Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-23

Tns FIRsr WHITE sEFTl8R.
nlssssy u tie olAess RessAess - sAe
Pseiae Csass.
Los Angeles Herald Nov 29.]
Many of the readers of the Herald
the hospitable mansion Of
Don Migual White in the valley Of |
San Gabriel, few have an idea that this
quaint old mansion was for q genera
ton the home of the first English
speaking settler on the Pacific coast.
Don Migual was born in Chiselhurst,
County Kent, in 1901, and will be SO
years old on the first of next Februa-
ry He has passed through q wonder.
full amount of hardships during his
romantic life.
In the year 1877 be was but Is
years of age, he arrived at Baja Cali
fornia, from which point he bought
trading schooner and left for the
Sandwich Islands with an assorted
cargo of freight. Mr.. White was the
master of the vessel aud the trip was
made in 1924. seven years after his
first arrival on the Pacific coast. He
returned the same year and four
years later, in 1923. first visited Alta
California, landing at Santa Barbara
Here be took charge Of an English
brig, which sailed to 4 northern port
for a cargo of horses for the manadas
on the ranches near that city. His
mate was Scotchman named Col
lect, and the trip was very successful.
as at that time the Padres were in
charge of the industries of the cOun.
try. On his return to Santa Barbara
he worked at his dual accomplish
ments up to 1880, when q revolution
broke out. Lieutenat Soils of Monte
rey brought an army of soldiers to
Santa Barbara, General Chandilla be-
ing Governor. while Soils was against
the Government. Mr.. White took
part in this fight and the loyal men
won. The same year, after this fias-
co, a brig was cast upon the coast off
what was then known as Embarca-
de-o, but is now near San Pedro, on
New Years eve.
On the following day Don Migual
commenced to build . schooner out
of the wreck of the brig, with which
he proceeded. with some material, to
engage in the trade, gathering it at
various places and landing it at the
Embsrcadero for transportation to
the Mission San Gabriel, for the use
of the Padres and their Indian poems
This trade for time was very profit.
able. but Mr.. White being naturally
q rover, started for San Bias, Mex.
with q cargo of Alta California pro
ducts not then raised in that part OF
Mexico. From there he sailed to
Guaymas, where he remained fol
nearly two years, working at his
trade Of carpentering, and where ht
married Maria Guyen, who has now
been his wife for fifty-one years and
y yet his heIpmeet. Don Migua
hes not only children and granchil
Il Urn. but also great-grandchildren
the youngest of which is about three
years of age, yet the great grand-fath
and bis wife are unusually healthy
for their age. Each of them possesse.
a remarkably memory concerning 70
mantle incidents which have trans
PRED throughout their lives, which
are more than those allotted by thu
Scriptures.
| He followed his trade of carpenter
ing until 1S41 at Alta California, hav
ing become tired of the sea. In thq
year he acquired title to the Muscup
iabe rancho. in San Diego county
but lost it, it said, through fOu
means by some other claimant. Two
years later be moved to the beautfu
ranch northeast of San Gabriel
which he occupied for thirty-sevel
years. up to the year 1880, tire,
years ago, when he removed from
the effect of hard times to his presen
residence, 314 Also street, in thi.
city.
In 1874. one year after he had re
moved to San Gabriel. he was engag
ed in the encounter between Govern
ors PicO aud Micheltoreno in theil
contest for power. 1t is we'll known
that the engagement was short anC
not very bloody. Two years later, il
1916, when he had an extensive CANA
do, st that time worth great deal o.
money, the Americans landed at Mon
terey, twenty-nine years after his ar
rival on the Pacific Coast. He joined
the American army and bravely as
sisted, at the age of As years. to ena
bic the to win, victory which wa.
accomplished. But he returned az
unhappy man. His devotion to the
Union had caused the Mexicans tc
prey upon his property, and all was
gone. At that time he had always
been known by the Spanish nomen
clature Migual BlancO, and that he
should fight with the gringoes" was
never to be forgiven. Out of 4OC
head Of fine stock which he possessed
upon his departure he found six left
upon his return. and nothing else
except his hoose and furniture.
Still. with his usual pluck, he con
tinued to improve his fruit ranch and
held it for thirty-three years more,
when. at the age Of about 50 years,
he was obliged to move to the city.
| Many old Californians have had a
very romantic history. but who can
compete with this brave old man.
who, at the age of 50 years. is re-
markably strong and talks both Eng.
lish and Spanish as fiuently as when
lie was young?