H. C. Cardwell

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Hemen "H. C." Cardwell (c. 1819 – 1859) was a pioneer settler in California who served in the Mexican–American War, served as Zanjero of Los Angeles, was a major contributor to early California business and agriculture, and served in the first California State Assembly in 1849–1850.

Personal[edit]

Cardwell was born in Vermont but moved to Steuben County, New York, in his early years. In January, 1841 he left home on a whaling voyage. After visiting many ports of the Pacific, he arrived in California in 1844, and for some time was a resident of Los Angeles.[1]

Cardwell married Maria Susana Wolfskill, daughter of Los Angeles rancher and agronomist William Wolfskill in 1853.[2] He constructed a new house on land adjoining the Wolfskill property in 1858.[3] H. C. and Susana had four children: a daughter, Ellen, who died July 21, 1854, at the age of 1;[4] William, born January 28, 1855,[5] Charles, born February 17, 1857; and Leonora, born in September 1859—two months after Cardwell's death.[6] Charles died in February 1859.[7]

Cardwell was approximately 40 years of age when he died on July 4, 1859.[8] According to his obituary, "In 1850, he was thrown from a horse, and received injuries from which he never recovered."[9] The U.S. Census Mortality Schedule ending June 1860 listed his cause of death as consumption, indicating that he had suffered from the disease for a period of one year.[10] "His sufferings for a number of years have been great, but he has always displayed a most unconquerable spirit of energy and perseverence [sic]."[11]

Military service[edit]

During the Mexican–American War, Cardwell was one of the hundreds of volunteers who joined John Fremont's California Battalion, serving under Captain Bell.[12][13] Cardwell participated in the Battle of Rio San Gabriel at the Rancho Paso de Bartolo and the Battle of La Mesa in January 1847.[14]

California's First State Assembly[edit]

Following the Mexican–American War, the Gold Rush of 1849 took Cardwell to Sacramento, where he was a partner in the business of Cardwell, Brown & Co. on J Street, between 2nd and 3rd Streets.[15] There is evidence that he had a minor acting career, as well.[16][17] His business acumen, together with his military service, led to his election to the very first California State Assembly, headquartered in San Jose, California, in late 1849.[18][19] He introduced a joint resolution in relation to the pay of judges of the Supreme Court of California.[20]

Civic service[edit]

After his term in the assembly, Cardwell moved to Los Angeles and worked as a clerk at William Wolfskill's ranch.[21] He later served the city as Zanjero of Los Angeles in 1854–1855.[22] His good name was used to endorse political candidates and professionals.[23][24]

Early California agriculture[edit]

Cardwell made several important contributions to early California agriculture. As an employee and later son-in-law of William Wolfskill, Cardwell helped cultivate and farm vast ranchos in the Los Angeles area. He grew oranges, grapes, peaches, pears, apples and olives.[25] As early as 1853, Cardwell was shipping thousands of pounds of produce via the Port of San Pedro.[26] He successfully planted chestnut trees and was somewhat of a legend for his "mammoth" 21.5 pound sweet potatoes.[27][28] He is credited with introducing "heretofore unknown" seedling strawberries to southern California in January 1856.[29][30] He had a reputation for experimenting with and improving crops in southern California.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Greeley, Horace (July 20, 1859). "Horace Greeley on the Plains". Sacramento Daily Union. Vol. 17, no. 2593. California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  2. ^ Wilson, Iris Higbie (1965). William Wolfskill 1798–1866: Frontier Trapper to California Ranchero. Glendale, Calif.: The Arthur H. Clark Company. p. 109.
  3. ^ Wilson, Iris Higbie (1965). William Wolfskill 1798-1866: Frontier Trapper to California Ranchero. Glendale, Calif.: The Arthur H. Clark Company. p. 110.
  4. ^ "Died". Vol. 5, no. 215. Daily Alta Californian. 5 Aug 1854.
  5. ^ United States of America, Bureau of the Census (1900). Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900 (T623, 1854 rolls ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
  6. ^ United States of America, Bureau of the Census (1860). Ninth Census of the United States, 1860 (M653, 1438 rolls ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
  7. ^ Wilson, Iris Higbie (1965). William Wolfskill 1798-1866: Frontier Trapper to California Ranchero. Glendale, Calif.: The Arthur H. Clark Company. p. 110.
  8. ^ Greeley, Horace (July 20, 1859). "Horace Greeley on the Plains". Sacramento Daily Union. Vol. 17, no. 2593. California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  9. ^ "Obituary". Southern Vineyard. Vol. 2, no. 33. 12 Jul 1859.
  10. ^ United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Ninth Nonpopulation Census Schedules for California, 1850–1880 (microfilm, 4 rolls ed.). The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
  11. ^ "Obituary". Southern Vineyard. Vol. 2, no. 33. 12 Jul 1859.
  12. ^ Greeley, Horace (July 20, 1859). "Horace Greeley on the Plains". Sacramento Daily Union. Vol. 17, no. 2593. California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  13. ^ "Says Graves of Heroic Dead Are Desecrated". The Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 28, no. 2. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 3 Oct 1900.
  14. ^ Barrows, Henry D. (1895). "Captain Alexander Bell and the "Bell Block"". Annual Publication of the Historical Society of Southern California, Los Angeles. 3 (3): 11–18. doi:10.2307/41167614. JSTOR 41167614.
  15. ^ "Dissolution". Placer Times. Vol. 1, no. 29. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 24 Nov 1849.
  16. ^ "Amusements". Sacramento Transcript. Vol. 1, no. 47. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 25 June 1850.
  17. ^ Hume, Charles (Aug 1973). "The Eagle: First of the Gold Rush Theaters". Golden Notes. 19 (3): 1–26.
  18. ^ "California State Assembly Journals 1849-1850 Session". California State Assembly, Office of the Chief Clerk. State of California. Retrieved 25 Mar 2015.
  19. ^ "First Legislature of California". Placer Times. Vol. 1, no. 32. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 15 Dec 1849.
  20. ^ "Legislative Proceedings". Daily Alta Californian. Vol. 1, no. 46. California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  21. ^ 1852 California State Census. California State Library: State of California. p. M/F 144, 6 rolls.
  22. ^ "Report of the Treasurer of the City of Los Angeles for the Fiscal Year Ending May 7, 1855". Los Angeles Star. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 2 Jun 1855.
  23. ^ "Communication to the Presidential Electors: The Appointment of a Messenger". Vol. 7, no. 324. Daily Alta Californian. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 30 Nov 1856.
  24. ^ "H. P. Swain, Dentist". Los Angeles Star. Vol. 8, no. 32. 18 Dec 1858.
  25. ^ "Garden Report". Daily Alta Californian. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 16 Apr 1857.
  26. ^ "William Waldo". Vol. 3, no. 15. Los Angeles Star. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 20 Aug 1853.
  27. ^ "The Way They Talk in Southern California". California Farmer and Journal of Useful Sciences. 8 (7): 1. 28 Aug 1857.
  28. ^ "Thanks". Los Angeles Star. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 12 Jan 1856.
  29. ^ Newmark, Maurice H. and Newmark, Marco R. (1916). Sixty Years in Southern California, 1853–1913: Containing the Reminiscences of Harris Newmark. New York: Knickerbocker Press. p. 125. Retrieved 26 Mar 2015.
  30. ^ "Hovey's Seedling Strawberries". Los Angeles Star. Vol. 6, no. 4. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 June 1856.
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