USA > California > Kings County > History of Tulare and Kings counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 1
USA > California > Tulare County > History of Tulare and Kings counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 1
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M, L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
.
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00828 5105
m
HISTORY OF TULARE and KINGS COUNTIES CALIFORNIA
WITH Biographical Sketches OF
The Leading Men and Women of the Counties Who Have Been Identified With Their Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY EUGENE L. MENEFEE AND FRED A. DODGE
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. 1285/125 5
INTRODUCTORY TO HISTORY OF TULARE COUNTY
Earliest White Comers to County Bore Name of Smith-Indian Records of Prior Inhabitants-The Year 1849 Brings Changes-First Real Settler Locates in 1850-Other Settlers Follow-Rescue of the Wingfields- Election of Officers-Derivation of Name Visalia-Survey for Railroad in 1853.
CHAPTER II.
INDIAN WAR OF 1856 20
Indians a Factor in Growth of Settlement-Interesting Accounts by Stephen Barton-Cattle Stealing the Source of Trouble-Tocsin of War Continues to Sound-War Is Waged Between Whites and Indians- Indian Troubles in Owens River District-Hospital Rock.
CHAPTER III.
THE EFFECT OF THE CIVIL WAR ON TULARE COUNTY 28
Southerners Constitute Larger Part of Tulare's Population-Troops Sent to Visalia-Whiskey Plays a Part in the Difficulties-Union Meet- ing Held-Southern Sympathizers Meet-Killing of Vogle-Killing of Strohle-Rowley Affair-Destruction of Newspaper Plant.
CHAPTER IV.
34
VISALIA Impress of the Vise Family on the Little Settlement-Settlers Who Fol- lowed-Early Newspapers-View of the Town in Early Days-First Fireworks-Gas Works and Electric Plant Established-City Hall Erected-Effect of the Wyllie Local Option Law-Visalia of Today.
CHAPTER V.
TULARE COUNTY'S CITRUS FRUIT 41
Eastern Slope of the County Almost Continuous Orange Grove-First Orange Tree Planted in 1860-Growth of the Industry-County's Fruits Displayed at St. Louis Fair-Tulare County Ranks Fifth in Point of Citrus Production in State-County's Present Area.
CIIAPTER VI.
THE GENERAL RODEO. Cattle Raising in the Early Days-Act of Legislature of 1851-White River Incident-Interest in Mining Superseded by Cattle Raising-"No- Fence" Law.
46
CHAPTER VII.
EXETER AND OTHER TOWNS.
49
Railroad Reaches Exeter in 1888-Pacific Improvement Company Exeter's Steady Progress-Monson-Kaweah-North Tule-Pixley- Tipton-Alila- Poplar - Frazier - Woodville - Strathmore - Eshom Valley-Alpaugh-Tagus-Goshen-Paige- Angiola- Yettem - Plano -Three Rivers-Springville-Mineral King-Traver-Hockett Meadows -Redbanks-White River-Giant Forest - Orosi-Naranjo- Monson Oriole Lodge-Venice-Klink - Waukena-Woodlake California Hot Springs-Terra Bella-Ducor and Richgrove-Farmersville- Camp Nel- son-Camp Badger-Auckland Kaweah Station.
vi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER VIII.
75
PORTERVILLE AND OTHER TOWNS.
Located on the old immigrant road-J. B. Hockett, a camper of '49- Town named for Royal Porter Putnam-Cattle raising chief occupation Coming of railroad in 1888-Porterville becomes a town of the sixth class in 1902-Schools-Water system-Packing houses-Library- Churches-Banks-Newspapers-Fraternal Lodges-Dinuba-Tulare- Lemon Cove-Sultana-Lindsay.
CHAPTER IX.
ANECDOTES 88
Adventures with Indians-Poindexter nuptials-Fiddling from Donkey's back-The McCrory Episode-Morris-Shannon affray-Stapleford-Dep- uty affair-James M'Kinney's High Life-The Magana Butchery-Mis- cellaneous Items-Crossing Streams in the '50s-County Scrip and Gold Dust-An Indian Runner-Visalia's First Business Directory-Second Courthouse-Cemeteries-Visalia's Title-Politics-Arrival of the Tele- graph-A Vigorous Protest-A Novel Engine-Flood Times-The Lost Mine-Some Statistics of 1870-Mankins' Party Arrival-No Fence Law-As Seen by Fremont.
CHAPTER X.
THE MUSSEL SLOUGH WAR 110 Early Settlers in the Mussel Slough Country-Land League's Fight With the Railroad.
CHAPTER XI.
THE KAWEAH COLONY 113
One of the Greatest Community Enterprises Ever Inaugurated in the United States-Its Chief Promoters.
CHAPTER XII.
THE ABORIGINES 118
Traditions-Creation Myth of the Yokuts-Diet-Indian Weapons- The Medicine Man-Gathering Salt-Capturing Wild Pigeons-Novel Fishing-Hunting Deer-Charming a Squirrel-Catching Ducks.
CHAPTER XIII.
NATIONAL PARKS. 123
General Grant Park-Sequoia National Park-Mountain Trails-County Roads During the Late '50s.
CHAPTER XIV.
DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIES. 130
Electric Power-Irrigation-Alta District-Tulare Irrigation District- Artesian and Other Wells-Dairying Industry-Deciduous Fruit-The Watermelon.
CHAPTER XV.
THE RAILROAD DREAM 144
Bidding for the Railroad-The Visalia and Tulare Railroad-East Side Railroad-Coming of the Santa Fe-The Visalia Electric-The Por- terville NorthEastern.
CHAPTER XVI.
GREAT TRAIN ROBBERIES 148
First of Five Robberies Occurs at Pixley-The Dalton Gang-The Collis Robbery-The Evans and Sontag Tragedies.
vii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVII.
CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, POPULATION 154
The South Methodist-Baptist-Sunday Schools-Presbyterian-Luth- eran-Episcopal-Catholic-Methodist Episcopal-Christian-Training of the Young-Population-Property Values.
CHAPTER XVIII.
TULARE'S OFFICERS. 163
Supervisors-The Judiciary-The Lawmakers-Sheriff-District Attor- ney-Assessor-Surveyor-Tax Collector-Treasurer-Recorder-Public Administrator-Auditor-Superintendent of Schools-Coroner.
CHAPTER XIX.
TULARE COUNTY TODAY 167
The County's Boundaries-Nature of the Soil-Towns and Cities-Or- ange Groves-Forests.
CHAPTER XX.
THE ORGANIZATION OF KINGS COUNTY 174
Creation and Organization of the County-Received Its Name from Kings River-The Division Fight a Feature of the Session of 1892-93- Area of the County.
CHAPTER XXI.
LUCERNE VALLEY 178
Mussel Slough Rechristened Lucerne Valley-The Founding of the Han- ford Weekly Sentinel.
CHAPTER XXII.
EARLY COUNTY POLITICS. 179
Political Organization of Kings County-First Election Called-Parties in Action-Setting Up Housekeeping -- No County Building-County Without Funds-First Tax Rate Fixed-County Elections.
CHAPTER XXIII. 192
IRRIGATION
Beginning of Irrigation in Kings County-Pioneers in the Venture- Settlers' Ditch-Last Chance-Lakeland Canal and Irrigation Company -Blakeley Ditch-Kings Canal and Irrigation Company-Rainfall for Twenty-one Years.
CHAPTER XXIV.
EXIT AND RETURN OF TULARE LAKE. 200
An Interesting Natural Phenomenon-Original Area of Lake-Swamp and Overflow Land Act-"Lakelanders" -- Lake Disappears in 1895- Water Returns and Grain Is Destroyed.
CHAPTER XXV. 202
RAILROADS San Joaquin Valley Railroad Company-Its Promoters-Upbuilding In- fluence of Improved Transportation Facilities.
CHAPTER XXVI.
DAIRY INDUSTRY 207
Dairying in County Dates from 1889-Co-operative Company Formed- - Factories Built-Alfalfa-Raising and Cheese-Making-Butter-Making- County Has Five Incorporated Creameries.
viii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXVII.
CITY OF HANFORD 209
City Laid Out in 1877-Named After James Hanford-Officers of City From 1891 to 1913-Hanford of Today-Vanishing of the Saloons- Churches-Schools of Kings County-Free Public Library.
CHAPTER XXVIII. 219
LEMOORE
Location and Population-Its Founder-Early Settlers-Coming of Rail- road-Churches and Public Buildings-Industries.
CHAPTER XXIX. .22(
EVOLUTION OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Address by John G. Covert Upon History of the Valley-First Seen by White Men in 1772-Mount Diablo-Valley Begins to Attract Attention in 1849-Cattle Raising First Industry-Wheat Farming Follows-Area of Valley-Oil Fields-Improvement in Railroad Facilites.
INDEX
A
Bertch, Heury 482
Abhott, Daniel
534
Adams, Frank C
424
Adams, William J
423
Biddle, Samuel E.
326
Agnew, Jesse B
875
Blain, Frank L.
533
Ainsworth, Francis M 761
Blain, William H.
546
Akin, James M 364
Blair, Thomas H.
418
Alford, William 829
783
Allen, George E
832
Antrim, Calvin H
841
Arnett, Richard H
513
Ashley, A. N
687
Askin, Herbert
598
Askin, Capt. Robert M.
784
Atwell, Allen J. 855
Bloyd, William W
323
Bloyd, Winfield S 382
Bloyd, W. W. 716
B
Boudson, Peter. 755
Baca, Santos 752
Bacon, James A 830
Bacon, John 839
Baghy, Earl 494
Bowker, N. B 874
Bozeman, John W
833
Baker, Chauncey M.
496
Baker, Sands
357
Balaam, Alfred
757
Ballou, George A
464
Bridges, George
785
Bardsley, L. W
662
Brooks, Parker R.
660
Barnett, Bright E
702
Brothers, John
502
> Barney, B. L.
552
Brown, H. P 871
. Barney, Fred M
648
Brown, Joseph C 272
Bartlett, George
679
Brown, Philip S 759
754
Bass, Alexander W 505
Brown, Volney A. 272
664
Bassett, William G
715
Batchelder, Elmer A
617
Baumann, George W
380
Buckbee, Martha J ...
668
Baxley, John W 553
Budd, William
678
Belz, Andrew G 276
Burgamaster, Julius ..
550
Bequette, Charles C. 419
Burke, Richard
835
Bequette, Louis 772
Burnham, John B 580
Bequette, Paschal, Jr
456
Burr, Walter S 531
Bergen, Jasper N. 858
Burrel, Cuthbert 703
Bernstein, William F 625
Burrell, John .. 615
Berry, R. 695
Burton, Absalom
689
Blakeley, Frank 528
Blakeley, James M. . 588
Blamquist, Charles R. 509
Blaswick, Charles F 477
Bliss, George L. 796
Blossom, Ira 628
Blowers, Cassius M
298
. Bloyd, Levi 650
Booker, Sanford 243
Boone, James T 763
Borgman, Henry J 596
Bairstow, John W. 602
Braly, William H.
794
Brazill, M. P 689
Brewer, Samuel A 481
Barton, Orlando D 483
Brown, Samuel C.
Bassett, Mark. 717
Brown, William S.
Brown, William W.
756
Bruce, Lewis
654
Burke, Ivan C. 374
Bequette, James R. 669
Best, Alexander M. 621
Bezera, Joseph 597
Biddle, Joseph D. 315
Allen, Byron
Aulman, Phillip 527
x
INDEX
Burton, Arthur
Bush, Edward E .. 877
Byron, E. H., M. D 404
Byron, Henry W ... 676
Byron, Lincoln H. 485
Byron, William P., M. D.
426
Davis, Andrew J 601
Dean, Gilbert M. L.
582
Dean, Jabel M
868
Dean, William F
766
Deardorff, Oscar S. 515
Decker, Louis 591
De La Grange, Barney 847
Carlisle, Frederick M
776
DeMasters, David W 728
Carter, David F. 880
Denny, Harvey N 641
DeWitt, E 665
Cartmill, W. F., M. D.
446
DeWitt, William M 407
Chance, Edward H
398
Charles, William B., M. D.
868
Dibble, Judson A
721
Chatten, John 632
Dineley, Samuel. 765
Chatten, Richard
489
Dingley, Willard E. 445
Chatten, Wilmot L.
632
Dockstader, John W 524
524
Church, Elery H.
672
Clark, Harry A
551
Donager, Benjamin 637
Clark, Isaac.
309
Clark, William B
590
Clark, William M
867
Clarke, Robert C 381
Clarkson, Thomas J 616
Dungan, A. Clifford
807
Clement, George S 735
Clemente, John V.
593
Dunlap, John W
555
Click, Martin
838
Coats, Clande D
657
Cochran, S. D
729
Cody, George W.
536
Eklof, Charles J 423
Elliott, James 556
Elster, C
771
Erlanger, Edward 726
Esrey, Jonathan 685
Estes, R. J.
651
Comfort, Byron G
650
Conkey, Fred W
800
Cooke, William R 805
Coolidge, Wilbur
518
Cooper, J. R. 730
Cosper, Elias T
654
Courtney, Samuel E.
352
Crabtree, James A. 516
Cramer, M. L. 855
Crane, Henry A. 589
Crawshaw, J. A., M. D. 629
Creath, John V 658
Crook, Alexander 537 1
Cutler, A. R 420
Cutler, John 420
Daly, Arthur G .. 486
Danner, John C. 441
Davenport, William H 607
Davidson, John W 674
C
Campbell, F. D.
427
Cann, James M
661
Carle, Charles J.
648
Cartmill, Wooster B 296
Dibble, A. Leroy 516
Church, Caryl 492
Dodge, A. Fred
Dodge, Fred A 307
Donahue, Martin 767
Doyle, John J 801
Dreisbach, A. M 836
Drennen, Winfred D 597
Collins, Albert H. 468
Collins, Oscar F.
554
Collins, William W
425
Colpien, Henry 549
Comfort, Almer B 417
Evans, John F
558
Ewing, John, Jr
690
F
Farmer, George T 586
Farmer, Lyman D 538
Fenwick Sanitarium 493
Ferguson, Josiah M 837
Fickle, Benjamin J 764
Ficklin, Joseph L. 535
Fincher, Robert P 666
Findley, William 840
Fine, James W. 768
Finn, Daniel
758
First National Bank of Lemoore 308
724
D
Dunlap, James E 592
E
Eccles, Alexander C 501
xi
First National Bank of Tulare 451
Hanford National Bank. 636
First National Bank of Visalia 731
Hannah, J. A
723
Fisher, Charles. 722
Hansen, Christ S 653
Fisher, James
733
Harris, G. C.
376
Fitzsimons, Frank E.
436
Harris, Jesse W
586
Follett, Lyman L
735
Hart, Charles W
458
Fontana, M. J
872
Hart, Edwin F.
793
Foster, Earl P
642
Harvey, John W 530
· Foster, E. C., M. D.
457
Hastings, U. G. 720
Fowler, Perry D.
397
Hauschildt, John H
Frans, John
691
Hawley, Luther C.
395
Freeman, C. E
641
Hayes, Frank P
876
Fry, Walter
704
Fudge, Edmund J
603
Fulmer, Alfred C
348
Furman, William E
514
Herrin, Daniel M
506
Heusel, William F. 775
644
Hicks, Benjamin 261
Gallaher, W. C
367
Gamble, David
770
Garcia, Mike V.
652
Garr, John W.
430
Gavotto, S.
696
Hine, John H.
881
Giannini, Frank
559
Hockett, John B
732
Gibson, E. J.
688
Holley, H. H.
732
Gill, Charles O
587
Homen, Manuel R
715
Gill, Fred
584
Homer, Joseph W
788
Gill, Lee.
406
Horsman, Henry C
539
Gill, Levi L.
686
Hoskins, Charles W
802
Gilligan, Michael
846
Houston, George W
719
Glasgow, John M
723
Houston, James
851
Glover, Louis N
706
Howard, Charles H 657
Goble, William E
258
Howe, Albert 705
532
Gough, William
566
Howe, Frank E 519
Grabow, J
639
Howe, Fred C
490
Graham, R. M
643
Howes, Thomas E 4995
Gray, Dallas H
Howeth, Lewis W
738
Gregory, Levy N
Hubbs, Arthur P
786
- Gribi, Albert E
673
Huffaker, Jacob V 670
Griffin, Asa T 484
Hunsaker, I. B. 554
Griffith, Frank
Huntley, John H
255
Griswold, Oscar T
Hyde, Jeremiah D.
632
Gniberson, J. W. 411
Hyde, Richard E.
682
Gurnee, Brewster S
791
J
H
Jacob, Elias. 737
Halford, Isaac T 787
Jacobs, Hon. Justin ..
278
Hall, Albert A 618
+ Jacobs, H. Scott 405
Hall, John E 513
671
Jasper, George 461
Jenanyan, Moses S. ..
568
Hamilton, Hugh L 389
Hamlin, Benjamin, M. D.
335
Johnson, James L. . 81.
548
Higdon, William J
304
Hight, Frank R
148
Hill, Melvin A.
718
Gibbons, O. E
545
Hays, John N
314
Headrick, Daniel
595
Henley, Stepnen E.
508
G
Hickman, David H
Hicks, Stephen B
Holley, C. H
Gordon, George
370
Howe, Edwin
759
725
439
544
Jameson, Irving L 414
Hall, Samuel W
INDEX
xii
INDEX
Johnson, John C.
844
McAdam Ranches. 319
Jordan, John F.
331
McAdam, Robert 744
Joyner, Charles E ..
630
McAdam, William J. 363
McCarthy, Thomas 512
K
McClure, Benjamin E 700
Kaehler, Mrs. Ida M
496
McCord, William P. 345
521
Kanawyer, Napoleon P
640
McFarland, Charles G
616
Kellenberg, Frank R
859
McFarland, J. H. C. 283
Kelly, Samuel W
408
Mclaughlin, Stiles A 843
Kelsey, Hiram
861
McLean, P. A 336
Kennedy & Robinson
455
Macfarlane, W. C 778
Kenney, Samuel L.
837
Machado, Manuel I 497
Kimball, S. C.
789
Maddox, Ben 362
Kincaid, Roland L
520
Majors, Columbus P. 241
361
Kinkade, Squire H
815
Marshall, Lionel W
390
Kitchel, Elmer L.
795
Mathewson, Arthur W
541
Klindera, John
697
Mathewson, Earl
625
Kneeland, Joel
696
May, James H
504
Knierr, Albert
694
May, Jonathan W
764
Knight, U. G
368
Mayer, James
511
Knight, Zenias
581
Mayes, Francis M
842
Knox, George W
256
Melidonian, E. G 354
845
Kyle, T. W
392
L
Miller, Robert W
324
Lafever, Andrew J 808
LaMarche, Joseph
434
LaMarsna, Eber H
673
LaMarsna, Jeffery J
699
Laney, Archie F
565
Mitchell, Levi
769
Leach, John H
753
Leavens, Peter
675
Montgomery, John
523
Leavens, William A 675
816
Leebon, John A
547
Lemos, Manuel B
776
Leoni, Leo
665
Lewis, D. W
707
Lewis, Thomas
445
Ley, Joseph. 852
320
Lindsey, Tipton 270
391
Loucks, Hon. Geo. P. 821
Lovelace, Byron O. 396
Lovelace, Joseph W.
631
Luce, Eugene A 792
521
M
McAdam, Frank S . 325
740
Null, Robert 749
McAdam, James
Murray, Abram H 448
Murray, Walter D
645
N
Navarre, Elizabeth 570
Newman, Frank A 310
Newman, Robert O 478
Newman, Thomas C 613
Noble, George A 275
812
Murphy, Rev. James
287
Montgomery, Litchfield Y
529
Moore, Hiram 379
Moore, Orlando.
429
Moorehead, James A
452
Morgan, John T. 626
Murphy, Daniel 569
Murphy, Henry and Philena A 656
Light, H. J.
Mitchell, S
731
Montgomery, Elbert R
518
Miller, William H., M. D.
882
Miller, William R.
360
Millinghausen, William H 572
Mills, Merritte T
748
Mitchell, Adolphus
803
Lathrop, Ezra 288
873
Knutson, Iver
Michaelis, William
Miller, Herman T 747
Lee, Anderson W
Moore, Robert
Lorendo, Gideon
Lynch, Michael M
McCracken, W. H.
King, Lowery B 480
Mardis, Oliver P
INDEX
xiii
0
Roes, Henry C 856
Oakes, James W 853
Ogden, Robert K 864
Ogilvie, Albert G
649
Osborn, Frank 359
Overall, Daniel G
428
S
P
Sage, J. M. 609
Sahroian, Fred
823
St. Bridget's Catholic Church 462
Salladay, A. J 782
Scher, Rev. Philip G 462
Schimmel Brothers 473
Schnereger & Downing
663
Peterson, Alfred 347
Peterson. Carl A
525
Phariss, Tillman B 875
Phelps, A. W
790
Phillips, Perry C 777
Platt, Louis F 527
Poe, Frank 721
Pollock, George W 750
Powell, Frank 385
Powell, Harrison A 634
Powers, Richard
811
Prestidge, J. L.
799
Shippey, Alvin B 498
Shoemaker, Robert M. 472
Shreve, H. M 433
Sickles, Lewis A 571
Sigler, John
611
Silveira, Joseph
563
Singleton, M. F
797
Ragle, J. Albert. 609
Raisch, Harry J
604
Ramsey, George D 698
Raney, Asbury
883
Ratliff, William P 870
Rea, Frank
814
Reed, Henry W
818
Reed, John R 619
Smith, Frank P 739
Smith, Henry C 862
Smith, John H 467
Smith, Lewis S. 866
Smith, Thomas 819
Smith, W. J 474
647
Steuben, William N 740
683
Richardson, Gustavus A 510
Stokes, John W
291
Richland Egg Ranch 778
Rivers, William 883
Storzhack, Fred
614
Robertson, Frank P 574
Robinson, William W 820
Sturgeon, Joseph W
Swall, Arthur
386
Rock, Henry F. 708
Ross, Ean 677
Rosson, Charles T., M. D 290
Rourke, Michael F. 522
Russell, J. C. C
708
Parker, Hiram L. 781
Parrish, F. M 540
Parsons, Ulysses G 573
Peacock, Harrison F 701
Perry, A. J 814
Schueller, John J.
824
Sciarone, Andrew
610
Scoggins, Andrew J 269
Scoggins, J. E 884
Scoggins, R. E. 886
Scott, Francis C. 339
Sears, William A. 821
Sellers, Edward G 680
Setliff, James M 469
Shannon, Carleton J 594
Sharp, Benjamin V 543
Slocum, Alvin H 342
Smith, A. Frank
542
Smith, Cecil H. 819
470
Smith, Clark M 709
Smith, Enoch A
865
Smith, Frank 711
Rehoefer, Samuel
714
Reinhart, William
557
Renaud, Emerie 561
Rhodes, William C 575
Rice, John C.
605
· Rice, J. Clarence.
606
Rice, J. W. B. 373
+ Richardson, Freeman.
638
Steves, George H.
Stokes, S. C 295
Stubhelfield, William N 806
Robison, George A. 567
Price, James S 788
Putnam, Robert A
620
R
Ragle, Emanuel T 249
Ragle, Henry O. 752
Smith, Charles E
Stayton, Charles F.
Swall, William
849
xiv
INDEX
359
Walker, John and Serepta 686
Swan, William
Sweeney, James ..
741
Walker, William G 684
Ward, Harvey 826
Warner, Erastus F 623
Warren, Isaac H 889
Webb, Octavius H. 826
Teague, George H
. 825
Weddle, Ethelbert S 608
Thayer, J. Carl
773
Weddle, M.
. 762
Thayer, William H.
383
Wegman, George J
579
Thomas, F. A
488
Wells, James M
888
Thomas, Isaac F
263
Wells, Morgan J
599
Thomas, Jesse A
749
Wendling, G.
375
Thomas, Louis L.
774
West, Joshua E 889
Thomas, Martin V.
499
West, William B 662
646
Tomer, George
341
Tompkins, Charles W.
384
Townsend, Homer C.
693
Whittington, William, M. D.
712
Tozer, Charles W.
338
Williams, Alpheus C.
627
Tozer, Roy S. 338
Williams, George W.
450
Traeger, Henry
491
Williams, Joel W
585
Traut, Mrs. Catherine L.
659
Williams, John W
743
Trewhitt, W. D.
798
Williams, William A
713
graph Company
376
Wilson, John A
851
Turner, Jesse T 668
Wilson, Osborne L
612
Turner, Lucius ]
622
834
Tyler, John D
250
751
Wood, Daniel
477
Wood, George
577
Woods, A. J
526
Wookey, Sidney H
636
Work, Enoch 507
Wray, George U
563
. Wright, Harland E
330
Vaughan, William T
313
Vaughn, David A
471
Wright, James W
500
Visalia Plumbing and Sheet Metal
.Y
887
Young, J. N
Z
Waddell, George E 242
Walker, John E 681
Wright, Isaac N
351
Company 309
W
404
Unger, William 576
V
Vail Brothers 863
780
Thomson, Peter
Wheeler, Alexander W.
Whitaker, William
634
White, Capt. Harrison
301
433
Weigle, Martin L
442
The Old Bank of Hanford
T
Taylor, J. L. 622
Tulare Home Telephone and Tele-
Wilson, Henry
828
Wirht, Martin
Twaddle, Thomas B
Woodard, Homer D
Zumwalt, Daniel K
401
HISTORICAL
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY TO HISTORY OF TULARE COUNTY
By Eugene L. Menefec.
A preacher and a teacher, it appears, curiously enough were the two first white leaders to enter what is now Tulare county. Each bore the name of Smith. Jedediah S. Smith, the preacher, arrived in 1825 or '26, accompanied by about fifteen trappers, he being the first white man to cross the Sierra Nevada mountains. Entry to the valley was made via the Tejon pass. Thousands of naked Indians were seen. Tulare lake was observed and successful trapping for beaver was conducted along the upper reaches of the Kings, San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers. In 1827 Smith made a return trip, entering through Walker's pass.
It should be understood that Jed was not an ordained minister, but being a strong and aggressive Christian, he endeavored to con- vert to that faith the reckless and lawless men who joined his hand. Bible readings, prayers, exhortations mingled with reproofs were features of each day, no matter how wearisome had been the march. It is said, however, that his efforts at reform were not entirely snc- cessfuk.
"Pegleg" Smith, the teacher, visited our vicinity in 1830, and was eminently successful. "Pegleg" did not hold a degree nor even a certificate. Ile was a horse-thief by profession and he took up quarters among the Indians, establishing friendly relations with them and thus obtained a place of refuge and a rendezvous for the round-up of stolen stock when ready to proceed on the return journey to the Santa Fe country. In return for the hospitality extended him, Mr. Smith allowed some of the Indians to accompany him on raids to the ranchos of the coast and taught them all the elements of appro- priation. Dne, no doubt, to Mr. Smith's ability as an educator, these lessons were not forgotten and the practices inculcated by him were so persistently followed that in the course of time the Indians gained the merited title of "the horse-thieves of the Tulare."
One of Pegleg's party met a tragic fate. Missed from camp on Kern river, near the site of the present Keyesville, he was found dead alongside the carcass of a hinge grizzly, his body mutilated and his head crushed. There had evidently been a deadly fight in which both contestants had succumbed. The rude wooden cross which 1
6
TULARE AND KINGS COUNTIES
marked his lonely grave still stood in 1856, when the Kern river gold rush took place.
Closely following Jedediah Smith came Ewing Young and party, who started trapping in the San Joaquin valley in 1831, finding beaver plentiful. Young hunted in the vicinity of Tulare lake for a short time and then took his way northward. During the next decade several other groups of trappers passed through the San Joaquin valley. Between the Tulare valley and the Calaveras river there was at that time an estimated Indian population of 20,000.
For any accurate knowledge of the county as it existed then we mmist await the coming, in 1846, of John C. Fremont, an account of which will be given in a later chapter.
History-human history -- began to be recorded in what is now Tulare connty at a time long prior to the events just related.
So remote is this date that we of the present day can scarcely hazard even a guess as to the number of centuries that have elapsed since this civilization flourished. Probably it existed co-eval with that of the mound builders of the Mississippi-with that of the cliff dwellers of Arizona. It is probable that at that time the waters of the Pacific filled the valley of the San Joaquin so that the area of our county was once smaller than it is now. These surmises are based on the fact that in numerous places throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains are found picture writings of the origin of which our latter day Indians have not even a tradition. They cannot interpret them, nor do they possess any knowledge of the art of making the indestructible paints used.
On a bluff near the railroad bridge across the Kaweah at Lemon Cove, at Rocky Hill, near Exeter, in Stokes valley, at Woodlake, at Dillon's point, at Hospital Rock on the middle fork of the Kaweah, some thirteen miles above Three Rivers and in many other places these pictures are found.
In several instances the arrangement of the figures is in columns. This would seem to indicate that they are tribal or genealogical rec- ords. Swords and spears, weapons absolutely unknown to present- day Indians, are among the objects represented. Others are bears, birds, pine trees, man, the sun, a fire, circles, crosses, etc. Up to the present time no key has been found to these hieroglyphics. A fac- simile of the paintings on Hospital Roek has been sent to the Smith- sonian Institution at Washington, but as yet the learned men there have been unable to decipher the record. As the fund of knowledge regarding the sign-writing of all tribes throughout the world is con- stantly increasing, as they are studied and compared and grouped in systems, and certain meanings definitely established, it is not improb- able that at some future time the first chapters of Tulare county's history may yet be translated into English. Even so, then would
7
TULARE AND KINGS COUNTIES
elapse a period of thousands of years without a line. No tradition existed here among the Indians as to any migration or separation from another tribe. They believed themselves to be aborigines. Yet there were trails known to them by which the Sierras could be crossed.
No reports from the passing bands of trappers hastened the coming of settlers. With them a country was good or bad according as many valuable pelts could or could not be there obtained, and no note was taken of its adaptability for agriculture. Neither was it hy the accounts set forth by Fremont, which were meager and of a scientific nature.
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