Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-16
A TENNESSEEAN ABROAD.
An OId-Timer VINO Became Gov,
ernOr Of California.
New York Herald, lath.l

New York Herald, l2th.l
I twill not be many years before the
race Of American pioneers is wiped
out, and with that wiping out we viii
lose one of our most characteristic
features. The present generation
knows few genuine pioneers such a:
Peter H. Burnett, the first governor
of California, whose Recollection
and Opinions are published by D.
Appleton 4 Co. Mr.. Burnett began
writing his r~ecollections for the bene-
fit Of his children. That is probably
the reason he has given so much per.
sonal history. Still his own history
is SO closely connected with that OF
the western and Pacific states that he
could not well avoid personalities,
Mr.. Burnett is more vigorous than
polished, as n would naturally ex.
pect in a pioneer. He was born a pio-
neer. as one might say, Nashville at
the date of his birth being but a small
village, and Tennessee a border state,
but thiniy populated. To this day
there is nothing that thrills him like
the sight of a party of immigrants
with their Ok teams and whito-sheeted
wagons. IF the theory of Symmes
had been proven true" ne writes,
and had a fine and accessible country
been discovered at the north or
south pole before | attained the age
of sixty, | should have been strongly
tempted to organize a party Of emf
grants for that distant region" While
he acknowledged the hardships and
privations that attend the settlement
of a new country, the delight of seeing
homes built and villages springing up
is sufficient compensation.
Peter H. Burnett was born in Nash
vile, Tenn, November 10, 1907, and
was the eldest son Of George and
Dorothy Burnett. The family all
spelled their name with a single t, but
he added another for the Characters
tic reason that it made the name look
more emphatic. From his mothers
family Mr.. Burnett appears to have
inherited his love of exploration and
adventure. His grandfather Hard
man taught certain maxims that have
had a great influence wei his posteri-
ty' First, pay your honest debts ;
second, never disgrace the family {;
third, help the honest and industrious
kin" Mr.. Burnett's family were all
workers, he says my father was a
carpenter and farmer, Uncle William
was a blacksmith, Uncle John a
school teacher, Uncle James a farmer
and Uncle Henry a cabinet maker
In the fall of 1917 Burnett's father
removed to Missouri. They first set
tied in Howard county and then re-
moved to Clay, a distance Of $50 miles
by water. The supplies and house
hold furniture were sent up tine river
in a hatboat towed by men who had 10
cut down the willows along the bank
as they went to make a footpath. The
water was low aud it required forty
days to make the trip. The manner OF
living in those days was as primitive
as the manner Of travelling. The
clothing was "home-spun," made by
the women, which clothing the men
wore on dress occasions; usual.
ly their clothing was made
of buckskin. In the sum.
mer girls and boys, and often married
women, went barefoot. Moccasins
were worn oftener than shoes. A sui
of blue jeans was considered a fine
dress, and there were only three
bwroadcloth suits in Clay county in
1824-5, and only one high hat. The
owner was q halter and INDUCED him.
self in the luxury. The principal
trade was III skins, honey and bees
wax, all wild productions. One can
readily understand that it REQUIRED
great industry, rigid economy and
wise foresight to make a plain livingin
those times" The Burnett family
had a hard struggle against exposure
and bad food. Mr.. Burnett for atime
retired from the life Of a farmer to be-.
come the clerk of a country hotel.
His duties we're more arduous than
those of the elegant gentlemen of the
present day who assign the weary
guest to his room. His salary was
500 per annum, and his duty was to
wait on the guests at the table, keep
the books and collect the bills. From
hotel work he went to store keeping,
and finally became a student of law
and a judge. He lived in Indian
counties and was very successful in
his dealings with savage tribes. With
the discovery Of gold in California he
visited the mines and after a time
made his home in that state. MI. Bur
nett gives some excellent advice to
young men starting out in life, the
soundness Of which is illustrated in
his own life. A more thoroughly
American book it would be hard to
find, or one better suited to the wants
of those young men who desire to go
west and grow up with the country.