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Amador County Branch 96 - Jackson, California |
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OXEN’S TALE #10 John Sutter and His Fort Part #3 By Frank Tortorich
In April of 1838, Sutter was deep in debt, what’s new? Seeing that things in Westport would only get worse, Sutter decided to leave quietly and in the middle of the night. Sutter joined up with a group of trappers employed by the American Fur Company heading west. These next few months would be some of the fondest memories for John Sutter. John learned about living and surviving in the wilderness. He learned about the fur trapping and trading business. He met some very famous mountain men such as, Jim Bridger, Jed Smith, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Andrew Drips, and others. Somewhere along the way, Sutter decided to go to California and set up an agricultural empire. Sutter was never beyond thinking big. It was suggested to Sutter to continue on to the Hudson Bay Co. headquarters at Fort Vancouver. Ft Vancouver is located on the Columbia River across from present day Portland, OR. Sutter's plan was to go overland from there to California. Being late in the season with snow on the mountains prohibiting overland travel Sutter decided to take a ship to California. As no ships were bound for California for the next few months, Sutter was stranded at Ft. Vancouver. Next time we see Sutter getting to California by way of Hawaii and Alaska. |
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