Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-11
NEW YORK COTTON YuruKss
FIRST or THE PIONEERS.
The Man who Rsisrs the FIRST smsriesn
FLAG on Caltferaia sell.

The Man who Rsisra the firss Ameriesn
FLAG on Cahfsraia sell.
(san Francisco Examiner. October 29th.i
One Of California's very earliest set
tiers returned to this city on Saturday
last, after an absence Of twenty years.
His name is Jacob T. Leese, aud he ar
rived overland on this coast in 1888.
1t was he who erected the first house in
Yerba Buena, and raised for the first
time the American flag on the PENN
sula. To his patriotic zeal was conhded
the celebration Of the first Fourth OF
July ever commemorated west OF the
SierraS.
Mr.. Leese's life has been filed with
eventful happenings. lie was born in
ST. Clairsyille, Ohio, on August IL,
1909. Among his schOOlmates was
Edwin VI. Stanton. In 1880 a hunting
and trading expedition was fitted out
by Captains Rogers and Coffee. IL
started from Fort Smith, Ark, and it
was the intention TO remain three
years in the Rocky mountains. Young
Leese. filed with that spirit o ai,>.-
ture so characteristic Of those who
sought these far western shores in the
early days, joined the expedition. In
the winter Of ls3C-'3l, while near the
present site Of Denver, the party WAS
attacked by Indians and diyided-one
half going on into the mountains and
the other going south into New Mexico.
Mr.. Leese went with the latter party.
When Santa Re was reached he made
friends with the Mexican authorities,
and, through his intimacy with the
Spanish language, ne obtained clerk
ship in the house of Bent & St. Baran,
traders. While in the employ Of this
firm be established several trading
posts, and in the course Of his rowing
Journeys heard Of California. lie de-
termined to come here. After jour
uey Of seventy days from Taos, near
Santa Pe, he arrived at San Bernsr-
dino on Christmas-dAy. 1888. Here
he secured five hundred mules aud one
hundred horses at prices ranging from
a. to as each, and started back. The
Indians attacked him in Death Valley
and stampeded his stock, leaving him
only o. There was now no further
use Of going back, as his stock and
money were all gone. He therefore de-
termined TO make California his home.
In Los Angeles apartnership was form
ed with Colonel Isaac Williams. IL did
not prove lucrative, so in 1885 he came
north to Monterey. Subsequently, he
came to this city, then known as Yerba
Buena. lie determined to settle at
once. The authorities objected, and he
had to return to Monterey to secure an
order from the Government granting
him permission to do so. He obtained
it.
A l0O-yara lot al what is now the
intersection of Clay and Dupont streets
was granted him. At Santa Cruz be
obtained building material, and on
July |, 1886, began the erection Of the
first house on the Peninsula. With the
assistance Of the crews Of two vessels
lying in the harbor the dwelling was
completed on the morning Of July 4th,
and the same day all united in cele-
brating the 18th, and the American dag
was first raised on California soil on the
exact spot where Dupont and Clay
streets now cross. In 1885 he erected
an s. 900 house on what is now Mont
gomery street, between Sacramento and
Clay, but which was then the beach, on
another l00-vara lot he had obtained
from the Government. This was SUBJ
sequently sold to the Hudson's Bay
Company. While he remained on the
peninsula Mr.. Leese transacted the en-
tire business Of the place, besides hay-
ing two schooners engaged in the work
of gathering hides and tallow.
In 1889 he assisted in the first lay
ing. out Of the town. Two years later
be went to Sonoma as agent for the
HudsOn's Bay Company. Collecting
cattle for his employers, he drove them
INTO the Willamette Valley, and dis
posed Of them with difficulty,
In IS4s he went TO Monterey. and,
with Thomas q. Larkin, fitted out an
$4,000 trading expedition to China.
One year later be returned, bringing
eighteen Cinnamon with him as SER
yants-the first ever landed on this
coast. Yerba Buena presented desc
late appearance. lie helped to build
it up and remained here until
1864, when he inaugurated . pro-
ject for purchasing Lower Californis
from the Mexican Government. The
conditions Of the sale were that AGO.
goo should be paid down at once. Just
about this time occurred the attempt Of
Macmillan 10 capture Mexico. That
Government requested the payment Of
the money as great assistance in the
hour Of their troable. Mr. Leese
raised 100000 and gave his note for the
balance. The Emperor's capture aud
execution followed. All Of the eondi-
tons of the contract with Mexico for
the purchase Of Lower California have,
according to Mr. Leese, been fulfilled
by the company, and the claim to that
territory remains open.
In 1865 Mr. Leese LETT Tor the East.
He witnessed the parade OF the United
States armies in Washington at the
close Of the war. lie has been in Ea-
rope and in Mexico prosecuting his
claim against the Government Cor the
,,ososxu;nn of fnuar raf;fo.r;. n