USA > California > Solano County > History of Solano County...and histories of its cities, towns...etc. > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08178261 1
383
ex libris
T. W. Lees
٤١
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofsolanoc00munr
HISTORY
OF
SOLANO COUNTY
COMPRISING
AN
ACCOUNT OF ITS GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION; TIIE ORIGIN OF ITS NAME; TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY AND SPRINGS; ITS ORGANIZATION: TOWN- SHIP SYSTEM; EARLY SETTLEMENT, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF SCENES AS VIEWED BY THE PIONEERS, THE FIRST AMERI- CAN ARGONAUTS OF CALIFORNIA; THE BEAR FLAG; THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD; THE PROGRESS OF POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE; THE MEXI- CAN GRANTS; THE PRINCIPAL MURDERS; INCIDENTS OF SETTLEMENT, ELEC- TIONS, AND TABLE OF COUNTY OFFICERS, AND HISTORIES
OF ITS
CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC. AS, ALSO, A FULL AND PARTICULAR
BIOGRAPHY OF ITS EARLY SETTLERS
AND PRINCIPAL INHABITANTS.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL .: WOOD, ALLEY & .CO., EAST OAKLAND. 1879.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY!
309719
ASTOR LEID. A . D TILDEN FOU. DATIONS. R L
SAN FRANCISCO : H. S. CROCKER & CO. Stationers, Printers and Lithographers.
PREFACE.
In presenting the following pages to our subscribers we will draw their attention to the fact that reliability of data has been our aim, rather than the elegance of diction and the verbiage of language.
It has in many instances been a matter of extreme difficulty, the compiling the facts we have here put together. Want of precision in the dates of the earlier occurrences in Solana county have been found a great stumbling block, while a sequence of events has been difficult to gain. Our task has been no easy one. What is there more depressing than to be told in one's researches, "Oh, there is nothing to write about here ;" or, "I have nothing to tell in my biography," forgetting that no more interesting records exist than those of the doings of the Argonauts of California, a record which each and all should feel proud in perpetuating in some form that will bear the brunt of time, and hand down their names and their doings, even unto the third and fourth generation ; hence, our Biographical Sketches will be found not the least interesting portion of our work.
Doctor Levi Cornell Frisbie, of Vallejo, himself a pioneer of no ordinary experience, has spontaneously penned us the following letter, which we reproduce, not so much as a testimonial, but as a proof of how our labors are appreciated by men of profession and judgment.
VALLEJO, May 23d, 1879. Messrs. WOOD, ALLEY & Co .:
Dear Sirs .- Your enterprise in collecting, preserving and presenting in an enduring form facts and incidents connected with the early history of Solano county, is one that pre-eminently commends itself to the favor and support of all our people. Like
vi
all Californians, and especially Solanoites, we are very proud of our county, and believe we have the best climate, the most pic- turesque scenery, and most fertile soil within the borders of the State. So important was deemed this locality that under the old Mexican regime was located here, the National Rancho " Suscol," as being the finest grazing and best watered tract within the whole Province, while adjoining this magnificent domain was the extensive and fertile valley of Suisun, granted by the Mexican Government to the great Chief, Solano, for the use and benefit of his tribe, who were acknowledged to be by far the bravest and mnost intelligent of all the California Indians, and proved ever to be the staunch friend of the existing government, being often called upon by General Vallejo to protect the property of the National Rancho and the inhabitants of the adjoining Mission and town of Sonoma, repelling by force immensely superior numbers of the wild and savage tribes that inhabited the north as far up as the bound- aries of Oregon.
Here, too, in early days, after the change of government, at the city of Benicia was located the headquarters of the Pacific division of our army, under command of General Persifer F. Smith; and at a little later day, at the city of Vallejo, the United States Navy Yard, destined, when completed according to the projected plans, to be the finest naval station in the world. On the western borders of our county we have the beautiful land-locked harbors of Vallejo and Benicia, large enough to accommodate the shipping of the world, while along our eastern border runs the Sacramento river and its numerous tributaries, furnishing admirable shipping facilities for all the products of the county. The California Pacific Rail- road, a branch of the "Great Central," traverses the entire length of the county, and passes through all the considerable towns. There is known to exist large bodies of cinnabar, coal, iron, marble and building stone of superior quality. Medicinal springs, thermal, chalybeate, and alterative are numerous throughout the
vii
county, which have already become the resort of the invalid and pleasure-seeker from every part of the State. We cultivate suc- cessfully . all the fruits and products of both temperate and semi- tropical zones, and, " sitting thus under our own vine and fig-tree " are, as we ought to be, par excellence a happy and contented people.
Very respectfully yours,
L. CORNELL FRISBIE.
Of a necessity, where we were not afforded the requisite informa- tion, it has been impossible to produce histories, notably in the instances of those schools and churches under the rule of the Catholic body, and the large flour mill of Messrs. A. D. Starr & Co., the railroad corporations, and Wells, Fargo & Co's Express- their omission has been no fault of ours.
In conclusion, we would tender our best thanks to those ladies and gentlemen of Solano county who aided us; more especially do we offer our acknowledgements to Mrs. Thomas Brownlee and herrel- atives, who were the first to give us a regular start in our undertaking, while to the whole of the county officers, without exception, and to Messrs. Wendell & Richardson, of the Vallejo Chronicle, George Roe, of the Solano Times, C. F. Montgomery, of the Solano Republican, Alfred B. Nye, of the Dixon Tribune, and E. A. McDonell, of the New Era of Benicia, for their kind assist- ance, while such names as those of Messrs. Fitch, County Surveyor, A. Dunn, County Clerk, G. A. Gillespie, Deputy County Clerk. S. C. Gray, of San Francisco, L. L. Palmer, of Suisun, and A. J. Dobbins, of Fairfield, should not be forgotten, nor indeed should those of our own staff, Messrs. W. A. Slocum, W. N. Bowen, and L. L. Bowen, to whom we are indebted for much valuable time and information.
EAST OAKLAND, July 1, 1879.
WOOD, ALLEY & CO.
J. P. MUNRO FRASER, Historian.
INDEX.
HISTORICAL.
PAGE.
HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY. . .
17
Geographical Situation and Area. 17
Topography. 20
Geology.
23
Springs, Soil and Valleys. 24
Its Streams
25
ORGANIZATION. . 26
Origin of the Township System in the U. S. and its Extension to California 26
Montezuma. 30-40-44
Suisun
.39-42
Green Valley
31-39-41
Vacaville.
31-42
Benicia
32-41
Vallejo
32-41
Tremont
34-40-43
County Seat Convention 34
Maine Prairie 39-43
Silveyville 42
Rio Vista
43
Denverton
44
Elmira.
44
THE SETTLEMENT 49
The American Pioneers of Cali- fornia. . 53
Agricultural Lands. 74
Grazing Lands. 76
Swamps and Overflowed Lands. . 76
Mineral Lands 77 77
Timber.
Live Stock. 77
Improvements. 78
Assessed Value of Property for 1876 80
Good Templars' Home for Or- phans. . 81
White Sulphur Springs 88
Tolenas Springs
91
Marble Quarry .
93
POLITICAL HISTORY.
Early Political History 103
Table showing the State, County, and Township Officers from the year 1850 to 1879, inclusive .. 121
MEXICAN GRANTS.
PAGE.
Suscol
130
Suisun.
131
Tolenas
133
Los Putos
136
Rio Los Putos
136
Ulpinos
267
MURDER AND OTHER TRIALS.
The People vs. Edward Crocker. 137
The People vs. William Kemp .. 138 The People vs. Beverley G. Wells 138 The Killing of Jonathan Cook by George K. Mann 140
The People vs. Robert B. McMil- lan. 141
The People vs. Philander Arnold 141 The People vs. Joseph Zaesck ... 142 The People vs. Merrill James. .. 142 The People vs. D. H. Fitzpatrick 143 The People vs. Frank Grady .... 143
The People vs. William West- phal . 143
The People vs. D. G. Gordon. .. 144
The People vs. James Campbell and Annie ' Robinson . . .... .. 144
The People vs. Pancho Valencia and Guadalupe Valencia. .. 144
The People vs. James Mallon . . . 145
The People vs. James Lawther .. 145
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
BENICIA
146
Young Ladies' Seminary 171
College of St. Augustine. 175
Benicia Lodge, No. 5,F. and A. M. 177
Benicia Chapter, No. 7, R. A. M. 178 Solano Lodge, No. 22, I. O. O. F. 178 Pioneer Tannery. 179
Benicia Tannery . 180
Brown's Tannery 181
Pacific Cement Company 181
Benicia Brewery
182
Solano Hotel.
182
X
HISTORICAL .- continued.
PAGE.
VALLEJO
184
Methodist Episcopal Church 203
First Presbyterian Church 205
Church of the Ascension 206
First Baptist Church .
209
Advent Christian Church . 211
Naval Chapter, No. 35, R. A. M. 212 Naval Lodge, No. 87, F. and A. M. 212
Solano Lodge, No. 229, F. and A. M. 213
Golden State Lodge, I. O. O. F. 213 Washington Lodge, No. 7, K. of P. 214 Samoset Tribe, No. 22, I. O. of R. M. 214 Farragut Post, No. 12, G. A. R. 215
Vallejo Lodge, No. 75, A. O. U. W 216
Society of California Pioneers. 216
Masonic Hall Association . 217
Masonic and Odd Fellows Ceme- tery . 219
St. Vincent's Benevolent Society. 220- Post Office 221
Homestead Association 221
Land and Improvement Co. 222
City Water Co 223
Gas Light Co. 224
Bank of Vallejo 225
Savings and Commercial Bank. . 225
Pioneer Brewery 225
Empire Soda Works 226
Foundry and Machine Works . 226
Sash Factory 226
Solano Brewery 227
Pioneer Marble Works 227
Farragut Hall 227 Alert Boat Club 228 Bernard House 229
Howard House 230
Vallejo Chronicle 230
Solano Times .
230
Vallejo Elevator 231
Carquinez Cemetery 235
Military Organizations 235
Fire Department . 235
San Pablo Engine Co. No. 1 236
Vallejo Schools 236 Mare Island 247
RIO VISTA. . 265
Geology, etc. 266
Early Settlement. 267
Rio Vista. 272
PAGE
Rio Vista Lodge, No. 208, F. and A. M. 275 Rio Vista Lodge, No. 180, I. O. O. F. 275
River View Encampment, No. 6. C. of R. C. 275
Rio Vista H. & L. Co. 276
Congregational Church 276 M. E. Church. 277
Catholic Church . 277
St. Gertrude's Academy 277
Public Schools.
277
Newspapers.
278
Business Directory 278
SILVEYVILLE
280
Dixon .
281
Silveyville Lodge, No. 201, F. and A. M. 282
Dixon Chapter No. 28, R. A. M. 282 Hyacinthe Rebecca Lodge, No. 26 282
Montezuma Lodge, No. 172, I. O. O. F 282
Othello Lodge, No. 31, K. of P. 283 Dixon Lodge, I. O. G. T. 283 Dixon Lodge, No. 50, A.O.U.W. 283
Bank of Dixon .
283
Fire Company . 283
Catholic Church. 284
M. E. Church South 284
M. E. Church . 284
Dixon Baptist Church 286
Dixon Tribune 287
SUISUN
288
Suisun City 290
Fairfield 290
Court House and Jail 291
M. E. Church, Fairfield 294
Grace Church . 294
St. Alphonsis Church, Suisun .. 295
Congregational Church, Suisun. 295 Suisun Lodge, No. 55, F. & A.M. 296 Suisun Lodge, No. 78, I. O. O. F. 297 Suisun Lodge, No. 49, A.O.U.W. 297 Bank of Suisun . 298
Fire Department. 298
Water Company . 299
Suisun City Mills 299
Suisun Glee Club 301
Newspapers
301
County Hospital
302
xi
HISTORICAL .- continued.
PAGE.
DENVERTON 303
Baptist Church. 318
Schools, Churches, etc 304
Seventh-Day Advent. 319
Denverton Lodge, I. O. G. T 305
Christian Church 319
MAINE PRAIRIE. . 306
Davis Hotel.
319
Lodge of Good Templars 308
Binghamton M. E. Church. 309
GREEN VALLEY. 322
Cordelia.
323
Bridgeport. 323
Rockville. 324
Collinsville . 312
ELMIRA'.
325
Schools and Churches 313
Elmira. 325
VACAVILLE
314
Vacaville.
317
Vaca Valley and Clear Lake R.
R. Co.
318
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
VALLEJO.
Alvord, Luke . 329
Gookin, Thomas P 352
Anderson, M. D., Walter Duncan . 329
Gorham, Abraham 352
Aspenall, William 329
Hanks, J. G. 353
Aylward, Thomas. 331
Harrier, Daniel W
353
Bergwell, Gustaf.
332
Harvey, Hon. Joel A 354
Bingham, George 332
Brooks, William S.
334
Hobbs, Isaac. 355
Brown, Calvin
334
Hubbard, John E. 357
Brown, Samuel
335
Hubbs, Hon. Paul K. 357
Brownlie, Alexander J
336
Hubbs, Charles H. 364
Brownlie, James.
336
Hunter James 365
Brownlie, John.
336
Jefferis, P. E 366
Brownlee, Robert. 338
Jones, Rev. Edward J 366
Kennedy, John E. 367
367
Callender, John
342
Klink, Rev. N. B ..
368
Carman, A. S ... 343
Kloppenburg, D. W.
368
Colhoun, Edmund R., U. S. N
343
Lamont, James A. . 369
370
Connolly, Henry
344
Much, George W., U. S. N 370
Dare, John T.
344
MacDonald, Rev. David F 371
Deininger, F. 345
McCudden, James 371
Derwin, Michael S.
345
McDermott, Robert 372
Doyle, James.
346
McDonald, T. P 372
372
Edwards, William P
347
McGettigen, Edward 373
Egery, B. D. 348
McInnis, J. A. 373
Farnham, John 348
McKnight, Andrew 374
Forstenfeld, M. 349
McKnight, A. J.
375
Frisbie, Eleazer
349
McLeod, John C.
375
Frisbie, Gen. John B.
349
McPike, A. J.
376
Frisbie, Levi C. .
351
Murphy, Charles 377
Frost, James, M. D.
352
North, John 378
Brownlee, Thomas 341
Butler, O. H. 342
Kitto, Samuel. .
Condon, James .
344
Mallett, George F., U. S. N
Drake, Simon S. 346
McDonald, William
California College. 319
M. E. Church . 309
Cumberland Presbyterian Church 309
MONTEZUMA 311
I. O. O. F. of Elmira 326
A. O. U. W 326
PAGE.
Hilborn, Hon. S. G. 355
xii
BIOGRAPHICAL .- continued.
PAGE.
PAGE.
O'Brien, Thomas
378
Thompson, J. D 393
O'Grady, Frank .
378
Thompson, H. M 394
Pearson, Gustavus C 379
Thornton, T. A
394
Powell, A. . 383
Tobin, J. F.
394
Richardson, H. D.
385
Vanderbilt, W. W
394
Robinson, A. T
386
Walker, W
395
Roe, George.
387
Ward, James
395
Roney, James .
387
Weniger, Charles
396
Saunders, James O.
388
Wentworth, John
396
Sheehy, Robert.
389
Wilson, E. J.
397
Shirland, Frank . 389
Wilson, John
397
Simonton, George W 391
Smith, James G
392
Williston, J. E. 398
Steffen, J 392
Young, A. J.
398
Taylor, W. E., M. D.
393
SUISUN.
Alden, E. B. . 399
Miller, Allen C. 417
Barbour, Nathan 399
Miller, John. 417
Bateman, J. K
399
Miles, James L. 418
Bateman, John M. K. 400
Murray, Alexander 419
Bauman, J. H 400
McCreary, D .. 419
Chrisler, P. J 400
McDonald, D. C. 419
Clayton, David J 401
Palmer, L. L. 419
Coghlan, O. R 401
Palmer, S. G. . 420
Crocker, Asa. 402
Pangburn, G. H. 420
Davisson, Obediah 402
Pearce, John W. 421
Davisson, W. G. 402
Perkins, E. D. 421
Downing, M. D., W. G 403
Quick, W 421
Dunn, Alexander. 403
Edwards, James G 403
Fitch, William Wayne. 404
Gillespie, Edgar Ferguson 404
Gillespie, George A
405
Goodwin, B. H.
408
Gregory, John M.
409
Green, George. 409
Haile, Hon. R. C.
410
Hale, David. 411
Hammond, E. A. 411
Hooper, Thomas P. 412
Hoyt, W. K. 412
Hubbard, Henry 412
Jones, John M .. 413
Kennedy, W. T 414
Kerns, J. W. 414
Kinloch, John G 414
Wells, James T. 428
428
Le Gro, Richard P 415
Leithead, William 415
Lemon, John B 415
Manka, Christley . 416
Marshall, Charles Knox 416
Maxwell, J. C. 417
Berry, George M 430
424
Stockman, D. E. (deceased) 425
Stockman, D. M. 425
Swan, Hon. T. M 425
Turner, W. H.
426
Taylor, W. H.
427
Vance, M. D., James M. 427
Vest, John . 427
Waterman, Robert H 428
Lamont, George A. 414
Wendell, J. F.
Wing, Joseph (deceased) 428
Wing, Joseph Jr. 429
Wolf, William 429
Wolfskill, Mathias 429
Woods, John .
430
Robinson, W. H. 423
Rush, B. F 423
Spence, M. D., A. P 424
Staples, Earnest H 424
Staples, F. O.
Rice, Harvey . 422
Richardson, J. B 422
Robbins, R. D 422
Wilson, Joseph 397
XIII
BIOGRAPHICAL .- continued. GREEN VALLEY.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Baldwin, J. M
431
Jones, F. S. 433
Bihler, Henry
431
Pittman, C. J 433
Hatch, A. T.
431.
Pierce, Lewis.
434
Humphreys, James H. 432
Schultz, C. & Co 434
Jewell, W. T.
433
Wilson, Curtis
435
BENICIA.
Bennett, William F 436
McNally, Bernard 444
Brown, John R.
436
Mizner, L. B. 444
Burns, James
436
Nichols, J. B 445
Chisholm, A
436
Nichols, William H. 446
Clyne, James.
437
Opperman, Julius 446
Cummings, Francis.
437
O'Donnell, John 446
Dalton, Alfred . 437
Perin, Aaron .. 447
Demming, Captain John.
438
Preston, William E 447
Dillon, Patrick W
438
Quigg, Charles 447
Durner, George Adam 439
Raum, E. C .. 447
Enos, Joseph. 441
441
Rose, Elisha L
448
Gray, Samuel C
441
Rueger, John
448
Hanbrick, Peter
441
Ryerson, A. P.
449
Hastings, D. N.
442
Sage, Timothy
449
Hoyt, Joseph.
443
Spalding, Charles
450
Kinstrey, Thomas T
443
Von Pfister, E. H
450
Kuhland, William
443
Walsh, Captain John 452
Mckay, Thomas
444
Westaby, Richard. 453
VACAVILLE.
Ammons, Henry B. 454
Getchins, W. W. 460
Baker, Geo. H
454
Johnson, W . 460
Bassford, H. A.
454
Kidd, W. B. R. 461
Bassford, J. M.
455
Korns, Levi.
Brinck, H. W.
455
461
Buck L. W. 455
Marshall, R. C.
462
Campbell, Robt. G 455
Morton, Henry.
462
Connelly, James.
456
Pena, Demetrio
462
Cummons, John Harbert 456
Pleasants, W. J. 462
Davis, W. B
457
Rogers, J. R. 463
463
Day, M. D., Edward W
457
Seaman, H .
463
Downey, D. M.
458
Smith, W. W 464
Dutton, David D 458
Stahl, J. 464
Esquivel, A. M.
459
Thissell, G. W
464
Eversole, H
459
Troutman, G. W 465
Elliott, J. M.
459
Wooderson, G. F 465
MAINE PRAIRIE.
Elliot, G. T. 466 | Tuck, J 467
Davis, I. F
457
Scarlett, J. E
Long, S. W. 461
Riddell, George H 448
Fischer, Joseph .
xiv
BIOGRAPHICAL .- continued.
RIO VISTA.
PAGE.
PAGE
Beguhl, H.
468
Gurnee, J. 473
Brown, D. B.
468
Johnson Capt. J
474
Bruning, J.
469
Menzies, T
474
Butler, N. C ..
469
Pietrzycki, M. D., Marcel 475
Carter, R. C.
470
Pond, D. A
475
Currie, A .
470
Sickal, M. T
475
Dozier, W. G.
470
Sidwell, J. M
476
Emigh, T. P.
471
Smyth, Hon. Michael.
477
Ferguson, Wm
471
Fiscus, J. B.
472
Stoll, C. M.
478
Gardiner, J. H
472
ELMIRA.
Barrett, J. H
479
McMurtry, J 480
March, R. B.
479
Wells, J. C.
480
Melbourn, T.
479
Wight, F. M. 481
DENVERTON.
Arnold, O. D
482
Kerby, C .. 483
Barkway, R. H
482
Nurse, S. K
484
Buckley, T.
482
Prevost, L.
485
Fotheringham, J.
483
MONTEZUMA.
Arnold, J. W
486
Hosking, W 488
Bird, J
486
Meins, R.
488
Bond, J. C.
486
Page, W .
488
Donell, W. .
487
Upham, E. J . 488
Hooper, T. T.
487
Winter, H. E.
489
TREMONT.
Agee, C. C. . .
490
Hyde, S. F 492
Cloutman, J. F.
490
Hyland, W
492
Foster, Geo. W
491
Snead, S. M
493
Guthrie, B. J
491
SILVEYVILLE.
Brown, C. P ..
494
Merryfield, J. C. 499
Coleman, N. B. S.
494
Mckinley, G. C. 499
Cotten, J. W
495
McPherson, A 500
Currey, R. J.
495
Nye, A. B. 500
Dashiell, W. A.
495
Reddick, H. 500
501
Dinsmore, Rev. J. M.
496
Silvey, E. S. .
501
Dudley, J. M
196
Simmons, Jr., Rev. J. C
501
Ellis, J. A.
497
Smythe, P
502
Frahm, G
497
Timm, P.
502
Hall, R.
498
Udel, Dr. O. C. 503
Mack, D.
498
Weihe, E
503
Mayes, J. S.
499
Rohwer, H.
Dickson, T ..
496
-
Squires, W. K 477
-
XV
LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Brownlee, Robert.
96
Hunter, James.
416
Brownlie, Jolın
208
McKinley, George C
176
Dudley, J. M.
240
McPike, A. J
288
Dutton, D. D
80
Mizner, L. B
144
Frisbie, Gen'l John B
48
Nurse, S. K.
352
Frisbie, M. D., L. C
160
Palmer, L. L.
336
Gillespie, George A
192
Pearson, G. C
256
Hastings, D. N
272
Powell, A .
224
Hilborn, S. G
64
Sheehy, Robert 320
Hobbs, Isaac
304
Vallejo, M. G .
32
ج
HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION AND AREA-DERIVATION OF NAME OF COUNTY -ITS TOPOGRAPHY -GEOLOGY-SOIL, SPRINGS-MINES-QUARRIES-VALLEYS, WATER-COURSES, ETC., ETC.
SOLANO COUNTY has a position about midway between the northern and southern extremities of the State of California, lying between thirty-eight degrees, and thirty-eight degrees and thirty minutes north latitude, and between one hundred and twenty-one degrees thirty minutes, and one hun- dred and twenty-two degrees thirty minutes longitude west from Green- wich. It is bounded on the north by the Rio de Los Putos, commonly called Putah Creek-this stream being the dividing line between Yolo and Solano counties ; on the east, for twenty miles, by the fresh water tules, or marsh lands, adjacent to the Sacramento river, and in Yolo county. The remainder of its eastern, and the whole of its southern boundary, is an un- interrupted navigable water-front for the space of sixty-one miles-twenty- five miles of which are on the Sacramento river, eighteen on Suisun bay, six on the Carquinez straits, and twelve on Napa bay and creek. The dividing ridges of the Napa mountains bound Solano on the west, and separate it from Napa county.
The origin of the name of the county is thus described in a report to the Legislature of California, in the year 1850, by General M. G. Vallejo, on the derivation and definition of the various counties of the State. He thus alludes to SOLANO: " This is the second name of the celebrated missionary, Francis Solano, and was borne by the great chief of the tribes originally denominated Suisuns, and scattered over the western side of the river Jesus Maria, now Sacramento. The residence of this chief was the valley of the Suisun, which is bounded by the hill near Suscol. Before receiving the baptismal name of Solano, the chief was called Sem-Yeto, which signifies the brave, or fierce hand. In 1817 a military expedition (under command of Lieutenant José Sanchez, and by order of the commandant of San Fran- cisco Jose Arguello), crossed the straits of Carquinez (on rafts made of rushes, as there were no regular ferries in those days), for the double pur- pose of exploring the country and reducing it to Christianity. On crossing the river they were attacked by the Suisun tribe, then headed by their chief, Malica, who caused them considerable loss. The Indians fought
2
18
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
bravely and to the utmost extreme, but they were in turn attacked with such force and perseverance as to oblige them to retreat to their rancheria (somewhere in the present Suisun valley), where, being still hotly pursued and believing their fate sealed, these unfortunate people, incited by their chief, set fire to their rush-built houses and perished in the flames with their families. The soldiers endeavored to stay their desperate resolution, in order to save the women and children; but even those preferred this doom to that which awaited them from the hands of their enemies. Thus perished the chief, and thus was the hearth and the home of his people destroyed."
We are indebted to Mr. William Wayne Fitch, County Surveyor, for the following able remarks on the Topography, Geology, and other knowledge of Solano County.
The Townships are twelve in number, and range as under :
VALLEJO.
Fraction of. Township 3 North, Range 4 West.
South-east of.
Township 4 North, Range 5 West.
South-east of. Township 4 North, Range 4 West.
South of. Township 4 North, Range 3 West.
West part of. Township 3 North, Range 3 West.
BENICIA.
Fraction of North-east corner of. . Township 2 North, Range 3 West. Fraction of . Township 2 North, Range 2 West.
Eastern part of. Township 3 North, Range 3 West.
West part of . Township 3 North, Range 2 West.
South-west corner of. Township 4 North, Range 2 West.
South-east corner of.
Township 4 North, Range 3 West.
GREEN VALLEY.
Eastern part of Township 4 North, Range 3 West.
West part of. Township 4 North, Range 2 West.
West part of Township 5 North, Range 2 West.
Eastern part of Township 5 North, Range 3 West.
SUISUN.
Small part of North-east corner of. Township 3 North, Range 2 West. Fractional Township 3 North, Range 1 West.
Fractional Township 4 North, Range 1 West. Most of .. Township 5 North, Range 1 West.
East part of Township 4 North, Range 2 West.
East part of . Township 5 North, Range 2 West.
Small part of .Township 6 North, Range 2 West.
19
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
VACAVILLE.
West part of. Township 6 North, Range 1 West.
East part of. Township 6 North, Range 2 West.
Most of
Township 7 North, Range 1 West.
Most of . Township 7 North, Range 2 West.
South fraction of Township 8 North, Range 2 West.
SILVEYVILLE.
North fraction of . Township 7 North, Range 1 West.
South fraction of
Township 8 North, Range 1 West.
All of Township 7 North, Range 1 East.
South part of. Township 8 North, Range 1 East.
North-east corner of. Township 6 North, Range I East.
North-west corner of Township 6 North, Range 2 East.
South-west corner of Township 7 North, Range 2 East.
TREMONT.
South part of.
Township 8 North, Range 2 East.
North and East part of
Township 7 North, Range 2 East.
North-east fraction of Township 6 North, Range 2 East.
ELMIRA.
North-east corner of Township 5 North, Range 1 West.
North-west corner of .
Township 5 North, Range 1 East.
West part of. Township 6 North, Range 1 East.
. East part of. Township 6 North, Range 1 West.
MAINE PRAIRIE.
South-west part of Township 6 North, Range 1 East.
South part of . Township 6 North, Range 2 East.
Northerly part of . Township 5 North, Range 1 East.
North part of
Township 5 North, Range 2 East.
West part of . Township 5 North, Range 3 East.
North-west Township 5 North, Range 3 East.
DENVERTON.
North part of. . Township 4 North, Range 1 East.
West tier of Sections in. Township 4 North, Range 2 East.
South part of . Township 5 North, Range 1 East.
South-west part of. Township 5 North, Range 2 East.
RIO VISTA.
South part of. Township 5 North, Range 2 East.
East part of. Township 5 North, Range 3 East.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.