History of San Joaquin County, California : with biographical sketches of leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 3

Author: Tinkham, George H. (George Henry), b. 1849
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1660

USA > California > San Joaquin County > History of San Joaquin County, California : with biographical sketches of leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 3

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Wurster, Fred W. 943

Weyand, G. 1604

Wheeler, William Earl. 1605

Ylarraz, Nick 1452

Young, Wesley Albert. 1012

Young, William J., M. D. 500

Young, William L. 764

1624

Vogelsang, Otto M. 644

Wilder, Wirt Eldred. 1060

Ziegler, William J. 364

Zinck, Fay Reed. 967

Zitlau, August

456

Von Sosten, William F

1016

Wilkinson, Lauren E.

591

Wilkinson, Thomas 591

Wilkinson, Thomas Edgar 591

Williams, Ansel S .. 551

Williams, Charles Edmund. 948

Williams, Clifton C. 1255

Williams, David 1063

Williams, E. Guy, D. D. S .. 1348

Williams, Edwin A. 614

Williams, Robert Franklin 988

Williams, Robert Georgia. 1558

Williamson, Herbert E. 552

Williamson, Thaddeus E. 1140

Wallace, B. C. 404

Wallace, Gerald Beatty 534

Wallace, Minard 1219

Wallace, Peter J. 1579

Walling, Luther C. 1526

Walter, Carl A.

984

Waltz, Dudley I.

661

Ward, Lafe

1510

Wisler, Lester Orville. 1024

Wisner, E. T. 1605

Wittmeier. Edward 1623

Wolf, Andrew 686 ·

Wolf, David 1208

Weaver, Kyle H.

1509

Wolf, Everett H. 957

Wolf, George 1356

Wollam, William B 759

Weber, John K. 1603

-Webster, Joshua Bertram 420

1447

Woock, Julius

1380

Welsh, Clark Garrett 720

Wencel, Paul 1604

Wenzelburger, Chris 1527

Woodruff, Edgar 583

Woods, Clarence L. 1528

Woods, Dervin K. 567

Woods, Ezekiel Williamson

Van Pelt, Edwin S. 626

Van Til, Clarence. 1510

Van Vranken, Edward 1231

West Side Union High School 1020

Ventre, Lawrence L 1589

West, Warwick W 1019

Vickroy, Harvey E 643

Villiborghi, Lewis 1100

Villinger, Fred H. 1590

Villinger, Leon, Sr. 489

White, John Cox 1151

White, Joseph G .. 1036

Vinet, Joseph P. 472

Vinet, Peter 472

Wigginton, George 936

Wilcox, R. R .. 1511

Yroz, Domingo

Vollbrecht, Charles W 1590

Wilhoit, George Ewell. 360

Wilhoit, Mrs. Jessie Lee 360

Vomburg, Mrs. Lucy 1171

Wilhoit, John Newton 363

Von Glahn, Borchert H 1557

INDEX

Wadsworth, George 1032

Wagers, James W. 1252

Wagner, Charles 575

Wagner, Edward C. 568

Wagner, Jacob 412

Wagner, Solomon 1112

Wakefield, Andrew Eugene 1059

Wakefield, Jesse W 1155

Walker, Harold 1187

Wall, Fred F. 1384

Willis, George 496

Willis, Herbert Q., M. D. 1179

Wilson, Edward P 638

Wilson, Mrs. Mary Ann. 382

Wilson, Orrin C. 715

Wilson, William H. 1052

Wardrobe, Alfred D. 887

Watkins, Alfred Gwynne 596

Watkins, John P. 1060

Weber, Capt. Charles M.

340

Weber, Charles Oscar

999

Woock, Herbert

928

Wehr, Mrs. Nellie.

Woock, Walter R 1340

Woodhull, Lloyd R 1188

Wenzelburger, Fred 1527

Werner, David 1511

West, Joseph S., M. D. 437

West Side Irrigation District. 1155

White, Corwin Douglass 1228

Vincent, Walter 1509

Wiederrich, John R 1352

Vischi, Gabriel J., M. D. 1187

Vollbrecht, Herman 1039

Wilhoit, Roley E. 359

Zornig, Peter

1511

Sao H Hankhan

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

By George H. Tinkham

CHAPTER I

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, THE GATEWAY OF THE VALLEY

N ATURE, in her creative work, designed San Joaquin County as the gateway of the great San Joaquin Valley. The slope of the land proves this. If it were pos- sible to start rolling a large ball from the head waters of the Sacramento River, unob- structed by bush, tree, hill or river, it would land at a point not many miles distant from Stockton. A ball set rolling from the head- waters of the San Joaquin River would stop at nearly the same point. These two rivers rising in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, nearly 300 miles apart, flow into Suisun Bay, an air- line distance from Stockton of less than thirty miles. The slope of the Sierras is towards this point, as is proven by the rivers' flow. The Sacramento River flows less than ten miles from the northwest boundary of San Joaquin County; and into it flow the waters of the Cosumnes and the Mokelumne rivers. The Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced and Fresno rivers flow into the San Joaquin River, whose waters ever flowing only three miles from Stockton, mingle with the waters of the mighty Pacific. Hence, as I have stated, Nature planned this county as the Central California gateway to the ocean and in the future it is destined to become one of the largest popu- lated sections in the United States.

This valley, or basin, as it is often called, 250 miles in length and averaging fifty miles in width, was at one period an inland sea. Its waters for ages beat against the foothills of the Sierras and washed the hills of the Coast Range. In course of time, says the Indian legend, "the mountain tops burned red, the earth shook and trembled, the mountains broke asunder, and the waters ran out into the ocean." Where did the Indians learn this legend? It seems like a dream or the fanciful imagination of a disordered mind. The truth of the legend is proven, however, by geological

evidence. Along the base of the Sierras there are many indications to a scientific student that this valley was in the ages past beneath the waters. Oyster and clam shells have been found in the foothills and the imprints of fish upon the rocks. E. L. Flower, born at Knights Ferry and a student of geology, says in that locality that the cobble stones are all polished and rounded by water action, and no rough edged stones are found. Fish imprints have been found, he states, and at one time in a pebble stone, broken open, the imprint of a crab was seen .. Another close observer of the creative period of California, E. L. Branch, says in his History of Stanislaus County, "If a person goes from Knights Ferry to Dry Creek, he will observe along the hillside three water marks, at different heights, just as if it had been a lake. Those marks can be seen for many miles. When in early days the soil had not been plowed up, it was covered with little knolls and sand just as may be seen in the bottom of lakes." As to the Indian legend "that the mountain tops burned red" we have proof of that even in our own day. Within the past three years, Mt. Lassen, in Lassen County, has been belching out fire and smoke, and throwing out acres of lava into the valley. Scientists tell us that Mt. Diablo and Mt. Tamalpais are extinct volcanoes. As to the earthquakes splitting the mountain asunder, ask the citizens of San Francisco regarding their experience of the earthquake that oc- curred in April, 1906.

Before the creator can create, he must have the material at hand. And millions of years before this valley become dry land the Sierra Nevadas had been thrown up by volcanic erup- tions, miles in height. We have ample proof of this in the granite and sandstone found at Columbia, products of that period of which the Bible speaks when it says, "In the begin-

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

ning God created the heavens and the earth." by the hundreds roaming over the plains, and, The Coast Range was formed in the later part although later driven to the mountains, they were there ruthlessly killed for their hides. As late as December, 1881, it is recorded, "Williams & Moore yesterday shipped 540 deer hides. During the past two months, the firm has shipped over a thousand hides." of the secondary period. There soft coal is found, a product of vegetable matter that had been buried for time indefinite. Time passed ; by means of glaciers, icebergs, avalanches, snow slides and heavy rains, Nature began sending debris into the valley below. After a Along the river banks wild roses grew in great profusion, and strawberry and black- berry bushes. The blackberry bushes were filled with berries and in the fall of the year the pioneers would form picnic parties and go blackberrying. Chinamen would gather the berries and hawk them about the street. Well do I remember one little Chinaman waddling along with his heavy baskets, one in front and one behind him, upheld by a bamboo pole, crying out in his piping voice "black-ba leese." The adobe belt was covered with a literal forest of white and live oaks. In Stockton there were thousands of these trees- time shrubs, plants and trees grew upon the new-made earth. Then they disappeared, cov- ered by mountains of new soil. Through aeons of time, this soil-building continued until the Sierras were worn down to the present height, an average of probably 6,000 feet. The soil has been deposited over the inland lake to a depth unknown. Borings have been made in this county to a depth of 2,000 feet with no indications of any different type of soil than mountain soil. How many years was Nature at work in the building up of the valley we have not the remotest idea, except from the great flood of 1862. In that year the entire valley was covered with water for nearly two And along the streets from out the sighing trees The song birds caroled sweetly to the breeze. weeks, and during that time the soil was cov- ered with debris from one to four inches in depth. Old Mother Earth is still soil-building along the river bottoms, and upon the swampy lands. The rivers are fast filling up from the debris brought down by the spring floods- even San Francisco Bay is filling up-and one of the great problems of the day is how to keep our navigable rivers from destruction.

Nature having practically finished her work, let us view it as the first discoverers beheld it. Albert C. Parker, the son of a pioneer, gave a very pleasing description in the opening lines of his poem :

Snow-capped Sierras to the eastward rise; Their rugged peaks uplifted to the skies, And in the west, bedecked in emerald hue, Low rolling hills lie mirrored in the blue; Like sentinels of old these ranges, twain, Guard well the borders of a broad domain; And down the poppied way that lies between In silent grandeur flows the San Joaquin.

In this county on the return of Spring, Nature carpeted the soil with wild flowers of every variety and color, and with a fragrant perfume the air was heavy laden. In those days grass, filaree, oats and clover grew luxu- riantly, and in some localities, especially along the Calaveras River, the grass grew over six feet in height. It was the hiding place of squirrels, rabbits, quail and other small game, and the food of thousands of wild animals, in- cluding elk, deer, antelopes, bears and moun- tain lions. Coyotes or wild dogs were also plentiful, and as late as 1850 a lodger in the town complained that "the coyotes have al- ready become vociferous and their hungry barking has nightly disturbed our slumbers for some nights past." Deer also were seen

There were thousands of these blackbirds in the tree tops and sweetly they sang. They ob- tained much of their food from the barley wasted by the teamsters in feeding their mules upon the streets. The press in referring to them said, "Blackbirds are thick in the suburbs (now Sutter and Weber Avenue) and almost as gentle as barn fowl, but they are fast being reduced, as the Kanakas and Frenchman are shooting them for food." These birds were with us, singing throughout the day, until about 1870; then some wise individual im- ported and turned loose a number of male and female English sparrows. Propagating fast and being very aggressive they drove out all of the native birds.

Returning to the forest of oaks, they varied in size from slender saplings to gigantic trees three feet in diameter and with an average height of forty feet. Some of these oaks were growing when in 1492 Columbus discovered America, while others are not over one hun- dred years of age. Thousands of those majes- tic oaks that have braved the storms of many a century were cut down for firewood. For over twenty years they supplied the homes, flour mills, factories and steamboats with fuel. In the flood of 1862 over one hundred cords of white oak, piled upon the river bank for steam- er use, were swept onward to the Golden Gate. Single or small groups of these trees are still growing in various parts of the city and county. In the State Asylum grounds there is a grove of some thirty trees as truly in their natural state as when the wild Indians passed beneath their shade. There is another grove, now a public resort, called "Good Water Grove."" What is the age of these trees?

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Experts claim that the largest are at least 500 years old. There is one oak tree now growing in the rear of the Christian Science Church on Flora Street whose age we positively know. It is the usual height, forty feet, and nine inches in diameter six feet from the ground. It has grown from an acorn planted by little Miss Nettie Van Valear on April 15, 1865, in her father's garden, in memory of President Lincoln, who was assassinated the previous evening by John Wilkes Booth.

The Spring Floods

Upon the Mokelumne River, near Lockeford, benches of land were formed; they are dry and very productuve during the summer months, but they are completely covered with water during the spring season. The Calaveras River, a dry canal eight months of the year, becomes a deep rushing torrent of water during the spring thaw of snow. Lapham and Mackie, who made a soil survey of the Stockton area in 1906, reported in regard to the Calaveras River, "About one-half of the area surveyed consists of the valley-plain proper, at one time covered by the waters of an ancient pleistocene lake or bay. The central part is traversed in a general southwesterly direction by the Cala- veras River and Mormon Channel, the waters of which enter the San Joaquin a little below Stockton. Mormon Channel is a branch of the Calaveras River, which it leaves a short distance outside of the northeastern extremity of the area (Bellota) and now carries nearly all of the water which at one time found its way through the Calaveras River. The bed of the lower course of the Mormon Channel is filled to the depth of many feet by detritus de- rived from the waste of the mountains, which is frequently carried by winter and spring floods into the still waters of Stockton Chan- nel, forming bars and impeding navigation or entirely blocking the harbor until removed." The Mormon Channel in the season of the heaviest freshets, before the arrival of the pioneers, overflowed its north bank at what is now Hazelton Avenue and Stanislaus Street, and cutting a deep channel to the northwest, emptied into Stockton Channel at Weber Ave- nue and Hunter Street. Stockton Channel, which is the most valuable asset of the city and county, and which empties into the San Joaquin River, extended eastward some two miles. It was formed by the overflow from Mormon Channel. The flow of melting snows from the Sierras was so heavy at times that hundreds of shallow water courses were formed; dry in summer, but wet and boggy in winter, these water courses made a com- plete network of shallow streams. Along the banks of the deepest waterways a continuous line of high land existed, making dry spots

for the pioneers in springtime. I have recorded the condition of this city in the beginning that we may see the wonderful progress that has been made in land filling during the past years.

The Tule Land

To the west of the high land there are thou- sands of acres of peat or tule land, estimated by Surveyor C. D. Gibbs in 1850 at 133,000 acres. This soil, which was covered with water a large part of the year, was Nature's last work. And she continued building up the land, very slowly, it is true, until man stopped the work by reclamation. It is now known as the Holland of America. Lapham, in describing this soil, says, "In typical section the soil consists of six feet or more of fine alluvial river and tidal silts, intimately com- mingled with partially decayed vegetable mat- ter, undecomposed plant roots, stems, and fibers occurring in great profusion. This mate- rial is dark brown to black, of an exceedingly smooth and pasty consistency when wet, of spongy texture and generally saturated with water at a depth of two or three feet. This tule or peat land became, during the winter season, the feeding place of thousands of ducks and geese that flew from the north at the first approach of the Arctic winters. Then every- body that could fire a shotgun went hunting. They had not far to go. Where now stands the Crown Flour Mills was all tules, and I have known Frank Giovanessi, a dead shot, to leave his home at sundown and return two hours later loaded down with game. Ducks were so plentiful that in November, 1859, "Over the city in flocks, thousands of ducks and geese are flying, and their 'honk, honk' may be heard night and day. Hank Saunders shot thirty-nine ducks and geese and the fol- lowing day he got forty-two. Ducks are sell- ing at 25 cents a pair." Now they are selling at one dollar a pair and scarce at that price. There are now no general feeding places for ducks, as the swamp land has all been re- claimed or sold to corporations. And the only men who can hunt game are members of gun clubs who have money to purchase reserva- tions. One of the beautiful sights annually occuring in the fall of the year was the burn- ing of miles and miles of tules. They were set on fire by the hunters to clear the land and drive out the game, making it easier to locate a flock of ducks or geese. It was indeed a beautiful sight, especially at night-"the ocean of fire," as one writer expressed it- when the flames rushing along at racehorse speed, licking up with their red-forked tongues the dry tules. One writer of that day said, "The most magnificent spectacle we have ever witnessed delighted us on Tuesday last. The morning opened with a cloudy sky and a stiff

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

wind was blowing from the northwest, which increased in velocity as the day advanced. About ten o'clock huge columns of smoke arose from the banks of the San Joaquin, which in time became so dense it flung a shadow upon the earth. The vast flames quickly spread, fanned by the wind and soon the en- tire land was a vast conflagration. But it was as the evening set in that the picture presented its sublimest aspect. The red glare shot across the heavens and was reflected again upon the city and 'all men stood and gazed.'"

These annual fires continued perhaps twice or three times a year until along in the eighties. Often they were very annoying, especially when the wind was from the west, as the streets and the housetops would be thickly sprinkled with burned tules. The family wash- ing hung out to dry would become so smutted that it would have to be again rinsed out in clean water, and the small boys would have a jolly time blackening their own and the other fellow's face.

In the tules and along the river banks might be found thousands of raccoons, otter, badger, beaver and other fur bearing animals. Beaver were plentiful in that region, as late as 1870. Robert Dykeman, a hunter, trapped 256 of the valuable fur-bearing animals, and also shot large quantities of game for market. The beaver was found on French Camp slough, and attracted to that locality the trappers of the Hudson Bay Company, an English cor- portation. The streams abounded in fish, and they were so plentiful that a directory pub- lished in 1852 said, "The Stockton Channel and the San Joaquin River contain an abund- ance of fish. There are salmon, trout, stur- geon, and an infinite variety of smaller kinds to the heart's content. We have seen children stand on the city wharves and fill their baskets with small fish in the course of an hour, amid the commerce. The salmon has a delicious flavor, and the trout is as delicate as an Apicius might desire." It was great sport for many boys to go fishing, perch being the principal fish caught. Richard Reibenstein and others would tell of their catching perch where now stands the Hotel Stockton, the Weber Hole, as it was called for many years. Some thirty years ago the Government began propagating black bass. Later a large number were placed in the Stockton Channel. From some cause, soon after, the perch all disappeared and none have since been seen. Up to the middle seven- ties salmon and halibut were sold in the fish markets at 121/2 cents a pound. Sometimes an Italian would land at the wharf with a whale- boat load and sell them like hot cakes at from 50 cents to $1 each, according to size. Then came the fish corporations and they stopped

the cheap sale of fish. Now with thousands of tons of fish in the rivers and ocean it is higher priced than the first cuts of meat.

Underground Springs

The water flowing over the land was not the only supply of Nature. Through the earth there runs thousands of streams of clear water from mountain to sea; these streams are fed by the springs, lakes and acres of melting snow that percolates through the soil. Here in San Joaquin, water for domestic purposes may be found at a depth of twenty feet. The best drinking water, clear and cool is found at a depth of from fifty to eighty feet. The nearer the mountains naturally the deeper must be the well, and in the extreme eastern part of the county wells were dug to a depth of sixty or more feet, and walled up with brick or rock. Then in early days the old-fashioned windlass was used, and "the old oaken bucket that hung by the well" has been replaced by turbine wheels which are set in the bottom of the well and the water lifted to the surface. The Italian gardeners, and many persons in Stockton set up windmills for household pur- pose and irrigation. In 1858, before establish- ing the city water works, 256 windmills were counted in the city. Now the farmers and gardeners use gasoline engines, and extensive irrigation is carried on by this means.

Some idea of the depth of the soil, with which Nature filled this valley, and the depth of water is best given by illustration. In 1854 an artesian well was bored in Stockton on the west side of the Court House Square, but they discontinued work at a depth of 200 feet for lack of money, although water was found the entire distance. The following year work was not continued, because someone had dropped a large stone into the well and it could not be dislodged. A new well, twenty feet distant from the first well, was bored to a depth of 1,000 feet, at a cost of $10,000. Now by the use of improved machinery they cost 50 per cent less than by the hand labor of early day. Through the entire distance the auger brought up only fine gravel, clay and sand, which in the classification of the geologist in- dicates a late formation of the soil, five thou- sand years or more ago. At a depth of 340 feet the auger bored through a redwood stump. During 1919 an artesian well was bored at the Pacific tannery, located on what was formally the bank of a water channel. The well was sunk 280 feet and at a depth of 170 feet, the auger passed through the limb of a tree. In the courthouse well, from a depth of 340 feet, the water was forced to within three feet of the surface; at a depth of 560 feet the water arose three feet above the earth, and at 910 feet a body of water was forced up seven feet

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

in height. The temperature of the water aver- aged 77 degrees F. in summer and winter. Down 500 feet a strong smell of gas was no- ticeable, and upon the completion of the well this gas was confined and found to be a fair quality of illuminating gas. There are now several hundred artesian wells in the couty; included in the number are twenty-seven ar- tesian wells from which Stockton receives its water supply, for domestic, manufacturing and fire purposes. These wells vary in diameter from twelve to twenty inches, and in depth from 250 to 800 feet. By means of their large pumps the corporation can furnish 17,000,000 gallons of water a day, water, save for a little sulphur in the winter season, the purest and healthiest in the state. Salt water is found at a depth of 1,000 feet, this positively showing that the mountain greets the sea. There are in Stockton several gas wells, the gas being used for illuminating, heating and cooking purposes. The pioneer gas well was bored by Cutler Salmon at his ranch home two miles east of French Camp. The well was bored for the purpose of obtaining a good supply of water, but sufficient gas was found to furnish him a supply for lighting and cooking purposes.

A Climate Unsurpassed

Travelers tell us that the climate of San Joaquin is equal to or superior to the climate of Naples, Italy; that the climate is unsur- passed for its salubrity, comfort and health- fulness goes without saying. So mild is the winter season roses bloom throughout the year, and almond trees are in bud in February. In the Court House Square there are palm trees growing throughout the year; as this is a strictly tropical plant it causes surprise to strangers who know not the equability of the climate. Orange trees blossom and the fruit forms and ripens during the early spring. As to the seasons we have but two, summer and winter ; the warm weather begins in March, the fields are covered with wild flowers, the early fruit trees begin budding and the garden plants are again in color. Easter finds a wealth of flowers of every shape and hue. From March until November we have sunshine and cool westerly winds with a varying temperature from 60 to 104 degrees. The warmest months are July and August. There are clouds, occa- sional rains and heavy dew in April, May and October. The winter season begins in No- vember and ends in February. The only cold months are December and January, the month last named being the coldest, the thermome- ter occasionally dropping below the freezing point. The 1920-21 winter was an open winter and water was frozen four times only during the season. The rainfall during the spring and winter season varies from ten to fifteen

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History of San Joaquin County, California : with biographical sketches of leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 3

Author: Tinkham, George H. (George Henry), b. 1849 Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1660

Author: Tinkham, George H. (George Henry), b. 1849
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1660