Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1880-06-29
GENERAL JOHN A. SUFFER-.
EyenffuI Career OF One of CalifOr-
MAS oldest Pioneers.
San Francisco Chronicle.

members of the hardy band OF pioneers
who wrought out for themselves and
for mankind the conquest and clvilIza-
/ ton of the California Wilderness. Gen
! John A. Suffer, who was among the
first Of that band, is the last who has
gone to join his comrades in the
shadowy land. A native Of Baden, on
the frontier Of Switzerland, in 1903, he
was at 20 years Of age Lieutenant
| in the French army, and served for
several years in the wars between
France and Spain In the year
| 1884, after having served for
short period in the Swiss army, he
came to America Stopping for awhile
in st. Louis, hepushed on to Westport,
/ Missouri, where he engaged in the cat
tie trade between that place and Santa
| Fe, New Mexico. At the latter place
he heard such descriptions Of the Paci-
iic coast as led him to resolve on visit
ing it, and accordingly, in 1888, he fit
ted out an expedition to cross toe
plains. About 1889 he settled and
founded colony some distance up the
sacramento river, building O fort for
the protection Of his settlement and
naming the place New Helvetia. Here
he engaged in agriculture and exten
siyely in steck-raising, besides trading
in lurs to such an extent as to make
him formidab bic competitor to the
Hudson's Bay Company. His uncon-
cealed American sympathies drew on
! him, after awhile, the dstrust OF the
!, Mexican authorities, who offered him
100000 in cash and the Mission lands
2 OF San Jose for his possessions, all OF
which he declined. During this time
9 he rendered important services to the
! United States, and notably in l84l, to
! the exploring expedition of Admiral
I Wilkes. The Peacock, o vessel be-
q longing to the expedition, was lost on
I the Columbia bar, and part of the
J expedition forces, sent overland III con
y sequence, reached Suffers fort in a
condition Of extreme distress and
were relieved with princely hospital
9 ty. Later Oh he gave equally needed
J and equally generous relief to Colone
i Fremont and his exploring party
:, When the war with Mexico came or
his aid and sympathy enabled Fremont
= to form battalion from among those
Z in Suffers employ, and Gen. Sherman's
~ testimony is that to him (Suttcr,
!" more than any single person are W.
!" indebted for the conquest of Calitorni;
= with all its treasures" In the early
days of that stirring excitement which
~ followed the discovery of gold in Sut
II rcr's mill race, without question or re
~ ward, hundreds of destitute adventur
IL ers with shelter, food, clothing and as
% sistance to begin their new and Otter
pa prosperous careers Strange are tn,
~ vicissitules of life. We fud him il
IL his old age living in extreme poverty
% asking small pension of that couutr,
: which he helped to enrich with un
counted treasures. For several years
he was the recipient of small allow
- auce from the State of California; bu
- this was cut off after time, aud re
If Gently he applied to Congress for $50
4. 600 as compensation for his loss of tn
If Sobrante rancho, and for the expend
- lures he made for the relieipf the earl
;, settlers of California, In his declir
u ing years he resided at Litiz, ra,, will
i. his wife and some of his grandchildren
y. until his death, which occurred a
Washington on the 18th inst, in tn
7Tth year of his age. The fatal di:
20 ease was inflammation of the kidney,