USA > California > Yuba County > History of Yuba County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 13
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 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
Mr. Field was then turned over to the custody ot mother official- the Corner. Subsequently when Judge Turner met this pasm on the street, and found that Mr. Field was virtually five, he ordered the prison to be pled under lock and key. The former went to the office of. Mit: Fiebl, where the latter was receiving and consulting with his friends, und explained his erruml. Mr. Field protested that the sentence was illegal, but the officer being obliged to carry out his instructions, turned the kry and the lawyer was left fora brief period a close prisoner.
The following is the order imprisoning aud fining Mr. Find :-
DISTRICT COURT, EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. COUNTY OF YUBA.
At a term of sail District Court held nt. Marysville, County of Yuba, om the 7th of June. 1850, present Hon. Wu. R. TURNER, Junge tlm following proceeding was had:
" ORDERED, That Stephen J. Ficht ho imprisoned forty-eight hours. " ampl fined tive Indred dollars, for contempt of Court."
Mv. Field immediately sued ont a writ of habeas corpus, returnable forthwith before Hon. Henry P. Han, County Judge. After listen- ing to the testimony of four members of the Bar, and receiving the information from the officer that he had no process by which he held Mr. Field, the Judge discharged the prisoner, a result which greatly pleased the auditors. On Monday, June 10, Judgo Turner, after the opening of the Court, made an order by which Judge Haun " was fined " $50, and ordered to be imprisoned forty-eight hours, for liberating Mr. " Field, who was put in custody for contempt of Court." " Judge " Haun paid the fine under protest." " By order of the Court, Mr " Field was sentenced to forty-eight hours imprisonment."
The following order was also made, which created most of the subse- qnent proceedings in the Supreme Court and Legislature :-
" DISTRICT COURT, EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, COUNTY OF YUBA.
" At a term of said Court held at Marysville, on the 10th of June, " 1850, present Hon. William R. Turner, Judge, the following proceed- "ing was had:
" Whereas Messrs. Field, Goodwin, and Mulford having set at defi- " anee the authority of this Court and having vilified the Court and " denoneed its proceedings, the said Field, Goodwin, and Mulford are " hereby, by order of the Court, expelled from the Bar of the same." Judge Haun, having gone from the court-room, proceeded to open the Court of Sessions in his own house, that being the day fixed by law for its organization. Mr. Field having sued out another writ of habeas corpus, the court, presided over by Hon. Henry P. Haun, County Judge, with F. W. Barnard and O. P. Stidger, Associate Jus- tiees, proceeded with the hearing of the petition. The entry of pro- ceedings is the first in the minute-book, and is as follows :-
52
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
" Met at Marysville, Jane 10, A. D. 1850, at 10 o'clock A. M., and " was duly owned by R. B. Buchamman, Sheriff of the County.
" I'ressent, 11. P. Han, County Judge, F. W. Barnard, Associate
" IN THE MATTER OF STEPHEN J. FIELD.
" Application for habeas corpus.
" On the reading of the petition of the applicant, duly authenticated " by his oath, it is ardered that the prayer of the petitioner be granted, "and that. R. B. Buchanan, Sheriff of Yubn conuty, or any person acting " tukler him, and having said Fiehl in custody, bring the said Fiehl into " conrt forthwith, to be dealt with according to law.
" In pursuance of the above order the said Field came into court, and " proceeded to address the court on the matter touching the cause of his " confinement, und while making his remarks and previous to the close " thereof, mil while the court was in session, R. B. Buchanan, Sheriff " of Yub county, at the head of lifty men, entered the said court " non stateul that ho came there for the purpose and with the intent " to seize 11. P. Hann, County Judge, us aforesaid, and place him in " close confinement, under and by virtuo of a certain order or decree " mude by one Willinm R. Turner, Judge of the Eighth Judicial District " of the State of California.
" The court informed the said Sheriff, Buchanan, that it was hold- " ing its regular term, and that order must be preserved while it was " in session. The snid Sheriff, Buchannan, then left the court, where- "npon the business before the court was ngain resumed.
" At the expiration of some five minutes the said R. B. Buchanan, " asnforesaid, re-entered tho court, and stated that the said H. P. Haun, " County Judge, as uforesaid, must louve the court and go with him, as " he was peremptorily ordered by William R. Turner, the Judge, as " aforesaid, to arrest tho said H. P. Han, and keep him in close con- " finement for the space of forty-eight hours.
" R. B. Buchnunan was here notified that he was violating the laws " of the land, and that he would be fined if he persisted in disturbing " the session of the court. The reply of said Buchanan was ' that he " conld not be tritled with,' and immediately seized the said H. B. Han, " County Judge, as aforesaid, by the arm, and attempted to drag him " from the room where the conrt was in session, whereupon a fine of " two hundred dollars was then and there imposed upon the said R. B. " Buchanan for a contempt of conrt.
" The said R. B. Bnchannan then and there called upon the fifty per- " sons ordered ont by him as his posse to take holl of the said H. P. " Ilan, and take him from the conrt. But the persons in attendance, " emmeriving the order to arrest the Hon. H. P. Haun to be illegal and " unjustifiable, refused to assist the Sheriff'in the execution of his illegal
" order. The Sheriff' then retired. and the court adjourned to three "v'elock P. M.
" Conrt met pursuant to adjournment. Court adjourned to to-morrow " morning at nine o'clock."
The gentlemen expelled appdied for a mandamus, commanding Judge Turner to vacate the order of expulsion, and in the case of Mr. Field, the order imposing the tine and imprisonment also. On the fourth of July, the Supreme Comt decided both applications, granting the writs; but after Judge Turner had obeyed these orders, he again expelled the parties manmed on the twenty-eighth of October, while the Court was sit- ting at Nicolaus, the county seat of Sutter county. At the fall election of 1850, J. O. Goodwin was elected to the office of District Attorney, an event which placed both himself and Judge Turner in a delicate posi- tion. This difficulty, however, was overcome by the following order, made November 4, 1850: " Although J. O. Goodwin is not recognized " by this Court as a member of the Bar of the District Court of the " Eighth Judicial District, yet the Court feels authorized to permit " him, the snid J. O. Goodwin, to attend to all causes or other business " which may require his attention as District Attorney; but the said " J. O. Goodwin is prechdeil from appearing before the Court in any " other canse or causes than such as require his attention as District " Attorney." November 17, 1850, an order was entered restoring Mr. Goodwin to full privileges as a member of the Bar; but the other gen- tlemen still remained under the ban of the act.
But the end was not yet. Mr. Field having been elected to the Legislature, presented a petition to the Assembly from citizens of Yuba eonuty, on Monday, March 17, 1851, requesting the removal of Judge Turner by impeachment. A committee was appointed to hear the testimony on the charges, and reported on Tuesday, April 18, 1851. On the nineteenth, in the House, in Committee of the Whole, a motion " to indefinitely postpone the charges and testimony in the case," was carried by a vote of fifteen to twelve. This vote seems to have been taken while the members were under an erroneous impression regard- ing the state of affairs. Mr. Field had introduced a bill which became a law March 11, 1851, by which the Eighth Judicial District was changed to include the counties of Trinity and Klamath, and which necessitated the removal of the Judge, Wm. R. Turner, to that locality. The members of the Legislature were anxious to speedily elose the ses- sion, an impossibility if the impeachment trial was proceeded with. In this emergency, one of the Senators, misunderstanding Mr. Field's words, circulated the report that he would be satisfied to have the mat- ter indefinitely postponed, if it did not silently acknowledge the just- ness of Turner's cause. Under the law, Judge Turner removed to the new Eighth Judicial District, and in 1851, Hon. Gordon N. Mott Was
appointed by the Governor to preside in the new Tenth Judicial Dis- triet. Since the controversy, the proceedings of the Courts of Yuba and Sutter counties, have been marked by harmony and courtesy.
CHAPTER XVI.
CHURCHES.
The First Religious Services in Marysville-Experiences of] Rev. S. V. Blakeslee -- First Presby. terian Church-Account of its Formation hy Rev. [W. W. Brier-Methodist Episcopal Church-St. Joseph's Catholic Church-Church of the luimmaculate Conception- First Bnp tist Church-Union Baptist Church- St. ] John's "Episcopal Church- German Methodist Episcopal Church-Mount Olivet Baptist Church - African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The excitement in the East, on the receipt of the mining news from California, affected the elergy as well as the people of the world. Many resigned their pastorates, joined in the throng, and were as cager as the others to gather a goodly amount of the golden sands. There were those in the ministry, however, whose aim in seeking the western land was to lend their talents to the service of their Master. They threw aside all opportunities of speedily gathering a rich competauce, to labor iu the best missionary field in the world. The stories of their trials and tribulations are exceedingly interesting, giving an idea of the condition of affairs at that pioneer poriod, and also showing the lasting effect of early Christian culture. The first religious exercises were held in the spring of 1850, by Rev. Mr. Washburne, in a flat boat, moored opposite the Plaza. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Wilson, a Methodist clergy- man, who succeededl in building a Methodlist Episcopal church. In the month of May, 1851, Mr. Wilson died and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Burrell. The bell in the Presbyterian church was rung for the first time on Sunday, February 8, 1852. Its tones brought back memories of homes and families in the distant eastern land, and caused many n tear to fall.
One of the pioneer ministers of Yuba county was Rev. S. V. Blakeslee, an account of whose experiences is given. He was ordained a minister of the Congregational denomination in Iowa, and left imneli- ately for California on his own responsibility and expense. He arrived at Marysville, April 13, 1850, and the following Sabbath commenced regular services in the unfinished upper part of a two-story frame build- ing, owned by George Beach. The attendance on the first morning was abont thirty-five; some were professors of religion, while the rest were drawn there by mere curiosity. In the afternoon he held services on the Plaza, where a large crowd assembled. All were exceedingly attentive and respectful. During the second week, arrangements were made to preach weekly in Marysville at eleven o'clock A. M .; in the antici- pative town of Eliza, at two o'clock p. M .; and in Yuba City at seven o'clock p. M .; which services were continued until the failure of the Eliza project, in the month of May, after which services were held at the plaza regularly every Sunday afternoon, until the middle of June.
SWAIN & NUDSON, Architects & Buildert.
RESIDENCE OF P.C. SLATTERY, YUBA COUNTY, CAL.
MARYSVILLE,
LITH.C.L. SMITH, OAKLAND CAL.
٠٠
53
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
when a local Methodist minister took his place. Several trips were made into the mountains and mining districts in the summer of 1850. A munber of services were held by invitation in saloons and gambling rooms. When ready to connnence, the money and stakes lying on the tables were covered with the cloths, and all listened attentively und with great respect. The Christian hymns, familiar to most in their eastern homes, were sung. Many times a generous contribution was presented to the worthy preacher. After the benediction the tables were uncov- ored and the play was roomned as lively as ever.". 7 Another minister visited the field during the carly part of Mr. Blakeslee's stay-Rev. Mr. Humt, of San Francisco, who preached one Sabbath. In September, 1850, Rov. W. W. Brier arrived and subsequently organized a elmrch. Ho was favorably received, and efforts were put forth to creet a build- ing, Umit proved for some time unsnecessful, owing to the great expeuse and difficulty in obtaining lumber and materials. The attendance at the services ineroused with the growth of the population. The Sabbath School in connection with Mr. Blakeslee's labors was small, the attend. anco heing perhaps oight or ton. There were but few children, and elderly persons wero too Imsy to attend. Tho minister was tho only tencher. Mr. Binkeslee has been for twonty-four years Editor-at-Large of The Pacific, u wookly religious paper published in San Francisco, under the nuspices of the Congregational Church.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
'l'ho following items in the early history of the church have licen taken from the journal of Rev. W. W. Brier, who was the first Pres- bytorinn minister of tho pluco, and resided kore from September 7, 1850, to March, 1852, with his young wife ;-
"September 7, 1850. Traveled on tho steamer Governor Dana " from Sacramento to Vernon, thirty miles, and twenty-eight miles in " the stngo to Marysville. * * * Stayed with Mr. Tay in a ' whole- " sale store,' a tonton lowor side of the Plaza. Mr. Tay is a partner of " Dencon Loonard, of San Francisco; hnd n letter to him, and he " received me kindly; is n pleasant young fellow. He put up notices " of preaching with all the zeal of an ohl older. * * *
" Sunday, September 8. Preached undor the shado of a large white " onk tree in the morning. All stores open, all tho gambling honses in "full blast, tenms of oxen and a train of mules loading goods. Went " to tlw placo advertisod, and found akont twenty men sitting on oll " wagons, ex-yokes and logs. Ono said, as Hooked about, 'Sit down, " hero's the place to henr preaching.' Istaod on a little eminence and " commenced to sing a hymn. From every direction men gathered with " sad aud care-worn faces, which told of thoughts of loved ones far away, "wal remembrances of Sabbaths of rest. All listened respectfully. " At night I preached in the Court House. This Court House was "away out of town, on the plains, at the corner of E and Third streets.
" The only house near it was a square blue tent, six by ten feet, the "headquarters of Rev. S. V. Blakeslee, who traveled through the mines "and preached. It had a bouk in one end and sono blas blankets " With great dignity and geniality lie offered the use of his house free " of charge inntil I could build. I declined, as there was no shade. " The Court House was a room, twenty by thirty feet, with a Masonic " Hall above. Had a good frame covered with rough boards a foot " wide, no lining, rough floor, and a full supply of backless benches. "This was the place for all publie meetings and courts. Here, on " November 24, 1850, was organized the Presbyterian Charch, consist- "ing of nine members. Adam Farish and C. W. Mel lanahan were " chosen Elders. Dr. Wilder was the most active man in the church " work. George C. Gorham, of political notoriety, took an interest in " the outside matters of the congregation. He was a young man of " steady habits. Judge Field, now of the United States Supreme " Conri, was also a frequentattendant. Judge E. D. Wheeler, n young "lawyer, and also his partner, Jesse Goodwin, took an active part in " the business matters of the church. John Parks, the proprietor of " the United States Hotel, and a chief owner of the town, also aided "materially in getting up the charch building, which was created on " the corner of D and Third streets, in the spring of 1851. \ The sub- "scription was started February 12, and J. M. Randrez, who lived in " the original adobe ranch honse on the banks of the Ynba, made the first "donation. He was looked upou as a capitalist, and headed the list " with $100. De. Rice and Dr. Winters retelered good service in getting "np the subscription. Lewis Cunningham, now a capitalist in San " Francisco, had a bank in a little zinc kease on B street; he was a quiet " but true friend to the church and the young minister. Mr. Hamilton, " who has laid so many in the silent house of the dead, rendered good " service in singing. The citizens, with few exceptions, donated to the " huilding. It was finished and dedicated Angust 3, 1851, Rev. T. " Dwight Hunt, of San Francisco, preaching the sermon. It was a " wooden huikling, lined with cotton cloth, well seated with pews, and " would accommodate three hundred. The cost was nearly five thousand " dollars, with a debt of seven hundred dollars, secured by subscription. "These subscriptions were mestly lost by reason of the first great fire, " occurring a month after the church was dedicated. The fine bell now " on the church, costing six hundred and fifty dollars, was soon secured " by a special subscription. It was the first church hell ever heard in " the upper Sacramento valley, and no event in the history of that "region occasioned more good feeling on its arrival. This bell was " placed in a frame outside the church, and was thus saved when the " building was destroyed by fire. The Sabbath School was organized " on the sixth of April, 1851, with twenty-seven children. The church "increased constantly hy the influx of families from the East. On
" February 1, 1852. Dr. Wilder and Thomas Ireland were ordained " Elders."
In April, by the advice of physicians, the pastor (Mr. Brier) removed to the everst, near Centreville, Alameda county, where he now resides. Brv. I. Il. Brayton succeeded him. His health broke down in nine months, and he retired from the field. April 1, 1853, Rev. E. B. Wadsworth took charge of the church. May 25, 1851, the church was burned. The Trustees soll the lot on the corner of D und Third streets, it having become valuable for business purposes, purchased a lot on the corteer of D und Fifth streets, mal budt a cinqwel thereon, at. a cost of six thousand five Indred dollars. It 1859, the size of the congregation demanded a more commodious auditorimo, and the present handsome editice was erected on the corner of D and Fifth streets. This structure cost thirty three thousand dollars. It was dedicated October 14, 1860, the sernam being preached by Rev. K. S. Lacey.
The first Trustees appointed by Hov. W. W. Brior were Dr. A. II. Wilder, Dr. D. W. C. Rice, A. T. Furish, Thomas breland, and E. Hamilton. The Trustees under whose mangement the present church editice was erected were :- John A. Paxton, President; S. W. Solhy, Vice President; H. S. Hoblitzoll, Secretary and Treasurer; Jolm II. Jewett, F. F. Low, Peter Decker, W. K. Hudson, A. W. Cutts, und Dr. D. W. C. Rice. The present church officers ace :- Rev. P. Lynett Carden, Pastor; Dr. Eli Teegarden and A. W. Cutis, Elders; C. M. Patterson, Deacon. Tho church has a membership of seventy-five, and sustains a Sabbath School of one Imundred and sixty scholars, and is pro- vided with a large library. Allen Cooley is Superintendent. The Pas- tors who have successively jnesided over this charge are :- Rovs. W. W. Brier, I. H. Brayton, E. B. Walsworth, J. H. Brodt, W. W. Macom- ber, W. McKaig, James Matthews, and P. Lynott (Surden.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first quarterly conference in this section of the State was held in Yuba City, Jane 15, 1850, by Rev. Isaac Owen, Presiding Elder of the Feather River District. He was Superintendent of Missions, this District being then under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Mission Con- ference. In the summer of 1850, the people of this denomination then living in Marysville united and built a small elarch on tho west side of D street, between Third and Fourth streets. In this house was held the first quarterly conference in Marysville, the third Saturday in Sup- temher, 1850, at which time the Rev. Joshua Wilson was assigned to the pastorate. Mr. Wilson died in the spring of 1851, aml was snc- ceeded by Rev. D. A. Dryden. The successive pastors from that dute are :- Reverends J. W. Brier, M. C. Briggs, H. C. Benson, D. A. Dryden, M. C. Briggs, J. A. Bruner, J. D. Blain, William J. McClay, David Deal, Win. Grove Deal, J. B. Hill, C. V. Anthony, J. N. Martin, E. Bannister, J. L. Burchard, C. E. Rich, Win. McPheeters, J.
54
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
I. Trefren, and Martin Miller. The first oflions of the church were :- Cos M. Hansen, Jord Burlingame, and Projamin Landis Trustees; Hiro Palmer and Goo. M. Hanan, Dans: Arthur C. Barber. Himin Palour, Joel Burlington, and Bonj. Landin, Stewards. The prosent Printers and St .words are :- Justun Greeley, Wo. Comnow. J F. Entran, George Crowell, E. E. Mark, Newton Sowell, mul S. L. Frost. The present church editier, corner of Eand Fourth streets, is a connexions forma structure, with a komment for the use of the Sunday Solo. It was created in IXi2 und 1853, at a cost of about twenty six thonenel dollars, the amount having been raised by sub wription muang ilo' citizens. The church has u membership of ninety. right, wel sonintins a Sunday School attended by about one Imindre.l wbolurx. J. P. Swift is the Superinderlent. The library contains abont, four lumnnlied voluntary.
AT. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The first missionaries of the Catholic denomination in the city were Fothore Acker, Anderson, and Ingraham, who labored bere in 1851-52. In September, 1852, Father Peter Magaguotto, a brother of the religions saky of Passionnante, commenced his labor in the formation of a church. Chietly from his own fairse he erected a women church, 32x43 feet in size, und of one story. HE stood on the north side of Seventh street, between I'mund D streets, near the jovsent. Bishop's residence. Father Peter, as he was always culled, wus endeared not only to his own flock, but to all who knew him, for his piety and goodhess. The church was dedicated Much 90, 1853, and served as u place of worship two years, during which time Father Peter was busy in the erection of the beautiful cathedral which now stands as a nomment to his energy and zal. 'The corner stone was laid September 1, 1855, by Archbishop J. S. Ale- many, nasisted by Fathers Peler Magaguotto, Dominien Blava, and Blasius Rabo, lu Il, the Diocese of Grass Valley was formed with the ontledenl nt. Marysville, and Right Rov. Eugene O'Comwell became Bishop of the Diocese. In 1865, in addition of forty feet was made to the west end of the cathedral, and the tower and interior were finished. The structuur rovers an area of 50x80 feet, is forty feet high, with a tower one hundred fort high. The interior presents an elegant and im- using appearance. The couch is under the ministration of Father Grace, who is also Superintendent of the large Sunday School.
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
This is a elmich of the German Catholic denomination, organized in 1871. The elunch was dedicated May G, 1874. It is a frame structure on the northwest corner of F and Eighth streets, and cost four thousand dollars. The first priest in charge was Kov. Father Herde. The next was Rev. Father John Meilor. The residence of the priest is situated near the church.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Rev. O. B. Stone preached in the City Hall in January. 1854, and romainil bore as the first pastor of the Baptist Church, which was or- ganized March 29, 1854. Thur officers were William L. Williams. ('lerk, and A. P. Barnes, Denem. Services were heldl chiefly in the City Hall until it was destroyed in the conflagration of May 25, 1854. After that there were no regular services until 1860, when Rev. H. H. Rheese touk charge of the church. Services were then held in the Court House until 1862. when a brick edifice was erected on the corner of E aml Eighth streets, costing six thousand dollars. In 1868, Rev. B. F. Melafferty succeeded Mr. Rheese. In 1869, Mr. Rheese returned. That year he took a vacation of six months, and Rev. E. D. Simons filled the tailpit. Rev. C. L. Fisher came in 1871, and in 1872 was succeeded hy Rev. M. D. Gage. Mr. Gage departed in 1875, and the church was a year withont a pastor. In 1876, a pastor was called, and shortly after, a portion of the church withdrew and formed a new society. Since then the church has been able to sustain regular ser- vices. Previous to the division the membership was eighty-one, and there wasn Smulay School of over one hundred average attendance, with a good library. No Sabbath School is held at present.
UNION BAPTIST CHURCH.
The members of the First Baptist Church, who withdrew from that society in 1876, organized the Union Baptist Church. Services were held in the Court House for two years by Revs. G. J. Burchett and R. Morton. Since then the society has been too weak to maintain services. A Sunday School of sixty-five scholars, with D. S. Hyams as Superin- tendent, was sustained, but has since been abandoned.
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.