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 41

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 41

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stepped to the front and presented them with a beautiful silk flag, a gift from her father. The flag, which cost $100, was bordered with heavy gold fringe, and an eagle surmounted the staff, from which hung gold cord and tas- sels.

The Cadets had been drilling faithfully, ex- pecting to march in Stockton behind their flag in their first Fourth of July parade, but on that day they were in Sacramento. The Fourth of July committee of that city invited the cad- ets to parade and, as in the last week of June there were no indications of a celebration in Stockton, Captain Lehe accepted the invita- tion. In the meantime, just five days before the Fourth, the foremen of the Fire Depart- ment met and resolved to have a celebration. The following evening there was a mass meet- ing of citizens, and they made a special re- quest to the Stockton Guards, the Rifle Cad- ets, and the St. Aloysius Cadets to remain in this city July 4th. Now there was trouble. The procrastination of the citizens had caused the band to accept an engagement to Modesto, and Lehe had promised to visit Sacramento. Most of the cadets were anxious to go to the Capital, and their parents saw no reason why they should not go. Considerable feeling was aroused, and the committee tried to persuade Lehe to remain in Stockton, but he said: "No, siree. You fellows have been dangling along here for the last two weeks and now since you're going to have a celebration you want me to go back on my word. Not much." A few of the cadets, probably at the request of their parents, remained at home and were in the parade with Captain Hickman in com- mand. On the morning of the Fourth in a special train, accompanied by a detachment of the Guards, the cadets, fifty-eight strong, in command of Lieutenant Mosely, went to Sac- ramento with their well drilled drum corps, .consisting of Albert Parker, John Yardley, Robert Bond, George Cornwall, E. Lissenden, Ed. Brown, and Sam Elliott. On arrival they were received by the Sacramento military companies and Rifle Cadets and escorted to the Golden Eagle Hotel. The Stockton boys were the feature of the procession. During the afternoon they passed in review before Generals Heran and. Walsh and Major Clunie and staff. That night in the hotel they raised the old Nick. Imagining themselves upon the field of battle, the pillows flew, and not satis- fied with that, they cut slits in the pillow cases, and then the feathers flew. When the landlord came with an array of servants to quell the riot, oh, what a sight! The boys had a fine time, however, and on reaching home the following day they were escorted to their armory by the St. Aloysius Cadets.

The Emmet Guard

This company was organized in 1879 and was named after the Irish patriot. It was an independent company, receiving no money from the state. In order to purchase arms and uniforms it gave social parties, the first of these being given in the Turnverein hall. J. J. Nunan, first lieutenant of the Stockton Guards, was elected captain of the new com- pany, which eventually become Company B of the National Guards. Captain Nunan found the Irish boys full of life and bubbling over at times with native wit and action, but he soon succeeded in disciplining the Emmets and per- fecting them in the manual of arms. In token of their esteem in May, 1885, they presented him with a costly sword and belt, Congress- man James H. Budd making the presentation speech. A few years later they gave him a beautiful watch. In September of that year the company held its first public dress parade on the grounds in front of the new asylum. Preceded by a band, the soldiers marched to the grounds and, pitching their tents, named it Camp Hadley after Brigadier-General Had- ley. After inspection drill and parade, they returned to the armory, where Father O'Con- nor, in a nicely worded speech, presented them with free tickets to an entertainment held that evening in the hall by the Catholic ladies.

The St. Aloysius Cadets

These cadets were a company of boys from ten to fifteen years of age, organized under the direction of Father Riordan, of St. Mary's Church. The lads were provided with light blue uniforms trimmed with red and white, and musketoons (real guns that would shoot). They were drilled by Lieutenant Nunan, and on their first appearance in public, St. Pat- rick's Day, 1887, they were the most conspicu- ous feature of the procession. Between the St. Aloysius Cadets, who were mostly stu- dents of the Catholic school, and the Rifle Cadets there was much friendly rivalry, and in September, 1878, a feature of the San Joaquin Valley Fair was a drill contest be- tween the two companies. The association of- fered two prizes, a gold and a silver medal for the best and second best drilled cadet com- pany. The Rifle Cadets took position first and went through the Upton tactics with pre- cision and handled their musketoons and marched like veterans. The St. Aloysius Cad- ets, who averaged younger than the others, then appeared and went through the same drill. Captain Nunan, drillmaster of the St. Aloysius Cadets, was especially proud of their proficiency in the bayonet drill, but it had been agreed before the contest that it should

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not count because the Rifle Cadets had not been trained in it. Merely as an exhibition, however, the younger boys were allowed to give the bayonet drill, and it captured the crowd which repeatedly cheered the perform- ance of the various exercises which even adults find difficult to perform correctly. The judges then held a consultation and awarded the first prize to the St. Aloysius Cadets. A prize of $100 had been subscribed by the citizens, and this was divided between the two companies.

The Moquelemos Grant War

The affair between Sheriff Cunningham and the settlers on the Moquelemos grant was somewhat similar to the "squatter" affairs of early day. There was a dispute regarding a certain piece of land as to its ownership. It had been on trial in the court, and the deci- sion had been against the settlers. There was a stand of wheat upon the land in dispute, and the settlers wanted to thresh the grain and also haul away some 250 sacks already threshed. The sheriff, so ordered by the Court, was anxious to perform the same job. Finally two men named Lynch and Hurlburt, who were the leaders of the settlers, informed the sheriff that on the morrow, June 9, 1884, 156 men would go to the Murray field and pro- ceed to cut and thresh the grain. It was the most critical period in the history of San Joaquin County, for this band of well-armed men had defied the sheriff to carry out the Court's orders, and he alone was unable to cope with such a large body of men. Accord- ingly he called upon Brigadier-General Shep- herd to assist him. The General held a con- sultation with Adjutant-Major William Gib- son, and the result was that near the mid- night hour Captains Lehe and Nunan were or- dered to report to Sheriff Cunningham with their commands, the Stockton and Emmet Guards, supplied with the necessary camp equipage and each man with forty rounds of ammunition. Sergeants were sent hurrying over town to notify the men to appear at their armories at 8 o'clock. An hour later the com- panies in wagons started for the field of dis- pute. Sheriff Cunningham rode on in advance of the militia, and on his arrival Deputy Sher- iff Crandell and Atwood reported that every- thing was quiet, though many settlers had as- sembled. The sheriff, approaching the men, read to them the Riot Act. A few minutes later the militia appeared, and one of the set- tlers, an old Grand Army, man, exclaimed : "Boys, it won't do to fire upon the flag. We must give up." The settlers thereupon quiet- ly dispersed. The two companies camped upon the ground and there remained until June 17 and during that time all of the grain

was threshed and hauled away under the sher- iff's direction.

The Centennial Celebration, 1876

Never again will the pioneers see such a magnificent Fourth of July celebration as that of 1876. It was the largest in numbers and the longest continued (three days). In early May the citizens began making arrangements, and J. D. Peters, the financial secretary of the previous year, reported $273 on hand. The council and the supervisors each appropriated $1,000, the citizens subscribed $2,000. Peters gave $500 and about the same amount was derived from entertainments given by the Choral Society and the Dramatic Club. On July 2, which was Sunday, there were patriot- ic services in all of the churches, those of the. Methodists being the most interesting. The following day the merchants handsomely dec- orated their places of business, a triumphal arch, erected over Main Street at a cost of $280, was completed, and the band during the afternoon gave a concert upon the square. In the evening there was a torchlight proces- sion, the Oakland brass band furnishing the music for it. The Stockton Guard and Grand Marshal Peters marched to the train to meet the band and escort the orator, Thomas Fitch, to the hotel. For the occasion Daniel O'Con- nell, the California Irish poet, wrote a poem, the last stanza being as follows: "Then rally, rally everyone; Be out at dawn to see the fun, And shame on any mother's son, That shirks the great Centennial!" On the morning of the Fourth every bell in the city shouted for joy, and early the cannon's roar awoke the populace. The crowds from the mountains and the country assembled early upon the streets, and at 9 o'clock the aides of the Grand Marshall, sixty in number, rode to his resi- dence and surprised him by presenting him with a beautiful Philadelphia sash, bordered with gold lace and having upon it a hand- somely designed shield worked in the silk with gold thread. The presentation speech was made by Van R. Paterson, and Grand Marshal Peters made a brief reply. The procession, which was three and one-half miles in length. was already forming, the first division being in command of John D. McDougall as Mar- shal, with S. S. Burge and J. A. McDougald as aides. In this division was the Stockton Cornet Band, followed by the Guards, Mexi- can Veterans bearing the American and Mexi- can flags, the Pioneers, and William Gelebert, a marine on the Savannah, carrying the flag of the old warship, and the judiciary in car- riages. W. L. Overhiser, with Putnam Visher and George W. Bressler, led the second divi- sion. It was composed of Grangers and their wives and daughters. The third division was in charge of Fingal Hinds, John Kafitz and A.

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F. Naher, with a drum corps in which two Continentals played the fife and drum. The Odd Fellows were with this division. Then came the San Joaquin Silver Band, Jabez Har- ris leader, playing the quickstep of the Fire Department, with Chief Thomas Cunningham as marshal and J. L. Boucher and Charles Whitkopf, aides. The German and the Jew- ish societies formed the fifth division, under the command of William Kierski, with Louis M. Barney and Fred Hahn, aides. In this di- vision there was a wagon bearing plaster of Paris busts of the immortal patriots, Wash- ington, Jefferson, Franklin and Paine, togeth- er with a Goddess of Liberty. These busts were later presented to the Turnverein So- ciety by William Freeman in behalf of the Free Thought Society. The Oakland band in the sixth division was preceded by Marshal S. V. Tredway and Frank Davis and John Perrott. Following the band, a triumphal car was seen drawn by twelve white horses. Upon the car sat a large number of beautiful young ladies dressed in white and wearing sashes of red, white and blue, each lady repre- senting a goddess or a State. The Goddess of Liberty in a beautiful costume of costly tex- ture was impersonated by Abbie Gray, and around her sat as goddesses Lila Moore, Nettie Van Vlear, Ada Moore and Susie Ben- ton. Emma Debnam represented agriculture, and Eva Van Vlear, art, while Will Hickman and William Westbay represented the army and navy. The states were represented in part by Estell Simpson, Ruth Clifford, Emma Han- sel, Hannah Kierski, Nellie Debnam, Emma Sperry, Maud Southworth, Maggie Cunning- ham, Emma Wagner, Nellie Blossom and Maggie Clayes. In a carriage following the car rode "Pet" Peters and Mary Hickman, the one representing a lady dressed in fashion of 1776 and the other in the fashionable dress of the time. The exercises of the day were held in a warehouse on Mormon Channel and the united bands furnished the instrumental mus- ic. The Choral Society was present, and 1,000 public school children under the direction of H. J. Todd and accompanied by five organs and the bands sang a hymn composed for the day by Dudley Buck, the great composer. Louis Noble read the Declaration, Mary Woodbridge recited a poem, and Thomas Fitch delivered the oration. During the afternoon there were boat and foot-races and Grand Marshal Peters tendered his aides a banquet in Mozart Hall. About $1,000 was spent for the fireworks of the evening, and complaint was made that they were not equal to the dis- play of 1875, which cost only $750. On the third day there was a trapeze performance on the square. A balloon ascension had been ad- vertised, but it was a failure because of the

density in those days of the lighting gas. The balloon would not carry the weight of the man and his sandbags. Finally, not to disap- point the crowd, he took out the sandbags and cut loose the balloon, thus risking a loss of several hundred dollars. His only thanks were the jeers of the people, the most of whom had never seen a balloon ascension. There were also in the afternoon an exhibition drill of the Fire Department. The Weber engine ran into the side of a house before it was fairly started and .snapped a singletree. The Babcock was on time, and the Eureka, running three and one-half blocks, set and was forcing water through the hose in one and one-half minutes. In the evening the "Invicibles" burlesqued every feature of the procession and exercises of the morning.

Ex-President Grant Visits Stockton.

Two years after the Centennial celebration the citizens had the honor of welcoming the nation's ex-president and its greatest General, U. S. Grant ... He was then on his way to Washington, having arrived at San Francisco, from China, September 19, 1879, thus complet- ing his tour of the world. His arrival in Stockton on the afternoon of September 30 was greeted by thousands of citizens, and cheer after cheer rent the air as he and his party stepped from the train. A committee of citi- zens had met him at Lathrop and escorted him to the city. The town had been beautiful- ly decorated in his honor and said an eyewit- ness : "Looking from the Southern Pacific de- pot down Main Street the air seemed literally full of flags the entire length of the streets." After the ex-president had been introduced to Mayor G. C. Hyatt and other citizens by D. J. Oullahan, Grant and his party were es- corted to carriages and the procession, led by the Grand Marshal Robert S. Johnson and his aides, Doctors A. T. Hudson, Asa Clark, Rob- ert K. Reid and Otis Perrine, began moving down Main Street. In the line of march was the Stockton Cornet Band, the Stockton and Emmet Guards, St. Aloysius Cadets, Stockton Rifle Cadets, Mexican War and Civil War vet- erans, city and county officials, Harris Silver Band and Fire Department. On the Hunter Street plaza the public school children, 3,000 in number, had been lined up in three ranks, and the procession arriving at the plaza it halted and Grant stepping from the carriage walked slowly along the line of children, each child waving a small flag. The ex-president was then escorted to the Yosemite House where the proprietor, James Cole, had pre- pared a fine collation. At the head of the table on a raised platform sat Mayor Hyatt and on his right hand Ex-President Grant, Dr. George A. Shurtleff, Mrs. D. J. Oullahan, a

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sister-in-law of Mrs. Grant, General John F. Miller, California's Congressional Senator, Miss Julia Weber, and J. Russell Young, Grant's biographical writer. Toasts were nu- merous and Grant said in his few remarks, "I was never West of the Rocky Mountains, except as a soldier in the Mexican War until 1852. I was in Knights Ferry three times, once in '52, once in '53. I think I never re- mained there at one time longer than a week." Knights Ferry was the home of his brothers-in-law, George W. Lewis, and John Dent. It was the intention of the Stockton Guard to tender the city's guest a reception and ball in Mozart Hall but Grant was ob- liged to leave that evening for Sacramento. The ball was given, but hundreds of persons were disappointed as they anticipated seeing an Ex-President.

Off For the War

The members of the Stockton and Emmet Guard together with other companies in Cen- tral California had been anxious for a long time to form a battalion. At the encampment at Santa Cruz in July, 1885, this was effected and the companies were then officially known as Company A and Company B, Sixth Regi- ment, National Guard of California. Up to this time they had been independent companies paying their own expenses, but as a part of the National Guard the state paid all neces- sary expenses. In 1898 came the war with Spain, Congress declaring war on April 19, after the blowing up of the battleship Maine, January 5, in Havana harbor and drowning 250 seamen. The victory of George Dewey at Manila took place May 1, and shortly after this preparations were made to send troops to the Philippine Islands. The California militia was anxious to go to the seat of war, and Companies A and B began recruiting until the former had enlisted 100 and Company B, 103 men. The companies were later cut down by physical examination to 85 men. The two commands, Company A, Captain Charles Dasher, and Company B, Captain William Bruch, were ordered to report at their armory on Weber Avenue at 8 o'clock, Sunday, May 8, there to await the arrival by train from the south of Company C of Fresno, Capt. George O. Duncan ; Company E, Visalia, Capt. George W. Stuart, and Company H from Merced, Capt. Art. S. Guthrie. While Com- panies A and B were in waiting, Frank Cut- ting, in behalf of his father, Louis M. Cutting, presented them a handsome regimental flag, manufactured from the first silk made into cloth in California. Between three and four o'clock thousands of citizens began assembl- ing on the Hunter Street square to bid fare- well to the militia. It was quite late when the

train arrived from the south and began their march to the steamer landing. As the com- panies under the command of Col. Will R. Johnson boarded the steamer there were cheers and some tears, for many wives, moth- ers and sweethearts thought that perhaps never again would they see their loved ones. The men were sent to the barracks at the Presidio, San Francisco, expecting to be sent to the Philippine Islands. But the war was of such short duration-August, 1898-that Johnson's command did not ever smell war powder, and they returned to Stockton, in September, a very disappointed body of sol- diers. In this war in which the United States Navy played so important a part, the flight of the battleship Oregon, from San Francisco to Santiago harbor was one of the most remark- able events of naval history. MacMasters, the historian, says it was "the swiftest, longest voyage ever made by a battleship." A pupil of the eighth grade of the public school, Lester Gnekow, several years later, reading of the wonderful event, wrote the following descrip- tive rhyme.

As she steamed on through the Golden Gate, She courtesied to the swell, And the Californians said "Good-by" To the ship they loved so well.

Her prow to the southward she turned,

When she reached the ocean blue, How fiercely her fires burned,

As on and on she flew.

She raced along o'er the ocean's breast, A battleship sailing alone, For her famous deed we love her best, The brave old dauntless Oregon.

The waters parted as she flew through, Often clouds obscured the sun, But in sunshine or storm the brave ship Stayed on the world's famous run.

A hostile fleet might heave into sight, But did she falter? Nay! On, on, she went both day and night, Like a phanton ship in her coat of gray.

"On! On!" was the cry of the brave crew, Northward now the ship sails. "We must be there where shells fall like hail!" "We must be there when the battle is fought!"

The story is now upon all lips, Yet, since then many years have gone. But undying fame our nation won, By that matchless race of the Oregon.

President McKinley's Visit

We who live in California are greatly handi- capped in one respect, namely, that of hearing the great vocalists, operas, lecturers and brainiest men of the nation, occasionally only, because of our great distance from the centers of population. In the East and Middle West

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it is no uncommon sight to see the President of the United States, but in Stockton we have seen but one President during his term of of- fice, William McKinley. President Mckinley came to California principally on account of his wife's health. They left Washington April 29, 1901, and arrived at Los Angeles over the southern route May 8. He arrived at San Francisco May 14 and was the guest of Henry Scott. Along his entire route he re- ceived a splendid but quiet ovation, for or- ders had been given that there be no noisy demonstration or firing of cannon. The life of his wife went up and down like the flicker- ing of a candle and finally his physicians told him to hasten back home as soon as possible. He had then been in the state sixteen days and great preparations had been made in Stockton to receive him. The Presidential coaches were routed for Washington by the way of Stockton, and May 25 word was re- ceived that the train bearing the President and party would arrive at 1:35 p. m. and de- part at 2:05. Excursion trains had been run by the Southern Pacific from all parts of the surrounding country and long before the hour named there were probably 10,000 people at the depot. A small platform had been erected by the side of the track, from which it was expected that the President would briefly ad- dress the people. By some mistake or mis- management this plan failed. As the train slowly moved into the depot, the immense crowd were undecided what to do; whether to loudly cheer the President or remain silent because of the severe illness of Mrs. McKin- ley, and a suppressed cheer was given. Before the train had ceased to move the President and his secretary, George B. Cortelyou, ap- peared upon the rear platform. Immediately Rev. W. C. Evans, one of the reception com- mittee, and who knew the President in his home town, Canton, Ohio, pushed his way through the press and ascending the platform welcomed Mckinley. He asked the President to speak a few words to the multitude there to welcome him. He consented, then hesitated, and as the tears filled his eyes he replied, "I cannot do it," for perhaps his wife lay dying within the sound of his voice. Cortelyou then stepped forward and said in a commanding voice, "The President will not speak." In the meantime Mayor Harrison, Frank D. Nichol and Fred M. West, also of the recep- tion committee, had succeeded in reaching the platform, and they were introduced to the President by the Rev. W. C. Evans. Before the introduction was concluded the train be- gan slowly moving over the rails, much to the astonishment of the people, and before many of them realized it the train was speeding on- ward. There was a great disappointment for

thousands had never seen the President. Many of them had come many miles and they failed to get even a glimpse of him because of the crowd. They were packed in solid for 300 feet around the rear platform.

Less than four months later the citizens of Stockton were startled on the morning of Sep- tember 6, 1901, by the associated dispatch that the President was shot by a Polish an- archist and dangerously wounded while, holding a reception at the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo. Thousands of citi- zens were in line shaking hands with the President and as he extended his hand to the assassin he drew a revolver from his left hand pocket and shot the President in the abdomen. The President died September 14 and his last words were, "Good-by. It is God's way. His will be done." Services were held the following Sunday in the Baptist and Christian Churches in memoriam, the auditor- iums being draped in crepe. On the morning of the funeral a special mass celebration was held in the Catholic Church and memorial ser- vices in the Jewish Synagogue, and the Ger- man Lutheran Church. It was decided by the patriots of California to hold the memorial services at the same date as the funeral ser- vices in Canton, Ohio, September 16. On that day thirteen guns were fired at sunrise, a Pres- idential salute of thirty-one guns at noon, and a national salute of forty-five guns at sunset. Guns were also fired every half hour during the day. "With flags folded and wreathed in crepe, to the music of muffled drum, and the wailing of dirges and whilst the bells tolled a mournful requiem a procession such as Stockton never saw before moved in solemn mien, and measured steps through the streets of the city." The memorial exercises were held in the pavillion, which was decorated in the colors of mourning. A large chorus were pres- ent, under the direction of Miss Gertrude El- liott. The program opened with Chopin's funeral march by A. Clarke Blossom's or- chestra ; scripture reading, Rev. J. W. Lundy ; prayer, Rev. R. H. Sink; chorus, America ; address, E. I. Jones, Mckinley, the Citizen and Lawyer; address, Frank D. Nichol, Mc- Kinley, the Soldier and Statesman; chorus, "Nearer My God to Thee," the President's favorite hymn. The words were chanted to him just previous to his death. Address, Rev. W. C. Evans, "Mckinley, the Christian"; Rev. Thomas A. Boyer, benediction, bugle signal, Lights Out, by Sergeant Burk of Rawlins Post, G. A. R.

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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 41

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