USA > California > Marin County > History of Marin County, California also an historical sketch of the state of California > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
398
HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
hook to her clothing under her left arm, and when she had done so signified her readiness to go. As she released her hold of the timber of the vessel and sank into the water, Mrs. Wise lost her hold on Mrs. Greenwood but, fortunately, when she came to the surface she was outside the sloop, and was easily rescued. When Mrs. Greenwood and the Kanakas came to the surface they were clear of the vessel and were taken safely into the boat One can easily imagine the horrible suspense of those ladies imprisoned by the treacherous water in so small a compass that to keep the head out of the water brought it so close to the timbers that every lurch of the waves nearly knocked them senseless, and the very darkness of night was about them. They could hear the men being taken off, hear them go away and all was quiet-all hope was dead. After being rescued by the smack they were landed near Laguna valley and taken to the house of Captain William Johnson, and kindly cared for by his wife, Mrs. Ellen Johnson. The body of the child eventually came ashore, and the sloop was dashed into splinters against the rocks near the Heads.
In March, 1849, the schooner "Fourth of July" was lost at Tennessee valley. She was on her way up the coast when she was met by a gale from the north, which caused her to turn about and seek port for safety after having proceeded as far north as Point Reyes. The wind blew with such fury that, although sailing before it, the waves swept over the vessel with such force that two men were washed overboard, leaving the Captain alone to meet whatever fate awaited him and his craft. The wind blew toward the land with such force that the Captain saw that she must go ashore, so he made for the beach at this valley, hoping to be able to hold her with an anchor and be able to get off safely, but the anchor failed to hold her, and the mighty breakers which were running mountains high and dashing upon the beach took the vessel, as a toy in the hands of a giant, and tossed it end over end far upon the sand. Nothing was ever seen of the Captain afterwards.
SCHOOLS .- There are three school districts in the township, the Richard- son, Saucelito and Read, in all of which schools are maintained during the requisite time each year.
CHURCH .- The only church building in the township is one erected by the Methodists in 1872 at Saucelito. It is small, and services are not held in it regularly. The Catholics have a building in course of construction at that place also.
ANGEL ISLAND .- This is the largest island in the bay of San Francisco, and lies just east of the mouth of Richardson's bay. It is occupied as a government station, to whom it belongs, for troops, and there are some forti- fications upon it. It is said that there is some gold on it, but as it belongs to the government no one is allowed to prospect for it.
399
SAUCELITO TOWNSHIP.
THE PIONEER BUGGY RIDE .- Very unlike the fate of the " wonderful one-hoss shay," which run one hundred years to a day, was the end of the pioneer buggy of Marin county. Some time in 1849 Charles Lauff, Charles Alban and George Brewer, three men working in the red woods on the Corte de Madera del Presidio ranch, took it into their heads that they ought to have a buggy. Had they been asked " What for?" they would certainly have been at a loss to have answered the question, as there was not at that time a road in the entire county over which they could hope to drive the vehicle. But this did not deter the boys. They had made up their minds to have a buggy, and have it they would, and having it, they were deter- mined to have a ride in it, road or no road. After casting about in San Francisco for some time, one was found which they thought would answer all purposes. It was as old-fashioned as the hills, and looked much as the same "one hoss shay" mentioned above might be supposed to look. The owner was induced to part with his four-wheeled treasure for the considera- tion of the sum of three hundred dollars in golden octagonal slugs, which formed the currency of the land, to him in hand paid by the aforesaid would-be buggy owners. In due course of time the vehicle arrived at the ranch, and all was impatience with the happy owners till Sunday should come, and they should be able to indulge in the luxury of a genuine carriage drive. The day came at last, as all days do, and a more propitious one never dawned upon the world. Before the crimson hues had changed to white they were out scouring the hills and valleys in search of a horse which they thought would do to trust hitched to their treasure, for, be it known, that at that time no horse in Marin county had ever been initiated into the mysteries of bridle bits, harness or buggy thills, and none of the capricious broncos nor festive mustangs of that day would answer the purpose. At last a very sedate looking Spanish Alasan horse of gigantic stature was found quietly grazing on the side hills, little dreaming that the beautiful Sabbath day just dawned was destined to bring to him the honor of being the patriarch of all those of his kind who in after years were to be monarchs of the track and road. No trouble was experienced in getting the horse adjusted to the harness (if the harness had not been a fit for the horse it would never have entered their heads to have adjusted the harness to it), and he was soon environed by the shafts. Then the boys got into the buggy, Charley Lauff took the port side of the craft, and Charley Alban was relega- ted to the starboard, while George Brewer desposited his three hundred- pound-hulk amidships, so to speak, and was given the helm. All was in readiness, and the order was given to cast off the lines and weigh the anchor. Peremptory orders to march were given in vain to that Pegasus; clucking till blisters were raised in the roofs of their mouths availed them nothing, and finally the rod was applied, and with what success the sequel shall tell. Rearing up in the mighty power of his belabored greatness, old Alasan made
400 .
HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
one mighty bound, clearing many feet in the leap, but planted himself as firmly as adamantine rock in his tracks when he again deigned to descend to the earth. The amount of velocity acquired by the corpus gigantica of Brewer, during this little coup d'état on the part of Alasan caused the momentum to so far overcome the inertia that he went sprawling, in ungraceful confusion, under the horse's heels, taking the dashboard along with him as a souvenir of the high estate he once had held. Strange to say, the horse remained quiet until Brewer had extracted himself from between his nether limbs and had again deposited himself on his precarious perch, now rendered doubly dubious by the absence of the dash-board, and what is more strange to relate, old Alasan trudged off as gently and unconcernedly as an old dray horse, with but little coaxing, for they dare not repeat the appli- cation of the goad. But he had a head of his own, and wandered whither- soever he listed, bridle bits to the contrary notwithstanding, and they did not care to argue the question with him, but yielded the point very grace- fully. And so they went, up hill and down dale, over stones and through chapparal, hither and thither, during all the bright and merry hours of that happy Sabbath day, recking not nor caring for aught beneath the sun. At last the glorious orb of day sank far below the lofty peak of Tamalpais, cast- ing its shadow far out over the valleys below, and they, full satiate with their day's pleasures, persuaded old Alasan to come to a halt, a very easy task by the way, and unfettering him from the harness, allowed him to seek the quietude of the mountain solitudes, and cogitate and dream over his exploits of the day, while they found their way to camp as best they could, for the purpose of hushing the cries of a too long unburdened stomach, and to relate their adventures. The buggy, which was worth three hundred dol- lars in the rosy morn, was not worth a shilling in the dewy eve. Its first day's use in Marin county was its last. The duration of pleasure is always commensurate with its intensity, and a life-time had been crowded into that one day's existence for that vehicle.
-
John Nelion
401
TOMALES TOWNSHIP.
TOMALES.
-
THIS township is situated in the extreme north-west of Marin, and is bounded on the north and east by Sonoma county, on the south by San Antonio and Nicasio townships, and on the west by the Pacific ocean and Tomales bay.
STREAMS .- No section of country could be better irrigated, for water courses abound. The largest of these is the Estero Americano on the extreme north, the Estero San Antonio and Keys creek in the south, the latter of which empties itself into Tomales bay.
TIMBER .- There is little or no timber, but a considerable undergrowth is to be found on many of the hills and in the deep ravines.
TOPOGRAPHY .- The surface of the township is rough, and in many por- tions, but more particularly in the south, it may be classed as almost mount- ainous, while the valleys, which are found only on the Sonoma county line and near Tomales, are small though well favored.
MEXICAN GRANTS .- The ground now included within the township lines was originally divided into three Mexican grants, namely, the Blucher in the north, the Bolsa de Tomales in the center, and the Nicasio in the south. The first of these comprised thirteen thousand five hundred and ninety-five acres and was patented to Orton Hubbell; the second covered an area of no less than twenty-one thousand three hundred and forty acres and was patented to John Keys and others; while the last named, which contained ten thousand and seventy-seven acres, was patented to H. W. Halleck.
SOIL .- The soil is generally good, being a black, sandy loam, excepting that along the sea-coast, where the sand predominates.
CROPS .- The principal crops are oats, wheat, and potatoes, with some barley. The great staple product of the county, however, is butter and cheese. No finer grazing lands can be found than in Marin, on whose hill- sides and in whose valleys may be seen numerous herds of cows, which sup- ply the milk, to be turned into butter, and thereafter taken to market in immense quantities and never failing regularity.
26
402
HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA,
SETTLEMENT .- The first settler, other than those of Spanish origin, who located in Tomales township was Thomas Wood, but better known in the district as Tom Vaquero. The exact date of his arrival is not now known, nor may it be ascertained what were the motives which prompted him thus to isolate himself from kindred and from friends. There are those who claim that he made his domicile in these parts in 1846, and perhaps earlier, while others declare that he accompanied Black, McIntosh and Dawson in 1835, but, leaving the country, returned in 1849. Old settlers also vary in their opinions as to his nationality, some claiming that he was of English origin, and others that he was Scotch; it is presumed, however, that he was a native of the State of New York, for he is so enrolled on the voting register, information indubitably communicated by himself, while his stories as to whence he came and in what manner of a ship it was from which he deserted, have considerable variance. We are informed by J. P. Whitaker, a gentlemen of unquestionable veracity, that in a conversation held with Wood, he informed him that he (Wood) came to the Pacific coast in a whaling vessel in 1846 ; that he returned to the Sandwich Islands in her, and there shipped in a man-of-war in which he came back, and, in 1849, in company with five others, deserted and settled here. So much for the opinions of early settlers in regard to the early history of this well-known character; this, however, is certain that he was brought up on the coast of America, and that his youth had been passed within the sound of the tempestuous Atlantic, that he had run away from home and shipped in a whaling vessel and that he had clung to the adventurous life of a sailor until he finally settled within the echo of the broad Pacific, somewhere between the years 1840 and 1846. Wood is described as a man possessed of the frame of a giant and the heart of a lion, with marvelous .skill in horsemanship and unerring precision in hurling the riata, while as a fearless and accomplished vaquero he stood unrivalled. Early in his residence he took to wife a winsome mohala of the Tomales tribe of Indians, who having died, he espoused the adopted daughter of that well-known and much respected' pioneer, James Black, in whom, we are told, he found a princely benefactor and tried friend.
'So far we have been able to prosecute our researches into the days of '49; the year 1850 was one of much moment to the township, for it was then that its settlement may be said to have assumed shape. The first to come and locate were John Keys and Alexander Noble. Mr. Keys, who lived and died in Tomales, was a native of county Fermanagh, Ireland, and came to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1841, from which city he moved to California in 1849, in company with a Mr. Agnew, they bringing a stock of dry goods with them which they disposed of in San Francisco on arrival. Mr. Keys, as was common with every one else, went to the mines, but remaining there only a short time he returned to San Francisco and
403
TOMALES TOWNSHIP.
established himself in the commission trade. These occupations he continued until early in the Spring of 1850, when he left that city for Bodega, pro- ceeding by way of Sonoma, Petaluma and Tomales. On his journey he discovered the creek which now bears his name, and made a mental note of the adaptability of the Tomales country as a place of settlement. On attaining Bodega, he rented a parcel of land situated on the point of that name from Captain Stephen Smith, there raised a crop of potatoes, which, after maturity, he shipped in a small schooner of fifteen tons to market. This vessel was named the "Spray," of which we will hear more hereafter, as she is intimately connected with the early history of the township. While sojourning at Bodega the suitableness of the estuary of Keys' creek as a shipping point, and the advantages offered as a farming country in the adja- cent lands was again brought forcibly to the recollection of Keys and his partner Noble ; they therefore came to the arrangement that they should return to that section and each take up land, with the specific idea of found- ing a town and shipping port. This project they made no secret of-indeed it was the common talk among the settlers, several of whom concocted the scheme of going overland to the district of which Keys had spoken and thus steal a march on him. That worthy old pioneer, Captain Smith, hear- ing of the plot informed Keys and Noble of its existence, on which they started at once in a small open boat down Bodega bay, thence into that of Tomales, came up the estuary mentioned above and landed somewhere near the point afterwards made famous by his schooner "Spray." The first night he passed under a tree, now standing near the railroad, on the land owned by John Buchanan. We are informed that Keys, in after life, was wont to refer to this adventurous voyage as one of extreme risk and which he would not wish to repeat. On arrival Keys and Noble delayed not in staking out their claims and taking possession ; arrangements were in pro- gress for a permanent occupation ; a tent had been but barely erected when the jumping party from Bodega were seen approaching over the brow of the ridge-which divides the sea coast from the back country-they "sigh'd and look'd and sigh'd again " from very chagrin, and were forced to seek for fresh fields and pastures new whereon to make their future homes.
The Keys settlement, we are infor med by Mrs. Clark, than whom there are few more correct in their chronology, was made as early as the month of September, 1850. Keys and his partner at once erected a shake shanty on the east side of the creek,a full description of which will be found in the history of the town of Tomales, and both took up claims. A few weeks thereafter their pro- visions gave out and none could be procured at a nearer point than San Fran- cisco, consequently it was incumbent that one of the men should proceed on that errand. It was, however, deemed impolitic that the other should remain in solitude, therefore William, the son of Edward Clark, then residing in the house of Jasper O'Farrell, in Bodega township, Sonoma county, was invited
404
HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
to keep Noble company during the absence of Keys. " This circumstance," says Mrs. Clark, " is what brought my husband to this township, which took place in the last days of October, 1850." The Clarks settled on the farm now owned by James L. Fallon. Mr. Clark was born in Ireland in 1838; he moved to England, and in March, 1850, sailed for California, arriving in San Francisco July 3d of that year. They .remained in that city but two days when they proceeded to the residence of Jasper O'Farrell, and subsequently to Tomales township, as above stated. To Mrs. Alice Clark, wife of Edward Clark, is the honor due of being the first Anglo-Saxon female settler in the district. Her husband died July 15, 1868, while John Keys died August 14, 1873.
So far as we have been able to gather the above named were the only residents of the township up to 1851. In that year the following persons. took up a residence, some only to remain a short time. A. Mrs. King, with her two sons, Daniel and Nathan, and two daughters, Mary and Hannah, settled at this time on the ranch now owned by Mrs. Thomas McCune. Here the Kings remained only about four years and then moved to the. southern part of the State. The eldest daughter, Mary, became Mrs. Wil- liam Miller in the Spring of 1852, Mrs. Clark thinks, which was the first. marriage in the township, other than that of Tom Wood alias Vaquero. Accompanying the King family at the time of their arrival were two Mis- sourians named John and Nathan Fletcher, who took up the land now in the possession of Robert Bailey and where they lived until bought out by that gentleman in 1856. They then purchased property in another portion of the township, but a few years since moved to the southern part of the State, one of them being now a resident of Los Angeles county. In this year there also settled the Hon. Sanborn Johnson and his partner Lowell Webber.
We now come to the most important epoch in the settlement of Tomales, namely the year 1852. It is hoped that the reader will not infer that it is intended to convey the idea that settlers were more numerous in this year than any other. Such an inference would be at variance with our own feelings; what we wish to convey is, that during this twelfth-month more was done by those who had already settled to induce others to link their fortunes with those of the township (with what success is best exems plified by the perfection of Tomales to-day) than at any other time in it- history. In giving the names of these pioneers it is not attempted to place them before the public in any kind of sequence as regards the dates of their arrival-we simply reproduce the list as it was given us. First is the name of Warren Dutton. He is a native of the State of New York; emigrated to California in 1849, and came to this township, locating in Tomales in the month of September, 1852. Mr. Dutton came to Tomales to visit one Thomas Garrett, who had already located there. That he has been one of her most,
405
TOMALES TOWNSHIP.
enterprising men cannot be better illustrated than by referring the reader to the history of Tomales. In this year there also arrived a German named Adolph Gericke, who settled on San Antonio creek on land owned by James Black. With the exception of seventeen months passed in Sonoma county Mr. Gericke has been a continuous resident of the township. Paul Murphy, a native of Ireland, also came here in 1852, took up land, and has since been a permanent settler. He now resides in the village of Tomales. Besides these came Hugh Marshall. Of the names of those who have been residents, but who have left, we are told of William Devery, Dr. Workman, and Mr. Goodman; while there was also Mr. Wheeler, who settled on the ranch now owned by John Griffin, where he erected a blacksmith shop, which was, without doubt, the first establishment of the kind in the town- ship.
Of the settlers who came in 1853 we have the names of Jeremiah Ladd Blake, a native of Merrimac county, New Hampshire, who came to Tomales bay, accompanied, both to the State and this township, by his friend, Thomas R. Cook, and camped about half a mile north from his present farm. Mr. Blake, we are safe in asserting, was the first saddler in the township, for on arrival he erected a cabin sixteen by twenty feet, which he used as a saddle - manufactory and dwelling combined. N. J. Prince, a gentleman from Cum- berland county, Maine, who now lives on Tomales bay, settled on a ranch on the Bloomfield road, north-east of Tomales, in February of this year. J. P. Whitaker, of Hamilton, Ohio, located on his present ranch on the north side of the Estero San Antonio; while S. A. and James Marshall came this year. John Buchanan, born in county Antrim, Ireland, settled on the Dr. G. W. Dutton ranch in April of that year; he now resides at a short distance west from Tomales. A native of Niagara county, New York, named John James, whose land borders on Keys creek, south of Tomales, then took up his abode on land now occupied by A. Woodworth. H. P. McCleave, a native of Nantucket, Massachusetts, settled on the ranch now owned by S. H. Church in the Spring of this year, while his father-in-law, Joel Harvey, from Vermont, who died in Sonoma county a few years ago, located near to the place now owned by Mr. McCleave. L. W. Walker from Madison county, New York, now of San Antonio township, settled on that stream now known as Walker's creek; Joseph Huntley, from Wash- ington county, Maine, and L. Vanorsdel also came in this year. During this and the following year (1854) farming became general, the raising of potatoes being the principal crops produced by the settlers; other products were, however, grown though only to a small extent. Of the settlers who arrived in the township in 1854, those with whom we have conversed are Alexander Bean, Luke Fallon, George Bunn, and A. S. Marshall. Thomas Carruthers, who came in this year, committed suicide by hanging him- self in his barn on October 17, 1879. He was a native of England, hav-
, 406
HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
ing been born there in 1829. He came to America in 1842 and settled in Lockport, New York; leaving that State, however, he moved to Peoria, Illinois, in 1853, but remaining there only a few days, he, in company with John James and L. W. Walker, emigrated to California and settled, first, on the farm now owned by A. Woodworth, and afterwards, in part- nership with Mr. James, under the firm name of "Tom and Jack," took the Jand now known as the Carruthers ranch.
In the Summer of 1855 James E., son of John C. Calhoun, accompanied by a son of Governor Wise and District Attorney Haralson, paid a short visit to John Keys, Warren Dutton and John Buchanan in the little shanty already described as having been built by the first named gentleman on his. coming to the township. It would appear that Calhoun and Wise had formerly been acquainted with Keys, and no doubt the strangers were made royally welcome by the three bachelor hosts in their primitive dwelling. Of those who now reside in the township who came in this year we are only able to record the names of Hon. George W. Burbank from Massachusetts, and O. Hubbell from New York.
In the year 1856 there came George Dillon, John Griffin, Andrew Manning, Robert Bailey, Joseph Irvin and Aaron M. Turner. In 1857, T. A. Thornby, William Vanderbilt, now county assessor, W. D. Free- man, James McCausland and William McGreevy. In 1858, P. Norton, Abijah Woodworth, James McDonald, O. W. Turner, Hans Guldager and William McCausland. In 1859, Hon. Thomas J. Ables, Andrew Doyle, J .. L. Fallon, Michael Kirk, who, however, settled in San Rafael in 1851, and D. B. Burbank. In 1860, Reed Dutton, G. W. Dutton, M.D., and William Rowland. In 1861, J. H. Turner. In 1862, C. T. Thompson and Benjamin Harrington. In 1863, Michael Hagerty and S. H. Church. In 1864, Louis Guldager, Peter Morrissy, Robert Molseed and John B. Guay; and in 1865, Charles Howard, Henry Lindeman and W. R. Fairbanks. In 1866, F. W. Holland.
TOMALES .- This town was first settled by John Keys and Alexander Noble in 1850, who both took up tracts of land; Noble, however, a few years later sold his interest to Keys, and left for the Southern States. On Sep- tember 1, 1852, Warren Dutton located a claim adjoining that of Keys and Noble, where he commenced farming. Mr. Dutton, who had previously been engaged in mercantile pursuits, made a proposition to Keys that they should conjointly open a trading post, the latter to furnish nine hundred dollars and the former to conduct the business. The arrangement meeting with the views of both parties was duly consummated and the first store in Tomales township opened in the Spring of 1854, while the enterprise was carried on in a rough building, which had previously been erected by Keys.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.