USA > California > San Joaquin County > An illustrated history of San Joaquin County, California. Containing a history of San Joaquin County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its future prospects; > Part 21
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Picnics, celebrations and exhibitions by the public schools began as early as May, 1854, and inany a successful occasion lias been enjoyed since that time. In November, 1856, an ex- hibition was given, at the close of which $600 was collected almost in a moment for the pur- chase of a piano. Little girls were sent around as collectors in the audience, and their sweet smiles and innocent, tender hands were irre-sistible.
In 1858, when V. M. Peyton, T. J. Keys and Dr. Shurtleff constituted the board of trustees, the first brick school-house, the old Franklin, was built. Early in the spring of 1859 a new two-story brick on Center street had been com- pleted, and was then occupied. Under the ad- ministration of Dr. I. S. Locke, superintendent, and H. S. Sargent, in 1861, a great reform was inangurated, requiring teachers to be prompt and observe a prescribed programme, with a uniform series of text-books, etc.
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
In 1864-'65 the Lafayette school building, with four large rooms and a basement, at a cost of $17,300, including lot, fence, etc., was built. The work was done by William Confer, under the supervision of James F. Mills and R. B. Lane, council committee on education, and the Board of Education.
The colored school, which had been com- menced in 1860 in the old African Methodist Church, came, in 1863, under the supervision of the board of education, and continued as a separate school until 1879.
In 1867-'69 another school building was erected, at a total cost, including lot, fence, etc., of $24,724. In 1870-'71 the Jefferson school building, on the corner of Weber avenue and Pilgrim street, was erected at a cost of $23,044. In 1872-'73 the new Franklin, a two-story brick on the lot previously occupied by the Pioneer brick school house, was built, at an ex- pense of $15,165. A similar building was erected in 1875 on the corner of Commerce and Flora streets, costing $15,693, and named the Weber School.
The Fremont school-house, at the corner of Aurora and Fremont streets, in the northeastern part of the city, was built in 1889, at an ex- pense of about $13,000, and named in honor of the old " pathfinder," General Jolin C. Fremont.
The Stockton High School was organized January 1, 1870, with abont twenty-five pupils. A. H. Randall was the first principal, and Miss Loomis vice-principal. The first class of three graduated in December, 1870; there are now 130 pupils in the high school, and in the next (1890) graduating class there will be thirty- nine. Under the new city charter it is made a preparatory school for the State University. To some extent a normal course is included in the curriculum. This school has the "strongest mathematical course of all in the State." Hon. John Eaton, United States Commissioner, in his report for 1880, said the high school of Stockton took high rank, an indorsement which he does not accord to any other educational in- stitution of the same grade west of the Rocky 0
Mountains; and the public can rest assured that the standing has not since been lowered by suchi men as Messrs. Waterman and Leadbetter. For the excellence of all the public schools of Stock- ton since 1870, special credit is due George S. Ladd, who was superintendent from 1870 to 1880. Since the latter date tlie office has been filled successively by Dr. S. P. Crawford, W. R. Leadbetter, Frank Laning and Mr. Leadbetter again, the present incumbent.
Mrs. E. M. Tareman, assisted by Miss May Tully, is engaged in that most divine calling, the management of a kindergarten, at the Con- gregational church, next door east of the new Methodist church, on the north side of Miner avenue, near San Joaquin street. This school was established in November, 1887, and the attendance is from twenty-five to thirty-seven.
Stockton Business College, a first-class institu - tion which has been in progress for many years, is located on the southeast corner of California and Channel streets.
CITY LIBRARY.
The first effort toward the establishment of a free reading-room and library in Stockton was inade in 1876, by the Philomathean Society, which failed. The second was made in 1878 by the Blue Ribbon Society, engaged in a temperance movement very popular at that time. This also failed. The next attempt was made in March, 1880, which succeeded. The first official act was a public meeting called by the mayor of the city, G. C. Hyatt, at which meeting Major N. M. Orr presided and D. L. Campbell was secretary. A. V. R. Patterson and W. F. Freeman spoke in favor of levying a tax for the special purpose. The plan was also favored by J. D. Peters, Dr. A. S. Hudsou, William Baggs, B. F. Bagley, S. L. Carter, H. W. Taylor and W. W. Cowell. At the meeting of the city council of April 5, 1880, a levy or tax of five mills on the dollar was authorized to establish a library fund, inder a law passed by the Legislature of 1878, for the establishment of free libraries and reading- rooms. In that conneil D. J. Oullahan and Dr.
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
C. L. Rnggles gave their influence in support of the measure.
The library was first kept in the Newell building up-stairs, then in the Masonic building, and iu February, 1889, it was moved to its present magnificent headquarters, a little south of Hunter street square. For the construction of this building, Frank Stewart gave $5,000, the city donated the lot, and a tax of one mill on the dollar for 1888 was assessed. The size of the building is 50 x 80, is two stories high, and the cost was over $11,000. The library is on the first floor, while the second floor in front will be the reading-room and the rear portion devoted to the storage of books, etc. This is evi- dently the most convenient and finely equipped library in the State, although of course the larger cities have larger collections. The oue at Sacramento, however, is but little larger if any. One important thing can be said of this library that can be said of no other in California, and that is, the city has donated to the library also the corner lot adjoining south of the building, where no structure shall be erected and thus the south windows, all of beautifully frosted glass will ever have the sun all day, lending a most cheerful air to the interior as well as plenty of light. The library now numbers about 11,000 volumes. This year (1889) $2,- 000 worth were added.
W. F. Clowdsley is the polite and accommo- dating librarian, his years of service having been 1883-'85, and from 1888 to the present time.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The following account of the earlier history of the fire department is from Tinkham's His- tory of Stockton:
The first company formned here was the Weber Bucket Brigade, in 1849, which in their work of extinguishing fires passed buckets from hand to hand. Their first services were at the fire of December 23, 1849, that year, which de- stroyed the business portion of the city, noticed in chapter IV. After that event the citizens
organized a more effective service. J. E. Nutt- man was chosen chief engineer June 26, 1850; A. C. Bradford, assistant engineer; and Emil Junge, secretary. Captain Weber bought a steain engine at $3,799, and offered it at cost price to the department. The offer was accepted, and after some parleying as to the franchises, etc., the engine was delivered to the chief of the department.
Soon after their organization, May 6, 1851, the most destructive fire ever in Stockton broke out, covering a loss of $1,500,000. One hun- dred and one firins lost from one to fifty thousand dollars each. Some of the firemen, including chief Nuttman, were absent iu San Francisco witnessing the ruins of a con- flagration that had occurred there only a few days before. Judge of their surprise on return- ing to find their own city in ashes, their prop- erty gone, their engine damaged and their hose destroyed. Inexperienced hands had in their absence exposed their engine and hose and could not save then. The council was afterward negligent in providing for new hose, and the company became much discouraged; but after several attempts the department was supplied with both hose and a new engine from San Francisco, which did good service for many years. The Webers honsed the apparatus on the bridge. January 18, 1854, Captain Weber donated a lot on Channel street to the city, for the company's use, and a small brick building was erected, which was used until the completion of the present building. The second story of the present building was furnished by the company at a cost of about $1,000, and on removal to the new quarters they transplanted the longest flag pole ever raised in Stockton. It was of pine, 120 feet in height, and surmounted by the figure of a fireman's hat four feet across. The pole was raised June 28, 1857, and again raised in 1863. After it had gone to decay it was taken down.
In 1853 it was found that there were two parties of firemen in the department, -- the " Boston boys " and the "New York boys."
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
One party wanted Henry Chanfrau for foreman and the other James Lynch. Chanfrau was elected by a large majority. The Webers, re- organizing, applied to the council for their new inachine, bnt finally concluded to accept the old one, on condition that they should have the new as soon as practicable. Accordingly, in October, that year, the council appropriated $4,000 in script and sent to New York for a new engine, to be shipped around Cape Horn. In Decem- ber, 1854, an engine arrived in San Francisco for a company in Los Angeles, who failed to take it. Stockton purchased it at $4,500.
The department would have preserved the Weber engine as a relic, but it was destroyed by the fire of February 21, 1855, when a total loss of about $50,000 wortli of property was in- cnrred, in spite of the manful efforts of the department. This fire broke out on El Dorado street, between Main and Levee streets. An- other fire occurred in the same block Jnly 30, the same year, consuming the cast half of the same block, which was bounded by Main, Levee, El Dorado and Center streets. In this fire the old Weber engine was destroyed. After the February fire the council established limits within which brick structures only were to be erected, and consequently a number of low brick buildings were put up which will never be torn down so long as they are profitable.
In 1858 steam fire engines were exciting the people of the East, and consequently the Stock- ton boys. They pursuaded the council to start a nucleus fund; a subscription was raised and a steam fire engine was ordered for the Webers from Naflie & Levy, of Philadelphia, which ar- rived in San Francisco May 10, 1862, -- 176 days from New York. It was bronght on to Stockton and tested, proving satisfactory. Its cost, including freight, was $4,000. This is the engine so long known as " Old Betsey," which is still in use, being kept as a relief engine at the engine lionse just south of Hunter street squarc.
A handsome four-wheeled hose carriage was also purchased by the company, at a cost of
$800; and this was taken in charge by the " Weber Hose Company."
A few years later the company purchased from a firm in Manchester, New Hampshire, a new steam fire engine, at a cost of $5,000.
June 2, 1853, a meeting was held by nineteen fireman who had seceded from the old Weber company, and they organized by electing James Lynch foreman, W. B. Clark, first assistant; E. Weeks, secretary; and D. S. Clark, treasurer; and adopted the name of Eureka No. 2. They soon obtained the engine whichi had been pur- chased in San Francisco and had been in pos- session of the old Weber company. The city built for both companies a neat brick honse, at a cost of $11,450. In March, 1855, thie engine which had been purchased in New York arrived in San Francisco, and its trial proved satisfac- tory here; it was turned over to the Eurekas. It was probably the best second-class engine in this State. So powerful was the company at the brakes that it was necessary to spike the wheels to the ground.
These old companies in their day had a num- ber of festive occasions and grand parades, both in this city and elsewhere.
While the Webers were waiting the arrival of the steam fire engine from the East, the Enrekas ordered from William Jeffers, of Paw- tucket, Rhode Island, one of his best first-class hand engines. It arrived in December, 1860, and cost $4,000. This was a beauty, but not satisfactory in power. In 1871-'72, through the efforts A. B. Bennett, the Eurekas obtained a fine steam fire engine from Jeffers, at a cost of $6,000.
The San Joaquin No. 3, German, was organ- ized March 9, 1855, and became a part of the department, and the Smith of New York button engine was assigned to it. They were provided at first with a small wooden house on Weber avenue opposite Lane's mill; but the next year a $300 lot was purchased and a two-story brick build- ing was erected upon it for them by William Sanders. The first alarm bell ever in Stockton was purchased by this company, and although it
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
was cracked it was used until 1865, when a new bell weighing 480 pounds was purchased, at $290. This bell was afterward sold for a church in Linden. When the Eurekas sent for their engine in 1860, the conncil also ordered one for the San Joaquin company. The two engines arrived together that year, and were alınost alike. But this engine also did not prove very satisfactory, and it was finally sold to a fire company in Livermore for $500.
In 1869 the old engine house of 1856 was torn down, and in its place was erected the finest engine house in the city. In 1871 the San Joa- quin company bought a chemical tire extin- gnisher, at a cost of $3,500.
These three companies were all of volunteer men, receiving an allowance from the city, while the deficiency was made up by the com- pany.
Protection Hook and Ladder Company was organized November 15, 1857. The council subsequently erected a stone building for it on Market square, at a cost of $500. The fire of 1866 destroyed all the nniforms of this con- pany.
In 1864, incendiary fires became so common -there being abont two alarms per day-that the citizens arose excited and appointed a patrol of fourteen men in each ward, with severe in- structions, and in two weeks no more fires were heard of.
One account gives the following list as the " pioneer " firemen :
J. E. Nuttman, chief; Frank Q. Brown, assist- ant; Win. Adee, foreman; W. H. Brown, assist- ant; E. B. Veeland, secretary; J. W. Lewis, treasurer; Wm. Ward, steward; James E. Pol- lock, George M. Johnson, Harry T. Morton, Albert Rogers, D. S. Clark, J. E. Corcoran, A. C. Bradford, J. Kistzol, W. Collins, M. T. Robertson, C. E. Foster, J. E. Buffum, A. M. King, C. B. Dnrand, P. Gallagher, George E. Taber, P. Casile, L. Klockgather, Jolın Murphy, James Drenan, A. Campbell, E. F. Pacey, A. Weeks, W. H. Lyons, James Lynch, M. Con- mells, George W. Nichols and G. P. Melmore.
The "Board of Delegates" was organized in 1854, in conformity with the law regulating fire departments. E. W. Colt, chief engineer, was called to the chair. Certificates were re- ceived from E. Weeks as secretary, J. W. Un- derhill as treasurer, E. W. Colt as chief, and Andrew Lester as assistant chief, all having been elected by the department January 11, 1854, the number of votes cast being eighty- seven.
The chiefs of the fire department have been: 1851-J. E. Nuttman.
1852-'56-Edwin W. Colt.
1856-'57-A. S. Rider.
1857-'58-Jolın Ramshart.
1859-John Hart.
1860-'63-George W. Sanderson.
1864-'65, 1868-'69-Thomas Cunningham.
1866-'67-Frank Seilnacht.
1870-Philip Rohrbacher.
1870-'74 John Nichols.
1875-'76-James Brown.
1877-Pope Mountjoy.
1878-'79-Henry Eshbach.
1880-Jolın B. Bnekley.
1887-Louis J. Wagner.
1889-M. McCann.
The fire-alarm-bell tower, containing the town clock, is eighty-nine feet high, counting from the ground to the top of the dome. In this is the bell, which weighs 1,838 pounds and cost $850. The clock-work is run by a 500-pound weight. On each of the four faces of the tower is a dial five feet across. In 1867 Charles Haas, a jeweler, visited his German home, and on his return to this country bought this clock on his own responsibility, and shipped it by way of Cape Horn to Stockton. It was manufact- ured in Boston, Massachusetts.
The present paid fire department was in- stalled and ready for operation January 15, 1888. It consists of thirty-one officers and members, two steamers, one chemical engine, one hook and ladder truck, two liose carts, one reserve engine (" Old Betsey "), one reserve lose cart, with 1,000 feet of hose, and ten horses.
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
The hose carts carry 1,000 feet of liose eaclı, liaving 1,200 feet in reserve; and there is also 700 feet of hose on the reserve hose cart; total, 4,000 feet of good hose.
There are fourteen fire wells, in good order, besides two lıydrants, eighteen fire cisterns, with one or more mains running into them; ten fire- alarm boxes and thirty-four telephone stations for fire-alarm purposes. There is also a satis- factory system for alarming firemen sleeping elsewhere than at the engine houses, recently erected, at a cost of $390.
The principal officers, the companies, engines and liouses are as follows: President of the Fire Department, R. R. Reibenstein; secretary, J. T. Doyle; chief engineer, M. McCann; assist- ant chief engineer, F. Cavagnano; C. J. Wolf, foreman of Weber Engine Company, No. 1, at brick house on Channel street between El Dor- ado and Center; John Sangster, foreman of Eureka Engine Company, No. 2, brick house, Hunter street, between Main and Market; W. G. Humphrey, foreman of San Joaquine Engine Company (chemical), No. 3, house on Weber avenne, between California and American streets; George Leiginger, foreman Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, with Engine No. 2; C. Perkins, superintendent of the fire-alarm battery.
CITY WATER WORKS.
The water supply of the city of Stockton comes from three artesian wells, at the eastern limits of the city, and sixty common wells. The water is of excellent quality. During the sum- mer months about 1,500,000 gallons of water are used per day, the citizens paying for it by the month. The Stockton Water Works Com- pany was first organized in 1859. The present president is H. O. Southworth, and superinten- dent and secretary M. S. Thresher. The city owns the sprinkling apparatus that is used upon the streets.
CEMETERIES.
Rural Cemetery .- The first burying-ground for the city of Stockton was in the block on the south side of Channel street, between San Joa-
quin and Sutter, but of course was small and temporary. In 1851 a block of land in the eastern part of the city was donated for the pur- pose by Captain C. M. Weber, but was left nun- surveyed and without a fence, and live-stock ran at large over it, and vandals defaced the monu- ments, stole the vases and otherwise desecrated the place. In 1852 the conucil had a fence built around the premises, at a cost of $1,500, and in July of that year a sexton was appointed; but the city, growing in population, at length began to demand a still larger and better ceme- tery. Accordingly, in March, 1860, the citi- zens called a meeting for the purpose of devising ways and means for securing and fitting a better burying-ground, a short distance from the cor- porate limits. They appointed six men to act as trustees, for one, two and three years, two going out each year and their place filled by the vote of those owning lots in the cemetery. The six selected for the first two years were V. M. Peyton, B. W. Bonrs, E. S. Holden, B. W. Owens, William Biven and Samuel Fisher. Mr. Peyton, by unanimous vote, was elected secretary, treasurer and general manager. The trustees called upon the ever-benevolent Captain Weber to consult with him concerning an eligi- ble site, and lie said that the matter had been delayed so long that he had not a suitable site left, but generously offered $1,000 to head a subscription for a good place. After spending a week in hunting for such a site, the trustees determined upon one owned by E. M. Howison, Captain Weber's former clerk, and they pur- chased it of him, Weber generously paying the $1,000. The full price for the seventy-five acres was $2,700. Mr. Lowe, a landscape gar- dener, was selected to lay out the south half of the land into plats, lots, roadways, avenues, etc., and this was done, giving the walks and drives a serpentine forin, with avenues thirty feet wide and bordered with ornamental trees, etc. The grounds are surveyed into 1,500 lots, large and sinall, -the large for twelve burials, and the small for six. Lots and plats are reserved for distinguished persons, associations, etc. A few
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
years later the grounds were formally dedicated, the address on the occasion being delivered by Rev. Dr. Happersett, then the pastor of the Presbyterian church of Stockton. The grounds are in fine condition, beautifully ornamented and well watered.
Mr. Peyton continued to be trustee, secretary and treasurer during the first seven years, and theu resigned. His successor was H. T. Comp- ton, for one year. L. M. Cutting is the present secretary, and Charles Whale is the superin- tendent.
The San Joaquin Cemetery (Catholic) is an- other beautiful park-like burying-ground, on North street, near California street.
B'nai B'rith Cemetery (Hebrew) is bounded by Pilgrim, Union, Acacia and Poplar streets, in the northern part of the city.
CITY WARD BOUNDARIES, ETC.
First Ward .- All west of Hunter street and south of Levee.
Second Ward .- All west of San Joaquin street and north of Weber avenue.
Third Ward .- All east of Hunter street and south of Weber avenue.
Fourth Ward .- All east of San Joaquin street and north of Weber avenue.
The city election is held the first Monday in May, at which all the members of the school board, as well as those of the city council and the city officers, are chosen. The mayor, city council and school directors serve without salary.
CITY OFFICERS.
The first organization of the city government in the fall of 1849, under orders from Judge George G. Belt, which was found to be illegal three months afterward, has already been noticed in the chapter on Stockton in early days.
The first regular city election was held Au- gust 1, 1850, at which time the following coun- cilinen were elected: C. M. Weber, William H. Robinson, J. W. Reins, James Warner, B. F. Whittier, Hiram Green and George A. Shurt- leff. The first meeting of the council was held at
the Masonic lodge rooms, August 5, 1850, where they proceeded to organize by the election of W. H. Robinson, president of the board; but neither Mr. Robinson nor Captain Weber put in an appearance, and they failing to qualify, at a subsequent meeting an election for August 20 was ordered to fill vacancies. At this elec- tion C. M. Weber was re-elected and H. W. Wallis also became a member of the board. Hiram Green was elected by unanimous vote president of the board. On the 27th of Sep- tember, 1850, the council was increased front seven to eleven, and an election was ordered for October 7, to elect the four additional members, as well as one member to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of B. F. Whittier. The five elected were John S. Robb, S. Knight, John W. O'Neal, Josiah Bartlett and H. W. Gillingham. At this election Mr. Montague Endicott was elected city recorder. December 12, 1850, an- other election was held to fill vacancies, Captain Weber and another having withdrawn. J. M. Hill and C. A. Ward were the successful candi- dates. Thus it happened that sixteen aldermen in all were elected the first year. At the regu- lar election held May 5, 1851, the following alderinen were elected: H. W. Gillingham, G. A. Shurtleff, J. M. Hill, H. W. Wallis, John S. Owen, E. W. Colt, T. R. Bours, E. M. Howison, M. Bancroft, M. J. Robertson and H. M. Smith. But on the 12th of September of the same year Messrs. Gillingham, Shurtleff, Owen, Colt, and Bours resigned on account of a certain oppres- sive revenue tax of $2 a ton which the council levied on all merchandise arriving in the city, and which the subsequent council rescinded. At the same time H. A. Crabb, Esq., city attorney, likewise resigned, and a new election was or- dered for Septeniber 26, 1851. Owing to somne infornialities in the count, a new election was ordered for October 15th of the same year, at which time M. Endicott was elected city at- torney, and the following gentlemen were chosen to the council: Jesse W. Smith, Jos. C. Mor- ris, B. W. Owens, Willianı H. Fairchilds, and P. E. Jordan. On the 13th of May, 1852, an
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
election was held under the new city charter which reduced the number of aldermen to ten and abolished the offices of city attorney and city recorder. Prior to that time the duties of the recorder had been those of magistrate. With this preliminary explanation the apparent discrepancies in the following list of officers will be more clearly understood:
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