USA > California > Merced County > History of Merced County, California with biographical sketches of prominent citizens > Part 23
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FIRST BUILDINGS ERECTED.
Immediately after the auction sales, people from all parts of this and adjoining counties began to purchase lots suitable for building dwellings upon, and commenced tbeir erection,
. In a very short space of time, say six months thereafter, the place wbich one year before presented but a houseless plain,
112
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY.
began to assume some of the attributes of a thriving village. Witb tbe progress of time the town has been steadily increas- ing both in population and wealth, until to-day it may be ranked as second to but one town in the great San Joaquin Valley.
The town is laid out on a section of land purchased in 1870 by the Contract and Finance Company, which was then an adjunct of the Central Pacific Railroad Company. It is, there- fore, one mile square. It is divided into blocks. An alley, twenty feet wide runs through the center of each block, afford- ing easy means of ingress and egress to the occupants. Fortu- nately for the inhabitants of the town, it was located in a healthy place, on high, sandy, dry ground.
FIRST HOTEL IN MERCED.
On the first of February, 1872, the railroad bad a temporary hotel in operation. But in April following, to assist in accom- modating tbe increasing travel, the proprietors of the El Capitan Hotel, then in course of erection, secured a palace sleeping car for the use of patrons. It was switched off on a side track, near the temporary hotel structure. At this time, Charles S. Evans had a restaurant and lodging-house. These were the only houses of entertainment at that time in the place.
Messrs. Washburn and McCready, as early as February, 1872; had erected sheds to serve as a livery stable. George Powell had opened a drinking saloon; A. M. Hicks had also opened a meat market. Besides the buildings mentioned, there were a number of tents and board sheds put up, for accommo- dation of carpenters, and other workinen, giving tbe place the appearance of a new mining camp of early days.
DIRECTORY OF MERCED IN 1872.
The following is a list of all the business houses in Merced in March, in 1872 :-
Dixon & Leach, drug store.
J. J. Cook, drug aud variety store.
E. Shainfeldt, general merchandise.
J. Kocher, tin and hardware.
C. E. Lewis, Merced House. Harry H. Granice, proprietor Merced People. S. Simon & Son, groceries, hardware, furniture, etc. M. Goldman, general merchandise.
S. Wyatt, Metropolitan Restaurant.
Davis & Son, general merchandise. George Morton, painter, etc. Hicks & Sawyer, butebers and meat market.
J. Hunter, blacksmith and wheelwright.
-- McDonold, blacksmith shop. Nelson Rolfe, saloon, "Oregon." Fred. Bowman & Co., Merced City Restaurant. Washburne & McCready, livery stable.
M. McClenathan & Co., livery stable.
Henry Deljohn, salcon.
J. A. Adams, billiard saloon.
Jacobs & Goldsmith, meat market.
Meany & Peck, builders and contractors. M. Poggi, dealer in fruit and vegetables.
S. C. Bates, postmaster and express agent.
In addition there was the Railroad House, in which there was a barber shop, post-office, express office and telegraph and stage office. This house was only intended to accommodate transient custom till the El Capitan could be completed.
But few private residences bad been erected. No lawyers or doctors had yet put in an appearance. Justices and Consta- bles were only known by tradition. No churches were in ex- istence.
In May, 1872, the Supervisors formed Merced into a new district and appointed M. Smythe, Justice of the Peace, and Thomas Patterson, Constable, and in August they appointed R. Simpson an additional Justice, as the township was entitled to two Justices.
A county calaboose was completed in September, 1872. Iu architectural appearance the building was not prepossessing, but what it lacked in that direction was compensated for in strength. Every attention was paid to the security of its guests.
FIRST SCHOOL IN MERCED.
Merced City was set off as a school district in 1872, but owing to some informality the district was not legally created. and in September a school was started by private subscription.
Among the first of the private schools established in the town of Merced was one of which Mrs. French was the teacher. It was successfully conducted and largely patronized. The next school established was one of which Miss Fannie Ward was the teacber. The public school at Merced opened July 21, 1873 Scholars of the higher grade were taught by Mr. Geis, and all others by a Miss Chapman, in the old school house.
FIRST POSTMASTER.
S. C. Bates was the first postmaster at Merced, iu 1872. He was also express agent. J. D. Craighton had been acting as postmaster, but was not a resident of the county. Mr. Bates has ever since the starting of the town been one of its most active and useful citizens, aud engaged in various business enterprises of great advantage to the towu.
He now occupies the position of President of the Merced Bank. In our illustrations will be found a view of his resi- dence, one of the finest in the village, surrounded by thrifty shade trees, and supplied with modern improvements, which makes it one of the pleasant homes of Merced.
OLDEST MERCHANT IN COUNTY.
Abraham Rosenthal is among the oldest merchants of the county. His residence is represented in this work.
Mr. Rosenthal was born in 1841, iu the town of Dobzes, on Vistula River, Russian Poland. Having received a liberal edu- cation in his native town, where he lived with his parents uutil
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EARLY HISTORY OF MERCED CITY.
he was sixteen years of age, he, in 1857, left Russia in order to avoid the service in the army, a very unpleasant situation for a man of education if oblige to enter the lines as a private, and went to England, which country he left after a short stay, to emigrate to America.
He came directly to New York City, where he stopped for a
few years, making himself useful in various vocations.
In
1861 Mr. Rosenthal made up his mind to go to California, and letting the action follow the intention, he took passage on a vessel to the Isthinus of Panama, and thence to San Francisco, where he arrived in 1861, after a voyage of twenty-three days. He soon after came to this county and located in Merced Falls. We here reproduce his business advertisement of that date :-
A. ROSENTHAL & CO., MERCED FALLS.
The undersigned would respectfully announce to the public that they have just received a large and well-selected stock of Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots, Shoes, Hats, Caps, etc., which they will sell to customers at as low prices and on as liberal terms as any other house in this section of the country. Call and examine our stock and prices and convince yourselves that wo are doing business on as good terms as any other house. A. ROSENTHAL & Co.
Morced Falls, July 5, 1862.
In 1873 he married Miss Betsey Goldman, a native of Rus- sian Poland, and is now the head of a family of three children, whose names are: Simon, Belle, and Esther Rosenthal.
Mr. Rosenthal is an active, wide-awake, business man, who takes great interest in the advancement of the town which he has adopted as his home, and is a valuable addition to the citi- zens of Merced. As of old, he is supplying the public with new goods in his usual polite and gentlemanly way, at priees suitable to the times. All who want a coat, pants, vest, shirt, or any goods unmade should call on him.
BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL HOUSE.
June 1, 1874, the Board of Trustees adopted the plan of Mr. Ball for a school house. Four architects competed for the honor. In August of that year the foundation was laid on the corner of M and Twenty-second streets. The contract was let to James Fowler, of Oakland.
The Trustees of Merced School District, Messrs. N. Douglass, James Martin, and Charles M. Blair, in September, 1874, advertised for and received bids for the purchase of $10,000 bonds for the purpose of erecting a school house. Only two bids were offered, one for $5,000 of bonds at $5,002 in coin, and one for $10,000 at ninety-nine cents. The latter was accepted. The payments to be in sums of not less than $1,000 annually, payment to commence after five years (1879), and bear interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum.
This fine brick school house was completed and furnished, and now Merced has a large and commodious school house at a cost of over $20,000. This house contains six rooms, capable of accommodating over fifty pupils each without inconvenience, Four of these rooms are finished with the latest and most approved style of school furniture now in use.
OTHER PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The churches in Merced have met with encouragement, and as an evidence of such fact we saw the spires of three or four large, roomy buildings pointing toward Heaven. To see beautiful church buildings, and many of them, is always an evidence of the prosperity of a town.
Another evidence of the prosperity of Merced town and county, and one which the people should feel proud of, is the Court House, which, when its builders are dead and gone, will be a standing monument to show to the after generation that in the year 1875 Mereed County contained men who were alive to her best interests. The grounds are tastefully laid ont according to the rules of landscape gardening, and as a public park it is now fast becoming a place of resort for all. There are a great number of other buildings which add to the archi- tectural beanty of the town, but which cannot be described here for want of space.
FIRST BANK AT MERCED.
In July, 1872, Messrs. Wigginton, Blair & Co., engaged in banking at Snelling, removed to the town of Merced, and incor- porated under the name of the Merced Bank, with temporary quarters in the El Capitan Hotel. Articles of incorporation were filed in 1875, and the following are the names of the incorporators: John M. Montgomery, Charles M. Blair, Isaac H. Jacobs, Samuel C. Bates, John Ruddle, Patrick Carroll, and Samuel Dickinson. The property and business of the private banking firm of Wigginton, Blair & Co. were merged into this bank. The following persons were elected as the first Board of Directors: J. M. Montgomery, President; S. C Bates, Vice-President; Charles M. Blair, Cashier, and P. D. Wigginton, Attorney. Subsequently, a fine brick building was erected for the purposes of the bank, of which a view is given in our illustrations.
The stockholders and managers are men of known integrity and business capacity, and the affairs of the bank are conducted on strict business principles. Read their advertisement.
MERCED BANK.
1881.
8200.000.
CAPITAL,
A GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS TRANSACTED.
Collections made on all Available Points and Promptly Transmitted.
9 A. M. TO 4 P. M.
OFFICE HOURS,
San Francisco Correspondent
LAZARD FRERES. 1.AZARD FRERES. LAZARD BROS. & CO.
New York Correspondent .. London Correspondent .
S. C. BATES
MARK HOWELL, Cashier.
President.
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HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY.
PIONEER LIVERY STABLE.
In February, 1872, M. MeClenathan began the erection of a livery stable, which was pushed to an early completion. Mr. MeClenathan is still engaged in the livery business, at what is known as the "El Capitan Stahles," on Seventeenth Street.
Yo Semite and other tourists will find them prepared to furnish teams at their stahles in Merced for any point in the mountains, with careful and experienced drivers, at reasonable rates.
PIONEER MERCHANT OF MERCED.
Jacob Kocher is a pioneer merchant of Merced. He was among the very first to locate in the new town. He has the largest and most imposing brick business house in the town. The upper floor is let as offices, and the rooms are well adapted for that purpose.
Mr. Kocher deserves great credit for his business enterprise and sagacity. He made money hy hard labor and strict attention to business. He does not hoard up his money, hut believes in all improvements that will help build up his town and surroundings. He is a live man, and believes in adver- tising his business. See his card :-
JACOB KOCHER
Offers to his patrons a large, well assorted and carefully selected -STOCK OF ---
GENERAL HARDWARE,
BUILDING MATERIAL, IRON, STEEL AND COAL. STOVES AND RANCES
Of the Latest and most Improved Patterns.
Pumps of Every Description.
Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Window Glass, Brushes and Dusters. A FULL LINE OF Crockery and Table Glassware, Table Cullery and Plated Ware.
Agent for Mowers and Reapers, Wagons and Carriages.
WASHINGTON HALL,
An Association was organized in June, 1874, with Dr. J. C. O'Neill, President; J. L. Reidy, Secretary, and Hugh McErlane, Treasurer. The object was the erection of a hall for public use. The building was erected on the corner of Seventeenth street, 40x100 feet, and a grand inauguration ball was held July 4th, although the building was not then com- pleted.
FIRST FIRE COMPANY.
The first fire company in the town of Merced was organized November 8, 1873, with the following officers: President, Charles E. Evans; Treasurer, I. H. Jacobs; Secretary, Chas. H. Marks; Foreman, E. Madden; Assistant Foreman, J. R. Town- send; Second Assistant Foreman, W. Fahey.
"THE COSMOPOLITAN."
John C. Smith, the pioneer, and purchaser of the first lot in
Merced, has a place of resort that has no superior on the Pacific Coast. As you enter the main saloon you throw open a pair of heavy swinging doors of hlack walnut, the upper portion con- sisting of heavy frosted French-plate glass. On the transoms, cut in glass, is the monogram "J. C. S." The bar-room is twenty-five feet long hy twenty-three wide. The attention is at once directed to the counter, which is constructed of the finest quality of California laurel, highly polished. The back shelving is of the same material as the counter, surmounted by a handsome mirror, lavishly embellished with glass and silver- ware. The statuary and lamps are of the finest attainable.
In the rear of the saloon the first room entered is the billiard- room, 25x30 feet, which is very tastely furnished and the walls adorned by fine paintings and engravings, and supplied with valuable newspapers.
The dressing-room has three doors of entrance. One from the street, one from the dining-room and one leading into the neatly arranged back yard, from which is wafted by the balmy breeze, the redolence from roses, honeysuckles and other beauti- ful flowers. The apartment is fitted up for the accommoda- tion of ladies coming in from the country or on the cars. There are four private rooms for ladies or families, and beautiful and unique panel pictures decorate the walls, which are orna- mented with fine gold and bronze paper. The wood-work is of beautiful design and artistically grained. Each window is fur- nished with inside shutters.
In the rear of the hilliard-room is the dining-room, 14x34 feet, and for style and finish will compare with many of the most fashionable in the cities. A private dining-room connects by sliding doors, which can be thrown open, and families or parties can occupy the suite.
The kitchen is sixteen feet square and twelve feet high, finished with a wainscoting of alternate red and white from ceiling to floor, the stripes running sidewise. The shelving, closets, drawers, are what an old-fashioned, neat, prim house- wife would call handy.
The saloon and restaurant surpasses anything of the kind in the history of interior restaurants. "Johnnie Smith," this prince of hosts, has ever made it a study to make his surroundings distinguished for grandness and beauty.
MERCED SECURITY SAVINGS BANK.
This corporation was organized March 12, 1875, with a capi- tal of $300,000, in shares of $100 each. The first Board of Directors were: Josiah Belden, A. W. Bowman, W. A. Aldrich, E. Perkins, S. C. Biglow, C. H. Huffiuan, J. K. Law, and M. Goldman. The Bank erected a brick building on the ground formerly occupied hy M. Goldman, in which to carry on their husiness.
EL CAPITAN HOTEL.
The hotels of Merced cannot be excelled anywhere outside of the larger cities in California, either in point of structure or accommodation.
C C
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TUOLUMNE HOTEL في 1873 م
OFFICE
TUOLUMNE HOTEL
W. ELLIOTT & CO 106 LEIDSDOREEST.S ..
TUOLUMNE HOTEL,17TH ST. MERCED, WM.FAHEY PROPRIETOR.
New Fat Man .- GOOD MORNING SIR! Old Fat Man .- WHO ARE YOU SIR? YOU SALUTE ME AS IF YOU KNEW ME. New FatMan:I DO; BUT YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE YOUR OLD LEAN, LANK, CADAVEROUS FRIEND, AS YOU ONCE CALLED ME Old Fat Man. THUNDER AND MARS! HOW CAME YOU TO FATTEN UP SO? .New Fat. Man- OH!I TOOK BOARD AND LODGING AT FAHEY'S, AND YOU SEE THE HAPPY RESULT. Old Fat Man- HA!HA! HA! THREE CHEERS FOR FAHEY. MEALS, 25 CENTS; LODGING 25 CENTS & 50 CENTS.
WM. FAMEY, PROP c
MERCED, CAL.
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115
TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF MERCED.
Tbe El Capitan is known the world over. It was erected by the Railroad Company and was ready for occupaney soon after the town was started. It is a monster building for an inland town. It is the starting point for stages for Yo Semite. It is situated immediately upou the railroad, and forms one of the principal and most imposing features of the town. It has large' splendidly furnished, well-lighted and comfortably ventilated parlors, bedrooms, suites of rooms, etc., upon the first, second and third floors. Upon the ground floor were the express and post-offices of the city, a large billiard room, bath-rooms, sbav- ing and hair-dressing saloon, private club-rooms, barroom, oys- ter rooms, telegraph office, reading rooms, assembly room for guests aud clerk's office, dancing hall, and a capacious dining- roomn, all presided over by H. A. Bloss, whose faine as a hotel- keeper is truly world-wide, he having entertained guests in large numbers at his hotels during the last seven years from every civilized country known upon tbe habitable globe.
TUOLUMNE HOTEL.
Fahey's Tuolumne Hotel, Seventeenth Street, Mereed, is one of the best appointed and kept puhlie houses in the interior. The structure is of brick, roomy and well ventilated. The kiteben and dining-room are models of neatness, and a well directed system prevails in every department. The furniture is good, in fact better than in many much more pretentious estab- lishments, and all the late improvements for the accommoda- tion and convenience of guests are found here. An airy and pleasant reading-room adjoins the barroom, separated by swing- ing doors. There bas been added a billiard table to the furni- ture of this room, making it as pleasant a place as the town affords to pass a leisure hour. Gas fixtures bave been put into all the rooms, those in the parlor being elaborate and costly. The Tuolumne is justly popular, and growing in favor every day.
COSMOPOLITAN HOTEL.
This fine brick building is one of the noticeable objects in Mer- ced. The foundations were laid September, 1872, and opened for business December 2d of the same year. It is a fine build- ing of substantial build, and has a wide and pleasant veranda extending the length of two sides. The house bas always done a large business, and has been successfully managed from the first day by M. A. Moran as proprietor.
History of Snelling.
SNELLING, the former county seat of Mereed County, is situ- ated on the north bank of the Merced River, and within about six miles of the head of the Merced Valley proper. The land lying between the bluffs enclosing the valley, as it were with two walls, is in a bigh state of cultivation, interspersed here and there with gardens, orchards, vineyards, and handsome
dwellings, rendering it almost a paradise, and presenting to the view of the weary traveler, as he approaches from the higb- lands, from either the north or south, a scene unparalleled for beauty throughout the entire country bordering on the Pacific Coast.
The valley being a part of, and the largest tributary of the San Joaquin Valley, is of more than average fertility, produc- ing a greater variety of products than any other portion of tbe great valley of which it forms an integral part.
FIRST SETTLERS AT SNELLING.
The site of the town was first settled upon and the land taken up by Dr. David Wallace Lewis, John M. Montgomery, and Samuel Scott. A sketch of their lives and adventures will be found under the head of " Pioneers."
FIRST HOTEL IN MERCED COUNTY.
The last-named party seeing the eligibility of the place, built a large hotel and opened a house of entertainment early in the spring of 1851, which was kept by Dr. Lewis. He first opened business in a brush tent, which answered the purpose until the large wooden structure, afterwards known as Snelling's Hotel, was completed.
HOW SNELLING OBTAINED THE NAME.
The Snelling family, from whom the town derives its name, arrived at that place early in the fall of 1851, purchased the property and continued its possessor a number of years there- after. The lady after whom the town of Snelling was named, died in Missouri on the fifth of June, 1863, aged seventy years. Mrs. Snelling was the owner of the land on which the town now stands, and was the builder of the old Snelling Hotel, wbich was washed away by the flood. In many respects sbe was a remarkable woman. Sbe was endowed with intellectual faculties of a strong order.
FIRST COURT HOUSE.
In 1856 the town of Snelling was laid off and permanently established as the county seat, and iu the following two years tbe Court House and jail, and a number of business houses and dwellings were erected, and it became a flourisbing and grow- ing town.
FLOOD OF 1861 AT SNELLING.
In the winter of 1861-62, the old Snelling Hotel, Judge Fitzhugh's residence and orehard, and some other buildings were destroyed by the memorable flood of that time, which together with the instability of the title to lots, and the land surrounding the town, checked the growth of the place for several months. But in July Mr. Price completed and opened a hotel. The Merced Banner, tbe pioneer newspaper of tbe county, was issued from the press, with R. J. Steele and wife as editors.
F
116
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY.
The Banner gave place to the Merced Democrat, edited and publisbed by Wm. Pierce, alias Wm. Hall. The Democrat was published three weeks only, when its career was brought to a close by tbe arrest of its editor and publisber, and his imprisonment at Alcatraz.
FIRE! FIRE !! FIRE! ! !
At 1 o'clock Friday morning, September 12, 1862, a fire broke out in the back part of the carpenter shop and sasb and blind factory of Frank Peck, on Lewis Street, and in a few moments spread to Prince's Hotel on the east, and to Goldsmitb's store on the west, destroying the entire block-comprising tbe prin- cipal business part of our town. Nothing was known in regard to the origin of the fire, but it is known to a moral certainty that it could not have been accidental, or the result of care- lessness on the part of any of the citizens. It could not but have been the act of a most cowardly and villainous incen- diary. About two-thirds of the population were rendered bouseless and penniless.
The following were the losses, as near as we can ascertain :- F. Prince, hotel, furniture, bar fixtures, etc., $7,000 or $8,000. W. Myers, Arcade Billiard Saloon, $2,000.
J. Weisbaum, sboe shop, stock of leather, etc., $400. Solomon & Co., restaurant, $2,000. Henry Skelton, storehouse and fixtures, $1,000.
F. Peck, carpenter's tools, etc., $500. Grimsbaw, carpenter's tools, $400. Judge Fitzbugb, building, $700.
Simons, Jacobs & Co., damage to goods, $3,000.
A. A. McDonald, paints, etc., $100.
Goldsmith,¡merchandise, $6,000. Insured, for $6,000.
REBUILDING.
The sufferers by the conflagration, says the Banner, have commenced to rebuild, and in a few weeks our town will pre- sent quite a respectable appearance. Some of our citizens are making arrangements for building fire-proof houses, and tbe prospect now is that before winter sets in Snelling will be built up more compact, and with better and more substantial build- ings than ever before. Several gentlemen have been here from La Grange-business men-who, we understand, came here with a view to the purchase of lots upon which to erect busi- ness houses. We believe that there is no place in the country which offers better inducements tban Snelling for the invest- ment of capital in almost any class of business, and we are truly pleased to see the attention of business men turned in this direction. We are satisfied that the country surrounding this town would support two more dry goods and clotbing, and at least two more grocery stores than were here before tbe town was destroyed by fire, handsomely and well. All that is required to bring hither large and profitable trade, is the assurance to the people of this valley that they can obtain tbeir supplies of dry goods, clothing and family groceries at as low prices as the same classes of goods are selling at Hornitos
and other interior towns. Heretofore the residents of the Merced Valley have had to send to Stockton or Hornitos for not only their groceries, but also for their dry goods and clothing, there not being sufficient inducements held out to the people by the merchants here to keep the trade at home.
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