An illustrated history of Sacramento County, California : containing a history of Sacramento County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future portraits of some of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also prominent citizens of today, Part 26

Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 916

USA > California > Sacramento County > An illustrated history of Sacramento County, California : containing a history of Sacramento County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future portraits of some of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also prominent citizens of today > Part 26

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October 2, 1869, the California Pacific com- menced a new structure on the Howe Truss pattern. The draw to this bridge was 200 feet long, making the opening on each side clear seventy-five feet. The steamer Belle ran as a ferryboat in the interim while the draw was be- ing built. The bridge was completed and the engine Sacramento, William Rowan, Engineer, ran across it January 15, 1870. This bridge was again rebuilt by the Central Pacific Rail- road Company in 1878. The draw was swung into place, December 5, 1878, and the bridge was open for travel the next day. The railroad company had purchased the bridge of the Sac- ramento and Yolo Bridge Company in June, 1878.

CEMETERIES.

The oldest burying-ground for Sacramento is the New Helvetia Cemetery, which lies directly south of and adjoining East Park, just east of the city limits, and embraces the original plat of Sutter's Fort. The first burial here was that of Major Cloud, a paymaster in the United States Army, who was killed in 1847 southeast of the Fort some distance, by being thrown from a horse; the second person whose remains were buried here was Miss Susanna Hitchcock, who died early in 1849 at the new diggings on the Stanislaus, and the third was James McDowell, who was shot in Washington, just across the river.

Ten acres here were donated by Captain John A. Sutter to the city about the first of Decem- ber, 1849, for burial purposes.

The present City Cemetery was located in 1850, on the southern boundary of the city limits, on Tenth street, and comprises about twenty acres, beautifully ornamented with flowering plants, trees and shrubs. The Free Masons, Odd

Fellows, Red Men, Firemen, Printers, Pioneers, Veterans of the Mexican War, and the State have plats within the enelosure. The cemetery is owned by the city, and controlled by a super- intendent eleeted by the Board of Trustees.

The Hebrew Cemetery is under the control of the Congregation B'nai Israel, but owned by the Hebrew Benevolent Society. A chapel has been erected on the grounds which are well enclosed. The New Helvetia Cemetery was established in 1849 as a place for the interment of the dead, and was the first used for that purpose in Sac- ramento. It is situated near the Hebrew Ceme- tery, in the eastern part of the city, and is a private burial place.

The St. Joseph's Cemetery belongs to the congregation of St. Rose's Church. It was con- secrated by Archbishop Alemany in 1865, and is located on Y and Twenty-first streets.

THE CHURCHES.

St. Rose's Church (Catholic) .- August 7, 1850, Rev. Augustine P. Anderson, O. S. D., a native of New Jersey, and for several years on the missions in Ohio, arrived in this city and commenced the organization of the Catholics. A building was procured on L street, between Fifth and Sixth, which answered as a temporary chapel until the church, corner of K and Seventh streets, was built. On October 28, 1850, a deed was executed by ex-Governor Peter H. Burnett to Anthony Langlois, in trust for the use of the Roman Catholic Bishop of California, for lot 8, between J and K, and Seventh and Eighth streets, and on August 17, 1867, Governor Bur- nett deeded lot 7 in the same block to Arch- bishop Alemany. During the memorable season of cholera, Father Anderson labored unceasingly. He visited the cholera hospital several times daily, sought out the poor and afflicted in their uncomfortable tents, administered all the con- solation and relief within his power, and pro- cured medical aid for such as had no one to care for them. Overcome and exhausted by excessive labors, he contracted typhoid fever and fell a victim to his self-sacrificing charity and zeal.

CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY SACRAMENT, SACRAMENTO.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

He died November 26, 1850. At this time the frame of the new church had been raised and the roof partially completed, but during a severe gale the building was blown down and many of the timbers broken into fragments. Rev. John Ingoldsby succeeded Rev. A. P. Anderson in the pastoral charge of Sacramento, and com- pleted the church, which was burnt in the great fire of November 2, 1852. This church was 25 x 75 feet, and neatly lined and papered inside. After the fire, the frame building on the corner of Seventh street and Oak avenne was built and nsed as a place of worship, until the completion of the basement story of the brick church. Rev. John Quinn succeeded Rev. J. Ingoldsby in April, 1853. The corner-stone of the brick church was laid by Archbishop Alemany, Octo- ber 18, 1854, and service was performed in the basement, on the Christmas following. The dimensions were 60 x 100 feet; basement, nine and one-half feet in the clear, and cost $10,500. This building was completed in 1861, at a cost of nearly $50,000. The bell, weighing 2,079 pounds, arrived July 13, 1859, and is now in the cathedral tower.

During the pastorate of Rev. James S. Cotter, in 1866, who was assisted first by Rev. M. Mc- Grath and afterward (in 1868) by Rev. Patrick Scanlan, some improvements were made npon and in that building, to the extent of over $15,000. Cotter, who was a favorite among all classes, died in Sacramento, June 18, 1868. Rev. Thomas Crimmin, another priest over this charge, died also in this city, January 20, 1867, with paralysis, within a few hours after the at- tack.

Rev. James Cassin was the pastor in 1861-'62, assisted by Rev. N. Gallagher. He was snc- ceeded by Rev. Thomas Gibney, 1868-'70. From that time Rev. Patrick Scanlan was rector, as- sisted by Rev. J. McSweeny. Since July, 1881, Father Thomas Grace, from Marysville, Califor- nia, has been the pastor, assisted by Father William Walshe nntil 1886, and since that tine by Father Leonard Hanpts.

In Sacramento and vicinity there are about

5,000 Catholics. The Sunday-school, which is conducted by the Sisters of Mercy and the Christian Brothers, ununbers about 300 pupils.

In 1887 the lot occupied by the church was sold to the Federal Government for a site for the new postoffice building, the church torn down, and the congregation has since worshiped in a temporary building on Twelfth street, be- tween J and K, while the magnificent cathedral, now to be described, is in process of erection.

This most commanding structure, Eleventh and K streets, was commenced in May, 1886, very shortly after the erection of Sacramento City into an episcopal see. It had formerly been in the arch-diocese of San Francisco, and in that year it was definitely united with the former diocese of Grass Valley, of which it be- came the ecclesiastical center. The Right-Rev. Bishop Manozne (see sketch of his life else- where) proceeded to erect a church more suitable to the Capital City than the one then existing. The general form of the cathedral is that of a Latin cross, with an octagonal dome at the in- tersection of. the arms. The vestibule in the front forms a solid mass extending beyond the sides nearly as much as the transepts, and thus changing somewhat the general shape of the cross. This is further modified by the aisles, which are carried with lower roofs from the vestibule to the transepts and beyond the latter to the end of the main building. On the front is a central tower twenty-six feet square at the bottom, and extended to a height of 220 feet. This is flanked by two masses of brick work three stories in height to the main cornice of the church. Two smaller towers, sixteen feet square and 130 feet high, stand beyond and complete the front, which has a total width of 108 feet. The length of the building is 206 feet; its width across the transepts 116 feet, and across the nave and aisles 100 feet.

The interior dome is circular in plan, and lighted from the top by a skylight twenty-one feet in diameter, and filled with stained glass 112 feet above the floor. The walls are arcaded all around,

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

The general style of the church is Italian. The material is brick, covered with stone imita- tion. Total cost, about $250,000.

The laying of the corner-stone was attended by imposing ceremonies, in the presence of many thousands of people, whose local pride was aroused to the highest pitch by enthusiastic ad- dresses from citizens, both Catholic and non- Catholic. It was dedicated June 30, 1889, in a most magnificent manner, in the presence of vis- itors from all parts of the surrounding country.

There are two large Catholic schools in Sac- ramento, which may be mentioned in this con- nection.

At the " boys' school," or Sacramento Insti- tute, corner of Twelfth and K streets, are 340 pupils in attendance, under the supervision of Bro. Cianan.

The " girls' school," of St. Joseph's Academy, Eighth and G streets, is conducted as a convent by the Sisters of Mercy. Mary Vincent, Superior. Here there are 300 pupils. The building is not yet complete, but is a large, commanding struc- ture. The ground comprises an entire square.

St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church .- In order to gain a connected knowledge of the history of this church it will be necessary first to glance at that of Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, which preceded it and, in one sense, was the basis from which St. Paul's sprang. As already stated, Grace Church was the first church organization in Sacramento. The Rev. Flavel S. Mines, D. D., of San Francisco, visited Sac- ramento about the middle of August, 1849, and held the service of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, for the first time in the city, the place of service being the black- smith shop on Third street, between J and K, which, from the fact of its connection with these earliest religious meetings, has acquired a his- torical reputation.

On the following day, at the store of Eugene F. Gillespie, the parish was organized under the name of "Grace Church, Sacramento," by the election of the following officers: A. M. Winn (then mayor of the city, and who presided at

the meeting), Senior Warden; F. W. Moore, Junior Warden; and Eugene F. Gillespie, Henry E. Robinson, E. J. Barrell, P. B. Corn- wall, J. M. Mckenzie, William Prettiman and J. F. Morse, Vestrymen.

In the early part of September following, the Rev. R. F. Burnham, of New Jersey, visited the place and preached, and was called to the rec- torship of the parish. His health soon became delicate, and, after a lingering illness, he died in April, 1850. The parish was then placed un- der the charge of the Rev. Samuel P. More- house, who held occasional services until abont the middle of September, or the 1st of October, 1850.

In October, 1850, the Rev. Orlando Harri- man, of New York, assumed the care of the parish, but as he had an attack of typhoid fever, and was left for some time in a debilitated con- dition, he was able to officiate on a few occasions only. During his disability, the Rev. Mr. Pin- nell, a clergyinan of the Church of England, and the Rev. Augustus -, of New York, held services a few times. The Rev. Mr. Har- riman left in March, 1851, and returned to his former home in the East. From this on there was an interregnum lasting until the year 1854, the causes being, first, the terrible fire of 1852, in which the church records were destroyed, and later the flood that covered the city for many months.

In February, 1854, Right-Rev. Bishop Will- ianı Ingraham Kip paid his first visit to Sacra- mento and preached morning and evening in the house of worship of the Methodist Church, South.

On the 29th day of July, 1854, the parish was legally incorporated under the name of "Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, of Sacra- mento." The following day the vestry resolved to call the Rev. H. L. E. Pratt, of Perth Am- boy, New Jersey, to the rectorship of the parish, at a salary of $250 a month, who, having ac- cepted the call, arrived in Sacramento, and held services for the first time on Monday, the 19th day of November, following.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

On the 24th of September, 1854, the bishop again preached morning and evening in the same Methodist Church and administered, at the morn- ing service, the Holy Communion to twenty-one communicants, it being the first time that sacra- ment had ever been administered in the city.

There had been no church building erected at the time of Mr. Pratt's arrival, but just pre- vious thereto Hamilton Hall, on K street, be- tween Fourth and Fifth, was rented by the ves- try and conveniently furnished as a temporary place of worship. After holding service in that hiall for about twelve months, the place of wor- ship was changed to Pioncer Hall, on J street, between Front and Second. While still ocen- pying that place, in the spring of 1856, the rector resigned his rectorship, when the Rev. William H. Hill, then of Nevada City, Cali- fornia, was called to succeed him. Accepting the call, his connection with the parish began in May of that year, and continued till June 1, 1870.

During the summer of 1856, a brick edifice was built on the lot at the corner of I and Eighth streets, capable of seating 300 people, at a cost of about $15,000. The opening services in this house were held on September 7, 1856, the sermon for the occasion being preached by the Rev. Mr. Hill, Rector.

In May, 1870, the Rev. J. H. C. Bonte was called to succeed Mr. Hill, whose resignation, previously tendered, was to take effect in June. Mr. Bonte, accepting the call, began his ser- vice as rector of the parish, June 15, 1870. After the first Sunday in March, 1871, the church edifice spoken of was abandoned on ac- count of the settling of the walls, and on April 18, 1871, the corner-stone of the present build- ing was laid by Bishop Kip.

At the timeof building the new Grace Church edifice, in 1871, which cost over $26,000, ex- clusive of the lot, the property was mortgaged to the Odd Fellows' Bank of Savings for a loan of $10,000. The interest on that loan was regu- larly paid for several years, and $1,000 of the principal was discharged. But, in 1874, owing to the removal from the city of some of the

wealthiest parishioners, the virtual closure of the church for four or five months, on account of the absence of the rector, and the gradual lessening or falling off of the congregation, and the revenues of the church, without any corre- sponding lessening of the expenses, the debt began to increase, and had so far accumulated by 1877 that the parish then became bankrupt, the mortgage was foreclosed, every species of its property was disposed of to satisfy creditors with- ont fully accomplishing the purpose, and thus its name and organization became extinct.

Seeing that such was the case, by means of a number of prominent laymen enough money was collected to buy in the church from the bank. As a result of this the new parish of St. Paul's was organized March 23, 1877, and May 20, following, the Rev. E. H. Ward, then of Marysville, was called to take charge. On Jan- nary 1, 1882, Rev. Carroll M. Davis succeeded him, and in turn was followed, Jannary 15, 1888, by the Rev. John F. von Herrlich, the present popular and successful young pastor. Under his charge the church has renewed its life and vigor, the membership has increased, and the church has been almost rebuilt. Already $1,300 has been spent on improving and completely refitting and refinishing the basement, and the general painting in progress at time of writing will cost $900. The church is to be frescoed, at a cost of probably $1,500, from designs exe- ented by the celebrated Moretti, of San Fran- cisco, and four stained-glass windows will be put in. One, the chancel window, is being made for Mrs. Charles Crocker, of San Francisco, as a memorial to Mrs. Colonel Fred. Crocker, and the large side window is being made for Colonel Creed Haymond. These will cost over $1,000 apiece, and are being made by the Pacific Art Glass Works of San Francisco, and will perhaps exceed any stained-glass windows now in Cali- fornia in beauty of design and artistic taste. It is the intention of the present rector to have all the windows of the church of this character, having the promise of assistance in this direc- tion from wealthy friends.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

The present Vestrymen are: A. A. Van Voor- hies, Senior Warden; J. J. Brown, Junior War- den; George W. Railton, Treasurer; F. A. Crambbitt, Secretary; J. H. Parkinson, Fred. Cox, Harry W. Carroll, R. O. Cravens, A. A. Redington, C. C. Bonte, George A. Blanchard.

First Church of Christ in Sacramento (Con- gregational) .- The first preliminary meeting was held September 16, 1849, in the original school- house, which stood near the northwest corner of Third and I streets. Rev. J. A. Benton was Chairman, and Rev. S. P. Blakeslee, Secretary. A number present being Presbyterians, the question of organizing a Presbyterian Church was raised, when the chairman announced that as he was not a Presbyterian he had no authority to organize such a church. They therefore organized the " First Church of Christ in Sacra- mento," purposely omitting the word "Con- gregational." Thus absorbing about all the Presbyterian element there was in the city, the latter did not organize separately until 1856. October 1, 1849, a confession of faith and a covenant were adopted, and temporary officers elected. Early the following year a inannal was adopted and permanent officers chosen. May 5, that year, an " ecclesiastical society " was formed in connection with the church, when they be- came able to build a church on Sixth street, between J and K. Here, on the 6th of October following, a frame church building was dedi- cated. The laying of the corner-stone, Septem- ber 4, was said to be the first public ceremony of the kind in this State. But the great fire of July 13, 1854, swept the devoted structure away. The lot was sold for $1,300, and the present brick building was erected, directly across the street. The church and society were so popular that public sympathy aided them materially. Within the last few years about $3,000 have been expended upon the building in repairs. The church property is now esti- mated at about $20,000.

It is remarkable that only three pastors have served this church from the organization until the present time, in continuous service-Revs.

J. A. Benton, I. E. Dwinell and W. C. Mer- rill-the latter since 1884.

The first officers of the church were: Rev. J. A. Benton, Pastor; James Gallup, J. W. Hinks, John McKee, Z. W. Davidson, A. C. Sweetser, Deacons; W. C. Waters, Treasurer; and J. C. Zabriskie, Clerk. The present officers are: A. C. Sweetser, Moderator and Treasurer; E. B. Hussey, Secretary; Trustees-Sparrow Smith, President, Llewellyn Williams, Frank Miller, S. E. Carrington, E. B. Hussey, J. M. Milliken and William Geary. Mr. Carrington is also Superintendent of the Sunday-school, which numbers about 300 pupils. It was organized August 26, 1849, and thus was the first Sunday- school established in Sacramento. Charles Cooley superintends the Mission school, and Mrs. S. E. Carrington the Chinese school. The church membership at present is 275.

First Baptist Church .- The first Baptist minister in Sacramento was Rev. J. Cook, who kept a boarding-house on I street and preached occasionally in the grove, in 1849. September 9, 1850, Rev. O. C. Wheeler, of San Francisco, came and organized the First Baptist Church, assisted probably by Rev. Cook, at the resi- dence of Judge E. J. Willis, on H street, be- tween Sixth and Seventh. Judge Willis and John A. Wadsworth were elected Deacons; Madison Walthall, Treasurer; Leonard Loomis, Clerk; and Rev. J. W. Capen, Pastor. On the following day, the first public services were held in the court-honse, on I street, between Fourth and Fifth. In the spring of 1851 a house of worship, costing $4,000, was erected on the cor- ner of L and Seventh streets. This building perished in the flames of November 2, 1852. In 1854, what was said to be the finest church building in the State was erected on Fourth street, between K and L, on the west side. The main building was 35 x 85 feet in area, with a vestry in the rear 15 x 32 feet. It was a mag- nificent structure for the price, $8,000. At the time of the great fire of July 13, 1854, it was only by the greatest exertions of the citizens that it was saved from destruction. In 1877 this

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

structure was sold for the sum of $3,000, and was subsequently removed to the corner of Fourteenth and K streets, where it is now used by the United Brethren in Christ as a place of worship.

The present beautiful frame building, situated on Ninth street, between L and M, was erected in 1877-'78, at a total cost, including that of the lot, of $18,230.48. The opening services were held on March 10, 1878, the corner-stone having been laid with Masonic ceremonies, August 20, 1877.

September 2, 1855, Ah Mooey, a Chinaman, was admitted into the church and afterward licensed to preach. This was during the min- istry of Rev. J. L. Shuck, who was an accredited missionary to the Chinese here, and Ah Mooey's baptism was supposed to be the first of that nationality in the State. Mr. Shuck died in 1863, in South Carolina.

The following is a list of the successive Pas- tors to date: J. W. Capen, 1850-'51; B. Brierly, 1851; O. C. Wheeler, 1852-'54; J. L. Shuck, 1854-60; Frederick Charlton, 1860-'72; Harry Taylor, 1872-'76; H. B. Foskett, 1876-'78; A. L. Cole, 1878-'79; A. J. Frost, D. D .; J. E. Hopper, 1887 to the present. The present Dea- eons are: F. H. L. Weber, Thomas Sayles, S. L. W. Conner, C. B. Conley, John Minford; Clerk, John Kidder; Sunday-school Superintendent, Dr. C. Mealand. At present there are 250 members, forty-nine of whom were received into the church by Rev. Ilopper.

Culvary Baptist Church, a Mission Sunday- school, was organized October 17, 1869, at the residence of R. H. Withington, by Rev. Fred- erick Charlton, Pastor of the First Church. This school was held at a school-honse until the necessity arose of having a building of their own, which they soon erected on I street, be- tween Twelfth and Thirteenth, 40x 160 feet, at a cost of $1,000. Another building, 38x65 feet, costing $2,000, was erected in 1870. This led to organizing a new church for that part of the city, of members from the parent church. The first Deacons were: W. R. Strong, R. W.

Megowan, A. J. Barnes, R. H. Withington; Clerk, A. A. Byron.

The present officers are: Deacons-W. R. Strong, R. H. Withington and G. O. Hayford; President of the Board of Trustees, P. E. Platt; Sunday-school Superintendent, John Boden. Present membership, 230.

The Pastors have been: Revs. J. P. Ludlow, R. F. Parshall, H. W. Read, * S. B. * * Gregory, J. Q. A. Henry, 1881-'84; S. A. Mc- Kay, 1884; A. C. Herrick, from Missouri, De- cember, 1884, to the present.

The Siloam Baptist Church (colored) existed from 1856 to a recent period.

Westminster Presbyterian Church .- The Presbyterians were the first to introduce the gospel into Sacramento. Revs. J. W. Douglas, A. Williams and S. Woodbridge held religious meetings here as early as March and April, 1849; but, as before stated, the first Presby- terian Church in this city was not organized until 1856, the members having previously affiliated with the Congregationalists. This . organization was called the "First Presbyterian Church of Sacramento " In an effort to raise funds for the purchase of Philharmonic Hall for a place of worship (1860-'63) the church failed, and disbanded; but the Sunday-school was kept alive, under the zealous supervision of W. S. Hunt. January 21, 1866, the present church was organized, under the name given at the head of this paragraph. This church has grown until it has attained a membership of 230, and they have a large Sunday-school, a Chinese mission school, a young people's society, mite society, etc.

The present Elders are: A. Aitken, James II. Johnson and Thomas S. Knight. Deacons-1. Aitken, James Neilson and James II. Johnson. Charles M. Campbell, Sunday-school Superin- tendent.

The Pastors have been: Revs. William E. Baker, P. V. Veeder, A. Fairbairn, N. B. Clink, Joshua Phelps, J. S. MeDonald, 1866-'69; Frank L. Nash, 1869-'72; Charles Schelling, 1872-'74; James S. McCay, 1874-'75; Henry

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

H. Rice, 1875-'86; J. E. Wheeler, D. D., from St. Louis, Missouri, 1886 to the present. The first five served during the first organization.

The present honse of worship, on the north- east corner of Sixth and L streets, was built in 1866, at a cost of abont $18,000. It was dedi- cated March 24, 1867, Rev. Mr. Wadsworth, of San Francisco, preaching the sermon.

Fourteenth Street Presbyterian Church. The Sunday-school organized in July, 1868, by the Westminster Church, and maintained by it, under the name of the "Bethel Mission School," on Fourteenth street, between O and P, grew into a church in March, 1882, which now num- bers forty-eight members, and is self-sustaining and out of debt. It was instituted by Rev. Dr. Thomas Fraser, of San Francisco, assisted by Revs. H. H. Rice and Nelson Slater, and An- drew Aitken, of Sacramento. Rev. A. H. Croco was pastor until July, 1883, when he re- signed, and Rev. George R. Bird, the present pastor, was called. The latter was serving the . Hamilton Square Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, and before that had charge of the First Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washing- ton Territory. His residence is at 1609 P street.

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Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 916

Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 916