USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 11
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In 1862 they greatly extended their business by leas- ing for ten years the Pescadero Rancho of 18,000 acres
in San Mateo County, paying a rental of $6,000 and taxes, and having the privilege of purchasing 7,000 acres at six dollars an acre, the rate to increase ten per cent. per annum. This ranch they afterwards bought. Eleven hundred head of cows were bought for the Pescadero at an average of fifteen dollars per head. The cold fogs of the ocean swept over Pescadero, and the same stories were told of its inaptitude for a dairy farm as of Point Reyes, but the Steele's believed it would prove as much of a cow heaven as the other had. In the first year $18,000 was paid out for improvements, and $17,000 cleared on the cheese made, besides the increase of stock. The Point Reyes dairies were also yielding large profits. The years 1863 and 1864 were the disastrously dry years of California, but there was rain at Pescadero and Point Reyes, and the business of the dairies went on. The products were then in great demand, and the cheese sold as fast as it could be made at twenty-five cents per pound. During this long period, E. W. Steele performed his daily task of milking twenty cows, as did the hired men. He also made cheese, attended to the outside business, and kept the books of the firm, working regu- larly sixteen hours each day. At that time the State had eleven dairies, including those at Pescadero and Point Reyes, the first paying a net profit of $18,000, and the latter $9,000 per annum.
In 1864, when the War of the Rebellion was at its height, the Steele's made a monstrous cheese, weighing 3,850 pounds, and presented it to the "Sanitary Com- mission." This mammoth cheese was the product of all the dairies of the Pescadero Rancho for two days. A gigantic hoop and press were made for the purpose, and novel appliances were required to handle the great weight and safely transport it to San Francisco, it being over twenty feet in circumference and eighteen inches thick, thoroughly made, and of the richest quality. When at its destination, it was announced as the "Sanitary Cheese," and placed on exhibition at the Mechanics' Fair, where it attracted great attention. While there, it was cut up and sold, realizing $3,000 net for the "Sanitary Commis- sion."
In 1864, Mr. Steele leased his dairies and went East on a visit to his old home, and when the war closed in 1865 took a tour through the Southern States, spending two years in travel. His excessive toil and many cares through his eight years of California life had almost broken him down, and he was compelled to take a rest, but he had made a comfortable fortune, his property bringing him an income of between $5,000 and $6,000 a year.
He returned to California in 1866. Then the lease of the Point Reyes' property expired, and it was necessary to find new land for the cows.
The drought of 1864 had destroyed the cattle of the southern counties, and the great ranchos were reported for sale at low rates. He visited San Luis Obispo, and took a ride over the Corral de Piedra, Pismo, Balsa de Chemissal, and Arroyo Grande Ranchos. He at once de- clared, "This, too, is cow heaven," and at once decided on the purchase. Forty-five thousand acres were offered
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BIOGRAPHY OF E. W. STEELE.
him at one dollar and ten cents an acre, and with- out haggling he bought, or contracted for the purchase, and soon thereafter took possession, the firm of Steele Brothers joining. There was afterwards found a defect in the signature of one of the heirs to the Corral de Piedra, although a complete understanding and payment was proven, but the opportunity was given for a legal sharp to extort money, and suit for the land was com- menced. A man from New York was brought in to act as plaintiff for the purpose of getting the case in the United States Courts. Upon trial before the United States District Court, the case was decided in favor of the Steeles, Judge Hoffman delivering a long and able opinion upon it, covering all the points and so plainly showing the correctness and justice of the Steeles' actions that there appeared no question of the validity of their title. But the case was appealed to the United States Supreme Court where the decision of Judge Hoff- man was reversed, and they were compelled to pay others for their property, costing them over $150,000, making the land quite dear. This entailed debts and mortgages at enormous rates of interest, and blocked the prospect for the great fortune they would have otherwise secured.
When Steele came to San Luis Obispo in June, 1866, there were no dairies in the county, and the country was a wilderness. They stocked the ranchos with 600 cows, employed 100 men, and during the first five years ex- pended $20,000 a year in improvements, building fences, dairy houses, etc. As it was necessary to raise feed for their cattle, some of their land was devoted to farming, and so a general extensive business was carried on.
In later years the great ranchos have been divided into small farms and sold, and are now occupied by hundreds of the most thrifty and prosperous farmers of the State. The Steele's brought to San Luis Obispo $40,000 in money besides their large stock of cattle, and have here continually prospered, but by enterprises in other parts of California have met with losses aggregating near half a million dollars, besides interest on debts incurred in their first unfortunate law suit and other embarrassments. The fertile San Luis Obispo, however, with constant labor, indomitable courage, unyielding energy, and great financial ability, has carried them through their difficulties and left them with handsome fortunes.
In 1875, E. W. Steele bought the Knight Valley Rancho, including the noted Kellogg watering-place in Sonoma County, having as partners the notorious Stuart, afterwards County Clerk of San Francisco, Elder, Kel- logg, and Laird. Entering with the same partners into quicksilver mining in Sonoma and Lake Counties, and intrusting the management to Stuart, he soon became involved and at last settled and retired from the concern with a loss of about $300,000. He also attempted min- ing for quicksilver in his own county, in company with
others, and expended $10,000 without any returns. In many other enterprises in which he has been engaged he has met with success. He was one of the incorporators of the Bank of San Luis Obispo, and for a period was its President, and was also one of the incorporators of the San Luis Obispo Water Company, both of which have proven remunerative and of great benefit to the city and county. He is a prominent member of the Or- der of Patrons of Husbandry, and is a Director of the Grangers Business Association. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Chosen Friends, and of the Knights of Honor. In society he is the most genial and pleasant of men, and his hospi- tality and generosity are unbounded.
Politically, he is a Republican, and has been invited to become a candidate for the State Senate and As- sembly, but his important business has always compelled him to decline. But the business of the county and locality in which he is so much interested demands and receives his attention, and these he has served by acting as Road Overseer and County Supervisor, being at pres- ent President of the Board. In public matters he is foremost, and in all questions of public interest always takes a prominent part.
In 1866, he married Miss Julia P. Stanley, of Ohio, daughter of General Stanley, of the United States Army, and sister of Hon. H. Y. Stanley, of Arroyo Grande. The marriage took place at Chattanooga, Tennessee, where General Stanley was then in command. The lady died the following year.
June 24, 1876, he married Miss Emma E. Smith, a lady of culture and refinement. Mrs. Steele was born in Lockport, New York, her father being Pratt Smith, a well-known lumber merchant of western New York and Canada. Her mother's maiden name was Hopkins, and she was a granddaughter of Stephen Hopkins, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Mrs. Steele received a superior education, graduating at the Buffalo Female Academy, and adopted the profession of teacher. She was invited to the position of teacher in the Santa Barbara College, where she taught with great success until her marriage in 1876. Of her profession and suc- cess as teacher she is justly proud, and in the wealth and comfort of her present life, refers to it with pleasure as the evidence of ability, strength of character, and the performance of noble duties. Mr. and Mrs. Steele have one son, Edgar J., born August 26, 1878, a bright and promising boy, and the hope of his happy and worthy parents. Their home is on their grand farm of 2,000 acres of the choice of the Corral de Piedra, and in their pleasant dwelling, surrounded by fruits and flowers, and embowered by lofty trees, they welcome their many friends.
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THE MISSIONS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO.
very effective manner to produce the abdication of a bad chief. The Chief of the San Diego Indians was very obnoxious to his subjects, so they held a great feast, and in imitation of the gente de razon (civilized people) con- demned him to death, and proceeded to execute him by tying him and burning him alive. The feast continued for eight days. When rebuked by the priests for having acted so cruelly, they replied : "Have you not done the same in Mexico? You say your King was not good. Well, our Capitan was not good, and we burned him, and if the new one shall be bad, we will burn him also."
So seldom, in civilized life, is the wicked official pun- ished, that a commendable instance of it is thought worthy of a place in history.
A CLERICAL SOLDIER.
There were a few other disturbances, one of which, occurring at Santa Ynez, has been related by Mr. Stephen C. Foster, an old resident of Los Angeles, as follows :-
The sight of the old mission of Santa Ynez recalled to mind an incident that occurred there at the time of the outbreak in 1822. When the Indians rose there were two Spanish priests in the mission. One of them fell into the hands of the Indians, and was put to death under circumstances of the most atrocious cruelty. The other, a powerful man, succeeded in breaking away, and escaped to the guard-house where, as in all missions, a guard of four soldiers, commanded by a Corporal, was always kept as a sort of police force. The Indians were destitute of fire-arms, but their overwhelming numbers and the showers of arrows they directed against the port- holes, had quite demoralized the garrison when the priest appeared and took command. It must have been a singular scene. The burly friar with shaven crown, and sandalled, clad in the gray gown, girt with the cord of St. Francis, wielding carnal weapons, now encouraging the little garrison, now shouting defiance to the swarming assailants.
" Ho father," cried a young Indian acolyte, "is that the way to say mass?"
"Yes, I am saying mass, my son. Here (holding up his cartridge box) is the chalice; here (holding up his carbine) is the crucifix, and here goes my benediction to you, you - " using one of the foulest epithets the Spanish language could supply, as he leveled his carbine and laid the scoffer low.
A large force was finally collected from the different towns; the Indian converts were followed into the Tulare Valley and captured; the ring-leaders were shot, and the others were brought back to the missions, when my informant had occasion to go to Monterey, and on his way, having occasion to call at San Luis Obispo, found there the hero of Santa Ynez.
"Welcome, countryman," was his greeting. " The same to you, father," was the reply; " but, father, they tell me you are in trouble." "Yes, my son, the President of the missions has suspended me from the exercise of clerical functions for one year, on account of the uncleri- cal language I used at that affair at Santa Ynez. The old fool! he knew I was a soldier before I became a priest, and when those accursed Indians drove me back to my old trade, how could I help using my old lan- guage?" Then taking a couple of decanters out of the cupboard he continued, " Here, countryman, help your- self. Here is wine; here is aguardiente. The old fool thinks he is punishing me. Behold, I have no mass to say for a year, and nothing whatever to do but eat, drink, and sleep."
INDEPENDENCE IN CALIFORNIA.
The independence of Mexico achieved, the people of California adopted the new order of things, and made declaration to the following effect :-
In the presidio of Monterey, on the ninth day of the month of April, 1822: The Señor Military and Political Governor of this province, Col. Don Pablo Vicente de Sola, the Señors, Captains Commandantes of the presidios of San Francisco and Santa Barbara, Don Luis Antonio de Arguello, and Don José Antonio de la Guerra y Noriega, the Captains of the militia companies of the battalion of Tepic and Mazatlan, Don José Antonio Navarreth, and Don Pablo de la Portilla, the Lieut. Don José Maria Estudillo for the presidial company of San Diego, the Lieut. Don José Mariano Estrada for the presidial company of Monterey, the Lieutenant of Artillery, Don Manuel Gomez, and the reverend fathers, Friar Mariano Payeras and Friar Vicento Francisco de Sarria, the first as prelate of these missions, and the second as substitute of the reverend father president vicareo foraneo, Friar José Jenan, having assembled in obedience to previous citations (convocatorias) in the hall of the Government House, and being informed of the . establishment of the kingdom of the empire, and the installation of the sovereign provisional gubernative junta in the capital of Mexico, by the official communication and other documents, which the said Governor caused to be read in full assembly, said that, for themselves, and in obedience to the orders intimated by the new Supreme Government, recognizing, from this time, the province as a dependent alone of the Government of the Empire of Mexico, and independent of the dominion of Spain, as well as of any other foreign power. In consideration of which the proper oaths will be taken, in the manner prescribed by the provisional regency, to which end the superior military and political chief will give the necessary orders, and the respective commandantes of presidios and the ministers of the missions will cause the fulfillment of the same to appear by means of certificates, which will be transmitted, with a copy of this act, to the most excellent minister, to whom it corresponds, and they signed,
PABLO VICENTE DE SOLA, JOSE DE LA GUERRA Y NORIEGA, LUIS ANTONIO ARGUELLO, JOSE M. ESTUDILLO, MANUEL GOMEZ, PABLO DE LA PORTILLA, JOSE MARIANO ESTRADA, FR. MARIANO PAYERAS, FR. VICENTE FRANCISCO DE SARRIA, JOSE M. ESTUDILLO
One of the signers of this instrument, Don Pablo Vicente de Sola, was at that time Governor under Spain, and held over for a year as Governor still, under the kingdom of the empire, as expressed in the declaration, and two others are the chief of the ecclesiastical authori- ties, the whole being either priests or soldiers.
THEORY OF THE MISSIONS.
Steps were soon taken by the new Government of Mexico to advance the secular power over the ecclesias- tical. The theory of the establishing of the missions is clearly stated in the opinion rendered by Judge Felch, of the Board of Land Commissioners, in deciding the case of the Catholic Church, in the name of Bishop Alemany, as claimant of the mission lands, as follows :-
6
42
HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
The missions were intended, from the beginning, to be temporary in their character. It was contemplated that in ten years from their first foundation they should cease. It was supposed that within that period of time the Indians would be sufficiently instructed in Christianity, and the arts of civilized life, to assume the position and character of citizens; that these mission settlements would then become pueblos; and that the mission churches would become parish churches, organized like the other estab- lishments of an ecclesiastical character in other portions of the nation where no missions had ever existed. The whole missionary establishment was widely different from the ordinary ecclesiastical organization of the nation. In it the superintendence and charge was committed to priests, who were devoted to the special work of mis- sions, and not to the ordinary clergy. The monks of the College of San Fernando and Zacatecas, in whose charge they were, were to be succeeded by the secular clergy of the national church; the missionary field was to become a diocese; the President of the missions to give place to a bishop; the mission churches to become curacies; and the faithful in the vicinity of each parish to become the parish worshipers.
GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.
Acting on this theory the steps were taken to bring the priests under control. Instead of ten years having proven sufficient to civilize the Indians, fifty years had elapsed, and he was still a helpless savage. Accordingly, in 1824 and 1826, the Mexican Government passed laws manumitting the Indians, and suspending the pay of the priests. This action on the part of the Government proved premature. Released from restraint the Indian retrograded and took to the woods, and commenced a series of robberies that threatened the existence of the colonies. His education had taught him the vices of civilization, which took the place of the rude virtues which characterized them in their natural state. Idle, dissi- pated, and incapable of self-control, he became a nuisance to the settlers, and stock, by hundreds, were run off into the hills and cañons A year later, the law, being disas- trous in its effects, was repealed, and most of the Indians returned to their work, and things went on somewhat as before.
COLONISTS AGAINST THE MISSIONS.
The breach was not healed but widened. The vicious element which had come in with the discharged soldiers of the war for liberty, sometimes carried things with a high hand, ever inciting the Indians to insurrection. Manuel Victoria, who was appointed to succeed José Maria de Echeandia for the express purpose of reforming these abuses and restraining the criminal element, was a man of much ability, but had a military turn of mind which could not brook insubordination, and a few cases of summary punishment aroused the people into open hostility. The outbreak commenced at San Diego, and was headed by José Maria Avila. Victoria's friends, however, put down the incipient insurrection, and kept Avila in irons to await the Governor's pleasure. Gov- ernor Victoria, hearing of the trouble, left Monterey with a small escort, and reached San Fernando December 4, 1831.
PACHECO AND AVILA KILLED.
A party of the insurgents reached Los Angeles the same evening, and induced a number of citizens to espouse their side. Avila was released, and, placing himself at the head of the dissatisfied, swore that he would kill Vic- toria, or die in the attempt. The two parties met about eight miles west of the city on the Santa Barbara road, near the Cahuenga Pass, and both parties halted for a parley, but Avila, putting spurs to his horse, rushed upon Victoria, wounding him severely in the side. The thrust was partially parried by Romualdo Pacheco, who, before he could recover his guard, was run through by Avila. While the lance was still quivering in Pacheco's body, Victoria drew a pistol, and shot Avila dead, Pacheco and Avila both falling from their horses nearly at the same moment. A sudden panic seized both parties at such a prospect of civil war. Victoria and his party, who were termed Mexicans, went to the Mission San Gabriel, car- rying the wounded Governor with them, while Avila's party, who termed themselves Californians, returned to the town. Victoria resigned his position, and left for San Blas on the ship Pocahontas, January 15, 1832. The bodies of the slain were found as they fell, and were taken to town the same evening. They were buried side by side by mutual friends.
RIVAL GOVERNORS.
For some time after the expulsion of Victoria, there was much confusion in regard to the matter of Governor Avila's partisans pronounced for Echeandia, but finally ral- lied around Pio Pico, who became Governor ad interim, Los Angeles being the capital de facto. Echeandia re- tired to the mission of San Juan Capistrano, and, organ- izing a body of vagrant Indians, under the pretense of maintaining law and order, commenced plundering all in the surrounding country who would not recognize him as Governor.
The northern part of the State adhered to Victoria, notwithstanding his abdication, and set up, as his repre- sentative, Capt. Augustin V. Zamorano. There was little law and order until the
ARRIVAL OF GEN. JOSÉ FIGUEROA, IN 1833,
Who was a man of much executive ability, and suc- ceeded in restoring something like security to life and property.
In August, 1834, the Governor, whose title was Gefe Politico (Political Chief), issued the following directions for the enforcement of the law of August 17, 1833.
DECREE OF SECULARIZATION.
ARTICLE I. The political chief, according to the spirit of the law of August 17, 1833, and in compliance with instructions received from the Supreme Government, jointly with the religious missionaries, will convert the missions of this territory partially into villages-beginning in the approaching month of August, 1835, with ten, and the rest thereafter successively.
2. Religious missionaries shall be relieved from the administration of temporalities, and shall only exercise the duties of their ministry so far as they relate to spir-
43
THE MISSIONS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO.
itual matters, whilst the formal division of parishes is in progress, and the Supreme Diocesan Government shall provide parochial clergy.
3. The Territorial Government shall resume the admin- istration of temporal concerns, as directed, upon the fol- lowing foundations.
4. The approbation of this provisional regulation by the Supreme Government shall be requested in the most prompt manner.
DISTRIBUTION OF PROPERTY AND LANDS.
5. To each head of a family, and all who are more than twenty years old, although without families, will be given from the lands of the mission, whether temporal (lands dependent on the season) or watered, a lot of ground not to contain more than 400 yards in length and as many in breadth, nor less than 100. Sufficient land for watering the cattle will be given in common. The outlets or roads shall be marked out by each village, and at the proper time the corporation lands shall be desig- nated.
6. Among the said individuals will be distributed, rat- ably and justly, according to the discretion of the po- litical chief, the half of the movable property, taking as a basis the last inventory which the missionaries have presented of all descriptions of cattle.
7. One-half or less of the implements and seeds indis- pensable for agriculture shall be allotted to them.
8. All the surplus lands, roots, movable securities, and property of all classes, shall be under the charge and responsibility of the steward or agent whom the political chief may name, subject to the disposal of the Supreme Federal Goverment.
9. From the common mass of this property, shall be provided the subsistence of the missionary monks, the pay of the steward and other servants, the expenses of religious worship, schools, and other matters of clean- liness or ornament.
Io. The political chief, as the person charged with the direction of temporal concerns, shall determine and order beforehand the necessary qualifications, all the charges to be distributed, as well to carry this plan into execution as for the preservation and increase of the property.
II. The missionary minister shall select the place which suits him best for his dwelling and that of his attendants and servants ; he is also to be provided with furniture and necessary utensils.
12. The library, holy vestment, and furniture of the church shall be in charge of the missionary ministers, under the responsibility of the person who officiates as sexton (and whom the said father shall select), who shall be paid a reasonable salary.
13. Inventories shall be made of all the property of each mission, with a proper separation and explanation of each description; of the books, charges and dates of all sorts of papers; of the credits, liquidated and unliqui- dated, with their respective remarks and explanations; of which a return shall be made to the Supreme Govern- ment.
POLITICAL GOVERNMENT OF THE VILLAGES.
14. The political government of the villages shall be organized in accordance with existing laws. The political chief shall take measures for the election and establish- ment of Boards of Magistrates.
15. The internal police of the villages shall be under the charge of the Board of Magistrates ; but as to the administration of justice, in matters of dispute, these shall be under the cognizance of inferior judges, estab- lished constitutionally in the places nearest at hand.
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