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HISTORY

OF

EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

EARLY

CHAPTER I.

DISCOVERIES

AND EXPLORATION OF THE
COAST AND LOWER CALIFORNIA.

1st of July, 1769, that Father Junipero Serro, a Franciscan monk, and President of the expedition, sent by Spain from Mexico, for the purpose of re-exploring and colonizing the territory of Upper California, after Vasco Numez de Balboa Discovers the Ocean Beyond AmericaMagellan Naming It the Pacific-Cortez's Account of An a journey of forty-six days overland, arrived at San Island of Amazons-First Exploring Expedition in 1534, Diego, and starting immediately to establish the first and Its Fate-Second Expedition in 1536, and Establishing mission at San Diego as a permanent settlement of white the First Colony-The Name of California Mentioned for men, did the first step to introduce the then almost the First Time—Exploration on the Coast, Further North; entirely unknown country of Upper California, comprisCape Mendocino, Farallone Islands-Francis Drake in Search of the Straits of Anian-First Landing and Firsting our beautiful State, to be chronicled in the history

Possessory Claim to the Country-Discovery of San Diego and Monterey Harbors in 1602–King Philip III, of Spain, Urging to New Explorations; Wants a Supply Station for the East India Galleons-Admiral Otondo's Expedition; Founding La Paz-Father Kino Studying the Indians and Teaching them the Catholic Faith-The Military Govern ment Abandons All Efforts of Occupying California by Colonization-Father Kino's Scheme to Elevate the Indians by Religion and Industry-Gaining Assistance of Tierra and Ugarte-The King's Warrant for the Conquest of Souls-Work Started and Possession Taken of Country October 25, 1697-Indian Troubles, and to Induce Them to Work-The Plan of Operation Proved to be a SuccessThe Jesuits Banished, the Franciscans Take Their Place, but Turn the Missions to the Dominicans-The Franciscans on the Missionary Conquest in Upper California-Expedition Fitted Up, Father Junipero Serra, President-Arrival of Expedition at San Diego.

of the civilized world.

For a full understanding of the history of Upper California, however, we deem it our duty to recapitulate in short, chronological order, the historical events of Lower California and of the coast generally; going back for a term of fully two and a half centuries from the aforementioned date, the first incident that attracts our attention: the discovery of the Pacific Ocean in 1513, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a Spaniard, when guided by Indians to the place upon the heights of Panama, where he, the first white man, was fortunate enough to add to the great discoveries of his days one of the highest importance; taking in the sight of the waters "beyond America," the great Pacific Ocean spread out before him.

That the navigators of the sixteenth century did not It was in the eventful year of 1769, when on the keep in idleness toward this great discovery, but tried Atlantic side of this continent, Boon and Croghan to make it useful to navigation, proves the ill-fated and kindred frontiersmen were looking from the sum- Portuguese Magellan, who six years after, in 1519, in mits of the Alleghanies to the forbidden regions command of the Nictoria, started on his famous voybeyond; only a year after John Finley had reported age, which solved the promblem of the long soughtthat there was not a white man's cabin in all the for route to the Indies. It was he who gave to our enchanting wilderness of Kentucky; the same year ocean the name of "Pacific," after having entered it when two great men, both military heroes in their by the way of the " Ten Thousand Virgins,” as he had future lives, were ushered into this world: Napoleon called it-now Magellan Straits-where he had been for and Wellington, whose names and acts have filled the sixty-three days beating up through it against tempest most important pages in the book of history; when and adverse currents, with the tide rising or falling the seed of liberty, planted among the granite hills of thirty feet, it is easy to comprehend that the comparaNew England, commenced to show some hope for a tively quiet water that stretched out before him, urged fine sprouting, and father Time wrote upon one of the him to the expression, "Pacific." This was the first mile-posts of eternity, "1769, the commencement of European vessel that ever plowed the waters of the a brighter day for children of men." It was on the Pacific Ocean, the first to make the voyage around

the world, returning to Spain three years after starting Cortez soon left for Mexico, where impending out, but her commander Magellan was not between troubles and the fear of a revolt made his presence the lucky circumnavigators, he died at the Philippine necessary; he gone, the colony, lacking the strong Islands.

hand of its organizor, after a few months followed the same example, and Lower California was again left to the Indians. Of four more attempts of exploring the Pacific Coast north of Mexico made by the

mand of Juan Rodrignez Cabrillo, in 1542, was important enough mentioning; on March 10th, 1543, in latitude 44°, the coast of Oregon was reached, and then he returned. After Mendoza, viceroy of Mexico and a friend of the commander, Cape Mendozino was named; he also gave the name to the Farallone Islands, opposite the Golden Gate.

Fernando Cortez, the great Spanish conqueror and governor of the Spanish colonies in America, under date of October 15, 1524, sent to his monarch, Charles V, a letter in which he says to be Spaniards during the century, but the one in comon the approach of entering upon the conquest of Colima, on the South Sea (Pacific), Colima being now one of the States of Mexico. He further on gives notice of the existence of an island of Amazons abounding in pearls and gold, lying ten days' journey from Colima, he had been informed. In reference to this letter the Jesuit historian, Miguel Venegas, living about two hundred years later, says: "The account of the pearls inclines me to think that these were the first intimations we had of California and its gulf." In 1534 Cortez fitted up an expedition for exploration purposes. A mutiny headed by Ortun Ximenes, the pilot, broke out on board the vessel; but after the death of the captain and some of his officers, the expedition under Ximenes' charge, continuing the search, discovered the Peninsula of Lower California, and made a landing somewhere between La Paz and Cape St. Lucas. While on shore Ximenes and twenty of his men were killed by Indians, the remainder of the crew returned to Chametla, and reported to have found a country numerously peopled, along the shores of which valuable beds of pearls were seen.

For a long time it was believed in England and stated so in most all histories that Francis Drake, one of the boldest and most reckless English buccaneers, who afterwards was knighted on account of his being the most successful robber on the high seas, was the discoverer of the Bay of San Francisco, that in its waters he had cast anchor for thirty-six days. The fact is, that in 1578 he passed around Cape Horn into the Pacific Ocean, and was the terror of the Spanish shipping along the coast, plundering under pretext of existing war between England and Spain. He captured the East India galleon on her way home, loaded with wealth, and sailed north with the intention of going home to England by passing through the fabulous Straits of Anian, thus avoiding to be attacked by the Spanish fleet, which he knew was waiting for him off Magellan Straits. That way following his course north, until he reached about latitude 48°, though in midsummer 1579, he experienced such cold weather that he was forced to abandon all hope of a north

To test the news of the mutineers another expedition was fitted up by Cortez in 1536, and sailed under his own command; he landed on the 1st day of May, at the same place where Ximenes had been killed. Here on a bay called by him Santa Cruz, he established a colony, and sent back his four vessels for sup-eastern passage, and returning entered, on June 17th, plies and the remainder of his party. But only one of the vessels ever returned, the whole other squadron had stranded on the Mexican Coast, a total loss; as Cortez, going in search of them himself soon did find out. Returning to the colony with fresh provisions he found the latter in a most miserable condition, many had died of starvation or overeating from the provisions he brought with him. The historian Gomara says: "And Cortez, that he might no longer be a spec tator of such miseries, went on further discoveries and landed in California, which is a bay." And Venegas, the already mentioned California historian of 1758, referring to the stated passage of Gomara says: "that it likewise proves that this name was properly that of a bay, which Cortez discovered on the coast, and used to signify the whole peninsula."

This is the first appearance of the name California, applied to any definite point on the Pacific Coast.

1579, what the accompanying historian Reverend Fletcher called a "fair, good bay, within thirty-eight degrees of latitude of the line." This exactly corresponds with what is generally known as Drake's Bay, immediately behind to the south side of Point Reyes, where he anchored for thirty-six days, and after having made a landing, and taken possession of the country. for England, Drake started away for home by way of the Philippine Islands and Cape of Good Hope. At all events it is now generally conceded that Sir Francis Drake never entered the Golden Gate, and never discovered that beautiful inland lake, the Bay of San Francisco, he only is entitled to having been the first of European race who landed on the coast of Upper California, as far as historial record is able to prove.

Another expedition sailed from Acapulco on May 5th, 1602, under command of Sebastian Viscaino, who anxious to cause the record of his name in history,

passed north along the California coast and discovered the harbors of San Diego and Monterey, further on searching for other harbors that could be of use to supply the East India galleons, he kept his course close under the shore continuing north. But the mentioning that is made by the historian Juan de Torquemada, who writes in 1615, as follows: "He anchored behind a point of rocks called 'La Punta de los Reyes,' in the port of San Francisco," means uncoubtedly Drake's Bay, and to connect it with the bay of San Francisco is based on some mistake. He just saw as little as Drake, or passed through the straits of the Golden Gate, that connects the Bay of San Francisco with the ocean, and—after our opinion -it remains doubtful whether the outlet channel of the Golden Gate was in existence at that time, or was formed since. Viscaino continued his voyage north and returned to Mexico 1603.

A message of King Philip III, of Spain, to his viceroy in Mexico, dated August 16th, 1606, issues orders for further exploration of the coast and its occupation, stating his reason therein as follows:

"Don Pedro de Acunno, Knight of the order of St.

John, my governor and captain-general of the Philip pian Islands, and President of my royal audience there :-You are hereby given to understand that Don Louis de Valasco, my late Viceroy in New Spain, in regard to the great distance between the port of Acapulco and those islands, the fatigue, hardships and danger of voyage, for want of a port where ships might put in and provide themselves with water, wood, masts and other things of absolute necessity, determined to make a discovery, and draughts, with observation of harbors along the coast, from New Spain to these Islands."

but resulted in the ruin of the colony and the abandonment of the occupation of California.

After all these failures to secure a colonization and final occupation of California, the Spanish Government was not discouraged at all, having acknowledged the importance of the country, she still was determined. not to give up, but only changed the base of aggression, when soliciting the society of Jesu to undertake the conquest; but the Jesuits declined though a premium of $40,000 to be paid out of the royal treasure was offered to aid them in the enterprise. And after all, losing this last hope, Spain was enforced to give up the idea to hold a country which for one hundred and forty-seven years, since Cortez first took possession of it, had proved a source of expenditure; millions had been spent and nothing realized through all these unsuccessful attempts to occupy a country which always was believed to be a rival to the legendary El Dorado. Spain, the proud Spain, had to acknowledge. her defeat, and California was left again to her native tribes. To give the reader an idea of the vast treasures that Spain had spent in useless exploring and colonization expeditions of this coast, we give the tion under Cortez, 1536, footed up to $400,000, and figures of the first and last one in detail: the expedithe last one under Otondo, 1683, had cost $225,400.

But the idea of acquisition of the country on the Pacific coast did not die out; it was not even allowed to rest for a long time. For this time it was a simple to rest for a long time. monk, Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, or Kuhn as

his name in his native country was, who, working under a vow, undertook the task which Spain, then the first power on earth, with all her unlimited means, had been unable to accomplish. Father Kino on his first visit to California, in 1633, when he was in charge of the religious service of the Otondo expedition, had Thus Monterey was designated for a supply station made the question an especial study of his life, and to be established there, but the order was never exe- became convinced of the feasibility of his plan, which cuted, and no attempt to create any settlement on the consisted in the conversion of the inhabitants, and coast was made until 1683, when an expedition under saving their souls, but not the conquest of a kingdom. Admiral Otondo's command was fitted up to take pos- His plan was to go back to the country to teach the session of the country. A landing was made at La Indians the doctrine of the Christian faith, and cultiPaz, and this made the headquarters of the expedition. vate them by showing them how to support themselves A church was erected and Father Kino, who was in better by tilling the soil, and to improve the race on charge of the religious part of the enterprise, studying the land and through the experience of industry; the Indian language, had soon translated into their thus gaining a rich province to final incorporation tongue the creeds of the Catholic Church. With with the dominion of the Spanish crown. And with much effort this work was kept up for three years, fanatical ardor immutable, notwithstanding the unduring which time they were visited with an eighteen cheering and fruitless outlook, which promised defeat months' drouth; but before the colony could recover and martyrdom as the probable result, he started on from this blow, the commander received orders to put the preliminary work of his great undertaking on the to sea and bring into Acapulco and safety the Spanish 20th day of October, 1686, traveling over Mexico and galleon that again was in danger of being captured by preaching for the cause he represented. Fortune folDutch privateers. This was successfully accomplished, followed his steps, and soon he met two congenial

spirits, Father Juan Maria Salva Tierra, the one, and Father Juan Ugarte, another, who, uniting their executive abilities with his own, the result was a subscription of sufficient funds to go on with the actual work. Between the time they had procured a warrant from the King for the Order of the Society of Jesu, to enter upon the conquest of California at their own expense, for the benefit of the crown of Spain; and after eleven years constant petitioning and urging this warrant, was issued February 5, 1697.

On October 10th, the same year, already an expedition, made up of one small vessel and a long boat, loaded with the necessary provisions, and the rude structure and furniture for a small church, with this Father Salva Tierra, accompanied by six soldiers and three Indians, started from the Mexican coast for the point where to put in operation Father Kino's longcherished plan, which point on the eastern coast of the peninsula, they reached on October 19, 1679; about the landing Venegas says:

"The provisions and animals were landed, together with the baggage; the Father, though the head of the expedition, being the first to load his shoulders. The barracks for the little garrison were now built and a line of circumwallation thrown up. In the center a tent was pitched for a temporary chapel; before it was erected a crucifix with a garland of flowers. "The image of our Lady of Loretta, as patroness of the conquest, was brought in procession from the boat, and placed with the proper solemnity."

On the 25th of October, formal possession was taken of the country in "His Majesty's Name," and has never since been abandoned.

"In the building part," says Venegas, "Father Ugarte was master, overseer, carpenter, bricklayer and laborer For the Indians, though animated by his example, could neither by gifts nor kind speeches, be prevailed upon to shake off their unborn indolence, and were sure to slacken if they did not see the Father work harder than any of them; so he was the first in fetch. ing stones, treading the clay, mixing the sand, cutting, carrying and barking the timber, removing the earth and fixing materials." And at some other place he relates: "He endeavored, by little presents and caresses to gain the affections of his Indians; not so much that they should assist him in the building as that they might take a liking to the catechism, which he explained to them as well as he could, by the help of some Indians of Loretto, while he was perfecting himself in their language. But his kindness was lost on the adults, who, from their invincible sloth, could not be brought to help him in any one thing, though they used to be very urgent with him for pozoli and other eatables. He was now obliged to have recourse to the assistance of the boys, who being allured with sweetmeats and presents to come to work, were animated by offered reward, and often enough the father had to make himself a boy with boys. This enabled him to erect his poor dwelling and church, and learn their language."

This plan of subduing the Indians proved to be successful, and remittances for the support of the missions were only received from Mexico, until the Indians were Christianized and educated to work, and the missions, with the aid of the fathers, could support themselves. In the first eight years, there were six missions established, and fifty-eight thousand dollars expended therein, the whole amount used for missionary purposes and the support of the Indians that were subject to them foots up to $1,225,000.

The work of conversion was immediately initiated with explaining the catechism, saying prayers of rosary and distributing boiled corn to the Indians afterwards. All went well until the Indians thought that they could have the corn without prayers; they formed a In 1767 the Jesuits were expelled from the Spanish conspiracy to kill the garrison and have a great feast dominion, and forced to abandon their work in Lower on the 31st, only twelve days after the landing. The California; but they left behind them a record of havIndians, numbering about five hundred, attacked the ing paved the way and solved the problem how to subfort, but were set back flying so soon the little garrison due and control the savages; they being the pioneers opened fire on the masses, after all warnings and beg- in the culture of planting grape and making wine, the ging to go away by the priest had been responded to first vintage having been sent to Mexico in 1706. by a number of arrows from the natives. The Indians They taught the Indians to work on the loom, and having been taught respect by means of the soldiers' manufactured cloth as early as 1707, and in 1719 guns, begged for peace, and came to church regularly launched the first vessel, the Triumph of the Cross, to get their lot of corn and Christianity. ever built on California soil, this makes them the

For seventy years those devoted fathers struggled pioneer manufacturers also. Of their number two had on with their work of conversion, always using pa- to die the death of martyrs, at the hands of the natience and kindness, and teaching by their own exam- tives. It had been a part of the original plan of the ple, clearing ground for cultivation, making trenches father Jesuits to extend the missions on up the counto convey the water for irrigation, digging holes for try along the coast, until the chain of connection had planting trees, and preparing the ground for sowing. been formed from La Paz in the south to those fabu

That part of the expedition designated to go overland was also divided into two companies: Fernando Revera Moncada commanded the one to start March

lous Straits of Anian, but they were not permitted to perfect this plan; at the time of their banishmert they left for their successors, the Franciscans, sixteen flourishing missions and thirty-six villages, as testimonials | 24th, and after a journey of forty-one days he reached of the wisdom of their rule.

the place of general rendezvous on the 14th of May, After the Jesuits the Franciscan order of the Catho- the first white man to cross the southern deserts of our lic Church got possession of the missions established State. Then Gaspar de Portala, governor of Lower on the peninsula; but soon the Dominicans came to Califoinia, took command of the remaining part of the the front with a claim to a portion of them. The land expedition; with him was the president, under Franciscans not hesitating a long time declared it a whose charge the whole enterprise was placed: Father class of property that should not be segregated, and Frances Junipero Serra, the pioneer of California; for this reason their willingness to yield the whole they set out on May 15th from the same point, where rather than a part, and, eventually, turned it all over Revera had started, and reached San Diego on July to the Dominicans. I, 1769.

When the Franciscans declared, with such readiness, to give up the possession of the missions to the Dominicans, it was done with the purpose to start further north and take possession of the country, up to this time nearly entirely unknown, but always believed to be the land where legend had placed the gold and silver mines from whence the Aztecs had taken their treasure.

CHAPTER II.

HISTORY OF THE MISSIONS IN (UPPER) CALIFORNIA. Father Junipero Serro-Possession taken of the Country and first Mission founded-Ceremony of founding a MissionGovernor Portala going overland in search of MontereyFirst battle in California--Portala passed Monterey to discover the Bay of San Francisco-Traditional derivation of the name-The whole enterprise coming near to be broken up-The final arrival of the provision vessel saves the abandonment-Two more expeditions to discover Monterey-Arrival in Monterey harbor, and possession taken of the Country, 1770-Missions of San Carlos, San Antonio, San Gabriel and San Luis Obispo-First irrigation in California-Portala returning to Mexico-Father Junipero following, is reaping the harvest of Portala's seed -Capt. Bautista Anza laying down the road overland from Mexico to California-Father Crespi on the Sacramento River-Mission San Diego attacked by a large body of Indians-The San Carlos the first vessel to sail into the Bay of San Francisco-Mission San Francisco de los Dolores and Presidio of San Francisco founded-Father Junipero Serra's death-Time and the Russians become the first factors to create some hindrances to the Missions-The Mexican revolution proves disastrous enough to bring in her consequences the downfall of the Missions.

The Spanish crown, in full accord with this plan, it having been her object since the report of the discoveries by Viscaino in 1603, issued an order for the discovery of the bays on the upper coast and an occupation of the country; in response to which order an expedition was fitted up and started in 1769, under the management of Junipero Serra, a Franciscan monk. The general object of this expedition is laid down by Joseph de Galvez as being: "To establish the Catholic religion among a numerous heathen people submerged in the obscure darkness of paganism, to extend the dominion of the King, our Lord, and to protect the peninsula from the ambitious views of foreign nations." The expedition, it was concluded, should be divided to be sent partially by sea, the remainder to go from Mexico overland, by the way of the most northerly of the old missions. On account of this, on January 9, 1769, the ship San Carlos sailed Father Frances Junipero Serra, or Father Junipero, first from La Paz, followed on February 15th by the as he was called, the pioneer of California, was born San Antonio; the San Joseph sailed last, on June of humble parents on the Island of Majorca, in the 16th, and that is the last that was heard from her, the Mediterranean Sea, on November 24, 1713, and from ocean had swallowed her together with the whole his infancy was educated with the view of becoming a crew. The vessels were all loaded with provisions, priest. After having completed his studies in the numerous seeds and grain to sow, farming utensils, convent of San Bernardino, he went to Palina, the church ornaments, furniture and passengers, and were capital of the province, to get the higher learning destined for the port of San Diego. The San Anto- necessary for the vocation, and at his own request, he nio, after a trip of 24 days, arrived on the 11th of was received into the Order of St. Francis, at the age April, having lost eight of her crew with scurvy. of sixteen. He sailed from Cadiz for America August Twenty days later the San Carlos made her laborious way into port, having lost the whole crew, but the captain, the cook and one seaman left to tell of the ravages of that terrible scourge of the early navigators.

28, 1749, to bring the mission to the heathen of the New World, and landed at Vera Cruz, whence he went to the City of Mexico, joined the college of San Fernando, and was made President of the Missions of

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