son of Edward Gantt / Ann Stoughton Sloss
Pioneer of the Oregon Trail 1843
Ex-Army officer and Fur Trader
He enlisted in the US Army 11 Mar 1818 in Boston, MA as 2nd Lieutenant Rifles Regiment being appointed 24 May 1817. Promoted 5 Apr 1818 to 1st Lieutenant of the 1st Rifle Regiment. Transferred 1 Jun 1821 to the Infantry Promoted to Captain of the 6th Regiment KY Infantry 28 Feb 1823. Dismissed from the Army after being found guilty on 2 of 4 counts involving falsification of pay records on 12 May 1829.
In 1843 he was engaged to serve as the scout or "pilot" for the 1843 Oregon emigration by Daniel Matheny and William Martin. The men had been authorized at the organizational meeting at Fitzhugh's Mill at Westport, Missouri. It consisted of about 700 men, women and children and approx' 110 wagons. It separated into 2 units those with cattle and those without; those groups separating into smaller groups before the journey was over.
He was only engaged to guide the group as far as Fort Hall and on 22 May 1843 he departed company with the Oregon Emigrating Company where he then cutoff from Fort Hall for CA with the Joseph Ballinger Chiles Company.
By 1847 he removed to the Napa Valley where he formed a partnership for the construction of a sawmill. He panned for gold at Biddle's Bar late 1848 early 1849. His health forced him to give this up, he then returned to the Napa Valley. He died at the home of a former mountain man, George Calvert Yount. He was laid to rest in the Yountville Cemetery.
-Married ca1823 Virginia Mary McClannahan, dau of John and Mildred McClanahan
They had 1 son Norborne Beall
ref: OR Pioneers; Registers of Enlistments in the US Army 1798-1914; The Mountain Men and the Fur Trade of the Far West Vol IV by The Arthur H. Clark CO Glendale, CA 1966; *There is no relationship found with Virginia Mary Hanrahan found in the Cemetery Ledger it probably should of read "w/o Virginia Mary McClannahan" *Gantt also referred to in various journals as Gant, Gaunt Ghant and Gantt
Bio by: BluMoKitty
"Horse Sleuth
Captain John Gantt, who came west with Colonel Chiles' party in 1843, had a background of Regular Army experience in the states. So, in 1844-45, he commanded Sutter's Force in Micheltorena's service.
After the campaign ended, Gantt contracted to recover on a commission basis horses stolen by Indian thieves.
In 1846, he became ill at Dr. John Marsh's Rancho.
In 1847, he was located at the Pueblo of Sonoma, and applied for an appointment as sub-Indian agent.
Because Gantt was far from well, a Dr. Powell recommended that he use the Hot Springs in Napa Valley. Knowing a welcome was assured at Caymus Rancho, Gantt proceded (sic) there.
In a letter written to Dr. Marsh from Yount's adobe Gantt wrote about taking the Hot Baths, commenting that he considered himself "prematurely fashionable as it is very malapropos for poor folks."
Apparently use of the hot mineral springs was most beneficial to his health because he was well enough in 1848 to work for the firm of G. Hanah in Napa City.
On Gold Trail
Always the adventurer, he struck out with the first contingent from Napa Valley in 1849 when news of the discovery of gold hit town. He mined on the Feather River, but the rigorous life of a miner proved too much for his health, and, in the fall of 1849, he returned to Yount's Caymus Rancho.
Captain Gantt died there before the year was out, and he was buried in Yountville Cemetery. " - Napa County history 1823-1948 written by Virginia Hanrahan
This was in The Napa Valley Register
24 Dec, 1960
Pioneer of the Oregon Trail 1843
Ex-Army officer and Fur Trader
He enlisted in the US Army 11 Mar 1818 in Boston, MA as 2nd Lieutenant Rifles Regiment being appointed 24 May 1817. Promoted 5 Apr 1818 to 1st Lieutenant of the 1st Rifle Regiment. Transferred 1 Jun 1821 to the Infantry Promoted to Captain of the 6th Regiment KY Infantry 28 Feb 1823. Dismissed from the Army after being found guilty on 2 of 4 counts involving falsification of pay records on 12 May 1829.
In 1843 he was engaged to serve as the scout or "pilot" for the 1843 Oregon emigration by Daniel Matheny and William Martin. The men had been authorized at the organizational meeting at Fitzhugh's Mill at Westport, Missouri. It consisted of about 700 men, women and children and approx' 110 wagons. It separated into 2 units those with cattle and those without; those groups separating into smaller groups before the journey was over.
He was only engaged to guide the group as far as Fort Hall and on 22 May 1843 he departed company with the Oregon Emigrating Company where he then cutoff from Fort Hall for CA with the Joseph Ballinger Chiles Company.
By 1847 he removed to the Napa Valley where he formed a partnership for the construction of a sawmill. He panned for gold at Biddle's Bar late 1848 early 1849. His health forced him to give this up, he then returned to the Napa Valley. He died at the home of a former mountain man, George Calvert Yount. He was laid to rest in the Yountville Cemetery.
-Married ca1823 Virginia Mary McClannahan, dau of John and Mildred McClanahan
They had 1 son Norborne Beall
ref: OR Pioneers; Registers of Enlistments in the US Army 1798-1914; The Mountain Men and the Fur Trade of the Far West Vol IV by The Arthur H. Clark CO Glendale, CA 1966; *There is no relationship found with Virginia Mary Hanrahan found in the Cemetery Ledger it probably should of read "w/o Virginia Mary McClannahan" *Gantt also referred to in various journals as Gant, Gaunt Ghant and Gantt
Bio by: BluMoKitty
"Horse Sleuth
Captain John Gantt, who came west with Colonel Chiles' party in 1843, had a background of Regular Army experience in the states. So, in 1844-45, he commanded Sutter's Force in Micheltorena's service.
After the campaign ended, Gantt contracted to recover on a commission basis horses stolen by Indian thieves.
In 1846, he became ill at Dr. John Marsh's Rancho.
In 1847, he was located at the Pueblo of Sonoma, and applied for an appointment as sub-Indian agent.
Because Gantt was far from well, a Dr. Powell recommended that he use the Hot Springs in Napa Valley. Knowing a welcome was assured at Caymus Rancho, Gantt proceded (sic) there.
In a letter written to Dr. Marsh from Yount's adobe Gantt wrote about taking the Hot Baths, commenting that he considered himself "prematurely fashionable as it is very malapropos for poor folks."
Apparently use of the hot mineral springs was most beneficial to his health because he was well enough in 1848 to work for the firm of G. Hanah in Napa City.
On Gold Trail
Always the adventurer, he struck out with the first contingent from Napa Valley in 1849 when news of the discovery of gold hit town. He mined on the Feather River, but the rigorous life of a miner proved too much for his health, and, in the fall of 1849, he returned to Yount's Caymus Rancho.
Captain Gantt died there before the year was out, and he was buried in Yountville Cemetery. " - Napa County history 1823-1948 written by Virginia Hanrahan
This was in The Napa Valley Register
24 Dec, 1960
son of Edward Gantt / Ann Stoughton Sloss
Pioneer of the Oregon Trail 1843
Ex-Army officer and Fur Trader
He enlisted in the US Army 11 Mar 1818 in Boston, MA as 2nd Lieutenant Rifles Regiment being appointed 24 May 1817. Promoted 5 Apr 1818 to 1st Lieutenant of the 1st Rifle Regiment. Transferred 1 Jun 1821 to the Infantry Promoted to Captain of the 6th Regiment KY Infantry 28 Feb 1823. Dismissed from the Army after being found guilty on 2 of 4 counts involving falsification of pay records on 12 May 1829.
In 1843 he was engaged to serve as the scout or "pilot" for the 1843 Oregon emigration by Daniel Matheny and William Martin. The men had been authorized at the organizational meeting at Fitzhugh's Mill at Westport, Missouri. It consisted of about 700 men, women and children and approx' 110 wagons. It separated into 2 units those with cattle and those without; those groups separating into smaller groups before the journey was over.
He was only engaged to guide the group as far as Fort Hall and on 22 May 1843 he departed company with the Oregon Emigrating Company where he then cutoff from Fort Hall for CA with the Joseph Ballinger Chiles Company.
By 1847 he removed to the Napa Valley where he formed a partnership for the construction of a sawmill. He panned for gold at Biddle's Bar late 1848 early 1849. His health forced him to give this up, he then returned to the Napa Valley. He died at the home of a former mountain man, George Calvert Yount. He was laid to rest in the Yountville Cemetery.
-Married ca1823 Virginia Mary McClannahan, dau of John and Mildred McClanahan
They had 1 son Norborne Beall
ref: OR Pioneers; Registers of Enlistments in the US Army 1798-1914; The Mountain Men and the Fur Trade of the Far West Vol IV by The Arthur H. Clark CO Glendale, CA 1966; *There is no relationship found with Virginia Mary Hanrahan found in the Cemetery Ledger it probably should of read "w/o Virginia Mary McClannahan" *Gantt also referred to in various journals as Gant, Gaunt Ghant and Gantt
Bio by: BluMoKitty
"Horse Sleuth
Captain John Gantt, who came west with Colonel Chiles' party in 1843, had a background of Regular Army experience in the states. So, in 1844-45, he commanded Sutter's Force in Micheltorena's service.
After the campaign ended, Gantt contracted to recover on a commission basis horses stolen by Indian thieves.
In 1846, he became ill at Dr. John Marsh's Rancho.
In 1847, he was located at the Pueblo of Sonoma, and applied for an appointment as sub-Indian agent.
Because Gantt was far from well, a Dr. Powell recommended that he use the Hot Springs in Napa Valley. Knowing a welcome was assured at Caymus Rancho, Gantt proceded (sic) there.
In a letter written to Dr. Marsh from Yount's adobe Gantt wrote about taking the Hot Baths, commenting that he considered himself "prematurely fashionable as it is very malapropos for poor folks."
Apparently use of the hot mineral springs was most beneficial to his health because he was well enough in 1848 to work for the firm of G. Hanah in Napa City.
On Gold Trail
Always the adventurer, he struck out with the first contingent from Napa Valley in 1849 when news of the discovery of gold hit town. He mined on the Feather River, but the rigorous life of a miner proved too much for his health, and, in the fall of 1849, he returned to Yount's Caymus Rancho.
Captain Gantt died there before the year was out, and he was buried in Yountville Cemetery. " - Napa County history 1823-1948 written by Virginia Hanrahan
This was in The Napa Valley Register
24 Dec, 1960
Pioneer of the Oregon Trail 1843
Ex-Army officer and Fur Trader
He enlisted in the US Army 11 Mar 1818 in Boston, MA as 2nd Lieutenant Rifles Regiment being appointed 24 May 1817. Promoted 5 Apr 1818 to 1st Lieutenant of the 1st Rifle Regiment. Transferred 1 Jun 1821 to the Infantry Promoted to Captain of the 6th Regiment KY Infantry 28 Feb 1823. Dismissed from the Army after being found guilty on 2 of 4 counts involving falsification of pay records on 12 May 1829.
In 1843 he was engaged to serve as the scout or "pilot" for the 1843 Oregon emigration by Daniel Matheny and William Martin. The men had been authorized at the organizational meeting at Fitzhugh's Mill at Westport, Missouri. It consisted of about 700 men, women and children and approx' 110 wagons. It separated into 2 units those with cattle and those without; those groups separating into smaller groups before the journey was over.
He was only engaged to guide the group as far as Fort Hall and on 22 May 1843 he departed company with the Oregon Emigrating Company where he then cutoff from Fort Hall for CA with the Joseph Ballinger Chiles Company.
By 1847 he removed to the Napa Valley where he formed a partnership for the construction of a sawmill. He panned for gold at Biddle's Bar late 1848 early 1849. His health forced him to give this up, he then returned to the Napa Valley. He died at the home of a former mountain man, George Calvert Yount. He was laid to rest in the Yountville Cemetery.
-Married ca1823 Virginia Mary McClannahan, dau of John and Mildred McClanahan
They had 1 son Norborne Beall
ref: OR Pioneers; Registers of Enlistments in the US Army 1798-1914; The Mountain Men and the Fur Trade of the Far West Vol IV by The Arthur H. Clark CO Glendale, CA 1966; *There is no relationship found with Virginia Mary Hanrahan found in the Cemetery Ledger it probably should of read "w/o Virginia Mary McClannahan" *Gantt also referred to in various journals as Gant, Gaunt Ghant and Gantt
Bio by: BluMoKitty
"Horse Sleuth
Captain John Gantt, who came west with Colonel Chiles' party in 1843, had a background of Regular Army experience in the states. So, in 1844-45, he commanded Sutter's Force in Micheltorena's service.
After the campaign ended, Gantt contracted to recover on a commission basis horses stolen by Indian thieves.
In 1846, he became ill at Dr. John Marsh's Rancho.
In 1847, he was located at the Pueblo of Sonoma, and applied for an appointment as sub-Indian agent.
Because Gantt was far from well, a Dr. Powell recommended that he use the Hot Springs in Napa Valley. Knowing a welcome was assured at Caymus Rancho, Gantt proceded (sic) there.
In a letter written to Dr. Marsh from Yount's adobe Gantt wrote about taking the Hot Baths, commenting that he considered himself "prematurely fashionable as it is very malapropos for poor folks."
Apparently use of the hot mineral springs was most beneficial to his health because he was well enough in 1848 to work for the firm of G. Hanah in Napa City.
On Gold Trail
Always the adventurer, he struck out with the first contingent from Napa Valley in 1849 when news of the discovery of gold hit town. He mined on the Feather River, but the rigorous life of a miner proved too much for his health, and, in the fall of 1849, he returned to Yount's Caymus Rancho.
Captain Gantt died there before the year was out, and he was buried in Yountville Cemetery. " - Napa County history 1823-1948 written by Virginia Hanrahan
This was in The Napa Valley Register
24 Dec, 1960
Gravesite Details
Some information was included in an old cemetery ledger: v/o Virginia Mary Hanrahan Died 1849
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