"Trapper, Hunter, Rifleman, Ranchero, Lumberman and Litigant"

— 1800 - 1863 —

Isaac Graham: Born Sept. 1, 1800 in Fincastle, Virginia, was a rough and tumble trapper and mountain man, who wandered the western wilderness. He ended up in 1836 Natividad, California where he ran a Saloon and Whiskey Still.

He organized Los Rifleros Americanos and joined Juan Alvarado to oust the Governor of Monterey and put Alvarado in the Governor's seat in Monterey. He was later arrested and sent to a prison in Monterey and then Mexico.

After being released he moved to the Zayante Rancho and later acquired the Rancho where he went into a partnership with Joseph Majors, Fredrick Hogel and Peter Lassen to start the first water-powered lumber mill in California. He also acquired 17,000 acres in Ano Nuevo.

An acquaintance once described him as being "so well thought of that he was feared by any one in opposition and that all parties desired to have him on their side for they feared the crack of his terrible rifle".

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