HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 2018 SLOWhatHistory of SLO: Pioneers’ Story
WITH JOSEPH CAROTENUTI, CITY HISTORIAN/ARCHIVIST
Parker H. French
For those just tuning in, we last spoke with John Jacob
Simmler on his adventures traveling from Germany
to San Luis Obispo. On the final leg of his journey,
a companion was Parker Hardin French. As in the
past, we asked if French would be another pioneer
to interview. Simmler was not enthusiastic about the
prospect but simply said “French is not a reputable
person.”
Nonetheless, his tale is worth remembering but we will
periodically add some notes to clarify what was one
of the most unusual trips to this region by the earliest
pioneers. There are several contemporary accounts – all
unfavorable – of his exploits to fill-in the gaps.
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Thank you for joining us today. Let’s start with some
information about your early years.
“And thank you for inviting me. To start, there is not
much to tell about those years. I was born in Kentucky,
orphaned at an early age and taken in by a neighbor,
Judge Edwards. I didn’t realize it then but having been
around someone with a legal background helped me
in later life. Eventually, I married his daughter. But I’m
getting ahead of myself.
It wasn’t a happy time for me and I left home when I
was about 15 and headed for New Orleans.
I had no plans so when the opportunity came along, I
signed up as a cabin boy with the British. I would soon
become more of a “powder monkey” as my employers
were battling the Chinese.”
(NOTE: First Opium War from 1839 to 1842)
“I next went to St. Louis that was really a frontier town
at the time. Developing a trade in selling provisions, I
was able to make some money during this time and
that’s when Lucretia and I married in 1849. About
this time, everyone was taking about going to
California for the new gold strike. All sorts of men
wanted to strike it rich and left everything behind
to head for the gold fields.
The problem was getting to the distant country
from the east coast. I decided to build a 700-ton
vessel to sail to New Orleans and then sail off to
the west. I wasn’t exactly sure of the length of the
journey but with my years at sea, I was sure I could
determine the details. Unfortunately, while this was
a good idea, I was unable to complete the project.”
(NOTE: Contrary to his beliefs, French soon
determined the trip would be too long for the eager
future miners, abandoned the project as well as
investors and outstanding debts. Any assets were
sold by the sheriff while French had relocated
elsewhere.)
But you were still interested to go to California?
“Yes, but not directly. I still believed there was a
good business to be made bringing settlers west.
This time, I was sure a caravan overland would be
quicker that trying to do so by sea. So, I relocated
to New York City and began recruiting clients who
wanted to seek gold.”
Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com Visit: www.joefromslo.com 10/2018