Keynote Speaker Summary - August 22, 2011
Our club was privileged this week to enjoy the enlightening and entertaining stories of local California historian Mr. Steve Beck. Steve’s topic this time was a whirlwind overview of the early life and times of “Captain” Johan “John” Sutter. As Steve recounted for us, Sutter’s early life was a fascinating journey to the central valley via a rather unpredictable route. Along the way we learned how Sutter donned several false titles and personas, chased fortunes and influenced people, with apparently rarely a dull moment. Here’s a brief recap -- that does not do justice to Steve’s energetic presentation.
Sutter was born in Germany in 1803, and educated in a military academy in Switzerland, where he learned to speak and write German, French, Spanish and English. He enjoyed reading books of history and adventure and often dreamed of having his own adventures and traveling. At age 23, he married Annette Dubold, the daughter of a rich widow. He had a store but he was more interested in spending money than making it. Because of family and debts, Johann was going to be put in jail. So, in 1834, at age 31, he left his wife and five children in Switzerland, fled to America, and changed his name to “Captain” John Augustus Sutter.
After crossing the Atlantic and arriving in New York, together with 35 Germans, he moved to the St. Louis area, then out west to Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory, before moving to the town of Westport, Oregon Territory. In 1838, he joined a group of missionaries, traveled along the Oregon Trail, landing in Fort Vancouver in the Oregon Territory. With a few companions, he went on board the British ship Columbia which left Fort Vancouver and laid at anchor in Honolulu. Sutter wanted to settle in California, but the only vessel riding at anchor in the harbor was the brig Clementine — Sutter managed to be signed on as unpaid supercargo of this brig freighted with a cargo of provisions and general merchandise for the Russian colony of New Archangel, now known as Sitka, Alaska. The Clementine hoisted anchor on April 20, 1839, with Sutter together with 10 Hawaiians (“Kanakas”), two of them women, a few companions, and one Hawaiian bulldog! From the Russian colony at Sitka, where he stayed one month, Sutter traveled by sail to Yerba Buena, now San Francisco, at that time a tiny poor mission station. The Clementine arrived in Yerba Buena on July 1, 1839.
Sutter established Sutter’s Fort in late 1839. To do so he had to make peace with the local “Indians.” When he landed on the banks of the American River – accompanied by his native Hawaiian entourage (and one bulldog), he fired off several cannons – aimed only at several cottonwood trees -- as a show of force. Since he had decided to come in peace, with small gifts for the local population, he was able to charm and befriend the local Indian tribes. He was allowed to start a settlement. Sutter succeeded where many before had failed. The Indians and Sutter became friends and the Indians made Sutter a house. Sutter called the place New Helvetia or “New Switzerland.” Sutter’s Fort had a central building made of adobe bricks, surrounded by a high wall with protection on opposite corners to guard against attack. It also had workshops and stores that produced all goods necessary for the New Helvetia settlement. In 1848, one of Sutter’s most trusted employees, named James Marshall, found gold at Sutter’s Mill. At first, they kept it a secret. Soon, everyone heard about the gold they found and headed to California. This event was called the Gold Rush. The story of that phase of California history will have to await another day – and hopefully another highly entertaining presentation by Mr. Beck. We thank Steve for his wonderful presentation and hope he will return soon with more stories.