The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-04
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL.

GuQ may 6utcEkdlu HldHl u years anu
younger age. OF the conspicuous native Call
fornians there are but one or two who are
living. With the death OF General Vallejo, who
was In his long and active lifetime of above 80
years the most distinguished of the Spanish
blood one of the last OF these fell oul OF Tile roll
call of the living. Before the American occupa-
tlon General Vallejo was the owner by Mexican
grant, OF nearly forty leagues of land
lying upon the west side OF San
Pablo Bay aud Suisun Bay, and reaching to tile
Pacific Ocean. Grants within this vast area of
less extent have been made 10 others of Spanish
stock, hui none OF these have irontageS upon the
bays above mentioned ana also upon the Bay OF
San Francisco and the ocean, as had the broad
lands of General Vallejo. On these lands is now
an aggregate population of more than 100000.
A few hundreds comprised their population be-
fore the American occupation The chief use 10
which they were put was that OF grazing for the
bands Of horses and cattle which IOamed at will
upon them. Only very few acres in scattered
patches were devoted TO agriculture. Sonoma
held nrst place in this tillage. Several
tribes Of Indians held their illehoes
within the ground, who hunted aud
hshed and occasionally INDUCED in The Indian
luxury OF tribal attacks and battles. Not above
forty Americans had made settlement upon the
lands Of The Vallejo grant. AfleI tie American
possession IN the early years OF gold-huDtug, as
The emlgl allon from lie States east OF Inc MIS-
souri, poured IN 10y sea and across The plaihs
General Vallejo made IL generally pro-
Claimed rule that 10 any who wished
lands and would become a bona hde
settler he would give q complete deed 10
an area sufficient for lie 1eed OF ihe emigrant-
to a reasonable extent. To this rule he adhered.
LAND TO SETTLERS.
He gave away lands to settlers. He made grants
for Town sites now gIONn into cities. He donated
broad acres for useful and salulary purposes. he
sold only a very small LOItiOn Of all his vast
domain. He was generous and dispensed his
wealth with open hand and without stint. His
hospitality was bOunteous and never measured.
nf Tpf nFNa ra hFo
iIieuds, shelter for every applicant WHO needed
SuccOr or refuge. Out of The vast claim
lie once owned lie reserved al last for
himself and family only Tie small tract which
constituted his home, near tie Town of Son0ma,
a place lie had planted and cultivated and beau
tined with vines and shrubbery, fIut and orna-
mental trees, flowers and plants Of every Kind
lie could procure that would thrive in the soil.
This was his only possession at The time OF Ills
death. Since his death 1t Is learned that this
foud home IS heavily mOrtgaeed and his aged
widow ana family are Jeff without other properly
or means OF support lie had In his lifetime
freely given 10 The poor and To some that are rich
through his bounty, and now his family have
need and suffering staring them IN the lace.
This should not be. II would be reproach to
The Stale, something deserving Of a harsher term
10 The thousands Who have thrlyed from his bene-
factions, generously dispensed IN their days OF
want TO rescue them from distress
Following ibe method Of LamaTtine in his
grand work The GlrOndlSts,n less attention Will
now lie devoted 10 Chronological accuracy and
more TO individual nenllon In the grouping OF
the characters of whom mention viii be made
IN this paper more OF less prominent in The early
years OF California Statehood, whether by their
worth, their deeds, their eccenrlciIles tier H.
telllgence or the reverse or their peculiarittes.
Mention has been already made of a number Of
these ln other papers relating 10 Stale officers
and the Legislature.
GENERAL EsTELL. y
General James NJ. EsIell was one OF the most
conspicuous men in California during his resi-
denee In Tie State. He represented SoanO
County in The Senate and was the recognized
leader OF the Democrats in hat body. lie aud
General Denver were intimate friends. Both
came TO the State from Missouri; We're alike tall
and Of grand bearing, brave and able. Estill
was consummate leader OF men and manager
In political bodies, OF very versatile Qualities and
exceeding skill and craft. He was devOIed
fiend ah mplAeable foe, with wonderful faci-
ties 10 ingratldte himself as he wished; a
dreaded and dangerous man 10 oppose IN
any matter upon which lie had set
his heart. He early became the warm
friend Of David c. Broderlck, who coveted his
aid In struggling for an election TO the United
States Senate. Governor Bigler was likewise
friend 10 kSlel, aud to EstelPs influence with the
governor much OF MS executive aeton was at
triDuled, but the master power rested with
b cdeflck. The alliance OF Brodelck aud
Estell made the two the power be-
last this alliance was disrupted through
tie refusal Of Bigler TO do an act in EstelPs be-
half III relation 10 State Prison affairs, EsIeH
being the lessee OF tie sole State Prison at san
Quentin. Broderick declined to aid Este in the
matter, lest IL would greatly affect his election as
mater. lie Two dld not openly break, but TO
those who knew the two men and were aware OF
the true situation IL was manifest that Estell har
bored the grudge aud contemplated mischief
dangerous 10 Broderick. AS to BIGGER, Es-
Tell adopted a different and violent course.
he Stale capital was at SACRAMENTO One day
EStlll Appeared upon lie street armed with
double barreled shotgun, hunting for Bigler and
many feared tile consequences OF meeting The
Legislature was IN session. General Denver was
Secretary OF Stale. lie had greater influence
with Estell Than any other man and his relations
with lie Governor had become strained to severe
tension. Denver was hot friendly TO BrOd-
aSDtIAflOn9 10
favored twin, but he deprecated violence
and bloodshed. Through his intercession,
together with The efforts OF other friends OF Is
III, the desperate difficulty was overcome. Some
hold 10 The opinion that Estell intended nothing
beyond bold bluff 10 compel the Governor 10
grant his demand. The friendship between the
Two was never restored. Estei was ineXoIaDle
and impiacabie. He obtained his satisfaction
when Bigler was made The candidate Of The Dem
ocrat1c party for reelection in 1866. That year
lie hnow-NOtDing party organized IN California.
JOINING The KNoW-NoTHINGs.
Estell Iined the Know-Nofhings. In tile
STATE convention OF that party In Sac
ramentO, Estlll was the acknowledged leader
and ordered as he wilied. James Z. COfrOth had
the same as Estell, deserted the Democratic party
lie Legislature member from TuOlumne, op-
posed o BTOderIck. The succeeding session lie
became Broderick man. lie was formidable
candidate Tor Governor In the know-Nothing
party. J. Nicely johnson was likewise candi-
dale He had been Wing. Estill favored
Johnson. He first endeayored to prevail
upon Cofrolh 10 Withdraw and leave
The neld clear 10 Johnson. Coffroth would not
comply. Then Esiell determined to defeat his
nomination and give 1t to Johnson. He accom-
plished his purpose. In doing so he made
fierce and scathing attack upon ConroIh, per-
sonal aud POLITICAL IN speech of great power,
which demolished COnrOth's candidacy. john
sons nomination was made unanimous. That
very evening the Know Nothing ratification
meeting was held In front of The Or
out upon the broad balcony from
which tile speakers were TO address the multi
tudes In the parior we're seated the TWO win
some and accomplished daughters of General
Estell, with MIS-. johnson, other ladies' and a
number OF gentlemen. few minutes before the
speaking began General kstell came into the
pasloT, accompanied by CofrOth, his left arm
about Cofirotns neck IN familiar manner. He
led his captive TO the place where his daughters
were seated, and said: 'My dears, here Is our
old friend Cuifroth; you remember him."
Then Introducing Co1froth TO Mrs. johnson and
the other ladies' he had time to take a seat by the
side OF his daughter TO enjoy pleasant chat. Ii
was an amazing performance; the wonder was
prevalent that Coflrolh submitted 10 the part he
was made TO play. But Estell was never at a
loss TO carry his purpose.
EsTELL AND BIGLER.
During that campaign Estell wrote and the
w-Nolhing organs published The RUDE
Roper" letters, In which Governor Bigler was
mereiiessiy assailed, fidiculed and lampoOned.
Estl recalled the scenes and secrets Of his years
OF close confidence with Bigler, laid bare every
weak point. depicted him in absurd and caustic
manner and made him the synonym OF every
thing that was bad and mean, the scOrn Of many
a
powerful effect in contributing 10 the over
whemlng defeat which Bigler suffered. The
chief Know Nothing organ was the Sacramento
Tribune. James Allen was the publisher the
editor Parker II. Frencu de was a lit
tie above medium STATURE slender OF figure,
erect in his bearing, brave and desperate
aud agile of movement a tiger His eyes
revealed the man; they were piercing and cold.
With his remaining arm lie could handle a six
shooter 10 the CONSERVATION of the most expert
In it, use In a deadly encounter, and his aim was
uuernngy accurate. Even the proclaimed des-
perate man carefully avoided an encounter with
Parker Fl. French. He feared nothing He
would pause at nothing. Yet he was OF polished
manners. engaging address, courteous and affs-
BILE IN his customary department. No one cared
10 call the editor 20 account for anything that
appeared In bis Tribune, while every body was
careful as TO what they said out LOUD of Parker
u. ffench. DE compelled william Il. Aspil-
wall OF the ola faclhc Mall Steamship Company
TO hasten his departure from the State on lie Oc-
caslo1 OF ms only visit here in 1855 Tor some pr
vaie matter between the TWO. and was IN general
terms terror.
ALL THE WAY FROM SHASTA
The late Judge Dalngerheld once had a uueef