The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-03-27
MRS. F. A. VAN wINKLE MRS TURNIAN PIONEER
LADIES OF CALIFORNIA PRESENT VISITING HONOLULU

81 was the first girl born of Amer
lean parents in California
Such was perhaps the most remarka-
bic statement made by most remark
able woman in an interview yesterday
Mrs. F. A. Van Wrinkle, now So years
of age, and daughter of the late Major
Stephen Cooper, is visiting Honolulu,
having come from California several
weeks ago with her daughter Mrs. NJ.
Turman.
Major Cooper was famous pioneer,
coming to California across the plains
with his family in 1876 from Missouri.
He had many thrilling experiences with
the then savage Indians, but his tact
and knowledge of Indian law resulted
in the perilous journey being made
without the loss of single member of
his family or of anyone who Joined
him on the way.
The Inflated Donner party crossed
the plains at the same time, but met
with misfortune, all but a few perish
ing of hunger and exposure at Donner
Lake, California, named after the i'll
starred family.
"The Donner party had horses while
we used oxen" " said Mrs. Van Wrinkle,
"and that was bad for them for the
horses couldn't stand hardships like
the cattle
GIVE hundred miles from the Mis-
souri, river our party was attacked by
a tand of Pawnee Indians 500 strong,
Major Cooper had been Indian agent
at Council Bluffs for fifteen years and
his knowledge of Indians aud their
ways undoubtedly saved our livcs,
"The wagons were halted and a de-
mand made for tobacco and ilour, which
was c(mplied with, Then the Major
promisA that he would ride ON and
tell the Great Father at Washington
that the pawnees were very good In
dians, which promise having been given
the party was allowed 20 proceed,
"We saw buffalo by the thousands
and the Donncr boys had great sport
running them ON horses, They were
people of means and were making a
pleasure trip of it, We spared no time
for hunting buffalo for Major Cooper
made it rule 10 make some advance
every day, if it was only five miles,
eve also encountered bands of Sioux
Indians, but they were treated annie
ably, We started in May and reach
ed California in October, having en-
ioyed me weather all the way"
"Major Cooper" said Mrs. Turman,
"loeated at Yountville, Napa County,
Cal, going thence 20 Benieia in the
summer of ls47. His eldest daughter,
Fanny Cooper, now Mrs. Van Wrinkle,
married DR.. Robert Semple of Benieia
in November of the same year and l am
their only child.
"Dr. Semple figured largely in the
early history of California, having
printed The Californian, the first
newspaper published in the state, at
Monterey. The paper was afterwards
merged with the alta Californian,
published by Cotton and Semple.
. "The first number or The Californian
contained news of the Bear Flag war
and was printed on one side of a sheet
of letter-paper. Two VS. were used
to make a Wv, and one of the adver-
tisements read like this:
E" John Dow will furnish all bricks
or lumber for the building of San
Franciseo-orders filed on short no
tice.'
''Dr. Semple came around the Horn
to California from Kentucky in lS45.
Ge was. president of the first convention,
held at Monterey and helped to frame
the old constitution.
''It might interest some of your read
ers to know how San Francisco came
by its present name. having first been
called 'Yerba Buena.' In the fall of
1s45 DR.. Semple and General Vallejo