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, 1923, Part 13

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

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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 by Spanish, Russian and American parties since the sixteenth century and was visited by Com- modore Wilkes while on an exploring expedi- tion in the service of the United States. Mem- bers of his party ascended the Sacramento River and visited Sutter at his fort, while oth- ers made explorations by land. James D. Dana, the author of several well-known works on geology and mineralogy, was the mineral- ogist 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 Nevadas and on the Sacramento River, also on the San Joaquin River and between these rivers. In the report of the Fremont exploring expedition also, there is an intimation of the existence of gold. A statement has been made also that a Mexi- can was shot at Yerba Buena (now San Fran- cisco) in October or November, 1845, on ac- count of having a bag of gold dust, and that

when dying he pointed toward the north and said, "Lejos! Lejos!" (yonder), indicating where he had found it.

Coming nearer home, into our own country, we find a claim that is backed by strong prob- ability 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 the 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 be- yond 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 Moun- tains, while the other party came around the Horn on the ship "Brooklyn." Among the be- lievers in their faith was Samuel Brannan, one of their leading men, who afterwards became prominent in the early history of Sacramento and San Francisco. When the "Brooklyn" ar- rived, the Mormons found that their hopes were frustrated, California having passed into the possession of the United States. Couriers were sent overland 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 "Brook- lyn" 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 Co- loma, 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 dig- gings at Mormon Island were very profitable

On January 18, 1878, the Associated Pio- neers 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 pres- ent. He stated that while he was employed as

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

a journalist in New Orleans several years be- fore the discovery of gold at Coloma, a Swede, evidently far gone in consumption, called on him and stated that he was what was called in Sweden a "King's orphan"; that he had been educated at an institution maintained by the government, on condition that after he had received his education he would travel in for- eign countries, observe 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 Sut- ter's Fort, enjoying Sntter's hospitality; that while there he had closely examined the sur- rounding country and became convinced that it was rich in gold. General Sutter was pres- ent at that banquet and Colonel Thorpe asked him if he had any recollection of the Swedish visitor. General Sutter replied that he did recollect the visit, which occurred about thir- tv-four years before, and that he also remem- bered 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 imperative that they should be gathered as soon as possible. but I do recollect the scientific Swedish gen- tleman."

The report of the remarks at the banquet was published, and in it is contained a copy of the manuscript to which Colonel Thorpe re- ferred, in which the "King's orphan" wrote : "The Californias are rich in minerals. Gold, silver, lead, oxide of iron, manganese and cop- per ore are all met with throughout the coun- try, the precious metals being the most abun- dant."

Still another account of an early discovery of gold was published in September, 1865, in the "New Age," in San Francisco, the official organ of the Odd Fellows. It purports to have been an article written by the Paris corre- spondent of the London "Star." He wrote that while in Paris he visited a private mu- seum, the owner of which exhibited to him a gold nugget and stated that twenty-eight years before a poor invalid had called on him. and taking out of his tattered coat a block of quartz, asked him if he would purchase it, as- suring him that it was full of gold. He stated that the stranger said: "I have come to you to apply to the government to give me a vessel and a crew of 100 men, and I will promise to return with a cargo of gold." The proprietor of the museum thought the man was mad, but gave him a napoleon as a matter of charity, retaining, however, a piece of the quartz. Afterwards the quartz was analyzed and was proved to contain pure gold. After a lapse of fifteen years a letter and a parcel were left at

his door. The parcel was heavy and was wrapped in a handkerchief and the letter was worn and almost illegible. He deciphered it and it proved to be the poor invalid's dying statement, which the lodging-house keeper, where he died after his interview with the proprietor of the museum, had neglected to deliver. The package contained a block of quartz and the letter read as follows: "You alone listened to me; you alone stretched out a helping hand to me. Alas, it was too late! I am dying. I bequeath my secret to you. The country from which I brought this gold is called California."

Joseph Aram of New York, and Sarah A. Aram of Vermont, his wife, were members of a party of immigrants to California which, in September, 1846, pitched their camp near the mouth of a little stream emptying into the south fork of the Yuba River where it was crossed by the old overland trail, near where the boundary line between Placer and Nevada Counties has been established. It is related that Mrs. Aram desired to wash some articles of apparel and in scooping out an improvised washtub in the bed of the brook noticed sev- eral little yellow pieces in the fine gravel. They were examined by the members of the party and pronounced to be gold. On the same day, however, news of the declaration of war against Mexico by the United States reached the party, and they made all possible haste in pushing on to gain the shelter of Sut- ter's Fort instead of stopping to make any further investigation of their discovery. In the summer of 1848, after Marshall's discovery had been published, Mr. Aram returned to his old camping ground only to find the ground already occupied by miners. Mr. Aram was a member of the first constitutional convention, 1849, and a member of the assembly at the first session of the legislature. He died at San Jose, March 30, 1898. His son, Eugene Aram, born at Monterey, January 14, 1848, was, it is claimed, the first white child born in California of American parents ; he was a state senator from Sutter, Yolo and Yuba Counties during the thirty-first and thirty-third legislative ses- sions. For some years he has been a practic- ing attorney in this city.

Marshall's Discovery

All these accounts and statements being granted true, the credit for the practical dis- covery of gold still belongs to Marshall. While it is true that a gold mine in the lower part of the state was worked in 1841, and that gold from that mine had been sent to Philadelphia for coinage as early as July, 1843, the mine proved unprofitable and was abandoned. The precise date of Marshall's discovery will prob- ably never be settled. He was working for

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

General Sutter, in charge of a gang of men erecting a sawmill at the present site of Col- oma, Eldorado County. The raceway was dug and the water turned in. As Marshall was examining the race, his attention was at- tracted by a piece of shining stuff and he picked it up and took it to the house, where it was boiled in lye, and thought to be gold. He took it with other particles down to Sutter, where it was submitted to crude tests and declared to be gold. Afterward specimens were sent to Monterey and exhibited to Gen- eral Mason, the military governor, and W. T. Sherman, afterwards one of the most famous generals of the Civil War. It was proved to be gold and the news went forth to the world that caused immigration to pour into California from every clime.

James W. Marshall was born in Hope Township, Hunterdon County, N. J., October 8, 1810. When he reached manhood he removed to Indiana and afterward to Illinois and Mis- souri. He arrived in California in 1844 and came to Sutter's Fort in 1845 and was em- ployed by Captain Sutter. He took an active part in the revolution of 1846. In considera- tion of his discovery of gold the legislature al- lowed him a pension for some years before his death. He settled on a small piece of land at Coloma, near where he discovered the gold, and partly supported himself by farming. On the 10th of August, 1885, he was found dead in his cabin and was buried near the spot where gold was first found by him. Marshall never married. After his death the state erected a fine monument to him, a statue in the early miner's garb, with his finger pointing to the place where the old mill-race stood in which his discovery was made. The late John H. Miller, for many years a well-known journalist of this city, was appointed the first guardian of the monument, which office he held for a num- ber of years.

The discovery of gold gave a great impetus to the growth of Sacramento City when the in- flux of gold-seekers commenced, making it the point of departure for the mines as well as the depot for supplies. A part of the latter business it lost when the Folsom and Placer- ville Railroad was built, but its progress was only delayed, as it still continued to be the supply point for distribution to a vast terri- tory, including a large portion of Nevada. Seldom now are the jingling bells of the mule team heard on its streets and the "prairie schooner" laden with freight has become a memory of the past. Of late years the gold dredge has taken the place of hydraulic mining, since the latter was prohibited.

Mining the Metal

The discovery of gold at Coloma on the South Fork of the American River was her-

alded to the world, and a cosmopolitan assem- bly of people soon poured into California by land and sea. In a frenzied race for the new- found riches they overspread the land, peopling the gulches and ravines that had never before been trodden by the foot of white men. Rea- soning logically that the gold on the river bars had some source more or less distant, they ex- plored every gully and canyon above and be- low Coloma, finding diggings in all of them, which were often very rich. The country around Folsom was dotted with rich placers, and a large population soon centered there, making it a lively mining camp, which at one time cast considerably over 2,000 votes. The bars and banks on the American River for miles above and below the town were very rich in deposits, and were worked over by the early miners and later by hydraulic process. In the past few years gold dredging has be- come prevalent in that territory as well as in Butte County. While it is impossible to ob- tain statistics of the amount of gold obtained by dredging, the owners being secretive, it is known that it runs into the millions. While the amount is so large, it is regrettable that the gold cannot be obtained except at the sacri- fice of much of the best land in the state, which is transformed by the dredgers from rich or- chards and vineyards into unsightly heaps of cobblestones, and practically removed for many years from the assessment rolls of the county as a revenue-producer for the public benefit. Even the great Natoma vineyard, at one time the largest in the world, was invaded by the machines and left desolate, and prac- tically wiped off the assessor's map. Much damage, it is claimed, has been done to the American River and other rivers by the "slick- ens" from the dredges filling up the river beds and fouling the water, and there are many who advocate the passage of laws regulating, if not restraining, the operation of dredger mining. The village of Dredge grew up as the home of the dredging company's employees. In recent years the cobblestone piles have been crushed for road material.

After hydraulic mining succeeded the pick, shovel, rocker and long tom of the early miners, and had continued for a number of years, the shoaling of the river beds, and the frequent floods and breaking of levees, that covered the adjacent lands with sand and debris, aroused the attention of the dwellers in the valley and a bitter controversy arose be- tween the hydraulic miners and the citizens of the counties affected. An association was formed, denominated the "Anti-Debris Asso- ciation," composed of citizens of the counties along the Sacramento River. It was pointed out that valuable orchards were being de- stroyed along and below the entry of the tribu- taries of the Sacramento which carried down

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

the detritus from the hydraulic mines ; that the bed of the Sacramento and its tributaries was being raised by the deposits of the debris and navigation was impeded, if not utterly de- stroyed in the summer; while the floods, the result of the raising of the river plane, carried destruction to the low lands and the towns along their banks. Marysville was a great sufferer from broken levees and inundations, and today the town lies below the level of the bottom of the river on which it is situated, while thousands of formerly fertile acres of ad-

jacent lands are a waste of gravel and sand many feet deep. The association secured ap- propriations for its support from the super- visors of the counties in which its members resided, and a long legal battle was begun with the object of compelling the hydraulic miners to cease their operations. At last the associa- tion was successful in its contest, and an in- junction was obtained, prohibiting hydraulic mining unless the debris could be successfully impounded to the satisfaction of the plaintiffs.

CHAPTER X

THE SQUATTER RIOT

Causes of the Riot

M ANY of the immigrants arriving in 1849 were imbued with the idea that Sutter possessed no valid title to the land where the city stands, as his title was founded on the grant by Governor Alvarado, and the United States had subsequently conquered and taken possession of the state. They consid- ered the ground public land and subject to set- tlement. Moreover, they claimed the boun- daries of Sutter's Grant, as defined, did not cover the site of the city, but ended some dis- tance above it. Also that it could not embrace the site of the city, as by its stipulations it should not be subject to annual inundations, and that by improving Hock Farm he had overstepped the boundaries of his possession under the grant either to the north or the south; his engineer's lines, when correctly drawn, placed his southern boundary consider- ably above the city. These claims were not accorded much attention by those who had purchased from Sutter.

But when the immigrants across the plains arrived a few months later, things took on a different appearance. Weary with the long journey, and many of them without money or homes, the idea that they could own the land by simply taking possession of it was an allur- ing one and the ranks of the "Squatters," as they were called, increased rapidly. Lots were staked off in various parts of the city and those taking possession boldly declared the squatter title was superior to that from Sutter.

An association was formed, and the first meeting was called by John H. Keyser, and held at the house of a man named Kelley, on Front Street, above J. A number of meetings 6

were held there prior to the flood of the ensu- ing winter. At first the members of the asso- ciation were mostly ignorant and uneducated men, but later men of tact and talent succeeded them and their addresses began to be viewed with anxiety by those holding Sutter titles. Their speeches were incendiary, and in May a talented engineer, Col. John Plumbe, joined them and became their surveyor and recorder. After the floods of January and March, their organization was made more thorough and a feeling of hostility grew up between them and the holders of Sutter titles. The members of the association began to demonstrate their views by taking possession of lots in various parts of the city. Contests ensued and re- movals were made from time to time.

May 10, 1850, John P. Rodgers and Dewitt J. Burnett began action in the recorder's court against James J. Madden, B. F. Washington presiding. The lot settled upon and claimed by Madden was on the southeast corner of Second and N Streets. The defendant claimed that the land was owned by the United States, and therefore subject to a title by settlement and improvement. The case was argued and the recorder decided against defendant, fining him $300 and costs, and ordering restitution.

The defendant appealed to the county court, but Judge Willis sustained the lower court. The defendant asked to appeal to the supreme court, but there being no law then to sustain the appeal, the motion was denied. Both parties grew excited during the trial, and the Squatters as a body declared against the res- titution of the property pursuant to the judg- ment of the courts. After the decision the Squatters issued a poster, claiming that the

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

laws passed by the legislature were not recog- nized by congress and not binding, and that the settlers would resist and disregard all de- cisions of the courts in land cases and also all summonses or execution by the sheriff or other officers, and resolved to appeal to arms on the first show of violence to their persons or prop- erty by the sheriff. The card caused great ex- citement, and many who had hitherto passively approved of the Squatters enlisted against them. On August 11, the Squatters held a meeting on the levee and the proceedings were reported in the "Transcript" the next morn- ing. Dr. Robinson was the chairman and the meeting was much excited, both sides of the controversy being heatedly debated. J. H. McKune, who afterward became prominent in county affairs, James McClatchy, afterward editor and proprietor of the "Bee," and others spoke in defense of the Squatters' action, while Samuel Brannan and Col. E. J. C. Kewen de -. fended the Sutter titles. Captain Sutter claimed the land within the city limits by vir- tue of his grant from the Mexican government, and through the guarantee of the treaty be- tween the United States and Mexico. His claim was sustained by the settlement at Sut- ter's Fort, by improvements made, by occa- sional occupation and use made of the site of the city and by a map of the survey made for him by an engineer whom he supposed to be a competent one, locating him on the land.

As the meeting progressed, Dr. Robinson in a speech defending the Squatters' resolutions, said that, as for him, he meant at all hazards to defend the property he had settled upon.

Madden retained the possession of the prop- erty in litigation for some time, by the defense of the members of the association, and the house itself became a sort of garrison, contain- ing a variety of weapons. In his endeavors to execute the writ of restitution, the sheriff dis- covered a number of persons whom he knew among the party who were resisting his au- thority. He reported the names of James Mc- Clatchy, Charles Robinson and others to the court and warrants for their arrest were is- sued by Justice Sackett. McClatchy delivered himself up and was confined in jail during the subsequent conflicts. Madden was finally ousted from the house, but recovered posses- sion on August 14.

Contemporary Account of the Riot

The "Times" of August 15 gives an ac- count of the fatal riot on the preceding day as follows :

"At two o'clock a body of Squatters number- ing about forty proceeded to the foot of I Street, on the levee, and undertook to regain possession of a piece of ground which had late- ly been in the occupation of one of their party.

They were fully armed and a general under- standing prevailed that their object included the liberation of the two men committed the day before to the prison ship, upon the charge of being concerned in a riotous assemblage on the morning of the 12th, for the purpose of forcibly resisting the process of law. After the displacement of some of the lumber on the ground the party of Squatters were deterred from proceeding further in their intent. The mayor had meantime requested all good citi- zens to aid in suppressing the threatened riot, and very large numbers had gathered about the spot: several citizens also, armed, pro- ceeded to the prison ship, but no demonstra- tion was made in that direction.

"The Squatters retreated in martial order. and passed up I Street to Third, thence to J and up to Fourth, followed by a crowd of per- sons. They were here met by the mayor, who ordered them to deliver up their arms and dis- perse. This they refused to do, and several shots were fired at him, four of which took effect. He fell from his horse, and was car- ried to his residence dangerously, if not mortal- ly, wounded. J. W. Woodland, who, unarmed, stood near the mayor at the time, received a shot in the groin, which he survived but a few minutes. A man named Jesse Morgan, said to be from Millerville, Ohio, lately arrived, and who was seen to aim at the mayor, next fell dead, from the effects of a ball which passed through his neck. James Harper was very severely, but not dangerously, wounded, in supporting the sheriff. It is difficult to give an exact detail of the terrible incidents which followed in such rapid succession. It appeared from an examination before the coroner, that the party of Squatters drew up in regular or- der, on arriving at the corner of Fourth Street, and that the sheriff was several times fired on before he displayed any weapons. Testimony was also given as to the person who was seen to fire upon Mr. Woodland. The mounted leader of the Squatters, an Irishman by the name of Maloney, had his horse shot under him ; he endeavored to escape, but was pur- sued a short distance up the alley and shot through the head, falling dead. Dr. Robinson, one of the armed party under his command, was wounded in the lower part of the body. Mr. Hale, of the firm of Crowell Hale & Com- pany, was slightly wounded in the leg. A young boy, son of Mr. Rogers, was also wounded. We have heard of several others, but are not assured of the correctness of the reports. Upon the oath of several gentlemen, that they saw Dr. Robinson deliberately aim at the mayor, he was arrested and placed in con- finement. An Irishman named Caulfield, ac- cused of a similar act with regard to both the mayor and Mr. Woodland, was arrested late in the afternoon.

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

"After these terrible scenes, which occupied less time than we have employed to describe them, had passed, a meeting of the council was held, the proceedings of which appear in an- other column. The citizens gathered at the corner of Second and J Streets and other places throughout the city, and proceeded to organize parties to prevent further outrage. A body of mounted men under command of the sheriff. hearing the report that the Squatters were re- inforcing at the Fort, proceeded thither. The lawless mob were nowhere to be found; scouts were dispatched in all directions, but no trace of them could be discovered. Meanwhile sev- eral other parties had formed in rank and pro- ceeded to different parts of the city, establish- ing rendezvous at different points. Brigadier- General Winn issued a proclamation declaring the city under martial law, and ordering all law-abiding citizens to form themselves into volunteer companies and report their organiza- tion to headquarters as soon as possible. At evening quiet was fully restored throughout the city. Lieutenant Governor McDougal, who left on the 'Senator,' and expects to meet the 'Gold Hunter,' will bring up this morning a detachment of troops from Benicia. An ex- traordinary police force of 500 was summoned for duty during the night.".

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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, 1923, Part 13

Author: Reed, G. Walter Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026