USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume I > Part 16
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During 1861 the county supervisors levied taxes to the extent of $35,000 to dredge the Oakland bar. In 1862 an attempt was made to take a part of Washington township away from the county and place it back in Santa Clara County, but the efforts failed. The company of dragoons organized at Centerville were mustered into federal service in October, 1862, and became a part of the Second Massachusetts Cavalry. They were mustered out in August, 1865.
The first legal execution for murder in the county occurred May 9, 1862, at high noon, when Edward W. Bonney, paid the extreme penalty at San Leandro for the murder of August G. Hirsch. At the meeting of the supervisors in May an ad valorem tax of 15 cents on each $100 worth of property was assessed, and a $2 poll-tax on each male inhabi- tant between 21 and 60 was also imposed. San Antonio suffered a fire on May 22, in which three houses, a saloon, a meat market, and a black-
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smith shop were destroyed. During October books for the subscription of $3,000,000 worth of stock in the Central Pacific Railroad were opened in Sacramento. In September and October citizens of the county subscribed over twelve thousand dollars for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers, under the leadership of a committee consisting of J. A. Mayhew, W. W. Crane, Jr., Noble Hamilton, I. A. Amerman and Socrates Huff.
During 1863 the Castro rancho passed into the hands of A. B. Grogan, of San Francisco, who paid $130,000 for it. During 1864 Sheriff Harry N. Morse completed the enrollment of all men of military age within the county, and his report showed a total of 3,008. For the first time in the history of the county, the assessment rolls for 1864-65 placed Oakland township in the lead of all others for total valuation of property. Oakland's assessments then totaled $1,396,910.
Construction work on the Western Pacific Railroad from San Jose to Stockton, crossing Alameda County, was commenced early in 1865. The last track of the San Francisco and Alameda Railroad was also laid in March, thus bringing the time of travel between San Francisco to San Leandro down to an hour and fifteen minutes. The fare for the trip between these points was 75 cents. It was subsequently reduced to 50 cents; and to 25 cents from San Francisco to Alameda. In April the contract for the completion of the road from San Leandro to Hay- wards was let, and on August 25th this line was finished. In April the Oakland Railroad also extended its line to Larue's wharf in Brooklyn, beyond which it did not go until purchased by the Central Pacific Rail- road Company. So the year 1865 was an important one in the county from the viewpoint of increased transportation facilities. The year was also marked by the formation of the Contra Costa Water Com- pany, with plans to bring the water of Temescal Creek into Oakland. Hayward, San Lorenzo and Brooklyn formed home guard companies during the year. The new steamer Alameda was launched in Decem- ber, and placed on the ferry service.
One of the severest earthquakes ever felt in this part of California shook the county on Wednesday morning, October 21, 1868, shortly before 8 o'clock. Several lives were lost in San Francisco. Oakland received but a slight shock. The three-story Wilcox Building-the tallest in Oakland at that time-and standing at the corner of Broad- way and Ninth, merely had some of the cement broken from its outer walls. The Holmes Building, Eighth and Broadway, suffered some damage, as did several residences. The rear wall of the Session Build-
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ing, Broadway and First, was badly damaged; and windows on the west side of Broadway between Fifth and Ninth were broken. Other build- ings received slight damages. Buildings in Alameda were shaken con- siderably. At San Leandro the shock seemed to be still more severe; and J. W. Josselyn, a deputy in the treasurer's office, was crushed to death in the ruins of the courthouse. The upper story of the building was in ruins. The shake-up revealed the fact that the building had been improperly constructed. Five prisoners in the county jail escaped injury. The Beatty House and the Estudillo House, San Lorenzo's two principal hotels, were badly damaged. Many buildings in Hay- ward were damaged. Transportation facilities for the day were de- layed by the fact that the drawbridge on the S. F. and O. R. R. was thrown out of place about eight inches, and no train left Oakland, as most of the cars at that time were in San Antonio. Passengers for San Francisco had to take the Louise from the foot of Broadway.
In December the county supervisors appointed a special committee to purchase fifty acres of ground from Mr. Puff for the county infirm- ary. The land decided upon is situated between San Leandro and Hay- ward.
CENTRAL PACIFIC ENTERS OAKLAND
The last rail in the construction work of the Central Pacific rail- road was laid October 29, 1869, in Oakland, and the first locomotive entered the town shortly after ten o'clock on that morning. The loco- motive, named "Reindeer," pulled a construction train down to the point. On the 8th of November the first passenger train left the Point; and shortly before noon of the same day two trains arrived from the east. This event was of great importance to this part of the state.
The new road was but six days old when a serious accident happened at Simpson's Station, in Brooklyn township. It was caused by a col- lision between the train of the Alameda and Hayward road, going west, and the eastbound train on the Western, or Central Pacific. It hap- pened on Sunday morning, November 14th. Fourteen persons were killed, and twenty-four injured.
In July, 1870, the post office at Washington Corners was estab- lished, and Timothy Rix was named postmaster. During the summer Governor Stanford purchased Warm Springs from A. A. Cohen, who had purchased it a year before for $100,000.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
OAKLAND SECURES THE COUNTY SEAT
In the early seventies citizens of Oakland began the agitation for the removal of the county seat from San Leandro. The question was a heated source of argument for a couple of years throughout the county, and finally culminated in a petition being filed in March, 1873, signed by 1,355 voters asking that the supervisors call an election for the purpose of voting upon the much-discussed issue. March 29th was set as the day for the casting of votes. The outcome was a foregone conclusion. San Leandro received but 1,180 votes, to 2,254 cast for the new choice -Oakland. Alameda was the only place north of San Leandro which did not give Oakland a majority. In accordance with the vote, the coun- ty supervisors visited Oakland on April 5th to look over the several sites suggested for the new seat of government. These were the City Hall, the Broadway plazas, and one in the old town of Brooklyn, or East Oakland. Independence Square had been suggested for a site in the latter place. Larue also offered to give a site there, in case of the rejection of Independence Square. Councilman Larue, of Oakland, of- fered a block of land on Adams Avenue, numbered 22 on the map of the old town of San Antonio, and $10,000 in money, for the selection of a site there. This offer was accepted, and there was much rejoicing in old Brooklyn, although the new site was a mile from the city hall in Oakland, and there was much indignation among the residents of Oak- land proper, which had recently annexed Brooklyn.
On June 26, 1873, the county records were removed to the new site, at what is now East Fourteenth Street and Twentieth Avenue, in Old Brooklyn, which was about that time becoming known as East Oak- land, while court action and legislative moves continued to settle the exact location of the county seat. Temporary buildings had been erec- ted by the people of Brooklyn on Lot No. 21. The main building was a two-story frame structure, which housed the court-room, a room for the supervisors, and offices for the sheriff, county judge, auditor, tax collector, district attorney, and county superintendent of schools. The second building was of brick, one story high, with iron shutters. This was the Hall of Records, and included the offices of the treasurer and clerk. The first meeting of the supervisors there was on July 5th. In- junction proceedings were then before the Supreme Court. The board of supervisors at that time stood five to one in favor of Brooklyn's dreams, thus standing with the sentiment of most of the county out- side of Oakland. A new board, meeting for the first time on October
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
6th, reduced the majority four to three. Thus the contest remained until 1874.
On March 25, 1874, the legislature passed a bill, which was signed by the governor, authorizing the city of Oakland to deed to the county the old Washington and Franklin plazas on Broadway for building pur- poses, and authorizing a re-conveyance of the Brooklyn property to Larue. The old jail on Block 22 in Brooklyn was torn down, and re- constructed on Washington Plaza. The first meeting of the board of supervisors in the new court house on Broadway was held Monday, June 14, 1875, thus closing a long and troublesome contest which at times was very bitter.
FIRST LOCAL OPTION FIGHT
The legislature of 1874 passed a bill patterned after an Ohio law providing that townships might vote upon the question of adopting a license system for saloons, or for local option. Within a month after- wards, on April 22, 276 citizens of Washington township presented a petition to the supervisors, asking for an election upon the question of "license or no license." The petition was granted, and a date fixed for the election. The other townships of the county soon followed the lead of Washington, and thus was held the following election in the county, the first of record :
Township
Date of Election
For License Against License
Washington
May 23, 1874
184
167
Oakland
May 30, 1874
1,038
1,291
Brooklyn
.June 6, 1874
267
350
Murray
. June 27, 1874
384
170
Alameda
. July 2, 1874
201
108
Eden
July 11, 1874
305
244
Totals
2,379
2,330
Women of the county took an active part in this first test of the prohibition forces. Saloons in Oakland and Brooklyn did not close at the time appointed, and 44 warrants were served. Convictions were secured, but appeals to the supreme court resulted in a decision declar- ing the law unconstitutional.
Oakland citizens in 1875 rejoiced over another appropriation of one
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
hundred thousand dollars for the improvement of the harbor. This was the second appropriation of its kind for the benefit of the local waterways, which had been improved the best they could up to this time by small sums raised by private individuals, assisted in some cases by county and state aid.
EARLY BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS
There was no board of supervisors during the first two years of the existence of Alameda County. The Court of Sessions acted in that capacity until the passage of the act of March 9, 1855. By this act the first board was appointed and consisted of Henry C. Smith, Wash- ington township; J. W. Dougherty, Murray township; S. D. Taylor, Eden township; J. L. Sanford, Clinton township; James Millington, Alameda township; and J. L. Sanford, Oakland township. Mr. Dough- erty was chosen as chairman of the first board. In October of that year another board was elected for the ensuing year, and commencing with that election until the one of 1882, the early boards were as follows :
1855-Henry C. Smith, Thomas Eagar, Henry Haile, George Fay, F. W. Lucas, S. D. Taylor.
1856-J. W. Dougherty, Thomas Eagar, Joseph R. Mason, Wil- liam Hayward, J. A. Hobart.
1857-J. W. Dougherty, F. K. Shattuck, James B. Larue, Joseph R. Mason, C. P. Wray.
1858-F. K. Shattuck, Jonathan Mayhew, S. M. Davis, Charles Duerr, A. A. Anderson.
1859-S. M. Davis, M. Fallon, A. A. Anderson, J. W. Dougherty, William Shinn.
1860-J. Lewelling, F. K. Shattuck, A. W. Swett, C. S. Eigenbrodt, Michael Murray.
1861-F. K. Shattuck, Henry Robinson, William Meek, C. S. Eigenbrodt, Michael Murray.
1862-William Meek, S. M. Davis, J. W. Martin, Howard Over- acker, Michael Murray.
1863-F. K. Shattuck, A. Cummings, R. S. Farrelly, Wm. Meek, H. Overacker, John Green.
1864-F. K. Shattuck, Louis Fasskings, R. S. Farrelly, William Meek, H. Overacker, John Green.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
1865-F. K. Shattuck, A. Cummings, R. S. Farrelly, H. Overacker, John Green, J. B. Marlin.
1866-F. K. Shattuck, R. S. Farrelly, J. B. Marlin, Wm. Threlfall, John Green.
1867-E. M. Smith, Duncan Cameron, F. K. Shattuck, John M. Horner, Daniel Inman, J. B. Marlin.
1868-F. K. Shattuck, E. M. Smith, J. B. Marlin, Daniel Inman, Wm. Whidden, Duncan Cameron.
1869-A. C. Henry, Louis Fasskings, Duncan Cameron, Wm. Hayward, M. W. Dixon, Thos. Scott.
1870-F. K. Shattuck, M. W. Dixon, Thos. Scott, Walter J. Strat- ton, F. L. Fasskings, R. S. Farrelly.
1871-F. K. Shattuck, Isham Case, W. B. Clement, J. B. Marlin, Howard Overacker, J. A. Neal.
1872-Elijah Bigelow, Isham Case, W. B. Clement, H. Overacker, J. A. Neal, J. B. Marlin.
1873-J. A. Neal, H. Overacker, J. B. Marlin, Isham Case, W. B. Hardy, P. S. Wilcox, F. K. Shattuck.
1874-Jas. Beazell, H. Overacker, J. B. Marlin, Isham Case, W. B. Hardy, O. H. Burnham, F. K. Shattuck.
1875-H. Overacker, Peter Pumyea, Jas. Beazell, J. B. Marlin, Isham Case, F. K. Shattuck, O. H. Burnham.
1876-Valentive Alviso (to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Jas. Beazell), J. A. Chase, W. C. Mason, H. Overacker, Peter Pumyea, J. B. Marlin, O. H. Burnham.
1877-John F. Smith, John Green, J. B. Marlin, J. A. Chase, W. C. Mason, H. Overacker, Peter Pumyea.
1878-John Green, H. Overacker, J. B. Marlin, W. C. Mason, Peter Pumyea, John F. Smith, J. B. Woolsey.
1879-John Green, H. Dusterberry, J. B. Marlin, W. C. Mason, F. F. Meyers, John F. Smith, J. B. Woolsey.
1880-John Green, H. Dusterberry, J. B. Marlin, W. B. Clement, F. F. Meyers, John F. Smith, W. S. McClane.
1881-John Green, H. Dusterberry, J. B. Marlin, W. B. Clement, D. C. Brown, J. J. Hanifin, W. S. McClane.
1882-John Green, H. Dusterberry, J. B. Marlin, W. B. Clement, D. C. Brown, J. J. Hanifin, W. S. McClane.
1883-Thomas Molloy, E. R. Jensen, Hiram Bailey, Henry Duster- berry, Malachi Fallon, J. J. Hanifin, James Keys.
Of the above supervisors, P. S. Wilcox resigned in 1874, and
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
George C. Potter received the appointment to fill the vacancy. Out- side of the appointment of Valentine Alviso on December 6, 1875, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James Beazell, the above men filled their terms as elected. At first there were but five members who constituted the board. In 1863 the number was increased to six; and in 1873 the number was increased to seven, one for each district.
EARLY-DAY LEGISLATORS
At the time Alameda County was created out of Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties Alameda Creek divided the two parent sub- divisions of the state. In 1853 the legislature met at Benicia, and the assemblymen from Santa Clara County were Henry C. Smith and W. S. Letcher. Horace W. Carpentier was the member from Contra Costa County. Other counties were represented in the senate by George B. Tingley. Carpentier, of course, was from Oakland; while Smith lived at New Haven, later changed to Alvarado.
Between 1853 and 1883 the state senators from this county in the order of elections were: Jacob Grewell, Sherman Day, S. B. Bell, R. A. Redman, A. M. Crane, W. W. Crane, Jr., Stephen G. Nye, Henry Rob- inson, Edward Tompkins, E. Gibbons, James Beazell, Nathan Porter, John W. Bones, Stephen G. Nye, E. H. Pardee, G. E. Whitney and Henry Vrooman. The county secured two state senators for the first time at the election of September 3, 1879, when Nye was returned to the senate after a number of years intervening between his first term, and E. H. Pardee was elected.
The county had but one assemblyman until 1862, when another member was secured. In 1875 its representation in the assembly was increased to three. The county's assembymen from the creation of the county to 1883, were as follows, in order of election: W. S. Letcher, H. C. Smith, Joseph S. Watkins, T. M. Combs, James B. Larue, J. G. Hobart, W. P. Rogers, F. K. Shattuck, J. B. Moore, S. B. McKee, Thomas Scott, Henry Robinson, Asa Walker, Thomas Eagar, John T. Wilson, A. M. Church, J. W. Dwinelle, E. D. Lewelling, Daniel Inman, Enoch H. Pardee, E. T. Crane, I. A. Amerman, W. J. Gurnett, M. W. Dixon, T. F. Bagge, D. W. Gelwicks, R. A. McClure, John E. Farnum, W. W. Camron, Charles N. Fox, George W. Tyler, Valen- tine Alviso L. B. Edwards, W. B. Clement, L. H. Brown, and L. H. Cary.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
OTHER COUNTY OFFICERS OF PIONEER DAYS
The first election in Alameda County after its creation was in May, 1853. Addison M. Crane was chosen county judge. A. N. Broder be- came the first elected sheriff. A. M. Church secured the office of county clerk. The district attorney's office fell to William H. Combs. The first treasurer was J. S. Marston, and Joseph S. Watkins was elected public administrator. The choice for coroner fell to William H. Chamberlain; while H. A. Higley was selected as the first county surveyor. George W. Goucher became the first county assessor; and W. W. Brier the first superintendent of schools. Alameda County was placed in the Third Judicial district, which also included the counties of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterey. Judge Craven P. Hester presided over this district until the office was abolished.
Justices of the peace and constables were elected by two elections in 1853-a part of them in May and a part on September 9th. The first justices of the peace chosen at these two elections were: John Stack, Calvin Rogers, Arthur Matthews, H. K. W. Clarke, William B. Fleming, John McMurty, A. W. Harris, A. Marrier, D. S. Lacy, I. S. Long, S. H. Robinson, Hiram M. Randall, Solomon P. Hopkins, Benjamin F. Ferris, Arunah Marshall, Asa Walker, Dewitt H. Per- kins. Judge Crane and Justices of the Peace A. Marshall and S. H. Robinson were named to constitute the Court of Sessions, which func- tioned with the powers later assumed by the board of supervisors upon its creation. The first constables were A. B. Atwell, D. N. Van Dyke, William H. Walker, George Carpenter, and George E. Bateman.
Samuel Bell McKee succeeded Judge Addison M. Crane at the election of September 2, 1857, as county judge. W. H. Glascock was the successor of Judge McKee; and in 1859 John A. Lent was elected to that office. Noble Hamilton was elected county judge in 1862, and held the office until Stephen G. Nye was chosen on October 16, 1867. He retained the office by successive reelections until the office was abol- ished in 1879.
The first Superior Judges were Addison M. Crane and W. E. Greene, both chosen for the newly created office on September 3, 1879.
William H. Combs, the first district attorney, was succeeded in turn up to 1883 by John S. Chipman, G. M. Blake, William Van Voorhies, William H. Glascock, W. W. Crane, Stephen G. Nye, George M. Blake, O. H. La Grange, S. P. Wright, A. A. Moore, J. R. Glas- cock, Henry Vrooman, E. M. Gibson, and S. P. Hall.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
At the election of September 5, 1855, H. M. Vesey was elected county clerk to succeed A. M. Church. This office was filled after Vesey by the following men in order until 1883: Joseph R. Mason, A. M. Church, Isaac A. Amerman, G. E. Smith, J. V. B. Goodrich, C. G. Reed, Andrew Ryder, and Truman H. Allen.
Until the election of September 1, 1869, the county clerk performed the duties of county recorder and auditor. At that time B. S. Marston was elected recorder and auditor, and served as such until the election of September 3, 1873. Thomas A. Smith became recorder on Septem- ber 1, 1875. P. B. Borein was elected to the office September 5, 1877, and served as such until F. D. Hinds was chosen on November 7, 1882. P. R. Borein was chosen as auditor on September 3, 1873; T. A. Smith in 1875; C. G. Reed in 1877; Andrew Ryder in 1879; and Thomas H. Allen in 1882.
Andrew H. Broder served as sheriff and tax collector until suc- ceeded by P. E. Edmundson after the election of September 2, 1857; and Edmundson served in the dual capacity until the election of Novem- ber 4, 1861, when J. A. Mayhew was the choice for sheriff. Harry N. Morse, about whom many stories have come down through the years regarding his popularity and daring, became sheriff for the first time on September 2, 1863. He held the office until the election of September 5, 1877, when Jeremiah Tyrrel was elected. Tyrrel was succeeded by Charles McCleverty at the contest of November 7, 1882.
The first county treasurer, J. S. Marston, was succeeded by Ben- jamin S. Marston. In 1855 P. E. Edmundson secured the office. C. C. Breyfogle and John W. Carrick were the next two. Between 1861 and 1871 the treasurer was also the tax collector, and during that time the offices were held by J. W. Carrick, Socrates Huff, R. A. McClure, and R. S. Farrelly. R. S. Farrelly continued as treasurer from the elec- tion of September 3, 1873, until succeeded by Joseph Becht in 1875. Charles E. Palmer was treasurer from May 15, 1876, until the election of November 2, 1882, when J. A. Webster was chosen as the county's custodian of funds. C. J. Stevens became tax collector in 1873; Joseph Becht in 1875 when the two offices were again united.
C. C. Breyfogle became the county's second assessor. In 1857 D. S. Lacy was elected; in 1859, M. G. Higgins; in 1861, Isham Case; in 1869, Edwin Hunt; and in 1873, L. C. Morehouse.
The first county coroners, after William H. Chamberlain, up to 1882, were L. N. Crocker, D. C. Porter, W. J. Barnes, James Self- ridge, W. J. Wentworth, E. P. Sanford, Sabin Harris, W. B. Clement,
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
George H. Fogg, W. J. Gurnett, S. H. Mather, William Helmer, W. W. Mckenzie, and W. T. Hamilton.
The surveyors succeeding Higley were J. T. Stratton, E. H. Dyer. T. O. Hopkins, W. F. Boardman, Luis Castro, Charles Duerr, Luis Castro again, and G. L. Nusbaumer.
Following Joseph S. Watkins as public administrator, in the order named, were: Edward Barnes, A. D. Eames, James R. McDonald, Harry Linden, Peter W. Randell, D. C. Keyes, D. Cameron, Charles Whipple, W. P. Gibbons, C. H. Townsend, W. P. Gibbons, C. B. Ruth- erford, S. I. Marston, C. B. Rutherford (returned), and Louis Gott- shall.
The pioneer superintendents of schools, following W. W. Briar, were: A. H. Myers, W. W. Briar, again; Henry Gibbons, J. D. Stromg, B. N. Seymour, Charles E. Rich, A. S. Fuller, W. F. B. Lynch, J. C. Gilson, A. L. Fuller and P. M. Fisher.
NOTARIES PUBLIC OF PIONEER DAYS
The number of notaries public were limited by law in California during its early history. In 1870 Alameda County was restricted to twelve. Oakland had four of the eleven serving. These were William Hoskins, Harry Linden, E. J. Kelly and Andrew J. Coffee. The other seven were C. D. Rogers, at Mission San Jose; August A. Anderson, Haywards; Lew Watkins, San Leandro; John R. Palmer, Pleasan- ton; Thomas A. Smith, Alameda; Lorenzo G. Yates, Centreville; and Thomas W. Millard. Their term of office was for two years, or until their successors were appointed. By 1875 the number allowed Alameda County had been increased to twenty-four, less than San Francisco's allotment. The Oakland notaries were M. T. Dusenburg, J. H. Red- stone, William Bolton, William Hoskins, George W. Edwards, W. M. Gilchrist, A. D. Thomson, and John W. Sessions. W. B. Mason, George E. Smith and A. B. Webster held commissions for East Oak- land. The nine outside Oakland at that time were A. M. Church, Liver- more; John P. Palmer, Pleasanton; George W. Bond, Centerville; T. W. Millard, Mission San Jose; A. G. Oakes, Haywards; T. A. Smith, Alameda; D. C. Owen, Alvarado; Curtis H. Lindley, Livermore; and L. G. Yates, Centreville.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
POSTMASTERS OF COUNTY, 1870 AND 1875
The federal census of 1870 gave Alameda County a population of 24,237, and Oakland 11,104. Alameda was credited with 1,557 inhab- itants, and the entire state had just passed the half million mark. The post offices and postmasters of the county in 1870 were as follows:
POST OFFICE
Alameda Alvarado
Brooklyn
Centreville
Dougherty's Station
Harrisburg Haywards, or Haywood
Mount Eden
Melita Mission San Jose Oakland
Pleasanton
San Leandro
San Lorenzo
POSTMASTER Arthur S. Barber Daniel C. Owens James A. Webster C. J. Stevens William Granless George W. Peacock William Hayward F. Brustgrun W. W. Armstrong J. P. Chamberlain George M. Yard Adolphus Bergham Richard C. Nabb J. L. Shipman
The post office at Hayward in old times was officially known as Haywood. When the town was incorporated in 1876 it did so under the name Haywards. Later the post office and name of the town be- came one and the same, but someone at Washington dropped the final s. The old spelling of Centerville was Centreville. In 1875 the post offices of the county and postmasters were:
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