USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 5
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
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.
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 Carmé, 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 Asisi, 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., August 25, 1823; containing 14.20 acres.
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EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.
With this preliminary generalization let us now attempt our actual task of giving to the reader those chronicles which more especially appertain to Santa Clara county.
In the month of September, 1776, His Excellency the Viceroy of Mexico penned a communication to Don Fernando Rivera, the officer commanding at San Diego, informing him that he had received the intelligence that two missions had been founded in the vicinity of the Bay of San Francisco, and as the Commandante had been provided with the military guards for these, he should be happy to have his report. On the arrival of the dispatch Don Fernando, without loss of time, made arrangements for visiting the places designated and placing the guards, which he had retained at San Diego, in their proper quarters, and after a long journey, covering many days, he, with his twelve soldiers, arrived at Monterey, where he learned that only the Mission of San Francisco had been founded. Hence he started for that place, accompanied by Father Tomas de la Peña, who, with another, had been appointed to perform the religious duties of the expedition. On their jour- ney they came to the spot afterwards occupied by the Santa Clara Mission, and being captivated by its many charms and advantages, at once resolved there to locate a mission. The party then continued their way to San Francisco, where they arrived on the 26th November. After visiting the presidio, as became a soldier, on the 30th the Commandante set out for Mono- erey, and dispatched Father Joseph Murguia from the San Carlos Mission, where all the preparations had been made, accompanied by an escort, and proper requirements, to found the new mission in the Santa Clara valley, then known by the name of San Bernardino.
Towards the last days of the year, 1776, the soldiers and their families, who were to take part in the establishment of the new mission, arrived at San Francisco, and on January 6th Padre Peña, the officer in command of the presidio, the soldiers and their families, took up the line of march in quest of the chosen spot. Their first duty on reaching their destination was to ereet a cross, which, with all solemnity, was blessed and adored ; on Jan- uary 12, 1777-one hundred and four years ago-an altar was raised under its outspread arms, and the first mass ever breathed in the valley was said by Father Tomas de la Pena. In a few days Father Murguia and his fol- lowers joined them, with the necessary paraphernalia for a settlement, and on January 18, 1777, the formal ceremony of founding the Santa Clara Mission took place. This was the first settlement in the county.
Cannot the readers conjure up the picture we have so faintly outlined ? Cannot he now see before him the devotional piety of the Holy Father Tomas, the respectful quiet of his followers, and the amazed gaze of the aboriginals ; with what care the sacred emblem of the Cross is raised; with what reverential caution the building of the altar, sheltered as it is, is
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
effected ? No sound is heard save prayerful utterances, mayhap broken by grunts of astonishment from the bewildered natives who stand closely observing the holy work from a respectful distance. The names of Fathers Peña and Murguia must ever be held in welcome recognition of the part they took, far from society and kinsfolk, in founding a mission which has become a landmark for all time in a valley where it would seem as if the Divine Hand had put forth its utmost skill to produce the fairest scene under the blue canopy of Heaven.
About seven years after the events above noted the holy Father Junipero Serra, President of the Missions of California, feeling that old age was fast overtaking him, as well as having some spare time, determined to visit some of the missions, to hold his last confirmations, and having been invited to dedicate the Santa Clara Mission, also to perform that ceremony. About the first of May he visited the selected spot, and on the 4th continued his weary journey to San Francisco, accompanied by that devoted fellow-countryman, Father Palou, a brother Franciscan Monk, a co-voyager to these shores, and afterwards his biographer, preferring to make his confirmations on his return. He had tarried in San Francisco but a few days when the distress- ing news of the illness of Father Murguia was received, he thereupon dispatched Father Palou to Santa Clara, who found Murguia sick of a low fever. Unhappily this worthy father never rallied, and on May 11, 1784, his soul took its flight, while nought was left to his followers but the conso- lation that
" Death's but a path that must be trod, If man would ever pass to God."
The funeral took place, but the venerable prelate was too enfeebled to attend ; he, however, accompanied Don Pedro Fages. the Governor of the Territory, to the dedicatory services of the mission, arriving on the 15th. On the meeting of the two Fathers their hearts were too full to speak ; with eyes suffused in tears, they grasped each others hands, and finally in a long, silent embrace, each sent aloft a prayer to Him who had seen fit in His wisdom to take away their revered brother.
On May 16, 1784, the ceremony of dedication took place, there being assembled to witness the imposing scene the troops, many citizens, and a large number of unchristianized Indians, while on the succeeding Sunday, mass was chanted by the aged priest in a solemn and impressive manner. On that day he held his confirmation. Father Murguia was succeeded by Friar Diego Noba, a supernumary from Monterey.
The venerable Junipero Serra, the founder of the missions which were the first settlements of civilized man in California, was a native of one of the Bal- earic Islands, having been born in Majorca, part of the kingdom of Spain, November 24, 1713. At the age of sixteen he became a Monk of the Order
Gray
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EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.
of St. Francis, and the new designation of Junipero was then. substituted for his baptismal name of Miguel José.
After entering the convent he went through a collegiate course of study, and before he had received the degree of Doctor, was appointed lecturer upon philosophy. He became a noted preacher, and was frequently invited to visit the larger towns of his native island in that capacity. Junipero was thirty-six years of age when he determined to become a missionary in the New Workl. In 1749, he crossed the ocean in company with a number of brother Franciscan Monks, among them several who afterwards came with him to California. He remained but a short time in the City of Mexico, and was soon sent a missionary to the Indians of the Sierra Madre, in the distriet now known as the State of San Luis Potosi. He spent nine years there, and then returned to the City of Mexico, where he stayed for seven years in the Convent of San Fernando.
In 1767, when he was fifty-four years of age, he was appointed to the charge of the missions to be established in Upper California. He arrived at San Diego in 1769, and there passed most of his life. He died at the Mission of Carmel, near Monterey, August 28, 1784, in the same year of his dedicating the Santa Clara Mission, aged seventy-one years.
We will now for a moment glance at the moule of construction of these establishments. Father Gleeson tells us in his able " History of the Catholic Church in California," that the missions were usually quadrilateral buildings, two stories high, inclosing a courtyard ornamented with fountains and trees. The whole consisting of the church, Fathers' apartments, store-houses, bar- racks, 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 corresponding 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 exter- ior administration. One portion of the building, which was called the mon- astry, 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 a view of preserving their morality. In the schools, those who exhibited more talent than their com- panions, 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.
4
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
The daily routine at cach 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 sac- rifice of the mass. Breakfast next followed, when they proceeded to their respective 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 even angelus, 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 themselves 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 veg- etables 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, after the the missions became rich, the Fathers distributed all the surplus moneys among them in clothing and trinkets. Such was the general character of the early missions established in Upper California.
The foregoing remarks point to missions generally. The only account of the Santa Clara Mission that is attainable is that of the distinguished trav- eler, Captain Vancouver, who visited it in the latter end of 1792. He observes: "Soon after dark we reached Santa Clara Mission (from San Francisco). Our journey, except through the morass, had been pleasant and entertaining, and our reception at Santa Clara by the hospitable Fathers of the mission, was such as excited in every breast the most lively sensations of gratitude and regard. Father Tomas de la Peña appeared to be the prin- cipal of the missionaries. The anxious solicitude of this gentleman, and of his colleague, Father Joseph Sanchez, to anticipate all our wishes, unequiv- ocally manifested the principles by which their conduct was regulated.
"The buildings and offices of the mission, like those of San Francisco, form a square, but not an entire inclosure. It is situated in an extensive, fertile plain, the soil of which, as also that of the surrounding country, is a rich, black, productive mold, superior to any I had before seen in America.
"The church was long and lofty, and as well built as the rude materials of which it is composed, would allow, and compared with the unimproved state of the country, was infinitely more decorated than might have been reason- ably expected.
"Apartments, within the square in which priests resided, were appropriated
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EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.
to a number of young female Indians, and the like reasons were given as at San Francisco, for their being so selected and educated. Their occupations were the same, though some of their woolen manufactures surpassed those we had seen before, and wanted only the operation of fulling, with which the Fathers were unacquainted, to make them very decent blankets. The upper story of their interior oblong square, which might be one hundred and seventy feet long, and one hundred broad, was made use of as granaries, as were some of the lower rooms; all of which were well stored with corn and pulse of different sorts; and, besides these, in case of fire, there were two spacious warehouses for the reception of grain, detached from each other and the rest of the buildings, erected at a convenient distance from the mission These had been recently furnished, contained some stores, and were to be kept constantly full, as a reservoir in the event of such a misfortune.
"The maize, peas and beans, are sown in the Spring months, and succeed extremely well, as do hemp and flax, or linseed. The wheat affords, in general, from twenty-five to thirty for one, according to the season, twenty- five for one being the least return from their fields, notwithstanding the enormous waste occasioned by their rude method of threshing, which is per- formed in the open air by the treading of cattle. Neither barley nor oats were cultivated. As the superior grains could be cultivated with the same labor that the inferior ones could, they had sometime ago declined the culti- vation of them.
" Here were planted peaches, apricots, apples, pears, figs and vines, all of which, except the latter, promised to succeed well. The failure of the vine here, as well as at San Francisco, is ascribed to a want of knowledge in their culture, the soil and climate being well adapted to some sorts of fruits. The priests had a guard of a corporal and six soldiers."
Let us leave the worthy Fathers at Santa Clara for a time, and observe the second settlement in the county-that of the Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe.
Don Felipe de Neve, the third Spanish Governor of California, commenced his administration in December, 1774, and continued in that position till September, 1782. Among the chief duties of his office were the making of official reports to the Central Government, through the Viceroy in Mexico concerning the condition of the province, and the choosing of suitable sites for the location of settlements. On June 3, 1777, he suggested the estab- lishment of three of these, one of them being on the bank of the river Guad- alupe, seventy-eight miles from Monterey, forty-eight from the presidio at San Francisco, and two miles and a quarter from the Mission of Santa Clara. In the course of time Lieutenant Don José de Moraga, commanding at San Francisco, was directed to detach nine soldiers, of known agri- cultural skill, two settlers, and three laborers, to form a settlement on the
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
margin of that stream, which they effected November 29, 1777 (though Father Palou says the date was November 7th), and gave to it the name of San José de Guadalupe, the approval from Spain being dated March 6, 1779.
On December 24, 1782, during the regime of Governor Don Pedro Fages the same Lieutenant Moraga was ordered to partition off the lands to the settlers, a duty he effected between the 13th and 19th of May, 1783; the recipients of land being Ignacio Archuleta, Manuel Gonzales, José Tiburcio Vasquez, Manuel Amesquita, Antonio Romero, Bernardo Rosales, Francisco Avila, Sebastian Alvitre, and Claudio Alvires. The relative position of each man's land will be found described in our chapter on San Jose township ..
This first location was made nearly a mile and a quarter from the center of the present city-about where the first bridge spans a little stream on the road to Alviso. The ground was too low at this point, and these early residents were the victims of yearly recurring floods, and thieving Indians; therefore permission was asked to remove to higher land and a more advan- tageous site. It takes long, however, to move the wheels of official machin- ery. In the year 1785, the question of transfer was mooted; it was not until 1797, that the removal was accomplished -- the center of the new site being near the corner of Market and San Fernando streets in the city of San José.
Before proceeding farther with our narrative of events, it may be well to give to the reader some insight into the appearance of our beautiful valley in those early times.
The visit of Captain Vancouver in 1792, has been already alluded to. His journey from San Francisco he thus describes: " We considered our course parallel to the sea-coast; between which and our path the ridge of mount- ains extended to the south-eastward; and as we advanced, their sides and summits exhibited a high degree of luxuriant fertility, interspersed with copses of various forms and magnitude, and verdant open spaces encircled with stately fruit trees of different descriptions. About noon we arrived at a very pleasant and enchanting lawn, situated amid a grove of trees at the foot of a small hill, by which flowed a very fine stream of excellent water. We had not proceeded far from this delightful spot, when we entered a country I little expected to find in these regions. For almost twenty miles it could be compared to a park which had originally been planted with the true old English oak ; the underwood, that had probably attained its early growth, had the appearance of having been cleared away, and had left the stately lords of the forests in complete possession of the soil, which was covered with luxuriant herbage, and beautifully diversified with pleasing eminences and valleys, which, with the lofty range of mountains that bounded the prospect, required only to be adorned with neat habitations of
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EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.
an industrious people to produce a scene not inferior to the most studied effect of taste in the disposal of grounds."
The native tribe which roamed the then valley of San Bernardino, now known as Santa Clara, were the Olhones, sometimes called the Costanes, who were worshipers of the sun, and believed in an evil spirit who took cognizance of their actions, whom they were wont to propitiate. They had some very crude ideas as to a future state, while their traditions, if they had any, were of the most meager kind. When a member died they decorated the corpse with feathers, flowers, and beads, along with a bow and arrows, the body being extended on a pile and cremated, amid shouts and propitia- tory exclamations.
The tribes in this valley were usually severalized by the rancherias in which they dwelt, while all of them made use of the temescal. This struct- ure was an adobe oven with a hole at the top to let out the smoke, and one at the side to let in the people, many of whom, as a rule, entered at one time in paris naturalibus. Here they lit a fire near to the entrance, adding fuel as it smoldered, until at last the heat was unbearable, when suddenly they would plunge into the convenient river, for these buildings were always erected on the bank of a running stream. Superstition wrapped these savages like a cloud, from which they never emerged. The phenomena of nature on every hand, indeed, taught them that there was some unseen cause for all things-some power which they could neither comprehend nor resist. The volcano and the earthquake taught them this, and many accounts of these in past ages are preserved in their legends; but farther than this, their minds could not penetrate.
Mr. Hall, says: "Nearly all of the Indians in this region, and those of Santa Cruz, were in the habit of visiting the hill in which the New Alma- den Mine was first opened and worked, to obtain red paint to adorn their faces and bodies. The cinnabar is of a reddish hue, and when moistened and rubbed, easily produces a red pigment, highly esteemed by the savages in the arrangement of their toilet. While the color of their decoration was pleas- ing to their eyes, its effect on their system was by no means agreeable. It salivated them-a result as mysterious and unexplained to them as the setting of the sun. Although a little painful, they seemingly forgot their illness as they witnessed the lustre of their skin, and were as resolute in their pride of dress as the proud damsel groaning in tight corsets and tight shoes."
In following the chronological order of events, perhaps it would be proper here to mention the foundation of the Mission of San José, although it no longer forms a part of Santa Clara county, but of Alameda. It was estab- lished June 11, 1798, while Diego de Borica was Governor of the Territory. The site chosen was ten miles to the north of the Pueblo de San Jose, and forty to the east of San Francisco, on a plateau indenting the Contra Costa
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
range, and facing the southern extremity of the Bay of San Francisco. Behind it were the beautiful Calaveras and Sunol valleys. Mission Peak rose immediately in its rear like a giant sentinel indexing its location, while in its vicinity nature had abundantly supplied every want. Here was a pellucid stream of sweetest water perennially running from never-failing springs; here too were the paramount advantages of climate ; wood was abundant; pasturage was luxuriant; killing frosts were unknown; an embarcadero was not far distant; and within an hour's walk were warm springs, possessed of the potent healing quantities. What more was needed?
They who had charge of the foundation of the Mission San José were Friar Ysidro Bareilano and Augustine Merin. At first the chapel was a small adobe edifice, which was extended seven varas, in the second year of its existence. A wall forty-seven varas long, four high, and six wide, thatched with tules was constructed, water flumes laid, and, being in the presidial jurisdiction of San Francisco, soldiers were sent from there to keep guard over it, and to bring in the natives for education.
Who has not heard of the Alameda, that renowned grove, or avenue of trees, that to-day links the two towns of San Jose and Santa Clara, but which were planted eighty-two years ago to protect the wayfarer journey- ing between the pueblo and the mission. In the year 1799, these trees were started by Father Maguin de Catala, who employed, it is said, two hundred Indians to perform the work, to attend upon them, and protect them from nib- bling goats and browsing cattle. The eastern limit of the grove was at the Guadalupe, but the march of progress necessitated the removal of some of the trees, in order to make way for houses and streets. From the depot of the South Pacific Coast Railroad to Santa Clara, there still remains sufficient of its glories and its usefulness to make the pedestrian feel an inward thankful- ness that the foresight of a Christian gentleman, in the expiring year of the last century, should have done such thoughtful good for the benighted and uncultivated savages who then peopled the valley, and the little more enlightened Mexicans, who had settled near the mission. Since the planting of these trees, what events have occurred; what aets committed, and deeds done! Continents have been shaken to their centers; empires have been dashed into nothingness; and a mighty nation has arisen where there then were but a few colonists in a far-away section of a vast territory. Ave, how the aspect of civilized mankind has been changed: The world has been surrounded by a belt of wire, along which flashes, in defiance of space and time, messages that speak with a correctness as if heard from the human voice; an iron bridge has been laid that binds the rock-bound coast of the tempestnous Atlantic with the fertile slopes of the "Peaceful Sea;" steam, that annihilator of distance, has peopled worlds where formerly roamed the beasts of prey; science has enlightened their inhabitants beyond the most
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