The Western shore gazetteer and commercial directory for the state of California Yolo County : one volume being devoted to each county of the state, giving a brief history of each county., Part 12

Author: Sprague, C. P; Atwell, H. W. (H. Wallace)
Publication date: 1870
Publisher: Woodland, [Calif.] : C.P. Sprague & H.W. Atwell
Number of Pages: 626


USA > California > Yolo County > The Western shore gazetteer and commercial directory for the state of California Yolo County : one volume being devoted to each county of the state, giving a brief history of each county. > Part 12


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132


THE WESTERN SHORE GAZETTEER.


Damon is the present incumbent-[since transferred to Salt Lake City.]


The society has a brick church at Woodland, erected in 1866, at a cost of forty-five hundred dollars, and a parson- age erected in 1862, valued at fifteen hundred dollars ; in Cacheville, a frame church, built in 1868, valued at twenty- five hundred dollars. Total value of church property, eight thousand five hundred dollars. The number of members are as follows: Cacheville Church, Rev. R. Stuart, pas- tor, seventeen communicants, attendance fifty ; Woodland Church, Rev. W. C. Damon, pastor, eighty communicants. Sabbath Schools-One in Cacheville, attendance fifty; one in Woodland, attendance seventy-five. Summary-Two churches, with an average attendance of two hundred and twenty-five : two Sabbath Schools, with one hundred pu- pils ; church property, value at present ten thousand dol- lars, original cost eight thousand five hundred dollars.


Christian Church.


We are indebted to Rev. J. N. Pendegast, pastor of this church, at Woodland, for the following "Statistics of the Church of Christ (Disciples) :"


"The church at Woodland was organized early in 1854, with about twenty-five members, Elders Thomas Thompson and Joshua Lawson officiating. The membership has stead- ily increased, large additions having been made from time to time, until the whole number of names on the church register exceeds six hundred. The present membership numbers two hundred and fifty. In the town of Woodland this society, as a church, have college property valued at twenty thousand dollars and a brick church valued at eight thousand dollars. The church service is held on the Sab- bath, morning, afternoon and evening; besides the Sunday School exercises. The Sunday School is very largely at- tended-the pupils number over one hundred. In Buckeye a church of this Order was organized in 1858, with twenty members, and reorganized in 1865 with forty members. In Fairview, or Gordon Valley, another church was organized


133


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YOLO COUNTY.


in 1868, with eighteen members. Throughout the county the church is in a most prosperous condition. Summary- Three church organizations, membership three hundred and fifty; Sabbath Schools (one returned), membership over one hundred; value of church property, thirty thou- sand dollars. The figures regarding the Sabbath Schools are of necessity incomplete. The number of pupils prob- ably approximates one hundred and fifty."


Southern Methodist Episcopal Church.


This organization has a fine church, now nearly com- pleted, at Knight's Landing. It is frame, rustic design, with a commanding spire. Its dimensions are thirty-four by fifty feet. The contract price for the building is four thousand dollars, S. Smith, contractor and builder. Rev. Mr. Kelsey is the present pastor. We are uninformed re- garding the strength of the society.


Cumberland Presbyterians.


This society has but a few members in the county. Ser- vice is held occasionally at what is commonly known as the Union Church, near Cacheville. Rev. M. M. Dodson, residing near Woodland, is, we think, the only pastor belonging to this denomination in the county.


The United Brethren.


This denomination hold service at Brown's school-house, . about two miles west from Woodland. Rev. G. C. Starr, pastor.


Catholics.


This denomination have in course of construction a brick church in Woodland, of which Rev. Father Kelly, of Fol- som, is the pastor. When completed, the building will be by far the finest building of the kind in the county. The congregation is large and permanent, being composed mostly of farmers, wealthy residents of the county. It is expected that the church will be completed during the year and a resident pastor established in Woodland.


134


THE WESTERN SHORE GAZETTEER.


Congregational Church.


The first Congregational Church of Woodland was organ- ized during the present summer. At present the meetings are held in Templars' Hall. The attendance averages about fifty. A Sunday School has been organized with a large attendance. Rev. S. R. Rosborro is the resident pastor.


At Cottonwood is a small congregation with a frame church, built by the late Deacon Holden. ' This church has no pastor at present; late incumbent, Rev. J. W. Brier.


Baptist Church.


This denomination have preaching in Woodland and at two other points in the county. The church is now consid- ering the propriety of establishing their headquarters for Yolo County at Woodland, and erecting a suitable place of public worship. The Rev. J. E. Barnes is pastor. The two organizations are called Plainfield Church and Grafton Church, holding service at Plainfield and two miles north from Cacheville. The entire church numbers about fifty members.


Schools.


Owing to many causes, we are unable to present as de- tailed a statement of school matters pertaining to the county as we wished to. The marked apathy existing in many de- partments, which has prevented a fair showing of important interests, has defeated our aims. From the books of A. C. Kean, County Treasurer, who has rendered us valuable as- sistance, we have taken the following table, including the report of the County Superintendent, of August 26th, 1870. Names of districts, number of scholars and the amount of apportionment to each district is given, together with the balance on hand and credited to the fund of the districts named. According to the report of the State Superintend- ent, the whole number of school census children, between five and fifteen years of age, and entitled to receive State money, is two thousand seven hundred-and forty-three. 112. Amount of apportionment per child, one dollar and three cents. Yolo County, one thousand nine hundred and ninety- five children; amount of apportionment, two thousand fifty-


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YOLO COUNTY. '


seven dollars and ninety-four cents. The children having increased in this county over the census, the number now being two thousand seventy-seven, the amount of money apportioned to this county gives but ninety-nine cents per child. It has been so apportioned, leaving a balance of one dollar and seventy-one cents unapportioned :


Names of District. No. of Scholars.


Balance on hand close of School year, June 30, '70.


Woodland


339


$842 54


State Apportion- ment. $335 61


Buchanan


45


9 08


44 55


Washington.


116


440 23


114 84


Cottonwood.


52


80 40


51 48


Prairie


39


436 66


38 61


Cache Creek


49


166 13


48 51


Grafton.


138


985 29


136 61


Franklin


22


207 53


21 78


Putah.


40


335 51


39 60


Buckeye.


42


10


41 58


Cacheville


63


18 86


62 37


Grand Island.


17


91 18


16 83


Merritt.


49


253 60


48 51


Fillmore


52


31 32


51 48


Plainfield


64


. 159 65


63 36


Willow Slough.


24


64 69


23 76


Monument


23


46 84


22 77


Pine Grove.


30


47 49


29 70


Cañon


49


29 82


48 51


Union.


41


119 88


40 59


Woodland Prairie


18


133 53


17 82


Richland


2


51 30


1 98


Sacramento River


35


61 85


34 65


Monitor


51


19 35


50 49


Eureka


48


28 52


47 52


Gordon's


68


13 71


67 32


Capay


59


41 47


58 41


Fairfield


29


235 18


28 71


Enterprise


22


· 9


21 78


Liberty


27


15 69


26 73


Vernon


24


199 84


23 76


Pleasant Prairie. 49


265 00


48 51


Fairview


67


no report


66 43


Spring Lake


33


20 85


32 67


Yolo . 100


3 59


99 00


Mt. Pleasant


25


73 20


24 75


North Grafton


35


42 60


34 65


Clover


54


new district


53 46


Montgomery


16


156 87


15 84


Lisbon


21


new district


20 79


Total


2,077


2,056 23


.


136


THE WESTERN SHORE GAZETTEER.


The school-houses of the county are of varied character, some being very good and others the opposite.


In Meritt's District, a brick school-house was erected by a few individuals, Messrs. Cave and Curtis being the most prominent in the enterprise. The main part of the ex- pense was shared by these and a few others, who were dis- posed to have a school and school-house in the community. A new frame school-house was erected in Cottonwood last year and partially finished inside. In Capay Valley we find very good school-houses-one built by the late Mr. S. Arnold, and a few others, being very creditable. Near Woodland we find another brick school-house, and in Washington a very creditable frame structure. The nar- rowness of the inhabitable land along the Sacramento River presents an insurmountable barrier to large schools in that section. Being thinly settled in portions, the cost of main- taining efficient teachers is severely felt, and the same stan- dard of excellence is rarely reached there that is attained in more favored localities. At Washington, Cacheville, Knight's Landing and Woodland, the schools are kept up to a high standard of merit. The returns not having been made public, we give no percentage of attendance, how- ever much we might wish to.


Stage Lines.


From Woodland to Cacheville-Leaves Woodland, Mon- day, Wednesday and Friday, at twelve o'clock, noon. Re- turns same day in time to connect with the three o'clock down train. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, leaves Woodland at nine o'clock in the morning. Returns same day in time for the three o'clock train.


From Woodland to Cottonwood and Buckeye-Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, at twelve o'clock, noon. Returns same day, arriving at Woodland at six o'clock in the after- noon.


These stages carry the United States mails and Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express. A. S. House, proprietor.


The stages of the Knight's Landing and Colusa Stage


137


YOLO COUNTY.


Line leave Knight's Landing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, on the arrival of the morning train from San Francisco; and return on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving in time to connect with the forty-five minutes past two o'clock afternoon train.


Manufacturing Interests of the County.


Under this head are included the flouring mills, saw mills, sash and door mills, carpenter shops, blacksmith shops, saddle and harness shops, boot and shoe shops, wagon and carriage shops, and other branches of industry. We have in our estimates not included the cost of material, but simply the value of wares manufactured and the cost of labor employed. From this estimate must be deducted the cost of material, freight, loss, etc., which in many cases we were unable to obtain. In connection with this branch of industry, we take this opportunity of calling the attention of mill-men and manufacturers to the fact that this county possesses unrivalled water-power and facilities for the erec- tion of large mills and manufactories. Great inducements are offered for the erection of a woolen mill-such as free power, sufficient stock for a full supply of material raised in the county, light taxes, and many other considerations of vital importance to capitalists. The annual increase of sheep is a certain guarantee of an unlimited supply of wool for a mill of the largest class. The enterprising citizens should take this matter in hand and secure the speedy erec- tion of this much-needed element of prosperity.


The county possesses all the requisites for successful manufactories of various kinds, and we hope to see a sys- tem inaugurated which shall add to our material wealth and permanent population.


We are now placed in open competition with Eastern manufactories and Eastern labor. We posssss all the ele- ments for successful competition in our midst, and it re- quires but the direction of capital and labor in a compara- tively new channel to change the tide of exchange and retain within our own State the money which has so long


138


THE WESTERN SHORE GAZETTEER.


enriched Eastern manufacturers and impoverished our citi- zens.


High prices affect not the trader, but the consumer. The want of home industries affects not the rich; the loss is in- variably borne by the poor. The laborer can well stand a reduction in wages, provided the necessaries of life are re- duced in a corresponding ratio.


That wages have decreased is a fact; that they will fall still further is a foregone conclusion. We are no longer isolated from the world; we have joined hands with all nations and must expect their competition. To guard our- selves and our State against the consequences sure to follow this change, we must increase our manufactories so as to enable us to compete with foreign consumers.


Flour-Mills.


Yolo county has three flour-mills, located as follows: The Woodland Flouring Mills, Woodland; the Eagle Flour- ing Mills, Knight's Landing; and the Cacheville Flour- ing Mills, Cacheville.


The annual product of the mills averages about two hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars in value, which could be materially increased, as the mills possess a far greater capacity, amounting to three hundred and fifty barrels per twenty-four hours.


The brands of flour made at these mills rank among the best, having been long and favorably known.


Lately the mills have all passed into the hands of enter- prising and able men, who will, we hope, run them up to their full capacity.


Eagle Mills.


These mills are now run by Rhodes, Beatty & Co .- J. R. Rhodes, Sacramento City; George B. Beatty, of Knight's Landing, and J. L. Eaves, of Woodland, comprising the firm.


The first mill built in Knight's Landing was erected in 1856 by Lane & Sherman, and contained one run of stone.


139


YOLO COUNTY.


This mill made very good flour, and stood until the grow- ing trade compelled the erection of a larger structure.


In 1859, Mr. Zebulon Gardner erected the present flour- ing mill, which contains three run of French burrs, one run being used for barley, corn, etc. This run is the old flour run of the first mill.


The mill has a capacity of one hundred barrels in twenty- four hours, and turns out very superior work. The brand has taken the premium at the State Fair over all competi- tors, and enjoys a reputation second to none in the State.


The mill has been running day and night for some time, and will run in this manner during the fall and winter, the proprietors being unable to otherwise supply the demand. The proprietors purchase wheat for milling, paying the highest market prices therefor, and in all respects seem in- clined to render this in the future, as in the past, a first- class mill.


Cacheville Flour-Mills.


These mills were erected in 1865, by Dingley & Hatch. They have been in operation from that time until the spring of the present year, when they were rented by E. H. Easthan, long and favorably known in connection with the Eagle Mills, Knight's Landing. Mr. Easthan has thor- oughly overhauled and rebuilt the mills, adding a steam engine, thereby enabling him to carry on his business at any season of the year. Formerly the motive power was water.


Mr. Easthan has added a new run of French burrs, and feels confident that with his experience as a miller (thirty years), he can turn out as good work as can be found else- where.


It is the intention to make this a first-class merchant and custom-mill. A ready market for wheat can be obtained here at all times. The mill has a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels in twenty-four hours.


Seely's Flour-Mill.


Mr. George B. Seely is erecting a flour-mill on Putah


140


THE WESTERN SHORE GAZETTEER.


Creek, the motive power of which will be water. It will contain two run of burrs, and be ready for business by the last of October.


Woodland Flouring Mills.


These mills were erected by Adam Gerlach and F. S. Freeman, in the spring of 1863. Since that time they have been in constant use, turning out a large amount of work. They are now run by Rhodes, Eaves & Co .- J. R. Rhodes, of Sacramento; George R. Beatty, of Knight's Landing, and J. M. Eaves, of Woodland, constituting the company. These gentlemen have thoroughly overhauled and repaired the mills, and are now prepared to do first-class work in every particular. They will be run henceforth as mer- chant and custom mills. The proprietors prepared the mills expressly with this view. The farmers in the vicin- ity can find here a ready market for their wheat. These mills have a capacity of one hundred barrels per twenty- four hours. Their average has been sixty barrels per day, running eight months in the year.


Crouse's Saw-Mill


Is located at Washington Water Works, Washington. It is used for wood-sawing for the railroad company and local markets, also for light splitting. A turning lathe and other machinery is connected with it. Motive, steam. Value of trade, seventy-seven thousand dollars.


Newton's Mill,


At Woodland, contains circular and jig saws for light work. Unused at present. Motive power, steam.


Smith's Mill.


Smith's carpenter-shop, Knight's Landing, is also pro- vided with steam power, saws, turning-lathe and every essential for rapid and complete work. Value of trade, four thousand dollars.


141


YOLO COUNTY.


Sibley's Mill


Is located at Woodland. Motive power, steam. It is used in connection with the carpenter-shop and connected with a turning-lathe, planing machine and a morticing and ten- oning machine. Motive power, steam. Value of trade, about seven thousand dollars.


Sashes and Doors.


A sash and door manufactory is in full operation at Woodland. It is connected with Sibley's Mill and owned and conducted by him. The average annual value of the articles manufactured in this department is four thousand dollars.


Recapitulation of Mills.


Three flour mills, with a capacity of three hundred and fifty barrels per twenty-four hours. Average time of labor, eight months per year. Average capacity, eighty-four thou- sand barrels. About thirty men are employed at these mills, their aggregate earnings amounting to eighteen tlou- sand dollars. Average value of products, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars (not half their capacity). Our esti- mates are taken from the past season, before the mills were repaired, and will probably fall short fully one-third of the amount of this year's work. We have estimated the run- ning time as eight months; it may be much larger for this season.


The saw-mills and carpenter-shops enumerated employ an average of twenty-three men, whose annual earnings aggregate twenty-eight thousand dollars. Total earnings of milling laborers, forty-six thousand dollars.


This resume includes only the milling interest of the county in grain, and lumber, resawed or manufactured. There are no lumber-mills, the county possessing no tim- ber suitable for lumbering purposes.


Leaving this branch of industry, we pass to a brief re- view of the


142


THE WESTERN SHORE GAZETTEER.


Wagon, Carriage and Blacksmith Shops,


Which are connected in a manner that forbids a separate . consideration. There are twelve shops in the county where wagon and carriage making is extensively conducted in connection with blacksmithing, and in most of the other shops repairing and a limited amount of new work is done. As an evidence of the growth and prosperity of the county, as illustrated by its manufactories, we give a short sketch of


Elliott's Carriage Manufactory


And blacksmith-shop. In the spring of 1856 J. McClure established the first blacksmith-shop in Woodland, then known as " Yolo City." It stood nearly in front of F. S. Freeman's old residence for some years, until removed to where it now stands, in the rear of the present manufac- tory. There was no wood department attached at first. In the fall of that year (1856) E. R. Moses commenced wood-working in the shop and continued till the following spring, when he opened a shop on what is known as String- town Lane. Meanwhile McClure had sold his interest to J. Wilgamott, who conducted the business until August, 1857, when he sold the shop to E. R. Moses, who removed from the lane and began business at the old shop, by first rebuilding it and removing it to where it now stands. From that time the business was under the supervision of Moses, who soon acquired a large trade, which constantly increased until he disposed of the business to the present proprietor, Clark Elliott, in 1864. From this small begin- ning has grown one of the largest manufacturing interests in the county and one of the most noted shops in the State. The reputation of the wagons first made was second to none, and by careful attention to the rules of the trade that reputation has been maintained. Fair dealing and good work, the mainsprings of success in any industry, have ever characterized the establishment, and have been the main cause of the rapidly-spreading trade and increasing demand for the products of the shop. Finding the old establish-


143


YOLO COUNTY.


ment too small for the growing trade, Mr. Elliott erected a brick shop, two stories high, twenty-eight by sixty feet, in the fall of 1866. The following year he added another, of the same height, fifty-six feet front and sixty feet deep, making a shop of ninety-four feet front and sixty feet depth.


We have no hesitancy in pronouncing this the finest and best carriage-shop outside of San Francisco, and in its completements and necessary machinery it is equal to any in that city. About twenty men are employed in the shop, which turns out from one hundred and twenty to one hun- dred and fifty wagons and buggies during the year. A specialty has been made in buggies, a department for this class, including trimming, having been established when the new shop was built.


In connection with this shop, we take pleasure in calling the attention of the public to the new style buggy springs manufactured here, the patent right of which is held by Messrs. Elliott & Hiller, the latter named gentleman being the inventor. We clip the following description of the article from the Scientific Press of September 24th, premis- ing that it gives a better account of the invention than we could. A cut of the springs when in position will be found in another part of the GAZETTEER:


" We have often spoken of the importance of improve- ments in the construction of vehicles, with respect both to the comfort of the person carried and to the ease of the draft animal. We have now another invention of the kind, which is well worth the notice of those who are accus- tomed to ride considerably in carriages.


"This consists in a certain arrangement of the springs and their connections, whereby all the motion imparted in traveling is given directly from the center of the body, and combining suitably inclosed rubber springs with wooden ones, so that the carriage rides very easily and noiselessly. A glance at the drawing will show how this is effected.


" Curved wooden springs, A, at each side of the body, rise in an arch from the bolster and rear axle bed, being connected at their centers by a stout transverse bar, shown in the cut. To this bar, between the springs, A, is con-


144


THE WESTERN SHORE GAZETTEER.


nected also a similarly curved spring, B, which, however, curves downward, and whose ends are fastened at or near the ends of the carriage-body. Thus, all motion received in passing over rough ground is transmitted to the body at its center, instead of at the ends, as is generally the case. The side motion, as well as the end motion, is also greatly reduced.


"The two side springs, A, are connected to the body at their center by a device denoted by C. This is constructed as follows: Two metal plates are fastened as most con- venient to the carriage body and extend down on each side of the spring. A vertical slot at the lower part of each plate, and a pin extending through this slot from the side of the spring, guide it in its motion. Between these plates is a block of rubber, usually of the form shown, taper- ing downwards towards each end, and curved springs in- close this block above and below (between the plates), one of which is fastened to the body, the other to the spring. Any motion forward or back will cause these springs to compress the rubber in that direction, without forcing it out of place; and if the pressure should be very great, the ends of the springs will be brought together, and thus give additional resistance.


" In order to give still greater elasticity, and at the same time prevent the connection at the ends of A and B from working loose, these ends are provided with slots, which hold blocks of rubber, which rest on the bolts. This is more especially necessary in the spring, B, as when the carriage-body rocks forward and backward it causes consid- erable end motion, which the lasticity of the spring, G, would not be sufficient for.


" The inventor having made strong claims for the excel- lence of his device, a representative of the Press was sent to test it. After a satisfactory experiment, he reports that for ease and comfort he knows of no superior, if of an equal.


"A patent for this improvement was granted August 11th, 1870, through the Scientific Press Patent Agency, to John R. Hiller and Clark Elliott, of Woodland, Yolo


145


YOLO COUNTY.


County, Cal., who may be addressed for any further infor- mation."


This is one of the institutions that add wealth and pros- perity to a place-first in the permanent and valuable build- ings erected, and secondly in the products of the business. Mechanics are producers; and a town can rate its wealth and claim permanent prosperity according to its manufac- tures. In this respect Woodland is far in advance of many towns, her superiors in size but not in enterprising business men and manufacturing interests.




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