California

Biography of Samuel P. Cox

Samuel P. Cox, born on December 16, 1828, in Kentucky, moved to Missouri as a child. He enlisted for the Mexican War in 1847 and returned to farming after his discharge. Cox entered the mercantile business in 1851 and later pursued cattle driving to California. Active in the Civil War, he rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the Missouri State Militia. After the war, he engaged in various business ventures, including hospitality and sales. He and his wife, Mary, had six children and were esteemed members of their community.

Biographical Sketch of David H. Coulson

David H. Coulson was born on November 16, 1830, in Chariton County, Missouri. After moving to Howard County and then Daviess County, he engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1860, he ventured into mining in Nevada City for about eighteen months before returning home in 1862 to serve in the Home Guard Militia during the Civil War. He married Elizabeth J. McBrayer in 1852, and they had six children together, contributing to the agricultural and community life of Missouri.

Treaty of October 14, 1864

On October 14, 1864, representatives from the United States and the Klamath, Moadoc, and Yahooskin tribes signed a treaty at Klamath Lake, ceding tribal lands in exchange for annual payments totaling $86,000 over fifteen years, and provisions for a reserved area for the tribes. It established a reservation, restricted white settlement, and mandated the creation of facilities to aid in agriculture and education. The tribes agreed to be peaceful and abide by U.S. laws, with specific penalties for alcohol use on the reservation.

Treaty of October 1, 1863

The Treaty of Peace and Friendship, signed on October 1, 1863, at Ruby Valley, established a formal agreement between the United States and the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation. It aimed to maintain peace, protect travel routes, and facilitate the establishment of telegraph lines and railways within Shoshone territory. The treaty also allowed for mineral exploration and compensation for lost game due to white settlement. In return, the Shoshone agreed to abandon nomadic lifestyles for agricultural living as directed by the U.S. government.

Treaty of September 10, 1853

On September 10, 1853, officials from the United States and leaders of the Rogue River tribe signed a treaty at Table Rock, Oregon. The agreement involved the cession of tribal lands in exchange for $60,000, with provisions for temporary land reserves and support for agriculture and infrastructure. It established rights and protections for both parties regarding conduct and property, ensuring peace and cooperation. The treaty required ratification by the President and Senate, emphasizing its binding nature upon agreement.

Biography of George H. Keller

George H. Keller, a key founder of Leavenworth, Kansas, was celebrated for his bravery, generosity, and integrity. Born in Kentucky in 1801, he migrated through Indiana and Missouri before helping establish the Town of Petaluma, California. By 1854, he settled in Weston, Kansas, and subsequently founded Leavenworth, where he built the notable Mansion House. An outspoken abolitionist, he served in the first free-state Territorial Legislature and became the first warden of the Kansas State Penitentiary. Keller passed away in 1876, leaving a legacy of patriotism and hospitality.

Biography of Charles Wood Davis

Charles Wood Davis, born April 17, 1832, in Massachusetts, led a remarkable life contributing significantly to Kansas’s development. An 1849 gold rush argonaut, he became a railway executive and a pioneer in Kansas coal mining. Known as Cotton Wood Davis, he played a vital role in establishing railroad lines and initiating commercial salt production. A passionate abolitionist and active in the early Republican Party, he also authored numerous articles on agriculture. Davis passed away in 1910, leaving a lasting legacy as a productive worker and civic leader in Kansas.

Biography of Rev. John A. Anderson

Rev. John A. Anderson, a prominent Presbyterian minister, began his career in 1857 in Stockton, California, where he famously preached the first union sermon on the Pacific coast. He held various roles, including chaplain for the Third California Infantry and superintendent of transportation for the U.S. Sanitary Commission during the Civil War. Anderson later became a significant figure in Junction City, Kansas, contributing to local politics and education as president of Kansas State Agricultural College. He served in Congress until 1891, but his life ended prematurely in 1892 while returning from his post as consul general in Cairo.

Biographical Sketch of Abel C. Wilder

Abel C. Wilder, born on March 18, 1828, in Mendon, Massachusetts, was a key figure in the free-soil movement and the formation of the Republican Party in Kansas Territory. After moving to Kansas in 1857, he became active in land business and opposed the Lecompton constitution. His political engagement included a role in the Osawatomie convention and serving as chairman of the Republican central committee. Appointed by President Lincoln as a brigade commissary, he later served in the Thirty-eighth Congress. After returning to Rochester in 1865, he became the city’s mayor in 1873 before his death in San Francisco on December 22, 1875.

Biography of Marcus A. Low

Marcus A. Low, born in 1842 in Maine, emerged as a key figure in Kansas through his diverse accomplishments in law, ranching, and oil development. Notably, he gained lasting recognition as a railroad builder, significantly enhancing transportation in the region. After moving to Topeka in 1887, he played a vital role in the city’s park system and served as general attorney for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway. A steadfast Republican, Low was active in civic life and public service until his retirement in 1912.

Slave Narrative of Precilla Gray

Precilla Gray, born in Williamson County, Tennessee, recounts her life as an enslaved person and her experiences post-emancipation. At 107 years old, she reflects on her long life, characterized by hard work, resilience, and limited schooling. She describes her relationships with various masters, her roles in domestic and field labor, and the challenges of raising her children. Although she faced hardships, including whippings and the threat of violence, she also experienced community events and religious gatherings, shaping her identity as a freed woman.

Slave Narrative of Harriet Ann Daves

Harriet Ann Daves, born June 6, 1856, in Virginia, reflects on her life as the daughter of a white slaveholder, Milton Waddell, and a white enslaved mother, Mary Collins. After the Civil War, her grandfather affirmed her freedom. Despite her family’s complexities, including her Indian heritage, she recalls being treated kindly. Harriet was educated post-war and later married twice, facing personal losses throughout her life. She expresses her opinions on prominent figures like Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt, illustrating her experiences and perspectives on freedom and family.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Jay Paul Brown

Alma Ramona Taylor Brown was born on July 16, 1884, in Hanford, California. Educated at Missouri Valley College and Fairmont Seminary, she graduated in 1905 with a focus on instrumental music. She married Jay Paul Brown on November 27, 1917, in Chouteau, and they had a daughter, Martha Sue Brown. Jay Paul was a merchant in Chouteau. The lineage includes Ann Olivia Bushyhead, who married John Brown Choate, contributing to the family’s heritage through multiple generations.

Biographical Sketch of Roswell Drake Hawkins

Roswell Drake Hawkins was born on March 27, 1891, in Vinita to Adison Gregory and Ruth Parks Hawkins. Educated at Vinita and Kemper Military College, he married La Donne Helen in Los Angeles on August 21, 1911. They had two children, Roswell Drake, Jr., and Beverly Joyce. A successful cattleman in Craig County, Hawkins is also linked to a prominent family; his mother, Ruth, is the daughter of Supreme Judge George Washington Parks.

Biography of Herman Albert Haeussler

Herman Albert Haeussler, born on May 21, 1838, in Pennsylvania, was a prominent attorney in St. Louis, where he practiced law for nearly five decades. Admitted to the bar in 1861, he served as a Sergeant during the Civil War and held key partnerships in notable law firms. Haeussler married three times, fathering several children. While politically active and a member of various bar associations, he never held elected office. He passed away on March 17, 1921, and was interred in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Round Valley Reservation

In January 1891, Special Agent I. P. Fell reported on the Round Valley Reservation in Mendocino County, California, home to various tribes, including the Koukan and Yuki. Covering 102,118 acres, the reservation supports an Indian population of 581 who live mainly in government-built wooden shanties. While some engage in agriculture and herding, challenges persist due to market access and social issues, including intermingling races and early immorality among youth. Despite having schools and regular religious services, significant cultural influences remain, hindering moral and intellectual progress.

Biography of Henry Greve

Henry Greve, born on March 6, 1856, in Velen, Westphalia, Germany, immigrated to the U.S. in 1873, settling in St. Louis in 1875. He became a prominent businessman as the sole owner and president of the John Wahl Commission Company, specializing in lead and zinc. Greve’s business acumen and leadership have positioned him as a key figure in St. Louis commerce, where he is also a director of the Liberty-Central Trust Company. A devoted philanthropist, he actively supports many charitable causes, including his local Catholic community.

The Presidio of San Francisco

The Presidio of San Francisco, established in 1776 during Spanish rule, served as a military post to protect local missions. Founded by Don Jose Moraga, it emerged from an expedition that aimed to cultivate the land around the Golden Gate. Over time, it transitioned under Mexican and American control, witnessing significant historical events like the California Gold Rush and the Spanish-American War. Its picturesque setting remains a vital part of San Francisco’s heritage, marked by strategic military structures and storied pasts, such as the tale of Dona Concepcion Arguello.