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Note: NI777 ----------------------------------------------------------
MEMORIAL ID«tab»14799117
God is in control.
Mary Ann Wardow
M: September 29, 1842
Children:
Elizabeth Jane Carriger
Louisa Carriger
David W. Carriger
Albert Boggs Carriger
Louisa L. Carriger
Eveline Carriger
William W. Carriger
Emma Carriger
Solomon H. Carriger
Sarah Catherine Carriger
John Carriger
Birth:
March 30 1816
Hunter, Carter County, Tennessee, USA
Residence:
March 30, 1816 - November 1840
Stoney Creek
Hunter, Tennessee, 37643
November 1840 - 1841
Warren County, Missouri, USA
1841 - April 27, 1846
Fillmore, Andrew County, Missouri, USA
October 6, 1846 - 30 July 1885
Yulupa Ranch
18880 Carriger Road
Sonoma CA 95476
Occupation:
June 26 1835 - 26 June 26,1836
First Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Volunteers
Captain J. Powell
Athens, McMinn County, Tennessee, USA
Flour Mill and Distillery until he reached the age of nineteen years,
Tobacco and Hemp,
Mining at Steep Hollow,
Cattle to Trinity County
Death:
June 30, 1885
Sonoma CA 95476
Burial:
Cemetery: Sonoma Mountain Cemetery
Mountain Cemetery
90 First Street West
Sonoma, CA 95476
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1850 US Census, «tab»
Sonoma county, Sonoma, California, United States
Nicholas Carriger
1860 US Census, Sonoma Township, Sonoma, California, United States
Nicholas Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Male«tab»45«tab»Tenn
Mary A Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»34«tab»Ohio
Levisa Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»15«tab»Mo
David W Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Male«tab»12«tab»Cal
Albert Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Male«tab»10«tab»Cal
Louisa Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»8«tab»Cal
Evaline Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»6«tab»Cal
Wm Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Male«tab»4«tab»Cal
Emma Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»2«tab»Cal
Taria Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»23«tab»Cal
Mary Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»24«tab»Cal
1870 US Census, Sonoma, California, nulla, United States, Sonoma, Sonoma, California, United States
Nicholas Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Male«tab»53«tab»Tennessee
Mary A Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»43«tab»Ohio
Elizabeth Shetter«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»27«tab»Missouri
Mary Shetter«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»9«tab»California
Rosan Shetter«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»7«tab»California
Adele Shetter«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»0«tab»California
David Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Male«tab»22«tab»California
Eveline Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»16«tab»California
William Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Male«tab»12«tab»California
Emma Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Female«tab»11«tab»California
Solomon Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Male«tab»8«tab»California
Solomon H Cariger«tab»«tab»«tab»Male«tab»43«tab»Tennessee
Carlos Brown«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Male«tab»21«tab»Illinois
Lewis«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»«tab»Male«tab»17«tab»China
1880 US Census, Sonoma, Sonoma, California, United States
Nicholas Carriger«tab»«tab»Self«tab»«tab»Male«tab»64«tab»Tennessee, United States
Mary A Carriger«tab»«tab»Wife«tab»«tab»Female«tab»53«tab»Ohio, United States
William Carriger«tab»«tab»Son«tab»«tab»Male«tab»22«tab»California, United States
Solomon Garriger«tab»«tab»Son«tab»«tab»Male«tab»18«tab»California, United States
Sidney Tate«tab»«tab»Other«tab»«tab»Male«tab»40«tab»Illinois, United States
James W Fowler«tab»«tab»Other«tab»«tab»Male«tab»24«tab»California, United States
William Fowler«tab»«tab»Other«tab»«tab»Male«tab»19«tab»California, United States
Mitchell Bigham«tab»«tab»Other«tab»«tab»Male«tab»18«tab»California, United States
Lung Sam«tab»«tab»Other«tab»«tab»Male«tab»35«tab»China
Ah Sue«tab»«tab»«tab»Other«tab»«tab»Male«tab»24«tab»China
Charley Lay«tab»«tab»Other«tab»«tab»Male«tab»21«tab»China
Bassenti Corlis«tab»«tab»Other«tab»«tab»Male«tab»70«tab»California, United States
Jose«tab»«tab»«tab»Other«tab»«tab»Male«tab»15«tab»California, United States
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Nicholas Carriger was born on his parent's Walnut Grove Farm on 30th of March 1816. He was educated in the town of Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee. After completing his school Nicholas enlisted in the 1st Tennessee mountain Volunteers, Captain J. Powell's company, being mustered into services for the Florida by General John E. Wool, at Athens, Tennessee. He served one year fighting the Semiole Indians.
After Nicholas was discharge he returned home and helped his father Christian in the mill manufacturing iron. Nicholas Carriger was one of Christian and Lavicy Carriger's children to make the trip from Missouri to California. Nicholas Carriger sold his farm in Missouri so he and his family could make the journey from Missouri to California with his father. It was Nicholas who had the task of burying his father at the Yuba River. But Christian was not the only one to die that day. Nicholas also buried his sister in law --- Sarah Elizabeth Wardlow who also died of the fever. The horrible events of the day sent Nicholas' wife Mary Ann into labor and she gave birth to a daughter.
Nicholas Carriger kept a diary of his family's trip to California on that day his last entry was:
"After a week of painful traveling we came to the river Truckee, which we had to cross thirty-eight times before we arrived at the base of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Nevada being very steep and our cattle very poor, our pilot Mr. Greenwood, (who had already informed us that we had arrived in California) advised us to follow the counsel of our fellow traveler Mr. Judson Green. Green had proposed to make a roller and fasten chains to the wagons and pull them over the mountains with the help of twelve yokes of oxen. I consider it needless to say but Mr. Green's plan worked admirably and in a few days the whole of our party was safely crossed top of the mountain.
After climbing the steep mountains we kept traveling without meeting any accidents, until the evening of the 26th of September 1846. I had the misfortune of losing both my father and sister-in-law, both being called home about the same hour. Strange as it may seem the same hour my father expired my beloved wife gave birth to a lively little girl. (Lavicy Carriger) I placed the bodies of my dead relatives in a wagon decorated with black crepe and at night having reached the fords of the Yuba River I dug there two graves and consigned their bodies to mother earth."
After his arrival in California, Nicholas enlisted in the Navy under the command of a Lieutenant Revere. He served for about six months and was assigned to carry the mail horseback between Sonoma and San Rafael. After his discharge, Nicholas headed to the Bear River and engaged in mining gold. In 1849 he returned to Sonoma county and purchased over four thousand acres from General Mariano Vallejo. After building a large two story redwood house, Nicholas planted one hundred and thirty acres of grape vines and became the first American in the Sonoma Valley to do so.
Nicholas Carriger was listed in the 1850 census of Sonoma County California as owning four thousand six hundred and sixty acres of land. Nicholas built a three story winery that had a capacity of 180,00 gallons. His house and winery still stand today and are considered historical show places.
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From "History of Sonoma County 1889," by the Lewis Publishing Co., 113 Adams St., Chicago, IL
"Caleb C. Carriger. Among the valued and esteemed men who came to Sonoma Valley in its pioneer days were the Carriger brothers....His father, Christian Carriger was of German birth, and his mother, Lovisa (Ward) Carriger, was born in England. After marriage they located in Carter County, Tennessee, and there all of their children were born.
When Caleb C. Carriger was a small boy the family moved to Andrew County, Missouri where stories reached them of the great fertility and delightful climate of lands west of the mountains. The Carrigers as a family were noted for daring and adventure. It is believed that the proposition to brave the dangers to be encountered in coming to this coast, met with no opposition from any member of the family. April 27, 1846, the family started with the intention of going to Oregon but later determined to make California their destination. The journey was attended by dangers, privation and great suffering. On Yuba River, Sept. 26, Christian Carriger, the head of the family died at the age of sixty-seven years. Sadly and tenderly the family buried him in his lonely grave, and then pursued their weary way.
The first place reached in California was Johnson's Ranch on the Bear River. From there, slowly but without unneccessary delay, the family made their way to Sonoma Valley, reaching Sonoma Oct. 6, 1846, and making that their home. Daniel, Nicholas and Solomon, th three eldest of the boys, at once in enlisted in the war for the accuisition of California. Daniel and Solomon under Freemont and Nicholas in the Navy. Each did good service. Daniel, a year or to after, died at Sonoma. Nicholas lived to acquire great wealth, his death occuring in 1885. Solomon, who a few years ago returned East... lives in Tennessee, in the county of his birth. One sister who came to this coast later, Mrs. Phebe Whittington, now lives in Oregon; and another sister, Mrs. Lovisa McAllan, lives in Missouri.
Caleb C. Carriger, whose name heads this sketch was born in Carter County, Tennessee Nov. 11, 1832, and he was in his fourteenth year when his family left Andrew County, Missouri, to cross the plains and mountains to this coast. His home was made with his widowed mother in Sonoma for several years. She passed to the better life many years ago. In partnership with his brother, Solomon, Mr. Carriger bought 640 acres of land on the west side of the Sonoma Valley, nearly due west of Sonoma. Upon a portion of that purchase he yet lives. In the thirty years that Mr. Carriger has kept a record of the temperature of this location, but once has the temperature registered as low as twenty above zero, and that was in the winter of 1887-8. Oranges grow abundantly and profitably from his property. From 170 trees a single crop is marketed for $700. Apricots, prunes, plums, quinces, pomegranates, pears and lemons all thrive aty this favored place, and produce abundantly."
ADMISSION DAY 1875.
Another event that might be of interest and worthy of reciting here on account of the many noted personages that partook in the celebration was the ceremonies connected with the 25th anniversary of the admission of California as a State into the Union, September 9, 1875.
The principal places of business, banks and offices were all closed and the buildings and streets were gaily bedecked with flags and bunting. The "bear flag" being in evidence everywhere. The shipping presented a pretty sight, the vessels seeming to outvie each other in their efforts to display the greatest amount of bunting and flags.
One of the features of the day was the parade. The procession started from in front of the Hall of the Pioneers on Montgomery street north of Jackson, marched along Montgomery to Market, to Eleventh, to Mission and thence to Woodward's Gardens, where the exercises were held. When opposite the Lick House, James Lick, the honored president of the society, who [p.40] reviewed the passing pioneers from his rooms, was given a rousing salute by each of the delegations as they passed. In this parade were members of the pioneer organizations from Sacramento, Stockton, Marysville, Vallejo, Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Mendocino, Lake and Placerville, as well as the parent organization of San Francisco.
The escort consisted of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Regiments, 2nd Brigade, N. G. C., Col. W. H. L. Barnes, Col. John McComb and Col. Archie Wason, respectively. Brig. Gen. John Hewston, Jr., commanding. Marshal Huefner and his aide followed. Next came the several visiting pioneer organizations, then the carriages of invited guests, orator, reader and others. Then the home society, turning out 427 strong.
Among the persons of note to have been seen and who wore the golden badge indicating that they had come here prior to 1849, were Carlos F. Glein, A. A. Green, A. G. Abel, George Graft, W. P. Toler, Thos. Edgar, G. W. Ross, P. Kadel, F. Ballhaus, W. C. Hinckley, H. B. Russ, A. G. Russ, Owen Murry, B. P. Kooser, J. E. Winson, Arthur Cornwall, E. A. Engleberg, Wm. Jeffry, Capt. Hinckley, Wm. Huefner, Thos. Roche, F. G. Blume, John C. Ball and Thomas Eagar.
Among the others present were Ex-Gox. Low, Mayor Otis, Ex-Sen. Cole, Chas. Clayton, Paul K. Hubbs of Vallejo, Eleazer Frisbie, L. B. Mizner, Niles Searles, F. W. McKinstry and Dr. O. M. Wozencraft, a member of the First Constitutional Convention of California.
In the Sonoma delegation were NICHOLAS CARRIGER, EX-PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR; Wm. Hargrave, a member of the original Bear Flag Party of 1846, Mrs. W. M. Boggs and Mrs. A. J. Grayson, who came here in 1846 in advance of the Donner party.
Full Context of Lell Woolley, Sixty-four Years in California
Father: Christian CARRIGER b: 28 JUL 1779 in West Brunswick Twp.,Berks Co.,PA c: 29 AUG 1779 in Zion Red Church,West Brunswick Twp.,Berks Co.,PA
Mother: Lavicy WARD b: 4 APR 1789 in Tennessee
Marriage 1 Mary Ann WARDLOW b: 22 NOV 1826 in Highland Co.,OH
Married: 29 SEP 1842 in Andrew Co.,Missouri
Children
Elizabeth Jane CARRIGER b: 28 JUL 1843 in Andrew Co.,Missouri
Levicy CARRIGER b: 26 SEP 1846 in Yuba,Sierra Nevada,CA
David W. CARRIGER b: 20 DEC 1847 in Sonoma Co.,CA
Albert Boggs CARRIGER b: 13 FEB 1850 in Sonoma,Sonoma Co.,CA
William Ward CARRIGER b: 25 AUG 1857 in Sonoma Co.,CA
Emma CARRIGER b: Cal 1859 in Sonoma Co.,CA
John CARRIGER b: Cal 1860 in Sonoma Co.,CA
Eva CARRIGER b: Cal 1862 in Sonoma Co.,CA
Solmon Hendrix CARRIGER b: 11 MAY 1862 in Sonoma Co.,CA
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The following account of Nicholas Carriger's journey to California taken from Linda Aileen Carriger Dillow's book "Carrigers's Landing"
Nicholas Carriger's Diary of their Journey to California
April 27, 1846: Set out from Andrew County Round prairie! Crossed the Noddiway and strake Tent
April 28, 1846: Travelled to Davises Creek
April 29, 1846: reached Thompsons; Hameys Ferry about 5 miles
April 30, 1846: rested boat not ready
May 1, 1846: rested boat not ready but bought up
May 2nd & 3rd, 1846: got ready and Crossed one Waggon
May 4th & 5th, 1846: Crossed 12 Waggons & Teams and 40 head loose Cattle
Note: The following was written by A. Henry Garrison a young lad who also kept a journal of the Overland in 1846 California-Oregon Trail. Young Garrison and the other young lads had their own problems keeping busy and growing up on that journey, Garrison and his family parted company with the Carriger family taking the Oregon Route .....but not before Garrison made the following comments about Christian Kercher Carrigers kin.....his youngest son, Caleb Cox Carriger.
May 5, 1846: "We (stayed) on the same course until we passed beyond the heads ot the Namaha's and soon came to the big Blue River, here we waited tor twelve wagons that crossed the Misoul Missouri River at the Council Dlutts. The first night at this camp we had a teritic rain storm, on our reaching the river in the evening, we could have forded it easily with our waggons, the next morning it was a raging torrent, While here there was quite an excitement raised in among the women on account of a fight that occured between two boys, one by the name David Inglish who will [appear] at intervals in the memoirs, he was a bully among the boys, always ready for a fight.
My first acquaitence with him was at our rendt rendevous, he introduced himselt emtying the water out ot my buckets as fast as I could till them and set them over a fence that was built around the spring From which we got water for camp use. Jt was a little unpleasant for both ot us betore it ended. The other boys name was Caleb Carrige, they got into a dispute near the wagons when Inglish passed the lie, Carriger invited him to go out ot sight ot camp and settle the matter. We was a little surprized at the challeing he knowing Inglish Irish to bully and much larger than he was, We all went to see the fun, there was a River bottom about two hundred yards below camp, we went to this place and tormed a ring, the two boys stripped and stepped inside the ring, they spent no time in shaking hands, but went for each other in good style, Inglish was too much for the little fellow at knocking, so the Carriger boy jumped and caught Inglish by the hair and jerked him to the ground, he placed one ot his knees on his head and with one hand had him by the hair, he pounded him in the ear until the blood flew in every direction as the licks were bestowed we was waiting for Inglish to call enough, but we tound out afterwards he had left that word out ot his catalogue, he never cheeped.
At this time, it looked like every woman in camp came running on the battle ground, Mrs Inglish was in the lead crying out, "they are killing my son", of course, on the appearance ot the women the fight stopped. Mrs Inglish seeing me give Carriger his clothes said, "Henry Garrison you are to blaim for this", I told her, maybe I was. The dispute originated about, whether I had been caught or not while playing baste, I had taken no part in the dispute. This fight was the topic ot conversation for the next three days, or while we remained in this camp
Note: Young Garrison kept a modest account for some years after he encounters with maverick David Inglish. He made the following remarks later about David Inglish who young Caleb Cox Carriger did not fear:
"I will now finish up the career of David Inglish as far as I have learned the facts. I think the family went to California. At least I heard nothing of him until I heard of his operations in Eastern Washington and in Idaho, I learned that he had become a notorious gambler and thief; and that he with two others took to highway robbery, and murder that he was altogether a very bad man. When I was in Lewiston Idaho in 1885 a man pointing to a rafter in a barn and said that he saw David Inglish hanging fro m that rafter and his two partners, hanging in two other rafters in the same barn, and at the same time. It is a matter of history that David Ingilish and his two partners were bing hung in the earlyj seventies by the Vigilant Committee (at Lewiston) for murder, committed on the high Road of Idaho.
May 6th, 1846: We lay at Camp fare well at the base of the bluffs waiting for the Company to Cross
May 7th 8th 9th & 19th, 1846: Still waiting for Company
May 11th, 1846: set out across the bluffs into the Prairie about 3 miles where we again encamped and lay by the 12th
May 12th, 1846: our numbers have increased to 31 Waggons and are still Waiting for more to Cross
May 13th and 14th, 1846: this day Joseph Blanton died and his family went bak set out with fifty Waggons from our Camp on Honey Creek and Travelled about 12 miles to a Water of the big Orne Haw (Great Nemaha)
May 15, 1846: Travelled about 5 miles and encamped on Water of the Big Omehaw
May 16th, 1846: travelled about 6 miles and Camped on a Water of the big Omehaw
May 17th, 1846: 8 miles and Camped on big O
May 17th [18th]' 1846: Travelled 20 miles & Camped travelling
May 19th, 1846: [corrected from 18] Traveled 10 miles & Camped on the head of little Nimmihaw
May 20th, 1847: [correctedfrom 19th] lay by on account of rain
May 21 st, 1846: travelled to [deleted: big Nimmihaw] - a branch of the saline [Salt Creek] 8 miles
May 22nd, 1846: Crossed by a bridge 15 miles to head of [deleted: big Nimmihaw] of Saline
May 23, 1846: traveled 8 miles to a branch of the blue Earth
May 24, 1846: lay by on account of storm and rain and had two horses stolen by the Indians
May 25, 1846 [Torn] Joined by Major Cooper & Traveled 10 miles
Mav 26, 1846 Travveled 15 miles to a water of the saline
May 27, 1846: Travelled 12 miles to a Water of the Saline
May 28, 1846 Cooper separated from us and six of our Waggons With him
May 29. 1846: Travelled 20 miles to big platt
May 30, 1846 Traveled 10 miles up platt
June 1, 1846: travelled 15 miles to near the Pawney Village
June 2, 1846: travelled 10 [?] miles
June 3, 1846: Cooper again joined us and passed by the Pawney Villge where we were met by about 50 Warriors who held a talk with Cooper & Gregg. We travelled 10 miles and in evening gave the Indians some triffiing presents and an ox which they killed and ate
June 4th, 1846: Travelled up platt 20 miles and Cooper again left us in the evening and nine [torn: more?] Waggons with him this reduced our numbers to 37 Waggons on this day We overset one Waggon with a family some which were slightly hurt and one lady fell and the Wheels run over her legs hurt her badly and had a marriage at night Parson Stewart officiating
June 5th, 1846: This day travelled 15 miles to Independence road
June 6, 1846: this day travelled 9 miles one boy fell and the wheels run over one leg and the other foot and anele nearly Cutting the leg off breaking the bone, so it injuring the other foot and Anele and We encamped for the day
June 7, 1846: lay in Camp and mr Ellis Cow ran away
June 8, 1846 Travelled this day 20 miles
June 9, 1846: Traveled 16 Miles and Killed one Antelope
June 10, 1846 Traveled 15 Miles
June 11, 1846: traveled 15 miles
June 12, 1846: Traveled 12 miles found 9 Work steers and have them in the Teams and left my Bell Cow on the Road this day seven Waggons left us leaving us With 30 Wag this day we killed 2 Buffaloes
June 13, 1846: Traveled 12 miles
June 14, 1846 this Day lay in Camp and Cut of the thigh of the boy and he died in the hands of the Operator Frederick Derusha were overtaken by an Oregon Company of 20 Waggons and our Company again split up and left our Company 26 Waggons strong this Company kept up the south side of the River and we had heard nothing more of them since there are two Companies Close behind us and three before us not far ahead
June 15th, 1846: this day traveled 15 miles
June 16th, 1846: this day travelled 25 miles to the Crossing of plat
June 17th, 1846: Crossed plat and travelled up the River 10 miles to where the road turn over the bluffs 40 waggons
June 18, 1846: Crossed the bluffs part of this road passes over a high table land We found the road Very heavy traveling through the sand and Bluff hills for near five miles when We reached the River in all 18 miles This day Eli Griggery died in sight of the spnng
June 19th, 1846: this day We are detained in burrying him on the right side of the road on a bench of the bluff near a rock near four feet high at the Cedar Creek
June 20th, 1846: this day We travelled 25 Miles passed Col Russels & Boggses biag [?] Company of after a hard run of half a day
June 21, 1846: this day [Redwood Easton's Wife died after we encamped and had Travelled 25 miles and [torn: word or two lost] now in sight of the Chimney
June 22, 1846: We burried Mrs Easton on the West side of our encampment and north side of the road on the second bank of the river not far from Castle rock from this we Travelled 10 miles [18] passing the Chimney Rock about 3 miles where we Camped
June 23 rd, 1846: Travelled this day 18 miles in the Valey along the scotts bluffs and encamped in w mile of the uper end of the Valey
June 24th: this day We Traveled 24 miles Crossing hours Creek at 14 miles Easton lost his work oxen from our encampment
June 25th, 1846: this day stokes one of our Company broke one wheel of his Waggon near a Trading house & brought it to the fort and sold the Waggon for 4 pair Moccasins and the Owners Came for the 9 Oxen and we Travelled 20 miles that was 8 miles to the fort Crossing the River at the fort
June 26th, 1846: Travelled 12 miles to bitter Water
June 27, 1846: Travelled 12 miles to a large Creek
June 28, 1846: travelled 15 miles over a bad road to a large Creek
June 29th, 1846: [deleted: lay by] travelled 12 miles to a large Creek
June 30, 1846: lay by
July 1 st, 1846: travelled 15 miles
July 2, 1846: travelled 9 miles to a Creek and Davisses [/ left us with 9 Waggons and we have 18 left
July 3, 1846: this day We travelled 12 miles Crossing a bog Creek and Camped on Platt River & Stuart left his black oxen and Campbells & Crabtrees California Company We left Camped 4 miles behind on the Creek
July 4, 1846: We reached the Crossing of platt 15 miles and found three Companies encamped above us
July 5, 1846: We Crossed the river and traveled 6 miles passing the three Companies
July 6th, 1846: We traveled 12 miles to the muddy Spring and three Companies passed us at the Spring
July 7, 1846: We travelled to the Willos Spring 15 miles
July 8, 1846: We travelled to the Sweet Water near Independance Rock 18 miles
July 9, 1846: We travelled 18 miles up sweet Water
July 10, 1846: We travelled 18 miles over a sandy road up sweet Water
July lIth, 1846: We travelled 18 miles up sweet Water
July 12th, 1846: We traveled 7 miles up sweet Water
July 13, 1846: we travelled 20 Crossing sweet Water
July 14, 1846: We travelled 20 miles Crossing a mountain to a Creek of sweet water
July 15, 1846: we travelled [deleted: 7] six miles to Sweetwater
July 16, 1846: We travelled 20 miles Crossing the divide to a dry Creek of sandy
July 17, 1846: We travelled 15 miles Crossing little sandy at 8 miles thence to Big Sandy 7 miles
July 18th, 1847: We lay by preparing to Crossing to Cut of to Green river a distance of 40 miles Without Wood or Water set out on the Joanne at 3 A m and landed on Green River the distance aforesaid at 9 0' clock of the 19th being 24 hours drive
July 20th, 1846: We Travelled 8 miles down Green River over a Very bad road to black Creek
July 21, 1846: from thence 17 miles Crossing a mountain to a small Creek
July 22, 1846: from thence across a mountain spur 6 miles to a large Creek
July 23, 1846: from thence 19 [9] miles to a small stream Crossing a Very bad mountain
July 24, 1846: [corrected from 23rd] from thence 8 miles Crossing a mountain to Bear river [deleted: 25 thence 4 miles to bear]
July 25, 1846: [correctedfrom 26] from thence 12 miles to a trading house on bear River near a large Creek
July 26th, 1846: [corrected from 27] from thence down the river 17 miles to a Creek in a Valley passing a Trading house on the river
July 27th, 1846: [correctedfrom 28] thence up [down] the Valley and Crossing a spur of the mountain 20 miles to the river
July 28th, 1846: To the soda springs 6 miles
July 29th, 1846: To a creek in the Valley and lost Jerry one of my steers & Wardlaw lost one of his
July 30th, 1846: from thence 15 miles Crossing a mountain to a Creek in a Valley but lost Jerry one of my steers & Wardlaw lost one of his.
July 31, 1846: from thence down the Valley 10 miles on a Creek and Camped by ourselves
August 1st, 1846: from thence down the Valley 15 miles passing Fort Hall to a sulphur spnng
August 2nd, 1846: from thence down the plains 6 miles to Lewises [Snake] River
August 3 & 4th, 1846: We rested at the river
August 5, 1847: from thence 6 miles Crossing the River to a lake [slough]
August 6th, 1846. from thence down Snake River 14 miles to a small Creek
August 7th, 1846: from thence 10 miles over a Very bad road Crossing 2 Creeks to the river
August 8th, 1847: from there up the [deleted: Creek] Crossing the Cassia Creek 10 miles to the Creek a very good road .
August 9th, 1846: from thence 15 miles up the Creek a very good road to the Creek agam
August 10th, 1847: from thence up and across the Creek 15 miles to a Very good spring and good road
August 11th 1846: from thence up the Creek Crossing a divide to another Creek 12 miles near some warm springs a good road
August 12th, 1846: from thence 18 miles Crossing 3 divides to a small Creek a branch of Goose Creek bad road
August 13th, 1846: from thence Crossing the divide to Goose Creek 10 miles a good road
August 14th, 1846: from thence up Goose Creek 15 miles this day John Lewises son William Died and We buried him in the road near the Creek
August 15th, 1846: from thence up the Creek and Crossing a Very rough divide of Iron Ore & stone 25 miles to a Cold spring in a Valley
August 16th, 1846: from thence up the Valley Crossing a divide to the horse spring 13 miles good road
August 17th, 1846: from thence up the Valley passing the hot springs at 10 miles these are situated in a beautiful Valley 40 miles long and from 3 to five Wide and near the head of the Valley in all this day 18 miles
August 18th, 1846: Crossing a divide into a Valley on a Creek a water of St. Marys river 18 miles
August 19th, 1846: Down the Creek Crossing it 9 times and passing through a gorge of the mountain a very rough road passing some hot springs 6 miles to a good spring
August 20th, 1846: from thence down the Creek a good road 16 miles to where the Creek was dry
August 21 st, 1846: from thence down the Creek 15 miles a good road but Very dusty & frost for three mornings
August 22nd, 1846: from thence down the St Marys Crossing w ridges and the sal a ratus fork 17 miles this morning John [deleted: Lewises] Chisman son [deleted: Worms or Croop] and we buried him in the road at the foot of the second ridge on the west side of the saint Marys a dusty road
August 23, 1846: from thence down the river Crossing the river road Very Dusty
August 24, 1846: from thence down the river 10 miles
August 25th, 1846: from thence across the mountain 20 miles road Very Dusty
August 26th, 1846: from thence down the river 12 miles Very Dusty road and passed part of Van Der pools Company they have three in Camps sick and not expected to live they also informed us of Beechams death who had been one of Greggs Company and passed on in his pack Company till his death
August 27th, 1846: from thence down the river 8 miles
August 28th, 1846: from thence down the river 10 miles Down the river in all 20
August 29th, 1846 from thence down the river 8 miles
August 30, 1846: from thence down the river 12 miles a good road
August 31, 1846: from thence down the river and over a Very bad ridge 18 miles-
September 1, 1846: from thence down the river 16 miles passing some hot springs that were near the Camp
September 2nd, 1846: from thence down the river 12 miles to the forks of a road & from thence Down the river 8 miles in all
September 3rd, 1846: frame thence Down the river 16 miles
September 4th, 1846: from thence down the river 12 miles to the forks of the road & from thence Down the river 8 miles in all 20
September 5th, 1846: from thence down the river a [deleted: high] Table land heavey road 15 miles
September 6, 1846: frm thence down the rifer 10 miles
September 7th, 1846: from thence Down the river a sandy road to near the lake 14 miles
September 8th, 1846: from thence to the Sinks 16 miles a sandy road here the Indians drove off 6 head of our Work Oxen and We gave Chaes and found two of them Killen in a reed & rush path and suppose the rest were used like wise
September 9th, 1846: from thence We set out at one 0 Clover a sandy route 20 miles to the boiling springs at 2 O'clock from thence 20 miles to Truckeys river 8 miles Veru heavy sand no grass or good water
September 10, 1846: We reached the river in the evening our Work Cattle much tired and
several gave out from fatigue 'Hunger and thirst and We lost three horses in the
night trough Carelessness of the drivers
September 11, 1846: we lay on the banks of the rivers to rest ourselves & recruit our Cattle [deleted: after Crossing the [desert]
September 12, 1846: thence up the river crossing the river 5 times [in] 13 miles a sandy road
September 13th, 1846: thence up the river 8 miles Crossing it 6 times this day a Very rough road
September 14th, 1846: lay by on account of the sicknes of Mrs. Wardlaw
September 15th, 1846: thence up the river 8 Miles Crossint it 6 times a Very rough road.
September 16th, 1846: thence up the river 9 miles this morning Mrs. Wardlaw had a son born who died in a few minutes after birth We Crossed the river 4 times and had aVery bad road
September 17, 1846: thence Crossing the river 4 times then up the river 16 miles verry bad road
September 18, 1846: thence crossing the river and mountain 16 miles
September 19, 1846: thence to John Greenwoods Creek 9 miles verry good road
September 20, 1846: crossing a small hill thence a goo[d] [road] to the foot of the mountain 12 miles
September 21, 1846: up the mountain distressig bed 8 miles to the foot of the high California mountain and got 8 waggons
September 22, 1846: we made a roller and fasened chans to gether and pulled [?] the waggons up with 12 yoke oxen on the top and the same at the bottom
September 23, 1846: haIling wag[on]s
September 24, 1846 we traviled 8 mile to the lake distressing bad road
September 25, 1846: laid by
September 26, 1846: Christian Kercher Carriger died of "Slow Fever" shortly after crossing the high Sierra Mountain near Lake Mary almost in sight of his journeys end. His body was placed in a wooden coffin and loaded onto a wagon draped in black crepe and driven to by oxen to the "fords" of the Yuba River by his son, Nicholas Carriger. Also loaded onto that death wagon was the body of Nicholas's sister-in-law. He hurriedly dug their graves, said a prayer, and quickly returned to the camp where he had left his wife, his new born child, his children, his younger siblings, his now widowed mother and widowed brother-in-law. Nicholas had just become the ablest of them all.
Nicholas Carriger described the events of this day as follows: "After climbing the steep mountain we kept on tavelling without meeting any accident till the evening of the 26th of September 1846 when I had the misfortune of loosing my father and sister in law, both having been called to their long home about at the same hour; and strange at it may seem the same hour in which my respected father expired, my beloved wife gave birth to a lively little girl-may could I have excalaimed with the french poet Labue un ame montant daus la celeste esfere un autre on y descendi - yet unabated but so sad a calamity I placed the dead bodies of my relatives in a wagon, handsomely decorated with black crep, and at night having reached the fords of the Yuba river I there dug to graves and consigned their beloved remains to mother earth - while I was ingaget in payin the last tribut to the dead, that I held so dear, my oxen strayd and ate poisoned weed"
Note: Nicholas ended his journal two-thirds of the way down on page thirteen on September 26, 1846. He never wrote in it again after the death of he beloved father, Christian Kercher Carriger. The journal consists of folder sheets sewn together to make a book and is hand written in brown ink. This author has in possession a hand written copy of the journal. The diary is transcribed in "Carrigers Landing" as it was written. Nicholas Carriger's original journal was eventually donated to the Sonoma Historical Society where it is displayed for public view.
THE CARRIGER FAMILY WAS THE 5th FAMILY TO MAKE THE COMPLETE JORNEY TO CALIFORNIA
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Analysis of Nicholas Carriger "Journal of an Orrigon Trip" described by Dale Morgani's "Overland in 1848
Nicholas Carriger provides the best possible introduction to his diary, with an autobiography written for H. H. Bancroft in 1874 and some biographical information furnished for the HistOlY of Sonoma County published at San Francisco by Alley, Bowen & Co. in 1880. He was born March 30, 1816, on the Walnut Grove Farm in Carter County, Tennessee. After being educated in the town of Elizabeth, on June 26, 1835, he enlisted in the First Tennessee Mounteq Volunteers for a year's service. most of the regiment was engaged in the Seminole War, but he himself was stationed the greater part of the time on "the ground occupied by the Charekee nation. "
Afier receiving his honorable discharge, Carriger returned home to engage in milling and distilling, then was associated with his father in manufacturing iron and hardware. In November, 1840, he emigrated to Warren County, Missouri, but soon moved to Jackson County. After a year in that quarter, Carriger moved to St. Joseph, or Robidoux Landing, as it was then called, then settled in Holt County. But this was "a place too gloomy for my taste; therefore I left without delay and settled definitively in Andrew county Missouri. where I purchased one hundred and Sixty acres of land. I fenced my land, built a house upon it; and when I had already cleared many an acre; the rumor of the fertility of California, brought on the wings of fame, made me feel displeased with my farm; and without consulting with any person; I sold it to a broker for the paltly sum of five hundred Dollars, less than the amount I had invested in lumber for my house-"
In later life Carriger remembered that he had set out for California, but his diarY is titled, "Journal of an Orrigon Trip, " which indicates that he had another destination in mind on leaving Missouri. The 1880 sketch says that he had been occupied in cultivating hemp, tobacco, and cereals, but on April 27, 1846, "started from Round Prairie for California, and was joined at Oregon City, Dolt county, by Captain Grieg, their number being further augmented on the journey by the addition of Major Cooper, the Indian agent at Council Bluffs. " The 1874 autobiography relates: "Having sold my house on the 24th of April 1846 on the 27th day of same month I started for California, crossed the Missouri river at Thompson and Hayman's ferry, the last settlement of the white people the other side of the Rocky Mountains; myself and party employed ten days in crossing over our wagons and stock-Our little party left Missouri under command of Captn Gregg, but we were afterwards joined by a large party under command of major Steven [Stephen Cooper, (afterwards one of the framers of the constitution of the state of California)..."
On September 29, 1842, in Andrew County, Carriger had married Mary Ann Wardlow, a native of Highland County, Ohio, and they had two young children, one born in July, 1843, the other in JanualY, 1845; a third would be born along the way. Also members of the overland party were his father, Christian Carriger, and his mother, his brother-in-law, John Lewis, and others: A list of ''Names'' preserved with Carriger's diary presumably lists the male adults of the party: Samuel Davis, Samuel Cook, John B. Davis, Redwood Easton, Frederick De Rooche, Mahlon Brock, Joseph Davis, Isaac Wilson, William Taylor, AbUah Carey, [ ] Milburn, Christian Carriger, Daniel Carriger, David V Cook, Nicholas Carriger, Thomas Spriggs, Joseph O'Donnell, John Lewis, John L. Tanner, Burlington Acres, Ezekiel Stewart, Charles Stewart, and Joseph Wardlow.
As is brought out in the Notes, Carriger records travel by a somewhat different route from the Missouri River to the head of Grand Island on the Platte-the general route, in fact, which came to be known a year or two afterward as the "Old Fort Kearny" road. If this route had been used by emigrants prior to 1846, no records have come to light, which makes the Carriger diary so much the more interesting. The road was used by many from 1849, but in 1846 wagons may have been attempting it for the first time.
In his autobiography Carriger writes: "in company with Cooper and his party we passed the Pawnees villages, where fifty Pawnees chiefs, mounted on splendid horses came forward to meet us, and had a long talk with Captn Gregg and major Cooper,' the word" that passed between our chiefs and Pawnees warriors 1 cannot repeat, for while the talk was taking place, 1 was standing by my team talking to my young wife. This much however 1 know, that on the ending of the conference, major Cooper gave Pawnees chiefs several presents of dry goods and afat steer which the Indians killed on the spot, and eat afier broiling it over the fire-After travelling several days, one of our party, a brother in len-v of mine, lost three of his oxens and in the morning could not resume his march at the bidding of major Cooper; who devoid of humane feelings, started, leaving Mr. Lewis behind,' however Lewis was not left all together alone, for nine wagons stood by him, and with the assistance of his friends was enabled to rig his team and keep on travelling; as Lewis and his friends travelled faster that [than the party under major Cooper we overtook him again at Soda Springs, and travelled in his company until we reached fort Hall-We crossed Mary's river (now Humboldt) which at that season was entirely d,y, and water was to be had only in deep pools at the sink of MalY's river the digger Indians drove envay six of our oxen,' we immediately the loss was discovered, armed ourselves to the teeth and gave pursuit, but all to no pUlpose, for we failed to overtake our vily foe, and recovered only the hides of two oxen which we found slaughtered in the reeds: while we were pursuing the cattle thieves, some Indians that had watched our movements stole three of our best horses; a loss which we felt most seriously and regretted very sincerely.
"After the loss of our stock, with down cast countenances, we kept on travelling, keeping a sharp look out at night, fearing another visit of the red men, who while professing friendship towards 'Mexican man' is still more friendly to his goods and chattels which he never hesitated to appropriate to his own use whenever he could do so without incurring the risk of being detected. "
After a week of painful travelling we came to the river Truckee, which we had to cross thirty eight times before we arrived at the base of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada-the Sierra Nevada being ve,y sieep and our cattle very poor our pilot Mr. Greenwood, who had already iriformed us that we had arrived in California advised us to follow the counsel of our fellow traveller Mr. Judson Green, who had proposed to make a roller, and fasten chains to the wagons, and pull them over the mountain with the help of twelve yokes of oxen. I consider it needless to say that Mr. Green's plan worked admirably, and in a few days the whole of our party was safely placed on top on the mountain-After climbing the steep mountain we kept on travelling without meeting any accidents, till the evening of the 26th of September 1846 when I had the misfortune of loosing my father and sister in law, both having been called to their long home about at the same hour; and strange at [as] it may seem the same hour in which my respected father expired, my beloved wife gave birth to a lively little girl-may could I have exclaimed with the trench poet Labure un ame montant dans la celeste esfere un autre on y descendi - yet unabated by so sad a calamity I placed the dead bodies of my relatives in a wagon, handsomely decorated with black crepe, and at night having reached the fords' of the Yuba river I there dug tlvo graves and consigned their beloved remains to mother earth-while I was engaged in paying the last tribute to the dead, that I held so dear, my oxen strayed and ate poisoned weed; such unheard of piece of gluttonry cost my oxen their lives, and deprived me of their services; and were it not that my cows did their work; and nobly and with a good will pulled the teams, I would have been compelled to travel on foot; but a kind and benign Providence had her eyes on me and mine, and with her assistance I reached Joh[nson's ranch situated in Bear river; where by trading I again rigged my team; and kept on my journey.
"After leaving Missouri I never found a stream requiring ferrying, until I reached Sacramento River, at a place now called Fremont; where, we, being then worn out and weary, stopped at a ranch belonging to William Gordon; who also owned a mill in which he ground wheat and corn by means of stones turned by hand; in justice to Mr. Gordon I will here state that he treated me and my party with great kindness, did everything in his power so as to make us feel at home, and abstained from driving any hard bargains, a thing quite unusual in those days, except with the natives Californians that were always ready to extend a friendly hand to the needy emigrant-Having recruited our strength at Gordon's, we proceeded to Woolscale's [William Wolfskill's] ranch where we got everything we paid for at a good round sum: from Woolscale's farm we went to Napa Valley where we stopped at the flour mill of Mr. Yont [George Yount]; said mill was run with an over-shot wheel and turned out excellent flour, by every of remark I will observe that Mr. Yont is or was an excellent man, a good citizien, kind to every body, well liked by white men and Indians, and always ready to extend the hand of friendship to the new comers; in fact he was, what may be called a kind father to every poor man; from Napa we camped west of Sonoma creek- "
"Shortly after camping, and while our women were preparing our evening meal, ladies Vallejo and Leese, desirous offorming our acquaintance paid us a visit, in which they displayed the liveliest interest in evelything that concerned us; as neither of the ladies spoke the american tongue; and none of our party understood the, Spanish language, I cannot, with any degree of certainty, repeat the conversation which took place between us; yet judging by the affectionate manner in which they petted and caressed our children, and the quantity of sweet meats they gave them, I may, without fear of being contradicted, state, that, the interview was quite agreable to both parties After camping two days in Sonoma, one fine morning, as we were about bidding adieu to our fellow travellers, (kind and affectionate friends that during four months had shared our pleasures and our sorrows, had helped us to hurrah when a stately buffalo fell under the unerring shot of Mr. Lewis, and had mourned with us when the vily digger stole Brandywine, Gerry, Pike, Brindle, John, and Wash (name of our six oxen stolen from us by the digger Indians at the sink of Mmy's river) our journey was ended, and part we must:
The men stood side by side with roeful countenances feeling kind queer at the prospective separation; while the women holding one corner of their aprons in close proximity to their eyes, wept tears of sorrow, that taken together with the loud cries of our children presented a scene of real and unfeigned vow capitain Salvador Vallejo, in his undressed uniform came to us followed by three stalwart Indians, one groaning under a heavy load of jlour, one canying a basket of sugar, and the other holding a basket of chocolate; the Capitain, by means of an intelpreter asked us ifwe were in need of any of the articles his servants carried; and expressed his willingness and readiness to serve liS to the full extent of his ability: on taking farewell from us, he added 'near by I have thousand cows, if any of you wishes fresh meat, go and kill as many animals [as YOll need for your daily support' Captain Salvador Vallejo observed the same conduct towards evelY other emigrants camped in the vicinity of Sonoma; years have gone by since then, the then gallant captain is now a worn out old man, stricken by sorrow and grief; his many miles of pasture land have passed into strange hands; his then loving and beautiful bride miss Luz Carrillo a descendant of the noble race of the Can-illos, that have filled Peru, Mexico and California with their noble deeds, has been called to her long home, his children have married and settled in far off counties; his moveable property sold to defray the expenses of many law suits, that were decided against him, yet his dauntless spirit is unabated, even if his bodily strength has decayed; and is now living [hJis young days over again, in the person of his beautiful and intelligent niece, miss Lulu Vallejo a lively bnmette of seventeen springs, daughter of General Mariano Vallejo, a girl of refined taste, that reciprocates the tender caresses of her fond uncle .... "
Carriger's later experiences mllst be passed over briefly. Lieutenant Revere persuaded him to enter into service with the U S. Navy,' for six months he carried the mails between Sonoma and San Rafael.
Occasionally he was sent to the site of Benicia with other marines "to watch the movements of the Spaniards and keep them from crossing over to the north side of the bay." The Sonoma garrison, he relates, "kept up a defiemt demeanor, and upheld with dignity the name of citizens of the United States: as a proof of my assertion I will here state that a[s soon as we heard that the Bonner [Donner party had been frozen on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, we started to relieve the sufferers and I am most happy to record, that a few of the victims were saved [by the arrival of our party. "
He settled in Sonoma, after the discovery of gold mined successfully at Kelsey's Diggings, then with his gold dust bought a farm from General Vallejo, on which he settled in July, 1849. His farm eventually became one of the showplaces of Sonoma County, -of which he in turn became one of the prominent citizens. Carriger died on June 30,1885.
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"An illustrated History of Sonoma County, California," The Lewis publishing Company, Chicago, lllinois 1889
Nicholas enlisted in First Tennessee Mounted Volunteers for a year's service. Most of the regiment was engaged in the Seminole War. he received an honorable discharge November 1840. He emigrated to Warren County, Missouri. He moved on to Jackson Co., Missouri, to S1. Joseph on Rodidoux Landing, to Holt County, Missouri and finally on land in Andrew County, Missouri. He left Missouri on May 11, 1846 at ThompsonnHoyle Ferry in Holt County, Missouri on a wagon train bound for California. He was the son of Christian [Kercher Carriger and Lavica [Ward] born in Tennessee. They were also on the California wagon train ..... Christian died enroute. Lavicy died December 26, 1864 in Sonoma County, California. She was buried in Sonoma Valley Cemetery.
The subject of this sketch was one of the earliest American Pioneers of Sonoma County. His long residence and connection with Sonoma Valley renders a review of his life of peculiar interest in the history of the county. He was born in Carter County, Tennessee, March 30,1816. His father, Christian [Kercher Carriger, was a native of Germany, who, early in life, came to the United States, where he received his education, married and finally located in the county above mentioned. His mother, Eliza [Lavicy Ward Carriger] Carriger was a native of England.
Mr. Carriger remained in the county of his birth, attending school and working in a flour mill and distillery until he reached the age of nineteen years, when he volunteered in the First Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Volunteers, Captain 1. Powell's Company, being mustered into service for the Florida War by General John E. Wool, of the United States Army, at Athens, Tenne.ssee. This was on June 26, 1835, receiving an honorable discharge therefrom one year after. He then went into the iron manufacturing business on his father's property in his native county, where he continued until November, 1840, then emigrating to Warren county, Missouri where he engaged in the stemming of tobacco and other affairs. He then moved to Jackson County, Missouri and remained there one year, when he transferred his residence to Buchanan County and later to Holt and Andrew Counties, fanally settling in Round Prairie, where he took up a quarter-section of land, fenced it, entered into the cultivation of hemp, tobacco and cereals, and there remained until 1846, when he once more was on the move.
On April 27 of the latter year Mr. Carriger started from Round Prairie for California, and was joined at Oregon City, Holt County, by Captain Greig, their number being further augmented on the journey by the addition of Major Cooper, the Indian agent at Councill Bluffs. This is the same Major Cooper who is now a resident of Colusa County, and was judge of the court of first instance for the District of Sonoma in 1848, a gentleman well known in Sonoma County. With Mr. Carriger were his parents; only his mother and siblings, however survived the journey, his father having died when crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Mrs. Carriger, his mother, made Sonoma County her home until her death, which occurred in 1863. Accompanying it is the following sheet: Names Samuel Davis Samuel Cook John B. Davis Redwood Easton] Frederick De Rooche Mahlon Brock Joseph Davis Isaac Wilson William Abijah Carey Milburn Christian Carriger Daniel [Stover] Carriger Solomon [Hendrix] Carriger David W. Cook Nicholas Carriger Thomas Spriggs Joseph O'Donnell John Lewis John G.Tanner Burlington Acres Ezekiel Stewart Charles Stewart Joseph Wardlow.
The diary is now in the possession of Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, California. "Such is the sad story of endurance and suffering told in honest and simple words, that appeal to the sympathy far more forcibly than if clothes in the most effective imagery. The first place at which the emigrant band arrived in California was Johnson's ranch on Bear River, the stream being ferried at the spot now known as Fremont, situated at the mouth of the Feather River. Their place of destination was Sonoma, and the route lay by William Gordon's, now in Yolo County, John R. Wolfskill's on Putah Creek, Solano's Rancherie at Rockville, George Yount's in Napa, where they halted a few days, and thence by Spanish Trail into the valley of their hopes and fears. At the time of Mr. Carriger's arrival, all the young and able bodied men had joined Fremont; indeed, on the route it was no uncommon event for the younger male emigrants to flock to the standard of the Pathfinder. On his arrival, there, he was not to be behindhand, and as all available soldiers had been dispatched to join the gallant Colonel and his California Battalion, our new-comer entered the ranks of the navy, a company of which were then quartered at Sonoma under Lieutenant Revere. Mr. Carriger served in this branch of the service under Lieutenant Maury, who succeeded Revere, and after being with them for some months, finally got his honorable discharge from Captain John B. Hull, United States Navy, in March 1847. It should be mentioned that during his term of service, Mr. Carriger, in the ordinary routine of duty, Carried the mail on horseback between Sonoma and San Rafael, and was also present on duty when the stones placed at the boundaries of the city of Benicia were put into position by Dr. Robert Semple.
After his discharge from the United States service Mr. Carriger located in the Pueblo of Sonoma. There he built the first redwood building ever erected in Sonoma Valley. This house was an object of the interest to the Indians and nativeCalifornians. It is still standing on Carriger Road and is in a good state of preservation. He was also the first of the Americans who planted vines and undertook the cultivation of grapes in Sonoma Valley. In 1848, when the whole world was set wild with the news of the discovery of gold in California, Mr. Carriger was one of the first to leave for the mines to try his luck. He started in company with Joseph Wardlow, Elias Graham, Henry Thornton and others, for Mormon Island, and there found certain Mormons before them, who claimed all the land and the right to mine there, by priority of residence. The difficulty was, however, soon overcome by their being allowed to prosecute their work beyond a certain limit, and there having been successful, they constructed a skin boat, and crossing the stream proceeded to the south fork of the american river, staying there eleven days, when intelligence was received that the Spaniards and Indians had broken out into open rebellion in Sonoma; he therefore at once repaired thither, to look after his family, and was the first to return from the mines with dust to that city or Valley. In this year Mr. Carriger removed hid family to Coloma, where the precious metal was first discovered, but he only kept them there for six weeks. He was the lucky discoverer of the Nother Kelsey and Auburn mine, and was, with his associates, the first to find gold in the Auburn District.
We next find our hero prospecting on Sutter Creek, but they soon had to leave the vicinity on account of the Indians, who had become troublesom; they therefore proceeded high up on the middle fork of the American River, where they came across very rich diggings, three men in one day taking out as much as fifty pounds weight of old. A serious accident now necessitated his leaving the mines, when he returned to Sonoma. In March, 1849, taking several Sonoma Indians with him, he returned to the mines at Auburn, and met those aboriginals who were implicated in the death of Mr. Hollingsworth and a preacher in Oregon; they at once gave chanse, and not one escaped. When caught they were tried, found guilty and hanged to a limb close by on Bear River. At Auburn Mr. Carriger was fairly successful. He next went to Bear river and pursued his mining at Steep Hollow, and ultimately returned to Sonoma in 1849.
In 1850: He took a drove of cattle to Trinity County, the party being composed of Mr. Carriger, his two brothers, Solomon and Caleb, and Dr. Storer, with eleven Indians; remained there until June, when he came back to Sonoma, and took up residence on his ranch, about three miles west of town. There Mr. Carriger spent the most of his days and years until his death, vhich occurred June 30, 1885. For more than thirty-five years Mr. Carriger was prominently connected with grape culture and the wine industry of Sonoma Valley. His energetic measures and practical business habits soon produced wonderful results. The wild and uncultivated lands were made to yield their dormant riches. His vineyards covered over 150 acres. The winery which he erected is a magnificent building of three sotires in height, the lower one being of stone, forming a capacious cellar, with a capacity of 180,000 gallons. His landed possessions covered a thousand acres, upon the hills of which roamed his herds of stock, which the valley lands produced bontiful harvests of golden grain His residence, a fine two-story building, beautifully located, gave a magnificent view of the valley stretching away to the foothils in the west and for miles in extent to the south. This magnificent farm is now (1888) under the control and direction of his widow who with several of the family reside upon the place. Mr. Carriger was one of the best known men of Sonoma Valley. A more staunch and genial friend, hospitable host or honest and upright man did not exist than "Nick" Carriger, as his friends delighted in calling him. He was prominent and took a lead in all enterprises tending to develop the resources of his chosen valley. In political matters he was a Democrat, and while declining offices which his friends desired him to fill, his influence was felt in the ranks of the party and always for what he considered to be for its best interest. He was for many years the president of the Pioneer Association of Sonoma County. In Andrew County, Missouri, September 29, 1842, Mr. Carriger was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Wardlow, a native of Highland County, OH, born November 22, 1826. She is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Lance) Wardlow. Her father was a native of Scotland and her mother of Germany. From this marriage there were born eleven children .
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