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 30
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
THE MISSION BELLS.
The church was provided with a chime of nine bells, ranging in size from the treble of a hundred pounds in weight to the deep base of many tons. These bells, according to the inscrip- tions, were cast in Pern. They were of a remarkably rich and mellow tone; only one of them is now in existence in its orig- inal form at the mission. Some were given to other churches, others, being cracked, were recast in San Francisco; but it is a singular circumstance that the original tone was not preserved, although the metal of the old bells was used, and they were recast to their original weight, and very nearly in their orig- inal form.
THE ORCHARD OF THE MISSION.
The mission orchard consisted of a well-assorted variety of apples, pears, and quince, and is situated in the fertile valley immediately under the plateau, whereon the church is built. Ten acres were devoted to this orchard, and the trees matured without irrigation. All the apple-trees have decayed; but several hundred of tbe pear-trees are still standing, yielding annually an abundance of fruit, and are, apparently, still vigorous enough to outlive the present generation of men.
The mission vineyard, olive and peach orcbards, were situated about a mile south from the church, and contained thirty acres. Half a dozen olive-trees, and the remains of the deep ditch, that formerly inclosed the space, are the only evidences now to be seen of the fact that another generation labored here, and reposed under the grateful shade of the trees that their hands had planted and nursed to fruition.
THE MISSION CEMETERY,
The cemetery, or graveyard, consisted of about half an acre of ground, inclosel on three sides by a wall of solid masonry ; the
north wall of the church forming the inclosure on the other side. Entrance to the ground was obtained from the inain church building. On the outside, these walls varied in height from ten to twelve feet, while on the inside, the surface of the ground was level with the tops of the walls, so that, a person from the outside, witnessing a burial, was forcibly reminded of a Parsec funeral, which consists, it is said, in depositing the corpse on the top of a high tower, where the flesh is devoured by carrion birds.
I am at a loss how to account for the peculiarity of this burial ground. Earth was certainly not carted in to fill up the space, and it is hardly probably that long use and frequent inter- ments raised the inner surface of the ground to the tops of the walls. The latter is the theory of some of the old Indians, one of whom once told me, that as a boy he could not scale the walls of the graveyard from the inside.
I find from the mission record of burials, that the whole number of bodies interred in this ground is four thousand three hundred and fifty-six. I have scen many a grave dug there, and in no instance have I failed to see the bones of at least one skeleton unearthed; sometimes as many as three skulls were tossed to the surface from one new-made grave. The place was actually and literally a " bone-yard." Burials are no longer permitted there. More commo lious grounds are pro- vided, where the mourners can leave their dead with the assur- ance that the next funeral party will not. disturb his rest. When a priest died, his body was not buried in the common ground, but under the floor of the church,
A NOTED MISSIONARY HERE BURIED,
In Book One of Burials, page 155, is an entry recording the fact of the death and burial of Fr. Esteban Tapis in the mis- sion church.
Fr. Tapis is the only one of the missionaries who died at San Juan, From an obituary notice, appended to the above entry, the following facts are obtained: Fr. Tapis was born in the vil- lage of Santa Coloma de Farnese, province of Gerona Cataluña, Spain, His services in the order of St. Francis, as novitiate and priest, extended over a period of forty-eight years. He was for forty years an anointed priest. He labored as an evangelist, in America, forty years; thirty-five of which were spent in Upper California. He was successively in charge of the Missions of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, San Carlos and San Juan Bautista. He expired at San Juan Bautista, at two o'clock and ten minutes in the afternoon of the fourth day of November, 1825.
Fr. Tapis was, according to this account, a man of great learning. He wrote the music for the church. . Three heavy volumes of this music are still preserved in the church, The music is written on well-prepared parebment, in bold and clear characters.
146
SOME EARLY RECORDS OF SAN JUAN MISSION.
The record further shows that the remains of Fr. Tapis were committed to their final resting-placc, under the floor of the chancel of the church, with the solemn ceremonies that his mother church was wont to hestow on the remains of her sons who wrought well, and renderedl a good account of their stewardship.
The only books of records now to be found at San Juan Mis- sion, are those containing the records of births, marriages and deaths, and half a dozen or so odd volumes, containing the census lists of the civilized Indians.
NAMES OF INDIAN TRIBES.
From the census lists I copy the names of some of the tribes of Indians, as follows: Nopthrinthre, Cynlahuas, Copcha, Chausita, Genche, Paucho, Uthrocus, Notaliths, Cothsemejait, Thrayapthre, Achilia, Silelamne, Cucunum, Ausaymas, Pai- cines, Tructra.
This list is incomplete, as is evident from a foot-note, made hy Fr. Arroyo, to one of the lists, stating that twenty-one tribes had been reclaimed and Christianized. From this list it will be found that two of the ranchos of San Benito county get their names from the Indians who inhabited the locality ; they are the Cienega de los Paicines, and San Felipe y Ausaymas.
NUMBER OF BAPTIZED INDIANS.
The Indians were listed by name, age, sex, and tribal rela- tion in the order in which they were baptized. The total number of (gentiles) Indians baptized at this mission is three thousand nine hundred and eighty-one.
The number of converted Indians at this mission in 1802 was, according to Baron Humhollt, 530 males, and 428 females; total 958.
In the year 1831, the mission farm produced, in fanegas, (about 2} bushels) wheat, 840; corn, 170; beans, 40; harley, 255; peas, 6. In the same year there were 7,070 horned cattle, 401 gentle horses, 6 mules, 1 ass, and 17 swine at the mission.
FIRST BAPTISM AND DEATH.
The first person haptized at the mission was an orphan child of the tribe Ausaymas, aged ten years; this ceremony took place on July 11, 1797; the youth was appropriately named Juan Bautista.
The first death recorded was that of Francisco Xavier, infant son of Juan Ballesteros; the date was September 23, 1797. The first marriage ceremony was on October 5, 1797. The contracting parties were neophytes Mateo Ammex, bachelor, of the tribe Tructra, and Manuela Nocnoc, spinster, of the tribe Xica.
Walter Colton, the first Alcalde of Monterey after the con-
quest, speaks of the San Juan Mission as follows: " In 1820, it owned 43,870 head of cattle, 1,360 tame horses, 4,870 mares, colts and fillies; it had seven slicep farms, containing 69,530 sheep; while the Indians attached to the mission drove 321 yoke of working oxen. Its store-house contained $75,000 in goods, and '$20,000 in specie. This mission was secularized in 1834; its cattle slaughtered for their hides and tallow ; its sheep left to the wolves; its horses taken hy the dandies ; its Indians left to hunt acorns, while the wind sighs over the grave of its last padre."
A MELANCHOLY PICTURE.
This melancholy picture is not too highly colored. Douht- less the secularization laws were intended to benefit the Indians of the missions, nor does it seem that they were conceived in a spirit of unfriendliness to the padres.
But it cannot be denied that their execution resulted most disastrously to the objects of the Government's solicitude. This did not result from the spirit, or imperfections of the laws, hut rather from the manner in which they were executed.
Those who were entrusted with, or usurped the political power in California, and who were charged with the execution of the secularization laws, were neither wise nor overhonest. Had they reflected a moment, they could not have failed to perceive that the hond that tied the Indiau to the padres was of a character that could not be severed at a moment's notice. The Indians bore unbounded affection and devotion to the friars. Simple, and of little mind, as they were, they had always learned to place the same degree of confidence in the priests that a child reposes in its parents; and when the hour of separation came, their grief was unboundled and sincere. Never was the comparison of the priest and his disciples, to the shepherd and his flock more apt, than in the case of the friars and the Indians.
I can conceive of no more appropriate way of concluding this sketch, than by using the words of Alcalde Colton, who says in his book, " Three Years in California " :-
" California, though seemingly young, is piled with the wrecks of the past; around the stately ruin flits the shade of the padre; his warmu welcome to streaming guests still liugers in the hall, and the loud mirth of the festive crowds still cchoes in the darkened arches. But all these good, olden times are passed -- their glorious realities are gone-like the sound and sun-lit splendors of the wave, dashed and brokeu on the remorseless rock."
NAMES OF THE CLERGY OF THE MISSION,
The following list gives the uamues of the friars, and secular clergy, who have been in charge of the Mission of San Juan Bautista, from its foundation down to the present time, April 21, 1881. The last of the friars was Fr. Jose Antonio Anzar:
.
₺
RESIDENCE OF JAMES F. CORNWELL SAN BENITO TOWNSHIP, SAN BENITO CO. CALIFORNIA.
1
VINEYARD OF THEOPHILE VACHE 8 MILES SOUTH OF HOLLISTER SAN BENITO CO. CAL. EST. 1854.
147
LIST OF OFFICERS OF SAN BENITO COUNTY.
Fr. Jose Manuel Mortearena, Fr. Pedro Adriano Martinez, Fr. Jacinto Lopez, Fr. Domingo Ytnerate, Fr. Andres Dulanto, Fr. Felipe Arroyo de la Cuesta. Fr. Roman Fernandez de Ullivarri, Fr. Vicente Franco Sarria, Fr. Esteban Tapis, Fr. Felipe Arroyo de la Cuesta, Fr. Buenaventura Fortuny, Fr. Juan Moreno, Fr. Jose Maria del Refugio Zuares del Real, Fr. Jose Antonio Anzar, Rev. J. Molinier, Rev. Francis Mora, Rev. Antonio Ubach, Rev. Cypriano Rubio, Rev. Valentin Closa .*
THE OLDEST FRUIT TREES.
The oldest orchard in the State is said to be at San Juan, in San Benito county. It was planted soon after the founding of the old Mission of San Juan Bautista, about the year 1775. The pear trees in it have grown to an immense size, and although over one hundred years old, still bear an abundance of fruit of the finest quality.
Some of the oldest almond trees in the State are to be found in San Benito county. On the old Pacheco place, seven miles north-east of Hollister, some were planted fifty years ago; they still bear an abundance of nuts every season.
TOWNSHIPS AND OFFICERS.
The following list gives the names of the five townships into which the county is divided and the officers for each.
HOLLISTER TOWNSHIP .- Justices of the Peace, G. B. Mont- gomery, W. G. Lee; Constables, J. M. Thorp, P. Williams.
PAICINES TOWNSHIP .- Justice of the Peace, C. Y. Ham- mond; Constable, Wm. Gift.
SAN BENITO TOWNSHIP .- Justice of the Peace, John Golden; Constable, Jack Smith.
ERIE TOWNSHIP .- Justice of the Peace, (. W. Chick.
SAN JUAN TOWNSHIP,-Justices of the Peace. J. O. Herit- age, George Chalmers; Constable, Charles Gross.
SAN BENITO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The grounds of the County Agricultural Society are located about one and one-half miles from town. The grounds com- prise in all an area of about fifty aeres, and are admirably adapted for the purpose for which they have been chosen.
The Directors and stockholders embrace several of our well- known and leading citizens. The officers are L. M. Ladd, President; S. F. Cowan, Secretary ; Wm. Palmtag, Treasurer.
The Directors are Messrs. Ladd, Palmtag. W. Eastman, H. Moore and W. Kelley. In addition to these gentlemen, E. A. Fargo, S. F. Cowan, R. F. Moore, Granville Nash, W. Kelly, J. I. Hodges, Mr. Davis and others are among the stockholders.
We are sorry to learn that there is a lack of interest mani- fested in the improvement of the society's grounds, and that the work of pushing forward improvements and making reforms devolves mainly upon one or two individuals.
There ought to be annually a grand exhibition of various agricultural products, to which farmers in the surrounding country would no doubt take a great interest in making con- tributions. Such exhibitions are found to be productive of good elsewhere in giving additional publicity to the varied resources of the country, and the creation of more general interest in the same. It would bring together the farmers and fruit-raisers from the surrounding country, and give all an opportunity to become better acquainted with each other, resulting in their individual benefit, as well as that of the com- munity at large.
and
District Attorney.
Surveyor.
Treasurer.
County Judge.
Date.
Senators.
F. P. McCray ..
1874
Thos. Flint.
G. M. Roberts __ =
1875
=
=
J. J. Harris.
1876
=
=
1877
=
J. F. Breen
1878
1879 |W. J. Hill.
IN. A. Hawkins_
11
=
1880
=
=
J. H. Mattbows.
1881
+Now Superior Judge.
SUPERVISORS.
Dist. No. 2.
nist. No. 3.
Date.
Supt. Schools.
Coroner.
Dist. No. 1.
M. Pomeroy
H. Dowdy
1874
H. Z. Morris __
=
=
Wm. T. Brown.
=
1877 A. Martin.
¥
=
R. Rnekledge .. .
18781 4
=
A. Leonard
1879 J. N. Thompson
=
=
1880
=
=
1881
J. M. Black
=
1875
C. E. Mitchell ..
1876
=
L. R. Iloward ..
=
=
Thos. F'lint.
=
=
„¢+
=
-
H. M. Layes
N. C. Briggs.
=
4
=
=
=
=
J. J. May
H. B. Harris.
J. J Harris
Jas. F. Breent __ T. L. Baldwin
=
=
=
A. L. Farrish =
.T. J. Hunt.
=
T. 1. Talleyrand
Sheriff.
Assessor.
Thos. Flint
T. J. Conklin ...
B. F. Ross
=
J. W. Hawkins.
=
=
"This page closes the article contributed by " A Pioneer."
OFFICERS OF SAN BENITO COUNTY, CAL., FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO 1881.
Clerk, Auditor Recorder.
Assemblymen.
J. F. Breen.
C.W. Wentworth
=
148
HOLLISTER VILLAGE LAID OUT AND NAMED.
Hollister.
ITS PAST AND PRESENT.
THE first settlement near where Hollister is located was made by Jacob Watson in 1854, on what is now known as the Rhinehart place. At that time the valley was a wild, grazing country, The mountains adjacent were full of deer and bear, and an occasional heard of antelope wandered down the San Benito from the Fresno plains. Until the purchase of the San Justo grant by Hollister & Flint, where the town now stands, or a short distance north-east, it was used as a rodeo ground. Tbe soil between the rodeo ground and the San Ben- ito river, was supposed to be very rich, and grew luxuriant feed. The eastern part of the valley, however, was regarded indifferently. Vegetation did not grow as luxuriantly, and it was naturally thought that the soil was of a poor quality.
THE HOLLISTER AND FLINT GRANT.
Colonel Hollister came here in 1855 or '56. He purchased the grant in partnership with Thomas Flint, of San Juan, who, when it was divided, gave him $10,000 for choice of shares. This part of the grant fell to Hollister, who, in the spring of 1862, built what is now known as the Montgomery House, which is the oldest house in town, and used it as a private residence. Later, a few herders' tents or huts were built where the McMahon Honse now stands. Near where now is Third street there were about five hundred feet of troughs used for watering sheep. And from 1861 to '68, this place hereabouts was used as a sheep range.
HOLLISTER LAID OUT AND NAMED.
The town proper was laid out November 19, 1868. At a previous meeting of the San Justo Homestead Association, it was decided to build the town two miles north-east of the present site. At that time where Hollister stands was reserved as the Hollister homestead. But on November 19th the trus- tees met on the site and laid out the town. At the same meet- ing the town was named. It was proposed to call it San Justo, when Henrich Wilhelm Stethagen, better known as Henry Hagen, a member of the association, arose, and in a very deliberate manner fired his battery of iuvectives at the whole category of Sans or Saints, He said the Saints monopolized the name of nearly every place in the Stato, and for once he would propose to get out of the narrow beaten track and call the new town Hollister. Of course Colonel Hollister interposed an objection, but the placo received the name notwithstand- ing, and evidently to his unexpressed satisfaction.
HOMESTEAD ASSOCIATION.
The first meeting of the association, which numbered fifty members, was hold October 10, 1868. S. S. Swope was elected President; W. H. Briggs, Secretary ; and J. M. Brown Treasurer. The land was divided into tracts of one hundred and seventy- two acres, and on November 19th, choice of lots were sold, T. S. Hawkins purchasing the first choice for $4,500. The aggre- gate of premiums from the sale of the choice of the fifty lots amounted to $87,352. The first town lots, Nos. twenty-two and twenty-three, Block eleven, were sold December 8, 1868, to James A. Owens, for the consideration of $200. Lots sold for $100 each, excepting corner lots, which were worth $200. The sale of lots for the month of December aggregated $3,600. The town from the beginning built up rapidly, and in less than two years was a place of considerable importance.
FIRST BUSINESS HOUSES.
The following is a list of business houses established up to, and including 1870, as near as we can aseertain :-
The first store was established in the fall of 1868, by J. A. Owens. C. W. Wentworth opened a store soon afterward. He was also the first postmaster of the place; was succeeded by H. M. Hays, who was followed by the present efficient incumbent.
J. Goldfish was one of the first of the present merchants to locate here. He first opened a store on Fourth street, in Jan- uary, 1869. He had a partner at that time, and the name of the firm was Goldfish & Sussman. Mr. Goldfish is now one of the leading merchants, his store being well stocked with gen- eral merchandise. He also buys and sells grain.
A. L. Farish also opened a store in 1869. In 1873, R. W. Chappell bought a half interest, and the name and style of the firm has since been Farish & Chappell. They deal in general merchandise, and have made a specialty of buying and selling poultry, eggs, etc.
T. L. Baldwin was on the ground as early as 1869, and opened a store immediately. He continued in the business till 1875, when he was elected President of the San Benito County Bank, which position he held one year and a half, or as long as the bank was in existence. Four years ago G. P. Griffithi bought an interest in the store, and the name of the firm has sinee been Baldwin & Griffith.
The first blacksmith and wagon-making shop was established by Burnett Bros. in 1868. They were here with their tools before the town was laid out. J. J. Burnett is the successor of Burnett Bros., and has a shop on the corner of San Benito and Third streets.
G. H. Graves was hore in 1870; established a grocery and provision store and is still in the same business.
149
THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF HOLLISTER.
J. M. Black is the pioneer in the furniture business, having come here in 1870. He keeps on haud a full line of furniture. Dan Brinson, boot and shoe dealer, come here in 1870, and is still pegging away.
A. P. Boyd, lumber merchant, established in December, 1869. He is proprietor of the only lumber yard in town.
THE FASHION STABLES.
J. I. Hodges established in the livery business in Hollister in 1870, October 11th. He is now proprietor of the Fashion Stables on Fourth street. From his establishment all kinds of conveyances can be procured at most reasonable rates. A view of the establishment is given in this history.
ITS PRESENT AND FUTURE.
According to the census of 1880, Hollister township has a population of two thousand one hundred and eighty-one. Inside of the corporate limits of the town, one thousand and thir- ty-six; including Chappell's addition and Land's flat, one thou- sand three hundred and three. It covers an area of four hundred aeres, in which are some beautiful and well improved homes, and substantial business houses. Many of the leading business men of the town are pioneers, having seen the town grow from nothing to its present population, and look forward to a day in the not distant future when it will be double its present size, and still inereasing in wealth and prosperity. At present it is in as healthful a condition as any of its neighboring towns, with prospects auspicious and encouraging.
Hollister is in the midst of an agricultural distriet, and mainly dependent upon the products of the farm for its support. A succession of dry years has itupeded the developement of the country, and temporarily suspended the growth of the town. The country that supplies the town is not very extensive, but the soil in the valleys is unexcelled in fertility and the diver- sity of its products.
HEALTHFULNESS AND CLIMATE.
Hollister is an unusually healthy town, and has very pleas- ant natural surroundings, combining elimate that is unsur- passed anywhere. Probably no better place can be found any- where for the building up of homes. All the facilities for building are at convenient command here, and those who come here with some means may find the progress slow, but it will be sure, and in a few years hence they will find themselves better off than if they had east their lot in localities perpetu- ally menaced by fluctuations and uncertainties.
The elimate is without a superior for its bealth-giving prop- erties and salubriety. Snow sometimes falls on the mountains near by, but the flowers never fade in the gardens of the valley.
The following table shows the rain-fall at Hollister.
RAIN-FALL FOR 1880-81.
The rain-fall for the season of 1880-81 was as follows :-
.80|Jan. 14, 1881
1.04
Nov. 23, 1880
.44
" 15.
31
Dec. 1.
.36
.81
" 28.
3
.68
29
40
4.
.03
30
13
.06 Feb. 2
14.
1.10
3
15
.24
4
16.
.30
7
17
.06
9
19
.05
20
25
16.
21
10 Mar. 8.
22
30
$ 10
23
.43
# 15.
20
24
.58
" 26
.06
Total ..
11.77
28
.03
The rain-fall for the corresponding season of 1879-80, amounted to 7.43 inches.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Hollister has as well-managed and progressive a publie school as can be found in the State. A perfect system exists from the Primary to the principal's department.
S. T. Black has occupied the position of principal during the past three years. The sebool bas been a complete success under his management, which faet tells plainly enough of bis abilities as a teacher.
The Grammar department is conducted by Miss Lula L. Moore, who has the reputation of being the best disciplinarian that ever taught in the school.
Mrs. Booth is in the first, and Miss Susie Moore in the second Intermediate departments, and Miss Belle Harrison in the Primary.
There are two hundred and sixty-one pupils enrolled in the school; average attendance, two hundred and twenty-seven. The work that is being done by tlie teachers is entirely satis- factory; and we may safely say that Hollister has one of the best schools in the State.
HOLLISTER WATER-WORKS.
These works were built in 1876, by R. M. Shackelford, but are at present owned by a San Jose company. The reservoir has a holding capacity of three hundred thousand gallons, and is supplied with water from artesian wells by a Knowles No. ten pump. J. K. Allen is the present superintendent, a posi- tion he has held for the past twenty inonthis. He is a thor- ough business man, and looks carefully after the interests of his employers.
" 15
.24
=
.20
=
.75
.04
¥
.48
.04
.85
.03
17
.28
150
CHURCHES, SOCIETIES, AND OFFICALS.
HOLLISTER FLOURING-MILL.
This mill was built in 1870, by J. M. Brown. It manufae- tured an ordinary quality of flour, which did not command a very extensive sale. The mill was not in constant operation until 1879, when it was purchased by Shackelford & Hinds, who overhauled it, adding considerable new and improved machinery. The flour manufactured by the last firm was first quality, and soon commanded a large sale-in faet the demand exceeded the supply. On the first of last January the mill was purchased by a joint stock company, consisting of J. W. Hinds and Mr. Pascoe, of San Jose, and T. S. Hawkins, R. M. Shackelford, and E. A. MeCloud, of Hollister. The mill has now a capacity of one hundred and forty barrels in twenty- four hours.
CHURCHES OF HOLLISTER.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in Septem- ber, 1869. Its separate existence should date from September 1870. Its first pastor was Wm. Gordon, and J. Malsbery and T. L. Baldwin were Trustees. It has now about one hundred mem- bers. The present trustees are J. Malsbery, T. L. Baldwin and R. M. Shackelford. The church property is valued at about $2,000, and is desirably located on the south-east corner of Seventh and Monterey streets. Services every Sabbath at 11 A. M., and 7 P. M. Sunday-seliool, 3 P. M. Prayer-meet- ing every Wednesday evening. Seneca Jones, Pastor.
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.