USA > California > Contra Costa County > History of Contra Costa County, California, including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description; together with a record of the Mexican grants also, incidents of pioneer life; and biographical sketches of early and prominent settlers and representative men > Part 69
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JOHN McCANN .- Was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, October 15, 1845, where he received his education and resided until he reached his twen- tieth year. At that time, 1866, he sailed to the United States, first landed in New York, and, after a short stay, started for San Francisco, where he arrived November 23, 1866. Three days thereafter he came to Contra Costa county and found employment with John Rodgers as foreman. Here he remained three years, when he removed to Dixon, Solano county, and embarked in farming with his cousin, William McCann. At the end of eleven months he returned to Contra Costa, and established a wood business between San Pablo creek and San Francisco. In this occupation he continued eight or nine months, when he commenced farming on his own account, in company with Pat. Tinney, on Dr. Carothers' ranch, about two miles from Pacheco. Here our subject resided one season, and then went into the employ of the Clayton brewery, where he was three years their teamster. In the Spring of 1874 he transferred
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his residence to Oakland, Alameda county, where he remained twelve months, being interested in a livery stable ; he subsequently came back to the farm of Mr. Rodgers, and stayed there until September 12, 1875, when he bought out the saloon of James McKenna, opposite the Bank of Martinez. This establishment he conducted until December 11, 1876. when the premises were consumed by fire. Mr. McCann, however, at once opened his business in the Castro Block, and there conducted his affairs until February 17, 1877, when he opened his present elegant par- lors, at the corner of Main and Ferry streets, in the town of Martinez, where he has on hand a large and varied assortment of wines and liquors. If a good life, hard work and honorable principles could fill the pockets, then John McCann's should overflow with wealth. He married in Benicia, Solano county, June 17, 1879, Josephine A. Powers, a native of Benicia, and has: Josephine Loretto, born March 30, 1880 ; William James, born May 31, 1881.
DAVID F. MCCLELLAN .- This old and respected pioneer of California, a native of Roane county, Tennessee, is the son of Abraham and Jane (Walker) McClellan, and was born August 10, 1820. When one year of age his parents moved to Jackson county, Missouri, where our subject was raised on a farm and resided until May, 1843, when he, with three companions, procured an outfit, and with mule-teams started to cross the then almost trackless plains to California. On arriving at South Platte, they joined a train under command of Colonel Chiles (now of Napa county), bound for California, and continued their westward journey to Fort Hall. Here the company separated, part continuing on the Oregon route, and part to California, under the command of Joseph R. Walker. In the latter party was Mr. MeClellan, and, after an uneventful trip, they arrived in Gilroy, Santa Clara county, February 1, 1844. The first two years were spent, in part, at the trade of carpenter and hunter. He then made preparations to return to his Missouri home, but on arriving at Fort Bridger and hearing of an Indian outbreak, they deemed it unsafe to push further, therefore they took the principal part of their animals and proceeded to Fort Bent, where our subject sojourned but a short time, when he continued on his eastward journey, arriving at his former home in the Fall of 1846. Here he resided until August, 1847, when he, with James T. Walker and his uncle Joseph R. Walker, with several others, started again for this State, spent the first Winter in the Rocky Mountains, and arrived in Sacramento in the Summer of 1848. We next find Mr. McClellan keeping a grocery store at the mines, at the same time being engaged in the stock business in which he continued until 1850, when he paid another visit to his home in Missouri. Staying but a few months, he again returned to this coast and to Gilroy, where
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he followed his trade until the Fall. He then purchased stock and pro- ceeded to the mines on Maxwell's creek, where he engaged in the butcher business for one Winter. In the Fall of 1852, our subject again paid a visit to his home in the east; and once more, in 1853, crossed the plains, for the third time, to this coast, and came direct to Contra Costa county, locating on the place now owned by Lawrence Geary, where he remained until 1877, when he sold out and purchased his present home in Pacheco; he also owns a farm of one hundred acres, two miles southeast of the town in which he now resides.
JAMES McHARRY .- The subject of this narrative, a portrait of whom will be found in this work, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in the year 1830, and resided there until the age of seven, when he removed to County Down. In 1850 he emigrated to the United States, and first settled in Hamilton county, Ohio, where he engaged in garden- ing and farming. At the end of a year he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and there embarked in the raising of vegetables, and horticulture, a busi- ness he followed until starting for California. On March 10, 1853, Mr. McHarry commenced the arduons undertaking of crossing the plains to the Pacific Coast. Having entered the State by Canon Pass, he proceeded to Sacramento, at which place he arrived August 10th of the same year. Like nearly all who accomplished the difficult journey, our subject imme- diately made for the mines; but instead of prosecuting the search for gold in the bosom of mother earth, he proceeded to San Mateo county and com- menced laying out a vineyard and orchard near Crystal Springs. There he remained until moving to Contra Costa county in 1856. Mr. McHarry owns a fine farm of five hundred acres, where he is engaged in farming, as well as stock and fruit raising. Married August 11, 1854, Ann McClel- land, a native of County Antrim, and has: James, Daniel, Sarah, Mary, John, Isaac, and Hattie.
JOB C. McMASTER .- The subject of this sketch was born in Sullivan, Hancock county, Maine, June 10, 1822, and is the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Cashman) McMaster. When about two years of age his parents moved to Etna, Penobscot county, same State, and there resided for six years, when Mr. McMaster, with his parents, went to Pittsfield, Somerset county, where he remained until the year 1842, when he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed until he came to California, together with the Revs. Joseph H. and W. W. Smith and about fifty others, starting January 9, 1849, from Boston on the brig Forest, arriving at San Francisco, July 6th of the same year. After following his trade for eighteen months in the above-named city, he returned to his old home in Maine, remained there six months, and
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again came to the Pacific Coast, via the Isthmus of Panama. After a few weeks spent in San Francisco, he came to Contra Costa county, arriving in December, 1851, and located on the place where Antioch now stands. We may add that on his first visit to California he went to Antioch, in company with W. W. Smith, with whom he laid out the town. On his second visit he was mostly engaged in stock-raising and · butchering, while he was one of the first who embarked in the dairy business in Antioch. Mr. McMaster also formed a company for making brick as long ago as 1852. In 1853 our subject was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors, and was serving at the time when the office was abolished. From the year 1870 to 1872 he held the office of Town Marshal of Antioch, and in the Fall of 1873 was again elected to the Board of Supervisors for Township Number Five, an office he now has the honor of holding. Married in Lowell, Massachusetts, September 10, 1851, Harriet Bacon, a native of Sullivan, Maine, by which union two children were born, viz .: Miranda M. (now Mrs. J. P. Abbott, of Antioch,) and Andrew J. (deceased).
JAMES McNAMARA .- A native of County Clare, Ireland, was born about 1847. In 1862 he emigrated to America, first locating in Connec- ticut, where he resided until January, 1863. He then enlisted in Com- pany K, First Connecticut Artillery, in which he served until the close of the war ; our subject then returned to his former home in Connecticut, and there remained, engaged in farming until 1868, when he came via steamer to California and direct to Contra Costa county. Here he first found employment on the ranch of Patrick Tormey, near Pinole, where he remained for four years ; he then came to Martinez and opened his present business, in which he has been successful owing to well-main- tained prosperity, on Main street, where he resides and carries on his busi- ness. Mr. McNamara was married in Oakland, July 18, 1878, to Miss Mary Bennett, a native of Ireland. They have three children : James, John and Joseph.
DOCTOR JOHN MARSH, (deceased) .- The life of each illustrious man is a drama, of which the various acts are subjects of the most lively interest, when properly detailed by the faithful historian. The task of the latter, however, is no easy one, in case he attempts to trace those links which, as fractional parts, unite and truly represent the original. Every great man's life, if studied comprehensively, reveals a purpose ; and the historic painter would fall far short of what art claims from him, if, in the imagery of his picture, he omitted the delineation of glimpses of such a purpose, which, like a sunbeam in the background of a painting, illumines and brings into view each point and feature of the picture. Pre-eminently, in the life of him whose name appears at the head of this
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sketch, do we observe such an inspiring aim and continued purpose, that, like glory following virtue as its shadow, "lived with and accompanied him as an ever-present genius." Besides the intellectual endowments with which he was gifted, he possessed those of the heart no less unusual. To depict these with that simplicity of coloring which comports with nature, is no ordinary undertaking. The gentleman whose memoir we pen, and whose portrait appears the first in this work, was descended from John Marsh, who came from England to the United States in the year 1634, who joined the first church in Salem, Mass- achusetts, in 1639, and afterwards married Susanna, daughter of Rev. Samuel Skelton, pastor of that church. This gentleman was sent over from England as one of the first ministers to Massachusetts Bay. Our subject was born in Danvers, Massachusetts, (that part of Danvers which is comprised within the limits of South Danvers,) June 5, 1799. His father was John Marsh, born November 26, 1778, and died January 29, 1858, and his mother Mary (Brown) Marsh, born December 23, 1772, and died November 14, 1844. Doctor Marsh commenced preparations for college with Rev. Dr. Eaton, of Boxford, Massachusetts, and finished at Philips' Academy, Andover, same State. At eighteen or nineteen years of age he entered Harvard University. While in college he taught school during the Winters in his native town. When young he was more remarkable for active exercise than for abstruse studies. He was ever fond of hunting and trapping, while the groves and brooks around would bear testimony to his adroitness in capturing their tenants. No fox, squirrel nor musk-rat could live where our subject wandered. After graduating from Harvard, Doctor Marsh spent two years at Fort Snelling (now St. Paul), Minnesota, where he had the appointment of Instructor of Officers' children. While there he took up the study of medicine under a physician, who died before he completed the regular course. From Fort Snelling he went to Detroit, Michigan, and in company with Governors Schoolcraft and Cass, with whom he was very intimate, went, on horseback, to Washington, D. C., remaining several months; then making his last visit to his father, returned, in the Spring of 1826, to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. In the Summer he went to reside at Fort Crawford, near Prairie du Chien, as Indian Agent, where he remained about three years, until after the Black Hawk war, in which he had some command. There were some white settlers about there, and he held the office of Justice under the then Territory of Michigan. Between the years 1828 and 1835 he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in St. Joseph, Missouri, and from there he started for the Far West, on horse-back, with an exploring expedition, traversed the States of Chi- hauhau and Sonora, crossed the Gila near the tide-water of the Gulf of California, entered this State at its southern part, and resided for
Thomas murphy
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awhile in Los Angeles. Any more direct route from the United States was, at that time, unknown, and considered impracticable. Our subject had the good fortune to obtain from the Mexican Governor a grant of land at the base of Mount Diablo, where he settled and commenced the business of rearing cattle, and his herds, in time, became as numerous as those of the patriarchs of old.
When the gold fever began to rage, Dr. Marsh's lands commenced to advance, and it is not easy now to compute their value. Shortly after, his title was confirmed by the United States. Dr. Marsh's personal appearance was commanding, his adroitness as a manager, great. He had seen much of life, was a keen observer of men and things, and a man of much general information ; was a thorough French and Spanish scholar ; had a more perfect knowledge of their habits and manners than any other person of his time, except, perhaps, Mr. Schoolcraft. In the report of the United States Exploring Expedition he was considered the best authority for information in regard to the country, as he had made many private expeditions to various parts. His mind was sound and logical, his spirit resolute and adventurous. Dr. Marsh was foully murdered by some native Californians, who are supposed to have had a grudge against him, on September 24, 1856, while on his way to Martinez, and about two miles from that place ; for particulars of this atrocious deed we refer the reader to page 342 of this work. The following documents, kindly placed at our disposal by W. W. Camron, of Oakland, the son-in-law of the late Doctor, we reproduce in extenso, as they speak of the earliest history of California and the state of the country, and might lose force in transposition ; they are apparently communications to the New Orleans Picayune, and all dated in the early part of 1846.
" Messrs. Editors :- Certain willful, malicious and ill-disposed neighbors of mine have entered into a conspiracy against me. They have, for some time past, instigated, no doubt by their own indolence and evil disposi- tions, been teazing me to write articles for the newspapers in the United States. They represent to me that the people there are very desirous to have correct information relative to California, and that they cannot easily obtain it. That although several works on this country have recently been published, that they are not entitled to implicit confidence, either because the writers were hasty travelers, unacquainted with the language of the inhabitants, and not possessed of the requisite information ; or that these works were published to answer a particular purpose, which was not exactly that of the naked truth. As I have heretofore thought it better to attend to my own business rather than undertake to enlighten the people of the United States about California, these same ill-disposed neighbors of mine have undertaken to place me under an interdict. They declare that unless I will write articles for the American newspapers, none of the
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said newspapers shall reach me. Now as these enemies of mine live in Monterey, where foreign intelligence first arrives, they have actually stopped my newspapers, and I am thus compelled to write, or not have the privilege of reading the news. You will perceive, therefore, that if my effusions are worthless, the fault is not mine, but of those who have forced me to write against my will. I have hesitated to what journal to address my precious communications, but have finally selected the Picay- une, because we consider it the best for Mexican and Texan news, in which we feel a deep interest, and partly because we have a sort of fellow- feeling for Mr. Kendall on account of his romantic pilgrimage to New and Old Mexico.
" The first European who saw California was Grijalva, who commanded a naval expedition fitted out by Cortes the Conqueror, in the year 1534. He discovered the southern part of Lower California, which he supposed to be an island, and this opinion was for a long time entertained by the Spaniards. Lower, or Old California, is for the most part an uninhabited and uninhabitable desert, as remarkable for its extent and sterility as Upper California is for its fertility and beauty. The country now known as Upper California was discovered by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, in the year 1542. The first settlement of the Spaniards in the territory was begun at the port of San Diego, on the 1st of May, 1769. The first Governor of Upper California was Don Gaspar de Portala, a captain of dragoons in the Spanish army. The first attempts at settlement were made by founding Missions, which were gradually extended along the coast towards the north wherever suitable situations could be found. The last of these Missions that was attempted was at Sonoma, which was begun about twenty-five years ago. It was nipped in the bud by the revolutions that severed Mexico from the Crown of Spain. These Mis- sions, as long as the Spanish power lasted, were in a most flourishing condition, possessed nearly all the good lands in the country, and were occupied by upwards of twenty thousand converted Indians. Since the revolution these Missions, like everything else in the Mexican territory, have gone rapidly to decay. At present most of them are entirely abol- ished, their immense wealth dissipated, and the lands apportioned out among private individuals. It has been usual to state the population of Upper California at five thousand persons of Spanish descent and twenty thousand Indians. This estimate may have been near the truth twenty years ago. At present the population may be stated in round numbers at seven thousand Spaniards and ten thousand civilized, or rather domesticated, Indians. To this may be added about seven hundred Americans, one hundred English, Irish and Scotch, and about one hundred French, Germans and Italians. Within the territorial limits of Upper California, taking the parallel of forty-two degrees for the northern and
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the Colorado for the southeastern boundaries, are an immense number of wild, naked, brute Indians. Their number, of course, can only be con- jectured. They probably exceed a million, and may possibly amount to double that number.
" The climate of California is remarkably different from that of the United States. This difference consists mainly in its regularity and uniformity. From May to October the wind is invariably from the north- west, and during this time it never rains, and the sky is brilliant, clear and serene. The weather during this time is temperate, and rarely oppress- ively warm. The nights are agreeably cool, and many of the inhab- itants sleep in the open air the year round. From October to May the wind blows frequently from the southeast, and is always followed by rain. Snow never falls except on the mountains, and frost is rare except in December and January. A proof of the mildness of the climate this moment presents itself, in the shape of a humming-bird, which I just saw from the open window, and this on the first day of February, in latitude 38°. Wheat is sown from October until March, and maize from March to July. As regards human health and comfort, the climate is incom- parably better than that of any part of the United States. It is much the most healthy country I have ever seen, or have any knowledge of. There is absolutely no disease whatever that can be attributed to the influence of the climate. The face of the country differs as much fromn that of the United States as the climate. The whole territory is traversed by ranges of mountains, which run parallel to each other, and to the coast. The highest points may be about four thousand feet above the level of the sea ; in most places much lower, and in many parts they dwindle to low hills. They are everywhere covered with grass and vegetation, and many of the valleys and northern declivities abound with finest timber trees. Between these ranges of mountains are level valleys, or rather plains, of every width, from five miles to fifty. The magnificent valley through which flow the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers, is five hundred miles long, with an average width of forty or fifty. It is intersected laterally by many smaller rivers abounding with salmon. The whole region abounds with vast herds of wild horses, elk and antelope. The only inhabitants of this vast valley (which is capable of supporting a nation) are about one hundred and fifty Americans, and a few miserable Indians. The Bay of San Francisco, into which all these rivers flow, and is the natural outlet of all this region, is considered by nautical men as one of the finest harbors in the world. It consists of two principal arms, diverging from the entrance in nearly opposite directions, and each about fifty miles long, with an average width of eight or ten miles. It is perfectly sheltered from every wind, has great depth of water, is easily accessible at all times, and space enough to contain half the ships in the world.
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The entrance is less than a mile wide and could easily be fortified so as to make it entirely impregnable. The vicinity abounds in the finest timber for ship-building, and in fact, everything necessary to make it a great naval and commercial depot. Near the entrance of this magnifi- cent harbor, within the last seven years, has grown up the flourishing town of Yerba Buena, built and inhabited entirely by Americans and Englishmen.
" The agricultural capabilities of California are as yet very imperfectly developed ; it is well adapted to the productions of Spain, Portugal and Italy, and the region lying in similar latitudes on the western coast of Europe. The whole of it is remarkably adapted to the culture of the vine. Brandy and wine of excellent quality are already made in consider- able quantities ; olives, figs and almonds grow well; apples, pears and peaches produce abundantly, and in the southern part, oranges. Cotton is beginning to be cultivated, and promises to succeed well. It is the finest country for wheat I have ever seen. Fifty for one is about the average crop, with very imperfect cultivation. One hundred fold is not uncommon ; and even one hundred and fifty has been produced. Maize grows tolerably well, but not equal to some parts of the United States. Hemp, flax and tobacco have been cultivated on a small scale, and succeed well. The rearing of cattle is at present the principal pursuit of the inhabitants, and the most profitable. As a pastoral country, California is unsurpassed, and perhaps unequalled in the world. The pasturage is most abundant and of very excellent quality. No less than seven kinds of clover are indigenous here, and four of them are unknown in the United States. Oats grow spontaneously all over the coast throughout its whole extent. In one place near the river Merced, a little barley was accidently scattered by a traveller, and it has continued to reproduce it- self for fifteen years. I have known five successive crops of wheat in as many years from only one sowing. All kinds of grasses as well as the cereal gramina produce an uncommon quantity of seed, and this is prob- ably the reason why cattle do not reach their greatest degree of fatness until about a month after the grass is dry.
" If these desultory remarks on some of the topics relative to this country should be found to contain interest for your readers, at some future time you may expect to hear something on the commerce of the country, its great mineral wealth, its political history, (a most fruitful theme) and of the manners and customs of its inhabitants, from one of your fellow-citizens who has been here more than ten years, and has taken some pains to become acquainted with the country he has selected for his home.
" ESSEX.
"SAN FRANCISCO, Upper California,
February, 1846."
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The Doctor then follows with a description of the Valley of San Joaquin :
"It appears to me, Messrs. Editors, that a corner of your small but valu- able journal might be usefully devoted to a brief description of this noble valley, the first undoubtedly in California, and one of the most magnifi- cent in the world. It is about five hundred miles long, with an average width of about fifty miles. It is bounded on the east by the great range of snowy mountains, and on the west by the low range, which in many places dwindles into insignificant hills, and has its northern terminus at the Straits of Carquinez, on the Bay of San Francisco, and its southern near the Colorado river. The river San Joaquin flows through the middle of the valley for about half of its extent, and thence diverges toward the eastern mountains in which it has its source. About sixty miles further south is the northern end of Buena Vista lake, which is about one hundred miles long and from ten to twenty wide. Still further south, and near the western side of the valley, is another and much smaller lake. The great lake receives about a dozen tributaries on its eastern side, which all rise in the great range of snowy mountains. Some of these streams flow through broad and fertile valleys within the mountain range, and from thence emerging irrigate the plain of the great valley for the distance of twenty or thirty miles. The largest of these streams is called by the Spanish inhabitants the River Reyes, and falls into the lake near its northern end. It is a well-timbered stream, and flows through a country of great fertility and beauty. The tributaries of the San Joaquin are all on the east side. On ascending the stream we first meet with the river of Stanislaus, a clear, rapid mountain stream, some forty or fifty yards wide, with a considerable depth of water in its lower portion. The Mormons have commenced a settlement called New Hope, and built some two or three houses near the mouth. There are considerable bodies of fertile land along the river, and the higher plains afford good pasturage. Ten miles higher up is the river of the Tawal- omes. It is about the size of the Stanislaus, which it greatly resembles, except that the soil is somewhat better and that it particularly abounds with salmon. Some thirty miles further comes in the Merced, much the largest of the tributaries of the San Joaquin. The lands along and between the tributaries of the San Joaquin and the lake of Buena Vista is a fine pastoral region, with a good proportion of arable lands, and a very inviting field for emigrants. The whole of this region has been but imperfectly explored, but enough is known to make it certain that it is one of the most desirable regions on the continent. In the valleys of the rivers which come down from the great snowy mountains are vast bodies of pine and redwood or cedar timber, and the streams afford water power to any desirable amount. The whole country east of the San Joaquin,
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