John Calhoun Johnson facts for kids

John Calhoun Johnson (born 1822 – died September 13, 1876) was an adventurous pioneer from Deersville, Ohio. He became a lawyer and ran a large ranch in California. He played an important part in the early days of California, helping to shape the new state.

His first job in the West was delivering mail on snowshoes. He traveled between Placerville and Nevada City. During this time, he gave the name "Bigler's Lake" to the large body of water we now know as Lake Tahoe.

Johnson worked as a lawyer when California was still very new. He even acted as a judge for miners. When California officially joined the United States, Johnson was one of the first lawyers allowed to practice law there. He worked in many northern counties, including El Dorado and Sacramento. He was also a member of one of the first groups of lawmakers in the California State Legislature.

After first arriving in California, he went back to the Midwest. There, he told his friends about the beautiful land and exciting chances in the West. Johnson had a Native American scout friend named Fallen Leaf. Interestingly, John C. Frémont, who was the first white person to see Lake Tahoe in 1844, also had a scout with the same name. This makes people wonder if it was the same person helping both men.

Johnson's Ranch: A Safe Stop

Johnson's Ranch was known as "Six Mile Ranch." It was located about 1 mile northwest of Carson Valley Road, near what is now Camino, California. The ranch and its 320 acres of land became a popular stopping place. It was a safe haven for thousands of people traveling west. This included immigrants, soldiers, and gold seekers. Some stories say that as many as 1,000 people camped at the ranch at one time.

Johnson's Ranch served many purposes. First, it was home to his wife and their nine children. Seven of their children grew up there. The ranch also acted as a way station for travelers crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains. They used Johnson's Pass near Echo Summit. The ranch had a general store that was said to be as good as any in Placerville. It also had a hotel for 14 other people who lived there permanently. The ranch even had a timber mill and many gold mines. The most successful mine was called Mills Mine.

Ranch as a Military Camp

During the American Indian Wars in the 1850s, Johnson's ranch was used as a temporary camp. Militiamen, who were like local soldiers, stayed there. Their job was to protect the communities in the foothills from Native American attacks.

The leader of these militiamen was Uncle Billy Rogers. He was the first Sheriff of El Dorado County. It's thought that Rogers arranged for the soldiers to stay at Johnson's ranch. Johnson and Rogers were also known to be together in Diamond Springs, California.

John Johnson's Legal and Political Work

John Johnson was one of the first lawyers to practice in California. He was also the first Treasurer for El Dorado County. He later became the Secretary of Placerville. Soon after, he was elected as one of eight State Assemblymen for El Dorado County. He served in this role from 1855 to 1856. He was very involved in his community and was an active member of the Democratic Party for most of his life.

Johnson also served in the California Militia during the El Dorado Indian Wars of 1850-1851. This is where he earned his title of "Colonel." It's believed he might have been a Colonel before coming to California, but this is not officially recorded. It's also possible he became a lawyer through his friendships rather than by graduating from a law school.

The End of John Johnson's Journey

John Calhoun Johnson's eventful life came to an end on September 13, 1876. He passed away in Arizona, about 30 miles above Tres Alamos Station and 70 miles southeast of Tucson. The exact spot is not known for sure. It was somewhere near where the Babacomari River meets the San Pedro River.

He was traveling to Arizona to buy a large piece of land. He also wanted to find good farmland for his friends and family. He left his wife, family, and home behind in California. With him were his oldest son, George, his partner Mr. Mowery, and a young man named George Woolfalk. One story says that he had not filed the papers to keep his home in Placerville. So, he traveled with his son George and two other men to Arizona to start a new ranching business in 1876.