Edward Turner Bale facts for kids

Edward Turner Bale (born in 1810, died in 1849) was a doctor, businessman, and ranch owner from England. He moved to California and became known as Don Eduardo A. Bale. He is famous for building the Bale Grist Mill in Napa County, California.

Edward Bale's Early Life and Work

Edward Bale came to California from England in 1837. He arrived in Monterey, California on a ship called the H.M.S. Harriet. He was the ship's doctor. Soon after, he became the main doctor for the Mexican Army. This army was led by General Mariano Vallejo.

Becoming a Ranch Owner

In 1839, Edward Bale married Maria Ignacia Soberanes. She was General Vallejo's niece. Bale became a citizen of Mexico in 1841. That same year, he received a large piece of land. This was called a land grant, and his land was named Rancho Carne Humana. It stretched between what are now the towns of Rutherford and Calistoga, California.

Building the Bale Grist Mill

Bale finished building the Bale Grist Mill in 1846. This mill is located between St. Helena and Calistoga. The same year, the Bear Flag Revolt happened. This was when California declared its independence from Mexico. It is thought that members of the Bear Flag Party might have met at Bale's mill before they captured Sonoma.

Later Years

During the California Gold Rush, Edward Bale tried to find gold. He caught a fever while mining and never got better. He died on October 9, 1849.

Edward Bale's Legacy

Edward Bale's daughter, Carolina, married a winemaker named Charles Krug in 1860. Bale's wife made sure that Carolina would keep 20 acres (about 0.08 square kilometers) of land. This land was north of St. Helena. Charles Krug then planted a vineyard on this land.

The town of Bale, California, is named after him.