History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description, Part 9

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: San Francisco : Alley, Bowen, & Co.
Number of Pages: 894

USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 9

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We have elsewhere fully entered into the subject of the events which

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

transpired between the years 1836 and 1846, in regard to the donation of grants and commencement of hostilities between the United States and Mexico. We have now but to attempt to follow the names of those immi- grants who settled in the county. In the year 1838 there came two men named Henry Woods and Lawrence Carmichael.

In the year 18+1, however, the first overland immigration may be said to have commenced, the voyage being then more one of discovery than certainty, the only well-ascertained points at that time being the Great Salt I.ake and Huniboldt river, then known as St. Mary's. Of the two parties that left Independence, Missouri, May 6, 1841, the first was under the leader- ship of Robert H. Thomes of Tehama, and traveled by St. Mary's, Ogden, or Humboldt river; the second came by Santa Fe, and the middle route to Los Angeles, and had as its chief, William Workman, who died in Los Angeles in 1876. In the former, which numbered about thirty men, we find the names of Josiah Belden, Charles M. Weber, who died in Stockton in May, 1881, and Grove C. Cook, three gentlemen that have much to do with the early days of Santa Clara. Besides these we learn that Henry Pitts, Peter Springer, William Wiggins, and James Rock came at that time. In the year 1843 another party crossed the plains, and some of them found their way to the Santa Clara valley, among them being Major S. J. Hensley, who died in 1865; Julius Martin, Thomas J. Shadden, and Winston Bennett, the last three of whom brought their wives, the first foreign ladies to settle in the district. In 1844 we find among the arrivals in the county the names of Captain Stephens, the Murphy family, including Martin Murphy, senior, his wife with five sons and two daughters; James Miller, now an honored resident of Marin county, who removed thither shortly after his arrival; Dr. John Townsend and wife, and Moses Schallenberger, the father, mother and uncle of John Townsend of San Jose; Joseph Foster; Mr. Hitchcock and family; Thomas Hudson, C. Columbet, and Martin Corcoran. Of these Dr. Townsend and his wife died of cholera in the year 1850; and Mr. Murphy, senior, March 16, 1865. His biography will be found in another portion of this work. In 1845 Frank Lightston, J. Washburn Win. O'Connor, W. C. Wilson, John Daubenbiss, and James Stokes, came, to the county. In 1846, there arrived in Santa Clara valley Uncle Ike Branham, Jacob D. Hoppe, Charles White, Joseph Aram, Zachariah Jones, James F. Reed, William McCutchen, and their families, George Donner and his two sisters, Arthur Caldwell, William Daniels, Samuel Young, A. A. Hecox, William Haun, William Fisher, Edward Pyle, and their families; Wesley Hoover, and John W. Whisman, with their wives; William and Thomas Campbell and their families; Peter Quivey and his family; Thomas Kell, and his belongings; Thomas West, and his four sons, Thomas, Francis T., George R., and William T .; John Snyder, Septimus R. Moultrie, Wil-

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

liam J. Parr, Joseph A. Lard, Mrs. W. H. Lowe, Mrs. E. Markham, L. C. Young, R. J. Young, M. D. Young, S. C. Young (dec), Samuel Q. Brough- ton, R. F. Peckham, Z. Rochon,{ Joseph Stillwell, George Cross, Ramon S. Ceseña, M. Holloway, Edward Johnson, Mrs. Martha J. Lewis, and James Enright. Of course there were many more, but these are the only names that the oldest resident in the county recollects.

Above we have mentioned the names of George Donner and his two sisters as settlers in Santa Clara county. Let us now relate the terrible experiences of that company known as the Donner party, of which they were members :-

Tuthill's History of California tells us: "Of the overland emigration to California, in 1846, about eighty wagons took a new route, from Fort Bridger, around the south end of Great Salt Lake. The pioneers of the party arrived in good season over the mountains; but Mr. Reed's and Mr. Donner's com- panies opened a new route through the desert, lost a month's time by their explorations, and reached the foot of the Truckee pass, in the Sierra Nevada, on the 31st of October, instead of the 1st, as they had intended. The snow began to fall on the mountains two or three weeks earlier than usual that year, and was already so piled up in the pass that they could not proceed. They attempted it repeatedly, but were as often forced to return. One party built their cabins near the Truckee lake, killed their cattle, and went into Winter quarters. The other (Donner's) party, still believed that they could thread the pass, and so failed to build their cabins before more snow came and buried their cattle alive. Of course they were soon utterly destitute of food, for they could not tell where the cattle were buried, and there was no hope of game on a desert so piled with snow that nothing without wings could move. The number of those who were thus storm-stayed, at the very threshold of the land whose Winters are one long Spring, was eighty, of whom thirty were females, and several children. The Mr. Donner who had charge of one com- pany, was an Illinoisian, sixty years of age, a man of high respectability and abundant means. His wife was a woman of education and refinement, and much younger than he.

"During November it snowed thirteen days; during December and January, eight days in each. Much of the time the tops of the cabins were below the snow level.

" It was six weeks after the halt was made that a party of fifteen, including five women, and two Indians who acted as guides, set out on snow-shoes to cross the mountains, and give notice to the people of the California settlements of the condition of their friends. At first the snow was so light and feathery that even in snow-shoes they sank nearly a foot at every step. On the second day they crossed the 'divide,' finding the snow at the summit twelve

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

, feet deep. Pushing forward with the courage of despair, they made from four to eight miles a day.

" Within a week they got entirely out of provisions; and three of them, succumbing to cold, weariness, and starvation, had died. Then a heavy snow-storm came on, which compelled them to lie still, buried between their blankets under the snow, for thirty-six hours. By the evening of the tenth day three more had died, and the living had been four days without food. The horrid alternative was accepted-they took the flesh from the bones of their dead, remained in camp two days to dry it, and then pushed on.

" On New Year's, the sixteenth day since leaving Truckee lake, they were toiling up a steep mountain. Their feet were frozen. Every step was marked with blood. On the second of January, their food again gave out. On the third, they had nothing to eat but the strings of their snow-shoes. On the fourth, the Indians eloped, justly suspicious that they might be sacrificed for food. On the fifth, they shot a deer, and that day one of their number died. Soon after three others died, and every death now eked out the existence of the survivors. On the seventh, all gave out, and concluded their wander- ings useless, except one. He, guided by two stray friendly Indians, dragged himself on till he reached a settlement on Bear river. By midnight the settlers had found and were treating with all Christian kindness what remained of the little company that after more than a month of the most terrible sufferings, had that morning halted to die.

" The story that there were emigrants perishing on the other side of the snowy barrier ran swiftly down the Sacramento valley to New Helvetia, and Captain Sutter, at his own expense, fitted out an expedition of men and of mules laden with provisions, to cross the mountains and relieve them. It ran on to San Francisco, and the people, rallying in public meeting, raised fifteen hundred dollars and with it fitted out another expedition. The naval com- mandant of the port fitted out still others.

" The first of the relief parties reached Truckee lake on the nineteenth of February. Ten of the people in the nearest camp were dead. For four weeks those who were still alive had fed only on bullocks' hides. At Donner's camp they had but one hide remaining. The visitors left a small supply of provisions with the twenty-nine .whom they could not take with them, and started back with the remainder. Four of the children they carried on their backs.

" Another of the relief parties reached Truckee lake on"the first of March. They immediately started back with seventeen of the sufferers; but, a heavy snow-storm overtaking them, they left all, except three of the children, on the road. Another party went after those who were left on the way ; found three of them dead, and the rest sustaining life by feeding on the flesh of the dead.

" The last relief party reached Donner's camp late in April, when the snows

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

had melted so much that the earth appeared in spots. The main cabin was, empty, but some miles distant they found the last survivor of all lying on the cabin floor smoking his pipe. He was ferocious in aspect, savage and repul- sive in manner. His camp-kettle was over the fire and in it his meal of human flesh preparing. The stripped bones of his fellow-sufferers lay around him. He refused to return with the party, and only consented when he saw there was no escape.

" Mrs. Donner was the last to die, Her husband's body, carefully laid out and wrapped in a sheet, was found at his tent. Circumstances led to the suspicion that the survivor had killed Mrs. Donner for her flesh and her money. and when he was threatened with hanging, and the rope tightened around his neck, he produced over five hundred dollars in gold, which, prob- ably, he had appropriated from her store."

In relation to this dreary story of suffering, this portion of our history will be concluded by the narration of the prophetie dream of George Yount, attended, as it was, with such marvelous results.

At this time (the Winter of 1846), while residing in Napa county, of which he was the pioneer settler, he dreamt that a party of emigrants were snow- bound in the Sierra Nevada, high up in the mountains, where they were suffering the most distressing privations from cold and want of food. The locality where his dream had placed these unhappy mortals, he had never visited, yet so clear was his vision that he described the sheet of water sur- rounded by lofty peaks, deep-covered with snow, while on every hand tow- ering pine trees reared their heads far above the limitless waste. In his sleep he saw the hungry human beings ravenously tear the flesh from the bones of their fellow-creatures, slain to satisfy their craving appetites, in the midst of a gloomy desolation. He dreamed his dream on three successive nights, after which he related it to others, among whom were a few who had been on hunting expeditions in the Sierras. These wished for a precise description of the seene foreshadowed to him. They recognized the Truckee, now the Donner lake. On the strength of this recognition Mr. Yount fitted out a search expedition, and, with these men as guides, went to the place indicated, and, prodigious to relate, was one of the successful relieving bands to reach the ill-fated Donner party.

Many books on this subject have been written, but all have differed mater- ially. As several prominent citizens of Santa Clara county are interested in the matter, we here produce the statement of James F. Reed, as appeared in the Pacific Rural Press. Mr. Reed was a well-known and highly respected member of society in San José.

"I left Springfield, Illinois, with my family about the middle of April, 1846. George and Jacob Donner with their families accompanied me. We arrived at Independence, Missouri, where I loaded two of my wagons with

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

provisions, a third one being reserved for my family. Col. W. H. Russel's company had started from here before our arrival. We followed and over- took them in the Indian Territory. I made application for admission of myself and others into the company, and it was granted. We traveled on with the company as far as the Little Sandy, here a separation took place. The majority of the members going to Oregon, and a few wagons, mine with them, going the Fort Bridger, Salt Lake route for California. The day after our separation from the Russel company, we elected George Donner captain. From this time the company was known as 'The Donner Party.'

" Arriving at Fort Bridger, I added one yoke of cattle to my teams, stay- ing here four days. Several friends of mine who had passed here with pack animals for California, had left letters with Mr. Vasques-Mr. Bridger's partner-directing me to take the route by way of Fort Hall, and by no means to go the Hasting's Cut-off. Vasques being interested in having the new route traveled, kept these letters. This was told me after my arrival in California. Mr. MeCutchen, wife and child, joined us here.

" Leaving Fort Bridger we unfortunately took the new route, traveling on without incident of note, until we arrived at the head of Weber cañon. A short distance before reaching this place we found a letter, sticking in the top of a sage bush. It was from Hastings. He stated that if we would send a messenger after him he would return and pilot us through a route much shorter and better than the canon. A meeting of the company was held, when it was resolved to send Messrs. Mccutchen, Stanton, and myself, to Mr. Hastings; also we were at the same time to examine the cañon, and report at short notice. We overtook Mr. Hastings at a place we called Black Rock, south end of Salt Lake, leaving Mccutchen and Stanton here, their horses having failed. I obtained a fresh horse from the company Hast- ings was piloting, and started on my return to our company, with Mr. Hastings. When we arrived at about the place where Salt Lake City is built, Mr. Hastings finding the distance greater than anticipated by him, stated that he would be compelled to return [the next morning to his com- pany. We camped this evening in a canon, and next morning ascended to the summit of the mountain where we could overlook a portion of the country that lay between us and the head"of the canon, where the Donner company were camped. After he gave me the direction, Mr. Hastings and I separated. He returning to the companies he had left the morning pre- vious, I proceeding on eastward. After descending to what may be called the table-land, I took an Indian trail, and blazed the route where it was necessary that the road should be made, if the company so directed when they heard the report. When McCutchen, Stanton, and myself, got through Weber cañon on our way to overtake Mr. Hastings, our conclusions were that many of the wagons would be destroyed in attempting to get through

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

the canon. Mr. Stanton and Mccutchen were to return to our company as fast as their horses would stand it, they having nearly given out. I reached the company in the evening, and reported to them the conclusions with regard to Weber canon, at the same time stating that the route that I had blazed that day was fair, but would take considerable labor in clear- ing and digging. They agreed with unanimous voice to take that route if I would direct them in the road-making, they working faithfully until it was completed. Next morning we started under these conditions, and made camp that evening without difficulty on Bossman creek. The after- noon of the second day, we left the creek, turning to the right in a cañon, leading to a divide. Here Mr. Graves and family overtook us. This even- ing, the first accident that had occurred, was caused by the upsetting of one of my wagons. The next morning, the heavy work of cutting the timber commenced. We remained at this camp several days. During this time, the road was cleared for several miles ahead. After leaving this camp the work on the road slackened, and the farther we advanced, the slower the work progressed. I here state that the number of days we were detained in road-making, was not the cause, by any means, of the company remain- ing in the mountains during the following Winter. We progressed on our way, and crossed the outlet of the Utah, now called Jordan, a little below the location of Salt Lake City. From this camp in a day's travel we made connection with the trail of companies that Hastings was piloting through his Cut-off. We then followed his road around the lake without any inci- dent worthy of notice until reaching a swampy section of country west of Black Rock, the name we gave it. Here we lost a few days on the score of humanity. One of our company, a Mr. Holloron, being in a dying condi- tion from consumption. We could not make regular drives owing to his situation. He was under the care of George Donner, and made himself known to me as a Master Mason. In a few days he died. After the burial of his remains we proceeded on our journey, making our regular drives, nothing occurring of note until we arrived at the springs, where we were to provide water and as much grass as we could for the purpose of crossing the Hastings desert, which was represented as being forty or fifty miles in length (but we found it at least seventy miles). We started to cross the desert, traveling day and night, only stopping to water and feed our teams as long as water and grass lasted. We must have made at least two-thirds of the way across when a greater portion of the cattle showed signs of giving out. Here the company requested me to ride on and find the water and report. Before leaving I requested my principal teamster, that when my cattle became so exhausted that they could not proceed further with the wagons, to turn them out and drive them on the road after me until they reached the water, but the teamster misunderstanding, unyoked

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

them when they first showed symptoms of giving out, starting with them for water.

" I found the water about twenty miles from where I left the company and started on my return. About eleven o'clock at night I met my teamsters with all my cattle and horses. I cautioned them particularly to keep the cattle on the road, for as soon as they would scent the water they would break for it. I proceeded on and reached my family and wagons. Some time after leaving the men one of the horses gave out and while they were striving to get it along the cattle scented the water and started for it. And when they started with the horses the cattle were out of sight, they could not find them or their trail, as they told me afterwards. They, sup- posing the cattle would find water, went on to camp. The next morning the animals could not be found and they never were, the Indians getting them, except one ox and one cow. Losing nine yoke of cattle here was the first of my sad misfortunes. I stayed with my family and wagons the next day, expecting every hour the return of some of my young men with water, and the information of the arrival of the cattle at the water. Owing to the mis- take of the teamsters in turning the cattle out so soon the other wagons had driven miles past mine and dropped their wagons along the road as their cattle gave out, and some few of them reached water with their wagons. Receiving no information and the water being nearly exhausted, in the evening I started on foot with my family to reach the water. In the course of the night the children became exhausted. I stopped, spread a blanket and laid them down, covering them with shawls. In a short time a cold hurri- cane commenced blowing ; the children soon complained of the cold. Hav- ing four dogs with us I had them lie down with the children outside the cover- ing. They were then kept warm. Mrs. Reed and myself sitting to the windward helped to shelter them from the storm. Very soon one of the dogs jumped up and started out barking, the others following making an attack on something approaching us. Very soon I got sight of an animal making directly for us; the dogs seizing it changed its course, and when passing I discovered it to be one of my young steers. Incautiously stating that it was mad, in a moment my wife and children started to their feet, scattering like quail, and it was some minutes before I could quiet camp ; there was no more complaining of being tired or sleepy the balance of the night. We arrived about daylight at the wagons of Jacob Donner, the next in advance of me, whose cattle having given out, had been driven to water. Here I first learned of the loss of my cattle, it being the second day after they had started for the water. Leaving my family with Mrs. Donner, I reached the encampment. Many of the people were out hunting cattle ; some of them had their teains together and were going back into the desert for their wagons. Among them Jacob Donner, who kindly brought my

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

family along with his own to the encampment. We remained here for days hunting cattle, some of the party finding all, others a portion, but all having enough to haul their wagons except myself.

"On the next day, or day following, while I was out hunting my cattle, two Indians came to the camp, and by signs gave the company to under- stand that there were so many head of cattle out, corroborating the number still missing ; many of the people became tender-footed at the Indians coming into camp, and thinking they were spies, wanted to get clear of them as soon possible. My wife requested that the Indians should be detained until my return, but unfortunately before returning they had left. The next morn- ing, in company with young Mr. Graves,-he kindly volunteering,-I started in the direction the Indians had taken; after hunting this day and the follow- ing, remaining out during the night, we returned unsuccessful, not finding a trace of the cattle. I now gave up all hope of finding them and turned my attention to making arrangements for proceeding on my journey.

" In the desert were my eight wagons ; all the team remaining was an ox and cow. There was no alternative but to leave everything but provisions, bedding and clothing. These were placed in the wagon that had been used by my family. I made a cache of everything else, the members of the com- pany kindly furnishing a team to haul the wagon to camp. I divided my provisions with those who were nearly out, and indeed some of them were in need. I had now to make arrangement for sufficient team to haul that one wagon ; one of the company kindly loaned me a yoke of cattle, and with the ox and cow I had, made two yoke. We remained at this camp from first to last, if my memory is right, seven days.

"Leaving this camp we traveled for several days. It became necessary from some cause for the party who loaned me the yoke of cattle to take them. I was again left with my ox and cow, but through the aid of another kind neighbor I was supplied with a yoke of cattle.

" Nothing transpired for some days worthy of note. Some time after this it became known that some families had not enough provisions remaining to supply them through. As a member of the company, I advised them to make an estimate of provisions on hand and what amount each family would need to take them through. After receiving the estimate of each family, on paper, I then suggested that if two gentlemen of the company would volunteer to go in advance to Capt. Sutter's, (near Sacramento) in California, I would write a letter to him for the whole amount of provisions that were wanted, also stating that I would become personally responsible to him for the amount. I suggested that from the generous character of Capt. Sutter he would send them. Mr. MeCutchen came forward and pro- posed that if they would take care of his family he would go. This the company agreed to. Mr. Stanton, a single man, volunteered, if they would

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

furnish him a horse ; Mr. Mccutchen, having a horse and mule, generously gave the mule. Taking their blankets and some provisions they started for California. After their leaving us we traveled on for weeks, none of us knowing the distance we were from California. All became anxious for the return of Mccutchen and Stanton.

" It was here suggested that I go in advance to California, see what had become of MeCutchen and Stanton, and hurry up the supplies. They would take care of my family. That being agreed upon I started, taking with me about three days' provisions, expecting to kill game on the way. The Messrs. Donner were two days drive in advance of the main party when I overtook them. With George Donner there was a young man named Walter Herren, who joined me; with all the economy I could use, our pro- visions gave out in a few days ; I supplied our wants by shooting wild geese and other game when we could find any. The next day after I was joined by Herren, I proposed to him-I having a horse and he none-that we would ride half the day about; it was thankfully accepted ; no game to be seen ; hunger began to be felt, and for days we traveled without hope or help. We reached the Sierra Nevada mountains ; I could have stopped here, and, hunting, found game. Then again I might not be successful. This would have delayed our progress and increased our hunger. The second day before we found relief, Herren wanted to kill the horse; I per- suaded him from it by stating that we might find relief soon, but before we would perish, I would kill the horse. Soon after this he became deliri- ous ; this afternoon, while walking, I found a bean, and gave it to him, and then never was a road examined more closely for several miles than was this. We found in all five beans. Herren's share was three of them. We camped that night in a patch of grass a short distance off the road. Next morning, after traveling a few miles, we saw some wagons.

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History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description, Part 9

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1881 Publisher: San Francisco : Alley, Bowen, & Co. Number of Pages: 894

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: San Francisco : Alley, Bowen, & Co.
Number of Pages: 894