History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 26

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 26

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These were beef steers, bought and owned by a noted buyer and drover vi coby California days. Luigi Marre, then of San Francisco, and were gath- werd proam The slightly replenished herds of many ranchos, even below the pueblo ET Tor. Angeles as far south as the mission, San Juan Capistrano. Trailing alimnie the Camino Real, Luigi Marre and twenty trained vaqueros Indiecome adrie mg und guarding more than half a hundred saddle horses in The ed Mudt ahead, and two thousand steers, over the Conejo and ITimao 6 the famous Gaviota pass, into the head of the Santa Maria valley. Hoy that Lp the usual route that followed the old overland stage road, and law Meu vidlli's for the mining towns on the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanis- La mar- Through the Coast range, by way of the Santa Maria river gorge kroon , Hh Warrows, through the Cuyama valley and on over the San

(8\ Omhe ch was chief cook for this outfit, had made camp beneath Uni i My y hte oak that still stands at the foot of the mesa bluff How ks Cale the spring pours down from the rocks and rushes to the Jaggu n .- near the noon hour, and over the coals broiled and 11 de crisp tortillas. About lounged all but three of the me oa pleasant incense of the all-but-ready midday meal Www of their cigarettes. Three stood guard over the . Jose Calderon, a fair youth scarcely out of his (1 + The older vaqueros stood beside his horse on of that rose to the height of probably thirty feet murdangled a perfect view of this characteristic

W wii on, where the Sierra San Rafael meets the Any Any Alt. Pinos of the Sierra Pelona, there

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rose to view in the otherwise clear sky a small, dark cloud that came on down the canon of the upper Santa Maria river, and in a few minutes had spread out into a great dark mass that filled the entire upper end of the Cuyama valley, shutting from sight the mountains above. A breeze blowing in from Kern valley over the low Paletta hills, drove the whole black mass to the south, where it hung low on the mountain ridge that forms the south wall of the Cuyama valley. A phenomenon of nature, peculiar to that section, then took place. The atmosphere became oppressively sultry, a wind came up from the south, and almost instantly the sky was filled with rolling, tumbling clouds. There was a barely perceptible quivering reflection of dis- tant lightning.

Jose, though young in years, had learned well the arts and ways of the range when a child watching the herds of his father down beyond the Colo- rado desert in old Sonora. Knowing well what was due to happen within the next few minutes, with a graceful swing he sat lightly but firmly in the saddle, his left hand grasping the bridle reins, his right instinctively feeling for the heavy rawhide quirt that hung at the pommel of his saddle, his bright eyes riveted on the great quiet herd below. There was a vivid flash of light. Some mighty power had swung an unseen sword that cut a fearful zigzag gash throtigh the semi-twilight and left a burning red scar, that remained in sight for an instant and then as instantly healed.

Jose began nervously and rapidly counting, his eyes ever on that quiet herd. "Uno, dos, tr ." With a crash the very heavens tore apart. \ rum- bling roar swung off to the south and the mountain cliffs there passed it back down the valley. Jose's heavy silver-mounted spurs raked the trembling flanks of his restless mount. He heard nothing, only saw those two thousand and more fear-crazed steers plunge forward and sweep out onto the level plain.

Directly across their course a short half-mile away, ran the small stream of the Cuyama river between perpendicular banks a hundred feet apart and forty feet down. Had that onrushing bunch of crowding horns and hide reached there, a fortune would have vanished in an instant. A score of proud vaqueros would have lost caste among their kind and been classed as Gringos. fit only to companion with dogs and guard sheep.

At their front, crowding in closely, recklessly. rode young Jose. Ile swung far out from his saddle, lashing and beating with his quirt at the head of a brindle longhorn giant that, as a yearling, had cropped swamp grass and tule in the ciénagas down about the mouth of the Santa Ana and had survived the drought of 64. Close up rode Luigi Marre with the doubled loop of his reata desperately lashing the long-horned heads. Closely fol- lowing were twenty faithful, fearless vaqueros, yelling and slashing, in a hand-to-hand struggle to swing the crazed herd and circle it ere reaching the river bank. Within a rod of the bank Jose passed as he swung around the moiling band, leaning far out from the saddle right over those long pointed horns, beating and lashing more fiercely at the head of that brindle giant ; but the battle was won.

The feet of a near-winded mustang sank deep into the soft mound that covered a family home of cute little valley chipmunks. \ fallen horse sprang quickly to his feet and carried an empty saddle on around with the wild swing of the moiling band. Jose's lithe body as he fell had met the upthrust

SAN LUIS OUSPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

of , Alect-fiin point, where it hung for a moment, and then with a toss of that Trimite Sint - Read it was thrown heavily to the ground. Luigi Marre fork I bi- barer by a stand, and sprang to the side of the fallen hero. The nuwo - mauvi mf around with the nearly conquered herd.

Wali an hour of the time of that fearful crash of thunder those two Milani and anore steers were peacefully grazing among the scattered Phimje-o Dafian arrowwood that grew along the river flats, and the sun -how Triglitty over the vast and magnificent Cuyama valley. Down near the river bank Knelt Luigi Marre, with a silken scarf pressed tightly to the raumel wound across a dying lad's breast in a vain attempt to stanch the crimson now. As the sun broke through the parting clouds and decked with glittering rewels the fair landscape freshly baptized from the heavens, Luigi Marre, betydling low his head, heard from Jose's pallid lips these barely whis- pered words: "Yo le mandaria un mandaje a Anita, en Hermosillo, Adiós, Wios!" "I must send a message to Anita, in Hermosillo, Good-by, Good-by!") and the faithful Sonoran lad was dead.

The mellow Cuyama twilight slowly merged into night, while saddened mil-stained vaqueros carried from the river's bed the last of the boulders lu form a stone cross. It lies alone, beneath the constant vigil of the moun- tains, amid the solitude of the Cuyama valley. On over the plains of the valley of the San Joaquin trailed the great drove to its destination and to its destiny, but the stone cross is there in Cuyama valley still. It lies on a beautiful flat near the center of the valley and marks the grave of young Jose. On the south side rises the mesa bluff. On the other flows the river.

WHAT WAS PUBLIC DOMAIN OF SANTA MARIA VALLEY

Heretofore we have spoken of Santa Maria valley as a whole. The ranchos, or grants, having been duly considered, because they were first brought into use, we turn now to the body of land between the boundaries of these grants. This embraces about 80,000 acres. Until about 1869 the valley, at least this part of it, was considered of very small value. In 1866, a group of men, of whom the writer was one, living near Santa Rosa, having heard of the valley, sent men to investigate with a view to securing homes. The inves- ugator- reported the valley as a treeless, waterless plain of very poor soil, with no possible outlet. All thought of coming to the valley was abandoned. Several years later a number of these men came to the valley and secured homes, but too late to get the choice locations. In 1867, B. F. Wiley located a quarter section of land just north of where the town of Santa Maria was after- ward laid out. Ile excavated a cave in the side of a small hill and lived in it Mol cat . In 1808 he dug a well fifty-four feet deep that lasted five years

Tane off et 1868, John G. Prell and Hiram Sibley came to the valley and Let före noles south of Wyley ; and both of them erected houses, hauling Ih lumist roni o Luis Obispo. The house built by Prell was torn down to htihn bene or : better one: the Sibley house still stands and is now www.The 1. W. lopes. In August of 1868, Thomas, James, and William @ 126 0 ton mother came to the valley and settled at Sand Spring, Wir ishe wan wi wleere Santa Maria now is. In the fall of that year, Las TICE way 8. married to Rebecca Miller ; this was the first marriage Bes Maria, daughter of Thomas Holloway, was born

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in May. 1869; and Thomas Miller, now of Goleta, a nephew of Mrs. James Holloway, was born in November, 1869. These were the first American chil- dren born in the valley. In the great drought of 1807-98, the sand spring ceased to flow, and now is only a memory, as it has not flowed since that date.

In February of 1869, Thomas Brookshire, Abner Stubblefield and Col- man Stubblefield came into the valley and settled in the La Graciosa district. Theirs were the next houses built in the valley. Later on in 1869, W. C. Oakley and Wm. Adam settled near where Santa Maria now is. In Sep- tember of 1869, Benjamin Turman settled on a quarter section that is now entirely in the city of Santa Maria. These are the only settlers of the '60's. and their descendants are still here.

For a few years the southern part, or the La Graciosa country, took the lead. \ store was started on that part of the Todos Santos owned by Hartnell, and a school district was established, taking in all the ter- ritory now occupied by Washington, Orcutt, Pine Grove, Newlove, Carega and Martin districts. La Graciosa had the first store, the first school, the first post office and, incidentally, the first two homicides in the valley. Thomas Brookshire shot and killed F. Gregoria over some trouble they had in Brook shire's saloon. Coleman Stubblefield killed J. A. Allen on account of Allen's corralling some of Stubblefield's stock for trespassing. Both men were tried for murder and both were acquitted.

The abundance of water in this locality attracted the early settlers, and very soon all the land near the hills where the water was abundant was taken or squatted upon, and a voting precinct was established on the llart- nell land with the name of La Graciosa. This name was originally applied to the summit of the pass, but gradually spread to the entire district. Stock- raising and small farming was for several years the chief occupation. Later on the people became obsessed with the idea that this was the great fruit center of the valley, and many orchards were planted, largely apricots and prunes. Prunes proved a miserable failure and apricots only a partial suc- cess. Fruit has been virtually abandoned, and the name "Fruitvale," which had been given to the district, has passed out of mind. But riches untold slept in the hills, and a few of the pioneers were to realize them.

Santa Maria City and Vicinity

The early settlers of the valley met with many difficulties. The dry seasons of 1870-71 and the ravages of grasshoppers made things very dis- couraging. and the long distance that grain had to be hauled, requiring two days for one trip, cut profits very small. Added to these were lack of schools and mail facilities. The mail was carried by stage from San Luis through the eastern part of the valley, going by way of boxen canon. There was no post office in the valley, but a place where mail could be left or picked up by the stage driver. The establishing of the post office at La Graciosa changed the stage route, but it still went through Foxen canon until 1873, when stock farms built at Los Alamos caused the route to be changed to pass that way. The stage was held up many times south of La Graciosa, and many people believed that the postmaster stood in with the bandits. The first store in the central part of the valley was established by William L. Adam about two miles northeast of where the city of Santa Maria now stands. In 1871.

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a wharf was built in the old and rugged vicinity of Point Sal, and the giain raised in the valley was delivered to steamers there. This wharf was washed away two years later, and another was built. A stock company was formed in 1879, and a chute landing was constructed at the Point. This proved to be a great saving to the farmers, but the steamship company wished to force the delivery of grain to another point and, by means unknown to the stockholders, induced the trustees to sell the chute to them, and it was demolished. The sale led to hard feelings for many years.

A CHAPTER ON EDUCATION

During the Mexican control of Santa Barbara County very little atten- mon was given to education. In the Historical and Biographical Record of Southern California, by J. M. Guinn, we find the only records, which are altered only in the phraseology.

The first school taught in Santa Barbara was opened in the October, 1795, by Jose Manuel Yoco, a young Spanish sailor. This school was con- tinued periodically for two years. In December of 1798 the school was re-opened by Jose Medina, another Spanish sailor, who taught until June, 1799, and was succeeded for a few months by Manuel de Vargas, an ex- Spanish soldier. No other record of schools can be found until 1829, when one was opened at the presidio; but that lasted only a short time. In 1844 another effort was made, but failed ; the teacher's name is not given.

In 1850 American influence caused the authorities of Santa Barbara to take over a private school that had been opened by Victor Vega, paying part of his salary. At a meeting of the council. November 8, 1851, Jose M. Covarrubias was appointed a committee to examine the school once a month. In November of 1852 three school commissioners were elected, one in each township-each township being a school district. In 1854, Joaquin Carrillo was elected school superintendent with a salary of six hundred dollars per year. He refused to qualify, and A. F. Hinchman was appointed to fill the vacancy. Hinchman was therefore the first county superintendent of schools ' Santa Barbara County. On account of the low salary, Hinchman was not s vandidate, and George Fisher was elected in 1855; he resigned. and John Ky- was appointed in 1856. In 1857, J. S. Ord was elected, and he was -meriled by John Carlton in 1860. In 1863, Pablo de la Guerra was elected Jul erved until 1867, when A. B. Thompson succeeded him. In 1871, J. P. .- elected and filled the office until 1875, when, the salary having Tua fr indfrased to $1,000 a year, men with better qualifications sought the

The!" 5 there were two schools in Santa Barbara; one was taught m panele and the other, in English. The English school was conducted Nomolly. At the session of the legislature that year, a law was 10 0 105 : 12 il at only English should be taught in schools drawing funds Gideon E. Thurmond was elected county superintendent in (Esam copied the office for twenty-four years. In 1898, W. S. Edwards Hep co 1 Woods od after a hotly contested election, and was re-elected in 150 domed by Miss M. V. Lehner in 1906. Miss Lehner was

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re-elected in 1910, defeating her opponent, L. O. Fox, by more than two to one. In 1914. Miss Lehner was opposed by Mrs. Muriel Edwards, a very accomplished lady from Santa Ynez, but was again re-elected by a large majority. Short biographical sketches of both Professor Thurmond and Miss Lehner will be found in this history.

The Schools of the Santa Maria Valley

As soon as the first settlers of each part of the valley built their homes, they wanted schools for the children. The first district to be formed was La Graciosa. The schoolhouse was erected in 1869, about one mile north of the summit of the pass, and twenty years later a new building was built one mile north of the old one. When the town of Orcutt was formed and more room needed, the present two-room building was erected about a quar- ter of a mile east and the name was changed to Orcutt.

In 1870 the second district in the valley was organized and called Pine Grove on account of the schoolhouse being located near the pine groves that covered the hills. J. J. Holloway, who had been a petitioner for La Graciosa, was the first clerk of Pine Grove. In 1888 the site of the schoolhouse was moved one mile north, and the present building was erected. Pine Grove was for many years the strongest country district of the valley.

In June, 1873, two more districts were granted in the extreme west end of the valley. Guadalupe included the town of that name north to the river, west to the ocean, south to Casmalia line and cast two miles. The other district was named Laguna, because it contained that beautiful and wonder- fully formed lake. The schoolhouse was erected on the north side of the district on the road leading to La Graciosa from Guadalupe. After a few years, the greater number of people being much farther south, two of the trustees decided to move the house without legal formality. They made the necessary preparations, and on a Friday night moved the building one and one-half miles further south and had all things ready for school on Mon- day morning. The change of location was made in September, 1880. The house still stands on the place selected by them, and the only title to the land is forcible possession.

Pleasant Valley district was established in 1875, but lapsed in 1879. It was re-established in 1881 and continues at this time.

The sixth district organized in the valley is located on the Sisquoc river and was established in June, 1884, and named the Santa Maria. In 1891 the name was changed to Olive, as the name of Santa Maria was misleading.

Agricola district was organized in May. 1885; the late William L. Adam was the first clerk and held the office twelve years.

In 1876, La Graciosa district was divided, and a new one was formed by the north half, named Washington.

Los Alamos school is misleading in name, as it is situated at Harris station, seven miles from the town of Los Alamos. The district was formed in February, 1877, largely by the Carcaga and Harris families, who owned nearly all the land in the district.

Suey district was organized in 1879, and included very little of the Suey ranch and none of Sucy creek.

These ten schools were organized in ten years from the time the first settler came to the valley.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

The school district in the present city of Santa Maria was formed in June, 1881, and named Central. Prior to that time it belonged to Pleasant Valley and Agricola districts. In 1891 the name was changed to Santa Maria.

In 1884 the Tepesquet was organized; and a district in Cat canon named Oak Vale was also organized, although, after a series of years, it lapsed. In 1886 two new districts were granted, namely Casmalia and Martin. Garey district was formed in 1888; Bonita, in 1895, out of territory taken from Guadalupe. Agricola and Laguna districts.

In 1898 a new district was made from parts of Agricola, Washington and Pleasant Valley, and was named Allott. This name was changed to Lake View in 1900, and a new schoolhouse was erected about one mile south of the temporary building first used.

In 1895 two districts were formed in the Cuyama valley, but both of them lapsed in 1903. Cuyama was reorganized in 1915, and Wasioja in 1917.

The first of the oil-field districts, named Careaga, was granted in April, 1904, and now has two teachers. Betteravia district, on land owned by the Union Sugar Co., was formed in 1895. The Union Sugar Co. assumed all the cost of erecting the building and furnishing it. It is a very commodious and substantial structure; and there have been no bonds or taxes of any kind on the district.

In 1909 two more districts were formed in the oil belt: Blochman, in the Cat canon fields : and Newlove, in the Santa Maria. The latter has a good two-room building, and the attendance has made such an increase that another room is needed. This is one of the most progressive schools in the valley.

Ramona district is situated in Foxen cañon, and was formed in January, 1915.

Several other districts were made at different times, but all lapsed after a few years. All these districts, except Careaga, are in the Santa Maria Union High School district.

The high school district was formed in 1892 and has made steady but sure progress from the beginning, until it now ranks with the best in the entire state. The buildings are spacious and beautiful, and the grounds are loopt in most excellent condition.

The Bell district at the town of Los Alamos, while not properly . belong- my geographically to the Santa Maria valley, should be included. The district was fetmell May 25. 1877, and received its name from the Bell ranch, which - art of the Los Alamos grant. The district lapsed in 1879 and was sulli fel in 1881. It now has the best-arranged school building in the o wo wirral district.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

JOUN PINCKNEY ANDREWS-

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BIOGRAPHICAL

JOHN PINCKNEY ANDREWS .- In a very early period of American history a representative of the Andrews family became an important factor in governmental affairs, when Charles Colesworth Pinckney, the great-grand- father of John Pinckney Andrews, became a brigadier-general in the Con- tinental Army for service in the War for Independence, and was a member of the convention that framed the constitution of the United States. He was a statesman, was minister to France in 1796, and was the Federalist candidate for President of the United States in 1804.

One of the most prominent citizens of San Luis Obispo County and a financier of more than ordinary ability. John Pinckney Andrews was born in Montgomery County, N. C., May 11, 1824. He received his education in the common schools there, and early in life displayed the evidences of a forceful character that was to be the foundation of his success in after life. During the years of his young manhood he was fond of society and was looked upon as one of the leaders of his section, and was well acquainted among the prominent people of Baltimore, where he visited frequently to purchase goods for a brother who was in the mercantile business in Mont- gomery County. In 1857, hearing the glowing tales of the opportunities offered in the West, he determined to avail himself of them, and accord- ingly arrived in California that year. After spending some time in looking about, he located in San Luis Obispo County in 1859, and settled on a government claim afterwards known as the Hasbrook place, and which is now known as the St. Raimie ranch. He remained there until 1869, during which time many changes were taking place. Those were the days of lawlessness, when often "might was right," and they were stirring times. Mr. Andrews was a fearless man, and many stories of him are told illus- trative of his disposition. On one occasion, after he had settled on his land, he heard that a crowd was coming to drive him off, settlers not being desired at that time. Arming himself and his one assistant, he successfully with- stood the invasion and thereafter was not molested.

In 1864 he was devoting his attention to the raising of cattle and hogs. and, although this was a dry year, he found it very profitable. Cattle everywhere were starving and could be bought at almost any price; so he purchased them, killed and boiled them and fed them to his hogs, later receiving a high price for these. At this time he had an arrangement with F. Z. Branch, who owned thousands of acres of land and a great number of cattle, to take the latter, give Mr. Branch the hides as pay, and keep the carcasses for feed. This arrangement was carried out, and Mr. Branch often remarked that it was "the only clean money" he received that year. His own vaqueros were killing and skinning the cattle as well; but they mutilated the hides so that they were almost worthless. At this period Mr. Branch received an offer of five dollars per head for all his stock, but 13

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

refused Al, Shbough urged by Mr. Andrews to accept. Had he done so, he would have -red many timusands of dollars; for his cattle nearly all die se gal lie was able to gather only about six hundred head out of be zimat-and: The only money he got out of them was from the sale of the middle- Way Andrews also purchased one hundred steers for two hun- dro dollar-, Mened them, and disposed of them for over twenty-five dol- Har solig & Xer - ame year, these being the only fat cattle to be had at that

The layer deposed of his equity in this land, and purchased the home war San Lin- self-po called the "Andrews Place," where he lived until, a few text- before In- death, he sold out and moved into town.

Ar kudrow's was a pioneer dairyman of this section, for he was the first want to devote any attention to this now most important industry. He was Olay the first man to de ote any attention to the bee industry, paying fifty dol- Utsch for the first -tands, and continuing his interest and study until 1869. My Andrews later became one of the largest sheep men in the county, run- nm4 large bands on the Huasna for a time, later carrying on the business ne fret San Luis Obispo on the Santa Lucia range until he sold out. In IST. another dry year. he managed to bring about four thousand head through in good condition, his son, George H., remaining with them and caring for them during the entire year, with the aid of two helpers. Mr. \n !rey- acquired a large stock ranch, starting with six hundred forty Here's purchased from H. M. Warden, and adding from time to time as he had opportunity until he owned twenty-three hundred acres where he ranged jos sheep and which he sold in 1884.

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 26

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