Rev, Senator Jacob Gruwell (son of John Gruwell and Ruth Harding) was born 16 July 1807 in Jefferson Twp, Montgomery Co, OH, and died 02 May 1900 in San Jose, Santa Clara Co, California. He married (1) Margaret Day Lightfoot on 01 March 1830 in Adams Co, Illinois, daughter of John Lightfoot. He married (2) Martha Hines on 09 December 1880 in East Stockton, San Joaquin Co, California.
SENATOR, (Whig) when state capitol in Vallejo, California
Jacob Gruwell, Contra Costa and Santa Clara, 1852,53-'54
Occupation: Methodist Episcopal Church, South Preacher.
In 1848-49 ; 12 wagons under Jacob Gruwell remained at Salt Lake from about Aug 13 to September 27, in Utah Valley. 107 wagons, with Mr Hunt as a guide started 2 days behind—and so far only 7 wagons have come through. Mr Gruwell left his wagons on the last of August in Utah valley, taking Hastings Cut off to Humboldt river, to go on horseback. About the 20th of December, Gruwell's wagons got into Williams valley. For 4 weeks before reaching this valley, Mr Gruwell's family was without bread or salt, or anything to eat except the cattle that could not work – Lost all their cattle except one yoke. Col. Williams sent out relief which reached them on the Mohave- including work cattle and provisions. But for this they would have had to foot it in. They suffered a good deal from cold. Gruwell has 10 children- his whole family had to walk nearly all the way through from the last boy that could walk up their shoes and moccasins gave out and had to go barefoot through snow. The other families suffered by the same. All however came through in good health. His wife walked- did not ride 10 miles on the trip- say about 800 miles. On Mr Gruwell's own route, in a travel of 1270 miles found some game between Utah valley and Humboldt—only a few antelope- not able to get any, generally on the large plains, and very wild. They took with them 10 lbs of bacon and 2 loaves of bread, between him and his brother, for 300 miles—Suffered much for water crossing a desert of 90 miles, from Tuesday til Thursday nothing to drink except the blood from a cow that had been dead for some time—Mr Gruel lost his hearing and speech before they got through. Found no game of consequence till the Valley of the Sacramento there 10,000 antelope at one view. Footed the whole way, except the first 150 miles, during which they lost their horses. Their reliance on getting provisions was on overtaking the trains on the north route. Gruwell turned off 60 miles above the Sink [Carson Sink] and took the route of Lawson and Hudspeth [Lassen route] on information from Government officers going into Ft Hall, that it was only 75 miles further, and plenty of water and grass—found it 400 miles further, and a portion of it—the most of it—barren of grass, or already burnt off, and chiefly warm or salt water. But for the bunch grass they found after crossing the Sierra, no stock could have been got through—this grass almost as good as grain. Gruwell crossed the summit Oct 7th entered the valley Nov 7th, got to Sutter's about 15th to Sacramento City, then rejoined his family here. Had an attack of scurvy which detained him at the city. Many died with this disease on the north route. Walked to Capt Jo Walker's, he furnished Gruwell with a fine mule and rigging. –which hastened his approach to his family.
SENATOR, (Whig) when state capitol in Vallejo, California
Jacob Gruwell, Contra Costa and Santa Clara, 1852,53-'54
Occupation: Methodist Episcopal Church, South Preacher.
In 1848-49 ; 12 wagons under Jacob Gruwell remained at Salt Lake from about Aug 13 to September 27, in Utah Valley. 107 wagons, with Mr Hunt as a guide started 2 days behind—and so far only 7 wagons have come through. Mr Gruwell left his wagons on the last of August in Utah valley, taking Hastings Cut off to Humboldt river, to go on horseback. About the 20th of December, Gruwell's wagons got into Williams valley. For 4 weeks before reaching this valley, Mr Gruwell's family was without bread or salt, or anything to eat except the cattle that could not work – Lost all their cattle except one yoke. Col. Williams sent out relief which reached them on the Mohave- including work cattle and provisions. But for this they would have had to foot it in. They suffered a good deal from cold. Gruwell has 10 children- his whole family had to walk nearly all the way through from the last boy that could walk up their shoes and moccasins gave out and had to go barefoot through snow. The other families suffered by the same. All however came through in good health. His wife walked- did not ride 10 miles on the trip- say about 800 miles. On Mr Gruwell's own route, in a travel of 1270 miles found some game between Utah valley and Humboldt—only a few antelope- not able to get any, generally on the large plains, and very wild. They took with them 10 lbs of bacon and 2 loaves of bread, between him and his brother, for 300 miles—Suffered much for water crossing a desert of 90 miles, from Tuesday til Thursday nothing to drink except the blood from a cow that had been dead for some time—Mr Gruel lost his hearing and speech before they got through. Found no game of consequence till the Valley of the Sacramento there 10,000 antelope at one view. Footed the whole way, except the first 150 miles, during which they lost their horses. Their reliance on getting provisions was on overtaking the trains on the north route. Gruwell turned off 60 miles above the Sink [Carson Sink] and took the route of Lawson and Hudspeth [Lassen route] on information from Government officers going into Ft Hall, that it was only 75 miles further, and plenty of water and grass—found it 400 miles further, and a portion of it—the most of it—barren of grass, or already burnt off, and chiefly warm or salt water. But for the bunch grass they found after crossing the Sierra, no stock could have been got through—this grass almost as good as grain. Gruwell crossed the summit Oct 7th entered the valley Nov 7th, got to Sutter's about 15th to Sacramento City, then rejoined his family here. Had an attack of scurvy which detained him at the city. Many died with this disease on the north route. Walked to Capt Jo Walker's, he furnished Gruwell with a fine mule and rigging. –which hastened his approach to his family.
Rev, Senator Jacob Gruwell (son of John Gruwell and Ruth Harding) was born 16 July 1807 in Jefferson Twp, Montgomery Co, OH, and died 02 May 1900 in San Jose, Santa Clara Co, California. He married (1) Margaret Day Lightfoot on 01 March 1830 in Adams Co, Illinois, daughter of John Lightfoot. He married (2) Martha Hines on 09 December 1880 in East Stockton, San Joaquin Co, California.
SENATOR, (Whig) when state capitol in Vallejo, California
Jacob Gruwell, Contra Costa and Santa Clara, 1852,53-'54
Occupation: Methodist Episcopal Church, South Preacher.
In 1848-49 ; 12 wagons under Jacob Gruwell remained at Salt Lake from about Aug 13 to September 27, in Utah Valley. 107 wagons, with Mr Hunt as a guide started 2 days behind—and so far only 7 wagons have come through. Mr Gruwell left his wagons on the last of August in Utah valley, taking Hastings Cut off to Humboldt river, to go on horseback. About the 20th of December, Gruwell's wagons got into Williams valley. For 4 weeks before reaching this valley, Mr Gruwell's family was without bread or salt, or anything to eat except the cattle that could not work – Lost all their cattle except one yoke. Col. Williams sent out relief which reached them on the Mohave- including work cattle and provisions. But for this they would have had to foot it in. They suffered a good deal from cold. Gruwell has 10 children- his whole family had to walk nearly all the way through from the last boy that could walk up their shoes and moccasins gave out and had to go barefoot through snow. The other families suffered by the same. All however came through in good health. His wife walked- did not ride 10 miles on the trip- say about 800 miles. On Mr Gruwell's own route, in a travel of 1270 miles found some game between Utah valley and Humboldt—only a few antelope- not able to get any, generally on the large plains, and very wild. They took with them 10 lbs of bacon and 2 loaves of bread, between him and his brother, for 300 miles—Suffered much for water crossing a desert of 90 miles, from Tuesday til Thursday nothing to drink except the blood from a cow that had been dead for some time—Mr Gruel lost his hearing and speech before they got through. Found no game of consequence till the Valley of the Sacramento there 10,000 antelope at one view. Footed the whole way, except the first 150 miles, during which they lost their horses. Their reliance on getting provisions was on overtaking the trains on the north route. Gruwell turned off 60 miles above the Sink [Carson Sink] and took the route of Lawson and Hudspeth [Lassen route] on information from Government officers going into Ft Hall, that it was only 75 miles further, and plenty of water and grass—found it 400 miles further, and a portion of it—the most of it—barren of grass, or already burnt off, and chiefly warm or salt water. But for the bunch grass they found after crossing the Sierra, no stock could have been got through—this grass almost as good as grain. Gruwell crossed the summit Oct 7th entered the valley Nov 7th, got to Sutter's about 15th to Sacramento City, then rejoined his family here. Had an attack of scurvy which detained him at the city. Many died with this disease on the north route. Walked to Capt Jo Walker's, he furnished Gruwell with a fine mule and rigging. –which hastened his approach to his family.
SENATOR, (Whig) when state capitol in Vallejo, California
Jacob Gruwell, Contra Costa and Santa Clara, 1852,53-'54
Occupation: Methodist Episcopal Church, South Preacher.
In 1848-49 ; 12 wagons under Jacob Gruwell remained at Salt Lake from about Aug 13 to September 27, in Utah Valley. 107 wagons, with Mr Hunt as a guide started 2 days behind—and so far only 7 wagons have come through. Mr Gruwell left his wagons on the last of August in Utah valley, taking Hastings Cut off to Humboldt river, to go on horseback. About the 20th of December, Gruwell's wagons got into Williams valley. For 4 weeks before reaching this valley, Mr Gruwell's family was without bread or salt, or anything to eat except the cattle that could not work – Lost all their cattle except one yoke. Col. Williams sent out relief which reached them on the Mohave- including work cattle and provisions. But for this they would have had to foot it in. They suffered a good deal from cold. Gruwell has 10 children- his whole family had to walk nearly all the way through from the last boy that could walk up their shoes and moccasins gave out and had to go barefoot through snow. The other families suffered by the same. All however came through in good health. His wife walked- did not ride 10 miles on the trip- say about 800 miles. On Mr Gruwell's own route, in a travel of 1270 miles found some game between Utah valley and Humboldt—only a few antelope- not able to get any, generally on the large plains, and very wild. They took with them 10 lbs of bacon and 2 loaves of bread, between him and his brother, for 300 miles—Suffered much for water crossing a desert of 90 miles, from Tuesday til Thursday nothing to drink except the blood from a cow that had been dead for some time—Mr Gruel lost his hearing and speech before they got through. Found no game of consequence till the Valley of the Sacramento there 10,000 antelope at one view. Footed the whole way, except the first 150 miles, during which they lost their horses. Their reliance on getting provisions was on overtaking the trains on the north route. Gruwell turned off 60 miles above the Sink [Carson Sink] and took the route of Lawson and Hudspeth [Lassen route] on information from Government officers going into Ft Hall, that it was only 75 miles further, and plenty of water and grass—found it 400 miles further, and a portion of it—the most of it—barren of grass, or already burnt off, and chiefly warm or salt water. But for the bunch grass they found after crossing the Sierra, no stock could have been got through—this grass almost as good as grain. Gruwell crossed the summit Oct 7th entered the valley Nov 7th, got to Sutter's about 15th to Sacramento City, then rejoined his family here. Had an attack of scurvy which detained him at the city. Many died with this disease on the north route. Walked to Capt Jo Walker's, he furnished Gruwell with a fine mule and rigging. –which hastened his approach to his family.
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