Register of the Winkley (John W.) "Major Pierson Barton
Reading, California Pioneer"
Processed by Don Walker; machine-readable finding aid created by
Don Walker
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University Library, University of the
Pacific
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
URL:
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© 1998
University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.
Register of the Winkley (John W.) "Major Pierson Barton Reading, California
Pioneer"
Collection number: Mss167
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University
Library
University of the Pacific
Contact Information
- Processed by:
- Don Walker
- Date Completed:
- August 1998
- Encoded by:
- Don Walker
© 1998 University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Winkley (John W.) "Major Pierson Barton Reading,
California Pioneer"
Collection number: Mss167
Creator:
Extent: 0.25 linear ft.
Repository:
University of the Pacific Library, Holt-Atherton Department of
Special Collections
Shelf location: For current information on the location of
these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language: English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Winkley (John W.) "Major Pierson Barton
Reading, California Pioneer", Mss167, Holt-Atherton Department of Special
Collections, University of the Pacific Library
Biography
Pierson Barton Reading (1816-1868)came to California with Peter
Burnett's party (1843). Upon arrival he applied for lands at the north end of
the Central Valley on the west side of the Sacramento River between Cottonwood
Creek and Flat Creek totaling about twenty-six thousand acres. The grant was
the northernmost Mexican land grant, known as Rancho Buena Ventura, now in
Shasta County. Reading worked for Capt. Sutter until it became probable that
war would be declared against Mexico (1845). He then enlisted under John C.
Fremont and was appointed paymaster of the California Battalion with the rank
of major. He was at Sutter's Fort in March 1848 and quickly returned to his own
lands to search for gold. In the latter part of March he discovered gold and it
was reported that he took out $80,000 worth of the precious metal. In the fall
of 1849 Major Reading fitted out an expedition to discover the bay into which
the Trinity and Klamath rivers must empty. The bark Josephine, in which the
party sailed, was driven by a storm to Vancover Island. He then engaged in
business in Sacramento with Hensley and Snyder (1849-1850).
In 1850 Major Reading visited Washington to settle his accounts as
Paymaster of the California Battalion. In 1851 Reading was nominated Whig
Candidate for governor but was defeated. In 1854 Reading again went east for a
hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court on his land grant claims. There he met
and married Fanny Wallace Washington. Reading then returned (1856) with his
bride by steamship, remaining on his Shasta County ranch and devoting his
attention to agricultural pursuits until his death.
Scope and Content
Manuscript biography by John Winkley of the prominent northern
California pioneer, Major Pierson Barton Reading (1816-1868). Winkley accessed
three collections in his research for this biography: the Reading family papers
in the possession of Major Reading's grand-daughter, Eleanor Lee
Reading-Templeman of Arlington, Virginia; a file at the California State
Library in Sacramento; and, papers at Sutter's Fort, Sacramento. The family
collection includes letters, personal notations, newspaper clippings from
Shasta City, Sacramento, San Francisco, and other towns and a biographical
manuscript on Major Reading by his daughter, Alice Reading. Sutter's Fort holds
a diary kept by Mrs. Pierson B. Reading (1861-1862). The State Library holds
Reading's correspondence.
BOX 1: WINKLEY BIOGRAPHY of PIERSON B. READING
-"Pierson B. Reading" in A Memorial and Biographical
History of Northern California Chicago, Lewis Publishing Company, 1891, pp.
791-792. [photocopy]
1.2: JOHN W. WINKLEY. "MAJOR PIERSON BARTON READING,
CALIFORNIA PIONEER," CHAPT. 1-3
Preface.......................................i-ii
Chapter 1. Life in New Jersey and Mississippi...1
Chapter 2. The Reading Overland Diary, Part
one...5
Chapter 3. The Reading Diary, Part two.18
1.3: JOHN W. WINKLEY. "MAJOR PIERSON BARTON READING,
CALIFORNIA PIONEER," CHAPT. 4-8
Chapter 4. In Old Monterey.............29
Chapter 5. Clerk for Sutter............35
Chapter 6. Trapper and Explorer........42
Chapter 7. The Bear Flag Republic......47
Chapter 8. The California Battalion....53
1.4: JOHN W. WINKLEY. "MAJOR PIERSON BARTON READING,
CALIFORNIA PIONEER," CHAPT. 9-12
Chapter 9. The Gold Digger.............61
Chapter 10. Rancho Buena Ventura.......68
Chapter 11. Reading, the Citizen.......73
Chapter 12. Reading, the Indian Agent..81
1.5: JOHN W. WINKLEY. "MAJOR PIERSON BARTON READING,
CALIFORNIA PIONEER," CHAPT. 13-15
Chapter 13. Marriage to Fannie
Washington...90
Chapter 14, Home and Ranch.............101
Chapter 15. Business Ventures.........111
1.6: JOHN W. WINKLEY. "MAJOR PIERSON BARTON READING,
CALIFORNIA PIONEER," CHAPT. 16-17; NOTES
Chapter 16. Nature Lover..............117
Chapter 17. Journey's Ending...........124
Notes..............................132-145
