Fresno County Biographies

A. B. ATWELL

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, June, 2007

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

      In no portion of the world can there be found a body of men 
and women, the history of whose lives contain so much of stirring adventure and 
heroic bravery as those who came to this State during the few years immediately 
following the discovery of gold in California. In the life of A. B. Atwell we 
have a fair example of the forty-niner. An account of his varied experiences on 
this coast would make an interesting volume of no small proportions; even the 
most condensed narrative of his career requires much more space than can be 
given on these pages. A. B. Atwell was born on his uncle Lemuel Minon's farm in 
Cattaraugus County, New York, July 31, 1830. His ancestors have been identified 
with this country since its early history. His great-great-grandfather came with 
his family from the island of Corsica, about the year 1700, and settled in the 
old French town of Louisburg, Cape Breton Island, and his great-grandfather lost 
his life in the defense of that town in 1745. Grandfather Atwell remained in and 
around Louisburg till about 1775, when he had a misunderstanding with the 
English press-gang and price was set upon his head. He at once left Cape Breton, 
and the next known of him was in the battles of Lexington and Concord, where he 
espoused the cause of the colonies, and from that time until the close of the 
Revolution did good service as a scout. He was honorably discharged, and ended 
his days in peace with the world near the old French town of Kaskaskia, 
Illinois. Mr. Atwell's father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was with 
Jackson at New Orleans. From that time until his death, in 1849, he led the 
quiet life of a civilian in the vicinity of St. Louis, Missouri. The subject of 
our sketch was sixteen when the Mexican war broke out, and the patriotism which 
fired the spirits of his forefathers was not slow to manifest itself in him. As 
a volunteer he was mustered into the service of the United States at Alton, 
Illinois; went to the seat of war, acted the part of a brave soldier, returned 
to Illinois when the conflict ended, and was honorably discharged at Alton. The 
winter of 1848 young Atwell spent in one round of gayety in St. Louis and 
vicinity, but the restless disposition he inherited from his Corsican ancestors 
rendered him insettled and eager for adventure, and when the news of the 
discovery of Gold in California reached Missouri, he was among the first to 
start for the new El Dorado. On March 4, 1849, in company with several young 
men, he left that city en route to California. Their outfit consisted of 
"prairie schooners", each drawn by four yoke of oxen, the men all having horses 
and mules to ride. This journey, which lasted six months, and which was not 
unlike that described by many others, terminated on October 6. In many respects 
the trip was a most enjoyable one to Mr. Atwell. They were well equipped, game 
was plenty, the scenery was charming and ever changing, and their campfires were 
enlivened by stories of exciting adventures told by such men as Joe Rubedore, 
Vetal Joro, Tom La Grave, and Baties Shautiev, who traveled with them. They 
entered California by the Lassen cut-off, having packed their animals and 
abandoned their wagons soon after leaving Humboldt. At Long's Point, on the 
Feather River, Mr. Atwell remained one night. By that time his provisions were 
almost gone, and he had but one dollar left. Feeling the necessity of going to 
work, he went up the river, met a man by the name of Stout, who was working a 
lot of Indians, and who had great difficulty to make them understand him. He, 
however, has a Spanish interpreter, and as Mr. Atwell could speak Spanish, he 
found employments as an interpreter and general manager, receiving $5 the first 
day and $16 a day afterward, remaining with him for a time and then going to the 
mines. In the mining districts of California Mr. Atwell has the usual experience 
of miner and trader until 1852, when he went to Contra Costa County (now Alameda 
County) and engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1857, in company with L. J. 
Cralle and John P. Joy, known as "Whisky John", he made a tour of the King's 
River district. He returned to Oakland that year, and on October 25, 1858, again 
started for King's River, this time in company with Mr. Cralle and E. G. 
Robinson and family, taking with them horses and cattle, and being a month in 
reaching their destination. Mr. Atwell has since made his home in this valley. 
He is loaded with reminiscenses of pioneer life on the river banks, and also on 
the plains, and recounts his varied experiences in a graphic manner. When he 
settled here the nearest trading point was Visalia, the mail matter all coming 
from that place until the overland stage started in 1860, when a post office was 
established at Kingston. All the old settlers well remember the flood of 1861. 
Mr. Atwell and his family were driven from their home by the rising waters, and 
for five weeks camped out in their wagon. About the year 1865 the stock business 
began to change from cattle to sheep, and from that time the number of cattle on 
the plains decreased yearly, and the number of sheep increased until 1872, when 
the farmers began to crowd the sheep out. Mr. Atwell sold his sheep, and in 1879 
moved from the river to the plains, locating in the Wild Flower district. He is 
at present engaged in farming on a ranch of 200 acres, situated nine miles 
southwest of Selma. In speaking of the wonderful development of this section of 
the country, Mr. Atwell says: "I can scarcely realize the improvements that have 
taken place in the once barren plains, which are now considered the garden spot 
of the world. The wheat and dry and green fruit produced here find a market in 
all parts of the world, and the end is not yet. Fresno County is destined to 
become in wealth and population one of the first counties of the State of 
California." Mr. Atwell was married in 1860 to Ellen Farley, of Iowa. They have 
no children.
 
Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, 
Tulare, and Kern, California," Lewis Publ. Co., 1892, pp. 486-488.