USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 18
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 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
The death of General Grant was appropriately observed in this county in 1885. The county board passed resolutions of grief and condolence and draped the county buildings for thirty days. In the churches memorial services were held and the unselfish loyalty of the dead hero was painted in linguistic flowers. The courts adjourned, the schools closed and the towns were draped in the trap- pings of death. Orators at mass meetings depicted in eloquent periods the splendid and historic scenes through which the deceased general had passed with so much credit and glory. Through the streets of Oakland solemnly passed the long civil and military parade. In packed halls, J. W. Martin, Rev- erend Doctor Horton, Mayor Playter, Col. E. A. Sherman, Col. J. P. Irish, R. G. McClellan and others told what a debt the nation owed to General Grant. The G. A. R. posts were present and conspicuous in all the said memorial serv- ices. The large stand seating 3,500 people at Harrison square did not accom- modate half of the people who wanted to hear the orators and fine, sad dirges and beautiful national airs. All the school children of the city attended the services. The following resolution was adopted: Resolved, that we, citizens of California, offer to civilized mankind this formal evidence of our appreciation of the life, labors and example of General Grant, and that without distinction of creed or party we declare him worthy the place he holds among the great- est men contributed by our country to the embellishment of the world's history.
At first, when the news was received that the Maine had been blown up, there was little excitement here, because it was thought that perhaps it was the result of an unfortunate accident ; but as time passed and it began to be believed that the disaster had been caused by the Spaniards, indignation was violently expressed and a desire for revenge took possession of the community.
On April 23, 1898, the President called for 125,000 volunteers to be appor- tioned among the various states and to serve two years unless sooner discharged. At this time the members of Companies A and F of Oakland and G of Alameda were drilling every night. Promptly came the notification that California would be called upon for two regiments of infantry, two battalions of infantry and four heavy batteries. The newspapers of Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda posted hourly bulletins while the early excitement lasted, and later at critical periods of the struggle. D. M. Connor of Pleasanton announced that he was prepared to enlist a company of 100 men for the war. He stated that he wanted all his recruits to come from the three "cow townships" of the county-Eden, Murray and Washington. A. W. Feidler, president of the board of trustees, Livermore, called a meeting of the citizens of Murray township to consider what action should be taken if any. It was announced humorously at San Leandro that the first men to be drafted for the war would be the bachelors, but this
138
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
was declared by others to be a maneuver to force them into matrimony. A number of students at the state university were members of the National Guard. This and the stirring news were sufficient to rouse the patriotism of the school, because many there announced their readiness to leave when needed. Prof. A. P. Hayne offered his services to Governor Budd. Lieut. S. A. Cloman in charge of the cadet battalion was ready to go at a moment's call. A branch organization of the Red Cross Society was promptly organized at a big meeting in Berkeley. Col. Charles H. Greenleaf, who had been ordered to the front, made the principal address, after which 141 persons signed the roll. The fol- lowing officers were elected: President, Mrs. Charles R. Greenleaf ; vice-presi- dents, Martin Kellogg, George E. Swan, Harry Hillard; secretary, Mrs. George MI. Stratton; treasurer, Whitney Palache. The objects of the organization were to assist the soldiers in the field. At the Grand Parlor in Nevada City, patriotic resolutions regarding the war with Spain were passed. From the membership of the Ebell Society at Oakland a branch of the Red Cross was organized on May Ist. There was a large attendance at the First Congregational church, Mrs. G. D. Abbott presiding. T. O. Crawford of the Lincoln school announced that a junior society of the Red Cross had been formed by his pupils, two of whom addressed the audience. About a dozen persons spoke briefly on this occa- sion. Reverend Doctor McLean said he had no heart nor enthusiasm in the war. Col. John P. Irish thought the war might go on for years and other coun- tries become involved. At this time the Berkeley branch of the society was fully organized. There were six Alameda county boys in the fight at Manilla bay. A Red Cross league was formed at Alameda on May 3d at the house of Mrs. George Mastick. On May IIth, the Red Cross league of Oakland moved into the Central Bank building and held daily meetings. They became affiliated with the national society. Steps to raise $2,000 for Red Cross work were taken.
In March, 1898, Company A contained about sixty men, with Charles T. Poulter captain; Company F had seventy-five men with L. C. Wenk captain ; and Company G had sixty men with M. W. Simpson captain. All had antici- pated war with Spain and were ready to march at the time the thrilling news was received that the Maine had been blown up in Havana harbor. In April, 1898, the people of this county generally admitted that unless Spain should con- cede the demands of the United States war should follow. Ministers who dwelt upon the horrors of war admitted that sometimes it was necessary in order to secure permanent and satisfactory peace. Reverend Hobart said, "Shall we fight Spain? There are certain conditions under which we must fight. As a nation we fought for our independence and before God were justified. As a nation we fought to preserve the Union and by Deity and history we have been justified. There are two conditions under which we will be justified: (1) Unless Spain makes just amends for the destruction of the Maine; (2) Unless she ceases her barbarities in Cuba." Other ministers, the newspapers and public speakers took about the same position.
At the first rumor of war a paper was circulated among the students of the university binding those who signed it to enlist in case of war. Many appli- cations to enlist in Company A of Oakland were made.
The first organized body of Oaklanders outside of the National Guard to formally offer its services to the Government was Gage's Artillery Drill Corps.
139
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
The officers were Francis J. Gage, captain, Louis Bermont, lieutenant and twelve privates. They passed the examination at Angel Island on May 10. Gates' artillery in May was refused admission into the service as such. They declined to join the regular army, and at once began to recruit a full company for the volunteer service, not knowing then that the National Guard organiza- tions would be given the preference.
Immediately after the message of President Mckinley had been read to Congress on April IIth, Capt. C. K. King called a meeting of Company A, Old Guard of Oakland, First Regiment California Veteran Reserves, for Wednes- day, April 13th at 474 Eighth street. This step was taken in response to a let- ter received from the National Volunteer Reserve of New York, with which were associated W. H. D. Washington, president and Generals Schofield and McCook. The letter said in part: "Your very patriotic letter just received and in reply we take pleasure in forwarding you a few enlistment blanks. We will appreciate whatever aid you may render the movement. The national reserve is to be called out by the constituted authorities only in time of foreign war against the United States, or in case of invasion of our territory."
Previous to this date (April 11, 1898) Robert W. Patton had written to the President offering his services in case of conflict with Spain, and was answered that the matter had been referred to the Secretary of War. On April 13th, Wil- liam J. Dingee donated the use of a large storeroom at 474 Eighth street to the veterans of Oakland for a drill room in their preparations for the war with Spain. To be in readiness Company A elected the following officers: C. K. King, captain; H. H. Woodruff, first lieutenant; S. P. Knight, second lieutenant. The company at this time voted to turn out at funerals of veteran soldiers in Alameda county, carrying the flag, having the drum corps and taking rifles to fire salutes over the dead. On the first evening the company drilled for half an hour on the new ritual. "Oakland leads the way. Our organization of Com- pany A, First Regiment, California Reserves, sets the pace for the rest of the state."-(Tribune April 15, 1898.)
At the Young Men's Republican league meeting of April 15, resolutions endorsing the course of President McKinley toward Spain were passed. They were introduced by James Oliver of Berkeley. At this time the league num- bered 360 members. With the opening of war on April 21st, the board of pub- lic works passed resolutions directing city officials to raise the national flag above the municipal buildings. At the same time the police and fire commissioners passed resolutions that in case any policeman or fireman should enter the army he should be entitled to his position again at the conclusion of his term of service.
On April 19th, a force of soldiers passed through this county bound for Chickamauga ; they comprised Batteries C and F from the light artillery at the Presidio, San Francisco-147 men with eight guns under Captain Pettit. A large crowd gathered at the Broad Gauge Mole to see them. On April 20th, the First regiment of the regular army passed through this county bound for the East. They were bombarded with flowers by the enthusiastic crowd that assembled at the mole. Among the troops was Sergeant-Major McCleave of Berkeley. On April 28th, Col. F. B. Fairbanks notified Company A to sign the
140
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
roll and otherwise be in readiness for service. Company F and Company G received similar notice.
The completed rolls of Companies A and F were sent to Adjutant-General Bar- rett on May 1, 1898. Each company had considerable of an emergency roll. In all parts of the state the Sons of Veterans organized for the war. Captain King organized the company in Oakland. A volunteer list was opened at Niles, W. B. Kirk, Fred Hamptman, F. B. Mckay and V. L. Philipot being the first to sign the enlistment roll. The young men of Oakland organized a cavalry troop on May 16th, with E. C. Leffingwell as captain. On May 17th the colored citizens of Oakland met at Bethel Church and secured 300 signatures for service in the war against Spain. The First Regiment of California Volunteers left San Fran- cisco for Manilla on May 25th under the command of Col. James F. Smith and numbered 1,086 men. The farewell demonstration was grand and inspiring.
Late at night on May 23d the Tenth regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers, 640 strong, arrived on two special trains and spent the remainder of the night at Peralta. Oakland had prepared to give them a fitting reception, but they arrived too late. On the 24th, as they passed through the city on their way to San Francisco, several thousand people gathered and cheered them and treated them to fruit and flowers. Decoration Day in 1898 was celebrated at Oakland with more than ordinary sentiment and grandeur owing to the existence of the war with Spain. There was a splendid parade and the graves in the cemetery were decorated with due honor and publicity. Rev. A. T. Needham was the orator. The parade contained the depleted ranks of the old veterans.
On July Ist there were three battalions of four companies each at Camp Barrett. Company G of Alameda was in the Second Battalion and Company F of Oakland was in the Third Battalion. All were given the new name of the Eighth regiment, California volunteers, and were commanded by Col. Park Henshaw. Camp Barrett was located on the Bruguiere place beyond Fruitvale. On June 27th Lieut. C. C. Covalt with about twenty men of Company F went there, took possession and hoisted the flag. The next day many tents were erected and four companies from San Rafael, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Colusa arrived and encamped. The remainder of Company F reached Camp Barrett by the 28th.
Soon after the war commenced the Red Cross Society of Alameda County was organized at Oakland. At the first meeting $2,000 was raised or pledged. On May 26th, $1,000 was sent to the Kansas soldiers. On July 2d the Oakland council appropriated $100 for the Red Cross service. By the middle of August the Red Cross Society had raised a total of $15,000 for the soldiers, of which $6,991 was cash and the balance mostly supplies. In July the Red Cross tent at the camp was in charge of Mrs. C. J. Martin. At all times the volunteers were well treated by the society and generally by the ladies of this whole community who brought or sent them flowers, fruit and delicacies and otherwise tried to soften the rigors of camp life. No sooner had Camp Barrett been occupied than the Christian Commission erected there a large tent where religious services could be attended by the volunteers. Later the Red Cross Society secured the old Howe house in Piedmont and converted it into a convalescent hospital for the soldiers. Several score of sick men were cared for at this necessary institution. In a short time Camp Barrett became unsanitary as it did not have suitable drainage,
141
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
and the soldiers were obliged to leave that vicinity and pitch their tents elsewhere; all moved to a position across the track of the Laundry Farm road.
In September three eastern and three California regiments were encamped in this state. As the weather grew colder they asked for barracks. In August the Eighth regiment drilled in San Francisco at a celebration ; Colonel Henshaw was commander. About August 10th it became known that the Eighth regiment would be sent to Manilla within a short time. The third fleet for Manilla left San Francisco on June 26th. Almost at the outset of the war boys at the university began to leave and enlist in companies at San Francisco and elsewhere with the hope of thus getting into the service more easily and quickly. At the battle of Manilla with the fleet of Admiral Dewey were several boys from Alameda county, among them being F. M. Cushing on the Olympia and L. A. Eberlin on the Petrel.
In the spring of 1898 General Warfield commanded the Second brigade, N. G. C. No sooner had the war commenced than he organized the First Cali- fornia regiment of which James F. Smith was appointed colonel. Through their promptness the regiment was accepted for service in the Philippines and Colonel Smith became ranking officer of the volunteer troops sent to the islands. In this regiment were twenty to thirty men from Alameda county. The entire regiment of twelve full companies sailed from San Francisco on May 25th on the City of Peking and was accompanied by all the craft in the bay as far as the Golden Gate. The last farewell parade in San Francisco was an elaborate and impressive affair. Members of the Red Cross societies were conspicuous both in the parade and in the farewell at the harbor mouth. The regiment took away many carrier pigeons which brought back messages from the boys when they were far out at sea. The regiment went first to Honolulu and then to the Philippines where it participated in the battle of Manilla, the fighting around Luneta, and the engage- ments at Paco, Santa Mesa and other points. It lost a total of thirty-eight killed and one missing. All of the Alameda county boys returned.
As soon as it was announced that the First regiment would return in August, 1899, elaborate preparations to give it a grand reception at San Francisco were made. As soon as it was announced that the returning boys were off the Golden Gate an imposing naval parade met them and escorted them amid waving flags and booming cannon to the wharf. Market street, San Francisco, was a scene of color and beauty rarely witnessed even on that famous avenue. In the glittering parade were Companies A, F and G of Alameda county.
The soldier boys of Oakland, first to return from the war, were not given a public reception by the citizens generally, which fact aroused much unfavorable and uncomplimentary comment. The matter was finally taken up by Company A, of the Veteran Reserves, and a reception was arranged in honor of all who retired to private life when the Eighth regiment was mustered out. They were given a magnificent reception and banquet at Loring Hall, Eleventh and Clay streets, on August 29, 1899. The reception was really given by the veterans of the Civil war, the Grand Army posts, the Daughters of Liberty and the Women's Corps assisting. The welcome in Oakland took the form of a parade, banquet and dance to all Alameda county boys who had served in the Spanish-American war. They were received at the railway station and escorted with due pomp through the streets to Loring hall, where they were addressed by Captain King, Mayor Snow, Mr. Crawford, Mrs. Abbott, G. W. Arbuckle and A. C. Henry. The boys thus so
142
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
fittingly received and entertained were as follows: W. A. Varney, George C. Eldridge, W. H. Hosmer, John Milledge, P. H. Raine, C. P. Hirst, John Bickford, Henry Luhrs, A. M. Jones, M. Loftus, S. A. Newman, Albert Bethin, W. E. Spofford, L. M. Thomas, G. W. Dell, A. M. Smith, J. E. Luttrell, Albert Berlin, C. R. Griffith, O. A. Poubson, Albert Egger, J. M. Hubbard, E. Harvey, M. K. York, Walter Carman, E. J. Leary, J. H. Robinson, W. A. Thompson, J. H. Kleupper, S. W. Platt, Q. C. Haly, Alexander Less, S. Kelleher, J. J. Silcox, E. J. Mckeon, G. H. Sheppard, Robert Mudge, Fred Field and F. W. Field. Alameda also gave the boys a formal reception.
In the summer of 1899 the people of the state prepared to give every volunteer in the war with Spain a suitable medal as a permanent badge and memento of his services. There was organized in this county several volunteer medal fund committees authorized to collect money with this object in view. The Native Sons of the Golden West were active in this movement. In August Alameda county contributed $600 to the volunteer medal fund and sent that amount to the central committee in San Francisco.
Decoration day in 1899 was duly and beautifully observed under the auspices of the Grand Army posts. The streets were paraded and at the cemetery the graves of the old soldiers were decorated. Rev. Alexander Blackburn, of Oregon, was orator of the day. In 1899 the Fifth regiment was reorganized with A. K. Whitton as colonel. He had formerly been lieutenant colonel of the old Fifth, but when the Eighth was organized he became major therein and served in the volunteer service until the Eighth was mustered out. In September, 1899, the alumni of Berkeley high school gave an informal reception to its members who had gone as volunteers to the Philippines and returned with honor-Russ, Berger, Hughes, Wilson, Riggs, Mix, Webster and others. The model for the memorial statue for the California volunteers who lost their lives in the Philippines was prepared in 1903-04 by Douglas Tilden, the distinguished sculptor of Oakland, and was accepted by the committee of prominent citizens in charge of the matter.
Mr. Tilden also designed a statue of Father Junipero Serra, a monument to the dead soldiers of Oregon, and Senator White's memorial for Los Angeles.
The first annual state encampment of the Service Men of the Spanish-American War was held at Foresters hall, Thirteenth and Clay streets, Oakland, in Decem- ber, 1913, under the auspices of the Oakland camp.
CHAPTER IX
HEALTH AND DISEASE, MEDICINE, ETC.
In 1856 there were only four medical practitioners in Oakland-Doctors New- comb, Edward Gibbs, J. C. Van Wyck and a Frenchman, De la Tavel. Doctor Newcomb was an enthusiastic conchologist as well as a doctor. He presented his shells to Johns Hopkins University about 1876 and about the same time accepted a professional chair in that institution.
In 1860 the Alameda County Medical Association was organized. The orig- inal records are missing, but a reference to the association in a San Francisco newspaper states that six or eight physicians were present, among them being two from that city. Previous to this date health measures were taken by the city authorities and it is presumed that a health officer or a board of health was appointed. The county board, almost from the commencement, were required to appoint a county physician whose duty was principally to care for the sick indigents.
The statutes of 1850 established a Marine hospital at San Francisco, to which the sick of that city could be admitted upon proper application. Further legislation in 1851 located state hospitals at Sacramento and Stockton, and in April following, $2,000 per annum was allowed to the city of San Diego for the care of indigent sick arriving at that port. In May, 1853, a general law was passed establishing a state "Indigent Sick Fund," providing means for its maintenance and prescribing the manner of its distribution to the organized counties of the state. This law was amended and its scope enlarged by the act approved April II, 1855, which among other matters delegated the care of indigent sick to the boards of supervisors of the respective counties, giving them power to appoint physicians, to erect hospital buildings, to levy a tax and to draw from the state hospital fund the amount apportioned to their county quarterly. Under this act on May 1, 1855, the board of supervisors appointed Doctors D. C. Porter of Oakland, A. W. Powers of Eden, H. C. Sill of Washington, and William Wilworth of Clinton, county physicians, who were allowed $2 per visit and $1 per mile trav- eling expenses, and in July following the first requisition was made for the amount of hospital fund due. The first bill allowed on this fund was to W. J. Wentworth for medical attendance, etc., on Frederick Campbell, $183.
The board of physicians was continued, with various changes and one removal, until January 1, 1856, at which time they were all discharged, the supervisors probably feeling that the bills resulting from their former order might prove a serious matter. The care of indigent sick was delegated to citizens. The matter continued in this condition until the following August, when it was decided to procure a suitable place and care for the indigent sick; accordingly a contract was made with Orrin Hamlin to that end, at the per capita allowance of $12 a week. This arrangement continued but a short time, and on April 4, 1857, an Vol. I-10
143
144
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
order abolished the county hospital from date and again committed to the care of the supervisors the sick of their respective districts. In February, 1860, a proposition was received from St. Mary's hospital, San Francisco, offering to take charge of the indigent sick of the county at a per diem charge of $1.25 per capita. Without hesitation the offer was accepted, and presumably all who could be safely moved were at once transferred thither, and yet among the allowances shortly afterward made was one of $146.25 to the hospital, and an aggregate to others for the same purpose of $488.30, from which it may be inferred that either the hospital was unable to attend to all the indigent sick in Alameda county or that the private citizens found county nursing far too profitable a source of revenue to be tamely surrendered.
From the establishment of the hospital in Oakland, August 16, 1864, to December 31, 1882, there were 3,778 admissions, of whom 466 died and 3,197 were discharged, cured, improved or left voluntarily. The new county infirmary was occupied about August 15, 1870, this being the date from which Dr. Coleman, the first attending physician, was paid. In 1874 the number admitted was 191 and the total 227. Number discharged, 162; total amount of warrants drawn, $16,117.01. On April 12, 1875, the board of supervisors ordered the erection of four new wards at a cost not to exceed $1,000. On December 27, 1877, a corpo- ration named the Oakland Homeopathic Hospital and Dispensary Association, founded by the ladies of the county, petitioned the board of supervisors for the use of two rooms in the city of Oakland wherein to establish their institution and afford free medical aid to the poor. The petition was denied at the time, but afterwards, on February 11, 1878, an allowance of $40 per month was voted with the understanding that the supervisors should have the privilege of sending patients to their establishment.
The following report of the infirmary for the year ending December 31, 1882, was presented to the board of supervisors: "The Alameda County Hospital was located in Oakland August 16, 1864. From that date to 1869, a period of five years, there were 356 patients admitted for treatment; 200 were discharged cured, 91 improved or left voluntarily, and 54 died. In 1868 the board of super- visors purchased 1231/2 acres of land near the foothills, 21/2 miles from San Leandro and 101/2 miles (not 14 or 16 miles as often stated) from Oakland, for an infirmary, paying therefor $5,535. In 1869 a building was erected and the hospital closed in Oakland and the Infirmary established at its present location. Other buildings were erected in the years 1875, 1877, 1879 and 1882. At present there is room for nearly two hundred patients."
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.