The record-union., 1893-03-24
SACRAMBNTO'S EARLY DAYS.
The First Barley and Wheat Ever
Raised in the County.
Some of Charles Pettit's Interesting
"reminiscences of '5I-A Nor
man Island Wedding, Etc.

many first events which took place after
the conquest of the Territory of California
by the United States, among which are:
The first to find gold; the first State and
county officers: the first public buildings
erected; the first to raise fruit-and many
other first things. But 1 fall to see any
mention of the first crop of barley and
wheat grown in Sacramento County, or
in Northern California for that matter.
L will therefore relate my own expert
ence in that line.
When l arrived in California across the
plains in July, 1850, spent few months
mining upon Spanish Bar, on the middle
fork of the American River. AS the pre-
ceding winter of 40 was very severe, it
was the general belief among the miners
that mining could not be carried on DUR
ing the rainy season. | therefore began to
Look about for
SOMETHING TO DO.
During that time, and having been born
and brought up on d farm, it naturally
occurred TO me that farming might pay
better than gold-digging during the ex
pected wet winter.
| mentioned the subject to a number of
my tellow-miners, all of whom, with one
exception, shook their heads and assured
me that our California climate during the
summer months was too dry to mature
crop of any kind without irrigation, ex-
cept In low places near the streams. The
exception mentioned was Alpheus Kip,
whose claim was near mine. Kip said he
believed our genial climate and rich soil
was capable of producing crop of any
thing we might choose to plant, and if
wished to try farming he would join me,
and together we would make the expert
ment.
1t so happened we had worked out our
claims about the time we expected the
rainy season would set in, and the other
miners on the bar, with one or two eX
ceptions, had already left the diggings.
All things being ready, Kip and l, ac-
companiedsby his brother and brother
ln-law named Briggs, who had
MADE THEIR PILES"
And were starting for their homes in the
State of New York, early one morning
rolled our blankets and, putting our gold
dust inside, started on foot for the valley,
distance of fifty miles or more, leaving
our mining tools, camp-kettles, frying
pans, tin plates and tin cups behind.
On the third day we reached our desti-
nation on the south Bank of the American
River, near Brighton, having previously
made arrangements with the parties
claiming under the Sutter title, through
L. Clough, the agent, to settle upon
tract OF land adjoining the Brighton race
course on the east. There was a vacant
house on the land, that stood on the river
bank near the road, in front of which it
was said the last battle of the squatter
war had taken place, and where Sheriff
Mckinney was killed three months
before by James Allen, former occupant
of the house, who had fled the country.
There We're many bullet holes to be seen
about the premises; some were through
the counter in the bar-room, and others
through the partitions and sides Of the
building, going to show there had been
\ DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.
There were also a number of graves be-
meath a large oak tree on the river bank
near by, which were pointed out to us as
the graves of those Of the Allen party
who were killed in the conflict. Sheriff
Mckinney's remains were inferred in
New Helvetia Cemetery on the outer edge
of this city. Aliens wife, who died of
fever soon after the shooting was also
buried under the tree. This little bury
ing-place was enlarged from time TO
time, while l lived in Brighton, by other
graves, one OF which was that of a young
man named House, who crossed the
plains with me and died at our place in
thespring of 81.
About the year 1867 or 1868, a number
of years after l left Brighton, l learned
that the river was cutting away its banks
tine dead. L therefore had them removed
to the New Helyetia Cemetery, where
they now lie.
When we had been on the ranch few
days Edward Sutfron made arrangements
with US and fitted up the house for
hotel, which he named
THE AMERICAN GARDENS.
By the time we had built a barn, bought
our teams, feed and other necessaries. the
ny Va hol
greatest difficulty to find q plow. We
could find none in the city, nor anywhere
else, nor could we see any sign of plow
ever having been used anywhere.
We again went to the city to see if we
could find blacksmith who could make
pillow; and finally, after visiting num-
ber of shops in vain, we found a colored
man who kept a shop on street (be-
tween Tenth and Eleventh, believer.
who said he could make us one: and he
did. at a good round price. This was
probably
THE FIRST AMERICAN PLow
Ever made in Sacramento County. It
worked well, and we were all ready to
begin plowing.
During the time we were waiting for
our plow to be made we crossed the river
one day to see sam Norris, who owned a
large Spanish grant on the opposite side,
to learn If he knew anything about grain
growing III CALIFORNIA but n orrlS was
not at home, nor did we see any signs of
grain ever having been grown upon the
ranch. We returned no wiser than we
went. l did the plowing and seeding,
while Kip, with the assistance of some
hired men, dug bitches to protect our
prospective crops. The road to the mines
ran through our land and every day
passers-by would stop to inquire what we
were doing. When told we were putting in
a crop of barley, the UNMARRIED reply was
"You can't raise grain in this country
it is too dryp'
This discouraging talk continued from
day to day while we were putting in our
crop of about forty acres. Our seed came
from Chile. In those days all of our
grain and flour came from Chile and the
Pacific islands. Sutfron also put in about
TWENTY ACRES OF BARLEY,
But he became discouraged along in Feb
ruary, when there was dry spell. and
we bought his crop, which gave us about
sixty acres in all. We also planted five
or six acres of potatoes, paying five cents
pound for the seed, but they grew all to
tops, and were complete failure.
During the dry spell in February John
Bigler, who was then member of the
Legislature, and afterward Governor,
and Vincent L. Geiger, journalist and
politician, drove out from the city to
Brighton one day for a ride and probably
to learn something about politics also.
They stopped at our place and we treated
them as well as we could. Some time
afterward, when our venture had proven
a success. the Governor said that when
he ana Mr.. Geiger were returning to the
city that day Geiger remarked: "Those
men back where we stopped appear to be
very clever fellows, and no doubt are
good Democrats and all that, but l think
they show very poorjudgment in attempt
ing to farm i'll this dry country. They