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 18
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On the 20th of February Judge Hamilton sentenced Perez, or Pizarro, to ten years' servitude in the State prison, for the murder of Andreada, at Brooklyn.
On the 22d of February a ball, for the benefit of the Sanitary Fund, was given by the ladies of Brooklyn at Swett's Hall, which netted $420.
News of the death of the Rev. Thomas Starr King, at San Fran- cisco, on the 4th of March, was the occasion of demonstrations of grief in all parts of the county. The disease of which the eloquent gentleman died was putrid sore throat. The people of this county had frequently felt the spell of his enchanting voice, which was ever raised in the cause of humanity and progress.
On the 19th of March a Union County Convention was held at San Leandro, when delegates were appointed to the State Convention at Sacramento, which in turn appointed delegates to the National Union Convention for the choice of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States. As the sequel shows, the unanimous feeling was in favor of the nomination of President Lin- coln. Dr. W. Newcomb, of Oakland, was Chairman of the County Convention, and S. S. Saul, Secretary.
At this period of our social and domestic history " dime parties," " socials " and " bazaars " were all the rage, and were utilized to ad- vance various worthy objects.
There was a mining fever in this section of the country in the spring of 1864, and prospectors were everywhere at work, but most especially about Mount Diablo, in search of gold, silver and copper. Like all other fevers, it ran its course and left us without any per- manent developments. In no place were the deposits of the precious or other metals sufficient to pay for the working.
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UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES.
On the 7th of May General J. S. Chipman, our second County Attorney, was arrested in San Francisco, by a U. S. Marshal, on a charge of using treasonable language, and was lodged in Fort Alca- traz. He was released on taking the oath of allegiance.
Ours was far from being a lawless county, as matters stood in those days ; and it may be interesting to mention, by way of contrast, that in Santa Cruz, at the May Session of the District Court, Judge McKee disposed of no less than three murder and ten divorce cases. And Santa Cruz is one of the smallest counties in the State.
By this time the glory and promise of our Agricultural Associa- tion had departed, and Mr. E. Hoskins, who held a mortgage over the property of the Association, sold the buildings erected on Wash- ington Square, then known as the Agricultural Stock Grounds, to Messrs. Wadleigh and Dietz, for $150. A similar fate befel the Agricultural Pavilion at a later date.
At a Democratic County Convention, held at San Leandro, on the 7th of May, to appoint delegates to the State Convention, Wm. S. Moss presided, and Harry Linden acted as Secretary. Among those present were Ex-Governor John B. Weller and H. E. Highton. The delegates appointed were Wm. S. Moss, P. E. Edmondson, W. H. Glascock and H. Linden.
During the month of May the County Jail was without a prisoner, notwithstanding the many lawless characters that frequently found their way over here from San Francisco.
According to a financial statement, published by the Board of Supervisors, in May, embracing a period of two years, from February 1st, 1862, to February 1st, 1864, the receipts of the County Treas- urer, from all sources, were $223,489.39.
The new bridge, which had been for some time building over the creek at San Leandro, was completed on the 19th of May, much to the delight of all who used vehicles.
A good joke was perpetrated in June of this year, at the expense of Mr. A. M. Church, so long and well known as an efficient county official. In contributing to the Soldiers' Relief Fund, several gentle- men agreed to pay a certain sum per month while the war lasted. Among these was Mr. Church, who subscribed $10 per month. The Committee of the Soldiers' Relief Fund, in San Francisco, in acknowl- edging the receipt of Mr. Church's first contribution, printed it in the Bulletin as from the African Methodist Church, in San Leandro, thus taking an unwarranted but innocent liberty with his initials.
190
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
On the 23d day of June was commenced the building of the San Francisco and Alameda Railroad. On that day the rails, chairs and spikes were brought over from San Francisco, and landed at the company's wharf, at Alameda Point. W. H. Anderson, foreman of the work, laid down the first rails on the day mentioned.
The handsome School-house at San Lorenzo was completed in July of this year, much to the credit of the inhabitants of that district.
The Alvarado Guards took part in a parade of militia at San José one day in the month of July, and through some misunderstanding or mismanagement were not handsomely treated, and there arose a newspaper controversy therefrom regarding who was to blame.
The new Catholic Church at San Leandro, which had been for some time building, was so far completed in August of this year as to be used for public worship. It was the handsomest church in the county, with a spire 100 feet high.
During the month of July subscriptions were taken up in the various towns of the county in aid of the Freedman's Association.
A trial trip was made over the San Francisco and Alameda Rail- road on Saturday, August 13th, with the locomotive "E. B. Mastick" and two passenger cars, which started from the Point, to the town of Alameda, where a large company was taken on board. The "Mas- tick" was manufactured at the Vulcan Iron Works, San Francisco, and the cars were constructed by Casebolt, of the same place. On the 25th of August the cars were run on the road as far as High Street, where a delighted multitude indulged in three rousing cheers in honor of the event.
One of the events of the year was the organization of a brass band in San Leandro, under the leadership of L. J. Bullard. It was the cause of considerable "blowing" among the young men of the town for some time after. So many complaints had been made of the un- safe condition of the County Jail, that the Board of Supervisors had an iron cell made, at a cost of $600, in which the worst criminals were thereafter kept. It was known as the " Bastile."
The Rev. Jas. Callan, pastor of the Catholic Church at San Lean- dro, died on the 5th of September, from injuries received on the steamer Washoe, on which he was a passenger at the time of her ex- plosion. He was buried from St. Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco.
The San Francisco & Alameda Railroad and the San Francisco, Alameda & Stockton Railroad Company amalgamated. The directors of the San Francisco & Alameda road were : F. D. Atherton, Alfred
191
UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES.
A. Cohen, E. B. Mastick, Chas. Minturn, J. D. Farwell, J. G. Kel- logg and John W. Dwinelle ; and of the Stockton road : F. D. Ath- erton, Alfred A. Cohen, H. Barrioldet and John B. Felton ; so that it was not so much of an amalgamation after all.
On the 7th of September a very distressing and remarkable acci. dent occurred on the Alameda creek, about midway between Centre- ville and Niles, near the residence of Mr. Overacker. It appears that a Mr. Jerome Rice, an auctioneer of San Francisco, and his bookkeeper, a Mr. R. Gardiner, were on their way to Warm Springs in a buggy, drawn by a span of horses. They lost the main road near Alvarado, in the dark, and took a wrong direction. When at the point indicated, the horses stopped suddenly on the edge of the river bank, and Mr. Gardiner suggested that one of them had better get out and see what was the matter. Mr. Rice thought it was but one of those sudden frights to which horses are subject, and urged them forward again, when, in an instant, horses, drivers, carriage and all went crashing down to the bottom of the creek, making a fall of about twenty-five feet. Strange as it may appear, here they remained as they fell for four days and nights, without relief or food, with the exception of Mr. Gardiner, who, after shouting himself hoarse and remaining a whole day expecting assistance, with a broken leg, proceeded to drag himself towards the nearest habita- tion, that of Mr. Overacker, which was almost within hailing dis- tance. He was not seen nor heard, and two days and nights and a part of a third day were consumed in making this painful journey. When the circumstances of the sad affair were made known to Mr. Overacker and his family they at once proceeded to render all the assistance in their power. On arriving at the scene of the accident, they found that Mr. Rice was hurt internally, seriously injured, and knocked insensible by the fall. One of the horses was lying down, tangled in the harness, and the other standing by him. When Mr. Rice was taken up he remarked : "How hard it is to lie here and die. How far is it-" and then became insensible. He died on the following day, at two o'clock in the morning. Persons in the vicinity heard the shouts of Mr. Gardiner, but supposed they came from some drunken Indians in the neighborhood. Mr. Gardiner, notwithstand- ing the hardships he endured and the severity of his injuries, recov- ered, but was lamed for life. It was asserted that the unfortunate gentlemen were under the influence of liquor at the time, or so dreadful an occurrence could not have happened to them.
192
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
There died at Temescal, on the 12th of September, a French-Cana- dian gentleman named Jean B. Poirier, who, like his compatriots, Dr. Duncombe, of Sacramento, and Dr. Thellar, of San Francisco, took an active part in the Canadian rebellion of 1837-8 and afterwards made California their home. Deceased, for expressing his sympathy with the cause of his countrymen and a Republican form of govern- ment, was imprisoned in Montreal jail for several months. He lived to see the men who had been most active in that outbreak, such as Cartier, Morin, Papineau, Lafontaine and Bouchette, governing the destinies of his country ; and two of them, Cartier and Lafontaine, were created baronets before their death, the British Government thereby acknowledging that their services to their country were worthy of recognition. They compromised nothing because all the reforms they fought for were carried out under a more responsible system of government than that which existed when they took up arms to redress the wrongs of their country.
The property assessment for the fiscal year of 1864-5 was as fol- lows in the different townships. It will be seen that the northern townships had gained over the southern ones and that Oakland, instead of Washington, was thereafter destined to take the lead:
Alameda Township,
$181,105
Brooklyn
802,005
Eden
66
900,820
Murray
192,280
Oakland
66
1,396,910
Washington
738,990
Total, -
- -
- $4,212,110
Total tax levy, $107,830.01.
News of the death of Capt. C. S. Eigenbrodt, of Alvarado, was re- ceived throughout the county and State with great regret. It will be recollected that he recruited a company of California Cavalry, which was sent East and attached to a Massachusetts regiment. He was killed in an action in the Shenandoah Valley, on the 2d of Sep- tember, while gallantly leading a charge. He had been a Supervisor for Washington Township, and was in every respect a spirited citizen. He founded a public library in Alvarado which is still in a flourish- ing condition. Crusade Lodge of Odd Fellows, of which Capt. Eigen- brodt was a member, passed resolutions of condolence and otherwise honored the memory of their deceased brother.
193
UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES.
Squatter troubles sprung up on the Ellsworth Ranch, near the Mission, on the 21st of December, which lasted some time, but Mr. Ellsworth finally got full possession of his property, which originally constituted a portion of the Mission grant.
The crops this year did not turn out well, the grain having been but a small yield, and in some places no stubbles were left. Santa Clara County was no better off in this respect, and probably suffered more than Alameda.
On the 18th of September was formed a corporation to build the First Presbyterian Church in San Leandro. The meeting was held in the Court-room. S. G. Nye was Chairman, and G. E. Smith, Secretary. Five Trustees, consisting of S. G. Nye, S. Huff, L. Stone, D. Smalley and G. E. Smith, were elected, and the work went on.
The Alvarado Guards had a grand dedicatory ball on the 23d of September, in their Armory. Among the military men of note pres- ent were Col. Jackson and Lieut .- Col. Rowley. This was considered one of the principal social events of the year.
The proclamation of Governor Lowe, dated 24th of September, calling for volunteers to form a regiment of infantry, was readily responded to. Besides a bounty of $300 in currency from the U. S. Government, the State of California paid each man $160 in gold, besides $5 a month extra in gold. To all this was added $15 a month soldiers' wages, besides the grant of 160 acres of land at the end of the term of enlistment. The inducements were good, cer- tainly, for volunteering. The regiment for which the volunteers were recruited was called the Seventh Infantry, California Volunteers.
There was a very large and enthusiastic meeting of Union men at San Leandro on the 29th of October, which was pronounced the largest gathering ever held in the State outside of San Francisco. I. A. Amerman, President of the Lincoln and Johnson Club of San Leandro, was the Grand Marshal of the Day, with E. M. Smith Asa Collins, Lysander Stone and E. C. Jacobs as Aids. At noon a grand cavalcade from the southern portion of the county, headed by the San José Brass Band, made its appearance. There was a dele- gation from Centreville, with Capt. J. M. Moore as Marshal ; from, Alvarado, including the military company, under arms and in full uniform, with Judge Williams as Marshal ; from Washington Cor- ners, with J. T. Walker as Marshal; and from San Lorenzo, with Henry Smyth as Marshal. The appearance of this column was very
13
194
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
imposing, and extended from San Lorenzo to San Leandro. All the wagons and horses were profusely dressed with flags and banners. Soon after noon the procession from the north appeared, marshaled by Mr. Shattuck, of Oakland. With this delegation were Gen. I. S. McDowell and members of his staff, and the Oakland Guard. The Guards carried with them a mounted cannon, labeled " The Peace- maker." The Brooklyn delegation, with which were the men from San Francisco, said to number 1,000 men, were headed by Hon. Thos. Eagar as Marshal. Judge Hastings headed the Alameda delegation. This line stretched from the Alameda Lane to San Leandro, a dis- tance of four miles and a half, altogether making eight miles of a procession. The whole was reviewed by General McDowell, who stood in his carriage, uncovered, as the vast concourse passed by him, cheering. The President of the Day was the Hon. Edward Tomp- kins, who made a very eloquent speech. He was followed by Hon. Delos Lake, W. H. L. Barnes, Hon. Nathan Porter, Hon. F. M. Pixley, Hon. J. G. McCallam, Judge Tyler and Attorney-General Mccullough. Messrs. Saul Gagan and Estabrook Smith were the Secretaries. The demonstration was in every sense a great one, and will be remembered by those who participated in it as long as they live, with pride and satisfaction.
At the Presidential election which followed this mass meeting, on the 8th of November, the Lincoln electors received a majority of 658 votes, they having received 1,470 to 812 for the Mcclellan electors. For Congress, Higby had 1,458 votes to Coffroth's 797. The total majority for Lincoln throughout the State was 16,634.
The County Supervisors were all re-elected, with the exception of Mr. Cummings, of Alameda, whose place was taken by Mr. Fass- king.
Following was the legislation of the first term under the biennial system, established by the amended Constitution :
An Act to improve the navigation of San Antonio Creek, re- pealed.
An Act to divide the State into Congressional Districts, and to fix time to elect Representatives to Congress. Contra Costa, Alameda, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Mono, Calaveras, Amador, Eldorado, Sacra- mento, Placer, Nevada, and Alpine to form the Second District.
An Act providing time for holding County and Probate Courts in Alameda. On first Monday of January, April, and July, and third Monday of September each year.
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UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES.
An Act to authorize Andrew B. Forbes, his associates and as- signs, to construct a wharf at Green Point, in Alameda County. Granted the use of tide lands, 100 feet wide, on either side of said wharf ; twenty-five years' franchise.
An Act supplementary to an Act concerning officers. Supervisors to hold office for three years ; Alameda excepted from the provisions of this Act.
An Act to authorize the City Council of Oakland to improve streets, lanes, alleys, courts, and places. To have power to lay out new streets ; to grade and improve; notice to be given of inten- tion to improve ; remedy of persons aggrieved ; to file a remon- strance ; owners of property to petition for improvements ; how contracts are to be made; duty of Marshals ; assessment for ex- penses ; city to pay for improvements on its own property ; when done on one side of street, the lots on that side only to be assessed ; City Marshal to make assessments ; warrants to be attached to the assessment ; assessments to be a lien on the property ; contractors to collect ; appeal to counsel ; contractors may bring suit.
An Act creating Treasurer ex-officio Tax Collector. Amendatory. The duties of Sheriff as ex-officio Tax Collector to cease, excepting as regards to licenses.
An Act for assessing and collecting taxes in Alameda County. Taxes to be apportioned.
An Act amendatory of an Act for holding Courts of Record. Fix- ing the second Monday of February, June, and October, in Alameda County, for the Third Judicial District.
An Act to provide for the election of Township Assessors. As- sessors shall give bonds ; Supervisors to fill vacancies ; the Assessors of different townships shall meet on third Monday in March, and classify the several descriptions of property. Office of County As- sessor abolished.
An Act to provide for the erection of a Jail and repair of Court- house in Alameda County. To levy for the fiscal year 1864-5 special tax not exceeding each year twenty-five cents on each hundred dollars. Stone or brick ; shall cease when work is completed.
An Act to provide for the retention of the hides of slaughtered cattle in certain counties, including Alameda, for eight days.
An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act to incorporate the City of Oakland, passed March 26, 1854. Abating nuisances within city limits ; providing building for municipal purposes ; li- censes ; election of Justice of the Peace.
196
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
An Act supplementary to an Act dividing the State into judicial districts. Third District to consist of Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Alameda, and Contra Costa, until a Judge for Fifteenth Dis- trict shall have been duly elected or appointed.
An Act establishing a fee bill for Alameda County.
1865-Prosecution of Squatters on the Mission Ranch-Work on the Western Pacific Ruilroad-Condemnation of Lands-Continua- tion of the Alameda Railroad and its Completion to Haywards- Time Table and Fares-Cold Weather-Portuguese Land Pur- chasers-Contra Costa's Claim Upheld by the Supreme Court- Soldiers' Aid Society in Brooklyn-Haywards Guards Voted $50 Per Month by the County Supervisors-The Minturn Ferry Line Purchased by the Oakland Railroad Company-San Lorenzo Guards-Contra Costa Railroad Company Organized-A. A. Moore Admitted to Practice in the District Court as an Attorney -Postmaster Green gives all he has ever made out of his Office to Sanitary Fund-Seventeenth of March Ball at Alvarado-De- structive Fire in Oakland-The Railroad Extended to Larue's Wharf-A Vigilance Committee Organized-Grief for President Lincoln's Death-May-day Celebrations at Alameda and Alva- rado - Earthquake - San Leandro School-house - Promising Crops-Presbyterian Clergyman Installed-Jail Delivery-Hon. J. B. Felton a Candidate for U. S. Senator-Reported that the California Steam Navigation Co. were Going to " Gobble Up" our Ferries and Railroads-Large Harvest-Political Conven- tions-Vote of the County-Unfortunate Fracas-Clinton Cot- ton Mills-Brooklyn Guards Organized-San Ramon Settlers Puy II. W. Carpentier $111,000-Formation of the Contra Costa Water Co .- Grain Warehouses-Ball of the Brooklyn Guards- Heavy Earthquake-Death of a Pioneer-Oakland Railroad Un- der A. A. Cohen" Officers Brooklyn Guard-Republican Judicial Choice-Big Squash-San Leandro School Opened-Chas. Garth- wuit's House Robbed - School in San Leandro - Haywards Guards' Election-New Ferry Steamer " Alameda"-Haywards Fire Company-New Railroad Project-Cold Weather-"Sport" at Haywards-No Legislative Session in 1865.
The leading features of the year 1865 were railroad building ; mourning for the death of President Lincoln ; severe shocks of earth- quake ; and the formation of military and civic organizations.
197
UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES.
The case of H. G. Ellsworth vs. Elias Sampson and twenty other defendants, for trespass, was tried this month in the January Term of the County Court. The men on the defense were squatters on a portion of the Mission Ranch, and supposed they possessed pre- emption rights. Edward Tompkins appeared for the plaintiff; W. H. Glascock, H. K. W. Clark and Judge Collins, for the defendants. The trial lasted several days, and at its close the plaintiff was awarded $1,000 damages.
The contract for the construction of the Western Pacific Railroad, from San José to Stockton, a length of seventy-five miles, was let to Messrs. Cox & Meyers. The line of this road was through three counties-Santa Clara, Alameda and San Joaquin. It nearly crossed the whole of the widest portion of Alameda County, from west to east, and was by way of the Alameda Cañon and Livermore Pass. On the 6th of May the company published notice of the pendency of proceedings for the condemnation of lands for the use of the road, in the Alameda County Gazette, which notice occupied three closely- printed columns of that paper. This notice, however, had only reference to the occupants of land between the Santa Clara line, at the head of the bay, and the Alameda Cañon. The notice was ad- dressed as follows :
To Mathew W. Dixon, Calvin Valpey, Shaw Nash, Andrew Whis- man, William D. Hudson, William Story, R. Burns, Peter Campbell, George W. Peacock, T. W. Millard, J. Sinclair, Flugencio Higuerra, J. Emerson, Chester Harris, Henry M. Ellsworth, Ronlif J. Horner, William Y. Horner, William H. Graves, Earl Marshall, Michael Overacker, Robert Bonner, Perry Morrison, Dennison D. Henyon, Caleb C. Scott, C. C. Simms, W. A. Jordan, Isaac Troth, L. S. Frakes, O. C. Simms, William Bonner, S. Bonner, Augustus Bernel, Juan Bernel, John Kottinger, and his wife - - Kottinger, Josefa Liver- more, Joseph Livermore, John Doe, Richard Doe, John Jones, John Smith, John Brum, John Jackson, James Johnson, John Taylor, Sarah Smith, Susan Jones, Ann Jackson, Mary Miller, and Julia Jones, and all persons occupying, claiming, or having any right, title or interest in and to the tracts of lands hereinafter described.
Work was commenced in the Alameda Canon in the month of June, when a force of 500 men, mostly Coolies, was put to work there under Mr. Bates, of this city, who held a sub-contract on the road.
The grading of the San Francisco and Alameda Railroad was fin- ished to San Leandro in the month of January, and the laying of the track finished on the first day of March, and the first trip made by
198
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
boat and cars from San Francisco to San Leandro in an hour and a quarter, three miles being by water and thirteen by rail. Following is a copy of the first time table issued by the company after the com- pletion of the road to the county seat :
"San Francisco and Alameda Railroad and Ferry Line. From corner Vallejo and Davis Streets. From San Francisco : 7:15 A. M., 9 A. M., 12 M., 2 P. M., 4:30 P. M. From Alameda : 7:40 A. M., 9:20 A. M., 12:20 P. M., 2:20 P. M., 4:50 P. M. From San Leandro: 7:20 A. M., 9 A. M., 12 M., 4:30 P. M. Good accommodations for stock on both sides, which will be taken at greatly reduced rates, viz: Cattle at 25c. per head, calves at 10c. per head, hogs and sheep at 5c. per head. On and after March 15th, there will be a trip from Alameda at 5:50 A. M., and from San Francisco at 6:30 P. M. ALFRED A. COHEN, General Superintendent S. F. and A. R. R."
The fare for passengers from San Francisco to San Leandro (six- teen miles) was 75c., or five tickets for $2.50. It was subsequently reduced to 50c. to San Leandro, and 25c. to Alameda, from San Francisco.
The contract for the completion of the road from San Leandro to Haywards (five miles) was given out in April to Mr. C. D. Bates, and on the 25th of August the line was completed. It was the occasion for a free excursion, collation and general rejoicing at Hay- wards. Judge Crane, Edward Wheeler, A. A. Cohen, Henry Rob- inson and Dr. Henry Gibbons all made congratulatory speeches, and the first railroad through Alameda County was in full operation.
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