USA > California > Tulare County > History of Tulare County, California with biographical sketches > Part 34
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STEVENS & Co., have a store which is a very large institu- tion, carrying everything in the dry goods, grocery, crockery, and clothing line, with boots and shoes, hats and caps, farm- ing and mining implements. They are sole agents for the Schuttler & Fish Bros. wagons. It is a credit to any city to have so fine a store building and so large a stock of goods to select from.
The site of Visalia is in the midst of a broad and fertile plain, with Tulare Lake twenty miles to the westward, and the foot- hills of the Sierra as many to the eastward, the entire valley at this point being about seventy miles in width. The section was formerly known as "Four Creek Country," which from its beauty and fertility attracted a large population at an early day, and long before the advent of the iron horse. The San Joaquin Valley branch of the Central Pacific Railroad lies westward of the town about seven miles distant, and a branch runs to Visalia, thus giving direct railroad communication. Stages connect it with the surrounding towns.
Mill Creek, a rapid streamn part of the year, runs through the town. Groves of evergreen and deciduous oaks cover the plains, giving a pleasant feature to the scenery. A few miles south the oaks give way, and the wild open prairie stretches for miles around.
Visalia is an incorporated city. S. C. Brown is Mayor, and G. A. Botsford, Clerk; E. J. Fudge, Marshall; J. T. Brown, Assessor; W. W. Conghran, Treasurer; W. B. Wallace, Rc- corder; W. F. Thomas, Superintendent of Schools.
NEWSPAPERS OF VISALIA.
The Tulare Weekly Times was established in 1864, and has been issued regularly ever since. In 1876 the Daily Times was started by Matlick & Britz, but was discontinued after a while. It was again issued in August, 1882.
The Weekly Times is now published by R. F. Eagle as editor and proprietor, who has lately come into possession of the office. He is now making the paper better than under any previous management.
The Weekly Visalia Delta is in its 26th volume and issued by F. J. Walker & Co. It is doing much to interest people in the resources and capabilities of Tulare County. It gives close attention to local county matters, and therefore furnishes a paper indispensable to those interested in local affairs.
The Journal is also published here. It was started in Han- ford, as related elsewhere, and moved to Visalia.
HANFORD is the third town in size in the county, and only a few years old. It is situated in the center of the Musscl Slough country, more particularly described elsewhere. It is fourteen miles from Goshen, on the branch railroad designed to connect with the railroad at Hollister. It is one of the most thrifty towns in this section of the San Joaquin Valley. It is surrounded by one of the finest and most productive agricult- ural neighborhoods in the State. It contains about six hun- dred population. It is well supplied with schools, and has four churches; Cumberland Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Catholic, and Episcopal, a good flour-mill, city water-works, ten stores including general merchandise, hardware and furni- ture, two drug stores, four hotels and boarding-houses, six grain warehouses with a storage capacity of over 10,000 tons livery stables, saloons, and miscellaneous shops and stalls.
THE WATER-WORKS.
One of the most important general improvements is the Hanford Water-Works. Messrs. Robinson & Rawlins, among Hanford's most enterprising citizens, had this institution com- pleted in first-class style in every respect, at an entire cost of at least $10,000 besides pipe.
The mains and the smaller iron pipes are conveyed to every part of town, and there are many large and small hydrants conveniently distributed and furnished with sufficient hose to be a very great protection to the town in case of fires. The
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handsome and well-utilized structure of their tank house is sixty-five feet in height to the top of the roof over the tank, and sixty feet to the top of the tank itself. Such is the press- ure from this height that the hose, distributed throughout the town, throws water to a height of thirty-five feet, and hence would reach the third story of buildings.
A good view of Hanford and the surrounding country is obtained from a neat balcony around the fourth story of the tank house, at a height of forty-five feet. The snowy Sierra and the Coast Range make a fine background east and west, and the well tilled, well irrigated fields and numerous ranches in every direction, show plainly in this picturesque view why
The Cumberland Presbyterian church is a frame building, in half Gothic style, well finished and painted inside and out. The ground plan is 50x36 feet. Its height from ground to comb of roof is thirty-six feet, to top of the belfry about fifty feet. It has a clear sounding 600-pound bell. This really handsome building, an ornament to any town, was erected at a cost of $3,500, which is $1,500, less than a con- traetor would have built it for. The entire membership is about 100, seattered over a territory ten miles square. The Rev. Warren Compton was the first pastor from 1876 to 1879. The Catholic and Episcopal Churches have flourishing socie- ties and churches. There are also numerous secret and benev-
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THE SIERRAS AS SEEN FROM HANFORD, TULARE COUNTY; 120 MILES IN THREE SECTIONS.
1. Mt. Lyell. 2. Mt. Ritter. 3. Mt. Goddard. 4. Mt. Silliman. 5. Mt. Gardiner. 6. Mt. Brewer. 7. Mt. Tyndall. S. Mt. Williamson. 9. Hazen. 10. Mt. Michaelis. 11. Milestone Mountain. 12. Mt. Langley. 13. Location of Mt. Whitney. 14. Mt. Albert. 15. Mt. Henry. 16. Mt. Le Conte. 17. Mit. Kaweah. 18. Empire Mountain. 19. Miner's Peak. 20. Mt. Garfield. 21. Bullion Peak.
So many residents and visitors of the Mussel Slough country think it is truly one of the finest garden spots in California. Our artist has sketched the Sierras as they appear from Han- ford for a length of 120 miles, and we have had it engraved.
The Methodist Episcopal ehureh was dedicated at Hanford, in July, 1881. It is a tastefully furnished building and has a bell with a very clear tone. The ministers who officiated at the dedication were the Pastor, Rev. J. R. Gregory; Rev. A. Bland, Presiding Elder; Rev. J. B. Calloway, pastor at Grange- ville; Rev. John McKelvy, from Bakersfield; and Prof. F. D. Bovard, of the University of Southern California. The latter preached the dedicatory sermon.
olent soeieties, all of which are in a very flourishing condition. I. O. O. F. LODGE, No. 264, was instituted in Aug., 1877, by B. Baer, D. D. G. M., assisted by Past Grands T. Lindsey, J. B. O'Connor, A. Weishar, J. M. Graves, G. Herring, N. G., and A. F. Switzer, V. G., of Four Creeks Lodge, with a charter membership of ten, all well-known citizens of this county. The officers installed were: J. C. Goar, N. G .; J. N. Camp, V. G .; A. B. Crowell, Sec .; D. B. Thinker, Treas.
McPHERSON POST, NO. 51, has thirty members, and is in a flourishing condition. The following are the officers: Post Commander, H. F. Peacock; Viee-Commander, C. M. Bryant ; Offieer of the Guard, Albert Hayes.
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DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
ANNUAL COMMEMORATION.
The 11th of May is now observed here as an annual com- memoration of the fatal Mussel Slough tragedy. The pro- cession of May, 1883, after marching to the cemetery at Grangeville, and performing the melancholy task of decorating the graves of those whose bodies rest there, who lost their lives on that memorable day, re-formed in a line half a mile in length, and inarched to the Hanford Cemetery, where they performed the same sad duty. Thence they proceeded to the Hanford Park, where the exercises of the day commenced by the election of Rev. N. W. Motheral, President of the day, and J. W. Harris, Marshal. The President, with a few appropri- ate remarks, introduced the orator of the day, P. S. Dorney, of Sacramento.
The Hanford Journal was started in this place, but after- wards removed to Visalia, where it is now published success- fully. It was issued by Milton McWorter, July, 1881.
GEORGE THYARKS erected a fine brick building, which is leased to occupants. It is one of the neat and substantial business buildings of the place.
The Freeman House was opened in 1877 by H. H. Freeman. It is favorably situated for entertaining a large number of guests.
R. MILLS has a place of resort that has few superiors on the coast. This saloon is fitted up in an elegant manner, as will be seen by the engraving on another page, of the interior of this fashionable resort. Mr. Mills has made a successful effort to have his place inviting and attractive, as well as orderly. The walls are ornamented with fine views and paintings. The counters and fixtures are of the most finished style, and the bar has every accessory of a first-class saloon.
A LARGE MERCANTILE FIRM.
SIMON, JACOBS & Co. are an old and reliable firm. These gentlemen have been engaged in merchandising for the last thirty years, and can boast of constituting one of the oldest firms in lower or southern California. The partners are: Samuel Simon, of San Francisco; James Manasse; and Nathan Weisbaum, the latter two of Hanford, Tulare County, California.
This firm commenced business in Hanford in the spring of 1877, being the first parties who had the courage to open a store in the place. Their establishment is justly named "The Pioneer Store," under which name it is known throughout the Mussel Slough District. At first they transacted business in a one-story frame building, with Mr. Manasse as manager, he also being at that time (1877) appointed Postmaster of the United States Post-office, which then was opened for the first time in their store.
As a flourishing business always indicates prosperity of the surrounding country, we may safely congratulate the people of
Hanford and Tulare County of theirs; for during the four years, from 1877 to 1881, the business of the firm had increased in such a manner that it was obliged to build the fine brick store, 80x30 feet, represented in our illustrations. They also erected a warehouse in the rear of this store 50x30 feet. They conduct the agency of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express. Besides their general merchandise establishment, Messrs. S., J. & Co. own a grain warehouse, which is 100 feet long and fifty feet wide.
The handsome residence of James Manasse is among the views of Hanford represented in our history.
J. H. MELONE deals in dry goods and general merchandise as well as groceries. This is a comparatively new house, but they carry a large stock, and by fair dealing are seeuring an increasing trade, and their business is constantly improving.
J. T. BAKER has one of the most complete drug stores in this section. He keeps an extensive assortment of drugs and medicines, chemicals, paints, oils, and varnishes, glass, putty, etc., pure wines and liquors for medical use, and dye woods and dye stuffs generally.
BROWN & IRWIN, attorneys-at-law, and notaries public, are located in Hanford, and have an office one door west of Fish & Blum's, on Main Street. They practice in all the courts of the State.
W. A. SIMMONS' drug store is on Main Street, Hanford, in Mrs. Hager's building. They keep constantly on hand pure drugs and medicines, toilet articles, and fancy goods. Physi- cians' prescriptions are a specialty, and everything scientifi- cally and carefully compounded at all hours, day and night.
CHAS. SHARP & Co. deal very largely in farming machin- ery and sewing machines, etc. It is the only firm south of Stockton that makes a specialty of machinery, so that it is to the advantage of farmers to buy from them. They have erected a very fine store, where they keep a stock of machines. They started here about three years ago, having arrived from Chicago.
LEMOORE VILLAGE is situated on the Southern Pacific Railroad proper, and when the road is completed according to original intention, will be many miles nearer San Francisco than by the present route. It is situated west of Visalia thirty-two miles, south of Fresno City thirty-eight miles, west of Hanford eight and one-half miles, east of King's River four miles, and north of Tulare Lake about ten miles. The number of inhabitants is about 300. Well supplied with business houses of various kinds, that are apparently doing a safe, healthy business.
It has one of the largest store buildings in the State outside of San Francisco, being 35x150 feet, completely finished and furnished. It also has a large flouring-mill; capacity, 200 barrels in twenty-four hours; also a fine school second to but one in the county.
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The Lower King's River Ditch skirts the town, and. is the pioneer ditch of the Mussel Slough country. It was here the early settlers showed their courage, and endured extreme pri- vations. They are now rewarded by seeing the most marvel- ously productive country in the world, when properly cultivated, which surrounds this town on all sides.
This is especially the home of alfalfa and fruits of various description. It is claimed that the raisin grape has a larger per cent. of saccharine matter in them here than any other part of the State.
Stock-raising is attracting much attention of which there are many fine specimens, both of horses and cattle as well as shcep and hogs. The immense quantity of feed produced per acre makes the amount of stock, capable of being sustained, fabu- lous.
The town is rather literary in its tendency, having a liter- ary society that dates from a very carly period of its existence, and has shown considerable ability in that direction; has also a large amount of musical talent, sustaining a brass band as well as two or three string bands. Many of the performers would not disgrace places of more pretentions. The general society is fully up to the standard of older settled countries. The town is keeping only a healthy growth with its surroundings. It received a set back one year ago by a fire that it has not wholly recovered from, but better improvements are taking place of the old.
The first town lots were sold in Lemoore in February, 1877, at auction. The following gives some idea of the price of lots as well as purchasers: Lot 17, J. J. Mack, 8665; lot 21, L. Gilroy, $110; A. B. Cowell, $110; J. R. Heinlin, $75; D. Rhodes, $105; E. Elanger, $125; H. Hcss, $120, etc.
In 1881 a paper was started called the Lemoore Advertiser, and afterwards appeared under the title of Real Estate Adver- tiser and Medical Advertiser, and it was conducted as an adver- tising medium for the City Drug Store, and for the real estate agency of Lovelace & Lamberson. We believe it is not now issued.
Messrs. Fox & Sweetland are the principal merchants, and deal in general groceries, fruits, candies, nuts, etc. They pay cash for poultry, eggs, hides, etc. They are located in Ham- lin's Block, and are engaged in a constantly increasing busi- ness, caused by integrity in their deal with all customers.
PLANO is near the foot-hills on the stage road leading through Farmersville and Porterville, and is thirty-two miles south of Visalia, on the south side of Tule River, two miles from Porter- ville. There are about 120 inhabitants. There is one hotel, one blacksmith shop, two churches (Presbyterian and Meth- odist), and two houses doing a general merchandising business.
WM. THOMSON'S hotel or boarding-house is represented among our views of Plano, as also the Presbyterian church situated on the opposite side of the street, which Mr. Thomson
has done so much financially and otherwise to sustain. Hc kecps dry goods and groceries, and has a stage linc running from Plano to Tulare.
RUSSELL BROS.' store was established in Plano in 1881, and is receiving a fair share of trade from the surrounding country, secured by fair and honorable dealing. This building is repre- sented among our illustrations of Plano.
George H. and John H. Russell were born in the city of Fremont, Ohio, in 1848 and 1850. George learned the ship carpenter's trade and worked at it for about three years and then went to sca for seven years. He left Upper Sandusky, Ohio, for California by railroad and reached Plano, June, 1875, and engaged in carpentering. John H. Russell came at an earlier datc, about 1871. Geo. H. returned to Ohio after about one ycar and engaged in photography, but returned to Plano after two years.
The two brothers then opened their store in Plano and engaged in general merchandising. They carry a good stock of dry goods, furnishing goods, groceries, crockery, etc. A view of their neat little store is given in our views of Plano.
Geo. H. Russell married Miss Pametia Sowels in 1880, who was a native of California. They have two children, named Ralph James and George Earle Russell. The farm is small, only five acres, devoted to hay and fruit. There are 125 miscellaneous fruit trees doing well.
A Presbyterian Church was cstablished in 1869, and a church building erected. There are but four or five members and no minister. The building is wood, well finished outside and in, with a belfry, bell, and observatory; the whole was erected at a cost of $3,500, the heaviest part of which rests still on the Elder, Mr. W'm. Thomson, who gives us the following remi- niscences of the country and of church history :-
Wm. Thomson, of Plano, says he came to Visalia, California, the 29th of June, 1867, found the citizens clever and neighborly, but very different to his old Ohio neighbors. He lived there through the summer and came to Tule River in the fall, about the 1st of October.
The post-office was called Tule, and was on the south side of the river near where the bridge now stands, and Geo. McKeloy was Postmaster.
George and C. McKeloy laid out a town at that point and called it Vandalia. The MeKeloys were rather inclined to be sickly and the location was declared to be unhealthy.
Where Porterville now stands R. P. Putnam had a store, and there was a hotel, or stopping-place, and a blacksmith shop. They tried hard to make a town there but had no post-office, and were obliged to go to Vandalia for their mail matter. They tried to get a post-office but failed; the MeKeloys became very sickly, especially George, the Postmaster. The Porter- ville folks worked upon him and persuaded him that he had better move to that place, as it was a growing place. So over
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he went and took the post-office with him. He died shortly and left the post-office in Porterville. That left the south side with- out any post-office; the river at that time in the winter was almost impassable from quicksand, and no bridge was then built. A petition being gotten up setting forth the facts, a post-office was granted and named Plano. A. J. Adams was appointed Postmaster. He lived south of Tule River on the edge of the plain where the settlement now is, called Plano.
On the morning of December 25, 1867, the water came roaring down old Tule, sweeping away fences and bringing a tremendous amount of flood wood from the mountains, which was split up and used for fencing, fire-wood, etc.
During that winter the Indian agent brought from Inyo County several hundred Indians, called Manachees. The measles got among them, and they not being acquainted with the disease, practiced jumping into cold water, which invariably killed them. This Indian "cure all" is illustrated on page 92. Those who escaped death went back to their old home in Inyo County.
After the McKeloys left Vandalia, the Methodists having a church building there concluded the place was too sickly for that also and it would have to be moved. The Porterville folks were anxious to have it located there. The minister, Rev. Burton, then in charge, decided to get up two subscrip- tion papers, one for Porterville and the other for the south side, where Plano now stands, circulating them himself, keeping his own secrets and seeing which side would give the most. When through he decided the church would go where the church members were, that is where Plano is now situated.
In 1870 the M. E. Church was moved over to Plano, where it now stands. The school house at Plano is one of the best in the county having at the present over ninety scholars.
In 1879 Rev. Hiram Hill, a Presbyterian preacher living in Visalia and preaching there, also in Porterville and Plano, con- cluded that it was best to organize a Presbyterian Church in Porterville. "To this," says Mr. Thomson, "I made no objec- tion, but said if you have encouragement sufficient, let the First Presbyterian Church building on Tule River be at Porter- ville.
"The church was organized, the Gibbons' near Plano taking an active part in the building of a church building at Porter- ville. I had been liberal in the support of the present minis- ters and thought I should have some chance for church privi- leges at my home, Plano. So I asked Mr. Oviatt, the minister that was carrying forward the work at Porterville, if he thought best for us to make a move in that direction. He said yes; that would make two preaching places, and more money could be got from the Board of Home Missions for the support of a preacher. So I secured a lot and went forward to secure what money I could. Mr. Oviatt got an architect to draw a plan for the building and told me to go on with it, while he
was doing all he could for Porterville. I went forward and raised some money, got some from Ohio. Mr. Oviatt said we could get help from the Board of Church Erection at New York, so he asked for $700 for Porterville and $350 for Plano. It was so managed as to get $600 cash from the New York board to use in Porterville, where there are no church members, but failed to get $1.00 for Plano church.
"After the Plano building was finished I settled with the trustees and found I had paid out about $2,000 over what had been donated. They gave me notes for the amount. I am now asked and expected to donate the whole amount in order that this nice little building may belong to the Presbyterian Church, no effort being made by any one to raise a dollar for my relief, so I must assume this debt or have my friends say, We gave you our money on a Presbyterian Church and you failed to accomplish what you proposed. So I stand charged with the blame or entitled to the credit of putting $2,000 in a Presbyterian Church in Tulare County."
WM. THOMSON was born in Green County, Ohio, Septem- ber 27, 1825. He came to California, June 12, 1867, by the Isthmus route. He was in the employ of the United States Government on the Tule Indian Reservation from 1871 to 1873, under Chas. Malthy, agent. He afterwards located in Plano, as related.
He married Miss Ploomey Jane Tilton, in 1854, a native of New York, but later of Ohio. They have seven children, named Alex. John, Tannie Eliza (now Mrs. O. E. Gibbons), Willis Merriman, Mary Eveline, James Steward, David Edward, . and Sarah Jane Hayes Thomson.
THE TULE INDIAN RESERVATION.
In 1871 Mr. Thomson went to work for the Government on the Indian Reservation four miles above Porterville. The agent at that time was Chas. Maltby. "I worked there for eighteen months. While there I learned a little Spanish, as some of the Indians talk Spanish. Some of them are quite industrious, others are drunken and very trifling. Soon after I quit the reservation they moved the Indians sixteen miles above Plano on the south fork of Tule River."
C. G. Bellknap was made agent and still holds the place. Near where the reservation now stands there is what they call the "painted rock" with all manner of curious looking creatures painted that have perhaps been there for thousands of years.
After leaving the reservation and the employ of the Govern- ment, Mr. Thomson clerked in Porterville for N. Baker & Son, for eight months. At that time, 1872 and 1873, the Bakers were doing a thriving business, and so was R. P. Putnam. In the fall of 1873 he was appointed Postinaster at Plano, and started a little store, calling it the "Ohio Store " after his native State.
HOT SPRINGS.
The Hot Springs are situated on the north side of Deer Creek about twenty-five miles from Plano. They are used at
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PALACE SALOON. HANFORD, TULARE. CO. CAL. R.MILLS. PROPRIETOR. ELLIOTT LITH.421MINT. ST.S.F.
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present by camping parties, no improvements having been made. They are open to the public, a location has been made but not complied with. About half a mile below the bathing spring, which is just medium, the water bursts out of the rocks, and is very hot. It continues to gush out of the rocks for about half a mile. These springs are very valuable.
DEMING GIBBONS, of Plano, was born in Franklin, county of Delaware, State of New York, on the 20th day of June, 1822. His parents, Timothy Wells and Ruby S. Gib- bons, cmigrated from Granville, Massachusetts, and settled on a small farm. They raised ten children, seven sons and three daughters, Deming being next to the oldest, a sister being older. His father's health failing, Deming's opportunities for education were quite limited. He worked on the farm at home until his twenty-third year.
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