John Calhoun Johnson

John Calhoun Johnson (died September 13 1876) was a native of Deersville, Ohio, who practiced law and operated a ranch in California.

Johnson crossed the plains with ox teams in the spring of 1848. His first employment in the West was carrying the mail on snowshoes from Placerville to Nevada City, during which time he gave the name of Bigler's Lake to the body of water now known as Lake Tahoe.

Johnson practiced law in the days of the vigilantes and also acted as judge among the miners. When California was admitted to the Union, Johnson was one of the first lawyers to be admitted to the bar of this state and engaged in practice in El Dorado, Amador, Nevada, Sacramento and other northern counties in the District and Circuit Courts. He was also a member of one of the first sessions of the California Legislature.

California or bust

It is a bit unclear when or even how Johnson came west. One account states a "desert wagon train around 1847-48 carried young lawyer from Cincinnati who proceeded to distinguish himself with his witty public speaking,” something John was always known for. Another account suggests, "He came west with a trail of oxen."

It is known he was boarding guests in California in 1849. Taking into account the time involved in securing land and constructing a prominent boarding house, it places him as a resident of California by at least 1848. There are many accounts of him making various treks in and out of the state and working alongside fellow Ohioans. Shortly after arriving the first time, he returned to the Midwest, where he enlightened several friends and counterparts as to the land, beauty, and opportunities awaiting them out west in the new frontier. Johnson had an Indian scout companion by the name of Fallen Leaf (after which he later named Fallen Leaf Lake) and John C. Fremont (the man who is credited with being the first white man to witness Lake Tahoe in 1844) had a scout with the same name. Bearing in mind this could possibly have been the same person; one would have to wonder if Fallen Leaf was companion to Fremont or Johnson first. [Johnson, M: "Perosnal Journal", page 2-15., 1892]

Johnson's Ranch

Johnson's Ranch, known as “Six Mile Ranch,” was located one mile (1.6 km) northwest of Carson Valley Road east of Placerville, the current location of Camino, California. The ranch and surrounding convert|320|acre|km2|sing=on land-hold steadily became an encampment and safe-haven for immigrants, emigrants, solders, and prospectors who came across the passes. Accounts say that as many as 1000 were camped on the ranch at one time.

Johnson's Ranch served many functions. First and foremost, it was the home to his wife and nine children (seven surviving to adulthood). The ranch also served as a way station for thousands of emigrants crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains via Johnson's Pass and Echo Summit; it contained a general store noted as being "as fair as any store in Placerville," and hotel for 14 other non-family permanent residents. The ranch had a timber mill and was littered with gold mines, the most profitable to be Mills Mine.

Sometime during the Indian Wars of the 1850s, John Johnson's or "Colonel Johnson's" ranch was the temporary encampment to over 800 militiamen entrusted with the job of guarding the foothill communities against Indian invasion.

The militia leader was Uncle Billy Rogers, the first Sheriff of El Dorado County. His relationship with Johnson is somewhat unclear; however, "It was most likely Rogers who made the encampment arrangements with Johnson. Rogers came west on the disastrous Pioneer Line of 1849 with other 'gentlemen' that did not want to try their hand at the trip encumbered with a wagon or pack animals." Johnson and Rodgers are also documented together in Diamond Springs, California.

Work as a lawyer

Johnson was among the first practicing lawyers of California. He was the first Treasurer of El Dorado County, Secretary of Placerville, and soon became one of eight State Assemblymen representing El Dorado County, 1855-56. "He was civic minded and an active member of the Democratic County Committee for most of his life." Johnson served as the first Adjutant General in California for the California Militia during the El Dorado Indian Wars of 1850-51, earning his declared title of Colonel. It is believed, however undocumented, he was an active Colonel prior to arriving in California.

Johnson would have received his education in Ohio, perhaps attending Cincinnati Law School. A recent letter received from this institution declares a person with the name John Johnson as recorded as attending the institution around that time, it is unknown if this is the same John Johnson as this biographical sketch. Another possibility from the correspondence of Robert Ellison (Nevada State Historical Archives and author of Lawmen of Nevada from 1851-1861 and History of The Emigrant Trail Trough Carson Valley From 1848-1852): "You probably won't find an institution awarding J.C. Johnson a law degree. Few Lawyers in the west had them. The majority read at the law under sitting on State Supreme Courts."

It is believed that Johnson arrived in California as a lawyer, by whichever means. Considering Ellison's point, and a contemporary newspaper account mentioning Johnson was "an old classmate" of the then acting Secretary of the Interior, B. R. Cowen (a famous Ohioan), it is quite possible that Johnson was an appointed lawyer through this friendship and not an institutionary graduated lawyer.

Johnson's conclusion

John Calhoun Johnson's colorful life came to its conclusion on September 13 1876, about convert|30|mi|km above Tres Alamos Station, Arizona and convert|70|mi|km southeast of Tucson at the hands of the Apache. The exact location is uncertain. It was around the area of the confluence of the Bairbara Coma Creek and the San Pedro River. His purpose for traveling to Arizona was to purchase a large tract of land, and search for farmable land for friends and relatives. He left his wife, family, and house behind. With him were his oldest son George, his partner Mr. Mowery [Mowry] , and a young man by the name of George Woolfalk. One-account states:

"…he failed to file papers to keep his homestead in the Placerville area and he traveled with his son George and two other unknown men to Arizona to establish another ranching enterprise in 1876."

ee also

*California Gold Rush
*History of California
*Johnson's Cut-off of the California Trail, laid out by Johnson in 1852

References