USA > California > Alameda County > The centennial year book of Alameda County, California : containing a summary of the discovery and settlement of California, a description of the Contra Costa under Spanish, Mexican, and American rule, biographical sketches of prominent pioneers and public men > Part 17
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The people of Alvarado, determined to celebrate the Fourth of July with spirit and make as loud a report of their proceedings as possible, purchased a cannon at a cost of $150, by means of which they expended no small amount of gunpowder. The firing of their gun could be heard several miles away, and the people of the neigh- boring towns complained that they were in the habit of " touching off" the thing too often.
The weather in June was not considered the most pleasant through- out the county. "For the last fortnight," remarked the Gazette, " the mornings have been cold and foggy; the noons hot enough to roast one; the evenings windy ; the nights cool and cloudy. People complain of rheumatism."
There was a spirited Fourth of July celebration at San Leandro this year. There was a grand procession, the firing of national salutes, singing and speaking. Rev. Henry Durant read an original
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hymn, Judge Hamilton read the Declaration of Independence, and Judge McKee, who presided, delivered a stirring address. Edward Tompkins was the orator of the day.
Among those who took part in the Democratic County Convention held in San Leandro on the 27th day of June, was Governor Weller, then a resident of the county, his home being at Fruit Vale. Judge O. L. Shafter, who was elected one of the Supreme Court Judges this year, also resided here at that time.
W. H. Thompson was killed by the imported bull "Buttercup" on the Forbes' ranch, near Centreville, on the 1st of July. He was found dead on the ground, with two holes in his body.
Constable O. B. Wood, of San Lorenzo, was shot in the arm, at San Lorenzo, by a Mexican horse thief he was arresting. He was a com- panion of the celebrated Procopio, named Tomas Radondo. He was subsequently arrested, tried and convicted on five indictments. He was sent to San Quentin for nine years.
The Grand Jury in their presentment condemned the condition of the County Jail, as well they might. One George Phillips, an un- willing inmate thereof, had a few days before taken French leave of it. Deputy Sheriff Amerman, recaptured him in a hay loft, took him back and loaded him with irons. These, however, he took off and made another excursion, leaving the following choice poetic morceau behind him, to commemorate his departure:
1 .- In the County Jail for two months I've been both night and day, Excepting once a notion I took to run away.
2 .- Unfortunately they caught me, Put chains on both my feet, And locked me up for ten days With dry bread and meat to eat.
3 .- The Sheriff kindly told me That I would have to stay Thirty-five days longer For trying to get away.
4 .- Then I determined I would not, As my sequel soon will show, That at the end of two months You bet, I am bound to go.
And go he did, beyond recovery.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
Information was received from Mexico that J. A. Griffin, a former resident and storekeeper at San Lorenzo, had been murdered on Yake River by Indian peons, on the 15th of June.
The following lawyers of Alameda County, in accordance with the requirements of the times, took the oath of allegiance to the United States, and thus proved their patriotism and devotion to the cause of the Union: A. M. Crane, W. W. Crane, Jr., Noble Hamilton, O. L. Shafter, A. A. Cohen, Edward Tompkins, D. V. Barstow, S. J. Clark, G. M. Blake, H. W. Carpentier, W. H. Glascock, Benjamin Wil- liams, J. L. Chipman.
A Union County Convention was held at San Leandro on the Ist of August, for the purpose of nominating County Officers.
At the State election held in August, the vote in Alameda County stood, for Lowe ( Union) 1,392; Downey (Democrat) 805. The Union County Candidates were successful in every instance, as the following result shows, the Union candidates occupying the first place in every instance: For State Senator-W. W. Crane, 1,374; W. S. Moss, 761. For Assembly-Thos. Scott, 1,340; Asa Walker, 1,366; T. W. Mil- lard, 770; T. J. Haynes, 770. For Sheriff-Harry N. Morse, 1,309; Jas. Beazell, 820. For County Clerk-A. M. Church, 1,377; P. E. Edmondson, 749. For County Treasurer -- S. Huff, 1,344; E. Nei- haus, 786. For District Attorney-S. G. Nye, 1,366; J. H. Ran- kin, 766. For County Assessor-Isham Case, 1,384; M. G. Higgins, 728. For Public Administrator-Duncan Cameron, 1,373; H. Hagan, 752. For Sup. Common Schools-B. N. Seymour, 1,366; Benj. Ackerly, 765. For County Surveyor-T. O. Hopkins, 1,361; J. T. Stratton, 764. For Coroner-E. P. Sanford, 1,373; Dr. Burr, 759. The total vote polled at this election was 2,212.
At the judicial election held on the 21st day of October following, Judge McKee had a majority of 333 votes over his opponent, Thos. A. Brown, of Contra Costa, for District Judge. Judge McKee ap- peared at the Union nominating convention held previously in San José, and said the office of District Judge being non-political, he would not seek a nomination at the hands of any political party. He was a candidate independent of all political conventions. He was now and always had been an unconditional Union man. Twenty-six years ago he had sworn allegiance to the Government of the United States, and had never wavered in his loyalty or fealty. That as a loyal citizen from the time the first shot was fired in this unhappy rebellion he had never doubted the right of the Government to use
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all the means in its power to crush it out, and that every measure of the Administration tending to bring about this most desirable result met his hearty approval and support.
. Mr. Brown, however, received the Union nomination by a vote of eighteen to six ; but McKee, notwithstanding, was elected by the force of his eminent fitness and rectitude of character.
The first trip made by the cars on the Oakland and San Francisco Ferry Railroad was made on the 2d day of September, 1863. At that date the road was completed from the end of the wharf to Broadway, a length of about four miles. Thereafter the trains made regular trips in connection with the steamer Contra Costa. The wharf at that time was only about three-quarters of a mile long, suf- ficient to clear the bar. The first three cars used by the company were built at Oakland Point, by a Mr. Young, and the engine also at the same place, by C. W. Stevens, now of San Francisco. Singularly enough, it does not appear that they gave it any name. The second engine was named the Oakland, and was built in Schenectady, N. Y. James Batchelder was the first man to drive an engine on the road, and he yet remains at his post in the service of the present com- pany, and is recognized as one of the foremost engineers in the State.
The hours of departure on both sides at the first were as follows : From San Francisco, 7, 9, and 11 A. M., and 23, 42, and 63 P. M. ; from Oakland, 6, 8, and 10 A. M., and 1, 3}, and 5} P. M. The fare was for single trips 50 cents, and for commutation tickets, per month, $5. The Market Street wharf was then, as now, the place of land- ing on the San Francisco side.
The steamers of the Larue line-the San Antonio and Oakland- continued to ply on the Creek route. Their time was as follows : From San Francisco, 8 and 10 A. M., and 1, 33, and 5 P. M. ; from San Antonio or Brooklyn, 72 and 92 A. M., and 123, 23, and 5 P. M. ; from Oakland, 8 and 10 A. M., and 1, 3, and 5 P. M. Single fares by this line were 25 cents, and commutation tickets, per month, $3.
The San Francisco and Alameda Railroad, familiarly known as the Encinal Road, was being pushed vigorously forward at the same time. It was contemplated to extend it to Vallejo's Mills, where it would join the Western Pacific. Enough iron was at this time con- tracted for to run the line to Haywards.
It was in contemplation to connect the Alameda Valley road with the Oakland road, an enterprise put into execution by the Central Pacific people, after all the lines fell into their hands.
12
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
A distressing accident occurred in Alvarado, at the Union City Flouring Mill, on the 4th day of September. Mr. Lindell, a partner in the establishment, was caught in his clothes by a belt in the mill and whirled about with terrible velocity, striking a projection every time he was turned about. Both his legs were broken and his body otherwise badly injured, so that he died from the effects two days afterwards.
Some parties having located mining claims on the hills, some four miles east of Brooklyn, were hard at work upon them and gave out that the rock taken from their shafts showed excellent indications. They were not lasting, however, and the situation of those operations has since been known by the appropriate name of the " Wild-cat Ranch." About twenty men were also at work digging for gold in Brown's Valley, near Mills' Seminary.
It was in the month of September of this year that the Oakland News was started by Mr. William Gagan, who had then recently arrived in the State from Illinois.
Judge Reynolds, of Contra Costa, issued a mandamus to compel the Supervisors of Alameda County to levy a tax for the payment of the judgment in favor of Contra Costa. A stay of proceedings was applied for and granted, and an appeal taken to the Supreme Court.
Two military camps were formed in the month of September at Alameda. They were, respectively, Camps Allen and Stanford, both consisting of California militia. They were pronounced "a success." Alameda County was represented in Camp Allen by the Oakland Guards, Capt. Brown.
Coal was shipped in October of this year from Corral Hollow to Stockton. The first cargo consisted of 100 tons, of which sixty tons were for the Insane Asylum. The cost of this coal was, delivered on the levee, $10 per ton.
The San Francisco and San Jose Railroad was in operation at the end of this month, between San Francisco and Mayfield, on the opposite side of the bay ; and the first rail of the Central Pacific Railroad was laid at Sacramento, on the 26th of October, amid much rejoicing.
A new office brought into requisition by the war was that of Deputy Provost Marshal, to which Harry N. Morse was appointed in this county.
A cruel murder was committed at Brooklyn on the evening of the 12th of October, José Cosa having killed Juan Andreada by stabbing
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him with a sheath knife through the heart. The wounded man died in a few minutes after he received the fatal stab. The difficulty was about some money matter. Cosa was arrested and committed for trial. He was afterwards tried, convicted, and sent to the State Prison for ten years.
This month the Brooklyn people taxed themselves, by vote, 12 per cent. to build a school-house, which when completed was the finest in the county. It was built of brick, occupied a commanding position, and cost over $5,000. Its dimensions were 42 × 45 feet, two stories high. It was, indeed, at the time of its erection, something to boast about ; but it in turn has been superseded, or rather supplemented, by another school building, the cost of which was about $18,000. The block on which the former is built cost $500, while that upon which the latter is erected cost $8,000, and it was considered cheap at that, showing the greatly enhanced value of real estate in ten or eleven years.
Asa Walker resigned the position of Justice of the Peace for Brooklyn Township, and Carlyle Cameron was appointed in his stead. W. W. Crane resigned the office of District Attorney, and was suc- ceeded by G. M. Blake, on November 16th.
Alvarado was the scene of a dastardly outrage on the evening of the 23d of November, a party of Mexican desperadoes having en- tered the town and fired shots at individuals and buildings, and then left the place. Chase was given to them and one of the party arrested and brought back to the town. He was placed under guard, but the guard was overpowered and the prisoner taken to the bridge crossing the Alameda and hung. The gallows was not cheated out of a victim this time, but the lawyer complained next morning that he had lost a client.
The following was the legal condition of the different ranches in this county at the end of November, 1863 :
RANCH TITLES APPROVED-PATENTED CLAIMS.
J. J. Vallejo, Rancho de Alameda, - 17,705 Acres. Ygnacio Peralta, San Antonio, 9,416 66
F. Higuera, Agua Calienta, 9,563 66
J. J. Estudillo, San Leandro, 7,010
J. M. Amador, San Ramon, - 16,516
J. D. Pacheo, Santa Rita, - 8,855
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
SURVEYS APPROVED.
A. Sunol, et al., Valle de San José, - - 51,572 Acres.
A. M. Peralta, San Antonio,
- 16,067
SURVEYS APPROVED IN U. S. DISTRICT COURT AND APPEALED TO U. S. SUPREME COURT.
Barbara Soto, et al., San Lorenzo, - 6,686 Acres.
T. Pacheco, et al., Los Cerritas, - 10,610
SURVEYS BEFORE U. S. DISTRICT COURT.
J. J. Castro, San Pablo (Contra Costa), - 48,824 Acres.
G. Castro, San Lorenzo, - 26,717
V. Peralta, et al., San Antonio, 19,143
CLAIMS FINALLY CONFIRMED.
J. J. Castro, Sobrante, - - - 48,824 Acres.
BEFORE U. S. COURT ON QUESTION OF TITLE.
Noriega & Livermore, Las Positas, - - 8,877 Acres.
CLAIM REJECTED.
Andres Pico, Mission San José, - - 30,000 Acres.
The claims of G. Castro to San Leandro, and that of Domingo and Vincente Peralta were withdrawn in District Court.
There was a mortgage filed for record on the 3d of December, in the Recorder's Office, at San Leandro, which was covered with revenue stamps to the value of $750.
Following are the Acts of Legislature concerning Alameda County, that became laws this year :
An Act to provide for the election of two additional Supervisors in the County of Alameda.
SEC. 1. The Townships of Brooklyn and Alameda to have power to elect one Supervisor for each township.
SEC. 2. Whenever the Board of Supervisors shall have created a new township from adjacent portions of Washington and Eden, including in said new township the Town of Alvarado, it shall have power to elect one Supervisor.
An Act to authorize the Treasurer of Alameda County to collect the taxes of said county. To be in operation on and after the first
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day of March. Compensation to be fixed by Board of Supervisors. Shall not exceed sum paid for collecting State revenue; if such amount is allowed, balance to go to School Fund.
An Act to authorize the Board of Supervisors of the County of Alameda to take and subscribe $220,000 to the capital stock of the Alameda Valley Railroad Company, and to provide for the payment of the same, and other matters relating thereto. This Act contained seventeen clauses : Special election ordered ; ballot ; manner of con- ducting ; subscription ; how to be made ; conditions ; duties of Super- visors ; Loan Commissioners ; bonds when payable'; interest ; to be paid in coin ; coupons ; manner of expending funds ; Supervisors may withhold payment ; interest tax ; loan fund ; payment of bonds and interest ; surplus in interest fund ; payment of interest ; surplus in loan fund and redemption of bonds; proviso; cancellation of bonds, duty of County Clerk ; liabilities of officers and their compen- sation ; proviso; powers of Supervisors ; conditions of subscription.
An Act to authorize and empower the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County to improve the navigation of San Antonio Creek. Cribbing ; dredging ; charge toll ; proposals ; free navigation, except- ing toll for improvements to remain as before.
An Act to authorize the San Francisco and Alameda Railroad Company to construct and maintain a wharf at the western end of the Encinal of San Antonio, in Alameda County. To extend into the water far enough to secure ten feet of water at low tide ; granted a strip of tide land or mud flats five hundred feet in width ; toll or wharfage to be fixed by Board of Supervisors ; not to exceed 1} per cent. per month of the cost of wharf ; rates may be collected by said corporation ; franchise for fifty years.
An Act to regulate the fees of officers of Alameda County. Fees of notaries ; clerk of District Court ; Clerk County Court, etc.
An Act to repeal Sec. 6 of New Road Act.
An Act concerning fees of jurors in Alameda County. In civil cases : Justice Court, $2 per day ; County or District Court, $3; if no verdict, costs to be paid by plaintiff ; no fees for Coroner's jury.
An Act to provide bonds for completing the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Asylum. Location not named.
An Act to rectify and confirm a certain ordinance passed by the Common Council of the City of Oakland, and approved by the Mayor of said city Nov. 20, 1861. (This was the act giving away the water front.)
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
An Act to authorize the Oakland and San Antonio Steam Navi- gation Company to build and maintain a wharf and ferry landing in the City and County of San Francisco.
Supplementary Act relating to City Charter, concerning costs and fees.
Australian Blue Gum Tree.
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NEWTON BENEDICT.
ISAAC AYER.
BENEDICT & AYER,
( SUCCESSORS TO STEPHEN SMITH )
REAL ESTATE AGENCY
AT THE OLD STAND,
9177 BROADWAY,
Between Eighth and Ninth Streets, Wilcox Block, OAKLAND, CAL. HOUSES RENTED,
Collections Made, Insurance and Loans Effected.
NEWTON BENEDICT, Notary Public for ALAMEDA COUNTY.
LUKE DOE,
Real Estate and House Broker 938 Broadway, Oakland.
Special attention paid to Renting Houses and Collecting Rents; also, Negotiating Loans. Agent for Royal Insurance Company, Assets, $17,000,000.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
GAS FIXTURES AND PLUMBERS' MATERIALS.
DALZIEL & MOLLER
115I BROADWAY, Corner Thirteenth Street, Oakland.
Direct Importations,
Best Stock and
Cheapest Goods.
All kinds of Plumbing and Gas Fitters' work attended to. The Trade supplied with a full assortment of
PLUMBERS' AND GAS FITTERS' MATERIALS.
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CHAPTER XIX.
FROM THE CLOSE OF THE COURT OF SESSIONS IN 1863 TO THE RE- ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION IN OCTOBER, 1866.
1864-A Grand Jury Once More Condemns the County Jail-Opening of the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad-The Mountain House Sacked by a Band of Robbers-Fine New School House at Brooklyn-The San Antonio Navigation Company Propose to Improve the Harbor and Collect Toll-The Bill Vetoed by the Governor-Three Thousand Men enrolled in the County for Mil- itary Duty-A New Fee Bill-Franchise for a Wharf at Green Point to Andrew B. Forbes and others-A Subsidy Bill for the Alameda Valley Railroad passed by the Legislature, but Vetoed by Gov. Low-Sanitary Fund Ball in Brooklyn-The Murderer of Andreada Sentenced to Ten Years' Imprisonment at San Quentin-Grief at the Death of Rev. T. Starr King-Union Co. Convention at San Leandro-Social Gatherings-A Prospecting Fever all over the Contra Costa-Gen. Chipman Arrested on the Charge of Using Treasonable Language-Property of the County Agricultural Association Sold on Foreclosure of Mortgage- Democratic County Convention at San Leandro Attended by Ex- Governor Weller-The County Jail Without a Prisoner-A Two Years' Financial Statement-New Bridge at San Leandro-Good Joke on an Old County Officer-Construction of the Alameda Railroad Commenced-The Alvarado Guards at San Jose-New Catholic Church at San Leandro-A Brass Band Organized- A " Bastile "-Death of the Catholic Pastor at San Leandro, from Injuries Received on the " Washoe"-Railroad Amalgamation- Distressing Accident near Centreville-Death of a Canadian Patriot-Assessment for the Year 1864-5-Death of Col. Eigen- brodt-Alvarado Guards Ball -- A Call for Volunteers-Squatter Troubles at the Mission-Poor Crops-Presbyterian Church Cor- poration at San Leandro-Great Demonstration of the Union
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
Masses -- Procession Reviewed by Gen. McDowell-Large Major- ities for the Lincoln Electors- Legislation of the Year.
The Grand Jury which met in January of this year, condemned the County Jail as a public nuisance, being damp, insecure and un- healthy, and a totally unfit place for prisoners. The condition of the county roads was praised. One indictment was found for murder and another for grand larceny. W. A. Bray was foreman of the jury.
The San Francisco and San Jose Railroad, on the opposite side of the bay, was opened on the 16th day of January, 1864.
On Thursday, January 15th, the Mountain House, situated in the northeastern portion of the county, was attacked by a band of rob- bers and plundered. The house then (as now) was kept by Mr. Simon Zimmerman, a well-known citizen. The robbers were armed with pistols and bowie-knives, and threatened to murder all in the house. The time of their unwelcome visit was night-fall, and there was no opportunity for defense. Mr. Zimmerman, a sick Frenchman, and a timid German, were all the men in the house at the time. Mrs. Zimmerman was unwell and in bed.
They succeeded in getting less booty than they expected, having found only $100 of Mr. Zimmerman's treasure; from the French- man they took $2.50 ; and from the German, $9, all that he had. Of the latter sum they returned to the owner $1, saying they did not like to see a man "dead broke." Having helped themselves to a hearty supper, they compelled Mr. Zimmerman to provide them with horses and saddles apiece, promising on the honor of highwaymen to return the same. They were altogether one hour about their busi- ness, having taken things leisurely. As was usual in the case of such outrages in those days, the perpetrators of this were not Mexi- cans, Californians or Chilanos, who, for convenience sake, are all usually classed as "Spaniards," but men speaking the English lan- guage. Mrs. Zimmerman, to whom they had most to say, she having been the custodian of Mr. Zimmerman's treasure, believed that they were respectively an American, an Irishman and a Ger- man. They used the lady rather roughly, in order to compel her to give up the money ; but she baffled them after all, having had con- siderable more money in the house than what they secured. Two of the wretches were soon after arrested at San Jose, when they gave the names of Robert Jones and Charles Williams, but these were not
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considered to be their true cognomens. They had a preliminary ex- amination at Centreville, and were committed on the charge of grand larceny. Subsequently, they were tried and convicted by the County Court, at San Leandro, and Judge Hamilton, then County Judge, sentenced Jones to a term of fifteen years imprisonment, at San Quentin, and Williams to ten. The punishment of the latter was mitigated, because the evidence showed that but for him the whole household would have been murdered in cold blood by the other vil- lians.
The new Brooklyn School-house, then the pride of the county, opened in the first week of January, with Mr. W. K. Rowell as Principal, and Miss M. E. Tucker as Assistant. Over 100 pupils were in attendance at the opening, and the number rapidly aug- mented.
At the January meeting of the Supervisors Mr. J. B. Larue pre- sented for their approval a scheme for dredging the bar at the mouth of the creek and keeping the same in good navigable condition, pro- vided he were allowed a franchise and permitted to take toll. All previous efforts to improve the harbor had proved failures, and he argued that there was then no danger of such a franchise as he asked for proving a monopoly, as there were two ferries communicating with Oakland and Alameda, irrespective of the creek. The proposi- tion was made in the name of the Oakland and San Antonio Navi- gation Company, of which Mr. Larue was president. The Super- visors subsequently approved the proposition, and the scheme was embodied in a bill, which passed the Legislature, but was vetoed by the Governor.
At the commencement of this year Sheriff Morse, as Deputy Pro- vost Marshal for Alameda County, reported 3,008 men enrolled for military duty. It was not believed that California would be called upon for a draught of men, but it was thought prudent to ascertain the military strength of the State. No draught was made, conse- quently there was no resistance to it. One man in Brooklyn, how- ever, resisted the enrollment, but he was pronounced insane.
A fee bill, regulating the emoluments of county officers, which had passed the last Legislature through the instrumentality of Assembly- man Scott, gave rise to a great deal of dissatisfaction, and a new bill, to correct its errors, became necessary. The Sheriff's fees were made the same as those established by the bill of 1855, and the clause relating to justices' and constables' fees was repealed.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
Andrew B. Forbes and associates applied to the Legislature for a wharf franchise, to build and maintain a wharf at Green Point, for the convenience of the public and the accommodation of the steam- ers plying between San Francisco and Alviso. A railroad is now built to this point from San José, and close by it is the location of the proposed town of Newark.
A bill was engineered this year through the Legislature, and passed a day or two before the adjournment, authorizing a subsidy from the county of $120,000 to the Alameda Valley Railroad, and $50,000 to the Western Pacific Railroad (subject, however, to a vote of the people), but both were vetoed by Governor Lowe.
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