CALIFORNIO GIRL

About the Book

The earlier travelers on the Oregon Trail were primarily interested in settling in the fertile valleys of Oregon´s Willamette Valley and the farmlands of California. Protestant missionaries and their followers also constituted a substantial group of the early white settlers.

With the advent of the discovery of gold in California in 1848, what has been a mere trickle of emigrants grew into a frantic horde of hopefuls seeking the riches of the gold fields. It is estimated that a half-million people utilized the Trail during the five year period from 1848 to 1853.

Most of the gold seekers were disillusioned by their fruitless quest for the precious metal and were forced to find employment in other fields.

A certain element of the new arrivals grasped the opportunity to seek their fortunes in businesses that catered to the needs of the growing populace.

Such was the case of Percy and Ellen Blackwell, who were fortunate to find their gold-mine when they arrived in San Francisco and purchased a warehouse that was overflowing with equipment and tools that were in great demand by the gold seekers.

They were married at Independence Rock as they traveled the Oregon Trail, and upon their arrival in California they were swept up in a frenzy of profitable enterprises.

Maria Morales was a fiery Mexican girl whose beauty was over-shadowed by her prowess with revolvers as she sought revenge for the murder of her guardian uncle and the subsequent rape and humiliation by the marauding Domino outlaw gang. As she recovered from the beating and the rapes, she was taken by a friend to the care of Ellen Blackwell. The exploits of these two diverse young women became legendary in the new state of California.

Will Blair was a young Australian who loathed his work in the sheep shearing sheds of his native country, and as a consequence he opted for the life of a sailor. This pursuit was of short duration, however, as he arrived in San Francisco and joined the frenzied hordes that were abandoning all else and heading for the mother-lode. His chance meeting with Percy Blackwell resulted in an enduring partnership.

Quan and Min Li were Chinese Emigrants from Hong Kong. Through a series of unfortunate events, they were marooned in San Francisco. Eventually, they were employed by the Blackwells at the sprawling American River Ranch where they were secure, however, Quan was obsessed by his longing to return to Hong Kong, but Min Li adapted well to her new lifestyle and developed a lasting friendship with Ellen and Maria.

The merging association of these diverse cultures, and the events that shaped their lives is the central theme of the book, "Californio Girl".

About the Author

Born in Texas, 7-6-1926. A California resident since 1941. Served in the U S army during WW2 in the Pacific. A, retired, licensed home builder, with keen interest of Native American culture and history. Traveled extensively in Western U S., also the complete Oregon Trail and the Route of Lewis and Clark. This book is the direct result of these interests.