History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 8

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928

USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 8

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Antonio Maria Sunol sold general merchan- dise at his residence on the west side of Mar- ket Plaza and a Chilean firm did business in Peter Davidson's adobe building on San Pedro.

There were a number of private residences, constructed of adobe, in and about the pueblo and many tents and a few wooden buildings put up for temporary use by the Americans. In 1849 the town began to increase rapidly in population, on account of the discovery of gold, the consequent tide of immigration and the advantages offered by San Jose as a place of residence. The women of '49 deserve a larger share of praise and credit than has generally been accorded them. They were not hot- house plants, nor spoiled beauties, narrow- waisted, weak-chested and doll-faced, who manifested more regard for fashion and the latest novel, than housework. They were women of force and worthy coadjutors of the men who laid the basis for the grand civili-

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

zation of today. The habitations (adobe, tent or shack) were not supplied with the many conveniences of today. Many of the house- hold utensils were of primitive design and in the matter of groceries the stock was not as extensive and varied as may be seen in these later days. In place of the handsome and convenient range, or gas stove, with labor- saving and handy accessories, they were obliged to put up with an adobe fireplace or two sticks driven into the ground, forked at their upper ends with a third stick laid across the top upon which the kettles and pots were suspended above the fire underneath. They did not have any bell-knocker or electric but- ton on or near the front door, nor a parlor with a piano and lots of chromos in it. In the majority of cases the kitchen, dining room, bedroom, sitting room and parlor were one and there was generally an absence of car- pets and wallpaper. The women worked hard in those days, adapting themselves cheerfully to the rough conditions. Many of them are now living in costly dwellings, surrounded by appurtenances of wealth, refinement and ease. They deserve the success they and their husbands have achieved and it is all the more enjoyable after the hard experiences of the early days.

Early Buildings of San Jose

In the latter part of '49 the Bella Union Saloon was erected on a portion of the ground now occupied by the Auzerais House on Santa Clara Street. The proprietors were Joseph W. Johnson and a Mr. Whitney. The Mansion House was begun by J. S. Ruckel on the ground where now stands the old Music Hall building on North First street; and the City Hotel on the opposite of the street was com- pleted and opened to the public. Mine host was Peter Quincy, (since deceased) and the prices charged for board and lodging were high enough to allow a boniface to get rich in a monthi.

Where the Bank of Italy building now stands was a large cattle corral and to the east and south plains of mustard greeted the eye, an adobe house, occupied by a native Californian, now and then dotting the waste and relieving the monotonous expanse. The mustard stalks grew as high as young trees- higher than a man's head and it was the easiest thing in the world to take a walk in the shade of the yellow branches and get lost!

The grand public place was the Plaza, then hard, level and treeless. Here the native Cali- fornians were in the habit of congregating and enjoying themselves according to the customs that had been handed down for generations. Horse racing, bull fights, equestrian feats, fan-

dangos and other divertissements made up the program of pleasure.

Vivid Description of Early Days

The condition of affairs in San Jose at this time was graphically described by the late "Grandma" Bascom in a story transcribed by Mrs. M. H. Field, which appeared in the Over- land Monthly in 1887. The following excerpts are made :

"We reached Sacramento the last day of October. Then we took a boat to San Fran- cisco. It rained and rained. I remember that at Benicia we paid $15 for a candle. At San Francisco we hoped to find a house all ready to be put together, which the Doctor had bought in New York and ordered sent around the Horn. He had also sent in the same cargo a great lot of furniture and a year's supply of provisions, but they never came until the next April and then everything was spoiled but the house. We had also bought in San Francisco two lots for $1,700 each. The best we could do was to camp on them. The first night in San Francisco Mr. Bryant came to take supper with us and the Doctor, to cele- brate, bought $5 worth of potatoes. We ate them all for supper and didn't eat so very many of them, either.

"We had intended from the first to come to the Santa Clara Valley, for the Doctor said that wherever the Catholic Fathers had picked out a site it must be a good one. The chil- dren and I stayed in the city while the Doc- tor went on horseback to San Jose and bought a house for us. Then he came back and we started for San Jose with Professor Jack, while the Doctor stayed in the city to buy and ship furniture and provisions to us. We came to Alviso in the boat and paid $150 in fare, just for me and the children. From Alviso we came to San Jose by the Pioneer stage through fearful mud and pouring rain, pay- ing an 'ounce' each for fare. On the boat I got acquainted with two nice gentlemen, both ministers, whose names were Brierly and Blakeslee. They, too, were coming to San Jose : also a Mr. Knox.

"'We haven't any place to lay our heads when we get there,' one of them said.

"'Well, I've got a house,' said I, just as if I was in Kentucky, 'and if you can put up with what I'll have to you can come with me and welcome.' So we were all driven straight to my house at the corner of Second and San Fernando streets. It was dark and the 10th of December.

"The house had been bought from a Mrs. Matthews and she was still in it. Doctor had paid $7,000 for the house and two fifty vara lots. I expected to see at least a decent shel-

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ter, but oh, my! it was just as one of the chil- dren said, 'Most as good as our old Kentucky corn crib.' It had two rooms and a loft which was climbed into by a kind of ladder. The roof was of shakes and let the rain right through, and the floor was of planks, laid down with the smooth side up with great cracks between to let the water run out. I was thankful for that. There was a chimney in the house and a fireplace, but hardly a bit of fire and no wood. It was rather a forlorn place to come to and bring visitors to, now wasn't it? Yet we had been through so much that the poorest shelter looked good to me and besides it was our new home. We must make the best of it. Mrs. Matthews had a good supper for us on the table and the children were overjoyed to see a real table cloth once more.

".Will you tell me where I can get some wood?" I said to Mrs. Matthews, thinking that a fire would be the best possible thing for us all. 'You can buy a burro load in the morn- ing,' she answered. 'I've used the last bit to get supper with?' Well, the end of it was that we took our supper and went to bed -- not on our nice Kentucky feather beds, but on buffalo skins spread on the floor and with- out any pillows. Mr. Knox, Mr. Blakeslee and Mr. Brierly climbed up into the loft and turned in as best they could. Mr. Knox was sick but I couldn't even give him a cup of hot tea. I said to Mrs. Matthews that I wished I could heat a stone to put to his feet. 'Stone!' said she. "There are no stones in this country.'

"We slept as if we were on downy beds, we were so tired. The next morning I bought a burro load of wood for an 'ounce'. Every- thing cost an 'ounce'. I soon got used to it. Wheat was 75 cents a pound, butter $1 a pound, eggs $3 a dozen. A chicken cost $3, milk $1 a quart. But the prices matched all around. Doctors charged $5 for pulling a tooth and other things were in proportion. I don't know as if it made any difference. I divided my mansion into four rooms, with curtains. Doctor came and brought us furni- ture and all the comforts money could buy. He paid $500 to get shingles for our roof. NIr. Blakeslee and Mr. Brierly stayed with us. We all seemed to get on well together. It was not till spring that the Doctor found a black man who could cook. He paid $800 for him. Folks said he wouldn't stay-for, of course, he was free in California-but he did. He lived with us for four years.

"People began to ask if they couldn't stay with us till they found some other home, and then, somehow, they stayed on. Everybody had to be hospitable. The Legislature was then in session and the town was more than

full. The first thing I knew I had thirteen boarders-senators and representatives, minis- ters and teachers. Nobody who came would go away. I could always manage to make peo- ple feel at home, and they would all say they would put up with anything and help in all sorts of ways, if I would only let them stay. Mr. Leek (he was the enrolling clerk of the Legislature) was a wonderful band at making batter cakes. We got a reputation on batter cakes and our house was dubbed "Slapjack Hall" by my boy, Al. It stuck to us. Mr. Bradford, of Indiana, could brown coffee to perfection.

"Mr. Orr and Mr. Mullen always brought all the water. They were senators. I used to think they liked the job because there was a pretty girl in the house where they got the water. And that reminds me that several families got water from the same well. It was just a hole in the ground, about eight or ten feet deep and no curb around it. Once a baby was creeping on the ground and fell into it. The mother saw it and ran and jumped in after it. Then she screamed and I ran out. There she was in the well, holding the baby upside down to get the water out of its lungs. 'Throw me a rope,' she screamed and I ran for a rope. Then she tied it around the baby and I drew it up. Meanwhile our cries brought men to the rescue and they drew up the poor woman. We kept the well covered after that.

"Before we got the black man it seemed im- possible to get a cook. We even had a wom- an come down from San Francisco, but she didn't stay when she found we really expected her to cook. She said she was a niece of Amos Kendall and wasn't going to cook for any- body. Professor Jack helped me steadily and, as I said, everybody lent a hand. We had a very gay time over our meals and everybody was willing to wash dishes and tend baby. I used to go to the Legislature and enjoy the fun there as much as the members enjoyed my housekeeping. The March of that winter was something to remember. People used to get swamped on the corner of First and Santa Clara streets. A little boy was drowned there. It was a regular trap for children.

"Oh, did I tell you I built the first church and the first schoolhouse in San Jose? I did. I built it all with my own hands and the only tool I had was a good, stout needle. It was the famous 'Blue Tent' you have heard of. Mr. Blakeslee asked me if I could make it and I told him of course I could. He bought the cloth and cut it out. It was of blue jean and cost seventy-five cents a yard. The Pres- byterian Church was organized in it and Mr. Blakeslee had a school in it all winter.

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

"We had a good deal of party-going and gave entertainments just as if we had elegant houses and all the conveniences. Some of the Spanish people were very stylish. The ladies had dresses rich as silk and embroidery could make them, and in their long. low adobe houses there were rich carpets and silk cur- tains trimmed with gold lace. I went to the first wedding in one of those houses. Miss Pico married a Mr. Campbell. It was very grand, but the odd dresses and the odd dishes upset my gravity more than once. Governor and Mrs. McDougall lived in an adobe house on Market street and they had a grand party there. I had a party, too, one day and asked all the ladies of my acquaintance. Mrs. Bran- ham had given me six eggs and I made an elegant cake which I was going to pass around in fine style. I began by passing it to one of the Spanish ladies and she took the whole cake at one swoop, wrapped it up in the skirt of her gorgeous silk dress and said, 'Mucha gracias'. I was never so surprised in my life, but there was nothing I could do. The rest of us had to go without cake that time.

"Cattle and horses ran about the streets and there were no sidewalks. We just had to pick our way around as best we could.

"In the spring my piano came. It was sent by way of the Isthmus. It was the first piano in San Jose. It made a great sensation. Ev- erybody came to see it and hear my little girl play. Indians and Spanish used to crowd around the doors and windows to hear the wonderful music, and many a white man, too, lingered and listened because it reminded him of home.

"We moved into a better house in the spring, very near where the Methodist Church South afterward stood. We paid $125 a month for it. But when I look back it seems that I never had such an intellectual feast as I had in old 'Slapjack Hall'. The gentlemen who figured as cooks in my kitchen were the most

intelligent and agreeable men you can imagine. They were all educated and smart and they appeared just as much like gentlemen when they were cooking as when they were mak- ing speeches in the Legislature. I don't be- lieve we ever again had such a choice set of folks under our roof here in San Jose. Doctor and I felt honored in entertaining and yet they paid us $20 a week for the privilege.

"Of course you know General Fremont and his wife were here that winter and I knew them both. Mrs. Fremont's sister, Mrs. Jones, and I were great friends. Yes, indeed, there never were finer people than my boarders and neighbors in '49. Let me see : There were the Cooks and Hoppes and Cobbs and Joneses, the Branhams and Beldens and Hensleys and Wil- liams, the Bralys, the Westers and Crosbys, Murphys, Dickensons, Hendersons, Kincaids, Campbells, Reeds, Houghtons, Tafts and Moodys. Then amongst them were the Picos and Sunols. Very likely I have forgotten a great many, just telling them off in this fashion, but I never forgot them, really. Many of the best citizens of San Jose now, with their wives and children, ves, and grandchil- dren, were slim young fellows in those days who had come to California to seek their for- tunes. Fine, enterprising boys they were, too. Some of them boarded with me. C. T. Ryland and P. O. Minor were inmates of 'Slapjack Hall' and Dr. Cory and the Reeds will re- member it well.

"In 1852 we moved out on the Stockton ranch and bought our own farm in Santa Clara on which we built our permanent home, Som- erville Lodge. I remember we paid our head carpenter $16 a day. The house cost us $10,- 000. It would not cost $1,000 now. We bought seeds for our garden and an ounce of onion seed cost an ounce of gold. We paid $6 each for our fruit trees. A mule cost $300; a horse $400. But doctor's services were just as high- priced and so we kept even."

CHAPTER III.

San Jose as the Capital of the State-Meeting of the First Legislature-The Removal to Vallejo-Land Grants and Suertes-A Trumped-up Robbery -Settlers' War-Fourth of July Celebration.

Between the years 1846 and 1849 California remained under the control of the United States military forces. A military commander controlled affairs, but there was no real gov- ernment. As long as the war lasted it was only natural to expect that such would be the case and the people made no protest, but after peace was declared and the military rule continued much dissatisfaction was aroused. With the changed views of the people, General Riley, the military commander, entirely sympathized. When it was found that Congress had ad- journed without effecting anything for Cali- fornia, he issued a proclamation-June 3, 1849, -- calling for a convention. The proclamation stated the number of delegates which each district should elect and also announced that appointments to judicial offices would be made after being voted for. The delegates from the Santa Clara Valley district were Joseph Aram, Kimball H. Dimmick, Antonio M. Pico, Elam Brown, Julian Hanks and Pedro Sain- sevain.

Constitutional Convention

On September 1, 1849, the Convention met at Monterey, Robert Semple, of Benicia, of the district of Sonoma, being chosen presi- dent. The session lasted six weeks and not- withstanding an awkward scarcity of books of reference and other necessary aids, much la- bor was performed, while the debaters exhib- ited a marked degree of ability. In framing the original constitution of California, slavery was forever prohibited within the jurisdiction of the state; the boundary question between the United States and Mexico was set at rest; provision for the morals and education of the people was made: a seal of state, with the motto Eureka was adopted and many other pertinent subjects were discussed. The con- stitution was duly framed, submitted to the people and at the election on November 13 was ratified and adopted by a vote of 12,064 for and eleven against it; there being besides over 1,200 ballots that were treated as blanks because of an informality in the printing. On the occasion the vote of the district of San Jose was 567 for and none against its adop- tion, while 517 votes were cast for Peter H. Burnett for governor and thirty-six votes for

WV. S. Sherwood. The popular voice also made San Jose the capital.

During the session of the Convention, the residents of San Jose in public meeting, elect- ed Charles White and James F. Reed a com- mittee to proceed to Monterey and use their utmost endeavors to have San Jose named in the constitution as the state capital. They found a staunch opponent in Dr. Semple, the president, who coveted the honor for his home town, Benicia. But the San Joseans were not discouraged by this opposition. They prom- ised to have ready a suitable building by the 15th of December, about the time when the Legislature would be ready to sit-a rash promise when is considered the fact that such an edifice had not been completed in the town. San Jose was selected as the capital and it was now up to the residents to provide a building for the sessions. In that year there stood on the south half of lot six-the east side of Market Plaza-a large adobe structure, erected by Sainsevain and Rochon, which was meant for a hotel. This structure the town council tried to rent for the legislative ses- sion, but the price was so exorbitant-$4,000 per month-that is was deemed best to pur- chase the building outright ; but here the pro- prietors declined to take the pueblo authori- ties as security. Now it was that the residents of means stepped in and saved the day. Nine- teen of them executed a note for the price asked, $34,000, with interest at the rate of eight per cent per month. The nineteen were R. W. May, James F. Reed, Peter Davidson, William Mccutchen, Joseph Aram, David Hickey, Charles White, Frank Lightston, J. D. Hoppe, Peter Quincy, R. C. Keyes, W. H. Eddy, Benjamin Cory, K. H. Dimmick, J. C. Cobb, P. Sainsevain, Josiah Belden, Isaac Branham and J. C. Cook. A conveyance was made to Belden, Reed and Aram, to hold the premises in trust for the purchasers. An appropria- tion of $50,000, purchase money for the build- ing, was made by the Legislature, and bonds bearing interest at the rate of two and one- half per cent per month, were issued. Un- fortunately the credit of the territory was be- low par and the bonds were sacrificed at the rate of forty cents on the dollar. The amount received by the sale was used in partial liqui-

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

dation of the debt. the indebtedness remain- ing being subsequently the cause of vexatious and protracted legislation.

First Legislature Convenes

On Saturday. December 15, 1849, the first Legislature of California met at San Jose. E. Kirby Chamberlain was elected president pro tem of the Senate and Thomas J. White, speaker of the Assembly, which august body occupied the second story of the State House. The lower portion, intended for use of the Senate, not being ready for occupancy, the senators were taken, for a short period, to the house of Isaac Branham, located on the southwest corner of Market Plaza. On the opening day there were only six senators present. The following day Governor Riley and his secretary, H. W. Halleck, afterward a distinguished general in the U. S. Army, arrived and on Monday nearly all the mem- bers were in their places.

At the start considerable dissatisfaction over the poor accommodations at the State House was manifested and only four days after open- ing for business George B. Tingley, a mem- ber from Sacramento, introduced a bill to move the capital to Monterey. It passed its first reading and then died a natural death.

On the twentieth of December, 1849, Gov- ernor Riley turned over his office to Governor Peter H. Burnett and on the same date Sec- retary Halleck was relieved of his duties and K. H. Dimmick was appointed Judge of the Court of First Instance.

The personnel of the first Legislature of California was as follows: Senators-David F. Douglass, M. G. Vallejo, Elcan Heyden- feldt, Pablo de la Guerra, S. E. Woodworth, Thomas L. Vermeule, W. D. Fair, Elisha O. Crosby, D. C. Broderick, E. Kirby Chamber- lain, J. Bidwell, H. C. Robinson, B. J. Lippin- cott.

Assemblymen-Elam Brown, J. S. K. Ogier, E. B. Bateman, Edmund Randolph, E. P. Bald- win, A. P. Crittenden, Alfred Wheeler, James A. Gray, Joseph Aram, Joseph C. Morehead, Benjamin Cory, Thomas J. Henley, Jose M. Corvarrubias, Elisha W. Mckinstry, Geo. B. Tingley.

On the twentieth of December two United States senators were elected, the lucky ones being Col. John C. Fremont and Dr. William M. Givin. On the following day Governor Burnett delivered his message.

Removal of Capital

The next legislative move of importance was the attempt to remove the capital. Gen. Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, senator from the District of Sonoma, and owning lordly acres

to the north of San Francisco Bay, addressed a memorial to the Senate, dated April 3, 1850, pointing out the advantages possessed by the site of the town of Vallejo over San Jose and the other places bidding for the state capital. To secure the boon the General offered to grant to the state, free of cost, twenty acres for a capitol and grounds, with 136 acres added for other state buildings; and in addition to this he agreed to donate and pay over to the state, within two years, the large sum of $370,- 000, to be devoted to the construction of build- ings and their furnishing. San Jose strove hard to retain the prize. The citizens did ev- erything in their power to make things pleas- ant for the legislators. Their pay, sixteen dol- lars a day, was received in state scrip, by no means at par value in the market. To propitiate them the hotel keepers and trades- men consented to take the scrip at its face value. This offer created a good impression but was not sufficient in force to offset the offer of Vallejo. Seeing that the tide was turn- ing against them, the San Joseans, through James F. Reed, offered four blocks of land and 160 lots, the lots to be sold to raise money for the building of the capitol. Another bid was that of Charles White, who tendered one and one-half square miles of land, upon the condition that the state should lay it out in lots for sale, reserving a portion sufficient for buildings and that one-third of the sum so realized should be paid to him and the bal- ance given to the state for building purposes. A third offer, of 200 acres, made by John Townsend carried the stipulation that all the state buildings, save the penitentiary, should be placed thereon.

On receipt of Gen. Vallejo's memorial to the senate, a committee was appointed, with instructions to consider all the offers made and report. On April 2, 1850, the report was made. It concluded with these words: "Your Committee cannot dwell with too much warmth upon the magnificent propositions contained in the memorial of General Vallejo. They breathe throughout the spirit of an en- larged mind and a sincere public benefactor, for which he deserves the thanks of his coun- trymen and the admiration of the world. Such a proposition looks more like the legacy of a mighty emperor to his people than the free donation of a private planter to a great state, yet poor in public finance but soon to be among the first of the earth." The report, which was presented by Senator David C. Broderick ( who was killed by Judge Terry in a duel in 1859) of San Francisco, goes on to point out the necessities that should gov- ern the site for California's capital, recapitu- lates the advantages pointed out in the me-

IHISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

morial and finally recommends the acceptance of General Vallejo's offer.

The acceptance did not pass the Senate without some opposition and considerable delay. On September 9, 1850, California was admitted into the Union and on February 14, 1851, during the last session of the Legisla- tuire in San Jose, the Act of Removal was passed, and on May 1 of that year the Legis- lature adjourned, but the archives were not removed to Vallejo until later. The third Legislature convened at Vallejo January 5, 1852; seven days later it was transferred to Sacramento; January 3, 1853, it met again at Vallejo; it was removed to Benicia on Feb- ruary 11 of the same year, where it remained until the end of the session, and then by enact- ment the capital was permanently located at Sacramento, where it has since remained.

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History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 8

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846- Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1928

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928