USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume I > Part 2
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RESUME OF EARLY EXPLORATIONS
Many things have happened in the history of the world since Vasco Nunez de Balboa first looked down upon the Pacific Ocean on the 25th day of September, 1513-almost 415 years ago. The world of today is far removed from the civilization of that age. Balboa and the ad- venturesome explorers who followed him, and extended their discoveries farther and farther north little dreamed of what the passing centuries would bring to this western shore-land. That visualization was an impossibility to them; as much so as it is for us to try to move aside the curtains and attempt to picture this wonderful land as it will appear and be in but a short fifty or one hundred years hence. The progress at first was slow and almost imperceptible ; but the advancement speeded up as the years passed, until in very recent years important events have come so fast and thick that occurrences of real import may readily be overlooked or slighted in any history of our state or even of our county.
An exhaustive review of the early explorations and discoveries in California is not contemplated here. That more properly belongs to the realm of a general state history. But a brief resume will be outlined down to the time of American dominion and the establishment of Alameda County. Mexico was conquered by Cortez in 1519, and in 1537 Zimens discovered Lower California. In 1542 Rodriguez Cabrillo came northward to San Diego, and explored as far north as the Colum-
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bia River. Following Cabrillo came the famous Captain Drake, later known as Sir Francis Drake, who explored the San Franicsco bay region in 1579. A few years later Spain took possession of Lower California. This occupation was such in name until the colonization by the Jesuits in 1697. In 1769 the first mission in Upper California was established at San Diego by Father Junipero Serra. From that date the Spaniards retained undisputed dominion over the country for a number of years. English occupation, however, was threatened at times.
SAN JOSE MISSION ESTABLISHED
The expedition of Portola (the first governor of Upper California ) in 1769 undoubtedly brought him to points from which he could at least see the shores of Alameda County; but it was not until 1772 that the county was first explored by the Spaniards. This exploring party was under command of Captain Bautista, and, in addition, 'consisted of Lieutenant Fages, Father Crespi, a dozen soldiers and two servants. They left Monterey March 20th, and on the 26th were in San Leandro Bay. The following day they climbed the hills of East Oakland and also tramped the Berkeley hills. The first spot settled by the Spaniards was at the Mission San Jose, which was begun on the 11th of June, 1779, and dedicated on the 27th of that month. The founder of the mission was Father Fernin Francisco de Lamen, a Franciscan missionary. The first structure at the mission was a small chapel, soon afterwards en- larged and the grounds surrounded by a strong adobe wall. Storehouses and workshops were constructed; water from Mission Creek was uti- lized for milling purposes; vines and trees were planted; grain was cultivated; and the work of converting the natives commenced. The Mission Dolores de San Francisco was founded October 7, 1776, thus antedating the one in this county nearly twenty-one years.
While the Spanish and Mexican governments held their power over this territory, the Mission San Jose was the scene of all religious ob- servances and public festivities. The inhabitants of the Contra Costa, which included the land now in this county, were amenable to the juris- diction of San Francisco, however reluctantly, they were obliged to perform their duties as citizens owing to the inconvenience of reach- ing the other side of the Bay. But the Mission town of San Jose was their rendezvous for all religious rites and church gatherings. This historic mission attained a degree of prosperity not excelled by any
MISSION SAN JOSE Built after the earthquake of 1869
(Courtesy of the Cakland Mus 'um
MISSION SAN JOSE Founded June 11, 1797, by Padre Lasuen at a place called Oroyson
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other northern settlement of its kind. It made a large number of Indian converts ; its herds of cattle, sheep and horses exceeded those of its neighbors, Dolores and Santa Clara; and it prospered in agricultural pursuits. After the decree of secularization in 1834 this mission, like the others which had been established, began to decline. It was not until after this decree that the ranchos began to be settled upon, al- though the grant to Peralta of the Rancho de San Antonio was an exception. At the time of this decree the Mission San Jose had grown until its cattle numbered about 25,000; its sheep, goats and hogs, 19,000; its horses and mules, 1,200; and an estate of some 30,000 acres of valuable land was under its domain. When the humane and unselfish government of the missionary father ceased, Don Jose Vallejo became the first administrator. Among the early lords of the soil of the early history of Alameda County who were wont to gather at the mission with their families and retainers, and whose names are prom- inently mentioned in connection with the earlier events of Alameda County were the Peraltas, the Castros, the Higueras, the Bernals, Soto, Estudillo, Alviso, Noreiga, Sunol, Vallejo, Pacheco, Amador, Liver- more, and many more after the advent of the Americans. Until long after the coming of the Americans the Mission San Jose was the only town or settlement in the county.
RUSSIANS SETTLE IN CALIFORNIA
An event occurred in January, 1811, which caused uneasiness to the Spanish authorities of the time, and which proved a source of dis- quiet for years thereafter. A Russian ship from Alaska, under the pretext that a supply of water had been denied it at San Francisco, put into Bodega Bay. Alexander Kuskoff, the commander, claimed that he had purchased a small tract of land bordering the bay from the Indians, and insisted upon remaining. General Vallejo later referred to them as the first "squatters" in California. Madrid was informed of this occupancy, and an order was issued by the supreme government for the Russians to depart. The order was disregarded, and the Rus- sians moved up the coast a few miles north of the mouth of the Russian River, where they constructed a stockade fort, later known as Fort Ross. There they remained until 1840, maintaining a semi-commercial and semi-military settlement. When the colony embarked for Sitka it num- bered some four hundred men, women and children. Commercial deal-
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ings between the Spanish and Mexican families who resided within the present confines of Alameda County were not of uncommon oc- curence.
SPANISH AUTHORITY OVERTHROWN
The dominion of Spain over the two Californias ceased in 1822, when Gen. Santa Anna headed a successful revolt against Iturbide and the Spanish authorities. Mexico established her independence, and a federal constitution was adopted in 1824, under which the two Cali- fornias became a territory with representation and rights in the national congress. California was thereupon governed by a political chief or executive, aided by a council known as the Territorial Deputation. During the Mexican revolution, Pablo Vicente de Sola was the colonial governor, and he was continued in power, having given his support to the rebellion. He was succeeded by Luis Arguello, and in 1825 the office was filled by Jose Maria Echeandia, with whom the opposition to further the spread of the mission system was originated. The decree of secularization passed November 20, 1833, caused a complete revolu- tion in the ecclesiastical government of California, led to the final over- throw of the missionary fathers, brought about the liberation of the Indians, and caused the final distribution and partition of the mission lands and sale of the livestock. Between this period and the American occupation most of the valuable land grants were made and the better portion of the county claimed by private parties.
AN AMERICAN COMMODORE CAPTURES MONTEREY
England and France were watching affairs in California, and it was believed that each had designs for extending their possessions in this direction. A French fleet was in the Pacific; and British vessels were at Callao, Peru in 1842. An American Commodore was also at that port in command of a squadron of four vessels. This American officer, Com. Ap Catesby Jones, through misleading newspaper ac- counts and the actions of the British fleet, believed that the latter was proceeding to California to occupy it. Commodore Jones, therefore, left Callao on September 7, 1842, and hastened northward. On October 19 he entered the harbor at Monterey with the man-of-war "United States" and the "Cyane." He sent a Captain Armstrong ashore, with an interpreter, to demand of Governor Alvarado the immediate sur-
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render of the entire coast of California, upper and lower, to the United States government. He assured the inhabitants of the protection of their lives, persons and property; but gave the governor only until nine o'clock the following morning to reach a decision. At midnight the governor sent a delegation aboard the man-of-war to arrange terms of surrender. The next morning the American flag was hoisted, the fort returning the salute of the American guns. A few days passed in which the naval officer had a chance to study his actions and to arrive at a more mature judgment ; and he became convinced that an error of judgment had perhaps been committed. So on the 28th of the month Commodore Jones hauled down the flag he had raised, and substituted the Mexican, saluted it and proceeded to make a report of his actions to headquarters at Washington. He then proceeded to Los Angeles to meet with General Micheltorena, successor to Governor Alvardo, where a conference was held between the two on January 19, at the Palacio de Don Abel. Before the grand ball and festivities of the evening, the general presented the American naval officer with written demands, among which were the following two: "Thomas Ap C. Jones will deliver 1,500 complete infantry uniforms to replace those of nearly one-half of the Mexican force, which have been ruined in the violent march and the continued rains while they were on their way to recover the port thus invaded." "Jones to pay $15,000 into the national treas- ury for expenses incurred from the general alarm; also a complete set of musical instruments in place of those ruined on this occasion."
When the dancing ceased at the rising of the sun the next morning the American officer took his departure, returning the unsigned de- mands. His departure, it is related, took place "amidst the beating of drums, the firing of cannon and the ringing of bells, saluted by the general and his wife from the door of their quarters." When the Mexican envoy at Washington learned the details of the exploits of the energetic naval commander, he demanded the recall of Jones. The Washington government complied with the demands. Capt. Alexander J. Dallas was then dispatched to relieve Jones. Dallas died at Callao June 3, 1844, and thereupon Com. John Drake Sloat assumed com- mand.
THE DAYS OF FREMONT AND THE "BEAR FLAG"
It was not long after the incidents relative to Monterey occurred that another American and a small band participated in events that
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have been written indelibly into the history of the state. Not only does the name of Gen. (then capt. ) John C. Fremont stand out in our chronicles of the great west, but also the name of another of his party-the famous Kit Carson, scout, Indian fighter, and pioneer trail blazer. These two men and their companions traversed the territory embraced in the present confines of Alameda County during the ad- venturesome days of 1846 and 1847. Tradition has it that Fremont and some of his men camped on the present site of the City of Alameda preceding the raising of the "Bear Flag," and many a youthful figure (and older ones, too) have stood under the old oak tree which was named the "Fremont Oak" in honor of that famous character. M. W. Wood, who, in 1883, published a history of the county, treated this subject with thoroughness, and his account is worthy of repeating at this later date:
In the month of March, 1845, Brevet-Captain John Charles Fremont departed from Washington for the purpose of organizing a third ex- pedition for the topographical survey of Oregon and California, which, having effected, he left Bent's Fort on or about April 16th, his com- mand consisting of sixty-two men, among them being Kit Carson and six Delaware Indians. Passing through the Sierra Nevada in Decem- ber, they arrived at Sutter's Fort on the 10th of that month, which, after a stay of only two days, they left, for Fremont was in search of a missing party of his explorers. It is not possible here to follow him in his long wanderings over mountain and through valley on his humane undertaking, but not being able to discover the whereabouts of Talbot and Walker, and having lost most of his horses, or consumed the greater number of his cattle, forty head of which he had procured from Sutter, he determined to retrace his steps to the hospitable dwelling of that pioneer which he reached, January 15, 1846. On the 17th Fremont left Sutter's Fort in a launch for Yerba Buena, where he arrived on the 20th; the 21st saw him and Captain Hinckley sailing up the Bay of San Francisco in a whale-boat to the embarcadero at Alviso, and on the 22nd they proceeded to the Pueblo of San José, where they received intelligence of the lost expedition being encamped on the San Joaquin, whither he at once dispatched two parties under Kit Carson to guide them into Santa Clara Valley. Fremont and Hinckley then visited the New Almaden quicksilver mines, and returned to San Francisco. On the 24th Captain Fremont was once more on the move. He started from Yerba Buena and that evening halted at the rancho of Francisco Sanchez; the following evening he passed on the hill-side near the
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laguna, between Suñol and Pleasanton; the next night at the home of Don José Joaquin Gomez, on the Cañada of San Juan, and on the morning of January 27, 1846, reached Monterey. In company with Thomas O. Larkin, United States Consul, he now paid a visit to General Castro, and stated the cause of his journey-he was in need of pro- visions, and requested that his party might pass unmolested through the country. The request was granted verbally; however, when asked for the necessary passport in writing the General excused himself on the plea of indisposition, but hinted that no further assurance was needed than "his word." A call was also made upon the Prefect of the district, Don Manuel Castro, the same statement made, and he too de- clared everything to be "all right." Fremont then received funds and provisions from the Consul and made all haste to San José, where he was joined by his band, safely led from the San Joaquin by Kit Carson, but not finding there such stores as were needed by him, he determined to retrace his steps to Monterey, and, after some fifteen or twenty days, camped in the Santa Clara Valley, on the ranch of Captain William Fisher, known as the Laguna Seca.
While here a Mexican made his appearance and laid claim to certain of Fremont's horses on the bold plea that they had been stolen; now observe how from a little great things spring! On February 20th the Captain received a summons to appear before the Alcade of San José to answer to a charge of horse-stealing, an action which brought forth, the next day, the following characteristic communication, which the reader will, no doubt, find interesting.
CAMP NEAR ROAD TO SANTA CRUZ, February 21, 1846.
SIR: I received your communication of the 20th informing me that a complaint had been lodged against me in your office for refusing to deliver up certain animals of my band, which are claimed as having been stolen from this vicinity about two months since, and that the plaintiff further complains of having been insulted in my camp. It can be proven on oath by thirty men here present that the animals pointed out by the plaintiff have been brought in my band from the United States of North America. The insult of which he complains, and which was au- thorized by myself, consisted in his being driven or ordered to im- mediately leave the camp. After having been detected in endeavoring to obtain animals under false pretenses, he should have been well satis- fied to escape without a severe horse-whipping. There are four animals
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in my band which were bartered from the Tulare Indians by a division of my party which descended the San Joaquin Valley. I was not then present, and if any more legal owners present themselves, these shall be immediately given or delivered upon proving property. It may save you trouble to inform you that, with this exception, all the animals in my band have been purchased and paid for. You will readily under- stand that my duties will not permit me to appear before the magistrates in your towns on the complaint of every straggling vagabond who may chance to visit my camp. You inform me that unless satisfaction be immediately made by the delivery of the animals in question, the com- plaint will be forwarded to the Governor. I beg you will at the same time inclose to his Excellency a copy of this note.
"I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, "J. C. FREMONT, U. S. Army. "To Sr. Don Dolores Pacheco, Alcalde of San José."
Hence, the intrepid Pathfinder moved, by easy marches, in the di- rection of the Santa Cruz Mountains, which he crossed about ten miles from San José at the gap where the Los Gatos Creek enters the plain; he then made his way towards the coast, and on the 1st of March encamped on the rancho of Edward Petty Hartnell. While here he received, late in the afternoon of the 5th, at the hands of a Mexican officer, attended by an armed escort, a dispatch from Don Manuel Castro, Prefect of the district, charging him (Fremont) with having entered the towns and villages under his (the Prefect's) jurisdiction, in contempt of the laws of the Mexican Government, and ordering him out of the country, else compulsory measures would be taken to compel him to do so. On the receipt of this communication Fremont did not display much hesitancy in arriving at a conclusion. That evening he struck his camp, and ascending "Hawks Peak," a rough looking moun- tain in the Salinas Range, about thirty miles from Monterey, and two thousand feet above the sea level, commenced the construction of a rude fort, protected by felled trees, and stripping one standing near by of its branches nailed the "Star Spangled Banner" to its highest point-full forty feet above their heads-and the morning of the 6th found him awaiting further developments.
Let us now take a glance at the movements of Castro. On the day that Fremont had fairly established himself on Hawks Peak the Gen- eral communicated the accompanying letter to the Minister of Marine in Mexico: "In my communication of the 5th ultimo, I announced to
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you the arrival of a captain, at the head of fifty men, who came, as he said, by order of the Government of the United States, to survey the limits of Oregon. This person presented himself at my head- quarters some days ago, accompanied by two individuals (Thos. O. Larkin, Consul, and Capt. William A. Leidesdorff, Vice-Consul), with the object of asking permission to procure provisions for his men that he had left in the mountains, which was given him, but two days ago, March 4th, I was much surprised at being informed that this person was only two days' journey from this place ( Monterey). In conse- quence, I immediately sent him a communication, ordering him, on the instant of its receipt, to put himself on the march and leave the depart- ment, but I have not received an answer, and in order to make him obey, in case of resistance, I sent out a force to observe their opera- tions and to-day, the 6th, I march in person to join it and to see that the object is attained. The hurry with which I undertake my march does not permit me to be more diffuse, and I beg that you will inform his Excellency, the President, assuring him that not only shall the national integrity of this party be defended with the enthusiasm of good Mexicans, but those who attempt to violate it will find an im- pregnable barrier in the valor and patriotism of every one of the Cali- fornians. Receive the assurance of my respect, etc. God and Liberty."
We left Captain Fremont in his hastily constructed fort, every avenue to which was commanded by the trusty rifles of his men, calmly awaiting the speedy vengeance promised in the communication of the Prefect. To carry it out Don José had summoned a force of two hun- dred men to the field, strengthened by one or two cannon of small calibre, but nothing beyond a demonstration was attained. In the language of the late General Revere (then Lieutenant), "Don José was rather in the humor of the renowned King of France, who, with twenty thou- sand men, marched up the hill, and then marched down again." Castro's next move was the concocting of an epistle to Fremont, desiring a cessation of hostilities, and making the proposition that they should join forces, declare the country independent, and with their allied armies march against Governor Pio Pico, at that time at Los Angeles. To John Gilroy, an old Scotch settler, was entrusted the delivery of this exquisite piece of treachery. He reached Hawks Peak on the night of the 10th, but found the fort untenanted. Fremont had wearied, after three days' waiting for General Castro's attack, which, not being made, he struck his camp, threw away all useless articles that might impede a forced march, and the morning of the 11th found him in the valley
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of the San Joaquin. Gilroy, on his return related his tale of the camp- fires still alight, the discarded pack-saddles and no Fremont, a cir- cumstance which so elated the courageous Castro that he at once re- solved on attacking the fort, which he was the first to enter. After performing prodigies of valor and sacking the inclosure, he sat down on one of Fremont's left-off pack-saddles, and penned a dispatch to Monterey descriptive of the glorious victory he had gained, while his return need not be looked for until his promise of driving Fremont from the department, long ago given, should be fulfilled.
And so matters for a time rested. The American settlers began to feel far from safe, and should the necessity for defense arise, no time should be lost in preparing for the emergency; their action was the cause of the raising of the Bear Flag.
About June 1, 1846, General Castro, with Lieutenant Francisco de Arci, his Secretary, left the Santa Clara Mission, where they had en- sconced themselves after following in Fremont's wake through that district, and passing through Yerba Buena, crossed the bay to the Mission of San Rafael, and there collected a number of horses, which he directed Arci to take to Sonoma, with as many more as he could capture on the way, and from there proceed with all haste back to the Santa Clara Mission by way of Knight's Landing and Sutter's Fort. These animals were intended to be used by Castro against Fremont and Governor Pico, both of whom had questioned and defied his author- ity. On June 5th, Castro transferred his base of operations from Santa Clara to Monterey, but while en route back to Santa Clara on the 12th, he received the intelligence by special courier that his aide had been surprised and taken prisoner on the 10th by a party of adventurers who had also seized a large number of the horses that he had in charge. Here was a dilemma! Castro's caligraphic education had been woe- fully neglected-it is said he could only paint his signature-and being without his amanuensis, he retraced his steps to Monterey, and there compounded a letter, with the assistance of Don Juan B. Alvarado, to the Prefect, Manuel Castro, saying that the time had come when their differences should be laid aside, and conjoint action taken for the de- fense and protection of their common country, at the same time re- questing that he should collect as large a number of men and horses as he could and despatch them to Santa Clara, whither he then returned.
When Lieutenant Arci left Sonoma with the caballada of horses and mares, crossing the dividing ridge, he passed up the Sacramento Valley to Knight's Landing on the left bank of the Sacramento River,
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about fifteen miles from the present Sacramento City [this ferry was kept by William Knight, who left Missouri, May 6, 1841, and arrived in California on the 10th of November of the same year. Receiving a grant of land, he settled at the point known as Knight's Landing, Yolo County, of to-day, and died at the mines on the Stanislaus River in November, 1849], on reaching which he met Mrs. Knight, to whom, on account of her being born of the country, and therefore thought to be trustworthy, he confided the secret of the expedition. To contain such a secret was too much for any ordinary feminine bosom; she im- parted the news to her husband, who, in assisting the officer to cross his horses, gave him fair words so as to lull suspicion, and then, be- striding his fleetest horse, made direct for Captain Fremont's camp, at the confluence of the Feather and Yuba rivers, where he arrived- early in the morning of June 9th. Here Knight, who found some twenty settlers, that had arrived earlier than he, discussing matters, communi- cated to Fremont and those assembled the fact that Lieutenant Arci had the evening before, the 8th of June, crossed at his landing, bound to Santa Clara, via the Cosumnes River ; that Arci had told Mrs. Knight, in confidence, that the animals he had in charge were to be used by Castro in expelling the American settlers from the country, and that it was also the intention to fortify Bear River Pass above the ranch of William Johnson, thereby putting a stop to immigration, a menace of Castro's which was strengthened by the return to Sutter's Fort, on June 7th, of a force that had gone out to chastise the Mokelumne Indians, who had threatened to burn the settlers' crops, being incited thereto, presumably, by Castro.
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