USA > California > Merced County > History of Merced County, California with biographical sketches of prominent citizens > Part 26
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Resolved, That the abolishing of slavery in the District of Columbia, if not unconstitutional-as we believe-was in bad faith to the State of Maryland; and the taxation of the free whites of the North to pay for the broken-down negroes of said District is in violation of every principle of right and law.
MARRIED,
At the residence of G. W. Halstead, by Justice N. Breen, Mr. A. C. Morley to Miss H. C. McDonald, of this place.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COURT OF SESSIONS.
August Term, A. D. 1862. MONDAY, August 4, 1862.
Present, Hon. J. W. Fitzhugh, County Judge; A. C. Mc- Swain and N. Breen, Associates; George Turner, Sheriff, and J. W. Bost, Deputy Clerk.
Court met at 10 o'clock, A. M. Minutes of the preceding term read and approved. Sheriff returned venire for Grand Jury. On calling the roll ten only answered to their names. The Sheriff was then ordered to summon twelve more jurors to serve in place of the absentees. The Court occupied the entire day in endeavoring to obtain a jury; failing, the Sheriff was ordered to summon eight muore jurors, and Court adjourned to 10 o'clock to-morrow.
TUESDAY, August 5th.
Court met at 10 o'clock, and the Grand Jury was impan- eled, composed of the following persons: A. Stevenson, Fore- man; William Taylor, G. W. Ward, J. C. C. Russell, N. B. Stoneroad, Jobn Wiswold, J. L. Turner, P. Y. Welch, Talton Bailey, F. B. Holton, R. J. Steele, William Downing, Robert Conner, J. M. Smith, H. McDonald. At 5 o'clock, P. M., the Grand Jury reported a true bill of indictment against James A. Oliver for murder, and was discharged.
There being no further business the Court adjourned for the term.
JAMES W. ROBERTSON, ESQ.
This gentleman, our fellow-townsman, having received the nomination of the Democratic Party as a candidate to repre- sent tbe counties of Merced and Stanislaus in the lower branch of the Legislature at its next session, it becomes a pleasurable duty to us as a public journalist to give to the public such information in regard to the political character and standing of the gentleman, and also of his opponent, as has come within our knowledge.
Mr. Robertson, as nearly every citizen of this county knows, came to this valley when quite a youth, and for several years bas been a resident of this town, and engaged, until recently, in the practice of the law. He is now acting in the capacity of Under Sheriff, and every one will agree with us in saying that he is a faithful and efficient officer. In politics he has ever acted and been identified with the Democratic Party, never having left the fold to run off after false gods. The posi- tion he now occupies is that of a Constitutional Democrat, and if elected, will exert himself to the utmost of his ability to carry out Democratic principles.
All who know Mr. Robertson esteem him an upright and honorable man, and competent to represent the people of this Assembly District, and advocate their interests in the Legisla- ture; and we believe that he will not lose a single vote of his party in this county, but will receive many votes from the ranks of the opposition parties from personal considerations.
WOMAN DROWNED.
Mrs. Bink, wife of Philip Bink, a farmer who resides on the Merced River, about twenty miles below this town, disappeared from home on Friday last, and is supposed to be drowned. On last Monday Mrs. Bink, from some cause unknown to her friends, became partially deranged, and was closely watched and tended until Friday, when she managed to elude the vigi- lance of her sister-in-law, Mrs. Calkins, since which time sbe has not been seen or heard from by any of her friends. She is supposed to have wandered to the river and drowned her- self, as she was tracked from the house in the direction of the river.
We learn from Mr. F. Holton, that a shooting affair occurred on the race track, on Sunday, which resulted in a man being severely wounded in the breast by a pistol shot fired by Jobn Sutton.
THANKS TO GIVERS.
A beet weighing fourteen and a half pounds, grown upon the ranch of Mr. S. R. Gwin, was presented to us during the week by Mr. Bonsell, as a speciquen of the kind of vegetables lie has for sale.
A fine lot of grapes, not a bunch, but a number of pounds, was presented us by Mrs. Halstead, the wife of our County Treasurer. They were ripe, rich, and luscious.
Neighbor Breen, that card of honey you sent us, is the finest we have seen of California produce. For proof of due appre- ciation on our part, see heading of this article.
127
EVENTS OF TWENTY YEARS AGO.
Dr. Esmond has become a permanent resident of Snelling, having built a neat cottage house, which is occupied both as a dwelling and drug store. He has on hand a good supply of fresh drugs and medicines, and perfumery, also medical iustru- meuts. The doctor is an old and skillful practitioner. He has a fine spau of horses, and is prepared to visit patients at a distance, at any hour of the day or night.
BODY FOUND.
1
The body of Mrs. Bink, the lady whom we last week reported to be missing, and supposed to be drowned, was found on Sat- urday last. It was discovered by a little boy, only a few yards from the place where the tracks indicated that she had jumped iuto the water.
CAMP-MEETING.
On Sunday night last we had the pleasure of attending a camp-meeting at Forloin Hope, about six iniles below this place. We arrived ou the ground a few moments before the evening services commenced. After strolling for awhile among the tall shade trees, the sound of the horn struck upou our ear, summouing the grave and the gay, the sinner and the saint, the man of God and the poor sin-loving, devil-serving, worldly-minded man, to come and join in the feast and partake of the holy food to be spread out before them by the servants of the Most High. When all were assembled and stillness reigned within the camp, the Rev. Mr. Lockley arose and commenced the service by reading a hymn, which was fol- lowed by an able and eloquent prayer, at the conclusion of which he arose, and with devout and solemn dignity, read the following beautiful text from the Book of St. Matthew, the XXIII. chapter, and 37th and 38th verses :--
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
" Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."
From the above text the gentleman preached, as he always does, a most excellent sermon.
BORN.
At Snelling, on the twenty-fourth instant, to Mr. and Mrs. George Turner, a daughter.
OUR RESOURCES.
The county of Merced embraces a large expanse of terri- tory, extending from the dividing ridge butweeu the Merced and Tuolumne Rivers on the north to the Chowchilla on the south, and from the Merced Falls on the east to the summit of the Coast Range on the west. The upland in that part of the county lying south of the Merced River is one vast prairie upon which thousands of herds of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine roam at large, and find abundance of pasturage of the most luxuriant growth, and exceedingly nutritions, which sup- ports them in full flesh throughout the entire year. That part
of the county which lies on the north of the Merced River is also a prairie, but is interspersed with occasional patches of scrub-oak timber, suitable for fuel, but of no use for building or for fencing purposes. Running through the county from east to west until they empty into the San Joaquin River are several large streams, the bottomn-lands of which are rich, well cultivated and productive, from which the markets of the vari- ous towns of Mariposa County are supplied with all kinds of fruits and vegetables, hay, barley, flour, Indian corn, and other prounets of the soil. Merced also supplies not only Mariposa, but other mining counties with beef, pork, mutton, honey, etc., and thousands of horses. And although the adjacent miues furuish a good market for large quantities of our productions, the increase has been so great aud so rapid that we often hear the farmers complainingly exclaim that they can't find sale for their products.
The county is capable of supporting a population of ten times the number now settled upon its soil, and all that is required to place its inhabitants in the most comfortable, easy and affluent circumstances of those of any other couuty in the State, is a full development of all of its natural resources, which would be easily accomplished with increased facilities for con. . veying their produce to market, and obtaining supplies from below.
We are forced by "circumstances over which we have no control " to priut our paper this week upon brown sheets. As it is not in our power to do better, we deem that no apology is necessary to our friends.
P. D. WIGGINTON, ESQ.
See the law card of this gentleman in another column. Mr. Wigginton has recently arrived from Wisconsin, "the plains across," and located in this place for the purpose of practicing law. Mr. Wigginton has had cousiderable experience in the practice of bis profession in Wisconsin, and we doubt not that he is as capable of advocating the cause of his clients as any member of the Bar in this District.
Persons visiting Merced Falls, who are fond of playing bil- liards, or taking a social glass, will do well to call at the saloon of Judge Lynch. See advertisement.
TROTTING RACE.
A trotting race came off this afternoon, just before going to press with our paper, over the Snelling Race Course. Three horses were entered. The race was won by Halstead's gray mare. Time, four minutes and two seconds.
LARGE POTATOES.
S. H. P. Ross, Esq., the District Attorney for this county, presented us this week with a mess of potatoes, one of which weighed three pounds and two ounces. Mr. Ross informs us that he planted two acres in potatoes on his farm, and thinks that he will gather from 1,500 to 2,000 bushels from the patch.
128
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY.
We received, a few days ago, a saek of sweet potatoes, a present from Messrs. Gibson & Allen, one of which measured two feet eight inches in length. As the potatoe hangs in our office, it presents the appearance of an Indian "war eluh." It was grown upon the ranch of Dr. W. J. Barfield, a few miles below tbis place.
We believe that there is no part of the State of California where the soil makes inore liberal returns to the husbandman for the care and lahor he expends in its cultivation than that of Merced County.
We understand that there is to be some racing over the Snelling Course to-day. If there is to be as much money bet and as much excitement as there was at the raee last. Satur- day, it will be worth attending.
BORN.
On Dry Creek, on the twenty-sixth ultimo, to the wife of I. N. Ward, Esq., a daughter.
MARRIED.
In this place, on Sunday, the twenty-sixth ultimo, by Justice N. Breen, Mr. William R. Pittman, of Braneh's Ferry, to Miss John Anne Sillman, of Stanislaus County.
[The happy couple remembered tbe printer, as was evidenced by a generons slice of cake received at this office. May their honeymoon last forever.]
At the residence of the bride's father, in Hornitos, on the twenty-sixth ultimo, by the Rev. Mr. Overton, Mr. George Vandergriff to Miss Martha Scroggins.
DIVINE SERVICE.
The Rev. Mr. Wood will preach at the Dry Creek School House, about four miles from this place, on Sunday next, the twenty-second instant, at 11 o'clock, A. M. We had the pleas- ure of listening to a most excellent sermon delivered by the above-mentioned minister a few weeks since, and we consider him a most able teacher and a Christian gentleman. As he will bave to travel about thirty miles to fill this appointment, we trust that he will have a large and attentive congregation.
It is quite a treat now-a-days to hear a good sermon; for, notwithstanding the Presiding Elder, the Rev. Mr. Davies, resides in our village and we have a most excellent and con- venient place for divine service to be held in, and about twenty members of the Methodist Church South living within a short distance of Snelling, we have not had preaching but onee since the first of August, and for that sermon we were indebted to the Rev. Mr. Taylor, of Visalia.
The village of Merced Falls is now showing visible signs of improvement. The merchants are getting in large stoeks of winter goods, and the milling and other interests of the place give evidence of unusual activity. Mr. Fahle is fitting up a new hotel, and announces bis intention to keep an unexeep- tionable house. The location is a good one for almost auy kind of business, and we are pleased to note its improvement.
BORN.
Near Forlorn Hope, on tbe fourteenth instant, to tbe wife of William M. Chamberlain, a daugbter.
MORE BUILDING.
The improvement of our little town is steadily progressing. The frame of the store-house of Mr. Skelton is up, and the weather-boarding is being rapidly put on. The materials for building the store-house of Mr. Davis are all on the ground, and his dwelling is nearly completed. By the tenth of Decem- ber there will be two more stores started here, and the people of our county may depend upon being able to obtain their goods at the county seat. Other buildings are projected, and will be put up as soon as building materials ean be proeured. There is room for a few more families here, and also for a few more business houses. A tailor would do a good business here, and we would advise some one to establish bimself here in that business.
DIVINE SERVICE.
We are informed that there will be preaching at the Court House in this place ou Sunday next (to-morrow), at eleven o'clock, A. M., and also in the evening, by the Rev. Mr. Culp. We hope the people will turn ont, both morning and evening, to hear the Reverend gentleman's discourse.
On last Sabbath we had the pleasure of listening to two sermons, one in the forenoon and the other in the evening, by the Rev. Mr. Culp, of the Stanislaus Circuit. The attendance and the sermons were excellent. There are two appointments for preaching on the first Sabbath in December, and we expeet to see a general turn out of our neighbors. To our mind, good preaching is more interesting to us on the Sahbath day than any other exereises, and we think that if this place is supplied with a good preaeber that many who spend their time on the Sabbath about rum shops and gambling houses, would become regular attendants of places of worship. Let us be tried with a good preacher, and, our word for it, he will have a good congregation.
DIED.
At Lakeport, Lake County, California, October 31st, of pul- monary consumption, Col. Jack W. Smith, aged forty-two years.
Colonel Smith was a native of the State of Arkansas. He was a soldier during the Mexicau War, and afterwards joined a Texas Ranger company and was engaged in proteeting the Western frontier settlements. In 1850 he immigrated to Cali- fornia, and in 1852 located on the Mereed River; was an ardent supporter of the organization of Mereed County, and spent much time in framing the bill before the Legislature, and at the first eleetion for county officers was an unsuccessful eandi- date for County Judge. Was subsequently appointed to the office of Distriet Attorney, which position he filled with ability and satisfaction to the people. In 1857 he removed to Napa City, where he praetieed his profession until a severe bleeding at the lungs caused him to abandon the law as a livelihood. Colonel Smith leaves a wife and three ehiklren, and many friends to mourn his loss. " May he rest in peace."
Mr. Anderson will open his new hotel in this place in a very short time. The building is large and commodious, and pre- sents a splendid appearance.
129
EVENTS OF TWENTY YEARS AGO
A SCHOOL.
Several of our neighbors have spoken to us in regard to our school, and all seem desirous that a school should be kept up in this place during the winter. As there are no funds in the treasury due this school district, the question is-" how is a school to be supported ?" There are two ways by which a school can be kept up. The Trustees can employ a teacher at a stated salary, and to meet the paymeuts levy a tax of two, three or four dollars per scholar in attendauce. Or the people ean employ a teacher independent of any action of the Trus- tees, and have the parents of each pupil bound to pay a pro rata share of the amount necessary to defray the expenses. We are anxious that a school shall be kept up, and for the pur- pose of securing that desirable object we are willing to pay full price for tuition, and also contribute liberally towards fixing up the school house. We think that twenty-five regular schol- ars can be obtained at four dollars each per month, which woukl be sufficient to pay the salary of a teacher and also defray all other expenses of a school.
DIED.
At the Weber House, Stockton, September 8th, of dropsy, L. A. Holmes, editor of the Mariposa Gazette and Visalia Delta. aged thirty-five years.
DIVINE SERVICE.
The Rev. Mr. Dooley, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, will preach at the Court House in this place on the Saturday evening preceding the fourth Sabbath in this month, and also at the same place on the fourth Sabbath, at 11 o'clock A. M., and at candle-lighting in the evening.
In Sacramento City, on New Year's day, the abolitionists fireil one hundred guns in honor of the President's emancipa- tion proclamation.
MARRIED,
In this town, on Tuesday evening last, the sixth instant, John W. Bost, Connty Clerk of this county, to Miss Mary R. Fitz- hugh, daughter of the Hon. J. W. Fitzhugh, County Judge of this county.
[Our little Mary is married! Never more from our sitting- room window will we see her petite form with the group of school girls, skipping toward the quaiut old school house of our village! She has bid adieu to her school teacher, school companions, parents, and the parental roof-her childhood's home; she has exchanged all for the idol of her young love. May she be happy !- is our earnest wish and earnest prayer.]
OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
Next Monday week being the day appointed by law for the next regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Mereed County, and as it is the last regular meeting of the Board that will take place this year before the season for planting out shade-trees will expire, we again bring this subject up for the consideration of the gentlemen composing the Board, in the hope
that at the next meeting they will do something in the prem- ises that will add something to the health and comfort of our citizens, and at the same time be a credit to themselves as Supervisors.
The idea that the wealthy county of Mereed cannot afford to pay out the paltry sum required to plant out a few common shade-trees around its Court House and jail- the only publie building in the county, is a miserly exeuse, and should not be listened to for a moment.
In this county, as the assessments show, there is property amounting to more than one thousand dollars to each soul within its limits, making it the richest eounty according to population in the State. Besides this the county taxes are less than in any other county, we believe, except one. Then why shoukl our friends who have the control of our eounty affairs trump up sueh paltry excuse as "the county is so deep in debt that it can't afford to make the outlay necessary " for the purchase of a few dozen shade-trees and paying a laborer $2.50 per day for planting them out aud watering them for a few weeks."
SINGING SCHOOL.
Mr. Devers has commeueed his singing school at this place with fair prospects of success. Visit the school and judge for yourselves of the merits of the teacher, and the progress of the scholars.
MARRIED,
At the residence of George Turner, Esq., in this place, on the third instant, by Justice Breen, Mr. Addison Tower to Miss Adeline Lough.
DIED,
At Prince's Hotel, in this place, on the 31st of January, Anna Oliver, adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. Prince, aged two years aud seven months.
DANCING SCHOOL.
Ry reference to our advertising columns, it will be seen that Mr. S. N. Raymoud will eommenee a daneing school at the Anderson House in this place on Tuesday evening next. Those who desire to become good dancers would do well to attend, as Mr. Raymond is an excellent dancing master, and teaches all the popular danees.
The county is now, we believe, about $7,000 in debt, and at the usual rate of taxation would neeessarily continue to inerease its indebtedness from year to year, even though we should be-as we have been for some time past, without expense on aeeonnt of criminal trials. There was, during the year 1862, but one true bill passed by the Grand Jury of this county, and there has not been a prisoner in our County Jail for the last four months. This shows the morals of the county to be second to none in the State, yet as the property tax is almost the sole resouree of the county for revenue, the assessments for the past few years have been inadequate to produce a revenue sufficient to pay the current expenses, and hence we find ourselves in debt. If the action of our Board of Supervisors in future is characterized!
130
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY.
hy that system of economy and wisdom which has prevailed for a few years past, we doubt not that good will result from the passage of the bill maintained above.
HOUSE BURNT.
Last week the dwelling-house of Jolin Holley, on Dry Creek, in this eounty, was entirely destroyed by fire, together with all the furniture, elothing of the family, ete. As the family had been absent all day, and there being no fire in the house sinee early in the morning, it is very evident that it was set on fire by some seoundrel.
MARRIED,
At the residenee of Rev. Mr. MeClenny, the twenty-fourth instant, by the Rev. Mr. Shelden, J. M. Fowler to Miss Anna E. Woodeock.
BORN,
Near this town, ou the ninth instant, to the wife of the Rev. Mr. Sheklen, a son.
RODEOING,
We understand that the spring rodeos will eommenee in this county next week, when there will be a general gath- ering up of the eattle that are now running at large over the plains. If the eattle dealers and others interested will inform us of the appointments, we will endeavor to keep our readers posted in regard to the times and places, of meeting of the people for this purpose. We understand that Mr. Prinee, the proprietor of Prince's Hotel in this place, will keep a restau- rant on the rodeoing grounds, moving from day to day with the company, for the aeeommodation of the people. Those who want good meals, good liquors and good eigars ean obtain them by ealliug at his tent.
Sinee the above was in type we learn that Messrs. Solomon & Co., of this place, will also have a restaurant tent on the rodeoing grounds. These gentlemen get up good meals, and they are elever and accommodating.
MARRIED,
At Hornitos, on the nineteenth instant, George Reebe to Rosiua Hunziker.
BORN,
On the thirteenth instant, the wife of Mr. Hathaway, of twins, a son and a daughter.
In this town on the sixteenth instant, the wife of Robert Crawford, of a daughter.
BORN,
On the nineteenthi instant, to Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Morley, a son.
DIED,
On the inorning of the twenty-first instant, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Morley.
REWARD,
UNAWAY, or went off without leave from my ranche, Louis Devron, Ra bull- headed Frenchman, on the night of the twenty-eighth ultimo. Any person returning the said Louis Devron to me in irons, will be entitled to a reward of twenty-five cents. S. R. GWIN. Snelling, May 9, 1863.
BORN,
On Dry Creek, in this county, on the third instant, the wife of John H, Smart of a son,
On the second instant, in this eounty, the wife of Thomas Eagleson of a son.
MARRIED,
On Sunday, the twenty-first instant, by Hon, J. W. Fitz- hugh, Wm. MeSwain to Mrs. Martha E. Birt, all of this eounty.
GRASSHOPPERS.
These intolerable pests are becoming quite numerous on the plains north of this place, and fears are entertained by some of our farmers that they will do great damage to the erops. Two years ago most of the orehards and vineyards in the valley were materially injured and some of themn entirely destroyed.
GRAND JURY.
The following is the list of the Grand Jury drawn to serve at the June Term of the Court of Sessions, 1863 ;-
G. W. Birkhead, S. W. Brown, J. MeAmiss, John Birkhead, Sylvanus Buekley, Philip Bush, Charles Baily, W. B. Ashen, T. J. Andersou, G. G. Belt, Albert Allen, A, Albeek, J. F. Anderson, Charles M. Blair, M. O. Barber, Wm. J. Barfield.
DEAD BODIES FOUND,
On Friday of last week the dead body of a man was found in the river abont four miles above this place. The body was so inneh decomposed that it was impossible to identify it, but was supposed to be that of a Chinaman who was drowned a month previous, about teu miles above where it was discovered. There was no inquest held.
On the day following-last Saturday-the dead body of a man was discovered in the bottom about one mile below this plaee, supposed to be the remains of a man who had formerly cooked for the Messrs. Neil, on their raneh. He was supposed to have been dead three or four days, and it was thought that «leath was produced by intemperanee and exposure. The name of the deceased was supposed to he John Joy. There was no inquest held.
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