Stockton Daily Independent (Stockton, California)
March 10, 1871 (Friday)
"Death of a Pioneer Lady.
We yesterday announced the death, in this city on Wednesday evening, of Mrs. Josephine Grattan, wife of Dr. C. Grattan, whose funeral will take place at St. Mary's Church on Sunday next. Mrs. Grattan was one of the first white women ever in Stockton, having, in company with her father, David Kelsey, mother, brother and two sisters (Mrs. America Wyman, of Half Moon Bay, and Mrs. Buswell) come across the plains to Oregon from Jackson county, Missouri, with the Applegate party, and from thence emigrated to this State, arriving at French Camp in August, 1844. At that point they made their residence, and built the first house in this region, except one owned and occupied by Mr. Lindsey, on Lindsey point, both houses being constructed of tules. Some incidents in the early career of the family in this State are reproduced, which are condensed from an account furnished by Mrs. Wyman, sister of Mrs. Grattan, and published in these columns about a year ago: "Mr. Kelsey, the father, located with his family at French Camp under a promise from Gulnac that he would give them a mile square if they would live there a year. Gulnac gave them a large gun (or cannon, as she calls it) to scare Indians away, and they made a rule of firing it off every night. For about two months they were out of provisions, during which time they lived on boiled wheat, milk, and tea made of mint gathered along the banks of French Camp slough. At the end of that time they buried their gun and all started on pack animals for San Jose. After they got to San Jose they became acquainted with Captain Weber, who gave little America the first pair of shoes she ever had in California - a pair of white slippers to attend a Spanish dance. While in San Jose her father went to see an Indian who was sick with the small-pox, and on their return to French Camp was himself taken sick, which prompted Mrs. Kelsey, her mother, to start for "the settlements," (Sacramento), for medical aid. On getting this far Mr. Lindsay persuaded them to stop over night at his house, where one Jim Williams gave her father some pills, which, on his taking them, brought out an irruption of small pox. This alarmed Lindsay, who left the premises, advising them, if the old man died, to lay him out a little distance from the house and let the coyotes consume his remains. In about sixteen days the father died, the mother and brother being at the same time laid up with the same disease. With the aid of some drovers that happened to camp near by, the girl managed to bury her father, though the drovers hesitated to help her because Sutter had threatened to shoot any one that brought small pox to the fort or went among Indians that had it. Three men, one of whom is now her husband, buried her father on a spot near where Col. T. R. Moseley's house now stands. From the effects of the disease her mother soon afterwards lost her sight, and at last little America was also stricken down. However, they all so far recovered as to he able to leave for Monterey in about six weeks. About two weeks after they left, Mr. Lindsay was killed by the Indians, who fired the tule house with the body in it and drove off all of Lindsay's cattle. In 1848, Mr. Buswell, husband of Mrs. Wyman's sister, located here and owned properly where Center street now is, and here his wife gave birth to Lizzie, now wife of Christopher N. Grattan, she being the first white child born in Stockton. Mrs. Grattan was a lady of most amiable disposition, possessing the Christian virtues in an eminent degree, and won the respect and esteem of all who made her acquaintance. She leaves a large circle of devoted and loving friends to mourn her death."
AND
Stockton Daily Independent (Stockton, California)
March 13, 1871 (Monday)
"Large Funeral. The funeral of Mrs. Josephine Grattan, wife of Dr. Grattan, of this city, took place yesterday afternoon, and was very largely attended. St. Mary's Church was literally crowded during the services, and the procession from the church to the cemetery was one of the largest, if not the largest, ever before witnessed on a similar occasion in Stockton."
March 10, 1871 (Friday)
"Death of a Pioneer Lady.
We yesterday announced the death, in this city on Wednesday evening, of Mrs. Josephine Grattan, wife of Dr. C. Grattan, whose funeral will take place at St. Mary's Church on Sunday next. Mrs. Grattan was one of the first white women ever in Stockton, having, in company with her father, David Kelsey, mother, brother and two sisters (Mrs. America Wyman, of Half Moon Bay, and Mrs. Buswell) come across the plains to Oregon from Jackson county, Missouri, with the Applegate party, and from thence emigrated to this State, arriving at French Camp in August, 1844. At that point they made their residence, and built the first house in this region, except one owned and occupied by Mr. Lindsey, on Lindsey point, both houses being constructed of tules. Some incidents in the early career of the family in this State are reproduced, which are condensed from an account furnished by Mrs. Wyman, sister of Mrs. Grattan, and published in these columns about a year ago: "Mr. Kelsey, the father, located with his family at French Camp under a promise from Gulnac that he would give them a mile square if they would live there a year. Gulnac gave them a large gun (or cannon, as she calls it) to scare Indians away, and they made a rule of firing it off every night. For about two months they were out of provisions, during which time they lived on boiled wheat, milk, and tea made of mint gathered along the banks of French Camp slough. At the end of that time they buried their gun and all started on pack animals for San Jose. After they got to San Jose they became acquainted with Captain Weber, who gave little America the first pair of shoes she ever had in California - a pair of white slippers to attend a Spanish dance. While in San Jose her father went to see an Indian who was sick with the small-pox, and on their return to French Camp was himself taken sick, which prompted Mrs. Kelsey, her mother, to start for "the settlements," (Sacramento), for medical aid. On getting this far Mr. Lindsay persuaded them to stop over night at his house, where one Jim Williams gave her father some pills, which, on his taking them, brought out an irruption of small pox. This alarmed Lindsay, who left the premises, advising them, if the old man died, to lay him out a little distance from the house and let the coyotes consume his remains. In about sixteen days the father died, the mother and brother being at the same time laid up with the same disease. With the aid of some drovers that happened to camp near by, the girl managed to bury her father, though the drovers hesitated to help her because Sutter had threatened to shoot any one that brought small pox to the fort or went among Indians that had it. Three men, one of whom is now her husband, buried her father on a spot near where Col. T. R. Moseley's house now stands. From the effects of the disease her mother soon afterwards lost her sight, and at last little America was also stricken down. However, they all so far recovered as to he able to leave for Monterey in about six weeks. About two weeks after they left, Mr. Lindsay was killed by the Indians, who fired the tule house with the body in it and drove off all of Lindsay's cattle. In 1848, Mr. Buswell, husband of Mrs. Wyman's sister, located here and owned properly where Center street now is, and here his wife gave birth to Lizzie, now wife of Christopher N. Grattan, she being the first white child born in Stockton. Mrs. Grattan was a lady of most amiable disposition, possessing the Christian virtues in an eminent degree, and won the respect and esteem of all who made her acquaintance. She leaves a large circle of devoted and loving friends to mourn her death."
AND
Stockton Daily Independent (Stockton, California)
March 13, 1871 (Monday)
"Large Funeral. The funeral of Mrs. Josephine Grattan, wife of Dr. Grattan, of this city, took place yesterday afternoon, and was very largely attended. St. Mary's Church was literally crowded during the services, and the procession from the church to the cemetery was one of the largest, if not the largest, ever before witnessed on a similar occasion in Stockton."
Stockton Daily Independent (Stockton, California)
March 10, 1871 (Friday)
"Death of a Pioneer Lady.
We yesterday announced the death, in this city on Wednesday evening, of Mrs. Josephine Grattan, wife of Dr. C. Grattan, whose funeral will take place at St. Mary's Church on Sunday next. Mrs. Grattan was one of the first white women ever in Stockton, having, in company with her father, David Kelsey, mother, brother and two sisters (Mrs. America Wyman, of Half Moon Bay, and Mrs. Buswell) come across the plains to Oregon from Jackson county, Missouri, with the Applegate party, and from thence emigrated to this State, arriving at French Camp in August, 1844. At that point they made their residence, and built the first house in this region, except one owned and occupied by Mr. Lindsey, on Lindsey point, both houses being constructed of tules. Some incidents in the early career of the family in this State are reproduced, which are condensed from an account furnished by Mrs. Wyman, sister of Mrs. Grattan, and published in these columns about a year ago: "Mr. Kelsey, the father, located with his family at French Camp under a promise from Gulnac that he would give them a mile square if they would live there a year. Gulnac gave them a large gun (or cannon, as she calls it) to scare Indians away, and they made a rule of firing it off every night. For about two months they were out of provisions, during which time they lived on boiled wheat, milk, and tea made of mint gathered along the banks of French Camp slough. At the end of that time they buried their gun and all started on pack animals for San Jose. After they got to San Jose they became acquainted with Captain Weber, who gave little America the first pair of shoes she ever had in California - a pair of white slippers to attend a Spanish dance. While in San Jose her father went to see an Indian who was sick with the small-pox, and on their return to French Camp was himself taken sick, which prompted Mrs. Kelsey, her mother, to start for "the settlements," (Sacramento), for medical aid. On getting this far Mr. Lindsay persuaded them to stop over night at his house, where one Jim Williams gave her father some pills, which, on his taking them, brought out an irruption of small pox. This alarmed Lindsay, who left the premises, advising them, if the old man died, to lay him out a little distance from the house and let the coyotes consume his remains. In about sixteen days the father died, the mother and brother being at the same time laid up with the same disease. With the aid of some drovers that happened to camp near by, the girl managed to bury her father, though the drovers hesitated to help her because Sutter had threatened to shoot any one that brought small pox to the fort or went among Indians that had it. Three men, one of whom is now her husband, buried her father on a spot near where Col. T. R. Moseley's house now stands. From the effects of the disease her mother soon afterwards lost her sight, and at last little America was also stricken down. However, they all so far recovered as to he able to leave for Monterey in about six weeks. About two weeks after they left, Mr. Lindsay was killed by the Indians, who fired the tule house with the body in it and drove off all of Lindsay's cattle. In 1848, Mr. Buswell, husband of Mrs. Wyman's sister, located here and owned properly where Center street now is, and here his wife gave birth to Lizzie, now wife of Christopher N. Grattan, she being the first white child born in Stockton. Mrs. Grattan was a lady of most amiable disposition, possessing the Christian virtues in an eminent degree, and won the respect and esteem of all who made her acquaintance. She leaves a large circle of devoted and loving friends to mourn her death."
AND
Stockton Daily Independent (Stockton, California)
March 13, 1871 (Monday)
"Large Funeral. The funeral of Mrs. Josephine Grattan, wife of Dr. Grattan, of this city, took place yesterday afternoon, and was very largely attended. St. Mary's Church was literally crowded during the services, and the procession from the church to the cemetery was one of the largest, if not the largest, ever before witnessed on a similar occasion in Stockton."
March 10, 1871 (Friday)
"Death of a Pioneer Lady.
We yesterday announced the death, in this city on Wednesday evening, of Mrs. Josephine Grattan, wife of Dr. C. Grattan, whose funeral will take place at St. Mary's Church on Sunday next. Mrs. Grattan was one of the first white women ever in Stockton, having, in company with her father, David Kelsey, mother, brother and two sisters (Mrs. America Wyman, of Half Moon Bay, and Mrs. Buswell) come across the plains to Oregon from Jackson county, Missouri, with the Applegate party, and from thence emigrated to this State, arriving at French Camp in August, 1844. At that point they made their residence, and built the first house in this region, except one owned and occupied by Mr. Lindsey, on Lindsey point, both houses being constructed of tules. Some incidents in the early career of the family in this State are reproduced, which are condensed from an account furnished by Mrs. Wyman, sister of Mrs. Grattan, and published in these columns about a year ago: "Mr. Kelsey, the father, located with his family at French Camp under a promise from Gulnac that he would give them a mile square if they would live there a year. Gulnac gave them a large gun (or cannon, as she calls it) to scare Indians away, and they made a rule of firing it off every night. For about two months they were out of provisions, during which time they lived on boiled wheat, milk, and tea made of mint gathered along the banks of French Camp slough. At the end of that time they buried their gun and all started on pack animals for San Jose. After they got to San Jose they became acquainted with Captain Weber, who gave little America the first pair of shoes she ever had in California - a pair of white slippers to attend a Spanish dance. While in San Jose her father went to see an Indian who was sick with the small-pox, and on their return to French Camp was himself taken sick, which prompted Mrs. Kelsey, her mother, to start for "the settlements," (Sacramento), for medical aid. On getting this far Mr. Lindsay persuaded them to stop over night at his house, where one Jim Williams gave her father some pills, which, on his taking them, brought out an irruption of small pox. This alarmed Lindsay, who left the premises, advising them, if the old man died, to lay him out a little distance from the house and let the coyotes consume his remains. In about sixteen days the father died, the mother and brother being at the same time laid up with the same disease. With the aid of some drovers that happened to camp near by, the girl managed to bury her father, though the drovers hesitated to help her because Sutter had threatened to shoot any one that brought small pox to the fort or went among Indians that had it. Three men, one of whom is now her husband, buried her father on a spot near where Col. T. R. Moseley's house now stands. From the effects of the disease her mother soon afterwards lost her sight, and at last little America was also stricken down. However, they all so far recovered as to he able to leave for Monterey in about six weeks. About two weeks after they left, Mr. Lindsay was killed by the Indians, who fired the tule house with the body in it and drove off all of Lindsay's cattle. In 1848, Mr. Buswell, husband of Mrs. Wyman's sister, located here and owned properly where Center street now is, and here his wife gave birth to Lizzie, now wife of Christopher N. Grattan, she being the first white child born in Stockton. Mrs. Grattan was a lady of most amiable disposition, possessing the Christian virtues in an eminent degree, and won the respect and esteem of all who made her acquaintance. She leaves a large circle of devoted and loving friends to mourn her death."
AND
Stockton Daily Independent (Stockton, California)
March 13, 1871 (Monday)
"Large Funeral. The funeral of Mrs. Josephine Grattan, wife of Dr. Grattan, of this city, took place yesterday afternoon, and was very largely attended. St. Mary's Church was literally crowded during the services, and the procession from the church to the cemetery was one of the largest, if not the largest, ever before witnessed on a similar occasion in Stockton."
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Fowler Cook Grattan or Kelsey memorials in:
- San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery Fowler Cook Grattan or Kelsey
- Stockton Fowler Cook Grattan or Kelsey
- San Joaquin County Fowler Cook Grattan or Kelsey
- California Fowler Cook Grattan or Kelsey
- USA Fowler Cook Grattan or Kelsey
- Find a Grave Fowler Cook Grattan or Kelsey
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
