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 39

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 39

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At this time the roll of the Pioneers was steadily growing smaller, and by the end of the century the disposition to be made of the valuable property belonging to the associa- tion became an important question, and one involving much thought. The Sons and

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Daughters of Pioneers signified their willing- ness to make an arrangement through which they would ultimately take over the property when the last Pioneer had passed away. The . idea met with favor in the eyes of some of the Pioneers, while others opposed it. Finally, January 30, 1909, when only ten of the Pio- neers remained, they agreed to form a new or- ganization, with a new constitution, and the present one was adopted. It provides for two classes, the first to consist of those whom the original society had declared eligible to be- come members, and the second to consist of the sons, daughters and lineal descendants of the members of the Association of Pioneers in good standing. Under this constitution the Sons and Daughters became members of the Association of Pioneers April 25, 1909.

The Pioneers' membership has dwindled to two: Col. Dan Burns, now living in San Francisco, who came to Sacramento in 1849 when a baby ; and Cornelius Cole, now a resi- dent of Los Angeles. Ex-Senator Cole is over a hundred years old now, but is still active.

Following is a complete list of the presi- dents of the society, with the respective dates of their terms of service: Joseph W. Wi- nans, 1854-1856; A. C. Monson, 1856-1857 ; John F. Morse, 1857-1859; James Queen, 1859- 1860; A. C. Monson, 1860-1861; John H. Car- roll, 1861-1862; N. L. Drew, 1862-1863 ; Greg- ory J. Phelan, 1863-1864; R. H. McDonald, 1864-1865; Justin Gates, 1865-1866; William F. Knox, 1866-1867 ; Isaac N. Hoag, 1867-1868; James McClatchy, 1868-1870; Charles N. Ross, 1870-1871; Isaac Lohman, 1871-1872; Albert Leonard, 1872-1873; Edward F. Aiken, 1873- 1874; Asa P. Andrews, 1874-1875; G. K. Van Heusen, 1875-1876; N. D. Goodell, 1876-1877 ; Homer P. Osborn, 1877-1878; George A. Put- nam, 1878-1879; John S. Miller, 1879-1880; W. C. Felch, 1880-1881; James McGuire, 1881- 1882; A. H. Powers, 1882-1883 ; J. H. McKune, 1883-1884; George W. Chesley, 1884-1887; Powell S. Lawson, 1887-1890; H. M. LaRue, 1890-1891 ; William Johnston, 1891-1892; J. M. Stephenson, 1892-1894; W. W. Light, 1894- 1895; William Turton, 1895-1896; Joseph . Sims, 1896-1897; W. C. Farnsworth, 1897- 1898; E. Twitchell, 1898-1899; A. C. Sweetser, 1899-1900; Felix Tracy, 1900-1901; D. Me- gowan, 1901-1902; F. Hotchkiss, 1902-1903; W. R. Strong, 1903-1904; H. M. LaRue, 1904- 1907; D. Megowan, 1907-1908; Joseph Sims, 1908-1912; George Putnam, 1912 to present time.

The Association meets in Pioneer Hall, which building was erected by it in 1868, on Seventh Street, between J and K; and later it purchased a building adjoining it on the south and fitted it up with a banquet hall and

parlor. It also collected a museum of relics of the early days, containing many interesting objects.

The Sutter Club

The Sutter Club is the leading organization of its kind in Sacramento, comprising among its members the most prominent business and professional men of the city. The first presi- dent of the organization was Newton Booth, who prior to his selection had served as the governor of California and also had been a United States senator. The club was incor- porated February 2, 1889, having as its purpose the promotion of social and business inter- course among its members. It has elegant and commodious quarters on the second and third floors of the California National Bank building, Fourth and J Streets.

The club takes a leading part in all civic and other matters appertaining to the best interests of the city, and is in a flourishing con- dition. The officers and directors at present are: Emery Oliver, president; H. E. Hard- ley, vice-president ; J. T. Pigott, secretary ; Dr. Gustave Wilson, Geo. W. Peltier, J. S. Chambers, Dr. W. J. Taylor, C. F. Prentiss, F. B. McKevitt, Geo. B. Sanford, R. T. Burtis, and H. J. McClatchy, directors. W. H. Devlin was the president of the club for a number of years, and was succeeded by Fred W. Kiesel, who recently retired as the head of the organ- ization.

The Tuesday Club

The Tuesday Club is one of the prominent organizations of Sacramento, and, being offi- cered and directed by some of the most intel- lectual women of the city, it has exerted a strong and beneficial influence on the progress of the city. It was organized in 1896, and Mrs. William Beckman was elected its first presi- dent by the seventeen charter members. The launching of the club was enthusiastically re- ceived, and within two months the member- ship had increased to over fifty, making it necessary to procure a hall for the meetings, which, in the beginning, had been held in Mrs. Beckman's parlors. From this nucleus the club of today has developed, numbering, at the present time (August, 1923), 531 members.

For four years the club had social reunions, musical programs, and series of lectures on miscellaneous subjects. In addition to this program it then began its public work by sending to the board of city trustees a peti- tion requesting it to pass an ordinance prohibi- ting the granting of any more saloon licenses in the residence portion of the city. The board passed the ordinance, which remained in effect. The membership increased rapidly, and the club became recognized as a center of social and mental culture, whose purpose is to en-

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courage all movements for the betterment of society at large, to further the education of women, and foster a broad public spirit in the community. It was deemed advisable to di- vide the club into small departments in order to facilitate study along different lines, to suit the diverse tastes of its members.

In the fifth year, work of a philanthropic nature was taken up and proved in every re- spect a success. The club made an enthusias- tic campaign which resulted in carrying the bonding of the city for the new high school, and in completing the club's work, already begun, for the introduction of manual train- ing in the schools. Through the energy of the club, also, domestic science is taught in the city schools. It gives liberally to the Trav- elers' Aid Society, and is foremost in helping financially all objects of a charitable nature. From its infancy the members began to devise methods for the improvement of the city, and a recommendation came from the club's de- partment for the formation of an improvement club. The suggestion was approved, with the result that, in combination with other women's organizations, the Women's Council was or- ganized, which now numbers more than 11,000 earnest, active women, who work for the bet- terment of the city and county. The Women's Council now includes the membership of thirty-four associated clubs.

In 1900 a committee from the club requested the purchase by the trustees of a park known as East Park, as a playground for the children and for the use of the citizens. The plan met with opposition from many, but by energy, persistence and persuasion the result sought was accomplished. The park was purchased for $12,500, rechristened McKinley Park, and is now valued at $200,000, a good investment for the city, not only from the standpoint of the children's welfare, but also financially. In 1892 the club established three traveling li- braries, being the second in the state to dis- tribute to the dwellers in remote districts this means of knowledge and culture. In 1903 the club, with the idea of owning its own club- house, formed a corporation among its mem- bers, calling it the Tuesday Club House Asso- ciation, to which the club donated $300 as a nucleus for a building-fund. Thereafter the energy of the association was bent toward securing sufficient funds for the purpose, and with such success that the club has for some years been housed in its beautiful $30,000 building on Twenty-eighth Street, opposite Sutter's Fort.

Mrs. Nell Siddons Hall is now the club's president. 14

The Saturday Club

No list of representative institutions of Sac- ramento would be complete unless it contained a history of the inception and progress of a club that, by its enterprise and executive man- agement, has made its name and that of Sacra- mento known to the whole United States and to many lovers of music in Europe.

The musical life of Sacramento is repre- sented by the Saturday Club, a magnificent organization of women, formed for the stimu- lation of musical interest in the community. From a charter membership of sixty it has swelled to a membership of 1,600, and its fur-

ther rapid growth has been limited only by the present accommodations for its recitals. It is said to be one of the best-managed women's clubs in the United States. The club was or- ganized through the efforts of Mrs. Irving Bentley, now of San Francisco, and Miss Emily Thompson, now the wife of Dr. James Pond of Oakland. A charter membership of forty active and twenty associate members was enrolled, with Mrs. Frank Miller as presi- dent; Mrs. Charles McCreary, vice-president : and Miss Emily Thompson, secretary and treasurer. These officers, with Mesdames George E. Pratt, R. I. Bentley, B. F. Howard, and Charles Neale, and Miss Minnie Clarke, composed the first executive board. Of the sixty charter members, only two, Mrs. Albert Elkus and Mrs. Robert Hawley, have retained their active membership during the thirty years of the club's existence. Mrs. Robert Hawley is the present president of the club.

The social side dominated during the first two years of the club's life, the associate mem- bership being limited, and the meetings being held at the homes of the members. The first meeting was held at Mrs. McCreary's on De- cember 9, 1893. At the beginning of the third year, the by-laws were changed, and the meet- ings were held in public halls, a more demo- cratic spirit supplanting the exclusiveness that had formerly prevailed. Membership tickets were made transferable and people of all callings were made eligible to enjoy the programs. Since then the club has been stead- ily increasing in strength, broadening its field of work and widening its influence. It has outgrown every available meeting place in the city, so that it has several times been forced to close its membership roll.

The membership of the club consisted orig- inally of two classes, active and associate ; but four years after its organization a student class was added, limited to fifty, who must be studying with a teacher of good repute. The standard set for these pupils is very high, and the club has educated several hundred girls in

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this way. The list is always full, and often there are as many as forty waiting to get in at the end of the season.

The club is purely an organization of women, and for fourteen years no names of men appeared on the prospectus except as par- ticipants in the programs. A limited number of men have since been admitted to associate membership, and a Men's Auxiliary was also formed, made up of local musicians who had given and were still giving valuable assistance to the club. During the first six years of its existence, the programs were given almost en- tirely by its active members; but since that time a series of artists' recitals have been given each season. As many as twelve artists' re- citals are often given, which, with the nine Home Days given by members of the club, make an interesting season. It is the only club in the United States that gives its mem- bers the privilege of hearing the great artists without assessments. In the Saturday Club the membership tickets admit to all recitals. The club has also a study course for its mem- bers, conducted by prominent musicians of this Coast. In 1911, Albert I. Elkus gave a course of twelve lectures on music, with musi- cal illustrations.

Among the most famous artists of the world who have appeared under the patronage of the club are : Moriz Rosenthal, Mme. Bloomfield- Zeisler, Camilla Urso, Katherine Ruth Hey- man (a Sacramentan), Edward McDowell, Mlle. de Lussan, Madame Schumann-Heink, Josef Hofmann, Wilhelm Heinrich, Nordica and the Russ Orchestra, David Bispham, the Kneisel Quartette, Mary Louise Clary, Denis O'Sullivan, the Westminister Choir, Jan Ku- belik, Claude Cunningham, Ossip Gabrilo- witsch, Johanna Gadski, Herbert Wither- spoon, Bruce Gordon Kingsley, Teresa Careno, Fritz Kreisler, Emilio de Gorgoza, Josef Lhe- vinne, Antonio de Grassi, the Flonzaley Quar- tette, Antonio Scotti, Jaroslav Kocian, Rhein- hold Von Warlich, the Russian Symphony, Tettrazzini, Arthur Hackett, Alice Gentle. Sophie Braslau, Albert Spaulding, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Henri Scott, May Peterson, Chamber Music Society of San Francisco, Mabel Garrison, Efrem Zimbalist, Leopold Godowsky, Harold Bauer, Evan Wil- liams, Alma Gluck, Zoellner Quartet, Olga Steeb, Barrère Ensemble, Maud Powell, Frances Alda, Florence Macbeth, Percy Grain- ger, Frances Ingram, Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Caroline Lazzari, Alfred Cortot, Salzédo Harp Ensemble, Anna Case, Mary Jordan, Mischa Levitzki, Philharmonic Orches- tra of Los Angeles, Leo Ornstein, and Freida Hempel. The program for 1923-1924, the most ambitious offered by the club during its exist-

ence. includes the names of Amelita Galli- Curci, Tita Schipa, Queena Mario, Ferenc Vescey, Josef Schwarz, Ethel Leginska, and Horace Britt, and the London String Quartet.

The Artist Recitals are always looked for- ward to with great anticipation by the entire membership, being both delightful and profit- able, and an incentive to the active and student membership; but it is the Home Days that keep the club spirit alive. The program on Home Days is given by the active member- ship, each member appearing twice during the season ; and a program analysis is given by one of the literary members. The club has always paid the artist talent all that the treas- ury would allow, and when a famous Califor- nian revisits the Coast, he or she is invited to make application for a date. Through its activities, the club has undoubtedly done more for the musical life of Sacramento than any other influence. It is difficult to appreciate the musical apathy that prevailed in the city be- fore its inception. Famous artists came here a few times, and met with disappointment. Two years before the club was organized, De Pachmann played to an audience of thirty people.

The club is recognized throughout the United States as one of the leading musical organizations of the country. It is conducted on the highest artistic plane, and numbers many able musicians in its membership. By a writer in the Philadelphia "Etude," its con- stitution and by-laws have been recommended "to every club about to organize or desirous of being more successful than it is."

Among workers who have given long and active service are: Mrs. Albert Elkus, for many years a member of the board and presi- dent for some years, who was paid the cour- tesy of election as honorary president. She is the mother of the composer-pianist, Albert Elkus, and is a pianist of great ability, having played with the Scheel Orchestra in 1895. Mrs. Frank Miller was the club's first presi- dent, and was re-elected three times. Mrs. William Ellery Briggs was president for three terms. Miss Maud Blue, now Mrs. Eugene Pitts, was the club's youngest president, and held office for two years. Mrs. J. A. Moynihan presided over the club for three years. Mrs. Francis Moeller was secretary for five years, and was one of the vice-presidents when she passed away in February of 1912. Mrs. Louise Gavigan was the president from 1910 to 1913; Mrs. Edward H. Norman, 1913-1916; Mrs. Charles Mering, 1916-1918; Mrs. Robert H. Hawley, 1918 to the present time. These, as well as many members not named, have been faithful workers for the welfare of the club.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

Young Men's Christian Association

The Young Men's Christian Association was organized on October 3, 1866, and elected offi- cers as follows: N. N. Denton, president ; H. B. Eddy, secretary; and M. L. Templeton, treasurer. Twenty-six names were enrolled at the time of organization. At a subsequent meeting on October 22, 1866, at the Congre- gational Church, the organization was com- pleted by electing other officers, as follows: Sparrow Smith, corresponding secretary ; George Wick, librarian ; H. W. Earl, registrar ; G. W. Bruff, Seth Babson, A. Aitken, J. M. Ripley, G. W. Bonner, board of managers ; and the following vice-presidents : Frank Miller (Congregational Church), G. R. For- shee (Sixth Street Methodist Church), A. Aitken (Presbyterian Church), C. Emery (Baptist Church), and Henry Garrett (Chris- tian Church).

The association died down in 1877 and 1878, but was soon after revived. Its headquarters were at No. 309 K Street, the St. George Building, and on the west side of Sixth Street, between K and L.

A splendid new building costing $200,000 was erected by the association in 1912, on the northeast corner of Fifth and J Streets, where all its departments are conducted. The asso- ciation has a strong and growing membership, and its influence is widely felt. Charles M. Brownell is the general secretary.

Young Women's Christian Association

In 1891 nine women of Sacramento met at the suggestion of Mrs. G. A. Stoddard for the purpose of organizing a branch of the Young Women's Christian Association. It was the first organization of its kind in California ; and the first year more than 200 inembers were enrolled. The first officers were: Mrs. Mary J. Mayhew, president ; Mrs. G. A. Stoddard, vice- president ; Miss Marie Carrington, secretary : and Miss Minnie Bashley, treasurer.

At the present time the officers of the asso- ciation are: Mrs. F. B. Gillett, president ; Mrs. W. F. Sperry, vice-president : Miss G. Louise Flaa, secretary ; Mrs. C. B. Bills, treasurer. The officers, together with the following ladies, constitute the board of directors: Mrs. H. W. Funke, Mrs. A. B. Taylor, Mrs. George Yoerk, Mrs. S. F. McAnear, Mrs. J. Thebaut, Mrs. Jack Leam, Mrs. Frederick Evans, Mrs. Frank Belhouse. Mrs. Mary Ball, Mrs. Tucker, Miss Anita Nathanson, Mrs. C. E. Jarvis, and Mrs. Weida.

During its thirty-two years of service in Sacramento, the association has ministered to many girls through its various departments. Perhaps its most important service has been given through the boarding-homes for girls, which have been maintained steadily through

the years. Other departments of the work. which have varied from time to time, are the cafeteria, educational programs, gymnasium, travelers' aid, girls' clubs and religious work.

The association management maintains a home for young women at 1517 MI Street. The residence accommodates twenty-two girls, and seldom is a room vacant. As the housing facil- ities are entirely inadequate to the demand. a large room registry file is kept, which serves a double purpose. It accommodates the house- wife with one or two rooms to let, and it accommodates the girl who comes to the asso- ciation looking for a room. At present 200 rooms are listed. Every room has been inspected by a worker, and can be intelligently recommended.

On the rear of the lot at 1517 MI Street the board of directors have recently had erected a bungalow club house. Here meetings of many kinds are held, the most frequent being those of the grade- and high-school girls' clubs of the Girl Reserves.

The board of directors employ a staff of six secretaries : a General Secretary, Business Sec- retary. Travelers' Aid and Membership Secre- tary, Activities and Room Registry Secretary, Girl Reserve Secretary and House Secretary. These paid workers promote the work of the various departments and committees. In addi- tion to the Boarding-Home and Girl Reserves, already mentioned, one of the most outstand- ing pieces of work undertaken is that carried on in the travelers' aid and emergency depart- inent. Telegrams are received and sent north, south, east and west in regard to travelers who are met on trains here in Sacramento and assisted to their various destinations. In this work every age, nationality and human condi- tion are met and assisted.

The property at 1517 M Street is being pur- chased by the board of directors; and it is their earnest hope and expectation that before many months have passed they will be able to so enlarge their plant that they can offer the young women of Sacramento adequate hous- ing facilities, club rooms, dining-rooms, gym- nasium, swimming-pool, and all other reason- able advantages so necessary in the busy lives of girls today.

California State Fair

The California State Agricultural Society goes back to the year 1854, when Sacramento held its first annual state fair. During the month of September. 1922, the sixty-eighth successful exposition was held in the capital city.

The California State Fair has grown until it is declared by officials who have made a study of such annual events to hold second place in the entire United States, both in size and in value of the products exhibited, being

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surpassed only by the Minnesota State Fair, which excels by reason of greater state appro- priations for adequate buildings and space for exhibitions. At an expenditure of over $300,- 000 several years ago, the State Fair Grounds were considerably enhanced by the erection of a magnificent fireproof Horticultural Building, in which each year are shown the products from the leading producing counties of Cali- fornia, including the rich horticultural, agri- cultural, and dairy exhibits, and displays of minerals and other specimens. The fruit dis- play in 1921 was declared by the leading authorities of the country to be the best ever assembled in any country on the globe. The livestock exhibit, with animals worth approxi- mately $2,000,000, also was a big feature of the sixty-seventh annual exposition. Each suc- ceeding year the quality of the exhibits is im- proved and a larger number of entries in all classes are made.

In 1854, a bill was introduced into the legis- lature incorporating the society. At that time mining was the leading and almost the only industry in the state, and W. S. Letcher said, in reporting favorably on the bill, "It is a measure the provisions of which will act upon every interest, affect all classes of our citizens, and touch with electric power every branch of industry throughout the state." The bill was approved May 13, 1854, and the sum of $5,000 a year for five years was appropriated for the support of the society. The first fair was held at San Francisco October 4, 1854, and the amount of premiums given was $4,000.

A convention was called and met at Sacra- mento April 25, 1855, being attended by the foremost agriculturists throughout the state, and addressed by distinguished citizens. The second state fair was held at Sacramento and $6,550 was paid in premiums. It was held in the assembly chamber of the State Capitol, and all the exhibits were displayed on two tables, each fifty feet long, and two oval tables for the cereals. The Sacramento "Daily Union" stated, while speaking of the exhibits at the fair, that a Durham bull had arrived from Sutter County. Two apples from San Jose and two seedling peaches from Coloma were also mentioned. General Hutchinson in his address proudly asserted that 2,000,000 bushels of various grains had been produced in the Sacramento Valley.

At the fair in 1854, horses, cattle, swine, sheep and poultry were in the animal show opened at the Mission. At the second fair in Sacramento the cattle show was at the Louisi- ana Race-track, a place afterwards widely known and now well remembered by old Sac- ramentans. The three succeeding fairs were held respectively at San Jose, Stockton and Marysville. In 1859, the fair was again held

at Sacramento, the cattle show being on the blocks between O and L, Eleventh and Twelfth Streets. An evidence of the early de- termination of stock-breeders to procure the best and highest-bred strains is shown in that at this fair Mr. Peterson of Alameda sold a French merino ram for $1,500, and a ram, "Crystal Palace," that took first prize at the World's Exposition in Paris, for $1,500. Be- sides these, he sold thirty French merino rams and ewes for $12,000, a total of $15,000 for thirty-two head of sheep. In 1860 the state fair was permanently located at this city.

Up to this year the society possessed no stock grounds, but in 1861 six blocks of land were purchased by Sacramento citizens and presented to the society. The streets were closed and a high brick wall enclosed about twenty acres. Stalls and stables for about 400 animals were constructed, and a half-mile track laid out. In 1862 the people of Sacra- mento raised enough money to purchase six more blocks for the society. The streets were closed and a five-mile track constructed. It became the favorite drive with owners of fine horses, and Governor Stanford, among others, was led into racing and breeding fine stock. This track was on a level at the time when Governor Stanford's horse "Occident" made his famous time of 2:1614, and he suggested that the outer side of the track be raised in order to keep up the momentum of speed while the horses were turning curves. The society had no money for the work, so Governor Stan- ford ordered it done at an expense of $2,000, refusing reimbursement. He asked, however, that the society annually offer an "Occident Stake," which has been done since, this race for colts being one of the features of the fair.

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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 39

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