USA > California > Merced County > A history of Merced County, California : with a biographical review of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 16
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Same issue: "Two weeks ago an attempt was made to fire the Chinese portion of Mariposa. The Gazette says: 'Late at night a Mexican applied for admission to one of the hovels, with which the town abounds, and being refused, he pulled a bottle from his pocket and scattered the contents on the house. He then applied a match
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and started for the bushes.' " Thus did the Gazette, in one brief item, affront the yet to be incarnated souls of Brisbane, Volstead, and Mr. Babbitt.
August 12: "Hon. Schuyler Colfax passed throuh Snelling on Friday last on his way to Yo Semite. He will start on the return trip tomorrow, stop at Hornitos and make a speech on Monday next, will be in Stockton on Tuesday and remain there until Wednesday afternoon. He will have the freedom of the city at Stockton, take a brandy toddy with Mayor Gray, kiss Gen. Cobb, hug the members of the Council, take a squint at the girls, shake hands with the military boys and firemen, and leave on the four o'clock boat for San Francisco. It is supposed he has the precinct of Yo Semite all right for the Presidency, and he may carry Hornitos should his speech be well received."
In the same issue, after news items about Democratic conventions in Stanislaus and Mariposa Counties and an intended one in Sacra- mento County, the Herald says : "Let us give the Abs. their quietus in this section of the State. It can be done easy."
Same issue : "D. A. Jamison, R. R. Leak, and John H. Foreman elected school trustees of Jackson district" (Snelling) .
"Trustee Election at La Grange .- On Saturday last, an election came off at La Grange, Stanislaus County, for one School Trustee. The election was warm and strongly contested. It resulted in the choice of John Williams."
There were notices of two camp-meetings: The M. E. Church, South, on Gwinn's Ranch, on the Merced River, adjoining the old camp ground, near the residence of T. J. Hardwick, commencing on the 24th and will include the fourth Saturday and Sunday in August. All are invited to attend.
"Persons expecting to remain on the Camp Ground over night, will please bring their bedding. J. H. Neal, P. C."
"Camp Meeting .- A camp meeting under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, commenced on Mariposa Creek on Thursday last. We understand that several good preachers are on hand. Today and tomorrow a large crowd will no doubt be in attendance. Quite a number have gone from this neighborhood."
" 'The three cornerstone of the Copperhead platform-Jeff Davis, Mrs. Surratt, and Wilkes Booth. Its means of gaining success-assas- sination, arson, and treason.'-Mariposa Gazette.
"The Gazette's platform is slander; the three cornerstones of its party's platform are deception, lying, and stealing. The main de- pendence for success-negro suffrage."
"Mariposa Democratic County Convention .- The Democratic Convention of Mariposa County met on Saturday last and nominated the following ticket. Assemblyman -- T. F. Jenkins; Sheriff-J. W.
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Adams; Dist. Attorney-J. M. Corcoran; Clerk-Angevine Rey- nolds; Recorder-Geo. W. Cornell; Assessor-Wm. F. Coffman; Treasurer-Nat. Harbert; Pub. Administrator-J. Burckhalter; School Supt .- P. K. Webster; Coroner-Dr. Grandvoinet; Surveyor -R. B. Thomas.
"A private letter, dated the 6th, which we are permitted to use, says : 'Lovejoy withdrew his name from before the convention in favor of Adams, who was nominated unanimously. The ticket is a good one and will be elected. Adams is considered by far the strongest man that could have been nominated. He will whip the fight, sure. It was a very large Convention, every precinct being represented.' "
Alas for prophecy ! In the issue of September 9 we read: "The news received from Mariposa leaves no doubt of the election of a majority of the Union ticket. Crippen's majority over Adams for Sheriff, as far as heard from, is 78. The Democrats will elect the Clerk, District Attorney, and Assessor.
Here are some advertisements, from the issue of Saturday, August 12 :
"Galt House, southwest corner of Lewis and Third Streets, Snel- ling, Merced County, California. A. B. Anderson, Proprietor The house is fitted up in first class style; the rooms are large and well ventilated and furnished in a style equal to any in California.
"The table is supplied with the best the market affords.
"The Bar is furnished with the best of Wines, liquors, and cigars.
"A fine Billiard Table will always be at the service of those fond of the game.
"To Teamsters and Travelers: I have attached to my hotel a Good Corral, and 'Good Stock Water,' also Hay, Barley, etc., where the public at large can be accomodated at reasonable rates.
"A. B. Anderson, Proprietor."
There is a notice of a sheriff's sale of a part of "Rancho Los Pans- cha Grande Y Los Caroselitas" (so it is written) for a judgment of the State against Brent & Crittenden for $58.80 for taxes for 1864. The sale has been postponed three times by Sheriff E. G. Rector.
"Merced Falls Hotel. Joseph Pahle, Proprietor. Merced Falls, between Hornitos and Snelling. This house has been fitted up with taste and neatness. The table is supplied with the LUXURIES of the season and the BEDS are furnished neatly.
"Wines, liquors, and cigars at the bar."
"Flour Mill. D. P. Quinlan, Proprietor. To the Merchants and Families of Merced and Adjoining Counties : Having leased for a term of years the Flouring Mill known as Murray's Mill, I am now pre- pared to furnish Merchants and Private Families with a superior article of flour.
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"Warranted good, or no pay. Also on hand at all times Corn Meal, Middlings, Bran and Chicken Feed, at lowest market rates. All orders left at the mill will receive prompt attention."
We find "ads" of a livery stable, south side of Lewis Street, Geo. Turner and N. Breen, proprietors ; of the Snelling Meat Market, cor- ner Fourth and Market Streets, Givens & Co .; of Skelton & Turner, Lewis Street, Snelling, "dealers in provisions, groceries, wines, liquors, clothing, boots, shoes, hats, caps, crockery, glass, and hardware, agri- cultural implements, etc., etc., etc." A. Rosenthal Merced Falls, ad- vertises, "old store, new goods."
There is a list of county officers, run every week, as follows :
"County Judge, J. W. Robertson; Sheriff, E. G. Rector ; County Clerk, R. R. Leak; District Attorney, P. D. Wigginton; Recorder, R. R. Leak; Treasurer, D. A. Jamison; County Surveyor, W. G. Collier ; Assessor, L. P. Wilson ; Supt. Public Schools, T. O. Ellis, Sr .; Public Administrator, J. M. Strong ; Coroner, S. M. Brown."
Robertson and Wigginton were the proprietors of the paper, and we shall presently see their professional cards. The sheriff's son is now superior judge. The name Leak is familiar in Merced; and that of Collier, around Stevinson. We read a little way back of Treasurer Jamison's election as one of the trustees of Jackson school district. Assessor Wilson is the same Wilson, known to his intimates as "Hookie" Wilson, of whom Henry Nelson remembers that he got into the tree during the flood of 1862 and Peter Fee records that he got out of it, and we shall see presently that he ran a threshing machine; and Jefferson Price of Le Grand tells of going to school when he was a boy to T. O. Ellis, Sr., on Mariposa Creek.
Here is the list of professional cards which the Herald carried during this summer. It is noteworthy that they are all lawyers-no doctors, although there is an item a little further on to the effect that Snelling had two doctors. Doctors' cards appear later, however. The list follows :
"James W. Robertson, Attorney at Law, Snelling, Offire upstairs over Myers' saloon.
"P. D. Wigginton, Attorney at Law, Snelling.
"Moore & Montgomery. B. F. Moore, W. S. Montgomery, Sonora.
"Campbell & Burckhalter. J. B. Campbell. J. Burckhalter, Mari- posa. Office at the Court House.
"Alexander Deering, Mariposa. Office Sixth Street, between Main and Bullion Streets.
"R. H. Ward, Justice of the Peace and Conveyancer, Snelling, Merced County. Office at the court house, upstairs.
"S. H. P. Ross, Attorney at Law and Justice of the Peace. Office at the court house, Snelling."
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Here's an editorial from the issue of August 19:
"The Central Pacific Railroad Company are now paying $40 per month with board, for white laborers, whereas, to Chinamen, they pay only $30 per month, without board. Our Chinese population is a great curse upon the country. The Celestials are the vampires of the Pa- cific Coast. Every dollar saved from their earnings goes to China- in fact they do not patronize us to the extent of half their living."
There is an election proclamation by the Governor, published in the issue of August 26, in which it is interesting to see how the dis- tribution of assemblymen differs from what it is now. San Francisco County gets 12; Sacramento, 5 ; Eldorado and Nevada, 4 each ; Santa Clara, Calaveras, Sonoma, Placer, and Yuba, 3 each; Tuolumne and Mono together, 3; Los Angeles, Alameda, San Joaquin, Sierra, Butte, and Siskiyou, 2 each ; Amador and Alpine together, 2; San Diego, San Bernardino, Tulare, Fresno, Mariposa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Marin, Solano, Mendocino, Sutter, Shasta, Trinity, and Humboldt, 1 each; and the following pairs, 1 each : Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, Merced and Stanislaus, Napa and Lake, Plumas and Lassen, Tehama and Colusa, Klamath and Del Norte.
Here are but forty-seven counties ; twelve of the present counties had not yet been created, and Klamath, up between Del Norte and Humboldt, has since ceased to exist. Note that among Merced's neighbors, Tulare, Fresno, and Mariposa Counties each had one as- semblyman, while Merced and Stanislaus together had one ; Tuolumne and Mono, over the mountains, together had three; San Joaquin, two; and Santa Clara, three; and that Fresno then included the present Fresno and Madera, and Tulare the present Tulare, Kern, Kings, and Inyo. Note also that El Dorado and Nevada each had twice as many as Los Angeles, and San Francisco six time as many.
An "ad," August 26: "San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Society's Sixth Annual Fair and Industrial Exhibition, to be held in the city of Stockton on Tuesday, September 26, 1865, and continue four days."
The issue of September 9 contains the following editorial :
"The Election .- The election passed off very quietly here, there being no controversy at all for any office except that of Assemblyman. For this office there was a good deal of work, particularly on the part of the Republicans, who had hopes of electing Mr. Ingalsbe on account of his popularity and the unpopularity of Mr. Ward among a portion of the Democratic voters. They labored very hard, and to some extent successfully, reducing the Democratic majority for that office to almost nothing. Our returns from the county are meagre" (the election had been held only three days before) "but we think we have enough to warrant the belief that Ward has carried it by a very small majority. The balance of the Democratic ticket is elected by about the usual
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decisive vote. The vote for Assemblyman in this Gibraltar of Democ- racy, or as it is derisively called by some, 'the South Carolina of California,' has surprised all men of all parties; but when it is taken in consideration the many disadvantages that Ward had to contend against in making the canvass, it is not so strange after all. These are known to our readers, and it is unnecessary for us to repeat them. As far as heard from, Ward is five votes ahead of Ingalsbe in this county. This will probably be increased some, and the majority may reach twelve or thereabouts. We will give the returns in full as soon as we receive them of the whole county-next week if possible. The following is the vote for Assemblyman as far as heard from : Snelling : Ward 33, Ingalsbe 51; Forlorn Hope : Ingalsbe one majority ; Merced Falls : Ward 11, Ingalsbe 16; Mariposa Creek : Ward 35, Ingalsbe 5; Neill's : Ward 19, Ingalsbe 5; Beighle's, 5 votes, all for Ingalsbe; Anderson's : Ward 3, Ingalsbe 13.
"The Democracy of Stanislaus County deserve all praise for the manful manner they conducted the canvass. There was no flinching among them there, but they boldly and patriotically marched up to the work under the old Democratic motto, 'principia non homines.' The result is a glorious Democratic triumph for the whole ticket. Stanislaus has set an example worthy of imitation everywhere, and a just source of pride to themselves. Their ticket is elected by an aver- age majority of about one hundred. This elects our Assemblyman by a clever majority in the district. All hail, Democratic Stanislaus ! P. S. -Since the above was in type, we have heard a rumor that all the precincts in this county have been heard from, and that Ward leads Ingalsbe eight votes."
Same issue: "Screw Loose .- There must be a screw loose in Mariposa County. In all the counties heard from (except Merced) there is a large Democratic gain; Tuolumne, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and even San Francisco, have shown large Democratic gains, while our 'Butterfly' neighbor seems to be sliding a little backward in the good old cause. Boys, tighten up the screw next time. You have the material, if you will only put it to work rightly. Don't stand 'there all the day idle.' Go to work, and work together, and you will win, sure, on the next turn."
The following was quoted from an Eastern paper: "A Novel Race .- A novel race took place in Poughkeepsie in July between a steam road wagon and a pedestrian named Rensley, resulting in favor of the wagon, which came in eight rods ahead. The conditions of the race were: The wagon had to run two miles to Rensley's one. A contest between the wagon and a trotting horse was also won by the wagon.
"School Commenced .- A school was commenced on Monday last in Snelling, by Mr. F. Cave as teacher. A good number of pupils were
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in attendance this week, and we learn there will be more in a few days. We are truly glad to make this announcement, as we had been without a school for a long time. Mr. Cave is a quiet and unobtrusive gentle- man, and commences his school work with the confidence of the com- munity. We wish him abundant success."
This issue of September 9, 1865, appeared on yellow paper-and thereby hangs a tale. The issue of the 9th says :
"Yellow Paper .- We make our appearance this week on yellow paper, because we have no other kind to print on. We sent to San Francisco a month ago for printing paper, which was promptly sent by our agent to a commission house in Stockton-Pache & Co. Two weeks ago we got a teamster's bill of lading for the paper, "shipped, in good order," from the above house, but from some cause or other, we have never received or heard of it since. We know not where to throw the blame for this culpable carlessness-whether it is the fault of the shipper or the teamster-but one thing we do know, and that is, it places us in a very awkward position. We have to ask the pardon of our readers for the bad appearance of our paper. The quality of paper used would not bear wetting to prepare it for the press, and had to be printed dry ; in consequence, the impression of the type is defec- tive. We hope we will not again be placed in this kind of fix; surely we will not if we can avoid it."
The following week appears: "Another Apology .- We dislike to be compelled to make apologies to the readers of the Herald; but, situated as we have been in regard to printing paper, we deem it due to ourselves to give the reason of our paper appearing in the afternoon instead of the morning, as usual. The paper that was due us full three weeks ago, has never come to hand at all, and probably never will. We had to send another order to San Francisco for paper, which, fortunately, came to hand yesterday evening, by stage, just in time for us to get out our issue this afternoon. We did hear that our paper had been forwarded to Morley's Ferry, on the Tuolumne River, but' after going to the expense of hiring a horse and buggy, and losing our time from other business for a day, on arriving at the designated place, we learned it was not there and never had been. This disappointment and extra expense to us all arises from awkwardness or carelessness on the part of the forwarding merchants at Stockton-Pache & Co. They shipped the paper to Morley's, when its destination was Snelling. We could more easily get a package from Stockton or San Francisco than from Morley's Ferry, unless we were informed by the shippers where it was forwarded to. This was not done, by the firm mentioned."
On Saturday, September 30, appears the following: "The Mis- sing Paper .- That paper we made so much fuss about, two weeks ago, came to hand on Saturday last with an explanatory letter from Mr. J. Pache, of Stockton. Mr. Pache, it seems, had placed confidence in a
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teamster, who neglected to carry our package as ordered and conse- quently it was left in Stockton. It is all right now, and we hope we will have no cause to complain again in a similar way. Mr. Pache, no doubt, felt as bad about the matter as we did, as he prides himself on his attention to business, and no doubt this is the first time any one has had cause to complain of his dereliction in business for the several years he has been known in Stockton."
The story is resurrected here for the light it sheds on transporta- tion in California sixty years ago. Incidentally, the yellow paper which the Herald so mysteriously had on hand in the crisis, and for which it felt called upon to apologize, reads as easily and clearly today as the white paper on which the printer's best art was lavished. Still more reminiscent of the story of the Portuguese and the pump handle is an item we read in the issue of September 16, 1865, entitled :
"Camp Meeting and Horse Stealing .- A camp meeting has been going on since the 8th, at Branche's Ferry, on the Tuolumne, a few miles below La Grange. . " The story then relates that three young men rode to the camp meeting, and left their saddle horses hitched in the bushes near by. They went out from time to time to see if their horses were all right, and about 11 P. M. found one of them gone, and from the indications concluded it had been stolen. Where- upon Editor Robertson launches into a scathing denunciation of horse- thieves and all their works. And then :
"Later .- Since the above was in type, we are informed that the horse spoken of was found by the owner straying around loose in the neighborhood. The temporary absence of the caballo was likely produced by the high proof of the water he drank. Quien sabe ?"
More politics, from the issue of September 9: "Spurious Tickets. -We warned the people in our last issue to be on the lookout for spurious tickets. At the time we gave the warning, we did not know certainly that there would be any fraudulent tickets printed; but merely surmised that such a trick might be resorted to, taking for our basis of calculation that a Republican was not honest in politics, and would not do to trust. The thing turned out precisely as we expected, and tickets with all the Democratic nominees, except Ward, the nomi- nee for Assembly, were thrown loose, even at Snelling, early in the day, and a good many of them were voted with Ingalsbe's name for that office. The fraud was very soon discovered; but the discovery amounted to nothing. The tickets thus printed served an excellent purpose for 'bolters,' who intended to vote for Ingalsbe, at all events, but did not wish to do so openly. How men professing to be Democrats can reconcile this course of conduct to themselves is a mys- tery to us."
"Fire .- The house and barn of Mr. John Julian, with their con- tents, about four miles below this place, were destroyed by fire on
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Wednesday morning last. How the fire originated is not known, but it is supposed to have caught from the stove pipe, which ran up through an old fashioned stick and mud chimney. Mr. Julian had cooked breakfast that morning, and after attending to some other affairs on the ranch, started to town to the election, and had barely reached here when news came informing him of his accident. The barn con- tained about 1200 bushels of barley, of which it is thought about half will be saved."
September 16: "Hurrah for Tulare .- The Democracy of Tu- lare County have elected their entire legislative and county ticket by handsome majorities. Hons. J. W. Freeman and J. C. Brown are both re-elected to their respective positions by increased majorities over two years ago. Again we say, hurrah for Tulare."
"For Millerton .- A company of cavalry soldiers passed through this place on Monday last, under command of Captain Loring, on their way to Millerton (Fort Miller). We are told they go hence to make winter quarters at that place. They were apparently a pretty well behaved set of boys ; still they could not pass this office without casting a slur on Democratic printing offices. This only showed ill breeding in those of them who indulged in it. They may yet learn better as they grow older, and common sense and experience take the place of ignorance and duplicity. We learn also that the soldiers who have been stationed for some time at Visalia, left that place last week for the same destination. Fort Miller, Millerton, will probably be a lively camp this winter.
A little later the editor tells of a trip he made to Millerton, where he found most of the people a good deal excited over what was be- lieved to be a rich copper strike.
"Religious Revival .- On Friday last a protracted meeting was commenced at Forlorn Hope by the Christian denomination. 'The meeting was conducted under the guidance and instruction of Elder D. McSwain. Up to Tuesday, nineteen persons had joined the church. Monday the solemn rites of baptism, by emersion (according to the doctrine of that faith ), were administered to six, and Tuesday to eight more. This is quite a harvest for the old and respected Elder, and we are told that he rejoices with 'exceeding great joy' over the inroads he has made in the tabernacle of Satan. May success continue to crown his efforts in the 'good fight'."
"Preaching .- Elder D. McSwain preached a sermon at the Court House in this place on Wednesday night last. His discourse was listened to with great attention by a large audience."
September 16: "Homicide .- On Sunday night last a difficulty arose at a liquor shop in the neighborhood of Forlorn Hope between Lawson Rogers and Henry Delavan, both employed on a threshing machine belonging to L. P. Wilson. On Monday morning the parties
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met at a house, where they had been boarding, when the quarrel was resumed at the instigation of Rogers, and resulted in his death. Im- mediately after the killing Mr. Delavan came to town and gave him- self up to the authorities. The case was brought before Justice Ward on Monday for investigation, but was postponed until Tuesday 011 account of witnesses. The testimony in the case went entirely to show that Delavan acted purely in self defense. Rogers had threatened, after the difficulty between the two parties on Sunday night, that he would kill Delavan on sight. This threat was communicated to Dela- van, who kept out of his (Roger's) way to avoid, if possible, any further difficulty with him. Next morning, however, when the parties met, Rogers, in a menacing and threatening manner, made demonstra- tions, with his hand on his pistol, as if to carry his oft-repeated threats into execution, whereupon Delavan drew his pistol and shot him twice, one ball, according to the inquest, held on the body by Justice Ross, taking effect in his right breast, and the other in the abdomen.
The deceased lived but a short time after the shooting. We learn he was a native of Tennessee, but came to California from Ar- kansas, and about forty-five to fifty years of age. After hearing the testimony, Justice Ward, after a few words of admonition to Delavan, discharged him and dismissed the case."
September 23, 1865 : "Election News .- Plumas and Lassen have elected Goodwin, (Dem.) to the Assembly. Klamath has elected the whole Democratic ticket. Colusa and Tehama have elected W. S. Long, (Democrat) to the Assembly. Sierra goes Republican by a small majority. Full returns from Siskiyou show that E. Wadsworth, (Rep.) is elected to the Senate, and T. H. Steele, (Rep.) and J. K. Luttrell, (Dem.) Assemblymen.
"El Dorado .- The Mountain Democrat of the 16th instant says : 'The result of the recent election in this county shows that the people have ceased to be gulled by the hifalutin clap trap of such shoddy patriots as have been ruling them for the past two years, and have returned to reason'."
"Rise in the Merced .- During the present week, the water in the Merced River at this place rose several inches. What the cause of this rise in the water, at this season of the year, can as well be divined by our readers as by us. There must have been rain in the mountains, or there must have been extraordinarily warm weather high up in the summit of the Sierras, to thaw out ravines and recesses on the North side of the peaks, where 'snows perpetually lie'."
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