Glances at California, 1847-1853

William Hutton (1826-1901) left Washington, D.C. for California in 1847 as a clerk to his uncle, an army paymaster. He remained for six years, returning east to a distinguished career in civil engineering. Glances at California (1942) chronicles his six years in the state, beginning with his voyage via Panama and life with the U.S. Army occupation forces, 1847-49, and travel to Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Mazatlán. In June 1849 he accompained Edward O.C. Ord on a surveying expedition to Los Angeles and later worked as a surveyor in San Luis Obispo and as assistant to Henry W. Halleck at a Santa Clara County quicksilver mine and a San Francisco law office.