Sutter, John Augustus, 1803-1880

Sutter, California pioneer, had gold discovered on his estate in 1848, prompting the Gold Rush.

From the description of ALS, 1856 September 7 : Hock Farm, to Colonel (James G.G.F. Warren?). (Copley Press, J S Copley Library). WorldCat record id: 16723069

From the description of ALS, 1851 June 25 : Hock Farm, to General John Wilson, San Francisco. (Copley Press, J S Copley Library). WorldCat record id: 16722847

American pioneer. Owner of Sutter's mill where gold was first discovered in California.

From the description of Autograph, 1852. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122391832

John Augustus Sutter, born Kandern, Germany, in February 1803, of Swiss parents. California pioneer, 1839. Established Sutter's Fort (Sacramento County) and Hock Farm (Sutter County). Agriculturist, military commander under Mexican governor, aided incoming pioneers. Moved to Lititz, Pennsylvania in 1868. Died in Washington, D.C. June 18,1880.

From the description of John Augustus Sutter collection, 1839-1880. (California State Library). WorldCat record id: 58745806

John Augustus Sutter was born in Switzerland and arrived in California in 1839. He colonized the Sacramento Valley, where he built the colony of New Helvetia and Fort Sutter near the present site of Sacramento. The California gold rush, following discovery of gold on Sutter's property at Coloma in 1848, resulted in Sutter's financial ruin.

From the description of Letter : Hock Farm, Sutter County, Calif., to E.W. Taylor and G.W. Beckh, San Francisco, Calif., 1851 Oct 14. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82956071

From the description of Letter : Hock Farm, Sutter County, Calif., to E.W. Taylor and G.W. Beckh, San Francisco, Calif., 1851 Oct 14. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702150332

Born Johann Augustus Suter in Baden, Germany. Emigrated to U.S. and in 1841 began a settlement at what is now Sacramento. The California gold rush, which began when gold was discovered on his land in 1848, ruined him financially.

From the description of Deed : Sacramento, Calif., 1849 July 27. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122610760

Sutter was an early California pioneer.

From the description of ALS, 1856 December 17 : Hock Farm, to Colonel J[ame]s G.G.F. Warren, Sacramento City. (Copley Press, J S Copley Library). WorldCat record id: 16723205

Biographical Sketch

John Augustus Sutter, a colorful figure of Swiss parentage who came to the United States in 1834, first settled in Saint Louis, where he operated as a trader on the Santa Fe Trail. Then in 1838, he left for the West via the Oregon Trail with detours to Alaska and the Sandwich Islands before arriving in California in 1839. He obtained a land grant in what is now the Sacramento area, building a fort/trading/trapping post at New Helvetia in 1841 and acquiring property from the Russians at Fort Ross. The gold found in his property in 1848 led to his financial downfall. In 1849 he was one of the delegates to the state constitutional convention. He lived with his family at Hock Farm from 1850 until 1864 when his homestead was burned. He spent his last years in the east.

From the guide to the John Augustus Sutter Papers, 1846-1870, (The Bancroft Library)

Biography

John Augustus Sutter was born in Kandern, Germany in February of 1839. He came to California in 1839 and established Sutter's Fort in Sacramento. He also had a hock farm in Sutter County. An agriculturist and military commander under California's Mexican governor, he aided incoming pioneers. He moved to Lititz, Pennsylvania in 1868 and died in Washington, D.C. June 18, 1880.

From the guide to the John Augustus Sutter Papers, 1839-1879, (California State Library)