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 37
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 37
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The rooms are each painted a different color, and are furnished in a quaint and almost fantastic style. The doors are made of stained glass, and there is a cupola to the building which is truly unique. Here Mrs. Coit lives in almost regal splendor, and entertains her hosts of friends who annually visit at her most hospitable home.
ST. HELENA .- St Helena is the next town we come to passing south- ward, and it is much larger than Calistoga, being the second town in size in Napa County. It is located nine miles south of Calistoga and eighteen miles north of Napa City, and in the heart of Napa Valley, and in the very center of the great St. Helena wine-producing district, hence its present status is one of extraordinary activity, and its future is assured to be a grand one. Some time previous to 1853, and about that time, Henry Still, an Englishman, purchased a tract of one hundred acres of the Bale grant, lying on the west side of what is now Main street, St. Helena, and extending from Sulphur Creek to Madroña avenue. In that year he built a small split-redwood building, which was only just one grade above a shanty, and put in a stock of goods. A Mr. Walters seems to have had some connection with the matter, but not as a partner in the land, or if so, Still purchased his interest soon after. Still also had a small split-board dwelling. The store was located just west of the present site of the hay scales, or on the rear end of the first lot south of the Palace Hotel. He had foresight enough to see that this was in the heart of a rich agricul- tural section, and he rightly surmised that the time would come when there would be a flourishing town grow up around the nucleus which his store had formed. To be sure to give the embryotic place a good footing he made the liberal offer of donating to actual settlers a lot on which to build and start business. This was in 1855, and among those who accepted the offer was Mr. John Kister, who erected two buildings on the lot near the north-west corner of Spring and Main streets, now occupied by the Van Tassel Hotel. One of these buildings Mr. Kister used for a dwelling and one for a shoe shop. He dealt in all kinds of leather.
In 1855, also, A. Tainter erected a building just south of Still's store, which was used for a hotel, and was the first hotel in the place. This was a small story and a-half rough redwood building. In the spring of 1856, he sold out to Hiram Louderback. During this year, H. Dickson and John Howell put up and opened a blacksmith shop on the lot now occupied by the Palace Hotel. Robert Catherwood (or Calderwood) moved a building to the lot on the north-east corner of Spring and Main streets, in which he opened a wagon and carriage making establishment. This was also in 1856, and Still gave him the lot for the building. Still had the first well ever in the place, and Mr. Kister dug the second or third. Kister's lot was the first
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one in the town that was fenced with palings. In 1856, also, Christian Turkeldson erected a store building where Potter's blacksmith shop now stands, which was the first building to be erected on the east side of the street. This was a good substantial building. In the fall of 1857, W. A. Elgin erected a small building for a store just opposite the termination of Spring street, and he conducted the mercantile business in that place for some time.
In 1858 David Fulton erected a story and a-half building just opposite the Van Tassel Hotel, and began the saddlery business. This building is now occupied by Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express. In the spring of 1857, H. Dickson erected a dwelling-house. Mr. Kister is authority for the state- ment that to Messrs. Henry Still and William Taylor belongs the honor of naming the town, stating that a party was in Still's store one night, when the subject of a name for the town came up for consideration, and the name of St. Helena was suggested by those gentlemen, and finally adopted by the entire party, and since then the name has been St. Helena. Mr. Menefee, in his "Sketch Book," says that "the infant town was christened St. Helena from the name given to the division of Sons of Temperance estab- lished there about this time (1856)." We give both versions, either of which seems probable, and leave the reader to judge between the two, or to find the true. In 1860 the hotel erected by Tainter was destroyed by fire.
The first school-house in the place was located on the bank of York Creek, near Mr. Ewer's present residence, and was a small, rough affair. Its date of erection is unknown, but in 1858, or thereabouts, the building was moved to the town-site proper, where it was used for school purposes until the erection of the present commodious building. The first church in the place was erected by the Baptists in 1857. The second hotel was erected in 1862 by John Wolf, on the same site as the first one, and it met a similar fate, being destroyed by fire in 1866, and was never rebuilt. In 1865 Mr. Ramperdahl completed the National Hotel, now the Van Tassel. In 1867 J. Vich erected the large and commodious brick building, the St. Charles Hotel, now known as the Palace. In 1881 Mr. Alstrom erected the fine wooden structure, to which he has given the title of Windsor Hotel. The present population of St. Helena is about one thousand four hundred.
Incorporation of St. Helena .- We have thus followed the growth of the town of St. Helena from its swaddling clothes, as it were, up to the time it was prepared to take upon itself the duties and to wear the laurels of an incorporated city. The act incorporating the town of St. Helena was approved March 24, 1876, and when the second centennial year rolls around, and all the American people are rejoicing and holding bi-centennial celebrations, the good people of the then great metropolis of the upper
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Napa Valley will join in a double celebration, the one for the Nation and the other for its own centennial existence as a corporate city, and on that occasion a copy of this History of Napa and Lake Counties will be brought upon the platform, and some grand mogul of the place will open to these pages and read the early history of the great city. The mon- ument mania may strike the valley about that time, and a great marble or granite shaft may be erected on the site of the first building, with the date of erection and the builder's name cut in the enduring rock.
Sections one and two of the Act of Incorporation read as follows :
SECTION 1. The people of the town of St. Helena, Napa County, shall be a body politic and corporate, under the name and title of the "Town of St. Helena."
SEC. 2. The corporate limits of the town of St. Helena shall be as follows : Commencing at a point in the center of Napa River in a direct line north-easterly from the continuation of the westerly side of Sulphur Spring avenue (being the easterly line of Dr. G. B. Crane's homestead) ; thence south-westerly in a direct line to the end of Sulphur Springs avenue in the county road; thence following the said westerly and northerly line of said Sulphur Springs avenue until the intersection of said line with the line of the Tracey survey in the foot-hills; thence north-westerly, follow- ing the line of said Tracey survey until the same intersects that part of A. B. Forbes' land, which lies easterly of said Tracey line; thence easterly along the line between said Forbes' land and J. York's land to the York Creek ; thence up York Creek to the said Tracey line ; thence northerly along said Tracey line to a point opposite the most westerly boundary of Charles Krug; thence north-westerly to said Krug's westerly line; thence on said line to the center of Napa River ; thence down said river to the place of beginning. The said territory shall form a separate road district in Napa County.
Section 3 provides that the Board of Trustees shall consist of five mem- bers ; the other officers of the corporation shall be a Treasurer, who shall be ex-officio Collector ; a Marshal, who shall be ex-officio Assessor. Elections shall be held on the second Monday of April in each year.
In accordance with the provisions of the last section referred to, an election was held on the second Monday in April, 1876, when the following gentlemen were chosen to fill the respective positions indicated. Board of Trustees : David Cole, H. A. Pellet, D. O. Hunt, W. T. Simmons, and G. C. Fountain ; Treasurer and ex-officio Collector, D. B. Carver ; Marshal and ex- officio Assessor, J. H. Allison. The first meeting of the Board was held April 17th, at which time H. A. Pellet was chosen as Chairman, and Charles A. Gardner was appointed Clerk. N. M. Bonham was also appointed to the position of City Attorney, and M. G. King as City Engineer. A jail was erected in June of that year, at a cost of $158.
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The election which was held in April, 1877, resulted as follows: Trus- tees, W. T. Simmons, D. Cole, D. O. Hunt, J. J. Dickinson, and J. R. Kettle- well; Treasurer, L. Lazarus; Marshal, S. G. Clerk. Charles A. Gardner was again appointed to the position of Clerk of the Board.
In April, 1878, the election resulted as follows : Trustees, H. A. Pellet, J. L. Berringer, W. T. Simmons, W. A. Elgin, and J. J. Dickinson ; Treas- urer, L. Lazarus ; Marshal, J. H. Allison ; Charles Young was appointed Clerk of the Board.
In 1879 the officers elected for the ensuing year were as follows : Trus- tees, J. J. Dickinson, W. A. Elgin, W. T. Simmons, H. A. Pellet, and J. Allyn ; Treasurer, L. Lazarus ; Marshal, J. H. Allison. Charles Young was retained in the position of Clerk by the new Board.
The election of 1880 resulted as follows: Trustees, W. T. Simmons, W. A. Elgin, J. Allyn, H. A. Pellet, and A. Tonola ; Treasurer, L. Lazarus ; Marshal, J. H. Allison. Charles Young was still retained as Clerk of the Board, a position which he filled until September 1st of that year, when F. E. Dickinson assumed the responsibilities of the position.
In April, 1881, the following officers were elected: Trustees, H. A. Pellet, Owen Wade, W. E. York, G. K. Gluyas, and J. C. Potter; Treasurer, L. Lazarus; Marshal, J. H. Allison. F. E. Dickinson still holds the position of Clerk of the Board.
The charter to the city was granted by a special Act of the Legislature, and is a well written document, containing only those provisions which are calculated to advance and develop the best interests of the town. Matters have moved along very smoothly under it from the first, though it was deemed advisable to have it revised in a year or two after its adoption. Much work has been done in the way of grading the streets, sewerage, etc. In that line, under city government, the town of St. Helena has developed from a country village, with ungraded and poorly drained streets, into a city with all those things that go to give a place the air and appearance of a city.
St. Helena Baptist Church .- The Baptist Church at St. Helena is the oldest church edifice in the town, and that denomination is the oldest Chris- tian organization in the place, and dates back almost, if not quite co-equal with any organization in the county. In 1857 Hiram Louderback donated a lot for the purpose of a church-site, to the Baptist Home Missionary Society. John Cyrus, Henry Owsley and David Fulton were the first Trustees. A suitable building was erected on the lot donated, which, in the fall of 1872, was moved to the rear portion of the lot and thoroughly repaired.
The following excerpts from the records of the church, which have been kindly furnished us by Mr. J. W. Sayward, the present church clerk, give a good synopsis of the workings of this organization :
. Davis
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The first record is dated January 24, 1850. On this date an organization was effected by adopting the articles of faith of the regular Baptist Church of Napa, and it was called the United Baptist Church. Stephen Riley was Moderator, and James M. Case, Clerk.
July 25, 1850, the doors of the church were opened for receiving mem- bers and three were duly received.
August 22, 1850, the doors of the church were again opened and three members received ; officers same as above.
September 25, 1852, a business meeting was held and W. A. Rector was chosen Deacon, S. Riley, Moderator, and J. M. Case, Clerk. May 22, 1853, the church met for business and agreed to send S. Riley, C. S. Grigsby, Thos. Lensley, Bradis Williamson and A. Rector to the Pacific Association.
July 24, 1853, a meeting was held after services, and it was agreed to release Rev. S. Riley from the pastoral charge of the Napa Church. William Rector was the clerk at this time.
August 27, 1853, Rev. A. A. Guernsey was called to the pastoral care of the Church of Napa.
The next entry is dated, Napa Valley, September 10, 1854, and is as follows : The brethren of the Baptist faith, convened in the school-house in Hot Springs Township, and organized the Sharon Baptist Church, the Rev. Stephen Riley presiding, and William Pendleton acting as clerk pro tem. The same articles of faith and church government of the First Baptist Church, Napa, were adopted. The following persons united with the church at this time : William Hudson, from Santa Rosa; Enoch Cyrus, by letter ; Mrs. Cyrus, by letter; T. J. Porter, Henry Owsley, Mrs. Francis Owsley, Mrs. (or Miss) R. E. Owsley, by baptism ; W. H. Pendleton, by letter, from Sacramento; Lucinda York, William Rector, Mrs. Rector, Stephen Broaddus and Mrs. Broaddus. (It would seem from the above that the original church organization had ceased to exist from some cause or other, and that this was a resuscitation of it.)
November 19, 1854, the Sharon Baptist Church held a business meeting, and a license to preach the gospel was granted to William H. Pendleton.
March 10, 1852, William Hudson was chosen clerk.
July 8, 1856, John Cyrus and wife and William H. Nash, were admitted as members, by baptism. The church seemed to be growing and prosperous under the care of Rev. Stephen Riley, as pastor; William Hudson was the clerk.
August 9, 1856, five more members were added by baptism.
December 13, 1856, the church had a business meeting and elected Henry Owsley, David Fulton, William Rector and John Cyrus, as trustees for the purpose of erecting a church building at St. Helena. At the same time William H. Nash was appointed treasurer.
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June 13, 1857, D. G. Lowell and Henry Owsley, were elected deacons of the church.
September 12, 1857, John Cyrus was chosen clerk.
In February, 1858, Rev. T. R. Franklin was received by letter, from Six Mile Mission, and he was elected pastor for one year. S. Riley was modera- tor, and John Cyrus, clerk.
May 8, 1858, a business meeting of the church was held, and it was voted that the name of the church be changed from the Sharon Baptist Church to the St. Helena Baptist Church. The records show that the church was now in a prosperous condition, and that additions were made at almost every monthly meeting, either by baptism or by letter. The officers remained the same as above.
In September, 1858, D. G. Loveall was elected clerk. At this meeting collectors were appointed to collect outstanding debts against the church and house, and they were to act as a committee for the purpose of raising the funds with which to meet those debts.
In October, 1858, under the pastorate of Rev. T. R. Franklin, and assisted by T. V. Parker, a protracted meeting was held for nine days, and at the next meeting of the church in regular session, thirty-one members were added by experience and baptism. ·
November 13, 1858, Bro. John Cyrus resigned his clerkship. Rev. S. Riley also resigned his pastorate upon the same date, and Henry Owsley was elected moderator, and J. V. Porter, clerk pro tem. The question then arose as to whether this should be a free or close communion church, and was voted upon in favor of the former, but upon a reconsideration of the motion, it was declared a regular close communion Baptist Church.
In January, 1859, the church elected Rev. J. Barns, pastor, S. Riley, moderator, and John Cyrus, clerk pro tem. At the regular church meeting in March, Rev. Barns was appointed moderator for the first year, and John Cyrus was elected clerk. The sum of $71.75 was raised to remove church debt. In April of 1859, Andrew Hudson was appointed to raise funds to remove the entire debt. In December, 1859, Rev. J. D. Brown accepted the pastorate, John Cyrus continuing clerk.
In 1864, the church elected J. Roberts, moderator, and J. R. Franklin, clerk pro tem.
In 1869, Rev. J. P. Hungate assumed care of the church as pastor, with John Cyrus as clerk. On November 12, 1869, the church elected Deacon Henry Owsley, Flemming Spencer, Eban Hilton, P. H. Summer and J. W. Sayward as trustees of the property belonging to church.
Nov. 16, 1871, Rev. C. W. Henas commenced holding union services and continued about three years.
In October, 1875, C. W. Henas acted as pastor; J. W. Sayward, clerk.
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Hot Springs Township.
February 6, 1876, the church, assisted by the State Missionary, Rev. C. A. Bateman, was resuscitated, and the first communion was held, as a close communion church, that had been held for several years. On vote, the church united with the San Francisco association, and received the hand of fellowship to the same.
Rev. C. W. Henas resigned as acting pastor on January 6, 1877, and Rev. J. H. Teal supplied the church, commencing February 4, 1877.
December 18, 1877, Dr. Frost of San Jose, delivered a lecture for the purpose of raising means with which to reseat the church.
January 6, 1878, Rev. J. E. Ambrose of Colorado, assumed the pastorate and resigned September 8, 1878. The church was then regularly supplied by Rev. O. C. Wheeler, D. D., L.L. D., Rev. Dr. Pearson, Rev. C. A. Bateman and others.
June 29, 1880, Rev. J. A. Fisher of Chicago Theological Seminary be- came pastor.
July 10, 1881, Rev. J. A. Fisher resigned the pastorate, and at present the church is without a pastor.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The following historical sketch of the M. E. Church at St. Helena has been kindly furnished by the present pastor, Rev. M. D. Buck : In the year 1853, by the faithful labors of Rev. James Corwin, the " White Church " was built on Father Tucker's farm, half way between St. Helena and Calistoga, these centers of influence then unborn. The church took its name from the fact that it was the only painted house in upper Napa Valley. The whole of Napa and Sonoma Counties was then embraced in one preacher's work. Rev. Messrs. S. D. Simonds, J. W. Brier, E. A. Hazen, Jas. Corwin, J. J. Cleaveland, Colin Anderson, Walker, Lassiter, Speck and Jacobs preceded W. S. Corwin, who built a parsonage in St. Helena in 1863. Methodist services were then held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Rev. A. C. Hazzard was the next pastor and he was succeeded by Rev. W. N. Smith, who was appointed to the St. Helena work in 1865.
In 1867, by the labors of Rev. W. S. Bryant, the present church and parsonage buildings were erected, the former parsonage being sold. The Trustees under whose management the edifice was erected and the improve- ments made, were William McDonnell, Peter Teal, J. B. Risley, and John Howell. Since that time the following clergymen have been in charge of the church : 1869-70, W. C. Curry ; 1870-1, G. W. Henning ; 1871-2, H. B. Sheldon ; 1872-3, R. M. Williamson; 1873-6, William Angwin; 1876-7, J. W. Bluett ; 1877-8, J. F. Berkholder ; 1878-9, S. Kinsey ; 1879-81, M. D. Buck.
The church-building has been improved from time to time. The main portion is 30x40 feet, and is capable of seating one hundred and fifty
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persons. It is valued at $2500, and the parsonage at $600. The property is free from debt. The society numbers sixty members.
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. - The Cumberland Presbyterian Church at St. Helena was organized August 17, 1863, by the election of a Board of Trustees consisting of Thomas B. Townsend, L. Murray, and A. J. Hudson. The minister under whose labors it was organized was the Rev. Y. A. Anderson, who came from Missouri in 1855, and died May 19, 1862. The corner-stone of the church-edifice was laid with Masonic ceremonies, July 14, 1860. Speaking of this occasion, Mr. Menefee, in his “Sketch Book," says :
" At the laying of the corner-stone of the (Cumberland) Presbyterian Church, there was the grandest time that the town had ever before known. People came from Sonoma, Napa and other places to witness the laying of the corner-stone, and hear the oration delivered on the occasion. The fol- lowing are some of the articles placed in the corner-stone: A copy of the Napa County Reporter; the confessions of faith of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church; names of the members of the church, and of the Sunday- school ; Constitution and By-Laws of the Sons of Temperance, and of the Temple of Honor, and also of the Masons; a copy of the 'Cumberland Presbyter;' a church paper published at that time in Santa Clara County, and some pieces of coin."
This building was 40 x 70 in size, and was an elegant structure. In 1873 a spirit of jealousy, or perhaps it is better to say, of pure cussedness, developed itself in somebody's bosom, and on the 26th of July of that year an attempt was made to destroy the building by fire. That it was the work of an incendiary there can be no doubt, for bags saturated with coal oil were fastened all the way up the belfry rope, and the fire communicated to these combustible articles. Fortunately, the fire was discovered and extin- guished before any great damage was done. But this was not to be the last of the fiend's diabolism, for in February, 1874, the building was completely destroyed by fire, never to be again rebuilt by that body. We know noth- ing of the causes which led to the ill feeling towards this denomination, but must join with all respectable people of all denominations and faiths in censuring the cowardly deed that destroyed public property to vent private or personal spleen. They have no organization in St. Helena now.
Presbyterian Church .- The Presbyterian Church at St. Helena was organized May 30, 1874, with the following organizing members: J. I. Logan, Mrs. U. J. Logan, J. Cleghorn, Dr. C. F. A. Mitchell, Mrs. L. G. Mitchell, Mrs. Mary Green, L. Spear, Mrs. Eliza Spear, Mary A. Penwell, Mrs. Sophia Hunt, Miss Jennie Carson, R. F. Lane, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Lanc, Philip Elting, Mrs. Clarinda Mills, Mrs. Phoebe A. Woodburn and Miss Mamic Gluyas. The organization was effected by Rev. James Mitchell,
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under the auspices of the Home Missions in connection with the Presby- terian Church.
Upon the organization of the church the house of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was rented for half the time, and in a few days there- after that building was destroyed by fire. Whether or not this transaction had anything to do with the actions of the incendiary is not known, but it is presumable that it did not, as the first attempt to burn the church had been made several months anterior to the organization of the Presbyterian Church. It will be noticed also that there is a discrepancy in the dates given above. We cannot reconcile this difference, as both statements are from good authority. The date on which the Cumberland building was finally destroyed by fire was taken from the files of the papers of that date, and the date of the organization of the Presbyterian Church was given us by Rev. Mitchell from the church records, and he is our authority for the statement that the Cumberland building was leased by the other body, and the fire occurred subsequently.
After the Cumberland house was burned the Presbyterians used the Baptist building for services until January, 1876. In October, 1875, they began the erection of their present handsome structure on the lot on which the Cumberland building had stood, and which this church had subsequently purchased ; and the dedicatory service occurred January 30, 1876. This building is 34x52 and cost $4000, and with the lot and furniture cost $5000. Rev. James Mitchell, who is an earnest and effective worker, and a graduate of one of the best theological schools of Europe, has remained in charge of the church ever since its organization ; and some idea of what he has accomplished may be had from the following figures: There have been baptized, since the organization of the church, seventy-five persons ; received into membership, one hundred and fifty-four ; present membership one hun- dred and eighteen. Upon one day there were forty accessions to the church.
A Sunday school was begun under the auspices of this church at the time the new building was dedicated, which has ever since been in a very prosperous condition, having an attendance of one hundred and forty schol- ars. Mr. J. I. Logan was the first superintendent, and Mr. J. Mixon has filled that position for the past four years.
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