USA > California > San Bernardino County > Ingersoll's century annals of San Bernadino County, 1769-1904 : prefaced with a brief history of the state of California : supplemented with an encyclopedia of local biography and portraits of many of its representative people > Part 18
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In 1856, the "Independents," as the party which was coming into op- position to the church party was called, decided to have a regular old- fashioned "back-east" Fourth of July celebration. Accordingly a committee was appointed to make the arrangements for the affair, which was to be open to all-without regard to party lines. But the church party at once announced their intention to celebrate the day without paying any attention to the move already under way. Naturally a rivalry between the two parties followed. The Independents procured a flagpole sixty feet high and erected it on the south side of Third street directly opposite the present location of McDonald & Son's furniture establishment. The other party procured a pole a hundred feet high and put it up on the public Plaza. The Independents procured a neat new flag and ran it up-the church people got a larger flag and hoisted it; the Independents erected a bowery covered with green brush and placed seats for an audience; their rivals set up a larger bowery with seats for a larger audience. On the great day, the Third street patriots organized an impromptu chorus which sang the patriotic songs, but the Mormons had secured a band of musical instruments which made more noise. The church party had also gotten together a mounted squad of some twenty-five or thirty young men uniformed in red flannel shirts, black pantaloons and hats, who acted as escort for the officers of the day. Here they got the better of their competitors, who had no guard and no procession. But the church party fired salutes with a little brass cannon which the other party named the "pop gun," while the Independents had a real cannon which made the mountains echo with its deep reports. This cannon was obtained for the occasion in Los Angeles, and was hauled over on a carreta drawn by two yokes of oxen driven by William McDonald. It was undoubtedly one of the weapons brought from Mexico in early days. Four of these cannon have recently been gathered up in Los Angeles, and are to be restored as far as possible and preserved as valuable historical relics in the Chamber of Commerce. Professor J. M. Guinn has looked up their history and states that they were brought to California from Mexico in 1818 for defense against privateers-men coasting up from South America, who had already made some attacks on the California shore. The cannon were first planted at San Diego, but were later brought to Los Angeles and used at the battle of Cahuenga and turned against the American invaders under Commodore Stockton and General Fremont. Afterwards they were left scattered about the town. The gun brought to San Bernardino has
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been used many times since to remind her citizens of the day we celebrate. It has been dismounted and out of use for years, with one trunnion broken off, and it is now set in the ground as a protecting post to a hydrant in McDonald's Place, which opens off Fourth street, between C and D.
At the Plaza an oration was delivered, which while fairly patriotic, still took occasion to score the government for its degeneracy-according to the ideas of Brigham Young's followers. At Third street, Q. S. Sparks, then well known as a brilliant speaker, delivered an oration picturing in glowing terms the past and the present glory of our nation-with a good natured fling at those who drew off to observe the day by themselves. Although the Independents had the smaller following, they enjoyed their celebration and their dinner, and felt that they had succeeded in carrying out their in- 1entions. There was no disturbance or hard feelings, the people went back and forth between the two centers of interest, and the church squad visited Third Street in a body and saluted their flag.
FORT BENSON.
In 1854 one Jerome Benson, who had been connected with the Mor- mons, but who had left the church, came to San Bernardino and located on a piece of land three miles southeast of the city-now known as the Ambrose Hunt place. The Mormon elders were not anx- ious to sell him land, as they were inclined to shut out anyone from whom they might expect opposi- tion. Benson be- lieved that he had located on govern- Benson, 1856. ment land, as the grant had not then been definitely sur-
veyed. Later it was found that he was on the grant, and the owners or- dered him off, and on his refusal it is said ordered the sheriff to eject him. Benson had sympathizers, and he called upon themto assist him. F. B. Van Leuven and others pey oyM identified themselves with the Independents, helped him to throw up earth works in front of hishouse, and armed them- selves for resistance. The cannon was brought over from San Bernardino,
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and the flagpole that had been used for the Fourth of July celebration was planted on the fort and the stars and stripes raised. The party had powder. but no balls for the cannon, so it was loaded with small rocks as ammuni- tion. There is no authentic record of any fight here, although it is stated by some of the old settlers that the Sheriff, accompanied by a party of men, did come out, but one explosion of the cannon full of rocks decided them to withdraw. At any rate Benson was left in possession of the land and was subsequently able to give a clear title to it.
The feeling between the two parties in the settlement was augmented by many things. There were various conflicts at the polls which left hard feelings. One of the most active opponents to the church control of affairs civil and political, was William McDonald, who had then been a resident of the place for several years. So strong had the feeling grown between him and his neighbors of the church party that in the spring of 1857 hie de- termined to remove to Los Angeles, or some other point, where he would be more in harmony with his surroundings. But some of the opposing party were determined not to allow him to depart in peace. One Marion Perkins declared that he should not leave without a threshing. On the day and about the time that McDonald was ready to leave the town with his family and household effects, Perkins, who was drunk and quarrelsome, made an attack upon him as he was crossing the street. Perkins had been making loud threats and McDonald had been warned of his danger. He was therefore armed with a knife. Perkins, who was a large powerful man, tried to throw McDonald to the ground and while he stooped above his victim, McDonald stabbed him to the heart. McDonald at once surrendered himself to the officers of the law and was locked in a room, as there was then no regular jail in the county. A crowd gathered and there were threats of lynching, but better counsel prevailed and the prisoner was finally left to be dealt with by the law. He was held to answer before the next grand jury, and was allowed bail, which was readily furnished by his friends. A few weeks later the grand jury was regularly convened, and after a full in- vestigation they refused to indict him, and the charge against him was dismissed.
Fourth of July, 1857, was again marked by a double celebration, the Independents holding theirs at Fort Benson. By this time the feeling of opposition was stronger, and there was little affiliation between the partici- pants in the two affairs.
THE RECALL.
The disputes and difficulties between Brigham Young's State of Deseret and the United States authorities culminated in 1857, in the dispatch of a body of United States trcops to Utah. It was believed that war was im-
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minent, and Young called all of the Faithful who were scattered in various colonies to return to Salt Lake City. Many of the San Bernardino colonists were Josephites and did not agree with Young's policy or believe in the practice of polygamy. Some of these refused to obey the call, but most of the San Bernardino settlers felt obliged to comply, and sold the property which they had accumulated by hard work and economy at a ruinous sac- rifice. Instances are related where an improved farm was exchanged for a camping outfit with which to make the long return journey. In one case a good four room house, well located and furnished, was sold for $40.00- with a buggy, a cloak and a sack of sugar thrown in for good measure.
The balance of the church property was put into the hands of Ebenezer Hanks, who had previously bought a third interest in the grant, and was later sold to W. A. Conn, F. L. Tucker, Richard G. Allen and Bethel Coop- wood. The title to lands in the San Bernardino Rancho has always been unquestioned, and the new owners continued to sell on liberal terms to actual settlers.
THE CHARACTER OF THE MORMONS.
It is the universal testimony that the Mormon colonists who created the city of San Bernardino and were largely instrumental in the organization of the county, were industrious, peaceable citizens-most sincere and earnest in their religious convictions. The majority of them seem not to have been in sympathy with the polygamist doctrine of the later church, although some of them practiced it as a matter of duty.
Their methods of co-operation and their simple, hard-working lives were in strong contrast to the shiftless and often ill-directed efforts of many of their "gentile" neighbors. In the six years from their settlement in 1851-2 to their departure in 1857-8 they had built up a substantial town, with two adobe school rooms, the "Council House," several substantial store build- ings, a flour mill, three saw mills, irrigation ditches and good roads. They had brought a large share of the 36,000 acres purchased under cultivation ; had set out orchards and vineyards. A stage line and post route between San Bernardino and Los Angeles had been established and a pony line to Salt Lake made regular trips. And beside these community improvements many of the individual members of the colony had acquired well improved homes, with the comforts of life about them, and some of them had accumu- lated considerable property. Certainly, no better showing could have been made by any equal number of "gentiles." They had also demonstrated that small farms and agriculture were not only possible, but profitable, in this land which had hitherto been given over almost entirely to grazing purposes, and they had paved the way for the numerous "colonies" that have since been so large a factor in the prosperity of our South Land.
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CAPTAIN JEFFERSON HUNT.
Jefferson Hunt may be called the pioneer of the Mormon settlement at San Bernardino, and the father of San Bernardino County. As an officer of the Mormon Battalion he had first become familiar with the advantages of Southern California. He had twice led parties from Salt Lake to Cali- fornia by way of the southern route through Cajon Pass, and had thus be- come acquainted with the country and with the people. He was one of the guides of the Mormon colonists and assisted Lyman and Rich in their pros- recting for a home for the colony. He took a prominent part in the building of their Fort, and was the leader of their military organization. Under his direction the road through Twin Creek Cañon to the timber district was constructed and he was one of the first to engage in the lumber industry. In 1852 he was chosen as Assemblyman for Los Angeles County, and it was he who presented the bill for the formation of San Bernardino County. He represented this county in the Legislature from the time of its organization until his departure in 1857. In 1855, he was commissioned as a Brigadier General in the State Militia by Governor Bigler. He was a Democrat in politics. Soon after coming to San Bernardino he secured a contract for carrying the mail from Los Angeles to Salt Lake via San Bernardino and he held important mail contracts throughout his stay in the state.
Captain Hunt was born in Kentucky in 1805. He married Miss Celia Mount, and in 1835 he and his wife were baptized into the Mormon church by Sidney Rigdon. They had removed to Missouri and Jefferson Hunt at -
once took an active part in the church, becoming an elder and being employed by Joseph Smith both in the religious and secular affairs of the community. He was a prosperous farmer and business man during his stay in Missouri, and when the call to move westward came, he was able to equip his own łamily comfortably and also to aid many of the less fortunate brethren in their outfitting.
When the Mormon Battalion was organized, Hunt and two of his sons, Gilbert and Marshall, were among the first to enlist. Hunt was made cap- tain of Company A. The interesting history of this band of volunteers has been told elsewhere. During their stay in California Captain Hunt saw a good deal of the country and its settlers, and was most favorably impressed with its climate and advantages. When the Company was discharged in 1847, Hunt and his sons went north to the gold fields near Colima. They were very successful in their mining operat.ons, and when they went on to Salt Lake City they carried a considerable amount of gold dust with them. Here Captain Hunt found his family, which he had left at Santa Fe in 1846, when the Battalion started for California. They had come on to Salt Lake City with the other Saints and were now in almost destitute cir- cimstances.
JEFFERSON HUNT
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Very soon after his return, Captain Hunt organized a party to return to California by a new Indian trail which had not been hitherto traveled by white men. This led southward and through the Cajon Pass. He pur- chased 300 head of cattle from the Lugos at San Bernardino valley, and bought horses at Puente and supplies in Los Angeles ; then returned to Salt Lake by the northern route. I11 1849, Captain Hunt again returned to California as the guide of the party from which separated the ill-fated Death Valley party.
Captain Hunt was a man of strong character, deeply pious by nature. He believed with all his heart in the divine revelation of the Mormon doc- trines, although he found many of them a sore trial to his faith. Energetic, clear-sighted and indomitable in will, he was especially fitted for the leader- ship which he always acquired, in whatever position he was placed. Gen- erous to a fault, his home was always open to the less fortunate brethren, and he gave a helping hand to many a needy man-Saint and Gentile alike --- for he was above petty distinctions. He deserves a large place in the memory of the citizens of San Bernardino, for he filled a large place in the early and vital events of the history of the town and of the county.
After his return with the Saints to Salt Lake in 1858, Captain Hunt took a mail contract from Salt Lake to Humboldt. He also took up land in Utah and later secured a large ranch in Idaho. In 1860 he founded Huntsville, a flourishing agricultural settlement near Ogden.
He died at Oxford, Idaho, in the spring of 1866.
Mrs. Hunt survived him and died in 1897, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sheldon Stoddard, in San Bernardino. Captain Hunt had eleven chil- dren, of whom are now living Mrs. Nancy Daley, widow of Edward Daley, and Mrs. Harriet Mayfield, of San Bernardino and John and Gilbert, of Arizona. The daughters, Mrs. Nancy Dalev. Mrs. Harriet Mayfield and Mrs. Sheldon Stoddard, have lived for many years in this city and are uni- versally loved and respected.
Eighty-nine grandchildren, one hundred and forty-nine great-grandchil- dren· and seventy-nine great-great grandchildren are descended from Jef- ferson Hunt.
THE DEATH VALLEY PARTY.
Late in the summer of 1849, a large number of goldseekers reached Utah Valley. It was too late for them to go on to California by the northern route, and it was feared that the Mormon settlers could not supply provisions for so large an extra force during the winter. Captain Hunt offered to take the party to California by the southern route which he had gone over the previous year. After much discussion and planning, a train of about one hundred wagons was made up and Captain Hunt was engaged as guide.
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Each wagon paid him ten dollars, and he agreed to take the party through to Los Angeles in nine weeks. Some weeks were spent in preparation and organization. The company was divided into seven sections, each one choosing its own leader and all agreeing to obey Captain Hunt's orders im- plicitly, except that in case of necessity, a majority of the whole train might rule.
September 30, 1849, the party started out, and for some days all went well and the immigrants were in the best of spirits. But the trail was lost and the course had to be changed, which caused much confusion, as so large a party had to move systematically and was unwieldly. It also disturbed their confidence in their leader. Not long after the start the party was joined by another body of goldseekers, under the leadership of a Captain Smith. A map made by one Williams, who professed to know all the routes through the mountains, was in possession of Smith. This map showed a route turning off from the trail to be followed by the Hunt party and cutting across the mountains and plains in an almost direct line, thus saving several hundred miles of distance. There was much discussion among Captain Hunt's followers and the Smith party concerning this new route and finally the matter became so worked up that a meeting of the entire train was called to decide whether they would continue on the southern trail or follow the one which was to be taken by the Smith party. Captain Hunt stated at this meeting that he knew no more than the rest of the party about this particular route, but he doubted whether a white man had ever been over it, and did not consider it safe for those who had women and children in their company to undertake an unknown trail. Young men who had no tamilies might possibly get through even though the road were not so good as the Los Angeles road. "But," said he, "if you all decide to go with Smith, I will go with you even though the road leads to hell. But I was hired to go by way of Los Angeles and if one wagon decides to go on that way, I shall feel bound to go that way, with that wagon." So Manley reports him, in his book on the Death Valley Party.
The majority decided in favor of the shorter route, but when the party reached the "cut off," seven wagons concluded to follow Hunt on the route originally decided upon and he went on with them. The rest of the party took the Smith route, but after two or three days of travel they came to a point where it seemed to be impossible to go further with the wagons. After a day or two spent in reconnoitering, a large portion of the party-probably sixty or seventy wagons-turned back and started after Hunt. The greater part of this company reached Southern California in safety. The remainder soon divided up into small parties and each made its way as best it could, taking its own course. All of these parties suffered untold torture of hunger and thirst, wagons were abandoned, oxen killed for food and women and children were compelled to walk across the barren desert of the valley which
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has since that time been known as "Death Valley." Some of these stragglers came into California in the vicinity of the Tehachapi Pass, others reached the San Francisquita Pass, some were taken prisoners by the Indians; at least thirteen of the original party perished in the fated valley.
There can be no question that if the entire party had remained with Captain Hunt they would have reached Los Angeles with no serious diffi- culty. Among the party which set out from Salt Lake were Sidney Waite and Jerry McElvain, now of San Bernardino. Miss Melissa Bennett, the daughter of Mr. A. Bennett, who gave the name to the Bennett party to which belonged W. L. Manley, whose interesting account of the various Death Valley parties is the chief authority on the subject, was the first wife of Judge H. C. Rolfe. This little group, after intense suffering reached the San Francisquita Pass, in a state of starvation, and were fed and cared for by the Del Valle family, then residing on the San Francisquita Rancho.
CHAPTER IV.
A BETWEEN PERIOD-1858-1875.
The withdrawal of several hundred Mormon settlers in 1857-58 greatly decreased the population of San Bernardino County and was a serious blow, for a time to its prosperity. Although newcomers, attracted by the chance to purchase improved land for less than the cost of the improvements came in, they were not as a class, equal to the Mormon settlers in character or in energy. The unsold San Ber- nardino Rancho lands passed from the hands of the syndicate who purchased them from the church to W. A. Conn, who, for many years, rented and sold them to settlers.
W. A. CONN
The breaking out of the Civil war also greatly affected this county. The withdrawal of United States troops from Forts Tejon and Mojave left the entire frontier unprotected and was a signal for a general outbreak among the hostile Indians. For a number of years raids upon stock ranches, freighters and miners were frequent. In 1861 all stock on the desert was driven over into the San Ber- ardino valley for safety.
In 1855 a volunteer company was organized in San Bernardino under Captain Andrew Lytle to punish the Indians of the San Gorgonio Pass for
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depredations. A corps of men under Orderly Sergeant H. C. Rolfe were en- camped for some time at the Weaver ranch. In 1861 a company of infantry was formed under command of Captain C. E. Bennett; First Lieutenant, William Clark ; Second Lieutenant, Jolin Brook; Orderly Sergeant, Wm. V'an Curen.
In 1862 and for several years afterward, a body of California Volunteers was kept in the vicinity of San Bernardino. These were at first camped on the Santa Ana, south of the city, but after the flood of 1862, Camp Carle- ton was established some two miles north of the town. Captain Eyre was then in command and four companies of 85 men each were in camp.
While no regularly organized body of men went from San Bernardino to take part in the great struggle, a number of citizens returned east-some to join one side, some the other. There were many southerners in the com- munity, whose sympathies were naturally with their own people. Party feeling ran very high. The mining excitement in Bear and Holcomb valleys in 1861-2 had brought a large population into that vicinity. There was a strong secession element there and a still stronger element of lawlessness that cared for nothing but a fight, with or without excuse. There was con- stant discord both at the mines and at San Bernardino. A Union League was organized by John Brown, Sr., in 1861, to support the government. Uncle George Lord was the president of the association, and among the first members were Charles G. Hill, William Heap and Moses Martin. There was strong opposition at first and attempts to break up the League meetings, but it gained in strength until in 1863 the county, for the first time in its history, gave a Republican majority, Lincoln having a plurality of eighty- three votes.
Out of the political feeling grew the contest over the election for assem- blyman between Conn and Piercey, which ended in Piercey taking the seat, although strong allegations of fraud were made. Piercey's death in the duel with Showalter was also a result of the bitterness between Union and Seces- sion sentiment.
It was at one time reported that San Bernardino was to be raided by a band of fillibusters organized in the vicinity of Visalia to join the confederate army in Texas. Much alarm was felt and the town was kept under guard for several nights, but no fillibusters appeared. Indeed, the party proceeded quietly through the valley and doubtless had no intention of disturbing the citizens of San Bernardino.
The close of the war and the departure of a large part of the lawless element from the mining district brought renewed quiet to the better class of San Bernardino settlers. But the Indians continued to make trouble and many citizens were killed by scattering bands who were always ready to steal stock, or to attack a small party wherever found.
In 1866, the Slate Range Quartz Mill, owned by P. Beaudry of Los An-
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geles, with twelve buildings connected with the mill were burned by the Indians. In 1867 a company of Volunteers was made up in San Bernardino to punish the Indians for numerous depredations. The Guardian of Feb- ruary, 1867, says :
"For several years past our citizens have been greatly annoyed by roving bands of Indians who come into the valley and steal all the horses and cattle they find unguarded. Nor do they hesitate to attack stockmen and trav- elers, if an opportunity offers. Already Messrs. Parish, Bemus, Whiteside and a dozen other citizens have fallen victims to their blood thirstiness within the past four years. Growing bolder by impunity. on the 29th of January, they attacked the saw mill of Mr. James, upon the mountain, a few miles east of this place, having previously robbed the house of Mr. Cain, carried off five horses and burned down the house. The party at the mill consisting of Messrs. Armstrong, Richardson, Cain and Talmadge, sallied out to meet them. A brisk fight followed when the party finding most of the Indians had guns, and fearful of being overpowered, retreated to the mill. The next morning the party having been reinforced went out and were at- tacked again, the fight lasting for more than an hour. Two of the white men were wounded and two Indians killed and three wounded. A party was made up to pursue these Indians, and after following them found the Indians encamped on the desert at Rabbit Springs. The company made an attack, the men having to climb up the steep mountains and over the rocks on all fours and the skirmishing lasted till dark. The skirmishing lasted for two days longer when the whites were compelled to withdraw because supplies were exhausted. Four Indians were killed and two of the white party wounded."
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