History of Santa Clara 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, Part 5

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928

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FOR Maler

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

These people all came by vessel and chance decided their location. They affiliated with the Spanish population, in many cases marrying into their families, and adopting, to a great ex- tent, the Spanish customs and modes of living. Overland travel commenced about 1841. Even before this time settlements had been made in Oregon, and that country was much better known than California. For this reason, and because California was a foreign country, all the overland trains were pointed to Oregon. Some of these trains having reached the Sier- ras and hearing something of California, came here instead. In 1841 Josiah Belden, Charles MI. Weber and Grove C. Cook came overland, as did Henry Pitts, Peter Springer, William Wiggins and James Rock. In 1843 Major S. J. Hensley, Julius Martin, Thomas J. Shadden and Winston Bennett made the trip across the plains. The advent of this party was an im- portant incident, as with it came three women, wives of Martin, Shadden and Bennett, the first foreign women to settle in this district. In 1844 came the Murphy party and Captain Stephens. The Murphy party consisted of Martin Murphy, Sr., his wife, five sons and two daughters; James Miller, afterwards an honored resident of Marin County ; Dr. John Townsend and wife, Moses Schallenberger, father of Margaret Schallenberger McNaught, now State Commissioner of Education; Jo- seph Foster, Mr. Hitchcock and family ; Thomas Hudson, Clemente Columbet and Martin Corcoran. Dr. Townsend and his wife died of cholera in 1850; and Martin Murphy, Sr., passed away in 1865. In 1845 Frank Lightston, J. Washburn, William O'Connor, W. C. Wilson, John Daubenbiss and James Stokes came to the county. In 1846 the ar- rivals were Isaac Branham, Jacob D. Hoppe, Charles White, Joseph Aram, Zachariah Jones, James F. Reed, George Donner and his two sisters : Arthur Caldwell, William Daniels, Samuel Young, A. A. Hecox, William Haun, William Fisher, Edward Pyle and their fam- ilies ; Wesley Hoover and John W. Whisman and wives; William and Thomas Campbell and their families; Peter Quincy and family ; Thomas Kell, Thomas West and four sons ; John Snyder, S. R. Moultrie, William J. Parr, Joseph A. Lard, Mrs. W. H. Lowe, Mrs. E. Markham, L. C. Young, R. J. Young, M. D. Young, S. C. Young, Samuel Q. Broughton, R. F. Peckham, Z. Rochon, Joseph Stillwell, George Cross, Ramon S. Cesena, M. Holto- way, Edward Johnson, Mrs. Martha J. Lewis and James Enright. Of course there were many more arrivals but their names cannot be obtained from the records and the personal recollections of the pioneers who are living at the present time.

The Donner Party

Nearly all the surviving members of the ill-fated Donner party located in San Jose and vicinity. The terrible experiences of that party are given in Tuthill's history of Califor- nia, from which we quote: "Of the overland cmigration 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 companies 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 Sierras, on October 31, instead of the first as intended. The snow be- gan to fall 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 cab- ins near Truckee, afterward Donner Lake, killed their cattle and went into winter quar- ters. The other (Donner's party), still be- lieved 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 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 a land whose winters are one long spring, was eighty, of whom thirty were women and children. The Mr. Donner who had charge of one company was a native of Illinois, sixty years of age and 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 each. Much of the time the tops of the cab- ins 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 California settlements of the condi- tion of their friends. At first the snow was so light and feathery that even with 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 feet deep. Pushing forward with the courage of despair they made from four to eight miles a day.

"Within a week they were entirely out of provisions, and three of them, succumbing to cold, weariness and starvation, had died. Then a heavy snow storm came on which com-

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

pelled them to lie still, buried beneath their blankets under the snow for thirty-six hours. By evening of the tenth day three more had died and the living had been four days with- out food. The horrid alternative was accept- ed-they took 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 day they had nothing to eat but the strings of their snow shoes. On the fourth the Indians deserted, suspicious that they might be sacrificed for food. On the fifth one of the party shot a deer and that day there was another death. Soon after three others died and every death served to prolong the exist- ence of the survivors. On the seventh all but one gave out, concluding that their wander- ings were useless. This one, guided by two friendly Indians dragged himself on until he reached a settlement on Bear River. By mid- night the settlers had found and were treating with all Christian kindness what remained of the little company that after a month of most terrible sufferings, had halted to die.

"The story that there were emigrants per -. ishing 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. The story ran to San Francisco and the people, rallying in public meeting, raised $1500 and with it fitted out another expedition. The naval commandant of the port fitted out 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 days those still alive had fed on bullocks' hides. At Donner's camp but one hide remained. The visitors left a small sup- ply of provisions with the twenty-nine whom they could not take with them and started back with the remainder. Four of the chil- dren they carried on their backs.

"Another of the relief parties reached the lake about the first of March. They at once 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 left on the way, found three of them dead and the rest sustaining life by eating the flesh of the dead.

"The last relief party reached Donner's camp late in April when the snows 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 a pipe. He was ferocious in aspect, savage and repulsive 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 re- fused to return with the party and only con- sented when he saw there was no escape. Mrs. Jacob Donner was the last to die. Her hus- band's body was found at his tent. Circum- stances led to the suspicion that the survivor had killed Mrs. Donner for the flesh and money, and when he was threatened with hanging he produced $500, which he had prob- ably appropriated from her store."

Many books have been written on the sub- ject, no two giving the same facts. One of the most interesting accounts is that of James F. Reed, who for years was one of the prominent and reputable citizens of San Jose. He left Springfield, Ill., in the middle of 1846 and was accompanied by George and Jacob Donner and their families. George Donner was elected captain. At Fort Bridger, William McCutch- en, wife and family joined the party. Leaving the fort they unfortunately took a new route, and had many vicissitudes, not the least being the loss of cattle. Other would-be set- tlers joined them before they reached Cali- fornia. The narrative now continues in Mr. Reed's own words :

"After crossing the desert it became known that some families had not enough provisions to carry them through. As a member of the company I advised them to make an estimate of the provisions on hand and what amount each family would need. After receiving the estimate I then suggested that if two gentle- men of the company would volunteer to go in advance to Sutter's Fort, near Sacramento, I would write a letter to the captain for the whole amount of provisions wanted, also stat- ing that f would become personally responsi- ble to him for the amount. I thought that from the generous character of Captain Sutter the provisions would be sent. Mr. McCutch- en came forward and said that if they would take care of his family he would go. This the company agreed to. Mr. Stanton, a single man, volunteered to go with Mccutchen if they would furnish him with a horse. Mc- Cutchen, having a horse and mule, generous- ly gave the mule. Taking blankets and pro- visions, the two men started for California. After their leaving us we traveled for weeks, none of us knowing how far we were from California and soon all became anxious to know what had become of Mccutchen and

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Stanton. It was now suggested that I go in advance to California and hurry up the sup- plies. This was agreed to and I started, tak- ing with me three days' provisions, expecting to kill game on the way. The Messrs. Don- ner were two days in advance of the party when I overtook them. With George Donner there was a young man named Walter Her- ren, who joined me. With all the economy I could use our provisions gave out in a few days, so I supplied our wants by shooting wild geese and other game. The day after I was joined by Herren I proposed, as I had the only horse, that he would ride half the time. The proposition was joyfully accepted. Soon no game was to be seen, hunger began to be felt and for days we traveled without hope or help. We reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I believed I could have made a stop here, hunted and found game. But as this would have de- layed our progress and success might not have rewarded my hunting efforts, I kept on. The second day before we found relief Harren wanted to kill the horse. I persuaded him from the deed, promising if relief did not come soon I would kill the horse myself. Soon afterward he became delirious. That afternoon I found a bean and gave it to him and then never was road examined more closely than this one. We found in all five beans. Her- ren'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 deserted wagons.

"We soon reached and ransacked the wag- ons, hoping to find something to eat, but found nothing. Taking the tar bucket that was hanging under one of the wagons I scraped the tar off and found a streak of rancid tallow at the bottom. I remember well that when I announced what I had found, Herren, who was sitting on a rock near by, got up halloo- ing with all the strength he had and caine to me. I handed the tar paddle to him. It had on it some of the tallow about the size of a walnut. This he swallowed without giving it a smell. I then took a piece myself but it was very respulsive. Herren craved more and I gave him another piece. Still wanting more, I positively refused, stating that it would kill him. After leaving the wagons, probably fifty yards, I became deadly sick and blind. In resting myself against a rock I leaned my head on the muzzle of my gun. Herren, seeing my condition came to me and said, 'My God, Mr. Reed, are you dying?' After resting a few minutes I recovered, much to his joy.

"The wagons were within a short distance of the steep hill going down into Bear Valley. After descending the first steep pitch I dis-

covered wagons in the valley below ns. 'Her- ren,' said I, 'there are wagons in the valley.' When he saw them he gave vent to his joy, hallooing at the top of his voice, but on ac- count of weakness he could not have been heard ten rods off. On reaching the wagons we found several families of emigrants who supplied us with bread. I here met Mr. Stan- ton, with two Indians, on his return to the company with provisions supplied by Captain Sutter. Next morning Stanton started for the company and I went on to Sutter's Fort."

At the Fort Reed found Mccutchen, who had been prevented by illness from accom- panying Stanton. Captain Sutter furnished horses and saddles with which to bring the women and children out of the mountains. The expedition failed on account of the snow which at some points was eighteen feet deep. The party returned for more help, but, unfor- tunately, the Mexican war was on and every able-bodied man was away. At Captain Sut- ter's suggestion Mr. Reed went to San Fran- cisco to see if he could not procure help there. He was compelled to make the journey by land and reached San Jose when it was in a state of siege. Arrived at San Francisco, a public meeting was held and relief parties fit- ted out. Mr. Reed and Mr. Mccutchen ac- companied the first of these, which went by the river. On the route he met his wife and children rescued by a relief party that had gone ahead of them. He only stopped a few minutes for greetings and then pushed on to the relief of the other sufferers whom they reached about the middle of the next day.

The first camp was that of Mr. Breen. Mr. Reed says: "If we left any provisions here it was a small amount, he and his family not be- ing in want. We then proceeded to the camp of Mrs. Murphy, where Kessburg and some children were. Here we left provisions and one of our company to cook for and attend to them. From here we visited the camp of Mrs. Graves, some distance further east. A num- ber of the relief party remained here, while Messrs. Miller, McCutchen, another and my- self proceeded to the Donner camp. We found Mrs. Jacob Donner in a feeble condi- tion .- She died after we left. Her husband had died early in the winter. We removed the tent and placed it in a more comfortable position. I then visited the tent of George Donner close by and found him and his wife. He was helpless. Their children and two of Jacob's had come out with the party that went ahead of us. I requested Mrs. Donner to come with us, stating that I would leave a man to take care of both George Donner and Mrs. Jacob Donner. She positively refused, de-

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

claring that she would not leave her husband in his enfeebled condition.

"We took the remaining three children of Jacob Donner, leaving a man to take care of the two camps. Leaving all the provisions we could spare and expecting a party from Sut- ter's Fort would be in in a few days, we re- turned to the camp of Mrs. Graves. Notice was given in all the camps that we would start on our return to Sutter's early next day. About the middle of the day we started. taking with us all who were able to travel."

The relief party that came after Mr. Reed did not reach the sufferers as soon as expected and disasters occurred. The full details of the suffering of the unfortunate party would fill a book. Each of the relief parties, especially that conducted by Mr. Reed endured suffer- ings equal to those experienced by the unfor- tunates in the winter camp. History has no parallel to the heroism displayed by these peo- ple in their efforts to rescue suffering relatives and friends.

CHAPTER II.

Santa Clara County During the Mexican Rule-The Adventures of Captain Fremont-Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo-Raising the Bear Flag- War With Mexico Declared-The Capture of San Jose-Reminiscences of the Strenuous Days of 1849-The Discovery of Gold-Killing of Young Pyle-Local Government-Grandma Bascom's Story.

In 1836 a revolution broke out in Mexico the town in November, 1844. From this blow but it did not extend to California, though a few of the Spanish settlers in San Jose left the pueblo to take part in it. While the strife was progressing Governor Alvarado was appointed to rule California, an office which he held until 1842, after the differences between the oppos- ing factions in Mexico had been satisfactorily arranged.

The adjustment, however, created misun- derstandings between the two highest officials in the Department of California. The civil and the military authorities could not agree. Each one complained of the other to the Cen- tral Government and General Micheltorena was secretly dispatched north to settle the dif- ferences between Governor Alvarado and Gen- eral Vallejo by taking over the powers of both. On seeing the turn the affair had taken, Alvarado and Vallejo laid aside their bicker- ings to make common cause against Michel- torena, whom they designated as an usurper. Aided by General Castro they sought to drive Micheltorena out of California. The trium- virate proclaimed California independent and declared war against the representative of Mexico. General Micheltorena, having had the gauge of battle thrown in his teeth, took the field hoping to speedily end the insurrec- tion. He advanced to within twelve miles of San Jose and then finding that this portion of the country was up in arms against him speed- ily beat a retreat to San Juan Bautista. In. spite of his defense, the insurgents captured

Micheltorena never rallied and in February. 1845, he paid $11.000 for a passage on board the bark Don Quixote, Captain Paty, his des- tination being San Blas. On the termination of the strife Don Pio Pico, brother of Don An- tonio Pico, of San Jose, was elected governor of California and Jose Castro was appointed general of the military forces.

Captain Fremont Arrives

In the month of March, 1845, Brevet-Capt. John Charles Fremont departed from Wash- ington for the purpose of organizing a third expedition for the topographical survey of Oregon and California. He left Bent's Fort in April, his force consisting of sixty-two men, among them Kit Carson and six Delaware In- dians. Crossing the Sierra Nevadas in De- cember they arrived at Sutter's Fort on the 10th of that month. After two days' stay the company left to search for a missing party of explorers. Not being able to find the men, and having either lost or consumed most of his horses and cattle Fremont determined to retrace his steps to Sutter's Fort which he reached January 15, 1846. On the seven- teenth he with his men left the fort on a launch for San Francisco. They arrived there on the twentieth; the twenty-first saw him and Captain Hinckley sailing down the Bay of San Francisco to the embarcadero at Al- viso at the lower end of the Santa Clara Val- ley. On the twenty-second they proceeded

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

to San Jose where Fremont received word that the missing explorers were encamped on the San Joaquin. At once two companies un- der Kit Carson were dispatched to guide the men into the Santa Clara Valley. Fremont and Hinckley, after visiting the New Almaden mines, returned to San Francisco. On the twenty-fourth Fremont was once more on the move. He started from San Francisco, then known as Yerba Buena, and on the morning of January 27, 1846, reached Monterey. In company with Thomas O. Larkin, United States Consul, Fremont called on General Castro and stated the object of his journey. He was out of provisions and asked that his party be permitted to pass unmolested through the country. The request was granted, ver- bally, but when asked for the necessary per- mit in writing, the General excused himself, said he was not well and that no further assurance than his word was needed. A call of the same nature was then made on Don Manuel Castro, the prefect of the district, the same statement made and the same verbal permit was granted. Fremont received funds and provisions from the consul and then made all haste to San Jose where he was joined by his band. Not finding here such stores as were still needed he resolved to return to Monterey. A fortnight later he camped in the Santa Clara Valley on Capt. William Fish- er's ranch, the Laguna Seca. While here a Mexican made his appearance and laid claim to certain of Fremont's horses on the bold statement that they had been stolen. Short- ly after this, on February 20, Captain Fre- mont received a summons to appear before the alcalde at San Jose to answer to a charge of horse-stealing. Fremont send back the following reply :

"Camp Near Road to Santa Cruz, February 21, 1846.

"Sir : I received your communication of the 20th, informing me that a complaint has been lodged against me in your office for refusing to deliver up certain animals of my band which are claimed as having been stolen from this vicinity about two months since, and that the plaintiff further complains of having been insulted in my camp. It can be proven on oath by thirty men here present that the ani- mals pointed out by the plaintiff have been brought in my band from the United States of North America. The insult of which he complains, and which was authorized by my- self, consisted in his being driven or ordered to immediately leave camp. After having been detected in endeavoring to obtain ani- mals under false pretenses he should have been well satisfied to escape without a se-

vere horse-whipping. There are four animals in my band which were bartered from the Tulare Indians by a division of my party which descended the San Joaquin Valley. I was not then present, and if any more legal owners present themselves these shall be im- mediately given or delivered upon proving property. It may save you trouble to inform you, that with this exception, all the animals in my band have been bought and paid for. You will readily understand that my duties will not permit me to appear before the mag- istrates in your towns on the complaint of every straggling vagabond who may chance to visit my camp. You inform me that un- less satisfaction be immediately made by the delivery of the animals in question, the com- plaint will be forwarded to the Governor. I beg you will at the same time indorse to His Excellency a copy of this note.

"I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, "J. C. Fremont, U. S. Army. "To Senor Don Dolores Pacheco, Alcalde of San Jose."

From the Laguna Seca, Fremont moved by easy marches in the direction of the Santa Cruz Mountains which he crossed about ten miles from San Jose at the gap where the Los Gatos Creek enters the Valley. On March 1, he encamped on the rancho of Ed- ward Petty Hartwell. While here he received, late in the afternoon of the fifth a dispatch from Don Manuel Castro, prefect of the dis- trict, charging him with having entered the towns and villages under his (the Prefect's) jurisdiction in contempt of the laws of the Mexican Government and ordering him out of the country, else compulsory measures would be taken to compel him to do so. On receiving this communication Fremont did not display much hesitancy in arriving at a con- clusion. That evening he struck camp and ascending Hawk's Peak, a rough looking mountain on the Gabilan range, about thirty miles from Monterey and 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, commenced the construc- tion of a rude fort. It was protected by felled trees. Stripping one of the limbs he nailed the Stars and Stripes at the top, forty feet from the ground. The morning of the sixth of March found him waiting for developments.

On the day that saw Fremont established on Hawk's Peak, Castro sent the following letter to the minister of Marine at the City of Mexico :

"In my communication of the fifth ultimo I announced to you the arrival of a captain at the head of fifty men, who came, as he said, by order of the government of the Unit-

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History of Santa Clara 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, Part 5

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846- Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1928

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928