USA > California > Yuba County > History of Yuba County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 5
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As early as 1820, tho Tulare, San Joaquin and Sacramento valloys were occupied by trappors, who had wandered there while searching for the Columbia river. Capt. Suiter, in 1834, while in New Mexico, heard from these California trappers, of the Sacramonto valley, which afterwards became so reputed as his home. The disputes arising iu 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 ahout 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 territory east of the Rocky mountains. Immediately the employés of the old North American Fur Company, still under chargo of John Jacob Astor, hegan to trap and hunt 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 Sonth Pass, and the head waters of the Colorado, re- turning in the summer. In 1824, he extended his explorations to Great Salt Lake, near which, on a smaller lake named Lake Ashley, he huilt a fort and trading post, which was occupied for three years by his men. In 1826 (or 1827), Mr. Ashley disposed of his business, including the fort, to the Rocky Mountain Fur Co., under the lead- ership of Jedediah Smith, David Jackson and William Sublette.
During the spring of 1825, Smith, with a party of forty trappers and Indians, started from the headquarters on Green river,
28
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
traveling westward, crossed the Sierra Nevada mountains, and in July outered the Tulare valley. 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 American trappers encamped, and located their own 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, Smith again set ont for the new trapping region, taking a route further south than on the first trip, hnt when in the Mohave settlements on the Colorado, all the party, except Smith, Galbraith, and Turner, were killed by Indians. These three exempel to Suu 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 in San Francisco was presented :-
" We, tho undersigned, having been requested by Captain Jededialı "S. Smith to stato om opinion regarding his entering the Province " of California, do not hesitate to say that we have no doubt hut that " he was compelled to, for want of provisions and water, having "entored so far into the harren country that lies between the latitudes " of forty-two and forty-three west that he found it impossible to "roturn by the route ho camo, as his horses had most of them " perished for want of food and wator; 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 hy him " is circumstantially correct, and that his sole object was the hunting " and trapping of beaver and other furs.
"We havo also examined the passports produced hy him from the " Superintondent of Indiau affairs for the Goverment of the United "States of America, and do not hesitate to say we believe them " porfectly correct.
" We also state that, in our opinion, his motives for wishing to " pass by a different route to the Columbia river, on his return, is " solely because he foels convinced that he and his companions run " great risk of perishing if they return by the route they came.
" In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hand and seal, " this 20th day of December, 1826.
" WILLIAM G. DANA, Captain of schooner Waverly.
" WILLIAM H. CUNNINGHAM, Captain of ship Courier.
" WILLIAM HENDERSON, Captain of brig Olive Branch. " JAMES SCOTT.
" THOMAS M. ROBBINS, Mate of schooner Waverly.
" THOMAS SHAW, Supercargo of ship Courier.
Smitb was liberated, and during the summer of 1827 with his party left the Sacramento valley, journeying toward the Columbia river. While encamped at the mouth of the Umpqua river near Cape Arago, the Indians attacked them, and, with the exception of Smith, Richard Langhlin and Daniel Prior, killed the entire party. These three escaped to Fort Vancouver where they received a cordial reception and kind treatment. Some writers state that Smith then went directly to St. Louis, while others claim, that, with a party of the Hudson Bay Company's men, be returned to the scene of his last hattle, and meeting no opposition, journeyed on and down the Sacra- mento valley, nutil he reached the junetion of the Sacramento and Feather rivers near which a camp was located. This party under command of a Scotchman named McLeod, were the first of the Hndson Bay Company to occupy California. If the latter version is correct, then Smith soon after left the party and returned to the trapping grounds of his own company.
In the spring of 1832, Captain B. L. E. Bonneville, an officer in the U. S. Army on furlough, at the head of a company of one hundred men with wagons, horses, miles and merchandize, crossed the Rocky mountains, leading parties of men into the Colorado, Humboldt, and Sacramento valleys.
Ewing Young, who had trapped with parties on the upper part of the Del Norte, the eastern part of the Grand and the Colorado rivers, pursuing the route formerly traversed by Smith, in the winter of 1829-30, entered the San Joaquin valley and hunted on Tulare lake and the adjacent streams. During the last part of 1832 or early in 1833, Yonng, having again entered the San Joaquin valley and trapped on the streams, finally arrived at the Sacramento river, ahout ten miles helow the mouth of the American. He followed up the Sacramento to the Feather river, and from there crossed over to the coast. The coast line was traveled till they reached the month of the Umpqua, where they crossed the mountains to the inland. Entering the upper portion of the Sacramento valley, they proceeded southerly till they reached the American river. Then they followed down the San Joaquin valley and passed out through the Tejon Pass in the winter of 1833-4.
Indian Peter was a Sioux Indian and came to California with a com- pany of American trappers in 1825 (probably the Jed. S. Smith party). Peter used to relate that they had two great hattles with the Indians, in the first of whielt the trappers were defeated; in the second the In- dians were hadly whipped. Besides this there was more or less fighting all the time. When the trappers returned Peter remained, hecause the Inunting was hetter than at any place he had heen before; he was for a long time an employé of the Hudson Bay Company. He married a French woman and had three daughters, all being great hunters, the
eldest especially, who used to go out with her father. She commonly rode astride, riding down and killing elk and deer. She once saved her father's life from the paws of a grizzly hear. They were smoking a grizzly out of a cave; the fellow came ont sooner than anticipated, and was about to leap from a rock upon Peter, when a well-directed bullet from the girl's rifle killed linn. The skill in the sports of the field and wood and heroism in the presence of danger exhibited by these girls was a common characteristic among the pioneer women of the State. If these accomplishments were possessed in a degree by the modem belles, they would be more self reliant in trouhlous times, and better ahle to cope with an enemy, be it human or brute. One day, in 1849, Peter went to the Buttes to shoot antelope, when he was savagely at- tacked by a female grizzly, deprived of her cubs a few days previously. She knocked his gun from his hand and seized his head with her paws. While in this position, Peter drew his knife and succeeded, after many cuts, in killing her. His head was terribly mangled and the wound never completely healed. He ever after wore a cloth about his head, and died a few years later from the effects of his wound, and whiskey. Besides these parties and leaders mentioned, during this period there were several trappers or "lone traders" who explored and hunted through the valleys.
The attention of the officers of the wealthy and powerful Hudson Bay Company was first specially called to the extent and importance of the fur trade in California by Jedediah Smith in 1827 or 1828. The first expedition sent out by them was that under the command of Mc- Leod. A short time after the departure of this company, a second one was sent out under the leadership of Mr. Ogden, which followed up the Columbia and Lewis rivers, thence southerly over Western Etal. Nevada, and into the San Joaquin valley. On then return they trapped on the streams in Sacramento valley and went ont at the northern limit in 1830. About the middle of 1832 another band of trappers, under Michael Laframboise, came into the Sacramento valley from the north and until the next spring spent the time in trapping on the streams flowing through the great valley. The Hudson Bay Com- pany continned sending out its employès into this region until about the year 1845. Their trappers iu California helonged to the " Southern Trapping Party of the Hudson Bay Company," and were divided into smaller parties composed of Canadians and Indians, with their wives. The trapping was carried on during the winter in order to secure a good class of furs. The free trappers were paid ten shillings sterling for a prime heaver skin, while the Indians received a moderate com- pensation for their services. The outfits and portions of their food were purchased from the company. The Hudson Bay Company em- ployed about ninety or one hmidred men in this State. The greater part of the Indians were fugitives from the Missions, and were honest
600000
GEO. NORTH
A. J.BATCHELDER & CO. GROCERIES & PROVISIONS
HARDWARE.
GEO. NORTH, AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS
A.J.BA CHELDER & C9
LITH. OF ( L. SMITH & CO. OAKLAND, CAL.)
MASONIC BUILDING, COR. E & 3RD STS, MARYSVILLE, YUBA Co., CAL,
-
29
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
and peaceably inclined, from the fact that it was mainly to their interest to be so. From 1832 the chief rendezvous was at French Camp, about five miles south of Stockton, About 1841, the company bought of Jucob P. Leese the building he had erected for a store in San Francisco, and nowle that their lawsiness center for this territory. The agents were J. Alex. Forbes and Wiu. G. Ray, both of whom were intelligent, dignified, and courteons gentlemen, Mr. Ray, who was very sensitive, and given slightly to dissipation, when some complaint of a trivial character was made in reference to his acts, committed suicide in 1845. His death, and the scarcity of beaver and otter, caused the company to wind up their agency and business in the territory. Mr. Forbes was for a long series of yeurs the British consul at San Francisco, and by his goniul nummers, superior culture und finished education, made a record which places him umong the noted men of the State. This gentleman now resides in Onklund, and, although seventy-tive years of age, his faculties are as strong as ever. His memory is wonderful, and this power of retention, with the vast fund of knowledge possessed, hus beou d' great service to the historinn.
CHAPTER V.
SACRAMENTO DISTRICT.
Artof Sketch of the Life of Cuptaln John A. Sutter-llis Settlement at New Helvetla-A Noted Party of Emigrants Fremont's First Exploration-Arrival of Governor-General Michel- toroua Courtesles Extoudud by Cuptuin Suttor-Journey to Monterey-Revolution of Nutivo CallTocolous Insurreelionary Actions of Captain C. M. Weber and his Subre- quont Imprisonment at Suttoe's Fort-A Caclous Doenment-The Callfornians Victorious Appearance of Frocont on his Second Exploration Hls Trouble with the Authorities Attack on the Forces undor Lienlenant Do Arce- The Mexlean War Arrest and Trial of General Premioat.
THE Southern portion of California was essentially Spanish and Mex- ienn in its population, whilo tho northern part was left to the occupation of foreigners, The Sacramento valley was comparatively unnoticed mitil after the settlement of Captain John A. Sutter at New Helvetia, but following that ovent, it became tho theater for grand operations and achievements, Sutter's Fort was the nucleus nhout which congre- guted nearly all of the early emigrants, and the umexation of California is largely due to the influence of that gentleman und those associated with him. Ever hospitable and generous, ho was a friend to whom the enrly settlers and explorers repaired for advice und sustenance. Captain Jolm Angustus Sutter was born in Baden, Germany, at mid- night, February 28, 1803, of Swiss parents. After the completion of his education he became a. Captain in the French army, but be- coming tired of the superficial nature of French society and customs, he set out for America, to find some secluded spot where he might surround himself with a home and associations more in consonance with his ideas and tastes. New York was reached in July, 1834, and from there, after a sojourn of only one month, the Captain went to the far-
famed " West." From here he journeyed to New Mexico and having heard of the marvelous beauty and fertility of California, he joined a party of trappers, expecting soon to reach his destination. But the journey ended at Fort Vancouver, nud Captain Sutter's only way to reach California was to go to the Sandwich Islands and from there to take a sailing vessel to Monterey. After waiting n long time in Honolulu he took passage in a ship bound for Sitka. By singular good luck the vessel was driven into San Francisco Bay, July 2, 1839.
Capt. Sutter, having reached the goal of his ambition, received permis- sion from the Mexican authorities to select a place for settlement in the Sacramento valley. After much difficulty he finally succeeded in reach- ing the junction of the Sacramento and American rivers, on tho 16th of August, 1839, and being fully satisfied with the condition and prospects of the region, a location was made, and Captain Sutter commenced the construction of a house. The spot was named " New Helvetia" in honor of his mother-country. On account of the strength, armament and formidable appearance of the buildings, the place was called by all the early settlers "Sntter's Fort," which name is even now the most gen- cral one. This fort was commenced in 1842 and finished in 1844. lu 1841, when his grant of land was to be made, it became necessary to have a map of the tract, and he employed for that purpose Captain Jean Vioget, a seaman and Swiss by birtb, The survey was made by lines of latitude and longitude. Sutter made his application under this survey in 1841, the same year the map was completed. The Mexican laws allowed only eleven leagues to be granted to any one person, but Sutter's map contained fifty leagues or more. Nevertheless, lie got the idea that he could hold it, and with this came the idea that he could sell it. The original claim embraced a considerable portion of Sacra- mento and Placer counties, all of Sutter, the valley portion of Yuba and a little point of Colusa.
May 8, 1841, a party of thirty-six persons left Independence, Missouri, bound for California, They passed near Salt Lake, to Carson river, and then to the main channel of Walker's river. Near its source they crossed the Sierras, descending into the San Joaquin Valley, and thence journeyed to the ranch of Dr. Marsh, near Mt. Diablo, arriving on the fourth of November, 1841. At this point the Company dis- banded, the members distributing themselves over different parts of the state. Many of these emigrants bave played such important parts in the early history of California that a list of their names is appended :-
COL. J. B. BARTLESON,
Captain of the party. Returned to
Missouri. Is now dead.
Resides in Chico.
Resides in Napa County. Resides at San Jose and San Francisco. Resides in Stockton.
CHARLES HOPPER,
Resides in Napa County. Resides in San Francisco.
HENRY HUBER.
MICHAEL (. NYE,
GREEN Me MAHON, Resides in Solano County.
NELSON MCMAHON, TALROT H. GREEN, AMBROSE WALTON,
Resides in Pennsylvania. Returned to Missouri.
Joux MeDowELL,
=
= and died.
GEORGE HENSHAW,
and died.
COL. ROBERT RYCKMAN,
WILLIAM BELTY,
CHARLES FLUGGE,
GWINN PATTON,
BENJAMIN KELSEY, und wife, Resided within a few years in Santu
ANDREW KELSEY,
Barbara County, Killed by Indians at Clear Lake,
JAMES JOIN,
Went to Oregon.
HENRY BROLASKI,
Drowned in Columbia river.
MAJOR WALTON,
Drowned in Sacramento river.
GEORGE SHORTWELL,
Accidentally shot on the journey.
JOHN SWARTZ, Died in California.
GROVE C. COOK,
Died at San Jose, Cal.
D. W. CHANDLER,
Dead.
THOMAS JONES,
ROBERT 1I. THOMES,
Died March 26, 1878, at Taban,
ELIAS BARNETT,
J. P. SPRINGER,
Lived in Napa County. Died at or neur Santa Cruz.
Little of note occurred in the valley during the year 1842. In 1843, Fremont went to Oregon at tho head of a government exploring party. and in the winter following started for California, the route taken bringing him east of the Sierra Nevada mountains and passing and naming Pyramid lake. When opposite the Bay of San Francisco, he began to cross the Sierras. Though the winter had been a very dry one, perhaps the dryest ever known in California, Fremont encountered quite a quantity of snow at the head of the American river. He was obliged to leave his howitzer, and after great labor and hardship succeeded in getting through the snow and reaching Sutter's Fort on March 6, 1844. In the summer of 1843, a party came into the valley from Oregon, to which they had journeyed the previous year from the Eastern States. In the fall of 1843 a body of emigrants, after crossing the plains, via Fort Boise and Pitt river, traveled down the west bank of the Sacra- mento river, crossed near the mouth of Stony creek, and thence went down the valley via Featber river. In the fall of 1844 a party of
Died at San Francisco.
NICHOLAS DAWSON,
Wout to Callao und thence to Missouri.
JAMES DAWSON,
And died.
· JOHN BIDWELL, COL. JOSEPH B. CHILES, JOSIAH BELDEN, CHARLES M. WEBER,
Residles in Oregon.
Returned to Missouri.
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HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
forty men, women, and children, led by Captain Elisha Stevens, made their way into California by way of the Humboldt, Truckee and Bear rivers down to Sutter's Fort, bringing the first wagons into California. The wagons were left during the winter on the tops of the mountains in charge of Moses Schellenberger; in the spring, Captain Stephens went back with provisions to bring them down to the valley.
In 1846, Captain Sntter had a survey made and commenced the location of a village called Sutterville at a spot abont three miles below Sacramento. It flourished until the discovery of gold, for a long time being the garrison of U. S. troops, muler the command of Major Kings- bury. General Micheltorena, in August, 1843, arrived from Mexico to lake the place of Alvarado as Governor of California. It was with great difficulty that the home government could obtain the services of really good men for that responsible position. General Micheltorena was an enlightenod and educated gentleman and an agreeable personage. He had traveled extensively, and by contact with people of other nationalities had prepared himself for the government of the inixed population of his new province. He would not consent to act, however, without the presence of troops; accordingly five hundred Mexican sokliers were sent out with him. Captain Sutter learning of the arrival of the new Governor, sent a congratulatory message by Charles Flugge who met him at Los Angeles. In due time, Governor Micheltorena went to Monterey and made it his capital. A very friendly corres- poudence sprang up between the Governor and Captain Sntter. The latter had never seen General Micheltorena, althoughi he had been in frequent correspondence; hence, in the fall of 1844, he concluded to make him a visit at Monterey, and accordingly started on the jomney accompanied by two persons, John Bidwell, of Chico, being one. They traveled on horseback, crossing the San Joaquin river on improvised tule rafts, and camping ont every night, except one in San Jose. It was there that the Captain heard of the revolt brewing, and he was the first to convey the intelligence to Governor Micheltorena, and while the party was there, the first blow was struck. Castro and Alvarado captured all the Governor's horses on the plains in a single night. Such an act, of course, suspended all business transactions, and the attention of every one was directed to the scene of warfare. At that time there were on the coast four or five vessels from Boston, trading in hides, and in one of these, Captain Sutter took passage for San Francisco. On arrival, he immediately repaired in his little sloop to his fort. arriving there abont the last of Oeto- ber, 1844, where he remained during Novemher and a part of December, starting out during the latter part of the year on a campaign with most of his friends and employees. General Bidwell and others remained in Monterey for a time. Sntter took the precaution to put his fort in a more secure state of defense, as was usnal on the uprising of the
natives. The native Californians desired the possession of the country, and the formation of an independent republic, but their leanings were against the Americans, and more prejudiced, in fact, than were the Mexicans themselves. It was for the interest of Governor Micheltorena to encourage the settlement in the country of intelligent and ener- getic foreigners, hence he was friendly disposed toward that class. In the struggle going on at that time, the majority of Americans were on his side, because hostility toward the Government meant hostility to American interests. The otber foreigners naturally took part with the Americans, and any on the opposing side, were, in the nature of the case, extremely obnoxious. Captain C. M. Weber aided Cas- tro and Alvarado against the Government under Micheltorena, and he carried the insurrection so far as to proceed to Sutter's Fort and attempt to stir up dissatisfaction among the occupants. In case of any disturbance in the political affairs of the country, the foreigners, for miles around, assembled at tbe fort for mutnal protection. Captain Weber, even after being cantioned, continned in his insurrectionary work, until finally the occupants of the Fort met, and the document, of which a fac simile is presented on next column, was drawn up and signed. The sentence, or instructions, were not carried into effect, but Mr. Weber was closely watched and guardcd.
Micheltorena, appealed to Captain John A. Sutter for assistance, which he agreed to render in view of the following advantages to be derived by himself and the other foreign residents in his vicinity.
The conditions imposed by Sutter, wbo was the magistrate in this region, were that every petition for a grant of land which he as Justice should approve, was to be taken as granted, and that a copy of the general title which the Governor then confirmed, should be considered as binding as a formal grant.
Sutter started south with one hundred men, and was met at the residence of Dr. Marsh, near Mt. Diablo, by J. Alexander Forbes, who in vain tried to dissnade him from his undertaking. The result was that when the hostile armies met, the foreigners were found on both sides, and, after a consultation, withdrew, leaving the Mexicans to fight out their quarrel alone. Micheltorena was defeated, and con- pelled to return to Mexico; Sutter was captured by Castro, and only given his liberty upon the personal interposition of Weber and others, to whom Castro was nuder obligations for assistance.
The country now being in the hands of the native Californians, the California " Deputation " declared Pio Pico, Governor. Castro not relishing this selection, renewed his aets of dissension, but his plans were frustrated by the appearance of John C. Fremont on his second exploring expedition in March, 1846. This time Fremont came down Humboldt river, direeting the larger part of his exploring party to bear to the south until they came to a certain pass which he imagined to
He the subscribers, chosen as corona. of Har have unanimously resolved the following: I'M That Me: Weber be put in Irons, and detained in the fast until Auch times as we mayreceive orders from his Excellency the Governor, arro. garals his disposal : 2nd That Me. Pearson B. Reading be requested to keep Me: Weber in a convenient room any afford him Such necessaries. as circumstances may admit of and his safe det . tion may require.
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