History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 21

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 21

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The first name applied to the settlement was Slabtown. Others wanted it named Santa Rosa and Roseville. It remained, however, for a decided old Welshman to name it for all time. While others were squabbling over the name, he hung out his sign, "Cambria Carpenter Shop." This man from Wales, Llewellyn by name, persistently spoke of the town as "Cambria" (Wales) ; and when it came to a show-down with the postal authorities, "Cam- bria" stood the test and became the town's official name.

In 1867 no travel took place between Cambria and San Luis except by private conveyance, mostly on horseback, and mail had to be got at San Luis Obispo, nearly forty miles away. In 1868 the government put on a weekly mail service, in 1869 a tri-weekly mail service. In July, 1866, G. W.

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Lull had a store, the first one north of San Luis, at a point between Santa Rosa and San Simeon creeks. In 1867 the store was moved a half mile north of where the town now is; and in 1868 it moved into town, and the firm of Lull, Grant & Co. began doing business. Lull and Leffingwell came to the county in 1859. M. J. Phelan came earlier than either of these men, and in 1859 he built the first schoolhouse in that end of the county. It was in a little cañon between Phelan's ranch and San Simeon creek, and was called San Simeon school. The first store built in the new town was put up by S. A. Pollard and George E. Long on a lot later occupied by Ramage & Conway's store. Dairying was the chief business about Cambria, as we learn that in 1869 $30,000 worth of butter was shipped from the San Simeon wharf. In 1871 the Excelsior Cheese Factory, owned by Bowen, Baker & Co., was built about four miles south of Cambria, and from 400 to 500 cows furnished milk for it. The Tribune says as high as 1200 pounds of cheese were made daily and sold for seventeen or eighteen cents per pound. In 1872 the Farmers and Stockraisers' Co-operative Store was established, with $40,000 stock, 2,000 shares at twenty dollars each. A Grange was next in order.

From about 1862 a mining fever occurred at frequent intervals. Coal, copper and quicksilver were all said to exist in large quantities. Copper and chrome were mined and ore was shipped ; and in 1871 a rich lode of quicksilver was found. The mines of Cambria are mentioned in the chapter on mineral productions. Quicksilver mining, especially in the Oceanic mines, has meant much to Cambria business men.

Dr. Frame was the first physician in Cambria. He died of diphtheria, February 23, 1869. This scourge swept the country about Cambria again in 1882, and about Cayucos and on Old creek many children died.

Cambria has always been patriotic. From an old Tribune we read, "Cam- bria led off in 1867 with the first real Fourth of July celebration." For many years Cambria has celebrated Admission Day with a barbecue, speeches, music and a Wild West show. The celebration site is up in the pines back of town. In 1870 Cambria celebrated with races of all sorts at Van Gordon's race track.

Probably Cambria's most palmy days were about 1880, for from old re- ports and newspapers we learn that Grant, Lull & Co., G. W. Ramage, Gans & Co. and S. Goss all ran general stores. There were two drug stores, owned by Manderscheid Bros. and Mr. Fisher, respectively. Geo. M. Cole had a harness shop; Fred Ott, a shoe shop; J. W. Stiles, a jewelry shop; Jennie Bright, a millinery shop. These were two wagon shops, one owned by Philip Nietzel, the other by F. Sherman. John Hackney and P. H. Eubanks each find a blacksmith shop. James D. Campbell and Jerry Johnson each ran a 1.ry stable. Manon & Davis had a large sawmill, and Baker & Marsh dealt Of Inter. Jasper N. Turney practiced law.

The town has never attained much size, but it is a pretty little village, with the ocean at its feet and the pine-clad bluffs at its back. The Santa Rosa mol tous beside the town. There are two churches, Presbyterian and Eathohe. \ goed schoolhouse with rooms for a hundred children is built que a hill ide. The town has a newspaper, the Cambria Courier, run by C. A. Meacham. The Bank of Cambria is a solid institution and a great Iolo ad Mm-iness in the northern half of the county. J. H. Bradhoff is presi- dent and Merle Jones cashier. The principal business houses are the Swiss

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American Supply ; George Dickie, hardware : Piancorini & Co., general mer- chandise. L. J. Renshaw has a drug store. Dr. Fossum and Dr. H. H. Shaw have offices in the town and attend to patients. E. Asebes has a meat market. The Cambria Hotel is in charge of Ad Cannozzi. Renshaw's auto livery and the Coast Truck Company, owned by Minetti & Villa, do business for the community. Years ago a railroad was actively discussed, but no more is said about it. A railroad or electric line all the way up the coast would be of great value, and some day it will be built.

CAYUCOS

"Cayucos" means "canoes"; and the name was first applied to the bay because in early days these small craft, made of skin, were used in visiting the steamers that came to anchor in the bay. The Indians probably made the first skin boats here, as in other places. In 1867. Captain James Cass came to Cayucos and engaged in landing merchandise and getting off produce. Later the wharf, described in the chapter on wharves and other means of transportation, was constructed. In 1875, Cass's dwelling, the ware- house containing the store, and a ranch house in the distance composed the town of Cayucos. Later a new firm, Dunn, McMillan & Co., built a store and conducted a general merchandise business. Grant, Lull & Co. of Cambria also had a store at Cayucos. In 1878, C. H. Phillips bought the Morro y Cayucos rancho, subdivided it, laid out the town of Cayucos and sold off many ranches. Many Swiss settled about Cayucos and engaged in dairying, which has always been the principal business. All sorts of crops will grow on the level land, but as most of the country is rolling hills or steep enough to be mountainous, dairy cattle are most profitable. Along the streams irri- gation now keeps alfalfa for green feed growing all the year. Morganti & Signorini kept the first hotel, and R. Cheda seems to have been next in line. Rev. A. B. Spooner was the first minister of the gospel in that end of the county. In 1881, Rev. J. H. Blitch preached in Stone's hall the first Sunday in the month, the second at San Luis Obispo, the third at the schoolhouse in Green Valley and the fourth Sunday at the Cambria Presbyterian Church. A. Leroy kept a store in Cayucos for a while in 1881. Summers & Murry were blacksmiths; De Rome bought out Summers and the firm became De Rome & Murry. B. F. Bidamon had a harness shop. Riordan's boot and shoe shop and Barnes' butcher shop completed the list. Dr. Lane was also located there. The town lots sold for seventy-five dollars and the ranch land for twenty-five dollars per acre, we are told. Fire at different times has swept the one main street, and now there are some good concrete stores in Cayucos. There are two churches, Presbyterian and Catholic.

There is an abalone cannery at Cayucos that from May to November employs sixteen men and two boats gathering the abalones from the rocks. Divers pry the abalones off where the rocks are submerged. The cannery is supplied with modern machinery. Met cut the abalones from the shells : then they are cut, packed in tin cans, cooked, sealed, and cooked again in big steam vats. Six thousand cases were prepared and shipped this season. Seven American girls or women and eight or nine men work in the cannery. This is a branch of the Point Lobos Canning Co., which owns all the abalone canneries in the state. Japanese do the catching, and Mr. Yoki, the superin- 10

SAN LIVS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

temient of the carters, is a very polite, capable man. Everything about the califtery was spotless, Mr. Roy Beebee was at the abalone plant buying the bells por & C ford & Co. of Long Beach, who manufacture all sorts of writ mente Mal jewelry from them. He wanted thirty tons of shells, but could get only (rent; tons. It is from these shells that the beautiful "blister wennle Tre obtained, which sell for twenty cents each and up, and an enor- molle ghle containing "blisters" had been set aside by the company and were IN The le with the others. Mr. Aoki presented the writer with a very beau- sel jord. and several shells containing others.

Thow are three firms doing a general merchandise business, Cass & Co., Twgifinfi & Ghezzi, and Tomasini Bros. The Exchange Hotel is run by Mitetti & Nicola, and the Cottage Hotel by Mrs. L. Pedraita. James Pedrotta IM- a blacksmith shop. A. Canevascini has a meat market. E. J. Tomasini is Mostmaster. There are two cream stations, branches of Swift & Co. and the Los Angeles Creamery Co. The California Central Creamery makes butter. Only one small steamer, the "Homer," now calls once a week, bringing and taking away freight. The auto trucks and creameries, instead of the old-fash- ioned "dairy" where the butter was made on the ranch, have made a big difference in steamer traffic.

One more O. K. Smith item. Mr. James Cass, who lived in Cayucos when Smith disappeared, told the writer a few days ago that he fully be- lieved Smith was driving in the surf on the beach near Morro Point and was drowned. Mr. Cass said that not long after the tragedy he was riding along on horseback just about where Smith's papers were found, and all at once his horse was caught in a swirl of quicksand and its hind quarters sank so that the little boy riding behind Mr. Cass would have slid off had he not reached back and caught the child. Mr. Cass also said Smith had a strong premonition that evil lay in wait, for he tried hard to get Mr. Cass to go with him to San Luis, and also asked Rudisill to go when he was leaving Stone's saloon. Several of the stories told the writer have previously been given. The mystery remains, and the reader may choose his own theory.

The Cayucos Bank Robbery

Early in August, 1892, a man named Dunn, living in Oak Park, stole a fine mare from Steele Bros. at Corral de Piedra and was known to have gone north. Peter Banks, a one-armed man, but without fear, was constable oi San Luis Obispo and was over in Paso Robles on business. Word was Fent to him to look out for the horse and Dunn. Banks arrested Dunn in a humber vard at Paso Robles just as he was taking sixty-five dollars from a Water for the animal, valued at two hundred dollars. The County Bank had a to nel bank in Cayucos and J. J. Simmler was the cashier. Banks started my So Luis with his prisoner. At Santa Margarita they had supper. Be- mrciao .c. Dues demanded whiskey. He was already "ugly" from drink. How mix toou lt. as he was one-armed and alone, he had better humor 1 0 50) : bottle of it. Dunn seemed to study for a while after leav- me - Marexxita. and finally said, "Banks. I'm in a hell of a fix. ain't "Well, if I put you wise to something bigger than -Acting a loose. will you help me out of this?" "I will," said Banks, "if you oreo That is ja " Brion then told Banks that he, a man named Isom, one Him to -- me conel Bill Brown, and one other, had a series of robberies

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planned. They were to rob Port Harford, Santa Margarita and the Caynexs bank. Banks took Dunn to Sheriff ()'Neal and he repeated the tale. The officers then agreed to let him go if he kept "mum" and the story proved to be true. On the night of August 30, 182, the Cayucos robbery was to come off. That would be "butter day," and $3,000 or more was sure to be in the bank's vault. For four weeks Dunn had to "play the game" with his pals. On August 30th, about six P. M., Sheriff O'Neal, Deputy Sheriff .1. C. McLeod, Banks and his deputy, Kues, left San Luis for Cayucos. Mean- time the bank had been informed and Mrs. Simmler had that afternoon carried a big iron bucket full of gold over to Cass, who put it in his safe. The plot was, to go to Simmler's house, tell a story about a sick woman, gain admit- tance and then force Simmler to go to the bank and open the safe. Simmler weakened and refused to remain at the house ; so Banks got Will Waterman to go to the house and stay. Mrs. Simmler went to the hotel for the night. This aroused interest, and when the four officers drove into town the citizens were sure something was about to happen and at once got their "guns." The officers warned them to get to cover, as there was likely to be shooting. James Cass was in the secret and acting with the officers. About nine o'clock that evening one of the robbers got a livery team at Sarmento's stable and with others of the gang drove to Cayucos, arriving about midnight. They each donned a gunny sack with slits cut for arms and eyes. At the last minute O'Neal and Kues showed the white feather and refused to be in the bank when the robbers entered, so they stayed out in the back yard. Banks, with his one arm, and Deputy McLeod took their station in a little room back of the one the bank was conducted in. The fellows went to Simmler's house and asked for him. Waterman replied that he was out of town. "Are you in charge of the bank?" "Yes." "Well, then, you'll do. Come along." Waterman had been told to pretend to unlock the safe (it was off the com- bination), to throw open the large iron door and slip behind it, which he did. One of the fellows refused to enter the bank, "got cold feet" and skipped across the street.

Cass was hiding in a lumber pile just back of where he stood. When Waterman swung back the safe door, Banks and MeLeod pushed open the door and McLeod said, "Hands up!" Bill Brown was on guard and the others down before the safe. Brown fired, his bullet splintering the door casing. McLeod was shocked by the glancing bullet and recled against Banks, saying, "I'm shot!" Banks was covering the fellows before the safe, but he knew it was shoot or be shot; so he fired. Brown fell, but fired after he fell, and McLeod carries the bullet in his back yet.

A candle burning on the counter was blown out, and in the darkness Isom and Goss escaped, took horses tied at a hitching rack and fled to the hills, where they were in hiding for weeks, and finally got clear away. O'Neal and Kues ran; it was too much for their nerves. The fellow who got "cold fcet" sprinted also, and Cass fired at him, but a telegraph pole got the shot. He took the team, drove it to within a mile of San Luis and turned it loose. He was arrested and jailed, but was let go on turning state's evidence at the trial. Poor Bill Brown was carried into the hall and died next day, realizing that the way of the transgressor is hard. Some years later, when Ballou was sheriff, Goss was caught near San Diego and Isom near Sacramento. Both were brought back for trial and sentenced to ten years imprisonment.

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Goss died in prison. Most of these men were young, and it was a dare-devil game, probably their first real offense of the kind. It was a logical outcome of conditions that had previously existed in the county, and the blame goes beyond those who were in the robbery. Dunn had a wife and several chil- dren. Mr. Banks, Mr. McLeod, Mr. Cass and Mrs. Simmler all gave ac- counts of this affair to the writer, and it is no doubt correct in all respects.

MORRO

Morro Rock

Standing on the gently sloping sand That rises back from Morro's shining bay, I look along the glistening 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, tempestuous winds in fury roam, Dauntless he lifts his head against 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.

-C. ELWOOD.

The beautiful little poem by Elwood we copy from Angel's History, of 1833 It is cold of those stray bits of descriptive verse found in old newspapers, that over get saved in book form and whose authors are never duly appre- catul. In the old files of the Tribune, when Murray was editor, are some semis of (oder11. : - fine literature as the first-class magazines ever published. Matr. Ridy was named by Cabrillo when, in 1542. he sailed up the coast, the fire White then to set foot upon the shore of our county. This great com FOR last Th chain of peculiar pyramidical peaks that, beginning with Son Line Memor mm und Bishop Peak, run northwesterly, ending with Morro Bolo dat in plemo Di- a grim, lonely pile of reddish granite rising five Ium bs Istebis for mt i the sea and covering over fifty acres. A smaller roch rist a letraBereme bevond it on the northwest, and between the two

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rocks the sea rushes like a mill-race. A long sand-bar has formed between it and the mainland, and the bay is now very shallow. Once in a long while, the tide is so low one may walk almost to the Rock. There used to be a little hut on the land side of Morro Rock, and an old couple lived in it. A few half-wild goats and sheep found a scant living on the Rock. Thousands of tons of rock were blasted from its sides and taken in barges to build the breakwater at Port San Luis.

Eighteen years ago hundreds of people camped on the "Point" just north of the little village. The writer was there and kept the "census" for the San Luis Breeze, and from two hundred fifty to three hundred campers were there for at least six weeks. Many came from the San Joaquin valley and from the Salinas valley. We used to get up "shows" for evening entertainment and build a great bonfire. Spooner had a store on the Point, and Mrs. Stocking used to make the most delicious pies, cake and bread to sell to us. Old Dr. Smiley had a home in the town and another on his ranch north of town. He used to fix up all the little sick children who were brought over there. It was his personality as much as his little white pills (he was a homeopath) that saved the babies, for when he held out his old arms and said, "Come to doctor," the sickest, shyest little child would go to him, cud- dle down on his shoulder and begin to get well. It was a problem then for the doctor to get rid of his little patients, but he would let them swarm about him and hold the littlest ones two or three at a time in his kind old arms. Dr. Smiley came to Morro very early. He had lost his eyesight, almost, in an accident in the East. His wife and two little girls had died ; and out in this state, in the little seaside hamlet, he finished his days. Harry Osgood-a son, we think, of Henry Osgood, the pioneer-had nursed the doctor when ill, and to him he willed his fine ranch at Morro. A little blue glass pitcher is treasured by the writer as a keepsake from this kindly old gentleman.

We used to have dances on the Point, and a "bunch" of young Swedes put on a "circus." They did some wonderful athletic turns, and the clown wore his mother's gayly flowered calico "wrapper." Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Kiler of Paso Robles used to recite, as did also the writer. We sang; and the "San Joaquin Band"-two guitars, a violin and a banjo-made the music. When the politicians were out campaigning, they all had an evening at the Point. Warren M. John, "Charlie" Palmer, Barlow, Spangenberg and all the office-seekers in 1899, used to come to the Point, give the glad hand and kiss the "kids." As an old Irish lady said, "Thim were the happy days." One day, early in the morning, word went down the line that a dead man had been brought into camp who had died that night on his way over from Lemoore. A hush fell over the campers. Pretty soon it was reported he had "come to," and we heard a sigh of relief, for we were too lively a crowd for a dead man. By noon he was able to sit up, and by three P. M. he was playing cards. Talk about climate; beat that if you can !

The Legend of Morro Rock

A Spaniard so loved the great Rock and beautiful bay that he built a splendid home, for the times, calling it Morro Castle. It was built about 1830, was over two hundred feet long, two stories high, with walls three feet thick, iron-barred doors and windows, a court and corridors. The "Castle" cost $40,000. A "Passing Traveler" thus speaks of it: "The largest hall is

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eighty feet long, with six windows. The plastering, made of gypsum found near by, has fallen off in places, but the great joists are as firm as ever. The stairway leading to the garret is on the outside of the house. A wall almost reaching the roof runs through the weird old garret. Moth-eaten costumes of silk and velvet, still showing gold-lace trimming, lay in heaps on the floor. Old saddles, bridles and spurs lay about." The Spaniard requested that when he died his body should be carried to the top of Morro Rock and be there left beneath a rocky cairn. His wishes were not executed, but his steed was said to be heard madly galloping down to the shore long after master and steed were dust. The "Castle" still stands about two and a half miles south of Morro on a little rise close to the road, iron bars and all. A Swiss family occupies it and a cow yard is close at hand. Alas for romance in a "cow country"!

Franklin Riley owned one hundred sixty acres of land at Morro; and in the winter of 1870-71, Riley and "Cal" Mathers laid out a town. The wharf and warehouse were built and quite a good business resulted ; for then small steamers and schooners could enter the bay. Ezra Stocking had a store and was postmaster. July 4, 1870, Morro had a celebration on Toro creek. A. M. Hardie was marshal of the day, Revs. A. N. Spooner and A. P. Hendon took part, L. J. Beckett read the immortal Declaration, J. Grigsby "orated" and Miss Leonora Hazen sang. Two hundred people turned out to the celebra- tion. Growing right along was the Morro country then. During the year ending with May, 1873, fourteen new houses were built in Morro. In 1877 there were two wharves at Morro, extending out to water fourteen feet deep.

Morro now is quite a lively little town. Many summer tourists come each year, and the Atascadero Colony has bought the "Point" and is promising great things at Atascadero Beach. A good-sized tract of land on the bluff facing the bay and Morro Rock has been purchased, and a temporary building has been put up. Here is to be an all-the-year-round resort, Morro Rock Inn. The winters are even finer than the summers at Morro; for the warm, sunny days and sparkling blue ocean are seldom obscured by fog. Town lots are selling off rapidly, and many new houses and a hotel have recently been built. There is truck service for freight between Morro and San Luis Obispo; also stage service by auto for passengers. Mr. Sewell is postmaster. There are two general stores, a church, a two-room schoolhouse, and shops of all sorts; Huid Morro seems to be coming into her own. No saloons are allowed, and naturally only a good class of people go to "Beautiful Morro by the Sea."

AVILA

Vila was laid out by the Avila brothers on the San Miguelito ranch granted to their father. A cluster of houses, a store, a post office, a fine new (Mo roon choolhouse, and several tanks and buildings owned by oil com- con- comprise the town. There is a pretty little beach at Avila. The undry wharf extends from there, and some day it may be another San Pedro.

PORT SAN LUIS

This is not a "town" ; but a post office is located here, and there are many od tanks and hitle houses hanging to the rocky bluffs. The Pacific Coast Rail- Why's whatt mis far out, and another wharf owned by them is built to load

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the many big oil "tankers" that ply up and down the coast and to the "Islands" or Honolulu. Hotel Marre is perched upon a shelf of rock at the landward end of the wharf. As has been said, here is the greatest oil port in the world, and it is a fine harbor for vessels of any size. Warships find here a good anchorage, and if ever a war involving the sea is waged, Port San Luis will be a vantage point, for troops could be landed here most easily. No fortifica- tions defend the harbor. A few miles out on the rocks is the Port San Luis lighthouse and its group of buildings. A pretty little schoolhouse is in a niche of the bluff, and a number of children attend school there.

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 21

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