History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1913, Part 5

Author: Willis, William Ladd
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1098

USA > California > Sacramento County > History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1913 > Part 5

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

When he reached Monterey he succeeded in meeting Governor Alvarado, whom he told that he wished to secure and colonize a sec- tion of country in Upper California on the Sacramento river. The governor, who was desirous that the country should be subdued and settled, warmly approved Sutter's plan, but warned him that the In- dians were hostile and would not allow the whites to settle there; further, that they had robbed the people of San Jose and the lower country of their cattle and other property. However, he gave Sutter a passport with authority to explore and occupy any territory he

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

might consider desirable for his colony, and requested him to return in one year, when he should have his citizenship acknowledged and receive a grant of such lands as he might desire to secure.

Returning to Yerba Buena, which at that time contained scarcely fifty inhabitants, Sutter secured a schooner and several small boats with which to explore the interior, and started with ten whites to ascend the river. He could secure no guide, as no one could be found who had ever ascended the Sacramento river. However, in eight days he discovered the mouth of the river. Reaching a point about ten miles below the present city of Sacramento, he came on a party of ahont two hundred Indians who showed hostility. As some of the In- dians fortunately understood Spanish, Sutter was able to assure them that there were no Spaniards (against whom the Indians showed par- ticular hostility) among his party, and explained that he was simply a peaceful citizen, coming among them to settle and trade. Finally he was guided by two Indians who spoke Spanish, up the river to the Feather river. He made his way up this river for some distance, but some of his white men became alarmed and discontented and he was constrained to return. Reaching the mouth of the American river, he ascended it a short distance, and August 15, 1839, landed at a point on the southern side, where he afterward established his tannery, within the limits of the present city. After landing his effects on the following morning, he informed the discontented whites that if they wished to return to Yerba Buena they could do so, but that he was determined to remain, and that the Kanakas were willing to remain with him. Three of the whites determined to leave and he put them in possession of the schooner, with instructions to them to deliver it to its owners when they reached Yerba Buena. They started the next day.

Three weeks later he moved to the spot where he afterwards con- structed Fort Sutter, which was destined in a few years to become the nucleus of civilization in the Sacramento valley. He encountered many troubles with the Indians in the early days of his settlement, and a number of plots were laid to massacre him and his men and secure the goods which were such a great temptation to the aborigines. These plots were foiled, several of them, as the Indians afterwards confessed to him, through the vigilance of his favorite bulldog. After- ward many of the Indians, at first most hostile to him, became his firmest friends and co-operated with him in his work. He now de- voted himself to agriculture and raising cattle and soon became wealthy and prosperous. His companions at this time were six no- madie whites of various nationalities, and eight Kanakas, who always remained faithful to him, and who constituted his "colony" and his army. They aided him in subduing and colonizing a large area before totally unknown and inhabited by roving tribes of hostile Indians. The nearest white settlement was at Martinez, and the Indians around

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

him were known as "Diggers," from their habit of digging roots for food.

In the fall of 1839 he bought from Senor Martinez three hundred head of cattle, thirty horses and thirty mares. During the fall eight more white men were added to his colony. Having been considerably handicapped by the lack of lumber and timber during his construction of the fort, he floated some down the American river, and was also compelled to send for some to Bodega, on the coast, a distance of sev- eral hundred miles. In 1840 five white men who had crossed the Rocky Mountains with him and whom he had left in Oregon, joined him, swelling his colony to twenty-five, seventeen being white men and the others being Kanakas. During the fall of that year General Snt- ter was forced to make open war on the Mokelumne Indians, who had become troublesome, stealing live stock from the settlers and render- ing themselves obnoxious by their acts and menaces. He marshalled his army of "six brave men and two baqneros," as his diary quaintly states, and marched against the Indians in the night time. Coming to the camp where they had concentrated over two hundred warriors, he attacked them so determinedly that they retreated and sned for peace. He granted it readily and it was ever afterward mutually maintained. In time he made the Indians cultivate the soil, help build his fort, care for the stock and be useful in varions other ways. In the mili- tary history of California at a later date, he and his Indians were an important factor. He purchased a thonsand more cattle and seventy- five more horses and mules, and his herds began to increase in num- bers and value. He sent hides to San Francisco, kept supplies for the trappers and purchased their skins and either employed all the me- chanics and laborers or found work for them.

In June, 1841, General Sutter visited Monterey, the capital, where he was declared a Mexican citizen and received from Governor Alva- rado a grant for his land, under the name of New Helvetia, he having cansed a survey of it to be made for him. He was also honored with a commission as "represendente del Govierno en las fronteras del norte y encargado de la justicia." He was visited shortly after by Captain Ringgold of the United States exploring expedition under Commodore Wilkes. About the same time Alexander Rotcheff, gov- ernor of the Russian possessions, Fort Ross and Bodega, offered to sell to him the Russian possessions, settlements and ranches at those places. The terms were advantageous and Sutter purchased them at a price of $30,000. Besides the vast area of real estate, he came into possession of two thousand cattle, over one thousand horses, fifty mules and two thousand sheep, the most of which were driven to New Helvetia and added to his herds there. In 1844 he petitioned Governor Micheltorena for the grant or purchase of the sobrante or surplus, over the first eleven leagues of land within the bounds of the survey of the Alvarado grant, which the governor agreed to let him have,

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

but the grant was not finally executed until February 5, 1845. During this time he had rendered valuable military services and advanced supplies to the government to enable it to suppress the Castro rebel- lion. For these considerations and personal services he obtained by purchase the sobrante or surplus.

When the Mexican war broke out, although Sutter was a Mexican citizen and an officer under that government, his respect for the citi- zens and the institutions of the United States was such that his un- bounded hospitality was extended to all Americans, civil or military, who visited him. When the country surrendered to the American forces, Sutter, being convinced that all was over, heartily hoisted the American flag July 11, 1846, and accompanied it with a salute from the guns of the fort. Lieutenant Missoon, of the United States navy, soon after organized a garrison for the fort and gave Sutter the com- mand which he held till peace was declared. He was appointed alcalde by Commodore Stockton and Indian agent by General Kearney, with a salary of $750 a year, but his first trip in discharge of his duty cost him $1600 and he naturally resigned his office. During all these years his hand and his fort were always open to relieve the distressed. As he said afterwards, "I have never turned a man away hungry or re- fused him shelter." Many a party of immigrants who had arrived near the fort half-starved and destitute, sent one of the party in ad- vance to ask assistance, and Sutter always granted it, often sending an expedition out to bring in the exhausted. On one occasion Captain Fremont, who had been exploring farther north with a party, man- aged to reach the fort and announced that his party was exhausted and destitute some distance away. General Sutter immediately dis- patched an expedition which relieved them and brought them in. A handsome fortune was expended by him in like charitable acts and he was a great favorite among the pioneers on account of his large- hearted generosity. The hungry he never turned away. Often they were nursed back to health and strength on his place. On one occasion a solitary starving immigrant reached the fort and announced that his party some distance behind were starving. Immediately General Sut- ter packed seven mules with supplies and sent them in charge of two Indian boys to the rescue of the party. On their arrival everything was seized and devoured by the famished wretches. Other starving immigrants arriving on the scene, they killed the seven mules and ate them, then killed and ate the two Indian boys. Afterwards Sutter said with much feeling, "They ate my Indian boys all up."

However, evil days were at hand. "Ingratitude, more strong than traitor's arms" was to reduce the old pioneer to poverty. Gold was discovered. While a boon to the country and hailed with delight all over the world, this proved the ruin of the grand old man. His la- borers and mechanics deserted him. His mill was forced to cease operation. He could not hire labor to plant his crops or cut his

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

ripened grain. Laborers would not work for less than an ounce of gold a day, as they could often make more in the mines. The influx of immigration had brought men of all nations. Among them were many who had no respect for the property of others. Convicts from Australia, thieves and murderers from the east, flocked to the coast. Both as a Mexican citizen and as a citizen of the United States by the treaty with Mexico, General Sutter considered himself doubly pro- tected in his property rights and felt that he held a strong claim on his country's justice. But many of the newcomers took forcible pos- session of his land and began to cut his wood, claiming that it was vacant and unappropriated land of the United States. Up to Janu- ary, 1852, the settlers had occupied all of his land capable of settle- ment and appropriation, while another class had stolen all of his cat- tle, horses, mules, sheep and hogs, except a few that he himself had sold. During the high water of 1849-50 one party of five men killed and sold enough of his cattle (which were surrounded by water near the river) to amount to $60,000. Despoiled of his property, le re- moved to the west bank of the Feather and took up his residence at Hock farm, where, in the midst of his family, recently arrived from England, he led a quiet life. Later he went to Washington to press his claims upon the government for the losses sustained by him from the immigrants in the early days. During 1873 he removed to Lititz, Pa., and June 18, 1880, he died at Washington, D. C., after having devoted his last years to endeavoring to obtain from congress redress for his wrongs. It is to the honor of California that in 1864 a bill was introduced in the state senate by Hon. J. P. Buckley and became a law, appropriating $15,000 to be paid in installments of $250 per month, for the benefit of Sutter and his heirs. In 1870 another bill by Hon. W. E. Eichelroth was passed, providing $250 a month for two years, and in 1872 a similar bill by Hon. B. C. Northrup. Thus the state he founded, more grateful than the country to which he was instrumental in giving an empire whose gold saved the Union in the Civil War, made the latter days of the noble-hearted old man com- fortable.

CHAPTER V THE FORT RESTORED

As time rolled on after General Sutter removed to his farm, and afterwards to the east, the decay of the old fort set in. Wind and storm did their work. The adobe bricks became loosened, and the tiles of the roof became broken and loosened. The property had passed into other hands and was used for other purposes than had been originally intended. The two blocks on which the fort stood had been cut up into lots by John A. Sutter, Jr., and sold to different parties, but had finally all come into the ownership of Benjamin Mer-

SUTTER'S FORT, FROM K STREET

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

rill, who was residing in the east. Like many non-residents, he took no care of the property and allowed it to deteriorate. Some enter- prising individual stuck a long hop pole, bearing an old red flannel shirt, through the roof like a flag pole. The underpinning became dilapidated and the venerable ruin was used as a chicken house and hog pen. The walls cracked open, and it was evident that the days of the historic relic would soon be ended by its collapse. Many citizens regretted its passing, but as usual nothing was done to preserve it. Finally the board of city trustees decided to open Twenty-seventh street from K to L. The street would run through the old fort and necessitate its destruction. Still the community was apathetic and the historic building seemed doomed. But Sacramento contained one patriotic citizen who was determined to avert this disgrace, if possible. Gen. James G. Martine, whose brain was always filled with ideas for promoting the progress and prosperity of the city, took immediate action. As a result the following open letter was published, June 4, 1889, in the Record-Union, and later in the press of the coast, and also in many newspapers in the east, where it would come to the notice of pioneers : 1202793

"To the Pioneers of the Pacific Coast, Gentlemen: In the year '49, and even before that date, yon left home, friends and all that was dear to you, and journeyed to the shores of the broad Pacific in search of fame and fortune. After many months of toil and hardship you finally reached her golden shores, both tired and hungry. Who was the first to reach you a helping hand and say to you: 'Come, my sons, you are strangers in a strange land, and while you are here make my house your home, and what is in it is yours'? Pioneers, do you re- member how grateful you felt then for the shelter given you by Sut- ter's fort ? Well, gentlemen, that was nearly forty years ago, and the old fort is still in the same place, but in a most wretched condition, and while most of your noble band have been blessed with good health, wealth and happiness, this old friend has fared badly. It is now old and can hardly stand, and unless you come to the rescue it will soon fall by the wayside. Pioneers, there are many of you on the Pacific Coast, and a few dollars from each of you would buy the ground and fix up the old Sutter's fort as it was in the old days of '49. Once re- paired, it would be a lasting monument to you all long after yon have crossed the silent river. I am not rich by any means, but if the Pio- neers or Native Sons do not take this worthy object in hand at once, I suggest that a subscription be raised among the citizens of Sacra- mento to purchase the ground and repair the old fort. I will sub- scribe fifty dollars towards it. Sacramento has but few historic relics left, and it would be a burning shame to have Sutter's fort torn down. The city authorities have already announced their intention of pulling it down unless something is done with it, and there is no time to lose."

(Signed) J. G. MARTINE.

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

The appeal commanded attention and responses came from in- dividuals throughout the state, commending Mr. Martine's proposal, and making donations toward carrying it out. Mr. Martine obtained a subscription from Col. C. F. Crocker of $15,000 on behalf of himself and family, and $500 from Mrs. Leland Stanford, the governor stating later that he would make up any existing deficiency. The Native Sons took up the matter, and Mr. Merrill finally set a price of $20,000 on the property, subscribing $2,000 of the amount himself. It was found, when the first payment was made, September 12, 1889, that John Rider and the city of Sacramento owned an interest in a part of the fort, but the title was cleared and the purchase inade, the Native Sons' canvassing committee and others having secured the necessary funds. The property was deeded to the Native Sons and by them to the state.

In 1891 the legislature passed a bill appropriating $20,000 for the restoration of the fort, and it is worthy of remembrance that in the assembly Beecher and Phillips, both members of the order of Native Sons, voted against it, the latter moving to cut down the ap- propriation to $10,000. The governor appointed as the first board of trustees to manage the property, which had been conveyed to the state: C. E. Grunsky, of San Francisco; E. E. Gaddis, Woodland; Frank D. Ryan, Sacramento; Charles E. Hollister, Courtland, and Eugene J. Gregory, Sacramento, all natives of California. Consider- ahle feeling was engendered among the Pioneers, who had worked and contributed to the purchase of the fort, that no member of their so- ciety had been appointed on the board.

The first adobe brick for the restoration of the fort was laid Sep- temher 21, 1891, the bricks being made from the soil on which the fort stands, mixed with straw, and of the same material which Sutter used in its construction. The same cannon which guarded the fort after its completion are to be seen on the grounds today, as well as the heavy cannon which General Sutter purchased from the Russians with Fort Ross, one of which was presented to John Stuber in 1855 by General Sutter, and which for many years guarded the entrance of Pioneers' Hall on Seventh street. The original adobe bricks were made by the Digger Indians, who used their hands for molding them, and their finger marks were to be seen when they were again used. One of them was dislodged from the wall during the restoration, and was found to be the corner-stone, on which was chiseled signs of the "Indian Masonic" order which was known to exist among the tribes. The tiles used in the restoration were of ancient Spanish manufac- ture, such as were used in the early days. The fort as restored is constructed with double adobe bricks, covered with concrete plaster to preserve them from the ravages of the weather.

Some years later the Native Daughters of the local parlors planted trees and flowers on the grounds, and within the past three

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

years the state has laid out a park, made a small lake and beautified the grounds, which are under the care of a gardener. Within the court inside of the fort are found a number of relies of the early days: an old Wells-Fargo coach with the marks of Indian bullets on it, an old prairie schooner that came across the plains, an old Mexican cart with solid wooden wheels sawed from the trunk of a tree, and other things. There is also a museum containing many old-time relies. The rooms of the old fort have been restored as nearly as possible to their original status by the trustees of the fort, after consultation with Gen. John Bidwell, who was General Sutter's financial agent, and Charles Stevens of San Francisco, who was Sutter's bookkeeper in 1847 and 1848.

CHAPTER VI THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD

We generally speak of the discovery of gold in California as having been made by James Marshall at Coloma, in Jannary, 1848, and while this is true in a practical sense, resulting in the stampede that brought adventurers from all over the world to this state, there is no doubt that the existence of gold had been known many years before.

The first mention of gold in California is found in Hakluyt's ac- count of the voyage of Sir Francis Drake, who spent five or six weeks in June and July, 1579, in some bay on the coast of California, the locality of which has never been settled as to whether it was San Francisco Bay or one of those farther north. Hakluyt wrote: "There is no part of the earth here to be taken up wherein there is not a reasonable amount of gold or silver." As neither gold or silver has ever been found in the vicinity of the point where Drake landed, Hakluyt's story must be classed with other tales of the early ex- plorers and as mere conjecture regarding an unknown land.

However, other early explorers stated that gold had been found long before the discovery by Marshall and there is no doubt that the opinion existed that gold was to be found in California. The country had been explored hy Spanish, Russian and American parties since the sixteenth century and was visited by Commodore Wilkes while on an exploring expedition in the service of the United States. Mem- bers of his party ascended the Sacramento river and visited Sutter at his fort, while others made explorations by land. James D. Dana, the author of several well-known works on geology and mineralogy, was the mineralogist of the expedition and journeyed by land through the upper part of the state. He says in one of his works that gold rock and veins of quartz were observed by him in 1842 near the Umpqua river, in southern Oregon; also, that he found gold in the Sierra Ne- vadas and on the Sacramento river, also on the San Joaquin river and

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

between these rivers. In the report of the Fremont exploring expe- dition also, there is an intimation of the existence of gold. A state- ment has been made also that a Mexican was shot at Yerba Buena (now San Francisco) in October or November, 1845, on account of having a bag of gold dust, and that when dying he pointed toward the north and said, "Legos! Legos!" (yonder), indicating where he had found it.

Coming nearer home, into our own county, we find a claim that is backed by strong probability that the Mormons who came to San Francisco on the ship Brooklyn, and settled at Mormon Island, found gold before Marshall did. It was a series of circumstances that brought them to this coast. Persecuted in the east, where Joseph Smith, their founder, claimed to have found the plates that he trans- lated into the "Book of Mormon," generally spoken of as the Mormon bible, his followers had settled at Nauvoo, Ill., where they believed they would be free from further persecution. But the people who had settled around them became antagonistic to them and in the riots that occurred, Smith was shot and killed by a mob. They then determined to remove beyond the jurisdiction of the United States and selected California as their future place of abode. They divided into two parts, the land expedition starting to cross the Rocky mountains, while the other party came around the Horn on the ship Brooklyn. Among the believers in their faith was Samuel Brannan, one of their leading men, who afterwards became prominent in the early history of Sac- ramento and San Francisco. When the Brooklyn arrived, the Mormons found that their hopes were frustrated, California having passed into the possession of the United States. Couriers were sent over land to meet the other party, and found them at the place where Salt Lake City now is located. They determined to stay there, although the country was sterile and unpromising. Those who came on the Brooklyn scattered through the state, some of them settling above Folsom at the place now known as Mormon Island. It is claimed that they had found gold long before it was found at Coloma, but had kept it a secret. Certain it is, that mining was carried on by them about the time of Marshall's discovery, and that the diggings at Mormon Island were very profitable.

On January 18, 1878, the Associated Pioneers of the territorial days of California gave a banquet in New York city, at which Col. T. B. Thorpe, a veteran of the Mexican war who had been on General Taylor's staff, was present. He stated that while he was employed as a journalist in New Orleans several years before the discovery of gold at Coloma, a Swede, evidently far gone into con- sumption, called on him and stated that he was what was called in Sweden a "King's Orphan;" that he had been educated at an institu- tion maintained by the government, on condition that after he had received his education he would travel in foreign countries, observe

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

and record what he had seen and transmit his records to the govern- ment. He further stated that he had visited California and remained several days at Sutter's Fort, enjoying Sutter's hospitality; that while there he had closely examined the surrounding country and be- came convinced that it was rich in gold. General Sutter was present at that banquet and Colonel Thorpe asked him if he had any recollec- tion of the Swedish visitor. General Sutter replied that he did recol- lect the visit, which occurred about thirty-four years before, and that he also remembered that the Swede spoke regarding the presence of mineral wealth in the neighboring hills, "but," added the General, "I was too much occupied at the time with other concerns to devote any time or attention to it. My crops were ripe, and it was impera- tive that they should be gathered as soon as possible, but I do recollect the scientific Swedish gentleman."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1913, Part 5

Author: Willis, William Ladd Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1098

Author: Willis, William Ladd
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1098