A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 13

Author: Storke, Yda Addis
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 738

USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 13
USA > California > Santa Barbara County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 13
USA > California > Ventura County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 13

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 (link on the Part 1 page).

While the lawless element justited Gray's deed, the better portion of the community emphatically denounced it. The press of the State, too, condemned the dastardly act un- equivocally, as did the pulpit unitedly.

Yet hardly were the funeral ceremonies over before Gray's friends were planning an

active defense, $4,000 were raised to employ counsel, and all the technicalities of the law were invoked to delay or thwart justice. Although be had uttered numerons threats that Stearns or Glancey must die before night, Gray pleaded self-defense and sougbt to prove by witnesses that Glancey made the first attack. The jury failed to agree, and the case was transferred to San Mateo County, where Gray was found guilty and sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment. Eminent legal talent was employed in this trial. One most censurable feature of the case was that Gray was permitted many privileges seldom granted to persons on trial for high crimes, in that he was allowed, during his term of incarceration, to visit processions, shows, etc., and to visit and dine at the houses of his friends. His partisans made application for a new trial, which was granted on such singular grounds as to become historical. This feature is ex- plained in the appended statement of Justice Thornton:

" The trial commenced on the first of June, 1881, and terminated on the morn- ing of the 12th of the same month, about 9 o'clock, when the jury rendered the verdict, and were discharged. As soon as the jury was complete, they were, by the order of the court, placed in charge of the sheriff, and instructed as to their duties. They remained in charge of the sheriff, not being allowed to separate until they were discharged on the morning of the 12th. After the jury was complete, and before the cause was submitted to them, on the afternoon of the 11th of June, abont 5 o'clock, a period of about eight days, four five-gallon kegs of beer were brought into the room at the Tremont House, where the jury was kept by the sheriff, of which abont seventeen and a half gallons (of the beer) were drank by them; that during the same period a two-gallon demijohn of

THE SANTA BARBARA REGION.

wine was brought in and drank by them; that during the same period some of the jurors drank claret wine, amounting to three bottles, at their meals; while some of them drank whiskey at their meals; that all this drinking was done before the case was submitted to them on the afternoon of the 11th of June; that on the 11th of June, during the noon recess, two of the jurors procured each a flask of whiskey; that one of the jurors (Price, the foreman) drank nothing; that all the drink- ing by the jurors was without the permission of the court, or the consent of the defendant, or of the counsel engaged in the canse, and, in fact, withont the knowledge of either of them; that all the beer, wine, and whiskey drank were procured by such of the jurors as desired it of their own notion and at their own expense; that the verdict was agreed on about 8:30 o'clock on the morning of the 12th. Further, the evidence affords strong reason to suspect that one of the jurors drank so much while deliberating on the verdict as to unfit him for the proper discharge of his duty. * *

* For the reason above indicated, the judgment and order are re- versed, and the canse remanded for a new trial."

This conclusion was concurred in by Jus- tices Myrick, Mckinstry, Ross and Sharp- stein. The third trial of Gray occurred in the same county, in December, 1882, and it resulted in his acquittal.

The summer of 1890 has been stigmatized by two very flagrant murders-that of " Billy " Kays by Eduardo Espinosa, in a street brawl, and the unprovoked slaying of Mary Dezirello, an innocent and worthy girl, brutally shot by a worthless fellow named Ramon Lopez, in revenge for her refusal to accept his addresses. The wanton and das- tardly character of this crime so aroused the citizens that Lopez was taken to Los Angeles

to avert a lynching. These two murderers are now on tríal.

THE PRESS.

The first newspaper in this county was the Santa Barbara Gazette issued weekly by Wm. B. Keep and R B. Hubbard, prac- tical printers. Its first publication was on May 24, 1855. During the first six months one page was printed in Spanish for the ben- efit of citizens of Spanish descent. Old resi- dents declare that it was edited as ably as any provincial paper in the State, and that it did great credit to the intelligence and the enterprise of its publishers. Its circulation was limited, as was the population, and it maintained only while it had the publication of legal notices. A law was passed by the Legislature which substituted for advertising the posting of public notices, in writing, in three public places, thus rendering unneces- sary publication of such notices. Therefore the proprietors of the Gazette sold out to Torres & Fossas, who printed in Spanish one side of the sheet, Democratic in politics, and in English the other, of Whig proclivities, thus aiming to suit all tastes and all parties. After one year the publishers removed with their plant to San Francisco; but they con- tinued to issue the Santa Barbara Gazette, as well as the San Luis Obispo Gazette and the Monterey Gazette, all alike, except in the headings. These papers were sent for distribution by every mail, which arrived by steamer, and only twice a month. The mail was carried from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on horseback, as no stage roads then existed, and vehicles could not go up the coast. Thus the news was usually somewhat stale before reaching the subscribers. The Gazette continued, printed in San Francisco and brought here for distribution for about a year, when it ceased publication.

The next newspaper was the Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.

Post, first issued in May, 1868, printed and published by E. B. Boust. After about a year, one-half of this paper was sold to Joseph A. Johnson, who became one of its editors. He afterwards purchased the other half, and changed the name to the Santa Barbara Press, July 1, 1869. It is said that the efforts of Mr. Johnson did more to build up this county and draw population to it than the labors of all the other men combined; and that he added millions to the value of property in this county. The Daily Press was first issued July 1, 1871. The Press passed into the hands of H. G. Otis, and soon declined sadly. After many vicissitudes this paper has finally been established on a satisfactory basis, and it is now issued as both daily and weekly, by the Press Publishing Company, Walter H. Nixon managing editor. This is the third oldest newspaper in Southern Cali- fornia. It is not a party organ, but is Re- publican in politics.

The Santa Barbara Times was established in the interest of settlers, its first number being issued January 30, 1870. After various changes, it was absorbed by the Press in 1874.

The Santa Barbara Index, established by Wood & Sefton, was first issued August 31, 1872. It was subsequently sold to William F. Russell.

The Santa Barbara News, established by Al. Pettigrove and Miss Nettie La Grange, was issued as a daily, May 3, 1875. Mr. Pettygrove subsequently became the sole owner, and continued the publication until it was merged in the Press, May 15, 1876.

A small sheet styled the Santa Barbara Tribune was issued weekly for over two years, by a lad of twelve years, named Walcott. Its publication was suspended at last, owing to the ill-health of its youthful conductor, whose enterprise and ability attracted considerable attention.

In Jannary, 1878, Fred. A. Moore started the Democrat, a weekly, which discontinued issne after some six months, when Mr. Moore started the Independent, as a weekly, with Warren Chase as editor. In 1879 Mr. Moore bought out and consolidated with his paper the daily and weekly Advertiser. He sold the Independent to G. P. Tebbitts, who still continues its publication. The Independent was first issued as a daily in 1884. In poli- tics it is nominally independent, albeit with Democratic proclivities.

The Weekly Herald was established in April, 1885, by Messrs. Felix Lane and S. W. Candy. In 1886, Mr. Lane became the sole proprietor of this paper, which he conducts at present. The Herald is the only avowed organ of the Democratic party in this county.

Outside of Santa Barbara, there are issued in the county the following journals, all weeklies: The Reconstructor, at Summer- land; Argus, Santa Ynes; Progress, Los Alamos; Times, and also Graphic, Santa Maria; Record, and also People's Journal, Lompoc.

THE EASTERN PORTION OF SANTA BARBARA.

The Ortega hill is a lateral spur from the mountains, perhaps 600 feet high, projecting into the sea so boldly as to make difficult the building of a road around it. The beach below the hill is passable at low water, but at high tide the surf dashes against the roeks, cutting off the passage. This was a point of dre id to the earlier boards of supervisors, for they were continually called upon to repair the road, this thien being the only avenue of commu- nication with what is now Ventura County. The road was built along the edge of the bluff, and every rain would so damage it by landslides, etc., as to necessitate costly re- pairs. Many thousands of dollars were ex-

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.

pended before the completion of the fine grade around and over the hill. This was also a serions stumbling-block to the railway companies.

MONTEOITO.

To the eastward of Santa Barbara lies a tract of land extending easterly to the Ven- tura County line, a distance of some fifteen miles, with a breadth of seven or eight miles, from the channel on the south of the summit of the Santa Barbara Range on the north. The face of this section is diversified by hills, plains and valleys, and it compre- hend» some of the most valuable agricultural lands in California.

Beginning some four miles east of Santa Barbara is the district of Montecito, one of the most favored sections imaginable. All that productive soil, benignant climate, pure water and the most striking scenery to be produced by the juxtaposition of sea, and vale, and monntain-all that such elements can contribute to the charm of a section has been bestowed upon Montecito.

This valley of the " Little Wood " is not large; its length, parallel with the coast, is about seven miles; and its width, between shore and mountain, three-quarters of a mile to two miles wide. Northward are the Santa Ynes mountains, of panoramic beauty; east- ward the hills between this and the Carpen- teria Valley, and westward the hills running down to the shore between the Montecito and Santa Barbara. Southward, beyond the sweep of water, the Channel Islands lie, with glimpses of the open sea glinting be- tween them.

This, as has often been said, is a valley of homes, nestling among the groups of live- oaks that give its name to the district.

The first American settler in this valley was Newton M. Coats, who arrived in 1858. A full flood of tillers of the soil and men of

leisure have followed after. Messrs. Dins- more, Hayne, S Bond and Robert W. Smith, who became residents here in 1867-'68, are among the oldest and most prominent settlers. This has come to be one of the show spots of Southern California. The bulk of the improvements have been made by men of leisure and means, who have brought their families hither to form attractive homes amidst the rare charms afforded here by the attractions of baliny climate, fertile soil and picturesque and romantic scenery and sur- roundings. In the eastern part of this sec- tion is the San Ysidro Rancho, belonging to Johnston & Goodrich, from which an annual yield of about 300,000 oranges and 100,000 lemons finds a ready market. Down the valley, towards the ocean, is the old Coats Rancho, fertile and heavily timbered, now the property of Messrs. Sperry and Crocker, who are making upon it extensive improve- ments, planting orchards, etc. The " Hunter Place " contains one of the finest general orchards in the section. At "Inglenook," a pretty red cottage shows through the branches of a fine olive grove, in profitable bearing. Along the Hot Springs avenue is a succession of tasteful dwellings with care- fully-tended grounds. Among these are :--- the Gould mansion, with its hedged grounds, its leafy oaks and rippling streams; the Hall cottage, with clustering vines and its smooth lawns, commanding a broad outlook down the coast; the Magee homestead, where stands Montecito's famous grape-vine; the high, many-gabled Anderson villa, and above it a residence of trne Southern aspect, as well it may be, since liere lives Colonel Hayne, of the celebrated Southern family of that name; across from Colonel Hayne's is the fine collection of palms and other hand- some plants of the Sawyer-formerly the Bond -place, where thrive in great luxuri-

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.

ance many rare shrubs and trees. West of the avenue, on a broad ridge which divides the valley into two parts, often distinguished as " Upper " and "Lower " Montecito, stands prominently in an orange grove the comfort- able home at " Riven Rock," the Stafford place. On a knoll toward the sea is the dwelling of N. K. Wade, commanding a superb view on all sides. In the " Upper " Montecito, west of Mr. Stafford's place, are the dwellings of Messrs. Stoddard and Stevens, and above them, toward the moun- tains, the picturesque home of Mr. Eaton. full of artistic treasures collected at home and abroad.

The situation and climate of this valley in many respects resemble those of the cele- brated Riviera of Italy, except that the mistral, the chilly afternoon wind, does not blow here. Frost is a very rare visitor in this valley, and tender exotics thrive well here. There are many fine collections of choice plants in this valley, embracing vines, shrubs and trees of the Eastern States, as well as rarer specimens from the old world, South America, and the Pacific Islands. The banana here ripens fully, the oranges raised here are particularly juicy and delicate of flavor, while figs, nectarines, lemons and apricots are exceptionally fine. Strawberry plants bear abundantly throughout the year, and have been known to bear fruit in thirty days from planting. The odors of fragrant flowers develop exceptionally, and the manu- facture of perfumery is a potential future in- dustry. Twenty or more varieties of palin are grown here, including the "Toddy Palm," the Coquito, various dracoenas, the " Umbrella Palm," "Thatch Palm," "Royal Palm," wild date and others. Pomegranates, yuccas, guavas, alligator pears, chirimoyas, etc., all grow here as if in their native liab- itat. This valley has, even in the dry sea-

son of summer, a notably fresh and green appearance, due to the large number of non- deciduous trees and shrubs. Although irri- gation is seldom used here, except for citrus fruits, yet the water supply is ample. A local company brings down water in pipes from the Hot Springs stream, and the sub- terranean flow is large, wholesome and easily obtained by sinking wells.

The famous " Big Grape-vinc " of Monte- cito grew on the domain of Doña Maria Marcelina Feliz de Dominguez, who died in 1865 at the advanced age of 107 years. Doña Maria Marcelina disclaimed all knowl- edge of those romantic but apocryphal stories which assign as the origin of this monster plant a shoot given by a lover to his sweetheart for a riding switch, and planted by the girl. The great vine was nearly four feet six inches in circumference, and six feet to the lowest branches. It spread over an area of about an acre, and bore several tons of grapes yearly-it is said sometimes as much as six tons. It was abont sixty years old. From the deprivation of its accustomed share of water it died, and in 1876 it was taken up and conveyed to the Centennial Ex- hibition at Philadelphia, where it was left on show as one of the products of California. On the same estate as the former " big vine," is another, somewhat inferior in size, but still of very large growth, which attracts many visitors. It is said to have been a cutting of the former vine.

Lying as it does contiguous to the sea, Montecito possesses the attractions lent by bathing, boating and fishing; on the other hand, the close vicinity of the mountains give delightful excursions along winding cañon roads and up picturesque trails. The San Ysidro, the Cold Spring and the Hot Springs, all are cañons of many attractions. This section has a station, Montecito, on

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.

the railway, four miles south of Santa Bar- bara.

THE HOT SPRINGS.

The Montecito Hot Springs are about six miles from Santa Barbara, beyond Montecito, up quite a steep ascent of the mountains, at about 1,450 feet above the sea.

It is said that while California still ap- pertained to Mexico, and this, as a province, to the crown of Spain, a commission sent ont by the government to examine and report upon all the mineral waters then known to exist in Mexico and the Californias, reported most favorably upon the properties of the Montecito springs for the curing of cutane- ous diseases. As to their later discovery, the story goes that in 1855, Mr. Wilbur Curtis was wandering in search of some spot which should restore his health, broken in the rongh life of the mines, when he chanced upon a party of Indians encamped at the mouth of this cañon. Telling them of his condition, they took him to these springs, and one veteran of over 100 years old told how he had bathed here and drunk since childhood from the waters, to whose virtues he ascribed his longevity. Mr. Curtis drank, bathed, and was healed; and with the genuine American practicality, he took up a claim, foreseeing that this property would be of great value in the future. From a blanket camp, through the progressive stages of a tent, a hut, a cottage, the evolution has progressed to the present conditions, provisions and building materials being carried for years over a-rough trail, which has now been widened into a good stage road. Gushing from crevices in the solid rock, on the premises are some thirty mineral springs. Some of these are sulphurous, others saline and chalybeate,'rang- ing in temperature from 99° to 120° Fahren- lieit. Seven of the principal springs are used for drinking and bathing purposes.

These waters are of great value in the treatment of rheumatism, gout, joint affec- tions, Bright's disease, liver trouble and blad- der irritation; being antacid, considerable benefit may be derived from the waters in dyspepsia, and acid conditions of the blood and urine. Perhaps the greatest benefit accrues from bathing in the sulphurous and saline waters, especially in syphilitic and scrofulons contaminations, grandular enlarge- ments, and chronic skin diseases. The waters much resemble the famous Hot Springs of Arkansas. Of late, the arsenical spring has been developed, with excellent results.

There is now at this resort a good hotel, well managed, with the modern comforts and conveniences, and particular attention is paid to the opening up of trails, etc., to the end of affording diversion and exercise for the guests and patients.

Dr. Brinkerhoff wrote, regarding these springs: " I do not regard the use of these waters by any means as a panacea for . all the ills which flesh is heir to,' but for the cure of certain diseases they are unmistakably efficacious. I have known some cases which seemed to defy all powers of medication, cured in a surprisingly short space of time by the waters of these springs, advisedly used as a beverage and for bathing purposes. The indiscriminate use of them may be dis- advantageons, and even positively injurious, and before resorting to them patients should always consult some experienced physician as to their proper use."

Some two miles beyond El Montecito is

SUMMERLAND.

Summerland is situated six miles from Santa Barbara, on a portion of the old Ortega Rancho. It lies between the sea and the Santa Ynes mountains. Some 1,050 acres of this rancho became the property of H. L.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.

Williams, who, after the subsidence of the boom of 1886-'88, laid out 160 acres in town lots, and, by means of judicious advertising, collected here a colony of citizens of Spirit- ualistic belief, who have organized quite a thriving community. Most of the 160 acres has been sold, mainly to mechanics, carpen- ters, etc., who have found ample employment in the little hamlet, as building has been lively. Some sixty houses have been built, and the population is now about 300; at the recent election some forty-one votes were cast. There are now three stores of general mer- chandise, shoes and groceries, one blacksmith, one restaurant and bakery, one public school with some thirty pupils, a public library, a postoffice with two daily mails, express office and railway ticket office. The water supply here is lifted by a hydraulic ram to a reser- voir on a hill, giving some 200 feet pressure; the water being piped free to every house in the colony.

A very strong impulse has been given to the interest felt in Summerland through the discovery here in June, 1890, of natural gas, in wells tapped near the beach and just above the railway. There are now some nine wells burning, the gas from which is used in Sum merland for domestic purposes, illuminating, fuel, etc .; and the Summerland Gas Company, recently organized, expects to bring the gas into Santa Barbara within two months.

Summerland has also fine industrial re- sources in the shape of the presence on the tract of large beds of superfine brick elay, sewer-pipe clay, limestone, gypsum, and sand- stone.

These elements, taken in conjunction with the possibilities for manufacturing afforded by the natural gas product, offer for Summer- land a bright commercial future.

Farther down the coast from Summerland lies the fruitful district of

CARPENTERIA.

The central and more thickly settled por- tion of Carpenteria Valley is twelve miles east of Santa Barbara. This valley was a part of the pueblo lands of Santa Barbara, appor- tioned out by the prefect to the people, who used these lands as temporales, or fields for the cultivation of summer crops. No titles to the soil were given until after the coming of the Americans.

From the point dividing the Monteeito and Carpenteria, the beach curves gently to the bold, rocky point at Rincon, giving to the whole valley a southern exposure, it being practically enclosed, moreover, from point to point, by a deep semicircle of mountains, up which open picturesque cañons. Sea and mountains bound a sheltered corner contain- ing about ten square miles of deep and fertile soil, mostly alluvial.

There are also inesa or upland and adobe soils, though in small quantities. The adobe soil is found in inconsiderable tracts, being in patches all through the bottom lands. It is difficult to work, but, when properly treated, very strong and productive.

Thus this valley does not border a stream, but fronts the ocean, extending for eight or nine miles along the beach, giving an area of 8,000 to 10,000 acres. These peculiarities of situation give the climate here character. istics quite different from other sections.

The annual rainfall is abont the same as at Santa Barbara. The usual winter tempera- ture is about 600, and the summer tempera- ture about 650. The climate is agrecable and healthful. There is some fog in summer, but it originates from the sea, and is of that character called " high fog." It is not insa- lubrious, and it is considered beneficial to vegetation.

The name of the valley, Carpenteria (Span- ish for carpenter-shop), is derived from the

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.

existence, in early days, on the bank of one of the streams here, of a workshop of that nature.

In the early history of this valley it was deemed an unsuitable locality for horticult- ural pursuits, as the existing streams could not be made available for irrigating purposes. Experience showed that the soil, deep and loamy, by proper cultivation could be made to retain so much moisture as to render arti- ficial irrigation unnecessary.

More recently it has been discovered that the water supply is enriched by the existence of artesian water. A weak flow was obtained at seventy feet deep, and an abundant flow at ninety feet. A number of these wells have been sunk, and the new town of Carpenteria is in this manner supplied with pure and cheap water. To the colony grounds on the foot-hill slope between Carpenteria and Fen- lon, a supply of mountain water will be piped.

Carpenteria is divided for the most part into small farms; and so wonderfully rich is the soil that a few acres will support a fam- ily. The low foot-hills at the base of the inonntains are sometimes cultivated to their very summits. All the best of the cañons, being mostly Government land, have been taken up. The chief product of these cañon farms is honey, the bees thriving on the wild flower-food of these sections. On mesas and rolling lands are produced great crops of hay, and wheat and barley produce heavily.

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Author: Storke, Yda Addis Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 738

Author: Storke, Yda Addis
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 738