USA > California > Merced County > History of Merced County, California with biographical sketches of prominent citizens > Part 22
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A camp-meeting under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church commenced on Mariposa Creek on Thursday, August 7, 1865. The Banner says :-
" We understand that several good preachers are on hand. To-day and to-morrow a large crowd will no doubt be in attendance. Quite a number have gone from this neighborhood."
In 1858 a building was erected at Plainsburg by Welsh & Trin, to be used jointly as a school house and church. This is still the property of these gentlemen.
FIRST SUBSTANTIAL CHURCHES ERECTED.
In 1867 a small, neat hrick church was erected by the Meth- odist Episcopal Church South, at Hopeton, and hy the same society at Snelling, which was dedicated April 16, 1871.
There was a large assemblage of people gathered to witness the ceremomes and listen to the excellent sermon.
ORDER OF SERVICES.
Select piece-Sung hy the eboir.
Prayer hy the Rev. W. Simmons.
" Behold Thy Temple God of Grace," by the choir. Reading of the Scripturc.
" Lord of Host to Thee we Raise," by the choir.
Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Simmons, of Sacramento.
Dedication services closed with " We are Waiting, We are Watching," by the choir.
The sum of $500 was collected towards removing the church deht.
There was a fine choir of singers connected with the church, among whom were Mr. H. Brooks, as leader; Miss Susie How- ell, as organist; Mr. Mark Howell and lady, B. F. Fowel and lady, George Halstead and lady, Miss Chapman, Mrs. Skelton, Miss Maggie McCready, Mr. M. Wood, William Turner, Wil- liam Bagshy, Mr. Comstock, F. H. Farrar, and others.
M. E. CHURCH AT MERCED.
The society at Merced commenced to build a fine church, 36x60, but owing to lack of finances the work ceased. But the prospects at present writing are favorable, and the members say that it will he finished hefore the close of another year.
Rev. J. K. P. Peire is now in charge of the Merced and Plainsburg churches of the Methodist Episcopal South. He commenced his work at Merced on the thirtieth of October 1878, and, hy invitation, filled the pulpit of the Rev. R. M. Kirkland in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and on the following Sunday morning preached at Garibaldi Hall to his own congregation. The first year of his Merced work he alternated Hopeton, Merced and Plainsburg, but the last two years his work has been confined to the latter two places.
Rev. Joel Hedgepeth has charge of the Hopeton and Snell- ing churches.
February 27, 1875, a congregation of Methodist Episcopal South was organized at Los Baños, on the west side of the San Joaquin River, Merced County. It is now under the charge of the Rev. J. H. Neil, and has a membership of thirty, and is out of debt. Each of these churches have Sunday-schools attached to them. The Methodist Episcopal Church South is the oldest, the largest and the most wealthy religious society now in Merced County.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was dedicated June 1, 1873. This was the first Methodist (North) church that had ever been built in Merced County. It was built by subscription, under the supervision of the Rev. George Star. The parsonage, a small cottage on the same lot, was also erected through the energetic action of Mr. Star. It is situated on the corner of M and Twentieth streets, and is a 26x40 frame house, Very little improvement was added until 1879. While the Rev. R. M. Kirkland had charge, he with the assistance of his untiring wife, contributed much to the appearance of the house and grounds. The
108
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY.
old cotton lining was torn out of the ebureh, and a hard- finished wall took its place. The seats were newly painted, a balustrade was put around the altar, new earpet put down, and many other changes made for the better. A windmill was erected and trees, flowers, vines, and shrubbery set out; a neat fenee put around, and niee gravel walks laid. It has now a neat, cool and inviting appearance. The society is small, not numbering over twenty members. Rev. J. W. Leach is the present pastor. There is a Sunday-sehool connected with the ebureh, whieb has a good attendance. The church is free from debt.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This ehureh was organized August 23, 1873. The Rev. John Creath was pastor, the number of its members ten. The meet- ings were beld at the residence of John K. Law. Mr. Creath remained one year and was succeeded by the Rev. Ebenezer Halliday. The meetings were heki at Washington Hall and Garibaldi Hall. One beautiful Sunday morning Mr. Halliday held an outdoor meeting on the west poreh of El Capitan, and a large congregation was in attendance to hear this good but extremely eeeentrie man. His subjeet was Christian charity, and though several years have passed, that sermon is frequently spoken of by those who listened to the words of wisdom and love as they fell from the lips of this aged man of God on that elear, brigbt, spring morning.
On the second day of December, 1874, a contraet was made between the congregation or Trustees and Alfred W. Burnell, builder, for tbe ereetiou of the outer portion of a ehureh build- ing, the cost of which should be $3,500, and to be completed by March 1, 1875. The contraet was faithfully complied witb, and Rev. Mr. Halliday preached the first sermon therein, and continued to preach every Sunday until 1877. In Sep- tember of the same year, the Rev. Harlan P. Peek became pas- tor, and preached at Garibaldi Hall until February, 1879. The contraet to finish the inside had been let to C. H. Huffman, and in June, 1877, he sub-let the contraet to Marsh & Lappham. The first serviees ever held in the ehureh after the inside was finished, was the funeral serviees of Charles Henry Huffman, Jr., January, 1879, upon wbieh occasion the largo house was filled to its utmost eapaeity.
The dedieation of the ebureh took place on the niutb day of February 1879. The dedieation sermon was delivered by the Rev. W. A. Seott of St. John's Church, San Francisco. The Rev. H. P. Peek remained in charge until April 3, 1881. The church was then without a pastor until June 19, 1881; at that time the Rev. George W. Lyon took the charge. The ehurel is a large and substantial building. The interior is very beau- tiful, being finished with a vaulted roof, decorated with exquisite paintings in large and delieate designs. The church eost some- thing over $7,000, and is elear of debt. There is a large and thriving Sunday-sehool attached to the church, of which Mr.
John K. Law is Superintendeut. The membership is thirty; the average attendance fifty. The minister receives $1,000 per year salary.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Catholic Church in the town of Mereed was dedicated October 26, 1873, with Father MacNamara as pastor. It is a neat structure, built of wood, 35x54 feet, and cost $3,- 400. Its membership is over 200, all of whom are aetive, devoted, and united in their ehureh work. Father MaeNamara eommeneed his ehureh labor in Mereed, Mariposa, and a part of Stanislaus Counties, in 1870. He has a neat and eommo- dious dwelling adjacent to the ehureli, which, with the other improvements and lots, eost $4,000 ; making in all ehureh pro- perty, not including the large cemetery, worth $7,400. The ehureh is elear of debt, and in a prosperous condition. Father MaeNamara is much beloved by his congregation, and highly respected by the eitizeus of Mereed. The ladies of the above society have held four ehureh fairs, which have netted several thousand dollars.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Society of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized September 16, 1864, and held their meetings on Mariposa Creek, with O. D. Dooly as pastor. In 1879 a ebureb building was ereeted at Plainsburg, and the following Trustees appointed: Luke Peak, Joeob Lewis, T. J. Anderson, S. V. Turner, and C. A. Sage, with Rev. Mr. Compton pastor, who is still in charge. In 1877 a large and beautiful ehureb was built by the Cumberland Society of that town, and dedicated on the first of April of that year, with E. MeLean, pastor. Trustees, C. Landrum and F. Farrar. At present writing, 1881, the church is elosed, there beiug no pastor to officiate.
EPISCOPAL SOCIETY.
The Society of the Episeopalian Church meets onee a month at Garibaldi Hall, Mereed. This Society was organized in 1880, has a membership of twelve, with an attendance of about thirty. The Rev. W. L. Mott holds serviees on the fourth Sunday of each mouth. There is a choir of good musicians attached to this society.
CHINESE CHURCH.
There is a Chinese house of worship in Mereed, situated on the south side of the railroad, and near the business part of the town. It was built in 1875, and eost $1,000. The out- side is faneifully decorated; the interior is like a museum of Chinese curiosities. Moetings are held four times a year. The society employs no priest. It is in debt several hundred dollars.
109
CRIMINAL RECORDS OF MERCED.
THE CRIMINAL RECORDS.
History of some of the Chief Criminal Events Occuring in the County.
THE records show that Merced has had no more than its share of crime since its organization. We give some of the prin- eipal criminal events ocenrring in the history of the county, as well as suicides, aecidents and similar matters ;-
MURDER OF MR. PRYOR.
This murder was by a hand of six Mexicans and occurred in the month of July, 1854. Mr. Pryor had been suffering from ehills and was confined to his bed on the day preceding the night of the murder. Mr. and Mrs. Pryor lived in a lonely place on the south side and near the Merced River, and abont one mile and a half from what is now known as the Lec Hamn- lin place; but at that time owued and oceupied by H. J. Ostrander, and over a mile from the farm-house of Mr. Winn. On that fatal July evening Mrs. Pryor had attended to the out- door work, and had closed the doors for the night after busying herself with getting the evening mcal. She had just taken a cup of tea and some other delicacies to the bed of her husband, and had sat down to her own lonely supper, when she heard the sound of approaching horses and subdued tones of many human voices. She flew hastily to the door, and was met by six Mexicans, all armed. They rushed into the house: all was confusion ; in her terrible alarm she tried to reach the bedside of her husband; she heard one of the men say something to him in Spanish; at that instant she saw his head fall back upon the pillow ; the cup and plate fell to the floor, and the same instant she heard the report of fire-arms; almost senseless she flew to a little out-house, where sbe was pursued by three of the mien One of them asked her something in Spanish. She understood enough to know that he was asking her for money. There was six hundred dollars in gold in the house, but she hesitated to answer, when one of the men drew his gun upon her ; a young Mexiean boy sprang forward, and in an exeited tone exelaimed " Mi Dios, no mater la mujer!"-My God, don't kill the woman. While this was going on in the out-honse the fiends had suc- eeeded in finding the money. They then tied her hands behind her with a strong eord, and left her with her dead husband. Almost frantic with fright she flew in the darkuess to her near- est neighbor, Mrs. Winn's. The next day several Mexicans were arrested, but she could not recognize them sufficiently to enable her to swear to their identity, and those who committed the crime went nnpunished. Mrs. Pryor subsequently married Mr. Thomas Griffith, a wealthy farmer, with whom she lived happily until her death, which took place on the 2d of Novem- ber, 1880, in tbe sixty-fourth year of her age.
A WOMAN MURDERED.
1862-Jane Oliver was killed by her husband, J. A. Oliver, at Gwin's Raneh, some six miles below Snelling, abont ten o'clock, A. M., Thursday, July 9, 1862. The parties for- merly had much trouble, and for a short time had not been living together, and as they could not agree upon terms of a final separation; their troubles were brought before the County Judge, in chambers, on Tuesday, by Oliver suing out a writ of habeas corpus for the purpose of obtaining the custody of the oldest child. The suit went against him and the children-one aged three years and the other about four months-were remanded to the care of the mother, who was adjudged by the court to be their proper eustodian.
After the decision was rendered Oliver went away on the stage in the direction of Hornitas, and returned next day by. the same conveyance. On arriving there he took a horse and proceeded to the ranch. When he entered the house, a witness states that he pieked up one of his children and kissed it. In a few moments Oliver and wife were scen to go to the barn together, and, soon after, the report of a pistol was heard, and Oliver was seen running out of the barn, When the witness entered the barn, he found Mrs. Oliver lying on her face quite dead, and a gunshot wound in her left breast, and a pistol in her hand or lying near hier. An inquest was held by Justice Breen in the afternoon, and the jury rendered a verdiet in aeeordanee with the above facts,
MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE.
Joseph A. Oliver, the wife-murderer, after a fair and im- partial trial, was found guilty of the above crime by a jury of his peers, and senteneed by Judge Burke to pay the penalty of the dreadful deed by serving the People for thirty years in the State's Prison.
Joseph A. Oliver, the convict, had the appearance of being intelligent, aud a few years since he accepted an ageney from the Overland Mail Company and located in Texas, where he became acquainted with this beautiful girl. She heeame attached to him and they were married, and, like a true, fond and devoted wife, she left the scenes of her girlhood, her friends and former companions, and eame with her husband to this State.
FOUND DEAD.
1863-A man named Peter Tetsor, was found dead about one mile above Merced Falls in March, 1863. When the body was found, it was lying under a cliff of roeks, with a large stone, supposed to be of at least 200 pounds weight, lying/apon the breast, and the skull-bone was mashed.
It is supposed that deceased was walking upon the edge of the cliff, and that the stone gave way, preeipitating him to the bottom together with the roeks.
110
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY.
1865-December 2d, John S. Watts, was indicted in this county for cattle stealing in March, hut his trial was re- moved to Fresno County, and he was convicted and sentenced to the State Prison for two years.
1868-The County Jail was without a tenant in September, therefore we judge that crime was seldom committed by the people of this delightful valley.
October 10th. Judge Belt met a tragic death in the city of Stockton. He was familiarly known throughout the San Joaquin Valley. In his sheep ventures, he being a large stock-raiser, he was associated with a man named Denis, who it is alleged largely furnished the capital invested in the busi- ness. Denis was an old man, petulant and self-willed to the last degree, and fiery and ungovernable in temper. It is not asserted that Belt's dealings with Denis were tainted in any degree with fraud, but Denis was not satisfied with the way in which Belt had managed their joint interests, and a vexa- tious lawsuit and much ill-feeling was the result, with rumors of threats in each quarter.
In the fall of 1868 Judge Belt was visiting Stockton, where Denis lived, and while walking in company with two friends on El Dorado Street one day, Denis stepped up behind him and placing the muzzle of a derringer pistol close to Belt's head, fired, instantly killing the object of his hatred. It was asserted by the friends of Belt that he died without seeing the one who shot him. Denis was arrested, and after the law's delay, having been defended hy eminent counsel, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in San Quentin. As he was nearly seventy years of age at the time of this occurrence the sentence was looked upon as equiv- alent to a life term, and so it proved, for he died within the walls of the prison a few years since.
To show the monomaniacal virulence of the old man's temper, it may he mentioned that pending the preliminary examina- tion he was admitted to bail, and while at large upon hail his conduct was so violent and his threats against the friends of Belt so pronounced, that his bondsmen hecame fearful that he would commit some further deed of violence, and they there- fore surrendered him. He then, in custody, turned upon his hondsmen and swore that if liberated he would kill them too. It is a fair inference that passion had made him insane.
1869-November 16th. The skeleton of a man was found in the foot-hills, some three miles above Merced Falls; sup- posed from the hair and color of the skin to be that of a Mexi- can, and a rope attached to the limb of a tree near by, told plainly the means hy which the unfortunate's career on earth was brought to a close, hut disclosed not the names of tho parties who are guilty of the terrible crime of hanging him in secret, in the midst of a howling wilderness. The remains were collected and buried upon the spot where found, closing forever the history of the unknown dead.
1870-December 24th. James H. Cox, County Assessor of
Merced County, was shot and killed at the house of a Mexican, named Jesus Peralta, of the south side of the Merced River, a few miles below Snelling, December 24, 1870. The Mexican, Peralta, went to Snelling early next morning, and surrendered himself up to the Sheriff, acknowledging the shooting and pleading justification.
He was examined before L. W. Talbott, Justice of the Peace of that township, and acquitted. Though the testimony of the witnesses was considerably confused, all agreed upon the principal facts attending the shooting; and the facts did not, in the opinion of the Justice of the Peace, warrant the holding of the accused for trial, and he was set at liberty.
1872-May 21st. Matthew Welsh and Charles Bowman, the former awaiting trial for the killing of A. J. Atwell in 1870, and the latter awaiting the action of the Grand Jury for hav- ing entered Abbott's Hotel, at Plainsburg, and robhed the proprietor of a small sum of money, sawed through the doors of the county jail at Snelling, on the night of May 21, 1872, and made their escape.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS INDICTED.
1874-The Board of Supervisors were indicted for "willful and corrupt misconduct in office," by the Grand Jury of the county.
The prosecution was conducted by District Attorney D. M. McKenney and Wm. L. Dudley, Esq., and the defendants were represented hy Wigginton & Marks, J. K. Law, W. W. Porter and R. H. Ward of Merced. The case was submitted to the jury at about half-past nine o'clock P. M., Friday, and about four o'clock P. M., on Saturday, the jury returned a verdict of "Not guilty." The case was conducted on both sides with great ability, and the testimony was principally documentary.
The following persons formed the jury: M. Snyder, John Upton, Thos. M. Fulton, N. S. Drew, John Fieldhaus, M. D. Wood, H. C. Maddocks, William N. Neill, Wm. Collins, J. S. Shaffer, E. T. Givens, L. B. Dillon.
1876-August 5th. Reno, the young man who was confined in the county jail at Merced, for shooting John Stanton, escaped for the second time from the prison on Sunday after- noon, August 5, 1876. The remaining prisoners, eight in number, remained in the jail with the door open until the Deputy Sheriff came, at 5 P. M., to give them their dinner. Although Merced County boasted of a strong prison, capable of holding the most desperate and adroit breakers, yet there had been two or three escapes since the time the new jail had been used, owing to the oversight of the architect or builder in putting an insecure lock upon one of the doors leading into the main room of the prison.
ANOTHER JAIL DELIVERY.
1876-August 20th. Three of the prisoners confined in the County Jail-Geo. Williams (colored), Jo. Carey and Jolin Mc-
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EARLY HISTORY OF MERCED CITY.
Grath-effected their escape by taking one of the iron doors off' one of the cells and prying the front jail door off its hinges. Two of these prisoners, Jo. Carey and Jobn McGrath, were recaptured August 20th, near Turlock, and brought back to jail. Constable C. B. Ryer, of Turlock, and C. Stowers, of the Half-way House, between Merced and Snelling, captured Jo. Carey. When found he was hid away in a hay-stack, and when ordered to come out he refused to do so. Constable Ryer went up to him and dragged him out, when he showed figbt, but at this juncture Mr. Stowers drew his pistol and threat- ened to shoot if he did not surrender, which he did without further parley. Farmer Ritter captured McGrath.
1878-January 3d. A terrible tragedy occurred near Mc- Swain's Ferry, on the Merced River. A quarrel arose between Mr. Silas MeSwain, George Bell, and a brother of Mr. Bell, about some hogs which had been troubling Mr. McSwain. During the controversy George Bell shot and fatally wounded McSwain. The shooting took place some time during the afternoon, and the wounded man died at eleven o'clock the same night. George Bell and his brother came to Merced and gave themselves up to Sberiff' Meany. The prisoners had an examination before Justice Breen, and were held over on the charge of murder to await tbe action of the Grand Jury.
The saddest part of the unfortunate affair is that these men were friends, and all had been known as peaceable, quiet citi- zens, and there was a deep sympathy felt for all parties.
Mr. McSwain belonged to one of the oldest and most highly respectable families on the Merced. .
1878-January 12th. Anotber sad tragedy occurred on the Cocanour ranch, on the Merced River, in which William Griffith was shot and instantly killed by a man by the name of Samuel Watts. It appears that several men had met at tbe house of Watts, among wbom were David Silman, William Griffith, and a Mexican.
Mrs. Watts was preparing supper for the company, when a dispute arose among the men, who had all been imbibing very freely of wine. During the dispute several shots were fired. David Silman was shot through the arm, Samuel Watts in the side, and Griffith, we believe, in the forehead. The latter instantly expired. Silman's wound was not dangerous. Watts was brought over and confined in the Merced Jail. William Griffith was a son of one of the pioneer settlers of the County.
History of Merced City.
MERCED is the largest of the towns in the county, and is situated near the center of the county on the San Joaquin Valley branch of the Central Pacific Railroad, fifty-eight miles from its junction with the Central Pacific Railroad at Lathrop, 152 miles from San Francisco, and 115 miles from Sacramento, tbe State Capital.
The town being situated in one of the finest wheat-growing regions of the State, and in the center of the county, com- menced at once to make rapid progress, which has continued to the present day; it being now conceded to be one of the best business and most prosperous and progressive towns on the Pacific Coast.
It has many very beautiful buildings, both public and private, too numerous to be described in detail in this work, but we mention a few of the most important. The surrounding country is filling up with actual settlers, and the town is increasing in extent and importance every year. The follow- ing is a history of the town from its foundation, and covering the principal events of importance in its history :-
THE TOWN LOCATED.
On the eighth of February, 1872, the Contract and Finance Company of the Central Pacific Railroad sold at auction to the highest bidder, in lots varying in size from 25x150, to 50x 150 feet, inost of that portion of the town where now stands the business houses. The price paid for these lots ranged from $125 to $500 per lot.
Previous to tbe said eighth day of February, 1872, the Rail- road Company bad surveyed and staked out the entire ground upon which now stands the town, into lots 50x150 feet in size.
After the day of auction sales, tbe most desirable location for business houses having been disposed of, no further auction sales were had; but a map of the town was drawn up, wluch sbowed a division thereof of two distinct sections.
The division was shown by use of what is known as the "red line." This division was made by the owners of the lots to designate the prices thereof, they (the owners) holding all lots within the red line at a higher figure than those without it, on account of location.
FIRST PURCHASER OF A LOT.
The first sale was one-half of a lot to Jobn C. Smith, tben of Snelling, for $575. He still occupies it. The second was tbe other half of the lot to Silas I. Simon, for $495, making $1,070 for one lot of 50x100 feet. The remainder of the lots sold brought less prices, yet all went at very high figures for a new town on the plains. A very large crowd of people attended the sales, there being a great many from San Fran- cisco, Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, and other towns and cities below, in addition to heavy delegations from Mariposa, Snelling, Millerton, and Visalia.
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