USA > California > San Mateo County > History of San Mateo County, California, including its geography, topography, geology, climatography, and description, together with an historical sketch of California; a record of the Mexican grants; the early history and settlement, compiled from the most authentic sources; some of the names of Spanish and American pioneers; legislative history; a record of its cities and towns; biographical sketches of representative men; etc., etc > Part 2
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America was discovered by Columbus on the twelfth day of October, 1492, and what a feat was this! Not so much a marvel is it that he came upon the vast continent, as that, in those so-called dark ages there were found men of such great courage and knowledge, unscientific though that may be, to sail away into the darkness, as it were, and sustain themselves against peril on every hand to eventually give, not only to their country, but to mankind the rarest continent of a beatific creation. As the veriest schoolboy knows and utters in a sing-song drawl, America was discovered as stated above, and became the territory of Spain. The Pacific ocean was given to the world by Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, who looked down from the heights of Panama upon its placid bosom on the twenty-fifth day of September, 1513. In 1519 Mexico was conquered by Hernando Cortez, and sixteen years thereafter, in 1537,
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his pilot, Zimenez, discovered Lower California. In 1542 a voyage of discovery was made along the Californian coast by the famous Captain Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, on the 5th July of which year, he landed at Cape St. Lucas, in Lower California, and following the coast he finally entered the delightful harbor of San Diego, in Upper California, on September 28th. This place he named San Miguel, which was afterwards changed by Viscaiño to that which it now bears.
The noted English voyager, Sir Francis Drake, sailed along the coast in 1579, but historians are doubtful as to whether he discovered the San Fran- cisco bay. It would appear that this voyage was made from Oregon, where it is said his Spanish pilot, Morera, left him, and thence found his way over- land to Mexico, a distance of three thousand five hundred miles. The name of New Albion was given to the country by Drake, with the evident intention of securing it for the British crown.
It was not until 1602, however, that the Spaniards took any actual steps to possess and colonize the continent. In that year Don Sebastian Vis- caiño was dispatched by the Viceroy of Mexico, acting under the instructions of his royal master, King Philip III, on a voyage of search in three small vessels. He visited various points on the coast, among them San Diego; was well pleased with the appearance of the country, and on December 10th discovered and entered a harbor, which he named in honor of Count de Monterey, the Viceroy who had dispatched him on the cruise. We are told that part of this expedition reached as high as the Columbia river, and that the whole subsequently returned to Acapulco. Its efforts were pronounced satisfactory, a glowing description of the landscape was given, but whether they discovered the San Francisco bay is as much a matter of conjecture and doubt as Drake's visit.
For some unexplained cause not much use had been made of the informa- tion gained from these trips, which were of frequent occurrence, and it was not for one hundred and sixty-eight years that any steps towards the permanent settlement of Upper California were undertaken. Under the joint manage- ment of Church and State a plan with this end in view was commenced in the year 1683, but it failed, the State being there represented by Admiral Otondo, and the Church by a Jesuit Father named Kino, La Paz being their point of operation; but we believe we are correct in stating that they did not all visit Upper California. The settlement of the peninsula was finally undertaken fourteen years later, when sixteen missionary establishments were founded by Father Salva Tierra. The order which he represented falling into disgrace in Europe, however, was banished from the dominions of Spain and Lower California in 1768, after laboring for seventy years. They were in turn succeeded by the Franciscans and Dominicans, the former of whom, under the guidance of Father Junipera Serra, proceeded to the conquest and conversion of this part of the country. This Reverend Father is recognized
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by the Catholic Church as the apostle of Upper California, and acknowledged in history as its founder.
The first permanent settlement was made in San Diego in 1769, when was also established the first mission, whence further operations were directed and new missions founded. On July 14, 1769, Gaspar de Portala, who com- manded the expedition that called a halt at San Diego, left that place for Monterey, and there erected a cross.
"Pious Portala, journeying by land, Reared high a cross upon the heathen strand, Then far away, Dragged his slow caravan to Monterey."
With Father Junipera Serra, he continued his northward journey and, by the merest accident, came upon the world-renowned bay of San Francisco.
Finding it a place answering every requirement he named it after San Francisco de Asis, and seven years later, June 27, 1776, possession was taken of the spot and a presidio established, the mission being located on the site of the present church. There may be a doubt as to whether the bay was ever discovered by Drake or Viscaiño, but there is none of the visit of Gaspar de Portala, then Governor of the Californias. Henceforward the establishment of missions was rapid, as will be gathered from the accompanying list :
Mission San Diego, in San Diego county, founded under Carlos III, July 16, 1769; containing 22.24 acres.
Mission San Luis Rey, in San Diego county, founded under Carlos IV, June
13, 1798; containing 53.39 acres.
Mission San Juan Capistrano, in Los Angeles county, founded under Carlos III, November 10, 1776; containing 44.40 acres.
Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, in Los Angeles county, founded under Carlos III, September 8, 1771; containing 190.69 acres. Patented.
Mission San Buenaventura, in Santa Barbara county, founded under Carlos III. March 31, 1782; containing 36.27 acres.
Mission San Fernando, in Los Angeles county, founded under Carlos IV. September 8, 1797; containing 76.94 acres.
Mission Santa Barbara, in Santa Barbara county, founded under Carlos III. December 4, 1786; containing 37.83 acres.
Mission Santa Inez, in Santa Barbara county. founded under Carlos IV. September 17, 1804; containing 17.35 acres.
Mission La Purisima Concepcion, in Santa Barbara county, founded under Carlos III, December 8, 1787.
Mission San Luis Obispo, in San Luis Obispo county, founded under Carlos III, September 1, 1772, containing 52.72 acres. Patented.
Mission San Miguel Arcangel, in San Luis Obispo county, founded under Carlos IV, July 25, 1797; containing 33. 97 acres. Patented.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CALIFORNIA.
Mission San Antonio de Padua, in San Luis Obispo county, founded under Carlos III, July 14, 1771 ; containing 33.19 acres. Patented.
Mission La Soledad, in Monterey county, founded under Carlos IV, October 9, 1791; containing 34.47 acres. Patented.
Mission El Carme, or San Carlos de Monterey, in Monterey county, founded under Carlos III, June 3, 1770; containing 9 acres. Patented.
Mission San Juan Bautista, in Monterey county, founded under Carlos IV, June 24, 1797; containing 55.33 acres. Patented.
Mission Santa Cruz, in Santa Cruz county, founded under Carlos IV, August 28, 1791; containing 16.94 acres. Patented.
Mission Santa Clara, in Santa Clara county, founded under Carlos III, January 18, 1777 ; containing 13.13 acres. Patented.
Mission San Jose, in Alameda county, founded under Carlos IV, June 11, 1797; containing 28.33 acres. Patented.
Mission Dolores, or San Francisco de Asis, in San Francisco county, founded under Carlos III, October 9, 1776; two lots, one containing 4.3 acres, and the other 4.51 acres. Patented.
Mission San Rafael Arcangel, in Marin county, founded under Fernando VII, December 18, 1817; containing 6.48 acres. Patented.
Mission San Francisco Solano, in Sonoma county, founded under Fernando VII, Angust 25. 1823; containing 14.20 acres.
If Sir Francis Drake did not actually enter the broad sheet of water now known as the Bay of San Francisco, in 1579, he must have tarried in its vicinity, for the historian of that famous voyage wrote: "They here discov- ered a bay, which, entering with a favorable gale, they found several huts by the water side, well defended from the severity of the weather. Going on shore they found a fire in the middle of each house, and the people lying round it upon rushes. The men go quite naked, but the women have a deer skin over their shoulders, and around their waists a covering of bulrushes, after the manner of hemp. These people, bringing the Admiral a present of feathers, and cauls of net-work, he entertained them so kindly and generously, that they were extremely pleased, and soon afterwards they sent him a present of feathers and bags of tobacco. A number of them coming to deliver it, gath- ered themselves together on the top of a small hill, from the highest point of which one of them harangued the Admiral, whose tent was placed at the bottom. When the speech was ended they laid down their arms and came down, offering their presents; at the same time returning what the Admiral had given them. The women remaining on the hill, tearing their hair and making dreadful howlings. The Admiral supposed them engaged in making sacrifices, and thereupon ordered divine service to be performed in his tent, at which these people attended with astonishment.
"The arrival of the English in California being soon known through the country, two persons in the character of ambassadors, came to the Admiral
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and informed him in the best manner they were able, that the King would assist him if he might be assured of coming in safety. Being satisfied on this point, a numerous company soon appeared, in front of which was a very comely person bearing a kind of sceptre, on which hung two crowns and three chains of great length; the chains were of bones and the crowns of net-work curi- ously wrought with feathers of many colors.
"Next to the sceptre-bearer, came the King, a handsome, majestic person, surrounded by a number of tall men, dressed in skins, who were followed by the common people, who, to make the grander appearance, had painted their faces of various colors, and all of them, even the children, being. loaded with presents. The men being drawn up in line of battle, the Admiral stood ready . to receive the King within the entrance of his tent. The company having halted at a distance, the sceptre-bearer made a speech, half an hour long, at the end of which he began singing and dancing, in which he was followed by the King and all his people-who, continuing to sing and dance, came quite up to the tent; when, sitting down, the King taking off his crown of feathers, placed it on the Admiral's head, and put upon him the other ensigns of royalty ; and it is said he made him a solemn tender of his whole kingdom. All of which the Admiral accepted in the name of the Queen, his sovereign, in hope these proceedings might, one time or other, contribute to the advantage of England.
"The common people, dispersing themselves among the Admiral's tents, professed the utmost admiration and esteem for the English, whom they con- sidered as more than mortal-and accordingly prepared to offer sacrifices to them ; but they were told, by signs, that their religious worship was alone due to the Supreme Maker and Preserver of all things. The Admiral and some of his people, traveling to a distance in the country, saw such a quantity of rabbits that it appeared an entire warren; they also saw deer in such plenty as to run a thousand in a herd. The earth of the country seemed to promise rich veins of gold and silver, some of the ore being constantly found on digging. The Admiral, at his departure, set up a pillar with a large plate on it, on which was engraved her Majesty's, (Queen Elizabeth) name, picture, arms, and title to the country, together with the Admiral's name, and the time of his arrival there."
Such is the extraordinary pen-picture of the aboriginal Californians when visited by Drake and his historian. That the clap-trap description of the King proffering his regalia to the Admiral was written with an evident purpose. is fully carried out in the subsequent showering of honors upon Drake by Eliza- beth, who, on knighting him, said "that his actions did him more honor than his title."
The following extract from a letter written by Father Junipero to his friend Father Palou, shows from another stand point what the general situation of affairs was at that date, July 3, 1769 :- 4
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" The tract through which we passed is generally very good land, with plenty of water, and there, as well as here, the country is neither rocky nor overrun with brushwood. There are, however, many hills, but they are composed of earth. The road has been in some places good, but the greater part bad. About half-way, the valleys and banks of rivulets began to be delightful. We found vines of a large size, and in some cases quite loaded with grapes; we also found an abundance of roses, which appeared to be like those of Castile. In fine, it is a good country, and very different from old California.
" We have seen Indians in immense numbers, and all those on this coast of the Pacific contrive to make a good subsistence on various seeds, and by fish- ing. The latter they carry on by means of rafts or canoes, made of tule, (bulrushes), with which they go a great way to sea. They are very civil. All the males, old and young, go naked; the women, however, and the female children, are decently covered from their breasts downwards. We found on our journey, as well as the place where we stopped, that they treated us with as much confidence and good will as if they had known us all their lives. But when we offered them any of our victuals, they always refused them. All they cared for was cloth, and only for something of this sort would they exchange their fish or whatever else they had. During the whole march we found hares, rabbits, some deer, and a multitude of berendos, a kind of wild goat."
In the establishment of missions the three agencies brought to bear were the military, the civil and the religious, being each represented by the Presidio, or garrison; the Pueblo, the town or civic community, and the Mission, the church, which played the most prominent part. Says one writer: "The Span- iards had then, what we are lacking to-day-a complete municipal system. Theirs was derived from the Romans. Under the civil Roman law, and the Gothic, Spanish and Mexican laws, municipal communities were never incor- porated into artificial persons, with a common seal and perpetual succession, as with us under English and American laws; consequently, under the former, communities in towns held their lands in common; when thirty families had located on a spot, the pueblo or town was a fact. They were not incorporated, because the law did not make it a necessity, a general law or custom having established the system. The right to organize a local government, by the election of an alcalde or mayor, and a town council, which was known as an Ayuntamiento, was patent. The instant the poblacion was formed, it became thereby entitled to four leagues of land, and the pobladors, citizens, held it in pro indivisa. The title was a natural right.
"The missions were designed for the civilization and conversion of the Indians. The latter were instructed in the mysteries of religion (so far as they could comprehend them) and the arts of peace. Instruction of the savage in agriculture and manufactures, as well as in prayers and elementary education, was the padre's business. The soldiers protected them from the hostility of
1
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CALIFORNIA.
the intractable natives, hunted down the latter, and brought them within the confines of the mission, to labor and salvation."
Father Gleeson* tells us in his able History of the Catholic Church in Cali- fornia, that the missions were usually quadrilateral buildings, two stories high, enclosing a court vard ornamented with fountains and trees. The whole con- sisting of the church, father's apartments, store-houses, barracks, etc. The quadrilateral sides were each about six hundred feet in length, one of which was partly occupied by the church. Within the quadrangle and correspond- ing with the second story, was a gallery running round the entire structure, and opening upon the workshops. store rooms and other apartments.
The entire management of each establishment was under the care of two Religious; the elder attended to the interior and the younger to the exterior administration. One portion of the building, which was called the monastery, was inhabited by the young Indian girls. There, under the care of approved matrons, they were carefully trained and instructed in those branches necessary for their condition in life. They were not permitted to leave till of an age to be married, and this with the view of preserving their morality. In the schools, those who exhibited more talent than their companions, were taught vocal and instrumental music, the latter consisting of the flute, horn and violin. In the mechanical departments, too, the most apt were promoted to the position of foremen. The better to preserve the morals of all, none of the whites, except those absolutely necessary, were employed at the mission.
The daily routine at each establishment was almost the same as that fol- lowed by the Jesuits in Lower California. At sunrise they arose and pro- ceeded. to church, where, after morning prayer, they assisted at the holy saeri- fice of the mass. Breakfast next followed, when they proceeded to their re- spective employments. Toward noon they returned to the mission, and spent the time from then till two o'clock between dinner and repose; after which they again repaired to their work, and remained engaged till the evening an- gelus. about an hour before sundown. All then betook themselves to the church for evening devotions, which consisted of the ordinary family prayers and the rosary, except on special occasions, when other devotional exercises were added. After supper, which immediately followed, they amused them- selves in divers sports, games and dancing, till the hour for repose. Their diet, of which the poor of any country might be justly envious, consisted of an abundance of excellent beef and mutton, with vegetables in the season. Wheaten cakes and puddings, or porridges, called "atole and pinole," also formed a portion of the repast. The dress was, for the males, linen shirts, pants, and a blanket to be used as an overcoat. The women received each, annually, two undergarments, a gown, and a blanket. In years of plenty,
* History of the Catholic Church in California, by W. Gleeson, M. A., Professor St. Mary's College, San Francisco, Cal., in two volumes, illustrated. Printed for the author by A. L. Ban- croft and Company, San Francisco, 1872.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CALIFORNIA.
after the missions became rich, the fathers distributed all the surplus money's among them in clothing and trinkets. Such was the general character of the early missions established in Upper California.
Let us now briefly consider what was the character and condition of the California Indian on the arrival of the Spanish Fathers. We have already given the experience of Sir Francis Drake and Father Junipero. We shall now endeavor to outline more closely the principal features of their manners and customs.
For veracity's sake we must aver that the California Indian was anything but an easy subject for civilization. Knowledge he had none; his religion or morals were of the crudest form, while all in all he was the most degraded of mortals. He lived without labor, and existed for naught save his ease and pleasure. In physique he was unprepossessing; being possessed of much endurance and strength; his features were unattractive, his hair in texture like the mane of the horse, and his complexion as dark as the Ethiop's skin. His chief delight was the satisfying of his appetite and lust, while he lacked courage enough to be warlike, and was devoid of that spirit of independence usually the principal characteristic of his race. The best portion of his life was passed in sleeping and dancing, while in the temperate California climate ' the fertile valleys and hillsides grew an abundance of edible seeds and will fruits, which were garnered, and by them held in great store. Such means of existence being so easily obtained is perhaps a reason for the wonderful disinclination of Indians to perform any kind of labor. Indeed, what need was there that they should toil, when beneficent Nature had, with a generosity that knew no stint, placed within their grasp an unlimited supply of health-giving food.
The aboriginal Californian's life was a roving one, for they had no fixed hab- itation, but roamed about from place to place, fishing, hunting, and gathering supplies. In every stream were fish, and on every mountain-side and valley, game; acorns and pine nuts, roots and wild oats were included in the category of their edibles, while it is said that their tastes precluded them not from eat- ing vermin. Their remains consist of earth and shell mounds, which were used as places of sepulture, their dead being interred in a sitting posture, while ultra-civilized cremation was a common practice among them. Their dialects were as various as are those of China to-day, and the natives of San Diego could not understand those of Los Angeles or Monterey.
These Indians had as dwellings the meanest of huts, built of willows and thatched with tules or rushes. They were fashioned by taking a few poles and placing them in a circle; which were woven together to a conical point, giving them, when completed, the appearance of inverted baskets. They were small and easily warmed in winter, and when swarming with vermin could readily be reduced to ashes and others built in their places. Their cabins or "wickeup" were usually constructed on the banks of streams, or in the dells of mountains
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CALIFORNIA.
but always near some running water-course. Here, without a vestige of cov- ering, they slept like "sardines in a tin," those on the outer edge quarrelling, as in more civilized circles, for an inside place. On rising from their litters, be it summer or winter, the first performance would be a plunge into the river, after which they would dance and play around a large fire, when with a healthy appetite they would relish a hearty meal. This was their custom in the cold mountain regions as well as in the more temperate valleys. The skins of wild beasts made them a covering comfortable enough, but the males generally wore absolutely nothing upon their persons save an arrow passed through the hair as a skiver, something like the mode of hair ornament in vogue with fashionable belles some years ago. One of these warriors thus clad, on one occasion paid General Val- lejo a visit at Sonoma. As the day was cold the General asked his guest if he was not cold. "No," was the answer, "Is your face cold ?" "Not at all," replied the veteran commandante, "I never wear anything on my face." " Then," rejoined the Indian, triumphantly pointing to his body, "I am all face !" The toilet of the women was more pretentious, consisting only of a scanty apron of fancy skins or feathers, extending to the knees. Those of them who were unmarried wore also a bracelet around the ancle or arm, near the shoulder. This ornament was generally made of bone or fancy wood. Polygamy was a recognized institution. Chiefs generally possessed eleven wives, sub-chiefs nine, and ordinary warriors, two or more, according to their wealth or property. But Indian-like, they would fight among themselves, and bloody fights they often were. Their weapons were bows and arrows, clubs and spears, with which they were very adroit. They wore a kind of helmet made of skins. They were remarkable athletes, and as swimmers and run- ners were unexcelled. In times of peace they kept up their martial spirit, little though it was, by sham fights and tournaments, their women par- ticipating in their battles, not as actual belligerents, but as a sanitary brigade; they followed their warriors and supplied them with provisions and attended them when wounded, carrying their pappooses on their backs at the same time.
In a descriptive sketch of Napa and the adjacent counties* C. A. Menefee, the author, says of the Indian of Upper California:
"Of navigation they were almost wholly ignorant. Their only method of crossing streams was by means of rafts constructed of bundles of tule bound together, somewhat similar, but far inferior to the balsas used by the Peruvian Indians upon Lake Titicaca, far up among the Andes.
"Their knowledge of the proper treatment of disease was on a level with their attainments in all the arts of life. Roots and herbs were sometimes used as remedies, but the 'sweat-house' was the principal reliance in desperate
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