William L. Manly

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William Lewis Manly (St. Albans, Vermont, 1820, 6 April, - Lodi, California, 1903) is an American pioneer of the mid-nineteenth century. He was at first a fur hunter, a guide of caravans towards the West, seeker of gold, then farmer and writer at last. He wrote his own autobiography, published first with the title From Vermont to California second with the title Death Valley in '49, that tells of the Pioneer conquest of America's Far West, in particular the 1848 California Gold Rush. The 10th chapter of the second version is remarkable in that it tells of the adventurous crossing of Timbisha valley.

1 First years
2 California Gold rush
3 Farmer
4 Writer
5 Death
6 The autobiography Death Valley in '49
7 Awards
8 See also
9 References
10 External links

[edit] First years

In 1829, at the age of nine, Manly left for Ohio with his family. Later, as a pioneer, he went to Michigan, while it was not yet a state; he then went fur trapping]] in Wisconsin as well as in Ohio and Dakota Territory. As an expert hunter and with knowledge of Native Americans, he navigated the Colorado River.

[edit] California Gold rush

In 1849, at 29, Manly travelled through Death Valley as part of the California gold rush.

[edit] Farmer

In 1850, at 30 years old, Manly returned to Saint Clara Valley and bought 250 acres (101 hectares) south of San Jose, paying 16 dollars an acre, 4,000 dollars in all. He planted a farm. In 1862, at the age of 42 years, Manly married Mary Jane Woods of Lodi, California.

[edit] Writer

The notes Manly kept from his youth, which he planned to compile in his autobiography, were lost in a fire. In 1886, at the age of 66, Manly published for first time From the Vermont to California in Santa Clara Valley, a monthly agricultural review. In the compilation of his memories, Manly contacted all the relevant persons possible, then with the aid of a publishing assistant wrote the greater part of his autobiography, The Death Valley in '49 , published as a book in 1894, at San Jose from Pacific Tree and Vine Company.

[edit] Death

In 1903, to the age of 83 years, William Lewis Manly died close to Lodi, in California.

[edit] The autobiography Death Valley in '49

The title Manly chose for his own autobiography was From Vermont to California ; the title was changed to Death Valley in '49", ostensibly to encourage sales, although Death Valley is only spoken of in the 10th chapter.

This book, with many others on the same argument, is highly recommended reading because through storys, anecdotes, we can get a precise idea of an old fashion Far West age, in particular in this book is spoken about the 1849 California gold rush. This successful book has a lot of cited on other books in the years succeeded till now, because the ugly adventure succeeded in the Timbisha Valley or Deep Valley, has made to change it name just in Death Valley, even if in the Death Valley never died nearly nobody, because Manly and John H.Rogers action saves all their companion.

[edit] Awards

William Lewis Manly rescued several families of pioneers from Death Valley during the 1849 California Gold Rush. For this reason, three points of interest in Death Valley bear his name: the Manly Beacon near Zabriskie Point, the Manly Peak, situated at South between Panamint Valley and the Death Valley, and Lake Manly, the ancient dried lake in Death Valley.