Lake County Biographies

Benjamin DEWELL

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Was born in Ohio October 27, 1823. In 1840 he, with parents, moved to Indiana, 
where he resided until 1845, when, in company with several others, he crossed 
the plains to California, arriving in Napa Valley in October of the above year. 
The first winter was spent where Calistoga is now located; and in the spring of 
1846 he went to Sonoma and served in the Bear Flag War, and then joined 
Fremont's regiment, and in the fall the regiment was ordered below, but only got 
as far as Los Angeles when a treaty was made and the war ended. The subject of 
this sketch then returned to Sonoma and in the spring of 1847 settled in 
Guilicos Valley, where he followed farming and stock raising until May, 1854, 
when he came to Lake County and settled on his present place, consisting of one 
hundred and sixty acres, located just above Upper Lake, where he has since been 
engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Dewell was one of the parties who made 
the Bear Flag which was raised at Old Sonoma June 14,1846, and his 
mother-in-law, Mrs. W. B. Elliott, furnished part of the cloth of which the flag 
was made. Mr. Dewell married May 5, 1850, Miss Celia H. Elliott, by whom he has 
eight living children: Samuel L., Luella, Orlena, Elmer E., May, Lottie, John K. 
and Charles W. They have lost two, Sarah E. and Jane. 

"History of Napa and Lake Counties" 1881 

            BENJAMIN DEWELL, one of the earliest pioneers of California, 
emigrated from Indiana in 1845.  The company with which he came started for 
Oregon, but, on account of there being no roads or ferries, their progress was 
necessarily slow, and after passing Salt Lake their guides advised them, on 
account of the lateness of the season, to cross the mountains into California, 
which they did, arriving near Sonoma in October.  They were six months and one 
day on the journey.  Mr. Dewell made his first permanent settlement in 1850, in 
Guilicos Valley, lying between Santa Rosa and Sonoma, where he commenced 
improving land which he had selected for a home.  He planted an orchard and 
vineyard, and made other valuable improvements, which he had to abandon after 
two years, as his location proved to be within the limits of a grant.
            In 1846, the war with Mexico having been inaugurated, the few 
Americans who had come to settle in California organized into a company for 
self-protection.  In the spring of 1846 they captured Sonoma, which was held by 
General Vallejo and a small garrison.  There were thirty-three Americans, who 
surprised the garrison at daylight, and effected a capture without difficulty.  
Mr. Dewell, with the assistance of two comrades, were the manufacturers of the 
celebrated Bear Flag.  In 1854 he came to Upper Lake with his family and located 
on his present farm, his being the second family to settle in what is now Lake 
County.  He has 160 acres of as good land as can be found in any country, on 
which he raises grain, hay and stock.  He also has a large orchard.  He was 
married in 1850, to Miss Celia Elliott, a native of Missouri.  They have nine 
children, living:  Samuel M., Orlena and Luella (twins), Elmer E., May, Lottie, 
John, Charles W. and Irene, Sarah E. and Jane are dead.  Mr. Dewell is a member 
of the I.O.O.F., of long standing.  Politically he is thoroughly Republican.
 
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing 
Co., 1891

Transcribed by: Betty Wilson