History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 59

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

USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions > Part 59

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The second election of town officers was held May 5, 1871, when the following

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result was attained: H. A. Mayhew, Hiram Tubbs, Adam Cannon, H. Tum Suden, Isham Case, Board of Trustees; A. W. Swett, F. Buel, T. F. Steere, School Trustees; J. F. Steen, Clerk and Treasurer; A. B. Webster, Assessor; L. J. Rector, Justice of the Peace. To these, on May 12th, were added the names of T. J. Arnold, Engineer; and W. Van Dyke, Attorney. In our search through the records of the late town of Brooklyn, we find the Trustees receiving the following amusing letter of recommen- dation from a prominent citizen: " In the matter of Poundkeeper, referred to the com- mittee of which I am Chairman, beg leave to recommend (if any change is made) Mr. Patrick Morrisey, a gentleman well qualified to fill the position, and will act with- out any expense to the town. He is a good, loyal citizen, and has been fighting and bleeding for his country for a number of years last past. A man of property, a father of a large family, and always votes at all our elections, and votes right."

On the seventh day of January, 1872, that much respected pioneer of Brooklyn, James B. Larue, was "gathered to his fathers." It is said of him that very few inen were possessed of a better judgment of "men and things." In matters of law his opinion was superior to that of many professional lawyers. One instance may be cited to show what faith he had in his own judgment and how persistently he followed it up. At the time when the ferry line was established between this and the San Francisco side of the Bay, the Contra Costa Steam Navigation Company, whose agent was Charles Minturn, was supposed to have the exclusive right to run and maintain a ferry between Oakland and San Francisco, under a contract with Horace W. Carpentier and others, and suit was commenced against the opposition company. Many lawyers said it would be useless to resist, for Minturn undoubtedly had an exclu- sive right. The suit was finally decided in the United States Supreme Court in favor of the opposition company. One of the most brilliant lawyers of the San Francisco Bar once said: " If I could beat J. B. Larue in a lawsuit it would be a big feather in my cap." He was warm-hearted and genial in his nature, and beloved by his family and all who knew him intimately. He gave freely to all public institutions of the town. He presented the lots on which the Presbyterian Church is built; also those for the Episcopal; the lot for the engine house was also his gift, while he was the largest contributor towards the purchase of a fire engine. He had been a member of the State Legislature of Michigan, and subsequently had the like honor conferred upon him in California. He was possessed of that scarce spirit known as fortitude, in a remarkable degree, which, linked with his wonderful business acumen, nearly always enabled him to extricate himself from pressing difficulty. On the death of her hus- band, his widow, who had shared with him the many dangers and vicissitudes he had to encounter in East and West, returned to the home of her parents in Bergen on a visit, and coming back once more to her family and her dearly-loved Western home, there, in 1875, departed to that better land from whose " bourne no traveler returns." Upon Mr. Larue's death, the Board of Trustees, January 10, 1872, passed the follow- ing resolutions :-

"WHEREAS, It hath pleased the Supreme Ruler of events to remove from our midst one of our most estimable and honored citizens, it is therefore

Resolved, That we deeply realize the loss of one of the Pioneers of the town and one who has greatly assisted in building it up, and by his tenacity of purpose carried him and us through many tribulations and finally secured to us permanent benefits which we can never repay.

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the family of the deceased, and trust that our Great Father will be a protector to the widow, and a father to the children who survive."

At the May election of the year 1872, H. A. Mayhew, Isham Case, C. C. Knowles, A. W. Swett, George W. French, were chosen to fill the positions of Town Trustees, while the remaining officers were the same, save that of Clerk and Treas- urer, to which A. J. Webster was elected.

During the progress of the war consequent on the removal of the county seat, . and pending its decision, Brooklyn was honored with the presence of the Court House and other county buildings. In October the Trustees made a bid for its permanent location by offering either Washington or Independence Square for the purpose, but the coveted prize slipped through their fingers and went to Oakland.

In the month of October, 1872, a petition, signed by some of the principal citi- zens and property-holders of Brooklyn, was presented to the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County, praying that an election might be held, under provisions of the Act entitled " An Act to enable the inhabitants of territory adjacent to any city in this State to annex the same thereto," for the purpose of determining whether the inhab- itants of Brooklyn would decide to have certain territory of that town annexed to the city of Oakland. The election was ordered as petitioned for, and, being held, resulted in showing a large majority in favor of annexation. The scheme was fully ratified; and the last minute in the Record Book of the Town of Brooklyn states that Messrs. Case, Swett, and French were unanimously appointed a committee to confer with the City Council of Oakland in reference to annexation. A vote of thanks was passed to the officials of the quondam town, and the Board adjourned sine die.

Brooklyn now became a portion of the city of Oakland, its history since that time will therefore be carried on in the chronicles of that place.

Besides being a locality of pleasant residence, East Oakland is a place of consid- erable business activity, as the following histories of its principal commercial enter- prises will fully exemplify.

As at present constituted, East Oakland, or Bro klyn, constitutes the Seventh Ward of the city of Oakland, possesses several good hotels, among them the famous Tubbs' Hotel whose palatial façade and well laid out grounds, would enhance the beauty of any city, while nestling in the hills is the famous Mills' Seminary, an insti- tution which has a world-wide reputation.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BROOKLYN .- On April 16, 1860, work was begun on the building of this organization, and the dedicatory services were held on the first day of the following September. During the month following, the organization of the church was effected by Rev. J. D. Saxton, with the following members: Rev. J. D. Saxton, J. B. Stickney, Mrs. Saxton, James Lansing, Charlotte Lansing, Martin Shuey, Mar- garet Shuey, S. D. Shuey, Catharine Shuey, A. K. Warner, Sarah Warner, and Wealthy Taylor. Rev. J. D. Saxton was the first pastor, and J. B. Stickney was the first clerk. The first trustees were, Hiram Tubbs, J. A. Taylor, S. D. Shuey, W. W. Manning, and J. B. Stickney. The following named pastors have supplied the pulpit of this church: Revs. J. B. Saxton, John Francis, W. A. Parrey, T. G. McLean, and S. B. Morse. During the last four years the building has been remodeled inside and out

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and one hundred seatings added. The present membership is one hundred and thirty- two, and has more than doubled during the past five years, which speaks very highly of the efficient service of the pastor during that time. The Sunday-school connected with this church has an average attendance of two hundred and forty, and the Sun- day-school library contains six hundred and fifty volumes. The building is located on the corner of Fourteenth Street and Tenth Avenue. The society is free from debt, and the property is valued at eight thousand dollars.

CHURCH OF THE ADVENT .- The Church of the Advent, Protestant Episcopal, of East Oakland, was organized May 25, 1860, by Rev. Benjamin Ackerly, at that time rector of St. John's Church, Oakland. Owing to the fact that the records of the parish were destroyed by fire shortly after the organization of the church, it is impossible to give a list of the first members. The first church officers of which any record appears were those who served in 1864, as follows: Asa Walker, Senior War- den; E. G. Mathews, Junior Warden; William Patten, Clerk; Isham Case, Treasurer; and J. B. Larue, L. Wilson, and George Jones, Vestrymen. The building was erected in 1860, and consecrated February 20th of the following year. The cost of the edifice, including furnishing and carpets, was two thousand four hundred dollars, all of which was met when due. The church was located on the corner of Fourteenth Street and Seventeenth Avenue, and was built on ground donated by James B. Larue. In June, 1882, it was moved to its present site at the corner of Sixteenth Street and Twelfth Avenue, the ground it occupies comprising four lots, which were the gift of Mrs. M. Langley. In November, 1880, a room was erected adjacent to the church in which a parish school is conducted, and which is also used as a Sunday-school room. On the first Sunday of July, 1865, Rev. D. Ellis Wills was called to take charge of the church, and on the 25th of February of the year following he was elected rector. In 1869 Rev. Daniel Kendig was chosen his successor, and he was succeeded by Rev. Sidney Wilbur in 1871, and he by Rev: Hamilton Lee, in 1878, who is the present rector. The present officers are, C. J. Hawley, Senior Warden; C. M. Nichols, Junior Warden; E. G. Mathews, Clerk; C. Ramsden, Treasurer; and Dr. M. W. Fish, L. R. Mead, A. E. Magill, and F. Hawxhurst, Vestrymen. The communicants at present number seventy, and the attendance at Sunday-school is one hundred and thirty.

EAST OAKLAND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- This church was organized in 1874, but the records fail to state who were the organizing members. The first pastor was Rev. William Hulbert, Rev. B. E. Edgell followed him in 1876, and Rev. William Gaffney, Rev. C. J. Lovejoy, and Rev. George Newton supplied the pulpit during 1877. In 1878 Rev. William S. Turner was the pastor, and in 1879 he was succeeded by Rev. William Angwin, who was followed by Rev. Jonathan L. Mann, in 1880, who is the present pastor. The present membership of the church is given at sixty. A Sunday-school is conducted in connection with the church, which has an average attendance of one hundred scholars. The building is located on Seventh Avenue near Fourteenth Street. It is small, having a seating capacity of only two hundred sittings. It was erected in 1874.

EAST OAKLAND YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION .- This organization

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

was formed January 16, 1881, with a membership numbering twenty-four under the auspices of the Oakland Association and as a branch thereof, and it still remains so related to the Oakland Association, although it is sustained by the people of East Oakland. The present average attendance is fifty-four. The meetings are held on Sunday afternoons, and are conducted as gospel meetings.

MILLS' SEMINARY .- The history of this institution takes us back to the year 1852, when the Benicia Female Seminary was established, and from which upwards of twelve hundred young ladies went forth into the world to bring sunshine into many a household, and to instill into their children the knowledge gained from this fountain of learning. The school at Benicia had been for several years under the control of Rev. C. T. Mills and his wife, and under their popular régime had much increased in usefulness, but he desired to move to a more extended field and central location for the scene of his labors. He had become the owner of the lands now known as Semi- nary Park, and here he elected to establish his institution of learning for young ladies. A plan of operation was soon decided upon, and through the untiring assistance of J. · O. Eldredge, of San Francisco, were prosecuted with the most flattering success. Over twenty-five thousand dollars were raised by private subscription, Dr. Mills entering into an agreement to maintain the school for at least five years, and to event- ually deed the land on which the building should stand, with fifteen acres besides, in trust forever to be used for a school for young ladies. Building operations were com- menced in the summer of 1870, and in the month of August, 1871, the school was opened for the reception of pupils, while there is not anywhere west of the Rocky Mountains such an institution, and it is doubtful whether the famous Vassar College excels it.

The building is located in a beautiful little valley at the foot of the Contra Costa Range, at the confluence of two mountain streams, and is distant about five miles from the city of Oakland, the vale being perfectly protected from the winds, and yet retain- ing, unobstructed, the general view of the country. The designs were drawn by S. C. Bugbee & Son, the architects under whose supervision the huge fabric was raised. The contract price was sixty thousand dollars, the work being done by J. W. Wilbur. The brick-work was done by Remillard Brothers, of Oakland, while the lumber came from Larue's lumber-yard at Brooklyn, three hundred thousand feet having been required.

As one drives up the winding avenue leading to the premises, the immense pile suddenly looms up in its full proportions, and the visitor is astonished at such a display of architectural grandeur in so quiet and remote a locality. It has a frontage of two hundred and eighteen feet. The central portion is four stories high, surmounted by a mansard roof and observatory, while the eastern and western divisions are three stories high, also with a mansard roof. It surpasses in beauty and extent any build- ing for educational purposes in California. There are three front entrances; that on the west being to the apartments occupied by the principal, the central one for the public, and that on the east being for the pupils. Upon entering the middle, the first room to the left is a reception-room, beautifully frescoed, and on the right there is a parlor for the use of young ladies. Passing on though a broad hall we come to a

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corridor running the entire length of the building from east to west. On either side of it are recitation and music rooms and parlors, which are for the most part frescoed, and provided with grates and marble mantels. At the extreme westerly portion of the structure are the private apartments of Doctor and Mrs. Mills. At the other extremity, there are three large school-rooms, connected by means of sliding doors, and adjoining these are numerous small recitation-rooms, all with stationary black- boards. At the east end of the building a wing is extended to the north, and there will be a similar one built upon the other end when the necessities of the institution may require it. Directly in the rear of the main building is the dining-room and kitchen, the former of which is frescoed and has an excellent wainscoting, it being equal in its arrangements to any hotel dining-room in the State. The kitchen would hardly be recognized as such by our great-grandmothers, could they revisit this sub- lunary sphere. The immense range and baking apparatus are of the latest and most improved patterns. The second story is divided into sleeping-appartments for the pupils and teachers. In every room there is a large closet, a marble basin, gas-fittings, etc., and there is not an apartment in the whole building, it may be stated, into which the sun does not shine at some time of the day. There are inside blinds to the windows. The teachers' apartments occupy commanding positions and while the young ladies may not consider themselves under strict surveillance they have a very poor opportunity to get into mischief, should they be so inclined. As in the lower story, a corridor runs the entire length of the building. There are several bath-rooms, with hot and cold water, on this and on the third story. The third story is similar in all respects to the second, while from the observatory, elevated seventy-five feet above the ground, the view is surpassingly grand. The hills of San Bruno, with the waters of the bay of San Francisco at their feet, the southern portion of that city, including Hunter's Point, the valleys of Alameda, Santa Clara, and Fruit Vale, and the pretty village of San Leandro combine to form a picture which our poor pen is unable to describe.

As we have said, there are gas-fittings in every room in the building, while water is obtained from the neighboring streams in never-failing abundance. The ventilation of the house is perfect, the corridors turning a current of fresh air into all the apart- ments through the transoms over the doors. Many of the rooms are warmed by means of grates, but a large hot-air furnace has been provided in the basement, having registers in the halls, which keep the whole building sufficiently warm.

The institution is in no way sectarian, though Christian. The course of study is broad and liberal, while every precaution is used to avoid imparting that shallow and superficial smattering of the languages, music, etc., so common in female educational institutions. It is and ever has been the aim of Doctor Mills and his friends to impart a thorough education to the young women of California, and also instruct them in those varied duties they will be called upon to perform in future life.

The grounds comprise sixty-five acres, rich in oaks, willows, alder, sycamore, laurel, and bay trees, orchard and garden, and a creek winding through the domain adds to the natural attractions of this delightful spot. Everything betokens the highest taste and skill, and we have seen no school edifice in California or elsewhere equaling it in beauty of surroundings, or surpassing it in convenience of design.

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

In May, 1872, the foundation-stone of the new church was laid, and is a very neat building, gothic in structure. It occupies a site opposite to that blown down in Octo- ber, 1870, and cost about fifteen thousand dollars, the edifice occupying an area of forty-five by seventy-seven feet, and surmounted by a spire one hundred feet in height. The first clergyman was Rev. Mr. Lacy.

BROOKLYN LODGE, NO. 225, F. and A. M .- Was organized July 9, 1872, with John H. Sumner, John W. Phillipps, Jonathan V. Webster, Bezaleel M. Atkinson, Nicholas P. Perrine, Charles F. Barnhisel, Frank Schuneman, Herman Pfeimger, Henry Ham- pel, George W. Babcock, John R. Watson, George M. Walker, John H. N. Tum Suden, Duncan Cameron, James Larue, Charles R. Stetson, Ludwell J. Rector, as charter members. The first officers were: J. H. Sumner, W. M .; J. W. Phillips, S. W .; J. V. Webster, J. W .; G. M. Walker, Treasurer; J. Larue, Secretary; B. M. Atkinson, S. D .; C. F. Barnhisel, J. D .; H. Hampel, Tyler; G. W. Babcock, Marshal. The present number of members on the roll is forty-five; the Past Masters are: J. H. Sumner, J. V. Webster, J. W. Phillipps, B. M. Atkinson, G. M. Walker, and J. A. Webster; while the officers for the current term are: C. H. Ramsden, W. M .; L. R. Mead, S. W .; A. E. Magill, I. W .; James Cabbledick, Treasurer; H.S. Mulford, Secretary; E. G. Mathews, S. D .; J. J. Newsom, J. D .; A. W. Swett, Marshal; J. V. Webster, Geo. Ridley, Stew- ards; W. D. Thomas, Tyler. Meets on the first Tuesday of each month.

ORION · LODGE, No. 189, I. O. O. F .- Was organized June 14, 1871, with the following charter members: Joseph Becht, W. I. Noyes, O. Whipple, James McGrath, D. McFarland, J. J. Pensam, J. H. West, William Skitch, V. S. Northey, T. W. Le Ballister, J. K. Smallman, H. Hampel, F. Deike, T. D. Weymouth, S. N. Sawyer, the original officers being: Joseph Becht, J. P. G .; W. H. Hamilton, N. G .; W. D. Thomas, V. G .; W. T. Noyes, Sec .; O. Whipple, Per. Sec .; James McGrath, Treas .; S. N. Sawyer, Warden; V. S. Northey, Conductor; J. J. Pensam, I. G .; T. J. Le Ballis- ter, O. G .; T. D. Weymouth, R. S. N. G .; John West, L. S. N. G .; D. McFarland, R. S. V. G .; H. Hampel, L. S. V. G .; J. K. Smallman, R. S. S .; Wm. Skitch, L. S. S .; O. Hemstreet, Chaplain. The Lodge has at present eighty-four members on its roll. Its list of Past Grands is: E. Bangle, George Chase, W. H. Hamilton, A. Howard, W. A. Donilson, J. M. Holiday, H. A. Kingsbury, Z. Ludwig, R. W. Martin, V. S. Nor- they, W. T. Noyes, J. J. Pensam, M. W. Fish, J. K. Smallman, H. A. G. Smith, W. D. Thomas, James Taylor, O. Whipple, J. K. Watson, E. W. Bradley; and its present officers are: J. E. Holmes, J. P. G .; C. H. Townsend, N. G .; C. M. Johnson, V. G .; W. Sandholt, Sec .; J. Williams, Per. Sec .; V. S. Northey, Treas .; W. C. White, Warden; M. W. Fish, Conductor; J. Ough, I. G .; George Bryant, O. G .; E. W. Bradley, R. S. N. G .; J. J. Pensam, L. S. N. G .; B. F. Henley, R. S. V. G .; F. Hampel, L. S. V.G .; T. F. Spear, R. S. S .; A. Gray, L. S. S .; W. H. Hamilton, Chaplain. Meets every Satur- day evening in Odd Fellows Hall, at the southeast corner of Eleventh Avenue an ] East Twelfth Street. The hall was built in 1876, and is a two-story frame building having three stores on the ground floor, with lodge-room, ante-room, and library on the second, the whole representing, with furniture, a value of some eight thousand dol- lars. The library contains about nine hundred volumes.

I. Russell

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BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP.

EVENING STAR LODGE, NO. 263, I. O. O. F .- The Lodge was instituted July 20, 1877, with the following charter members: T. W. Le Ballister, P. G .; F. Schimmel- pfening, J. L. Golden, John Nelson, John K. Woodward, O. J. Bailey, L. B. Larue; the first officers being: J. Nelson, N. G .; J. K. Woodward, V. G .; T. W. Le Ballister, Sec .; F. Schimmelpfening, Treas. The present number of members is fifty-one, while the officers for the current term are: F. X. Olanie, J. P. G .; R. H. Larsen, N. G .; D. J. Sullivan, V. G .; T. W. Le Ballister, Sec .; F. Schimmelpfening, Treas. Meets on Wednesday evening at Schimmelpfening's Hall, East Twelfth Street, East Oakland.

BROOKLYN REBEKAH DEGREE LODGE .- The Brooklyn Rebekah Degree Lodge No. 12, I. O. O. F., was organized July 8, 1872, with the following charter members: J. C. Holland, Mrs. S. M. Holland, O. Whipple, Jeanette Whipple, Thos. F. Steere, Mrs. Julia E. Steere, W. D. Thomas, Mrs. Annie Thomas, Ives Scoville, J. E. Bacon, Eliza Bacon, George Chase, Dana Chase, James Cobbledick, Isabella Cobbledick, Joseph Hook, Calista W. Hook, V. S. Northey, Mary L. Northey, F. M. Farwell, Jen- nie E. Farwell, Louisa Schimmelpfening, James McGrath, Mrs. E. M. Rosette, J. F. Fair- field, J. J. Pensam, J. H. West, T. W Le Ballister. The first officers were: J. C. Hol- land, N. G .; Julia E. Steere, V. G .; May L. Northey, Secretary; E. Bacon, Permanent Secretary; Annie Thomas, Treasurer; Thomas F. Steere, Warden; Mrs. S. M. Holland, Conductress; T. W. Le Ballister, Inside Guardian; C. W. Hook, R. S. to N. G .; E. M. Rosette, L. S. to N. G .; Isabella Cobbledick, R. S. to V. G .; Louisa Schimmelpfen- ing, L. S. to V. G .; Dana Chase, Chaplain. The Past Grands of the Lodge are: J. C. Holland, J. J. Pensam, O. Whipple, W. D. Thomas, Geo. Chase, J. W. Watson, Dana Chase, Louisa Holmes, May L. Northey, Annie Liere, Nellie S. Loud, M. J. Hamilton, Lydia J. Pinkham, Jeanette Whipple, Katie Icke. The present officers are: Katie · Icke, J. P. G .; Sarah T. Yale, N. G .; Calista W. Hook, V. G .; Jeanette Whipple, Sec- retary; Annie Thomas, Permanent Secretary; Annie Liere, Treasurer; C. H. Town- send, Warden; Nellie S. Loud, Conductress; Louisa M. Watson, I. G .; May L. Northey, R. S. to N. G .; Dana Chase, L. S. to N. G .; S. M. Holland, R. S. to V. G .; R. E. White, L. S. to V. G .; Mrs. J. B. Williams, Chaplain. The present membership is ninety-three. This Lodge is in a very prosperous condition. It meets every Mon- day evening at Odd Fellow's Hall, corner of Twelfth Street and Eleventh Avenue, East Oakland ..

BROOKLYN LODGE NO. 32, K. OF P .- Was instituted August 21, 1875, with the following charter members: George Lewis, Jr., Adam Follrath, Shadrack Osborne, E. M. Lawrence, Richard Cowell, Joseph Anderson, F. X. Olanie, W. Hendershot, George Rischmuller, H. Liese, James Moffitt, John Cowell, W. H. H. Hamilton, Joseph Hawthorne, F. Lheureux, F. Schimmelpfening, Charles Scheley, Robert Stephenson, F. J. Hughes, Richard Rischmuller, E. H. Geldner, and J. C. Roff. The first officers were: George Lewis, Jr., P. C .; Adam Follrath, C. C .; S. Osborne, V. C .; Robert Stephenson, P .; W. H. H. Hamilton, K. of R. & S .; J. C. Roff, M. of F .; F. Schim- melpfening, M. of E., Richard Cowell, M. at A .; E. M. Lawrence, I. G .; F. Lhereux O. G. The Past Chancellors are as follows: George Lewis, Jr., Adam Follrath, S. Osborne, Joseph Anderson, Joseph Hawthorne, W. H. H. Hamilton, E. L. Hutton,

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 59

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