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 51
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CAPT. THOS. WILLIAM BADGER.
Captain Thos. W. Badger, the subject of this sketch, is a well- known, enterprising citizen, and a pioneer of the State. He is a native of Virginia, and was born in the year 1828. Until his fif- teenth year he was brought up on a plantation, when he went to sea, and followed a seafaring life until he came to San Francisco, on the 5th day of August, 1849, via Cape Horn. In San Francisco the Captain engaged in the shipping business, and had many vessels employed in the China, Australian, Mexican and coast trade, all of which he sold when he retired from the trade and opened his public park in Brooklyn, in 1872. He was also employed as Marine Sur- veyor for one of the principal insurance companies.
In December, 1856, the Captain was married in San Francisco ; and, in September, 1857, he went with his wife on a trip to the east, taking passage on the ill-fated steamer Central America, from Aspin-
HARRISON
CAPT. T. W. BADGER.
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wall. The steamer experienced very rough weather on the passage to New York, and the sea having put her fires out, she was at the mercy of the waves and wrecked. She had on board 600 passengers, 400 of whom were drowned. The captain and chief officers were among the lost, and Captain Badger took in hands the management of the wreck, which he kept afloat until relief came in the form of a Norwegian bark, which took on board the survivors. She would have gone down in twelve hours after her engines struck, but by his skill and management succeeded in keeping her afloat thirty-six hours. Four hours after relief came she sunk. To his efforts was attributed the saving of nearly 200 valuable human lives. On his arrival in New York he was presented with a silver trumpet, by a committee of citizens, as a token of their appreciation of his humane services, a memento which he will preserve until the day of his death. This trumpet bears the following inscription :
"Presented to Capt. Thos. W. Badger, by the Central America Fund Committee, in token of their high appreciation of his conduct on board the steamer Central America, at the time of the loss of that ill-fated vessel. PELETIA PERIT, President ; LLOYD ASPINWALL, Secretary. New York, May 17th, 1858."
By this sad disaster Captain Badger lost $20,000 in gold coin, which he had with him at the time.
Under the administration of Governor Haight he held the position · of Pilot Commissioner for the Port of San Francisco, which position was renewed to him by the present Governor, and which he holds at present.
In 1861 Captain Badger purchased his beautiful place in Brooklyn, and removed to this side of the Bay. Here he resided for several years ; cultivating and ornamenting the ten acres of lawn, which he has since converted into a public garden.
In the beginning of 1872 he commenced building his great pavilion, and preparing his grounds for the reception of the public, and in April of the same year, after an expenditure of from $40,000 to $50,000, he threw Badger's Grand Central Park open to the public. The result was an almost immediate success. The great dancing hall is in di- mensions 200 by 85 feet, and substantially and conveniently fit- ted up with seats, gallery, etc. The park comprises about ten acres of highly ornamented ground, being planted with rare trees and laid out in lawns and walks. Since the first opening, the proprietor, every winter, has made expensive additions of various kinds, and now
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
the park comprises, besides the pavilion, a large restaurant, dining room, ten-pin alley, museum, amphitheatre for games, menagerie, flower-garden, sailing-pond, etc., etc. The locality furnishes beauti- ful scenic advantages, and is always worthy of a visit. He has late- ly purchased another block of land adjoining his park on the west, and also owns the property on the north. It is his determination to keep on improving and beautifying until his grounds are absolute perfection and peerless. The leading Societies of the State now regu- larly choose this park for their annual celebrations, and it is engaged generally several months in advance. It is the proprietor's intention to fit up the pavilion for evening parties, and probably by next win- ter it will be the scene of nightly gaiety and festivity. Most people doubted the wisdom of Capt. Badger's enterprise when he first enter- ed upon it ; and no doubt it would have caused many less determined men to falter ; but he has gone on steadily and his faith and persever- ance have made his efforts eminently successful.
JOHN W. KOTTINGER.
This gentleman is a native of Austria, and came to California in 1849. If not the actual founder of Pleasonton, he is the next thing to it. He was the first settler after the "grantee of the land, and was the first to start business there. He is an educated gentleman, and has always been highly respected as a citizen. At his house the first election for Murray Township took place after the organization of the county. He built his house there in the Summer of 1851, but became a settler in the Spring of 1850. His son Frank was born in 1852, the first child born in the place. Mr. K. is 56 years of age.
AUGUSTINE ALVISO.
Augustine Alviso was born at the Presidio of San Francisco, on the 28th day of August, 1809, and is the son of José Ygnacio Alviso and Margarita Bernal, two of the founders of California. At an early age he removed with his parents to the Mission of Santa Clara, where he grew to manhood. Here he was engaged, under his father, who was then administrator of that mission, in various capacities, mostly in the cultivation of the soil, overseeing and directing im- provements then being made. On the Ist day of May, 1840, he was appointed by José Maria Amador foreman (mayor-domo) of the Mission of San José. He received from his predecessor as property belonging to said mission over 25,000 head of cattle, 40,000 head of sheep, and over 1,000 head of horses. There were also over 1,000 tame
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Indians, most of them engaged in various industries, and under the control of the mission authorities. In the year 1841 there was a great drought. The scarcity of feed was such that it was necessary to send the Indians to the nearest forests of trees to chop the limbs for the stock to feed on. The year 1842 was a favorable one for rain, the low lands being all inundated. On the 5th day of May, 1842, he commenced to build a house on the Rancho Potrero de los Cerritos (in Washington Township), having obtained permission from the Governor of California to do so. In Decem- ber of the same year he removed, with his family, to the rancho ; and shortly afterwards obtained a grant of three leagues of land, in company with Tomas Pacheco, his brother-in-law, on which he continued to reside up to within one year past. While on his rancho, he engaged in the raising of horned cattle, sheep, horses, and in the cultivation of the soil. In the year 1844 he raised over 600 fanegas (120 Ibs.) of wheat, 200 of beans, and over the same quantity of corn. The market for all these products was the Presidio Ruso, in Bodega. The price of wheat then was $3 for a fanega; for beans, $1.50 ; for corn, $3 ; the price of cattle was $1.50 per head.
In the year 1844 he took part in expelling Governor Micheltorena from the country, and was taken prisoner by Gen. John A. Sutter. Through the assistance of his friend, the late Robert Livermore, in the autumn of the same year, while camping near the latter's house in Livermore Valley, he escaped. Augustine Alviso married Maria Antonia Pacheco, the daughter of two colonists, on the 7th day of May, 1831. There were born to them five children-one girl and four boys-all of whom are now living. His wife departed this life on the 15th day of June, 1871.
Many of the immigrants and early settlers of the valley of Ala- meda will remember his hospitality and kindness of heart. It is gratifying to the members of his family that during his long life he has never been accused or even suspected of a dishonest act, or of breaking a promise, when once made. He is a good citizen and a distinguished patriot. At the time of the intervention against the Republic of Mexico by France, England, and Spain, in order to establish the empire of Maximilian, still retaining his liberal senti- ments, he aided General Placido Vega, the representative of the Juarez Government in this State, with his means and influence. Señor Alviso has a worthy descendent in his son Valentine, at present Supervisor for Murray Township.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
HENRY C. SMITH.
Henry C. Smith, a son of the late Maj. Timothy S. Smith, was born at Fort Defiance, Ohio, October 25th, 1824. Removed with his father to South Bend, Ind., in 1826, and the following year to St. Joseph, Michigan. In July, 1845, he emigrated to California. He left Fort Independence, Missouri, August 12th, 1845, and, after passing through many perils and hardships, arrived at Sutter's Fort, California, on Christmas-day of that year. In 1846 he entered upon military service under the celebrated Bear Flag, and served under General Fremont in his battalion, and remained in the service of the United States until peace was declared between Mexico and the United States. He was one of the first Alcaldes appointed by Gen. Riley, Military Governor of California. He was elected to the Legis- lature in 1852, from Santa Clara County, and acquitted himself with much credit, and organized Alameda County out of Contra Costa and Santa Clara. He was elected a Supervisor from Washington Township, in March, 1855, under the provisions of an Act of the Legislature of California, entitled : " An Act to create a Board of Supervisors for the County of Alameda," approved March 8th, 1855. The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors of this county, under that Act, was April 2d, 1855. September 3d, 1855, he was re- elected to the Board, and on its organization, September 12th, 1855, was elected chairman, which position he held while he continued a member, to December 1st, 1856, when he was succeeded by Joseph R. Mason. In 1859 he was the candidate of the Democratic party for County Clerk, but was unsuccessful-his opponent, Joseph R. Mason, being elected by a majority of 13 votes. In 1861 he removed to the State of Nevada with his family, and remained there till the summer of 1864, when he returned to this county. While in Nevada, he ran for the Assembly, but was defeated. In 1867 he removed to Livermore Valley, where he settled on a quarter section of government land, and continued to reside there till within a few weeks of his death. He was elected a Justice of the Peace for Murray Township in October, 1871, and assumed the duties of his office on the 1st day of January following. He resigned his office in December, 1872. He died in Livermore, November 24th, 1875, aged 51 years and 1 month, leaving a wife and grown-up family. Mr. Smith was a very genial and warm-hearted man, who never tired of serving his friends and making himself useful in the com-
R.EITNER.
HON. HENRY C. SMITH.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
munity. His career was a very eventful one. He commenced to write his memoirs some time before his death, but made little pro- gress with them.
JOSÉ DE JESUS VALLEJO.
The name of Vallejo is one of the most illustrious in Californian history. The family is of Castilian origin. The subject of this sketch was one of thirteen children born of the same parents. He is an elder brother of Gen. Mariano de Guadalupe Vallejo, who has for many years been a prominent person in the country. His father was a native of Spain. His parents emigrated to Mexico when he was but an infant, and settled in the State of Guadalajara. They intended to educate him for holy orders, which he disliked, and he secretly joined Captain Rivera's expedition for the exploration of Upper Cali- fornia. One day, in the year 1771, when in the vicinity of the Mis- sion of San Luis Obispo, and during the first months of its foundation, he beheld for the first time the woman who was destined in after years to be his wife. It was the day of her birth. He unexpected- ly met a lady in travail, and about to bring a new being into the world ; and as there was no one, save her husband, to assist her, he acted as holder (tenedor). The lady was safely delivered of a girl, whereupon young Vallejo solicited of the parents the hand of their child, and a formal agreement ensued between the parties, condition- ed that if at mature age the girl should willingly consent to the union, the ceremony should be duly performed. Time rolled by, and year after year transpired, until the muchaca had reached her four- teenth year, when the marriage took place ; and of the offspring of that union, already referred to, the subject of this sketch was the sec- ond son. The name of his mother, who was so romantically wooed and won, was Dona Maria Antonio Lugo. His father's occupation of a soldier required his presence in different localities at different times, and his family lived wherever he happened to be located. Sometimes he would be at Monterey, sometimes at San Francisco, and sometimes at San José. The General was born at Monterey in 1808, and Jesus was born at San José about the year 1800. Monterey, however, has always been the headquarters of the family, whose scat- tered members make pilgrimages thereto, as if to a Mecca. The ed- ucation of the family probably was altogether domestic, although some schools were established. Somewhere about the year 1837 Señor Vallejo was appointed administrator of the Mission of San
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José; since which he has resided there, and received the grant of the Arroyo del Alameda rancho of four square leagues, from Governor Alvarado, in 1842. In 1850 he built his present house, which occu- pies a prominent position nearly opposite the church. In 1853 he erected his extensive grist-mill, with its long water-flume, which cost a great deal of money. Señor Vallejo is a very retiring old gentle- man, and is blessed with an interesting, grown up family of sons and daughters.
AUGUSTUS M. CHURCH.
This gentleman is a pioneer of Alameda County, and was its first County Clerk. He is a native of Allen lale, Ontario County, New York, and came across the plains to California in 1849, in com- pany with Lucius and Socrates Huff, James Morton, and one Pin- ney. After working for a time in the mines, he returned home, and came out again. In the Winter of 1851-2 he hunted deer in the Alameda hills with H. Cronkhite, George Fay, and Riley Gregg, and killed from fifteen to 'twenty a day. Sometimes would find as many as one hundred deer on the side of a mountain. What they killed were shipped to San Francisco from New Haven or Alvarado. Settled in Alvarado in the Spring of 1852, where his family joined him. There he merchandized until he was elected the first County Clerk, on the organization of the county, in 1853, when he sold out his store to Henry C. Smith. He served in the County Clerk's office, altogether, nine years, seven as principal and two as deputy to Joseph R. Mason. In 1857-8 Mr. Church was elected to and served in the Legislature with John W. Dwinelle. Left Alvarado for a year and resided in Brooklyn. Started store subsequently in Healdsburg, and lost $10,000 in merchandizing, in consequence of the extension of the railroad to Cloverdale. In December, 1872, removed to his ranch in Livermore Valley. In October, 1873, succeeded the late Henry C. Smith as Justice of the Peace for Murray Township, in conjunc- tion with Dr. Marks, of Pleasanton, which office he still holds. Mr. Church was so unfortunate as to meet with a serious accident by the upsetting of a Concord coach, which tumbled over a precipice, in a cañon between Healdsburg and Calistoga, in April, 1859, which lamed him for life. A daughter, who accompanied him, also suffered injuries. Mr. Church, as a hunter, killed deer in the States of Ohio, New York, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, coming across the plains, and in California. During the war he belonged to the Alva- rado volunteer company. Is the father of nine children, of whom
ROBERT LIVERMORE.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
five are living, as well as his wife. Has three sons and two married daughters. Owns a ranch of 320 acres in the Livermore Valley. Mr. Church was sixty years of age in June, 1876. Alameda County has no more respected citizen.
ROBERT LIVERMORE.
Robert Livermore, after whom is named the Livermore Valley, was a native of Bethnal Green, London, England, where he was born in the year 1799. In 1823 he entered the naval service of England on a man-of-war, and took part in several engagements. He subse- quently entered the merchant service, and, in the year 1829, found his way to the port of Monterey, in California, then almost the only place in Upper California known to the rovers of the sea. In 1830 he found himself at San José, where he became first acquainted with his subsequent partner, Noreiga. He worked for some time at San José with one Juan Alvarez on his farm ; there he learned the Span- ish tongue. Being fair-haired, unlike the native race, he soon became a favorite, especially with the opposite sex. He subsequently found his way to the Rancho Agua Caliente, or Warm Springs, where he lived for some time with the Higuera family, and in the eyes of one of the females of which family he found favor and secured her for a companion through life.
He was next heard of in the Suñol Valley, where he built an adobe castle, and raised grain and cattle on the ranch now belonging to Charles Hadsell. Here his old acquaintance, Noreiga, found him, and the two friends resolved to secure a rancho in the great neigh- boring valley, then a barren waste. They settled in the Livermore Valley, on the Las Pocitas ranch, in 1835, and secured the grant in 1839. He subsequently purchased Noreiga's interest, and left the whole as an inheritance to his family of eight children and his good wife, who is yet alive. His death took place in February, 1858.
Livermore was a good and brave man. He was an excellent neighbor, and his house was always open to all comers. He had many encounters with the savages, who would prowl around and steal his horses and cattle, and plunder his place whenever they could. It was no joke to settle down in an open wilderness, menaced not only with wild cattle, but also wild men. His only neighbor was Amador, some five miles distant, at whose place his children chiefly resided. He cultivated the first land in that beautiful valley of which he turned the first earth, raising for his own use wheat, barley,
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grapes and vegetables. Stock-raising, of course, was his principal occupation. As late as 1850 there were as many as 30,000 head of cattle in the valley, many more than there are now in the whole county. The spot where now is spread out the thrifty town which bears his name, was his rodeo ground, and here the daring vaqueros came with their bellowing and tumultuous herds, to have them counted and branded. How very different is the scene to-day. The pastoral life within those sunny valleys has, perhaps, forever passed away. The husbandman has come and is cropping the soil until it already gives signs of premature decay. The memory of the bold and adventurous little Englishman is deserving of all honor, and will be held in veneration by future generations.
HON. EDWARD GIBBONS.
State Senator Dr. Edward Gibbons is one of the pioneers of Ala- meda County, having arrived here in 1851. He is one of a numerous family who have made their homes in Alameda County, and contri- buted to its prosperity. Of the same family are Dr. Wm. Peters Gib- bons, of Alameda, Rodmond Gibbons, of Oakland, and Dr. Henry Gibbons, Jr., of San Francisco. They are natives of Wilmington, Delaware, where Senator Gibbons was born in 1816, and is, therefore, in his sixtieth year. He graduated from the University of New York in 1841 and 1842, and removed to Memphis, Tennessee, the latter year. He there studied law for four years, and was admitted to the bar in 1846. In 1848 he returned to Delaware and was elected Clerk of the House of Representatives of that State. In 1850 he came to California on the steamer ".Republic," then making her first trip, and was accompanied by his brother Rodmond. The two brothers went to the mines for a short time, after which they returned to San Francisco. Here the Senator, who was then prepared to fill any posi- tion in law, medicine or legislation, was appointed physician to the cholera hospital.
In the Fall of 1851 he set foot upon the soil of Oakland and settled there, practicing his profession of medicine. In 1855 he was elected to fill a vacancy in the City Council, and was re-elected in 1856. In 1857 he was elected Clerk and Treasurer, and was successively re-elected to the same position every year until 1863, when he was succeeded by E. P. Sanford. Having received the nomination for Mayor of the city, in 1864, he was elected to that honorable position ; and again in 1865, went back to the Board as a Councilman, and was chosen for the position of President of that body.
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The system of farming out the indigent sick that prevailed here for many years, was very repugnant to him, and he induced the Board of County Supervisors to establish an hospital, or infirmary, the plan for the building of which he drew out, and when established, he gra- tuitously gave the county the benefit of his services for one year, as physician. In 1868 he went East and remained absent for several years, visiting and living in different localities, as fancy or taste sug- gested. In 1873 he returned, and was a few months after nominated by the Independent Convention for State Senator. He was elected by a handsome majority, and has proved a most useful member of the State Legislature. In December, 1877, his term expires. Senator Gibbons is a thoroughly independent man in his political opinions ; he has studied deeply the genius of American institutions, and has marked well the tendency of the evils that now fasten on the body politic. He is an ardent advocate of reform in the civil service of the Government, favoring competitive examinations for office. The Senator was married in 1852, and has one daughter, an only child.
JAMES BEAZELL.
Hon. James Beazell, Joint Senator and hold-over for Alameda County, is a native of Pennsylvania and 46 years of age. He came to California in July, 1852, and settled in Washington Township, where he started the first blacksmith shop in Centreville. He sub- sequently removed to Washington Corners, where he carried on busi- ness as a member of the manufacturing firm of Beazell, Crowell & Rix. A few years since he established a branch of the business in the new town of Livermore, where he has since resided, gaining suc- cess in his business and the esteem of his neighbors. On the retirement of Mr. Neal from the Board of Supervisors, in 1874, Mr. Beazell was elected in his stead for Murray Township. Having been elected State Senator in 1875, he resigned the position of Supervisor. He is a married man and a Democrat in politics.
M. W. DIXON.
Mathew William Dixon is one of the Assemblymen for Alameda County. He is a native of Virginia, and came to California from Jackson County, Missouri, in 1849, and is now 47 years of age. He settled in Santa Clara County, and resided there, farming, till 1865, when he moved to Alameda County. Mr. Dixon is an extensive farmer, with the greater portion of his land in Santa Clara County and
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
his residence in Alameda. Is acquainted with Alameda County since it was part of Contra Costa and part of Santa Clara. When he first came here it was owned by a very few persons, divided into large ranchos and covered with horses and cattle. The first occupants were a happy, contented people ; but very few of them now enjoy the fortunes they then possessed. Mission San José was the only town in the county, and Oakland was only an embarcadero. The ground now occupied by the town of Livermore was used by Robert Liver- more, Senior, as a rodeo ground, and Mr. D. was there present on several occasions when so used. The ground now occupied by the Town of Pleasanton was used for raising vegetables by the Bernals, who employed Indians to cultivate them.
Mr. Dixon is married, and has a family. He was elected to the Assembly last year as an Independent Democrat, and gave none but independent, honest votes, as the writer had opportunities to know. His Post-office address is Harrisburg.
D. W. GELWICKS.
Daniel William Gelwicks is one of the three Assemblymen for Alameda County. Is a native of Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland. Arrived in California, July 24th, 1849, from Illinois. Is a printer and journalist, and was for a number of years publisher of the Mountain Democrat, at Placerville, EI Dorado County. Was State Printer from 1867 to 1871. Took up his residence in Oakland, a few years ago, and was elected to the Assembly by the Democratic party in 1875. Is 54 years of age and married.
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