USA > California > Santa Cruz County > History of Santa Cruz County, California with Biographical Sketches > Part 4
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Among the lawyers practicing before the district court in
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early days were D. R. Ashley (afterward state treasurer), R. F. Peckham, A. S. Gregory and J. H. Coulb. Peckham and Coulb had an office at one time in the old court house. W. T. Wallace, M. H. Patterson and several others practiced before this court.
John H. Garber, whose death occurred a few months ago, was a young attorney at this period. He ran for district at- torney on the Democratic ticket, and, much to his chagrin, was defeated. It was the best thing that could have happened to him, a turning point in his career. He left Santa Cruz and went to Nevada, where he gained fame and success. Of late years he resided in San Francisco and was a leading member of the bar in that city.
COURT NOTES.
A noted criminal case was that of the People vs. Jesse I. Graham; an indictment was presented by the grand jury at the April term of the district court accusing Graham of the killing of Dennis Bennet on April 22, 1850. Entered on the indictment were the names of the witnesses and also of Will- iam T. Wallace, district attorney. Graham left for parts un- known soon after the homicide and the case was forgotten by almost every one except some members of the Bennet family. A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Graham on April 26, 1888, thirty years later; he was arrested near Fresno and brought to this county for trial. The trial of the case attracted considerable attention; the habits, customs and peculiarities of the time of 1850 were considered an- cient history resurrected. An eye witness of the affray was brought from Arizona; his recollection of the event as given by his testimony was clear and distinct. The trial occupied several days. The jury could not agree upon a verdict, and stood ten for acquittal and two for conviction. The jury,
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it was reported, took into consideration the time that had elapsed since the commission of the offense and the lawless- ness of early days, and the fact that the defendant had been living in the state for some years without any attempt of concealment on his part, and his neighbors testifying that he bore a good character for peace and quietness, no doubt influenced the jury. The defendant was admitted to bail and the case dismissed and he was set free.
A case that rivals the celebrated case of Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce is on record in the district court and the superior court of this county. William H. Moore died in November, 1871, leaving a large estate. Probate proceedings were in- stituted which dragged along for many years, owing to con- flicting interests by the heirs and others who had acquired interests in portions of the estate. Considerable litigation has ensued and the case is not yet settled. The judges that were on the bench have all passed away. The attorneys that were enlisted in the various suits have ceased their arguments and have paid the common penalty of all mankind.
COUNTY HOSPITAL.
"Over the hills to the poorhouse." In the first years of the county government the supervisors of each district were allowed a certain amount of money to be used by them for the support of indigent persons. There were not so many claim- ing aid as there are at the present time. As the years rolled on indigents and unfortunates increased and a county hos- pital and poor farm was established. At one time the prison- ers in the county jail were fed at the rate of sixty cents per diem, while the inmates of the poorhouse were starved by contrast at about thirty cents per diem. Complaints were made to the board of supervisors monthly of the treatment received, the poor food and ill treatment generally. In 1885 a
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new system was inaugurated by which supplies were pur- chased under the direction of the hospital committee of the board of supervisors, and the inmates received the benefit of this system and have been and now are treated humanely. Very many persons, especially the old Californians, have a "holy horror" of being sent to end their days in the county hospital, preferring to eke out a miserable existence on the pittance allowed them by the supervisors.
Under the present management the inmates have no cause for complaint; they are well cared for, have medical attend- ance when sick and are treated like human beings. Without any cares or anxiety they live to a ripe old age. One inmate who once owned ten acres of land right in the heart of Wat- sonville has been a boarder for several years, compelled by his own imprudence to accept a home in the poorhouse. On being asked how he was treated, answered "Just as good as I deserve; we all get good treatment here."
The expenses for taking care of the inmates of this institu- tion average about thirty-five cents per day; this includes provisions of all kinds, clothing and medical attendance. The average monthly number of inmates during the year ranges from sixty to seventy. This institution is conducted on hu- mane principles and reflects credit on the officials of Santa Cruz county.
A suggestion has been made to the board of supervisors to establish an old folks home, for a class of people who have some means and could afford to pay for accommodations at a reasonable compensation; where they might be allowed to end their days among their own surroundings, in a home similar to the Old Peoples Home in San Francisco, but not so expensive. This idea was placed before the board of supervisors some months ago. A communication on this subject was published in three of the newspapers of the
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county with favorable comment. As it promises a new de- parture, it will take some time to develop.
MEN OF THE ANTE ORA PERIOD.
Among the first residents of Santa Cruz county was Elihu Anthony, who arrived in California in 1847, moving with his family to Santa Cruz in 1848, and built the first wharf in Santa Cruz; he established the first foundry. P. H. Devoll first reached this coast in 1830. In 1868 he returned to Cal- ifornia and in 1872 settled in Santa Cruz and died here. John Daubenbis arrived in California in 1843 in company with John Hames; they built a flour mill and a saw mill on Soquel creek. During the early period of the state John Daubenbis kept open house; all travelers were made welcome.
Francisco Alzino, a native of Spain, came to California in 1846 and to Santa Cruz in 1847; he was the first sheriff of Santa Cruz county. His widow survives him, hale and hearty at eighty years of age. The son, Enoch Alzino, has been the trusted janitor of the court house for twenty-five years. Supervisors and other officials have been changed during this period but "Tokey," as he is generally called, keeps his position because he is trustworthy.
William Blackburn came to Santa Cruz in 1845, and served as alcalde and county judge. Isaac Graham (Zayante), who settled on the Zayante Rancho in 1841, built the first sawmill in California. Paul Sweet arrived here about 1840, and started the first tannery in Santa Cruz county. Joseph L. Majors came here in 1832, and in 1839, he married Marie de Los Angeles. San Augustine Rancho was granted to Majors in 1841, and he was elected county treasurer in 1850.
William Trevethan came here in 1835. William Hardy came here in 1845, and lived on Beach Hill for many years before his death. Jose Bolcolb Rusner came to California in
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1814, and occupied the office of alcalde a number of years; he owned the Refuzio Rancho at one time, and died in poverty in 1866. A. A. Hecox arrived here in 1846, served as alcalde, also as county treasurer. Guy Omnes, native of France, who arrived in 1843, was a lumberman. Lajeunesse, generally called Ligeness, Canadian, arrived in 1844 or thereabouts ; he was a lumberman. Job F. Dye crossed the Rockies, arriving in this county in the '60s.
William Ware, who came here very early, was associated with Isaac Graham. Prewett Sinclair, who crossed the Rockies in 1830, was a trapper and hunter; he made his home in Santa Cruz many years, and voted at the first election in 1850. At one time in his life he had a dispute over some land with one Dr. Vanderberg; Prewett took down his old rifle and proposed to go for the doctor. He happened to consult Judge Peckham, his lawyer, about the propriety of taking a shot at the doctor; Peckham told him that was not the right method and advised him not to attempt it; Prewett took the advise in good part but thought his way best to settle such disputes, frontier style.
Otis Ashley arrived in California in 1846; he lived on the Zayante Rancho, near Felton, from 1856, engaged in the lumber business and had twenty years of litigation. Lambert B. Clement came to California in 1845, and was justice of the peace at Soquel for several years. Joseph Pellissier landed at Sausalito in 1845, and lived in the Pajaro valley, Monterey county ; he married the daughter of Vallejo. Moses A. Meder, who came to California in 1846, owned considerable land at one time in this county. Eli Moore came to this state in 1847; he owned a large tract of land up the coast, also property in the city of Santa Cruz.
The pioneers mentioned have all departed from this mun- dane sphere and are free from trouble. They deserve a
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place in the history of the state. Others have reaped the benefit of their labors and profited by their experiences. With one or two exceptions the probate court was not kept busy settling the estates of the pioneers.
PIONEER DAYS.
It must be borne in mind that many of the people that thronged to California in the golden era, especially those who hailed from "away down east," were provincial. They had never traveled outside of their own locality to any extent until they made up their minds to leave for a far distant state and an unknown country. For a person to have ven- tured 50 miles from home was deemed an undertaking in the year of grace 1848, hence their ideas of their fellow citi- zens of the south were rather narrow. The western people accustomed to travel were broader in their views of man- kind. One elderly person I call to mind whose realm was bounded by Royalton, Vt., deemed that place the center of the universe. Another younger man from Boston knew that city by heart, but outside this his knowledge was limited. He was not aware of any steamships traveling to Charleston, opposite Boston. A ten-acre field was a large farm to some of them; they did not seem to grasp the areas of California ranches; their ambition was to realize on their ventures here and return to the land of their fathers to enjoy the fruits of their labors; very few expected to stay any length of time, and had they been successful and realized their ambition they would have made a trip east if for nothing more than to see the old folks. Fate decreed otherwise and the majority became old settlers and pioneers and rejoiced that they be- came actual and bona fide residents of the Golden State.
In 1852 land in the town of Santa Cruz, now a well improved portion of the city, was rented for $100 an acre and a big
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crop of potatoes was raised on this land; potatoes that year brought as high as sixteen cents per pound. Flour in the month of December that year was $50 per barrel. En- couraged by the success of this potato crop many persons migrated from Santa Cruz to the Pajaro valley where J. Bryant Hill in that year had been very successful in farming. He was the first American to start the plow in the Pajaro valley on the Sal-si-puedes rancho that he had leased from Don Manuel Jimeno.
Shipping was carried on by sailing vessels from Santa Cruz to San Francisco. At this period several schooners were wrecked on the beach at Santa Cruz. At Aptos a brig went ashore loaded with grain and potatoes, quite a valuable cargo thus being lost. In 1853 the potato crop was a failure owing to the large quantity raised and no market; prices went down to nothing. The population of the state at this time was not large enough to absorb the immense amount raised and they rotted on the ground; this was a decided set back, as many had depended on the proceeds of this crop to make a stake and had calculated to go home; thus all their hopes were dashed by the collapse of the market. Some never re- covered from this misfortune, became reckless and disheart- ened, others by perseverance and pluck weathered the storm and buckled in again. The latter suffered severe hardships, as it was some years before they realized anything from their labors as farmers; money was scarce and not much in circulation, "no credit" signs hung up in several of the stores. Not until 1857 did times improve, potatoes and other farm products were bringing good prices. About this time better times were in evidence, as noted by the change in dress; frock coats and white shirts were worn and in some cases plug hats. Very little progress was made in improve- ments, the redwood shanties still being in vogue, though in-
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dustries were being started in the shape of saw mills. Isaac Graham, a pioneer, is credited with having erected the first saw mill on Zayante creek in 1842 or '43. Pewett Sinclair, another pioneer, operated a mill on the Corralitos creek, and a very crude affair it was. In the early '50s government land, that is, section land, was being looked up and located. At first this land was taken up by squatters without any at- tempt to prove up by way of preemption; the land offices paid but little attention at this period to what was going on in land matters.
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CHAPTER V.
ROADS.
In 1851 the court of sessions divided the county with two townships. All north of Aptos was designated as Santa Cruz township, and south of Aptos as Pajaro township. The same authority appointed road masters for several districts. In March, 1851, the court of sessions directed that all able- bodied men between the ages of 18 and 45 should work on the roads four days in each year. This archaic system was kept up for several years without much improvement in local road building. At one time the roadmasters were elected by the people and were supposed to be subject to the orders of the supervisor of his district. These officials, being elective officers, considered that they were not subject altogether to the control of the supervisor, but assumed to be "boss" of the situation. Not much improvement was manifest under this system. The roads were still in a deplorable condition. A few years ago, in 1883, the office of road master was abolished and the supervision of the roads was given to the supervisors of their respective districts. Complaint of poor roads and road building is still heard; in some districts the roads are in better condition than in others. The mountain roads were laid out and built by men who evidently were not practical road builders; the road from the city of Santa Cruz to the Big Trees, one of the scenic roads of the county, has been a source of vexation and expense for years. Too much politics is urged as a reason for the inefficiency of road improvement. No one seems in earnest in advocating a system that will relegate politics and institute a practical system. Ephraim is joined to its idols.
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To make a change from the old established system would be hazardous and subservient to some people who look upon the system as a vested inheritance and one that should not be disturbed. Bismarck, the prime minister of Germany, in his lifetime is said to have remarked to an American during an interview on national customs, "Mein Gott, what has politics to do mit roads!" If he had ever lived here any time he would have discovered that politics governs all and every department in this state. A plan was suggested at one time by a property holder who had extensive timber holdings, that a general superintendent of roads who was a civil en- gineer and surveyor should be appointed to take full charge of the highways of the county. This was deemed eminently practical, but the suggestion has not been adopted.
It may be possible to have a better system created, but it will take some time to educate the people at large and in- fuse new methods. Good roads seem to be the demand of the times, however, and the agitation caused by automobile manufacturers and owners may bring about the desired ne- cessity for better means of travel. It must not be inferred that no improvements have been made in past years, for good and substantial bridges have been built in several of the highways; one of these is between the county of Santa Cruz and Monterey crossing the Pajaro river, a very sub- stantial structure, called the Riverside bridge, which opens up a new traveled road. The bridges built in late years have been designed and constructed in much better shape than formerly and withstand the heavy freshets that occur in the rainy season. There was expended on roads during the last fiscal year the sum of $40,662.25 and on bridges $12,- 389.65; the number of miles of public roads in the county is 458.
In former years the supervisors were limited to the re-
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ceipts from the several road funds of the county in the ex- penditure of road fund. In recent years by amendments to the county government act, the supervisors seem to have been given privileges to draw on the general fund for the pur- pose of acquiring roads and for road improvements gen- erally. Some months ago the board of supervisors deemed it necessary to purchase a road known as the Highland way, at a cost of $15,000. This raised considerable opposition and the board was enjoined from proceeding any further in the matter. A suit to determine this matter is now on appeal from the superior court of the county to the appellate court of the state. It was urged by the opponents of this measure that the road question did not serve any great number of people, that it was more of a private than a public road. The advocates of the measure insisted that it was idle to invite people to settle and make improvements in their mountain homes unless they could be assured of having good roads accessible at all times. The decision of the case referred to is anxiously awaited. Unless the supervisors can draw on the general county fund for such purposes, that is to acquire roads, the prospect for improved roads will go glimmering. A large portion of the county above the city of Santa Cruz consists of land located on mountain tracts and on these tracts are located many settlers who are shut off from com- munication at times by reason of the road being sometimes impassable. Subdivisions have been made of several tracts, divided into lots suitable for residences, and, being located among the redwoods, are sought after for summer residences. It is very necessary that good roads should be laid out in order to accommodate the settlers in such localities. Santa Cruz county is bound to become a spot in time for people of means to erect summer homes; no county in the state affords better advantages in the way of scenery, wooded
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retreats, fishing and hunting; the spirit of progress is mov- ing slowly but surely; old customs and ideas must give way to the new and in course of time a realization of the benefits to accrue by the march of improvements will be appreciated. Roads are oiled and sprinkled to a greater extent than in former years. About 30,000 tons of granite rock have recent- ly been ordered by the supervisors, to be distributed in several road districts where needed. This looks as if there was an impetus in road matters and it is hoped it will prove beneficial. In the state at large there is also a revival in road building; the postoffice authorities insist on good roads for free mail delivery for their carriers ; "no good roads, no delivery," is the watchword of the postal department.
SCHOOLS.
Mrs. Case is credited with having established the first school in Santa Cruz, a private one. The first public school in Santa Cruz was opened in 1853. The first school in Pajaro was opened that same year with Seneca Carroll as teacher. In those days no certificates of qualifications were necessary, the trustees examined the applicants or called on other persons to examine them, but few questions were asked. The teacher had to depend to some extent on the patrons of the school for compensation in the shape of rates for teaching or by subscriptions. There was no regulated system in vogue at that time in country districts; as schools were established the teacher was expected to board around. The salary of the school superintendent was $600 per an- num in 1866, as the incumbent was a teacher he was allowed to teach, in fact he had to earn a living. The salary at present is $1,800 per annum. There are sixty grammar and three high schools in the county, employing one hundred and thirty and twenty-seven teachers respectively. There is an
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industrial department connected with the schools in Santa Cruz and Watsonville, besides which there are five private schools and one business college in the county.
NEWSPAPERS.
For several years we of Santa Cruz county could say as did one of the early governors of Virginia, "Thank God we have no newspaper in the colony." The Pacific Sentinel was established in Monterey in 1855 and was moved to Santa Cruz in 1860 and the name changed to the Santa Cruz Sen- tinel. John McElroy, the editor and publisher, died at the Soldiers home in Yountville several years ago. In 1876 the paper passed into the hands of McPherson and Waldron, by whom it has been conducted since that time, and since 1884 has been published as a daily. The Santa Cruz News was es- tablished in 1859 by W. M. Slocum, a brother of General Slocum. This paper was published as an abolition paper ahead of the times and lasted only a year. The Santa Cruz Surf, now published by A. A. Taylor, is the successor of the Local Item, published in 1875 by H. Coffin, and of the Courier Item, published by Patrick and Green Majors. In June, 1883, the first number of the Daily Surf was published and in 1889 the name was changed to The Surf, under which name it is still published.
The Pajaro Valley Times was started in Watsonville by Kearney, McQuillan and Duchow. It was moved to Santa Cruz in 1867 and later was absorbed by the Santa Cruz Sentinel. The Pajaronian was first issued at Watsonville in March, 1868, by J. A. Cottle. C. O. Cummings succeeded Mr. Cottle, and remained until 1876, when W. R. Radcliff bought a half interest in the paper. The latter is now cashier of the Bank of Watsonville and has eschewed newspaper work. The Pajaronian is now conducted by J. G. Piratsky
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and George Radcliff, and has been published as a daily for several years. It also issues a weekly edition. The Wat- sonville Transcript was first published by W. H. Wheeler, afterward by George W. Peckham, and is now published as a daily by the Watsonville Register Company. The Rustler, published in Watsonville by Joe Heatherington, now editor of the Salinas Index, did not fill a long-felt want, and suc- cumbed. In Boulder Creek, in 1889, a paper was started called the Hatchet. It did not last long, as the publisher left the country for the country's good. The Mountain Echo, a weekly paper, is published at Boulder by W. S. Rodgers, who is getting out a good paper under adverse circumstances. He is advancing the interests of his town both materially and morally. The Santa Cruz News, the latest acquisition to journalism, was started November 1, 1907, and published by the Devlin-Judah Company. It is a daily and promises to outlive its predecessor of 1859, of the same name. The Tribune, a weekly paper published in Santa Cruz by the Tribune Printing and Publishing Co. (Day, Fikes & Barrett), has been in existence for about three years. It is used as an advertising medium, free distribution being made with the San Francisco papers on Sunday. It often contains some pithy articles pertaining to the community. There were some other papers started, but as they did not last long it is better to let them rest in peace.
SOME POLITICAL AND LITERARY NOTABLES OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
Stephen M. White, United States Senator, son of William F. White, was reared in the Pajaro valley, elected United States Senator in 1893 and served a full term of six years. He died in Los Angeles in 1901. W. W. Stow, the well-known political boss, farmed on the Corralitos ranch; he was twice elected to the assembly of this county, and died in San Fran- cisco. Governor Blaisdell of Nevada once raised "spuds" in
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the Pajaro valley. Hon. J. K. Luttrell, who was elected to congress from the third congressional district in 1872, once taught school in Watsonville. Hon. Thomas Beck served as secretary of state from 1875 to '79; he is still living and very active. William F. White, a member of the constitutional convention of 1878, was elected from the senatorial district comprised of Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. Daniel Tuttle was elected to the same convention from this county. Edward Martin was elected also as a delegate from the state at large.
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