USA > California > Napa County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 7
USA > California > Lake County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 7
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Their great " cure all" was the sweat-bath which was taken in the " sweat-house," which institution was to be found in every rancheria. A fire was lighted in the center and the patient taken into the "sweat-house " and kept at a high stage of perspiration for several hours; he then rushed out and plunged into a bath of cold water, and the result can be imagined,
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Indians of Napa County.
without stating that it ultimately proved fatal. Some years ago a gentle- man in Lake County paid a visit to one of these " sweat-houses " during a festal occasion, and he thus graphically gives his experience, which we reproduce here, although it first appeared in the Napa Reporter, and was copied thence into Mr. Manifee's " Sketch Book." We will give it for the benefit of those of our readers who have not had an opportunity of reading it before. It is too good to be lost, and will surely bear repeating. It is as follows :
" A sweat-house is of the shape of an inverted bowl, and is generally about forty feet in diameter at the bottom, and is built of strong poles and branches of trees, covered with earth to prevent the escape of heat. There is a small hole near the ground, large enough for Diggers to creep in one at a time; and another at the top to give out the smoke. When a dance is to occur, a large fire is kindled in the center of the edifice, and the crowd assembles, the white spectators crawling in and seating themselves anywhere out of the way. The apertures, both above and below, are then closed, and the dancers take their positions.
" Four and twenty squaws, en deshabille, on one side of the fire, and as many hombres, in puris naturalibus, on the other. Simultaneously with the commencement of the dancing, which is a kind of shuffling hobble-de- hoy, the 'music' bursts forth. Yes, music fit to raise the dead. A whole legion of devils broke loose. Such screaming, shrieking, yelling and roaring was never before heard since the foundation of the world. A thousand cross-cut saws, filed by steam power-a multitude of tom-cats lashed to- gether and flung over a clothes line-innumerable pigs under a gate-all combined would produce a heavenly melody compared with it. Yet this uproar, deafening as it is, might possibly be endured, but another sense soon comes to be saluted. Talk of the thousand stinks of the City of Co- logne! Here are at least forty thousand combined in one grand over- whelming stench, and yet every particular odor distinctly definable. Round about the roaring fire the Indians go capering, jumping and screaming, with the perspiration streaming from every pore. The spectators look on until the air grows thick and heavy, and a sense of oppressing suffocation over- comes then, when they make a simultaneous rush at the door for self pro- tection. Judge their astonishment, terror and dismay to find it fastened securely-bolted and barred on the outside. They rush frantically around the walls in hope to discover some weak point through which they may find egress, but the house seems to have been constructed purposely to frustrate such attempts. More furious than caged lions, they rush bodily against the sides, but the stout poles resist every onset. Our army swore terribly in Flanders, but even my Uncle Toby himself would stand aghast were he here now.
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History of Napa and Lake Counties-NAPA.
" There is no alternative but to sit down, in hopes that the troop of naked fiends will soon cease from sheer exhaustion. Vain expectation ! The uproar but increases in fury, the fire waxes hotter and hotter, and they seem to be preparing for fresh exhibitions of their powers. The combat deepens. On, ye brave ! See that wild Indian, a newly elected captain, as with glaring eyes, blazing face, and complexion like that of a boiled lobster, he tosses his arms wildly aloft as in pursuit of imaginary devils, while rivers of perspiration roll down his naked frame. Was ever the human body thrown into such contortions before ? Another effort of that kind, and his whole vertebral column must certainly come down with a crash ! Another such a convulsion, and his limbs will assuredly be torn asunder, and the disjointed members fly to the four points of the compass! Can the human frame endure this much longer ? The heat is equal to that of a bake-oven ; temperature 500 degrees Fahrenheit ! pressure of steam 1000 pounds to the square inch! The reeking atmosphere has become almost palpable, and the victimized audience are absolutely gasping for life. Millions for a cubic inch of fresh air ! Worlds for a drop of fresh water to cool the parched tongue ! This is terrible. To meet one's fate among the white caps of the lake, in a swamped canoe, or to sink down on the bald mountain's brow, worn out by famine, fatigue and exposure were glorious ; but to die here, suffocating in a solution of human perspiration, carbonic acid gas and charcoal smoke, is horrible ! The idea is absolutely appalling ! But there is no avail. Assistance might as well be sought from a legion of unchained imps, as from a troop of Indians, maddened by excitement.
" Death shows his visage not more than five minutes distant. The fire glimmers away leagues off. The uproar dies into the subdued rumble of a remote cataract, and respiration becomes slower and more labored. The whole system is sinking into utter insensibility, and all hope of relief has . departed, when suddenly, with a grand triumphal crash, similar to that with which the ghosts closed their orgies when they doused the lights and started in pursuit of Tam O'Shanter and his old gray mare, the uproar ceases, and the Indians vanish through an aperture opened for that pur- pose. The half dead victims to their own curiosity, dash through it like an arrow, and in a moment more are drawing in whole buckets full of the cold, frosty air, every inhalation of which cuts the lungs like a knife, and thrills the system like an electric shock. They are in time to see the In- dians plunge headlong into the ice-cold water of a neighboring stream, and crawl out and sink down on the banks, utterly exhausted. This is the last act of the drama, the grand climax, and the fandango is over."
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Mexican Grants.
MEXICAN GRANTS.
The Caymus Grant .- The first tract of land ever granted by the Mexi- can Government to parties in what is now known as Napa County, was ceded to that wonderful pioneer of 1831, George C. Yount. He was here when the whole domain lay in its virginity; when the foot of white man had not even trod upon it, and his was the first to press it. The Cay- mus grant lies in the very heart of Napa Valley, and just east of where the present village of Yountville now stands, and was ceded to Mr. Yount by Nicolas Gutierrez, March 23, 1836. The grant comprised two square leagues. The petition for confirmation of title was filed before the Board of Land Commissioners May 26, 1852. This Board confirmed the title February 8, 1853, and the United States Courts re-confirmed it, or concurred in the action of the Board, July 7, 1855. The grant contains eleven thou- sand eight hundred and fourteen and fifty-two-hundredths acres.
The Entre Napa Rancho .- This tract of land lay where Napa City now stands, and the grant was ceded to Nicolas Higuerra by Manuel Chico, May 9, 1836. The claim to eighty and forty-eight-hundredths acres of this grant was made before the Board of Land Commissioners by Nathan Coombs March 3d, 1853, and that body confirmed his title April 11, 1854. It was also confirmed by the Courts March 2, 1857.
Rancho El Rincon de los Carneros .- This tract of land lay to the west- ward of Napa City, and came up to where a portion of the city now stands. It was granted to Nicolas Higuerra May 9, 1836, by Manuel Chico. The claim to it was filed before the Board of Land Commissioners by Julius Martin September 4, 1852. The Board rejected the claim September 19, 1854. The decree of the Board was reversed September 2, 1856. This is a part of the Entré Napa Rancho, and was bounded on the east side by the Napa River, and on the west by the Arroyo de los Carneros. The Court confirmed the title to this tract of land May 15, 1857, and it contains two thousand five hundred and fifty-seven and sixty-eight-hundredths acres.
The Napa Rancho .- Salvador Vallejo, and his wife, Maria de la Luz Carrillo Vallejo, filed their claim before the Board of Land Commissioners March 3, 1853, for a title to the tracts of land known as Trancas and Jolapa, containing three thousand and twenty acres, more or less, being a
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History of Napa and Lake Counties-NAPA.
part of the Napa Rancho granted to Salvador Vallejo February 21, 1838, by Juan B. Alvarado, Governor ad interim of Upper California, and ap- proved by the Departmental Assembly September 23, 1838. The claim was confirmed by the Board November 7, 1854, and it was confirmed by the Court February 23, 1857. Mrs. Vallejo's interest in the property was conveyed to her by Narciso Ramires May 12, 1851, and it covered three thousand one hundred and seventy-eight and ninety-three-hundredths acres.
Julius K. Rose filed a claim before the Board of Land Commissioners March 2, 1853, for five hundred and ninety-four and eighty-three-hundredths acres of the Napa Rancho. His claim was confirmed by the Board Decem- ber 13, 1853, and the title was re-confirmed by the Court March 2, 1857.
Angus L. Boggs filed his claim to a portion of the Napa Rancho March 2, 1853, before the Board of Land Commissioners. This claim was con- firmed by the Board April 11, 1854, and by the Court March 2, 1857. It contains three hundred and twenty and fifty-five-hundredths acres.
The Yajome Rancho. - This tract of land was granted to Damaso Antonio Rodriguez March 16, 1841, by Juan B. Alvarado, then Constitu- tional Governor of the Department of the Californias, and approved by the Departmental Assembly May 18, 1841. Claim to this land was filed by Salvador Vallejo before the Board of Land Commissioners April 20, 1852, and the Board confirmed it February 21, 1853. The Court confirmed title to it February 9, 1857. It contained one and a half leagues, or six thousand six hundred and fifty-two and fifty-eight-hundredths acres.
The Locoallomi Rancho .- This grant of land was made by Manuel Jimeno, Acting Governor of California, to Julien Pope, September 30, 1841, and embraced two leagues, or eight thousand eight hundred and seventy- two and seventy-three-hundredths acres. The heirs of Pope filed their claim to the grant before the Board of Land Commissioners March 2, 1853. August 1, 1854, the Board confirmed their title to it, and August 25, 1856, the Court also confirmed their title. This tract of land was located in what is now known as Pope Valley.
The Tulucay Rancho .- This tract of land lies just east of Napa City, and was granted to Cayetano Juarez by Manuel Jimeno October 26, 1841, and approved by the Departmental Assembly June 16, 1845. The claim to this land was filed with the Board of Land Commissioners March 23, 1852, and confirmed by the Board April 11, 1853, and also confirmed by the Court February 25, 1856. The rancho contains two leagues, or eight thousand eight hundred and sixty-five and fifty-eight-hundredths acres.
Runcho Mallacomes or Muristul y Plan de Aqua Caliente .- This was a four-league grant, which was made to José Santos Berryessa October 14,
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Mexican Grants.
1843, by Manuel Micheltoreno. The claim to the tract was filed before the Board of Land Commissioners February 20, 1852, and confirmed by that body June 27, 1854, and by the Courts March 24, 1856. This ranch con- tained seventeen thousand seven hundred and forty-two and seventy-two- hundredths acres, and was situated near the head of Napa Valley, embracing the present site of Calistoga and the country adjacent thereto.
Martin E. Cook and Rufus Ingalls as claimants to a portion of the above rancho, filed their petition before the Board of Land Commissioners February 28, 1853, and the Board confirmed their title to two square miles of it August 7, 1855. Their portion was located in the north-west part of the ranch, and comprised two thousand five hundred and fifty-nine and ninety-four-hundredths acres. An appeal was taken on the part of the United States, but was not prosecuted, and on the 16th day of April, 1857, the Court confirmed the title.
Rancho de la Jote .- This grant of land was made by Manuel Michel- toreno to George C. Yount October 23, 1843, said grant to be one square league of land situated in Napa Valley. April 5, 1852, Mr. Yount, as claimant, filed his petition with the Board of Land Commissioners. Octo- ber 21, 1853, the Board rejected the claim. The claimant took an appeal in the matter, and it came before the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of California, for hearing, and it was ordered that the decree of the Land Commissioners be reversed, and that the claimant be given a valid title to one league and no more. This contained four thousand four hundred and fifty-three and eighty-four-hundredths acres.
Las Putas Rancho .- This is an enormous grant of land, comprising eight leagues, or thirty-five thousand five hundred and fifteen and eighty- two-hundredths acres, and is situated in and covers the most of Berry- essa Valley. It was granted to José Jesus Berryessa and Sisto Berryessa, by Manuel Micheltoreno, November 3, 1843. The wives of the grantees, Maria Anastasia Higuerra de Berryessa and Maria Nicolosa Higuerra de Berryessa as claimants, filed their petition before the Board of Land Com- missioners May 21, 1852. Their claim was confirmed by the Board September 5, 1854, and confirmed by the Court August 13, 1855.
The Huichica Rancho .- This grant was inade to Jacob P. Leese in two parcels, as follows: First, for two leagues of land issued by Manuel Jimeno, October 24, 1841; second, for three and one-half leagues additional issued by Manuel Micheltoreno July 6, 1846. The title to the rancho was confirmed by the Board of Land Commissioners April 18, 1853, and by the Court April 22, 1856. It contained altogether eighteen thousand seven hundred and four and four-hundredths acres, and was situated to the south-west of Napa City.
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History of Napa and Lake Counties-NAPA.
The Catacula Rancho .- This tract of land is located in Chiles Valley, and was granted to Col. J. B. Chiles by Manuel Micheltoreno November 9, 1844. Claim to this grant was filed before the Board of Land Commis- sioners April 21, 1852, and confirmed by it November 4, 1853. Confirmed by the Court August 13, 1855. It comprised two leagues or eight thousand five hundred and forty-five and seventy-two-hundredths acres of land.
The Chimiles Rancho .- This grant was made to Ygnacio .Berryessa by Pio Pico May 2, 1842. William Gordon and Nathan Coombs, as claimants, filed their petition before the Board of Land Commissioners April 28, 1852, and the claim was confirmed April 11, 1853. Confirmed by the Court July 27, 1857. It comprised four leagues or seventeen thousand seven hundred and sixty-two and forty-four hundredths acres.
The Cayne Humana Rancho .- This tract of land comprised the whole of Napa Valley lying north of the Caymus Rancho, and was granted to Dr. E. T. Bale. It has gone through all the legal processes, and a patent has been granted, but is not recorded; hence we are unable to give any further facts or dates in reference to it.
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General History and Settlement.
GENERAL HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.
" I hear the tramp of pioneers- Of nations yet to be ; The first low wash of waves, where soon Shall roll a living sea."
" O'er the mountain's height, Like ocean in its tided might, The living sea rolls onward, on. And onward, on, the stream shall pour, And reach the far Pacific shore, And fill the plains of Oregon."
Strange as it may seem, the first settler in Napa County was an American. The Spanish-Mexicans, who had been in California almost three quarters of a century before the discovery of gold, had visited all the border counties on the bay, and had settled on the best lands in them. This was also true of all the country south of San Francisco, but here and there an American, who had drifted far away from the environments of civilization, was living in isolation in this great country. Notable illustra- tions of this are Dr. Marsh, who settled in Contra Costa County as early as 1835. That brave old Scotchman, John Gilroy, who landed on the shores of California in 1813, and wended his way to the Santa Clara Valley soon afterwards, and George C. Yount, who settled in Napa Valley as early as 1831, thus being the first settler in the valley.
The Spaniards had visited the country long previous to this, but had made no settlement-at least none that extended for any length of time. In 1876, General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo delivered an address in Santa Rosa, of a historical character, in which he said: "Padre José Altimira and Don Francisco Castro went in June and July, 1823, with an armed escort, under ensign José Sanchez, to select a proper site for a new Mission. Padre Altimira went on with his survey to Huichica, now the property of Messrs. Winter and Borel, and on the fifth day, after exploring the Napa Valley, 'like to Sonoma in every respect,' the party climbed the ridge of Suysunes, now the property of Cayetano Juarez, where the State Insane Asylum stands, and there found stone of excellent quality, and so abundant that a new Rome might be built. Between 1840 and 1845, a considerable number of emigrant wagons arrived across the Sierras, bringing American
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History of Napa and Lake Counties -- NAPA.
families, and families of other nationalities, most of whom settled among us, and to whom these valleys owe much of their progress."
A writer, in a work published by Smith & Elliot, in 1878, says: “In 1776 a fort was erected by the Spanish Governor, Felipe de Neve, a short distance north-west of Napa, on an elevated plateau. Part of the original fort is now standing, the wall being of adobe, and three feet in thickness. It is situated on the Rancho Viljo, and is occupied as a residence and wine cellar by J. J. Sigrist." We are obliged to take issue with this statement. We do not know the writer's authority, but are conversant with the history of the movements of the Spaniards in this part of California during that year. It was in 1776 that the first location was made at San Francisco, and the grant to the Mission is dated October 9th of that year. While waiting for the vessel to arrive, which had been dispatched with supplies, etc., excursions were made into the interior, and the circuit of the bay was made by way of San José, and far up the Alameda side. Another party crossed the strait at Saucelito, and passed as far northward as the Olom- poli Rancheria, south of Petaluma a few miles, where they taught the Indians how to make adobe houses, and one was erected which stood there until a very few years ago, when it was torn down. The writer has seen adobes from the old structure, which was evidently the first one ever built north of San Francisco Bay. But in none of the records of these excursions is any mention made of the erection of a fort at the place mentioned above. We should be glad to establish the fact if it were possible, and to confer, sub- stantiated, upon Napa County, the honor of having such an ancient relic of the Spanish regime within its boundaries, but a due regard for the truth prevents us from giving the statement unqualifiedly.
As stated above, George C. Yount came into Napa Valley in February, 1831, and was thus the first permanent settler in the county. He was piloted hither by a young man by the name of Guy F. Fling, or Flynn. This guide afterwards became a settler in the county also, but it is not known when he came here to locate permanently. Evidently, he did not remain with Yount at the time they came here in 1831. It is known that Flynn came to the State in 1825, and that he became more like an Indian than a white man, and that his last days were spent among the Indians, near Napa, he living in a little old house at their rancheria. He died in 1872. After Mr. Yount arrived in the valley, he followed the occupation of hunting and trapping. In 1836 he built the first log house ever erected in California by an American. It was eighteen feet square below, with an upper story, which was twenty-two feet square, in which there were port holes, through which it often became 'necessary for him to defend himself from the savages, with which the valley then fairly swarmed. He obtained a grant to the Caymus Rancho, and lived there until his death, which oc- curred October 5th, 1865.
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General History and Settlement.
Next in order comes Don Cayetano Juarez, who came into the county as a permanent settler in 1840, although he had stock in the valley since 1837. In 1840 he · built a small adobe house on his present place, the Tulucay Rancho, and brought his family from Sonoma, and has ever resided within sight of the City of Napa, and has seen a wilderness and jungle transferred into a beautiful city, and has seen the wild plains, on which Indians and wild animals roamed at will, changed into wide stretches of smiling grain. He still survives the storms of life, and is as hale and hearty as he was thirty years ago.
The next settler in the county was Nicolas Higuerra, sometimes referred to as José Higuerra. It is not now known just what year he came in, but certainly previous to 1841. He located on the banks of the Napa Creek, about half a mile above its mouth, where he had a wicker house, plastered over with a thick coat of mud, and covered with a thatched roof of tule and grass. Here he lived, having a large family; the two daughters marrying the Berryessas, of the valley of that name.
In 1839 Dr. E. T. Bale, an Englishman, obtained a grant to the Corne Humana Rancho, and settled there some time afterwards. He married a sister of General Vallejo, and lived upon his immense estate, which in- cluded all of the Napa Valley north of the Caymus Rancho, until his death, in 1850.
Salvador Vallejo obtained a grant to the Napa Rancho September 21, 1838, and subsequently erected a very large adobe house, north-west of Napa some three miles. It is not known now just when his settlement dates to, as he really made his home at Sonoma.
In 1843 José Jesus and Sisto Berryessa obtained a grant to the Las Putas Rancho, and shortly afterwards located upon it, constructing a large adobe house, which went to ruin, and a second one was built, a portion of which is still standing on the estate of Abraham Clark.
In 1840 E. Barnett came to the valley, and remained with Mr. Yount till 1843, when he settled in Pope Valley. William (or Julien) Pope obtained a grant to the Rancho Locoallomi in September, 1841, and moved his family there in 1843, where he shortly after lost his life by an accident. He and William Gordon had come via Mexico, in which country Pope had married a native wife. She subsequently married the pioneer mentioned above, E. Barnett, who lived in Pope Valley until a few years ago, when he died.
In 1844 William Baldridge arrived at Napa Embarcadero, and thence he proceeded to Yount's place, and is still residing near Oakville, a hale and hearty old pioneer. Bartlett Vines, son-in-law of Yount, crossed the plains with him, and came to Napa County at the same time, on board Captain Sutter's schooner "Sacramento." To the Vines family was born the first white child in Napa County, and, it is claimed by some, the first white child
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History of Napa and Lake Counties-NAPA.
in California, but this is a mooted question, the honor lying between the Vines family, of Napa County, the Julius Martin family, of Santa Clara County, who crossed the plains with Baldridge and Vines, and the James Gregson family, of Sonoma County. Colonel J. B. Chiles, who first came to California in 1841, came again with the Baldridge party in 1843, and lo- cated in Chiles Valley in 1844 or 1845. With this party came also Miss Elizabeth Yount, daughter of the old pioneer, who, in 1849, was married to John C. Davis.
In 1845, John York, John Grigsby, William Hudson, Harrison Pierce, David Hudson, Benjamin Dewell, William Elliott and sons, William Fow- ler, Sr., Henry Fowler, William Fowler, Jr., Calvin C. Griffith, Col. James Clyman, Harvey Porterfield, and William Hargrave, came in and settled in different portions of the county.
When Mr. York arrived in the valley in 1845, he found the following settlers in the county. Ben. Kelsey lived on the place now owned by Peter Teal, which was then the property of Ralph Kilburn. This was about one mile south of the present site of Calistoga. Next to him, and on what is now the George Tucker place, E. Barnett was living, in a small log house. This is the man referred to above as having married the widow Pope. Sam Kelsey lived at the place where Bale's mill now stands, and he had a wife and two or three children; his wife being among the first, if not the first woman who ever came overland to California.
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