Places: CA-Converse Basin

Converse Basin-6,302' (Hume) (36.7993906, -118.9676088)
Legal: T13S, R28E, Sec7,8 , 17, 18

	Deg	Min	Vertical Deg	Min	Distance	Visible
Delilah	92	12	2	28	8.4
Park Ridge	345	41	-2	31	5.4
Buck Rock	305	59	-3	47	7.4

Converse Basin Grove-6,253' (Hume) (36.8057796, -118.9784425)
Legal:T13S, R28E, Sec7,

	Deg	Min	Vertical Deg	Min	Distance	Visible
Delilah	89	7	2	30	7.8
Park Ridge	341	8	-2	41	6.0
Buck Rock	306	2	-4	0	8.1

Converse Mountain-7,247' (Hume) (36.8190415, -118.9471546)
Legal: T11S, R28E, Sec__

	Deg	Min	Vertical Deg	Min	Distance	Visible
Delilah	83	45	3	21	9.6	The tip over Park Ridge
Park Ridge	358	21	0	32	6.6
Buck Rock	319	46	-1	12	7.5	Yes

Converse Mountain Grove-6,443' (Hume) (36.82439, -118.9409415)
Legal: T11S, R28E, Sec__

	Deg	Min	Vertical Deg	Min	Distance	Visible
Delilah	81	51	2	23	10.0
Park Ridge	1	18	-1	18	7.0
Buck Rock	323	36	-2	2	7.5

Converse Creek-7,247' (Hume) (36.8190415, -118.9471546)
Legal: T11S, R28__E, Sec__

	Deg	Min	Vertical Deg	Min	Distance	Visible
Delilah	60	47	-5	25	7.5
Park Ridge	341	1	-6	11	9.7
Buck Rock	316	55	-6	18	11.4

Description : Trips : References : Pictures 


Description:
Once contained a very extensive grove of the finest big trees; now completely destroyed by lumbering.
Charles Converse took up timberlands here in the ’70s. He had come to California in 1849, and was in the vicinity of Millerton about 1852. He ran a ferry across the San Joaquin at what is now Friant until 1869. Built the first jail in Fresno County, and was the first person confined in it. (L. A. Winchell, George W. Stewart.)  Place Names of the High Sierra (1926) by Francis P. Farquhar

There is a sign on the Indian Basin Grove Interpretive Trail which has information on Converse. It also talks about his wife who eventually divorced him.

From the Family Search site: When Charles Portor Converse was born on 13 November 1829, in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan Territory, United States, his father, Elijah Damon Converse, was 39 and his mother, Rebecca Abbott, was 37. He married Eunice Charlotte Henderson on 21 February 1869, in Fresno, California, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He lived in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, United States in 1850 and Fresno, California, United States in 1880. He died on 21 December 1904, in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, at the age of 75, and was buried in Oakland, Alameda, California, United States.

From Fresno County's write-up on Lost Lake:In 1852, Charles Converse established the Converse Ferry near the north end of the present campground.  Converse would go on to design and construct the first Fresno County Courthouse that is located at Millerton Lake.  Converse Ferry would change names several times before being named the community of Friant. 

 From History of Fresno County with Biographical Sketches, 1882. CF Converse in 1851 opened a store in Coarse Gold with a TC Stallo. This lasted until 1852. In 1854 Converse was listed as one of the settlers of Millerton. Then in 1854 Converse erected what appears to be the second sawmill in Fresno County at Crane Valley. In 1857, Converse bought a ranch in Dry Creek.  In May of 1866, Fresno County awards Converse a contract of $17,008.25 to build a courthouse and jail. Because of alterations in the design, it cost several thousand more. It was completed in the Summer of 1867 and was considered substantial. This was short lived as in 1874, the county seat was moved to Fresno. 

From History of Fresno County, California, 1912 Paul E. Vandor.   Not in the 1882 edition.  In November 1856 Converse operated a ferry across the San Joaquin at Converse Flat at a location called Jones Store. In 1867 when he built the courthouse and jail, he issued invoiced for substantially more than the original contract. Some of it was disallowed, but he still collected $5,728. 25 above the contracted for amount. It must in all fairness be admitted that the building was most substantially constructed , the jail portion in the rear basement with its great . granite slabs and heavy iron doors being second to none then in the state for fortresslike stability . Converse really took a pride in giving the county a durable and solid structure , the two dungeon walls being of granite blocks some weighing a ton or more . The building will serve , standing to this day , as a mute object lesson to present - day contractors of shoddy and ginger breaded public work . It made no pretense to architectural beauty . It was plain and simple and planned for use and not empty show . It could be made tenantable at no great expense in the refitting of the woodwork . 

Converse and the county treasurer, Stephen Gaster, became friends. The county noted a shortfall.  The Gaster estate later offered to compromise the shortage for $ 2,000 , but it was declined and little was recovered by suit . Gaster's defalcation has never been satisfactorily accounted for . At the time he and Converse were close friends - in fact Gaster financed him in enterprises and possibly in the courthouse construction . Gaster's disappearance on August 11 , 1866 , left Mrs. Emma C. Gaster to face the world , handicapped with the care of four children . About two and one - half years later she married Converse , who in February , 1868 , had been divorced . His end was also a tragic one . 

Recklessness in gambling was characteristic , with Converse a notable example of it . There was nothing that he would not risk the hazard of chance on . He would wager any stake on who could expectorate closest to a given mark . He and McCray laid a bet whose road was the longest from their respective ferries . Converse lost , and after the wager was paid it leaked out that the night before the surveyor's measuring chain had been shortened by several links . On another occasion , it is related , Converse was in a card game for high stakes - gold dust in buckskin sacks — at McCray's with cutthroat " greasers , " and Converse was cleaned out . Undismayed , he excused himself , asked that the game be not halted , and on return reentered it , won back all he had lost , and more too . The buckskin with which he regained everything contained only sand that he had scooped up on the river bank during his temporary absence . 

Converse came to California in 1849 , mining for gold on the Mother Lode in Mariposa County , later marrying and coming to Fresno , adding the cattle business to his mining operations and running a ferry at Millerton . He acquired wealth rapidly and spent it but not in dissipation . Neglecting a young wife , she took a divorce and in October , 1873 , married Dr. Lewis Leach , whom she survives . After the separation , Converse became more " restless and reckless . " His courthouse building contract was completed in admittedly " honest , skilful and creditable manner . " It was during the pro- gress of the work that Gaster departed one day for San Francisco , ostensibly to be away one week . When he did not reappear , Converse gave out that he had a large sum of money deposited with him and needed it urgently to pay off his laborers . There was no deputy treasurer , the safe was locked , and the key was with Gaster . Converse hurried to the city ostensibly in search of Gaster , returning with the information that he had disappeared , leaving no trace . A warrant was issued for Gaster's arrest for the embezzlement of public money . 

 Converse accom- panied him on the stage to the bay . Converse returned after a few days . Gaster was never again seen . Converse said they parted at Stockton but that Gaster had said that he would return home also in a few days . Suspicion fastened on Converse for Gaster's disappearance , based on the ground that he was the last man known to have been in his company and that suspicion was never fully removed . However , after nearly three decades had passed , and while engaged in mining in Nevada and Utah - and quite successfully as the doubtful report had it - Converse made attempt to clear himself of the murder charge at least by locating Gaster as a hale and hearty old man at Leon , Nicaragua , whither he had gone in 1866 after disap- pearance . The information was imparted in a letter by Converse to a friend 

and announced the successful result of his efforts to locate Gaster through and with the assistance of the Washington Department of State . Appeal had been made to Secretary Olney who directed United States Minister Lewis Baker at Managua to investigate with the result of the fol- lowing letter from James Thomas , general agent for Central America of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and stationed at Leon . The letter read : " Replying to your favor of the 9th inst . , I have to state that Mr. Stephen . Gaster resides in this place ( Leon ) and is running a sawmill . " Mr. Gaster is an old man of seventy years but as energetic as most men at forty - five , and leads a very laborious life as he has always done since com- ing from California thirty years ago . He is generally esteemed for his hon- esty , industry and other good qualities , and though he has not been very successful in his business pursuits , has a few thousand dollars out at interest . " Gaster was born at Baton Rouge , La . , and went to California in 1850 . He is of a respectable Creole family . He lived in California until 1866 when he came here . I have often advised him to go back to California and end his life with his children . " In that letter Converse stated that he had located Gaster eight years . before through the efforts of Secretary Blaine , but the documentary proofs had been lost . It was said that an estate left by his father awaited the son . According to Converse's letter he ( Converse ) had made good the amount of Gaster's defalcation . This statement was pure fiction because no restitu- tion was ever made . The Converse letter established nothing more than that Gaster was alive . After the disappearance , the wife accepted the theory that so many others entertained that he had been murdered , though probably not sharing in the popular suspicion of Converse , for she secured divorce and married him . In February , 1900 , Emma R. Clark as a daughter , aged thirty - six , peti- tioned the superior court to administer upon the estate of her father , which was represented to consist of sixty acres valued at $ 7,500 in Madera County , the site of the Ne Plus Ultra Copper Mine . The distribution was to the petitioner , to a son Henry M. Gaster , forty , of Madera , a daughter , Arza D. Strong , thirty - eight , of Oakland , and another daughter , Orena V. Lowery , thirty - seven , of Visalia . Their mother could not participate in the distribu- tion because she had been divorced and could lay no claim . In later years in Fresno , when she kept a rooming house in the Gari- baldi - Olcese building at Mariposa and K , report had it that she was cogni- zant of Gaster's existence in Nicaragua and report also had it that she was in correspondence with him . 

 and announced the successful result of his efforts to locate Gaster through and with the assistance of the Washington Department of State . Appeal had been made to Secretary Olney who directed United States Minister Lewis Baker at Managua to investigate with the result of the fol- lowing letter from James Thomas , general agent for Central America of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and stationed at Leon . The letter read : " Replying to your favor of the 9th inst . , I have to state that Mr. Stephen . Gaster resides in this place ( Leon ) and is running a sawmill . " Mr. Gaster is an old man of seventy years but as energetic as most men at forty - five , and leads a very laborious life as he has always done since com- ing from California thirty years ago . He is generally esteemed for his hon- esty , industry and other good qualities , and though he has not been very successful in his business pursuits , has a few thousand dollars out at interest . " Gaster was born at Baton Rouge , La . , and went to California in 1850 . He is of a respectable Creole family . He lived in California until 1866 when he came here . I have often advised him to go back to California and end his life with his children . " In that letter Converse stated that he had located Gaster eight years . before through the efforts of Secretary Blaine , but the documentary proofs had been lost . It was said that an estate left by his father awaited the son . According to Converse's letter he ( Converse ) had made good the amount of Gaster's defalcation . This statement was pure fiction because no restitu- tion was ever made . The Converse letter established nothing more than that Gaster was alive . After the disappearance , the wife accepted the theory that so many others entertained that he had been murdered , though probably not sharing in the popular suspicion of Converse , for she secured divorce and married him . In February , 1900 , Emma R. Clark as a daughter , aged thirty - six , peti- tioned the superior court to administer upon the estate of her father , which was represented to consist of sixty acres valued at $ 7,500 in Madera County , the site of the Ne Plus Ultra Copper Mine . The distribution was to the petitioner , to a son Henry M. Gaster , forty , of Madera , a daughter , Arza D. Strong , thirty - eight , of Oakland , and another daughter , Orena V. Lowery , thirty - seven , of Visalia . Their mother could not participate in the distribu- tion because she had been divorced and could lay no claim . In later years in Fresno , when she kept a rooming house in the Gari- baldi - Olcese building at Mariposa and K , report had it that she was cogni- zant of Gaster's existence in Nicaragua and report also had it that she was in correspondence with him . 

 

CHARLES P. CONVERSE 

Converse , who erected the courthouse , was also the first man to occupy one of its dungeon cells as a prisoner for the homicide of William H. Crowe on election day in September , 1876. The grand jury liberated him on the theory that he had acted in self defense . The homicide historically illus- trates the passions that political campaigns aroused in those days . With the exception of William Aldrich , the pick and shovel miner , as the sole Republican for years before and after the war , every other man in the county was either an Andrew Jackson or a Jeff Davis Democrat , excepting a few old - line Whigs , who though their party expired with Daniel Webster , still held to their beliefs and scouted the new Republican doctrines . Thus any political quarrel in the county could only arise in the house of Democracy itself . It arose during the shrievalty campaign of J. S. Ashman and James N. Walker , honest , capable and uncompromising Democrats , and both incum- bents of the office for two terms each . 

Converse announcing himself for rotation in office , espoused the cause . of Walker with all energy and activity in a " hot and exciting canvass " not so much between the principals as between " rash and reckless adherents . " Election day passed off quietly with the exception of the presence of armed men in public . The vote was light , and all qualified electors had voted by three o'clock in the afternoon when by common consent the count was started in the courtroom . Converse was in front of Payne's saloon , when a cobble hurled from within by a half drunken fellow passed close to his head . He fired at his assailant , missed aim and ball lodged high in the wall . Crowe , a confederate of the cobble thrower , sneaked up behind Converse and struck . him on the back of the head with slungshot , only the thickness of a felt hat protected the skull from fracture . Stunned by the blow , Converse fell to his knees but arising fired and shot Crowe through the body . Crowe fell on hands and knees ten feet away , and tried to arise , and mutual friends rushed in to aid . In the general melee , John Dwyer , teamster with the original fort garrison and for years later in Fresno the driver of the " sand wagon , " took to his heels to avoid the bullets and in the flight his hat was blown off by a leaden messenger . Con- verse struggled against a throng whom he fought as supposed assailants , but was landed finally on the courthouse steps and by multitude of hands his Samson like strength was overcome . After this tragedy , be became " more uneasy , irresolute and unsettled . " He withdrew into the mountains , south of the Kings River . There he laid claim upon location to " a large amphitheater of forest and chaparral en- circled by mountain ridges . " It bears to this day the name of " Converse Basin , " though he never secured title . It has been ruthlessly denuded of its timber , including Big Trees , in the Millwood lumber mill operations . Upon return to the plains , he professed reformation , was admitted as a member of an orthodox church and publicly baptized in a font excavated for the cere- mony . For a time he discharged faithfully the newly assumed responsi- bilities , regained the confidence of former friends and secured that of new ones . He was in the real estate business , but the old unrest seized him and he drifted to San Francisco , where for ten years or more " his checkered life was spent in desultory endeavors to keep starvation at bay . " He an- nounced himself as a mining expert and engineer . Converse was a striking figure , six feet tall , weighed 200 pounds or more , and in later years was largely developed abdominally . He was a man of great physical strength , and an expert swimmer , a demonstrated accomplishment that is cited to refute the assertion by some that his drowning in San Francisco Bay was accidental . The fact is that he met death in a second attempt at suicide , and when the waters of the bay gave up the corpse it was weighted with rocks , a circumstance that alone effectually disposes of the accidental death claim . He was a sociable companion , but a change came over him after Gaster's disappearance . A shadow seemed to hover over him , say those who had known him in the days of abandon , when he was not always overneat or precise in attire , and yet was remembered for kindly and animated face , topped by a shock of stand - up - straight - in - the - air hair . For one of his physical proportions , Converse was of intense mental and business activity . He was a man of means in his day . Among his activ- ities were the lumbermill at Crane Valley , which after the 1862 flood passed into the hands of George McCullough . The ferry below Millerton , likewise the property on the village side of the river , also went to others . He was known as far back as 1851 , when he and T. C. Stallo were general mer- chants at Coarse Gold . So well established was his reputation for restless- ness and financial improvidence , that despite strong partisanship and posi- tion he was never seriously considered politically . In connection with his Kings River sojourn , he tried to exploit a plan to cut the virgin timber in the basin , float the logs down the stream to railroad connection , and from there out as lumber from the saw mill . Converse was a glib and plausible talker and almost interested capital in the enterprise . Logs had been floated to prove the feasibility of the water transportation . A financial panic came on and capital dropped him . With the building of the railroad , Converse is found on its payroll as a legislative lobbyist and an active partisan of its proposition of a $ 5,000 a mile subsidy for constructing the road through the valley counties . Senator Thomas Fowler made one of his record fights against the measure and the legislature killed it in the end . The closing years of Converse's checkered career were spent in San Francisco as a curbstone broker and mining expert , pursuing such a precarious course that not infrequently he was on the verge of starvation . To hail a former Fresno acquaintance was like clutching at the straw by the drowning man , for it meant a temporary loan , never to be repaid , to hold off the gaunt wolf of hunger . A perfunctory coroner's inquest with no relatives or acquaintances attending , and with no effort at a positive identification of the barely recognizable remains has left a doubt on which has been impinged a far fetched belief , entertained by some , that he returned to his native state and there ended his days a charge on the bounty of an old negro " mammy " in Georgia . This is manifestly incorrect for well is it remembered that A. H. Statham financed Converse to go to Georgia to claim an inheritance . It was thought he had been rid of for good and always , but the surprise was when he returned to close a subsequent precarious career in San Francisco . Extraordinary physical energies and activities , excellent intellectual abilities and fine social qualities were combined in a strange make up , with many elements of goodness that would have made him a useful and influen- tial citizen , had he not lacked the regulating balance wheel of rigid principle , or perhaps if his lot had not been cast among the turbulent and restless scenes of early California life . Converse and Gaster are in unmarked graves , yet singularly on the present site of Millerton stand , side by side , only two structures of the days when they lived , monuments to their memory - the courthouse that Converse built and the adobe saloon where Folsom & Gaster held forth , and Payne after them . Payne was shot in the leg in May , 1873 , and bled to death at Tripp & Payne's store on the Tollhouse road to Humphrey & Mock's mill . It was a wanton act , claimed to have been an accidental shot after target pastime by John Williams , a negro , who in December , was sent to the penitentiary for two years for manslaughter . Payne had sold his saloon to retire from business , and was buried at the fort .

Forty - two years a bachelor , the marriage of Dr. Leach in 1872 to Mrs. Mathilda Converse , former wife of C. P. Converse , was an event as fortuitous as was his decision to remain in Fresno when he had resolved to return east . He was a boarder with Mrs. Converse . She had decided to give up catering to boarders and not knowing where to find a home table he proposed marriage and was accepted . The Leach residence in Fresno City was for years on K street ( officially designated Van Ness Avenue ) on the location now occupied by the Sequoia Hotel .

 

From GNIS:

• Converse Creek: 6 mile long tributary of Kings River.

Trips:

• February 10, 2021 - Snowshoed down the Boole Tree Road with Betty, Rose, Sherri and Gary
  

References:

•  Peak Bagger
• Bob Burd Blog
• Forest Service on Converse Mountain Grove
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Pictures:

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