USA > California > Monterey County > History of Monterey County, California : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, farms, residences, public buildings, factories, hotels, business houses, schools, churches, and mines : with biiographical sketches of prominent citizens > Part 27
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
There is little of the soil of San Benito county that is not fragrant with inspiring memories of the past. True the actors were humble, but their deeds merit more than a passing notice from the chronicler of local events.
The reader is therefore duly cautioned, that if he expects to find in the following pages of the brief sketch of the history of San Benito county, anything that will rise to the dignity of his- tory, when measured by the greatness of the actors, or the general importance of the events recorded, he will search in vain, and he is referred to other and more fruitful subjects of history and biography. But I feel convinced that the citizen of San Benito county whose home is here, and who expects that in the end, his dust will commingle with her generous soil, and who hopes that the hallowed spot where he will find his last rest will be kept green by those of his blood, who will take his place and work as he has wrought, who, having traveled from afar, and seen many lands, will be satisfied to exclaim with Virgil's wanderer,
" Haec ait patria mea,"
Will be satisfied to examine beneath the surface to learn the motives that actuated the pioneers of a hundred years ago, who, few in numbers, but strong in the faith that was in them, undertook to conquer California, not with the strong hand and the sword, but with the word of the Master whom they served.
To such, I feel convinced, a brief account of the early his- tory of the territory that now constitutes the county of San Benito, and of the struggles of the early Franciscan Friars, who reclaimed its aboriginal inhabitants from barbarism, will not be wholly devoid of interest. I am well advised of the difficulties that will eonfront the chronieler of early events, when he enters upon the domain of history, that period in the history of this seetion of California which extends beyond the memory of man.
EFFECT OF THE MISSIONARIES' LABORS.
The missionary friars in Upper California were either oblivious of, or indifferent to, the faet that they were sowing in the wilderness the seeds of an empire of civilization, wealth and progress, that would survive the race of Indians, whose
132
THE BIRTH OF SAN BENITO COUNTY.
" untutored minds " were the lode-stone that first attracted civ- ilization to Califoruia.
So it often happens that causes wonderfully insignificant in themselves produce, without design, effects marvelously great and beneficial to the buman family.
It is often questioned, if the Indian gained much in the bar- gain, by which he gave his rude habits of the barbarous state in exchange for the discipline of Christianity, and the vices of civilization.
Let this problem be solved, by those who are willing to speculate upon it, as it may, it is manifest that (speaking temporally) the Indian was tbe loser, and the white man the gainer. The Indian lost his country, his existence; even his race in California is now well-nigh a matter of bistory only. There are so few of the aboriginals or their descendants now living, that they may be classed with the extinct races.
The friars were likewise indifferent to the fact, that those who would succeed them would glean ardently but unsuccess- fully, for incidents and events in their lives that might illus- trate the character of their undertaking, and afford a measure by which their efforts and the result might be judged.
With that singleness of purpose that was peculiar to the early missionary in California, they scem to have devoted themselves solely to the reclamation of the Indian; and there is nothing in the California mission records like a diary, or detailed account of the incidents of their lives of labor.
No event seems to have been wortby of record and perpetu- ation, unless it bore some intimate relationship to the spiritual welfare of the Indian.
True, there is an occasional brief reference in a marginal or foot-note, to circumstances connected with, or characteristics of, some trihe or nation of Indians, but as a rule these remarks are too brief to be of much historical value.
LITTLE KNOWLEDGE FROM EARLY RECORDS.
In such of the mission records as I have had the privilege of examining (and I understand that the entries in all the books, from San Diego to Sonoma, are of the same general character), I failed to find any reference, that would be of particular advan- tage to the historian, to the habits, temper, disposition, rolig- ious belief, or form of worship of the aboriginal natives of Upper California.
A. record of every baptism, birth, marriage, and death; was entered with the most scrupulous fidelity aud exactness, not omitting the tribal relation, " gentile name," parentage, sponsors, etc., while . the more interesting fact (to this genera- tion at least), of the foundation of the mission, and its final completion and dedication, with the impressive ceremonies that we know were wont to be observed, was passed hy with a bare mention.
Perhaps the good fathers feared that the diablillos, as Fr.
Junipero Serra called them, would contest their right to labor in the Lord's vineyard, and so, were indisposed to waste time, or undertake any other task than the, to them, all-important work of Christianizing the savage.
It may be further urged in palliation of this apparent neg- lect, that the missionaries valued the land only for the oppor- tunities it afforded them of making converts. They little dreamed .hat the mother countries, Spain and Mexico, to which they owed allegiance, and for whose civilization and comforts tbey doubtless often yearned, would, before tbe lapse of a century be out-ranked in wealth and political importance by California, the despised, and to Europeans, almost terra incognita.
Whatever view may be held with respect to the supposed benefits accruing to the Indian from Christianity, and however severely the modes of the missionaries may be criticised, the fact that they were honest, patient, and sincere in their work, that they at times treated their proselytes with severity, as children are corrected, but never with injustice or cruelty, that they braved death and often met it, at the hands of the objects of their solicitude, will stand as an enduring monument to their glory as long as valorous deeds shall continne to be named with commendation.
THE BIRTH OF THE COUNTY.
" An Act to create the county of San Benito, to establish the boundaries thereof-approved February 12, 1874,"-is the title of the organic Act, which gave to the people of this county tbe right to administer their own local affairs through officers of their own selection, as one of the political sub-divisions of the State. By the terms of the Act the new county was carved out of territory formerly belonging to Monterey county.
The " division " question had not heen agitated prior to tbe year 1868. In that year the east half of the rancho San Justo was purchased by the " San Justo Homestead Associa- tion," a corporation.
The object of the associatiou was to subdivide its purchase into small farms, to cultivate the same, and if deemed advis- able by the incorporators, to establish a town for the conven- ience and profit of its members.
The incorporators were nearly all industrious, energetic, and practical farmers, The rancho was subdivided into two classes of farms, agricultural and grazing. The whole number of lots was fifty-one; lot uumber fifty-one was set apart as a town site, and subdivided into town or building lots.
The farming lots were sold at public auction, for a premium for choice of lots. The premiums weut into a common fund that was to be devoted to satisfying, in part, the purchase . price of the rancho.
At the sale of lots the bidding was spirited and determined. John Wright, one of the original incorporators, opened the sale with an offer of five hundred dollars for the first choice, but
133
THE TOWN OF HOLLISTER IN ITS INFANCY.
T. S. Hawkins, now President of the Bank at Hollister, finally became the purchaser for the sum of six thousand five hundred dollars. This was at the time considered to be an extrava- gant price, but subsequent events have demonstrated that the investment was judicious and well considered.
The spirited bidding, and the prompt measures taken to utilize their property, made it manifest that the new settlers had come here to stay.
HOLLISTER IN ITS INFANCY.
The determined spirit of the little colony, and the extension of the Tres Pinos branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which extended to the new town of Hollister, thereby opening up a market for the produce of the country, established the San Justo Homestead Association and its incident, the town of Hollister, beyond a doubt.
Before the advent of the railroad, the new colony, and its struggling town, had been spoken of sometimes patronizingly, sometimes commiseratingly, and always indifferently, by the peo- ple of the adjoining towns and the neighboring and more favored sections.
About this time Gilroy and San Juan, the nearest towns, were at the height of their commercial prosperity. They had heen commercial rivals since the advent of the railroad to Gilroy. Prior to that time Gilroy was not commercially important, but being the terminus of a line of railroad, it naturally became the depot and distributing point for a large section of country. San Juan was being worsted in the fight for business; she was no longer the rendezvous for the traders who did business with southern California, nor the starting- point and base of supplies for seven lines of daily stages, and the immense business of the New Idria Quicksilver Mining Com- pany, as she had been in former years.
HOLLISTER GAINS PROMINENCE.
When the line of the railroad was extended beyond Gilroy, towards Tres Pinos, it tarried long enough at Hollister to hring that place prominently before the public, as the base of sup- plies, and the shipping point for a section of country extending at least a hundred miles east and south.
By this change, the condition of Gilroy was not improved but that of San Juan was made infinitely worse, and it soon became apparent that Hollister would thereafter be the Mecca of its immediate vicinage, whitber would flock the good, the bad, and the indifferent-the natural elements of every new town. The good seeking to profit by honest efforts, and to avail themselves of the natural business advantages offered; the bad seeking, as they always will under similar circum- stances, to live, as parasites, by the efforts and errors of others; while the indifferent will drift ainilessly with the tide where- ever it may lead.
HOLLISTER GROWS RAPIDLY.
The population in and about the new town grew as surpris- ingly rapid, as it was gratifying to the projectors of the San Justo Colony. The census returns of 1870 showed a popula- tion in Hollister of about three hundred; three years later, the most careful did not estimate its population at less than two thousand persons; to this, as a factor to he considered in esti- mating the town's importance, was to be added the great increase in the population of the outlying districts, which showed a gain of a hundred-fold in the same time.
PETITION FOR DIVISION OF MONTEREY.
Under these circumstances it was not surprising that the "peo- ple beyond the mountain," as they were called hy the citizens of Monterey, Castroville and Salinas, the principal towns of Monterey county, should be ambitious to set up for themselves, and ask for a division of the common territory, and the crea- tion of a new county. When, in connection with the facts already adverted to, the further fact is considered, that the two sections are separated by a range of mountains, which serve as a natural barrier to trade and intercourse, the prayer and just demands of the divisionists were unanswerable.
But the petition was met by the anti-divisionists with the plea of inexpediency. The fact was dwelt upon, that Monterey county, as a whole, had grown to he politically and commer- cially important, and that sub-division, and the creation of two counties, would lessen the importance of both sections. This was in a measure true, but it was treated as a matter of sec- ondary importance by the friends of division, The great con- venience of the people of the eastern section was the primary consideration. The new county would best suhserve this end, and this they were determined to have, or nothing.
CONTEST OVER THE NEW COUNTY.
And so the sectional fight was inaugurated. It was waged fiercely, and with determination, hut never with rancor, or a degree of feeling that was not naturally or excusably engen- lered by the local importance of the measure discussed. The citizens of neither section were actuated by malevolent feelings toward the other. "Division " and "No-Division " were the shibboleths, respectively, of the eastern and western sections. The election of a representative in the Legislature was made to hinge on the one important question. Republicans, for the time being, forgot their fealty to their party, and Democrats were found counseling with their traditional enemies-the Repuh- icans.
The divisionists were in the minority, and were defeated at the ensuing election, but they were not conquered. In the election which followed, they returned to the charge. No
134
THE COUNTY OF SAN BENITO ORGANIZED.
divisionist would accept a nomination for any office on either politieal tieket, though the bribe was often tendered in the shape of nominations for the most desirable county offices, on both the Democratic and Republican tickets.
An illustration of the unanimity of feeling that prevailed among the people of San Benito county, may be found in the recorded fact that, at one of the elections, whereat an Assem- blyman was to be chosen, Mr. J. R. Hibbron, the anti-division candidate, and a gentleman of excellent private character, and unexceptionahle publie and political record, received at Hollister precinet, out of a total of several hundred, the "beggarly amount " of eight votes-this, too, notwithstanding the fact that the United States Senatorship was one of the issues, and it was said that there was money in the fight.
FRIENDS OF NEW COUNTY SUCCESSFUL.
Finally, as a result of persistent and united effort, and hy the exercise of superior political tactics, the divisionists elected then candidate by a small majority. This result transferred the contest from the political arena of Monterey county to the Legislative halls at Sacramento, hut did not end it.
The divisionists secured their next victory, after a most determined fight, in the Assembly, where the bill creating the new county originated. Next, the Senate approved of the measure, but this was by a bare majority.
The friends of division were jubilant. guns were fired, and many other signs of approval were manifested by the citizens of Hollister. But these rejoicings were premature, for still the fight went on. Governor Booth was importuned-as only " members of the third house " know how to importune, and make the executive's life miserable-to veto the bill. And it is said that the Governor had, at one time, determined to withhold his official sanction from the measure. But the array of facts, data and figures which was submitted to him, could not be answered or contradicted by the enemies of the bill.
SAN BENITO COUNTY ORGANIZED.
On the 12th day of February, 1874, Governor Booth approved the Aet, and the County of San Benito was privileged to embark on her career of prosperity, in which there has been no permanent halt up to this day.
Where so many were equally interested, and where all labored so zealously and so well, it would seem to be an invid- ious discrimination to name any person in particular as entitledl to the credit of bringing about the happy consummation.
The Act creating the county provided that the Governor should appoint five commissioners, who were charged with its organization. As sueli commissioners, T. S. Hawkins, Jesse Whitton, Mark Pomeroy, John Breen, and H. M. Hayes were appointed.
This commission met at Hollister on February 18, 1874, and organized by electing Jolin Breen as its President and H. M. Hayes its Secretary.
COUNTY DIVIDED INTO FOUR TOWNSHIPS.
The new county was subdivided into four townships, viz .: Hollister, San Juan, San Benito, and Paieines, and three super- visoral districts, designated as one, two and three. Distriet number one was composed of Hollister township, district num- ber two of San Juan township, and distriet number three of San Benito and Paicines townships.
The new county was to get her complement of officers hy appointment from the Governor and special election. James F. Breen, who had resigned the County Judgeship of Monterey county, was appointed by the Governor to the same position in San Benito county; while the commissioners, under the pro- visions of the organic Aet, ordered and proclaimed an election to be held throughout the county, on the 26th day of March, 1874, whereat the required county officers were to be chosen, and the county seat was to be permanently located hy popular vote.
FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS ELECTED.
Pursuant to the proclamation, the election was held, and the official canvass of the vote, by the commissioners, showed the popular candidates for the various offices to have been the following: Benjamin F. Ross, Sheriff and ex-officio Tax Col- lector; H. M. Hayes, County Clerk and Recorder; N. N. Briggs, Distriet Attorney; Thomas McMahon, Treasurer; Hayden Dowdy, Assessor; F. P. McCray, Surveyor; H. Z. Morris, Superintendent of Schools; J. M. Black, Coroner and Publie Administrator. The following Supervisors were elected: For district number one, Mark Pomeroy; for distriet number two, Hon. Thos. Flint; and for distriet number three, D. J. Watson.
Thus was consummated the division of Monterey county, and the creation and organization of the new county of San Benito.
Irreconcilable differences having arisen between the two counties with respect to the adjustment of the lebt, and the distribution of the assets of the old county, and it appearing that the provisions of the Aet of the Legislature, passed for that purpose (Cal. Statutes, 1873-4, p. 428), could not solve the diffi- eulty, an Aet amendatory of the foregoing, was approved Marelı 10, 1876. (Cal. Statutes, 1875-6, p. 177.)
COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS ARRANGED.
Under the provisions of the last-named Act, the Boards of Supervisors of Monterey and San Benito counties jointly selected a commission consisting of five members. Of this com
RESIDENCE OF G.A. MOORE, 5 MILES SOUTH-WEST OF HOLLISTER, SAN BENITO CO, CAL.
-
:
:
135
GENERAL FREMONT AND HIS OPERATIONS.
mission, two were named by Monterey, two by San Benito, and the fifth by the Judge of the Twentieth Judicial Distriet Court. The commission met at Salinas City ; inventoried and appraised the property and assets of each eounty; ascertained the amount of the indebtedness of Monterey county on the 12th day of February, 1874, the date on which the Aet creat- ing San Benito county became a law. It was found that the amount of the county debt exceeded the value of the property and assets in both counties. Following the requirements of the statute, the commissioners dedueted the total value of assets from the total indebtedness, and aseertained the proportion of the debt due from San Benito county to be $5,808.56, for which amount bonds bearing interest at the rate of seven per eent. per annun, and payable in five years, were issued and made payable to the order of Monterey county. And thus was severed the last tie of a politieal or business eharaeter that eonneeted San Benito county with its parent, Monterey county. True, San Benito eounty " went into the world without a 'portion,'" and in lieu thereof she was compelled to shoulder a part of the respon- sibilities of her parent. But her people did not complain. The arrangement seemed to them to be equitable; and as in their bitter fight for division they had always elaimed to be demanding only justice, they were equally willing to do that which seemed to be just. They did not stop to inquire if the large debt hanging over the mother county was the result of mismanagement or improvidenee, as was sometimes charged, but becoming satisfied that the debt was legally acknowledged, they willingly contributed their portion. Il West. Virginia eould boast of such a record, the "mother of States and of presidents " would be happier to-day, than she seems to be, and perhaps, the dead loek would not exist in the United States Senate.
FIRST AMERICAN FLAG OF CONQUEST IN CALIFORNIA.
The San Benito Advance of January 29, 1881, contains the following item :-
"The soil of San Benito county elaims the honor of having sustained the first American flag of conquest ever unfurled to California ' breeze.' General Fremont having floated the U. S. flag on the Gabilan peak in March, 1846."
This statement has been often ehallenged as not being a his- torical faet. But I believe a careful examination of the facts connected with the conquest and possession of California by the United States, will justify the assertion.
It is to be borne in mind, however, that the taking of Mon- terey, and the raising of the American flag over that town, by Commodore Jones of the U. S. Navy, on October 19, 1842, does not enter into the account; inasmuch as the action of the Com- muodore was premature, and in no sense a justifiable taking, because his Government was on friendly terms with Mexico And, moreover, the United States authorities repudiated the
aet ; and the Cominodore himself, on the following day, hauled down the Stars and Stripes and saluted the Mexican flag, which he eaused to be run up in its place; while he in person made full and ample apologies te the then Governor of California, Mieheltorena.
GENERAL FREMONT'S OPERATIONS.
The facts on which San Benito county bases her elaims to the honor are about as follows: In Mareh, 1846, J. C. Fremont, who afterward acquired notoriety as the commander of the Federal forces in Missouri, during the late Rebellion, and who is now the Territerial Governor of Arizona, was a brevet eaptain in the corps of United States topographieal engineers. He had been dispatched, by the United States authorities, ostensibly on a tour of exploration to Oregon and California ; but really holding, it is said, seeret instructions with reference to the then impending trouble between the United States and the Mexican Governments.
Captain Fremont finding that his men and beasts were in an exhausted condition, in consequence of the hardships experi- enced on the trans-continental trip, halted his eommand near the California line, and with a few men proceeded to San Juan Bautista, where General Castro, one of the military command- ers of California, was temporarily sojourning.
Captain Fremont declared his mission to be to get Governor Castro's permission to lead his company into the valleys of California, in order to reeruit his exhausted beasts on the lux- uriant grass growing at that season of the year, and to lay in a supply of dried meat from the elk, deer, and antelope which were known to be abundant, and easily taken with the rifle.
General Castro, who was naturally a hospitable gentleman, readily gave the desired permission.
FREMONT ORDERED TO QUIT THE COUNTY.
But reflecting later that the young Captain was in command of a company of hated Americanos, and being doubtless advised by the Home Government that the United States was nibbling at California, as it had already taken a large mouthful of Mexican territory, by fomenting the trouble that led to the loss of Texas, he countermanded the permission, and sent a per- emptory order to Fremont to quit the country or bear the con- sequences, which, it was hinted, would be death.
Captain Fremont's instructions were, in part, not to precipi- tate any difficulties with the Mexican authorities in California, and in no ease to be the aggressor. Here then, was a serions difficulty; aeting on the permission previously given, to go where he pleased, he had led his company to the vicinity of San Juan, and was remounting his men, by buying or exehang- ing for horses, with the natives, as he found most convenient, and in laying in a supply of dried beef, which he found no dif- fieulty in purchasing at San Juan Mission.
136
SPOT WHERE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG WAS RAISED.
Naturally, he was somewhat alarmed, and greatly incensed hy the General's curt message. He considered that he was justified in treating Castro's conduct as a breach of faith, and so he returned an answer as defiant as the message, to the effect that " he would go when he got ready."
As a soldier, he feared nothing; but as a diplomat, he was not sure that he was not transcending his orders. He was, doubtless, well advised that it was a foregone conclusion that California was to be acquired either hy treaty, purchase or con- quest; hut his part in the game was not " to spring the mine," and he feared that he might hlunder on land as Commodore Jones had blundered at sca a few years before. And all the time he was hopeful that General Castro would he satis- fied with the promulgation of the order, and not attempt to enforce it. But he was disappointed. No sooner had the General received the defiant answer, than he treated it as an act of hostility; he sent messengers over the country bearing the peculiarly Mexican proclamation that the soil of California was being desecrated by the Americanos del Norte, and appeal- ing to his countrymen to take horse and arms (the Californians always fought on horsehack) and annihilate the invaders.
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.