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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08178258 7
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofsantacl00munr
THE YORT FULYA LIBRARY
ACTOR NOX AND TIL_IN JOBAT ONS.
Gray,
Martin Murphy
HISTORY
-OF-
Santa Clara County, California;
INCLUDING ITS
Geography, Geology, Topography, Climatography and Description,
TOGETHER WITH
A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; ITS MINES AND NATURAL SPRINGS ; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENTS, COMPILED FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND AMERICAN PIONEERS ; FULL LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY ; SEPA- RATE HISTORIES OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING THE ADVANCE IN POPU- LATION AND AGRICULTURE.
ALSO
INCIDENTS OF PUBLIC LIFE ; THE MEXICAN WAR; AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN ;
AND OF ITS
Cities, Towns, Churches, Colleges, Secret Societies. Etc., Etc.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO : ALLEY, BOWEN & CO, PUBLISHERS. 1881.
PUBLIC LIMA RY 371050 ACTOR LEALLY AND TILDE FCU D . C.S. R 10
ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1881, BY ALLEY, BOWEN & Co., IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON, D. C.
PACIFIC PRESS, PRINTERS, STEREOTYPERS AND BINDERS, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.
PREFACE.
THE History of Santa Clara County was undertaken now nearly a twelve- month since ; the result of our labors will be found in the following pages. We claim no literary merit for our work. Our aim is to please the majority by presenting a volume, wherein will be found in convenient shape the prin- cipal events that have transpired within the county limits.
To the old settler, to the pioneer citizen, the events recorded in these pages, many of them in which he has figured, and which have been gradually and surely fading from the mind, will be as a revival of by-gone associations. The emulation of the sire will be revived in the son. The ground that he rescued from the wilderness will be made holy, while the infant will be taught to look with reverence upon the book which holds the annals of his parent's wanderings, and the rise and progress of his native county.
Unhappily many matters that should have found a place in this volume, and several biographies have been omitted, this not through any derelietion on our part; on the contrary, every effort has been made to make the work as complete as might be.
In conclusion we have to thank the residents of the county for their almost uniform kindness in imparting information, while our acknowledgements are due to "Hall's History of San Jose;" Hon. J. J. Owen, of the San Jose Mercury; F. B. Murdoch Esq .; Givens George, Esq .; S. W. DeLacy, of the Daily Morning Times; the publisher of the Daily Herald; and last though not least, A. P. Murgotten of The Pioneer. To the County and City Officers, one and all, we owe a deep debt for valuable assistance in unraveling the archives of the two governments, while, especially are our thanks offered to Horace S. Foote, for the important data embodied in our list of county and township officers.
J. P. MUNRO-FRASER, Historian.
ALLEY, BOWEN & CO.
San Francisco, August, 1881.
一
INDEX.
GENERAL HISTORY.
Geographical Situation and Area 17
Derivation of Name 17
Population 18
Geology and Mineralogy
18
Topography
20
Soil and Productions
22
Artesian Wells
23
Climatography
25
The Thermal Belt
27
Mean Temperature
28
Rain-fall
28
General Remarks
28
Earthquakes
29
Descriptive
30
MINES AND SPRINGS
32
The New Almaden Mine
32
The Enriquita Mine
37
The Pacific Congress Springs 39
The Madrone Springs
40
The Gilroy Hot Springs
41
Mill's Seltzer Springs
43
EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLE-
MENT
44
THE MEXICAN WAR 105
THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
127
The Organization
of the
County
127
Original County Boundary.
129
Court of Sessions
129
Original Township Bounda-
ries
130
Washington
130
San José
130
Gilroy
131
Santa Clara
131
Redwood
131
Board of Supervisors
131
Present County Boundary
131
Present Township
Bound-
aries
132
Fremont
132
Redwood
133
Gilroy
133
Burnett
134
Milpitas
134
Alviso
135
Santa Clara
135
New Almaden
135
San Jose
136
School Districts
137
Election Districts
137
Road Districts
138
Court of Sessions and Board
of Supervisors
139
Post-Offices
140
County Buildings
141
Court House
141
County Jail
146
County Infirmary
147
The Political History of the
County
149
Mexican Government
149
vi
INDEX.
Military Government 150
Constitutional Convention 151
San José made State Capital_ 151 Members of First Legislature 153
Senators
153
Assemblymen 154
Governor Brunett Assumes
Office
155
State Capital Removed
155
Judicial Distriets
158
County Court
158
Conventions
170
County Vote
172
MEXICAN GRANTS
174
Rinconada del
Arroyo de
San Francisquito
174
Las Uvas 176
La Polka 176
San Antonio
177
Rincoñada de los Gatos
178
Los Choches
179
La Purisima, Concepcion
179
Solis 180
Las Animas 180
Santa Teresa 182
Quito
183
Los Capitancillos 184
" James Enright" 188
" Mary S. Bennett"
190
Mañada de Corte Madera 192
Santa Clara Orchard.
194, 200
List of Land Claims 210-218
HOMICIDES
219
Mrs. Fielding Wills 219
Alex. W. McClure 220
Louis Lemercier.
220
Lynching of Kelley
221
Angustin C. Hall
221
Chilenian (name unknown) __ 221 Francisco Peralta alias Don
Pancho
222
Pedro Arevena
222
Dolores Araya
223
José Galindo
223
Mexican (name unknown)
223
Mrs. Olive Knapp
224
Louis Pvelgalado
224
Francisco Berreyessa
224
José (a Mexican)
224
Paul C. Shore
224
Samuel J. Crosby
225
L. Posey Fergusson
225
Francisco Hernandez
226
Rafael Ortez
226
William Blanch
262
John Bee.
226
Samuel Philips
227
Mrs. Kelley.
227
Pedro (a Spaniard)
227
Martin J. Roohan
228
Peter Veuve
230
José Morio de Polycarp
231
Joseph Henman
231
John Churchill
231
James Saxton
231
James Santina
231
Van Cleave
231
The People vs. Ah Pah
232
Osaque
232
Charles Cheeny 232
Joseph Pelligrini
232
Juan José Rodriguez
232
Bernada Zunaga
232
The People vs. Edwards
232
Hendricks
232
José (at Mountain View)
233
vii
INDEX.
Thomas Walker 233
Chinaman on Coe's Ranch
237
Taylor Hale
237
Arthur Parsons
238
People vs. George Rushton
238
Pottet
238
Beckwith Kelley
237
Conratera
239
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
ALMADEN TOWNSHIP
210
Geography
240
Topography
240
Soil
240
Products
240
Timber
240
Climate
240
Early Settlement
240
Goodrich's Free-stone Quarry 242
ALVISO TOWNSHIP 244
Geography 244
Topography
244
Soil
244
Products
241
Climate
244
Early Settlement
241
ALVISO
248
Alviso Lodge, No. 77, A. O.
U. W. 251
Alviso Mills
252
BURNETT TOWNSHIP
253
Geography
253
Topography
253
· Soil
253
Products 253
Timber
253
Climate
253
Early Settlement
253
TENNANT'S STATION
251
FREMONT TOWNSHIP
255
Geography
255
Topography
255
Soil
255
Products
255
Timber.
255
Climate
255
Early Settlement
256
MOUNTAIN VIEW
262
Mountain View Lodge, No.
244, I. O. O. F
263
Mountain View House
263
Enterprise Hall
263
MOUNTAIN VIEW STATION
263
M .E. Church, South
264
Mountain View Lodge, No.
194, F. and A. M.
264
Mountain View Lodge, No.
59, A. O. U. W.
265
Golden Wreath Lodge, No. 327, I. O. G. T 265
Mountain View Hotel
266
Warehouses
266
MAYFIELD
266
Mayfield Lodge, No. 192, I. O. O. F. 269
David Patton 233
William Cooper
234
Harry Love.
235
Mrs. John Huser
236
viii
INDEX.
Lumber Yard. 269
Mayfield Railroad Brewery 270
GILROY TOWNSHIP
271
Geography
271
Topography
271
Streams
271
Climate
271
Soil
271
Products
272
Timber
272
Early Settlement
272
SAN YSIDRO OR OLD GILROY
278
GILROY
279
M. E. Church, South
291
St. Mary's Catholic Church 292
Christian Church
293
M. E. Church
293
Presbyterian Church
293
Prot'st'nt Episcopal Church 294
Gilroy High School
295
Keith Lodge, No. 187, F. &
A. M.
299
Gilroy Lodge, No. 154, I.
O. O. F 300
Gilroy Lodge, No. 26, A. O.
U. W.
300
Gilroy Fire Department ... 300
Gilroy Water Company
301
Gilroy Gas Company
301
Gilroy Cheese Factory
301
Gilroy Brewery
301
Bodfish Mills.
301
Gilroy Planing Mills
302
Santa Clara Valley Mills ..
302
Gilroy Wagon and Black- smith Shop 302
Williams Hotel. 302
Railroad House
303
Gilroy Advocate
303
SAN FELIPE.
303
San Felipe Hotel
303
San Felipe Cigar Factory.
303
MILPITAS TOWNSHIP
304
Geography
304
Topography
304
Soil
304
Products
3044
Timber
304
Climate
304
Early Settlement
304
MILPITAS
306
REDWOOD TOWNSHIP.
307
Geography
307
Topography
307
Soil
307
Products
307
Timber
307
Climate
307
Early Settlement.
308
Los GATOS
310
Los Gatos Lodge, No. 76,
A. O. U. W.
312
Victoria Lodge, No. 328, I.
O. G. T.
312
Los Gatos Flouring-Mill
313
Lyndon Hall
313
Los Gatos Hotel
313
Davis
&
Crowell Lime
Quarry
314
Remillard Lime Quarry
314
SARATOGA
314
Saratoga Paper-Mill
315
Caledonia Pasteboard-Mills 315
LEXINGTON
316
ALMA
316
ix
INDEX.
WRIGHT'S STATION 316
SAN JOSE TOWNSHIP AND CITY
317
Original Plat of Pueblo
320
First Presbyterian Church.
464
M. E. Church
481
M. E. Church, South
452
Trinity Church (Episcopal)_ 484
First U. P. Church
485
First Congregational Church 485
German M. E. Church
486
Society of Friends
487
College of Notre Dame
487
State Normal School
493
San José Lodge, No. 10, F & A. M. 495
Garden City Lodge, No. 142, 1. O. O. F 495
Stella Rebekah Lodge, No.
22, I. O. O. F. 496
Grange Lodge, No. 295, I. O.
G. T
497
Allemania Lodge, No. 178, I. O. O. F 497
Mt. Hamilton Lodge, No. 43
A. O. U. W.
497
San Jose Stamn, No. 77, U.
O. R. M.
498
Phil Sheridan Post, No. 7, G.
A. R.
498
Harmony Lodge, No. 4 (Sons of Hermann). 499
San José Turn- Verein
499
San José German Verein
499
Handel & Haydn Society
500
S. C. V. Agricultural Society 500
Santa Clara County Pioneers 510
Bank of San José.
514
First National Bank
515
FLOUR-MILLS
516
Moody's Mills
516
Vineyard Mills
516
FOUNDRIES
516
San José Foundry
516
Joseph Enright's Engine
Works
517
F. Kuchenbeiser's Works ..
517
San José Brass Foundry -
518
Alameda Foundry
518
MANUFACTURIES
518
Pioneer Carriage Manufac-
tory
518
Pacific Carriage Factory .. 518 Alameda Carriage Factory 519 Globe Carriage Factory ___ 519 Albert Lake Box Factory_ 519 San José Box Factory .. 519
Eagle Coffee and Spice Mills 519
Santa Clara Valley Mill
and Lumber Co ..
520
Independent Mill and Lum- ber Co. 520
Sierra Lumber Co.
521
California Broom Factory. 521 Angora Robe and Glove Co. 521 California Glove Factory .. 521
Soda Works of Williams
Bros.
522
Eagle Brewery
522
Krumb's Brewery
522
Lion Brewery
523
Fredericksburg Brewery-
523
Tannery of Grozelier
&
Nelson
524
Soap Manufactory of Carl
Tischer
524
San José Woolen-Mill
524
INDEX.
FRUIT CANNING AND PACKING
ESTABLISHMENTS
528
Porter Brothers
528
San José Fruit Packing Co. 528 Golden Gate Packing Co .__ 529
California Fruit Packing
Co.
529
NON-COMMERCIAL
CORPORA -
TIONS
529
San José Gas Co.
530
San José and Santa Clara
Horse R. R. Co.2
531
Market Street and Willow
Glen R. R. Co.
531
Peoples R. R. Co.
532
North Side R. R. Co.
532
Bay and Coast Telegraph
Co.
532
MARKETS
532
City Market 532
Central Market
533
THEATERS, HALLS, ETC ..
533
San José Opera House
533
California Theater
533
Music Hall
534
San José Water Co.
534
Live-Oak Vineyard
535
NEWSPAPERS
536
The Pioneer
536
Daily Morning Times
536
San José Mercury
537
Daily Herald.
538
SANTA CLARA TOWNSHIP
539
Geography
539
Topography
539
Soil
539
Products
539
Timber
539
Climate
539
Early Settlement.
539
Santa Clara College
547
Santa Clara Feed-Mill
550
Pacific Manufacturing Co.
550
Santa Clara Tannery
550
Santa Clara City Flouring-
Mills
551
Santa Clara Brewery
551
Davies Machine Shop
551
Bank of Santa Clara County. 552
Santa Clara Verein
552
" Meridian."
552
BIOGRAPHIES.
Allen, Professor Charles H 681
Ammen, Robert S 682
Anderson, Philip 682
Anderson, Robert
683
Angney, W. Z. (Deceased) 592
Anson, George 593
Anzerais, John L 683
Awbrey, Joseph 683
Ayer, Samuel F 641
Babb, Silas G
593
Bailey, Boanerges P
555
Bailey, Doctor B. 577
Baker, Senator George F
684
Baker, Rev. G. R. (Deceased) 684
Balbach, John 752
Ballard, John H. 569
Barker, Samuel A 685
Barnes, Thatcher F
562
xi
INDEX.
Barron, Edward
577
Barry, John 754
Barry, Tom C 754
Beach, Tyler
686
Beauchamp, Wm. W
594
Belden, Hon. David
686
Bennett, Col. A. G
687
Bennett George E
594
Beverley, Frank P
578
Billings, James M
657
Billings, John R
657
Bishop, S. A
687
Black, J. C
692
Blake, F. W
595
Blanch, Charles
569
Blythe, Samuel A
693
Boulware, John W
578
Bower, Wilson S
642
Boyce, David S
642
Braly, Rev. John E. (Deceased)
658
Branham, Isaac
755
Brannan, William
595
Brewer, Daniel G
570
Briggs, Hon. H. W
596
Briggs, John G
562
Broek, E. E. (Deceased)
597
Brown, A. M., M. D., Jacob N. 755
Bryant, M. D., B
597
Bubb, Benjamin T
579
Bubb, William H
579
Burchell, John
598
Burns, John D
599
Cahalan, Michael (Deceased) 693
Cahalan, M. M
694
Campbell, James H
694
Carling, Edward
571
Carrick, John
643
Carter, John S
756
Casey, Lewis C
555
Chappell, Alfred
599
Chew, Alfred
694
Chipman, Lemuel J
695
Clark, Charles
643
Clark, Philander
644
Clark, S. A
695
Clayton, James A
696
Cole, Amos G
599
Corcoran, Martin
696
Cornthwait, James H
703
Cory, A. M., M. D., Andrew J. 704
Cory, M. D., Benjamin
704
Cottle, John A
600
Cottle, Royal
705
Covey, F. W
579
Crews, Caleb B
600
Culp, J. D
601
Daniel, Rev. John (Deceased) _ 706
Darling, E. W
644
Daves, John E
751
Davies, E. H
658
Davis, Col. Peter J. (Deceased) 659
Davis, Schuyler B
660
De Lacy, Stephen W
707
Delmas, D. M
707
Dexter, Albert,
601
Dibble, John H
660
Doan, Jacob
602
Donavan, R. B
661
Donnelly, Peter
603
Dornberger, Lambert
579
Dowdy, John
603
Doyle, Peter H
752
Dreischmeyer, Henry
603
Dryden, David A
604
Duchesneau, John C
580
Dudley, Dr. J. P
757
xii
INDEX.
Duncan, Joseph H 604
Dunn, Capt. Frank 661
Easton, George 605
Eberhard, Jacob
662
Eckhart, Charles F
605
Edwards, Henry W 708
Edwards, Nathan B 757
Eigelberry, John (Deceased) 605
Elrod, N. S
750
Emlay, E
606
Empey, W. R 758
Erkson. Alex. C
709
Erkson, Hon. William
758
Eustice, George
751
Fairfield, Hiram
759
Farley, M. D., Charles K
606
Farman, Truman
607
Farmer, F. E
662
Ferguson, Asa (Deceased) 607
Fine, Spencer P
609
Finger, Otto
663
Fisher, F
572
Fisher, Thomas
571
Fisher, Capt. Wm. (Deceased) . 571
Fitzgerald, James
609
Fitzgerald, John S
609
Fitzgerald, Thomas
555
Fitzgerald, Patrick
610
Fitzgerald, William
610
Foss, Wm. F. F
580
Fowler, N. C
572
Fox, Bernard S. (Deceased)
711
Franck, Hon. F. C
663
François, Charles
610
Frink, Hon. Daniel
581
Frost, Erwin, Jr.
572
Furlong, W. N
610
Gallager, Andrew T
664
Givens, George
781
Gladewitz, Christian D
712
Green, William H
712
Greenawalt, David
712
Goldsworthy, John
648
Goodrich, Levi
759
Goodrich, Sarah L. Knox
767
Gruwell, Laban H
611
Habich, August
664
Ham, Capt. R. K
665
Hanna, Hon. Wm
612
Hardy, William Benjamin
712
Hargis, Walter F
665
Hartshorn, Wm
612
Hays, Wilson
714
Herold, Adam
613
Hellyer, G. W
760
Hoag, Delevan
582
Hobin, Martin
572
Hodges, P. C
613
Hogan, Michael
714
Holland, Fredk. T
714
Holsclaw, Milton T
613
Houghton, Hon. S. O
760
Huff, James A
582
Hunter, A. B
666
Hunter, M. E
615
Hutchinson, Robert
562
Hutton, Henry
649
Jamison, Hon. Samuel I
666
Jeffries, James
556
Jeffries, John (Deceased)
556
Johnston, John
716
Jones, Aaron (Deceased)
716
Jones, Hon. Cyrus
715
Jones, Hugh S
615
Karr, John
566
Kent, Delos G
716
xiii
INDEX.
Kenyon, James M 667
Kickham, Thomas 616
Kirby, John C 573
Knox, M. D., William J
765
Krumb, L
769
Laederick, John J. (Deceased) 668
Lagarde, A.
716
La Pierre, Geo. W
582
Lauck, George
668
Leddy, James
717
Lendrum, George
718
Little, Horace
769
Lotz, Joseph A
718
Lovell, Ira J
650
Lyndon, John W
650
Lynham, Silas P
719
Margot, Henry D
583
Martin, Calvin (Deceased)
719
Martin, Julius
616
Mason, John F
651
Mayer, Bernard
584
Mercier, Jules
584
Messersmith, John
652
Messersmith, John G
668
Messing, H
770
Mills, Luther R
669
Morey, M. D., H. C.
618
Morrill, John C
719
Moore, Samuel T
618
Morris, J. C 720
Morrison, Samuel
669
Morrison, William
670
Munson, M. D., Clinton
573
Murdoch, Francis B
721
Murgotten, Alex. P
721
Murphy, Hon. B. D
723
Murphy, James
723
Murphy, John
618
Murphy, Sr., Martin (Deceased) 724
Murphy, Jr., Martin
791
McCarty, John
726
McCleary, Henry
584
McComas, Hon. Rush 670
McCoy, Reuben
652
McKisick, Judge Lewis D
726
McNeil, Albert B
728
Neel, David H
620
Niggle, George
621
Ogan, J. M
729
Oliver, A. W
621
Ortley, John J
566
Otto, John G
622
Ousley, S. M. (Deceased)
622
Owen, Hon. J. J
729
Owen, Jehial M
574
O'Banion, Wm. F
730
Page, Robert
730
Page, William
584
Paige, Elgin W
731
Paine, John
622
Parker, Major L. F
557
Parkhurst, Walter A
732
Parr, Charles
557
Parr, Charles H. (Deceased)
653
Parr, Edward N
654
Parr, Jonathan (Deceased)
653
Paul, William
585
Payne, Judge D. S
732
Peckham, Judge R. F
770
Peebels, Cary
671
Phegley, James F
623
Pieper, John H
733
Pitman, Andrew J
585
Pogue, Thomas
566
Pomeroy, Hiram
644
Pullan, Hannibal
677
xiv
INDEX.
Purdy, Theodore V 734
Purinton, Byron 734
Pyle, Darius M
624
Quinn, William
735
Rankin, B. P
735
Rea, Samuel
624
Rea, Thomas
624
Reeve, Henry
625
Regan, Patrick
626
Reither, Jacob
626
Richards, Wm. A
736
Riddle, James L
587
Richl, A.
626
Riggs, Zadoc A 559
Roberts, John J
654
Rock, John
736
Rogers, F. S 627
Rogers, Wm. H 655
Rucker, J. E.
780
Russell, John H
780
Sargent, Hon. J. P 628
Satterwhite, Thos. D
628
Saunders, Simon
587
Saxe, Heman A
737
Scheller, Jacob 574
Schofield, Christoph
559
Scott, Thomas
567
Seaman, George
629
Seanor, George 751
Shore, Gilbert E 588
Singleton, James
737
Sinnott, John 645
Smith, Francis J 738
Snell, Thomas E 738
Snow, James 739
Sontheimer, John J 740
Spencer, Judge F. E
740
Spring, T. W
740
Springer, Elias F
588
Springer, J. P. (Deceased) 741
Stanley, M. O
588
Statler, John A 678
Stevens, Orvis
574
Swift, E
629
Taber, Orrin
741
Tarleton, George W.
742
Taylor, S. P. (Deceased) 588
Tennant, F. W
742
Tennant, John
743
Tennant, William
575
Thomas, Judge C. G
743
Thomas, Massey
630
Thomas, Hon. T. R 631
Thomson, Robert
743
Thornton, David 631
Tisdale, Wm. D 744
Topham, Edward
751
Tourtillott, L. L. (Deceased) 576
Tremoureaux, François
560
Trimble, John.
744
Trombly, Peter A
632
Trueman, Marcus 745
Tryon, A. B 632
Tully, Pleasant B
633
Umbarger, Austin F 745
Van Doren, Isaac N 745
Van Pelt, Daniel
746
Van Reed, James H
589
Vestal, Asa
747
Wagstaff, Geo. T 589
Wallis, Hon. Joseph S 590
Wallitz, Frederick
634
Walker, Robert
655
Walsh, Robert 645
Warburton, M. D., H. H
679
Ware, Wm. H
560
XV
Watson, Alexander
634
Weisshaar, Fred. W 590
Welch, George
747
Wolsey, J. S
637
Wood, David
637
Wood, Uriah
638
Woodhams, Joseph
679
Wentz, Hon. Christian
634
Whitehurst, L. A
635
Wright, John A
591
Young, C. W
750
Young, Edward
561
Zuck, David
639
Zuck, Hon. James C
640
ADDENDA.
750
TABLE OF COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP OFFICERS 783
PORTRAITS.
Murphy, Martin. Frontispiece
Houghton, S. O., Facing Page
32
Knox, Wm. J., 48
Jones, H. S., 288
Thomas, T. R., 64
Branham, Isaac, 304
Dexter, Albert, 66 320
Warburton, H. H., “ 336
Knox-Goodrich, Sarah L., “ 352
De Lacy, S. W.,
368
Ayer, S. F., 66
66 144
Parr, Jonathan,
384
Owen, J. J.,
66
160
Snell, T. E.,
400
Sargent, J. P.,
"
176
Cottle, Royal, 66
416
Jamison, S. I.,
192
Cahalan, Michael
432
Delmas, D. M.,
208
Hunter, A. B., 66 448
Thomas, Massey,
224
Boulware, J. W.,
464
Cory, Benjamin,
240
Dudley, J. P.,
480
Frink, Daniel, Facing Page 256
Little, Horace,
272
Peekham, R. F., 66 66 80
Baker, G. R., 66 96
Barron, Edward, 66
112
Rea, Thomas, 66
128
Weller, Abraham
645
Weller, Joseph R.
646
Wells, Dudley
647
Worthington, Chas. H
680
Wilber, J. M
750
Wilcox, Chas. F
749
Wilcox, Harvey
656
Willson, Albert
635
Willson, Horace
636
INDEX.
Wilmarth, Peter B
637
Wilson, G. W 576
xvi
INDEX.
Walker, Robert, Facing Page
496
Baker, George F., Facing Page 640
Angney, W. Z., 66 512
Trimble, John,
672
Brewer, D. G., 66
544
Murgotten, Alex. P.“ 66 704
Weller, J. R.,
66 576
Dibble, John H. 66 736
Tennant, William, «
66 608
Worthington, C. H.“
768
1
-
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA,
GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION AND AREA-DERIVATION OF NAME-POPULATION-GEOLOGY AND MIN- ERALOGY-TOPOGRAPHY-SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS-ARTESIAN WELLS-CLIMATOGRAPHY-THE THERMAL BELT -- MEAN TEMPERATURE-RAINFALL-GENERAL REMARKS-EARTHQUAKES- DESCRIPTIVE.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY is bounded on the north by Alameda county, and a portion of the Bay of San Francisco; on the east by Stanislaus and Mer- ced counties; on the south by San Benito county; and on the west by Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties. Its average length from north to south is thirty-five miles; its breadth from west to east, thirty miles; while it comprises about seven hundred thousand acres, or nearly one thousand and fifty square miles.
The immense advantages of location, which the county possesses, may be at once observed on reference to a map of the State. It embraces all of the various lands suitable for the production of fruits, cereals or vegetables, or the raising of stock and timber. Within its boundaries there is little, if any, waste ground, while its poorest and roughest would compare well with what would be considered good farming land in some of the States on the Atlantic coast. Through its center runs that beautiful vale, marvelous in its fer- tility, which is the namesake of the county; on the west the Coast Range protects it from the bitter winds that cross the ocean; to the east a wall of high mountains bars the keen zephyrs from off the Sierra's snow; while the head of San Francisco's glorious bay skirts a portion of its northern extrem- ity, where navigable sloughs and creeks intersect its shores, and penetrate to a considerable distance inland.
DERIVATION OF NAME .- The origin of the name which this county bears is thus described in a report made to the Senate under date April 16, 1850, by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then the 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, unequalled in its style, and in the amount of information crowded into a small compass, he says of Santa Clara: "According to the Roman
2
18
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Book of Martyrs, or Martyrology, as Hortalana, the pious mother of Santa Clara, was once kneeling before a crucifix, praying earnestly that, being with child, she might be happily delivered, she heard a voice whispering, ' Fear not, woman, thou shalt safely bring forth;' whereupon a brilliant light suddenly illumined the place, and the mother, inspired by the myste- rious prediction, baptized her child Clara, which is the feminine of clear, or bright. «Clara was afterwards sanctified, on account of her many eminent virtues, and accordingly venerated by the Catholics in all Roman Catholic churches.
The Mission of Santa Clara, from which the county derives its name, was founded on the twelfth day of January, 1777."
POPULATION.
California.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
1860. 379,994
1870. 560,247
1880. 865,747
Almaden Township.
744
1,647
2,412
Alviso Township .
S31
58S
Burnett Township
220
802
540
Fremont Township
1,085
2,018
2,160
Gilroy Township
1,206
1,570
1,630
Gilroy, town.
1,625
1,675
Milpitas Township
565
1,508
Redwood Township
686
1,353
2,244
San José Township
4,579
3,420
5,541
San José, city
9,089
12,615
Santa Clara Township
2,559
3,469
2,372
Santa Clara, town
2,416
Total
11,912
26,246
35,113
In 1862, Milpitas was formed out of Alviso township. In 1880, the cen- sus of the two townships was returned in one report, and is credited in the above table to Milpitas.
The total given for 1860 is greater by two than is shown by the footings, but it is in accordance with the official returns.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY .- This subject is one of vast importance to Santa Clara county, and requires a more elaborate dissertation than that which we can give it. Our task will be to present simply a general geolog- ical and mineralogical glance of the more prominent parts of Santa Clara. Commencing with the eastern hills, therefore, we find that they consist of a center of metamorphic cretaceous rocks, flanked by an enormous thickness of unaltered cretaccous strata, the latter consisting of sandstones, with inter-stratified shales. A coarse conglomerate, the boulders in which are metamorphic rock, differing from that comprising the main mass of the mountains, occurs on the outer margin of the hills, towards the San Joaquin plain.
19
GEOGRAPHY, NAME, POPULATION, TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.
The unaltered cretaceous and tertiary strata flank the entire range on the eastern side, as far north as its junction with the Sierra Nevada. The absence of the tertiary is marked by the precipitous nature of the range where it joins the plains, as opposed to the low-rolling hills where the ter- tiary overlies the cretaceous.
Along the eastern flank, the tertiary, as far as known, rests conformably upon the cretaceous. The metamorphic roeks have the same general char- aeter, being marked by jaspers, 'serpentine, and, occasionally, mica slate. Their limits are well indicated by the growth of forest trees, which is very meager upon the hills made up of unaltered strata, they being generally very dry and barren.
The summit of Pacheco's Peak, a little south of east of the town of Gilroy, as well as those of other and higher peaks, in a line crossing the range obliquely to the south-east, are of trachyte. This is the first known occur- rence of eruptive roek in the main Mount Diablo range south of Suisun bay.
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