This
book is a good read to someone fascinated with California Mormon
history. My only complaint is the author ascribes emotions to Brannan
he may not have had. It tells the life of Brannan, the Mormon Battalion
and the founding of San Bernardino. In this section I talk about Sam Brannan.
Sam
Brannan and his story are intermingled with the history of California.
He was the state’s first promoter, first millionaire, first defendant
in a civil case. He was also much more, building cities in Sacramento
and san Francisco. Within this book are more stories than just the
story of Sam Brannan, but also other early California Mormons.
Sam
Brannan and the Brooklyn. Because Brannan was convinced he was
pioneering the way for a large Mormon community, into the hold of the
Brooklyn went “agricultural and mechanical implements for eight hundred
men; scythes, plows, hoes, forks, shovels, plow-irons, glass;
blacksmith, carpenter and millwright tools; equipment for three grain
mills; turning lathes and sawmill irons; printing equipment and two
years’ supply of paper. There were such staples as brass, copper, tin
and crockery ware, dry goods, and an immense supply of school books and
slates. Two milch cows, forty pigs, and crates of fowls were loaded
aboard to make certain Zion had an agricultural start.” (P 58) Other
interesting items on board was a case or two of smooth bore muskets.
The voyage carried 238 passengers, 70 men, 68 women and 100 children.
The ship was captained by Captain Richardson. “To prepare meals a Negro
cook and Negro steward had been hired.
All
was not easy sailing for this vessel. The hit storm conditions shortly
after leaving New York, which storm took them almost to Africa and the
Cape Verde islands. Brannon dealt with the fear and nervousness by
telling the Saints to sing. They sand “The Spirit of God” and “We are
going to California.” The captain gave up hope at one point, telling
the passengers to prepare for the worst. “He was astonished and shamed
by their show of composure in the face of danger. And then, when death
and watery grave seem most imminent, the wind suddenly shifted, and died
to sailing breeze.” (p 60) They rounded the Cape Horn, and tried to
resupply at Valparaiso. A storm prevented this, so they stopped at Juan
Fernandez Island, where they were able to get fresh water, and fresh
meat (wild pigs and goats, and fish) without price.
Their
next stop was The Sandwich Islands or Hawaii. They had to unload cargo
there. Commodore Stockton was there, and had a private meeting with
Brannan. He encouraged him to go to San Francisco (there goal all
along) so as to Easternize and conquer the area for the United States.
While in Hawaii the passengers of course learned of the Mexican War and
that the United States was fighting to take over California. 150 stands
of military arms were placed on board the Brooklyn at Hawaii.
Sam
Brannan and Company was organized as a United Order, and signed by the
Saints while on board the Brooklyn. This gave Brannan considerable
control of the assets of the group. Among other things they would give
the proceeds of their labor to fund for six years; the fund was
controlled by Brannan.
The
men drilled with the muskets for part of the voyage. They also had
uniforms made. Brannan was hoping to take California for the United
States. Captain Richardson prevented such drilling after they left
Hawaii. He was a peaceful man and his ship was a merchant vessel.
When
the Brooklyn arrived in San Francisco, the sloop Portsmouth had
preceded them, and conquered Yerba Buena for the United States.
Brannan’s chance for military glory and conquest was foiled, but most of
the settlers were relieved.
One
of the first activities was to pay the debt to Captain Richardson.
They did this by harvesting redwoods from the Marin Peninsula. Another
item of business was to construct a house for Brannan and his family. A
house where most Mormons were not welcome as Brannan gained financial
success and status.
The
first jury trial took place in Yerba Buena (shortly to be renamed San
Francisco after the bay) was many of the Mormons suing Sam Brannan for
the strict nature of the Sam Brannan and Company agreement. The civil
mayor ruled in favor of Brannan.
With
the Company resources, Brannan purchased the ship Comet, and sent it up
the Sacramento, and San Joaquin rivers with 20 men, to where he had
heard of fertile fields. The New Hope group found the fertile soil, on
the banks of the Stanislaus River just before it empties into the San
Joaquin. They planted the first wheat in the valley. However they
could not overcome their grievances towards each other. William Stout,
who was the leader of the small group, declared that the first home and
farm built would be his. He was following the pattern he had seen with
Sam Brannan. All were upset. When Brannan visited, he declared the
first house would be for the apostles. He then headed east to present
Brigham Young with the idea of moving the body of the Saints to
California.
He
traveled through the Sierra’s in early Spring. This had been the year
of the Donner Party. He did not stop to bury the dead but left this to
others. He found Young in Wyoming, still far from the Great Basin. Try
as he might, Young was insistent that the Saints were not going to
California. The Lord had other plans. He returned with a Captain of
the Mormon Battalion, the invalid company who was coming to California
as payee for the other invalid members who had traveled to Pueblo and
then met with the Saints in Wyoming, to request the discharge pay for
the members. (This discharge pay would purchase Fort Goodyear which
would become Ogden.) The Battalion Captain was also entrusted with
letters for the Saints.
Brannan
became upset, and left the Captain behind on the return trip. He
reported to the Brooklyn Saints that Young was not coming to
California. A few days later they received word from Young that the
Saints were gathering in the Great Basin, and they could either come
there or get jobs in California for now. The majority traveled to the
Great Basin, but some remained in the area, including the Battalion
members who helped in the discovery of gold.
More
than anything Brannan was a Californiac. He published the California
Star, and prepared a paper to sent east describing the positive aspects
of California. Just before this paper was published, Brannan heard of
gold on the American River and included a paragraph. Brannan made
preparations, buying all available stock and setting up a store in
Sacramento. It was also Brannan, who when he was prepared, emptied San
Francisco by getting some gold in a medicine vial, and going through San
Francisco with “Gold, gold, there is gold on the American River.” San
Francisco basically emptied.
Sam
Brannan built and empire. He is California’s first millionaire.
Another think should be told about Brannan’s start. Who would visit the
gold fields and collect tithing from the Mormons, usually at a rate of
20 percent. This collection never reached the church. It became the
seed money for Brannan’s endeavors. All efforts by the church to get
this money were fruitless. Brannan said he would require a note from
God to deliver the money. Brannan became bitter towards the church.
Brigham Young had written to Brannan, “But should you withhold, when the
Lord says give, , your hopes and pleasing prospects will be blasted in
an hour you think not of—and no arm can save.” (P 174, Journal history
April, 5, 1849)
Brannan
prospered for some time. His wife and children all went to Europe.
His children went to school there. However san Francisco had a period
of lawlessness and problems. There were four or five arson fires in
succession, which were used as times to gather the property of others.
Brannan was instrumental in organizing a vigilance committee. The local
law enforcement were enmeshed with the outlaw community. The committee
hanged some of the criminals, and some they sent back to Australia.
In
addition to San Francisco and Sacramento, Brannan became interested in
developing Calistoga. However the people there were not as interested
in have someone from San Francisco buying up properties. He was shot
visiting Calistoga, and walked with a limp after this.
Brannan
and his wife Eliza grew more and more apart. She, like her husband
stopped affiliating with the church. Finally Eliza petitioned for
divorce. She wanted half of everything, but she didn’t want property,
she wanted cash. Brannan had to sell off many properties, and less than
they were worth to pay off his wife for over just under a million
dollars. This was the beginning of the end of Brannan’s empire. Lack
of funds after selling so much to pay his wife, left him on a down ward
spiral. He had donated money many places, but there was no one to stop
his own personal crash.
He
had given money and raised troops for Mexico to oust the French, and
was able to finagle this into a land grant. He hoped to set up a
community of North Americans paying high properties for his real
estate. This did not happen. In poor health he returned to the United
States, San Diego area. He passed away destitute. His body laid in a
vault for over a year before his nephew came and buried him. No one
attended his funeral, and there was no head stone until many years after
his burial.
His
wife also lost all her money. She squandered it in bad investments and
gambling. Her children were also left without the financial resources
they once had. Brannan in his will left each of his children $1. He
said this was because his wife took all his money, and then turned the
children against him. He was a bitter man even to the end.
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