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 32

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 32

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The waters had scarcely begun to recede from the city, when surveyors were employed to sur- vey lines for and make a location of the pro- posed levee. On the morning of January 29, 1850, a meeting of citizens was held in the office of Priest, Lee & Co., for the purpose of providing means to protect the city from floods. Recommendations were made to the city coun-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

cil, which, through committees, arranged for building a levee around the city. For this pur- pose they proposed a tax of $250,000, which was accepted by a popular vote of 543 against 15. Accordingly, a levee was built that year, but not sufficient to withstand extraordinary floods; for the very next freshet, that of 1852, broke over it in several places and inundated the city.

Under the supervision of the city council, a levee was then built on I street to Sixth, and thence to the " Ridge." This again was found inadequate, as the subsequent winter, 1852-'53,

proved. The next year, at an expense of $50,- 000, borrowed on scrip, the levee was widened and made higher, so that it extended up twenty- two and a half feet above low-water mark.

With occasional repairs of breaches and strengthening weak places, this levee has since stood, while that portion bounding the east and south sides of the city has been superseded by the river levee generally, built by the respective reclamation districts. The Y street levee, a comparatively new one, is a public drive-way for inost of its extent.

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

207

THE TOWNSHIPS.

CHAPTER XXI.

OR the school statistics of each, see table at the close of Chapter XIV.

ALABAMA.

This township was established October 20, 1856, and includes township 6 north, ranges 7 and 8 east, and those portions of township 5 north, ranges 7 and 8 east, which lie north of Dry Creek, and also a strip from the west side of townships 5 and 6 north, range 9 east, nearly a mile wide, in Sacramento County. It is bounded on the north by Lee and Cosumnes townships, on the west by Dry Creek Township, and on the south and east by the county line, and was originally a part of Cosumnes Town- ship.

The early settlers in this township were: John Sontherland, who came into the township in 1850, and was largely engaged in stock-raising. Roberts & Chaplin settled on a ranch near the Southerland place in 1850. They were the first men who raised barley in this township, and were engaged principally in raising grain. Joshua and William Heweld, on an adjoining ranch to Roberts & Chaplin's, raised barley and hay. Captain Ed. Thompson, an old sea cap- tain, settled with his family in the township in 1851, and sold a year or two later to the Good- win Brothers. Soon after selling his farm, he had a dispute with a laborer, and afterward called him out of the house and shot him, kill-

ing him instantly. Thompson left the country and was never found. Dr. George Elliott set- tled, some time in 1851, at the crossing of the Stockton Road and Dry Creek. He kept the stage station and hotel, and also owned the stage line, which he leased to a man named Kelley. This place was known as Elliott's Station. A postoffice was established here in 1852, Elliott being appointed postmaster. When he sold out, in 1858, Mr. Mitchell was appointed, who served until the stage route was changed and office dis- continued. Martin Scott purchased Elliott's establishment and moved the hotel across the creek into San Joaquin County. James M. Short settled in the township in July, 1852. W. Lords moved into the township in the spring of 1852, and bought a ranch on the Laguna. S. B. Lemon, a bachelor, settled on the Laguna, near the cen- ter of the township, in 1853. In 1854 he opened a hotel and bar, which he sold in 1858 to James Crocker, who, in 1859, sold to Thomas H. Fowler. Mr. Fowler closed the hotel in 1861-'62. He did not keep a bar. E. H. Pres- bnry settled on Dry Creek in 1854. Goodman Brothers, of whom there were three, farmed quite extensively for about six years. L. C. Goodman died about 1860, and the other broth- ers sold out and returned to Texas. William Mitchell, a large sheep-raiser, Richard White, William H. Young, William Callon, John Bowen and Joshna Bailey are among the settlers

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

prior to 1855. In 1858 Thomas Steele settled at the place now known as Clay Station, on the Ione and Amador Branch of the Central Pacific Railroad. A postoffice was established at this point July 26, 1878, Mr. Steele being appointed postmaster. He also started a store in October, 1878, and a blacksmith shop in 1879.

The soil of the bottom lands is a black loam; the upland is gravelly, with some adobe, and considerable red loam and sandy soil. There is very little timber in the township, a few scat- tering oaks, a small patch of black oak in a ra- vine near Dry Creek, and willow, oak, with an occasional ash tree, on the Dry Creek bottom. The mining debris seriously affected the value of the bottom lands.

The chief industry in this township was stock-raising until the passage of the no-fence law, since which time the farmers have found it more profitable to cultivate the land than to use it for grazing. In the spring of 1853 several hierds of cattle were brought into the township by Thompson & James. They continued in the business nntil 1860. Mr. Hicks, of Hicksville, also had a large number of cattle here. In 1858 sheep-raising began in the township, and grad- ually increased until it became the largest in- terest in the township. Until 1877 barley and hay were the principal crops, it having been supposed that wheat could not be grown with success; this has been proved to be a mistake, and it now forms one of the principal crops. Very little fruit is raised in the township, the prevailing high winds and the necessity for con- stant irrigation making it unprofitable. The Central Pacific Railroad formerly owned large tracts of land in this township, which they have sold.

The first settlers established themselves on the water courses, which are the Laguna, dry in the snmmer, and Dry Creek, on the south boundary of the township, which also has little or no water in it during the summer months. During the rainy season the Laguna rises and falls very rapidly, in some places spreading nearly half a inile wide. In 1862 the waters from the Amna-

dor hills caused considerable damage, sweeping away fences and stock, but compared with the major portion of the county, Alabama Town- ship suffered very little from the great flood. During the rainy season the Laguna furnishes ample water for stock; in the summer the farm- ers depend on wells, which furnish water at depths-varying from twenty-five to eighty feet, according to the locality.

The Sacramento and Stockton stages ran through this township, station and hotel on Dry Creek kept by Dr. George Elliott. The For- rest Line Stage Company began running in June, 1869, and was taken off in 1876. George Brusie kept station and public house. This line ran from Galt to Mokelumne Hill, in Calaveras Connty.

In addition to the two hotels mentioned above there were two others; one opened in 1854, by S. B. Lemon, near center of township; closed in 1861 or 1862. The other opened in 1863, by Calvin Bates, on what was then known as the Michigan Bar or Laguna road; closed in 1866.

The first school held in the township was in 1857, a private school, kept by George H. String- field, and only lasted one terin. In 1858 the first public school building was erected by pri- vate parties; the first teacher was Miss Mary McConnell.

AMERICAN.

The first division of Sacramento County into minor political divisions was made by the Court of Sessions, on the 24th day of February, 1851. There were eight townships established, known as Sacramento, Sutter, San Joaquin, Cosumnes, Brighton, Center, Mississippi and Natoma. On July 30, of the same year, the Court of Sessions cut off from Sacramento Township all that por- tion north of the American River, creating the latter into an independent division, by the name of American Township. The north and west boundaries were the county line and the Sacra- mento River, south the American River, and east the roads to Auburn, as far as its junction with the road to Muldrow's Ferry, to Nevada City, and the latter road to the county line. On

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

the 20th day of October, 1856, the Board of Supervisors of Sacramento County established the boundary line of the different townships in the connty as they now exist. The eastern line of American Township was established on the center line of townships 9 and 10 north, range 5 east of Mount Diablo base and meridian, from the intersection of said line with the north line of the county to the American River. In 1874 the boundaries of Sacramento City were changed as follows: Commencing on the line of Thirty- first street at the intersection of the extension of A street; thence westerly along the north line of A street to the east line of Twenty- second street; thence along the east line of Twenty-second street to the north line of B street north; thence westerly along the north line of B street north, to the center of the bed or channel of the American River. The land ihrown out of Sacramento Township by this act was attached to American Township. This town- ship is nearly all swamp and overflowed land, comprised in Old Swamp Land District, No. 1. The Central Pacific Railroad touches the south- east corner of the township, with a station at Arcade, nearly on the line between American and Center townships.

The Six-Mile House was on the old road to Marysville, about six miles from Sacramento. It was built by Mr. Holmes in 1852 or 1853. He mortgaged his place, including.160 acres of land, to Mr. Hughes, who was obliged to fore- close the mortgage in 1857. At this sale it was bought by H. C. Harvey. It had not been used as a hotel for some time previous to this. Har- vey, who was at this time interested in a stage line from Sacramento to Marysville, kept it as a hotel and farm-house. The Star House was on the Nevada road, on the Morris grant. It was the favorite stopping place for teamsters. It was owned by a Mr. Pitcher in 1857. The Twelve-Mile House was a stage station on the Nevada road. The Arcade House was abont two miles from the bridge.

The land in the township is very rich, being for the most part deposit from the rivers. Dry

Creek runs through the township. This has been filled with mining sediment, so that now it has no channel, but spreads all over the low grounds. There is no reclaimed land in the township, and a large portion of it is exposed to inundation each year of high water. When the land is safe it is very valuable, being held as high as $100 per acre, and renting at $15 to $25 per acre. The indications in this township are that at some previous time the water has been much higher than at any time since the American occupation. The flood of 1862 nearly ruined all of the farmns that were overflowed, carry- ing away barns, houses, tools, and covering all up with sediment from two inches to two feet deep.

On Thursday, March 9, 1854, the community of Sacramento was more than ordinarily excited by reason of a report that a duel was on the tapis, and would take place on the afternoon of that day. Such an affair did really occur, and under the following circumstances: Philip W. Thomas, District Attorney of Placer County, had made some remarks concerning and deroga- tory to the character of J. P. Rntland, a clerk in the office of Dr. S. A. McMeans, State Treas- urer, which led Rutland to send Thomas a chal- lenge, which the latter refused to accept, alleging as a reason that he did not recognize the chal- lenger as a gentleman. Dr. Dickson, one of the physicians of the State Marine Hospital at San Francisco, appropriating the insult to himself, repeated the challenge in his own proper name and person, which was accepted by Thomas, and a hostile meeting was appointed for 4 P. M. on the day above mentioned. The parties left the city at 2:30 P. M., and had gained a point two miles beyond Lisle's bridge, on their way to Oak Grove, when they found themselves pursued by a deputy sheriff of the county. When that officer was discovered, it was arranged between the friends of the parties that a mock duel should be fought to mislead suspicion. Ac- cordingly, H. O. Ryerson and Hamilton Bowie took positions and exchanged shots. Ryerson was immediately arrested by the deputy sheriff

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

and brought back to the city, where he gave bonds for his appearance.

The real combatants then proceeded on their way to the appointed place of meeting, which was in American Township, not more than 200 yards from the residence of H. M. La Rue. Hamilton Bowie acted as the second of Thomas, and Judge McGowan officiated in like character for Dickson, who had the choice of the ground and the word. The distance originally fixed npon was teu paces, but by subsequent arrange- ments it was increased to fifteen, in the hope of saving the lives of the parties. The weapons used were dueling pistols. At the word given by McGowan both fired promptly, but Thomas an instant ahead. Dickson's hesitation for an instant, in all probability, saved Thomas' life, as his opponent's ball was in line, and went into the ground at the feet of his adversary. At the first fire Dickson fell, and was then brought to the city. The bearing of Thomas was that of one cool and collected, while his adversary be- trayed some excitement. The surgeons, Drs. Ogden and Williams, expressedthe opinion that the patient would die, having found that the ball had entered two inches anterior to the angle of the fifth rib of the right side, passing forward of the spinal column, and resting immediately under the skin and over the angle of the sixth rib on the left side. That night, at twenty minutes past midnight, Dr. Dickson died, being perfectly conscious of his approaching end. He was a native of Tennessee, thirty years of age, and had been in California about four years. On the 10th of March, the day after the duel, the funeral of the unfortunate and lamented Dr. Dickson took place, at 4 o'clock, from Jones's Hotel (now Tremont), on'J street, between Front and Second. A very large number of persons attended, including members of the Masonic fraternity, members of the Senate and Assembly, State officers, and many personal friends. A band of music headed the procession; the pall- bearers were J. W. Coffroth, Charles A. Leake, Charles S. Fairfax, B. F. Myers, A. C. Bradford

and Captain Nye; and the body was laid to rest in the City Cemetery.

The remaining participants were indicted. James H. Hardy was then district attorney, but through the exertions of Colonel P. L. Edwards, connsel for the defendants, the indictments were quashed. After the duel Thomas was twice re- elected district attorney of Placer, and in 1860 he was elected to the State Senate, which posi- tion he resigned before the expiration of his term. He made an unfortunate marriage, be- came dissipated, and died in Auburn about 1874 or 1875.

BRIGHTON.

This township as originally established by the Court of Sessions, February 24, 1851, was de- scribed as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of Sacramento Township; thence along the eastern line of said township to the county line of Sutter County; thence easterly along said line three miles; thence in a southeasterly direction to Murray's Ranch and including the same; thence in the same direction to the in- tersection of San Joaquin, Sutter and Cosumnes townships; thence along the northern line of Sutter Township to beginning. This includes a part of what is now known as Center Town- ship. The Board of Supervisors, October 20, 1856, established the lines of the township as follows: Beginning at the northeastern corner of Sutter Township; thence south along the eastern boundary of said Sutter Township, be- ing also the eenter line of township 8 north, range 5 east, of Mt. Diablo base and meridian, to the township line between townships 7 and 8 north, range 5 east; thence east along said township line to the range line between ranges 6 and 7 east; thence north along said range line to the American River; thence southerly and westerly along said American River to the point of beginning.

The town of Brighton was started in 1849 by a party of Sacramento speculators; the town plat was made, lots staked off, a race track, and the Pavilion Hotel, built by the originators of

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

the enterprise. It was located on the south bank of the American River, nearly one mile north of the location of the present point called Brighton. During the years 1849-'51 the vil- lage was a lively place. In 1851 the Pavilion Hotel burned down; another hotel was started, known as the Five-Mile House, John and George Berry being proprietors; this house was closed in 1856. There were two stores and several dwellings in the town. In 1852 the town was abandoned, on account of land trouble, defective title, etc.

The present Brighton is located on sections 10 and 15, township 8 north, of range, 5 east, at the crossing of the Sacramento Valley and the Central Pacific railroads. The "town " was commenced in 1861, but now there is not even a postoffice directly at that point. T. C. Perkins kept the first store, which opened in 1861 and closed in 1866; and was also the first postinas- ter, a postoffice having been established here in 1861.

The Washington Hotel, Mr. Pugh, proprie- tor, was built in 1874. S. H. Pugh started the first blacksmith shop in the village the same year.

The Brighton Distillery Company, originally owned by Marens Lowell, was established in 1875. It was subsequently purchased by the above-named company. There are probably twenty shareholders. R. S. Lockett is Presi- dent and T. C. Perkins, Secretary and Treas nrer. They manufacture brandy principally, turning out about 10,000 gallons annually. They expect to increase this amount next year. The grapes are purchased mostly from the farm- ers of Brighton Township, though some are bought from the vicinity of Elk Grove.

Hoboken, or Norristown, was laid off by Samuel Norris, in February, 1850. (See chapter on the founding of Sacramento.) It was situ- ated on the south bank of the American River, about five miles from Sacramento, and the ad- vertisement in the Placer Times of that date states that the location cannot be surpassed for health or business. A map of the town was

left in the office of H. A. Schoolcraft, of Sacra- mento.

There seems to have been very little done to or heard of the town from this time until the high water of 1852, when, all teaming commu- nication having been practically ent off between Sacramento and the mining districts, the mer- chants of Sacramento were forced to tempo- rarily establish branches of their business on high ground so that their customers could get to them. This high ground was found at or near the site of Norristown, which was re-christened Hobo- ken. Previous to this time there was only one house there a roadside inn, known as the Four- Mile House. On Jannary 10, 1853, there were from thirty to fifty houses and tents of business, with a population of several hundred, including among their number nearly all the prominent business houses of Sacramento. January 15, 1853, the first election was held for city officers. The candidates for mayor were, Judge E. L. Brown, J. B. Starr and Samuel Norris.

The newspaper reports of the election state that the candidates, especially for mayor, were early in the field, and "the sovereigns were treated to the best of cheer." The vote for Mayor was: E. L. Brown, 613; Samuel Norris, 546; J. B. Starr, 598. Mayor Brown made an inaugural address to the citizens of Hoboken through the medinm of " the very common council," in which several suggestions were made as to necessary improvements, and prom- ising to execute the law faithfully " provided I am paid for it." On the subsidence of the waters, later on in the season, Hoboken was de- serted, and has since been used as farm land.

Rontier postoffice is situated on the Placer- ville Railroad, a trifle more than ten miles dis- tant from the Sacramento postoffice. The name was given to it in honor of Joseph Routier, who, with his family, settled on the place as the agent of Captain Folsom, in June, 1853, occu- pying the adobe house built by Leidesdorff in 1846. On the death of Captain Folsom, in 1855, the executors of his estate retained Mr. Routier, and when the land was sold, in 1863, he pur.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

chased 100 acres, and has planted it in fruit- trees and grape-vines. After spending much time and money experimenting on wine, Mr. Routier succeeded in making a wine, which, among connoiseurs, is considered superior.

The first railroad station in this vicinity was at the American Fork House, or Patterson's. A few years later the station was moved nearer town, and called Mayhew Station, from the agent's name. In 1866 Mr. Routier's fruit business had appreciated so much that the rail- road company built a platform for him. In 1871 Patterson lost his new house by fire, and was induced to rebuild and make a station at Routier's, which proved to be a good invest- ment. In 1872 Mrs. Mayhew, then postmis- tress at Mayhew, resigned, and, on petition of the farmers in that vicinity, the office was re- moved to Routier's, and called Routier postof- fice; A. D. Patterson was appointed postmaster.

Walsh Station is situated on the Jackson road, near the center of the township. The postoffice was established in 1873, J. Walsh, Postmaster; he also opened a store the same year. A black- smith shop and the Enterprise Grange Hall were also started the same year; the latter was built by the business association, composed of mein- bers of the Enterprise Grange.

Of the earlest settlers we have the following reminiscences:

A. D. Patterson came to the township in 1849, and started what is known as the Ameri- can Fork or Ten-Mile House, on the Coloma road, where he remained until 1871. N. J. Stevens settled near Patterson's place April 1, 1850, with his family. He died about 1873. Charles Malby settled here in 1849, and kept the Nine-Mile Honse on the Coloma road, next to Stevens's. James T. Day came in 1849. James Bowles settled in the township with his family in 1849 on the place adjoining Stevens's on the west. He died many years ago. Israel Luce came in the spring of 1850; was in partner- ship with Charles Malby. Mr. Luce now lives in Sacramento. James Allen settled with his family on the American River. He was driven

out during the Squatter riots, an adopted son of his being killed during the riot. Allen after- ward returned and took possession of the land. sold out and moved away about 1861. W. B. Whitesides settled in the township in January, 1850, joining ranches with Kippand Petit. He died in 1864. A. B. Hawkins settled here in 1849; moved away many years ago. Mr. Crytes came in 1850, and moved away. A. Kipp and Charles Petit settled on the Allen place in 1851. When Allen returned, they gave possession. John Rooney settled in 1851, in an old adobe house, formerly a sheep ranch. He is now living at Whitesides' place. Dr. Kel- logg settled in 1849 on the place north of Bowles's; sold ont in 1853 to James Riley, who died in 1869. W. S. Manlove settled in 1849 about one mile and one-half south of Day's ranch, where he still resides. Mr. Rush opened the Fourteen-Mile Honse on the Coloma road in 1850. It was quite a large building. In 1854 he sold to John Taylor, who has since carried on farming on the place.

The American Fork House was established in December, 1849, by A. D. Patterson. The house was constructed principally of cloth, and was sitnated about ten miles from the city. The house soon became popular, and so flourished that in 1850 a wooden house was built, costing, it is said, $40,000, owing to its being the cholera season. On Christmas eve, 1850, a ball was given at the house, the receipts amonnting to $1,500, $250 of which Patterson paid to Lo- thian's Band for furnishing the inusic.

In 1853 the celebrated " Plank Road," built on the continuation of J street, reached Patter- son's Hotel, which was its eastern terminus, and the honse immediately became a great place of resort. Patterson sold the property in 1872.

The Magnolia, sometimes known as the Five- Mile House, was originally built in 1849. It was situated on the old Placerville and Jackson stage road, and was a place of considerable note in its day. The building was burned twice in 1863, and was rebuilt the second time. The Twelve-Mile House was built in 1853 by a man

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named Cadwell, and called at that time the An- telope Raneh.

The Fourteen-Mile House, situated on the Coloma road, was built in 1850, and sold to John Taylor in 1854.

Enterprise Grange, No. 129, was organized December 12, 1873. The charter members were: J. M. Bell, Master; A. A. Nordyke, Over- seer; S. W. Haynie, Steward; George Wilson, Lecturer; H. A. Parker, Treasurer; M. Toomy, Secretary; R. S. Jamison, Assistant Steward; J. Campbell, Gate Keeper; G. I. Martin, Chap- lain; J. R. Gilliland, J. D. Bennett, R. J. Brown, A. M. Gunter, T. L. Williams, J. D. Morrison, Nelson Shaver, Al. Root, Ada M. Shaver, May M. Gunter, Mrs. Mary G. Nordyke, Ceres; Effunia Bell, Margaret A. Haynie, Lady Assist- ant Steward; Sarah Martin, Flora; Mrs. M. Parker, Pomona; and Mary M. Brown.

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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