Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-06

When the death of Jacob P. Leese
was announced on Tuesday, says the
San Francisco Chronicle, it was thought
that the oldest California pioneer had
passed away, but there is still living,
and in very good health, too, man
who landed in this state five years be-
fore Leese ever saw the shores of Cali
fornia. Alfredo Robinson was born in
Boston, March, 1907, and has the honor
of descending from father who fought
at Bunker Hill. At an early age he
entered the business house of Briant
& Surgis of Boston, with whom he re-
mained until 1928, when the firm was
succeeded by Appleton & Co. One of
the first ventures of the new people was
an expedition to that unknown land,
California, and young Robinson having
volunteered, was appointed clerk and
sailed in July, 1928, on the bark Brook
line. A little later delicate, near
sighted boy was shipped away on the
brig Pilgrim, belonging to Appleton &
Co., and Alfredo Robinson was asked to
look after him on his arrival.
The vessel made long trip, was some
months on the coast Of California, and a1ita
when it got safely home again the deli
cate boy, now developed into strong
man-no doubt owing to the GLORIOUS
climate" etc.-embodied his experience
in that delightful book Two Years Be-
fore the Mast. The boy was Richard
Henry Dana, afterward United States
ambassador to the court of Great Brit
ain.
The business of Appleton & Co. was
the supplying of general stores to the
missions and ranchos, and the purchase
of raw hides, which were shipped back
east. Whenever there was shortage
OF freight, ships were ballasted and sent
to China for cargo of tea. After few
months stay Robinson q superior officer,
W. A. Gale, decided he would 60 back
to Boston, and offered the young man,
who had never any intention of making
California his home, sole charge of the
agency. Robinson accepted, and for the
next year spent the greater part of his
time in the saddle, travelling between
Monterey, his headquarters, and San
Francisco to the north. and down the
coast to San Diego.
"There was no coin here in those
days." said the old gentleman yester-
l.
to the Mission Dolores and back without
cent in my pocket. Between the Mis-
sion Dolores in San Francisco and Santa
Clara there were two houses. One was
a small adobe hut at San Mateo, used
by the cattle herders of the Mission
Dolores, and the other the Rancho de
las Pulgas, belonging to Don Luis Agu-
ayo. Every one in the country tknew
Don Alfredo Robinson, and l was well
come everywhere. There were no bad
characters on the roads, and the Indians
were perfectly harmless.
"a year passed in this way without
any news of home or the civilized
world, the only arrivals in the way Of
shipping being Sandwich island
schooner and whaling bark, till Gale
unexpectedly turned up in charge of a
new lot of goods, which were landed at
Santa Barbara, the vessel being sent
down in ballast to San Diego, there to
load hides. stayed on the coast till
1889, when, after marrying Doha Maria
Antonia de la Guerra, | returned to
Boston. / only stayed there year,
however, and was back in California in
1910, and busy at my old work. In
1912 business called me back east, and
proceeded home via Mazatlan,
the City of Mexico and Vera
Cruz. With me I took what was
undoubtedly the first shipment Of gold
which ever left California. 1t had been
collected in small quantities by the
poems of Don Abel Stearns, large
rancher of Los Angeles. Very little in
terest was taken in mining in those
days, and though l disposed of over
$1,000 worth of gold in Philadelphia
the certificate of sale is today in the
Pioneer hall--no particular notice was
taken of the discovery.
I'm 184S / again came west, having
inaugurated the Pacific mail service,
landing in February, 1848. | built a
house and Office on the beach, at what
is now the corner OF Sacramento and
Leidesdorf street. In those days the
boats of the vessels in port used to row
up to and land their freight at the e.steps
at the corner ofmy house. This wooden
building cost $500 in New York, but,
after it had been shipped round the
horn and erected in San Francisco, it
stood me in 10000"
AT this time Mr.. Robinson just missed
his golden opportunity. The lands adj
joining the missions were open to the
selection of any individual, provided only
that the mission approved of the person
who located them, and the padre OF the
San Gabriel mission, hearing that APP
plication had been made for land ad-
Joining him, urged Robinson to step in
and get the place. The Bostonian, it
may be mentioned, had changed his re-
ligion on his marriage, and was conse-
quently a prime favorite with the
priests. Unfortunately for HIM be de-
clined to settle in the county, and the
Rancho Santa Anita-a small part OF
which is now Il. j. Baldwin's rancho
passed into other hands.
SiDce that time I1on A lfradO Robinson