Volume 043-3 - July 1989 (8 pages)

ov Early Sawmills in Nevada County The early Spanish or Mexican inhabitants of California did not build sawmills. Their houses and buildings were constructed of adobe while the small amount of lumber, needed for other purposes could easily be prepared by using hand tools. This changed when the influx of nonSpanish speaking people became noticeable. These people wanted wooden houses, which required lumber and, after the discovery of gold, lumber for mining purposes became increasingly in demand. The earliest sawmill in California probably was the one built by J. B. Cooper at the Russian River in 1834, Later, Isaac Graham built one in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1842 and Stephen Smith built one at Bodega Bay in 1844. The latter mill was obviously intended to provide lumber for houses in Yerba Buena, the later San Francisco'. And, of course, we all remember the sawmill which James Marshall built for John Sutter in Coloma, 1847-48. Because they play a role in the history of the sawmills of Nevada County, we first will have --f0.say.something about Johnson’s Ranch and -Camp Far West. Johnson’s Ranch and Camp Far West John Sutter, the well-known pioneer, arrived at Yerba Buena (San Francisco) in 1839. At that time, Juan Bautista was governor (1836-42). Soon after his arrival, Sutter organized an expedition up the Sacramento River to find a location to settle down. He found one near the location where the American River joins the Sacramento River. Subsequently, Sutter applied for a land grant. Eleven square leagues were granted to Sutter by Governor Alvarado? on 18 June 1841. Here he started Sutter’s Fort. In 1842, Manuel Micheltorena was sent from Mexico to replace Alvarado as governor. He brought with him a small army, part of which consisted of cholos, that is, released prison inmates. He was reported to be friendly to foreigners and this, together with antagonism to his army of cholos made him very unpopular to most of the Mexicans. In the summer of 1843, Sutter was visited by a Dr. G. M. W. Sandels, a well-educated gentleman, who hailed from Sweden? Later he wrote about his observations in California under the pen-name of “the King’s Orphan”. He had some experience of gold mining in South America and, upon hearing this. Sutter asked him to “‘find him a gold mine’. Sandels tried to discourage Sutter from entering the gold mining business, but agreed to look around Hock Farm and the Sutter Buttes‘. Upon his return, Sandels stated that there were some indications of the presence of gold, but did not have the time to follow this up. 18 Part One by Peter W. van der Pas Around that time, a Mexican, Pablo Gutierrez was working for Sutter at Hock Farm as a vaquero. He claimed to have knowledge of gold mining and reported to have found a kind of black sand, indicative of the presence of gold, on Bear River. He stated however that the gold could only be recovered by the use of a batea, an instrument, unknown to Sutter’s people. It was decided to obtain one from Mexico. Pablo’s knowledge of gold mining was apparently not too profound; it seems that he did not know that a batea was simply a gold pan. At that time, there were three “political” groups in California. We may call them the Mexicans, those who felt comfortable under Mexican rule, the Californians, who resented Mexican rule and the Foreigners, immigrants from the United States and other countries. Part of the latter group sympathized with the Mexicans; they were mainly found in Northern California. Another part sympathized with the Californians; they were mainly found in Southern California. Still other Foreigners were neutral. In the summer of 1844.there was talk of an insurrection against Micheltorena Sutter sympathized with this movement and stérted to prepare for armed assistance to Micheltorena. On 15 November 1844, the revolt, led by Alvarado and Manuel Castro, started in Monterey‘. Sutter decided to support Micheltorena and, in the beginning of December 1844, sent a messenger to Micheltorena with proposals for assistance. This messenger was Pablo Gutierrez’, He reached Micheltorena and returned safely. However, on a second mission he was not so fortunate; he was caught by soldiers of Alvarado and Castro, accused of being a spy and summarily hanged from a tree. He was probably the only casualty in this insurrection. Bancroft, in his History of California does not mention Gutierrez; only in his Pioneer Register’ does he say: “Bidwell says that he was captured and hanged by Castro in the Micheltorena campaign. Sutter tells a similar story, but I know nothing further of the matter”. However, in his Life in California before the Gold Discovery, Bidwell mentions the Gutiertez incident®, This article however, was published after the volumes of Bancroft’s History of California. We must realize that Bancroft was in favor of Alvarado and Castro. It is possible that Sutter visited Micheltorena on 22 December 1844, for on that day the governor signed a land grant of five square leagues on the Bear River in favor of Pablo Gutierrez. At the same time he promised Sutter, as a reward for his future services, a large land grant, from which Sutter could assign portions to foreigners at his discretion. It is probable that Gutierrez was no more alive at this time: it is significant that the grant was made by Micheltorena and Sutter to Pablo Gutierrez?. On New Year’s Day 1845 Sutter marched southward with a band of Foreigners and Indians to help Micheltorena. We will not describe this “civil war” which followed, but only mention that it ended with the “battle” of Cahuenga on 20 February 1845; there were no casualties. For several reasons, Micheltorena’s Foreigners left him; therefore he had to surrender on 22 February. This was the end of Micheltorena’s and the beginning of Pio Pico’s governorship. Micheltorena fulfilled his promise to Sutter by granting a sobrante (excess land) of 22 square leagues to Sutter. However, two different dates are mentioned. In one reference'®, the date is given as 25 February; in the other one as 5 February"! If the first mentioned date is correct, the grant was invalid for, on 25 February, Micheltorena was not governor any more. In addition, land grants could not exceed 11 square leagues and the sobrante land grant was therefore invalid..No. wonder that the Land Commission refeted the grant! ° XX After his retorn from the ‘‘war”, Sutter, as magistrate of:the region, sold the Gutierrez grantat auction to William Johnson and Sebastien Keyser for 150 dollars. The story of Johnson's Ranch, as it became known, is told by Jack and Richard Steed'2. They tell us that, on 24 March 1849, Johnson sold his half of the ranch for 9000 dollars and on 10 November of that year, Keyser sold his half for 6000 dollars, both to Eugene Gillespie and Henry Robinson. For our story, Johnson’s Ranch as it continued to be called is of importance as the site of Camp Far West. This army outpost was intended as an auxiliary depot near the mining districts and to aid the Indian Agents in preventing the oppression by lawless white men of peaceful Indians, dwelling in the valley and in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. In addition, the soldiers had to check those tribes who showed a decided hostility towards the settlers'*, The camp was located on the Bear River and occupied one square mile on the north side of the river in addition to a strip of 200 yards on the south side. It was located a few miles east of the ranch house and was established on 28 September 1849. The commanding officer was Captain Hamilton Day. First lieutenant Nelson H. Davis and Second lieutenant Henry B. Hendershot are mentioned as officers, in addition to Brev. Major Justus McKinstry as assistant quartermaster and Assistant Surgeon Robert Murray as medical officer. This army post had many problems. In a list of on army posts, Camp Far West is mentioned as’ follows!*: “Sacramento, Post on Bear Creek. Two companies of infantry, To cover themselves by their own labor, with materials to be found

ov Early Sawmills in Nevada County The early Spanish or Mexican inhabitants of California did not build sawmills. Their houses and buildings were constructed of adobe while the small amount of lumber, needed for other purposes could easily be prepared by using hand tools. This changed when the influx of nonSpanish speaking people became noticeable. These people wanted wooden houses, which required lumber and, after the discovery of gold, lumber for mining purposes became increasingly in demand. The earliest sawmill in California probably was the one built by J. B. Cooper at the Russian River in 1834, Later, Isaac Graham built one in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1842 and Stephen Smith built one at Bodega Bay in 1844. The latter mill was obviously intended to provide lumber for houses in Yerba Buena, the later San Francisco'. And, of course, we all remember the sawmill which James Marshall built for John Sutter in Coloma, 1847-48. Because they play a role in the history of the sawmills of Nevada County, we first will have --f0..say.something about Johnson’s Ranch and -Camp Far West.. Johnson’s Ranch and Camp Far West John Sutter, the well-known pioneer, arrived at Yerba Buena (San Francisco) in 1839. At that time, Juan Bautista was governor (1836-42). Soon after his arrival, Sutter organized an expedition up the Sacramento River to find a location to settle down. He found one near the location where the American River joins the Sacramento River. Subsequently, Sutter applied for a land grant. Eleven square leagues were granted to Sutter by Governor Alvarado? on 18 June 1841. Here he started Sutter’s Fort. In 1842, Manuel Micheltorena was sent from Mexico to replace Alvarado as governor. He brought with him a small army, part of which consisted of cholos, that is, released prison inmates. He was reported to be friendly to foreigners and this, together with antagonism to his army of cholos made him very unpopular to most of the Mexicans. In the summer of 1843, Sutter was visited by a Dr. G. M. W. Sandels, a well-educated gentleman, who hailed from Sweden? Later he wrote about his observations in California under the pen-name of “the King’s Orphan”. He had some experience of gold mining in South America and, upon hearing this. Sutter asked him to “‘find him a gold mine’. Sandels tried to discourage Sutter from entering the gold mining business, but agreed to look around Hock Farm and the Sutter Buttes‘. Upon his return, Sandels stated that there were some indications of the presence of gold, but did not have the time to follow this up. 18 Part One by Peter W. van der Pas Around that time, a Mexican, Pablo Gutierrez was working for Sutter at Hock Farm as a vaquero. He claimed to have knowledge of gold mining and reported to have found a kind of black sand, indicative of the presence of gold, on Bear River. He stated however that the gold could only be recovered by the use of a batea, an instrument, unknown to Sutter’s people. It was decided to obtain one from Mexico. Pablo’s knowledge of gold mining was apparently not too profound; it seems that he did not know that a batea was simply a gold pan. At that time, there were three “political” groups in California. We may call them the Mexicans, those who felt comfortable under Mexican rule, the Californians, who resented Mexican rule and the Foreigners, immigrants from the United States and other countries. Part of the latter group sympathized with the Mexicans; they were mainly found in Northern California. Another part sympathized with the Californians; they were mainly found in Southern California. Still other Foreigners were neutral. In the summer of 1844..there was talk of an insurrection against Micheltorena Sutter sympathized with this movement and stérted to prepare for armed assistance to Micheltorena. On 15 November 1844, the revolt, led by Alvarado and Manuel Castro, started in

Monterey‘. Sutter decided to support Micheltorena and, in the beginning of December 1844, sent a messenger to Micheltorena with proposals for assistance. This messenger was Pablo Gutierrez’, He reached Micheltorena and returned safely. However, on a second mission he was not so fortunate; he was caught by soldiers of Alvarado and Castro, accused of being a spy and summarily hanged from a tree. He was probably the only casualty in this insurrection. Bancroft, in his History of California does not mention Gutierrez; only in his Pioneer Register’ does he say: “Bidwell says that he was captured and hanged by Castro in the Micheltorena campaign. Sutter tells a similar story, but I know nothing further of the matter”. However, in his Life in California before the Gold Discovery, Bidwell mentions the Gutiertez incident®, This article however, was published after the volumes of Bancroft’s History of California. We must realize that Bancroft was in favor of Alvarado and Castro. It is possible that Sutter visited Micheltorena on 22 December 1844, for on that day the governor signed a land grant of five square leagues on the Bear River in favor of Pablo Gutierrez. At the same time he promised Sutter, as a reward for his future services, a large land grant, from which Sutter could assign portions to foreigners at his discretion. It is probable that Gutierrez was no more alive at this time: it is significant that the grant was made by Micheltorena and Sutter to Pablo Gutierrez?. On New Year’s Day 1845 Sutter marched southward with a band of Foreigners and Indians to help Micheltorena. We will not describe this “civil war” which followed, but only mention that it ended with the “battle” of Cahuenga on 20 February 1845; there were no casualties. For several reasons, Micheltorena’s Foreigners left him; therefore he had to surrender on 22 February. This was the end of Micheltorena’s and the beginning of Pio Pico’s governorship. Micheltorena fulfilled his promise to Sutter by granting a sobrante (excess land) of 22 square leagues to Sutter. However, two different dates are mentioned. In one reference'®, the date is given as 25 February; in the other one as 5 February"! If the first mentioned date is correct, the grant was invalid for, on 25 February, Micheltorena was not governor any more. In addition, land grants could not exceed 11 square leagues and the sobrante land grant was therefore invalid...No. wonder that the Land Commission refeted the grant! ° XX After his retorn from the ‘‘war”, Sutter, as magistrate of:the region, sold the Gutierrez grantat auction to William Johnson and Sebastien Keyser for 150 dollars. The story of Johnson's Ranch, as it became known, is told by Jack and Richard Steed'2. They tell us that, on 24 March 1849, Johnson sold his half of the ranch for 9000 dollars and on 10 November of that year, Keyser sold his half for 6000 dollars, both to Eugene Gillespie and Henry Robinson. For our story, Johnson’s Ranch as it continued to be called is of importance as the site of Camp Far West. This army outpost was intended as an auxiliary depot near the mining districts and to aid the Indian Agents in preventing the oppression by lawless white men of peaceful Indians, dwelling in the valley and in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. In addition, the soldiers had to check those tribes who showed a decided hostility towards the settlers'*, The camp was located on the Bear River and occupied one square mile on the north side of the river in addition to a strip of 200 yards on the south side. It was located a few miles east of the ranch house and was established on 28 September 1849. The commanding officer was Captain Hamilton Day. First lieutenant Nelson H. Davis and Second lieutenant Henry B. Hendershot are mentioned as officers, in addition to Brev. Major Justus McKinstry as assistant quartermaster and Assistant Surgeon Robert Murray as medical officer. This army post had many problems. In a list of on army posts, Camp Far West is mentioned as’ follows!*: “Sacramento, Post on Bear Creek. Two companies of infantry, To cover themselves by their own labor, with materials to be found