USA > California > Alameda County > Washington Township > History of Washington Township, Alameda County, California > Part 6
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San Leandro's triumph as a county seat was shortlived, for after the first meeting of the Board of Supervisors the county business was seriously interrupted by the discovery that the transfer of the county seat was illegal. This brought about a second removal, which necessitated the vacating of a new $1,200 court house at San Leandro, and the transferring back across the salt marshes to Alvarado of all the paraphernalia of office, where it remained until moved back again, by an act of legislature.
Upon this return of the county seat to the banks of Alameda Creek. the Board of Supervisors held its first session in its old home on the 16th day of August. 1855.
The fight for the transfer of the county seat was by no means ended, for on February 8, 1856, the state legislature confirmed the legality of the election for removal to San Leandro. By this means, justice was, for the third time, set in motion, and the Board again convened at San Leandro.
A curious incident occurred in the loss of public monies, belong- ing to both state and county, which was stolen from an insecure place of deposit in that town during the incumbency of J. S. Mars- ton as county treasurer. The sum stolen was $7,156.44, a remark- ably large amount for those days.
In 1853 the first private school was established, with five pupils, the tuition being $5 per month. Not long after the public school was inaugurated, with Mrs. Warren as teacher. As in many other young communities, the teacher of this school "boarded around " among the different families of the community.
The first bridge across Alameda creek was built and wholly paid for by the Horner brothers. It stood on the exact location of the present bridge near the sugar refinery, and cost those enter- prising citizens $1,100. They also constructed the second bridge at Alvarado on the Mt. Eden road, but the cost of this one was later paid by the county.
The votes cast at an election in Alvarado on the 30th day of December, 1854, numbere.1 3,268. It was said by some of the pioneers that 500 votes were imported from San Francisco.
At that time it was considered much more aristocratic to-be a dweller of Alvarado than of Union City. The social conditions of the little communities were very pleasant in those years, balls and parties being quite common. But up to 1860 the moral and
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
religious welfare of the people had failed to receive much attention. As exceptions, there were occasional services held in the Brooklyn House at Union City by Mr. Horner, who was a Mormon elder, and now and then a sermon by Rev. W. W. Brier, a Presbyterian clergyman. No regular religious exercises, however, occupied the people on Sundays, and it was not until a Sunday morning in 1860 that the first Sabbath school was started. This was estab- lished by the efforts of two good women, Mrs. Charlotte Cornell, now a resident of San Francisco (who on May day of 1903 cele- brated her 85th birthday), and Mrs. Julia Thompson. One of these ladies was a Presbyterian, the other a Methodist. The Sab- bath school was held in the public school building.
To the untiring energy and care of Mrs. Cornell was largely due the building and furnishing of the Presbyterian Church, while to the fostering love of Mrs. Thompson was intrusted the interests of the Methodists. Both buildings were completed in 1860, the Methodist a few months the earlier. These religious edifices were for a long time called, "Charlotte's Temple " and "Julia's Chapel."
Dr. Hamilton, of Oakland, preached the first sermon in the new Presbyterian Church, on Sunday, May, 1861.
The Methodist Church, by removal and death of its members, lost nearly all its congregation, and twenty years since the church building was sold.
The history of the Presbyterian Church is one of prosperity, which includes the construction of a handsome place of worship on the old location in 1902.
A Catholic church building was erected in 1863, and is still occupied as a place of worship. The building was dedicated by Archbishop Alemany, and Father Fredi was the first priest in charge. The first church people were mostly Spaniards. A real hero, patriot and friend to church and community was Capt. C. S. Eigenbrodt, who lived on a farm near Alvarado. He was of Ger- man descent, though a native of New York and a graduate of West Point. Capt. Eigenbrodt was killed in action during the Civil War, in Shenandoah Valley, September 2, 1864.
To the town he left a sum of money to be used for the found- ing of a library. This was the nucleus of the present Odd Fellows' library. Capt. Eigenbrodt served one term as supervisor, and was a member of Crusade Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Alvarado.
The Alvarado Home Guard was formed in 1862, and was com- manded by Capt. Ephriam Dyer, but was never called into action ; the other officers were: 1st Lieutenant, C. P. Johnson; 2d Lieu- tenant, Joseph Mckeown; 3d Lieutenant, H. C. Smith; Orderly Sergeant, Frank Gilman.
The citizens decided that July 4, 1863, should be celebrated
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UNION CITY AND ALVARADO
with spirit and as loud a noise as possible. They collected $150 and bought a cannon, which was fired early and often on that day and consumed a large amount of gun powder.
The Alvarado Guards had a grand dedicatory ball in their new Armory on the 23d of September, 1864, in honor of Col. Jackson and Lieut .- Col. Rowley, which was the greatest social event of the year.
The earthquake of '68 did much damage, knocking down the large brick building and all of the chimneys, wrecking Stokes' store and crushing the bridge together so that it was impassable. A chasm was rent eight feet across near Mr. Dyer's place. For- tunately no lives were lost. In a brick stable, where A. J. Lattin kept a valuable horse, the timbers so fell that they formed a pro- tection for the animal from the falling debris, and it escaped with- out injury.
Alvarado's first railway was the South Pacific Coast Narrow Gauge, constructed in 1878, giving quick communication between that point and the metropolis.
In 1890, Alvarado was visited by a series of mysterious con- flagrations. Buildings were destroyed one after another, no one knowing from what source the fires started. Later events prac- tically proved that all of this disturbance was of incendiary origin, there being unmistakeable evidence to this effect. One death occurred from these fires, the victim meeting his fate in one of the burning buildings. Untiring investigation failed to discover the fire fiend, and this bit of history remains today as great a mystery as ever. The old buildings so destroyed have been replaced by fine brick structures.
Prior to 1862 the only salt manufactured east of Mt. Eden came from the salt works of Christian Borthson, located on the banks of Alameda Creek, adjoining the salt works of John Quigley below Union City. J. A. Plummer and sons-J. A. Plummer, Jr., and C. A. Plummer-purchased in 1869 from Lyman Beard a large tract east of Alvarado, upon which was established their "Turk's Island" Salt Works. Prior to the death of Mr. Plummer, Sr., in 1883, his interests in the salt properties were transferred to his sons, and were merged into the firm of Plummer Bros.
The Alvarado Sugar Factory is the pioneer plant in the United States for the manufacture of beet sugar. It has been in almost continuous operation under various companies for the last thirty- three years. The originator of the business was E. H. Dyer of Alvarado, now retired on account of declining years. At the time of the establishment of the industry it was not looked upon as a feasible proposition, and it was hard to obtain the necessary capital to enter into and develop this new industry.
FIRST BANK IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
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ALVARADO
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UNION CITY AND ALVARADO
The California Beet Sugar Manufacturing Company was organ- ized in 1867, with a capital of $250,000. Work first began in 1870. In 1872 the capacity of the mill was only 7,000 tons of beets per annum. The factory was run for four years, and then failed. The machinery was sold and removed to Soquel, in Santa Cruz County, where a mill was run for a few years and then abandoned
In 1879 the Standard Sugar Manufacturing Company was organized with a capital of $100,000. It was soon ascertained that more capital was needed, so it was reorganized under the name of the Standard Sugar Refinery, with a capital of $200,000. It was operated until 1886, when the boilers blew up. It was reorganized a third time in 1887, under the name of the Pacific Coast Sugar Company, and operated until 1888, when it ended in financial failure. The property was purchased in 1889 by the Alameda Sugar Company, an entirely independent organization, and has since been successful.
In 1897 the factory, under the management of E. C. Burr was enlarged to double its former capacity, and is now crushing 750 tons of beets per day, during each season.
The Hellwig Meat Co. was organized in 1868 under the name of P. Hellwig & Co. Some changes occurred at different times until January 1, 1903, when the Hellwig brothers and three others incorporated the Hellwig Meat Company, capitalized with $50,000. This company employs eleven men, and has the only cold storage plant in the township. The firm also has a niarket in Haywards. Besides this the Lowrie Bros. have a market, sending their wagons into all parts of the township.
Alvarado's fraternal orders are as follows: Reliance Lodge No. 93, A. O. U. W .; Wisteria Parlor N. S. G. W .; Olivina Parlor N. D. G. W .; Woodmen, Alvarado Camp; Women of Woodcraft, Alvarado Circle; two Portuguese lodges, and most important of all, Crusade Lodge No. 93, I. O. O. F., the first Odd Fellows' lodge established in the county, and organized November 26, 1859. The first officers elected were: C. S. Eigenbrodt, N. G .; A. E. Crane, V. G .; James Hawley, Rec. Sec .; William Hayes, Treas .; William Liston, Cor. Sec. Of the charter members there is but one now living, James Hawley.
In 1864 the Lodge erected a fine two-story building. The lodge room, banquet hall and library occupy the upper story, and the ground floor is used as a public hall. There is also a large order of the Daughters of Rebecca.
The Alvarado Bank was established in 1902, with a capital of $25,000, under the presidency of I. V. Ralph. The other officers are: Vice-pres., F. B. Granger; treas., F. P. Hellwig; cashier, August May.
The estimated population of Alvarado is 600. There are now but few representatives left of the old families who dwelt in the little village prior to 1860. Some have moved elsewhere, and their descendants have scattered into other sections of the state and of the Pacific Coast.
UNION HIGH SCHOOL
Centreville and Vicinity
HE highway of the early settlers from San Antonio (East Oakland) to San Jose followed the most direct route prac- ticable through the Alameda Valley. From a ford of Ala- meda Creek, just back of the Kelsey place, trails led across the country to the embarcaderos along the Bay.
Where these trails crossed the highway a small settlement was made, and soon became a thriving village, which on account of the location was called Centreville.
At the time, an attempt was made to give the place a Spanish name, and several times since like propositions have been made, but without success.
Geographically the town is about the middle of the township, and is on the northern part of the old Mission San Jose grant. It is near a river bed, which, geologists tell us, was once the main channel of the Alameda Creek, and appears on the old maps as the Sanjon de los Alisos, or Big Ditch of the Sycamores.
Traces of this creek bed can still be plainly followed. Deflect- ing from the present channel, on the farm of Howard Overacker. it runs through the Capt. Bond place, crossing the county road where the Newark road comes in, thence through the Episcopal church grounds, across the Allen, Hilton, Simpson, Bunting, Pat- terson and Rose places, thence southwesterly through the old Munyan farm-now the property of S. F. Brown-and the farms of Frank Sayles, Andrew Ross and C. S. Haley, finally reaching the Bay at what is now known as Jarvis' Landing. Sycamore trees still mark its course on the Bond, Bunting, Patterson and Sayles places, though many of them have long since been cut down.
From the town there is a most beautiful view of Mission Peak, sharply outlined against the eastern sky, rising over twenty-seven hundred feet above the sea. Its charms vary with every change of season, time, and atmosphere; always beautiful, whether cold and clear at morning or bathed in the warm purple hues of even- ing.
Back of Mission Peak, a little to the south, can be seen Mt. Hamilton and the Lick Observatory, and far in the northwest, be- yond the Bay of San Francisco, the outlines of fair Mt. Tamalpais are plainly discerned.
The range of hills that intercepts the eastern view is a "joy for-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
ever," clothed in varying hues, from the dull grays, browns and russets of autumn to the soft greens and wild flower tints of winter and spring. In the west glimpses of San Francisco Bay may be seen through the gaps of the low Coyote Hills, and beyond them the high wooded mountains of the Coast Range.
In the outlying districts are prosperous farms and orchards, homes of the successors of the once wealthy Spanish owners of this fertile valley.
The first men to locate within the limits of the present town, early in 1850, were George Lloyd, an Englishman, and Frank Pepe, an Italian. Mr. Lloyd brought his family with him, and for a time lived in a blue tent. Here he served refreshments to the weary traveler who passed his way. At one time he had a gate across the road, presumably to delay the passer-by and call his attention to the wayside retreat. He afterward built a good frame house, which is still in use as a part of the residence of Mr. Ben- jamin Mickle.
Mr. Lloyd sold his place to Mrs. Randall, who lived there sev- eral years with her two sons and daughter, Mrs. Hall. With her, also, lived her mother, Mrs. Todd, and the Misses Reeder, who are now Mrs. Howard Jarvis, Mrs. Frederick Moses and Mrs. Frank Jarvis. Mrs. Randall sold to John Lowrie, and from him it went to his children-the daughter, Mrs. Benjamin Mickle, inheriting the home place.
Frank Pepe worked for George Loyd for a time, but afterward bought a ranch near Jarvis' Landing, which he subsequently sold to C. S. Haley.
In 1852, or perhaps early in 1853, Capt. George Bond and Mr. Stacey Horner built homes in Centreville. The Horner house still stands where built, on the corner at the intersection of the Newark and Oakland roads; when constructed this house was one of the finest in the country ; on the death of the owner the property was sold to Mr. Tolin, and for years after his death his widow continued to occupy the place, and with her lived her sister, "Aunt Lo Smith," known far and wide as a capable nurse and a friend to those in need. All have now passed away and the place is owned by strangers.
Captain Bond's house was on the opposite side of the street, where it still stands in good repair. Captain Bond lived there many years and his son and daughters were prominent in the business and social life of the town.
Another of the early date houses, now almost in ruins, stands under a tree at the back of the lot, opposite the Catholic church. Mr. Torry, who built the house, hauled the logs from the hills above San Antonio and sawed out the lumber on the premises.
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CENTREVILLE AND VICINITY
C. C. Breyfogle, one of the first county assessors, built the house that is now the Chadbourne home, and about the same time Wil- liam H. Coombs, the first lawyer in the neighborhood, built the house (or a part of it) now occupied by Mrs. James Emerson.
In 1853, the ranch house of Mr. E. L. Beard was built on the farm now owned by Eugene Stevenson. This building still re- mains, the rawhide thongs by which hammocks were suspended, hang over the hewed rafters, the old bunks are yet in place and even the pole on the top stands as in the days when the flag was raised upon it to call the men to their meals.
On the farm opposite the Stevenson place is a little old house
The Old Beard Ranch House
built by the Scrivener brothers in 1853. The property now be- longs to Mr. Rollins.
In 1850, Mr. John M. Horner built a school house on the lot now occupied by the United States Hotel. The first teacher was Mr. Harvey Green, and after him a Mr. Kempster taught, and a Miss Longfellow from New England. Here the children gathered. some of them walking two and three miles from the scattered homes in the valley. From one of the pupils we have this account of those early school days: "We-my sister, two cousins, and I- started early in the morning, and cheerfully walked the three long miles of lonely road, with the tall mustard growing high above
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
our heads on either side. The school house was a small, plain, unpainted building, with homemade desks and benches for the older pupils. Not yet arrived at the dignity of a desk, I sat on one of the benches ranged around the sides of the room, and with others of like size and age dangled my feet from nine to four o'clock. At recess the older boys carried benches out to what is now the Presbyterian church yard, and turning them upside down, coasted down the grass-covered banks of the old dry creek channel. Our teacher was Mr. Kempster."
The first public school house was built back of the Crosby place, as the old residents say, "near the lagoon." This lagoon was merely a depression, connected with the present lagoon near Ir- vington by a swale, which in winter allowed the water to run from the larger to the smaller lagoon. Later the school house was moved to the corner of the Overacker place, where it was used until the present school house was built; the old one was then moved into town, where it is in use as a cyclery.
The following is a partial list of the early instructors: Mrs. Jonathan Mayhew, Judge Stephen Nye, Frederick Dann, Fred- erick Campbell, Kirke Brier and many others. Mrs. Mayhew be- gan her term of school as Miss Everett, but driving one day with Mr. Mayhew, to whom she was engaged, they met the Rev. Mr. Brier, also driving, and the marriage ceremony was performed then and there, none of the parties alighting from their vehicles. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mayhew were valued members of the commun- ity
Judge Stephen Nye, now so well known, says he got his first night's sleep in California in a house which stood where the resi- dence of T. C. Huxley now is, and that the first money he earned in the State was as pedagogue of the district school in Centreville. He was married here, and while a resident, in 1861, was elected District Attorney of Alameda County.
Another teacher who taught some years later was Miss Julia Rappleye; her life would make an interesting story. A woman of the strongest principles, she afterward became a missionary to Turkey, where she remained for many years. On her return to California she married an early sweetheart and died three months later.
As the country became more thickly settled, other schools were established. In 1856 the Alviso district school was opened, with Erastus Johnson as teacher. Others that followed him in those early days were: Charles Johnson, Miss Everett (afterward Mrs. Johnathan Mayhew), Miss Blackwood, Mr. Pratt, Miss Nay- lor (sister of Mrs. W. W. Brier), Miss Laura T. Fowler (who later became identified with the San Francisco schools), and many others
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CENTREVILLE AND VICINITY
who long since have taken places in the more prominent walks of life. Still later, the Lincoln district was taken from the Centre- ville and Alviso districts, and a school house built on the Alvarado- Newark road, about two miles west of Centreville. Of those who taught there we may mention Miss Mollie Reeder, Miss Emma Reeder, Miss Louise Cearley, Miss Flora Brown, Miss Cora Simp- son and Miss Addie Ross, all young ladies of our own neighborhood ; Miss Mott (Mrs. Comfort Healy) and Miss Thompson (Mrs. I. B. Haines) also taught here.
Mr. Emory Munyan, a pioneer resident, served as a trustee of this district from its organization until his death, a period of twen- ty-nine years.
Religious services were early held in the Horner school house. Mr. Horner, who was a "Latter Day Saint," preached in the after- noon, and kindly gave the use of the building in the morning to the Methodists and Presbyterians who used it on alternate Sun- davs.
The first child baptized there was Mary Brier, in 1852, a daugh- ter of Rev. W. W. Brier. The building was afterward moved to Irvington, where it still stands.
In 1853, Rev. W. W. Brier organized the Presbyterian church in the Horner school house, which has the distinction of being the first church of that denomination in the county; a large lot was donated by George Lloyd, and a church building of brick was erected in 1855, and dedicated January 1, 1856. This was des- troyed by the earthquake of 1868 and rebuilt in wood soon after. The first trustees were: Jesse Beard, pres .; Chauncey Cornell secretary ; Charles Kelsey, Henry Clark, and Jonathan A. May- hew. Charles Hilton was the elder. None of them are now living.
The long series of church festivals that have since been held in the township were inaugurated November, 1855, in the then unfinished church. Everyone from Mission San Jose to Union City assisted, and over $500 was added to the church funds.
In 1877, a manse was erected in the church grounds, and quite recently a Sunday School room has been added, nearly doubling the seating capacity of the church.
A Methodist church was also organized about the same time as the Presbyterian, and in 1856 a church building erected. A distinctive feature of the services was Robert Beaching and his bass viol, which added much to the interest of the meetings. The instrument is in the possession of Mr. Beaching's son, now a resi- dent of the village.
The Episcopal church was erected in 1867, and consecrated September 28th of the same year by Bishop Kip, the Rev. D. J. Lee being the minister in charge. Soon after came the Rev. E.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
Warren, who boarded around among the faithful and was the first resident clergyman.
The first baptism in the church was James Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Marston. A rectory was added to the church prop- erty in 1884. The rectory and church lots are large, well situated and valuable.
The Roman Catholic Church was not built until 1886, but is the largest in the township, with seating capacity for a thousand people. Father Governo, formerly of Mission San Jose, was priest in charge and directed the construction of the building. He is still the Father of the parish, and has the regard of Protes- tant and Catholic alike. His residence adjoins the church and his garden is always beautiful with flowers.
The first cemetery was laid out by J. M. Horner, and might be called the lost graveyard. It was located in a field back of the Samuel Marston place, now the Bunting home, on the southeast bank of the Sanjon de los Alisos. When the ownership of the grounds passed out of Mr. Horner's hands, it was no longer used as a burial place. A few of the dead were removed to the present cemetery, but many were left undisturbed in their first resting- place.
The graves were marked by wooden head-boards, the only kind procurable at that time; wild mustard grew like the veritable tree of the Bible and covered everything with its rank growth, and one autumn a fire swept over the place, destroying nearly every grave mark. Many have visited the spot in a vain search for their dead. The stream has changed, the trees are gone, but the dead sleep quietly on. The present cemetery was laid out in September, 1858, on land given by G. A. Loyd, although burials had been made in it before then. The first trustees were: Chas. Kelsey, Erastus Johnson, Chas. Hilton, Dr. J. M. Selfridge and James Hawley. Many old settlers are buried within these quiet borders whose names are familiar to those now living-some of them have borne prominent parts in the history of this part of the State. The names inscribed on the old tombstones bring up many a picture and memory of bygone days.
One of the first post offices established in the township was at Centreville and Capt. Bond was, perhaps, the first postmaster.
The first store in Centreville was a very primitive affair, opened by Capt. Bond, in 1852. He was succeeded in 1854 by Mr. Clemens, who erected a two story building about where Mr. Charles Plum- mer's house now stands. He used the upper floor for a dwelling and kept a general merchandise store below. He sold the house to Mr. C. J. Stevens, who used it as a residence. An apricot tree, trained like a vine against the south end of this house, gave it quite
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CENTREVILLE AND VICINITY
a novel appearance. The building was afterward moved opposite the Gregory House and used as a boarding house.
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