Yuba-Sutter County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter 1 Days Of The Indian And Trapper 1924
************************************************
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 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 2, 2012, 8:13 pm

Book Title: History Of Yuba And Sutter Counties

CHAPTER I 

THE DAYS OF THE INDIAN AND TRAPPER 

    The contiguity of Yuba and Sutter Counties renders the record of their early
settlement almost inseparable. However, it will be the aim of the compiler of
this history to treat these remarkable sections separately. 

    California has no more historic county than Yuba, of which the City of
Marysville has virtually always been the county seat. During- the exciting times
of the mining fever, the reputation of its wonderful riches spread far and wide,
and it received its full share of the immense immigration which poured into the
State during that memorable period. Marysville early occupied a prominent
position among the cities of the Coast, both in population and in the extent of
its mercantile interests. 

    Yuba County was an uncultivated tract of plain and mountains, occupied by
the lowly Digger Indian and traversed occasionally by the nomadic trapper
employed by American and foreign fur companies, when Capt. John A. Sutter,
original white owner of the tract, first knew it. That was in 1841, at a time
when the southern portion of California was essentially Spanish and Mexican in
its population — the northern part being left to the occupation of foreigners.
Not until Captain Sutter began his activities in the northern end of what was
destined to become the great Pacific Coast commonwealth, and not until he
established his New Helvetia, did the Sacramento Valley attract attention. Until
then it went comparatively unnoticed. Following his entry, however, it became
the theater for grand operations and achievements. Sutter's Fort became the
nucleus about which congregated nearly all of the early emigrants. To the
influence of Captain Sutter and those associated with him, is largely due the
annexation of California to the Union. 

    It is deemed fitting at this stage of our story to give a brief history of
the ever hospitable and generous Sutter, friend of all the early settlers and
explorers, the man to whom they repaired for advice and sustenance. His name is
inseparable from even the slightest historical reference to either Yuba or
Sutter County. 

    John Augustus Sutter was born in Baden, Germany, at midnight, February 28,
1803, of Swiss parents. After the completion of his education he became a
captain in the French army; hence his military title. Becoming tired of the
superficial nature of French society and customs, he set out for America, to
find some secluded spot where he might surround himself with a home and
associations more in consonance with his ideas and tastes. New York was reached
in July, 1834; and from there, after a sojourn of only one month, the Captain
set out for the far-famed "West." He journeyed to New Mexico, and having heard
of the marvelous beauty and fertility of California, he joined a party of
trappers, expecting soon to reach his destination. But the journey ended at Fort
Vancouver, and Captain Sutter's only way to reach California was to go to the
Sandwich Islands and from there by a sailing vessel to Monterey. After waiting a
long time in Honolulu he took passage in a ship bound for Sitka. By singular
good luck the vessel was driven into San Francisco Bay, July 2, 1839. 

    Having reached the goal of his ambition, Captain Sutter received permission
from the Mexican authorities to select a place for settlement in the Sacramento
Valley. After much difficulty he succeeded in reaching the junction of the
Sacramento and American Rivers on the 16th of August, 1839, and being fully
satisfied with the conditions and prospects of the region, a location was made,
and he commenced the construction of a house. 

    The spot was named "New Helvetia" in honor of his mother country. But on
account of the strength, armament and formidable appearance of the buildings,
the place was called by all the early settlers "Sutter's Fort," which name is
now the only one that clings to it. This fort was commenced in 1842 and finished
in 1844. In 1841, when his grant of deed was to be made, it became necessary to
have a map of the tract, and he employed for that purpose Capt. Jean Vioget, a
seaman, and a Swiss by birth. The survey was made by lines of latitude and
longitude. Sutter made his application under this survey in 1841, the same year
the map was completed. The Mexican laws allowed only eleven leagues to be
granted to any one person, but Sutter's map contained fifty leagues or more.
Nevertheless, he got the idea he could hold it, and with this came the idea he
could sell it. The original claim embraced a considerable portion of Sacramento
and Placer Counties, all of Sutter, the valley portion of Yuba, and a little
point of Colusa. It was in this same year, 1841, that John Bidwell, later the
founder of Chico in Butte County, and Michael C. Nye, who played a prominent
part in the early history of Yuba County, came to California from Independence,
Mo., with thirty-four others, seven of whom returned to Missouri, and died there. 

    Little of note occurred in the valley during 1842, but during the next two
years Captain Sutter and his newly formed friend, John Bidwell, saw the monotony
— if there was such thing in those days — relieved. It was in 1843 that General
Micheltorena, an enlightened and educated gentleman and an agreeable personage,
arrived from Mexico to take the place of Alvarado as Governor of California.
Rightly anticipating trouble, Micheltorena would not consent to act as Governor
without the presence of troops. The Mexican government sent him 500 trained
soldiers. Captain Sutter, learning of the presence of the new Governor, sent him
a congratulatory message. In due time Micheltorena went to Monterey and made it
his capital. A very friendly correspondence sprang up between the Governor and
Captain Sutter. The latter had never seen Micheltorena, although he had been in
frequent correspondence; hence, in the fall of 1844 he concluded to make him a
visit at Monterey, and accordingly started upon the journey accompanied by two
persons, John Bidwell of Chico being one. They traveled on horseback, crossing
the San Joaquin River on improvised rafts, and camping out every night, except
one in San Jose. It was there that the Captain heard of a revolt brewing among
the native Mexicans, and he was first to convey the intelligence to Governor
Micheltorena; and while the party was there, the first blow was struck. This
convinced Sutter and Bidwell that they had better return north. Sutter, on his
return, put his fort in a more secure state of defense, as was usual upon an
uprising of the natives.

The native Californians desired the possession of the country and the formation
of an independent republic; but their leanings were against the Americans, and
more prejudiced, in fact, than were the Mexicans themselves. It was to the
interest of Governor Micheltorena to encourage the settlement in the country of
intelligent and energetic foreigners; hence he was friendly disposed toward that
class. In the struggle going on at that time, the majority of the Americans were
on his side, because hostility toward the government meant hostility to American
interests. The other foreigners naturally took sides with the Americans, and any
on the opposing side were, in the nature of the case, extremely obnoxious. 

    One Capt. C. M. Weber, however, was one American who took sides with and
aided the leaders of the Mexican malcontents against Governor Micheltorena; and
he carried the insurrection so far as to proceed to Sutter's Fort and attempt to
stir up dissatisfaction among the occupants. In case of any disturbance in the
political affairs of the country, the foreigners, for miles around, assembled at
the fort for mutual protection. Captain Weber, even after being cautioned,
continued in his insurrectionary work, until finally the occupants of the fort
held a meeting and, after consultation, framed and signed the following document: 

    "We, the subscribers, chosen as a Council of War, have unanimously resolved
the following: First, that Mr. Weber be put in irons and detained in the fort,
New Helvetia, until such time as we may receive orders from his Excellency, the
Governor, as regards his disposal; Second, that Mr. Pearson B. Reading be
requested to keep Mr. Weber in a convenient room and afford him such necessaries
as circumstances may admit of and his safe detention may require." 

    The sentence and instructions were not carried out in full, but Weber was
closely watched and guarded. 

    Micheltorena appealed to Sutter for assistance, which he agreed to render in
view of certain advantages to be derived by himself and the foreign residents in
the vicinity. The conditions imposed by Sutter, who was the magistrate in this
region, were that every petition for a grant of land which he as justice should
approve, was to be taken as granted, and that a copy of the general title which
the Governor then confirmed should be considered as binding as a formal grant. 

    Sutter started south with one hundred men, and was met at the residence of
Dr. Marsh, near Mt. Diablo, by J. Alexander Forbes, who in vain tried to
dissuade him from his undertaking. The result was that when the hostile armies
met, the foreigners were found on both sides, and, after a consultation,
withdrew, leaving the Mexicans to fight out their quarrel alone. Micheltorena
was defeated, and compelled to return to Mexico: Sutter was captured by the
insurgent leader, Castro, and only given his liberty upon the personal
interposition of Weber and others, to whom Castro was under obligations for
assistance. 

    The country now being in the hands of the native Californians, the
California "Deputation" declared Pio Pico Governor. Castro, not relishing this
selection, renewed his acts of dissension; but his plans were frustrated by the
appearance of John C. Fremont on his second exploring expedition in March, 1846.
Fremont had reached Sutter's Fort in 1844 and at that early date was known as
"The Pathfinder," being bent on establishing a transcontinental trail from the
East to the Pacific Coast. This time Fremont came down the Humboldt River,
directing the larger part of his exploring party to bear to the south until they
came to a certain pass which he imagined to exist there, and await his orders,
while he, with about eight men, followed the emigrant trail (which now had an
existence) into California. He came up the Truckee River, and down the north
side of the Bear River. At the time when General Bidwell's party crossed over
the mountains, in 1841, there was as yet no trail in existence. 

    Castro, having given Fremont permission to pass through the San Joaquin
Valley, soon proved untrue to his promise and ordered Fremont to leave. The
explorer was obliged to fortify himself on Hawks' Peak, thirty miles from
Monterey. Castro's forces appeared, but beyond a few mock assaults, did no
fighting; so that on the fourth day Fremont deemed it expedient to avoid actual
collision, and slowly marched north toward Oregon. Having passed the border, he
was overtaken by Lieutenant Gillespie, an army officer, with despatches, the
contents of which, together with the existing state of affairs, caused him to
return. Passing down the Sacramento Valley, he encamped for a time in the
Buttes, in Sutter County. The spot in the Buttes where Fremont camped now bears
a marker telling of the history attending it. This marker was placed on Sunday,
April 15, 1923, during a "landmark" celebration conducted under the auspices of
the Sutter-Yuba Bi-County Federation of Women's Clubs. The parlors of the Native
Sons and Native Daughters of Marysville took part in the program, which was
arranged by Miss Ada Ohleyer, daughter of George Ohleyer, pioneer of Sutter
County and newspaper man in his lifetime in Yuba City. Miss Ohleyer was aided by
Miss Edna Hewitt, then librarian in Sutter County's free library, and by the
chairmen of History and Landmarks in the Bi-County and District Federations of
Women's Clubs. The marker consists of a bronze tablet fittingly engraved and
attached to a huge boulder on the DeWitt place, not far from Sutter City. Many
organizations of Yuba and Sutter Counties took part in the celebration over the
placing of the marker, and there were many visitors from adjoining counties at
the behest of the civic and commercial bodies of Marysville and Yuba City. A
more detailed account of the celebration is given in a later chapter devoted to
the work of the women's clubs, in the History of Sutter County. 

    Fremont, while camped in the Buttes, was informed by a Mr. Knight that a
party of Mexican soldiers, under Lieutenant De Arce, in charge of a band of
horses, were traveling from Sonoma to the southern county. Fremont immediately
sent out a party, which, after passing Sutter's Fort, and without the knowledge
of Captain Sutter or any consultation with him, attacked the Mexicans on the
Cosumnes River, on June 11, capturing the horses and sending Lieutenant De Arce
and his men to report to Castro. The movement was claimed to be in defense of
the American settlers, but the real facts in the case were that no settler ever
implored Fremont for aid. All Americans believed, it is true, that the territory
should come under the control of the United States; but they desired the change
to be brought about by peaceful measures. The hunters who usually wintered at
Sutter's Fort were the first to rally around Fremont's camp. Sutter having at
one time complained of the acts of Fremont, the latter came down and told the
generous old pioneer that if he did not like what he (Fremont) was doing, he
would send him across the San Joaquin River and he could join the Mexicans.
Tuthill, in his "History of Califorina," states that the party who attacked
Lieutenant De Arce were under the leadership of Captain Merritt, and that they
were the persons who marched on Sonoma and formed the nucleus of the "Bear Flag
Party." 

    Following this assault on the Mexicans and the acts of the "Bear Flag
Party," Castro retreated to Los Angeles, and was promptly followed by Fremont.
Before any action occurred, the news of the raising of the Stars and Stripes at
Monterey by Commodore Sloat was heralded. Then followed a series of conflicts,
mostly of slight importance, the battles in California being supplementary to
the war in the East and South. After the war was ended, it became necessary for
the conquering forces to appoint a Governor. A contest ensued as to whether
Lieutenant Fremont, who had received a commission from Commodore Stockton, or
General Kearney should be the ruler. It was finally ended when Fremont, under
orders, accompanied General Kearney upon his march East. At Fort Leavenworth
Fremont was arrested, and at Fortress Monroe a court martial found him guilty of
mutiny, disobedience and disorderly conduct, and he was by its sentence deprived
of his commission. This ended his connection with the army, but did not serve to
dampen his ambition, or to sully his reputation as one to whom the gratitude of
all American citizens is due. 

    The early settlements of Yuba and Sutter Counties were parts of a series
extending through nearly the whole Sacramento Valley, and an account of the most
important will doubtless prove interesting. Sutter's map included a much larger
area than the Mexican laws would allow, and in order to hold the land he placed
tenants on various portions of the territory embraced within its limits.
Subsequently, when it was thought that he could not hold all the land applied
for, he endeavored to obtain a sobrante grant for his children; and this was
partly the motive that induced him to visit Governor Micheltorena at Monterey in
1844. 

    After the settlement at New Helvetia, the next point where a dwelling was
located was about two miles northeast of the fort, on the American River, in
1841. This location was made by John Sinclair for Capt. Elias Grimes and Hiram
Grimes, to whom Sutter afterwards sold it. It made a fine ranch and farm, and
was extensively stocked. 

    In 1842, Nicolaus Allgeier was placed on what is known as the town of
Nicolaus on the east bank of the Feather River. 

    The next two places were settled almost simultaneously in the fall of 1842.
Hock Farm, which subsequently became the home of Captain Sutter, was established
and made his principal stock farm, the animals ranging over that part of Sutter
County lying west of the Feather River and south of the Butte Mountains. The
land in the vicinity of the site of Marysville was leased to Theodore Cordua.
Cordua made a stock farm of it, and, to a limited extent, a trading post. He
obtained a few otter and beaver skins, and was continually passing to and from
Yerba Buena, trading, in his launch. The settlement of George Patterson on the
opposite side of the Yuba River, in 1845, was another of these locations in the
interest of Sutter, to hold the land. 

    The next grant was made to Charles W. Flugge, and was located on the west
bank of the Feather River adjoining the northern portion of Sutter's grant and
called the "Flugge Grant." It fell into the hands, by purchase, of Thomas O.
Lawton, as did also the Hernandez Grant. Larkin tried to locate the Flugge Grant
in the mining regions, but failed. Sicard's Grant (four leagues) and Johnson's
Grant (four leagues) on Bear River, were secured in 1844. About the same time,
grants were made to the present site of Vacaville, and to various other points
located in Yolo, Butte, and Tehama Counties. 

    The bottom lands of Yuba and Sutter Counties offered special inducements to
settlers, on account of their fertility and their contiguity to Sutter's
settlements. Having obtained from Captain Sutter, in the fall of 1842, a lease
for nineteen years of the tract of land upon which Marysville is now located.
Theodore Cordua erected, at what is now the foot of D Street, an adobe dwelling
house, a storehouse or trading room, culinary department and outhouses. The
walls of the dwelling were thick, and well constructed for withstanding a siege.
The spot was named "New Mecklenburg" by Captain Sutter, in honor of the place of
nativity of Cordua. It soon became known, however, as "Cordua's Ranch." the
neighboring settlers choosing the latter title in preference to the more
European name. Many of the Indians in the vicinity gathered about Cordua, and he
was able to utilize them in herding his animals, in tilling the soil, and in
gathering the products. Their village was located near where the railroad
crosses the Yuba River. On December 30, 1844, Cordua obtained from the Mexican
government a grant of land bounded on the north by the Feather River and Honcut
Creek, on the east by the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the south by
the Yuba River, and by the tract of land previously leased from Captain Sutter,
and on the west by the same land and the Feather River, embracing about seven
square leagues. 

    Cordua's house was located on the trail leading from the upper to the lower
portion of the Sacramento Valley; and as the country became more closely
settled, travel on this route became more extensive, until finally, in 1846,
Cordua conceived the idea of establishing a trading post at his adobe structure.
Provisions and supplies were brought from Yerba Buena and the lower settlements
in the valley, which, with the products of his own land and flocks, enabled him
to provide a suitable stock for his store. It is said that in 1847 and 1848 he
exported to the Sandwich Islands a large quantity of the products of his farm.
He soon found abundant opportunity to dispose of all he could produce in a
nearer market — a change brought about by the discovery of gold. In the summer
of 1847, when William G. Murphy, father of the present deputy postmaster of
Marysville, arrived at the ranch, Cordua had in his employ fifteen or twenty
Indians and white men, among whom was Charles Covillaud, who acted as mechanic
and overseer. At that time Cordua had about 10,000 or 12,000 cattle and 500 wild
mares. The latter were used for raising colts, while their luxuriant manes and
tails furnished material for "hair ropes." The bottom lands near the buildings
were cultivated to a small extent. 

    Theodore Sicard was a French sailor, and first came to California on a
voyage in 1835. Later he decided to remain in the country. He worked for Captain
Sutter at one time, in 1842 and 1843, superintending the operations at Hock Farm
in Sutter County. He petitioned for, and obtained from the Mexican government, a
grant of four Spanish leagues, extending from opposite the north of Dry Creek
ten miles up the south side of Bear River. His settlement was made in 1845, and
was on the south bank of Bear River, about half a mile above Johnson's Crossing.
In 1844, a Mexican, Don Pablo Gutierrez, who had been in the employ of Captain
Sutter, obtained a grant of five leagues on the north side of Bear River, now
known as the Johnson Grant, at the center of which is now the city of Wheatland,
often referred to as the "Hop Center of Yuba County." During this year,
Gutierrez built a mud house at the place afterwards called Johnson's Crossing.
Gutierrez was killed late in 1844, or early in 1845, and his grant and cattle
were sold at auction by Captain Sutter, as magistrate of the region, being
purchased for $150 by William Johnson and Sebastian Kyser, who settled there the
same year. Johnson was a sailor who had made voyages to California quite early,
and for several years previous to this purchase had traded between the Sandwich
Islands and Yerba Buena. Kyser had gone with Captain Sutter from Missouri,
accompanying him on his wandering tour from that State to New Mexico and up to
Oregon; here he remained while the Captain went on to the Sandwich Islands. When
Sutter arrived in California, in 1839, Kyser came down from Oregon and again
entered the service of his old employer. After the purchase, the grant was
divided, Johnson taking the east half, and Kyser the west. In 1846, they built
an adobe house below the crossing. 

    In 1845, George Patterson settled on the south side of the Yuba River,
opposite Cordua's ranch, under a lease from Captain Sutter, and constructed an
adobe house. He cultivated some land and dug a ditch, which at that period was
the substitute for a fence. Jack Smith at one time lived with atterson on this
grant. This was known as "Sutter's Garden," and the occupation of the tract was
made by his proxy, Patterson. The soil was cultivated only sufficiently to
comply with the laws under whose terms land was held. 

    During the year 1845, Charles Roether, a German, settled on the north side
of Honcut Creek, in Butte County, one-half mile from the stream and about two
miles from its mouth. 

    Jack Smith, an old sailor, who had been in Sutter's employ, obtained from
him in 1844 a grant of land on the south side of Yuba River, extending from the
site of Linda three miles up the stream and one mile back. He settled there in
1845, and built a cabin on the location of the subsequent town of Linda. In
1846, Smith sold the center mile of this tract to George Patterson. The
purchaser had come to California in 1841, in one of the ships belonging to the
Hudson Bay Company. He escaped from the vessel at night and took refuge on Goat
Island in San Francisco Bay. An attempt was made that night by John Rose to
rescue him in a boat, but it was unsuccessful. Patterson found his way to this
valley and entered the employ of Sutter. In 1847, Michael Nye purchased a
portion of the Sutter grant adjoining Smith on the west. The tract was one mile
in extent along the south bank of the stream, and one and one-half miles in
depth. In the latter part of 1847, when William G. Murphy moved from Cordua's
ranch to Nye's place, Nye had 700 head of cattle, and Smith, 800; in partnership
they owned 150 wild horses. The house occupied by Smith was of peculiar
construction. Ends of stout poles were sunk into the ground, and willows
interwoven horizontally, forming a sort of basket work; a heavy coating of soft
clay was placed on both sides and the roof thatched with tules brought from
Nicolaus. The floor was constructed of sunburned brick and earth pounded down
firm and smooth. A coat of whitewash was the only covering of the bare and
unsightly walls. Nye built his dwelling in 1847, making a more pretentious and
commodious structure of two rooms. The walls were thick and constructed of
adobe; the roof was covered with split shakes, brought from the river bottom
opposite Cordua Ranch. 

    On October 18, 1846, there arrived at Bear River a company of emigrants,
several members of which were to play important parts in the settlement and
development of Yuba and Sutter Counties. Of these, Claude Chana, late of
Wheatland, was one of the leading spirits. Born in the department of Rouen,
France, in 1811, he came to New Orleans, arriving on March 7, 1839, where he
worked as a cooper. He was one of the first settlers of the town of St. Joseph,
Mo., where he settled in 1841. While there, he heard from an old trapper who had
been through the Sacramento Valley, of the wonderful climate of California and
of the flourishing settlement of John A. Sutter. In 1846 he sold his property in
St. Joseph to this trapper and joined a train that was crossing the plains. This
train consisted of 500 wagons and over 1000 men. They crossed the Missouri River
on May 10, 1846. The train contained emigrants for Oregon, Utah, California and
other destinations. The emigrants organized into companies, according to the
place of their destination, Mr. Chana being in what was called the California
Company, and this party led the train. In 1846 Charles Covillaud, who was a
member of the same company, and Michael Nye, a member of General Bidwell's
party, entered the employ of Cordua; Chana, who had brought his cooper tools,
went to work for Sutter, at the fort, making water tanks, barrels, churns,
pails, etc., for settlers throughout the whole valley. 

    In 1847, Baptiste Rouelle, the discoverer of gold in the mountains near the
Mission of San Fernando, settled near Sutter's Garden on the south bank of the
Yuba River. During the spring of 1847, the survivors of the Donner party
arrived, many remaining at the settlements in this vicinity; among these were
the members of the Murphy family, a direct descendant of which family, Ernest
Murphy, is at present a resident of Marysville, and occupies the position of
deputy postmaster of the city. 

    The contiguity of Yuba and Sutter Counties, we here repeat, renders the
record of their early settlement almost inseparable, and to fully appreciate the
situation of affairs during that period, it is well to understand the relative
locations in Sutter County. There were only two settlements of note in that
county up to 1848 — at Hock Farm and Nicolaus. At Hock Farm, after its location,
lived Theodore Sicard and a man named Dupont. In the spring of 1843, John
Bidwell went up to take charge of the farm. He built the house during the
summer, the adobes being made on the place. Sicard and Dupont sawed boards for
its construction out of the cottonwood trees. These were the only white men
there until near the close of the year, when J. C. Bridges came from Kentucky;
he died during the winter. On Hock Farm, Sutter had about 5000 head of cattle
and 1200 horses. He employed about twenty-five Indian vaqueros in herding the
animals and breaking horses. General Bidwell remained there fourteen months, to
the early part of the summer of 1844, and during that time planted some trees
and otherwise improved the spot. William Bennitz then took charge and continued
there for a year, to the summer of 1845. Major Hensley followed, remaining until
the spring of 1846, when nearly all of Sutter's force went into the Mexican War,
the farm being left in the charge of "Yankee Jim," a Kanaka, whom Captain Sutter
had brought from the "Islands." It was not until the spring of 1850, after the
discovery of gold, that Sutter moved to Hock Farm. His fort was so occupied with
traders, that every available room was taken, and every suitable place was in
demand for the numerous stores to supply the rush of miners to the mining
districts. Peter H. Burnett was left as Sutter's agent for the sale of lots in
Sacramento, and when the former was elected Governor, H. A. Schoolcraft was
appointed in his place. Burnett received a commission of 25 per cent for
effecting sales and making deeds. Sutter fixed up the house on Hock Farm and
built the iron structure. It was erected for a storehouse, and was bought from
parties who had brought it "around the Horn." 

    In 1842, as mentioned above, Nicolaus Allgeier was settled at the location
of the present town of Nicolaus. This gentleman was born in Freiberg, Germany,
in 1807, and came to America about 1830. He went into the employ of the Hudson
Bay Company as a trapper, and in that capacity spent a number of years in the
wilds of British America. It was while in this service, in 1839 or 1840, that he
came overland to California. A short time after his arrival here, he left the
employ of the company and engaged to work for Captain Sutter. He assisted in the
construction of an adobe house, about one and one-half miles below Hock Farm, in
the winter of 1841-1842. This was Sutter's first establishment in Sutter County,
and the first settlement of any kind made in this vicinity. The plains between
the Sacramento and Feather Rivers were used by Sutter as a grazing range for
immense bands of horses and cattle. The road from his establishment at New
Helvetia to the one at Hock Farm crossed the river at Nicolaus, and Sutter
desired some one stationed at that point with a ferry to assist in the
transportation of men, cattle, horses, supplies, etc., across the stream. He
therefore deeded to Allgeier a tract one mile square at that place, in
consideration of the labor he had performed, and of the services he should
render in the future in the manner described, all valued at $400. This land
commenced 400 yards above the old adobe house and extended one mile down the
stream. When Allgeier first settled there in 1842, he built a small hut of poles
covered with tule grass and dirt. In this he lived for several years, until, in
1847, he constructed a small adobe house near the old ferry crossing, about 150
yards above the landing recently abandoned when, in 1921, a bridge was built by
Sutter County as a substitute for the ferry. A primitive ferry-boat was
constructed in 1843, which the Indians rowed across in transacting the business
of the crossing. 


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF YUBA and SUTTER COUNTIES 
CALIFORNIA 
WITH 
Biographical Sketches OF 
The Leading Men and Women of the Counties Who Have Been Identified with Their
Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present 

HISTORY BY 
PETER J. DELAY 

ILLUSTRATED 
COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME 

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1924


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yuba/history/1924/historyo/chapter1315gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/

File size: 31.5 Kb