USA > California > Contra Costa County > History of Contra Costa County, California, including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description; together with a record of the Mexican grants also, incidents of pioneer life; and biographical sketches of early and prominent settlers and representative men > Part 1
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M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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John Marsto
HISTORY
OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS
GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH
A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS ; THE BEAR FLAG WAR ; THE MOUNT DIABLO COAL FIELDS ; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES ; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS ; FULL LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY ; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWN- SHIP, SHOWING THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE ;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AND OF ITS
TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO : W. A. SLOCUM & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1882.
1721995
PREFACE.
Nearly twelve months ago the task of compiling the History of Contra Costa County was undertaken' by us, but, owing to circumstances over which we had no control, it was not until the month of January, 1882, that operations were fully inaugurated. At length we are enabled to give our labors to our patrons and the public.
The collecting and collating of notes has been no ordinary task ; great distances have been compassed to secure personal knowledge; musty volumes have been exhumed, wherefrom to gain incontrovertible data. For the most part, we have received courteous aid; not unseldom have we been rebuffed, but only from those whose knowledge of the world is confined to the limited extent of their own vision.
Our chapter on the Bear Flag war is from the pen of Mr. Munro- Fraser, and was compiled in 1879 by him, for the History of Sonoma County, and will be found to be not the least interesting portion of the present volume.
We will not, however, attempt to "puff" our work, knowing full well that what we undertook to do we have conscientiously striven to carry out. As a worthy chronicle of Contra Costa county, we hope it may be found interesting, and in the main correct; while, as a work of reference, we trust it may meet nearly all expectations.
In conclusion, we beg to tender our earnest thanks to Hon. Elam Brown, for much valuable information in regard to the early history of the county. The like acknowledgment we proffer to Hon. Thomas A. Brown, Superior Judge, and Hon. F. M. Warmcastle, the first County Judge of Contra Costa. To L. C. Wittenmyer, the able and courteous County Clerk, and to the county officials, one and all, we owe a debt
vi
PREFACE.
of gratitude, as we do also to the proprietors of the Contra Costa Gazette, Contra Costa News and Weekly Antioch Ledger. Especially are our thanks due to that venerable pioneer, Rev. W. W. Smith, of Antioch, who most kindly placed his voluminous notes and interesting diary at our disposal, while the kindly act of Thomas A. McMahon, County Surveyor, in furnishing the chapter on the Mount Diablo Coal Fields, deserves our unqualified thanks.
We are not gifted with the pen of an Irving or a Macaulay, but such as our capabilities are, thus do we give them.
It has been no fault of ours, that several portraits, which should have appeared in the volume, have been omitted. The blame is with the gentlemen themselves. The same is also to be said of such biographical sketches as are left out. No responsibility on this head rests with us. To those who have met us with cordiality, and thus furthered our enterprise, we say, thank you, and adieu.
W. A. SLOCUM & CO.
J. P. MUNRO-FRASER, Historian.
SAN FRANCISCO, August 15, 1882.
INDEX.
GENERAL HISTORY.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Geographical Situation. 17
Area .
17
San Pablo
196
Derivation of Name. 18
Monte Diablo 196
Population 18
San Lorenzo and San Antonio 196
Geology and Mineralogy
18
Township No. 1 196
Contra Costa Hills 25
Township No. 2 197
Monte Diahlo Group. 31
Township No. 3 197
Topography. 37
Mount Diablo (view and description) .41
Climatography 49
Rainfall 51
Township No. 1 198
Salubrity
51
Township No. 2 198
General Remarks 53
Township No. 3 199
Tule Lands 54
Agriculture
55
Township No. 4 199
Pomology
59
Township No. 1 199
Earthquakes 61
Aborigines
62
Township No. 3
200
MOUNT DIABLO COAL FIELD 69
The Clark Vein 71 72
Ventilation 73
Peacock and San Francisco Mines 74
Central, or Stewart's Mine
74
Empire Mine
74
Board of Supervisors
202
Election Precincts 204
Road Districts
204
School Districts.
206
Sericulture 154
THE BEAR FLAG WAR 160
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY 190
Organization of Contra Costa County 191
Original Boundary 192
Present Boundary 192
Senatorial Districts
193
Judicial Districts
193
Court of Sessions
193
Original Township Boundaries 194 Martinez 195
San Antonio
195
Alameda
195
Contra Costa
196
POLITICAL HISTORY
207
Mexican Government. 207
Military Government. 208
Constitutional Convention . 208
San José made State Capital.
210
Members of First California Legislature 211 Senators 211
Assemblymen
213
Gov. Burnett assumes office
214
Capital removed
214
Records of Court of Sessions and Board
of Supervisors
218
1851
219
1852
220
201
Township No. 4
202
Township No. 5
202
Teutonia Mine .
74
Rancho de los Meganos Coal Mines 74
EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.
76
Present Township Boundaries 201
Township No. 1 201
Faults and Disturbances
Township No. 2 201
Township No. 3
Township No. 5 197
Township No. 6 198
Township No. 1 199
Township No. 2
200
Original Township Boundaries (continued)
Township No. 4 197
viii
INDEX.
PAGE.
Records of Court of Sessions and Board
of Supervisors (continued)
1853
222
1854
222
Nicholas Brenzel 344
An " Unknown" 344
Edward Norris. 345
Sadella Catiyo 346
1858
224
1859
224 1860
224
Patrick Finnegan 346
James Magee 346
Louis D'Alencon
347
1863
226
1864
226
John Pete 347
Martine Berryessa 348
Aravena 348
" Jo " 318
Jesus Diana 348
Valencia 349
Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson 349
Sacramento Leibas 350
Peter Lynch 350
Enoch J. Davis
351
William Nesbit 351
229 S. A. Carpenter 352
Mrs. Laura Walker 352
José Vaca 352
George Minchell 353
Herman Heyder 354
James Fergusson 355
Silverio Monjas 357
Patrick Sullivan
359
Peter Peters
360
Valentine Eischler
362
Jamiens
363
Michael Duffy
364
Martin Gersbach 364
Ramon Chavis
367
Ah Hung.
367
José Arrayo
368
James Mills
368
George Mitchell.
368
José Reyes Berryessa 369
Langbhen Children 373
A Chinawoman
374
Thomas Sheridan
374
Manuel Sibrian 375
Louis Farreri
375
Patrick Sullivan 377
Sheridan
377
Christian Smith
378
PAGE.
HOMICIDES (continued) --
Terence H. McDonald 342
Dr. John Marsh 342
1855
222
223 1856
224 1857
Guadalupe Tapia 346
N. Nathan 346
1861
225
226 1862
1865
227
1866
227
1867
227
1868
227
228
1869
228 1870
228 1872
229
229
1874 .
1875
229
1877
230
1878
230
1879
231
1880
231
232 18SI
Gilman vs. Contra Costa County
232
Table of Assessed Value of Property, 1850-1881
238
Table showing yearly taxation-1850 to 1882 239
Table of County Officers. 240
MEXICAN GRANTS
254
Rancho del Diablo 292
Rancho Laguna de Palos Colorados.
292
Rancho San Pablo 293
Rancho Arroyo de las Neuces y Bol- bones 294
Rancho Medanos
297
An "Unknown "
370
Rancho El Sobrante 298-306
Rancho Los Meganos 304
List of Land Claims
335
HOMICIDES :
The People vs. Wempett & Wampett. 341
Aparacio Morales 31
Ignacio Flores, alias Figaro 341
James M. Gordon 341
An " Unknown " 347
1871
228 1873
1876
ix
INDEX.
TOWNSHIP
PAGE.
TOWNSHIP NUMBER ONE
382
LAFAYETTE
443
Geography
382
SAN RAMON
444
Topography
382
Soil
Products 382
Timber
382
Climate
383
Early Settlement 383
MARTINEZ
388
Churches 398 TOWNSHIP NUMBER THREE 450
Roman Catholic Church 398
Grace Church (Episcopal) 398
Congregational Church 401
Schools.
401
Newspapers
402
Contra Costa Gazette
402
Contra Costa News. 403
Lodges, Societies, etc.
404
Martinez Lodge, No. 41, F. & A. M 404
Laurel Council, O. C. F 404
Occidental Chapter, No. 64, O. E. S .. 405 Carquinez Lodge, No. 90, A. O. U. W. 405
The Bank of Martinez 405
406
The Fishing Industry
Salmon Canneries
409
Cannery of Joseph Black 412
Martinez Packing Co 412
The Christian Brothers Institution
412
Soil
402
Cemeteries. 414
Alhambra Cemetery. 414
Roman Catholic Cemetery 414
PORT COSTA
415
CROCKETT
415
Heald's Foundry 416
PINOLE.
418
Hercules Powder Works 419
SAN PABLO
420
Vulcan Powder Works 422
TOWNSHIP NUMBER TWO 425
Geography 425
Topography 425 Soil 425 Products 425
Timber
425
Climate 425
Early Settlement
425
436
DANVILLE
437
Danville Church 438
Danville Grange, No. 85, P. of H 443
HISTORIES.
PAGF.
WALNUT CREEK
444
Alamo Lodge, No. 122; F. & A. M 446
Mount Diablo Lodge, No. 91, A. O. U. W. 447 Bay Leaf Lodge, No. 7, Deg. of Honor. 447 Woodbine Chapter, No. 43, O. E. S ... .. 448 Twilight Lodge, No. 331, I. O. G. T 448
Bareges Sulphur Springs 449
Geography
450
Topography 450
450
Products
450
Timber.
450
Climate
450
Early Settlement
451
PACHECO
454
Churches. 457
Schools 457
Pacheco Lodge, No. 117, 1. O. O. F 457
Pacheco Flour Mills 460
L. Anderson's Lumber Yard
460
Excelsior Soda Works
460
CONCORD
461
TOWNSHIP NUMBER FOUR. 462
Geography
462
Topography
462
Products
462
Timber
462
Climate
462
Early Settlement
462
CLAYTON
469
Congregational Church 471
NEW YORK LANDING
471
Pioneer Cannery 472
NORTONVILLE .
472
Social Encampment, No. 50, I. O. O. F. 474
Black Diamond Lodge, No. 29, K. of P. 475 Carbondale Lodge, No. 228, I. O. G. T. 475 PITTSBURG LANDING. 476
SOMERSVILLE
477
Mount Diablo Lodge, No. 128, I. O. O. F. 477 Somersville Lodge, No. 210, A. O. U. W. 478 TOWNSHIP NUMBER FIVE 479
Geography
479
Topography 479
Soil
479
Products
479
Timber
479
ALAMO
382
Soil
Grangers' Warehouse, etc. 407
x
INDEX.
PAGE.
Climate
479
Early Settlement 480
Pioneer Soda Works
496
" Weekly Antioch Ledger "
496
Antioch Distillery Company 496
BRENTWOOD
496
BYRON
497
Byron Hot Springs
497
EDEN PLAIN AND POINT OF TIMBER
497
Ariel Chapter, No. 42, O. E. S.
494
Point of Timber Lodge, A. O. U. W .. 498
Y. M. T. & L. Society.
495
Antioch Fire Department
495
Rouse, Forman & Co's Lumber Yard
495
JUDSONVILLE
499
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Abbott, J. P. 500
Alvarado, Don J. B. (deceased). 500
Anderson, Ludwig. 502
Antony, Andrew (deceased) 503
Ashley, Smith. 503
Bacon, Samuel S 504
Bailey, Angelo A 504
Baker, John
505
Baker, Josiah R
506
Baldwin, Robert O 506
Barber, Mathew R 507
Beehe, Benjamin F 508
Bennett, Seeley J
509
Berhinger, Mathias 509
Blum, Simon 510
Blume, Henry 511
Bollinger, Joshua. 511
Boyd, John W
512
Boyd, Joseph
512
Bradley, Thomas W 512
Brawand, John 513
Bromley, John L. 514
Brown, Hon. Elam 515
Brown, Hon. Thomas A 531
534
Brunkhorst, Wm. A
535
Bryant, Gardner M 536
Burpee, Winfield S 536
Byer, John R 536
Carey, Joseph F 538
Carothers, Hon. J. H., M. D. 539
Carter, James
539
Castro, Patricio
539
Cavanagh, John. 540
Caven, Robert H. 540
Chase, Johu G
540
Christenson, J
541
Clancy, Daniel 542
Clayton, Joel (deceased) 542
Clayton, Charles J 543
Coats, Wilson
543
Coats, Felix G 544
Condie, John 544
Conway, John
545
Cox, Wm. W 545
Curry, James 546
Darby, Hon. A. G 546
Davis, John.
547
Davis, Solomon P 548
Davis, William A 549
Dean, David
549
Denkinger, Johu
550
Diefenbach, Andrew 550
Dohrmann, F. H. C. (deceased). 550
Downing, Theodore
551
Durham, Joshua E
551
Eckley, John L
552
Edwards, Thomas
553
Elliott, Mark
554
English, Warren B
555
Fales, Capt. Orris
556
Fernandez, Bernardo
556
Finley, Harrison
557
Flournoy, Thomas.
558
ANTIOCH 486
Congregational Church
492
Methodist Episcopal Church
493
Antioch Lodge, No. 175, F. & A. M
493
San Joaquin Lodge, No. 151, I. O. O. F. 494
Antioch Lodge, No. 33, A. O. U. W .. 494
Excelsior Lodge, No. 349, I. O. G. T .. 498 Point of Timber Grange, No. 14, P. of H. 499
PAGE.
Albion Pottery .
495
Brown, Hon. Warren
xi
INDEX.
PAGE,
Ford, Erastus 558
Forman, William R 559
Klein, Philip J 597
Foster, James 559
Kohler, Ernst F. 597
Krieger, William. 598
598 Langenkamp, Frederick Larkey, John. Littlefield. Joshua A. 599
599
Gambs, John
562
.
Gartley, Alonzo L 563
Gay, James (deceased) 563
Geary, Lawrence 564
Gehringer, Andrew 565
Gift, Col. W. W. (deceased) 565
Gift, W. A. J 567
Glass, David. 567
Graves, Amos M 568
Gray, Martin L
568
Gregory, Munson
569
Grigsby, Erasmus D 570
Grunauer, Louis 570
Hamburg, Frederick L. 570
Hammett, Hou. Geo. W 571
Hammitt, Hon. A. W 571
Hardy, Hiram P 573
Mills, Richard 620
Harlan, Joel (deceased) 573
Harrison, Capt. Alfred. 574
Hawxhurst, Geo. W.
575
Hemme, August. 709
Hernandez, Joaquin
576
Hiller, Edwin W
576
Hodges, Benjamin 577
Hoey, James 577
Hoffman, Ferdinand
577
Hoffman, William.
578
Holliday, B. R. 578
Norris, Leo. 626
Norris, William H. 626
Norton, Noah (deceased) 626
Nottingham, C. B. 628
O'Brien, J. C. 628
Pacheco, Fernando.
629
Peterson, John C. 530
Plumley, Alonzo 631
Polley, Henry. 631
Porter, Hon. C. B. 632
Portman, Andrew 633
Pratt, William C. 633
Jones, Hon. Joseph P 587
Jones, Nathaniel 588
Jones, Robinson M 595
Kapp, Frederick (deceased) 595
Kearny, Michael
596
Kirsch, Michael 596
583
Howard, Charles E. 583
Howard, Nathaniel S 584
Ivory, M. B 584
Jacob, David 585
James, Oliver F 585
Johnson, Sampson W 586
Johnston, John 586
Jones, John W 587
Raap, Henry . 634
Ramage, Samuel F. 634
Rankin, James. 635
Rehnert, William 635
Reiners, John.
636
Rhine, Charles
636
Garrido, E. A 562
Loucks, George P. 600
Lynch, William 600
Lynch, Leo. 601
McCabe, J. P. 601
McCabe, Thomas 601
McCann, John. 602
McClellan, David F 603
McHarry, James 604
McMaster, J. C. 604
McNamara, James. 605
Marsh, Doctor John (deceased). 605
Martinez, Vicente J. 617
Martinez, Antonio M 618
May, Col. W. B. 618
Meese, William. 619
Miller, C. Ed. 619
Moore, John S., D. D. S 620
Moore, John S. 621
Morgan, Jeremiah 621
Morgans, Morgan 622
Murphy, Thomas 623
Nelson, A. P 623
Newberger, Solomon. 624
Newman, William. 624
Nicholl, John 624
Nichols, Howard 625
Holloway, Barnes 579
Hook, William (deceased) 580
Hough, E. F., M. D
PAGE.
Kirkwood, Nicholas 597
Fraser, John A 561
Fuller, Robert R
561
Gambs, Ferdinand. 561
xii
INDEX.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Rice, William.
637
Tormey, John (deceased) 682
Rodgers, William B. 64]
Tormey, Patrick 683
Ronse, John C 641
Trengove, John. . 684
Rumrill, Azro 642
Troy, John H. 684
Veal, Richard R 684
Scammon, George H 643
Wagner, Theodor 685
Sherburne, Albert 643
Walker, James T 686
Sherburne, Hon. D. N 644
Walker, Capt. Joseph R 688
Sherman, George B 645
Walton, John P 691
Shreve, Benjamin. 645
Walton, Mark A 692
Shuey, H. S 646
Ward, Henry E 692
Silva, Antonio P. 646
Warmcastle, Hon. F. M 692
Smith, Francis A 647
Warnecke, August 694
Smith, John B. 647
Webb, Frank 694
Smith, John F. S 648
Whitney, William E. 694
Smith, Rev. W. W. 669
Wright, Charles N. 695
696
Soto, Silvero I. C.
673
Wilkening, Henry
697
Sproll, John 674
Williams, David P.
698
Standish, Syranus 674
Williams, Francis.
698
Stege, Richard 675
Williams, Jesse H
699
Stewart, James 675 Stewart, William B. 676
Wills, Josiah
699
Wills, T. N
700
Stone, Albert W 677
Wilson, John M.
700
Stow, James M 677
Winslow, Michael
701
Sturges, Josiah 678
Witten, Thomas Z. 701
Wittenmyer, L. C. 702
Taylor, A. T 680
Wood, Hon. Chas .. 704
Taylor, Volney 680
Woodruff, David S. 705
Tennent, S. J., M. D 680
Woolhart, Martin 706
Thode, H. N 681
Wyatt, William (deceased) . 706
Thomson, Peter. 681
Yoakum, Geo. W
707
Taggart, John M 678
Wright, Randolph H.
Soto, Ignacio. 673
Sanford, Farmer 642
xiii
INDEX.
INDEX OF PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Abbott, J. P
230
Jones, Hon. J. P 340
Anderson, Ludwig. 550
Kapp, Frederick 374
Bacon, Samuel S 484
Loucks, Geo. P 154
Baldwin, Robert O.
186
McCabe, J. P.
528
Barber, M. R 472
McCabe, Thomas 362
Beebe, Benjamin F 624
McHarry, James 582
Blum, Simon 242
Marsh, Dr. John. (Frontispiece).
Blume, Henry. 674
May, Col. W. B. 142
Boyd, Joseph 286
Morgan, Jeremiah 110
Bradley, Thomas W 296
Murphy, Thomas 654
Bromley, J. L. 462
17
O'Brien, J. C. 274
Brown, Hon. Thomas A
-56
Pacheco, F 26
Chase, Johu G. 494
Plumley, Alonzo. 694
Clancy, D
704
Porter, Hon. C. B 318
Clayton, Joel
36
Reiners, John 684
Coats, Felix G.
252
Rice, William 176
506
Davis, John
220
Silva, A. P 604
Dohrmann, F. H. C.
538
Smith, John F. S.
450
Durham, J. E. 396
Smith. Rev. W. W 66
Edwards, Thomas
614
Soto, S. I. B. 634
English, Warren B 100
Stege, Richard 516
Ford, Erastus. 700
Stewart, James. 644
Forman, W. R. 120
Stone, A. W. 406
Gay, James 308
Tennent, S. J
46
Gehringer, A. 664
Tormey, Patrick. 428
Gift, Col. W. W. 198
Veal, R. R 418
Gregory, Munson 352
Wagner, Theodor. 384
Harlan, Joel 78
Walker, James T 88
Hawxhurst, G. W 208
Wilkening, Henry 560
Hemme, August. 132
Wills, T. N. 440
Jones, Nathaniel 264
Wittenmyer, L. C. 164
Woods, Hon. Charles 330
Nicholl, John 572
Brown, Hon. Elam
Cranna, W. R. 594
Shney, H. S.
History of Contra Costa County.
Class Brown
HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA.
Geography-Population-Area-Derivation of Name-Geology-Mineralogy-Contra Costa Hills-Monte Diablo Group-Topography-Mount Diablo-Climatography-General Remarks-Agriculture-Pomology-Earthquakes-Aborigines.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY is bounded on the north by the Bays of San Pablo and Suisun, the Straits of Carquinez and San Joaquin River; on the south by Alameda County ; on the east by San Joaquin County, and on the west by Alameda County and the Bay of San Francisco.
By a reference to a map of the State of California, the immense advan- tages of location which the county possesses will be immediately made apparent. Its geographical position is as near as may be about the center of the coast line of the State, while on a portion of its western front is the world-famous Bay of San Francisco, and on its north the commodious San Pablo and Suisun Bays. On the opposite shore of the Straits of Carquinez lies the town of Benicia, at last springing into prominence, for here the great overland line of the Central Pacific Railroad crosses to the shores of our county, whence, being landed at the thriving shipping point of Port Costa, it finds its way to the metropolis of the Pacific. The main overland southern route, too, passes through the county, while new lines are being now graded, still further to tap its internal resources.
AREA .- The area of Contra Costa County is embraced in four hundred and ninety square miles of hill and mountain, one hundred and fifty of valley, and one hundred and ten of tule or marsh lands lying along the shores of the Bays and on the margin of the San Joaquin River, in the north-east portion of the county, making a total of seven hundred and fifty square miles, thus placing Contra Costa in the position of being in point of size, the forty-third in the State.
It embraces all of the various lands suitable for the production of fruits, cereals, or vegetables, and the raising of stock, while its many beautiful vales are the paradise of the agriculturist, viticulturist, and pomologist.
2
18
History of Contra Costa County.
DERIVATION OF NAME .- The origin of the name which the county bears, was described in a report made to the Senate, under date April 16, 1850, by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then Senator from the District of Sonoma, entitled: "Report of Mr. Vallejo on the Derivation and Definition of the Names of the several Counties of California." In that report, un- equaled in its style, and in the amount of information crowded into a small compass, he says of Contra Costa: " The name signifies 'Opposite Coast,' and the country is so called from its situation opposite San Francisco, in an easterly direction. It is undoubtedly one of the most fertile counties in the State, possessing rich agricultural lands, which embrace an interior coast of thirty leagues, extending in the Bays of Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Pablo, the Straits of Carquinez, the Bay of Suisun, and the San Joaquin River; a circumstance which, united to its mild climate, will render it very important."
POPULATION.
1860.
1870.
1880.
California
379,994
560,247
865,747
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
8,461
12,257
Township No. 1
3,125
2
2,527
3
1,681
4
1,960
5
No record.
No record.
2,964
GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY .- There is perhaps no subject in the whole range of scientific research so fraught with interest and so sure to yield a rich harvest to the investigator as the study of the earth's crust, its forma- tions and upbuilding. In this the careful student and close observer sees more to prove the assertion that "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," than can be found on any written page. Indeed, it may well be called a written page-a tablet of stone on which the finger of God has written, in letters of life and death, the history of the world from the time when the earth was "without form and void," until the present day. What a wonderful scroll is it which, to him who comprehends, unfolds the story of the ages long since buried in the deep and forgotten past! In wonder and amazement he reads the opening chapters, which reveal to his astonished gaze the formation of the igneous bed-rock or foundation crust on which, and of which, all the superstructure must be built. The formless and void matter is slowly crystallizing into that peculiarly organized tri-
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19
Geography, Name, Topography, Etc.
partite mass known now as granite, than which there is no more curiously formed thing on earth, and none could be better adapted for foundation purposes than this adamantine stone. Silica, spar and mica, three inde- pendent substances, all crystallizing freely and separately, each after the manner and under the laws which govern its special formation, are so in- dissolubly united in one mass, that the action of the elements for centuries is scarcely perceptible, and the corrosive tooth of time makes but a print upon its polished surface during ages.
From this page we turn to the one above it, for be it known that the geological book is arranged so that its primary pages come at the bottom. Here is found incipient life, in the form of trilobites, polyps, various classes of mollusks, together with worms and crustaceans. Near the close of the page there is found the record of fish also. All through the page is found descriptions of the primal vegetable life which existed on the earth in the shape of sea-weed and algæ. The entire face of the earth was then covered with water, for this was before the decree had gone forth which said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." What an era of storms and tempests that must have been ! No continents nor even islands against which the angry waves could dash in their mad fury. What tides there must have been! But all this great commotion was necessary, for enough of the great granite body had to be dissolved and eroded to form a body of matter several hundred feet in thickness in the lowest places.
Another page is turned to view, and here is to be read the fact that the sea was full to overflowing with fish. And now the dry land had appeared, "and the earth brought forth grass." Here was the beginning of vegetable life in the world, other than which grew in the sea. Animal life has now advanced to the vertebratæ, and vegetable life has been ushered into the world. Great earthquakes now begin to occur, and mountain ranges are formed. Storm and tempest range much as in the last age, and erosion is going on rapidly, and detritus is forming layer after layer of the rocks now classified as belonging to this geological period. What cycles of time, as measured by man's chronology, transpired during this age, no one can tell, yet to man, if it could be told to him, it would seem to be not a time, but an eternity.
The unfolding of the next page reveals to man the most useful as well as wonderful epoch in the upbuilding of the earth's superstructure. It is now that the great coal fields are formed, from which man, in the due full- ness of time, is permitted to draw his supplies for fuel for all purposes- How wonderfully is the munificence and wisdom of God exemplified in this one age in the world's formation! Quite large areas of land have now been elevated above the surface of the raging Devonian sea. The native heat of the earth radiating continuously, expanded the water into vast
20
History of Contra Costa County.
volumes of mist, which floated upward till it came in contact with the cooler stratas of air, when it was precipitated to the earth in grand old thunder showers. The atmosphere was charged with heat, and burdened with moisture and carbonic acid. These were conditions most favorable for the development of a gigantic and profuse growth of vegetation, and the surface of the earth was covered with such a forest as the mind of man can- not conceive. Centuries rolled by, and at last large masses of these trees had grown up, fallen down and formed themselves into interminable and impenetrable jungles. Then the continents began to exchange places with the seas, and water covered the great forests so lately in the full flush of their exotic pride. Then the silt and sand formed great bodies of shales and slate-stone upon the top of the forest, and the weight of the body of rock and earth pressed it till it formed into the mass we now find it, and the process of solidification occurred, and stone coal was the result. In accordance with the laws of correlation and conservation of forces, the great coal beds are only immense reservoirs of heat in a latent state, only await- ing the proper conditions for development and application to the uses and advantages of the human family. Could a man have seen the process of coal-making going on, away back in the almost twilight of the early dawn of the earth's existence, he would naturally have asked: To what use can that brittle, black material ever be put ? Too fragile for building purposes, and too hard and sterile for agricultural economies, and yet evidently designed by the All-wise Creator for some beneficent purpose. But to-day the answer is written on every hand in letters of living light. The sunbeam, charged with heat, comes from the bosom of that great source of light and heat, and assimilates itself with the great body of heat and vegetation, then everywhere so rife. Ages roll on, and that sunbeam and its brothers of that day, have long since been forgotten. The fullness of time has now come, and a race of beings inhabit the earth which existed only in the will and mind of the Infinite One at the time of the upbuilding of these great coal measures. These creatures are called men, and they are delving far down into the deep recesses of the earth. For what are they searching amid the dark chambers and along the gloomy passages which they have burrowed out in the bosom of the earth ? We follow and find them with pick and drill dislodging a heavy black substance, and sending it in cars to the sur- face of the ground. We follow it as it passes from hand to hand. Do you see that happy household band gathered around the cheerful hearth, while without the storm-king rages with all the fury of a demon ? Hark ! Do you hear the clank and whir of machinery which comes from those buildings, affording employment for hundreds of needy men and women, keeping the wolf from the door, and even making them happy ? Do you see that train of cars speeding over hill, through valley and across plain, bearing with it a host of people, hurrying to and from their avocations of life ? Do you
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