Alameda County CA Archives Obituaries.....Mendenhall, William M. November 20, 1911
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Oakland Tribune, November 21, 1911
Oakland Tribune
November 21, 1911 (Tuesday)
Page 17, Column 1

“DEATHS.  MENDENHALL – In this city [Oakland], November 20, 1911, William N. 
[sic], beloved husband of the late Mary Mendenhall and loving father of James 
M. Mendenhall, Mrs. Elizabeth Lindley, Mrs. Emma M. Block, Mrs. Ella M. Langan, 
David A. Mendenhall, William W., Osvald [sic] V and Asa V. Mendenhall and Mrs. 
Etta Carrick, a native of Ohio, aged 88 years, 7 months.

Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend the funeral 
tomorrow, November 22, 1911, at 11 o’clock a.m., from the First M. E. church at 
Livermore, Cal., funeral party leaving First and Broadway, station of S. P. 
[Southern Pacific Railroad], Oakland, at 9:37 o’clock a.m. Interment Masonic 
cemetery [now known as Roselawn Cemetery], Livermore, Cal.” END  

AND

Oakland Tribune
November 22, 1911 (Wednesday)
Page 19, Column 3

“LAST MEMBER OF ORIGINAL BEAR FLAG PARTY IS DEAD

W. M. Mendenhall Has Passed Onto the Heights

[Portrait with caption “The Late W. M. Mendenhall.”]

William M. Mendenhall, last of the original “Bear Flag party,” pioneer of 
Alameda county and founder of the town of Livermore, died yesterday morning at 
the home of his daughter, Mrs. George W. Langan, 454 Fairmont street, at the 
age of 88 years.  Among the hardy men who have contributed to the upbuilding of 
California Mendenhall was conspicuous and played a generous part.  Preceding 
even the forty-niners, in company with other young men, he arrived in the 
territory on Christmas eve 1845.  From that time on the members of the party 
lived the life of pioneers in the strictest sense.  With faith never unshaken 
in the splendid future of the West, Mendenhall never turned his steps backward 
toward the East again.  His parents and family followed him to this section 
some years later, and all of them preceded him across the Great Divide.

The story of his life is interesting and includes much of the romantic detail 
associated with the early days.  Born in Xenia, O[hio], April 22, 1823, the 
eldest son of his parents, he passed his early boyhood and school days in three 
different states.  Without the advantages of the youth of the present day, with 
its easily accessible high schools and colleges, in July, 1845, when a young 
man of 22 years, he with nine companions – Lanceford [Lansford] Hastings, N
[apoleon] B[onaparte] Smith, H[enry] C[lay] Smith, Ira Stebbins, Helms Downing, 
D. Semple, Attorney Nash, Crosby and William Loker – met at Independence, Mo., 
where they laid in supplies and, with pack horses and mules, started on the 
perilous trip across the plains.  They left on August 17.  This journey was not 
only perilous on account of the hostility of the Indians, but because of the 
hardships which had to be borne on every side.

AMID THRILLING SCENES.

All these dangers, however, were passed through without serious mishap to 
anyone of the company, and on Christmas eve of that year Mendenhall and his 
companions arrived safely at the American river in California.  They 
immediately took up their quarters in Sutter’s fort.  The Spaniards were then 
in control of the state and were so unfriendly to the Americans that none of 
them was allowed to travel without a passport.  Finally a proclamation was 
issued that all Americans must leave California.  It was only at the peril of 
their lives that they might remain. Mendenhall, being short of funds, was at 
the time employed in a lumber mill in the Moroga redwoods in Alameda county, 
which was conducted on a very primitive plan, the lumber being made by what is 
called the whip-saw.  He returned for refuge to Sutter’s fort where the 
Americans had gathered determined to remain in California in spite of Castro’s 
orders.  The first strategic feat thereafter was the capture of Fort Sonoma by 
twenty-four young men at the opening of the onslaught without firing a gun.

In June, 1846, the Bear flag was raised.  Colonel John C. Fremont was then on 
his way to Oregon.  Men were sent to inform him of the troublous conditions.  
He at once returned, and soon after the small company of which Mendenhall 
belonged joined Fremont at Fort Sonoma.  In the meantime a man-of-war had been 
sent by the Federal government to San Francisco bay, with the Stars and Stripes 
at the masthead.  The war craft bore an American flag to Sutter’s fort and the 
Bear flag was hauled down.  As the national colors were run up the little 
garrison saluted and at once began plans to place the whole state under the 
sovereignty of the American people.  Fremont, at the head of a force of 170 
men, started to take the state by march, going through to San Diego and 
wresting control from the Spaniards without losing a man. Mendenhall was one of 
that historic party that took the whole country.

ENTERS BUSINESS LIFE.

These troubles ended, Mendenhall went to San Francisco and there engaged in 
business.  In 1847 he was married in Santa Clara county to Miss Mary Allen, who 
had crossed the plains with her parents the previous year, her father, David 
Allen, being one of the pioneers settlers of the state [I believe he died 
crossing the plains].  Mr. and Mrs. Mendenhall were the first American couple 
to be married south of the Sacramento river.  After marriage they remained in 
Santa Clara county and there engaged in the successful conduct of the stock 
business, and remained so occupied until 1853.  In that year he disposed of his 
interests and going to Contra Costa county undertook the operation of a stock 
ranch.  After fifteen years in this pursuit he came to Alameda county and 
purchased 1200 acres of land at Livermore.  This he sold for the most part, 
retaining 480 acres, upon which are situated the celebrated springs, for years 
conducted as a health resort and known as Mendenhall’s Springs. Mrs. Mendenhall 
died in March, 1903, at the age of 72 years.

LAID OUT TOWN.

In 1869, Mendenhall laid out the town of Livermore on a 600-acre plat, gave 
ground for schools and all public utilities, roads and other necessities.  He 
erected Livermore college on seven acres and maintained the institution for 
several years.  He built a beautiful home costing $9000, which was sold later 
and is now occupied as a sanitorium [sic].

While he never held official position, yet he took a keen interest in political 
affairs of this county, affiliating with the Democratic party and serving as 
town trustee of Livermore for eight years.  He was solicited many times to take 
office, but steadfastly refused.  He was a member of the Vigilante Committee of 
Contra Costa county and a member of the Society of California Pioneers.
The deceased is survived by James Monroe of Pleasanton, Elizabeth, wife of 
Curtis H. Lindley of San Francisco; Emma, wife of James. M. Block of San 
Francisco; Ella, wife of G. W. Langan of this city; David A. of Palo Alto; 
William Wallace of San Francisco, Oswald D. of San Francisco, Etta, wife of 
Fred A. Carrick, and Asa V. Mendenhall, an attorney of this city.  Another 
daughter, Effie, died at the age of 2 years.

The funeral was held at 12 o’clock today from the Methodist church in 
Livermore, followed by interment in the Masonic cemetery.  A large number of 
persons went from this city to attend the last rites over the deceased 
pioneer.” END

Additional Comments:
Note that there are two death related articles above for Mr. Mendenhall.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/alameda/obits/m/mendenha113ob.txt

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