USA > California > Sacramento County > History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1913 > Part 7
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May 5, 1863, Charles H. Swift (Union) over William Shattuck (Dem.) by a vote of 1640 to 742.
March 13, 1866, Charles H. Swift (Union) over William F. Knox (Dem.) 1321 to 915.
March 9, 1869, Charles F. Swift (Rep.) by a vote of 1232 to 749
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over Archibald Henley (Ind.) and 71 for P. H. Russell, (Dem.). The latter withdrew on the morning of election in favor of Henley.
March 12, 1872, Christopher Green (Rep.) over John Q. Brown (Dem.) by a vote of 1629 to 1245.
March 9, 1875, Christopher Green over John Q. Brown (Dem. and Ind.) by a vote of 1815 to 1271.
March 12, 1878, Jabez Turner (Workingman) by a vote of 1203 to 1063 for James I. Felter (Rep.), 1056 for Hugh M. La Rue (Dem.) and 726 for Ezra Pearson (Workingman).
March 8, 1881, John Q. Brown (Dem.) over Christopher Green (Rep.) by a vote of 1925 to 1704.
March 11, 1884, John Q. Brown over Joseph Steffens (Rep.) by a vote of 1912 to 1875. Dr. A. B. Nixon (Prohibition) received 344 votes.
March 8, 1887, Engene J. Gregory (Rep.) over John Q. Brown (Dem.) by a vote of 3202 to 1283, and 39 for F. H. L. Weber (Pro- hibition).
March 17, 1890, W. D. Comstock (Dem.) over Eugene J. Gregory, (Rep.) by a vote of 2415 to 2374. March 14, 1893, B. U. Steinman (Rep.) over John Weil (Citizens and Dem.) hy a vote of 2505 to 2328, and 279 for C. M. Harrison (Rep., Dem. and People's).
The new charter went into effect in 1893 and on the 7th of Novem- ber of that year B. U. Steinman (Reorganized Dem.) defeated W. F. Knox (Rep., Dem. and Citizens') by a vote of 3203 to 2052, with Dittmar (People's) 250.
November 5, 1895, the vote was: C. H. Hubbard ( Citizens') 2526; J. W. Wilson (Rep.) 2280; B. U. Steinman, (Ind.) 1487; and W. D. Lawton (Dem.) 209.
November 2, 1897, William Land (Rep.) 3190; C. H. Hubbard (Citizens') 2106; R. D. Stephens, (Ind.) 801; C. E. Leonard, (Dem.) 145.
November 7, 1899, George H. Clark (Rep.), 4012; R. D. Stephens, (Dem.) 2193.
November 5, 1901, George H. Clark (Ind.) 3018; William Land (Rep.) 1755; J. H. Devine, (Dem.) 879; Llewellyn Tozer (Ind.) 315; Mr. Alderman (Soc.) 181.
November 3, 1903, W. J. Hassett (Dem.) 3076; Albert Elkus (Rep.) 2522; W. J. McDowell (Soc.) 263; D. J. Simmons (Ind.) 14. November 7, 1905, M. R. Beard (Dem.) 2435; Albert Elkus (Rep.) 2200; Henry E. Wright, (Soc.) 781; E. I. Woodman (Ind.) 145.
November 5, 1907, Clinton L. White (Rep.) 2835; M. R. Beard (Dem.) 2702.
November 2, 1909, M. R. Beard (Dem.) 3522; John E. Sullivan (Rep.) 2965; H. E. Wright (Soc.) 163.
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November 7, 1911, M. R. Beard (Dem.) 3966; Allen W. Stuart (Soc.) 2649; Frank B. Sutliff (Rep.) 2367.
In 1911 the new charter was adopted for a commission for city government with five commissioners, as follows: M. J. Burke, five years; J. A. Filcher, four years; C. A. Bliss, three years; Dr. E. M. Wilder, two years; and Mrs. Luella B. Johnston, one year.
CHAPTER VIII
THE SQUATTER RIOT
Many of the immigrants arriving in 1849 were imbned with the idea that Sutter possessed no valid title to the land where the city stands, as his title was founded on the grant by Governor Alvarado, and the United States had subsequently conquered and taken posses- sion of the state. They considered the ground public land and subject to settlement. Moreover, they claimed the boundaries of Sutter's grant, as defined, did not cover the site of the city, but ended some distance above it. Also that it could not embrace the site of the city, as by its stipulations it should not be subject to annual inundations, and that by improving Hock Farm he had overstepped the boundaries of his possession under the grant either to the north or the south; his engineer's lines, when correctly drawn, placed his southern bound- ary considerably above the city. These claims were not accorded much attention by those who had purchased from Sutter.
But when the immigrants across the plains arrived a few months later, things took on a different appearance. Weary with the long journey, and many of them withont money or homes, the idea that they could own the land by simply taking possession of it was an alluring one and the ranks of the "Squatters", as they were called, increased rapidly. Lots were staked off in various parts of the city and those taking possession boldly declared the squatter title was superior to that from Sutter.
An association was formed, and the first meeting was called by John H. Keyser, and held at the house of a man named Kelley, on Front street, above J. A number of meetings were held there prior to the flood of the ensuing winter. At first the members of the association were mostly ignorant and uneducated men, but later men of tact and talent succeeded them and their addresses began to be viewed with anxiety by those holding Sutter titles. Their speeches were incendiary and in May a talented engineer, Col. John Plumbe, joined them and became their surveyor and recorder. After the floods of January and March, their organization was made more thorough and a feeling of hostility grew up between them and the holders of Sutter titles. The members of the association began to demonstrate
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their views by taking possession of lots in various parts of the city. Contests ensued and removals were made from time to time.
May 10, 1850, John P. Rodgers and Dewitt J. Burnett began action in the Recorders Court against James J. Madden, B. F. Wash- ington presiding. The lot settled upon and claimed by Madden was on the Southeast corner of Second and N streets. The defendant claimed that the land was owned by the United States, and therefore subject to a title by settlement and improvement. The case was argned and the recorder decided against defendant, fining him $300 and costs, and ordering restitution.
The defendant appealed to the county court, but Judge Willis sustained the lower court. The defendant asked to appeal to the supreme court, but there being no law then to sustain the appeal, the motion was denied. Both parties grew excited during the trial, and the Squatters as a body declared against the restitution of the property pursuant to the judgment of the courts. After the decision the Squatters issued a poster, claiming that the laws passed by the Legislature were not recognized by congress and not binding and that the settlers would resist and disregard all decisions of the courts in land cases and also all summonses or execution by the sheriff or other officers, and resolved to appeal to arms on the first show of violence to their persons or property by the sheriff. The card cansed great excitement and many who had hitherto passively approved of the Squatters enlisted against them. On August 11, the Squatters held a meeting on the levee and the proceedings were reported in the Transcript the next morning. Dr. Robinson was the chairman and the meeting was much excited, both sides of the controversy be- ing heatedly debated. J. H. MeKune, who afterward became promi- nent in county affairs, James McClatchy, afterward editor and pro- prietor of the Bee, and others spoke in defense of the Squatters' action, while Samuel Brannan and Col. E. J. C. Kewen defended the Sutter titles. Captain Sutter claimed the land within the city limits by virtue of his grant from the Mexican Government, and through the guarantee of the treaty between the United States and Mexico. His claim was sustained by the settlement at Sutter's Fort, by im- provements made, by occasional occupation and use made of the site of the ctiy and by a map of the survey made for him by an engineer whom he supposed to be a competent one, locating him on the land.
As the meeting progressed, Dr. Robinson in a speech defending the Squatters' resolutions, said that, as for him, he meant at all hazards to defend the property he had settled upon.
Madden retained the possession of the property in litigation for some time, by the defense of the members of the association, and the house itself became a sort of garrison, containing a variety of weapons. In his endeavors to execute the writ of restitution, the sheriff dis-
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covered a number of persons, whom he knew, among the party who were resisting his authority. He reported the names of James Mc Clatchy, Charles Robinson and others to the court and warrants for their arrest were issued by Justice Sackett. McClatchy delivered himself up and was confined in jail during the subsequent conflicts. Madden was finally ousted from the house, but recovered possession on August 14.
The Times of August 15th gives an account of the fatal riot on the preceding day as follows:
"At two o'clock a body of Squatters numbering about forty proceeded to the foot of I street, on the levee, and undertook to re- gain possession of a piece of ground which had lately been in the occupation of one of their party. They were fully armed and a general understanding prevailed that their object included the liber- ation of the two men committed the day before to the prison ship, upon the charge of being concerned in a riotous assemblage on the morning of the 12th, for the purpose of forcibly resisting the process of law. After the displacement of some of the lumber on the ground the party of Squatters were deterred from proceeding further in their intent. The mayor had meantime requested all good citizens to aid in suppressing the threatened riot, and very large numbers had gathered about the spot-several citizens also, armed, proceeded to the prison ship, but no demonstration was made in that direction.
"The Squatters retreated in martial order, and passed up I street to Third, thence to J and up to Fourth, followed by a crowd of per- sons. They were here met by the mayor, who ordered them to de- liver up their arms and disperse. This they refused to do, and several shots were fired at him, four of which took effect. He fell from his horse, and was carried to his residence dangerously, if not mortally, wounded. J. W. Woodland, who, unarmed, stood near the mayor at the time, received a shot in the groin, which he survived but a few minutes. A man named Jesse Morgan, said to be from Millerville, Ohio, lately arrived, and who was seen to aim at the mayor, next fell dead, from the effects of a ball which passed through his neck. James Harper was very severely, but not dangerously, wounded, in supporting the sheriff. It is difficult to give an exact detail of the terrible incidents which followed in such rapid succession. It appeared from an examination before the coroner, that the party of Squatters drew up in regular order, on arriving at the corner of Fourth street, and that the sheriff was several times fired on before he displayed any weapons. Testimony was also given as to the person who was seen to fire upon Mr. Woodland. The mounted leader of the Squatters, an Irishman by the name of Maloney, had his horse shot under him; he endeavored to escape, but was pursued a short distance up the alley and shot through the head, falling dead. Dr.
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Robinson, one of the armed party under his command, was wounded in the lower part of the body. Mr. Hale, of the firm of Crowell Hale & Co., was slightly wounded in the leg. A young boy, son of Mr. Rogers, was also wounded. We have heard of several others, but are not assured of the correctness of the reports. Upon the oath of several gentlemen, that they saw Dr. Robinson deliberately aim at the mayor, he was arrested and placed in confinement. An Irishman named Caulfield, accused of a similar act with regard to both the mayor and Mr. Woodland, was arrested late in the afternoon.
"After these terrible scenes, which occupied less time than we have employed to describe them, had passed, a meeting of the council was held, the proceedings of which appear in another column. The citizens gathered at the corner of Second and J streets and other places throughout the city, and proceeded to organize parties to prevent further outrage. A body of mounted men under command of the sheriff, hearing the report that the Squatters were reinforcing at the Fort, proceeded thither. The lawless mob were nowhere to be found; seouts were dispatched in all directions, but no trace of them could be discovered. Meanwhile several other parties had formed in rank and proceeded to different parts of the city, establishing rendezvoux at different points. Brigadier-General Winn issued a proclamation declaring the city under martial law, and ordering all law abiding citizens to form themselves into volunteer companies and report their organization to headquarters as soon as possible. At evening quiet was fully restored throughont the city. Lieutenant Governor MeDougal, who left on the Senator, and expects to meet the Gold Ilunter, will bring up this morning a detachment of troops from Benicia. An. extraordinary police force of five-hundred was sumaoned for duty during the night."
The minutes of the council show that B. F. Washington was appointed marshal and Capt. J. Sherwood assistant, to whom all persons desiring to make arrests were requested to apply for aid and authority.
A letter in Dr. Robinson's handwriting was found in his tent after the riot, detailing what he had done and the plans of the Squatters for resisting the law.
The next day brought other developments that saddened the community and were detailed in the Times of the 16th. Sheriff Joseph Me Kinney was shot down it was said by a man named Allen, who kept a hotel at Brighton. Me Kinney had gone out with a party of about twenty to arrest some parties said to have been concerned in the riots. Mr. McDowell, of Mormon Island, who was well known at the house, was sent to make observations and report, but the Sheriff did not wait for him to return. He rode up to the door and demanded that Allen and the others should surrender. but they refused and several
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shots were fired immediately, mortally wounding Mckinney. Several of the sheriff's party entered the house, where about a dozen Squatters were and killed three of them. Allen, though wounded, escaped, and a number of prisoners were taken to the city.
When Governor Burnett heard of the trouble, he telegraphed to Brig .- Gen. A. M. Winn to proceed to Sacramento with his whole force and aid the authorities to maintain order. On the 17th two military companies, composing the Second Brigade, arrived on the Senator and General Winn offered their services to the mayor and council, but was informed that the citizens' organization under Wash- ington was thought to be able to sustain the law. The reports that the Squatters had enlisted the aid of the miners in the hills, who were coming to Sacramento to aid them, were found to be false, and quiet was soon restored. The funerals of Captain Woodland and Sheriff MeKinney were attended by almost the whole city and such was the spirit shown by the citizens that Squatterism never reared its head again, although disputes over land titles continued for many years, making costly and annoying litigation for a long time.
As Mayor Biglow was severely, and possibly fatally, wounded Demas Strong became the acting mayor for the remainder of his term. B. F. Washington was appointed marshal. The death of Woodland, who was city assessor, was due to his kindness of heart. He was walking up the street with a friend and when near the corner of Fourth and J, the Squatters ranged themselves diagonally across Fourth and J streets, with their guns presented toward the mayor and his party, who were approaching. Woodland saw their threaten- ing attitude and exclaimed to his friend, "Oh! it is too bad for thes men to take such a stand, for they will certainly be shot down. I will go up and advise them." He went forward a few steps to attempt to mediate, when a ball struck him and killed him almost instantly.
Ben McCulloch succeeded MeKinney as sheriff and afterwards became quite a noted man in the history of the nation. He was born in Tennessee in 1814 and always evinced an inclination for a roving and adventurous life. He went with Davy Crockett to Texas, to take part in the revolution that freed that state from Mexican rule. In 1836 he joined the Texan army under Gen. Sam Houston and was assigned to the artillery service. He served with credit at the battle of San Jacinto and was employed afterwards on the frontier, in sur- veying and locating lands in Texas. On the breaking out of the Mexican war he raised a company of Texan Rangers that became famous during that struggle. It was accepted by General Taylor and took a prominent part in the battles of Monterey and Buena Vista and assisted in the capture of the city of Mexico. After the war was over President Pierce appointed McCulloch United States marshal of Texas and the present efficient force of Rangers in that state is &
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the outcome of his organization. The Rangers of to-day are picked men, noted for their iron nerve, and are the terror of evil doers, penetrating where the other officers of the law cannot or dare not go to capture criminals.
In 1857 McCulloch was appointed, with ex-Governor Powell, a commissioner to Utah. It was believed that at the time of the inauguration of President Lincoln he was in Washington for the purpose of taking possession of the city at the head of a band of secessionists. If so, the plan was abandoned, on account of the precautions taken by General Scott. Later on, he was commissioned brigadier-general in the Confederate army and assigned to the command of the forces in Arkansas. He issued a proclamation in June, 1861, to the people of that state, calling on them to assemble at Fayetteville to defend the state from invasion. He was in command at the battle of Wilson's Creek, where General Lyon was killed, and it is stated that he surrendered the command to General Sterling Price, on account of some misunderstanding with him. He led a corps of troops from Louisiana and Texas at the battle of Pea Ridge, and fell on the second day of the engagement, March 7, 1862.
Henry A. Caulfield, who was arrested and charged with firing on the mayor and Woodland during the riot, led a stormy career in this city afterward. He was a man of violent temper and often became involved in trouble. Born in Ireland, he came to the United States and in 1844 was a member of the Emmet Guards at Albany, N. Y. During the anti- rent troubles in that state, his company was ordered to Columbia county to assist the authorities in repressing the disorder, the anti- renters having killed an under-sheriff, tarred and feathered other offi- cers and committed other outrages. He came to Sacramento in 1849 worked as a carpenter and joiner and became active in Democratie poli- ties. He was arrested by John Cleal between here and Brighton as he was fleeing after the riot, and brought to this city strapped to a horse's back and confined on board the prison brig. With a number of others he was indicted by the next grand jury on a charge of conspiracy and murder. They were never punished, as Governor MeDougal had de- clared he would pardon them if they were convicted, and a nolle prose- qui was subsequently entered in their case. He was afterwards active in the squatter troubles that followed. He settled on a farm on the mound north of the American river about 1851 and lived there till the flood of 1852, when he sold the place to Patrick Bannon, and removed to a ranch south of the R street levee, out of which arose most of the subsequent troubles.
George Wilson was a justice of the peace and associate justice of the court of sessions and had made some remark that gave offense to one of the attorneys. June 19, 1851, the attorney came to the court room and demanded a retraction. Wilson refused and when the attor-
HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
ney struck at him drew a sword cane and stabbed him. Caulfield was entering the room and fired several shots at Wilson, but did not hit him. Wilson seized Caulfield round the neck and was about to send a bullet through his head when R. P. Jacobs, a policeman, rushed in and saved Caulfield's life. At another time Caulfield was shot several times by Thomas O. Shelby over land matters and several of the bul- lets he carried to his grave. On that occasion he was unarmed and the assault was unprovoked. As it was thought he would die, a priest called to see him. "I am told you have been a very bad man," said he. "It is a dom lie and you are no doctor. Get out of here," was the reply.
At another time, in 1856, he had a quarrel with a man named Mil- ler about politics and some mules. It was at Miller's house and he at- tempted to strike him with a flat iron, but Miller broke a cane over his head and was about to throw him out of the window. Miller's wife intervened and Miller let go and Caulfield fell to the ground. Miller sent word to the coroner that he had killed Caulfield, but when the dead wagon arrived the supposed corpse had walked to the county hos- pital. The same year he was stabbed by a man named Frank Nolan on Front street, and wounded so severely that for several days lie breathed through the knife wounds in his back. August 15, 1878, he had a dispute with William G. English, over a lot on R street, and shot English, who died a couple of days later. For this murder he was sent to the state's prison for six years. Caulfield was short and heavy set, and had lost an eye in one of his encounters, giving him a truculent appearance; he was much feared by many citizens on account of the ugly scrapes in which he engaged, nearly killing some or being almost killed himself. July 2, 1888, while walking on the R street track near Fourth street, he was struck by the evening train from Folsom, evi- dently not having heard the whistle, and was killed instantly.
Dr. Robinson, as will be seen elsewhere, became shortly afterwards a member of the legislature and subsequently governor of Kansas.
CHAPTER IX FIRST THINGS
The first mail brought to Sacramento came on the schooner John Dunlap, owned jointly by Simmons, Hutchins & Co., and E. S. Marsh, which left San Francisco on her first trip to Sacramento, May 18, 1849, and brought the first mail on her second trip, June 27, having been forty-eight hours on the way.
The first directory of Sacramento City was published in 1851, by J. Horace Culver, and a copy of it is in the state library. It was print- ed by the Transcript press, and has ninety-six pages, with a large quantity of very interesting information. The names of citizens occu- pied less than half the space.
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
The first ship ever used in the state of California as a prison brig was the bark Strafford. It was brought here from New York in 1849, and was moored in the Sacramento river opposite the foot of I street. It cost $50,000, but while lying at the foot of O street it was sold at anction by J. B. Starr to C. C. Hayden for $3,750. Hayden sold three- quarters of his interest to Charles Morrill, Captain Isaac Derby and a Mr. Whitney, and in March, 1850, they rented the vessel to the connty for a prison brig. Morrill bought ont the interests of the oth- ers in May, intending to trade between San Francisco and Panama, and loaded it at the levee so poorly that it nearly capsized when it reached San Francisco bay. The cargo was readjusted and she went to sea, but never came back. Soon afterwards the county purchased the La Grange, of Salem, Mass., and it was moored opposite H street, but when the big freshet of 1861-62 came down, it strained so heavily at its moorings that the seams opened and the water came in so fast that the prisoners were barely saved and conveyed to the city jail, and the bark filled and sank. Since then Sacramento county has had its jail on land.
The first house in Sutterville was erected by Sutter, the second by one Hadel, and the third by George Zins, being a brick building, the first of the kind erected in California. Zins afterwards manufactured the bricks in Sacramento from which the first brick buildings in this city were erected. He stamped each brick with his initials. The Crocker Art Gallery Museum and the Museum of the Pioneer Asso- ciation each contain one of them.
The first store opened in Sacramento was at Sutter's Fort, by C. C. Smith & Co. (Sam Brannan being the Co.), and the first ex- changes of American goods for California gold were made over its counters, it having been started abont two months before the opening of the mines.
The first projected rival of Sacramento was Sutterville, as else- where related. The second was known as Hoboken, north of the pres- ent town of Brighton, on the south bank of the American. During the flood of 1853, all communication with the mining counties was cut off and some enterprising merchants moved their goods out there on the high ground and laid out a town with wide streets and a steamboat landing, the American being at that time navigable. In ten days a town sprang np, with three steamers making daily trips to Sacramento, and an express office. Many firms removed there and trade flourished, the city newspapers devoting a page to Hoboken news. As the flood subsided, however, so did Hoboken, and its site is now occupied by a farm. The city of Boston was laid out on paper, at the junction of the Sacramento and American rivers, but never materialized.
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