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, 1923, Part 16

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

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, 1923 > Part 16

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

coroner, J. Frank Clark ; surveyor, J. C. Pier- son ; supervisors: B. U. Steinman, George O. Bates, George C. McMullen, S. J. Jackson and L. H. Fassett. The number of districts had been changed from seven to five.

The following were elected November 2, 1886: County clerk, W. B. Hamilton ; sheriff, M. M. Drew ; assessor. A. L. Frost ; treasurer, John L. Huntoon; district attorney, Elwood Bruner : auditor and recorder, J. H. Miller ; superintendent of schools, Benjamin F. How- ard; public administrator, S. B. Smith ; coro- ner, J. Frank Clark; surveyor, J. C. Pierson ; supervisors: H. C. Ross and F. F. Tebbets. Steinman, Bates and McMullen held over. During the year Miller resigned as auditor and recorder, and Frank T. Johnson was elected to succeed him. Mr. Howard held his office for twenty years.

November 6, 1888, the following were elected : Sheriff, George C. McMullen ; clerk, W. B. Hamilton ; auditor and recorder, Frank T. Johnson : district attorney, Elwood Bruner ; treasurer, John L. Huntoon; public adminis- trator, G. W. Harlow; coroner, J. Frank Clark; surveyor. J. C. Boyd; supervisors : Andrew Black, George O. Bates, and Erskine Greer. Ross and Tebbets held over.

In 1890 the officers elected were : Sheriff and tax collector, Thomas W. O'Neil ; clerk, W. B. Hamilton ; treasurer, Edward Lyon; auditor and recorder. F. T. Johnson ; district attorney, Frank D. Ryan; assessor, R. D. Irvine; coro- ner, George H. Clark; public administrator, George F. Bronner; surveyor, A. M. Winn; supervisors : M. Miller, George O. Bates; Andrew Black, Erskine Greer and Thomas Jenkins. In 1892 the supervisors were J. M. Morrison, J. W. Todd, M. Miller, William Curtis and Thomas Jenkins.

County officers in 1894 were as follows: Sheriff and tax collector, Frank T. Johnson ; clerk, W. B. Hamilton; treasurer, E. Lyon ; auditor and recorder. R. T. Cohn; district at- torney, Frank D. Ryan; assessor, Thomas H. Berkey; coroner, George H. Clark ; public administrator, W. B. Miller; surveyor, J. C. Boyd; supervisors: John F. Dreman, J. W. Todd, J. M. Morrison, William Curtis and Thomas Jenkins. In 1896 the board was: J. F. Dreman, J. M. Morrison, William Mc- Laughlin, Thomas Jenkins and William Curtis. Treasurer Lyon died during his term of office, and A. S. Greenlaw, his deputy, was elected by the supervisors to fill the vacancy. Public Administrator Miller also died.

In 1898 the officers elected were: Sheriff, Frank T. Johnson; clerk, W. B. Hamilton ; license and tax collector, B. N. Bugbey ; treas- urer, A. S. Greenlaw ; auditor and recorder, R. T. Cohn; district attorney, C. W. Baker;

assessor, T. H. Berkey; coroner, G. C. Mc- Mullen ; public administrator, S. B. Smith ; surveyor, J. C. Boyd; supervisors: Dugald Gillis, William McLaughlin, J. M. Morrison, William Curtis and Thomas Jenkins. In 1900 the board was: D. Gillis, William McLaugh- lin, M. J. Dillman, Morris Brooke and Thomas Jenkins.

The legislature had previously separated the offices of sheriff and tax collector, and Bugbey took advantage of the fact that the convention had neglected to nominate a tax collector. He announced himself as a candidate for the office, and as Johnson neglected to announce himself, Bugbey was elected. Sheriff John- son died during his term and the supervisors appointed David Reese to fill the vacancy.

In 1902 the officers elected were: Clerk, W. B. Hamilton ; sheriff, David Reese ; license and tax collector, Charles E. Trainor ; treas- urer, A. S. Greenlaw ; auditor, L. P. Williams ; recorder, R. T. Cohn ; district attorney, A. M. Seymour; assessor, T. H. Berkey; coroner, W. F. Gormley : public administrator, S. B. Smith; surveyor, J. C. Boyd; supervisors : E. A. Meister, William McLaughlin, M. J. Dillman, Morris Brooke and T. Jenkins. In 1904 the board was: C. W. McKillip, James H. Donnelly, H. K. Johnson, E. A. Meister and Gillis Doty.

Treasurer Greenlaw died during his incum- bency, and D. W. Carmichael was elected by the supervisors to fill the vacancy. Mr. Car- michael appointed M. J. Curtis as his deputy, the legislature having provided for a deputy at the previous session.

The officers elected for 1906 were as fol- lows : Clerk, W. B. Hamilton; sheriff, D. Reese ; license and tax collector, Charles E. Trainor ; district attorney, E. S. Wachhorst : coroner. W. F. Gormley ; public administrator, D. McDougall; superintendent of schools, Mrs. Minnie R. O'Neil ; surveyor, C. M. Phin- ney ; recorder, C. A. Root ; supervisors: How- ard K. Johnson, David Ahern, Charles W. McKillip, J. H. Donnelly and L. C. Thisby. In 1908 the board was: Robert Callahan, J. H. Donnelly, L. C. Thisby, C. W. McKillip and David Ahern.

Sheriff Reese died during his term of office, and the board of supervisors elected his son, Edward E. Reese, to fill the unexpired term. Assessor Berkey also died and the supervisors elected E. J. Kay, his deputy, to the position.

The officers elected for 1910 were: Clerk, W. B. Hamilton ; sheriff, David Ahern ; license and tax collector, Charles E. Trainor ; auditor, L. P. Williams ; recorder, C. A. Root ; assessor, Ed J. Kay ; superintendent of schools, Mrs. Minnie R. O'Neil : treasurer, M. J. Curtis ; dis- trict attorney, E. S. Wachhorst; coroner, W. F. Gormley ; public administrator, D. Mc-

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

Dougall : surveyor. Frank C. Miller ; supervis- ors: J. H. Donnelly, Charles H. McKillip. Robert E. Callahan, James P. Kelly and Thomas Jenkins.

County Clerk Hamilton died in the spring of 1911, and the board of supervisors ap- pointed Ed F. Pfund, who for many years had been his deputy, as his successor. Pfund died in office during 1914. and Frank Gregory, dep- nity, was appointed to fill the unexpired term. Treasurer M. J. Curtis also died in office, in 1911, and M. R. Beard was appointed to fill out the unexpired term. Beard also died after serving a part of his term of office, and was succeeded by George Wittenbrock, deputy.

The officers elected in 1914 were: Clerk, Ed F. Pfund ; sheriff. W. F. Gormley ; assessor, Ed J. Kay; auditor, L. P. Williams ; superin- tendent of schools, Carolyne M. Webb; coro- ner, A. D. Fenton ; district attorney, Hugh B. Bradford; tax collector, C. E. Trainor : pro- bation officer, C. E. Wilson ; purchasing agent, George Vice; surveyor, Drury Butler ; treas-

urer, Frank P. Christophel ; public administra- tor. D. McDougall; recorder, C. A. Root.

The election in 1918 resulted as follows : Clerk, Harry W. Hall; sheriff, Ellis Jones ; assessor, Ed J. Kay ; auditor, L. P. Williams ; superintendent of schools, Carolyne M. Webb; coroner, John T. Skelton ; district attorney, Hugh B. Bradford ; tax collector, Ed T. Ryan ; probation officer, C. E. Wilson; purchasing agent, George Vice; surveyor, Drury Butler ; treasurer. Frank P. Christophel : public admin- istrator. D. McDougall ; horticultural commis- sioner, Fred C. Brosius : recorder, C. A. Root.

The officers chosen in 1922 were: Clerk, Harry W. Hall: sheriff, Ellis Jones; assessor, B. C. Erwin ; auditor, L. P. Williams ; superin- tendent of schools, Carolyne M. Webb; coro- ner. John T. Skelton ; district attorney, Hugh B. Bradford ; tax collector, Ed T. Ryan ; engi- neer, Drury Butler : treasurer, Frank P. Chris- tophel ; public administrator, D. McDougall ; horticultural commissioner, A. E. Morrison ; recorder, C. A. Root.

CHAPTER XIII

CITY AND COUNTY ELECTIONS

J UST seventy-one years after holding its first city election under the charter on April 1, 1850, Sacramento elected its city council by the proportional-representation system, being the first municipality in Cali- fornia to adopt this method of voting, which differs from the majority plan.

At the first municipal election in Sacra- mento almost three-quarters of a century ago, there were three tickets in the field. The can- vassing had been spirited, and the campaign was in full swing for several weeks prior to settling the issues at the polls. Early chroni- clings of those eventful days show that the voting continued well into the evening. and somne lively times were witnessed around the polls. Whiskey flowed freely, but there was no rioting. In those days the future inland metropolis of the West was merely a trading- post on the Sacramento River, and at this election the citizens mustered 2,493 votes. The balloting resulted in the election of Hardin Biglow, the people's candidate, who had a ma- jority of 323 votes over the others in the race. The following officers were elected on the combined city and county ticket, with votes as given :

Mayor, Hardin Biglow, 1,521 ; city recorder, B. F. Washington, 885; city marshal, N. C. Cunningham, 1,323: city attorney, J. Neely Johnson, 1,697 ; city assessor, J. W. Woodland, 792 : city treasurer, Barton Lee, 2,310; council- men: C. A. Tweed, 1,629; V. Spalding, 1,621 ; Demas Strong, 1,420; T. McDowell, 1,462; J. Mckenzie, 1,182; C. H. Miller, 887 ; J. R. Har- denbergh, 862; Jesse Moore, 869; A. P. Petit, 804; county treasurer, William Glaskin, 1,104; district attorney, William C. Wallace, 2,011; county attorney, J. H. McKune, 2,021 : county Judge, E. J. Willis, 1,818: county clerk, Pres- ley Dunlap, 1,567; county recorder, L. A. Birdsall, 714; county sheriff, J. H. Mckinney, 619; county surveyor, J. G. Cleal, 1,152; county assessor. D. W. Thorpe, 1,224 ; county coroner, P. F. Ewer, 569 ; clerk of the supreme court, E. H. Thorpe, 1,313.

On the morning of April 4, a meeting of the council-elect was held at the courthouse and on motion of Jesse Moore, C. A. Tweed was called to the chair, as president pro tem. On motion of Volney Spalding, Charles H. Miller was requested to act as secretary pro tem. The council proceeded to the election of a president and Demas Strong was declared

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

elected. A committee was also appointed to wait upon the mayor-elect, Hon. Hardin Big- low, and inform him that the council was duly organized and ready to receive any communi- cation he might desire to make. He appeared before the council and delivered a short and pertinent address, and the council adjourned. It met the next morning pursuant to adjourn- ment and a message from the mayor was read, accepted and referred to the select committee. The regular meetings of the board were or- dered to be held on each Tuesday evening at the courthouse.

Mayor Biglow in his message urged the immediate raising of a levee to protect the city from future inundations, suggesting the build- ing of a cheap railway track along the bank of the river, so that material for the levee could be hauled from a distance and the natu- ral bank of the river be left undisturbed ; that an election be called to vote the necessary amount as estimated by the city engineer for the levee; that the three small lakes be in- cluded in the limits of the city and the whole of the present corporation be included within the levee, and levee regulations be adopted, similar to those at New Orleans. Other rec- ommendations were relative to the storing of powder, establishment of fire companies, a city hospital, a city prison and provision for the removal of garbage. Also that every aid pos- sible be given to public schools.

The election of Mayor Biglow is attributed by Dr. Morse in his interesting historical arti- cle published in Colville's Directory in 1853- 1854, to his foresight and energy in saving the city from a second flood in March, 1850. Fears had been expressed that the city might again be inundated, but there seemed to be an aver- sion to raising a levee for protection and the idea was unpopular. Says Mr. Morse: "In the month of March following, heavy rains oc- curred, which with the action of the sun upon the snowy summits, caused another flood. The rivers rose with great rapidity, the sloughs filled up to overflowing, and the city must have been nearly as severely flooded as in January, but for the masterly and herculean efforts of one Hardin Biglow. This man had declared from the first the practicability of defending the city by a levee. Having thus committed himself to the proposition, he was determined to demonstrate his theory in this second flood. With the moiety of means and handful of men, he commenced damming up the intruding waters at every low point, and finally extended his temporary levee almost to its present limits. Night and day he was in his saddle, going from one point to another, and stimulating his men to an almost super- human action. For a few days this man met

tide and torrent, mud and darkness, and croak- ing discouragement that few men in the world would have endured, and to the utter astonish- ment of all, he saved the town from a severe inundation. J, Front, Second, I and a portion of K Streets, he kept open for the uninter- rupted transaction of business. As a natural consequence everybody praised him, and on the first Monday of April succeeding, at an election pursuant to the new legislative char- ter, adopted February 27, 1850, he was elected by a most cordial vote as the chief magistrate of this city."

In a few weeks after the abatement of the waters of the second inundation everything seemed almost transformed into business and money-making. The council busied itself with the subject of a levee and surveys were made, the tents gave way to large and commodious buildings, built of good material and embel- lished with ornamental architecture. Business began to be reduced to a system, and devel- oped some of the most substantial mercantile houses and manufacturing firms and some of the strongest banking houses in the country. Disease abated and everything pointed to prosperity.

The assessor's report on the value of prop- erty-real and personal-gave an aggregate of $7,968,985 that summer, an important feature in the light of the pecuniary revulsion that followed. The real estate of the city was assessed at $5,586,000, probably $5,000,000 over its real value. Hence, following the finan- cial reaction in the fall of 1850, some of the shrewdest men in the city found themselves embarrassed by immense losses on loans on real estate, which on foreclosure often brought not more than one-fourth to one-eighth of the loans. The three largest banks and many of the prominent merchants were swept sud- denly into bankruptcy in the fall and a gen- eral prostration of business was the result. The city had survived the struggle with Sut- terville, the distress and poverty of immigra- tion in 1849, the floods of 1850; and now, in the midst of this financial storm, a new calam- ity befell her-the Squatter riot of August 15, 1850.

On February 27. 1850, the first legislature passed an act to incorporate Sacramento City, and defined its boundaries as follows :

"All that tract of land lying within the fol- lowing boundaries : Beginning at the junction of the American Fork and the Sacramento River to Y Street, as designated on the map or plan of Sacramento City on file in the recorder's office in said city : thence along said Y' Street east to the point where said Y Street intersects Thirty-first Street as designated on said map ; thence along the said Thirty-first

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

Street till the same intersects the American Fork; thence along the American Fork to the place of beginning, the said boundaries ex- tending to the middle of Sacramento River and American Fork."

The act further provided that there should be a mayor, a recorder, and a council of nine members for the government of the city, and that one of the members of the. council should be elected president. It provided further that on the thirtieth day after the passage of the act a city election should be held for the elec- tion of the first officers, to wit: A mayor, recorder, nine councilmen, city marshal, city attorney, assessor and treasurer. After the first election the officers mentioned were to be elected on the first Monday in May in each year, and in case of a vacancy a special elec- tion should be ordered by the council to fill the same. The mayor was clothed with com- plete executive power. The recorder per- formed the duties now imposed on the police judge, and the marshal those belonging now to the chief of police and the collector. The common council was empowered to create the offices of city collector, harbor-master, and such other offices as might become necessary.

An amendatory act was passed by the same legislature, March 13, 1850, providing that, on the first Monday of April following, a city election should be held to fill the offices cre- ated by the charter, making it fall on the same day as the first county election. The officers chosen at that election were to hold office till the first Monday of May, 1851. This amendment affected the first election only. April 10, 1850, an act was passed providing for the appointment by the governor of a port warden for the port of Sacramento.

The second legislature passed a new charter for Sacramento City, and it became a law March 26, 1851, by operation of time, and without the approval of the governor. Gov- ernor McDougal said concerning it: "The within bill is regarded as oppressive and ex- traordinary in many of its features ; but not re- garding it as infringing on any particular principle of the constitution, and as it is the act of the representatives of Sacramento County, and presuming it to be the wish of the people of Sacramento City, I permit it to become a law, by the operation of time, with- out approving it, or returning it to the body in which it originated."

The act in question provided that the then existing government should continue in office until the election of the officers provided for by the new charter. The council was to divide the city into three wards, from each of which . three councilmen were to be elected. Vacan- cies were to be filled by special election, unless

one should occur within sixty days of a regu- lar annual election, when it was to be filled by the council. The first election under the act was to take place on the first Monday of May following, for officers to hold office until the first Monday of April, 1852. All city elections after that were to be held on the first Monday of April in each year. The fixing of salaries was left to the council, but they were not per- mitted to fix the salary of any officer at over $3,000, except the mayor or recorder, the limit of whose salary was fixed at $5,000.

The legislature enacted a law April 26, 1853, providing for a special tax of one-fourth of one per cent, for the support of the free com- mon schools, to be expended under the direc- tion of a board of trustees, consisting of one from each ward, to be annually appointed by the council.

March 31, 1855, a law was enacted striking the harbor-master from the list of the elective officers. It fixed the salaries as follows : Mayor, $2,000; recorder, $4,000; marshal, $3,000; deputy city marshal. $1,500; city at- torney, $2,000; treasurer, $1,500; superintend- ent of the water-works, $2,000; assessor, $1,500; recorder's clerk, $1,500; each police- man, $125 per month. In case of death, sick- ness or leave of absence of the recorder, the mayor was to attend to the duties of that office also. It was further provided that at the subsequent election there should be chosen a superintendent of common schools and two school commisisoners from each ward, who, with the superintendent of schools, should constitute the school board.

April 2, 1856, the legislature enacted an act to regulate the fire department. It provided for the election of officers and the regulation of the department in general.

Consolidation of City and County

On April 24, 1858, a law was passed which consolidated the government of the city and county and gave to the board of supervisors the authority which had heretofore rested in the common council. On the first Monday of May following, five supervisors were to be elected, to hold office until October 5, 1858. There was also to be elected at the same time a president of the board, to continue in office until the general election of 1859, the term of office thereafter to be two years. After the first Monday of October, 1858, the board was to consist of a president and eight members, and the members were to be elected at the general election in that year, four to hold office for two years, and four for one year. After the first election the term was to be two years. At the general election in 1859, and every two years thereafter, there were to be elected the

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

other officers, who were to perform their duties for both city and county. The president of the board was to be ex-officio mayor of the city, and superintendent of the streets and the water-works. The then county officers were required to perform such city duties as might be allotted to them by the board, and the board was given power to create and fill by appointment the minor city offices. Some changes were also made in the fire and school departments.

Reorganization and New Charter

The consolidation act was repealed April 23. 1863, and a new charter adopted. It provided that the government of the city should be vested in a board of trustees, to consist of three. The first trustee was to be ex-officio mayor ; the second, street commissioner, and the third, superintendent of the water-works. There would also be an auditor, an assessor, a collector, a police judge, and such other officers as might be appointed by the board. The trustees' term of office was fixed at three years, and that of the other officers at two. It was further provided that on the tenth day after the passage of the act a city election should be held, at which the offices above des- ignated should be filled, and that annually thereafter, on the second Tuesday in March, city elections should be held. At the election in 1864, a third trustee should be elected; in 1865, a second trustee, assessor, auditor, col- lector, and judge, and in 1866, a first trustee, each to hold for the time indicated. Any va- cancy in the board was to be filled by a spe- cial election, and a vacancy in any other office was to be filled by appointment by board. Provision was also made for the school and fire departments.

A slight change was made in the boundaries of the city, and a change in the time of elect- ing officers other than members of the board during the life of this charter. In 1872 a bill was enacted creating a paid fire department, another to provide a new system of water- works, and a third for the reorganization of the police force.

Mayors, Commissioners, and Councilmen

As has been stated elsewhere, Hardin Biglow was elected the first mayor of Sacra- inento. He was badly wounded in the Squat- ter riot, and before he had recovered, was seized with cholera and died in San Francisco, November 27, 1850, at the age of forty-one. Born in Michigan, he was a man of great cour- age and fine executive ability. After his death the president of the council acted as mayor.

A special election was held December 14, 1850, for the purpose of choosing a mayor.

Although there was no excitement in the morning, later it became intense, in spite of a heavy rainfall. Bands of music paraded and both parties struggled hard to elect their can- didates. Horace Smith (Whig) was elected by a vote of 933. Other votes were: J. R. Hardenbergh (Democrat), 865: James Mc- Clatchy, 183: Wesley Merritt, 25; and Joseph Grant, 19. The last three were Independents. May 5, 1851, J. R. Hardenbergh (Democrat) secured 1.264 votes for mayor, against 1,224 for Joseph H. Nevett (Whig). A great con- flagration in San Francisco on the day of elec- tion destroyed $7,000,000 worth of property. and the reception of the news rather damp- ened the ardor of the voters.

April 5, 1852, C. I. Hutchinson (Whig) de- feated Hardenbergh, his vote being 1,450 to 1,234. It was a particularly exciting election, mass meetings being held at different points in the city, and there was much mud-throwing.

Hardenbergh turned the tables, however, April 4, 1853, defeating W. H. McGrew, his Whig opponent, by a vote of 2,046 to 1,382. Dr. Volney Spalding had been nominated by the Whig convention March 28, but he de- clined, and on the 30th McGrew received the nomination.

April 3, 1854, R. P. Johnson (Whig) was elected by a vote of 1,798 to 1,693 over his op- ponent, Col. John P. Hall (Dem.).

April 2, 1855, James L. English (American) defeated Hiram Arents (Anti-American) by a vote of 1,523 to 504, R. P. Johnson (Whig) getting 78 votes. The latter had published a card of withdrawal a few days before.

April 7, 1856, B. B. Redding (Dem.) was elected mayor over L. B. Harris (American) by a vote of 1,743 to 1,654.

April 6, 1857, J. P. Dyer (Dem.) defeated Dr. R. B. Ellis (People's Independent) by a vote of 1,955 to 788. George Rowland (Rep.) received 501 votes. Dyer held office until un- der the consolidation act he was succeeded by the president of the board of supervisors.

May 3, 1858, Dr. H. L. Nichols (People's Independent) was elected president of the board of supervisors, defeating J. L. Craig (Dem.) by 3,584 to 1,877.

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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, 1923, Part 16

Author: Reed, G. Walter Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026