Near Calistoga in Napa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Reason P. Tucker

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 4, 2011

1. Reason P. Tucker Marker

Inscription. Born in Virginia in 1806, Reason moved west in successive leaps and arrived in California in 1846 escaping by one day the Sierra snow that trapped the Donner Party. "Captain" Tucker led the first and participated in, later rescue efforts. Reason mined in the Mother Lode but was not successful and turned his attention to farming. About 1851 he built a home near this spot that became a social center. In 1853 he sold about an acre of his land on which was built the first church in Napa Valley. In 1872, Reason lost everything but his livestock in a land ownership case in the wake of the turmoil created by the verification of Mexican land grants. He moved to San Francisco, then to Goleta where at age 66 he once began anew. He died at age 82 and is buried in Goleta Cemetery.

Plaque dedicated by
Sam Brannan Chapter #1004
E Clampus Vitus
March 16, 1996

Erected 1996 by E Clampus Vitus, Sam Brannan Chapter 1004.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1750.

Location. 38° 33.157′ N, 122° 31.381′ W. Marker is near Calistoga, California, in Napa County. Marker can be reached from State Highway 29 near Larkmead Lane. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3801 St Helena Highway, Calistoga CA 94515, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured

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as the crow flies. Larkmead Winery / Kornell Cellars (approx. 0.4 miles away); Schramsberg (approx. half a mile away); The White Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Bale Grist Mill (approx. 1.1 miles away); Dr. Edward Turner Bale (approx. 1.1 miles away); Charles Krug 1825 - 1892 (approx. 3.1 miles away); Charles Krug Winery (approx. 3.1 miles away); Cesare Mondavi 1883 – 1959 (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Calistoga.

Also see . . . Rescuers and Others. Kristin Johnson's Donner Party website contains a section on rescuers of the Donner Party, of which Reason Tucker was one: " Overland emigrant of 1846; member of the Smith Company, with which the Graves family had traveled. Tucker served with the Donner rescue efforts for 39 days and earned $117.00....Like many other 1846ers, Tucker settled in the upper Napa Valley, across the road from M. D. Ritchie, but in 1872 lost his extensive holdings when the contract he had entered into in 1848 was declared invalid. He moved to Santa Barbara County and started over. When he died in 1888, Tucker had outlived three of his four wives, by whom was the father of ten children...." (Submitted on March 7, 2011.)

Additional commentary.
1. Additional Information Regarding the Marker Dedication
Robert Cato was Noble Grand Humbug when this plaque was erected. Plaque wording by Loren A. Wilson.

Photographed By Loren Wilson, July 7, 2006

2. Reason P. Tucker Marker
— Submitted April 15, 2012, by Loren Wilson of Sebastopol, California.

Reason P. Tucker Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 4, 2011

3. Reason P. Tucker Marker - wide view

The marker is found at the entrance station to Bothe Napa Valley State Park, just a few hundred feet from the park turnoff on Highway 29.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 2,394 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 7, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2. submitted on April 15, 2012, by Loren Wilson of Sebastopol, California. 3. submitted on March 7, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.