Collection: Directories and Documents > Tanis Thorne Native Californian & Nisenan Collection

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Title: Memoirs of Theodor Cordua - Pioneer of New Mecklenburg in the Sacramento Valley (December 1933) Collection Type: Directories and Documents Collection Name: Tanis Thorne Native Californian & Nisenan Collection Author: Erwin G. Gudde Publisher: California Historical Society Published: December 1933 # of Pages: 25 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

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Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

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The Pioneer of New Mecklenburg 4 ARRIVAL IN CALIFORNIA In a San Francisco weekly, the Alta California, December 1, 1855 (No. 47), the following article appeared:' HISTORY OF MARYSVILLE The early settlement of Marysville is a matter of much importance to its correct history, and it is due those whose enterprise opened the way to what is now a flourishing city, that their names, at least, appear as the true Pioneers. In 1841, Theodore Cordua settled in the forks of the Yuba and Feather rivers, where the city now stands, under a lease from Gen. Sutter, running nine years with the privilege of nine more. He remained in person on the property until January, 1849. During this term of nearly eight years, he erected several adobe houses, including his residence, granaries and other out-houses necessary for a ranch. These were at the foot of D and High streets, where a portion of the adobe walls are still standing. Cordua had from 3000 to 4000 head of cattle, and about 1000 head of horses—all of which might be termed wild stock, there being no market to justify the pains necessary to tame them. The cattle were only killed for the hide and the tallow, the meat being given to the Indians as far as they could use it. In October, 1848, Charles Covillaud purchased one-half of Cordua’s entire interest, being the lease of about two leagues from Sutter, and the Honcut Ranch of seven leagues, which was granted to Cordua by the Mexican Government, 1849—the lease and grant joining each other, and also the stock before named. In the spring of 1849, M. C. Nye and William Forster bought the remaining interest of Cordua in the land and stock. In the fall of the same year they sold the interest they had purchased of Cordua to Mr. Covillaud, who then became owner of this vast and valuable ranch. In the latter part of 1849, Mr. Covillaud sold three-fourths of his interest to John Sampson, J. M. Ramirez and Theodore Sicard; and in January, 1850, the town of Marysville was laid off by the four parties in connection, under the name of C. Covillaud & Co. There were a great variety of opinions as to what should be the name of the embryo city. Some wanted to call it Yubaville, and some deeds were made out in that name. Others wanted to call it “Yuba City,” some “Norwich” and some “Sicardora” —that being the favorite of Colonel Perry. While the discussion of the name was pending, a public meeting was called to take into consideration the general interests of the new city. At this meeting, Capt. Edward Power, from St. Louis, proposed to name it after Mrs. Covillaud, who was then the only white lady living on the town plot. Her name being Mary, it was then and there determined that the city should be named MARYSVILLE.— Marysville Express. In general the data in this short history of the origin of the important town of Marysville are correct. Yet several minor mistakes and inaccuracies have crept in which I shall endeavor to correct when the occasion arises. On the twentieth of May, 1842 (not 1841), I landed safely in Monterey, the residence of the Governor and [the site of] the chief custom house of Upper California. The Governor at that time was Sefior Alvarado. All ships which wanted to trade in California had to anchor first at Monterey in order to pay the high duty according to the Mexican tariff. Monterey had a Catholic church and but few streets which were built up entirely. Many streets had only a few houses here and there. There was not yet any pavement nor were there any gates. The whole place looked as if it were yet to become a town. From a distance, however, its two hundred white adobe houses on a gentle slope, surrounded on all sides by proud coniferous forests, made a very interesting and even surprising impression upon me, a northern European who came from the tropics. On the arrival of a ship from Boston or from the Sandwich Islands a ball was usually arranged. All foreigners were invited, and from the surrounding country the rancheros with their families assembled. The dances were similar to ours. Guadrillos, waltzes, and reales followed one after another. The music was primitive. A wind instrument, the tambourine, the guitar and one violin made up the usual orchestra. In September, I made a boat trip via Yerba Buena (later San Francisco) to visit Captain Sutter and his Fort of Nova Helvetia in the Sacramento Valley.” I conceived the plan of settling there too as a farmer. Before settling, however, I decided to visit the southern part of Upper California. For this purpose I took passage in Yerba Buena on the bark Don Quijote; Captain John Paty had recently arrived from the Sandwich Islands to trade his cargo of goods for skins and tallow. All harbors from San Diego to the Bay of San Francisco were visited going and returning. The supercargo usually traveled on horse and announced the arrival of the ship to customers and friends. In the stern of the ship, in front of the cabin staircase, the steerage was like a regular store provided with all kinds of goods. Here 1 Reprinted from the Daily Alto California, Nov. 28, 1835, Vol. IV, No. 298. 2 Sutter had estabbshed his famous settlement in 1839.