The San Francisco call., 1909-05-12
VALLEJO'S FOUNDER
IS DEAD IN MEXICO
General John B. Frisbie Passes
Away After Lingering I'LL
ness in Southern Capital

General John b. Frisbie, one of the
builders of California and for the last
quarter century a dominant figure in
Mexico, died in the City of Mexico yes
terday after a lingering illness. With
his passing ends the life of man who
figured extensively in the romance days
of California and then continued his
picturesque career in the capital of the
adjoining republic. A telegram an
nouncing the death of General Frisbie
was received by relatives in this city
yesterday.
Born in Albany, ~ Y May 90. 1923,
John B. Frisbie was educated In the
Albany academy, after which he studied
law in Buffaio He and the late Sem
ator Leland Stanford were admitted TO
practice at the same time. in iS47. just
after the close OF the Mexican war,
Frisbie came to California as a captain
in Stevenson's regiment, which was dis
banded at Black Point.
MERCHANT IN soNOMA
Frisbie engaged in merchandising in
Sonoma and later in Napa, his being the
first store in the latter town. He never
practiced law actively I'm this state, but
he did participate in several large cases
for which he received handsome fees.
In Is49 he was a candidate for lieuten-
ant governor, but was defeated by John
McDougal.
In 1850 Frisbie became the son in law
of General Vallejo by marrying Fannie
Vallejo, daughter of a holder of consid-
erable land in the vicinity of Benicia
and prominent during the Mexican rule
in this state. After residing for time
in Benicfa Frisbie established the town
Of Vallejo in honor of his father in-law
and assumed the management of Val
IejO's property, which consisted OF
large grant received from the Mexican
government in settlement of a claim
Frisbie showed his real ability by
settling the squatter troubles on the
Vallejo place IN 1854 in short order.
After parts of the Vallejo land had been
subdivided and sold squatters asserted
that Valleio's title was not good. Fris
bic went to Washington and cleared the
title by paying the government s1.25
per acre, adjusting the matter with an
act of congress.
Frisbie operated extensively, with
the result that in 1876 he lost his for
tune He was the first vice president
of the California Pacific in 1859 and
had 1900 shares of stock in the Cali
fornia Pacific Extension railway, a
$50. 600. 600 corporation promoted with
a view to building network of rail-
roads in the coast states. He lost
heavily in this, and in 1873 decided to
seek fortune anew in Mexico.
WON DIAZ' FRIENDSHIP
It was not long before Frsbie won
the friendship Of Diaz. In late years
he was one of the most intimate friends
OF the Mexican president. Several
years ago Diaz commissioned Frisbie
to go to Washington i'm an effort to
adjust a matter with the United States
after Diaz had failed time and again.
Frisbie was successful. In addition to
a large fee, DiaZ gave Frisbie an
abandoned gold mine. which had not
been worked for two or three CEN
turies. 1t was reported to be very rich,
however, and Frisbie accepted the gift.
His small means were soon exhausted
and he then prevailed upon J. y. Hag-
gin, with whom he had been very in
innate in California. 10 join him in the
enterprise. They developed the prop
erty and sold it for $4,000. 600.
At the time OF his death Frisbie was
worth nearly million. During his
lifetime he gave large sums to his
children His wife died in 1905 in the
City of Mexico He left the following
sons and daughters: Mrs. Fannie F.
de Seoueira, Baroness Eclat John
Bernard Frisbie. Platone Frisbie. Mrs.
Josephine Elescales. Leo C. Frisbie and
Madeline Ramon Navarro FEour chill
dren died. They were Sarah Morgan,
Benicia Semperie, Guadalupe, David
Farragut and Cecilia.
John Blackman. a half brother, who
Joined General Frisbie in this state
January /. 1860, is a resident of this
city. as are also DR.. L. G. Frisbie and
Attorney y. B. Frisbie, sons Of Edward
Frisbie, brother of General Frisbie
Edward Frisbie died October z, 1908.
nrasfnenf Of Of
Northern California in Redding DR.
l. c. Frisbie. another brother of the
general, died in Vallejo in 1892
Eleazer Frisbie. also a brother, died in
Redding in 1888. Mrs Cynthia Lynch,
his only sister, died in Syracuse in
1896.