USA > California > Monterey County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume I > Part 49
USA > California > San Benito County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume I > Part 49
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Salinas Grove No. 101, United Ancient Order of Druids, instituted April 4, 1904, entertained the Grand Grove in June, 1908, the State Grove assembling in a four-days' session. The social features comprised a parade, fireworks, address of welcome by Mayor F. S. Clark, a minstrel performance, excursion to Spreckels, a confetti and a full dress ball, and concerts by the Salinas and the Twentieth Infantry U. S. bands.
The James B. Steadman Post No. 57, G. A. R., was organized in January, 1884, and that year they observed Decoration Day. The procession over two miles in length, was the largest ever seen in the town. The first division was led by the Salinas city band, John Tynan leader ; the second division led by the Monterey band, Jabez
Harris, leader. It included the fire department, Good Templars, school children carrying ban- ners and flowers, Steadman Post, G. A. R., car- riages and horsemen. Marching to the Odd Fel- lows' cemetery, the following program was car- ried out : Dirge, Salinas band; decoration hymn, choir ; prayer, Rev. George McCormick; address, William J. Hill; strewing of flowers; firing sa- lute ; hymn, "Nearer, My God, to Thee," choir ; oration, Hamilton Wallace; anthem, "America," choir ; benediction.
The Labor Unions, well represented in Salinas, held their first parade and picnic September 8, 1902. Over three hundred were in line, this in- cluding the Federal union or carpenters, railroad employes ; retail clerks and cigar makers ; also the mayor and council, firemen and citizens. Form- ing in line early in the day, in front of the Native Sons' hall, they marched down Main street and over the San Juan road to Sherwood Park, where the exercises and picnic were held.
The great earthquake of April 18, 1906, is of so recent a date that it is unnecessary to refer to it. It will, however, be long remembered, because of its horror and the destruction of property. No business was done in Salinas that morning, for many persons were almost wild with fear, believ- ing that their loved ones had been swallowed up in San Francisco, while hundreds were so ex- cited over the ruined buildings of the city that business was out of the question. Every busi- ness house was more or less wrecked, including the Abbott Hotel, Masonic and Odd Fellows' building, Salinas Hotel, and the high school building. The Ford & Sanborn place was com- pletely demolished, and the Catholic church so badly injured they were compelled to tear it down. The beet-sugar factory was badly dam- aged and the machinery thrown out of line. Moss Landing was entirely demolished and along the Salinas river the earth sank in many places.
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Carmel Mission as it looked before it was rebuilt. It is a rare picture, as time has made many changes in the surroundings, and the rebuilding of the mission has changed its original looks. This view is taken from the north side and shows the old grave yard, where are buried many of the early residents of Monterey County, many of whom may have been instrumental in making history. The picture from which this was reproduced is the property of Manuel Wolter, of Monterey.
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CHAPTER IX.
MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS.
F ATHER Junipero Serra, the founder of Catholicism in Alta California, is deserv- ing of the highest honor of a grateful people for his wonderful work in the development of the territory. Dying at Carmel Mission, Au- gust 28, 1774, he was buried, so reads the record, "In the Sanctuary, fronting the altar of Our Lady Dolores on the gospel side." His place of burial was unknown to the present generation until Father Cassova succeeded in finding the old records which described the exact location.
In honor of this faithful father, the one hun- dredth anniversary of his death was celebrated at San Carlos Mission, and it was attended by thousands from all parts of the state, who reached Monterey on foot, in wagons, horseback and in the cars, and the Monterey hotels were filled to overflowing. Father Cassova's house was crowd- ed with fathers, among whom was Bishop Alem- any and Archbishop Riordan. At the hour ap- pointed, the priests, fifty in number, wearing their rich and costly vestments of gilt, purple and white, preceded by acolytes, bearing a gilt cru- cifix, marched up the centre aisle to the altar where lay a catafalque draped in black; then turning, they marched out of the mission, and facing the front wall, prayer was intoned, fol- lowed by the singing of the Gregorian chant. Then the bishop sprinkled the wall with holy water and the priests marched around the build- ing, singing and consecrating anew this sacred shrine. The priests and the people then entered the mission, and a pontifical requiem mass was celebrated by Father Alemany.
The religious services ending, civil honors were given the honored saint outside the church. After music by the Third Regimental band of San Francisco an oration was delivered by R. F. Del Valle, and a poem, by Harriet Skidmore, was read by James McDonald.
March 31, 1887, the splendid hotel Del Monte that cost $350,000 was destroyed by fire. The
building, 385 feet long, 199 feet wide and three stories high, was built by the Pacific Improve- ment Company and first opened in June, 1880. The fire started in the barber shop near the main office, about II o'clock at night and the flames, shooting out in every direction, enveloped the building, which was soon burning like a tinder box. Twelve streams of water were soon play- ing upon the flames, but they were ineffective, for the water pressure had evidently been tam- pered with and the water could be thrown only twelve feet. There were 350 guests in the hotel, mostly eastern tourists; some leaped from the windows, others let themselves to the ground by ropes; half clad and shivering with cold, they passed the night. The complete loss was over $1,500,000 and the tourists lost all of the bag- gage, many of them losing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. Several lawsuits were insti- tuted against the company, and as an offset they had the discharged manager, E. T. M. Simmons, arrested for setting fire to the building. Their strongest evidence against him was that during the fire he looked clean and neat, was not excited, and when asked to help, he replied, "No, I am done with this company," meaning the Pacific Improvement Company.
The Hotel Del Monte was immediately rebuilt and among its first distinguished visitors was President Harrison and party, April 30, 1891. In honor of the president Monterey was hand- somely decorated with flags, evergreens and flowers, and the schoolhouse was literally cov- ered with national colors, and beautiful floral arches crowned the principal entrance. Enjoying a good night's rest in the hotel, early the fol- lowing morning they rode over the seventeen- mile drive and later returning to the hotel, the president was escorted to Monterey by a large delegation of citizens from the towns of Mon- terey, Pacific Grove and Salinas. On arrival at the city's gates he was greeted by the pioneers,
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the Mexican war veterans and the school chil- dren, the latter strewing the pathway with flow- ers as the president walked to the schoolhouse where the exercises were held. Mayor W. J. Hill of Salinas delivered the address of welcome in behalf of the three cities, Monterey, Pacific Grove and Salinas, and presented the president with a solid silver card, having upon one side an engraving of the old custom house, "Where the first American flag was raised, 1846," and on the reverse side, "Greeting to our President, April 30, 1891." The president, Secretary Rusk and the Postmaster-General John Wanamaker then made short addresses, and soon afterward the entire party were driven to Cypress Point, where they were served with lunch and remained all the afternoon. That evening the citizens tendered the president a banquet in the Del Monte, after which he held a reception and was serenaded by the Monterey band.
While at Cypress Point the president visited the lighthouse, one of the most interesting at- tractions at Monterey. Built of solid cut stone (granite) quarried within a hundred yards of the building, it was completed in February, 1853, and Charles Layton, a member of Co. F, Stev- enson's Regiment, was appointed lighthouse keeper, with a salary of $1,000 per annum. He was killed in 1855, and for over thirty years his widow, Charlotte A. Layton, kept the light- house. The lantern tower stands fifty feet above sea level and the light which shines from sunset to sunrise, may be seen fourteen miles at sea by a lookout standing fifteen feet above the water.
A second lighthouse in this county was estab- lished in 1888 on a high bluff at Point Sur, thirty miles south of Monterey, and stands upon an isolated and barren promontory, four hundred feet above sea level. From the water to the top, five hundred steps are cut in the solid rock, and steamers pass within hailing distance.
On the hill, in the government reservation there stands the foundation upon which will be placed, about January 1, 1910, a monument for which Congress appropriated $10,000, to the memory of Commodore John D. Sloat, who raised the flag in 1846 over the Custom House. This foundation is constructed of granite blocks
contributed one from each county in the state, and with imposing ceremony, July 4, 1902, the corner stone was laid. On the morning of the 4th, the "jackies" from the U. S. sloop of war Alert landed upon the beach, and marching up to the Custom House, the same old flag was raised as on that memorable occasion, fifty-six years previous. A procession was then formed, con- sisting of the pioneers, Mexican war veterans and marines, and marching up the hill they formed in a semi-circle around the monument. Major Edward E. Sherman called the assemblage to order and introduced the first speaker, Capt. J. G. Lambert, a pioneer of 1847 and custom house guardian for twenty-five years, who had taken a very prominent part in the formation of the Sloat Monument Association. Addresses were then delivered by Col. Joseph Stewart, the second oldest West Point graduate, and by Cap- tain McAllister, J. B. Whittmore, George Brom- ley and Col. Thomas E. Ketcham, a captain of Stevenson's Regiment still active, August, 1909, who landed at Monterey from the Susan Drew in 1847. The corner stone was laid by Lieuten- ant-Governor Neff. The exercises closed with the audience singing "America." At high noon the Alert fired a national salute of twenty-one guns. Commodore Sloat was one of the naval heroes of his day and his flagship, The Savannah, 54 guns, one of the largest battle ships of the nation. But sixty-two years later, May 1, 1908, there steamed into Monterey bay, not one, but sixteen battle ships of the Atlantic fleet, iron clads, any one of which could have destroyed the nation's navy of 1846. It was the second anchor- ' age in a home port, since leaving New York, in their wonderful voyage around the world. Ar- riving from San Diego on schedule time, 6 A. M., even at that early hour, an immense crowd from the surrounding counties gathered along the shore line to catch the first sight of the iron monsters. The fog was so heavy that the flagship Minnesota, in command of Admiral Thomas, was well past Point Pinos before the fleet was seen from the shore. Anchoring in the bay in four divisions, led by the flagship of each squadron, Mayor Jacks immediately stepped on board the
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Minnesota and tendered Admiral Thomas an official welcome to the old capital.
The crowd was immense, such as Monterey had never seen before; the regular and special trains were overflowing, and from all parts of the state they came by cars and automobiles. The first squadron, the Connecticut, Kentucky, Ver- mont, Louisiana,' Georgia, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Virginia remained at anchor two days, then sailed for Santa Cruz. The second squadron, the Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri, Alabama, Illinois, Kersarge and Wisconsin, remained until May 4th and an extensive programme of field sports, box- ing matches, base ball and other features were provided for the officers and marines. Mayor Jacks gave the officers a dinner, Governor Gillett and staff being present; they were also taken over the seventeen-mile drive and tendered a ball at Del Monte. Early in the morning of May 5th, the Connecticut returned to Monterey to receive her commander, Admiral "Bob" Evans, who had left the fleet at Santa Barbara to recuperate at Paso Robles Hot Springs. "Fighting Bob" had been badly crippled by the enemy, rheumatism, but he swore that "alive or dead, he would enter the Golden Gate as Commander of the American Navy." A special train brought the admiral from the springs to Monterey and stepping aboard the Connecticut from his launch, immediately the flag of Admiral Thomas was lowered from the foretop of the Minnesota and Commodore Evans' flag "broke" out over the Connecticut. They immediately steamed from the harbor, Evans' flagship leading.
Pacific Grove, an incorporated city of the sixth class since 1889, with a population of perhaps 5,000, is the result of a Methodist Church North camp meeting, held at that point as early as 1874. The movement for a permanent camp meeting ground was started by the Rev. H. B. Heacock, a pioneer in state Methodism. State meetings were held and campers were charged fifty cents a week for ground rent. A grocery store, butcher shop, hay and feed stable were started and so successful was the undertaking, that the Methodists, purchasing 100 acres of land from David Jacks at $10 an acre, resolved to perma- nently hold meetings there.
It was, however, an isolated locality, and the- only way of reaching the grove was by steamer from San Francisco, stage or wagon from Gil- roy. The steamer fare was $2.50, the boats leav- ing San Francisco at nine o'clock in the morn- ing. On arrival at Monterey a stage conveyed the travelers to the grove. fare twenty-five cents. From 1877 the visitor could reach the grove by way of the Salinas & Monterey narrow gauge- and in 1880 the Southern Pacific was landing passengers at Del Monte. The future looked bright, and about this time the Methodists began selling lots from $20 to $40 each, the deed stipu- lating that no liquor, tobacco, noisy or immoral amusements should be permitted upon the grounds. This made it an ideal living place for families, and it grew rapidly. The increase of population compelled a change of ownership, as the Methodists were unable to provide a water supply. The Pacific Improvement Company then took charge of the grounds and later supplied Pacific Grove with water from their million-dol- lar plant, the Carmel river being the source of supply. They agreed to keep the place free from liquor and immoral amusements and have- kept inviolate their agreement. The El Carmelo Hotel was built in 1887, and no liquor has ever been sold there. Methodist people now began living at Pacific Grove the year round, and the. price of lots rapidly advanced, a real estate dealer telling me that lots purchased in 1894 for $600 sold ten years later for $7,000. The State Chau- tauqua Club holds their annual conventions there. and for their use the Pacific Improvement Com -- pany gave a lot and erected a $10,000 church. A. splendid $5,000 organ has just been installed.
Pacific Grove is now a city, with its street cars, all kinds of societies, banks, churches, schools and amusements. Its usefulness as a quiet,. religious spot, however, is destroyed, and those- who developed the town are seeking another ideal family locality.
Pacific Grove is the youngest and Castroville- the oldest town of the county, save Monterey, It was founded in 1864 by Juan B. Castro, who freely gave lots to those who would locate there and build substantial residences. The land own- er's dreams were not realized until the railroad
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passed that way, and even then it did not become of great importance. The town lies at the part- ing of the ways, the main line passing down the .Salinas Valley and the branch running to Monte- rey and Pacific Grove.
The only street of the town runs to Moss Landing, at the mouth of the Salinas river. The point was established in 1866 by Charles Moss, but its history dates back to 1860, when an endeavor was made to found a city, St. Paul, at the mouth of the river. It became a good shipping point, . however, and a wharf was built and warehouses «erected, and it is now a narrow gauge railroad station between Salinas and Watsonville.
Santa Rita, near where now stands the county .hospital, is the third oldest town in the county. The Santa Rita rancho, purchased by Richard F. Hall in 1855, was sold in 1860 for $13,000 to J. M. Soto, for the purpose of founding a town. Holding out inducements to residents he suc- «ceeded in getting Dr. Archer to locate there in 1869, together with quite a number of Mexican families. A newspaper was published there and a little Catholic chapel erected on top of the hill, which later burned down. The high table-land made an ideal spot for a town, and the railroad -demanded rights of way, but Soto asked such high prices for his lands, that the company changed their route to Salinas.
Along the line of the Southern Pacific, towns quickly sprang up, one of the first being Gonza- les. It was laid out in 1874 by Dr. M. E. Gon- zales, Charles C. Healey being the surveyor. It is now a town of some five hundred population with banks, schools. churches and a race track.
Just beyond lies Soledad, in the center of the rich and fertile plain known as Llano del Reija. Here lies, in ruins, the old Mission "Our Lady of Solitude," and when the Mission lands were sold by order of the Mexican government, Feleciano Soberanes bought the land, comprising 8,900 acres, for $800. The railroad reached that point in December, 1872, and it was the last station until 1886. At this point the traveler was com- pelled to take stages for all southern points, the Pacific Stage Company owning the line.
Near Soledad lies Fort Romie, the Salvation Army headquarters for "God's Poor" willing to work without money to buy land. The tract, consisting of 600 acres is divided into twenty- acre lots, and any willing worker may rent the land by making yearly payments. The Army furnish him tools, seed, a house and even food installments and water for irrigation. There are now about 150 on the tract. Some have families, and each man is independent, and in no way bound to the Army except as to land rents. So far the project is a success, although there have been many changes in the past eleven years ; some were told to leave, others got tired, and again others were too lazy to work, but the honest and industrious are prospering.
Within the county limits there are two famous springs, Paraiso, near Soledad, and Tassajara Hot Springs, forty-five miles from Monterey, south. Both of these springs are famous for their curative properties, especially rheumatism and kidney complaints. The Indians, it is said, considered these waters a cure for all diseases.
CHAPTER X. MONTEREY COUNTY LAND TITLES.
BY G. A. DAUGHERTY.
T HOSE who are fortunate enough to own lands in Monterey county are interested in 'knowing that their titles are clear. They usually are of the idea that when the United States had once issued a patent to the lands, that the title is good, and this is generally
true, if they are properly connected by mesne conveyance with the grantee of the United States. We have in this county what may be termed two classes of lands : first, lands which had been originally granted by the Mexican government to its citizens and afterwards confirmed by the
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United States, and which consist of what is known today as Spanish grants, besides several pueblo lots in the city of Monterey, which had been granted prior to the American occupation ; and second, what is now termed government lands and designated by section, township and range and title to which comes directly from the United States. This article will relate to the first class mentioned, the Spanish Grants.
One hundred twenty-five years ago the public domain of the United States was quite limited in extent as compared to our domain today ; consist- ing originally of the thirteen (not unlucky in this instance ) colonies, with the territory west of the Alleghany mountains in doubt ; it has grown by reason of the Florida purchase, the Louisiana purchase, the treaty with Great Britain defining one northern boundary, the annexation of Texas, the conquest of Mexico, the Gadsen purchase, the Alaska purchase, and later by the acquisition of its island provinces, so that with Great Britain we may say, the sun never sets on our domain.
Our beloved California, originally, was a part of Mexico, governed by Mexican laws, and in- habited by Mexicans. As a result of the Mexican war in 1845, the United States acquired, by con- quest and treaty, a great and valuable addition to her domain, of whose richness in minerals, fertil- ity of soil and equality of temperature, little at that time was known. However, many adventur- ers "followed the flag" (as they have done in re- cent years to the islands), to become proprietors of a portion of the newly acquired territory.
During the Mexican reign, many of its citizens had acquired property rights granted by the Mexican authorities. The records of these early grants of property under Mexican authority were mostly recorded in a book called "Solares" (town lots), kept in the city of Monterey at that time, and which is still preserved, the purpose of this record being set forth on the first page, a translation of which is as follows :
BOOK OF SOLARES OF MONTEREY
In which entry is made of the building sites granted by former Governor and Ayuntamientos of this Capital ; and where record is made of such as this Ayuntamiento and succeeding ones will grant.
Thus ordered-there being no document in ex- istence in these Archives-which accredits the ownership of each resident by the Il. Ayunta- miento of this Capital in the year 1835.
In Monterey on the 7th day of February in the year 1835, at a regular session of this Illustrious Ayuntamiento, it was proposed by the Honorable the First Alcalde-citizen David E. Spence- that a book be purchased wherein the grants (concessions) of Solares by this Illustrious Ayuntamiento made, may be duly entered; and a record made of all those already granted- from the establishment of this Presidio to this date ; as there does not exist a single document among the Archives of the Ayuntamiento where- by the ownership of each one of those in pos- session can be known and confirmed.
The adoption of this measure is indispensable, so that in time every proprietor can make known the true foundation (of title) for the purposes he may desire. And the other members having heard the weighty reasons advanced therefor, ap- proved the purchase of this book-there being none other "in folio" more "a propo."
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand with the Hon. Alcalde, the same day and year (above written).
Dav. E. Spence.
Sec. FCO DEL CASTILLO, Negrete.
This book of "Solares" contains a record of grants of "town lots" and in addition thereto, tracts of land designated as ranchos, made by the Illustrious Ayuntamiento or other Mexican au- thorities to various persons, and which grants form the basis of title to nearly all of the valuable farming lands of Monterey county. The grants did not vest absolute title in the grantees, except as to the town lots. The agricultural lands were granted under conditions which had to be per- formed before an absolute title would be given, and these were afterwards confirmed by the United States.
These grants were generally very crude in form, and indefinite as to location or boundaries, leaving plenty of room for disputes and expan- sion of boundaries, which furnished opportunity for litigation in later years.
To give the reader an idea of the form in in- definite character of these grants of town lots, translations of a few are here given :
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
SENOBA
On the fifth day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, the Il. Ayuntamiento granted to Da Seferino Senoba a lot of fifty varas frontage and of fifty varas in depth, situated a little ahead of Jose Pacomios' house ; and having duly made record of same, the original document (of title) is returned to grantee, to whom belongs the lot (herein grant- ed.)
DAV. E. SPENCE.
JOSE MARIA MALDONADO. Sec.
MANZANELI.
On the 16th day of March (in the year) '39 (i. e. 1839) there was granted to Dona Antonia Manzaneli a lot of twenty varas frontage on line with the left side of the mud wall of Cooper towards the south.
SIMEON CASTRO.
ESTRADA.
On the twenty-second day of December, 1841, there was granted to Rafael Estrada, a citizen, . a lot of one hundred varas square (situated) to- wards the rear of Mr. Jorge Kinlock's house.
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