CALIFORNIA, The First 100 Years. 1769 - 1869. Spain wanted a military presence in California to keep out the English, French and Russians all of whom were beginning to pose threats to Spain's expansion to uncivilized California. Four Spanish Exhibitions, left New Spain (today's Mexico) in 1769, two by land and two by sea bound for San Diego. More than one third participating lost their lives on these expeditions due to scurvy and starvation. The survivors were expected to meet in San Diego to create Missions (education centers) and Presidios (Forts) to civilize the Indians at both San Diego and Monterey. Travel to California for the next 100 years by land or by sea was a high risk, dangerous trip for anyone. Indians attacked the settlers who crossed the plains with covered wagons. Weather and the severe elements took many more lives in the hot deserts and freezing High Sierras. California's First 100 Civilized Years were governed by Spain, then Mexico and finally The United States climaxing with Statehood as our Nations 31st State, the Gold Rush and the Golden Spike.

CALIFORNIA, The First 100 Years

Padre Serra to Statehood & the Golden SpikeBy John P. Roach Jr.

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2010 John P. Roach Jr.
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-1176-9

Contents

Chapter I 1769 Mission San Diego.......................................................11Chapter II 1770–1774 Founding New Missions.......................................17Chapter III 1774 Viceroy Bucareli......................................................23Chapter IV 1774 Juan Batista de Anza...................................................27Chapter V 1775 Padre Luis Jayme........................................................31Chapter VI 1777 Missions San Francisco and Santa Clara.................................33Chapter VII 1782 Padre Juan Crespi.....................................................35Chapter VIII 1782 Governor Felipe de Neve..............................................37Chapter IX 1784 The Apostle of California..............................................41Chapter X 1822 Louis Antonio Arguello..................................................81Chapter XI 1825 Jose Maria Echeandia...................................................85Chapter XII 1826 Jeridah Strong Smith..................................................89Chapter XIII 1830 Kit Carson...........................................................91Chapter XIV 1839 John Sutter...........................................................95Chapter XV 1844 James Polk.............................................................101Chapter XVI 1845 John Fremont..........................................................103Chapter XVII 1846 Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo............................................109Chapter XVIII 1841 Fort Ross, The Russian Settlement in California.....................115Chapter XIX 1846 Pio Pico..............................................................119Chapter XX 1846 The Bear Flag Republic.................................................121Chapter XXI 1846 Andres Pico...........................................................123Chapter XXII 1846-1847 The Donner Party................................................129Chapter XXIII 1848 Secularazation......................................................133Chapter XXIV 1846 Commodore Stockton...................................................135Chapter XXV 1849 The Gold Rush.........................................................139Chapter XXVI 1851 Jesse Benton Fremont.................................................143Chapter XXVII 1849 Constitutional Convention...........................................153Chapter XXVIII 1850 Statehood..........................................................155Chapter XXIX 1867 Alonzo Erastas Horton................................................157Chapter XXX 1861 Transcontinental Railroad.............................................163Chapter XXXI 1869 The Big Four.........................................................165Chapter XXXII 1869 The Golden Spike....................................................173EPILOGUE...............................................................................179BIBLIOGRAPHY...........................................................................183

Chapter One

1769

MISSION SAN DIEGO

At long last father Serra saw the two ships at anchor in San Diego Harbor. The four separate expeditions, two by land and two by sea, had come together in San Diego.

Father Serra remarked to Father Crespi: "What a beautiful place San Diego is, a great place to start my first mission in California."

And Father Crespi replied, "Yes Father, San Diego Bay is a fine harbor. Cabrillo described it well 227 years ago. I am not disappointed, and I am genuinely happy. Vizcaino visited here in 1602, and since then we are the only ships to enter San Diego Harbor in the last 167 years."

"The male natives approach us totally naked, just as if we have entered the Garden of Eden. They are uninhibited and without shame as they stand before us naked while we are fully clothed. I have not seen the women yet," Father Serra answered.

"The women cover themselves with reeds and leaves." said Crespi. "Thank God. The nakedness speaks well for the climate of San Diego."

Governor Portola joined the two padres to ask Father Serra if he likes the site where they are currently encamped.

"Do you like this site?" asked Portola.

"Of course," responded Serra. "There is plenty of water, a substantial native population, fertile soil on the flat land all around us, and it is within canon range of the harbor. It is a perfect site for both a mission and a presidio. Looking far ahead, I can visualize the San Diego pueblo as well, built between here and the bay."

"Ha! I guess you do like it, you are so optimistic. I, for one, never thought that in your condition you could ever make that nine hundred mile trip from Loreto. However, we still have many problems. Of the three hundred that started this trip, we have lost more than one hundred."

"Why so many?" asked Father Crespi.

"Scurvy killed many of those that came by sea, and starvation and desertion decimated our numbers during the Rivera overland expedition. There are so many still sick with scurvy.

"I will bring them back to health." offered Serra.

"Before I leave with an overland expedition for Monterey, I will send the San Antonio with its few remaining sailors back to San Blas for provisions and replacements for the sailors lost."

On July 9, the San Antonio left San Diego harbor containing letters to the guardian of the College of San Fernando in Mexico City and letters to Father Palou at Loreto in Baja Sur on the Sea of Cortez that provide details of the journey thus far.

Less than a week later, on July 15, after a High Mass offered by Father Serra, the twenty-four men were blessed for their expedition to Monterey harbor. Father Crespi was sent as the diarist to record every detail of the expedition for the College of San Fernando. Captain Rivera, who was to lead the first expedition prior to the second overland expedition, departed with him after the blessing.

Father Serra, with the forty men left behind, immediately commenced the construction of the San Diego mission on Presidio Hill. A few shelters were erected, with a larger one to serve as a church until a foundation was laid for the mission.

The next morning on July 16, 1769, the soldiers raised the cross, and Father Serra sang a High Mass founding Mission San Diego de Alcala in honor of Franciscan Saint Didacus, who died at Alcala, Spain in the fifteenth Century.

Father Serra, assisted by Father Perron, started California's first mission, and together they became California's first missionaries. Within the first month there was still a communication problem, as the padres had not yet learned the language of the natives.

When four soldiers left the presidio to accompany Father Perron after he said mass on the ship San Carlos, the natives noticed how shorthanded the mission was and attacked.

When the four remaining soldiers heard the attack, they ran for their muskets and fired. The mission carpenter and blacksmith joined the defense while Fathers Serra and Vizcaino, in one of the huts, prayed that no one on either side would be hurt.

That evening the wailing of women could be heard in the surrounding villages as the natives cremated their dead. The natives' primitive weapons were no match for Spanish muskets, and a new respect was born for the missionaries.

Doctor Prat tended to the...