Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Finding aid of the Benjamin Dewell Papers C058830
C058830  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access note
  • Conditions Governing Use note
  • Preferred Citation note
  • Donor
  • Biographical/Historical note
  • Scope and Contents note
  • Existence and Location of Originals note

  • 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.

    Conditions Governing Use note

    There are no restrictions on access.

    Preferred Citation note

    Benjamin Dewell Papers. The Society of California Pioneers.

    Donor

    Donor and date of acquisition unknown.

    Biographical/Historical note

    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.

    Scope and Contents note

    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.