USA > California > Contra Costa County > History of Contra Costa County, California; with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 26
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March 19, 1911 .- Died, at San Pablo, Frederick Wolf, a native of Germany, born in 1833 and a pioneer of 1859 in California. In 1860 he came to San Pablo. At his death he was seventy-eight years of age.
On Monday morning, May 20, 1907, Charles Wood died at his Dan- ville home. He was born in 1830 in Massachusetts, came to California in 1852, and in 1862 removed to Sycamore Valley, Contra Costa County.
December 18, 1918 .- Mrs. Charles Wood, a resident of Sycamore Valley for fifty years, died this morning at the home of her son, Charles J. Wood, at the old family homestead. She was born in New York and was eighty-seven years old. She married Charles Wood in 1857 and in 1862 came to Sycamore Valley to live. Two sons and two daughters are the survivors of her family.
Died, March 25, 1915, at Woodside in San Ramon Valley, George Wood, aged seventy-eight years. He was born in Massachusetts and came to California in the early fifties.
David S. Woodruff was born in New York in 1829. He came via Panama in 1858, located in Bay Point and taught school; and in 1861 he was elected superintendent of schools. He also served as public ad- ministrator and was justice of the peace at Nortonville two years. He opened a drug store in Antioch, and moved to Martinez in 1880.
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
CHAPTER XVIII GLEANINGS FROM THE FILES OF THE CONTRA COSTA GAZETTE, 1858-1926
The establishment of a newspaper in Contra Costa County was an important factor in its upbuilding and development. On September 18, 1858, W. B. Soule & Company, of Martinez, printed the first copy of the Contra Costa Gazette, a weekly paper of four six-column pages, issued every Saturday. From that date, sixty-eight years ago, up to September 18, 1926, the paper did not miss an issue. A complete set of bound vol- umes of the paper is to be found in the Gazette office in Martinez. The following data, historical and personal, gleaned from the files of the paper, will serve to chronicle the main events in the early history of the. county, trace the gradual development and expansion of its varied in- terests, and recall many interesting incidents in the lives of its pioneers.
In the extracts given, side-head dates are for the most part to be un- derstood as dates of the weekly issues. Undated paragraphs follow in chronological sequence, as a rule, between those with dates, but often are not to be assigned to the preceding dated issue. It has seemed unneces- sary to use quotation marks, especially as the matter given has often been condensed.
Some of the advertisers whose names appeared in the issue of Sep- tember 18, 1858, were:
Charles A. Ruggles, M. D.
Solano Hotel, Benicia, F. W. Weimann, proprietor.
E. H. Bryan, copper, tin and sheet iron wares, stores, pumps, lead pipe, etc.
L. H. Hastings, dealer in beef, pork, hides, tallow and all kinds of produce.
A. Hersey, painter, glazier, paperhanger, whitewasher, and all kinds of imitations of wood and marble.
J. W. Sanborn, Benicia, "where can be found papers from all the prin- cipal Atlantic cities ; also an assortment of stationery, periodicals, etc."
S. Blum & Brothers, dealers in groceries, clothing, drygoods, boots shoes, etc.
E. Lasar, dealer in dry goods, clothing, groceries, boots, shoes, etc. George F. Worth, notary public.
Martinez Lodge No. 41, F. & A. M .; T. A. Brown, W. M .; John F. S. Smith, Secretary.
Hale & Fassett, dealers in drygoods, groceries, crockery, hardware, clothing, etc., Pacheco, Cal.
Walter Lopez, shaving saloon.
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Alhambra Hotel and Restaurant, meals at all hours. Horses and carriages to let. Josiah Sturgis, proprietor, Martinez.
Cornelius Connelly, 500 bushels Australian Red Seed Wheat for sale. Bella Union Hotel and French Store, L. Dutil, dealer in groceries,
etc. He recommends himself for superior wines and liquors.
September 18, 1858 .- A slight earthquake shock was felt here Sunday evening about 8 p. m. [As Saturday was the day of publication, the Sun- day mentir ned fell on September 12.]
The through mail to Memphis and St. Louis starts from San Fran- cisco at 1 o'clock tomorrow morning, and it is calculated by the contractor that it will get through in twenty-five days. Preparations have been made to transport promptly any number of passengers that may offer, or any amount of mail matter. One hundred miles per day is the distance to be traveled, which, if the stages are able to perform, will cut the time con- siderably under twenty-five days. We fully expect that in the course of a year this southern mail will be run regularly through in from fifteen to twenty days.
The steamer Sonora arrived in San Francisco on Thursday, at 11 a. m. She brings highly interesting and important news. The Atlantic tele- graph wire has been successfully laid. Congratulatory messages have been exchanged between Europe and America. The Queen of England sent the first dispatch to Mr. Buchanan and was immediately replied to. The cable was spliced in mid-ocean July 29. On August 4 the Niagara arrived with one end at Trinity Bay, New Foundland. On the 5th the cable was landed and connected with the American station. On the 16th the first message was flashed along the wires.
On Monday evening the overland mail coach, which left Salt Lake September 1, arrived at Placerville with two passengers.
The 6th Infantry has left Fort Bridger for California via the Hum- . boldt.
General Harney and a number of troops are en route to Oregon.
Notice : The stock-owners of this county can have facsimile brands of their own inserted in this paper by paying cost of engraving and the usual price of advertising.
Born, in Martinez, on September 23, 1858, to the wife of Henry Bush, Jr., a son.
San Ramon .- There is no law laid down in the statutes in relation to hogs running at large in this county.
September 25, 1858 .- We are indebted to Henry Rich of the Knick- erbocker, of Benicia, for his gentlemanly treatment towards us and our friends on Sunday last. We would state that he has on hand a full supply of mussels and a fine glass of brandy on which those who are waiting for the river-boats would do well to regale themselves. May success always attend him.
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October 2, 1858 .- Total value of property assessed for the year 1857 was $1,842,405 ; but for 1858, $2,536,617, an increase of $694,212. This difference is in part due, no doubt, to the increasing activity and thoroughness of our efficient assessor.
October 9, 1858 .- A company of eighty men is organized at Weaver- ville to fight the Indians, and another is about forming.
The Los Angeles Vineyard reports that gold and ores of silver and copper have been found in the mountains north of Los Angeles.
The steamer Golden Gate, which left San Francisco on Tuesday last for Panama, carried away 420 passengers and $1,850,120 in treasure.
The law prohibiting the immigration of Chinese went into effect on the Ist inst. The last arrivals were per the ship Frowning Bird, the 28th ult.
First dispatch over the Placerville and Humboldt Telegraph was sent October 7, 1858. Messages are now being sent hourly from Placerville east.
Advertisement :- Ambrotypes, melancotypes, and portraits on leather. Also for sale, gilt mouldings and picture frames. J. W. Jones.
October 16, 1858 .- The overland mail arrived yesterday from San Francisco via Los Angeles, from Memphis and St. Louis, with four days later news from the East. The mail left St. Louis on the same day that the mail steamer left New York, and was detained thirty-seven hours at Fort Smith, Ark., waiting for the mail from Memphis; but still, with this drawback, the overland mail arrived in San Francisco before the mail steamer.
San Francisco Markets: Flour, $9 to $10.25, slight decline; wheat, $2.75 to $3, as to quality; barley, $1 to $1.0212; oats, $1.50 to $1.55, as to quality ; butter, Atlantic States, from 18 cents to 23 cents. Dealers. will pay 65 cents per dozen for eggs. Fresh butter, 80 cents per pound; cheese, 21 cents; spring chickens, $5 to $8 per dozen; old hens, $10.50; tame geese, $5 per pair ; turkeys, 30 cents to 32 cents per pound; apples, jobbing at 15 cents to 20 cents per pound ; Spanish cattle, 6 cents to 7 cents per pound, live weight; calves, 12 cents; American cattle, 8 cents to 11 cents per pound, live weight.
October 30, 1858 .- The Gazette comes out, with Bonnard & Com- pany, editors and proprietors, who announce that they will "make it a paper worthy of the support of the citizens of the county, and not a vehicle to advance the interests of any clique of men or party, but an inde- pendent journal soaring above and toadying to none of the latter interests."
January 1, 1859 .- Contra Costa Agricultural Society formed at La- fayette.
First County Fair was inaugurated October 11, 1859, and an ex- cellent exhibit took place. In September, 1861, a pavilion, 60 by 40 feet, was built at Pacheco.
The first officers of the above were : L. I. Fish, president; Daniel Small, vice-president; H. H. Fassett, recording secretary; L. M. Brown, cor- responding secretary ; John M. Jones, treasurer.
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
February 26, 1859 .- W. Bradford appears as editor and publisher of the Gazette, and in his editorial he says: "It is usual for editors to set forth the manner in which they will conduct their paper and to en- large upon the advantages their accession to the editorial corps will be to the community, giving in detail the course they intend to pursue. Now, we do not propose to do anything of the kind. We shall endeavor to so conduct the Gazette as to make it a welcome weekly visitor to the family circle, the farmer, the mechanic and the merchant."
February 26, 1859 .- Ferryboat Carquinez will make regular trips between Martinez and Benicia, leaving Martinez at 8 a. m., 10 a. m., 11 a. m., 1 p. m., 3 p. m., 5:30 p. m .; leaving Benicia at 8:30 a. m., 10:30 a. m., 11:30 a. m., 1:30 p. m., 3 :30 p. m., and 6 p. m. Coffin & Swain.
Born, April 30, 1859, in San Ramon Valley, to the wife of Jacob Reid, a son; May 1, to the wife of R. O. Baldwin, a daughter.
April 7, 1860 .- Overland Pony Express. The first Central Over- land Horse Express for St. Louis left San Francisco on Tuesday after- noon. It carries 85 letters at $5 each, amounting to $425. It is calcu- lated to make the trip to St. Louis in nine or ten days. At the same time the express leaves Sacramento, a courier leaves St. Joseph, Missouri, and if the project is a success at the start we may look for the announce- ment, at Carson City, of news only nine or ten days old, say on the four- teenth of this month. Mr. Wm. W. Finney, the agent of Russell, Majors & Company, has placed his station three hundred miles from Sacramento, towards Salt Lake, in order for the start. Another division extends out from Salt Lake to meet him, and from the latter city, eastward, the sta- tions of the mail from St. Joseph to Salt Lake will be used.
April 28, 1860 .- The Pony Express. The Pony Express last arrived was nine days and seventeen hours from St. Joseph, Missouri. The Ex- press passed through this place on Monday morning in charge of Mr. Thomas J. Bedford of Benicia. By previous arrangements, the ferry boat Carquinez was at her berth in Benicia at an early hour, in anticipa- tion of its arrival, and not a moment of time was lost in conveying it to this place. As the boat touched this side, the horse sprang from her deck, and dashing up the wharf was soon lost to sight as he and his gallant rider went flying on their way to Oakland. The distance from Martinez to Oakland is about twenty-five miles. The Express left here at 7:33 a. m. and arrived at Oakland as reported to us at 9:32, which, if correct, makes the time occupied one hour and fifty-nine minutes. According to the city papers, however, it was accomplished in one hour and forty-five minutes, which was probably the swiftest riding on the whole route.
On April 28, 1860, the Gazette is published by Bradford & Bunker. "R. R. Bunker, having purchased a half interest in the Gazette establish- ment, will hereafter be associated and equally authorized with the under- signed in the publication of this paper. W. Bradford."
On June 9, 1860, in San Francisco, a trial run was made with a steam wagon that arrived from England. It was guided with an appliance
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like on a boy's velocipede. It was loaded with fifty tons and moved along briskly enough where the road was firm enough to bear the weight. Now that our Yankee machinists have a model, they may succeed in making improvements until perfection is reached. For the present we do not believe that the steam wagon will run our horses and mules off our common roads.
July 7, 1806 .- Pacheco Engine Company, No. 1, has the following officers and members: W. J. Caldwell, fireman; J. McDermott, assistant; John Phillips, secretary ; W. T. Hendrick, treasurer ; Elijah Hook, Nelson Howe, J. H. Troy, Henry Miller, S. J. Gould, Gus Wilson, J. C. Fish, John Thorn, S. Dubois, R. S. Brown, G. P.Sanford, J. Babbatt, Edw. Doane, Peter Pons, J. A. Littlefield, John Cerf, George Zogbaum, George Em- inett, H. R. Hicks, S. Bacon, W. Henry, S. Standish, W. K. Dell, George Sturtevant, W. H. Boss, A. Wortheimer, H. Lord, G. F. Rupert, P. H. Standish, G. W. Doane, W. E. Woodford, G. S. Tate, J. Clark, T. Downing, J. W. Baker.
July 13, 1860 .- The non-arrival of the pony express at the expected time was a source of deep regret to all who felt an interest in the suc- cess of the enterprise. The delay is probably caused by the breaking up of stations during the Indian troubles and the necessity of re-stocking the route with horses. A number of animals have been purchased in this vicinity for that purpose, and we may soon expect regularity in its movements.
March 16, 1861 .- "I have disposed of my interest in the Gazette office to W. W. Theobalds, who, in connection with Mr. Bunker, will continue the publication of the paper, and who together are authorized to collect all outstanding accounts of the office. W. Bradford."
The paper thereafter was issued by Bunker & Theobalds.
January 4, 1862, it began raining, and on the 11th the valleys, farming regions, hills, mountains and mining districts suffered; flumes and structures of all kinds used in mining were swept away, also bridges, miners' cabins, etc. Snow fell to a depth of six inches at the coal mines, and there were also landslides.
In 1862 the Hot Springs near Byron were brought to the notice of the public, though they had been discovered years previously.
Stockraisers of the early sixties in Contra Costa County, with reg- istered brands, included the following in or near the places named :
Martinez : J. Strentzel, Dr .. F. E. Hough, Dr. John Tennent, M. R. Barber, B. R. Holliday, S. M. Swain.
Alamo: M. B. Mitchell, A. Ford, A. Hemme, B. Hall, S. A. Carpen- ter, James Foster, F. A. Bonnard, A. W. Hammitt, S. Stone, U. Hunt- ington, W. Z. Stone, W. C. Chapman, D. P. Smith, W. Hayes & Bro., S. Wolff & Co., E. H. Cox, Joel Harlan, J. M. Jones, Golder Field, n. Glass.
Danville: John Smith, R. O. Baldwin, J. Flippin, D. L. Spencer, J. Steme, J. M. Jones, J. L. Labaree, T. Flournoy.
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Pacheco: James Hoyt, S. Pacheco, J. L. Bromley, D. Boss, J. T. Walker.
November, 1862 .- The Postmaster General has ordered the dis- continuance of the Antioch postoffice, as being of the class deemed un- necessary.
December 20, 1862 .- Dr. E. F. Hough discovered deposits of red, green, yellow and blue paints near Martinez on El Hambre Creek and has associated himself with M. R. Barber and N. B. Smith, and two capitalists of San Francisco, to develop the property.
January 10, 1863 .- Walnut Creek has had a postoffice established. The postmaster is J. R. McDonald.
March 21, 1863 .- Two years ago hardly a solitary house could be seen where Antioch now stands, and now there are some sixty buildings, all occupied, and more needed. There are two stores, express office, and saloons. The Stockton steamer stops there on its way up and down the San Joaquin River, so the people can get the papers from San Francisco and Stockton the day of issue. Religious services are held on Sunday, and a school of from twenty-five to thirty pupils is established.
May 23, 1863 .- Mining companies include: Ypsilanti Gold, Silver & Copper Company, Clayton district, Contra Costa County, capital stock, $420,000, 4200 shares at $100; Cayuga Copper Mining Company, Clay- ton district, Contra Costa County, 3300 shares at $100 each; Bay County Gold & Silver Mining Company, Contra Costa County, capital stock $530,000, 1860 shares. Other companies are: Contra Costa Mining Company, Oriental Copper Mining Company, Pine Tree Mining Com- pany, Georgiana Mining Company, Rock Oak Mining Company, Peer- less Mining Company, Bay State Mining Company, and Bunker Mining Company; and in the San Ramon district : Cold Springs Mining Company, Buena Vista Mining Company, Golden Spear Mining Company, Silver Spear Mining Company.
The following have been included since the last issue of the Gazette, to work copper mines in Contra Costa County : The Keokuk Gold, Silver & Copper Mining Company, capital stock $600,000, 12,000 shares at $50 each; and Contra Costa Copper, Gold & Silver Mining Company, capital stock $420,000, 8400 shares at $50 each.
Twelve more were included during the week ending May 30, 1863.
August 1, 1863 .- Adjutant General, Kibbe has prepared and pub- lished a list of electors, residents of California, in the military service of the United State, entitled to vote at the next election. Here is the list from Contra Costa County: C. N. Ashley, M. Toumy, J. Neal, James E. Mason, J. Eichenburger, R. Hutchinson, P. F. Lawrence, W. H. Watrous, O. M. Coombs, Hopkin Hopkins, Charles Myer, N. B. McGill, Thomas Howell, G. R. Hosmer, Henry Andrews, B. Sharpless, James Baron, M. S. Loomis, William Whitney, F. O. McGuire, I. B. Sheppard, R. Haskell, G. Lawson, T. Scott, J. McConliff, P. Smith, William Craw-
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ford, A. J. Dexter, John Ulric, V. Abbey, Dr. George Gwyther, M. A. Meisenheimer.
September 19, 1863 .- The first shipment of copper ore from the Mount Diablo mines, about one ton of rock from the Mount Zion, and a ton from the Pioneer, passed through Pacheco to San Francisco to be smelted.
January 23, 1864 .- The Federal officials, in completing the work of enrollment in Contra Costa County, report 1560 men liable for military duty.
March 5, 1864 .- A fire in Clayton on February 23 wiped out the Clayton Hotel, Rhine & Clayton's store, Union Hotel, A. Senderman's store, Perry Cram's livery, Dell's House; about $15,000 loss, one-fourth insured.
1867-1868 .- Mrs. Jane C. Smith planted some mulberry trees and raised some silk worms near Somersville.
Mrs. Sarah C. Sellars, in the Iron House district, had some 3000 trees. A cocoonery was built near the grove, on scientific principles.
Mrs. Lafferty, Mr. Betteheim and Mr. Mills also raised cocoons.
April 1871 .- James Steele and Isaac Yoakum were arrested in the Moraga Valley for assault upon the Moraga family. Some fifteen or twenty shots were fired from rifles; one horse, ridden by a Moraga, was killed. The affray was a dispute over the possession of land, originally owned and occupied by the Moragas but claimed by Carpentier and Yoakum under judicial decrees.
April 27, 1871 .- Isaac Yoakum was shot, the affair taking place in Alameda County, while he and an assistant were driving some cattle to Yoakum's ranch in Moraga Valley. [Later Silverio Moraga was killed by George Steele, July 8, 1871.]
June 4, 1873 .- Miss Gumecinda Moraga sued Isaac Yoakum in the Third District Court for $10,000 damages, for an alleged assault com- mitted during the difficulties incident to the Moraga feud.
November 2, 1872 .- The following statistics of the county were compiled from returns made to the surveyor general by the county sur- veyor, January 1, 1871, to January 1, 1872 :
Land enclosed in 1871 : 125,940 acres ; land cultivated in 1871, 69,790 acres.
Acreage
Harvested
Wheat
51,140
701,720 bushels
Barley
15,400
310,030 bushels
Oats
1,800
48,900 bushels
Rye
670
2,000 bushels
Corn
200
5,320 bushels
Buckwheat
30
570 bushels
Peas
20
410 bushels
Beans
225
4,560 bushels
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Acreage
Harvested
Potatoes
90
16,890 tons
Sweet potatoes
6
30 tons
Onions
28
3,810 bushels
Hay
13,700
14,300 tons
Beets
1,800 tons
Turnips
700 tons
Pumpkins and Squash
2,000 tons
Butter
194,200 pounds
Cheese
38,900 pounds
Wool
110,620 pounds
Honey
6,200 pounds
January 25, 1873 .- Isaac Lobree, general grocer and provision mer- chant at Antioch, was arrested on complaint of the town marshal, Mahon, convicted and fined $5, on a charge of violating the Sunday law, by keep- ing his place open. He paid the fine, thereby signifying his acceptance of the law. This is the first conviction under the law.
January 25, 1873 .- The Martinez public school, which has been closed the past two months, will reopen in the Masonic Hall, January 27. It is to be hoped that the new school building will be completed by May 1, for the summer term.
April 5, 1873 .- H. W. Carpentier has instituted suits in ejectment against many of the settlers and occupants of the Castro Sobrante lying between and surrounded by Pinole, San Pablo, Moraga, San Ramon, El Hambre and Welch ranchos. Most of the parties are living on the upper end of the tract claimed and, as they have reason to believe, upon what are public lands, if the Sobrante is not stretched beyond its proper limits.
April 5, 1873 .- By requirement of the new code, Contra Costa County, with some 8000 inhabitants, must be apportioned into five super- visoral districts at the next meeting of the Board; and at the next general election the people of each district will elect a supervisor, if the district has not already an official.
First District : Martinez, Pinole, San Pablo; about 400 votes.
Second District : Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Danville; about 400 votes.
Third District : Pacheco, enlarged by San Miguel and part of Welsh, Concord, Bay Point and part of Black Diamond; about 300 votes.
Fourth District: Clayton, Nortonville with Landing and part of Black Diamond, and Somersville; about 350 votes.
Fifth District: Antioch, Point of Timber ; about 390 votes.
July, 1873 .- J. S. Hill contemplated building Hotel Mount Diablo. Articles of incorporation were filed November 4. Capital stock $25,000, shares $10 each.
September 27, 1873 .- Danville Grange, P. of H., with thirty char- ter members, was organized at Danville today.
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
November 22, 1873 .- The certificate of incorporation of the Bank of Martinez was filed in the county clerk's office October 6, 1873. Directors : L. D. Fish, W. W. Cameron, S. Blum, H. M. Hale, W. M. Hale. Capital stock $50,000; 500 shares at $100 each. The new bank building is now completed and the bank is already proving a great public accomodation and has been doing a brisk business. This is the second week it has been open for business.
January 10, 1874 .- On December 29, 1873, Antioch Grange, P. of H., was instituted with J. P. Walton, Master.
Judge C. W. Lander died very suddenly, on January 16, 1874, of congestion of the brain, on the veranda of the residence of Mrs. Jane E. Chase, about midway between the village center and his own resi- dence. He was a graduate of Waterville College, Maine.
January 23, 1874 .- Marshall Martin was hanged in the inclosure of the jail yard in Martinez, for the murder of Valentine Eischler, com- mitted about a year ago on Marsh Creek, since which time he has been in the county jail. Verdict of the coroner's jury at time of ex- ecution : "We, the jury, find that Marshall Martin was born in Ten- nessee, was about fify-eight years old, and that he came to his death by being executed by the sheriff and his deputies of Contra Costa County at Martinez under warrant issued out of the Fifteenth District Court of the State of California. We also find that the arrangements for the execution were perfect in every particular ; and that any fall that would have broken the neck would have severed the head from the body on account of the muscular development being soft and flabby. D. W. Swain, Wm. Hanna, T. McMahon, J. W. Fish, David Powell, F. M. Smith, A. B. Hamblen, T. Redfern, B. V. Merle, A. Altamerano."
The Governor, on Wednesday, issued a communication to T. A. Brown, as county judge, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Lander.
February 18, 1874 .- Articles of incorporation of Green Valley and Mount Diablo Summit Road Company were filed to construct and main- tain a turnpike road from a point on the Green Valley Road to a junction with Mount Diablo, Summit Road; stock $5000; shares $10 each.
February 21, 1874 .- Among the mail contracts for four years, from July 1, awarded by the Postoffice Department, was one to L. A. Miller for daily service on the Martinez to Oakland route, which includes La- fayette, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville and Pacheco, for $1685 per year ; and one to John Eads for daily service on the Pacheco-Antioch route, embracing Concord, Clayton, Nortonville and Somersville, for $1180 per year. The mail between San Pablo and Martinez was awarded to N. P. Ingalls.
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