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INGERSOLL'S
CENTURY ANNALS
o
OF
San Bernardino County
1769 to 1904
PREFACED WITH
A Brief History of the State of California
SUPPLEMENTED WITH
An Encyclopedia of Local Biography
Embellished with Views of Historic Subjects and Portraits of Many of its Representative People.
(xo
0|.~j ^^qI l. a. ingersoll
' _ , , Los Angeles
StL.S'+A
1622156
PREFACE.
The publication of these Annals is the outgrowth of efforts made in the year 1898, which contemplated a booklet to cover the history of San Bernardino County in concise form, with other information, so arranged as to serve the purpose of a guide book. The movement met with due encour- agement and support ; but the officially expressed wish of the San Bernar- dino Society of California Pioneers, seconded by many good citizens not members of that organization, that the history of their "Imperial County" might be preserved in some more permanent and fitting form, induced the abandonment of the original plan and the adoption of the present one, which by suggestion is largelv theirs.
In preparing this book the aim has been to give a concise history of the state, a comprehensive history of the county through all the different stages of its development and a biographical record of the men and the women who have made this history. Throughout the work I have had the invaluable aid of Rose L. Ellerbe, whose signal abilities, literary acumen and untiring de- votion to editorial duties have materially contributed to the historical ex- cellence of the publication.
The "Brief History of California" printed as an introduction to the County History will, without doubt, be appreciated by the reading public. It comes from the pen of a recognized authority upon the history of the state. Professor J. M. Guinn, of Los Angeles.
The Hon. Horace C. Rolfe, has rendered a great service in writing his recollections of the Bench and Bar of San Bernardino County. His long and continuous residence, his intimate relations with his professional col- leagues and his clear memory of past events have made him the fitting per- son to do this work. From the inception of my book, Judge Rolfe has been constantly referred to for historical facts and consulted upon points of uncertainty and the unfailing courtesy and willingness of his responses and the valuable information furnished, have placed me under the deepest obligation to him.
The late Miss Eleanor Freeman collected the data and largely prepared the history of Ontario before her untimely death, and much credit is due to her memory for the careful labor which she expended on her work. The history of Highlands was written by E. J. Yokam, one of the first perman- ent settlers of that community, who has been in close touch with its develop- ment. Mrs. E. P. R. Crafts, of Redlands, furnished much material of value concerning the early history of San Bernardino and the East San Bernar- dino Valley and of the early churches, particularly the Congregational
IV PREFACE
churches of San Bernardino and Redlands. The scholarly article upon the Geology of the San Bernardino mountain ranges and San Bernardino Valley by the Rev. George Robertson, of Mentone, elucidates a subject upon which little has been written. The excellent story of Mill Creek zanja, written by Professor Charles R. Paine, gives the reader new facts upon an interest- ing subject of hitherto uncertain information.
A large number of manuscripts, interviews and reminiscences which are of great value, since they furnish historical material which would other- wise be entirely lost, have been supplied by the pioneer residents of the county. The San Bernardino Society of California Pioneers has freely opened its archives; Miguel Bustamante, of Agua Mansa; the late Marcus Katz, and William McDonald, deceased ; Sheldon Stoddard and the late Mrs. Stoddard; Mrs. Harriet Mayfield, W. F. Holcomb, F. T. Perris, John Brown, Jr.. Sidney P. Waite, all of San Bernardino ; John Isaac, now of Sacramento; Bishop Verdaguer, of Brownsville, Texas; Bethel Coopwood, of Loredo, Texas ; Richard Gird, Los Angeles ; E. G. Judson, William M. Tisdale, Frank E. Brown, Scipio Craig, Robert Hornbeck, Mrs. E. B. Sey- mour, of Redlands ; Dr. James P. Booth and Justice L. V. Root, of Needles, as well as many others, have furnished data and personal reminiscences which have gone far toward making this work of value and interest.
One of the most valuable sources of information has been the files of the newspapers. It is here we find the most authentic record of local his- tory. The files of the following papers and magazines have been con- sulted :
The Los Angeles Star, Los Angeles Library ; The San Bernardino Guardian and Argus, furnished by John Brown, Jr. ; The San Bernardino Times, from 1879 to 1888, supplied an invaluable fund of information, cov- ering that period ; the files of the Redlands Citrograph, from the first pub- lication in 1887 to the present, were placed at my disposal by the editor, Scipio Craig, and have furnished not only local history, but much valuable data on horticultural, agricultural and irrigation topics; the early numbers of the Riverside Press and Horticulturist gave data regarding the begin- nings of citrus culture and marketing; the early numbers of the Rural Cali- fornian supplied much useful information.
"The Land of Sunshine" and Out West, Overland Monthly, Journal of Electricity. Power and Gas; the Colton Chronicle, Redlands Daily Facts; Chino Champion, San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino Times-Index; Ontario Observer, and many other newspapers and pamphlets were re- ferred to.
The following authorities have also been consulted :
History of California, H. H. Bancroft.
History of California, Theodore H. Hittell.
Publications of the Historical Society of Southern California.
On the Trail of a Spanish Pioneer, Elliott Coues.
Diary of Padre Juan Crespi, translation published in Los Angeles Times.
PREFACE V
Spanish Colonization in the Southwest, F. W. Blackmar.
Franciscans in California, Z. Engelhardt.
Life in California, Alfred Robinson.
In Pioneer Days, W. H. Davis.
Reminiscences of a Ranger, Horace C. Bell.
California in 1839, A. Forbes.
Old California Days, James Steele.
Special Reports on Mission Indians, B. D. Wilson; H. H. Jackson. Annual Reports of Agents for Mission Indians.
Present Condition of Mission Indians in California, Helen Hunt Jackson.
History of San Bernardino Valley, Father Juan Caballeria.
Ethno-Botany of the Coahuillas, C. P. Barrows. .
Centennial History of Los Angeles, J. J. Warner.
San Bernardino County — Its Climate and Resources, W. D. Frazee, 1876.
History of San Bernardino County, 1883, Warren Wilson.
History of Southern California, Lewis Publishing Company.
History of Los Angeles County, Lewis Publishing Company.
History of Los Angeles County. J. M. Guinn.
History of Utah, H. H. Bancroft.
Conquest of New Mexico and California, Col. P. St. George Cooke.
History of Mormon Battalion, D. Tyler. (This book, which is ex- ceedingly rare, was furnished through the courtesy of Dr. J. A. Munk, of Los Angeles.)
The Story of the Death Valley Party, W. Manley.
Death Valley, John R. Speare.'
Reports of the State Board of Horticulture.
Reports of the State Board of Agriculture.
Orange Culture, Thomas A. Garey.
Culture of the Citrus in California, B. M. Le Long.
Irrigation in Southern California. Wm. Hamilton Hall.
Reservoirs for Irrigation, Domestic Supply and Power, J. R. Schuyler.
The Water Question in Redlands, William M. Tisdale.
The Biographical Supplement will doubtless prove not the least valu- able feature of the book. It records so much of the personal experience of those who have contributed to the material development of this county and have borne an honorable part in the direction of its public affairs, that it constitutes a fairly comprehensive encyclopedia of local biographical reference. These sketches have not been printed for the purpose of gratifying the desire of any person to appear conspicuously in print and no compensation has been solicited, or received, for such publication. Neither have these notices been limited to people who have patronized my enterprise. This feature of the work has required a vast amount of labor. More than one thousand personal interviews have been made; upwards of two thousand personal letters have been written and posted — not to mention the rigid ex- actions in the labor of editing the material furnished. The facts, in the main, have been gleaned by personal talks with those represented, or with relatives of those who have passed away. To insure accuracy the written articles have been submitted to those from whom the information was ob-
VI PREFACE
tained. In some instances the sketches have not been returned corrected, and in such cases errors may have been printed, for which I must disclaim responsibility.
The histories of churches and fraternal societies are, in many cases, not so complete as I desired, because the necessary data was not obtainable.
It would hAve been impossible to illustrate the volume so liberally but for the public spirit of people who, in many instances, have shared with me the burden of expense.
It is a matter of no little satisfaction that such a work, costing so much effort and so large an expenditure of money is, however imperfect, a realized fact. I am still further gratified with the thought of having rescued from oblivion a historical story which, with the rapid passing of the true pioneers and the destruction of other evidences indispensable to the writing of his- tory, will soon be entirely out of the reach of human effort, and I trust that, to some future historian this work will prove an inspiration, and serve as a basis for the more perfect completion of his labors.
LUTHER A. INGERSOLL. Los Angeles, California, October 19, 1904.
"No community can claim to be highly enlightened which is content to remain ignorant of its antecedents, or in other words, ignorant of the prime causes that have made it what it is." — H. D. Barrows.
CONTENTS
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
THE SPANISH ERA.
CHAPTER I.
DISCOVERY.
Sandoval's Mythical Island — Jiminez's Discovery — Cortez's Attempts at Colonization — Origin of the Name California — Ulloa's Voyage — Cabrillo's Discoveries — Francis Drake — Sebastian Viscaino.
CHAPTER II.
COLONIZATION.
Missions in Lower California — Explorations of Father Kino — Expulsion of the Jesuits — Galvez fits out Four Expeditions for Alta California — Father Junipero Serra — The Four Expeditions United — 'Founding of San Diego Mission — Gov. Portola's Expedition to Monterey Bay — Discovery of San Francisco Bay — Founding of San Carlos Mission — Founding of Other Mis- sions— Description of Missionary Establishments.
CHAPTER III. PRESIDIOS AND PUEBLOS.
Military Establishments — Anza Explores Colorado River Route — Agri- cultural Colonies, or Pueblos — Founding of San Jose — Founding of Presidio at San Francisco — Founding of Los Angeles — Restrictions on Commerce. Struggle for Mexican Independence — Bouchard, the Privateer — Hard Times in California.
THE MEXICAN ERA.
CHAPTER IV.
FROM MONARCHY TO REPUBLICANISM.
Transition — Empire — Republic — Royalist Friars — Russians — Other For- eigners— Hide Droghers — The Beginning of Revolution.
CHAPTER V.
REVOLUTION AND SECULARIZATION.
Expulsion of Governor Manuel Victoria — Dual Governors — Governor Figueroa — The Hijar Colony — Secularization of the Missions — The Pious Fund of California — Slaughter of Cattle — Death of Figueroa — Chico — First Vigilance Committee — Guitterez Deported.
CHAPTER VI.
THE FREE STATE OF ALTA CALIFORNIA.
The "Hijos del Pais" in Power — The Monterey Plan — California De- clared a Free and Sovereign State — Los Angeles Rebels — War Between the "Uppers" and the "Lowers" — Los Angeles Surrenders — Carlos Carrillo Ap- pointed Governor — Los Angeles the Capital — Alvarado and Castro Invade
VIII CONTENTS
the South— Battle of San Buenaventura — Carrillo Flees to San Diego — Battle of Las Flores — Carrillo Surrenders and is Sent Home to His Wife — Alvarado Takes the Oath to Support the Constitution'of 1836 — The "Free State" ceases to Exist — Alvarado Appointed Governor by the Supreme Government — The Graham Affair — Commodore Jones Takes Possession of Monterey.
CHAPTER VII. CLOSING YEARS OF THE MEXICAN ERA.
Micheltorena Governor — His Army of Convicts — Meets Commodore Jones at Los Angeles — His Extravagant Demands — Angelenos Weary of the Cholos — On to Monterey — Micheltoreno Establishes Schools — Rebellion Against Micheltorena — Bloodless Battle of Cahuenga — Micheltorena Sur- renders— Pio Pico Governor — Los Angeles the Capital — Castro's Rebellion. Fremont's Arrival at Monterey — Castro's Threat — Fremont Marches North- ward— Overtaken by Lieut. Gillespie — Returns — The Bear Flag Revolution. Commodore Sloat Raises the Stars and Stripes in Monterey.
THE AMERICAN ERA.
CHAPTER VIII. CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA.
Commodore Sloat Departs — Commodore Stockton in Command- — Fre- mont's Battalion Arrives at Monterey and is Sent to San Diego — Stockton's Proclamation — Pico and Castro at Los Angeles — Stockton at San Pedro — March Against Los Angeles — Fremont and Stockton Join Forces — Flight of Pico and Castro — Captain Gillespie garrisons Los Angeles — Revolt of Cali- fornians — Gillespie Evacuates Los Angeles — Captain Mervine Arrives at San Pedro — March to Recapture Los Angeles — Battle of Dominguez Rancho — Defeat of the Americans — Arrival of Stockton at San Pedro — Departs for San Diego — Fremonts Battalion Comes Down the Coast — Defeat of Kearney at San Pasqual — Stockton and Kearny March for Los Angeles — Battle of Paso de Bartolo — Battle of La Mesa — Surrender of Los Angeles — Fremont Reaches San Fernando — Treaty of Cahuenga — Fremont Governor — The Mormon Battalion — Kearny Governor — Fremont Deposed — Mason in Com- mand— Arrival of Stevenson's Regiment — Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo — Large Immigration — The Donner Party.
CHAPTER IX.
TRANSITION FROM A CONQUERED TERRITORY TO A FREE
STATE.
Discovery of Gold — Rapid Growth — Military Government — Dissatisfac- tion— Call for a Convention — Constitution Making — The Great Seal — Elec- tion of State Officers — Opposition of Slave-holding Element to the Admission of California — A Self-constituted State — Admission into the Union — Great Rejoicing in San Francisco.
CHAPTER X. VIGILANCE COMMITTEES. GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.
Vigilance Committee of 185 1 — Production of Gold — Vigilance Commit- tee of 1856 — Filibustering — State Capitals — Civil War — Mining — Cattle In- dustry— Railroad Building — Education.
CONTENTS
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
ANNALS.
INTRODUCTORY.
CHAPTER I.
SPANISH ERA.
Spanish Missionaries in New Spain 60 San Bernardino Mission Station 83
Early History of Indians 72 Later History of Indians 84
Tribes of San Bernardino County 75 Mexican Rule 84
Indians Under Mission Rule 76 Our Shame 84
Description of San Gabriel TJ Coahuilla Chiefs 87
Mission Settlements in San Bernardino Mojaves in Later Days 89
County 80 Coahuillas of Today 92
Politana 81 San Manuel Reservation 94
CHAPTER II.
MEXICAN ERA.
Jurupa Grant 95 Irving Affair no
Agua Mansa 97 El Cajon de Muscupiabe in
Cucamonga 101 Other Grants 113
Rancho Santa Ana del Chino 105 San Gorgonio Grant 114
Battle of Chino 107
San Bernardino Grant 108
Indian Troubles no Cattle on a Thousand Hills
Los Dias Alegres 114
CHAPTER III.
MORMON ERA.
History of Mormonism 125 First Fourth of July 144
The Mormon Battalion 126 Troubles Between Mormons and Gen- San Bernardino Colony 130 tiles 144
Organization of Colony 131 Fort Benson 146
Fort of San Bernardino 133 The Recall 147
Settlement ■■■••■••■ • .- • ■ ■ ■ ■ • • ■ ■ ■ *35 Character of the Mormons 148
Segregation of San Bernardino C ountv. . 1A1 „ . T _
First Election 14' Captain Jefferson Hunt 149
The Town of San Bernardino 142 Death Valley Party 151
CHAPTER IV.
A BETWEEN PERIOD— 1858-1875.
General History 153 The Bee Business 161
Agriculture iSS Schools 162
The Town of San Bernardino.
~rade 157
Sawmills and Lumbering 158
Manufacturing 159 First Telegraphic Communication 164
Mining 161 Railroads 166
CHAPTER V.
PROGRESSION— 1875-1890.
General History 167 City of San Bernardino • 168
Agriculture and Horticulture 168 Expansion — the Boom 169
CONTENTS CHAPTER VI. SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
Development of Resources
Public Buildings
Roads
County Divisions
The Forest Reserve
Agricultural Experimental Station.
The Development of Electrical Power. . . 190
Floods 192
Drouths 194
Earthquakes 194
Rainfall Tables 196
CHAPTER VII.
AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
Agriculture 197 Associations, Packing Houses 212
Statistics 200 Trade. Marks and Labels 214
Alfalfa 201 Transportation 215
Wineries, Canneries and Dried Fruits. .202 Present Situation 215
Citrus Culture — General History 203 rtr„ e.;„ „„j tt u;i,;»„ „Ti
Washington Navel Oranges. . . . 20s ? " • Exhibits 216
First Orange Trees in County 210 Statistics 218
Marketing of Oranges 211 Horticultural Commission 219
CHAPTER VIII.
IRRIGATION.
San Bernardino Valley 223 Bear Valley Reservoir and Bear Valley
The Water Supply 224 Company 231
Early Irrigation 224 Arrowhead Reservoir System 237
Mutual Water Companies 227 Artesian Basin and Wells 239
The Wright Irrigation District Law. . . .228 Water Litigation 242
CHAPTER IX.
TRANSPORTATION.
First Travelers 245 Santa Fe Shops 266
Staging^ and Freighting ... . .246 oil Burning 268
Railroad History 249
Southern Pacific 251
Rate War 269
Santa Fe System 257 Salt Lake Route 271
CHAPTER X.
MINING.
General Review 273 Borax 278
Bear and Holcomb Valleys 277 The Desert Districts 280
Lytle Creek District 277 The, Geology of the County 285
CHAPTER XI.
THE SCHOOLS.
Early History 293 Present Condition 296
H. C. Brooks 295 Statistics 297
CHAPTER XII.
THE BENCH AND BAR.
Early Legal Affairs 299 District Attorneys. Attorneys of Rec-
First County Judges 300 ord ' ,,7
I he Bar of San Bernardino County 302 —. T „ T •, r
Lis) Of County Judges. Superior Judges, ' lle Lau L,brary ^
CONTENTS XI
CHAPTER XIII.
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC AND FIRST BATTALION.
California in the Civil War 321 First Battalion, Seventh California In-
Organization of the G A. R 323 fantry u. S. V 331
W. R. Cornman Post No. 57 325 r v 00
Woman's Relief Corps 327
Company K 337
A Heroine of the War 328 Company G 340
CHAPTER XIV.
CRIMES AND LAWLESSNNESS.
Ainsworth-Gentry Affair 343 Bear and Holcomb Valleys. . 345
Piercey-Showalter Duel 344 Crimes 345
CHAPTER XV.
REMINISCENCES AND BITS OF THE PAST.
Marcus Katz 348 .Assessment of Louis Rubidoux 365
Mrs. E. P. R. C. .raft 352 Report of Grand Jury, June 18, 1859 365
''Father Peter" 353 San Bernardino's Stock Company 366
Daniel Sexton 357 First and Last May Day Picnic 368
W. F. Holcomb 357 Some Bear Stories 369
Captain Joseph Garcia 361 Legends of Arrowhead 374
CHAPTER XVI. CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO— 1885-1904.
Chronological History 377 Postoffice 399
Banks 387 Schools 401
San Bernardino Valley Traction Com- Public Library 404
pany 391 Newspapers 406
Gas and Electric Company 393 Churches 409
Water Supply and System 394 Societies 416
Fire Department 395 Resorts 427
CHAPTER XVII. REDLANDS.
Old San Bernardino 431 Transportation 491
Crafton 432 Schools 495
Lugonia 435 Postoffice 499
Kenwood Colony 440 Smiley Brothers and Library 501
The Settlement of Redlands 440 Newspapers 509
The Town of Redlands 449 Board of Trade 511
The City of Redlands 455 Visitors 513
Business Growth 457 Parks, Drives and Resorts 515
Homes of Redlands 469 Fire Department 518
Hotels 471 The Saloon Question.... 521
Water Companies and Water Problem. .476 Women and Their Work 525
Mill Creek Zanja 483 Churches 529
Fruit Growing 486 Societies 544
CHAPTER XVIII.
Charcoal Sketch of Pioneers 548 Fruit Exchange 561
General History 551 Water Supply 562
Portland Cement Works 558 Schools 563
Other Industries 560 Churches 564
XII CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIX. ONTARIO.
General History 565 Schools
Water Supply 581 Churches
Fruit Industry 582 Fraternal Societies
CHAPTER XX. CHINO.
General History 590 Chino Beet Sugar Factory 595
Schools 594 How Beet Sugar Is Made 598
CHAPTER XXI.
HIGHLAND.
General History 603 East Highland 611
Irrigation in Highland District 605 West Highland 613
The Town of Highland 606 Brookings Lumber and Box Co 613
CHAPTER XXII.
OTHER TOWNS AND SETTLEMENTS.
Cucamonga 615 Rialto 619
Etiwanda 616 Upland 622
Iamosa 617
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE DESERT AND ITS TOWNS.
The Desert 626 The Colorado River 627
Needles 631
PIONEERS.
THE EARLIEST PIONEERS.
A Tribute to the Pioneers 637 Mormon Pioneers and Occupants of
Our Pioneers 638 "Old Fort" 640
New Mexican Colonists 639
THE SAN BERNARDINO SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA PIONEERS.
History of the Society 643 Biographies of Members 649
Other Pioneers 673 Biographical Supplement 708
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Agua Mansa, Little Church of 98
Bells of San Gabriel ■jy
Bear Valley Dam 234
Bear Valley Reservoir Site 232
Cabrillo 69
Camp Rochester 274
Chapel, San Bernardino Mission 82
Court House, San Bernardino 62
Court House, Old 177
County Officials — 1874 160
Colton Pioneers 548
Colton, Business Corner 550
Chino, Gird School House 594
Desert Dwellers 626
Fort Benson 146
Fort San Bernardino 132
Grist Mill, Built by Mormons 136
La Praix Sawmill 158
Lugonia in 1881 435
Mojave Buck 76
Mormon Council House 143
Needles Smelter 280
Old Fire Engine 396
Ontario, General View 575
Ontario, Gravity Street Railway 578
Original Plat of San Bernardino 142
Redlands and Lugonia, From the
Heights, 1890 442
Redlands, From 'Canyon Crest Park.... 451 Junction of Citrus Ave., Orange and
Cajon Sts 454
State Street, 1890 461
Casa Loma • ■ 475
Prospect Park 515
Residence A. C. Burrage 469
Residence J. W. England 846
Rose Brand 489
Smiley Library 430
Rialto, First Congregational Church. .. .619
San Bernardino in 1852 124
San Bernardino City High School 292
Pavilion 384
Public Library 378
Masonic Temple 417
First M. E. Church 410
St. Paul's M. E. Church 409
San Bernardino Whoop 263
Salt Lake Officials 270
"Shorty" 90
Stage Advertisements 248
Uplands, Hotel Algonquin 623
Victorville, Bridge 628
INDEX OF PORTRAITS
Alvarado, Francisco 638
Amos, J. Wayne 662
Andreson, John Sr 380
Andreson, John Jr 423
Armstrong, Royal M 865
Bagley, Malon A 716
Bailey, Charles F 843
Bandini, J uan 96
Barton, Dr. Ben 156
Barton, John H 887
Bedford, Alfred D., M. D 815
Benjamin, Isaac 710
Black, Simon H 747
Blakeslee, Henry D 866
Bledsoe, Benjamin F....-- 312
Bledsoe, Robert E 314
Boggs, William S 713
Boren, A D 300
Boren, Wilford A 664
Bradford, Daniel M 678
Brazleton, James A 682
Breed, Dr. J. B 471
Brookings, J. E 614
Brooke, Henry C . .295
Brown, Frank E 230
Brown, John Sr 637
Brown, John Jr 646
Brown, Philo R 446
Brush, Frederick M 877
Bublitz, G. H ■•... .715
Bustamante, Miguel 99
Byrne, John J 264
Campbell, John Lloyd 309
Carlisle, Robert 108
Chaff ey, George B 566
Clapp, T. J. S 717
Clarke E. P 572
Clock, Charles L. . . . 542
Clusker, Charles C . . 698
Conn, W. A iy
Colton, D. R 563
Conner, Henry 807
Conrad, F. W 402
Cook, George A • ■ 438
Coopwood, Bethel 304
Cornman.VW. R 326
Corwin, W. S 612
Cox, Mr. and Mrs. S. C, Sr 706
Cox, Mr. and Mrs. S. C, Jr 706
Cov, Louis 1 718
Crafts, Mrs. E. P. R S3i
Crafts, M. H 665
Craig, Scipio 508
Craig, Dr. and Mrs. William 538
Cram, Lewis F 675
Curtis, Robert T 423
Curtis, William 711
Daniels, H. H.
Davies, Benjamin Davis, John W. Sr.
XIV
CONTENTS
Davis, John W. Jr 829
Denman, A. C. Jr 392
Desmond, Louis A 608
Drew, H. L 382
Duckworth, Thomas W 808
Dunham, Edward L 709
Dunn, Frederick W 746
Ellerbe. Rose L 62
England. J. W 847
Esler, Fred J 885
Fisk, John P 464
Flagg, John . . 879
Fowler, . Benjamin 875
Fowler, Charles D 773
Fowler, William T 453
Fox, William R., M. D 553
Freeman. INI i s s Eleanor 565
Galbreath, Mr. and Mrs. Brenton K 850
Garcia, Joseph S 362
Gay lord, Cass 844
Gazzola A. B 339
Gibson, James A 311
Gilbert, Milo 554
Gifford, Charles T 494
Girard, Isaac C 863
Gill, Joseph B 790
Gird, Richard 592
Gird. Mrs. Richard 596
Glatz, Albert 398
Glover, J'. B 182
Godfrey, William M 701
Godf rev, Mrs. Lucia 701
Goff, T. H 335
Goodcell, Henry Jr 806
Goodcell, Henry Sr 866
Graham, E. S 472
Graham, H. L 512
Green, Thomas J 828
Gregg. Frederick W 805
Gregory, John 696
Gregory, Mrs. Mary 696
Guernsey. Henry A 854
Guinn, J. M 1
Gustafson, Victor 595
Haight, Ira C 842
Haight, L. G 488
Hamilton, Rev. J. F 539
Harbison. R. C 407
Harris, O. W 884
Hartzell. Joshua 222
Hattery, J. L 327
Hattery. Mrs. J. L 787
Hayes, Benjamin 306
Hayes. Samuel J 478
Henderson, Win. McD 681
Henderson, Mrs. Isabel 681
Hixon, William ? 830
Holcomb, W. F 358
Holt. L.
.170
Holt, W. F 522
Hubbard, A. G
Hubbard, Francis M
Huff, Samuel G, M. D 820
Humeston, Monroe W 778
Hunt, Capt. Jefferson 150
Huntington, C. P 252
Hutchings, James 809
Ingersoll, L. A. (Frontispiece)
Ingersoll, Joseph 883
Isaacs, John 257
Jacobs, Lewis 386
Jacobs, B. H 543
Jennings, Thomas R 864
Jensen, Cornelius 674
Jensen, Mercedes Alvarado 674
Johnson, A. .K., M. D 816
Johnson, Mrs. F. M 180
Johnson, J. F. Jr 857
Jones, Isaac 774
Keir, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander 704
Kelley, Stephen F 399
Keuniston, Almyra Moses 886
King, Lyman M 511
Knight, Augustus Sr 670
Knox, John T 400
Kurtz, Christian 697
Leeke, William T 624
Leonard, Frank A 811
Lester, Edward 699
Light, J. E 547
Liles, Abraham B 783
Linville, H. H 712
Lockwood, Dr. William E 535
Lord, George 642
Lord, Isaac W 1 76
Luce, G. W 256
Lytle, Andrew 126
Lyman, Amasa 130
Marshall, Seth 741
Martin, Earnest 804
Martin, H. B 408
Martin, W. P 621
Mashek, V 765
Mayfield, Mrs. Harriet 685
McDonald, Alexander 797
McDonald, William 667
McKinley, Mr. and Mrs. J. R 763
McKie. R. M 598
McManus, Edward 839
MeNealy, W. T 301
McPherron, A. S 293
Mellen. T. J 714
Meredith, Wm. M 782
Mever, John, M. D 819
Milliken. Daniel B 788
Millikin, Henry L, D. D. S 822
Mnnaghan, Frank 632
Morris, Cramer B 812
Murphy, M. A 556
Nichols, Frederick C 793
Nisbet, Henry W 808
Norton, W. A 764
Noyes, W. T 604
CONTENTS
XV
Oakey, J. L 389
Oster, F. F • -3i8
Otis, George E 3*5
Owen, Charles E 660
Paddock, Aland B 794
Paine, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. R 803
Paris, Andrew B 316
Pease, S. A 220
Perris, Fred T 259
Petsch, J. B Adolph 618
Pettijohn. Ernest A 780
Pfeiffer, Louis A 845
Phillips, Louis 840
Phillips, Mrs. Louis 842
Pine, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Jr 605
Pine, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Jr 696
Pittman, Henderson, M. D 813
Polhemus, Jacob 799
Prescott, Frank C 332
Rabel, Mrs. E. A 692
Rabel, Henry 690
Rains, John 103
Randall, Wm. Henry 880
Rasor, E A 39-4
Reeves, Truman 708
Rich. Chas. C, 131
Rich, Joseph E 422
Richardson, N. A 4°3
Robbins, Ellison 294
Roberts, J. W 388
Roberts, E. D 390
Roberts, Wm. M 876
Robertson, Rev. George R 285
Rolfe, H. C 298
Root, Leroy V 631
Rubio, Andrew 580
Satterwhite, John W 3°7
Searles, John W 276
Sepulveda, Diego 109
Shaw, Rev. Mark B 834
Shaw, Hon. David A 658
Shorey, F. A N87
Shuman, Abraham W 77°
Sibley, Mr. and Mrs. B. E 620
Slaughter, Mr. and Mrs. F. M 663
Slaughter, Frank E 792
Sloat. Maj. 0. P 33'
Smiley, Albert K 502
Smiley, Alfred H 506
Smith, Hiram H 800
Smith, Lewis T]\
Smith. Wm. M., M. D 814
Smithson, Mr. and Mrs. J. B 656
Sparks, Q. S 303
Spring, A. D 562
Squires, J. P 7i9
Starbuck, Granville Ellis 869
Steele, Robert C 827
Steinbrenner. Prof. Leopold 754
Stevenson. O. M 397
Stillman, Dr. J. D. B 427
Stoddard, Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon 654
Stowell, N. W 568
Suess, J. J 459
Suttonfield, G. W 657
Swarthout, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan 661
Sweet, Mr. and Mrs. 0 57°
Thomas, Calvin L 648
Thompson, Albert. M. D 821
Thompson, Wesley, M. D 818
Thurman, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvanus 760
Tisdale, Wm. M 498
Troxall, Francis P., M.* D 817
Tuck. J. W 870
Tyler, Hoell, M. D 546
Underwood, E. J 341
Van Frank, M. H 751
Van Luven, Earl F =;6i
Vardaguer. Father Peter 354
Vestal, W. L 323
Wade, K. H 268
Waite, Everett R 425
Wagner, W. D 423
Waters, Byron 308
Waterman, R. W 179
Weeks, Mr. and Mrs. John C 873
Wells, Curtis 482
Wells, Karl C 480
West, J. H 634
Westland, W. C 625
White. Theo. F 183
Wilcox, W. W 560
Williams, Col. Isaac 104
Willis, Henry M 305
Wilsey, Mr. and Mrs. E S 802
Wilson. John S 832
Wilson, J. W 462
Wiltshire. J. E 777
Wood, Adolph 2^37
Woodward. De La M 165
Wright, W. H 784
Wozencraft. Oliver M 686
Wyatt, H. C 468
Young, Nicholas S 769
INDEX TO BIOGRAPHIES
Abbey, Charles C 862
Adams, Charles E 715
Adams, S. H 720
Alford, John 713
Allen, Jared Ethan 747
Allen, Halsey W 805
Allen, Oliver A 721
Alvarado, Francisco 674
Alverson, David B 719
Alvidson, Fred 709
Ammann, F. X 711
Amos, John Wayne 662
Anderson, Casper 716
Anderson, John Y 680
Anderson, Louis 832
Andreson, John Sr 693
Andreson, John J'r 708
Andrews, Joseph 707
Aplin, Alfred M 709
Arborn, Robert 701
Armstrong, John S 715
Armstrong. Royal M 865
Atwood, George Arnold 705
Atwood, Henry L 837
Babson, John W 881
Bagley. Malon A 816
Bagnell, J. H 769
Bailey, Charles F 843
Bailey, Dwight B 724
Baillie, Fred H 726
Baker, Calvin 727
Baker, Dr. Ira S 823
Bandini, Juan 96
Barker, George H 723
Barrett, S. H 745
Barton, Dr. Benjamin 677
Barton, H. M 723
Barton, John H 886
Bates, Nelson S 868
Baxter, James 1 740
Bean, W. H 722
Bedford, Alfred D., M. D 815
Bedford, Lyman N., D. D. S 815
Behlmer, John Peter 775
Bemis, Edwin 702
Bemis, Levi A 702
Bemis, William 702
Benjamin, Isaac 710
Bennette, John T 740
Bennington, Thomas R 740
Bennink, Cornelius G. H 739
Benson, Alfred William 705
Bentien, Troels F 736
Berryman, Robert F 744
Bessant, Joseph H 707
Black, Simon H 747
Blair, W. J 727
Blakeslee, Henry D 866
Bledsoe, Benjamin F 313
Bledsoe, James Blair 730
Boalich, George 733
Bodenhamer, William J 722
Boggs, William Stewart 713
Bohannon, Charles H 725
Bohnert, Henry 713
Booth, Dr. James 725
Boren, Alley Dennis 664
Boren, Beverly C 664
Boren, Wilford A 664
Borthwick, John P 730
Bowler, Robert L 743
Bradford, Daniel McKenzie 678
Bradford, James .745
Brazleton, James A 682
Breed, Dr. J. B 734
Brenell, C. W 738
Brenner, John F 729
Briggs, E. J .729
Brimmer, Porter 733
Brink, Charles Edwin 739
Bristol, F. M 839
Bristol, Irvin 838
Brookings, John Emory 731
Brookings, Walter Dubois 732
Brooke, Henry C 295
Brooks, James S 745
Brooks, S. F 728
Brown, Charles T 731
Brown, David Rowland 738
Brown, James R 728
Brown, John Sr 649
Brown, John Jr 651
Brown, Philo R 745
Browning, John F 833
Bruckman, Rudolph A 743
Brunn, I. R 689
Brush, Frederick M 877
Bublitz, G. H 715
Bufnngton, Mrs. Susan C 737
Bunting, Samuel J 743
Burgess, Clarence W 724
Burkhardt, Charles 739
Burrage, Albert C 742
Butterfield, Minor C 768
Byrne, John J 834
Byrne, Mathew 684
Cadd, Thomas 697
Campbell, John Lloyd 309
Campbell, Samuel R 303
Canterbury, Milton F 869
Cantwell, Mathew B 729
Carpenter, Daniel J 739
Carroll, James 744
Carson, Milton L 733
Cave. William Pemberton 714
Chaffee. Edwin P 738
Clapp, T. J'. S 716
Clark, Albert H 304
CONTENTS
XVII
Clark, A. R 715
Clark, John D 705
Cleghorn, John M 866
Cleghorn, Mathew 867
Clemmons, Coston P 813
Clemmons, Thomas Benton 816
Clock, Charles L 735
Clothier, Alfred T 748
Clucker, Charles C 698
Coburn, James A 705
Cole, Frank H 732
Coleman, Leonidas W 7>8
Collier, Albert A 74°
Colli ver, Dr. Jefferson T 824
Colliver, Dr. John A 824
Conner, Henry 807
Conrad, Francis W 720
Consolidated Abstract Co 731
Cook, George A 804
Cook, Marion L 718
Coopwood, Bethel 3°4
Corwin, Walter S 612
Cox, J. H 736
Cox, Silas C 706
Coy, Louis 1 718
Crafts, Myron H 665
Crafts, Mrs. E. P. R 665
Craig, Scipio 831
Craig, Dr. William 726
Cram, Henry 676
Cram, Lewis F 676
Cruickshank, William 718
Cunningham, George D 73°
Cunningham, John D 727
Currier, L. G 736
Curtner, James 735
Cushing, David J 734
Curtis, Jesse William 809
Curtis, Robert T 7"
Curtis, William 7"
Curtis, William Jesse 311
Daley, Edward Sr .656
Daley, J'udson M 683
Dalgliesh, Orrin W 716
Daniels, H. H 737
Darrow, Clyde 7*7
Davenport, N. 736
Davies, Benjamin A 877.
Davies, William H, M. D 820
Davis, John W. Jr 829
Davis, Lewis Smith 7J2
Davis, William Watson 769
Dav, Asa 732
Day, Edwin M 732
Dean, Otis 734
Decrow, Albert A 744
Decrow, George W 744
Delphey, William H 734
Desmond, Louis A 720
Des Noyers, Vincent 733
Denton, Richard A 719
Dickey, Clarence D, M. D 818
Dickey, Dudley R., M. D 66r
Donald, D. M 769
Downer, Jonathan 721
Downey, William A 707
Driskell, Joseph 717
Driver, J. W 885
Duckworth, Thomas W 808
Dunham, Edward L 709
Dunn, Frederick W 746
Easton, W. H. H 734
Edwards, James 748
Edwards, William 772
Elam, Charles S 772
Elam, Tilman F 772
Elkins, Samuel L 777
England, J. W 847
Esler, Fred J 885
Evans, M. H 755
Ewing, Thomas A 77°
Fabun, Clark S 681
Fay, John Lyman 680
Fish, Gail B 75 1
Fisk, John P 722
Flagg, John 879
Fleming, James 802
Folz, Walter F 753
Foote, Ephraim S 753
Ford Byron 700
Fowler, Benjamin 875
Fowler, Charles D 773
Fowler, George S 773
Fowler, William T 755
Fox, William R., M. D 812
Foy, Charles W 859
Foy. John M 859
Franklin, Reuben H 73°
Frazer, Charles L 863
Frazer, Guy L 863
Freeman, Miss Eleanor 766
Freeman, W. R, M. D 818
Frink, Alonzo M 7°3
Frink, Horace Monroe 7°3
Frink, Marcus L 703
Fuller, Elijah P 753
Fuller, Joseph P 694
Fuqua, John M 756
Galbreath, Benton K 850
Garcia, Joseph S 361
Garner, B. F 859
Gass, Octavius Decatur 694
Gaylord, Cass 844
Gazzola, A. B 860
Gibson, James A 3"
Gifford, Charles T 812
Gilbert, Milo 755
Gilbert, J. D 668
Gill, Joseph B 791
Girard, Isaac C 863
Gird. Richard 599
Glasgow, N. B., D. D. S 815
Glass, Mrs. A. M 844
Glass, Zachariah, M. D 816
Glatz, Albert 751
XVIII
CONTENTS
Glover, James B 686
Godfrey, William M 701
Gooding, Leonard 732
Goodrich, W. H .862
Goodcell, Henry, Jr 806
Goodcell, Henrv, Sr 666
Goff, T. H 750
Gray, Robert W 77°
Green, Thomas J 828
Gregg, Frederick W 805
Gregory, John 696
Grow, Samuel L 753
Grundy, Isaac 671
Guernsey, Henry A 854
Gustafson, Victor 710
Guthrie, Harrison H., M. D 822
Hadden, Thomas 765
Hagerman, Harrison W 763
Haight, Ira C 842
Haile, Smith C 798
Halsey, Robert J 826
Hamer. N. J 752
Hamerly, John W 750
Hamilton, Charles B 757
Hamilton, John W 746
Hamilton, Rev. J. F 721
Hammer, Carl 748
Hanford, J. J 761
Harbison, R. C 836
Harmon, Frank H 719
Harris, C. S., M. D 824
Harris, O W 886
Harris, Will A 807
Hart, Dr. O. P 821
Hartley, Seth 787
Hartman, Hiernonymus 835
Hartzell, Joshua 766
Harwood, A. P 749
Harwood, Charles E 749
Hattery, Lewis 0 787
Hattery, Jeremiah L 787
Hauck, Michael 766
Haven, George D 835
Hayden, George B 752
Hayes Benjamin 306
Hayes, Samuel J 752
Heap, J ames 703
Hebberd, M. A 754
Hecht, Milton E .754
Henderson, William McD 680
Henderson, William T 787
Hendrickson, Nelson T 868
Henslee, George Thomas 788
Hill, Claudius M 748
Hill, William 749
Hixon, William 830
Hoagland, Lucas 667
Hobbs, William A 683
Holcomb, William F 651
Holden, John A 736
Holt, W. F 756
Hooper, William Swayzer 837
Houghton, Lazona D 750
Hubbard, A. G 781
Hubbard, Frances M 881
Hubbard, Walter 750
Huff, Jacob 752
Huff, Samuel G.. M. D 820
Hughes, Henry S 873
Humphrey, David T 748
Humeston, Monroe W 778
Hunt, Ambrose 6qi
Hunt, F. M 788
Hunt, Captain Jefferson 149
Huntoon, William 770
Hutchings, James 809
Illingsworth, James 872
Ingersoll, Joseph 883
Ingersoll, Luther A 881
Ingersoll, Thurlow 885
Ives, Willis C 836
Jacobs, Bernard H 764
Jacobs, Lewis 678
Jackson, Alden 302
James, William C 844
Jansen, Chris 860
Jennings, Thomas R 864
Jensen, Cornelius 673
Jessen, Christian 737
Johndrew, Joseph 67o
Johnson, A. K., M. D 816
Johnson, Charles N 804
Johnson, Emil 764
Johnson, Frank M 786
Johnson, J. F. Jr 857
Jones, Alonzo E 671
Jones, Henry H 728
Jones, J. P 759
Jones, Isaac 774
Jones, W. H 765
Jordan, George 729
Katz Marcus 659
Keir, Alexander 704
Kelley, Stephen F 799
Kellogg, T. D. Dr 817
Kendall, George T 774
Kenniston, Almyra M 886
Kincaid, Madison Moss 789
King, John C 776
Kingsbury, Rev. Chas. A 773
Knight, Augustus, Sr 670
Knight, Augustus, Jr 772
Knoblaugh, John N 775
Kohl, O. H 723
Kohl, Walter 723
Kouts, Jacob W 775
Kuesthardt, G. W 855
Kurtz, Christian 697
Kylling, George P 773
Lackey, Thomas H 725
La Follett, Charles F 774
LaNiece, James 784
Lamar, C. P 768
CONTENTS
XIX
Lamar, W. F 768
Lane, J'. Lansing 779
Langford, Julius D , . . . .804
La Praix, William S 683
Lathrop, Asel A 672
Laurance, John 839
Leach, E. E 783
Leahy, Patrick H 785
Leavens, John W 786
Leedom, Andrew J '. 781
Leeke, William T 747
Leffen, John Tempest 672
Leonard, Frank A 811
Lester, Edward 699
Letts, Archie D 860
Lewis, Judson 797
Lewis, Silas J 780
Levick, William R 660
Light. John E 808
Lightfoot, W. E. W 768
Liles, Abraham B 783
Lindner, Charles H 781
Linfesty, J. P 783
Linville, Henry Herbert 712
Little, Samuel M 759
Littlepage, Louis W 798
Littlewood, William 860
Lockwood, Dr. William E 792
Loehr, William 781
Logsden, W. H 863
Longmier, Charles W 789
Longmier, Rufus E 789
Lord, George 649
Loubet, J. P 775
Louthian, R. L 833
Lugo, Antonio Maria 108
Lujan, Manuel 686
Lyman, Cornelius 772
Lyman, Eugene H., D. D. S 824
Lyman, Lorenzo Snow 684
Mack, J. A. M. D 824
Magill, C. W 758
Mark, Julius 785
Marr, Joseph S : 757
Marshall. Seth 741
Mart, John A 797
Martin Earnest 804
Martin, E. 1 728
Martin, Frank B 762
Martin, H. B 833
Martin, Howard J 759
Martin, John S 862
Martin, Moses 704
Martin, Robert J 730
Martin, William P 761
Matinez, . ..ntonio Jose 704
Mashek, V 765
Mayfield, John 685
Mayhew, J. T 697
Meyhew, Jesse 695
McBride, John 798
McCain, John R 874
McCain, W. P 759
McConnell, Clyde E 856
McDonald, Alexander 797
McDonald, John 0 785
McDonald, William M 667
McGarvey, John A 778
McGarvey, George N 778
Mcintosh, Thomas W 77g
McKie, R. M 796
McKinley, J. R 763
McKinzie, William H 859
McLain, Henry L 724
McManus, Edward 8^9
McNally, Henry J. 758
McPherron, Asbury S 757
McRae, George W 798
McWelthy, Marshall 828
Mecham, Augustus 861
Mecham, George F 861
Mecham, Lafayette 669
Mellen, Thomas J 714
Mellon, J. A 775
Menkin, John R 826
Meredith, William M 782
Meserve, Frank P 864
Mespelf, August 767
Meyer, Christopher 782
Meyer, Henry 795
Meyer, John H., M. D 819
Middlemiss, Robert H 767
Miller, George 879
Milhken, Daniel B 788
Millikin, Henry L., D. D. S 822
Mills, James W 758
Miner, Arthur D '. .874
Moffatt, James 794
Moffatt, Thomas 794
Mogles Harvey E 874
Monaghan, Frank 731
Monaghan, Patrick 838
Moore, F. C 779
Morris, Cramer B 812
Morrison, Frank P 861
Morse, Clement Ray 756
Morse, Henry 689
Mort, Joseph 758
Moyse, Maurice 797
Muel, David C 786
Murphy, M. A 776
Myers, Winifred A 786
Newcomb, Leroy E 778
Nichols. Frederic C 793
Nisbet, Henry W 808
Nish, J. N... 870
Noble, John 869
Norton, W. A 764
Noyes, William Tobey 795
Nye, William E 795
Oakey, John Lewis 837
Oehl. Julius 767
Oster, Frank F 3M
Otis, George E 315
CONTENTS
Oweger, Frank 767
Owen, Charles E 660
Oxley, W. E 795
Packard, O. M 777
Paddock, Aland B 794
Paine, Charles R 803
Painter, Dr. Edwin Thomas 843
Paris, Andrew B 316
Parker, Edward C 763
Parker, Lemuel 723
Parks, Arthur 687
Parrish. Enoch K 726
Pate, James W 871
Payton, J. E., M. D 819
Peacock, Dr. J. C 658
Pease, Stillman A 771
Peck, James W 796
Perris, Fred T 858
Peters, Emanuel 871
Petsch, J. P. Adolph 762
Pettijohn, Earnest A 780
Pfeiffer, Louis A 84s
Phillips, Louis 839
Pickett, William 304
Pine, Edward 696
Pine. Myron 697
Pine, Samuel C, Sr 695
Pine, Samuel C, Jr 696
Pittman, Dr. Henderson 813
Polhemus, Jacob 799
Polhemus, William 799
Poole, Edward 707
Poole. James H 838
Poppett, Robert 671
Porter, Burton S 765
Porter, L E 767
Powell, John Clark 796
Pozell, W. B 762
Prader, Thomas 761
Pratt, Dr. Armstrong C 819
Pratt, James Ellis 668
Preciado. Antonio P 860
Prescott, Frank C 810
Rabel, Frederick H 601
Rabel, Henry 691
Rabel, Hiram D 691
Randall. William Henry 880
Rapp, Christ 767
Rasor, C. M 876
Rasor. E. A 876
Reed. H. A 877
Reirl. E. W., M. D 823
Reimers, Reimer 785
Reimers, Francis 786
Rcnwick, George 877
Reynolds. William 838
Reeves. Truman 708
Rhea, A. R„ M. D 823
Rhodes, Edwin 796
Rich, Joseph E 855
Richardson, D. Hartley 8=7
Richardson, E. E 880
Richardson, Noble Asa 8s2
Richardson, W. W 880
Richenberger. Louis 856
Rightmier, William C 826
Riley, Joseph H 845
Robarts, Orlando Perry 858
Roberds, R. Thomas 653
Roberts, Berry 667
Roberts, Edward David 711
Roberts, J. W 710
Roberts, William M 876
Robertson, Rev. George 849
Robidoux, Louis 100
Robinson, William Henry 674
Rohrer, Charles H 874
Rolfe, Horace C 305
Root, Leroy V 858
Ross, Thomas Benton 825
Rouse, Charles A 759
Rubio, Andrew 693
Ruedy, Charles 850
Sandoz, Henry 783
Satterwhite, John W 307
Schaefer, Jacob W 866
Scheerer, Clem 872
Schindler, B 778
Scott, Josiah P 852
Scott, L. S 760
Schlott, Dwight C 852
Schumacher, Charles 859
Searles, John W 679
Sell, William 828
Sexton, Daniel 357
Seymour, Mrs. Ellen Brown 726
Shafer, William E 867
Shaw, John Gerald 717
Shaw, Rev. Mark B 834
Shaw, David Augustus 658
Shay, Walter A, Sr 662
Shay, Walter A., Jr 664
Sheld, Leander 851
Sherlock, George K 791
Shephard, George 860
Sholander, Peter 864
F. A. Shorey . . 887
Shuman, Abraham W 770
Siblev, Benjamin E 826
Skinner, William W 82s
Skinner, George P 868
Slade, E. W 848
Slaughter, Frank E 702
Slaughter,. Fenton M 663
Sloan, Joseph G 8s,3
Sloat, O. P 85.1
Smiley, Albert K 507
Smiley, Alfred H .so?
Smith, Burgess W 801
Smith, Lewis H 771
Smith, Hiram H 801
Smith, Howard B 721
Smith, John Hartley 833
Smith, William M., M. D 814
Smithson. John Bartley 65s
CONTEXTS
XXI
Snow, H. L 789
Sparks, Q. S 302
Spring, Adolphus D 867
Squires, Josiah P 719
Starbuck, G. E 869
Starke, August Henry 8v
Stearns, A. G 869
Steele, James B 827
Steele, Robert C 827
Steele, William A 827
Steinbrenner, Leopold 754
Stewart, Jerre F 874
Stewart, Munroe 672
Stewart, William B 86s
Stewart, William 867
Stevenson. O. M 702
Stiles, Edward 1 703
Stillman, J. D. B.. M. D 861
Stine, Charles R 872
Stine, Rollie A 872
Stine, William A. S72
Stoddard, Sheldon 653
Stroven, Henry 791
Stuart, Zebulon B 811
Sutherland, John H 774
Suttonfield, George W 657
Swarthout, Nathan 661
Sweesey, Mathias V 875
Swinney, Robert H 868
Tasker, B. W 853
Taylor, John 694
Terrell, W. P 849
Thaxter, George E 848
Thayer, P. L 849
Thomas, A. B 876
Thomas, Calvin L 6=9
Thomas, Charles F 8s7
Thompson, Dr. Albert 821
Thompson, Robert S 794
Thompson, Wesley, M. D 818
Thorns, Charles F 857
Thornton, Hugh 853
Throop. W. S 871
Thurman. Svlvanus 760
Tibbott. C. E 871
Tisdale, William M 842
Tittle, John H 879
Tolle, Robert S 874
Troxall. Francis P., M. D 817
Tuck. J. W 870
Turner, George N 871
Turner, John W 791
Turner, John C 851
Turner, Robert 851
Tyler, Charles N 698
Tyler, Charles Y 702
Tyler, J. B 699
Tyler, Hoell, M-. D 813
Vale, Milton 838
Van Frank, M. H 751
Van Leuven, Anson 679
Van Leuven, Orson 680
Van Leuven, Lewis F 865
Van Luven, Earl F 799
Van Slyke, W. E 855
Verner, Peter 848
Victor, J. N 82s
Wagner, Joseph H 831
Wagner, Walter Douglas 831
Waite, Everett R 855
Waite, Edward R 829
Waite, Russell .8^6
Wallace, William 727
Wallin, John V 702
Walsh. Henry A 856
Warner, Henry Clay 816
Warren, Alva" A.... 670
Waters, Byron 308
Watson, Charles D., M. D 819
Watson, James B 865
Watt, Robert F 84s
Watts. George E 789
Weaver, Duff G 66q
Weaver, Warren 66o
Weir, Cyrus D 848
Weir, Richard 671
Weimar, George 839
Weeks. John Carter 873
Welch, Charles Courtney 793
Wells, Karl C 746
Wells, Louis 703
Weller, James Edward 853
West, John H 836
Westland, W. C 870
White. D. W.. Dr 814
Whiting, D. G 830
Wickersham, Levi 829
Wilcox, W. W 837
Wilkinson, Ralph E 848
Wilkinson, Samuel J ' 849
Williams, Isaac 105
Williams, J. R. .0 831
Willis, Henry M 305
Wilsey, Edwin S 802
Wilson, Benjamin D 99
Wilson, H. B 832
Wilson. John S 832
Wilson. John W 833
Wilson. Sylvester K 873
Wiltshire, Joseph E 777
Windle, Stephen M 79»
Woodward. De La M 65S
Wozencraft, Oliver M., Dr 686
Wright. W. H 784
Yerkes. Tames H 755
Yokam, E. J 801
Young, Nicholas S 769
Zeus. Carl C 836
XXII
C< )NTEXTS
SPANISH VOCABULARY
Acequia, ditch canal. Administrador, administrator.
Agua, water.
Alabado, hymn in praise of the sacrament.
Alegres, joyful.
Aliso. alder tree.
Arroba, 25 pounds.
Arroyo, stream or stream bed.
Ayuntamiento. body of magistrates.
Baja, below.
El Benito, prayer used in Catholic service
Blanco, white.
Bueno, good.
Cajon, box, chest.
Campo santo, graveyard.
Capilla, chapel.
Carreta. cart.
Castillo, fort.
Cienega, marsh.
Ciudad. city.
Compadre, friend, comrade.
Dias, days.
Deputation, deputy, committee.
Embarcadero, embarking in a ship. Espanol, Spaniard. Ensenada, creek, small bay.
Fandango, dance.
Frey. father of a religious order.
Frijoles, beans.
Junta, assembly.
Juez del campo, Judge of the plains
Lomeras, ridges of hills or mountains
Manteca, lard, fat. Matanza, slaughter-yard. Mayor-domo, steward, overseer. Metate, a curved grinding stone. Mezcal, a liquor made from the maguej plant.
Ojo, eye.
Olla, a round earthern pot, a stew.
Oso, bear.
Padre, father. Palacio, palace. Pais, country. Pesos, dollars. Plaza, square, market p Presidio, garrison, fortn Primer, first. Pronunciamiento, publ
ment. Puebl& town.
announce-
Ramada. a brush house or shed
Rancheria. an Indian village
Ranchita, small ranch.
Rancho, farm, range.
Real. coin.
Rebosa, shawl.
Reglemento, regulation.
Riata (Reata). rope, lasso.
Seco, dry.
Serritos, hills.
Soberano, sovereign, supreme.
Sobrante, residue, left over.
Tortillas, litttle cakes, pancakes.
Vara, 33.385 inches.
Vaqucro, cow-keeper.
Vinero, one who cares for vin=s.
\'iva, hurrah.
Verba, herh.
Brief History of California
By J. M. GUINN, A. M.
Curator of the Historical Society of Southern California. Secretary of Pioneers
Society of Los Angeles, Cal. Member of the American
Historical Association.
SPANISH ERA.
CHAPTER I. DISCOVERY.
Romance enters into the story of California with its very beginning.
When Gonzales de Sandoval, in 1524, gave Cortes an account of a wonderful
island, ten days westward from the Pacific coast of Mexico, in- habited by women only, and ex- ceedingly rich in pearls and gold, he no doubt derived his informa- tion from Montalvo's romance, "The Sergas of Esplandian." Cortes seems to have given cred- ence to his lieutenant's story, and to have kept in view the discov- ery of this wonderful island, Cali- fornia. The discovery by For- tuuo Jiminez, in 1534, of what is now known as the peninsula of Lower California, but which was then supposed to be an island, no doubt confirmed in Cortes' mind the truth of Sandoval's story told him a decade before. For, did not the island of Jiminez, like the island in Montalvo's fiction, lie on the right hand of the Indies — or of where the Indies were
then supposed to be? Pearls were found on it and gold, and — the Amazons
must be there, too.
Fortuno Jiminez, the discoverer of Lower California, was chief pilot
on one of the two ships which Cortez, in 1533, fitted out to explore the
a HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
northwest coast of Mexico. A mutiny broke out on the ship commanded by Becerro de Mendoza. Mendoza was killed and his friends forced to go ashore at Jalisco. The mutineers, commanded by Jiminez, sailed westerly away from the coast of the main land. After several days' sailing out of the sight of land they discovered what they supposed to be an island. They landed at a place now known as La Paz, in Lower California, and there Jiminez and twenty of his followers were killed by the Indians. The few survivors of the ill-fated crew managed to navigate the vessel back to Jalisco where they reported the discovery of an island rich in pearls.
Cortes, hearing the report and probably believing the island to be the California of the story, fitted out an expedition to colonize it. With three ships and a number of soldiers and settlers, he landed in May, 1535, at the place where Jiminez was killed, which he named Santa Cruz; but instead of an island peopled with women who lived after the manner of the Amazons and whose arms and trappings were made of gold, he found a sterile coun- try inhabited by the most abject and degraded of human beings. Disaster after disaster fell upon the unfortunate colony. Some of the ships sent to bring supplies were wrecked and others driven out of their course. Some of the colonists died from starvation before the supplies reached them and others died from overeating afterward. After two years of struggling against mis- fortune, Cortes abandoned the attempt and the wretched colonists were brought back to Mexico. Thus ended the first attempt to colonize Cali- fornia.
Sometime between 1535 and 1537 the name California was applied to the land still supposed to be an island ; but whether Cortes applied it in the hope of encouraging his colonists, or whether the country was so named in de- rison. is not known. The name was subsequently applied to all the land along the Pacific Coast northward to 42 degrees, the limit of the Spanish possessions.
The vast unexplored regions to the northward of that portion of Mexico which he had conquered had a fascination for Cortes. He dreamed of finding in them empires vaster and richer than those he had already subdued. For years he had fitted out explorations by sea and by land to explore this terra incognita; but failure after failure wrecked his hopes and impoverished his purse. The last of these parties sent out by him was the one commanded bv Francisco de Ulloa. Ulloa, in 1539, sailed up the Gulf of California on the Sonora side to its head, and then down the inner coast of Lower California to the cape at its extremity which he doubled and then sailed up the outer coast to Cabo de Engano (Cape of Deceit). Here the two vessels of the expe- dition, after being tossed and buffeted by head winds, parted companv in a storm. The smaller, the Aguedo, returned to Santiago. Of the other, the Trinidad, directly under Ulloa's command, nothing is definitely known, nor of ITlna's fate. The only thing accomplished bv this vovasje was to demon-
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 3
strate that California was a peninsula, although even this fact was not fully accepted for two centuries after this.
Cortes returned to Spain in 1540, where after vainly trying to obtain from the king some recognition of his services and some recompense for his outlay, discouraged, disappointed and impoverished, he died.
The next voyage which had anything to do with the discovery and ex- ploration of California was that of Hernando de Alarcon. With two ships, he sailed from Acapulco, May 9, 1540, up the Gulf of California, or Sea of Cortes, as it was sometimes called. His object was to co-operate with Coro- nado. The latter with an army of four hundred men, had marched from Culiscan, April 22, 1540, to discover and conquer the "Seven Cities of Cibola," which the romancing friar, Marcos de Niza, "led by the Holy Ghost" and blessed with a fertile imagination, claimed to have seen somewhere in the wilds of what is now Arizona. Alarcon, at the head of the gulf, discovered the mouth of a great river. Up this river, which he named the Buena Guia — now the Colorado — he claimed to have sailed eighty-five leagues. He was probably the. first white man to set foot in territory now included in the state of California.
While Coronado was still absent in search of the "Seven Cities" and of Quivera, a country rich in gold, lying somewhere in the interior of the conti- nent, the successor of Cortes entered into a compact with Pedro de Alvarado, governor of Guatemala, who had a fleet of ships lying at anchor in the harbor of Navidad, Mexico, to unite their forces in an extensive scheme of explora- tion and conquest. An insurrection broke out among the Indians of Jalisco and in trying to suppress it, Alvarado was killed. The return of Coronado dispelled the myths of Cibola and Quivera and put an end to further ex- plorations of the interior regions to the north of Mexico.
By the death of Alvarado, Mendoza became heir to his ships and it be- came necessary to find employment for them. Five ships were placed under the command of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos and sent to the Islas de Poniente (Isles of the setting sun — now Philippines) to establish trade with the natives. Two ships of the fleet, the San Salvador and the Vitoria, were placed under the command of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and sent to explore the northwest coast of the Pacific. He sailed from Navidad June 2~, 1542. Rounding the southern extremity of the peninsula of Lower California, he sailed up its outer coast. On August 20th he reached Cabo de Engano. the most northern point of Ulloa's exploration. Continuing his voyage along the coast, he discovered a number of bays and islands. On September 28. 1542, Cabrillo entered a bay called by him San Miguel, now known as San Diego bay. October 3d, after three days' sailing, he discovered the islands, now known as Santa Catalina and San Clemente, which he named San Salvador and Vitoria, after his ships. From the islands, on October 8th, he crossed to the mainland and entered a bav which he named Bahia de los Fumos (Bav
4 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
of Smokes), now San Pedro bay. The bay and mainland were enveloped in smoke from the burning of the dry grass on the plains which was periodically set on fire by the Indians to drive out the small game. On October 9th, Cabrillo anchored in a large ensenada, or bight, supposed to be what is now Santa Monica bay. Sailing northwestward he passed through the Santa Barbara Channel and discovered the islands of Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel. Continuing up the coast he found a long narrow point of land, extending into the sea, which from its resemblance to a galley boat, he called Cabo de la Galeria — the cape of the Galley — now Point Concepcion. Novem- ber 17th, he doubled Point of Pines and entered Monterey Bay, which he named Bahia de los Pinos — the Bay of Pines. Finding it impossible to land on account of the heavy seas, he proceeded northward until he reached a point on the coast in 40 degrees north latitude, as he estimated. On account of cold weather and storms, he turned back and ran down to San Miguel, where he decided to winter. Here, from the effects of a fall, he died January 3, 1543, and was buried on the islands. His companions named the island Juan Rodriguez, after the brave commander, but subsequent navigators have robbed him of this small honor. The discoverer of California sleeps in an unknown grave.
The command of the expedition devolved on Bartholome Ferrelo, chief pilot. Ferrelo prosecuted the voyage of discovery with a courage and daring equal to that shown by Cabrillo. On February 28th he discoverd a point of land which he named Cape Mendocino in honor of the Viceroy — a name that it still bears. Passing this cape he encountered a furious storm which drove him violently to the northeast and greatly endangered his ships. On March 1st the fogs lifted and he saw Cape Blanco, in the southern part of what is now Oregon. The weather continuing stormy and the cold increasing, Ferrelo was compelled to turn back. He ran down the coast and reached the island of San Clemente. Here, in a storm, the ships parted and Ferrelo, after a search, gave up the Vitoria as lost. The ships, however, came together again at Cerros Islands and from there, in sore distress for provisions, they reached Navidad April 18, 1543.
The next navigator who visited California was Francis Drake, an Eng- lishman. He was not so much seeking new lands as a way to escape capture by the Spaniards. Francis Drake, the sea-king of Devon, and one of the bravest men who ever lived, sailed from Plymouth, England, December 13, 1577, in command of a fleet of five small vessels on a privateering expedition against the Spanish settlements on the Pacific coast. When he sailed out of the straits of Magellan into the South Sea, he had but one ship, the Golden Hind, a vessel of one hundred tons burden; all the others had been lost or had turned back. With this small ship he began a career of plundering among Spanish settlements that for boldness, daring, and success, has no equal in the world's history. The quaint chronicler of the voyage sums up the pro-
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 5
ceeds of his raids at "eight hundred and sixty-five thousand pesos of silver, a hundred thousand pesos of gold and other things of great worth." Plunder- ing as he went he reached the port, Guatulco, on the Oaxaca coast. Surfeited with spoils and his ship laden to her fullest capacity, it became a necessity for him to find some other way of returning to England than the one that he came. In the language of the chronicler, "he thought it was not good to re- turn by the straits, lest the Spaniards should attend for him in great num- bers." So he sailed away to the northward to find the "Straits of Anian," which were supposed to connect the North Pacific with the Atlantic. For two hundred years after the discovery of America navigators searched for that mythical passage.
Drake, keeping well out to sea, sailed northward for two months. The cold, the head winds and the leaky condition of his vessel compelled him to turn back. He sailed down the coast until he found a fit harbor under the lee of a promontory, now known as Point Reyes. Here he repaired his ship, took formal possession of the country in the name of his sovereign, Queen Elizabeth, and named it New Albion from a fancied resemblance to Old Albion (England).
He had his chaplain, Parson Fletcher, preach a sermon to the natives. The savages were not greatly impressed with the sermon, but were delighted with the psalm singing. After a stay of thirty-six days, on the 23rd of July, 1579, Drake sailed for England by the way of Cape Good Hope. After an absence of nearly three years during which he had circumnavigated the globe, he reached home safely and was knighted by Elizabeth. Drake sup- posed himself to be the discoverer of the country he named New Albion.
Sixty years passed after Cabrillo's voyage before another Spanish ex- plorer visited California. The chief object of Sebastian Viscaino's voyage was to find a harbor of refuge for the Philippine galleons. These vessels on their return voyage sailed northward until they struck the Japan current which they followed across the ocean until they sighted land in the vicinity of Cape Mendocino, then sailed down the California coast to Acapulco. Vis- caino sailed from Acapulco, May 5, 1602, with three ships and 160 men. He followed substantially the same course that Cabrillo had taken. November 10th he anchored in Cabrillo's bay of San Miguel, which he named San Diego in honor of his flag ship. He remained there ten days, then sailed up the coast and on the 26th, anchored in a bay which he named Ensenada de San Andres, but which is now San Pedro bay, named — not after the apostle Saint Peter — but for St. Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, who suffered martyrdom November 26th, A. D. 368. From the mainland he passed over to an island which he named Santa Catalina — this was Cabrillo's San Salvador. Viscaino also changed the name of Cabrillo's Vitoria to San Clemente. He then sailed through a channel, to which he gave the name Santa Bar- bara, and visited the different channel islands. He found many towns on the
6 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
main land but did not stop to visit them. The natives came oft" in canoes to visit the ships and one enterprising chief, as an inducement to the Spaniards to stop at his town, offered ten wives to each man who would visit him. After passing Point Concepcion, heavy fogs obscured the land. On the 16th of December, Viscaino rounded the Point of Pines and entered a bay to which he gave the name of Monterey, after the viceroy who had fitted out the expe- dition. The scurvy — that scourge of the sea in early times — had broken out on his ships and sixteen had already died. The San Thomas was sent back to Acapulco with the sick; twenty-five died on the way and only nine reached their destination. With his two remaining ships, the San Diego and the Tres Reyes (Three Kings), Viscaino continued his voyage northward. He saw Cape Blanco — discovered and named by Cabrillo — and at this point turned back. The scurvy had made fearful inroads on his crew. The Tres Reyes had become separated from the flag ship and sailed about one degree further north than Viscaino himself reached. On her return voyage her two commanders and all the crew except five, died of the scurvy. After eleven months absence, Viscaino reached Mazatlan, having lost nearly half of his crew.
Viscaino wrote the king a glowing account of the harbor of Monterey and the adjacent country, which he pictured as almost a terrestrial paradise. His object was to induce the king to establish a settlement on Monterey bay. In this he was doomed to disappointment. Delay followed delay until hope had vanished. Finally in 1606 orders came from Philip III to the viceroy to fit out immediately a new expedition for the occupation and settlement of Monterey, of which Viscaino was to be made commander. In the midst of his preparations for the dearest object of his life, Viscaino died, and the expe- dition was abandoned. Had it not been for Viscaino's untimely death a colony would have been planted on the Pacific Coast of California a year before the first English settlement was made on the Atlantic Coast of North America.
Two hundred and twenty-seven years had passed since the ships of Cabrillo had first cut the waters that lap the shores of Alta California, and yet through all these years the interior of the vast country wdiose sea-coast he had visited remained a terra incognita — an unknown land. For more than two centuries the Manila galleons had sailed down the coast on their return voyages: but after the death of Viscaino and the colonization scheme that died with him, no other attempt had been made to find'a refuge on the Cali- fornia coast for the storm-tossed and scurvy-afflicted mariners of the Philip- pine trade.
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER II. COLONIZATION.
The Jesuits began their missonary work among the degraded inhabitants of Lower California in 1697. Under their devoted leaders, Salvatierra, Kino, Ugarte, Piccolo and their successors, with a perseverance and bravery that were highly commendable, they had founded sixteen missions on the penin- sula. Father Kino, or Kuhn, besides his missionary labors, had made between 1697 and 1702, explorations around the head of the gulf of California and up the Colorado to the mouth of the Gila which had clearly demonstrated that the peninsula was part of the mainland instead of an island as was still thought by some. Father Kino formed the design of establishing a chain of missions around the head of the gulf and down the inner coast line to Cape San Lucas, but did not live to complete his ambitious project. The Jesuit missions of Baja California never grew rich in flocks and herds. The country was barren and the few fertile valleys around the missions gave the padres and neophytes, at best, but a frugal return for their labor.
For years there had been growing up in Spain a strong hostility to the Jesuits, which finally resulted in the issuance of a decree by Carlos III, in 1767, banishing the order from that country and its American possessions. Without previous warning the monks in California were forced to abandon their missions and hurried from the country. The missions were turned over to the Franciscan order. At the head of the Franciscan contingent that came to California to take charge of the abandoned missions, was Father Junipero Serra, a man of indomitable will and great zeal.
Don Jose de Galvez, visitador general of New Spain, had been sent to the peninsula to regulate affairs — both secular and ecclesiastical — which had been thrown into disorder by the sudden expulsion of the Jesuits. He had also received orders to advance the scheme for the occupation and coloniza- tion of San Diego and Monterey in Alta, or Nueva California. Galvez was a man of energy and of great executive ability. As soon as he had somewhat systematized matters on the peninsula, he set vigorously to work to further the project of occupying the northern territory. Father Serra entered heartily into his plans and church and state worked together harmoniously. Galvez decided to fit out four expeditions — two by sea and two by land. These were to start at different dates but all were to unite at San Diego and after occupy- ing that place, pass on to Monterey.
On January 9, 1769. the San Carlos sailed from La Paz with sixty-two persons on board, twenty-five of whom were soldiers under Lieutenant Fages. She carried supplies for eight months. On the 15th of February, the San Antonio sailed from Cape San Lucas, with two friars — Vizcaino and Gomez
8 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
on board beside the crew, and a few mechanics. The first land expedition started from Velicata, the most northern settlement in Lower California, on March 24th. It was commanded by Rivera y Moncado, and consisted of twenty-five soldiers, forty-two natives and Padres Crespi and Canizares. The last expedition which was under the immediate command of Governor Gaspar de Portola, left Velicata, May 15th. It consisted of ten soldiers with a band of Lower Californians and was accompanied by Father Serra.
The San Antonio, although the last to sail was the first to arrive. She cast anchor in San Diego bay, April 11, 1769. The San Carlos, after a most disastrous voyage, drifted into the harbor on April 29th. The crew were prostrated with scurvy and there were not enough well men to man a boat to go ashore. The sick were landed, but when the scourge had run its course there were but few of the crew left. Rivera's land expedition, after an uneventful march, reached San Diego. May 14th. On the first day of July, Portola's command arrived and the four divisions aggregating 126 persons who had come to remain, were united. The ravages of the scurvy had so depleted the crews of the two vessels that only enough men remained to man one vessel. The San Antonio was sent back to San Bias for supplies and a crew for the San Carlos. A third vessel, the San Jose, named for the patron saint of the California expedition, had been fitted out by Galvez and loaded with supplies for the missionaries. She was never heard of after the day of sailing.
On July 16th, Father Serra formally founded the first mission in Nueva California, which was dedicated to San Diego de Alcala — St. James of Alcala — a Franciscan friar who died in 1463 and was canonized in 1588. On July 14th, Governor Portala with Padres Crespi and Gomez and a force made up of soldiers and natives of Lower California, numbering in all sixty-five persons, set out from San Diego to go overland in search of Monterey bay and found the intended mission and settlement there. The route of the expedition was mainly along the coast, with an occasional divergence inland. On the second of August they camped on the future site of Los Angeles. Along the coast of the Santa Barbara Channel they found many Indian vil- lages, some quite populous. The explorers passed by Monterey bay without recognizing it and traveled along the coast to the north. On November 2nd, some of the hunters of the party climbed a hill and saw what they termed a "brazo de mar," an arm of the sea. This is the body of water thai we know as San Francisco bay. Their provisions were exhausted and many were sick. The expedition turned back and, following the trail it had made on the northward journey, reached San Diego in January, 1770. Portola's expe- dition had failed in its object — to found a mission on the harbor of Monterey, but it had accomplished a far greater feat, it had discovered the bay of San Francisco.
In April, 1770, Portola set out again with a force of twenty-five soldiers
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 9
and natives for Monterey. At the same time Father Serra sailed on the San Antonio for the same destination. On June 3, 1770, the mission of San Carlos Borromeo de Monterey was formally established on the beach, with solemn church ceremonies, accompanied by the ringing of bells, the crack of musketry and the roar of cannon. Father Serra conducted the services and Governor Portola took possession of the country in the name of the king of Spain — Carlos III. A presidio, or fort, of palisades, was built and a few huts erected. Portola, having formed the nucleus of a settlement, turned over the command of the territory to Fages and sailed to Lower California on the San Antonio, July 9, 1770. This was the end of his term as governor. The Mis- sion of San Carlos, shortly after its founding, was transferred to the Carmelo valley, about five miles from its former site.
The third mission, founded by Junipero Serra was that of San Antonio de Padua, June 14, 1771. It was located on a branch of the Salinas river in a beautiful oak-covered valley. The bells were hung from a live oak tree and rung loudly; a cross was erected and President Serra said a mass beneath a shelter made of branches ; but there were no Indians there to hear it. The patron saint of the mission, San Antonio de Padua, was born in Lisbon, 1195, and died at Padua 1231, and was canonized in 1232. His day in the church calendar is June 13th.
The fourth mission established was that of San Gabriel de Arcangel on the San Gabriel River, then known as the San Miguel. The founders, Padres Somera and Cambon, with a supply train of mules set out from San Diego August 6th ; following Portola's trail they reached the river San Miguel, where a spot was selected and the mission founded, September 8, 1771. In 1775, the site was removed five miles north from its first position. The Padres made slow progress at first in the conversion of the Indians. The soldiers stationed at the missions as a guard were a bad lot and abused the natives. Although christians, their morals were, if anything, worse than those of the heathen.
The fifth mission established was that of San Luis Obispo (St. Louis, the Bishop), founded September 1, 1772, by Father Serra. The mission sys- tem may now be considered as firmly established in California. Father Serra went to Mexico in 1773 and secured a number of concessions favorable to the missions and an increase of supplies. With increased supplies and an addi- tional force of missionaries, the work of founding new missions progressed rapidly. The following list gives the names and the date of founding of the twenty-one missions established in California, excepting those already named: San Francisco, October 9, 1776; San Juan Capistrano, November 1, 1776; Santa Clara, January 18, 1777; San Buenaventura, March 31, 1782; Santa Barbara, December 4, 1786; La Purisima Concepcion, December 8, 1787; Santa Cruz. August 28, 1791 ; La Soledad, October 9, 1791 ; San Jose, June 11, 1797; San Juan Bautista, June 24, 1797; San Miguel, July 25, 1797; San Fernando
io HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
Rey, September 8, 1797; San Luis Rey de Francia, June 13, 1798: Santa Inez, September 17, 1804; San Rafael, December 14, 1819; and San Francisco de Solano, August 25, 1823.
It was not the intention of the Spanish government that these estab- lishments should remain permanently as missions. According to the law. at the end of ten years from the founding of each mission it was to be con- verted into a municipal organization, known as a pueblo or town, and the property of the mission, both personal and real, was to be subdivided among the neophytes of the mission. But the training the natives received at the missions did not fit them for self-government. They were forced to labor and were instructed in some of the ceremonial observances of the church ; but they received no intellectual training and they made no progress. The padres persistently urged that the neophytes were incompetent to use and manage property. During the time California was subject to Spain no at- tempt was made to secularize the missions. In form the different mission buildings resembled one another. Col. Warner thus describes them : "As soon after the founding of a mission as the circumstances would permit, a large pile of huildings in the form of a quadrangle, composed partly of burnt brick, but chiefly of sun-dried ones, was erected around a spacious court. A large and capacious church which usually occupied one of the outer corners of the quadrangle was a conspicuous part of the pile. In this mission build- ing, covered with red tile, was the habitation of the friars, rooms for guests and for the mayor-domo and their families, hospital wards, store-houses and granaries." A guard of four or five soldiers was kept at each mission to control the neophytes. Each establishment held possession of large tracts of land contiguous to its buildings. These lands were divided, for con- venience, into ranchos, over which roamed vast herds and flocks under charge of Indian vaqueros. The lands were supposed to be held in trust by the padres for their Indian wards and were to be divided among the neophytes. Some of the brighter Indians at each mission were taught mechanical trades and became fairly good blacksmiths, weavers, tanners, shoemakers, saddlers and brickmakers. The Indian received for his labor, food and scanty cloth- ing. All the profits of these vast establishments, holding as they did in some cases, millions of acres of land in their possession, went to the padres.
The neophytes, for the most part, were docile and easily managed, but sometimes they rebelled. At the mission of San Diego, November 4. 1775, three or four renegade neophytes stirred up a rebellion among the "gentile" population outside of the mission who attacked the mission in large numbers, killing one of the friars and two of the mechanics stationed there. The other friar and the five soldiers escaped after a desperate fight.
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER III. PRESIDIOS AND PUEBLOS.
For the protection of the missions and to prevent foreigners from en- tering California, military posts, called presidios, were established at San Diego, Monterey, Santa Barbara and San Francisco. These enclosures were in the form of a square and were surrounded by adobe walls ten or twelve feet high. Within were the officers' quarters, the soldiers' barracks, a guard house, chapel, granaries, or storehouses. A military force, usually consisting of one company was stationed at each post under the command of a lieutenant or captain. The largest force was kept at Monterey, the capital of the territory. The governor, or commandante-general, who, under Spanish rule, was always an army officer, was commander-in-chief of the troops in the territory. The principal service of the soldiers was to keep in check the neophytes, to protect the missions from the incursions of the "gen- tiles" or wild Indians and to capture deserting neophytes who had escaped to their unconverted relatives.
The mission fathers were opposed to the colonization of the country by white people. They well knew that the bringing of a superior race into con- tact with a lower would result in the demoralization of the inferior race. As rapidly as they could found missions they arrogated to themselves all the choice lands within the vicinity of each establishment. A settler could not obtain a grant of land from the public domain if the padres of the nearest mission opposed the action. The difficulty of obtaining supplies from Mexico for the soldiers at the presidios, necessitated the founding of agricultural colonies in California. Previous to 1776, the governor of "Las Californias" as the country from Cape San Lucas to the most northern point of the Span- ish possessions was called, resided at Loreto, in Lower California. In that year the territory was divided into two districts and a governor appointed for each. Felipe de Neve, who had succeeded Felipe de Barri in 1774, was made governor of Nueva California, of which Monterey was designated as the capital; and Rivera y Moncada was appointed governor of Lower California, to reside at Loreto.
Hitherto all expeditions to California had come either, by the coast route, up the peninsula, or by the sea. but in 1774. Captain Juan Bautista de Anza, commander of the Tubac presidio in Sonora, with a company of thirty-four men. explored a route by the way of Gila and Colorado rivers across the desert and through the San Gorgon-io Pass to San Gabriel mission. On his return to Sonora, he recruited a second expedition composed of soldiers and set- tlers and their families, aggregating in all over two hundred persons, who were designed to found a mission and establish a presidio on the San Fran-
12 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
cisco bay. After a long and toilsome journey this party reached California in 1776. On the 17th of September, 1776, the presidio of San Francisco was formally established and on the 9th of October following, the mission christened for the founder of the Franciscan order of friars, San Francisco de Asis, was founded.
Governor Felipe de Neve, on his journey overland in 1777 from Loreto to Monterey, was instructed to examine the country from San Diego north- ward and select locations for agricultural settlements. He chose two colony sites, one in the south, on the Rio de Porciuncula, where Portala's expedi- tion had camped in August, 1769, and named by Portala, "Nuestra' Sefiora de Los Angeles," and the other in the north on the Rio de Guadalupe.
On November 29, 1777, Governor de Neve founded the pueblo of San Jose on the site selected on the Guadalupe. The colonists were nine soldiers from the presidios of Monterey and San Francisco and five settlers of Anza's expedition. These with their families made a total of sixty-six. The site of the pueblo was about a mile north of the present site of the city of San Jose. Each settler was given a tract of irrigable land, a house lot. a soldier's rations and ten dollars a month. Each head of a family received a yoke of oxen, two horses, two cows, a mule, two sheep and two goats, a few farming implements and seed for sowing. The colonists were to reimburse the royal treasury for all the articles furnished them except their rations and monthly pay. Payments were to be made in installments from the sale of fruits, grains and cattle to the presidios.
A Spanish pueblo contained four square leagues, either oblong or in the form of a square. The public lands were divided into stiertes, or planting fields — so called because they were divided among the colonists by lot; propios, lands rented for the purpose of raising a municipal fund ; dehesas, or the great pasture lands, where the herds of the pueblo pastured in com- mon and the realengos, or royal land, also used for raising revenue. Wood and water were communal property.
Under Spanish domination the pueblo was governed by a comisionado, a semi-civil, semi-military officer. There was also an alcalde who was mayor and petty judge. A guard of soldiers were kept at the guard house, partly for protection against the Indians and partly to preserve peace in the pueblo.
In 1779, Rivera y Moncada, the governor of Lower California, was in- structed to recruit in Sonora and Sinaloa settlers for the founding of a pueblo on the Rio Porciuncula and soldiers for the founding of a presidio and mission on the Santa Barbara channel. The settlers were to receive each $106.50 for two years and $60 for the next three years, the payment to be in clothing and other necessary articles at cost price ; also they were to receive live stock, farming implements and seeds, to be paid for in installments. These libera! offers secured but few recruits and those of poor quality. After a year spent
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 13
in recruiting, Rivera had secured but fourteen settlers. Two of these de- serted before the company left Sonora and one was left behind at Loreto when, in April, 1781, the expedition began its march up the peninsula. The colon- ists under command of Lieutenant Zuniga, arrived at San Gabriel, August 18th, where they remained until September 4th. The eleven settlers and their families — forty-four persons in all, escorted by Governor de Neve and a small guard of soldiers and accompanied by the priests of San Gabriel mission, on September 4, 1781, proceeded to the site previously selected for the pueblo. This was on the right bank of the Rio Porciuncula near the spot where Portala's explorers had celebrated the feast of "Nuestra Sefiora de Los Angeles de Porciuncula," from which circumstance was derived the name of the pueblo and the river. A plaza, seventy-five by one hundred varas, was laid off on the mesa above the river as the center of the settlement. A mass was said by the priests of the mission, a procession was formed and marched around the plaza, the soldiers bearing the imperial standard of Spain and the women the image of "Our Lady of the Angels." The priests blessed the plaza and the house lots. The services over, the governor and his escort took their departure and the colonists were left to work out their destiny.
Another pueblo called Branciforte was founded in 1797 near Santa Cruz, but it never prospered. The settlers were discharged soldiers, unused to labor and adverse to acquiring industrious habits.
A few grants of land were made to private citizens, but substantially, during the Spanish era, all the land outside of the pueblos' used for grazing or for cultivation was held by the missions.
The commerce of California at this period was limited to the supply ships of the missions which usually came twice a year from San Bias with supplies for the missions and presidios and took away the few commercial products of the country, such as otter skins, hides and tallow of cattle. About 1800 trie American smugglers began to come to the coast. ,The vessels engaged in this trade were principally from Boston and were fast sailing craft. They exchanged Yankee notions for otter skins. The authorities tried to suppress this illicit traffic but were not often successful. The vessels were heavily armed and when not able to escape the revenue officers by speed or stratagem were not averse to fighting themselves out of a scrape.
Of the long and bloody struggle for Mexican Independence, beginning with the insurrection led by the patriot priest, Hidalgo, in 1810, and con- tinuing under various leaders for eleven years, but little was known in Cali- fornia. The men who filled the office of territorial governor during the years of the fratricidal struggle — Arillaga, Arguella and Sola — were royalists and so were the mission padres, nearly all of whom were Spanish born. The soldiers and the common people knew but little about what was going on in
i4 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
the world beyond and cared less. They had no ambition to be freed from monarchical rule — they, too, were loyal to the king and the church.
The one event that disturbed the placidity of life in California during the closing years of the Spanish rule was the appearance on the coast of Bouchard, a privateer, with two frigates heavily armed. Bouchard was a Frenchman cruising under letters of marque from the insurgent government of Buenos Ayres, against the Spanish. He entered the harbor of Monterey, November 21, 1818, probably to obtain supplies, but being coldly received, he fired upon the fort. The Californians made a brave resistance but were finally overpowered. Bouchard landed and sacked and burned the town. He next appeared at Ortega's rancho, where he burned the buildings. Here the Californians captured three prisoners who were exchanged next day, when Bouchard anchored off Santa Barbara, for one Californian whom the insurgents had captured at Monterey. Bouchard next visited San Juan Capistrano. where his "pirates" drank the padres' wine and then he took his departure from California. Four of Bouchard's men were left in California. They became .permanent residents. They were Joseph Chapman, an Ameri- can, and Fisher, a negro, who were captured at Monterey; John Ross, a Scotch- man, and Jose Pascual, a negro, who deserted at San Juan. Chapman was the first American resident of Southern California. He married Guadalupe Ortega, a daughter of the owner of the Refugio rancho, which was plundered by the insurgents. He settled at the mission San Gabriel and built there the first flour mill erected in California.
The war of Mexican Independence caused hard times in California. The soldiers received no pay and the mission supply ships came at long intervals. Money was almost an unknown quantity. There were products to sell but no one to sell them to — except an occasional smuggler, or a tallow ship from Peru. The Independence of Mexico was finally achieved, September 21, 1821, by the insurgent army under Agustin Iturbide.
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
THE MEXICAN ERA.
CHAPTER IV. FROM MONARCHY TO REPUBLICANISM.
Pablo Vicente de Sola was governor of California when Mexico attained her independence from Spain. He was of Spanish birth and was bitterly op- posed to the Revolution, even going so far as to threaten death to any one who should speak in favor of it. Although the rule of Spain in Mexico was overthrown in September. 1821, it was not until March, 1822, that official dispatches reached Sola informing him that the "Sovereign Council of the Regency of Imperial Mexico" was the governing power. The "Plan of Iguala." under which Iturbide finally overthrew the Spanish power, con- templated the placing of Fernando VII on the throne of the Mexican Empire, or. if he would not accept, then some scion of the royal family of Spain. Such a termination to the revolution did not jar Sola's loyalist sympathies. He called a junta to meet at Monterey and on the nth of April the oath was taken to the new government and the day was closed with a blare of artillery, music and an illumination in honor of the "Soberano Junto."
But Sola's royalist sympathies received a rude shock a few months later when news reached California that Iturbide, by coup-d'etat, had overturned the "Sovereign Council of the Regency," seized the government for himself and been proclaimed Emperor with the imposing title of "Agustin I, by Divine Providence and by the Congress of_ the Nation, first Constitutional Emperor of Mexico." In September, 1822, the flag of Spain that for half a century had waved over the palacio of the governor at Monterey, was low- ered and the Imperial banner of Mexico took its place. California, from the dependency of a kingdom, had become a province of an empire. Im- portant events followed each other in rapid succession. Scarce half a year after the flag of the empire floated on the breeze in California, before the emperor was dethroned and forced into exile. The downfall of the empire was followed by the establishment of a republic fashioned after that of the United States. The country over which the viceroys of Spain had ruled for three hundred years was divided into nineteen states and four territories. The executive power was vested in a president and vice-president and the legislative power in a senate and chamber of deputies. Only the states were allowed representatives in the senate, the territories, of which Alta Cali- fornia was one, were to be governed by a governor appointed by the presi- dent and a diputacion, or territorial assembly, elected by the people. Each
16 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
territory was entitled to send a diputado, or delegate, to the Mexican con- gress.
Luis Antonio Arguello succeeded Sola as governor, or "gefe politico" (political chief), as the office was later styled under the republic. He was elected November 9, 1822, president of the provincial diputacion and by virtue of his office became temporary governor instead of Sola, who had been elected delegate to the imperial congress. Arguello was the first gov- ernor under the republic. He was a native Californian, having been born at the presidio of San Francisco in 1784. He was a man of limited education but made good use of what he had. Arguello, as well as Sola, had been a pronounced royalist during the revolution, but with the downfall of Spanish domination he had submitted gracefully to the inevitable.
The success of the revolution was most bitterly disappointing to the mission padres. Through the long years of internicine strife between Mexico and the mother country they bad hoped and prayed for the triumph of Spain. In the downfall of Spanish domination in California and the rise of re- publicanism, they read the doom of their feudal institutions, the missions. On the promulgation of the Federal Constitution of October, 1824, in Cali- fornia, Father Vicente de Serria, the president of the missions — a Spaniard and a royalist — not only refused to take the oath of allegiance to it, but also declined to perform religious services in favor of it, or to allow his imme- diate subordinates to do so. An order was issued by the Supreme Govern- ment for his arrest, but before it reached California he had been superseded in the presidency by Father Narciso Duran, of San Jose. A number of the padres were hostile to the Republic and evaded taking the oafh of allegiance on the ground of obedience to the orders of their Superior. Their unfriendly attitude to the Republic was one of the causes that led to the secularization of the missions a few years later.
The Mexican government shortly after its inauguration, removed most of the restrictions imposed by Spain against foreigners settling in Califor- nia. The colonization law of 1824 was quite liberal. The state religion was the Roman Catholic and all foreigners who settled in the country were re- quired to embrace the doctrines and be baptized into that church. During Spanish domination not more than half a dozen foreigners had been allowed to become permanent residents in California. The earliest English settler was John Gilroy, after whom the town of Gilroy was named. He was left by his vessel at Monterey in 1814. Being sick with scurvy, he was allowed to remain in the country. He married a daughter of Ignacio Ortega and at one time owned a considerable body of land, but died poor. Joseph Chapman, the first American settler was, as has been previously mentioned, one of Bouchard's men captured at Monterey in 1818.
Beginning with Baron Rezanof's visit in the ship Juno, to San Fran- cisco, in 1806, for the purpose of buying grain for the starving Russian
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 17
colon}' at Sitka, the Russians made frequent visits to the California coast, partly to obtain supplies, but more for the purpose of hunting seal and sea otter. Their Aleut fur hunters in their bidarkas, or skin canoes, killed otter in San Francisco bay and the Spaniards, destitute of boats or ships, were powerless to prevent them. While hunting otter the Russians had examined the coast north of San Francisco bay with the design of founding an agri- cultural colony where they might raise grain for their settlements in the far north. In 1812 they built a village and fort about eighteen miles north of Bodega bay, which they named Ross. The fort mounted ten cannon. They also maintained a port on Bodega bay. They had also a small station on Russian River. The Spanish protested against this invasion of territory and threatened to drive out the Russians, but nothing came of either their protests or threats. The Russian ships came to California for supplies and were wel- comed by the people and the padres, if not by the government officials. The Russian colony was not a success; the ignorant soldiers and the Aleuts, who formed the bulk of the three or four hundred inhabitants, knew little about farming. After the decline of fur hunting the settlement became unprofitable. In 1841 the buildings and stock were sold by the Russian governor to Cap- tain John A. Sutter for $30,000. The settlement was abandoned and the fort and town have long since fallen into ruins.
Among the foreigners who came to California soon after the establish- ment of Mexican independence and became prominent in affairs may be named W. E. P. Hartnell, Captain John R. Cooper, Win. A. Richardson, Daniel A. Hill and Wm. A. Gale.
Win. Edward Petty Hartnell came to California from Lima as a member of the firm of McCullock, Hartnell & Co., of Lima, engaged in the hide and tallow trade. Hartnell was an Englishman by birth, well educated and highly respected. He married Maria Teresa de la Guerra and twenty-five children were born to them. He died at Monterey in 1859.
Wm. A. Gale came to California in 1810 as a Boston fur-trader. He returned to the territory in 1822 on the ship Sachem, the pioneer Boston hide drogher. The hide drogher was, in a certain sense, the pioneer immigrant ship of California. It brought to the coast a number of Americans who be- came permanent residents of the country. California, on account of its long distance from the centers of trade, had but few products for exchange that would bear the cost of transportation. Its chief commodities for barter, during the Mexican era, were hides and tallow. The vast range of country adapted to cattle raising made that its most profitable industry. After the restrictions on commerce with foreigners had, to a great extent, been removed by the Mexican government, a profitable trade grew up between the New England ship owners and the Californians.
Vessels were fitted out in Boston with a cargo of assorted goods suitable for the California trade. Voyaging around Cape Horn, they reached Cali-
i8 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
fornia, and stopping' at various points allong the coast thev exchanged their stock of goods and Yankee "notions" for hides and tallow. It took from two to three years to make the voyage out from Boston and return, but the profits on the goods sold and the hides received in exchange were so large that these ventures paid handsomely. Cattle raising, up to the time of the discovery of gold in 1848, continued to be the principal industry of the country.
During the first decade of Republican rule in California, there was but little change in its political condition or in the views of the people con- cerning the government. Mission rule was still dominant and the people were subservient to the rule of the governors appointed over them. But with the increase of foreigners and the advent of ex-revolutionists from Mexico, the old-time native California!! loyalists gradually became imbued with a kind of republicanism that transformed them into malcontents whose protests against the sins of governmental officials took the form of pro- nunciamientos and revolutions.
The first of the numerous revolts against the rule of the governors ap- pointed by the Mexican government was that known as the Solis revolu- tion which occurred in November, 1829. The soldiers at the presidios for years had received but a small part of their pay and were but poorly clothed and provisioned. The garrison at Monterey rebelled and seized and im- prisoned their officers. Those at San Francisco followed the example of their comrades at Monterey. Putting themselves under the leadership of Joaquin Solis, an ex-revolutionist of Mexico wdio had been banished from that country, they marched southward to meet Governor Echeandia. who was moving northward with a force of about one hundred men from San Diego, where he had established his capital. The two forces met at Dos Pueblos, near Santa Barbara and a bloodless battle ensued. During two davs the firing was kept up, then the revolutionists, having exhausted their ammunition and their courage, took to their heels and fled to Monterey, pursued — at a safe distance — by the governor's soldiers. The rebellious "escoltas" (militia) were pardoned and returned to duty. Herrara, the de- posed commissary-general, Solis and several other leaders were arrested and sent to Mexico to be tried for high crimes and misdemeanor. On their ar- rival in that land of revolutions, they were turned loose and eventually returned to California.
The principal cause of the California disturbances was the jealousy and dislike of the "hijos del pais" (native sons) to the Mexican born offi- cers who were appointed by the superior government to fill the offices. Many of these were adventurers wdio came to the country to improve their fortunes and were not scrupulous as to methods or means, so that the end was accomplished.
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER V. REVOLUTIONS AND SECULARIZATION.
Manuel Victoria succeeded Echeandia as gefe politico of Alta California in January, 1831. Victoria was a soldier with but. little idea as to how to ad- minister civil affairs. He was ' arbitrary and tyrannical. He refused to convoke the diputacion. or territorial assembly. From the very beginning of his term he was involved in quarrels with the leading men of the terri- tory. Exile, imprisonment and banishment were meted out for small of- fenses— and sometimes for none at all.
At length Jose Antonio Carrillo and Don Abel Stearns, who had been exiled to Lower California with Juan Bandini and Pio Pico, residents of San Diego, formulated a plot for the overthrow of Victoria, and issued a pronunciamiento arraigning him for misdeeds and petty tyrannies. The soldiers at the presidio, with their captain, Portilla, joined the revolt. Por- tilla and the leading conspirators with fifty men marched northward. At Los Angeles they released the prisoners from the jail and chained up instead Alcalde Sanchez, the petty despot of the pueblo who had been very ready to carry out the arbitrary decrees of Victoria.
The San Diego army, augmented by the liberated prisoners and volun- teers from Los Angeles, to the number of 150 men, marched out to meet Victoria, who, with a small force, was moving southward to suppress the rebellion. The two armies met west of Los Angeles in the Cahuenga valley. In the fight that ensued Jose Maria Avila, who had been imprisoned by Vic- toria's orders in the pueblo jail, charged single-handed upon Victoria. He killed Captain Pacheco, of Victoria's staff, and dangerously wounded the governor himself. Avila was killed by one of Victoria's men. Victoria's army retired with the wounded governor to San Gabriel mission and the revolutionists retired to Los Angeles. Next day, the governor, who sup- posed himself mortally wounded, abdicated ; later he was deported to Mexico. Pio Pico, senior vocal of the diputacion, was elected gefe politico by that body, but Echeandia, on account of his military rank, claimed the office. Pico, for the sake of peace, did not insist upon his rights, but allowed Echeandia to take the office.
Echeandia did not long enjoy in peace the office obtained by threats. Captain Agustin V. Zamorano, late secretary of the deposed Victoria, raised the standard of revolt at Monterey and pronounced against the San Diego plan under which Echeandia and the diputacion were conducting the gov- ernment. He raised an army of about one hundred men, some of whom were cholos, or convicts. This army, under the command of Captain Ibarra, marched southward and met no opposition until it reached El Paso de
20 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
Bartolo on the San Gabriel river. Here Captain Barroso, of Echeandia's force, with fourteen men and a piece of artillery, stopped the onward march of the invaders. Echeandia gathered an army of neophytes from the mis- sions— said to have been a thousand strong. On the approach of this body Ibarra's men retreated to Santa Barbara. Captain Barroso, with three hundred of his neophyte retainers mounted on horses and armed with rude lances, set out to capture Los Angeles, which at the approach of Ibarra's army had acknowledged allegiance to Zamorano ; but at the intercession of the repentant inhabitants, the recreant pueblo was spared and the neophyte invaders were turned aside to San Gabriel, where — much to the disgust of the padres — they were regaled on the fat bullocks of the mission. The neophyte army was then dismissed.
The diputacion, which was really the only legal authority ir. the terri- "tory, after much correspondence, finally effected a compromise between the rival claimants. Zamorano was recognized as military chief of all the terri- tory north of San Fernando, and Echeandia all south of San Gabriel, while Pio Pico, who, by virtue of his rank as senior vocal, was the lawful governor, was left without any jurisdiction. After this adjust- ment all parties kept the peace and California, with its trio of governors, was happier than with one.
On the 14th of January, 1833, about one year after the enforced departure of Victoria, Jose Figueroa, "gobernador proprietario" of Alta California, by appointment of the Supreme Government of Mexico, arrived at Monterey. Zamorano at once turned over to him whatever authority he had in the north and Echeandia at San Die.sjo, as soon as the arrival of Figueroa was known to him, did the same.
Figueroa was Mexican born and of Aztec descent. He was a general in the Mexican army and is regarded as one of the ablest and most efficient of the Mexican governors of California. He instituted a policy of concilia- tion and became very popular with the people. He inaugurated a number of reforms and gave attention to the condition and treatment of the neo- phytes. Two of the most important events in the history of California during the Mexican era occurred in Figueroa's term of office. The first was the arrival of the Hijar colonists and the second was the securalization of the missions.
In 1833, Jose Maria Hijar, a Mexican gentleman of considerable prop- erty, aided by Jose Maria Padres, who in modern times would be styled a "promoter," set about organizing a scheme for the founding of a colony in California. The colonists were to be enlisted in Mexico and were to be given free passage from San Bias to California. Each man was promised a ranch and each adult was to receive rations to the amount of four reals — and each child two reals — per day. The colonists were to be allowed a certain amount of live stock and tools. All of these allowances were to be repaid later in
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 21
products of the farms. A corporation known as the "Compania Cosmopoli- tana" was organized for the purpose of buying vessels and carrying on a shipping business between California and Mexico.
About 250 colonists were recruited in and about the city of Mexico. They left the capital for San Bias in April and in August. 1834, sailed from that port for California on the brig Natalia and the ship Morelos. The Natalia, on account of sickness on board, put into San Diego, September 1, 1834, where the passengers were landed. The Morelos arrived at Monterey September 25th. The colonists were hospitably received by the Californians.
Hijar had been appointed gefepolitico by Vice-President Farrias, but after the departure of the colonists. President Santa Ana, who had assumed control of the government, countermanded the appointment and sent a courier overland by the Yuma route with an order to Figueroa not to give up the governorship. The courier, by one of the most remarkable rides in history, reached Monterey before Hijar and delivered his message to Gov- ernor Figueroa. Hijar, on his arrival at the capital, found himself shorn of all authority.
Part of the scheme of Hijar and Padres was the sub-division of the mis- sion property among themselves and their colonists. But the revocation of his commission as gefepolitico deprived him of all power to enforce his scheme. An attempt was made to form a settlement of the colonists at San Francisco Solano on the northern frontier, but it was abandoned. The colonists were finally scattered throughout the territory. Some of them returned to Mexico, those who remained in California were incorporated in the different settlements and formed a very respectable element of the population. Hijar and Padres were accused of being the instigators of a plot to overthrow Figueroa and seize the mission property. They were shipped out of the country and thus ended in disaster to the promoters, the first California colonization scheme.
The missions, as has been previously stated, were founded by Spain for the conversion of the Indians and their transformation into citizens. As originally planned by the Spanish government at the end of ten years from its founding, each mission establishment was to be secularized and the land divided among the Christianized Indians. Early in the history of the missions it became apparent that although the California Indian might be made a Christian, he could not be made a self-supporting citizen.
The Indians inhabiting the country between the Coast Range and the ocean from San Diego to San Francisco, had been gathered into the various missionary establishments and had been taught, by the padres and mayor- domos, some rude industrial callings. While controlled and directed by the priests and white overseers, the Indian could be made self-supporting, but the restraint removed, he lapsed into barbarism.
Each of these religious establishments held possession, in trust for its
22 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
neophyte retainers, of large areas of the most fertile lands in the territory. This absorption of the public domain by tbe missions prevented the colon- ization of the country by white settlers.
The first decree of secularization was passed by the Spanish Cortes in 1813. but nothing came of it. Spain was engaged in a death struggle with her American colonies and she had neither power nor opportunity to en- force secularization decrees. In July, 1830, the territorial diputacion adopted a plan of secularization formed by Echeandia in 1828, but before it could be enforced, Echeandia was superseded by Victoria, who was a friend of the padres and opposed to secularization. Governor Figueroa, after his arrival in California, was instructed to examine into tbe condition of the neophytes and report the best method of bringing about a gradual emancipation of the Indians from missionary rule. His examination convinced him that any general measure of secularization would be disastrous to the neophytes. A few might be trusted with property and given their liberty, but the great mass of them were incapable of self-support or self-government. Figueroa visited the older missions in the south with tbe purpose of putting into effect his plan for their gradual secularization. He found the Indians at San Diego and San Luis Rev indifferent to the offers of freedom and caring nothing for property of their own, unless they could immediately dispose of it to gratify their passions. Out of all the families at these missions, only- ten could Lie induced to try emancipation.
In the meantime the Mexican Congress, without waiting for informa- tion from the governor, or those acquainted with the true condition of the neophytes, ordered their immediate emancipation. August 17. 1833, a decree was passed ordering the secularization of the missions in both Alta and Lower California. This decree provided that each mission should consti- tute a parish served by a priest, or curate, who should be paid a salary. The regulars, or those who were connected with the great orders, as the Franciscans and Dominicans, who had taken the oath of allegiance to the republic were to return to their colleges, or monasteries, while those who had refused to take the oath should quit the country. The expense of putting in operation this decree was to be paid out of the "pious fund."
The "Pious Fund of California" was a fund made up of contributions from pious persons for the founding and maintenance of missions in the Californias. It began with contributions to the missions of Lower Cali- fornia in 1607. ^ increased until it amounted to one and a half millions of dollars in 1832. It was finally confiscated by the Mexican government; but after long litigation the Catholic Church of California was given judgment for its loss by the Hague tribunal in hjoj.
Figueroa and the territorial diputacion, under instructions from the Supreme Government. June 31, 1834, adopted a plan for the secularization of the missions of Alta California and the colonization of the neophytes into
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 23
pueblos. Each head of a family was to receive from the mission lands a lot not more than 500 nor less than 100 varas square. One-half of the cattle and one-half of the farming implements and seed grains were to be divided pro rata among those receiving lands for cultivation. Out of the proceeds of the remaining property, which was to be placed under a mayor-domo, the salaries of the administrator and the priest in charge of the church were to be paid. No one could sell or incumber his land nor slaughter his cattle — except for subsistence. The government of the Indian pueblos was to be ad- ministered the same as that of the other pueblos in the territory. Before the plan of the diputacion had been promulgated, Figueroa had experimented with the neophytes of the San Juan Capistrano mission and a pueblo had been organized there. For a time it promised to be a success but finally ended in a failure.
For years the threat of secularization had hung over the missions, but heretofore something had always occurred to avert it. When it became evident that the blow would fall, the missionaries determined to save some- thing for themselves before the final wreck came. There were, on the vari- ous mission ranges, in 1833, nearly half a million head of cattle. San Gabriel, the richest of the missions, had over fifty thousand head. Thousands of these were slaughtered on shares for their hides alone and the carcasses left on the ground to rot. So terrible was the stench arising that the ayunta- miento of Los Angeles, in 1834, passed an ordinance compelling every one slaughtering cattle for their hides to cremate the carcasses. The diputacion finally issued a reglamento prohibiting the wholesale destruction of the mission cattle. What remained of the mission property was inventoried bv the commissioners appointed by the governor and a certain portion distrib- uted to the Indians of the pueblos into which the missions had been con- verted. The property was soon wasted : for the Indian was improvident and indolent and took no thought for the morrow. He would not work except under compulsion. Liberty to him meant license to commit excesses. His property soon passed out of his hands and he became virtually the slave of the white man, or else a renegade living by theft.
Governor Figueroa died at San Juan Bautista, September 29, 1835. and was buried in the mission church at Santa Barbara. His funeral obsequies were the grandest ever witnessed in the territory. He was called the "Bene- factor of California."
Figueroa, before his death, had resigned his political command to Jose Castro, primer-vocal of the diputacion. Castro held the office for four months, when, by order of the Supreme Government, he delivered it over to Col. Nicolas Gutierrez, who held the military command of the territory, until the arrival in May, 1836, of Mariano Chico. the regularly appointed "gober- nador proprietario." Chico was a man of inordinate self-conceit and of but little common sense. He very soon secured the ill-will of the Californians.
24 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
Shortly before his arrival in California a vigilance committee, or as it was called by its organizers, "Junta Defensora de la Seguridad Publica," the first ever formed in California, had taken from the legal authorities at Los Angeles, two criminals, Gervasio Alispas and Maria del Rosaria Villa, under arrest for the murder of the woman's husband, Domingo Feliz, and had executed them by shooting them to death. This violation of law greatly en- raged Governor Chico and one of his first acts on taking office was to send Col. Gutierrez with troops to Los Angeles to punish the vigilantes. Victor Prudon, the president of the Junta Defensora, Manuel Arzaga, the secretary, and Francisco Aranjo, the military officer who had commanded the members of the junta, were arrested and committed to prison until such time as the governor could come to Los Angeles and try them. He came in June and after heaping abuse and threats upon them, he finally pardoned the three leaders of the "Defenders of Public Security." Then he quarreled with Manuel Requena, the alcalde of Los Angeles, who had opposed the vigilantes, and threatened to imprison him. He returned to Monterey, where be was soon afterward involved in a disgraceful scandal which ended in his placing the alcalde of that town under arrest.
The people, disgusted with him, arose en masse and with arms in their hands, assumed a threatening attitude. Alarmed for his safety, Chico took passage for Mexico in a brig that lay in the harbor and California was rid of him. Before his departure he turned over the political and military com- mand of the territory to Col. Guiterrez. Chico had filled the office just three months. He was a centralist, or anti-federalist, and was in sympathy with the party in Mexico that favored a centralized government. Centralism vir- tually placed the government in the hands of the president and made him a dictator. The Californians were federalists and bitterly opposed to "cen- tralism."
Gutierrez, like Chico, was a man of violent temper. It was not long before he was involved in a quarrel that eventually put an end to his official career in California. In his investigation of governmental affairs at Mont- erey, he charged fraud against Angel Ramirez, the administrator, and Juan Bautista Alvarado, the auditor of the custom house. A war of words ensued in which volleys of abuse were fired by both sides. Gutierrez threatened to put the two officials in irons. This was an insult that Alvarado, young, proud and hot-blooded could not endure in silence. He left the capital and with Jose Castro, at San Juan, began preparations for a revolt against the governor. His quarrel with Gutierrez was not the sole cause of his fomenting a revolution. He was president of the diputacion and the governor had treated that body with disrespect, or at least, the members, of whom Castro was one, so claimed. General Vallejo was invited to take command of the revolutionary movement, but, while he sympathized with the cause, he did not enlist in it.
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 25
News of the projected uprising spread rapidly among the rancheros of San Jose and of the Salinas and Pajaro valleys. Castro and Alvarado with- out much effort soon collected an army of seventy-five Californians. They also secured the services of an auxiliary force of twenty-five Americans — hunters, and trappers — under the command of Graham, a backwoodsman from Tennessee. With this force they marched to Monterey. By a strategetic movement they captured the castillo. The revolutionists demanded the sur- render of the presidio and the arms. Upon the refusal of the governor a shot from the cannon of the castillo crashed through the roof of the commandante's house and scattered Gutierrez and his staff. This — and the desertion of most of his soldiers — brought the governor to terms. November 5, 1836, he sur- rendered the presidio and resigned his office. With about seventy of his ad- herents he was placed on board a vessel in the harbor and a few days later departed for Mexico.
CHAPTER VI. THE FREE STATE OF ALTA CALIFORNIA.
The Mexican governor having been expelled, the diputacion, which was composed of hijos del pais, was called together and a plan for the in- dependence of California was formulated. This plan declared that "Cali- fornia is erected into a free and sovereign state, establishing a congress which shall pass all special laws of the country, also assume the other necessary supreme powers." The diputacion issued a Declaration of Independence which arraigned the mother country, Mexico, for sins of commission and omission; and Castro promulgated a pronunciamiento ending with a "Viva for EI Estado Libre y Soverano de Alta California." (The Free and Sov- ereign State of Alta California.) Amid the vivas and the pronunciamientos, with the beating of drums and the roar of cannon, the state of Alta Califor- nia was launched on the political sea. The revolutionists soon found that it was easy enough to declare the state free; but quite another matter to make it free.
For years there had been a growing jealousy between Northern an ' Southern California. Los Angeles, through the efforts of Jose Antonio Carrillo, had, by the decree of the Mexican congress in May, 1835, been raised to the dignity of a city and made the capital of the territory. In the move- ment to make California a free and independent state, the Angelenos recog- nized an attempt on the part of the people of the north to deprive their city of its honor. Although as bitterly opposed to Mexican governors and as actively engaged in fomenting revolutions against them as the people of Monterey, the Angelenos chose at this time to profess loyalty to the mother
20 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
country. They opposed the Monterey plan of government and formulated one of their own, in which they declared that California was not free and they wotdd obey the laws of the supreme government only.
Alvarado had been made governor by the diputacion and Castro com- mandante general of the army of the Free State. They determined to sup- press the recalcitrant sureiios (southerners). They collected an army of eighty natives, obtained the assistance of Graham with his American riflemen and marched southward. The ayuntamiento of Los Angeles bad organized an arm}- of 270 men, part of whom were neophytes. This force was sta- tioned at the Mission San Fernando. Before the northern troops reached the mission, commissioners from Los Angeles met them and a treaty of peace was patched up. Alvarado with his troops arrived in Los Angeles January 23, 1837, and was received with expressions of friendship. An extraordinary meeting of the ayuntamiento was called. Pio Pico expressed the great pleasure it gave him to see a "hijo del pais" in office and Antonio Osio, one of the most belligerent of the southerners declared that "sooner than again submit to a Mexican governor, or dictator, he would flee to the forest and be devoured by wild beasts." Alvarado made a conciliatory speech and an agreement was entered into to support the "Monterey plan," with Alvarado as governor pro tempore, until the Supreme Government should decide the question. Quiet reigned in the south for a few months. Then San Diego formulated a plan of government and the standard of revolt was again raised. The San Diego plan restored California to allegiance to the Supreme Government and the officials at San Diego and Los Angeles took the oath to obey the centralist constitution of 1836; this, in their opinion, absolved them from obedience to Juan Bautista Alvarado and his Monterey plan for a "Free State."
In October came the news that Carlos Carrillo of Santa Barbara had bee'1 appointed governor of California bv the Supreme Government. Then con- sternation seized the "Free State" men of the north and the sureiios of Los Angeles went wild with joy. They invited Carrillo to make Los Angeles his capital — an invitation which he accepted. December 6th was set for his inauguration and great preparations were made for the event. Cards of in- vitation were issued asking the people to come to the inauguration "dressed as decent as possible." A grand inauguration ball was held in the governor's palacio — the house of the widow Josefa Alvarado. the finest in the city. Cannon boomed on the old plaza, bonfires blazed in the streets and the city was illuminated for three nights. Los Angeles was at last a real capital and had a governor all to herself.
Alvarado and Castro, with an army, came down from the north deter- mined to subjugate the troublesome southerners. A battle was fought at San Buenaventura. For two days cannon volleyed and thundered — at inter- vals. ( >ne man was killed and several mustangs died for their country. The
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 27
"surehos" were defeated and their leaders captured and sent as prisoners of state to Vallejo's bastile at Sonoma. Los Angeles, Carrillo's capital, was captured by Alvarado. Carrillo rallied his demoralized army at Las Floref. Another battle was fought — or, rather a few shots were fired, at long range, from the cannon. Nobody was hurt. Carrillo surrendered and was sent home to his wife, at Santa Barbara, who became surety for his future good behavior. Alvarado was now the acknowledged governor of El Estado Libre de Alta California, but the "Free State" had ceased to exist. Months before the last battle in the war for Independence, Alvarado had made his peace with the Supreme Government by taking the oath of allegiance to the constitutional laws of Mexico, and thus restoring California to the rule of the mother country. In November, 1838, Alvarado received his formal ap- pointment as "gobernador interino" of California, or rather of the Califor- nias ; for under the new constitution creating twenty-four departments instead of states, the two Californias constituted one department.
In their internecine wars and in their revolts against the Mexican gov- ernors, the Californians invoked the aid of a power that would not down at their bidding — that was the assistance of the foreigners. Zamorano in his contest with Echeandia was the first to enlist the foreign contingent. Next Alvarado secured the services of Graham and his riflemen to help in the expulsion of Gutierrez. In his invasion of the south he and Castro again called in the foreign element headed by Graham and Coppinger. Indeed the fear of the American riflemen, who made up the larger part of Graham's force, was the most potent factor in bringing the south to terms. These hunters and trappers, with their long Kentucky rifles, shot to kill and any battle in which they took part would not be a bloodless affair.
After Alvarado had been confirmed in his office, he would gladly have rid himself of his late allies. But they would not be shaken off and were importunate in their demands for the recognition of their services. There were rumors that the foreigners were plotting to overthrow the government and revolutionize California as had already been done in Texas. Alvarado issued secret orders to arrest a number of foreigners whom he had reason to fear. About one hundred men were arrested during the month of April, 1840. Of these, forty-seven were sent as prisoners in irons to San Bias. The others were released. The prisoners were about equally divided in nation- ality between Americans and Englishmen. They were confined in prison at Tepic. Here the British consul, Barron, was instrumental in securing their release — the American consul being absent. The Mexican government paid them damages for their imprisonment and furnished those who had a legal right to residence in California with transportation to Monterey, where they landed in July, 1841, better dressed and with more money than when they were sent away.
The most important event during Alvarado's rule that remains to be
28 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
noted is the capture of Monterey, October 19, 1842, by Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones, commander of the United States forces of the Pacific. Jones, who was cruising in the South Pacific, learning that Admiral Thomas, in command of the English squadron of the Pacific, had sailed out of Callao under sealed orders, suspected that the Admiral's orders were to seize California. Knowing that war was imminent between Mexico and the United States, Jones determined to take possession of California for the United States, if he could reach it before the English admiral did. Crowding on all sail, he reached Monterey October 19th and immediately demanded the surrender of California, both Upper and Lower, to the United States government. He gave Governor Alvarado until nine o'clock on the morn- ing of the 20th to decide on his course. Alvarado had already been super- seded by Micheltorena, who was then somewhere in the neighborhood of Los Angeles. Alvarado at first decided to shirk the responsibility of sur- render by leaving the town; but he was dissuaded from this step. The terms of surrender were agreed upon and at ten o'clock the next morning 150 sailors and marines disembarked, took possession of the fort, lowered the Mexican flag and raised the American colors. The officers and soldiers of the California government were discharged and their guns and arms taken possession of by the United States troops and carried into the fort. On the 21st, at four p. m., the flags again changed places — the fort and arms were restored to their former claimants. Commodore Jones had learned from some Mexican newspapers found in the captured fort that war did not exist between the two republics.
CHAPTER VIII. CLOSING YEARS OF MEXICAN ERA.
For some time ill feeling had been growing between Governor Alvarado and the commandante general, M. G. Vallejo. Each had sent commissions to the Supreme Government to present the respective sides of the quarrel. The Supreme Government decided to combine the civil and military offices in the person of a Mexican officer. On January 22, 1842, Manuel Micheltorena, who had seen service with Santa Anna in Texas, was appointed to this office. He was to be provided with a sufficient number of troops to prevent the intrusion of foreigners — particularly Americans — into California. The large force promised him finally dwindled down to 300 convicts, known as cholos, who were released from Mexican prisons on condition that they serve in the army.
Governor Micheltorena had landed with his ragged cholos at San Diego, in August, and was leisurely marching northward to the capital. On the
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 29
night of October 24th he had arrived at a point twenty miles north of San Fer- nando when news reached him of the capture of Monterey by Commodore Jones. The valiant commander and his cholos retreated to San Fernando, where they remained until they learned of the restoration of Monterey to the Californians. Then they fell back to Los Angeles. Here, January 20, 1843, Commodore Jones held a conference with the governor, who made some exorbitant demands — among others that the United States government should pay $15,000 to Mexico for the expense incurred in the general alarm and for a set of musical instruments lost in the retreat, and also replace 1500 uniforms ruined in the violent march. Commodore Jones did not deign an answer to these ridiculous demands ; and Micheltorena did not insist upon them. The conference closed with a grand ball — and all parties were pacified.
Micheltorena took the oath of office at Los Angeles, December 31, 184.?. Speeches were made, salutes were fired and the city was illuminated for three nights. With his Falstaffian army, the governor remained at Los Angeles until mid-summer. The Angeleiios had, for years, contended with the people of Monterey for the capital and had gone to war for it in Alvarado's time. Now that they had the coveted prize, they would gladly have parted with it, if, by so doing, they could have rid themselves of Micheltorena's thieving soldiers. The men were not altogether to blame. Their pay was long in arrears and they received but scant supplies of clothing or rations. It was a case of steal or starve — and they stole.
In August, Micheltorena and his cholo contingent reached Monterey. The Californians did not welcome the Mexican governor very heartily.
Micheltorena, while indolent and vacillating, was a man of considerable ability. He began his rule with the intention of improving conditions in California. One of his first attempts was to establish a public school system. Education had been sadly neglected, both under Spanish and Mexican dom- ination. Five hundred dollars was apportioned from the public funds for the maintenance of schools in each of the larger towns and arrangements were made for the opening of several schools for girls in the territory. Heretofore the public schools had been open — when they were open at all — only to boys. He restored what was left of the mission estates to the padres and made an earnest effort to reconcile the sectional animosity that had long existed between the arribenos (uppers) of the north and the abejenos (lowers) of the south ; but with all of his efforts to be just and better the condition of California, there was still an undercurrent of hostility to him. Part of this was due to the thieving of his convict soldiers; but a more potent cause was the ambition of certain hijos del pais to rule the territory. They blamed the governor for retaining his cholos in the country, claiming that they were kept for the purpose of subjugating or terrorizing the natives.
The appointment of Micheltorena to fill both the civil and military of- fices was a bitter disappointment to Alvarado and Vallejo. They were
30 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
not long in discovering that much as they hated each other — they hated the Mexican more. They buried the hatchet and combined with Castro to do what the trio had done before — drive the Mexican governor out of the coun- try. The depredations of the cholos had so imbittered the people that they were ready to join the standard of anyone who would head a revolution. On November 15, 1844, a meeting of the leaders of the dissatisfied was held at Alvarado's Rancho del Aliso ; and a pronunciamiento against Micheltorena was issued.
Alvarado and Castro headed a body of revolutionists, numbering about thirty, who moved northward to San Jose, where they were largely reinforced. Micheltorena set out in pursuit of them. The two forces maneuvered some time without coming to battle. A treaty was finally effected between the belligerents. Micheltorena pledged his word of honor to send back to Mex- ico, within three months, his vicious soldiers and officers: while Alvarado and Castro, on their part, agreed to go into winter quarters at San Jose, with their troops, who were to constitute the military force of the territory after the departure of the convict soldiers. Micheltorena returned to Monterey, but the censure of his officers for the surrender caused him to break his word and secretly plot for the capture of the insurgents. He secured the aid of Captain John A. Sutter, a Swiss gentleman, who had an establishment at New Helvetia — now Sacramento. Sutter had a company of Indians drilled in military maneuvers and the use of arms. Beside his Indians, Sutter se- cured for Micheltorena the services of a number of foreigners, mostly Amer- icans. Alvarado and Castro learned of the perfidy of Micheltorena through the capture of one of his messengers with a letter to Sutter.
Not being prepared to sustain an attack from the combined forces of Micheltorena and Sutter, they hurriedly broke camp at San Jose and with a portion of their force marched to Los Angeles, .where they arrived January 21, 1845. They endeavored to fire the southern heart against the governor, but the old animosity between the abajehos and the arribehos was as strong as ever and the southerners regarded with suspicion the friendly advances of their old enemies. The Pico brothers were finally won over and Pio Pico, who was primer-vocal of the "junta departmental," or assembly, called that body together to meet at Los Angeles. It met on January 28th and de- clared Micheltorena to be a traitor to the country who must be deposed.
Sutter with his force numbering about two hundred men, one hundred of whom were Indians and the rest foreigners — mostly Americans, joined Micheltorena at Salinas early in January. The combined forces — about four hundred — began a leisurely march to the south. The fear of a raid by Michel-. torena's cholos and Sutter's Indians had stimulated recruiting in the south. Castro and Pico soon found themselves at the head of about four hundred men. A commission from Los Angeles met Micheltorena at Santa Barbara on February 7th with propositions for a settlement of the difficulty. The
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 31
governor treated the commissioners with scant respect and offered but one condition — unconditional surrender of the rebels.
A week later the departmental assembly met at Los Angeles and passed resolutions deposing Micheltorena and appointing Pio Pico temporary gov- ernor. In the meantime, disgusted with Micheltorena's slow movements, about half of the foreigners in his army had deserted. February 7th, Michel- torena's army, moving down by way of Encinas, and Castro's forces ad- vancing from Los Angeles, met on the Cahuenga plains. Artillery firing began at long range and continued at long range all day. A horse, or, some say, a mule had its head shot off — this was the only blood shed. The for- eigners in the respective armies got together in a ravine during the fight and agreed to let the Mexicans and Californians settle their dispute in their own way.
Toward evening Micheltorena undertook to make a flank movement and marched his troops to the eastward, evidently intending to follow the river down to the city. Castro and Alvarado moved back through the Cahuenga Pass and again encountered the opposing force at the Verdugo rancho. A few cannon shots were fired when Micheltorena displayed a white flag in token of surrender. Terms of capitulation were drawn up by which Michel- torena and his convict army were to be sent back to Mexico. Pio Pico was recognized as temporary governor and Castro was made comandante gen- eral of the military force. As a sedative to his military pride, Micheltorena was granted permission to march his army to San Pedro with all the honor's of war. trumpets sounding, drums beating and colors flying, taking with them to San Pedro their three pieces of artillery, but the guns were to be given up at the embarcadero (port). The governor and his soldiers were sent in the Don Quixote to Monterey and there, joined by the garrison that had been stationed at the capital, all were sent to San Bias, Mexico. Captain Sutter was taken prisoner during the battle and was held under arrest for some time after the departure of Micheltorena. He was at length released and allowed to return, with his Indians, by way of Tejon Pass and the Tulares, to New Helvetia — a sadder and perhaps a wiser man for the ex- perience.
Pio Pico, by virtue of his position as senior vocal of the assembly became governor and Castro, in accordance with the treaty of Cahuenga, was com- andante general. Alvarado was made administrator of the custom house in Monterey. Thus the hijos del pais were once more a power and the factional fight between the "uppers" and the "lowers" was once more declared off.
Pico established his government at Los Angeles and that ciudad, ten years after the Mexican Congress had decreed it the capital, became the seat of government. Castro established his military headquarters at Mont- erey and Jose Antonio Carrillo, one of the leaders of the "lowers," was made comandante of the military in the south. Pico began his rule with a desire
32 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
to benefit the territory. He might have succeeded had he been able to control the discordant factions.
As has been previously stated, Micheltorena restored, as far as possi- ble, the mission property to the padres. It was impossible for the mission- aries to establish the old order — even on a small scale. The few Indians re- maining at the missions were unmanageable. Through the neglect or in- competency of the administrators, debts had been incurred and creditors were importunate. The padres in charge were mostly old men, unable to cope with the difficulties that beset them on every side. Pico, with the con- currence of the junta, decided to make a change in the mission policy of his predecessor. In June, 1845, ne issued a decree, warning the Indians at San Rafael, Soledad, San Miguel and Purisima to return to their respective mis- sions. Failing to do so, they were to be declared vagrants and punished as such. At Carmel, San Juan Bautista, San Juan Capistrano and Solano, where pueblos had been established, the church and the curate's home were to be reserved and the balance of the property sold at auction to pay the debts of the missions. The abandoned missions (the Indians not returning) of San Rafael, Solano, San Juan Bautista, San Miguel and Purisima and the mission pueblos before mentioned were sold in December, 1845, and ten of the missions were rented for a term of nine years. The proceeds of the sale were to be used for the benefit of the Indians and the support of the padres. In those rented, the Indians were at liberty to remain in the service of the lessees. A portion of the proceeds were to be used for the support of re- ligious services. The change brought no improvement in the condition of the neophytes. They sank still lower in degradation; while the missions, deprived of income and of power, ceased to exist.
Notwithstanding Pico's efforts to conciliate the discordant elements, it soon became evident that the old spirit of turbulence was still dominant. The first insurrectionary movement originated with Jose Antonio Carrillo, Pico's own brother-in-law. This was suppressed and Carrillo and Yareles, one of his auxiliaries, were shipped to Mexico for trial, but were released and returned to California. Castro ignored Pico in military affairs and soon a bit- ter quarrel was on between the gefe politico and the comandante general. For a number of years there had been a steady influx of foreigners — mostly Americans. Many of them had married into prominent families and had be- come by naturalization Mexican citizens. In 1841, the first train of immi- grants arrived in California overland. The immigration over the plains con- tinued to increase after this. The leading Californians saw that it was the manifest destiny of California to become a territory of the United States. Texas had been wrested from Mexico by the same foreign element that was now invading California. Early in 1846, Castro called a junta of his officers at Monterey. This council issued a pronunciamiento declaring hostil- ity to the United States and the members pledged themselves to defend the
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 33
honor of .the Mexican nation against the perfidious attacks of its rivals — the North Americans. In this council, Pico had been ignored and the hostile feeling between the political and military chiefs grew more bitter. Pico had been appointed constitutional governor by President Herrera and, April 18, 1846, in the presence of the territorial assembly and a large concourse of people gathered at Los Angeles, he took the oath of office.
Castro and his associates were soon to be given an opportunity to test their courage in the defense of -Mexican honor against the attacks of the perfidious North Americans. Captain John C. Fremont, who had previously led two expeditions through the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and California, in January, 1846, arrived in California. His company numbered sixty-two men, scientists, guides and servants. These he left encamped in the Tulare country, east of the Coast Range, while he repaired to Monterey to secure some needed supplies and to acquaint the comandante general with the ob- ject of his expedition. As the expedition was scientific in its object and Fremont expressed his intention of proceeding to Oregon as soon as his men were rested and recruited, Castro made no objection to his remaining in California during the winter. But when, a few weeks later, the whole force of men marched into the Salinas valley, Castro ordered Fremont to leave the country at once. Instead of leaving, Fremont marched his men to Gabilan Peak (Hawk's Peak) about thirty miles from Monterey, where he raised the Stars and Stripes and proceeded to fortify his camp. Castro marshaled his force on the plains below out of range of Fremont's men. After holding the fort on Gabilan Peak two days, Fremont, on the night of March 9th, abandoned it and leisurely proceeded northward by way of the San Joaquin Valley to Sutter's Fort, and from there, after a short stop, to Lassen's Rancho on Deer Creek, where he remained until April 14th. Pie then resumed his march toward the Oregon line.
On May 5th, he was encamped near Klamath Lake, when Samuel Neal and William Sigler, two settlers of the Sacramento valley, rode into his camp and informed him tbat a United States officer, bearing dispatches, was endeavoring to overtake him. The officer had but a small escort and the Indians being hostile, he was in great danger. Fremont next morning took nine of his men and the two messengers and hurried to the relief of the officer. The parties met that evening and encamped on the bank of a creek. About midnight the Indians attacked the camp, killing three of Fremont's men and losing their chief. The dispatch bearer proved to be Lieutenant Archibald H. Gillespie, of the United States Navy. He had left Washington in November, 1845, with instructions from the government. He had crossed Mexico, disguised as a merchant and from San Bias had taken passage to Honolulu and from there reached Monterey, April 17th. He had then fol- lowed Fremont's trail until they met near the Oregon line.
Fremont, with his entire force, after punishing the Klamath Indians for
34 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
their treachery, returned to Sutter's Fort, where Lieutenant Gillespie, who had gone ahead, met them with supplies procured from San Francisco through Captain Montgomery of the Portsmouth. The substance of the dispatches sent to Fremont from Secretary of State Buchanan was to prevent the occu- pation of California by any European power and in the event of war with Mexico to take possession of the country for the United States. It was well known that England had designs on California and it was partly to circum- vent these and partly to warn Fremont that war with Mexico was pending that the dispatches had been sent. The report that a large immigration was on its way to California from the United States was no doubt the cause of the hositility of the authorities to Fremont and to the recently arrived immi- grants. There were rumors that Castro was organizing a force to drive the settlers out of the country. Many of the Americans were in California with- out authority under the Mexican laws and a feeling of uncertainty pervaded the country.
Believing themselves in danger and regarding Fremont as their pro- tector, a number of the settlers repaired to Fremont's camp. The first aggressive act of the settlers was the capture of 250 horses that were being moved by Lieutenant de Arce and fourteen men, from the north side of the bay to Castro's camp at Santa Clara. A party of twelve Americans, under Ezekiel Merritt, captured the horses and made prisoners of the escort. The prisoners were brought into Fremont's camp and there released. Hostilities having been begun, it became necessary for the settlers to widen the breach so as to provoke retaliation on the part of the Californians rather than be punished for the seizure of government property without author- ity. The next move was to seize the military post and the principal men of Sonoma.
On the morning of June nth, twenty men under command of Merritt. armed with pistols and rifles and mounted on fresh horses, set out from Fre- mont's camp on Bear Creek for Sonoma. On the way their number was recruited to thirty-two men. On the morning of the 14th. about daybreak, they surrounded the town and took' Gen. M. G. Vallejo, Captain Salvador Vallejo. his brother, and Lieut. Col. Victor Prudon prisoners. There seems to have been no private soldiers at Sonoma — all officers. The military force that had formerly been stationed there to guard the northern frontier against the Indians had been disbanded or had dwindled away. The castillo, or fort, contained about a dozen rusty old cannon and two hundred and fifty muskets.
Gen. Vallejo and his officers as prisoners of war gave their word of honor not to take up arms against the revolutionists on a guarantee from their captain to respect the lives and property of the prisoners, their fam- ilies and the residents of the jurisdiction. The guarantee, signed by Merritt, Semple, Fallon and Kelsey, was given in writing. The prisoners, although they had given their parole, were taken to Sutter's Fort by a guard which
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 35
included Merritt, Semple, Grigsby, Hargrove, Knight and five or six others. Twenty-four men remained at the fort. The leaders of the party having gone with the prisoners, W. B. Ide, who had come to the front on account of a speech he made advocating a movement to make the country independent, was chosen commander. X\>Jt2jL^?V>
Ide immediately set about formulating a Declaration of Independence and Wm. Todd, one of his men, having procured a piece of manta, or coarse cotton .cloth, about two yards long, set to work to fashion a flag for the new republic. Todd, assisted by some others, painted a star in the upper corner and in the center a figure supposed to represent a bear, but which the natives called a "cochina" (pig). Below these figures he painted in large letters, "California Republic." Along the lower edge of the flag was stitched a strip of red woolen cloth said to have been a part of a red woolen petticoat that had been brought across the plains. When completed the famous "Bear Flag" of California was run up on the flag staff where the Mexican colors had formerly floated. The cannon and muskets were loaded, guards posted, military discipline established and the California Republic duly inaugurated. On June 18th, the same day that Ide issued his proclamation. Thomas Cowie and George Fowler, two of Ide's men. volun- teered to go to Fitch's ranch to procure a keg of powder from Mose Carson. On the way they were captured by a band of Californians under Juan Padilla and brutally murdered. The news of this outrage reached Sonoma and later a report that Todd, who had been sent to Bodega with a message, had been captured. Captain W. L. Ford, with a force of twenty-three men, hastily set out from Sonoma to capture Padilla. At Olampali Rancho Captain Ford unexpectedly came upon the combined forces of Captain de la Torre and Padilla. numbering eighty-three men. The Americans fell back into a willow thicket. The Californians, supposing that they were retreating, charged upon them but were met by a volley of rifle balls that some reports say killed eight of the Californians. Todd, while the fight was going on, made his escape and joined Ford's men, who fell back to Sonoma.
Fremont, who had been encamped at the Buttes, having learned of Ide's attempt to establish a California Republic and that Castro would not attack them to rescue the prisoners, but was gathering a force to recapture Sonoma. broke up his camp and moved down to New Helvetia, where he put his prisoners in the fort under guard.
On June 23d, Fremont, leaving his prisoners at Sutter's Fort, hastened to Sonoma with a force of seventy-two mounted riflemen. He arrived June 25th. The force of Americans, including Fremont's men now numbered two hundred. The next day Fremont and Ford, with a force of 135 men. started out to hunt Captain de la Torre, who was in command of the Cali- fornians north of the bay. Torre, it is claimed, wrote letters stating that Castro was about to attack Sonoma with a large force. These were placed
36 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
in the boots of three of his men who allowed themselves to be captured. The stratagem succeeded. Fremont and Ford hurried back to Sonoma, but the three Californians were shot without trial. Authorities differ as to the cap- ture of the letters on the three prisoners. If such letters were captured, they were not preserved, and it is more than probable that the prisoners, Berryessa and the two de Haro boys, were shot in retaliation for the murder of Cowie and Fowler. Whether from the captured letters, or from some other source, Fremont believed that Castro's force was north of the bay. Castro, however, had not left Santa Clara. Captain de la Torre, taking ad- vantage of the absence of his pursuers, crossed the bay at Saucelito and joined Castro. Fremont finding himself deceived, returned to the pursuit the next morning; but he was too late — the game had escaped and he marched back to Sonoma, where he arrived July 3d. The Fourth of July was cele- brated with great eclat by the Bears. Wine, gunpowder, eloquence and a grand ball stirred up all the latent patriotism of the revolutionists. The California Republic reached the zenith of its power that day. The next day it collapsed. Ide was deposed by a vote of the Bears. Fremont was chosen to head the movement for Independence.
On the 7th of July, Commodore Sloat raised the Stars and Stripes at Monterey and took possession of the country in the name of the United States. He had arrived on the Savannah on the 2d from Mazatlan, where he had heard rumors of hostilities between the United States and Mexico, but not having learned of any formal declaration of war, he was undecided what course to pursue. Having heard of the Bear Flag movement and of Fre- mont's connection with it, he presumed that Fremont had later information from the United States and finally decided to take possession of the country.
Fremont, on July 6th, leaving Captain Grigsby with fifty men at Sonoma, started with the rest of his battalion, about 160 men, for Sacramento with the intention of making preparations to attack Castro. Captain Montgomery, of the Portsmouth, had raised the flag at San Francisco, Lieut. Revere arrived at Sonoma on the 9th; the Bear flag was lowered and the Stars and Stripes unfurled. On the nth the flag was raised over Sutter's Fort and the same day over Bodega. All Northern and Central California was now in pos- session of the Americans.
For months there had been ill feeling between Governor Pico and the comandante-general, Castro. Pico had made Los Angeles his capital, while Castro had established his headquarters at Monterey. Their quarrel was the old sectional jealousy of the "uppers" and the "lowers" — of the north and the south — and their respective sections supported them in their dispute. Castro was accused of plotting to overthrow the government. At the time Sloat raised the United States flag at Monterey, Pico, with an armed body, had reached Santa Barbara, intending to fight Castro, who was at Santa Clara when Sloat seized the country. With a part of his force, Castro re-
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 37
treated southward and joined Pico. They patched up a truce and, uniting their forces, retreated to Los Angeles, where they began preparations to re- sist the "perfidious North Americans."
CHAPTER VIII. THE AMERICAN ERA.
THE CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA.
The American era of California history begins with the raising of the flag at Monterey on July 7, 1846. Within a week after that event all of the territory north of Monterey had been taken possession of without oppo- sition. Castro, with a part of his force had retreated to Los Angeles, and those remaining behind had disbanded and retired to their homes Fremont, as previously stated, had moved his battalion of about 160 men to a camp on the American river above Sutter's Fort. Here he was encamped when, on the nth of July, a messenger bearing Sloat's proclamation and an American flag reached him. This flag was raised over the fort and saluted with twenty-one guns. Immediately after the receipt of the news that Sloat had taken possession of California. Fremont's battalion began its march to Monterey, where it arrived on the 19th. Fremont had an interview with Commodore Sloat which was not very satisfactory to either. Sloat was in- clined to blame Fremont for acting without sufficient authority in precipitat- ing hostilities and Fremont was disappointed because Sloat would not endorse his scheme of making a campaign against Castro.
On the 15th of July, Commodore Stockton, on the Congress, arrived at Monterey from Honolulu and reported to Commodore Sloat for duty. Sloat was an old man, having entered the Navy in 1800: his health was failing and he was anxious to retire from active service. He made Stockton commander- in-chief of all the land forces in California. Stockton on taking command, made Fremont a major ami Gillespie a captain. On July 26th, the battalion was loaded on the Cyane which sailed the next day for San Diego. Sloat, after transferring the command of the Pacific squadron to Stockton, sailed on July 29th, on board the Levant for home.
Commodore Stockton, on assuming command, issued a proclamation in which he arraigned the Mexican government for beginning hostilities against the United States. He was very severe on General Castro, whom he called a usurper, and upon the Californians for outrages committed on the American settlers. "Three inoffensive Americans," said he, "residents of the country, have been within a few days brutally murdered ; and there are no California officers who will arrest and bring the murderers to justice — although it is well known who they are and where they are." He ignored the brutal mur-
38 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
der of the three Californians, Berryessa and the two de Haro boys, who were shot down in cold blood by Fremont's men while begging for quarter. Ban- croft says of the proclamation : "The paper was made up of falsehood, of irrevelent issues and of bombastic boasting in about equal parts." Commo- dore Sloat read the proclamation at sea and did not approve of it.
Governor Pico and General Castro, on their arrival at Los Angeles im- mediately set to work to organize an army. Every man between fifteen and sixty was summoned for military duty and any Mexican refusing or excusing himself on any pretext was to be treated as a traitor. Those physically un- able to do military duty were required to aid with their property. The response to the call of the leaders was not very enthusiastic: sectional jeal- ousies, quarrels and feuds had destroyed, or at least, paralyzed patriotism. The foreigners, who were mostly Americans, secretly sympathized with the invaders. Money and the munitions of war were scarce. Castro had brought about ioo men with him from the north and Pico had recruited about the same in the south — these constituted the available force to resist Stockton and Fremont. Stockton, with 360 sailors and marines, arrived at San Pedro on August 6th. This force was landed and drilled in military maneuvers on land. Castro sent a message by two commissioners, Flores and de la Guerra, expressing his willingness to enter into negotiations with Stockton. The commodore showed the messengers scant courtesy and dismissed them with an "insulting threat." Castro and Pico finding it impossible to defend the capital with the small force at their command, determined to quit the country. On the night of August 10th, they took their departure: Castro accompanied by his secretary Francisco Arce and eighteen men, going by way of the San Gorgonio Pass and the Colorado river route ; Pico, by the way of San Juan Capistrano and Santa Margarita, to Lower California.
Stockton began his march to Los Angeles on August nth. Two days were spent on the road. On the 13th, Major Fremont, with his battalion of 160 mounted men. met him just outside the town and the combined force entered the capital. The U. S. flag was* raised and possession taken of the town. The reception of the Americans was not cordial. Some of the better class of citizens had fled from the city, but these in a few days returned to their homes. Fremont's cavalry scoured the country and brought in a num- ber of the leading men who had held civil or military office: these were paroled.
Stockton, on the "th, published a proclamation in which he announced himself as commander-in-chief and governor of the territory of California. This was a much milder production than the first; he stated that California belonged to the UJnited States and would be governed by military law until a civil government could be established.
Captain Gillespie was commissioned by Stockton as commandant of the southern department with headquarters at Los Angeles. He was assigned
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
,W
a garrison of fifty men taken from Fremont's force. On September 29th, Commander Stockton, with his sailors and marines, returned to their ships at San Pedro and sailed for Monterey. A few days later Fremont, with the remainder of his battalion, began his march northward for Sutter's .Fort, where he expected to recruit bis force from the immigrants now arriving in the country.
While the combined forces of Stockton and Fremont, numbering about 500 men, had occupied the town, the inhabitants had been quiet and sub- missive. But with a small force left to keep them in subjection, they soon began to manifest their old turbulent and revolutionary disposition. On September 16th, the anniversary of Mexican Independence, a number of young men. under the stimulation of wine, and probably more in a spirit of mischief than with any serious intent, made an attack about midnight on Gillespie's headquarters, which were in the old government house. The garrison drove them off with a volley of musketry, in which three men were killed — so Gillespie reported — but the dead were never found. The next day Gillespie ordered the arrest of a number of leading citizens to be held as hostages. He also vigorously enforced military law. In a very short time he had a full grown' Mexican revolution on his hands. Some 300 men, under the leadership of Flores and Serbulo Vareles, besieged his garrison. In the corral of the government house were five or six old cannon that Castro had spiked and abandoned. Gillespie had two of these unspiked and hauled up Fort Hill, where they were mounted. He made cannon balls out of some lead pipe that he found and cartridge covers put of a piece of red flannel captured from a store. The Californians had a brass four-pounder, known as "the Old Woman's Gun," because, on the approach of Stockton's army, an old woman by the name of Rocha had buried the gun in her garden ; it had been used in firing salutes at church festivals, and the old lady declared that the "gringos" should not have the gun of the church.
While besieged on Fort Hill. Gillespie on September 24th. sent a messen- ger, Juan Flaco (lean John) with dispatches to Stockton asking aid. By one of the most wonderful rides in history, this man, John Brown, reached San Francisco where Stockton had gone from Monterey, six hundred miles dis- tance, in five days. Stockton, at once ordered Mervine, commanding the Savannah, to go to the relief of Gillespie. On account of a dense fog. the vessel did not leave San Francisco Bay until October 4th. Gillespie held out bravely for seven days then capitulated, with honorable terms. On Septem- ber 30th, with flags flying, drums beating and his two old cannon mounted on carretas, he began his march to San Pedro. He was not molested by the Californians. He spiked the two old cannon and threw them in the bay, then went on board the Vandalia, a merchant ship lying at anchor in the harbor, but did not leave San Pedro. On October 7th, Mervine entered the harbor. At 6:30 a. m. of the 8th, he landed a force of 299 men, which included Gilles-
40 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
pie's volunteers. A small force of the enemy appeared and Captain Mervine ordered Lieutenant Hitchcock, with a reinforcement of eighty men from the vessel, to attack: but the enemy retreated and the detachment returned to the ship. Captain Mervine and his men then started for the pueblo. They took no cannon and had no horses. After a fatiguing tramp through tall mustard and clouds of dust, they encamped about 2 130 p. m., at the Domin- guez Rancho. The enemy, under the command of Jose Antonio Carrillo, and numbering about eighty men, appeared on the foothills and some skirmishing at long range took place. During the night, Flores arrived from the pueblo with a reinforcement for the Californians of about sixty men and the "old woman's" gun. They opened fire during the night on Mervine's camp with this cannon, but did no damage. The next morning at six a. m., Mervine's men resumed their march in columns and by platoons. They had not pro- ceeded far before they encountered the enemy with his piece of artillery drawn up by the roadside. The Californians opened fire, and Mervine, fearing a charge from their cavalry, formed his troops in a hollow square with their baggage in the center. A running fight ensued. The Californians firing, then dragging the gun back with riatas, loading, and firing again. Mervine finding he was losing men without injuring the enemy ordered a retreat. The Californians fired a parting shot or two but did not pursue the Americans, as they had exhausted their ammunition. Mervine reached San Pedro that evening and went aboard his vessel. His loss was four killed and six wounded. The dead were buried on the Isla de los Muertes, or Deadman's Island. The Savannah remained in the harbor and the Californians kept a small detachment at Sepulveda's ranch and another at Cerritos to watch the Americans.
On the 25th, Commodore Stockton arrived at San Pedro on the Congress and learned from Mervine the particulars of his defeat. Stockton remained at San Pedro about a week, and although he had a force of about 800 men, did not deem this number a sufficient force to recapture the capital. He greatly overestimated the strength of the enemy. On November 1st, he sailed for San Diego.
At the time of Flores' attack on Gillespie the American garrisons at San Diego and Santa Barbara were driven out of these towns. The force at San Diego went aboard the Stonington, a whale ship lying in the harbor. Lieutenant Talbot with ten men was stationed at Santa Barbara. When called upon to surrender, this party fell back into the hills and by traveling through the mountains reached the head of the San Joaquin river where they obtained food from the Indians. They traveled down the valley, subsisting on the flesh of wild horses and finally, by way of Pacheco's pass, they crossed over to the coast and joined Fremont's battalion at Monterey.
The departmental assembly, having been called together by Flores, met at Los Angeles. October 26th. The members were all from the south. The
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 41
first business in order was to fill the offices of governor and comandante general left vacant by the flight of Pico and Castro. It was decided to com- bine the two offices in one person. Jose Maria Flores was chosen commander- in-chief and governor-ad-interim. He took the oath of office November 1st. and was really the last Mexican governor of California. Flores and the mem- bers of the assembly made some provisions for continuing the war, but their resources were very limited. Their recent successes over the Americans had somewhat encouraged them and they hoped to be able to hold out until reinforcements arrived from Mexico.
Stockton, on his arrival at San Diego, had set to work to organize an expedition against Los Angeles. The Californians had driven the cattle and horses back into the mountains and the Americans found great difficulty in procuring animals. Frequent forays were made into Lower California and horses, cattle and sheep procured.
The remnant of Fremont's battalion, after taking from it garrisons for San Diego, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, bad returned to the Sacramento valley in September. Here it was recruited to 160 men. On October 13th, Fremont sailed with his men from San Francisco on the Sterling, a merchant vessel, with orders to operate against the rebels in the south ; but between Monterey and Santa Barbara, he met the Vandalia and learned of Mervine's defeat, and of the impossibility of procuring horses in the lower country. The Sterling was put about and the battalion landed at Monterey on Octo- ber 28th. Vigorous efforts were at once made to recruit men and horses. A number of immigrants had arrived from the states. These were induced to enlist on the promise of $25 per month pay. Horses were purchased, or where owners refused to sell, were confiscated. A company of Walla-Walla Indians was enlisted — these were known as the "Forty Thieves." Sutter's "warriors in bronze" (Indians) were also enrolled for service. In the latter part of November, the recruits were collected at San Juan. They numbered about 450 rifle-men and forty artillery men. They represented many nations and many different kinds of arms. They were divided into ten companies. Fremont had been commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel in the regular army and wras commander-in-chief of the battalion. The other officers were. Archibald H. Gillespie, major; P. B. Reading, paymaster; Henry King, com- missary: Jack R. Snyder, quartermaster: W. H. Russell, ordinance officer; Theodore Talbot, adjutant; John J. Myers, sergeant-major.
While Fremont's officers and men wrere engaged in collecting horses an engagement took place between a detachment numbering about sixty men. under Captains Burroughs and Thompson, and the Californians under Manuel Castro, who had been made commandante of the Californian forces in the north. The Americans had gathered several hundred horses and were taking them to the camp at San Juan. The advance guard, consisting of eight scouts, encountered the Californians near Natividad. The scouts posted them-
42 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
selves in an "encinalito," or grove of little oaks, and a fight ensued. The main body of the Americans coming up, a reckless charge was made. Captain Burroughs and four or five others were killed and five or six were wounded. The Californians lost about the same number. The result was a drawn battle.
The American consul, Thomas O. Larkin, had started for San Francisco and had stopped at Gomez' ranch over night. A squad of Californians, under Lieutenant Chavez, surrounded the house about midnight and made him prisoner : he was held until the close of the war. The only other engage- ment in the north was the so-called "Battle of Santa Clara," which took place between a force of about ioo Americans under Captains Weber, Marston and Aram, and an equal number of Californians under Francisco Sanchez. The battle was fought at long range with artillery and so far as known, there were no fatalities on either side.
On November 29th, 1846, Fremont's battalion began its march southward to co-operate with Stockton in the subjugation of the rebellious Californians at Los Angeles. And here we shall leave it to pursue its weary way while we review the operations of the Californians and the Americans in the south.
The garrison at San Diego, after it had remained on the Stonington about ten days, stole a march on the Californians by landing at night and recaptur- ing the town and one piece of artillery. A whale boat was sent up to San Pedro with dispatches and an earnest request for reinforcements. It reached San Pedro October 13th. Lieutenant Minor and midshipmen Duvall and Morgan, with thirty-five sailors of Mervine's force and fifteen of Gillespie's volunteers were sent on the whale ship, Magnolia, to reinforce Merritt at San Diego. This force upon arrival set to work to build a fort and mount the cannon taken from the old presidio. Although continually harassed by the Californians, they succeeded in building a fort and mounting six brass nine-pounders.
About the first of November, Commodore Stockton arrived at San Diego. He began fortifications on the hill and built a fort out of casks filled with earth, on which he mounted guns. The whole work was completed in three weeks. Provisions ran short and frequent forays were made into the sur- rounding country for supplies. About December 1st. word reached Stockton that General Kearny was at Warner's pass, about eighty miles from San Diego, with 100 dragoons. Stockton sent a force of fifty men and one piece of artillery, under Captain Gillespie to conduct this force to San Diego. Gillespie joined General Kearny and on their return march the entire force was surprised on the morning of December 6th by about ninety Californians under Captain Andres Pico, near the Indian village of San Pasqual. Pico had been sent into that part of the country to intercept and capture squads of Americans sent out after horses and cattle. The meeting was a surprise on both sides. The Americans foolishly charged the Californians and in doing so, became strung out in a long irregular line. The Californians rallied
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 43
and charged in turn. The Americans lost in killed. Captains Johnston and Moore, Lieutenant Hammond and sixteen dragoons. The Californians es- caped with three men slightly wounded. They captured one piece of artillery. Three of Kearny's wounded' died, making the total American death list, twenty-two. Less than one-half of Kearny's force were engaged in the battle.
After the engagement, Kearny took position on a barren hill, covered with rocks. The enemy made no attack but remained in the neighborhood and awaited a favorable opportunity to renew the assault. The night after the attack. Lieutenant Godey, Midshipman Beale and Kit Carson, managed to pass through the pickets of the enemy and eventually — by different routes — reached San Diego with the news of the disaster. On December 9th, detach- ments of sailors and marines, numbering in all about 200, from the Congress and the Portsmouth and under the immediate command of Captain Zielin, began a march to relieve General Kearny. They marched at night and camped -in the chapparal by day. On the second night they reached Kearny's camp about 4 a. m. and took him by surprise. Godey, who had been sent ahead to inform Kearny of the relief, had been captured by the Californians. General Kearny had destroyed all of his baggage and camp equipage, saddles, bridles, clothing, etc., preparatory to forcing his way through the enemy's lines. The enemy disappeared on the arrival of reinforcements. General Kearny and the relief expedition reached San Diego after a march of two days.
It is necessary to explain how General Kearny came to be in California with so small a force. In June, 1846, General Stephen W. Kearny, com- mander of the Army of the West, as it was designated, left Fort Leavenworth with a force of regulars and volunteers to take possession of New Mexico. The conquest of that territory was accomplished without a battle. Under orders from the War Department, Kearny began his march to California with a part of his force, in order to co-operate with the naval force already there. Near Socorro, N. M., October 16th, he met Kit Carson with an escort of fifteen men, enroute from Los Angeles to Washington with dispatches from Commodore Stockton, giving a report of the conquest of California. General Kearny selected 120 men from his force, sent the remainder back to Santa Fe, and compelled Carson to turn back and guide him to California. After a toil- some journey across the arid plains of Arizona and the Colorado desert, they reached the Indian village where the engagement took place, destitute of provisions and with men and horses worn out.
Stockton had been actively pushing prepartions for his expedition against Los Angeles. His force numbered 600 men, mostly sailors and marines, but he had been drilling them in military evolutions on land. On the 19th of December this army started on its march for the capital. General Kearny was made second in command. The baggage and artillery was hauled on carretas, but the oxen being ill-fed and unused to long journeys gave out on the way and the marines had to assist in dragging the carts.
44 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
Near San Juan Capistrano, a commission bearing a flag-of-truce met Stockton with proposals from Governor Flores, asking for a conference. Stockton replied that lie knew no "Governor Flores", that he — Stockton — was governor of California. "He knew a rebel 'by the name of Flores, and if the people of California would give' him up, he — Stockton — would treat with them." The embassy refused to entertain such terms, saying that they pre- ferred death to surrender under such terms. On January 8th, 1847, Stockton's army encountered the Californians at "El Paso de Bartolo" (Pass of Bartholo- mew) on the San Gabriel river and a battle was fought. The Californians had planted four pieces of artillery on the bluff over the river with the design of preventing the Americans from crossing. In the face of the artillery fire, the Americans crossed the river, dragging with them through the quick- sands, two nine-poundefs and four smaller guns. They placed their guns in battery on the river bank and opened fire on the Californians with such telling effect that one of their guns was disabled and the gunners were driven away from the others. The California cavalry made a charge on the rear but were repulsed by Gillespie's riflemen. The Americans charged the Californian center, advancing their artillery in battery. The enemy were driven from the heights but succeeded in taking their artillery with them. The battle lasted about one and a half hours. The Americans lost two killed and eight wounded. The loss of the Californians was about the same. The Ameri- cans encamped on the battlefield while the Californians fell back toward the the city and camped in plain view of their opponents; but they moved their camp during the night.
Stockton resumed his march on the morning of the 9th. moving in a northwesterly direction across the plains. The Californians had posted them- selves in Canada de los Alisos (Canon of Sycamores) near the main road. As the American column appeared the}- opened fire with their artillery and an artillery duel, at long range, continued for several hours. Finally the Californians, concentrating all their efforts' into one grand charge, dashed down upon the American column. A volley from the rifles of Stockton's men checked their advance, and turning, they fled in every direction, leaving a number of their horses dead upon the field. The "Battle of the Plains," as Stockton calls it. was over. The loss on the American side was five wounded ; on the other side one man was killed and an unknown number wounded. Stockton's force numbered about 600 men, hut not all of them took part in the engagement. The Californians had about 300 men. The small loss on the American side was due in part to the inefficient weapons with which the Cali- fornians were armed and to the poor quality of their home-made gun powder, manufactured at San Gabriel. The small loss of the Californians was due in part to the long range at which most of the fighting was done and in part to the execrable marksmanship of Stockton's sailors and marines. After the battle, Stockton continued his march and crossed the river below the city where he encamped on the right bank.
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 45
On the morning of the 10th. as he was about to resume his march, a flag of truce, borne by De Celis and Alvarado, Californians. and Wm. Workman, an Englishman, came into camp. The commissioners offered the peaceful surrender of the city on condition that the Americans should respect the rights of property and protect citizens. The terms were agreed to and Stockton's army marched into the city, moving up the main street to the plaza to the stirring strains of Yankee Doodle and Hail Columbia. The "gringos" as the Americans were nicknamed, met with no hostile demonstrations, but it was very evident that they were not welcome visitors. The better class of the native inhabitants closed their houses and took refuge with friendly foreigners or retired to ranches in the country ; the fellows of the lower class, exhausted their vocabularies of abuse against the "gringos." Flores, after the "Battle of La Mesa," retreated up the Arroyo Seco to the San Pasqual ranch, where he established his camp. Stockton, not aware of the location of the ene- my and fearful of an attack determined to fortify the town. On the nth, Lieu- tenant Emory, of Kearny's staff, sketched the plan of a fort: on the 12th. the site was selected on what is now Fort Hill, and work was begun and con- tinued on the 15th and 16th.
We left Fremont's battalion on its march down the coast irom Monterey. The rains set in early and were heavy; the roads were almost impassable and the men suffered from the inclemency of the weather and from lack of sup- plies. The horses nearly all died and part of the artillery had to be aband- oned. On January nth, the battalion reached San Fernando valley, where Fremont received a note from General Kearny informing him of the defeat of the Californians and the capture of the city. The battalion advanced and occupied the mission buildings. Jesus Pico had been arrested near San Luis Obispo, having broken his parole. He was tried by court martial and sentenced to be shot, but Fremont pardoned him and he became in conse- quence a most devoted friend. He now volunteered to find the Californian army and induce them to surrender to Fremont. He found a part of the force encamped at Verdugo and urged Flores, who in response to a message- had come from the main camp at San Pasqual, to capitulate to Fremont, claiming that better terms could be secured from the latter than from Stock- ton. A council was held and the Californians decided to appeal to Fremont, but Flores resolved to quit the country and started that same night for Sonora. Before leaving he transferred the command of the armv to General Andre* Pico.
General Pico, on assuming command, appointed Francisco Rico and Francisco de La Guerra, to go with Jesus Pico and confer with Colonel Fre- mont. Fremont appointed as commissioners to negotiate a treaty. Major P. B. Reading, Major W. H. Russell and Captain Louis McLane. On the return of Rico and de La Guerra to the Californian camp. General Pico ap- pointed as commissioners Jose Antonio Carillo and Augustin Olvera, and then
46 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
moved his army to a point near the river at Cahvtenga. On the 13th, Fremont moved his camp from San Fernando to Cahuenga. The commissioners met in a deserted ranch house at that place and the treaty, or capitulation, of Cahuenga was drawn up and signed. The principal stipulations of treaty were that the Californians should surrender their arms and agree to conform to the laws of the United States. They were to be given the same privileges as citizens of the United States and were not to be required to take an oath of allegiance until a treat}- of peace was signed between the United States and Mexico. General Pico surrendered two pieces of artillery and a few muskets and disbanded his men.
On January 14th, Fremont's battalion marched through the Cahuenga pass and entered Los Angeles, four days after its surrender to Stockton. Commodore Stockton approved the treaty, although it was not altogether satisfactory to him. On the 16th, he appointed Colonel Fremont governor of the territory. General Kearny claimed that under his instructions from the War Department, he should be recognized as governor. For some time there had been ill feeling between Stockton and Kearny. This precipitated a quarrel. General Kearny and his dragoons left Los Angeles on the 18th for San Diego, and on the 20th, Commodore Stockton with his sailors and marines left the city for San Pedro, where they embarked on a man-of-war to rejoin their ships at San Diego. Stockton, was, shortly after this, superseded in the command of the Pacific squadron by Commodore Shubrick. Colonel Fremont was left in command at Los Angeles. Colonel P. St. George Cooke arrived on January 27th, with his Mormon battalion, at San Luis Rev. This force consisted of five companies of Mormons who had been recruited at Kanesville, near Omaha, and after a long march by way of New Mexico and Arizona had reached California too late to assist in its conquest. From San Diego, General Kearny sailed to San Francisco and from there went ta Monterey, where he established his governorship. California now had a gov ernor in the north and one in the south. Colonel Cooke was appointed mill tary commander of the south and brought his Mormon troops to Los Angeles. Fremont's battalion was mustered out and he was ordered to report to General Kearny at Monterey. He did so and passed out of office. He was nomi- nally governor of California for two months. General Kearny turned over the command of the troops in California to Colonel R. B. Mason, who became military governor of the territory. General Kearny returned to the states by the Salt Lake route. He required Colonel Fremont to accompany him, and at Fori Leavenworth preferred charges against Fremont for disobedience of orders. He was tried by court martial at Washington, found guilty and dismissed from the service. President Polk remitted the penalty and ordered him to resume his sword and report for duty. Fremont did so, but shortly afterward resigned from the army.
The First New York Infantry had been recruited in eastern New York
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 47
in the summer of 1846, for the double purpose of conquest and colonization. It came to the coast well supplied with provisions and with implements of husbandry. It reached California via Cape Horn, in three vessels. The first, the Perkins, arrived at Yerba Buena. March 6th, 1847; the second, the Drew, March 6th, and the third, the Loo Choo, March 19th. The regiment was divided up and sent to different places on guard duty. Two companies, A and B, under Lieutenant-Colonel Burton, were sent to Lower California, where they saw some hard service and took part in several engagements.
Colonel Cooke resigned his position as commandant of the south and Colonel J. D. Stevenson, of the New York volunteers was assigned to the command. The Mormon battalion was mustered out in July and Companies E and G, of the New York Volunteers and a company of U. S. dragoons did guard duty at Los Angeles.
Another military organization that reached California after the conquest was Company F, of the Third U. S. Artillery. It landed at Monterey, Jan- uary 2j, 1847, under command of Captain C. 0. Thompkins. With it came Lieutenant E. O. C. Ord, William T. Sherman and II. W. Halleck, all of whom were prominent afterward in California and attained national reputa- tion during the civil war.
During 1847-48, until the treaty of peace between the Uhited States and Mexico was proclaimed, garrisons were kept in all of the principal towns. The government of the territory was quasi-military. Attempts were made to establish municipal government in the towns. In the northern towns these efforts were successful : but in Los Angeles there was some clashing between Colonel Stevenson and the "hijos del pais." There were rumors of uprisings and of Mexican troops on the way to recapture the place. Colonel Stevenson completed the fort on the hill, begun by Lieutenant Emory, and named it Fort Moore. There were no hostile acts by the citizens and the asperities of war were gradually forgotten. The natives became reconciled to the situation.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was concluded February 2, 1848. It was ratified at Washington, March 10th ; at Ouerataro, May 30th and was proclaimed by the President of the United States, July 4th. The news reached California August 6th and was proclaimed next clay by Governor Mason. The war was over and California had become a territory of the United States.
Governor Pio Pico returned to California from Mexico in August, 1847. Colonel Stevenson, fearing that he might incite rebellion placed him under arrest, but he was soon convinced that Pico's intentions were harmless and gave him his liberty.
A large overland immigration from the United States arrived in California in 1846 and 1847. The Dormer party, made up principally of immigrants from Illinois, were caught in the snows of the Sierra Nevadas in October, 1846, and wintered at a lake since known as Dormer's Lake. Of the original party,
48 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
numbering eighty-seven, thirty-nine perished of starvation and exposure ; the remainder were brought to Sutter's Fort by rescuing parties sent out from California.
CHAPTER IX.
TRANSITION FROM A CONQUERED TERRITORY TO A FREE STATE.
While the treaty negotiations were pending between the United States and Mexico, an event occurred in California that ultimately changed the destinies of that territory. That event was the discovery of gold at what is now known as Coloma, on the American River, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, about thirty-five miles above Sutter's Fort. The dis- covery was made January 24th, 1848.
Gold had previously been discovered on the San Francisquito Rancho, about forty-five miles northwesterly from Los Angeles, in the spring of 1841. Placers had been worked here, principally by Sonoran miners, up to the break- ing out of the Mexican war. But the gold fields were of limited extent, water was scarce, the methods of mining crude .and wasteful and this discovery created little excitement.
Both discoveries were purely accidental. The first discoverer, Lopez, was hunting for stray horses. While resting under an oak tree and amusing himself by digging wild onions with his sheath knife, he turned up a nugget of gold. Continuing his digging he found more gold. He made known his discovery and a number of persons came from Santa Barbara and Los Angeles to work in these placers.
James W. Marshall, who had made the second discovery, was at the time engaged in building a saw mill for Captain Sutter, proprietor of Sutter's Fort and owner of an extensive grant at the junction of the American and Sacra- mento rivers. Marshall, to deepen the race, turned a head of water through it. The next morning while examining the effect of the water, he picked up in the race a round piece of yellow metal, which he thought might be gold. Searching further he found several of these nuggets. He went to the Fort to notify Sutter of his discovery. Sutter tested the metal with aqua fortis and pronounced it gold. He returned with Marshall to the mill to make further investigations. The men working on the mill had discovered the nature of the metal and had also been collecting it. Sutter found several nuggets and before leaving the mill exacted a promise from the men to keep
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 49
the discovery a secret for six weeks. Beside the saw mill he was building a large flouring mill near the fort and he feared all of his men would desert for the mine. But the secret could not be kept. Mrs. Wimmer, who did the cooking for the men at the mill, told a teamster and he reported it at the fort. The news spread slowly at first and there were many who would not believe the report. It was three months before the rush began. Kemble, the editor of the California Star, visited the mines two months after their discovery and upon his return to San Francisco pronounced them a sham and advised people to stay away.
During April considerable quantities of gold were received in San Fran- cisco and the excitement became intense. The city had been building up rapidly since the conquest ; but now the rush to the mines almost depopulated it. Houses were left tenantless, business was suspended, ships were left in the bav without sailors, soldiers deserted from the forts and rancheros left their grain unharvested.
The news did not spread abroad in time to bring many gold-seekers into California during 1848. In the spring of 1849, tne great rush from the out- side world began — both by land and by sea. Gold had now been discovered over an area of more than two hundred miles and new fields were constantly being opened. San Francisco, which was the great entry port for commerce and travel by sea, grew with astonishing rapidity. At the time of the dis- covery of gold the population of San Francisco was about 800, and the white population of California about 6000. At the close of 1849, the population of the territory numbered one hundred thousand, four-fifths of which had reached the land of gold in that one year. During 1848, Sutter's Fort, or New Helvetia, as it was called, was the great distributing point for the mines. Sacramento was laid out in 1849, an^ soon became the chief commercial city of the interior. At the end of the year its population had reached 5000.
California, at the time of the discovery of gold, was still held as a con- quered country. The Mexican laws were in force and the government was half civil and half military. The rapid influx of population brought complica- tions in the government. After the treaty was proclaimed in California, August 7th, 1848, Governor Mason promulgated a code of laws that were in- tended to tide over affairs until a territorial government could be established by Congress. It was not satisfactory to Americans.
Governor Mason was a faithful and conscientious military officer with but little knowledge of civil affairs. He did the best he could under the cir- cumstances, but he was able to exercise very little authority, either civil, or military. His soldiers deserted to the gold fields and the municipal govern- ments were anomalous affairs, generally recognizing no authority above them- selves.
Colonel Mason, who had been in the military service for thirty years, asked to be relieved. April 12, 1849. Brigadier General Bennett K. Riley
5o HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
arrived at Monterey and the next day entered upon the duties of his office as governor. Brigadier General Persifer F. Smith, was made military com- mander of the U. S. troops on the Pacific coast. Most of the troops he brought with him deserted at the first opportunity after their arrival in California.
A year had passed since the treaty of peace was sighed and California became United States territory; but Congress had done nothing for it. The pro-slavery element in that body was determined to fasten the curse of slavery on a portion of the territory acquired from Mexico and all legislation was at a standstill. The people were becoming restive under the mixed military and civil government. The question of calling a convention to form a state constitution had been agitated for some time. Conforming to the expressed wish of many leading men of the territory, Governor Riley called an election August ist, 1849, to elect delegates to form a state constitution, or a terri- torial government, if that should seem best, and to elect judges, prefects and alcaldes for the principal municipal districts. The convention was to consist of thirty-seven delegates but forty-eight were elected and when the conven- tion met at Monterey, September ist, 1849, i° Colton hall, this number was seated. Colton hall was a stone building erected by Alcalde Walter Colton for a town hall and school house. The money to build it was derived partly from fines and partly by subscription and the greater part of the construction work was done by prisoners. It was at that time the most commodious public building in the territory.
Of the forty-eight delegates, twenty-two were from the northern states, fifteen from the slave states, four were of foreign birth and seven were native Californians. Several of the latter neither spoke nor understood English and Wm. E. P. Hartnell was appointed interpreter. Dr. Robert Semple, of Bear Flag fame was elected president; Wm. G. Marcy, secretary, and J. Ross Browne, reporter. Early in the session the slavery question was disposed of by adopting a section, declaring that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crimes, shall ever be tolerated in this state."
The question of fixing the boundaries of the future state excited the most discussion. The pro-slavery faction was led by Wm. M. Gwin, who had recently come to the territory with the avowed intention of representing the new state in the United States Senate. The scheme of Gwin and his southern associates was to make the Rocky Mountains the eastern boundary. This would create a state with an area of about four hundred thousand square miles. They reasoned that when the admission of the state came before Con- gress the southern members would oppose the admission of so large a territory under a free state constitution and that ultimately a compromise would be effected. California would be split in two from east to west, the old dividing line, the parallel of 36 deg. 30 min. would be established, and Southern Cali-
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 51
fornia would come into the union as a slave state. There were, at this time, fifteen free and fifteen slave states. If two states, one free and one slave were made out of California territory, the equilibrium would be preserved. The Rocky Mountain boundary was adopted at one time, but in the closing days of the session, the free state men discovered Gwin's scheme and it was defeated. The present boundaries were established by a majority of two.
A committee had been appointed to receive propositions and designs for a state seal. But one design was received, presented by Caleb Lyon, but drawn by Robert S. Garnett. It contained a figure of Minerva; a grizzly bear feeding on a bunch of grapes ; a miner with his gold rocker and pan ; a view of the Golden Gate with ships in the bay and peaks of the Sierra Nevada in the distance; thirty-one stars, and above all the word "Eureka." The con- vention adopted the design as presented. The constitution was completed on October 10th and an election was called by Governor Riley for November 13th. to ratify the constitution, elect state officers, a legislature and members of Congress.
At the election Peter H. Burnett was chosen governor ; John McDougall, lieutenant governor ; George W. Wright and Edward Gilbert, members of Congress. During the session of the legislature, Wrrt. M. Gwin and John C. Fremont were elected to the United States Senate.
San Jose had been designated as the state capital. On December 15th, the state government was inaugurated there. The legislature consisted of sixteen senators and thirty-six assemblymen. On the 22nd. the legislature elected the remaining state officers, viz. : Richard Roman, treasurer ; John S. Houston, controller; E. J. C. Kewen, attorney-general; Charles J. Whiting, surveyor-general; S. C. Hastings, chief justice; Henry A. Lyons and Nathaniel Bennett, associate justices. The legislature continued in session until April 22nd, 1850. Although this law-making body was named the "Legislature of a thousand drinks." it did a vast amount of work and did most of it well. It divided the state into twenty-seven counties and provided for county government. It also provided for the incorporation of cities and towns, passed revenue laws and other necessary laws, both civil and criminal.
California was a self-constituted state. It had organized a state govern- ment and put it into operation without the sanction of Congress. It had not been admitted into the Union and it actually enjoyed the privileges of state- hood for nine months before it was admitted.
When the question of admitting California came before Congress it evoked a bitter controversy. The Senate was equally divided — thirty senators from slave states and thirty from the free states. There were among the southern senators some broad-minded men, but there were many extremists on the subject of negro slavery — men who would sacrifice their country in order to extend and perpetuate that "sum of all villainies" — slavery. This faction resorted to every known parliamentary device to pre-
5^ HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
vent the admission of California under a free state constitution. On August 13th, the bill for admission finally- came to a vote; it passed the Senate — thirty-four ayes to eighteen noes. Even then the opposition did not cease. Ten of the Southern extremists joined in a protest against the action of the majority. In the house the bill passed by a vote of one hundred and fifty to fifty-six. It was approved and signed by President Fillmore, September 9th, 1850. On the nth of September, the California Senators and Congressmen presented themselves to be sworn in. The southern faction of the Senate, headed by Jefferson Davis, who had been one of the most bitter opponents to admission, objected. But their protest came too late.
The news' of the admission of California as a state, reached San Francisco on the morning of October 18th, by the mail steamer, Oregon. Business was at once suspended, courts adjourned and the people went wild with delight. Messengers mounted on fleet horses spread the news throughout the state. Everywhere there was rejoicing. For ten months the state govern- ment had been in full operation ; its acts were now legalized and it continued in power without change or interruption under the officers elected in 1849 for two years. The first state election after admission was held in October. 1851. John Bigler was elected governor.
CHAPTER X.
VIGILANCE COMMITTEES— GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.
Tales of the fabulous richness of the California gold fields were spread throughout the civilized world and drew to the state all classes and conditions of men — the bad as well as the good. They came from Europe, from South America and from Mexico ; from far Australia and Tasmania came the ex- convict and the "ticket-of-leave" man ; and from Asia came the "heathen Chinee."
In 1 85 1 the criminal element became so dominant as to seriously threaten the existence of the chief city of the state — San Francisco. Terrible con- flagrations swept over the city that year and destroyed the greater part of the business portion. The fires were known to be of incendiary origin. The bold and defiant attitude of the lawless classes led to the organization of the better element into a tribunal known as the "Vigilance Committee." This organization disregarded the legally constituted authorities, who were either too weak or too corrupt to control the law-defying element and took the power in their own hands. They tried and executed by hanging four notorious criminals- — Jenkins, Stuart. Whitaker and McKenzie. Such vigorous meas- ures adopted by the Committee soon purified the city from the vile class that preyed upon it. Several of the smaller towns and some of the mining
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 53
camps also formed "vigilance committees" and a number of the rascals who had fled from San Francisco met a deserved fate in these places.
During the early fifties the better elements in the population of San Francisco were too much engrossed in the rushing business affairs of that pe- riod of excitement, to give time or thought to political affairs and conse- quently the government of the city gradually drifted into the hands of vicious and corrupt men. Many of the city authorities had obtained their offices by fraud and ballot stuffing and instead of protecting the community against scoundrels they protected the scoundrels against the community.
James King, an ex-banker and a man of great courage and persistence, started a small paper called the Daily Evening Bulletin. He vigorously as- sailed the criminal element's and the county and city officials. His denun- ciations at last aroused public sentiment. The murder of United States Marshal Richardson by a gambler named Cora still further inflamed the public mind. It was feared that by the connivance of the county officials, Cora would escape punishment. The trial resulted in a hung jury and there were strong suspicions that some of the jury had been bribed. King con- tinued through the Bulletin to hurl his most bitter invectives against the corrupt officials. They determined to silence him. He published the fact that James Casey, a supervisor from the twelfth ward, was an ex-convict from Sing Sing prison. Casey waylaid' King at the corner of Montgomery and Washington streets and in a cowardly manner shot him down. The shooting occurred on May 14, 1856. Casey immediately surrendered him- self to a deputy sheriff, Lafayette McByrne, who was near. King was not killed outright but the physicians, after an examination, pronounced the case hopeless. Casey was confined in the city jail and as a mob began to gather there, he was taken to the county jail for greater safety. A crowd pursued him crying, "Hang him, kill him." At the jail the mob was stopped by an array of deputy sheriffs, police officers and a number of Casey's per- sonal friends — all armed. The excitement spread throughout the city. The old Vigilance Committee of 1851, or rather a new organization out of the remnants of the old one, was formed. Five thousand men were enrolled with- in a few days. Arms were procured and headquarters secured on Sacramento street, between Davis and Front. The men were divided into companies. William T. Coleman, chairman of the old vigilantes, was made the president, or No. 1, and Isaac Bluxom, Jr., was the secretary, or No. 30. Each man was known by a number. Chas. Doane was elected chief marshal of the mili- tary division.
The San Francisco Herald, edited by John Nugent, then the leading paper of the city, came out with a scathing editorial denouncing the vigilance committee. The merchants at once withdrew advertising patronage. The next morning the paper appeared reduced from forty columns to a single page, but still hostile to the committee. It died for lack of patronage finally.
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Sunday. May 18, 1856, the military division was ready to storm the jail if necessary to obtain possession of the prisoners, Casey and Cora. The different companies marched from their headquarters and completely in- vested the jail. There were fifteen hundred vigilantes under arms. They had with them two pieces of artillery. One of these guns was planted so as to command the door of the jail. A demand