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 72
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Bakersfield, California, and Mr. J. J. Hill, also publisher of the Silver State, at Winnemucca, Nevada. The Reporter was first issued May 10, 1879, and continued until after the election in November, 1880, Mr. Cren- shaw at that time being sole proprietor.
If Mr. Crenshaw did not win a fortune in Paradise, he did better by winning a wife, having married Miss Emma Blake at Queen City, Humboldt County, Nevada, December 23, 1880, who continues to make his home happy in San Luis Obispo.
He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and, it is not necessary to say, of the Democratic Party. In November, 1880, he became an equal partner in the publication of the Mirror, in which business he deems himself settled for life, with bright prospects for a pros- perous future.
THE REPUBLIC.
In January, 1883, a third candidate for public favor entered the field of journalism in the city of San Luis Obispo. The new paper adopted the name of The Repub- lic, issuing daily and weekly editions, the founders being Messrs. E. F. O'Neil, A. Pennington, and G. W. Jenkins, the first two being practical printers and experienced jour- nalistic writers, and the last the business manager and collector. The first issue of the daily Republic was on the 15th of January, 1883, having the distinction of being the first daily paper published in San Luis Obispo, and the weekly Republic appeared on the 18th following. The founders claimed independence in politics and devoted to the general interests of the county. The outsides of both daily and weekly are made up and printed in San Francisco by Messrs. Palmer & Rey, on what is styled the "home plan," and the inside is devoted to local matters, general news, and advertising. The publishers being the lowest bidders for the county printing, the contract was awarded to them by the Board of Supervisors in February, 1883, and the Republic became the official paper of the county during its term of contract. The material of the office had done service as the South Coast and Southern Cali- fornia Advocate in former years.
CHAPTER XXXI. CHURCH, BENCH AND BAR.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. A. B. Spooner-Protestant Epis- copal Church-Methodist Episcopal Church, South-Presbyte- rian Church-The Present Condition - Rev. Rufus Deming- The Bench and Bar-J. M. Bonilla-H. A. Tefft-An Ex- citing Trial-Judge Joaquin Carrillo-Pablo de la Guerra- Walter Murray-Obituary of Hon. Walter Murray-Tribute by James O'Sullivan-Judge Murray's Family-Eugene Faw- cett-Louis McMurtry-D. S. Gregory-The County Court- W. J. Graves-O. M. Brown-Romualdo Pacheco-José Maria Muñoz-Joseph M. Havens-William L. Beebee-McD. R. Venable-District Attorneys-Parker H. French-Hubbard C. M Ely-P. A. Forrester-James White-N. D. Witt-A. A. Oglesby-Ernest Graves-F. Adams-Robert C. Bouldin- R. M. Preston-Members of the Bar.
HE history of the church in San Luis Obispo be- gins with the founding of the mission in 1772, and continues with the history of California and of the county to the present time. But the history of the mis-
sions has been given in the early chapters of this book. During all the period of Spanish possession, and for many years reaching into the American era, the Roman Catholic was the only religion tolerated or professed within the sound of the mission bells, or within the jurisdiction of the authorities. The Americans came and took possession of the country, the Government be- ing indifferent to religion, protecting all, but favoring none, and the new-coming people paid but little attention to church matters. Generally they were orderly and law-abiding, many were professors of religion and observ- ant of church requirements, but in the absence of ladies and families society remained disorganized and the churches were neglected. At what time the first Prot- estant clergyman made his home and held the services of his church in San Luis Obispo County it would be difficult to tell. The necessity of an organization was not so great as in the newly-settled counties of the North, as here the mission church was always open, and those of liberal minds and religiously inclined could assemble and worship there.
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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist is the church of the West, accompany- ing the pioneer on his march, and where the pioneer has rested there is soon found the altar of the church. The first church in San Luis Obispo was erected in December, 1869, and the first service held in the building, then in- complete, was on Sabbath, January 2, 1870, Rev. A. P. Hendon, pastor, who makes the following announce- ment :-
We gladly embrace this opportunity of informing the public, and friends of religion, through the pages of the Tribune, that the Methodist Episcopal Church of San Luis Obispo is now enclosed. The promptness with which the mechanics, brethren, and friends have re- sponded to the call for help, in the way of work, is truly praiseworthy.
Our first service will be held in the new church on the second day of January, 1870.
Sabbath-school at 912 A. M .; preaching at II A. M.
We have ordered the windows and doors, which will not cost to exceed fifty dollars, and at our first service we hope to raise this amount by collection.
We now respectfully invite the attendance of the peo- ple of San Luis Obispo and vicinity, whom we hope will respond to this call, irrespective of religious denomina- tion.
The above is an indication of the struggle, even at that late day, to establish a Protestant church in San Luis Obispo. Those who were contributing to the con- struction of the building were called seceders from Rome, and as late as August, 1870, aid is asked to pay the church debt. The building cost $1,400 in cash for material and labor, other than what was contributed.
In October, 1871, Rev. B. W. Rusk became the pastor, dividing his time with San Luis and Cambria, the latter at that time becoming a prominent town. Mr. Rusk had previously been pastor of the church at Humboldt Bay, and removed thence with his family to San Luis Obispo.
Rev. A. B. Spooner was one of the pioneer preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the county, re-
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HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
siding at Old Creek, chaplain of the San Simeon Lodge, F. and A. M., and conducting religious ceremonies when and where he was called upon to do so. For some years he alternated with Rev. Mr. Rusk in holding service at the church in San Luis Obispo.
Under the leadership of Rev. D. H. Haskins, the. pastor in 1874, the church lot on Garden Street, between Marsh and Higuerro, in the mission vineyard tract, was purchased, and preparations made for moving the church edifice upon it. To accomplish this required several months' work and a large expense, but it was finally com- pleted and the new building dedicated on the 21st of June, 1874; Rev. C. V. Anthony, of Oakland, preaching the dedicatory sermon. Great interest was taken in this improvement, and the congregation at the dedication was the largest ever seen in San Luis Obispo. It ap- pears to have been as enthusiastic and liberal as numer- ous. The minister stated that a debt on the building, created by the removal and enlarging, amounted to $900, and asked for contributions to pay it. Contributions to the amount of $1,020 were immediately made. The ladies of the church, by their own contributions and col- lections, soon after purchased a bell weighing 1,000 pounds, and it was placed in the belfry.
The building, now bearing the name of Garden Street Church, is forty-eight feet in length. thirty-two feet wide, and twenty feet from floor to ceiling. The vestibule constitutes the base of the spire which rises to the height of seventy feet, and contains the belfry. The work was done under contract with Mr. H. S. Laird, and the paint- ing by Mr. Austin.
The holding of the Annual Conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church of southern California in San Luis Obispo, was a matter of great interest during the second week in September, 1882. The conference was presided over by Rev. Bishop Hurst, of Iowa, and many distinguished divines were present. The Committee of Arrangements were Revs. Adam Beard, W. A. Knigh- ten, and C. Shelling. Rev. I. M. Leihy delivered the conference sermon, and during the session addresses were made on various subjects by Revs. E. S. Chase, A. N. Fields, J. B. Calloway, F. D. Bovard, J. H. Peters, J. H. White, H. J. Shaffner, M. F. Colburn, T. S. Uren, F. S. Woodcock, A. M. Hough, G. W. Elwood, A. W. Bunker, C. Shelling, Adam Bland, and Bishop Hurst.
Rev. H. J. Shaffner received the appointment as pastor of the church in San Luis Obispo. This gentleman had formerly served in Colorado, and during the preceding year had presided over the church at Hanford in Tulare County.
Rev. W. F. Wenk was reappointed to the circuit, in- cluding Morro, Cayucos, and Cambria. Rev. F. S. Woodcock, who had in former years (succeeding Mr. Haskins in 1875) been the pastor of the church in San Luis Obispo, was appointed for Lompoc, and Rev. Mr. Whittemore to Los Alamos.
The retiring pastor of the church in San Luis Obispo, Rev. R. M. Kirkland, who had been a resident during the two preceding years, was unattached.
REV. A. B. SPOONER.
The pioneer minister of the Protestant Church in San Luis Obispo County was the Rev. A. B. Spooner. This worthy divine met a sad fate by drowning in Morro Bay, February 5, 1877. Mr. Spooner being an old resident of Morro, and fully acquainted with the harbor, at times acted as pilot when his services were required. On the evening of that day he heard the whistle of the steamer Mary Taylor calling for a pilot to guide her in, and started out in a small boat to answer the summons. The tide was running out, and when his frail craft came in contact with the surf it capsized, and Mr. Spooner was lost. Through the channel the current was running with great force, carrying the unfortunate man to sea, and his body was not recovered. The event cast a gloom over the whole community, as he was widely known and much loved and respected. Memorial services in his honor were held in the various churches of San Luis Obispo.
Mr. Spooner was about fifty-six years of age, possessed of marked individuality of character, a vigorous intellect, and sound constitution, bidding fair for a long and use- ful life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Conference, and had, previously to settling at Morro, been actively engaged in the ministry. He was also Past Grand, in good standing, of Chorro Lodge, No. 168, I. O. O. F., and prominent in the Masonic Order.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
St. Stephens Episcopal Church is the title of the society in San Luis Obispo, and dates its organization from August 21, 1867. The vestrymen and officers elected May 14, 1868, were Dr. W. W. Hays, Senior Warden; J. B. Townsend, Junior Warden; G. F. Sauer, Treasurer; John Flint, Secretary; J. H. Hollister, O. Kemp, J. Jones, and I. C. Smith, Vestrymen. Rev. H. Chetwood was the first minister to hold service, of which we have record, he preaching in the Odd Fellows Hall July 28, 1872. This gentleman was highly regarded as a talented preacher, and although stationed at San Diego, frequently visited and held services in San Luis Obispo.
In April, 1873, steps were taken for a more com- plete organization of the church society, and at a vestry meeting, April 14th, the following officers were elected: W. W. Hays, Senior Warden; McD. R. Venable, Junior Warden; C. H. Phillips, Treasurer; R. Pollard, Secretary; J. W. Flint, M. Henderson, J. Pennington, and W. J. Marcus, Vestrymen. At the same meeting plans and specifications for a church edifice were submitted, and Dr. W. W. Hays and Mr. M. Henderson were appointed a building committee to advertise and receive bids for the construction of the same. At a subsequent meeting the contract for the building was let to Mr. Walter Jerome for the sum of $2,500, and Messrs. Venable, Pollard, and Henderson were appointed a committee to solicit sub- scriptions to the building fund.
St. Stephen's Church was completed in October, 1873, at a cost of $2,800, and adding a few extras brought the total cost to $3,000. The site is on the northeast corner of Nipomo and Pismo Streets, on elevated ground, ren-
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dering it a conspicuous object. The church is neatly fur- nished and is capable of seating one hundred persons.
A Sunday-school, under the auspices of the lady mem- bers of the church, had previously been organized, which, before the construction of the edifice, had been held, first at the residence of Dr. Hays, then in Odd Fellows Hall, and other places.
The regular pastors of St. Stephens have been Revs. C. M. Hogue, S. S. Ruth, J. E. Hammond, and R. W. Summers, the last being the present incumbent, and also the Superintendent of the Sunday-school. The member- ship numbers twenty-nine, and about thirty-five children attend the Sunday-school. Regular morning and after- noon services are held. A cabinet organ presided over by Mrs. Summers, assists the choir in the rendition of sacred music. Rev. Mr. Summers, the pastor, is dis- tinguished as a scholar and archaeologist, and Mrs. Summers as a botanist and musician, in both of which sciences she teaches.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.
Rev. M. W. Glover was the first preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in San Luis Obispo, holding service at the Court House November 10, 1872. Rev. Mr. Underwood of the same denomination occa- sionally held services in the same place.
Early in 1873, Rev. Mr. Glover, the pastor, took pre- paratory steps toward the erection of a building for his church. For this purpose a lot was obtained north of the Court House on the elevated land of that neighbor- hood, and a number of enterprising citizens subscribed the funds for the building, Mr. J. P. Andrews heading the list with a subscription of $200. The building was erected during the summer and fall of 1873, and dedi- cated on the 5th of October of that year, Rev. A. M. Campbell, of Los Angeles, preaching the dedicatory ser- mon. The building is a substantial frame, painted white, without a spire, and at the time of its completion was called the finest appearing structure in the county. The seating capacity is for two hundred persons. The con- struction of this building was due to the enterprise and energy of the pastor, and in his honor it now bears the name of "Glover Chapel."
The annual session of the District Conference of this church for San Luis Obispo District convened at Guada- lupe on the 9th of June, 1882, Rev. W. B. Kavanaugh, P. E., presiding, DeWitt Hubbell, Secretary.
The following members were present: R. Pratt, E. C. Cunningham, Carpenteria; S. D. Triplett, San Luis Obispo; C. J. Pickle, H. B. Jones, Morro; W. D. King, Guadalupe; J. M. Rogers, Cambria; I. F. Potter, DeWitt Hubbell, Lompoc.
The spiritual condition of the work was reported as averaging fair throughout the district, with encouraging prospects.
W. C. Triplett, J. Barker, G. E. Franklin, and I. N. McGuire, were elected Lay Delegates to the Annual Conference, to meet in San Luis Obispo, November I, 1882; and J. R. Norris, L. F. Potter, E. C. Cunningham, and S. D. Triplett, Alternates.
A resolution was adopted recognizing the vast amount of good being done in the interest of religion and moral- ity by the temperance cause, and pledging the members of the Conference to use their best efforts to promote its advancement.
During the session there was preaching by Revs. W. B. Kavanaugh, R. Pratt, J. M. Rogers and DeWitt Hubbell.
The second quarterly Conference was held on the 17th and 18th of February, 1883, in Glover Chapel in San Luis Obispo, Rev. W. H. Klyce, P. E., presiding. There was preaching by the Presiding Elder, and by Rev. W. D. King, who is the present pastor. The affairs of the church were reported as progressing favorably. Rev. W. L. Stevens, Elder J. W. Leach, and others have held services in the church.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The first preaching by a minister of the Presbyterian denomination in San Luis Obispo was by Rev. Mr. Fra- zer, of Oakland, July 18, 1874, who then urged the organization of a society here.
A number of the friends of the Presbyterian Church met at the residence of Judge Venable on the 12th of May, 1875, and took preliminary steps for the organization in San Luis Obispo of a society of that denomination, and the organization was consummated on the Sunday fol- lowing, the 16th of May. Rev Alvin Ostrom was engaged as pastor, and services were held in Little & Cochran's Hall during the summer of that year. Shortly thereafter a church edifice was erected on the corner of Marsh and Morro Streets, where it still stands, a plain, but respectable and capacious structure, with seating capacity for about two hundred people.
Rev. Mr. Ostrom had been a missionary to China, and was a highly educated and able gentleman. He also established a school, with aspirations to advance it to a collegiate institute, but it did not long continue.
THE PRESENT CONDITION.
The ministers of the various churches often held services in the other towns of the county, and organiza- tions of societies were made and churches built, and the ministers of other localities often preached in San Luis Obispo. The Christians, or Campbellites, have been represented by Rev. Mr. Wright, Rev. Rufus Deming, and others; and the Baptists by Rev. L. Riley, and others, but they have not built churches. At Cambria the Presbyterians have an organization with Rev. H. Vernon Rice as pastor, and at Estrella, Rev. H. E. Adams does service in performing the marriage ceremony and preaching for the Methodists. At Arroyo Grande the Presbyterians have a church. The mission of San Miguel is presided over by Rev. Father Farrelly, who also holds services in the Catholic Church at Cambria, but this denomination is more particularly noticed in the history of the missions. San Luis Obispo is now well provided with churches, which are provided with able ministers and are as well maintained and attended as is usual in the rural counties of any State.
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HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
REV. RUFUS DEMING.
The following obituary of this venerable gentleman was published in the San Luis Obispo Tribune, May 5, 1880 :-
Mr. Rufus Deming, of San Luis Obispo, died May I, 1880, in the eighty-second year of his age. The deceased was a native of Massachusetts. Many years ago he emigrated to Illinois. He came to California in 1858, and settled in Napa County, where he resided for eight- een years. Soon after coming to California he lost his fourth wife, and in 1856 was married to Miss Jane Love. Father Deming, as he was familiarly called, spent a long, active, and useful life. As a citizen, he was interested in all that pertained to the welfare of his country; as a neighbor, he always merited and received the confidence and esteem of those who knew him, while to his family he was a devoted husband and father. Early in life he became a member of the Christian Church, to which he was devotedly attached. He was a faithful worker in the cause, and exemplified his profession by an upright and consistent life.
THE BENCH AND BAR.
With the history of the organization of the county and with the records of elections is given the names of the various Judges of the courts with mention of proceed- ings, and there remains but little to be told. In connec- tion with practice at the Bar in a county like San Luis Obispo there naturally occur many incidents worthy of record, of a singular, amusing, or tragic character, but these, if any such transpired, are sacredly locked in the memories of those cognizant of them, or lost in the oblivion of forgetfulness.
J. M. BONILLA.
Going back to the earliest dates to find a member of the legal profession a resident and practitioner of San Luis Obispo, our researches exhume the name of Don José Mariano Bonilla, the first to occupy the judicial bench of the county.
He was born in the city of Mexico, in the year 1807, and received his education at the National College of San Yldefonso, in said city, where he received various diplomas, and was made a Bachelor of Letters. Through application and talent, he became a prominent member of the Bar of the city of Mexico. In 1834 he came to California with one of the colonies sent from Mexico, as Secretary to Governor Figueroa. From that he was pro- moted to Judge of the First Instance.
He married the daughter of Don Inocente Garcia in 1837, that gentleman then being the Administrator of the mission of San Miguel, and acted as Secretary to his father-in-law. He was afterwards appointed, by Gov. Juan B. Alvarado, Administrator of the mission of San Luis Obispo, at which place he made his subsequent home.
After the annexation of California to the United States, and before the Constitution of this State was adopted, he held the position of Sub-Prefect and Alcalde under the Military Government, and after the adoption of the Constitution, he became the first County Judge of San Luis Obispo County. During the time that Hon. Romualdo Pacheco was County Judge, Señor Bonilla
was District Attorney. He was afterward elected Super- visor, holding the office for several terms, until in 1866, he retired to private life. He was also engaged in numerous private enterprises, one of which was the building of the Cuesta Flouring Mill, in the early days of the county. Don J. Mariano Bonilla died in San Luis Obispo, March 19, 1878, at the advanced age of seventy-one years. In private as well as in public life he was always found honest and worthy of every trust re- posed in him, and his death was sincerely mourned by all classes of people.
During his incumbency as County Judge, attorneys were very few in San Luis Obispo, and it is related that on one occasion, in 1849, a case was on trial before him involving the right to a horse between two Mexicans. There were but two lawyers in the county, W. J. Graves and Judge Bonilla. Graves was the attorney for the plaintiff, while the defendant had none. This appeared to the Judge a hardship for the defendant, with no one to present his case against so able an opponent, and he called upon the Sheriff to preside over the Court, and leaving the Bench, took up the cause of the defendant, and tried the case with all the energy and earnestness of which he was capable. But his eloquence and skill availed not, as after careful deliberation he rendered judgment for the plaintiff.
H. A. TEFFT.
The Constitution adopted in 1849 provided for the division of the State into Judicial Districts, and that at its first session the Legislature should elect one District Judge for each, who should hold office for two years after the Ist of January succeeding his election, after which the Judges should be elected at the general election and hold office for six years. The District Court was given original jurisdiction in law and equity; in all civil cases where the amount in dispute exceeded $200, exclusive of interest; in all criminal cases not otherwise provided for, and in all issues of fact joined in Probate Court.
The counties of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara constituted the Second Judicial District, and Henry Amos Tefft was elected by the Legislature as its District Judge. This gentleman was a lawyer by profession, born in the State of New York in 1824, and came to California early in 1849. He was elected to the Con- stitutional Convention from San Luis Obispo, and was an active member in forming the first Constitution of the State. At the election adopting the Constitution and for officers under it, he was elected to represent San Luis Obispo County in the Assembly, and chosen by the Legislature as District Judge. He married Doña Maria Josefa Dana, eldest daughter of Capt. Wm. G. Dana. The lady, as a widow, subsequently married S. A. Pollard, and died in 1878. Judge Tefft, in returning from holding court at Santa Barbara, was drowned while attempting to land from the steamer Senator in the har- bor of San Luis Obispo, February 6, 1852, and his body was never recovered. He was held in high esteem as a gentleman of education and high promise, and his loss was sincerely mourned by all.
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AN EXCITING TRIAL.
One of the puzzling questions in the early days of the county government was how to observe the forms of law. Courts were established and the Judges desired to proceed with dignity, but with the exception of the Judges, and one or two others, the methods of law were enigmas past their finding out. Mr. Samuel A. Pollard was a young gentleman who seemed to know more than the people generally, and he was called upon to do the services in several offices, being elected Recorder. He relates the following story of the first criminal prosecu- tion in San Luis Obispo :-
In the summer of 1850 a party of Texan "cow-boys," driving a band of cattle to San Francisco, passed through the rancho of Mr. J. M. Price. In those days there were no fences, and live stock roamed wherever it chose. It was a common occurrence for a drover of sheep or cattle to start from San Diego with a small band, which would gradually increase on his way up the coast, until, upon his arrival in San Francisco, he would market a gain of five hundred per cent. This augmentation of his drove was a mystery to the honest owner. It always transpired in the night, when it was too dark to distin- guish one animal from another. If a ranchero had the good luck to discover his brand in the herd before it had passed on beyond his reach, he could only accept the ever-ready apology and reclaim his stock, to again be at the mercy of the next invader. There being no di- rect proof of their guilt, these unprincipled drovers escaped prosecution, and some of them grew wealthy in their nefarious business. Mr. Price was not a man to be trifled with by "cow-boys;" so, when he was informed that some cattle of his brand had been seen in a drove on the road, he posted off to town, and with the Sheriff and a posse, came unexpectedly upon the drovers, and they were arrested. The county of San Luis Obispo had just been organized. There were not more than three or four persons in the town who had ever been in an American court-room. This was the first occasion of the opening of the District Court of the First Judicial District. The County Recorder was merchant, Postmaster, Deputy Treasurer, and now was called upon by the Dis- trict Judge to display his legal ability as District Attor- ney. For, be it known, there was not a qualified lawyer in the county in those days-and the people were happy. There was only one other man in town, besides the Judge, and the man of many offices, who could read English-an old whaleman who had been stranded on the coast long before gold had been found in California. Consequently, the first pleading before a court of law in this county was done by the aforementioned County-Re- corder-merchant-Postmaster- Deputy- Treasurer- District- Attorney. He had never opened a law book in his life. He applied to the Judge to instruct him how to proceed with the case. That functionary replied that the duty of the District Attorney was only a matter of form, and with his assistance a list of questions was written down to be propounded to the accused. With this preparation he set out to convict six as desperate looking fellows as can now be found on the border. They asked for time to send to Los Angeles for a lawyer. The continuance was granted, and in ten days he made his appearance. Court was formerly opened in a room in the old mission building. The room was severely unadorned, and chastely furnished with a single table and two benches- chairs being out of the question. The Judge took his seat at the head of the table, with the prosecutor at the side. The counsel for the defense at this juncture stalked calmly into the court-room-a veritable Texan
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