Contra Costa County CA Archives Biographies.....Brown, Elam 1797 - 
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Author: W. A. Slocum & Co., Publishers (1882)

HON. ELAM BROWN.—It is not strange that among the pioneer settlers of any new
country a deep-seated and sincere friendship should spring up, that would grow
and strengthen with their years. The incidents peculiar to life in a new
country—the trials and hardships, privations and destitutions—are well
calculated to test not only the physical powers of endurance, but the moral,
kindly, generous attributes of manhood and womanhood. They are times that try
men's souls and bring to the surface all that there may be in them of either
good or bad. As a rule, there is an equality of conditions that recognizes no
distinctions. All occupy a common level, and, as a natural consequence, a
brotherly and sisterly feeling grows up that is as lasting as time, for "a
fellow-feeling makes us wondrous kind." With such a community, there is a
hospitality, a kindness, a benevolence and a charity unknown and un-practiced
among the older, richer and more densely populated commonwealths. The very
nature of their surroundings teaches them "to feel each other's woe, to share
each other's joy." An injury or a wrong may be ignored, but a kindly, generous,
charitable act is never forgotten. The memory of old associations and kindly
deeds is always fresh. Raven locks may bleach and whiten; full, round cheeks
wither and waste away; the fires of intelligence vanish from the organs of
vision; the brow become wrinkled with care and age, and the erect form bowed
with accumulating years, but the true friends of the "long ago" will be
remembered as long as life and reason endure. The surroundings of pioneer life
are well calculated to test the "true inwardness" of the human heart. As a rule,
the men and women who first occupy a new country—who go in advance to spy out
the land and prepare it for the coming of a future people—are bold, fearless,
self-reliant and industrious. In these respects, no matter from what remote
sections or countries they may come, there is a similarity of character. In
birth, education, religion, and language, there may be a vast difference, but
imbued with a common purpose—the founding and building of homes—these
differences are soon lost by association, and thus they become one people,
united by a common interest, and no matter what changes may come in after years,
the associations thus formed are never buried out of memory.

   We can almost fancy the honored octogenarian, whose name is at the head of
this narrative, chanting to himself Bayard Taylor's sublime stanza:

"Oh! a wonderful stream is the river of Time,
  As it runs through the realm of tears, 
With a faultless rhythm, and a musical rhyme,
  And a broader sweep, and a surge sublime,
    As it blends in the ocean of years."

   The Honorable Elam Brown, the second pioneer resident of Contra Costa county,
whose portrait most appropriately finds a place in the body of this work, is of
Scotch descent, and was born in Herkimer county, New York, June 10, 1797, his
parents being Thomas and Elizabeth (Lynes) Brown, both much respected in all the
places of their residence. This great Nation, when our subject was born,
numbered but few of the white race; his parents, too, were pioneers in sections
of the Great Republic which now count their inhabitants by millions; while their
descendants have followed closely in their footsteps, planting civilization in
unknown lands, and living an example of honest rectitude, that has made their
name revered in more climes than one. At the tender age of twelve months, Mr.
Brown was taken by his parents to Berkshire county, Massachusetts, where his
father followed his avocation of a farmer for six years. Here they remained
until the year 1804, when they emigrated to what was afterwards Delaware county,
Ohio, which was then an all but impenetrable region of huge trees—yet now a
smiling land of rare plenty. The journey thither also was one of extreme
difficulty—seven hundred long weary miles through a sparsely settled country,
opposed by mountain and stream, and met by fatigue and exposure. At last, from
an elevation, they saw at their feet the exquisite Ohio, winding its way into
the distance in many a beautiful meander. Discomforts were for the time
forgotten, and with hushed whispers the fair scene before them was canvassed.
Below them at a considerable distance nestled on the bank of the stream the
cluster of houses comprised in the village of Wheeling, while there extended
beyond mile upon mile of the vast forest whither they were bound. Since that
panorama was witnessed by the seven-year old boy, seventy-eight years have
rolled away, yet is the scene as vivid in Mr. Brown's mind as ever. Such of
Nature's beauties do not die; they live as life-marks to note the footprints on
the sands of time. From Wheeling they crossed the river into Ohio, finding only
one dwelling on the bank opposite that now large and prosperous city. Placing
the river at that point to their rear, a distance of lift}- miles through more
forest brought the voyagers to eight or ten cabins which then formed the village
of Zanesville, now in Muskingum county; thirty miles more found them at the
hamlet of Newark, now in Licking county, with its four or five simple cabins;
five miles beyond they came to a solitary house that stood on ground now
occupied by the town of Granville, where their further journey was for the
moment brought to a stand-still. Before them there lay a dark, impenetrable
forest which showed no sign of a trail. Twenty-five miles of this jungle lay
between them and their destination, and naught was left but to open a road. The
pioneer, however, is often brought face to face with such difficulties, to
surmount which he at once puts his shoulder to the wheel—he knows no
discouragement. The road was duly opened and the haven of rest safely reached.
By the new arrival the little community was increased to nine families, four of
which being from Berkshire county, Massachusetts, gave to the place the name of
the Berkshire Settlement. On the shore of Lake Erie, one hundred miles distant,
was their nearest white settlement northward; to the southward, they had the
settlement of Worthington, at a distance of fifteen miles. There then was it
that Mr. Brown, at the tender age of seven, entered upon a frontier life,
enduring without complaint its thousand-and-one hardships, and enjoying as only
the young can its hundreds of strange pleasures. Roads there were none whereby
goods could be transported in wagons. Therefore, the undertaking to make such by
the felling of trees, when each one was a veritable primeval monarch, was a
matter of much labor and time. Thus the adult males were confined to the hard
work of clearing and improving, while those of more tender years were given
duties, though still trying, yet more fitted to them. As an instance Mr. Brown
has said: "I was often sent on horseback, with a bag of corn, twenty-two miles
to mill." When strong men are hard at work in a small community, insidious
disease may creep in almost unawares, and then are we startled by the appearance
of the Fell Reaper to claim some loved one. The first to cross the dark river in
the little settlement of Berkshire was a Mrs. Vining. By this sad event the
settlers were put to their wit's end to give the poor lady a proper Christian
burial. A meeting was called to ascertain by what means lumber could be procured
wherewith to make a coffin, when it was proposed by a Mr. Curtis that a tree
should be chopped down, high enough up for the length of the casket, and saw it
downward with a cross-cut saw. The suggestion was not adopted, however, but
other and satisfactory arrangements were made whereby the woman received a
decent burial. It is always curious to watch the raising of the earlier public
buildings in a pioneer village. That in Berkshire was of the typical kind. The
first school building was a log cabin, its seats and desks being wrought from
split logs, with the flat sides hewn off smoothly. Here it was that Mr. Brown
first drank from the fountain of knowledge as found in books, and laid the
foundation for that love of literature which he has found in after years so
beneficial. Yet he received no uninterrupted course of tuition, for as the
eldest of his father's sons he had to give much time and attention to duties on
the farm, a practical course of study, which, though retarding that from books,
was indubitably not without its usefulness. He early became deeply interested in
history and geography, and made these branches his chief study. In the year 1815
his father died; the cares of his estate therefore rested on his son, who
faithfully discharged these duties until 1818. Mr. Brown being now twenty-one
years of age, and in the eye of the law attained to man's estate, he set out
from Ohio, on foot, to St. Louis, then a French trading post, five hundred miles
distant; but not meeting with that success there which he anticipated, after
rafting on the Missouri for a Winter, he went to Madison county, Illinois, in
company with  Charles Gregory (uncle to Munson Gregory, of Ygnacio valley,
Contra Costa county), and there farmed in "shares" for one year. He then went
some fifty miles north on Apple creek, a recently formed settlement (afterwards
organized into Greene county), where he engaged in farming for three years,
during which he married the daughter of Thomas Allen. At the expiration of the
above specified term, Mr. Brown moved twenty-five miles further north, to a
settlement then forming in the wilderness, but which he took an active part in
afterwards organizing into Morgan county. Save the Summers of 1826-7, which our
subject passed in the lead mines of Wisconsin (which were then indefinitely
placed in regard to State qualifications), Mr. Brown resided in Morgan county
fourteen years, during twelve of which he filled the office of Justice of the
Peace. In the Fall of 1836 he moved from Illinois to that tract of land
bordering on the Missouri river acquired in that year from the Indians and
designated the Platte purchase, where he located, cleared a farm of one hundred
and eighty acres, took up his residence thereon, and aided in the organization
of Platte county. In this place he lost his first wife. In the year 1846, Mr.
Brown determined to emigrate to the Pacific Coast; he therefore formed a company
from out the residents of the above county, and preparations were commenced for
the long, weary journey across the plains. Early in the Spring all arrangements
were completed, Mr. Brown appointed Captain, and May 1,1846, the fourteen
families, with their sixteen wagons crossed the Missouri river at St. Joseph, to
encounter the long, wandering woe of the perilous journey. As the voyage
progressed naught occurred to vary the monotony save those events usually
incident to the trip; the train was augmented by the joining of other companies
bound to Oregon, until at last it consisted of thirty wagons. At the South
Platte the first of their adversities commenced. After traveling up the river
and camping at the confluence of two of its tributaries, soon after dark a
stampede of their cattle ensued, caused, it is supposed, by buffaloes. Thus one
hundred and twenty head, sixty-two of which were oxen, were lost, while the
search for them, caused a week's vexatious delay. Their teams were now much
broken up; however, some cows were purchased from other trains, and by working
these with those of their own cattle, the journey was continued. When within a
few day's voyage from Fort Laramie, our subject, with five men, pushed on to the
station in order to make arrangements for the purchase of some oxen, and to have
some necessary repairs made by a blacksmith—if there was any there—but there was
not. They had not gone far, when they were met by an Indian on horse-back, who
seemed anxious to communicate with them, but the party were unable to discover
the meaning of his signs; he turned and accompanied them. Soon they reached an
elevation, from which they looked down upon the Platte, at a distance of about
two miles; there, to their amazement, and in anxious wonder, they beheld about
three hundred mounted Redskins. The Indian with them waved his blanket as a
signal, while his brethren advanced towards them in solid column, at a trot,
their gun-barrels and dress glittering in the sun—"the sheen of their spears was
like stars on the sea." Mr. Brown says that in the whole course of his long life
he never witnessed a more perfect manoeuvre, by any cavalry, than was performed
by these nomadic braves.    Judging the movement to be a favorable one, he
caused one of his comrades, named Crowley, to return to the train, with
directions that they should form into two lines and thus advance, in order that,
if needed, they could swing together; they were also to look well to their arms
and to have them ready in case of emergency, for should the Indians prove
hostile, death would be preferable than life with them. Alone with Mr. Scott,
the others having gone back to the wagons at the first sight of the Indians, Mr.
Brown awaited their approach with unflinching courage. When within twenty or
twenty-five feet of them, he raised his hand as a signal for them to halt; they
did so. The chief now dismounted, and pacing to and fro in front of the
squadron, addressed them by word and gesture. The pantomimic harangue concluded,
with extended hand he advanced towards Mr. Brown; he was soon followed in a like
manner by eleven others. The train had almost reached them by this time; he
procured some tobacco, motioned the chiefs to be seated, which they did, in the
form of a circle. The tobacco was handed to the head chief, who distributed it,
lighted a pipe, and after taking a whiff, passed it to Mr. Brown, who, following
the example, passed it to his neighbor—and so on, until the circle was
completed. From the strange presence around them, the cattle became very restive
and it was only by dint of much exertion that the men were enabled to prevent a
stampede; therefore, in order that they, with the wagons, should pass on, Mr.
Brown signified to the chief to open his lines for the purpose. The request was
immediately granted, the troop wheeled to right and left, an avenue was opened,
the teams passed through, and proceeding, camped near the fort on the North
Platte; the Indians, following them, encamped in their vicinity. That evening
some annoyance was felt by the emigrants, on account of some of the Indians
coming into their camp and meddling with things in the wagons, which was soon
stopped by the chief, who, on complaint being made, mounted a wagon-wheel, made
a speech, and stopped the further molestation of our party by his followers. At
this juncture a French trader at the fort informed Mr. Brown that the Indians
expected a feast from the emigrants, as a quid pro quo for the destruction of
game in their country as they passed through it. On account of the high wind
which blew, the merry-making could not be undertaken that evening; the morrow
was fixed for the gala occasion, when plenty of provisions were prepared, taken
to a short distance from the camp and placed upon logs. The whole troop were
invited to be present, but, most unexpectedly, none but the chief and his eleven
sub-chiefs made their appearance at the hospitable board. The viands discussed,
a friendly chat ensued between Mr. Brown and his guests, through an interpreter;
while the entertainment was brought to a close by a few presents—all departing
good friends. That afternoon these "braves," who were a band of Sioux warriors
going north to fight the Crows, crossed the river, and were seen no more. For
the whole of the next day our party traveled up the river, and camped in the
evening near a spring about half-a-mile from it. At dark another stampede of the
cattle took place, taking the road they had just come; but on arriving at the
river, into it they plunged, and swam to an island about eighty rods from the
bank. They were brought back to camp at midnight by two young men—George
Stillwell and George Marsh—who had swam the river, followed them through the
brush about half-a-mile, dressed In nature's garb, and thus secured them.
Passing through the since-famous Black Hills, they crossed the North Platte,
which they fortunately found fordable—the day before it had been a seething
torrent—then proceeded up the Sweetwater, which they struck at Independence
Rock, and climbing the mountains, descended to Green river, fording which they
arrived at Fort Bridger. For some weeks prior to their arrival at this point,
sickness had become very prevalent among our voyagers, Warren Brown, as well as
others, being prostrated by typhoid fever—indeed, so ill was this son of our
subject that the grief-stricken father was obliged to leave him behind at the
fort, with but a remote expectation of ever seeing him again. Delay was not to
be thought of, however, where so many lives were at stake. The expedition
therefore, once more took up the line of march to Bear river, Soda Springs, Fort
Hall and onwards to the Snake river, down which they traveled forty miles to
Goose creek, finally turning south to the Thousand Spring valley thence to the
Humboldt. Unhappily, disease haunted them to this stream, one-half the company
being sick, while two heads of families —Messrs. Allen and Adams —had died
between the Snake and Humboldt. They then followed the course of this river to
its sink, where Mrs. A. Allen was committed to "Mother Earth," and from thence
proceeded west across the eight-mile desert on to the Truckee. And now what a
change came o'er the spirit of their dream! The pure, cold water of the river
was to the weary traveler as the healing of a nation. They traveled up the
river, crossing it twenty-seven times with much difficulty on account of its
swift current and huge boulders, and were ultimately brought to a stand-still
near the summit of the mountains. There it seemed as though the weary travelers
were headed off from the Promised Land. The Sierra Nevada reared their white
crested summits far above them, while the ascent was so steep that their weary
teams could not draw the wagons up the precipitous and rugged sides. It was a
gloomy time to them; but not a time to parley. They knew something had to be
done; Winter was close at hand; with it starvation and certain death. One of two
things must be done—stay there and trust to fate or surmount the mountains—they
chose the latter. And now commenced a series of obstacles before which the
stoutest heart might quail. After much labor fifteen yoke of oxen were got to
the top of the mountain. A chain was then extended from the team to the wagons,
which were two hundred feet below, but to prevent the chain from bearing upon
the ground, a large roller was placed on the summit, over which passed the
chain, by which means they were enabled to draw up one wagon at a time. Just
fancy the amount of labor all this involved! By sunset, the sick and every wagon
was at the summit of the Sierra. There was a joyful company around the camp fire
that night. They had surmounted the great barrier, and anticipated an easy down
grade. Their joy was well founded; as was exemplified by the lot of the
ill-fated Donner party, who were but a few days behind them. Yet this down-grade
was not all sunshine. While going down the Bear River Mountain, one of the
wagons belonging to ex-Governor Boggs pressed one of the teams off the narrow
grade into the canon, the vehicle being prevented from following the animals by
lodging against a large pine log which was lying at the edge of the trail. The
oxen were suspended in the air with their hind feet just touching the ground.
The bows were knocked out to let the oxen down. The grade was so steep that some
dragged limbs of trees behind their wagons to act as a "break," but the most
approved way was to chain all the oxen except one yoke to the hind part of the
wagon, with a man to each yoke, with club in hand; they would go down whirling,
shouting "Whoa!" from the top to the bottom. In all this long journey from St.
Joseph on the Missouri river, to the slopes of the Pacific, there was not a
bridge nor a ferry for the crossing of any stream. Mr. Brown and his party
entered California, at Johnson's ranch, October 10, 1846, where they found the
proprietor to be a rough sailor, dwelling in a dirty, little hut, and surrounded
by naked Indians—a fact which we understand caused some confusion among the
ladies of the train. Continuing their journey they camped on the spot where
Sacramento, the Capital of the State, now stands. About a mile and a half up the
American river, at New Helvetia, stood the hospitable enclosure of Sutter's
Fort, where beef, flour and other commodities were procured, the fresh meat and
bread being highly appreciated, for they had been long desired. Here it had to
be decided whither the party should permanently locate, the places receiving the
greatest favor being the Santa Clara valley, Napa and Sonoma. After a few days'
rest Mr. Brown declared for Santa Clara. He, however, feared that his teams
would not be able to take his wagons, for many of his oxen had fallen by the
way, and left to be devoured by Indians and wolves; those he still had were
living skeletons. Supposing Santa Clara to be in the vicinity of Yerba Buena
(San Francisco), he therefore made arrangements with Captain Sutter to transfer
a wagon to that port in one of his boats. At this period there was but one house
between Sutter's Fort and the Mission San Jose, and which was in the Livermore
valley. Our subject first proceeded to the Mission San Jose, but after a week
moved to Santa Clara, where, on account of difficulties with the Mexicans, all
the families resident to the south of the Bay of San Francisco had assembled for
safety; here, on his arrival, Mr. Brown found thirty families collected, with
but fifteen men to protect them; the others had gone to join Fremont who was
then pressing General Castro, and driving him from point to point, while the
valiant Spaniard contented himself with penning bombastic proclamations to the
people, and high-flown communications to the Authorities in Mexico. Such was the
military enthusiasm of the period that it was not difficult, as it might be
to-day, to recruit an armed force. In October (1846), Charles M. Weber and John
M. Murphy were commissioned by Commander Hull, of the U. S. sloop-of-war Warren,
in command of the Northern District of California, as Captain and Lieutenant
respectively, in the land forces. They quickly raised a company of scouts which
had their headquarters in San Jose. And this recruiting spirit was not confined
to the settler, for as soon as immigrants arrived at Sutter's Fort they were
visited at once by Captain Granville Swift, of Fremont's battalion, and asked to
volunteer, which several of them did. Among these was Joseph Aram, familiarly
known in San Jose by the present residents as he is by all old pioneers. He was
commissioned by Fremont as Captain, and told to proceed with some of the
immigrant families to the Santa Clara Mission, rather than to San Jose, for
there were more houses there, but such was their state, and owing to the
inclement Winter, the unfortunate women and children suffered terribly, and no
less than fourteen of them died. Captain Aram had managed to form a company of
thirty-two men, among whom was Mr. Brown, whose head-quarters he established at
Santa Clara for the purpose of protecting the families there; he thereupon
essayed to place the mission in a suitable state of defense, by constructing
barricades, built principally of wagons and the branches of trees, for he had
learned that Colonel Sanchez and a body of mounted Californians were hovering in
the vicinity. In the month of November, San Jose was formed into a military
post, and sixty men, with Messrs. Watmough and  Griffin, under Lieutenant
Pinkney, of the U. S. ship Savannah, sent to protect the inhabitants in the
district. This force left Yerba Buena early on the morning of the 1st, and
proceeding by the ship's boats up the bay, about sunset made fast to the shore,
and that night camped on the site of the present town of Alviso. Dawn of the
next day found Lieutenant Pinkney and his  command on the  route, and after a
weary march, for muskets, bayonets, cartridges provisions and blankets, had to
be transported on the men's backs, arrived that afternoon at San Jose, when he
immediately took possession of the Juzgado (the Hall of Justice), converted it
into a barrack, placed a sentry on the Guadalupe bridge, and ordered a guard to
patrol the streets throughout the night. He dug a ditch around the Juzgado of
two feet in depth and one in width, at about sixty feet therefrom, into which he
drove pickets seven or eight feet long. On the outside thereof he dug a
five-feet wide and four-feet deep trench, the dirt from which he threw against
the pickets, thus forming a breast-work. At each corner he made a gate, and on
each side mounted a guard, and otherwise made himself free from surprise and
attack.

   The military freebooter, Sanchez, was at this time creating a reign of terror
in the district conterminous to San Jose; neither man, horse, nor stock of any
kind, being free from his predatory band. Concealing themselves in thicket or
ravine they were wont to fall upon the unsuspecting traveler, who, after being
robbed, was too often most foully murdered. In the month of December, 1846,
about the 8th day, a party under Lieutenant W. A. Bartlett of the sloop-of-war
Warren, and six men, among them being Martin Corcoran, now of San Jose, Richard
Watkins, at present a Judge in Mono county, William Leavens, and three others,
started from Yerba Buena to purchase beef for the United States forces. When
arrived in the vicinage of that locality, where now stands the Seventeen-Mile
House on the old San Francisco and San Jose road, and when in the act of driving
together some cattle, thirty of Sanchez' men rushed from an ambuscade, captured
them, and carried them off to their camp in the redwoods in the Coast Range of
mountains, but after a space removing to another portion of the same chain in
San Mateo county, he increased his corps to a hundred men and one piece of
artillery—a six-pounder—and commenced a succession of marauding expeditions in
the country between San Josd and San Francisco. Intelligence reaching the former
place of these depredations of Colonel Sanchez, Captain Weber, without delay
sounded the "call" to boot and saddle, and about Christmas Day was in full
pursuit. Learning, however, of the recent addition to the enemy's strength, he
avoided an encounter with a force so much his superior in numbers, and pushed on
to San Francisco, where he reported to the Commandant.

   Still retaining his seven prisoners under close guard, Sanchez advanced into
the Santa Clara valley by way of the head of the Bay of San Francisco, and
called a halt about ten miles from San Jose, which place he came to after a rest
of forty-eight hours. Aware full well that Weber and his company were not in the
town, and nothing remaining for its defense save a few marines, he thought that
it would fall before his mighty presence, even without tiring a shot. He
therefore dispatched a note to Lieutenant Pinkney, calling upon him to surrender
and withdraw his men; in which event the Americans would be permitted to retire
unmolested; should he refuse, an attack would be forthwith made and all put to
the sword. But Pinkney was not to be intimidated by such shallow bravado. As the
sun sank into the west on that day, he formed his men in line and read to them
the arrogant communication of the robber chief, which being ended he said if
there were any there who did not wish to fight, they had full liberty to rejoin
the ship at San Francisco. Such, however, happily is not the spirit of the
American people or their forces, else the glorious Union would not be in the
lead of nations as it is to-day. Pinkney's men raised their voices as one man,
and elected to stay and let Sanchez do his worst, while their gallant commander
vehemently asserted: "Then, by G—d, Sanchez shall never drive me out of here
alive!" and then there burst from the throats of that handful of heroes one
hoarse cheer that made the welkin ring. Like a true soldier, the Lieutenant gave
not an order the carrying out of which he did not personally superintend. He
divided his force into four squads, who were, on the alarm being sounded, each
to press for a particular side of the breast-work, already arranged upon; if,
however, the enemy should be found in a body trying to effect an entrance at any
one side, then were the four divisions to rush en 'masse to that spot. That
night Pinkney doubled the guard, and his men slept on their arms. It was his
expectation to be attacked by a force immeasurably superior to him in numbers;
but at dead of night Sanchez rode around the pueblo, reflected deeply, and
wisely determined that to be valorous was to be discreet, therefore he withdrew
his men, leaving our forces in full possession. Lieutenant Pinkney was a tall,
well-proportioned man, over six feet high, with sandy whiskers and hair. He was
as straight as an arrow, and looked the soldier all over. His very appearance
showed where he would be in a hot contest. There was not a man among his little
band that did not have the utmost confidence in him.

   Let us now return and see how fared it with the prisoners captured near the
Seventeen-Mile House. To try and effect their release, the British Consul, James
Alexander Forbes, visited Sanchez' band, where his brother-in-law was serving,
and strove to obtain the liberation of the captives, but with no success. After
a good deal of palaver, however, Sanchez consented to Lieutenant Bartlett being
permitted to accompany Forbes to his residence in Santa Clara, but on no account
was he to be handed over to the American authorities, while, as to the other
six, he was willing that they all should be surrendered to their nationals, but
Captain Weber, who had, before the commencement of hostilities between the
United States and Mexico, been in the service of the latter Government, must be
given up to him. Consul Forbes transmitted the result of his diplomatic mission
to the commanding officer at San Francisco, who replied that he unconditionally
refused such terms, and Bartlett could be returned to Sanchez.

   A day of reckoning was now fast drawing nigh, for a little army, with the
destruction of Sanchez and his band in view, was being formed in San Francisco
under command of Captain Ward Marston, of the marine corps attached to the
United States ship Savannah. The force was composed as follows: Assistant
Surgeon J. Duvall, Aid-de-Camp; detachment of Marines, under Lieutenant Robert
Tansil, thirty-four men; artillery, one field-piece, six-pounder, under charge
of Master William F. D. Gough, assisted by Midshipman John Kell, ten men;
interpreter. John Pray; Mounted Company San Jose Volunteers, under command of
Captain Charles M. Weber, Lieutenant John M. Murphy, and Acting Lieutenant John
Reed, thirty-three men; Mounted Company of Yerba Buena Volunteers, under command
of William M. Smith and Lieutenant John Rose; with a small detachment, under
Captain J. Martin, of twelve men, the whole being in the neighborhood of one
hundred men of all arms. The little army marched out of San Francisco on the
29th December, their course being southward and through the Santa Clara valley.
On the morning of January 2, 1847, they came in sight of the enemy, who, upon
learning of their approach, had dispatched their prisoners, on foot, for no
horses for them to ride could be provided, into the mountains in charge of an
escort of twelve men, who, having proceeded a couple of miles, halted.

   Upon the force of Americans coming up with the enemy, at ten o'clock in the
morning, orders were given to open fire at two hundred yards' range, which was
done with telling effect, the first one or two volleys entirely breaking the
line in which Sanchez chose to fight. Finding his alignment cut in twain,
Sanchez wheeled his men so as to bring each of his sections on either flank of
Captain Marston's corps, but still making a retrograde movement, while the
latter advanced. Ever and anon would the desperate Colonel rally his already
demoralized troops in front, and again wheel them on the flanks of his
opponents, thus alternately fighting in front and on flank, but still keeping up
the order of his retreat, for two or three hours.

   Lieutenant Pinkney, from his fortified position in San Jose, hearing the
firing, gave orders for the making of hundreds of cartridges, and placed
everything in a state of defense, in case Sanchez should be victorious and come
down on the pueblo, while he waited anxiously for news of the battle, for he
believed the Americans were outnumbered, and had some doubt as to how the
fortunes of the day might turn; while, at the Santa Clara mission, people
crowded the roof-tops and there witnessed the engagement, to which place the
retreat tended. Here Sanchez was met by Captain Aram, who sallied out to check
his falling upon the settlements. Finding this new force to contend against he
drew off, unwilling to renew a fight of which he had already too much, and found
his way to the Santa Cruz mountains, whence he dispatched a flag of truce and a
communication stating the terms on which he would surrender. The reply was, his
surrender must be absolute, and notwithstanding that he said he would die first,
an armistice was agreed upon, and dispatches sent to the Commandant at San
Francisco, asking for instructions.

   Meanwhile Lieutenant Pinkney's suspense was put to an end by the receipt of a
message as to the outturn of the action, while Marston marched his men to the
Santa Clara Mission, where they were received with demonstrative joy by the
American ladies and children there assembled. Captain Aram now received
permission to proceed in quest of certain horses, which had been stolen from the
American settlers in the valley, some of which he knew to be in the cavalcade of
the enemy, and while engaged in this duty, he was informed by Sanchez that
another body of United States troops was on its way from Monterey. This
information could scarcely be credited by the Captain, who, ascending a
commanding point, perceived the intelligence to be correct. This accession to
the fighting strength of the Americans made Sanchez tremble lest he should be
attacked by them; he therefore begged Aram to advance and inform them of the
situation of affairs, which he did, much to the chagrin of the new-comers, who
were longing to have a brush with the enemy. This force was under the command of
Captain Maddox of the United States Navy, and consisted of fifty-nine mounted
sailors and marines.

   The courier sent to San Francisco returned on the 6th with instructions to
Captain Marston that the surrender of Sanchez must be unconditional, a copy of
which he transmitted to the Colonel, whereupon the terms of capitulation were
agreed upon. Another reinforcement arrived under Lieutenant Grayson on the 7th,
and on the 8th, Sanchez and his whole force laid down their arms, and the seven
anxious prisoners were returned to the hands of their countrymen. The Mexican
Colonel was taken to San Francisco and held as a prisoner, for a time, on board
the U. S. ship Savannah, while his men were permitted to return to their
respective homes, and thus was the curtain dropped upon the closing act in the
warlike drama, as enacted in the northern part of Upper California during the
hostilities between the United States and Mexico.

   In a little, the contest was at an end, peace was agreed upon, and the
war-clouds dispelled; yet the country was without a government, and without that
there was no order. True, from the office of Colonel Mason, at Monterey, there
flowed out appointments of Alcaldes and Justices of the Peace, but these were
furnished with no laws to guide them, and curious indeed were the mistakes
perpetuated by some. The innocent verdict of a court that was ruled by the
silver-headed cane of an Alcade was sufficient to instill fear into the mind of
the ingenuous Californian—something a little more cogent was needed to satisfy
the American, but all this took time to effect. So soon as the hatchet was
buried, the immigrants considered what was their next course to pursue. By
inter-communication, the geography of the country had become more or less
familiar; some elected to go to Monterey, others to Santa Cruz, San Jose had its
appreciators, while one said he would settle willingly in Yerba Buena (San
Francisco) were it not for the three miles of sand that lay between Mission
creek and the town, which then was bounded on the south by Clay street, with
very little to the north of it. Mr. Brown chose the San Antonio redwoods, where
there was plenty of hard work, and there he passed the Summer of 1847,
whip-sawing lumber, which he hauled to the San Antonio creek and transported
across the bay to San Francisco. During that time he unceasingly sought a tract
of land on which to commence farming operations. He tells us the Californians
were bound by a most solemn pledge not to sell, or even give information in
regard to the lands. They said: "If we can't fight these heathens out, we can
starve them; for we can keep them from a permanent settlement here." In the Fall
he learned that Wm. A. Leidesdorff, a trader in San Francisco, had a ranch for
sale which he had purchased from a Spaniard named Valencia. This is the Rancho
Acalanes, on which he now resides at Lafayette. Mr. Brown at once entered into
negotiations for its purchase, which were consummated, he at the same time
buying three hundred cows that Leidesdorff had obtained from Vasquez at Half
Moon Bay. He built a strong corral on the ranch, and employed an American and
his vaqueros to bring the cattle up to it. When they arrived at the Rancho of
Vasquez, the horses, as was customary, were put for safe-keeping in the corral,
situated about half a mile from the house. During the night a California lion, a
ferocious and formidable animal, not rare in those days, got into the inclosure,
wounded some of the horses and scattered the rest so that the strangers had
scarcely a sufficient number of mounts to get home with. To put an end to such
mishaps he now hired Amador, who understood the ways of lions and wild cattle.
Under his supervision the latter prospered, they being for the first few months
corraled during the night and herded in the day-time; soon, however, they were
permitted to roain at will over the hills and valleys. Their increase was
wonderful, while they were good beef at any season of the year. Mr. Brown states
that he found a marked difference now from his former experience in
stock-raising; in the States he had to feed from six to seven months during the
year.

  But there was something more to look to than the raising of stock. The sailor
looks to the winds and the clouds; the thoughtful landsman also looks to every
surrounding with equal diligence and care. We have already said there was no
government except the military authority vested in Colonel Mason, and he
manifested much delicacy in using that authority. The confusion of national
affairs, caused by the close contest in Congress on the slavery question—one
party opposing, and the other favoring its extension—prevented any action by
that Body towards a law for organizing a Territorial or State government.
Generel Riley, who superceded Mason in 1848, issued a proclamation to the people
to hold an election to elect delegates to a Convention. What a relief to those
who had lived in the country for some time without any courts or legal tribunals
and government. Hope revived in those who fully realized the condition of things.

   The Convention, which consisted of thirty-seven members, convened and
organized in Monterey, September 1, 1849. The members were mostly immigrants,
from almost every State in the Union, with many of the preferences and
prejudices of those days. Yet sound sense prevailed. It was a great blessing to
the mixed throng then in California, and to those who came soon afterwards.
There were in the Convention men of sterling merits; in favor of, and against
slavery. Yet, in sober council, they wisely ignored that subject, and with unity
formed a State Constitution that stood the test, with only a few amendments, for
over thirty years. It was adopted by a vote of the people. It provided for the
election of a Governor and Members of a Legislature. San Jose was selected as
the seat of government, and Peter H. Burnett was elected Governor.

  The Legislature met, and the Senate and Assembly organized, and went to work
on the Herculean task before them. The State was divided into counties; the
judges and other officers to be provided for, with the duties prescribed to
each. A full code of civil and criminal laws had to be framed, and that without
much aid from books or references. The whole fabric of government had to be
framed. The minority were the workers in both houses, and, for new hands, the
task was well done.

  A new State was framed and organized, but it was not classed among the other
States, for the Government of the nation had refused to aid or act in the
matter. It was a gracious boon to California, and a great relief to the
sober-thinking people, for the gold mines were attracting thousands of
adventurers of all colors and nationalities.

  Mr. Brown was a member of the Convention that framed the State Constitution,
and also of the first two Legislatures after its adoption. What he lacked in
ability and knowledge he made up in industry and economy. In 1852 he was
strongly urged to run for the Senate; but as all was safe, he declined the
offer, preferring his former occupation of improving new farms, leaving
politics, not principles, to those who enjoyed such things. He has often
attended mass meetings, but was never a delegate to a political convention. He
was always free to speak his mind, and allowed the same privilege. He says:
"Amid all the various surroundings and positions through life I have never
struck or been struck; never run for or from man or boy. I have had but few
lawsuits or contentions. I have never bet a cent on a race or cards, and never
dealt in stocks. I was never intoxicated by liquor, although I was raised in a
tavern; but I have never dealt in the article since. I have never cheated a man,
knowingly, out of a dollar; but the reverse has occasionally occurred. I do not
intend this as a boast, but as an acknowledgment of the blessing bestowed on me
through a long life by my good and benevolent Creator."

  What gratitude is due from one who has been permitted to see a vast region of
country—from Wheeling, on the Ohio, to San Francisco, on the Pacific
Coast—redeemed from the wilds of nature by the enterprise and arts of
civilization! Mr. Brown has been one of the participators. He began early, and
held out late, and, no doubt, has earned his reward.

  He says: "Discouragements have seldom crossed my path. But allow me to relate
one instance. While on guard, one cold, rainy night, in Santa Clara, during that
memorable week of the siege, expecting every moment that the Spaniards would
charge in from the north or south; and to make the surroundings more gloomy the
Mission Indians were howling over a dead comrade, and as many dogs as Indians
were engaged in the howling. Amid all that there came into my mind this thought:
I had committed an error that had involved my children as well as myself. I had
brought them from a good home and a land of safety; had left a sick son at Fort
Bridger, doubting his recovery; had a son and daughter in the Mission, likely to
be butchered by the Spaniards. The fate of Travis and Fanning came fresh in my
mind. For half an hour or more I was a homesick man, strolling up and down the
muddy streets of Santa Clara. Sound reason and resolution came to my assistance,
and I became my own man again. I have been blessed with buoyant spirits and a
strong will. These properties have added much to my comfort of mind and success
in business. My own and the family of Nathaniel Jones were the first Americans
that settled within the present bounds of Contra Costa county. There were no
white families nearer than San Jose Mission. I settled on my present farm in
1848, and I expect to remain on it the balance of my time on earth. I was
eighty-five years old on the tenth day of last June. In this narrative the
reader may think that some of the smaller incidents should have been left out. I
labor under the same embarrassment that the hunter did who could not shoot a
duck; for when he took aim at one another would put its head in the way. I find
much less difficulty in collecting than in selecting incidents."

  Mr. Brown disclaims any praise over the tens of thousands who have equally
participated and aided in the great work of reclaiming the vast waste of
wilderness, that eighty years ago was almost entirely occupied by the native
Indians and wild beasts, but now covered over with organized States, counties,
cities, towns and farms, with all the comforts and conveniences of art and
science that civilization confers. Being an eyewitness in the front line of a
long march, the picture is plain. The work is large to those who have seen the
beginning and the end of the whole extraordinary advance of settlement and
civilization in America from the year 1804 to 1882.

  Daniel Boone did not drive the Indians out of Kentucky alone, but was one of
the foremost who aided to drive them out. So it is with all others who have
assisted in reclaiming the vast wilderness. If praise is due, it should be
divided according to merit. Many of Mr. Brown's contemporaries, who saw the
wilderness before them, have lain down in death's sleep, but few have been
permitted to see the great work from the beginning to the present as he has seen
it. No person does nor can anyone appreciate the result more than he does.
"Industry and economy exalteth a nation." In America they have built up an
empire in the age and before the vision of one man. How wonderful to
contemplate! Yet it is truly so! Reader, you cannot wonder that he looks back
over these scenes with gratitude and pleasure at the result of the enterprise.
He thinks that thousands would join him in exultation if they would only stop to
look at the great picture.

   The Hebrew nation were forty years crossing the great desert, but these
others were seven months in crossing theirs in 1846, and that too without manna.
The Lord aided the Hebrews in their enterprise. Were those others not likewise
aided? No human power could have carried them through that long, toilsome journey.

   He says: "I was inquired of by kind friends in San Jose" why I settled in
that lonesome place; why I did not settle there in that pleasant valley among
white people? The question was urgently asked by good neighbors in Missouri,
when I was about to start across the plains. Again, back in Illinois, when about
to leave a pleasant home for the wilds of the Platte Purchase. Again, back in
Ohio, in 1846, when I went back to the place of my youthful days. I had four
sisters, with families there. There, too, in the grave-yards, the white
tombstones marked the resting place of father, mother and brother. There, too,
with all those near and dear associations, I was urgently and earnestly
entreated, as I had sold my farm in Missouri, to come and spend the remainder of
my life with old friends and associates. All did not change me from my destined
Western course. Again, in the most emphatic manner, was the question asked on
that dreary night in the streets of Santa Clara. The answer, why, I have never
found, and I believe the answer has not and never will be solved. I freely
acknowledge my incapacity to solve it." Mr. Brown married, firstly, in Greene
county, Illinois, January 10, 1823, Sarah Allen, a native of Tennessee, and had:
Thomas A., Warren J., Lawrence M. and Margelina. Married, secondly, July 1,
1847, Mrs. Margaret Allen, by whom he has no issue. Mrs. Brown has a family by
her first marriage.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; THE BEAR FLAG WAR; THE MOUNT
DIABLO COAL FIELDS; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST
AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS; FULL
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING
THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AMD OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO: W. A. SLOCUM & CO., PUBLISHERS
1882.

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