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 34
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Henry D. Cantrell came to the township in 1853, Thomas McConnell in 1855, Thomas Lorin in 1851, George Need in 1852, Peter Planet in 1852, H. Putney in 1853, Peter Williamson in 1852, and David Davis in 1853.
P. Green and wife came to the township in 1852 or 1853; Green died about 1859, and his wife returned to the East. Peter Riley came to the township in 1852; he died about three years ago; his children now live in the town- ship. Samuel Wriston settled in the township in 1852. Ephraim Ray came to California in 1852; settled in Dry Creek Township in 1854, where he now resides, engaged in farming.
The first death that occurred among the early settlers in the township was that of Mrs. Jack- son, who with her husband had been visiting at Dr. Russell's house. This death occurred Feb- ruary 14, 1851. The funeral took place next day. There was only one white woman present at the funeral, Mrs. McIntyre; most of the people who attended were Indians. In the procession Mr. Jackson followed the coffin, lead- ing by the hand a little son, who had a white handkerchief tied round his head; he was fol- lowed by his three other children, his wife's brother, a cousin, Mrs. McIntyre and two In- dian women, wives of white men, a few white men and the rest a number of Indians of both sexes. At the grave the Indians squatted around on the ground in different places, making a strange picture, that can be better imagined than described.
In 1853 a Fourth of July celebration was held at McIntyre's place. Men were dispatched to notify the settlers through the county, and people came from all parts of the county, and also from San Joaquin County. The celebra- tion was a success and passed off in good style. A flag was made for the occasion by four of the ladies; it was composed of such material as they could obtain, the stripes being manufact- ured from red window curtains, and the center of a blue shawl formed the Union Jack. A Mr. Jewell read the Declaration of Independence, several national songs were sung by the choir,
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.
composed of Dr. Russell, Hiram Chase, Mrs. Green, Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Slater. The dinner was furnished by the people, bringing their food in basket-picnic style. This was probably the first Fourth of July celebration held in the county outside of Sacramento.
In the early history of the township, stock- raising and dairying were the principal, if not the only, industries; these interests gradually decreased until at present there is very little doing with either. The township is all agri. cultural, there being no mineral land. The principal grain grown is wheat; the amount of acreage sown each year is increasing very rapidly.
GALT .- The town of Galt was laid out by Obed Harvey and the Western Pacific Railroad Company, in 1869, on the southeast quarter of section 27, on what is known as the Troy place.
The Galt House was opened in 1869, George Bubaker, proprietor. The building was an old one, built by S. Fugitt, and used as a hotel, and was moved to Galt when the place was started. This house changed hands several times, until it was discontinued, in 1872.
The principal hotel of Galt is the Devins' Exchange, kept by Prouty & Devins. It is a large, substantial frame building, situated on Front street, opposite the depot, and of easy ac- cess for the traveling public. The commercial trade of Galt is of considerable importance, situated as it is in the heart of a large and pro- lific grain-growing country, and on the line of the Central Pacific overland route running north and south, which makes it one of the principal local points on the line of the railroad. Here the weary traveler and pleasure-seeker can find a comfortable place to stop, the Exchange being run in a first-class manner and under the personal care of the proprietors, who are social and accommodating gentlemen. The house is supplied with good sleeping apartments, which are kept cosy and clean, while the table is sup- plied with the best that the market affords, much of this material being shipped here from the larger cities. A good bar is run in connection
with the honse, while quiet and well regu- lated order prevails everywhere.
The history of the hotel is quite a varied one, it being first built at Old Liberty, by C. C. Fngitt, in 1859, the contractor and builder be- ing J. H. Sawyer, now a prominent resident of Galt. After the town of Liberty went down and Galt was established, in the spring of 1869, the building was moved to its present location. It was there owned by Calvin Briggs, and was leased to John L. Fifield for abont one year, after which other parties ran it for awhile. Among them was Thomas Briggs, the son of Calvin Briggs, who carried on the business and finally sold the property to C. W. Ilarvey. This latter gentleman was proprietor of the house for eleven years and did much toward improving it, he, in turn, selling out to Patton & Prouty.
Patton's interest was then sold to William B. Devin, and the firmn became Prouty & Devin, as it now stands.
SIMON PROUTY, a prominent business man of Galt, was born in Knox County, Ohio, Septem- ber 9, 1834. His father, Anson Prouty, was a native of New York State, and his wife, nee Elizabeth Helms, was a native of Pennsylvania. The family resided in Ohio until the fall of 1846, when they moved to Jasper County, Iowa, and lived there until the spring of 1852. An- son Prouty and his son Simon received a sub- contract for carrying the first United States mail from Iowa City to Fort Des Moines, a distance of 120 miles, which they did on horseback, taking just a week to make a round trip. In the spring of 1852 the family started overland with ox teams for California. May 9 they crossed the Missouri River where Omaha now is. On reaching the Sweetwater, June 19, 1852, Mr. Prouty was attacked with Asiatic cholera, which was so bad that year in certain districts. He was driving a team up to about 10 o'clock in the morning, and at 4 he was a corpse! His death occurred near Independence Rock, at the base of the Rocky Mountains. The next day after he was buried five in one train ahead of them died of that scourge; many also
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.
died in trains coming after; but in this train the death just mentioned was the only one. The family then consisted of the mother, two daughters and five sons, who landed in Volcano, August 24, 1852, and for a year afterward were located near Ione, Amador County. Mrs. Prouty remained there until her death, May 6, 1878, at the age of seventy nine years. Mr. Simon Prouty, whose name heads this article, has remained there and been actively identified with the progress of that section. All the family had possession of land upon a Spanish grant, and afterward were compelled to leave it, not know- ing it was upon a grant. The men of the grant had the State order troops there to drive off the settlers. The soldiers, 300 in number, came and surrounded the place, and politely began ejecting them and their household goods. This of course made the settlers very angry, as they had bought the land and paid money for it, be- lieving that the purchase was a bona fide one; and then to be turned out and driven off at the point of the musket was something that many of them resisted. Mr. Pronty has been a suc- cessful business man, having always exhibited good judgment in his financial dealings. He has speculated considerably in land and cattle; also has followed agricultural pursuits most of the time. For about fifteen years he was a resident of San Joaquin County, and came to Galt in June, 1884, when he purchased the hotel which he now owns. Besides this prop- erty he has abont 300 acres in Amador, San Joaquin and Sacramento counties. He was married in 1852 to Lonisa J. Newton, a native of Indiana, who died October 16, 1888, at the age of fifty-three years. She was the mother of four children: Hattie, wife of A. Whitaker, of Galt; William H., residing at Truckee; Josie, wife of George Connor, of Tulare City; and E. M. is on the ranch in San Joaquin County. Mr. Prouty is a member of the Masonic order at Ione, and of the Golden Shore and the Knights of Pythias at Galt.
WHITAKER & RAY, general merchants at Galt, have been conducting their business here
ever since 1869. Andrew Whitaker and Don Ray started in business in a small frame build- ing on Front street, which was one of the first, if not the very first, building erected in the town. It was located where Mr. Brewster's store now is, it being removed by him when he rebuilt. In 1871 the firm erected their present building, of brick, on the corner of Front and C streets. It cost over $20,000, and is the best building in town. They have a large assort- ment of goods for a general store, and plenty of capital to run it. Don Ray was born Septemn- ber 2, 1848, in Marion County, Kentucky, son of F. G. and Elizabeth Ray, both natives also of that State. In 1851 they came to California. About 1862 they moved to the little place called Mokelumne City, at the head of navigation of the Mokelumne River. During the flood of that year their little house was completely washed away, never afterward being seen. They then moved up to Liberty, a little town in San Joaquin County, a mile and a half south of Galt. Here the senior Ray practiced medicine, and Don in 1865 obtained a position as clerk in the general store of William Allport, which he retained for nearly three years. In 1868 he married and spent about half a year in Nevada, first going to Utah with a surveying party under John F. Kidder, driving stakes in the survey of the Virginia City & Truckee Railroad. Kid- der's division started for Reno, toward Empire City, through Carson City and Washoe. At Empire City they met the other division. It required about three months to accomplish the task. Kidder then took Mr. Ray to a Mr. Yer- rington, now one of the proprietors of the Glen- brook House, a fashionable resort on the east side of Lake Tahoe, and he employed him about three months at the bar. He resigned because he received news of his mother's death, and he came to Liberty. At this beautiful place he shortly afterward started a saloon and drug- store, the railroad being in process of construc- tion at that time. Nine months afterward he associated himself with Andrew Whitaker and started their little business in the store already
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.
spoken of, which was built by John F. McFar- land. A sketch of what should follow here has already been given at the head of this article. Mr. Ray had no capital when he first came here, but by his business and land investments he has made a great deal of money. He and Mr. Whitaker now have over 8,000 acres of land, and their trade extends to a distance of fifteen miles in every direction. They also do a large business in wheat, buying, selling and storage, having a warehouse with a capacity of 300 tons. Mr. Ray is the postmaster at Galt, having received his appointment in 1873. Mrs. Ray's maiden name was Alice Fngitt. She is a native of Iowa, and was brought to California when a child by her parents. There are four children in this family: Clyde, Charles, Kittie and Whitaker.
The " Railroad Honse" ran in 1870-'73. A school-house was built in 1869, but the growth of the town demanded a larger structure in a few years, and in 1878 it was erected at a cost of $3,000. Whitaker & Ray opened the first store, in a building belonging to John McFarland, some time in 1869. The next year they built a brick store, on Front street, where they are still conducting a substantial trade. The other principal business establishments are the general store and grain warehouse of Brewster & Co., the general store of Wright, Need & Co., the grocery of Brewster & Smith, the Galt Lumber Company (a branch of the Friend & Terry Lum- ber Company of Sacramento), under the man- agement of S. W. Palin, the real-estate office of I. M. Smith & Co., and the livery stable of J. K. Mckinstry.
The postoffice was established here in 1869, with the starting of the town, and John Brew- ster was the first postmaster.
The First Congregational Church of Galt, California, was organized October 13, 1877. The first services were held in the old public school-house, Rev. William C. Stewart, Pastor, some time in Jnne of 1877. The first officers were James Ferguson and E. C. Morse. Pre- vions to the organization of this church, religions
services had been held in the school-house, at irregular intervals, by different denominations, from 1869. In 1884 they erected a handsome frame church building, under the energetic auspices of Dr. Harvey and John McFarland.
The Methodists, in 1879, took a school-house, built in 1872, and converted it into a church.
The Christian Church, organized about a year ago, hold their services in Brewster's Hall; they intend building soon. Brewster's building, erected in 1881, has for its second story a very fine hall.
The Catholics laid the corner-stone for their church October 12, 1885, that day being the 393d anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus, and the congregation is corre- spondingly named St. Christopher's Church. On the above occasion the officiating minister was Rev. P. W. Riordan, Archbishop of San Francisco.
Phnæix Lodge, No. 239, I.O. O. F., was or- ganized December 29, 1875, with the following officers and members: W. O. Holmes, P. G .; S. D. Johnson, N. G .; G. Norton, V. G .; O. J. Atchinson, Sec .; D. Ray, Treas .; T. H. Fowler, A. S. Hamilton, P. Miller, A. Clough, J. McFar- land and H. Chase. This order is the strongest of all in Galt, the membership being now about ninety. Galt Encampment, No. 65, I. 0. 0. F., was organized May 13, 1881. Rei Rebekah, No. 132, was organized March 29, 1888. These lodges all meet in a hall of their own, in Whita- ker & Ray's Block.
The Freemasons established a lodge here in the fall of 1882, and meet in Brewster's Hall.
The Knights of Pythias, meeting in the same hall, were organized February 12, 1883.
Galt Lodge, No. 113, A. O. U W., was or- ganized June 21, 1879. Charter members and first officers were: J. H. Sawyer, P. M. W .; John Brewster, M. W .; G. W. Noble, Foreman; A. E. Brewster, O .; C. C. Clements, R'd'r; James Ferguson, Fin'r; J. C. Sawyer, Rec'r; N. E. Freeman, Guide; George .Rhodes, I. W .; I. M. Smith, O. W .; Oliver Bartlett. The lodge now meets in Brewster's IIall.
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.
The Order of Chosen Friends organized liere May 22, 1882.
The Golden Shore Lodge, in May, 1889, and meet in Brewster's Hall.
The Grand Army Post, July 12, 1888.
The " Order of the Iron Hall" established a society here last year, is a flourishing lodge and meets in Odd Fellows Hall. This new order is an incorporated fraternity, first organized March 28, 1881, to pay to its members $5 to $25 a week in case of sickness, and $100 to $500 in case of total disability.
HICKSVILLE, another village in Dry Creek Township, was named after William Hicks, one of the oldest settlers in the township. He came in 1847, and engaged in stock-raising. In 1854 a postoffice was established at his place, and was removed to the present site of Hicksville in 1857. There is a Presbyterian Church building here and a good school. The town was started in 1863 by Patterson & Smith, who built a store in the same year; this store changed hands several times, and was finally closed in 1877. A hotel was opened in 1864 by Patterson & Smith.
FRANKLIN.
Franklin Township was formed out of the original Sutter Township, by order of the Board of Supervisors, of October 20, 1856. The boundaries are as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of Sutter Township, running thence south through the centers of townships 7 and 6 north, range 5 east of Mount Diablo base and meridian, to the township line between townships 5 and 6 north; thence east to the Cosumnes River; thence south, following tlie course of said river, to its junction with the Mokelumne River; thence in a westerly direc- tion along said river to the range line between ranges 4 and 5 east; thence north to the center line of township 5 north, range 4 east; thence west on said line to Merritt's Slough; thence northerly along said sloughi to the Sacramento River; thence along said Sacramento River to the southern boundary of Sutter Township;
thence east along said sonthern boundary of Sutter Township to the beginning.
The lands of Franklin Township are all agri- cultural or marsh lands.
There are large quantities of wheat raised in the township; also of fruit, of all sorts. The fruit is grown principally along the river, and consists of apples, pears, peaches, plums, cher- ries, and all sorts of small fruits. There are also a few small vineyards in the township.
The titles are derived from the United States, there being no Spanish or Mexican grants in the township.
The largest business enterprise in Franklin Township is the brick mannfactory of Davis & Roberts, near the river.
Joseph Sims came to the State in 1847, witlı Stevenson's regiment; settled in Franklin Town- ship in 1849; J. B. Green, in 1849; J. C. Beach, in 1850; Wm. H. Fry, in 1852; Joseph Green, in 1851; Truman N. Farsett, in 1852; George W. Heck, in 1855; R. Kercheval, in 1850; David T. Lufkin, in 1850; Jacob Miller, in 1853; John Reith, in 1855; Solomon Runyon, in 1850; Myron Smith, in 1853; Adam Warner, in 1853.
Union House was established in 1852, by Ainos Butler. The house has changed hands several times; is now owned by Jacob Korn. There is a postoffice at this place, known as Union House.
The Six-Mile House is the first house in Franklin Township from Sacramento; was com- menced by one Prewitt, in 1853-'54.
The Twelve-Mile House was built about 1850, by MeHesser; it was located on the lower Stock- ton road, and until Georgetown was established was a favorite stopping place. The building was torn down many years ago.
FREEPORT is a point eight miles south of Sae- ramento, on the bank of the river, at a good landing.
The Freeport Railroad Company was formed in 1862 or '63, for the purpose of building a road from Freeport, connecting with the Sacra- mento Valley Railroad at a point midway be- tween Sacramento and Folsom, the idea being
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.
to divert the northern trade around Sacramento. Nine miles of this road were constructed in 1863. Freeport was laid out, lots staked out and sold, and the town began growing rapidly. At the end of the first year there were 300 or 400 people in the place. Most of the railroad em- ployes lived here. For three or more years the place was quite a shipping point. Goods for the mines and other localities were landed here, and produce was shipped from the point. The first store was opened by A. J. Bump, in 1863, changed hands several times, and is now owned by P. G. Riehl. The first hotel was started by E. Grier, also in 1863. He sold to Thomas O'Toole, but the establishment was closed many years ago. The railroad was bought by the Central Pacific Railroad Company and discon- tinned, and Freeport rapidly decreased to its present proportions.
Freeport Lodge, No. 261, I. O. G. T., was instituted in Jannary, 1884, under the leader- ship of J. W. Lee, since deccased, J. H. Beach, Thomas Kirtlan, Mrs. E. F. Fitch, Joseph Gos- ling, Mrs. Gosling and others, struggling against a formidable opposition. The order erected a two-story building, which with the grounds is valued at $1,200 or $1,500. Only those who were friendly to the temperance cause were allowed to contribute. The first floor is devoted to miscellaneous gatherings, while the upper story is the lodge-room. The society mneets every Saturday evening. There are now about thirty meinbers, and the officers are: J. T. Black, C. T .; Nellie Bayles, V. C. T .; F. L. Baum- gartle, P. C. T .; J. H. Beach, Deputy and Rec. Sec. ; Miss Nellie Beach, Fin. Sec .; Frank Kirtlan, Treas .; Fred. Kirtlan, Marshal; Mrs. E. F. Fitch, Guard; E. Greer, Sentinel.
The Methodists have preaching at Freeport every two weeks.
FRANKLIN, formerly Georgetown, is situated on the lower Stockton road, fifteen miles from Sacramento. It was settled in 1856 by Andrew George, who the same year opened a hotel at the place, called the Franklin House. It was torn down in 1879.
A school building was erected here in 1876, at a cost of $3,500, for the maintenance of a High School, and was kept up as such for two years; it was then abandoned, as too expensive. Most of the stock was signed over to the dis- trict, and the building has since been used by the district.
Franklin Grange, P. of H., was organized Jannary 9, 1874, with the following charter members: Amos Adams, Master; P. R. Beck- ley, Secretary; J. F. Freeman, William Johns- ton, J. M. Stephenson, J. W. Moore, Troy Dye, Thomas Anderson, Eben Owen, George W. Morse; Ladies-Mrs. W. Johnston, Mrs. Troy Dye and Mrs. Miller. The present membership is thirty-four. They meet on the second Satur- day of each month.
Franklin Council, No. 71, Order of Chosen Friends, has twenty-six members.
BRYAN'S LANDING is a point on the river which each year is quite busy during the season for shipping produce. There never has been a town here.
RICHLAND, established in 1860 as a landing, comprises a large warehouse, a school-house and a few residences. The Richland Methodist Episcopal Church is a short distance above this point. Rev. Mr. Crowe is the present pastor.
COURTLAND is situated on the lower end of Randall " Island," and is a landing place for all steamers. It was established in 1870, by James V. Sims. There are now a postoffice, telegraph office, a Wells-Fargo express office and a store in the town. The wharf was built by Captain Albert Foster; it is now owned by Louis Win- ters. December 24, 1879, a fire broke out in that portion of Courtland known as Chinatown, and temporarily destroyed the whole settlement.
ONISBO was first settled by A. Runyon in 1849. A postoffice was established here in 1853, which was moved to Courtland in 1857. A good school-honse, costing, with the Masonic Hall over the school-room, $2,200, was erected here in 1860. The town was named after a chief of the Digger Indians, named Onisbo.
Franklin Lodge, No. 143, F. & A. M., was
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.
organized in February, 1861, with the following officers and charter members: George A. Blakes- lee, Master; Stephen T. Morse, S. W .; Reuben Kercheval, J. W .; J. Runyon, Treas .; Simon L. Reed, Sec .; A. H. Hustler, Senior Deacon; Malachi Kanady, Tyler. The lodge meets in their hall, referred to in the preceding para- graph, on the Saturday on or before each full moon.
GEORGIANA.
Georgiana Township was originally a part of Sutter Township, as first established. On Au- gust 14, 1854, the Court of Sessions ordered that, "So much of Sutter Township as lies south of a line commencing at a point about opposite the head of Steamboat Slough, on the line dividing the ranches of Messrs. Robb & Runyon, and running thence dne east to the eastern line of Sutter Township, be, and the same is hereby organized into a new township, by the name of Georgiana."
October 20, 1856, the Board of Supervisors established the present boundaries, which are as follows: Beginning on the Sacramento River, at the southwestern corner of Franklin Township (the notes of Franklin Township call for the southwest corner to be on Merritt's Sloughi); thence east, and along the southern boundary of Franklin Township, to the range line between ranges 4 and 5 east of Mount Diablo meridan; thence south, and along said range line to the southern boundary of Sacramento County; thence southerly and northerly, along the south- ern and western lines of said county to the be- ginning.
Georgiana Township is almost entirely com- posed of what are commonly spoken of as the Sacramento Islands, and includes the southern portion of Sutter Island, almost all of Grand Island, all of Andrus, Tyler, Twitchell, Bran- nan, Sherman and Wood islands. There are about 110 miles of levee in the township. A considerable portion of the bank land is now in a high state of cultivation. The present levee improvements, which are being rapidly pushed forward, will make Grand Island one of the gar-
den spots of the earth. It is the home of fruits and vegetables, and lies between two great ho:ne markets and shipping ports, Sicramento and San Francisco, accessible to each by a good water route. Fruit raisers combine and furnish their own steamboats. Good water for domestic use is obtained by boring down 125 feet. The river abounds in salmon, codfish, sturgeon, etc.
There are about 8,000 acres on Brannan Isl- and, nearly all under cultivation. The levees are in good condition. The island was all settled in 1852. The ranches vary in size from 100 to 1,000 acres, the average being about 200 acres. There is a wharf on this island. Sherman Isl- and isthe southern most pointof Sacramen to County. It was first settled by Robert E. Beas- ley about 1855. The island was all reclaimed in 1873, and for some years the real estate was very high. The crops were good each year, and everything seemed prosperous. The high waters of 1878 dispelled the golden dreams of the in- habitants by overtopping and destroying the levees, thereby swamping the whole island. Since that time some efforts have been made to rebuild the levees. There are two wharves on the island. Emmaton is the name of a small place about the middle of the Sacramento River side of the island. Twitchell Island is in a thoroughly demoralized condition, the levees be- ing destroyed and the island practically unre- claimed land. In 1869 it was purchased by the Tide Land Reclamation Company, and re- claimed by them in 1870. Andrus Island was named after George Andrus, who settled on the upper end of the island in 1852. The island contains about 7,000 acres, all of which is re- claimed.
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