USA > California > Santa Barbara County > History of Santa Barbara county, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 78
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111
At the formal opening above referred to, addresses were made by Professors Putzkee and Bolander and Doctors Lucky and Hough, and an occasion of great importance and interest to the community passed off with the utmost éclat. The following recapitulation
1 10
T. Wallace More
328
HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
of accounts was at that date presented and pub- lished :-
Repairs on old buildings, construction of laundry, etc. $ 3,709 17
Furniture and books 4,409 89
Amount paid for interest, insurance, taxes, advertising, provisions, plants, trees, fences, school purposes, lumber for sidewalks, traveling expenses, labor on the grounds, temporary loan and mortgage. 6,064 82
Cost of new building on State Street 20,524 93
$34,708 81
Total expenditure since the organization, for purchase of grounds, construction of buildings, repairs and . alterations, improvements, furnishing, school- books, school deficiencies, incidentals, etc. $46,147 88
ITEMS.
Amount of receipts as per financial report, August 1, 1872 $12,254 98
Amount received since 27,489 00
Total deficiencies 6,403 90
$46,147 88
Contrary to anticipation at the time of such favor- able showing, the institution has not proved success- ful. Its later history has been the record of numerous and unprofitable changes of administration, and it has sunk from the dignity of an academy to that of a boarding and day-school; its successive changes of direction sinking it lower in pecuniary quagmires, until October, 1881, when it finally reverted into the hands of Col. Hollister, one of the most vigorous and helpful of its supporters, and now, like Othello, its occupation gone, it is attached to the Arlington, as an adjunct to that house of entertainment. Thus closes, for the time, the history of one of the most important educational enterprises of this coast.
Although the enterprise proved a failure in provid- ing a place for higher education, it indicated the character of the citizens in educational matters, and is an honorable monument to their liberality and enterprise, which in due time will ripen into good deeds. It may be observed, however, that colleges generally succeed a good common school as a result. It is doubtful whether even the most advanced pupils were in a condition to be benefited by a collegiate course.
ST. VINCENT'S INSTITUTE
Was organized by the Sisters of Charity, who have conducted it very successfully up to the present time. Its object is the care and education of orphans, who, deprived of their natural protectors, find in these excellent surroundings the kindest care and most thorough instruction. In addition, the Institute receives a considerable number of boarding and day- scholars. Early in its career, St. Vincent's possessed an excellent four-story brick building standing on the site of the present structure, in block 160, which
was destroyed by fire on the 15th of March, 1874, the loss being about $20,000. This calamity, one of the most serious that the town has ever known, was the result of accident, and was speedily repaired by the erection of the present commodious and imposing edifice on the site of the burned structure, in which the orphans rendered homeless, again found shelter. The benevolence of the citizens of the place was stimulated by the misfortune, and raising the neces- sary money partly by means of a public fair, the efforts of the officers of the Institute were rewarded by the erection of the present fine brick, three-story structure. The Institute is perhaps the most substantial and ornamental building in Santa Barbara, and is built of the best material, in a tasteful and ornamental man- ner, the style of architecture being a modified composite. Herein the devoted Sisters attend the work of instruction, all common branches of educa- tion being systematically tanght. The orphanage is to a large extent, supported by the voluntary con- tributions of the charitable. Only girls are received.
NEWSPAPERS.
The mission of a newspaper seems generally to be the voicing of public opinion. Few editors can afford to be independent enough to express their individual opinions, hence an independent paper is an absurd- ity; to put it on a paying basis, it must have a con- stituency-a backing. The paper is but a mirror of the world. Considered in this light, the history of the newspaper is important.
THE " GAZETTE."
The first newspaper bore the above title, and was started in 1855 by I. Hubbard, T. Dunlap, and B. W: Keep. Three pages were in English and the fourth in Spanish. It was a respectable-looking sheet. The subscription list was extremely small, the prin- cipal support of the paper being its legal advertising. Offending one or more of the principal Spanish fami- lies by an ill-timed article reflecting on the Catholic Church, the aggrieved persons had influence enough to induce the Legislature to authorize the county officers to publish legal notices by posting them, in writing, in numerous places in the county. This killed the paper. It was sold to Pedro Fossas, who removed the material to San Francisco, and pub- lished a Spanish paper for some years. Its further history does not belong to Santa Barbara. For two years or more Santa Barbara was without a paper.
THE " POST"
Was commenced May 29, 1868, by Boust & Fergu- son. E. B. Boust had previously published a paper, in Placer County-a " secesh" paper, as it was called which made him so unpopular that he dropped out of sight, and came up at Santa Barbara with another politieal coat on. Boust was a strong writer, and made the paper readable with his observations on society and general topics. The paper was independ-
PRESS
ERECTED 1872
BUILDING
TES.
PRESS OFFICE UP STAIRS
SANTA BARBARA DAILY AND WEEKLY PRESS,. C. F. McGLASHAN, PUBLISHER AND PROPRIETOR.
329
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS.
ent in political matters, but permitted correspondents to discuss matters of a general nature. S. R. I. Sturgeon, under the nom de plume of " El Cabo," wrote some very vigorons articles on the Republican side. Albert Packard was also a frequent contrib- utor.
THE SANTA BARBARA PRESS.
J. A. Johnson, the founder of the Congregational Church, became associate editor, and finally pro- prietor, of the Post, and changed the name to the Press, under which name it grew into a sixteen-page paper, published weekly, and also a large, fine- looking daily, rivaling the metropolitan papers in size and appearance. It was Republican in politics. The paper was ably conducted and was a power in the land. Miss A. La Grange, an able writer, was for some time connected with it. It was considered the organ of Southern California. It undoubtedly induced a large emigration to the country. Mr. Johnson was not always judicious in his personal allusions, and often got into difficulty in consequence. He retired from the Press in February, 1876, after which the paper passed into the ownership of Colonel Hollister.
Col. H. G. Otis, who was formerly connected with the Ohio Statesman, took charge of the paper, March 11, 1876. He is, perhaps, as ahle a writer as any that were connected with the Santa Barbara papers. He wielded a vigorous but sarcastic pen, and was not calculated to harmonize a community or concili- ate enemies. His love of sarcasm often led him to make remarks which lessened the number of his sub- scribers. His talent would be invaluable in a city, on a large daily. The subscription list fell off gradu- ally, until the editor announced the necessity of assistance if the daily was to be continued. He said that heretofore the paper had been mainly kept up by the assistance of Colonel Hollister. R. D. Bogart, since employed on the Wasp, at San Francisco, was associated with Otis in the management of the paper. Some difference of opinion regarding the management of the paper, caused the Colonel to leave, after which the paper rapidly ran down. It is said that the compositors carried away much of the best type, until it was difficult to get out a paper. When Bogart left, Mrs. Wood, assistant editor, got out a few numbers, but the Press led a sorry, half-starved life. In the summer of 1880 the Press became the property of John P. Stearns, who then infused some life and strength into its management. He employed Theodore M. Glancey to edit the paper, and it was while in this work that Mr. Glancey met his death at the hands of Clarence Gray, September 25, 1880. For particulars of which see Chapter XXIX.
C. F. McGlashan, the present proprietor, took charge of the Press October 16, 1880, and the 27th of December following, became the proprietor. Under his management the paper has become prosperous and influential, being the only daily now published
in Santa Barbara. It is managed with prudence and judgment, and inherits nothing of the bitterness that characterized the Press of early days. Geo. P. Teb- betts is the able business manager. The establish- ment is complete for book and job work, perhaps as good as any south of San Francisco. Some fine samples of book work have been sent out from the place.
THE "TIMES"
Was started, February 1, 1870, by the Times Pub- lishing Company. E. Boust, former editor and pro- prietor of the Post, was the managing editor. Bonst, in consequence of some disagreements with Johnson in business transactions, was a personal enemy to him, and ran the paper in opposition to the Press. What the Press advocated, the Times assuredly op- posed.
The Press claimed to be the organ of the respecta- ble part of the community, and denounced the Times as the organ of the hoodlums, and both editors daily denounced cach other as liars and villains. If the papers represented any considerable number of the people, the amenities of common civility were much forgotten. The paper was enlarged into a semi- weekly and afterwards a daily, which, however, was soon suspended, August 10, 1872. Boust was succeeded by J. T. Richards. Mr. Richards was known to be favorable to the railroad projects of Tom Scott, hence it was concluded that the change of management was in his interest. Mr. Richards was a vigorous and correct writer, with a compact, forcible, almost classical style. The paper survived until the down- ward tendency of the town, with the introduction of other papers, made its support precarious.
THE "INDEX
Was started, Angust 31, 1872, by E. N. Wood, who came to the coast for his health, and, like many others, wanted something to busy his mind. The town was then flourishing, the population possessed of more than average intelligence, and the field of journalism looked rather inviting. He died, October 14, 1874, a little more than two years after estab- lishing the paper. It then fell into the hands of William F. and Virginia F. Russell.
The paper took strong Democratic ground, and became extremely partisan in its character. The articles were often personal in their nature; not more so, however, than those in the other papers. Feb- ruary 25, 1875, it was enlarged to a six-page publi- cation. October 16, 1877, it became a daily, taking the place of the expiring Press.
The Index was not only Democratic in politics, but an advocate of free thought in morals, religion, and fashions; a strong advocate of woman's suffrage, a disbeliever in, and at war with, many of Society's most cherished sentiments. It advocated spiritual- ism as the highest form of education. The tone of the paper was always independent. catering to no popular sentiment.
330
HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
Mrs. Virginia Russell was the chief writer. Some of the editorials are worthy of a place in history. The following appeared May 31, 1877 :-
"No gambler should be invested with office. No liquor-dealer, whether he live by the manufacture or the sale of liquor, should be invested with office. No inebriate or habitual drinker who proffers intoxicat- ing liquors, though it be not for money, should be invested with office. No libertine who has been convicted before the tribunal of public opinion of theft, or fraud, or willful falsehood, or of any similar misdemeanor, should be invested with office. . It cannot be expected that men will enact and enforce laws for the discouragement of practices to which they have a leaning or vigilantly pursue, or rigidly punish offenders guilty of the misdemeanors they habitually practice. How shall a drinking judge deal with the offender through drink ? How shall he deal with the licensing of liquor-vending, or the crimes growing ont of the sales made by the liquor vendor ?"
The paper was discontinued when the decadence of the town came.
W. F. Russell died March 27, 1877. He was a native of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, born in 1829. Some years later he moved to Pittsburg, where he learned printing. At nineteen, he became foreman of a printing office; returned to Pittsburg and became publisher of the Token, an organ for the I. O. of O. F .; was at the same time proprietor of a book-store. He afterwards moved to Minnesota, where he was a member of the Constitutional Con- vention. On the breaking out of the Civil War, he joined the Sturges Rifles, and served with them one year, they being Mclellan's body-guard. For good conduct he was promoted and sent to Minnesota to raise a company of select sharp-shooters, known as Berdan's First Company, which was attached to First Minnesota Volunteers. He participated in twenty- nine battles-Antietam, Seven Oaks, Williamsburg, Harper's Ferry, etc. He moved to Austin, Nevada, in 1864, and to Santa Barbara in 1873.
THE "DAILY NEWS."
This paper was one of the outgrowths of opposi- tion to the Press, and was started in May, 1875, with the expectation that it would take the place of that paper. A. Pettygrove & Co. were the proprietors. Miss A. La Grange was employed on the paper, as she also was on the Press. She was an able writer, both in prose and poetry. Pettygrove also wrote poetry. The News was consolidated with the Press, May 16, 1876.
THE "DAILY MORNING REPUBLICAN"
Was commenced May 31, 1875, A. S. Winchester, publisher. It took strong Republican ground. W. A. Franklin was the local editor .. This was also a special rival of the Press. It was a large and good- looking sheet, though badly proof-read and printed at first, but became a creditable paper in a few weeks. It did not reach its second volume.
SANTA BARBARA "DAILY ADVERTISER"
Was started in February, 1877, by Pettygrove & Stone, and held a struggling existence, when it ter- minated, November 29th, the same year.
THE SANTA BARBARA "DEMOCRAT"
Was started in 1878, by F. A. Moore, B. W. Keep, and E. Boust. The two latter will be remembered, the first as connected with the Gazette, the first paper of Santa Barbara, and the latter as the founder of the Post, afterwards merged into the Press, in 1868. The two latter persons severed their connection with the paper, which is still continued as a weekly by Mr. Moore, as
THE " INDEPENDENT."
It is a credit to the town. It has lost the asperity of former days and is now high-toned, practicing all the amenities required of journalists. Good job work is done, and the establishment is prospering.
THE " GACETA"
Was established in 1879 for the benefit of the Span- ish population, by José Arzaga, and continued for about two years.
SMALL PAPERS
Appeared at different times, among which was the Tribune, edited by Earle A. Walcott, a boy ten years of age. The paper was about the size of a quarto page, and owed its value mostly to poetry written by Mrs. Josephine Walcott, the boy's mother, who wrote some fine verses, some of which will be found in another place. The paper reached its 3d volume. The Star, a miniature paper, was edited and printed by Master James Shaw. The Bumble B appeared for a few times in the interests of a church fair. It was written and published by a few ladies, who made it lively and witty.
THE LOMPOC "RECORD"
Was established in 1875, at the time of the sale of the colony lands, W. W. Broughton being the editor and manager. An account of the matter will be found in the article on the Lompoc Colony. It after- wards passed into the hands of Elder J. W. Webb, who made the paper the temperance organ of South- ern California. It was ably edited, and advocated reform everywhere. It had the independence to spell phonetically, through as thru, though as tho,. dropping all useless letters. It has undoubtedly helped swell the demand for a reform in spelling. Mr. Webb being an able speaker, his talents were in demand in another field, and in August, 1881, he sold the paper to Philip Tucker, who keeps up the fire on dram-drinking, as well as other public sins. It is a live paper in every department.
THE GUADALUPE " TELEGRAPH"
Was started in 1875, about the same time as the Lompoc Record, by Haines & Porterfield, assisted by De Witt Hubbell, who finally took full charge. After
331
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS.
which W. D. Willson became proprietor. It was a newsy sheet, mostly edited and printed by his daugh- ter, Miss Amelia Willson, while the father canvassed for items of news and subscribers. On the building up of Central City, the paper was removed to that place, where it is still published by J. H. Laughlin & Co. It is fully up to the wants and necessities of the town, with material for all kinds of job work.
SOCIETIES.
The oft-used expression, " united we stand, di- vided we fall," explains the necessity of fraternal and social societies. Organization is the largest factor in modern civilization. In ancient times, in the rude beginnings of society, the family rela- tion was the source of strength and prosperity. The mother who bore the most children was the most honored. Perhaps the best illustration of the enormous force of family relation may be seen in the ancient Israelites, who, holding to blood ties, became a great nation, with the full faith that they were des- tined to inherit the carth. But great as the Israelites were, they were scattered by a host of innumerable families, united under one government. Tribal and family organizations give way to combinations of still greater magnitude, which are made up of innu- merable smaller parts, each being to some extent a body politie within itself. Individual valor, though a source of personal respect, can accomplish little, compared to the united efforts of multitudes. . An army is efficient in proportion to its discipline. A well-trained army of a few thousands, acting under the direction of one mind, will rout a mob of ten times their number. The principle holds good in all the relations of life, whether the object be to estab- lish a nation, accumulate wealth, damage an enemy, or benefit mankind. The ability to combine conflict- ing or inert elements into a solid, active body, will always hold the highest position in civilized society.
The so-called secret societies are the results of this instinct. Some of them, if not as ancient as any national or religious organization, have their origin in the ages of elementary government; have what might be called an umbilical cord, running back to the origin of all government. All of them serve the important purpose in society of teaching authority and obedience, without which law and order is im- possible. The most vicious member of a vicious society, by agreeing to sacrifice some of his privileges to bet- ter secure the others, becomes unconsciously better prepared to obey other laws, and eventually becomes a useful member of society; while as a member of a higher organization whose objects, in part at least, are beneficent towards society, he acquires the knowledge of parliamentary forms, and the habit of listening deferentially to opinions differing from his own.
Thus we have, as powerful auxiliaries in the main- tenance of law and order, the numerous societies of
the age, such as Masons, Odd Fellows, Good Tem- plars, and Sons of Temperance, Knights of the Red Cross, etc. The former two of the list, especially, have become almost cosmopolitan in character and influence, modifying the rancors and cruelties of war, and carrying a benign influence into millions of places. The secrets, which are made of great account in all societies, are a means of attracting the public, and holding them together. The mystery of the She- kinah held the Israelites together. The Greeks had the Adelphos and Elusinian mysteries. The Egyp- tians had mysteries, and, in later times, the Druids had a wonderful, valuable mystery in their posses- sion. Men, as well as women, love a mystery, and are led away by it.
The society of Free Masons has probably the best claims to antiquity of any of the beneficiary societies of modern times. It is quite certain that at least one thousand years ago the builders of churches and pal- aces, who moved about over Europe as their services were wanted in the different towns, formed them- selves into guilds, where each one's rank as a builder was fixed by his rank in the society. They were ac- customed to camp in a body, under the direction of the officers. The society was not unlike the modern Typographical Union in its objects and organization. From the best accounts, there were several of them in different parts of Europe, but a membership in one made it much easier to gain admission to another. In several instances the governments manifested consid- erable hostility to the organizations, on account of their maintaining extortionate rates for work. The terms Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Free and Accepted Masons-i. e., free to work at the trade- indicate beyond doubt the nature and object of the organization.
The signs and secret work enabled the members to recognize each other's standing as workmen, without the trouble of testing the work, and also to assist each other in traveling about the country in those lawless times, in going from one job to another.
The changes in the system of building large cathe- drals like those of the middle ages, in sparsely-settled countries, the denser populations and greater diffusion of knowledge, architectural as well as other kinds, obviated the necessity of societies for mutual protec- tion, as every city of any note had an ample number of architects, stone-cutters and builders to do all its work.
The churches or church had, in the first instances, rather encouraged the formation of the societies, as tending to disseminate the knowledge of building. In the later years it discouraged the existence of the societies, as setting up a secret which was superior to the confessional-an opposition which it still main- tains with persistent action.
In the beginning of the seventeenth century, the societies gradually ceased to be of a trade character, and began to take on a form of self-protection, admit-
332
HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
ting as members persons who had no knowledge of stone-cutting or other mechanical arts, the old em- blems of the tools of the trade being retained as sym- bols of degrees and character.
MODERN MASONRY
Began in London, June 24, 1717, when the four Lon- don lodges united into one, and named their Grand Master. From this time forward, no praetieal knowl- edge of mechanical work was required for admission. The principal promoters of this union were Desagu- liers, a well-known popularizer of science, and James Anderson, a Presbyterian clergyman, who compiled the book of constitutions containing the charges, rites, and traditions of the craft, reducing them to something like system and order. From this time no new lodge could be formed without a warrant from the Grand Lodge. The Duke of Montagu became Grand Master. Other noblemen also joined the order, so that it lost somewhat of its democratic character. The principle of charity, as well as self-protection, became incorporated into it; and schools were organ- ized at the time, some of which (Battersea and Tot- tenham) are continued to this day.
The latter part of the eighteenth century, a kind of rebellion or assumption of authority took place by the old York Lodge of Masons elaiming the right to issue warrants for the organization of subordinate lodges. This lodge elaimed to have existed from 926. They also had a new ritual, introducing the red color of the Royal Arch, which they deelared of higher rank than the blue degree of St. John. It was claimed to be a degree used at the second building of the Temple. Another branch also introduced an order of the Templars. In 1813, the Dukes of Sussex, Kent and Athole succeeded in uniting all these orders together, under the name of " The United Grand Lodge of England." This patronage of the nobility gave the order an impetus which resulted in making it almost a national matter. About this time Jews were admitted to membership. They built a hall for the collection of material pertaining to the order, established several magazines, such as the Free- mason's Magazine, and the Freemason, and the Free- mason's Quarterly, and built an asylum for indigent and unfortunate members of the order.
At present, England has sixty provincial lodges, 1,200 minor lodges, Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch Degree, Grand Lodge for the Mark Masters, Grand Conclave of the Knights Templar, and a Superior Grand Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite of the Thirty-three Degrees.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.