Tehama-Placer-Sacramento County CA Archives Biographies.....Blossom, Robert Hurd 1829 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 18, 2006, 5:18 am Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891) ROBERT HURD BLOSSOM, a rancher, early settler and prominent citizen of Tehama County, California, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Miamisburg, Montgomery County, March 18, 1829, and is the son of Matthias S. and Mary (Craft) Blossom, natives of Maine and New Jersey respectively. The Blossoms came from one of the middle counties of England, before the Revolution, and settled near Barnstable, Massachusetts. One of them raised a company and, as captain, participated in the struggle for independence. Mr. Blossom's grandfather, Ansel Blossom, was born in Maine and removed with his family, including Mr. Blossom's father, to northwestern Ohio, then a wilderness. He settled on the St. Mary's River, near what is now Willshire, Van Wert County. There he made a home and planted the first apple orchard in that part of the Stale, the fruit of which was always free to his neighbors. He was the first postmaster in that part of the country, and carried the mail in his bell-crown hat. During President Jackson's administration the system of "To the victor belong the spoils" was inaugurated. A prominent Democrat was appointed postmaster. He, however, declined to receive the office, saying, "Blossom ought to hold it as long as he lives,"—which he did. He was the Yankee school-teacher of his neighborhood, devoting a portion of each week to teaching his neighbor's children and the nine children of their own, without asking or receiving compensation. Politically he was a Whig. He was one of those grand old men of his time—-a worthy progenitor of a numerous family. He lived on the farm which he had reclaimed from the wilderness until the time of his death. Mr. Blossom's parents had four children, two sons and two daughters, of whom he was the oldest. After fifteen years of wedded life his mother died. His father subsequently married a second wife by whom he had three children. The subject of this sketch attended school until he was fifteen years old, when he left school of his own accord and entered his father's harness shop to learn the trade. After a few years he became foreman, attended to sales, cut out work and kept the hooks, and continued at that until he reached the age of twenty-one. On that eventful, cold March morning his father, instead of finding him with apron on at the bench, cutting as usual, eyed him curiously as he sat by the stove with his best clothes on. At last he realized the situation and said, "What's up, Bob?" (Nobody called him Robert but his mother.) "Taking a holiday?" Mr. Blossom's answer was, "Yes, sir; thought I would not work to-day." "Well," said he, "but you did not say anything to me about that." "Oh," remarked the son, "I have quit doing that." "Humph!" said he, "going to be your own boss, eh?" The reply was, "Yes, sir,—until I get married." After a few days he went to work as a journeyman for his father, remaining in his employ a year. Then, wishing to try out-door life, he engaged, with a partner, in raising a crop of tubacco. It did well, but the price was low, and he again turned his attention to his trade, he worked for a few months at Dayton and from there he went to Wilmington, where he was engaged in making saddles until the first of April. At that time he began making preparations to come to California, having learned that his uncle, James M. Blossom, designed crossing the plains to Oregon, and wished his nephew to accompany him. It was arranged that the two would meet at Kaneville about the middle of May. On arriving at that place he learned that his uncle had been detained by reason of measles in his family, and talked of returning home. He then looked about for other company and found a Mr. Jacob Austin, who was about to start to the far West with a band of milch cows. It was agreed that Mr. Blossom should furnish his own riding outfit and help drive the stock, and Mr. Austin furnish board. Mr. Blossom purchased a gentle mule for $90, and, not being able to find a saddle for sale, he bought a tree and a side of shoemakers' upper leather, and equipped the animal in short order. He left a letter at the postoffice for his uncle, explaining the situation, and started on the arduous journey. Captain Austin had a domineering and tyrannical disposition and was a little difficult to get along with; but Mr. Blossom, having his own riding animal and a little money and some independence, got on smoothly with him after they had had a tilt or two. Mr. Blossom's remembrance of the journey is vivid and he relates many incidents which occurred. The cows were all fresh and were to be milked on the journey so that they would be more valuable when they reached California, the calves all having been killed before they started. As Mr. Blossom could not milk it became his duty to hold by the horns the cows that would not stand. He thinks that he performed that duty pretty well and that that little experience was of value to him, as he has since had to take the "bull by the horns" several times. He recalls a stampede of a train of ox teams. A family train had stopped for lunch, without unyoking, and had taken the end-boards out of the wagons. A table was improvised on the floor of the vehicles, provisions were laid out, and women and children (some in the wagons and some out) were busy eating, sitting on chairs and boxes, when something started the teams and away they went and out tumbled women and children and whatever was in the rear of the wagons. The teams behind scampered along, some on one side and some on the other; everything was pell-mell and badly mixed up. The most of them overturned, and it was a most ludicrous sight, indeed. A large train, consisting of thirty men and a number of women and children, immediately in front of Mr. Blossom's party, bad some trouble with the Pawnee Indians at Shell Creek. Its black-soil banks rendered it impassable except at a bridge. The Indians were stationed there, said they had built the bridge and demanded toll. It was claimed by the whites that emigrants had made it and they refused to pay. The Indians caught a loose mule belonging to the party, which caused some fright. A number of shots were exchanged. One white man was killed and several, on both sides, were wounded. The mule was recovered with arrows sticking in him, and the party were moving away as Mr. Blossom's company came up. The red men were very hostile and guarded the approach to the bridge in solid phalanx. They charged nothing for loose stock and Captain Austin, having but one wagon, at once paid the toll demanded, one dollar, and passed over peacefully. Near this place they saw several specimens of missionary work among the Indians. These poor creatures, who called themselves "good Indians," presented a unique and grotesque appearance. They were clad in what was supposed to be the cast-off garments of the preachers who had labored among them. Broadcloth, swallow tail, dress coats and silk hats were not in keeping with the manners and customs of the red men. They had a paper purporting to have been given to them for good behavior and asking those so disposed to give them something to encourage them in well-doing. They stopped for lunch one day, and, having had poor feed the night before, unyoked and drove the cows and the work cattle over into a little valley to feed. All hands were with the cattle except Captain Austin and Mr. Blossom. The Captain had gone some distance i'or a bucket of water and Mr. Blossom was setting some eatables out on the grass, when a fine-looking young buck Indian came up, carrying a bow and several arrows in his hand. He professed to be very friendly and displayed some scars he had received in battle. Finally his eye rested on some crackers which Mr. Blossom had set out. Seeing he cast a wishful glance at them, Mr. Blossom offered him a handful. He spurned them indignantly and wanted the whole sack. "When told that he could not have them he proved savage, and acted as if he were going to put an arrow in his bow. Mr. Blossom seized his rifle, which was in the front of the wagon. At sight of it the Indian hastily took his departure. The first graves they passed on this journey, Mr. Blossom says, where at a trading post, and the following tragical story he learned from the trader. The parties were in a wagon train which was two days in advance of Captain Austin's company. One of the men owned the train and had his wife with him, and the other was driving a team for him. The single man, conniving with the wife, it was thought, shot the other while they were out together, and he also shot some of the oxen to make it appear as if the Indians had done the deed. However, his plan was not successful, as he was detected in the act. A court was improvised and a jury of emigrants found him guilty. Two wagons were run side by side, the tongues raised perpendicularly and a cross bar put between them with a rope attached to it. The man, with a noose around his neck, was placed upon a barrel. The barrel was kicked from under him and a lifeless body dangled between the wagons! Thus he paid the penalty of his crime. The victim and the criminal were buried side by side at the same time. They saw many new-made graves on the Platte River. The emigrants died of cholera by the hundreds. Mr. Blossom saw nine persons buried in one day. The emigrants traveled along, with their sick in the wagons until a death occurred, when they stopped and made a grave by the wayside and with heavy hearts continued their western journey. Often these lonely graves were disturbed by wild beasts. Our subject saw large holes that the wolves had dug in the graves, and bones and pieces of blankets were scattered about. One night they camped near a train in which was a woman who was taken with cholera She suffered intensely with cramps and screamed continuously for hours. The next morning the train moved on, leaving behind a new-made grave, which, told that the fatal disease had done its work and the poor sufferer had found a lonely resting place! On this overland journey Mr. Blossom saw but one burial service, and that made a lasting impression on him. It occurred one Sunday morning. A child had died, and it so happened that a minister was a member of the emigrant party. He conducted the services, preaching, praying and singing, being assisted by the women of the train. Captain Austin had started with everything he thought requisite for the trip,—for man or beast,—flour, bacon, rice, coffee, sugar, tea, dried fruits, a small keg of very fine brandy, a bottle of cayenne pepper, and several hundred pounds of salt for the cattle. They found, on trial, that the cattle turned up their noses at the salt; so it was piled along the road side. Mr. Blossom was taken with symptoms of cholera. Mr. Austin stopped the train for several days, and he was liberally dosed with brandy and cayenne pepper, to which treatment he thinks his recovery was due. He thinks had the same course been taken with others many lives might have been saved. Two brothers, owning two yoke of cattle and a wagon, had with them a passenger who was taken sick. One of the brothers wished to stop and nurse the patient and the other refused; so they divided the provisions and each took a yoke of oxen and a half of the wagon, which they had sawed in two. One went on, having the front gear, and the other remained with the sick man. After several days he recovered, when they fixed a pole to the axle, went on their journey and soon passed the other brother on the road. All kinds of rigs were to be seen on this westward march,—-horse, mule, and ox teams, hand-carts, and Mr. Blossom saw one man with a wheelbarrow! A boy with a cow packed over-took them in the Goose Creek Mountains; said he was from Michigan; had enough money when he started with which to reach Iowa; there worked two months for a farmer and earned the cow and eleven dollars; and was on his way to California! She was a fine-looking, black cow, furnished the plucky boy all the milk he wanted, and seemed to think as much of him as he did of her. At night he turned her out with their cattle and in the morning would get her up, milk her, eat his breakfast, fasten on an old pair of saddle-bags, tie a string to her horns and bay, "Come along, Harriet," and go trudging on perfectly happy. He traveled with them down the Humboldt and over the Sierras, then they took the Drytown and he the Hangtown road. Captain Austin offered him $125 for the cow, but he refused, saying he intended to take her to Sacramento. On their arrival at Fort Bridger they lay over several days, and there met an Indian who formerly lived in Onio. He was a fine-looking fellow, drested gaudily in buckskin with a red handkerchief about his neck, and mounted upon a horse. When he learned Mr. Blossom was from Ohio he evinced great pleasure. Getting down from his horse, he slapped one hand on his breast, saying, "Me Ohio, too; me Delaware Indian." He advised them not to trade ammunition to the Indians. Soon after Mr. Blossom had a remarkable chance to trade. He had been hunting along a little creek, had killed two ducks and had fallen asleep under a clump of willows. The crack of a gun awakened him and he saw a coyote running only a short distance away. He heard a chuckle and, looking around, saw a buck Indian, an old squaw and a young one. They came up and were anxious to get some percussion caps, and offered to swop the young squaw for ammunition. She eyed him good-humoredly, talking and giggling with the old woman at the same time. Mr. Blossom confessed he was somewhat taken with the appearance of the damsel; but, remembering the advice of his Delaware friend, he gave them to understand as well as he could that he was not hunting "Mahalas," and could not possibly take one away. Mr. Blossom was in Salt Lake Valley at the time of the great procession, July 24. Brigham Young rode in a chariot drawn by sixteen horse. Another chariot contained thirty youngs ladies, belonging to the Deseret Female Academy. Mr. Blossom took dinner at "Our House," which was kept by a live Yankee named McPherson. Provisions were high, and that was the first meal for which he paid a dollar. In the Goose Creek Mountains the party encountered a fearful storm in the night. Despite their efforts to keep the cattle together, they were scattered in every direction; so, after keeping guard the first part of the night, they slept in their wet clothes until morning. Then Mr. Blossom rode all day trying to get the stock together. He had a violent cold, took mountain fever and was confined to the wagon for several days. At Thousand Springs Valley he was on guard one night. Near morning a cow wandered some distance from the others, and, as he went after her, he slipped into one of the thousand springs and was completely drenched. The earth appeared like a strong turf on water, with holes cut in it. So deep was the water that a tent pole would not reach the bottom; and it was with difficulty that Mr. Blossom got out and reached camp by daylight. At Ragtown, on Carson River, our subject received his first impression of California. The town was built of slight wooden frames, covered and partitioned entirely with cloth, all new and white. Mr. Blossom was told that, when building was at its height, tacks sold for one dollar a paper. Music, games of chance and a bar were found in nearly every house. The next morning they passed on, and after several weeks of mountain travel through the Sierras, without any serious mishap, they arrived at the ranch of James Whitcomb, twelve miles below Sacramento. This was late in September. After spending a few days there, Mr. Blossom went to Sacramento and, in the horse market, corner of Sixth and K streets, parted with the faithful mule that had carried him so many thousand miles, receiving for it just what it had cost him in Kaneville. He then started for the mines, Auburn being his objective point. The next morning after his arrival at that place he went to China Bar, on the North Fork of the American River, where he was employed by a company at five dollars per day. He worked there until the flume was carried away by high waters. Then with pick, shovel and rocker he went to work for himself. A young man by the name of Samuel Garvey came prospecting along the bar, and he and Mr. Blossom formed a partnership and mined together all winter. Every Sunday they baked a pone of bread and cooked a pot of beans, which lasted them through the week. In the spring they separated, each having $800. Then Mr. Blossom prospected in the following camps: Illinois Town, Iowa Hill, Steep Hollow, on Bear River, Mountain Springs, Gold Run, Dutch Flat, Blue Canon, finally bringing up at Indiana Hill, where he hired to work in the Mine Hill Diggings for $80 per month. On June 3, 1853, Mr. Blossom was buried in the mine under a cave of earth. This came near being the death of him. When he was dug out his body was found in a doubled position, and, upon being straightened, he suffered most severely. His companion, Bill White, had one leg crushed under a rock. For three weeks Mr. Blossom did not attempt to do any work. Then, feeling pretty well, he went to work again, and, in trying to roll a stone away, felt a sharp pain in his breast accompanied with a sickening sensation. So he went to Sacramento, and ascertained that he had four ribs broken. Learning that he would not be able to work for some time, he decided to visit his uncle, James M. Blossom, who had come West, and had opened a store in Oregon. Our subject had an interest in a mine in Blue Canon, and left $600 to assist in its opening while he went to Portland. When he returned to the mines two months later he found the claim a failure and his money gone. Not being able to work at mining, Mr. Blossom went to Sacramento, and for three weeks was employed at his trade and hoarded at the Waverly House, corner of Fifth and K streets. He was soon offered the situation of clerk and business manager of the house. In the spring of 1854 he purchased the lease of the property and became a hotel-keeper, carrying on the business successfully for two years. Then he engaged in the manufacture of soda water, in partnership with M. L. Chandler. In 1857 he went to Tehama County, and commenced farming, in which business he has since continued, and in which he has met with eminent success. In 1871 Mr. Blossom purchased F. W. Fratt's portion of the Dye Grant, El Rancho el Primer Canon, Del Rio de los Berrendos or Antelope Rancho, situated on the east bank of the Sacramento River. He devoted it to grain and harvested immense crops. In 1879 he had 20,000 sacks of wheat, 4,000 sacks of barley and about 500 tons of hay. Some of the ground brought as high as forty-four bushels of wheat to the acre. He also raised large quantities of fruit and vegetables for his own use, and for the supply of the hands he employed on his place. He provided himself with every modern machine for the purpose of conducting the business in the best manner, and he also made many improvements in farm buildings, and he owned and resided on one of the finest properties in the county. In 1882 he sold out for $125,000, to Major Joseph S. Cone, who owned the greater portion of the rancho. and is now (1890) the fortunate possessor of this valuable property. Mr. Blossom then purchased 24,000 acres of choice land, ten miles west of Red Bluff. Of this he farms 8,000 acres, and devotes the rest to sheep, cattle and hogs. On this property is a good residence, but the family lives in Red Bluff, on account of superior school facilities, and Mr. Blossom is fast bringing the ranch up to his ideal. Mr. Blossom was married in 1868, to Miss Caroline Hensley, a native of Missouri, and of Scotch ancestry. She came to California when three years old. They have been blessed with four children, one son and three daughters, viz.: Jessie, a graduate of Mills College; Edward J., a graduate of the San Mateo Semi-Military College; Bessie B., at school, and Mary R., known by the familiar name of Boby, is at home with her parents. Mr. Blossom adheres to the Republican party, and for six years has been a Supervisor of Tehama County. No man stands higher in the estimation of his fellow-citizens, and few, if any, have done more to stimulate the growth and development of the county. He has shown the wonderful capabilities of the soil for farming. As a county for agriculture, Tehama stands second to none in the great State. Mr. Blossom came to this county when it was in its infancy, has been a co-worker with its pioneers, and is now one of its representative citizens. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/tehama/bios/blossom819nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 21.8 Kb