Timeline of John Sutter's Life By saram.0343 Feb 23, 1803 Birth of John Sutter John Sutter was born 1834 Left Switzerland 1839 Arrived in California 1841 Built Sutter's Fort 1848 Sutter's son arrived from Switzerland 1848 Gold was found on Sutter's land and squatters took over land Jan 24, 1848 Discovery of Gold The discovery of gold took place at Sutters Mill 1849 49er's looking for gold overran Sutter's land 1850 Sutter moves to Hock Farm California 1852 Sutter is bankrupt 1858 Supreme court denied Sutter's land grant 1864 Sutter is granted a monthly $250 pension 1865 Hock Farm destroyed by fire and Sutter moves to D.C 1871 He and his wife moved to Lititz, Pennsylvania and open hotel Jun 16, 1880 Courts deny Sutter's petition for $50,000 restitution Jun 18, 1880 John Sutter's passing