USA > California > Napa County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 28
USA > California > Lake County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 28
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The Board of Trustees cannot incur an expense exceeding one thousand dollars, except there be money in the treasury. Robert Crouch, E. N. Boynton, P. Van Bever, Thomas Earl and George N. Cornwell, or any three of them are to hold an election on the first Monday in May, 1872.
February 24th, 1874, the city was re-incorporated under the name of " City of Napa." The boundaries remained the same as before. The Board of Trustees was to be composed of five members, whose remuneration shall be one dollar per year. The pay of the other officers shall be such as the Board may decide upon.
Street Railroad .- It is quite possible that but few of the citizens of Napa City now remember that a franchise for a street railroad was ever granted, and it will be news to a host of them. It is nevertheless true, however, that on March 3, 1872, a franchise was granted to H. F. Barker, J. Even, A. B. Walker, J. F. Zollner and E. N. Boynton to construct a street railroad in Napa City, beginning on Main street and running along said street as far as practicable, then to the land owned by the Odd-Fellows, about one mile west of town.
ORDERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS .- The following orders of the Board of Supervisors have reference to Napa City, hence are appended here :
Cisterns for Napa City .- September 22, 1864, an order of the Board provided for the establishment of cisterns in Napa City as follows: At the intersection of First and Brown streets, the intersection of Division and Randolph streets, and at the south-west corner of the public square.
Engine House .- The contract for erecting the engine house was let to William Richmond, May 9, 1867, for the sum of five thousand four hundred and fifty dollars.
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WATER FOR NAPA CITY .- For nearly fifteen years this vexed and vex- ing question has agitated the minds of the people of Napa, and it is, we are very loth to record, no nearer solution to-day than it was at the begin- ning. It may, however, come to pass within the next few years that the town will be supplied with water, as the people seem more determined on the question, and have a more centered purpose than ever before in this matter. We will give a brief resume of the history of the many projects which have been advocated, with more or less favor, for the achievement of the desired object.
The first mention that we find of any effort being made to supply the city of Napa with water, is copied from the Register of March 7, 1868, which is as follows: "A move is being made to bring fresh water into the city of Napa. Good water can be got within four miles of town and brought into the place at little expense. There are but few good wells in the place, and those within a few hundred yards of the river are more or less brackish or tinctured with iron."
November 24, 1869, the Napa and Vallejo Water Company was organ- ized, with a capital stock of $200,000, divided into two thousand shares of $100 each. C. Hartson, J. F. Miller, M. M. Estee, E. J. Wilson and R. Bur- nell were named as the directors of the company. It was the intention of this corporation to procure their water supply from Milliken Cañon, some three miles from Napa City. It was thought then that this canon would afford a sufficient quantity of water to supply two towns the size of Napa, and it was estimated that the cost of bringing in the water would not amount to more than $25,000. It seems that nothing was ever accom- plished by this company.
September 10, 1870, another enterprise bloomed into existence, under the name of the 'Napa City Water Company, which had, on paper, a capital stock of $250,000, divided into shares of $100 each. The trustees of this incorporation were A. Cholot, C. H. Potter and Dr. P. Barstow. This com- pany accomplished just what its predecessor did-nothing.
In February, 1871, the good people of Napa were subjected to another water excitement, and, as usual, to another disappointment. A company was organized in San Francisco at this time, and water was promised in short order, but it never came through the agency of that corporation.
In the fall of 1871 the excitement of getting water into Napa ran very high, and three different companies were organized for that purpose. No- vember 4th of this year the Caymus Cañon Water Company was incorpo- rated, with a capital stock of $500,000, with S. C. Hastings, William Doolan and C. Hartson as trustees. This company proposed to take water from Rector Cañon, and it was their intention, as stated in their articles of incorporation, to supply Napa, Vallejo, Mare Island and San Francisco with water. Their aspirations were grand, but their achievements nil.
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About this time the Unoyomi Water Company was organized with a cap- ital stock of fifty thousand dollars, having as trustees, Nathan Coombs, T. H. Thompson, and J. H. Howland. It was stated as the intention of the incorporation to supply Napa City with water taken from the Unoyomi Creek, or the south branch of the Tuolucay Creek. It never proceeded further than on paper.
During the same fall the Soscol Water Company was set on foot. It had a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, with Robert Sheehy, T. H. Thompson, and William Governeur Morris as trustees. Like all other previous companies, it accomplished nothing.
In January, 1875, the Napa Valley Water Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of five hundred thousand dollars, held in shares at one hundred dollars each. The trustees were G. S. Burraze, C. O. St. John, B. M. Schofield, William A. Stuart, and Samuel B. Steele. The object of this corporation was to take water from the Rector and other creeks, and supply water to Napa City, Vallejo, Mare Island, Benicia, and other places. The usual outcome attended this company's efforts.
Matters seem to have remained statu quo on the water question until August 11, 1877, when a San Francisco company, represented by Messrs. Garrett, Smith, and Colver placed a petition before the Board of City Trus- tees, asking for a franchise of twenty years duration, to put in water, free of any subsidy. The Napa Water Company then came in and proposed to give bonds for ten thousand dollars, and to bring water into the city in ninety days. The San Francisco parties were going to bring their water from Rector Cañon. There was a petition signed by ninety-seven citizens, asking the Board of Trustees to grant the San Francisco company the right to go on with their enterprise, but the Board gave the Napa company the preference. It is not necessary to comment on this action of the Board, nor is it within the province of our work to do so. We simply wish to call attention to the fact that there was a "dog in the manger" in this transac- tion, evidently. It would seem from the above statement that bonds for ten thousand dollars were a consideration in the proposition, but we find no records showing that the bonds were ever executed, and the absence of water to the present day would indicate their forfeiture.
It appears that the Napa Water Company failed to do anything in the matter, and the trustees then returned to the proposition of the San Fran- cisco parties ; for under date of August 31, 1878, we find it stated that "the thing went so far that a contract was drawn up and sent to San Francisco for approval by the Rector Cañon Company. An ordinance was also passed by the Board of Trustees granting the company the right to lay water- mains and pipes in the streets of Napa." From some cause or other a " hitch " arose in the consummation of this plan to supply the town with
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water, and so that hope for the famishing people died, as had all its prede- cessors.
In 1876, a bill was introduced into the Legislature to allow the city of Napa to create a debt for the purpose of bringing water to the place. With some amendments and changes it finally passed both branches. No action was taken in the matter until late in 1880, when the subject of city water as a city enterprise began to be vigorously agitated. December 13th, O. H. Bucknam, a civil engineer, employed by the Board of Trustees to sur- vey the line and make estimates on bringing water from the Hudeman Creek, made a very full and elaborate report, in which he estimated that the plan was feasible at a cost of from $57,250 to $71,750.
The question of creating a city debt to the amount of $100,000 was then submitted to the citizens of the place. 'At one of the public meetings held, pending the election, Dr. Benj. Shurtleff made a speech in favor of the measure, which so fully covers the ground that we quote from it copiously :
" In accordance with law, the Board of City Trustees have submitted a proposition to the electors of Napa to create and bond a debt of $100,000, the interest thereon to be met within a term not to exceed twenty years from the issue of the bonds. With this fund the trustees propose to furnish the city of Napa with an ample supply of pure, fresh water. For the first time in our municipal history this brings the water question face to face before the people themselves. If you vote them the means the trustees design supplying the city with the waters of the Hudeman Creek and adjacent springs. This is the most feasible proposition the Board could submit to the people, hence it will receive the support of every man who is in favor of water, and should be carried, as it doubtless will, by the requisite two- thirds vote. I believe the waters of Hudeman Creek and its springs, wisely appropriated, will meet the wants of a city with a population of fifteen thousand and will be sufficient to supply Napa for the next thirty years. The judgment of practical men, long familiar with the waters of Hudeman Creek, accords with the report of the engineer. Our fellow townsman, Joseph Henry, built a saw-mill on Hudeman Creek in 1853, and ran it some eight months out of twelve for six years. He informs me that without dam or reservoir, using only the running water of the stream, he success- fully ran his mill, some years as late as the month of July.
" We cannot have water without a temporary debt; but the debt need not be oppressive. The highest annual city tax that can be levied is but $3.50 on the $1000, and I do not believe it will be necessary to levy this amount after the first year when the works are completed, which will yield a revenue to the city from the sale of water.
"There is another important consideration to be borne in mind. This $100,000 will not all take wings and flee from the city and county. The
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laborer, the mechanic and the teamster will all come in for his share. The money will be expended among ourselves, reviving every industry and every channel of business ; for it is the laborer, the poor and middle classes who send out their earnings through every department of business, while the miser, whenever he finds the American eagle perched upon a piece of coin, sits down upon the proud bird with the crushing weight of an ele- phant.
" There are few a men who want water but hate a city debt more than they love water. They say, we will vote down this water proposition, then an incorporation, company or some enterprising individual will bring water into Napa; then we shall avoid a debt, and those who want water can pay for it. This is the saddest delusion of all. Why, has not Napa been deluged on paper for the last twenty years ? Water companies and water schemes have sprung up by the score, but the only parties that ever came forward, went to work, and put money in the enterprise, was a company of young men from Modesto, who attempted to supply the city by boring wells, which, proving a failure, they soon abandoned. There is not another city in America that has had such a boom from wild-cat water companies as Napa. Now, what have all these pretentious, high-sounding water com- panies done ? Why, all their combined energies have not brought water enough into Napa to give a canary bird a square drink ; not enough to moisten the mucilage on one of Uncle Sam's postage stamps. You say, wait a little longer, and a company will bring us water. Yes, these wild-cat water companies will bring water. They will bring us water when the sun rises in the west and goes down in the east. They will supply Napa with water when the capitalist calls in his loans upon city property because that city brings an abundant supply of water to protect property against the ravages of fire, and makes the capitalist's loan doubly secure.
" I feel confident that water will triumph in the issue, but should victory crown the efforts of the anti-water party next Tuesday it will be a gloomy hour for Napa. If the friends of water fail in this struggle we can get no water for the next ten years, for I do not believe there will be a dozen men in this city who will vote against water next Tuesday who could be induced to support any proposition that the trustees might submit for the introduc- tion of water. But we shall not be defeated. If there is a young man in Napa who is opposed to water I do not know who he is. The young men are not only in favor of water, but they are working hard. This contest is a battle between the active, vigilant, indomitable forces of progress on one side, with gouty, gravelly, dyspeptic retrogression on the other. Such a contest cannot be doubtful. Ten years ago, on a windy, boisterous October evening, a vicious cow kicked over a lantern in a stable and kindled a fire that laid the great flourishing city of Chicago in ashes. Let the citizen of
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Napa, who casts his vote next Tuesday against water, be mindful that he gives a beastly kick at the future growth, safety and progress of his own fair city."
The election was finally held and by a vote of four hundred and sixty- one to fifty-four the qualified electors of the city of Napa decided that the trustees might contract such indebtedness as might be necessary to secure a water supply, providing it does not exceed the sum of $100,000. The total vote polled was five hundred and twenty-one, or fourteen less than that recorded at the last municipal election. The polls were held in the Engine House, R. Peddie, Beeby Robinson and S. A. Scott acting as judges of election, and T. N. Mount and W. T. Johnson as clerks. The canvassing of the vote occupied about one hour's time, and was concluded at 9 o'clock. In the first hundred votes counted there were fourteen to one in favor of water ; in the second hundred, ten to one; in the third, eight to one; in the fourth, seven to one, and the last fraction of a hundred five and one-half to one; all of which show how well the water advocates did their work. Six votes were rejected as illegal. When the result was known there were wild demonstrations of joy among the people-bells were rung, cannons fired, bombs exploded and fire works set off -- many of those who had at first opposed the debt joining in celebrating the victory.
CHURCHES .- It seems perfectly natural for mankind to have a place of worship, and no matter how long they may be isolated from the influences or teachings of the Gospel, when an opportunity presents itself they attend upon the services with a great degree of regularity, and give very liberally of their means for the support of the ministry and the erection of church edifices. As a striking evidence of this fact we have but to refer to the old mining days, when the best contributors to the Gospel ministrations were gamblers and saloon-keepers, not because they had any more desire to see sacred institutions flourish and divine influences spread, than did the horny- fisted miners, but because they had more ready cash at their command when the subscription was taken. In those days denominationalism did not flourish to any great extent; the population was altogether too cosmopolitan, and in fact remains so to this day. The minister went into a camp and prom- ised the " boys," as everybody was then called, that he would preach to them, not as the representative of the Methodist, Baptist, or any other sect, but simply as a minister or proclaimer of the Gospel truth, as set forth in the life, example and death of Jesus Christ, and away down in the hearts of all those sturdy, sun-browned men there would be a feeling that they had not felt before for many and many a day. The remembrance of the early religious training of their youth, the songs and prayers of a now sainted mother, the blessings and invocations of a father who, as the boy was just
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about to step over the threshold of his boyhood's home into the realms of the outer and to him all untried world, had placed his hand reverentially on his young head and said, as tears, scalding, burning tears flowed down his fur- rowed cheek, all furrowed with care and anxiety for this same boy : "My son, may the God who has been so merciful to me and to you, and spared your life and mine to see the day of your complete and full manhood, ever keep you in the paths of duty, rectitude and truth, ever protect you from all the ills of life, shielding you from the tempter's snare, with the great strong wing of His love, and finally guide you to that haven of eternal rest, that mansion of light not made by hands, eternal in the heavens, where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary be at rest." All this came up in their memory, and a longing to hear once more the "old, old story of Jesus and His love," would seize them, and out would come the buckskin bags, and the shining dust would be poured out without stint or measure.
In the early days of Napa, before there were any church edifices, there were several denominations represented which held occasional services in the old Court-house. There were several sccts represented in Napa then, which had little bands of worshippers, which have now disappeared. Among these may be mentioned the Congregationalists, Cumberland Pres- byterians, Universalists and Unitarians. Originally any itinerant preacher who happened along gave a sermon in the Court-room, and those religiously inclined attended irrespective of denominational proclivities. Those were the good old days when the first man who arrived at the building would play the part of janitor, and taking a broom would sweep the floor, usually covered with discarded quids of tobacco and cigar stumps. If the services were at night, each attendant would bring along a candle, and whatever was left after the service was over was carried home. But a wonderful change has occurred since those primitive days, as may be seen by following the history of the various churches through the following pages.
Presbyterian Church .- From the records of this church we find that in April, 1853, Rev. J. C. Herron was sent from Philadelphia to Napa Valley, as a missionary, by the Board of Missionaries of the Presbyterian Church. Accompanied by his wife, he took up his residence with Col. M. D. Ritchie, then living at the head of the valley, through whose efforts, seconded by his son-in-law, the late Hon. John S. Stark, Mr. Herron was requested to occupy this field. During the summer and fall of 1853 Mr. Herron preached regularly at different points in the valley, holding services, when in Napa, in the old Court-house, which formerly stood on the corner of Second and Coombs streets, just west of the Revere House, that building then serving as a hall of justice, a jail and church. The interior of the Court-room as it appeared on the Sabbath is thus vividly described by one of the original members of the church, who worshiped there :
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" The inside appearance of the Court-room was rather sorry for a place of worship, especially when Court had been held there the preceding day. The furniture of the room consisted of narrow slabs placed on roughly hewn logs, no work of drawing-knife or plane being visible, which were arranged around three sides of the room for seats. A plain board table and three or four rickety and uncushioned chairs graced the center of the room, while in front of the Judge's stand, on a slightly raised platform, stood a desk. No carpet and no curtains, no paint, no finish of any kind, had been wasted on this public hall. No lamps, or even candle-sticks were there; but when services were held at night, old bottles-empty black bot- tles, that had evidently done duty in another capacity-were called into requisition, and held the melting tallow candles, not very erect sometimes, nevertheless held them. It was the custom of the attendant first arriving to procure a broom and sweep the room and otherwise arrange for the com- fort of the worshipers. The upper part of the building was used for pub- lic offices, and a jail; and it was not at all an uncommon thing for the nerv- ous and timid ones of the congregation, during service, to be annoyed by the rattling of chairs and other discordant sounds proceeding from the pris- oners' apartments."
It was amid such surroundings that the Presbyterian Church of Napa was formed in the fall of 1853. Mr. Herron and family moved to Napa, opened a school and preached regularly, without any church organi- zation, until January 19, 1855, when the Presbyterian Church was organized, with the following named persons as organizing members : J. M. Hamilton, W. S. Jacks, Hamlet Jacks, Mrs. Anna P. Hamilton. Mrs. Annie L. Jacks, Mrs. Kate A. Gilmore, Mrs. M. L. Ogden, Mrs. C. M. Herron, Mrs. Amelia W. Jacks, Miss S. A. Smith, and Miss S. A. Woodruff. They adopted as their code of faith and rule of practice the Westminster Confession of Faith. J. M. Hamilton was chosen as ruling elder, and J. M. Mansfield James Lefferts, R. Pierpont, Fred Ogden, and W. C. S. Smith as trustees. Rev. J. C. Herron was engaged to supply the pulpit for one year at a salary of $600. He remained until January 17, 1858, receiving during that time from his congregation and the Board of Missions enough to make his salary amount to $1200 for the year.
After a proposition being made in the fall of 1857, to introduce instru- mental music into the service, to which Mr. Herron made objection, it being contrary to the discipline of that branch of the church to which he belonged, he offered his resignation, which was accepted January 17, 1858. The church was thus without a steady pastor, until May 9th of the same year, when Rev. P. V. Veeder, of Sacramento, was called, and began his pastorate on the 16th of that month. The society had in the meantime erected a
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comfortable house of worship on Randolph street, which was built by Mr. J. Horrell, in the winter of 1857-8, at a cost of three thousand six hundred dollars. Hon. N. Coombs donated the lot on which it was erected. In 1858 a debt was hanging over the church like an incubus, when the trustees assumed the debt, and assessed themselves one hundred and sixteen dollars each, and freed the church of all liabilities.
Mr. Veeder remained as pastor until July, 1865, when he removed to San Francisco to take charge of the City College there. Rev. Condit was then engaged to supply the pulpit for an unlimited time. He was, however, called to another field, and finished his ministrations the following April. The church was then without a pastor, and so remained until August 19, 1866, when Rev. Richard Wylie began his labors as stated, filling the pulpit for a term of six months, when he was elected and duly installed pastor of the church July 21, 1867. In March, 1868, the congregation voted a leave of absence to the pastor, in order that he might attend a meeting of the General Assembly at Albany, New York, Rev. James Wylie supplying the pulpit in the meantime.
In 1869 the church building was enlarged and improved, being widened, lengthened, repainted and refurnished, at a cost of $3000. The late James Wylie and his son Richard at that time donated to the church a bell, which cost $600, which was put in place, and has ever since, in full, rich tones indicated the hour of prayer. On the 18th of October of this year, Mr. Wylie, the pastor, was forced on account of ill-health, to temporarily leave his charge and go to Minnesota, where he spent the following winter; thence to Europe, traveling through England, France and Scotland, and returning to Napa with fully restored health, November 15, 1871. He then assumed the duties of pastor, which relation he still sustains. During Mr. Richard Wylie's absence, covering a period of about two years, the Rev. James Wylie, now deceased, who was greatly beloved by the entire Christian population of Napa, discharged the duties of pastor with great acceptability.
After May, 1864, the church was self-supporting. At the present time, one hundred and eighty-one members belong to the church. Of the eleven original members, only one, General W. S. Jacks, still resides in Napa. In 1874, five of them were dead, and the other five lived elsewhere. At a meeting of the members and congregation of the Presbyterian Church, held April 5, 1874, at which R. Dudding presided, it was resolved to incorporate in accordance with the laws of the State, whereupon the following Board of Trustees were elected: W. C. S. Smith, David McClure, W. A. Fisher, David Emerson, G. M. Francis, J. N. Larimer and George E. Goodman. Articles of incorporation were proposed and the association was duly incor- porated, under the name of "The Presbyterian Church of Napa." A charter to the association was issued from the Department of State, at Sacramento, April 7, 1874.
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