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 88
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DAIRY RANCH AND RESIDENCE OF MABEL BROS., OLD CREEK, SAN LUIS OBISPO CO. CAL.
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TOWNS AND LOCALITIES CONTINUED.
JAMES BADASCI
Was the second of three children, born in Franco-Switzer- land, October 9, 1849. His parents were Stephen and Mary (Lanini) Badasci. In his native mountain country he remained until fifteen years of age, receiving the edu- cation the schools afforded, and trained to the habits of industry that have enabled him to succeed well in life. In 1866 he emigrated to America, coming direct to Cali- fornia, and without delay engaging to work in a dairy in Marin County. In that employment he remained for nine years, when he removed to Cayucos, San Luis Obispo County, and bought a ranch of 480 acres, a view of which is given in these pages. On this he has since re- sided, engaged in improving his place, stocking it, farm- ing and dairying. He now milks from seventy-five to one hundred cows, and makes large quantities of butter, which finds a ready market.
Mr. Badasci was married, August 4, 1879, to Miss Katie Muscio. Mrs. Badasci died March 30, 1880, leav- ing no children.
Among Americans who are engaged in dairying within the county none stand higher than the brothers Charles and Thomas S. Mabel. The following particu- lars of their life have been collated :-
CHARLES MABEL
Was born in the county of Roxburgh, Scotland, Decem- ber 26, 1834. He was the second child of Robert and Helen (Scott) Mabel, there being six children in the family, three sons and three daughters. In 1861 he came to California, and first settled in Sacramento, but finally went to Sonoma and Marin Counties, where he engaged in dairying, continuing in the business until 1876, when he changed his location to his present place of residence. The ranch comprises 1,040 acres, located on Old Creek, three miles from Cayucos, and is well stocked with choice cows and all the conveniences for successfully conducting the business of butter-making. From 120 to 150 cows are usually milked, and butter is made for the San Francisco market. A view of the ranch is given in this book.
THOMAS S. MABEL,
Brother of Charles Mabel, and youngest son of the family noticed in the preceding paragraph, was born in Roxburgh County, Scotland, April 15, 1839. Until seventeen years of age he remained in his native land and there attended school and received his education. He came to America in 1857, and settled in Delaware County, New York, where he remained eight years, en- gaged in farming. In 1865 he came to California, via the Isthmus of Panama, and for three years was engaged in various occupations in different parts of the State. He then settled in Marin County and engaged in dairy- ing, which business he continued in that county for eight years. In 1876 he came to San Luis Obispo County. locating on the ranch now occupied by himself and brother, on Old Creek, three miles from Cayucos, where they are now extensively engaged in the manufacture of butter, which finds a ready sale in San Francisco.
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The community about Cayucos, blessed with health and plenty, has always maintained a reputation for moral- ity and uprightness second to none other. Religion has its quota of devotees, who are ministered to by the Rev. Mr. Wenk, who preaches regularly there, and at Morro and Cambria. School facilities were and are of the best, and the rising generation is enabled to grow up in the midst of an atmosphere of civilization, and even refine- ment. Among those resident who have been most closely identified with school affairs, the name of
JAMES QUINCY BUFFINGTON
Is presented. He is one of the native sons of California pioneers, having been born in Nevada County, Novem- ber 15, 1850. His father was Abraham Columbus Buf- fington, and his mother, before her marriage, was Amanda Layton. Ten children graced the festive board of this happy family. The parents removed to Marin County when the subject of this sketch was seven years of age, and in that county of milk and butter he passed his years, and in the public schools acquired his education. In 1867 he came to San Luis Obispo County, where he has since made his home, successfully carrying on the business of dairying. His rancho, situated on Little Cayucos Creek, one mile from the town of Cayucos, contains 480 acres of land, furnishing grazing for the dairy of seventy-five cows. A view of his place will be found elsewhere in this book.
Mr. Buffington was married, October 26, 1870, to Miss Mary Cook, a native of New Brunswick, and they have five children, one daughter and four sons. Mr. Buffington in his social and business life is a very popular gentleman, and takes a great interest in public affairs, showing himself prominently where he can advance the prosperity and enlightenment of his community. While public-spirited and intelligent, he has not sought high political positions, but has been selected by his neighbors to act as Trustee in his school district, which is evidence of the esteem in which he is held.
Of the other meritorious and deserving residents of Cayucos and vicinity, two, Messrs. Powell and Kingery, are also briefly sketched as men of importance in their community. Of these
DAVID C. POWELL
Was born in Jackson County, Missouri, July 22, 1847, being the eldest of eleven children in a family of four sons and seven daughters. His father's name was Silas Powell, and his mother before marriage was Harriet Rice. His grandfather was the distinguished Baptist preacher, Joab Powell, well known in Missouri, the principal field of his labors. When the subject of this sketch was three years of age, his parents emigrated across the plains to Oregon, finding there a home, where they resided until 1869. There he passed his years of youth, obtaining his education in the schools of that State, and becoming familiar with the business of farm- ing and the management of stock. In 1869 his parents decided to seek a more Southern clime, and removed to genial California. While on the long journey he had the
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HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
sad misfortune to lose his father, who died in Santa Clara County, and the family continued their way to San Luis Obispo. David C. Powell being the eldest of the children, upon him devolved the duty of caring for the others. Settling upon a ranch he entered into the busi- ness of farming, dairying, and stock-raising, with success, his farm comprising an area of 920 acres, which he owns. In 1871 he came to reside at his present home, which belongs to his mother, now Mrs. Shipp. In this place are 327 acres, and the fine improvements shown in the engraving on another page.
Mr. Powell, was married November 21, 1877, to Miss Martha C. Petty, a native of Missouri, and two boys bless the union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Powell are fond of society, and enjoy greeting their friendsat their hospitable home.
Mr. Powell, while actively and strictly attending to business, finds time to attend to his duties as a promi- .. citizen. Politically he acts with the Democrats, and was in 1876 chosen to the honorable office of Justice of the Peace, which office he now holds.
SAMUEL KINGERY,
Whose pleasant home and fertile farm are shown in this book, was born in Madison County, Ohio, December 4, 1824. His father was John Kingery, and his mother's maiden name was Margaret Oolrah. Samuel was the second son in a family of nine children, there being seven boys and two girls. In pleasant Ohio he passed his early years, obtaining his education at the public schools of the country, to which he added the trade of a carpenter, thus particularly fitting him to earn a livelihood wherever he might be placed. As his father had been a pioneer of Ohio, the spirit pervaded the son, and he, in 1847, looked forward to the almost unknown land of Oregon, and to that country, in the spring of that year, set out on the long journey across the plains. California at that time was not generally known as belonging to the United States, but was then supposed to be the seat of warlike struggle for conquest. Oregon was the chief attraction for emi- grants to the Pacific Coast, and thither went Mr. Kingery and his companions. Arriving in the land of his desti- nation in due time after his long and dangerous journey, he settled in the region now comprised in Washington County. The nthere was not even a Territorial Govern- ment, and with the exception of a few settlements in the valley of the Willamette and the Columbia, the whole country was a wilderness. Land was free to take, and settlers came rapidly, giving Mr. Kingery an opportunity to work at his trade as a carpenter. As a farmer and carpenter he was engaged the principal part of the seven- teen years he remained in Oregon. In 1864 he removed to California, locating in Napa Valley, where he remained two years, after which he came to San Luis Obispo County, settling on a farm on Old Creek, near Cayucos, where he has since lived.
Mr. Kingery was married, July 23, 1858, to Miss Jane Benefiel, and they have five children, three being daughters and two sons.
CAYUCOS 1N 1880.
[Tribune, July 31, 1880.]
Cayucos is destined in the near future to be a point of considerable importance. It is already the depot for the shipment of a very large proportion of the dairy products of this county. The dairy interests of the vicinity of Cayucos have materially increased during the past two or three years. The country between Cayucos and Cambria seems to be peculiarly adapted to that busi- ness, and the thrifty Swiss, who are the most successful dairymen in the State, have been quick to profit by the natural advantages of the climate and soil. In the imme- diate neighborhood of Cayucos the dairymen are mostly Swiss. There has been a steady increase in the ship- ments from that port during the past year. The busi- ness houses of the town consist of two stores for the sale of general merchandise, one hotel, one saloon, one black- smith and wagon shop, and a lumber yard. The hotel is a well-kept, commodious hostelry. It is under the man- agement of Messrs. Morganti and Brignoli, who are popu- lar with the traveling public and consequently do a large business. The largest store is that of Cass & Co. Their establishment is located conveniently to the wharf, and most of the dairy produce of the section passes through their warehouse. Cass & Co. also have a lumber yard in connection with their other business. Mr. Cass resides in Cayucos, and has an elegant residence in the midst of attractive grounds.
The other store is owned by Grant, Lull & Co., of Cambria, but managed by Mr. William Watson, a thor- ough business man in every respect, and very popular with the people. Mr. Watson is from Sonoma County, and is one of a most excellent family, the children of Green Watson, Esq., once Sheriff of Marin County. Mr. Watson has a neatly-kept store, and appears to be doing his share of the trade.
Mr. D. C. McMillan, formerly of the firm of Dunn, McMillan & Co., has recently erected a fine new store which will soon be opened.
During the past season a large number of hogs have been shipped from Cayucos. Mr. E. Smith has been the principal shipper, having bought nearly all the swine for sale in that section.
As previously stated the country between Cayucos and Cambria is just suited for dairying. The low foot-hills generally possess a strong, rich soil, and produce an immense amount of wild oats and other nutritious feed, indigenous to the country. With such substantial back- ing Cayucos is destined to become one of the most important towns in the county in the immediate future.
R. Cheda managed the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Cayu- cos during a portion of the later time. The Rev. J. H. Blitch held divine service at Cayucos in 1881, preaching at Stone's new hotel on the first Sunday of each month. On the second Sunday he held forth at the Presbyterian Church at San Luis Obispo; on the third Sunday he dis- coursed at Green Valley, and on the fourth Sunday at the Cambria Presbyterian Church. To the great regret of his numerous friends, Dr. Blitch died in Cambria, July, 1882, falling almost literally in the harness, and while yet his work proceeded. His talents were described as of a good order, and his piety unaffected.
H. Levy, a merchant, kept a store in Cayucos for a time during the year 1881, dealing in general merchandise.
The firm of Summers & Murray, blacksmiths, flourished at Cayucos in 1880, DeRome soon buying out the first named and instituting the firm of DeRome & Murray.
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Brocksheid, a carpenter, also established himself in the village, building for himself a two-story house and shop combined.
B. F. Bidamon, at nearly the same time, carried on the business of harness-making and saddlery in Cayucos.
James Cass & Co. built a new addition to their ware- house in 1881, it being a lean-to, fourteen by ninety feet in size.
Dr. Lane, a medical gentleman, arrived in 1881, and began practice.
Riordan's boot and shoe shop also began about that time.
James Bane, butcher, established himself as successor to Gimmel.
The Social Club and Gymnasium, organized in 1881, held three meetings each week in Stone's new hotel for practice and entertainment.
Lots in Cayucos in that year sold for an average price of $75.00 each, while land on the Morro y Cayucos Rancho was held at an average price of $25.00 per acre.
CHAPTER XLI. TOWNS AND LOCALITIES CONTINUED.
Morro-Morro Rock-Morro Bay-Town Founded-Land Titles- Business Men of Morro-William Langlois-John Greening -- Legend of Morro Castle-Avila-Don Miguel Avila -- Port Harford.
2 LL who have traversed the coast of California are familiar with the Morro Rock, one of the most imposing of nature's landmarks, and wonderful even amid the other wonders of this State. This great natural monument rises from the waters of Morro Bay to a height of 580 feet, with nearly perpendicular sides, and covers at its base an area of some fifty acres. This great natural curiosity has been celebrated in prose and verse, and among the poets who have sung of its grandeur, the lines of Elwoods are quoted :--
MORRO ROCK.
BY C. ELWOODS.
Standing on the gently sloping land, That rises back from Morro's shining bay,
I look along the shining stretch of strand, And hear the roar of surf, and see the spray That rises white and pure as mountain snow, With showers of diamond drops flung far and wide.
Flashing and gleaming in the rosy glow of twilight's charming hour, the sea-gulls glide
On flapping wings at ease, high in the air, Or stand in rows all silent, side by side,
Watching and waiting for their evening fare.
Alone and grand, from out the white sea foam, Old Morro lifts his rugged form on high,
Where fierce, tempestnous winds in fury roam. Dauntless he lifts his head toward the sky.
He stands, through storm and sunshine, night and day, The firm, grim guardian of the placid bay.
Long may the storm-king howl upon the deep, And strew, with helpless wrecks, the sandy shore; Hurl his wild waves about old Morro's feet, And fill the air with wild, incessant, roar, But firm and staunch, through danger's deafening din, Stands the bold sentry of the bay within.
MORRO BAY.
East of the rock lies the bay of Morro, a land-locked body of water of importance as a harbor. As remarked upon in another connection, the earliest explorers of this region, Father Crespi and his comrades, saw this bay on their northward trip, and observed that it was likely to prove a good harbor, except that the breakers rolled ominously in at the entrance, signifying that dangerous reefs existed there.
TOWN FOUNDED.
The town of Morro, founded before 1870, possesses a history in all respects like to that of the other landings already cited. When the county began to be populated by enterprising men, the landing at Morro came into notice, and was somewhat in use as an embarcadero. Its subsequent history is easily told. The embarcadero was established in 1870, marking the commencement of a considerable trade in country produce by schooners to and from San Francisco. Potatoes, dairy products, barley, and wool formed the leading articles of com- merce then as now. Soon after Captain Williams, of the schooner Alexina, formed with Franklin Riley, Esq., owner of 160 acres of land upon which the new town was built, a partnership for the buying, selling, and ti porting of merchandise, business to be done in Morro and San Francisco. One of the objects of the partner- ship was the construction of a wharf at Morro. Ezra Stocking, a little later on, made himself conspicuous in the development of the place, and one reads that he was the first Postmaster of the town, and in 1871 and subse- quent years kept a store, and did a good business. Williams & Co., of whom Mr. Stocking was resident partner, conducted nearly all the business of the place in 1872, as appears from contemporary newspaper corre- spondents.
The neighboring settlers turned out to the number of 200 to celebrate the Fourth of July, 1870, meeting at Toro Creek, where suitable exercises were held. A. M. Hardie acted as Marshal; Revs. A. B. Spooner and A. P. Hendon assisted in the spiritual portion of the pro- gramme; L. J. Beckett read the immortal declaration; J. Grigsby orated, and Miss Leonora Hazen sang. Thus we see that Morro and its neighborhood had grown in numbers, and were not deficient in patriotism.
In 1872, besides the well-stocked store of Stocking, Stewart was starting still another establishment of the same style. In the following year the Government engineers surveyed the port, and made some recommen- dations as to its improvement. After the subject had simmered in their minds for four years, they advised that the estero be dredged out to the bedrock, some twenty- one feet below low water, which would give an additional depth of seven feet, and make the harbor sufficient for the reception of vessels of the larger classes.
The year 1873 brought prosperous times for Morro. A new wharf was projected, several dwellings and business houses were put up, and the benefits of the excellent situation and rich back country began to be visible. Morro exceeded every other place in the
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HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
county in the briskness of its growth. During the twelve months preceding May, 1873, there had been erected fourteen dwelling-houses, two stores, two black- smith shops, one shoemaker shop, one carpenter shop, and a butcher shop. A new and convenient wharf had been constructed, in connection with a warehouse 80x100 feet. The steamer Coquille touched regularly on her trip, and several schooners sought freight at the land- ing.
Within a year or two complaints began to be made against the firm of Goodall, Nelson & Perkins for their neglect of the port -- a neglect which they hastened to ascribe to the people of Morro, saying that no terms could be made with the owners of the landing. In order to obviate the ill-conduct of the steamer company, Messrs. Riley, Stewart, Arthur, Williams, and Stocking, with Captain Staples of the schooner F. J. Newell, pro- posed to have this vessel converted into a propeller by the addition of auxiliary steam power. From some reason or other the movement failed of success, leaving Morro, as before, dependent upon the slow, uncertain schooners, or the hardly more convenient steamers.
The season of 1877 proved a bad one, and conse- quently the support of the agricultural districts failed somewhat. The following year was more propitious, and immense crops were raised, adding materially to Morro's business. At that time there were two wharves in existence at the place, extending out to where the water is of fourteen feet depth. Messrs. Jones & Shep- pard, dealers in lumber, began business that year as agents of a Santa Cruz lumbering firm, and afterwards the Morro Lumber Company, superintended by Mr. Jor- dan, kept in hand a good supply of redwood and pine lumber suitable for buildings, fences, etc., which was derived from Santa Cruz, being brought by cargoes by the steamer Alex. Duncan.
The Morro branch of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Association was organized in 1882-a fact that speaks well for the intellectual progress of the village which could support such a movement.
The Kirkland Brothers started a store in town in Stewart's old place in December, 1881, but finding trade insufficient, removed, after a few months, to San Luis Obispo.
LAND TITLES.
The Morro y Cayucos Ranch, the valuable tract pre- viously spoken of as extending from Cayucos to Morro, was subdivided into small farms about the year 1877. In the previous year the owner, Don Domingo Pujol, had acquired a clear title by a decision of the Supreme Court of California, in the case of Pujol vs. the Mckinley heirs. Pujol, by the advice of C. H. Phillips, Esq., sub- divided the splendid property, whence it has fallen into the possession of a most energetic and useful class of dairymen and farmers, who have made its before useless acres to blossom as the rose. There is no part of this State, excepting the neighborhoods of cities, where land is made more productive by man's resources, or where it yields more valuable or abundant products. Only a pasture originally, its heavy growth of wild oats has given
place to cultivated crops of all the known cereals and vegetables, and over its rich sward grazes herds of the finest cattle, whose further improvement is a subject for the anxious study of their owners. No total failure of the crops is ever known. Some of the best practical farmers of this or any State till the soil of the Morro y Cayucos Rancho, and dairymen there are whose skill and forethought are equally advanced.
BUSINESS MEN OF MORRO.
Messrs. Parker & Hanson, Whitney, Austin, and Spencer, residing near Morro, have ably maintained the character of the district as regards agriculture, and have secured results that in any other country would be regarded as incredible. Mr. George Shoup has harvested 107 bushels of barley from a single acre of ground, and in the Centennial year averaged no less than eighty bushels per acre, over a large field. Mrs. Hugh Isom possesses a splendid farm, well stocked with the best breeds of domestic animals, about three and one-half miles above Morro; and Mr. Mothersead owns and carries on a fine farm one mile above the Isom place, on Morro Creek. On Morro Creek resides Mr. Langlois, who has made a reputation as a dairyman, and of whom a slight sketch is introduced.
WILLIAM LANGLOIS
Is a native of the Isle of Guernsey, one of the channel islands of England lying near the coast of France, and with Alderney and Jersey distinguished for their fine breeds of milch cows and their dairy products. On the Island of Guernsey he was born October 10, 1826, being the fourth child of eight in the family of James and Rachel (Sackett) Langlois, there being five sons and three daughters. In the schools of Guernsey he received his education, and in his native village learned the manly and valuable trade of blacksmithing. When twenty- three years of age he emigrated from his little island to the great continent of America, and sought a new home at Racine, Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Michigan. That was in 1849, when nearly all people ready to move were rushing off to the new El Dorado on the Pacific Coast, but the lovely prairies of Wisconsin and the thriving city by the great lake were too attractive to Mr. Langlois and his young bride, and there they re- mained until 1852. Three years were spent in Racine, Mr. Langlois working there at his trade as blacksmith. Then came the fever for California, and in the summer of 1852 he crossed the plains to the gold region, locating in Sierra County, and at once engaged in mining. But there were other ways of getting gold than digging it out of the earth. The miners were very destructive of all their iron implements, and were willing to pay large prices for making, mending, and sharpening picks, drills and many other things, and Mr. Langlois soon found he had a better mine in his trade than he could find in the gulches, bars, and hills of Sierra County, and he therefore resumed his blacksmith work. To this he added a saw-mill, and engaged in the lumber trade, con- tinuing the business in that county for eleven years. In
VUOLIC L.LITRY
A
DAIRY RANCHAND RESIDENCE OF WM. LANGLOIS, MORRO CREEK, SAN LUIS OBISPO CO. CAL.
SAN FRAU PUBLIC LIBRE DI
RANCH, RESIDENCE & CARP LAKE OF JOHN GREENING, NEAR MORRO, SAN LUIS OBISPO CO. CAL.
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TOWNS AND LOCALITIES CONTINUED.
1863 he removed to Sonoma County, buying a dairy farm and stock of cows, and engaging in the manufact- ure of butter and cheese. In 1867 he came to San Luis Obispo County, and bought a ranch of 500 acres located at the head of Morro Creek, ten miles from Cay- ucos and eighteen miles from the town of San Luis Obispo. Here he has since lived, carrying on the busi- ness of dairying in a thorough and first-class manner. A view of Mr. Langlois' place will be found on another page of this work.
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