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America Kelsey Wyman

Spring 1996

The San Joaquin Historian

Quarterly Journal of Volume XI New Series Number 1 The San Joaquin County Historical Society Spring 1996

Robert Shellenberger Editor

Published by

The San Joaquin County Historical Society, Inc.

Micke Grove Regional Park p,O, Box 30

Lodi CA 95241 - 0030 (209) 331-2055 (209) 953-3460

Gary Christopherson President Craig Rasmussen President-Elect Elise Austin Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan H. Johnson Vice-Presiden t Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Vice-President Timothy J. Hachman Past President

The Society, a non-profit corporation, meets the fourth Monday monthly except July, August and December. Membership includes subscriptions to the San Joaquin Historian and the monthly newsletter, News and Notes. Additional copies may be purchased at the Museum.

The Society operates the San Joaquin County Historical Museum at Micke Grove Regional Park in partnership with San Joaquin County. The Society maintains an office at the Museum.

Manuscripts relating to the history of San Joaquin County or the Delta will always be considered, The editor reserves the right to shorten material based on local interest and space considerations. Inquiry should be made through the Museum office.

San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum

Michael W. Bennett Director

© 1996 San Joaquin County Historical Society, Inc.

This Issue ... The inspirational story of America Kelsey

is not new, but needs to be reiterated periodically for the benefit of new generations. It was to be the lead story of this issue, but it is very difficult to write about just one Kelsey. The neglected history of the sacrifice of David Kelsey had to be retold and became our paramount story. And then there is Nancy and Benjamin and Andrew and Mary Ellen (who was scalped!), and ....

So, this issue is devoted to the amazing Kelsey family and their role in the history of San Joaquin County and California.

On The Cover... "Here she is, Miss America ... " our own

special heroine, America Kelsey. The romantic story of the brave little nurse stranded in hostile wilderness who eventually grew up to marry her gallant rescuer has universal appeal and been the inspiration of at least one noveL

We incurable romantics have had our own visions of how the lovers must have looked. But, was she really pretty? Our cover photo, taken in 1867 when America was 35 years old, certainly meets the editor's expectations (Sigh!).

Was he handsome? You will find George at age 45 on page 8 for your own judgment.

Manuscripts Needed Please note this issue is authored by the

editor-an unhealthy state of affairs! We are anxious to publish your efforts. We can even furnish a list of provocative topics to interested author-historians.

Cover photo courtesy San Mateo County Historical Assn

Page 2 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1996

The Ordeal and Tragedy of

David Kelsey-Forgotten Pioneer

by

Robert Shellenberger

William Gulnac must have been greatly relieved in the summer of1844 when he successfully recruited David Kelsey and family to settle on his pending land grant, Campo de los Franceses. In fact, he must have felt he had hit the jack pot, because in David Kelsey he found a tested frontiersman eminently qualified to face the rigors and dangers of the raw San Joaquin wilderness.

Background New Yorker William Gulnac (1801-1851) enthusiastic partner. The request was for

arrived in Californian 1833. He married here eleven leagues (over 48,000 American acres), and became a citizen of Mexico in 1834. He the maximum allowable and more than was a property owner, operated a could be allowed a single family. Gulnac had blacksmith shop, and was active in to agree to settle eleven other families on the community affairs. In 1842 he met German grant in order to perfect title. immigrant Charles M. Weber (1814-1881) In the autumn of 1843, before the grant who arrived in California overland with the had been approved, Gulnac and Weber Bidwell-Bartleson Party in 1841. The two assembled a herd of cattle and horses to formed a successful business partnership in begin occupation of the site. Gulnac, his son San Jose that included a store, a bakery, a Jose, Peter Lassen (who also included some mill, the manufacture of shoes and other of his stock), and some vaqueros moved to enterprises. He and Weber also shared the grant, but fearing Indian raids, continued political interests and were proponents of on to the Consumnes River to be under either annexation of California by the U.S., Sutter's protection. This failure caused or an independent state of the Texas pattern. Weber to travel to Sutter's and arrange a

Gulnac and Weber were not equally treaty with Chief Jose Jesus of the local Si­ambitious, however. Gulnac had " ... taken Yak-Umna tribe. badly to drink" and they dissolved the San In 1844, Gulnac again made an effort to Jose partnership in 1843. But they kept open settle the grant. But the time was not right. one project: the petition for a land grant to be California was in political turmoil, small pox known as Campo de los Franceses (Camp of was again loose in the Valley and taking a the French) on the San Joaquin River where hideous toll on the Indians and the Indians Stockton now stands. Weber was not yet a were taking their revenge. In addition, citizen and the application had to be made Campo de los Franceses was remote. There was by Gulnac. Weber selected the site and was no nearby settlement to obtain supplies or the instigator of this enterprise, but Gulnac market your crops-Sutter's Fort being (in the beginning, at least), was an closest-and the trail to San Jose crossed the

Spring 1996 San Joaquin Historian Page 3

San Joaquin which was fordable as little as three months per year. (In those times the San Joaquin River could be three miles wide during the spring and early summer snow run-off). Location on the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta guaranteed mosquitoes and more disease.

Gulnac went to Sutter's Fort to try to recruit his target of eleven families from any overlanders who might arrive that season. Despite all the difficulties, he had moderate success. James Williams and Thomas Lindsay agreed to settle north of what would later be called Stockton Slough with the promise of free land. Gulnac brought down some horses Williams and Lindsay would tend, and finally, he met David Kelsey, an authentic frontiersman down from Oregon, who agreed to settle with the promise of title to one square mile of property if he and his family resided on site for one year.

It was short of the goal, but Gulnac had worked hard and made a start.

David Kelsey David Kelsey was born in Barren County

Kentucky in 1793 where his Pennsylvania born father was an early pioneer. The father changed the Scots-Irish spelling of the family name from Kelsay to the English styIe-Kelsey. He was a veteran of the War of 1812 (the famous Kentucky Rifles), and family legend has it that he was responsible for the capture of a British General during the Battle of New Orleans. David and his wife, Susan Cazzort, later moved to st. Clair County, Missouri and soon had a family of ten children (see article The Kelsey Clan following).

The Oregon-California fever that swept the Missouri-Illinois frontier in the winter of 1840-41 badly infected the Kelsey clan and David's four eldest boys joined the famous convoy that left Sapling Grove for California on May 12, 1841. This group split along the way with some going on to Oregon, and the others-the famous Bidwell-Bartleson

Party-proceeding to California. Two sons, Isaac and Samuel, went to Oregon, and Benjamin, his wife and child, and Andrew elected to try for California.

In 1843 the remainder of the family followed to Oregon with the Applegate Train of that year. After wintering in Oregon, David and his younger children took the Siskiyou Trail to Sutter's Fort and his fateful meeting with Gulnac.

French Camp 1844 It is not recorded whether the French

Camp site was Kelsey's choice or if it was assigned. It should have been a good location. The Hudson's Bay trappers had wintered there for a number of years, so there would have at least been corrals, some kind of boat landing, and minor bits of clearing and infrastructure already in place. It was an established trading site at the junction of several important Indian trails, including the main trail from Sutter's to Li vermore' s rancho and San Jose. Importantly, it was on sandy soil that drained well during the winter.

When Kelsey first arrived in August of 1844 there was a flurry of activity on the grant. Later testimony at Weber's land title hearings indicated there were at least four houses near McLeods Lake (named for Alexander McLeod, leader of the first Hudson's Bay trappers to visit the delta), with two families in temporary residence. Corrals were constructed, fruit trees planted as well as a small patch of wheat. There were horses and cattle and some vaqueros on site. In addition, Kelsey had a man named Kelly who worked with him in building his cabin at French Camp.

By autumn, however, it was quiet. Only James Williams and Thomas Lindsay remained at McLeod's Lake, occupying two cabins and tending the stock. The Kelsey family was now also on it's own and apparently consisted of only Kelsey and his wife, daughter America, and perhaps son

Page 4 San Joaquin Historian Spring 19%

David Crocket. America was twelve years old, David Crocket was fourteen.

The little family would expect to face hostile Indians (the treaty with Jose Jesus covered only the local tribe that occupied the territory between French Camp and the Stanislaus River), thieves, disease, mosquitoes in enormous swarms. Their only neighbors would be the two cattle herders at McLeods Lake. Sutter had given Gulnac a swivel cannon and he passed it on to Kelsey. Each night Kelsey would charge the piece and fire an evening salute to warn any marauding Indians that he was armed.

Late in the fall supplies ran short. The family was existing on wheat gruel (his seed for his first planned crop?), game, and tea made from herbs gathered along French Camp Slough. Kelsey therefore buried his cannon, loaded his valuables and his family into a wagon, and traveled to San Jose for supplies. In San Jose he would meet Charles Weber for the first and only time. If older members of the family were with him, they stayed behind when he returned to French Camp. It is not known how long the Kelseys stayed in San Jose, but they would have to return before winter rains raised the San Joaquin River and made it impossible to ford.

While in San Jose, Kelsey visited a sick Indian. The reason for this visit is a puzzle. Kelsey was too new to the area to have a close acquaintance in far-off San Jose. Further, the Kelseys were noted for their prejudices against Indians. One sensible speculation is that he was referred to the Indian as a possible employee to take back to the grant.

This short meeting had dire consequences, for soon after return to French Camp, Kelsey

Dead father unburied, blind mother, and a stricken child alone in tlte wilderness. This was the fate of the first white family to settle

in San Joaquin County.

took ill, presumably with the malady that infected the Indian. Susan Kelsey had spent her life on the frontier and was used to dealing with ordinary illness without outside aid, but something made her quickly realize this was something her home remedies could not handle. She loaded David, and America into the wagon and started for Sutter's Fort

to find a doctor. When they reached Lindsay's cabin at McLeod's Lake, he urged them to spend the night. He said Williams would soon return and was good at doctoring. Williams had some

medicine he thought would probably be the cure.

Williams arrived and dosed his patient. According to later testimony, by morning the nature of Kelsey's illness became obvious-small pox! This was the dreaded killer disease of the Valley, having already decimated the Indian population. Sutter had warned he would kill anyone who brought the disease to his settlement.

Lindsay and Williams immediately took off, separating themselves from the highly contagious disease. Lindsay's parting advice is said to have been that they shouldn't try to bury Kelsey should he die, but rather drag him out to where the coyotes could dispose of the body.

As Kelsey grew weaker, wife Susan fell ill and was quickly blinded by the disease, leaving twelve year old America to nurse them both. Kelsey died three weeks after his first symptoms. The plight and despair of that little girl can't really be imagined, for now she was also becoming ilL

Dead father unburied, blind mother, and a stricken child alone in the wilderness. This was the fate of the first white family to settle in San Joaquin County.

Spring 1996 San Joaquin Historian Page 5

Rescue Fortunately, cattle herders came by and

after long consideration, one of them, George F. Wyman, found the courage to cross the quarantine line and go to America's aid. He buried David Kelsay near the corner of Fremont and Lindsay Streets in today's Stockton, nursed Susan to reasonable health and cared for America, too. Then he took them to Monterey, America riding on his horse with him.

Aftermath After a few weeks, James \Villiams and

Thomas Lindsay returned to their cabins at McLeod Lake. Lindsay stayed with the stock and Williams went to Sutter's for supplies. A short time later, riders on their way from San Jose to Sutter's, found Lindsay's arrow­riddled body floating in McLeod Lake and buried him near Kelsey. Indians from Amador County were blamed.

Williams joined Sutter's army that was involved in the Micheltorina affair. (He would testify for Weber during his land title hearings in 1855).

Thus, in less than one year, all of our original settlers were gone and only two, lonely pioneer graves remained to mark the attempt. Gulnac's and Webers' second endeavor to settle their grant was a disaster.

Weber was naturalized by now and eligible to own land. Gulnac lost faith in th.e project, feeling they wou.ld never get ~t settled in time to perfect tItle. He sold hIS rights to Weber for a nominal amount. Weber's attempts were temporarily thwarted by the Micheltorena affair, the Bear Flag Revolt and the war with the United States, but he persisted and won his grant.

Susan Kelsey, permanently blind, moved to Hillsborough, Oregon to be with her son, Isaiah Kelsey, and died there in 1856.

Nothing is known of David Crocket Kelsey other than his death date-1882.

On September 2, 1846, at Sutter's Fort John Sutter united in marriage America

Kelsey and her rescuer, George Wyman. The bride was fourteen, the groom twenty-seven.

0000

Author's Comment David Kelsey deserves to be remembered.

He and his Susan were the prototype of the American frontier family. They didn't just survive frontier hardships, they thrived. They were as tough as a life style of poverty, deprivation, danger, and grinding drudgery required-with some grit left over. They not only pioneered, they reared a family bred to tame the frontier. This last adventure left David in a lonely, unmarked grave and Susan blind and dependent. But we know they accepted their fate without a whimper. That was the stuff they were made of, the life-and the freedom-they chose.

David Kelsey and his family came to settle San Joaquin County when no others would dare. Today the site of their final tragedy is occupied by the Stockton City Hall. vVho among us will venture to say they failed?

No monument commemorates the Kelsey effort and sacrifice-even the fine plaque in French Camp fails to mention them. Lindsay, at least, had a street named in his honor by Captain "Weber.

There is a very short street in the residential \Veberstown subdivision in north Stockton. Dating from the 1950s, the streets in this small unit honor some old California names: Pardee, Ebbetts, Mark Twain, Bidwell, Carson-and Kelsey. It would seem that the subdivider, the late Charles Weber III, grandson of Stockton's founder, dis­covered the overSight and made this small restitution on behalf of us all. Perhaps we should do more.

RS

Page 6 San Joaquin Historian Spring 19%

Ca1.aanry, AnqUlsh, Rescue, ana Romance

The IoyLL of

AmeRICa KeLsey By

ROBeRT SheLLenBeRqeR

It is impossible to relate the ston) ofAmerica Kelsey without being romantic. There is a sweetness to this bit ofhistory that willllot be denied. It is the stuffoffairy tales, bad fiction, and romance novels. And it is true. But, how did the story really end?

Once Upon a TIme ..• America Kelsey was born in St. Clair Valley. Their only neighbors were two

County, Missouri on June 6, 1832, the tenth herders who lived several miles to the and youngest child of pioneer David north. They were two days travel from Kelsey and Susan Cazzort. She spent her Sutter's Fort. first eleven years on the Missouri frontier By November they had run low on and then, in 1843, joined her family in the supplies and David Kelsey took his family great adventure of traveling west to the to San Jose. Here they met old friends and Oregon Territory in a wagon train. relatives and purchased their needs. David

The trip to Oregon lasted over six visited a sick Indian, perhaps to recruit months and they arrived in winter. She him to come work at French Camp. had a married sister and a married brother

Calamitythere, so there was a warm place to stay

After their return, David became veryand new cousins to meet. ill. Susan hitched the wagon and started for

In the spring of 1844, her father again Sutter's Fort with David and America inloaded the wagon for the dangerous trek

search of a doctor. When they came to one down the Siskiyou Trail to California

herder's cabin, he invited them to spendwhere two other brothers already lived.

the night and the other man came withThis would be their new home.

some medicine.At the little Sutter's Fort settlement, her

But when morning came, it was evidentfather met a man named \Villiam Gulnac

that David was dying of small pox. Thewho promised him one square mile of

herders fled in fear of the disease. They hadvirgin land if only he would help settle the

been warned that they would be killed ifdistrict by agreeing to move immediately they brought the disease to Sutter's Fort or on the place and stay at least one year. infected the Indian villages. Their last

And so, in August of 1844, they moved advice was to not try to bury David when

to the abandoned trappers' camp called he died, but to allow the coyotes to dispose

French Camp in the lower San Joaquin of the corpse.

Spring 1996 San Joaquin Historian Page 7

,------------------------.. found the destitute family. One of them had the gumption to ignore the danger and rescue America and her mother. He buried David, nursed mother and daughter until they were well enough to travel, and then he took them out of the foggy San Joaquin Valley to safe haven in Monterey.

Susan never recovered her sight and so moved to Oregon to the home of one of America's brothers. America would have to stay with relatives in California or join her mother in Oregon. Which to do?

Suddenly a third option was offered. Her rescuer returned and asked her hand in marriage and she accepted. And so, on June 2, 1846, America Kelsey became Mrs. George Wyman.

The Eno

... Happy Ever After? Everything we know tells us

America and George lived happy, full, successful lives.

'-----------------------' After several moves, they settled

George F. Wyman 1818-1893

The brave cMoboy 'who rescued and later married America1l Kelsey.

Courtesy San Mateo County Historical Assn

Susan Kelsey became infected and the disease quickly blinded her. America, now only twelve, became nurse, cook, and protector of her parents.

But, there was little anyone could do, let alone a child. David died within three weeks and America was not strong enough to move or bury him. She could still tend her mother, but then discovered she too was a victim of the pox. The illness and anguish of her mother was terrible to witness. Complete tragedy seemed to be their only future.

George Wyman to the Rescue Some cowboys traveling between San

Jose and Sutter's Fort happened by and

on the San Mateo County coast at Half Moon Bay, then called Spanish Town. In fact they were the second English speaking family in the community. They had a family of nine children-seven boys and two girls.

The Hero George Francis Wyman was born in

Oswego, New York in 1818. At the age of 17 he shipped out on a whaler that was wrecked off the Monterey Coast in 1835. He stayed in Monterey working as a vaquero until 1840 when he was employed by John Sutter as a hunter and trapper. He helped in the construction of Sutter's Fort in 1842. He was involved in the Bear Flag incident

Page 8 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1996

and stated it was he who guided Major Gillespie north as far as Chico on his trip to retrieve General Fremont, who was on the trail for Oregon.

To be historically fair about his bravery in breaking the quarantine, it is highly probable he had already had small pox and was immune, or he had been vaccinated. The Anglos, at least, were on a sort of vaccination binge at this time. In fact, John Bidwell reported he vaccinated an Indian chief and his son with puss taken from his own festering vaccination. (Then he disappeared for a while, knowing it would make them temporarily ill).

It is also probable that Wyman had at least met David Kelsey at Sutter's Fort and was not a total stranger.

None of this detracts from what he did for David Kelsey's family.

He had his own view of history, stating he saw the first gold discovered in 1848. He said it was "found by the little children of Peter Weimar, though they gave the specimens to Marshall who received the honor of the discovery."

It appears he had acceptable qualifications to be a brother-in-law to the lusty and rugged Kelsey clan.

George Wyman died in 1893, age 75. The Princess

The fact America was only 14 when she married was not that unusual for the times and the life-style of her family. Girls married young in those days, especially in California where there were virtually no American women. Even little Virginia Reed, survivor of the Donner Party at age 12, writing to her cousin in "the States" with first news of the tragedy and scant weeks after rescue, said " ... tell Henriet if she wants to get Married to corne to California." It appears America's four sisters all married at about 16 or 17. The sobering experiences of her short life would certainly have left her emotionally and intellectually mature beyond her years.

'Ve can be skeptical about other wifely skills. The only life she had known for half her years was camp life. She was probably adept around the camp fire, but her collection of recipes must have been minuscule (see following), and she would be unskilled in at least some normal chores of the time including baking, making soap, skimming milk, spinning, sewing, needle point, and a hundred other things girls raised in houses knew by second nature.

Her first child was not born until she had been married about five years. This suggests the poor diet and exceptional stress of her formative years delayed her full maturi ty.

But America was pretty and she was game and we can't doubt her affection for the man who rode in out of the winter gloom to her rescue at the lowest point of her life.

The prince and princess of this idyll were not fancy or refined. They were real people of their times. It would have been a privilege to know them both.

In 1915, Dave S. Matthews of Stockton was so enamored with the story of America and George that he wrote and published a novel based on their romance. Here is what he imagined:

1/1 owe you so much ... " Wyman ... enfolded her 11l his

anns. "Yes, so much," he smiled, "'that you are indebted to me for life, The mortgage is foreclosed and you must be mine for all time."

Aw, shucks ...

America's Final Years The Lake County Museum has a few

family notes referring to America in its archives. They give us a hint of the personality of our America.

Spring 1996 San Joaquin Historian Page 9

"During the period of 1909-12, Mother and I visited Aunt America Kelsey Wyman at her home in Half Moon Bay, California. Aunt America could not read or write, but she earned her own living. Some of her stories, I remember, others I remember because Mother and Grandmother helped me to remember. Aunt America owned a lovely painting of Rebecca and Grove Cook which she planned to give to the NDGW./I

II Aunt America UJaS still earning her own living when she was quite elderly. I remember her horse hair couch and how she cooked meat on her stove grate ... ".

(both quotes attributed to a niece)

George and America Wyman were interviewed for an 1883 history and mug book of San Mateo County. After alluding to America's trip across the plains to Oregon, travel on the Siskiyou Trail to California and the experience in 1844 in French Camp, the writer said (beginning with understatement):

liThe complete history of this lady would be quite interesting. She is now a member of the San Joaquin Pioneer Society....She is not favorably impressed with the present state of things, and would like to see the old times of thirty-five years ago, when beans and beef alone made the bill of fare./I

She died at the home of George, Jr., on May 12, 1916, aged 84. She was buried next to George in the Old Odd Fellows Cemetery on the edge of Half Moon Bay. This cemetery has been abandoned and we could not find her grave. The Half Moon Bay Historical Foundation has acquired the cemetery and hopes to restore it. Perhaps someday we will find her again.

Gon~ Bllr nor fORgOTTen... DOD

Selected References Spring 1996

Publications Ault, Philip Pioneer Nancy Kelsey (Californian Magazine,

March/April 1992) Bancroft, Hubert H. History of California (San Francisco CA:

History Co, 1886. Reprint Santa Barbara CA: Wallace Hebberd, 1966)

Cowan, Robert G. Ranchos of California, a list of Spanish Concessions and Mexican Grants (Fresno, CA: Academy Library Guild, 1956)

Davis, Olive Stockton, Sunrise Port on the San Joaquin (Woodland Hills CA: Windsor Publications, Inc. 1984)

Gilbert, Col. FT History of San Joaquin County (Oakland CA: Thompson and West, 1879. reprint Howell-North Books, Berkeley CA, 1968)

Hammond, George P., and Morgan, Dale L. Captain Charles M Weber (Berkeley CA: The Friends of the Bancroft Library, 1966)

Hammond, George P. The Weber Era in Stockton History (Berkeley CA: The Friends of the Bancroft Library, 1982)

Lewis, Donovan Pioneers Of California (San Francisco CA: Scottswall ASSOCiates, 1993)

Maththews, Dave S. America Kelsey [Fiction] (Stockton, CA Stockton Record Print, 1915)

Retzer, John L, in charge Soil Survey of the Stockton Area, California (United States Department of Agriculture, 1951)

Shebl, James Weber! (Lodi, CA: San Joaquin Historical Society, 1993)

Stewart, George R. The California Trail (New York, NY: McGraw-Hili Book Co., Inc., 1962)

Tinkham, George H. History of San Joaquin County California With Biographical Sketches (Los Angeles CA: Historic Record Company, 1923)

Thompson, Evelyn Prouty Manteca, selected chapters from its history (Manteca, CA: The Manteca Bulletin, 1980).

Thrapp, Dan L. Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1988)

Newspapers Stockton Independent Stockton Record News & Notes (S.J. Historical Society)

Individuals and Private Papers Rother, Margaret Waganet, Kelsay descendent Jones, Larry, Idaho Historical Society Howard, Donna, Lake County Museum

Facilities Haggin Museum, Stockton San Mateo County Historical Association Lake County Museum

Page 10 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1996

Where Was Kelsey's Cabin? The exact location of Kelsey's cabin in

French Camp will probably never be known. The only artifact that might ever be discovered is the cannon Kelsey is said to have buried before he left on his fateful trip to San Jose in 1844.

Weber subdivided and created the town of Castoria, later renamed French Camp, in 1850. The original town site contained a plaza adjacent to the slough that was later labeled Rendezvous Square, apparently to recognize the seasonal trapper settlement maintained by the Hudson's Bay Company (1832-45).

The evidence indicates the town was not laid out to conform to any previous development, but rather for practical demands. The 1855 survey shows most pre­existing fences and buildings to be south of Fourth Street.

The explanation can be found by use of a soil map. The advantage of the French Camp location was its sandy soil which contrasted with the adobe-clay soil of Stockton. The sandy soil is on the south of French Camp Slough, the adobe on the north side. The French Camp Turnpike purposely follows the sandy side of the dividing line of the two soil types, making it an all weather road in early years. In winter, sandy French Camp was dry, Stockton a mud hole. (Weber was encouraged to establish Stockton there for that reason, but wisely opted for superior water access).

Within old French Camp, the soil line generally follows Second Street. Rendezvous Square is on the west side of McKinley Avenue and divided by the soil types. The actual rendezvous site was probably on the school grounds where trapper artifacts have been recovered. Certainly the trappers would not set up camp in the mud, nor would Kelsey.

Kelsey built his own cabin. He would have stayed on the sand near the slough for water and perhaps a boat landing.

Want to find his cannon? Stay away from the slough and dig in the sand. Good Luck!

RS

Who Was Rea lly There? It is odd to note that the record is not

clear as to the members of the Kelsey family who resided at French Camp at the time of Kelsey'S death. Family accounts don't agree, but with the exception of America's statement: they come from later generations.

Here is a chronological list of what some historians have concluded.

1879 Co!. F.T. Gilbert Gilbert, who interviewed Captain Weber extensively, states that there were two children present-a boy and a girl.

1885 H.H. Bancroft One girl and pOSSibly a small boy who may have died there.

1923 G.F. Tinkham Three girls. Tinkham also interviewed Weber in detail prior to 1880.

1959 R. Coke Wood Two daughters and a son present.

1966 G. Hammond and Dale Morgan Three daughters, but mention only America when Kelsey dies.

1982 George Hammond (alone) Revises his opinion to two girls.

1984 Olive Davis Davis says one daughter (America).

1993 James Shebl Another vote for three daughters.

This would normally be a minor point considering the tragedy involved, but it is important because of the role of twelve year old America. She was the baby. If there were older siblings, what part did they play?

The Kelsey genealogy is of some help. America and her brother David Crockett were the only "children" remaining in the family by 1844. If these records are correct, the other Kelsey girls were married, and therefore not in French Camp. Further, in 1883 America stated that she and her mother were the U .. .first white women at Stockton." She does not mention sisters or brothers.

We do know for certain that the burden of care fell on little America, a very special young lady.

RS

Spring 19% San Joaquin Historian Page 11

IDlil 7fJ THE FllllTla..

THE DAVID KEUEr CLAN ROIERT SNELLENIERIER

Before exploring some of the contributions and adventures of this singular western family, it is only appropriate to further consider more Kelsey history in San Joaquin County. The sacrifice of David Kelsey has already been discussed as well as the heroism and romance of his youngest child, the ''brave little nurse" America.

Rebecca Josephine Kelsey Fowler Cook Grattan (1826-1871) was a member of the 1841 party that chose Oregon over California. She came to California from Oregon in 1844 with her father, David. She was married to William Fowler, but left him under "scandalous circumstances" to marry Grove C. Cook in 1845. According to Bancroft, she " ... presently had some reason to regret it."

Cook was also a member of the 1841 train, but elected to come to California with Bidwell-Bartleson. In 1845 he murdered the educated son of an Oregon Indian chief at Sutter's Fort during an argument, an event that had "lasting repercussions." Cook was a man of charm and abilities and made a lot of money during the Gold Rush, which he later lost. He died in 1853. They had a two year old son, Grovy, who died in Stockton in 1854-the second Kelsey grave in our county.

Rebecca then married Dr. Christopher Grattan (c1823- ?), pioneer Stockton physician and a widower. She died in Stockton in 1871, marking the third generation of Kelseys to be buried here.

Frances Kelsey Buzzell (c1820-c1854), came to California via Oregon with her father, David, in 1844. In August of '44 she married \-Villard Joseph Buzzell, a former sailor who jumped ship in 1840 at Half Moon Bay. Buzzell met Charles Weber in San Jose and came with him to settle in Stockton in 1847. (Some reports suggest Buzzell encouraged his father-in-law to accept Gulnac's offer of land). On September 9, 1847, while temporarily camped on Weber's Point, Frances gave birth to the third of her six children, Elisabeth, the first "American girl" born in San Joaquin County.

Buzzell built the first log house in Stockton and opened it as a tavern. He planted wheat near the boat landing in 1848,. but never harvested it, joining the Gold Rush as a member of the Stockton Mining Company. The Buzzells left Stockton in 1850 for Half Moon Bay.

Their daughter Elisabeth (1847-?) returned to Stockton to marry Christopher Grattan, nephew of Dr. Grattan, her unc1e by marriage.

One of her sons, Willard Buzzell (1850-?), also settled in San Joaquin County and was tower foreman at the Mossdale railroad bridge for many years.

Another son, Joseph Buzzell (1852-1895t was a farmer near Mossdale and a deputy sheriff under Thomas Cunningham. This grandson of David Kelsey was shot and killed near Paradise Cut in 1895, the first deputy to lose his life in the line of duty. Sadly, another first for the Kelsey family.

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Spring 19%

Here are some brief notes on all of David Kelsey's children.

Benjamin Kelsey's story is told in a separate article.

Elizabeth Kelsey East (1815-1888) carne to Oregon in 1843 with her husband and three children on the Applegate Train with her father and the rest of the family. They settled there and reared a family of 13 children.

Samuel Kelsey (1816-?) went to Oregon in 1841, returned east and helped escort the remainder of the family to Oregon in 1843. He carne to California in 1844 and participated in the Bear Flag affair. When his brother Andrew was killed by Indians, Samuel took part in the revenge massacre. His wife was Lucy Applegate. Nothing more was found.

Zedi diah Kelsey (1818-1888) was also called Isaac and Isaiah. Went to Oregon in 1841. He can claim another Kelsey first: while on the trail, he was married to Winifred Williams. This was the first ever marriage ceremony on the Oregon-California Trail.

Francis Margaret Kelsey's story is noted above.

Andrew Kelsey (1821-1849) carne to California with the Bidwell-Bartleson Party, and settled in Lake County. He was close to his brother Ben and the two were involved in the cattle business on land leased from Salvador Vallejo. He was a participant in the Bear Flag Revolt and in the war with Mexico. When gold was discovered, he and Ben mined at Kelsey's Diggings in El Dorado County, using Lake County Indians as virtual slaves. The settlement of Kelsey-where James MarshalC the discoverer of gold, died- bears their name.

Andrew abandoned his Indians when the claim petered out and continued his rough ways with them back in Lake County. The Indians retaliated in 1849, murdering Andrew and a partner named Stone. This led to inevitable white reaction which culminated in a major massacre of about 100

Indians-men, women, and children-at the Battle of Bloody Island in Clear Lake. Brother Samuel was part of this affair.

The town of Kelseyville was named after Andrew, but the white community generally felt Andrew "had it corning" and most were appalled by the Indian slaughter. He is not well remembered and his memory disowned by many of his family.

Loretta Kelsey Williams (1824-1874) and her husband went to Oregon in 1843, homesteaded a section of land where they raised cattle and grain. They had 13 children.

Rebecca Josephine Kelsey is noted above. David Crockett Kelsey (1830-1882) has

left no record. America Kelsey Wyman is noted in a

separate article.

This is truly an uncommon family history. Most of their contemporaries were more like the Oregon branch of Kelseys. They survived the trek, found their land, built a future and reared a family. But Ben and Sam and Andrew and Buzzell always seemed able to find a tougher challenge of the bare-knuckle variety. They had their own way of taming a frontier. We can't always approve of how they did it, but their deeds and life-style astonish us still. They were /loners" and their full story begs to be told.

Disclaimer Unfortunately, all of the research

and data collected fails to agree. It is certain there are errors in dates and names-in fact family records don't agree! We will happily accept corrections, additions, and contrary opinions.

RS

Spring 1996 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

P'ROTOTYPE AME'RICAN FAMILY

THE KELSEYS BASED ON MATERIAL RESEARCHED BY

'ROY MATTHEWS SYLA'R

Certain family names automatically conjure visions of the frontier-Boone, Zane, Sublette, for starters. They blazed and opened trails, built forts and towns, succeeded and multiplied in the most trying circumstances the wilderness could provide. They did it as individuals and as families. They exemplify the American pioneer spirit; they are the essence of a westering people.

In our wisdom we honor these people and this special spirit, ever in awe of their courage and stubbornness. In the smugness of our time we deplore their aggression and waste and violence. In fairness, we learn from their mistakes, but are slow to judge them by standards of a more enlightened era.

The Kelseys, as a family, are rarely mentioned in normal historical discourse about the settlement of the 'Vest, particularly of California and Oregon. They ought to be if for no other reason than the fact they seemed to always be there when something special was happening-and usually in numbers.

Using the year 1841 as an example, Four Kelsey brothers and their families made up more than ten percent of the group that was California bound from Missouri. Along the way the first ever marriage on the Oregon­California Trail was performed: Isaiah (also called Isaac and Zedidiah) Kelsey took Winifred \Villiams as his bride. When the Bidwell-Bartleson Party split off, four

Kelseys were among the 34, accounting for more than ten percent. The unacknowledged leader over much of the trail after Fitzpatrick left them at Fort Hall, was Ben Kelsey. The first woman and the first child over the Sierra were Nancy and Martha Ann Kelsey.

Of the group that selected Oregon, at least ten percent were Kelseys!

They left their name in both states-Kelseyville, Kelsey, and Kelsey's Diggings in California and Kelsay Springs on the slope of Mt. Hood in Oregon.

Kelsey-Kelsay The family traces its roots to a Scots-Irish

immigrant whose name was Kelsay. Most of his descendants still spell their name in that fashion. David Kelsey adopted the English version, which easily differentiates his branch of the family tree. It is interesting that both Kelseys and Kelsays settled in Kelseyville. The latter protect their spelling so as to differentiate themselves from the notorious Andrew Kelsey for whom the town was named.

The Kelsays originally settled in Pennsylvania and Virginia in the mid-1700s. By the late 1700s, some of the family was pioneering in the Northwest Territory of North Carolina (now Tennessee). From Virginia and Tennessee representatives moved on to the Kentucky frontier and then Missouri. They were not all rouglz and tumble

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 19%

frontiersmen in the manner of David Kelsey. Their number included legislators, ministers, lawyers, and soldiers.

Kelsay women married into other frontier families, including the famous Sublette brothers who were mountain men, trail blazers, and fur traders of note. One Kelsay in-law joined Henry Clay in the defense of Aaron Burr in his treason trial (1806).

By 1852, Kelsays were on the trail to Oregon and continued to migrate west for many years. A memorable incident on the trail occurred in 1862. \Villiam Kelsay (1792­1878) and 18 members of his immediate family joined the Harriman Party of 35 wagons bound for California. At the Raft River Crossing (near Idaho Falls), they lost all of their livestock to marauding Indians and white renegades. They had no choice but to abandon their wagons and walk the final 600 miles across the Nevada deserts and over the Sierra to Sacramento. They made the trek in 58 days-lugging their supplies the entire distance. William was 69 years old at the time, his wife 61. Two of the grandchildren were less than two years old and had to be carried the entire distance. They settled in Kelseyville.

One Kelsay lady married a man named James Ethan Allen. He owned property in Sacramento County that was involved in a squatters war. A Sacramento sheriff was killed when he mistakenly attacked Allen's home. Allen took off, but returned with his wife in 1854 and was absolved from blame and his property restored, but local sentiment was against him, so he sold out and joined the Kelsays in Lake County.

For the fun of it, note that 30s movie actress Brenda Joyce was a Kelsay, as was the actor-director Richard Boone (Have GUll, Will Travel).

Family histories can become tedious, but they give us insight into other eras as no other record can. The record the real people who got there first, planted the first crop, built the first church, donated the land for

the school or the courthouse, or the cemetery. It is unusual to be able to get insight to so many events and eras through the history of a single family, a family that in most ways seems as ordinary as yours and mine.

We shouldn't be surprised that they had a hand in the settlement of Stockton and San Joaquin County. It is what they did.

0000 Based on genealogical data collected by

Kelsay descendent Roy Matthews Sylar and shared by Margaret Waganet Rother of Santa Rosa, yet another descendent. It is dated March 7, 1986.

0000

French Camp -1849-50

.. .in August of 1849, CoL P. W. Noble and A. Stevenson took possession of the old French Camp-ground. They kept a public-house as well as a store; they were merchandising also at Mariposa, making French Camp the depot of supplies .... These gentlemen were the first \vhite men to occupy Castoria (since it was abandoned).

The selection of that site so earlv for a stand for a hotel and store was due" to the fact that Castoria ... has in the main a sandy soil, and the teamsters, in going from Stockton to Mariposa, found a passable road by way of French Camp in the wet seasons.

Immediately after the arrival and starting of business by the LeBarron firm, Mr. Atwood began the navigation of the French Camp slough, in a yawl that would carry about 1500 lbs. freight and four or five passengers .... Freights were 5 cts. per lb., and a passenger would be accom­modated for $5.

Excerpted from the Thomson & West History oj San Joaquin County, 1879, by Col. Frank T. Gilbert

Spring 1996 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

TUESDA Y MORNING, JULY 9, 1872

VISIT OF A PIONEER FAMILY

There are now visiting to this city a gentleman and his wife, who crossed the plains and arrived in California in 1841, thirty-one years ago. The gentleman is Mr. Benjamin Kelsey, the.discover­er of Kelsey's Diggings on the .north sIde of t~e South Fork of the American nver. The famIly emigrated from Jasper county., Misso~ri, and crossed the plains in company wIth Captam Web­er of this city; Captain Joseph Chtlds, Colonel Rickman, and others. Mr. Kelsey's family then consisted of himself, wife and one child-a daughter, who is now Mrs. Lewis, and resides !n Lynn Valley, in the southern part of San JoaqUl.n valley. The journeyings of Mr. Kelsey and fa~11l­Iv and the events of their lives, many of WhICh ;r~ thrilling, would fill the pages of an interesting book Shortly after their arrival in this State, they took ~p thei; abode in Sonoma and subsequently went to Oregon, where they resided about one year.

RETCRl\I1NG TO CALIFORNIA,

Thev again took up their residence near Clear Lake, where they remained som~ eight ):,ears: ~nd were largely interested in ranchIng. and In ~Ismg horses and cattle. After expenencIng a senes of almost unbearable annoyances and suffering in­numerable losses through the depredations of In­dians they removed to the northern part of the State 'and -remained some twenty-two months in Siskiyou county, when they again pulled up stakes and journeyed through Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys to Mariposa, \vhere they re­mained only two months. From there they went to San Jose, remaining a little over eIght months at the latter place; thence went to Oakland, '.vhere they resided about one year. From Oakland they we~t to Gilrov and there remained fourteen months, and th~nce proceeded to t~e K~r~ nver mines, where Mr. Kelsey engaged m minIng ~or some eighteen months. They wen~ from Kern nv­er to Four Creeks and there reSided two years, when they started for Mexico, and remained three months only in that country, when they

STARTED FOR TEXAS,

Arriving in that state in February, 1863, and re­maining there until the following May, ~hen they again started for California. A sad calamity befell

them at this time. Thev had reached a point some distance outside of the white settlements-a point on the borders of the Indian country where several parties had agreed to meet and then proceed together to the far West .While Mr. K~l­sey had taken his gun and gone In quest of :vIld turkeys, a band. of some twen~y-thre~ Indians made a raid on hiS own and a neighbonng camp. The women, perceiving the Indians approaching, and learning of their intent from a young man who had been wounded bv them and had fled hoping to find refuge at M;. Kelsey's camp, de­serted the camp and hid in the undergrowth. One of Mr. Kelsey's daughters was

CAPTURED BY THE SA V AGES,

Who scalped her, fractured her skull by a blow from a lance, thrust lances through her body, and left her for dead. Eventually the young woman rallied, however, and managed, in that fearful condition, to reach her parents who had been left utterly destitute the Indians having carried away every"thing of v~lue that they possessed. The girl was removed to the nearest fort where, wonderful to relate she recovered and came with her parents to this S'tate, where she died five years after. The family

ARRIVED THE SECOl\.'I) TIME IN CALIFOR'\JTA

In the Fall of 1864, and went to San Luis Obispo. In 1865, they went to Aurora, and in A~gus.t of the same year they went to the Owen s fiver country where they remained, about five miles from I~dependence, until lately, '.vhen they start­ed for this valley.

!viR. KELSEY

Is fifty-eight years of age, but does not appear much "more than forty. He is above the average size, muscular and powerful, quiet and ~nobtru­sive in manner, genial and affable. He qUIetly re­marked to us yesterday that he had encountered hostile Indians, fought grizzly bears and wolves and had never been troubled with sensations of fear until he experienced the shocks of earthquake near Independence. There was something about these earthquakes that he could not understand and they greatly troubled him, and he ~reatly p.re­ferred solid ground to that kind of temtory WhICh rumbled and tumbled under his feet.

Ed. Note The Lone Pille Quake of 1\-larch 26, 1872 had an estimated Richter magnitude in excess of 8.0, ranking it in the top three in state history. T~is quake and its aftershocks spooked the otherwlse fearless Ben Kelsey. RS

Page 16 San Joaquin Historian Spring 19%

The Kelsey Family

Oh, That Nancy • • • It seems that the one member of the

extensive Kelsey clan destined to be best remembered is Nancy Roberts Kelsey (1823­1896), the only woman of the Bidwell­Bartleson Party of 1841 and thus the first white woman to come overland to California over the Sierra. Nancy was the wife of peripatetic frontiersman Benjamin Kelsey (1813-1889), David's eldest son. Thus, she was America's sister-in-law.

Nancy Kelsey has become the darling of western historians-and not without good reason. Not only did she lead a most interesting life, she also granted several interviews that left us a legacy of marvelous quotes.

Nancy's decision to mamj Ben Kelsey at age fifteen is today's equivalent of a high school sophomore hopping onto the sissy seat ofa Harley Davidson and vrooming off into the sunset with a Hell's Angel.

Nancy's story is not to be confused with the more usual tale of the brave and persevering pioneer wife we associate with such heroines as Juliet

and intelligent. She was pretty, cheerful, tough, and devoted to Ben.

Nancy's story of crossing the plains and mountains to California is well-know, but to iterate the essentials, four Kelsey brothers decided to try for California in 1841 and joined the Bartleson/ Fr. De Smet caravan that left from vVeston, Missouri. This was the first organized train of immigrants to attempt an overland crossing to California. Their destination was John Marsh's Rancho Los Meganos, near present day Brentwood in Contra Costa County. Ben Kelsey took his wife and daughter with him. Nancy, not quite 18, had just given birth to a son who

died, and daughter Martha Ann was a toddler of a little more man 12 months. Ben was 27.

The party split near Fort Hall (Idaho), with Father De Smet

Briar of Death Valley and his missionaries fame, or the surviving wives of the Donner heading to Indian villages to the north. The Party. These ladies met a great challenge on California train split almost immediately the trail and then spent the remainder of with all but 34 opting to go to Oregon over a their years rooting their families and seeking more certain route. Ben's brother Samuel to build conventional lives. Nancy's decision elected to take his wife and family to Oregon to marry Ben Kelsey at age fifteen is today's as did brother Isaiah and his new bride. Only equivalent of a high school sophomore one family voted to try the unknown-Ben hopping onto the sissy seat of a Harley Kelsey's. Andrew stayed with Ben. Davison and vrooming off into the sunset \Vithout a fixed trail, a guide, adequate with a Hell's Angel. supplies, the party soon had to abandon its

Born in Kentucky, raised on the Missouri wagons in favor of pack animals and blunder frontier, she had at best a brief frontier across the desert to the Humboldt River, education. It is said her "earthy vocabulary then on to the Sierra and finally passage would have given any genteel hostess the across the crest and down the hazardous vapors." Like her husband she was bright canyons of the Stanislaus River. They were

Spring 1996 San Joaquin Historian Page 17

forced to eat most of their animals and Nancy, carrying her baby, walked barefoot the last miles out of the mountains into the Great Valley where she collapsed from hunger and physical exhaustion. Fortunately game was plenty and the ragged but refreshed party safely made its way to Marsh's rancho.

Nancy's cheerful demeanor and uncomplaining courage during the trek endeared her to all the party. She was the first woman to accomplish this feat and it established her bona fides as a legitimate western heroine.

\Vhen asked why she went along on this journey rather than waiting for Ben to come for her later when a safe trail had been established, she answered matter-of-factly "Where my husband goes, I go. I can better endure the hardships of the journey than the anxieties of an absent husband."

Nancy's life of adventure was only just beginning. Here is a potpourri of her later life:

From Marsh's, the family made its way to Sutter's Fort, where Ben worked for John Sutter during the winter. As soon as Spring arrived, they moved to Cache Creek, built a small cabin and Ben hunted deer and elk for hides and tallow.

From Cache Creek, they moved north and built the first white dwelling near Calistoga. Ben used his hunting profits to buy cattle which he took north to sell to the Oregon settlers. The party was under constant attack by Indians after the cattle and horses. There was soon a battle at a Sacramento River crossing and one of the herders, "Bear" Dawson, killed an Indian attacker who fell within six feet of Nancy and Martha Ann.

The attacks continued and Nancy reported sleeping within 40 feet of where arrows were dropping into camp at night. She sat on her horse and watched a battle that resulted in twelve Indians being slain.

In Oregon they sold their stock and bought dry goods and other merchandise to

sell back in California. On the way back from Oregon in 1844, Indians attacked near Shasta at night. Nancy hid her babies (two by then), in the brush remembering /IAs I hid the little ones in the bush, I wondered if I would ever see daylight again."

In 1846, Ben was a participant in the Bear Flag revolt. When William Todd painted the Sonoma version of the Bear Flag, Nancy furnished some of the cloth. At about this time Ben, ever the independent loner, crossed wills with John C. Fremont and Fremont would never again recognize him.

Ben and his brother Andrew established a cattle ranch in Lake County. When gold was discovered in 1848, the brothers founded Kelsey's Diggings and reaped a small fortune using Lake County Indians as virtual slaves. Nancy said they made $100 per day per Indian.

(The Lake County Indians eventually murdered Andrew and another partner in revenge. The town of Kelseyville was named in his memory).

Ben bought sheep for one dollar per head and sold them for $16 in the mines. He also loaned money at 25% compound interest

In 1849 they resided near Sonoma. Ben was ill and Nancy rode to town for medicine. Along the way she was accosted by an Indian who wanted to lasso her off her horse. She was without her pistol, so talked her way out of the situation. She reported the incident and the culprit was quickly captured and sentenced to 100 lashes. When she got home and told Ben, " .. .instead of taking the medicine he rode into town and shot the Indian dead."

Ben's itchy feet could not stand prosperity and they moved next to Mendocino and Humboldt counties where they suffered financial reverses and had a hand in founding Eureka and Arcata.

In 1856 Ben built and operated a toll bridge over the Kern River. He soon tired of that and in 1859 traveled to Mexico and Texas to purchase cattle. It was while in

Page 18 San Joaquin Historian Sprmg 1996

Texas that their camp was attacked by Comanche Indians while the men were off hunting. The women and children scattered and hid as best they could, but daughter Mary Ellen, then 13 years old, was captured, clubbed, stabbed and scalped.

U\Ve could not find the captured one. She had recovered sufficiently to wander around in search of help. Oh, the anxiety of that night!

"We found her the next day. Yes, we found her, and my anguish was horrible when I discovered that she had been scalped and partially deranged."

Mary Ellen was nursed back to reasonable health and died in Fresno in 1866.

Ben's wanderings continued. As Nancy said, he was " ... a man of adventurous disposition."

In 1872 they were chased from Owens Valley by earthquakes. She wrote to old friend Helen \Veber for advice and help in finding a new location. Eventually they resided in Los Angeles where Ben died in 1889.

Nancy then turned to the life of seclusion she loved and moved to a remote area in Santa Barbara County where she unofficially homesteaded a small parcel far from town and raised chickens. She also served as midwife for the hill people and was noted for her herbal remedies. Cancer took her life on August 10, 1896 in her seventy-third year.

In an interview she succinctly wrote her own obituary:

"I have enjoyed riches and suffered the pangs of poverty. I saw General Grant when he was little known. I baked bread for General Fremont and talked to Kit Carson. I have run from bear and killed all other kinds of game."

She didn't mention that she also bore ten children.

"We found her the next day. Yes, we found her, and my anguish was horrible when I discovered that she had been scalped and

partially deranged."

One of her last requests was that she be buried in a real coffin "not something scraped up with old boards." Her neighbors took up a collection and stored a ready-made coffin for her use in a neighbor'S house. She

was buried near her cabin, next to a grandchild.

Nancy and Ben Kelsey had nothing to do with San Joaquin County or Stockton other than the fact Charles Weber was

also a member of the Bidwell-Bartleson Party and therefore a friend. She is known to have visited Stockton just once (see 1872 interview above). That small connection has been excuse enough for virtually every history of either Stockton or San Joaquin County to include her photo and/or a bit of her story.

Now I have gOlle and done it, too. Oh, that Nancy-she is irresistible!

DODD

A very good biography of Nancy Kelsey by historian Phillip H. Ault can be found in the March/April 1992 edition of The Califofllia/ls. See also Nancy Kelsey in Pioneers ofCaliforilia by Donovan Lewis.

RS Nancy's Grave

Nancy's grave is 011 remote private propernJ 15 miles from New Cayuma, 50 miles east of Santa l'v1aria, where it has been protected mzd preserved by the owners.

Many years ago BOl) Scouts lined the grave with stones and provided a wooden plaque. The Native Daughters of the Golden West later provided a head stolle.

On April 1, 1995, a commemorative marker was placed on the site with proper ceremony by The Oregon-California Trails Association (aCTA).

Spring 1996 San Joaquin Historian Page 19

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum P.O. Box 30 Lodi CA 95241-0030

Non-Profit

Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No. 48

Lodi CA 95241