USA > California > Tulare County > History of Tulare County, California with biographical sketches > Part 39
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To take this fresh start, he came to the irrigated lands of Mussel Slough District, and located in Hanford, in June, 1878, feeling that he realized here, for the first time in California, his ideal of a mixed husbandry on land, systematically irri- gated by independent and enterprising ranchers on small farms.
Since his location among the farmers of Mussel Slough, he has engaged in a general agency for fire and life insurance, news- papers and books, and as correspondent by telegraph and oth- erwise for the San Francisco daily papers.
Learning, soon after his removal to Tulare County, the nat- ure of the contest of many settlers here and in Fresno County for their homes, as against railroad claims, and being fully sat- isfied of the justice of their cause, he has sought by his corre- spondence, and in every other way-though he has not a per- sonal interest in an acre of land anywhere-to assist the strug- gling settlers in their long and heroic contest for an equitable adjustment of their claims.
For twenty years past the subject of this sketch has been known as & correspondent of various newspapers and period- icals of California and elsewhere, on the live and stirring issues of the day, most usually over his own signature, but often editorially, and under more than one nom de plume, the chief of which is "Ralph Rambler."
During his fifteen years' residence in California, he has con- stantly exerted himself to aid in developing its resources, and to advance the general interests of its people.
R. L. PORTER MICKLE is a native of the State of Tennessee, and was born in Nashville, Davidson County, November 23, 1849, being the eldest son of Dr. J. G. and Sallie A. E. Mickle. He resided in or near Nashville until about 1857, when, with his parents, he moved to western Kentucky, there remaining two years; he thence moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, and would doubtless have lived there to date had it not been for the failure of his father's health, which forced him to seek health and happiness in other climes-that of his native State, near Murfreesborough, Tennessee, and eventually returning and settling in western Kentucky. From there he started, on May 12th, to seek his fortune in the Golden West, bringing his wife, who has always been a helpmate and comforting com- panion. He came by way of the Central Pacific Railroad to Sacramento, thence to Lemoore, and thence, after a short time there in the butcher business, he went to Hanford in July, 1880, and engaged in the same business. He married Miss Ines Angela Lovelace in 1876, who was a native of Kentucky.
JOHN W. YOUNG, the Tulare centinarian who now lives with one of his sons at Hanford, was 100 years old on the 10th of July, 1882. He was born in New Jersey, about twenty miles north of Trenton. He remembers distinctly the death of General Washington in December, 1799. His father was captain of the " Jersey Blue Horse" in the Revolutionary War, and was one of the invincible command that crossed the Dela- ware and captured the Hessians at Trenton. Mr. Young retains his faculties wonderfully well, and relates with surpris- ing accuracy many incidents of his childhood and early life. His biography would make an interesting volume. He has now eighty grandchildren. He has chewed tobacco for seventy years, but has never smoked much. Though a mod- erate drinker till over seventy, he has been a total abstainer for over twenty years. He is a firm believer in the Bible, and reads it daily. He votes the Republican ticket.
THE NOTED HORSE " ALTIMONT," THE PROPERTY OF W. W. FOSTER.
ALTIMONT
Is a beautiful dark bay, slightly dappled, 17 hands high weighing 1,400 pounds in moderate condition. He is a horse of magnificent proportions, of unusually fine style and action, kind disposition, and while so powerfully built, he has a handsomely shaped head, bright, full, lustrous eyes, nicely arched neck, high on the withers, well-sloped shoulders, full through the heart, round in the barrel, closely ribbed, and well coupled back, deep stifle, with good sweep of hip to large strong hock and knees, being extraordinary heavy in joints and bone, while smooth and well defined throughout, which, when taken in connection with his rare combination of the choicest blood our
most scientific breeders can boast of, will certainly insure him a high per cent. of trotters in his get, while he cannot well fail to get the high formed coach horse, or the most valuable horse of all-work.
Altimont, very dark bay, bred by Wm. T. Withers, Lexing- ton, Kentucky, foaled April 24, 1878, 16} hands high, sired by Almont, sire of Piedmont, record 2:17} in fourth heat, and 15 in 2:30 list. Dam, Belle Miller, by Blackwood, record 2:31 at three years old, sire Protine, record 2:18, 2d dam by Mem- brino Chief, sire of Lady Thorne, 2:18}; 3d dam by Hickory, thoroughbred; 4th dam by Camdenson of imp. Sarpedon, sire of Lexington's dam; 5th dam by Cherokee, son of Sir Archy.
191
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
GEORGE THOMAS THORNTON was born in Madison County, Tennessee, on his father's farm, near Jackson, February 15, 1836. In 1840 he went with his father's family to Henry County, Missouri, and there remained on his father's farm until twenty years of age. Most of his time was occupied in farm work and duties. But he attended the district sehools, and received the usual English edueation of that period.
In April, 1856, he started from Boonville, Missouri, across the plains with the train of Alstot and Showalter. They had 500 head of eattle, and two wagons and ox-teams, the party consisting of ten men, without any women or children. They had a successful journey, of five months, without any trouble with Indians, and arrived at Cache Creek, in Yolo County, about the end of September. Mr. Thornton left at once for the mines in Nevada County, and after remaining and mining for three months at Woolsey's Flat on the Middle Yuba, he went to the neighborhood of Auburn, Placer County, and remained there four years, engaged constantly in Plaeer min- ing, with moderate suecess.
In October, 1860, Mr. Thornton removed to Tulare County, and worked on the stoek rineh of Win. T. Cole, on the north side of King's River, near the present head of Cole Slough" In June, 1863, he went to the south side of King's River, and worked on the raneh of David Burris, near Burris' Point, till the following April. In September, 1864, he formed a part- nership with Mr. Burris, in the stoek business, and the next spring he purchased from A. P. Cromley his present home, ten miles northeast of Hanford, to which he has sinee added adjacent lands. Mr. Thornton, after fourteen years spent in stock-raising, has, for five years past, been one of the most extensive grain-raisers in the Mussel Slough Distriet, and with his renters sows every year about 1,500 aeres of wheat and barley.
Mr. Thornton has never married, but is now turning his thoughts in that direetion.
DANIEL SPANGLER is one of the earliest settlers of Tulare, a California pioneer, and withal, a man of high intelligenee and sterling integrity. He was born in Pennsylvania, in 1828, and six or seven years later taken by his parents to Maeon County Illinois, where the family permanently settled. The youth received such education as was imparted in the schools of that period. He pursued the even tenor of his way until 1846, when war was deelared between Mexico and the United States, and young Spangler's soul burned with patriotie ardor to participate in the conflict. Though not yet nineteen years of age, he enlisted as a private in the Fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, Col. E. D. Baker, and with his eom- panions in arms went forth to do battle for his country. Baker arrived with his regiment safely at Brazos Santiago, on the Gulf of Mexico, and then proceeded up the Rio Grande and then to Camargo, when he was ordered to return and join
General Scott at Vera Cruz. Baker promptly obeyed the order, returned to Matamoras on the Rio Grande and thence marched overland to Victoria, where General Taylor was stopped in his advanee by an order to return to Monterey. Colonel Baker with his command continued on to Tampieo, and then by transports arrived before Vera Cruz participated in the bombardment and possession of the city. Proceeding on the road leading to the Halls of the Montezumas, young Spangler assisted in the conflict at the Puente Nacional and then in the great battle of Cerro Gordo. The Illinois Regi- ment, to which Spangler was attached, was disbanded, their term of enlistment having expired and " the young hero covered with glory " returned to his home in Illinois. Soon after his return home he married Miss Martha Rea, a young lady of much amiability and intellectual endowments.
In the fall of 1848 the startling intelligenee of the discovery of go'd in California was announeed to the people of the United States, with the additional news of the gold being found in great profusion and extracted with facility from a vast auriferous region. The wildest excitement prevailed, and persons of every elass were busily engaged in preparing to start for the new El Dorado. In the latter part of 1849, leav- ing his wife and child comfortably situated in Illinois, Spangler started for California by water, but did not reach his destina- tion until some time in the following year, 1850. In 1852 he returned for his family and with them eame by way of the Isthmus of Panama baek to this country. After awhile he settled his family with the father of Mrs. Spangler, near San Jose. He repaired to Tuolumne County and engaged in min- ing for a few years. Years ago he settled at his present place on King's River, where he has resided ever sinee and been engaged in the voeation of a farmer. At the time he settled here there were but three or four persons on King's River.
His home, as will be seen in the illustration, is surrounded by every convenienee, such as out-buildings, wind-mill. The surroundings of the house exhibit the taste as well as prosperity of the owner. The yard is filled with shrubs and trees, and in front is a hedge of evergreens. At either side are orehards of a variety of fruit, as well as a thrifty vineyard of grapes. He keeps considerable stoek and earries on a variety of farm- ing. His place justly receives the name of the " pioneer farm."
Five Supervisor Districts.
IN July, 1882, the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with the requirements of the Political Code, re-distrieted the county, making five Supervisor districts, five road districts, and five Judicial townships. By this arrangement, each road district and Judicial township are the same size, and include the same territory as the Supervisor distriets.
Supervisor District No. 1 is bounded so as to include Tipton,
192
ELECTIONS HELD IN TULARE COUNTY.
Woodville, Porterville, Saucelito, Frazier Valley, Mountain View, and White River Election Precincts.
Supervisor District No. 2 is bounded so as to include Tulare, Farmersville, and Yokohl Election Precincts.
Supervisor District No. 3 is bounded to include Visalia, Hamilton, Kawcah, and Mineral King Election Precincts.
Supervisor District No 4 includes Grand View, Wilson, Sand Creek, Elbow, Venice, Ash Spring, and Forest Election Precincts. Supervisor District No. 5 includes Lemoore, Grangeville, Hanford, Excelsior, and Lake Side Election Precincts.
VOTES CAST AT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 1880. .
The following is the complete returns by precincts of the last Presidential Election in Tulare County, held in Novem- ber, 1880.
PRESIDENT.
CONGRESSMEN.
James A. Garfield, R.
W. S. Hancock, D ..
Romualdo Pacheco, R.
Wallace Deach, D.
J. F. Godfrey, G ..
Mineral King ..
14
8
13
7
2
Kaweah .
15
10
4
10
15
Woodville
38
85
32
76
15
Saucelito
18
3
13
Sand Creek.
15
39
10
39
7
Wilson .
1
12
1
12
1
Porterville.
99
126
97
121
15
Mountain View
10
22
6
27
Forest.
1
11
1
11
3
Excelsior ..
22
35
10
16
45
Grangeville
56
57
41
36
57
Tulare
92
71
84
63
18
Hanford
109
160
62
102
135
Venice .
10
39
9
37
5
Farmersville
64
69
57
63
19
Yokohl
7
14
7
14
Visalia .
208
280
201
261
32
Hamilton.
9
35
5
27
21
Tipton
27
23
20
20
10
Grandview
4
5
4
4
1
Lemoore
78
108
51
102
52
Elbow
10
43
8
40
6
Total Vote
919
1309
741
1121
503
Majorities
290
380
VOTES CAST AT ELECTION NOVEMBER, 1882.
GOVERNOR.
Morris M. Estee
VOTES CAST. 803
MAJORITY.
George Stoneman .
1,566
763
T. J. McQuiddy .
88
Richard H. McDonald.
160
COMPTROLLER.
Wm. A. Davies.
880
John P. Dunn
1,551
651
M. E. Morse
72
H. W. Rice
116
RAILROAD COMMISSIONER.
VOTES CAST.
MAJORITY.
E. M. Gibson 654
W. W. Foote 1,814 1,160
A. D. Boren 149
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
Chas. W. Dana 982
John Markley 1,489 507
J. S. Loveland 70
SENATOR.
Geo. F. Rice 1,272
57
ASSEMBLYMAN.
F. H. Wales 1,189
*W. L. Morton. 1,380
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
Oregon Sanders 1,435
291
A. B. DuBrutz 1,144
CLERK.
L. H. Douglass.
803
L. Gilroy 1,515
712
Wm. McQuiddy
276
RECORDER.
J. E. Denny . 1,303
15
Paschal Bequette. 1,288
John Goble.
ASSESSOR.
F. G. Jefferds
934
Seth Smith . 1,640
TREASURER.
L. J. Morrow
987
W. W. Coughran 1,623 636
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
H. F. Turner 1,208
C. H. Murphy 1,387
Volney Baker 925
Thos. Creighton 1,635
AUDITOR.
L. A. Rockwell 1,088
John F. Jordan 1,519
431
A. E. Hall 965
L. M. Lovelace 1,515
550
A. P. Merritt
1,059
H. A. Keencr
1,565
506
J. W. Loyd
1,124
Wm. F. Martin 1,491
SUPERVISOR.
Win. R. Harris
229
S. M. Gilliam .
278
49
Win. H. Hammond
245
41
A. M. Wright.
204
James Barton.
172
J. W. C. Pogue
355
183
Courtney Talbot
120
11
Jolın Cutler .
109
S. E. Biddle .
380
8
White River
6
27
Aslı Spring.
6
27
10
25
8
36
179
SURVEYOR.
710
CORONER.
TAX COLLECTOR.
SHERIFF.
367
*Hon. W. L. Morton died while the Legislature was in session, and, at a special election held, the Hon. A. J. Atwell was elected to fill the vacancy.
706
P. Reddy 1,329
191
NAMES OF PRECINCTS.
193
STAGES AND RAILROADS COMPARED.
Means of Travel Before Railroads.
THE following advertisements show the routes of travel, as well as rates of fare, from Visalia, before the railroad was con- structed :-
U. S. MAIL. TELEGRAPH LINE STAGES.
FARE REDUCED AND SPEED INCREASED!
On and after Wednesday, May 1, 1867, Stages leave San Jose as fol- lows :-
MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND FRIDAYS,
On the arrival of the morning train of cars from San Franciseo, for Gilroy, San Luis Ranch,
Firebaughs, Kingston,
Visalia, Tule River,
White River, Linn's Valley,
Green Horn, Kernville, and Havilah.
FARE THROUGH
From San Francisco to Visalia Twenty-five dollars. From San Francisco to Havilah
Thirty-five dollars.
Returning, leave Havilah alternate days.
RUNNING TIME-48 HOURS.
A. O. THOMS, Proprietor.
San Francisco office, opposite Occidental llotel, Bush Street.
W. G. ROBERTS, Agent.
UNITED STATES MAIL.
CHANGE OF TIME. HORNITOS AND VISALIA LINE OF STAGES
On and after May 1, 1868, Stages will leave Visalia on Tuesdays, Thurs- days, and Saturdays, for Smith's Ferry, Centreville, Millerton, Fresno River, Buchanan Hollow, Mariposa Creek, Indian Gulch, and Hornitos, connecting with Fisher & Co.'s Stages from Stockton, at Hornitos, and with A. O. Thoms' Stages for Kernville and the Clear Creek Mines, at Visalia.
Returning, leaves Hornitos on alternate days until further notice.
P. BENNETT, Proprietor.
Toll Road Notice.
On and after this date the following rates of toll will be charged on all freight teams running on Thomas' Road to the Pinery, and not freighting from their mill :-
One Span of horses and wagon $1 50 6 and 7 Span of horses and wagon §6 00
Two =
2 50 Horse and buggy 50
Three
= 3 50 Saddle horse 25
Four
= 4 50 Loose stock
05
Five
= 5 50 Pack-animals 25
Freight teams are only charged one way, and no credit.
J. H. THOMAS & BROTHER.
CRY FOR RAILROADS.
There was a cry for a railroad along the entire San Joaquin Valley. The Visalia Times of 1868, in urging the construc- tion of a railroad to San Francisco, said: "Such a road would be of the utmost value to this section of the State. Our citi- zens should aid in its construction, and it will add to their wealth. The road can be made, and may God speed the day." Again it says: "Farmers and stockmen are paying sixty dol- lars per ton for merchandise from Stockton to Visalia. The people might save $100,000 annually if we had a railroad. Land that is worth five and ten dollars per acre will be worth, after the completion of a railroad, from forty to sixty dollars per acre."
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
In 1870 the railroad company branched off from Lathrop with a road running through the center of the county. This new road was called the Stockton and Visalia Division of the Central Pacific Railroad, and made its way through the heart of the southern part of the State. Along its route sprang up new towns and villages, thus changing the general character of the country and forming new business centers.
This county has since the advent of the railroad developed into a rich agricultural region. The large herds of cattle that once roamed over these plains have disappeared from view ; the long horn of the Spanish stecr is no longer visible. The farmer has taken the place of the vaquero; the plow the place of the lariat. The branding-iron and the raw-hide, the lasso and the rodeo, have become relics of the past. The first bright gleams of a glorious future are dawning over the people. This great valley has become a unit in interest and alike in feeling; the two conflicting interests-agriculture and grazing-no longer cross their swords in eternal warfare, but now they are united and led by a common interest.
The railroad in the upper valley runs through what looks to be an interminable wheat-field. Wheat, wheat; nothing but wheat as far as the eye can reach over the plain in every direc- tion. Fields of two, three, and five thousand acres make but small farms. Here one man has 10,000; here another 20,000, all in wheat. In June the whole plain is one ocean of waving heads. As you look out and see mile after mile without a division fence, twenty or forty miles apparently in one field, you are lost in wonder. All this great yield must be moved out of the county by the railroad.
The railroad reached Goshen in June, 1872. Mr. Hoffman, locating agent, accepted, as a gift, lands from W. R. Owens. In July a depot building was erccted, and the first passenger train reached there on July 25, 1872. C. M. Valle was first station agent there. The road was pushed on to where Tulare City now is, and a town laid out as described elsewhere.
VISALIA BRANCH RAILROAD.
The project of a branch railroad from Visalia was imme- diately broached, and after several meetings and considerable effort the road was constructed, connecting Visalia with the main line at Goshen.
The Times of August, 1874, said in reference to this railroad: "It may be well said that yesterday was one of Visalia's proudest days. Our citizens have long talked of building rail- roads, and have laid various plans and made many calculations, but till recently their efforts have been fruitless. The track- laying on the new road was completed into town yesterday, and the first train camc in at 6 o'clock in the evening. We feel proud that we to-day for the first time have the privilege of announcing that Visalia has connection with the commer-
194
RAILROADS AND THEIR ADVANTAGES.
cial world by means of a railroad. The switch and necessary appendages will soon be finished, and the road ready for the transportation of passengers and freight in a few days. The mail and express will also be carried on the cars. Let this be but a grand start in the advancement of Visalia."
ADVANTAGES OF THE RAILROAD.
Without the railroad for moving the products of Tulare County, it would be impossible to find a paying market for the immense yield of its fertile fields. Take for instance the wheat crop: Twenty thousand pounds is the average weight of a car-load, at which figure 2,400 cars would 'generally be required to transport the surplus grain to the sea-shore. If all were shipped by one train, the train would be over fourteen miles in length, and require something like eighty locomotives to draw it. This is only one item of production. Add to this other cereals, stock, fruits, etc., and the traffic is simply immense.
GOSHEN DIVISION S. P. R. R.
This piece of railroad extends from Goshen to Huron in a westerly direction for miles. This road passes through the noted Mussel Slough country, and affords an outlet for shipping the largeamount of grain, fruit, and stock of this fruitful section. The road is designed as a continuation of the line which now terminates at Hollister, in San Benito County. Huron is the present terminus of this Goshen Division, which consists of simply a station, and very little business is here transacted. The towns of Hanford and Lemoore on this road are flourishing, and each have a large trade and are supported by agriculture.
HANFORD SINGLE TRACK RAILWAY.
The so-called James Single Track Railway was put in opera- tion at Hanford a few years ago, and a few miles of road con- structed. The first operations of the road were considered successful. Dr. Bradley was President of the company and Joseph Clark Superintendent. Mr. Hobser was the first engineer. No permanent progress was, however, made with this road.
Several other railway enterprises, both before this onc and since, have been projected, but all failed. The object was to organize a new line to tide water in competition with the Southern Pacific.
HEIGHT OF PLACES.
The railroad company give the following as the correct heights of some important places above low water-mark of Suisun Bay : Visalia, 339 feet; Hanford, 249 feet; Tulare City, 289 feet; Lemoore, 227 feet; King's River bridge near Le- moore, 222 feet; Goshen, 286 feet ; Huron, 376 feet ; Summit Lake, 220 feet.
Capt. J. W. A. Wright gives the height of Tulare Lake at 200 feet.
Depth of Tulare Lake.
A VARIETY of statements were furnished us as to the area and depth of Tulare Lake, and Capt. J. W. A. Wright says: "Erroneous statements have long been going the rounds in various journals, as regards the extent of surface and the depth of Tulare Lake, to the effect that its water covers 230,000 acres of land, and that its greatest depth is sixty feet. The facts in the case should be recorded in a permanent work like the present, and are as follows, as was proven beyond question by Captain Wright's six days' voyage in the schooner Water Witch around and across the lake in May, 1882: Diminished in size as the lake was by the receding of its waters for several iniles on its northern, eastern, and southern shores, it covered at that time not far from eleven and a half townships, or more nearly 417 sections or square miles of land. This makes more than 266,000 acres, and its area, at the present writing, July, 1883, is but little less than that, although its depth now is between one and two feet less than it was a year ago. Its greatest depth at that time as shown by hundreds of careful soundings, with a good lead and linc, was only between twenty-one and twenty- two feet. So that its greatest depth now does not exceed twenty feet. These deepest soundings are found in a com- paratively narrow depression about midway between the mouth of King's River on the north and Terrapin Bay on the south, and this depression appears to be the old channel of the line of drainage, before the immense deposits of sediment from King's River formed the dam across the valley-a dam about forty feet high-which undoubtedly was the cause of Tulare Lake. Much the larger portion of the lake, which is really the largest fresh-water lake on the Pacific Coast, varies in depth from four to nine feet. On the last day of hersuccessful and pleasant voy- age, the Water Witch sailed fifty miles, going out to and beyond the center of the lake, at least ten miles from shore in any direction, and sailing northward after midnight, cast anchor at 6 A. M. next morning near the mouth of King's River, whence she had sailed six mornings before. Continuous soundings were made throughout the day and night with the results above given, corresponding with the results of the numerous sound- ings of the first days of the voyage. Before Captain Wright's party went ashore they visited, in the small boat, Pelican Island, which stretched for a mile or more south of the west bank of King's River, a narrow strip of sandy land scarcely a hundred feet across its widest part, rising only about eighteen inches above the lake surface, and without the slightest vege- tation. Here thousands of white or rough-billed pelicans (Pelicanus erythrorhynchus, Gm.), and Brandt's cormorants (Graculus penicillatus, Bonap.) build their nests side by side and rear their young on the bare sand. For their nests the
O.O.MATTSON MANUFACTURER. AND DEALER IN HARNESSº SADDLES
THE KERN COUNTY.
CALIFORNIAN. PRINTING OFFICE.
ELLIOTT LITH, 421 MONT. ST.
CALIFORNIAN OFFICE. A.C. MAUDE PROPRIETOR.
+
HARNESS & SADDELRY
OF
O. O. MATTSON
BAKERSFIELD. CAL.
UNION LIVERY STABLES
ELLIOTT LITH 421 MONT.ST.
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