Sonoma-El Dorado-San Francisco County CA Archives Biographies.....Norton, L. A. 1820 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 28, 2006, 3:20 pm

Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880)

Norton, L. A. The following autobiography has been furnished us by the
distinguished captain and lawyer himself: The subject of this sketch is a native
of the State of New York, but his childhood and early youth were principally
spent in the Canadas. He was born in 1820, and consequently, at this writing, is
fifty-nine years old, and was sixteen years of age at the breaking out of the
Canadian rebellion. Boy as he was, being strongly imbued with the notions of a
republican form of government, he joined the patriot, or rebel side, and
enlisted as a minute man, to take up arms against the British Government, and,
on call, December 12, 1836, marched with Captain Dones' company, to join Duncom,
at Norwich, who was raising forces to meet Sir Alan McNab, who was approaching
that place with a formidable command of British soldiery. When en route to join
Duncom, the company, near Otter creek, were fired upon by the tories from an
ambush, where he received a rifle ball, which grazed the spine and lodged in his
hip; which he still carries. The wound was slight, and in no degree disabled
him. Without further adventure the company joined Duncom, but it was soon found
that a sufficient force could not be collected to make a successful stand
against the British regulars. Young Norton awoke one morning to find Duncom and
the other officers, and most of the men gone, and notices posted, advising every
man to seek his own safety. Norton, with a young companion, took up the line of
march for home. The snow was about a foot deep on the ground, the weather was
cold, and the boys were ninety miles from home, and entire strangers, not
knowing friend from foe, and the enemy were emboldened by the cowardly conduct
of Duncom, and hence there, was but one show, and that was to take the main road
for home, arms in hand, and brave it out; all that can be said here is, that
there were numerous attempts to arrest, resistance made, and several shots
exchanged; in fact, to that extent did the attack and resistance go, that it was
reported and believed by his friends at home, that young Norton was killed, the
tones exhibiting a piece of his cap in confirmation of the assertion. He got
within thirty miles of home when he was surrounded by a large force of the enemy
and compelled to surrender, at Otter Creek, and was marched immediately to
Simcoe jail, where he remained, and at which place he received the name of "Davy
Crockett," by which name he went during his long imprisonment. The name was
suggested by the fact of a small wound caused by a bullet coming in close
proximity to the skull, and the boys declared that, like Davy Crockett of old,
the tory bullets would not penetrate his hide. He remained two weeks a prisoner
at Simcoe, when his friends learned that the report of his death was false, and
that he was a prisoner, and chat all excepting those deemed dangerous were
admitted to bail. A portion of the prisoners were mere boys, and many on that
account were discharged on their own recognisance who were older than "Davy,"
but when bail was offered for him it was refused, and he was then sent to
London, where he remained a close prisoner for nine months; was indicted for
high treason, but owing no allegiance to the Crown of England they could not
convict, consequently, after recovering from a severe attack of typhoid fever,
which prostrated him for three months, he was at last discharged, or rather
given the choice to leave Her Britannic Majesty's Dominions at once, or suffer
death as a felon. He "left," and settled in Kane county, Illinois, where he
engaged in the business of farming, milling, etc., and resided there about ten
years, when the war with Mexico called on that State for volunteers, and
conceiving that he had some military genius, he commenced raising volunteers,
but as a man named Harvey had also commenced recruiting for a company, Norton,
for a time, discontinued his efforts; but it was soon discovered that Harvey had
not the necessary influence to raise the company, so it was proposed to turn the
skeleton company over to Norton, which was done. Norton proceeded to fill the
company, and transported the same to Alton, Illinois, where they were mustered
into service and marched to the seat of war, where he served with distinction.
But as that part of his life has been written and published under the the [sic]
title of "Memoirs of the Mexican War, by Capt. L. A. Norton," it will be omitted
in this brief sketch of his eventful life, but let it suffice here to say, with
his command he ranged Tamaulipas, crossed the Sierra Madre mountains, marched
from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico, and returned to New Orleans as Commissary
of Gen. Patterson's staff-ship "Massachusetts," at the close of the war. In 1849
he was admitted to the bar, before the Supreme Court of Illinois, Trumbull,
Treat, and John Dean Caton presiding; made a flying visit to California in 1850,
and finally returned and permanently settled in Placerville, El Dorado county,
in 1852; he there first engaged in mining, and worked his claim, on Prospect
Flat, during the hard Winter of 1852-8, to gain a support for himself and three
sick companions, when he was paying one dollar a pound for flour, same for
bacon, potatoes, and everything in the shape of provisions in the same ratio. In
the Spring, three roughs attempted to jump a portion of his claim; he submitted
the matter to a miners' meeting, who decided that the claim belonged to the
captain, and proffered him a committee to place him in possession. He informed
them that in case he needed them he would call on them. He went down early in
the morning and commenced work personally. The jumping party arrived, when the
Secretary read them the decision of the miners' meeting, (for they had refused
to attend the meeting). They declared that they didn't care for the decision;
they would work the claim or die in it; that they were from Kentucky, by G-d,
and they were able to fight their way. The captain remarked that he was not from
Kentucky, neither was he a brave man; but that they had better look out, as an
invasion of his rights might make a lion of him; and so far as their boast was
concerned, they might die on the claim, but they never would work it. And as
Doctor Morse, who was Secretary of the meeting, tells the story, the leader of
the gang seized a bright new pick, and it was difficult to say whether the gleam
of the polished steel or the man's eye shone the most malignantly. He rushed
upon the captain, who seized the descending pick with his right hand and
literally wrenched it from the man, and threw his left arm about him, and
pinioned him as in a vise. The second made a terrific blow with a long-handled
mining-shovel at the captain's head. He instantly wheeled the man that he was
holding under the blow, and the blow aimed at the captain would most assuredly
have killed his friend but for the fact that the doctor, seeing the blow
descending, caught the force of it upon another uplifted shovel that he
interposed just in time. The party striking, seeing what he would have done,
turned deadly pale, stepped back and sank upon the grass; when the third bounded
forward with an uplifted spade and said: "Release that man or I will split you
to the ground." The captain exclaimed: "You coward, you dare not strike any
one," dealing him a terrible kick which wilted him to his feet; when the villain
in the captain's embrace remarked that the claim was not worth fighting about,
and if he would release him they would leave. The captain informed him that he
should have thought of that before he commenced, at the same time thrusting his
hand into the fellow's side-pocket and drawing out a revolver, from which he
removed the caps, threw it up on the bank, and then released his prisoner and
told them to leave or he would kick them out of the ravine. They gathered up
their tools and left. In wrenching the pick from the party, the captain sprained
his right arm to such an extent as to disable him from working in the mines for
many months. He accordingly went to San Francisco, purchased a library and
commenced his practice as attorney at law; but having loaned some money on the
goods and auction store of Cogwin & Co. was compelled to take the stock to save
himself, and accordingly ran the business for two years; but when he discovered
that his profession was worth more to him than his stock of goods, he closed out
and again entered upon his profession as an attorney, having invested his all in
buildings and town property in the city of Placerville. On the 5th of July,
1856, the city of Placerville was literally wiped out by fire, and he, in common
with the rest, was left comparatively "broke", having but about three thousand
dollars and his library left. But with his usual energy he soon rebuilt a
portion of his burned district. Anterior to this date, however, in the Spring of
1855, he visited Sonoma county, and then resolved as soon as he could chancre
his location without much loss, to settle in that county, believing that every
blow struck in the mining district impoverished the country, while every blow
struck in an agricultural county enriched it. According to his preconceived
project, the 1st day of July, 1857, found him again in Sonoma county, seeking a
place to locate. He visited the Geysers, and on his return he became favorably
impressed with the then small hamlet of Healdsburg and the broad acres of Dry
creek and Russian river bottom land lying on each side of the town site, while
the little town itself was embowered in and overshadowed by a luxuriant shade of
native oaks, with its varied and picturesque scenery with water as pure as ever
flowed from a crystal fountain, a healthful climate, without sand-flies, gnats
or mosquitoes, to afflict humanity, he resolved to settle in Healdsburg, and
take his chances to make a living at his profession. Among the first to renew an
acquaintance at this place was "old man" Forsee, with whom he had been
acquainted in El Dorado county. The old man informed him that there was a fine
opening for him in Sonoma county, but that he must not go in with the
land-grabbers. This was all new to the captain, and he was led to make inquiries
as to what he meant by land-grabbers, when Judge Forsee proceeded to inform him
that the county was covered with spurious grants, purporting to be Mexican
grants, but which were all fraudulent, and that he, Forsee, had united himself
with the settlers to resist the claimants of Mexican title, both legally and
forcibly. That the Fitch or Sotoyome Rancho was a fraud, that the patent issued
therefor was a fraud, that on two sides there were no boundaries, etc., etc. The
captain visited Santa Rosa for the purpose of learning the facts from the
records, when, instead of finding the grant without boundaries, he found the
entire estate defined by the most substantial lines, and that the United States
patent had been on record for more than five years. He returned to Healdsburg
and opened an office, and soon found that all legal proceedings at this place
amounted to a grand "comedy of errors,"—deeds, embracing both sales of real and
personal property, one half of them without a seal, many without
acknowledgments, etc. The first case was, The People of the State of California
vs. Charles P. McPherson, for an assault with a deadly weapon. The captain was
employed on the defense, and one James Reynolds (now dead) was prosecutor. The
Justice, instead of sitting as a committing magistrate, took jurisdiction of the
case to try it. The captain didn't demur to the jurisdiction of the court. The
evidence disclosed the fact that his client had, in the town of Geyserville,
struck the complaining witness with a small stick, about one inch in diameter;
but, unfortunately, there was a large sized splitting-chisel at one end of it,
used for splitting iron in a blacksmith shop. The captain, however, convinced
the jury that it was not among the deadly weapons described in the statute, and
his man was acquitted on that charge, but, under the advice of his counsel,
McPherson pleaded guilty to an assault and battery,—receipts of first month's
practice, thirty dollars. About this time a gentleman stepped into the office
and introduced himself as Egbert Judson, of San Francisco, and said: "I am part
owner and agent of the new Sotoyome Rancho. The ranch is covered with redwood
timber, and is only valuable for the timber, and I am being robbed by more than
a hundred trespassers, who are cutting down and carrying away my timber in
lumber, pickets, shakos, rails, and for other uses. The entire valley has been
fenced, and is being fenced from my land. I started up here to see if I could do
anything to save it. I stated my object to Colonel S. H. Fitch on the boat
coming up, and told him that I was going to see if I could employ some attorney
in Santa Rosa who would try and save my property. He replied that the man I
wanted was in Healdsburg, that he knew you well, having served through the
Mexican war with you, and if you undertook it you would accomplish it or die
trying. He at the same time remarked that they were a desperate set of men, and
that he expected they would kill any one who would attempt to stop them
trespassing." The captain told him that his encouragements were truly
refreshing, but notwithstanding, for a reasonable consideration he would
undertake it. After having fixed on a compensation, the captain said: "go back
to San Francisco you are afraid of these men, and within two weeks you will find
your worst fears realized, or I will be in possession of your land." Judson
returned to San Francisco, and now I shall quote the captain's own language in
describing his adventures in the settlement of the squatter troubles. He says:
"When Judson left, I was in somewhat of a quandary how to commence my task, I
was fully alive to the magnitude of the undertaking; I was aware that about a
month before my arrival in Healdsburg a mob had taken and destroyed the field
notes of Surveyor General Tracy, gave him four hours to leave or hang, and that
a like mob had chased Dr. L. C. Frisbie, he only escaping by being mounted on a
fleet horse, and from the known character of some with whom I had to deal, could
scarcely hope to come out of the contest alive. First I thought I had better
commence in the District Court and call to my aid the Sheriff's posse comitatus,
and again I feared that that course would induce them to think that I was
personally afraid of them, but a notice from the trespassers two days after my
appointment, decided my course of action. The notice which I received informed
me that if I dared to show myself in the redwoods, they would hang me to the
first tree they came to. Accordingly, the next day I loaded myself down with
iron and steel, got a horse, and started for the redwoods alone, having
previously learned that their leader was a six-foot-and-a-half Irishman, in fact
a perfect giant, by the name of McCabe, who would sally forth from his mountain
hiding-place, come to Healdsburg, get half drunk, whip out the town, and return
to the redwoods where he had his family. On my approach to the redwoods I
enquired for McCabe's shanty; on reaching it, I found him seated on his
shaving-horse making shingles. I dismounted, hitched my horse, and advanced
toward him and said: 'Is your name McCabe?' He replied in the affirmative. I
added: 'Fighting McCabe?' 'They call me so sometimes.' I said: 'Well, sir; I am
that detested Judson's agent that you propose to hang to the nearest limb and
have come to surrender myself in execution; my name is Norton.' He dallied a few
moments with his drawing knife and then said: 'Suppose we carry our threat into
execution.' I made answer that there was no doubt but that they had force enough
in the woods to do it, but there would be some of them that would not be worth
hanging by the time it was done. He said: 'Well, Norton, what do you propose to
do with us?' I replied: 'Mack, I intend to put every devil of you out of the
woods, unless you carry your threat into execution. He was silent for a minute,
then said: 'Well, you look and act as if you meant all you say.' I answered: 'I
mean every word of it.' 'Well,' said he, 'in case I leave, how long will you
give a fellow to get off with his stealings?' I said: 'How long do you want,
Mack?' He replied: 'A week or ten days.' I asked: 'Is two weeks sufficient?' He
replied: 'It is.' 'Will you leave at that time?' 'I will.' I then said: 'That is
enough between gentlemen.' Mack left according to agreement. I then went out
into the woods where the axes were cracking on every side, some chopping, some
splitting rails, others sawing bolts; in fact, it was a busy place. When I
approached them I asked them what they thought they were doing there, if they
did not know they were trespassers. They wanted to know who I was and what
business I had there. I answered: 'I am the agent of Egbert Judson, the owner of
this land and timber, and I forbid you to cut another stick and intend to make
you pay for the trespass already committed. They commenced to gather around me,
using the most insulting language; one of them, pointing to a large limb on a
spreading oak, said: 'We will give you just two minutes to get out of this, and,
unless you are gone by that time, we will string you up to that limb.' I drew a
revolver and cocked it, and told them to keep their distance, that I would kill
the first one that attempted to advance and asked them to give me their names as
I intended to prosecute them, each and every devil. They gave me a laughable
list which I will not attempt to copy here. After informing them that, they were
a set of cowardly scoundrels, and not a gentleman in the crowd, I left them and
returned to Healdsburg. Johnson Ireland was the Justice of the Peace, and a
firm, positive, honest man, and being satisfied that I could trust him, I
brought about a hundred suits, using all the aliases I could think of, placed
the papers in the hands of an officer, with instructions to serve all he could
find in the woods, except my Irish giant, with directions to obtain their real
names if possible. The actions were for trespass upon personal property, for
taking and carrying away posts, rails, pickets, etc. I think the officer got
service on sixty-two persons. The cases were set for hearing at twelve o'clock
noon. The parties did not arrive in time, and I took a default against the
crowd, and at two o'clock in the afternoon of the same day I was seated in my
office (which was on the second-floor over a store on West street) conversing
with a friend, when I heard some one hallooing on the street. I walked to the
balcony, and saw that the street was crowded with men. Their spokesman called
out, "Well, old fellow, there is a man up in the redwoods who wants to
compromise with you." I inquired his friend's name. He replied: "Damn you, if
you want my friend's name find it out the way you found ours." I said it is very
unhandsome in you not to give your friend's name, but as the business of the day
is over with me, I will attend to it, but I think you are mistaken in your man.
It is not Norton you are hunting; it is Surveyor-General Tracy, or Dr. Frisbie;
but as you will not give your friend's name, I will accompany you to see your
friend. I will go with one of you, two of you, or three of you, or I will go
with your crowd: or I will be fairer still, I will agree to come down there and
whale any one of you so blind that your wife will not know you when you get home
again. I know your kind better than you know yourselves. Instead of rushing for
me, as my friend had anticipated, they commenced gathering in knots, and at the
end of an hour there was not one of them on the street. Thus ended the first and
last attempt to mob me. My next adventure was in removing squatters from the
east side of Russian river. Judson had sent a man by the name of A. J. Soules
with a flock of sheep on his own land, on the Sotoyome Raneho, to pasture. The
squatters (numbering sixteen families) went and removed Soules and the sheep
from the grant, admonishing him that it would not be safe to return. Judgment
was obtained in the Federal Court at San Francisco in ejectment against those
men, but no one had dared to attempt to enforce it. Having been successful in
driving the trespassers from the redwoods, Judson came to the conclusion that,
perhaps, I might gain possession of his other land. After consultation, I
directed him to send me a deputy from the United States Marshal's office, with
the writs of ejectment, which he did. We went over to the field of our new
labors, about five o'clock in the evening, having previously sent them notice of
my intention to remove them in case they refused to enter into a lease, and
recognize our title. We found them all at the house where we proposed to
commence, all armed with knives or pistols. Over an hour was consumed in trying
to get the party to sign a lease, but to no purpose. The evening was chilly, and
I could not think of throwing a woman and small children out at that time of the
evening. Accordingly, I told them that I would be there at eight o'clock the
following morning to put them out. At the appointed hour we were on hand, and
found them all there. I again tendered the lease, which was refused. I cocked my
revolver, took my position in the gateway, and directed the Marshal to throw the
goods out of the house, which he proceeded to do. They made a demonstration as
though they intended to make a rush. I warned them to keep back The Marshal got
all out but the woman. He came to the door and said, "I cannot get this woman
out." I told him to take my revolver and keep the men back, and I would attend
to her. I walked in, found her seated in the middle of the floor, and said:
"Madame, it becomes my unpleasant duty to remove you," at the same time stepping
quickly to her back, bending over, and putting my hands beneath her so as to
carry her out. She sprang to her feet, exclaiming, "I guess I can go out
myself." After the woman had surrendered the citadel, the man (whose name, I
believe, was Weber) remarked, that if it was not too late he would sign the
lease. I replied that it was never too late for me to ameliorate the condition
of my fellow-man, handed him the lease, which he signed. We went from house to
house, all signing leases—thus Judson was restored to his land on the old
Sotoyome Rancho. The Russian river and Dry creek valleys at this time were
nearly all in the hands of the squatters, which territory was covered with
Mexican grants, as follows: Sotoyome or Fitch grant, eight leagues; New
Sotoyome, three leagues; the Tzabaco grant, containing something over four
leagues. The titles were all confirmed, and patents issued and on record.
Notwithstanding all this, the squatters in possession had their secret leagues
all over the county, and forcibly resisted all efforts to dispossess them, and
the law seemed to be entirely a dead letter; actions in ejectment were
prosecuted to judgment; writs of restriction were issued and placed in the hands
of officers, resistance made by an armed force, the military was called out, a
requisition for the militia on one side, and Captain Forsee mustering two
thousand squatters on the other side. Parties would be evicted one day, and the
next morning would find them in possession of the same premises they had been
ejected from the day before. Two thousand men had met and confronted each other
in bloodless combat; both parties marched and counter-marched until the force
was played out. Norton, by express command of the Sheriff, was excluded from
these wars; they finally left the affair where they commenced. Though the
fairest domain on which the sun ever shone, yet people Shunned us as we had no
title, or undisputed possession. Things were in this condition when Dr. L. C.
Frisbie, from Vallejo, employed me to look after his interests in the Sotoyome
Rancho. I took his business in hand, and succeeded in making some sales, and
getting along pretty smoothly for a few months, but it became necessary to bring
several suits in ejectment, which I prosecuted to judgment. One of them was
against Riland Arbuckle on a portion of the Sotoyome Rancho, and as he was a
boastful, blowing fellow, I thought I would go for him first. The Sheriff
dispossessed the party, and levied upon a quantity of barley that was sacked,
which we removed to the house for safety. The squatters said they would not
resist the officer, but that Arbuckle should be placed in possession again
before morning, and that old Norton had better leave with the Sheriff if he knew
what was good for him. I, however, thought differently. My client was not there,
and I had determined to try strength of nerve with them, and had secured the
services of seven young men to aid me. We were all supplied with double-barreled
shot-guns and plenty of ammunition. The Sheriff had retired, and about a dozen
of the squatters lingered for a time. I had gone out to reconnoiter the
premises, when they commenced talking very rough to the boys, telling them that
they had better leave as every one of them would be killed before morning, etc.
The boys were telling them that they were not there to fight but merely to hold
possession under the law. In the early part of the conversation I had slipped up
behind a large oak tree where I could hear every word that parsed, and at this
juncture I sprang from my concealment and exclaimed, "You are a bombastic set of
cowards; you have dared me to hold these premises; now go home and rally your
forces for your night attack; you will find old Norton at his post." My boys all
bustled up and told them to go or they would boot them, and finally bluffed the
fellows from the ground, but on riding off they called back that we would see
them before morning. We then made breast works of the sacks of barley in the
house, with loop holes through the thin siding, and before it was quite dark I
placed patrols up and down the road with instructions to retreat to our
fortifications and notify us, but if the enemy advanced too fast they were to
fire a revolver as a signal and make good their retreat. About eleven o'clock I
heard the discharge of a revolver, and the two outposts came rushing in and said
there was a large company of horsemen rapidly approaching. I formed the command
outside of the house under a large laurel tree where it was quite dark. I
ordered them to drop down upon their faces on the ground. On came the horsemen,
from eighty to one hundred strong. When they got opposite to us and about four
rods distant, I ordered "Ready!" All the locks clicked audibly. I said, "Reserve
your fire till they attempt to cross the fence." The horsemen wavered for a
moment, then with a right-about-face made equally as good time in getting away
as they did in coming. I was satisfied that we had not seen the last of them. In
consequence of this impression I kept a vigilant watch, and about two o'clock A.
M. one of my sentinels came running in and said there was a large crowd creeping
along the fence. I ordered my force to keep perfectly quiet. I took my old rifle
that I had in camp, and skulked along the fence to within about a hundred yards
of the foremost of the opposing party, when I slipped out and fired a shot about
ten feet over their heads. At this there was another general stampede, and we
were again in peaceable possession of the Arbuckle place. I continued to eject
the squatters from Frisbie's tracts with greater or less resistance until I had
reduced the whole to possession. It now seemed to be the general opinion that I
was the only one who could successfully cope with squatters, and John N.
Baihache as one of the Fitch heirs, or rather tenant by courtesy, having married
Miss Josephine Fitch, had a large tract of land covered by squatters, and having
made many futile attempts to expel them, they had become so well organized and
so confident of their ability to forcibly hold the premises, that they actually
paraded the streets of Healdsburg, both men and women, with music and banners
waving, and seemed to think that if they could only get rid of Bailhache they
would be secure in their homes. In consequence of which idea, they made a raid
on him and forced him to secrete himself in the Raney Hotel. Seeing his danger,
I marched out with a cocked revolver in each hand, and met the mob and persuaded
them that I was the man they wanted, and not Bailhache; but they came to the
conclusion that they did not want either of us and retired. Still holding
forcible possession of his lands, Mr. Bailhache about this time discovered that
he had business at Fort Yuma. He moved his family to Santa Rosa and departed. A
few months after this I received a letter of attorney from Mr. Bailhache at Fort
Yuma, giving me full authority to enter upon any and all his lands in Sonoma
county, and expel squatters, etc. I commenced operations under this power, but
not until after I had convinced the sheriff who was then acting, that it was not
much of an office anyhow, and he had agreed to turn the office over to his under
sheriff in case he could furnish the necessary bonds which I believe were about
thirty thousand dollars, and by that arrangement I agreed to furnish ten
thousand, in consideration of which I was to have the privilege of selecting my
own deputy for Healdsburg. This was carried out, and I chose J. D. Bins, and
adopted a new system of warfare. I put in teams and went to work hauling off the
fencing from the farms on the west side of Dry creek, thus rendering the land
useless to them. This drove them to desperation. The teams had been hauling all
day, and at evening when the teams were coming in with the last load for the
day, as they were approaching Dry creek, my team being in the rear with five or
six men upon the wagon, my brother among the number, two shots from rifles were
discharged in rapid succession, and a bullet from one of them struck a Mr.
Ferguson just above the knee, and running down the leg shattered the bones in a
terrible manner—in fact it was a death shot. My brother drove him to town as
fast as possible, but he never rallied from the nervous shock, and died the next
day. Until this murderous attack I had not been thoroughly aroused, but after
the death and burial of young Ferguson I took a posse of ten men, all thoroughly
armed, and went with them in person, threw out a few outposts to prevent any
further shooting from the brush, and threw out the goods from their houses and
burned them to the ground. In this way I went from house to house, until I had
burned down all the dwellings on the Bailhache premises occupied by squatters.
They followed us up en masse, and at length one of them said, "I would like to
know who sets those buildings on fire; I would make them smart legally." I
replied,"what, you appeal to the law who have so long trampled law and justice
beneath your feet! You shall be gratified!" I said, "Jim Brown, fire that
house;" he did so, the house was soon in flames. I said, "now take your legal
remedy." Brown (a brother of Mayor Brown of Santa Rosa) was indicted, but a nol.
pros. was entered in the case, as the house was mine, I having authorized the
act there being no property of others in it nor no living being under our
statute, the act was legal. Some of the houses were good two-story buildings,
but I treated them as I would have done a lot of rats' nests; under the
circumstances there was no alternative. After reducing the dwellings to heaps of
smouldering ruins, the squatters continued to hang around like the French
soldiers around a burning Moscow until the elements drove them away to the
hills, where some of them put up temporary adobes on the adjacent government
land. In our attempt to keep the raiders from the different places, we had only
been successful in gaining possession of a small portion, and in order to
perpetuate my possession, I commenced repairing the fences, and on two or three
occasions in the night they fired them. But I was ever on the alert, and
discovered the fire in time to prevent much damage. My next effort was to find
some one who would dare to take possession of some one of the places. At last I
found a man by the name of Peacock, a powerful, resolute fellow, who proposed to
purchase a piece of the land which a man by the name of Clark had been claiming,
and whose house had been burned down. He contracted and entered into possession
and guarded a fine lot of hay, a volunteer crop growing on the place. The hay
had matured and he cut and cocked it, but in the intermediate time, contrary to
my counsel, had made great friends with and confidants of the previous
squatters, who had been evicted, and to whom, among other things, he told them
that he was going to see my brother, to get his team to bale his hay the next
day, and that he should be absent that night. I strongly opposed it, but he
assured me that everything would be safe, but did not convince me. I was on the
watch, and about two o'clock A. M., I discovered a bright light arise from the
neighborhood of Peacock's hay. I rushed around, awakened Bailhache, Ransom
Powell, and two or three others, and started for the scene of the fire. We
succeeded in saving about one-third of his hay. On Peacock's return it was
impossible to convince him that the Prouses had any hand in this, or that they
knew anything of it. He continued his former relations with the Prouses for
about one month after this time, he having gone to board with them. One day at
dinner a dispute arose at table, and the two Prouse brothers set upon him; one
of them, armed with something that the evidence afterwards disclosed as being
somewhat like a bucther's [sic] cleaver. They cut and hacked Peacock up in a
terrible manner, to that extent that for a long time his life was despaired of;
for which offense I sent Daniel Prouse to the penitentiary and we continued to
hold possession; the land being desirable farming land, and others seeing that
our possession could be held, commenced purchasing, and thus Bailhache was
restored to his possession, which put an end to the squatter difficulty on the
Sotoyome Racho. About this time I was requested to take charge of the Tzabaco
Rancho, by John B. Frisbie, and W. H. Patterson, of San Francisco, sending the
request by James Clark, then Sheriff of Sonoma county, who held writs of
ejectment against all the settlers on the Russian river side of the grant. I had
been acting for them for more than two years as their agent, selling and leasing
the Dry creek portion, where they met with but little opposition to their title;
but before stating my action on the Russian River valley, I must state one
incident that occurred on the Dry creek portion. I had been up Dry creek,
serving some notices on parties who had not paid up, and was returning, mounted
on a little gentle mare, and while jogging along, right opposite the widow
Bell's old place, where there was an old watering trough and spring, at a large
redwood stump, surrounded by a dense growth of redwood sprouts, when a shot was
fired. I felt a concussion, and at the same instant my mare made a jump
sideways, nearly throwing me from my saddle. I recovered myself and dismounted.
I saw the brush wiggle and shake, and made for the point. The party took to his
heels, running through the thick brush and up a very steep hill, and I only got
a sight of his back. He wore a bluish-gray coat and a low black hat, and was
rather a short man, and that was all I could tell of my would-be assassin. I was
unarmed and had no way of stopping him. On examination I discovered that the
bullet had passed through both sides of my vest, having entered the right side
of my vest, high in the breast, and passing through my outer shirt, in front of
my breast, and passing out of the left side of the vest. This was at a time when
strangers thought us a set of desperadoes here, and there was but little said
about it, as I did not wish to add to our reputation in that line. When I came
in I showed it to Bailhache, D. F. Spurr, and, may be, two or three more. I
still have the vest, and if this reaches the eye of the perpetrator of the deed
he may congratulate himself on the fact that I could not recognize him. And now
to the squatters on the Russian river side of the grant, hostile almost to a
man. When the Sheriff informed me that he was under my instructions I told him
to go home, and if I needed him I would let him know. I then went to Frisbie and
Patterson, saying that in case I entered upon the hazard of attempting to manage
the squatters to send me an unconditional power to survey, segregate and sell
all the lands upon such terms and time as I should deem proper, being
accountable to no one for my actions in its disposition. They immediately sent
me the asked for power, which was communicated to the settlers in a very
exaggerated manner, they being led to believe that I would eject them from their
homes without an opportunity of purchasing at any price. Whereupon their secret
organization met, I having two trusty friends in that organization, who hastened
to me, and communicated to me so much of the proceedings as in their judgment
was necessary to preserve my life. I was told by them that it was determined in
counsel that my death was essential in order to defeat the measures about to be
carried into effect; and by resolution by them adopted, it was resolved, that if
I ever showed myself upon the Tzibaco Rancho I was to be killed like a snake by
whoever discovered me; and in addition to this, they balloted to see whose duty
it was to be my special executioner to hunt me out and kill me. Those men begged
of me, under the circumstances, not to come on to the grant. I fully
comprehended the fact, that these men were in a state of desperation, as we held
one judgment over them in the sum of ten thousand dollars, for use and
occupation of the premises, and another judgment of ten thousand dollars,
obtained on injunction bond, making a total of twenty thousand dollars; together
with writs. of ejectment against every one of them. After due reflection, I
resolved to "beard the lion in his den," and to fight the devil with fire, and
when I was all ready, I hitched my pony to the buggy, and started for the
Tzabaco Rancho. After placing a quart bottle of old Bourbon under the buggy
seat, and arming myself in case of trouble, I drove to the ranch, which is about
six miles from Healdsburg, following the Geyserville road, and adjoining the
Sotoyome Rancho on the west. I drove up opposite to the house of one Captain
Vessor then living close to the line, and saw the old captain in his yard hewing
out a plow-beam. I stopped my horse, and called cut, "Captain Vessor, will you
step this way?" He dropped his ax, and came to the road; when about five or six
feet from the buggy he raised his spectacles, and recognizing me he instantly
became as black as a thunder-cloud. I jumped out of the buggy, and confronting
him, said: "I am informed that you men have, in solemn conclave determined to
shoot and scalp me if I ever came on this grant, and as shooting is a game that
two may play at, I will commence now," at the same time running my hand under
the buggy seat. The old captain threw up both hands, commenced running
backwards, exclaiming, "Don't, don't." " I'll be hanged, if I don't!" at the
same time bringing the whisky bottle to bear upon him. A pleasurable sensation,
after the most abject fear, wrought another change in the captain, when he
laughingly exclaimed: "Oh, God! you might have shot me with that long ago." I
then gave the old man a shot in the neck, and bade him get into the buggy, but I
frankly told him that I was through joking and meant business; that for the
present he was my prisoner, and must go with me. He very reluctantly complied,
and I drove to Geyservilie, only holding him hostage to insure my own safety. At
this place I met Dr. Ely, whom I had good reason to believe was the brains and
managing man of the squatters, he being a man of intellect, and a fair-minded,
reasonable man upon all subjects excepting the one. I dismissed Vessor, "shot"
Ely, and took him in the buggy, and continued my journey through the Tzabaco
Rancho. I informed the Doctor that I came up to sell their lands, and that I
proposed to give every man a reasonable chance of paying for the farm I sold
him. I was aware that the lands had been held too high, that the owners were
honest in their convictions of the value of the land, but were mistaken, and for
that reason I had refused to take the agency until they gave me carte blanche to
dispose of them according to my own judgment. "But," he said, with apparent
surprise, "you do not propose to sell me my place?" "Why not?" , I replied: "I
have always heard that you said you would not sell my place, but had selected it
for yourself." "That," said I, "is just as true as many other things you have
heard about me. I am a Western man, and am anxious to see every man have his
home, and will sell to you just the same as to the rest." "But," said he, "if
disposed to purchase, how can we? We are bankrupts; with the twenty thousand
dollars judgments hanging over us we can do nothing," I told him that it was not
necessary to tell me that they were bankrupts, for I knew it. "It is not
necessary to tell me that you are a set of ruined and desperate men. I know it.
It is not necessary for you to say, in case I attempt to execute the writs of
ejectment that I hold against you, that these fair domains will be left
blackened ruins, and that the inhabitants will retire to their mountain
fastnesses and wage war against human nature at large, for I already know it,
and in my present action have given due heed to all, and yet am going to sell
every man of you your farms, and as fast as you purchase I shall wipe the
judgment out against the purchaser, and again place you in the position of
freemen." The doctor frankly admitted that if that was my intention, then I had
been greatly misrepresented to them. I told him that having unlimited power, I
intended to be a benefactor and not an oppressor of the people. The doctor took
me at my word, rode through the settlement with me, and advised the settlers to
purchase their homes, which seemed to them unusual advice. I notified them that,
on the following Thursday I would be at Captain Vessor's for the  purpose of
going with them over every man's place, and fix a price upon it per acre. I was
there at the time appointed, and met the entire settlement, and went over every
place, fixing my price upon the land as I passed over and to my surprise and
satisfaction every one of them thought that I had put a fair price upon his
neighbor's land, but had got his a little too high; the result was that every
man purchased his farm within the ensuing six weeks, paying one-fourth down and
getting three years to pay the balance, at one per cent, per month interest. And
what was still more satisfactory, by the enlargement of time of payment, all
succeeded in paying for their farms, and thus ended the squatter war that had
been kept up for over seven years in the northern portion of this county. But
before dismissing the subject I must say, in justification of these men, that
the most of them in my judgment, were honest in their convictions that the
claimants either had no title to the lands, or if they had a title it was
fraudulent, and that many of them to-day are among our most respected and
prominent citizens. Our old feuds are now looked upon as a feverish and
disturbing dream, or treated as a subject of mirth, and as for myself, the most
of the men who once wanted to see my throat cut are among my warmest friends. I
will here append a set of resolutions, expressing their feelings toward me after
our fight was over:—

   At a meeting of the citizens of Washington township, and on the "Tzabaco
Grant," held this day, without distinction of party, the following preamble and
resolutions were unanimously adopted: WHEREAS, It having become known to us that
statements are being publicly made to the effect that Capt. L. A. Norton, of
Healdsburg, is regarded with unfriendly feelings by the citizens and settlers of
this township, and knowing such statements to be wholly untrue and unjust to
Captain Norton, it is hereby Resolved, That we recognize in Capt. L. A. Norton,
a gentleman of great firmness of purpose, and energy in the discharge of duty;
entirely impartial as agent between grantholders and settlers—and that his
courtesy and friendship, as evinced toward all who wished to secure their homes,
demands and receives our hearty approbation and respect, and that we entertain
for him none but the kindliest feelings. Resolved, That all statements and
assertions made in relation to Capt. L. A. Norton in connection with ourselves,
which are not in accordance with the above, are untrue, and very unjust to both
Capt Norton and ourselves. Resolved, That the Secretary forward a copy of the
proceedings of this meeting to the Sonoma Democrat, and one to the Russian River
Flag, requesting them to publish the same.
                       (Signed)            DOWNING LAMB, President.
ELISHA ELY, Secretary.

   In 1861 or '62 there was a regiment of volunteers organized in Kane county,
Illinois. They met in companies at Batavia, to perfect the organization, they
first proceeded to elect their Major; second, their Lieutenant-Colonel, when, on
motion, a recess of fifteen minutes was taken, when it was proposed that the
health of Captain Norton be drank standing, which was informally carried out.
When the meeting resumed business it was moved and carried that Captain L. A.
Norton be elected Colonel of this regiment by acclamation, which motion was put
and carried unanimously. Whereupon Capt. P. J. Burchell, moved that a copy of
the proceedings of this meeting be forwarded to Colonel Norton, by its
secretary, with the request that he come home and take charge of his regiment,
which his situation in this county forbade him from doing, for at that time the
captain (or more legitimately the colonel) had his hands full at home. We are
informed by reliable persons that the northern part of Sonoma county is much
indebted to the firmness and energy of the colonel in keeping down an outbreak,
as there was a very strong secession element in that portion of it, and when it
was asserted that no recruits to join the Federal army would ever live to cross
Russian river, he organized and secretly drilled the Union forces, and was at
all times ready to meet the threatened outbreak. And when it was said that no
Union flag should ever float in Healdsburg, he went immediately to Petaluma,
purchased one, placed it on the top of his carriage, carried it to Healdsburg
through the country, and nailed it to his balcony, where it continued to wave.
When it was reported that a rebel flag was floating from the top of a high tree,
between Santa Rosa and Sonoma, Norton made it his business to go down there, in
open day, climb the tree and remove the flag. And we are informed that it is now
in the possession of Mrs. Malloy, of San Francisco, the colonel having presented
the same to Dr. E. B. Malloy, now deceased. The colonel still practices his
profession in Healdsburg, and we believe he possesses the confidence of the
whole community, as a careful, honest and able member of the bar.


Additional Comments:
Mendocino Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY
—OF-
SONOMA COUNTY,
-INCLUDING ITS—
Geology, Topooraphy, Mountains, Valleys and Streams;
—TOGETHER WITH—
A Full and Particular Record of the Spanish Grants; Its Early History and
Settlement, Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources; the Names of Original
Spanish and American Pioneers; a full Political History, Comprising the Tabular
Statements of Elections and Office-holders since the Formation of the County;
Separate Histories of each Township, Showing the Advancement of Grape and Grain
 Growing Interests, and Pisciculture;
ALSO, INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE; THE RAISING OF THE BEAR FLAG; AND BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
—AND OF ITS—
Cities, Towns, Churches, Schools, Secret Societies, Etc., Etc.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO:
ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1880.


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