100 Years Ago… August, 19 1921

Written by Sarah Barton Elliott

Today I want to note a special occasion: It is Bob and Muriel Barton’s 100th wedding anniversary. One hundred years ago today, on Friday, August 19, 1921, in Mineral King, Robert Hardin Barton (1899-1977) and Muriel May (1903-1990) said “I do” during a small outdoor ceremony at Bob’s parents’ cabin.

One hundred years ago! In reflecting on this, I realize that in the summer of 1921, the world’s citizenry was recovering from a global pandemic. So just like in Mineral King, while so much has changed, there is still so much that is the same.

Jason Barton reported in June 1921 that there were about 300 people in the Mineral King valley. Today’s users aren’t miners, lumbermen, dam builders, or cattlemen, but the number of people in Mineral King is about the same. These days, the summer population consists mostly backpackers, cabin occupants, car campers, and a few National Park Service personnel.

While automobile use is the preferred way to arrive in Mineral King these days (okay, it’s basically the only way), in 1921, it was proponents of tourism and auto travel who were urging a fledgling number of vehicle owners to give the Mineral King Road a try for the ultimate test. Most people were still convinced horses and wagons were the most reliable way to get up the mountain but automobiles were becoming a more common sight on these high-country roads.

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On their wedding day, Bob was 22 years old. Except for when he lived with his older sister, Verna (1897-1948) in Elderwood (on their own!) so they could attend Woodlake High School and his service in World War I, Bob lived his entire life in Three Rivers, where he was born. Muriel had recently moved from Berkeley to Woodlake with her family and, that past June, had turned 18 and graduated from Woodlake High School. She was in the same class as Viola Barton, Bob’s youngest sister, which is how Muriel was introduced to her future husband.

The August 19 wedding was held at Jason and Mary Barton’s cabin, which is where the Savages’ A-frame cabin now stands. The outdoor setting was a festive scene with decorations consisting of Japanese-style lanterns and garlands of wildflowers and ferns. The lazy flowing of the gurgling Kaweah River added a backdrop of peaceful sound. The late-day sun streamed through the forest as it began its nightly ritual of setting ablaze Sawtooth Peak and Empire Mountain in hues of pink and orange.

Several newspapers wrote about the event that was attended by May and Barton family members and officiated by a pastor from Lemon Cove.

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Bob and Muriel’s High Sierra honeymoon was an epic month-long pack trip that commenced immediately following the ceremony and reception supper. Their first night was spent at Broder’s Cabin site, east of Farewell Gap. When the newlyweds awakened on the morning of their first full day of marriage, they discovered their stock and Cap the dog, renowned for his herding abilities, were not in camp. Bob caught up to the stock just before they crested Farewell Gap, which saved the couple the embarrassment of having to walk back to Mineral King just a day into their honeymoon. However, Cap did not appreciate the lack of attention from the lovebirds and continued home to Mineral King, deciding not to tag along on this boring trip that would be a waste of his talents. 

Bob and Muriel visited many extraordinary backcountry landmarks on their weeks-long excursion. These included Big Arroyo, Nine Lakes Basin, Kaweah Gap and Precipice Lake (pre-High Sierra Trail), Kern Hot Spring, and ultimately Mount Whitney before returning to Mineral King in September.

The couple spent their entire married life in Three Rivers and Mineral King. Bob built the couple’s Mineral King cabin in 1924. That means another 100-year anniversary is soon approaching. Bob herded his cattle to Mineral King each spring where they grazed in the Tar Gap area. The cattle would return to Three Rivers in the fall, sometimes starting down on their own if the nights got too cold. Bob supplied the Mineral King community with beef during the summers. He also grew citrus in Three Rivers.

Bob and Muriel were married for 55 years before Bob passed away on the Three Rivers ranch in July 1977. Bob and Muriel’s descendants today include five subsequent generations. They have 6 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-great-grandchildren.
Their first-born son, Jim Barton, is 97 years old (born the same year as the Mineral King cabin) and lives on his own in Three Rivers. Their second son, Bill Barton, 87, lives in Port Orchard, Washington.

Sarah Barton ElliottThree Rivers, California

Thank you to Sarah Barton Elliiott for sharing this story with us and to Laile di Silvestro for finding the related newspaper articles from 1921.