History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 20

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1070

USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 20

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three Hundred guess. Mr. Petersen died January 1, 1916, and is buried in the Templeton commery.

Others engaged in business in pioneer days were A. F. Stull, general store: 11. Morton, jeweler; E. A. Spangenberg, books and drugs; Brown, who bought out Spangenberg; and John Quarnstrom and A. P. Seeman, general merchandise. Gus Fredrickson bought out Muggler, who had a har- ness and shoe shop, and still conducts the business. Mrs. Tillman, Miss Annie Petersen, and Mrs. Culver had millinery shops at one time or another, is also Ars. Hines, who became Mrs. Adolph Petersen.

Among the pioneer families are the Wessels, who came in April, 1891-Mr. Jbl Mrs. Wessel and four children, Pauline, Etta, Frank and Harry. Mr. Wessel bought the fine home C. H. Phillips had built, and here the family has resided since. Pauline is a trained nurse, spending most of her time in the bay cities. Harry is a druggist in Honolulu. Frank married a daughter of Niels Johnson, and Etta remains with her mother. This family lost heavily in pioneer days. Mr. Wessel died October 6, 1915. Four pioneers were laid to rest within about four months-Dr. Helgesen, H. Wessel, G. H. Fisher and Hans Petersen.

Another pioneer family was the Bierers. They came in March, 1887, bringing a fine herd of Jersey cattle. They lived on the Santa Ysabel ranch for a time, and then bought a ranch west of town. Captain Everett H. Bierer was a staff officer under General Turney before he was twenty-one. He recruited a company of volunteers for the Civil War at Rockford, Ill. Cap- tain Bierer died about four years ago. A daughter, Helen Jessie Bierer, a beautiful, brilliant girl, was a well-known teacher and lecturer on physical culture. She married and enjoyed a brief life of happy wedlock, but died, in -pite of care, a few years later. Mrs. Amanda M. Bierer, the mother, still lives m Templeton and was ninety-two in November, 1916.

The James Mercer family, east of the river, and the Thomas family at Mt. Pleasant ranch, are old residents, who came with the earliest pioneers.

"College Hill" still enjoys its name. The site was given by the West Coast Land Co. to Professor Summers, who purposed to have a college going full blast in short order. He built a small building, taught a private school in it for a few months, rented it for a public school before the schoolhouse was put up, and finally sold it to a worthy Swede, who added blue trimmings . the yellow building, while the little Swedes frolicked over the whilom. 'campus" merry as crickets. The Professor always wore a slouch hat and a Mack Prince Albert coat, and summer and winter carried a silk umbrella. He wos "from Kentucky, Suh," and added a touch of dignity to the frivolous Whom town," where all the inhabitants, ladies included, insisted on going door to meet the trains. Why not? It was all the excitement there was for the lub- The train men and male citizens could play cards and hold tarantula nent- 11it was some sport, too, let me tell you. Water was poured down the Dragon's hole, a wide-mouthed bottle caught Mr. Tarantula when he swam mjj, pod then the men placed bets. The "bugs" were turned loose and liter- ill- che du t fen.

Jie told brothers. James. Joseph, and William S., have done much to mirigy the bo these conditions of the town and county. They were bright soupes follow - sheet. rte I in to make good, and they did. They went into the matik In-ine . Tuyitte and selling, established first-class meat markets in

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Templeton and Paso Robles, bought up thousands of cords of wood and shipped it, and purchased real estate and sold when the rise came. James died April 11, 1911; William resides in Paso Robles; and Joseph, in Temple- ton, where he is a leading man in all that goes for improvement and moral uplift.

The Dupont Powder Works have had a big charcoal concern near Temple- ton for some years.

Will Hudson is the owner of a gravel plant, where cars and wagons are loaded by an immense steam shovel.

Among the present business men are Marker & Sharp, general merchan- dise ; Petersen Bros., hardware and groceries ; Albert Horstman, meat market ; Clauson, general merchandise; Charles Johnson, groceries. The first paper published in the town was the Templeton Times, edited by Captain Haley but financed by the West Coast Lumber Company. There are now two, the Ad- vance, edited and owned by Ben Bierer, and the Times, owned by Mr. Osgood. The grammar school of three rooms was built in 1887, and with the land valued at $10,000, more than it is worth now. A union high school is being built and is described in the chapter on schools. The town is "dry," but seems to thrive, as do others like it.

Churches

There is a large brick church belonging to the Swedish Lutheran society, who also own a hall for social gatherings. The Swedish residents of the vicinity have always been a most thrifty and desirable class.

The Presbyterian church at Templeton was built in 1888, and dedicated late that year. Rev. F. H. Robinson was the first pastor, Rev. Wells followed him and in 1892 Rev. Isaac Baird became pastor, and served for six years Rev. Lowry, Rev. John H. McLennon, and Rev. Thompson followed in suc- cession, and there may have been others for short periods.

In June, 1887, the first "entertainment" in the town of Templeton was given under the auspices of the Ladies' Aid of the Presbyterian Church. The writer was in charge of it. Music, tableaux, readings and "Mrs. Jarley's Wax Works" were on the program. It came off in Knapp's hall, was a great success and netted nearly one hundred fifty dollars. The church organ was paid for and a surplus left. A young man who afterwards became famous as a novelist and playwright, Horace .\. Vachell, was present. He was courting Miss Lydie Phillips, the beautiful daughter of (. 11. Phillips, who a year or so later became his bride: and as he has put most of this county and a good many of its people into his books, we do not doubt he gót "material" out of some of us and our efforts at "entertaining."

A manse was built at Templeton, and for years the faithful women of the "Aid" toiled to get it clear of debt, which they finally did some eighteen years after it was built. The church has been the scene of many christenings and weddings, and from its door have been carried the bodies of the loved dead. Patriarchs, men and women in the prime of life, maidens and little children have all been carried from that little church among the oak trees to their last resting-place "beneath the sky, underneath the sod, but home to God."

We can not forbear writing about the beautiful country about Temple- ton. Nowhere on earth is there a more beautiful spot, with the distant blue

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mountains; the rounded falls covered in spring with wild oats, where not cultivated ; the wide, park-like valley dotted with immense oaks; the Salinas river, with its tree-fringed banks-alders, willows, sycamores and oaks-and spicewood breathing its fragrance on the air. Wild roses in spring and waxen "snowberries" in winter beautify the wilderness of undergrowth along the streams. The climate is very salubrious. Templeton is now coming into its own. The little town, with its beautiful setting, will ever be dear to the writer and all the others who, during those first hopeful, happy days, picked flowers in the streets, shunned squirrel holes in the same, or brought land at the big sale in April, when the brass band played and the auctioneer made you feel that you had to have a lot in the "villa" tract or a ranch. We got the "villa" lot, built a nice home, and lost out because others would not pay their debts, so we could cancel a $700 mortgage.

During the last few years, real estate has sold at a good price ; the town is electric-lighted ; and in all respects Templeton is now a lively, thrifty com- munity.

SAN MIGUEL

San Miguel, our most northern town, is located north of the old Mission, and was begun when the Southern Pacific came in 1886. It has had its ups and downs along with the rest of the pioneers. It is the shipping point for the wheat grown in that section, and has a large S. P. Milling Co. warehouse. It was there the Farmers' Alliance built a fine grist-mill in the early nineties There have been the usual number of general stores and shops for all pur- poses. It has a pretty park, with its flag pole in the center, from which often float the Stars and Stripes. A big celebration was held there on the one hundredth anniversary of the Mission, when old, decrepit Indians came from San Juan and other places, who, in their childhood and youth, lived at the San Miguel Mission. South of town stands an old two-story adobe that was once the Caledonian Hotel, and where balls were held to which the whole countryside came. This was quite a famous hostelry in the stage- line days, and was the scene of lively times when the Southern Pacific was building. There are a good three-room schoolhouse, a Methodist church, and good store buildings, some of brick. The town is on the state highway, as well as on the Southern Pacific: and it presents a neat, thrifty appearance. Adjacent to the town are two cheese factories, one owned by J. M. Kalar and one by Clark & Marzorini. Mrs. E. Cole is a pioneer business woman who has a general store. Other stores are: C. E. Mler, confectionery, E. Bergeman, Gorham & Sonneberg, L. Lacefield, gen- wol merchandise. Thralls & Co. There are a garage. a blacksmith shop, Various repair shops. San Miguel has always had a local paper : at pres- af: 0 1- Ih San Miguel Sentinel. Dr. McNaul and Dr. L. D. Murphy look May be hold of the community. Lately San Miguel has joined the ranks of The Ir - 100 the ted to abolish the saloon.

CRESTON

Lorsare is armadil M'age with a general store and post office, a black- ola schoolhouse. It is about twelve miles south- - reached by daily stage carrying mail and pas- Wy - cool ('reston.

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Beach Wear El Plano, Cal.

ARCH ROCK AND SCENE AT PISMO BEACH

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SANTA MARGARITA

Santa Margarita is the next town south of Templeton, and was laid out and had a land sale in the spring of 1889, soon after the Southern Pacific reached there. It is built on a part of the Santa Margarita ranch. The state highway passes through it. The rich country around and to the east of it makes Santa Margarita its shipping point. It is just at the foot of the Santa Lucia range, and there extra engines are "hooked on" to all trains for the stiff pull to the summit. The S. P. Milling Co. has ware- houses there, and a lumber yard. There are general stores owned by T. W. Arnold, Lauritson Bros., and L. D. Weeks, a pioneer merchant. The Eureka Hotel is run by Henry Langreder. Harper & Kendrick own a garage. There are a meat market and shops of various kinds, a Catholic church, a number of pretty homes, and a very fine new schoolhouse described in the chapter on schools.

NIPOMO

This little town is on the Pacific Coast Railroad about half-way be- tween Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria. It is built on the Nipomo ranch, and the Dana families live on some of the surrounding ranches. All that section once belonged to the founder of the Dana family, W. G. Dana. There are the Methodist and Catholic churches, a modern schoolhouse of four or five rooms, and many substantial and pretty homes. It is a shipping point for beans and barley, the principal crops grown in that section. Grocery stores are owned by Burke Bros. and the Dana Mercantile Co. Mrs. Cameron has for years kept a supply of dry goods. There are shops to meet other needs, and W. M. Cotter runs a meat market. Two saloons still remain, one run by J. A. G. (Jag) Dana, and one by B. Knotts.

PISMO

This town exists because of the beautiful Pismo beach, which for twenty miles curves away to Point Sal in Santa Barbara county, and which is by all odds the finest in the state. Under right management it will soon come into its own. The hotel, bath house, etc., came into the possession of the J. P. Andrews heirs when a mortgage had to be foreclosed a few years ago. Saloons and things that go with them tend to draw a certain undesirable element, and the place suffers in consequence. There is a tent city, which in the summer season is full of tenants. The Pismo clam beds have long been famous for their delicious bivalves. The beach is wide, the sand clean and white, and surf bathing safe and very enjoyable. There are hot and cold salt baths under cover. The view out over the placid blue ocean or up the beach towards the bold rocky point north, or south to Point Sal, is one never to be forgotten. There are a two-room schoolhouse, a post office, a garage, and several shops and stores. Many people come to this beach from the hot San Joaquin valley during the summer and there are some very pretty summer homes at Pismo. When the beach is known for what it is, it will be a winter resort as well ; for the soft, sunny winter days at Pismo are a rare delight.

ARROYO GRANDE

Arroyo Grande is located on the Pacific Coast Railroad, about fifteen miles south of San Luis Obispo. It is built on land granted to F. Z. Branch on

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the banks of the Arroyo Grande creek. Originally it was all one big "monte." covered with willows and brush; in fact, the whole floor of the valley was a monte. F. Z. Branch gave the people the use, for five years, of every acre they would clear and cultivate. The land about the town and where it now is was sold in the monte state for eighty dollars per acre, but this same land has since sold for from three hundred to six and eight hundred dollars per acre. The town in 1867 consisted of a small schoolhouse and a blacksmith shop, and was on the stage line to Santa Barbara. By 1876 it had two hotels, one owned by W. H. Ryan, two stores, two saloons, a wheelwright and blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse, a post office, a livery stable and a number of residences.

In 1877 there was quite a rush for land in the valley, and the school had an attendance of one hundred children. The early settlers were God- fearing people, and regular religious services were held in the schoolhouse. The religious element has continued to predominate, and now there are Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist churches in the town. The Methodist people built a large tabernacle on the hill above the town, and every summer an Epworth League rally and camp meeting are held there. Hammerschlag and Meherin Bros. were the pioneer storekeepers.

The Odd Fellows numbered sixteen members in 1877, meeting in a hall over Meherin Brothers' store. This lodge now owns a beautiful two-story building, built of the handsome yellow sandstone quarried near the town. The Good Samaritans, a temperance lodge, built a hall which was used for a high school, or what passed for one, in 1899, and is now the city hall. The temperance element also throve, and the town is now saloonless.

The Pismo wharf, built in 1881 by Meherin Bros. and a few others, was designed to do big things for Arroyo Grande valley. It was 1,600 feet long, twenty feet above low water, and the water was twenty-seven feet deep at its ocean end. The cost was $14,613. During 1882 thirty-eight vessels (schooners) were loaded at the wharf, and it was estimated that over $30,000 was saved the farmers in freights. In 1881 the Pacific Coast Railway reached the town, and for the next two or three years there were lively times. The town claimed two hundred population. A warehouse 48x100 feet was put up; 1. B. Carman opened a drug store : Phillips & Co. put up a store 40x80 feet ; R. Orton & Co. had a flour and grist mill; and in 1882 the Arroyo Grande Irrigating Co. had two ditches capable of watering three thousand acres.

Dr. l'aulding and Dr. Clark, both pioneer physicians, are still practicing in the community ; and there is a third physician, Dr. Gallup. Dr. C. S. Noble i- the dentist of the town, and W. A. Conrad has the drug store. About fifteen Years ago, a company of theosophists bought the big Coffee Rice house and named in "Haleyon": and there, two miles down the valley, they have a sani- 1.41 111111

The town has grown slowly but surely. It was incorporated as a city ixth cla s. July 10, 1911, with a population of about twelve hundred. Till first board of city trustees consisted of F. E. Bennett, president; S. Almalader, George Grieb, G. W. Gilliam, and A. A. Henry. B. F. Stewart was, and still as, city clerk. C. B. Doty was city marshal. The members of the heard are elected every two years. The present board are : Bennett, president ; Gillian Cabeb. IL. L. CON, and C. S. Noble. Cleon Kite is postmaster : George

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Ide, assistant. The town is lighted by electricity and there is a proposition before the city to install public water works. About 1904, Russell Robinson put up an electric plant and barley crushing mill. He supplied light and water to all who would buy, until he sold out his plant to the Midland Conn- ties Light and Power Corporation. There is a fine grammar school on a two- acre campus, and a new $12,000 high school building, both more particularly mentioned in the chapter on schools. There are several general stores, two hardware firms, Lynam's harness and shoe shop, and shops of various kinds. There is a creamery depot, a branch of the Los Angeles Creamery, and a mil- linery store owned by Mrs. Ellen Adair. E. C. Loomis has a large warehouse and a barley crushing mill.

The Bank of Arroyo Grande began as a branch of the Commercial Bank of San Luis Obispo, October 1, 1901 ; but on November 7, 1903, it was incor- porated, with D. D. Barnard, president ; S. A. Dana, vice-president; . \. L. Bickell, cashier. The directors were McD. Venable, L. C. Routzahn, M. R. Swall and P. Olohan. The officials at present are M. R. Swall, president ; S. A. Dana, vice-president ; J. S. Gibson, cashier ; and J. B. Gibson, assistant cashier. The capital in 1903 was $25,000; now it is $50,000.

The Arroyo Grande Herald was first published in 1885 by Steve Cleven- ger, owner and editor. He died in 1910, and his wife and son ran the paper for a year. In 1911, W. H. Smith bought the Herald and another local paper, the Record, and consolidated them into the Record-Herald, which he still publishes.

The large Routzahn seed farms and the Johansen seed farm are located near Arroyo Grande. For many years Mr. Routzahn supplied millions of sweet peas to church societies that gave sweet-pea festivals. These festivals were great affairs, and goodly sums were netted the societies giving them. Often most beautiful designs were worked out in the fragrant blossoms. Very fine horticultural and agricultural fairs used to be held also; but for some reason both the festivals and the fairs have been discontinued. They did more to keep up an outside interest in the town and valley than anything else has ever done.

The state highway, when it is completed, will pass through Arroyo Grande. The scenery about Arroyo Grande is inviting, and the climate is all that could be desired. The flower-embowered homes speak for themselves.

The Valley

Arroyo Grande valley has a very deep, rich soil. Berries, walnuts, many kinds of fruit trees, and all sorts of vegetables-potatoes, onions, squashes and pumpkins-grow to perfection. Apples do especially well, and large orchards once existed ; but carelessness resulted in the trees becoming badly diseased, and shipment of apples was prohibited. The last ship-load sent to Australia from the valley was refused at the port, it is said, and was dumped overboard.

Two or three different times during the last decade the creek has "gone on a rampage," and each time carried away acres and acres of the richest soil. A few years ago the "lake" and a great volume of water tore through across Main street, to reach the creek, cutting out a gulch twenty feet in depth and far greater in width. The bridges were torn out or badly damaged. Thou- sands of dollars' damage was done to the Routzahn seed farms. The ware- house and tons of valuable seeds were destroyed or damaged, and many acres

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We're swept away on covered several feet deep with gravel and débris. The creek is at tinte & mirnace to the town and valley under existing conditions, though its waters are very valuable for irrigating.

Many fine it incs dot the valley. The "Huasna." originally owned by Isaac Sparks, is about twelve miles from the town. Fine wheat and barley are grown there, and many cattle range over the "Upper Huasna."

OCEANO

This is a little village about halfway between Arroyo Grande and Pismo om the Southern Pacific Railroad. It is quite a freight station, much of the Arroyo Grande valley produce being shipped from there. It has a population of several hundred. "Le Grand Beach" is near by, and efforts are being made to develop a seaside resort. The village has a post office, shops, and general stores, and a school employing two teachers.

NEWSOM'S SPRINGS

About two miles east of Arroyo Grande, in a beautiful valley, is the great warm white sulphur spring owned by the D. F. Newsom heirs. There are a bath house and several cottages. The springs used to be a favorite resort and camping place. Some years ago, when the winter rains did so much havoc, the Newsom valley was badly washed out. Before D. F. Newsom's death the hotel, cottages, and bath house were kept in good repair. Big oaks and sycamores grow beside the spring and the little stream. The air is balmy, and no finer camping spot exists. The water has a temperature of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit and is of considerable medicinal valuie.

BERROS

This is a small station on the Pacific Coast Railroad five miles south of Arroyo Grande, and has a schoolhouse, store, blacksmith shop, and post office. A number of good-sized chicken ranches are in the locality.

SAN SIMEON

San Simeon was once a town of considerable importance. Its wharf is described along with the other wharves of the county. As it is on private property, the Hearst ranch, there is little hope for its growth while that estate remains one man's property. In the days when all that coast section depended upon shipping from San Simeon it was quite a busy place. During the first six months of 1869, $62,650 worth of produce was shipped from there besides many live hogs. In 1876 two general stores did a good business. ! whe the end of the coastwise stage line, and Brown had put on a new stage wlu onibde daily trips to and from San Luis Obispo carrying mail and pas- A telegraph line was run to the county-seat. The Ocean View mine wolipond miksilver, and chrome ore was also shipped. In 1878 Mr. fore, which did a big business ; he was also wharfinger. To Gor three Hundred flasks of quicksilver worth $40 each were shipped, La br and chrome ore cost $3.00 per ton for shipment. In 1 10 pror of . Pregled a whaling station at San Simeon. He had five w lm thirty feet long and six feet wide. He employed Toim twar dego 10y men during the season, which lasted from November w Apat Da 1-wy . wol for any year was three whales, and the largest

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catch for a season, twenty-three. After Cayucos became a town and had a good wharf, San Simeon had to divide the business, and now there is but little doing at San Simeon. A son of the Frankl spoken of was in charge of the wharf in 1908 and considerable business was carried on over the wharf. At present Roy Summers is wharfinger. Small steamers call once or twice a week for beans and other produce that is shipped in the fall. There is a schoolhouse, and the store and post office are run by Mr. Sebastian. If ever the Hearst ranch is subdivided, a lively town may spring up where now stands a little group of houses, a store and a hotel.

Piedra Blanca Lighthouse

About six miles up the coast from San Simeon on a rocky point stands the lighthouse. The tower is 100 feet high and the lantern 150 feet above sea level. It throws alternate rays and flashes fifteen miles out to sea. A keeper and two assistants are always in charge. An immense steam fog- horn and whistle are used in time of fog and storm. The old white cliffs were named Piedra Blanca (white stone) by Cabrillo in 1542, and no one has ever changed the name. When the winter storms rave along that rocky coast, Piedra Blanca lighthouse is a lonely place for the two or three families who live there; but when the soft summer winds just ripple the sea, and flowers and waving grass are all about, a visit to the lighthouse is a delight.

CAMBRIA

This town is located about ten miles south of San Simeon, where once giant pines covered the earth. It is built on land that, with a large surround- ing tract, was held or used by Julian Estrada as a part of his grant, the Santa Rosa. After the dry year land was sold for very little, as witness the Steeles' great buy of 45,000 acres for one dollar and ten cents an acre. Surveyors were set to work to make a thorough government survey and throw open all land for settlement that rightly belonged to the government. A large tract along Santa Rosa creek and much in other sections, in Green Valley for instance, was thus opened up, and settlers flocked in. Early settlers about Cambria were De Nise, the Leffingwells, O. P. McFaddon, Jeffrey Phelan, John C. Hill, F. J. Peterson, J. M. Whitaker, AAlexander Cook, the Olmsteads, Neil Stewart, A. C. Buffington, C. H. Evans, B. Short, S. M. Davidson, J. R. Fletcher, G. O. Campbell, Mather and others. Letcher and Leffingwell each had a sawmill and from the great pines sawed lumber for the new settlers' homes, and for fences and posts.

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 20

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837- Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1070

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1070