USA > California > Solano County > History of Solano County...and histories of its cities, towns...etc. > Part 8
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Goats
200.
Hogs 17,000.
While the value of animals slaughtered was approximately stated to be $100,000, an emphatic proof of the increase of population. This, however, did not rest here, railways were mooted, steamboats already plied to Suisun, which daily left loaded to the water's edge with produce for the San Fran- cisco market. Early every morning strings of wagons, sometimes of forty or fifty in number, arrived with large loads of grain and vegetables, which were borne down the muddy slough and through the vast bleak expanse of tule to the centre of traffic. Suisun was then the outlet for all the surroud- ing country ; the county, through the energies of successive governments, had been intersected in every direction by good roads, making travel easy and pleasant; the fertile valleys were becoming more thickly peopled as day succeeded day ; a ready market was found for produce, and all went " merry as a marriage bell." The attention of the reader is called to the following report of the County Assessor in 1862 as an example of what remarkable progress was made in the first ten years of the agricultural history of Solano.
Description. No. Acres.
Valley Land adapted to tillage. 292,000. Mountain and Hill Land suitable for grazing purposes ... 118,440. Swamp and Overflowed Lands, lying principally on the eastern and southern side of the county, about ... . .. 92,000.
The Bays and Estuaries within the borders of the county cover the surface of. 43,000.
Total. 545,440.
AGRICULTURAL LAND.
Of the two hundred and ninety-two thousand acres of tillable land, there is not probably upon the face of the globe, so large an amount of
75
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
farming land, lying in a compact form, that presents more alluring induce- ments to the husbandman than this. Experiments have proven it to be susceptable of the highest state of cultivation, yielding abundant harvests of the grains and fruits indigenous to every zone. Wheat, barley, oats, rye, corn, buckwheat, peas, beans, potatoes, yams, onions, etc., flourish luxuriantly while the growing of flax, hemp, tobacco, cotton, rice, broomcorn, and Chinese sugarcane, has been pronounced a success. Here also grow beauti- fully, the apple, peach, pear, plum, cherry, nectarine, quince, apricot, fig, orange, olive, pomegranite, pineapple, almond and prune trees ; and goose- berry, raspberry, strawberry, and grape vines, are yearly laden with fruit.
We have according to statistics :
Description.
No. Acres.
Land enclosed.
115,774.
Cultivated.
44,454.
In Wheat.
14,256.
Barley
15,687.
Oats.
580.
Rye.
320.
Corn.
970.
Buckwheat.
36.
Peas.
120.
Potatoes.
1,473.
Onions
462.
Hay.
42,160.
Alfalfa.
23.
Broom Corn
I70.
Of fruit trees and vines, we have :
Description.
Number.
Apple trees, acres
15,996.
Peach trees
32,381.
Plum trees.
1,592.
Pear trees
3,573.
Cherry trees
1,486.
Apricot trees.
2,144.
Fig trees.
1,772.
Grape vines.
520,630.
Wine, manufactured, gallons
10,580.
Brandy, manufactured, gallons
460.
It will thus be seen that the inhabitants of Solano are not unmindful of the comforts that surround civilization, and make happy homes ; and as the great drawback on California, the land titles, are becoming adjudicated, new evidence of thriftiness and industry are being added to those already inau- gurated.
76
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
GRAZING LAND.
This portion of the county (one hundred and eighteen thousand four hundred and forty acres) consists of the mountain spurs of the Coast Range, and lie on the eastern side of the dividing ridge between this county and Napa, and the low hills that are adjacent to, and form a portion of the shores of the Suisun bay. The surface is covered with a dense growth of " bunch grass " and wild oats, the former growing upon the summits and the north sides of the highest peaks, being green nearly the whole year, and a grass of hardy growth, flourishing best upon the most sterile hills. It is valuable to the farmer, being very nutritious for stock.
Of the wild oats it would seem almost superfluous to speak, being indig- enous to the soil, and familiar to nearly every inhabitant of California. But, lest there were some who -have not visited this portion of the State when its growth is most abundant, I will endeavor to describe it : The seed bears a strong resemblance to the tame black oats, with this difference: it is smaller, and has a hirsute appendage that grows upon the base of the grain and nearly envelops it. This seemingly useless appendage has its uses. In the fall, the soil, after many months of uninterrupted sunshine, is hard and impenetrable, and would be impossible to seed were it not for the cracks that are produced by contraction. The oats ripen in the months of July and August, and are shattered by the action of the wind.
Falling upon the hard and impervious earth, they could not take root if they did not make their way to these cracks, which they do in two ways :
First .- The heavy fibres that surround it act as legs, and prevent the grain from lying close to the earth, at the same time being a sort of sail that catches the lightest breeze that blows, thus turning it over and over until it is safely lodged in the nearest crack, to await the coming rains of winter.
Second .- The action of water upon these fibres has a singular and novel effect. The first rains falling upon the seed, produce a desire for locomo- tion, or a crawling propensity, and, by a curious process, the grain will move itself several inches, thereby falling into cracks that are yawning to receive and nourish it. Early in the winter, the oats, sprouting from these cracks, give the earth the appearance of being spread with a beautiful net- work.
This grass is the stand-by of the farmer. It nourishes his stock in the spring, fattens them in summer and fall, and sustains them in winter. From it he makes his hay, which is pronounced by good judges to be the best that is used.
SWAMP AND OVERFLOWED LAND.
As before remarked, our estimate of the quantity of this land laying in this county is about ninety-two thousand acres. A few years since, this
77
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
portion of our State was deemed valueless ; but more enlightened and recent experiments are awakening the public mind to the fact that it will be quite an important element in enhancing our future wealth. The manner of its disposal, as marked out by the Legislature of 1858, in a law enacted during that session, was a wise termination of this previously mooted question. Since the passage of that law, these lands are being rapidly taken up, and are yielding an increasing revenue to the State. Moreover, there is no one now who doubts the fact that these lands are a more speedy way to reclam- ation by private energy and enterprise than they would have been had they been jobbed out in large quantities to corporate associations and irrespon- sible parties. The more elevated portions of these lands in our county are being tilled to good advantage, and the day is certainly not far distant when this now neglected soil will be made .to furnish support and susten- ance to thousands of immigrants arriving upon our shores.
MINERAL LAND.
This county has long since been denominated a "cow county;" therefore little will be expected under this head. Gold has been found, however, within our borders. There are about seven thousand acres of mountain and hill laying on the north of Township No. 7 N. R. 2 W., and on the south side of Township 8 N. R. 2 W., in the vicinity of Putah creek, from which gold dust has been taken to the amount of fifteen hundred dollars, in the past year.
Stone has been found in several localities suitable for building purposes. Still, our quarries are inferior to those of Folsom. Our marble quarries have gained considerable celebrity, furnishing a peculiar kind of striped, variegated marble, that admits of the highest polish, and is elegantly adapted for ornamental uses. These quarries are located upon the summits of the hills that surround Suisun valley.
TIMBER.
The timber of Solano comprises several species of oak, pitch-pine, ash, cotton-wood, etc., growing upon the mountains, in some of the valleys, and on the margin of streams. It is worthless for any mechanical use, and serviceable only for fuel. It is the opinion of many, that as soon as the land is all fenced, and the annual fires prevented from ravaging the country, timber can be grown here as successfully as upon the prairies of Illinois or elsewhere.
LIVE STOCK.
We come now to a branch of industrial pursuit that, next to our agricul- tural interests, surpasses all others in point of importance. The rearing of stock of every species has occupied the attention of our citizens for years ;
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THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
and upon no other avocation has the same amount of money been expended as upon this. Stallions, bulls, jacks, and rams of the choicest breeds, have been imported from Europe and the older States. If the same interest that is now taken in regard to the improvement of our breeds of stock, remain unabated, with the healthful climate we possess, the time is not far distant when we will proudly take rank with the stock-raising localities of the East. According to our statistics, we have as follows :
Description.
Number.
Horses, American
1,343
Horses, Spanish.
2,667
Mules.
269
Cattle, American
25,652
Cattle, Spanish
3,634
Oxen (Yoke)
169
Sheep
132,000
Hogs
11,737
Chickens
12,960
Turkeys
2,452
Ducks.
560
Geese. 128
Wool, American, pounds 154,000
Wool, Spanish, pounds
220,000
IMPROVEMENTS.
Our buildings are beginning to assume an appearance of stability. Red- wood shanties are being supplanted by comfortable frame and brick dwel- lings ; substantial plank fences are taking the place of the miserable ditches so long used ; and barns and stables are becoming indispensable to every farmer.
Of our public improvements we have: First-The United States Navy Yard, at Mare Island. This island lies near the southern shore of the county, opposite the town of Vallejo. It was formerly the property of General Vallejo, and was purchased by Government of Wm. H. Aspinwall, for the sum of eighty thousand dollars. The immense sum of four millions five hundred thousand dollars has been expended in building docks capable of raising vessels of the largest class, and the following named buildings, which are constructed in the most durable manner, of brick and stone : four naval store-houses, sixty-five by four hundred feet each ; blacksmith shop, two hundred by two hundred and fifty feet; foundry, five hundred by nine hundred feet-said to be the largest building of the kind in the United States ; thirteen elegant residences for officers ; a magazine, sixty-five by one hundred feet, and a sea-wall or bulkhead four hundred feet long.
4
THE PACIFIC MAIL COMPANY .- This company has, at Benicia, two build-
V
79
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
ings of large dimensions, used as a foundry and machine shop. Here they repair and coal their steamers, besides doing an immense amount of work for other parties.
MARYSVILLE AND SAN FRANCISCO RAILROAD .- Of this road, forty-eight miles are located in Solano county. Twenty-two miles-from Putah creek to Suisun-are graded at a cost of about one thousand dollars per mile. Our county owns stock in this road to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars.
COURT HOUSE AND JAIL .- Our county has recently completed a new Court House and Jail, at a cost of thirty-five thousand dollars. The amount was raised by special assessment.
GRIST MILLS .- We have two grist mills-one built of stone, and not yet finished ; is to have four run of stone, and to cost fifteen thousand dollars. The other is built of brick, at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. It has three run of stone, and is propelled by a forty-horse-power engine ; has ground two thousand five hundred and twelve tons of grain during the past year, and is capable of making seven hundred and eighty barrels of flour per week.
ASSESSMENTS.
Assessed value of real estate 1860 $1,217,472.48
Assessed value of improvements. 704,516.00
Assessed value of personal property. 1,960,712.50
Total $3,882,700.98
It can be gathered from the foregoing report how much the prosperity of Solano county had increased. With the establishment of the Navy Yard on Mare Island, a full account of which will be found elsewhere, a new line of labor was imported, whereby the skilled mechanic was introduced to this portion of the State, who brought a variety of excellent qualities which have made many of them citizens worthy of the best confidence of their fellow residents. Among these may be named Messrs. A. Powell, John Wentworth, Honorable C. B. Denio, and others, who have taken prominent positions in the supervisoral chair, county offices, and the political rostrum.
In later years the Pacific Mail Company have almost entirely withdrawn their interests from Benicia ; these works, therefore, have fallen into disuse.
Let us now present the statistical report for the year 1876 furnished to the Surveyor-General by the Assessor for Solano county, which shows a most flourishing condition of affairs when taken in contradistinction with those which we have already alluded to :
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THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
Description.
Number.
Number.
Land inclosed-acres.
9,652 109,394
Land cultivated-acres.
Wheat-bushels and acres
1,965,175
93,575
Barley-bushels and acres
553,665
15,819
Oats-bushels and acres
4,700
145
Corn-bushels and acres
5,980
237
Beans-bushels and acres
400
25
Potatoes-tons and acres
60
20
Sweet potatoes-tons and acres
23
11
Hay-tons and acres
19,515
13,502
Butter-pounds
118,800
Wool-pounds.
427,240
Value of fruit crop-dollars.
112,000
Bearing orange trees.
264
Grape vines-acres
1,387
Wine-gallons.
149,710
Brandy-gallons
2,200
Breweries
3
Beer-gallons.
180,000
Horses ..
5,476
Mules
622
Horned cattle
12,790
Sheep.
71,146
Cashmere and Angora goats
35
Hogs
8,322
Grist mills (steam power)
3
Flour made-barrels.
312,000
Corn ground-bushels
1,000
Miles of railroad.
56
ASSESSED VALUE OF PROPERTY FOR 1876.
Description.
Value.
Real estate
$6,350,519
Improvements
1,560,895
Personal property.
1,327,248
Total valuation.
$9,238,662
Estimated total population 20,750
DDutton
-
81
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
Among the many improvements that have been worked in the county, more especially those of a public nature, which attract the largest share of attention, is the
GOOD TEMPLARS' HOME FOR ORPHANS.
This beautiful structure is situated on an eminence commanding a fine view of the city of Vallejo, Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo and Napa bays, the Straits of Carquinez, and the varied and beautiful mountain scenery adjacent thereto, including Mounts Diablo and Tamalpais. It is a frame building 110x71 feet, three stories high, with a Mansard roof, and will accommodate about three hundred inmates. The rooms in each story are lofty and well ventilated, the general plan being well adapted for the pur- poses for which it was designed; while the interior and exterior archi- tectural design and finish are highly beautiful.
This noble work is the property of the Good Templars of California and Nevada, and will ever stand as a monument of their enterprise, disinter- ested benevolence, and charity. Its doors are open to ALL ORPHANS under fourteen years of age, without distinction. The origin of this orphanage is ascribed to Mrs. Elvira Baldwin, of Sacramento.
In December, 1867, W. H. Mills, then the Grand Worthy Secretary of the Order of Good Templars, being inspired with the idea suggested, visited George W. Simonton at Vallejo, and they formed the plan, and were the originators of the Orphans Homestead scheme. On December 3d, by request of Mr. Mills, Mr. Simonton introduced the subject to the officers and mem- bers of Vallejo Lodge No. 64, I. O. G. T., at which time the following committee was appointed to consider the matter: George W. Simonton, A. D. Wood, and S. C. Baker. This committee immediately placed itself in communication with the Executive of the Grand Lodge, Messrs. R. R. Mer- rill, G. W. C. T .; W. H. Mills, G. W. S .; Mrs. F. L. Carlton, G. W. V. T .; A. C. McDougal, G. W. Counsellor. After considerable correspondence between the two committees, that first named proposed to "incorporate a Homestead Association, purchase a tract of land, donate twenty acres to the Grand Lodge as a site for a Home for Orphans, divide the remainder of the tract into lots for the Homestead, to be sold at $100 each, and, after paying for the land and all incidental expenses, the excess of money should be placed in the hands of the Trust Committee of the Grand Lodge and the Directors of the Association, to be expended in the erection of suitable buildings on the site donated for the Home." The propositions were accepted by the Executive Committee of the Grand Lodge and one hundred and three acres were immediately purchased of John B. Frisbie, Edward Frisbie, and A. D. Wood; Messrs. Wood, Simonton, Mills, Baker, E. H. M. Bailey, and C. A. Kidder, perfecting the Articles of Incorporation, Associa- tion, By-Laws, etc., with the following named persons as the original incorporators : A. D. Wood, W. H. Mills, George W. Simonton, Mary F. 6
82
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
Carlton, S. C. Baker, Harriet T. Hildreth, E. H. M. Bailey, and C. A. Kidder.
On January 22, 1868, a meeting of the Directors was had at the office of S. G. Hilborn, Esq., when A. D. Wood was elected interim President, and G. W. Simonton, Secretary pro tem. At a subsequent meeting had, January 29, 1868, the same gentlemen, with E. H. M. Bailey as Treasurer, were named the permanent officers of the Association.
On May 4, 1868, the stockholders held their first meeting, at which time the same officers were selected, and S. C. Baker, C. A. Kidder, E. Giddings, J. F. Coffey, C. S. Haswell of California, and Adolphus Waitz of Nevada, were chosen Directors of the Association.
The enterprise was liberally supported by the members of the Order throughout the jurisdiction, many paying up the full price of the lot or shares subscribed for, viz., $100, at once. In the report of the Secretary, G. W. Simonton, presented September 23, 1868, the following interesting statistics appear :
Total number of shares in the Association. 334 Total number of shares sold. 242
The following named stockholders have paid for their shares in full : Shares.
Elijah Wadsworth .. . . Yreka.
1
J. N. Chappelle. Sacramento. 2
Henry Miller . Sacramento. 2
Henry Ashcroft Sacramento .. 2
W. C. Ralston
San Francisco. 1
Horace L. Hill. San Francisco 1
Alexander Badlam . San Francisco. 1
G. H. Greenwood .. Vallejo
1
N. Smith .. Vallejo
1
Benjamin F. Cole .. Folsom 2
The following Lodges of Good Templers also subscribed for stock, as follows: Shares.
Pacific Lodge. No. 1, of Santa Cruz, California. . 1
Union Lodge. No. 4, of Carson City, Nevada .. .. 2
Rainbow Lodge. No. 9, of Washoe City, Nevada .... 2
Roseville Lodge . No. 255, of Roseville, California ..
1
Morning Star Lodge. No. 25, of Marysville, California. .
1
California Lodge No. 7, of San Francisco, California. 2
Reform Lodge . No. 287, of Lincoln, California .. .. 1
1 Vallejo Lodge No. 64, of Vallejo. California. . . . Maine Lodge. . No. 100,of Binghampton, California. 2
Sylvania Lodge. No. 12, of Grass Valley, California.
2
Red Bluff Lodge . No. 192, of Red Bluff, California .. 1
Evening Star Lodge. No. 114,of San Francisco, California. 1 Taylor Lodge. No. 222, of Forbestown, California. 1 Grand Lodge of California 20
1
83
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
In his annual address delivered before the Grand Lodge at its ninth session in 1868, G. W. C. Templar, R. R. Merrill, speaking of this matter said : " This enterprise needs no vindication at my hands. It bears upon its face its own recommendations; its affairs have been faithfully and honorably conducted and its merits are so patent to the common sense of all men, that I feel confident it will be fully appreciated without further encomium. The thanks of this Grand Lodge are due in an eminent degree to Brothers W. H. Mills, George W. Simonton, A. D. Wood, and others, for their energy, enterprise and zeal, in conducting its affairs to its present gratifying state of success."
It should have been mentioned that at the eighth annual session of the Grand Lodge in 1867, a resolution was adopted authorizing a levy of one dollar for each member of the Order for the support of the Home. This appears to have been the first action taken towards raising money for the purpose of meeting the current expenses of the institution. At the ninth session the Constitution of the Grand Lodge was amended by the adoption of Article XVII, whereby the financial system of the Home was perfected. At this session the following persons were elected to serve as the first Board of Trustees for the Home : for the long terms, Doctor C. S. Haswell of Sacramento, George F. Mallett of Vallejo, and Joseph Middlemiss of Sacra- mento, those for the short terms being the Rev. N. B. Klink of Vallejo, J. A. Albertson of San Francisco, F. A. Hornblower of Sacramento, and M. H. Eastman of Marysville. At this session also the plans and specifications reported by the committee were approved by the Grand Lodge, and adver- tisements soon appeared for proposals to construct the building; when the time expired, however, the committee or Board of Trust found themselves without a single bid; under these circumstances it was resolved by the Board after due consideration, to build the Home by day work, and it was unanimously agreed to employ Bro. E. M. Benjamin to superintend the same ; and as soon as practicable a force was set to quarry and supply stone for the foundation, which, fortunately, was obtained in the vicinity of the Home grounds. On May 11, 1869, the corner-stone was laid with appro- priate ceremonies and the construction of the building progressed very rapidly. In his annual address to the Grand Lodge at its tenth session, held in the Assembly Chambers at Sacramento, September 28th of that year, the G. W. C. T., A. D. Wood, speaking of the Home said : "But few can realize the labor which the successful prosecution of this enterprise has involved. The Order and the Cause owes a debt of gratitude to the pro- jectors of this scheme, and when its history is referred to, the names of Brothers Mills, Wood, Simonton and Benjamin should be remembered ; nor should the names of Carrington, Hornblower, and others be forgotten." At the same session the Grand Secretary, W. H. Mills, closed his report on Orphan's Home matters in the following language : " In closing my official
84
THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
relations with this institution, I may be indulged in the reflection that its existence and interests have occupied much of my time and thought, and I feel assured that its importance to our Order will be better understood and more fully appreciated in coming years. I indulge no fears of its failure and decline, for the Orphan's Home is in the line of true policy. If there are any who regret this and kindred undertakings, they are destined to be numbered with those who are to be forgotten when the true actors of this temperance reform come upon the stage. That reform will not go back- wards. Men may desert it ; they may renounce it; they may fall by the wayside ; they may prove wanting in faith to believe, or courage to endure ; but others will arise to take their places, and the cause will finally triumph. In success or failure our Orphan's Home will be a proud landmark in the history of our cause. Greater achievements than this are yet to be accom- plished before this warfare is over; greater labors are to be endured ; greater sacrifices made than any we are proposing to ourselves to-day, so, whatever may be the fate of our Home, it will have served a grand purpose, and one which cannot now be defeated."
During the session of 1869, Brothers W. H. Mills, R. R. Merritt, and F. A. Hornblower, were appointed a Committee to memoralize the Legislature at its next session, praying for a portion of such moneys as the State may set apart for the maintenance of orphans, in the State of California. This seems to have been the first step taken to secure State aid. At this session, G. W. Simonton, M. J. Wright, of Vallejo, W. H. Mills, and Brother East- man, of Sacramento, and C. B. Proctor, of Healdsburg, were elected trustees of the Home. In accordance with a resolution passed by the Grand Lodge, on September 29, 1869, the Home was declared open for the admission of children ; on and after October 1st, when it was dedicated, with imposing and impressive ceremonies Doctor C. S. Haswell, P. G. W. C. T., delivering the address in the presence of a large number of the friends of the institution.
To convey some idea of the deep interest taken by the members of the Order in this admirable undertaking, it may not be out of place to state that on the third day of the Grand Lodge Session, September 29th, Mrs. Tlomteaux and Mrs. Hayden were appointed a committee to raise a collec- tion in the Grand Lodge, for the benefit of the Home. In a very short time they reported as collected :
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