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Opinion
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- Written by: Lois Jordan
Rebelling against the brutal and harsh treatment received while working for them, Pomo natives killed both Andrew Kelsey and Charles Stone in 1849. Some months later, May 1850, the U.S. Military launched an attack against Pomo hostilities known as the Battle of Bloody Island.
Decisions and actions taken by the military months after Kelsey and Stone were killed should be considered the cause of the Bloody Island Massacre.
Charles Stone fades into history known only as Andrew Kelsey’s business partner. Andrew Kelsey has become a man of infamy. When the name of one man becomes the catalyst for name calling, hatred and divisiveness, it's time to learn more.
Andrew Kelsey came West as a young man of 20 and was 28 when he was killed by the Pomo in\ 1849. There is some history of his travel West and his participation in the Bear Flag War in 1846 but not too much is known about him that is pertinent here. To my knowledge there are no letters, journals, or diaries attributed to him, nor did Andrew Kelsey leave an account of his interactions with the Pomo.
Kelsey spent 1847 to 1849 (two years) in Big Valley and is accused of creating an atmosphere of suffering and trauma. Seventeen decades later this has become an issue dividing our community.
Lorna Sides, member of the activist group Citizens For Healing, believes changing the name of Kelseyville 174 years later will bring respect and healing for past wrongs. She and this group, in concert with local tribes, chose the name to replace Kelseyville. Lorna Sides then submitted the application to the Board on Geographic Names. The action of one person has made a decision for all of us and caused more division than this community has seen in decades, if ever.
Having waded through histories of Napa, Lake, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties, reading studies and writings of Kroeber, Schoolcraft, Benson, Heizer, Gibbs, Susman and Parker, reading countless historical newspaper articles, combing through Mauldin’s collection of narratives, studying treaties, digging through encyclopedias and historical book collections, I am convinced we cannot tell with any certainty what really happened prior to the military incursion. We just don’t know what we don’t know.
The narratives we have been given regarding the “atrocities” of Andrew Kelsey and the tragic events on Bloody Island are for the most part based on oral history which is difficult to substantiate. Events recorded decades later often contain misinformation, sometimes embellished, exaggerated and conflated through the years.
This story has taken on a life of its own. Many conflicting accounts exist today. One example is the number of Pomo killed in the Bloody Island attack by the U.S. Troops which vary significantly. Pomo Chief Augustine in 1880 states 16 were killed; Captain Nathaniel Lyon, in 1850 tells us at least 60, no more than 100 perished. Numerous newspapers of the time reported casualties as anywhere from 200 to 400. The most egregious number is in the Sept. 26, 2024 DailyMail.com article which lists the death count at 900!
John Parker, PhD, well known Lake County historian, in text of his talk “The Kelsey Brothers: A California Disaster,” which includes the story of Bloody Island, says: “In my 40 years of research, I have never seen as many different versions of the same events as I discovered while researching this talk.”
When facts of an event that occurred 174 years ago cannot be verified as being truly accurate, what reasonable person thinks they should be used to force the community of Kelseyville to change its name?
Vote no on Measure U.
Lois Jordan lives in Kelseyville, California.
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- Written by: Lisa Wilson
As a Clearlake resident and voter in District 1, I was eager to observe each candidate in action and evaluate their responses to questions from the group, including my own about broadband access.
The differences between Mr. Hess and Ms. Owen quickly emerged. John Hess was extremely well-prepared, and the quality of his responses to every question was impressive. While Helen Owen was pleasant and emphasized her deep roots in the community, she sometimes struggled to provide in-depth answers or, at times, couldn’t respond at all.
I admire both candidates for their commitment to District 1 and for putting themselves out there, and for me, the choice is clear. John Hess is smart, experienced, and articulates a strong and optimistic vision for District 1 and Lake County as a whole.
I will be voting for John Hess on Nov. 5, and I will work hard to encourage all District 1 voters to do the same.
Lisa Wilson lives in Clearlake, California.
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- Written by: Kathy Windrem
All but one candidate participated.
The questions from Kelseyville High School students were comprehensive and thoughtful.
Every one of the candidates present was articulate, passionate, and had strong ideas for how to continue to support and improve our Kelseyville Schools. They are highly qualified, with some great new ideas, and will work well together as a board, and with the school staff and students.
I am so happy and proud to highly recommend Sabrina Andrus, Mike Brown and Gilbert Rangel for the Kelseyville Unified School District Board.
Also, Weston Seifert participated. He is not on the ballot due to being appointed with no opposition, he will also be an excellent new board member.
How fortunate we are to have these fine candidates who will help our great schools to get even stronger.
Kathy Windrem lives in Kelseyville, California.
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- Written by: Catherine Quistgard
In that time I had occasion to know and respect several of our Lake County supervisors. In the last several years I have been disappointed in the Fifth District supervisor, Jessica Pyska.
More than a year ago this situation of a possible town name change was known by the county supervisors. Why, at that time, didn't Pyska call for a town hall meeting to notify her constituents of the application submitted to the United States Board of Geographic Names?
I've been a business owner, raised children and grandchildren here, belong to a faith community, participated in and held office in numerous organizations. I'm no stranger here; but was very surprised and appalled that this went county wide and we have Measure U on our voter ballot.
History cannot be erased by changing a town name or knocking down a statue of some perceived wrong doer. We must learn from the errors of the past and move forward together in harmony.
The following is a verbatim quote from a poster announcing a gathering in Upper Lake in June 2024 regarding a Bloody Island Sunrise Ceremony and is attributed to Clayton Duncan, who is member of the Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians.
Oh Ma Rum Da-Hud De Ka
I know the messenger, flint man
I know the message — a strange people and all the destruction they will bring but we are also told to keep our faith
Do not be hateful, but forgiving
Do not be greedy, but share
Try and get along as best as you can revenge is only for the fools
We are here because of the blessings from our Creator and we are a part of the landscape, like the oak tree
It is time for change and to go back to balance
Harmony and respect for all creation is a respect for self
Yos A Me Wa Hud De Ka Bak Ko De
I have 2 questions: No. 1 and foremost, who perpetuates the trauma and suffering endured by the Pomo people during the 1800s?
No. 2: If measure U passes and goes on to the United States Board of Geographic Names and Kelseyville's town name is changed; who is going to do all the paperwork and pay all the fees to change all of our passports, driver licenses, deeds, trusts and estate plans, vehicle registrations, LLC’s, banking, insurances, business and household accounts, etc.? Would that fall into the job description of our District 5 supervisor, Jessica Pyska?
Catherine Quistgard lives in Kelseyville, California.