USA > California > Alameda County > Washington Township > History of Washington Township, Alameda County, California > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
An expedition to Alaska for gold left Centreville in June, 1882. It was organized by John Lowrie and Samuel Marston, and several members of the company were from this township. They reached their destination and located their mine, which gave promise of being very rich. Leaving part of the company there for the winter, Mr. Lowrie and Mr. Marston started for home with a load of ore, expecting to return to the mine in the spring. Soon after their departure from St. Michaels heavy storms arose, and the vessel was never after heard from. The following year James Hawley and others, who had remained at the mines through the winter, returned, but the company was never reorganized.
The town has a unique branch of the S. P. R. R., the freight and passengers being transported in cars drawn by two or three horses driven tandem. It breaks the record for speed, (nothing slower) for safety, and for politeness of conductor. It is said to pay better than any other three miles of railroad in the state. 1902 was a light year for freight, as most of the fruit in this section was dried, but over two thousand tons were hauled out, and nearly two thousand tons brought in. Fifteen hundred dollars' worth of tickets were sold.
A suburb populated by Portuguese is called Sack City. It will be well to give the different versions of the way it received this name. Some say the first settlers came from Sacramento. Others that it is like a sack, with only one road to go in or to come out. Still others say that all that the residents lived on at first was what they brought in in sacks. The inhabitants have cozy homes surrounded by small orchards.
A new industry has lately been established by the C. C. Morse Company of the Santa Clara and Gilroy seed gardens. They
PEPPER TREE ON THE HUXLEY PLACE
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
have leased five hundred acres of the Patterson estate, just back of town, where they raise all kinds of vegetable seeds, and also a fine variety of sweet pea seeds. The flowers when in bloom present acres of brilliant blossoms of many different varieties.
Many of the suburban homes about Centreville are interesting for their fine old trees and shrubs, planted years ago by men coming from eastern homes who realized the value of ornamental as well as useful improvements. Unfortunately, many beautiful old trees have been sacrificed by the thoughtless or over-provident.
On the road toward Niles is the orchard and home lately owned by Howard Overacker, Jr., now the property of the Spring Valley Water Company. The entrance to the driveway is marked by two sequoia trees. Adjoining is the home of Howard Over- acker, Sr., approached by an avenue of stately pines. In the vard is a large elm tree, from which the place receives its name.
Out of town, on the Irvington road, one passes the Fair home, with its beautiful rose garden; the Huxley's, with its immense pepper trees; and the Norris, Blacow, Eggers, Chadbourne and Emerson places, all having once been owned by the first settlers; many of the old houses are still standing. The Norris, Eggers and Blacow homes are still owned by the families of the pioneers. In 1860, Mr. Blacow, Sr., bought some lately-imported French merino sheep, which proved a good investment under his manage- ment.
The pretty cottage, with handsome grounds, of Mr. Fred Horner our present supervisor, is also on this road.
On one of the roads leading to Newark is the fine farm of Henry Dusterberry, who came here in 1854. Also those of Joseph and Monroe Norris, and the pleasant homes of John Mattos, Sr., and the Hon. John Mattos, Jr.
On the more direct road to Newark is "Sycamore Farm," the home of John A. Bunting. The house, grounds and barns are lighted by electricity manufactured on the place, the first plant in the township. The engines used for this purpose and for pump- ing water for irrigating, burns crude oil brought from the oil wells owned by Mr. Bunting in Kern County. A pomegranite hedge extends across the whole front of the place on the county road. a large conservatory and an aviary are other attractions of this hospitable home. Near the house are some fine old sycamores, which give name to the place.
The home of Mrs. Wales, widow of William Wales, who settled here in 1854, is further down the road.
On the Alvarado road are situated the homes and large orchards of Walter Walton, Benj. Mickle, George and Fred Lowrie. Just beyond is the big ranch of Eugene Stevenson, with its commo-
79
CENTREVILLE AND VICINITY
dious farmhouses. On this ranch near the creek are five of the largest sycamore trees in the valley, one of them being eighty feet high, eighty feet from tip to tip of limbs, and twenty-two feet in circumference at its base.
At the corner of the Decoto road is the Brier homestead, now passed into the hands of Portuguese, and divided into small hold- ings, upon which are erected attractive cottages. It was notice- able for its fine old maple and walnut trees, but many of them have recently been cut down.
The large farm of the late Senator John L. Beard is about a half mile down the road toward Alvarado. It was inherited from his grandfather, Mr. Jesse Beard, who came here in 1854, and engaged in farming and fruit culture, which has been carried on successfully ever since. Some of the pear trees, still in bearing, are of those brought across the plains in the pioneer days. Many fine California walnut and elm trees ornament the grounds. One walnut tree, probably the largest in the country, measures fifteen feet in circumference four feet from the ground.
Just opposite the Beard place is the home of James Hawley, one of the forty-niners. The family still occupy the house built by Mr. Hawley in 1852.
Some of the other early settlers of this locality were the Walker Bakers, the Saunders, the Whiddens, Curtners, Morrisons, Mc- Cormicks and Watsons.
The first Portuguese family to settle in the neighborhood was that of Frank Rogers, whose son now owns the place bought by his father in 1866. Since then many of that nationality have pur- chased land and built pretty and attractive homes. Their well- kept grounds and fields speak well for their thrift and industry.
Some distance from the village, yet connected with it by its extensive farming land, is "Ardenwood," the Patterson estate, interesting for its fine grove of trees, and its deer park, where, in the thickly-clustered trees and tangled vines, about forty deer make their home. Besides the natural growth of willows and live oaks, there are fine specimens of burr oak, black walnut, wild plum, hickory, maple and hackberry trees, raised from seeds and slips brought from the woods of Indiana by Mr. George W. Patter- son.
The Centreville public school has the largest attendance of any in the township. A new primary room with all of the latest improvements as to lighting, ventilation, etc., has lately been built, and is presided over by a daughter of an old resident, F. M. Hilton. H. W. Lynch, a son of the late W. F. B. Lynch, has for several years been the efficient principal, and has three assistants. The school yard is large, and has a number of fine, big trees. The
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
Union High school, which ranks among the best in the state, was located here an account of the central position. There are five teachers employed. The town has always been one of the business centers of the valley, and has a population of about 1200. There are good stores, hotels, and shops of different kinds; artisans and mechanics are well represented, and in fact nearly all of the crafts have some followers.
Along the tree-bordered streets are the pleasant homes of the villagers, varying from modest cottages to large dwellings of citified appearance. Nearly all have roomy grounds abounding with fine trees, and beautiful shrubs and flowers.
In selecting this site for a village the early settlers chose wisely so far as climatic conditions are concerned. The winds which suck down through the canons seldom blow here. The fogs which sometimes visit the valley drifting in along the mountains and the bay, frequently leave this place in sunshine, or if they do float in break away earlier than elsewhere. Near the hills, on very hot days, the heat is reflected, and then there is often two or three degrees difference in temperature in favor of Centreville, so that altogether it is a favored locality.
Deer Park, "Ardenwood "
Civil War Notes.
URING the years of the Civil War, even at this great dis- tance from the scenes of actual conflict, there were prepa- rations made for defence if not for actual assault.
A Union County Convention, held at San Leandro, June 14, 1862, was attended by many of the leading citizens of Washington Township. At this convention delegates to a State convention, to convene in Sacramento, were elected, and J. M. Moore, of Cen- treville, was one of them. In 1863, another convention of union- ists was held at the same place, June 13th, and Howard Over- acker was the elected delegate from Washington Township. In 1863 the union feeling was so strong that many patriotic celebra- tions and bazaars were held in aid of the Sanitary Commission. A somewhat ludicrous event relating to one of these celebrations was thus chronicled in an Oakland paper: "A grand celebration was held on the Fourth of July at Alvarado, a cannon was purchased by means of which no small amount of powder was burned, and the people in the vicinity complained that they touched the thing off too often. In point of fact, they did touch it off at a charivari of a newly married couple, placing it against the house, which did seem to be once too many times."
The next Fourth of July, at the second discharge, the gun burst, sending the fragments in every direction, so nearly causing a serious accident that one of the skirts of Capt. Benson's coat was taken off as clean as though cut with a knife. Some amusing incidents occurred in Centreville, although attended by a good deal of excitement; James Lewis, of the United States Hotel, who was a rebel sympathizer, hoisted on his flag-pole a Confederate flag ; he was waited upon by a committee of Union men and given the alternative of hauling down the flag or having the pole cut. The flag came down.
At another time, someone raised the flag on the pole which stood where the present one is, with the stars down. The story runs that "Old Man Harlan" saw it as he came in town and the insult fired his blood; he went into the store nearby, took an ax, came out and ordered the offenders to "right that flag in five min- utes time." The order was speedily obeyed.
At an enthusiastic meeting of Union men at San Leandro
S2
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
held October 29, 1863, there was a delegation from Washington Corners, with J. T. Walker as marshal, one from Centreville, led by J. M. Moore as marshal, and one from Alvarado, including the military company of Home Guards in full uniform under the lead- ership of Judge Williams.
During this year the Supervisors imposed a war tax of fifteen cents ad valorem on each one hundred dollars worth of property, and a poll-tax of two dollars per capita on each male citizen be- tween the ages of twenty-one and sixty years.
In the latter part of the same year, under a new State law, Major Thompson, of Oakland, was commissioned to raise a batta- lion for active service in the war, and a company of dragoons was organized at Centreville, known as the "California One Hundred." Capt. E. S. Eigenbrodt, of Alvarado, was the commander of this company, and John R. Sim, a son of Mr. Sim who lived on what is now the Shinn place, was First Lieutenant.
John Campbell, who lived near what is now Hall's Station, was a private, and also Hiram Clark, of Alvarado, who afterward com- manded a company of colored troops.
The battalion was subsequently attached to the Massachu- setts 2d Cavalry to fill out the quota of that regiment.
On the 2d of September, 1864, while gallantly leading a charge at the head of his command in an engagement in the Shenandoah Valley, Captain Eigenbrodt was killed. The news of his death was received here with great sorrow and all who knew him mourned the untimely death of this generous, warm-hearted man and good and loyal citizen.
LAGOON, IRVINGTON.
Irvington.
...
RVINGTON, situated at the crossing of the roads leading from the old Mission and diverging to Centreville and Warm Springs, received its first name of "Nigger Corners" from two negroes who kept a saloon on one corner and who, perhaps, were the first resi- dents of what is now Irvington. Afterwards the residents decided to change the name to a more fitting one and did so by merely meeting and agreeing to call their settlement Washington Corners. Objections were made to "The Corners," as it was commonly called, so it was determined to again change the name.
A mass meeting was called and it was voted to name the town Irving. The railroad people had been informed of the contem- plated change and through a misunderstanding got out a quan- tity of printed matter for "Irvington," so to avoid confusion Ir- vington was adopted as the name and post-office. Its proximity to the old Mission, the richness of the surrounding country, and the fact of two creeks running through the land were considered advantages in locating the town.
In 1846, there came to San Francisco the famous ship "Brook- lyn," with her passengers, who formed the earliest permanent settlers of the State. Among these passengers were John M. Hor- ner, Earl Marshal and his wife, Simeon Stivers (his adopted son), and Origin Mowry. In 1847 John M. Horner and his bride came to Washington Corners to live. At this time there was not another American resident between Mission San Jose and the Contra Costa line; and there were not five men of the Anglo-Saxon race north of San Francisco Bay. His son, William, born in 1848, was the first white child born in the township.
In 1847, Earl Marshall and Simeon Stivers came to Mission San Jose, and in 1850 settled on a large tract of land back of the Horner place and west of the Tule pond, known now as the Stivers' place, where Mr. Stivers' widow and children still reside.
Origin Mowry, in 1848, navigated the southern end of San Francisco Bay, and sailing up the creek, which afterwards became known as Mowry's Creek, landed at the place now called Mowry's Landing.
In 1849 Timothy Rix arrived in San Francisco and in 1853 settled on what is now known as the Montross ranch. He was the first postmaster in Washington Corners.
85
IRVINGTON
Among other pioneer settlers were J. T. Walker, who came in 1849; A. B. Montross, in 1850; Richard Threlfall, Nathaniel Babb, G. M. Walters, and W. Millard, in 1852: L. E. Osgood, John Blacow, Jas. Emerson and John Proctor, in 1853.
The late Mrs. Hiram Davis, a resident of Irvington, was the oldest native daughter in the State. Mrs. Abbey, an early settler near Mowry's Landing, was the first white woman to settle in what is now Oakland, and her son Robert was the first white child born in Oakland.
Capt. D. S. Tabbutt, a resident of Irvington, came to California in the early 60's as mate on a vessel which brought the lumber and machinery for the first saw mill erected on Puget Sound.
None of the early white settlers built dwellings of adobe, but used instead tents for temporary shelter or a redwood frame cov- ered with blue denim or white canvas. Then split shake houses were constructed, the shakes having been cut in the San Antonio redwoods. Nearly all floors were made of Eastern wood. More substantial buildings were made of the lumber shipped around Cape Horn, and still other houses were constructed in sections, numbered and ready to be put together. Of the houses shipped around the Horn there are two in Irvington. One on the Centre- ville road, on the John Stevenson estate, This house was brought in 1852, and in the spring of the next year was bought by Timothy Rix and erected on the spot where it now stands. The roof was corrugated zinc. The other is now used as a barn by Chris Miller, near the depot.
In 1851, James Hawley bought a cargo of lumber of Capt. Taylor in which were three frame buildings, one of which was sold to J. M. Horner and was used in building a part of his house on Mission Creek: The floors of this house were made of imported Australian eucalyptus wood. The old house still stands on the road between Irvington and Niles, in front of which extends an old iron fence imported from England. The walls of this old house now falling to decay with the wear of a half century, echo to naught but the frisking of mice within the hay and the cooing of doves beneath the roof. In contrast to this tumbling ruin is the well-preserved residence of the late O. O. Slayton, on the moun- tain road between Niles and the Mission San Jose, which was built in the same year by Gov. Blaisdell, of Nevada.
The first house in Irvington was built where the Palmdale Winery now stands and was afterwards moved to the corner now occupied by C. Rasmussen. It was used for a saloon, which was kept by the two negroes after whom the town received its name of "Nigger Corners."
The first school in Irvington was a private one taught by M.
86
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
The Old J. M. Horner House, Irvington.
M. Spencer, in a small building (now a granary), owned by G. M. Walters, situated where Clark's Hall now stands. There were eight pupils, but as Mr. Spencer received but twenty dollars a month, without the privilege of boarding round, his position could scarcely have been considered a very lucrative one.
The first public school house was a small building that had been moved from Centreville to a lot now owned by Mr. C. Christensen, near the depot. School was opened in 1862, with Harvey Green, a Latter Day Saints' Elder, the first teacher, and Wm. G. Horner, G. M. Walters and Wm. Hopkins, trustees. School continued here until 1875. Among the other teachers being J. C. Gilson and W. F. B. Lynch, both of whom succeeded to the superintendency of Alameda County schools.
In 1875 the present building was erected, and the school has now an attendance of 110 pupils. The present teachers are F. Kenneth Reynolds, Minnie G. Galindo and Julia S. Emerson, all residents of Irvington.
Aside from the library, which is a good one, the school is well equipped in all necessary and useful apparatus.
In 1871, Washington College was built by the people of the township, and in July, 1872, the school was opened by Rev. and Mrs. S. S. Harmon as a mixed school. Albert Lyser succeeded the Harmons for one year. In 1883, Rev. J. Durham and Mr. Pollard opened the school as a sectarian college for boys and girls, under
87
IRVINGTON
the auspices of the Christian Church. The Rev. J. H. McCollough succeeded Mr. Pollard the following year. In 1896, the school was converted into a seminary for girls, conducted by Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Ingram, and called Curtner Seminary. On the morning of July 4th, 1899, the main building was consumed by fire and owing to the illness of Mrs. Ingram the school was abandoned.
In 1900, W. W. Anderson, of Hopkin's Academy, Oakland, and later of the University Academy, Alameda, liberally assisted by the residents of Irvington and surrounding towns, erected a building on the site of the old College for a Military Academy, which is now a first class accredited school.
The first church in Irvington was built by the Latter Day Saints, in the early part of 1867. In the early 80's services were held regularly by the Episcopalians in this same building, conducted by the Rev. J. H. Babcock; but this building was destroyed by fire in 1885.
In 1884, the Christians, liberally assisted by the people of Ir- vington, erected a church on San Jose Avenue on a lot donated by G. M. Walters. This church is free to all denominations to use for religious purposes.
Mission Peak Lodge, No. 114, I. O. O. F., which was the second lodge instituted in the eastern part of Alameda County, was or- ganized in 1863 with ten charter members. The first Noble Grand was Chester Harris. In 1890, a fine large brick building was erected by the order. The membership now numbers eighty- two. Aqua Pura Rebekah Lodge, No. 193, was instituted on July 19, 1893, with forty-seven charter members. The first Noble Grand was Mrs. V. A. Rix. The membership at the pres- ent time is over one hundred. The Odd Fellows' Cemetery was dedicated in 1872.
On May 4, 1870, the I. O. G. T. instituted a Lodge in Irving- ton with six charter members, Wm. . Y Horner was the first Worthy Chief.
The Knights of Pythias was instituted in the early 'SOs and existed for about a year and a half.
Buckeye Camp, Woodmen of the World, was instituted May 22, 1897, with fifteen charter members, P. J. Crosby being the first Consul Commander. Afterward they affiliated with the Woodmen of the World of Centreville.
Court Irvington, No. 3802, Independent Order of Foresters, was instituted October 2, 1899, with sixteen charter members ; E. B. Thompson was the Chief Ranger.
Notably among the early local literary societies were the Dram- atic Club of the later 70's, the Lyceum of the early SO's, and the Irvington Literary and Social Club of the early 90's.
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
Among its most profitable pursuits in early days Washington Township ranked high in its vegetable productions. In 1850, potatoes raised in Irvington sold in San Francisco at fourteen cents per pound, and the profits from one thousand acres, in 1851, were $160,000! Three-fourths of an acre of tomatoes, the same year, sold for $10,000; and cabbages sold at $1.50 each.
Dairying also ranked high. Mrs. J. A. Brewer made and sold $2,500 worth of butter in 1855, making at each churning not less than $20 worth.
The first blacksmith and wheelwright shops in the county were built by J. M. Horner at his residence. There was then no Oakland, no Brooklyn, no San Leandro and no Alvarado, and people often came fifteen miles to get blacksmithing done. The first blacksmith shop in the town of Irvington was owned by Mr. Wm. Sim, who located there in 1850.
Albert E. Lyser and W. W. Theobalds edited the first paper in the township, the "Independent," at The Corners, in 1874 or early in 1875.
Mr. Wm. H. Mack was the first station agent and mail carrier and second postmaster; the original post-office building is now in the possession of the Mack family.
In 1853, Earl Marshall obtained some three hundred grafted fruit trees from New Jersey of different varieties. They came packed in moss and charcoal and were carried on mule back across the Isthmus of Panama. The trees were planted by dif- erent settlers, flourished and paid for themselves many times over after they began to bear.
A few of the old apple trees that were brought across the Isth- mus in 1862 are still growing and bearing fruit in the orchard at the Mowry homestead.
As Irvington grew in population and land was taken up and cultivated, new industries were established and improvements were made that added much to the appearance and general use- fulness of the town. Here is located the Palmdale Wine Co., which has the second largest wine cellar in California. There are also four smaller cellars owned by different parties. At Chad- bourne's orchard about $8,000 worth of fruit is dried each year. Great quantities of peas, potatoes, rhubarb, asparagus and logan- berries are shipped to the markets in their seasons.
In 1887, an iron flag-pole, 110 feet high, was erected.
Mr. H. Crowell, who has just sold out his business to Mr. Tier- ney and retired, was the "village blacksmith" for over forty years. His large manufactory of cylinder teeth has made his name well- known throughout the state; the annual output is from ten to fifty thousand. Adjoining the blacksmith shop is A. O. Rix's
89
IRVINGTON
wheelwright shop. Mr. Rix is the inventor and manufacturer of one of the most successful almond hullers on the market. He also carries on a large industry in cut flowers.
In earlier years the tule pond was a great resort for hunters. In the fall of '83, F. M. Smith, of Oakland, established a Gun Club there: houses were built and tended by keepers, but the pond being small and not many flocks of ducks flying, it has been abandoned as a hunter's resort. The tules from this pond are gathered each vear in bales, numbering several thousand, and are sold to the California and other nurseries, where they are used for the packing of trees and plants for shipment.
The Irvington Brass Band, which was established in 1901 with Mr. A. L. Sunderer as director, is a credit to the town. The ser- vices of the band are in demand for parties and dances, picnics, political campaigns, etc.
The burning of the big warehouse on September 3, 1880, was one of the most disastrous fires in the township. On Thanksgiving eve of 1881 the burning of Beard's barn destroyed the first old landmark. After the burning of the Walker warehouse, a hose and bucket brigade was organized; but this did not prove effectual in checking the big fire of December, 1887, which caught in the printing office and swept out nearly the whole business portion of the town.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.