Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-21
GENERAL sUTTER-soME ACCOUNT OF
The OLD PIONEER.

elsewhere announced. General outter was
horn March l. 1903. in the Grand Duchy of
Baden. His father was Lutheran clergy
man The son received good civil and mill
ta,v education. He married early in life q
Bernese lady. At the age of 81 he resolved
TO emigrate to the United States. He did not
know whether he should make permanent
settlement in America, and so left his family
behind him. sailed for New York, and arrived
there in July, 1884. He went to Missouri,
and there resided several years, and became
a citizen of the United States. While on
visit to New Mexico he fell in with hunters
and trappers whose accounts of Upper
California inspired him with a determi-
nation to visit that region. April. 1855,
he joined trapping party and left Mis-
sour with Captain Tripp of the American
Fur Company. At the Rocky Mountains he
parted company with the expedition, and
with six horsemen, after many hardsnlps,
reached Fort Vancouver. He then found
that he could not safely reach California by
land routes, and hence took passage In a
Hudson Bay Company ship for the Sandwich
Islands, IL order to sail thence to California:
Only one Of his six comrades accompanied
him. He was compelled to remain 1--WE
months at the Islands, and as last resort IN
the effort to regain the continent, shipped Tor
Sitka as s,1percargo OF a vessel chartered by
party of Americans. At Sitka he got con-
sent OF the charterers to sail tor Dan L ran
cisco. where he arrived with his ship IN DIS
tres July, 1889. The Mexican officials noti-
fed him to leave, as the place was not a port
of entry. He remained two days, got leave
70 take in supplies and sailed for Monterey.
There he called on Governor Alvarado, and
expressed desire to settle in the Sacramento
valley. The Governor assured him OF lis
willingness to aid him, and also of the hostile
character of the Indians, and the dlthcuitles
he must expect to encounter. he gave Sut-
ter s passport and written permission to set
tie on any lands he deemed suitable tor colo
niziDg. He requested Suster TO return IN one
wear, when he should receive recognition as
Mexican citizen, and grant of such lands as
he should select. Suffer then returned to San
Francisco-at that time known as Yerba Bu-
ena-and chartering a schooner and some
small boats, started for the up country. 1t
is remarkable that he could find no one at
Yerba Buena who had ever seen
the Sacramento river, or could direct
him to its mouth, for which he searched
eight days before he discovered 1t. He landed
at point some ten miles below the site of
this citv. meeting there two hundred armed
Indians who assumed hostile attitude, but
as two understood Spanish Suffer parleyed
with them in that tongue, and convincing
them that neither he nor any of his party
were Spaniards against whom they were ex-
asoerated, they consented to his settling in
the country and trading with the tribes. 1.-Two
of the Indians piloted him to the mouth of
the Feather river and left him there. He
went up that stream short distance. when
his men became alarmed and ne was COM
PEELED to return. On the return
trip he entered the mouth of the
American river, and landed August
Is 1899, ON the south bank of that river, at
a point now within the corporate limits of
Sacramento City. Here three of the white
men of his party left him and he gave them
charge of the schooner to take it to its own
ers at Yerba Buena. He put up structure
to be used as a tannery, determining upon
curing hides as business. Three weeks
later he located on the spot of ground where
he soon after built Suffers Fort the remains
of which are still to be seen and are an object
OF interest to visitors to this city and to our
own people. The property is owned by the
Sacramento Association of California Pho
neers, and viii be prevented from going to
utter decay. Suffer for q long time had
much difficulty with the Indians, but
eventually won them to be his warm
allies. In the fail of 1889 he bought
cattle and horses of Martinez, near San Fran
cisco. and induced eight more white men to
ioin his colony, who assisted him in erecting
his fort, and in which much difficulty was
experienced, as lumber had to be brought
long distances. Some OF it he tioated down
the American river, and some he hauled from
the extreme Coast Range. In August, 18fG,
he received an addition to his colony OF five
men who had crossed the - Rockies with
him. and whom he had left in Oregon. His
colony now numbered II whites and ka-
nakas That year the Mokelumne Indians
threatened tie destruction of the colony, and
General Suffer made war upon them.
/ He marched his party thirty miles at
night and fell upon the indians, 200
/ in number, and compelled them
to sue for peace, which they never again
broke. Suffer bought more stock, and re-
! ceived many additions to his colony Of new
/ corners. naturally seeking the fort as place
! of security. The hunters and trappers he
/ furnished with supplies, and bought OF them
their furs !; mechanics he employed, and
/ laboIers he put to work upon lands. In
June. 1871, he went to Monterey was de-
clared Il Mexican citizen, and received his
grant of land Alvarado gave him = commits
sion as governmental agent and its general
representative in civil matters. The same
wear he was visited by officers of the Wilkes
exploring expedition, and by Rutchef,
Governor of the Russian possessions, Ross
and Bodega" on the coast. OF him he
bought, after a visit Of inspection,
lands claimed by the Russians, and large
amount of personal property and i've stock,
most Of the latter being driven to New Hell
vetia Sacramento. lie aided the Mexican
Government in suppressing the Castro re.
helii5n in 1871 February, 1915, he received
from Governor icheltorena additional grants
Of land the Sobrante, or surplus over the
first eleven leagues within the bounds of the
survey ACCOMMODATING the Alvarado grant.
He vas then commissioned as military CON-
mander Of the frontier Of the north. The
war with Mexico resulting III favor OF The
United States. he hgisted the American flag
july II, 1916, saluted 1t with artillery.
and expressed his qualification. 1t was
known that the result of the war was in
accord with his secret desires and hopes;
Soon after Lieutenant Missrom, OF the nlted
States navy, appeared and garTlsoned Suffers
Fort. and placed General Sutter in command.
/ Commodore Stockton appointed him Alcade
e tie district, and General hearny made
/ him Indian Agent, an office he soon resigned,
as he said the personal cost Of maintaining
/ the Office exceeded TIE salary. His posses
siona bad UP to this time greatly increased.
4 H had large farms under cultivation, and by
4 1913 had nearly completed Touring mill
( near the present site Of Brig hton. lie had a
th, mill. James w. Marshall, Suffers mill
wright, discovered gold in the mill-rac
I Z ne result of thai discovery Is too well known
TO call for recapitulati0n. Suffers men de-
serted him to search for gold, and his build
i1..... incomplete. we're left so. For his crops
he had no latorers, and he suffered, in conse-
orenge. heavy losses. Immigration set in 1t
0ace; Suffer was soon involved in litigation
relative to his New Helyetia possessions and
his prouerty elsewhere in the territory. From
this period to the present the general public
is 0,..te well informed with regard to General
Suffer how his lands and personal property
were disposed OF, and his decline from
wealth aud power 10 comparative poverty.
He removed from Sacramento finally to
" Hook Farm" on the west bank Of the
Feather river-his family having come out
from Europe-and remained there for some
Yeas. He went to Washington in 1860, to
press his claims against the Government FOR
losses sustained from depredations by the
immigrants in 1918 Q. He desired an appro-
priation OF 1926, 600, but it was not granted.
subsequently he asked for $50, 900. This ap-
plication received the Enforcement OF Con
gressional committee, and was pending at the
close Of the late session of Congress. Cali
fornia for some years. granted General Sut'
ter pension Of So, coo annually. General
Suffer, in 1873 finally took up his residence
at I.itiz, Pa. He left widow. who resides al
Ltiz, and three chiliren-E V. Suffer, No
ta,y at San Francisco; John a. S3tter
United States Consul at Acapulco, ana one
- his