USA > California > Solano County > History of Solano County...and histories of its cities, towns...etc. > Part 2
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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
20
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
VACAVILLE-CONTINUED.
East part of. Township 4 North, Range 2 East.
North-west part of . Township 4 North, Range 3 East.
North-easterly part of Township 3 North, Range 2 East.
MONTEZUMA.
Fractional
Township 3 North, Range 1 East.
West tier of Sections in
Township 3 North, Range 2 East.
South tier of Sections in Township 4 North, Range 1 East.
And Section No. 31 in Township 4 North, Range 2 East.
A glance at the following table will inform the reader as to the acreage of these individual townships, while appended thereto are remarks as to the portions of each which are under water :
TABLE SHOWING THE ACREAGE OF SOLANO COUNTY.
Name of Townships.
Acreage.
Remarks.
Vallejo
40,000 ·
Of which 19,000 acres are water.
Benicia
25,600
Of which 3,000 acres are water.
Green Valley.
31,500
Suisun
110,000
Of which 10,000 acres are water.
Vacaville
66,790
Silveyville.
56,640
Tremont
31,360
Elmira .
26,880
Maine Prairie
58,120
Denverton
40,000
Rio Vista.
57,500
Of which 1,700 acres are water.
Montezuma
32,120
Of which 3,000 acres are water.
Total acres
576,510
The total area of the county is therefore five hundred and seventy-six thousand five hundred and ten acres, including land and water; of this amount ninety thousand acres are swamp and overflowed lands; ten thous- and acres are mud flats left bare at low tide, leaving in the vicinity of four hundred and fifty thousand acres as land fitted for agricultural and pastoral purposes.
TOPOGRAPHY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
Ten thousand acres of the county are swamp and overflowed land and mud flats bare at low tide. These lands border the Sacramento river in the south-easterly part of the county, and Suisun bay on the south boundary, with San Pablo bay on the south-west, and are overflowed a few inches in depth at ordinary high tides.
21
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
The Montezuma hills occupy the south-eastern portion of the upland of the county, in Townships 3 and 4 N. R. 1 E. and 3 and 4 N. R. 2 E. These elevations are from fifty to three hundred feet above tide-water, and inter- sected by narrow ravines or hollows (so called), the water-shed being gen- erally in an easterly and southerly direction.
The Townsend Hills, in the south-west part of Township 4 N. R. 1 E. occupy three or four sections, and are of a similar character.
The Potrero Hills, in the northern part of Township 4 N. R. 1 W. occupy about eleven or twelve sections of land, and are surrounded by swamp and overflowed lands, except a narrow neck of low valley on the north side. The higher ridges are two hundred feet above tide-water, re- ceding in elevation as they approach the border of level land adjoining the tula.
Robinson's island is upland, rising out of the tules, on Section 13, in Suisun township, and contains one hundred and sixty acres of land. There are other small islands of upland rising from the swamp-land, in different localities, Suisun City, at the head of Suisun Slough, on Section 36, Town- ship 5 N. R. 2 W. being located on hard land of this nature.
Mostly all of that portion of the county embraced within a line drawn nearly east, following the border of the swamp-land eight miles to Denver- ton, and thence north-easterly six miles to Linda Slough, and north-easterly along the swamp-land, four miles to Maine Prairie village, at the head of Cache Slough, and thence easterly to the south-east corner of Section 36, in Township 6 N. R. 2 E. at the corner of Yolo county, and thence north along the east line of the county, fifteen miles to the old sink, or bed of Putah creek, and up the centre of the same, and up the centre of Putah creek westerly eighteen miles to the residence of S. C. Wolfskill, and thence nearly south, skirting the hills ten miles to the town of Vacaville, and thence south-westerly nine miles to the county seat at Fairfield, is level, with the exception of a slight ridge running across Section 3, and south-easterly a few miles through Township 5 N. R. 1 W. and other unimportant risings in a few localities. The land thus described embraces an area of about two hundred thousand acres, which may be properly called plains, having an average elevation of one hundred feet above tide-water.
A spur of rolling hills extends from Vacaville, nearly north to Putah creek, which will average three miles in width, the slopes, benches, and small valleys being celebrated for early fruits and vegetables. West of these hills and running parallel with them, lies Pleasant Valley, extending to Putah creek ; this vale is also celebrated for its genial climate, early fruits and vegetables, it sending the first into market from any part of the State.
The eastern portion of Sections 24, 25, and 36, in Township 6 N. R. 2 W. and the western portion of Sections 19, 30, and 31, in Township 6
22
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
N. R. 1 W. are usually called Lagoon valley, where is located the celebrated cherry orchards of Bassford & Sons.
The north-west corner of Township 6 N. R. 2 W. is a high rocky region covered with dense chapparal, as is also the western portion of township 7 N. R. 2 W. and the western part of Township 8 N. R. 2 W.
The crest of the Vaca mountains, beginning on the first standard, north of Mount Diablo, at a point fifteen chains west of the south-east corner of Section 34, Township 6 N. R. 2 W. and running northerly to the centre of Putah creek, is the boundary line between Solano and Napa counties, and rises gradually, proceeding northerly, which, on Section 15, in Township 6 N. R. 2 W. becomes a perpendicular cliff on the west side, the vertical part varying from fifteen to fifty feet in height. The greatest altitude of this ridge of the Vaca mountains is that portion lying in Sections 5, 7 and 8, in township 7 N. R. 2 W. called the Blue mountain, and is about three thousand feet above the ocean. From this position the ridge descends towards Putah creek, while immediately south of the creek, on the east side of the ridge, are cliffs, nearly perpendicular, of from three to five hundred feet high. On Section 20, in Township 8 N. R. 2 W. the Rio de los Putos breaks through the chain in a rough, rocky chasm, called Devil's Gate. The lower portions of the sand-rock here change their clayey color, become blue and hard, and are traversed by divisional planes or joints dividing the rock into rhomboidal blocks of considerable regularity, a feature which is common to the great overlying mass of sand-rock in Solano and the ad- joining counties.
The Suscol Hills, or Sierra de Napa, occupying Townships 3, 4 and 5 N. R. 3 W. in the south-west part of the county, are a series of rolling highlands, in some places rising to rocky peaks and precipitous crags. Among the most prominent of these is the Sulphur Spring mountain, which attains an elevation of five hundred feet above the bay, and is situated about five miles east of the city of Vallejo. The Elkhorn, or Ramsay's Peaks, on Section 33, in Township 5 N. R. 3 W. twelve miles north- easterly from Vallejo, rises to the height of one thousand feet. The Sisters Peaks, eight miles north-west of Fairfield, are sixteen hundred feet in height ; while Millers Peak, fifteen miles north of the county seat, on the crest of the hills separating Pleasant Valley from the plains, is the sharpest, most abrupt, and best defined summit in the county ; it is one thousand feet high. The Suscol range embraces an area of sixty thousand acres, it being interspersed with beautiful glens skirted with live oak, willow, and Cal- ifornia laurel; at their western base lies a border of valley land of an undulating surface, a few miles wide, and extending from Vallejo north to Napa county. The crest or divide of these hills forms the western boundary of the county, from Section 33, in Township 4 N. R. 3 W. north twelve miles to the first Standard North.
23
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
GEOLOGY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
The great overlying mass of rock in the hilly portions of the county, is a massive siliceous sandstone, in many localities changing to arginaceous sand- rock, with the divisional plains or joints less defined.
The erosion of this rock sends down to the benches and valleys large quantities of debris, which, mingled with the harder clayey deposits, makes a light, loose, and warm soil, particularly healthy, producing the earliest fruits and vegetables in the State. On the lower slopes in several localities, are found extensive areas of alluvial sandstone, formed by beds of sand cemented by iron and carbonate of lime.
Below the massive sandstone first named, beds of clay slate, alternate with slaty schistose sandstone, as seen in the face of the bluff at South Vallejo, and in those along the Straits of Carquinez, in the ravines of the Suscol hills, and on the slopes of the Vaca mountains.
Underlying the above are vast beds of Volcanic Tufa, composed of cemented, volcanic earth, light and porous, containing a large percentage of magnesia, giving the rock a light gray color, which hardens by exposure, is a perfect firestone, and of sufficient durability for building purposes, as has been proved by the erection of the following structures: the dwelling of Colonel Charles Ramsay, in Green Valley ; that of Samuel Martin, L. B. Abernethie, and W. W. Scarlett, in Suisun Valley, which are all constructed of this material; as is also the Stone Church at Rockville, and an exten- sive barn, the property of J. M. Baldwin, near that place. There is a fine quality of this rock in the hills, on the lands of J. R. Wolfskill, whose spacious dwelling-house is built of it. It is absolutely fire-proof.
The lowest formation necessary to mention, are alternating strata of sand- stone, shale, slaty sandstone, and coal. Subjacent to the foregoing is a bed of hard blue clay.
Black basalt, or dolerite, occurs on some points of the hills and ridges in the vicinity of Brideport, in the Lomas de Suisun, and on the hills east and west of Green Valley ; also on the old Dorris Farm, five miles north-east of Benicia, and on the land of Lewis Pierce, nine miles from there, on the Bridgeport road. It is extensively quarried and sent to San Francisco for paving purposes.
At the Soda Springs, on Section 2, Township 5 N. R. 2 W. five miles north of the County seat, there is a quarry of beautiful white Crystal- line marble, which proves to be a chemical deposit ; the strata is made up of waived or undulating laminæ, showing that the deposition was made upon an uneven surface. Where the laminæ are corrugated and tortuous, it shows a beautiful finish, similar to bird's-eye maple. On Section 8, in Township 5 N. R. 2 W. four miles north-east of Fairfield, there is a quarry of varie- gated marble, the coloring matter of which is for the most part oxide of iron.
24
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
Hydraulic limestone, or cement-rock, is found in abundance in the hills near Benicia, and at the bluffs on the north side of Carquinez Straits.
Sulphur Spring Mountain is the termination of the Sierra de Napa, and of the great quicksilver range, and contains large deposits of cinnabar-rock, the most extensive being at the St. John mine, six miles northeast of Val- lejo; the John Brownlie mine, six miles east of Vallejo; and various other localities show outcrops of this rock.
Serpentine, micaceous schistase, sandstone, hornblende, and several others of the class of rocks, usually accompanying this mineral are found on and along the slopes of this ridge.
SPRINGS IN SOLANO COUNTY.
The Soda and Sulphur Springs, in the Armijo Rancho, five miles from Fairfield, and the White Sulphur Springs, near Vallejo, are beginning to be appreciated for sanitary purposes.
SOIL OF SOLANO COUNTY.
The soil of the swamp and overflowed lands is composed of decayed vegetation ; guano, sedimentary deposits from overflow of streams, mixed with a large percentage of preserved roots, the principal preservative agent being tannic acid, of which considerable beds occur, resembling peat, and when cut and dried makes excellent fuel. These lands produce abundantly when reclaimed, there being about thirty thousand acres leveed in, and several thousands under cultivation.
The Montezuma hills are not excelled as natural grain land. Some por- tions of the plains district are alkaline soil, and poor. Other sections are dead soil, without much organic matter. The rolling hills, to the summit, are excellent grain or grazing lands. Indeed the greater portion of the un- dulating lands and the plains may be denominated as one vast grain field.
THE VALLEYS OF SOLANO COUNTY.
SUSCOL VALLEY lies west of the Suscol hills, runs from the city of Vallejo to the northern part of the county, eight miles long and three in breadth, Napa bay washing its whole length.
SULPHUR SPRING VALLEY runs up from Suisun bay, two miles north of Benicia ; has a width of from one to four hundred yards, and winds through the Suscol hills for five or six miles.
GREEN VALLEY lies to the eastward of the Suscol hills, four miles east of Suscol valley ; is six miles in length, one and a half in width, and derives its name from their being a large portion of it always green.
SUISUN VALLEY is about six miles square, and lies to the north of Suisun bay and east of Green Valley. It opens out on the east into the valley of the Sacramento, and has an exceedingly fertile soil.
25
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
VACA VALLEY, formerly known as the Ulattis valley, lies to the north- east of Suisun ; it is five miles in length, and one and a half in breadth, runs between two ranges of hills of considerable altitude, and opens out into the great Sacramento Valley. It, and its two offshoots, Laguna or Lagoon Valley and Pleasant Valley, are the admiration of all travelers.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY extends as far as the eye can reach, and is in'a few words the farmer's paradise.
THE STREAMS OF SOLANO COUNTY.
RIO DE LOS PUTOS, or PUTAH CREEK, rises in Lake county, and flows in an easterly direction, winding through a rich, lovely, fertile plain, for twenty miles, and loses itself in the extensive tules which lie between the plains and Sacramento river. It is not navigable, but affords great facilities for the watering of stock, while in certain parts it is noted for the magnifi- cence of its scenery.
SWEENY CREEK rises in the Vaca hills, six miles north of the town of Vacaville ; flows in a north-easterly direction for the distance of eight miles ; thence in a south-easterly course to the vicinity of Maine Prairie, and empties itself into Cache Slough.
ULATTIS CREEK rises in the Vaca hills, about five miles west of Vacaville ; flows through that town in an easterly direction, and empties into the west branch of Cache Slough.
ALAMO CREEK rises about four miles west of Vacaville; runs in a south- erly direction, through Elmira, and enters Ulattis creek, near Binghampton.
PLEASANT VALLEY CREEK rises about two miles west of Mr. R. Miller's property; runs in a north-easterly direction through Pleasant valley, and empties into Putah creek.
SUISUN CREEK rises in Napa county, flows in a south-easterly direction, and empties into the Salt Marsh, about one and a half miles east of Bridge- port.
GREEN VALLEY CREEK rises in the south-west corner of Township 5 N. R. 2 W. and runs in a south-easterly course about eight miles, emptying into Cordelia slough, at Bridgeport.
SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY CREEK rises near the centre of Township 5 N. R. 3 W. runs in a south-easterly course through Sulphur Springs valley, and empties into the salt marsh two miles north of the United States barracks at Benicia.
SULPHUR SPRINGS CREEK has its source at the White Sulphur Springs, three miles north-east from Vallejo; runs in a north-easterly course, and empties into Napa bay three miles north of Vallejo.
In addition to these water-courses there are several estuaries, such as Cache Slough, with its tributaries of Bounds, Linda, Prospect, Miner's, and Elkhorn sloughs; Grizzly Slough, Roaring River, in Montezuma township, with a host of others too insignificant to enumerate.
26
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
ORGANIZATION.
ORIGIN OF THE TOWNSHIP SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES-ITS EXTENSION TO CALIFORNIA-ORGANIZATION OF SOLANO COUNTY-TOWNSHIPS-BENICIA -VALLEJO-SUISUN-VACAVILLE-SILVEYVILLE-TREMONT-MAINE PRAI- RIE - RIO VISTA - MONTEZUMA - DENVERTON - ELMIRA - BENICIA THE COUNTY SEAT-REMOVAL TO FAIRFIELD-REMOVAL TO VALLEJO-BACK TO FAIRFIELD, ETC., ETC.
The first organization of counties in the United States originated in Vir- ginia, her early settlers becoming proprietors of vast amounts of land, liv- ing apart in patrician splendor, imperious in demeanor, aristocratic in feeling, and being in a measure dictators to the laboring portion of the population. It will thus be remarked that the materials for the creation of towns were not at hand, voters being but sparsely distributed over a great area. The county organization was, moreover, in perfect accord with the traditions and memories of the judicial and social dignities of Great Britain, in descent from whom they felt so much glory. In 1634, eight counties were established in Virginia, a lead which was followed by the Southern and several of the Northern States, save in those of South Carolina and Louis- iana, where districts were outlined in the former, and parishes, after the manner of the French, in the latter.
In New England, towns were formed before counties, while counties were organized before States. Originally, the towns or townships exercised all the powers of government swayed by a State. The powers afterward as- sumed by the State governments were from surrender or delegation on the part of towns. Counties were created to define the jurisdiction of Courts of Justice. The formation of States was by a union of towns, wherein arose the representative system ; each town being represented in the State Legislature, or General Court, by delegates chosen by the freemen of the town at their stated town meetings. The first town meeting of which we can find any direct evidence, was held by the congregation of the Plymouth colony, on March 23, 1621, for the purpose of perfecting military arrange- ments. At that meeting a Governor was elected for the ensuing year ; and it is noticed as a coincident, whether from that source or otherwise, that the annual town meetings in New England, and nearly all the other States, have ever since been held in the spring of the year. It was not, however, until 1635, that the township system was adopted as a quasi corporation in Massachusetts.
The first legal enactment concerning this system provided that whereas : " Particular towns have many things which concern only themselves, and
27
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
the ordering of their own affairs, and disposing of business in their own towns ; therefore, the freemen of every town, or the major part of them, shall only have power to dispose of their own lands and woods, with all the appurtenances of said towns ; to grant lots, and to make such orders as may concern the well ordering of their own towns, not repugnant to the laws and orders established by the General Court. They might also impose fines of not more than twenty shillings, and choose their own particular officers, as constables, surveyors for the highways, and the like." Evidently this enactment relieved the General Court of a mass of municipal details, with- out any danger to the powers of that body in controlling general measures of public policy. Probably, also, a demand from the freemen of the towns was felt, for the control of their own home concerns.
The New England colonies were first governed by a "general court," or legislature, composed of a Governor and Small Council, which court con- sisted of the most influential inhabitants, and possessed and exercised both legislative and judicial powers, which were limited only by the wisdom of the holders. They made laws, ordered their execution, elected their own officers, tried and decided civil and criminal causes, enacted all manner of municipal regulations; and, in fact, transacted all the business of the colony.
This system, which was found to be eminently successful, became general, as territory was added to the Republic and States formed. Lesser divisions were in turn inaugurated and placed under the jurisdiction of special officers, whose numbers were increased as time developed a demand, until the system of township organization in the United States to-day is a matter of just pride to her people.
We will now consider this topic in regard to our special subject.
On the acquisition of California by the Government of the United States, under a treaty of peace, friendship, limits and settlement with the Mexican Republic, dated Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848, the boundaries of the State were defined. This treaty was ratified by the President of the United States, on March 16, 1848; exchanged at Queretaro, May 30, and finally promulgated July 4th, of the same year, by President Polk, and attested by Secretary of State, James Buchanan. In 1849, a Constitutional Convention was assembled in Monterey, and at the close of the session on October 12th, a proclamation, calling upon the people to form a government, was issued "to designate such officers as they desire to make and execute the laws ; that their choice may be wisely made, and that the Government so organized may secure the permanent welfare and happiness of the people of the new State, is the sincere and earnest wish of the present executive, who if the Constitution be ratified, will, with pleasure, surrender his powers to whomsocver the people may designate as his successor." This historic document bore the signatures of "B. Riley, Bvt. Brig. Genl. U. S. A., and
28
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
Governor of California," and "Official -H. W. Halleck, Bvt., Capt. and Secretary of State."
In accordance with Section Fourteen of Article Twelve of the Constitu- tion, it was provided that the State be divided into counties, and Senatorial and Assembly Districts, while the First Session of the Legislature, which began at San José on December 15, 1849, passed on February 18, 1850, “An Act subdividing the State into counties and establishing seats of justice therein." The boundaries of Solano county being as follows :
" Beginning at the mouth of Napa creek and running up the middle of its channel to the mouth of the Suscol creek; thence following up said creek to the eastern boundary line of Napa county ; thence along said boundary line to the northeast corner of Napa county ; thence in a direct line to the nearest point of Putah creek; thence down the middle of said creek to its termination in the Tule marsh; thence in a direct line to the head of Merritt's slough; thence down the middle of said slough to its mouth ; thence down the middle of Sacramento river to its mouth ; thence down the middle of Suisun bay to the Straits of Carquinez; and thence through the middle of said straits to the place of beginning." It was ordered that Benicia should be the seat of justice.
Prior to this time the county had been included in the District of Sonoma, a division which had originated with the Mexican authorities during their power; it had not been interfered with on the accession of American rule, but retained the official nomenclature given by the Spaniards; their being no law, the government was administered as it seemed best to the holders of office.
To Judge Joseph Winston is the honor of first dividing Solano into townships, the county being partitioned in order to determine the limits wherein two Justices of the Peace and two Constables should be voted for at an election to be held on May 25, 1850. The order directing the dimidi- ation reads: "The line of division commencing at the Suisun embarcadero and running thence in a direct line to Suscol creek, by way of what is called Suscol ranch; thence down Suscol creek to Napa creek ; thence down Napa creek to the middle channel of Carquinez straits; thence up the middle of Carquinez straits to Suisun bay at a point opposite the embarcadero ; thence up the middle channel of the Suisun bay to the Suisun embarcadero, the place of beginning; and it is further ordered that the district of county, composed within the boundaries above set forth, be designated and known as Benicia township, and that all the residue of the territory of said county lying between said boundary lines of Benicia township and the boundary lines of said county, in every direction, be known and designated as Suisun township."
On April 11, 1850, An Act of the Legislature was passed organizing a Court of Session and defining its composition to be as follows: The Court
29
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
consisted of the County Judge, who should preside at its sessions, assisted by two Justices of the Peace of the county as Associate Justices, they being chosen by their brother justices from out of the whole number elected for the county. The duties imposed upon this organization were multifarious. They made such orders respecting the property of the county as they deemed expedient, in conformity with any law of the State, and in them were vested the care and preservation of such property. They examined, settled, and allowed all accounts chargeable against the county ; directed the raising of such sums for the defraying of all expenses and charges against the county ; by means of taxation on property, real and personal, such not to exceed, however, the one-half of the tax levied by the State on such property ; to examine and audit the accounts of all officers having the care, management, collection, and disbursement of any money belonging to the county, or appropriated by law, or otherwise, for its use and benefit. In them was the power of control and management of public roads, turn- pikes, ferries, canals, roads, and bridges within the county, where the law did not prohibit such jurisdiction, and made such orders as should be neces- sary and requisite to carry such control and management into effect; to divide the county into townships, and to create new townships, and change the division of the same as the convenience of the county should require, was among their duties. They established and changed election precincts ; controlled and managed the property, real and personal, belonging to the county, and purchased and received donations of property for the use of the county, with this proviso, that they should not have the power to pur- chase any real or personal property, except such as should be absolutely necessary for the use of the county. To sell and cause to be conveyed, any real estate, goods, or chattels belonging to the county, appropriating the proceeds of such sale to the use of the same. To cause to be erected and furnished, a court-house, jail, and other buildings, and to see that the same be kept in repair, and otherwise to perform all such other duties as should be necessary to the full discharge of the powers conferred on such court. Terms were ordered to be held on the second Monday of February, April, June, August, October, and December, with quarterly sessions on the third Monday of February, May, August, and November of each year.
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