Yuba County
History
Chapter VIII - Early Settlements in the Valley- transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2003
Sutter’s Endeavor to Hold the Land Embraced within his Map—Settlements in the Upper Portion of the Valley—Locations South-east of Sutter’s Fort—Murder of Lindsay and Prompt Punishment of the Indians by Sutter and his Forces
The early settlements of Yuba and Sutter counties were parts of a series extending through nearly the whole Sacramento valley, and an account of the most important will doubtless prove interesting. Sutter’s map included a much larger area than the Mexican laws would allow, and in order to hold the land he placed tenants on various portions of the territory embraced within its limits. Subsequently, when it was thought that he could not hold all the land applied for, he endeavored to obtain a Sobrante grant for his children, and this was partly the motive that induced him to visit Governor Micheltorena at Monterey, in 1844.
After the settlement at New Hevetia, the next point where a dwelling was located was about two miles north-east of the fort, on the American river, in 1841. This was settled by John Sinclair for Capt. Elias Grimes and Hiram Grimes, to whom Sutter afterwards sold it. It made a fine ranch and farm, and was extensively stocked.
In 1842, Nicolaus Allgeier was placed on what is now as the town of Nicoluas, on the east bank of the Feather river. The next two places were settled almost simultaneously in the fall of 1842. The Hock Farm, which subsequently became the home of Captain Sutter, was established and made his principle stock farm, the animals ranging over that part of Sutter county lying west of the Feather river, and south of the Butte mountains. The land in the vicinity of the site of Marysville was leased to Theodore Cordua. Cordua made a stock-farm of it, and to a limited extent, a trading post. He obtained a few otter and beaver skins, and was continually passing to and from Yerba Buena, trading in his launch. The settlement of George Patterson on the opposite side of the Yuba river, in 1845, was another of these locations in the interest of Sutter to hold the land.
The next grant was to Charles W. Flugge, and was located on the west bank of Feather river adjoining the northern portion of Sutter’s grant, and called the “Flugge Grant.” It fell into the hands, by purchase of Thomas O. Larkin, as did the Hernandez Grant. Larkin tried to locate the Flugge Grant in the mining regions, but failed. William Gordon settled upon his grant on Cache creek, in Yolo county, in the fall of 1842. The place now known as Vacaville was settled about the same time by Manuel Baca, from New Mexico. Wolfskill settled on his grant on Putah creek, south of Cache creek, and south of Gordon’s Grant, in 1843. Knight’s Grant on the Sacramento river was settled by himself, in 1844. The next settlement was Peter Lassen, in Tehama county, on Deer creek. Lassen started to take possession of the land in December, 1843, but did not reach his destination till January or February, 1844. The settlement by Samuel Neal and David Dutton on Butte creek about seven miles south of Chico, was made in 1844. About the same time Edward A. Farwell, with Thomas Fallon, settled on his grant on Chico creek, about a mile below the present town site. The same year, but a little later, a settlement was made on the present property of General James Bidwell by William Dickey who obtained the grant. In 1845, several grants were selected in what is now Tehama county by A. G. Toomes, R. H. Thomes, Job F. Dye, and Josiah Belden.
In 1845, the Hensley Grant was located between Chico and Butte creeks. Marshall, the discoverer of gold, was employed by Hensley to make a settlement on the tract. Sicard’s Grant (four leagues), and Johnson’s Grant (four leagues) on Bear river were secured in 1844. The grant to Reading, located in Shasta county and northern part of Sacramento valley, was also settled upon in 1845, by a man named Julian. The grant to the children of Thomas O. Larkin in Colusa county, was selected in 1844, and subsequently settled upon by John S. Williams. In 1844, the first settlement south-east of Sacramento, on Cosumnes river, was made by William Daylor. The grant was originally made to one Sheldon, and Daylor was a partner. The first map of this land was drawn by Dr. Sandels in 1843. The next settlement south of Sutter’s Fort was made on the grant of Guillermo Gulnac by a man named Thomas Lindsay, in August, 1844, being the tract upon which the city of Stockton is now located. He was there but a short time when he was killed by Indians, in the spring of 1845. Sutter, having returned from the war of Castro against Micheltorena, sent an expedition to punish the Indians who had murdered Lindsay. A number, who were supposed to be the guilty parties, were killed in the fight, together with one of the number composing the expedition. His name was Juan Baca, a relative of the Bacas of Vacaville, and son of the Ex-governor of New Mexico. This grant soon passed into the possession of Capt. C. M. Weber. It is a fact that there was not a house in the Sacramento or San Joaquin valleys in 1841, except Sutter’s. He had one adobe house and a few huts, but his Fort was not completed until sometime afterwards.