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{{Short description|American pioneer}}{{Distinguish|Charles H. Bennett (illustrator)|Charles H. Bennett (physicist)}}{{Infobox military person |
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{{Infobox military personiance= United States of America |
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1811|8|18}} |
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| death_date = {{death date and age|1855|12|7|1811|8|18}} |
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| image = Salem Pioneer Cemetery Bennett - Oregon.JPG |
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| caption = Charles H. Bennett gravemarker at the [[Salem Pioneer Cemetery]] |
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| allegiance = [[United States|United States of America]] |
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'''Charles H. Bennett''' (18 August 1811 – 7 December 1855) was present at the discovery of gold that initiated the [[California |
'''Charles H. Bennett''' (18 August 1811 – 7 December 1855) was an American soldier and [[Hotel manager|hotelier]] who was present at the discovery of gold that initiated the [[California Gold Rush]] in January 1848. He served in the [[United States Army]] and was captain of a militia unit of the [[Provisional Government of Oregon]]. In later years he operated a hotel in the [[Oregon Territory]] before dying in the [[American Indian Wars]] as a captain of a cavalry unit. |
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==American West== |
==American West== |
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In 1835 Bennett was a [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]] in Company A [[U.S. 1st Cavalry Regiment|United States Regiment of Dragoons]], at [[Fort Leavenworth]], under [[ |
In 1835 Bennett was a [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]] in Company A, [[U.S. 1st Cavalry Regiment|United States Regiment of Dragoons]], at [[Fort Leavenworth]], under General [[Stephen W. Kearny]].<ref name="OS"/> He moved to [[Oregon]] from Fort Leavenworth in 1844.<ref name="SLib">[http://photos.salemhistory.net/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/max&CISOPTR=4421&REC=1 'Burial site of Captain Charles Bennett in the Oddfellows Cemetery (now Pioneer Cemetery) in Salem, Oregon', ''salemcity.org'']. Retrieved 27 August 2006.</ref> In May 1846 he was involved with forming the [[Oregon Rangers]] mounted rifle company, where he was selected as the captain of the group.<ref name="Brown">Brown, J. Henry (1892). Political History of Oregon: Provisional Government. The Lewis & Dryden Printing Co.: Portland. p. 236-237</ref> |
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In |
In 1847, he went from [[Oregon Country]] to [[California]] where he was then employed by [[James W. Marshall|James Marshall]] as a carpenter at [[Sutter's Mill]] when gold was discovered. Marshall claimed that at the time that he discovered gold in the mill's tail-race, Bennett was half a mile away at the house.<ref>Sandy Hammond, 'Gold Discovery Date May Not Be Accurate', ''County Times & Review'', (Eldorado, CA: 2004)</ref> This version of events is disputed by [[Stephen Staats]], a lifelong acquaintance who was with him at the time, and later wrote a letter to the ''[[Oregon Statesman]]'', stating: "In 1847 we furnished Bennett with an outfit and he traveled with us to California. He assisted Marshall in building a mill on the American fork of the [[Sacramento River|Sacramento]], and he was the first one that beheld the glittering dust when water was turned into the race for the purpose of clearing it out. Notwithstanding that Marshall has gained worldwide fame as the first discoverer of gold in California..."<ref name="OS">''Oregon Statesman'', 28 March 1931</ref> |
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"In 1847 we furnished Bennett with an outfit and he traveled with us to California. He assisted Marshall in building a mill on the American fork of the Sacramento, and he was the first one that beheld the glittering dust when water was turned into the race for the purpose of clearing it out. Notwithstanding that Marshall has gained worldwide fame as the first discoverer of gold in California, we have always claimed that an Oregon man, Bennett, was the first one whose eagle eye beheld the shining ore as it sparkled through the rippling of the water. Bennett, Salem’s pioneer citizen, first gazed upon and held in his hand the gold which made San Francisco what she is today, and had it not been for that discovery the Bennett house never would have been built."<ref name="OS">''Oregon Statesman'', 28 March 1931</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In 1850 Bennett built the Bennett House hotel in [[Salem, Oregon]]. He extended the property by building a High Street frontage to the eastern side in 1852 and it became the town's principal hotel. In the winter of 1852–1853, nearly the entire [[Oregon Territorial Legislature|territorial legislature]] was quartered there, including [[Matthew Deady|Judge Matthew Deady]], [[Asahel Bush|Hon. Asahel Bush]], [[Joseph Meek]], [[George K. Shiel|Colonel George K. Shiel]], [[James W. Nesmith]], [[Delazon Smith]], [[James K. Kelly]], [[Benjamin Harding]], [[John Whiteaker]], [[Nathaniel Ford]] of Polk county, and [[George Law Curry]]. In 1854, the U. S. [[Surveyor General]]'s office for Oregon was removed to Salem, and occupied rooms at the Bennett House for some time.<ref>'A Big Blaze. The Bennett House Burnt to ashes', ''Oregon Statesman'', September 4, 1868</ref> |
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Capt. Edward von Pfister was one of Benicia’s early settlers. He was born in 1813 in Albany, N.Y., and engaged in the seagoing trade. Reaching the California coast in 1846, von Pfister decided California was the place to settle. He sailed to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) to pick up cargo to establish a general store. On returning, Semple sought him out to convince him to bring his cargo and move to Benicia. Von Pfister agreed. A timely arrival, he furnished the swallow-tail coats and white linen pants at $15 apiece for the 12 men in Benicia’s first big wedding, Robert Semple to Frances Ann Cooper. |
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==Steamboat activity== |
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Von Pfister opened his store in 1848. The building was a 40-by-25-foot adobe: a portion of the adobe remains to this day. It is thought to be the first store in Solano County. It was a gathering place by day and bar and hotel at night. Von Pfister often accepted “California Bank Bills,” cow hides valued at $1.50 each. Barley, corn and produce were also traded for merchandise. |
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Bennett was one of several shareholders who built the steamship ''[[Canemah (sidewheeler)|''Canemah'']]''. Bennett was the captain of the sternwheeler [[Wallamet (sternwheeler)|''Wallemet'']] in April 1854, when the boiler of the steamer [[Gazelle (sidewheeler 1854)|''Gazelle'']] exploded while both boats were lying at [[Canemah, Oregon]].<ref name = Explosion1884>{{cite news |
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| title = Explosion of the Steamer Gazelle |
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| url = http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_dat=image/v2:11A73E5827618330@EANX-NB-1235E94EC6CA3478@2409257-123051DF2BF6CE78@1&rft_id=info:sid/infoweb.newsbank.com&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0 |
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| newspaper = [[Morning Oregonian]] |
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| location = Portland, OR |
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| volume = 24 |
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| number = 7,447 |
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| editor = H.W. Scott |
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| editor-link = Harvey W. Scott |
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| publisher =[[Henry Pittock|H.L. Pittock]] |
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| publication-date = March 21, 1884 |
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|page=2 col. 3 |
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}}</ref> |
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==Marriage== |
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It was in this adobe the first word of the discovery of gold was leaked. Charley Bennett, a trusted messenger of Sutter’s, was on his way to Monterey with gold samples and a land-lease agreement between Sutter and the Indians of Coloma. While waiting for the boat to San Francisco, Bennett stopped in at von Pfister’s. In the course of conversation with some men, he spilled the beans about the gold discovery. The Gold Rush was on! Immediately, the majority of the male population of Benicia headed for the hills. |
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Bennett was married to Mary Ann Shannon.<ref name="SLib"/> |
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http://www.solanoarticles.com/history/index.php/weblog2/more/benicia_born_as_port_spurred_by_gold_rush/ |
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| ⚫ | In 1850 |
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| ⚫ | Promoted to the [[Captain (United States)|captaincy]] of Company F, [[Oregon Mounted Volunteers]], Bennett was killed in action at [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] on the [[Touchet River]] in southeastern Washington, near [[Fort Wallula]], in 1855 during the [[Yakima War]]. His body was brought back to Salem aboard the ''Canemah''. It was met by a salute fired by the town's citizens before being buried in the [[Salem Pioneer Cemetery|Odd Fellows cemetery]] with [[Freemasonry|Masonic]] honors.<ref>''Oregon Statesman'', 29 January 1856 p. 3</ref> |
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His memorial is a white marble obelisk, 6 feet in height with a square pointed cap, a Masonic carving of the [[All-seeing eye]] gazing upon an open book. The inscription reads "Capt. Charles Bennett. Died Dec 7 1855. Aged 41 yrs, 3 mo, 20 days. Capt. Chas. Bennett was the discoverer of gold in California, and fell in defense of his country at Walla Walla."<ref>''Ladd & Bush Quarterly'' Vol. II, No. 4 (December 1914) pp. 2-4</ref> |
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Bennett was one of several shareholders who built the steamship ''[[Canemah (sidewheeler)|Canemah]]''. He was married to Mary Ann Shannon.<ref name="SLib"/> |
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| ⚫ | Promoted to the [[Captain (United States)|captaincy]] of Company F, [[Oregon Mounted Volunteers]], Bennett was killed in action at [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] on the [[Touchet River]] in southeastern Washington, near [[Fort Wallula]], in 1855 during the [[Yakima War]]. His body was brought back to Salem aboard the ''Canemah''. It was met by a salute fired by the town's citizens before being buried in the [[Salem Pioneer Cemetery|Odd Fellows cemetery]] with [[Freemasonry|Masonic]] honors.<ref>''Oregon Statesman'', 29 January 1856 p. 3</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{Portal|Biography |
{{Portal|Biography}} |
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{{Clear}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*[http://photos.salemhistory.net/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/max&CISOPTR=4421&REC=1 Photograph of the burial site of Captain Charles Bennett] from Salem Public Library |
*[http://photos.salemhistory.net/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/max&CISOPTR=4421&REC=1 Photograph of the burial site of Captain Charles Bennett] from Salem Public Library |
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{{Willamette River Steamboats}} |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American pioneer |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = 18 August 1811 |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = |
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| DATE OF DEATH = 7 December 1855 |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Charles H.}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Charles H.}} |
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[[Category:1811 births]] |
[[Category:1811 births]] |
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[[Category:Burials at Salem Pioneer Cemetery]] |
[[Category:Burials at Salem Pioneer Cemetery]] |
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[[Category:Oregon pioneers]] |
[[Category:Oregon pioneers]] |
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[[Category:Military personnel from Oregon]] |
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Latest revision as of 23:41, 8 July 2024
Charles H. Bennett | |
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 Charles H. Bennett gravemarker at the Salem Pioneer Cemetery | |
| Born | August 18, 1811 |
| Died | December 7, 1855 (aged 44) Walla Walla, Washington |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1835-1844, 1855 |
| Rank | Sergeant, Captain |
| Unit | Company A United States Regiment of Dragoons |
| Commands | Oregon Rangers Company F, Oregon Mounted Volunteers |
| Battles / wars | Yakima War |
Charles H. Bennett (18 August 1811 – 7 December 1855) was an American soldier and hotelier who was present at the discovery of gold that initiated the California Gold Rush in January 1848. He served in the United States Army and was captain of a militia unit of the Provisional Government of Oregon. In later years he operated a hotel in the Oregon Territory before dying in the American Indian Wars as a captain of a cavalry unit.
American West
[edit]In 1835 Bennett was a Sergeant in Company A, United States Regiment of Dragoons, at Fort Leavenworth, under General Stephen W. Kearny.[1] He moved to Oregon from Fort Leavenworth in 1844.[2] In May 1846 he was involved with forming the Oregon Rangers mounted rifle company, where he was selected as the captain of the group.[3]
In 1847, he went from Oregon Country to California where he was then employed by James Marshall as a carpenter at Sutter's Mill when gold was discovered. Marshall claimed that at the time that he discovered gold in the mill's tail-race, Bennett was half a mile away at the house.[4] This version of events is disputed by Stephen Staats, a lifelong acquaintance who was with him at the time, and later wrote a letter to the Oregon Statesman, stating: "In 1847 we furnished Bennett with an outfit and he traveled with us to California. He assisted Marshall in building a mill on the American fork of the Sacramento, and he was the first one that beheld the glittering dust when water was turned into the race for the purpose of clearing it out. Notwithstanding that Marshall has gained worldwide fame as the first discoverer of gold in California..."[1]
In 1850 Bennett built the Bennett House hotel in Salem, Oregon. He extended the property by building a High Street frontage to the eastern side in 1852 and it became the town's principal hotel. In the winter of 1852–1853, nearly the entire territorial legislature was quartered there, including Judge Matthew Deady, Hon. Asahel Bush, Joseph Meek, Colonel George K. Shiel, James W. Nesmith, Delazon Smith, James K. Kelly, Benjamin Harding, John Whiteaker, Nathaniel Ford of Polk county, and George Law Curry. In 1854, the U. S. Surveyor General's office for Oregon was removed to Salem, and occupied rooms at the Bennett House for some time.[5]
Steamboat activity
[edit]Bennett was one of several shareholders who built the steamship Canemah. Bennett was the captain of the sternwheeler Wallemet in April 1854, when the boiler of the steamer Gazelle exploded while both boats were lying at Canemah, Oregon.[6]
Marriage
[edit]Bennett was married to Mary Ann Shannon.[2]
Death
[edit]Promoted to the captaincy of Company F, Oregon Mounted Volunteers, Bennett was killed in action at Walla Walla on the Touchet River in southeastern Washington, near Fort Wallula, in 1855 during the Yakima War. His body was brought back to Salem aboard the Canemah. It was met by a salute fired by the town's citizens before being buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery with Masonic honors.[7]
His memorial is a white marble obelisk, 6 feet in height with a square pointed cap, a Masonic carving of the All-seeing eye gazing upon an open book. The inscription reads "Capt. Charles Bennett. Died Dec 7 1855. Aged 41 yrs, 3 mo, 20 days. Capt. Chas. Bennett was the discoverer of gold in California, and fell in defense of his country at Walla Walla."[8]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Oregon Statesman, 28 March 1931
- ^ a b 'Burial site of Captain Charles Bennett in the Oddfellows Cemetery (now Pioneer Cemetery) in Salem, Oregon', salemcity.org. Retrieved 27 August 2006.
- ^ Brown, J. Henry (1892). Political History of Oregon: Provisional Government. The Lewis & Dryden Printing Co.: Portland. p. 236-237
- ^ Sandy Hammond, 'Gold Discovery Date May Not Be Accurate', County Times & Review, (Eldorado, CA: 2004)
- ^ 'A Big Blaze. The Bennett House Burnt to ashes', Oregon Statesman, September 4, 1868
- ^ H.W. Scott, ed. (March 21, 1884). "Explosion of the Steamer Gazelle". Morning Oregonian. Vol. 24, no. 7, 447. Portland, OR: H.L. Pittock. p. 2 col. 3.
- ^ Oregon Statesman, 29 January 1856 p. 3
- ^ Ladd & Bush Quarterly Vol. II, No. 4 (December 1914) pp. 2-4
External links
[edit]- Photograph of the burial site of Captain Charles Bennett from Salem Public Library