The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-11-25
DAYS OF OLD THE DAYS OF GOLD.
Delightful "reminiscences of
Early Los Angeles.
Mr.. and Mrs. WOlfskill Call on Mrs.
General Fremont.
The Visitors Assist in Celebrating Col.
Warmers Birthdsy-Two Octoge-
narians II ,osil Their Youth
full Hsppsnings.
by II. d. BARRows. ]

BY II. d. BARRows.
The visit of Mr.. and Mrs. John A.
Wolfskill to Los Angeles afforded an op.
! portunity last Tuesday, November Goth,
for bringing together two of the earliest
and oldest American pioneers now living
in California; and also enabled Mr.. and
Mrs. Wol.skill to call and pay their re-
specie, on the same day, to Mrs. General
| Fremont.
Mr.. Wolfskill first came to California.
where his brother William had preceded
him some years before, in 1888, or more
than 56 years ago. William, the ances-
tor OF the Los Angeles Wolfskills.
arrived in 1881. He died in 1866. His
brother John is over 80 years old, but he
enjoys excellent health for man OF that
advanced age, he and his wife and son
having just returned from an eastern
visit by the southern route, stopping
here to visit their many Los Angeles
relatives. Mrs. Wolfskill was a daughter
OF Maj. Stephen Cooper. himself an his
torioal character in the early annals OF
California.
Mrs. Fremont received her visitors
last Tuesday very cordially, and listened
with much interest to Mr.. WolfskilPs
account of Captain Fremont's warm
sympathy and assistance rendered to the
American settlers in the Sacramento
valley in 1916, and OF his camping at his
ranch on Putah creek, when on his way
| from Sonoma to Sacramento. As was
remarked by one of the party. I'VE
owed more to her father and to her hus
band for the acquisition of California
than to any other two men. Senator
Benton foresaw the importance of open
ing communication with Oregon and the
| Pacific much earlier than other public
men, and he had great difficulty In get
ting them and the administration to
realize the magnitude of our great em>
pire west of the Rocky mountains, and
the desirability of acquiring California,
which seemed likely to become indie
pendent. or to fall into the hands OF
England. We now, in looking back,
can see how enlightened were Senator
Benton's views on this subject, and his
son-in.law, the ambitious young lieu
tenant, thoroughly eympathizsd with
those We've. Knowing we'll that, in case
OF war with Mexico, California would be
seized, as a war measure, by our forces,
he very naturally co-operated with those
forces and with the American settlers
in bringing about the change which,
whether he received specific instruc-
tions to that effect or not, was after.
wards approved by the American gov
eminent and people,"
Mr.. Wolfskll, who took an active
part in the Bsar Flag movement. had
an opportunity to judge OF the value OF
Fremonts assistance and OF the stimu-
lating effect his decisive action had in
animating siuggish Commodore Sloat to
take possession OF Monterey at the time
be did, instead of waiting for formal
orders. as some of his csrping critics in
sist he should have done, thereby per-
uniting the possible seizure Of the terri
tory by England. Mr.. Woliskill insists
that Captain Fremont did exactly right.
Mrs. Fremont graciously thanked Mr..
Wolfskill, that he, at his great age-he
| is now over 80 years old-should have
honored her by calling on her. Mrs.
| Wolfskill and Mrs. Fremont met each
other first at San Jose in 1849.
On reaching Colonel Warmers, Mr..
Wolfskill's party found that that day,
November Goth, was Colonel Warmers
eighty-seventh birthday, and that his
daughter and grandchildren had pre-
pared a turkey dinner in commemora-
ton OF the anniversary; and nothing
would do but that the visitors should
stay and make dav of it.
And 30 the venerable gentlemen-one
being ~ and the other 80 years OF age
had chance to call up many memories
OF the olden time when California was q
territory of Mexico, and its people spoke
the vernscular of Spain.
Mr.. Wolfskill said that he rode into
Los Angeles on q mule, on the 18th of
February, 1888, almost 81 years ago. and
the fret American he saw, was standing
in the door OF mis- store on Main street,
between the present site of the st. Elmo
hotel and Downey block, of whom he
inquired il ne could inform him where
William Wolfskill could be found. The
American OF whom he made this in
quiry, ss he afterwards learned, was j.
j. Warner.
William Wolfskll was at that time
out in the mountains getting out boards
for watts for his wine; but Antonio NJ.
Lugo rode on horseback out to the
mountaine to let him know that one of
his brothers had arrived. When he
came in he did not know John az he
was worn out and nearly starved at the
end of his long journey, and the bro.
thers had not met Tor many years. John
etaid with his brother three or four
years and worked in mis- vineyard. He
and his brother finally obtained grant
of four leagues OF public land west of
the Sacramento river. on both sides OF
Putah creek. There John went with
stock in 1912, and there he has made
his home ever since or for over half a
century.
For many years the ranch was de-
vote0 mainly to stock raising, then for
some years, after being fenced. to wheat
growing; now it is nearly all covered
with fruit orchards. A railroad crosses
the ranch now; the nearest station to
Mr.. Wolfskill's home is Winters.
Three other brothers afterwards came
out to California and settled on this
ranch. but all are dead except John and
Milton, the latter having been a resi-
dent of this city for several years.
No weary, foot-sore tramps ever
reached California who came nearer
| h0r