D. W. JAMES
Three California pioneers of 1849 comprise the well-known firm of Blackburn Brothers & James, the proprietors of the Paso de Robles Hot Springs. The adventures of the pioneers constitute a story of as thrilling interest as the most dramatically conceived romance, partaking of hardships and dangers, exposures and pleasures; the brightest hopes and the severest disappointments; brilliant successes and disastrous reverses; of friendships unexcelled; of tragedies the most sanguinary, and the joys and conflicts of every passion. The most of the great army of 1849 have passed away, and to the younger citizens the tales of the past are regarded as largely partaking of fables, but to those of the time the remembrances of them are most vivid and interesting. Drury Woodson James is one of the pioneers of that period, and as far as seeking adventure was before that time, having been a volunteer of the army of invasion of Mexico in 1846, and a soldier through that gallantly fought war. Mr. James was born on the Whippoorwill River, in Logan County, Kentucky, November 14, 1826. His parents were Jackson James and Polly Poor, both natives of Virginia, in which State they were married prior to their removal to Kentucky. Martin James, the grandfather of D. W., was a soldier of the Revolution, as was also his grandfather Poor, both fighting through the contest for independence. Mr. James was left an orphan when an infant, his mother dying when he was but three months old, and his father but a year later. The eldest sister took charge of the child and the family. There were three daughters and four sons; his eldest sister, Mary, was married to John Mimms; Elizabeth, the wife of Tellman West; and Nancy, the wife of George Hite. His brothers were William, Robert, and Thomas M.
His home was with John Mimms in Logan County, Kentucky, until he was eighteen years of age, working on the farm and attending school. After eighteen he went into the world to make his own way to fortune, and engaged with his elder brother, William, in the mercantile business in Oldham County, Kentucky, on the Ohio River. He was thus engaged when the war with Mexico began in 1846, and volunteers were called for. James joined the Louisville Legion, ten companies in all, under the command of Colonel Ormsby. The Legion went to New Orleans and there embarked for Brazos Island, and joined General Taylor’s Army in the march to Monterey. With the army he took part in the battle of Monterey, the Legion being selected by General Taylor to accompany and protect Ramsey’s Mortar Battery, which did effective work in driving the Mexican soldiers from their citadel and the Bishop’s Palace, their strongholds. So effective was the fire of the battery that the Mexicans made a sortie to destroy it, but were repulsed by the Texan Rangers. During the night after the first day’s battle, the Legion was ordered to relieve the Mississippi Regiment in front of the Molino Fort, which was done and held until late the next day, when they entered the city and fought their way to the plaza. A flag of truce was displayed and the battle ended with the surrender of the city, forts, and army. The Legion had not been much exposed, and although doing some hard fighting and marching, lost no men.
Early in 1847 the army marched forward toward the interior, and on the 22d and 23d of February fought the great battle of Buena Vista, the American forces numbering but about 4,000 men, while the Mexican Army, commanded by Santa Ana, numbered 22,000. The Legion, however, did not have the honor of being in the midst of that terrible fight, being detailed as a guard to Monterey. But the apparently overwhelming army of Santa Ana coming to meet Taylor, they were ordered forward by forced marches, and in the exertions to be on the field in time, James crippled himself by the bursting of one of the veins of his legs, a mishap that affects him to the present. The battle of Buena Vista was won, and the Legion returned to Monterey. So confident had the people of the city been that the Americans would be crushed that all had left the city, fearing, if found there by Santa Ana, they would be charged with showing a friendly feeling to the gringoes. During the war, the Legion was chiefly employed in garrisoning Monterey, but partook in some heavy skirmishes, and lost a number of men. The officers were all gentlemen and very kind, and the recollections of the war are very pleasant. When the war was over, Mr. James returned to Westport, Oldham County, Kentucky, and resumed business with his brother William, which he continued until the spring of 1849, at which time he was attacked by the gold fever, which nothing but a journey to California could cure.
His adventures in the army and marches through Mexico had given him the taste for more, and he joined a company for the overland trip to the newly-discovered gold mines. The company was a promiscuous one, made up at Old Fort Kearny, where many people had gathered, and was composed of men from Ohio, Kentucky, and Missouri. Mr. James left the Missouri River, April 1, 1849, traveled up the Platte and through the South Pass, thence via the Humboldt and Carson Rivers, reaching the gold mines at Hangtown in August, having had a pleasant and safe journey. Accompanying him in the train were John Minter, now of San Diego, and who had been with Fremont in 1846, John Boggs, of Colusa County, John Crigler, of Napa, Benjamin Young, John Young, Reuben Basket, and others.
He mined on Weber and Hangtown Creeks, and at the latter place, now Placerville, El Dorado County, passed the winter. In the spring of 1850 engaged in buying and driving cattle, buying first in Santa Clara County at $20.00 a head, and selling them in the mines at sixty cents a pound on foot, and beef at $1.00 a pound in the Hangtown market. After 1851 he extended the trips for cattle as far as Los Angeles, purchasing there at the rate of $15.00 to $20.00 a head, and selling at an average of about $40.00 per head. He usually started from Los Angeles in March, and later in the season would return and buy a drove in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Clara Counties, sometimes making three droves a year, numbering from 500 to 700 head, and at one time drove from Los Angeles 1,500 head. This business he continued until 1860, when, with John D. Thompson, he purchased 10,000 acres of Government land at La Panza at $1.25 an acre, and stocked it with 2,500 head of cattle. In the dry season of 1863-64 he had on the ranch 5,000 head, which he drove to Tulare and Buena Vista Lakes, and thus saved them all. At that time his neighbors were Robert G. Flint, at San Juan Capistrano, Briggs, on the Comate, and Slaven, at the French camp on the Navajo. Briggs and Slaven were trappers, the former having a Navajo squaw for a wife, and a Navajo Indian being with Slaven, hence the name of Navajo to the creek.
James remained at La Panza until 1869, when he purchased one-half interest in the Paso de Robles Hot Springs and the one league of land embracing it, where he has since resided as hotel-keeper, stock-raiser, farmer, and capitalist. He has an interest in and is a director of the Bank of San Luis Obispo, is half owner of the Eagle Steam Flouring-mill of San Luis Obispo, and owns other property in the city. His first visit to the Hot Springs was when en route to the South after cattle in 1851. He camped at the springs, and was astonished to find the water hot and sulphurous, and was therefore compelled to go to the river for water for drinking and cooking purposes. He afterwards often bathed in the warm pools, and found them very delightful and refreshing after his long drives with cattle.
In 1871 he built the fine residence he now occupies, and which is shown in the foreground of the picture of the Paso de Robles Hot Springs.
Mr. James was married in San Luis Obispo by Rev. Father Sastre, September 15, 1866, to Miss Louisa Dunn, daughter of Patrick Dunn, who was born in Sacramento, California, her parents being of Irish descent, and coming to this country from Australia. Mr. Dunn has been frequently mentioned in this history as County Superintendent of Schools, and in other capacities. To Mr. and Mrs. James have been born seven children: Mamie, William, Nellie, Lena, Carrie, Charles, and Edward. Carrie and Charles are twins, born on the 22d of February, 1872.
Politically Mr. James is a Democrat, and served the county ten years as Supervisor, and four years as School Trustee, holding the latter position at present, and thinks the school at Paso Robles, under the efficient charge of Miss Annie Osborne, one of the best in the county. In 1855 he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Michigan Bar, in Sacramento County, and is now a member of the San Luis Obispo Lodge, and is also Entered Apprentice as Mason.
Source: History of San Luis Obispo County, California, pp375-376. Transcribed for the CAGenWeb Project by Cathy Portz.
CHRISTIAN HANSEN JESPERSEN
Is a native of Denmark, born March 10, 1836. His parents were Jorgen and Catherine (Hansen) Jespersen, who had two children, one son and one daughter, Christian Hansen being the eldest. He remained in his native Denmark until he had reached the prime of manhood, passing his early years at the common schools of the country, and working on the farm, and when arrived at the proper age served an apprenticeship and engaged in the occupation of ship carpentering. After some years of labor at his trade and farming in the cold regions of northern Europe, he decided to seek that far western land where so many of his countrymen had gone before and prospered so well, and whence the reports returned of the long years of warm sunshine and bright flowers, so vividly in contrast to the dreary winters and scanty vegetation of his Scandinavian home. In 1867 he came to America and to California, first settling at Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, where he engaged in farming and in dealing in lumber. At that pleasant village by the Pajaro he remained seven years, removing in 1874 to San Luis Obispo County. Here he purchased a fine farm of 180 acres on the Los Osos Grant, and upon this he continues to reside, a prosperous farmer. His well cultivated fields and thrifty orchard and garden exhibit an industry and economical management that is the forerunner of wealth. His cottage home and its surroundings are shown on another page.
Mr. Jespersen was married February 27, 1862, while in his native land, to Miss Annie Batille Iversen, and they have seven children, five sons and two daughters.
Source: History of San Luis Obispo County, California, p363. Transcribed for the CAGenWeb Project by Cathy Portz.
HON. CHARLES H. JOHNSON
A biography of Mr. Johnson would form an interesting chapter in the history of San Luis Obispo were all the material at command to produce it. His life has been one of stirring activity, travel, and adventure, and always prominent in public affairs. A native of Maryland, where he passed his early years, and while a youth, upon graduating from college, left his home for travel in different parts of the world. He first visited the Pacific and China, and in due time returned to his home in Baltimore. Remaining at home but a few months, he again set out for England, the East Indies, and China, in company with an uncle who went as agent for a Baltimore East India House, making the tour of the great cities of the eastern continent and returning again safely to his home. Upon returning from this extended and interesting journey, he met Mr. John Finley, an acquaintance of his family, and jointly with him he loaded the ship Rhone, for a voyage to the west coast of South America, the Sandwich Islands, and California. The war with Mexico was then in progress, and California was expected to become an American State, he having assurance from the authorities at Washington that it was the intention of the Government to retain possession at all hazards.
The Rhone sailed from Baltimore December 22, 1847, and, proceeding to the various ports on the west coast of South America, arrived at Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, on the 18th of July, 1848. There the news of the discovery of gold was received, and instead of disposing of the invoice of goods shipped for that port, they purchased a large addition to their cargo and on the 31st of July sailed for San Francisco, arriving on the 11th of August following, the Rhone being the first ship to enter the harbor after the publication in California of the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo. The gold discovery and the rush of business in San Francisco, caused a change in all the plans of the young merchants. The design had been after disposing of the cargo for Mr. Finley to take the ship to Canton and purchase a cargo of tea for the New York market, while Mr. Johnson would purchase land in San Francisco, take an overland trip to Baltimore and return and settle in California and establish a mercantile house. But the times did not permit of carrying out these plans. The cargo of the Rhone brought over $100,000 in San Francisco, and the opportunity for establishing a great mercantile house offered itself and required prompt attention.
The house of Finley, Johnson & Co. was soon established, and in a short period became the leading house in California, importing heavily from Peru, Chile, Sandwich Islands, and Mexico. The prosperity of the firm was all that could be expected or desired. Great warehouses were built and stored with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods. The great fire of May 4, 1850, swept away $4,000,000 of the property of the merchants of San Francisco, the house of Finley, Johnson & Co. being among the unfortunate. No insurance could be obtained and the loss was total. It would seem that but few could recover under such a loss, but the pioneers built up and resumed work as if nothing had happened. Ships poured in their cargoes, business prospered, and all seemed in a fair way of regaining the fortunes lost. Formerly the merchants were quite free from debt, and if they lost a few hundred thousand they generally had cargoes of their own on the way, or at least a credit that secured them consignments. But scarcely had they rebuilt their stores and filled them with goods, when, on the 14th of June, 1850, a still more extensive fire swept them away, involving a loss of $5,000,000. Again the work of rebuilding was begun, and business resumed. The buildings erected were more expensive, many being intended for and deemed fire-proof. But on the night of the third of May, 1851, the cry of fire was raised, and during the 4th, the anniversary of the fire first mentioned, eighteen blocks of the business portion of the city went down before the flames, involving a loss of between $10,000,000 and $12,000,000. Finley, Johnson & Co. then had in store over a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of merchandise, all of which was destroyed in the fire. The firm and many others found it impossible to recover from the wreck; some were disheartened by the repeated losses, and some struggled again in business. Finley, Johnson & Co. exhausted their private fortunes in settling with and paying their creditors, and retired from business.
Mr. Johnson removed to Monterey, and soon thereafter received the appointment of Deputy Collector of Customs of the district, and afterwards Inspector of Customs for the Port of San Luis Obispo, coming to this county in 1852, and settling here permanently in 1856. The position of Inspector he held until 1860, when he resigned to take his seat in the Legislature, he having been elected to the Assembly of 1860-61. During his long residence in San Luis Obispo he has always been known as a public spirited citizen, and a close student of the affairs of the world. He has written and spoken much on the early history of this country, and many extracts of his writings have been given in this book.
Source: History of San Luis Obispo County, California, pp357-358. Transcribed for the CAGenWeb Project by Cathy Portz.