USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume I > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
62 .
63
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
track, which in turn has given way to sites for large industrial plants) were the chief attractions of Emeryville; and a much shorter time when Fruitvale was truly made up of fruit ranches, and Piedmont was the site of dairy establishments. It is not a long time back to the time when the sites now occupied by the skyscrapers of Oakland's business section were a wilderness ; not nearly so long back to the time when a five-story business block was a marvel of advancement and progress.
EARLY EXPLORERS AND SETTLERS
Sergeant Ortega, a member of the exploring party of Gaspar de Portolá, first governor of California, which marched overland north- ward from the south to the San Francisco Bay region, is said to have reached the Alameda Creek in 1769. He came as far as about where the Town of Niles is located before being forced to return. The first party of white civilized men to explore the country bounded by the present lines of Alameda County was that under Lieutenant Fages. The party consisted of Lieutenant Fages, Father Crespi, twelve soldiers and two servants, and left Monterey on March 20, 1772. They reached San Leandro Bay on the 26th. Before proceeding as far north as where Antioch now stands, they tarried on the hills of East Oakland and Berkeley. Late on the afternoon of April 2, 1776-just a short time before the signing of our own Declaration of Independence-another party of Spanish cavaliers came up from the south and camped upon the townsite of Hayward. This party was under the leadership of Capt. Juan Bautista de Anza, and consisted of ten men, Lieut. Jose Moraga being second in command. It is believed that they possibly camped on a site opposite of where the B Street School now stands and where the future home of the Hill and Valley Club is to be located. Father Font was one of the members of this expedition and kept a journal of the trip.
Rivera had examined the present site of San Francisco in 1769, and on September 17, 1776, established the presidio and about one hundred and fifty persons were assembled there. On October 9, 1776, the Mis- sion Dolores was dedicated. Mention has already been made of the founding of the Mission de San Jose-"The Cradle of Alameda County"-on June 11, 1797. The Contra Costa region, which included this county, at that time was inhabited by four tribes of Indians, the Acalanes, the Carquinez, the Juchiyunes, and the Bolgones. In 1829,
64
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
when Amador was major domo at the Mission San Jose, about one thousand Indians resided there.
FIRST AMERICAN EMIGRANTS
The first Americans to journey overland to California came with Jedediah S. Smith, of New York, leader of the advance guard of fur trappers and hunters who later came to California. He arrived at San Gabriel Mission in December, 1826; and came as far north as the vicinity of the present location of Folsom in 1827. It is estimated that there were not more than a hundred "foreigners" in all of Upper Cali- fornia by 1830. Robert Livermore, the first American settler in this county, came to San Jose in 1820. By 1846 it is estimated that of the twelve to fourteen thousand inhabitants of California, exclusive of Indians, some two thousand were "foreigners." They were mainly in the Sacramento and Santa Clara valleys and in the district of Sonoma. They were unwelcome guests among the native Mexican families. In May, 1846, immediately before hostilities commenced, Governor Pico, in his address to the departmental assembly, made use of the following language: "We find ourselves threatened by hordes of Yankee immi- grants who have already begun to flock into our country, and whose progress we cannot arrest. Already have the wagons of that perfidious people scaled the almost inaccessible summits of the Sierra Nevada, crossed the entire continent, and penetrated the fruitful valley of the Sacramento. What that astonishing people will next undertake I can- not say, but in whatever enterprise they embark they will be sure to be successful. Already these adventurous voyagers, spreading themselves over a country that seems to suit their tastes, are cultivating farms, establishing vineyards, erecting sawmills, sawing lumber, and doing a thousand other things that seem natural to them." The first house in Yerba Buena (San Francisco) built by an American was that of Capt. William A. Richardson in 1835, near what is now Dupont and Clay streets. With the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill on the American River in January, 1848, a perfect hegira commenced, and by 1850 the population had increased to 117,528. Many of those who came during the gold rush passed through Alameda County on their way north. They did not stop to take advantage of the opportunities which later arrivals saw more clearly. But many of those who proceeded to the mines to try their fortunes later returned to various parts of the state, and Alameda County secured a justly portion of them.
65
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
SPANISH AND MEXICAN LAND GRANTS
The San Antonio rancho and the Los Tularcitos rancho were the first two to be granted in Alameda County. The first was granted by Governor Don Pablo Vicente de Sola October 18, 1820, to Luis Maria Peralta, a native of Jubec, Sonora, as a reward for his distinguished services, and consisted of a tract of land extending five leagues along the eastern shore of the bay from San Leandro Creek to the north- western line of Alameda County, including the present site of Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley and their suburbs, and extending back to the hills. The term "Temescal" was later applied to that portion of the San Antonio Rancho upon which Oakland is now built. Peralta died in 1851, at the age of ninety-three years. He did not reside upon his rancho in this county, but upon another one in Contra Costa County. In 1842 he had divided his holdings in this county between his four sons. Jose Domingo was given the tract upon which Berkeley has been built; Vicente fell heir to that upon which Oakland has since arisen; Antonio Maria secured the third gift embracing what is now East Oak- land and Alameda ; and Ygnacio secured the southerly portion on which stood the old homestead. The first white settlement in Brooklyn town- ship was made by Ygnacio and Antonio Maria Peralta on the banks of San Leandro Creek, sometime between the years 1821 and 1825. Upon the division of the property in 1842, Antonio Maria took up his resi- dence in Fruitvale, while his brother continued to live at the old home- stead. Vicente lived in a large adobe dwelling about three and one-half miles out on Telegraph Road, which was the main road leading to Contra Costa County. The San Antonio rancho in East Oakland was the site of a bull ring where fights were held on Sundays until the legislature placed a ban on them in 1854.
The Los Tularcitos rancho, situated partly in this county and partly in Santa Clara County, was given to ex-Sergt. José Higuera on October 4, 1821, by Capt. Luis Antonio Arguello, the first Mexican governor. Eden township embraced within its boundaries five similar Mexican grants. These were the Sobrante; the Estudillo, or San Leandro; the Castro, or San Lorenzo, on the east; the Soto, or San Lorenzito, on the west; and the Vallejo, or Rancho Arroyo de la Alameda, on the south. The Sobrante was for many years in dispute. The Estudillo was granted October 16, 1842, and patented July 15, 1863. The Castro was granted February 23, 1841, and patented February 14, 1865. The Soto was granted October 10, 1842, and patented April 14, 1877. The Alameda
5V1
66
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
was granted August 30, 1842, and patented January 1, 1858. The first settlement was made in Eden township in 1836 by Don Jose Joaquin Estudillo, a native of California. In 1837 he built a house about two miles from the present site of San Leandro, and on the creek known by that name. He afterwards moved up the creek to where the town now stands. Don Guillermo Castro was the second person to settle in the township; and his residence was built upon the townsite of Hayward. The Sotos were the next family to arrive, their house being built upon a portion of the old Meek estate about a half mile southeast of Hay- ward. Prior to their coming, these lands were used for grazing pur- poses for the cattle of the Mission San Jose. The San Leandro grant to Don Jose Joaquin Estudillo brought to Eden township one who had held many high offices under the Mexican government. He died June 7, 1852. When the county was established and the county seat located at San Leandro the family made many concessions to the county gov- ernment, and their residence was at one time used as the courthouse. Guillermo Castro, after losing his possessions, went to South America, where he died. Luis Castro, his son, became prominent as county surveyor in later years. Outside of these men and two or three more who owned no land, there were no other residents in Eden township in 1849.
There were several Mexican land grants either wholly or partly within Murray township. The San Ramon was granted to J. M. Amador in 1835. J. D. Pacheco was given the Santa Rita on April 10, 1839. The El Valle de San Jose was set aside officially to Antonio Maria Pico April 10, 1839, and was confirmed to Antonio Sunol and others January 31, 1854. The Las Pocitas was set aside to Salvio Pacheco April 10, 1839, and was confirmed to Jose Noriego and Robert Livermore February 14, 1854. The Canada de los Vaqueros, which lay mostly in Contra Costa County, was granted to Francisco Alviso in 1842, and later confirmed to Robert Livermore. Livermore and Noriego bought this rancho, the consideration being 300 heifers. The Rancho Los Ceritos was granted by the Mexican government to Thomas Pacheco and Augustin Alviso. Niles and Mount Eden were on the old Vallejo ranch "Arroyo de la Alameda," which contained upwards of 17,000 acres. Union City and Alvarado were on the Ceritos Rancho. The steamer of John M. Horner made trips two or three times each week from Union City to San Francisco. Don Augustine Alviso, the Castilian landowner of the Rancho Los Ceritos, was founder of the Village of Alviso. He died in 1880. José Maria Amador was born in
67
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
San Francisco. In 1852 he sold out to J. W. Dougherty, receiving $22,000 for his estate. The Santa Rita Rancho of 1,600 acres near Pleasanton was bought by Samuel Hewlett in 1883 for $120,000. Set- tlers on the San Ramon Rancho paid Horace W. Carpentier $111,000 shortly after the confirmation of the Castro San Lorenzo title for his title thereto, which is said to have cost him but one sack of flour. Most of the grantees to these old titles in this as well as other counties were soldiers.
SUMMARY OF LAND CLAIMS AND GRANTS
Below is given a summary of the grants and claims to lands within Alameda County during the Spanish and Mexican regimes, and the later confirmations or rejections :
Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany, claimant for Mission San Jose, in Alameda County, founded under Carlos IV, June 11, 1797; claim filed February 19, 1853, confirmed by the commission December 18, 1855, appeal dismissed in Northern District, March 16, 1857, and in Southern District March 15, 1858; containing 28.33 acres. Patented March 3, 1858.
Guillermo Castro, claimant for land granted January 14, 1840, by Juan B. Alvarado to G. Castro; claim filed March 2, 1853, rejected by the commission May 15, 1855, and appeal dismissed for failure of prosecution March 9, 1857.
Charles B. Strode, claimant for part of San Antonio, 5,000 acres, granted by P. V. de Sola and Luis Antonio Arguello to Luis Peralta ; claim filed March 2, 1853. Discontinued.
Charles B. Strode, claimant for part of San Antonio, 10,000 acres, granted by P. V. de Sola and Luis Antonio Arguello to Luis Peralta; claim filed March 2, 1853. Discontinued.
TABLE OF LAND CLAIMS
Domingo and Vicente Peralta, claimants for San Antonio, granted August 16, 1820, by Don Pablo Vicente de Sola to Luis Peralta; claim filed January 21, 1852, confirmed by the commission February 7, 1854, by the District Court January 26, 1855, and by the Supreme Court in 19 Howard, 343; containing 18,848.98 acres. Patented February 10, 1877.
Jose Dolores Pacheco, claimant for Santa Rita, granted April 10, 1839, by Juan B. Alvarado to J. D. Pacheco; claim filed February 21,
68
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
1852, rejected by the commission April 25, 1854, confirmed by the District Court August 13, 1855, and decree affirmed by the United States Supreme Court in 23 Howard, 495; containing 8,894.01 acres. Patented March 18, 1865.
Jose Noriego and Robert Livermore, claimants for Las Pocitas, two square leagues, granted April 10, 1839, by Juan B. Alvarado to Salvio Pacheco; claim filed February 27, 1852, confirmed by the commission February 14, 1854, and by the District Court February 18, 1859; con- taining 8,880 acres. Patented May 25, 1872.
Fulgencio Higera, claimant for Augua Caliente, two square leagues, granted October 13, 1836, by Nicolas Gutierrez and April 4, 1839, by Juan B. Alvarado to F. Higuera; claim filed February 27, 1852, con- firmed by the commission February 14, 1854, and appeal dismissed November 24, 1856; containing 9,563.87 acres. Patented April 17, 1858.
Jose de Jesus Vallejo, claimant for Arroyo del Alameda, four square leagues, granted August 30, 1842, by Juan B. Alvarado to J. de Jesus Vallejo; claim filed March 2, 1852, confirmed by the commission Octo- ber 18, 1853, by the District Court March 2, 1857, and appeal dismissed July 28, 1857; containing 17,705.38 acres. Patented January 1, 1858.
Juan Jose Castro, claimant for El Sobrante, eleven square leagues, granted April 23, 1841, by Juan B. Alvarado to J. J. Castro ; claim filed March 9, 1852, confirmed by the commission July 3, 1855, and appeal dismissed April 6, 1857.
Andres Pico et al., claimants for Mission San Jose, 30,000 acres, granted May 5, 1846, by Pio Pico to Andres Pico and Juan B. Al- varado; claim filed March 22, 1852, confirmed by the commission De- cember 18, 1855, and rejected by the District Court June 30, 1859.
Jose Maria Amador, claimant for San Ramon, four square leagues and 1,800 varas, granted August 17, 1835, by Jose Figueroa to J. M. Amador ; claim filed March 23, 1852, confirmed by the commission August 1, 1854, by the District Court January 14, 1856, and appeal dismissed January 10, 1857. Patented March 18, 1865.
Antonio Sunol et al., claimants for El Valle de San Jose, described by boundaries, granted April 10, 1839, by Juan B. Alvarado to Antonio Maria Pico et al., claim filed May 18, 1852, confirmed by the commis- sion January 31, 1854, by the District Court January 14, 1856, and decision of the United States Supreme Court as to the right of appeal, in 20 Howard, 261; containing 48,435.92 acres. Patented March 15, 1865.
69
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Jose Joaquin Estudillo, claimant for San Leandro, one square league, granted October 16, 1842, by Juan B. Alvarado to Joaquin Estudillo; claim filed May 31, 1852, confirmed by the commission January 9, 1855, by the District Court May 7, 1857, and by the United States Supreme Court; containing 6,829.58 acres. Patented July 15, 1863.
Thomas Pacheco and Augustin Alviso, claimants for Potrero de los Ceritos, three square leagues, granted March 23, 1844, by Manuel Micheltorena to T. Pacheco and A. Alviso; claim filed May 31, 1852, confirmed by the commission February 14, 1854, by the District Court October 29, 1855, and by the United States Supreme Court ; containing 10,610.26 acres. Patented February 21, 1866.
Antonio Maria Peralta, claimant for part of San Antonio, two square leagues, granted August 16, 1820, by Pablo V. de Sola to Louis Peralta ; claim filed June 18, 1852, confirmed by the commission Feb- ruary 7, 1854, by the District Court December 4, 1855, and appeal dis- missed October 20, 1857. Patented February 3, 1858.
Ygnacio Peralta, claimant for part of San Antonio, two square leagues, granted August 16, 1820, by Pablo V. de Sola to Luis Peralta ; claim filed June 18, 1852, confirmed by the commission February 7, 1854, by the District Court January 13, 1857, and appeal dismissed April 20, 1857. Patented February 10, 1877.
Guillermo Castro, claimant for part of San Lorenzo, 600 varas square, granted February 23, 1841, by Juan B. Alvarado to G. Castro and for San Lorenzo, six square leagues, granted October 24, 1843, by Manuel Micheltorena to G. Castro; claim filed July 8, 1852, confirmed by the commission February 14, 1853, by the District Court July 6, 1855, and appeal dismissed January 16, 1858. Patented April 14, 1877.
Barbara Soto et al., claimants for San Lorenzo, 11/2 square leagues, granted October 10, 1842, by Manuel Micheltorena and January 20, 1844, by Juan B. Alvarado to Francisco Soto; claim filed January 22, 1853, confirmed by the commission April 24, 1855, by the District Court April 23, 1857, and appeal dismissed April 29, 1857. Patented Feb- ruary 14, 1865.
AN EARLY PETITION
County seat fights are within the remembrance of anyone who has lived in the rapidly growing western part of the United States for any considerable length of time. But we are not confined to such contests since the establishment of this county in the early '50s, for it is to be noted that fifteen years before California became a state, prejudices
70
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
and preferences similar to those always connected with a county seat fight arose in the East Bay region. The ranchos were under the juris- diction of San Francisco, but for several reasons the few settlers desired to be transferred to that of San Jose. A petition bearing the names of most of the early landowners of this county and adjoining territory was forwarded to Monterey. It was as follows :
SAN ANTONIO, SAN PABLO AND THE ADJACENT RANCHOS NORTH, MAY 30, 1835
"The residents of the adjoining ranchos of the north, now belonging to the jurisdiction of the part of San Francisco with due respect to your Excellency, represent : That finding great detriment and feeling the evils under which they labor from belonging to this jurisdiction, whereby they are obliged to represent to your Excellency that it causes an entire abandoning of their families for a year by those who attend the judiciary functions and are obliged to cross the bay. Truthfully speaking, to be obliged to go to the port by land, we are under the nec- essity of traveling forty leagues going and coming back; and to go by sea we are exposed to the danger of being wrecked. By abandoning our families, as above stated, it is evident that they must remain without protection against the influences of malevolent persons; they are also exposed to detention and loss of labor and property and injury by animals.
"There is no lodging to be had in that port when for a year an aguntamiento is likely to detain them, and should they take their families incurring heavy expenses for their transportation and necessary provi- sioning for the term of their engagement there is no accommodation for them. Wherefore, in view of these facts they pray your Excellency to be pleased to allow them to belong to the jurisdiction of the town of San Jose and recognize a commission of justice that will correspond with the said San Jose as capital for the people in the vicinity. Where- fore we humbly pray your Excellency to favor the parties interested by acceding to their wishes.
"ANTONIO MARIA PERALTA, "YGNACIO PERALTA, "JOAQUIN YSIDRO CASTRO, "BRUNO VALENCIA, "BLAS NARBOIS, "JOAQUIN MORAGA, "Z. BLAS ANGELIUO, "RAMON FOVERO, "SAUNAGO MESA, "JOSE DUARTE,
"JUAN JOSE CASTRO,
"FRANCISCO PACHECO,
71
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
"CANDELARO VALENCIA,
"BARTOLE PACHECO,
"JOSE PERALTA,
"MARIANO CASTRO,
"FERNANDO FELES,
"FILIPE BRUONES,
"ANTONIO AMEJAI,
"JULIAN VELES,
"JUAN BERNAL,
"MARCANO CASTRO,
"FRANCISCO SOTO,
"ANTONIO YGORCE,
"FRANCO AMEJO."
This petition was finally rejected and denied December 20, 1835, and was signed by Francisco de Jaro. The owners of the ranchos on this side of the bay were thus compelled to remain under the civil and military jurisdiction of San Francisco. The document is interesting in that it shows the difficulties of the time in crossing the bay and in con- trasting the small village that existed on the western shore to the metropolis of today. Time has wrought wonders in many ways in the bay region!
ROBERT LIVERMORE FIRST ANGLO-SAXON
Between the time when Jedediah S. Smith led the way overland to California in 1827 until gold was discovered twenty-one years later, there were not many Americans who sought homes within its borders. Dr. John Marsh is authority for the statement that in 1846 California had 7,000 persons of Spanish descent; 10,000 civilized, or domesticated Indians; about 100 English, Scotch and Irish; about 50 Italians, Ger- mans and Frenchmen; and about 700 Americans. It was a number of years after the first arrivals before there were any newspapers; and years later than that, before counties were sufficiently populated to justify historical publications. When the time did arrive for such under- takings, a considerable lapse of time had occurred, and much had to be taken for granted that was hearsay and far removed from the original sources of information. It would be an impossibility to record in exact order, with no omissions, the names and dates of the arrivals of the first fifty or hundred American settlers in Alameda County. Yet there has come down through the years a somewhat authentic account of some of those early settlers, although undoubtedly some have been overlooked. There seems to be no question or dispute about the claim that Robert Livermore, Sr., was the first Anglo-Saxon to settle in Alameda County, and in fact he came to California even prior to Smith's arrival. Livermore, after whom is named the famous and fertile Liver- more Valley, and in which also stands the town named in his honor, was
"RAFAEL VELES,
72
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
born in Bethnal Green, London, in the year 1799. At an early age in life he entered the English navy, and his sea career took him for a time to the South American coast. He subsequently entered the merchant service, and in the year 1820 came to Monterey. Deciding to make his home here, he proceeded to the Pueblo de San Jose, where he became acquainted with his future partner, Noriega. He worked on the rancho of Juan Alvirez, learned the Spanish language, and through his pleasant and captivating manners won the respect and regard of those with whom he came in contact. After a brief time he went to the Rancho Agua Caliente, or Warm Springs, where he remained with the Higuera family, winning one of the girls of this family as his wife. From there he went to the Sunol Valley, where he was joined by his former friend and acquaintance, Noriega. These two in 1835 settled on the Las Pocitas Rancho, in Livermore Valley. He later purchased the interest of Noriega; and resided in the valley until his death in February, 1858. He was survived by his wife and eight children. Robert Livermore, Jr., the eldest son of Robert Livermore, pioneer of the county, was born in Santa Clara County in 1840, where he remained until 1847, then joining his father in the Livermore Valley. He married Senora Teresa Bernal November 25, 1861.
OTHER EARLY ARRIVALS
There seems to be but little definite information about the arrival of any Americans in Alameda County for a number of years after Liver- more came. However, in 1846 John M. Horner came; and in 1847 Perry Morrison, William Morrison and Earl Marshall arrived. In 1848 Simeon Stivers is given credit for being the only one to come to the county. Beginning with 1849 the annual list of newcomers grew, with 1853 and 1854 as the banner years for numbers until after the close of the Civil war. The list of American settlers between 1849 and 1865-the best one available-handed down to us by M. W. Wood in his first history of the county published in 1883, with its imperfections admitted by him, is as follows :
1849-Peter T. Wilson, John F. Frese, George May, E. L. Beard, William P. Abbey, Thomas Goodale (or Goodall), Thomas W. Mul- ford, A. R. Biggs, Moses Weeks, E. M. Smith, W. C. Smith, Steve Smith, Robert Smith, - Solomon, Socrates Huff, C. Winton, and two Frenchmen on the Encinal named De Pachier and Le Maitre.
1850-N. Greene Patterson, Jacob Patterson, Edson Adams, E. R.
Howard Overacker
R. A. Redman
Leonard Stone
Charles Duerr
William Hayward
Robert Livermore, Jr.
Earl Marshall
Ezra Decoto
William W. Mendenhall
EARLY PIONEERS OF THE COUNTY
74
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Carpentier, A. J. Moon, A. Marier, Robert S. Farrelly, William Tyson, Robert F. Patton, William Patton, Edward Patton, Calvin Valpey, Moses Chase, Ephraim Dyer, Gideon Aughinbaugh, H. C. Smith, W. W. Chipman, John L. Beard, H. G. Ellsworth, Ed. Niehaus, Coombs, Joseph Nicholls, Origin Mowry and two brothers, John Neil, Zachariah Cheney, Charles Hanyon, L. P. Gates, John L. Wilson, John Threlfall, John Sweetser, Captain Bond, - Chamberlin, James Hawley, Jeremiah Fallon, Captain Roberts, Michael Murray.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.