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 26
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the fury of the wind about him, and with the roar and rush of the breakers dashing against the rocks below him, sounding in his ears, with no human soul near him, sits the keeper, true to his trust, faithful to his charge, doing well and honestly his duty, keeping his lamp trimmed and burning, sending forth the ray to guide and make glad the storm-encircled sailor. Then let honor be given to whom honor is due, and to these brave, sacrificing men let us render a just tribute.
REDWOOD CITY .- Redwood City, the county seat of San Mateo county, is located at the head of navigation, or Embarcadero, which is more generally known as Redwood Creek, and inland about four miles from the open waters of the bay. It is a station on the Southern Pacific railroad, and the distance from San Francisco is twenty-eight miles. The site of this town is on the Rancho de las Pulgas, and during the Spanish-Mexican regime, was known throughout the valley as the Embarcadero. The landing was on the creek or slough, near the point where Bridge street crosses it, and for nearly a genera- tion prior to the advent of American settlers, the few commodities with which the native families kept up an appearance of trade were shipped from this point.
The place owes its growth and present importance to two causes-its natural advantages as a shipping point, and its proximity to the vast forests of red- wood timber that formerly covered the slopes of the mountains. In 1851 the settlement of Redwood City began with the erection of a small house by Captain A. Smith, on the south side of Bridge street, near the creek. The first local industry offering inducements to settlers was ship-building, which was inaugurated in 1851, by G. M. Burnham, who built the schooner Redwood, a craft that for many years made trips into the port where she first took water. Following her were the Mary Martin, Caroline Whipple, Harriet, and the Dashaway. Several other boats were built in the yards of William Bell, which were in the rear of and near the present shop of Hilton & Titus-a draw- bridge across the creek at that time allowing their passage.
A third consideration in the causes that gave an impetus to the settlement of Redwood was the squatter movement, that began in the year 1852. Under the belief that the Pulgas Rancho would be declared government land, not less than two hundred squatters took possession of it during that year. This made some central trading post a necessity, and William Shaw, in September, 1852, foreseeing the wants of a rapidly increasing population, erected a rough board structure, sixteen by twenty-four feet, near the site of the post office. This pioneer merchant traded without competition, but we are told that the press of customers was seldom so great that he could not find time for a friendly game at cards around a table that always stood in the center of the store-room for that purpose; that he was not wholly engrossed in thoughts
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of trade, may be gathered from a conversation reported between Shaw and a customer, while the former was engaged in his favorite pastime: The custo- mer enquired the price of bacon, and Shaw informed him that if he got it for him it would be twenty-five cents; but if he helped himself, twenty cents a pound. The above mercantile house continued in trade from September until the following January, when George Thacher & Co. bought out Mr. Shaw and commenced a prosperous business. Charles Livingston, one of the few pioneers of Redwood, was connected with this house. After this firm came J. V. Diller, who erected a commodious store-house from the timbers of a mill that had done good servicein the redwoods at the base of the mountains.
Twenty-five years ago hospitality was publicly dispensed here in a shake shanty, the proprietors of which were Balch and Harry Morse-the latter has since been sheriff for twelve years of Alameda county. This establishment, at that time, even scarcely attained the dignity of a hotel, as lodgings were not afforded. Prior to this there had been a little low building on the Horace Hawes farm, called the Pulgas House. It was ten by fifteen feet, and kept by Ben Bailey, where travelers found lodgings for themselves and feed for their horses. In 1853, a Mr. Harris completed the original American House, which occupied the site of the hotel by that name lately burned. Although this house was accounted at that day a very creditable institution, it was lacking in a good many modern improvements. Its apartments consisted of " up stairs " and " down stairs " simply, and in the former were arranged in barracks fashion (all in one room) the sleeping bunks. This house was the scene of many pleasurable occasions to the inhabitants of the new town, and sometimes was the theatre of riotous demonstrations, at that period not very infrequent in California; of the latter, the occasion of canvassing the returns of the May election in 1856, is distinctly remembered by those who were witnesses of it.
The business of wagon-making and blacksmithing, owing to the immense amount of teaming between this point and the mills in the redwoods, became an important industry at an early day, and has continued such to the present writing. The business was started by one George Dyzert, in 1851. He was followed by Smith & Chew and Chew & Hilton. In 1853, J. M. Allen located at the corner of Main street and the county road. Shipsmithing was a part of the business of some of these concerns, until that industry was abandoned.
In the professions, applicants for patronage made their appearance with characteristic promptness. Of physicians, the "Dutch Doctor " was first in the field, and he was soon followed by A. T. McClure, M. D. The disciples of Blackstone, licensed and unlicensed, were quite numerous. Justices' courts were the only ones held at that time in what is now San Mateo county, and the practitioners, as occasions required, came from the mills, farms and work- shops. Mother wit and fluent speech were the chief requisites of the lawyer of
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that day. There was scarcely a law volume in this part of the county. Charles Livingston was the possessor of a book of forms, and a few legal propositions entitled " Every Man his own Lawyer," which was always in demand in Redwood when exact justice was sought.
Of clergymen there were none settled here before Rev. J. S. Zelie, in 1861, although religious services were held long before that time.
The first school-house was a small board shanty, erected at the embarcadero through the liberality of a few citizens. Ten pupils were only found to occupy it, but a short time afterwards a better house was built on the triangular lot at. the junction of A street with the railroad; and in a few years the attendance had so increased that two teachers were required, and an extra room was fitted up in the basement of the court house.
In January, 1854, J. M. Mezes, one of the proprietors of the Pulgas rancho, laid out and platted the town of Mezesville. The survey was made by W. W. O'Dwyer, and the plat filed for record in San Mateo county, August 1, 1856. By the above name Redwood was known for a number of years, and title deeds to land in the original plat still designate the place as Mezesville.
Although business had been active and a good many private improvements had been made, Redwood City, at the time of the organization of San Mateo county in 1856, did not contain above one hundred and fifty inhabitants. The pioneers of the purely native population of the town were twin sisters, Mary and Caroline Tyler, children of Peter Tyler, one of the first ship-carpenters here.
The first post-office was kept at the Steinburger house, on what is commonly known as the John Hayes property, and Jesse D. Carr was postmaster until the office was removed to Redwood City, in the year 1853, when George Thacher was appointed postmaster. Besides this, there were no post offices in this part of the county, with the exception of one at Woodside, where the initial settle- ment of the county was begun, and where the polling place for Redwood continued until 1853.
With the organization of the county in 1856, and the establishment of the county seat at this place, Redwood, by force of the latter circumstance, if for no other reason, began to increase more rapidly in population and importance. The courts were held in the upper story of J. V. Diller's warehouse till 1858, when the court house and jail were erected at a cost of about ten thousand dollars. Redwood became the place of residence of men of learning and cul- ture, the schools were well maintained and prosperous, societies were formed, a newspaper started, and in 1862 the First Congregational Church was organized.
On October 16th, 1863, the first passenger train of cars passed through Red- wood city on an excursion trip over what was then called the San Francisco and San Jose railroad. Although this was the first opportunity for railroad
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communication with San Francisco, yet other means had for several years supplied the people of Redwood with adequate facilities. A part of the time two lines of stages had been run between the above points, while the means were ample for transportation and freighting by water.
Until 1867, very little attention had been given to the matter of street improvements, at which time the population became such as to warrant and demand improved roads and streets, and a municipal government clothed with authority to effect this object. Accordingly a petition was that year presented to the county court praying that the town of Redwood city might become incorporated under the general laws for the incorporation of towns. The petition was granted, and an election ordered for May 11th, 1867, at which date the following officers were elected: Trustees, J. V. Diller, S. S. Merrill, J. W. Ackerson, John Titus and L. A. Parsons; Marshal, J. C. Edgar; Assessor, Andrew Teague; Treasurer, S. H. Snyder.
· The first meeting of the board was held May 18th, 1867, and John Ames was elected clerk. The initiatory steps in the matter of improved streets was taken on the 3d day of October of that year, when a contract for the construction of one thousand feet of street, between the railroad crossing and the county road, was let to Owen McGarvey at one dollar and fifty cents per lineal foot of broken rock, twenty feet wide by one foot in depth. In March, 1868, Harvey Kincaid, then Senator from this district, introduced and procured the passage of a special Act of corporation, under which the town continued to be governed until the amended and revised Act of 1874. Under this charter of 1868 an election was held on May 4th, when the following officers were elected: Trustees-J. V. Diller, John W. Ackerson, Andrew Teague, John Crawley and James Hilton; Marshal, J. C. Edgar; Treasurer, S. H. Snyder; Assessor, Wilson Whitlock.
On the 4th day of August of that year the board ordered an election for the purpose of submitting to the people the proposition to borrow five thousand dollars for street improvements. The election was held on the 29th of August, and resulted in an affirmative response to the proposition. A loan was nego- tiated of William C. Ralston, with interest at the rate of ten per cent. per annum, principal payable in five annual installments. This loan, together with the taxes of that year, put the trustees in possession of about eight thousand dollars, and with it they commenced work by letting to Peter Con- nally, on September 2d, 1868, a contract to curb and macadamize Mound, Main and Bridge streets, at two dollars and eighteen cents per lineal foot. The contract called for rock from the McGarvey ranch, but difficulty being encoun- tered in obtaining it from that source, Hon. T. G. Phelps, without compensa- tion, furnished the town with material from his premises.
In March, 1869, Heller and Phelps streets were ordered graded and turn- piked, and in August of that year a contract was awarded to Mr. Phelps for
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curbing and macadamizing A street to the railroad crossing, at one dollar and sixty cents per foot. In November, Second and Third streets were ordered to be turnpiked, on the petition of property owners. In 1870, the macadamizing of A street was completed by Peter Early. In 1872, Heller and Phelps streets were macadamized, and Redwood City, which, in early days, had an unenviable reputation for the character of its roads, could now take commendable pride in them. Their present excellent condition is especially observable by those who remember that in 1852, pedestrians were obliged to cross the creek on Bridge street by wading, in a pair of high-topped rubber boots that were kept in Thacher's store for the accommodation of the public.
For public means of conveyance and communication between Redwood City and the coast, the Redwood City and Pescadero stage line affords the facilities by means of a stage, making trips between the above points. The distance is thirty-two miles, and is made in eight hours, including stops at the way stations. Stages on this route commenced running in 1872. The proprietor is S. L. Knight, an early settler of the county and an early stager.
Petroleum is to be found in the mountains beyond Redwood City. It is a question, however, whether oil wells will ever prove as productive in Califor- nia as they are in Pennsylvania, for the reason that the horizontal wheels of the palaeozoic age confines the oil beneath the surface of the latter state, while the tertiary rocks of California, turned up on edge, allow it to be forced to the surface by hydrostatic pressure, and capillary attraction, and thus wasted. Hence large quantities of oil on the surface is an unfavorable indication for well-boring. It is for this reason, and not because oil in quantities does not exist, that the oil business has not a promising out-look on the Pacific coast.
In the year 1881, indications of petroleum were discovered on the Tunitas creek and on the farm of Mrs. Ryan. A well was bored to a depth of seventy feet, when the flow commenced, and after going down four hundred feet, from nine to ten barrels were taken from the well daily.
On the ranch of Thomas Durham there has also been a well sunk to the depth of two hundred and fifty feet, but on account of not having a sufficient amount of money to carry on this enterprise, work has not been pushed as rapidly as it might have been. Many are of the opinion that when the proper depth is reached, a good flow of crude petroleum will be had, and in paying quantities.
SEARSVILLE .- This place is situated on the Copinger grant, and its early history is so inseparably connected with the early history of the county, that we refer our readers to that portion of our work for a full description of its early settlers and of its lumbering interests. There is but little left to remind one that this was the home of some of California's earliest pioneers, and where hundreds of men were engaged in business at or near
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this place. There is one specimen of the native forest that once made this a scene of activity still left, spared from the woodman's ax. It is a large red- wood tree, standing by the ranch of Mr. Jones, and is a fair sample of what. the virgin timber once was, in this locality.
William Brown was the first settler. He purchased of Copinger a portion of the Canada Raymundo grant, and gave it the name of Mountain Home ranch. John Smith, better known as " Bap." Smith, came here on July 11th, 1852, and has since continuously resided here. In the fall of that year, A. Eikerenkotter arrived with his family, and he now keeps the only store and hotel in the place. In the year 1853, John H. Sears, now resident of La Honda, located near the Mountain Home ranch, at that time owned by Col. Jack Hayes. He remained here until the following January, when he built a. house on the site of what is now Searsville, and the name of the town was applied by a representative of the Alta, who visited the place in the spring or summer of 1854, and in a series of papers descriptive of the location, referred to the settlement by this designation. The building erected by Mr. Sears was occupied as a hotel, and known as the Sears House.
It was in this year, also, that William and Lem Page came here and opened the first store in the place on the banks of Alumbique creek. Sometime during the year 1854, a dwelling house was purchased and moved on the site of the present school-house, in which the first school was taught. In 1859 this building gave way to the present commodious school building.
It was not till the year 1856, that the old and respected settler, Willian Lloyd, arrived, when he opened a blacksmith shop, which is now one of the two business places in Searsville.
WOODSIDE .- This was the home of the first settlers of San Mateo county, and it is the most beautiful spot within her boundaries. The scenery in and around this place embraces the characteristic groves of redwood and other woods on the hills and in the canyons, which are to be found in this part of the country; walks and drives of rare beauty, excelling those which might be devised by man's handiwork, intersect the low-lying grounds and mountain slopes, while through it passes the road from Redwood City leading to Pesca- dero, along which is combined all the beauty of scenery and grandeur of hill and dale.
Dr. R. O. Tripp is the oldest American settler in the county now living, and he resides at Woodside. He came to California from the east, in 1849, and the same year came to Woodside with A. Parkhurst and Mr. Ellis. The latter gen- tlemen were engaged in the manufacture of shingles, carrying on the business in partnership. On January 1st, 1850, Mr. Ellis left the firm, and Dr. Tripp was taken in as a partner, and the firm commenced merchandising, and the business has continued until the present time. From the beginning, Dr. Tripp
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has been owner and part owner of the business, thus making a longer period in continuous trade than any merchant of San Mateo county. In 1854, the present store of Dr. Tripp was built, and the same year a post office was estab- lished, with A. Parkhurst as postmaster. In 1851, a school house was erected on land donated from the Copinger ranch, and it filled the office of school, church and public hall. In the year 1856 a library association was formed here, as well as the first temperance society of the county, and the history of it, although a little mythical, is deserving of mention. The story goes that a widow lady, with a marriageable daughter, was keeping boarding house near the town. Mother and daughter threw their combined weight of influence in favor of the good cause, which had not then many advocates in the redwoods. The gallant young men of the neighborhood were never so fully persuaded of the evils of intemperance as when listening to the arguments of the pretty daughter. The consequence was that a flourishing organization was effected that doubtless accomplished much good. Of course, the man is no friend to the cause who reports, that, as soon as a certain stranger came and married the daughter, the organization became less popular.
RAVENSWOOD .- This is a duplicate of Goldsmith's "deserted village." It exists only in the memory of the pioneer, although it started into life with every prospect of success, and during the period when the question of the western terminus of the Central Pacific railroad was raising the hopes of so many towns, Ravenswood was threatened with being made the western ter- minus of a railroad bridge across the bay of San Francisco. Had this event occurred its history could not be so briefly told.
In 1853, when much attention was being directed to the lumber interests in this part of the country, and mills were being erected, it was evident that some point on the bay would attain importance as a lumber-shipping town. With that idea in view, I. C. Woods, Hackett & Judah, and William Roe, in 1853, purchased what was known as the Steinberger property, and platted the town called Ravenswood. An extensive and costly wharf was built to deep water; lots were sold and houses erected; a store was opened by William Paul, and altogether a good deal of activity was displayed here. But the town not proving available as a lumber-shipping point, soon subsided. The property ultimately came into the hands of L. P. Cooley, and it has since been widely known as the location of Hunter, Shackelford & Co's brick manufactory. This industry was commenced in 1874. The long wharf, built in the early days, is disused and gone to decay, but a landing is still maintained on the old site.
CLARK'S LANDING, is below Ravenswood, and at the mouth of the San Fran- cisquito creek, and was established in 1873, since which time there has been erected a commodious warehouse.
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BELMONT .- The name signifies beautiful mountain, and was given the place by Steinburger & Beard, and any one who has seen the symmetrically rounded eminence that stands near the town, must confess to the appropriateness of the name. The town was started in 1850, and for California, Belmont is an old town. It was the first county seat of San Mateo county, and before the com- ing of the Southern Pacific railroad, had considerable commercial importance.
The beautiful valley, at the entrance to which Belmont is located, is called Cañada Diabolo. It is difficult to conceive how this charming little valley received the above designation, unless it was on the assumption that his satanic majesty, having an intimate acquaintance with all parts of the globe, fixed upon this as the most desirable. At all events, his taste in making this selection would be universally approved. The fact is, it has been. There are evidences that the aborigines appreciated the soft atmosphere of this storm- locked retreat.
At a very early day, Col. Cipriani, a man considerably devoted to the quiet pleasures of this world, made his home here, and later the proprietor of the Pulgas rancho, out of this immense grant, selected the Cañada Diabolo for his residence. At a more recent date, William C. Ralston, with better taste than any of San Mateo's millionaires, made his country residence in this valley, and with his characteristic enterprise, not only built for himself a princely home, but projected and made improvements generally that added much to the pros- perity of the neighborhood. Among the earliest settlers here was Michael Daley.
The initial step in the settlement of Belmont, was the building of a hotel by a Mr. Angelo, on what is now known as the Robinson property. This was in the year 1850. A short time prior to that, Angelo had entertained travel- ers in a canvass tent, a little distance below Redwood City. His hotel in Belmont, in those early days, became widely known, especially by the sporting fraternity, whose wants were carefully catered to by the proprietor. A Mr. Flashner succeeded Angelo in the hotel business at this place, and it was at his house, then called the Belmont hotel, that the first county court of San Mateo county convened, in 1856.
The business of merchandising was begun by Adam Castor, and as a trading point, Belmont at one time was of more than ordinary importance. After W. C. Ralston settled here, he constructed a wharf upon the slough that makes in toward the town, and donated the privileges of it to the public.
Belmont is extensively and popularly known as a famous picnic ground. In the course of the past year it is estimated that over one hundred and fifty thousand people visited the delightful park at the base of the beautiful hill that gave the town its name.
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MENLO PARK .- Locally the name has become suggestive of wealth, with all its princely accompaniments. There are but few spots in California that offer a more enticing retreat than the oak groves in the vicinity of Menlo Park. But beautiful as the site is, art has here supplemented nature to such an extent, that nothing is left to be desired in the way of magnificent residences, of which there are many with notable points of excellence.
As a town, Menlo Park dates its existence back to March 23d, 1874, when an act of incorporation was passed, authorizing the Governor to commission five citizens as trustees of the town. Prior to the passage of the Southern Pacific railroad in 1863, there was not the nucleus even of a village; but with that event, the place slowly grew into the proportions of a small town. The incor- poration at the date named was procured for the purpose of enabling the inhabitants to carry out a uniform system of street improvements; and with this object accomplished, the town government has been allowed to lapse, and for a long time the board of trustees has not been in session. The citizens commissioned by the Governor to act as trustees, were L. P. Cooley, John T. Doyle, George C. Boardman, Charles N. Felton and W. J. Adams. Their first meeting was held April 25th, 1874, when John T. Doyle was elected president, and Robert L. Behre, clerk; George C. Boardman resigning, E. P. Rowe was commissioned to fill the vacancy, and he shortly after became clerk, in place of Mr. Behre.
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