The land of gold; or, Three years in CaliforniaColton, Walter
History
The land of gold; or, Three years in California
Colton, Walter
California -- Gold discoveries; California -- History -- 1846-1850
Here is Don Manuel Dias, a native of Mexico, married to a sister of Mrs.
Spence, a gentleman whose urbanity and intelligence honors his origin.
Here is James McKinley, a gentleman of liberality and wealth from the
Grampian Hills, married to a daughter of a Spanish Don from the Bay of
Biscay. Here is Don Manuel Jimeno, once secretary of state, married into
the Noriega family, to a lady of sparkling wit and gentle benevolence.
Here is Milton Little, a man of mind and means, who broke into
California many years ago from the west, and whom I joined in wedlock to
a fair daughter of the empire state. Here is Don José Abrigo, blest with
wealth, enterprise, and a fine family of boys. Here is J. P. Lease, from
Missouri, long resident in California, with ample fortune and generous
heart, and whose amiable wife is the sister of Gen. Vallejo. Here is
James Watson, born on the Thames; came to Monterey twenty-five years
since, married a lady of the country, is now a heavy capitalist, with a
charity open as day. Here is Charles Walter, of German origin, a
resident of many years, married into the Estrada family, and possessed
of wealth. Here is Gov. Pulacio, from Lower California—a gentleman of
the old school—with a wife and daughter imbued with the same spirit of
refinement. Here is J. F. Dye, from our own shores, long identified with
the interests of the country, and married to one of its daughters. Here
are Messrs. Toomes & Thoms, bosom friends, partners in business, and men
of enterprise and substance. Here is James Stokes, from England, for
twenty-five years a citizen of Monterey, a merchant, farmer, and doctor,
married to a lady of the country, in whom the afflicted always find a
friend.
Here is Señor Soveranez, whose saloon is lit by eyes bright as nuptial
tapers, and where the Castilian flows soft as if warbled by a bird. Here
is Padre Ramirez, an intelligent, liberal, and warm-hearted canon of the
Catholic church; and also the Rev. S. H. Willey, of the Protestant
persuasion, who is organizing a society, and who has the zeal and energy
to carry the enterprise through. Monterey lost one of its most cherished
ladies, when Mrs. Larkin took her departure. Here for eighteen years she
had lent a charm to its society. She was the first lady from the United
States that settled in California. Long will the good old town lament
the departure of T. H. Green. His enterprise and integrity as a
merchant, and his benevolence as a citizen, were everywhere felt. The
widow and the orphan ever found in him a generous friend. Nor must I
forget the young and gentle Saladonia, who has often hovered like a
ministering angel in the family of the poor emigrant. Nor must I pass
unheeded the grave of my revered friend Don Juan Malerine, beloved in
life, and who died
“Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.”
CHAPTER XXXII.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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