Kcarny streets, and in '44 or '45 built a warehouse on the beach at Cal. and Leidesdorff streets. iv. 669, 678; in '46 building the City Hotel on his Ist lot, and in '47 buying from Ridley the cottage at the cor. of Montgomery and CaL. streets, where he passed the rest of his life. iv. 678, 680. In '44 he obtained naturalization papers and a grant of the Rio de los Americanos rancho. iv. 673; and from Oct. '45 served as U.S. vice-consul by Larkin's appointment. iv. 188, 557, 589-90, 665. His corresp. of these years, especially with Larkin, is a most valuable source of historical information. In '46 he had controversies with Forbes, Ridley, and Hinckley, who were not intensely American cnongh to suit this Danish citizen of Mex .; visiting N. Helv. and Monterey; and in this and the following years becoming owner of many city lots. v. 3-4, 23, 136, 178, 239, 295, 648-9, 678, 680. In '47, having a Cal. claim of $8,740 (v. 462), and launching the Ist steamer that ever sailed on S.F. bay, v. 577-8, 646, he was not only one of the town's most prominent business men, but a member of the council, treasurer, and member of the school committee, tak- ing an active part in local politics. v. 455, 648-52, 656. He died in May '48, at the age of 38. He was an intelligent man of fair education, speaking sev- eral languages; active, enterprising, and public-spirited; honorable for the most part in his transactions; but jealous, quick-tempered, often quarrel- some, and disagreeable. His cstate, burdencd by heavy debts at the time of his death, after the gold excitement became of immense value. It was ad- ministered by W. D. M. Howard, with the assistance of C. V. Gillespie, and was for years the subject of complicated litigation; but the title of Capt. Folson, who had found the mother and other heirs of Leidesdorff at St Croix Isl., and had bought their interests, was finally adjudged to be valid.

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History of California, Volume IV, Part 76

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 820

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 820