Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

DR. WILLIAM MC MURTRY

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

The following is a transcription of an article written by Anita Laney for
the Sutter County Historical Society, Published October 1960. I have
purposely left all grammar, punctuation and spelling the same as the
original. I feel it conveys a certain character that adds greatly to the
piece. The numbers you will find while reading through the piece are the
original page numbers from S.C.H.S. Oct. '60 - Victor Robin

        The history of Sutter county is enriched by the far-seeing men and
women who settled within its confines in the 1850's and 60's and
determinedly developed its rich soil into one of the finest agriculture
areas in the United States. Among those who saw Sutter county's tremendous
possibilities and was enchanted by the beauty of "los tres picos" that
dominate its landscape was D. William McMurtry who arrived in Grass Valley,
California, in October 1849.
        Pioneering to Dr. McMurtry was a business, having, himself, come
from a longline of pioneers. The progenitor of the McMurtry family was
Joseph McMurtry, (William's grandfather) a native of Wales, who came to the
United States and settled in Philadelphia in 1734. In 1778 Joseph and his
son John (William's father) along with Daniel Boone, crossed the Alleghenies
into Kentucky and settled near Lexington, in Mercer county.
        It was here at Harrodsburg, Kentucky on August 15. 1802, that
William was born.
        When the War of 1812 rolled around, young William aspired to be a
drummer boy, plans that never materialized for it was during this period
that his father John, making bullets for the U.S. government, developed
Pneumonia and died. William received his early education in the Kentucky
schools and went on into the field of Medicine, studying under Dr.
Tomlinson, a progressive and well known physician of that day.
        By the time he was twenty, William was practicing medicine and in a
few years amassed what was then considered a fortune. William, however,
loved the land and the animals, the growing crops and the wilderness,
consequently, he gave up his practice and purchased a farm 10 miles from
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and there built a saw mill and a race track,
besides raising fine horses. This venture did not prove successful, however,
and he gave it up to resume the practice of his profession near Louisville.
        In 1830 he married Sarah Mariah Van Anglen and five children were
born of this marriage: John Van Anglen, 1831 (father of Imogene McMurtry)
Cynthia, 1832 (Wife of Sylvanus Sanborn); Sara Catherine 1833 (wife of Dr.T.
W. Ferguson) Louis, 1838, (a judge in San Louis Obispo) and Junius, 1844.
        During the period in which he was raising a family, William
contracted Malaria and his health was somewhat impaired. Further William
found hard times pressing upon him, especially so since the community he
served was filled with poor people who were unable to pay their bills.
William was practicing medicine at Big Springs, Kentucky when the news of
the gold discovery reached the Eastern world. William became very much
excited over the reports of the golden country and during the early months
of 1849 made preparations, when spring should allow crossing the plains, to
leave for California.
        On April 20, 1849, William with his oldest son John, then 18, left
Big Springs, Kentucky, traveled to St. Joseph, Missouri, by water and there
purchased 4 yoke of oxen and a covered wagon and started on their long,
wild, and dangerous journey.
        They followed the most popular road west, that which followed the
Platte River, out to Ft. Laramie, across the Rockies to Ft. Bridger, and
crossing South Pass took the left turn which brought them through the Utah
territory, past the Great Salt Lake and into Nevada Territory. Here they
turned north across the Humboldt River to Honey Lake in Eastern California,
thence came south along the Feather River to Oroville (Oro). At Oroville,
decision was made to continue to the gold regions of Nevada City and Grass
Valley (Centerville) but it was October - five months taken in crossing -
and early rains had set in making the road a quagmire since the oxen, worn
out by their long trek, were unable to proceed in the belly-deep mud, Dr.
McMurtry decided to spend the winter at Lawson's ranch south of Oroville. He
and John erected a cabin about 10 miles below the mouth of Deer Creek, a
dozen miles from any white settlement, but situated amidst numerous,
friendly Indians.
        Dr. Mcmurtry occupied his time during the winter months by making
clapboards and in the spring he built a raft on which he started for
Sacramento. The turbulent stream soon wrecked the raft which disintegrated
and floated away in pieces.
        Reaching Long's Bar, William and his son did some mining. The
doctor's best investment, however, was in the purchase of cattle from the
poor immigrants who were desperately short of funds. These cattle he
purchased at $30.00 per head, held them long enough to fatten them and sold
them at $90.00 per head, making a tidy profit. Pleased with the climate of
California and intrigued with the tremendous potential for a happy and
lucrative life, he decided to rent the restaurant and return to Kentucky for
the rest of his family and make California his permanent home.
        During his sojourn in the mining country, he had visited Marysville
on several occasions and had been particularly fascinated by the Buttes. In
riding around them he was particularly taken by the oak studded lands
stretching away from the Northernmost slopes. Here the ground was high and
flood free and here he decided to homestead 160 acres if possible, as the
anchor point to expand future holdings.
        At the end of 1851, William, leaving John in Grass Valley, left for
the East for the purpose of gathering his family together and bringing them
all to California as quickly as possible. William went to San Francisco,
took a boat to the Isthmus, crossed over, took another boat to New Orlean,
then up the Mississippi again to the point of debarkation for Big Springs,
Kentucky.
        His brother-in-law, John Van Anglen, excited by the tales of the
rich and colorful land, rushed madly about attempting to convert all his
assets into cash but ran into disaster when his biggest debtor fled the
country with the bulk of John's cash and 5 valuable colored workers.
        John, bemoaning his unpropitious fate, sadly said goodbye to his
sister Sarah on a March day in 1852, his 3 nephews, 2 nieces and his
brother-on-law William, who were departing for St. Joseph, Missouri for the
5 month trip to California - the story of which was written by William's
Granddaughter Imogene McMurtry as a composition exercise in December 8 1902,
for her teacher Miss Margaret Lawry, who taught the 4th grade at the
Marysville Elementary then located at 7th and B Streets, Marysville (Where
office of Division of Highways now stands). With the help of her Aunt
Cynthia McMurtry Sanborn, who, with her sister Catherine McMurtry Ferguson,
walked across the plains along side their ox team, Imogene recreated the
experience as follows:

"CROSSING PLAINS"

        4th grade composition assignment at Old Marysville grammar at 7th  &
B - where Division of Hiways now stands. Teacher Miss Margaret Lawry
assignment was given to class. Mrs. Cynthia Sanborn, aunt of Imogene
McMurtry, who gave her information was the wife of Sylvanus Sanborn of New
Hampshire and came to California 1849 and later married Cynthia McMurtry and
farmed in the North Butte area.
        "It was very hard to cross the plains in the early days because they
did not have any cars, and had to go by wagons. They used oxen instead of
horses.
My grandfather started from Louisville, Kentucky, the twenty-fourth day of
March, 1849. He wanted to get gold in California. There were eleven in the
party. They went to St Joseph by steamer (river boat) when they got there,
they bought their wagons and outfits for traveling. then they started on the
long journey across the plains, traveling about 15 miles a day. At night
they camped on the wild Indian plains. They found water and grass for their
oxen and wood to cook their dinner. On account of the Indians, they
stationed two men every night to guard the wagons. At one O'clock they were
relieved by two others. In that way they travelled a long while. The streams
were a little difficult at times to cross.
        The first place they came to was Fort Kearney in Nebraska on the
Platte River. A fort is a place where United States troops were stationed to
keep the Indians away. They traveled on until they came to Fort Laramie in
Wyoming. It was a missionary school and the Indians were Sioux. It was near
the fort that the party thought that they were going to be attacked by the
Indians. They had camped for the night as usual when thirty Indians came up
and surrounded the camp riding on ponies.
        They were dressed in war costumes and their faces were painted. They
rode around the wagons and looked in shouting and making a dreadful noise.
Grandfather went to the fort and asked if the Indians were dangerous. The
men at the fort said they did not think they were, that they were having a
big Pow Wow, and for the people to be quiet and not annoy them in any way.
So they went on getting the camp ready for the night. At last the Indians
went off as they had come hooping and yelling.
        When they got to* they found a natural road. It was perfectly smooth
and there were very few rocks. They went over with very little trouble.

Then they journeyed on until they came to Fort Bridger. There They had
another incident with the Indians. They had been asleep a little while, when
they heard the report of one of their guns. Grandfather went out and asked
"what's the matter?" and the man replied "I saw something moving in the
grass. I kept watching until I concluded it was and Indian, I fired and the
Indian jumped up and right there ran to the hills" The party did not sleep
anymore that night, but the Indians did not come back.
        They rode on for a long time. the greatest trouble was crossing the
Truckee desert in the western part of Nevada, there was nothing but sand for
forty miles. In the desert they passed the hot springs. The oxen had very
little water. They had only what could be carried in barrels. They were a
day and a night crossing. They traveled during the night. They had then come
to the Truckee River in the Eastern part of California. They camped there
for several days resting. It was then the last of September and the first of
October it snowed. The second they started to go over the Sierra Nevada
mountains, which they found very rocky, and got over with a great deal of
trouble.
        They passed Donner Lake where the Donner Party had perished. The
cabin was still there and they saw the hole where they put their dead.
        The fifth of October they arrived at Nevada City where they stayed
through the winter. This was an end to the trip across the plains."
        On this trip to California Dr. McMurtry followed the same route as
before except that he decided to strike west across the Truckee Desert to
the mouth of the Truckee River where it tumbled out of the hills of eastern
California and starts its swing through Nevada. The closing days of the
month of September were upon them and they rested a few days before going
on. Snows falling on October first ended the idyl and mindful of the fate of
the Donner Party, hastened their way across the Sierras to Grass Valley
(Centerville).
        Letters from home were few during the crossing of the plains, but
the family back in Harrodsburg were anxious to hear from them and sent
letters to them enroute, even as the emigrants themselves were able to send
letters back to their loved ones.
        John Van Anglen, the unlucky brother-on-law, wrote a letter, a
portion of which appears below, to his sister Sarah, newly arrived in
California.

Harrodsburg, Kentucky October 14, 1852

Dear Sister;

        "We have received three letters from you and Cynthia McMurtry since
you left Harrodsburg, one was from St. Louis, one from Independence, and one
from the camp, 60 miles from Laramie, dated July 17, 1852. Lewis McMurtry
showed me a letter he got a day or two ago from your son John, in which he
stated that he had heard that you and family were in a few days' journey of
Centerville. I hope that you have all got in safe and well. Lewis stated
that John's letter contained a draft directed to him. Cynthia's description
of your outfit, your mode of traveling, etc., is very graphic and
interesting, and I half envy your trip (although I have no doubt that you
have had a fatiguing journey). Still after all your difficulties, if you are
satisfied with California, it will repay you for you risk and labor.
        I suppose you have seen sublime and picturesque scenery on your
route. You have viewed Indians, buffaloes, and other wild beasts. You have
thought of deserts of Arabia, oasis on you route. Still after the first few
days, the excitement of camping, cooking and starting in the morning
somewhat subsided and maybe (I do not know, however, it might have been a
more dreary travel than I imagined - you on your journey, there has been no
doubt a great variety). When I was at New York, I saw the California Steamer
go out crowded with passengers and the ladies fair waved their white
kerchiefs to the breeze and bid adieu to friends on the shore......"

        There was no envelope - the outer page of the letter was left blank,
folded over, with the final section tucked under the first section and
sealed with wax. The unwritten section carried the address.
        The McMurtrys stayed in Grass Valley until 1854. In November of
1852, however, Dr. McMurtry Made the first improvements on the buildings he
had staked out near the north end of the Buttes, fencing the property and
putting hogs on it. (It is assumed he had taken over a 160 acre tract, the
size allowed for homesteading or pre-empting - but nowhere was any record
found of such action). While in Grass Valley, Dr. McMurtry still continued
the hotel business he had started before leaving for the East to pick up his
family. Apparently Dr. McMurtry was generous to the hard-up immigrants and
unlucky miners, since he made no profits in the hotel business. He gave
credit fully and collected nothing. Soon he was virtually "dead broke". With
his characteristic energy he moved his family to the Sutter county ranch in
1854 and began farming anew, raising chickens and hogs, having only a few
hogs and 300 chickens to begin with. Feed was high - his bill for chicken
feed alone for one year was $500. Eggs though, were correspondingly high,
averaging the year around 75� per dozen; consequently, at the close of the
year he found himself $1000.00 ahead.
        December 3, 1854, Sarah Mariah recorded a declaration of "sole
trades" as follows "I, Sarah M. McMurtry, wife of William McMurtry of the
County of Sutter, in pursuance of ---------- an act to authorize married
women to transact business in their own name as sole traders, passed April
12, 1852 ....... (do declare that I am in the) the business of the dairy,
raising of stock of all descriptions: to wit; cattle, horses, hogs, sheep,
and poultry, and the making of hay.. I further declare that the sum invested
does not exceed five thousand dollars.

Signed

Sarah M. McMurtry"

(Why Sarah declared herself a sole trader is a question to be answered at a
later date, since none is forthcoming now).

        The first deeding of land recorded to the McMurtry family again
involves Sarah - a patent for the year 1861 from the U.S. Government for 40
acres in Section 26 of Township 17, Range 1 North.

        From 1861-1875 the McMurtry family acquired 2,744 acres in the
northwest area of Sutter county. An acreage lying northwest of the Buttes
and including range land on the Buttes where 4000 head of sheep roamed. Over
2,320 acres were purchased directly from the United States government; 424
acres were purchased from individuals. The highest price paid was $100.00
per acre for 80 acres and the lowest, approximately $1.20 per acre
(apparently for Butte range land). The average price per acre was
approximately $39.50.
        All the properties lay in Township 17 North, Range 1 East, and are
portions of section 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, and 34. This great ranch,
dotted with great groves of white oaks and clusters of the glossy-leafed
live oak was given the appropriate name of Butte Sylvania. Here the handsome
home was erected that held the McMurtry family with until long after Sarah's
death in 1882. The McMurtry's were well known for their generosity and
philanthropy. Dr. Mercer** practiced medicine until he retired late in life.
Many a night he saddled the horse and with medicine in saddlebags rode
hurriedly to the bedside of a sick neighbor.
        Mrs. McMurtry who became a Methodist, practiced her religion
faithfully and threw the doors open to the circuit riding ministers who
administered to their flock in the Butte Circuit, one of the largest in
Northern California. (The McMurtry family religion was Scotch Presbyterian).
        On Butte Sylvania, many acres were devoted to wheat raising and in
the pioneer days the method of harvesting was quite primitive.
At first Indians with flails did the threshing, later to be replaced by the
great harvesters which cut, threshed, and separated the grain and poured the
golden kernels into sacks.
        In 1868- Dr. McMurtry donated land to be used for a school site and
here was erected a one-room school house which served the Butte Sylvania
District from 1868 to 1874 when it was absorbed into a new school district
known as North Butte (still functioning today with a new school building
dedicated in 1956.
        Dr. McMurtry married Cynthia Van Anglen, sister of Sarah. They moved
to Oakland where he died on March 6, 1892. The remains were brought to Live
Oak and the funeral took place at North Butte. The obituary notice
concluded: "Reverend A. P. Few officiated A very large funeral cortege
followed the remains to the last resting place in the North Butte cemetery.
The following gentlemen were pall bearers: A. H. Lamme, J. H. Meyers, R. K.
Stevenson, J. J. Bruce, E.M. Bragg and C. Williams".
        There passed another pioneer of Sutter county, who, as a dedicated
member of his community and as a leader of his time, has left enriched the
legacy of our county and our state.
        Paul Bunyan might will have had such a man in mind when he penned
"So he passed over and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side."

*The location being referred to here seems to have been inadvertently
omitted.

**I believe this to be a misprint. It should probably read; "Dr. McMurtry"

Transcribed from; SUTTER BUTTES, Land of Histum Yani, Sutter County -
California, By Louise Butts Hendrex: - Victor Robin

From Page 95:

        Dr. William McMurtry owned "Butte Sylvania" near the Pennington
community. His story is a typical tale of the old west.
        A group of Boston men on September 23, 1849 came to Nevada County
and built four cabins on the south side of the ravine. Rev. H. Cummings
headed the mining group whose diggings at the ravine was to yield nearly $4
Million. By 1850, Jules Rossiere had opened a store for the other settlers
in the new community known as Boston Ravine. For two years, Boston Ravine
was a thriving spot for miners and settlers, rivaling nearby Grass Valley.

A hotel and restaurant was opened by McMurtry who was from Kentucky. The
establishment was known as the "Gold Hill Exchange". William McMurtry was
the son of Joseph who came from Wales in 1743 and settled in Philadelphia.
One of his descendants is said to have gone to Kentucky with Daniel Boone in
1778 where he was captured by Indians and held prisoner for a time. Joseph
McMurtry's son John, Was a settler in Mercer County, Kentucky where William
McMurtry was born.
        Dr. William McMurtry began the practice of medicine at the age of 20
years, amassed a small fortune before he purchased a farm near Elizabeth,
Kentucky, gave up medicine, built a sawmill and race track and raised
thoroughbred horses. After his business proved unsuccessful, McMurtry
returned to Louisville and his medical practice. He married Sarah Marie Van
Anglen in 1830. Five children were born to the couple. McMurtry with his 18
year old son, John, purchased four oxen and came to California in 1894 to
seek his fortune with others in the goldfields.
        The McMurtrys arrived at Lawson's ranch south of Oroville in Butte
County. Heavy rains fell that season so McMurtry and his son built a small
cabin some ten miles below the mouth of Deer Creek and made clapboards.
McMurtry worked in a restaurant and mined at Lone Bar in 1850. He was able
to purchase some steers which had been driven across the plains. These he
sold at considerable profit after fattening them up. With this surplus,
McMurtry opened the "Gild Hill Exchange" at Boston Ravine and in the spring
of 1851 he returned to Kentucky for his family, renting out his business.
        McMurtry bought land near Pennington on his return to California and
made considerable improvements on the place. In 1852, it is recorded that
McMurtry, with others, developed an iron harrow to break up the ground. This
was a great improvement on the primitive farm implements then in use.
McMurtry continued his hotel business but offered credit too freely until
1854 when he turned his energies to the farm to raise chickens and hogs.
Chicken feed for one year totaled $550 but eggs sold for $.75 a dozen so
McMurtry netted $1000 the first year.
        Returning to his medical practice at this time, McMurtry also
entered into sheep raising. Some 2700 acres of land was acquired in the
northwest area of Sutter County. The ranch was named "Butte Sylvania" and
was covered with great white oaks and live oak trees. Some of the acreage
was rented out with much of the land devoted to wheat raising.
        Wheat harvesting until the 1880's was done by Indians with flails
consisting of a free swinging stick (swiple or swingle) tied to the end of
another stick. By 1892 combines were used to sack the grain.
        In 1868 Dr. McMurtry donated land for the one-room school for the
Butte Sylvania District, later the North Butte District. After the death of
his wife. McMurtry married his sister-in-law, Cynthia Van Anglen, and moved
to Oakland. He died on March 6, 1892 and was buried with ceremonies at the
North Butte Cemetery.