doc241 - Schoenherr Home Page in Sunny Chula Vista

eaching the open sea, they found the ship was booked for San Francisco. They
begged so hard to be put ashore that the captain finally promised to allow them to return
by the first ship they met; but Crosthwaite related it as a singular circumstance that they
never saw another sail from that day until they reached the Bay of San Diego.
Crosthwaite and his friend, Rhead, deserted here and waited until the Hopewell
had departed. A ship bound for the East came along soon after, but there was room for
only one; there was a toss-up for the vacant berth, and Crosthwaite losing, he gave up
all thought of leaving San Diego. He was strong and adventurous and made his way. In
1846, when the Mexican War broke out, he was on an otter hunting expedition on the
Lower California coast, with Julian Ames, John Post, John C. Stewart, and William Curley.
Learning of the war at the Santa Rosario Mission, they all returned to San Diego
and served in the San Pasqual campaign. They reached the town late at night, and
early the next morning were awakened by a thundering knock at the door. It was Captain
Gillespie, who said: "There can be no neutrals in this country; you must either enlist
for three months (as the war will probably be over by that time), or be imprisoned on the
Congress. He intended to enlist, anyway, but the choice was made easy. A good deal of
the local color concerning the San Pasqual campaign has been derived from his accounts
of it. He was in the midst of it from beginning to end, and was slightly wounded
by Pico's rangers in the slaughter of December 6th. After the troops left for the capture
of Los Angeles, he performed garrison duty until the close of the war.
In 1851, Crosthwaite served in the Garra Insurrection, with the rank of third sergeant.
After these troubles, he was the mainstay of the citizens in preserving the peace,
at the time when the San Francisco "Hounds" were terrorizing the town, and was seriously
wounded in the discharge of his duty, as has been related.
He held a number of offices at an early day, being the first county treasurer, deputy
sheriff several years, and sheriff one or two terms. He was also school commissioner
in 1850, county clerk and recorder in 1853-4, and justice of the peace in 1854.
He lived for several years in Mission Valley, above Old Town, and later owned the San
Miguel Rancho in Lower California. He was lessee of the San Diego Mission in 1848,
and later went to the mines. He also kept a store in Old Town, and later in
Page 271
[Philip Crosthwaite]
Page 272
new San Diego, in partnership with Mr. Whaley. His old ledger, kept in 1853, is now
owned by Mr. Joseph Jessop, and shows many curious things. The first entry in it shows
the sale of over $200 worth of provisions to Lieutenant Derby, for the use of the Indians
working on the San Diego River dam. The prices charged are also very interesting, now.
He purchased the San Miguel Rancho in 1861 and removed to Lower California,
but still spent much of his time in San Diego. He was an active and earnest Freemason,
and the first Worshipful Master of San Diego Lodge No. 35--the oldest lodge in the
Southwest. When Lieutenant Derby left San Diego, he presented Crosthwaite with the