Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

CHARLES J. COVILLAUD

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

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

Covillaud Family
 
CHARLES J. COVILLAUD, an attorney at Marysville, was born 
in that city, January 25, 1855, the son of Charles Covillaud, on the old home 
place in the edge of town; graduated at the high school June 26, 1874, in his 
class graduated at that school being chosen valedictorian.  He then taught 
school for five years, three years in Yuba County and two years in Brandy City, 
Sierra County, and then he went to Marysville and was law clerk for William J. 
Murphy until 1884, when he went to San Francisco and graduated at Hastings' Law 
College, June 1, 1886.  A year later he opened an office in Marysville, where he 
has since been engaged in the successful practice of his profession. - Charles 
Covillaud, deceased, one of the most prominent early settlers of Northern 
California, was born in Cognac, Province of Chareute, France, in 1816.  When 
twelve years of age he left home and came to New Orleans.  A few years afterward 
he went up to St. Joseph, Missouri, and settled there as one of the pioneers of 
that place.  In the spring of 1846, in company with a number of trappers, he 
came across the plains to California, before it was a Golden State.  They 
brought with them a quantity of goods merchantable among the Indians.  On 
arrival here Mr. Covillaud first worked for John A. Sutter a short time as a 
cooper, which trade he had formerly learned in his native country.  In October, 
1848, he purchased a large estate of Theodore Cordua, near Marysville, as 
already stated on page 283.  The documents, however, were not signed until 
January, 1849.  The recorded deed sets forth that "Theodore Cordua, of New 
Mecklenburg, Sacramento District, California, for $12,500, sold to Charles 
Covillaud the undivided one-half of all the lands leased to me by Captain Sutter 
upon the Yuba and Feather rivers; all the undivided one-half of all the land 
granted to me by Manuel Micheltorena, situated upon the Honcut; also the 
undivided one-half of all the horned cattle owned by me; also the one-half of 
all the tame horses and mares; also the one-half of all the hogs and poultry; 
also the one-half of all the goods and chattels upon said rancho, viz.:  the 
one-half of all saddles, harness, bridles, household furniture, grain, canoes, 
etc.; and the undivided half of all other goods and chattels not mentioned in 
the above schedule now remaining and being upon my rancho at New Mecklenburg." - 
The firm name of Cordua & Co. - January 4, 1849, Cordua sold his remaining 
one-half interest to Michael C. Nye and William Foster, while Covillaud retained 
the other half.  Nye and Foster also put into the partnership their previous 
possessions, in view of which they each were alloted a third interest in the 
joint business.  The name of the mesne was now changed to the Nye Ranch.  The 
firm found a ready market for all their beef in the mines, or with travelers to 
and from the diggings.  In April, 1849, the estimated amount of stock upon the 
ranch was 5,000 head of cattle, 600 horses, 500 hogs and a small collection of 
poultry.  Nye managed the ranch and stock business, while Covillaud had a store 
at Sicard Flat, and Foster one near Foster Bar. - September 27, 1849, Nye & 
Foster sold to Mr. Covillaud, for $30,000, all their title and interest in the 
lands, improvements, etc., which had been conveyed to them by Cordua.  Mr. 
Covillaud was now the sole proprietor of the ranch, but this was to be of short 
duration; for, October 1, 1849, Covillaud sold to J. M. Ramirez and J. Sampson, 
for $23,300, an undivided one-half of his property, $12,000 to be paid down and 
$11,300 to be paid July 1, 1850; and during the same month he disposed of 
one-fourth to Theodore Sicard, for $12,000, the firm name being Covillaud & Co.  
February 19, 1850, Sicard sold his one-fourth interest to R. B. Buchanan and 
Gabriel Swezy. - Mr. Covillaud made his home chiefly upon the above place near 
Marysville, but in later years upon a ranch of 160 acres a mile and a half above 
on the Yuba river.  He also bought real estate in Sacramento and San Jose. - He 
died February 5, 1857, and his wife, nee Mary M. Murphy, died September 27 
following.  She was a member of the noted Murphy family, who were members of the 
ill-fated Donner party of 1846, and it was in her honor that Marysville received 
its name, January 18, 1850.  They had five children.  Claude Chana, with whom 
Mr. Covillaud had formed a partnership at St. Joseph for the purpose of trading 
with the Indians, died at Wheatland in 1882. - Although not a politician in any 
sense, Mr. Covillaud was twice elected Alderman in Marysville, from the Fourth 
ward, in which his ranch was located,-1851-'52 and 1859.

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Chicago, Lewis Publ. 
Co., 1891, pp502-3 
 
Marysville Democrat - 9/27/1923, p1 - Shaft To Honor Pioneers Of Marysville Is 
Proposed By Greely Before Native Sons - That a monument be erected in Cortez 
Square to the memory of Mrs. Mary Covillaud, pioneer woman, for whom Marysville 
was named, and recognition given to the prominent early day residents of this 
vicinity by engraving their names on the proposed shaft, is the suggestion of 
County Auditor Fred H. Greely, past Grand President of the Native Sons and for 
many years a resident of Yuba county. - Greely presented his plan to Marysville 
Parlor No. 6 of the Native Sons at their meeting last night.  This city owes a 
great debt of gratitude to the early pioneers who built the town and helped to 
win for it the prestige and commercial importance which it has enjoyed ever 
since, said Greely, and he declared special recognition should be given to the 
noble woman for whom the city was named.
 
Meriam Marjory Murphy Johnson Covillaud
 
Marysville Democrat - 6/7/1924, p5 - In Adobe Shack Marysville Was Named Back In 
Early Gold Era - A group of men and women in the motley costumes of the Days of 
Forty-nine gathered in front of a rambling low adobe building where D street now 
ends, 124 years ago, and named their town of 190 odd inhabitants "Marysville." - 
The first portrait ever published of the good and famous "Mary", for whom the 
miners, gamblers, townsmen and their wives hurrahed so enthusiastically on July 
18, 1850, was printed and circulated in Yuba and Sutter counties this week. - 
Mary Murphy Covillaud, wife of a French settler and one of the survivors of the 
famous Donner party of '46 and '47, was the reason why "Yubaville," "Yubafield," 
or "Circumdora" are not now on the map of California at the junction of the 
Feather and Yuba rivers. - Told In New History - The romance of the naming of 
Marysville, of the life and work of Mary Murphy Covillaud, of the rough and 
ready politicians of the forties and fifties, is told in Peter J. Delay's 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, just off the press. - The portrait of 
"Mary" is a reproduction of an original pencil drawing by a wandering artist of 
the gold days.  Delay secured it from a descendant of the Cavillauds [sic]. - 
Delay's story of Marysville's naming includes as one of its characters Stephen 
J. Field, pioneer California attorney, who later became chief justice of the 
United States Supreme Court. - Field's part in early history of this district 
was important.  His ability to speak French brought him close to Covillaud and 
his partner, Sicard, also a French settler, and soon made attorneys for the 
owners of the great tract known as Nye's Ranch, that included much of Yuba 
county. - Subdivide Nye's Ranch - Field, who came to San Francisco in 1849 and 
appeared hereabouts a year later, soon had Nye's RAnch sub-divided and was 
selling land.  He also conducted publicity on a small scale, advertising most by 
word of mouth that the land at the fork of the two rivers was heir to a great 
future.  Steamers were ready to come from the big cities-Sacramento and San 
Francisco.  The foundation for a great city must be laid here. - The population 
of Nye's Ranch grew, until Field and his employers decided they must incorporate 
a town.  A new frame house had come up the river by steamer.  In it, sitting on 
planks-there was no floor-assembled the leaders of the settlement. - Champagne 
and Speeches - The meeting was momentous, but it was also jolly.  There were two 
baskets of champagne for liquid cheer.  Field made a speech.  He told of the 
coming prosperity, of the advantageous position of the town, of the great center 
for mine trade the village had become. - It was resolved that there should be a 
public meeting the next day before the old adobe house which once stood where 
the Chinese Joss-house at the foot of D street now stands. - That July day, 
under a blazing sun, the meeting resolved that there should be established a 
town government.  There must be a council, a first and second alcalde, and a 
marshal. - No delay then, as now.  The election was held the same afternoon. 
Field was elected first alcalde.  There were objections to Field; he had been in 
the settlement at that time for only three days after a long absence. Some 
favored his opponent for the office-who had been in the settlement six days. - 
"Mary," Brings Applause - Evening, one of California's balmy July evenings, and 
the crowd gathered at the adobe again and heard the election results.  Someone 
proposed that the town be named.  One man suggested "Yubafield"-another 
"Yubaville"-a third "Circumdora," which means surrounded by gold." - A fourth, a 
substantial, browned old man, a prospector from the Atlantic seaboard, it is 
said, proposed the town be named after the American wife of Covillaud. - Hurrahs 
from all, and the choice was unanimous for "Marysville."  For a few days, Delay 
writes, some still called the town "Yubaville." - Mary Murphy Covillaud was 
beloved while she lived, for her charity and kindness. She died while still 
young, at 35.  Her grave is in the Marysville cemetery, Native Daughters 
decorate it every year. - Through the courtesy of Mrs. Mary M. Fairfowl, of 
Eugene, Oregon, grand-daughter of Marysville's godmother, better known in this 
city as Miss Mae Waldron, Mr. Delay was able to procure in his history the 
accompanying cut of Mary Covillaud, the first ever published, as far as known.  
Mrs. Fairfowl is herself an artist of no mean ability. - Writing to Mr. Delay 
when making delivery of the photograph from which this cut was made, Mrs. 
Fairfowl said: - "Since you are writing a history of Marysville and Yuba county, 
may I use this opportunity to correct a statement that is so often erroneously 
made.  Namely, that Marysville was named for Mary Covillaud because she was the 
first, or only woman in Marysville at the time.  This, I have been told by those 
who know, is not true.  In fact there were many families living at the place 
that afterwards became Marysville, at the time grandmother arrived." - Pretty 
Sentiment by Early Writer - In the year 1871, the author of "Letters From 
Juanita," published occasionally in the Marysville Appeal, speaks incidentally 
of the naming of Marysville and pays a beautiful tribute to Mary Covillaud, 
lovable character that she was, Juanita recalls. William G. Murphy, Marysville 
attorney at that time and father of the present assistant postmaster, Ernest 
Murphy, and then refers to Mr. Murphy's sister, "who became the wife of Charles 
Covillaud on Christmas Day, 1848, and who subsequently gave her name to your now 
famed city." - "I had the good fortune to become acquainted with the lady," said 
Juanita, "and now that she slumbers in the grave, I say that never on the soil 
of California has a woman trod of purer nature, more amiable disposition, a more 
generous heart.  When she went away from earth, it was with the regret and 
lamentations of thousands. - "And for those who love Marysville and the homes I 
feel that they would like to know that the one for whom Marysville was named was 
one of California's first home-makers-shedding her quiet life far for those who 
else were homeless." - First Social Worker - "And from all that I have been told 
of her, she was one of California's first social workers, but one who made her 
home the center for all her good works.  And, although she had servants in her 
home, to send on her errands of mercy, she always went herself to carry what was 
needed to the poor, and with her own hands cared for and nursed the sick. - "And 
the books and pictures still in the family show that she found a way, although 
cut off from civilization, to put art and science, and the best literature into 
her home.  And her worn books on plant life show the study she gave to her 
garden.  And her garden, I have been told, was one of the most beautiful in 
early California days.  So this valiant little woman overcame all difficulties 
to realize her vision of a wife, a mother, and of a home.  And I have always 
believed that her light shone on the type of men who came to California in the 
early days."
 
Appeal Democrat - 7/11/1929, p12 - Bodies of First Mayor and Woman For Whom Town 
Named May Be Moved To Sierra View - Steps are now being taken that may shortly 
lead to the removal of the bodies of Marysville's first mayor and of the woman 
for whom the city was named from their present resting places to a place of 
honor in the new Sierra View memorial park, south of the city. - The officials 
of the new cemetery are prepared to donate a space on the highest knoll for the 
two graves.  Lipp and Sullivan, morticians, will offer to take up the bodies and 
place them in the new graves, without charge. - It will be proposed to the city 
council that the city bear the expense of digging the graves and moving the head 
stones to the new location. - The grave of S. M. Miles, first mayor, who 
presided over the infant municipality in 1851, is in the old city cemetery, 
where it is flooded during every high water in the rivers.  The city is taking 
care of it as well as possible in such a location, and has done so for some 
time. - The grave of Mary Covillaud, who was honored by the pioneers by having 
the city named for her, is in the Catholic cemetery, and it, too, is flooded in 
winter and spring. - In the case of the mayor's grave, there are no known 
relatives, but there are survivors of Mrs. Covillaud's family.  Her father, 
William Murphy, was a member of the ill-fated Donner party, and was an early day 
attorney here.  Her husband's father was one of the owners of the townsite of 
Marysville and one of those who laid out the town. - In the proposed removal the 
graves would be given a prominence befitting their historical interest, and they 
would be given perpetual care.  Tablets would sent forth their history. - Sierra 
View Park is rapidly becoming a beauty spot on the Capital highway south of the 
city.  The mausoleum is nearly completed and its great white bulk looming 
against the sky beyond a vista of wide green lawn and shrubbery is attracting 
admiration from all who pass that way. - The Rideout memorial fountain in a 
central location, with drives in all directions, has been completed and is in 
operation.  The central figure is the "Fish Boy," copied form the noted statue 
by Janet Scudder in the sunken gardens of John D. Rockefeller.  The fountain is 
of ceramic tile in a soft blue-green shade, the outer wall of the surrounding 
pool being in added tints.  Grass and shrubs complete a pleasing picture. - The 
irrigating of the broad area of the cemetery is by means of sprinklers set even 
with the surface of the ground, and when they are turned on there is a fog of 
spray over the grass and shrubs, the water being forced under heavy pressure. - 
Stone men are now setting slabs of marble all through the interior of the 
mausoleum.  It is to be all marble finish inside, the marble coming from Italy. 
- With this edifice, the cemetery so far represents an investment of more than 
$100,000. [Neither of these persons were moved to Sierra View and remain in 
their original places of burial as of 2007.]