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Show John Tanner and His Family 170 the Chino Ranch where they expected to purchase the large estate warmly making a Mormon settlement. They Mr. Williams who knew Captain Hunt and William Mathews from Battalion days and who had met Charles C. Rich and possibly Amasa M. Lyman. But Williams had changed his mind to preparatory received were by since his last to sell. correspondence with Rich and he no longer wished blow this was to the California-bound Mormons and particularly to their leaders. One wonders why the large pioneer train of a hundred families and a total of nearly 450 people would have been permitted to leave Utah and come to California with nothing more definite than some conversations a year or more old What a and some letters expressing a willingness to sell. And now a fickle California rancher had changed his mind. These Mormon settlers were better farmers than businessmen. They were to pay dearly for this misplaced trust. The wagon train, which Lyman and Rich had left on the north side of the San Bernardino Mountains, made its weary way to the prearranged location in a sycamore grove near the mouth of Cajon Pass and awaited the return of Lyman and Rich and their companions. They had not long to wait for the answer, but what a disappoint ing one. There was nothing to do but make the best of a bad situation, and the leaders set about to see what else they could find. After making some preliminary investigations, they called on Jose del Carmen Lugo, oldest of the three brothers who owned the San Ber nardino Rancho. He manifested a slight interest, but like the others of his race, he chose not to be in a hurry. Three months, eleven days, and something like fifty meetings later, negotiations were completed and the frustrated Saints, who spent the whole summer in cramped quarters in their covered wagons, were ready to begin life anew in San Bernardino." To while away the time as painlessly as possible during long months, from June 11 when they reached the sycamore grove summer until 22 when they were ready to take possession of the the rancho, settlers, true to Latter-day Saints custom, held many A stake was organized and conference meetings held. meetings. David Seely became president, Samuel Rolfe first counselor, and Simeon Andrews second counselor. A High Council with its twelve members, including in its membership Sidney Tanner, oldest and most September |
