The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-24
JOHN A. SUFFER- DEAD.
The Man on whose Ranch the First
California Geld Was Discovered.

CALIFORNIA Got0 was OtsCoNoscus
New York SUM-
General John Augustus Sutter, on
whose ranch gold was first discovered in
California, died on Friday in Made's
Hotel, in Washington. General Sutter
was born in Kandorn, Baden. on Febru-
ary l6, 1903. He was graduated from
the military College in Berne, Switzer-
land, and soon afterward came to this
country to seek his fortune. He went to
the extreme West and began trading
with the Indians near Santa Fe, New
Mexico. In 1888 be crossed the Rocky
Mountains to see for himself the coun-
try now called California, but then under
the control of the Mexican Government.
After visiting Fort Vancouver and the
Sandwich Islands, he was stranded in
1889 on the coast in the Bay Of San
Francisco.
The next day, she said, on regaining
her senses, she repudiated the marriage
and begged her uncle to save her from a
life with Steitz. He refused, and then
she awaited an opportunity to escape. On
April l, taking advantage of the absence
of her husband, she left his house, and
walked through furious snow storm, a
distance of four or five miles. to the resi-
dence of her uncle. He refused to re-
ceive her, and told her to 60 back to her
husband. She said that she would rath-
er perish in the snow, which then lay
three feet deep upon the ground. Her
aunt interceded for her, and she remained
all night. Her husband came for her
the next day. but she told him that she
would never live with him, and, escap-
ing from the house, she walked five miles
to the residence of Justice Hogeboom.
who. Oh hearing her story, took pity
upon her and gave her shelter. She re-
mained in his qome until July, when,
hearing that her husband had discovered
her whereabouts, she went to Albany, to
the house Of Mrs. Hogeboom's sister.
On the Sacramento River, and about
120 miles from San Francisco, he settled,
aud the Mexican authorities made him
Governor OF the northern frontier terri
tory, besides presenting him with tract
of land, where he had located his i'm
mense ranch. He owned many thousand
head Of cattle, and acquired great wealth
and power. Those were the days when
emigrants crossed the plains and noun
tains from the Eastern and Middle States,
and hundreds perished in the journey.
Gen. Sutter was known as the most
hospitable man on the Western coast.
Any emigrants whose sufierings he could
learn of he would hasten to relieve. He
has been known to equip relief expedi-
tions and send them to emigrant trains
said to be in need as far as 200 or even
500 miles from his ranch. His ranch
was free to all corners as guests, and it
resembled in that respect hotel rather
than private gentleman's ranch.
Finally, nearly his entire ranch was
cut up and subdivided into claims. In
less than year Gen. Sutter was ruined,
and, excepting an annual allowance
from the State Of California as an in
demnity for the loss of his estate, he has
been without means. He retired to the
village of Litiz, Lancaster County, Pa,
with his wife, who now lives there, and
occupied little cottage. A claim on
the United States Government for $780,
600, for his estate in California. was in
tmduced in Congress in the last session.
Gen. Suttef. had set his heart upon get
ting the claim honored, and was in Wash
ington endeavoring to secure its passage
when it adjourned without appropriate
ing the money. 1t is believed by his
friends that his death was hastened by
the failure. He died on the day after
The adjournment Of Congress. His son
is Consul to Acapulco. The body is to
be taken to Litiz for burial,