Finding aid of the Benjamin Dewell Papers C058830
Finding aid prepared by Alexandria Brown
Society of California Pioneers
11/22/2011
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272
(415) 959-1849
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Title: Dewell, Benjamin Papers
Identifier/Call Number: C058830
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
(1 item)
Date: 1885
Abstract: This folder contains 1 1885 letter of correspondence from Dewell to the Society of California Pioneers regarding the veracity
of his claim that he helped construct the original Bear Flag.
creator:
Dewell, Benjamin, 1821-1905
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection open for research.
There are no restrictions on access.
Benjamin Dewell Papers. The Society of California Pioneers.
Donor and date of acquisition unknown.
Dewell was born on October 27, 1821 in Jefferson County, OH. In 1845 he was hired in Dade County, MO by William Bell Elliott
as a drover and came with the Elliotts to California that same year. Also on the wagon train was ten year old Celia H. Elliott.
Dewell married Celia in Santa Rosa, CA on May 5, 1850. They were the first white settlers in Lake County, moving in to Upper
Lake on May 24, 1854. They established a ranch with twenty-two head of horses and one hundred cattle. They had eleven children.
Mr. and Mrs. Dewell were both involved in the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846. Her mother supplied much of the red flannel, and Dewell
and Thomas Cowry sewed it together. Dewell then organized a military company and marched to Los Angeles to fight in the Mexican
War. Dewell died on February 21, 1905 and is buried at Upper Lake Cemetery.
This folder contains 1 1885 letter of correspondence from Dewell to the Society of California Pioneers regarding the veracity
of his claim that he helped construct the original Bear Flag.
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bear Flag Revolt, 1846
Correspondence.