USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 25
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Tom Benton, in describing the scene on the Santa Ynez Mountain, afterwards in the Unite ! States Senate, said, "It was as if the ocean which lay at the foot of that mountain had been lifted up and poured bodily over them." And it certainly was a bold invasion of the solid land by an element which is declared to have its appointed metes and bounds that it should never pass the earth at any time. So came and passed Christmas, 1846, to the California volunteers under Fremont.
THE CALIFORNIANS IN THE CAMPAIGN.
After the battle at Natividad the Californians made their way to the South, taking Larkin with them, but it was believed by the Americans that they had dispersed. A gentleman of San Luis Obispo, native of the country, then quite young, relates the following as an example of the strategy of his countrymen in that campaign :-
The California officer in command claimed to be one of the most skillful in military strategy and desperate in bravery of all living Generals. He had a large party of Californians, able to crush at any time, as he boasted, the poorly equipped and half-starved battalion of American volunteers, but, with the Fabian policy which has given fame and success to other great commanders, decided to spare his men an open encounter, and seek some opportunity of decided advantage, when, without loss, he could crush the invaders at a blow. He harangued his troops in grandiloquent style, and assured them that if the enemy dared to attempt to cross the Salinas he would hurl the last body into the stream. But as the Americans ap- proached he saw that he could not get at them as well as he had anticipated; but that on the Nacimiento he would crush them utterly. As the dreaded foreigners reached that stream the valiant Californian was reminded
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SAN SIMEON RANCH, RANCH , RESIDENCE OF IRA VANGORDEN, NEAR CAMBRIA, SAN LUIS OBI . CAL
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THE CONQUEST.
of the pass in the Santa Lucia Mountains through which the Americans must go, and that it would be a much bet- ter place to deal the deadly blow, and all withdrew to that strategic point. But in due time the invading horde straggled along among the hills, when the brave General thought it would be prudent to retire to San Luis Ob spo, where greater numbers would join him, and then, the miserable gringos would be exhausted by their efforts in crossing the mountains and would fall an easy prey.
The Americans crossed the mountains and approached the mission, and it was concluded to allow them pos- session that they might be lulled into apparent security, and then the Californians would take them unawares and slaughter them like so many sheep in a corral. The good opportunity did not offer, and the_ repelling force retired to another strong defensive point, and upon the approach of the foe, another stronghold he knew of further south was better still.
At Santa Ynez Mission the American volunteers found a large quantity of aguardiente, and many so indulged in the fiery liquid as to become intoxicated, and the bat- talion was completely demoralized for the time being. This fact was represented to the California General with the recommendation that then was the time to attack. "What !" he said, " attack the Americans when they are maddened by liquor? No! no ! You do not know them as I do. When drinking they will fight like demons. Oh ! no; we will go to the Gaviota Pass, and when they come marching through, we will throw the rocks down upon their heads and crush them all." The Gaviota Pass was selected as the great and long desired oppor- tunity, but Fremont effected a flank movement, and the battalion tumbled over the mountain by the San Marcos and entered Santa Barbara without opposition.
For his knowledge of the San Marcos Pass and the fact of the Gaviota Pass being guarded as strongly as it was, Fremont was indebted to Capt. Isaac J. Sparks and Mr. Foxen, who strongly advised the course taken, and it is the opinion of some that they thus saved the bat- talion.
As previously stated, the battalion reached Los Angeles too late to partake in the battles, but meeting the beaten Californians made the famous treaty which pacified the country.
IRA VAN GORDON,
A veteran ranchero of San Luis Obispo County, a pioneer of California, and a soldier of the Mexican War, was born in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, February 12, 1820. Amid the hills of the "Keystone State" where the waters flow eastward to the Susquehanna and the Atlantic, and west- ward to the Ohio and the Gulf of Mexico, Mr. Van Gor- don passed his youthful years, attending the schools as do all ambitious American boys, and from his parents learn- ing the duties of a farmer. In 1837, when seventeen years of age, he moved to the new State of Michigan, where he lived two years and then followed the declining sun to the prairies of Illinois. After a three years' resi- dence in that State, he returned to Michigan, tarrying there two years. During these years of pilgrimage he pursued the occupation of a farmer. At that period he
had arrived at the age when his vigorous manhood should manifest itself, and he cast about for his future field of operations. Far away upon the Pacific Coast was the American land of Oregon, to which many were emigrat. ing, and south of it was the Mexican country called Cali- fornia, of which dim stories had been told of its great valleys, rivers, and harbors, its vast herds of cattle, its genial climate, and the hope was whispered that it might soon become an American possession. To the Pacific Coast young Van Gordon decided to go, and, joining a party of emigrants in the spring of 1846, started on the great journey as a driver of a team of oxen. Many of the emigrants of that year met with terrible disaster, but the train in which Mr. Van Gordon came, after trav- eling six months from the frontier of Missouri, arrived safely in the valley of the Sacramento. The fall and win- ter of 1846 was spent at the mission of Santa Clara. The war with Mexico had commenced while the emigrants were on the plains, and upon their arrival in California, they were much surprised as well as gratified to find the flag of their country flying over Sutter's Fort, and on every flag-staff, and that California was part of the United States.
Where they had expected to be foreigners in a strange land, they found themselves in their own country, and welcomed by their own countrymen. Peace prevailed when they came into the country, but shortly thereafter the Californians rose in arms and the war was renewed. Fremont raised a battalion and marched to the south, and volunteers were raised to defend the people and towns in the north. Mr. Van Gordon joined the volunteers, and aided in putting down the insurrection and securing peace. The battle of the San Gabriel and of the Mesa, near Los Angeles, followed by the surrender of the Mexi- can forces to Fremont at the Cahuenga Pass closed the war in California, and in the spring of 1847 the volun- teers were disbanded. Mr. Van Gordon then went to the mission of San Jose and commenced farming, remaining thus engaged during the year. The discovery of gold was made in the winter of 1847-48, but before the excite- ment became great he went to the redwoods, and there made shakes, shingles, and lumber for San Francisco, continuing this quiet business while the country was run- ning mad after gold. Six months passed while so em- ployed, when he took the gold fever and went to the mines on the American River. After four months' suc- cessful mining, he returned to the mission of San Jose and there resumed farming, where each acre that year, and in 1849, and for several years following, produced a crop worth a thousand dollars. In 1851 Mr. Van Gor- don went to Los Angeles County and commenced rais- ing, buying, and shipping grapes to San Francisco, doing a very large business in that line, continuing in it for two years. From Los Angeles he went to San Diego County. purchasing mules for the Government, and afterwards engaging in stock-raising, spending two and a half years in that county. In 1856 he went to Tulare County, and there established a ranch and raised and fatted cattle, re- maining there for a period of eleven years. From Tulare County he removed to San Luis Obispo County in 1868.
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HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
where he has since lived, carrying on an extensive busi- ness in stock-raising, farming, and dairying. His ranch contains about 3,000 acres, and he keeps 175 cows. His residence is where he first located in 1868, about midway between Cambria and San Simeon, and is shown by an engraving reproduced in this book.
Mr. Van Gordon was married in 1841 to Miss Rebecca Harlan, a native of Indiana, and two sons are now living to cheer the old age of their parents.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MAYFIELD
Is a veteran of the Mexican War and one of the pioneers of California. This gentleman was born in the State of Tennessee, June 27, 1826, remaining in that State until ten years of age, when his parents moved into the State of Illinois. There he attended the schools of the coun- try, passing the quiet life of a farmer until, at the age of twenty, the sound of war called the brave young men of the land to arms. In 1846 he joined the volunteers for the war with Mexico, and under the command of Col. Philip St. George Cooke, marched across the plains, down the Rio Grande through New Mexico, and through Sonora to California. In the spring of 1848 the regi- ment was disbanded, and Mr. Mayfield was discharged from service at Los Angeles. Then came the excit- ing reports of the discovery of gold on the American River, and he was among the first in the diggings at Sutter's Mill. The events in that connection form one of the most interesting portions of the history of the State, and are detailed elsewhere in this volume. The occupation of a miner he followed until 1852, when he removed into the farming region of Sonoma County, engaging in the cultivation of the soil until 1868. He then came to San Luis Obispo County, locating on San Simeon Creek, where he has since lived, engaged in farm- ing and dairying, milking from twenty-five to thirty cows. His residence and its surroundings are shown by an en- graving on another page. Mr. Mayfield was married in 1857 to Mrs. Terrill, and seven children have been born to them, all of whom are living.
This gentleman is noted for his public spirit and the interest he takes in public affairs, particularly those relat- ing to the welfare of his county and community. He has filled the office of Supervisor, Road Master, and School Trustee, and is always identified in the manage- ment of the business of the county, earning the respect and confidence of all.
GEORGE STONE
Was a veteran of the war with Mexico and a pioneer of California, born in the State of New York, in 1830, and dying at Cayucos, San Luis Obispo County, April 7, 1882. During his youthful years he was a resident of the State of his birth, and at the breaking out of the war with Mex- ico, he volunteered, young as he was, in the service of his country, and marched to the battle-field. After serv- ing through the war he came to California, and settled in San Buenaventura in 1849. He soon thereafter went to the mines in Sonora, Tuolumne County, where he re- mained one year, when he returned to San Buenaventura
and took charge of a store for Isaac Callahan. Shortly thereafter Mr. Callahan died, and Mr. Stone removed to Santa Barbara. There he arranged with Capt. Isaac J. Sparks to take his rancho of Arroyo Grande with stock on shares, and moved upon the place and took posses- sion. He then returned to San Buenaventura and mar- ried Mrs. Callahan, the widow of his former employer, who survives her husband.
In 1858, Mr. Stone went to Mexico, where he remained two years, returning to California in 1860, much broken in health. After his return to Santa Barbara he received the appointment of Under-Sheriff from Sheriff Dennis, and was subsequently invited by the leading men to stand as candidate for Sheriff. This he declined, as he could not neglect the interests of Captain Sparks on the Arroyo Grande Rancho, to which he returned. That property being in San Luis Obispo County, he was, in 1863, nom- inated by the Republicans of that county for the office of Sheriff. In this contest he was unsuccessful, as is shown in the chapter devoted to political history in this work. In 1864 culminated the succession of dry years that brought ruin to all the cattle-growers of the southern country. All the stock upon the Arroyo Grande died, and Mr. Stone was left without employment. He then re- ceived the appointment of Revenue Assessor for his dis- trict, which office he filled to the satisfaction of the Gov- ernment and people. For many years he was a resident of the county, and during his long life in the State main- tained the kind regards and high respect of all who knew him. He died at Cayucos, April 7, 1882, leaving a wife and six grown children. George W. M. Stone, the eldest son of George Stone, upon his father's death, returned to Cayucos from his temporary residence in Los Angeles, and assumed the management of the Exchange Hotel, which his father had conducted previous to his decease. In this he is at present engaged, with the determination to maintain it as a first-class hotel in every respect.
ELISHA W. HOWE,
Whose lovely residence near the town of Morro is shown on another page, is one of that proud body of pioneers, whose spirit of enterprise and love of adventure brought them at an early day to the Pacific Coast, and on whom devolved the responsibility and honor of organizing a new Government, and creating a new society far removed from the control and help of the General Government, or of established orders of society. Mr. Howe was born in Providence, Rhode Island, October 27, 1827. When three years of age, his parents moved to the city of New York, and four years later removed to La Salle County, Illinois, then a wild and comparatively unknown region in the extreme West. The broad prairies were then in their primeval wildness, and the beautiful Illinois River knew only the batteaux of the trapper and the occasional keel- boat of the trader. The Black Hawk War had closed but a year or two before, rendering the country habitable to the white race. La Salle, Ottawa, and Joliet were set- tlements where the old French missionaries of 150 years before had reared the cross, or traded with the savages. Such was the home the parents of Mr. Howe sought
GEORGE STONE (Deceased), CAYUCOS, CAL.
1
. STOCK RANCH AND RESIDENCE OF E W HOWE MORRO CREEK SAN LUIS OBISPO CO. CAL.
2
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EARLY IMMIGRANTS.
in his early childhood, and it was a bold move to venture at that day from the extreme East to the farthest frontier of the West. While residing at La Salle, and before the subject of this notice had reached the age of thirteen, both his parents died. He then, at the age of thirteen, returned to his friends in Rhode Island. During his childhood and youth he attended the schools of the lo- calities where he had dwelt, and thus acquired a fair edu- cation. Remaining in Rhode Island until eighteen years of age, he then set out to make his way in the world, choosing the life of a sailor on a voyage to the Pacific. His sailor life was not as pleasant as the story-books had made him believe, nor as his fancy had painted it, and after a two-years' cruise he left his ship at the Sandwich Islands and made his way to California, whence had come the news of the discovery of gold. In 1848, he landed at the port of San Francisco, then commonly known as Yerba Buena, and proceeded at once to the northern mines. There he engaged in mining, and soon established a trading-post, continuing in the business for two years. Then gold was the great product of the country, and profits on goods were enormous, enabling a careful trader or lucky miner to quickly amass a fortune. In 1850, Mr. Howe gave up his mining and trading operations in the north, and moved to San Luis Obispo County, where he has since lived as stock-grower and farmer, following the advice of Horace Greeley, and "growing up with the country."
Mr. Howe was married in 1853, to Señorita Gabriela Estudillo, a native of California. They have six living children, three of whom are sons and three daughters.
CHAPTER XII. EARLY IMMIGRANTS.
Limited Knowledge of the Country-The Fur Trappers-Occupa- tion of the Pacific Coast- Jedediah S. Smith-The First Over- land Traveler-Smith's Troubles in California-The Fate of Smith-Other Explorers-The Hudson Bay Company-J. Alexander Forbes-Dr. John Marshe-The First Overland Immigrants-Names of the Company-Immigrants in the South in 1841-The Great Santa Fe Trail-Pioneer Over- landers-Fremont in 1844-Seeking the Buenaventura River- Wandering in the Mountains-Consultation with the Indians -The Struggle with the Snow-An Indian Warning -- Reach- ing the Summit-In the Sacramento Valley-A Favorable Winter - Immigrants of 1844-Captain Truckee - Notable Families-The Donner Party-Other Immigrants-Mormon Battalion-Stevenson's Regiment- Discovery of Gold-Capt. Wm. G. Dana-His Birth and Ancestry- Youth and Early Travels-Captain of the Brig Waverly-His Ancestral Estate -Affectionate Correspondence-Inherits Property-Gold in the Cargo-A Cargo to Sitka -- Opposition to Americans in California-Perplexing Laws-Closes Business in Oahu-Let- ter from his Agent-Captain Dana Builds a Schooner-Obtains the Nipomo Grant-The Hospitalities of Nipomo-Engages in Manufactures-Political Controversies-Offices Held-Bnsi- ness Enterprises -- Marriage and Family of Mrs. Dana-Remi- niscence of Early History-The Family-Affliction and Death -William Charles Dana-John Francis Dana.
THE earliest establishments of civilization in Califor- nia were made by the devont missionaries of the order of St. Francis de Assisi, coming as soldiers of the cross to effect the spiritual conquest of the benighted souls of the heathen aborigines, and accom-
panying these were soldiers of the sword to effect the physical conquest, protect the first, and hold possession of the land. Their coming, their progress, and their condition have been the themes of previous chapters. They were of the Spanish race, gave the character to the country, and fill the first era of California's history. Intermingling with them came by degrees, singly and in small parties, hunters and trappers, merchants and sailors, from various parts of the world, marrying the women of the country, adopting the religion, language, and customs of the people, and becoming scarcely distinguishable among them. They were characterized by great courage, enterprise, and thrift, commanding influence and acquir- ing wealth, establishing a reputation of high honor, and forming a basis of highly admired, proud first families, whose names have been generally mentioned. At a later date the trans-continental route was opened from the United States, and others came who were universally called " emigrants."
LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF THE COUNTRY.
The native Californians never penetrated into the heart of the mountains that skirt the Sacramento Valley on the east. Gazing from a distance upon their snow- clad crests, they had named them Sierra Nevada, the "snowy mountains," but beyond this they remained a terra incognita to them.
The bold and adventurous trappers of the American Fur Company and the Hudson Bay Company passed over them several times on their way to and from the choice trapping grounds in the valley. The celebrated trapper, Stephen C. Meek, claims to have been the first white man who gazed upon the Truckee River, on which stream he set his traps in 1833. The river did not receive its name, however, until eleven years later, as will appear further on.
The Yuba and Bear Rivers having been explored by the Spaniards in 1822, in the valley, had been named at that time, the one Rio de los Osos (Bear River), and the other Rio de las Uvas (Grape River), but as to their source and direction in the mountains nothing whatever was known.
To them were unknown lakes Donner, Tahoe, and the scores of lesser lakes that are the pride of the mountains. A few miserable Digger Indians lived in huts and sub- sisted on acorns, grass, rabbits, etc., and were sovereign lords of the beautiful Sierra.
THE FUR TRAPPERS.
The valleys of California were, during the early part of this century, occupied and traversed by bands of trap- pers in the employ of the many American and foreign fur companies. The stories of the wanderings and experiences are mostly related in the form of sensational novels, whose authenticity and accuracy must be taken with a great degree of allowance. Few records regarding these fur-hunters remain which are within the reach of the historian, and the information given has been gleaned in part from personal interviews with those whose knowl- edge of the subject was gained by actual experience, or
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HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
by a personal acquaintance with those who belonged to the parties. In many cases their stories differ widely in regard to facts and names.
As early as 1820 the 'Tulare, San Joaquin, and Sacra- mento Valleys were occupied by trappers who had wandered there while searching for the Columbia River. Captain Sutter, in 1834, while in New Mexico, heard from these California trappers of the Sacramento Valley, which afterward became so reputed as his home.
OCCUPATION OF THE PACIFIC COAST.
The disputes arising in regard to the occupation of the northern part of the Pacific Coast trapping region, in Oregon, led the American hunters to occupy the territory in and about the Rocky Mountains. In 1815, Congress, at the earnest request of the people of the West, passed an Act driving out British traders from the American terri- tory east of the Rocky Mountains. Immediately the employés of the old North American Fur Company, still under charge of John Jacob Astor, began to hunt and trap in the region of the headwaters of the Mississippi and Upper Missouri. In 1823 Mr. W. H. Ashley, of St. Louis, an old merchant in the fur trade, at the head of a party, explored the Sweetwater, the Platte, the South Pass, and the headwaters of the Colorado, return- ing in the summer.
In 1824 he extended his explorations to Great Salt Lake, near which, on a smaller lake named Lake Ashley, he built a fort and trading-post, which was occupied for three years by his men.
JEDEDIAH S. SMITH.
In 1826 (or 1827) Mr. Ashley disposed of his business, including the fort, to the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, under the leadership of Jedediah S. Smith, David Jack- son, and William Sublette.
During the spring of 1825 Smith, with a party of forty trappers and Indians, started from the headwaters of Green River, traveling westward, crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and in July entered the Tulare Valley.
THE FIRST OVERLAND TRAVELER.
The country from the Tulare to the American Fork of the Sacramento River was traversed in trapping for beaver. They found at the fork another party of Ameri- can trappers encamped, and located their rendezvous near the present town of Folsom.
In October, Smith, leaving the remainder of the party at the camp, returned to the company's headquarters on Green River. In May, 1826, he again set out for the new trapping region, taking a route further south than on the first trip; but when on the Colorado all the party except Smith, Galbraith, and Turner were killed by the Mohave Indians.
SMITH'S TROUBLES IN CALIFORNIA.
These three escaped to San Gabriel Mission, and, December 26, 1826, were arrested as spies or filibusters. They were taken to the presidio at San Diego, where they were detained until the following certificate from Americans, then on the coast, was presented :-
We, the undersigned, having been requested by Capt. Jedediah S. Smith to state our opinion regarding his entering the Province of California, do not hesitate to say that we have no doubt but that he was compelled to for want of provisions and water, having entered so far into the barren country that lies between the longitudes of forty-two and forty-three west that he found it impossible to return by the route he came, as his horses had most of them died for want of food and water; he was therefore under the necessity of pushing forward to California, it being the nearest place where he could procure supplies to enable him to return.
We further state as our opinion that the account given by him is circumstantially correct, and that his sole object was the hunting and trapping of beaver and other furs. We have also examined the passports produced by him from the Superintendent of Indian affairs for the Government of the United States of America, and do not hesitate to say that we believe them perfectly correct.
We also state that in our opinion his motive for wish- ing to pass by a different route to the Columbia River on his return, is solely because he feels convinced that he and his companions run great risk of perishing if they return by the route they came.
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