Captain Granville Perry Swift

California Pioneer and Sonoma Bear

by Billie Hobart, Ed.D.


Formats

Softcover
£9.16
Softcover
£9.16

Book Details

Language : English
Publication Date : 01/06/2001

Format : Softcover
Dimensions : 5x8
Page Count : 108
ISBN : 9780759606333

About the Book

Read the life of a true man among the men of early California--Captain Granville Perry Swift, trapper, pioneer, grand-nephew of Daniel Boone, and Bear Flagger. A dauntless pioneer of the first class, of noble presence, generous and open-handed, Swift was said to be the Adonis of all the handsome men among the early settlers.

From age ten on he traveled the Rocky Mountain and the Santa Fe trails with his uncle Nat Walker (a well-known trapper and trader in the early 1800's), came to California as a hunter and trapper in 1841. Successful ranching in northern Sacramento Valley placed him in the position of a leader with the group of men who stormed the Mexican garrison at Sonoma in 1846. This action is known as the Bear Flag Revolt and resulted in California becoming a United States republic. Under the command of John Fremont, he was made captain in the US Army during the Mexican War. Kit Carson was a close companion during the war. After the war he was in the right place at the right time and became rich by the early gold workings by 1848. His riches moved him definitely out of his known milieu as he moved from Colusa County to Sonoma in 1856, and began to enter high society, married, and built a mansion.

Thanks to total access to all family papers and records, this book tells the story that has never been told fully until now of the life and times of Captain Granville Perry Swift--a California Bear Flagger, a man among men, and a noble pioneer.


About the Author

Author Billie Hobart is a writer with an eclectic range of publications including, humanities, personal and spiritual growth, poetry, fiction, and now historical biography. She is a community college professor with a rich academic background in literature, psychology, and academic organization as well as being trained in historical research. She became interested in Captain Swift’s story when she was involved in creating a 140th birthday celebration for Temelee Hall, the mansion the Captain built in 1858, in Sonoma, California.