A subscriber inquired about a topic concerning Peter Lassen after reading the Lassen Monument Rehabilitation project. It had to deal with Lassen’s new settlement of Benton City, the area better known today as Vina, Tehama County.

Lassen was impressed with that country.   Lassen obtained Mexican citizenship, allowing him to own property and was subsequently granted five Spanish leagues (22,000 acres) at Deer Creek.  In February 1845, Lassen established Bosquejo Ranch at Deer Creek and it became the northernmost settlement in California. Lassen established Benton City on the Bosquejo Ranch.  In the summer of 1847, Lassen along with Commodore Robert Stockton went to Missouri to recruit settlers, though during their absence events changed and recruitment would no longer be necessary.  In the spring of 1848, Lassen brought back a small group of emigrants and they were the first to cross over the infamous Lassen Trail.  When Lassen arrived at Benton City he found it nearly vacated as the inhabitants had moved to Sutter’s Mill and other points following the discovery of gold. That was only the beginning of problems that Lassen encountered with Benton City.  Prior to his departure to Missouri he had deeded over one-fifth of his ranch to Daniel Sill. In May 1850, Lassen deeded over one-half of his ranch to Joel Palmer to finance the purchase of a small steamboat, the Lady Washington.  The steamer was to be the easiest method to transport supplies from Sacramento to Benton City.  The boat encountered numerous problems with sand bars and snag trees on the Sacramento River and was sunk.  That disaster and other financial problems forced Lassen to sell the remainder of his ranch to Henry Gerke.  

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