Edward Bale sailed from England to California in the 1830s and settled in Monterey where he was named surgeon-in chief of the Mexican Army by General Mariano Vallejo. In 1839 he married Vallejo’s niece, Maria Soberanes, and in 1841 was granted a large rancho in the upper Napa Valley. Cattle were raised for hides and tallow and wheat was planted along the river in this valley. Bale constructed a gristmill at his site to process the locally grown grain. He also built a sawmill on his rancho where logs were cut for the area’s early frame buildings. He died in 1849 at the age of 38, leaving behind his wife and six young children.

Dedicated April 15, 2000. Rededicated September 20, 2003

Sam Brannan 1004

E Clampus Vitus

Marker can be reached from Saint Helena Highway (State Highway 29/128).

Courtesy hmdb.org

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