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 25
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 25
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 25
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Six hundred and seven steamers arrived and departed during the year, besides a large number of sailing vessels.
The reports of shipments for 1890 are not yet rendered, but the officials estimate that the export of bituminous rock will be one- third greater than last year. On the other hand the excessive rains of last season having cansed a light grain crop, the aggre- gate of exports probably will not exceed that of last year.
BENCH AND BAR.
After the adoption of the constitution of the State of California, the office of county judge of San Luis Obispo was first held by Don José Mariano Bonilla, a native of the city of Mexico, who had been judge of the first instance under the Mexican rule, and sub-prefect and alcalde under the military government, after annexation and prior to the adoption of the constitution. It is re- lated of Señor Bonilla that his keen sense of justice was once severely ontraged in the trial of a case between two Mexicans, in- volving the ownership of a horse. Judge Bonilla and W. J. Graves were the only lawyers in the county, and, Graves having been retained by the plaintiff and Bonilla occupying the bench, the defendant was left without an attorney. This seemed to the judge such a hardship that he summoned the sheriff to preside over the court, while he himself descended from the bench and de- voted to the canse of the defendant all his ability and energy. That he was thoroughly impartial and unbigoted appears from the fact that, after due deliberation, he rendered judgment for the plaintiff, against his own arguments!
To Judge Bonilla succeeded (elected in 1850) John M. Price, who also had been
alcalde. He served less than one year, when he was followed by William J. Graves, who had been a member of the State Assembly and of the State Senate.
O. M. Brown was next elected to this office, taking his seat in March, 1853. He held the position for two years, and was succeeded by Romualdo Pacheco, a member of one of the old Spanish-American families, promi- nent in California both before and after an- nexation. Mr. Pacheco held various import- ant offices in the State, including that of Governor.
In 1857 José Maria Muñoz was elected connty judge to succeed Pacheco. Judge Muñoz was a native Californian, well edu- cated in Spanish, but unable to speak En- glish. His opposing candidate was ex-Judge José M. Bonilla. Judge Muñoz held the office until 1861, when he was succeeded by Dr. Joseph M. Havens, one of the pioneers of California.
In 1863 Dr. Havens was succeeded by Wiliam L. Beebee, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of San Luis Obispo. Again Mr. Beebee was elected in 1867, and was confirmed in his seat after a protracted and expensive litigation, the election having been contested by Charles Lindley.
In 1871 the choice for county judge was McDowell R. Venable, who since 1869 had held a high position at the bar here. In 1875 he was the only candidate for county judge, and received almost the entire vote of the county. He continued in this office until it was abolished by the adoption of the new constitution.
The constitution provided for the division of the State into judicial districts, and that at its first session the Legislature should elect for each district one district judge, who should hold office for two years from the 1st of January succeeding his election, after
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which the judges should be elected at the general election, to hold office for six years. This court was given original jurisdiction in law and equity; in all civil cases where the amount in dispute should not exceed $200, exclusive of interest; in all criminal cases not otherwise provided for, and in all issues of fact joined in probate conrt.
Henry Amos Tefft was the first gentleman elected by the Legislature judge of the dis- trict comprising San Luis and Santa Barbara counties. He held the office until February 6, 1852, when, returning from holding court at Santa Barbara, he was drowned in San Luis Obispo harbor while attempting to dis- embark from the steamer Senator.
The sad death of Judge Tefft left vacant the chair of this district court, and to it was appointed, in February, 1852, Joaquin Car- rillo, then county judge of Santa Barbara. This gentleman was a grandson of Ray- mundo Carrillo, the first commandante of Santa Barbara presidio. Judge Carrillo was not familiar with the English language, and when cases were tried in that language it was necessary to interpret to him the court pro- ceedings. Yet the Carrillo family having high rank and influence, he was elected with- out opposition district judge at the ensning general election, and he continued to hold the office until 1863. He was in character at once imperious and convivial, as appears in an incident related by Mr. D. F. Newsom, who was appointed county clerk in 1853. Judge Carrillo one day asked Mr. Newsom to join him in a social glass, and Mr. New- som declined, as he never took wine or liquor. Thereupon the judge took umbrage, declaring that a man who would not drink was not fit to be clerk of his court, and that for the dis- courtesy he would remove him from office; accordingly the sheriff was called upon to furnish a deputy to act as clerk. Now there
was here no one qualified for this position save Mr. Newsom, whose knowledge was of the greatest usefulness and importance in the public functions, badly organized as gener- ally were the offices. Therefore the sheriff promptly appointed Mr. Newsom deputy sheriff, and detailed him to act as clerk, which office lie continued to fill without op- position or comment from Judge Carrillo.
After the census of 1860 the State was re- apportioned into judicial districts, and San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego connties were grouped into the first district. An amend- ment to the constitution hereafter segregated the judicial from the political election, ordering them to be held at different times. At the election in 1863 the candidates for judge of the first district were Pablo de la Guerra and Joaquin Carrillo, of Santa Barbara, and Ben- jamin Hayes of Los Angeles. the first men- tioned being elected. Judge de la Guerra was one of the most notable of the Spanish-Ameri- can citizens of California. He was born in Santa Barbara, his father at the time com- manding the presidio of Santa Barbara. Don Pablo de la Guerra filled a conspicuous role in public affairs in California, both before and after annexation. He held at different periods the offices of supervisor of customs, judge of the first instance, member of the constitutional convention, State Senator, president of the Senate, and, by succession, Lieutenant-governor. He was re-elected to the office of district judge until 1869, and remained the incumbent until failing health compelled his resignation in December, 1873, he dying some two months later.
On the resignation of Judge de la Guerra, Governor Booth appointed to the vacant position Hon. Walter Murray, who in 1869 had been a candidate for the position, carry- ing San Luis Obispo County, but being
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defeated by the large vote cast in Santa Bar- bara County in favor of Don Pablo de la Guerra. He was a man of firm convictions, immovable principles, and great independence of character. Unfortunately, he survived his predecessor but two years, dying at San Luis Obispo, October 5, 1875.
In the campaign of 1875 Walter Murray was the promising candidate to succeed him- self; but, he dying just before the election, the next preferred was Eugene Fawcett, of Santa Barbara, who continued in this office until it was abolished by the new constitution. He was then, in September, 1879, elected in Santa Barbara County to the new office of superior judge, created by the new constitu- tion; and, taking his seat January 6, 1880, he died within three days.
The new constitution, adopted in 1879, entirely reconstructed the judiciary system in California, abolishing the district courts, and replacing them by superior courts, one to each county. In San Luis Obispo, Louis McMurtry was elected superior judge on a union ticket, defeating the nominee of the workingmen and new constitution parties. Mr. McMurtry at this time had been district attorney since 1877. He fulfilled the duties of this new office with great credit, but was shortly stricken with disease, and died Feb- ruary 11, 1883.
The vacancy left by the decease of Judge MeMurtry was filled by appointment, Gov- ernor Stoneman attending the prayers of a preponderance of constituents in selecting Durrell S. Gregory, to whom had been paid the compliment of admitting him to practice by special act of the Legislature. Judge Gregory had a brilliant reputation in his pro- fession, and had served two terms as State senator. He had been district attorney in Monterey County, and in 1860 he had been sent as a delegate to the memorable Charleston
convention. Judge Gregory discharged the duties of this office for some years, and until his death, which befell on June 5, 1889.
During the last few months of his incum- bency San Luis County had had a second judge in the person of Hon. V. A. Gregg, who had been appointed February 8, 1889, by virtue of a special act of the Legislature. Judge Gregory's office ceased with the expira- tion of his incumbency,
Though the election records of 1850 do not mention the office of district attorney, O. M. Brown, afterward county judge, was ap- pointed by the court of sessions to fulfill the duties of such office.
After him, in 1851, was appointed Parker H. French, of unsavory record in connection with Walker's filibustering expedition to Nic- aragua, and other questionable proceedings.
Hubbard C. M. Ely was elected to this office in 1853; and W. J. Graves was elected in 1855; and he, being elected the following year to the Assembly, was followed by James White, appointed by the board of supervisors.
Walter Murray was elected in 1859, and P. A. Forrester in 1861; James White fol- lowed him in 1863; and Walter Murray once more became district attorney in 1867. He was succeeded by Newton Dennis Witt, who filled the term. Then, in September, 1871, was elected A. A. Oglesby, who was re-elected in 1875. After Mr. Oglesby came Lonis McMurtry, afterward superior judge. He was district attorney from 1877 to 1879, when Ernest Graves, son of the pioneer, Hon. W. T. Graves, was elected by the working- men and new constitution parties. Graves was. re-elected in 1882.
Mr. F. A. Dorn is the present district attor- ney (October, 1890), the former incumbent, Mr. Arthur R. Earll, having died in June, 1889.
In the early days there were few lawyers
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in San Luis Obispo, yet since the organization of the county the bar here has comprehended eloquent and able lawyers. Among these may be mentioned Frederick Adams, Judge Robt. C. Bouldin (died December 16, 1879), R. M. Preston (died in Sonoma County, 1882), W. H. Spencer, J. M. Wilcoxen, Jasper N. Turner, C. H. Clement, J. R. Pat- ton, and R. B. Treat, who, with those already mentioned, and others now practicing, present a fine array of talent.
There is no regular bar association in San Luis County, although there is a good mutual understanding among the attorneys. There are seventeen lawyers resident at the county- seat, and varions others in the interior towns. The oldest and best known of these gentle men are :- Judge McDowell R. Venable, Cyrus Wren Goodchild, Ernest and William Graves, William Spencer and J. M. Wilcoxen.
San Luis Obispo County contains thirty- seven election precincts, as follows :- Arroyo Grande, No. 1, Arroyo Grande, No. 2,. Av- enales, Beach, Cambria, Carriso, Cayucos, Cholame, Chorro, Corral de Piedra, Creston, Cuesta, Estrella, Huasna, Josephine, La Panza, Las Tablas, Los Osos, Lynch, Morro, Nipomo, Orcutt, Oso Flaco, Painted Rock, Paso Robles, No. 1, Paso Robles, No. 2, Piletas, San José, San Juan, San Luis Obispo, No. 1, San Luis Obispo, No. 2, San Luis Obispo, No. 3, San Luis Obispo, No. 4, San Miguel, San Simeon, Santa Margarita, Templeton.
MISCELLANEOUS.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Virgil A. Gregg Superior Judge
A. C McLeod Sheriff
Chas. W. Dana Clerk
F. A. Dorn District Attorney
B. F. Petitt Treasurer
C. A. Farnum
Auditor
J. T. Walker
Collector
J. Feidler Recorder
J. M. Felts. Assessor
W. M. Armstrong School Superintendent
G. B. Nichols. Coroner
T. A. Greenleaf. Public Administrator
Geo. Story Surveyor
SUPERVISORS.
J. C. Baker . 1st District
F. F. White .2d District
P. F. Ready
.3d District
G. T. Gregg. 4th District
J. V. Webster. 5th District
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
A. F. Parsons Arroyo Grande
D. M. Meredith. San Luis Obispo
Miss C. B. Churchill. Paso Robles
B. H. Franklin . Cambria
Wm. Armstrong, ex officio. San Luis Obispo
THE POSTOFFICES
in the county are twenty-nine, as follows :- Adelaida, Arroyo Grande, Avenal, Cambria, Cayucos, Cholame, Creston, Dove, Edna, Estrella, Goodwin, La Panza, Linne, Los Berros, Morro, Musick, Nipomo, Painted Rock, Paso Robles, Port Harford, Pozo, Root, San Luis Obispo, San Miguel, San Simeon, Santa Margarita, Simmler, Starkey and Templeton.
Of these, seven are money-order offices, and the San Luis Obispo issues also inter- national money orders. This is a third-class office. The postmaster is W. S. Cannon. He has two assistants, -- young ladies. The semi-annual statement of this office, from October 1, 1889, to April 1, 1890. shows that the total number of letters and parcels handled during that period was 3,613; second- class matter sent was 5,934 pounds; money orders issued amounted to $12,547.03; money orders and postal notes paid, to $12,319.86; total receipts for fees, stamps, etc., $3,972.06; net income from the office, $1,447.86.
From May 5 to May 12, 1890, this office handled 417 pounds, eight ounces, or 6,477 pieces of mail, the income amounting to $94.41.
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The office now contains 352 boxes and twelve drawers, and the newly-leased quarters could accommodate just twice that number should increased population require it.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in San Luis Obispo, under the new régime, was opened in 1850, in a room of the mission building, the Spanish language being the medium of instruction. The teacher was Don Guillermo Searles, born in Chili, of English parents. This was a gentleman of education, and his administra- tion gave satisfaction. The population being then very sparse, the one school district covered the whole county. Searles' successor was Michael Merchant, an Irishman, who came thither via Mexico. He taught in Spanish. It appears that during his admin- istration the county fund failed, and the pupils were required to pay $5 per month tuition. Mr. Merchant was succeeded by Mr. Parker, who, instead of teaching in Spanish, and simply repeating the lessons, required his pupils to translate from one language to the other, they attaining to con- siderable progress by the drill. In 1854 Mr. D. F. Newsom was the teacher, and he gave his instruction in English, and required his pupils to translate the lessons into both languages. At that time there were in the county but forty children able to speak Eng- lish. To Mr. Newsom is due the honor of having organized the schools of San Luis Obispo upon the basis followed until now. At this time the assessor was ex-officio super- intendent of schools, but little or no atten- tion was paid to the department until Mr. Newsom's incumbency.
The progress of the schools was slow dur- ing the first decade, and there was but one district until 1861, when San Simeon district was formed where several American families
had settled on a small area of Government land along Santa Rosa Creek. The two dis- tricts comprised the county, the dividing line being entirely indefinite. There were now 735 children of school age, and 230 nnder the limit, that is, a total of 965 children under eighteen years old, in the county. Of these, sixty-two attended the mission district school, and thirteen the San Simeon school in 1861. The records are much broken up to 1866, since when they are complete.
In 1870 there were 1,275 children of school age in San Luis Obispo County, of whom 566 attended the public, and 109 at- tended private, schools. In 1880 the total number of school census children was 2,752, of whom 1,805 were in the public, and seventy-eight were in private, schools. In twenty years the number of public schools here increased from two to fifty-three, the corps of two was enlarged to one of fifty- nine teachers. In 1863 the appropriation from the connty for the school fund was $613; the county tax rate for this purpose in 1882-'83 was fixed at twenty and one-half cents on each $100.
The school reports for June 30, 1890, show there are 4,733 census children in San Luis; the total enrollment to 3,845; the average number belonging, 2,515; average daily at- tendance, 2,307. The number of districts has increased to ninety-two, with 112 teach- ers, of whom the men receive an average salary of $75, and the women $63. The total amount received from all sources, for school purposes, for this year, was $93,822.10.
The districts are all well supplied with good school-houses, barring such as come under the law of one year's probation. The buildings are neat in style, and some care is had with regard to the condition of the grounds. The best edifices are those of San
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Luis, San Miguel (where the main building cost $10,000), Paso de Robles, which town has lately expended $8,000 upon two build- ings, and Nipomo, where the school-house cost $5,000.
LIGHT-HOUSE.
During the month of July, 1890, the light was shown at the new light-house on Point San Luis Obispo. This is a light of the fourth order, showing alternate red and white flashes, with thirty seconds interval, illuminating 240 degrees of the horizon; the focal plane is 133 feet above mean low water, and in clear weather the light can be seen at a distance of seventeen and one-half miles, from the deck of a vessel, fifteen feet above the sea.
The approximate geographical position of this light-house is as follows: Latitude north 35°, 9', 32"; longitude west 120°, 45', 42".
This edifice was constrneted from an ap- propriation of $50,000, made during the Cleveland administration. Its estimated cost as per the Government architect should be $38,000, but the contractor built it for $17,000, at a severe loss to himself.
The light is shown from a black lantern surmounting a square frame tower attached to the southwest corner of a frame dwelling one and a half stories high, painted white, with brown roof, green blinds and lead colored trimmings. Some fifty yards east- ward stands another similar dwelling; be- tween the two, some fifty yards southward, is the steam fog-signal house, painted like the dwellings, and having two black smoke- stacks. The fog signal was put in place some weeks later than the light. Stephen D. Ballou is light-keeper.
RAILWAYS.
The Pacific Coast Railway, at that time known as the San Luis Obispo & Santa
Maria Valley Railway, was opened from Avila to Castro, some seven miles distant, February 1, 1876. Thenee it was extended from Castro to San Luis Obispo, operations being begun August 16, 1876. The next section opened was from Avila to Port Har- ford, December 1, 1876; and the next, from San Luis to Arroyo Grande, the extension being completed and operations begun Octo- ber 16, 1881. Then followed the section from Arroyo Grande to Santa Maria, June 1, 1882; thenee Santa Maria to Los Alamos, October 4, 1882; and from Los Alamos to Los Olivos, the present terminus, November 17, 1887. The total length of the road is now 76.1 miles in this county.
THE BREAKWATER QUESTION.
Since the days of the wreck of the iron bark Harlech Castle, off Piedras Blancas, in August, 1869, the need of a breakwater at Port Harford has been apparent.
In January, 1850, the citizens of San Luis Obispo held a meeting and passed resolutions to petition Congress for an appropriation for the construction of a breakwater at the har- bor. In accordance with the spirit and in- structions of these resolutions. Hon. H. Y. Stanley, member of the Assembly from San Luis Obispo in the legislative session of 1880 introduced the following resolution:
" Resolved, By the Assembly, the Senate coneurring, that our senators and represent- atives in Congress be and are hereby respect- fully and earnestly requested to procure an appropriation from the general Government, to be expended in the construction of a breakwater for the harbor of San Luis Obis- po, and to make said harbor a port of entry. The Governor of this State is hereby re- quested to transmit a certified copy of the foregoing resolution to each of our senators and representatives in Congress."
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The resolution was adopted, but while Congress voted many millions for improve- ments of rivers and harbors, the breakwater of San Luis Obispo was ignored. The port, including Port Harford, Avila, Pismo Wharf and all points in the bay, was made a port of delivery, where ships may discharge foreign cargo.
From this period forward the Lniseños have kept up a pretty persistent clamor for a breakwater at Port Harford. Myron Angel in particular kept the matter constantly be- fore Congressman Markham, a member of the River and Harbor committee, as well as the representative from the Sixth District. Thus it came abont that in the session of 1885-'86, Mr. Markham obtained an appropriation of $25,000 for the aforesaid purpose. This be- came ineffective because President Cleveland " pocketed " the bill. However, the matter had now been presented to Congress in such a fashion as to facilitate its revival at a future date.
In the following Congress, Representative Vandever was petitioned to secure an appro- priation, and further, the citizens of San Luis raised a fund and sent to Washington a special emissary, Rev. R. L. Breck, whose efforts conduced largely toward the desired end. In this manner was definitely obtained an appropriation of $25,000. The contract was now let and the breakwater begun, $23,- 000 being expended on the contract, and $2,000 on superintendence.
During the Fifty-first Congress was made another appropriation, this time of $40,000, for continuing work on this breakwater, whose completion will certainly secure to San Luis Obispo one of the finest harbors on the coast of California. It is designed to connect this harbor with the Tulare Valley, this being the tide-water point nearest to that section.
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS.
The pioneer secret society in San Luis was San Luis Obispo Lodge, No. 148, F. & A. M., which was organized May 16, 1861, by char- ter from the Grand Lodge of California. The members were Dr. Joseph M. Havens (who was county judge, also Past Master in Ma- sonry), Michael Henderson (who was a '49er, and one of the oldest Masons in the State, his initiation dating from Tuolumne County, in 1850); Thompson D. Sackett, Abraham Blockman, Walter Murray, James McElrath, David F. Newsom, Joseph Riley, Joseph See, and James White. During the year, Gov- ernor Romualdo Pacheco and seven or eight others joined this lodge. The famine years, 1863-'64, cansed such changes in the popu- lation that but few of the old members re- mained here, and this lodge surrendered its charter. Some of the members joined other lodges, but San Luis Obispo County was without a Masonic organization until early in 1869, when San Simeon Lodge, No. 196, was founded under dispensation, and in October under charter, at Cainbria.
The need for the Cambria Lodge to visit the town of San Luis to bury a prominent Mason led to the organization of King David's Lodge, No. 209, June 21, 1870, nn- der dispensation, and November 1, under charter. This lodge in 1875 constructed a fine Masonic hall in San Luis Obispo.
San Luis Obispo Chapter, No. 62, R. A. M., was constituted on April 28, 1883.
In March, 1870, the Odd Fellows of San Luis Obispo organized Chorro Lodge, No. 168, and the order has instituted a number of imposing anniversary celebrations.
On September 28, 1870, Hesperian Lodge, No. 181, I. O. (). F., was organized at Cam- bria, with seven charter members.
The first Rebekah Degree Lodge was Morse Rebekalı Degree Lodge, No. 25, in-
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stitnted at Cambria, June 10, 1877. Imme- diately following was Friendship Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 36, organized at San Luis Obispo, July 12, 1877, with twenty-eight charter members.
Park Lodge, No. 40, Knights of Pythias, the first of the order in the county, was or- ganized December 20, 1876, at San Luis Obispo, with seven charter members, by dis- trict officers from Santa Barbara.
On April 18, 1878, was instituted Section No. 147, Endowment Rank, K. of P.
In June, 1873, was founded at Cambria the Cambria Grange, No. 25, of California Patrons of Husbandry; in September, 1873, the grange at Arroyo Grande, and in 1874, five granges in this county reported to the State Grange.
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