Sketches From The Life of Peg-Leg Smith (ePub)

James Mason Hutchings was born in England on February 10, 1820, immigrated to America in 1848, and traveled to California in 1849 during the Gold Rush. He became wealthy as a miner but lost it all in a bank failure. He became wealthy again from publishing.

On July 5th, 1855, James Hutchings set out on what would be one of the most historic trips of the region, leading the second tourist party into Yosemite. He then became one of the first settlers in Yosemite Valley. Hutchings published an illustrated magazine, Hutchings' California Magazine, which told the world about Yosemite and the Sierra. It was said that upon "... the return of Hutchings' party, the descriptions staggered the skeptics and silenced the croakers." And, from this time forward tourist visits commenced to Yosemite.

He was a tireless promoter of himself and Yosemite. When Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees became a state park in 1864, according to the grant there could be no privately owned land in the park. He had paid $400 in gold for 160 acres that he cultivated and planted into gardens and orchards, and upon which he built his house and barn. Yosemite was his home, and Hutchings believed he was entitled to 160 acres of land in the valley under the preemption laws. He sued unsuccessfully to have 160 acres deeded to himself in Yosemite Valley. However, he did receive a settlement from the state to help compensate for his loss of land. Hutchings was an innkeeper for the Calaveras Big Tree Grove Hotel north of Yosemite. While visiting Yosemite on October 31, 1902, he was killed when his horse shied and run away, throwing him and his wife off the wagon. He was thrown head first into a pile rocks and died within minutes.

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