History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 14

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206

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Thus for years was the country between the Contra Costa County line and the San Leandro Creek without another resident save the Peralta family and their retain- ers, while their neighbors were the very few located at Yerba Buena, who were wont occasionally to make the perilous journey across the Pay to pay friendly visits to the solitary rancheros. Deep solitude feigned around them only broken by the lowing of kine, or mayhap, the reverberating bcom of cannon wafted over the waters from the presidio. But in 1846 premonitions of the coming change became observ- able, and as the months grew into years the transformation became complete. The Bear Flag had been raised by a few American settlers at Sonoma; war had been waged and peace declared between the United States and Mexico; California had become a portion of the Union; and the sun of the Mexican had set. The Peraltas had possibly thought that their broad acres would descend in one unbroken line from father to son, but such is the uncertainty of human calculation, that they soon found their fertile lands the envy of the covetous Anglo-Saxon who saw that these could be

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

made valuable for other than pastoral purposes, and in 1850, or shortly thereafter, the first encroachment was made upon the soil-the greater portion of the territorial patrimony of Domingo and Vicente Peralta was sold. In 1851, Don Luis Peralta 'died at the advanced age of ninety-three years, having lived long enough to have brought before him the unpleasant fact that he had once owned the most valuable tract of land in California but which was gradually melting away before his eyes. He left this world loved by his compatriots and respected by many Americans, be- lieving firmly in the religious faith of his people. Previous to his demise he made a will confirming the partition of the Rancho San Antonio among his sons, and dispos- ing of his personal effects. After his death, what was known as the " sister's title" was asserted to an interest in part of the San Antonio Grant, in consequence of which protracted litigation ensued, and in the controversy the will of Peralta, which we here produce, figured prominently.

" In the name of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, thrce distinct persons and one only true God, and in the presence of the most Holy Virgin Mary, my Lady: of the glorious archangel St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael, my guardian and my protecting angel, and of my devotion, I, Luis Peralta, being in the entire use of my mental faculties, although of an advanced age, and bearing in mind the uncertainty of this mortal life, I do hereby make this my will in the best form, and declare it to be my last will and testament, and it is as follows:

" In the first place, I command my sons to have my body buried in the neighbor- ing mission of Santa Clara, carrying it to the church, placing it upon the same hearse that is used for my fellow-men, the Indians; and that they, my sons, shall cause one . low mass to be said of requiem, and afterwards, at the time of my burial, they shall cause to be said at the time as many responses as may be possible for the repose of my soul, for which they (my sons) shall pay alms, and afterwards proceed to the execution of my last will as follows:

" Firstly. I leave the house, my residence, in the the town of San José Guada- lupe, with the orchard and fruit trees, all the land which appertains to and belongs to said orchard, and all the rest of the land contiguous to the said house, together with the appurtenances of this property, in favor of my two daughters, Maria Josefa Peralta and Maria Guadalupe Peralta, in full ownership and dominion, and I encharge these daughters to remain always together in peace and union, enjoying this property mutually as absolute owners thereof. Moreover, I declare, particularly, that everything that is in this house is my property, and as such I leave it to my above-mentioned daugh- ters. The picture of St. Joseph and our Lady Guadalupe being for my said daughter Guadalupe, and the crucifix, and our Lady of Dolores for my daughter Maria Josefa. I command these two daughters to remain in peace, enjoying the property that I leave therein, but if, by marriage or other motive, either one of them should wish to separate from the other, then the two may make such agreement as they shall deem fit for this and for any other arrangement of their domestic affairs, or of their property of which they remain the owners and mistresses without ever being disturbed by any person, and may they remain always together, the one serving the other as her guardian angel, that God, our Lord, may preserve them from the storms of this world and from all ill-inclined persons.

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

" As regards the cattle belonging to me, that is to say, horned cattle, I declare that on the marriage of my children, Maria Teodora, Ygnacio, Domingo, and Trini- · dad, to each one were given two cows and calves, by reason of having just com- menced the rearing of my cattle, but afterwards they received in gift more cattle, as they themselves can say, as they know how to speak the truth; also, in the year 1831 there were delivered to William Castro two hundred and thirty head of horned cattle, which were the marriage portion of his wife Maria Luisa Peralta, my daughter. Also, I repeat again, that there have been given to my daughters Maria Teodora, and Maria Trinidad, two hundred head of horned cattle, and to my son Ygnacio, three hundred head of cattle; and over and above those which have already been given to my son Domingo, I command that there be given to him one hundred head of cattle; I like- wise command that out of the cattle in San Antonio and Temescal that shall be found to belong to me, there shall be given two hundred head to each one of my daugh- ters Maria Josefa and Maria Guadalupe, and the remainder in Temescal shall belong to my son Vicente, and the remainder in San Antonio shall belong to my son Antonio Maria, and these two brothers shall take the charge of the cattle of these two sisters, Maria Josefa, and Maria Guadalupe. Inasmuch as I have already portioned out to my sons their respective lands, I declare that these lands comprehend all my property of the Rancho San Antonio, the title of whose concession and posses- sion are in the hands of my son Ygnacio, and which lands I have already divided amongst my sons as a donation inter vivos to their entire satisfaction, and which donations by these presents I hereby ratify.

" I declare that I owe no man, and that Nazared Berryeza owes me fifteen dollars.

"I name as first executor of this, my will, my son Ygnacio Peralta, and my son Antonio Maria Peralta as second executor, that they, aided by the rest, may fulfill all that I have ordained.

" Finally. I command all my children that they remain in peace, succoring each other in your necessities, eschewing all avaricious ambition, without entering into foolish differences for one or two calves, for the cows bring them forth every year; and inasmuch as the land is narrow, it is indispensable that the cattle should become mixed up, for which reason I command my sons to be friendly and united.

" Lastly. I command all my children, sons and daughters, to educate and bring up their children in the holy fear of God, showing them good example, and keeping them from all bad company, in order that our Lord may shower upon them his bless- ings, the same which I leave to you, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

"I declare that this is my last will and testament, dictated by me, and written in my presence, read and signed by myself; and by these presents I revoke and annul all and every other will or wills, codicil or codicils, that I may have executed. I declare it or them null, and of no value in law or otherwise.

"In testimony whereof, I have hereunto placed my hand, this twenty-ninth day of April, one thousand, eight hundred and fifty-one, in the city of San José, and in presence of witnesses that I have called to serve as witnesses of this, my last will.

"JAMES ALEX. FORBES,

" PADRE JUAN NOBILE, 'Witnesses."

" LUIS MA. PERALTA. [seal.]

" DEMO DAMCO. .

Gra

Socrates Huff

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

The second grant having connection with Alameda County was that known as - Los Tularcitos to José Higuera, on October 4, 1821, and situated in this and the adjoining county of Santa Clara. Their residence stood on the land now occupied by Henry Curtner; indeed, a portion of the original adobe house is used by that gen- tleman as a stable.

A law of colonization was adopted in the year 1824, but the "General Rules and Regulations for the Colonization of the Territories of the Republic" did not come into force until 1828, and but one single Mexican grant was made anywhere in California between that time and the year 1833.

That our readers may have a proper idea of what manner of life these old Spanish rancheros led, we will give a description of an establecimiento. In front of the house was a court-yard of considerable extent, a part of which was sheltered by a piazza; here, when the vaqueros had nothing to call them to the field they would pass the day, looking like retainers on a rude court; a dozen or more wild, vicious-looking horses, with wooden saddles on their backs, stood ever ready for work, while, loung- ing about, the vaqueros smoked, played the guitar or twisted a new riata of hide or horse-hair. When the sun gets lower they go to sleep in the shade, while the little horses that remain in the sunshine do the same, apparently, for they shut their eyes and never stir. Presently. a vaquero, judging the time by the sun, gets up and yawns, staggers lazily towards his horse, gathers up his riata and twists it about the horn of his saddle-the others, awakening, arise and do the same, all yawning with eyes half open, looking as lazy a set as ever were seen, as, indeed, they are when on foot. " Hupa! Anda!" and away they go in a cloud of dust, splashing through the river, waving their lassoes above their heads with a wild shout and disappearing from sight almost as soon as they are mounted. The vaquero wants at all times to ride at a furi- ous gait, and the eyes of the little horses are open wide enough before they receive the second prod from the iron rowels of their riders' spurs.

In the olden and palmy days of the Spanish-Mexican regime, the summa summarum of the dolce far niente style of life of that age could be found at these ranchos. Cattle roamed at will over the hills and through the valleys, one of which was slaughtered daily to supply the wants of the establecimiento. Horses in great numbers bore the ranch brand, while extensive flocks of sheep and herds of swine formed a part of their princely possessions. Looms and spinning wheels were brought into requisition and the wool grown upon the sheep was washed, carded, spun, and woven into cloth, beneath the shelter of the ranch houses. The hides of the cattle were tanned, and boots and shoes made of the leather. The seasons came and went unheeded, and life was to those old Spaniards a near approach to the Utopian's dream. A sum- mer's sun, set in a bright, ethereal empyrean, across whose rays not even a hand- breadth's cloud ever passed to cast its shadow on the world, showered down a golden flood of radiant light to bless the happy days, while the winter's rains fell in copious showers, causing the grass to spring into luxuriant life over all the hills and dales, spreading as it were an emerald tapestry on every hand, full dainty enough for tread of fairy feet. But the dream ended, and sad, indeed, the awakening. From the lap of luxury they fell into the hungry arms of poverty, dying sad and broken-hearted. Gone were their flocks and herds, and the land on which they had roamed. Life,

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

which had been to them a hey-day of sunshine and gladness, was robbed of all that went to make it worth the living for, and to many of them death was a welcome guest, lifting the burdens and 'cares which had gradually settled upon their shoulders.

It has often been asked by the uninitiated, How came it that these vast pos- sessions should have vanished in thin air? The question may be readily answered: With the "greedy, blue-eyed Saxon " came woe. He finds his way into the bosom of the unsuspecting family, and on the earliest opportunity temptingly exhibits a couple of thousands of dollars in gold coin; the wine circulates freely, with the oft- repeated " bueno salud;" conversation becomes interesting and animated; the patri- arch and his household are charmed with their new-found acquaintance, and artful and polished visitor. A loan of this couple of thousands is graciously proffered by this most liberal stranger; a little more wine is taken for the stomach's sake, with another " bueno salud" all round; the proffered loan is as graciously accepted, more to oblige the accomplished guest than for any possible need or use for the ready cash; a promissory note, written in English and already prepared beforehand, and made payable one day after date, and to bear interest at the rate of seven per cent. per month, to be compounded monthly, together with the usual accompanying death pledge upon that principality of square leagues, are mirthfully executed by the con- fiding, simple-minded, illiterate Spaniard, as if it were a passing jest ! So much droll ceremony with reference to that mere trifle of money is light comedy to him, in the amusing programme of the day's entertainment. Time passes. Many months, and several years pass away. Where does that elegant gentleman keep himself? Why does he not come and get his money ? Surely he is a most indulgent creditor ! The illiterate Spaniard has no conception of the cumulative effect of interest com- pounded ! Month after month pass away, and that insignificant financial comedy is scarcely remembered. Nearly four years have rolled away, and just now a polite notice is received, as coming from the Court, with reference to that forgotten sub- ject. Of course there is nothing to be said by way of objection. It is all right. Why then should he trouble himself with giving any heed to it! That little affair of a couple of thousand dollars can be refunded any day. "Why does not the gentleman come and pay us another visit ?" "Of course that little matter of money is ready for him any day." "He promised to come and see us again." Time passes. Nine years have gone round, and that paltry item of interest has regularly and steadily compounded one hundred and eight times, and that principal and interest have steadily rolled up to the immense amount of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, a full quarter of a million ! Then comes the auction sale. And there the prowling agent of the relentless creditor bids in those thirty-six square miles of land, without com- petition, for only one-half the enormous debt. And only now that happily dreaming Spanish family are startled and awakened as by an earthquake shock ! The business is complicated, and needs the deft handling of financial ability. Redemption is impossible. And now a judicial final process is the closing act of the drama, and that splendid fortune of real estate comes under the dominion of the stranger. The patriarch and his numerous household are exiled from their home forever, while indi- gence and wretched want attend them as they scatter and wander away. This, surely is a most shocking change to them-a solemn, grievous change. The places that knew them well know them no more.

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

Thus, the once material element of California society has been eradicated, to be replaced by other nationalities of people. Let other men debate the question whether such. a change has been for the better! Let the casuist render judgment whether such change has been effectuated by the divine rule of right! Let the candid soul and heart respond to the question whether it has been done by the square of honesty and honor.

The first Americans to make the overland journey to California were under the command of Jedediah S. Smith, of New York, a man of much energy and ability. In the spring of 1826 he and his party left the winter quarters of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company for the purpose of engaging in a spring and fall hunt. In the course of their wanderings they struck the source of the Green River, and fol- lowed it down to its junction with the Rio Grande, where the two form the Colo- rado, whence he took a westerly course and approached the Sierra Nevada, crossing which, in search of a more favorable point to continue his explorations towards the ocean, he unexpectedly discovered himself to be in the great central valley of Cali- fornia, near its southeastern extremity, thus being the first American who had entered the magnificent Sacramento and the San Joaquin Vales, and was also the first to see or explore the rivers falling into the Bay of San Francisco. The following winter, that of 1826, the hunting expeditions were continued on the streams flowing into the Tulare Lake, on the San Joaquin and its tributaries, and also on some of the lower branches of the Sacramento, and at the commencement of the summer of 1827 essayed to cross the Sierra to return, but owing to the height of the mount- ains and other obstacles which were encountered, was induced to leave the party in the valley; therefore he established his headquarters on that river near where the pres- ent town of Brighton, Sacramento County, now stands. While on this journey Smith pitched his tent, May, 1827, in the vicinity of the Mission San Jose, a pro- ceeding that caused some inquiries to be instituted by Father Narcisce Duran, then in charge of that place. To these, on May 19, 1827, Captain Smith made the following reply, which should have gone far towards allaying the jealousy which then existed between the missionaries and foreigners, whom they considered as inter- lopers :--

" REVEREND FATHER: I understand, through the medium of one of your Christian Indians, that you are anxious to know who we are, as some of the Indians have been at the mission and informed you that there were certain white people in the country. We are Americans on our journey to the River Columbia. We came in at the Mission San Gabriel in January last. I went to San Diego and saw the General, and got a passport from him to- pass on to that place. I have made several efforts to cross the mountains, but the snows being so deep I could not succeed in getting over. I returned to this place (it being the only point to kill meat) to wait a few weeks till the snow melts so that I can go on. The Indians here also being friendly, I consider it the most safe point for me to remain until such time as I can cross the mountains with my horses, having lost a great many in attempting to cross ten or fifteen days since. I am a long ways from home, and am anxious to get there as soon as the nature of the case will admit. Our situation is quite unpleas- ant, being destitute of clothing and most of the necessaries of life, wild meat being

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

our principal subsistence. I am, Reverend Father, your strange but real friend and Christian brother.

J. S. SMITH."

It is needless to follow these intrepid hunters farther than this. Suffice it to say that having scaled the Sierra Nevada they met the severest hardships on their eastern slopes, and were compelled to retrace their steps into California, whence they found .. their way into the region of the Columbia River. They visited Monterey, Los Angeles, San Diego, and other places, thus escaping massacre with the rest of his party.

One of the survivors of the horrible butchery on the Rio Colorado remained in California. He was a blacksmith by trade and obtained employment as such at the missions of San Gabriel and San Luis Rey. His name was Galbraith, and while in the mountains, previous to his advent in California, was recognized as the most fear- less of that brave class of men with whom he was associated. His stature was com- manding, and the Indians were awed by his athletic and powerful frame, while the display of his Herculean strength excited the surprise of all. Many were the incidents that occurred in California during his residence, of which he was the principal actor. On one occasion, while employed at the mission of San Luis Rey, he became riotous while under the exciting influence of aguadiente, and was warned that unless he con- ducted himself with greater propriety it would be necessary to confine him in the guard-house. This served to exasperate instead of to quiet his unruly passions. A corporal with two men were ordered to arrest Galbraith. On their arrival at the shop, they found the follower of Vulcan absorbed in anathemas, which he was pouring forth in rapid succession against the reverend father, soldiers, and neophytes. Having delivered himself, he inquired what they wanted. On the corporal's replying that he had been sent to conduct him to the guard-house, Galbraith seized a sledge, and swaying it above his head rushed upon the soldiers, who, intimidated at the gigantic size of the blacksmith, whose broad and deep chest was swelling with infuriated passion, horror- stricken fled in dismay. With uplifted hammer he pursued them across the court of the mission, and to the guard-house in front thereof, where the affrighted corporal and soldiers arrived in hasty retreat among their comrades, closely pursued by the terriffic mountaineer, who, alike fearless of Spanish soldiers as he had ever been of Indians, drove the trembling forces-a sergeant and twelve men- to their quarters, where he imprisoned them. He then hastily loaded a fine piece of artillery that stood in front of the quarters, with grape-shot, and directing its mouth towards the mission, and gathering up the arms which the soldiers in their confusion had abandoned, pre- pared to act as exigences might require. The priest, seeing the' course events were ' taking, desired a cessation of hostilities, therefore he sent a messenger to open com- munications with the victor, who, from the sudden burst of passion had now cooled down, and the effects. of the brandy being dispelled, with its removal his choler had subsided.

It is now our purpose to introduce to the reader some of the names of the early settlers in this region, of whom there were only a few, indeed, it is estimated that in the year 1830 there were not more than a hundred foreigners in the whole of Upper Califor- nia. We have already mentioned John Gilroy and his comrade "Deaf Jimmy." In the year 1818, there arrived at Monterey another of those grand noblemen, cast in nature's mould, in the person of Don Antonio Suñol. His birthplace was Barcelona, in Spain,

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EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

but love for the French people induced him to enter their naval service and he was present when the First Napoleon surrendered as a prisoner before his exile to the island of St. Helena. In - he received the grant of that region which now bears his name and where some of his descendants still reside. He died in San José, March 18, 1865, having earned in life by his generosity, the respect of the entire community. In 1819 or 1820, it is said that James Pease, a native of the Orkney Islands, arrived in the country. He is still alive, and is principally to be found in Redwood City, San Mateo County. In 1820, our own Robert Livermore took up his abode in San José, and afterwards became the first foreign settler in what is now Alameda County. In 1 822, Philip Doke, a block and tackle maker, who left a whaling vessel at Monterey, came to the rancho of Mariano Castro, near Gilroy, one of whose daughters he after- wards married; and about the same time a Dane named Mathew Fellom, landed from a whaler at either Bodega or Fort Ross, traversed the intervening space and located near Gilroy. He died in 1873. In the year 1828 there was an Englishman named William Willis living in the Pueblo de San José. In or about 1830, John Burton, who was Alcalde of San José during the occupation immediately following the cessation of hostilities between the United States and Mexico, came, and married a daughter of the land in the following year. In 1833, during the fall, Harry Bee came to San José from Monterey, where he had arrived in company with Doctor Douglass, a naturalist, in October, 1827. He was born in the parish of Westminster, London, England, and is still a resident of San José. In that same year there also came with the Hijas colonization expedition, William. Gulnac, a native of Hudson City, New York, where he was born, August 4, 1801. In the year 1819 he sailed around Cape Horn. and settled in Lower California, where he married Maria Isabel de Cassiña in 1825. He died July 12, 1851, having been mayordomo of the Mission San José for a considerable period. In this year, too, came James Alexander Forbes, afterwards Vice-Consul for Great Britain, who died in Oakland in May, 1881; and James Weekes, who served as Alcade of San José in 1847, who also died in May, 1881, at the residence of his friend Harry Bee in San José. In 1833 there were living at the rancho of Gilroy, John Milligan, and a watchmaker whose name is unknown, while at the Pueblo de San José were Nicolas Dodero, an Italian; John Price, an American; William Smith, better known as " Bill the Sawyer"; George Ferguson, still a resident of May- field, Santa Clara County; Thomas Pepper, alias Pimiento; William Welch, a Scotch- man by birth, who obtained in 1844 a grant of three square leagues of land, called Las Juntas, on which a portion of Martinez, the County Seat of Contra Costa County is built; " Blind Tom" an English sailor; Charles Brown, who came to the country it is thought in 1829, and died in San Francisco in March, 1883; an Irish dragoon, a deserter from the British army; a man who went by the name of "Moche Dan"; Thomas Brown and William Daily. It is believed that by this time, or shortly after- wards, John Coppinger had established himself in the Pulgas Redwoods, near Wood- side, San Mateo County. These are interesting facts which we may be pardoned for producing.

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 14

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood Number of Pages: 1206

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206