The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21
Commanded the Vessel That Bore
Arms to Fremont at
Sacramento.
Won a Fortune by Deiving for Gel
and Died in the Home for
Veterans

party and participated in many of the
stirring events that make early-day his
tory OF the land of gold extremely inter
esting.
From ex-Mayor Benjamin Shurtliff. an
early settler OF Napa Valley, it is learned
that Russell was born near Machias, Me-,
on Novemb Der Is, 1921 In 1876 he re-
moved, with his parents, to Rochester,
n. Y, where he spent his boyhood days
in attendance at the pu bic school of that
little town. which is now a great city
with population OF more than $50 600.
In 1929, on the dav he became years OF
age, he saw the reckless Sam Patch make
his fatal leap down the Genesee Falls.
Russell in describing this feat always
contended that Patch became demoral-
lied in descending, and lost his life by
spreading his arms out from his body,
instead of holding them firmly down
straight and close 10 his sides.
Not content 10 pass his life in the valley
OF Genesee, Russell at the age of IS deter
mined to embark in seaiaring life. He
went to Greenport, l. l., where in 1910.
lie sailed i'll the bark Washington on a
whaling voyage to the South Atlantic and
Indian oceans. On returning home he,
dllcI d UTl6I ElSlI Win TelatlFeS ana
friends, became restless and longed to re-
sumo the romantic life of the mariner.
Fortune was quick to lavish its favor upon
the ardent Sallor-boy.
In the following autumn Russell Joined
another whaling expedition and took
passage on the ship Benjamin Morgan,
which sailed from New London, Conr.,
on trip around Cape Horn to the North
Pacific Ocean.
After cruising for a season, with good
success, off Sitka the Morgan came down
the coast Tor supplies. and entering the
Golden Gate came to anchor in Sausalito
harbor about the middle of October, IS43.
Then Russell first saw San Francisco, a
sleepy little village containing not more
than dozen houses ana a permanent
population OF not more than fifty, though
blessed with magnificent climate and a
harbor that, with The single exception OF
Rio de Janeiro, is not surpassed by any in
America. The little settlement was then
called Yerba Buena.
The captain OF the Morgan encountered
much difficulty in getting suIta bic fire.
wood for the ships use. Russell
and others explored Rincon Point in
search for firewood, but found none but
scrubby manzanita, too crooked to STOW
advantageouSly in the ship. Subse-
q Ientlv they found much better wood on
Goat Island, where they procured a
supply.
Russell was so charmed with the coun-
try that he decided to abandon the Nor
gar, forfeit his share in her valuable cargo
already secured and make California his
home. He left San Francisco and Joined
the bear flag party at Sonoma on the
21st of June, 1916. one week after the sur
render of General NJ. G. Vallejo. After
the bear flag party was fully organized
and about the 18th of July he was detailed
with nine others by Orderly Sergeant
William Balbrldge to go to Napa and take
the boat Marie, q small craft of about
seven ions capacity which belonged to the
ship Nandalia, and convey two brass
cannons-six-p FOUNDERS. or about that size
with some small arms to the EN- barca-
derO, now Sacramento.
There he delivered them to NJ. NJ. Worn
Dough, Captain Fremont's quartermaster.
These I'm plements of war had been cap-
tured by the bear flag party on the 14th of
the preceding June, and were hauled in
wagon from Sonoma TO Napa.
Russell was the commander of the boat
he was not only an experienced sailor. but
he was the only one in the party who had
ever been TO Sacramento by the wafer
route. He was with William A. Leides-
doTff, United States Vice Consul at San
francisco, when that officer went to Sac
ramento on sailing vessel 10 meet Can
tain Fremont, arriving at the EN- barcadero
Oi bCSCLlDoI Il, lOfD, WH6T6 L TemOnI. Dur
suant to appointment, met him next day
When Re left Napa Commander Rus
sell and his men embarked from a point
on the right bank of Napa River, about
midway between the mouth of Napa
Creek and the Third-street bridge. He
made the trip to Sacramento and de-
.iyered his cargo TO Quarterma ster NJ. NJ.
Worn bough III about thirty hours.
Like many others of the bear Gag
party. Wien that organization had filed
its mi sion, he Joined Fremont's Battal-
Ion, serving in Captain Samuel Gibson's
company. The celebrated James w.
Marshall, the d!scoverer of gold at Cooma
In January, 184S, was also a member of
Captain Gibson's company. Russell and
others OF the company we're honora bly,
discharged from the service at Los An
geles on March Z 1S47.
Russell, Marshall and five companions
came TO San Jose, where they sonar ated.
Russell went alone to San Francisco, and
never saw one OF the party again after he
left the Garden City.
In one OF series OF interviews with Rus
sell last January the old pioneer spoke in
terms OF warm commend alton of Marshall.
saying that he was a klnd-hearted, honor
able, Intelligent man. who enjoyet the
esteem anu good will of his comrades.
Russell lived at Benicia for a while dur
ing the time that D.. Robert Semple was
pressing Will ZedI anu energy the merits
OF his favorite town. the young CITY of
manifest destiny that was soon to rival
San Francisco and become the great me-
tropohs of the Pacific Coast"
While at Benicia he formed a partner
ship with William NJ. Watson and en-
gagged in carpent ring and building
In the latter part of March, 1913, they
LETT Benicia and came to Napa. AS small
boats were scarce and hard to obtain Rus
sell made the trip on mu. eback, a convey
ance all old sailors heartily despIse. Here
they purchased from Nathan Coon BIS, the
founder of Napa the entire unimproved
block east of the County Courthouse,
where the City Hall building now stands,
paving therefor $l20
TEey built u house on the southeast
corner of this block, where Russell lived
IN the primitive days of Napa. That was
one of the first houses built in Napa.
whose unsurveyed town-site was in the
summer previous-1847-a bean field. In
the fall OF 184S Russell and his partner es-
tablshed a ferry across NaDa River, a
short distance above Thirds street brid ge.
Russell heard that rich mines of gold
had been opened in Coloma.
He turned miner and met with fair sue
cess on the south fork of the American
II yer, about three miles above Mormon
Island. Later he tried his fortune at Rose
Bar, on the Yuba River, where he cleared
on an average two ounces day above all
expenses. he was of the opinion that be-