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HISTORY 


OF 


SOLANO   COUNTY 

COMPRISING 

AN 

ACCOUNT  OF  ITS   GEOGRAPHICAL   POSITION;    THE   ORIGIN   OF   ITS    NAME; 
TOPOGRAPHY,    GEOLOGY    AND    SPRINGS;    ITS    ORGANIZATION;    TOWN- 
SHIP    SYSTEM;     EARLY     SETTLEMENT,    WITH     DESCRIPTIONS    OF 
SCENES   AS   VIEWED   BY   THE   PIONEERS,    THE   FIRST  AMERI- 
CAN   ARGONAUTS    OF    CALIFORNIA;     THE    HEAR    FLAG; 
THE     DISCOVERY     OF     GOLD  ;     THE     PROGRESS     OF 
POPULATION   AND   AGRICULTURE;    THE    MENU 
CAN  GRANTS ;   THE   PRINCIPAL  MURDERS  ; 
INCIDENTS    OF     SETTLEMENT,     ELEC- 
TIONS, AND    TABLE    OF   COUNTY 
OFFICERS,     AND     HISTORIES 

OF   ITS 

CITIES,  TOWNS,  VILLAGES,  CHURCHES,  SCHOOLS, 

SECRET   SOCIETIES,  ETC. 

AS,    ALSO, 

A    FULL    AND    PARTICULAR 

BIOGRAPHY  OF  ITS  EARLY  SETTLERS 

AND    PRINCIPAL    INHABITANTS. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


SAN    FRANCISCO,  CAL. : 
WOOD,    ALLEY    &    CO.,    EAST    OAKLAND. 

I«79. 


>   .    •  «     *  . 


THE  NEW  Y< 

PUBLIC  LLBR. 

309719 

ASTOR, LENOX  t 
TILDEN    FOUNDATIONS. 

R  if.  L 


L 


;    ,*:."*•  -   Sk-N  ^Pkancisco  : 

H.  S.  CROCKER  &  CO. 
Stationers,  Printers  and  Lithographers. 


PREFACE 


In  presenting  the  following  pages  to  our  subscribers  we  will  draw 
their  attention  to  the  fact  that  reliability  of  data  has  been  our  aim, 
rather  than  the  elegance  of  diction  and  the  verbiage  of  language. 

It  has  in  many  instances  been  a  matter  of  extreme  difficulty,  the 
compiling  the  facts  we  have  here  put  together.  Want  of  precision 
in  the  dates  of  the  earlier  occurrences  in  Solana  county  have  been 
found  a  great  stumbling  block,  while  a  sequence  of  events  has  been 
difficult  to  gain.  Our  task  has  been  no  easy  one.  What  is  there 
more  depressing  than  to  be  told  in  one's  researches,  "  Oh,  there  is 
nothing  to  write  about  here ;"  or,  "  I  have  nothing  to  tell  in  my 
biography,"  forgetting  that  no  more  interesting  records  exist  than 
those  of  the  doings  of  the  Argonauts  of  California,  a  record  which 
each  and  all  should  feel  proud  in  perpetuating  in  some  form  that 
will  bear  the  brunt  of  time,  and  hand  down  their  names  and  their 
doings,  even  unto  the  third  and  fourth  generation ;  hence,  our 
Biographical  Sketches  will  be  found  not  the  least  interesting 
portion  of  our  work. 

Doctor  Levi  Cornell  Frisbie,  of  Vallejo,  himself  a  pioneer  of  no 
ordinary  experience,  has  spontaneously  penned  us  the  following 
letter,  which  we  reproduce,  not  so  much  as  a  testimonial,  but  as  a 
proof  of  how  our  labors  are  appreciated  by  men  of  profession  and 
judgment. 

Vallejo,  May  23d,  1879. 
Messrs.  Wood,  Alley  &  Co. : 

Dear  Sirs. — Your  enterprise  in  collecting,  preserving 

and  presenting  in  an  enduring  form  facts   and  incidents   connected 

with  the  early  history  of  Solano  county,  is  one  that  pre-eminently 

commends  itself  to  the  favor  and  support  of  all  our  people.     Like 


VI 


all  Californians,  and  especially  Solanoites,  we  are  very  proud  of 
our  county,  and  believe  we  have  the  best  climate,  the  most  pic- 
turesque scenery,  and  most  fertile  soil  within  the  borders 
of  the  State.  So  important  was  deemed  this  locality  that 
under  the  old  Mexican  regime  was  located  here,  the  National  Rancho 
"  Suscol,"  as  being  the  finest  grazing  and  best  watered  tract  within 
the  whole  Province,  while  adjoining  this  magnificent  domain  was  the 
extensive  and  fertile  valley  of  Suisun,  granted  by  the  Mexican 
Government  to  the  great  Chief,  Solano,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of 
his  tribe,  who  were  acknowledged  to  be  by  far  the  bravest  and  most 
intelligent  of  all  the  California  Indians,  and  proved  ever  to  be  the 
staunch  friend  of  the  existing  government,  being  often  called  upon 
by  General  Vallejo  to  protect  the  property  of  the  National  Rancho 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  adjoining  Mission  and  town  of 
Sonoma,  repelling  by  force  immensely  superior  numbers  of  the  wild 
and  savage  tribes  that  inhabited  the  north  as  far  up  as  the  bound- 
aries of  Oregon. 

Here,  too,  in  early  days,  after  the  change  of  government,  at  the 
city  of  Benicia  was  located  the  headquarters  of  the  Pacific  division 
of  our  army,  under  command  of  General  Persifer  P.  Smith ;  and  at 
a  little  later  day,  at  the  city  of  Vallejo,  the  United  States  Navy 
Yard,  destined,  when  completed  according  to  the  projected  plans,  to 
be  the  finest  naval  station  in  the  world.  On  the  western  borders 
of  our  county  we  have  the  beautiful  land-locked  harbors  of  Vallejo 
and  Benicia,  large  enough  to  accommodate  the  shipping  of  the 
world,  while  along  our  eastern  border  runs  the  Sacramento  river 
and  its  numerous  tributaries,  furnishing  admirable  shipping  facilities 
for  all  the  products  of  the  county.  The  California  Pacific  Rail- 
road, a  branch  of  the  "  Great  Central,"  traverses  the  entire  length 
of  the  county,  and  passes  through  all  the  considerable  towns- 
There  is  known  to  exist  large  bodies  of  cinnabar,  coal,  iron, 
marble  and  building  stone  of  superior  quality.  Medicinal  springs, 
thermal,  chalybeate,  and  alterative  are  numerous  throughout  the 


Vll 


county,  which  have  already  become  the  resort  of  the  invalid  and 
pleasure-seeker  from  every  part  of  the  State.      We  cultivate  suc- 
cessfully   all   the   fruits  and  products  of  both  temperate  ■  and  semi- 
tropical  zones,  and,  "  sitting  thus  under  our  own  vine  and  fig-tree  ' 
are,  as  we  ought  to  be,  par  excellence  a  happy  and  contented  people. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

L.  Cornell  Frisbie. 

Of  a  necessity,  where  we  were  not  afforded  the  requisite  informa- 
tion, it  has  been  impossible  to  produce  histories,  notably  in  the 
instances  of  those  schools  and  churches  under  the  rule  of  the 
Catholic  body,  and  the  large  flour  mill  of  Messrs.  A.  D.  Starr  & 
Co.,  the  railroad  corporations,  and  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co's  Express — 
their  omission  has  been  no  fault  of  ours. 

In  conclusion,  we  would  tender  our  best  thanks  to  those  ladies 
and  gentlemen  of  Solano  county  who  aided  us ;  more  especially  do 
we  offer  our  acknowledgements  to  Mrs.  Thomas  Brownlee  and  herrel- 
atives,  who  were  the  first  to  give  us  a  regular  start  in  our 
undertaking,  while  to  the  whole  of  the  county  officers,  without 
exception,  and  to  Messrs.  Wendell  &  Richardson,  of  the  Vallejo 
Chronicle,  George  Roe,  of  Ijhe  Solano  Times,  C.  F.  Montgomery,  of 
the  Solano  Republican,  Alfred  B.  Nye,  of  the  Dixon  Tribune,  and 
E.  A.  McDonell,  .of  the  New  Era  of  Benicia,  for  their  kind  assist- 
ance, while  such  names  as  those  of  Messrs.  Fitch,  County 
Surveyor,  A.  Dunn,  County  Clerk,  G.  A.  Gillespie,  Deputy  County 
Clerk.  S.  C.  Gray,  of  San  Francisco,  L.  L.  Palmer,  of  Suisun,  and 
A.  J.  Dobbins,  of  Fairfield,  should  not  be  forgotten,  nor  indeed 
should  those  of  our  own  staff,  Messrs.  W.  A.  Slocum,  W.  N.  Bowen, 
and  L.  L.  Bowen,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  much  valuable  time 

and  information. 

WOOD,  ALLEY  &  CO. 
East  Oakland,  July  1,  1879. 

J.  P.  MuNRO  FRASER,  Historian. 


INDEX 


HISTORICAL. 

Page. 

History  of  Solano  County 17 

Geographical  Situation  and  Area.      1 7 

Topography 20 

Geology 23 

Springs,  Soil  and  Valleys 24 

Its  Streams 25 

Organization 26 

Origin  of   the  Township  System 
in  the  U.  S.  and  its  Extension 

to  California 26 

Montezuma. 30-40-44 

Suisun 39-42 

Green  Valley 31-39-41 

Vacaville 31-42 

Benicia 32-41 

Vallejo 32-41 

Tremont 34_40_43 

County  Seat  Convention 34 

Maine  Prairie 39-43 

Silveyville 42 

Rio  Vista 43 

Denverton 44 

Elmira 44 

The  Settlement 49 

The  American  Pioneers  of  Cali- 
fornia       53 

Agricultural  Lands 74 

Grazing  Lands 76 

Swamps  and  Overflowed  Lands.  .      76 

Mineral  Lands 77 

Timber 77 

Live  Stock 77 

Improvements 78 

Assessed  Value  of   Property  for 

1876 80 

Good  Templars'  Home  for  Or- 
phans       81 

White  Sulphur  Springs 88 

Tolenas  Springs 91 

Marble  Quarry 93 

POLITICAL  HISTORY. 

Early  Political  History 103 

Table  showing  the  State,  County, 
and  Township  Officers  from  the 
year  1850  to  1879,  inclusive. .    121 


MEXICAN  GRANTS. 

Page. 

Suscol 130 

Suisun 131 

Tolenas 133 

Los  Putos 136 

Rio  Los  Putos 136 

Ulpinos 267  § 

MURDER   AND    OTHER   TRIALS. 

The  People  vs.  Edward  Crocker.  137 
The  People  vs.  William  Kemp  .,.  138 
The  People  vs.  Beverley  G.  Wells  138 
The  Killing  of  Jonathan  Cook  by 

George  K.  Mann 140 

The  People  vs.  Robert  B.  McMil- 
lan     141 

The  People  vs.  Philander  Arnold  141 
The  People  vs.  Joseph  Zaesck. .  .  142 
The  People  vs.  Merrill  James.  .  .  142 
The  People  vs.  D.  H.  Fitzpatrick  143 
The  People  vs.  Frank  Grady. ...  143 
The   People    vs.   William    West- 

phal 143 

The  People  vs.  D.  G.  Gordon.  .  .  144 
The  People  vs.  James   Campbell 

and  Annie '  Robinson 144 

The  People  vs.   Pancho  Valencia 

and  Guadalupe  Valencia 144 

The  People  vs.  James  Mall  on.  .  .  145 
The  People  vs.  James  Lawther.  .    145 

TOWNSHIP  HISTORIES. 

Benicia 146 

Young  Ladies'  Seminary 171 

College  of  St.  Augustine 1 75 

Benicia  Lodge,No.  5,F.  and  A.  M.  177 

Benicia  Chapter,  No.  7,  R.  A.  M.  1 78 

Solano  Lodge,  No.  22, 1.  O.  O.  F.  178 

Pioneer  Tannery 179 

Benicia  Tannery 180 

Brown's  Tannery 181 

Pacific  Cement  Company 181 

Benicia  Brewery 182 

Solano  Hotel 182 


Historical.  — continued. 


Page. 

Vallejo 184 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church 203 

First  Presbyterian  Church 205 

Church  of  the  Ascension 206 

First  Baptist  Church .  209 

Advent  Christian  Church 211 

Naval  Chapter,  No.  35,  R,  A.  M.  212 

Naval  Lodge, No.  87,F.  and  A.  M.  212 
Solano  Lodge,   No.   229,  F.  and 

AM 213 

Golden  State  Lodge,  I.  O.  0.  F.  213 

Washington  Lodge,  No.  7,  K.  of  P.  214 
Sanioset  Tribe,  No.   22,  I.   O.  of 

KM 214 

Farragut  Post,  No.  12,  G.  A.  P.  215 
Vallejo  Lodge,  No.  75,  A.  O.  U. 

W 216 

Society  of  California  Pioneers ...  216 

Masonic  Hall  Association 217 

Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  Ceme- 
tery   219 

St.  Vincent's  Benevolent  Society.  220- 

Post  Office 221 

Homestead  Association 221 

Land  and  Improvement  Co 222 

City  Water  Co 223 

Gas  Light  Co 224 

•  Bank  of  Vallejo 225 

Savings  and  Commercial  Bank.  .  225 

Pioneer  Brewery 225 

Empire  Soda  Works 226 

Foundry  and  Machine  Works.  .  .  226 

Sash  Factory 226 

Solano  Brewery 227 

Pioneer  Marble  Works 227 

Farragut  Hall 227 

Alert  Boat  Club 228 

Bernard  House 229 

Howard  House 230 

Vallejo  Chronicle 230 

Solano  Times 230 

Vallejo  Elevator 231 

Carquinez  Cemetery 235 

Military  Organizations 235 

Fire  Department 235 

San  Pablo  Engine  Co.  No.  1 236 

Vallejo  Schools 236 

Mare  Island 247 

Rio   Vista 265 

Geology,  etc 266 

Early    Settlement 267 

Rio  Vista 272 


Page 

Rio   Vista  Lodge,  No.    208,    F. 

and  A.  M 275 

Rio  Vista  Lodge,  No.   180,  I.  O. 

O.   F 275 

River  View  Encampment,  No.  6. 

C.   of  R.  C 275 

Rio  Vista  H.  &  L.  Co 276 

Congregational   Church 276 

M.  E.  Church 277 

Catholic  Church 277 

St.   Gertrude's  Academy 277 

Public  Schools 277 

Newspapers 278 

Business  Directory 278 

SlLVEYVILLE 280 

Dixon 281 

Silveyville    Lodge,    No.   201,   F. 

and  A.  M 282 

Dixon  Chapter  No.  28,  R.  A.  M.  282 
Hyacinthe    Rebecca  Lodge,   No. 

26 282 

Montezuma  Lodge,  No.  172,  I.  O. 

O.    F 282 

Othello  Lodge,  No.  31,  K-  of  P.  283 

Dixon  Lodge,  I.  O.  G.  T 283 

Dixon  Lodge,  No.  50,  A.O.U.W.  283 

Bank    of  Dixon 283 

Fire  Company 283 

Qatholic  Church 284 

M.  E.  Church  South 284 

M.  E.  Church , 284 

Dixon  Baptist  Church 286 

Dixon  Tribune 287 

Suisun 288 

Suisun    City 290 

Fairfield 290 

Court  House  and  Jail 291 

M.  E.  Church,  Fairfield 294 

Grace  Church 294 

St.   Alphonsis  Church,  Suisun..  295 

Congregational  Church,   Suisun.  295 

Suisun  Lodge,  No.  55,  F  &  AM.  296 

Suisun  Lodge,  No.  78,  I.  O.  O.  F.  297 

Suisun  Lodge,  No.  49,  A.O.U.W.  297 

Bank  of   Suisun 298 

Fire   Department 298 

Water  Company 299 

Suisun  City   Mills 299 

Suisun  Glee  Club 301 

Newspapers 301 

County  Hospital 302 


XI 


Historical. — continued. 


Page. 

Denverton 303 

Schools,  Churches,  etc 304 

Denverton  Lodge,  I.  O.  G.  T.  .  .  305 

Maine  Prairie 306 

Lodge  of  Good  Templars 308 

Binghamton  M.  E.  Church 309 

M.  E.  Church 309 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  309 

Montezuma 311 

Collinsville 312 

Schools  and  Churches 313 

Vacaville 314 

Vacaville 317 

Vaca  Valley  and  Clear  Lake  R. 

R.  Co../ 318 


Page. 

Baptist  Church 318 

Seventh-Day  Advent 319 

Christian  Church " 319 

Davis  Hotel 319 

California  College 319 

Green  Valley 322 

Cordelia 323 

Bridgeport -.  .  .  323 

Rockville 324 

Elmira' 325 

Elmira 325 

I.  O.  O.  E.  of  Elmira 326 

A.  O.  U.  W 326 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


VALLEJO. 


Alvord,  Luke 

Anderson,  M.  D.,  Walter  Duncan. 

Aspenall,  William 

Ay  1  ward,  Thomas 

Bergwell,  Gustaf 

Bingham,  George 

Brooks,  William  S 

Brown,  Calvin 

Brown,  Samuel 

Brownlie,  Alexander  J 

Brownlie,  James 

Brownlie,  John 

Brownlee,  Robert 

Brownlee,  Thomas 

Butler,  O.  H 

Callender,  John 

Carman,  A.  S 

Colhoun,  Edmund  R.,  U.  S.  N.  . 

Condon,  James 

Connolly,  Henry 

Dare,  John  T 

Deininger,  F 

Derwin,  Michael  S 

Doyle,  James 

Drake,  Simon  S 

Edwards,  William  P 

Egery,  B.  D 

Farnham,  John 

Forstenfeld,  M 

Frisbie,  Eleazer 

Frisbie,  Gen.  John  B 

Frisbie,  Levi  C 

Frost,  James,  M.  D 


329 

329 

329 

331 

332 

332 

334 

334 

335 

336 

336 

336 

338 

341 

342 

342 

343 

343 

344 

344 

344 

345 

345 

346 

346 

347 

348 

348 

349 

349 

349 

351 

352 


Gookin,  Thomas  P 352 

Gorham,  Abraham 352 

Hanks,  J.  G 353 

Harrier,  Daniel  W 353 

Harvey,  Hon.  Joel  A 354 

Hilborn,  Hon.  S.  G 355 

Hobbs,  Isaac 355 

Hubbard,  John  E 357 

Hubbs,  Hon.  Paul  K 357 

Hubbs,  Charles  H 364 

Hunter  James 365 

Jefferis,  P.  E 366 

Jones,  Rev.   Edward  J 366 

Kennedy,  John  E 367 

Kitto,  Samuel 367 

Klink,  Rev.   K  B 368 

Kloppenburg,  D.  W 368 

Lamont,  James  A 369 

Mallett,  George  F.,  U.  S.  N 370 

Much,  George  W.,  U.  S.  N 370 

MacDonald,  Rev.  David   F 371 

McCudden,  James 371 

McDermott,  Robert 372 

McDonald,  T.  P 372 

McDonald,  William 372 

McGettigen,  Edward 373 

Mclnnis,   J.  A 373 

McKnight,  Andrew 374 

McKnight,  A.  J 375 

McLeod,  John  C 375 

McPike,  A.  J 376 

Murphy,  Charles 377 

North,  John 378 


Xll 


Biographical. — continued. 


Page. 

O'Brien,   Thomas .  378 

O'Grady,  Frank 378 

Pearson,  Gustavus  C 379 

Powell,  A 383 

Richardson,  H.  D. 385 

Robinson,   A.  T 386 

Roe,  George 387 

Roney,  .James 387 

Saunders,  James  0 388 

Sheehy,    Robert 389 

Shirland,  Frank , 389 

Simonton,  George  W 391 

Smith,  James  G 392 

Steffen,   J 392 

Taylor,  W.  E.,  M.  D . 393 


Page. 

Thompson,  J.  D 393 

Thompson,  H.  M 394 

Thornton,  T.  A 394 

Tobin,  J.   F. .  . 394 

Vanderbilt,  W.  W 394 

Walker,  W 395 

Ward,  James 395 

Weniger,  Charles 396 

Wentworth,    John 396 

Wilson,  E.  J 397 

Wilson,  John 397 

Wilson,    Joseph 397 

Williston,  J.  E 398 

Young,  A.  J .  . 398 


SUISTTN. 


Alden,  E.  B ■ 399 

Barbour,  Nathan 399 

Bateman,  J.  K 399 

Bafceman,  John  M.  K 400 

Bauman,  J.  H 400 

Chrisler,  P.  J , 400 

Clayton,  David  J 401 

Coghlan,  O.  R 401 

Crocker,  Asa 402 

Davisson,  Obediah 402 

Davisson,  W.  G : 402 

Downing,  M.   D.,  W.  G 403 

Dunn,  Alexander 403 

Edwards,  James  G 403 

Fitch,  William  Wayne 404 

Gillespie,  Edgar  Ferguson 404 

Gillespie,  George  A 405 

Goodwin,  B.  H 408 

Gregory,  John  M 409 

Green,  George. 409 

Haile,  Hon.^R.  C 4-10 

Hale,  David 411 

Hammond,  E.  A 411 

Hooper,  Thomas  P 412 

Hoyt,W.  K 412 

Hubbard,  Henry 412 

Jones,  John  M 413 

Kennedy,  W.  T 414 

Kerns,  J.  W 414 

Kinloch,  John  G 414 

Lamont,  George  A 414 

Le  Gro,  Richard  P 415 

Leithead,  William 415 

Lemon,  John  B 415 

Manka,  Christley 416 

Marshall,  Charles  Knox 416 

Maxwell,  J.  C 417 


Miller,  Allen  C 417 

Miller,  John 4L7 

Miles,  James  L 418 

Murray,  Alexander 419 

McCreary,  D 419 

McDonald,  D.  C . 419 

Palmer,  L.  L 419 

Palmer,  S.  G 420 

Pangburn,  G.  H 420 

Pearce,  John  W 421 

Perkins,  E.  D 421 

Quick,  W 421 

Rice,  Harvey 422 

Richardson,  J.  B 422 

Bobbins,  R  D 422 

Robinson,  W.  H 423 

Rush,  B.  F 423 

Spence,  M.  D.,  A.  P 424 

Staples,  Earnest  H 424 

Staples,  F.  O . 424 

Stockman,  D.  E.  (deceased) 425 

Stockman,  D.  M 425 

Swan,  Hon.  T.  M 425 

Turner,  W.  H 426 

Taylor,  W.  H 427 

Vance,  M.  D,  James  M 427 

Vest,  John ■.  .  .  427 

Waterman,  Robert  H 428 

Wells,  James  T 428 

Wendell,  J.  F 428 

Wing,  Joseph  (deceased) 428 

Wing,  Joseph  Jr 429 

Wolf,  William 429 

Wolfskill,  Mathias 429 

Woods,  John 430 

Berry,  George  M 430 


Xlll 


Biographical. — continued. 
GREEN  VALLEY. 


Page. 

Baldwin,  J.  M 431 

Bihler,   Henry 431 

Hatch,  A.  T 431. 

Humphreys,  James  H 432 

Jewell,  W.  T 433 


Paqk. 

Jones,  F.  S 433 

Pittman,  C.  J 433 

Pierce,  Lewis 434 

Schultz,  C.  &  Co 434 

Wilson,  Curtis 435 


BENICIA. 


Bennett,  William  F 436 

Brown,  John  R ." 436 

Burns,  James 436 

Chisholm,  A 436 

Clyne,  James 437 

Cummings,  Francis 437 

Dalton,  Alfred 437 

Demming,  Captain  John 438 

Dillon,  Patrick  W 438 

Durner,  George  Adam 439 

Enos,  Joseph 441 

Fischer,  Joseph 441 

Gray,  Samuel  C 441 

Hanbrick,  Peter 441 

Hastings,  D.  N 442 

Hoyt,  Joseph 443 

Kinstrey,  Thomas  T 443 

Kuhland,  William 443 

McKay,  Thomas 444 


McNally,  Bernard 444 

Mizner,  L.  B 444 

Nichols,  J.  B 445 

Nichols,  William  H 446 

Opperman,  Julius 446 

O'Donnell,  John 446 

Peiin,  Aaron 447 

Preston,  William  E 447 

Quigg,  Charles 447 

Raum,  E.  C 447 

Riddell,  George  H 448 

Rose,  Elisha  L 448 

Rueger,  John 448 

Ryerson,  A.  P 449 

Sage,  Timothy 449 

Spalding,  Charles 450 

Von  Pfister,  E.  H 450 

Walsh,  Captain  John 452 

Westaby,  Richard 453 


VACAVILLE. 


Ammons,  Henry  B 454 

Baker,  Geo.  H 454 

Bassford,  H.  A 454 

Bassford,  J.  M 455 

Brinck,  H.  W. .  .  , 455 

Buck  L.  W 455 

Campbell,  Robt.  G 455 

Connelly,  James 456 

Cummons,  John  Harbert 456 

Davis,  W.  B 457 

Davis,  I.  F 457 

Day,  M.  D.,  Edward  W 457 

Downey,  D.  M 458 

Dutton,  David  D 458 

Esquivel,  A.  M 459 

Eversole,  H 459 

Elliott,  J.  M 459 


Getchins,  W.  W 460 

Johnson,  W 460 

Kidd,  W.  B.  R 461 

Korns,  Levi 461 

Long,  S.  W 461 

Marshall,  R  C 462 

Morton,  Henry 462 

Pena,  Demetrio 462 

Pleasants,  W.  J 462 

Rogers,  J.  R 463 

Scarlett,  J.  E 463 

Seaman,  H 463 

Smith,  W.  W 464 

Stahl,  J 464 

Thissell,  G.  W 464 

Troutman,  G.  W 465 

Wooderson,  G.  F 465 


Elliot,  G.  T. 


MAINE  PRAIRIE. 
466  |  Tuck,  J . 


467 


XIV 


Biographical.  — continued. 
RIO  VISTA. 


Page. 

Beguhl,  H 468 

Brown,  D.  B 468 

Bruning,  J 469 

Butler,  N.  C 469 

Carter,  R.  C 470 

Currie,  A 470 

Dozier,  W.  G 470 

Enrigh,  T.  P 471 

Ferguson,  Wni 471 

Fiscus,  J.  B 472 

Gardiner,  J.  H 472 


Page 

Gurnee,  J 473 

Johnson  Capt.  J 474 

Menzies,  T 474 

Pietrzycki,  M.  D.,  Marcel 475 

Pond,  D.  A 475 

Sickal,  M.  T 475 

Sidwell,  J.  M 476 

Smyth,  Hon.  Michael 477 

Squires,  W.  K 477 

Stoll,  C.  M 478 


ELMIRA. 


Barrett,  J.  H 479 

March,  R.  B 479 

Melbourn,  T 479 


McMurtry,  J 480 

Wells,  J.  C 480 

Wight,  F.  M 481 


DENVERTON 

Arnold,  O.   D 482 

Barkway,  R    H 482 

Buckley,  T 482 

Fotheringham,  J 483 

MONTEZUMA 


Kerby,  C 483 

Nurse,  S.  K 484 

Prevost,  L 4*5 


Arnold,  J.  W 486 

Bird,  J 486 

Bond,  J.  C 486 

Donell,  W 487 

Hooper,  T.  T 487 


Hosking,  W 488 

Meins,  R 488 

Page,  W 48* 

Upham,  E.   J 488 

Winter,  H.   E 489 


TREMONT. 


Asee,  C.   C. 


490 

Cloutman,  J.  F 490 

Foster,  Geo.    W 491 

Guthrie,  B.  J 491 


Hyde,  S.  F 492 

Hyland,  W 492 

Snead,  S.   M 493 


SILYEYVILLE. 


Brown,  C.  P 494 

Coleman,  N.  B.  S 494 

Cotten,  J.   W 495 

Currey,  R.  J 495 

Dashiell,  W.  A 495 

Dickson,  T 496 

Dinsmore,  Rev.  J.  M 496 

Dudley,  J.  M 496 

Ellis,  J.  A 49"/ 

Frahm,  G 497 

Hall,  R 498 

Mack,  D 498 

Mayes,  J.  S 499 


Merryfield,  J.  C 499 

McKinley,  G.  C 499 

McPherson,  A 500 

Nye,  A.  B 500 

Reddick,  H 500 

Rohwer,  H 501 

Silvey,  E.  S 501 

Simmons,  Jr.,  Rev.  J.  C 501 

Smythe,  P \ 502 

Timm,  P 502 

Udel,  Dr.  O.  C 503 

Weihe,  E 503 


XV 


LITHOGRAPHIC  PORTRAITS. 


Paoe. 

Brownlee,  Robert 96 

Brownlie,  John 208 

Dudley,  J.  M 240 

Dutton,  D.  D 80 

Frisbie,  Gen'l  John  B 48 

Frisbie,  M.  D.,  L.  C 160 

Gillespie,  George  A 192 

Hastings,  D.  N 272 

Hilborn,  S.  G 64 

Hobbs,  Isaac 304 


Page. 

Hunter,  James.  .  .' 416 

McKinley,  George  C 176 

McPike,  A.  J : 288 

Mizner,  L.  B 144 

Nurse,  S.  K 352 

Palmer,  L.  L 336 

Pearson,   G.  C 256 

Powell,  A 224 

Sheehy,  Robert 320 

Vallejo,  M.  G 32 


HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY. 


GEOGRAPHICAL  SITUATION  AND  AREA— DERIVATION  OF  NAME 
OF    COUNTY  — ITS   TOPOGRAPHY  — GEOLOGY— SOIL, 
SPRINGS— MINES— QUARRIES— VALLE  YS, 
WATER-COURSES,  Etc.,  Etc. 


Solano  County  has  a  position  about  midway  between  the  northern  and 
southern  extremities  of  the  State  of  California,  lying  between  thirty-eight 
degrees,  and  thirty-eight  degrees  and  thirty  minutes  north  latitude,  and 
between  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  degrees  thirty  minutes,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty -two  degrees  thirty  minutes  longitude  west  from  Green- 
wich. It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Rio  de  Los  Putos,  commonly 
called  Putah  Creek — this  stream  beina;  the  dividing  line  between  Yolo  and 
Solano  counties ;  on  the  east,  for  twenty  miles,  by  the  fresh  water  tules,  or 
marsh  lands,  adjacent  to  the  Sacramento  river,  and  in  Yolo  county.  The 
remainder  of  its  eastern,  and  the  whole  of  its  southern  boundary,  is  an  un- 
interrupted navigable  water-front  for  the  space  of  sixty-one  miles — twenty- 
five  miles  of  which  are  on  the  Sacramento  river,  eighteen  on  Suisun  bay, 
six  on  the  Carquinez  straits,  and  twelve  on  Napa  bay  and  creek.  The 
dividing  ridges  of  the  Napa  mountains  bound  Solano  on  the  west,  and 
separate  it  from  Napa  county. 

The  origin  of  the  name  of  the  county  is  thus  described  in  a  report  to  the 
Legislature  of  California,  in  the  year  1850,  by  General  M.  G.  Vallejo,  on  the 
derivation  and  definition  of  the  various  counties  of  the  State.  He  thus 
alludes  to  Solano:  "  This  is  the  second  name  of  the  celebrated  missionary, 
Francis  Solano,  and  was  borne  by  the  great  chief  of  the  tribes  originally 
denominated  Suisuns,  and  scattered  over  the  western  side  of  the  river  Jesus 
Maria,  now  Sacramento.  The  residence  of  this  chief  was  the  valley  of  the 
Suisun,  which  is  bounded  by  the  hill  near  Suscol.  Before  receiving  the 
baptismal  name  of  Solano,  the  chief  was  called  Sem-Yeto,  which  signifies 
the  brave,  or  fierce  hand.  In  1817  a  military  expedition  (under  command 
of  Lieutenant  Jose  Sanchez,  and  by  order  of  the  commandant  of  San  Fran- 
cisco Jose  Arguello),  crossed  the  straits  of  Carquinez  (on  rafts  made  of 
rushes,  as  there  were  no  regular  ferries  in  those  days),  for  the  double  pur- 
pose of  exploring  the  country  and  reducing  it  to  Christianity.  On  crossing 
the  river  they  were  attacked  by  the  Suisun  tribe,  then  headed  by  their 
chief,   Malica,   who   caused   them   considerable  loss.     The  Indians  fought 


18  THE  HISTOKY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

bravely  and  to  the  utmost  extreme,  but  they  were  in  turn  attacked  with 
such  force  and  perseverance  as  to  oblige  them  to  retreat  to  their  rancheria 
(somewhere  in  the  present  Suisun  valley),  where,  being  still  hotly  pursued 
and  believing  their  fate  sealed,  these  unfortunate  people,  incited  by  their 
chief,  set  fire  to  their  rush-built  houses  and  perished  in  the  flames  with 
their  families.  The  soldiers  endeavored  to  stay  their  desperate  resolution, 
in  order  to  save  the  women  and  children ;  but  even  those  preferred  this 
doom  to  that  which  awaited. them  from  the  hands  of  their  enemies.  Thus 
perished  the  chief,  and  thus  was  the  hearth  and  the  home  of  his  people 
destroyed." 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  William  Wayne  Fitch,  County  Surveyor,  for  the 
following  able  remarks  on  the  Topography,  Geology,  and  other  knowledge 
of  Solano  County. 

The  Townships  are  twelve  in  number,  and  range  as  under: 

VALLEJO. 

Fraction  of Township  3  North,  Range  4  West. 

South-east  of Township  4  North,  Range  5  West. 

South-east  of Township  4  North,  Range  4  West. 

South  of Township  4  North,  Range  3  West. 

West  part  of Township  3  North,  Range  3  West. 

BENICIA. 

Fraction  of  North-east  corner  of . .  Township  2  North,  Range  3  West. 

Fraction  of Township  2  North,  Range  2  West. 

Eastern  part  of Township  3  North,  Range  3  West. 

West  part  of Township  3  North,  Range  2  West. 

South-west  corner  of Township  4  North,  Range  2  West. 

South-east  corner  of Township  4  North,  Range  3  West. 

GREEN  VALLEY. 

Eastern  part  of Township  4  North,  Range  3  West. 

West  part  of Township  4  North,  Range  2  West. 

West  part  of Township  5  North,  Range  2  West. 

Eastern  part  of Township  5  North,  Range  3  West. 

SUISUN. 

Small  part  of  North-east  corner  of .  Township  3  North,  Range  2  West. 

Fractional Township  3  North,  Range  1  West. 

Fractional Township  4  North,  Range  1  West. 

Most  of Township  5  North,  Range  1  West. 

East  part  of Township  4  North,  Range  2  West. 

East  part  of Township  5  North,  Range  2  West. 

Small  part  of Township  6  North,  Range  2  West. 


THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  19 

VACAVILLE. 

West  part  of Township  6  North,  Range  1  West. 

East  part  of Township  6  North,  Range  2  West. 

Most  of Township  7  North,  Range  1  West. 

Most  of Township  7  North,  Range  2  West. 

South  fraction  of Township  8  North,  Range  2  West. 


SILVEYVILLE. 

North  fraction  of Township  7  North,  Range  1  West. 

South  fraction  of Township  8  North,  Range  1  West. 

All  of Township  7  North,  Range  1  East. 

South  part  of Township  8  North,  Range  1  East. 

North-east  corner  of Township  6  North,  Range  1  East 

North-west  corner  of Township  6  North,  Range  2  East. 

South-west  corner  of Township  7  North,  Range  2  East. 

TREMONT. 

South  part  of Township  8  North,  Range  2  East. 

North  and  East  part  of Township  7  North,  Range  2  East. 

North-east  fraction  of Township  6  North,  Range  2  East. 

ELMIRA. 

North-east  corner  of Township  5  North,  Range  1  West. 

North-west  corner  of Township  5  North,  Range  1  East. 

West  part   of Township  6  North,  Range  1  East. 

East  part  of Township  6  North,  Range  1  West. 

MAINE    PRAIRIE. 

South-west  part  of Township  6  North,  Range  1  East. 

South  part  of Township  6  North,  Range  2  East. 

Northerly  part  of Township  5  North,  Range  1  East. 

North  part  of ,. .  Township  5  North,  Range  2  East. 

West  part  of Township  5  North,  Range  3  East. 

North-west Township  5  North,  Range  3  East. 

DENVERTON. 

North  part  of Township  4  North,  Range  1  East. 

West  tier  of  Sections  in Township  4  North,  Range  2  East. 

South  part  of Township  5  North,  Range  1  East. 

South-west  part  of Township  5  North,  Range  2  East. 


RIO   VISTA. 

South   part  of Township  5  North,  Range  2  East. 

East  part  of Township  5  North,  Range  3  East. 


20 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


VACAVILLE — continued. 

East  part  of Township  4  North,  Range  2  East. 

North-west  part  of Township  4  North,  Range  3  East. 

North-easterly  part  of Township  3  North,  Range  2  East. 

MONTEZUMA. 

Fractional Township  3  North,  Range  1  East. 

West  tier  of  Sections  in Township  3  North,  Range  2  East. 

South  tier  of  Sections  in Township  4  North,  Range  1  East. 

And  Section  No.  31  in Township  4  North,  Range  2  East. 

A  glance  at  the  following  table  will  inform  the  reader  as  to  the  acreage  of 
these  individual  townships,  while  appended  thereto  are  remarks  as  to  the 
portions  of  each  which  are  under  water  : 

TABLE   SHOWING   THE    ACREAGE   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 


Name  of  Townships. 

Acreage. 

Remarks. 

Vallejo 

40,000 
25,600 
31,500 
110,000 
66,790 
56,640 
31,360 
26,880 
58,120 
40,000 
57,500 
32;120 

Of  which  19,000  acres  are  water. 

Benicia 

Of  which    3,000  acres  are  water. 

Green  Valley 

Suisun 

Vacaville 

Of  which  10,000  acres  are  water. 

Silveyville 

Tremont 

Elmira 

Maine  Prairie 

, 

Denverton 

Rio  Vista 

Of  which    1,700  acres  are  water. 

Montezuma 

Of  which    3,000  acres  are  water. 

Total  acres 

576,510 

The  total  area  of  the  county  is  therefore  five  hundred  and  seventy-six 
thousand  five  hundred  and  ten  acres,  including  land  and  water ;  of  this 
amount  ninety  thousand  acres  are  swamp  and  overflowed  lands ;  ten  thous- 
and acres  are  mud  flats  left  bare  at  low  tide,  leaving  in  the  vicinity  of  four 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres  as  land  fitted  for  agricultural  and  pastoral 
purposes. 

TOPOGRAPHY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Ten  thousand  acres  of  the  county  are  swamp  and  overflowed  land  and 
mud  flats  bare  at  low  tide.  These  lands  border  the  Sacramento  river  in  the 
south-easterly  part  of  the  county,  and  Suisun  bay  on  the  south  boundary, 
with  San  Pablo  bay  on  the  south-west,  and  are  ovei  flowed  a  few  inches  in 
depth  at  ordinary  high  tides. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  21 

The  Montezuma  hills  occupy  the  south-eastern  portion  of  the  upland  of 
the  county,  in  Townships  3  and  4  N.  R.  1  E.  and  3  and  4N.R.2  E.  These 
elevations  are  from  fifty  to  three  hundred  feet  above  tide-water,  and  inter- 
sected by  narrow  ravines  or  hollows  (so  called),  the  water-shed  being  gen- 
erally in  an  easterly  and  southerly  direction. 

The  Townsend  Hills,  in  the  south-west  part  of  Township  4  N.  R.  1  E. 
occupy  three  or  four  sections,  and  are  of  a  similar  character. 

The  Potrero  Hills,  in  the  northern  part  of  Township  4  N.  R.  1  W. 
occupy  about  eleven  or  twelve  sections  of  land,  and  are  surrounded  by 
swamp  and  overflowed  lands,  except  a  narrow  neck  of  low  valley  on  the 
north  side.  The  higher  ridges  are  two  hundred  feet  above  tide-water,  re- 
ceding in  elevation  as  they  approach  the  border  of  level  land  adjoining  the 
tula. 

Robinson's  island  is  upland,  rising  out  of  the  tides,  on  Section  13,  in 
Suisun  township,  and  contains  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  There 
are  other  small  islands  of  upland  rising  from  the  swamp-land,  in  different 
localities,  Suisun  City,  at  the  head  of  Suisun  Slough,  on  Section  3G,  Town- 
ship 5  N.  R.  2  W.  being  located  on  hard  land  of  this  nature. 

Mostly  all  of  that  portion  of  the  county  embraced  within  a  line  drawn 
nearly  east,  following  the  border  of  the  swamp-land  eight  miles  to  Denver- 
ton,  and  thence  north-easterly  six  miles  to  Linda  Slough,  and  north-easterly 
along  the  swamp-land,  four  miles  to  Maine  Prairie  village,  at  the  head  of 
Cache  Slough,  and  thence  easterly  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Section  36, 
in  Township  6  N.  R.  2  E.  at  the  corner  of  Yolo  county,  and  thence  north 
along  the  east  line  of  the  county,  fifteen  miles  to  the  old  sink,  or  bed  of 
Putah  creek,  and  up  the  centre  of  the  same,  and  up  the  centre  of  Putah 
creek  westerly  eighteen  miles  to  the  residence  of  S.  C.  Wolfskill,  and  thence 
nearly  south,  skirting  the  hills  ten  miles  to  the  town  of  Vacaville,  and  thence 
south-westerly  nine  miles  to  the  county  seat  at  Fairfield,  is  level,  with  the 
exception  of  a  slight  ridge  running  across  Section  3,  and  south-easterly  a  few 
miles  through  Township  5  N.  R.  1  W.  and  other  unimportant  risings  in  a  few 
localities.  The  land  thus  described  embraces  an  area  of  about  two  hundred 
thousand  acres,  which  may  be  properly  called  plains,  having  an  average 
elevation  of  one  hundred  feet  above  tide-water. 

A  spur  of  rolling  hills  extends  from  Vacaville,  nearly  north  to  Putah 
creek,  which  will  average  three  miles  in  width,  the  slopes,  benches,  and 
small  valleys  being  celebrated  for  early  fruits  and  vegetables.  West  of 
these  hills  and  running  parallel  with  them,  lies  Pleasant  Valley,  extending 
to  Putah  creek ;  this  vale  is  also  celebrated  for  its  genial  climate,  early 
fruits  and  vegetables,  it  sending  the  first  into  market  from  any  part  of  the 
State. 

The  eastern  portion  of  Sections  24,  25,  and  36,  in  Township  6  N.  R. 
2  W.  and  the  western  portion  of  Sections  19,  30,  and  31,  in  Township  6 


22  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

N.  R.  1  W.  are  usually  called  Lagoon  valley,  where  is  located  the  celebrated 
cherry  orchards  of  Bassford  &  Sons. 

The  north-west  corner  of  Township  6  N.  R.  2  W.  is  a  high  rocky  region 
covered  with  dense  chapparal,  as  is  also  the  western  portion  of  township 
7  N.  R.  2  W.  and  the  western  part  of  Township  8  N.  R.  2  W. 

The  crest  of  the  Vaca  mountains,  beginning  on  the  first  standard,  north 
of  Mount  Diablo,  at  a  point  fifteen  chains  west  of  the  south-east  corner  of 
Section  34,  Township  6  N.  R.  2  W.  and  running  northerly  to  the  centre 
of  Putah  creek,  is  the  boundary  line  between  Solano  and  Napa  counties, 
and  rises  gradually,  proceeding  northerly,  which,  on  Section  15,  in  Township 
6  N.  R.  2  W.  becomes  a  perpendicular  cliff  on  the  west  side,  the  vertical 
part  varying  from  fifteen  to  fifty  feet  in  height.  The  greatest  altitude  of 
this  ridge  of  the  Vaca  mountains  is  that  portion  lying  in  Sections  5,  7  and 
8,  in  township  7  N.  R.  2  W.  called  the  Blue  mountain,  and  is  about  three 
thousand  feet  above  the  ocean.  From  this  position  the  ridge  descends 
towards  Putah  creek,  while  immediately  south  of  the  creek,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  ridge,  are  cliffs,  nearly  perpendicular,  of  from  three  to  five  hundred 
feet  high.  On  Section  20,  in  Township  8  N.  R.  2  W.  the  Rio  de  los  Putos 
breaks  through  the  chain  in  a  rough,  rocky  chasm,  called  Devil's  Gate. 
The  lower  portions  of  the  sand-rock  here  change  their  clayey  color,  become 
blue  and  hard,  and  are  traversed  by  divisional  planes  or  joints  dividing  the 
rock  into  rhomboidal  blocks  of  considerable  regularity,  a  feature  which  is 
common  to  the  great  overlying  mass  of  sand-rock  in  Solano  and  the  ad- 
joining counties. 

The  Suscol  Hills,  or  Sierra  de  Napa,  occupying  Townships  3,  4  and  5  N. 
R.  3  W.  in  the  south-west  part  of  the  county,  are  a  series  of  rolling 
highlands,  in  some  places  rising  to  rocky  peaks  and  precipitous  crags. 
Among  the  most  prominent  of  these  is  the  Sulphur  Spring  mountain, 
which  attains  an  elevation  of  five  hundred  feet  above  the  bay,  and  is  situated 
about  five  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Vallejo.  The  Elkhorn,  or  Ramsay's 
Peaks,  on  Section  33,  in  Township  5  N.  R.  3  W.  twelve  miles  north- 
easterly from  Vallejo,  rises  to  the  height  of  one  thousand  feet.  The 
Sisters  Peaks,  eight  miles  north-west  of  Fairfield,  are  sixteen  hundred  feet  in 
height ;  while  Millers  Peak,  fifteen  miles  north  of  the  county  seat,  on  the 
crest  of  the  hills  separating  Pleasant  Valley  from  the  plains,  is  the  sharpest, 
most  abrupt,  and  best  defined  summit  in  the  county ;  it  is  one  thousand  feet 
high.  The  Suscol  range  embraces  an  area  of  sixty  thousand  acres,  it  being 
interspersed  with  beautiful  glens  skirted  with  live  oak,  willow,  and  Cal- 
ifornia laurel ;  at  their  western  base  lies  a  border  of  valley  land  of  an 
undulating  surface,  a  few  miles  wide,  and  extending  from  Vallejo  north  to 
Napa  county.  The  crest  or  divide  of  these  hills  forms  the  western  boundary 
of  the  county,  from  Section  33,  in  Township  4  N.  R.  3  W.  north  twelve 
miles  to  the  first  Standard  North. 


THE  HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  23 

GEOLOGY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY. 

The  great  overlying  mass  of  rock  in  the  hilly  portions  of  the  county,  is  a 
massive  siliceous  sandstone,  in  many  localities  changing  to  arginaceous  sand- 
rock,  with  the  divisional  plains  or  joints  less  defined. 

The  erosion  of  this  rock  sends  down  to  the  benches  and  valleys  large 
quantities  of  debris,  which,  mingled  with  the  harder  clayey  deposits,  makes 
a  light,  loose,  and  warm  soil,'  particularly  healthy,  producing  the  earliest 
fruits  and  vegetables  in  the  State.  On  the  lower  slopes  in  several  localities, 
are  found  extensive  areas  of  alluvial  sandstone,  formed  by  beds  of  sand 
cemented  by  iron  and  carbonate  of  lime. 

Below  the  massive  sandstone  first  named,  beds  of  clay  slate,  alternate 
with  slaty  schistose  sandstone,  as  seen  in  the  face  of  the  bluff  at  South 
Vallejo,  and  in  those  along  the  Straits  of  Carquinez,  in  the  ravines  of  the 
Suscol  hills,  and  on  the  slopes  of  the  Vaca  mountains. 

Underlying  the  above  are  vast  beds  of  Volcanic  Tufa,  composed  of 
cemented,  volcanic  earth,  light  and  porous,  containing  a  large  percentage  of 
magnesia,  giving  the  rock  a  light  gray  color,  which  hardens  by  exposure,  is 
a  perfect  firestone,  and  of  sufficient  durability  for  building  purposes,  as  has 
been  proved  by  the  erection  of  the  following  structures :  the  dwelling  of 
Colonel  Charles  Ramsay,  in  Green  Valley ;  that  of  Samuel  Martin,  L.  B. 
Abernethie,  and  W.  W.  Scarlett,  in  Suisun  Valley,  which  are  all  constructed 
of  this  material ;  as  is  also  the  Stone  Church  at  Rockville,  and  an  exten- 
sive barn,  the  property  of  J.  M.  Baldwin,  near  that  place.  There  is  a  fine 
quality  of  this  rock  in  the  hills,  on  the  lands  of  J.  R.  Wolfskill,  whose 
spacious  dwelling-house  is  built  of  it.     It  is  absolutely  fire-proof. 

The  lowest  formation  necessary  to  mention,  are  alternating  strata  of  sand- 
stone, shale,  slaty  sandstone,  and  coal.  Subjacent  to  the  foregoing  is  a  bed 
of  hard  blue  clay. 

Black  basalt,  or  dolerite,  occurs  on  some  points  of  the  hills  and  ridges  in 
the  vicinity  of  Brideport,  in  the  Lomas  de  Suisun,  and  on  the  hills  east  and 
west  of  Green  Valley  ;  also  on  the  old  Dorris  Farm,  five  miles  north-east  of 
Benicia,  and  on  the  land  of  Lewis  Pierce,  nine  miles  from  there,  on  the 
Bridgeport  road.  It  is  extensively  quarried  and  sent  to  San  Francisco  for 
paving  purposes. 

At  the  Soda  Springs,  on  Section  2,  Township  5  N.  R.  2  W.  five  miles 
north  of  the  County  seat,  there  is  a  quarry  of  beautiful  white  Crystal- 
line marble,  which  proves  to  be  a  chemical  deposit ;  the  strata  is  made  up  of 
waived  or  undulating  laminre,  showing  that  the  deposition  was  made  upon 
an  uneven  surface.  Where  the  laminae  are  corrugated  and  tortuous,  it  shows 
a  beautiful  finish,  similar  to  bird's-eye  maple.  On  Section  8,  in  Township 
5  N.  R.  2  W.  four  miles  north-east  of  Fairfield,  there  is  a  quarry  of  varie- 
gated marble,  the  coloring  matter  of  which  is  for  the  most  part  oxide  of  iron. 


24  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Hydraulic  limestone,  or  cement-rock,  is  found  in  abundance  in  the  hills 
near  Benicia,  and  at  the  bluffs  on  the  north  side  of  Carquinez  Straits. 

Sulphur  Spring  Mountain  is  the  termination  of  the  Sierra  de  Napa,  and 
of  the  great  quicksilver  range,  and  contains  large  deposits  of  cinnabar-rock, 
the  most  extensive  being  at  the  St.  John  mine,  six  miles  northeast  of  Val- 
lejo;  the  John  Brownlie  mine,  six  miles  east  of  Vallejo;  and  various  other 
localities  show  outcrops  of  this  rock. 

Serpentine,  micaceous  schistase,  sandstone,  hornblende,  and  several  others 
of  the  class  of  rocks,  usually  accompanying  this  mineral  are  found  on  and 
along  the  slopes  of  this  ridge. 

SPRINGS    IN    SOLANO    COUNTY. 

The  Soda  and  Sulphur  Springs,  in  the  Armijo  Kancho,  five  miles  from 
Fairfield,  and  the  White  Sulphur  Springs,  hear  Vallejo,  are  beginning  to  be 
appreciated  for  sanitary  purposes. 

SOIL    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY. 

The  soil  of  the  swamp  and  overflowed  lands  is  composed  of  decayed 
vegetation ;  guano,  sedimentary  deposits  from  overflow  of  streams,  mixed 
with  a  large  percentage  of  preserved  roots,  the  principal  preservative  agent 
being  tannic  acid,  of  which  considerable  beds  occur,  resembling  peat,  and 
when  cut  and  dried  makes  excellent  fuel.  These  lands  produce  abundantly 
when  reclaimed,  there  being  about  thirty  thousand  acres  leveed  in,  and 
several  thousands  under  cultivation. 

The  Montezuma  hills  are  not  excelled  as  natural  grain  land.  Some  por- 
tions of  the  plains  district  are  alkaline  soil,  and  poor.  Other  sections  are 
dead  soil,  without  much  organic  matter.  The  rolling  hills,  to  the  summit, 
are  excellent  grain  or  grazing  lands.  Indeed  the  greater  portion  of  the  un- 
dulating lands  and  the  plains  may  be  denominated  as  one  vast  grain  field. 

THE  VALLEYS  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY. 

Suscol  Valley  lies  west  of  the  Suscol  hills,  runs  from  the  city  of  Vallejo 
to  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  eight  miles  long  and  three  in  breadth, 
Napa  bay  washing  its  whole  length. 

Sulphur  Spring  Valley  runs  up  from  Suisun  bay,  two  miles  north  of 
Benicia ;  has  a  width  of  from  one  to  four  hundred  yards,  and  winds  through 
the  Suscol  hills  for  five  or  six  miles. 

Green  Valley  lies  to  the  eastward  of  the  Suscol  hills,  four  miles  east  of 
Suscol  valley;  is  six  miles  in  length,  one  and  a  half  in  width,  and  derives 
its  name  from  their  being  a  large  portion  of  it  always  green. 

Suisun  Valley  is  about  six  miles  square,  and  lies  to  the  north  of  Suisun 
bay  and  east  of  Green  Valley.  It  opens  out  on  the  east  into  the  valley  of 
the  Sacramento,  and  has  an  exceedingly  fertile  soil. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  25 

Vaca  Valley,  formerly  known  as  the  Ulattis  valley,  lies  to  the  north- 
east of  Suisun ;  it  is  five  miles  in  length,  and  one  and  a  half  in  breadth, 
runs  between  two  ranges  of  hills  of  considerable  altitude,  and  opens  out 
into  the  great  Sacramento  Valley.  It,  and  its  two  offshoots,  Laguna  or 
Lagoon  Valley  and  Pleasant  Valley,  are  the  admiration  of  all  travelers. 

Sacramento  Valley  extends  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  and  is  in' a  few 
words  the  farmer's  paradise. 

THE   STREAMS   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Rio  de  los  Putos,  or  Putah  Creek,  rises  in  Lake  county,  and  flows  in 
an  easterly  direction,  winding  through  a  rich,  lovely,  fertile  plain,  for 
twenty  miles,  and  loses  itself  in  the  extensive  tides  which  lie  between  the 
plains  and  Sacramento  river.  It  is  not  navigable,  but  affords  great  facilities 
for  the  watering  of  stock,  while  in  certain  parts  it  is  noted  for  the  magnifi- 
cence of  its  scenery. 

Sweeny  Creek  rises  in  the  Vaca  hills,  six  miles  north  of  the  town  of 
Vacaville ;  flows  in  a  north-easterly  direction  for  the  distance  of  eight 
miles  ;  thence  in  a  south-easterly  course  to  the  vicinity  of  Maine  Prairie, 
and  empties  itself  into  Cache  Slough. 

Ulattis  Creek  rises  in  the  Vaca  hills,  about  five  miles  west  of  Vacaville ; 
flows  through  that  town  in  an  easterly  direction,  and  empties  into  the.  west 
branch  of  Cache  Slough. 

Alamo  Creek  rises  about  four  miles  west  of  Vacaville ;  runs  in  a  south- 
erly direction,  through  Elmira,  and  enters  Ulattis  creek,  near  Binghampton. 

Pleasant  Valley  Creek  rises  »about  two  miles  west  of  Mr.  R.  Miller's 
property;  runs  in  a  north-easterly  direction  through  Pleasant  valley,  and 
empties  into  Putah  creek. 

Suisun  Creek  rises  in  Napa  county,  flows  in  a  south-easterly  direction, 
and  empties  into  the  Salt  Marsh,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Bridge- 
port. 

Green  Valley  Creek  rises  in  the  south-west  corner  of  Township  5  N. 
R.  2  W.  and  runs  in  a  south-easterly  course  about  eight  miles,  emptying  into 
Cordelia  slough,  at  Bridgeport. 

Sulphur  Springs  Valley  Creek  rises  near  the  centre  of  Township  5 
N.  R.  3  W.  runs  in  a  south-easterly  course  through  Sulphur  Springs  valley, 
and  empties  into  the  salt  marsh  two  miles  north  of  the  United  States 
barracks  at  Benicia. 

Sulphur  Springs  Creek  has  its  source  at  the  White  Sulphur  Springs, 
three  miles  north-east  from  Vallejo  ;  runs  in  a  north-easterly  course,  and 
empties  into  Napa  bay  three  miles  north  of  Vallejo. 

In  addition  to  these  water-courses  there  are  several  estuaries,  such  as 
Cache  Slough,  with  its  tributaries  of  Bounds,  Linda,  Prospect,  Miner's,  and 
Elkhorn  sloughs ;  Grizzly  Slough,  Roaring  River,  in  Montezuma  township, 
with  a  host  of  others  too  insignificant  to  enumerate. 


26  THE  HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 


OEGANIZATION. 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  TOWNSHIP  SYSTEM  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES — ITS  EXTENSION 
TO  ""CALIFORNIA — ORGANIZATION  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY— TOWNSHIPS — BENICIA 
— VALLEJO — SUISUN — VACAVILLE —  SILVEYVILLE — TREMONT — MAINE  PRAI- 
RIE —  RIO  VISTA  —  MONTEZUMA  —  DENVERTON  —  ELMIRA  —  BENICIA  THE 
COUNTY  SEAT — REMOVAL  TO  FAIRFIELD — REMOVAL  TO  VALLEJO — BACK  TO 
FAIRFIELD,   ETC.,   ETC. 

The  first  organization  of  counties  in  the  United  States  originated  in  Vir- 
ginia, her  early  settlers  becoming  proprietors  of  vast  amounts  of  land,  liv- 
ing apart  in  patrician  splendor,  imperious  in  demeanor,  aristocratic  in  feeling, 
and  being  in  a  measure  dictators  to  the  laboring  portion  of  the  population- 
It  will  thus  be  remarked  that  the  materials  for  the  creation  of  towns  were 
not  at  hand,  voters  being  but  sparsely  distributed  over  a  great  area.  The 
county  organization  was,  moreover,  in  perfect  accord  with  the  traditions 
and  memories  of  the  judicial  and  social  dignities  of  Great  Britain,  in 
descent  from  whom  they  felt  so  much  glory.  In  1634,  eight  counties  were 
established  in  Virginia,  a  lead  which  was  followed  by  the  Southern  and 
several  of  the  Northern  States,  save  in  those  of  South  Carolina  and  Louis- 
iana, where  districts  were  outlined  in  the  former,  and  parishes,  after  the 
manner  of  the  French,  in  the  latter. 

In  New  England,  towns  were  formed  before  counties,  while  counties  were 
organized  before  States.  Originally,  the  towns  or  townships  exercised  all 
the  powers  of  government  swayed  by  a  State.  The  powers  afterward  as- 
sumed by  the  State  governments  were  from  surrender  or  delegation  on  the 
part  of  towns.  Counties  were  created  to  define  the  jurisdiction  of  Courts 
of  Justice.  The  formation  of  States  was  by  a  union  of  towns,  wherein 
arose  the  representative  system ;  each  town  being  represented  in  the  State 
Legislature,  or  General  Court,  by  delegates  chosen  by  the  freemen  of  the 
town  at  their  stated  town  meetings.  The  first  town  meeting  of  which  we 
can  find  any  direct  evidence,  was  held  by  the  congregation  of  the  Plymouth 
colony,  on  March  23,  1621,  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting  military  arrange- 
ments. At  that  meeting  a  Governor  was  elected  for  the  ensuing  year ;  and 
it  is  noticed  as  a  coincident,  whether  from  that  source  or  otherwise,  that  the 
annual  town  meetings  in  New  England,  and  nearly  all  the  other  States, 
have  ever  since  been  held  in  the  spring  of  the  year.  It  was  not,  however, 
until  1635,  that  the  township  system  was  adopted  as  a  quasi  corporation 
in  Massachusetts. 

The  first  legal  enactment  concerning  this  system  provided  that  whereas  : 
"  Particular  towns  have  many  things  which  concern  only  themselves,  and 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  27 

the  ordering  of  their  own  affairs,  and  disposing  of  business  in  their  own 
towns ;  therefore,  the  freemen  of  every  town,  or  the  major  part  of  them, 
shall  only  have  power  to  dispose  of  their  own  lands  and  woods,  with  all  the 
appurtenances  of  said  towns ;  to  grant  lots,  and  to  make  such  orders  as  may 
concern  the  well  ordering  of  their  own  towns,  not  repugnant  to  the  laws 
and  orders  established  by  the  General  Court.  They  might  also  impose  fines 
of  not  more  than  twenty  shillings,  and  choose  their  own  particular  officers, 
as  constables,  surveyors  for  the  highways,  and  the  like."  Evidently  this 
enactment  relieved  the  General  Court  of  a  mass  of  municipal  details,  with- 
out any  danger  to  the  powers  of  that  body  in  controlling  general  measures 
of.  public  policy.  Probably,  also,  a  demand  from  the  freemen  of  the  towns 
was  felt,  for  the  control  of  their  own  home  concerns. 

The  New  England  colonies  were  first  governed  by  a  "  general  court,"  or 
legislature,  composed  of  a  Governor  and  Small  Council,  which  court  con- 
sisted of  the  most  influential  inhabitants,  and  possessed  and  exercised  both 
legislative  and  judicial  powers,  which  were  limited  only  by  the  wisdom  of 
the  holders.  They  made  laws,  ordered  their  execution,  elected  their  own 
officers,  tried  and  decided  civil  and  criminal  causes,  enacted  all  manner  of 
municipal  regulations ;  and,  in  fact,  transacted  all  the  business  of  the 
colony. 

This  system,  which  was  found  to  be  eminently  successful,  became  general, 
as  territory  was  added  to  the  Republic  and  States  formed.  Lesser  divisions 
were  in  turn  inaugurated  and  placed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  special 
officers,  whose  numbers  were  increased  as  time  developed  a  demand,  until 
the  system  of  township  organization  in  the  United  States  to-day  is  a  matter 
of  just  pride  to  her  people. 

We  will  now  consider  this  topic  in  regard  to  our  special  subject. 

On  the  acquisition  of  California  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States, 
under  a  treaty  of  peace,  friendship,  limits  and  settlement  with  the  Mexican 
Republic,  dated  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  February  2,  1848,  the  boundaries  of 
the  State  were  defined.  This  treaty  was  ratified  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  on  March  16,  1848;  exchanged  at  Queretaro,  May  30,  and 
finally  promulgated  July  4th,  of  the  same  year,  by  President  Polk,  and 
attested  by  Secretary  of  State.  James  Buchanan.  In  1849,  a  Constitutional 
Convention  was  assembled  in  Monterey,  and  at  the  close  of  the  session  on 
October  12th,  a  proclamation,  calling  upon  the  people  to  form  a  government, 
was  issued  "  to  designate  such  officers  as  they  desire  to  make  and  execute 
the  laws  ;  that  their  choice  may  be  wisely  made,  and  that  the  Government 
so  organized  may  secure  the  permanent  welfare  and  happiness  of  the  people 
of  the  new  State,  is  the  sincere  and  earnest  wish  of  the  present  executive, 
who  if  the  Constitution  be  ratified,  will,  with  pleasure,  surrender  his  powers 
to  whomsoever  the  people  may  designate  as  his  successor."  This  historic 
document  bore  the  signatures  of   "  B.  Riley,  Bvt.  Brig.  Genl.  U.  S.  A.,  and 


28  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Governor  of  California,"  and  "  Official  —  H.  W.  Halleck,  Bvt.,  Capt.  and 
Secretary  of  State." 

In  accordance  with  Section  Fourteen  of  Article  Twelve  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, it  was  provided  that  the  State  be  divided  into  counties,  and  Senatorial 
and  Assembly  Districts,  while  the  First  Session  of  the  Legislature,  which 
began  at  San  Jose  on  December  15,  1849,  passed  on  February  18,  1850,  "An 
Act  subdividing  the  State  into  counties  and  establishing  seats  of  justice 
therein."     The  boundaries  of  Solano  county  being  as  follows : 

"  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Napa  creek  and  running  up  the  middle  of 
its  channel  to  the  mouth  of  the  Suscol  creek ;  thence  following  up  said 
creek  to  the  eastern  boundary  line  of  Napa  county ;  thence  along  said 
boundary  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Napa  county ;  thence  in  a  direct 
line  to  the  nearest  point  of  Putah  creek ;  thence  down  the  middle  of  said 
creek  to  its  termination  in  the  Tule  marsh ;  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the 
head  of  Merritt's  slough ;  thence  down  the  middle  of  said  slough  to  its 
mouth  ;  thence  down  the  middle  of  Sacramento  river  to  its  mouth  ;  thence 
down  the  middle  of  Suisun  bay  to  the  Straits  of  Carquinez ;  and  thence 
through  the  middle  of  said  straits  to  the  place  of  beginning."  It  was 
ordered  that  Benicia  should  be  the  seat  of  justice. 

Prior  to  this  time  the  county  had  been  included  in  the  District  of  Sonoma> 
a  division  which  had  originated  with  the  Mexican  authorities  during  their 
power ;  it  had  not  been  interfered  with  on  the  accession  of  American  rule, 
but  retained  the  official  nomenclature  given  by  the  Spaniards ;  their  being 
no  law,  the  government  was  administered  as  it  seemed  best  to  the  holders 
of  office. 

To  Judge  Joseph  Winston  is  the  honor  of  first  dividing  Solano  into 
townships,  the  county  being  partitioned  in  order  to  determine  the  limits 
wherein  two  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  two  Constables  should  be  voted  for 
at  an  election  to  be  held  on  May  25,  1850.  The  order  directing  the  dimidi- 
ation  reads :  "  The  line  of  division  commencing  at  the  Suisun  embarcadero 
and  running  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  Suscol  creek,  by  way  of  what  is  called 
Suscol  ranch;  thence  down  Suscol  creek  to  Napa  creek;  thence  down  Napa 
creek  to  the  middle  channel  of  Carquinez  straits ;  thence  up  the  middle  of 
Carquinez  straits  to  Suisun  bay  at  a  point  opposite  the  embarcadero; 
thence  up  the  middle  channel  of  the  Suisun  bay  to  the  Suisun  embarcadero, 
the  place  of  beginning;  and  it  is  further  ordered  that  the  district  of  county, 
composed  within  the  boundaries  above  set  forth,  be  designated  and  known 
as  Benicia  township,  and  that  all  the  residue  of  the  territory  of  said  county 
lying  between  said  boundary  lines  of  Benicia  township  and  the  boundary 
lines  of  said  county,  in  every  direction,  be  known  and  designated  as  Suisun 
township." 

On  April  11,  1850,  An  Act  of  the  Legislature  was  passed  organizing  a 
Court  of  Session  and  defining  its  composition  to  be  as  follows  :     The  Court 


THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  29 

consisted  of  the  County  Judge,  who  should  preside  at  its  sessions,  assisted 
by  two  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  the  county  as  Associate  Justices,  they  being 
chosen  by  their  brother  justices  from  out  of  the  whole  number  elected  for 
the  county.  The  duties  imposed  upon  this  organization  were  multifarious. 
They  made  such  orders  respecting  the  property  of  the  county  as  they 
deemed  expedient,  in  conformity  with  any  law  of  the  State,  and  in  them 
were  vested  the  care  and  preservation  of  such  property.  They  examined, 
settled,  and  allowed  all  accounts  chargeable  against  the  county  ;  directed 
the  raising  of  such  sums  for  the  defraying  of  all  expenses  and  charges 
against  the  county ;  by  means  of  taxation  on  property,  real  and  personal, 
such  not  to  exceed,  however,  the  one-half  of  the  tax  levied  by  the  State  on 
such  property ;  to  examine  and  audit  the  accounts  of  all  officers  having  the 
care,  management,  collection,  and  disbursement  of  any  money  belonging  to 
the  county,  or  appropriated  by  law,  or  otherwise,  for  its  use  and  benefit. 
In  them  was  the  power  of  control  and  management  of  public  roads,  turn- 
pikes, ferries,  canals,  roads,  and  bridges  within  the  county,  where  the  law 
did  not  prohibit  such  jurisdiction,  and  made  such  orders  as  should  be  neces- 
sary and  requisite  to  carry  such  control  and  management  into  effect ;  to 
divide  the  county  into  townships,  and  to  create  new  townships,  and  change 
the  division  of  the  same  as  the  convenience  of  the  county  should  require, 
was  among  their  duties.  They  established  and  changed  election  precincts  ; 
controlled  and  managed  the  property,  real  and  personal,  belonging  to  the 
county,  and  purchased  and  received  donations  of  property  for  the  use  of 
the  county,  with  this  proviso,  that  they  should  not  have  the  power  to  pur- 
chase any  real  or  personal  property,  except  such  as  should  be  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  use  of  the  county.  To  sell  and  cause  to  be  conveyed,  any 
real  estate,  goods,  or  chattels  belonging  to  the  county,  appropriating  the 
proceeds  of  such  sale  to  the  use  of  the  same.  To  cause  to  be  erected  and 
furnished,  a  court-house,  jail,  and  other  buildings,  and  to  see  that  the  same 
be  kept  in  repair,  and  otherwise  to  perform  all  such  other  duties  as  should 
be  necessary  to  the  full  discharge  of  the  powers  conferred  on  such  court. 
Terms  were  ordered  to  be  held  on  the  second  Monday  of  February,  April, 
June,  August,  October,  and  December,  with  quarterly  sessions  on  the  third 
Monday  of  February,  May,  August,  and  November  of  each  year. 

In  conformity  with  this  enactment,  the  court  held  a  special  term  on 
March  13th,  1851,  when  it  was  decreed  that  Benicia  township,  which  was 
of  an  unwieldy  size,  should  be  divided  into  two  portions,  the  division  line 
to  commence  where  the  western  corner  of  the  town  tract  of  Benicia  strikes 
the  bay,  thence  to  the  north-western  corner  of  said  town  tract  of  Benicia, 
thence  due  north  to  the  boundary  line  of  the  county  of  Solano,  and  all  the 
territory  lying  east  of  said  division  line,  shall  hereafter  be  known  as 
Benicia  township;  and  all  the  territory  lying  west  of  said  division  line  shall 
hereafter  be  known  as  Vallejo  township.      This  is  the  first  mention  we 


30  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

have  of  the  Vallejo  township;  at  the  time,  the  city  of  that  name  was 
known  as  Eden,  but  on  account  of  the  strenuous  efforts  made  by  General 
Vallejo  to  have  the  seat  of  government  removed  thither  from  San  Jose,  the 
claims  of  the  spot  made  itself  felt,  and  it  was  therefore  given  township 
rights. 

In  1852  emigration  had  set  into  the  fertile  valley  of  the  county  ;  it  was 
therefore  found  necessary  to  apportion  once  more  the  large  extent  of  terri- 
tory comprised  in  the  Suisun  township  into  two  divisions  ;  to  this  end,  the 
Court  of  Sessions,  at  a  special  term  held  at  Benicia  on  November  1st, 
directed  that  Suisun  should  be  partitioned  off  into  two  townships,  the  lines 
to  run  as  follows :  "  Commencing  at  the  southwest  points  of  the  Potrero 
Hills ;  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  branch  opposite  (on  the  west  side)  the 
house  of  Mr.  Cutler ;  thence  up  said  branch  to  its  source  ;  thence  in  a  north- 
west direction  to  the  county  line,  and  all  the  county  east  of  said  line,  and 
south  and  south-west  of  Putah  creek,  is  called  Vacaville  township.  With 
this  last  apportionment,  Solano  county  was  divided  into  four  parts,  but 
still  it  was  found  to  be  of  too  vast  proportions  for  official  purposes ;  there- 
fore, we  find  the  court  once  more  holding  a  sederunt,  on  August  8th,  1853, 
and  establishing  a  new  township,  to  be  taken  off  those  of  Benicia  and 
Suisun.     The  limits  were  described  and  designated  as  follows : 

"  To  commence  at  the  Tule,  on  the  southwest  end  of  Mr.  Thompson's 
farm,  and  running  in  a  direct  line  to  the  Jerry  House,  as  it  is  called,  on  the 
south-west  edge  of  Green  Valley ;  thence  following  the  edge  of  the  Tule, 
east  to  the  mouth  of  the  Suisun  creek ;  thence  up  said  creek  to  the  cross- 
ing of  the  county  road,  near  L.  Alford's ;  thence  along  said  road  west  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  S.  Martin  ;  thence  due  north  to  the  county  line ;  thence  fol- 
lowing said  county  line  west  to  place  of  beginning."  This  tract  was  named 
the  Green  Valley  Township. 

Affairs  had  not  yet,  however,  righted  themselves ;  the  districts  were  still 
too  unwieldy  in  size.  A  further  contraction  had  therefore  to  be  inaug- 
urated ;  hence  we  find  the  Court  of  Session  ordering,  on  August  15th,  1854, 
that  Solano  county  shall  be  divided  into  townships,  as  follows : 

MONTEZUMA  TOWNSHIP. 

"  A  new  township  is  hereby  created  and  established,  to  be  called  Mont®*- 
zuma  township,  which  said  township  is  designated  and  bound  as  follows : 
Commencing  at  a  point  in  Suisun  bay,  where  the  meridian  line  running 
north  from  Monte  Diablo  crosses  the  line  of  Solano  county;  thence  north 
with  the  meridian  line  to  the  north-east  corner  of  Section  25  of  Township 
5  N.  R.  1  W.  according  to  the  government  survey ;  thence  due  east  to 
Cache  Creek  Slough,  or  the  eastern  boun  dary  of  the  county  or  Cache 
Creek  slough  to  the  Sacramento  river ;  thence  down  said  river  and  Suisun 
bay  with  the  line  of  the  county  to  the  place  of  beginning." 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  31 

SUISUN   TOWNSHIP. 

"And  the  township  heretofore  known  as  Suisun  township  is  hereby 
changed  in  its  boundaries  so  as  to  conform  to  the  following  description, 
to-wit :  Commencing  at  the  point  where  the  meridian  line  running  north 
from  Monte  Diablo  crosses  the  county  line  of  said  county ;  thence  north 
with  said  line  to  the  north-east  corner  of  Section  25  of  Township  5 
N.  R.  1  W.  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  white  point  of  Long's  mountain ; 
thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  residence  of  E.  B.  Witt,  including  his  resi- 
dence ;  thence  in  the  same  direction  to  a  direct  line  to  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  said  county ;  thence  with  said  northern  boundary  in 
a  westerly  direction  to  the  foot  of  the  hills  on  the  west  side  of  Suisun 
creek ;  thence  down  said  creek  along  the  foot  of  said  hills  to  a  point 
opposite  the  residence  of  William  B.  Brown,  in  Suisun  Valley;  thence 
down  the  middle  of  Suisun  creek  to  its  mouth ;  thence  continuing  the 
same  general  course  to  the  southern  boundary  of  the  county  in  Suisun  bay; 
thence  up  said  bay  with  the  line  of  the  county  to  the  point  of  beginning." 

GREEN    VALLEY   TOWNSHIP. 

"  And  the  township  known  as  Green  Valley  township  is  hereby  changed 
in  its  boundaries  so  as  to  conform  to  the  following  description,  to-wit : 
Commencing  at  the  mouth  of  Suisun  creek  and  running  from  thence  up 
the  middle  of  said  creek  to  a  point  opposite  the  residence  of  William  B. 
Brown;  from  thence  in  a  northerly  direction  running  with  the  foot  of  the 
hills  on  the  west  side  of  Suisun  creek  to  the  boundary  line  between 
Solano  and  Napa  counties;  thence  in  a  south-west  direction,  following  said 
boundary  line  to  the  point  where  the  public  road  leading  from  Benicia  to 
Napa  City  crosses  Suscol  creek  ;  thence  easterly  to  the  house  near  the  tule 
on  Suisun  bay,  and  on  the  road  leading  from  Benicia  to  Suisun  Valley, 
known  as  the  '  Jerry  House  ; '  thence  east  to  the  county  line  in  Suisun  bay 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  Suisun  township  ;  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the 
mouth  of  Suisun  creek,  the  place  of  beginning." 

VACAVILLE   TOWNSHIP. 

"  And  the  township  known  as  Vacaville  township  is  hereby  changed 
in  its  boundaries  so  as  to  conform  to  the  following  description,  to-wit : 
commencing  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Section  25  of  Township  5  N.  R. 
1  W.  according  to  the  government  survey,  being  the  north-west  corner  of 
Montezuma  township,  running  from  thence  to  the  white  point  on  Long's 
mountain ;  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  residence  of  E.  B.  Witt ;  thence 
in  the  same  direction  in  a  direct  line  with  the  eastern  boundary  of  Suisun 
township  to  the  northern  boundary  of  the  county ;  thence  north-easterly 
with  the  boundary  of   the  county  to  Putah  creek ;  thence  down  said  creek 


32  THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

to  its  sink  in  the  tule,  and  continuing  with  the  line  of  the  county  in  a 
south-easterly"  direction  to  a  point  due  east  of  the  point  of  beginning ; 
thence  west  to  the  point  of  beginning." 

BENICIA    TOWNSHIP. 

"  And  the  township  known  as  Benicia  township  is  hereby  changed  in  its 
boundaries  so  as  to  conform  to  the  following  description,  to-wit :  commenc- 
ing at  the  south-west  corner  of  a  tract  of  land  purchased  by  Robert  Semple 
and  Thomas  0.  Larkin,  from  M.  G.  Vallejo,  and  on  a  part  of  which  is  situ- 
ated the  city  of  Benicia ;  from  thence  with  the  western  boundary  of  said 
tract  of  land  to  the  north-west  corner  of  the  same;  from  thence  due  north  to 
the  line  of  Green  Valley  township  ;  thence  in  a  south-easterly  direction  on 
said  boundary  line  to  the  '  Jerry  House,'  so  called,  near  the  tule  on  Suisun 
bay ;  thence  due  east  to  the  boundary  line  of  the  county  in  Suisun  bay  ; 
thence  down  said  bay  and  the  Straits  of  Carquinez  to  a  point  due  south  of 
the  point  of  beginning ;  thence  due  north  to  the  point  of  beginning." 

VALLEJO   TOWNSHIP. 

"  And  the  township  known  as  Vallejo  township  is  hereby  changed  in  its 
boundaries  so  as  to  conform  to  the  following  description,  to-wit :  commenc- 
ing at  the  south-west  corner  of  a  tract  of  land  purchased  by  Robert  Semple 
and  Thomas  0.  Larkin,  from  M.  G.  Vallejo,  and  commonly  known  as  the 
Benicia  tract ;  thence  with  the  western  boundary  line  of  said  tract  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  same ;  thence  due  north  to  the  boundary  line  of 
Green  Valley  township ;  thence  in  a  north-westerly  direction  with  said 
boundary  line  of  Green  Valley  township  to  the  boundary  line  between 
Solano  and  Napa  counties,  at  the  point  where  the  public  road  crosses  the 
Suscol  creek ;  thence  with  said  creek  to  Napa  bay ;  thence  down  said  bay 
and  up  the  Straits  of  Carquinez,  including  Mare  Island,  to  the  southwest 
corner  of  Benicia  township  ;  thence  due  north  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

In  1855  a  change  had  come  o'er  the  spirit  of  the  governmental  dream  of 
the  county.  The  Court  of  Session  was  abolished  and  an  Act  passed  on 
March  20th,  entit]ed  "  An  Act  to  create  a  Board  of  Supervisors  in  the 
counties  of  this  State,  and  to  define  their  duties  and  powers."  For  better 
reference  the  ninth  section  of  the  above  Act  is  quoted  in  full :  "  The  Board 
of  Supervisors  shall  have  power  and  jurisdiction  in  their  respective  counties: 
First,  to  make  orders  respecting  the  property  of  the  county,  in  conformity 
with  any  law  of  this  State,  and  to  take  care  of  and  preserve  such  property. 
Second,  to  examine,  settle,  and  allow  all  accounts  legally  chargeable  against 
the  county,  and  to  levy,  for  the  purposes  prescribed  by  law,  such  amount  of 
taxes  on  the  assessed  value  of  real  and  personal  property  in  the  county,  as 
may  be  authorized  by  law :  provided  the  salary  of  the  County  Judge  need 


THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY.  33 

not  be  audited  by  the   Board;  but   the  County  Auditor   shall,  on  the  first 
judicial  day  of   each  month,  draw    his  warrant  on  the  County  Treasurer  in 
favor  of  the  County  Judge  for  the  amount  due  such  j  udge  as  salary,  for  the 
month  preceding.     Third,  to  examine  and  audit  the  accounts  of  all  officers 
having   the   care,    management,    collection  or  disbursement  of   any  money 
belonging  to  the  county,  or  appropriated   by  law,   or    otherwise,  for  its  use 
and  benefit.    Fourth,  to  lay  out,  control  and  manage  public  roads,  turnpikes, 
ferries,  and  bridges  within  the  county,  in  all  cases  where  the  law  does  not 
prohibit  such  jurisdiction,  and  to  make  such  orders  as  may  be  requisite  and 
necessary  to  carry  its  control  and   management  into  effect.     Fifth,  to  take 
care  of  and   provide  for  the  indigent  sick  of   the  county.     Sixth,  to  divide 
the  county  into  townships,  and  to  change  the  divisions  of  the  same,  and  to 
create  new   townships,    as    the    convenience    of   the  county  may  require. 
Seventh,  to  establish  and  change  election  precincts,  and  to  appoint  inspectors 
and  judges  of  elections.     Eighth,  to  control  and  manage  the  property,  real 
and  personal,  belonging  to  the  county,  and   to  receive  by  donation  any  pro- 
perty for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  county.     Ninth,  to  lease  or  to  purchase 
any  real  or  personal  property  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  county;  provided 
no  purchase  of  real  property  shall  be  made  unless  the  value  of  the  same  be 
previously  estimated  by  three  disinterested  persons,  to  be  appointed  for  that 
purpose  by  the  County  Judge.     Tenth,   to   sell   at  public   auction,  at   the 
Court-house  of  the  county,  after  at  least  thirty  days'  previous  public  notice, 
and  cause  to  be  conveyed,  any  property  belonging  to  the  county,  appropri- 
ating the  proceeds  of  such  sale  to  the  use  of  the  same.     Eleventh,  to  cause 
to  be  erected  and  furnished,  a  court-house,  jail,  and  such  other  public  build- 
ings as  may  be  necessary,  and  to  keep  the  same  in  repair  \  provided  that  the 
contract  for  building  the  court-house,  jail,  and  such  other  public  buildings, 
be  let  out  at  least  after  thirty  days'  previous  public  notice,  in  each  case,  of  a 
readiness  to  receive  proposals   therefor,  to  the  lowest  bidder,  who  will    give 
good  and   sufficient  security  for   the  completion  of   any  contract   which  he 
may  make  respecting  the  same ;  but   no  bid    shall    be    accepted  which  the 
Board  may  deem  too  high.     Tivelfth,  to  control  the  prosecution  and  defense 
of  all  suits  to  which  the  county  is  a  party.     Thirteenth,  to  do  any  and  per- 
form all  such  other  acts  and  things  as  may  be  strictly  necessary  to  the  full 
discharge  of  the  powers  and  jurisdiction   conferred  on  the  Board.     To  these 
various  duties,  in  themselves  of  a  most  difficult  nature,  were  added  the  oner- 
ous responsibilities  of   canvassers  of   election  returns  the  investigation  of 
bonds  required  to  be  given  by  newly  elected  officers,  and  a  general  superin- 
tendence of  all  the  monetary  transactions  in  which  the  county,  through  her 
officers,  has  any  interest.   The  members  of  these  supervisors  were  three,  and 
held  their  first  meeting  at  Benicia,  on  May  7,  1855. 

On  August  11th,  1855,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  directed  that  yet  another 
township  be  formed,  to  be  named 

3 


34  THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

TREMONT   TOWNSHIP, 

to  be  made,  formed,  and  constituted  on  Putah  creek,  in  Solano  county, 
bounded  as  follows,  to-wit :  commencing  at  and  including  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Priddy,  on  Putah.  creek,  about  two  miles  above  the  crossing  of  said  creek, 
near  Manuel  Vaca's;  thence  running  south  on  the  township  line  to  the  inter- 
section of  the  dividing  line  between  Montezuma  and  Vacaville  townships ; 
thence  east  to  the  boundary  line  of  Solano  county ;  thence  in  a  northerly 
direction,  following  the  boundary  line  of  Solano  county,  to  the  sink  of  Putah 
creek;  thence  up  Putah  creek  to  the  place  of  beginning.  The  county  was 
now  divided  into  seven  townships,  and  on  August  21,  were  apportioned  into 
supervisorial  districts,  as  under: 

District  No.  1,  comprised  the  townships  of  Vallejo  and  Benicia. 
District  No.  2,  comprised  the  townships  of  Green  Valley  and  Suisun. 
District  No.  3,  comprised  the  townships  of   Vacaville,  Montezuma,  and 
Tremont. 

In  the  following  years  the  upper  part  of  the  county  had  become  thickly 
populated,  while  the  towns  of  Suisun  and  Fairfield  had  commenced  to 
spring  into  prominence,  and  some  feeling  had  begun  to  evince  itself  in  res- 
pect to  a  new  location  for  the  county  seat.  Benicia  was  found  to  be  at  too 
great  a  distance  from  the  townships  of  Vacaville  and  Tremont ;  a  more  cen- 
tral position  was  therefore  sought,  and  a  County  Seat  Convention  was 
formed,  which,  having  appointed  delegates  to  canvass  the  matter,  held  a 
meeting,  a  report  of  which  is  now  extracted  from  the  Solano  County  Herald, 
of  August  14th,  1858. 

COUNTY   SEAT   CONVENTION. 

Pursuant  to  notice,  the  delegates  elected  met  at  Suisun  City,  August  7, 
1858,  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  some  suitable  and  central  location,  to  be 
voted  for  at  the  next  election,  for  the  County  Seat  of  Solano  County. 

"  The  convention  organized  by  electing  the  following  temporary  officers  : 
H.  G.  Davidson,  President ;  Phillip  Palmer,  Vice-President ;  Geo.  A.  Gilles- 
pie and  H.  B.  Amnions,  Secretaries. 

"  Upon  motion  of  A.  M.  Stevenson,  the  Chair  appointed  a  committee  on 
credentials,  one  from  each  township.  The  committee  consisted  of  P.  Palmer, 
E.  A.  Townsend,  Wm.  G.  Fore,  Samuel  Martin,  and  R  S.  Phelps.  Having 
retired  for  a  few  moments  they  returned  into  the  convention  and  reported 
the  following  named  gentlemen  as  duly  elected  delegates  to  this  convention: 

"  Suisun  Township. — Phillip  Palmer,  R.  D.  Pringle,  H.  Russell,  P.  0. 
Clayton,  John  Wayman,  John  Smithers,  John  A.  Payton,  V.  Hawkins, 
Frank  Aldridge,  and  J.  P.  McKissick. 

"  Vacaville  Township.— H.  B.  Ammons,  F.  J.  Bartlett,  W.  G.  Fore,  H.  G. 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  35 

Davidson,  E.  L.  Bennett,  E.  S.  Silvey,  Mason  Wilson,  J.  M.  Dudley,  J.  W. 
Anderson,  and  Geo.  A.  Gillespie. 

"Montezuma  Township.— E.  A.  Townsend,  C.  J.  Collins,  and  John  B. 
Carrington. 

"  Tremont  Township.— R.  S.  Phelps  and  J.  B.  Tufts. 

Green  Valley  Township. — G.  B.  Stevenson,  A.  M.  Stevenson,,  Samuel  G. 
Martin,  W.  P.  Durbin. 

"  Upon  motion,  report  received  and  committee  discharged. 

"  On  motion  of  A.  M.  Stevenson,  the  temporary  officers  were  declared  the 
permanent  officers  of  the  convention.  The  following  resolution  was  then 
offered  and  adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  we,  the  delegates  assembled  in  convention,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  selecting  a  suitable  location,  to  be  voted  for  at  the  next  annual 
election,  hereby  pledge  our  votes  and  influence  for  whatever  place  the 
convention  may  select. 

"  The  following  places  were  put  in  nomination  :  Mr.  Stevenson  nominated 
Fairfield ;  Mr.  Palmer,  Suisun  City ;  Mr.  Bartlett,  Vacaville ;  Mr.  Carring- 
ton, Denverton. 

"  The  following  propositions  were  submitted  in  writing  to  the  convention: 
Suisun  City,  through  Mr.  A.  P.  Jackson,  proposed  giving  $5,550  in  money 
and  a  certain  lot  100  by  120  feet,  known  as  '  Owen's  Tavern  Stand.'  He 
offered  to  enter  into  good  and  sufficient  bonds  for  the  performance  of  the 
same,  provided  the  county  seat  should  be  located  at  Suisun  City. 

"  Fairfield,  through  Mr.  R.  H.  Waterman,  proposed,  in  case  the  county 
seat  should  be  located  at  that  place,  to  deed  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of 
Solano  county  a  certain  piece  of  land  containing  about  sixteen  acres,  known 
upon  the  plat  of  the  town  of  Fairfield  as  '  Union  Park ;'  also,  four  blocks, 
each  block  containing  twelve  lots,  to  be  selected  as  follows :  two  from  the 
north  and  two  from  the  south,  or,  two  from  the  east  and  two  from  the  west 
of  '  Union  Park ;'  he  offering  to  enter  into  bonds  for  the  performance  of  the 
same. 

"  Vacaville,  through  Mason  Wilson,  offered  to  give  four  blocks  of  lots, 
$1,000  in  money,  provided  the  county  seat  should  be  located  there. 

"  Denverton,  (Nurse's  Landing)  through  Mr.  Carrington,  proposed  to  run 
upon  its  own  merits.  After  a  long  and  animated  discussion,  the  convention 
proceeded  to  take  the  vote,  when  Mr.  Clayton,  of  Suisun,  was  appointed 
teller  to  assist  the  secretaries.  The  Chair  announced  the  result  to  be  as 
follows : 

"  Fairfield,  sixteen  votes ;  Suisun  City,  twelve  votes ;  Denverton,  one 
vote.     Whereupon  Fairlield  was  declared  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  con- 


36  THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

vention.  Upon  motion  of  G.  A.  Gillespie,  a  committee  of  five,  consisting  of 
one  from  each  township,  were  elected  to  act  in  connection  with  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  in  receiving  proper  bonds  from  Mr.  Waterman  for  the  faith- 
ful performance  of  his  proposition.  This  committee  consisted  of  Phillip 
Palmer,  Mason  Wilson,  J.  B.  Tufts,  J.  B.  Carrington,  and  A.  M.  Stevenson. 

"  Upon  motion,  it  was  resolved  that  the  '  Solano  County  Herald '  be 
requested  to  publish  the  proceedings  of  the  convention. 

"Upon  motion,  the  convention  adjourned  sine  die. 

H.  G.  Davidson,  President. 

Geo.  A.  Gillespie,  j^.,, 
H.  B.  Ammons,        I  secretaries. 

In  pursuance  of  Mr.  Gillespie's  motion  Mr.  R.  H.  Waterman  entered  into 
the  following  bond  :  "  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Robert  H. 
Waterman,  of  Fairfield,  in  the  county  of  Solano,  and  State  of  California,  am 
held  and  firmly  bound  unto  the  Supervisors  of  Solano  county,  in  the  sum 
of  ten  thousand  dollars  lawful  money  of  the  United  States,  for  which  pay- 
ment will  and  truly  be  made.  I  bind  myself,  my  heirs,  executors,  and 
administrators,  firmly  by  these  presents.  Sealed  with  my  seal  and  dated 
the  twelfth  day  of  August,  1858. 

"  The  condition  of  this  obligation  is  such,  that  whereas,  the  said  Robert 
H.  Waterman  did  agree  to  donate  to  the  county  of  Solano,  for  the  use  of 
the  people  thereof,  free  of  charge  or  cost,  the  following  described  land, 
situated  in  the  town  of  Fairfield,  county  of  Solano,  State  of  California,  and 
further  described  as  Union  Park,  a  public  square  in  the  town  of  Fairfield, 
and  also  four  blocks,  containing  each  twelve  lots  adjoining  said  park, 
according  to  plat  of  said  town,  as  surveyed  by  E.  H.  D'Hemecourt,  County 
Surveyor;  these  blocks  to  be  selected  by  the  Supervisors  of  the  county, 
either  on  the  north,  east  or  south  side  of  said  park ;  and  further,  the  said 
park  shall  be  kept  open  and  free  for  the  use  of  the  public ;  and  further,  the 
proceeds  of  sales  of  the  four  blocks  shall  be  appropriated  to  the  erection  of 
the  public  buildings  of  the  county ;  and  further,  that  the  County  seat  of 
Solano  county  shall  be  lawfully  located  at  Fairfield. 

Now,  therefore,  if  the  said  county  seat  of  Solano  county  shall  be  lawfully 
located  at  said  town  at  the  coming  election  in  September  next,  after  date 
hereof,  and  if  the  said  Robert  H.  Waterman  shall,  and  does  procure  and 
deliver  to  the  Supervisors  of  said  county  a  good  and  sufficient  deed  to  the 
said  Union  Park  and  lots  herein  described,  according  to  the  conditions  of 
this  obligation,  then,  and  in  that  case,  the  above  obligation  shall  be  void; 
otherwise,  of  full  force. 

(Signed)  R.  H.  Waterman.        [seal."] 

On  the  second  day  of  September,  1858,  the  general  election  took  place, 


THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  37 

when  the  following  locations  for  the  county  seat  were  put  forth  for  candi- 
dature, with  the  following  result : 

Total  votes  cast 1,730 

Number  of  votes  for  Benicia 625 

Fairfield 1,029 

Denverton 38 

Vallejo 10 

Eockville 2 

Suisun 26 


Total  votes 1,730 

The  consequence,  therefore,  was  the  triumph  of  Fairfield  over  Benicia. 
It  is  supposed,  and  with  much  reason,  that  Vallejo  in  her  inmost  heart  had 
long  borne  a  grudge  against  Benicia,  for  having  in  1852  deprived  her  of  the 
capital  and  its  attendant  glories  ;  now,  there  opened  a  chance  for  vengeance, 
and  the  votes  of  the  Vallejoites  went  to  swell  the  list  of  the  voters  for 
Fairfield,  notwithstanding  that  by  so  doing  they  moved  the  county  seat 
further  away  from  them  than  if  they  had  permitted  it  to  remain  at  Benicia. 
In  this  regard,  the  Solano  Herald,  then  published  in  that  city,  announces 
the  disaster  in  these  words  : 

"  In  every  general  engagement,  however  glorious  the  bulletin  of  victory, 
there  necessarily  follows  the  melancholy  supplement  of  casualties. 

In  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded  in  Wednesday's  battle,  our  eye  falls 
mournfully  on  the  name  of  Benicia — Benicia  !  the  long  suffering,  mortally 
wounded,  if  not  dead — killed  by  Vallejo's  unsparing  hand !  That  the 
people  of  Suisun  and  the  adjoining  region  should  have  desired  a  removal  of 
the  county  seat,  was  by  no  means  surprising ;  but  Vallejo !  et  tu  Brute ! 
In  the  house  of  our  friends  we  were  wounded. 

While  we  hold  in  grateful  remembrance  the  majority  of  the  citizens  of 
Vallejo,  let  us  not  forget  those  aspiring  gentlemen  who  dealt  us  the  deadly 
blow.     '  Lord  keep  our  memory  green,'  for  good  and  evil.  " 

The  grass  was  not  allowed  to  grow  under  the  feet  of  the  Supervisors. 
In  October  following,  a  brick  building  erected  at  Fairfield,  by  Captain 
Waterman,  for  County  Clerk  and  Treasurer's  offices,  was  completed  and 
handed  over  to  them,  and  at  once  occupied ;  while  at  the  Board  meeting 
held  January  22,  1859,  Mr.  Waterman's  bond,  quoted  above,  with  all  its 
provisions,  was  accepted.  Tenders  were  at  once  advertised  for  to  construct 
the  necessary  edifices,  when,  at  a  Supervisoral  sederunt  held  on  March  14th 
of  that  year,  the  undermentioned  bids  were  ratified : 

For  Court-house  and  Jail,  Larkin  Richardson ....  824,440  00 
For  Court-house  for  temporary  use  of  County. .  .  .      1,373  00 


38  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

And  on  September  1st,  the  county  buildings  were   handed   over  to  the 
Board  of  Supervisors. 

In  1862  "An  Act  to  organize  townships  and  regulate  their  powers  and 
duties,  and  submit  the  same  to  the  vote  of  the  people,"  was  approved  by 
the  Legislature  on  May  15th.  The  provisions  of  the  act  were  that  town- 
ships should  be  corporate  bodies  and  have  capacity : 

First — To  sue  and  be  sued  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  law. 

Second — To  purchase  and  hold  lands  within  its  own  limits  for  the  use  of 
its  inhabitants,  and  for  the  promotion  of  education  within  the  limits  of  the 
township. 

Third — To  make  such  contracts,  and  to  purchase  and  hold  such  personal 
property  as  may  be  necessary  to  the  exercise  of  its  corporate  and  adminis- 
trative powers. 

Fourth — To  make  such  orders  for  the  disposition,  regulation  or  use  of  its 
corporate  property  as  may  be  deemed  conducive  to  the  interests  of  its 
inhabitants. 

The  corporate  powers  and  duties  of  these  townships  were  to  be  vested  in 
a  Board  of  Trustees,  to  consist  of  three  qualified  electors  of  the  township, 
to  be  voted  for  by  qualified  electors  within  said  township,  when,  at  the 
same  time,  were  to  be  elected  certain  officers  for  especial  service  within  the 
township.  Such  trustees  were  to  be  endowed  with  powers  appertaining  to 
the  peace,  order  and  good  government  of  the  townships  to  which  they  were 
chosen  by  the  public  vote,  and  were  to  collect  taxes,  which  were  to  be  paid 
into  the  office  of  the  County  Treasurer.  The  Act  was  ordered  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  a  vote  of  the  people  at  the  general  election.  In  those  counties  in 
which  the  affirmative  should  have  the  majority,  the  law  should  take  effect ; 
but  in  those  (like  Solano,  where  the  majority  against  it  was  sixty-one)  in 
which  the  negative  has  the  preponderance  of  votes,  the  act  should  not 
apply  or  be  in  force. 

At  the  same  election,  September  3,  1862,  the  proposed  amendments  to 
the  Constitution  of  California,  suggested  in  the  following : 

Article  IV — The  Legislative  Department. 
"  V — The  Executive  Department. 

'•  VI — The  Judicial  Department. 

IX— Education. 

were  put  to  the  popular  voice,  with  the  result  as  stated  below : 

Yes 4,800  : 

No 657 

Majority  for  the  yeas 4,143 


THE  HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  39 

On  August  12,  1863,  a  petition  from  0.  Bingham  and  others  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  when,  in  conformity  with  the  prayer 
therein  set  forth,  it  was  ordered  that  a  new  township  be  formed,  to  be 
called 

MAINE   PRAIRIE, 

to  be  bounded  as  follows,  to  wit :  commencing  at  the  corners  of  Sections 
7,  8,  17  and  18,  in  Township  5  N.  R.  1  E.  of  Monte  Diablo  meridian,  and 
running  thence  north  to  the  corners  of  Sections  5,  6,  7  and  8,  in  Township 
6  N.  R.  1  E.;  thence  running  east  to  the  eastern  limit  of  Solano  county,  on 
the  line  between  ranges  2  and  3  east ;  thence  with  said  line  south  to  the 
township  line  between  Townships  5  and  6  north  ;  thence  with  said  line 
east,  to  the  centre  of  Sacramento  river,  the  eastern  limit  of  Solano  county ; 
thence  down  Sacramento  river  and  Steamboat  or  Merritt  slough  to  where 
the  line  between  townships  4  and  5  crosses  said  slough  ;  thence  with  said 
line  west  to  the  centre  of  Cache  Creek  slough ;  thence  up  said  slough  to 
the  mouth  of  Linda  slough  to  the  line  between  ranges  1  and  2  east ;  thence 
with  said  line  north  to  the  north-west  corner  of  Section  18,  in  Township 
5  N.  R.  2  E. ;  thence  west  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

SUISUN   TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  heretofore  known  as  Suisun  township,  is  hereby  changed  to 
conform  to  the  following  description,  to-wit :  beginning  at  a  point  on  the 
southern  boundary  of  Solano  county,  in  Suisun  bay,  where  a  section  line 
two  inches  west  of  the  meridian  line,  passing  over  Monte  Diablo  and  run- 
ning with  said  line  north  to  the  township  line  between  townships  5  and  6 
north ;  thence  with  said  line  west  to  the  east  boundary  of  Green  Valley 
township,  as  previously  established ;  thence  with  said  boundary,  southerly, 
to  the  south  boundary  of  the  county,  in  Suisun  bay  ;  thence  with  said 
boundary,  easterly,  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

VACAVILLE    TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  heretofore  known  as  Vacaville  township  is  hereby  changed 
to  conform  to  the  following  description,  to  wit :  commencing  at  a  point  on 
the  Putah  creek  where  the  line  between  ranges  1  and  2  east,  crosses  said 
creek,  and  running  thence  with  said  range  line  south  to  the  southeast 
corner  of  Section  1,  Township  6  N.  R.  1  E. ;  thence  west  to  corners  of 
sections  5,  6  and  7  and  8  of  said  township  and  range  ;  thence  south  to 
the  corners  of  Sections  7,  8,  17  and  18,  in  Township  5  N.  R.  1  E. ;  thence 
west  to  the  corner  of  Sections  10,  11,  14  and  15,  in  Township  5  N.  R. 
1  W. ;  thence  north  to  the  township  line  between  townships  5  and  6 
north ;    thence  with  said   line  west  to  the  western   boundary   of   Solano 


40  -THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

county,  on  the  ridge  of  the  Vaca  mountains  ;  thence  northerly  with  said 
ridge  to  the  centre  of  Putah  creek ;  thence  down  said  creek,  and  following 
its  sinuosities  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

MONTEZUMA   TOWNSHIP. 

The   township  heretofore    known   as   Montezuma   township,   is  hereby 

changed  to  conform    to    the   following  boundaries,  to-wit :  commencing  on 

the  south  line  of  the  county  of   Solano,  in   Suisun  bay,  where   the  section 

lines  two  miles  west  of  the  meridian  line  passing  on  Monte  Diablo  would 

intersect  said  limit,  and  running  thence  north  to   the  north-west  corner  of 

section  number   14,  in  Township   5N.  R.  1  W. ;    running  thence  east  to 

the  line  between  ranges  1  and  2  east ;  thence  south  on  said  line  until  it 

intersects  the  first  slough  or  fork  of  Linda  slough ;  thence  down  said  slough 

to  Cache  Creek  slough ;  thence  down  Cache  Creek  slough  to  where  the  line 

between  townships  numbers  4  and  5  north,  intersects  said  slough ;  thence 

with  said  line  east  to  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  county,  on  Steamboat,  or 

Merritt  slough  ;  thence  with  said  boundary  and  following  its  sinuosities  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

TREMONT  TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  heretofore  known  as  Tremont  township,  is  hereby  changed 
to  conform  to  the  following  description :  commencing  at  the  south-west 
corner  of  Section  number  6,  Township  6  N.  R.  2  E.  of  the  meridian  and 
base  of  Monte  Diablo,  and  running  thence  north  on  the  line  between 
ranges  1  and  2  east,  to  the  centre  of  Putah  Creek,  the  northern  limit  of 
Solano  county;  thence  with  said  limit  eastward,  to  the  eastern  limit  of  said 
county,  in  the  line  between  ranges  2  and  3  east ;  thence  with  said  limit 
south,  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Section  number  1,  in  Township  6  N. 
R.  2  E. ;  thence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

There  was  still  some  difficulty  in  conforming  the  townships  into  some- 
thing like  natural  and  equable  divisions ;  the  supervisors,  therefore,  on 
February  6,  1866,  ordered  "  that  the  following  described  portion  of  Tre- 
mont township  be  set  off  and  attached  to  Vacaville  township,  and  the  bound- 
aries of  said  townships  hereafter  shall  conform  to  this  change.  Said  por- 
tion is  described  as  follows :  beginning  on  the  eastern  boundary  line  of 
said  Vacaville  Township  7  N.  R  2  E.,  and  running  thence  east  on  the 
Government  line  two  miles ;  thence  north  six  miles ;  thence  west  two  miles, 
to  the  north-west  corner  of  said  township  7,  on  said  boundary  line  of  said 
Vacaville  township,  and  thence  south  on  said  line  six  miles  to  the  point  of 
beginning. 

On  June  27th  of  the  same  year  the  county  was  again  distributed  into 
townships,  as  under : 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  41 


BENICIA   TOWNSHIP. 


The  township  known  as  Benicia  township  is  hereby  laid  down  so  as  to 
conform  to  the  following  boundaries,  to  wit :  commencing  at  the  south-west 
corner  of  a  tract  of  land  purchased  by  Robert  Semple  and  Thomas  0.  Larkin 
from  M.  G.  Vallejo,  and  on  a  part  of  which  is  situated  the  city  of  Benicia, 
from  thence  with  the  western  boundary  of  said  tract  of  land  to  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  same  ;  thence  in  an  easterly  direction  to  where  the  line 
of  said  tract  intersects  the  boundary  of  the  stone  purchase  known  as  the 
stone  line ;  thence  along  said  stone  line  in  a  northerly  direction  until  the 
same  intersects  the  north  line  of  Section  34,  Township  4  N.  R.  3  W. ;  thence 
east  on  north  line  of  Sections  31  and  32,  Township  4  N.  R.  2  W.,  contin- 
uing east  to  Cordelia  slough  ;  thence  down  said  slough  to  Suisun  slough ; 
thence  down  Suisun  slough  to  Suisun  bay ;  thence  down  said  bay  and 
Straits  of  Carquinez  to  a  point  due  south  of  the  point  of  beginning. 

VALLEJO   TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  known  as  Vallejo  township  is  hereby  laid  down  so  as  to 
conform  to  the  following  boundaries,  to-wit :  commencing  at  the  south-west 
corner  of  a  certain  tract  of  land  purchased  by  Robert  Semple  and  Thomas 
O.  Larkin  from  M.  G.  Vallejo,  and  commonly  known  as  the  Benicia  tract ; 
thence  with  the  western  boundary  line  of  said  tract  to  the  north-west  corner 
of  the  same ;  thence  easterly  to  where  the  line  of  said  tract  intersects  the 
boundary  of  the  stone  purchase  known  as  the  stone  line  ;  thence  along  said 
stone  line  in  a  northerly  direction  until  the  same  intersects  the  north  line  of 
Section  34,  Township  4  N.  R.  3  W. ;  thence  west  on  said  north  line 
to  the  intersection  of  said  line  with  the  boundary  line  of  Napa  and  Solano 
counties  ;  thence  south  along  said  county  boundary  line  to  a  mound  of  stones 
established  by  R.  Norris  ;  thence  due  west  along  said  boundary  line  between 
Napa  and  Solano  counties  to  Napa  bay ;  thence  down  said  bay  and  up  the 
Straits  of  Carquinez,  including  Mare  Island,  to  the  south-west  corner  of 
Benicia  township  ;  thence  due  north  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

GREEN    VALLEY. 

The  township  known  as  Green  Valley  township,  is  hereby  laid  down  so 
as  to  conform  to  the  following  boundaries,  to-wit :  Commencing  at  a  rock 
mound  on  the  crest  of  hills  on  Section  34,  Township  4  N.  R.  3  W. 
established  by  R.  Norris  for  a  boundary  between  Napa  and  Solano  counties  ; 
thence  northerly  along  the  boundary  line  of  said  counties,  to  the  north  line 
of  Township  5  N.  R.  3  W. ;  thence  east  along  said  township  line  to  the 
dividing  ridge  running  to  the  peak  called  "  Twin  Sisters ;"  thence  south- 
erly along  said  divide  to  Suisun  creek,  passing  on  the  line  of  A.  Blake  and 
William  Brown's  land ;  thence  down  said  creek  to  the  south-east  corner  of 


42  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Hiram  Macy's  land  ;  thence  south  to  the  north  line  of  Section  16,  Townshid 
4  N.  R.  2  W. ;  thence  west  to  Cordelia  slough ;  thence  down  said  slough 
to  the  north  line  of  Sections  31  and  32,  Township  4  N.R2W.;  thence 
west  along  said  north  line  to  the  boundary  line  of  Solano  and  Napa 
counties. 

SUISUN    TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  known  as  Suisun  township  is  hereby  laid  down  so  as  to 
conform  to  the  following  boundaries,  to-wit :  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of 
Cordelia  slough,  thence  up  said  slough  to  a  point  due  west  of  the  north  line 
of  Section  16,  Township  4  N.  B.  2  W. ;  thence  east  to  a  point  due  south 
of  the  south-east  corner  of  Hiram  Macy's  land ;  thence  north  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Suisun  creek  ;  thence  up  said  creek  to  the  line  of  Alexander 
Blake's  and  William  Brown's  land ;  thence  northerly  along  the  ridge  or 
divide  running  to  the  peaks  called  "  Twin  Sisters ;"  thence  northerly 
along  said  divide  to  the  county  line ;  thence  easterly  along  the  county  line 
to  the  top  of  the  ridge  at  the  south-east  corner  of  Napa  county ;  thence 
easterly  on  the  boundary  of  the  Armijo  rancho  to  the  north-east  corner  of 
Section  3,  Township  5  N.  B.  1  W. ;  thence  south  on  section  lines  to  the 
main  Suisun  bay  ;  thence  westerly  along  said  bay  to  the  mouth  of  Sui- 
sun creek ;  thence  up  said  creek  to  the  mouth  of  Cordelia  slough,  the  place 


of  beginning. 


VACAVILLE    TOWNSHIP. 


That  a  township  be  established  to  be  known  as  the  Vacaville  township, 
commencing  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Section  18,  Township  5  N.  B.  1 
E. ;  thence  west  on  section  lines  to  the  south-west  corner  of  Section  3, 
Township  5  N.  B.  1  W. ;  thence  north  to  the  north-east  corner  of  Section 
3,  Township  5  N.  B.  1  W ;  thence  west  on  the  township  line  to  the 
boundary  of  the  Armijo  rancho  at  the  north-west  corner  of  said  township  ; 
thence  north  and  west,  following  said  boundary  to  the  county  line  at  the 
south-east  corner  of  Napa  county ;  thence  northerly  along  the  boundary 
between  Napa  and  Solano  counties  to  Butah  creek ;  thence  down  said  creek 
to  a  point  one  mile  west  of  Mount  Diablo  meridian ;  thence  south  on  section 
lines  to  the  south-west  corner  of  Section  number  1,  Township  6  N.  B.  1 
W. ;  thence  east  two  miles ;  thence  south  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

SILVEYVILLE    TOWNSHIP. 

That  a  township  be  established  to  be  known  as  the  Silveyville  township, 
and  to  conform  to  the  following  boundaries,  to  wit :  Beginning  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  Section  number  5,  Township  6  N.  B.  2  E. ;  thence  west 
to  the  south-west  corner  of  Section  number  1,  Township  6  N.  B.  1  W. ; 
thence  north  to  the  county  line,  centre  of  Butah  creek  ;  thence  easterly 
down  said  creek  to  the  line  between  ranges  1  and  2  east ;  thence  south  on 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  43 

said  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Section  7,  Township  7  N.  R.  2  E. ; 
thence  east  to  the  north-east  corner  of  Section  number  8,  Township  7 
N.  R.  2  E. ;  thence  south  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

TREMONT    TOWNSHIP. 

That  a  township  be  established  to  be  known  as  Tremont  township,  and 
to  conform  to  the  following  boundaries,  to  wit :  Beginning  at  the  south-east 
corner  of  Section  number  5,  Township  6  N.  R.  2  E. ;  thence  north  six 
miles  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Section  number  5,  Township  7  N.  R.  2 
E. ;  thence  west  two  miles  to  the  line  between  ranges  1  and  2  E. ; 
thence  north  to  the  centre  of  Putah  creek  at  the  county  line ;  thence 
easterly  down  said  creek  to  the  east  line  of  the  county  on  the  line  between 
ranges  2  and  3  east ;  thence  with  said  line  south  to  the  south-east  corner  of 
Section  1,  Township  6  N.  R.  2  E. ;  thence  west  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

MAINE    PRAIRIE    TOWNSHIP. 

That  a  township  be  established  to  be  known  as  Maine  Prairie  township, 
and  to  conform  to  the  following  boundaries,  to  wit :  Beginning  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Section  17,  Township  5  N.  R.  1  E. ;  thence  north  to  the 
north-west  corner  of  Section  8,  Township  6  N.  R.  IE.;  thence  east  to 
the  east  line  of  Solano  county ;  then  with  the  said  county  line  south  to 
the  line  between  townships  5  and  6  north  ;  thence  along  said  line  east  to 
the  north-west  corner  of  Section  number  4>,  Township  5  N.  R.  3  E. ;  thence 
south  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Section  number  21,  Township  5  N.  R. 
3  E. ;  thence  west  to  Prospect  slough ;  then  up  Cache  slough  to  Linda 
slough ;  then  up  Linda  slough  to  the  line  between  ranges  1  and  2  east ; 
thence  north  on  said  line  to  the  north-west  corner  of  Section  number  18, 
Township  5  IS .  R.  2  E. ;  thence  west  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

RIO    VISTA   TOWNSHIP. 

That  a  township  be  established  to  be  known  as  Rio  Vista  township,  and 
to  conform  to  the  following  boundaries,  to  wit :  Commencing  on  the  Sacra- 
mento river  at  the  point  where  the  section  line,  one  mile  east  of  the 
township  line  between  Townships  1  and  2  east,  intersect  the  river ;  thence 
running  north  on  said  line  until  it  intersects  Linda  slough ;  thence  down 
said  slough  to  Cache  slough  ;  thence  down  said  slough  to  Prospect  slough ; 
thence  up  Prospect  slough  to  the  section  line  of  Section  17,  Township  5 
N.  R.  3  E.;  thence  east  to  the  south-east  corner  of  said  section;  thence 
north  on  said  section  line  to  the  Yolo  county  line ;  thence  east  on  said 
county  line  to  the  Sacramento  river;  thence  down  the  river  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 


44  THE  HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

MONTEZUMA   TOWNSHIP. 

That  a  township  be  established  to  be  known  as  Montezuma  township, 
and  to  conform  to  the  following  boundaries,  to  wit :  Beginning  at  the 
Sacramento  river  on  the  line  between  ranges  1  and  2  east,  Mount  Diablo 
meridian;  thence  down  said  river  and  Suisun  bay  to  the  line  between 
Sections  22  and  23,  Township  3  N.  R.  1  W. ;  thence  north  on  section  lines 
to  the  north-west  corner  of  Section  number  35,  Township  4  N.  R.  1  W.; 
thence  east  to  the  north-west  corner  of  Section  32,  R.  2  E. ;  thence  south 
to  the  Sacramento  river ;  thence  down  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

DENVERTON   TOWNSHIP. 

That  a  township  be  established  to  be  known  as  Denverton  township,  and 
to  conform  to  the  following  boundaries,  to  wit :  Beginning  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Section  number, 32,  Township  4  N.  R.  2  E. ;  thence  west  on 
section  lines  to  the  north-west  corner  of  Section  35,  Township  4  N.  R,  1 
W. ;  thence  north  to  the  north-west  corner  of  Section  number  14,  town- 
ship 5  N.  R.  1  W. ;  thence  east  to  the  north-west  corner  of  Section  number 
18,  Township  5  N.  R.  2  E.;  thence  south  to  the  south  fork  of  Linda  slough; 
thence  down  said  slough  to  the  east  line  of  Section  number  19,  Township  5 
N.  R.  2  E. ;  thence  south  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  western  boundary  line  of  this  township  was,  however,  subsequently 
changed  on  May  4,  1868,  to  the  Mount  Diablo  meridian  line,  and  on 
November  10,  1870,  it  was  ordered  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  that 
"  Robinson's  Island,  and  being  a  portion  of  Sections  numbers  3  and  24,  in 
Township  4  N.  R.  1  W.,  Meridian  of  Mount  Diablo,  be  and  is  set  over  as 
part  of  Denverton  township,"  while  on  May  22,  of  the  following  year  the 
under  mentioned  district  was  planned  and  authorized. 

ELMIRA   TOWNSHIP. 

It  was  ordered  that  a  new  township  be  formed  out  of  portions  of 
Vacaville,  Silveyville,  and  Maine  Prairie  townships  as  follows,  to  wit : 
"Beginning  at  the  south-west  corner  of  the  south-east  quarter  of  Section 
number  3,  Township  5  N.  R.  1  W.,  Mount  Diablo  meridian  and  base ; 
running  thence  north  seven  miles  to  the  quarter-section  corner  on  the 
north  line  of  Section  3,  Township  6  N.  R.  1  W. ;  thence  along  said  town- 
ship line  six  miles  ;  thence  along  quarter-section  lines  south  seven  miles 
to  the  quarter-section  corner  on  the  south  line  of  Section  number  3,  Town- 
ship 5  N.  R.  1  E. ;  thence  west  six  miles  along  the  section  lines  to  the  point 
of  beginning.  And  it  is  further  ordered  that  the  said  township  be  known 
and  designated  as  Elmira  township." 

On  August  8,  1872,  the  boundary  line  between  Silveyville  and  Vacaville 
townships  was  changed  to  conform  to  the  following :     "  Commencing  at  a 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  45 

point  on  the  north  and  south  line  between  Silveyville  and  Vacaville  town- 
ships, and  at  the  corner  of  Sections  numbers  1,  2,  11,  and  12,' in  Town- 
ship number  7  N.  R.  1  W.,  Mount  Diablo  meridian ;  thence  west  five 
miles  to  line  between  ranges  1  and  2  west ;  thence  north  one  mile,  more 
or  less,  to  Putah  creek ;  thence  along  and  down  said  creek  to  where  the 
present  line  of  Silveyville  township  intercepts  the  same ;  be  and  the  same  is 
hereby  set  over  to  and  become  part  of  said  Silveyville  township."  It  was 
then  also  ordered  that  the  western  boundary  of  Suisun  township  be  and 
the  same  is  as  follows,  to  wit :  "  Commencing  at  a  point  on  the  north  line 
of  Section  3,  Township  5  N.  R.  1  W.,  which  point  is  the  intersection  of  the 
boundary  line  of  Elmira  township ;  thence  south  on  half -section  line  one 
mile  to  the  southern  line  of  Section  3,  Township  5  N.  R.  1  W. ;  thence 
east  on  section  line  two  and  one-half  miles  to  Mount  Diablo  meridian  line  ; 
thence  south  on  said  meridian  line  to  the  southern  boundary  line  of  Solano 
county." 

With  this  last  adjustment  of  the  boundaries  the  distribution  of  townships 
was  so  far  completed,  and  leaves  these  twelve  districts  as  the  present  parti- 
tion of  the  county. 

In  1873  Vallejo  had  a  sudden  accession  of  success,  and  the  conception  of 
having  the  county  seat  moved  thither  took  permanent  shape  by  the  pre- 
sentation of  a  petition  by  E.  H.  Sawyer  and  others  to  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  on  September  23,  praying  that  a  public  vote  should  be  taken 
in  this  regard.  On  the  sounding  of  Vallejo's  trumpet  the  other  towns  and 
cities  sniffed  the  battle  from  afar,  champed  their  bits  and  tossed  their  flow- 
ing manes.  A  bitter  fight  waged  between  the  newspapers  of  the  county, 
while  Benicia  and  her  cohorts  vented  every  conceivable  argument,  not  so 
much  that  she  might  be  once  more  endowed  with  the  county  honors,  but 
that  she  should  prevent. the  acquisition  of  so  great  a  triumph  to  her  former 
enemy.  She  had  not  forgotten  the  stormy  days  of  1858.  Leader  after 
leader  and  argument  upon  argument  appeared  in  the  public  prints;  meet- 
ings were  held  all  over  the  county,  while  in  Vallejo  an  executive  county 
seat  committee  was  appointed,  having  as  its  officers  Messrs.  J.  B.  Frisbie, 
President ;  E.  H.  Sawyer,  Vice-President ;  J.  B.  Robinson,  Secretary ;  J.  K. 
Duncan,  Treasurer,  who  framed  the  following  address  to  the  citizens  of 
Solano  county,  which  we  cull  from  the  columns  of  the  "  Solano  Democrat " 
of  that  period: 

Your  attention  is  invited  to  the  following  reasons  why  the  county  seat 
of  Solano  county  should  be  removed  from  Fairfield  to  Vallejo : 

First — It  is  evident  to  all  who  have  given  the  matter  any  thought,  that 
Fairfield  cannot  be  the  permanent  county  seat  of  a  great  and  growing 
county  like  Solano. 

The  entire  lack  of  accommodations  for  the  persons  attending  court,  and 


46  THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

the  fact  that  those  accommodations  are  growing  worse  as  the  town  con- 
tinues to  decay,  and  that  there  is  no  hope  of  any  improvement,  is  a  matter 
of  consideration. 

We  cannot  compare  the  dreary,  treeless  plain  upon  which  our  county 
seat  is  located,  and  meagre  accommodation  for  visitors,  with  the  pleasant 
location  and  ample  quarters  provided  by  other  counties,  without  a  feeling 
of  shame.     The  great  county  of  Solano  will  not  always  endure  this. 

Second — Assuming,  then,  that  a  change  in  the  county  seat  must  ulti- 
mately come,  we  say  that  it  should  come  now.  An  immediate  expenditure 
of  many  thousand  dollars  will  be  necessary  to  make  the  present  county 
buildings  answer  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  designed.  Fire-proof 
rooms  or  vaults  must  be  provided  for  the  county  records,  and  the  papers 
and  records  of  the  courts.  It  is  criminal  to  neglect  this  longer.  Consider 
the  confusion,  the  litigation,  the  utter  ruin  that  would  result  from  the 
destruction  of  the  records  of  our  courts  and  of  our  titles.  And  yet  at  pre- 
sent they  are  scarcely  more  secure  than  they  would  be  in  an  ordinary 
frame-house.  Is  it  wise  to  make  these  extensive  improvements  upon  build- 
ings which  in  a  few  years  at  most  must  be  abandoned  ?  Is  it  not  best  that 
the  change  should  be  made  now,  and  a  new  location  selected  which  shall  be 
permanent,  that  the  county  may  derive  some  lasting  advantage  from  the 
expenditure  of  its  money  ? 

Third — If  the  location  of  a  county  seat  for  our  county  was  a  new  ques- 
tion, there  would  be  no  doubt  of  the  propriety  of  adopting  Vallejo.  A  line 
of  railroad  traverses  the  whole  length  of  i^he  county,  terminating  at  Vallejo. 
Regular  water  communication  can  always  be  had  from  Rio  Vista,  Collins- 
ville,  and  Benicia,  to  Vallejo,  enabling  the  inhabitants  of  these  places  to 
reach  the  county  seat  at  all  seasons  of  the  year  without  interruption  from 
floods  or  impassable  roads  ;  and  that  other  and  large  -class  of  tax-payers  and 
property-owners  of  our  county,  who  reside  in  San  Francisco  and  other 
counties,  would  be  best  accommodated  at  Vallejo. 

Vallejo  is  now,  and  promises  in  all  future  to  be,  the  leading  town  in  the 
county.  It  has  good  streets  and  sidewalks,  convenient  means  to  travel  and 
good  hotels,  and  is,  indeed,  the  only  place  in  the  county  capable  of  furnish- 
ing accommodations  for  the  large  number  of  people  who  are  at  any  time 
liable  to  be  called  together  by  an  important  term  of  our  District  Court. 

The  only  two  arguments  that  can  be  urged  in  favor  of  retaining  the 
county  seat  at  Fairfield,  are  these :  1st.  That  it  is  near  the  geographical 
center  of  the  county.  2nd.  The  expense  of  its  removal.  The  first  of  these 
reasons,  to-wit,  its  central  position — if  it  was  good  at  the  time  the  county 
seat  was  located  at  Fairfield,  when  people  came  from  all  parts  of  the  county 
in  carriages  or  on  horseback,  no  longer  holds  good.     The  days  of  stage- 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  47 

coaches  are  passed.  New  means  of  travel  have  sprung  up,  and  geographical 
centers  have  given  way  to  centers  of  travel.  The  whole  population  of  the 
county  could  rally  at  Vallejo  at  less  expense,  and  greater  ease  and  comfort, 
than  at  any  other  point  in  the  county,  and  could  live  more  comfortably 
while  here.  As  a  rule,  county  seats  are  not  located  in  the  center  of  coun- 
ties. Sacramento  City,  Stockton,  Oakland,  Marysville,  Yuba  City,  Napa 
City  and  San  Rafael,  are  not  situated  at  the  geographical  centers  of  the 
respective  counties  of  which  they  are  the  county  seats. 

As  to  the  second  objection,  in  respect  to  the  cost  of  removal.  The  pre- 
sent county  buildings  are  said  to  have  cost  forty  thousand  dollars,  and 
cannot  be  estimated  at  present  at  a  higher  valuation  than  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars.  The  City  of  Vallejo  and  its  citizens  have  bound  them- 
selves by  proper  guarantees :  1st.  To  furnish,  free  of  cost,  suitable  office 
room  for  county  officers,  court-rooms  and  jail,  until  the  permanent  county 
buildings  are  built.  2nd.  That  they  will  donate  to  the  county  the  neces- 
sary grounds  for  the  location  of  county  buildings,  to  be  selected  by  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  Solano  County.  3rd.  They  pledge  themselves 
to  use  all  their  influence  with  the  Board  of  Supervisors  to  restrict  the 
expenditure  for  the  erection  of  county  buildings  (which  will  be  the  sole 
expenditure  of  the  county)  to  fifty  thousand  dollars  ;  and  they  offer  the 
guarantee  of  their  most  responsible  citizens,  and  the  City  of  Vallejo,  that 
buildings  shall  be  built  (according  to  a  plan  now  on  exhibition  at  the  City 
Hall,  in  Vallejo,  copies  of  which  will  be  sent  to  each  precinct  in  the  county), 
suitable  for  the  county  for  many  years  to  come,  and  vastly  superior  to  the 
present  buildings,  for  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  And  the  payment 
of  this  small  amount  need  not  be  made  at  once.  Bonds  may  be  issued 
bearing  seven  per  cent,  interest,  payable  in  twenty  years,  and  an  annual 
tax  of  five  thousand  dollars  will  pay  the  interest  and  leave  a  large  surplus 
towards  the  extinguishment  of  the  debt.  Estimate  the  taxable  property 
in  the  county  at  ten  millions  of  dollars,  which  is  about  the  present  figure, 
the  man  who  owns  a  thousand  dollars  worth  of  property  will  be  taxed  the 
sum  of  fifty  cents  per  annum  for  the  removal  of  the  county  seat.  How 
insignificant  is  this  sum  compared  with  the  great  advantages  to  be  derived. 

All  that  we  ask  of  the  voters  of  Solano  county  is,  that  they  will  consider 
this  question  dispassionately  and  without  prejudice,  looking  only  to  the 
best  good  of  the  whole  county  in  the  future,  and  we  are  satisfied  they  will 
agree  with  us  that  the  county  seat  should  be  immediately  removed  to 
Vallejo. 

On  the  9th  of  October,  1873,  the  question  of  removal  was  brought  before 
the  Board  of  Supervisors,  but  there  being  a  question  existing  of  how  many 
of  the  names  which  were  annexed  to  the  petition  were  those  of  bona  fide 
voters,  forty  or  fifty  names  were  selected,  making  the  total  number  of  sig- 
natures 1,097,  leaving  300  to  be  still  examined. 


/ 

48  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Naturally,  Suisun,  from  its  proximity  to  Fairfield,  was  on  the  side  of 
non-removal;  therefore,  every  stone  was  turned  to  gain  their  point.  Coun- 
sel was  engaged  on  her  side  who  urged,  under  the  provisions  of  the  law,  in 
the  event  of  the  county  seat  being  once  removed,  a  petition  for  a  second 
removal  must  contain  a  number  of  signatures  equal  to  one-third  the  names 
on  the  great  register ;  that  the  county  seat  of  Solano  had  been  already 
removed  from  Benicia  to  Fairfield,  and  that  the  present  case  came  within 
the  provisions  of  the  law.  The  examination  of  the  last  great  register  of 
the  county,  they  stated,  shows  a  total  of  5,600  names,  one-third  of  which 
was  1,867.  The  counsel,  therefore,  submitted  that  the  number  of  signatures 
was  inadequate,  and  that  in  consequence,  the  petition  was  invalid. 

It  was  finally  decided  by  the  Board  that  the  number  already  passed  upon 
was  sufficient,  and  an  order  was  made  premising  with  the  recitation  that  a 
petition  had  been  presented  to  their  body,  praying  that  an  election,  to  de- 
termine the  place  of  the  county  seat,  might  be  held ;  that  said  petition  con- 
tained 1,325  names;  and  that  so  far  as  examined,  they  had  found  upon  it 
1,097  legal  names;  and  that  the  same  being  more  than  one-third  of  the 
number  of  votes,  they  therefore  ordered,  in  accordance  with  the  prayer  of 
the  petitioners,  an  election  to  be  held  on  the  last  Wednesday  in  November. 
A  protest  from  the  counsel  for  Suisun  was  spread  upon  the  minutes,  stating 
in  substance,  that  on  such  a  day  the  county  seat  was  removed  from  Benicia 
to  Fairfield :  that  the  archives  of  the  county  and  county  officers  were 
ordered  there  ;  that  the  Great  Register  of  the  county  contained  5,000  uncan- 
celled names  at  the  time,  and  that  it  required  one-third  of  that  number  of 
signatures  to  constitute  a  legal  petition  for  an  election,  which  number  was 
not  on  the  petition  upon  which  the  Board  had  taken  action. 

The  "  Weekly  Solano  Republican,"  published  at  Suisun,  writing  on  Octo- 
ber 30,  1873,  remarks  :  "We  object  to  the  removal,  because — 

First — The  county  seat  is  centrally  located  now,  which  makes  the  expense 
and  trouble  of  reaching  the  seat  of  justice  more  nearly  equal  to  all  than 
any  other  location  can ;  and  we  deny  the  justice  of  any  arrangement  which 
makes  any  man  pay  two  dollars,  or  travel  two  miles,  in  order  that  two,  or 
ten  other  men,  may  save  one  dollar  each,  or  avoid  travelling  one  mile  each. 

Second — The  county  now  possesses,  unincumbered  by  debt,  buildings 
fully  adequate  to  its  wants  for  the  next  ten  years ;  and  we  denounce  the 
policy  which  will  add  the  cost  of  even  less  serviceable  buildings  to  the 
heavy  debt  the  county  is  now  carrying  and  groaning  under. 

Third — The  removal  of  the  county  seat  will  work  a  huge  injustice  to  a 
very  large  majority  of  the  tax-payers  of  the  county,  whether  the  cost  of 
removal  be  much  or  little.  Vallejo  contains  half  of  the  population  of  the 
county,  but  only  one-third  of  the  taxable  property ;  and  whatever  may  be 
the  cost  of  removal,  two-thirds  of  that  expense  will  be  paid  by  that  half  of 
the  population,  whose  interest  will  be  injured  by  the  removal." 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  49 

At  length  the  long  looked  for  election  day — November  26, 1873 — arrived 
and  ended,  the  ballot  showing  at  its  close,  a  majority  for  Vallejo  over  Fair- 
field, of  333.  Benicia's  rancor  was  of  no  avail  ;  but  retribution  was  near 
at  hand.  It  was  directed  that  the  county  offices  should  be  removed  on  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1874,  to  Vallejo,  and  that  that  city  be  declared  the  county  seat, 
through  the  public  newspapers.  In  time  a  few  of  the  offices  were  carried 
thence,  notably  those  of  residents  in  that  city,  when  arrangements  were 
made  for  the  temporary  location  of  the  several  departments. 

But  the  northern  part  of  the  county  had  conceived  the  reasonable  idea 
that  the  election  of  Vallejo  was  not  carried  out  in  as  clear  and  straightfor- 
ward a  manner  as  it  should  have  been  ;  they,  therefore,  proceeded  to  Sacra- 
mento, and  while  the  Legislature  was  in  session,  had  a  bill  passed  through 
both  the  Assembly  and  Senate,  creating  Vallejo  into  a  county  seat  in  its 
own  right,  since  it  was  so  ambitious  of  provincial  honors.  This,  to  the 
eyes  of  the  Governor,  seemed  too  preposterous  a  scheme,  acknowledging  at 
the  same  time  the  justice  of  the  objections,  he,  therefore,  vetoed  the  bill, 
but  informed  the  complainants  that  another  one,  locating  the  county  seat 
at  Fairfield,  would  be  favorably  considered.  Thus,  for  the  present,  all 
heart-burnings  were  ameliorated,  and  ruffles  smoothed,  and  the  question 
finally  set  at  rest  by  the  Act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  March  28,  1874, 
whose  first  section  pronounces  the  doom  of  Vallejo,  in  the  following  ver- 
dict :  "  Tii£  county  seat  of  Solano  County  shall  be  Fairfield,  in  said  county." 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY. 

In  the  old  days,  long  ago,  somewhere  in  the  year  1817,  as  has  been  shown 
in  another  part  of  this  work,  Jose  Sanchez,  then  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Span- 
ish Army,  was  despatched  with  a  small  force  to  subjugate  the  Suisun  tribe 
of  Indians,  an  expedition  which  was  attended  with  but  little  loss  on  one 
side,  and  sad  havoc  on  the  other.  As  time  dragged  out  its  weary  course, 
but  little  was  gained ;  the  aboriginals  were  coerced  into  the  service  of  their 
taskmasters,  and  without  doubt  endured  many  a  torture  of  mind  and  body, 
when  brought  under  the  yoke  of  the  Mexican  Government.  It  is  not  for  a 
moment  to  be-  imagined  that,  though  the  savages  were  driven  into  bondage, 
they  suffered  all  the  distress  supposed  to  be  a  part  and  parcel  of  their  thral- 
dom ;  this  is  not  the  case  ;  for  General  Vallejo,  who  had  the  lands  of  Suscol 
granted  to  him,  held  as  lenient  a  sway  over  his  aboriginal  vassals  as  was 
possible  under  the  circumstances ;  and,  indeed,  was  the  first  to  prove  the 
soothing  influences  of  even  a  partial  civilization ;  yet,  these  people  have 
now  vanished,  whither  it  is  impossible  to  trace ;  the  advent  of  a  dominant 
race  was  more  than  they  could  cope  with;  hence,  they  are  nowhere  to  be 

4 


50  THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY. 

found ;  and  it  is  only  at  distances,  few  and  far  between,  that  traces  of  their 
former  locations  are  to  be  discovered.  It  is  believed  that  those  who  inhab- 
ited the  valleys  with  which  we  have  especially  to  deal,  were  thinned  by  the 
hostilities  in  which  they  were  engaged  with  the  Spaniards,  materially  aided 
by  a  djecimating  scourge  of  small-pox  that  carried  off  numbers  of  the  half- 
fed  and  ill-clothed  savages.  This  epidemic  broke  out  in  the  year  1839,  and 
such  was  the  devastation  which  ensued  that  almost  an  entire  race  was  ship- 
wrecked, leaving  but  few  survivors  of  the  catastrophe.  They  died  so  rap- 
idly that  the  usual  funeral  rites  were  abandoned:  huge  pits  were  dug,  and 
the  pestilential  corpses  placed  therein  by  twenties  while  they  were  covered 
up,  when  filled,  with  a  rude  mound  of  earth ;  many  of  them  forsook  the 
land  of  their  birth,  now  become  accursed  on  account  of  the  presence  of  the 
odious  intruder ;  their  wives  and  daughters,  by  the  maltreatment  received 
at  the  hands  of  these  half -civilized  soldiers  from  the  Spanish  Main,  had 
ceased  to  bear  children,  and  thus  they  drifted  out  of  ken,  until  now  they 
are  a  thing  of  the  past,  their  presence  in  Solano  County  being  at  best  but  a 
memory  which  only  lingers  in  the  mind  of  the  early  pioneer. 

A  short  distance  from  the  small  town  of  Rockville,  situated  at  the  foot  of 
Suisun  valley,  on  the  property  of  Lewis  Pierce,  stood  a  rude  cross,  which 
was  popularly  believed  to  mark  the  resting  place  of  Sem-Yeto,  otherwise 
Francis  Solano,  the  Chief  of  the  Suisuns.  It  is  said  that  this  tribe  removed 
in  1850  to  Napa  county,  taking  with  them  all  their  grain,  to  the  amount 
of  several  hundreds  of  bushels  which  had  been  held  in  reserve  in  their  rude 
granaries  near  the  above-mentioned  site.  This  exodus  would  appear  to 
mark  the  arrival  of  the  hated  white  man. 

It  has  long  been,  and  in  all  human  probability,  it  will  be  many  a  year 
before  it  shall  be  authentically  decided  who  was  the  first  settler  in  Solano 
county.  That  General  Vallejo  and  his  troops  were  the  actual  pioneers  of 
the  district  now  known  as  Solano,  is  conceded  on  every  hand ;  but  they 
can  scarcely  be  classed  among  the  settlers,  for  though  a  great  district  of 
some  ninety  thousand  acres  had  been  granted  to  him  by  the  Mexican  Gov- 
ernment, still,  he  never  had,  until  later,  any  actual  domicile  in  the  county, 
his  residence  being  at  Sonoma,  whither  he  had  been  ordered  to  fix  his  head- 
quarters, and  lay  out  a  town. 

The  people  immediately  succeeding  the  aboriginal  Indians  were  Span- 
iards ;  or,  more  properly  speaking,  natives  of  Mexico,  a  race  who  were  by 
no  means  calculated  to  improve  and  lay  out  a  new  country.  Born  in  a  warm 
and  enervating  climate,  they  were  prone  to  pass  their  days  in  indolence. 
To  be  able  to  get  sufficient  food  to  allay  the  pangs  of  hunger  and  enough 
of  water  to  assuage  their  thirst  was  to  them  satiety.  In  their  own  land 
they  had  made  no  change,  nor  in  any  way  advanced  their  home  interests  by 
any  civilizing  influence  save  that  of  a  forced  Christianity,  since  the  days 
when  Montezuma  was  so  barbarously  and  treacherously  murdered  by  Cortez 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  51 

and  his  pirate  crew ;  therefore,  this  country  wherein  they  had  cast  their  lot, 
was  allowed  to  rest  in  its  state  of  tangled  confusion.  Happily  all  of  those 
who  came  from  this  southern  clime  were  not  of  this  somniferous  kind,  as 
the  following  remarks  will  show.  The  Baca  (now  pronounced  Vaca,  and  in 
some  law  deeds  Americanized  into  Barker)  and  Pefia  family  arrived  in  Los 
Angeles,  and  after  a  residence  of  one  year,  came,  in  1841,  to  the  valley 
which  now  bears  the  name  of  the  former,  and  there  settled,  building  adobe 
houses  for  themselves ;  that  of  Juan  Felipe  Pefia  being  constructed  in 
Laguna  (Lagoon)  valley,  and  Manuel  Baca's  about  one  mile  north-east  there- 
from. These  structures  still  stand  on  their  original  sites,  the  former  being 
occupied  by  the  widow  of  Pefia,  while  the  latter  is  the  dwelling  of  Westley 
Hill.  In  the  succeeding  year  (1842)  there  arrived  the  Armijo  family,  who 
took  up  their  grant  in  the  Suisun  valley,  built  an  adobe,  and  entered  into 
residence  about  five  miles  north-west  of  Fairfield,  the  present  county  seat. 
With  these  three  families  to  take  the  lead,  others,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
followed,  not  so  much  to  labor  in  their  own  interests  and  toil  for  their 
wealthier  fellows,  but  that  they  loved  the  dolce  far  niente  mode  of  living 
to  be  found  on  the  Haciendas  of  the  rich.  A  certain  amount  of  state  was 
maintained  by  the  rancheros  of  those  days,  which  they  had  learned  from 
the  splendor-loving  cavaliers  of  old  Spain ;  they  seldom  moved  abroad ; 
but  when  they  did,  it  was  upon  a  handsomely  caparisoned  horse,  with  at- 
tendant out-riders,  armed,  to  protect  their  lord  from  wild  animals,  which 
infested  the  country.  The  earlier  locators  of  land  brought  with  them  herds 
of  cattle,  which,  in  the  natural  sequence  of  things,  became  roving  bands  of 
untamed  animals  that  provided  the  Spanish  master  and  his  servile  crew 
with  meat ;  while  enough  grain  was  not  so  much  cultivated  as  grown,  to 
to  keep  them  in  food,  as  it  were,  from  day  to  day.  Their  mode  of  travel- 
ing was  entirely  on  horseback ;  accommodation  there  was  none ;  when 
halting  for  the  night,  an  umbrageous  tree  was  their  roof ;  the  fertile  valleys 
their  stable  and  pasture ;  while,  when  food  was  required,  to  slay  an  ox  or  a 
deer,  was  the  matter  of  a  few  moments. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  the  adobe  houses  of  the  early  Californians. 
Let  us  consider  one  of  these  primitive  dwellings :  Its  construction  was 
beautiful  in  its  extreme  simplicity.  The  walls  were  fashioned  of  large 
sun-dried  bricks,  made  of  that  black  loam  known  to  settlers  in  the  Golden 
State  as  adobe  soil,  mixed  with  straw,  with  no  particularity  as  to  species, 
measuring  about  eighteen  inches  square  and  three  in  thickness ;  these  were 
cemented  with  mud,  plastered  within  with  the  same  substance,  and  white- 
washed when  finished.  The  rafters  and  joists  were  of  rough  timber,  with 
the  bark  simply  peeled  off  and  placed  in  the  requisite  position,  while  the 
residence  of  the  wealthier  classes  were  roofed  with  tiles  of  a  convex  shape, 
placed  so  that  the  one  should  overlap  the  other  and  thus  make  a  water- 
shed ;  or,  later,  with  shingles,  the  poor  cententing  themselves  with  a  thatch 


52  THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

of  tide,  fastened  down  with  thongs  of  bullocks'  hide.  The  former  modes  of 
covering  were  expensive — the  Pena  family,  it  is  said,  having  given  a  man  a 
considerable  piece  of  land  for  shingling  their  house — and  none  but  the 
opulent  could  afford  the  luxury  of  tiles.  When  completed,  however,  these 
mud  dwellings  will  stand  the  brunt,  and  wear  and  tear  of  many  decades,  as 
can  be  evidenced  by  the  number  which  are  still  occupied  in  out-of-the-way 
corners  of  the  county. 

Thus  were  these  solitary  denizens  of  what  is  now  the  prolific  garden 
known  as  Solano  county,  housed  in  the  midst  of  scenery  which  no  pen  can 
describe  nor  limner  paint.  The  county,  be  it  in  what  valley  soever  we  wot, 
was  one  interminable  grain  field ;  mile  upon  mile,  acre  after  acre,  the  wild 
oats  grew  in  marvelous  profusion,  in  many  places  to  a  prodigious  height — 
one  great  glorious  green  of  wild  waving  corn — high  over  head  of  the  way- 
farer on  foot  and  shoulder  high  with  the  equestrian.  Wild  flowers  of  every 
prismatic  shade  charmed  the  eye,  while  they  vied  with  each  other  in  the 
gorgeousness  of  their  colors  and  blended  into  dazzling  splendor.  One  breath 
of  wind  and  the  wide  emerald  expanse  rippled  itself  into  space,  while  with 
a  heavier  breeze  came  a  swell  whose  waves  beat  against  the  mountain  sides, 
and,  being  hurled  back,  were  lost  in  the  far-away  horizon.  Shadow  pursued 
shadow  in  a  long  merry  chase.  The  air  was  filled  with  the  hum  of  bees, 
the  chirrupping  of  birds,  an  overpowering  fragrance  from  the  various 
plants,  causing  the  smallest  sounds,  in  the  extreme  solitude,  to  become  like 
the  roar  of  the  ocean. 

The  hill-sides,  overrun  as  they  were  with  a  dense  mass  of  almost  impene- 
trable chapparal,  were  hard  to  penetrate ;  trees  of  a  larger  growth  struggled 
for  existence  in  isolated  sterile  spots.  On  the  plains  but  few  oaks  of  any 
size  were  to  be  seen,  a  reason  for  this  being  found  in  the  devastating 
influence  of  the  prairie  fires,  which  were  of  frequent  occurrence,  thus 
destroying  the  young  shoots  as  they  sprouted  from  the  earth ;  while  the 
flames,  with  their  forked  tongues,  scorched  the  older  ones,  utterly  destroying 
them,  leaving  those  only  to  survive  the  rude  attack  which  were  well  ad- 
vanced in  years. 

This  almost  boundless  range  was  intersected  throughout  with  trails 
whereby  the  traveler  moved  from  point  to  point,  progress  being,  as  it  were, 
in  darkness  on  account  of  the  height  of  the  oats  on  either  side,  and  rendered 
dangerous  in  the  lower  valleys  by  the  bands  of  wild  cattle,  sprung  from  the 
stock  introduced  by  the  first  settlers.  These  found  food  and  shelter  on  the 
plains  during  the  night;  at  dawn  of  day  they  repaired  to  the  higher  grounds 
to  chew  the  cud  and  bask  in  the  sunshine.  At  every  yard,  cayotes  sprang 
from  the  feet  of  the  voyager.  The  hissing  of  snakes,  the  frightened  rush  of 
lizards,  all  tended  to  heighten  the  sense  of  danger;  while  the  flight  of 
quail,  the  nimble  run  of  the  rabbit,  and  the  stampede  of  antelope  and  elk, 
which  abounded  in  thousands,  added  to  the  charm,  making  him,  be  he 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  53 

whosoever  he  may,  pedestrian  or  equestrian,  feel  the  utter  insignificance  of 
man,  the  "  noblest  work  of  God." 

At  this  time,  as  now,  the  rivers,  creeks,  and  sloughs  swarmed  with  fish 
of  various  kinds  that  had  not,  as  yet,  been  rudely  frightened  by  the  whirl 
of  civilization.  The  water  at  the  Green  Valley  Falls,  that  favorite  picnic 
resort  of  to-day,  then  leaped  as  it  e'en  does  now  from  crag  to  crag,  splashing 
back  its  spray  in  many  a  sparkle.  Then,  the  shriek  of  the  owl,  the  howl  of 
the  panther,  or  the  gruff  growl  of  the  grizzly  was  heard.  Now,  the  scene 
is  changed ;  it  has  ceased  to  be  the  lair  of  the  wild  beast,  but  civilization 
has  introduced  the  innocent  prattle  of  children,  and  the  merry  tones  of 
womanhood,  causing  one  to  stay  and  ponder  which  be  best,  the  former  wild 
solitude,  or  the  pleasing  pleasant  present  sunshine  of  sparkling  voices  and 
sparkling  water. 

Let  us  here  introduce  the  following  interesting  resume  of  the  experiences 
of  the  first  of  America's  sons  who  visited  California : 

THE  AMERICAN  PIONEERS  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

The  following:  interesting:  record  of  the  adventures  of  the  first  American 
argonauts  of  California  is  abridged  from  an  article  which  appeared  in  "  The 
Pioneer"  in  the  year  1855  : 

The  first  Americans  that  arrived  in  California,  overland,  were  under  the 
command  of  Jehediah  S.  Smith,  of  New  York.  Mr.  Smith  accompanied  the 
first  trapping  and  trading  expedition,  sent  from  St.  Louis  to  the  head 
waters  of  the  Missouri  by  General  Ashley.  The  ability  and  energy  dis- 
played by  him,  as  a  leader  of  parties  engaged  in  trapping  beaver,  were 
considered  of  so  much  importance  by  General  Ashley  that  he  soon  proposed 
to  admit  him  as  a  partner  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company.  The 
proposal  was  accepted  and  the  affairs  of  the  concern  were  subsequently 
conducted  by  the  firm  of  Ashley  &  Smith  until  1828,  when  Mr.  William  L. 
Sublette  and  Mr.  Jackson,  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  same  business  in 
the  mountains,  associated  themselves  with  Mr.  Smith  and  bought  out 
General  Ashley.  They  continued  the  business  under  the  name  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company  until  the  summer  of  1830,  when  they 
retired  from  the  mountains,  disposing  of  their  property  and  interest  in  the 
enterprise  to  Messrs.  Fitzpatrick,  Bridger,  Solomon,  Sublette,  and  Trapp. 
Mr.  W.  L.  Sublette  subsequently  re-engaged  in  the  business. 

In  the  spring  of  1826  Mr.  Smith,  at  the  head  of  a  party  of  about  twenty- 
five  men,  left  the  winter  quarters  of  the  company  to  make  a  spring  and  fall 
hunt.  Traveling  westerly  he  struck  the  source  of  the  Green  river,  which 
he  followed  down  to  its  junction  with  Grand  river,  where  the  two  form  the 
Colorado.  He  there  left  the  river  and,  traveling  westerly,  approached  the 
Sierra  Nevada  of  California.  When  traveling  in  that  direction  in  search  of 
a  favorable  point  to  continue  his  exploration  towards  the  ocean,  he  crossed 


54  THE  HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

the  mountains  and  descended  into  the  great  valley  of  California  near  its 
south-eastern  extremity ;  thus  being  not  only  the  first  American,  but  the 
first  person  who,  from  the  east  or  north,  had  entered  the  magnificent  valleys 
of  the  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento,  or  who  had  ever  seen  or  explored 
any  of  the  rivers  falling  into  the  bay  of  San  Francisco. 

The  following  winter  and  spring  he  prosecuted  with  success  the  catching 
of  beaver,  on  the  streams  flowing  into  the  lakes  of  the  Tulares,  on  the  San 
Joaquin  and  tributaries,  as  also  on  some  of  the  lower  branches  of  the  Sac- 
ramento. At  the  commencement  of  summer,  the  spring  hunt  having  closed, 
he  essayed  to  return,  by  following  up  the  American  river ;  but  the  height 
of  the  mountains,  and  other  obstacles  which  he  encountered,  induced  him 
to  leave  the  party  in  the  valley  during  the  summer.  He  accordingly  re- 
turned ;  and,  having  arranged  their  summer  quarters  on  that  river,  near  the 
present  town  of  Brighton,  prepared  to  make  the  journey,  accompanied  by  a 
few  well  tried  and  hardy  hunters,  to  the  summer  rendezvous  of  the  Rocky 
Mountain  Fur  Company,  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Rocky  mountains. 
Selecting  favorite  and  trusty  horses  and  mules,  Mr.  Smith,  with  three  com- 
panions, left  camp  to  undertake  one  of  the  most  arduous  and  dangerous 
journeys  ever  attempted.  Ascending  the  Sierra  Nevada,  he  crossed  it  at  a 
point  of  elevation  so  great,  that  on  the  night  of  the  27th  of  June,  most  of 
his  mules  died  from  intense  cold.  He  descended  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
mountains,  and  entered  upon  the  thirsty  and  sterile  plains  that  were  spread 
out  before  him  in  all  their  primitive  nakedness ;  but  his  horses  were  unable 
to  accomplish  the  journey. 

Next  to  the  Bedouin  of  the  great  African  desert,  if  not  equally  with 
him,  the  trapper  of  the  wilds  of  the  American  continent  worships  the  noble 
horse,  which  not  only  proudly  carries  his  owner  up  to  the  huge  bison,  when 
hunger  presses  the  hunter,  and  swiftly  flees  from  the  overpowering  horde  of 
savages  who  seek  his  life ;  but  while  the  solitary,  benighted,  and  fatigued 
hunter  snatches  a  few  shreds  of  repose,  stands  a  trusty  sentinel,  with  ears 
erect  and  penetrating  eye,  to  catch  the  first  movement  of  every  object 
within  its  view,  or  with  distended  nostril,  to  inhale  the  odor  of  the  red  man 
with  which  the  passing  breeze  is  impregnated,  and  arouse  his  affectionate 
master.  What,  then,  were  the  feelings  of  these  men,  as  they  saw  their 
favorite  steeds,  which  had  long  been  their  companions,  and  had  been 
selected  for  their  noble  bearing,  reeling  and  faltering  on  those  inhospitable 
plains.  Still  worse  when  they  were  compelled  to  sever  the  brittle  thread 
of  life,  and  dissolve  all  those  attachments  and  vivid  hopes  of  future  com- 
panionship and  usefulness  by  the  use  of  the  rifle,  which,  at  other  times, 
with  unerring  aim,  would  have  sent  death  to  the  man  who  should  attempt 
to  deprive  them  of  their  beloved  animals. 

They  hastily  cut  from  the  lifeless  bodies  a  few  pieces  of  flesh,  as  the  only 
means  of  sustaining  their  own  existence ;  and  in  this  manner  they  supported 
life  until  they  passed  the  desert  and  arrived  on  foot  at  the  rendezvous. 


THE   HISTpRY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  55 

A  party  was  immediately  organized,  and,  with  such  supplies  as  were 
required  for  the  company,  left  for  California,  Mr.  Smith  hastening  his  de- 
parture. Traveling  south,  to  avoid  in  some  degree  the  snow  and  cold  of 
winter,  he  descended  and  crossed  Grand  river,  of  the  Colorado,  and,  contin- 
uing south-westerly,  he  approached  the  Colorado  river  from  the  east,  near 
the  camp  of  the  Mohave  Indians.  In  the  attempt  to  transport  his  party, 
by  means  of  rafts,  over  this  river,  in  which  he  was  aided  by  the  Mohaves, 
who  professed  great  friendship  and  hospitality,  he  was  suddenly  surprised 
by  the  treacherous  Indians,  who,  upon  a  pre-concerted  signal,  simultaneously 
attacked  the  men  who  were  on  each  bank  of  the  river,  and  upon  a  raft  then 
crossing,  massacred  the  party,  with  the  exception  of  two  men  and  Mr. 
Smith,  who  escaped,  and  after  great  suffering  arrived  at  the  Mission  of  San 
Gabriel,  in  California.  They  were  immediately  arrested  by  the  military 
officer  at  that  place,  because  they  had  no  passports.  This  functionary 
forwarded  an  account  of  the  arrival  and  detention  of  the  foreigners  to  the 
commandant  of  San  Diego,  who  transmitted  the  same  to  General  Echandia, 
then  Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  California. 

After  a  harassing  delay  Mr.  Smith  was  permitted  to  proceed  to  Monterey, 
and  appear  before  the  Goverrior.  Through  the  influence  and  pecuniary 
assistance  of  Captain  John  Cooper,  an  American,  then  resident  of  Monterey, 
he  was  liberated,  and  having  procured  such  supplies  as  could  be  obtained  in 
that  place,  partially  oh  account  of  beaver-fur  to  be  sent  from  the  summer 
quarters  on  the  Sacramento  river,  and  partly  on  credit,  he  hired  a  few  men 
and  proceeded  to  the  camp  of  the  party  which  he  had  previously  left  in  the 
Sacramento  valley.  After  forwarding  the  fur  to  Monterey,  he  travelled  up  the 
Sacramento,  making  a  most  successful  hunt  up  this  river  and  its  tributaries 
within  the  valley.  Ascending  the  western  sources  of  the  Sacramento,  he 
passed  Shasta  mountain,  when  he  turned  westerly  and  arrived  on  the  coast, 
which  he  followed  south  to  the  Umpqua  river.  While  Mr.  Smith  and  two  men 
were  in  a  canoe,  with  two  or  three  Indians,  engaged  in  examining  the  river 
to  find  a  crossing,  his  camp  was  unexpectedly  surprised  by  the  Indians,  who 
had,  up  to  this  time,  shown  the  most  friendly  disposition,  and  the  entire 
party,  with  the  exception  of  one  man,  were  murdered.  Mr.  Smith  and  the 
men  with  him  in  the  canoe,  after  wandering  many  days  in  the  mountains, 
where  they  were  obliged  to  secrete  themselves  by  day  and  travel  by  night, 
to  avoid  the  Indians,  who  were  scouring  the  country  in  pursuit,  succeeded 
in  escaping  from  their  vicinity,  and  arrived  at  Fort  Vancouver,  a  post  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  on  the  Columbia  river.  The  man  who  escaped 
from  the  camp  at  the  massacre  of  the  party  was  badly  wounded,  and  without 
arms  to  defend  himself  or  procure  food,  succeeded  in  sustaining  life  and 
making  his  way  through  many  vicissitudes  for  a  period  of  thirty-eight  days, 
when  he  reached  Fort  Vancouver.  On  his  arrival  there  Mr.  Smith  con- 
tracted with  the  superintendent  to  sell  him  the  large  quantity  of  fur  which 


56  THE   HISTOKY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians  on  the  Umpqua,  provided  he  would 
assist  in  recovering  it,  and  to  furnish  a  guide  to  lead  a  trapping  party  into 
the  Sacramento  valley.  A  company  was  fitted  out  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  McLeod,  which  proceeded  to  the  scene  of  disaster,  and  after  re- 
covering the  fur,  with  which  Mr.  Smith  returned  to  the  fort,  continued 
south,  under  the  guidance  of  one  of  Smith's  men,  to  the  Sacramento  valley, 
where  a  most  valuable  hunt  was  made.  A  large  number  of  horses  from 
California  were  also  obtained,  with  which  the  party  attempted  to  return  in 
the  fall  of  1822.  In  crossing  the  mountain  they  were  overtaken  by  a  violent 
snow-storm,  in  which  they  lost  all  their  horses.  From  the  hasty  and  un- 
suitable manner  in  which  they  attempted  to  secrete  their  valuable  stock  of 
fur  from  the  observation  and  discovery  of  the  Indians  or  other  body  of 
trappers,  it  was  found  in  a  ruined  state  by  a  party  sent  to  convey  it  to  the 
fort  in  the  following  spring,  and  McLeod  was  discharged  from  the  service  of 
the  company  for  his  imprudence  in  attempting  to  cross  the  mountains  so 
late  in  the  fall. 

Another  band  was  fitted  out  from  Fort  Vancouver,  by  the  Hudson 
Bay  Co.,  under  Captain  Ogden,  of  New  York,  who  for  some  time  had  been 
in  the  employ  of  that  corporation,  with  which  Mr.  Smith  left  the  fort  on 
his  final  departure  from  the  Pacific  shore,  for  the  rendezvous  of  the  Rocky 
Mountain  Fur  Co.  This  company  traveled  up  Lewis  river,  in  the  direction 
of  the  South  Pass,  when  Mr.  Smith  pursuing  his  journey  with  a  few  men, 
Captain  Ogden  turned  south,  and  traveling  along  the  eastern  base  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada,  entered  the  valley  of  the  Tulares,  on  the  trail  which  Smith 
had  made  in  1826.  McLeod  having  left  the  valley  before  he  was  en- 
countered by  Ogden,  who  spent  the  winter  of  1828-9,  and  the  following 
summer  returned  to  the  Columbia  river  with  a  valuable  hunt. 

One  of  the  survivors  of  the  massacre  of  Smith's  party  on  the  Rio  Colorado 
remained  in  California.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  obtained  em- 
ployment at  the  Missions  of  San  Gabriel  and  San  Luis  Key.  His  name  was 
Galbraith,  and  while  in  the  mountains  previous  to  his  advent  to  California, 
was  recognized  as  the  most  fearless  of  that  brave  class  of  men  with  whom 
he  was  associated.  His  stature  was  commanding,  and  the  Indians  were 
awed  by  his  athletic  and  powerful  frame,  while  the  display  of  his  Herculean 
strength  excited  the  surprise  of  all.  Many  were  the  incidents  that  occurred 
in  California  during  his  residence,  of  which  he  was  the  principal  actor.  On 
one  occasion,  while  employed  at  the  Mission  of  San  Luis  Bey,  he  became 
riotous  while  under  the  exciting  influence  of  agwadiente,  and  was  warned 
that  unless  he  conducted  himself  with  greater  propriety  it  would  be  necessary 
to  confine  him  in  the  guard-house.  This  served  to  exasperate  instead  of  to 
quiet  his  unruly  passions.  A  corporal  with  two  men  were  ordered  to  arrest 
Galbraith.  On  their  arrival  at  the  shop,  they  found  the  follower  of  Vulcan 
absorbed  in  anathemas,  which  he  was  pouring  fprth  in  rapid  succession 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  57 

against  the  Reverend  Father,  soldiers,  and  neophites.  Having  delivered 
himself  he  enquired  what  they  wanted.  On  the  corporal's  replying  that  he 
had  been  sent  to  conduct  him  to  the  guard-house,  Galbraith  seized  a  sledge, 
and  swaying  it  above  his  head  rushed  upon  the  soldiers,  who,  intimidated  at 
the  gigantic  size  of  the  blacksmith,  whose  broad  and  deep  chest  was  swell- 
ing with  infuriated  passion,  horror  stricken  fled  in  dismay.  With  uplifted 
hammer  he  pursued  them  across  the  court  of  the  Mission,  and  to  the  guard 
house  in  front  of  the  Mission,  where  the  affrighted  corporal  and  soldiers 
arrived  among  their  comrades,  closely  followed  by  the  terrific  mountaineer, 
who,  alike  fearless  of  Spanish  soldiers  as  he  had  ever  been  of  Indians,  drove 
the  trembling  forces,  a  sergeant  and  twelve  men,  to  their  quarters,  where 
they  were  imprisoned.  He  then  hastily  loaded  with  grape  shot  a  fine  piece 
of  artillery  which  stood  in  front  of  the  quarters,  and  directing  its  mouth 
towards  the  Mission,  he  gathered  up  the  arms  which  the  soldiers  in  the 
confusion  had  abandoned,  and  prepared  to  act  as  exigencies  might  require. 
The  priest,  seeing  the  course  events  were  taking,  sent  a  messenger  to  open 
communications  with  the  victor,  who,  from  the  sudden  burst  of  passion  and 
violent  exercise  had  dispelled  the  effects  of  the  brandy,  and  with  its  removal 
his  choler  had  subsided. 

In  the  early  part  of  1839  a  company  was  made  up  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
to  cross  the  plains  to  California  consisting  of  D.  G.  Johnson,  Charles  Klein, 
David  D.  Dutton  and  William  Wiggins.  Fearing  the  treachery  of  the 
Indians  this  little  party  determined  to  await  the  departure  of  a  party  of 
traders  in  the  employ  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  on  their  annual  tour 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  At  Westport  they  were  joined  by  Messrs.  Wright, 
Gegger,  a  Doctor  Wiselzenius  and  his  German  companion,  and  Peter  Lasson, 
as  also  two  missionaires  with  thier  wives  and  hired  man,  bound  for  Oregon, 
as  well  as  a  lot  of  what  were  termed  fur  trappers,  bound  for  the  mountains, 
the  entire  company  consisting  of  twenty-seven  men  and  two  women. 

The  party  proceeded  on  their  journey  and  in  due  time  arrived  at  the 
Platte  river,  but  here  their  groceries  and  breadstuff  gave  out ;  happily  the 
county  was  well  stocked  with  food,  the  bill  of  fare  consisting  henceforward 
of  buffalo,  venison,  cat-fish,  suckers,  trout,  salmon,  duck,  pheasant,  sage-fowl, 
beaver,  hare,  horse,  grizzly  bear,  badger  and  dog.  The  historian  of  this  expedi- 
tion thus  describes  this  latter  portion  of  the  menu.  "  As  much  misunderstand- 
ing seems  to  prevail  in  regard  to  the  last  animal  alluded  to,  a  particular 
description  of  it  may  not  be  uninteresting.  It  is,  perhaps,  somewhat  larger 
than  the  ground  squirrel  of  California,  is  subterranean  and  gregarious  in  its 
habits,  living  in  '  villages ; '  and  from  a  supposed  resemblance  in  the  feet, 
as  well  as  in  the  spinal  termination,  to  that  of  the  canine  family,  it  is  in 
popular  language  known  as  the  prairie  dog.  But  in  the  imposing  technology 
of  the  mountain  graduate  it  is  styled  the  canus  prairie  cuss,  because  its 
cussed  holes  so  often  cause  the  hunter  to  be  unhorsed  when  engaged  in  the 
chase." 


58  THE  HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

After  enduring  a  weary  journey,  accompanied  by  the  necessary  annoy- 
ances from  treacherous  and  pilfering  Souix,  hail-storms,  sand-storms,  rain 
and  thunder-storms,  our  voyagers  arrived  at  Fort  Hall,  where  they  were 
disappointed  at  not  being  able  to  procure  a  guide  to  take  them  to  California- 
This  was  almost  a  death-blow  to  the  hopes  of  the  intrepid  travelers ;  but 
having  learned  of  a  settlement  on  the  Willamette  river,  they  concluded  to 
proceed  thither  in  the  following  spring,  after  passing  the  winter  at  this  fort- 
Here  Klein  and  Doctor  Wiselzenius  determined  to  retrace  their  steps  ;  thus 
the  party  was  now  reduced  to  five  in  number  —  Johnson  going  ahead  and 
leaving  for  the  Sandwich  Islands.  In  September,  1839,  the  party  reached 
Oregon,  and  sojourned  there  during  the  winter  of  that  year ;  but  in  May, 
1840,  a  vessel  arrived  with  Missionaries  from  England,  designing  to  touch 
at  California  on  her  return,  Mr.  William  Wiggins,  now  of  Monterey,  the 
narrator  of  this  expedition,  and  his  three  companions  from  Missouri,  among 
whom  was  Mr.  David  D.  Dutton,  now  a  resident  of  Vacaville  township,  in 
Solano  county,  got  on  board ;  but  Mr.  W.,  not  having  a  dollar,  saw  no  hope 
to  get  away ;  as  a  last  resort,  he  sent  to  one  of  the  passengers,  a  compara- 
tive stranger,  for  the  loan  of  sixty  dollars,  the  passage-money,  when,  to  his 
great  joy  and  surprise,  the  money  was  furnished  —  a  true  example  of  the 
spontaneous  generosity  of  those  early  days.  There  were  three  passengers 
from  Oregon,  and  many  others  who  were  "  too  poor  to  leave."  In  June, 
they  took  passage  in  the  "  Lausenne,"  and  were  three  weeks  in  reaching 
Baker's  bay,  a  distance  of  only  ninety  miles.  On  July  3rd,  they  left  the 
mouth  of  the  Columbia,  and,  after  being  out  thirteen  days,  arrived  at  Bo- 
dega, now  in  Sonoma  county,  but  then  a  harbor  in  possession  of  the  Russians. 
Here  a  dilemma  arose  of  quite  a  threatening  character.  The  Mexican  Com- 
mandant sent  a  squad  of  soldiers  to  prevent  the  party  from  landing,  as  they 
wished  to  do,  for  the  captain  of  the  vessel  had  refused  to  take  them  farther 
on  account  of  want  of  money.  At  this  crisis,  the  Russian  Governor  arrived, 
and  ordered  the  soldiers  to  leave,  be  shot  down,  or  go  to  prison  ;  they,  there- 
fore, beat  a  retreat.  Here  were  our  travelers,  at  a  stand-still,  with  no  means 
of  proceeding  on  their  journey,  or  of  finding  their  way  out  of  the  inhospit- 
able country ;  they,  therefore,  penned  the  following  communication  to  the 
American  Consul,  then  stationed  at  Monterey : 

"  Poet  Bodega.  July  25,  1840. 

"  To  the  American  Consul  of  California : 

"  Dear  Sir  —  We,  the  undersigned  citizens  of  the  United  States,  being 
desirous  to  land  in  the  country,  and  having  been  refused  a  passport,  and 
been  opposed  by  the  Government,  we  write  to  you,  sir,  for  advice,  and  claim 
your  protection.  Being  short  of  funds,  we  are  not  able  to  proceed  further 
on  the  ship.  We  have  concluded  to  land  under  the  protection  of  the  Rus- 
sians ;  we  will  remain  there  fifteen  days,  or  until  we  receive  an  answer  from 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  59 

you,  which  we  hope  will  be  as  soon  as  the  circumstances  of  the  case  will 
permit.  We  have  been  refused  a  passport  from  General  Vallejo.  Our  ob- 
ject is  to  get  to  the  settlements,  or  to  obtain  a  pass  to  return  to  our  own 
country.  Should  we  receive  no  relief,  we  will  take  up  our  arms  and  travel, 
consider  ourselves  in  an  enemy's  country,  and  defend  ourselves  with  our 
guns. 

"  We  subscribe  ourselves, 

"  Most  respectfully, 

David  Dutton, 
John  Stevens, 
Peter  Lasson, 
.    Wm.  Wiggins, 
J.  Wright." 

To  John  R.  Wolfskill  is  the  honor  due  of  being  the  first  American  settler 
in  Solano  county.  In  1838,  his  brother  William  and  himself  came  to  Los 
Angeles,  and  there  remained  until  1842,  when  the  former  received  a  grant  of 
four  leagues  of  land,  situated  on  both  sides  of  the  Rio  de  los  Putos,  which, 
under  a  family  arrangement,  the  latter  located  on  in  that  year.  John  R.  Wolf- 
skill,  being,  therefore,  the  actual  American  pioneer  of  the  county,  we  have  made 
it  our  duty  to  personally  consult  him  by  visiting  him  at  his  magnificent  man- 
sion on  Putah  creek.  Having  ridden  on  horseback  from  Los  Angeles,  where 
he  had  been  laboring  for  years  for  a  miserable  pittance,  he  drove  with  him 
ninety  head  of  cattle,  and  ultimately  arrived  at  his  destination  after  a  weary 
journey,  cheered  by  no  society  save  the  growling  of  wild  beasts  and  the  low- 
ing of  his  own  kine.  When  he  arrived  on  the  northern  side  of  the  bay  of  San 
Francisco,  he  made  for  Napa,  and  here  procured  a  horse  from  George  Yount, 
the  pioneer  of  that  county,  and  crossing  the  mountains,  struck  into  Green 
valley,  and  thence  into  that  of  Suisun,  and  thus  travelling,  passed  through 
the  present  site  of  Vacaville,  and  arrived  on  the  banks  of  the  Putah.  On 
his  attaining  his  haven,  the  country  had  the  appearance  of  never  having 
known  the  foot  of  man  ;  Indians  there  were  none  ;  cattle  there  were  none 
save  those  which  he  had  brought  with  him  ;  but  there  were  evidences  on 
every  hand  of  bears,  and  other  wild  animals.  Mr.  Wolfskill,  inured  as  he 
had  been  to  hardship  almost  from  his  birth,  thought  little  of  these  things ; 
he  had  early  served  a  hunter's  craft  in  the  wilds  of  unsettled  Missouri, 
whither  he  had  accompanied  his  father  in  the  year  1809,  from  his  native 
State  of  Kentucky;  had  learned  the  bitterness  of  being  cooped  up  in 
Cooper's  Fort,  now  Howard  County,  Mo.,  during  the  war  of  1812,  and 
could  check-mate  the  tricky  savage  at  his  own  game,  and  prove  a  match  for 
the  ferocious  grizzly  on  his  own  ground.  The  first  night  on  his  new  domain 
the  lonely  voyager  passed  high  up  on  the  fork  of  a  tree  away  from  the 
possible  hug  of  prowling  bears  and  the  presence  of  creeping  things ;  the 


60  THE   HISTOKY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

dawn  found  him  with  gun  on  shoulder  on  the  search  for  food ;  no  time  was 
lost  in  making  arrangements  for  a  permanent  location.  A  position  for  his 
future  home  was  chosen  on  a  site  near  to  that  where  now  stands  the  house 
of  his  brother,  Sarshel  Wolf  skill,  and,  half  a  mile  from  his  own  present 
dwelling  ;  what  timber  was  necessary  was  cut,  and  in  a  short  time,  with 
the  assistance  of  a  stray  Indian  or  Mexican,  the  pioneer  hut  was  completed, 
and  the  energetic  backwoodsman  had  once  more  the  comfort  of  a  roof  over 
his  head,  with  more  ample  security  from  the  lurking  animals  without. 

At  this  time  Wolfskill's  nearest  English-speaking  neighbors  were,  on  the 
one  hand,  at  Napa,  on  the  other,  at  Sutter's  Fort,  now  Sacramento ;  dis- 
tances of  forty-five  and  thirty  miles,  respectively.  Many  a  time  was  the 
never-ending  solitude  broken  by  a  ride  and  return  on  the  same  day  to  these 
places,  undertaken  simply  for  the  pleasure  of  a  short  conversation,  which, 
when  accomplished,  again  would  recur  a  season  of  prolonged  lonesomeness, 
varied  only  by  the  toil  of  clearing  ground,  the  pursuit  of  game,  and  the 
prosecution  of  a  deadly  war  with  grizzlies,  of  which  Mr.  Wolfskill  has  killed 
a  large  number.  One  evening  alone  he  having,  in  a  distance  of  a  mile  and 
a  half,  while  riding  along  the  course  of  the  Putah  creek,  sent  five  to  their 
long  account. 

Uncle  John  Wolfskill,  as  he  is  familiarly  spoken  of  in  the  district  in 
which  he  resides,  carries  his  seventy-five  years  well,  and,  but  for  the  extreme 
whiteness  of  his  beard  and  a  slight  bend  of  his  shoulders,  would  still  be 
considered  a  man  in  the  prime  of  life.  Fortune  has  smiled  upon  him  in  the 
fullness  of  his  years.  Portions  of  his  estate  he  has  sold  or  rented,  but  he, 
with  his  son  and  brother,  have  a  large  tract  under  cultivation.  His  resi- 
dence stands  nearly  three  hundred  yards  from  the  banks  of  the  Putah  creek, 
surrounded  on  every  side  by  a  splendid  orchard  of  fruit  trees  of  every 
variety,  including  oranges,  olives,  figs,  and  grapes,  one  vine  having  tendrils 
of  forty  feet  in  length  that  form  a  magnificent  arbor ;  while  the  building- 
is  of  fine,  soft,  smooth  stone,  found  on  the  property  in  considerable  quanti- 
ties, which  has  a  beautiful  appearance,  and  combines  all  the  comfort  of  an 
old  country  establishment,  with  the  advantages  of  habitation,  which  a 
glorious  climate  affords. 

Thus  we  have  satisfactorily  traced  the  establishment  of  the  first  American 
in  Solano  county,  but  emigration  had  not,  as  yet,  come  into  California,  for 
no  sign  of  gold  had  then  been  found,  nor,  indeed,  had  the  remarkable  adapt- 
ability of  the  soil  for  agricultural  as  well  as  pastoral  purposes  been  given 
to  the  world.  Those  who  occupied  the  lands  did  so  in  peace,  and  continued 
so  to  do  for  years.  It  was  not  until  1846  that  any  positive  influx  in  the 
population  of  the  county  made  itself  apparent.  In  this  year  Benicia  was 
first  settled,  but  ere  relating  this  portion  of  Solano's  history,  let  us  draw 
attention  to  the  circumstances  which  induced  to  the  selection  of  the  site  by 
Doctor  Robert  Semple. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  Gl 

In  the  early  part  of  1846  the  United  States  and  Mexico  were  at  war.  A 
fine  fleet  of  the  best  ships  of  the  Union  proudly  bore  the  flag  on  the  Pacific 
ocean  and  along  its  coast.  Fremont,  the  intrepid,  with  a  small  force  of 
regulars,  were  engaged  on  the  frontier  of  California  on  a  supposed  scientific 
survey.  Great  Britain  and  France,  through  their  representatives,  were 
watching  with  keen  anxiety  the  out-turn  of  affairs,  being  ready  at  a 
moment's  notice  to  take  advantage  of  any  loop-hole  that  might  present 
itself,  and  assume  a  protectorate  over  the  coast,  or  take  forcible- possession 
of  the  country.  The  native  Californians  were  not  numerous ;  those  were 
divided  in  council,  scattered  over  a  vast  territory  and  poorly  equipped  with 
defensive  weapons.  At  this  juncture  affairs  culminated  to  a  point,  and  the 
little  town  of  Sonoma  was  called  upon  to  play  a  part  in  the  history  of  the 
west,  which  was  finally  settled  by  the  acquisition  of  California  to  the 
United  States. 

On  the  morning  of  June  lGth  a  band  of  thirty-three  Americans,  recruited 
from  Sutter's  Fort  and  the  adjacent  .districts,  marched  into  the  town  of 
Sonoma,  captured  the  garrison  and  took  General  Vallejo,  the  officer  com- 
manding the  Province  of  California,  a  prisoner.  The  company  who  carried 
out  this  hiffh-handed  action  were  under  the  orders  of  one  of  their  number 
named  Merritt,  whom  they  had  elected  to  the  position  of  Captain.  They 
proceeded  entirely  on  their  responsibility,  committed  no  excess,  but  still 
were  determined  in  their  policy. 

Being  without  authority/  to  use  the  flag  of  the  United  States,  a  banner  of 
their  own  was  therefore  resolved  upon,  and  three  men,  Ben  Duell,  (now  of 
Lake  county)  Todd,  and  Currie,  manufactured  the  standard,  the  two  former, 
who  were  saddlers  it  is  believed,  sewing  the  stripes  of  red,  white,  and  blue 
together,  while  they  with  the  bear,  from  which  the  color  received  its  name, 
were  painted  by  the  latter.  A  narrator  of  these  events  naively  remarks : 
"  The  material  of  which  the  stripes  were  made  was  not,  as  has  been  stated, 
an  old  red  flannel  petticoat,  but  was  new  flannel  and  white  cotton,  which 
Duell  got  from  Mrs.  W.  B.  Elliott,  who  had  been  brought  to  the  town  of  Sono- 
ma, her  husband,  W.  B.  Elliott,  being  one  of  the  bear-flag  party.  Some  blue 
domestic  was  found  elsewhere  and  used  in  making  the  flag.  The  drawing 
was  rudely  done,  and,  when  finished,  the  bear  resembled  a  pig  as  much  as 
the  object  for  which  it  was  intended."  The  idea  of  adopting  the  insignia  of 
a  bear  was  that  having  once  entered  the  fight,  there  should  be  no  surrender 
until  the  thorough  emancipation  of  California  was  accomplished.  The 
bear-flag  is  still  preserved  as  a  choice  relic  by  the  Society  of  California 
Pioneers,  and  on  notable  occasions  it  sees  the  light  in  a  procession  by  the 
Association. 

In  the  meantime  after  a  few  fights,  and  the  murder  of  one  or  two  of  the 
independents,  Fremont  made  his  appearance  on  the  scene,  and  fitted  out  an 
expedition  to  pursue  the  Californians  whicn  he  did  with  much  vigoi',  finally 


62  THE   HISTOKY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

driving  Castro,  their  commander,  with  his  forces,  out  of  the  district.  While 
these  events  were  being  enacted,  the  American  flag  was  hoisted  at  Monterey 
on  July  7th,  by  direction  of  Commodore  Sloat ;  on  the  following  day  it  was 
opened  to  the  breeze  on  the  plaza  at  Yerba  Buena,  and,  on  July  10th,  the 
revolutionists  received  one  with  every  demonstration  of  joy ;  down  came  the 
flag  of  independence,  the  inartistic  bear-flag,  and  up  went  the  stars  and 
stripes,  thus  completing  the  conquest  of  the  district  of  Sonoma  of  which 
Solono  county  then  formed  a  portion. 

The  detachment  to  escort  General  Vallejo  to  Sutter's  Fort,  wherein  he 
was  to  be  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  was  placed  under  the  command  of 
Doctor  Robert  Semple,  then  a  captain  serving  under  the  bear  flag,  who, 
while  proceeding  by  boat  along  the  shores  of  the  Carquinez  straits,  casually 
observed  to  the  general  on  the  remarkable  eligibility  of  the  present  site  of 
Benicia  as  one  on  which  to  found  a  city.  At  the  time  the  matter  was 
referred  to  simply  as  a  topic  of  conversation;  on  the  return  journey,  how- 
ever, after  the  short  detention  of  the-  General,  he  once  more  brought  up  the 
subject,  which  terminated  in  his  promise  to  make  a  concession  for  that 
purpose  of  five  miles  of  water  front  and  one  in  depth ;  this  we  find  on 
reference  to  the  county  records  was  finally  carried  out,  by  deed  of  gift,  on 
May  19th,  1847,  the  name  of  Thomas  0.  Larkin,  consul  for  the  United  State 
at  Monterey,  being  associated  with  those  of  General  Vallejo  and  Doctor 
Robert  Semple,  the  deed  containing  certain  provisions  which  will  be  treated 
on  in  the  history  of  the  city  of  Benicia. 

Thus  the  first  town  in  Solono  county  was  located  and  soon  after  settled. 

We  must  now  return  to  the  doings  of  the  year  1846.  In  this  year 
immigration  was  greater  than  on  any  previous  one,  among  those  arriving 
being  Landy  Alford  and  Nathan  Barbour.  What  their  experiences  were  let 
us  here  relate.  Starting  from  Andrews  county,  Missouri,  for  this,  then 
almost  "  undiscovered  country,"  they  crossed  the  plains  and  came  to  the 
banks  of  the  Feather  river  in  October,  1846.  The  waters  being  in  flood  it 
was  too  deep  to  ford,  they,  therefore,  with  that  wit  which  becomes  sharpened 
by  a  stern  necessity,  devised  the  following  mode  of  reaching  the  opposite 
bank.  Taking  the  box,  or  bed  of  their  wagons,  they  fastened  to  each  corner 
an  empty  keg,  thus  making  a  raft  or  float ;  in  this  they  conveyed,  not  only 
all  their  household  goods,  but  also  their  entire  families,  the  live  stock  which 
they  were  bringing  with  them  being  compelled  to  swim  across.  Not  long 
after  this  our  party  found  themselves  at  Wolfskill's  ranch,  already  referred 
to,  and  here  they  divided,  the  Alford's  going  to  Sonoma  accompanied  by 
Barbour's  wife,  while  Barbour  remained  behind  for  a  few  days,  and  finally 
enlisted  in  the  battalion  that  Fremont  was  at  the  time  recruiting,  with 
which  he  went  to  Sacramento  and  served  five  months.  In  the  end  of  March, 
1847,  Mr.  Barbour  followed  his  friends  to  Sonoma  where  he,  with  Alford, 
framed  two  houses  which  they  intended  erecting  on  a  couple  of  lots  given 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  63 

them  for  the  purpose.  On  one  occasion  while  at  work  shaping  out  their 
posts  and  beams,  they  were  found  by  Thomas  0.  Larkin  who  made  them  an 
offer  of  a  startling  nature,  this  being  no  less  than  a  proposal  to  take  both 
their  houses  to  Benicia  free  of  charge,  to  give  them  one  thousand  dollars 
each  for  them,  they  having  the  privilege  of  living  in  them  during  the 
winter,  only  with  this  simple  proviso,  that  they  should  be  erected  on  certain 
specified  lots  in  that  city.  The  offer  was  accepted  and  they  moved  to 
Benicia  in  October,  1847.  With  the  same  train  in  which  started  for  Cali- 
fornia those  mentioned  above,  traveled  Daniel  M.  Berry,  who  with  his 
family  arrived  in  September,  1846,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  Rio  Vista,  but 
in  the  following  spring  removed  from  there  and  came  into  the  Suisun  valley 
and  pitched  a  tent  on  what  is  now  the  farm  of  Joseph  Blake,  situated  about 
six  miles  west  of  Fairfield.  In  this  year  there  also  located  in  Vaca  valley, 
Albert  Lyon,  John  Patton,  J.  P.  Long,  Willis  Long,  and  Clay  Long,  who 
commenced  the  business  of  stock-raisers.  At  this  time  there  also  lived  in 
the  adobe  at  Rockville,  formerly  occupied  by  Solano,  the  proselytized  chief 
of  the  Suisuns,  one  Jesus  Molino,  an  Indian  who  farmed  some  land. 

Captain  Von  Pfister,  a  most  worthy  gentleman  of  Benicia,  who  arrived  in 
that  city  in  the  month  of  August,  1847,  possesses  a  set  of  books,  a  day-book 
and  journal,  used  in  his  business,  which  impart  a  fund  of  information  in 
regard  to  the  early  settlement  of  the  county,  and  in  a  measure  serves  as  a 
directory  for  that  year.  When  the  captain  landed  in  Benicia,  one  William 
McDonald  was  then  building  an  adobe,  which  Von  Pfister  rented  on  com- 
pletion, and  opened  the  first  store  in  the  county.  From  this  establishment 
the  neighborhood  for  many  miles  around  was  supplied,  including  residents 
in  Contra  Costa,  notably  the  Spanish  family  of  Martinez,  who  founded  the 
pleasant  town  of  that  name  on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Carquinez  Straits. 
The  books  above  referred  to  inform  us  that  there  then  lived  in  the  county  the 
following  gentlemen — of  course  there  were  others  whom  it  has  been  impos- 
sible to  trace — all  of  whom  did  business  at  this  pioneer  emporium.  Robert 
Semple,  Edward  Higgings,  Charles  Hand,  Benjamin  Furbush,  David  A* 
Davis,  William  Bryan,  George  Stevens,  James  Thompson,  Stephen  Cooper, 
F.  S.  Holland,  Landy  Alford,  Benjamin  McDonald,  William  Russell,  William 
Watson,  William  I.  Tustin,  Henry  Mathews,  while  Ward  &  Smith,  and 
Robert  A.  Parker,  then  the  principal  merchants  of  Yerba  Buena,  were  the 
wholesale  establishments  with  which  Von  Pfister  did  business. 

The  foregoing  names  are  produced  merely  to  give  a  sort  of  general  idea 
of  who  some  of  the  original  settlers  were,  but  it  must  be  by  no  manner  of 
means  inferred  that  they  were  the  first  to  locate  in  that  section.  It  is  fair 
to  assume  that  Doctor  Robert  Semple  was  the  first  to  appear  with  any 
defined  ideas  of  taking  up  a  permanent  residence  on  the  spot,  for  to  him 
and  two  others  did  the  land  belong ;  there  were  no  houses  wherein  to  live  ; 
so  those  who  came  were  per  force  content  to  dwell    in  their  wagons  and 


64  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

tents.  Yet  this  was  for  no  lengthened  period,  as  in  1847  we  find  on  record 
that  houses  were  constructed  by  William  I.  Tustin,  now  of  San  Francisco. 
Robert  Semple,  William  Bryan,  William  Russell,  Thomas  O.  Larkin,  Stephen 
Cooper,  Nathan  Barbour,  Landy  Alford,  and  a  man  named  Benedict. 

In  this  year,  too,  Samuel  Green  McMahon  arrived  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  county  and  located  on  certain  lands  in  the  WolfskiD  grant,  on  Putah 
creek,  while  in  the  previous  year  Don  Juan  Bidwell,  an  American,  who  had 
adopted  a  Spanish  synonym  of  his  name,  and  had  served  against  the  Bear- 
flag  party  with  the  Spaniards,  received  a  grant  of  land  in  what  is  now  Rio 
Vista  township.  About  this  time  William  McDonald,  of  Benicia,  purchased 
a  farm  in  the  Sulphur  Spring  valley,  on  what  was  for  many  years  after 
known  as  the  Wood's  ranch,  and  there  broke  the  first  ground  in  the  south- 
ern portion  of  the  county,  and  produced  crops,  principally  of  vegetables, 
which  were  a  marvel  to  those  early  residents  who  had  come  from  the 
Eastern  agricultural  States. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1847,  Captain  Von  Pfister,  traveling  overland, 
visited  the  site  of  the  present  State  Capital.  His  journey  was  made  through 
that  portion  of  the  district  now  known  as  Solano  County,  he  having  started 
from  Benicia  and  forded  the  Rio  de  los  Putos,  somewhere  between  Wolf- 
skill's  house  and  that  portion  of  the  marsh  where  the  creek  loses  itself  in 
the  tules,  presumably  at  the  point  where  the  old  Spanish  trail  crossed  that 
stream.  There  were  then  only  five  houses  between  these  two  points,  at 
four  of  which  the  captain  visited.  The  first  was  that  of  the  Indian,  Jesus 
Molino,  at  Rockville ;  here  he  found  about  one  hundred  acres  of  ground 
under  cultivation,  producing  beans,  peas,  wheat,  barley,  and  other  cereal  and 
bulbous  plants  with  which  the  producer  was  wont  to  purchase  his  necessary 
stores  ;  his  farming  implements  were  of  the  most  primitive  kind,  the  plough 
used  being  the  crooked  limb  or  elbow  of  a  tree,  armed  with  a  pointed, 
rough,  iron  socket,  which  was  unevenly  dragged  through  the  soil.  He  next 
visited  the  Berry  ranch,  in  Suisun  valley,  and  here  found  a  clap-board  house, 
the  only  one  in  the  district  of  the  kind ;  and  hence  he  proceeded  in  turn 
to  the  ranches  of  Armijo  and  Vaca  and  Pena,  and  made  his  exit  from  the 
county  as  already  described. 

This  year  of  1847  may  be  said  to  close  the  pre-historic  days  of  the  State, 
for  it  was  not  until  the  following  year  that  California  became  a  household 
word  and  had  her  name  tremblingly  and  hopefully  pronounced  by  eager 
lips.  As  things  were  then,  matters  progressed  smoothly,  but  it  was  little 
calculated  what  was  in  store  for  the  county  in  the  future ;  what  there  was 
we  shall  attempt  to  define  as  we  go  on. 

The  year  1848  is  one  wherein  reached  the  nearest  attainment  of  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Philosopher's  stone,  which  it  has  been  the  lot  of  Christendom 
to  witness :  on  January  19th  gold  was  discovered,  at  Coloma,  on  the 
American  river,  and  the  most  unbelieving  and  cold-blooded  were,  by  the 


>  -«>*« 


(^^  ^ 


'HE 
YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


Foundations, 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  65 

middle  of  spring,  irretrievably  bound  in  its  fascinating  meshes.  The  wonder 
is  that  the  discovery  was  not  made  earlier.  Emigrants,  settlers,  hunters, 
practical  miners,  scientific  exploring  parties,  had  camped  on,  settled  in, 
hunted  through,  dug  in  and  ransacked  the  region,  yet  never  found  it ;  the 
discovery  was  entirely  accidental.  Franklin  Tuthill,  in  his  History  of  Cal- 
ifornia, tells  the  story  in  these  words :  Captain  Sutter  had  contracted  with 
James  W.  Marshall,  in  September,  1847,  for  the  construction  of  a  saw-mill, 
in  Coloma.  In  the  course  of  the  winter  a  dam  and  race  were  made,  but 
when  the  water  was  let  on,  the  tail-race  was  too  narrow.  To  widen  and 
deepen  it,  Marshall  let  a  strong  current  of  water  directly  into  the  race, 
which  bore  a  large  body  of  mud  and  gravel  to  the  foot. 

On  the  19th  of  January,  1848,  Marshall  observed  some  glittering  particles 
in  the  race,  which  he  was  curious  enough  to  examine.  He  called  five  car- 
penters on  the  mill  to  see  them  ;  but  though  they  talked  over  the  possibility 
of  its  being  gold,  the  vision  did  not  inflame  them.  Peter  L.  Weimar  claims 
that  he  was  with  Marshall  when  the  first  piece  of  the  "  yellow  stuff  "  was 
picked  up.  It  was  a  pebble,  weighing  six  pennyweights  and  eleven  grains. 
Marshall  gave  it  to  Mrs.  Weimar,  and  asked  her  to  boil  it  in  saleratus  water 
and  see  what  came  of  it.  As  she  was  making  soap  at  the  time,  she  pitched 
it  into  the  soap  kettle.  About  twenty-four  hours  afterwards  it  was  fished 
out  and  found  all  the  brighter  for  its  boiling. 

Marshall,  two  or  three  weeks  later,  took  the  specimens  below,  and  gave 
them  to  Sutter,  to  have  them  tested.  Before  Sutter  had  quite  satisfied 
himself  as  to  their  nature,  he  went  up  to  the  mill,  and,  with  Marshall,  made 
a  treaty  with  the  Indians,  buying  of  them  their  titles  to  the  region  round 
about,  for  a  certain  amount  of  goods.  There  was  an  effort  made  to  keep  the 
secret  inside  the  little  circle  that  knew  it,  but  it  soon  leaked  out.  They  had 
many  misgivings  and  much  discussion  whether  they  were  not  making 
themselves  ridiculous ;  yet  by  common  consent  all  began  to  hunt,  though 
with  no  great  spirit,  for  the  "  yellow  stuff  "  that  might  prove  such  a  prize. 

In  February,  one  of  the  party  went  to  Yerba  Buena,  taking  some  of  the 
dust  with  him.  Fortunately  he  stumbled  upon  Isaac  Humphrey,  an  old 
Georgian  gold-miner,  who,  at  the  first  look  at  the  specimens,  said  they  were 
gold,  and  that  the  diggings  must  be  rich.  Humphrey  tried  to  induce  some 
of  his  friends  to  go  up  with  him  to  the  mill,  but  they  thought  it  a  crazy  ex- 
pedition, and  left  him  to  go  alone.  He  reached  there  on  the  7th  of  March. 
A  few  were  hunting  for  gold,  but  rather  lazily,  and  the  work  on  the  mill 
went  on  as  usual.  Next  day  he  began  "  prospecting,"  and  soon  satisfied 
himself  that  he  had  struck  a  rich  placer.  He  made  a  rocker,  and  then  com- 
menced work  in  earnest. 

A  few  days  later,  a  Frenchman,  Baptiste,  formerly  a  miner  in  Mexico, 
left  the  lumber  he  was  sawing  for  Sutter  at  Weber's,  ten  miles  east  of 
Coloma,  and  came  to  the  mill.     He  agreed  with  Humphrey  that  the  region 

5 


66  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

was  rich,  and,  like  him,  took  to  the  pan  and  the  rocker.  These  two  men 
were  the  competent  practical  teachers  of  the  crowd  that  flocked  in  to  see 
how  they  did  it.  The  lesson  was  easy,  the  process  simple.  An  hour's 
observation  fitted  the  least  experienced  for  working  to  advantage. 

Slowly  and  surely,  however,  did  these  discoveries  creep  into  the  minds  of 
those  at  home  and  abroad  ;  the  whole  civilized  world  was  set  ao-oof  with  the 
startling  news  from  the,  shores  of  the  Pacific.  Young  and  old  were  seized 
with  the  California  fever  ;  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  were  infected  by  it ; 
the  prospect  was  altogether  too  gorgeous  to  contemplate.  Why  they  could 
actually  pick  up  a  fortune  for  the  seeking  it !  Positive  affluence  was  within 
the  grasp  of  the  weakest ;  the  very  coast  was  shining  with  the  bright  metal 
which  could  be  obtained  by  picking  it  out  with  a  knife. 

Says  Tuthill :  Before  such  considerations  as  these,  the  conservatism  of 
the  most  stable  bent.  Men  of  small  means,  whose  tastes  inclined  them  to 
keep  out  of  all  hazardous  schemes  and  uncertain  enterprises,  thought  they 
saw  duty  beckoning  them  around  the  Horn,  or  across  the  plains.  In  many 
a  family  circle,  where  nothing  but  the  strictest  econonomy  could  make  the 
two  ends  of  the  year  meet,  there  were  long  and  anxious  consultations, 
which  resulted  in  selling  ofT  a  piece  of  the  homestead  or  the  woodland,  or 
the  choicest  of  the  stock,  to  fit  out  one  sturdy  representative  to  make  a  for- 
tune for  the  family.  Hundreds  of  farms  were  mortgaged  to  buy  tickets  for 
the  land  of  gold.  Some  insured  their  lives  and  pledged  their  policies  for  an 
outfit.  The  wild  boy  was  packed  off  hopefully.  The  black  sheep  of  the 
flock  was  dismissed  with  a  blessing,  and  the  forlorn  hope  that,  with  a 
change  of  skies,  there  might  be  a  change  of  manneis.  The  stay  of  the 
happy  household  said  "  Good-bye,  but  only  for  a  year  or  two,"  to  his  charge. 
Unhappy  husbands  availed  themselves  cheerfully  of  this  cheap  and  reput- 
able method  of  divorce,  trusting  Time  to  mend  or  mar  matters  in  their 
absence.  Here  was  a  chance  to  begin  life  anew.  Whoever  had  begun  it 
badly,  or  made  slow  headway  on  the  right  course,  might  start  again  in  a 
region  where  Fortune  had  not  learned  to  coquette  with  and  dupe  her 
wooers. 

The  adventurers  generally  formed  companies,  expecting  to  go  overland  or 
by  sea  to  the  mines,  and  to  dissolve  partnership  only  after  a  first  trial  of  luck 
together  in  the  "  diggings."  In  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States  they  would  buy 
up  an  old  whaling-ship,  just  ready  to  be  condemned  to  the  wreckers,  put  in 
a  cargo  of  such  stuff  as  they  must  need  themselves,  and  provisions,  tools,  or 
goods,  that  must  be  sure  to  bring  returns  enough  to  make  the  venture  pro- 
fitable. Of  course,  the  whole  fleet  rushing  together  through  the  Golden 
Gate,  made  most  of  these  ventures  profitless,  even  when  the  guess  was 
happy  as  to  the  kind  of  supplies  needed  by  the  Californians.  It  can  hardly 
be  believed  what  sieves  of  ships  started,  and  how  many  of  them  actually 
made  the  voyage.     Little  river-steamers,  that  had  scarcely  tasted  salt  water 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  67 

before,  were  fitted  out  to  thread  the  Straits  of  Magellan,  and  these  were 
welcomed  to  the  bays  and  rivers  of  California,  whose  waters  some  of  them 
ploughed  and  vexed  busily  for  years  afterwards. 

Then  steamers,  as  well  as  all  manner  of  sailing  vessels,  began  to  be  adver- 
tised to  run  to  the  Isthmus  ;  and  they  generally  went  crowded  to  excess 
with  passengers,  some  of  whom  were  fortunate  enough,  after  the  toilsome 
ascent  of  the  Chagres  river,  and  the  descent  either  on  mules  or  on  foot  to 
Panama,  not  to  be  detained  more  than  a  month  waiting  for  the  craft  that 
had  rounded  the  Horn,  and  by  which  they  were  ticketed  to  proceed  to  San 
Francisco.  But  hundreds  broke  down  under  the  horrors  of  the  voyage  in 
the  steerage,  contracted  on  the  Isthmus  the  low  typhoid  fevers  incident  to 
tropical  marshy  regions,  and  died. 

The  overland  emigrants,  unless  they  came  too  late  in  the  season  to  the 
Sierras,  seldom  suffered  as  much,  as  they  had  no  great  variation  of  climate 
on  their  route.  They  had  this  advantage,  too,  that  the  mines  lay  at  the  end 
of  their  long  road ;  while  the  sea-faring,  when  they  landed,  had  still  a 
weary  journey  before  them.  Few  tarried  longer  at  San  Francisco  than  was 
necessary  to  learn  how  utterly  useless  were  the  curious  patent  mining  con- 
trivances they  had  brought,  and  to  replace  them  with  the  pick,  shovel 
pan,  and  cradle.  If  anyone  found  himself  destitute  of  funds  to  go  farther, 
there  was  work  enough  to  raise  them  by.  Labor  was  honorable ;  and  the 
daintiest  dandy,  if  he  were  honest,  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  work 
where  wages  were  so  high,  pay  so  prompt,  and  employers  so  flush. 

There  were  not  lacking  in  San  Francisco,  grumblers  who  had  tried  the 
mines  and  satisfied  themselves  that  it  cost  a  dollar's  worth  of  sweat  and 
time,  and  living  exclusively  on  bacon,  beans,  and  "  slap-jacks,"  to  pick  a 
dollar's  worth  of  gold  out  of  rock,  or  river  bed,  or  dry  ground ;  but  they 
confessed  that  the  good  luck  which  they  never  enjoyed  abode  with  others. 
Then  the  display  of  dust,  slugs,  and  bars  of  gold  in  the  public  gambling- 
places  ;  the  sight  of  men  arriving  every  day  freighted  with  belts  full,  which 
they  parted  with  so  freely  as  men  only  can  when  they  have  got  it  easily ; 
the  testimony  of  the  miniature  rocks ;  the  solid  nuggets  brought  down  from 
above  every  few  days,  whose  size  and  value  rumor  multiplied  according  to 
the  number  of  her  tongues.  The  talk,  day  and  night,  unceasingly  and 
exclusively  of  "  gold,  easy  to  get  and  hard  to  hold,"  inflamed  all  new 
comers  with  the  desire  to  hurry  on  and  share  the  chances.  They  chafed  at 
the  necessary  detentions.  They  nervously  feared  that  all  would  be  gone 
before  they  should  arrive. 

The  prevalent  impression  was  that  the  placers  would  give  out  in  a  year 
or  two.  Then  it  behoved  him  who  expected  to  gain  much  to  be  among  the 
earliest  on  the  ground.  When  experiment  was  so  fresh  in  the  field,  one 
theory  was  about  as  good  as  another.  An  hypothesis  that  lured  men  per- 
petually farther  up  the  gorges  of  the  foot-hills,  and  to  explore  the  canons 


68  THE  HISTOKY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

of  the  mountains,  was  this :  that  the  gold  which  had  been  found  in  the 
beds  of  rivers,  or  in  gulches,  through  which  streams  once  ran,  must  have 
been  washed  down  from  the  places  of  original  deposits  farther  up  the 
mountains.  The  higher  up  the  gold-hunter  went,  then,  the  nearer  he 
approached  the  source  of  supply. 

To  reach  the  mines  from  San  Francisco,  the  course  lay  up  San  Pablo  and 
Suisun  bays,  and  the  Sacramento — not  then,  as  now,  a  yellow,  muddy 
stream,  but  a  river  pellucid  and  deep — to  the  landing  for  Sutter's  Fort; 
and  they  who  made  the  voyage  in  sailing  vessels,  thought  Mount  Diablo 
significantly  named  so  long  it  kept  them  company  and  swung  its  shadow 
over  their  path.  From  Sutter's  the  most  common  route  was  across  the 
broad,  fertile  valley  to  the  foot-hills,  and  up  the  American  or  some  one  of 
its  tributaries ;  or,  ascending  the  Sacramento  to  the  Feather  and  the  Yuba, 
the  company  staked  off  a  claim,  pitched  its  tent  or  constructed  a  cabin,  and 
set  up  its  rocker,  or  began  to  oust  the  river  from  a  portion  of  its  bed.  Good 
luck  might  hold  the  impatient  adventurers  for  a  whole  season  on  one  bar ; 
bad  luck  scattered  them  always  farther  up. 
*  *  *  *  *  *** 

Hoards  sought  the  mining  camps,  which  did  not  stop  to  study  roads. 
Traders  came  in  to  supply  the  camps,  and,  not  very  fast,  but  still  to  some 
extent,  mechanics  and  farmers  to  supply  both  traders  and  miners.  So,  as 
if  by  magic,  within  a  year  or  two  after  the  rush  began,  the  map  of  the 
country  was  written  thick  with  the  names  of  settlements. 

Some  of  these  were  the  nuclei  of  towns  that  now  flourish  and  promise  to 
continue  as  long  as  the  State  is  peopled.  Others,  in  districts  where  the 
placers  were  soon  exhaused,  were  deserted  almost  as  hastily  as  they  were 
begun,  and  now  no  traces  remain  of  them  except  the  short  chimney-stack, 
the  broken  surface  of  the  ground,  heaps  of  cobble-stones,  rotting,  half- 
buried  sluice  boxes,  empty  whisky  bottles,  scattered  playing  cards,  and 
rusty  cans. 

The  "  fall  of  '49  and  spring  of  '50  "  is  the  era  of  California  history,  which 
the  pioneer  always  speaks  of  with  warmth.  It  was  the  free-and-easy  age 
when  everybody  was  flush,  and  fortune,  if  not  in  the  palm,  was  only  just 
beyond  the  grasp  of  all.  Men  lived  chiefly  in  tents,  or  in  cabins  scarcely 
more  durable,  and  behaved  themselves  like  a  generation  of  bachelors.  The 
family  was  beyond  the  mountains ;  the  restraints  of  society  had  not  yet 
arrived.  Men  threw  off  the  masks  they  had  lived  behind  and  appeared  out 
in  their  true  character.  A  few  did  not  discharge  the  consciences  and  con- 
victions they  had  brought  with  them.  More  rollicked  in  a  perfect  freedom 
from  those  bonds  which  good  men  cheerfully  assume  in  settled  society  for 
the  good  of  the  greater  number.  Some  afterwards  resumed  their  temperate 
and  steady  habits,  but  hosts  were  wrecked  before  the  period  of  their  license 
expired. 


THE  HISTORY   OF  SOLANO  COUNTY.  69 

Very  rarely  did  men,  on  their  arrival  in  the  country,  begin  to  work  at 
their  old  trade  or  profession.  To  the  mines  first.  If  fortune  favored  they 
soon  quit  for  more  congenial  employments.  If  she  frowned,  they  might 
depart  disgusted,  if  they  were  able ;  but  oftener,  from  sheer  inability  to 
leave  the  business,  they  kept  on,  drifting  from  bar  to  bar,  living  fast,  reck- 
less, improvident,  half -civilized  lives ;  comparatively  rich  to-day,  poor 
to-morrow ;  tormented  with  rheumatisms  and  agues ;  remembering  dimly 
the  joys  of  the  old  homestead ;  nearly  weaned  from  the  friends  at  home, 
who,  because  they  were  never  heard  from,  soon  became  like  dead  men  in 
their  memory ;  seeing  little  of  women  and  nothing  of  churches ;  self-reliant, 
yet  satisfied  that  there  was  nowhere  any  "  show  "  for  them ;  full  of  enter- 
prise in  the  direct  line  of  their  business,  and  utterly  lost  in  the  threshhold 
of  any  other  ;  genial  companions,  morbidly  craving  after  newspapers ;  good 
fellows,  but  short-lived. 

Such  was  the  maelstrom  which  dragged  all  into  its  vortex  thirty  years 
ago  !  Now,  almost  the  entire  generation  of  pioneer  miners,  who  remained 
in  that  business,  has  passed  away,  and  the  survivers  feel  like  men  who  are 
lost  and  old  before  their  time,  among  the  new  comers,  who  many  be  just  as 
old,  but  lack  their  long,  strange  chapter  of  adventures. 

No  history  of  a  county  in  California  would  be  complete  without  a  record 
of  the  rush  to  this  coast  at  the  time  of  what  is  so  aptly  named  the  "  gold 
fever;"  hence  use  has  been  made  of  the  graphic  pen-picture  quoted  above. 
Where  there  were  so  many  homeless,  houseless  wanderers,  the  marvel  is 
not  so  much  that  thousands  should  have  succumbed  to  sickness,  as  that 
there  was  no  epidemic  to  sweep  off  the  entire  reckless  population. 

In  the  winter  of  1849-50  large  numbers  of  miners  repaired  to  Benicia> 
and  there  pitching  their  tents,  plunged  into  the  most  head-long  dissipation. 
Saloons  and  gambling  hells  were  in  full  blast,  large  sums  of  money  being 
spent  on  and  in  these  canvass  palaces,  ornamented  and  embellished  with  the 
wildest  display  of  meretricious  splendor.  In  the  spring  of  the  year,  when 
the  weather  opened,  the  majority  returned  to  their  will-o'-the-wisp  pursuit 
after  wealth  in  the  mines,  while  those  who  remained,  heart-sick  at  hope 
deferred,  cast  aside  their  rockers  and  picks,  and  betook  themselves  to  the 
ploughshare,  so  to  try  their  luck  at  fortune-making  by  the  production  of 
golden  grain,  as  against  the  acquiring  it  from  golden  sand.  In  these  years 
commenced  the  arrival,  in  numbers,  of  settlers  in  Solano  county,  a  goodly 
share  of  her  oldest  and  most  worthy  residents  having  each  had,  at  one  time 
or  another,  a  long  or  a  short  spell  at  the  mines,  and  truly  do  they  love  to 
narrate  their  experiences  in  these  eventful  years,  which  is  usually  done 
with  a  simplicity  at  once  "  child-like  and  bland." 

But  to  return  to  the  settlement  of  Solano  county :  In  1848,  John  Stilts, 
who  had  two  years  previously  visited  the  district,  returned  and  settled  in 
Green  Valley,  where  he  was  shortly  after  followed  by  W.  P.  Durbin  and 


70  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

Charles  Ramsey.  In  the  following  spring  came  Landy  Alford  from  Benicia 
to  the  Suisun  Valley,  and  located  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Lewis  Pierce. 
Alford  was  of  that  class  of  whom  the  most  stolid  citizens  are  made.  He 
was  a  man  brought  up  on  the  frontier,  and,  as  usual  with  such  characters, 
lacked  those  more  refined  qualities  which  education  and  contact  with  society 
brings.  A  man  who  was  passionately  fond  of  hunting,  and  when  not 
engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  deer,  bear,  or  other  wild  animals,  or  recounting 
his  exploits  to  interested  listeners,  was  silent,  reserved,  and  almost  moody. 
After  his  coming  to  this  township,  and  when  civilization  became  more 
advanced  and  game  became  sparse,  he  pushed  on  to  the  valley  of  the  San 
Joaquin,  where  he  died  a  few  years  ago.  He,  with  many  of  the  early  set- 
tlers, have  been  gathered  to  their  fathers  on  the  brighter  shores  of  the  Great 
Beyond.  A  few  are  left  awaiting  the  summons  to  join  those  who  have  gone 
before,  but  who  shared  with  them  the  hardships  and  privations  incident  to 
pioneer  life  in  this  part  of  the  Pacific  slope,  erst  the  home  of  Solano  and 
his  tribe  of  Suisuns. 

In  this  year,  too,  there  established  themselves  in  Yaca  valley,  J.  H.,  W. 
B.,  and  Garard  Long,  who  were  soon  after  followed  by  Marshall  M.  Basye ; 
General  J.  B.  Frisbie,  too,  at  this  time  arrived  in  Benicia :  while  there  were 
others,  who  it  has  been  impossible  to  trace,  arriving  almost  daily.  Most  of 
these  have  been  gathered  to  their  fathers ;  while  some  have  left  the  county 
to  reside  in  other  parts  of  the  State.  In  the  fall  of  1850,  John  R.  Wolfskill 
was  joined  by  his  brother  Mathias,  on  his  grant  on  Putah  creek  ;  the  same 
season  Nathan  Barbour  transferred  his  residence  to  Suisun  valley  ;  while  in 
that  year,  among  the  arrivals  in  the  county,  were  J.  H.  Bauman,  W.  A. 
Dunn,  and  his  family  (among  whom  was  Alexander,  the  present  County 
Clerk  of  Solano),  who  located  in  Fairfield  in  December,  but  afterwards 
moved  permanently  to  Vaca  valley ;  Dr.  Frisbie,  and  Paul  K.  Hubbs  and 
his  family,  in  Benicia ;  S.  W.  Long,  in  Vacaville ;  and  Harvey  Rice,  of 
Suisun. 

In  1850,  Benicia  had  assumed  considerable  proportions  as  a  city ;  while, 
through  the  auspices  of  General  Vallejo,  another  town,  within  seven  miles 
of  it,  was  commencing  to  spring  into  existence.  This  is  now  the  city  of 
Vallejo,  which  was  to  have  been  called  Eureka,  and  at  one  time  actually 
bore  the  name  of  Eden.  It  is  known  to  all  how  this  county  became  the 
possessor  of  the  legislature  —  it  fluctuating  between  Vallejo  and  Benicia, 
until  it  was  gobbled  up  by  Sacramento  —  the  full  history  of  these  doings 
appear  in  another  portion  of  the  work ;  and  also  to  this  period  belongs  the 
credit  of  seeing  the  erection  of  the  first  two-storied  frame  building  in  the 
county.  This  was  built  by  Daniel  M.  Berry,  in  the  summer  of  1850,  and  is 
now  occupied  by  his  son,  Elijah  Berry ;  it  being  located  on  the  farm  of 


THE   HISTOEY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  71 

Joseph  Blake.  The  following  years  still  saw  the  population  on  the  increase  ; 
in  1851,  came  E.  F.  Gillespie,  to  the  upper  end  of  Suisun  valley,  where  he 
commenced  farming  and  haying ;  Robert  and  Thomas  Brownlie,  with  their 
families,  to  Vallejo  ;  James  G.  Edwards,  to  Suisun,  locating  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  John  McMullen ;  Charles  Ramsey,  to  Green  valley ;  about  this 
time  there  settled,  also,  Captain  Wing.  In  the  following  year,  among  those 
who  cast  their  lot  in  the  county,  were  W.  G.  Davisson,  George  A.  Gillespie, 
the  present  Deputy  County  Clerk,  a  most  worthy  gentleman,  and  a  complete 
encyclopaedia  of  information  in  the  various  affairs  of  the  country  since  the 
date  of  his  location  in  it ;  J.  B.  Lemon,  the  present  County  Treasurer,  in 
Green  valley ;  Christley  Manka,  in  Suisun  township ;  Elijah  S.  Silvey,  in 
Silvey ville,  from  whom  that  village  and  township  takes  its  name ;  and  Dr. 
O.  C.  Udell,  on  Putah  creek.  At  this  epoch  of  the  county's  history,  there 
was  only  one  blacksmith  shop  ;  it  was  situated  at  the  foot  of  Suisun  valley, 
and  kept  by  J.  M.  Perry ;  to  this  establishment  had  the  farmers  from  miles 
around  to  come  to  get  their  ploughs  repaired,  their  harrows  mended,  and 
horses  shod,  consuming,  in  many  instances,  two  entire  days.  In  1852,  the 
first  store  was  opened  in  the  Suisun  valley,  by  J.  W.  Seaver,  on  the  ground 
now  occupied  by  Sam.  Martin,  which  lessened  the  distance  to  procure  the 
necessary  commodities  for  existence.  The  country  had  now  become  well 
populated ;  the  wild  oats  of  earlier  years  showing  a  commencement  of  van- 
ishing before  the  enterprise  of  the  new-comers ;  they  for  the  while  contented 
themselves  with  but  scant  covering  from  the  rude  winds  ;  a  log  cabin,  of 
proscribed  dimensions  and  primitive  build,  was  all  that  the  greater  number 
could  afford.  True,  John  R.  Wolf  skill  had  already  built  a  fine  frame  dwell- 
ing on  the  banks  of  Putah  creek,  the  timber  for  which  he  had  procured 
from  Benicia,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  which  cost  him  a  "  bit"  a  foot,  and 
for  transporting  which,  he  providing  horses  and  wagons,  he  paid  a  driver 
sixteen  dollars  a  day.  The  later  arrivals  were  not  thus  blessed  ;  their  mode 
of  getting  along  was  different.  A  few  acres  would,  at  the  outset,  be  enclosed 
by  a  ditch  and  mound,  with  brushwood  heaped  on  top,  to  protect  the  rising 
crops  from  the  depredations  of  the  wild  oxen  and  other  animals ;  timber 
was  not  to  be  procured  save  under  disadvantageous  circumstances  of  fatigue 
and  risk  ;  while  a  still  greater  enemy  was  ever  to  be  feared  in  the  firing  of 
the  uncut  portions  of  the  wild  oats,  which,  when  ignited,  burned  with 
fearful  rapidity.  Civilization  had,  however,  made  its  impress  upon  the 
land.  Hay  was  made ;  grain  was  grown ;  and  though  the  markets  were  at 
a  long  distance  from  the  producer,  even  at  this  early  date  small  crafts  found 
their  way  to  the  Suisun  embarcadero,  and  transported  the  freight,  to  what 
was  then,  the  thriving  city  of  San  Francisco. 


72  THE  HISTORY   OF   SOLANO  COUNTY. 

We  quote  from  the  abstract  of  the  census  of  1852,  of  the  State  of  Cali- 
fornia, the  following  return,  having  reference  to  Solano  county  : 

Population 2,835 

Whites,  male 2,324 

Whites,  female 402 

Citizens,  United  States,  over  21  years  of  age 1,298 

Negroes,  male 26 

Negroes,   female 2 

Mulattoes,  male 35 

Mulattoes,  female None. 

Indians,  male 31 

Indians,  female 15 

Foreign  residents,  male 790 

Foreign  residents,  female 101 

The  quantity  of  land  under  cultivation  in  1852,  was  five  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  forty-nine  acres,  which  was  situated  chiefly  in  the  Suscol, 
Sulphur  Spring,  Green,  Suisun,  Ulattis,  Vaca,  and  Putah  valleys. 

The  number  of  horses,  cattle,  and  live  stock  generally,  is  appended : 

Horses 1,957 

Mules 187 

Milch  Cows 2,185 

Beef  Cattle 1,085 

Hogs 2,264 

Sheep 2,000 

Oxen 1,149 

The  quantity  of  produce  raised  in  the  county  was  : 

Bushels  of  Barley 105,630 

Bushels  of  Oats 13,870 

Bushels  of  Corn 3,555 

Bushels  of  Wheat 8,395 

Bushels  of   Rye 100 

Bushels  bf   Potatoes 25,905 

Tons  of  Hay ••••..  2,146 

Number  of  Grape  Vines 5,811 

Number  of  Fruit  Trees 1,961 

Thus  is  seen  what  gigantic  strides  had  been  made  towards  the  establish- 
ment of  Solano  county  as  a  centre  of  agricultural  production,  and  with 
what  just  pride  may  we  now  refer  to  those  of  our  relations  and  friends  who 
are  still  alive,  who  did  so  much  towards  bringing  the  valleys,  and  now  some 
of  the  mountains,  within  the  influence  of  the  plough.     Jt  is  not  within  the 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  73 

province  of  this  work  to  follow  individual  by  individual  in  his  location  in 
the  county ;  it  has  been  a  sufficiently  intricate  task  to  particularize  those 
few  whom  we  have  enumerated ;  how  much  more  difficult,  therefore,  would 
it  be,  were  it  possible,  even  to  account  for  the  two  thousand  and  more  who 
were  already  settled  in  the  county  in  the  year  1852.  As  year  followed 
year,  the  cry  of  immigration  was  "still  they  come;"  as  month  succeeded 
month  the  wants  of  the  communities  were  supplied.  Churches  were  built, 
schools  established;  peace,  order  and  good  government  were  maintained  as 
effectively  as  could  be ;  while  the  judicial  system  had  been  put  into  practi- 
cal operation. 

The  first  hotel  opened  in  the  county  was  naturally  at  Benicia,  the  then 
metropolis  of  Solano.  It  was  carried  on  in  an  adobe  house,  by  Major 
Stephen  Cooper,  and  named  the  "  California  House."  The  Major  kept  it 
but  for  a  short  time,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Captain  E.  H.  Von 
Pfister,  at  a  rental  of  five  hundred  dollars  a  month.  The  first  church  was 
one  for  the  Presbyterian  order,  constructed  by  the  residents  in  1849,  the 
frame  having  been  imported  from  one  of  the  Eastern  States,  and  occupied 
by  Doctor  Sylvester  Woodbridge,  now  of  San  Francisco.  The  first  school 
was  opened  in  1849.  The  first  birth  was  that  of  a  daughter  to  the  wife  of 
Nathan  Barbour;  the  first  marriage  occurred  on  December  16,  1847,  being 
that  of  Doctor  Robert  Semple  to  Miss  Fannie  Cooper,  daughter  of  the  Judge 
of  the  Court  of  First  Instance,  Major  Stephen  Cooper,  at  which  there  was 
considerable  merriment ;  and  the  first  record  of  a  death,  is  that  of  John 
Semple,  a  young  man  of  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  son  of  the  Doctor  by 
a  former  marriage. 

In  December,  1851,  the  plat  of  the  town  of  Vacaville  was  filed,  the  origi- 
nal grantors  of  the  land  being  sponsors  for  the  same  ;  while  in  every  portion 
of  the  county  immigrants  arrived,  and  locations  taken  up  on  all  sides.  Such, 
indeed,  was  the  influx  of  settlers  into  these  valleys,  the  fertility  of  which 
had  already  been  noised  abroad,  that  we  find,  in  the  year  1853,  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  post-office  at  Cordelia,  a  small  village,  which  now  only  exists 
in  name.  In  this  year,  Doctor  S.  K.  Nurse  established  himself  at  a  spot, 
which  he  named  Nurse's  Landing,  now  known  as  Denverton,  where  he 
built  a  residence,  and  in  1854,  continued  his  enterprise  by  building  a  wharf 
of  considerable  size,  and  a  store  as  well. 

Let  us  now  consider  what  the  prospects  of  the  county  were  in  1855, 
as  we  gather  from  statistics.  In  that  year  the  amount  of  land  within  the 
county,  was  535,000  acres,  of  which  there  were  under  cultivation,  18,500 
acres,  divided  as  follows : 

Mowed  for  Hay 4,000  acres— yield 6,000  Tons. 

Planted  in  Wheat 7,500  acres— yield 150,000  Bushels. 

Planted  in  Barley 5,200  acres— yield 156,000  Bushels. 

Planted  in  Oats 700  acres— yield 28,000  Bushels. 


74  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Planted  in  Com 700  acres — yield 21,000  Bushels. 

Planted  in  Potatoes  . .      200  acres — yield 30,000  Bushels. 

Planted  in  Onions  ...        50  acres — yield 50  Tons. 

Planted  in  Broom-corn      135  acres — yield 

Planted  in  other  crop.        26  acres — yield 

The  estimated  stock  of  animals  was  : 

Horses 3,000. 

Cattle 24,000. 

Mules 300. 

Sheep. 18,000. 

Goats 200. 

Hogs 17,000. 

While  the  value  of  animals  slaughtered  was  approximately  stated  to  be 
$100,000,  an  emphatic  proof  of  the  increase  of  population.  This,  however* 
did  not  rest  here,  railways  were  mooted,  steamboats  already  plied  to  Suisun, 
which  daily  left  loaded  to  the  water's  edge  with  produce  for  the  San  Fran- 
cisco market.  Early  every  morning  strings  of  wagons,  sometimes  of  forty 
or  fifty  in  number,  arrived  with  large  loads  of  grain  and  vegetables,  which 
were  borne  down  the  muddy  slough  and  through  the  vast  bleak  expanse  of 
tule  to  the  centre  of  traffic.  Suisun  was  then  the  outlet  for  all  the  surroud- 
ing  country ;  the  county,  through  the  energies  of  successive  governments? 
had  been  intersected  in  every  direction  by  good  roads,  making  travel  easy 
and  pleasant ;  the  fertile  valleys  were  becoming  more  thickly  peopled  as 
day  succeeded  day ;  a  ready  market  was  found  for  produce,  and  all  went 
"  merry  as  a  marriage  bell."  The  attention  of  the  reader  is  called  to  the 
following  report  of  the  County  Assessor  in  1862  as  an  example  of  what 
remarkable  progress  was  made  in  the  first  ten  years  of  the  agricultural 
history  of  Solano. 

Description.  No.  Acres. 

Valley  Land  adapted  to  tillage 292,000. 

Mountain  and  Hill  Land  suitable  for  grazing  purposes.. .    118,440. 

Swamp  and  Overflowed  Lands,  lying  principally  on  the 

eastern  and  southern  side  of  the  county,  about 92,000. 

The  Bays  and  Estuaries  within  the  borders  of  the  county 

cover  the  surface  of 43,000. 

Total 545,440. 

AGRICULTURAL   LAND. 

Of  the  two  hundred  and  ninety-two  thousand  acres   of  tillable   land, 
there  is  not  probably  upon  the  face  of  the  globe,  so  large  an  amount  of 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  75 

farming  land,  lying  in  a  compact  form,  that  presents  more  alluring  induce- 
ments to  the  husbandman  than  this.  Experiments  have  proven  it  to  be 
susceptable  of  the  highest  state  of  cultivation,  yielding  abundant  harvests 
of  the  grains  and  fruits  indigenous  to  every  zone.  Wheat,  barley,  oats,  rye, 
corn,  buckwheat,  peas,  beans,  potatoes,  yams,  onions,  etc.,  flourish  luxuriantly 
while  the  growing  of  flax,  hemp,  tobacco,  cotton,  rice,  broomcorn,  and 
Chinese  sugarcane,  has  been  pronounced  a  success.  Here  also  grow  beauti- 
fully, the  apple,  peach,  pear,  plum,  cherry,  nectarine,  quince,  apricot,  fig, 
orange,  olive,  pomegranite,  pineapple,  almond  and  prune  trees ;  and  goose- 
berry, raspberry,  strawberry,  and  grape  vines,  are  yearly  laden  with  fruit. 
We  have  according  to  statistics  : 

Description.  No.  Acres. 

Land  enclosed 115,774. 

Cultivated 44,454. 

In  Wheat 14,256. 

Barley 15,687. 

Oats 580. 

Rye 320. 

Corn 970. 

Buckwheat 36. 

Peas 120. 

Potatoes 1,473. 

Onions 462. 

Hay 42,160. 

Alfalfa 23. 

Broom  Corn 170. 

Of  fruit  trees  and  vines,  we  have  : 

Description.  Number. 

Apple  trees,  acres 15,996. 

Peach  trees 32,381. 

Plum  trees 1,592. 

Pear  trees 3,573. 

Cherry  trees 1,486. 

Apricot  trees 2,144. 

Fig  trees 1,772. 

Grape  vines 520,630. 

Wine,  manufactured,  gallons 10,580. 

Brandy,  manufactured,  gallons 460. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  inhabitants  of  Solano  are  not  unmindful  of 
the  comforts  that  surround  civilization,  and  make  happy  homes ;  and  as  the 
great  drawback  on  California,  the  land  titles,  are  becoming  adjudicated,  new 
evidence  of  thrif tiness  and  industry  are  being  added  to  those  already  inau- 
gurated. 


76  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

GRAZING  LAND. 

This  portion  of  the  county  (one  hundred  and  eighteen  thousand  four 
hundred  and  forty  acres)  consists  of  the  mountain  spurs  of  the  Coast 
Range,  and  lie  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  dividing  ridge  between  this  county 
and  Napa,  and  the  low  hills  that  are  adjacent  to,  and  form  a  portion  of  the 
shores  of  the  Suisun  bay.  The  surface  is  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of 
"  bunch  grass  "  and  wild  oats,  the  former  growing  upon  the  summits  and 
the  north  sides  of  the  highest  peaks,  being  green  nearly  the  whole  year,  and 
a  grass  of  hardy  growth,  nourishing  best  upon  the  most  sterile  hills.  It  is 
valuable  to  the  farmer,  being  very  nutritious  for  stock. 

Of  the  wild  oats  it  would  seem  almost  superfluous  to  speak,  being  indig- 
enous to  the  soil,  and  familiar  to  nearly  every  inhabitant  of  California. 
But,  lest  there  were  some  who  -have  not  visited  this  portion  of  the  State 
when  its  growth  is  most  abundant,  I  will  endeavor  to  describe  it :  The  seed 
bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  tame  black  oats,  with  this  difference:  it 
is  smaller,  and  has  a  hirsute  appendage  that  grows  upon  the  base  of  the 
grain  and  nearly  envelops  it.  This  seemingly  useless  appendage  has  its 
uses.  In  the  fall,  the  soil,  after  many  months  of  uninterrupted  sunshine,  is 
hard  and  impenetrable,  and  would  be  impossible  to  seed  were  it  not  for  the 
cracks  that  are  produced  by  contraction.  The  oats  ripen  in  the  months  of 
July  and  August,  and  are  shattered  by  the  action  of  the  wind. 

Falling  upon  the  hard  and  impervious  earth,  they  could  not  take  root  if 
they  did  not  make  their  way  to  these  cracks,  which  they  do  in   two  ways : 

First. — The  heavy  fibres  that  surround  it  act  as  legs,  and  prevent  the 
grain  from  lying  close  to  the  earth,  at  the  same  time  being  a  sort  of  sail 
that  catches  the  lightest  breeze  that  blows,  thus  turning  it  over  and  over 
until  it  is  safely  lodged  in  the  nearest  crack,  to  await  the  coming  rains  of 
winter. 

Second. — The  action  of  water  upon  these  fibres  has  a  singular  and  novel 
effect.  The  first  rains  falling  upon  the  seed,  produce  a  desire  for  locomo- 
tion, or  a  crawling  propensity,  and,  by  a  curious  process,  the  grain  will 
move  itself  several  inches,  thereby  falling  into  cracks  that  are  yawning  to 
receive  and  nourish  it.  Early  in  the  winter,  the  oats,  sprouting  from  these 
cracks,  give  the  earth  the  appearance  of  being  spread  with  a  beautiful  net- 
work. 

This  grass  is  the  stand-by  of  the  farmer.     It   nourishes  his  stock  in  the 

spring,  fattens  them  in  summer  and  fall,  and  sustains  them  in  winter.  From 

it  he  makes  his  hay,  which  is  pronounced  by  good  judges  to  be  the  best  that 

is  used. 

SWAMP  AND   OVERFLOWED   LAND. 

As  before  remarked,  our  estimate  of  the  quantity  of  this  land  laying  in 
this  county  is  about  ninety-two  thousand   acres.     A   few  years   since,  this 


THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY.  77 

portion  of  our  State  was  deemed  valueless  ;  but  more  enlightened  and  recent 
experiments  are  awakening  the  public  mind  to  the  fact  that  it  will  be  quite 
an  important  element  in  enhancing  our  future  wealth.  The  manner  of  its 
disposal,  as  marked  out  by  the  Legislature  of  1858,  in  a  law  enacted  during 
that  session,  was  a  wise  termination  of  this  previously  mooted  question. 
Since  the  passage  of  that  law,  these  lands  are  being  rapidly  taken  up,  and 
are  yielding  an  increasing  revenue  to  the  State.  Moreover,  there  is  no  one 
now  who  doubts  the  fact  that  these  lands  are  a  more  speedy  way  to  reclam- 
ation by  private  energy  and  enterprise  than  they  would  have  been  had  they 
been  jobbed  out  in  large  quantities  to  corporate  associations  and  irrespon- 
sible parties.  The  more  elevated  portions  of  these  lands  in  our  county  are 
being  tilled  to  good  advantage,  and  the  day  is  certainly  not  far  distant 
when  this  now  neglected  soil  will  be  made  .to  furnish  support  and  susten- 
ance to  thousands  of  immigrants  arriving  upon  our  shores. 

MINERAL   LAND. 

This  county  has  long  since  been  denominated  a  "  cow  county ;"  therefore 
little  will  be  expected  under  this  head.  Gold  has  been  found,  however, 
within  our  borders.  There  are  about  seven  thousand  acres  of  mountain 
and  hill  laying  on  the  north  of  Township  No.  7  N.  R.  2  W.,  and  on  the 
south  side  of  Township  8  N.  R.  2  W.,  in  the  vicinity  of  Putah  creek,  from 
which  gold  dust  has  been  taken  to  the  amount  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  in 
the  past  year. 

Stone  has  been  found  in  several  localities  suitable  for  building  purposes. 
Still,  our  quarries  are  inferior  to  those  of  Folsom.  Our  marble  quarries 
have  gained  considerable  celebrity,  furnishing  a  peculiar  kind  of  striped, 
variegated  marble,  that  admits  of  the  highest  polish,  and  is  elegantly 
adapted  for  ornamental  uses.  These  quarries  are  located  upon  the  summits 
of  the  hills  that  surround  Suisun  valley. 

TIMBER. 

The  timber  of  Solano  comprises  several  species  of  oak,  pitch-pine,  ash, 
cotton-wood,  etc.,  growing  upon  the  mountains,  in  some  of  the  valleys,  and 
on  the  margin  of  streams.  It  is  worthless  for  any  mechanical  use,  and 
serviceable  only  for  fuel.  It  is  the  opinion  of  many,  that  as  soon  as  the 
land  is  all  fenced,  and  the  annual  fires  prevented  from  ravaging  the  country, 
timber  can  be  grown  here  as  successfully  as  upon  the  prairies  of  Illinois  or 
elsewhere. 

LIVE   STOCK. 

We  come  now  to  a  branch  of  industrial  pursuit  that,  next  to  our  agricul- 
tural interests,  surpasses  all  others  in  point  of  importance.  The  rearing  of 
stock  of  every  species  has  occupied  the  attention  of  our  citizens  for  years ; 


78  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

and  upon  no  other  avocation  has  the  same  amount  of  money  been  expended 
as  upon  this.  Stallions,  bulls,  jacks,  and  rams  of  the  choicest  breeds,  have 
been  imported  from  Europe  and  the  older  States.  If  the  same  interest  that 
is  now  taken  in  regard  to  the  improvement  of  our  breeds  of  stock,  remain 
unabated,  with  the  healthful  climate  we  possess,  the  time  is  not  far  distant 
when  we  will  proudly  take  rank  with  the  stock-raising  localities  of  the 
East.     According  to  our  statistics,  we  have  as  follows  : 

Description.  Number. 

Horses,  American 1,343 

Horses,  Spanish 2,667 

Mules 269 

Cattle,  American 25,652 

Cattle,  Spanish • 3,634 

Oxen  (Yoke) 169 

Sheep 132,000 

Hogs 11,737 

Chickens 12,960 

Turkeys 2,452 

Ducks 560 

Geese 128 

Wool,  American,  pounds 154,000 

Wool,  Spanish,  pounds 220,000 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

Our  buildings  are  beginning  to  assume  an  appearance  of  stability.  Red- 
wood shanties  are  being  supplanted  by  comfortable  frame  and  brick  dwel- 
lings ;  substantial  plank  fences  are  taking  the  place  of  the  miserable  ditches 
so  long  used ;  and  barns  and  stables  are  becoming  indispensable  to  every 
farmer. 

Of  our  public  improvements  we  have  :  First — The  United  States  Navy 
Yard,  at  Mare  Island.  This  island  lies  near  the  southern  shore  of  the 
county,  opposite  the  town  of  Vallejo.  It  was  formerly  the  property  of 
General  Vallejo,  and  was  purchased  by  Government  of  Wm.  H.  Aspinwall, 
for  the  sum  of  eighty  thousand  dollars.  The  immense  sum  of  four  millions 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars  has  been  expended  in  building  docks  capable 
of  raising  vessels  of  the  largest  class,  and  the  following  named  buildings, 
which  are  constructed  in  the  most  durable  manner,  of  brick  and  stone : 
four  naval  store-houses,  sixty-five  by  four  hundred  feet  each  ;  blacksmith 
shop,  two  hundred  by  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet ;  foundry,  five  hundred  by 
nine  hundred  feet — said  to  be  the  largest  building  of  the  kind  in  the  United 
States  ;  thirteen  elegant  residences  for  officers ;  a  magazine,  sixty-five  by 
one  hundred  feet,  and  a  sea-wall  or  bulkhead  four  hundred  feet  long. 

The  Pacific  Mail  Company. — This  company  has,  at  Benicia,  two  build- 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  79 

ings  of  large  dimensions,  used  as  a  foundry  and  machine  shop.  Here  they 
repair  and  coal  their  steamers,  besides  doing  an  immense  amount  of  work 
for  other  parties. 

Marysville  and  San  Francisco  Railroad. — Of  this  road,  forty-eight 
miles  are  located  in  Solano  county.  Twenty-two  miles — from  Putah  creek 
to  Suisun — are  graded  at  a  cost  of  about  one  thousand  dollars  per  mile- 
Our  county  owns  stock  in  this  road  to  the  amount  of  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars. 

Court  House  and  Jail. — Our  county  has  recently  completed  a  new 
Court  House  and  Jail,  at  a  cost  of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars.  The 
amount  was  raised  by  special  assessment. 

Grist  Mills. — We  have  two  grist  mills — one  built  of  stone,  and  not  yet 
finished ;  is  to  have  four  run  of  stone,  and  to  cost  fifteen  thousand  dollars. 
The  other  is  built  of  brick,  at  a  cost  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  It 
has  three  run  of  stone,  and  is  propelled  by  a  forty-horse-power  engine  ;  has 
ground  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  twelve  tons  of  grain  during  the  past 
year,  and  is  capable  of  making  seven  hundred  and  eighty  barrels  of  flour  per 
week. 

assessments. 

Assessed  value  of  real  estate  1860 $1,217,472.48 

Assessed  value  of  improvements 704,516.00 

Assessed  value  of  personal  property 1,960,712.50 

Total $3,882,700.98 

It  can  be  gathered  from  the  foregoing  report  how  much  the  prosperity 
of  Solano  county  had  increased.  With  the  establishment  of  the  Navy  Yard 
on  Mare  Island,  a  full  account  of  which  will  be  found  elsewhere,  a  new  line 
of  labor  was  imported,  whereby  the  skilled  mechanic  was  introduced  to  this 
portion  of  the  State,  who  brought  a  variety  of  excellent  qualities  which 
have  made  many  of  them  citizens  worthy  of  the  best  confidence  of  their 
fellow  residents.  Among  these  may  be  named  Messrs.  A.'  Powell,  John 
Wentworth,  Honorable  C.  B.  Denio,  and  others,  who  have  taken  prominent 
positions  in  the  supervisoral  chair,  county  offices,  and  the  political  rostrum. 

In  later  years  the  Pacific  Mail  Company  have  almost  entirely  withdrawn 
their  interests  from  Benicia ;  these  works,  therefore,  have  fallen  into  disuse. 

Let  us  now  present  the  statistical  report  for  the  year  1876  furnished  to 
the  Surveyor-General  by  the  Assessor  for  Solano  county,  which  shows  a 
most  flourishing  condition  of  afl'airs  when  taken  in  contradistinction  with 
those  which  we  have  already  alluded  to : 


80  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Description.  Number.  Number. 

Land  inclosed — acres M 9,652 

Land  cultivated — acres 109,394 

Wheat — bushels  and  acres 1,965,175       93,575 

Barley — bushels  and  acres 553,665       15,819 

Oats — bushels  and  acres 4,700            145 

Corn — bushels  and  acres „ 5,980            237 

Beans — bushels  and  acres 400              25 

Potatoes — tons  and  acres 60              20 

Sweet  potatoes — tons  and  acres 23              11 

Hay — tons  and  acres 19,515       13,502 

Butter — pounds 118,800 

Wool — pounds 427,240 

Value  of  fruit  crop — dollars 112,000 

Bearing  orange  trees 264 

Grape  vines — acres 1,387 

Wine— gallons 149,710 

Brandy — gallons 2,200 

Breweries 3 

Beer— gallons 180,000 

Horses 5,476 

Mules 622 

Horned  cattle 12,790 

Sheep 71,146 

Cashmere  and  Angora  goats 35 

Hogs 8,322 

Grist  mills  (steam  power) 3 

Flour  made — barrels 312,000 

Corn  ground — bushels 1,000 

Miles  of  railroad 56 


ASSESSED   VALUE   OF   PROPERTY    FOR    1876. 

Description.  Value. 

Real  estate $6,350,519 

Improvements .  1,560,895 

Personal  property 1,327,248 

Total  valuation $9,238,662 

Estimated  total  population 20,750 


<Jk&i€,yr^> 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  81 

Among  the  many  improvements  that  have  been  worked  in  the  county, 
more  especially  those  of  a  public  nature,  which  attract  the  largest  share  of 
attention,  is  the 

GOOD   TEMPLARS'    HOME   FOR    ORPHANS. 

This  beautiful  structure  is  situated  on  an  eminence  commanding  a  fine 
view  of  the  city  of  Vallejo,  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,  Vallejo  and  Napa  bays, 
the  Straits  of  Carquinez,  and  the  varied  and  beautiful  mountain  scenery 
adjacent  thereto,  including  Mounts  Diablo  and  Tamalpais.  It'  is  a  frame 
building  110x71  feet,  three  stories  high,  with  a  Mansard  roof,  and  will 
accommodate  about  three  hundred  inmates.  The  rooms  in  each  story  are 
lofty  and  well  ventilated,  the  general  plan  being  well  adapted  for  the  pur- 
poses for  which  it  was  designed ;  while  the  interior  and  exterior  archi- 
tectural design  and  finish  are  highly  beautiful. 

This  noble  work  is  the  property  of  the  Good  Templars  of  California  and 
Nevada,  and  will  ever  stand  as  a  monument  of  their  enterprise,  disinter- 
ested benevolence,  and  charity.  Its  doors  are  open  to  all  orphans  under 
fourteen  years  of  age,  without  distinction.  The  origin  of  this  orphanage  is 
ascribed  to  Mrs.  Elvira  Baldwin,  of  Sacramento. 

In  December,  1867,  W.  H.  Mills,  then  the  Grand  Worthy  Secretary  of  the 
Order  of   Good  Templars,  being  inspired  with  the  idea  suggested,  visited 
George  W.  Simonton  at  Vallejo,  and  they  formed  the  plan,  and  were  the 
originators  of  the  Orphans  Homestead  scheme.    On  December  3d,  by  request 
of  Mr.  Mills,  Mr.  Simonton  introduced  the  subject  to  the  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  Vallejo  Lodge  No.  64,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  at  which  time  the  following 
committee  was  appointed  to  consider  the  matter :     George  W.  Simonton,  A. 
D.  Wood,  and  S.  C.  Baker.     This  committee  immediately  placed  itself  in 
communication  with  the  Executive  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  Messrs.  R.  R.  Mer- 
rill, G.  W.  C.  T. ;   W.  H.  Mills,  G.  W.  S. ;   Mrs.  F.  L.  Carlton,  G.  W.  V.  T. ; 
A.  C.   McDougal,  G.  W.   Counsellor.      After   considerable   correspondence 
between  the  two  committees,  that  first  named  proposed  to  "  incorporate  a 
Homestead  Association,  purchase  a  tract  of  land,  donate  twenty  acres  to  the 
Grand  Lodge  as  a  site  for  a  Home  for  Orphans,  divide  the  remainder  of  the 
tract  into  lots  for  the  Homestead,  to  be  sold  at  $100  each,  and,  after  paying 
for  the  land  and  all  incidental  expenses,  the  excess  of  money  should  be 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Trust  Committee  of  the  Grand  Lodge  and  the 
Directors  of  the  Association,  to  be  expended  in  the  erection  of  suitable 
buildings   on  the  site    donated   for   the    Home."      The    propositions  were 
accepted  by  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Grand  Lodge  and  one  hundred 
and  three  acres  were  immediately  purchased  of  John  B.  Frisbie,  Edward 
Frisbie,  and  A.  D.  Wood ;   Messrs.  Wood,  Simonton,  Mills,  Baker,  E.  H.  M. 
Bailey,  and  C.  A.  Kidder,  perfecting  the  Articles  of  Incorporation,  Associa- 
tion, By-Laws,  etc.,  with   the   following   named   persons   as  the  original 
incorporators :     A.  D.  Wood,  W.  H.  Mills,  George  W.  Simonton,  Mary  F. 
6 


82  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Carlton,  S.  C.  Baker,  Harriet  T.  Hildreth,  E.  H.  M.  Bailey,  and  C.  A.  Kidder. 

On  January  22,  1868,  a  meeting  of  the  Directors  was  had  at  the  office  of 
S.  G.  Hilborn,  Esq.,  when  A.  D.  Wood  was  elected  interim  President,  and  G. 
W.  Simonton,  Secretary  pro  tern.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  had,  January  29, 
1868,  the  same  gentlemen,  with  E.  H.  M.  Bailey  as  Treasurer,  were  named 
the  permanent  officers  of  the  Association. 

On  May  4,  1868,  the  stockholders  held  their  first  meeting,  at  which  time 
the  same  officers  were  selected,  and  S.  C.  Baker,  C.  A.  Kidder,  E.  Giddings, 
J.  F.  Coffey,  C.  S.  Haswell  of  California,  and  Adolphus  Waitz  of  Nevada, 
were  chosen  Directors  of  the  Association. 

The  enterprise  was  liberally  supported  by  the  members  of  the  Order 
throughout  the  jurisdiction,  many  paying  up  the  full  price  of  the  lot  or 
shares  subscribed  for,  viz.,  $100,  at  once.  In  the  report  of  the  Secretary, 
G.  W.  Simonton,  presented  September  23,  1868,  the  following  interesting 
statistics  appear : 

Total  number  of  shares  in  the  Association 334 

Total  number  of  shares  sold 242 

The  following  named  stockholders  have  paid  for  their  shares  in  full : 

Shares. 

Elijah  Wadsworth. .  .  .  Yreka 1 

J.  N.  Chappelle Sacramento 2 

Henry  Miller Sacramento 2 

Henry  Ashcroft Sacramento 2 

W.  C.  Ralston San  Francisco 1 

Horace  L.  Hill San  Francisco 1 

Alexander  Badlam .  .  .  San  Francisco 1 

G.  H.  Greenwood Vallejo 1 

N.  Smith Vallejo 1 

Benjamin  F.  Cole Folsom 2 

The  following  Lodges  of  Good  Templers  also  subscribed  for  stock,  as  follows : 

Shares. 

Pacific  Lodge No.  1,  of  Santa  Cruz,  California.  .  1 

Union  Lodge No.  4,  of  Carson  City,  Nevada. ...  2 

Rainbow  Lodge No.  9,  of  Washoe  City,  Nevada...  .  2 

Roseville  Lodge No.  255,  of  Roseville,  California.  .  1 

Morning  Star  Lodge No.  25,  of  Marysville,  California.  .  1 

California  Lodge No.  7,  of  San  Francisco,  California.  2 

Reform  Lodge No.  287,  of  Lincoln,  California. ...  1 

Vallejo  Lodge No.  64,  of  Vallejo.  California 1 

Maine  Lodge No.  100,of  Binghampton,California.  2 

Sylvania  Lodge No.  12,  of  Grass  Valley,  California.  2 

Red  Bluff  Lodge No.  1 92,  of  Red  Bluff,  California. .  1 

Evening  Star  Lodge No.  114,of  SanFrancisco,California.  1 

Taylor  Lodge No.  222,  of  Forbestown,  California.  1 

Grand  Lodge  of  California 20 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  83 

In  his  annual  address  delivered  before  the  Grand  Lodge  at  its  ninth 
session  in  1868,  G.  W.  C.  Templar,  R.  R.  Merrill,  speaking  of  this  matter 
said  :  "  This  enterprise  needs  no  vindication  at  my  hands.  It  bears  upon 
its  face  its  own  recommendations ;  its  affairs  have  been  faithfully  and 
honorably  conducted  and  its  merits  are  so  patent  to  the  common  sense  of 
all  men,  that  I  feel  confident  it  will  be  fully  appreciated  without  further 
encomium.  The  thanks  of  this  Grand  Lodge  are  due  in  an  eminent  degree 
to  Brothers  W.  H.  Mills,  George  W.  Simonton,  A.  D.  Wood,  and  others,  for 
their  energy,  enterprise  and  zeal,  in  conducting  its  affairs  to  its  present 
gratifying  state  of  success." 

It  should  have  been  mentioned  that  at  the  eighth  annual  session  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  in  1867,  a  resolution  was  adopted  authorizing  a  levy  of  one 
dollar  for  each  member  of  the  Order  for  the  support  of  the  Home.  This 
appears  to  have  been  the  first  action  taken  towards  raising  money  for  the 
purpose  of  meeting  the  current  expenses  of  the  institution.  At  the  ninth 
session  the  Constitution  of  the  Grand  Lodge  was  amended  by  the  adoption 
of  Article  XVII,  whereby  the  financial  system  of  the  Home  was  perfected. 
At  this  session  the  following  persons  were  elected  to  serve  as  the  first  Board 
of  Trustees  for  the  Home  :  for  the  long  terms,  Doctor  C.  S.  Haswell  of 
Sacramento,  George  F.  Mallett  of  Vallejo,  and  Joseph  Middlemiss  of  Sacra- 
mento, those  for  the  short  terms  being  the  Rev.  N.  B.  Klink  of  Vallejo,  J. 
A.  Albertson  of  San  Francisco,  F.  A.  Hornblower  of  Sacramento,  and  M.  H. 
Eastman  of  Marysville.  At  this  session  also  the  plans  and  specifications 
reported  by  the  committee  were  approved  by  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  adver- 
tisements soon  appeared  for  proposals  to  construct  the  building ;  when  the 
time  expired,  however,  the  committee  or  Board  of  Trust  found  themselves 
without  a  single  bid ;  under  these  circumstances  it  was  resolved  by  the 
Board  after  due  consideration,  to  build  the  Home  by  day  work,  and  it  was 
unanimously  agreed  to  employ  Bro.  E.  M.  Benjamin  to  superintend  the 
same  ;  and  as  soon  as  practicable  a  force  was  set  to  quarry  and  supply  stone 
for  the  foundation,  which,  fortunately,  was  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Home  grounds.  On  May  11,  1869,  the  corner-stone  was  laid  with  appro- 
priate ceremonies  and  the  construction  of  the  building  progressed  very 
rapidly.  In  his  annual  address  to  the  Grand  Lodge  at  its  tenth  session, 
held  in  the  Assembly  Chambers  at  Sacramento,  September  28th  of  that 
year,  the  G.  W.  C.  T.,  A.  D.  Wood,  speaking  of  the  Home  said  :  "  But  few 
can  realize  the  labor  which  the  successful  prosecution  of  this  enterprise  has 
involved.  The  Order  and  the  Cause  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  pro- 
jectors of  this  scheme,  and  when  its  history  is  referred  to,  the  names  of 
Brothers  Mills,  Wood,  Simonton  and  Benjamin  should  be  remembered ;  nor 
should  the  names  of  Carrington,  Hornblower,  and  others  be  forgotten."  At 
the  same  session  the  Grand  Secretary,  W.  H.  Mills,  closed  his  report  on 
Orphan's  Home  matters  in  the  following  language :    "  In  closing  my  official 


84  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

relations  with  this  institution,  I  may  be  indulged  in  the  reflection  that  its 
existence  and  interests  have  occupied  much  of  my  time  and  thought,  and  I 
feel  assured  that  its  importance  to  our  Order  will  be  better  understood  and 
more  fully  appreciated  in  coming  years.  I  indulge  no  fears  of  its  failure 
and  decline,  for  the  Orphan's  Home  is  in  the  line  of  true  policy.  If  there 
are  any  who  regret  this  and  kindred  undertakings,  they  are  destined  to  be 
numbered  with  those  who  are  to  be  forgotten  when  the  true  actors  of  this 
temperance  reform  come  upon  the  stage.  That  reform  will  not  go  back- 
wards. Men  may  desert  it ;  they  may  renounce  it ;  they  may  fall  by  the 
wayside  ;  they  may  prove  wanting  in  faith  to  believe,  or  courage  to  endure  ; 
but  others  will  arise  to  take  their  places,  and  the  cause  will  finally  triumph. 
In  success  or  failure  our  Orphan's  Home  will  be  a  proud  landmark  in  the 
history  of  our  cause.  Greater  achievements  than  this  are  yet  to  be  accom- 
plished before  this  warfare  is  over ;  greater  labors  are  to  be  endured ; 
greater  sacrifices  made  than  any  we  are  proposing  to  ourselves  to-day,  so, 
whatever  may  be  the  fate  of  our  Home,  it  will  have  served  a  grand  purpose, 
and  one  which  cannot  now  be  defeated." 

During  the  session  of  1869,  Brothers  W.  H.  Mills,  R  R.  Merritt,  and  F. 
A.  Hornblower,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  memoralize  the  Legislature 
at  its  next  session,  praying  for  a  portion  of  such  moneys  as  the  State  may 
set  apart  for  the  maintenance  of  orphans,  in  the  State  of  California.  This 
seems  to  have  been  the  first  step  taken  to  secure  State  aid.  At  this  session, 
G.  W.  Simonton,  M.  J.  Wright,  of  Vallejo,  W.  H.  Mills,  and  Brother  East- 
man, of  Sacramento,  and  C.  B.  Proctor,  of  Healdsburg,  were  elected  trustees 
of  the  Home.  In  accordance  with  a  resolution  passed  by  the  Grand  Lodge, 
on  September  29,  1869,  the  Home  was  declared  open  for  the  admission  of 
children  ;  on  and  after  October  1st,  when  it  was  dedicated,  with  imposing  and 
impressive  ceremonies  Doctor  C.  S.  Haswell,  P.  G.  W.  C.  T.,  delivering  the 
address  in  the  presence  of   a  large  number  of  the  friends  of   the  institution. 

To  convey  some  idea  of  the  deep  interest  taken  by  the  members  of  the 
Order  in  this  admirable  undertaking,  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  state 
that  on  the  third  day  of  the  Grand  Lodge  Session,  September  29th,  Mrs. 
Tlomteaux  and  Mrs.  Hayden  were  appointed  a  committee  to  raise  a  collec- 
tion in  the  Grand  Lodge,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Home.  In  a  very  short 
time  they  reported  as  collected  : 

Gold ' $248  50 

Currency 25  00 

And  the  following  individual  pledges  : 

A.  D.  Wood $  100  00 

J.  Bartlett 50  00 

F.  A.  Hornblower 50  00 

J.  V.  B.  Goodrich 20  00 

J.  T.  Counts 20  00 


THE  HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  85 

N.  V.  Wagner 15  00 

R  Swarbrick 10  00 

E.  G.  Houston 10  00 

T.  H.  Woodworth 10  00 

And  others 20  00 

Vallejo  Lodge,  No.  64 1,000  00 

Sacramento 500  00 

Brooklyn  Lodge,  No.  384 100  00 

Star  of  Hope  Lodge,  No.  32 100  00 

California  Lodge,  No.  7 100  00 

Athens  Lodge,  No.  286 100  00 

Union  (of  Nevada),  No.  4 100  00 

Woodland,  No.  237 100  00 

Eleven  other  lodges,  $50  each 550  00 

San  Francisco  Dramatic  Club 50  00 

Thirteen  lodges 340  00 

Making  a  total  of $3,618  50 

At  every  succeeding  session  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  liberal  donations  and 
pledges  were  made  in  support  of  this  noble  charity.  From  1867  to  1878, 
inclusive,  the  donations  and  pledges  thus  made  and  paid  into  the  Home 
treasury  have  amounted  to  $31,003  61,  besides  $12,504  75,  per  capita, 
tax  raised  by  the  Grand  Lodge,  for  the  same  purpose. 

While  touching  on  the  financial  history  of  the  Home,  it  will  be  proper 
here  to  repeat  the  closing  remarks  of  Bro.  George  W.  Simonton,  Secretary 
of  the  Orphan  Homestead  Association,  in  his  report  under  date  September 
19th,  1870 :  "  In  conclusion,  permit  me  to  say,  that  at  the  time  the  associa- 
tion was  organized,  we  claimed  the  benefits  to  be  derived  from  the  associa- 
tion, to  the  Grand  Lodge,  for  the  Orphans'  Home,  would  be  twenty  acres  of 
land,  and  $20,000.  Our  figures  above  show  twenty  acres  of  land  and 
$23,120  76,  $3,500  of  which  is  represented  by  thirty-five  lots  remaining 
unsold." 

The   following  Table    will  clearly    explain    the  financial    position    of  the 

Orphans'  Home : 

Nucleus  of  the  Home  Building  Fund  was $23,120  76 

Donations  from  members  of  the  Order  to  1878..  .  .  31,003  61 

Per  capita  tax  paid  by  Grand  Lodge 12,504  75 

Earnings  of  the  Home,  by  fees,  farm,  etc 27,509  77 

Aid  from  the  State 24,186  02 

General  Bi dwell,  Chico  (donation) 1,000  00 

Sundry  donations 149  25 

Making  a  grand  total  of $119,474  16 

raised  for  the  erection  and  maintenance  of  the  institution,  up  to  September 
30th,  1878. 


86  THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

At  the  Twelfth  Annual  Session  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  held  in  1871,  G.  W. 
Simonton,  W.  H.  Mills,  A.  G.  Clark,  and  J.  B.  Carrington,  were  elected 
trustees  of  the  Home.  It  was  at  this  session  also  that  Grand  Secretary  W. 
H.  Mills,  in  his  report,  advised  the  creation  of  a  Board  of  Lady  Managers  5 
to  have  charge  of  the  domestic  affairs  of  the  Home ;  and  the  Grand  Lodge, 
acting  on  the  suggestion,  elected  the  following  as  a  Board  of  Lady  Managers  : 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Wilson,  Mrs.  N.  B.  Klink,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Simonton,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Ben- 
jamin, of  Vallejo  ;  Mrs.  E.  C.  Fowler,  Valley  Ford;  Mrs.  M.  M.  Carpenter, 
of  San  Francisco,  and  Mrs.  C.  P.  Huntoon,  of  Sacramento. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees  chosen  by  the  Grand  Lodge,  at  its  Ninth 
Session  (the  subsequent  Boards  are  given  seriatim),  were  elected  in : 

1868 — Doctor  C.  S.  Haswell,  Joseph  Middlemiss,  of  Sacramento  ;  George 
F.  Mallett,  Rev.  N.  B.  Klink,  of  Vallejo;  J.  A.  Albertson,  F.  A.  Hornblower, 
and  M.  H.  Eastman. 

1869— W.  H.  Mills,  G.  W.  Simonton,  M.  J.  Wright,  F.  A.  Hornblower, 
C.  B.  Proctor,  G.  F.  Mallett,  and  Joseph  Middlemiss. 

1870— C.  S.  Haswell,  G.  W.  Simonton,  M.  H.  Eastman,  William  Carpenter' 
M.  J.  Wright,  Joseph  Middlemiss,  and  G.  F.  Mallett. 

1871— G.  W.  Simonton,  G.  F.  Mallett,  C.  S.  Haswell,  A.  G.  Clark,  J.  B. 
Carrington,  H.  dwell,  and  W.  H.  Mills. 

1872— G.  W.  Simonton,  President;  W.  H.  Mills,  C.  S.  Haswell,  A.  G. 
Clark,  I.  S.  Haisey,  J.  B.  Carrington,  and  Rev.  N.  B.  Klink. 

1873— W.  H.  Mills,  S.  Kitto,  C.  S.  Haswell,  G.  W.  Simonton,  I.  S.  Haisey, 
J.  B.  Carrington,  and  A.  G.  Clark. 

1874 — W.  H.  Mills,  President ;  George  B.  Katzenstein,  Secretary;  I.  S. 
Haisey,  treasurer ;  S.  Kitto,  C.  S.  Haswell,  G.  W.  Simonton,  J.  B.  Carring- 
ton, and  A.  G.  Clark. 

1875 — J.  B.  Carrington.  President ;  W.  Crowhurst,  Secretary ;  I.  S.  Haisey, 
treasurer;  W.  H.  Mills,  C.  S.  Haswell,  A.  G.  Clark,  and  S.  Kitto. 

1876 — A.  G.  Clark,  President;  W.  Crowhurst,  Secretary;  I.  S.  Haisey, 
treasurer ;  A.  D.  Wood,  R.  Thompson,  W.  H.  Mills,  and  S.  Kitto. 

1877— AG.  Clark,  President;  C.  H.  Haile,  Secretary;  I.  S.  Haisey, 
Treasurer;  W.  H.  Mills,  Robert  Thompson,  J.  B.  Carrington,  and  S.  Kitto. 

1878 — George  B.  Katzenstein,  President ;   C.  H.  Haile,  Secretary ;  I.  S. 

Haisey,  Treasurer ;  W.  H.  Mills,  S.  Kitto,  A.  G.  Clark, Bagley,  of 

Stockton,  and  T.  T.  Heald. 

The  G.  W.  C.  Templar  and  G.  W.  Secretary  are  ex  officio  members  of  all 
meetings  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  87 

The  first  Board  of  Lady  Managers  chosen  by  the  Grand  Lodge  (the  sub- 
sequent Boards  are  given  seriatim)  was  composed  of  the  following  ladies, 
who  were  elected  in  the  year 

1871 — Mesdames  N.  B.  Klink,  President;  G.  W.  Simonton,  Secretary; 

E.  J.  Wilson,  E.  M.  Benjamin,  of  Vallejo;  C.  E.  Fowler,  Valley  Ford;  and 
C.  P.  Huntoon,  of  Sacramento. 

1872 — Mesdames  Klink,  President ;  Benjamin,  Secretary  ;  Wilson,  Fowler, 

F.  L.  Carlton,  Huntoon,  and  Alsip. 

1873 — Mesdames  Wilson,  President ;  Robbins,  Secretary;  Huntoon,  Alsip, 
Carlton,  C.  B.  Thompson,  and  Benjamin. 

1874 — Mesdames  Carlton,  President ;  Robbins,  Secretary ;  Wilson,  Ben- 
jamin, Thompson,  A.  G.  Clark,  of  Napa,  and  M.  M.  Carpenter,  of*  San 
Francisco. 

1875 — Mesdames  Carlton,  President;  J.  Macarty,  Secretary;  Wilson, 
Alsip,  Benjamin,  Carpenter,  and  M.  E.  Partridge,  of  Oakland. 

1876 — Mesdames  Carlton,  President;  Klink,  Secretary;  Wilson,  Car- 
penter, Alsip,  Partridge,  and  Clark. 

1877 — Mesdames  Klink,  President;  Carpenter  and  Partridge,  Secretaries; 
Clark,  Thompson,  Alsip ;  V.  A.  Rix,  of  Washington  Corner ;  and  M.  G. 
Morris,  of  Vallejo. 

1878 — Mesdames  Klink,  President ;  Carpenter  and  Thompson,  Secretaries  ; 
Aslip,  Clark.  Rix,  and  Partridge. 

The  first  matron  was  Mrs.  R.  C.  Armitage ;  the  second  matron  was  Mrs. 
M.  L.  Pexton ;  the  third  matron  was  Mrs.  H.  M.  Chandler ;  the  fourth  ma- 
tron was  Mrs.  Geo.  Morris,  (nee  Mattie  Parker) ;  the  fifth  matron  was  Mrs. 
B.  Derby ;  the  sixth  and  present  one,  Mrs.  L.  Stewart. 

The  teachers  are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  Smith.  The  average  number  of  child- 
ren who  have  been  admitted  to  the  Home  for  Orphans  since  its  foundation, 
is  about  four  hundred ;  while  the  approximate  yearly  attendance  has  been 
in  the  vicinity  of  fifty  and  sixty.     Present  number  one  hundred  and  three. 

The  school  is  managed  under  the  direction  of  the  Board  of  Lady  Man- 
agers, and  the  Vallejo  Board  of  Education,  with  a  daily  attendance  of  about 
eighty  pupils,  twenty  of  whom  are  admitted  from  the  outside.  The  school- 
rooms have  been  newly  furnished  with  the  best  double  desks,  at  a  cost  of 
about  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  paid  for  by  voluntary  subscrip- 
tions of  members  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  while  visiting  the  Home  in  October 
last.     We  next  draw  attention  to  the 


88  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

NAPA   AND   SOLANO   AGRICULTURAL   AND   MECHANICAL   ARTS   SOCIETY. 

Was  incorporated  on  June  24,  1872,  under  the  Presidentship  of  M.  R. 
Miller,  with  Messrs.  J.  B.  Frisbie,  and  John  M.  Gregory,  Jr.,  as  Treasurer 
and  Secretary,  respectively ;  and  has  for  its  object  the  holding  of  a  District 
Fair,  embracing  the  counties  of  Napa,  Solano,  Yolo,  Lake,  Mendocino,  So- 
noma, and  Marin,  when  premiums  are  offered  in  the  following  departments  : 
Live  Stock,  Cereals,  Fruits,  Wines,  and  Dairy  Products,  as  well  as  for  all 
manner  of  Agricultural  Implements  made  in  the  district ;  Domestic  Manu- 
factures ;  Carriages,  Buggies,  etc.;  Saddlery,  Harness,  etc.:  Painting,  Orna- 
mental Work,  etc.;  Embroidery,  Needlework,  etc.;  Bread,  Crackers,  etc.; 
Plants,  Bouquets,  etc.;  with  a  special  class  where  prizes  are  offered  to  child- 
ren. Special  premiums  are  open  to  competitors ;  while  there  is  a  speed 
programme  which  is  carried  out  on  each  of  the  days  during  which  the  fair 
is  held.  The  exhibition  grounds  and  park  are  situated  on  the  Napa  road, 
about  three  miles  from  Vallejo,  and  cover  an  area  of  sixty  acres,  having 
buildings  for  the  benefit  of  exhibitors ;  while  there  is  accommodation  for 
from  two  to  three  hundred  animals.  The  hotel  is  a  two-storied  erection  of 
handsome  appearance  ;  the  sheds  are  all  in  the  very  best  condition ;  while 
nothing  is  wanting  that  may  ensure  the  comfort  of  the  visitor.  The  race  track 
is  declared  to  be,  by  men  of  experience,  one  of  tbe  very  best  in  the  country 
for  speed,  while  it  possesses  many  other  advantages.  Up,  until  last  year, 
the  Society  was  more  or  less  a  private  one ;  but  by  operation  of  the  Legis- 
lature last  session,  a  sum  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars  was  granted  to  them, 
which  now  officializes  their  position,  and  calls  for  a  yearly  report  from  them 
to  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture.  The  officers  for  the  present  year  are : 
President,  John  B.  Carrington ;  Vice-President,  John  T.  Dare ;  Secretary, 
A.  J.  McPike ;  Treasurer,  J.  K.  Duncan ;  Directors,  John  E.  Williston,  L.  B. 
Abernethie,  Robert  Brownlee.  W.  P.  Durbin,  John  Neate,  John  Callender, 
J.  B.  Hoyt,  Stephen  Eaton,  John  Wilson,  William  Carter,  H.  Connolly,  John 
Brownlie,  D.  W.  Harrier,  C.  Hartson,  Luke  Kelly,  A.  Goodyear,  W.  A.  Fisher, 
J.  C.  Wolfskill,  John  Farnham,  J.  M.  Thompson,  S.  S.  Drake. 

Meetings  are  usually  held  in  September  of  each  year. 

We  have,  in  the  commencement  of  this  chapter,  entered  upon  the  appear- 
ance of  the  county  in  the  days  when  but  few  white  men  had  penetrated 
into  its  wilds.  A  faint  attempt  was  made  to  picture  the  beauties  of  the 
wild  waste,  as  described  by  the  first  settlers  in  Solano  ;  we  now  select  a 
spot  whither  to  allure  the  reader,  namely,  the 

WHITE   SULPHUR   SPRINGS. 

Of  all  the  spots  worthy  of  a  visit  in  the  vicinity  of  Vallejo,  none  can, 
probably,  compare  with  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  in  regard  to  the  beauty 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  89 

of  its  surroundings.  Originally  being  included  in  the  grant  to  General 
Vallejo,  he  disposed  of  them  to  Milton  Brockman,  who,  in  turn,  sold  them 
to  Henry  Connolly,  from  him  they  were  purchased  by  General  J.  B.  Frisbie, 
and  latterly,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Vallejo  Land  and  Improvement 
Association,  the  property  was  bought  by  James  Kelly,  the  present  proprie- 
tor, for  the  trifling  sum  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  When  the  Springs 
became  the  property  of  General  Frisbie  he,  with  a  taste  which  it  would  be 
next  to  impossible  to  excel,  ornamented  the  grounds  in  the  most  lavish 
manner,  expending  no  less  a  sum  than  one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand 
dollars  in  beautifying  the  property  which  consists  of  about  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  The  management  of  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  is  now 
vested  in  Mr.  James  Condon,  than  whom  no  more  hospitable  a  host  exists. 
These  Springs  lie  in  a  north-easterly  direction  from  Vallejo,  with  which 
city  they  are  connected  by  coach,  which  runs  the  distance  of  four  miles, 
direct  from  the  railroad  depot,  and  are  situated  in  a  hollow  of  the  hills, 
which  rise  in  easy  slopes,  surrounding  them  on  all  sides  and  protecting  the 
grounds  from  the  rough  breezes  of  the  bay.  The  road  passes  through  a 
country  of  rare  cultivation,  cattle  may  be  seen  browsing  on  a  thousand 
hills ;  while  the  residences  of  the  thriving  farmers,  with  the  bright  sun 
glittering  on  their  whitened  walls,  add  an  appearance  of  life  to  the  scene, 
which  goes  a  great  way  towards  enlivening  the  prospect.  For  rare  beauty 
the  environs  cannot  be  surpassed.  In  spring  and  summer  the  flowers  and 
foliage  attain  their  truest  perfection ;  the  former  in  their  brilliant  colors, 
forming  a  charming  contrast  against  the  darker  leaves  of  the  trees.  A  small 
lake  has  been  excavated,  around  which  are  secluded  walks  and  cosy  seats, 
placed  within  the  shadow  of  the  spreading  weeping  willow.  An  island  in 
the  centre,  which  is  gained  by  a  bridge  or  boats,  is  laid  out  with  marvelous 
skill,  revealing  many  a  gorgeous  vista  of  color ;  here,  again,  the  weary  may 
find  rest,  the  social  enjoy  their  tete-a-tete,  or  the  book- worm  be  free  from 
intrusion.  Summer  houses  and  kiosks  are  built  along  the  margin  of  the 
water,  arranged  with  tables  and  rustic  chairs,  where  the  merry  tea  or  enchant- 
ing kettle-drum  may  be  partaken ;  while  labyrinthine  walks  traverse  the 
grounds  in  all  directions,  amply  shaded  by  umbrageous  trees,  offering  seclu- 
sion to  those  who  may  wish  to  converse  with  "  ling' ring  sweetness  long- 
drawn  out."  Canopied  bowers  and  bosky  dells,  evergreen  shrubbries,  flower 
gardens  and  vineyard,  diversify  the  sloping  surface  and  give  a  fairy-like 
effect  to  the  landscape  that  cannot  well  prove  otherwise  than  enchanting  to 
the  visitor.  Nature  has  given  the  White  Sulphur  Spring  a  magnificence  of 
position  which  recalls  the  most  perfect  spots  of  Swiss  scenery,  and  forms  a 
watering  place  where  the  votary  of  pleasure  may  find  delight,  and  the  hard- 
worked  city  merchant  obtain  relaxation  from  the  cares  of  business. 


90  THE  HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

THE   SPRINGS 

Are  cosily  placed  in  a  recess  in  the  mountain  side  forming  a  small  pond  of 
about  forty  feet  in  circumferrence  and  built  around  with  a  rockery  over 
which  creepers  and  lichens  cling  in  tangled  confusion.  The  water  presents 
a  pale  bluish  color,  imparting  at  first  a  slightly  unpleasant  odor,  and  is 
protected  from  the  rays  of  the  sun  by  a  large  weeping  willow,  while  con- 
tiguous to  it  is  a  circular  seat  and  table  whereat  the  invalid  or  the  curious 
may  take  the  waters,  which  is  not  by  any  means  unpleasant  to  the  palate. 
The  liquid  it  is  believed  has  never  been  properly  analyzed  but  it  is  princi- 
pally composed  of  sulphur  with  a  very  slight  proportion  of  iron.  To  prove 
that  there  is  nothing  obnoxious  in  its  flavor,  this  water  is  generally  used  on 
the  premises,  while  the  stock  on  the  ground  drink  it  with  great  relish. 
Adjacent  to  those  already  described  there  is  a  sweet  water  spring  bubbling 
forth  the  clearest  and  most  delicious  beverage  for  those  who  may  not  appre- 
ciate the  medicinal  properties  of  the  former. 

THE   BUILDINGS 

On  the  grounds  are  all  of  framework  and  of  elegant  design  approached  by 
a  well  kept  carriage  drive.  The  first  erection  which  is  passed  on  arrival 
is  a  kind  of  bachelors'  home,  for  on  the  first  floor  is  the  saloon,  containing 
bar  and  billiard  room  which  connects  by  an  archway ;  the  appointments  in 
these  appartments  are  of  the  first  order  and  in  themselves  should  be  an 
inducement  to  visitors.  Off  these  there  are  lesser  rooms,  one  being  fitted 
up  with  a  telegraphic  apparatus,  the  wires  of  which  connect  with  Vallejo 
and  thence  to  San  Francisco,  while  the  other  is  used  as  a  barber's  shop  and 
office.  The  second  story  is  divided  into  one  parlor  or  club-room,  seven  bed- 
rooms and  a  large  and  convenient  bath-room  with  all  the  necessary  improve- 
ments. Some  fifty  yards  from  this  building  stands  the  main  structure,  of 
two  stories  in  height  and  protected  on  three  sides  by  a  spacious  verandah. 
A  wide  flight  of  steps  flanked  on  either  side  by  well  laid  out  parterres  of 
flowers  leads  to  the  piazza  from  which  entry  is  made  into  a  dining  room  of 
grand  proportions  capable  of  accommodating  one  hundred  and  fifty  guests, 
while  adjoining  it  are  spacious  and  well  furnished  sitting  parlors.  The 
upper  floor  is  entirely  devoted  to  bed  chambers  of  which  there  are  sixteen 
of  various  sizes  and  all  furnished  with  a  view  to  the  comfort  of  the  occu- 
pants. Near  the  lake  there  is  a  neat  detached  building  called  Knoll  Cottage, 
while  in  close  proximity  to  the  sulphur  spring  there  are  two  others  named 
respectively  Spring  and  Linda  Vista  Cottages.  These  detached  residences 
each  contain  one  large  room  with  alcove  for  bed,  and  three  small  single 
rooms,  with  lavatory,  all  furnished  and  carpetted  with  every  regard  to  com- 
fort.    These  tenements  are  also  provided  with  verandahs,  those  of  the  two 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  01 

latter  commanding  a  prospect  of  the  most  ravishing  order,  situated  as  they 
are,  half-way  up  the  mountain,  a  panorama  of  the  country  is  had,  with  all  its 
variations  of  hill  and  dale,  light  and  shadow  ;  while  in  the  distance  a  glimpse 
is  caught  of  the  church  towers  and  higher  situated  houses  of  Vallejo,  backed 
in  the  distance  by  the  expanse  of  water  of  the  San  Pablo  bay  and  the  coast 
range  of  mountains.  The  cottages  are  all  that  could  be  desired  for  families, 
or  a  party  of  friends. 

The  Baths  are  eight  in  number,  and  are  connected  with  the  Springs 
by  means  of  pipes,  and  thence  distributed  into  the  different  rooms,  where 
the  receptacles  are  tin-lined.  In  a  large  room  attached,  is  a  monster  boiler 
from  which  hot  water  is  conveyed,  which  may,  with  a  shower  in  each,  be 
used  at  will. 

The  Stables,  too,  are  a  feature  on  the  premises,  there  being  stalls  for 
twenty-five  horses ;  sheds  for  buggies,  and  the  necessary  harness-rooms, 
with  water  laid  on  throughout. 

Gas  is  the  means  by  which  the  different  buildings  are  illuminated,  which 
is  manufactured  in  a  gasometer,  some  distance  off,  and  which  answers  ad- 
mirably. 

No  description  of  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  can  be  considered  complete 
without  reference  to  the  high  mountain  at  the  foot  of  which  it  stands. 
Capped,  as  it  is,  by  large,  unwieldy  boulders,  heaped  upon  each  other  in 
utter  chaos,  the  ascent  to  which  is  gradual  and  smooth,  and  will  well  repay 
the  adventurer  to  its  summit;  for  from  thence  a  grand  and  magnificent  view, 
which  brings,  on  a  clear  day,  the  city  of  San  Francisco  within  its  ken,  is  to 
be  obtained.  Nowhere  within  such  easy  distance  of  the  coast  metropolis 
does  there  exist  so  pleasant  a  locality  for  recreation ;  and  with  the  many 
advantages  of  comfort  and  accessibility,  which  the  Springs  now  possess, 
their  is  no  reason  why  it  should  not  be  the  most  fashionable  resort  in  Cali- 
fornia. 


TOLENAS   SPRINGS. 

Among  the  various  wonders  that  nature  has  so  lavishly  bestowed  upon 
California,  but  few  are  more  deserving  of  notice  than  her  Mineral  Springs. 
As  though  intending  that  every  physical  ill  should  be  provided  with  an 
antidote,  healing  waters  are  made  to  rush  forth  from  the  bowels  of  the 
earth,  and  bubble  up  on  the  tops  and  sides  of  mountain  chains.  In  these, 
the  counties  of  Solano  and  Napa  seem  to  be  the  most  favored. 

The  Solano,  or  Tolenas  Springs — to  the  description  of  which  the  attention 


92  THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

of  our  readers  will  now  be  confined — are  situated  about  five  miles  north  of 
Suisun  City,  at  an  elevation  of  eleven  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  most  beautiful  climate  and  romantic  scenery. 
For  more  than  half  the  distance  the  road  from  Suisun  runs  across  the  level 
valley,  that,  in  the  spring,  is  carpetted  with  green  turf  and  variegated  with 
flowers  of  every  hue.  Groves  of  dark  green  oaks,  with  an  occasional  farm- 
house peeping  from  among  the  foliage,  and  here  and  there  live  stock  quietly 
reposing,  or  eagerly  feeding,  display  a  scene  of  beauty  which  can  be  rarely 
surpassed. 

Ascending  the  steep  but  smoothly  sloped  and  gently  rounded  hills, 
dotted  with  trees,  a  panorama  of  vast  extent  and  great  beauty  is 
rolled  out  before  you.  To  the  south-east  a  broad  plain  extends  as  far  as  the 
eye  can  reach ;  to  the  south  Mount  Diablo  is  the  crowning  point  of  a  long 
chain  of  hills ;  to  the  east,  and  north-east,  the  shimmering  tops  of  the  snow- 
covered  Sierra  Nevadas  shine  through  the  deepening  haze,  with  a  richer 
glow  than  the  glittering  gold  that  is  hidden  deep  beneath  their  icy  crest. 

Arriving  at  "  Empire  Spring,"  and  looking  down  the  canon,  is  the  "  White 
Sulphur  Spring."  Before  going  further  perhaps  it  ought  to  be  mentioned 
that  there  are  several  mineral  springs  in  this  chain  of  hills,  the  principal  of 
which  seem  to  be  the  Empire,  White  Sulphur,  Seltzer,  and  Congress.  The 
former  is  located  near  the  head  of  a  ravine,  on  the  south  side  of  Soda 
Spring  Canon.  This  spring  furnishes  a  considerable  volume  of  water,  that 
issues  in  a  jet,  with  a  gurgling  noise  at  intervals  of  from  one  to  two  seconds. 
The  numerous  bubbles  that  rise  to  the  surface  would  indicate  the  pressure 
of  a  larger  amount  of  carbonic  acid  gas  in  this  than  in  any  of  the  other 
springs  ;  but  a  careful  analysis  has  failed  to  confirm  it. 

The  White  Sulphur  Spring,  as  I  have  said,  is  near  the  foot  of  the  canon, 
some  200  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  small  stream  that  runs  through  the 
latter.  The  flow  of  water  from  this  spring  is  small,  probably  not  more 
than  from  three  to  four  gallons  daily,  but  it  is  highly  impregnated  with 
sulphur,  the  smell  of  which  is  perceptible  for  some-  distance.  From  this 
spring  can  be  seen  the  famous  Suisun  marble  quary. 

The  Congress  Spring  is  but  a  short  distance  from  the  Empire,  and  very 
much  resembles  the  latter,  except  that  the  escapement  of  gas  is  less. 

The  Seltzer  Spring  is  on  the  west  side  of  the  divide,  overlooking  the 
upper  portion  of  Suisun  valley.  Its  pellucid  and  sparkling  waters  are  equal 
in  taste  to  the  best  soda  water  ever  drank,  eclipsing  in  flavor  at  least,  the 
more  celebrated  Congress  and  Empire.  Each  of  the  springs,  with  the 
exception  of  the  White  Sulphur,  issues  from  the  tissues  of  a  light,  porous 
calcareous  rock,  of  singular  formation. 

These  mineral  waters  have  been  known  to,  and  even  the  resort  of  native 
Californians,  for  many  years;  but  they  have  received  but  little  attention 
until  recently,  when  the  following  careful  analysis  of  two  of  the  springs  by 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  93 

Dr.  Hewston  of  San  Francisco,  discovered  the  valuable  medicinal  properties 
they  contain. 

Component  Parts.  Congress.      Empire. 

Specific  gravity 1.0056     1.0132 

Iodide  of  Potassium 0.24  1.64 

Chloride  of  Potassium 0.71  1.66" 

Chloride  of  Sodium 26.90  90.83 

Carbonate  of  Soda 6.67  14.38 

Biborate  of  Soda 2.57  6.44 

Carbonate  of  Lime 6.04  4.46 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia 1.36  4.57 

Carbonate  of  Iron 0.08  0.09 

Alumina 0.12  trace. 

Selica 0.20  0.40 

Dry  solid  matter  in  1  pint 45.00     124.47 

Free  Carb.  Acid  gas,  cub.  in 33.735     26.297 

Their  value  will  be  better  appreciated  by  the  persual  of  the  following 
note  from  Drs.  I.  Powell  and  B.  A.  Sheldon,  and  with  which  we  shall  close 
this  description. 

"  We  have  carefully  examined  the  results  of  Doctor  Hewston's  analysis 
of  the  waters  of  the  Congress  and  Empire  Springs,  and  believe  them 
possessed  of  remedial  virtues  superior  to  any  other  of  the  vaunted  waters 
of  California,  and  equal  to  any  in  the  world.  Their  tonic,  alterative, 
antacid  and  aperient  qualities  render  them  invaluable,  when  judiciously 
administered,  in  the  treatment  of  various  chronic  affections." 

The  consumption  of  these  waters  is  becoming  general  throughout  the 
State,  superseding  in  a  great  measure  that  from  Napa  county. 

Mention  has  elsewhere  been  made  of  the 

MARBLE    QUARRY 

Near  Suisun,  the  property  of  Judge  Swan.  We  append  verbatim  the  report 
to  that  gentleman  of  a  Geological  Survey  of  the  locality,  made  by  Mr. 
Charles  Pueger  in  1876. 

"  From  the  examination  of  your  property  above  specified,  as  made  in 
your  company,  I  have  come  to  the  following  conclusions ;  of  course  such  a 
local  examination  of  the  grounds  specified,  does  not  enable  me  to  give  a 
correct  picture  of  the  geology  of  the  entire  vicinity,  or  an  idea  of  the 
mineralogical  value  of  lands  adjoining  near  and  far.     My  problem  has  been, 


94  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

as  I  conceived,  merely  to  determine  what  of  useful  mineral  is  to  be  found 
on  your  property,  above  specified.  That  is  to  say,  what  I  have  not  examined 
I  cannot  judge  of. 

The  rock  formation  on  the  above  lands  consist  of  alternating  strata  or 
layers  of  sandstone,  limestone  and  argillaceous  shale  with  an  abundant 
variety  of  transition  rocks  ;  particularly  of  marls. 

The  strata  have  the  strike,  or  course,  of  the  Coast  Range,  the  eruption  of 
which  was  evidently .  the  cause  of  their  upheaval  in  ages  past.  Their  dip 
is  therefore  naturally  to  the  north-east,  the  strike  being  N.W. — S.E.  This 
agrees  with  the  general  position  of  the  stratified  rocks  of  the  slate,  and 
therefore  serve  as  to  guide  the  identification  of  strata  in  their  continuation 
at  a  distance. 

There  are  many  peculiarities  in  these  strata  that  point  to  the  coal  forma- 
tion as  the  one  to  which  they  are  probably  to  be  ranked,  even  if  they  did 
not  stand  in  line  with  the  Mount  Diablo  coal  deposits.  Nothing  of  a  fossil 
nature  was  found,  however,  to  support  or  confirm  such  an  opinion.  Of 
course  even  the  presence  of  strata,  incident  to  the  coal  formation,  would  not 
necessitate  the  presence  of  coal  strata,  but  merely  makes  it  possible.  The 
experience  and  geology  of  many  regions  shows  this,  and  more.  In  Switzer- 
land, for  instance,  the  coal  formation  is  largely  represented,  and  coal  found 
in  many  places,  but  a  number  of  companies  have  failed  in  the  vain  effort 
to  find  a  paying  deposit.  They  have  been  found  invariably  to  be  of  limited 
extent,  though  often  of  good  quality. 

In  order  to  make  my  remarks  better  understood,  I  subjoin  an  outline  ot 
the  topography  of  the  locality  from  the  county  map,  and  have  sketched  in 
the  approximate  position  of  the  various  strata,  as  observed*  The  figures 
give  the  source  of  the  specimens  of  corresponding  number,  as  accompanying 
this  report.  The  dotted  lines  show  the  courses  taken  in  three  days'  exami- 
nation of  the  ground. 

The  course  over  the  Marble  Quarry  Hill,  gave  the  following  observations 
of  importance : 

The  hill  consists  mainly  of  sandstone  strata  forming  the  north-east  side 
and  a  limestone  strata  on  the  south-west  side,  inter-stratified  with  sand- 
stone. The  hill  in  which  the  old  quarry  and  the  lime-kilns  are  situated, 
seems  to  be,  partially,  at  least,  a  pile  of  debris,  agglomerated  by  a  calcareous 
deposit  of  speml. 

The  variegated  marble  in  the  quarry,  occurs  in  disconnected  masses  in  the 
debris,  which,  although  facilitating,  on  account  of  its  looseness,  the  quarry- 
ing work,  predominates  to  an  extent,  and  is  in  itself  so  worthless  as  to 
outweigh  the  advantage  mentioned. 

These  detached  blocks  of  variegated  marble  would  probably  lead  ulti- 

*The  sketch  referred  to  above,  is,  unfortunately,  not  procurable. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  95 

mately  to  a  continuous  main  deposit.  This,  I  think,  would  be  found  some- 
what higher  on  the  slope,  or  farther  east,  and  prove  to  be  a  contiuuation  of 
the  marble  vein,  which  is  found  abruptly  cut  off  or  dislocated,  near  the 
boulders  and  cliffs  forming  the  brow  of  the  hill  adjoining  on  the  north. 

Following  our  course,  we  find  on  the  west  slope  of  the  hill,  the  dense,  red- 
rish-yellow  limestone  No.  2.  This  will  burn  pretty  white,  and  make  a  good 
mortar  lime. 

On  the  point  of  the  north-west  slope  of  the  hill,  we  find  the  dense,  cream- 
colored  limestone  No.  3,  distinguishable  from  a  distance  by  its  marked  light 
color.  This  is  certainly  the  best  limestone  found  by  me  on  the  whole 
ground.     It  burns  very  white,  slacks  very  readily,  and  makes  a  rich  lime. 

The  value  of  the  limestones,  Nos.  2  and  3,  is  enhanced  by  the  fact  that, 
in  them  is  situated  the  well  defined  ledge  or  vein  of  variegated  marble 
No.  4.  This,  together  with  the  situation  on  the  slope  of  the  hill,  would 
make  it  possible  to  combine  the  quarrying  of  the  two,  and,  therefore,  render 
the  operation,  more  profitable  than  if  they  were  apart. 

The  vein  of  variegated  marble  above  spoken  of,  runs  in  a  line  from  there 
to  the  top  of  the  hill  in  a  south-easterly  direction,  dipping  No.  3,  and  is  two- 
fourths  feet  thick.  It  is  distinctly  defined  for  a  distance  of  several  hundred 
feet,  and,  I  have  no  doubt,  reaches  to  a  considerable  depth.  The  marble, 
when  polished,  is  of  great  beauty,  and  would  be  made  of  considerable 
value  in  countries  where  labor  is  cheap.  It  is  only  fit,  however,  for  inside 
ornamental  purposes,  such  as  mantles  for  fire-places,  etc.;  is  a  fissured  struct- 
ure, favoring  destruction  by  atmospheric  action.  At  the  marble  works  of 
Mr.  Heverin,  on  Jackson  street,  between  Montgomery  and  Lawrence,  in  this 
city  (San  Francisco),  specimens  of  finished  work  from  this  marble  can  be 
seen  in  form  of  a  fire  front,  and  a  block  for  the  Vienna  Exposition,  both  of 
which  show  the  peculiarities  and  great  beauty  of  this  marble  to  the  best 
advantage. 

At  the  top  of  the  hill  this  marble  vein  strikes  the  sandstone  strata,  which 
then  forms  the  wall-rock  of  another  smaller  vein  of  the  same  marble,  strik- 
ing in  from  the  north-east.  This  vein  cuts  off  or  dislocates,  the  main  vein ; 
at  any  rate,  they  are  both  lost  in  the  boulders  and  precipitous  cliffs  forming 
the  south  side  of  the  brow  of  the  hill.  It  is  probable,  however,  their  con- 
tinuation will  be  found  on  the  south-west  slope,  and  that  the  quarry  marble 
is  from  this  continuation.  The  dislocation  is  also  apparent  in  the  sandstone 
and  limestone  strata. 

Crossing  the  sandstone  in  an  easterly  direction,  we  find  on  the  east  slope 
of  Quarry  Hill  a  number  of  soda  springs.  One  of  these  —  the  highest  up 
on  the  hill  —  shows  an  oily  scum  floating  on  top  of  the  water.  This  is  the 
only  acknowledged  indication  of  the  presence  of  coal  that  I  have  found  on 
the  premises.  That  this  indication  is  too  indefinite  to  be  of  any  value, 
needs,  I  think,  no  explanation  to  any  one  at  all  acquainted  with  the  origin, 


THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  97 

fibrous  powder,  assuming,  at  the  same  time,  a  permanent  brownish-gray 
color.  This  powder,  when  treated  with  water,  shows  no  sign  of  slacking. 
These  reactions  would  indicate  the  mineral  to  be  dolomite  ;  but  this  is  belied 
by  its  form,  its  inferior  hardness,  and  the  readiness  with  which .  it  emits  its 
carbonic  acid  and  dissolves  in  coal  muriatic  acid.  It  may  be  classed,  there- 
fore, a  dolomitic,  calcite  or  magnesian  limestone. 

It  has  been  satisfactorily  proven  that  certain  magnesian  limestones  make 
excellent  hydraulic  mortar  and  cement,  particularly  adapted  for  salt  water 
work.  I,  therefore,  at  once  tested  the  mineral  for  its  qualities  in  this  direc- 
tion, but  with  unsatisfactory  results.  It  is  lacking  in  the  proper  proportion 
of  magnesia.  With  the  discovery  of  a  magnesia  deposit  of  suitable  nature, 
the  rock  could  be  made  valuable — not  otherwise,  to  my  knowledge. 

It  is  needless  for  me  to  express  my  opinion  in  regard  to  the  mineral  or 
soda  springs  in  this  section  of  your  premises ;  anyone  who  has  seen  them 
and  tasted  the  water  must  bear  witness  to  their  good  qualities. 

As  regards  its  practical  value,  I  can  form  but  an  imperfect  opinion.  It 
seems  to  me  its  best  day  is  past,  and  that  now  it  is  merely  a  question  of 
successful  competition  and,  perhaps,  attraction  of  locality.  The  experience 
of  European  springs  of  note,  has  shown  that  after  their  situation,  other 
chance  circumstances  determine  their  fate,  ahead  of  their  intrinsic  qualities. 
I  cite  Carlsbad,  Ems,  Wiesbaden,  Baden-Baden.  In  dreams  of  the  future 
and  its  possibilities,  I  cannot  indulge. 

Following  our  course  of  examination  in  a  southerly  direction,  the  extent 
of  the  deposit  of  dolomitic  limestone  was  evident,  from  the  pieces  of  it 
strewn  over  the  hills,  within  the  boundaries  of  the  limestone  strata,  for  a 
distance  of  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  Crossing,  then,  the  limestone  going 
east,  there  is  found  on  the  southern  slope  'of  the  hills,  a  top-ground  of 
decomposed  limestone  containing,  however,  considerable  clay.  This,  on 
account  of  its  softness,  would  probably  make  excellent  material  for  agricul- 
tural purposes,  to  mix  with  soils  requiring  lime — tule  lands,  for  instance. 
No.  11. 

My  attention  was  then  drawn  by  Judge  Swan  to  lumps  of  the  radical 
fibrous  mineral,  No.  12,  which,  at  first  sight,  I  thought  might  be  fibrous 
gypsum.  This,  however,  was  at  once  disproved  by  its  hardness ;  gypsum 
yielding  to  the  nail,  this  barely  to  the  knife.  It  is  arognite — a  peculiar 
quality  of  carbonate  of  lime — and  of  no  value  except  for  a  mineral  collec- 
tion. 

The  further  examination  elicited  nothing  more  of  interest. 

The  third  day's  course  of  examination  began  at  about  D,  and  was  made 
with  a  particular  view  to  the  discovery  of  coal  indications. 

Following  up  the  creek  bed,  from  the  point  where  it  is  claimed  specimens 
of  coal  were  found  in  1862,  I  crossed  the  limestone,  sandstone,  and  clay 
shale  strata,  common  to  the  locality,  without  discovering  in  the  drift  any- 

7 


98  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

thing  new  except  specimens  of  hornblendic  rock — a  peculiar  conglomerate — 
and  some  new  varieties  of  argillaceous  limestone  or  marl,  similar  to  those 
found  on  marble-quarry  hill;  Nos.  13,  14,  15,  16,  18,  are  specimens  from 
both  places,  having,  more  or  less,  the  characteristics  of  what  is  termed 
cement  rock  than  any  other  found.  My  examination  of  it  has  shown  it  to 
be  such,  of  serviceable  quality.  All  of  the  other  rocks,  of  the  same  class 
enumerated,  could  be  made  serviceable  for  the  manufacture  of  cement, 
though  it  would  probably  need  judicious  mixture  of  different  varieties  to 
attain  good  results.  Nothing  but  experiments  on  a  large  scale  could  settle 
these  points  satisfactorily,  since  it  is  a  well-known  fact  to  cement  manu- 
facturers of  experience,  that  a  material  may  contain  all  the  necessary 
constituents  of  cement  in  proper  quantity,  and  yet  not  make  good  cement. 

My  course  was  thence  taken  to  the  east,  as  far  as  the  road,  to  visit  another 
point,  where  coal  is  claimed  to  have  been  found  in  digging  a  well ;  thence 
up  the  ravine  to  the  north,  going  west,  crossing  the  sandstone  and  shale 
strata  both  ways.  The  course,  from  the  top  of  the  hill,  was  taken  south- 
ward, down  the  deep  ravine,  forming  the  main  branch  of  the  creek  in  which 
the  coal  was  found.  At  the  head  of  this  ravine  are  found  thick  beds  of  a 
sandy  shale,  in  their  distorted  laminae,  No.  20,  indicating  an  irruptive  action 
in  the  vicinity.  Further  down  was  found  the  bed  of  peculiar  conglomerate 
before  mentioned,  No.  21.  I  speak  of  this  because  such  conglomerates,  of 
the  most  varied  kind,  are  oftenest  met  in  the  coal  formations,  and  are 
valuable  as  giving  a  clue  to  the  nature  of  the  rocks  of  the  less  immediate 
vicinity.  The  shells  in  this  specimen  are  not  perfect  enough  to  be  deter- 
minejd,  otherwise  they  would  be  a  clue. 

Farther  down,  I  found  boulders  of  synite,  and  the  solid  rock  itself, 
protruding  on  the  east  side  of  the  ravine.  This  explains  the  distortion  of 
the  strata  in  the  vicinity — Nos.  22  and  23. 

Part  of  this  synite  is  exceedingly  rich  in  hornblende ;  more  so  than  the 
small  piece  attached.  May  not  such  massive  hornblende  have  been  mista- 
ken for  coal,  since  the  latter  seems  to  have  been  found  (12)  only  in  the 
vicinity  of  this  hornblendic  rock  ?  I,  at  least,  can  find  no  indication  of  its 
presence  than  the  vagueness  mentioned. 

Cinnabar,  or  other  quicksilver  ore,  will  not  be  found,  I  think,  on  your 
land. 

The  examination  developed  nothing  more  of  interest. 

Resume. — The  materials  on  your  premises,  which  may  be  considered  in 
the  question  of  value,  are :  The  limestones,  Nos.  2  and  3  ;  the  variegated 
marble,  No.  4 ;  the  soda  springs,  and  some  of  the  varieties  of  cement  rock 
mentioned. 

In  considering  the  cost  of  burning  limestone,  it  may  be  mentioned  that 
Santa  Cruz  lime,  of  superior  quality,  is  sold  here  (San  Francisco)  at  the  rate 
of  $2  per  barrel  of  250  pounds,  gross — say  230  pounds,  net. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  99 

In  regard  to  the  cost  of  production,  I  have  tried  to  obtain  notes  on  the 
experience  in  this  State,  but,  as  might  be  expected,  did  not  succeed.  T  can 
only  give  the  following : 

In  the  best  kilns  at  present  used  in  Germany,  the  results  are :. 

For  3  J  tons  lime,  1|  cords  wood,  (kind  not  given)  or  1  ton  of  good  coal. 

Production  about  10  tons  per  day  in  kilns  of  the  largest  build.  As  much 
as  3f  tons  of  lime  is  burned  in  some  places  with  the  above  proportion  of 
fuel. 

Kilns  of  the  foregoing  kind,  as  were  generally  used,  burn  only  6-7  tons 
lime  per  twenty-four  hours. 

A  somewhat  different  kind — simpler — kiln  used  near  the  Rhine,  is  only 
about  half  as  large,  and  turns  out  per  day  one  and  a  half  and  one  and  three 
quarters  tons  of  lime,  with  a  consumption  of  say  one  cord  of  good,  dry  pine 
wood. 

The  patent  furnaces  of  Hoffman  &  Licht,  such  as  are  used  by  the  Patent 
Brick  Company  of  San  Francisco,  to  burn  brick,  will  .turn  out  6-8  tons  lime 
per  day,  consuming  only  2,900  to  3,900  pounds  good  coal. 

These  furnaces  are  all  expensive  to  build,  especially  the  first  and  last 
mentioned  . 

A  cheap  form  of  kiln  is  also  much  used,  in  which  the  fuel  is  mixed  with 
the  limestone,  as  in  burning  cement  at  Benicia.  It  will  turn  out  5-5  \  tons 
lime,  with  a  consumption  of  two  tons  of  coal. 

Taking  the  last  form  of  kiln  as  a  basis,  an  approximate  calculation  of  the 
total  cost  of  delivering  lime  to  market,  I  calculated  it  to  be  50  to  60  dollars 
for  five  tons,  or,  say  40  barrels.  This  makes  $1.25  to  $1.50  per  barrel. 
Santa  Cruz  lime,  as  above,  selling  at  $2.00,  it  would  not  be  safe  to  count  on 
more  than  $1.75. 

From  this  I  judge  that  with  the  use  of  coal  as  fuel,  and  a  good  kiln,  lime 
burning  could  be  carried  on  with  good  profit  on  your  premises  at  the  point 
specified.     I  do  not  think  it  would  be  more  than  a  profitable  business. 

In  respect  to  the  value  of  marble,  I  can  give  the  following : 

Italian  marble,  per  cubic  foot $3  00  to  $12  00 

Vermont     "  "         "         5  00"       5  50 

Variegated  foreign  marble,  per  cubic  foot ....   3  00  "       5  00 

Suisun  marble,  per  cubic  foot 1  00  "       1  50 

I  have  been  to  a  number  of  marble  yards  in  this  city,  but  could  get  no 
offer  or  estimate  out  of  anyone  for  the  Suisun  marble,  though  they  all 
admitted  that  it  was  a  fine  stone,  etc.  Mr.  Heverin  seems  to  be  the  only 
one  that  takes  any  interest  in  the  matter,  and  he  will  therefore  be  best  able 
to  determine  what  can  be  done  with  the  marble.  The  marble,  it  seems,  is 
more  difficult  to  work  than  the  imported,  and  the  preference  of  the  product 
to  others  is  a  matter  of  taste,  and  therefore  a  high  price  asked.     These  con- 


100  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

siderations  limit  the  market  for  it,  and  make  its  intrinsic  value  more  ques- 
tionable than  in  the  case  of  a  large  deposit  of  a  less  rare  material.  As  I 
said  before,  Mr.  Heverin  is  at  present  best  able  to  give  positive  information 
on  this. 

Although  the  material  is  abundant  for  the  manufacture  of  Portland 
cement,  it  "Would  be  difficult  at  present  to  compete  with  the  factory  at  Benicia, 
I  think,  since  they  have  also  found  an  abundance  of  rock  near  their  factory." 

We  will  now  draw  this  already  lengthy  chapter  to  a  close  ;  it  has  been 
impossible  to  follow  every  outline  of  the  settlement  of  Solano  county  up  to 
its  present  state  of  prominent  prosperity,  while  it  has  been  a  hard  task  to 
verify  the  dates  of  the  earlier  arrivals.  All  would  appear  to  have  gone 
through  the  earlier  toils  of  pioneer  life  without  any  special  regard  to  the 
flight  of  time,  save  wherein  it  was  to  bring  them  to  their  desired  goal ; 
hence  it  has  been  no  easy  task  to  arrive  at  the  information  we  now  lay 
before  the  reader.  In  bidding  adieu  to  the  subject  of  settlement,  therefore, 
the  sad  story  of  the  Donner  party  may  not  be  uninteresting,  especially  as 
some  of  the  survivors  are  well  known  to  residents  of  Solano. 

Tuthill's  History  of  California  tells  us :  "  Of  the  overland  emigration  to 
California,  in  1846,  about  eighty  wagons  took  a  new  route,  from  fort 
Bridger,  around  the  south  end  of  Great  Salt  Lake.  The  pioneers  of  the 
party  arrived  in  good  season  over  the  mountains ;  but  Mr.  Reed's  and 
Mr.  Donner's  companies  opened  a  new  route  through  the  desert,  lost  a 
month's  time  by  their  explorations,  and  reached  the  foot  of  the  Truckee 
pass,  in  the  Sierra  Nevada,  on  the  31st  of  October,  instead  of  the  1st,  as 
they  had  intended.  The  snow  began  to  fall  on  the  mountains  two  or  three 
weeks  earlier  than  usual  that  year,  and  was  already  piled  up  in  the  Pass 
that  they  could  not  proceed.  They  attempted  it  repeatedly,  but  were  as 
often  forced  to  return.  One  party  built  their  cabins  near  the  Truckee  Lake, 
killed  their  cattle,  and  went  into  winter  quarters.  The  other  (Donner's) 
party,  still  believed  that  they  could  thread  the  pass,  and  so  failed  to  build 
their  cabins  before  more  snow  came  and  buried  their  cattle  alive.  Of  course 
these  were  soon  utterly  destitute  of  food,  for  they  could  not  tell  where  the 
cattle  were  buried,  and  there  was  no  hope  of  game  on  a  desert  so  piled  with 
snow  that  nothing  without  wings  could  move.  The  number  of  those  who 
were  thus  storm-stayed,  at  the  very  threshold  of  the  land  whose  winters  are 
one  long  spring,  was  eighty,  of  whom  thirty  were  females,  and  several 
children.  The  Mr.  Donner  who  had  charge  of  one  company,  was  an  Illino- 
isian,  sixty  years  of  age,  a  man  of  high  respectability  and  abundant  means. 
His  wife  was  a  woman  of  education  and  refinement,  and  much  younger 
than  he. 

During  November  it  snowed  thirteen  days  ;  during  December  and  Janu- 
ary, eight  days  in  each.  Much  of  the  time  the  tops  of  the  cabins  were 
below  the  snow  level. 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  101 

It  was  six  weeks  after  the  halt  was  made  that  a  party  of  fifteen,  includ- 
ing five  women  and  two  Indians  who  acted  as  guides,  set  out  on  snow-shoes 
to  cross  the  mountains,  and  give  notice  to  the  people  of  the  California 
settlements  of  the  condition  of  their  friends.  At  first  the  snow  was  so  light 
and  feathery  that  even  in  snow-shoes  they  sank  nearly  a  foot  at  every  step. 
On  the  second  day  they  crossed  the  "  divide,"  finding  the  snow  at  the  sum- 
mit twelve  feet  deep.  Pushing  forward  with  the  courage  of  despair,  Ihey 
made  from  four  to  eight  miles  a  day. 

Within  a  week  they  got  entirely  out  of  provisions ;  and  three  of  them, 
succumbing  to  cold,  weariness,  and  starvation,  had  died.  Then  a  heavy 
snow-storm  came  on,  which  compelled  them  to  lie  still,  buried  between  their 
blankets  under  the  snow,  for  thirty-six  hours.  By  the  evening  of  the  tenth 
day  three  more  had  died,  and  the  living  had  been  four  days  without  food. 
The  horrid  alternative  was  accepted — they  took  the  flesh  from  the  bones  of 
their  dead,  remained  in  camp  two  days  to  dry  it,  and  then  pushed  on. 

On  New  Years,  the  sixteenth  day  since  leaving  Truckee  Lake,  they  were 
toiling  up  a  steep  mountain.  Their  feet  were  frozen.  Every  step  was  marked 
with  blood.  On  the  second  of  January,  their  food  again  gave  out.  On  the 
third,  they  had  nothing  to  eat  but  the  strings  of  their  snow-shoes.  On  the 
fourth,  the  Indians  eloped,  justly  suspicious  that  they  might  be  sacrificed  for 
food.  On  the  fifth,  they  shot  a  deer,  and  that  day  one  of  their  number  died. 
Soon  after  three  others  died,  and  every  death  now  eked  out  the  existence 
of  the  survivors.  On  the  seventeenth,  all  gave  out,  and  concluded  their 
wanderings  useless,  except  one.  He,  guided  by  two  stray  friendly  Indians, 
dragged  himself  on  till  he  reached  a  settlement  on  Bear  river.  By  midnight 
the  settlers  had  found  and  were  treating  with  all  Christian  kindness  what 
remained  of  the  little  company  that,  after  more  than  a  month  of  the  most 
terrible  sufferings,  had  that  morning  halted  to  die. 

The  story  that  there  were  emigrants  perishing  on  the  other  side  of  the 
snowy  barrier  ran  swiftly  down  the  Sacramento  Valley  to  New  Helvetia, 
and  Captain  Sutter,  at  his  own  expense,  fitted  out  an  expedition  of  men  and 
of  mules  laden  with  provisions,  to  cross  the  mountains  and  relieve  them.  It 
ran  on  to  San  Francisco,  and  the  people,  rallying  in  public  meeting,  raised 
fifteen  hundred  dollars,  and  with  it  fitted  out  another  expedition.  The 
naval  commandant  of  the  port  fitted  out  still  others. 

The  first  of  the  relief  parties  reached  Truckee  Lake  on  the  nineteenth  of 
February.  Ten  of  the  people  in  the  nearest  camp  were  dead.  For  four 
weeks  those  who  were  still  alive  had  fed  only  on  bullocks'  hides.  At 
Donner's  camp  they  had  but  one  hide  remaining.  The  visitors  left  a  small 
supply  of  provisions  with  the  twenty-nine  whom  they  could  not  take  with 
them,  and  started  back  with  the  remainder.  Four  of  the  children  they 
carried  on  their  backs. 

Another  of  the  relief  parties  reached  Truckee  Lake  on  the  first  of  March. 


102  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

They  immidiately  started  back  with  seventeen  of  the  sufferers ;  but,  a  heavy 
snow  storm  overtaking  them,  they  left  all,  except  three  of  the  children,  on 
the  road.  Another  party  went  after  those  who  were  left  on  the  way; 
found  three  of  them  dead,  and  the  rest  sustaining  life  by  feeding  on  the 
flesh  of  the  dead. 

The  last  relief  party  reached  Donner's  camp  late  in  April,  when  the  snows 
had  melted  so  much  that  the  earth  appeared  in  spots.  The  main  cabin  was 
empty,  but  some  miles  distant  they  found  the  last  survivor  of  all  lying  on 
the  cabin  floor  smoking  his  pipe.  He  was  ferocious  in  aspect,  savage  and 
repulsive  in  manner.  His  camp-kettle  was  over  the  fire  and  in  it  his  meal 
of  human  flesh  preparing.  The  stripped  bones  of  his  fellow-sufferers  lay 
around  him.  He  refused  to  return  with  the  party,  and  only  consented 
when  he  saw  there  was  no  escape. 

Mrs.  Donner  was  the  last  to  die.  Her  husband's  body,  carefully  laid  out 
and  wrapped  in  a  sheet,  was  found  at  his  tent.  Circumstances  led  to  the 
suspicion  that  the  survivor  had  killed  Mrs.  Donner  for  her  flesh  and  her 
money,  and  when  he  was  threatened  with  hanging,  and  the  rope  tightened 
around  his  neck,  he  produced  over  five  hundred  dollars  in  gold,  which, 
probably,  he  had  appropriated  from  her  store." 

In  relation  to  this  dreary  story  of  suffering,  this  portion  of  our  history 
will  be  concluded  by  the  narration  of  the  prophetic  dream  of  George  Yount, 
attended,  as  it  was,  with  such  marvelous  results. 

At  this  time,  (the  winter  of  1846)  while  residing  in  Napa  county,  of 
which,  as  has  been  already  remarked,  he  was  the  pioneer  settler,  he  dreamt 
that  a  party  of  emigrants  were  snow-bound  in  the  Sierra  Nevadas,  high  up 
in  the  mountains,  where  they  were  sufhering  the  most  distressing  privations 
from  cold  and  want  of  food.  The  locality  where  his  dream  had  placed 
these  unhappy  mortals,  he  had  never  visited,  yet  so  clear  was  his  vision 
that  he  described  the  sheet  of  water  surrounded  by  lofty  peaks,  deep-covered 
with  snow,  while  on  every  hand  towering  pine  trees  reared  their  heads  far 
above  the  limitless  waste.  In  his  sleep  he  saw  the  hungry  human  beings 
ravenously  tear  the  flesh  from  the  bones  of  their  fellow  creatures,  slain  to 
satisfy  their  craving  appetites,  in  the  midst  of  a  gloomy  desolation.  He 
dreamed  his  dream  on  three  successive  nights,  after  which  he  related  it  to 
others,  among  whom  were  a  few  who  had  been  on  hunting  expeditions  in 
the  Sierras.  These  wished  for  a  precise  description  of  the  scene  foreshad- 
owed to  him.  They  recognized  the  Truckee.  now  the  Donner  Lake.  On 
the  strength  of  this  recognition  Mr.  Yount  fitted  out  a  search  expedition, 
and,  with  these  men  as  guides,  went  to  the  place  indicated,  and,  prodigious 
to  relate,  was  one  of  the  successful  relieving  parties  to  reach  the  ill-fated 
Donner  party. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  103 

THE  POLITICAL  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY. 


EARLY  POLITICAL  HISTORY — FIRST  CIVIL  OFFICER  COMMISSIONED — GOVERNOR 
BOGGS  AND  STEPHEN  COOPER  APPOINTED  ALCALDES — PEOPLE  OBJECT  TO  A 
MILITARY  GOVERNMENT — PROCLAMATION  OF  BRIG.-GENERAL  RILEY — THE 
CONSTITUTIONAL    CONVENTION  —  SUPERIOR    TRIBUNAL    OF    CALIFORNIA    IN 

1849  —  APPOTNTMEET    OF    JUDGE    OF    FIRST    INSTANCE  —  FIRST    ELECTION 
TICKETS — FIRST   ELECTION   IN    SOLANO   COUNTY — ELECTION    MATTERS   FROM 

1850  TO    1877 — TABLE   OF   OFFICERS   FROM    1850   TO    1877. 


The  early  political  history  of  Solano  county  is  enveloped  in  considerable 
mystery.  Prior  to  the  acquisition  of  California  by  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  the  large  District  of  Sonoma,  which  included  all  the  territory 
between  the  Sacramento  river  and  the  ocean,  and  Oregon  and  the  Bay  of 
San  Francisco,  was  under  the  rule  of  the  Mexican  Government,  who  pro- 
mulgated their  laws  after  the  year  1835,  when  General  Vallejo  took 
command,  from  Sonoma.  The  District  was  apportioned  into  Prefectures, 
amenable  to  a  grand  council  at  that  town,  the  holders  of  office  being  known 
as  Alcaldes. 

The  first  civil  officer  commissioned,  after  the  American  occupation,  was 
John  Nash.  He  had  a  very  exalted  idea  of  the  dignity  of  his  office  ; 
assumed  ministerial  as  well  as  judicial  powers ;  signed  himself  "  Chief 
Justice  of  California,"  and  otherwise  made  himself  and  his  office  ridiculous. 
Squire  Nash,  as  his  neighbors  called  him,  was  a  good-natured,  illiterate,  but 
honest  man,  who  was  employed  by  several  persons  to  proceed  to  the  mines 
on  the  discovery  of  gold  in  1848.  He  returned  with  gold  dust  to  the  value 
of  eight  hundred  dollars,  and  shortly  after,  going  to  Mormon  Island  with  a 
company  of  Sonoma  miners,  he  died  there  during  the  winter.  He  was 
succeeded  in  office  by  Lilburn  W.  Boggs,  Ex-Governor  of  Missouri,  in  the 
office  of  Alcalde  ;  a  like  appointment  being  made  for  Benicia  City,  as  will 
be  seen  by  the  accompanying  commission  : 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Richard  B.  Mason,  Colonel  1st 
Regiment  of  Dragoons,  United  States  Army,  and  Governor  of  California,  by 
virtue  of  authority  in  me  vested,  do  hereby  appoint  Stephen  Cooper  an 
Alcalde  at  Benicia  City,  at  present  in  the  District  of  Sonoma. 

"  Given  at  Monterey,  the  Capital  of  California,  this  third  day  of  January, 
A.  D.  1848,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  the  72d. 

(Signed)  "R.  B.  Mason, 

[official  seal.]  "  Col.  1st  Dragoons, 

"Governor  of  California." 

Let  us  see  what  was  the  state  of  the  political  horizon  at  that  time. 
According  to  Tuthill — as  to  civil  law,  the  country  was  utterly  at  sea.  It 
had  a  governor  in  the  person  of  the  commandant  of  the  military  district  it 
belonged  to,  but  no  government.     While  the  war  lasted  California,  as  a 


104  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

conquered  province,  expected  to  be  governed  by  military  officers  who,  by 
virtue  of  their  command  of  the  Department,  bore  sway  over  all  the  territory 
that  their  Department  embraced.  But  after  peace  had  come  and  the  suc- 
cession of  military  governors  was  not  abated,  a  people  who  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  governing  themselves,  under  the  same  flag  and  the  same  constitu- 
tion, chafed  that  a  simple  change  of  longitude  should  deprive  them  of  their 
inalienable  rights. 

General  Persifer  F.  Smith,  who  assumed  command  on  arriving  by  the 
California,  the  first  steamship  that  reached  San  Francisco  (February  28, 
1849),  and  General  Riley,  who  succeeded  him  (April  13,  1849),  would  have 
been  acceptable  governors  enough,  if  the  people  could  have  discovered  any- 
where in  the  Constitution  that  the  President  had  power  to  govern  a  territory 
by  a  simple  order  to  the  commandant  of  a  military  department.  The  power 
was  obvious  in  time  of  war  •  but  in  peace  it  was  unprecedented.  Left  en- 
tirely to  themselves,  the  people  could  have  organized  a  squatter  sovereignty, 
as  Oregon  had  done,  and  the  way  into  the  sister-hood  of  States  was  clear. 

They  felt  that  they  had  cause  for  complaint,  but  in  truth  they  were  too 
busy  to  nurse  their  grievance  and  make  much  of  it.  To  some  extent  they 
formed  local  governments,  and  had  unimportant  collisions  with  the  mili- 
tary. But,  busy  as  they  were,  and  expecting  to  return  home  soon,  they 
humored  their  contempt  for  politics,  and  left  public  matters  to  be  shaped  at 
Washington.  Nor  was  this  so  unwise  a  course  under  the  circumstances,  for 
the  thing  that  had  hindered  Congress  from  giving  them  a  legitimate  con- 
stitutional government  was  the  ever-present  snag  in  the  current  of  American 
political  history,  the  author  of  most  of  our  woes,  the  great  mother  of  mis- 
chief on  the  Western  continent — Slavery. 

When  it  was  found  that  Congress  had  adjourned  without  doing  anything 
for  California,  Brigadier-General  Piley,  by  the  advice,  he  said,  of  the  Presi- 
dent, and  Secretaries  of  State  and  of  War,  issued  a  Proclamation,-  which 
was  at  once  a  call  for  a  convention,  and  an  official  exposition  of  the  Admin- 
istration's theory  of  the  anomalous  relations  of  California,  and  the  Union. 
He  strove  to  rectify  the  impression  that  California  was  governed  by  the 
military  arm  of  the  service  ;  'that  had  ceased  with  the  termination  of  hostili- 
ties. What  remained  was  the  civil  government,  recognized  by  the  existing 
laws  of  California.  These  were  vested  in  a  governor,  who  received  his  ap- 
pointment frftn  the  supreme  government  or,  in  default  of  such  appoint- 
ment, the  office  was  vested  in  the  commanding  military  officer  of  the  de- 
partment, a  secretary,  a  departmental  or  territorial  legislature,  a  superior 
court  with  four  judges,  a  prefect  and  sub-prefect,  and  a  judge  of  the  first 
instance  for  each  district,  alcaldes,  local  justices  of  the  peace,  ayuntanien- 
tos,  or  town  councils.  He  moreover  recommended  the  election,  at  the  same 
time,  of  delegates  to  a  convention  to  adopt  either  a  State  or  Territorial  Con- 
stitution which,  if  acquiesced  in  by  the  people,  would  be  submitted  for  ap- 
proval to  Congress. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  105 

In  accordance  with  these  announcements  we  find  that  the  "  Superior 
Tribunal  of  California  "  existed  at  Monterey  in  1849,  for  in  September  of 
that  year  a  "  Tariff  of  Fees  for  Judiciary  offices  "  was  published,  with  the 
following  order  of  the  Court :  "  That  the  several  officers  mentioned  in  this 
order  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  for  their  services,  in  addition  to  their 
regular  salary,  if  any,  the  following  fees,  and  none  other,  until  the  further 
order  of  this  Court."  Here  is  added  a  list  of  the  fees  to  be  appropriated  by 
Judges  of  First  Instance,  Alcaldes  and  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Clerks  of  the 
several  courts,  Sheriff,  or  Comisario,  District  Attorney,  and  Notaries  Public. 

Stephen  Cooper,  already  alcalde  of  the  city  of  Benicia,  was  appointed  by 
General  Riley,  in  August,  Judge  of  First  Instance,  and  commenced  his 
labors  in  that  function  in  October,  1849,  as  appears  in  the  only  record  of  the 
proceedings  of  that  Court  extant  in  the  office  of  the  county  clerk,  at  Fair- 
field. 

The  record  of  one  of  the  cases  tried  is  reproduced  as  an  instance  of  the 
short  but  quick  justice  that  was  doled  out  in  1849  : 

"  The  People  of  California  Territory, 
vs. 
George  Palmer. 

"  And  now  comes  the  said  people  by  right  their  attorney,  and  the  said  de- 
fendant by  Semple  and  O'Melveny,  and  the  prisoner  having  been  arraigned 
on  the  indictment  in  this  cause,  plead  not  guilty.  Thereupon  a  j  ury  was 
chosen,  selected,  and  sworn,  when,  after  hearing  the  evidence  and  argument 
of  counsel,  returned  into  Court  the  following  verdict,  to  wit : 

"  The  jury,  in  the  case  of  Palmer,  defendant,  and  the  State  of  California, 
plaintiff',  have  found  a  verdict  of  guilty  on  both  counts  of  the  indictment, 
and  sentenced  him  to  receive  the  following  punishment,  to  wit : 

"  On  Saturday,  the  24th  day  of  November,  to  be  conducted  by  the  sheriff 
to  some  public  place  and  there  receive  on  his  bare  back  seventy-five  lashes, 
with  such  weapon  as  the  sheriff  may  deem  fit,  on  each  count  respectively, 
and  to  be  banished  from  the  district  of  Sonoma  within  twelve  hours  after 
whipping,  under  penalty  of  receiving  the  same  number  of  lashes  for  each 
and  every  day  he  remains  in  the  district,  after  the  first  whipping. 

"(Signed)        Alexander  Riddell, 

"  Foreman. 

"  It  is  therefore  ordered  by  the  Court,  in  accordance  with  the  above  ver- 
dict, that  the  foregoing  sentence  be  carried  into  effect." 

The  manifesto  calling  a  Constitutional  Convention  divided  the  electoral 
divisions  of  the  State  into  ten  districts ;  each  male  inhabitant  of  the 
country,  of  twenty-one  years  of  age,  could  vote  in  the  district  of  his  resid- 
ence, and  the  delegates  so  elected  were  called  upon  to  meet  at  Monterey,  on 
the  1st  day  of  September,  1849.  The  number  of  delegates  was  fixed  at 
thirty-seven,  five  of  which  were  apportioned  to  San  Francisco.  Those 
elected  from  the  district  of  Sonoma,  were  General  Vallejo,  Joel  Walker,  R. 


106 


THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 


Semple.  L.  W.  Boggs  was  also  elected,  but  did  not  attend.  As  resolved, 
the  Convention  met  at  Monterey  on  the  date  above  named,  Robert  Semple, 
of  Benicia,  one  of  the  delegates  from  the  district  of  Sonoma,  being  chosen 
president.  The  session  lasted  six  weeks  ;  and  notwithstanding  an  awkward 
scarcity  of  books  of  reference  and  other  necessary  aids,  much  labor  was  per- 
formed, while  the  debates  exhibited  a  marked  degree  of  ability.  In  framing 
the  original  Constitution  of  California,  slavery  was  forever  prohibited 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State;  the  boundary  question  between 
Mexico  and  the  United  States  was  set  at  rest ;  provision  for  the  morals  and 
education  of  the  people  was  made ;  a  seal  of  State  was  adopted  with  the 
false  Greek,  though  now  more  famous  motto  of  Eureka,  and  a  quantity  of 
other  matters  discussed.  It  was  submitted  to  the  people  in  English  and 
Spanish  ;  and  on  November  13th,  was  ratified  by  them. 

The  Constitution  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  twelve  thousand  and  sixty- 
four  for  it,  to  eight  hundred  and  eleven  against  it ;  there  being,  besides,  over 
twelve  hundred  ballots  that  were  treated  as  blanks,  because  of  an  inform- 
ality in  the  printing. 

The  following  are  two  of  the  tickets  which  were  voted  at  the  time  and 
were  destributed  in  and  around  Sacramento  and  the  upper  portion  of  the 
State. 

people's  ticket.  people's  ticket. 


FOR  THE  CONSTITUTION. 


FOR  GOVERNOR, 

John  A.  Sutter. 

FOR   LIEUTENANT   GOVERNOR, 

John  McDougal. 

FOR  REPRESENTATIVE  IN  CONGRESS, 

William  E.  Shannon, 
Pet.  Halsted. 

FOR   STATE   SENATORS, 

John  Bidwell,  Upper  Sacramento, 
Murray  Morrison,  Sacramento  City, 
Harding  Bigelow,  Sacramento  City, 
Gilbert  A.  Grant,  Vernon. 

FOR   ASSEMBLY, 

H.  C.  Cardwell,  Sacramento  City, 
P.  B.  Cornwall,  Sacramento  City, 
John  S.  Fowler,  Sacramento  City, 
J.  Sherwood, 
Elisha  W.  McKinstry, 
Madison  Walthall,  Coloma, 
W.  B.  Dickenson,  Yuba, 
James  Queen,  South  Fork, 
W.  L.  Jenkin,  Weaverville. 


FOR  THE  CONSTITUTION. 


FOR   GOVERNOR, 

Peter  H.  Burnett. 

FOR   LIEUTENANT   GOVERNOR, 

John  McDougal. 

FOR  REPRESENTATIVE  IN  CONGRESS, 

Edward  Gilbert, 
George  W.  Wright. 

FOR   STATE   SENATORS, 

John  Bidwell,  Upper  Sacramento, 
Murray  Morrison,  Sacramento  City, 
Harding  Bigelow,  Sacramento  City, 
Gilbert  A.  Grant,  Vernon. 

FOR   ASSEMBLY, 

H.  C.  Cardwell,  Sacramento  City, 
P.  B.  Cornwall,  Sacramento  City, 
John  S.  Fowler,  Sacramento  City, 
H.  L.  Ford,  Upper  Sacramento, 
Madison  Walthall,  Coloma, 
W.  B.  Dickenson,  Yuba, 
James  Queen,  South  Fork, 
Arba  K.  Berry,  Weaverville. 


THE   HISTOKY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  107 

The  result  of  the  election  was  :  Peter  H.  Burnett,  Governor ;  John  Mc- 
Dougal,  Lieutenant  Governor ;  and  Messrs.  Wright  and  Gilbert  were  sent  to 
Congress.  In  regard  to  our  especial  subject  General  Vallejo  was  then  elected 
to  the  Senate,  his  seat,  however,  was  first  given  to  Jonas  Spect,  but  on  the 
22d  of  December  the  official  return  from  one  of  the  polls  gave'  Spect  but 
two  votes  instead  of  twenty-eight,  a  total  of  but  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
one  votes  against  General  Vallejo's  one  hundred  and  ninety-nine.  Mr.  Spect 
then  gave  up  his  seat  to  the  General,  who  during  that  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature, made  his  memorable  report  on  the  derivation  and  defination  of  the 
names  of  the  several  counties  of  the  State ;  a  report  unsurpassed  in  its  style 
and  its  store  of  interesting  and  valuable  information. 

On  Saturday,  December  15,  1849,  the  first  Legislature  of  the  State  met — 
it  will,  however,  be  unnecessary  here  to  enter  into  its  movements  until  finally 
located  at  Sacramento,  such  will  be  found  fully  discussed  in  the  history  of 
the  city  of  Vallejo. 

The  earliest  record  of  an  election  in  Solano  is  one  held  on  April  1> 
1850,  to  chose  the  following  State  and  county  officers,  viz.:  Clerk  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  District  Attorney,  County  Judge,  Clerk,  Attorney,  Surveyor 
Sheriff,  Recorder,  Assessor,  Coronor,  and  Treasurer.  L.  B.  Mizner  being 
appointed  Inspector ;  William  McDaniel  and  Sarshel  Cooper,  Judges  ;  with 
Joseph  Winston  and  W.  Rowe,  Clerks.  The  officers  being  duly  sworn  by 
Stephen  Cooper,  Judge  of  the  District  of  Sonoma,  the  polls  were  opened, 
and  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  duly  qualified  electors  deposited  their 
ballots. 

The  result  of  the  election  was : 

Votes. 

For  Clerk  of  Supreme  Court E.  H.  Tharp 142 

For  District  Attorney R.  A.  Maupin 107 

For  County  Judge James  Craig 88 

For  County  Clerk Sarshel  Bynum 107 

For  County  Attorney D.  R.  Wright 94 

For  County  Surveyor Benjamin  W.  Barlow.  .  137 

For  County  Sheriff Frank  Brown 86 

For  County  Recorder Sarshel  Bynum 143 

For  County  Assessor Stephen  Cooper 174 

For  County  Coroner W.  F.  Peabody 178 

For  County  Treasurer David  F.  Beveridge 100 

The  foregoing  poll  included  the  votes  of  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  United 
States  Army,  and  the  officers  and  sailors  of  the  Navy,  to  the  number  of 
forty-three,  as  is  shown  by  the  statement  submitted  by  the  President  and 
Canvasser,  on  April  8th.  The  election  was  held  pursuant  to  an  Act  of  the 
Assembly  of  the  State,  approved  March  2d,  1850. 


108  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

It  was  found,  however,  that  James  Craig,  the  nominee  for  the  County 
Judgeship,  had  failed  to  qualify  according  to  law ;  the  office  was  therefore 
declared  vacant,  and  a  new  election  called  in  accordance  with  the  above 
quoted  Act,  by  F.  M.  Warmcastle,  Judge  of  Contra  Costa  County,  to  be  held 
on  May  11,  1850,  at  two  precincts  in  Solano  County,  which  he  had  named, 
viz.,  the  Court  House  at  Benicia,  and  the  residence  of  Daniel  M.  Berry, 
in  Suisun  Valley,  the  Inspectors  being  respectively  George  H.  Riddell, 
of  Benicia,  and  D.  M.  Berry.  The  result  was  the  election  of  Joseph 
Winston,  with  sixty-six  votes,  as  against  forty-seven  for  William  McDaniel. 
Thus,  Judge  Winston  was  the  first  Judge  for  Solano  County  who  actually 
took  his  seat;  and  on  the  assumption  of  his  office,  almost  his  first  duty  was  the 
organizing  of  the  county  into  the  two  townships  of  Benicia  and  Suisun,  and 
fixing  certain  boundaries,  consequent  on  the  necessity  to  elect  two  Justices 
of  the  Peace  and  one  Constable  for  the  newly  partitioned  districts.  This 
election  was  called  for  May  25th,  and  on  June  1st  the  elected  Justices  were 
directed  to  meet  at  the  City  Hall,  in  Benicia,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  two 
of  their  number  as  Associate  Justices,  to  sit  with  the  County  Judge,  to  form 
the  Court  of  Sessions  of  said  County  of  Solano.  There  is,  unfortunately,  no 
record  of  the  names  of  the  Justices  then  elected.  In  the  meantime,  the 
office  of  County  Attorney  was  declared  vacant,  and  C.  Gillis,  being  the 
only  candidate,  was  duly  elected  July  22,  1850.  On  October  7,  1850, 
another  election  was  held  for  the  appointment  of  a  Clerk  to  the  Supreme 
Court ;  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction ;  Attorney  General ;  District 
Attorney,  for  the  district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Marin,  Sonoma,  Napa, 
Solano  and  Mendocino ;  Senator  for  the  district  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Marin,  Sonoma,  Napa,  Solano,  Mendocino,  Yolo,  Colusa,  and  Trinity ;  and  a 
Member  of  the  Assembly,  for  the  District  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Marin,  Sonoma,  Napa,  and  Solano,  while  the  votes  of  the  people  were  called 
to  settle  the  location  of  the  seat  of  government,  with  the  following  result : 

Votes. 

For  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court E.  H.  Tharp 96 

For  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction.  .Fred.  P.  Tracy 56 

For  Attorney  General James  A.  McDougal ...  98 

For  District  Attorney J.  D.  Bristol 132 

For  Senator Martin  E.  Cook 101 

For  Member  of  Assembly.  . John  S.  Bradford 113 

While,  for  the  location  of  the  seat  of  government,  Vallejo  received  one 
hundred  and  eighty-six  votes,  as  against  one  for  each  of  the  cities  of  San 
Jose  and  Monterey.  Shortly  after  this,  the  offices  of  Sheriff  and  County  Sur- 
veyor, held  by  Messrs.  Francis  Brown  and  Benjamin  W.  Barlow,  had  become 
vacant ;  another  election  was  held  on  December  21st,  when  B.  C.  Whitman 
was  chosen  for  the  first  named  office,  and  A.  F.  Bradley  for  the  latter. 


i 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  109 

Thus  the  electoral  interests  for  the  year  1850  were  brought  to  a  close. 
In  this  year  party  spirit  had  not  yet  run  very  high.  The  bulk  of  the  early 
settlers  were  pretty  evenly  divided  between  the  Whigs  and  Democrats, 
while  of  the  officers  elected,  the  opposing  factions  shared  the  honors  more 
or  less  equally. 

On  January  25,  1851,  Calvin  Brown  and  J.  G.  Dennis  were  respectively 
elected  to  the  offices  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Constable  for  Benicia 
Township,  while,  in  March,  two  more  vacancies  occurred  in  the  offices  of 
Sheriff  and  County  Attorney,  consequent  on  the  resignation  of  Messrs.  B.  C. 
Whitman  and  C.  Gillis.  To  fill  these  offices  a  special  election  was  called,  as 
also  to  choose  two  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  one  Constable  for  each  of  the 
townships  of  Vallejo,  which  would  appear  from  the  Petition  of  Electors  to 
have  then  been  named  Eden  and  Suisun.  At  this  epoch  of  the  county's 
history,  the  list  of  votes  was :  For  Benicia  Township,  174 ;  for  Vallejo, 
29 ;  and  for  Suisun,  72.  The  result  of  this  election,  which  was  held  on 
March  24th,  was : 

Votes. 

For  County  Sheriff Paul  Shirley 83 

For  County  Attorney Thomas  M.  Swan .  .    128 

For  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Vallejo  Township.  >-  j      !   ^  ai,^e    "  '        ' 

For  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Suisun  Township.  \  TT  ^  ^    '       rr^'  "      no 

r     (  U.  P.  Degman 63 

For  Constable  for  Vallejo  Township.  .  ..William  E.  Brown,  D.  C.  .      28 
For  Constable  for  Suisun  Township .  .  .  .William  Munn 69 

On  the  9th  September,  1850,  California  was  admitted  into  the  Union, 
and  the  pleasing,  though  foreordained  intelligence,  was  hailed  with  much 
enthusiasm  when  brought  to  San  Francisco,  on  the  18th  October,  1850.  On 
September  3,  1851,  the  first  gubernatorial  election  was  held  under  the  new 
order  of  things.  The  event  being  so  important  a  one,  we  reproduce  the 
entire  vote  throughout  Solano  County,  as  gleaned  from  the  official  records 
of  the  county. 


no 


THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


FOR   GOVERNOR. 


Reading,  Pierson  B. 

No.  of  Votes. 

Benicia.  . 182 

Vallejo 93 

Suisun 67 

Vacaville 51 

Bigler,  John. 

Benicia 98 

Vallejo 77 

Suisun  .  .„-„-.;-.  ....  41 

Vacaville-. 17 


LIEUT.  GOVERNOR. 


Baldwin,  Drury  P. 

Benicia.  . 166 

Vallejo 91 

Suisun 67 

Vacaville 49 

Purdy,  Samuel. 

Benicia 112 

Vallejo 78 

Suisun 41 

Vacaville 17 


justice  supreme  court. 

Heydenfeldt,  Solomon. 

Benicia 110 

Vallejo 77 

Suisun 43 

Vacaville 17 

Robinson,  Todd. 

Benicia 159 

Vallejo 92 

Suisun 65 

Vacaville 50 


Total. 


393 


233 


ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 

Hastings,  S.  C. 

No.  of  Votes. 

Benicia 114 

Vallejo 78 

Suisun 44 

Vacaville 16 

Fair,  W.  D. 

Benicia 162 

Vallejo 90 

Suisun 64 

Vacaville 50 


state  comptroller. 


373 


-     248 


Pierce,  Winslow  T. 

Benicia Ill 

Vallejo 78 

Suisun 42 

Vacaville 17 

Abell,  A.  G. 

Benicia 166 

Vallejo 90 

Suisun 64 

Vacaville 49 

Houston,  John  S. 

Benicia 1 


247 


SURVEYOR-GENERAL. 


366 


Eddy,  Wm.  M. 

Benicia 119 

Vallejo 77 

Suisun 41 

Vacaville 17 

Herron,  Walter. 

Benicia 159 

Vallejo 89 

Suisun 66 

Vacaville 49 


Total. 


252 


366 


248 


369 


254 


363 


THE   HISTORY   OF    SOLANO   COUNTY. 


Ill 


STATE    TREASURER. 


Roman,  Richard. 

No.  of  Votes. 

Benicia 118 

Vallejo 130 

Suisun 43 

Vacaville 27 

Burt,  J.  M. 

Benicia 159 

Vallejo 38 

Suisun 65 

Vacaville 39 

Gift,  Col.  W. 

Benicia 2 


CONGRESSMAN. 


McCORKLE,  JOS.  W. 

Benicia 107 

Vallejo 82 

Suisun 42 

Vacaville 19 

«  

Marshall,  E.  C. 

Benicia 118 

Vallejo 86 

Suisun 43 

Vacaville 27 

Kewen,  E.  J.  C. 

Benicia 170 

Vallejo 87 

Suisun 65 

Vacaville 49 

Moore,  B.  F. 

Benicia 157 

Vallejo 88 

Suisun 64 

Vacaville 38 

Bryan,  D.  C. 

Benicia 34 

Vallejo 4 

Suisun 18 

Va  aville 7 


Total. 


318 


301 


250 


274 


371 


347 


63 


Dorland,  James. 

No.   of  Votes. 

Benicia 48 

Vallejo 8 

Suisun 47 

Vacaville 


Total. 


103 


STATE  senator  to   represent   the 

COUNTIES  OF  SOLANO  AND  NAPA. 


Bradford,  John  S. 

Benicia 157 

Vallejo 9 

Suisun 50 

Vacaville 5 

Estell,  James  M. 

Benicia 129 

Vallejo 147 

Suisun 52 

Vacaville 46 

Long,  James  H. 

Vacaville 2 

Sawyer,  Jesse. 

Benicia 1 

Vacaville 1 

Semple,  Rorert. 

Vacaville 1 


221 


374 


2 


memrers  of  assembly  to  represent 
solano  county. 


Graham,  James  S. 

Benicia 122 

Vallejo 117 

Suisun 28 

Vacaville 45 

Semple,  Robert. 

Benicia 85 

Vallejo 28 

Suisun 17 

Vacaville 15 


312 


145 


112 


HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 


COUNTY   SHERIFF. 


Shirley,  Paul. 

No.  of  Votes. 

Benicia 195 

Vallejo 122 

Suisun 84 

Vacaville 62 

Stocker,  James. 

Benicia 91 

Vallejo 38 

Suisun 26 

Vacaville 6 


COUNTY   CLERK. 


Bynum,  Sarshel. 

Benicia 259 

Vallejo 148 

Suisun 107 

Vacaville 65 

Jones,  J.  W. 

Benicia 1 


DISTRICT   ATTORNEY. 


Swan,  Thos.  M. 

Benicia 145 

Vallejo 102 

Suisun 65 

Vacaville 43 

Blair,  J.  D. 

Benicia 134 

Vallejo 48 

Suisun 35 

Vacaville 14 


COUNTY   CORONER. 

Peabody,  Wm.  F. 

Benicia 169 

Vallejo 18 

Suisun 57 

Vacaville 45 


Total. 


463 


161 


579 


355 


231 


289 


Hamm,  Samuel  F. 

No.  of  Votes. 

Benicia 109 

Vallejo 122 

Suisun 41 

Vacaville 14 


COUNTY   TREASURER. 


Evans.  O.  H. 

Benicia 194 

Vallejo 77 

Suisun 73 

Vacaville 43 

Hayden,  C.  W. 

Benicia 73 

Vallejo 52 

Suisun 21 

Vacaville 14 

Leviston,  Geo. 

Benicia 1 


COUNTY  SURVEYOR. 


Loring,  F.  R. 

Benicia 153 

Vallejo 76 

Suisun 67 

Vacaville 43 

Bradley,  A.  F. 

Benicia 124 

Vallejo 56 

Suisun 34 

Vacaville 14 


COUNTY  ASSESSOR. 


Vaughan,  Singleton. 

Benicia 192 

Vallejo 78 

Suisun 47 

Vacaville 33 


Total. 


286 


387 


160 


339 


228 


350 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


113 


COUNTY   ASSESSOR. 

Howell,  E.  P. 

No.  of  Votes.        Total  Votes. 

Benicia 69 

Vallejo 53 

Suisun 54 

Vacaville 25 

201 


Cooper  Stephen. 

Benicia 16 

Suisun 7 


23 


PUBLIC  ADMINISTRATOR  OF  SOL.  CO. 


Currey,  John 

Benicia 136 

Vallejo 76 

Suisun 71 

Vacaville 43 

Leviston,  Geo. 

Benicia 135 

Vallejo 51 

Suisun 24 

Vacaville 14 


326 


Luce,  S.  W. 
Benicia . 


224 


JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE  FOR  BENICIA. 


Riddell,  Alexander 
Wetmore,  C.  E. . 
Gillis,  Calvin .  .  . 
Hyam,  B.  D .  .  .  . 
McDougal,  John 
Lowry,  Dick.  .  . 
Bennett,  Bill .  .  . 


CONSTABLES    FOR    BENICIA. 


Brown,  A.  W .  . 
Brown,  Jno.  S. 
Siddons,  Wm. . 
Mitchell,  I .  .  .  . 
Jones,  John  W 
Brown,  W.  C.  . 
Andrews,  J.  H . 


150 

95 

199 

62 

1 

1 

1 


188 
169 
126 
1 
1 
1 
1 


DISTRICT  JUDGE  7TH  JUDICIAL  DIST. 


Total  Votes. 

Hopkins,  Robert 1 

Boggs,T.  J 1 

Whitman,  B.  C : 1 

Lee,  Harvey 1 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE  FOR  VALLEJO. 


Hook,  Henry 101 

Tierney,  E.  P 36 

Leslie,  Lyman 77 

Shipley,  David 31 

Veeder,  Charles 13 

Loveland,  J.  E 3 

CONSTABLES    FOR    VALLEJO. 


Brown,  W.  A .....116 

Bryant,  W.  T 87 

Dupaix,  Henry 13 

JUSTICES  OF  PEACE,  SUISUN. 


Berry,  D.  K. 

Suisun 67 

Vacaville 9 


Degman,  U.  P. 

Suisun 50 

Vacaville 49 


Beveridge,  David  F. 

Suisun 54 


76 


99 


54 


CONSTABLES   FOR   SUISUN. 


Stevenson,  G.  B. 

• 

Suisun 

. .      62 

50 

119 

Munn,  Wm. 

Suisun 

..   49 

Lindsey,.Wm. 

Suisun 

. . 

..   23 

Scattering: 

..     6 

8 


114  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

On  September  11th,  notice  was  given  in  accordance  with  the  Fourth 
Article  of  the  Constitution  of  California,  by  Robert  Semple,  of  his  intention 
to  contest  the  election  of  James  S.  Graham  to  the  seat  in  the  Assembly ; 
there  is  no  reason  to  believe,  however,  that  the  case  ever  came  to  a  recount. 

The  division  of  votes  showed  a  democratic  preponderance  for  the  State 
offices ;  while  for  those  of  the  county,  the  Whig  party  had  the  majority  of 
positions. 

In  this  contest,  Bigler,  who  received  twenty-three  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  seventy-four  votes  in  the  State  ;  while  Pierson  B.  Reading,  his 
Whig  opponent,  got  twenty-two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-three, 
had  the  assistance  of  that  new  power  which  had  commenced  to  creep  into 
the  State,  in  the  shape  of  the  squatting  element.  He  was  Democratic  in 
his  manners,  being  "  hale  fellow  "  with  all.  Not  so  his  opponent,  who  was 
a  gentleman  of  more  genteel  bearing  than  the  kind-hearted,  unambitious, 
landless  Governor,  who  was  always  mindful  of  his  friends.  Bigler,  in  all 
his  messages,  urged  economy,  but  found  it  difficult  to  prevent  an  office  being 
made  for  a  friend.  Tuthill  remarks:  "It  was  his  pet  project  to  unite  the 
Southern  and  Western  men  of  his  party,  and  let  the  free-soilers  shift  for 
themselves ;  but  it  is  not  in  that  direction  that  party  cleavage  runs.  The 
Southeners  scorned  the  alliance.  They  were  '  high-toned,'  and  looked  down 
upon  a  Missourian  as  little  better  than  a  man  from  Massachusetts.  The 
Governor's  project  would  not  work.  He  carried  water  on  both  shoulders, 
and  spilt  very  little  on  either  side." 

In  regard  to  the  election  of  officers  to  fill  the  positions  required  in  those 
years,  it  was  very  hard  to  find  those  willing  to,  or  capable  of,  undertaking 
the  arduous  duties :  besides,  everyone  was  on  the  qui  vive  for  news  of  gold 
on  the  first  receipt  of  which,  judges  and  constables  alike,  would  leave  their 
more  dignified  duties,  and  make  for  the  mines,  caring  not  who  their  succes- 
sors might  be,  or  how  they  were  appointed. 

But  few  changes  of  any  political  moment  occurred  in  1852,  save  the 
establishment  of  a  polling  precinct  at  the  Suscol  rancho,  at  the  residence  of 
L.  Curtis ;  and  the  Presidential  election  of  November  2nd,  when  we  find 
the  three  well-known  names  among  the  successful  candidates  for  county 
honors,  of  Judge  E.  W.  McKinstry,  now  of  the  Supreme  Bench  of  Califor- 
nia, then  elected  for  his  first  term  as  Judge  of  the  Seventh  Judicial  District; 
Andrew  J.  Bryant,  the  present  Mayor  of  San  Francisco,  then  a  Constable 
of  Benicia  township  ;  and  Dr.  Sylvester  Woodbridge,  Junior,  the  eloquent 
pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  Chuich,  in  San  Fiancisco,  at  the  time  of  which 
we  write,  a  resident  of  Benicia,  and  the  first  Commissioner  of  Common 
Schools  in  the  county. 

On  February  19th,  of  the  following  year,  Sarshel  Bynum,  resigned  his 
office,  when  Joseph  P.  Vaughn  was  appointed  interim  County  Clerk,  in 
which  charge  he  was  confirmed,  at  the  general  election  of  7th  September. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  115 

On  May  18th,  an  Act,  apportioning  the  State  into  certain  Senatorial  and 
Assembly  districts,  was  passed  ;  the  "  Tenth  Senatorial  District,"  being  com- 
prised in  the  counties  of  Solano,  Napa,  and  Yolo,  with  power  to  elect  one 
Senator,  while  one  member  of  Assembly  was  to  be  returned  from  each. 

It  would  appear  that  at  this  juncture  the  number  of  residents  in  the 
county  had  so  increased,  that  greater  facilities  had  to  be  given  to  the  public 
for  recording  their  votes.  The  distances  from  the  principal  locations  of  the 
townships  being  so  great,  new  precincts  were  made  ;  the  city  of  Benicia 
being  divided  into  two  wards ;  the  headquarters  of  one  being  at  the  Pacific 
Works,  and  the  other  at  the  Court  House.  The  Vallejo  township  comprised 
Vallejo  and  Suscol.  Wolf  skill's  and  Montezuma  belonged  to  Vacaville ; 
while  Suisun  and  Green  Valley  each  had  their  polling  places.  At  their  De- 
cember term,  the  Court  of  ^Sessions  ordered  that  the  salary  of  the  District 
Attorney  should  be  fixed  at  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  per  month, 
or  fifteen  hundred  dollars  per  annum,,  commencing  from  the  first  Monday 
in  October. 

In  the  year  1855,  a  vacancy  occurring  in  the  office  of  County  Treasurer, 
by  the  death  of  John  C.  Gulick,  Jabez  Hatch  was  appointed  in  his  stead. 
In  this  year,  too,  the  Court  of  Sessions  was  abolished,  and  a  Board  of  Su- 
pervisors created  in  lieu  thereof.  The  first  Board  consisting  of  Lloyd  A. 
Rider,  A.  W.  Rodgers,  and  John  C.  Fisk,  met  at  Benicia  on  May  7th,  under 
the  Presidentship  of  the  first-named  gentleman,  when  they  appointed 
George  Leviston  to  be  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  vice  Alexander  Rid  dell 
deceased. 

On  May  4,  1855,  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  was  approved,  "to  take  the 
sense  of  the  People  of  the  State,  at  the  General  Election  in  A.  D.  1855,  on 
the  Passage  of  a  Prohibitory  Liquor  Law ;"  the  provisions  of  which  were, 
that  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  all  spirituous  and  intoxicating  liquors, 
except  for  mechanical,  chemical,  medicinal  and  sacramental  purposes,  should 
be  prohibited.     On  being  put  to  the  vote  in  Solano  county,  the  result  was : 

Yes 143  votes. 

No 378      " 

The  precincts  for  polling  purposes  were  divided  by  the  Supervisors  in 
this  year,  to  be  as  under : 

Green  Valley 1 

Suisun 2 

Vacaville 2 

Montezuma 1 

Tremont 1 

Benicia 1 

Vallejo 1 

On  November  13,  J.  W.  Jones  was  appointed   to  the  position  of  County 


116  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Coroner,  vice  Larkin  Richardson,  who  had  failed  to  file  his  certificate  of 
election.  On  August  21,  1855,  it  was  directed  by  the  Board  that  the  Su- 
pervisoral  districts  be  changed,  as  under : 

(  Benicia. 

District  No.  1 < 

(  Vallejo. 

C  Green  Valley. 

District  No.  2 < 

(  Suisun. 

f  Vacaville. 

District  No.  3 <  Montezuma. 

(  Tremont. 

« 

In  the  years  1856  and  '57,  nothing  of  any  moment  occurred  in  the  county, 
in  regard  to  its  political  aspect.  In  1858  the  removal  of  the  county  seat 
occurred,  a  full  account  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  County 
Organizations,  in  this  work.  On  January  22,  1859,  the  Board  of  Supervis- 
ors accepted  the  Bond  of  Captain  Waterman,  in  respect  to  the  handing 
over  certain  lands  in  Fairfield,  for  county  purposes.  On  March  14th,  they 
opened  the  bids  for  the  erection  of  the  Court  House  and  Jail  there,  viz  : 

Larkin  Richardson,  for  Court  House  and  Jail $24,440 

J.  D.  Perkins,  for  temporary  Court  House,  etc 1,373 

And  on  September  1st,  the  buildings  were  handed  over  by  the  contractors. 
By  an  Act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  April  28,  1857,  the  Supervisors 
of  the  county  of  Yuba  were  authorized  to  subscribe  a  sum  of  $200,000  to  a 
railroad  company  which  should  connect  the  city  of  Marysville,  and  either 
the  city  of  Benicia  or  any  point  on  the  Sacramento  River,  at  or  near 
Knight's  Ferry  or  Sacramento  City.  In  May,  of  the  same  year,  the  Super- 
visors of  Solano  county  proposed  that  $250,000  worth  of  stock  should  be 
taken  in  the  Sacramento  and  San  Francisco  Railroad,  another  company 
which  had  been  started  with  warm  advocates  in  Benicia.  The  newspapers 
of  the  time  ardently  urged  the  adoption  of  this  scheme,  and  its  submission 
to  the  vote  of  the  people,  which  was  afterwards  done,  and  carried  by  a  large 
majority.  In  a  little  while  the  Marysville  company  awoke  to  a  sense  of  their 
danger  in  the  opposition  of  the  contemplated  Sacramento  road,  when  the 
former  association  filed  their  articles  of  incorporation  forthwith,  and 
commenced  operations.  The  road  is  set  forth  as  commencing  at  Marysville, 
and  extending  through  Yuba,  Sutter,  Yolo,  and  Solano  counties,  to  a  point 
on  the  San  Pablo  Bay,  near  Vallejo,  eighty -five  miles  in  length,  which  was 
expected  to  cost  $3,000,000.  The  bill  was  duly  introduced  into  the  Senate, 
and  approved.  On  April  16,  1859,  an  Act  authorizing  the  county  of  Solano 
to  subscribe  $200,000  to  the  capital  stock  of  this  railroad,  was  approved, 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  117 

subject  to  the  accepting  thereof  by  the  people,  which  was  submitted  to  their 
vote  at  the  general  election  of  1859,  with  the  following  result : 

Yes 796 

No 661 

The  Supervisors  were  empowered  to  issue  bonds  bearing  interest  at  the 
rate  of  seven  per  cent  per  annum  from  date  of  issue,  payable  half-yearly. 
Only  $100,000  of  these  bonds  were  paid,  however,  to  the  company,  who,  not 
having  fulfilled  the  contract  under  which  the  amount  was  subscribed, 
an  amended  Act  was  submitted  to  the  Legislature,  during  the  regime  of 
Messrs.  Mizner  and  J.  B.  Frisbie,  as  Senator  and  Assemblyman  respectively, 
and  approved  March  26,  1868,  by  which  the  California  Pacific  Railroad 
Company,  a  new  corporation  which  had  been  started  and  duly  incorporated 
under  the  general  laws  of  the  State,  were  to  have  assigned  and  transferred 
to  them  all  stock  subscribed  for  the  San  Francisco  and  Marysville  Railroad 
Company.  This  was  not  to  be  limited  to  the  first  named  corporation,  how- 
ever, for  section  14  of  the  Act  directs :  "  The  said  Supervisors  are  hereby 
authorized  and  empowered  to  issue  and  deliver  to  the  proper  officers  of  any 
railroad  company  which  may,  within  two  years  from  the  passage  of  this 
Act,  complete  and  have  in  running  order  a  railroad  from  the  Straits  of 
Carquinez,  or  Vallejo  Bay,  to  the  northern  boundary  line  of  said  Solano 
county,  the  same  amount  of  bonds  as  the  said  San  Francisco  and  Marysville 
Railroad  Company  would  have  been  entitled  to,  had  its  said  road  have  been 
fully  completed  in  the  year  1861,  less  the  amount  already  issued."  Of  the 
original  stock  there  is  still  $112,000  outstanding,  which  is  being  reduced  at 
the  rate  of  $9,000  a  year. 

An  Act,  approved  May  13,  1861,  to  separate  from  the  office  of  County 
Clerk,  the  office  of  County  Recorder  took  effect  on  the  first  Monday  of  Octo- 
ber, and  an  election  for  the  latter  office  was  also  ordered  to  be  held  at  every 
succeeding  general  election.  To  the  duties  of  Recorder  were  added  those  of 
Auditor.  An  Act  was  also  approved  on  the  14th  of  May,  in  which  it  was 
provided  that  Road  Masters  be  elected,  so  soon  as  the  County  shall  have 
been  divided  into  Road  Districts,  at  the  general  election  of  Sept.  4th,  whose 
duties  were  "  to  have  the  care  and  general  supervision  of  the  public  roads 
within  the  district,  to  maintain  them  in  as  good  repair  and  to  erect  such 
necessary  bridges  and  culverts  as  the  means  at  his  command  will  permit ; 
and  he  shall  also,  by  direction  of  the  Supervisors,  cause  suitable  guide- 
boards  to  be  erected  at  the  intersection  of  inrportant  roads.  He  shall 
oversee  and  direct  the  labor  expended  upon  the  roads,  and  see  that  teams, 
ploughs,  scrapers  and  other  implements,  are  furnished  for  the  road  service. 
He  shall,  between  the  first  day  of  October  and  the  first  day  of  June,  in 
each  year,  give  to  each  person  in  his  road  district,  who  is  liable  to  pay  road 
tax,  at  least  three  days  notice  of  the  time  and  place  at  which  such  person 
shall  appear  for  the  purpose  of  working  on  the  public  roads,"  etc. 


118  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

In  February,  1867,  the  county  was  divided  into  assessment  districts  con- 
forming to  those  which  elected  Supervisors,  offices  which  were  afterwards 
discontinued  as  being  unwieldy. 

Nothing  of  any  particular  importance  to  affect  the  county  occurred  in  the 
few  following  years  until  1871 — the  year  of  the  Tapeworm  ticket;  the 
following  history  of  which  has  been  kindly  supplied  by  Mr.  George  A. 
Gillespie. 

FAC-SIMILE   OF   THE   TICKET. 

Republican  State  Ticket. — For  Governor,  Newton  Booth.  For  Lieutenant  Governor,  Roraualdo  Pacheco.  For  Secretary  of  State,  Prury  Melone. 
For  Controller,  James  J.  Green.  For  State  Treasurer,  Ferdinand  Baehr.  For  Surveyor-General,  Robert  Gardner.  For  Attorney-General,  John  L. 
Love.  P'or  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Grant  I.  Taggart.  For  State  Printer,  Thomas  A.  Springer.  For  Harbor  Commissioner,  John  A.  McGlynn. 
For  Amend,  to  Art.  1  of  the  Const.— Yes.  Refund  Debt.— No.  For  Congressman— Third  District,  John  M.  Coghlan.  For  Assemblyman,  M.  J.  Wright. 
For  Sheriff,  Joseph  Jacobs.  For  Treasurer,  E.  D.  Perkins.  For  Recorder,  Geo.  C.  McKinley.  For  Clerk,  Chas.  A.  Kidder;  For  District  Attorney,  J.  F. 
Wendell.  For  Assessor,  Joseph  Hoyt.  For  Surveyor,  Win.  W.  Fitch.  For  Supt.  of  Schools,  Wm.  H.  Fry.  For  Pub.  Administrator,  Hazen  Hoyt. 
For  Coroner,  C.  E.  Holbrook,     For  Supervisor,  1st  Dist.,  A.  D.  Starr.     For  Constables,  Ed.  Longan  and  W.  Markey.     For  Roadmaster,  A.  E.  Thurber. 

The  so  called  "  Tape-worm  Ticket,"  the  use  of  which   at  Vallejo,  at  the 
election  of  1871,  caused  so  much  comment  and  adverse  criticism,  both  in 
and  without  the   State,  and   even   in  the  United  States  Congress,  had  its 
origin  in  this  wise :     The  Navy  Yard,  at  Mare  Island,  after  the  election  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  Presidency,  passed  into  the  control  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  and,  especially  during  the  war,  a  very  large  number  of  mechanics 
and  laborers  were  given  employment  there.    These  men,  or  a  large  majority 
of  them,  prior  to  each  general  election,  became  enrolled  members  of  Repub- 
lican clubs,  and  were  to  all  ajjpearances,  supporters  of  the  Republican  ad- 
ministrations, but  it  was  found  at  the  counting  of  ballots  at  each  election 
there  were  an  uncomfortably  large  number  of    Democratic  votes  in  the 
ballot  boxes.     To  remedy  this,  various  kinds  of  "  non-imitative  "  and  "  non- 
scratchable  "  ballots  were  devised,  both  printed  and  engraved,  but  in  every 
case  the  Democrats,  by  the  use  of  tissue-paper  "  pasters,"  and  other  devices 
circumvented  the  vigilance  and  craft  of  the  administration  politicians  and 
managed  to  have  a  large  number  of  Democratic  votes  put  into  the  ballot 
boxes  by  these  professed  Republicans.     At  a   meeting   of  the  Republican 
County  Central  Committee  of  Solano  in  August,  1871,  after  it  had  made 
arrangements  to   supply  all  the  precincts   of  the  county  with  a  sufficient 
quantity    of    Republican    ballots — save    Vallejo,    the    members   from   that 
section  announced  to  the  committee  that  it  would  be   necessary  to  have  a 
new  and  different  style   of  ballot  for   that  precinct  in   order  to  prevent 
imitation,  pasting  and  scratching.     After  some  deliberation  the  matter  was 
left  to  a  sub-committee  of  two  persons,  with  orders  to  have  printed  three 
thousand  ballots  of  a  design  which  it  should  adopt.     This  sub-committee 
subsequently  went  to  San  Francisco,  and  applied  to  the  printing  stationers, 
William  B.  Cooke  &  Co.,  to  have  the  proposed  ballots  printed.     They  were 
not  decided  as  to  the  plan  or  style   of  the    ballots   needed,   so   Mr.   Cooke 
suggested  to  them  that  he  would  have  several  different  designs  prepared  by 
his  foreman-printer  during  the  day,  and  if  they  would  call  on  the  following 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  119 

morning  they  could  make  their  selection  as  to  which  they  would  order. 
Four  or  five  designs  were  prepared,  and  among  the  lot  was  this  "  tape-worm 
ticket,"  which  in  the  judgment  of  the  committee  seemed  specially  designed 
"  to  fill  the  bill,"  and  it  was  selected  by  them  and  an  order  given  to  print 
the  required  three  thousand.  These  ballots  were  sent  to  Vallejo,  and  on  the 
night  previous  to  the  day  of  election  they  were  parcelled  out  to  the  Navy 
Yard  foremen,  who  in  turn  reparcelled  them  out  to  their  workmen,  and  they 
were  very  extensively  voted  during  the  day,  carrying  the  precinct  largely 
for  the  Republican  party.  But  even  with  all  the  intricacy  of  its  design 
and  make  up,  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  of  these  ballots  were  scratched 
and  pasted  by  Democratic  voters.  Hundreds  of  these  ballots  were  preserved 
by  the  curious  as  mementoes  of  political  intimidation,  and  one  of  them  in 
the  hands  of  Senator  Casserly,  found  its  way  to  the  United  States  Senate 
where  it  was  exhibited  to  the  gaze  of  astonished  Senators  as  the  acme 
of  "  bull-dozing "  acumen.  This  episode  in  Solano's  political  history,  dis- 
graceful as  such  proceedings  were  claimed  to  be,  was  not  without  a  benefi- 
cial result,  for  beyond 'a  doubt,  to  this  tape-worm  ticket  and  its  use  are  we 
indebted  for  our  present  wise,  and  satisfactory  uniform  ballot  law. 

On  May  7,  1873,  the  offices  of  Recorder  and  Auditor  were  consolidated, 
by  direction  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  whose  numbers  were  in  this  year 
increased  from  three  to  five,  while  the  new  office  of  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways was  created ;  but  after  one  term  it  was  abrogated,  the  duties  of  the 
office  lapsing  into  the  hands  of  road-masters,  as  before.  At  the  Judicial 
Election,  held  on  October  loth,  the  votes  for  County  Judge  resulted  in  a  tie, 
as  under : 

O.  B.  Powers  receiving  1,241  votes ;  John  M.  Gregory,  Jr.,  receiving  a 
like  number.  A  new  election  was  therefore  called  for  December  16th,  when 
Judge  Gregory  received  1,286  votes,  as  against  1,212,  obtained  by  Mr. 
Powers. 

An  Act  to  permit  the  voters  of  every  township  or  incorporated  city  in 
the  State  to  vote  on  the  question  of  granting  licences  to  sell  intoxicating 
liquors  was  approved  by  the  Legislature,  March  18, 1874.  It  was  famil- 
iarly known  as  the  "  Local  Option  Law,"  and  was  put  to  the  voters  of 
Solano  County  on  May  30th  of  that  year,  showing : 

For  liquor  license 1,022 

For  no  liquor  license 904 

Majority  of 118  for  license. 

The  office  of  Auditor  was  established  and  made  separate  from  that  of 
Recorder  by  Act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  March  30th,  T.  P.  Hooper 
being  the  first  incumbent  of  the  former  office.  The  same  Act  also  pro- 
vided that  the  County  Treasurer  should    be  ex  ojficio   Tax   Collector,  thus 


120  THE   HISTORY   OP  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

abolishing  that  office,  while  the  offices  of  Public  Administrator  and  County 
Coroner  were  united  and  consolidated  on  May  11th,  1875. 

We  now  come  to  the  last  great  event  in  the  political  history  of  Solano 
county,  namely,  the  order  for  a  new  Constitution  of  the  State,  and  its  ulti- 
mate passage  by  an  immense  majority,  that  in  Solano  being  two  hundred 
and  ninety -three. 

It  was  found  that  the  provisions  in  regard  to  taxation  and  property  were 
of  too  vague  a  nature  to  be  allowed  to  hold  at  this  period  of  progress.  At 
the  time  when  the  old  Constitution  was  framed  in  Monterey,  it  was  never 
contemplated  that  the  State  would  be  ever  anything  but  a  purely  mining 
country  ;  and  as  each  mining  section  had  its  own  local  laws,  more  distinct 
terms  in  regard  to  what  was  legally  meant  by  property  and  taxable  pro- 
perty, were  not  thought  to  be  necessary.  At  last  the  day  came  when  a  de- 
cision of  the  Supreme  Court  ruled  that  credits  are  not  property  in  the 
sense  in  which  the  word  property  is  used  in  Section  13  of  Article  XI  of  the 
Constitution,  and  cannot  be  assessed  for  taxes,  or  taxed  as  property,  even  if 
secured  by  mortgage.     (The  People  vs.  Hibernia  Bank,  Cal.  Exports,  51.) 

The  popular  voice  became  clamorous  on  this  decision  for  a  change  of  rule ; 
and  though  having  been  before  mooted,  and  successfully  balked  by  former 
sessions  of  the  Legislature,  an  Act  to  provide  for  a  Convention  to  frame  a 
new  Constitution  for  the  State  of  California  was  approved  on  March  30, 
1878  ;  and  by  a  Proclamation  of  the  Governor  an  election  throughout  the 
county  of  Solano  was  ordered  to  be  held  on  June  19,  1878,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  electing  delegates  to  a  Constitutional  Convention,  to  meet  at  Sacra- 
mento, on  September  28th.  Thirty-two  delegates  were  to  be  elected  by  the 
State  at  large,  of  whom  not  more  than  eight  should  be  residents  of  any  one 
Congressional  District.  One  delegate  was  allowed  for  the  counties  of 
Solano  and  Yolo,  jointly,  and  three  for  Solano  county  alone.  The  result 
was : 

Delegate  for  Solano  and  Yolo  counties,  jointly : 

C.  F.  Reed  (of  Yolo) 741  votes. 

» 

For  Solano  county : 

Joel  A.  Harvey 859  votes. 

J.  M.  Dudley 821      " 

S.  G.  Hilborn 769      " 

The  election  for  the  adoption  or  rejection  caused  a  deep  seated  feeling 
throughout  the  entire  State,  and  for  months  the  county  was  in  a  perfect 
ferment ;  at  last  the  7th  of  May  arrived ;  the  following  morning  the  news 
was  flashed  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land  of  the  adoption 
of  California's  new  organic  law ;  and  now  nothing  but  Time  can  solve  the 
riddle  as  to  whether  the  decision  was  a  wise  one  or  not. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


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130  THE   HISTORY   OP   SOLANO    COUNTY. 


MEXICAN    GRANTS. 


BY   A.   J.    DOBBINS. 


SUSCOL— SUISUN — TOLENAS — LOS   PUTOS — RIO    LOS    PUTOS — 

ULPINOS. 

When  California  was  acquired  by  the  United  States  by  treaty  with  the 
Mexican  Government,  the  larger  portion  of  the  five  hundred  and  forty-five 
thousand  four  hundred  and  forty  acres  included  in  the  present  boundary 
lines  of  Solano  county  was  covered  by,  and  claimed  under,  six  Mexican 
grants,  distributed  as  follows  : 

"  The  Suscol,"  lying  in  the  southern  and  western  portion  of  the  county, 
including  the  townships  of  Vallejo  and  Benicia,  and  containing  about  eighty- 
four  thousand  acres. 

The  "  Suisun,"  lying  to  the  eastward  of  the  Suscol,  including  within  its 
limits  the  whole  of  Suisun  valley,  together  with  the  towns  of  Suisun  and 
Fairfield,  and  containing  seventeen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty-two 
acres. 

The  "  Tolenas,"  or  "  Armijo,"  lying  to  the  north  and  east  of  the  Suisun, 
and  containino-  thirteen  thousand  three  hundred  and  fourteen  acres. 

The  "  Los  Putos,"  or  Vaca  and  Pena,  lying  to  the  northeast  of  the  Armijo, 
covering  the  town  of  Vacaville  and  the  whole  of  Vaca  valley,  and  contain- 
ing forty-four  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres. 

The  "  Eio  Los  Putos,"  or  Wolfskill,  lying  to  the  northwest  of  the  Los 
Putos,  and  on  both  sides  of  Putah  creek,  in  both  Solano  and  Yolo  counties. 
That  portion  situated  in  Solano  county,  containing  eight  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  eighty  acres. 

The  "  Ulpinos,"  or  Bidwell,  located  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county,  at 
the  junction  of  the  Sacramento  river  and  Cache  Slough,  covering  the  town 
of  Rio  Vista  and  the  Montezuma  hills,  and  containing  seventeen  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fifty -two  acres. 

By  the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  Guadaloupe  Hidalgo,  the  United  States, 
upon  proper  showing  of  titles  by  grantees  of  the  Mexican  and  Spanish 
Governments,  was  found  to  confirm  them,  and  not  only  were  perfect  titles 
acquired  by  the  inhabitants  under  Mexican  domination  agreed  to  be 
respected,  but  also  such  equitable  claims  as  had  their  origin  in  the  action 
of  the  Mexican  Government,  but  were  undeveloped  and  incomplete  at  the 
date  of  the  treaty ;  and  it  was  stipulated  that  such  steps  should  be  taken 
as  were  necessary  to  protect  the  same.  The  rights  of  property  of  the 
citizens  of  the  ceded  territory  were  to  remain  unchanged.     By  the  law  of 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  131 

nations  those  rights  were  sacred  and  inviolable,  and  the  obligation  passed 
to  the  Government  of  the  United  States  to  protect  and  maintain  them  by 
proper  legislative  action  when  the  requisite  protection  could  not  be  afforded 
by  the  ordinary  course  of  judicial  proceedings  in  the  established  tribunals 
or  by  existing  legislation. 

In  many  instances,  however,  the  boundaries  of  the  grants  were  indefinite, 
and  the  titles  to  some  being  imperfect,  for  years  the  affairs  of  the  county 
were  in  an  unsettled  condition,  consequent  upon  the  frequent  recurrence  of 
acts  of  violence  and  bloodshed  growing  out  of  the  litigation  of  land  titles. 
Surveying  parties  were  frequently  forced  to  desist  and  driven  off  by  armed 
gangs  of  squatters,  who  destroyed  and  removed  monuments  and  land-marks, 
obstructed  the  officers  of  the  law  in  the  discharge  of  their  official  duties,  and 
who  carried  their  lawlessness  to  such  an  extent  that  many  bona  fide  pur- 
chasers willingly  disposed  of  their  claims  for  a  nominal  sum  and  betook 
themselves  to  some  more  quiet  county,  where  the  danger  of  loss  of  life  or 
limb  was  not  a  necessary  concomitant  upon  the  ownership  of  real  estate. 

The  bitter  and  protracted  controversy  which  arose  out  of  the  dispute  as 
to  the  location  of  the  line  between  the  Suisun  and  the  Armijo  Grants,  pre- 
sents a  striking  illustration  of  the  indefinite  and  uncertain  manner  in  which 
these  grants  were  located  by  the  original  grantees,  at  a  time  when  the 
question  of  a  few  hundred,  or  even  thousand,  acres  was  a  matter  of  so  little 
importance  as  to  be  unworthy  of  attention.  But,  subsequently,  as  the  years 
rolled  on,  and  the  increase  in  values  required  the  boundary  lines  to  be 
distinctly  and  permanently  settled,  the  latitude  which  had  formerly  been 
allowed  to  the  original  grantees  in  locating  their  grants,  as  necessity  or 
convenience  dictated,  proved  a  source  of  almost  interminable  annoyance 
and  vexation,  as  well  as  a  heavy  expense  to  those  who  purchased  under 
them. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  1837,  Francisco  Solano,  the  chief  of  the  tribe  of 
Indians  known  as  the  Suisunes,  presented  to  Commandant-General  M.  G. 
Vallejo  a  petition  for  a  grant  of  land  in  the  following  terms : 

"  To  the  Commandant-General : 

"  Francisco  Solano,  principal  chief  of  the  unconverted  Indians  and  born 
captain  of  the  '  Suisun,'  in  due  form  before  your  Honor  represents ; 

"  That,  being  a  free  man,  and  owner  of  a  sufficient  number  of  horses  and 
cattle  to  establish  a  rancho,  he  solicits  from  the  strict  justice  and  goodness 
of  your  Honor,  that  you  be  pleased  to  grant  him  the  land  of  the  Suisun, 
with  its  known  appurtenances,  which  are  a  little  more  or  less  than  four 
square  leagues  from  the  '  Portzuela  to  the  Salina  de  Sacha.'  Said  land 
belongs  to  him  by  hereditary  right  from  his  ancestors,  and  he  is  actually  in 
possession  of  it,  but  he  wishes  to  revalidate  his  rights  in  accordance  with 
the  existing  laws  of  our  Republic  and  of  the  order  of  colonization  recently 
decreed  by  the  Supreme  Governement. 


132  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

"  He,  therefore,  prays  that  your  Honor  be  pleased  to  grant  him  the  land 
which  he  asks  for,  and  procure  for  him,  from  the  proper  sources,  the  titles 
which  may  be  necessary  for  his  security,  and  that  you  will  also  admit  this 
on  common  paper,  there  being  none  of  the  corresponding  stamp  in  this 
place. 

(Signed)  "  Francisco  Solano. 

"  Sonoma,  January  16,  1837." 

To  this  petition  the  Commandant-General  responded  by  issuing  a  decree, 
in  which  he  granted  to  Solano,  temporarily  and  provisionally,  the  use  of 
the  land  petitioned  for,  to  the  amount  of  four  square  leagues,  at  the  same 
time  instructing  the  grantee  to  ask  from  the  governmental  of  the  State  the 
usual  titles,  in  order  to  make  valid  his  rights  in  conformity  with  the  order 
of  colonization. 

Accordingly,  on  the  15th  of  January,  1842,  Solano  presented  a  petition  to 
Governor  Juan  B.  Alvarado,  accompanying  it  with  the  above  petition  to  the 
Commandant-General,  together  with  the  temporary  grant  made  by  that 
officer,  and  asked  for  a  permanent  and  perpetual  grant  of  the  premises. 

In  answer  to  this  petition,  Governor  Alvarado,  on  the  21st  of  January, 
1842,  issued  a  grant  in  due  form,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy : 

[seal.]  "  Juan.  B.  Alvarado, 

"  Constitutional  Governor  of  the  Department  of  the  Californias. 
"  Whereas,  The  aboriginal,  Francisco  Solano,  for  his  own  personal  benefit 
and  that  of  his  family,  has  aske*d  for  the  land  known  by  the  name  of  Suisun, 
of  which  place  he  is  a  native,  and  chief  of  the  tribes  of  the  frontier  of  Sono- 
ma, and  being  worthy  of  reward  for  the  quietness  which  he  caused  to  be 
maintained  by  that  unchristianized  people ;  the  proper  proceedings  and 
examinations  having  previously  been  made  as  required  by  the  laws  and 
regulations,  using  the  powers  conferred  on  me  in  the  name  of  the  Mexican 
nation,  I  have  granted  to  him  the  above  mentioned  land,  adjudicating  to 
him  the  ownership  of  it,  by  these  presents,  being  subject  to  the  approbation 
of  the  most  excellent  Departmental  Junta,  and  to  the  following  conditions, 
to- wit : 

1.  "  That  he  may  inclose  it,  without  prejudice  to  the  crossings,  roads,  and 
servitudes,  and  enjoy  it  freely  and  exclusively,  making  such  use  and  culti- 
vation of  it  as  he  may  see  fit ;  but  within  one  year  he  shall  build  a  house 
and  it  shall  be  inhabited. 

2.  "  He  shall  ask  the  magistrate  of  the  place  to  give  him  Juridical  posses- 
sion of  it,  in  virtue  of  this  order,  by  whom  the  boundaries  shall  be  marked 
out ;  and  he  shall  place  in  them,  besides  the  land-marks,  some  fruit  or  forest 
trees  of  some  utility. 

3.  "  The  land  herein  mentioned  is  to  the  extent  of  four  '  sitios  de  ganado 
mayor,'  (four  square  leagues)  with  the  limits,  as  shown  on  the  map,  accom- 
panying the  respective  expediente.     The  magistrate  who  gives  the  possession 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  133 

will  have  it  measured  according  to  ordinance,  leaving  the  excess,  that  may 
result,  to  the  nation  for  its  convenient  uses. 

4.  "  If  he  contravene  these  conditions  he  shall  lose  his  right  to  the  land 
and  it  may  be  denounced  by  another. 

"  In  consequence,  I  order  that  these  presents  be  held  firm  and  valid  ;  that 
a  register  be  taken  of  it  in  the  proper  book,  and  that  it  be  given  to  the 
party  interested,  for  his  voucher  and  other  purposes. 

"  Given  this  twenty-first  day  of  January,  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  forty-two,  at  Monterey. 

(Signed)  "Juan  B.  Alvarado. 

(Signed)  "  Manuel  Jimeno,  Secretary." 

In  September,  1845,  the  Committee  on  Vacant  Lands  submitted  to  the 
Departmental  Assembly  a  report  in  which  the  approval  of  the  grant  was 
recommended  ;  and,  thereupon,  in  the  following  month,  that  body  issued 
the  following  order : 

"Angeles,  Oct.  3,  1845. 
"  In  session   of   this  day.  the   proposition   of   the   foregoing  report  was 
approved    by   the    most    excellent    Departmental    Assembly,    ordering   the 
original  expediente  to  be  returned   to   His  Excellency,  the  Governor,  for 
suitable  purposes. 

(Signed)  "  Pio  Pico,  President. 

(Signed)  "  Augustin  Olona,  Secretary." 

A  copy  of  the  order  of  approval  was  issued  to  Solano  on  the  same  day. 
The  first  application  of  Armijo  for  his  grant  was  made  some  two  years 
subsequent  to  that  of  Solano,  and  was  in  the  following  language : 

"  Senor  Commandant- General : 

"  Jose  Francisco  Armijo,  by  birth  a  Mexican,  before  your  Honor,  in  the 
manner  which  may  be  best  for  me  in  the  law,  say :  That  having  four 
sons,  natives  of  the  same  country,  without  owning  any  lands  to  cultivate, 
finding  myself  owner  of  about  one  hundred  head  of  cattle,  the  product  of 
which  I  annually  lose,  supplicate  that  your  Honor  will  be  pleased  to  con- 
cede to  me  the  place  known  to  ine  by  the  name  of  Tolenas.  That  in 
company  with  my  son,  Antonio  Maria,  I  dedicate  myself  to  the  cultivation 
of  my  own  land  and  the  breeding  of  cattle,  with  the  understanding  that  the 
land  which  I  solicit  is  from  the  place  already  mentioned  to  Ololatos  creek, 
containing  about  three  leagues  of  land,  more  or  less,  and  it  joins  with  the 
Suisun  rancho. 

"  For  this  I  pray  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  decree  as  1  have  petitioned, 
for  which  I  respectfully  forward,  herewith,  the  map. 

"  This  favor  I  shall  perpetuate  on  my  memory. 

[Does  not  know  how  to  sign.] 
"  Sonoma,  Nov.  22d,  1839." 


134  THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Immediately  upon  the  receipt  of  the  petition  the  Commandant-General 
made  an  order  upon  its  margin,  in  which  permission  was  given  to  Armijo 
to  occupy  the  premises  described  therein  upon  condition  that  he  should  not 
in  any  manner  molest  or  disturb  the  wild  Indians  who  lived  upon  it ;  but, 
on  the  contrary,  he  should  endeavor  to  inspire  them  with  confidence  in  the 
whites  ;  and  should  any  act  of  rebellion  occur  among  them  he  should  imme- 
diately communicate  the  same  to  Solano,  the  chief  of  the  "  Suisunes,"  with 
whom,  by  reason  of  his  proximity  with  both  parties,  it  would  be  convenient 
to  advise  as  to  whatever  might  conduce  to  the  lives  and  tranquility  of  the 
settlers.  Armijo,  upon  this  order,  entered  into  the  possession  of  the  land, 
and  subsequently  presented  a  petition  substantially  the  same  as  the  one  to 
the  Commandant- General,  to  Jose  Castro,  the  Prefect  of  the  First  District, 
asking  for  a  permanent  grant,  in  accordance  with  the  law  of  colonization. 

This  petition  the  Prefect  referred  to  the  Governor,  together  with  his 
Report  upon  the  same,  as  follows : 

"  Most  Excellent  Senior  Governor : 

"  The  Prefecture  being  informed  of  the  petition  which  Jose  Francisco 
Armijo  makes  in  claiming  the  land  which  he  indicates,  and  of  the  order 
of  the  Senor  Commandant-General,  no  objection  is  found  to  the  concession 
which  the  Government  ought  to  decree,  provided  the  party  interested  ob- 
tains the  necessary  requisites  to  be  attended  to,  and  that  the  place  which  he 
solicits  is  found  to  be  entirely  vacant. 

(Signed)        Jose  Castro." 

In  response  to  the  petition,  Governor  Alvarado,  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1840,  issued  a  grant  to  Armijo  for  the  three  square  leagues,  to  which  grant 
the  same  conditions  were  annexed  as  were  contained  in  the  grant  to  Solano, 
relative  to  the  manner  of  acquiring  possession,  establishing  boundary  lines, 
and  the  planting  of  trees  within  its  limits,  to  which  an  additional  condition 
was  annexed  that  through  no  motive  whatever  should  he  in  any  manner 
molest  the  Indians  who  were  there  located,  nor  the  immediate  neighbors 
with  whom  he  would  adjoin. 

The  grant  was  issued  in  all  respects  with  due  regard  to  form,  with  the 
single  exception  that  it  never  received  the  approval  of  the  Departmental 
Assembly,  as  was  the  case  in  the  Suisun  grant.  However,  it  was  subse- 
quently decided  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  this  State  that  such  lack  of  ap- 
proval did  not  in  any  way  impair  its  title. 

Solano's  title  to  the  Suisun  grant  was  subsequently  acquired  by  M.  G. 
Vallejo,  by  purchase,  and  that  of  Armijo  to  the  Tolenas,  upon  his  death,  in 
1849,  by  his  son  Antonio. 

Before  the  death  of  the  elder  Armijo,  some  time  in  the  year  1847,  a  dis- 
pute arose  between  M.  G.  Vallejo,  Solano's  grantee,  and  Armijo,  concerning 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  135 

the  location  of  the  boundary  line  between  the  two  grants,  which  resulted  in 
the  institution  of  an  action  of  tresspass  by  Vallejo  against  Armijo,  before 
Alcalde  L.  W.  Boggs,  Armijo  claiming  that  a  certain  arroyo  seco,  or  dry 
gulch,  formed  the  line,  and  Vallejo  placing  it  some  distance  to  the  north- 
ward, the  difference  in  question  involving  several  thousand  acres-  of  land. 
It  was  finally,  agreed,  however,  that  the  matter  be  submitted  to  two  arbi- 
trators, whose  decision  should  be  final.  Accordingly  one  Cajetano  Juarez 
was  selected  as  arbitrator  on  the  part  of  Vallejo,  and  one  Salvador  Vallejo, 
on  the  part  of  Armijo. 

The  arbitrators  held  a  meeting  in  August,  1847,  at  which  time  proofs  and 
documents  on  both  sides  were  presented  to  them,  and  on  the  16th  of  that 
month  they  submitted  the  following  award : 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  appointed  arbitrators  by  and  for  Mariano  G.  Vallejo, 
and  Francisco  Armijo,  to  decide  upon  the  question  existing  between  them 
for  having  the  last  trespassed  his  limits,  and  usurping  part  of  the  land  be- 
longing to  the  farm  of  the  first,  as  it  is  expressed  in  the  complaint  presented 
before  the  Alcalde  of  the  jurisdiction,  L.  W.  Boggs  ;  and  after  hearing  the 
declaration  of  both  parties,  and  examination  made  of  the  proofs  and  docu- 
ments presented  to  us,  we  find  that  the  limits  of  each  farm  are  clearly  deter- 
mined, in  their  respective  titles,  being  those  of  the  Tolenas  farm,  according 
to  the  said,  the  Suisun  creek,  which  runs  to  the  N.  N.  E.  of  Suisun,  and  be- 
ginning from  thence,  at  the  first  limits  mentioned  there  are  to  be  measured 
three  leagues  running  at  E.  N.  E.  as  the  ridge  (Sierra)  runs  ;  leaving  the  said 
ridge  the  natural  limits  lying  between  the  two  farms,  separate  them,  leaving 
one  at  the  north  and  the  other  at  the  south.  Thus  neither  of  the  both 
parties  is  prejudicated,  and  the  titual  meaning  of  the  respective  titles  to 
both  farms  are  fulfilled  with,  and  in  order  to  so  not  burden  one  part  more 
than  another,  the  costs  of  the  judgment  and  those  of  the  tribunal  ought  to 
be  paid  equally  by  both  parties. 

"And  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  contents  of  this  present  writing,  we  sign  it 
by  our  hands  and  seals  before  the  Alcalde  of  this  jurisdiction,  on  the  16th 
day  of  August,  A.  D.  1847. 

(Signed)        Cajetano  Juarez, 

Arbitrator  for  M.  G.  Vallejo. 

(Signed)        M.  G.  Vallejo. 

(Signed)        Salvador  Vallejo, 
Arbitrator  for  Francisco  Armijo. 

(Signed)        Francisco  Armijo." 

This  award  as  before  stated,  was  made  upon  proofs  and  documents  pre- 
sented by  both  parties,  and  was  recived  as  a  victory  for  the  Armijo  faction. 
For  a  time  the  matter  was  regarded  as  settled ;  but  the  question  subse- 
quently came  again  into  dispute  between  purchasers  under  the  respective 
claimants,  in  which  the  Armijo  faction    claimed    that  the  award  was  final 


136  THE   HISTOKY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

and  conclusive  of  the  action  in  their  favor,  and  they  also  offered  testimony 
to  show  that  Vallejo  and  others  claiming  under  him  had  stated  to  certain 
parties  that  the  arroyo  seco,  or  dry  gulch,  in  reality  formed  the  north  line 
of  the  Suisun  grant,  and  contended  that  such  admissions  fixed  the  boundary 
at  that  point. 

One  Archibald  A.  Ritchie  had  in  the  meantime  purchased  Vallejo's  in- 
terest, and  procured  a  United  States  Patent  for  a  large  tract  of  land,  which 
included  in  its  limits  that  in  controversy.  The  Ritchie  purchasers  claimed 
that  the  patent  was  in  effect  superior  to  the  award  made  by  the  arbitrators, 
though  issued  at  a  later  date,  and  for  a  time  a  bitter  warfare,  not  un- 
attended with  frequent  acts  of  violence  and  bloodshed,  was  waged  both  in 
and  out  of  Court.  The  matter  finally  culminated  in  the  celebrated  case  of 
Waterman  vs.  Smith,  in  which  it  was  decided  upon  appeal  to  the  Supreme 
Court  that  the  award  was  only  conclusive  until  the  action  of  the  General 
Government. 

The  dispute  was  continued  for  several  years,  however,  until  all  the  land 
in  controversy  was  finally  settled  by  compromise,  or  otherwise,  and  the 
danger  which  had  formerly  been  attendant  upon  its  ownership  being 
removed,  it  rapidly  increased  in  value,  amply  repaying  those  who  had  suc- 
ceeded in  retaining  their  claims  after  so  many  years  of  stubborn  and  tena- 
cious warfare. 

The  most  noted  litigation  almost  in  the  annals  of  the  State,  grew  out  of 
the  Suscol  and  the  so-called  "  El  Sobrante,"  or  Luco  grants.  In  the  case  of 
the  former,  it  was  claimed  that  General  M.  G.  Vallejo  had  at  various  times 
during  the  Mexican  troubles  furnished  the  Government  with  large  sums  of 
money  and  other  supplies ;  and  in  consideration  of  these  favors  and  in  part 
payment  for  his  services  as  an  officer  in  the  Government  employ,  the  Suscol, 
an  eleven  leagued  grant,  had  been  deeded  to  him.  The  title  subsequently 
came  into  dispute ;  and  after  a  most  vexatious  and  expensive  contest  in  the 
Courts,  the  grant  was  declared  invalid  and  became  public  land.  The  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States  came  to  the  relief  of  purchasers  under  the  Vallejo 
title  by  the  enactment  of  a  special  Pre-emption  Act,  allowing  them  to  enter 
such  lands,  at  $1.25  per  acre. 

In  the  case  of  the  "  Sobrante,"  one  Juan  Luco  claimed  to  have  purchased 
from  a  Mexican  vaquero  a  grant  which  he  had  received  from  the  Mexican 
Government,  of  the  stupendous  quantity  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-four 
thousand  acres  ;  but  this  grant,  after  a  number  of  years  of  litigation,  was 
rejected  by  the  Courts,  and  that  vast  extent  of  territory  added  to  the  public 
domain. 

In  respect  to  the  Vaca  and  Pena  grant,  nearly  the  entire  property  has 
gone  out  of  the  hands  of  the  original  grantees,  they  farming  and  owning  but 
a  very  small  portion  of  the  original  estate,  while  a  history  of  the  Los  Ulpino 
grant  will  be  found  in  the  description  of  the  township  of  Rio  Vista. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  137 


MURDER  TRIALS  OF   SOLANO  COUNTY. 


THE  PEOPLE  VS.  EDWARD  CROCKER  —  WILLIAM  KEMP  —  BEVERLEY  WELLS  — 
GEORGE  K.  MANN  —  ROBERT  B.  MCMILLAN  —  PHILANDER  ARNOLD  —  JACOB 
ZAESCK — MERRILL  JAMES — D.  H.  FITZPATRICK  —  FRANK  GRADY  — WILLIAM 
WESTPHAL — D.  G.  GORDON — PANCHO  VALENCIA — GUADALUPE  VALENCIA — 
JAMES   MALLON — JAMES   LOWTHER. 


Mention  has  been  made  in  another  portion  of  this  volume,  of  the  estab- 
lishment of  Perfectures,  and  a  Judge  of  First  Instance;  while  the  judg- 
ment decreed  in  a  suit  heard  in  the  court  of  the  latter,  has  been  copied 
verbatim. 

With  the  acquisition  of  California  by  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  increase  of  population,  better  provision  was  made  for  carry- 
ing out  the  law.  County  Courts  were  established,  and  the  Seventh  Judi- 
cial District  Court,  among  others,  inaugurated.  The  first  Judge  of  this 
Court  was  Robert  Hopkins,  who  was  succeeded  by  E.  W.  McKinstry,  now 
of  the  Supreme   Court. 

In  the  following  resume  of  the  chief  trials  which  have  taken  place  in 
Solano  county,  we  have  confined  ourselves  to  those  of  individuals  who  have 
been  arraigned  for  the  crime  of  murder.  It  has,  however,  been  deemed  best 
to  refer  to  the  following  curious  case  as  a  starting  point. 

The  People  v.  Edward  Crocker.  —  This  was  a  case  instituted  at  the 
instance  of  S.  G.  Hastings,  Attorney-General,  complaining  that  the  defend- 
ant had  intruded  himself  into  the  office  of  County  Treasurer,  and  un- 
lawfully held  and  exercised  the  duties  of  said  office,  and  received  the 
emoluments  thereof.  The  plaintiff  represented  the  different  appointments 
to  the  office  from  its  incipience  in  1851,  until  the  election  of  November, 
1852,  when  George  Leviston  was  preferred  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  for 
which  Osgood  H.  Evans,  the  original  Treasurer,  since  dead,  had  been 
elected.  That  in  due  time  his  certificate  of  election  had  been  granted 
and  bond  filed ;  but,  on  demanding  the  books  from  S.  C.  Gray,  the  ap- 
pointee of  the  Court  of  Session  as  the  locum  tenens  of  Evans,  prior 
to  the  general  election,  he  refused  to  deliver  them  to  the  said  Leviston,  and 
continued  to  exercise  the  duties  of  the  office  and  receive  the  emoluments 
until  the  14th  of  December,  1852,  when  he  left  the  county.  That  on  or 
about  the  16th  of  December,  the  defendant,  Crocker,  intruded  himself  into 
the  office  without  legal  authority,  and  unlawfully  held  the  books  and  papers 
from  Leviston,  to  the  detriment  of  the  public  interests. 


138  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

In  answer,  the  defendant  gave  a  general  denial  to  the  case  as  set  forth  in 
the  complaint,  which,  on  going  to  trial,  Judge  McKinstry,  on  February  3, 
1853,  found  for  the  plaintiff  with  costs.  » 

The  People  v.  Peter  William  Kemp. — The  first  murder  trial  in  Solano, 
county  was  that  of  Peter  William  Kemp,  for  the  killing  of  Thomas  Sullivan 
on  the  night  of  February  1,  1855.  The  victim  was  a  fireman  on  board  of 
one  of  the  steamers  then  lying  in  the  port  of  Benicia,  while  the  slayer  was 
a  workman  in  the  blacksmith's  shop  of  the  Pacific  Works  there.  From  the 
evidence  adduced  at  the  trial,  it  would  appear  that  Sullivan  and  Kemp, 
who  lived  together,  had  a  quarrel  as  to  which  of  the  two  should  cook  their 
supper,  and  that  the  latter  took  up  a  Mississippi  rifle  which  was  within 
reach,  and  followed  the  former  into  a  room,  in  the  act  of  doing  which  the 
piece  exploded,  killing  Sullivan.  The  verdict  at  the  trial  was  one  of  not 
guilty. 

Among  the  witnesses  examined  in  this  case  for  the  prosecution  were  Bev- 
erley Wells,  whose  trial  for  murder  immediately  follows  this,  and  that  of  his 
boon  companion,  John  C.  Heenan,  the  "  Benicia  Boy,"  of  prize-fighting  fame. 

The  People  v.  Beverley  T.  Wells. — The  facts  of  this  distardly  deed 
are  these :  James  H.  Dunn,  was  Third  Assistant  Engineer  of  the  Pacific 
Mail  Steamer  "  Golden  Gate ;"  he  was  killed  by  Beverley  Wells,  under  the 
following  circnmstances  :  It  appears  that  Dunn  and  Wells  had  been  inti- 
mate friends  for  some  time  ;  that  whenever  the  "  Golden  Gate  "  was  in  port 
they  were  constant  companions,  and  never  had  any  difficulty  previous  to 
the  17th  February,  1856.  On  that  morning  they  went  out  together  to  take 
a  pleasure  ride  in  a  buggy.  In  the  evening  they  returned  and  proceeded  to 
the  steamboat  landing.  After  remaining  there  a  short  time,  Wells  got  into 
the  buggy,  and  started  up  town ;  Dunn  ran  after  him,  saying,  "  Hold  on ! " 
what,  are  you  going  without  me  ?"  and  caught  the  horse  by  the  head.  Some 
angry  words  passed  between  them,  when  WTells  proceeded  to  the  stable  of 
the  American  Hotel  with  the  buggy,  and  paid  the  bill.  He  then  went  to 
the  store  of  Mr.  T.  Pander,  and  purchased  a  large  knife,  and  then  walked 
down  towards  the  wharf.  When  about  half-way  along  the  plank  road  lead- 
ing from  the  ferry  house  to  the  landing,  he  was  met  by  Dunn  and  a  man 
named  James  Morgan.  Dunn  said  :  "  Hallo  Beverley ;"  and  immediately 
Wells  struck  him  with  the  knife  several  times  in  quick  succession.  Dunn 
fell,  crying :  "  Morgan,  run  for  a  doctor — I'm  stabbed  ;  Oh,  Mother  !  Mother ! 
Mother  ! "  He  expired  in  about  ten  minutes.  On  examining  the  body,  four 
ghastly  wounds  were  found,  one  in  the  abdomen  at  least  six  inches  long, 
through  which  the  bowels  protruded ;  one  in  the  right  breast ;  one  in  the 
right  thigh,  six  or  eight  inches  long,  and  another  on  the  right  arm,  near  the 
right  shoulder,  completely  severing  the  muscles.     Wells  was  a  large,  power- 


THE    HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY.  139 

ful  man :  Dunn,  about  the  medium  size,  slightly  built.  The  murderer  was 
at  once  arrested ;  but  there  being  no  jail  in  Benicia,  where  the  foul  deed 
was  perpetrated,  he  was  confined  in  Martinez  prison,  Contra  Costa  County. 

The  trial  of  the  accused  commenced  on  June  17th,  and  lasted  the  two 
following  days;  and  was  fully  argued  on  both  sides,  when  on  the  19th  the 
following  verdict  was  brought  in :  "  The  jury  in  the  case  of  the  People  of 
the  State  of  California  vs.  Beverley  T.  Wells,  find  the  said  Beverley  T. 
Wells  guilty  of  the  crime  of  murder.     John  Doughty,  Foreman." 

Monday,  the  23rd  of  June,  was  fixed  by  the  Court  to  pronounce  sentence, 
which  was  done  as  follows :  It  is  ordered,  adjudged  and  decreed  by  this 
Court,  that  the  said  Beverley  T.  Wells  be  remanded  to  jail  in  charge  of  the 
Sheriff,  from  whence  he  be  taken  to  some  suitable  place,  to  be  selected  by 
said  Sheriff,  in  Solano  county,  on  Friday,  August  the  eighth,  A.  D.  1856, 
between  the  hours  of  ten  A.  M.  of  that  day,  and  four  P.  M.  of  the  same 
day,  and  then  hung  by  the  neck  until  he  be  dead. 

As  the  execution  of  Wells  was  the  first  to  take  place  in  Solano  county, 
we  reproduce  an  account  of  it  from  the  "  Herald  "  of  August  9th,  1856  : 

"  Upon  examination,  it  was  found  that  our  jail  did  not  afford  the  neces- 
sary room,  and  no  other  place  could  be  procured  in  town  (Benicia)  for  the 
purpose.  It  was,  therefore,  necessary  to  have  the  scaffold  erected  in  as 
secluded  a  spot  as  possible,  in  the  hills  adjacent  to  the  town.  « 

'  The  ferry-boat,  '  Carquinez,'  being  laid  up,  repairing,  the  Sheriff  found 
it  necessary  to  provide  a  small  vessel  to  transport  the  prisoner  from  Marti- 
nez (where  he  had  been  confined).  An  escort  of  twenty  men  was  detailed 
from  the  Solano  Engine  Company,  at  the  request  of  the  Sheriff,  to  perform 
guard  duty,  and  all  left  at  an  early  hour  for  Martinez.  The  prisoner  had 
been  attended  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  McDonald  (at  present  writing,  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  the  Ascension,  at  Vallejo),  and  he  was  immediately  taken  on 
board  the  vessel,  which  arrived  at  the  wharf  at  half -past  eight  —  Rev.  Mr. 
Woodbridge  met  them  there.  The  prisoner  appeared  quite  weak  from  loss 
of  blood,  but  was  calm,  and  expressed  himself  as  prepared  to  die.  He  had 
a  short  interview  with  one  of  his  counsel,  to  whom  he  renewed  his  assur- 
ance of  the  truth  of  his  former  statements  of  the  affair,  and  referring  to  a 
letter  he  had  written  about  the  time  of  his  first  attempt  to  commit  suicide, 
requested  that  it  might  be  published  after  his  death. 

"  At  precisely  ten  o'clock  the  procession  moved  to  the  place  of  execution, 
accompanied  by  a  large  number  of  people.  On  arriving  at  the  place, 
he  ascended  the  scaffold,  attended  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Woodbridge  and 
McDonald,  Mr.  Sheriff  Shirley,  and  one  of  his  deputies. 

'  The  Sheriff  immediately  proceeded  to  read  the  warrant,  and,  upon  its 
conclusion,  informed  the  prisoner  that  he  could  then  have  an  opportunity 
to  say  anything  he  might  wi.-:h  Whereupon,  he  stepped  forward  firmly, 
and  in  a  clear,  unbroken  voice,  spoke,  substantially  as  follows : 


140  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

"  '  Gentlemen — This  is  a  malicious  murder  !  James  Morgan  has  perjured 
himself  on  the  trial,  not  once,  but  fifteen  or  twenty  times  !  He  is  my  mur- 
derer !  The  homicide  of  Dunn,  I  am  sure  was  justifiable  !  I  forgive  Morgan. 
I  am  about  to  die  like  a  man.  I  commit  myself  to  God,  and  die  on  ami- 
cable terms  with  all  men.' 

"  He  then  stepped  forward  on  the  drop ;  his  arms  and  limbs  were  tied  by 
the  Sheriff,  and  the  prayers  of  the  Episcopal  Church  were  read  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  McDonald;  at  their  conclusion,  and  at  the  given  signal,  the  drop  fell. 
To  all  appearances  he  died  instantly ;  and  after  one  or  two  slight  convulsive 
struggles,  all  was  still. 

"  The  execution  was  witnessed  by  about  four  hundred  people,  all  of  whom 
seemed  deeply  affected,  and  throughout  the  entire  scene  the  most  perfect 
decorum  prevailed.  Mr.  Paul  Shirley,  the  Sheriff,  and  Messrs.  Estell  and 
A.  J.  Bryant,  Under  and  Deputy- Sheriffs,  respectively,  performed  their  re- 
spective duties  in  a  highly  satisfactory  manner." 

The  following  is  a  letter  which  Wells  wrote  while  in  Martinez  jail  at  the 
time  when  suicide  was  contemplated  by  him : 

"  To  the  Public — Gentlemen :  My  life  is  a  burden  to  me  at  this  present 
time  ;  and  being  of  a  proud  spirit,  and  the  way  that  I  have  been  so  unjustly 
dealt  with,  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  to  dispose  of  myself  in  the  man- 
ner which  you  here  observe.  I  think  that  I  am  in  my  rational  mind,  al- 
though sorely  afflicted  with  my  present  position,  together  with  the  false 
heart  and  flattering  tongue  of  James  Morgan,  has  caused  me  to  commit 
myself  in  the  manner  that  I  have,  and  to  present  my  soul  to  Almighty  God 
for  forgiveness  of  the  so-called  unpardonable  sin.  My  exposition  on  the 
23rd  of  June,  in  the  Court  House,  at  Benicia,  was  the  truth,  and  is  my 
dying  declaration.  I  die,  knowing  that  he,  James  Morgan,  has  swoi'n  to 
several  malicious  and  absolute  falsehoods  knowingly  ;  but  yet  I  forgive  him. 
I  hope  that  I  leave  this  world  on  amicable  terms  with  all  mankind.  After 
this  publication  let  my  name  be  ignored. 

"  Beverley    T.  Wells. 

"  Martinez  Jail,  July,  1856." 

It  may  be  interesting  here  to  note  that  Sheriff  Shirley  is  now  Senator 
from  Contra  Costa  county ;  Under-Sheriff  Estell  is  Under-Sheriff  of  Sacra- 
mento county  ;  and  Deputy-Sheriff  Bryant,  the  Mayor  of  San  Francisco. 

It  should  here  be  observed,  that  as  early  as  1854  a  case  of  homicide 
occurred  in  the  count}^.  when  Jonathan  Cook  was  killed  by  a  gun-shot  from 
George  K.  Mann ;  but,  owing  to  the  absconding  of  the  culprit,  with  Sifford, 
an  accomplice,  the  case  was  never  brought  to  trial.  The  facts  are  these : 
Cook,  it  appeared,  had  missed  a  considerable  amount  of  money,  and  charged 
Mann  with  the  theft  of  it,  which  was  indignantly  denied ;  while  Cook  was 
warned  not  to  repeat  such  an  accusation.     He  disregarded  the  warning ; 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  141 

angry  words  ensued,  which  was  followed  by  the  killing  of  Cook  as  above 
described.  This  deed  was  done  in  the  presence  of  a  Justice  of.  the  Peace, 
and  others  ;  yet  the  prisoner  escaped. 

The  People  v.  Robert  B.  McMillan. — This  was  a  case  of  killing  which 
occurred  in  Vacaville,  whereby  the  defendant  was  indicted  for  the  murder 
of  John  Parks,  by  reason  of  a  dispute  which  took  place  through  the  alleged 
trespass  of  certain  stock,  the  property  of  the  defendant.  The  case  was 
brought  for  trial  before  the  District  Court;  but  on  September  30,  1859,  the 
venue  was  changed  to  Yolo  county,  on  motion  of  the  attorney  for  the 
defendant. 

The  People  v.  Philander  Arnold. — The  defendant  was  indicted  and 
tried  for  feloniously  killing  one  John  M.  Sweeney,  at  a  certain  corral  in  the 
township  of  Montezuma,  in  Solano  county.  The  plea  put  in  was  that  the 
homicide  was  in  self-defense.  The  testimony,  was,  however,  somewhat  con- 
flicting as  to  the  facts  occurring  at  the  time  of  the  killing ;  or,  at  least,  was 
claimed  to  be  so  by  the  defendant.  The  reason  for  the  shooting  would 
appear  to  have  been,  that  a  difficulty  occurred  on  the  24th  of  August,  1859, 
between  Philander  Arnold  and  Sweeney,  in  the  course  of  which  the  former 
discharged  a  double-barrelled  shot-gun  at  the  latter,  the  charge  taking  effect 
in  his  thigh,  causing  Sweeney  to  fall  forward,  from  the  effects  of  which  he 
died  on  August  27th.  At  the  time  of  the  charge  of  murder  being  brought 
against  the  defendant,  the  charge  of  aiding  and  abetting  was  preferred 
against  Oscar  D.  Arnold,  the  son,  who  had  brought  the  weapon  to  his  father. 
The  Court,  in  its  instructions  to  the  jury,  took  occasion  to  make  the  follow- 
ing logical  remarks,  which  for  forcible  diction,  cannot  well  be  surpassed : 
"  When  you  were  being  impanelled,  certain  of  your  number  declared  that 
they  were  strongly  opposed  to  the  infliction  of  capital  punishment,  but  were 
not  prepared  to  say  that  this  opposition  would  preclude  them  from  finding 
a  verdict  of  guilty.  I  understood  them  to  indicate  only  that  as  citizens — 
by  vote  and  influence — they  would  endeavor  to  bring  about  such  a  change 
of  legislative  policy  as  would  abrogate  the  death  penalty,  and  substitute 
another  punishment  in  its  stead.  This  repugnance  to  taking  part  in  a  pro- 
ceeding which  may  result  in  depriving  a  human  being  of  that  life  which  we 
can  never  recall,  is  natural.  I  am  not  prepared  to  say  that  it  is  not  highly 
proper ;  at  least,  when  it  is  not  indulged  in  to  such  an  extent  as  to  cause 
us  timidly  to  shrink  from  one  of  the  duties  which,  as  freemen,  are  imposed 
upon  us  as  the  means  of  preserving  our  liberties,  among  which,  trial  by 
jury,  has  ever  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  our  privileges. 
I  trust  that,  not  only  those  of  your  number  who  are  opposed  to  capital 
punishment,  but  all  of  the  jurymen,  have  well  considered  the  consequences 
to  this  defendant,  of  a  verdict  of  murder  in  the  first  degree.  Upon  such 
verdict  will  follow  an  ignominious  execution — the  disgrace  of  an  interesting 


142  THE   HISTOET   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

family — and,  whether  or  not,  he  be  prepared  for  the  awful  separation — the 
dissolution  of  those  mysterious  bonds  which  unite  the  soul  to  its  earthy 
tenement. 

"  Logically,  it  might  be  argued  that  the  jury  have  nothing  to  do  with  all 
this  ;  that  their  task  is  simply  to  ascertain  whether  the  prisoner  at  the  bar 
be  guilty  or  not  guilty  of  the  offense  charged  in  the  indictment.  But  it 
would  be  demanding  too  much  of  human  nature,  as  it  is  constituted,  to  ask 
that  these  incidents  shall  be  disregarded ;  nor  do  I  think  it  desirable  to 
require  twelve  rational  men  to  shut  their  eyes  to  the  consequences  of  their 
own  acts.  Accord  them  all  due  importance  to  these  considerations.  They 
can  do  no  harm ;  while  they  operate  to  urge  you  on  to  a  full  and  candid  in- 
vestigation into  the  facts  of  this  case.  I  would  have  you  feel  the  weight  of 
the  responsibility  imposed  upon  you.  But  I  would  also  have  you  summon 
all  the  faculties  of  your  mind— especially  all  your  moral  courage — that  you 
may  make  yourselves  equal  to  the  responsibility.  I  would  have  you  prove 
yourselves  worthy  of  the  position  you  occupy  —  worthy  of  the  confidence 
reposed  in  you,  not  only  by  the  prisoner  and  the  Court,  but  also  by  the 
District  Attorney,  the  representative  of  the  People.  Remember  the  evil 
consequences,  if  you  permit  a  mistaken  clemency  to  overwhelm  the  dictates 
of  reason.  Although  they  may  not  seem  so  distinctly  visible  and  immediate, 
they  are  no  less  certain  than  those  which  flow  from  an  error  in  the  opposite 
direction.  If,  through  your  instrumentality,  an  innocent  man  should  suffer, 
or  a  guilty  man  escape,  you  may  not  cast  the  fault  upon  the  court,  the 
counsel,  or  even  upon  the  witnesses ;  for  you  must  say  whether  the  latter 
are  to  be  believed  or  not.  You  must  endeavor  in  such  case  to  satisfy  your 
own  violated  consciences,  and  make  peace  with  the  offended  God,  in  whose 
name  you  have  sworn  '  a  true  verdict  to  render,  and  true  deliverance  to 
make: — according  to  the  evidence.'  " 

After  a  full  trial,  the  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  of  manslaughter. 

The  People  v.  Joseph  Zaesck.  —  The  above  case  is  another  of  those  of 
trespass,  with  a  resort  to  violence,  to  enforce  what  was  thought  to  be  right. 
It  would  appear  that  the  defendant  had  ordered  off  Daniel  Thompson,  and 
his  brother,  Ole,  the  man  killed  by  Zaesck,  off  certain  grounds,  situated  on 
the  Montezuma  hills,  and  also  refused  to  give  up  certain  sheep,  their  prop- 
erty, which  had  strayed  into  the  flock  of  one  Ambrose,  for  whom  defendant 
had  been  a  herder.  A  dispute  ensued,  which  resulted  in  the  stabbing  of 
Ole  Thompson,  by  Zaesck,  inflicting  a  wound,  from  the  effects  of  which  he 
died  on  the  14th  day  of  November,  1861,  the  day  succeeding  the  commis- 
sion of  the  crime.  A  verdict  was  rendered  of  guilty,  on  May  20,  1862, 
and  he  was  finally  sent  to  the  State  prison  for  four  years. 

The  People  v.  Merrill  James. — This  was  a  case  in  which  the  defendant 
shot  one  Ashford  Ashbrook,  when  at  a  dance  at  Mr.  Fowler's  in  Green 
valley.     James  effected  his  escape,  and  has  never  been  brought  to  trial. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  143 

The  People  v,  D.  H.  Fitzpatrick. — This  was  one  more  of  those  cases 
arising  out  of  a  trespass,  where  the  use  of  firearms  was  resorted  to  by  Fitz- 
patrick, to  assert  his  rights,  resulting  in  the  shooting  of  one  Croesdale,  a 
squatter,  on  the  Potrero  Hills.  The  trial  was  had  in  due  course,  and  on 
Saturday,  May  21,  1864,  defendant  was  sentenced  to  ten  years  in  the 
State  prison  :  but,  after  serving  two  years,  through  the  indomitable  perse- 
verance and  energy  of  his  wife,  he  was  pardoned. 

The  People  v.  Frank  Grady. — This  was  a  cutting  affair  which  occurred 
at  the  election  polls  at  Bridgeport,  on  the  6th  of  September,  1865,  in  which 
a  man  named  English  was  killed  and  two  others  fearfully  wounded,  while  a 
third  received  two  shots  in  his  breast  and  shoulder  from  a  pistol.  The  cir- 
cumstances attending  the  emeute  are  briefly  these :  About  this  time 
English  aud  his  two  sons,  Charles  and  Perry,  were  cutting  wood  on  land 
owned  by  Perry  Durbin,  and  the  latter  restrained  them  by  injunction,  on 
account  of  which,  it  is  supposed  Charles  English  made  complaint  to  the 
military  authorities  at  Benicia  and  caused  the  arrest  of  Durbin,  Ramsey, 
Lamoree,  Stilts  and  others  for  rejoicing  over  the  assassination  of  President 
Lincoln.  While  at  the  polls,  as  above  stated,  English  and  Durbin  were 
conversing ;  English  gave  the  lie  to  Durbin ;  Durbin  made  a  motion  as  of 
drawing  a  weapon,  whereupon  Charles  English  drew  his  revolver  and  com- 
menced firing,  two  of  the  shots  taking  effect  upon  Durbin,  hitting  him  in 
the  left  breast  and  shoulder.  Durbin  then  drawing  his  knife,  turned  upon 
Charles,  who,  in  attempting  to  escape,  ran  out  of  doo  s,  but  stumbled  and 
fell,  and  commenced  cutting  at  his  throat,  presenting  a  most  horrible  sight. 
Perry  English  on  seeing  his  brother  in  a  critical  position,  ran  to  his  assist- 
tance,  but  just  as  he  reached  the  contending  parties,  Frank  Grady  drew 
his  revolver  and  shot  Perry  just  at  back  and  under  his  right  ear,  killing 
him  instantly.  Grady  mounted  his  horse  and  left  for  parts  unknown.  The 
father  then  went  to  the  relief  of  his  son  Charles,  when  Durbin  turned  upon 
the  old  man,  and  stabbed  him  in  the  breast  three  times,  making  fearful 
wounds.  Durbin  and  the  elder  English  were  brothers-in-law.  In  due 
course  Grady  was  captured  and  twice  tried,  when  on  19th  September,  1866, 
he  was  acquitted. 

The  People  v.  William  Westphal. — The  facts  of  this  case  are :  Two 
Prussians,  Fritz  Poizing  and  William  Westphal,  were  engaged  in  hauling 
barley  from  Westphal's  ranch,  about  five  miles  south-east  of  Denverton,  to  the 
residence  of  Poizing,  and  when  near  the  latter  place  went  to  the  house  and 
informed  Mrs.  Westphal,  half  sister  of  Poizing,  that  he  had  fallen  from  the 
wagon,  and  had  been  killed  by  being  run  over.  She  at  once  repaired  to  the 
spot  and  found  Poizing  still  living  and  able  to  raise  upon  his  elbow  and 
signify  by  motions  that  he  wanted  water.     She  at  once  started  to  procure 


144  HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

the  required  beverage  for  the  wounded  man,  when,  after  proceeding  a  short 
distance,  on  looking  around,  she  saw  Westphal  strike  Poizing  three  times 
upon  the  head  with  an  axe,  exclaiming  "  I  will  fix  you  out  this  time,"  and 
on  again  returning  to  the  spot  found  life  extinct.  The  defendant  was  found 
not  guilty  in  the  May  term,  1866. 

The  People  v.  D.  G.  Gordon. — The  particulars  of  this  case  are :  The 
crime  was  committed  at  Vacaville  by  the  killing  of  William  Byron  by 
David  G.  Gordon.  It  appears  that  Byron  and  Gordon  had  been  on  terms 
of  enmity  for  some  time,  and  during  the  day  had  been  using  severe  language 
towards  each  other.  Just  before  the  occurrence  Byron  was  playing  billiards 
in  a  saloon  with  Antonio  Do  Santos,  and  was  just  preparing  to  make  a  play, 
when  Gordon  came  in  somewhat  intoxicated.  The  latter  approached  Byron, 
put  his  arm  around  him,  and  the  two  talked  for  a  little  while  apparently 
very  amicably.  They  then  shook  hands,  but  as  Gordon  turned  to  go  away 
Byron  struck  him  with  his  cue,  raising  it  to  strike  him  again,  when  Gordon 
drew  his  pistol  and  shot  Byron  in  the  stomach.  The  latter  then  ran  out  of 
the  back  door  and  Gordon  pursued  him  to  the  creek,  firing  at  him  four 
different  times,  each  shot  taking  effect.  Byron  fell  near  the  creek  and  ex- 
pired in  a  few  moments.  On  21st  May,  1868,  Gordon  was  convicted  of 
manslaughter. 

The  record  of  crime  of  this  man  Gordon  did  not  cease  here,  for  he  has 
since  in  the  State  of  Missouri  been  found  guilty  of  murder  and  sentenced 
to  death,  which  was  afterwards  commuted  to  imprisonment  for  life. 

The  People  v.  James  Campbell  and  Annie  Robinson. — This  was  a  case 
of  poisoning  which  took  place  on  the  25th  January,  1869,  whereby  Jabez 
Robinson  lost  his  life  by  the  administering  of  strychnia  at  the  hands  of 
the  defendants.  Campbell,  who  though  only  an  accessory  before  the  fact, 
was  indicted  and  tried  as  a  principal  and  convicted  and  sentenced  to  death. 
Against  this  judgment  he  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court,  on  the  grounds 
that  the  verdict  was  insufficient  inasmuch  that  the  jury  had  omitted  to 
specify  the  degree  of  murder  in  their  finding.  This  was  held  to  be  good  in 
law  by  Judges  Crockett,  Rhodes,  Temple  and  Wallace  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  Judgment  was  therefore  reversed  and  the  cause  remanded  for  a 
new  trial.  This  was  appointed  to  take  place  on  January  23,  1871,  and  one 
hundred  persons  were  summoned  for  difficulty  was  expected  in  the  selection 
of  a  jury.  One,  however,  was  impanelled,  who  brought  in  a  verdict  of  not 
guilty. 

The  People  v.  Pancho  Valencia  and  Guadalupe  Valencia. — The  cir- 
cumstances attending  this  murder  are  briefly  these :  On  the  night  of  the 
3d  March,  1871,  at  seven  o'clock,  after  the  family  of  Joseph  W.  Hewitt 
had  taken  supper  and  retired  to  the  parlor  with  some  visitors,  one  of  the 
family  went  to  the  door,  in  opening  which  she  discovered  two  men  crouch- 
ing low  and  approaching  the  house;    finding   they   were    observed  they 


TH2 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  145 

straightened  up  and  coming  towards  her  asked  for  "  the  man  of  the  house." 
The  little  girl,  Lizzie,  who  had  gone  to  the  door,  went  into  the  inner  room 
and  called  her  father,  who  came  to  the  door ;  she  followed  him.  Upon  this 
one  of  the  men  asked  Hewitt  if  they  could  stay  there  all  night.  Hewitt 
replied  that  in  consequence  of  there  being  company  in  the  house,  and  his 
barn  having  been  burnt  but  a  few  weeks  ago,  he  could  not  accommodate  them, 
but  informed  them  that  they  would  be  able  to  obtain  the  desired  lodgings 
at  the  next  ranch  where  there  was  a  barn.  The  man  who  had  questioned 
him  at  first,  now  asked  him  if  he  would  mind  coming  out  a  little  way  and 
point  out  to  them  the  direction.  Hewitt  complied  and  stepping  off  the 
porch  walked  down  the  yard  a  few  paces,  and  while  raising  his  hand  to 
direct  them,  the  larger  of  the  two  men — he  who  had  spoken  during  the 
interview — drew  a  pistol  and  shot  Hewitt  who  fell  crying  "  I  am  murdered." 
The  defendants  were  traced  into  Contra  Costa  county,  arrested,  brought 
home  and  put  upon  their  trial  for  murder.  Guadalupe  was  discharged,  but 
Pencho  was  convicted  and  sentenced  to  death,  said  sentence  having  been 
carried  out  on  November  24,  1871,  making  the  second  execution  in  Solano 
county. 

The  People  v.  James  Mallon. — A  case  of  wife  murder  which  occurred 
at  Benicia  on  the  evening  of  the  23d  May,  1877,  where  the  defendant  came 
home  drunk  and  beat  his  wife  until  death  ensued.  He  was  in  due  course 
arrested,  tried  and  convicted  of  murder  in  the  first  degree,  and  on  Septem- 
ber 25th,  was  sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  life. 

The  People  v.  James  Lowther. — On  Sunday,  June  lGth,  1878,  the  town 
of  Rio  Vista  was  thrown  into  a  high  state  of  excitement  by  the  killing  of 
John  Thompson  by  a  stranger,  and  apparently  in  cold  blood,  without  cause  or 
provocation.  The  shooting  occurred  on  Thompson's  door  step  and  in  full 
view  of  his  wife.  The  murderer  gave  himself  up  to  the  officers  and  was 
lodged  in  jail,  and  in  due  time  tried.  At  the  trial  the  following  facts  were 
developed :  The  murderer's  name  was  James  Lowther,  a  resident  of  San 
Francisco.  He  had  a  sister  named  Rebecca  to  whom  it  was  alleged  that 
Thompson  had  been  engaged  to  be  married  at  one  time,  and  while  so  en- 
gaged to  her  had  seduced  her.  It  came  to  Lowther's  ears  that  Thompson 
had  made  his  boast  of  his  seduction,  whereupon  Lowther  took  the  steamer 
the  following  Sunday  for  Vallejo,  thence  by  rail  to  Fairfield,  thence  in 
a  '  sulky  '  across  the  country  to  Rio  Vista.  Once  there  he  inquired  for 
.Thompson  and  was  shown  his  house.  (Thompson  was  married  to  another 
woman  and  was  living  in  his  own  house).  Lowther  went  to  the  door, 
knocked,  and  Thompson  came  to  the  door.  A  very  few  words  passed  be- 
tween them  when  Lowther  drew  a  revolver  and  shot  Thompson,  the  ball 
taking  effect  in  the  region  of  the  heart.  Thompson  lived  but  a  few 
minutes.  Lowther  was  tried  twice  for  the  murder,  and  both  times  the 
jury  disagreed.  He  is  at  present  out  on  bail. 
10 


146  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


BBNICIA. 


The  following  interesting  record  of  the  township  and  city  of  Benicia  has 
been  most  kindly  furnished  to  us  by  S.  C.  Gray,  Esq.,  an  old  pioneer  of  that 
city.  We  reproduce  it,  because  a  fuller  and  more  concise  record  would  be 
hard  to  find  ;  and  we  take  this  opportunity  to  thank  the  author  for  his 
kindness  in  extending  to  us  the  permission  to  allow  it  to  form  a  no  mean 
portion  of  the  history  of  Solano  county  : 

"RECOLLECTIONS  OF  BENICIA. 

A  Lecture— By  S.  C.  Gray. 

From  the  Pacific  Ocean,  whose  waters  press  the  shores  of  California, 
along  a  coast  line  scarcely  less  than  one  thousand  miles  in  extent,  between 
the  117th  and  124th  parallels  of  W.  longitude,  and  from  the  32d  to  the  42d 
parallel  of  N.  latitude,  the  main  entrance  into  this  great  State  for  the  ship- 
ping and  commerce  of  all  nations,  is  through  the  world-renowned  "  Golden 
Gate,"  the  outlet  for  the  waters  contained  within  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco. 

The  striking  features  of  the  "  Golden  Gate  "  have  been  described  again 
and  again,  by  many  writers ;  and  its  praises  will  continue  to  be  sounded  so 
long  as  the  soul  of  man  is  touched  by  those  beauties  of  nature  that  are  pre- 
sented to  his  appreciation  through  the  medium  of  his  sight. 

As  a  counterpart,  or,  perhaps,  a  continuation  of  this"  charming  "  Golden 
Gate,"  may  be  regarded  the  less  renowned  but  equally  beautiful,  "  Straits  of 
Carquinez,"  constituting  the  passage  from  the  San  Francisco  and  San  Pablo 
bays  into  Suisun  bay,  that  receptacle  for  all  the  interior  waters  of  the  State, 
which  from  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin 
valleys,  have  here  descended  to  flow  on  their  way  to  the  sea  through  the 
deep  and  commodious  channel  of  these  Straits. 

On  account  of  their  bold  shores  and  beautiful  outlines,  the  Straits  have 
been  likened  to  the  Bosphorus,  near  Constantinople ;  and  it  may  well  be 
predicted,  that  in  time  when  these  hillsides  have  been  subjected  to  the 
culture  and  adorned  with  the  improvements  of  which  they  are  susceptible, 
they  will  fairly  rival  that  famous  highway  in  attractiveness. 

On  the  north  side  of  these  Straits,  at  a  distance  of  twenty-eight  miles 
from  San  Francisco,  by  the  usual  traveled  route  on  steamer,  but  of  not  more 
than  twenty-three  miles  north-eastwardly,  in  an  air  line,  is  situated  the 
whilom  city  of  Benicia,  the  scene  of  the  reminiscences  which  are  to  be  made 
the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch.  And  what  claim  has  Benicia,  or  its  history, 
to  our  present  consideration  ? 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  147 

As  we  proceed,  it  is  hoped  that  in  due  time  this  shall  be  made  satisfact- 
orily to  appear. 

Occupying  a  site,  acknowledged  to  be  rarely  equalled  for  its  natural 
advantages,  on  account  of  its  capacious,  land-locked  harbor,  having  a  great 
depth  of  water  (not  less  than  ten  fathoms  in  mid-channel),  its  continuous 
water  front  for  miles,  the  shores  gently  sloping  up  to  the  hills  in  the  back- 
ground, thus  affording  a  perfect  natural  system  of  drainage,  its  position  as 
a  center  towards  which  the  great  lines  of  travel  must  necessarily  converge, 
and  of  its  picturesque  surroundings,  it  early  attracted  the  attention  of  ad- 
venturous travelers,  a  few  of  whom,  at  least,  confidently  believed  it  to  be 
fitted  by  nature,  and  destined  to  become  in  time,  a  commercial  city  of  very 
considerable  importance. 

For  a  time,  within  the  present  generation,  this  view  seemed  likely  to  be 
realized  ;  but  that  time  has  passed ;  and  if  it  is  to  be  renewed,  it  must  be 
in  the  uncertain  future,  farther  than  the  most  gifted  are  permitted  now  to 
discern. 

The  panorama  visible  from  the  highest  point  within  its  limits,  is  one  of 
surpassing  beauty,  such  as  few  cities  anywhere  can  boast,  and  needs  but 
to  be  seen  to  be  admired.  From  this  point,  which  is  easily  reached,  at  the 
moderate  elevation  of  400  feet  above  the  level  of  the  bay,  and  distant  but 
two  miles  from  the  water-front,  may  be  seen,  looking  northward  at  a  dist- 
ance of  about  20  miles,  the  twin  peaks  of  the  Suisun  mountains,  which 
separate  Napa  valley  from  Suisun  valley,  with  a  glimpse  of  the  Vaca  mount- 
ains, distant  about  30  miles  ;  N.  E.  the  range  of  Green  valley  hills,  which 
hide  from  view  Suisun  and  the  great  valley  of  the  Sacramento ;  eastward, 
the  whole  extent  of  Suisun  bay,  bounded  by  the  Montezuma  hills,  20  miles 
distant,  with  the  white  line  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  rising  in  majesty,  100 
miles  beyond;  S.  E.  the  Black  Diamond  coal  hills,  and  grand  old  Mount 
Diablo,  which,  though  20  miles  distant,  looks  scarcely  more  than  five,  in  all 
its  full  proportions,  from  base  to  summit,  towering  above  the  valley  which 
bears  its  name  ;  S.,  the  village  of  Martinez,  snugly  embowered  in  its  cosy 
shelter  under  the  lee  of  its  own  wooded  hills,  with  the  great  coast  range  of 
mountains  stretching  out  beyond  ;  S.  and  S.  S.  W.,  the  placid  Straits  of  Car- 
quinez,  hemmed  in  by  the  Contra  Costa  hills,  which  conceal  from  view  the 
cities  on  the  lower  bay,  but  cannot  prevent  stern  Mount  Tamalpais  from 
asserting  itself  prominently  against  the.  south-western  sky  ;  then  westward 
the  eye  rests  and  lingers  enchantedly  on  this  second  "  Golden  Gate  "  of  the 
Straits,  opening  out  into  San  Pablo  Bay,  of  whose  broad  bosom  the  view  is 
only  limited  by  the  distant  hills  of  Marin  county,  some  25  miles  away ; 
then  W.  N.  W.,  the  city  of  Vallejo  and  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,  in  the  fore- 
ground, with  the  hills  near  Petaluma  in  the  distance ;  and  finally,  in  the  N. 
W.,  the  Sonoma  mountains,  and  in  the  N.  N.  W.,  the  Suscol  hills,  amid 
which,  the  view  ends  with  Sulphur  Spring  mountain,  some  five  miles  dis- 


148  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

tant,  as  its  most  distinct  and  prominent  object  in  that  direction.  In  this 
panorama,  which  takes  in  a  circuit  of  many  hundreds  of  square  miles,  and 
a  great  variety  of  scenery  the  central  object,  spread  out  at  your  feet  and 
skirting  along  the  shore  of  the  Straits,  is  the  village  of  Benicia,  resting  as 
if  in  quiet  and  undisturbed  repose,  for  no  sound  comes  from  its  smooth 
streets,  which  are  still  comparatively  in  a  state  of  nature,  neither  cobble- 
stones, nor  basalt  blocks,  nor  carbonized  brick,  nor  any  other  patent 
pavement  having,  as  yet,  profaned  them,  the  plank-road  leading  to  the 
steamboat  landing,  alone  furnishing  the  kind  of  music  that  responds  to 
passing  wheels.  In  close  connection  with  the  village,  and  flanking  it  on  the 
east,  looms  up  the  Military  Post,  including  Benicia  Barracks,  the  Arsenal 
buildings  and  greatly  embellished  grounds,  the  magazine,  hospital,  store- 
houses, etc.  These  occupy  the  point  fronting  on  Suisun  bay,  and  overlook- 
ing Martinez  on  the  opposite  shore. 

As  early  as  in  1844,  this  peninsula  had  attracted  the  attention  of  our 
highly-esteemed  fellow  citizen,  Senor  Don'M.  G.  Vallejo,  a  native  of  Mon- 
terey, who  soon  became  the  possessor  of  its  territory,  as  is  shown  by  the 
grant  from  the  Mexican  Government,  (referred  to  in  another  part  of  this 
work.) 

It  was  in  the  fall  of  this  year,  1844,  that  Henry  Clay  was  defeated,  and 
James  K.  Polk  elected  President  of  the  United  States.  Upon  this  fact 
hinged  the  momentous  issue  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  and  the  consequent 
war  with  Mexico  in  1846-7,  one  of  the  results  of  which  was  the  conquest 
of  California,  and  its  absorption  by  the  United  States,  under  the  treaty 
concluded  at  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  on  the  2d  of  February,  1848. 

Among  the  irregular  proceedings  in  California  during  the  war  with 
Mexico,  was  the  raising  of  the  Bear  Flag,  by  Capt.  Granville  Swift  and  his 
party,  of  whom  Dr.  Robert  Semple  was  lieutenant,  and  the  co-operation 
with  them  of  Col.  John  C.  Fremont,  in  the  surprise  and  capture  of  Sonoma. 
They  took  Gen.  Vallejo  prisoner,  and  sent  him  in  charge  of  Dr.  Semple  on 
a  launch  up  to  Sutter's  Fort,  where  Gen.  J.  A.  Sutter  was  in  command,  as 
well  as  supplying  stores  and  war  materials  to  Fremont.  On  the  way  up,  the 
vessel  necessarily  passed  through  the  Straits  of  Carquinez,  which  were  then 
seen  for  the  first  time  by  Dr.  Semple.  This  was  in  June,  1846.  General 
Yallejo  remained  a  prisoner  at  Sutter's  Fort  about  a  week,  when  he  was 
released  by  Commodore  Stockton  (Governor  of  the  conquered  territory),  on 
his  parol  of  honor,  and  Dr.  Semple  accompanied  him  back  to  Sonomo.  Pass- 
ing through  the  Straits  again  on  their  return,  Dr.  Semple  became  greatly 
impressed  with  the  advantages  here  presented  for  the  location  of  a  city, 
which  he  explained  to  the  General,  who  had  been  so  kindly  treated,  that  he 
not  only  ceased  from  opposing,  but  became  friendly  to  the  invaders  of  his 
native  State,  and  to  encourage  them  to  come  within  and  settle  it,  not  long 
afterwards  donated  to  Dr.  Semple  the  site  which  had  impressed  him  so 
favorably. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  149 

In  pursuance  of  this  agreement  the  site  was  surveyed  by  Jasper  O'Far- 
rell  and  Lieutenant  Warner,  and  the  plat  of  this  survey  became  substan- 
tially the  map  of  Benicia.  At  that  date  no  habitation  of  man  adorned  or 
disfigured  the  face  of  the  land,  which  was  absolutely  in  a  state  of  nature, 
a  luxuriant  growth  of  wild  oats  holding  undisputed  sway  over  its  un- 
dulating and  treeless  hills. 

And  now  commences  the  story  of  its  early  times.  About  the  last  of  June, 
Mr.  William  I.  Tustin,  a  native  of  Virginia,  subsequently  a  resident  of  Il- 
linois, whence  he  had  emigrated  to  California,  and  was  sojourning  at 
Sonoma,  having  heard  that  a  town  was  being  laid  out  on  the  Straits,  came 
with  his  wife  and  son,  a  lad  of  four  years,  to  take  up  his  residence  in  the 
newly  surveyed  place.  These  constituted  the  first  man,  first  woman  and 
first  child  of  the  white  race  that  ever  settled  and  lived  in  Benicia.  It  is 
probable  that  the  aboriginal  Indians  may  have  some  time  preceded  them, 
but  there  was  nothing  to  indicate  it.  They  found  nothing  but  the  sur- 
veyor's stakes,  and  no  human  being  in  sight,  save  the  surveying  party  just 
going  away  over  the  hills  towards  Suisun  Valley,  having  completed  their 
labors  for  the  time  being.  This  family  of  three  camped  a  few  days  among 
the  wild  oats,  until  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Semple  with  a  cargo  of  lumber  which 
he  had  brought  in  a  brig  from  Bodega.  Having  made  arrangements  with 
the  Doctor  for  two  lots  on  which  to  build,  Tustin  dug  a  well  and  com- 
menced making  "  adobes." 

In  making  his  adobes,  Mr.  Tustin  had  the  assistance  of  a  new  comer,  a 
well  educated  and  worthy  young  man  named  Charles  L.  Benedict,  who  was 
provided  with  unusually  large  feet,  and  who  remarked  that  he  never  knew 
before  what  they  were  good  for.  He  speculated  on  the  prospect  of  some 
day  becoming  an  old  man,  and  narrating  to  his  grandchildren  this  exploit 
of  his  youth,  the  honor  of  tramping  in  the  mud  to  make  adobes  for  the  first 
house  ever  built  in  Benicia,  This  house,  now  nearly  thirty  years  old,  still 
stands  with  its  thick  walls  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  and  constitutes 
part  of  the  residence  of  Jerry  O'Donnell. 

The  second  house  built  was  a  one-story  and  attic  frame,  put  up  for  and 
occupied  by  Dr.  Semple  himself.  This  house  became  the  scene  of  some  of 
the  most  interesting  transactions  of  those  early  days.  After,  passing 
through  several  hands,  and  being  now  greatly  improved,  it  belongs  to  Mrs. 
J.  W.  Jones,  and  is  occupied  by  George  A.  Hastings  and  family.  It  was  my 
residence  in  1849-50.  * 

The  third  house  was  an  adobe  built  by  Benjamin  McDonald,  and  first  oc- 
cupied by  Capt.  E.  H.  Von  Pfister  as  a  store,  subsequently  by  the  firm  of 
Bicker  &  Evans.  This  is  also  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  and  is  now 
occupied  as  a  residence. 

Quite  a  number  of  houses  were  built  in  the  Fall  of  1847,  and  families 
came  in  and  setfled.     Among  these  were  Major  Stephen  Cooper,  bringing 


150  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

with  him  a  load  of  cabbages  from  Napa,  Mr.  Landy  Alford,  Mr.  Nathan 
Barbour,  their  respective  families,  and  others. 

About  this  time  the  settlement  of  Yerba  Buena  having  adopted  the  name 
of  San  Francisco,  and  becoming  known  thereby,  the  name  of  Dr.  Semple's 
town  which  at  first  had  been  called  Francesca,  was  changed  to  Benicia,  to 
avoid  complications.  This  name  was  given  as  required  by  the  original  con- 
veyance from  General  Vallejo,  and  in  compliment  to  his  wife,  Francesca 
Benicia  Felipsa  Carrillo,  daughter  of  one  of  the  influential  families  of  this 
department.     The  signification  of  the  name  is  blesssed! 

In  August  or  September,  1847,  Capt.  E.  H.  Von  Pfister,  a  native  of  New 
York  City,  who  had  been  in  the  habit  of  trading  on  this  coast,  arrived  from 
Honolulu,  bringing  with  him  a  stock  of  goods,  which  he  opened  and  dis- 
played in  the  adobe  store  just  spoken  of.  This  being  25x40,  was  commo- 
dious enough  to  constitute  the  rendezvous  of  the  whole  town  by  day,  and 
to  accommodate  everybody  in  want  of  lodgings  by  night.  The  Captain 
being  one  of  the  jovial  and  hospitable  sort,  everybody  was  at  home  in  his 
presence  or  under  his  roof. 

Major  Cooper's  family  occupied  the  house  which  had  been  built  for  Dr. 
Semple,  and  furnished  board  to  quite  a  number  of  the  Captain's  lodgers.  A 
year  or  two  later,  the  Major  kept  a  real  Hotel. 

About  Christmas,  1847,  the  Major's  eldest  daughter,  Miss  Frances 
Cooper,  was  married  to  Dr.  Semple,  ex-Gov.  L.  W.  Boggs,  formerly  of  Mis- 
souri, but  then  Alcalde  of  Sonoma,  officiating.  The  Governor  made  the 
journey  from  Sonoma  to  Benicia  expressly  to  perform  the  ceremony. 

As  this  was  the  first  marriage  ever  celebrated  in  the  place,  the  boys  deter- 
mined to  honor  the  event  with  all  the  eclat  possible.  They  found  in  Capt. 
Von  Pfister's  stock  of  goods  a  lot  of  white  linen  pants,  and  a  dozen  blue 
cloth  dress  coats  with  brass  buttons,  and  of  most  approved  swallow  tail  cut. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the  parties  who  decked  themselves  in  a 
suit  of  this  kind  for  the  occasion,  viz. :  Landy  Alford,  Wm.  Bryant,  David 
A.  Davis,  Benj.  Forbush,  Charles  S.  Hand,  Edward  Higgins,  F.  S.  Holland, 
Henry  Matthews,  Benj.  McDonald,  Wm.  Russell,  Geo.  Stevens  and  Wm. 
Watson. 

These  twelve  good  and  true  men,  having  first  imbibed  some  good  "  old 
rye,"  the  generous  beverage  of  that  day,  which  the  Captain  had  first  brought 
out  by  the  decanter,  but  as  that  did  not  suffice,  then  by  the  bucketful,  and 
being  thus  fortified  in  the  inner  man  against  the  overpowering  bashfulness 
that  is  generally  experienced  when  faultlessly  attired  in  store  clothes, 
marched  in  procession  up  to  Major  Cooper's  mansion,  and  were  ushered  into 
the  august  presence  of  the  bridal  party,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  ever  on  any 
similar  occasion  heartier  congratulations  were  extended  or  reciprocated  than 
on  this. 

Twenty-nine  years  later  the  hearty  old  Captain  who  was  an  eye-witness 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  151 

of  the  scene,  relates  the  event  with  as  much  gusto  as  if  it  had  occurred  but 
yesterday.     He  alone  of  all  that  company,  still  resides  in  Benicia. 

The  second  marriage,  that  of  Mr.  Benjamin  McDonald  with  a  daughter 
of  Landy  Alford,  was  solemnized  by  Major  Cooper,  who  in  January,  1848, 
had  been  appointed  Alcalde  by  General  Mason. 

Some  years  previous  to  this  date,  the  peninsula  had  been  visited  by  a 
restless  native  of  Yankee  land,  who  recognizing  the  advantages  of  the 
position  conceived  that  some  day  he  would  come  again,  possess  himself  of 
the  land  and  perhaps  found  a  city  upon  the  Straits,  whereby  to  make  him- 
self great,  and  perhaps  perpetuate  his  name.  At  a  subsequent  visit,  about 
this  time,  late  in  1847,  or  early  in  1848,  to  carry  his  design  into  effect,  he 
found  he  was  too  late,  the  chivalrous  son  of  Kentucky  having  anticipated 
him  and  gained  the  prize.  In  full  faith,  however,  of  the  future  greatness 
of  the  place,  he  obtained  a  number  of  its  vacant  lots,  determined  to  share  in 
the  development  then  so  confidently  looked  for,  but  died  ere  he  saw  any 
likelihood  of  his  dreams  being  realized.  On  Cemetery  Hill  his  resting- 
place  is  marked  by  a  plain,  white  marble  monumental  shaft,  bearing  this 

inscription: — 

The  Mountaineer's  Grave, 

Here  he  sleeps,  near  the  Western  Ocean's  wave  ! 

Miles  M.  Goodyear, 

Born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  February  24,  1818. 

Died  in  California,  November  12,  1849. 

Selected  as  his  future  home,  Benicia,  where  he  wished  to  live,  and  to  be 
buried  at  his  death. 

Dr.  Semple  was  one  of  the  remarkable  men  of  his  day  and  generation. 
When  standing  erect  he  was  about  seven  feet  in  height,  and  being  rather 
spare  in  figure  did  not  impress  one  as  being  well  proportioned.  His  hands 
and  feet  were  large,  as  well  as  his  mouth,  which  was  seldom  untenanted  by 
a  chew  of  his  favorite  tobacco.  He  was  so  long  limbed  that  when  astride 
of  a  mustang  or  mule,  his  feet  nearly  reached  to  the  ground  (within  six 
inches),  rendering  it  necessary  for  him  to  attach  his  spurs  to  the  calves  of 
his  boots  instead  of  to  his  heels.  From  having  to  stoop  so  much  when 
entering  or  leaving  doors  of  ordinary  dimensions,  his  form  was  somewhat 
bent,  and  it  seemed  necessary  for  him  not  to  stand  upright,  in  order  the 
more  conveniently  to  carry  on  conversation  with  his  fellow-men.  In  tem- 
perament he  was  sanguine  and  impulsive,  in  disposition  kind  and  con- 
siderate, but  quite  determined  to  have  his  own  way,  in  judgment  rather 
erratic,  and  disinclined  to  accept  the  counsel  or  advice  of  others,  feeling 
convinced  that  he  knew  better  than  they.  Some  illustrations  of  these  char- 
acteristics may  possibly  appear  in  the  course  of  this  narrative. 

It  is  related  of  him   that  a  few  weeks  after  his  marriage,  business  called 


152  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

him  to  Monterey.  Crossing  the  Straits  with  his  horse  on  the  open  scow 
ferry-boat,  he  left  directions  with  the  ferrryman  to  be  on  the  lookout  for 
his  return.  After  wending  his  way  through  San  Ramon  Valley,  San  Jose 
and  Salinas,  to  his  destination,  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  weeks  he  was 
back  again  to  where  Martinez  now  stands,  but  the  boat  was  on  the  Benicia 
side,  and  all  the  signals  he  could  make  failed  to  induce  Captain  Davis  to 
venture  out  against  the  strong  head  wind  that  was  blowing,  and  the  Doc- 
tor had  to  sleep  on  the  ground  in  his  blankets.  This  state  of  things  con- 
tinued for  two  days,  and  on  the  third  the  patience  and  endurance  of  the 
Doctor  having  been  tried  to  the  utmost,  he  considered  that  something  must 
be  done  to  enable  him  to  reach  home.  He  could  not  swim,  and  even  if  he 
could,  a  swim  of  two  or  three  miles  was  a  hazardous  undertaking,  so  he 
finally  managed  to  secure  two  or  three  pieces  of  scantling  and  a  plank, 
with  which  by  the  aid  of  his  riata  he  improvised  a  raft,  on  which  with  a 
fair  wind  and  tide  he  set  out  astride,  pushing  himself  along  as  best  he 
could.  An  hour  or  two  later  he  was  discovered  by  some  of  the  friends  on 
shore,  who  did  not  know  what  to  make  of  the  singular  looking  object  ar- 
rayed in  a  bright  colored  serapa,  and  holding  aloft  a  signal  violently  wav- 
ving.  A  boat  was  immediately  manned  and  sent  to  his  relief,  and  great  was 
the  surprise  and  joy  of  the  men  when  they  found  they  had  rescued  the  fore- 
most man  of  the  village.  His  objurgations  on  account  of  the  apparent  neglect 
to  which  he  had  been  subjected  were  rather  more  emphatic  and  vehement  than 
classic  or  polite,  but  good  humor  was  soon  restored,  congratulations  ex- 
tended, jokes  cracked,  and  the  Doctor's  health  drank  in  something  stronger 
than  water.  In  fact  the  Doctor  had  water  enough  in  getting  across.  They 
got  up  a  yarn  that  he  was  wading  across,  which  made  him  mad. 

A  year  or  two  later,  the  doctor  had  his  scow  ferry  boat  worked  by  horse- 
power, having  fortunately  come  into  possession  of  two  such  machines,  for 
which  there  was  no  other  use. 

Four  years  latter,  when  Capt.  0.  C.  Coffin  put  on  the  steam  ferry  boat 
"  Ion,"  which  could  go  against  wind  and  tide,  the  Dr.  was  heard  to  apostro- 
phise steam,  and  sing  in  praise  of  Fulton,  who  had  first  succeeded  in 
harnessing  it  to  such  use. 

Hitherto  the  immigration  into  California  has  been  attracted  by  the  fact 
that  it  was  a  new  country,  just  coming  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United 
States  and  likely  soon  to  become  a  part  of  its  territory.  It  was  known  to 
have  some  characteristics  of  climate  peculiarly  its  own,  on  the  whole  rather 
pleasant,  and  it  apparently  offered  the  opportunity  for  that  free  and  easy 
out-door  life  so  fascinating  to  frontiersmen.  To  the  vivid  imagination,  the 
land  of  the  getting  sun  was  some  degrees  nearer  paradise  than  any  in  the 
same  latitude  on  the  continent,  and  doubtless  it  would  gradually  have 
developed  into  an  ordinarily  prosperous  and  inviting  country.  But  what 
might  have  been  is  not  in  order  to  discuss.  The  turning  point  in  its  destiny 
had  now  been  reached. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  153 

Simultaneously  with  the  signing  of  the  treaty  at  Guadalupe  Hildalgo,  in 
February,  1848,  occurred  that  wonderful  discovery  near  Sutter's  Mill  at 
Coloma,  which  soon  afterward  electrified  the  nation,  set  the  whole  world  in 
motion,  and  has  since  been  the  means  of  adding  a  thousand  millions  to  the 
gold  and  silver  treasures  of  the  earth.  It  was  a  month  or  two  before  the 
incredulity  of  Californians  could  be  overcome,  and  their  belief  in  the  reality 
of  the  discovery  assured. 

Early  in  April,  the  men  of  Benicia  who  usually  congregated  at  Von 
Pfister's  rendezvous,  were  sitting  there  discussing  the  future  prospects  of 
the  country  under  its  new  ownership,  and  the  conversation  turned  upon 
coal  mines,  and  the  great  advantage  that  would  result  from  their  discovery, 
which  was  much  hoped  for.  They  little  dreamed  that  within  25  miles  of 
them,  among  the  foot-hills  near  Mt.  Diablo,  the  "  Black  Diamond  "  mines 
were  awaiting  the  prying  eyes  of  the  prospector.  During  the  conversation, 
a  man  named  Bennett,  who  had  been  engaged  with  John  W.  Marshall,  at 
Coloma,  in  building  a  mill  for  Gen'l  Sutter,  and  who  was  on  his  way  to 
Monterey,  listened  quietly  for  some  time,  and  finally  said  that  something 
better  than  a  coal  mine  had  been  discovered  where  he  had  been  at  work, 
something  which  was  believed  to  be  gold,  and  General  Sutter  had  paid  his 
expenses  to  Monterey  to  see  Gen'l  Mason,  and  have  some  specimens  that  he 
had  with  him  tested,  no  acid  being  obtainable  at  Sutter's  Fort.  He  then 
displayed  about  four  ounces  in  small  pieces  such  as  had  been  discovered 
when  the  water  was  first  applied  to  turn  the  mill.  Of  course  this  display 
produced  a  profound  impression,  and  much  difference  of  opinion  was  ex- 
pressed, Dr.  Semple  declaring  that  he  would  give  more  for  a  good  coal  mine 
than  all  the  gold  mines  that  were  likely  to  be  discovered. 

Bennett  went  on  his  journey,  and  had  not  been  gone  more  than  5  or  6 
days  when  a  number  of  Mormons  came  along  with  quantities  of  the  shining 
dust,  fully  convinced  it  was  gold.  Sam  Brannan,  who  had  been  up  to 
Sutter's  Mill  to  learn  the  truth  of  the  gold  discovery,  stopped  at  Benicia  on 
his  return  to  the  Bay,  said  to  Von  Pfister :  "  Come,  Von,  break  up  here  and 
go  in  copartnership  with  me,  and  we  will  establish  a  business  near  this  new 
gold  mine."  Von  Pfister  did  so,  put  all  his  goods  on  Dr.  Semple's  ferry  boat, 
hoisted  a  sail,  made  the  trip  to  Sacramento  (then  known  as  the  "  embarca- 
dero  "),  and  in  due  time  arrived  at  Coloma.  On  the  return  of  the  ferry 
boat  to  Martinez  after  an  absence  of  two  weeks,  there  were  40  or  50  wagons 
waiting  to  cross  the  straits  on  their  way  to  the  new  El  Dorado. 

Von  Pfister  continued  in  business  with  Brannan  until  October,  when  he 
sold  out  to  another  partner  of  Brannan's  at  Sutter's  Fort,  named  Stout 
being  moved  thereto  by  grief  at  the  loss  of  his  brother  who  had.  just  arrived 
from  Honolulu,  and  who  was  inhumanly  murdered  by  an  entire  stranger  on 
the  night  of  his  arrival,  before  Von  Pfister,  who  was  temporarily  absent 
had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  him.     The  murderer  fled,  and  Von  Pfister 


154  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

pursued,  but  after  an  unavailing  search  of  nearly  a  year  he  finally  gave  up 
the  chase  and  returned  to  Benicia,  where  for  the  last  quarter  of  a  century 
he  has  constantly  resided ;  sometimes  filling  offices  of  honor  if  not  of  profit. 

On  the  night  of  Sam  Brannan's  arrival  at  Benecia  a  high  tide  had  drifted 
Dr.  Semple's  ferry  boat  some  200  or  300  yards  upon  the  tule,  and  leaving 
her  high  and  not  exactly  dry,  and  disappointing  our  friend  Tustin,  who 
being  engaged  getting  out  lumber  for  Thos.  0.  Larkin,  was  anxious  to  get 
back  to  the  redwoods,  which  he  had  temporarily  left  for  a  day  or  two  to 
look  after  his  family  at  Benicia.  So  he  built  him  a  raft  of  tule  reeds  some 
6  or  8  feet  long,  making  it  about  2  feet  wide,  and  a  foot  thick,  on  which  he 
proposed  to  make  the  crossing.  His  friends  remonstrated  with  him  and  tried 
to  dissuade  him  from  going,  but  to  no  purpose.  Go  he  would,  and  so  with 
an  old  shirt  for  a  sail,  and  a  high  wind  blowing,  he  set  out.  The  tide  took 
him  down  about  two  miles  to  Dillon's  point,  then  it  turned,  drifting  him  the 
other  way,  and  by  the  aid  of  the  wind,  notwithstanding  his  frail  bark  after 
getting  saturated,  bent  double  under  his  weight,  he  finally  got  across  and 
landed  in  a  mud  flat,  where  he  met  a  man  who  wanted  to  cross  over  to 
Benicia,  and  who  asked  him  if  he  might  have  his  raft.  He  told  him  yes, 
but  doubted  if  it  would  be  of  much  use  to  him.  However  the  gift  was 
accepted  and  the  man  had  a  very  hard  time  getting  over,  for  the  tide  took 
him  some  distance  up  Suisun  bay,  and  it  was  a  day  or  two  before  he  was 
rescued,  in  a  forlorn  and  nearly  starved  condition.  Friend  Tustin  (now  a 
successful  windmill  builder  in  San  Francisco)  has  since  attained  to  alder- 
manic  proportions,  quite  unsuited  to  the  repetition  of  his  rash  experiment. 

The  natural  effect  upon  Benicia,  of  this  gold  discovery  and  excitement, 
was  to  draw  away  from  it  its  male  population,  leaving  some  twelve  or 
fifteen  families  of  women  and  children  only.  In  common  with  all  other 
settlements  near  the  bay  and  the  sea,  it  was  neglected  for  the  superior 
attractions  offered  by  the  gold  placers.  Towards  the  end  of  the  year,  Dr. 
Semple  realizing  that  the  fame  of  the  gold  discovery  had  now  gone  abroad 
over  the  whole  earth  ani  foreseeing  that  there  would  be  a  great  immigration 
into  the  State,  mostly  of  course  by  sea,  and  that  sooner  than  he  had  antici- 
pated his  opportunity  to  found  and  establish  an  important  commercial  city 
would  be  presented,  began  to  cast  about  for  the  means  and  appliances  to 
aid  him  in  realizing  his  dream.  During  the  winter  of  1848-9  he  became 
acquainted  with  Bethuel  Phelps,  with  whom  he  made  a  bargain  for  the 
erection  of  the  needed  improvements. 

As  a  further  step  in  the  way  of  progress,  he  formed  a  copartnership  with 
Wm.  Robinson,  John  S.  Bradford,  and  L.  B.  Mizner,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Semple,  Robinson  &  Co.,  for  the  transaction  of  general  business.  This  firm 
purchased  the  Chilian  bark  "  Conf ederacion,"  with  an  assorted  cargo  of  East 
India  goods,  and  about  the  1st  of  March,  1849,  she  sailed  up  to  Benicia  and 
was  moored  along  side  the  bank  to  be  used  as  a  landing  place  in  lieu  of  a 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  155 

wharf.  She  was  dismantled  and  afterwards  known  as  the  "  jld  hulk,"  and 
most  of  her  cargo  was  transferred  to  the  mines.  To  facilitate  access  to  and 
from  the  upland,  the  firm  laid  down,  across  the  tule,  a  large  number  of 
boxes  of  tobacco,  the  market  already  being  so  glutted  with  the  article  as  to 
render  it  comparatively  valueless.  The  firm  were  so  well  pleased  with 
their  business  that  within  the  year  they  built  a  substantial  two-story  ware- 
house for  its  accommodation,  a  short  distance  from  the  landing.  Subse- 
quently, however,  as  the  town  began  to  grow  and  competition  became 
active,  the  members  found  attractions  in  other  vocations.  Dr.  Semple  was 
elected  delegate  from  Benicia  to  the  Convention  which  framed  the  State 
Constitution,  and  was  President  of  the  Convention,  the  labors  of  which 
were  completed  on  the  13th  of  October.  Bradford  was  elected  to  the 
Senate,  and  served  Solano  county  in  the  first  session  of  the  Legislature  at 
San  Jose  in  1850.  He  subsequently  returned  to  Illinois  and  became  Mayor 
of  Springfield.  Robinson  went  to  Shasta  county  and  was  elected  County 
Judge.  He  afterwards  joined  the  fortunes  of  Gen.  Flores  in  South  America. 
In  September,  '49,  Mizner  and  S.  K.  Nurse  started  a  4-mule  stage  or  mud- 
wagon,  making  tri-weekly  trips  from  Benicia  to  Sacramento,  connecting 
with  San  Francisco  by  sloop.  This  continued  a  month  or  two  until  the 
arrival  of  steamers  from  the  East  to  be  put  on  the  Sacramento  river,  when 
they  hauled  off  their  stage  "  in  double  quick,"  as  Nurse  expresses  it,  and 
sold  their  mules.  Nurse  has  lived  in  Denverton  since  1854,  and  has  been 
Postmaster  most  of  the  time.  Mizner  became  a  lawyer  and  removed  to 
San  Francisco,  but  some  ten  years  since  returned  to  Benicia,  where  he  now 
resides.     He  was  State  Senator  for  Solano  county  in  the  session  of  1871. 

Bethuel  Phelps  was  active  in  the  performance  of  his  contract,  and  during 
1849-50  a  large  number  of  dwellings  and  stores  were  erected,  being 
occupied  before  finished  and  ready.  In  fact  the  demand  for  houses  was 
greater  than  the  supply.  With  lumber  ranging  from  $300  to  $G00  per  thous- 
and, sometimes  more,  and  carpenters'  wages  at  $16  to  $20  per  day,  it  is  not 
very  surprising  that  complaint  should  have  been  made  of  slow  progress  in 
building.  So  the  firm  of  Henry  D.  Cooke  and  Wm,  M.  Stewart,  who  were 
somehow  concerned  in  the  sale  of  the  bark  "  Confederacion  "  and  her  cargo 
to  Dr.  Semple,  became  interested  in  Benicia,  and  contributed  largely  to  its 
development.  Of  their  agency  something  may  be  said  after  mentioning 
others,  whose  influence  was  brought  to  bear  in  advance  of  them. 

Among  the  passengers  on  the  bark  "  Confederacion,"  from  Saucelito  to 
Benicia,  were  Gen.  Persifer  F.  Smith,  U.  S.  A.,  with  some  of  his  staff,  and 
Mr.  C.  E.  Wetmore  and  wife,  who  had  been  in  San  Francisco  since  July, 
1848.  Mr.  Wetmore  had  purchased  the  house  heretofore  mentioned  as  the 
first  frame  built  for  Dr.  Semple,  and  had  come  with  his  family  to  settle. 
Gen.  Smith  was  so  convinced  of  the  importance  of  the  point  that  he  imme- 
diately entered  into  negotiation  with  Semple,  the  result  of  which  was  that 


156  THE   HISTOEY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

the  portion  of  the  town  site  bordering  on  Suisun  bay  was  secured  for  the 
Government  as  a  Military  Reservation,  on  which  have  since  been  erected 
Benicia  Arsenal,  Benicia  Barracks,  magazines,  hospital,  Quartermaster's 
store  houses,  etc.,  and  many  troops  have  from  time  to  time  been  stationed 
here. 

Com.  Thomas  Ap.  Catesby  Jones,  U.  S.  N.,  had  preceded  Gen.  Smith  a 
few  weeks,  having  taken  up  to  Benicia  the  first  Government  vessel  that 
ever  entered  the  straits,  the  U.  S.  store  ship  "  Southampton."  In  honor  of 
her  the  shoal  water  space  on  the  north  side  of  the  straits  and  just  west  of 
Benicia  was  called  Southampton  bay,  and  is  known  as  such  to  this  day. 
Special  reasons,  varying  very  much  from  one  another,  have  been  given  for 
conferring  this  name.  Com.  Jones  was  enthusiastic  in  his  admiration  of 
the  site — the  harbor  and  surroundings  —  and  predicted  that  the  commercial 
emporium  of  the  coast  would  here  be  established.  Being  in  command  of 
the  fleet,  he  had  the  vessels  severally  brought  up  and  anchored  in  the 
harbor  for  the  benefit  of  the  fresh  water.  The  74-gun  ship  "  Ohio,"  then 
the  largest  ship  in  the  navy,  the  frigate  "  Savannah,"  the  "  Congress,"  the 
"  Preble,"  the  "  Falmouth,"  the  "  Vandalia,"  and  the  transport  "  Fredonia," 
were  among  them.  The  propeller  "  Massachusetts  "  was  kept  moving  on 
frequent  trips  between  Benicia  and  San  Francisco. 

After  the  establishment  of  the  military  post,  the  French  ship  "Julie"  was 
sent  up  with  stores  and  moored  along  side  the  bank  near  where  Benicia 
Arsenal  now  stands.  Col.  Silas  Casey,  TJ.  S.  A.,  the  first  commander  of  the 
post,  was  quartered  on  board  this  old  hulk  from  the  1st  of  May  for  some 
five  months  with  his  family,  until  quarters  were  erected  for  them  on  shore. 
The  ribs  of  this  vessel  may  be  seen  to  this  day  at  low  tide,  where  she  finally 
sunk  at  her  moorings.  Col.  Casey  had  arrived  on  the  ship  "  Iowa,"  com- 
manded by  Capt.  John  Deming,  and  having  on  board  Gen.  Riley  and  staff, 
two  companies  of  the  2d  Infantry,  and  other  troops  from  Monterey.  Gen. 
Riley  located  the  Arsenal. 

The  very  favorable  opinion  expressed,  followed  by  really  substantial 
movements  on  the  part  of  such  men  as  Com.  Jones,  Gen.  Smith,  Gen.  Riley, 
and  other  Government  officers,  naturally  had  the  effect  of  inducing  a  portion 
of  the  immigration  then  coming  into  the  State  to  locate  at  Benicia.  Among 
the  earliest  was  the  Rev.  S.  Woodbridge,  by  whose  instrumentality  a  Presby- 
terian Church  was  organized  on  the  10th  of  April,  which  is  claimed  to  have 
been  the  first  Protestant  church  ever  founded  in  California.  Among  its 
original  members  were  Prof.  Shepherd,  Col.  S.  Casey,  Mr.  C.  E.  Wetmore, 
and  Mr.  0.  P.  Evans.  Mr.  Woodbridge  also  opened  and  kept  a  day  school, 
and  kept  the  records  of  the  township.  In  August  a  school  house  was  built 
which  was  used  on  Sundays  for  divine  service,  under  his  ministration,  for 
some  two  years  thereafter.  This  modest  little  building,  little  used  of  late 
years,  having  been  superseded  by  more  pretentious  edifices,  is  still  standing, 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  157 

a  monument  of  the  foresight  displayed  by  the  founders  of  the  town  regard- 
ing the  educational  needs  of  the  hoped-for  rising  generation.  The  church 
edifice,  which  took  its  place  in  1851,  stood  for  about  20  years,  when  it  was 
taken  down  and  put  to  other  use,  the  society  having  disbanded  and  its 
members  scattered.  Dr.  Woodbridge  is  now  pastor  of  a  church  lately  built 
for  and  named  after  him  in  this  city  near  the  Mission  Dolores. 

In  April  W.  S.  Ricker  and  O.  P.  Evans  started  a  bakery  and  country 
store  in  the  adobe  that  had  been  occupied  first  by  Von  Pfister.  Ricker  was 
the  jovial  and  Evans  the  serious  man  of  the  firm.  Profits  were  large,  but 
their  small  establishment  was  six  months  afterwards  overshadowed  by  the 
large  stocks  introduced  by  the  adventurous  immigrants  that  then  began  to 
flock  in  by  way  of  the  sea.  Evans  was  gathered  to  his  fathers  more  than  20 
years  ago.     Whether  Ricker  still  survives  is  unknown. 

In  May  the  large  adobe  building  known  as  the  California  Hotel  was 
erected.  Capt.  Von  Pfister  rented  it  at  $500  per  month,  and  kept  it  a  year, 
when  he  sold  out  to  Capt.  Winn.  Subsequently  it  was  kept  by  Major 
Cooper,  father-in-law  of  Dr.  Semple.  During  a  part  of  this  time,  owing  to 
the  great  drought  of  1850-51,  there  was  a  scarcity  of  such  food  as  is  usually 
provided  at  hotel  tables.  Col.  Casey  one  day  asked  Mr.  Woodbridge  about 
the  fare,  and  his  reply  was  that  they  had  beef  and  molasses  for  breakfast 
and  molasses  and  beef  for  dinner.  In  those  days  onions  were  $2  per  pound. 
Major  Cooper  is  still  living  at  Colusa,  a  well  preserved  man,  who  will  com- 
plete his  80th  year  in  March  next.  For  the  last  20  years  this  establishment 
has  been  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  John  Rueger  and  family,  and  known 
as  the  Benicia  Brewery. 

Before  Col.  Casey  got  his  family  into  quarters  on  shore  in  the  summer  of 
1849,  he  was  ordered  in  command  of  an  expedition  for  the  first  exploration 
ever  made  for  a  railroad  route  across  the  Sierra  Nevada.  The  surveying 
party,  when  about  70  miles  from  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento,  in  the 
mountains,  were  attacked  by  the  Pitt  River  Indians,  and  the  Engineer 
officer  in  charge,  Capt.  Warner,  was  killed.  This  fact,  connected  with  the 
ravages  of  fever  and  scurvy,  forced  a  return  of  the  party  without  fully 
accomplishing  its  object.  Col.  Casey  lay  twenty-five  days  in  the  mountains 
sick  with  a  fever,  and  all  but  two,  in  a  party  of  thirty-five,  were  taken 
sick.  Gen.  Casey  is  still  living  at  a  ripe  old  age  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  on 
the  retired  list.  His  son,  Commander  Casey,  U.  S.  N.,  is  stationed  in  San 
Francisco. 

In  May  F.  W.  Pettygrove  and  A.  E.  Wilson  formed  a  co-partnership  for 
the  transaction  of  a  general  business.  They  built  a  frame  hotel,  which 
they  called  the  Benicia  H  ouse.  They  brought  with  them  from  Oregon  nine 
frame  buildings,  which  were  erected  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  and 
some  stand  to  this  day. 

On  the  7th  of  June  the  writer  of  this  sketch,  with  his  young  wife,  came 


158  THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

upon  the  scene.  The  women  who  ventured  to  come  to  California  in  those 
days  were  few  in  number,  but  courageous  in  spirit.  We  had  left  Baltimore 
on  the  last  of  January ;  New  York  the  15th  of  March  ;  crossed  the  Isthmus 
about  the  29th;  and  after  a  detention  of  seven  weeks  in  Panama,  em- 
barked on  board  the  good  steamship  Panama,  Captain  Bailey,  on  the 
17th  of  May,  on  her  first  trip  to  San  Francisco,  which  was  accomplished 
in  seventeen  days,  calling  only  at  San  Diego  on  the  1st  of  June.  Among 
our  fellow  passengers  were  Mrs.  Fremont  and  her  daughter  Lilly,  Mrs. 
Alfred  De  Witt,  Mrs.  Robert  Allen  (now  living  in  San  Francisco, 
Hon.  Wm.  M.  Gwinn,  John  B.  Weller,  Col.  Joseph  Hooker,  Lieut.  Derby 
(afterwards  known  as  Squibob  and  John  Phenix),  John  Bensley,  Hall 
McAllister,  F.  F.  Low,  afterwards  Governor  of  this  State,  S.  W.  Holladay, 
Dr.  S.  P.  Harris,  and  other  well  known  citizens  that  have  since  attained 
distinction. 

Having  come  to  California  at  the  suggestion  of  my  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
C.  E.  Wetmore,  and  on  arrival  finding  him  located  at  Benicia,  I  was  in- 
duced to  join  him  there.  We  formed  a  co-partnership  for  the  transaction 
of  a  general  business,  and  soon  after  commenced  the  erection  of  a  frame 
building,  30x60  feet,  for  a  store  and  warehouse  none  too  large  for  the  exten- 
sive stock  of  goods  afloat  for  us  on  several  vessels  then  on  their  way  around 
Cape  Horn,  and  bound  for  the  land  of  gold. 

With  little  or  no  previous  experience  as  business  manager  (I  had  thus  far 
been  principally  a  thorough  accountant),  and  with  others  to  provide  for,  we 
could  not  see  the  way  clear  to  locate  in  San  Francisco  ;  and  as  it  really 
seemed  an  open  question  which  place  should  take  the  precedence  and 
become  the  commercial  center,  it  was  comparatively  easy  to  make  up  our 
minds  to  settle  in  the  one  that  apparently  possessed  the  most  attractions  or 
prospective  merits,  and  so  our  lots  were  cast  in  Benicia. 

For  ten  or  fifteen  years  I  was  satisfied  of  the  correctness  of  this  choice, 
and  on  every  return  from  a  temporary  visit  to  San  Francisco,  or  elsewhere, 
regarded  Benicia  as  a  charming  and  blessed  place,  little  short  of  Paradise. 
Since  then,  however,  the  thought  has  sometimes  occurred  that  our  location 
there  was  a  mistake  ;  but  as  that  is  a  problem  that  may  not  be  solved  in 
this  life,  the  attempt  will  not  be  made.  It  is  useless  to  speculate  on  '  what 
might  have  been ;'  and  therefore  as  our  living  there  has  had  its  influence  in 
various  ways  and  upon  others,  probably  the  wisest  conclusion  is  that  '  it 
was  all  for  the  best.' 

Sometime  in  the  summer  of  1849,  Dr.  W.  F.  Peabody  established  a  hos- 
pital, and  soon  secured  a  large  and  paying  patronage  from  returning  miners. 
After  a  residence  of  fifteen  years  Dr.  Peabody  located  elsewhere,  and  has 
since  established  himself  in  San  Francisco.  [I  am  happy  to  say  he  is  a 
member  of  the  C.  U.,  &c]  His  former  associate  in  the  hospital,  Mr.  J.  W. 
Jones,  has  remained  in  Benicia  to  this  day,  a  well  known  business  man,  and 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  159 

prominent  citizen.  In  July  and  August  ships  began  to  arrive  in  numbers, 
bringing  adventurers,  some  of  whom,  with  their  stocks  of  goods,  thought 
best  to  locate  in  Benicia.  Among  these  were  Webb,  Beveridge,  and  Miller, 
and  McConkey  &  Hall,  with  goods  from  Baltimore  (per  "  Greyhound,"  and 
"  Jane  Parker  "),  brought  upon  brig  "  Josephine,"  and  bark  "  Hebe,"  and  J. 
Hatch  &  Co.,  who  had  come  from  Boston  on  the  "  Edward  Everett." 

The  ship  "  Leonore,"  which  arrived  in  Benicia  on  the  8th  July,  brought 
the  first  side-wheel  steamer  ever  built  in  California.  It  was  framed  at  the 
East,  put  together  at  Benicia,  and  finished  about  the  middle  of  August. 
They  called  her  the  "  New  England,"  but  her  machinery  proved  to  be  so 
powerfully  weak  as  to  render  her  practically  useless  for  a  steamboat. 
During  the  summer  three  other  small  steamboats  were  built  here,  called  re- 
spectively the  "  Linda,"  the  "  Edward  Everett,"  and  the  "  Phenix."  They 
made  a  few  trips  up  the  Sacramento  river,  but  their  day  was  short,  for  late 
in  October  (the  26th  and  28th,  if  I  mistake  not),  the  propellers  "  Hartford," 
and  "  McKinn,"  commencing  running  for  passengers  and  freight  on  the 
route  between  San  Francisco  and  Sacramento,  via  Benicia.  These  were  the 
first  sea-going  steamers  to  make  this  trip.  They  were  succeeded  by  the 
side- wheel  steamer  "  Senator,"  which  commenced  her  trips  on  the  3d  day  of 
November,  charging  $30  fare  from  San  Francisco  to  Sacramento,  and  $15 
from  Benicia  to  either  place.  The  "  Senator  "  is  said  to  have  earned  millions 
of  dollars  in  a  few  years.  And  now,  27  years  later,  she  is  still  running  as  a 
sea-going  steamship. 

Later  in  November  the  little  iron  steamer  "  Mint "  commenced  making 
trips  to  Stockton.  She  was  brought  out  on  deck  of  ship  "  Samoset,"  in 
September. 

On  his  return  from  Monterey,  where  he  had  presided  over  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention,  in  the  winter  of  1849-50,  Dr.  Semple  became  impressed 
with  the  idea  that  steam-boating  must  be  a  profitable  business,  and  ac- 
cordingly he  determined  to  build  one  on  correct  principles,  that  should 
astonish  the  natives,  but  all  lookers  on.  So  far  as  the  hull  was  concerned, 
this  was  easily  managed,  as  material  was  readily  obtained.  His  favorite 
idea  that  her  bow  must  be  made  duck-breasted,  was  carried  into  effect  ; 
and  when  launched  her  appearance  on  the  water  was  rather  attractive.  But 
it  was  when  the  machinery  was  to  be  applied  that  the  "  true  inwardness  "  of 
the  Doctor  came  to  the  surface.  Steam-engines  were  not  so  plenty  in  those 
days  as  in  these,  a  quarter  century  later  ;  and  so  as  two  could  not  be  had 
that  were  exactly  alike,  he  obtained  two  of  different  make,  one  being  fully 
twice  as  large  as  the  other.  When  the  absurdity  of  furnishing  the  boat 
with  engines  varying  so  greatly  in  power  was  pointed  out  to  the  Doctor, 
his  genius  rose  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  could  manage  that.  But  how  ? 
asked  the  practical,  common  sense,  incredulous  observer.  Why,  by  gearing, 
of   course.     With  cog-wheels,  and  other  appliances,  we'll  gear  up  the  one 


160  THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

engine,  so  as  to  equalize  its  power  with  that  of  the  other.  In  spite  of  re- 
nt onstance,  argument,  ridicule,  and  other  elements  of  opposition,  this  idea 
was  adhered  to,  and  the  natural  result  followed  as  a  matter  of  course.  On 
her  first  trip  she  was  at  the  mercy  of  the  current  and  the  wind.  The  strong 
engine  overpowered  the  weaker  one,  giving  her  a  forward  movement  in  the 
direction  of  a  great  circle,  the  tendency  being  to  bring  her  round  to  the 
point  started  from.  However,  by  the  help  of  the  tide  and  other  favoring 
circumstances,  they  managed  to  reach  Colusa  with  her,  for  which  place  she 
was  named.  Her  first  trip,  though,  proved  to  be  her  last  as  a  steamboat. 
The  engines  had  to  be  disposed  of,  and  she  was  converted  into  a  barge. 
Her  builder,  Mr.  F.  P.  Burch,  with  his  family,  still  resides  in  Benicia ;  and 
her  engineer,  Mr.  R  B.  Norman,  has  for  many  years  been  a  well  known 
citizen  of  Sacramento. 

The  last  exploit  of  Dr.  Semple's  that  occurs  to  me  was  his  building  a 
house  for  the  use  of  his  family,  with  an  inverted  roof — so  that  what  is 
usually  the  peak  or  highest  part,  was  in  this  instance  the  lowest,  and  the 
roof  slanted  upwards  towards  the  eaves,  instead  of  downwards,  there  being 
but  one  eave  trough,  and  that  in  the  middle  of  the  roof.  What  his  reasons 
were  for  this  peculiar  construction  may  have  been  explained  at  the  time, 
but  are  not  now  remembered.  Some  are  sarcastic  enough  to  say  it  was 
from  motives  of  economy  in  the  matter  of  eave  trough. 

Among  the  many  early  settlers  in  Benicia  was  Capt.  John  Walsh,  whose 
family  arrived  from  Valparaiso  in  November,  1849,  occupying  at  once  the 
house  he  had  built  for  them.  The  captain  is  a  well  known  citizen,  whose 
fame  has  gone  all  over  those  parts  of  the  world  that  are  visited  by  ships.  He 
is  a  privileged  character,  of  whom  many  amusing  incidents  are  related, 
some  of  which  he  tells  at  his  own  expense.  Although  old  and  infirm,  being 
now  in  his  eightieth  year,  and  bereft  of  kindred,  who  have  all  preceded  him 
in  their  flight  to  the  spirit  land,  he  retains  much  of  his  original  vivacity, 
and  is  generally  ready  to  provoke  a  smile  from  any  visitor  by  his  ready 
wit.  He  is  able  to  attend  to  his  duties  as  Custom-house  Inspector,  which 
are  performed  satisfactorily  to  the  Department.  A  favorite  grandson  is  the 
only  relative  living  near  him,  or  in  California. 

Dr.  Semple  and  his  associates,  Larkin,  Phelps,  Stewart,  and  Cooke,  did 
much  to  improve  Benicia,  and  make  it  attractive ;  and  they  spared  no  pains 
in  publishing  to  the  world  its  advantages,  but  they  failed  lamentably 
in  the  very  particular  most  necessary  to  make  their  enterprise  a  success. 
They  placed  too  great  a  valuation  upon  their  lots,  and  by  demanding  high 
prices  drove  away  from  them  the  very  persons  they  should  have  induced  by 
liberal  terms  to  settle  and  build  up  the  town.  This  was  unjust  to  those 
that  had  already  settled,  and  who  hoped  to  see  others  coming  in  and  pro- 
moting its  substantial  growth.  But  so  convinced  was  the  Doctor  that  the 
town  must  develop  into  a  great  city,  and  that  nothing  could  prevent  it,  that 


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THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  1G1 

nothing  could  prevent  it,  that  he  would  listen  to  no  suggestions  on  this 
head.  On  several  occasions  men  wanting  to  buy  property  gave  up  the  idea 
on  account  of  the  terms.  Had  each  one  of  them  been  presented  with  a  lot, 
the  object  of  the  proprietors  might  have  been  accomplished,  and  themselves 
rewarded  by  prosperity  and  affluence,  instead  of  reaping  the  disappointment 
which  followed. 

A  notable  instance  of  their  fatuity  occurred  immediately  after  the  great 
fire  of  4th  May,  1851,  which  destroyed  the  entire  business  portion  of  the 
eity  of  San  Francisco.  A  large  number  of  her  influential  merchants  were 
so  disheartened  at  the  repeated  misfortunes  thus  befalling  them  that  they 
were  ready  and  anxious  at  onca  to  transfer  their  business  to  Benicia,  and  a 
delegation  waited  on  its  proprietors  to  see  on  what  terms  they  would  be 
received  and  provided  for.  The  terms  were  too  exacting  ;  the  application 
failed,  and  the  opportunity  was  lost — absolutely  thrown  away.  The  appli- 
cants were  angered  at  their  failure,  and  embittered  against  Benicia,  a  feeling 
which  survives  measurably  to  this  day — while  the  bona  fide  settlers  of 
Benicia,  who  would  have  welcomed  their  San  Francisco  brethren,  were  dis- 
gusted with  the  cupidity  and  bad  management  of  its  founders. 

As  another  illustration  of  events  in  these  days,  it  should  not  be  forgotten 
that  Capt.  Lyon,  who  had  been  sent  out  to  punish  the  Indians  that  were 
hostile  and  troublesome,  came  very  near  being  killed  by  the  awkwardness 
of  some  of  his  own  men,  a  bullet  from  one  of  them  passing  through  his  hat 
from  back  to  front.  In  mentioning  it  to  General  Riley  on  his  return,  and 
exhibiting  the  hat,  he  claimed  that  that  shot  did  not  come  from  an  enemy. 
The  General's  reply  was,  it  certainly  did  not  come  from  a  friend.  This 
brave  officer  was  afterwards,  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  the  lamented 
General  Lyon,  who  fell  at  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Missouri,  in  August,  1861. 

Among  the  immigrants  of  1849,  were  some  old  farmers  from  the  East,  to 
whom  the  alternation  of  the  wet  and  dry  seasons  appeared  to  present  in- 
superable objections  to  the  idea  of  this  ever  being  an  agricultural  country. 
The  laws  of  nature  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed  were  here  set  at 
defiance,  and  their  conclusion  was  that  cultivation  of  the  ground  would  be 
useless  in  the  absence  of  summer  showers.  Yet  here  on  these  rolling  and 
dry  hills  waved  the  luxurious,  almost  rank  growth  of  wild  oats,  four  or  five 
feet  in  height.  The  soil  being  adobe,  and  two  or  three  feet  in  thickness, 
has  since  nullified  the  opinions  of  these  good  old  farmers,  and  still  persists 
in  yielding  fine  crops  of  grain,  notwithstanding  fifteen  years  of  cultivation. 

In  the  remarkably  wet  winter  of  1849-50,  it  was  no  easy  task  to  walk 
on  this  adobe  ground  where  traveled  upon,  without  being  in  danger  of 
losing  a  boot  when  drawing:  one's  feet  out  of  the  mud.  and  so  it  came  to 
pass  that  long  rubber  boots  were  at  a  premium. 

As  an  offset  the  following  winter,  that  of  1850-51,  to  which  this  present 
one  of  187G-77  bears  a  close  resemblance,  was  correspondingly  dry,  and 
rubber  boots  proved  a  bad  speculation. 

11 


162  THE   HISTOEY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

The  Constitution  of  the  State  of  California,  which  had  been  framed  by 
the  Convention  at  Monterey,  in  October,  was  adopted  by  the  people  at  an 
election  held  on  the  13th  November,  1849,  and  in  accordance  with  its  pro- 
visions the  first  Legislature  met  in  January,  1850,  at  the  Pueblo  de  San 
Jose,  the  first  Capital  of  the  State.  The  first  two  cities  incorporated  by 
this  body  were  Monterey  and  Benicia,  both  on  the  same  day,  the  27th  of 
March,  1850.  Some  days  afterwards,  San  Jose,  Sacramento,  Stockton  and 
Los  Angeles  were  incorporated.  San  Francisco  followed,  on  the  15th  day 
of  April. 

Under  its  charter,  Benicia  had  nine  Mayors,  as  follows: 

Capt.  James  Kearny,  from  May  1850,  to  May,  1851. 
Dr.  W.  F.  Peabody,  from  May,  1851,  to  May,  1852. 
Capt.  D.  M.  Fraser,  from  May,  1852,  to  May,  1853. 
Capt.  Alex.  Riddell,  from  May,  1853,  to  May,  1854. 
Charles  French,  from  May,  1854,  to  November,  1855. 
W.  S.  Wells,  Acting  from  November,  1855,  to  May,  1856. 
J.  M.  Neville,  from  May,  1856,  to  May,  1857. 
T.  B.  Storer,  from  May,  1857,  to  May,  1858. 
Charles  Alison,  from  May,  1858,  to  May,  1859. 
The  charter  was  amended  in  1851  and  1854,  and  repealed  in  1859,  since 
which   time  the  government  of   the   city  has  been  vested  in  a  Board  of 
Trustees.     The  city  charter  was  found  to  be  an  expensive  luxury,  by  means 
of  which  the  city  debt  was  incurred  little  short  of  $100,000  in  1859.     This 
has  since  been  reduced,  uutil  at  the  present  time  an  arrangement  has  just 
been  effected  by  which  it  can  all  be  redeemed  for  the  sum  of  $6,000,  and 
the  taxpayers  breathe  freer. 

Mayors  Kearny,  Fraser,  Riddell  and  French  died  some  years  since. 
Mayors  Peabody,  Wells,  Neville  and  Alison  are  residents  of  San  Francisco, 
and  Mayor  Storer  lives  in  Virginia  City. 

A.  J.  Bryant,  who  was  City  Marshal  of  Benicia  in  1854,  is  now  Mayor  of 
San  Francisco. 

At  the  same  first  session  of  the  Legislature,  Benicia  was  named  the 
county  seat  of  Solano  county,  and  so  continued  for  eight  years,  when  it 
was  superseded  in  1858  by  the  present  county  seat,  Fairfield. 

The  first  Sheriff  of  the  county  was  B.  C.  Whitman,  afterwards  Clerk  of 
the  Common  Council,  subsequently  a  leading  lawyer  in  Benicia,  and  now  an 
ex- Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  the  State  of  Nevada.  The  second  Sheriff 
was  Paul  Shirley,  who  held  the  office  several  years.  He  now  resides  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Straits,  in  Martinez,  and  is  State  Senator  from  Contra 
Costa  county. 

The  fourth  session  of  the  Legislature  was  held  in  Benicia  early  in  1853, 
and  on  the  18th  of  May  of  that  year  an  Act  was  passed  making  it  the 
permanent  seat  of  Government,  but  as  no  appropriation  was  made  for  the 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  1G3 

erection  of  public  buildings,  and  the  Capital  in  those  days  was  notoriously 
on  wheels,  it  was  not  a  difficult  matter  at  the  fifth  session  to  move  it  again, 
and  so  on  the  1st  day  of  March,  1854,  the  Legislature  and  attaches,  furni- 
ture and  all,  left  Benicia  on  the  steamer  Antelope  for  Sacramento,  where 
the  Capital  has  since  remained  with  some  show  of  permanence.  This  move- 
ment was  brought  about  by  a  combination  between  the  workers  for  Sacra- 
mento and  the  friends  of  the  lamented  David  C.  Broderick,  who  desired 
and  expected  thereby  to  be  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate,  but  who 
was  disappointed  in  that  expectation,  although  in  a  subsequent  Legislature 
he  was  successful.  Broderick  was  absent  from  Benicia  when  the  vote  was 
taken  on  the  removal  question,  and  there  was  no  telegraphic  communica- 
tion then  with  San  Francisco.  If  there  had  been,  the  result  probably 
would  have  been  different.  Either  Broderick  would  have  been  elected 
first,  or  the  Capital  would  have  remained  at  Benicia.  On  such  slender 
threads  does  the  fate  of  communities  sometimes  depend. 

In  those  palmy  days  Benicia  boasted  among  its  residents,  some  of  the 
prominent  and  distinguished  men  of  the  State,  among  whom  may  be  men- 
tioned Judges  S.  C.  Hastings,  John  Currey,  S.  F.  Reynolds,  E.  W.  McKinstry, 
and  others,  who  have  since  been  absorbed  by  the  commercial  metropolis. 

The  Masonic  Order  made  an  early  start  in  Benicia.  Benicia  Lodge,  No. 
5,  was  formed  in  1850.  Masonic  Hall  was  built  in  1850,  and  is  a  substan- 
tial edifice  to  this  day.  The  lower  floor  was  occupied  as  the  Court  House, 
County  Clerk  and  Recorder's  office  until  the  State  House  was  built  in  1852. 
The  State  House  became  the  Court  House  until  1859,  when  on  account  of 
the  removal  of  the  County  Seat,  it  became  the  property  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  and  has  ever  since  been  occupied  as  the  Public  School,  one  of 
the  most  commodious  and  substaintial  in  the  State,  and  being  of  brick  is 
likely  to  last  for  several  generations.     The  attendance  is  large. 

The  Odd  Fellows  organized  somewhat  later  than  the  Masons,  but  have 
flourished  so  successfully  as  to  possess  a  fine  brick  edifice  of  their  own 
which  affords  them  most  desirable  and  satisfactory  accommodations.  They 
are  known  as  Solano  Lodge,  No.  22. 

Several  newspaper  enterprises  have  from  time  to  time  been  established  in 
Benicia,  but  none  of  them  now  remain.  The  Benicia  Gazette  was  published 
in  1851,  by  St.  Clair,  Pinkham  &  Co.  A  bound  volume  of  this  publication 
is  in  the  possession   of  the   Society   of  California  Pioneers.     The   Benicia 

Vedette  was  published  by Mathewson  in  1853.     The  Solano  County 

Herald  commenced  its  publication  in  November,  1855,  and  three  years  after- 
wards was  moved  to  Suisun,  where  it  still  flourishes  under  the  altered  name  of 
the  Solano  Republican.  The  "  Pacific  Churchman  "  was  published  here  in 
1869-70,  since  which  time  it  has  been  established  in  San  Francisco.  The 
The  "  Benicia  Tribune"  was  published  by  R.  D.  Hopkins  in  1872-73  ;  since 
then  it  has  been  transferred  to  Dixon,  where  it  still  flourishes  as  the  Dixon 


164  THE   HISTORY   OF    SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Tribune.     There  was  a  Benicia  Sentinel  at  one  time,  but  it  was  a  short- 
lived affair. 

In  1850-51  when  it  was  difficult  for  masters  of  vessels  to  retain  their 
crews,  on  account  of  their  disposition  to  desert  to  the  gold  fields,  and  try 
their  hands  at  digging  or  mining,  as  many  as  60  or  70  ships  were  to  be  seen 
at  anchor  in  Benicia  harbor,  most  of  them  loaded  with  lumber,  which 
became  a  drug  in  the  market  and  was  offered  for  freight  and  charges. 
After  the  4th  of  May  fire  in  San  Francisco  this  state  of  the  lumber  market 
was  remedied,  and  the  ships  gradually  withdrawn. 

The  P.  M.  S.  S.  Co.,  for  whom  Alfred  Robinson  and  Geo.  W.  P.  Bissell 
were  agents,  established  the  depot  for  their  shop  and  supplies  at  Benicia 
early  in  1850,  when  their  first  wharf  was  built.  In  1853  they  increased 
the  size  of  the  wharf  to  its  present  dimensions,  and  put  up  the  machinery 
shops  and  foundry. 

From  this  time  on  for  16  years  or  more  the  company  enjoyed  an  era  of 
unexampled  prosperity,  every  attempt  at  opposition  helping  as  much  as 
hindering  it.  By  steady  accumulation  and  the  growth  of  its  business  its 
capital  was  increased  from  year  to  year  until  in  1869  it  amounted  to  not 
less  than  ten  millions.  In  1869  came  its  first  encounter  with  its  great 
competitor,  the  Overland  Railroad.  Up  to  this  time  Benicia  had  been 
greatly  benefited  by  the  location  of  the  company's  works,  and  its  liberal 
disbursements.  As  long  as  the  company  remained  at  Benicia  they  were 
prosperous.  Then  came  a  dispositson  to  branch  out,  to  water  the  stock  and 
provide  for  the  friends  of  the  new  management.  All  this  was  not  so  con- 
veniently managed  while  the  works  were  located  at  Benicia,  so  it  was 
determined  to  move  everything  to  the  city.  From  that  time  the  history  of 
the  company  shows  a  series  of  questionable  managements,  and  a  departure 
from  its  old  prosperous  ways.  From  being  worth  about  $150  or  more  per 
share  its  stock  has  fallen  to  $20 — the  present  price  being  about  $24. 
Benicians  remember  the  periodical  visits  of  the  California,  the  Oregon,  the 
Panama,  the  Tennessee,  the  North ener,  the  Golden  Age,  St.  Louis,  Sonora, 
Golden  Gate,  Golden  City,  Sacramento,  John  L.  Stephens  and  others  with 
regret,  that  the  noble  ships  which  succeed  them  come  not  in  their  place. 

The  Marysville  &  Benicia  R.  R.  Co.  was  incorporated  in  1853,  with  a 
capital  of  $3,000,000 ;  $10,000  was  spent  in  surveys,  by  Wm.  S.  Lewis,  Esq., 
as  Chief  Engineer,  with  the  celebrated  Mr.  Catherwood  as  consulting  engi- 
neer. 

So  strongly  impressed  was  Mr.  Catherwood  of  the  feasibility  of  this 
scheme,  that  he  went  to  England  to  present  the  plan  there ;  and  with  the 
aid  of  a  brother  of  his,  who  was  one  of  the  cashiers  in  the  Bank  of  England , 
he  raised  $1,000,000,  which  was  one-third  of  the  capital ;  but  on  his  return 
to  this  country  from  England,  went  down  in  the  ill-fated  steamer  "  Arctic," 
off  Newfoundland,  which  put  an  end  to  that  project,,  which  would  mater- 
ially have  advanced  the  fortunes  of  Benicia. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  165 

This  imperfect  sketch  of  the  "  Early  Times  in  Benicia,"  cannot  properly 
be  brought  to  a  conclusion  without  a  brief  reference  to  the  educational  and 
religious  movements  of  the  place.  To  Benicia  belongs  the  honor  of  having 
established  the  first  Young  Ladies'  Seminary  in  the  State,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Protestant  churches.  In  June,  1852,  the  enterprise  was  proposed, 
and  immediately  enlisted  the  favor  and  hearty  symyathy  of  many  friends. 
A  Board  of  Trustees  was  organized,  a  suitable  building  purchased,  and  the 
school  opened  about  the  1st  of  August,  with  Mrs.  S.  A.  Lord  as  Principal, 
and  Miss  Georgia  Allen,  and  Miss  F.  A.  Allen,  as  Assistants.  The  second  year 
Miss  J.  M.  Hudson  became  Principal,  with  the  same  Assistants.  The  third 
year,  the  school  became  the  property  of  Miss  Mary  Atkins,  whose  fame  as 
a  teacher  has  since  become  part  of  the  educational  history  of  this  State. 
The  school  became  deservedly  popular  and  successful ;  and  its  graduates, 
under  Miss  Atkins'  administration,  have  since  taken  rank  in  society  as 
among  the  best  educated  and  most  cultivated  women  in  our  State.  After 
twelve  years  spent  in  her  high  vocation,  Miss  Atkins  sought  rest ;  and  in 
186(3,  transferred  the  school  to  Rev.  C.  T.  Mills  and  wife,  who  kept  it  up  in 
a  high  state  of  efficiency  and  prosperity,  until  1871,  when  they,  having 
been  induced  to  move  to  Alameda  county,  disposed  of  the  school  to  Rev. 
Chas.  H.  Pope,  who,  during  the  year  that  he  held  it,  made  some  valuable 
additions  and  improvements.  Since  1873,  the  school  has  been  under  the 
management  of  Miss  Mary  Snell,  who,  with  her  sisters,  and  other  accom- 
plished teachers,  have  maintained  its  excellent  reputation  as  one  of  the  best 
schools  in  the  State.  In  October,  1871,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Pope,  then  Principal,  a  re-union  of  graduates  and  pupils  was  held  in  honor 
of  the  visit  then  paid  to  the  institution  of  its  former  proprietor,  Mrs.  Mary 
Atkins-Lynch,  with  her  husband,  the  Hon.  John  Lynch,  then  U.  S.  Surveyor- 
General  for  the  State  of  Louisiana,  and  during  the  past  year,  Centennial 
Commissioner  for  the  same  State.  His  duties  in  that  capacity  will  detain 
him  in  Philadelphia  until  March  next,  after  which  time  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lynch 
will  take  up  their  permanent  residence  in  California. 

In  June  next,  the  Young  Ladies'  Seminary,  of  Benicia,  will  celebrate  the 
25th  anniversary  of  its  fdundation.  Two  of  its  original  Board  of  Trustees 
have  died  — the  other  seven  are  still  living,  and  one  of  them  stands  before 
you. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1853,  St.  Catharine's  Acadamy,  under  the  charge 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic,  was  established  at  Benicia, 
having  been  removed  from  Monterey  to  this,  as  the  more  eligible  location. 
This  school  for  young  ladies  has  been  uniformly  well  attended,  and  appears 
to  have  enjoyed  a  satisfactory  degree  of  patronage.  Everything  about  it 
wears  an  air  of  comfort,  cheerfulness,  and  prosperity,  and  it  enjoys  an  ex- 
cellent reputation.  The  grounds  are  extensive  and  well  cultivated,  and  the 
buildings  commodious. 


166  THE   HISTOEY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

In  the  summer  of  1853,  the  Rev.  Charles  M.  Blake  established  a  boarding 
school  for  boys,  which  a  year  or  two  afterwards  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Mr.  C  J.  Flatt,  under  whose  proprietorship  it  was  known  as  the  Collegiate 
Institute,  connected  with  which  some  ten  years  later  was  a  Law  School. 

In  December,  1867,  Mr.  Flatt  disposed  of  the  property  to  the  Pacific 
Coast  Mission,  of  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Breck  was  the  head,  and  the  school 
then  became  the  nucleus  of  what  has  since  grown  to  be  St.  Augustine's 
College,  with  the  history  of  which  this  audience  should  be  somewhat  famil- 
iar. The  premises  have  been  greatly  enlarged  and  improved,  affording 
accommodations  for  one  hundred  boys,  which  number,  however,  has  not  yet 
been  secured,  though  the  institution  well  deserves  them.  Not  less  than 
fifty  thousand  dollars  have  been  expended  upon  the  property,  which  is  in  a 
good  state  of  preservation  and  cultivation,  making  it  an  attractive  seat  of 
learning.  The  college  owns  fifty  acres  of  land  within  the  city  limits,  which, 
in  time,  must  constitute  for  it  a  valuable  domain.  The  whole  is  under  the 
special  supervision  of  Bishop  Wingfield,  who,  with  his  family,  has  his  Epis- 
copal residence  on  the  premises. 

One  of  the  objects  of  the  Pacific  Coast  Mission  was  to  establish  a  church 
school  for  girls.  Accordingly,  in  June,  1870,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Breck  purchased 
a  block  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Augustine  College,  and  commenced  the 
erection  of  the  buildings  for  "  St.  Mary  of  the  Pacific."  A  year  or  two  later 
these  were  completed,  and  has  ever  since  constituted  the  chief  ornament  of 
the  town.  The  garden  and  surroundings  of  St.  Mary's,  make  it  an  attractive 
spot.  The  school  grew  and  prospered  steadily  under  the  fatherly  care  of  Dr. 
Breck,  until  his  untimely  death,  which  took  place  on  the  30th  of  March 
last,  at  which  time  the  school  was  so  full  that  the  good  Doctor  had  had  it  in 
contemplation  to  put  up  additional  buildings,  in  case  his  health  was  restored. 
But  it  was  not  so  to  be,  for  our  all-wise  Heavenly  Father  was  then  pleased 
to  take  him  to  Himself.  As  a  natural  consequence  of  his  death,  the  school 
has  since  fallen  off  some ;  but  is  now  recovering,  and  will  doubtless  soon 
enter  upon  a  renewed  career  of  prosperity,  under  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev. 
John  H.  Babcock,  who,  with  his  wife,  have  just  been  placed  in  charge  of  the 
establishment  by  Bishop  Wingfield.  By  former  Experience  and  present  in- 
clination, Mr.  Babcock  is  well  fitted  for  the  position  and  its  various  duties. 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  which  was 
founded  here  in  1849,  and  abandoned  in  1869,  for  want  of  adherents.  It 
flourished  until  1861 — the  first  year  of  the  civil  war  — when  it  began  to 
decline  rapidly  on  account  of  dissatisfaction  in  the  congregation  at  the  de- 
determined  political  stand  taken  by  the  pastor,  who  was  several  times  a  can- 
didate for  office  on  the  unpopular  side.  Two  years  before  its  final  abandon- 
ment, it  was  supplanted  by  the  First  Congregational  society,  who  built,  and 
still  possess,  a  very  comfortable  house  of  worship,  with  a  parsonage  at- 
tached. The  bell  in  its  tower  was  cast  in  1853,  at  the  P.  M.  S.  S.  Co's. 
works,  and  was  in  use  there  until  the  works  were  abandoned. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  167 

The  Methodists  maintained  an  organization  for  a  year  or  two,  while 
Benicia  was  the  Capital  of  the  State  ;  but  thereafter  they  withdrew  from 
the  field,  and  their  insecure  little  building  was  blown  down  and  destroyed  in 
a  S.  E.  gale  which  visited  this  part  of  the  State,  the  1st  of  January,  1855. 

One  or  two  attempts  were  made  in  early  times  to  form  a  Baptist  society, 
but  without  success. 

The  Roman  Catholics  founded  their  church  of  St.  Dominic  in  1851.  It 
has  always  been  sustained  liberally  by  its  adherents,  and  is  apparently 
flourishing.  In  its  tower  is  a  large  and  very  fine-toned  bell,  equal  to  some 
of  the  best  in  our  city  churches.  The  well-known  Father  Villarassa  is  the 
ehief  pastor  here.  A  substantial,  two-story  edifice,  has  recently  been  added 
to  the  premises,  as  a  home  for  the  Brothers,  and  a  Theological  School. 

The  first  regular  service  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Benicia 
was  held  on  Sunday  the  24th  of  September,  1854,  in  the  court  room  of  the 
City  Hall.  Major  E.  D.  Townsend,  U.  S.  A.,  a  lay  reader  appointed  by  Rt. 
Rev.  Bishop  Kip,  read  the  service  and  a  sermon.  On  Sunday,  the  22d  of 
October,  the  Bishop  himself  officiated,  and  administered  the  Holy  Commun- 
ion. From  this  time  the  services  were  regularly  maintained,  and  a  chapel 
was  fitted  up  in  the  Masonic  Hall  early  in  1855.  On  the  13th  of  February, 
1855,  a  parish  was  formed  under  the  name  of  St.  Paul's  Parish,  to  which 
the  Bishop  gave  his  approval  on  the  22d.  The  Vestry  then  organized, 
electing  Paul  K.  Hubbs,  Senior  Warden  ;  Eugene  Van  Ness,  Junior  Warden  ; 
the  other  Vestrymen  being  John  Curry,  Joseph  Durbrow,  C.  W.  Hayden,  J. 
Howard,  and  John  Taylor.  Some  of  these  names  must  sound  familiar  here, 
even  at  this  late  day.  Col.  Van  Ness  and  Col.  Hubbs  have  gone  to  the 
eternal  world.  Gen.  Townsend  is  now  Adjutant-General  of  the  United 
States  at  Washington,  where,  also,  Mr.  C.  W.  Hayden  resides.  Judge 
Curry  and  Mr.  Durbrow  are  among  the  honored  citizens  of  San  Francisco. 
Among  the  others  that  have  since  been  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St. 
Paul's,  may  be  mentioned  the  names  of  Gen.  John  S.  Mason,  U.  S.  A.,  Hon. 
E.  W.  McKinstry,  Dr.  Robert  Murray,  Hon.  S.  F.  Reynolds,  Capt.  F.  F.  Flint, 
Dr.  Cooledge,  Col.  J.  McAllister. 

The  first  missionary  to  St.  Paul's  Church  was  the  Rev.  David  F.  McDon- 
ald in  1856.  He  had  then  recently  been  ordained  deacon  in  San  Francisco. 
He  is  now  a  D.D. ;  rector  of  a  church  in  Dardanelles,  Arkansas. 

Since  his  time  the  church  at  Benecia  has  been  served  with  more  or  less 
regularity  by  Rev.  E.  W.  Hager,  Rev.  James  Cameron,  Rev.  E.  G.  Perryman, 
Rev.  Dudley  Chase,  Rev.  Henry  G.  Perry,  and  Rev.  J.  L.  Breck,  D.D.  Mr. 
Cameron  was  rector  from  1860  to  1865,  and  Dr.  Breck  from  1868  to  1876. 
Since  the  death  of  Dr.  Breck,  Bishop  Wingfield  has  accepted  and  exercised 
the  office  of  rector. 

A  church  edifice  was  erected  in  the  fall  of  1859,  and  consecrated  in 
February,  1860.     In   1863   it  was  greatly  enlarged  and  improved   by  the 


168  THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

addition  of  transepts,  mainly  through  the  liberality  and  exertion  of  the 
Rev.  James  Cameron,  who,  at  the  same  time,  presented  the  church  with  a 
very  acceptable  pipe  organ,  that  is  still  in  use.  At  the  same  time  a  par- 
sonage or  rectory  was  built  and  presented  to  the  church  by  Col.  Julian 
McAllister,  now  Senior  Warden  of  the  Parish.  In  1873,  under  the  admin- 
istration of  Dr.  Breck,  the  church  was  again  enlarged  by  lengthening  the 
nave,  and  it  is  now,  in  its  interior  arrangements,  one  of  the  best  planned 
and  most  attractive  churches  in  California.  Being  attended  regularly  by 
the  pupils  of  St.  Mary's  school  and  St.  Augustine  College,  and  a  goodly 
share  of  the  town's  people,  the  congregations  are  generally  large  and  the 
services  full  of  interest,  being  participated  in  very  heartily.  It  is  quite 
refreshing  to  one  accustomed  to  the  low  murmur  of  our  city  congregations 
to  listen  to  the  outspoken  responses  characteristic  of  this  wide-awake 
assemblage. 

There  are  many  other  topics  that  might  properly  have  been  introduced 
into  this  sketch  and  have  proven,  perhaps,  more  interesting  than  those 
actually  touched  upon,  such  as  the  history  of  military  officers  and  their 
operations  at  the  arsenal;  the  barracks  and  the  Quartermaster's  department; 
the  pleasant  character  of  the  society  that  for  so  many  years,  during  Benicia's 
palmy  days,  became  a  distinguishing  feature  in  its  history ;  the  visit  of 
Com.  Perry's  squadron  in  1854,  after  its  voyage  around  the  world  and  its 
brilliant  achievement  in  causing  the  ports  of  Japan  to  be  opened  to  our 
commerce ;  the  many  attempts  at  railroad  building  that  have  from  time  to 
time  been  unsuccessfully  made  and  the  hopes  still  entertained  of  success  in 
the  near  future  ;  the  many  fires  that  have  destroyed  once  valuable  property; 
the  founding  and  maintenance  of  manufacturing  establishments  for  cement, 
leather,  flour,  etc.,  as  well  as  personal  reference  to  many  friends,  once  resi- 
dents, now  scattered  all  over  California  and  other  parts  of  the  United 
States;  but  it  is  already  too  long,  and  this  task  must  be  considered  com- 
pleted. 

It  has  cost  much  time,  application,  research,  labor,  and  self-denial,  but  if 
it  shall  have  afforded  entertainment,  instruction,  and  food  for  thought  to 
you  who  have  so  courteously  bestowed  upon  it  your  attention,  it  will  not 
be  in  vain  that  the  sacrifice  has  been  made." 


With  reference  to  the  Deed  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  lecture  of  Mr 
Gray,  the  tenor  of  it  is  in  a  few  words  :  Five  miles  of  land  in  the  Suscol 
estate  was  ceded,  transferred,  and  bestowed,  freely  and  spontaneously  to 
Don  Thomas  O.  Larkin  and  Don  Robert  Semple,  and  their  heirs  and  success- 
ors, by  General  Vallejo,  as  per  measurement  made  by  Don  Jasper  O'Farrell: 
"  Beginning  at  a  stone  marked  '  R.  S.'  and  running  N.  76  degrees  W.  to  a 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  169 

corner  or  angle  five  English  miles ;  from  thence  in  the  direction  S.  14 
degrees  W.  to  an  angle  one  mile,  a  little  more  or  less ;  thence  following  the 
sinuosities  of  the  bay,  of  the  straits  to  the  place  where  the  measurement 
commenced.,  which,  altogether,  makes  an  extent  of  five  English  miles ;  fol- 
lowing the  turn  of  the  bay,  the  sinuosities  of  the  land,  according  to  the 
measurement  of  plan  above  referred  to."  To  this  gift  were  attached  the 
under-mentioned  provisions  :  "  First. — The  grantees  were  to  bind  them- 
selves to  found  a  city  to  be  named  Francesca  or  Benicia,  and  to  divide  the 
land  into  lots  to  be  disposed  of  by  sale,  and  establish  ferry  boats  on  the 
Staits  of  Carquinez.  Second. — As  soon  as  the  city  should  contain  one 
hundred  families  a  magistrate  or  municipal  authority  shall  be  named.  The 
ferry  boats,  together  with  the  landing  places,  shall  belong  to  the  town,  and 
their  products  used  for  the  establishment  of  public  schools.  Third. — Until 
such  hundred  families  are  established  the  ferry  boats  and  landings  to  belong 
to  Robert  Semple."  The  deed  was  executed  on  May  19, 1847,  before  Lilburn 
W.  Boggs,  Alcalde  of  the  District  of  Sonoma. 

This  transaction  afterwards  proved  invalid,  the  General,  it  was  held,  not 
having  a  good  title  to  the  lands  of  Suscol ;  therefore  a  new  form  was  gone 
through  to  establish  the  claim  of  Messrs.  Semple  and  Larkin.  Pursuant  to 
an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  California,  entitled  "An  Act  to  settle 
the  title  of  lands  in  the  town  and  city  of  Benicia,  in  the  county  of  Solano, 
approved  February  20,  1866,"  and  in  accordance  with  an  Act  of  Congress, 
entitled  "  An  Act  to  quiet  the  title  to  certain  lands  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  the  city  of  Benicia  and  the  town  of  Santa  Cruz,  in  the  State  of 
California,  approved  July  23,  1866,"  notice  was  given  to  claimants  to  file 
their  respective  claims  for  lots  and  parcels  of  land. 

An  Act  to  incorporate  the  city  of  Benicia  was  passed  April  24,  1851, 
bounding  the  site  thus :  "  And  that  tract  of  land  lying  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Straits  of  Carquinez,  as  surveyed  by  Benjamin  W.  Barlow,  Esq.,  late 
City  Surveyor,  and  designated  by  his  map  now  on  file  in  the  office  of  the 
Clerk  of  Solano  county,  the  southern  boundary  shall  extend  to  the  middle 
of  the  channel  of  the  Straits  of  Carquinez."  Following  this  the  city  was 
divided  into  two  wards.  Article  two  of  the  Act  provides  for  the  election  of 
city  officers  ;  article  three  apportioned  their  duties  and  powers  ;  article  four, 
their  compensation ;  article  five,  the  establishment  of  Recorder's  and  Jus- 
tice's Courts.  Supplementary  to  the  foregoing,  was  passed  on  April  13, 
1854,  an  Act  incorporating  the  city  and  granting  additional  powers  to  the 
Council ;  while  the  water  front  was  ceded  to  the  corporation  by  Act  of  the 
Legislature  approved  May  3,  1855. 

After  the  survey  of  the  site  in  1847  it  was  laid  out  in  streets  and  squares, 
there  being  twenty  lots  retained  for  public  uses,  besides  the  City  Hall  lot  and 
two  half  blocks  for  parks,  etc,  From  its  start  until  April  18,  1859,  the  city 
was  governed  by  a  Mayor  and  Corporation,  when  on  that  date  an  Act  to 


170  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

repeal  the  several  Acts  incorporating  the  city  of  Benicia,  was  approved,  and 
placed  the  town  under  the  government  of  Trustees,  who  were  to  be  elected 
to  serve,  thus :  The  party  receiving  the  highest  number  of  votes  was 
chosen  for  three  years,  the  second,  for  two,  and  the  third  for  one  year ;  and 
each  following  year,  one  Trustee  should  be  elected  for  three  years.  A  list  of 
the  Mayors  has  been  already  given,  let  us  now  present  one  of  the  Trustees  : 
Those  called  upon  to  serve  during  the  first  term  were  George  H.  Riddelh 
three  years,  May,  1859  ;  John  J.  Barry,  two  years ;  C.  W.  Hayden,  one  year, 
Thereafter  there  ensued  a  yearly  election  for  a  term  of  three  years :  1860 — 
C.  W.  Hayden,  G.  H.  Riddell,  J.  J.  Barry.  1861— S.  C.  Gray,  C.  W.  Hayden, 
G.  H.  Riddell.  1862— T.  B.  Storer,  S.  C.  Gray,  C.  W.  Hayden.  1863— E.  Dan- 
forth,  T.  B.  Storer,  S.  C.  Gray.  1864— S.  C.  Gray,  E.  Danforth,  T.  B.  Storey 
(resigned),  C.  B.  Houghton,  (elected).  1865 — C.  B.  Houghton,  S.  C.  Gray, 
E.  Danforth,  (resigned),  J.  Hatch,  (elected).  1866— E.  H.  Von  Pfister,  C.  B. 
Houghton,  S.  C.  Gray.  1867— J.  F.  Swain,  E.  H.  Von  Pfister,  C.  B.  Hough- 
ton. 1868— C.  B.  Houghton,  J.  F.  Swain,  E.  H.  Von  Pfister.  1869— E.  H. 
Von  Pfister,  G.  B.  Houghton,  J.  F.  Swain.  1870— J.  F.  Swain,  E.  H.  Von 
Pfister,  C.  B.  Houghton.  1871— C.  B.  Houghton,  J.  F.  Swain,  E.  H.  Von 
Pfister.  1872— James  Flannery,  C.  B.  Houghton,  J.  F.  Swain.  1873— 
John  J.  Barry,  James  Flannery,  C.  B.  Houghton.  1874 — C.  B.  Houghton, 
J.  J.  Barry,  James  Flannery.  1875 — J.  R.  Brown,  C.  B.  Houghton,  J.  J- 
Barry.  1876— J.  J.  Barry,  J.  R.  Brown,  C.  B.  Houghton.  1877— C.  B" 
Houghton,  J.  J.  Barry,  J.  R.  Brown!  1878— D.  N.  Hastings,  C.  B.  Hough- 
ton, John  J.  Barry.  1879 — James  Barry,  D.  N.  Hastings,  C.  B.  Houghton. 
The  office  of  City  Clerk  was  filled  by  the  following  gentlemen:  1850-51 — 
B.  D.  Hyam  and  John  B.  Dow.  1851-54— B.  C.  Whitman.  1854-56— 
David  F.  Beveridge.  1856-57— E.  H.  Von  Pfister.  1857-59— J.  W.  Kin- 
loch.  Since  the  election  of  Trustees  one  of  their  number  has  officiated  as 
Clerk  until  1878.  The  City  Assessors  were :  1850-51 — Stephen  Cooper. 
1851-53— Singleton  Vaughn.  1853-54— H.  P.  Ammons.  1854-55— H. 
Norton.  1855-56— J.  W.  Kinloch.  1856-58— Peter  Wright.  1858-59— 
H.  Norton.  From  this  year  up  until  1877,  inclusive,  the  county  officials 
assessed,  collected,  and  disbursed  the  funds.  In  1877  E.  H.  Von  Pfister  was 
elected  to  the  office,  a  position  which  he  still  retains.  The  City  Marshals 
have  been  :  1850 — John  S.  Brown.  1851 — Beebe  Robinson.  1852-53— 
A.  H.  Estell.  1854-55— A.  J.  Bryant.  1856— D.  F.  Beveridge.  1857-58— 
Luke  Bond.  From  this  period  until  the  year  1872  the  city  was  without  a 
Marshal;  in  that  year  Jeremiah  O'Donnell  was  appointed.  In  1873  he  again 
held  the  office.  1874— Patrick  McNally.  1875-77— A.  J.  Glover,  and 
1878-79 — F.  P.  Weinmann.  The  City  Treasurers  have  been  during  that 
period,  respectively :  Messrs.  D.  F.  Beveridge,  Edward  Crocker,  R.  M. 
Holladay,  John  J.  Barry,  with  a  long  interregnum  wherein  the  County 
Treasurer  performed  the  duties   for  the   city,  when,  in  1877,  the  present 


THE    HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  171 

incumbent,  John  Reuger,  was  chosen  to  fill  the  office.  Space  will  not  per- 
mit of  our  entering  more  fully  into  the  names  of  the  other  officers  who 
served  Benicia,  indeed  it  has  been  an  arduous  task,  the  tracing  these  we 
have  enumerated.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  among  the  City  Attorneys  we  find 
such  well-known  names  as  Leslie  and  Wells ;  while  her  Surveyors  were 
Barlow,  Patton,  and  De  Hemmecourt. 

Mention  has,  in  a  general  way,  been  made  of  the  schools  of  Benicia.  We 
will  now  present  the  reader  with  a  slight  sketch  of  two  of  the  principal 
seats  of  learning  in  the  city : 

The  Young  Ladies'  Seminary. — This  school  was  established  in  1852, 
and  was  managed  by  a  Board  of  Trustees  for  two  years  and  a  half.  The 
following  named  gentlemen  served  on  the  Board  :  Hon.  S.  Bvnam,  Hon.  S. 
Cooper,  Capt.  D.  M.  Fraser,  S.  C.  Gray,  B.  W.  Mudge,  Dr.  W.  F.  Peabody, 
Capt.  J.  Walsh,  C.  E.  Wetmore,  Rev.  S.  Woodbridge,  E.  Crocker,  J.  W.  Jones, 
D.  N.  Hastings. 

During  the  latter  part  of  1854,  Miss  Mary  Atkins  became  the  Principal  of 
the  school ;  but  in  January,  1855,  the  proprietorship  and  sole  management 
passed  into  her  hands. 

For  nine  years  she  labored  successfully  to  bring  the  institution  up  to  the 
highest  standard,  and  when,  in  1864,  she  was  compelled  to  take  a  season  of 
rest,  she  rented  the  Seminary  to  Miss  Lammond,  it  then  having  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pupils,  and  an  unequaled  reputation  for  giving  thorough 
training  and  a  solid  education. 

Within  a  year  Miss  Atkins  returned  to  her  school,  and  found  so  few 
pupils  that  much  of  the  work  of  building  up  had  to  be  done  once  more.  By 
untiring  energy  she  re-established  it,  and  it  took,  again,  its  place  as  the  first- 
class  school  of  the  State. 

In  1865,  worn  by  years  of  unceasing  labor,  Miss  Atkins  retired  from 
teaching.  She  sold  the  Seminary  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  C.  T.  Mills.  They  faith- 
fully labored  to  maintain  the  high  position  of  the  institution,  and  had  six 
years  of  uninterrupted  success.  In  1871  they  removed  from  Benicia  to 
Seminary  Park,  Alameda  county,  where  they  had"  erected  large  and  well- 
adapted  school  buildings. 

Rev.  Charles  H.  Pope  then  took  charge  of  the  Benicia  Seminary,  a  trust 
which  he  faithfully  administered  for  three  years,  when  he  removed  from 
the  State,  and  the  school  came  under  the  principalship  of  Miss  Snell. 

In  the  spring  of  1878  Miss  Snell  organized  a  school  in  Oakland,  and  Miss 
Atkins,  after  years  of  pleasant  wandering,  full  of  rich  experience,  has  come 
back  to  the  old  roof-tree. 

The  following  address  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Sylvester  Woodbridge, 
D.D.,  of  San  Francisco,  on  October  11th,  1878,  at  a  re-union  of  former 
pupils,  held  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  society  to  perpetuate  the  history 


172  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

of  the  school,  as  well  as  making  a  presentation  to  Mrs.  Atkins-Lynch  on 
her  return  to  Benicia : 

"  Memory  and  Hope  are  two  angels  that  with  golden  chains  bind  the  past 
to  the  future.  We  cannot  afford  to  lose  either.  Without  the  former,  our 
identity  of  being  would  cease,  our  treasures  be  lost,  our  responsibility  be 
overwhelmed  in  the  cold  waves  of  oblivion.  Without  the  latter,  the  future 
could  have  no  encouragement,  nor  could  we  press  forward  and  upward  to 
success,  reward,  and  the  crown  of  glory. 

THE   PAST. 

We  cannot  live  over  the  past.  We  would  not  if  we  could.  What  once 
was  vivid  in  its  freshness  and  novelty  would  now  seem  cold  and  effete. 
The  pleasures  that  once  stirred  the  pulses  to  impetuous  rebound,  would 
cause  them  to  thrill  no  more.  The  pains,  then  half  neutralized  by  the  daily 
stimulus  of  duty  and  zeal,  would  cling  with  iron  grasp  to  us  till  we  sank 
down  exhausted. 

But  when  we  relegate  the  past  to  Memory's  bright  domain,  the  sweep  of 
her  magic  wand  spreads  enchantment  over  the  scene.  The  pains  become 
but  the  foil  and  the  background  which  serve  to  set  off  the  successes  and  the 
joys,  and  bring  them  out  in  more  brilliant  colors.  There  we  see  the  fields 
of  usefulness,  where  the  precious  harvests  were  reaped ;  there  the  forms  of 
beauty  that  '  are  a  joy  forever ; '  there  were  awakened  the  friendships, 
whose  light  will  endure  beyond  the  shining  sun. 

THE   BENICIA   YOUNG  LADIES'    SEMINARY. 

Radiant  in  the  history  of  this  State  of  California,  lighted  up  by  the  glory 
of  past  years  of  success  and  great  usefulness,  stands  this  distinguished 
institution  of  learning.  It  began  when  innumerable  and  apparentty  insur- 
mountable obstacles  stood  in  the  way  of  success.  But  the  need  of  its 
establishment,  and  the  pressure  of  what  they  esteemed  to  be  duty,  rested 
upon  those  who  felt  called  upon  to  engage  in  the  enterprise.  Therefore  they 
manfully  undertook  the  task,  girded  themselves  for  the  arduous  duty,  made 
the  great  and  needful  sacrifices  of  money,  time  and  toil,  and  in  the  year 
1852,  the  Seminary  was  launched  forth  on  the  perilous  seas  of  California's 
fluctuating  fortunes.  Often  was  the  institution  near  bankruptcy  and  de- 
struction. But  a  kind  Providence  still  and  ever  interposed,  and  in  nothing 
more  decidedly  than  when  that  eminent  teacher  to  whom  to-night  we  render 
the  just  honor  which  is  her  due,  took  charge  of  the  Seminary. 

THE   PREVIOUS   TEACHERS. 

We  would  diminish  nothing  from  the  respect  due  to  the  principals  and 
teachers  who  had  charge  of  this  institution  during  the  earliest  years  of  its 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  173 

existence.  Mrs.  Wells,  assisted  by  an  able  corps  of  teachers,  took  charge  at 
the  inception  of  the  work,  and  toiled  faithfully  and  successfully.  Then 
Mrs.  Nevins,  whom  we  are  pleased  to  see  present  to  honor  this  occasion,  and 
who  labored  unweariedly  at  her  task.  But  the  difficulties,  chiefly  pecuniary, 
and  the  burden  of  carrying  the  institution  when  there  were  so  few  young 
ladies  yet  in  the  State,  and  so  small  a  proportion  of  that  number  seeking  a 
liberal  education,  was  calculated  to  paralyze  the  energies  of  the  patrons  of 
the  institution.    " 

MRS.   MARY   ATKINS-LYNCH. 

At  the  hour  of  utmost  discouragement,  Miss  Atkins  (that  was,  and  she 
will  allow  me  to  recall  the  name  which  is  so  fragrant  in  our  memories) 
became  principal  of  the  Seminary.  She  took  upon  herself  with  daring  zeal 
all  the  responsibilities  of  its  management  and  pecuniary  liabilities.  She 
became  by  purchase  the  owner  of  the  buildings  and  other  property,  and 
boldly  went  forth  to  meet  the  dangers  of  the  way. 

Let  no  one  suppose  them  to  have  been  small.  What  perils  were  encoun- 
tered ;  what  lonely  hours  of  weakness,  weariness  and  discouragement  were 
passed ;  what  tears  flowed,  and  saddened  prayers  were  offered,  and  pangs  of 
disappointment  were  suffered  before  the  sunlight  rose,  God  only  perfectly 
knows.  It  is  well  that  the  memory,  or  at  least  the  vividness  of  the  memory 
is  hidden  in  the  sombre  shadows  of  the  night  of  the  past. 

Then  the  Seminary  began  to  rise  before  our  people  in  all  its  excellence. 
Miss  Atkins'  high  repute  spread  abroad.  As  fast  as  her  means  would  allow, 
she  surrounded  herself  with  teachers  of  superior  excellence.  Classes  of 
young  ladies  from  the  best  families  in  the  State  gathered  in  these  halls, 
The  successful  examinations,  the  fine  exhibitions  of  talent  at  the  Commence- 
ment exercises,  the  eclat  given  by  the  learning,  refinement  and  superiority 
of  the  graduated  pupils,  placed  the  Benicia  Young  Ladies'  Seminary  in  the 
front  rank  with  the  best  institutions  in  America. 

And  the  credit  of  this  is  due  to  Miss  Atkins.  Her  pupils  have  made 
their  mark  in  the  world,  and  speak  for  themselves.  They  are  among  the 
most  distinguished  women  in  this  State  for  all  that  makes  women  pre-emi- 
nent in  intelligence,  position  and  piety.  On  this  platform  I  see  one  lady, 
(Mrs.  Kincaid,)  a  graduate  of  this  institution,  who  has  made  teaching  her 
profession.  She  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  and  successful  teachers  in 
the  Girls'  High  School  in  San  Francisco.  Everywhere  in  the  families,  the 
neighborhoods,  the  schools,  the  cities  of  our  State,  have  the  instructions 
and  influence  of  Miss  Atkins  left  an  impression,  deep,  broad  and  abiding. 

Nor  is  that  influence  confined  to  us.  Many  of  the  bright  pupils  who  once 
lent  radiance  to  these  scenes,  have  left  the  dark  earth,  guided  by  that 
divine  faith  which  led  their  steps  up  the  heavenly  way.  The  earliest  and 
foremost  of  the  graduates  (Mrs.  Walsh  Ferguson)  thus  departed  in  the  hope 


174  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

of  glory.  Others  have  followed  her.  But  last  week  there  was  one  in  San 
Francisco  (Miss  Mary  Dollarhide)  who  hoped  to  have  been  present  on  this 
occasion.  But  this  very  week  we  have  been  called  to  follow  all  of  her  that 
was  mortal  to  the  house  appointed  for  all  living.  But  it  is  believed  by 
many  that  the  dead  are  sometimes  permitted  to  revisit  the  earth,  and 
though  unseen  by  us,  pass  through  our  midst  and  rejoice  in  our  joy.  It  is 
in  speaking  of  the  faithful  dead  that  the  Scriptures  say :  '  Seeing  therefore 
that  we  are  surrounded  by  so  great  a  cloud  of  witnesses!''  The  beautiful 
dead  who  have  gone  up  from  us  may  return  to  hail  and  applaud  our  con- 
tinued zeal  and  efforts  for  good. 

HOPE. 

The  Word  of  God  forbids  us  to  dwell  amid  the  former  scenes  '  Forgetting 
the  things  that  are  past,  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  '  which  God 
from  on  high  is  calling  to  us  to  attain,  Mr.  Moody's  favorite  song  is  one  that 
it  behooves  us  all  to  sing : 

'  More  to  follow,  always  more  to  follow  ! ' 

It  is  consumate  folly  always  to  be  dawdling  over  what  might  have  been. 
The  past  is  gone.  Nothing  can  recall  it.  The  present  and  the  future,  un- 
der God,  are  ours. 

It  was  a  most  noble  suggestion  to  bring  back  to  this  school  the  person  who 
at  an  early  day  made  it  so  famous.  She  comes  indeed  under  better  auspices 
than  before.  She  is  no  longer  alone,  but  with  her  much  esteemed  and 
honored  husband  (Mr.  Lynch)  she  brings  accumulated  force  and  courage  to 
her  grand  task.  It  seems  to  us  that  there  is  almost  everything  to  encourage 
and  hope  for  in  this  renewed  undertaking.  Certainly  the  field  is  very 
different  from  what  it  was  formerly.  Schools  for  young  ladies,  distinguished 
for  the  character  of  the  teachers  and  their  elegant  adornings,  are  numerous. 
The  public  schools  are  aiming  at  the  most  thorough  training  of  their  pupils. 
But  this  Seminary,  under  the  experienced,  skillful  'and  kindly  direction  of 
Mrs.  Lynch,  need  not  fear  to  enter  into  competition  with  any  or  all  of  them. 
Her  reputation  goes  before  her,  and  is  known  of  all.  The  many  superior 
ladies,  graduates  of  this  school,  who  adorn  California  society,  are  her  stand- 
ing advertisement. 

We  tender  to  the  citizens  of  Benicia  our  hearty  congratulations  for  the 
great  acquisition  to  this  Young  Ladies'  Seminary  of  its  eminent  former 
principal,  and  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lynch  our  best  wishes  and  prayers  that  they 
may  secure  the  triumphant  success  they  justly  deserve." 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  175 

OFFICERS   OF   GOVERNMENT   AND   INSTRUCTION    FOR    1879-80   ARE 

Mary  Atkins  Lynch,  Principal;  Martha  Hathaway,  Latin,  Litera- 
ture, History  and  Geography ;  Francis  C.  Bauman,  Mathematics ;  Anne  C. 
Craig,  Natural  History,  Elocution  and  Drawing ;  A.  Roger,  French ; 
Josephine  Abele,  French,  German  and  Piano  ;  F.  Corbaz,  Piano  ;  Susie 
I.  Morgan..  Singing ;  Harrie  H.  Riddell,  Painting ;  Eliza  E.  Crocker, 
Matron ;  Laura  Lamme  White,  Assistant  Matron  and  Teacher  of  Saving. 

The  College  of  St.  Augustine — Was  founded  A.  D.  1867,  and  in- 
corporated in  1868.  It  is  under  the  Rectorship  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  J.  H.  D. 
Wingfield,  D.D.,  LL.  D.,  and  is  governed  by  a  Board  of  Trustees  and  a 
Board  of  Instructors ;  is  located  at  Benicia,  California.  The  buildings  oc- 
cupy an  elevated  site  and  command  an  extensive  view  of  the  Straits  of 
Carquinez  and  the  beautiful  hills  beyond,  with  Mount  Diablo  on  the  left 
and  San  Pablo  Bay  on  the  right.  The  grounds  are  sixty  acres  in  extent,  a 
portion  of  which  is  tastefully  laid  out  and  decorated  with  flowers,  orna- 
mental trees  and  shrubberry.  Having  been  erected  expressly  for  Academical 
purposes,  the  buildings  are  strictly  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  students, 
being  commodious  and  inviting,  well  ventilated  and  heated.  In  the 
domestic  arrangements  eveiy  care  is  taken  to  unite  the  culture  and  comforts 
of  a  Christian  home  with  the  strict  discipline  of  a  school.  Attention  is  paid 
to  the  personal  habits  and  manners  of  the  Cadets.  They  sleep  in  single  al- 
coves, in  dormitories,  under  the  charge  of  Teachers  and  Military  Officers. 
The  Teachers  and  Cadets  meet  as  one  family  in  a  commodious  Dining  Hall, 
and  attend  Divine  Service  daily  in  the  College  Chapel. 

It  is  designed  in  this  Institution  to  combine  with  moral  and  mental 
education  a  thorough  course  of  Military  instruction,  consisting  of  daily  ex- 
ercise in  Infantry,  Cavalry  and  Artillery  Tactics,  in  which  every  Cadet  is 
required  to  participate.  In  all  the  routine  of  duties,  each  Cadet  is  subject 
to  a  system  of  regulations,  designed  to  make  him  prompt,  systematic,  and 
gentleman-like.  This  Military  Discipline,  by  its  thoroughness  and  impar- 
tiality, is  eminently  fitted  to  perfect  the  physical  man,  and  to  give  habits  of 
quick  obedience,  order,  politeness  and  manliness. 

The  spacious  parade-ground  affords  a  superior  and  attractive  place  for 
drill  and  physical  recreation,  while  a  large  building,  erected  for  the 
Eulexian  Literary  and  Dramatic  Society,  and  for  an  Armory,  with  Gym- 
nasium attached,  furnishes  the  Cadet  with  unusual  advantages  of  in-door 
exercises. 

In  the  work  of  instruction,  the  Rector  is  aided  by  a  Corps  of  Experienced 
and  Competent  Professors  and  Teachers,  who  devote  their  time  exclusively 
to  the  business  of  the  College. 

Each  Instructor  has  been  selected  because  of  his  peculiar  fitness  for  the 
Department  to  which  he  is  assigned,  and  is  held  responsible  for  the  faithful 


176  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

discharge  of  his  duty  to  his  classes.  In  order  to  satisfy  himself  of  the 
proper  advancement  of  all  Cadets,  the  Rector  frequently  examines  the 
respective  classes. 

The  College  Session  consists  of  Two  Terms  of  Twenty  Weeks  each. 

Trinity  Term  begins  on  the  Thursday  after  the  28th  of  July,  and  closes 
on  the  Thursday  next  before  the  23d  of  December.  After  a  vacation  of 
four  weeks,  the  EASTER  TERM  begins  on  the  second  Thursday  in  January, 
and  closes  on  the  Thursday  next  after  the  first  Wednesday  in  June. 

Punctual  attendance  on  the  first  day  of  the  term  is  imperative.  To  insure 
high  standing,  the  Cadet  must  answer  at  the  roll-call  at  7  o'clock  on  the 
evening  of  the  opening  day.  No  alcoves  are  reserved,  the  first  on  the 
ground  has  the  first  choice  in  the  Dormitory  to  which  he  may  be  assigned. 

Every  Cadet,  on  his  arrival,  shall  immediately  report  himself  to  the 
Rector,  the  Commandant  of  the  Corps,  and  the  First  Sergeant. 

No  furloughs  are  granted  after  entrance.  Patrons  are  urged  not  to  ask 
permission  for  Cadets  to  leave  the  College  for  any  cause.  Under  no  cir- 
cumstances can  any  Cadet  be  received  for  less  than  a  term.  He  is  expected 
to  remain  at  least  one  Session  of  two  terms,  during  which  period  his  whole 
time  and  energies  are  required.  New  Cadets  will  be  admitted  at  any  time ; 
and,  after  the  first  •  month  will  be  charged  from  date  of  entrance  to  the  end 
of  the  term. 

No  visitors  are  welcome  on  the  Lord's  Day. 

There  are,  besides  these  two  Academies,  the  School  under  the  Catholic 
clergy,  and  the  College  of  St.  Mary. 

While  on  the  subject  of  schools,  we  would  here  draw  attention  to  what 
has  been  done  for  the  education  of  the  yonng  of  the  county  in  the  past 
thirty  years. 

If  there  is  one  man  more  than  another  to  whom  praise  is  due  for  the 
present  educational  prosperity  of  the  State,  and  therefore  of  Solano  county, 
in  which  he  was  especially  interested,  that  man  is  the  late  Hon.  Paul  K. 
Hubbs.  From  the  first  arrival  of  this  accomplished  statesman  in  California, 
he  strove  manfully  and  ardently  to  systematize  its  educational  interests. 
He  served  for  a  long  time  as  the  head  of  that  especial  department  in  the 
State  Legislature,  and  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  during  his  tenure  of  that 
responsible  office,  in  three  years,  the  number  of  schools  in  the  State  in- 
creased from  twenty  to  three  hundred  and  sixteen,  while  the  attendance 
rose  from  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  fourteen  to  twenty-six 
thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty.  This  was  more  than  twenty  years  ago; 
what  are  the  school  statistics  of  the  county  at  present ! 

On  the  30th  of  June,  1878,  the  number  of  first  grade  schools  in  Solano 
county  were  twenty-six ;  second  grade,  thirty-eight ;  and  third,  seventeen. 
Of  these  one  school-house  is  built  of  brick — -that  at  Benicia,  formerly  the 


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THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  177 

State  Capitol,  and  fifty-two  of  wood,  while  four  new  school-houses  have 
been  erected  in  the  last  year.  These  schools  are  taught  by  eighty-one 
teachers,  of  whom  fifty  are  females  and  thirty-one  males,  the  former  having 
an  average  monthly  salary  of  $63.52,  and  the  latter  $91.16  ;  eighteen  of 
these  preceptors  hold  life  certificates.  In  the  year  ending,  as  per  above 
date,  two  schools  were  maintained  less  than  six  months,  twenty-four  for 
more  than  six  and  less  than  eight,  while  twenty-one  were  continued  for 
eight  months  and  over.  Within  that  period  fifteen  certificates  were 
granted  to  male,  and  thirteen  to  female  teachers,  and  twenty  applicants 
rejected,  while  there  were  twenty-three  certificates  renewed.  Five  students 
from  Solano  were  at  that  date  attending  the  State  Normal  School,  and  in 
regard  to  the  county's  division  there  are  forty-eight  districts,  three  of 
them  being  fractional,  and  in  one  of  these  the  school-house  is  situated 
without  the  limits  of  the  county.  The  rate  of  county  school-tax  levied 
to  October,  1877,  was  25  per  100.  County  assessment  roll  of  taxable 
property  for  1877,  $9,022,101  ;  amount  received  from  county  taxes,  $23,- 
157  59  ;  amount  received  from  poll-tax,  $3,771  85  ;  cash  drawn  from  un- 
apportioned  County  Fund  for  Board  of  Examination,  $244  55  ;  cash  drawn 
from  unapportioned  County  Fund  for  postage,  stationery,  etc.,  $25.  The 
value  of  the  school  lots,  houses  and  furniture  to  that  date  was  $98,600  ; 
cash  in  hand  in  various  districts  on  June  30,  1878,  $16,809  67  ;  received 
from  State  Apportionment  School  Fund,  $36,119  89  ;  from  County  Appor- 
tionment in  total,  $28,355  55;  from  City  and  District  Taxes,  $4,212'  47, 
and  from  miscellaneous  sources,  $945.  Teachers'  salaries  have  been  paid  to 
the  amount  of  $49,443  92  ;  fuel,  rent,  etc.,  $9,151  08;  libraries,  $1,397  61  ; 
apparatus  and  other  necessaries,  $138  10,  and  sites,  furniture,  etc., 
$9,675  43.  Thus  it  is  seen  to  what  vast  proportions  the  educational  in- 
terests of  one  county  may  spring  in  what  is  not  quite  half  a  life-time. 

Secret  Societies,  Associations,  Etc. — All  cities,  how  small  they  may 
be,  have  each  their  lodge,  brotherhood  or  guild;  as  is  natural,  Benicia  is  not 
without  such  representation ;  indeed  she  would  appear  to  have  been  one  of 
the  first  to  whom  was  extended  the  right  hand  of  brotherly  love. 

Benicia  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  and  A.  M.  —  Has  a  history  of  rare  mark.  On 
June  5,  1849,  certain  Master  Masons  received  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Louisiana,  permission  to  congregate  into  a  Traveling  Lodge,  to  be  held  in 
California.  A  Lodge,  und.er  this  Dispensation,  was  opened  by  L.  A.  Besan- 
con,  one  of  the  original  number,  who  appointed  D.  B.  Hyam,  W.  M.;  James 
H.  Saunders,  S.  W.;  and  L.  B.  Mizner,  J.  W.,  the  officers  in  the  original  Dis- 
pensation of  that  rank,  being  permanently  absent.  The  first  meeting  of  the 
Lodge  was  held  and  officers  appointed,  on  March  6th,  1850.  On  application, 
a  Charter  was  granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  California ;  on  the  26th  of 
12 


178  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

November,  of  the  same  year,  the  first  officers  appointed,  being  D.  B.  Hyam, 
W.  M.;  L.  B.  Mizner,  S.  W.;  and  Alexander  Rid  dell,  J.  W.  The  number  of 
members  on  the  roll  are  now  about  forty -five ;  while  the  officers  for  the 
current  year  are :  W.  M.,  George  Poor ;  S.  W.,  Murdoch  McArthur ;  J.  W., 
Louis  Weinmann ;  Treasurer,  John  Reuger ;  Secretary,  Charles  Spalding ; 
S.  D.,  William  R.  Carnpbell ;  J.  D.,  John  Mounce ;  Marshall,  F.  P.  Wein- 
mann ;  Stewards,  F.  D.  Blake,  and  Edwin  Esty ;  and  Tyler,  T.  Sage.  The 
Trustees  are :  R.  Westerby,  T.  McKay,  and  V:  Newmark.  It  meets  on  the 
Wednesday  of,  or  preceding,  the  full  moon ;  and  we  are  happy  to  say  that 
this  old  institution  flourishes,  it  having  a  cash-balance  on  hand,  as  well  as 
owning  the  hall  wherein  the  craft  meet,  and  the  lot  on  which  it  has  been 
erected. 

Benicia  Chapter  No.  7,  R.  A.  M.  —  This  Chapter  received  its  Charter 
on  May  1,  1855 ;  the  members  applying,  and  whose  names  appear  on  the 
parchment,  being  Charles  French,  John  L.  Sanborn,  Thomas  Farmer,  Wil- 
liam McGufnck,  Thomas  Brownlee,  Henry  Hook,  B.  Robinson,  J.  C.  Stone, 
R.  N.  Woode,  H.  Wheeler,  John  Tucker,  and  Sydney  Maupin.  The  first 
officers  who  served  after  the  institution  of  the  Chapter,  were :  John  L. 
Sanborn,  High  Priest ;  Charles  French,  King ;  and  Thomas  Farmer,  Scribe. 
The  present  office-holders  are  :  High  Priest,  Timothy  Sage ;  King,  Thomas 
McKay ;  Scribe,  Murdoch  McArthur ;  Treasurer,  John  Reuger ;  Secretary, 
Charles  Spalding;  Captain  of  Host,  George  Poor ;  Prin.  Sojourner,  Wm. 
R.  Campbell ;  Roy.  Arch.  Captain,  L.  B.  Mizner ;  Master,  3rd.  Vail,  E. 
H.  Von  Pfister ;  Master  of  2nd  Vail,  Joseph  Green  Johnson ;  Master  of  1st 
Vail,  Archibald  McDonald;  Guard,  Robert  Steuart.  Past  High  Priest, 
Timothy  Sage.  The  members  on  the  roll  at  present  are  twenty-three  in 
number ;  while  they  meet  on  the  Tuesday  of,  or  preceding,  the  full  moon. 

Solano  Lodge,  No.  22,  I.  0.  0.  F.  —  This,  another  of  California's  first 
organized  Lodges,  was  instituted  by  Right  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  S.  H. 
Parker,  on  April  8,  1854,  having,  for  its  Charter  members,  George  H.  Rid- 
dell,  Paul  Shirley,  Charles  W.  Hayden,  George  Leviston,  and  John  S.  Brown. 
The  first  officers  who  served,  were :  George  Leviston,  N.  G.;  Paul  Shirley, 
V.  G.;  C.  W.  Hayden,  Secy.;  and  T.  B.  Storer,  Treas.,  who,  on  being  installed, 
at  once  held  a  meeting,  and  conferred  degrees  upon  several  applicants.  The 
number  on  the  muster-roll  of  the  Lodge  now,  is  sixty-two  ;  while  the  officers 
jn  the  different  chairs,  are;  N.  G.,  Dr.  V.  Newmark;  V.  G.,  (vacant) ;  Sec- 
retary, Charles  Spalding ;  Treasurer,  S.  J.  Filer ;  W.  Warden,  Willaim 
Fox ;  Conductor,  H.  A.  Booth  ;  O.  G.,  William  Kuhland ;  I.  G.,  A.  P.  Whit- 
man ;  R.  S.  to  N.  G.,  D.  E.  Roberts ;  L.  S.  to  N.  G.,  John  Binnington ;  R.  S- 
to  V.  G.,  Daniel  Cameron ;  L.  S.  to  V.  G.,  Joseph  Roskilly ;  R.  S.  S.,  Fred. 
Fried ;  L.  S.  S.,  George  Roskilly.     Trustees,  J.  R.  Brown,   A.  P.  Whitman, 


THE    HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY.  179 

William  Kuhland.  This  Lodge  owns  its  hall  wherein  the  brethren  meet ; 
and  we  are  happy  to  announce  that  it  was  never  in  so  properous  a  condit- 
ion as  it  is  to-day.     Meetings  every  Monday  evening. 

Industries. — Without  doubt  the  industries  of  Benicia  are  centred  in  its 
tanneries,  of  which  there  are  three  of  extensive  proportions  in  operation, 
giving  employment  to  nearly  three  hundred  men.  The  day  has  gone,  when 
in  the  workshops  of  this,  then  thought  to  be  the  rising  city  of  the  Pacific 
coast,  the  noise  and  bustle  of  manufacture  was  heard.  The  works  of  the 
Mail  Company,  which  used  to  pay  out  as  much  as  $60,000  per  month  in 
wages  alone,  have  long  ago  been  abandoned  ;  and  Mr.  Westerby,  the  present 
proprietor,  who  has  lately  acquired  the  property,  is  now  hunting  the  tule 
for  old  chains,  for  many  years  hid  by  mud  and  rushes.  Ditches  have  ceased 
to  be  dug,  or  streets  to  be  graded ;  and  but  for  its  tanneries,  this  fair  city, 
which  once  had  such  fair  prospects,  would  be  a  city  of  the  dead  indeed. 

The  Pioneer  Tannery. — This  establishment,  as  its  name  signifies,  was 
the  first  tannerry  started  in  Benicia.  About  eleven  years  ago,  J.  R.  Brown 
and  Thomas  McKay  decided  to  try  the  experiment  of  running  a  tannery 
at  this  place.  They  started  in  with  four  tan  vats,  and  only  a  few  hundred 
dollars  in  money,  but  with  a  whole  fortune  of  pluck.  By  hard  work, 
superior  skill,  and  close  attention  to  business,  they  made  the  enterprise 
a  success  from  the  start,  when  failure  was  prophesied  from  all  quarters ; 
and  now  the  Pioneer  tannery  is  one  of  the  most  important  in  the  State. 
It  has  a  reputation  that  extends  to  Boston.  The  buildings  and  yards 
occupy  between  four  and  five  acres  of  ground.  They  have  two  currying 
shops  that  are  35x45  feet  in  size ;  a  beam  house  that  is  75  feet  long 
by  forty  wide ;  a  splendid  wharf,  with  a  building  on  it,  75  feet  long 
and  two  stories  high,  that  is  used  as  a  warehouse,  drying-room,  and 
bark-shed.  They  "have  other  buildings,  consisting  of  numerous  bark- 
sheds,  bark-mill,  engine  house,  boarding  house,  etc.  The  machinery  of  the 
establishment  is  run  by  a  15 -horse  power  engine.  They  have  here  all  the 
latest  improved  machinery,  consisting  of  a  glassing  jack,  roller,  slicking-off 
machine,  etc.  Some  idea  of  the  amount  of  capital  required  to  run  this 
place  may  be  formed  from  the  fact  that  they  have  on  hand  between  eight 
and  ten  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  tan  bark  alone.  Some  thirty  men  find 
steady  employment  here.  The  tannery  is  producing  now  six  hundred  sides 
per  week.  The  manufactures  of  this  establishment  consists  principally  of 
sole,  harness,  buff,  shoe  and  polish  leather.  Mr.  Alexander  Chisholm,  shortly 
after  the  tannery  was  started,  was  taken  in  as  a  partner,  and  in  July  last, 
he  and  Mr.  McKay  bought  out  Mr.  Brown's  interest,  and  the  tannery  is  now 
owned  and  run  by  McKay  &  Chisholm,  who  were  both  almost  raised  tan- 
ners. They  give  their  personal  supervision  to  the  mechanical  department, 
which  may  in  part  account  for  the  success  of  the  institution. 


180  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

The  Benicia  Tannery. — Some  five  years  after  the  starting  of  the 
Pioneer,  Mr.  Robert  Stewart  started  a  tannery  near  it.  After  a  year 
or  two's  proprietorship,  he  was  succeeded  by  Messrs.  Moore  &  Cummings. 
The  new  firm  had  hardly  got  in  good  working  order,  when  the  whole 
establishment,  in  a  few  short  hours,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  This  was  a 
severe  blow  to  the  young  men  composing  the  firm ;  but  Mr.  E.  Dan- 
forth,  an  old  resident  of  Benicia,  having  confidence  in  their  business 
qualifications,  skill  and  enterprise,  furnished  them  means  to  build  and 
conduct  the  tannery  now  owned  and  run  by  them  at  the  foot  of  First 
street.  The  establishment  occupies  two  acres  of  land  for  its  buildings, 
yards  and  sheds.  The  currying  shop  is  40x60  feet,  and  three  stories 
high,  connected  with  which  are  drying-rooms,  bark-mill,  beam-house,  etc., 
nearly  200  feet  in  length.  Near  this  building  is  an  immense  bark  shed, 
which  holds  between  five  and  six  hundred  cords  of  bark — worth  $10,000 — 
which  is  laid  in  every  fall  to  carry  over  to  the  next  season.  They  have  also 
warehouse  room  for  storing  leather  and  material  used  in  the  manufacturing. 
They  make  eighteen  different  kinds  of  leather  here.  They  have  between 
thirty  and  forty  hands,  and  have  between  fifteen  and  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars invested  in  stock  all  the  time.  Their  monthly  pay-roll  for  wages 
amounts  to  about  $2,000.  They  manufacture  about  3,000  sides  per  month. 
Mr.  Chas.  Moore  attends  to  the  business  department,  and  Mr.  Frank  Cum- 
mings to  the  mechanical  department.  The  latter  gentleman  is  a  manufact- 
urer of  some  twenty  years'  experience  in  the  Eastern  States,  where  he 
acquired  a  thorough  and  practical  knowledge  of  making  all  the  finer  grades 
of  leather ;  such  as  glove  kid,  Russia,  pebble  goat,  shoe,  buff  and  leather  for 
hand  satchels  or  bags.  To  him  for  the  skill,  and  to  Messrs.  Brown  & 
McKay  for  the  enterprise,  is  the  State  indebted  for  adding  these  to  the 
wealth  of  California  manufactures.  The  manufacture  of  the  hand-bag 
leather  has  led  to  the  establishment  of  a  manufactory  of  those  articles  in 
San  Francisco,  and  Messrs.  Moore  &  Cummings  have  the  orders  for  the 
leather.  Mr.  Cummings,  when  he  arrived  in  California,  went  to  nearly 
every  tannery  and  sought  to  introduce  the  manufacture  of  these  fancy 
leathers,  and  especially  buff  leather,  which  was  at  that  time  extensively 
shipped  to  this  State.  His  efforts  were  fruitless  until  he  met  with  Messrs. 
Brown  &  McKay,  who  were  clear-headed  enough  to  see  the  advantage  and 
profit  of  making  that  leather  in  California,  and  had  the  pluck  to  run  the 
risk  of  the  experiment.  The  result  was  all  that  Cummings  claimed,  and  all 
Brown  &  McKay  expected.  It  soon  gave  to  Benicia  the  reputation  of  being 
the  hub  of  the  tannery  interest  of  the  State.  The  Benicia  tannery  has  a 
large  amount  of  its  leather  made  up  into  boots  and  shoes  in  San  Francisco, 
and  they  intend  that  as  soon  as  it  can  be  accomplished,  to  have  that  manu- 
facturing done  in  Benicia.  The  different  varieties  of  leather  manufactured 
at  this  tannery  were  displayed  at  the  Mechanic's  Fair  in  a  very  attractive 


THE    HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY.  181' 

manner,  and  was  examined  by  a  large  number  of  experts  who  pronounced 
the  display  in  the  highest  degree  creditable  to  the  exhibitors.  The  manag- 
ers of  the  institution  awarded  them  the  Grand  Medal  for  the  finest  display 
in  their  line  of  goods.  On  the  1st  of  January  next  there  will  be  a  change 
in  the  firm's  name,  the  new  firm  will  be  composed  of  Mr.  C.  J.  Moore,  F. 
Cummings,  and  Mr.  E.  P.  Danforth,  who  will  own  equal  interests.  Success 
to  them. 

Brown's  Tannery. — Mr.  J.  R.  Brown  some  months  previous  to  selling  out 
his  interest  in  the  Pioneer  Tannery  had  started  a  small  tannery  near  the  old 
establishment  on  his  own  responsibibity  and  after  settling  up  with  his  old 
partners  immediately  went  to  work  to  put  his  small  establishment  on  an  equal 
footing  with  his  neighbors  in  facility  and  capacity.  He  erected  new  buildings, 
put  in  a  steam  engine,  bought  more  land,  and  soon  had  an  establishment  that 
was  creditable  to  Mr.  Brown's  enterprise  and  a  substantial  addition  to  the 
manufacturing  interests  of  Benicia.  The  main  building  is  100x30  feet  in 
size  with  three  floors.  A  short  distance  from  it  is  the  bark  mill,  also  a  beam 
house.  Mr.  Brown  gives  employment  to  some  twenty  hands,  and  is  now 
manufacturing  from  75  to  100  sides  per  day.  Dan.  Chisholm,  a  practical 
tanner  of  great  experience,  is  the  foreman.  The  production  of  this  tannery 
is  principally  sole,  harness  and  light  leather.  The  machinery  of  the  estab- 
lishment is  run  by  a  fifteen  horse-power  engine  and  the  steam  is  furnished 
by  a  thirty  horse-power  boiler.  Both  were  built  by  J.  L.  Heald,  of  Vallejo. 
The  engine  is  a  beautiful  piece  of  mechanism.  About  one-half  of  the  pro- 
duction of  the  tannery  is  bought  from  the  city  tanneries  partly  tanned  and 
is  finished  here.  Since  the  1st  inst.  he  has  increased  the  size  of  his  beam 
house,  and  has  a  force  of  carpenters  at  work  increasing  the  number  of  his 
vats.  Mr.  Brown  is  not  only  an  enterprising  and  successful  tanner,  but  is  a 
most  valuable  citizen.  He  is  at  present  one  of  the  City  Trustees,  and  ever 
on  hand  to  give  his  personal  aid  and  time  to  assist  any  project  of  public 
character  or  enterprise  of  benefit  to  Benica. 

Pacific  Cement  Company — P.  Martin,  proprietor  and  manager,  was  estab- 
lished in  1864  and  is  situated  on  blocks  35  and  36  in  the  city  of  Benicia. 
The  establishment  is  comprised  in  seven  buildings,  viz.:  Kiln-house,  mill- 
house  and  warehouses,  with  cooper's  shops,  etc.  The  machinery  used  is 
worked  by  a  steam  engine  of  twenty  horse-power,  with  a  capacity  of  turn- 
ing out  140  barrels  of  cement  a  day.  The  material  used  is  obtained  from 
within  a  circuit  of  six  miles  ;  it  is  easily  procured  and  of  the  first  order, 
the  quality  of  the  cement,  when  mixed,  being  asserted  to  be  equal  to  that 
of  the  best  Rosendale.  There  is  a  capacity  for  the  employment  of  fifty 
men  on  the  works,  while  every  facility  for  shipment,  in  regard  to  wharves 
and  warehouses,  are  to  be  found  on  the  premises.  The  company  owns  a 
schooner  of  its  own  which  plies  between  the  works  and  San  Francisco. 


'182  THE   HISTOKY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Benicia  Brewery. — The  Benicia  Brewery  stands  on  lot  sixteen,  block 
twenty,  and  is  the  adobe  building  erected  by  Major  Stephen  Cooper  in  1847, 
and  used  first  by  him  and  after  by  Von  Pfister  as  the  California  Hotel.  In 
the  month  of  August,  1855,  the  structure  was  purchased  by  John  Reuger 
who  started  a  brewery,  a  portion  of  the  materials  and  machinery  being 
brought  by  him  from  Marysville  where  he  had  previously  engaged  in  the 
business.  The  structure  has,  since  its  abobe  days,  been  considerably  im- 
proved by  brick  and  wooden  additions,  making  now  a  main  building  62x46 
feet  of  two  and  one-half  stories,  with  necessary  cellars.  The  front  portion 
of  the  first  floor  consists  of  six  rooms,  used  as  a  saloon  and  for  dwelling 
purposes,  the  second  floor  has  five  sleeping  rooms,  and  the  third  is  the  air 
drying-room  for  malt.  Besides  these  there  are  in  other  buildings,  the  malt 
house,  the  granary,  brewing  room  and  beer  cellars.  On  the  floor  above  the 
brewing  room  is  a  beer  kettle  of  fifteen  barrels  capacity,  a  crushing  mill 
for  malt,  and  the  beer  cooler.  Mr.  Reuger's  establishment  is  one  well 
worthy  a  visit,  while  his  business,  we  are  informed,  considering  the  times 
is  fairly  prosperous. 

Hotels. — The  old  original  hotels  mentioned  in  these  pages  have  long 
since  made  way  for  others,  but  with  no  marked  success,  it  is  to  be  presumed 
in  regard  to  the  number  of  guests  or  the  returns  to  their  tills;  mayhap  the 
railroad  may  do  some  good ;  if  it  should,  time  will  tell.  To-day  the  hotel 
proprietors  would  not  seem  to  be  reaping  a  golden  harvest ;  in  olden  days 
affairs  were  different  in  the  matter  of  houses  of  entertainment.  In  1849, 
when  Capt.  Yon  Pfister  was  proprietor  of  the  California  House,  he  paid  his 
cook  $150  a  month,  two  stewards  $125  each,  a  dishwasher  $65,  a  house- 
keeper and  bar-tender  $100  each,  while  with  a  rental  of  $500  per  mensem, 
he  cleared,  for  eleven  months,  a  free  sum  of  $1,000  for  each  month.  In 
1852,  Tom  Maguire,  the  present  lessee  and  manager  of  Baldwin's  Theatre 
in  San  Francisco,  arrived  in  Benicia  and  built  a  gorgeous  "  gin  mill "  near 
where  the  Solano  Hotel  now  stands,  indeed  the  place  is  now  the  barber's 
shop.  This  saloon  was  at  the  time  the  finest  in  the  State ;  two  large  bars 
were  kept  constantly  at  work,  while  the  attractiveness  of  the  establishment 
was  materially  enhanced  by  the  presence  of  a  noble  band  of  music — these 
were  the  days  of  reckless  squanderings  and  riotous  living. 

Solano  Hotel — Is  the  principal  hostelry  in  the  city  where  the  traveler 
will  receive  every  attention  to  his  wants,  and  be  courteously  treated  by  the 
host,  F.  P.  Weinmann.  The  building  was  owned  and  carried  on  as  a  hotel 
by  his  father  before  him,  and  to-day  the  establishment  receives  most  of  the 
patronage  which  comes  to  Benicia. 

It  is  now  in  contemplation  to  change  the  present  route  of  the  overland 
train,  bringing  it  from  Sacramento   by  way  of  Suisun  and  Benicia,  thence 


THE    HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY.  183 

crossing  the  straits  of  Carquinez  to  the  line  now  running  to  Martinez  and 
Oakland.  Large  ferry  slips  are  being  built  Tor  this  purpose,  but  it  will  be 
some  months  ere  the  works  are  completed. 

In  conclusion  we  will  draw  attention  to  Benicia  as  a  place  for  manufactures. 

We  have  before  this  alluded  in  general  terms  to  the  advantages  which 
Benicia  possesses,  and  pointed  out  several  classes  of  such  enterprises  to  which 
it  presents  exceptional  facilities.     The  list  of  these  can  be  easily  extended. 

We  do  not  know  of  a  town  in  the  State  which  offers  a  better  location  for 
a  box  manufactory  than  Benicia.  Boxes  can,  in  the  first  place,  be  made 
cheaper  here  than  in  San  Francisco,  the  present  great  center  of  the  business. 
The  lumber  can  be  brought  here  directly  from  the  Coast  mills  and  as 
cheaply  as  to  San  Francisco,  and  the  ground  for  the  establishment  can  be 
bought  or  leased  a  great  deal  cheaper.  This  later  is  no  small  item.  Box 
manufactories  require  a  great  deal  of  extra  ground  to  hold  their  stock  ofN 
lumber  and  furnish  a  place  for  seasoning  it.  There  is  one  box  manufactory 
in  San  Francisco  the  value  of  grounds  alone  is  worth,  if  our  memory  serves 
rightly,  over  a  hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  represents  an  extra  amount 
of  capital  which  its  business  requires,  and  in  reality  increases  the  expenses 
of  the  building  by  about  one  thousand  dollars  a  month  or  whatever  the 
interest  on  the  valuation  may  be. 

Now  as  to  the  market.  Benicia  is  right  at  the  door  of  as  good  a  local 
market,  at  least  for  some  classes  of  boxes,  as  there  is  in  the  State.  For 
fruit  boxes  the  demand  in  this  section  is  immense.  There  are  the  orchards 
and  vineyards  of  Napa  county,  of  Green  Valley,  Pleasant  Valley,  and  in 
fact  of  the  whole  of  Solano  county — an  area  embracing  one  of  the  most 
abundant  fruit  producing  sections  of  the  State.  All  this  section  could  be 
supplied  to  advantage  from  a  Benicia  factory.  Last  and  by  no  means  least 
are  the  immense  and  prolific  orchards  of  the  Sacramento  river,  but  a  step  as 
it  were  from  our  city.  Here  is  a  supply  of  fruit  requiring  three  or  four  fruit 
steamers  to  carry  it  to  market ;  and  the  product  rapidly  increasing.  This 
section  promises  to  be  one  vast  orchard  before  many  years,  as  to  supply 
almost  the  State  with  some  kinds  of  fruit.  A  Benicia  manufactory  ought 
to  be  able  from  its  position  to  meet  at  least  a  large  share  of  the  box  con- 
sumption required  in  this  immense  business. 

A  sketch  of  the  newspapers  that  have  been  published  in  Benicia  has  been 
given  elsewhere.  At  the  present  time  there  exists  The  New  Era — which 
was  first  printed  on  December  22,  1877,  edited  and  published  by  F.  A. 
Leach,  manager  of  the  Vallejo  Chronicle  Publishing  Co.  On  January  12, 
1878,  Mr.  E.  A.  McDonell  was  admitted  a  partner  in  the  concern,  and  on 
May  22,  1879,  owing  to  ill-health  Mr.  Leach  withdrew  from  the  firm  dis- 
posing of  his  interest  to  Mr.  McDonell,  his  partner.  The  Era  has  a  circula- 
tion of  about  seven  hundred,  while  most  of  the  "  old  timers  "  who  now  reside 
in  other  parts  of  the  United  States  are  on  the  subscription  list.  We  wish, 
prosperity  to  the  pleasant  sheet  and  its  pleasant  and  kind  editor  and  proprietor 


184  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


VALLEJO. 


To  General  Mariana  Guadalupe  Vallejo  belongs  the  honor  of  selecting  the 
spot  on  which  the  city  which  bears  his  name  now  stands.  The  Suscol 
ranch  had  been  granted  to  him  by  the  Mexican  Government,  and  in  it  was 
comprised  what  is  now  Vallejo  city.  As  far  back  as  1837,  then  what  may 
be  considered  the  dark  ages  of  the  Pacific  coast,  the  district  had  no  resident 
save  the  aboriginal  Indians,  the  herds  of  undomesticated  cattle  and  horses, 
the  beasts  of  prey,  and  the  fowls  of  the  air.  Wild  oats  grew  in  every  valley 
and  on  every  hill-top.  Trees  of  any  size  were  few  and  far  between.  The 
rivers  and  bays  teemed  with  fishes. ;  while  game,  both  large  and  small,  of 
every  kind  found  shelter  in  the  nooks  and  crevices  of  the  canons.  In  that 
year,  or,  perhaps,  the  following,  the  General  undertook  a  pilgrimage  to 
these  fair  leagues  of  his  from  Sonoma — a  town  which  he  had  already  laid 
out  by  direction  of  the  Commander-in-Chief — accompanied  by  his  youthful 
bride  ;  both  were  full  of  promise,  high  in  spirits  and  exultant  in  aspirations; 
the  journey  Was  an  arduous  one  for  the  fair  Senora,  but  made  as  comfort- 
able as  circumstances  would  permit,  as  might  be  expected  for  the  wife  of 
a  heroic  soldier.  Seated  in  her  chair-saddle  (the  precursor  of  those  of  a 
later  date),  she  passed  through  mile  upon  mile  and  acre  after  acre  of  her 
husband's  possessions,  looking  with  satisfaction  upon  a  territory  worthy,  in 
her  eyes,  of  so  great  a  hero.  Her  retinue  were  silent  with  wonder  at  what 
they  saw,  and  conversed  in  whispers ;  while  the  proud  owner  of  so  fair  a 
domain,  with  head  erect  and  eagle  eye,  pointed  out  the  more  prominent 
land-marks.  Coming  in  view  of  a  hill,  which  he  named  the  Balcony,  about 
six  miles  north  of  the  present  city,  they  rode  to  its  summit  and  called  a  halt 
to  enjoy  the  ravishing  prospect,  and  here  the  General,  after  the  manner  of 
De  Foe's  hero,  inferred  : 

"  I  am  monarch  of  all  I  survey, 

My  right,  there  is  none  to  dispute ; 
From  the  centre  all  round  to  the  sea, 
I'm  lord  of  the  fowl  and  the  brute." 

Resuming  their  voyage  of  discovery  they  arrived  on  the  site  where  the 
Capitol  was  afterwards  built,  and  ascended  the  knoll ;  from  this  vantage 
ground  could  be  viewed  the  undulating  wastes  promising  a  rare  fertility, 
the  sloping  hills,  the  level  shore,  the  Carquinez  straits  and  the  bay  with  its 
many  inlets  and  well  protected  harbor,  and  from  this  height,  almost  in  the 


THE    HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY.  185 

spirit  of  prophecy  he  declared  that  here  should  he  found  a  city,  a  city 
which  would  not  only  hand  down  his  name  to  posterity  with  honor,  but 
make  a  name  for  itself  in  the  annals  of  the  world — he  not  only  foreshadowed 
the  line  of  railway  which  now  stretches  its  giant  arms  across  this  vast 
American  continent,  but  he  also  told  of  how  ships  of  every  flag  would 
peacefully  ride  upon  the  placid  bosom  of  her  bays,  and  how  every  nation 
under  the  blue  canopy  of  heaven  should  join  in  the  busy  whirl  of  business 
and  this  future  city  of  his  become  the  vast  emporium  of  trade  on  the  Pacific 
Coast,  and  the  half-way  house  of  commerce  between  Europe  and  Asia.  To 
this  the  lady  listened  with  bated  breath  and  answered  that  she  feared  he 
was  too  visionary  and  far  ahead  of  the  times  ;  he  may  have  replied  thus,  if 
not  in  so  many  words,  assuredly  he  did  so  in  spirit — mark  my  words  !  what 
I  have  to-day  spoken  shall  come  true.  I  feel  a  spirit  within  which  tells  me 
that  this  Hacienda  of  mine  shall  be  the  neuclus  of  a  vast  State,  of  which  I 
shall  be  Governor.  It  shall  be  bounded  on  one  side  by  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama,  the  northern  sea  shall  only  check  its  limits  on  the  other  hand, 
while  the  Rocky  mountains,  high  though  they  be,  shall  only  encourage  me 
to  surmount  them,  so  that  my  Province  may  be  widened  ! ! !  'Twas  from 
this  spot  that  the  Senora  Vallejo  cast  longing  eyes  upon  the  fertile  slopes 
of  Mare  Island,  at  the  time  expressing  an  implied  wish  that  it  was  hers, 
when  her  magnanimous  liege  spoke  forth  "  it  is  yours,"  and  thereafter  it 
was  looked  upon  and  known  as  her  own  private  property. 

For  twelve  years  after  the  above  described  journey  General  Vallejo  ruled 
his  miniature  kingdom  of  some  90,000  acres.  The  Aborigines  were  a  happy 
and  pastoral  race,  knowing  no  guile  and  living  in  a  state  of  nature,  they 
had  quietly  acknowledged  the  superior  influence  of  the  mighty  mind  and 
paternal  government  of  their  white  chief,  who  had  never  hurt  their  feelings 
or  ridiculed  their  prejudices.  The  Christian  religion  was  expounded  to 
them  by  missionaries  capable  of  undertaking  so  high  a  labor  while  with 
filial  obedience  they  looked  to  the  General  as  their  protector.  He  built  an 
adobe  house  on  the  Suscol  fresh  water  creek,  about  eleven  miles  from  the 
sea,  where  he  established  Solano,  the  chief  of  the  Suisun  tribe,  and  former 
lords  of  the  soil,  and  after  his  death,  one  of  his  eleven  wives  found  shelter 
for  years  under  the  roof  of  this  large  hearted  man.  The  following  interest- 
ing, remarks  are  taken  from  the  Vallejo  directory  of  1870.  "  The  toilet  of 
the  women  was  more  pretentious  (than  that  of  the  males),  consisting  only 
of  a  scanty  apron  of  fancy  skins  or  feathers,  extending  to  the  knees.  Those 
of  them  who  were  unmarried  wore  also  a  bracelet  around  the  ankle  or  arm 
near  the  shoulder.  This  ornament  was  generally  made  of  bone  or  fancy 
wood.  Polygamy  was  a  recognized  institution.  Chiefs  generally  possessed 
eleven  wives,  sub-chiefs  nine,  and  ordinary  warriors  two  or  more  according 
to  their  wealth  or  property.  But  Indian-like  they  would  fight  among 
themselves  long  before  the  Spaniards  came,  and  bloody  fights  they  often 


186  THE    HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY. 

were.  Their  weapons  were  bows  and  arrows,  clubs  and  spears,  with  which 
they  were  very  adroit.  They  had  also  a  kind  of  helmet  make  of  skins.  In 
times  of  peace  they  kept  up  the  martial  spirit  by  sham  fights  or  tourna- 
ments. Their  women  participated  in  their  battles  not  as  actual  belligerents 
but  as  a  sanitary  brigade ;  they  followed  their  wairiors  and  supplied  them 
with  provisions  and  attended  them  when  wounded,  carrying  their  pappooses 
on  their  backs  at  the  same  time.  These  Indians  believed  in  a  future  exis- 
tence and  an  all  powerful  Great  Spirit.  But  they  likewise  believed  in  a 
Cucusuy..  or  Mischief-maker,  who  took  delight  in  their  annoyance,  and  to 
him  and  his  agent  they  attributed  all  their  sickness  and  other  misfortunes." 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  relate  the  following  legend :  When  the 
Spaniards  were  crossing  the  mountain  called  Bolgones,  where  an  Indian 
spirit  was  supposed  to  dwell,  having  a  cave  for  his  haunt,  he  was  disturbed 
by  the  approach  of  the  soldiers,  and,  emerging  from  the  gloom,  arrayed  in 
all  his  feathers  and  war  paint,  with  very  little  else  by  way  of  costume, 
motioned  to  them  to  depart,  threatening,  by  gesticulation,  to  weave  a  spell 
around  them ;  but  the  sturdy  warriors  were  not  to  be  thus  easily  awed. 
They  beckoned  him  to  approach  ;  this  invitation,  however,  the  wizard 
declined,  when  one  of  the  men  secured  him  with  his  lasso  to  see  if  he  were 
"  goblin  damn'd  "  or  ordinary  mortal.  Even  now  he  would  not  speak,  'but 
continued  his  mumblings,  when  an  extra  tug  caused  him  to  shout  and  pray 
to  be  released.  On  the  relation  of  this,  the  Indians  pointed  to  Bolgones, 
calling  it  the  mountain  of  the  Cucusuy,  which  the  Spaniards  translated  into 
Monte  Diablo.  Hence  the  name  of  the  mountain,  which  is  the  meridian  of 
scientific  exploration  in  California. 

The  first  authentic  record  of  a  carriage  to  be  found  is  that  in  which  Gen- 
eral Vallejo's  family  traveled  from  Sonoma  to  Benicia  in  the  year  1848. 
The  undertaking  was  a  difficult  one  enough.  The  country  was  innocent  of 
roads  or  bridges,  so  that  when  a  creek  was  gained  the  horses  were  unyoked 
and  forded  over,  while  the  vehicle  was  lifted  bodily  and  carried  to  the 
opposite  side.  This  may  be  called  the  first  streak  of  daylight  in  the  hith- 
erto darkness  of  locomotion  on  this  part  of  the  coast.  About  this  period 
would-be  settlers  first  made  their  appearance,  and,  after  viewing  the  country, 
returned  to  whence  they  came.  In  the  following  year,  with  the  discovery 
of  gold,  people  from  every  quarter  of  the  habitable  globe  flocked  to  Cali- 
fornia, which  was  admitted  into  the  United  States  of  America.  The 
position  of  this  hitherto  unpopulated  spot  was  brought  prominently  forth. 
Government  Surveyors  commenced  operations,  and  towards  its  latter  end 
the  settlement  of  the  city  may  be  said  to  have  commenced.  No  accurate 
data  can  be  procured  of  what  transpired  in  the  first  settlement  of  the  city, 
or  who  were  the  very  first  families  to  locate  here  ;  but  this  is  beyond  dispute, 
that  in  the  spring  of  1850,  the  name  of  Vallejo  was  given  to  the  city  out  of 
compliment  to  that  gentleman,  who  had  worked  so  indefatigably  in  its  behalf, 


THE    HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY.  187 

with  what  result  will  be  hereafter  shown.  It  had  been  decided  that  the  Capi- 
tal should  be  removed  from  San  Jose  hither — a  decision  which  was  carried 
by  an  almost  unanimous  vote  of  the  people — therefore  the  State  House  was 
finished  toward  the  end  of  that  year,  and,  to  celebrate  the  event,  the  follow- 
ing card  of  invitation  was  issued  for  a  grand  re-union  in  the  State  building. 
There  being  few  of  these  now  extant,  while,  from  the  eminence  since  gained 
by  many  of  the  managers,  this  historical  card — historical  alike  to  California 
as  a  State  and  Vallejo  as  a  city — has  been  deemed  worthy  of  being  repro- 
duced in  its  entirety : 

"  A  grand  Christmas  ball  will  be  given  at  Vallejo,  on  the  evening  of  the 
25th  instant,  in  the  Senate  and  Assembly  Chambers  of  the  new  State 
Capitol,  on  which  occasion  the  Hon.  Isaac  E.  Holmes  will  address  the 
ladies  and  gentlemen  at  7\  o'clock. 

M ,  the   pleasure   of   your    company  is   respectfully 

requested." 

MANAGERS. 

Hon.  Isaac  E.  Holmes  ;  Gen.  P.  A.  Morse ;  Hon.  T.  Butler  King  ;  Hon.  L. 
M.  Boggs ;  Hon.  William  Smith  ;  Hon.  Martin  Cook  ;  Hon.  Robert  Hop- 
kins ;  Hon.  Daniel  Fisk  ;  Hon.  E.  Heydenfelt ;  Hon.  B.  F.  Keene ;  Hon. 
Geo.  Walton  ;  Hon.  James  Walsh ;  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Lyons  ;  Hon.  J.  C.  Fre- 
mont ;  Hon.  P.  W.  Keyser ;  Hon.  Jas.  Hudspeth  ;  Hon.  James  Law ;  Hon. 
G.  D.  Hall;  Hon.  A.  J.' Cost;  Hon.  N.  Smith;  Hon.  Jas.  F.  Graham;  Hon. 
Jas.  F.  Burt ;  Hon.  J.  B.  Weller ;  Hon.  T.  J.  Henley ;  Gen.  M.  G.  Vallejo  ; 
Gen.  D.  F.  Douglass ;  Gen.  John  E.  Addison,  Gen.  A.  M.  Winn ;  Gen.  S.  M. 
Miles  ;  Gen.  D.  P.  Baldwin  ;  Gen.  Richardson  ;  Gen.  Thomas  J.  Green  ;  Gen. 
A.  McDowell ;  Gen.  G.  F.  Rains  ;  Majors  P.  B.  Reading  ;  S.  Cooper  ;  George 
Wyatt ;  Loring,  U.  S.  A. ;  E.  H.  Fitzgerald ;  N.  Davis,  U.  S.  A. ;  Wm.  Mc- 
Daniel ;  Robt.  Allen ;  F.  A.  Sawyer ;  Colonel  J.  Hooker,  U.  S.  A.  ;  Gens.  J. 
M.  Estell,  and  S.  A.  Booker  ;  Captains  Folsom,  U.  S.  A. ;  John  A.  Sutter  ;  H. 
Riddell ;  J.  B.  Frisbie ;  Steel,  U.  S.  A. ;  Doct.  Dyerlie,  U.  S.  A. ;  Lieut.  G. 
Page,U.  S.  A.  ;  Captains  J.  Watkins,  P.  M.  S.Co. ;  Randall,  P.  M.  S.  Co. ;  Totten, 
P.  M.  S.  Co.;  Walsh,  P.  M.  S.  Co.  ;  Cols.  John  C.  Hays  ;  William  Smith  ;  H. 
Clay  Mudd  ;  J.  B.  Starr ;  Captains  C.  Hyatt  ;  George  Yount ;  Sam  Graham  ; 
Wm.  McMickle ;  E.  Barry  ;  J.  W.  Hulbert ;  S.  Smith  ;  Thomas  Hunt :  Col. 
R.  Rust ;  Harvey  Sparks,  Esq. ;  H.  Lee,  Esq.  ;  Hon.  J.  C.  Winston ;  F.  C. 
Ewer,  Esq.  ;  Judge  M.  Lewis;  L.  P.  Walker,  Esq.;  M.  T.  McLeland,  Esq. ; 
Judge  Stark  ;  Judge  Kilbourn  ;  M.  Combs,  Esq. ;  Wm.  Baldridge,  Esq. ; 
George  M.  Cornwell,  Esq. ;  J.  D.  Bristol,  Esq. ;  J.  S.  Cripps,  Esq.  ;  J.  O. 
Farrell,  Esq. ;  E.  L.  Stetson,  Esq.;  F.  Vassault,  Esq.;  J.  E.  Lawrence,  Esq.; 
L.  B.  Mizner,  Esq.  ;  T.  J.  Harnes,  Esq. ;  S.  Barnum,  Esq. ;  James  Cooper, 
Esq. ;  L.  Q.  Wilbur,  Esq.  ;  E.  F.  Willison,  Esq. ;  John  Nugent,  Esq.  ; 
Samuel  Martin,  Esq. ;  Col.  John  R.  Boyd  ;  Dr.  Robert   Semple ;  Dr.  Morse  ; 


188  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

B.  F.  Osborne,  Esq. ;  Capt.  F.  Marryatt ;  Capt.  W.  A.  Howard,  U.  S.  R.  S. ; 
George  N.  Shaw,  Esq. ;  Dr.  P.  C.  Pope  ;  Cols.  J.  C.  Johnson  ;  A.  M.  Latham ; 

C.  K.  Fish;  Stewart  Perry;  Dr.  Pickering;  Dr.  Nicholas  Parr;  Hon.  P. 
Tompkins  ;  Major  John  Caperton ;  Col.  J.  Long  ;  E.  C.  Kemble,  Esq. ;  F. 
Argenti.  Esq.;  Charles  P.  Strode,  Esq.;  Richard  Maupin;  Dr.  Levi 
Frisbie ;  S.  C.  Massett,  Esq.;  Major  Burney ;  Dr.  Archibald  Tennant; 
Richard  Barry,  Esq. ;  J.  L.  L.  F.  Warren,  Esq. ;  T.  K.  Batelle,  Esq. ;  Col. 
Gregory  Yale  ;  E.  G.  Austin,  Esq. ;  F.  R.  Loomis,  Esq.  ;  W.  F.  Kelsey,  Esq. ; 

E.  M.  Hayes,  Esq. ;  L.  D.  Slamm,  TJ.'S.  N. ;  Capts.,  U.  S.  N. :  Aug.  Case  ;  J. 
Alden  ;  S.  R.  Knox  ;  G.  W.  Hammersly;  Lieuts.,  TJ.  S.  N. :  T.  H.  Stevens ;  L. 
Maynard  ;  T.  B.  King,  Jr.,  Esq.  ;  Wm.  H.  Davis,  Esq. ;  Hon.  S.  E.  Wood- 
worth  ;  R.  H.  Taylor,  Esq. ;  Capts.  A.  Bartol,  Douglass  Ottinger,  TJ.  S.  R.  S. ; 
Col.  Geo.  McDougal ;  Capts.  W.  D.  M.  Howard,  C.  G. ;  N.  H.  Wise ;  Henry 

F.  Joseph,  Esq. ;  J.  H.  Redington,  Esq. ;  Dr.  Hitchcock,  U.  S.  A. ;  Hon.  H. 
Fitzsimmons ;  James  Hubbard,  Esq. ;  Theodore  Payne,  Esq. ;  Wm.  H.  Tal- 
mage,  Esq. ;  Dr.  H.  M.  Gray ;  Hon.  P.  A.  Morse  ;  Charles  L.  Case,  Esq.,  and 
Joseph  C.  Palmer,  Esq.  On  the  reverse  side  of  the  card  the  names  of  the 
committees  were  printed,  as  under  : 

Red  Rose. 


COMMITTEE   OF  ARRANGEMENTS. 


Captain   John   Frisbie;  Major   Robert   Allen;  Gen.  T.   J.Green;  Capt. 

Edward   Barry;  Major  Wyatt;  C.    H.  Veeder,    Esq.;  F.    Argenti,  Esq.;  H. 

Clay  Mudd,  Esq. 

Blue  Rose. 


COMMITTEE    OF    RECEPTION. 


Hon.  Isaac  E.  Holmes ;  Hon.    John  B.  Weller ;  T.  Butler  King ;  Capt.  J. 

Alden,  U.  S.  N. ;  Col.  J.  Hooker,  U.  S.  A. ;  Hon.  B.  F.  Keene  ;  Major  F.  A. 

Sawyer;  Capt.  G.  W.    Hammersley,  U.  S.  N. ;  Col.  E.  J.   C.  Kewen;  Hon. 

Tod  Robinson. 

White  Rose. 


BALL-ROOM   COMMITTEE. 


For  Senate  Chamber — Gen.  S.  M.  Miles ;  Gen.  J.  E.  Addison  ;  Col.  Hervey 
Sparks  ;  Levi  D.  Slamm,  U.  S.  N.  For  Assembly  Room — Dr.  Dierly,  TJ.  S. 
N. ;  Capt.  F.  Marryatt ;  Dr.  L.  Frisbie,  and  E.  L.  Stetson,  Esq. 


Thus  by  a  ball  of  the  most  magnificent  proportions  was  Vallejo  inaugur- 
ated as  the  seat  of  Government. 

Let  us  now  consider  the  establishment  of  the  State  offices,  the  erection  of 
the  Capitol,  its  removal,  its  return,  and  then  its  final  exit  from  Vallejo. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  189 

In  the  year  1850  General  Vallejo,  who  had  previously  been  elected  to  the 
Convention  called  to  frame  a  State  Constitution,  became  convinced  that  the 
capital  of  California  should  be  established  at  a  place  which  he  desired  to 
name  Eureka,  but  which  his  colleagues,  out  of  compliment  to  himself,  sug- 
gested should  be  called  Vallejo.  To  this  end  the  General  addressed  a  mem- 
orial to  the  Senate,  wherein  he  graphically  pointed  out  the  advantages  pos- 
sessed by  the  proposed  site  over  other  places  which  claimed  the  honor, 
dated  April  the  3d,  1850.  In  this  remarkable  document,  remarkable  alike 
for  its  generosity  of  purpose  as  for  its  marvelous  foresight,  he  proposed  to 
grant  twenty  acres  to  the  State,  free  of  cost,  for  a  State  Capitol  and  grounds, 
and  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres  more  for  other  State  buildings,  to  be 
apportioned  in  the  following  manner  : 

Ten  acres  for  the  Governor's  house  and  grounds. 

Fives  acres  for  the  offices  of  Treasurer,  Comptroller,  Secretary  of  State, 
Surveyor-General,  and  Attorney-General,  should  the  Commissioners 
determine  that  their  offices  should  not  be  in  the  Capitol  building. 

One  acre  to  State  Library  and  Translator's  office,  should  it  be  deter- 
mined to  separate  them  from  the  State  House  building. 

Twenty  acres  for  an  Orphan  Asylum. 

Ten  acres  for  a  Male  Charity  Hospital. 

Ten  acres  for  a  Female  Charity  Hospital. 

Four  acres  for  an  Asylum  for  the  Blind. 

Four  acres  for  a  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum. 

Twenty  acres  for  a  Lunatic  Asylum. 

Eight  acres  for  four  Common  Schools. 

Twenty  acres  for  a  State  University. 

Four  acres  for  a  State  Botanical  Garden ;  and 

Twenty  acres  for  a  State  Penitentiary. 

But  with  a  munificence  casting  this  already  long  list  of  grants  into  the 
shade,  he  further  proposed  to  donate  and  pay  over  to  the  State,  within  two 
years  after  the  acceptance  of  these  propositions,  the  gigantic  sum  of  three 
hundred  and  seventy  thousand  dollars,  to  be  apportioned  as  under : 

For  the  building  of  a  State  Capitol $125,000 

For  furnishing  the  same 10,000 

For  building  of  the  Governor's  house 10,000 

For  the  furnishing  the  same 5,000 

For  a  State  Library  and  Translator's  office 5,000 

For  a  State  Library 5,000 

For  the  building  of  the  offices  of  the  Secretary  of 
State,  Comptroller,  Attorney-General,  Surveyor- 
General,  and  Treasurer,  should  the  Commissioners 


190  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

0 

deem  it   proper   to    separate  them  from  the  State 

House 20,000 

For  the  building  of  an  Orphan  Asylum 20,000 

For  the  building  of  a  Female  Charity  Hospital 20,000 

For  the  building  of  a  Male  Charity  Hospital 20,000 

For  the  building  of  an  Asylum  for  the  Blind 20,000 

For  the  building  of  a  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum 20,000 

For  the  building  of  a  State  University 20,000 

For  University  Library 5,000 

For  scientific  apparatus  therefor 5,000 

For  chemical  laboratory  therefor 3,000 

For  a  mineral  cabinet  therefor 3,000 

For  the  building  of  four  Common  School  edifices...  .  10,000 

For  purchasing  books  for  same 1,000 

For  the  building  of  a  Lunatic  Asylum 20,000 

For  a  State  Penitentiary 20,000 

For  a  State  Botanical  Collection 3,000 

In  his  memorial,  the  General  states  with  much  lucidness  his  reasons  for 
claiming  the  proud  position  for  the  spot  suggested  as  the  proper  site  for  the 
State  Capitol.  Remark  the  singleness  of  purpose  with  which  he  bases 
these  claims  :  "  Your  memorialist,  with  this  simple  proposition  "  (namely, 
that  in  the  event  of  the  Government  declining  to  accept  his  terms  it  should 
be  put  to  the  popular  vote  at  the  general  election  held  in  November  of  that 
year),  "  might  stop  here,  did  he  not  believe  that  his  duty  as  a  citizen  of 
California  required  him  to  say  thus  much  in  addition — that  he  believes  the 
location  indicated  is  the  most  suitable  for  a  permanent  seat  of  government 
for  the  great  State  of  California,  for  the  following  reasons  :  That  it  is  the 
true  centre  of  the  State,  the  true  centre  of  commerce,  the  true  centre  of 
population,  and  the  true  centre  of  travel ;  that,  while  the  Bay  of  San  Fran- 
cisco is  acknowledged  to  be  the  first  on  the  earth,  in  point  of  extent  and 
navigable  capacities,  already,  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
wide  world,  it  is  acknowledged  to  be  the  very  centre  between  Asiatic  and 
European  commerce.  The  largest  ship  that  sails  upon  the  broad  sea  can, 
within  three  hours,  anchor  at  the  wharves  of  the  place  which  your  memo- 
rialist proposes  as  your  permanent  seat  of  government.  From  this  point, 
by  steam  navigation,  there  is  a  greater  aggregate  of  mineral  wealth,  within 
eight  hours  steaming,  than  exists  in  the  Union  besides ;  from  this  point  the 
great  north  and  south  rivers — San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento — cut  the  State 
longitudinally  through  the  centre,  fringing  the  immense  gold  deposits  on 
the  one  hand,  and  untold  mercury  and  other  mineral  resources  on  the  other; 
from  this  point  steam  navigation  extends  along  the  Pacific  coast  south  to 
San  Diego  and  north   to   the  Oregon   line,  affording  the  quickest  possible 


THE    HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY.  1<>] 

facilites  for  our  sea-coast  population  to  reach  the  State  Capital  in  the  fewest 
number  of  hours.  This  age,  as  it  has  been  truly  remarked,  has  merged 
distance  into  time.  In  the  operations  of  commerce  and  the  intercourse  of 
mankind,  to  measure  miles  by  the  rod,  is  a  piece  of  vandalism  of  a  by-gone 
age ;  and  that  point  which  can  be  approached  from  all  parts  of  the  State, 
in  the  fewest  number  of  hours  and  at  the  cheapest  cost,  is  the  truest  centre. 

"  The  location  which  your  memorialist  proposes  as  the  permanent  Seat  of 
Government  is  certainly  that  point. 

"  Your  memorialist  most  respectfully  submits  to  your  honorable  body, 
whether  there  is  not  a  ground  of  even  still  higher  nationality ;  it  is  this : 
that  at  present,  throughout  the  wide  extent  of  our  sister  Atlantic  States, 
but  one  sentiment  seems  to  possess  the  entire  people,  and  that  is,  to  build, 
in  the  shortest  possible  time,  a  railroad  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Bay  of 
San  Francisco,  where  its  western  terminus  may  meet  a  three  weeks' 
steamer  from  China.  Indeed,  such  is  the  overwhelming  public  sentiment 
of  the  American  people  upon  this  subject,  there  is  but  little  doubt  to  ap- 
prehend of  its  early  completion.  Shall  it  be  said,  then,  while  the  world 
is  coveting  our  possession  of  what  all  acknowledge  to  be  the  half-way  house 
of  the  earth's  commerce — the  great  Bay  of  San  Francisco — that  the  people 
of  the  rich  possession  are  so  unmindful  of  its  value  as  not  to  ornament  her 
magnificent  shores  with  a  Capital  worthy  of  a  great  State? 

"  To  enumerate  more  especially  the  local  advantages  of  this  position  your 
memorialist  will  further  add,  that  it  is  within  two  hours'  steaming  of  San 
Francisco,  and  six  hours  from  Sacramento  and  Stockton  cities,  and  between 
these  points  much  the  largest  travel  in  the  State  daily  occurs.  From  this 
point  three  days'  steaming  will  reach  either  Oregon  on  the  north,  or  San 
Diego  on  the  south ;  besides,  the  above  named  location  is  unsurpassed  for 
abundance  of  lime  and  other  building  materials,  with  large  agricultural  ad- 
vantages in  the  immediate  neighborhood." 

Upon  receipt  of  General  Vallejo's  memorial  by  the  Senate,  a  committee 
composed  of  members  who  possessed  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  country 
comprised  in  the  above  mentioned  document,  both  geographical  and  topo- 
graphical, were  directed  to  report  for  the  information  of  the  President,  upon 
the  advantages  claimed  for  the  location  of  the  Capital  at  the  spot  suggested, 
in  preference  to  others.  The  Report,  in  which  the  following  words  occur, 
was  presented  to  the  Senate  on  April  2,  1850.  "  Your  Committee  cannot 
dwell  with  too  much  warmth  upon  the  magnificent  propositions  contained 
in  the  memorial  of  General  Vallejo.  They  breathe  throughout  the  spirit  of 
an  enlarged  mind  and  a  sincere  public  benefactor,  for  which  he  deserves  the 
thanks  of  his  countrymen  and  the  admiration  of  the  world.  Such  a  prop- 
osition looks  more  like  the  legacy  of  a  mighty  Emperor  to  his  people  than 
the  free  donation  of  a  private  planter  to  a  great  State,  yet  poor  in  public 
finance,  but  soon  to  be  among  the  first  of  the  earth." 


192  THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO    COUNTY. 

The  Report,  which  was  presented  by  D.  C.  Broderick,  goes  on  to  point 
out  the  necessities  which  should  govern  the  choice  of  site  of  California's 
Capital,  recapitulates  the  advantages  pointed  out  in  the  memorial,  and  fin- 
ally recommends  the  acceptance  of  General  Vallejo's  offer.  This  acceptance 
did  not  pass  the  Senate  without  some  opposition  and  considerable  delay. 
However,  on  Tuesday,  February  4,  1851;  a  message  was  received  from  the 
Governor,  Peter  H.  Burnett,  by  Mr.  Ohr,  Private  Secretary,  informing  the 
Senate  that  he  did,  this  day,  sign  an  Act  originating  in  the  Senate,  entitled 
''An  Act  to  provide  for  the  permanent  location  of  the  Seat  of  Government." 
In  the  meantime  General  Vallejo's  bond  had  been  accepted,  his  solvency 
was  approved  by  a  Committee  appointed  by  the  Senate,  the  Report  of  the 
Commissioners  appointed  to  mark  and  lay  out  the  tracts  of  land  proposed  to 
be  donated  by  General  Vallejo  was  adopted,  and  on  May  1,  1851,  the  last 
session  was  held  at  San  Jose,  but  the  archives  were  not  moved  to  the  new 
seat  of  government  then,  which  was  a  source  of  dissatisfaction  among  the 
members.  The  Legislature  first  met  at  Vallejo  on  January  5,  1852,  bring- 
ing with  it  the  concomitant  influx  of  settlers,  the  Capitol  being  erected  on 
a  piece  of  ground  situated  on  what  now  is  called  York  and  Main,  and 
facing  Sacramento  street.  It  was  a  two-storied  building,  in  the  upper  one 
of  which  sat  the  Senate,  the  lower  one  the  Assembly,  while  in  the  base- 
ment was  a  saloon  and  ten-pin  alley,  which  rejoiced  in  the  nick-name  of  the 
Third  House.  The  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  stood  on  Main  street, 
above  Sacramento,  but  it  was  afterwards  removed  to  Georgia  street,  when 
the  original  building  was  converted  into  a  drug-store  by  Doctor  James 
Frost.  This  erection  was  some  years  subsequently  destroyed  by  fire.  The 
offices  were  built  of  hewn  planks  from  the  Sandwich  Islands. 

Vallejo  was  now  in  reality  the  Capital  of  the  Golden  State.  The  gen- 
erosity of  General  Vallejo  had  been  appreciated ;  houses  commenced  to 
spring  up  on  every  side,  but  there  was  wanting  that  vortex  of  dissipation 
which  would  appear  to  be  necessary  in  the  seat  of  every  Central  Govern- 
ment. With  these  Sacramento  abounded,  from  her  close  proximity  to  the 
mines.  The  Assembly,  therefore,  with  a  unanimity  bordering  on  the  mar- 
velous, passed  a  bill  to  remove  the  session  to  that  city,  ball  tickets  and 
theatre  tickets  being  tendered  to  the  members  in  reckless  profusion.  The 
bill  was  transferred  to  the  Senate,  and  bitterly  fought  by  the  Hons.  Paul 
K.  Hubbs  and  Phil  A.  Roach.  The  removal  was  rejected  by  one  vote. 
This  was  on  a  Saturday.  The  people  were  greatly  rejoiced  at  the  prospect 
of  retaining  the  prestige  conferred  by  the  presence  of  the  Legislature  ;  but 
never  was  the  proverb  of  we  know  not  what  the  morrow  may  bring  forth, 
more  fully  brought  to  bear  upon  any  consideration.  Senator  Anderson 
found  an  extra  sized  louse  on  his  pillow.  On  Monday  morning  he  moved 
a  reconsideration  of  the  bill.  The  alarm  was  sounded  on  every  hand,  and 
at  2  P.  M.  on  January  12,  1852,  the  Government  and   Legislature  was  find- 


C&J&tffaic', 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  193 

ing  its  way  to  Sacramento  by  way  of  the  Carquinez  Straits.  Retribution 
for  Vallejo  was  at  hand,  however.  On  the  7th  of  March,  1852,  a  devast- 
ating flood  overwhelmed  Sacramento,  and  where  the  Senators  had  before 
feared  contamination,  they  now  feared  drowning.  The  Legislature  ad- 
journed at  Sacramento  May  4,  1852,  the  next  session  to  be  held  at  Vallejo. 
On  January  3,  1853,  the  peripatetic  Government  met  again  at  Vallejo, 
whither  the  offices  of  State  and  a  portion  of  the  archives  had  been  removed 
in  May.  Once  more  the  spirit  of  jealousy  was  rampant ;  Sacramento  could 
not  with  any  grace  ask  for  its  removal  back  thither ;  but  she,  working  with 
Benicia,  the  Capital  was  once  more  on  wheels  and  literally  carted  off  to 
the  latter  town  for  the  remaining  portion  of  the  session,  when  a  bill  was 
passed  to  fix  the  Capital  of  the  State  at  Sacramento,  and  thereafter 
clinched  by  large  appropriations  for  building  the  present  magnificent 
Capitol  in  that  town.  The  last  sitting  of  the  Legislature  at  Vallejo  was 
held  on  February  4,  when  it  was  resolved  to  meet  at  Benicia  on  the  eleventh 
of  the  month,  the  vote  being  concurred  in  as  follows :  Ayes — Messrs. 
Baird,  Denver,  Estill,  Hager,  Hubbs,  Hudspeth,  Keene,  Lind,  Lott,  Lyons, 
McKibben,  Roach,  Smith,  Snyder,  Sprague,  Wade,  Wombough — 17. 
Nays — Crabb,  Cofforth,  Foster,  Gruwell,  Ralston,  Walkup — 6. 

As  has  been  remarked  above,  there  is  no  reliable  information  in  regard 
to  the  exact  date  of  the  founding  of  a  settlement,  but  with  the  advent  of 
the  Legislature,  affairs  took  a  forward  movement.  In  1850  Captain  Frank 
Marryatt,  the  author  of  that  most  interesting  work  entitled  "  Mountains 
and  Molehills,"  who  was  a  son  of  the  famous  nautical  novelist,  imported 
some  corrugated  iron  houses  from  Liverpool,  in  England,  which  he  erected, 
and  at  once  found  tenants  for  them.  In  the  Fall  of  this  year  Mrs.  Burns 
built  the  first  boarding-house,  erecting  it  on  the  spot  where  it  now  stands, 
on  Georgia  street,  directly  opposite  the  Post-office,  while  there  were  run  up 
about  the  same  time  the  Virginia  Hotel  by  Veeder,  Social  Hall  by 
Capt.  Stewart,  and  Central  Hotel  by  Major  Wyatt. 

The  few  buildings  then  comprised  in  the  town  were  situated  between 
Pennsylvania  street  on  the  south,  Georgia  on  the  north,  Sonoma  on  the 
east,  and  the  Bay  on  the  west.  The  country  is  described  as  beautiful  in 
the  extreme ;  the  rising  grounds  on  every  side  were  green  with  wild  oats, 
interspersed  with  flowers  of  the  richest  hue,  resembling  one  vast  sea  when 
stirred  by  the  freshening  breeze.  To  the  right  and  left,  on  the  hills  and 
in  the  hollows,  the  most  luxuriant  vegetation  abounded,  growing  shoulder 
high  with  a  man  on  horseback,  while  here  and  there  the  path  of  rushing 
cattle  could  be  traced  as  they  were  driven  away  from  a  too  close  proximity 
to  the  settlement.  This,  however,  is  certain,  that  in  June,  1851,  the 
Vallejo  House,  then  kept  by  Capt.  Stewart,  was  in  full  blast,  while  it  is  be- 
lieved that  this  gentleman  was  the  first  to  build  a  house  on  the  site  of  the 
present  city.     During  the  following  year  it  has  been  shown  that  the  seat  of 

13 


194  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

government  was  at  Vallejo,  and  but  few  of  those  who  followed  its  varied 
fortunes  found  an  abiding  place  there.  The  only  information,  therefore, 
which  has  been  procured  having  any  semblance  of  authenticity  is  from  the 
month  of  December,  1852.  Prior  to  this  a  family  of  the  name  of  Swift 
were  located,  but  they  left  with  the  removal  of  the  Government  in  1853, 
leaving  behind  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beegor,  Major  Wyatt  and  his  wife,  Mr.  Os- 
borne and  wife,  Mrs.  Miller,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mann,  Robert  Brownlee  and  his 
wife,  Thomas  Brownlee,  his  wife  and  son  Alexander  J.,  now  City  Clerk,  who 
was  the  first  white  child  in  the  city,  and  a  few  unmarried  men.  These 
were  not  what  might  be  termed  halcyon  days.  Affairs  were  in  a  most 
primitive  state.  There  was  but  one  span  of  mules  and  a  wagon,  who 
acknowledged  one  Lemuel  Hazelton  as  the  proud  possessor ;  he  also  kept 
some  goats,  which  in  the  exigencies  of  the  culinary  art  became  mutton 
when  served  at  table.  The  Legislature  had  left  after  its  short-lived  session 
of  eight  days,  the  places  of  business  had  followed  it,  leaving  Vallejo  a 
deserted  village  without  a  store.  In  the  meantime  a  two-horse  stage  had 
been  established  by  "William  Bryant  between  Benicia  and  Vallejo,  by  which 
means  the  residents  were  wont  to  procure  their  domestic  commodities, 
while  a  small  sloop  made  monthly  trips  to  San  Francisco,  when  other 
necessaries  were  purchased.  Moving  about  on  horseback  was,  however,  the 
principal  and  most  favorite  mode  of  locomotion,  for  Macadam  had  not  yet 
cast  his  influence  on  the  ways  of  the  district.  If  there  were  no  stores,  how- 
ever, the  small  community  was  well  provided  in  the  matter  of  stimulants,  for 
there  were  no  less  than  three  places  where  whisky  was  sold.  At  this  time 
the  government  of  the  city  was  vested  in  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  one 
Constable,  who  held  office  by  vote,  and  were  elected  to  serve  one  term. 
The  former  office  was  inaugurated  in  1851-2,  and  filled  by  Major  Hook, 
while  Aleck  Forbes  held  the  latter.  In  September,  1852,  the  first  batch  of 
artisans  arrived  to  commence  the  Dry  Dock  on  Mare  Island.  This  subject, 
however,  will  be  treated  in  the  history  of  that  place. 

In  December,  1852,  there  were  in  all  about  a  dozen  houses,  including  the 
empty  State  offices.  The  Central  hotel — the  building  is  still  standing,  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Marin  streets — was  kept  by  Major  Wyatt,  while  the 
Vallejo  House  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  Major  Burney,  who  had  left 
Mariposa  county,  and  settled  here.  A  portion  of  the  frame- work  and  cor- 
rugated iron  roof  of  the  former  was  among  those  imported  by  Frank  Mar- 
ryatt. 

With  the  return  of  the  Legislature  a  slight  impetus  was  given  to  the  pros- 
perity of  Vallejo,  which  only  lasted  as  long  as  the  Government  remained. 
Then  was  established  the  first  dry-goods  store,  opened  by  Wetmore,  and  the 
first  grocers,  kept  by  Dan  Williams.  With  the  departure  of  the  Senate  and 
Assembly,  people  at  once  took  themselves  off  to  Benicia,  many  of  the  houses 
being  bodily  removed  to  that  place,  leaving  behind  only  two  families — the 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  195 

Brownlees — and  some  happy  bachelors.  Times  were  so  dull,  socially,  that 
the  workmen  would  come  across  from  the  dock  then  building,  to  chat 
by  the  hour  with  the  only  two  ladies  of  which  Vallejo  could  boast ;  while 
on  their  pa**t  the  many  kindly  offices  granted  were  sure  of  receiving  the 
highest  appreciation.  In  April,  1853,  the  first  social  event  was  received 
with  delight.  The  birth  of  Miss  Delia  Curtis  was  hailed  with  a  heartiness 
of  wishes  for  the  welfare  of  babe  and  parents  only  to  be  found  among  those 
inured  to  hardships.  This  event  was  quickly  followed  by  another  source  of 
rejoicing  in  the  first  marriage,  that  of  Mrs.  Perkins  to  Henry  Vanvalken- 
berg. 

On  July  4,  1853,  we  find  the  first  celebration  of  Independence  Day,  in 
Vallejo,  by  a  dinner  at  the  Vallejo  House,  and  bonfire.  At  the  former  there 
sat  down  two  ladies  and  eight  gentlemen,  Mrs.  Robert  and  Thomas  Brow- 
lee,  Captain  Stewart,  Squire  Hook,  Edward  H.  Rowe  (elder),  West  Rowe, 
Lemuel  Hazleton,  B.  F.  Osborne,  with  Robert  and  Thomas  Brownlee.  At 
an  early  hour  Captain  Stewart  had  donned  his  full  uniform  and  called  on 
all  to  celebrate  the  day  with  becoming  ceremony.  A  few  tar  barrels  had 
been  procured  from  the  dry-dock  and  dragged  up  to  the  top  of  what  is  now 
called  Capitol  hill  ;  a  pile  of  brushwood  was  heaped  up  to  an  immense 
height,  and  "  lashings  of  whisky  "  had  not  been  forgotten.  At  dark  the 
hill  was  ablaze,  making  the  surrounding  country  as  light  as  day.  Success 
to  the  Union  was  drank  amidst  much  enthusiasm  ;  the  glass  and  merry 
song  went  round ;  speeches  were  the  order  of  the  day,  or  rather  night, 
while  intense  loyalty  gave  place  to  noisy  enthusiasm,  to  be  replaced  by 
morbid  toast  making,  until  one  by  one  the  heroes  who  had  braved  so  many 
dangers  sank  to  rest  on  the  bosom  of  mother  earth  in  a  slumber  which  the 
mighty  Bourbon  had  invoked.  In  the  fall  of  1853  there  arrived  in  Vallejo 
Colonel  Leslie,  who  was  the  first  representative  of  the  majesty  of  the  law 
who  established  himself  in  the  city.  It  is  reported  that  on  one  occasion, 
shortly  after  his  arrival,  a  Mr.  Reid  was  out  hunting,  and,  firing  his  gun, 
the  charge  by  mistake  shattered  the  colonel's  window  and  lodged  in  the 
wall  of  the  room  wherein  he  lay  in  bed.  In  towering  wrath  he  arose, 
dressed,  and  remembering  that  he  had  somewhere  been  made  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  he  effected  the  arrest  of  the  culprit  with  his  own  hands,  and  in 
turn  formed  himself  into  prosecuting  attorney,  jury,  witness,  and  judge; 
mulcted  Reid  in  the  sum  of  ten  dollars  ;  but  to  what  authority  the  fine 
went  was  never  divulged.  This  is  the  first  record  of  judicial  proceedings  in 
Vallejo.  In  October,  1853,  we  have  intimation  of  the  first  birth  of  a  boy  in 
the  person  of  Robert  Brownlee,  junior,  while  death  had  commenced  his  havoc 
by  calling  away  one  Joe  Sparrow,  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  he  left  a 
family.  The  medical  pioneer  of  the  city  was  Doctor  Frisbie,  who  estab- 
lished himself  in  1851 ;  but  there  was  also  a  Doctor  Davis,  who  practiced 
shortly  after ;  while  the  first  store  where  medicine  was  sold  was  opened  by 


196  THE   HISTOKY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Daniel  Dodd.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  little  city  was  fast  assuming 
something  like  shape  ;  the  different  trades  had  been  established.  Ben  Os- 
borne had  sometime  before  commenced  working  at  his  business  of  a  carpen- 
ter, while  Thomas  Browlee  had  opened  a  forge,  where,  like  Vulcan  of  old,  he 
wielded  his  ponderous  hammer.  It  is  true  that  sugar  and  tea  were  hard  to 
obtain,  and  then  at  an  exorbitant  figure.  Cabbages  were  sold  at  30  cents  per 
head ;  pork  at  30  cents  per  pound ;  eggs  at  5  dollars  per  dozen ;  milk  at  50 
cents  a  gallon ;  and  Major  Burney,  it  is  said,  paid  at  Napa,  whither  he  had 
gone  on  a  visit,  as  high  as  16  dollars  for  a  rooster  and  hen  ;  while  for  a 
brace  of  cats  he  gave  the  same  price,  getting  for  their  progeny  a  sum  of  4 
dollars  each ;  but  if  these  prices  prevailed  fuel  was  cheap,  for  the  shores  of 
the  bay  and  straits  were  covered  with  drift-wood,  which  had  come  down 
the  Sacramento  and  other  streams,  and  was  to  be  had  in  any  quantity 
simply  for  the  collecting.  In  this  year  Robert  Brownlee  purchased  Major 
Burney's  farm,  about  two  miles  north  of  the  city,  near  where  the  cemetery 
of  the  Odd-Fellows  and  other  associations  is  now  inclosed,  which  in  1857  he 
exchanged  with  land  lying  in  another  part  of  the  county  to  General  John 
B.  Frisbie.  Cows  at  this  time  cost  from  125  dollars  each,  and  horses  were 
correspondingly  high.  The  district  swarmed  with  wild  geese,  which  com- 
mitted great  depredations,  as  they  do  to-day,  on  the  sown  ground.  Still, 
notwithstanding  their  number,  the  price  one  fetched  on  being  sold  was  25 
cents. 

In  1853  General  Vallejo  disposed  of  a  league  of  land,  including  the  town 
site,  to  Sam  Purdy,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  State,  James  Wadsworth, 
Martin  E.  Cooke,  and  General  Denver,  for  the  sum  of  thirty  thousand  dol- 
lars. They  in  turn  sold  out  a  portion  into  lots  for  fifteen  thousand  dollars ; 
but  owing  to  the  great  revulsion  in  business  which  had  set  in  and  the  con- 
sequent failures  of  certain  banks,  the  whole  amount  was  never  paid  to  the 
original  owner.  General  Frisbie,  therefore,  to  smooth  matters,  returned 
the  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  and  agreed  to  accept  a  conveyance  of  the  pro- 
perty, which  was  done. 

In  the  year  1854  the  value  of  property  rose  considerably,  owing  to  the 
United  States  Government  have  taken  possession  of  Mare  Island,  with  the 
intention  of  establishing  a  Navy  Yard  upon  it.  This  of  course  gave  a  great 
impetus  to  immigration ;  land  had  to  be  taken  in  and  surveyed  (the  different 
dates  of  which  will  be  given  hereafter),  and  houses  built  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  hundreds  of  workmen  and  their  followers,  who  would  find 
employment  in  the  yard.  Affairs  assumed  a  rosier  hue  ;  for  with  this  influx 
of  labor  the  circulation  of  money  would  be  increased,  while  a  life  of  pros- 
perity might  be  looked  for.  It  was  a  happy  choice  which  sent  Captain 
David  G.  Farragut  to  assume  command  of  the  yard,  in  1854.  This  year  was 
one  of  plenty  for  Vallejo. 

On  the  last  day  of  the   year  a  heavy  gale   visited   the  city  ;  throughout 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  197 

the  night  it  blew  with  terrific  violence  ;  the  vessels  in  the  harbor  which  had 
arrived  with  dock  stores  dragged  at  their  anchors,  while  the  iron  roof  of 
the  Union  hotel,  on  what  is  now  Georgia  street,  close  to  the  wharf,  was 
rolled  up  and  driven  to  a  distance  of  a  block  and  a  half,  such  Was  the  force 
of  the  wind. 

In  1855  we  have  mention  of  the  first  minister  in  the  Reverend  William 
Willmott  who  was  in  charge  of  a  circuit  of  the  Methodist  Body,  and  organ- 
ized a  church  at  Vallejo.  Mrs.  Farragut,  the  Misses  Turner  and  others  had 
however  formed  a  Sunday  school  which  would  appear  to  be  the  basis  on 
which  Mr.  Wilmott  founded  his  congregation.  In  this  year  prosperity 
would  appear  to  have  still  attended  Vallejo ;  the  tide  of  immigration  which 
had  set  in  the  previous  year  remained  unimpeded  ;  a  daily  steamer  looked 
into  the  harbor  on  its  way  from  San  Francisco  to  Napa,  while  a  postmaster 
was  appointed  in  the  person  of  Eleazer  Frisbie  and  mail  matter  could  be 
looked  for  with  greater  regularity,  although  in  the  prepostal  days  Whitmore 
conducted  the  distribution  of  letters  with  commendable  punctuality. 
Colonel  Leslie  held  the  office  of  postmaster  during  the  years  when  the  legis- 
lature sat  in  the  city.  On  Thursday,  November  22,  1855,  the  inaugural 
number  of  the  "  Vallejo  Bulletin  "  made  its  appearance  as  the  first  represen- 
tative of  the  fourth  estate  in  the  city.  It  was  published  every  Thursday 
evening  by  A.  J.  Cox  and  E.  B.  Eaton,  the  latter  being  the  editor,  and  con- 
tains matter  of  varied  interest,  the  first  item  being  The  Psalm  of  Life,  by 
Longfellow,  the  opening  stanza  of  which  would  appear  to  be  a  grim  satire 
on  the  short-lived  career  of  this  periodical. 

"  Tell  me  not  in  mournful  numbers 
Life  is  but  an  empty  dream  ; 
For  the  soul  is  dead  that  slumbers, 
And  things  are  not  what  they  seem." 

The  Bulletin  numbered  exactly  four  pages  of  a  size  slightly  larger  than 
legal  foolscap.  It  consisted  of  six  columns  of  original  matter  and  reports 
with  three  of  advertisements,  while  the  last  page  was  occupied  by  clippings 
from  the  most  prominent  exchanges  of  the  old  and  new  world.  One  article 
is  reproduced.  Improvements  in  Town. — A  fine  substantial  wharf  is  just 
completed  at  the  foot  of  Main  street,  which,  we  are  informed,  is  built  in  a 
manner  that  reflects  great  credit  upon  the  contractors,  Messrs.  Morrison  & 
Bates.  The  wharf  is  about  250  feet  in  length  and  25  feet  in  width  with  a 
"  T  "  30x60  feet,  capable  of  affording  ample  accommodations  to  the  largest 
class  steamer.  At  low  water  there  are  about  seven  feet.  It  would  not  sur- 
prise us  to  see,  in  a  few  months,  this  old  and  once  principal  street  of  the 
town  lined  on  either  side  with  handsome  buildings,  as  it  is  certainly  a  very 
desirable  locality  for  private  residences.     The  United  States  Hotel,  a  large 


198  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTT. 

and  popular  house,  is  near  the  wharf,  and  not  far  off  is  Capt.  James  War- 
ner's elegant  brick  residence,  the  first  of  the  kind  erected  in  the 
town.  The  public  are  mainly  indebted  for  this  valuable  improvement 
to  Capt.  Chas.  J.  Stewart,  W.  R.  Woods,  J.  B.  Frisbie  and  the  Messrs. 
Bromleys  (Brownlees  ?).  From  the  advertisements  we  cull,  that  Daniel 
Dodd  kept  a  variety  store  on  Georgia  street  next  door  to  Doctor 
Collins'  office,  where  he  offered  fruits  Protestant  and  Catholic  prayer 
books,  powder,  bibles,  nuts  and  game  bags.  Frisbie  &  Rowe  and 
Wyatt  &  Co.  had  livery  stables  on  York  street.  Here  we  find 
the  card  of  Pendleton  Colston,  District  Attorney,  Solano  county, 
office,  adobe,  lately  occupied  by  Register  of  Land  office,  Benicia,  while  we 
find  the  U.  S.  Mail  between  Vallejo  and  Benicia  left  the  former  place  at  7 
A.  M.  and  4  P.  M.  daily,  and  that  the  steamer  "  Guadaloupe,"  Captain  Good- 
rich, plyed  from  San  Francisco  to  Vallejo  and  Napa  via.  Mare  Island  and 
Suscol  three  times  a  week.     The  "  Vallejo  Bulletin  "  lived  six  weeks. 

From  the  year  1855  matters  can  be  said  to  have  proceeded  well  for  Val- 
lejo ;  the  opening  of  the  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard  was  a  source  from  which 
much  benefit  was  derived.  In  subsequent  years  the  growth  of  the  city  was 
healthy,  and  a  better  class  of  buildings,  public  as  well  as  private,  were 
erected,  and  Vallejo  promised  to  occupy  the  place  on  the  coast  which  was 
always  predicted  for  it.  In  1859  and  '60,  however,  the  incendiaries'  hand 
was  at  work,  and  many  houses,  which  were  the  land-marks  of  by-gone  days, 
were  destroyed,  among  them  the  State  House.  Progress,  was,  happily,  the 
watchword,  however,  and  the  former  unpretentious  edifices  made  way  for 
others  of  a  more  noble  character,  until  there  are  some  blocks  in  the  city 
which  will  bear  favorable  comparison  with  those  in  any  other  part  of  the 
country.  In  1857,  Colonel  Stockton,  of  San  Francisco,  made  his  appear- 
ance, and  formed  a  joint-stock  company  for  establishing  a  telegraph  line 
between  Vallej  j  and  Benicia ;  preliminaries  being  satisfactorily  settled,  the 
line  was  in  working  order  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  In  the  spring  of 
1859  it  was  extended  to  Napa,  and  has  ever  since  proved  an  inestimable 
boon  to  the  district.  W.  W.  Chapman  was  the  first  operator ;  but  Chaiies 
H.  Hubbs,  of  Vallejo,  was  the  first  who  actually  manipulated  the  wires  on 
the  new  line. 

For  ten  years  the  prospects  of  the  city  were  steadily  improving;  many 
houses  of  a  more  substantial  character  had  given  place  to  the  earlier  wooden 
erections,  until,  in  1867,  the  "  Vallejo  Recorder  "  informs  us  :  "  There  is  not 
a  vacant  cottage  in  town  ;  buildings  are  engaged  two  or  three  months  before 
the  lease  expires.  There  were  five  applications  for  one  residence  this  week. 
Lots  50x13  feet  cost  $200.  Lumber  is  worth  from  $25  to  $30  per  thousand." 
A  sure  sign  of  the  prosperity  of  the  times  was  evidenced  by  the  establishment 
of  many  Associations  calculated  to  bring  good  to  the  public  generally,  his- 
tories of  which  will  be  found  further  on ;  and  in  that  year  the  California 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  199 

Pacific  Railroad,  from  Vallejo  to  Sacramento,  traversing  the  counties  of 
Solano  and  Sutter,  was  commenced.  At  this  interesting  epoch,  Vallejo  had 
a  population  of  some  3,000  ;  but  owing  to  the  impetus  given  to  labor  of  all 
kinds,  it  doubled  its  numbers  in  two  years  after,  the  expectation  being  that 
it  would  become  a  great  entrepot  for  trade ;  therefore,  arrangements  were 
made  for  a  large  shipping  business. 

Prior  to  the  year  1866,  as  has  been  remarked  above,  the  peace,  order 
and  good  government  of  Vallejo  had  been  invested  in  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  a  Constable  ;  on  the  23rd  of  July  of  that  year,  however,  a  meet- 
ing was  held  and  duly  organized,  by  the  election  of  William  C.  Greaves, 
President ;  Eben  Hilton,  Treasurer ;  William  Aspenall,  Secretary,  with 
Amos  M.  Currier,  and  S.  G.  Hilborn,  as  Town  Attorneys,  when  ordinances 
were  passed,  regulating  the  health  and  cleanliness  of  the  town,  and  other- 
wise providing  for  its  government.  In  the  following  February  an  Act  was 
passed  by  the  Legislature,  incorporating  the  city  within  the  limits  ;  "  begin- 
ning at  the  north-east  corner  of  the  present  town  of  Vallejo,  as  recorded  by 
plan  drawn  in  1856,  and  running  east  3,000  feet ;  thence  running  south  to 
the  water  of  the  bay  of  Vallejo,  or  Napa  river ;  thence  running  up  the 
channel  of  said  bay,  or  river,  to  a  point  west  of  the  place  of  beginning ; 
thence  running  east  to  place  of  beginning."  The  first  Board  meeting  after 
the  incorporation  of  the  city,  was  held  on  April  1, 1868,  when  the  following 
officers  were  elected:  Trustees — A.  Powell,  President ;  George  W.  Lee,  H. 
W.  Snow ;  Marshall,  J.  L.  Likens ;  Treasurer,  J.  E.  Abbott ;  Assessor,  J.  W. 
Batchellor ;  Receiver,  C.  W.  Riley ;  R.  D.  Hopkins ;  Health  Officer,  Dr.  L. 
C.  Frisbie  ;  Surveyor,  E.  H.  Rowe.  This  year,  though  one  wherein  Vallejo 
reached  the  proud  distinction  of  having  a  charter  of  her  own,  it  was  one 
not  unattended  by  disaster.  On  the  morning  of  February  18th,  the  Alpha 
Block,  one  of  the  best  and  most  substantial  structures  in  the  city,  situated 
on  the  south-east  corner  of  Georgia  and  Santa  Clara  streets,  and  owned  by 
E.  H.  Sawyer,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  buildings  stood  on  what  was, 
until  this  catastrophe,  the  business  portion  of  the  town,  and  consisted  of 
elegant  brick  buildings,  and  their  destruction,  at  a  loss  of  over  $40,000,  was 
a  sad  blow  to  the  interests  of  the  city  for  a  time.  But  yet  another  misfor- 
tune visited  Vallejo  this  year,  namely,  the  shock  of  earthquake,  which 
nearly  laid  San  Francisco  level  with  the  ground,  on  the  21st  of  October, 
1868.  Vallejo,  however,  escaped  any  great  damage ;  though  one  chimney 
was  laid  low,  many  yards  of  plastering  displaced,  and  such  articles  as 
clocks,  mirrors,  and  lamps  broken.  On  Wednesday,  the  24th  of  June,  rail- 
road communication  between  Vallejo  and  Fairfield,  and  Suisun,  was  inaugu- 
rated by  an  excursion,  wherein  the  Masonic  Lodges  took  part,  and  it  is  also 
to  this  year  that  the  incorporation  of  a  water  company  must  be  credited, 
In  looking  back  upon  the  year  1868,  it  must  be  put  down  as  one  of  great 
excitement  to  Vallejo,  for  General  Vallejo's  prophecy  of  this  city  of  his  be- 


200  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

coming  a  great  emporium  for  trade,  was  on  the  brink  of  realization ;  eight- 
een months  before  the  town  was  comparatively  small,  and  its  trade  and 
intercourse  with  the  outside  world  almost  nil ;  then  the  California  Pacific 
Railroad  existed  only  on  paper,  and  its  ultimate  construction  was  among 
the  probabilities  only.  True,  the  bare  probability  of  such  a  road  being 
built,  drew  thousands  to  the  spot,  who  had  never  seen  the  place  before,  and 
for  years  had  not  even  heard  of  it,  save  when  mentioned  in  connection  with 
the  Navy  Yard.  As  the  certainty  of  the  construction  of  the  road  began  to 
be  realized,  Vallejo  began  to  awake  from  a  Rip  Van  Winkle  sleep  of  fifteen 
years,  and  to  show  signs  of  real  life.  Hotels,  stores,  shops  and  dwellings  be- 
gan to  arise  in  every  direction,  and  the  old  resumed  an  appearance  of  returning 
youth.  But  the  railroad  had  not  yet  been  built,  and  it  was  soon  found  that 
the  little  business  awakened  had  been  prematurely  aroused,  and  began  to 
relapse  into  its  former  somnambulistic  state.  As  the  last  spring  opened, 
however,  the  iron  horse  started  from  the  water  front  and  began  to  make  its 
way  eastward,  returning  with  well  laden  cars  freighted  with  grain  of  the 
rich  and  abundant  harvests  of  Solano  and  Yolo ;  while  ships  of  foreign 
flags  bore  it  away  to  other  climes ;  and  travelers  from  beyond  the  snow 
mountains  and  from  every  part  of  the  State,  took  part  in  the  whirl  of  busi- 
ness, and  the  future  of  Vallejo  was  thought  to  be  secure  beyond  a  perad- 
venture.     Alas  !  that  this  success  should  have  been  so  short-lived  ! ! ! 

On  the  13th  day  of  November,  1868,  the  second  Board  of  Trustees  was 
organized  under  Philip  Mager,  President,  Henry  Connolly,  and  Edward 
McGettigan,  Trustees ;  Lyman  Leslie,  City  Recorder ;  George  Edgar,  City 
Marshal ;  J.  E.  Abbott,  City  Treasurer ;  Elisha  Whiting,  City  Assessor ; 
Paul  K.  Hubbs,  Clerk ;  A.  H.  Gunning,  City  Surveyor,  and  L.  C.  Frisbie, 
Health  Officer. 

For  the  next  few  years  affairs  progressed  right  merrily.  The  propriety 
of  erecting  street  railroads  was  early  mooted,  for  which  a  franchise  was 
granted  in  February.  A  steamer  was  put  on  the  line  to  San  Francisco, 
plying  twice  a  day,  in  connection  with  the  cars ;  while  a  grain  elevator  was 
being  built.  This  edifice  afterwards  fell  in  1872,  from  the  want  of  proper 
foundations.  Vallejo  boasted  five  schools,  which  were  said  to  be  filled  with 
scholars  ;  a  large  flour  mill  had  been  started,  and  the  city  fathers  looked 
after  the  interests  invested  in  them. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  November,  1871,  Vallejo  was  again  visited 
by  a  destructive  five  which  desolated  one  of  the  principal  blocks  in  the  city. 
The  fire  broke  out  under  the  saloon  of  John  O'Sullivan,  on  Virginia  street, 
and,  from  information  gained  at  the  time,  there  is  but  little  doubt  that  it 
was  caused  by  the  blackened  hand  of  the  incendiary.  The  damage  was 
estimated  at  considerably  over  $50,000. 

Let  us  now  draw  this  sketch  of  Vallejo  to  a  close.  Her  interests 
prospered  through  the  successive  regimes  of   Trustees  and  other  officers. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  201 


i 


Appointments  had  been  made  whereby  the  public  coffers  were  filled  and 
trade  was  brisk ;  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  the  possibility  of  a  decline  never 
presented  itself  to  the  minds  of  the  people.  With  General  John  B.  Frisbie 
as  a  moving  spirit,  this  conception  of  prosperity  was  almost  reasonable;  but 
there  came  a  day  when  his  helping  hand  was  of  no  avail,  and  the  years  of 
plenty,  in  a  great  measure  enhanced  by  the  presence  of  the  dock  yard,  gave 
way  to  a  season  of  decline,  which  commenced  in  1874,  when  trade  dimin- 
ished to  a  lamentable  extent,  continuing  its  downward  course  until  1878, 
when  it,  in  a  measure,  again  revived,  and  left  its  lessened  population  once 
more  on  the  increase,  with  a  distant  propect  of  some  day  recovering  the 
ground  already  lost. 

The  officers  of  succeeding  Boards  were  as  under : 

1869— Trustees,  A.  Powell,  President,  S.  G.  Hillborn,  Eben  Hilton,  A.  P. 
Voorhees,  and  E.  T.  Starr;  City  Recorder,  Charles  C.  Hall;  Marshal,  Joseph 
L.  Likins ;    Treasurer,  J.  E.  Abbott ;   Assessor,  J.  W.  Batchellor ;  Clerk,  C. 

A.  Kidder.  In  this  year  a  term  of  service  of  two  years  was  first  inaugura- 
ted.    The  fourth  Board  was  organized  on  September  16,  1871,  with  John 

B.  Frisbie  as  President,  having  for  his  colleagues  A.  Powell,  S.  G.  Hillborn, 
A.  P.  Voorhees,  and  E.  H.  Sawyer ;  Treasurer,  J.  E.  Abbott ;  Assessor,  J.  W. 
Batchellor ;  Marshal,  J.  J.  Watkinson ;  Recorder,  T.  H.%  Lawlor ;  Clerk, 
Judson  Haycock  ;  Surveyor,  E.  H.  Rowe.  During  the  tenure  of  office  of 
this  Board  an  Act  was  passed  whereby  the  corporation  were  empowered  to 
borrow  $50,000  as  a  fund  to  protect  the  city  from  fire,  the  principal  to  be 
paid  off  in  twenty  years,  and  bearing  interest  at  the  rate  of  eight  per  cent 
per  annum.  This  Act  was  passed  on  January  11,  1872.  The  original 
intention  was  to  appropriate  this  fund  for  the  building  of  a  reservoir  on 
Bolsa  hill,  an  elevation  to  the  north  of  the  town,  but  the  project  was  aban- 
doned on  the  formation  of  a  water  company.  SI 5,000  of  it  was  used  on 
digging  and  planking  the  Fifth  street  cut,  between  North  and  South  Vallejo; 
$8,000  were  expended  on  the  construction  of  the  City  Hall ;  while  a  consid- 
erable sum  was  spent  on  the  City  Park,  which  to-day  only  shows  a  result 
in  a  few  pickets  and  eucalyptus  trees.  Other  expenses  of  a  desultory  nature 
were  incurred,  swallowing  the  entire  original  sum,  and,  though  the  interest 
is  met  with  becoming  punctuality,  the  principal  debt  remains  unpaid.  South 
Vallejo  had  in  the  meantime  claimed  an  interest  in  the  governing  affairs  of  the 
city;  therefore,  on  May  12, 1872,  Messrs.  J.  B.  Robinson  and  Luke  Doe  were 
first  elected  from  that  portion  of  the  town.  On  the  6th  of  March,  1873,  John 
M.  Gregory,  Jr.,  was  elected  City  Clerk  and  Attorney,  and  on  December  24, 
1873,  J.  E.  Abbott  was  elected  City  Clerk  and  Attorney  vice  Gregory, 
resigned,  and  J.  R.  English  as  City  Treasurer  vice  Abbott,  resigned.  The 
election  of  the  26th  of  March,  1 874,  resulted  in  the  following  selection  : 
Trustees,  W.  Aspinall,  President,  C.  B.  Denio,  E.  H.  Sawyer,  D.  W.  Harrier, 
Henry  Connolly,  and  J.  E.  Williston ;   Treasurer,  J.  R.  English ;  Assessor, 


202  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

William  Tormey ;  Marshall,  S.  J.  Wright,  and  City  Clerk,  J.  E.  Abbott.  In 
the  year  1876  a  new  era  had  commenced  in  the  municipal  election,  for  a 
system  of  elections  by  wards  had  been  inaugurated,  with  the  accompanying 
result :  First  Ward — William  Aspenall,  Ed.  McGittigan,  H.  K.  Snow ; 
Second  Ward— E.  J.  Wilson,  President,  P.  R.  Walsh,  Charles  Weideman ; 
Third  Ward— John  P.  Dare ;  Treasurer,  J.  R.  English ;  Assessor,  George 
Rounds  ;  Marshal,  Charles  Derby ;  H.  H.  Snow,  City  Clerk.  The  election 
of  March  26,  1878,  and  the  second  by  wards,  resulted  ;  First  Ward — D.  J. 
Reese,  J.  A.  Mclnnes,  J.  H.  Green ;  Second  Ward — E.  J.  Wilson,  President, 
S.  C.  Farnham,  W.  C.  Greaves ;  Third  Ward — F.  Deininger ;  Marshal,  W. 
McDonald ;  Treasurer,  J.  R.  English ;  Assessor,  W.  A.  Brace  ;  City  Clerk,  A. 
J.  Brownlie.     The  Board  meets  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  each  month. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1878,  the  Board  of  Health  was  organized,  and  their 
first  meeting  held  on  June  6th,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected  : 
President,  James  Frost,  M.D. ;  Secretary,  A.  J.  Brownlie ;  with  a  Board 
composed  of  James  Topley,  F.  Deininger,  and  John  Callender.  Meetings 
held  on  the  last  Thursday  of  each  month. 

In  reference  to  the  different  surveys  of  the  city,  the  first  was  made  in  the 
year  1850  by  Surveyor- General  Whiting,  Edward  Rowe,  Mason  Fay,  and 
Doctor  L.  C.  Frisbie,  attended  by  three  or  four  vaqueros  to  drive  away  the 
wild  cattle  while  the  lines  were  being  run.  Only  that  portion  of  the  pres- 
ent city  lying  south  of  Georgia  street  was  laid  out  as  then  surveyed.  It 
contained  about  160  acres  of  land.  In  1856  another  survey  (already  alluded 
to)  was  made,  embracing  a  league  of  land  ;  while  a  third  was  made  when 
the  town  took  its  rapid  start  in  1867  or  '68. 

The  site  of  the  city  of  Vallejo  is  undoubtedly  picturesque  ;  the  undulating 
hills  which  forty  years  ago  General  Vallejo  had  looked  upon  with  becoming 
pride,  have  now  been  occupied  by  hundreds  of  beautiful  homes,  nearly  all 
of  which  are  snugly  ensconced  in  their  own  gardens,  surrounded  by  flowers 
of  the  richest  hue  and  rarest  perfume,  while  for  miles  around,  the  hills  which 
promised  so  rare  a  fertility,  are  now  sprouting  with  a  crop,  finer  than  which 
no  other  country  can  produce.  To  the  right  and  to  the  left,  as  far  as  the 
eye  can  reach,  we  gaze  upon  nought  but  the  progress  of  civilization  and  the 
richest  vegetation.  Standing  on  Capitol  hill  the  placid  bay  lies  at  our  feet, 
its  surface  without  a  ripple,  and  glancing  from  its  peaceful  bosom  the  many 
shadows  reflected  from  the  shore.  The  busy  Navy  Yard  breaks  what 
would  otherwise  be  the  monotonous  water  view ;  on  its  other  side  we  have 
the  San  Pablo  bay,  while  here  and  there  a  white  shimmering  sail  proclaims 
the  passage  of  some  sailing  craft,  and  a  cloud  of  smoke  defines  the  locality 
of  the  fast  traveling  steamboat,  and  again,  as  it  were  the  background  of  the 
picture,  Marin  county  shows  its  well  marked  outline.  The  Coast  range  of 
hills  are  followed  in  their  uneven  line,  and  grand  old  Mount  Tamalpais 
stands  like  a  stolid  sentry  over  its  lesser  brethren.     Below  is  marked  the 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  203 

busy  landing-place,  whither  flock  passengers  bound  to  all  points  of  the  com- 
pass ;  the  shrill  shriek  of  the  locomotive  is  heard  above  the  other  sounds,  as 
it  is  brought  back  by  many  an  answering  echo.  Now  we  hear  the  more 
hollow  whistle  of  the  steamer,  as  she  arrives  or  departs  with  her  freight  of 
human  beings.  Again  comes  the  toll  of  the  time  bell  giving  the  hour  to 
the  weary  workman  in  the  Yard;  while  the  scene  is  filled  in  with  vessels  of 
great  tonnage  riding  cosily  at  anchor  at  the  piers,  awaiting  cargoes  of 
precious  wheat  to  be  taken  across  the  seas.  To  the  north  the  fertile  Napa 
valley  stretches  away  for  miles,  presenting  a  landscape  of  the  most  ravish- 
ing order,  backed  as  it  is  by  mountains  of  very  fantastic  shape,  while  in 
the  foreground  we  have  that  glorious  monument  erected  by  the  Sons  of 
Temperance  for  all  orphans  whose  parents  have  been  called  upon  to 
cross  the  dark  river.  A  noble  thought,  nobly  executed!  Pity  'tis  that  the 
cares  of  rude  business  should  blot  so  fair  scene ! ! 

It  may  not  be  uninteresting  here  to  produce  among  the  curiosities  of 
literature  connected  with  Vallejo,  the  specimens  of  ways  in  which  it  can  be 
spelt.  It  is  one  of  the  axioms  of  English  grammar  that  there  is  no  rule  for 
the  spelling  and  pronunciation  of  proper  names,  a  rule  which  would  appear 
to  have  been  carried  out  with  remarkable  unanimity  by  the  correspond- 
ents of  residents  in  the  city.  The  list  was  collected  in  six  months  from  the 
Vallejo  Post-office,  and  is  without  doubt  a  most  curious  specimen  of 
orthography.  They  number  about  one  hundred,  and  are  as  follows :  Val- 
laho,  Valahoe,  Valaho,  Valao,  Vallajo,  Vallajoe,  Vallajo,  Valajoa,  Vala  Jae, 
Valaja,  Vallago,  Valago,  Vallaiho,  Valeejo,  Valeajo,  Valeijo,  Valoege,  Valegoa, 
Valegio,  Valego,  Valejo,  Vallejo  Valle  Jo,  Vallejoe,  Vallejio,  Vallejaio, 
Valler,  Vallejeo,  Vallegeo,  Valleo,  Vallejho,  Vallerio,  Vallesso,  Valeyo,  Val- 
leyo,  Valleyoe,  Valleyio,  Valley  Joe,  Valleygo,  Valleya,  Valeyegoy,  Vaeygo, 
Valgeo,  Valgo,  Valiego,  Valigo,Valliejo,  Vallijo,  Valligo,Valigeo,  Valliju,  Valljo, 
Vallo,  Valgho,  Vally  Joe,  Valley  Jog,  Valyo,  Vallyo,  Vealejo,  Veleajho, 
Velajo,  Velaow,  Vellajo,  Velegio,  Veleijo,  Velego,  Velegoe,  Veleo,  Vellejo, 
Vellego,  Velleijo,  Velighlow,  Velijo,  Velioe,  Veljaho,  Vel  Ja,  Vialojo,  Villeiu, 
Villigj,  Villejo,  Villgo,  Vallejalahoe,  Ballejo,  Bellejo,  Billejo,  Salliegro,  Levejo, 
Falesso,  Ralejo,  Wallajo,  Wallego,  Wallejo,  Walleja,  Walleio,  Welayego, 
Yallejo,  Yalleyjo,  Valley  Joow  and  Valahough. 


Churches — Schools — Associations — Industries — etc. — of  Vallejo. 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — The  appended  historical  sketch  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  the  City  of  Vallejo  has  been  supplied  by 
the  Rev.  E.  I.  Jones,  the  present  Pastor — About  the  middle  of  1855,  Rev. 
William  Willmott  was  appointed  in  charge  of  a  circuit  which  included 
the   towns   of  Benicia   and   Vallejo.     During  that  year  and  a  part  of  the 


204  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

one  following,  he  preached  at  Vallejo  and  partially  organized  a  Methodist 
church.  Before  his  advent,  Mrs.  Commodore  Farragut,  the  Misses  Turner 
and  others  had  conducted  a  Sunday  school,  which  seems  to  have  been  the 
nucleus  around  which  Mr.  Willmott  gathered  his  congregation. 

In  January,  1856,  Gen.  John  B.  Frisbie  donated  and  deeded  the  present 
church  site  to  David  G.  Farragut,  David  Turner,  Simeon  Jenkins,  Charles 
H.  Oliver  and  James  H.  Green  "  in  trust  for  the  use  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  town  of  Vallejo,  etc."  Upon  this  lot,  and  largely 
through  the  exertions  of  Farragut,  was  built  a  small,  rough  structure  which 
served  for  a  time  the  double  purpose  of  chapel  and  school-house.  Mr. 
Willmott  went  to  the  Atlantic  in  the  summer  of  1856  and  his  pulpit  was 
supplied  by  Rev.  Geo.  B.  Taylor. 

Rev.  C.  V.  Anthony  who  became  pastor  in  September,  1856,  perfected 
the  organization.  Written  by  him  and  preserved  among  the  church  records 
is  a  quaint  narrative  from  which  the  following  extract  is  taken.  "  The  church 
was  built  of  planks  placed  endwise  and  battened  with  narrow  strips. 
Only  the  casings  and  cornice  were  planed ;  the  other  parts  were  rough  and 
washed  with  yellow  ochre  and  lime.  The  pulpit  was  a  high,  old-fashioned 
concern,  with  a  trap  door  under  the  preachers  feet,  where  the  sexton  who 
was  generally  preacher  also,  kept  the  sperm  oil  and  other  things  for  light- 
ing the  church.  In  former  times  this  room  under  the  pulpit  had  served 
another  purpose.  The  pastor  who  built  the  church  put  a  cot  down  there 
and,  when  he  retired,  simply  lifted  the  trap-door  and  went  to  bed,  leaving 
the  door  up.  During  my  first  year,  we  succeeded  in  paying  the  old  debt  of 
four  hundred  dollars.  More  comfortable  seats  were  provided,  the  church 
was  painted  and  a  fence  put  around  it.  Aforetime,  it  had  been  a  convenient 
place  for  cattle  to  shade  themselves,  and  on  Sundays  we  were  often  dis- 
turbed by  their  contentions  and  sometimes  shaken  by  their  scratchings 
against  the  corners  of  the  church." 

At  the  close  of  this  pastorate  the  church  had  fourteen  members.  This 
number  does  not,  however,  indicate  the  actual  size  or  strength  of  the  con- 
gregation, which  included  among  its  most  zealous  workers  the  adherents  of 
other  churches  which  then  had  no  organizations  in  the  town.  In  Mr. 
Anthony's  narative,  David  Turner  and  Mrs.  Farragut,  Episcopalians,  and 
Nehemiah  Smith,  Presbyterian,  are  mentioned  as  having  been  notably 
active  and  helpful.  Dr.  Woodbridge,  Presbyterian,  held  services  in  the 
church  every  Sunday  afternoon  but  had  no  organization. 

The  following  named  pastors  succeeded,  their  terms  beginning  in  Septem- 
ber of  the  years  specified  :  James  Hunter,  1858  ;  Kilpatrick,  1859  ;  W.  B. 
May,  1860 ;  J.  W.  Hines,  1861 ;  B.  F.  Myers,  1863;  P.  L.  Haynes,  1865. 

During  the  pastorate  of  the  last  named,  the  membership  nearly  doubled 
and  the  church  was  greatly  improved  by  the  addition  of  a  vestibule  and 
bell  tower. 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  205 

Rev.  Galen  A.  Pierce  became  pastor  in  September,  1867,  and  had  a 
notably  acceptable  term  of  two  years,  at  the  close  of  which  there  were  fifty- 
five  members  and  a  property  valued  at  $4,600. 

Rev.  Charles  E.  Rich  followed  in  August,  1869.  The  city  was  more  pop- 
ulous and  prosperous  during  his  term  than  before  or  since.  The  congrega- 
tion so  increased  that  the  church  was  lengthened  fifteen  feet,  a  vestry-room 
was  added,  and  the  whole  edifice  so  improved  as  to  be  substantially,  a  new 
one.  A  debt  was,  however,  incurred  which  greatly  embarrassed  the  church 
for  about  seven  years.  In  August,  1870,  there  were  ninety-five  members 
and  property  valued  at  $7,000,  including  the  present  parsonage,  then  but 
recently  acquired. 

Rev.  A.  K.  Crawford  was  pastor  for  one  year  from  September,  1872,  re- 
porting fifty-five  members  at  the  close  of  his  term. 

Rev.  W.  S.  Urmy  followed  in  1873  and  remained  three  years,  at  the  end 
of  the  second  of  which  he  reports  the  membership  at  one  hundred  and 
$2,600  as  having  been  expended  upon  the  church  property,  mostly  in  partial 
payment  of  the  debt  heretofore  mentioned.  At  the  close  of  his  term  the 
membership  had  decreased  to  seventy-one  and  nearly  one-half  of  these 
were  nominal  or  non-resident. 

Rev.  Ed.  I.  Jones,  the  present  pastor — 1879 — became  such  in  September, 
1876,  at  which  time  removals  had  so  deciminated  the  membership  and 
business  depressions  so  discouraged  those  remaining,  that  this  pastorate 
opened  unhopefully,  especially,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  there  was  still  an 
indebtedness  of  about  $1,500.  On  Sunday  eve,  December  8,  1878,  the 
church  was  almost  totally  destroyed  by  fire,  originating,  it  is  supposed  in 
a  defective  flue.  The  proceeds  of  an  insurance  policy  for  $1,500  were 
applied  upon  the  indebtedness.  The  society  now  numbers  about  fifty,  owns 
the  fine  church  site,  upon  which  is  a  vestry-room  and  a  parsonage.  Geo. 
W.  Smith,  James  H.  Green,  Samuel  Kitto,  John  Q.  Adams  and  Frank  L. 
Carlton  are  the  trustees. 

Throughout  its  twenty-five  years  of  existence  this  church  has  been 
peculiarly  impeded  by  the  floating  character  of  the  population  and  by  suc- 
cessive drafts  upon  its  original  resources  consequent  upon  the  organization 
of  four  other  Protestant  churches  in  the  town.  Its  officers  not  vanquished 
by  move  than  ordinary  obstacles,  are  hopefully  planning  for  the  future. 

First  Presbyterian  Church. — Previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  present  pastor, 
Revd.  N.  B.  Klink,  in  Vallejo,  the  Reverend  S.  Woodbridge,  D.  D.  of  Beni- 
cia,  had  preached  to  a  congregation  in  this  city  for  several  years  on  the 
afternoon  of  every  sabbath.  At  the  time  there  was  no  Presbyterian  church  ; 
service  was  therefore  held  in  the  Methodist  Episcopalian  building.  On  as- 
certaining that  it  was  Mr.  Klink's  intention  to  reside  permanently  in  Vallejo 
Dr.  Woodbridge  resigned  the  duties  to  him ;  and  the  Methodists,  being  now 
without  a  minister,  invited  him  to  supply  them,  and  granted  the  use  of  their 


206  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

house  of  worship  until  September,  1863.  The  First  Presbyterian  Church 
was  organized  in  the  month  of  November,  1862,  while  they  were  still  wor- 
shipping in  the  Methodist  Church.  According  to  public  notice,  the  congre- 
gation met  in  the  Methodist  Episcopalian  Church,  November  22,  1862,  for 
the  purpose,  if  the  way  be  clear,  of  organizing  a  Presbyterian  Church.  The 
meeting  was  called  to  order,  and  opened  with  prayer.  The  Reverend  N.  B. 
Klink  was  chosen  chairman  of  the  meeting,  and  Henry  Blackman,  secretary. 
The  following  named  persons  being  present  with  letters  of  dismission  from 
other  Presbyterian  Churches,  and  voluntarily  wishing  to  be  associated  to- 
gether for  Divine  and  Godly  living,  were,  on  motion,  formed  into  a  Presby- 
terian Church  of  the  "  old  school,"  within  the  bounds  of  Benicia  Presbytery 
and  Synod  of  the  Pacific :  Mrs.  Helen  Williamson ;  Carrie  E.  Frisbie  ; 
Susan  Callender ;  Elizabeth  Chapman  ;  Isabella  Rule  ;  Eliza  Roloff ;  Phebe 
A.  Frisbie  ;  Sylvia  M.  Burns  ;  J.  Wright ;  J.  Tessroe,  with  Messrs.  Stephen 
Klink  and  E.  H.  M.  Bailey.  There  being  none  present  who  were  willing  to 
accept  the  office  of  "  Ruling  Elder,"  the  church  was  only  provisionally  or- 
ganized. 

The  Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States 
of  America,  and  also  the  Form  of  Government  and  the  Directions  for  Wor- 
ship, were  adopted  as  their  standards  of  Faith  and  Order ;  and  A.  Powell, 
Daniel  Williamson,  James  Topley,  E.  H.  M.  Bailey,  and  Stephen  Klink, 
were  elected  a  Board  of  Trustees,  and  were  also  chosen  as  a  building  com- 
mittee, when  immediate  steps  were  taken  for  the  erection  of  a  house  of  wor- 
ship on  two  lots  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Marin  and  Carolina  streets, 
which  were  the  gift  of  General  John  B.  Frisbie. 

During  the  summer  of  1863  the  building  of  the  church  was  proceeded 
with  ;  and  on  the  first  Sunday  in  September  in  that  year  the  opening  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  the  Reverend  A.  Fairbairn;  yet,  though  incomplete, 
worship  was  maintained  in  it  for  full  two  years,  when,  on  November  5, 
1865,  it  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God  by  the 
Reverend  Doctor  Woodbridge.    The  edifice,  along  with  the  bell,  cost  $8,500. 

In  April,  1866,  Messrs.  E.  H.  M.  Bailey  and  L.  G.  Oliver  were  elected 
Ruling  Elders  ;  and  on  May  8th,  they  having  been  ordained,  were  duly  in- 
stalled as  officers  of  the  church,  on  which  ceremony  its  organization  became 
complete.  The  present  session  consists  of  Samuel  Duncan,  C.  B.  Towle, 
and  Robert  B.  Barr,  with  whom  is  associated  the  acting  pastor.  The  whole 
number  of  members  received  from  the  organization  is  185  ;  the  number  now 
in  membership  being  77,  while  the  Sabbath  School,  under  the  superinten- 
dency  of  Elder  Robert  B.  Barr,  numbers  about  100. 

The  Church  of  the  Ascension — Protestant  Episcopal. — For  many  years 
prior  to  1867,  service,  according  to  the  form  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  had  been  held  in  Vallejo;  but  it  was  not  until  the  21st  of  July,  of  that 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  207 

year,  that  any  steps  had  been  taken  to  form  a  permanent  association  of  the 
kind.  On  that  Sunday  the  services  were  conducted  by  the  Bishop  of  the  Dio- 
cese, the  Right  Reverend  Wilbraham  Kip,  and  the  Reverends  Messrs.  Tread- 
way  and  Perry,  during  which,  intimation  was  given  that  a  meeting  of  the 
association  would  be  held  at  the  office  of  the  Honorable  Paul  K.  Hubbs,  on  the 
Monday  following.  The  meeting  was  duly  convened,  and  an  association  in- 
corporated under  the  laws  of  the  State,  and  the  Diocese  of  California,  under 
the  name  as  given  above,  the  following  gentlemen  subscribing  to  the  Decla- 
ration and  Articles  of  Association :  Paul  K.  Hubbs,  T.  H.  Gardner,  R.  D. 
Hopkins,  W.  H.  Lamb,  Paul  Shirley,  Jas.  Price,  L.  C.  Fowler,  Win.  Taylor, 
Jr.,  Casper  Schenck,  Thomas  A.  Thornton,  Ed.  A.  Willats,  Jas.  A.  Green,  A. 
T.  Hawley,  W.  C.  Root,  Geo.  Loomis,  Wm.  A.  Parker,  J.  W.  Haskin,  and  W. 
H.  Stanley.  The  subjoined  vestrymen  were,  thereupon,  elected :  Messrs. 
Paul  K.  Hubbs,  Wm.  H.  Lamb,  L.  C.  Fowler,  J.  H.  K.  Barbour,  Wm.  A. 
Parker,  J.  W.  Browne,  W.  C.  Root,  Wm.  Taylor,  Jr.,  J.  W.  Haskin,  Philip 
Hickburn,  and  R.  D.  Hopkins,  with  Messrs.  Fowler  and  Hubbs,  as  Senior 
and  Junior  Wardens,  and  Messrs.  Hopkins  and  Lamb,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer respectively.  After  the  election  of  these  officers  the  Rev.  A.  C.  Tread- 
way  was  unanimously  chosen  the  first  Rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascen- 
sion, at  Vallejo.  In  the  course  of  time  laws  and  by-laws,  for  the  governing 
of  the  executive  body,  were  framed  and  brought  into  effect.  On  the  29th  of 
July,  a  building  committee  was  appointed,  with  power  to  solicit  subscriptions 
in  aid  of  the  erection  of  a  church.  General  John  B.  Frisbie  generously  pre- 
sented them  with  two  lots  whereon  to  erect  the  sacred  edifice ;  plans  and 
specifications  were  gratuitously  prepared  by  Mr.  Gunning,  architect,  of  Mare 
Island  ;  and  a  Fair  was  held  by  the  ladies  of  the  congregation  and  their 
friends,  to  still  further  augment  the  funds.  The  foundation  stone  was  laid 
on  the  4th  of  May,  1868. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1868,  Mr.  Tread  way,  in  a  letter  of -great  feeling, 
tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  duly  accepted,  in  fitting  terms,  in  meet- 
ing assembled,  when  it  was  resolved  to  invite  the  Rev.  Dr.  Breck  to  take 
charge  of  the  parish,  in  connection  with  the  Associate  Mission,  which  he  had 
established  in  Benicia.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Treadway  had  returned  to  New 
York  ;  but  such  was  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held,  that  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  on  the  15th  of  July,  to  invite  him  to  return  to  his  former 
charge,  which  he  signified  his  willingness  to  do ;  and  on  the  10th  of  December 
he  once  more  presided  at  a  vestry  meeting  of  the  parish.  During  this  period 
the  building  of  the  church  progressed  satisfactorily.  On  the  evening  of  the 
9th  of  March,  1870,  the  introduction  of  gas  into  the  building  was  com- 
pleted ;  and  on  Sunday,  the  13th,  the  edifice  was  duly  consecrated  by  the 
Bishop  of  California,  before  an  overflowing  congregation.  On  the  5th  of 
August,  1871,  Mr.  Treadway  once  more  tendered  his  resignation,  the  accept- 
ance of  which  was  declined,  on  the  plea  "  that  the  interests  of  the  church 


208  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

would  not  prosper  so  well  under  the  ministry  of  any  other  person,"  when 
the  Rector  signified  his  willingness  that  the  question  of  his  retirement  re- 
main in  statu  quo ;  he,  however,  again  opened  the  question  on  the  7th  of 
February,  1872,  stating  his  intention  of  returning  home  to  the  East  in 
April  or  May  following. 

Still,  the  vestry  were  unwilling  to  part  with  their  pastor,  who,  they  sug- 
gested, should  be  tendered  a  leave  of  absence ;  but  at  last  he  prevailed,  and 
his  resignation  was  accepted,  to  take  effect  on  the  31st  of  December,  1872. 
His  farewell  sermon  is  described  as  being  a  deep  utterance  of  pastoral  love, 
which  was  both  appropriate  and  impressive.  A  successor  was  found  in  the 
Rev.  Adam  A.  McAllister,  who  was  nominated  to  the  vacant  Rectorship  on 
the  13th  of  November,  1872.  On  the  21st  of  December,  the  vestry  lost,  by 
death,  one  of  its  most  active  members,  in  Paymaster  Mead,  IT.  S.  N.,  when 
condolotary  resolutions  were  directed  to  be  forwarded  to  his  family ;  the 
meeting,  however,  whose  painful  duty  it  was  to  pass  the  foregoing,  had  a 
more  pleasant  one  in  thanking  the  "  ladies  of  the  Episcopal  Benevolent 
Association  of  Vallejo,  for  having  realized  the  means,  and  by  their  generosity, 
devoted  them  to  the  liquidation  of  the  debts  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension 
from  embarrassment,  and  enabling  the  church,  unfettered  by  pecuniary 
obligations,  to  renew  and  enlarge  its  work."  On  the  5th  of  January,  1874, 
Mr.  McAllister  now  resigned,  when  the  pulpit  was  offered  to  and  accepted 
by  the  Rev.  E.  L.  Greene,  who,  on  account  of  family  affliction,  sent  in  his 
resignation  on  the  18th  of  February,  1875 ;  it  was  accepted ;  and  on  the 
25th  of  the  same  month,  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Moore  was  offered  the  parish.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  held  on  the  16th  of  June,  1875,  it  was  resolved  to 
move  the  church  back  25  feet,  which  was  subsequently  carried  out,  and  the 
ground  graded,  a  fence  built,  shrubbery  planted,  and  the  premises 
otherwise  adorned.  The  funds  of  the  parish  were  in  somewise  aided  by  a 
bequest  from  the  late  Senior  Warden,  Paul  K.  Hubbs,  who  had  died  on  the 
17th  of  November  previously.  In  the  death  of  this  gentleman,  the  church 
and  parish  lost  one  of  its  staunchest  supports ;  it  was  mainly  to  his  good 
offices  that  the  "  Church  of  the  Ascension  "  was  organized ;  and  the  esteem 
in  which  he  was  held  is  touchingly  alluded  to  in  the  resolution  directing 
realization  of  the  bequest.  On  the  6th  of  April,  1876,  death  had  again  en- 
tered in  ;  once  more  there  was  a  vacancy  among  the  wardens  ;  this  time,  in 
the  person  of  Mr.  W.  C.  Root,  the  first  person  confirmed  in  the  parish.  He 
was  elected  a  vestryman  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  parish,  and 
had  been  one  of  its  officers  in  successive  years. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  18th  of  April,  the  Reverend  W.  A.  Moore  an- 
nounced his  wish  to  resign,  which  took  effect  on  the  15th  of  May.  Mr. 
McAllister  once  more  temporarily  occupied  the  pulpit  until  the  appointment 
of  a  successor,  who  was  found  in  Dr.  Chapman,  who  in  his  turn  left  the 
parish  for  his  home   in  Sacramento   in  August,  and  was  succeeded  by  the 


pi4srfsisl£> 


' 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  209 

Reverend  George  B.  Allen,  on  the  23d  October,  1876.  He  now  resigned  on 
the  22  November,  and  again  was  the  Church  of  the  Ascension  without  an 
officiating  clergyman  of  its  own.  The  parish  was  then  offered  to  the  Rev- 
erend R.  T.  Kline,  whose  acceptance  was  made  known  on  the  2d  of  January, 
1877.  This  clergyman  remained  with  his  congregation  the  better  part  of 
eleven  months,  when  he  handed  in  a  letter  of  retirement  on  the  21  of 
November  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  McAllister  again  occupied  the  pulpit 
from  Sunday  to  Sunday,  until  on  December  23,  1877,  it  was  resolved  to 
call  the  Reverend  David  F.  MacDonald,  D.  D.  from  Arkansas.  This  gentle- 
man is  the  present  incumbent. 

Dr.  MacDonald  was,  as  far  back  as  1856,  the  first  missionary  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church  in  this  county.  He  was  located  by  the  Bishop  of 
the  Diocese  at  Benicia,  where  he  labored  amongst  all  classes  with  much 
zeal.  He  had  often  conducted  services  in  the  parish  where  he  is  now  rector 
in  a  small  building  used  as  a  Methodist  church,  and  it  was  a  graceful  re- 
membrance of  former  efforts  which  suggested,  after  the  lapse  of  so  many 
years,  the  tendering  of  the  pulpit  to  him.     Long  may  he  live  to  fill  it. 

The  Church  of  the  Ascension  is  situated  on  Georgia  street,  between  Napa 
and  Sutter,  and  stands  on  an  elevated  knoll  which  commands  a  fine  view  of 
the  harbor  and  surrounding  country,  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty.  A  magnificent  bell  has  been  presented  to  it  by  Henry  Sanger, 
Esq.  Sunday  services  are  held  at  11  A.  M.,  and  Sunday-school  at  2.30  P.  M. 
There  has  been  no  evening  service  during  the  present  winter.  The  members 
number  eighty.  The  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  is  Wilberforce 
Dudley  ;  the  vestrymen — Professor  W.  F.  Roe,  Wilberforce  Dudley,  Thomas 
Thornton,  J.  W.  Breed,  A.  S.  Carman,  S.  R.  English,  John  Harris,  O.  W. 
Vanderlip,  C.  H.  Hubbs,  R.  B.  Loyall,  and  J.  C.  Edgecumbe ;  the  senior  and 
junior  wardens,  and  secretary  and  treasurer  being  respectively  Messrs. 
Hubbs,  Roe,  Breed,  and  Thornton. 

First  Regular  Baptist  Church. — This  church  was  organized  on  November 
21,  1869,  a  meeting  being  convened  by  public  notice  calling  on  all  those 
interested  in  establishing  a  regular  Baptist  church  in  Vallejo,  to  meet  at 
Red  Men's  Hall.  The  Reverend  W.  W.  Hickie  was  chosen  moderator,  and 
Eben  Hilton,  clerk.  Each  of  the  brethren  and  sisters  herein  named  pre- 
sented themselves,  and  were  accepted  by  each  other  in  unanimous  vote  of 
fellowship  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  gospel  church,  and  being  fellow 
members  of  the  same  :  W.  W.  Hickie,  Eben  Hilton,  Esther  Hilton,  Stephen 
Hathaway,  Eleazer  Frisbie,  H.  H.  Dwyer,  J.  C.  Voorhees,  Anna  Case,  San- 
ford  Baker,  G.  W.  Morgan  and  wife. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Frisbie,  the  Articles  of  Faith  and  Church  Covenant,  as 
given  in  the  Baptist  Manual,  published  by  the  American  Baptist  Publication 
Society,  Philadelphia,  was  read,  and  by  unanimous  vote,  as  follows  :  pastor, 
14 


210  THE  HISTOKY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Rev.  W.  W.  Hickie;  deacons,  H.  H.  Dwyer  and  Eleazer  Frisbie  ;  treasurer, 
Eben  Hilton ;  clerk,  Sanf ord  Baker,  was  adopted.  The  Rev.  W.  W.  Hickie 
continued  his  labors  with  the  church  until  June  1st,  following,  when  he 
abandoned  the  profession,  and  public  worship  was  discontinued  until  Dec- 
ember 2,  1870,  when  the  church  called  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Ruby  as  a  successor, 
and  then  commenced  to  hold  worship  in  Farragut  Hall ;  and  on  June  13, 
1871,  an  unanimous  call  was  extended  to  Mr.  Ruby  to  become  its  pastor. 
He  accepted,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  September  1st,  when  he 
resigned.  On  November  17,  1871,  the  church  called  the  Rev.  E.  B.  Hatch 
to  its  pastorate. 

On  January  7,  1872,  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  hav- 
ing granted  material  aid  towards  the  building  of  a  suitable  house  for  public 
worship,  a  committee  was  appointed  with  power  to  solicit  subscriptions  for 
building  the  same.  In  November  following  they  reported  having  received 
subscriptions  enough  to  warrant  the  commencement  of  a  proper  building, 
and  that  General  J.  B.  Frisbie  had  donated  a  lot  and  executed  a  deed  for 
the  purpose ;  but  the  piece  of  ground  not  being  in  a  desirable  locality,  it 
was  thought  best  to  purchase  a  plot  on  Capitol,  between  Marin  and  Sonoma 
streets.  A  committee  to  superintend  the  structure  was  chosen,  and  the 
work  begun.  On  March  1,  1873,  the  church  and  lot,  which  had  cost  over 
$4,000,  was  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God. 

The  Rev.  E.  B.  Hatch  continued  to  be  its  pastor  until  February  1,  1876, 
when,  tendering  his  resignation,  it  was  accepted.  On  that  date  the  Rev.  R. 
F.  Parshall  was  appointed  to  the  pastorate,  and,  entering  upon  his  duties  on 
March  26th,  he  continued  to  perform  them  until  December  13, 1876,  when  he 
resigned. 

The  church  was  without  a  pastor  and  public  worship  until  April  1,  1877, 
when  the  Rev.  T.  A.  Gill,  Chaplain  U.  S.  N.,  was  ordered  to  the  Navy  Yard. 
On  his  arrival  a  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  him,  with  the 
request  that  he  preach  on  Sunday  mornings,  with  which  petition  he  cheer- 
fully complied  and  entered  upon  the  duties  for  an  indefinite  period.  Mr. 
Gill  and  his  wife  labored  with  the  church  until  May  28,  1878,  when  he  was 
detached  from  the  Yard,  thus  leaving  the  church  once  more  without  a 
pastor.  At  this  juncture  Rev.  Frank  B.  Rose,  U.  S.  N.,  Chaplain  on  board 
U.  S.  S.  "  Pensacola,"  volunteered  his  services  and  continued  them  until 
October  13,  when  he,  too,  left  the  district.  On  October  27,  1878,  the  Rev. 
E.  H.  Gray,  D.D.,  was  called  from  Washington,  D.  C,  and  he  now  directs 
the  religious  welfare  of  the  First  Regular  Baptist  Church. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  sixty-nine,  the  officers  being  as 
follows:  Pastor,  Rev.  E.  H.  Gray,  D.D.;  Deacons,  H.  H.  Dwyer,  Eleazer 
Frisbie,  and  P.  E.  Jeffries ;  Treasurer,  H.  H.  Dwyer ;  Clerk,  W.  B.  Vankirk ; 
Trustees,  H.  H.  Dwyer,  Eleazer  Frisbie,  P.  E.  Jeffries,  A.  McKannan,  and 
W.  B.  Vankirk. 


THE     HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  211 

The  Sunday  School  connected  with  the  church  was  organized  February 
1,  1870,  Henry  Hall,  Superintendent.  In  June,  1871,  J.  C.  Voorhees  was 
elected  in  that  capacity,  and  filled  it  till  January  1,  1879,  when  Mrs.  Veeder 
was  appointed  and  now  holds  the  position. 

The  Advent  Christian  Church  of  Vallejo. — The  Advent  doctrine  was  first 
introduced  into  Vallejo  by  Elder  D.  D.  Reid,  of  Santa  Clara  county,  in  the 
fall  of  1870.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  in  the  Methodist  church.  The 
first  series  of  meetings  were  held  by  Elder  Miles  Grant,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  in 
the  Presbyterian  church,  the  pastor  most  warmly  encouraging  and  supporting 
the  good  work.  No  attempt  was  at  this  time  made  to  organize  a  church,  as 
it  was  supposed  the  converts  would  be  well  nourished  and  fed  by  the  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  who  had  been  so  blessed  in  the  revival.  But 
very  soon  after  Elder  Grant's  departure  he  began  to  oppose  the  doctrines 
which  had  done  so  much  good,  and  it  became  evident  that  the  believers 
must  organize  a  church  of  their  own.  This  was  done  on  June  13,  1871,  in 
the  building  known  as  George's  Place,  a  building  bought  in  New  York  and 
shipped  around  the  Horn  to  San  Francisco,  set  up  and  used  in  that  city 
and  then  taken  down  and  removed  to  Vallejo.  It  had  been  used  for  the 
vilest  purposes  of  those  early  times,  and  it  was  indeed  a  novelty  to  hear 
within  its  walls  the  voice  of  prayer,  of  praise,  and  of  truth.  The  building 
had  been  thoroughly  cleansed  and  refitted  for  its  new  work. 

The  charter  members  were  Job  Washburn,  Samuel  Jamison,  A.  J.  Young. 
David  West,  George  Redden,  Mrs.  George  Redden,  Mrs.  Statira  Snow,  Mrs, 
Ella  P.  Pettis,  Mrs.  Hannah  P.  Moore,  and  Mrs.  A.  J.  Young.  Many  others 
were  in  sympathy  with  the  organization,  but  did  not  unite  till  afterward. 
The  officers  consisted  simply  of  a  deacon  and  a  clerk,  Job  K.  Washburn  and 
A.  J.  Young,  respectively,  holding  the  positions.  This  church  was  organized 
under  Elder  D.  D.  Reid.  The  first  pastor  was  Elder  0.  R.  Fassett,  from  Min- 
nesota, who  had  charge  of  the  church  for  two  years,  preaching  one-half  the 
time;  while  Mrs.  Fassett  preached  the  other  half.  They  resided  in  San 
Francisco.  During  this  pastorate  the  chapel  was  built  on  Capitol  Hill,  on  a 
lot  donated  by  General  J.  B.  Frisbie.  (Lot  14,  in  block  306).  It  was  a 
plain,  unpretending  structure  32x52,  and  cost  about  one  thousand  dollars. 
The  house  was  dedicated  on  Sunday,  March  24,  1872,  Elders  Fassett  and 
Reid  officiating.  Experience  soon  proved  the  location  of  the  chapel  too 
inaccessible  to  the  people,  especially  in  the  rainy  season,  and  it  was  decided 
to  move  it.  In  April,  1874.  it  was  moved  to  Georgia  street  and  located  on 
lot  No.  6,  block  284,  owned  by  Mr.  Tripp  and  leased  to  the  church  for  this 
purpose,  where  it  still  stands.  One  hundred  and  fifty  persons  in  all,  from 
time  to  time,  have  become  members,  but  removals  into  other  places  have 
reduced  the  membership  to  fifty,  which  has  been  the  average  number  since 
the  first  year  of  its  history.     Elder  H.  F.  Carpenter  became  pastor  of  the 


212  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

church  on  July  1,  1875,  preaching  his  first  sermon  on  July  4,  and  remains 
its  pastor  at  the  present  time,  February  21,  1879.  During  every  year  of 
his  ministry  he  has  done  work  of  the  most  satisfying  character  and  made 
many  converts.  The  church  has  maintained  three  prayer  meetings  every 
week,  characterized  by  warmth  of  devotion ;  while  the  Sunday  congregations 
have  usually  been  very  good.  The  chapel  has  been  neatly  refitted  within, 
and,  while  the  exterior  is  not  particularly  inviting,  the  inferior  is  very 
pleasing  and  commodious. 

A  Sunday-School  was  organized  December  10,  1871,  which  numbers  at 
present  between  forty  and  fifty  members.  Its  interest  and  numbers  are 
now  increasing.  Its  present  Superintendent  is  George  W.  Morton.  The 
Church,  in  spite  of  the  severest  financial  depression,  has  been  always  enabled 
to  meet  its  obligations  without  resorting  to  fairs,  festivals,  lotteries,  grab- 
bags  and  other  unwarrantable  methods,  and  is  to-day  out  of  debt.  The 
present  officers  are:  Samuel  Jamison,  Job  K.  Washburn,  Elders ;  William 
H.  Pennell,  John  Thompson,  Deacons  ;  John  Pettis,  Treasurer ;  and  Andrew 
J.  Young,  Clerk. 

Secret  Societies,  Associations,  Etc. — Vallejo  is  second  to  no  other  city 
in  the  State  of  California  in  the  condition  of  its  Lodges,  save,  perhaps, 
with  the  single  exception  of  San  Francisco.  The  Masonic  Order,  as  well 
as  that  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  is  in  a  most  flourishing  condition,  while  the 
benefits  which  they  confer  is  dispensed  with  a  due  regard  to  the  lessons  in- 
culcated by  the  several  Orders. 

Naval  Chapter,  No.  35,  R.  A.  M.~ The  above  Chapter  was  organized 
under  dispensation  on  May  20, 1868,  and  granted  a  charter  on  October  20th, 
of  the  same  year,  its  chartered  members  being :  Lyman  Leslie,  J.  M.  Brown, 
B.  J.  Taylor,  P.  B.  Miller,  Dan.  Harrington,  Benjamin  Benas,  E.  G.  Moden, 
T.  J.  Crowlie  and  Philip  Hichborn,  the  officers  being  Lyman  Leslie,  High 
Priest ;  J.  M.  Brown,  King ;  B.  J.  Taylor,  Scribe.  Since  its  first  institution 
the  number  of  members  has  considerably  augmented,  there  being  now  no 
fewer  than  ninety-four  on  the  roll.  The  officers  for  the  current  year  are  : 
H.  P.,  M.  Myers;  K.,  F.  D.  Mead;  S.,  E.  J.  McDaniel;  C.  of  H.,  Jonathan 
Bond ;  P.  S.,  James  Eoney ;  R  A.  C,  E.  K.  Holmes ;  M.  of  3d  V.,  A.  B. 
Bertoschky ;  M.  of  2d  V.,  O.  H.  Butler ;  M.  of  1st  V.,  J.  H.  Jordan ;  Guard, 
John  Thompson.  The  Chapter  meets  on  the  second  Wednesday  of  each 
month. 

Naval  Lodge,  No.  87,  F.  &  A.  M. — This  is  the  oldest  Lodge  in  Vallejo, 
and  was  organized  under  dispensation  on  July  17,  1855.  The  first  meeting 
was  held  on  August  4,  1855,  when  the  following  officers  were  appointed: 
William  Wilmot,  W.  M. ;  Henry  Hook,  S.  W. ;  Joseph  R.  Bird,  J.  W. ; 
Robert  Brownlee,  Treas. ;  William  Aspenall,  Secy. ;  L.  W.  Bean,  S.  D. ;  Denis 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  213 

Meagher,  J.  D.;  John  Lee,  Tyler.  On  May  7,  1856,  the  Charter  was 
granted,  the  members  being  Abraham  Powell,  W.  M. ;  William  Aspenall, 
S.  W. ;  and  Isaac  Hobbs,  J.  W.  The  first  meeting  held  under  the  new 
charter  was  convened  on  May  28,  1856,  with  Deputy  Grand  Master  William 
S.  Wells,  presiding,  when  the  following  were  elected  to  the  various  offices : 
Joseph  R.  Bird,  W.  M.;  Benjamin  R.  Mitchell,  S..W. ;  William  Aspenall, 
J.  W. ;  Robert  Brownlee,  Treasurer ;  Alexander  Guffy,  Secretary ;  L.  W. 
Bean,  S.  D. ;  Denis,  Meagher,  J.  D. ;  and  John  Lee,  Tyler.  The  present  of- 
ficers are :  W.  M.  Christian  Theodore  B.  Hallen ;  S.  W.,  George  William 
Simonton  ;  J.  W.,  Martin  J.  Wright ;  Treasurer,  John  E.  Abbott ;  Secretary, 
George  F.  Mallett ;  S.  D.,  William  Brownlie  ;  J.  D.,  James  H.  Jordan ; 
Stewards,  Daniel  W.  Harrier  and  Rimmer  Johann  Rimmers  Aden ;  Marshal, 
Andrew  Jackson  McPike ;  Organist,  Nathaniel  G.  Hilton;  Tyler,  Henry 
Dexter;  Trustees,  John  Brownlie,  Martin  J.  Wright,  George  F.  Mallett. 
The  number  of  members  at  present  on  the  roll  is  one  hundred  and  two. 
The  Naval  Lodge  meets  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  each  month,  at  the . 
Masonic  Hall,  N.  W.  corner  of  Virginia  and  Marin  streets. 

Solano  Lodge,  No.  229,  F.&  A.  M. — Was  organized  under  dispensation  on 
May  14,  1873,  and  received  the  charter  on  the  18th  October,  1873,  the 
chartered  members  being:  John  Quincy  Adams, P.M.;  Ellis  Edward  Hartwell ; 
Frank  E.  Brown;  Orren  H.  Butler;  William  Carter;  Frank  W.  Cushing; 
John  F.  Denning;  George  C.  Demmon;  John  K.  Duncan;  Joseph  C.  Edge- 
cumbe;  John  Farnham;  John  Frey;  William  E.  Frisby;  Alden  L.  Hathe- 
way;  F.  D.  Higson;  Adam  A.  McAllister;  Edwin  A.  McDonald;  Charles  A. 
Moore;  Mattison  Myers,  P.  M.;  William  H.  Pettis;  George  P.  Plaisted;  Am- 
brose J.  Plummer;  William  F.  Roe;  John  B.  Robinson;  David  W.  Rogers; 
George  E.  Sides;  Edward  T.  Starr;  George  Thompson;  Joseph  F.  Wendell; 
John  T.  Wells  and  John  W.  Winton.  The  officers  under  dispensation  were: 
F.  W.  Cushing,  W.  M.;  J.  T.  Wells,  S.  W.;  W.  H.  Pettis,  J.  W.;  E.  T.  Starr, 
Treasurer;  A.  L.  Hatheway,  Secretary;  Rev.  A.  A.  McAllister,  Chaplain; 
John  Farnham,  S.  D.;  George  C.  Demmon,  J.  D.;  J.  C.  Edgecumbe,  Marshal; 
Frank  E.  Brown,  organist;  O.  H.  Butler,  W.  E.  Frisby,  Stewards;  Henry 
Stahl,  Tyler,  who  continued  to  hold  office  until  the  next  election.  The 
Solano  Lodge  is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  There  are  seventy-four  members 
on  the  roll,  who  meet  on  the  first  Monday  of  each  month.  The  present 
officers  are:  R.  W.  M.,  O.  H.  Butler;  S.  W.,  James  Roney;  J.  W.,  A.  B.  Ber- 
toschky;  Treasurer,  A.  J.  Plummer;  Secretary,  G.  C.  Demmon;  S.  D.,  D.  M. 
McCool;  J.  D.,  J.  W.  Van  Meeder;  Marshal,  John  Harris;  Stewards,  J.  W. 
Winton,  D.  M.  Hilliard;  and  Tyler,  John  Thompson. 

Independent  Order  of  Odd  Felloivs,  Golden  State  Lodge  No.  216. — Was 
organized  in  1872,  the  chartered  members  being:  John  Hamill;  V.W.  Beck- 
ford;  I.  M.  Ruton;  I.  S.  Halsey;  F.  J.  Trapp;  S.  E.  Wilson;  S.  N.  Jamison; 


214  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

A.  Clark;  C.  H.  Hubbs;  Jos.  Burton;  C.  H.  Hodgkins;  H.  Bruce;  M.  M. 
Moore;  J.  P.  Fraser;  J.  Hobbs;  George  Woods;  M.  Handford,  and  S.  E. 
Wright.  The  first  officers  who  served  were:  F.  J.  Trapp,  N.  G.;  I.  S.  Halsey. 
Y.  G.;  S.  E.  Wilson,  R  S.;  C.  H.  Hubbs,  P.  S.,  and  I.  M.  Ruton,  Treasurer. 
This  lodge  is  in  a  most  flourishing  condition,  there  being  130  members  on 
its  roll,  the  officers  for  the  present  year  being:  William  Fraser,  N.  G.;  John 
McDonald,  V.  G.;  George  W.  Martin,  R  S.;  William  Pressy,  P.  S.,  and  E.  M. 
McDonald,  Treasurer.  Day  of  meeting,  Wednesday  of  each  week.  Trus- 
tees, I.  S.  Halsey,  C.  H.  Hubbs,  and  B.  Benas. 

Knights  of  Pythias,  Washington  Lodge,  No.  7. — Of  all  the  charitable 
organizations  in  the  country,  perhaps  no  other  has  labored  under  greater 
disadvantages,  and  with  more  beneficial  results,  than  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
The  first  lodge  was  organized  in  Washington,  D.  C,  February  19,  1864,  in 
the  midst  of  civil  strife,  when  society  was  in  a  disrupted  state,  and  all  secret 
organizations  considered  political.  Its  importance  and  numbers  have,  how- 
ever, steadily  advanced,  and  now  its  condition  is  most  flourishing. 

Washington  Lodge,  of  Vallejo,  No.  7,  was  organized  on  September  17, 
1869,  and  is  the  only  one  in  the  State  which  can  claim  the  honor  of  being 
organized  by  the  Supreme  Chancellor  of  the  world. 

The  number  of  chartered  members  was  eighty-eight,  while  the  first  offi- 
cers who  served  were  as  under: 

C.  C,  A.  J.  Perkins;  V.  C,  C.  M.  Price;  R  S.,  A.  C.  Doan;  F.  S.,  R  S. 
Williams;  B.,  G.  A.  Poor;  G.,  E.  A.  Hersey;  I.  S.,  John  Kennedy;  0.  S., 
J.  W.  Williams. 

The  number  of  members  on  the  roll  for  the  present  year  is  forty-two, 
while  the  officers  elected  on  January  1, 1879,  were:  P.  C,  J.  Pincomb;  C.  C, 
H.  M.  Moore;  V.  C,  C.  H.  Bennett;  K.  of  R  and  S,  J.  W.  Jeffries;  M.  of 
E.,  H.  Englebright;  M.  of  F.,  George  A.  Buxton;  Prelate,  J.  W.  Williams; 
M.  at  A,  T.  K.  Watson;  I.  G.,  W.  H.  Kenyon;  O.  G.,  H.  J.  Pelham.  The 
Knights  of  Pythias  meet  at  Bed  Mens'  Hall,  every  Thursday  evening. 

Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  Samoset  Tribe,  No.  22. — Was  instituted  June 
4,  1869,  with  the  undermentioned  chartered  members  :  W.  C.  Lemon  ;  0.  L. 
Henderson ;  H.  J.  Ford ;  C.  M.  Price ;  Benjamin  D.  Egery  ;  Philip  Mager ; 
W.  Williston ;  J.  Brownlie ;  A.  P.  Alexander ;  I.  G.  Martin ;  L.  M.  Knibbs ; 
T.  W.  Woodward  ;  James  Currier ;  J.  G.  Smith ;  Henry  Dexter ;  W.  H. 
Green ;  M.  G.  Winchell ;  W*.  E.  Bristow  ;  Joseph  Anderson ;  James  Borton ; 
John  Lawrence ;  Wm.  M.  Starr ;  Frank  A.  Leach ;  J.  H.  Powell ;  A.  S. 
Carman ;  L.  C.  Kincade  ;  John  Thompson ;  Van  B.  Smith  ;  John  W.  Wil- 
liams ;  Frank  R  Currier ;  James  Frost ;  Martin  J.  Wright ;  John  S. 
Souther ;  Ed.  D.  G.  Fields ;  Aug.  M.  Street ;  0.  H.  Bryant ;  Edward  W. 
O'Brien;  M.  D.  Tobin ;  F.  R  Arnold;  L.  S.  Patriguin;  Charles  E.  Young; 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  215 

O.  K.  Doan ;  George  Bassford ;  George  L.  Quant ;  M.  C.  Whitney ;  John  C. 
Hale  ;  Thomas  Evans  ;  James  Blessington ;  A.  J.  Chapman ;  R.  Caverly ; 
J.  N.  Sanct ;  James  Jordan ;  Con.  Lunney ;  J.  G.  Cornwall ;  A.  J.  Perkins  ; 
0.  B.  Edwards  ;  W.  M.  Sullivan ;  Charles  J.  Eger ;  Wm.  Moore ;  F.  C. 
Bageley  ;  D.  M.  McCool ;  John  Reidfee ;  Wm.  M.  Stannus ;  Thomas  Mc- 
Farland  ;  Benjamin  F.  Pressey ;  J.  N.  Stevenson ;  A.  J.  McPike ;  J.  R. 
Hogan  ;  A.  C.  Doan ;  John  McCarthy ;  Walter  F.  Patterson ;  H.  S.  Chap- 
pelle  ;  John  Lambert ;  George  A.  Poor  ;  John  Hesketh ;  George  P.  Plais- 
ted ;  N.  D.  Toby ;  James  G.  Massey  ;  F.  D.  Higson ;  N.  Carmichael ;  I.  M. 
Ruton  ;  W.  G.  Walsh ;  Milton  Warner ;  John  McPhee  ;  James  Carter ; 
Alexander  Anderson.  The  officers  of  the  Tribes  first  appointed  were  W.  C. 
Lemon,  Sachem ;  O.  L.  Henderson,  Senior  Sagamore ;  H.  J.  Ford,  Junior 
Sagamore ;  C.  M.  Price,  Chief  of  Records ;  B.  D.  Egery,  Keeper  of  Wam- 
pum ;  P.  Mager,  First  Warrior ;  W.  Williston,  Second ;  J.  Brownlie,  Third ; 
A.  P.  Alexander,  Fourth ;  J.  G.  Martin,  First ;  L.  W.  Knibbs,  Second ;  O.  C. 
Chamberlain,  Third  ;  T.  W.  Woodward,  Fourth  Braves ;  James  Currier, 
First ;  J.  G.  Smith,  Second  Powwow ;  Henry  Dexter,  Guard  of  Forest ;  W. 
H.  Green,  Guard  of  the  Wigwam  ;  M.  G.  Winchell,  First ;  W.  E.  Bristow, 
Second  Sannap ;  and  Joseph  Anderson,  Prophet.  The  membership  at  one 
time  reached  98,  but  there  are  now  only  30  on  the  roll.  The  Order  is  in 
good  standing ;  it  owns  their  hall  furniture,  a  burial  plot  in  the  Union 
Cemetery,  all  of  which  property  is  unincumbered,  while  the  Tribe  is  free 
from  any  financial  embarrassment.  The  officers  for  the  year  are  :  Sachem, 
Thomas  Raines ;  Senior  Sagamore,  Charles  H.  Bennett ;  Junior  Sagamore, 
P.  McArdle ;  Chief  of  Records,  John  E.  Hubbard ;  Keeper  of  Wampum,  M. 
G.  Winchell ;  Financial  Chief,  James  G.  Smith ;  Prophet,  J.  O.  Allison ; 
First  Sannap,  John  W.  Williams ;  Second  Sannap,  B.  D.  Egery  ;  First  War- 
rior, James  Jury ;  Second  Warrior,  James  Blessington ;  Third  Warrior,  Ed. 
W.  O'Brien ;  Fourth  Warrior,  O.  C.  Chamberlain ;  First  Brave,  James 
Frost ;  Second  Brave,  R.  W.  Burton  ;  Third  Brave,  Alex.  S.  Smith  ;  Fourth 
Brave,  John  Lorson ;  First  Powwow,  H.  D.  Richardson  ;  Second  Powwow, 
Frank  R.  Currier ;  Guard  of  the  Forest,  Van  B.  Smith ;  and  Guard  of  the 
Wigwam,  Barnard  Tissell. 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Farragut  Post,  No.  12,  G.  A.  R. — The 
objects  and  aims  of  the  Association  are  attending  to  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  who  served  honorably  during  the  great  rebellion ;  the  burial  of 
their  departed  comrades,  and  to  cherish  and  encourage  friendly  feelings  for 
one  another,  which  should  animate  the  bosoms  of  all  true  patriots.  This 
post  was  organized  on  February  19,  1868,  and  re-organized  in  accordance 
with  general  orders  from  Head  Quarters  in  August,  1869.  The  chartered 
members  were  Edward  G.  Haynes,  William  G.  Oberend,  N.  C.  McMegone- 
gal,  R.  L.  Duncan,  E.  C.  Taylor,  E.  H.  Forrester,  E.  S.  Jenkins,  John  Ashton, 


216  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Joseph  Anderson  and  John  L.  Gamble,  of  whom  Messrs.  Duncan  and  Taylor 
are  now  deceased.  The  first  officers  elected  to  serve  were  J.  L.  Gamble, 
Post  Commander ;  W.  G.  Oberend,  Senior  Vice-Commander ;  Ed.  C.  Taylor, 
Junior  Vice-Commander  ;  Ed.  G.  Haynes,  Post  Adjutant ;  E.  H.  Forrester, 
Quartermaster.  The  number  of  members  at  present  on  the  roll  is  thirty- 
one  while  the  officers  for  the  present  term  are :  Post  Commander,  George 
L.  Voorhees;  Senior  Vice-Commander,  James  Blessington;  Junior  Vice- 
Commander,  Thomas  Riley ;  Quartermaster,  George  A.  Buxton ;  Chaplain, 
John  Smith  ;  Officer  of  the  day,  Robert  K.  Hall  and  Officer  of  the  Guard, 
James  L.  Cilley.  It  is  gratifying  to  remark  that  the  funds  of  the  Post  are 
in  a  satisfactory  condition,  no  less  a  sum  than  four  thousand  six  hundred 
dollars  having  been  paid  out  of  its  coffers  between  the  date  of  its  organiza- 
tion and  January  1,  1879. 

Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  Vallejo  Lodge  No.  75. — This  society, 
a  new  one  in  the  State  of  California,  was  organized  and  chartered  on  the 
6th  day  of  January,  1879.  It  has  already  a  roll  of  eighty-three  members, 
while  its  officers  are  :  P.  M.  W.,  Sanruel  Kitto  ;  M.  W.,  George  F.  Mallett ; 
G.  F.  M.,  G.  Winchell ;  0.,  William  McWilliams  ;  recorder,  James  G.  Smith ; 
financier,  Robert  B.  Barr ;  receiver,  S,  S.  Drake  ;  guide,  G.  W.  Martin ;  J. 
W.,  Charles  H.  Bennett ,  O.  W.,  George  W.  Edgecumbe.  Days  of  meeting, 
Monday  in  every  week. 

The  "  Vallejo  Society  of  California  Pioneers." — Was  first  established  on 
the  27th  of  May,  1869,  having  for  its  object  the  cultivation  of  social  inter- 
course and  union  among  its  members,  and  the  creation  of  a  fund  for  charit- 
able purposes  in  their  behalf  ;  to  collect  and  procure  information  connected 
with  the  early  settlement  and  subsequent  history  of  the  county,  and  to  form 
such  libraries  and  cabinets,  and  pursue  such  literary  and  scientific  objects  as 
from  time  to  time  be  determined,  and  in  all  appropriate  matters  to  advance 
the  interests  and  perpetuate  the  memory  of  those  whose  sagacity,  energy 
and  enterprise  induced  them  to  settle  in  the  wilderness  and  become  founders 
of  a  new  State.  The  chartered  members  of  the  association  were  Thomas 
Aylward,  Milo  J.  Ayers,  Gustave  Bergwell,  Henry  Buckland,  Henry  Clay- 
ton, Fred  Coyan,  Henry  Englebright,  George  Edgar,  George  B.  Edgecumbe, 
W.  P.  Edwards,  John  B.  Frisbie,  Thomas  Gunderson,  Alexander  Guffy. 
Jacob  F.  Griffin,  George  Gordon,  Joseph  G.  Garrison,  R.  D.  Hopkins,  J. 
Hamill,  G.  N.  Hutchinson,  I.  S.  Halsey,  Isaac  Hobbs,  Henry  Hendrickson, 
Paul  K.  Hubbs,  John  G.  Hudson,  Ernest  Hauff,  Charles  C.  Hall,  W.  D. 
Jones,  Thomas  Keating,  John  L.  King,  James  R.  Lee,  Peter  Laughran,  John 

A.  Lay,  O.  A.  Munn,  Lyman  Mitchell,  Charles  Murphy,  James  Mann,  Wil- 
liam McKenna,  F.  Marion,  John  C.  McLeod,  W.  Narvaez,  Charles  O'Donnell, 

B.  T.  Osborn,  A.  Powell,  George  A.  Poor,   R.  Palmer,  John  Rose,  William 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  217 

Rawson,  John  Roache,  E.  C.  Reynolds,  D.  C.  Ross,  W.  S.  Ricker,  J.  Regan, 
O.  H.  Spencer,  Henry  Stege,  Charles  C.  Southard,  John  Spruce,  A.  J.  Shute, 
E.  T.  Seavy,  W.  H.  Vandine,  John  Woodall,  Thomas  K.  Watson,  Edward 
Welsh,  William  Williams,  John  Ward.  At  this  time  General  M.  G.  Vallejo 
was  elected  an  honorary  member,  while  there  were  also  admitted  John  Mor- 
gan, J.  D.  Cornwall,  W.  Sullivan,  C.  C.  Hall,  John  Walker,  C.  M.  Poor,  W. 
C.  Brooks,  J.  M.  Findlay,  J.  V.  Saunders,  A.  Strohsohl,  E.  B.  Campbell,  W. 
H.  Cheever,  J.  C.  French,  J.  H.  K.  Barbour,  M.  Morrison,  A.  Peterson,  J.  A. 
Carnahan,  E.  Whiting.  The  first  officers  elected  were :  president,  John  B. 
Frisbie ;  vice-presidents,  Paul  K.  Hubbs,  Gustave  Bergwell,  Abraham 
Powell ;  corresponding  secretary,  Robert  D.  Hopkins  ;  treasurer,  Isaac  S. 
Halsey ;  directors,  Isaac  Hobbs,  0.  H.  Spencer,  Thomas  Aylward  ;  and  mar- 
shal, Thomas  K.  Watson. 

Many  of  these  early  pioneers  have  long  ago  been  gathered  to  their  fathers, 
while  there  are  still  a  few  of  the  old-timers  left  whose  grey  hairs  tell  of 
Time's  onward  flight.  They,  too,  will  ere  long  be  called  upon  to  make  the 
mysterious  journey ;  happily,  therefore,  that  their  sons  still  live  to  perpetuate 
the  noble  example  set  by  their  fathers  in  the  establishment  of  so  well  fav- 
ored a  society  as  is  that  of  the  California  Pioneers.  The  number  of  members 
at  present  on  the  roll  of  the  association  is  thirty-five,  with  Charles  H. 
Hubbs,  president ;  George  Nye,  Frank  Shirland,  and  W.  S.  Brooks,  vice- 
presidents  ;  William  P.  Edwards,  secretary ;  Isaac  S.  Halsey,  treasurer ; 
Thomas  K.  Watson,  marshal,  and  Thomas  Aylward,  John  C.  McLeod, 
and  J.  A.  Saunders,  directors.  The  honorary  members  are  General  M.  G. 
Vallejo,  Captain  Paul  Shirley,  and  Rear- Admiral  Enoch  G.  Parrott,  of  the 
United  States  Navy,  and  General  John  B.  Frisbie. 

Vallejo  Masonic  Hall  Association. — At  a  regular  meeting  of  Naval 
Lodge,  No.  87,  F.  &  A.  M.,  held  at  their  hall  in  Vallejo  on  April  19,  A.  d. 
18G6,  the  following  named  persons  were  elected  trustees  to  organize,  incor- 
porate and  manage  the  affairs  of  a  joint-stock  company,  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  a  Masonic  hall  building  in  Vallejo,  and  that  the  names  of  the  Trus- 
tees be  P.  D.  Grimes,  J.  M.  Rutan,  Joseph  L.  Likins,  Philip  Hichborn,  and 
Eben  Hilton. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  association  was  $8,000,  divided  into  320  shares  of 
the  par  value  of  $25.  The  number  of  trustees,  as  provided  in  the  Articles 
of  Incorporation,  to  direct  the  affairs  of  the  association  for  three  months, 
was  five  ;  and  the  names  of  those  gentlemen  were  these  above-named. 

The  annual  meeting  of  stockholders  was  held  on  the  second  Wednesday 
evening  in  January,  for  their  election. 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  stockholders  the  representation  of  at  least 
a  majority  of  the  stock  issued  was  necessary  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

No  shareholder  could  serve  as  a  trustee  unless  he  was  a  Master  Mason  in 


218  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

good  standing,  and  was  a  member  of  some  lodge  within  thirty  miles  of 
Vallejo,  and  the  holder  of  at  least  two  shares  of  stock. 

Dividends  of  the  profits  of  the  association  were  declared  annually,  at  a 
regular  meeting  of  the  trustees.  The  By-Laws  also  provided  that  a  divi- 
dend of  the  profits  should  not  be  declared  to  exceed  12  per  cent,  per  annum 
on  the  capital  stock  issued.  It  was  provided  that  all  revenues  exceeding  12 
per  cent,  per  annum  be  reserved  as  a  sinking  fund  for  the  redemption  of 
the  capital  stock,  and  that  Naval  Lodge  No.  87  shall  have  all  the  benefit  of 
this  sinking  fund  for  the  purpose  of  redeeming  the  stock  of  the  association. 

Naval  Lodge,  No.  87,  by  the  By-Laws,  was  to  have  the  full  control  of 
the  hall,  ante-rooms,  entrance-hall  to  the  same,  and  all  the  upper  part  of 
the  building,  for  the  term  of  its  existence,  to  occupy,  lease,  and  rent  the 
same,  by  paying  to  the  association  a  monthly  rent  of  twenty  dollars,  and  a 
free  lease  of  so  much  of  lots  seven  and  eight,  at  the  corner  of  Virginia  and 
Marin  streets,  as  miedit  be  needed  for  the  buildinsc  and  its  uses.  Three  hun- 
dred  and  eighteen  shares  of  the  stock  were  issued  and  fully  paid  up,  and 
the  building  was  erected  in  the  fall  of  1866  by  A.  Powell,  contractor,  and 
A.  H.  Gunning,  architect  and  superintendent.  P.  D.  Grimes  and  Eben  Hilton, 
at  the  election,  were  chosen  president  and  treasurer,  respectively ;  and  A. 
P.  Voorhees,  secretary  of  the  first  Board. 

At  the  annual  meeting  held  January  23,  1867,  P.  D.  Grimes,  J.  M.  Rutan 
P.  Hichborn,  Eben.  Hilton  and  A.  Powell,  vice  J.  L.  Likins,  were  chosen 
Trustees.  The  new  Board  organized  by  electing  the  officers  of  the  previous 
year,  who  were  nominated  to  fill  the  same  position  year  by  year  until  1871. 
In  November,  1870,  Mr.  P.  Hichborn,  who  was  about  to  leave  for  the  East- 
ern States,  resigned,  and  at  the  regular  annual  meeting  in  the  January  fol- 
lowing, Messrs.  P.  D.  Grimes,  A.  Powell,  A.  P.  Voorhees,  N.  G.  Hilton  and 
John  M.  Browne  were  elected  Trustees,  Messrs.  Grimes,  Voorhees  and  N. 
G.  Hilton  being  President,  Treasurer  and  Secretary.  On  January  17,  1872, 
the  same  Trustees  were  elected,  save  Dr.  J.  M.  Browne,  whose  place  was 
filled  by  Alexander  Hichborn,  the  same  officers  serving  as  on  the  previous, 
year.  January  8,  1873,  the  same  Board  directed  the  affairs  of  the  Associa- 
tion, excepting  A.  Hichborn,  who  was  succeeded  by  J.  M.  Rutan,  the  same 
officers  officiating.  At  the  elections  held  on  January  14,  1874,  and  25, 
1875,  there  was  no  change  in  the  direction.  On  January  12,  1876,  Mr. 
Powell  gave  place  to  Mr.  Charles  Daly,  while  on  that  of  January  19,  1877, 
Dr.  I.  S.  Halsey  was  elected  in  the  place  of  Mr.  Daly,  no  other  change 
being  made.  An  adjourned  meeting  was  convened  on  February  11,  1878, 
when  the  following  were  elected  Trustees:  I.  S.  Halsey,  George  F.  Mallett, 
J.  M.  Rutan,  John  Brownlie  and  George  W.  Simonton,  Messrs.  Rutan, 
Brownlie  and  Simonton  being  subsequently  called  upon  to  fill  the  res- 
pective positions  of  President,  Treasurer  and  Secretary,  while  on  January 
14,  1879,  no  change  was  made  save  by  filling  Dr.  Halsey's  place  on  the 
Board  by  the  return  of  C.  T.  B.  Hallin. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  219 

The  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  Cemetery  Association  of  the  City  of  Val- 
lejo. — The  preliminaries  to  the  incorporation  of  the  above  Association  were 
instituted  in  January,  1875,  when  Naval  Lodge,  No.  87,  F.  and  A.  M. ; 
Solano  Lodge,  No.  229,  F.  and  A.  M. ;  San  Pablo  Lodge,  No.  43,  I.  0.  O.  F., 
and  Golden  State  Lodge,  No.  216,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  appointed  a  Committee 
consisting  of  the  following  gentlemen,  viz. :  George  F.  Mallett,  to  represent 
Naval  Lodge;  Frank  E.  Brown,  to  represent  Solano  Lodge;  Anson  Clark, 
to  represent  Golden  State  Lodge,  and  Sylvester  Warforcl,  to  represent  San 
Pablo  Lodge  ;  authorizing  them  to  select  and  enter  into  a  contract  for  the 
purchase  of  a  tract  of  land  suitable  for  a  cemetery  for  the  exclusive  use 
of  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows,  to  inter  the  remains  of  their  brethren  and 
their  wives  and  children. 

In  pursuance  with  that  authority,  the  Committee  seclected  a  tract  of 
land  owned  by  Ira  Austin,  containing  about  fifteen  acres,  and  made  their 
report  to  the  various  Lodges,  who  reappointed  the  same  gentlemen  to  serve 
as  a  Committee,  with  power  to  add  a  fifth  member  whereby  a  Board  of 
Trustees  should  be  constituted,  with  power  to  enter  into  and  incorporate 
the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  Cemetery  Association  of  the  City  of  Vallejo. 

In  accordance  with  instructions,  the  Committee  met  at  the  office  of  S.  G. 
Hilborn,  Esq.,  on  February  20,  1875,  and  appointed  Peter  D.  Grimes  as 
Trustee,  after  which  a  Board  was  organized  with  the  following  officers  : 
P.  D.  Grimes,  President ;  Anson  Clark,  Treasurer ;  and  George  F.  Mallett, 
Secretary.  On  February  23,  1875,  the  Articles  of  Incorporation  were  re- 
ceived from  the  Secretary  of  State,  the  text  of  which  is  given  below, 
stating  the  object  for  which  the  Association  is  formed,  and  authorizing 
Messrs.  Grimes,  Clark,  Warford,  Brown  and  Mallett  to  serve  as  Trustees 
until  their  successors  be  elected  and  qualified. 

Articles  of  Incorporation  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  Ceme- 
tery Association  of  the  City  of  Vallejo. 

1.  The  name  of  the  corporation  is  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  Ceme- 
tery Association  of  the  City  of  Vallejo. 

2.  The  purpose  for  which  it  is  formed  is  to  purchase  and  hold  a  tract  of 
land  near  the  City  of  Vallejo,  in  Solano  county,  State  of  California,  and  to 
establish  and  maintain  a  cemetery  thereon. 

3.  That  its  principal  place  of  business  is  the  City  of  Vallejo,  Solano 
county,  California. 

4.  That  the  term  for  which  it  is  to  exist  is  fifty  years. 

5.  That  the  number  of  its  Directors  or  Trustees  be  five. 

The  annual  meeting  for  the  election  of  Trustees  and  the  transaction  of 
general  business  is  held  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  the  month  of  March,  and  it 
is  ordained  that  no  person  may  be  a  Trustee  unless  he  be  a  Mason  or  Odd 


220  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Fellow  in  good  standing,  or  the  owner  of  a  lot.  Each  Lodge  is  entitled  to 
a  vote  for  the  election  of  a  Trustee,  a  like  privilege  being  also  held  by  the 
lot  owners. 

St.  Vincent's  Benevolent  Society. — This  Society  is  formed  for  the  purpose 
of  promoting  each  other's  temporal .  and  spiritual  welfare ;  for  affording 
spiritual  consolation  and  substantial  aid  to  its  members  in  time  of  sickness, 
and  securing  to  them,  after  death,  decent  and  Christian  interment,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  faith  of  the  Holy  Catholic  Church ;  for  the  performance  of 
works  of  mercy  and  charity  towards  distressed  persons  of  the  parish,  and 
encouraging  each  other,  by  good  example,  in  the  duties  of  Christian  life,  and, 
above  all,  the  exercising  of  a  spirit  of  fraternal  charity.  The  establishment 
of  this  most  meritorious  association  was  effected  on  February  3,  1867, 
having,  for  its  first  officers :  John  Louis  Daniel,  O.  P.,  Chaplain ;  Michael 
S.  Derwin,  President ;  Daniel  J.  Brennan,  Vice-President ;  John  L.  Daniel, 
O.  P.,  Bursar ;  Michael  J.  Cunningham,  Secretary ;  the  members  of  the 
Council,  being :  James  Doyle,  Edward  McGettigan,  Lawrence  Walsh,  Hugh 
Cunningham,  John  Perryman,  Daniel  Wynn,  James  McGarvey,  John  Cron- 
nin  and  John  Kennedy.  The  organizers  of  the  St.  Vincent's  Benevolent 
Society,  were :  Lawrence  Walsh,  Ed.  McGettigan,  Hugh  Cunningham,  D.  J. 
Brennan,  Thomas  Lynch,  Patrick  Crawley,  Thos.  Woods,  Daniel  Hayes,  Jas. 
McGarvey,  Edward  O'Malley,  Peter  Lyden,  John  Leary,  Benjamin  Martin, 
Thos.  Ryan,  Peter  Bourke,  Robert  Casey,  Charles  White,  John  Walsh,  Henry 
Buckland,  Anthony  Murray,  W.  J.  Cunningham,  James  Doyle,  Thos.  Gan- 
non, Thos.  Grannen,  John  Casey,  Owen  Behan,  H.  B.  Hendrickson,  John 
Crannin,  John  McManus,  Thos.  Hollern,  Daniel  Wynn,  Thos.  Kenney,  Pat- 
rick O'Malley,  John  Mullin,  John  McGuire,  Richard  Walsh,  John  Kennedy, 
John  Perryman,  Nicholas  Clavo,  Richard  Palmer,  Edward  Lynch,  Bartholo- 
mew Turner,  Patrick  Kelly,  Patrick  Lynch,  John  Hurley,  Joseph  Sullivan, 
Patrick  Murphy,  Lawrence  Barry,  Patrick  Crotty,  Henry  Knowles,  John 
Brennan,  Thos.  Carroll,  Patrick  Delehunty,  Chas.  Cunningham,  Angus 
Mclnnes,  Denis  Driscol,  Wm.  Browier,  Wm.  Flynn,  Michael  Sullivan,  James 
Toland,  Patrick  Tracy,  John  Wise,  James  Lane,  C.  Quinlan  Henry  McCul- 
lough,  T.  J.  Baldwin,  Daniel  Donovan,  Lawrence  Dempsey.  Honorary 
Members  —  Michael  Derwin,  Edward  C.  Doran,  Lieut.  F.  Harrington,  John 
Drennan,  John  O'Grady,  Patrick  Londregan,  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  Walsh. 

It  is  gratifying  to  announce  that  this  Society  is  in  a  most  prosperous  con- 
dition, financially,  and  otherwise.  The  office  bearers  for  the  present  term, 
are :  P.  C.  Lynch,  President ;  M.  L.  Kelly,  Vice-President ;  John  Cunning- 
ham, Secretary ;  Council  Members  —  Robert  Couerdale,  Patrick  Tracy, 
Charles  Barr,  James  Costello,  Hugh  Cunningham,  Thomas  Smith,  James 
McGarvey,  Nicholas  Clavo,  James  Mitchell,  Timothy  Conners,  Thomas  Reed. 
The  number  of  active  members  are  127 ;  Life  Members,  1,  with  3  Honorary 
Members. 


THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  221 

Vallejo  Post  Office. — This  office  comes  under  the  second-class  post  offices 
of  the  United  States,  and  carries  with  it  a  salary  of  $2,100  per  annum.  It 
is  also  a  money  order  office,  transacting  business  in  domestic,  British,  and 
Italian  orders.  It  receives  and  despatches  seven  mails  per  day  :  Mails  from 
San  Francisco  and  Sacramento  twice  a  day,  and  Eastern  mails  every  even- 
ing. Issues  about  2,500  money  orders,  amounting  to  about  $00,000  a  year, 
and  pays  about  $6,000  in  the  same  time.  The  first  money  order  issued  was 
dated  May  20,  1867 ;  while  the  date  of  the  first  one  paid  was  the  27th  of 
the  same  month.  This  post  office  registers  on  an  average  1,100  letters  in  a 
twelve-month ;  receives  about  800  letters  daily  and  forwards  nearly  the 
same  number ;  has  400  lock-boxes ;  while  the  total  receipts  for  stamps,  etc^ 
is  in  the  vicinity  of  $5,000  yearly.  The  present  officers*  in  charge  of  this 
establishment  are  M.  J.  Wright,  Postmaster,  and  W.  F.  Wright,  Deputy, 
gentlemen  of  much  merit  and  extreme  courtesy.  Appended  is  a  list  of 
appointments,  obtained  from  the  Post  Office  Department  at  Washington, 
since  the  establishment  of  the  office  at  Vallejo:  Eleazer  Frisbie,  January 
19,  1855 ;  Wm.  W.  Chapman,  March  3,  1857  ;  Joseph  S.  Mclntyre,  May 
28,  1860 ;  Edson  J.  Wilson,  June  28,  18G1 ;  Edwin  H.  Sawyer,  January 
27,  1864  ;  George  P.  Wescott,  June  17,  1864 ;  Edson  J.  Wilson,  Decem- 
ber 27,  1865 ;  James  E.  Ryan,  June  5,  1868 ;  Miss  Mary  J.  Falls,  April 
16,  1869 ;  Edson  J.  Wilson,  October  23,  1869 ;  Martin  J.  Wright,  December 
10,  1873,  reappointed  January  25,  1878. 

Homestead  Associations. — Of  all  the  important  features  necessary  to 
be  observed  in  the  progress  of  a  rapidly-rising  city,  the  organization  of  home- 
stead associations  is  one  which  bears  a  satisfactory  impress,  for  these,  by 
consolidated  capital  and  united  effort,  place  it  within  the  reach  of  every 
industrious  person  to  obtain  a  tract  of  land  that  he  can  call  his  own,  where- 
on he  may  erect  that  typical  castle  which  is  usually  held  to  be  sacred 
against  the  aggressions  of  the  outside  world.  By  a  payment  of  a  small  sum 
into  the  capital  stock,  and  the  disbursement  of  a  trifling  amount  in  stated 
assessments,  one  and  all  may,  through  this  channel,  which  is  within  the 
grasp  of  each  and  every  one,  become,  in  a  short  time,  the  possessor  of  a  site 
for  a  homestead  free  from  encumbrances  of  any  kind.  To  the  proprietors  or 
shareholders,  associations  of  this  nature  have  always  been  of  benefit ;  while 
the  advance  of  real  estate,  secured  in  this  manner,  has  been  marked  and 
rapid,  the  investments  in  nearly  all  instances  having  proved  safe  and 
profitable. 

The  Vallejo  Homestead  Association  was  incorporated  on  April  25,  1867, 
under  the  direct  auspices  of  the  following  gentlemen :  Elisha  Whiting, 
George  W.  Simonton,  J.  F.  Smith,  William  C.  Root,  H.  B.  Bell,  M.  L.  Torn- 
bohm,  and  Sanford  C.  "Baker  ;  Mr.  Whiting  being  elected  President,  and  Mr. 
Simonton  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


222  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  Association  was  $27,000,  and  was  to  continue  in 
existence  for  the  term  of  three  years,  from  and  after  the  date  and  the  filing 
of  the  certificate,  as  above  stated. 

Each  member  taking  a  share  of  stock  paid  into  the  treasury  two  dollars 
on  each  share  taken,  as  a  fund  for  defraying  the  current  expenses  of  the 
Association,  and  five  dollars  per  month,  in  advance,  on  each  share,  to  be 
known  as  the  "  Homestead  Fund,"  to  be  used  in  the  purchase  of  land  and 
improvements  thereon. 

At  the  regular  monthly  meeting,  held  July  13, 1867,  an  election  of  officers 
was  held,  resulting  in  the  returning  of  E.  Whiting,  President ;  G.  W.  Simon- 
ton,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  and  five  Directors,  viz :  J.  F.  Smith,  H.  K. 
Snow,  M.  L.  Tormbohm,  H.  B.  Bell,  and  W.  W.  Skinner,  who  held  office  until 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders,  which  was  held  on  the  first  Monday 
in  May  of  each  year. 

The  By-Laws  provided  for  a  standing  committee  of  three  members  of  the 
Board  of  Directors,  to  attend  to  all  matters  relative  to  investment  in  real 
estate,  title,  price,  terms  of  sale,  etc.,  and  the  President  appointed  J.  F.  Smith, 
E.  Whiting,  and  M.  L.  Tornbohm. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  convened  on  June  24, 1867,  it  was 
ordered  that  the  report  of  the  committee  on  the  purchase  of  land  be  adopted, 
viz :  "  That  we  purchase  of  General  J.  B.  Frisbie  five  full  blocks  of  land 
situate  in  the  town  of  Vallejo,  and  numbered  on  map  of  said  town,  blocks 
392,  394,  395,  398,  and  399,  containing  eighty  lots  50x130  feet,  at  a  cost  of 
$8,000. 

Thirty  lots  in  blocks  396,  397,  and  400  were  bought  on  October  12,  1877, 
at  the  same  rate  as  first  purchase,  viz :  $3,000,  making  in  all  one  hundred 
and  ten  lots. 

On  November  9,  1867,  the  land  was  distributed  among  the  shareholders 
by  drawing  for  choice  of  lots,  with  the  understanding,  which  was  voted 
in  public  meeting,  that,  as  the  Association  had  been  at  the  expense  of  fenc- 
ing in  the  property,  those  drawing  corner  lots  should  defray  the  extra  cost 
of  inclosing  the  same,  to  the  extent  of  ten  dollars. 

The  lots,  when  fully  paid  up,  including  the  outlay  of  fencing,  recording 
deed,  and  other  incidental  expenses,  cost  the  holders  $122  25  for  corner  lots, 
and  for  those  on  the  inside  $112  25. 

Many  of  the  owners,  in  the  fall  of  1867  and  the  following  season,  built 
houses  and  made  other  improvements,  so  that  in  three  or  four  years  nearly 
every  lot  had  its  comfortable  home,  and  to-day  the  property  is  one  of  the 
prettiest  in  the  city  of  Vallejo. 

Vallejo  Land  and  Improvement  Company. — This  company  was  incor- 
porated on  the  27th  day  of  October,  1871,  with  a  capital  stock  divided  into 
40,000  shares,  of  $100  each,  the  whole  capital  being  $4,000,000.     The  ob- 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  223 

jects  of  the  corporation  were  to  purchase,  and  sell,  and  convey  lands  in 
the  county  of  Solano;  to  erect  and  maintain  wharves  and  docks  on  the 
same  for  the  purposes  of  manufactures,  trades,  business  and  commerce;  to 
reclaim  lands,  purchase  and  otherwise  improve  the  same  by  buildings,  fix- 
tures and  erections,  to  be  placed  thereon  for  warehousing  and  other  pur- 
poses; to  lay  out  public  streets,  avenues,  boulevards,  squares  and  pleasure- 
grounds  across,  over  and  upon  the  land  purchased,  and  dedicate  the  same 
to  the  public  use.  It  was  then  declared  that  the  time  of  existence  of  said 
company  should  be  fifty  years,  and  the  following  trustees  were  elected  to 
manage  the  affairs  of  the  company,  viz.:  John  B.  Frisbie  ;  Faxton  D.  Ather- 
ton;  Leland  Stanford;  Milton  S.  Latham;  Alexander  De  Laski,  and  E. 
H.  Green;  the  officers  being:  President,  John  B.  Frisbie;  Vice  President,  F. 
D.  Atherton;  Secretary,  J.  K.  Duncan;  Treasurer,  Milton  S.  Latham. 

The  first  annual  report  of  the  company  puts  forth  the  state  of  the  associa- 
tion as  being  most  flourishing.  When  submitted,  on  January  17,  1872,  their 
property  consisted  chiefly  of  2,000  acres  of  land  in  and  near  the  town  of 
Vallejo,  the  value  of  which  was  estimated  at  nearly  $3,000,000.  One  thou- 
sand acres  were  situated  within  the  town  limits,  including  much  in  the  best 
localities,  and  six  hundred  acres  along  the  water-front.  The  portion  lying 
inside  the  town  limits  was  laid  out  in  lots,  while  the  balance  was  suburban 
lands,  and  other  tracts  of  considerable  value.  At  this  time  the  prospects  of 
Vallejo  had  reached  its  zenith,  and  the  relapse  which  has  since  occurred  was 
not  then  deemed  probable. 

Throughout  the  following  years  the  Vallejo  Land  and  Improvement  Com- 
pany has  been  on  the  wane,  monetarily  speaking.  Owing  to  the  declension 
of  trade,  and  other  losses,  the  association  is  not  in  as  flourishing  a  condition 
as  might  be  expected,  yet  there  is  every  prospect  of  its  recovering  the 
ground  lost.  Its  property  is  unquestionably  valuable.  It  owns  large  ware- 
houses in  most  desirable  localities,  which  cannot  but  prove  advantageous  in 
the  near  future. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  year  1878  are:  Hon.  S.  G.  Hilborn,  Vallejo; 
Messrs.  E.  J.  Wilson,  A.  T.  Robinson,  Vallejo;  Hon.  C.  Hartson,  Napa;  and 
Messrs  Edmund  R.  White,  and  J.  K.  Duncan,  of  San  Francisco  and  Vallejo; 
while  the  officers  are:  President,  Hon.  S.  G.  Hilborn;  Vice  President,  E.  J. 
Wilson;  Treasurer,  Hon.  C.  Hartson,  and  Secretary,  J.  K.  Duncan. 

Vallejo  City  Water  Company. — Was  incorporated  in  1870.  The  present 
directorship  is:  Messrs.  A.  Chabot,  of  Oakland,  President;  Louis  Pierce, 
and  J.  C.  Edgecumbe,  Superintendents;  J.  E.  Abbott,  Secretary,  and  A.  J. 
McPike,  Cashier,  Book-keeper,  and  acting  Superintendent. 

The  main  reservoir  of  the  company  is  situated  near  the  Napa  road,  three 
miles  north  of  the  city,  being  constructed  on  a  portion  of  425  acres  pur- 
chased by  the  company  at  a  sum  of  $42,000.     The  dam  covers  an  extent  of 


224  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY. 

160  acres;  it  is  three  hundred  feet  wide,  by  forty  feet  high,  with  150  feet  at 
the  base,  and  100  feet  at  the  apex.  Its  capacity  is  said  to  be  8  or  900,000,- 
000  gallons.  From  this  immense  receptacle  the  fluid  is  conducted  to  the 
city  through  twelve-inch  cast-iron  pipes,  and  thence  distributed  by  branch 
pipes  aggregating  more  than  sixteen  miles  in  length.  The  town  is  watered 
by  two  systems  of  piping,  as  follows:  On  the  top  of  Capitol  Hill  there  is  a 
reservoir  which  is  filled  by  means  of  pumping,  and  thereafter  distributed 
by  lesser  pipes  to  those  high  positions  which  the  water  from  the  main  reser- 
voir will  not  reach.  The  pump  in  use  is  a  No.  8  Hooker,  driven  by  a  sixty- 
horse-power  engine,  and  has  a  pumping  capacity  of  about  500,000  gallons 
in  the  twenty-four  hours.  Where  the  pump  is  located  there  is  yet  another 
reservoir  which  has  a  capacity  of  200,000  gallons,  and  is  used  to  feed 
the  dam  on  the  summit  of  the  hill,  when  there  is  not  sufficient  pressure 
from  the  main  reservoir.  The  company  also  supplies  the  Mare  Island 
Navy  Yard  with  1,000,000  gallons  per  mensem,  transmitted  by  means 
of  a  sub-marine  cast-iron  pipe  with  flexible  joints,  a  distance  of  two  thou- 
sand feet,  across  the  bed  of  the  Napa  River.  This  water  is  used  for  irri- 
gating purposes,  as  well  as  through  the  buildings  and  machine-shops,  and  with- 
out doubt  its  acquisition  has  been  a  great  saving  to  the  government.  Be- 
sides this  vast  supply,  the  company  provides  the  railway  establishments,  the 
flour-mills,  and  the  steamers  which  ply  to  San  Francisco,  with  water.  From 
thirty  to  sixty  ships  per  annum,  after  loading  with  grain,  fill  their  tanks 
from  the  company's  pipes  ere  sailing  for  foreign  lands,  while  the  home  con- 
sumption amounts  to  fully  three-fourths  of  the  population. 

The  elevation  of  the  main  dam  is  eighty  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea ; 
that  on  the  hill  is  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  In  conclusion,  there  is  an 
admirable  system,  whereby,  in  case  of  fire,  connection  is  made  between  the 
Capitol  Hill  dam  and  the  main  pipes,  which  gives  a  pressure  of  150  feet; 
besides,  in  this  regard,  thirty  five  hydrants,  of  the  very  latest  patterns,  have 
been  placed  at  the  most  convenient  street-corners. 

Vallejo  Gas  Light  Company — Incorporated  July  23,  1867,  with  a  capital 
of  $40,000,  under  the  Directorship  of  J.  B.  Frisbie,  President,  and  Harvey 
W.  Snow,  Secretary.  The  Company  erected  their  first  buildings  on  Main 
street,  near  the  water  front,  by  contract,  for  the  whole  of  the  original  cap- 
ital of  $40,000,  but  these  have  given  place  to  more  spacious  offices  on  Mary- 
land, between  Marin  and  Sonoma  streets.  In  November,  1871,  the  capital 
stock  of  the  Company  was  increased  to  $250,000,  when  a  new  Retort 
House  was  built  to  contain  fifteen  retorts  capable  of  yielding  60,000  cubic 
feet  of  gas  per  day.  The  consumption,  however,  is  about  10,000  feet 
daily.  Gas  is  distributed  through  the  city  in  main  pipes  aggregating  about 
five  miles  in  length,  which  was  first  brought  into  requisition  to  light  the 
town  towards  the  end  of  1867.  The  present  officers  are  J.  K.  Duncan, 
President ;  Hon.  S.  G.  Hilborn,  Secretary  ;  and  P.  B.  Fegan,  Superintend- 
ent, who  has  held  the  position  since  the  first  organization  of  the  Company. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  225 

Bank  of  Vallejo — Was  incorporated  on  September  25,  1876,  with  an 
authorized  capital  of  $150,000,  under  the  management  of  D.  W.  Harrier  as 
President,  and  J.  E.  Abbott,  Cashier,  with  Eben  Hilton,  Joseph  Wilson, 
Thomas  Matthews,  J.  C.  Edgecumbe,  W.  C.  Greaves,  N.  Vanderlip,  D.  W. 
Harrier,  John  Brownlie,  Charles  Widemann,  as  Directors.  The  present 
management  is  as  follows :  W.  C.  Greaves,  President ;  S.  C.  Farnham,  Vice- 
President  ;  J.  E.  Abbott,  Secretary  and  Cashier ;  F.  D.  Mead,  Assistant 
Cashier,  the  Board  of  Directors  being  W.  C.  Greaves,  S.  C.  Farnham,  J.  E. 
Abbott,  John  Wilson,  Joseph  Wilson,  Charles  Widemann,  G.  B.  Richart, 
C.  Hallin  and  0.  C.  Chamberlain. 

The  Bank  of  Vallejo  transacts  its  business  in  the  Bernard  Block,  situated 
on  Georgia  street,  where  it  carries  on  a  general  banking  and  exchange 
business.  Draws  on  National  Gold  Bank  and  Trust  Company  of  San 
Francisco. 

The  Vallejo  Savings  and  Commercial  Bank. — This  Bank  was  incor- 
porated on  May  3,  1870,  with  an  authorized  capital  of  $300,000,  under  the 
management  of  J.  B.  Frisbie,  President,  and  Henry  Mackie,  Cashier,  the 
Directors  being  J.  B.  Frisbie,  H.  Mackie,  J.  F.  Tobin,  Capt.  C.  H.  Baldwin, 
U.  S.  N.,  L.  C.  Fowler,  D.  C.  Haskin  and  Edward  McGettigan.  The  present 
management  is  under  E.  J.  Wilson,  President,  with  J.  R.  English,  Cashier, 
the  Board  of  Directors  being  E.  J.  Wilson,  C.  Hartson,  A.  T.  Robinson,  M. 
Fletcher,  P.  W.  Dillon,  J.  K.  Duncan  and  S.  G.  Hilborn. 

The  building  in  which  the  Bank  transacts  its  business  is  an  imposing 
structure,  standing  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Georgia  and  Sacramento 
streets,  where  it  does  a  general  banking  and  exchange  business.  Cor- 
responds with  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co.,  of  New  York  and  San  Francisco. 

Pioneer  Brewery,  Messrs.  Smith,  Lessees — Is  situated  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Marin  and  Carolina  streets,  and  was  established  in  1862  under  the 
name  of  the  Vallejo  Brewery,  by  Edward  McGettigan,  his  partners  being 
A.  Murray  and  J.  McGarvey.  Under  the  exigencies  of  trade  the  building 
was  brought  to  the  hammer  in  1865,  when  it  was  bought  by  Mr.  McGet- 
tigan who  rebuilt  and  put  nuw  machinery  into  it  and  changed  its  appella- 
tion to  the  Pioneer  Brewery,  which  it  now  bears.  As  a  brewing  establish- 
ment it  ranks  second  to  none  in  the  State. 

The  main  building  occupies  an  area  of  60x80  feet,  and  is  one  story  high, 
with  a  basement,  in  the  latter  of  which  is  the  Malt  floor  and  fermenting 
tubs,  the  up-stairs  being  devoted  to  the  malt  kiln,  malt  mill,  hop  and  sample- 
rooms,  while  there  is  in  use  a  patent  refrigerator,  one  of  three  on  the  coast. 
In  connection  with  the  brewery  there  are  the  usual  out-houses  of  stables, 
sheds,  and  other  buildings,  all  of  which  are  in  excellent  condition.  The 
beer  made  by  the  establishment  is  a  strong  and  healthful  beverage,  for 
which  a  large  sale  is  found  in  Napa,  Calistoga  and  the  other  interior  towns, 
while  the  home  consumption  is  quite  an  item,  the  demand  being  always  on 
the  increase. 
15 


226  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Empire  Soda  Works. — O'Grady  &  Co.,  proprietors,  is  a  two-storied  frame 
building,  standing  on  the  corner  of  Sonoma  and  Florida  streets,  covering  an 
area  of  30x40  feet.  The  first  floor  is  divided  into  two  parts,  one  being  occu- 
pied as  a  saloon,  run  in  connection  with  the  business  ;  while,  in  the  other, 
stands  a  soda  machine,  by  Smith,  of  San  Francisco,  with  a  capacity  of 
twenty-five  gallons,  and  capable  of  manufacturing  five  hundred  bottles  of 
soda  water  per  diem.  The  reservoir  connects  with  a  patent  bottling  and 
corking  machine,  made  by  John  Matthews,  of  New  York.  There  is  also  a 
patent  bottle-washer  on  the  premises.  The  former  machine  is  the  only  one 
in  the  district,  a  royalty  of  $75  per  month  being  paid  on  it ;  while  a  charge 
of  about  $398  had  to  be  met  before  the  use  of  it  was  permitted  in  the 
county.  In  the  winter  months  the  consumption  of  soda  is  necessarily 
smaller  than  in  summer ;  but  seventy-five  dozen  per  diem  may  be  taken  as 
the  average  out-turn.  All  kinds  of  effervescing  liquors,  such  as  cider,  por- 
ter, gingerale,  and  lemonade,  are  bottled  on  the  works ;  while  they  have  a 
good  business  both  in  town  and  country,  with  every  prospect  of  its  exten- 
sion to  the  adjacent  counties.  The  present  premises  have  only  been  occupied 
since  1866,  the  original  works  having  been  erected  fourteen  years  ago,  by  E. 
McGettigan,  on  the  corner  of  Sonoma  and  Carolina  streets,  who  has  now 
sold  out  of  the  business. 

The  Vallejo  Foundry  and  Machine  Works  —  Is  the  first  establishment 
of  its  kind  started  in  Vallejo.  It  stands,  according  to  the  new  survey,  at 
the  south-east  corner  of  Block  No.  791.  This  building  is  situated  in  South 
Vallejo,  and  was  erected  in  August,  1869,  by  the  enterprising  firm  of  Heald 
&  McCormick.  In  1874,  however,  the  former  gentleman  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  the  latter,  since  when,  the  business  has  been  carried  on  by  Mr. 
Heald  alone.  It  is  a  source  of  gratification  to  remark  that  since  the  first 
establishment  of  the  undertaking,  it  has  generally  increased  in  importance, 
the  work  turned  out  being  first-class.  A  specialty  is  made  of  Straw  Burn- 
ing Threshing  Machines  ;  while  nearly  all  the  rolling  stock  of  the  California 
Pacific  Railroad  is  manufactured  on  the  premises.  Every  class  of  machin- 
ery can  be  designed  and  moulded  there  ;  the  proprietor  taking  a  just  pride 
in  securing  all  the  latest  improvements  in  each  department  of  his  business. 
The  works  employ  continuously,  a  staff  of  twenty  workmen;  the  capital 
invested  is  about  $20,000 ;  while  a  general  business  is  done  to  the  extent  of 
$75,000  per  annum.  The  machinery  employed  on  the  premises  is  of  first- 
class  workmanship,  and  is  driven  by  an  engine  of  26  horse-power. 

Pioneer  Sash,  Doors  and  Blind  Factory  —  Situated  on  Block  No.  752, 
at  the  corner  of  Bice  and  Fifth  streets,  South  Vallejo,  was  established  by 
the  present  proprietors,  Messrs.  D.  G.  Barnes  &  Co.,  in  the  year  1869,  on  the 
premises  which  they  now  occupy.     This  is  the  only  branch  of  the  industry 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  227 

in  the  city,  to  which  it  does  much  credit.  The  building  is  of  wood.  The 
The  capital  employed  is  entirely  invested  by  the  proprietors,  who  employ 
ten  men  on  the  premises.  They  turn  out  all  kinds  of  mouldings,  and 
house  furnishings,  as  well  as  making,  for  the  grape-growing  ■  districts  of 
Napa  and  Sonoma,  a  large  number  of  wine  and  water  tanks.  The  machin- 
ery is  worked  by  a  steam  engine,  made  by  William  Reardon  &  Co.,  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  This  factory  is  the  first  of  its  kind  erected  in  Vallejo; 
and  from  the  position  which  it  holds,  and  the  easy  access  it  has  to  communi- 
cation, both  by  steamer  and  rail,  in  a  country  which  is  daily  increasing  in 
population,  the  efforts  of  the  proprietors  are  being  rewarded  by  a  thriving 
and  increasing  business. 

Solano  Brewery — Is  located  on  the  corner  of  Kentucky  street,  on  north 
half  of  lots  1  and  2,  block  264.  It  was  erected  in  the  year  1870  and  is 
built  of  brick,  the  area  covered  being  42x88  feet.  On  the  ground  floor  is 
the  Sample  Room  40x24,  with  the  beer  cellar  immediately  under  it  of  the 
same  demensions;  adjoining  the  former  is  the  brewing  room  40x24  containing 
the  furnace  and  malt  tub.  On  the  second  story  there  is  a  brewing  tub 
capable  of  holding  sixteen  barrels,  besides  which  there  is  a  separate  store 
room  built  of  brick  42x36.  The  entire  premises  were  constructed  by 
Messrs.  Widemann  &  Rothenbusch,  the  present  proprietors,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $24,000.  This  is  the  largest  brewery  in  Vallejo  and  has  its  principal 
custom  within  the  city  limits. 

Pioneer  Marble  Works. — James  Doyle,  proprietor  of  the  above  works 
occupies  a  one  story  wooden  structure  measuring  100x25  feet  with  a  yard 
attached.  He  employs  two  men  who  dress  the  rough  stone  into  monuments, 
mantel-pieces  and  other  work  of  a  like  nature.  The  marble  used  is  im- 
ported in  its  natural  state  from  San  Francisco  while  the  granite  is  brought 
from  the  Penryn  quarries,  Placer  county,  in  this  State.  Mr.  Doyle  no  longer 
works  at  this  branch  of  industry ;  he  is  Constable  for  the  city  of  Vallejo. 
The  business  was  first  started  in  1862. 

Farragut  Hall. — This  commodious  hall  was  built  by  the  late  Admiral  D. 
G.  Farragut  in  the  year  1869  on  Georgia  street.  Its  dimensions  are  50x80 
feet ;  in  the  northern  or  upper  end  of  which  there  is  a  stage  fitted  with  all 
appropriate  paraphernalia  for  theatrical  representations,  besides  five  dressing 
rooms.  The  original  size  of  the  building  was  too  small,  so  30  feet  were 
added  to  it  making  one  of  the  largest  rooms  in  the  county.  It  is  lit  by  a 
sun  burner  gas  jet  in  the  center  while  brackets  are  placed  at  intervals 
along  the  walls.  It  is  well  ventilated  and  built  of  brick.  All  public  meet- 
ings, social  and  political  are  usually  held  here,  it  having  a  seating  capacity 
of  eight  hundred. 


228  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

The  Alert  Boat  Club  was  organized  July  16,  1872,  by  A.  J.  Brownlie, 
W.  S.  Risley,  Osgood  Hilton,  Wm.  McDonald  and  A.  J.  McKnight. 

It  immediately  began  operations  by  electing  new  members  and  building 
their  first  boat,  which  was  done  by  the  members  themselves  in  the  old 
United  States  Hotel.  The  first  race  rowed  was  between  crews  from  the 
Riversides  of  Sacramento,  and  the  first  crew  of  the  Alerts  on  January  1, 
1873,  the  Riversides  entering  R.  C.  Lowell,  W.  Barry,  W.  A.  Butterfield  and 
H.  Thiel ;  the  Alerts,  Jno.  Reed,  W.  S.  Risley,  James  Kane  and  Wm.  Mc- 
Donald. This  race  was  for  a  set  of  racing  oars,  and  was  won  by  the  River- 
sides by  ten  boat  lengths. 

The  next  race  occurred  the  same  day  between  crews  of  Farragut  Boat 
Club  of  South  Vallejo,  and  the  junior  crew  of  the  Alert.  The  Farragut 
seating  Jas.  A.  Lamont,  A.  S.  Carman,  M.  Dozier,  Jno.  T.  Dare,  and  Alerts, 
A.  J.  Brownlie,  A.  J.  McKnight,  H.  E.  Brown  and  Geo.  Gorham.  This  race 
was  for  a  set  of  boat-house  colors,  and  was  won  easily  by  the  Alerts,  beating 
their  opponents  one-quarter  of  a  mile.  Shortly  after  this  the  Alerts  sent 
east  for  a  four-oared  paper  shell,  which  arrived  in  due  time  and  was  the 
only  four-oared  paper  boat  on  the  Coast.  With  this  boat  they  entered  the 
grand  regatta  held  in  Vallejo  July  4,  1873. 

The  first  race  that  day  was  for  the  second  class  four-oared  boats.  The 
Alerts  and  Pioneers  entering.  The  distance  was  one  and  a  half  miles  and 
return,  making  three  miles,  which  distance  was  rowed  by  the  Alerts  in 
22-8,  beating  the  Pioneers  badly.  Next  race  for  first  class  single  scullers. 
Wm.  Daily  of  the  Alerts  being  entered  against  two  others  of  San  Francisco. 
This  was  won  by  Daily  by  half  a  length,  it  being  the  best  race  of  the  day. 
Third  race  for  second  class  single  scullers.  W.  S.  Risley  and  Austin  Steven- 
son of  the  Alerts  being  matched  against  three  other  boats  from  other  clubs. 
The  honor  of  this  race  also  was  the  Alerts,  for  Risley  won  easily,  Steven- 
son also  of  the  Alerts,  second.  The  grand  race  of  the  day  was  for  four- 
oared  boats,  there  being  in  all  seven  entries.  The  Alerts  entering  J.  J 
Smith,  G.  E.  Taylor,  W.  S.  Risley  and  Wm.  Daily.  The  Riversides  won 
this  race,  nearly  all  the  other  boats  having  been  swamped  in  the  rough 
water.  The  Farraguts  of  South  Yallejo  coming  in  second.  Shortly  after 
this  a  set  of  champion  colors  for  Vallejo  waters  was  purchased  jointly  by 
the  Farragut  and  Alert  clubs  of  Vallejo,  and  the  first  race  was  rowed  for 
these  on  January  1,  1874.  The  Farragut  boys  winning  by  two  seconds  or 
half  a  boat's  length  in  21-29J. 

On  June  6,  1874,  another  race  for  the  colors  was  rowed  by  the  same 
clubs.  This  being  won  by  the  Alerts  in  21.20,  beating  the  other  boat  175 
yards. 

Nothing  more  in  the  rowing  line  was  done  until  October,  1878,  when 
the  Alert  Club  was  represented  by  A.  J.  McKnight,  Chas.  B.  Bond,  Richard 
McKnight  and  A.  J.  Brownlie  at  Oakland  in  the  race  for  the  McKinley 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  220 

Challenge  Cup.  Here  the  Alerts  were  unfortunate,  having  made  a  poor 
start,  a  worse  turn,  and  breaking  a  seat  on  their  road  home.  They  came  in 
third  however,  making  good  time. 

Thanksgiving  day  at  Vallejo  was  the  scene  of  another  boating  contest 
between  the  junior  crews  of  the  Farragut  and  Alert  Clubs.  The  Farragut's 
boat  being  rowed  by  Jno.  T.  Dare,  H.  D.  Lazelle,  Chas.  Morse  and  Henry 
Gedge,  and  the  Alerts  by  Geo.  B.  Hanna,  Geo.  Roe,  Lyle  Roe  and  Osgood 
Hilton.  The  race  was  rowed  for  the  honors,  and  resulted  in  a  complete 
victory  for  the  Alert  boys,  they  having  distanced  their  competitors  and 
winning  in  20-30f ,  the  best  three  mile  time  ever  made  on  this  Coast. 

The  Alert  Club  membership  is  composed  of  some  of  the  finest  young  men 
in  the  place ;  in  numbers,  28.  The  Club  owns  their  boat-house  which  is 
situated  on  Georgia  street  wharf,  one  four-oared  wood  shell,  one  four-oared 
paper  shell,  one  racing  barge,  lately  built,  and  launched  February  21,  1879. 
She  is  a  beauty  and  pronounced  (by  those  who  are  good  judges)  likely  to  be 
very  speedy.  There  is  also  in  the  boat-house  two  Rob  Roy  Canoes  of  Mc- 
Gregor model  and  fame.     Value  of  Club  property,  $1,300. 

Present  officers  :  Frank  B.  Lemon,  President ;  Frank  T.  Winchell,  Vice- 
President  ;  A.  J.  McKnight,  Secretary ;  Wm.  McDonald,  Treasurer ;  Geo. 
Gorham,  Captain. 

This  Club  was  not  organized  for  gain  financially,  but  to  promote  good 
feeling  among  its  members,  encourage  boating,  and  benefit  all  by  the  physi- 
cal exertion  necessary  in  rowing.  They  do  not  row  for  money,  but  for  the 
honors  of  the  occasion. 

The  Club  appears  to  be  in  a  flourishing  condition  and  is  rapidly  increas- 
ing in  numerical  strength,  while  it  is  growing  in  the  esteem  of  the  people. 

Hotels. — There  is  no  city  on  the  Pacific  Coast  which  is  so  well  pro- 
vided with  accommodation  for  the  traveler  as  is  Vallejo,  indeed  some  of 
these  structures  are  a  feature  of  the  town,  while  the  principal  hotel  would 
do  credit  to  a  place  of  double  the  pretensions.  The  first  hotels,  already  men- 
tioned in  this  work,  have  long  ceased  to  enfold  the  weary  traveler  in  their 
hospitable  arms.  Some  of  the  original  buildings  still  stand,  as  it  were  to 
mark  the  course  of  time,  while  others  have  been  pulled  down  to  make  way 
for  more  eligible  structures,  or  been  utterly  wiped  out  by  the  devouring 
flames  which  have  on  occasion  visited  the  city. 

Barnard  House — .Chief  among  the  present  hotels  is  this  elegant  build- 
ing occupying  an  area  of  1^0x130  feet',  on  Georgia,  the  principal  business 
street  in  Vallejo.  It  was  completed  and  opened  on  August  10,  1872,  by 
John  M.  Staples,  the  present  proprietor  of  the  Arcade  House  in  San  Fran- 
cisco. The  Bernard  House  is  a  large,  square  building,  containing  forty-five 
bed  rooms,  a  large  dining  room  up  stairs,  and  a  restaurant  on  the  ground 


230  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

floor.  It  is  fitted  with  every  modern  improvement  necessary  for  the  com- 
fort of  visitors,  and  has  two  entrances,  one  on  Georgia,  the  other  on  Sacra- 
mento street.  The  street  car  passes  it  on  its  way  to  the  railroad  depot  twice 
a  day,  and  the  rate  for  board  and  lodging  varies  from  two  to  three  dollars 
per  diem.  The  present  proprietor  is  Adrian  H.  Izirar,  who  is  a  most  popu- 
lar landlord. 

The  Howard  House,  situated  on  116  and  118  Georgia  street,  was  com- 
menced in  September  and  finished  in  December,  1876.  Has  a  frontage  of 
50  feet,  and  can  accommodate  150  guests  with  comfort.  It  derives  its  name 
from  Amos  Howard,  its  first  proprietor,  who  died  a  few  months  after  its 
completion,  the  business  being  now  carried  on  by  his  widow  and  her  present 
husband,  R.  J.  Harrington. 

In  addition  to  these  there  are  the  Sherman  House,  Washington  House, 
and  others,  which  all  find  ample  patronage  from  the  employes  on  the  Navy 
Yard. 

Newspapers. — The  Vallejo  Qhronicle  was  founded  by  F.  A.  Leach  and 
William  Gregg,  the  first  issue  being  printed  June  20,  1867.  It  appeared 
as  a  weekly  edition  of  modest  size  and  pretensions,  and  was  continued  as  a 
weekly  until  November,  1868,  when  the  present  daily  was  established.  In 
April,  1869,  Mr.  Leach  bought  the  interest  of  his  associate  and  became  sole 
proprietor  of  the  establishment.  On  assuming  the  full  control  he  began  the 
issue  of  the  Weekly  Chronicle,  which  had  been  suspended  by  the  daily. 
The  politics  of  the  paper,  which  owing  to  the  conflicting  principles  of  the 
two  proprietors  had  before  been  independent,  were  changed,  and  it  became 
independent  Republican,  and  has  ever  since  steadily  advocated  the  views  of 
that  party.  In  November,  1875,  the  ownership  of  the  establishment  was 
merged  into  a  stock  company,  incorporated  under  the  State  laws  ;  Mr.  Leach, 
however,  still  retaining  all  but  a  fraction  of  the  stock  and  continuing  in  the 
absolute  management  and  control  of  the  business.  March  1st,  1879,  feeble 
and  still  failing  health  compelled  him  to  dissolve  his  connection  with  the 
journal,  and  he  sold  his  whole  interest  therein  to  Thomas  Wendell,  a  part 
proprietor  and  the  editor  of  the  Chronicle  for  several  years  preceding.  Mr. 
Wendell,  on  entering  into  charge,  united  in  himself  the  duties  of  business 
manager  with  those  of  editor.  The  Chronicle  has  been  a  prosperous  journal 
from  the  date  of  its  establishment  and  has  increased  in  stability  and  reputa- 
tion with  its  growing  years.  The  circulation  of  its  daily  edition  is  found 
chiefly  in  Vallejo  and  places  along  the  line  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Cali- 
fornia and  Pacific  Railroad ;  the  weekly  edition  is  found  through  every  part 
of  the  interior  of  Solano,  and  in  Napa  and  Lake,  besides  having  a  very  con- 
siderable circulation  among  the  vessels  of  the  Pacific  squadron  of  the  Navy, 
where  its  navy  intelligence  makes  it  an  interesting  journal. 

The   "  Solano  Daily   Times "   made   its  first  appearance  on  the  morn- 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  231 

ing  of  September  28th,  1875,  in  its  present  form,  12x18,  twenty  col- 
umns. It  rose  from  the  columns  of  the  Daily  Independent  The  type, 
presses,  etc.,  of  the  Independent  had  been  purchased  by  George  Roe,  who, 
forming  a  partnership  with  A.  B.  Gibson,  commenced  the  publication  of  the 
Times.  About  a  month  after  this  A.  B.  Gibson  withdrew  from  the  paper, 
and  George  Roe  formed  a  company,  which  was  known  as  the  "  Times  Pub- 
lishing Company,"  and  which  was  composed,  besides  himself,  of  W.  V. 
Walsh,  H.  J.  Pelham,  and  Thad.  McFarland.  McFarland  and  Pelham  here- 
after seceded  from  the  Times,  which  now  was  issued  under  the  firm  name  of 
Roe  &  Walsh. 

In  January,  1876,  the  Solano  Weekly  Times  made  its  appearance  in  con- 
nection with  the  daily.  It  is  made  up  of  all  the  reading  matter  that  appears 
in  the  daily  during  each  week,  and  its  columns  are,  consequently,  well  filled. 
The  Solano  Weekly  Times  is  23x32  in  size,  of  twenty-eight  columns,  and 
has  a  fair  circulation  in  Solano  and  adjacent  counties. 

The  Valtejo  Elevator. — In  the  year  1867  Mr.  G.  C.  Pearson,  a  gentleman 
of  Chicago,  came  to  the  coast  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  and  among 
other  places  visited  Vallejo,  where  he  conceived  the  plan  of  erecting  an 
elevator  after  the  manner  of  those  in  use  in  other  grain  producing  States. 
Among  those  to  whom  he  imparted  his  idea  was  Dr.  D.  W.  C.  Rice,  the  presi- 
dent of  the  California  Pacific  Railroad,  who  was  so  struck  with  the  practi- 
cability of  such  a  scheme  that  he  became  anxious  to  share  in  the  building  and 
participate  in  its  advantages,  suggesting  that  a  joint-stock  company  should 
be  formed,  which  was  done  without  delay,  it  being  floated  with  a  capital  of 
$500,000.  On  investigating  the  laws  of  the  State,  Mr.  Pearson  found  that 
there  was  none  regulating  the  storage  of  warehouses  whereby  property 
could  be  transferred  upon  endorsement.  He  therefore  drafted  a  bill,  with 
the  idea  of  regulating  such,  but  it  was,  unfortunately,  never  passed  by  the 
Legislature,  although  in  each  successive  session  presented  to  the  Assembly. 
Mr.  Pearson  thereupon  seceded  from  any  participation  in  the  scheme,  and 
returned  to  Chicago,  leaving  the  plans  and  specifications  in  the  hands  of  Dr. 
Rice.  A  company  was  organized,  composed  of  Dr.  Rice,  with  Dr.  Ryder, 
Messrs.  Roelofson,  D.  C.  Haskins,  J.  B.  Frisbie,  Dr.  Spencer,  and  Messrs. 
Hudson  and  Bauchius,  of  Marysville,  who  were"  afterwards  joined  by  I. 
Friedlander,  he  having  obtained  a  controlling  interest  by  the  purchase  of 
one-fifth  of  the  stock.  On  his  return  to  Chicago,  Mr.  Pearson  had,  not- 
withstanding his  connection  with  the  elevator  had  ceased,  engaged,  at  the 
request  of  Dr.  Rice,  the  services  of  Mr.  Robert  Mackie  as  architect  and  over- 
seer of  the  construction ;  and  through  the  influence  of  Dr.  Ryder,  Mr. 
Charles  Wheeler,  of  Oswego,  New  York,  was  appointed  superintendent. 
These  gentlemen  arrived  in  the  summer  of  1868,  but  headway  was  not  made 
with  the  building  till  the  following  year.  The  piling  was  effected  in  Nov- 
ember and  December  of  1868,  and  the  erection  commenced  on  January  4, 1869. 


232  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

As  far  back  as  1838  the  practicability  of  shipping  grain  in  bulk  was  dem- 
onstrated when  cargoes  of  wheat  were  shipped  from  Germany  and  other 
countries  to  the  United  States,  which  arrived  in  better  condition  than  did 
that  in  sacks  or  boxes.  There  was  therefore  no  reason  why  such  should  not 
be  equally  practicable  in  1869. 

"  Experience  had  shown,"  says  Mr.  Pearson,  "  the  impossibility  of  storing 
large  amounts  of  grain  in  the  old  style  warehouse,  built  with  heavy  timber 
frames,  the  toughest  oak  being  inadequate  for  sustaining  the  pressure  of 
even  the  small  amount  that  it  was  possible  to  store  in  the  shallow,  flat  bins 
of  the  period.  Various  materials  were  tested  without  success,  until  the 
plan  was  hit  upon  of  using  wooden  strips,  2x6  to  3x12,  resting  flatwise, 
one  upon  another,  and  thoroughly  spiked  together ;  any  mechanic  will  un- 
derstand the  impossibility  of  breaking  down  or  rending  asunder  a  building 
composed  of  compartments  or  bins  interlocked  or  dovetailed  together  in  this 
manner ;  the  whole  fabric  is  one  piece,  possessing  relatively  more  strength. 
The  Elevator  building  is  simply  an  aggregation  of  bins  resting  upon  pieces 
of  wood  stone-bound  together  with  iron  bands  and  rods;  surmounting  the 
bins  is  a  light  frame,  serving  to  carry  the  roof  and  for  operating  the  mach- 
inery directly  connected  with  elevating,  spouting  and  weighing  grain.  Into 
these  bins  (which  are  numbered  in  all  the  larger  elevators)  the  grain  is 
bulked,  i.  e.,  stored  loosely,  which  not  only  protects  it  from  destruction  by 
rats  and  mice,  but  allows  the  formation  of  grades  of  uniform  character, 
whereby  the  value  is  recognized  in  the  market  at  once  by  reference  to 
samples.  An  elevator's  capacity  consequently  depends  upon  the  number 
and  size  of  its  bins.  In  this  respect  they  vary  from  one  to  five  hundred, 
with  storage  room  for  300  tons  for  the  smaller,  to  48,000  tons  for  the 
larger." 

"The  Vallejo  elevator  stands  on  over  900  piles,  of  an  average  length  of 
forty  feet,  driven  through  about  eight  feet  of  mud  and  detritus,  and  into  the 
rocky  bottom  from  four  to  six  feet,  forming  a  secure  foundation  against 
settling.  To  secure  it  against  the  danger  of  careening  over  from  earthquake 
vibrations,  Mr.  Mackie  had  heavy  timbers,  well  spliced  together,  placed  all 
around  the  outside  piling,  and  these  were  firmly  tied  to  the  pier  clumps  or 
clusters  on  the  inside  of  the  building  with  heavy  iron  rods,  which  are  car- 
ried below  high-water  mark,  or  about  eleven  feet  below  the  top  of  the  piles. 
A  portion  of  the  area  was  then  filled  with  rock  and  earth,  from  eight  to  ten 
feet  in  depth,  adjacent  to  the  inside  piles,  and  then  raised  in  a  mound  form 
to  the  centre,  where  the  depth  is  thirty  feet. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  on  what  a  massive  foundation  this  elevator  was  built. 
It  is  never  known  when  an  earthquake  may  be  experienced  on  the  coast. 
Former  years  have  proved  what  devastation  may  be  caused  by  one  of  them, 
and  it  is  never  safe  to  erect  a  bulky  building  of  this  nature  on  any  but  the 
soundest  foundation. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  233 

"  The  construction  of  the  building  is  most  massive.  The  first  and  second 
stories  of  the  elevator  are  frame  work  of  12x1 2-inch — interspersed  with 
10x10  timber— Puget  Sound  timber.  The  number  of  posts  worked  in  is 
260,  which  are  capped  by  12xl8-inch  timbers,  running  crosswise  the  build- 
ing, a  width  of  85  feet.  These  joists  are  crossed  by  12x1 6-inch  timbers,  in 
four  tiers,  running  at  right  angles  the  whole  length  of  the  building,  a 
distance  of  one  hundred  feet,  and  firmly  attached  to  the  underlying  tim- 
bers. Upon  this  structure  commences  the  third  story,  or  grain  bins,  which 
are  built  up  crib  fashion,  of  an  oblong  form,  10x20  feet,  hoppered  at  the 
bottom,  in  which  there  is  a  casting  with  a  slide  for  drawing  out  the  contents 
when  required  for  shipping.  The  bins,  of  which  there  are  thirty-nine,  are 
constructed  of  2x6  plank,  spiked  on  each  other  flatwise  to  a  height  of  forty 
feet.  Above  these  is  the  cupola,  forty-two  feet  in  width,  with  a  depth  of 
one  hundred  feet,  running  longitudinally  through  the  building,  and  rising 
a  height  of  forty  feet  to  the  eaves,  from  the  level  to  the  top  of  the  bins.  This 
structure  is  three  stories  high,  with  an  attic,  in  which  is  the  principal  portion 
of  the  elevating  machinery.  This  is  driven  by  a  belt,  weighing  over  1,400 
pounds,  from  a  pully  in  the  engine  shaft  below.  The  third  story  of  the 
cupola  is  designed  for  receiving  and  weighing  grain  from  the  cars.  The 
two  lower  stories  are  adapted  for  distributing  the  grain  through  wooden 
spouts,  or  shutes,  to  the  different  bins.  The  scales  for  weighing  the  grain 
in  bulk  are  of  Fairbanks'  patent,  and  the  three  have  each  respectively  a 
capacity  of  fifteen  tons  at  a  draft,  and  their  hoppers  will  hold  five  hundred 
bushels.  There  are  three  receiving  elevators — or,  as  they  are  termed  in  the 
Western  States,  car  elevators — and  two  elevators  for  shipping.  The  latter 
are  provided,  each,  with  a  pair  of  250-bushel  hopper  scales.  There  is  one 
elevator,  or  "  leg,"  on  the  south  side,  which  is  built  into  the  building  in  a 
frame,  which  is  so  arranged  as  to  be  capable  of  being  lowered  or  raised  into 
barges  or  schooners  for  discharging  grain.  When  not  in  use  the  foot  rests 
on  the  wharf,  but  when  employed  in  unloading,  the  foot  is  carried  into  the 
vessel  to  be  discharged,  sunk  into  the  loose  grain,  a  slide  opened,  and  the 
the  cargo  very  rapidly  elevated  by  buckets,  or  cups,  attached  to  an  endless 
belt.  These  cups  will  contain  about  one-twelfth  of  a  bushel,  and  three 
hundred  and  eighty  of  them  pass  up  in  a  minute  of  time ;  equal  to  an 
aggregate  lifting  capacity  of  from  1,500  to  1,800  bushels  per  hour.  The 
grain  is  received  in  a  garner  and  weighed  out  in  100-bushel  drafts,  which 
are  received  in  the  foot  of  the  distributing  elevator  and  carried  thence  to 
the  attic,  to  be  distributed  to  the  respective  bins,  according  to  the  grade  of 
the  grain.  The  method  is  different  in  receiving  grain  from  the  cars,  which 
are  run  on  tracks  into  the  lower  story,  opposite  the  elevators.  The  grain  is 
rapidly  thrown  out  by  steam  shovels  into  a  hopper,  or  sink,  from  which  it 
runs  into  the  elevating  buckets,  and  thence  emptied  into  the  scale  of  hop- 
pers for  weighing,  and  then  distributed  into  the  proper  bins.    In  discharging 


234  THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

from  the  bins,  the  grain  is  drawn  into  the  foot  of  the  shipping  elevators ; 
thence  carried  to  the  top  of  the  building  and  weighed  in  four  hopper  scales — 
one  of  500,  two  of  300,  and  one  of  250  bushels — and  afterwards  discharged 
through  spouts  into  the  ship  to  be  loaded.  The  whole  mechanism  and 
methods  of  receiving  and  discharging  are  very  simple  and  expeditious  in 
operation.  The  storage  capacity  of  the  building  will  approximate  350,000 
bushels,  or  10,000  tons  of  wheat,  inclusive  of  store  room  for  250  tons  of 
sacked  grain.  The  handling  capacity  is  35,000  bushels  per  day,  though  it 
can  be  weighed  and  run  into  a  ship's  hold  at  a  speed  of  from  8,000  to  1 0,000 
bushels  ;  equal  to  250  to  300  tons  per  hour.  The  engine  and  boilers  are 
located  in  a  separate  fire-proof  building,  30x35  feet  in  dimensions,  from 
which  rises  a  smoke-stack,  three  feet  in  diameter,  to  a  height  of  118  feet. 
The  cylinder  of  the  engine  is  18  inches  bore  and  42  inches  stroke.  The 
engine  was  built  at  the  Union  Iron  Works,  San  Francisco.  For  regulating 
the  running  speed,  there  is  attached  to  the  engine  one  of  Scott  &  Eckart's 
patent  adjustable  cut-offs  and  governor.  The  steam  is  supplied  by  two 
boilers,  56  inches  in  diameter  and  16  feet  in  length,  containing  thirty-five 
3-inch  tubes  each ;  also  manufactured  by  Booth  &  Co.,  which  firm  manu- 
factured the  shafting,  pulleys,  etc.  There  are  200  feet  of  shafting,  ranging 
from  6  inches  down  to  1\  inches  in  diameter.  Of  belting,  there  are  3,150 
feet.  The  main  driving  belt  is  226  feet  long  and  20  inches  in  width,  and 
runs  from  a  6-foot  pully  on  the  engine  to  a  10-foot  pully  on  the  main  line 
of  shafting  in  the  top  of  the  building.  There  are  3,150  feet  of  belting  in 
service,  viz  :  226  feet,  five-ply,  20  inches  wide ;  1,200  feet,  four-ply,  20 
inches  wide ;  132  feet,  four-ply,  18  inches  wide ;  127  feet,  four-ply,  16 
inches  wide,  and  258  feet,  four-ply,  8  inches  wide.  The  aggregate  total  of 
lineal  feet  of  timber  and  lumber,  used  and  employed  in  erecting  the  elevator, 
figures  up  1,076,000  feet,  exclusive  of  35,000  lineal  feet  of  piles,  used  in  con- 
structing the  building.  The  roof  is  of  tin,  put  on  by  W.  H.  Lamb  &  Co., 
who  also  supplied  the  elevator  buckets,  hardware,  nails,  screws,  etc.  The 
outside  of  the  building  is  covered  with  smooth  iron." 

The  above  technical  information  has  been  in  the  main  taken  from  the 
Vallejo  directory  of  1870,  but,  as  many  of  the  figures  therein  given  were 
incorrect,  the  present  ones  quoted  were  supplied  by  Mr.  Luke  Alvord,  who 
was  foreman  on  the  building  during  its  erection. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  16th  of  September,  1872,  the  Vallejo  elevator 
was  no  more ;  it  fell  with  a  terrific  crash,  carrying  with  it  some  4,000  tons 
of  wheat  which  were  stored  inside,  and  1,000  more  upon  the  wharves  around 
the  building,  all  being  the  property  of  I.  Friedlander,  the  Grain  King.  The 
total  loss  was  estimated  at  $100,000.  The  cause  of  collapse  is  by  some 
asserted  to  be  on  account  of  defective  piling,  while  others  declare  that  the 
catastrophe  was  the  result  of  the  two  lower  stories  not  being  properly 
'  braced,  i.  e.  up  to  a  distance  of  25  feet  from  the  base  of  the  building.     For 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  235 

several  days  prior  to  its  collapse,  the  elevator  had  evinced  decided  symptoms 
of  settling.  Doors  had  become  cramped,  crackling  sounds  had  been  heard 
all  over  the  building,  but  this  gave  no  cause  for  alarm  ;  yet  down  it  went 
in  one  confused  heap,  happily  taking  with  it  no  human  lives. 

Carquinez  Cemetery. — This  beautiful  plot  of  ground,  like  many  others  for 
a  public  purpose,  was  donated  to  the  City  of  Vallejo  by  General  John  B. 
Frisbie  in  1857,  and  contains  twenty-five  acres.  It  is  situated  on  the  sum- 
mit of  the  rising  ground,  and  is  on  the  direct  road  to  Benicia.  A  road  run- 
ning through  the  center  divides  the  grounds  equally  and  is  apportioned,  the 
eastern  half  to  the  Catholic  and  the  western  half  to  the  Protestant.  The 
government  of  the  burial-ground  is  vested  in  Trustees  and  a  Superintendent. 

Militay  Organization. — Vallejo  boasts  one  company  of  Rifles,  composed 
of  a  fine  body  of  men  who  are  in  every  way  capable  as  citizen  soldiers.  The 
time  was  when  there  mustered  in  its  ranks  many  men  who  had  served  in 
the  war  of  the  rebellion.  These  have  in  a  measure  given  way  to  not  less 
worthy  successors,  who  have  brought  the  standard  of  their  corps  to  a  high 
state  of  perfection.  Captain  Frank  O'Grady  may  well  feel  pleasure  in  his 
command,  and. California  be  proud  of  this  portion  of  her  National  Guard. 

Vallejo  Fire  Department. — Among  the  many  institutions  in  the 
United  States  in  which  her  sons  may  truly  feel  a  just  pride,  none  are  more 
prominently  brought  forward  than  are  her  fire  companies.  Every  city  or 
town,  however  small,  boasts  of  its  brigade,  who,  whether  paid  or  from  love, 
give  their  energies  at  the  first  stroke  of  the  fire  alarm  to  save  life  and  prop- 
erty. The  Fire  Department  in  Vallejo  was  established  in  the  year  1865,  the 
inaugural  election  having  been  held  on  December  4th  of  that  year.  At  this 
meeting,  and  for  the  following  years  the  officers  elected  were:  Chief  En- 
gineer, William  Aspenall ;  January  10,  1868,  Chief  Engineer,  Philip  Hich- 
born ;  January  10, 1870,  Philip  Hichborn  was  elected  Chief  Engineer;  Jan- 
uary 12,  1872,  Alexander  Hichborn  was  chosen  Chief  and  John  L.  King, 
First  Assistant  Engineer;  May  4,  1873,  Joseph  Edgecumbe,  Chief,  Van  B. 
Smith,  First,  and  John  Welch,  Second  Assistant  Engineers  ;  May  9,  1874, 
O.  L.  Henderson,  Chief,  Gilbert  Clayton,  First,  and  B.  D.  Egery,  Second  As- 
sistant Engineers  ;  May  7,  1875,  Van  B.  Smith,  Chief,  Thomas  McDonald, 
First,  and  George  Gorham,  Second  Assistant  Engineers;  May  16,  1876, 
William  McGill,  Chief,  E.  J.  Colby,  First,  and  J.  F.  Nugent,  Second  Assist- 
ant Engineers;  May  3,  1877,  Van  B.  Smith,  Chief,  J.  J.  Smith,  First,  and 
R.  W.  Burton,  Second  Assistant  Engineer ;  May  20,  1878,  William  Beards- 
ley,  Chief,  Daniel  Skully,  First,  and  Steven  Price,  Second  Assistant  En- 
gineers ;  May  2, 1879,  Steven  M.  Price,  Chief,  Daniel  Skully,  First,  and  Peter 
Wright,  Second  Assistant  Engineers. 


236  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

San  Pablo  Engine  Company,  No.  1. — This  company  was  organized  on 
February  23,  1865,  under  the  following  officers,  who  were  elected  at  the 
first  meeting,  held  on  the  above  mentioned  date:  Foreman,  John  King; 
First  Assistant,  H.  P.  Soames ;  Second  Assistant,  Edward  Fitzmorris ; 
Treasurer,  F.  S.  Carlton ;  Secretary,  Laurence  Ryan ;  Financial  Secretary, 
John  Kennedy.  The  location  of  the  Engine  is  at  the  Masonic  Hall,  on 
Virginia  street.  It  is  of  the  fourth  class  and  weighs,  exclusive  of  supplies, 
3,700  pounds.  The  boiler  is  M.  R.  Clapp's  Circulating  Tubular  Patent, 
made  of  the  best  material  and  of  sufficient  strength  to  bear  twice  the 
pressure  usually  required.  Steam  can  be  engendered  from  cold  water  in 
from  four  to  six  minutes  from  the  time  of  the  lighting  of  the  fires.  The 
boiler  is  covered  with  German  silver,  and  banded  with  the  same  substance 
and  Princess  metal.  The  cylinder  is  fitted  to  a  bed-plate  which  contains 
all  the  steam  passages,  thus  preventing  leaky  joints  and  condensation  of 
steam.  It  is  fitted  with  self-adjusting  packing,  requiring  little  or  no  atten- 
tion from  the  Engineer.  The  steam  cylinder,  steam  chest  and  bed-plate  are 
cased  in  German  silver  and  Princess  metal.  The  main  forcing-pump  is 
double-acting,  and  made  of  a  composition  of  copper  and  tin  and  highly 
polished.  It  is  so  constructed  that  it  can  be  taken  apart  or  put  together  in 
a  few  miuutes  if  required ;  there  is  also  a  circulating  valve  for  the  purpose 
of  feeding  the  boiler  when  steam  is  cut  off.  The  large  copper  air  chamber 
is  of  Princess  metal,  with  a  nickel-plated  water  pressure  attached.  The 
steam  cylinder  is  eight  inches  m  diameter,  and  eight  inches  stroke ;  the 
pump  is  4|  inches  in  diameter  and  8  inch  stroke  ;  the  forward  wheels  are  4| 
and  the  rear  ones  5  feet  high.  The  engine  is  thoroughly  equipped  with 
tongue  rope,  hose-brake  lamps,  headlight  and  all  the  paraphernalia  for 
ordinary  use.  The  hose  cart  is  two-wheeled  and  carries  500  feet  of  car- 
bolized  hose,  and  is  in  good  condition.  The  officers  of  the  Company  are : 
Alexander  Hichborn,  Foreman  ;  J.  W.  Van  Meeter,  First  Assistant ;  Alex- 
ander Morrison,  Second  Assistant ;  James  Topley,  Treasurer  ;  T.  S.  Gilbert, 
Secretary;  J.  W.  Winters,  Engineer;  Louis  Rosine,  Stoker.  There  are 
fifty-eight  members  in  good  standing.  The  Engineer,  Stoker  and  Secre- 
tary are  permanently  employed ;  these,  together  with  the  Foreman,  two, 
Assistants  and  fifty-one  members  constitute  the  entire  Company. 

Vallejo  Schools — Early  Beginnings. — During  the  summer  of  1855,  a 
Mr.  Wilmott,  a  Methodist  minister,  solicited  subscriptions  to  raise  funds  for 
the  erection  of  a  building  to  be  used  jointly  as  a  church  and  school  house. 
Admiral  Farragut  was  then  in  command  of  the  Navy  Yard,  and  Isaiah  Hans- 
com,  Naval  Constructor.  The  paper  wss  circulated  among  the  men  on  the 
yard  and  one  thousand  ($1,000)  dollars  subscribed  ;  many  of  the  men  giving 
a  day's  pay.  General  J.  B.  Frisbie  donated  two  lots  on  Virginia  street, 
between  Marin  and  Sonoma.     The  building  was  soon  erected,  most  of  the 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  237 

work  having  been  contributed  by  the  different  mechanics  in  town.  Miss 
Frost,  a  relative  of  Mr.  Hanscom,  opened  a  school  in  this  building  the  same 
summer,  and  continued  it  for  several  months.  The  church  people  desiring 
to  plaster  the  room  requested  the  school  to  vacate,  and  it  was  therefore 
moved  into  the  old  building,  now  standing  on  the  corner  of  Maine  and 
Marin  streets,  and  known  as  "  Smith  and  King's  blacksmith  shop."  (It  is 
not  known  whether  this  teacher  was  paid  in  full  by  tuition  bills,  or  in  part 
from  public  money). 

Miss  Frost  was  succeeded  in  1856  by  Mr.  George  Rowell,  who,  afterwards, 
in  the  fall  of  that  year,  moved  into  an  old  building  known  as  the  "  Virginia 
House,"  now  standing  on  Sonoma  street,  near  Pennsylvania.  In  the  spring 
of  1857  a  public  meeting  was  called,  to  see  what  action  should  be  taken  rela- 
tive to  building  a  public  school  house.  Responding  to  the  call  the  people 
assembled  at  the  old  State  House,  then  standing  near  where  Eureka  Hall  is 
now  located  (afterward  burned),  and  General  J.  F.  Houghton  was  chosen 
moderator.  At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  to  build  a  house,  and  money  was 
raised  by  subscription  to  pay  for  the  same.  Three  lots  were  donated  by 
General  J.  B.  Frisbie,  on  Carolina  street,  at  the  corner  of  Sonoma,  James 
Newbert  being  the  contractor  and  builder.  The  original  building  was  about 
forty  feet  square,  with  ceiling  some  fourteen  feet  high.  At  about  this  time 
there  were  several  teachers,  who  succeeded  each  other  at  short  intervals  ;  a 
Mr.  Farmer,  Miss  Coyle,  Miss  Casson,  Mr.  Mason,  Mr.  N.  Smith.  Up  to  this 
time,  spring  of  1858,  we  have  been  unable  to  learn  whether  the  teachers 
were  paid  in  part  with  public  money  or  entirely  by  tuition  bills,  but  there 
is  reason  to  believe  some  public  money  was  received  as  early  as  1857.  Mr. 
E.  M.  Benjamin,  now  of  San  Francisco,  was  one  of  the  trustees,  and  em- 
ployed Mr.  Newbert  to  build  the  house  in  1857. 

In  the  fall  of  1859,  or  spring  of  1860,  Mr.  Fred.  Campbell  (now  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools,  Oakland)  took  charge  of  the  public  school  and  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1861.  In  June  of  that  year  Miss  Root,  now  the  wife  of 
Hon.  S.  G.  Hilborn,  taught  for  one  month,  when  Mr.  Isaiah  Hurlburt  entered 
the  school  as  principal,  and  Miss  Root  as  assistant ;  they  remained  until  June, 
1862,  when  they  were  succeeded  by  Mr.  Atchinson  and  wife,  who  remained 
about  one  year.  Mr.  J.  E.  Fliggle  then  took  charge  of  the  school,  assisted  by 
Miss  Casebolt,  who  remained  until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  Miss  C.  resigned, 
and  Miss  Alice  Pickle  was  appointed  in  her  place  ;  they  continued  the  school 
up  to  September  5,  1864,  when  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Simonton  took  charge  as  princi- 
pal and  Miss  Sophia  A.  Simonton,  now  Mrs.  Harris,  as  assistant.  Prior  to 
1864  there  had  been  several  boards  of  trustees.  E.  M.  Benjamin  was  one  of 
the  first.  J.  W.  Farmer,  E.  J.  Wilson,  A.  Powell,  M.  J.  Wright,  and  others, 
but  there  is  no  data  to  fix  either  the  date  or  order.  Mr.  Wright,  however, 
was  a  trustee  in  1864. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Simonton  entered  the  school  there  were  two  rooms  in  the 


238  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

school  building,  the  one  built  by  Mr.  Newbert  for  the  principal,  and  a  small 
room  some  twenty  feet  square,  added  subsequently  for  the  assistant.  There 
were  at  this  time  in  both  rooms  about  seventy  scholars. 

The  school  was  ungraded  and  its  entire  management  left  to  the  principal. 
During  all  these  years  and  up  to  about  1867  the  salary  of  teachers  had  been 
paid,  in  part  at  least,  by  rate  bills,  levied  pro  rata  on  all  the  children.  From 
1864  to  about  1871  the  increase  of  children  in  public  schools  was  very  rapid, 
and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  the  trustees  could  furnish  sitting  room  for  the 
children.  Taxes  were  levied  on  the  people  and  paid  cheerfully,  to  build 
school  rooms.  In  1867  there  were  five  rooms,  with  as  many  teachers,  packed 
wTith  children,  each  having  from  seventy  to  one  hundred  and  twenty,  fre- 
quently compelled  to  sit  on  the  stage,  on  boxes  or  stools,  for  whole  terms. 

Present  Results. — No  city  in  the  State  has  shown  more  interest  in  the 
matter  of  education  than  Yallejo.  Her  people  have  ever  been  alive  to  the 
importance  of  giving  the  rising  generation  a  liberal  education.  From  1867 
to  1869  the  influx  of  population  was  so  great  that  the  school  trustees  found 
it  very  difficult,  with  the  limited  means  and  accommodation  at  their  com- 
mand, to  provide  rooms  and  school  furniture  for  the  constantly  increasing 
pupils.  In  1869  the  board  of  trustees,  viz.:  J.  G.  Lawton,  M.  J.  Wright  and 
I.  S.  Halsey,  determined  to  submit  to  the  people  the  question  of  taxing 
themselves  for  the  purpose  of  raising  money  to  build  a  new  school  house, 
and,  to  their  credit  be  it  recorded,  the  proposition  was  carried  by  a  large  ma- 
jority and  the  tax  was  levied.  Plans  having  been  advertised  for  those  pre- 
sented by  Messrs.  Hoagland  &  Newsome,  of  San  Francisco,  were  approved 
and  the  contract  for  constructing  a  large,  commodious  three-story  building 
was  awarded  to  J.  W.  Newbert,  a  citizen  of  Vallejo,  for  the  sum  of  $14,000. 

With  a  desire  to  extend  the  efficiency  of  the  school  department,  J.  G, 
Lawton,  acting  under  instruction  of  the  trustees,  prepared  a  special  school 
law  for  the  city  of  Vallejo,  providing  (among  other  things)  for  a  Board  of 
Education,  to  consist  of  a  superintendent  and  four  school  directors,  naming 
the  following  gentlemen,  who  should  serve  until  the  next  charter  election^ 
viz.:  J.  G.  Lawton,  Superintendent  and  ex-officio  President  of  the  Board; 
M.  J.  Wright,  Secretary;  E.  M.  Benjamin,  B.  T.  Osborn  and  I.  S.  Halsey, 
Directors.  The  law  was  passed  by  the  legislature;  and  signed  by  the  gov- 
ernor March  25,  1870.  The  gentlemen  above  named  having  been  clothed 
with  the  proper  authority,  entered  at  once  into  the  work  assigned  them,  and 
labored  assiduously  for  the  promotion  of  the  educational  interests  of  the 
city.  On  the  6  th  of  July,  1870,  the  new  school-house  was  turned  over  to, 
and  accepted  by  the  Board;  and  although  the  third  story  remained  un- 
finished, still  the  accomodation  afforded  greatly  relieved  the  pressing  de- 
mands upon  the  department.  The  following  description  will  convey  a  very 
correct  idea  of   this  beautiful  structure:    The  building  is  forty-eight  feet 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  239 

front,  by  sixty-eight  feet  deep.  Ells  eight  feet  wide.  Single  story,  rear 
wing,  14x30 \  feet.  It  is  three  stories  high,  with  Mansard  roof,  all  inclosed 
in  rustic  style.  Two  wings,  each  eight  feet  wide,  set  out  at  each  end  of  the 
building,  furnishing  broad  entrances  and  stairways;  these  wings  are  sur- 
mounted with  observatories.  The  centre  of  the  building  rises  to  a  higher 
elevation,  and  upon  its  crown  rests  a  turret,  which  serves  both  as  a  ventil- 
ator and  belfry.  The  class-rooms  are  lighted  from  the  front  by  four  double, 
oval-topped  windows,  and  the  side  elevations  are  equally  well  provided  with 
large  windows.  The  first  floor  is  four  feet  from  the  ground,  and  the  first 
and  second  stories  fourteen  feet  six  inches  high,  and  the  third  fourteen  feet. 
On  the  first  floor,  three  large  school-rooms  are  arranged  for,  each  having 
entrance  from  the  wings.  Iron  columns  support  the  upper  floors,  and  plat- 
forms for  teachers  occupy  convenient  positions.  In  the  rear  are  two  private 
rooms  for  teachers;  halls  wash-rooms  and  wardrobes.  The  second  story  is 
also  conveniently  partitioned  off",  affording  four  good-sized  class-rooms.  The 
general  style  of  building  is  neat,  with  no  excess  of  ornamentation.  Prior 
to  the  building  of  this  house,  the  trustees  were  compelled  to  hire  rooms  in 
various  and  unsuitable  parts  of  the  city,  paying  therefor  heavy  rents;  the 
colored  school  being  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  United  States  Hotel.  On 
July  9th,  1870,  the  Board  adopted  the  classification  and  course  of  study  in 
use  in  the  public  schools  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  with  such  modifications  as 
were  deemed  proper  by  the  Board.  The  following  corps  of  teachers  was 
employed  to  teach  under  the  new  and  improved  system:  G.  W.  Simonton, 
principal  of  the  High-school,  W.  F.  Roe,  and  Isabella  Murphy,  assistants ; 
A.  W.  Dozier,  principal  of  the  Grammar  department,  with  William  Crow- 
hurst,  Miss  Lawrence,  and  J.  McFadden,  as  assistants;  Miss  Sophia 
Simonton,  Miss  Mary  Turtelott,  Miss  Foye,  Miss  Delia  Sweatland,  Mary  G. 
Hall  and  Miss  Rutherford,  teachers  of  the  Primary  department,  and  Miss 
Wundenburg,  teacher  of  the  Colored  school;    W.  M.  Cole,  Janitor. 

The  salaries  paid  at  this  time  were  from  $50  to  SI 50  per  month,  aggre- 
gating, including  Superintendent,  Secretary  and  Janitor,  $1,151  per  month. 
The  regulations  adopted  by  the  Board  provide  for  a  ten-months'  school, 
divided  into  two  terms  of  five  months  each,  with  a  mid-term  vacation  of 
one  week.  The  school-money  received  from  the  state  and  county  was 
found  inadequate,  and  to  make  up  the  deficiency,  the  following  schedule  of 
rate-bills  was  adopted,  payable  monthly:  "High-school  department,  each 
pupil,  $2  50;  first  and  second  grade,  Grammer,  $2  00;  third  grade,  Gram- 
mar, $1  75;  fourth  grade,  Grammer,  $1  50;  Primary  department,  $1  00. 
At  the  end  of  the  first  month  after  the  adoption  of  this  order,  viz.:  from 
Jan.  4,  to  Feb.  15,  1871,  the  teachers  reported  to  the  Board,  collections 
amounting  to  $543  70.  At  the  end  of  May,  1871,  the  following  teachers 
were  elected  for  the  next  term:  G.  W.  Simonton,  W.  F.  Roe,  and  Miss  Julia 
Benjamin,  for   High-school;    A.  W.  Dozier,  Misses   Sweatland,  Tourtelott, 


240  THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Benjamin,  Murphy,  and  Mrs.  C.  A.  Kidder  (nee  Simonton)  Misses  Kate  Hall, 
Anderson,  Rutherford,  Foye,  and  Wm.  Crowhurst,  principal  of  the  South 
Vallejo  school;  and  Miss  Mary  Tobin,  Etta  Thompson,  and  Miss  Watson, 
teacher  of  the  colored  school. 

On  the  15th  of  September  the  following  gentlemen,  having  been  elected 
by  the  people  as  provided  in  the  new  City  School  law,  were  duly  qualified, 
and  took  their  seats  as  the  second  Board  of  Education  of  Vallejo:  Rev.  N. 
B.  Klink,  Superintendent;  I.  S.  Halsey,  Secretary;  Luke  Doe,  J.  H.  Green 
and  E.  H.  M.  Baily,  Directors.  The  newly-elected  members  entered  at 
once  into  the  good  work  begun  by  the  previous  Board,  and  the  Vallejo 
schools  soon  became  famous  throughout  the  adjacent  counties,  many  pupils 
being  sent  here  for  instruction,  and  large  numbers  of  most  excellent  teach- 
ers making  application  for  positions  as  instructors. 

The  first  question  of  importance  presented  to  this  Boai'd  for  its  considera- 
tion related  to  the  finances  of  the  department.  The  school-money  received 
from  the  state  and  county  was  only  sufficient  to  maintain  the  schools  for 
eight  months.  A  special  tax  of  thirty-five  cents  on  each  $100  valuation  on 
the  assessment-roll  was  therefore  provided  for  in  the  special  law  before- 
mentioned,  to  make  up  the  deficiency.  This  tax  was  assessed  and  collected 
by  the  county  officials,  in  the  same  manner  and  at  the  same  time  of  assess- 
ing and  collecting  the  state  and  county  taxes,  and  without  cost  to  the  school- 
fund.  This  arrangement  worked  well,  and  gave  great  satisfaction  to  the 
public;  but,  unfortunately,  the  State  Board  of  Equalization  the  next  year 
decided  that  all  such  laws  throughout  the  state  were  unconstitutional,  and 
issued  an  order  restraining  County  Assessors  and  Collectors  from  assessing 
or  collecting  township  and  district  taxes.  They  further  promulgated  this 
principle  in  the  matter  of  taxation,  viz.:  "That  all  taxes  levied  and  col- 
lected for  township  and  district  purposes  must  be  assessed  and  collected 
by  officers  elected  by  the  people  to  be  taxed."  This  rendered  a  revision 
of  the  Vallejo  School  Law  necessary.  The  matter  was  referred  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Board  with  instructions  to  procure  legal  assistance  and 
so  revise  the  Special  School  Law  as  to  secure  the  assessing  and  collecting 
of  the  usual  special  tax.  On  the  5th  of  January,  1874,  J.  G.  Lawton,  Esq., 
presented  the  revised  law  to  the  Board,  which,  after  some  modifications,  was 
approved,  and  the  Secretary  instructed  to  forward  it  to  the  Hon.  J.  L. 
Heald,  member  of  assembly,  by  whom  it  was  introduced  for  legislative 
action;  on  the  25th  day  of  February  following  it  was  signed  by  the  Gover- 
nor, and  has  ever  since  been  the  school  law  of  Vallejo  township.  The 
changes  made  related  more  especially  to  the  matter  of  including  the  entire 
township  of  Vallejo  in  the  school  district,  and  making  provision  for  the 
election  of  a  township  Assessor  and  Collector  as  required  by  the  order  be- 
fore-mentioned, emanating  from  the  State  Board  of  Equalization. 

At  the  close  of  the  school  year  ending  December,  1871,  Messrs.  Gregory, 


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THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  241 

Hilborn,  Lawton,  Ashbrook,  Dr.  L.  C.  Frisbie,  and  Rev.  C.  E.  Rich,  assisted 
the  Superintendent,  Mr.  Klink,  in  making  the  usual  term-examination, 
and  the  report  made  by  these  gentlemen  was  highly  creditable  to  teachers 
and  pupils,  and  quite  satisfactory  to  the  Board.  On  January  2,  1872,  the 
Board  adopted  a  course  of  study,  rules  and  regulations,  and  had  the  same 
printed  in  pamphlet  form  for  gratuitous  distribution  among  the  people. 
During  this  year,  Mr.  Simonton,  the  principal,  obtained  permission  of  the 
Board  to  give  a  number  of  public  school  entertainments,  for  the  purpose  of 
raising  money  to  purchase  a  suitable  bell  for  house  No.  1.  His  efforts  were 
successful  beyond  expectation,  and  the  fine  bell  thus  secured  to  the  school 
department  has  ever  since  been  ringing  out  notes  of  praise  to  all  who  par- 
ticipated in  this  worthy  object.     The  cost  of  the  bell  was  $325. 

The  teachers  elected  for  the  term  beginning  January,  1872,  were  the  same 
as  last  term,  with  the  exception  that  Mrs.  Kidder  resigned  and  J.  McFadden 
was  elected  and  assigned  to  the  South  Vallejo  school. 

On  the  23d  day  of  April,  1872,  Mr.  Simonton,  after  so  many  years  of 
faithful  service  in  the  cause  of  education,  was  compelled  to  hand  in  his 
resignation  on  account  of  failing  health.  After  several  ineffectual  attempts 
on  the  part  of  the  Board  to  induce  him  to  continue,  his  resignation  was 
finally  accepted  on  the  7th  of  May,  1872.  After  accepting  the  resignation 
of  Prof.  Simonton,  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  passed  by 
the  Board: 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  with  unfeigned  regret  we  are  called  upon  to  part 
with  our  late  Principal,  O.  W.  Simonton,  he  having  filled  that  position  for 
years  with  honor  to  himself,  profit  to  the  children  of  Vallejo,  and  the  per- 
fect satisfaction  of  the  Board. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Board  are  due,  and  are  hereby  tendered 
to  him  for  many  valuable  suggestions,  and  his  unremitting  efforts  in  assist- 
ing us  to  arrange  and  perfect  our  present  school  system. 

Resolved,  That  we  cordially  recommend  him  to  all  interested  in  educa- 
cational  matters  as  a  gentleman  in  every  way  competent,  and  worthy  of 
their  entire  confidence  and  esteem." 

On  June  11,  1872,  the  following  teachers  were  elected  for  the  term  com- 
mencing July  next : 

C.  B.  Towle,  Principal  of  the  High  School ;  W.  F.  Roe,  Teacher  of  Lan- 
guages ;  Miss  Kate  Hall,  First  Assistant  in  the  High  School ;  Miss  Julia 
Benjamin,  Second  Assistant,  High  School;  Miss  Mary  Tourtelott,  Third 
Assistant,  High  School;  A.  W.  Doziei,  Principal  of  the  Grammar  Depart- 
ment ;  Miss  F.  A.  Frisbie,  Miss  Delia  Sweatland,  Mrs.  C.  A.  Kidder  and  Miss 
J.  Belle  Murphy,  Assistants ;  Wm.  Crowhurst,  Principal  of  the  Primary 
Department ;  Miss  C.  F.  Barney,  Miss  Etta  Thompson  and  Fannie  Watson, 
Assistants ;  J.  A.  McFadden,  Principal  of  the  South  Vallejo  School ;  Miss 
Mary  Tobin,  Assistant. 

16 


242  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

On  July  13,  1872,  a  petition  having  been  received  from  a  number  of 
citizens  residing  near  the  Orphans'  Home  asking  the  Board  of  Education  to 
open  a  public  school  in  the  Home  building,  and  the  consent  of  the  officers 
of  that  institution  having  been  obtained,  it  was  agreed  to  by  the  Board,  and 
Prof.  N.  Smith  was  elected  to  teach  the  school,  all  to  be  under  the  same 
rules  and  regulations  governing  the  Vallejo  Public  School. 

It  may  here  be  interesting  to  give  the  amount  of  money  disbursed  the  past 
school  year  as  appears  from  the  Secretary's  report  dated  June,  1872.  Sal- 
aries, $13,745.45  ;  interest  on  Mackay's  note,  $750  ;  interest  on  money  bor- 
rowed to  pay  teachers,  $510.40  ;  repairs  and  improvements,  $1,020.39; 
school  supplies,  $691.99  ;  school  furniture,  $354.25  ;  rents,  $337  ;  insurance, 
$264.35  ;  grading  and  constructing  sidewalks,  $175.40  ;  fuel,  $148.33  ;  water, 
$114.80;  printing,  $121.25;  incidentals,  $129.55;  library,  $50;  expressage, 
$20— total  $18,433.16. 

The  receipts  for  the  same  year  were  from  the  following  sources :  Balance 
in  Treasury  at  beginning  of  the  year  $69.36  ;  received  from  the  State  Fund, 
$4,741.35 ;  received  from  the  County  Fund,  $7,842.65 ;  received  from  the 
District  Special  Tax,  $4,234.29 ;  received  from  the  City  Special  Tax, 
$2,415.21— total  $19,302.86. 

On  July  13,  1872,  the  death  of  E.  H.  M.  Baily  one  of  the  School  Directors 
was  announced  and  suitable  resolutions  of  respect  and  condolence  passed 
by  the  Board. 

On  November  4th  following,  Mr.  F.  Carlton  having  been  duly  appointed 
School  Director  by  the  Superintendent  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  Board 
occasioned  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Baily,  he  qualified,  and  took  his  seat. 

January  20,  1873,  the  Board  of  Education  elected  the  following  named 
teachers  to  act  as  City  Board  of  Examination :  N.  B.  Klink,  President ;  C. 
B.  Towle,  W.  F.  Roe,  Melville  Dozier,  Wm.  Crowhurst,  A.  W.  Dozier  and  W. 
H.  Fry,  County  Superintendent. 

The  following  teachers  were  elected  for  the  term  beginning  in  January, 
1873 :  C.  B.  Towle,  Principal  of  High  School ;  W.  F.  Roe,  Professor  of 
Languages  ;  Miss  Kate  Hall,  Assistant  in  High  School ;  A.  W.  Dozier,  Prin- 
cipal of  Grammar  Department ;  G.  W.  Simonton,  Second  Grade  ;  Miss  Delia 
Sweatland,  First  Division,  Third  Grade  ;  Miss  Julia  Benjamin,  Second  Divi- 
sion, Third  Grade  ;  Miss  P.  A.  Frisbie,  First  Division,  Fourth  Grade ;  Miss 
Isabelle  A.  Murphy,  Second  Division,  Fourth  Grade ;  Wm.  Crowhurst, 
Principal  of  Primary  Department ;  Miss  Etta  L.  Thompson,  Second  Grade ; 
Miss  Mary  Tourtelott,  Third  Grade ;  Miss  Jennie  S.  Klink,  Assistant  in 
Third  Grade ;  Mrs.  C.  A.  Kidder,  Fourth  Grade  ;  Melville  Dozier,  Principal, 
South  Vallejo ;  N.  Smith,  Principal  Orphans'  Home ;  Miss  Jane  Anderson, 
Colored  School. 

The  year  1873  was  made  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  Vallejo  schools 
by  the  erection  of  the  new  and  and  beautiful  school  house  now  standing  on 


THE     HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  243 

the  corner  of  Carolina  and  Sonoma  streets.  This  improvement  was  made 
for  additional  accommodation  for  the  Grammar  and  Primary  Departments. 
This  work  was  done  under  a  contract  with  Mr.  Charles  Murphy,  a  citizen  of 
Vallejo,  for. the  sum  of  $6,500. 

It  was  also  during  this  year  that  the  Board  adopted  a  Diploma  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  graduates  from  the  Vallejo  High  School.  The  first  graduates 
receiving  this  mark  of  distinction  were  Misses  Maggie  Tobin,  Mary  Mc- 
Knight,  Hattie  Dempsey  and  Mary  Long. 

On  Monday,  March  16,  1874,  the  first  election  was  held  under  the  provis- 
ions of  the  amended  School  Law,  resulting  in  the  choice  of  the  following 
named  gentlemen  :  J.  G.  Lawton,  Superintendent ;  I.  S.  Halsey,  Secretary  ; 
L.  Doe,  J.  Q.  Adams  and  A.  J.  McPike,  Directors  ;  G.  T.  Plaisted,  Assessoi 
and  Collector;  and  on  the  6th  day  of  April  they  qualified  took  their  scats, 
and  immediately  entered  upon  the  duty  assigned  them. 

Through  the  kindness  and  courtesy  of  the  City  Trustees,  early  in  the 
year  1874  the  Board  of  Education  was  furnished  with  a  very  pleasant  room 
in  the  City  Hall  to  hold  their  meetings  and  transact  their  business. 

June  5,  1874,  Mr.  G.  W.  Simonton  having  previously  obtained  permission 
of  the  Board  to  give  an  entertainment  for  the  purpose  of  raising  money 
with  which  to  purchase  a  piano  for  the  Grammar  Department,  of  which  he 
was  Principal,  reported  $190  as  the  proceeds  of  the  undertaking.  A  short 
time  afterward  the  instrument  now  in  use  was  secured. 

Graduating  Class  of  1874  —  Misses  :  Mary  S.  Halsey,  Mary  Wynn,  Etta 
Foye,  Mary  Hobbs,  Margaret  Wakely,  Josephine  Sundquest,  and  Margaret 
Dunn. 

Teachers  elected  in  June,  1874  —  C.  B.  Towle,  W.  F.  Roe,  Jennie  Dickin- 
son, Dora  Harris,  Mary  Congdon,  G.  W.  Simonton,  J.  T.  Royal,  Win.  Crow- 
hurst,  J.  S.  Congdon,  N.  Smith,  Mrs.  C.  A.  Kidder,  Julia  Benjamin,  Miss  C. 
H.  Pinkhani,  Belle  Murphy,  Etta  Thompson,  Mary  Tobin,  Miss  P.  A.  Frisbie, 
Mary  Foye,  Jennie  Klink,  and  D.  P.  Whitney,  janitor. 

The  Census  Marshal  for  1874.  J.  H.  Green.  Esq.,  reports  :  Whole  number 
white  children  in  the  township,  between  5  and  17  —  boys,  800  ;  Girls,  762. 
Total,  1,562.  Colored  children— boys,  13;  girls,  3.  Total,  16.  Mongolian 
under  17—20.  Blind— 1.  Total,  between  5  and  17—1,599.  Number  of 
children  between  5  and  17,  who  have  attended  Public  school  during  the 
year:  White — 998;  Negro,  14.  Total — 1,012.  Number  who  have  attended 
private  schools — 263.  Number  who  have  not  attended  any  school :  White 
-305  ;  Negro,  2  ;  Indian,  1.     Total— 308. 

Number  of  children  native  born,  and  having  native  parents — 865.  Num- 
ber  native  born  children,  having  one  native  born  parent — 301.  Number  of 
children  native  born,  having  both  parents  foreign  — 1,292.  Number  of 
children  foreign  born — 15. 

At  a   meeting  of  the  Board,  held  July  3,  1874,  a  resolution  was  intro- 


244 


THE   HISTOKY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


duced  to  abolish  the  colored  school,  and  admit  the  pupils  thereof  to  the 
graded  schools.  The  question  was  fully  discussed  by  members  of  the  Board, 
the  citizens  present,  with  one  exception,  favoring  the  proposed  change.  The 
resolution  was  adopted ;  and  Vallejo  took  the  lead  in  the  important  question 
by  being  the  first  city  to  admit  colored  children  to  the  graded  schools,  and 
thus  conferring  upon  them  equal  privileges  with  the  white  children.  The 
whole  number  of  children  enrolled  July,  1874,  were  1,011. 

On  December  30,  1874,  Prof.  G.  W.  Simonton,  and  Miss  Belle  Murphy, 
resigned.  April  2,  1875,  School  Director,  L.  Doe,  having  removed  to  Oak- 
land, tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  accepted,  and  David  Rutherford 
was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy.  It  should  here  be  stated,  to  the  credit 
of  Mr.  Doe,  that,  while  acting  as  a  Director,  he  ever  evinced  a  strong  desire 
to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  Vallejo  School  Department;  always 
punctual  in  his  attendance  at  the  meetings  of  the  Board,  and  taking  a  lively 
interest  in  all  questions  presented.  On  the  2d  of  June,  1875.  the  Board, 
being  in  session,  much  interest  was  manifested  on  a  proposition  to  abolish 
the  department  of  languages.  Mr.  Halsey  moved  the  adoption  of  the  fol- 
lowing :  Whereas,  "  It  having  come  to  the  knowledge  of  this  Board  that  an 
effort  will  be  made  to  induce  its  members  to  abolish  the  department  of  lan- 
guages, now  in  the  High  School  course ;  and,  Whereas,  Under  the  present 
arrangement,  the  children  of  the  poorest  of  our  citizens  stand  on  an  equality 
with  those  more  fortunate,  securing  to  them  the  same  opportunity  to  secure 
a  High  School  diploma,  entitling  them  to  the  privilege  of  entering  the 
State  University ;  and  Whereas,  The  proposed  change  would  result  in  a 
serious  drawback  to  the  educational  interest  of  Vallejo,  and  be  looked  upon 
as  a  step  backward  in  the  hitherto  onward  progress  of  our  city.     Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we  deem  it  expedient,  and  for  the  best  interests  of  Vallejo 
and  her  citizens,  to  continue  the  Department  of  Languages  in  the  High 
School  course." 

The  question  was  discussed  by  members  of  the  Board,  and  a  number  of 
citizens,  including  Messrs.  J.  E.  Abbott,  G.  W.  Simonton,  Hon.  M.  J.  Wright, 
C.  B.  Towle,  J.  P.  Garlick,  and  County  Superintendent  C.  W.  Childs.  Many 
interesting  and  instructive  ideas  were  presented,  all  tending  to  show  the 
deep  interest  the  people  of  Vallejo  feel  in  educational  matters.  The  resolu- 
tion was  finally  adopted,  and  the  department  of  languages  thus  continued. 

On  the  28th  of  May,  1875,  Masters  Lewis  G.  Harrier  and  Samuel  Irving, 
received  their  diplomas  as  graduates  of  the  Vallejo  High  School.  It  is 
worthy  of  note  to  state  in  this  connection,  that  both  of  these  young  men 
were  at  once  admitted  to  the  State  University. 

The  teachers  for  1875  and  '76,  were :  C.  B.  Towle,  Principal  of  the  High 
School ;  W.  F.  Roe,  Professor  of  Languages  in  the  High  Schoo] ;  J.  P.  Gar- 
lick,  Principal  of  the  Grammar  Department ;  Viola  R.  Kimball,  Second 
Grammar  Department ;  Sophia  A.  P.  Kidder,  Second  Grammar  Department ; 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  245 

Anna  R.  Congdon,  Third  Grade  Department ;  Dora  B.  Harris,  Third  Grade 
Department ;  Beverley  Cox,  Fourth  Grade  Grammar  Department ;  Jennie 
B.  Chase,  Fourth  Grade  Grammar  Department ;  Wm.  Crowhurst,  Principal  of 
the  Primary  Department ;  Mary  Wynne,  First  Grade  Primary  Department ; 
Jennie  Klink,  Second  Grade  Primary  Department ;  Etta  L.  Thompson,  Third 
Grade  Primary  Department ;  Lucy  Gilman,  Third  Grade  Primary  Depart- 
ment ;  Charlotte  M.  Barry,  Fourth  Grade  Primary  Department ;  Mary  G. 
To  bin,  Fourth  Grade  Primary  Department ;  J.  S.  Congdon,  Principal  of  the 
South  Vallejo  School ;  Mary  A.  Foye,  Assistant  of  the  South  Vallejo  School ; 
Nehemiah  Smith,  Principal  of  the  Orphans'  Home  School ;  Fannie  E.  Smith, 
Assistant  of  the  Orphans'  Home  School.  , 

School  Census  Marshal's  Report — 1875.  Number  of  children  from  5  to 
17  :  boys,  white,  826  ;  girls,  white,  790  ;  total,  1,625.  Number  of  colored 
children  from  5  to  17:  boys,  4 ;  girls,  7  ;  total,  11.  Number  of  children 
under  5,  788.  Colored,  79.  Children  in  Public  Schools,  963.  Colored,  8. 
Children  in  Private  Schools,  331.     Children  not  attending  school,  351. 

This  Board  of  Education  was  elected  in  March,  1876:  J.  E.  Abbott,  Super- 
intendent, ex-officio  President.  School  Directors — John  Farnham,  C.  H. 
Hubbs,  D.  Rutherford,  A.  J.  McPike ;  I.  S.  Halsey,  Secretary. 

Committees — On  Grounds,  Buildings,  Repairs,  Fuel  and  Warming  School 
Houses — McPike,  Rutherford,  Abbott.  On  Janitors,  School  Furniture,  School 
Library  and  Apparatus — Hubbs,  Farnham,  Abbott.  On  Teachers,  Rules 
and  Regulations,  and  School  Discipline — Rutherford,  Hubbs,  Abbott.  On 
Finance  and  Accounts — Farnham,  McPike,  Abbott. 

Board  of  Examination — J.  E.  Abbott,  City  Superintendent,  ex-officio 
President ;  C.  W.  'Childs,  County  Superintendent  ex-officio  ;  C.  B.  Towle, 
Secretary ;  J.  P.  Garlick,  W.  Crowhurst,  J.  S.  Congdon. 

Teachers— C.  B.  Towle,  Principal  of  the  High  School ;  W.  F.  Roe,  Pro- 
fessor of  Languages  in  the  High  School ;  J.  P.  Garlick,  Principal  of  the 
Grammar  Department ;  Sophia  A.  P.  Kidder,  Second  Grammar  Department ; 
Viola  R.  Kimball,  Third  Grade  Department ;  Dora  B.  Harris,  Third  Grade 
Department ;  Hettie  Dempsey,  Fourth  Grade  Grammar  Department ;  Mag- 
gie Dunn,  Fourth  Grade  Grammar  Department ;  William  Crowhurst,  Prin- 
cipal of  the  Primary  Department ;  Mary  Wynne,  First  Grade  Primary  De- 
partment ;  Jennie  Klink,  Second  Grade  Primary  Department ;  Ettie  L. 
Thompson,  Third  Grade  Primary  Department ;  Lucy  Gilman,  Third  Grade 
Primary  Department ;  Charlotte  M.  Barry,  Fourth  Grade  Primary  Depart- 
ment; E.  P.  Fouche,  Fourth  Grade  Primary  Department;  J.  S.  Congdon, 
Principal  of  the  South  Vallejo  School ;  Mary  Tobin,  Assistant  of  the  South 
Vallejo  School ;  Nehemiah  Smith,  Principal  of  the  Orphans'  Home  School. 

In  1876,  the  Graduates  were  Misses:  Ida  Hobbs,  Susan  Cheesman,  Carrie 


246  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Frasier,  Gemi  Martin,  Carrie   Barbour,  Annie  Crocker,  Hat  tie    Klink,  with 
Masters  Edward  Lawton,  Louis  Long  and  Charles  Batchellor. 

On  September  29,  1-876,  Mr.  Abbott  resigned  the  position  of  Superin- 
tendent, owing  to  pressing  business  in  connection  with  the  Vallejo  Bank, 
and  the  Rev.  N.  B.  Klink  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Graduating  Class,  1877 — Edward  Frisbie,  Jr.,  Thomas  Robinson,  Thomas 
Dempsey,  John  Frisbie,  Mary  Rowe. 

Teachers'  Election,  May,  1877— High  School— C.  B.  Towle,  W.  F.  Roe. 
Grammar  School — J.  P.  Garlick,  Sarah  Farrington,  Florence  Goodspeed, 
Jennie  S.  Klink,  Mary  L.  McKennan,  Hettie  Dempsey,  Maggie  Dunn. 
Primary — Mrs.  Sophia  Kidder,  Mary  Wynne,  Mary  Hobbs,  Etta  Thompson, 
Lucy  Gilman,  C.  M.  Barry,  E.  C.  Fouche,  J.  S.  Congdon,  Alice  Blank,  A.  T. 
Stiles.     Janitors — D.  T.  Whitney  and  H.  D.  Lazell 

School  Census  Report  of  J.  S.  Congdon,  Marshal,  for  1877,  was :  Boys, 
from  5  to  17,  745 ;  girls,  733  ;  colored,  boys,  1,  girls,  4 ;  Indians,  boys,  0, 
girls,  1.  Total,  1,484.  Number  under  5  years  of  age — Boys  and  girls, 
white,  795  ;  negro,  2.  Native  born  and  parents  native,  706 ;  native  born 
and  one  parent  foreign,  384;  native  born  and  both  parents  foreign,  1,149; 
foreign  born,  53.  Early  in  1878  the  Board  purchased  three  additional  lots, 
adjoining  the  school  property,  and  had  the  same  planted  in  evergreen  trees, 
and  vines.  The  grounds  are  intended  as  play-grounds  for  the  girls  and  will 
afford  recreation  very  much  needed. 

On  the  25th  day  of  March,  1878,  the  indebtedness  on  the  Vallejo  school 
property  amounting  to  $5,000  was  paid,  leaving  the  property  entirely  un- 
encumbered. 

On  March  18,  1878,  an  election  for  School  officers  was  had,  resulting  in 
the  choice  of  J.  E.  Abbott,  Superintendent ;  John  Farnham,  D.  Rutherford, 
D.  W.  Harrier  C.  H.  Hubbs,  Directors ;  T.  W.  Chamberlain,  Assessor  and 
Collector. 

On  April  1st  the  Board  was  organized,  having  duly  qualified,  and  I.  S. 
Halsey  was  elected  Secretary. 

Graduating  Class — 1878 — Maggie  Kavanaugh,  Lottie  Kitto,  John  Perry- 
man,  Katie  Brew,  Maggie  Murphy,  Emma  Frey,  George  Greenwood,  Minnie 
Engelbright,  John  M.  Williamson,  Abbie  Dyar,  Julia  Stotter,  Wells  Whit- 
ney, Eunice  Hobbs,  Lutie  Dixon,  Charles  H.  Dexter,  Lizzie  Cox,  Florence 
Devlin,  George  Klink,  Mary  Sundquiest. 

The  teachers  for  1878  were  :  High  School,  C.  B.  Towle,  W.  F.  Roe  ;  Gram- 
mar, H.  W.  Philbrook,  Sarah  J.  Farrington,  Annie  Klink,  Josephine  Sund- 
quiest, Hettie  Dempsey,  Maggie  Tobin  ;  Primary,  Mrs.  M.  P.  Morris,  Mary  E. 
Brown,  Mary  Hobbs,  Mary  Wynn,  Lucy  Gilman,  C.  M.  Barry,  Mrs.  E.  P. 
Veeder ;  South  Vallejo,  J.  S.  Congdon,  Jennie  S.  Klink. 

The  Census  Marshal's  Report  for  1878,  was  :  White  children  from  five  to 
seventeen   years,  1,481;  negro,  7  ;  mongolians,  24,  showing  a  total  of  1,512. 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  247 

Add  to  these  753  children    under  five  years — makes  a  grand  total  of  2,265. 

The  amount  of  money  required  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  Vallejo  School 
department  may  be  gathered  from  the  following  exhibit,  taken  from  the 
Annual  Report  of  the  Secretary,  for  the  year  1878  :  Receipts — Balance  on 
hand  at  beginning  of  year  $5,122  84.  Total  received  from  State  and 
county,  $18,681  20.  Total,  $23,804  04.  Expenditure— Current  expenses, 
$17,132  80.  Lots  purchased,  $522  50.  Paid  off  mortgage,  $5,000  00. 
Sundries,  $313  08.     Balance  in  treasury,  $835  QG.     Total,$23,804  04. 

At  this  term,  1878-79,  there  are  employed  twenty  teachers,  receiving 
salaries  ranging  from  $50  to  $150  per  month.  The  monthly  pay-roll  of 
teachers  and  school  officers  aggregates  $1,625  83.  The  session  lasts  ten 
months  of  the  year,  while  the  revenue  is  derived  from  the  State  and  County, 
and  Special  District  Taxes,  the  amount  required  annually  being  about 
$20,000.  The  value  of  the  school  property,  including  a  library  of  several 
hundred  volumes,  many  of  them  standard  works  of  reference,  is  $50,000, 
while  there  is  yearly  expended,  for  library  books,  under  the  provisions  of 
the  State  law,  a  sum  of  $150.  The  graduates  of  the  High  School  in  Class 
1879  were :  James  McCauley,  Edward  E.  Kavanagh,  A.  Lulu  Frisbie,  Netta 
Meek,  Kate  S.  Klink,  Annie  L.  Wynne,  Helen  May  Towle,  and  Louise  J. 
Grinnage. 


MAKE  ISLAND. 


Much  curiosity  has  been  excited  by  the  peculiarity  of  name  given  to  this 
island;  the  origin  of  its  appellation  is  related  as  follows:  In  former  days 
there  was  only  one  ferry-boat  on  the  waters  near  Vallejo  and  Benicia,  a 
crude  one  at  that,  being  made  principally  of  oil-barrels  obtained  from  whal- 
ing ships,  which  were  secured  together  by  beams  and  planking  ;  the  craft 
was  divided  into  compartments  for  horses  and  cattle,  the  transportation  of . 
which  was  its  principal  use.  On  one  occasion,  while  the  boat  was  making 
its  way  from  Martinez,  on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Carquinez  Straits,  to 
Benicia,  a  sudden  squall  overtook  her,  causing  her  to  pitch  dreadfully.  The 
animals,  then  on  board,  being  for  the  most  part  horses,  became  alarmed  and 
commenced  to  kick,  causing  the  weak  partitions  to  give  way.  The  vessel 
was  capsized  and  the  living  cargo  thrown  into  the  bay.  Some  reached  the 
shore,  while  others  were  drowned.  Of  the  former  was  an  old  white  mare 
owned  and  much  prized,  by  General  Vallejo  ;  its  capture  was  effected  on  the 
island  a  few  days  after  the  disaster,  when  the  General  dubbed  the  place 
"  Isla  de  la  Yegua,"  or  Mare  Island. 

The  island  forms  a  portion  of  the  eastern  side  of  San  Pablo  bay,  its  south- 
erly end  making  the  intersection  of  the  Straits  of  Carquinez  and  Mare 
Island  Straits,  the  former,  which  is  the  outlet  of   the  two   largest  rivers  of 


248  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

California,  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin,  and  the  latter,  constitutes  the 
improved  front  of  the  Navy  Yard,  as  well  as  that  of  the  city  of  Vallejo,  on 
the  opposite  shore,  and  also  the  outlet  of  the  Napa  creek,  which  drains  the 
fertile  valley  above.  The  distance  from  San  Francisco  is  twenty-six  miles. 
The  island  is  2*0  miles  in  length  by  O^  in  width,  and  is  of  an  oblong  form, 
having  a  direction  from  northwest  to  southeast,  while  its  area  is  876  acres. 
The  upland  is  diversified  into  hills  and  level  sloping  plains,  the  shore  of  the 
bay  presenting  vertical  bluffs  lined  with  a  rocky  back  until  nearing  the 
southern  extremity,  where  it  terminates  in  high,  rolling  hills,  with  steep, 
inaccessible  slopes  to  the  water.  The  highest  point  on  the  island  is  at  its 
southern  end,  where  it  is  280  feet  in  altitude.  The  soil  is,  away  from  the 
marsh  or  tule  lands,  of  which  there  are  135  acres,  adobe  loam  and  clay  over- 
lying stratified  sandstone  and  shale  ;  some  good  building  stone  has  been 
found  in  small  quantities,  while  brick  clay  of  a  good  quality  is  to  be  pro- 
cured. Small  quantities  of  hydraulic  limestone  have  also  been  discovered, 
as  has  also  a  few  springs  of  inferior  water. 

At  the  northern  end  of  the  island  there  are  three  large  Indian  mounds  or 
graves  covered  over  with  burnt  mussel-shells,  upon  which  nothing  will 
grow.  Sometime  ago  one  of  these  was  opened  and  a  large  number  of  skulls, 
bones,  bows,  arrow-heads,  etc.,  were  found.  Each  of  these  mounds  has  a 
legend  attached  to  it.  They  were  probably  made  during  the  small-pox  epi- 
demic which  committed  such  havoc  among  the  native  Indians  in  the  year 
1839. 

The  position  of  Mare  Island  is  admirably  adapted  for  a  Naval  station. 
The  straits  separating  it  from  the  mainland  is  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide,  and 
has  a  depth  of  five  fathoms.  The  mean  rise  and  fall  of  the  tide  is  4Xq  feet ; 
while,  when  the  rivers  are  swollen,  the  water  loses  all  brackishness.  The 
channel  is  remarkably  direct  and  easy  of  navigation,  the  only  defect  being 
a  limited  shoal  called  "  Commission  Rock,"  which  lies  at  a  point  nearly 
opposite  the  island  and  about  mid-way  in  the  stream.  There  is  deep  water, 
however,  on  either  side  of  the  rock,  the  deepest  being  on  the  side  next  to 
the  island ;  and  good  anchorage  is  to  be  found  anywhere,  the  bottom  being 
of  a  soft  and  sticky  nature. 

The  first  historical  fact  in  connection  with  Mare  Island,  with  which  it 
has  been  possible  to  become  cognizant,  is  that  in  the  year  1850  it  was 
granted  to  one  Castro  by  Governor  Alvarado,  and  purchased  from  him  by 
John  B.  Frisbie  and  Bezer  Simmons,  for  the  sum  of  $7,000,  who,  in  turn  in 
1851,  sold  it  to  W.  H.  Aspinwall  and  G.  W.  P.  Bissell,  in  consideration  of 
the  sum  of  $17,500. 

By  an  Act  of  Congress,  dated  30  June,  1851,  appropriations  were  made, 
and  subsequently  a  contract  entered  into  between  Messrs.  Dakin  and 
Moody,  and  Messrs.  Gilbert  and  Secor,  on  the  one  part,  and  the  United 
States  Government  on  the  other,  for  the  construction  of  a  floating  sectional 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  249 

dock  on  some  point  on  the  Pacific  coast ;  and  after  inspecting  positions  of 
likelihood  at  Benicia  and  Racoon  Straits,  Mare  Island  was  selected  as  the 
spot  offering  the  greatest  facilities  for  the  purpose  desired.  The  dock,  of 
which  the.  measurements  will  be  hereafter  given,  was  first  constructed  in 
New  York,  and  then  taken  to  pieces  and  shipped  in  four  vessels  named  the 
"  Empire,"  "  California  Packet,"  "  Queen  of  the  East,"  and  "  Defiance,"  and 
despatched  round  Cape  Horn,  all  of  which  arrived  at  Mare  Island  in  the 
fall  of  1852.  At  this  time  the  entire  sphere  of  the  island  was  overgrown 
with  wild  oats  and  overrun  with  wild  cattle,  horses,  mules,  and  one  ass,  who 
stood  in  loco  parentis  to  the  latter  ;  a  solitary  squatter  occupied  a  dingy  hut 
among  the  rank  verdure,  his  principal  occupation  being  the  tending  of 
stock  ;  while  on  the  opposite  shore,  where  now  the  city  of  Vallejo  rears  its 
head,  there  were  but  two  or  three  occupied  houses.  The  shores  were  not  as 
they  are  to-day.  .  Silting  had  not  then  commenced  ;  the  mud  from  the  mines 
had  not  yet  been  despatched  into  the  bay  by  way  of  the  Sacramento  river, 
and  it  -was  easy  for  ships  to  make  fast  to  the  shore.  Discharging  cargo  for 
the  dock  was  first  attempted  by  means  of  rafts  from  mid-stream  ;  a  storm 
coming  on,  however,  caused  the  vessels  to  drag  their  anchors,  and  thus  dis- 
covered the  depth  of  water  in  shore,  and  helped  to  solve  the  riddle  of  land- 
ing dock  stores. 

The  first  party  to  arrive  in  charge  of  stores  and  machinery  for  the  sec- 
tional dock  was  that  under  D.  Peckham,  who  came  in  the  month  of  Septem- 
ber, 1852 ;  twenty  days  later  the  second  detachment  consisting  of  six 
mechanics  arrived  with  Theodore  Dean,  Manager  and  Superintendent  in 
charge.  Many  of  the  passengers  on  the  vessels  who  were  mechanics  sought 
and  obtained  employment  at  the  docks,  among  whom  are  a  number  of  Vallejo's 
most  worthy  citizens,  while  laborers  being  few  and  hard  to  get,  their  places 
were  principally  filled  by  sailors  who  proved  to  be  invaluable  workmen  in 
unloading  ships,  rigging  derricks  and  performing  dock-work  generally. 
Labor  was  proceeded  with  in  such  earnestness  thatthe  in  fall  of  the  following- 
year  the  dock  was  completed.  Wages  were  high,  the  rate  at  the  time  being 
for  first  class  mechanics  $5  and  $6  per  day,  but  when  vessels  were  under- 
going repairs,  ship  carpenters  and  caulkers  got  as  much  as  $9  a  day  with  a 
glass  of  grog  as  an  extra  inducement  to  toil.  Before  the  work  was  handed 
over  to  the  government  the  contractors  had  the  privilege  of  using  the  dock 
for  a  certain  number  of  years  which  they  would  appear  to  have  done. 

Affairs  had  arrived  at  this  stage  when  on  August  31,  1852,  an  Act  of 
Congress  was  passed  authorizing  "  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  select  a 
site  for  a  Naval  Yard  and  Naval  Depot  in  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  the 
same  to  be  surveyed  and  a  plat  thereof  to  be  recorded  in  proper  form,  the 
said  Secretary  to  establish  a  Navy  Yard  and  Naval  Depot  on  the  site  and 
erect  a  foundry,  machine  shop,  blacksmith's  shop,  boiler  shop,  engine  house, 
pattern  house,  carpenters  shop  and  store  houses."  The  amount  of  appro- 
priation being  $100,000. 


250  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

A  Board  consisting  of  Commodore  John  D.  Sloat,  Commander  W.  S. 
Ogden,  Lieutenant  S.  F.  Blunt  and  W.  P.  S.  Sanger,  Civil  Engineer,  were 
deputed  to  make  the  necessary  surveys,  eventuating  in  the  selection  of  Mare 
Island  ;  and  it  was  purchased  by  the  United  States  from.W.  H.  Aspinwall, 
G.  W.  P.  Bissell  and  Mrs.  Mary  S.  MacArthur  for  the  sum  of  $83,000,  on 
January  4,  1853,  and  on  February  28th  of  that  year  Aspinwall  and  Corn- 
stock  bound  themselves  in  the  sum  of  $200,000  to  convey  the  whole  of  the 
island  to  the  authorities.  The  expenses  of  the  Board  were  deducted  from 
the  original  appropriation  as  was  also  the  cost  of  erecting  buildings,  making 
the  first  layout  on  the  part  of  the  government  to  be  :  Cost  of  Mare  Island, 
amount  paid  to  Aspinwall,  Bissell  and  Mrs.  McArthur,  $83,000  ;  expenses  of 
Board  of  Survey,  $11,508.20  ;  erection  of  building  for  use  of  yard,  $5,491.80. 
Total,  $100,000. 

As  has  been  remarked  above  the  selection  of  the  site  for  a  Navy  Yard 
was  the  result  of  an  Act  of  Congress,  approved  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  of  the  31st  August,  1852,  and  on  March  3,  1853,  another  ap- 
propriation of  $100,000  was  voted  by  Congress,  for  building  blacksmith's 
shop,  carpenter  shop,  store-house  and  wharf,  "  Provided,  That  before  this 
sum  shall  be  expended,  the  Attorney  General  of  the  United  States  shall 
decide  that  the  United  States  have  good  title  to  the  land  upon  which  the 
buildings  are  to  be  erected."  The  same  Act  directs  the  Secretary  to  com- 
plete and  carry  into  execution  the  verbal  contract  for  a  basin  and  railway 
in  California  in  connection  with  the  floating  dock  already  referred  to,  and 
on  August  5,  1854,  a  further  grant  of  $200,000  was  appropriated  for  the 
continuing  of  the  buildings  mentioned  above. 

The  first  Commandant  of  the  Yard  was  appointed  on  September  16, 
1854,  Commander  David  G.  Farragut  being  the  officer  chosen.  At  the  time 
of  his  assumption  of  office,  the  island  was  a  mere  grazing  locality,  there 
being  visible  only  squatters,  one  or  two  humble  dwellings,  and  a  few 
sheds  which  had  been  put  up  by  the  builders  of  the  sectional  dry  dock. 
Arrangements  for  the  occupation  were  pushed  with  characteristic  vigor  by 
Captain  Farragut,  and  on  October  3,  1854,  the  National  flag  was  first 
hoisted  on  its  newly  acquired  property. 

In  the  archives  of  the  Commandant's  office  is  preserved  a  Log  in  the 
handwriting  of  the  officer  who  afterwards  achieved  such  glory  for  his  coun- 
try and  name  at  New  Orleans,  when  he  caused  himself  to  be  tied  to  the 
shrouds  of  his  flagship,  the  "  Hartford,"  and  ran  the  gauntlet  of  the  enemy's 
guns.  The  pages  of  Farragut's  diary  may  become  tarnished  by  time,  the  ink 
may  fade,  but  his  memory  will  remain  untinged  as  long  as  the  United 
States  will  have  a  history,  and  be  cherished  in  the  hearts  of  his  country- 
men in  such  a  manner  as  is  only  done  for  the  great  and  the  good. 

"  September  16,  1854. — Commander  Farragut  took  charge  of  the  Island, 
and  forthwith  ordered  all  of  the  squatters  off — Vara,  Gilbert  and  Antonio 
Pintro  were  their  names.     Weather  clear. 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  251 

"  September  17,  1854. — Looked  around  the  Island  for  the  localities  speci- 
fied in  the  plan  of  the  Navy  Yard ;  also  engaged  in  examining  the  amount 
of  property  on  the  island  that  could  be  advantageously  used  by  Govern- 
ment.    Weather  clear. 

;'  September  18,  1854. — The  sloop-of-war  "  Warren  "  came  up  to  be  moored 
as  a  store-ship  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Yard.  Also  employed  Vara, 
who  was  a  carpenter,  to  put  up  a  flag-staff.  Paid  $500  for  towing  up  the 
ship,  and  $192  for  pilotage.     Weather  clear. 

"  September  19,  1854. — Made  arrangements  to  dock  the  "  Warren,"  and 
employed  three  or  four  more  to  work  on  the  Yard  and  fix  foundation  for 
flag-staff.  Also  sent  to  San  Francisco  for  lumber  and  other  appliances  to 
work  with.     Weather  cloudy. 

And  so  does  this  interesting  relic  go  on ;  day  by  day  are  the  facts  re- 
corded with  like  simplicity  until  now  it  is  regarded  as  evidence,  the  authen- 
ticity of  which  can  never  be  doubted. 

The  year  1855  began  with  great  bustle;  on  January  24th,  the  stone  foun- 
dation for  the  smithery  was  commenced,  and  that  for  the  residence  of  the 
Commandant  was  started  on  the  March  following,  while  on  April  2Gth  the 
annexed  entry  is  found  in  Captain  Farragut's  Log :  "  Received  by  the 
'  Napa  City,'  the  copper-plate  for  the  corner-stone  engraved  with  the  fol- 
lowing words,  viz.,  '  This  Navy  Yard  was  founded  September  18,  1854. 
Franklin  Pierce,  President  of  the  United  States ;  J.  C.  Baffin,  Secretary  of 
the  Navy ;  Charles  Smith,  U.  S.  N.,  Chief  of  Bureau,  Docks  and  Yards  ; 
D.  G.  Farragut,  Commandant  of  Yard;  D.  Turner,  Civil  Engineer,  A 
Powell,  Master  Carpenter,  R.  S.  King,  Master  Blacksmith,  Mr.  Warner, 
Master  Mason.  The  corner-stone  of  this  building  was  laid  January  23, 
855. 

During  the  year  the  Commandant  found  it  his  duty  to  address  the  men 
on  desertion  and  the  aiding  and  abetting  it,  for  this  offense  had  become  alto- 
gether too  common  ;  the  word  in  season  had  its  reward,  for  those  employed 
became  steadier,  and  there  was  a  marked  decrease  in  the  number  of  malcon- 
tents. On  July  21 ,  an  interesting  series  of  experiments  was  inaugurated  in 
regard  to  the  testing  of  native  woods  when  Puget  Sound  timber  was  found  to 
be  very  much  stronger  than  Eastern  oak  and  Georgia  pine,  a  result  scarcely 
to  be  anticipated.  On  October  26th,  we  find  that  the  Astronomers  of  the 
Exploring  Expedition  erected  the  Observatory  on  the  highest  point  of  the 
island,  while  the  year  was  wound  up  by  a  ball  given  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Dry  Dock  Company,  who  it  will  be  remembered  retained  possession  of 
the  dock  for  some  years  subsequent  to  its  completion. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  new  Navy  Yard  was  assuming  something 
like  shape ;  on  the  fourth  day  of  the  New  Year,  the  planting  of  trees  was 
commenced.  Early  in  the  following  month  three  of  the  forges  in  the 
smithery  were  completed  and  ready  for  use,  while  the  basin   to  admit  the 


252  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

sectional  dock  was  being  completed  with  all  speed.  On  the  7th  of  August, 
1856,  this  was  effected,  water  being  admitted  into  it,  and  on  the  25th  of 
September  the  "  Warren  "  was  hauled  ashore  from  the  sectional  dock  and 
basin,  which  was  the  first  use  of  the  basin  and  railway.  In  the  following 
year  another  test  on  the  relative  strengths  of  different  woods  was  made,  on 
this  occasion  between  teak  and  Puget  Sound  timber,  the  latter  of  which 
again  carried  off  the  honors. 

Space  will  not  permit  of  entering  into  a  full  detail  of  the  yearly  occur- 
rences at  the  yard ;  such,  indeed,  would  but  tax  the  patience  of  the  reader ; 
suffice  it  to  say,  that  but  few  idle  days  were  admitted  into  the  roll  of  time ; 
the  construction  of  buildings  was  pushed  with  becoming  energy,  until  the 
works  are  not  to  be  excelled  on  any  portion  of  the  globe.  As  the  Island 
looks  to-day,  it  is  a  credit  to  all  concerned ;  the  buildings  are  noble  speci- 
mens of  the  mason's  art ;  the  grounds  are  neatly  laid  out  and  pleasantly 
wooded ;  while  the  rising  ground  behind  shows  that  its  cultivation  has  not 
been  forgotten,  there  being  350  acres  under  the  plough,  its  produce  being 
entirely  used  for  Government  purposes,  what  others  may  say  to  the  con- 
trary notwithstanding. 

Since  the  appointment  of  Captain  Farragut,  up  to  the  present  time,  in- 
clusive of  the  present  holder  of  the  office,  there  have  been  altogether  fifteen 
commandants  at  Mare  Island,  as,  under  : 

Commander  D.  G.  Farragut,  September  16, 1854 ;  Captain  R.  B.  Cunning- 
ham, July  16,  1858 ;  Captain  David  McDougal,  March  13,  1861 ;  Captain 
W.  H.  Gardner,  June  5,  1861 ;  Captain  Thomas  O.  Selfridge,  May  27,  1862 ; 
Captain  David  McDougal,  October  17, 1864  ;  Commodore  Thomas  S.  Craven, 
September  5,  1866;  Commodore  James  Alden,  August  1,  1868;  Captain 
Reed  Werden,  March  17,  1869 ;  Rear- Admiral  Thomas  S.  Craven,  April  15, 
1869 ;  Commodore  John  R.  Goldsborough,  January  1,  1870 ;  Commodore 
E.  J.  Parrott,  April  15,  1871 ;  Rear- Admiral  Thomas  O.  Selfridge,  Septem- 
ber 3,  1872  ;  Rear- Admiral  John  Rodgers,  July  3,  1873 ;  Commodore  E.  R. 
Calhoun,  April  17,  1877. 

The  Sectional  Dock: — On  Mare  Island,  is  the  first  erection  of  the  kind 
ever  attempted  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  was  commenced  in  the  year  1852. 
It  is  composed  of  11  sections,  each  130  feet  long  and  33  feet  wide,  each  sec- 
tion standing  6  inches  apart.  The  extreme  length  of  the  construction  is 
325  feet,  and  is  capable  of  accommodating  a  ship  of  3,000  tons  burthen. 
The  dock  basin,  in  connection  therewith,  is  400  feet  long  by  150  feet  wide, 
with  a  proper  depth  and  ways,  350  feet  in  length.  To  get  a  vessel  on  to 
the  dock,  it  is  first  sunk  to  a  sufficient  distance,  when  she  is  floated  on  to  it ; 
the  water  is  then  pumped  out  by  steam  engines,  built  expressly  for  the  pur- 
pose, when  the  entire  structure  rises ;  it  is  then  floated  into  the  basin,  being- 
hauled  by  hydraulic  power ;  the  basin  is  then  emptied  by  means  of  pump- 
ing, and  the  dock  sinks  on  to  the  floor,  where  it  becomes  a  fixture. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  253 

The  operation  of  sinking  the  dock,  is  to  open  the  gates  that  are  at  each 
end  of  the  main  tank ;  as  they  fill,  they  sink,  because  the  combination  of 
wood  and  iron,  of  which  they  are  constructed,  has  made  them  heavier  than 
water.  To.  keep  them  under  the  command  of  the  dock-master,  the  floats  are 
set  in  operation  by  the  machinery  connected  to  the  steam  engines  situated 
in  the  houses  on  top  of  the  frame  work.  The  master  speaks  not  a  word, 
but  calls  the  attention  of  the  attendants  by  a  whistle,  and  by  mystical  signs 
conveys  his  orders  to  them,  and  the  dock  sinks  slow  or  fast,  as  he  wills,  to 
the  depth  required.  The  gates  being  shut,  the  buoyancy  of  the  floats  keeps 
it  in  that  position. 

The  vessel  is  then  floated  in ;  the  centering  beams  or  shores  lowered  to  a 
level,  run  against  the  sides  of  the  ship,  each  side  being  adjusted  forward  or 
back,  till  the  numbers  on  each  correspond.  Then  the  vessel  is  in  the  center 
of  the  dock,  ready  to  be  raised.  The  operation  of  raising  the  dock  is  to 
pump  the  water  out  of  the  sections  and  keep  it  level  with  the  floats.  As 
the  water  is  taken  out,  the  dock  rises.  To  effect  this,  each  section  has  three 
pumps  on  each  end,  each  one  with  capacity  to  throw  three  hundred  gallons 
a  minute.  They  are  connected  to  the  machinery  above  by  long  rods,  and 
run  to  the  pump,  on  the  deck  of  the  section. 

When  the  vessel  is  in  position,  ready  to  be  raised,  the  pumps  are  set  in 
operation  by  a  sign,  and  as  soon  as  the  sections  lighten  a  little,  the  floats  are 
started,  and  they  move  downwards  on  the  gear  posts  just  as  fast  as  the  post 
rises,  so  that  the  floats  keep  the  same  depth  on  the  surface.  When  the 
vessel  is  lifted  about  twelve  inches,  the  bilge-chocks  are  run  under  to  sup- 
port her  all  around.  They  are  large  oak  blocks,  built  up,  one  on  top  of 
another,  and  connected  together  by  iron  dogs,  so  that  they  can  be  made 
high  or  low,  as  the  shape  of  the  vessel  may  require.  These  slide  on  ways 
fastened  to  the  deck  of  the  section,  and  are  held  to  them  under  water  by 
bended  iron  clamps,  that  slide  freely.  They  are  drawn  under  the  vessel  by 
rope  and  chain,  worked  by  the  attendants  on  the  platform  of  the  dock. 
After  the  bilge-chocks  are  set  the  dock  is  put  in  full  operation.  The  floats 
keep  it  traveling,  by  the  fast  or  slow  machinery,  as  the  pumps  discharge 
the  water,  causing  the  dock  to  rise'  the  master  governing  the  operation  as 
he  wills,  stopping  each  pump  as  his  judgment  dictates  and  the  necessities  of 
the  operation  requires,  till  the  dock  is  above  water. 

The  Stone  Dock : — Now  in  course  of  construction,  will  be,  when  finished, 

the  finest  piece    of  workmanship  of  its   kind   in  the  United  States.     Its 

dimensions  are : 

Feet. 

Length  between  inside  line  of  invert  and  first  altar 418. 

Length  of  keel  block  from  inside  of  caisson 440. 

Length  from  outside  line  of  apron  to  outside  line  of  invert.  7.9 

Length  of  invert 41. 


254  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Eeet. 

Width  of  floor 30. 

Width  of  floor  on  line  of  keel  blocks 58. 

Extreme  length  of  dock  over  all 525.9 

Extreme  length  of  invert  over  all 126. 

Extreme  length  of  invert,  inside 114. 

Depth  of  water  at  mean  high  tide  on  invert 27.6 

Depth  of  water  at  mean  high  tide  on  floor  of  dock 32. 

Width  of  entrance  to  dock 78. 

The  cost  of  this  prodigious  undertaking  was  estimated  at  $2,149,099; 
the  masonry  alone  being  put  down  at  $1,307,877  ;  but  concrete  has  been 
substituted  instead  of  mason  work,  as  was  originally  intended,  whereby, 
the  expense,  it  is  expected,  will  be  lessened  by  at  least  twenty  per  cent.  The 
cost,  up  to  the  fiscal  year,  ending  June  30,  1879,  will  be  $1,094,146  73.  It 
is  built  on  the  principle  of  an  inverted  arch,  the  pressure  being  entirely 
from  the  outside  towards  the  centre ;  this  design  serving  the  purpose  of 
keeping  the  floor  intact  should  the  contingency  arise  of  water  sapping 
underneath.  The  concrete  work,  which  is,  as  it  were,  the  shell  of  the  struct- 
ure, is  quite  new  to  America,  the  idea  having  been  brought  from  France  by 
Mr.  Calvin  Brown,  the  Civil  Engineer  of  the  dock ;  while  the  lining  is  of 
dressed  granite ;  the  flooring  is  composed  of  granite  blocks,  averaging  five 
and  a  half  tons  in  weight,  which  are  placed  in  position  by  means  of  a  der- 
rick, and  what  is  technically  known  as  a"  Lewis,"  an  iron  pin,  which  is 
larger  at  the  bottom  end  than  at  the  top,  having  a  wedge  of  iron  fitted  into 
it,  and  fixed  in  a  socket  in  the  block.  The  strain  of  hoisting  causes  this 
to  tighten,  making  the  hold  secure,  while  to  disengage  it  requires  but  a  few 
taps  of  the  hammer.  The  blocks,  by  these  simple  contrivances,  are  moved 
at  will,  and  eventually  rested  on  a  thickness  of  four  feet  of  concrete.  In 
connection  with  this  undertaking,  there  is  a  concrete  mixing  machine,  which 
is  fitted  at  the  top  with  two  hoppers,  into  which  gravel  and  sand  are  put ; 
when  started,  the  contents  of  the  two  hoppers  meet  before  arriving  on  the 
second  floor,  where ' another  one  is  met  charged  with  cement;  hereafter 
they  shoot  doAvn  in  a  zig-zag  fashion  towards  the  floor  of  the  clock,  mixing 
as  they  descend,  until  it  is  discharged,  amalgamated  in  proper  proportions! 

It  was  originally  intended  to  construct  the  dry  dock  entirely  of  rubble 
stone  work,  but  this  substitution  of  concrete  will  be  a  vast  saving  to  the 
Government.  The  building  is  provided  at  its  upper  end  with  two  timber 
shoots,  while  its  sides  will  be  constructed  after  the  manner  of  a  staircase. 
When  completed  the  largest  men-of-war  that  float  will  be  able  to  be  repaired 
at  Mare  Island  ;  no  little  source  of  pride  in  itself,  yet  it  is  unfortunate  that 
for  want  of  sufficient  appropriations  by  the  Government  the  work  can  not 
be  proceeded  with  as  rapidly  as  could  be  desired,  while  it  is  feared  that  a 
delay  of  year  after  year  may  have  the  effect  of  weakening  some  portions  of 
the  work  when  nothing  but  dire  catastrophe  would  result. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  255 

Water: — Is  supplied  to  the  Navy  Yard  by  the  Vallejo  City  Water  Com- 
pany to  the  extent  of  1,000,000  gallons  a  month,  transmitted  to  the  island  by 
means  of  a  submarine  cast  iron  pipe  with  flexible  joints,  a  distance  of  two 
thousand  feet  across  the  bed  of  the  straits.  Besides  this  quantity,  which  is 
used  in  the  officers'  quarters  and  machine  shops,  there  are  thirteen  cisterns, 
capable  of  containing  1,500,000  gallons  of  rain  water,  while  there  is  a  reser- 
voir, built  during  the  time  of  Admiral  Rogers'  command,  which  cost  $35,000 
(received  over  and  above  the  appropriations  made  during  his  term  of  office). 
It  is  680  feet  in  length,  with  an  average  width  of  265  feet,  a  depth  of  32 
feet,  and  a  capacity  at  present  of  only  14,000,000  gallons,  which  could  be 
considerable  increased  by  further  excavation.  Connected  with  the  reservoir 
is  a  tunnel,  to  connect  with  the  supply  pipe,  600  feet  long,  which  is  laid  in 
concrete  and  will  fill  all  the  ditches,  which  are  about  three  miles  in  length 

Foundry  and  Machine  SI102): — Which  comprises  the  following  divisions, 
viz.:  the  foundry,  machine,  boiler,  blacksmith,  pattern  and  coppersmith's 
shops,  is  situated  at  the  northeast  end  of  the  island  and  is  a  magnificent  con- 
struction of  red  brick.  The  dimensions  of  the  machine  shop  are  365x55, 
and  contains  an  upper  story  which  is  used  as  the  pattern  shop.  In  the  lower 
story  of  this  building  are  located  all  the  different  appliances  requisite  to  turn 
out  the  very  heaviest  machinery  which  might  be  required  for  naval  pur- 
poses, all  of  which  are  put  in  motion  by  a  condensing  engine  of  eighty  horse 
power.  The  foundry,  forming  a  wing  of  this  building,  has  the  capacity  of 
making  castings  of  100  tons,  and  has  room  to  employ  150  moulders.  The 
floor  is  300  feet  long  by  60  feet  wide,  and  has  a  depth  of  6  feet  of  moulding 
sand,  which  is  procured  from  San  Francisco.  Within  the  structure  are  five 
cranes,  these  having  a  lifting  power  of  15  tons,  while  the  others  are  capable 
of  hoisting  25  tons ;  there  are  also  four  cupolas  for  melting  iron,  with  the 
following  capacity:  two  of  40  tons,  one  of  20,  and  one  of  10  tons  ;  in  connec- 
tion with  these  are  two  ladles  of  20  and  10  tons  respectively,  while  there  are 
three  ovens,  used  for  drying  purposes,  with  tracks  and  carriages  to  match,  of 
the  respective  measurements  of  20x40, 12x20,  and  8x15  feet.  The  foundry  is 
also  supplied  with  ten  brass  furnaces,  while  the  elevators  and  blowers  are 
worked  by  a  separate  engine  of  20  horse-power.  When  these  works  were 
visited  moulding  for  a  screw  propeller  for  the  U.  S.  S.  "Iroquois"  was 
being  made,  which,  when  finished,  will  have  a  weight  of  about  8,000  lbs. 
avoirdupois.  Castings  of  8-inch  water  pipes,  for  the  use  of  the  yard,  were 
being  also  proceeded  with. 

The  Ordnance  Department : — Is  in  keeping  with  the  other  remarkably 
elegant  buildings  with  which  the  Navy  Yard  abounds.  It  consists  of  the 
Ordnance  Store-house  of  200x60  feet,  two  stories  in  height,  and  built  of 
brick ;  the  Shell   House,  also  of  brick,  of  one  story,  and  occupying  a  space 


256  THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

of  25x28  feet,  and  two  Gun  carriage  sheds,  one  of  brick  and  the  other  of 
wood,  having  a  measurement  respectively  of  150x30  and  100x45  feet.  In 
connection  with  this  branch  are  two  magazines,  one  of  one  story  in  height, 
fire  and  bomb-proof,  160x50,  and  the  other  100x45,  both  being  constructed 
of  stone  and  brick,  while  in  addition  there  are  the  Filling  House  and  Shell 
House,  each  100x30  feet,  and  the  Gunner's  and  Watchman's  Quarters.  The 
Magazine  Reservation  alone  occupies  an  area  of  22.45  acres,  and  is  situated 
at  the  extreme  southern  end  of  the  island ;  in  the  building  are  included 
the  Filling  and  Shell  houses  referred  to  above,  there  being  also  tanks  to 
hold  powder  and  other  rooms  appertaining  to  buildings  of  this  nature ;  the 
entire  structure  is  covered  with  a  slate  roof.  The  precautions  against  fire 
are  numerous  and  ample.  In  close  proximity  to  it  is  a  reservoir  containing 
one  million  gallons  of  water,  which  would  be  used  if  needed  to  flood  the 
magazine ;  in  addition,  no  vegetation  of  any  kind  whatsoever  is  permitted 
to  grow  near  the  premises,  for  fear  of  ignition ;  no  painting  is  done  on  any 
portion  of  the  edifice,  lest  that  the  oil  should  by  chance  ignite,  while  a  par- 
ticular costume  is  worn  by  the  employes,  (a  long  smock-frock  and  shoes  of 
canvas  with  soles  of  chamois  leather)  so  that  buttons,  nails  or  like  sub- 
stances may  not  be  hastily  struck  and  cause  a  spark. 

On  the  Yard  there  is  altogether  stored  about  500,000  pounds  of  powder ; 
100,000  projectiles  (shot  and  shell)  varying  from  12  to  400  pounds ;  644 
ordinary  cannon,  howitzers  and  large  guns,  the  largest  size  being  15  inches 
in  diameter,  the  smallest  4f  inch  or  12-pounder  howitzers  ;  of  small  arms, 
i.  e.,  rifles,  bayonets,  cutlasses,  boarding  pikes,  etc.,  there  are  2,722,  all  of 
which  are  intended  purely  for  the  fitting  out  of  United  States  vessels- of -war. 

This  establishment  is  the  very  perfection  of  neatness,  indeed  so  are  all 
of  the  others,  and  finds  continuous  employment  for  thirteen  men,  while  it 
is  the  only  department  on  the  Yard  that  has  telephonic  communication  with 
the  office  of  the  Commandant. 

Construction  and  Repair  Workshops : — Are  of  two  stories  in  height,  built 
of  brick  and  cover  an  area  of  400x65  feet.  The  first  of  these  is  used  as  a 
block,  boat  and  cooper's  shops,  with  convenient  tool-rooms  attached.  The 
upper  floor  of  the  building  is  occupied  by  the  office  for  this  department,  as 
also  the  workshops  of  the  pattern  makers  and  shipwrights. 

The  Construction  and  Repair  Store  Houses : — Are  also  of  brick,  of  two 
stories,  and  occupy  a  space  of  400x65  feet.  It  is  used  entirely  for  the 
storage  of  all  articles  of  ship  chandlery,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  space 
in  the  east  end  of  the  second  story,  which  is  occupied  by  the  store  clerks, 
and  the 

Bureau  of  Navigation : — Whose  particular  duties  are  to  supply  such  ship's 
gear  as  charts,  compasses,  chronometers,  nautical    instruments   generally, 


':>iira*i. 


€>-l^t 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  257 

lanterns,  and  all  lights  and  flags.  In  this  office  are  stored  the  charts  of 
every  known  survey  in  the  universe,  while  there  are  on  its  shelves  a  large 
and  complete  collection  of  the  best  works  bearing  on  nautical  lore. 

The  Smithery  : — Is  one  of  the  first  buildings  erected  after  Mare  Island  be- 
came the  property  of  the  United  States  Government,  and  is  thus  appor- 
tioned ;  the  main  structure  is  268x55  feet,  and  has,  two  wings,  each  of 
145x55  feet.  The  first  named,  and  the  northern  wing,  is  used  by  the  Bureau 
of  Construction  and  Repair  as  Blacksmiths'  and  Coppersmiths'  shops,  while 
in  the  south  wing  are  contained  the  Blacksmith  shop  and  Gas  Works,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Bureau  of  Yards  and  Docks. 

The.  Blacksmiths'  Shop: — Is  a  marvel  of  cleanliness  and  neatness.  Its 
capacity  is  sixty  fires,  the  forges  being  all  of  cast  iron  with  improved  water 
backs.  There  are  three  steam  hammers  in  use  :  the  first  with  100  pounds  of 
steam  has  a  striking  force  equal  to  30  tons ;  the  second,  under  like  circum- 
stances, 10,  and  the  third  5  tons.  In  addition,  there  are  two  hollow  fires, 
or  forges ;  4  feet  4  Blooming  furnaces  with  a  capacity  of  600  pounds  per 
hour ;  2  large  cranes  capable  of  raising  30  cwt.  each  ;  1  Sturtevant  blower 
with  capacity  for  60  fires  ;  3  eyebolt  steam  dropping  hammers  used  for 
stamping  work,  the  whole  machinery  being  driven  by  an  engine  of  24-horse 
power. 

Blacksmith's  Shop,  (Yards  and  Docks): — There  are  eight  forges  with 
Sturtevant  blowers,  and  here  is  done  all  iron  work  used  in  the  building  of 
ships,  houses,  derricks,  and  general  work  required  on  the  Yard,  including 
horseshoeing. 


"&• 


Gas: — Is  manufactured  on  the  Yard*  from  gasoline,  a  substance  which  was 
formerly  procured  from  rosin  and  fish  oils,  but  now  it  is  the  first  running 
from  petroleum.  The  consumption  of  the  oil  is  about  850  gallons  a  month, 
producing  175  cubic  feet  of  gas  per  gallon,  with  a  quality  of  light,  clear, 
good,  and  safe,  of  fifteen  candle  power.  The  manufacture  of  this  gas,  on 
Mare  Island,  is  entirely  effected  by  one  man,  although  there  is  employment 
for  four ;  while  he  has  in  his  charge  the  supply  of  meters,  lamps,  etc.  The 
works  are  well  supplied  with  all  the  necessary  gasfitters'  tools.     The 

Store  House: — One  of  the  earlier  erections,  is  a  brick  building  of  400  feet 
in  length  by  55  in  width,  and  has,  besides  two  stores,  a  cellar  underneath. 
This  erection  is  divided,  the  southern  half  being  occupied  by  the  stores 
necessary  for  the  bureau  of  provisions  and  clothing ;  while  the  northern 
end  contains  the  requisite  impedimenta  for  the  bureau  of  steam  engineering. 
Directly  east  of  the  above  stands  the  splendid 

17 


258       •  THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY. 

Workshops  for  Equipment  and  Repairs: — Also  a  two-storied  building  with 
cellar,  and  covering  an  area  of  190x55.  In  the  cellar  are  stored  such  arti- 
cles as  tar,  oil,  etc.,  while  the  two  upper  floors  are  respectively  used  as  a 
rigging  and  sail  loft.  This  is  without  doubt  the  finest  erection  on  the  Yard, 
built,  as  it  is,  entirely  of  compressed  bricks. 

The  Equipment  and  Repairs  Store  House: — Is.  a  brick  building  two  stories 
in  height,  of  the  area  of  200x60  feet,  and  used  entirely  for  the  storing  of 
sails,  cordage,  and  general  running  gear. 

Yards  and  Docks  Workshops: — This  erection  occupies  400x60  feet  of 
ground,  is  also  of  two  stories,  the  first  being  used  as  a  machine  shop,  lumber, 
and  store  room ;  while  the  upper  is  apportioned  into  joiners'  shop,  paint 
shop,  and  offices. 

Iron  Plating  Shop: — Is  a  one-story  brick  building  of  200x70  feet  dimen- 
sions, with  a  wing  58x60.  It  is  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  ordnance 
building,  but  is  at  present  unfinished. 

Saiv  Mill: — The  main  building  of  this  establishment  is  150x55,  having 
two  stories,  with  a  cellar.  There  is  also  a  brick  wing  attached  55x55,  one 
story  in  height.  The  cellar  and  first  story  of  this  building  are  used  as  the 
saw  mill,  and  the  second  as  a  mould  loft. 

Timber  Shed:— -Is  a  one-story  brick  edifice  200x70  feet,  used  for  the  pur- 
pose which  its  name  denotes. 

The  Office  Building. — This  structure  is  of  most  elegant  design,  and 
commands  an  imposing  position  on  a  knoll  in  the  centre  of  the  other  con- 
structions. It  occupies  a  space  of  130x50  feet;  is  of  two  stories  in  height,  of 
brick,  with  a  cellar,  used  as  a  store  room,  boiler  room,  water  closets,  etc. 
The  first  story  is  devoted  to  the  offices  of  the  Paymaster  and  clerks ;  Exec- 
utive officer;  Naval  Constructor,  clerks,  and  draftsmen;  Civil  Engineer, 
clerks,  and  draftsmen  ;  Assistant  Naval  Constructor  and  Post  office.  The 
second  story  is  occupied  by  the  Commandant,  clerks,  printer,  school  room, 
watchman,  library,  and  court  room,  used  temporarily  as  a  chapel. 

Marine  Barracks: — Is  a  two-storied  brick  building  of  500x40  feet, wherein 
are  the  men's  quarters,  armory,  store  room,  etc,  as  well  as  the  residences  of 
the  officers  of  that  corps,  the  Commandant  having  a  house  in  the  reserva- 
tion, which  comprises  an  area  of  24.68  acres,  or  thereabouts. 

Yard  Stables: — A  two-storied  brick  building  150x40  feet,  the  upper 
portion  being  used  for  the  storage  of  grain,  hay,  etc.,  while  the  lower  one  is 
divided  into  stables  for  mules  and  horses,  cart  sheds,  etc. 

Barn: — Is  a  wooden  structure  150x40  feet. 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  259 

Naval  Hospital: — This  noble  structure  is  located  on  the  southern  part  of 
the  island,  near  to  and  on  a  line  with  the  Marine  Barracks,  and  is  a  build- 
ing worthy  of  a  great  government.  It  is  250  feet  long,  with  an  average 
width  of  30  feet,  with  wings  and  projections,  three  stories  and  an  attic  in 
height,  with  Mansard  roof.  It  is  an  imposing  edifice  of  elegant  design, 
and,  from  its  elevated  position,  can  be  seen  afar  off.  The  building  is  of 
brick,  of  which  one  million  and  a  half  were  required.  The  walls  are  of 
great  thickness,  and  the  entire  superstructure  is  of  unusual  solidity.  It  is 
hard  finished  throughout,  and  the  inside  wood-work  is  of  white  pine.  The 
whole  structure  is  arranged  with  special  reference  to  the  object  to  which  it 
is  devoted,  note  having  been  made  of  all  the  recent  improvement  in  this 
regard,  including  an  elevator,  whereby  patients  and  goods  are  raised  and 
lowered,  with  ease  and  comfort,  from  one  part  of  the  building  to  another. 
Particular  attention  has  been  paid  to  light  and  ventilation.  Water  tanks 
of  large  dimensions  are  placed  upon  the  roof,  and  a  cistern  for  rain  water  has 
been  built.  In  a  word,  it  is  all  a  first-class  hospital  building  should  be.  To 
it  is  attached  a  stable  and  gas  house.  The  reservation,  in  which  the  hos- 
pital buildings  stand,  occupies  an  area  of  about  31.21  acres. 

In  addition  to  these  already-mentioned  buildings,  there  are  the  officers 
quarters,  including  the  residence  of  the  Commandant,  all  of  which  (five  and 
a  half  double  and  one  single  house)  are  built  on  a  beautiful  avenue  some 
distance  back  from  the  water  front  and  parallel  with  it.  They  are  a  few 
yards  from  the  sidewalk  and  possess  well  laid  out  gardens  in  front  of  them ; 
while  on  the  outside  of  the  walk  there  is  a  row  of  magnificent  shade  trees. 
The  rooms  are  spacious  and  have  all  the  modern  improvements,  including 
gas,  bath-rooms,  etc. 

Among  the  other  most  prominent  erections  on  the  yard  are  the  Bishop's 
derrick,  capable  of  raising  forty  tons;  the  railroad  track,  laid  from  the 
foundry  to  the  saw-mill,  a  distance  of  about  3,000  feet ;  and  the  Kearsarge 
column,  on  the  capital  of  which  stands  the  "fiddle,"  or  figure-head  of  that 
famous  vessel,  while  there  is  a  cemetery  and  light-house  reservation,  which 
comprise  6.6o,  and  4.89  acres  respectively. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  naval,  marine,  and  civil  officers  and  attaches 
of  the  Navy  Yard  and  Station,  Mare  Island,  on  March  29,  1879: — Commo- 
dore Edmund  R.  Calhoun,  Commandant;  Captain  P.  C.  Johnson,  Executive 
Officer.  Commandant's  Office: — William  R.  Cox,  Jr.,  Chief  Clerk;  C.  W. 
Mornington,  Second  Clerk;  B.  F.  Calhoun,  Writer.  Department  of  Yards 
and  Docks: — Calvin  Brown,  Civil  Engineer;  E.  A.  Willats,  Engineers'  ami 
Time  Clerk;  C.  C.  Hall,  Store  Clerk;  Thomas  O'Connor,  Writer.  Depart- 
ment of  Navigation: — Commander  C.  J.  McDougal,  Navigation  Officer; 
Lieutenant-commander,  Charles  H.  Craven;  Lieutenants,  Leonard  Chenery, 
C.  W.  Christopher;  Master,  J.  S.  Abbott;  Clerk,  Wm,  G.  Overend.     Depart- 


260  THE   HISTOEY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

ment  of  Ordnance: — Commander  C.  J.  McDougal,  Ordnance  officer;  Gun- 
ner E.  A.  McDonald,  in  charge  of  magazine;  E.  J.  Overend,  Clerk.  Depart- 
ment of  Construction  and  Repair: — Naval  Constructor,  George  W.  Much; 
Assistant  Naval  Constructor,  George  F.  Mallett;  Constructors'  and  Time 
Clerk,  George  W.  Simonton;  Store  Clerk,  John  A.  Day;  Writers,  John  O. 
Watkins,  Herbert  Mallett,  N.  B.  Klink.  Department  of  Steam  Engineer- 
ing:— Chief  Engineer,  M.  Fletcher,  in  charge  of  department;  Chief  Engin- 
eer, Geo.  F.  Kutz,  in  charge  of  stores;  Passed  Assistant  Engineer,  James 
Entwistle;  Engineers'  and  Time  Clerk,  A.  L.  Hathaway;  Store  Clerk,  St. 
Clair  Fletcher.  Department  of  Equipment  and  Recruiting: — Commander, 
Louis  Kempff,  Equipment  Officer;  Boatswain,  John  Keating;  Sailmaker, 
Thomas  0.  Fassett;  Clerk,  A.  H.  McCobb.  Department  of  Provisions  and 
Clothing: — Paymaster,  George  Cochran;  Paymaster's  Clerk,  Hobart  Ber- 
rien; Writer,  Daniel  Hubbard.  Department  of  Paymaster  of  Yard: — Pay- 
master, George  E.  Hendee;  Paymaster's  Clerk,  L.  T.  Binder;  Writer,  G.  S. 
Gregson.  Department  of  Medicine  and  Surgery — Naval  Hospital: — 
Medical  Inspector,  John  M.  Browne;  Passed  Assistant  Surgeons,  R.  A.  Mar- 
mion,  Hampton  Aulick;  Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  H.  H.  Hall;  Apothecary, 
John  G.  Taylor:  Navy  Yard  Surgeon,  George  W.  Woods;  Apothecary, 
John  R.  Whittaker.  Marine  Barracks: — Major  C.  D.  Hebb,  U.  S.  M.  C, 
Commanding;  First  Lieutenants,  0.  C.  Berryman,  H.  G.  Ellsworth;  Second 
Lieutenant,  Andrew  Stevenson.  Receiving-ship  Independence: — Captain 
John  Irwin,  Commanding;  Lieutenant-commander,  Samuel  S.  Wilson;  En- 
sign, N.  R.  Usher;  Mate,  P.  C.  Van  Buskirk;  Passed  Assistant  Paymaster, 
Fred  C.  Alley;  Assistant  Surgeon,  D.  O.  Lewis;  Paymaster's  Clerk,  John 
A.  Kelly;   Boatswain,  J.  Harding;   Gunner,  Stephen  Young. 

There  are  at  present  the  following  vessels  of  the  U.  S.  Navy  In  Ordinary 
at  the  Yard,  Mare  Island:  Sailing  sloop-of-war  "Cyane;"  steam  sloops-of- 
war  "Iroquois,"  (old)  "Mohican,"  "Narragansett,"  "Nyack,"  "Saco,"  "Benicia," 
and  the  iron-clads  "Monadnock,"  and  "  Comanche."  In  commission,  are  the 
frigate  "Independence,"  steam-tug  "Monterey,"  and  yard-schooner  "Freda." 
There  have  been  built,  and  are  now  building,  the  U.  S.  side-wheel  steamer 
"Saginaw,"  and  the  steam  sloop-of-war  (new)  "Mohican."  The  first  of  these 
was  constructed  in  the  year  1859,  and  was  of  the  following  dimensions: 
Register  length,  158  feet;  breadth,  26  feet;  depth,  11.3  feet,  and  tonnage, 
282  tons;  she  was  wrecked  on  Ocean  Island,  in  October,  1870.  In  refer- 
ence to  the  loss  of  this  vessel,  the  following  interesting  record,  which  is 
attached  to  one  of  her  boats,  now  suspended  in  the  construction-store, 
is  produced:  "Gig  of  the  U.  S.  S.  "Saginaw,"  which  vessel  was 
wrecked  on  Ocean-island  reef,  Lat.  28  deg.  36  min.  N.,  Long.  178  deg.  25 
min.  W.,  October  29,  1870.  This  boat  was  fitted  out  on  Ocean  Island, 
manned  by  a  crew  of  five,  who  volunteered  to  sail  to  Honolulu,  distance 
1,600  miles,  for  the  purpose  of  saving  their  ship-mates.     Sailed  November 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  261 

18,  1870,  arrived  off  Kanai  (one  of  the  Haiwaiian  group)  evening  of  De- 
cember 18,  1870;  capsized  morning  of  19th  of  December,  in  surf,  while 
trying  to  land  at  Kalihi,  Kdai,  island  of  Kanai.  Four  of  the  five  volun- 
teers were  drowned,  viz.:  Lieut.  J.  G.  Talbot,  drowned ;  Seaman  J.  Andrews, 
drowned;  Quartermaster  P.  Francis,  drowned;  Seaman  J.  Muir,  drowned; 
Coxswain  W.  Halford,  sole  survivor."  Halford,  for  his  heroic  conduct,  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Gunner  in  the  Navy,  and  presented  with  a  bronze 
medal  by  the  Government.  He  is  now  serving  on  board  of  the  U.  S. 
S.  "Lackawanna." 

The  steam-tug  "Monterey,"  and  schooner  "Freda"  were  also  built  at  Mare 
Island.  Besides  these,  the  following  ships  have  received  large  repairs  there: 
The  sloop-of-war  "St  Mary's,"  paddle-wheel  "Saranac,"  steam  sloop-of-war 
"Onipee,"  "Lackawanna,"  "Resaca,"  •'Kearsarge,"  "Pensacola,"  "Benicia," 
"Tuscarora,"  and  "Iroquois."  The  vessels  now  attached  to  the  Pacific  station 
are:  "Pensacola,"  (fiag-ship),  "Alaska,"  Jamestown,"  "Tuscarora,"  "Adams," 
with  the  store-ship  "Onward"  at  Callao,  Peru. 

In  the  fore-going  remarks  mention  has  been  made  of  the  "Monadnock." 
She  now  lies  in  honorable  retirement  in  the  straits  at  Mare  Island,  her  sides 
and  turrets  showing  the  marks  of  having  been  in  many  a  hard-contested 
fight  prior  to  having  made  the  risky  journey  around  "The  Horn."  A  new 
"Monadnock"  is  now  being  built,  a  few  remarks  on  which  we  append:  The 
"Monadnock,"  United  States  double-turretted  monitor  now  in  course  of  con- 
struction at  Vallejo,  is  an  item  of  considerable  historic  interest  to  the  county, 
more  especially  in  regard  to  its  shipping  interest.  The  Navy  Department 
at  Washington  having,  for  some  reason  best  known  to  themselves,  granted 
the  building  of  this  craft  to  private  individuals,  under  the  plea  that  it  could 
be  so  done  at  a  less  cost  than  if  built  in  any  of  their  own  yards,  gave  the 
contract  to  Mr.  Phineas  Burgess,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  to  construct  a  ves- 
sel to  take  the  place  of  the  old  ship  of  the  same  name,  bringing  into  use  what- 
soever portion  of  her  gear  as  might  be  found  suitable ;  the  work  carried  on 
to  be  under  the  supervision  of  the  Government  Naval  Inspector;  Mr. Burgess 
having  as  his  representative  Mr.  Wm.  W.  Vanderbilt,  for  many  years  con- 
nected with  the  service  of  the  Pacific  Mail  Company,  on  this  coast  as  well  as 
elsewhere.  There  were  three  separate  contracts  entered  into :  First,  the 
frames,  deck-beams,  etc., were  to  be  erected  by  Mr.  Burgess;  second,  the  plat- 
ing-contract, as  it  may  be  called,  was  to  put  on  the  inner  and  outer  skin,  com- 
plete all  bulkheads  and  the  iron  deck-plating;  and  third,  to  place  the  armor 
and  its  backing,  to  remove  the  turrets  from  the  old  "Monadnock"  and  erect 
them  on  the  present  ship ;  to  lay  wooden  berth  and  main  decks,  and  other- 
wise to  complete  the  monitor  for  sea  to  the  approval  of  the  Government 
Inspector. 

The  dimensions  are  as  under:  Length  between  perpendiculars,  250  feet; 
length  over  all,  2G3.G  feet;    breadth  moulded  and  lower  side  of  armor  shelf 


262  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

55.0|  feet;  breadth,  moulded  abreast  the  armor,  50.8|  feet;  breadth,  ex- 
treme, over  armor,  55.10  feet;  depth,  from  bottom  of  flat  keelson  plate  to 
top  of  main  deck-beams,  14.8;    projection  of  ram  built  in  hull,  10  feet. 

The  vessel  is  to  all  intents  a  double  one,  she  having  both  an  inner  and  an 
outer  skin,  the  thickness  of  the  latter  being  f  and  f  inches  thick,  while  f 
inches  is  the  dimensions  of  the  former.  Between  these  two  skins  there  are 
84  water-tight  compartments,  which  will  add  materially  to  her  natural 
buoyancy,  there  being  besides  three  athwart  ship  water-tight  bulkheads, 
which  are  more  particularly  to  keep  her  afloat  should  any  unforeseen  dis- 
aster occur.  Her  turrets,  which  are  to  be  two  in  number,  will  carry  two  guns 
in  each,  of  15 -inch  calibre.  She  will  be  driven  by  two  pair  of  compound 
engines  of  500  horse-power  each;  she  will  be  provided  with  a  twin-screw 
propeller  of  11  feet  in  diameter;  all  her  machinery  will  be  below  the  water 
line ;  her  outside  armor  plates  will  be  7  inches  in  thickness  of  solid  iron, 
and  will  extend  for  three  feet  below  the  water  line ;  her  smokestack  is  to 
be  armored  for  a  certain  distance  ;  it  will  also  have  a  telescopic  working ; 
she  will  be  rigged  with  one  mast;  her  draft  will  be  14  feet;  she  will  have 
a  freeboard,  i.  e.,  there  will  be  exposed  above  the  water  30  inches  of  plat- 
ing, and  her  displacement  is  calculated  to  be  about  5,000  tons.  When 
ready  for  sea  the  "  Monadnock  "  will  be  supplied  with  a  steam  launch,  and 
the  other  necessary  small  boats,  five  in  number,  and  her  complement  of  of- 
ficers and  men  will  be  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

Unfortunately  work  progresses  but  slowly  on  this  magnificent  specimen 
of  naval  architecture  for  want  of  the  necessary  Government  appropriations  ; 
were  such  to  be  made  she  could  be  completed  in  a  year,  but  under  present 
circumstances  it  is  hard  to  say  when  she  will  be  launched  and  ready  for 
sea.  Were  the  work  proceeded  with,  it  could  not  be  otherwise  than  a  great 
boon  to  Vallejo,  for  a  decided  impetus  would  be  naturally  imparted  to  labor, 
and  bring  money,  that  source  of  all  good,  into  circulation. 

In  concluding  this  sketch  of  Mare  Island's  admirable  N  avy  Yard,  and 
with  it  the  Township  of  Vallejo,  no  more  appropriate  leave  can  be  taken 
than  by  introducing  the  story  of  that  maritime  pioneer  which  now  lies  so 
peacefully  alongside  the  sea-wall  of  the  Arsenal. 

The  "  Independence." — The  "  Guerriere,"  44,  the  first  frigate  that  had 
been  put  into  the  water,  on  the  seaboard,  by  the  American  Government 
since  the  year  1801,  was  launched  at  Philadelphia  June  20,  1814.  It  was 
intended  that  the  "  Independence,"  74,  should  have  gone  off  the  same  day 
at  Boston,  but  she  stuck  on  the  ways.  She  was  got  safely  into  the  water 
on  the  20th  July,  however,  and  was  the  first  two-decked  ship  that  ever 
properly  belonged  to  the  American  Navy,  the  "  America,"  74,  having  been 
given  to  the  King  of  France  while  yet  on  the  stocks. 

Cooper's  Naval  History  thus  gives  us  the  date  when  the  old  ship  was 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  2(53 

launched,  to  do  her  part  in  showing  to  the  world  the  American  flag,  and,  if 
necessary,  to  protect  it  from  and  to  resent  its  insults.  She  made  her  first 
cruise  as  flag-ship  of  Commodore  Bainbridge,  in  the  Mediterranean  sea. 
She  was  commanded  on  this  cruise  by  Captain  William  McCrane,  and  then 
by  Captain  C.  G.  Ridgeley,  sailing  from  Boston  on  July  3,  1815,  and  fin- 
ishing the  cruise  by  arriving  at  the  same  port  on  December  7,  1815. 

Her  second  cruise  was  as  flag-ship  of  Commodore  J.  B.  Nicholson,  to 
Europe  and  Brazil.  Commanded  by  Lieutenant  Alexander  Slidell,  she 
sailed  from  Boston  on  May  21,  1837,  carrying  out  Mr.  Dallas,  as  the  Amer- 
ican Minister  to  Russia,  and  arriving  at  Cronstadt  on  the  29th  July.  After 
leaving  her  distinguished  passenger  with  our  friends  at  Cronstadt,  she 
sailed  for  the  Brazil  station,  stopping  a  few  days  at  Madeira.  Finishing 
her  duty  in  Brazil,  she  returned  home,  arriving  at  New  York  March  30, 
1840,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  John  Pope. 

Her  third  cruise  as  the  flag-ship  of  Commodore  Charles  Stewart,  was 
made  in  the  home  or  West  India  squadron.  She  sailed  from  New  York 
May  14,  1842,  and  went  to  Boston,  where  Capt.  L.  Gallagher  was  relieved 
by  Capt.  H.  Stringham  as  Commanding  Officer.  She  then  sailed  from  Bos- 
ton on  September  29th,  and  made  her  cruise  about  the  "  Indies,"  returning 
to  New  York.  Sailing  again  from  that  city  on  June  2,  1843,  she  visited 
different  ports  on  the  coast  and  returned  to  her  station,  Boston,  on  Decem- 
ber 3,  1843. 

Her  next  cruise  was  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  bearing  the  flag  of  Commodore 
William  B.  Shubrick,  and  commanded  successively  by  Capt.  E.  A.  Lavalette 
and  Lieutenant  R.  L.  Page.  Sailing  from  Boston  on  the  29th  August,  1846, 
and  stopping  at  the  different  ports  of  the  coast,  visiting  San  Francisco 
several  times,  and  making  a  safe  and  successful  cruise,  she  returned  to  Nor- 
folk, Va.,  on  the  23d  May,  1849. 

Her  fifth  cruise  then  was  made  by  going  a  second  time  to  the  Mediter- 
ranean. This  cruise  she  bore  the  flag  of  Commodore  C.  W.  Morgan,  and 
was  commanded  by  Captain  T.  A.  Conover,  at  her  sailing  from  Norfolk  on 
July  26,  1849.  During  most  of  the  cruise  she  was  commanded  by  Com- 
mander George  S.  Blake,  and  returned  to  Norfolk  on  the  25th  June,  1852, 
under  command  of  Captain  William  Jameson. 

The  last  cruise  the  old  vessel  made  was  in  1855  as  flag  ship  of  Commo- 
dore William  Marvine.  Captain  W.  B.  Nicholson  was  Elect  Captain,  and 
Captain  Tatnall  Commander  of  the  ship.  Since  then  her  cruising  days  are 
over  and  she  has  been  used  as  a  receiving  ship  both  at  San  Francisco  and 
Vallejo,  and  has  often  changed  commanders.  Among  them  were  Captains 
Carter,  Shirley,  Phelps,  Commander  Gherardi  and  other  distinguished  officers. 
She  now  lies  securely  moored  and  comfortably  roofed  in  as  a  home  for  old 
men-of-war's  men,  some  of  whom  knew  her  when  she  was  first  launched, 
and  raw  recruits  who  take  their  first  lessons  in  drill. 


264  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

The  old  ship  although  launched  too  late  for  the  war  of  1812  has  done 
good  service,  especially  while  on  the  Pacific  Coast  under  command  of  Com- 
modore Shubrick,  for  the  "  Independence  "  crew  and  officers  figured  in  almost 
every  action  with  the  Mexican  towns  of  the  coast,  and  Cooper  gives  several 
instances  where  the  American  flag  was  hoisted  on  shore  in  token  of  victory 
under  a  salute  from  the  guns  of  this  vessel. 

She  was  superintended  in  her  building  by  Commodore  W.  B.  Shubrick, 
and  the  solidity  of  her  timbers  and  knees  and  their  present  freedom  from 
rot  show  the  care  used  and  skill  exercised  in  the  performance  of  his  duty. 
Built  as  a  74,  it  was  found  that  she  carried,  on  her  first  cruise,  the  sills  of 
her  midships  lower-gun-deck-ports  only  three  feet  above  water.  She  was 
razeed  in  1836,  thereby  making  her  a  54  gun  frigate  ;  and  besides  being  the 
first  double  decked  ship  that  ever  went  to  sea  under  the  American  flag,  she 
was  the  first  74  that  was  converted  in  the  U.  S.  Navy. 

"  She  was  always  called  a  good  sailor  and  said  to  behave  well  at  sea. 
During  her  cruise  in  the  Pacific  from  1846  to  1849  she  averaged  140  knots 
per  24  hours  for  400  consecutive  days."  Her  record  also  says,  "  Is  sure  in 
stays,  stiff  under  canvass,  inclined  to  gripe,  and  is  hard  on  her  cables." 
(1849-52)  "  It  has  been  recommended  to  dispense  with  the  popo  and  top- 
gallant fore-castle,  and  ten  tons  of  ballast ;  to  shorten  the  lower  masts,  and 
to  do  away  with  the  tiller  on  the  gun-deck,  as  it  interferes  with  the  work- 
ing of  stern  guns." 

The  good  old  vessel  is  now  stationed  at  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard  as  a 
receiving  sjiip,  and  she  is  as  sound  in  every  respect  as  she  was  fifty  years 
ago.  Although  the  new  order  of  ships  of  war  have  come  into  use,  there  are 
none  that  are  built  more  substantially  than  the  "  Independence." 

The  seclusion  of  Vallejo  harbor  with  its  beautiful  surroundings,  is  a  fit 
retirement  for  this  Naval  Argonaut  of  California. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  265 


RIO   VISTA. 


BY   L.    L.    PALMER,   A.   M. 


Geography. — The  township  of  Rio  Vista  is  situated  at  the  extreme  north- 
eastern corner  of  Solano  county.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Maine 
Prairie  township  and  Yolo  county,  on  the  east  and  south  by  the  Sacramento 
river,  on  the  west  by  Montezuma  and  Maine  Prairie  township.  Its  bound- 
ary line  runs  as  follows :  Beginning  at  a  point  on  Sutter  slough  where  the 
Yolo  county  line  intersects  said  slough;  thence  in  a  southerly  direction 
along  the  bank  of  said  slough  to  its  junction  with  Steamboat  slough,  a  dis- 
tance of  about  four  miles  ;  thence  southwesterly  along  the  bank  of  Steam- 
boat (or  Marietta)  slough  to  its  junction  with  Cache  slough,  a  distance  of 
about  six  miles ;  thence  in  a  southwesterly  direction  along  the  west  bank 
of  the  Sacramento  river  to  the  intersection  of  the  Montezuma  township 
line,  a  distance  of  about  twelve  miles  ;  thence  north  to  the  intersection  of 
the  line  with  the  south  fork  of  Linda  slough,  a  distance  of  about  thirteen 
miles  ;  thence  easterly  along  the  south  bank  of  Linda  slough  to  its  intersec- 
tion with  Cache  slough,  a  distance  of  about  five  miles  ;  thence  northeasterly 
along  the  east  bank  of  Prospect  slough,  a  distance  of  about  two  and  one-half 
miles ;  thence  east  a  distance  of  about  one  mile ;  thence  north  to  the  Yolo 
line,  a  distance  of  about  three  miles ;  thence  east  to  the  point  of  beginning, 
a  distance  of  about  three  and  one-half  miles.  The  entire  distance  around 
the  township  is  fifty  miles.  The  eastern  boundary  line  extends  along 
the    Sacramento    river   and    its    tributaries,    a    distance   of   twenty   miles. 

The  greatest  width  is  ten  miles.     The  township  is  located  in  north  range 
four,  east  two. 

Topography. — The  topography  of  Rio  Vista  Township  varies  from  the 
lowest  swamp  and  overflowed  lands  to  the  boldest  hills.  The  swamp  lands 
lie  in  the  northern  end  of  the  township,  extending  down  as  far  as  Cache 
slough,  and  comprising  several  large  islands.  A  narrow  belt  of  the  character 
extends  entirely  along  the  eastern  side,  bordering  on  the  Sacramento  river. 
From  Cache  slough  southward  for  a  distance  of  from  one  to  ten  miles  the 
land  is  very  level,  and  is  termed  locally  "  the  plains."  The  surface  of  the 
country,  as  we  go  southward  from  the  plains,  begins  to  undulate  gently  ; 
and  the  further  south  we  go  the  more  marked  and  distinct  do  the  hills 
become  until  you  reach  the  very  steepest  and  most  abrupt  of  the  famous 
Montezuma  hills.     From  Rio  Vista  southward   these  hills  come  out  to  the 


266  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

river,  presenting  bold  bluffs,  the  facade  of  which  is  broken  here  and  there 
with  canyons  and  ravines.  The  swamp  lands  are  comprised  of  what  is 
termed  "  tule  lands." 

Geology. — The  township  does  not  present  any  marked  geological  character, 
yet,  as  far  as  its  alluvial  formation  is  concerned,  is  a  study  well  worth  the 
attention  of  the  scientist.  The  tule  lands  are  of  a  character  similar  to  all 
others  in  the  Sacramento  valley,  viz.,  an  alluvial  deposit  intermingled  with 
the  deposits  of  decaying  vegetation.  The  formation  of  these  lands  has  nec- 
essarily been  slow,  and  it  has  doubtless  taken  almost  countless  years  to  fill 
the  great  basins  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  rivers  from  the  Granite 
mountains,  from  whence  the  supply  must  come.  This  loam  extends  from  a 
depth  of  a  few  feet  to  nearly  100  feet,  and  the  whole  body  of  it  is  an  hetero- 
geneous mass.  Underneath  this,  and  what  once  formed  the  bottom  of  the 
great  inland  sea,  lies  a  stratum  of  argillacious  clay  called  locally  the  "  hard 
pan."  The  formation  of  the  "  plains "  is  a  kind  of  clay,  pregnant  with 
alkali.  Occasional  spots  of  adobe  also  appear  in  this  section.  The  hills  are 
formed  entirely  of  adobe,  varying  through  all  the  grades  of  that  peculiar 
soil.  The  formation  of  and  peculiar  phenomena  presented  by  the  hills  would 
afford  ample  matter  for  a  long  dissertation. 

Character  of  Soil. — The  soil  of  the  swamp  districts  is  a  rich  loam,  alluvial 
in  formation,  and  very  rich  and  productive.  Almost  all  kinds  of  grains  and 
vegetables  thrive  well.  The  soil  of  the  plains  is  clayey,  and  adapted  mostly 
to  grazing,  with  occasionally  a  small  spot  fit  for  cultivation.  The  hills  are 
entirely  adobe,  and  well  suited  for  growing  grain,  but  of  little  value  for 
other  purposes. 

Products. — The  products  of  Rio  Vista  Township  are  as  varied  as  the 
State  of  California  itself.  In  the  warm,  rich  loam  of  the  lowlands  are  per- 
fect hot-beds,  and  produce  almost  everything.  Grain,  vegetables,  fruits, 
berries,  &c,  do  well.  On  the  plains  only  grain  grows  to  any  extent,  al- 
though there  are  some  fine  garden  spots,  where  vegetables  and  fruits  thrive 
with  proper  irrigation.  The  hills  are  adapted  almost  exclusively  to  the 
growing  of  grain.  Wheat  and  barley  are  the  cereals  grown  in  this  town- 
ship. 

Climate.— The  climate  of  the  township  is  quite  uniform — being  mild,  cool 
and  pleasant.  The  cool  and  refreshing  trade  winds  prevail  during  the  sum- 
mer season,  which  modifies  the  temperature,  and  causes  the  climate  to  be 
the  most  salubrious. 

Shipping  Facilities. — Probably  no  township  in  the  State  enjoys  such 
extended  shipping  facilities  as  this.  The  Sacramento  river  extends  along 
its  entire  eastern  and   southern   boundaries,  while   Cache,   Elk,  Miner,  and 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  267 

other  sloughs  extend  through  portions  of  it.  Ships  of  any  burthen  can 
come  to  the  very  doors  of  the  farmers  and  receive  their  products.  The 
stage  of  water  up  the  river  as  far  as  Rio  Vista  will  accommodate  vessels  of 
any  size. 

Early  Settlement. — So  much  for  the  general  features  of  the  township. 
We  now  pass  to  its  settlement.  The  earliest  record  we  can  find  of  any 
settlement  is  that  established  by  General  John  Bidwell,  in  1844.  In  the 
case  of  John  Bidwell  vs.  the  U.  S.  Ulpinos  grant,  one  Samuel  J.  Hensley 
testified  as  follows :  "  In  the  fall  of  1844  I  took  Mr.  Bidwell  on  board  of  a 
schooner  to  the  land  (Ulpinos,  or  Bidwell  grant)  with  some  hands  to  make 
a  settlement.  They  remained  there  and  built  an  adobe  house,  in  which  an 
Englishman,  who  had  charge  of  the  building,  remained  during  the  winter. 
The  next  season  a  small  part  of  the  land  was  cultivated,  and  in  the  winter 
of  1845-46  the  house  was  occupied  by  P.  B.  Reading  and  hands."  This 
house  was  located  on  the  land  now  owned  by  Geo.  H.  Jenkins.  The  hands 
spoken  of  in  the  above  were  mostly  Indians.  There  was  quite  a  rancht'i ie 
of  them  there  during  that  and  the  following  winter,  and  they  were  known 
as  "  Bid  well's  Indians."  During  the  year  1846,  a  party  of  emigrants  arrived 
from  the  East.  As  this  was  before  the  days  of  gold,  an  eligible  agricultural 
location  was  always  sought  for  by  these  hardy  pioneers — the  advance 
ripples  of  the  great  flood-tide  of  immigration  which  was  so  soon  destined  to 
flow  in  upon  the  great  Pacific  shore.  This  party  was  induced  by  Bidwell 
to  go  down  the  Sacramento  river  and  spend  the  winter  on  his  grant,  hoping 
to  dispose  of  portions  of  it  to  them  in  the  spring.  The  winter  was  a  severe 
one  on  the  poor  settlers,  and  for  many  days  during  the  rainy  season  starva- 
tion seemed  to  stare  them  in  the  face.  The  Indians  were  reduced  to  a 
fearful  extremity  also ;  and,  as  the  days  passed  wearily  and  drearily  by, 
their  frequent  exclamation  was  "  hale-che-muk,"  which  means  nothing  to 
eat.  For  years  that  name  was  applied  to  the  Bidwell  settlement,  and  in 
many  of  the  real  estate  tranfers  on  record  the  grant  is  mentioned  as  the 
Hale-che-muk  grant.  In  the  spring  of  1847  the  party  of  immigrants  left 
never  to  return  to  Hale-che-muk,  the  city  (?)  of  starvation.  Most  of 
them  passed  over  into  the  valleys  on  the  western  side  of  the  county,  and 
some  of  their  descendants  remain  there  at  the  present  time.  Perhaps,  before 
going  further  in  this  history,  it  would  be  well  to  give  the  recorded  history 
of  the  Ulpinos  Grant.  In  1844  General  John  Bidwell  sent  the  following- 
petition  to  Micheltorena,  Governor  and  General-Commandant  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Californias,  under  the  Mexican  Government : 

"  Monterey,  April  30,  1844. 
"To  His  Excellency,  the  Governor: 

"Juan  Bidwell,  native  of  the  United  States,  with  the  most  profound 
respect,  presents  himself  and  sets  forth : 


268  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

"  That,  having  been  naturalized  a  Mexican,  and  desiring  to  devote  himself 
to  agriculture,  he  beseeches  your  Excellency  to  vouchsafe  to  grant  him  the 
tract  known  by  the  name  of  'Sillac'  or  ;Ulpinos,'  which  tract  is  unoccupied. 
It  consists  of  four  ranges  (sitios)  for  meat  cattle,  as  shown  by  the  design 
which  he  duly  annexes,  and  its  boundaries  are:  On  the  N.  W.  unoccupied 
lands,  to  the  N.  E.,  the  "  Ulpinos  Slough,"  (Estero),  to  the  S.  E.,  the  river 
Sacramento,  and  to  the  S.  W.  unoccupied  lands.  Wherefore  he  prays  your 
Excellency  to  vouchsafe  to  accede  to  this  his  humble  petition,  and  give 
orders  that  said  tract  be  adjudicated  to  him  in  colonization,  wherein  he  will 
receive  a  grace.     He  makes  the  necessary  verifications. 

"  Juan  Bid  well. 

"Monterey,  April  30,  1844." 

J.  A.  Sutter  duly  certified  that  the  tract  was  then  occupied.  Upon  the 
receipt  of  the  petition,  the  Secretary  suggested  to  the  Governor  that  it 
might  be  well  to  allow  the  matter  to  remain  in  suspense  till  such  time  as 
the  Governor  might  make  a  visit  to  the  river  Sacramento.  Whereupon  the 
Governor  so  ordered.  This  evidently  did  not  satisfy  Bidwell,  for  we  find 
that  under  date  of  July  26,  1844,  the  Governor  issued  the  following  order : 
"  Let  him  occupy  it  provisionally  till  I  go  up,  when  I  will  dispatch  the 
business."  It  does  not  appear  whether  Governor  Micheltorena  ever  paid 
that  visit  or  not,  but  in  November,  1844,  he  issued  the  following  order  and 
decree : 

"  Monterey,  November,  1844. 

"  In  view  of  the  petition,  wherewith  these  proceedings  originate,  the 
reports  and  all  other  things  that  were  brought  forward,  and  were  proper  to 
to  be  kept  in  view,  conformably  to  the  laws  and  regulations  affecting  the 
matter,  I  declare  Don  Juan  Bidwell,  a  naturalized  Mexican,  the  absolute 
owner  of  the  tract  known  by  the  name  of  Los  Ulpinos,  (here  follows  bound; 
ary  as  above)  containing  four  ranges  (sitios)  for  meat  cattle.  Let  the  proper 
patent  be  issued,  be  entered  of  record  in  the  proper  book,  and  let  these 
minutes  of  proceedings  be  forwarded  to  the  most  excellent  the  Departmental 
Assembly  for  its  approval. 

"  His  Excellency,  Don  Manuel  Micheltorena,  Brigadier-General  of  the 
Mexican  Army  and  Adjutant- General  of  the  staff  of  the  same,  Governor, 
General-Commandant  and  Inspector  of  the  Department  of  the  Californias, 
has  so  ordered,  decreed,  and  subscribed,  which  I  certify." 

Very  shortly  after  the  above  was  issued  from  the  Governor- General,  he 
saw  fit  to  issue  to  Bidwell  a  true  grant  to  the  rancho  in  due  and  legal  form. 
This  paper  bears  date  of  November  20,  1844.  The  following  is  a  copy  of 
the  translation  of  that  grant  as  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Board 
of  Land  Commissioners  in  San  Francisco : 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO  COUNTY.  260 

"  First-class  stamp,  eight  dollars.  Issued  provisionally  by  the  Customs 
of  the  Port  of  Monterey,  in  the  Department  of  the  Californias,  for  the  years 
1844  and  1845. 

[SEAL.]  "  MlCHELTORENA, 

"  Pablo  de  la  Guerra. 

"  The  citizen,  Manuel  Michelt'a,  Brigadier-General  of  the  Mexican  Army, 
Adjutant-General  of  the  staff  of  the  same,  Governor,  General-Commandant, 
and  Inspector  of  the  Department  of  the  Californias." 

Whereas,  John  Bidwell,  a  naturalized  Mexican,  has  solicited,  for  his  own 
benefit  and  that  of  his  family,  the  tract  known  by  the  name  of  "Los  Ulpinos," 
bounded  at  the  N.  W.  by  waste  lands,  at  the  N.  E.  by  the  Ulpinos  Pond,  at 
the  S.  E.  by  the  Sacramento  River,  at  the  S.  W.  by  waste  lands,  the  necessary 
legal  steps  and  investigations  having  first  been  duly  taken,  as  provided  by 
the  laws  and  regulations,  by  virtue  of  the  faculties  conferred  on  me,  in  the 
name  of  the  Mexican  nation,  I  have  come  to  grant  to  him  the  tract  afore- 
said, declaring  the  same  to  be  his  property,  by  these  presents,  letters  subject 
to  the  approval  of  the  Hon.  Departmental  Assembly,  under  the  following  con- 
ditions : 

1st.  He  shall  have  no '  power  to  sell  it,  to  alien  it,  to  encumber  it  with 
rent-roll,  lien,  bond,  mortgage  or  other  encumbrance  of  any  kind,  nor  shall 
he  even  have  power  £o  donate  it. 

2d.  He  may  fence  it  without,  prejudice  it  without,  prejudice  to  the 
cross-roads,  highways  and  rights  of  way,  he  shall  enjoy  it  freely  and  exclu- 
sively, applying  it  to  the  use  or  custom  which  best  may  suit  him,  but  within 
one  year  he  shall  construct  a  house  which  shall  be  inhabited. 

3d.  After  confirmation  to  him  of  the  title,  he  shall  solicit  from  the  Judge 
who  has  jurisdiction  that  judicial  possession  be  given  to  him,  by  virtue  of 
the  grant,  and  thereby  shall  be  marked  out  the  boundaries,  in  the  lines  of 
which  he  shall  place,  beside  the  corner  marks,  some  fruit  or  forest  trees  of 
some  utility. 

4th.  The  tract  hereby  conceded  is  of  four  (sitios)  ranges  of  large  cattle,  as 
set  forth  by  the  design  relating  hereto.  The  Judge  who  may  give  posses- 
sion will  cause  the  same  to  be  measured  according  to  law,  the  surplus  remain- 
ing the  property  of  the  nation  for  its  own  proper  use  and  benefit. 

5th.  If  he  shall  break  these  conditions  he  shall  lose  his  rights  to  the  tract, 
and  it  may  be  claimed  by  others. 

Wherefore,  I  order  that  these  presents,  being  his  title  deeds,  be  considered 
firm  and  valid,  that  they  be  recorded  in  the  proper  book,  and  delivered  to 
the  party  in  interest  for  his  security  and  other  uses. 

Given  at  Monterey,  November  20,  1844. 

Manuel  Micheltorena. 
Manuel  Jimeno,  Secretary. 

This  grant  is  recorded  in  the  proper  book,  pp.  12  se. 

Jimeno. 


270  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

In  a  few  years  more  the  Mexican  Government  lost  its  claim  to  California' 
and  Bidwell  thinking,  doubtless  that  the  obligations  which  bound  him  not 
to  dispose  of  any  portion  of  the  grant  were  null  and  void,  began  to  sell  por- 
tions of  the  grant.  The  first  sale  was  made  to  Jacob  D.  Hoppe  and  Lucy 
Hoppe,  his  wife,  deed  bearing  date  of  October  15,  1847.  The  consideration 
was  $500,  and  the  land  transferred  was  "an  undivided  one-fourth  of  the 
tract  of  land  known  by  the  name  of  '  Hela  Chammac,' '  being  one  league 
square.  The  deed  was  a  warranty  deed,  and  was  witnessed  by  L.  W.  Boggs. 
It  was  acknowledged  before  George  Hyde,  1st  Alcalde  of  San  Francisco. 
Numerous  other  tracts  were  disposed  of  by  Bidwell,  all  being  undivided 
fractional  portions  of  the  grant.  A  full  list  of  these  transfers  will  be  found 
in  the  list  of  transfers  farther  on. 

After  the  United  States  obtained  possession  of  California  the  titles  of 
Mexican  grants  began  to  get  a  little  "  shaky,"  and  required,  in  many  instances, 
a  considerable  "  bracing  up."  This  grant  was  no  exception  to  the  rule, 
and  we  find  that  on  the  3d  day  of  September,  1852,  John  Bidwell  brought 
his  claims  to  the  Ulpinos  grant  before  the  Board  of  Land  Commissioners  at 
San  Francisco  for  confirmation.  The  matter  was  before  the  commissioners 
for  a  long  time,  and  on  the  17th  day  of  January,  1854,  "  Commissioner 
Thompson  Campbell  delivered  the  opinion  of  the  Board  confirming  the  claim." 
The  opinion  of  the  Board  is  a  full  and  complete  review  of  the  case  in  all  its 
legal  and  historical  bearings,  and  is  well  worthy  a  perusal.  The  measure- 
ment of  the  grant  was  now  declared  to  be  20,000  varas  by  5,000  varas,  con- 
taining four  leagues.  On  September  13,  1854,  the  United  States  took  the 
initiatory  steps  toward  appealing  the  case  to  the  United  States  District  Court. 
The  appeal  was  filed  July  16,  1855,  and  petitioned  the  Court  for  a  reversal 
of  the  decision  of  the  Commissioners.  John  Bidwell  filed  his  answer  on  the 
20th  of  July,  1855,  and  prayed  that  the  decision  of  the  Board  be  affirmed. 

On  the  29th  day  of  October,  1855  the  decree  of  the  United  States  District 
Court  for  the  Northern  District  of  California,  Ogden  Hoffman,  Jr.,  Judge, 
was  filed,  confirming  the  decision  of  the  Commissioners.  On  the  10th  day 
of  January,  1857,  Hon.  Caleb  Cushing,  Attorney  General  of  the  United 
States,  wrote  to  Wm.  Blanding,  U.  S.  District  Attorney,  stating  that  this  case 
would  not  be  prosecuted  any  farther  by  the  United  States.  Upon  receipt 
of  this  letter  the  United  States  District  Attorney  instructed  Judge  Hoffman 
to  make  the  final  decree  of  confirmation.  This  final  decree  of  confirmation 
was  made  by  Judge  Ogden  Hoffman  on  the  21st  day  of  March,  1857.  The 
matter  ran  along  very  smoothly  for  nearly  ten  years,  when  a  patent  was 
issued  by  the  United  States  to  John  Bidwell  for  the  grant.  This  patent  is 
dated  August  9,  1866,  and  is  signed  by  A.  Johnson,  President.  The  num- 
ber of  acres  contained  in  this  grant,  as  specified  by  the  Surveyor  General,  is 
seventeen  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  twenty-six  (17,726).  So  much  for 
the  legal  history  of  the  grant  insomuch  as  John  Bidwell  is  concerned  and  the 
validity  of  his  title  to  it. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  271 

Proceedings  in  Partition. — From  time  to  time  Bidwell  had  sold  to  vari- 
ous parties  undivided   fractional   portions  of   the  grant,  until  it  was  in  a 
badly  jumbled  state,  as  regards  boundary  lines.    On  the  10th  day  of  August, 
1855,  in  the   District  Court  of  the  Seventh   Judicial   District,  in  and   for 
Solano  county,  one  of  the  claimants,  Samuel  J.  Hensley,  entered  a  suit  for 
partition.     At  that  time  the  ownership  was  vested   as  follows  :     Samuel  J. 
Hensley,  one-eighth  ;   Sarah  B.  Gillespie,  one-sixteenth  ;  Chas.  R.  Bond  and 
J.  Tuttle  Smith,  assignees  of  C.  V.  Gillespie,  one-fourth  ;  Alex.  G.  Abell,  one 
twenty-fourth ;   E.  H.  Board,  one  twenty-fourth ;    Phoebe  S.  Van  Nostrand, 
one  thirty-second  ;  Charles  L.  Ross,  one-twelfth  and  one-eighteenth  ;  D.  L. 
Ross,  one-twelfth,  also  an  interest  in  2,000  acres  claimed  by  Chas.  L.  Ross  ; 
I.  C.  Woods,  an  interest  in  2,400  acres  of  the  interest  of  Chas.  L.  Ross  ;  John 
Denn,  one-eighteenth  ;  Hiram  Grimes,  one  thirty-second  ;  David  N.  Hawley, 
one  thirty-second  ;   John  Curry,  one  thirty-second ;  R.  B.  Norman,  one-six- 
teenth, including  the  claim  of  John  Curry ;    Samuel  Price  and  Fred.  Green, 
(Price  &  Co.),  an  interest  in  the  interest  of  R.  B.  Norman;  Mary  P.  Buckley, 
two  hundred  and  fifty-four  thousandths  ;  Chas.  L.  Ross  also  claimed  seven 
hundred  and  sixty-four  thousandths  by  virtue  of  a  tax  title.     It  was  prayed 
by  the  plaintiff  that  a  sale  be  made  and  the  proceeds  equally  divided  among 
the  claimants.     Col.  N.  H.  Davis  was  the  attorney  for  plaintiff.     Due  sum- 
mons was  to  said  claimants  issued  from  the  Court.     Several  of  them  filed 
answers,  all  favoring  the  idea  of  an  equitable  and  legal  adjudication  of  the 
entire  matter.     B.  C.  Whitman,  of  Benicia,  was  appointed  as  referee.     The 
referee  proceeded  at  once  to  make  arrangements  for  the  sale.     The  entire 
rancho  was  divided  into  twenty  equal  tracts,  the  measurement  being  made 
along  the  river  front,  and  extending  back  one  league.     The  sale  occurred  on 
the  3d  day  of  December,  1855,  in  front  of  the  Court  House  door  in  the  town 
of  Benicia.       The  purchasers  and  the  amount  given  for  each  tract  is  as 
follows :    Lot  No.  1,  N.  H.  Davis,  $125  ;  No.  2,  Josiah  Knowles ;  $141  ;  No. 
3,  N.  H.  Davis,  $40  ;  No.  4,  J.  Denn,  $225  ;  No.  5,  C.  V.  Gillespie,  $250  ;  No. 
6,  A.  G.  Abell,  $275  ;  No.  7,  same,  $220 ;   No.  8,  S.  C.  Hastings,  $200  ;  No. 
9,  C.  V.  Gillespie,  $145  ;   No.  10,  same,  $150  ;  No.  11,  S.  C.  Hastings,  $185  ; 
No.  12,  J.  Wilcoxson,  $55  ;  No.  13,  C.  V.  Gillespie,  $80  ;  No.  14,  N.  H.  Davis, 
$80;   No.  15,  same,  $50;    No.  16,  same,  $50;    No.  17,  same,  $95;    No.  18. 
Robt.  Beasley,  $75  ;   No.  19,  same,  $75  ;   No.  20,  same,  $75.     Total,  $2,591, 
In  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  value  of  this  land  has  advanced  so 
much   that  at  a  forced  sale,  similar  to  this  one,  it  would  doubtless  be  sold 
for  more  than  $50,000.     It  is  noticeable  that  the  referee  was  allowed  $500 
for  his  services  and  costs  of  reference,  an  amount  equal  to  about  one-fifth 
of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale,  and  that  amount  was  taken  from  the  proceeds 
of  the  sale.     The  desired  result  of  the  sale  was  secured,  and  there  has  since 
been  no  litigation,  nor  is  there  liable  to  be,  as  the  title  is  almost  absolutely 
perfect. 


272  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

In  the  year  1851  Robt.  E.  Beasley  located  on  the  southern  end  of  the 
Ulpinos  grant  and  built  what  was  always  known  as  the  "  twin  houses." 
This  was  one  of  the  houses  which  came  around  the  horn  in  an  early  day 
already  framed.  The  purchaser  had  no  idea  of  the  style  of  architecture 
of  his  house  when  he  bought  it,  and  was  surprised  when  he  began  to  con- 
struct it  to  find  that  it  was  framed  as  a  double  house.  The  site  of  the  house 
was  about  200  yards  above  the  present  location  of  Toland's  Landing.  Beasley 
established  a  ferry  at  this  point,  between  Sherman  Island  and  the  main 
land,  using  a  flat  boat  and  a  chain.  Robt.  E.  Beasley  was  a  peculiar  genius  ; 
a  veritable  Utopian.  All  old  settlers  will  remember  his  (locally)  famous 
pronunciamento  of  peace,  issued  by  him  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  in 
which  he  supposed  he  had  solved  all  the  questions  of  dispute,  and  set  forth 
a  plan  for  the  amicable  adjustment  of  all  differences  between  the  North  and 
South.  Poor  Beasley  died  without  seeing  a  realization  of  any  of  his  many 
vast  projects,  and  his  body  was  shipped  by  express  to  the  nearest  cemetery, 
and  no  friend  followed  him  to  his  last  resting  place. 

Development. — For  years  the  land  of  this  township  was  considered  fit  for 
nothing  but  grazing  purposes.  It  was  never  dreamed  that  grain  would 
flourish  in  any  portion  of  it.  Small  portions  of  land  were  planted  in  grain 
about  1862,  and  it  was  found  that  they  flourished  well.  The  year  1864  was 
exceedingly  dry  and  crops  an  entire  failure ;  but  after  that  the  merits  of 
the  rich  adobe  soil  became  rapidly  to  be  appreciated,  and  that  township 
now  ranks  among  the  first  in  the  county. 

Rio  Vista. — Rio  Vista  is  the  only  town  in  the  township.  In  the  fall 
of  1857,  Col.  N.  H.  Davis  surveyed  and  recorded  a  town  plat  on  lot  No.  3 
of  Ulpinos  grant.  The  site  of  this  proposed  town  was  situated  about  one 
mile  below  the  mouth  of  Cache  slough.  It  was  called  Brozos  del  Rio, 
(Arms  of  the  River)  from  the  circumstance  that  it  was  situated  so  near 
three  branches  of  the  Sacramento  river.  The  name,  however,  was  changed 
three  years  later  to  Rio  Vista,  (River  View)  at  the  suggestion  of  Mrs.  Dr. 
Kirkpatrick ;  a  very  appropriate  name  also.  At  that  time  Col.  DaVis'  resi- 
dence was  the  only  house  on  the  site. 

The  next  building  placed  upon  the  town  site  was  a  store-house  moved 
from  Sidwell's  Landing,  on  Grand  Island,  and  occupied  by  A.  G.  Westgate 
for  mercantile  purposes.  This  building  stood  on  the  corner  of  Front  and 
Main  streets.  This  was  followed  in  rapid  succession  by  a  butcher-shop  by 
A.  J.  Bryant,  a  hotel  by  W.  K.  Squires,  a  blacksmith-shop  by  Simon  Fall- 
man,  a  salmon  cannery  by  Carter  &  Son,  a  store  by  S.  R.  Perry,  a  drug 
store  by  James  <fe  Thomas  Freeman,  (they  also  had  an  hotel),  a  livery- 
stable  by  James  Hammel,  and  several  private  residences,  making  in  all 
quite  a  little  village. 


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THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY.  273 

In  the  spring  of  1858  Colonel  Davis  constructed  a  wharf  24x75  feet. 
John  M.  Sidwell  was  the  builder.  In  1859  the  California  Steam  Navigation 
Company  came  into  possession  of  the  wharf  and  enlarged  it  to  150x48  feet. 
The  magnificent  steamers  "  New  World,"  "  Antelope,"  "  Eclipse  "  and  "  Sen- 
ator "  were  then  plying  the  Sacramento,  touching  daily  at  Rio  Vista. 

Colonel  Davis  established  a  post-office  in  the  town,  probably  in  1858,  and 
that  made  it  a  sort  of  headquarters  for  all  the  surrounding  country,  as  there 
was  not  an  office  within  twenty  miles  at  that  time. 

At  this  time  there  was  an  untold  abundance  of  salmon  in  the  river,  and 
hundreds  of  men  were  engaged  in  fishing.  As  there  was  no  other  landing 
between  Sacramento  and  Benicia,  there  were  thousands  of  fish  shipped  from 
this  point  daily,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  town  was  full  of  men,  and  money 
was  spent  with  a  lavish  hand. 

Everything  flourished  in  the  new  town  for  five  years,  when  a  circum- 
stance occurred  which  was  destined  to  sweep  the  town  out  of  existence  at 
one  swoop.  Sometime  in  the  Fall  of  1861  it  commenced  raining,  and  con- 
tinued almost  incessantly  for  the  fabled  forty  days  and  nights.  The  con- 
sequence was  the  water  increased  to  unheard  of  heights.  During  the  last  days 
of  December,  1861,  the  water  rose  high  enough  to  sweep  away  all  the  smaller 
buildings  in  the  town,  but  it  was  reserved  for  January  9,  1862,  to  be  the 
culmination  of  the  fearful  tragedy  whereby  a  whole  village  should  be  swept 
out  of  existence  and  its  people  escaping  barely  with  their  lives.  On  that 
day  the  water  stood  twelve  feet  deep  at  the  foot  of  Main  street.  For  miles, 
in  all  directions,  the  face  of  the  earth  was  covered  with  a  wild  waste  of 
waters.  All  day  a  fearful  rain-storm  prevailed  and  a  southeast  gale  swept 
over  miles  and  leagues  of  seething  sea.  The  angry  waves  in  their  wild 
confusion  dashed  against  the  buildings  with  giant  force,  and.  all  were  total 
wrecks  long  before  night.  The  houseless  and  homeless  people  gathered 
together  on  the  top  of  a  mound  a  short  distance  below  the  town.  They 
brought  a  few  things  with  them  and  managed  to  eke  out  a  most  miserable 
existence  for  a  few  days  until  steamers  came  and  took  them  off.  Those 
days  and  nights  of  misery  and  privation  are,  perhaps,  among  the  hardest 
the  early  pioneers  of  California  were  called  upon  to  undergo ;  and  no  in- 
cident recorded  in  song  or  story,  either  truth  or  romance,  is  more  replete 
with  pathos  than  the  recital  of  the  scenes  and  incidents  of  those  eventful 
days.  All  that  is  now  left  to  mark  the  site  of  the  once  thriving  village  are 
a  few  decaying  piles  which  formed  a  part  of  the  wharf.  A  few  strangers 
sleep  in  unknown  graves  near  there.  Cattle  now  graze  in  peace  and 
quietude  where  was  once  the  busy  mart  of  trade. 

Shortly  after  this,  perhaps  in  the   month  of  March,  1862,  several  of  the 

former  residents  of  the   old  town   began  casting  about  for  a  more  secure 

place  whereupon  to  pitch   their  tents — a   location   above   the   reach  of  the 

raging  floods  and  angry  waves.     A  party  of  four  men,  consisting  of  William 

18 


274  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

K.  Squires,  S.  R.  Perry,  J.  M.  Sidwell  and  Isaac  Dunham,  went  to  see  Mr. 
Joseph  Bruning,  who  owned  a  ranch  on  the  upper  edge  of  the  Montezuma 
hills.  Negotiations  were  at  once  entered  into,  and  the  northeast  corner  of 
Mr.  Bruning's  ranch  was  the  site  chosen  for  the  new  town.  Accordingly 
Mr.  Bruning  surveyed  and  recorded  the  town  plat  of  "  New  Rio  Vista,"  in 
1862.  T.  J.  Mc Worthy,  who  then  owned  the  Gardiner  ranch,  surveyed  and 
recorded  an  addition  to  the  town.  Main  street  is  located  on  the  line  of 
division  of  the  two  ranches,  and  the  town  has  grown  up  on  either  side  of  it. 

The  first  store  was  erected  by  S.  R.  Perry.  This  was  followed  by  an  hotel 
by  J  M.  Sidwell,  an  hotel  by  Wm.  K.  Squires,  and  many  other  business  and 
private  buildings.  Many  of  the  people  who  had  lived  in  the  old  town 
settled  in  the  new  town,  and  went  on  with  their  former  occupations  just  as 
if  nothing  had  ever  occurred.  The  new  town  grew  rapidly,  and  in  a  short 
time  far  exceeded  the  old  town. 

The  post-office  was  established  at  S.  R.  Perry's  store  with  S.  R.  Perry  as 
postmaster.  The  wharf  was  built  by  Joseph  Bruning  in  the  Spring  of 
1862.  In  1866  the  steamer  "  Yosemite "  blew  up  at  this  wharf,  killing 
about  eighty  persons.     Of  this  number  about  thirty  were  Chinamen. 

The  first  church  building  erected  in  Rio  Vista  was  the  Catholic.  It  was 
built  in  June,  1868.  The  only  other  church  building  in  town  is  the  Con- 
gregational, which  was  erected  in  August,  1868.  The  first  public  school 
was  established  in  the  Fall  of  1862.     James  U.  Chase  was  the  first  teacher. 

The  present  site  of  Rio  Vista  is  64  miles  from  San  Francisco,  50  miles 
from  Sacramento  and  25  miles  from  Fairfield.  It  lies  on  the  western  bank 
of  the  Sacramento  river,  in  the  eastern  part  of  Solano  county.  It  is  in  the 
heart  of  one  of  the  most  prosperous  agricultural  districts  in  the  State.  The 
Montezuma  hills,  at  its  back,  is  unrivalled  for  grain,  and  vast  bodies  of 
swamp  and  overflowed  lands  lie  in  front  of  it  extending  far  away  to  Stock- 
ton, all  in  process  of  reclamation.  These  lands  will  prove,  when  reclaimed, 
to  be  an  inexhaustible  source  of  fruit,  vegetables,  grain,  etc. 

There  are  two  lines  of  steamers  which  land  here,  going  each  way,  daily, 
with  the  addition  of  an  occasional  opposition  steamer.  The  C.  P.  R.  R. 
Company's  steamers  carry  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co's  express  and  the  U.  S.  Mails. 
The  California  Transportation  Company's  steamers  run  up  Old  river,  and 
ply  chiefly  in  the  fruit  trade. 

Rio  Vista  is  the  present  terminus  of  the  Montezuma  telegraph,  which 
affords  great  facility  of  communication  with  the  markets,  and  the  outside 
world  generally. 

The  town  is  supplied  with  water  from  the  Sacramento  river.  It  is  lifted 
by  steam  and  placed  into  large  tanks  situated  on  an  eminence  near  the 
center  of  the  town ;  thence  it  is  distributed  through  the  town  by  mains  and 
service  pipe.     The  manager  of  this  enterprise,  R.  C.  Carter,  is  an  old  pioneer 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  275 

of  the  town.  Abundance  of  water  can  also  be  had  by  boring,  and  at  no 
great  depth. 

The  great  amount  of  hay  and  grain  grown  in  this  vicinity  demand  ware- 
houses with  large  storage  capacity.  In  the  town  there  are  three,  with  room  for 
the  storage  of  6,000  tons  of  grain  and  6,500  tons  of  hay,  while  at  New  Town 
Landing,  about  a  mile  above  Rio  Vista,  there  are  warehouses  with  a  storage 
capacity  of  4,000  tons  of  grain  and  3,500  tons  of  hay.  There  are  also  houses 
at  Toland's  Landing,  on  the  river  a  few  miles  below  Rio  Vista,  which  have  a 
very  large  storage  capacity.  A  large  portion  of  the  grain  is  also  taken  to 
Bird's  Landing. 

For  a  statement  of  the  various  kinds  of  business  conducted  in  the  town 
we  refer  our  readers  to  the  business  directory.  Other  matters  of  importance 
will  be  found  under  their  appropriate  headings. 

F.  and  A.  M. — Rio  Vista  Lodge  No.  208,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  was 
organized  June  5,  1870.  The  following  named  gentlemen  were  charter 
members :  Robert  Martin,  G.  H.  Bell,  C.  A.  Pine,  Jas.  Johnson,  G.  W. 
Kynock,  J.  Pool,  Chas.  Martell,  S.  P.  Sorenson  and  J.  S.  Cook.  The  first 
officers  were:  Robert  Martin,  W.  M.;  C.  A.  Pine,  S.  W.;  Geo.  H.  Bell,  J.  W. 
Following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  W.  M's  from  the  date  of  organization  to 
the  present  time:  Robert  Martin,  1870;  J.  S.  Cook,  1871;  C.  A.Pine, 
1872;  Josiah  Pool,  1873;  Rev.  A.  F.  Hitchcock,  1874;  T.  P.  Emigh,  1875, 
re-elected  1876 ;  Dr.  M.  Pietrzycki,  1877  ;  Jas.  Johnson,  1878.  The  follow- 
ing named  gentlemen  are  the  officers  elect  for  the  ensuing  year :  E.  C. 
Doziei,  W.  M.;  J.  E.  T.  Smith,  S.  W.;  W.  B.  Pressley,  J.  W.;  A.  H.  Peterson, 
Treasurer ;  J.  C.  Kraus,  Secretary.  The  present  membership  is  43.  The 
order  is  in  a  very  prosperous  condition. 

/.  0.  0.  F.—Rio  Vista  Lodge  No.  180,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
was  organized  September  21,  1870.  The  following  named  gentlemen  were 
charter  members  :  Jas.  Johnson,  S.  P.  Sorenson,  A.  H.  Hawley,  M.  S.  Stone, 
John  Davis  and  Chas.  Davis.  The  following  named  members  have  served 
as  N.  G's :  M.  S.  Stone,  1870 ;  S.  P.  Sorenson  and  A.  H.  Hawley,  1871 ;  Jas. 
Johnson  and  E.  W.  Westgate,  1872;  J.  D.  Ingersoll  and  Wm.  Ferguson, 
1873;  J.  M.  Perry  and  Rev.  A.  F.  Hitchcock,  1874;  Jos.  Nevin  and  J.  C. 
Kraus,  1875;  John  O'Haraand  J.  E.  Pratt,  1876;  J.  E.  Pratt,  (re-elected)  and 
John  Davis,  1877;  A.  H.  Peterson  and  S.  Neilson,  1878.  Following  is  the 
list  of  officers  elect  for  the  ensuing  term :  Simon  Neilson,  N.  G. ;  Jerome 
Emigh,  V.  G. ;  J.  C.  Kraus,  Secretary  ;  S.  P.  Sorenson,  Treasurer.  The  pres- 
ent membership  is  65. 

C.  of  R.  C. — River  View  Encampment  No.  6,  Champions  of  the  Red  Cross, 
was  organized  October  4,  1872.     The  following  is  a  list  of  its  charter  mem- 


276  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

bers  :  J.  D.  Ingersoll,  J.  D.  Tillery,  Wm.  Ferguson,  Jas.  Williams,  Mrs.  H. 
W.  Stone,  S.  C.  Edwards,  Mrs.  Emeline  Westgate,  C.  A.  Pine,  Mrs.  M.  E. 
Kraus,  J.  T.  Hadley,  R.  C.  Sidwell,  Thos.  E.  Morgan,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Morgan. 
The  following  named  persons  are  the  officers  elect  for  the  ensuing  term  :     J. 

F.  Morey,  Com.;  Mrs.  M.  Davis,  J.  C;  H.  H.  Hudson,  R.  S.;  Jas.  Williams, 
Treas. 

Rio  Vista  H.  and  L.  Co. — The  Rio  Vista  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  was 
organized  October  21,  1871.  The  following  named  gentlemen  were  organ- 
izing members :  S.  Craner,  R.  C.  Sidwell,  Jas.  Donovan,  Chas.  Scarlett,  G. 
W.  Roberts,  Chas.  Green,  R.  C.  Carter,  J.  M.  Sidwell,  W.  W.  Elliott,  Jas. 
Johnson,  Geo.  Clarridge  and  H.  Craner.  R.  C.  Carter  was  the  first  Fore- 
man. The  company  have  always  been  in  a  very  prosperous  condition,  and 
the  present  membership  numbers  30.  S.  Nielson  is  the  present  Foreman, 
he  Tcompany,  with  the  aid  of  the  citizens,  has  supplied  the  town  with  72 
buckets,  several  hooks,  ladders,  axes,  etc.,  and  with  their  own  private  means 
have  purchased  500  feet  of  four-inch  hose  at  an  expense  of  $300,  and  have 
lately  constructed  a  building  at  an  expense  of  $245. 

Congregational  Church. — The  "  First  Church  of  Christ  in  Rio  Vista  "  was 
organized  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Warren,  Superintendent  of  the  American  Home 
Missionary  Society  for  California,  and  Rev.  S.  B.  Dunton,  Acting  Pastor 
of  the  Congregational  Society  in  Rio  Vista,  on  the  29th  day  of  May 
1869.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  original  members  of  the  Church: 
Rev.  S.  B.  Dunton,  Mrs.  H.  W.  Stone,  Mrs.  N.  J.  Munson,  Mrs.  Virginia  E. 
Brown.  M.  S.  Stone,  Jos.  Munson,  Dr.  L.  F.  Dozier,  Josiah  Pool,  Dr.  S.  C. 
Brown,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Hawley,  Jarvis  Emigh,  Peter  H.  Hamilton,  Mrs.  A.  E. 
Pool,  Barton  Dozier,  Margaret  Brandon,  Neil  Cook,  Rob't  Watson,  Mrs.  Mary 
A.  Watson,  D.  McCormac,  Mrs.  Catherine  McCormac,  Mrs.  Ann  Denoville. 
The  following-named  gentlemen  have  acted  as  pastors  since  its  organization  : 
Rev.  S.  B.  Dunton,  acting  Pastor  from  May  29th  to  November,  1869 ;  Rev. 
J.  J.  Powell,  elected  October  24,  1869,  installed  March  2,  1870 ;  Rev.  A.  F. 
Hitchcock,  elected  December  29,  1872,  installed  March  19,  1873;   Rev.  G.  F. 

G.  Morgan,  elected  May  1,  1875;  Rev.  G.  H.  Smith,  elected  September  24, 
1876.     The  present  membership  is  forty-six. 

Congregational  Sunday  School: — A  Sunday  School  was  organized  in 
the  Congregational  Church  on  the  11th  day  of  July,  1869.  The  following 
is  the  list  of  Superintendents  and  time  of  election:  S.  C.  Brown,  elected 
July  11,  1869;  re-elected  July,  1870.  Rev.  J.  J.  Powell,  elected  August  1, 
1871;  re-elected  July  2,  1872;  L.  L.  Palmer,  elected  July  14,  1873;  Rev. 
A.  F.  Hitchcock,  elected  July,  1874;  H.  S.  Vining,  elected  May,  1875;  Wm. 
Ferguson,  elected  March,  1876,  and  still  continues  in  office.     The  present 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  277 

scholarship  is  about  sixty-eight.     The  Sunday  School  is  ably  managed,  and 
there  is  a  considerable  interest  taken  in  it  by  the  scholars  and  teachers. 

M.  E.  Church: — This  Church  organization  was  effected  in  the. latter  part 
of  1877,  by  Rev.  T.  H.  Woodward,  who  served  as  Pastor  till  September, 
1878.  Rev.  R.  E.  Wenk  supplies  the  pulpit  at  present.  The  membership 
at  present  is  not  very  large,  but  is  increasing.  They  have  no  church  build- 
ing of  their  own;  as  yet,  but  have  a  very  acceptable  place  of  worship  rented. 
There  is  a  Sunday  School  connected  with  the  Church,  which  was  organized 
December  1,  1878,  with  L.  L.  Palmer  as  Superintendent.  The  average 
attendance  is  thirty-five. 

Catholic  Church:  — This  was  the  first  church  edifice  erected  in  Rio  Vista. 
It  was  built  in  1868.  It  is  in  the  same  parish  with  the  church  at  Suisun, 
and  the  same  priest  serves  at  both  places.  The  first  priest  who  officiated 
here  was  Rev.  Father  Auger.  He  served  the  church  until  December,  1872, 
since  which  time  Rev.  Father  McNaboe  has  officiated.  The  membership  is 
quite  large,  and  the  church  services  well  attended.  Father  McNaboe  is  an 
energetic,  hard-working  man,  and  is  well  liked  by  all  his  parishioners. 

St.  Gertrudes  Academy :  —  This  Academy  for  young  ladies,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy,  is  beautifully  situated  on  an  eminence  in 
the  pleasant  and  accessible  town  of  Rio  Vista.  The  location  is  remarkably 
healthful,  the  building  new  and  well  furnished  with  all  that  contributes  to 
the  health  and  comfort  of  the  pupils.  The  pleasure-grounds  are  extensive, 
and  well  adapted  to  healthful  exercise.  Pupils  of  all  persuasions  are  equally 
received.  The  course  of  instruction  embodies  all  the  useful  branches  of  a 
solid  education.  The  academy  building  was  erected  in  1876,  by  the  munifi- 
cence of  Mr.  Joseph  Bruning,  and  was  formally  dedicated  by  Bishop  Ale- 
many  on  the  10th  day  of  December,  1876.  There  are  nine  Sisters  engaged 
in  teaching,  which  constitutes  a  most  efficient  corps  of  teachers.  The  Acad- 
emy is  justly  popular  with  its  patrons,  and  we  are  sure  the  time  is  not  far 
distant  when  its  sphere  will  be  extended  so  much  that  new  and  larger  build- 
ings will  be  required.     We  bid  it  "God  speed." 

The  Public  School: — The  first  school  building  in  Rio  Vista  was  erected 
during  the  summer  of  1862,  on  the  site  of  the  present  building,  on  a  lot 
donated  by  Joseph  Bruning,  for  that  purpose.  The  first  teacher  was  James 
U.  Chase,  who  opened  the  first  school  during  the  fall  of  1862.  We  could 
find  no  records  until  the  year  1870,  hence  are  unable  to  give  an  authentic 
list  of  the  teachers  who  have  taught,  but  the  following  list  is  tolerably  cor- 
rect: J  as.  U.  Chase,  Byron  Hunt,  Mr.  Burdell,  Miss  Mary  Burns,  Mrs.  R. 
Thrush,  Miss  Sweetland,  Miss  Stone,  Miss  Fannie  Davis.  On  the  records 
which  begin  with  1870  we  find  the  following-named  teachers:  Anthony 
Dozier,  M.  C.  Winchester,  H.  W.  Fenton,  *Miss  Irene  Canright,  W.  E.  Mc 


278  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Intyre,  Miss  V.  P.  Stevens,  *Miss  D.  M.  Stone,  Miss  Bertha  A.  Bicknell, 
*Miss  Mary  S.  Warren,  L.  L.  Palmer,  *Miss  Mary  Linton,  *Miss  Jennie 
Robertson,  M.  T.  Sickal,  *Miss  Florence  Sickal.  In  1871  the  school  was 
graded  into  Grammar  and  Primary  Departments,  and  those  marked  with  an 
asterisk  (*)  were  teachers  in  the  Primary  Department.  There  are  at  present 
three  grades  in  the  school:  Primary  Department,  Miss  Florence  Sickal, 
teacher;  Intermediate  Department,  Miss  Jennie  Robertson,  teacher;  Gram- 
mar Department,  M.  T.  Sickal,  teacher. 

The  present  building  was  erected  in  1875,  and  is  a  large,  neat-looking 
structure,  being  truly  an  ornament  to  the  town.  It  is  two  stories  high,  with 
basement.  It  contains  two  school-rooms  on  the  first  floor,  and  one  school- 
room and  two  rooms  for  library  purposes  on  the  second  floor.  The  building 
is  located  on  a  quarter-block  120x120  feet,  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Mon- 
tezuma streets.  The  location  is  very  good,  and  is  central.  The  following- 
named  persons  comprise  the  present  Board  of  Trustees:  Dr.  M.  Pietrzycki, 
Win.  K.  Squires  and  Wm.  Ferguson.  Dr.  M.  Pietrzycki  is  Clerk  of  the 
Board. 

Newspapers: — On  the  6th  day  of  September,  1877,  the  Rio  Vista  Weekly 
Gleaner  made  its  first  appearance,  being  the  first  paper  ever  issued  in  the 
town.  L.  L.  Palmer  was  the  editor  and  publisher.  The  printing  was  done 
in  Suisun,  at  the  Solano  Republican  office,  and  conjointly  with  that  paper. 
On  the  22d  of  September,  1877,  the  Rio  Vista  Enterprise  made  its  appear- 
ance. John  H.  Whitmore  and  W.  A.  Bushnell  were  proprietors  and  pub- 
lishers. They  put  in  a  news  office,  type,  press,  etc.  On  the  17th  of  April, 
1878,  L.  L.  Palmer  opened  an  office  in  Rio  Vista,  putting  in  a  full  line  of 
news  and  job  type,  news  and  job  press,  etc.,  in  which  the  Gleaner  was 
printed.  The  Gleaner  was  continued  till  February  22d,  1879,  when  it  was 
discontinued,  and  the  publisher  became  connected  with  the  Solomo  Repub- 
lican at  Suisun.  The  Enterprise  continued  for  three  months  longer,  and 
issued  its  last  number  on  May  30th,  1879. 

Business  Directory: — Folio  wing  is  a  full  and  complete  business  directory 
of  the  town  on  December  31,  1878:  Bruning,  Jos.,  warehouse;  Brown,  B. 
B.,  River  View  Hotel ;  Bell,  P.,  tinsmith ;  Christiensen,  M.,  wharfinger  C.  P. 
R.  R.;  Carter,  R.  C,  water- works;  Clarridge,  Geo.  A.,  Western  Hotel;  Craner, 
S.,  merchandise;  Craner,  A.  H.,  merchandise;  Currie,  John,  harness-maker; 
Chase,  Ed.,  news-dealer;  Davis,  C,  contractor  and  planing-mill ;  Davis, 
John,  contractor  and  builder;  Erlanger  &  Galinger,  merchandise;  Fiscus, 
John  B.,  livery  stable;  Eraser,  George,  meat  market;  Fallman  Bros.,  black- 
smiths; Ferguson,  Wm„  wagon-making,  etc.;  Gurnee,  J.,  saloon;  Hawley, 
R.  H.,  wharfinger  C-  T.;  Hunter,  R.  C,  drugs  and  medicine ;  Hadley,  Sam'l 
T.,  blacksmith;    Halderback,  Jos.,  blacksmith;    Ingersoll,  J.  D.,  fruit   and 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  279 

vegetables;  Johnson  and  Emigh,  warehouse;  Kiernan,  Thos.,  undertaker; 
Kearney,  Jas.,  boot-maker;  Kalber,  F.,  wagon-maker;  Kelly,  J.  A.,  con- 
tractor and  builder;  Lawson,  H.,  saloon;  Malone,  John  A.,  boot-maker  and 
Manager  S.  V.  Tannery;  Matthewson,  S.  R.,  vegetables,  etc.,  Merritt,  Chas.  & 
Co.,  drugs  and  medicines;  Miller,  Louis,  painter  and  grainer;  McGrah,  Dan'l, 
saloon;  Nelson,  C,  saloon;  Nielson,  S.,  contractor  and  builder;  Nesbitt, 
Jos.,  wharfinger  C.  S.  N.  Co.;  Ostrander,  J.  D.,  soliciting  agent;  Perry,  J. 
M.,  merchandise;'  Pond  &  Knox,  meat  market;  Peterson,  A.  H.,  livery  stable; 
Parker,  Miss  A.  E.,  millinery,  etc.;  Pietrzycki,  M.,  physician  and  surgeon; 
Palmer,  L.  L.,  publisher  Gleaner;  Roberts,  G.  W.,  saloon;  Runk,  Mrs.  L.  C, 
Central  Hotel;  Stanton,  J.  C,  dentist;  Squires,  W.  K.,  Squire's  Hotel; 
Stumm,  F.  I.,  jeweler;  Smith,  Jas.,  saloon;  Smith,  J.  E.  T.,  truckman; 
Stoll,  C.  M.,  harness  and  saddlery;  Sorenson,  S.  P.,  furniture;  Thompson, 
Geo.,  saloon;  Whitmore  &  Bushnell,  publishers  Enterprise ;  Westgate  Bros., 
merchandise;  Williamson,  Wm.,  flour  mill;  Weslar,  Geo.,  barber;  Whit- 
man, D.  G.,  plasterer;  Wadsworth,  Wm.,  fruits  and  vegetables;  Wilcox 
Ruble  &  Dozier,  merchandise. 

Official  Directory:  —  Notary  Public,  M.  Smyth;  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
J.  D.  Ingersoll,  Lewis  Chase;  Constable,  James  Dobbins;  Deputy  Sheriff, 
John  B.  Fiscus;  Postmaster,  L.  C.  Ruble;  W.,  F.  &  Co's  agents,  Westgate 
Bros. 

The  Future: — So  much  for  the  past  and  present  of  the  beautiful  and 
thriving  town;  a  word  for  the  future  and  we  will  close  this  sketch.  The 
town  is  so  located  that  it  is  sure  to  be  prosperous  in  the  years  to  come. 
There  are  natural  advantages  which  but  few  towns  possess.  Cheap  trans- 
portation is  insured,  and  that  is  one  great  factor  in  the  prosperity  of  a  town. 
The  unbounded  resources  of  the  tule  lands  will  always  pour  a  goodly  stream 
of  gold  into  its  coffers.  The  hills  will  always  yield  a  handsome  income  for 
the  town.  They  need  more  industries.  There  is  no  reason  why  this  should 
not  become  a  great  manufacturing  center.  They  have  every  facility  possi- 
ble. The  climate  is  the  most  salubrious  and  healthful.  The  temperature  is 
universally  moderate  and  mild.  Strong  winds  prevail  there  during  the 
summer  months,  which  serve  to  keep  the  atmosphere  cool  and  refreshing. 


280  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


SILVETYILLE. 


Geography. — Silveyville  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Yolo 
county,  on  the  east  by  Tremont  township,  on  the  south  by  Maine  Prairie 
and  Elmira  townships,  and  on  the  west  by  Vacaville  township.  The  Rio 
Los  Putos  extends  along  its  northern  boundary. 

Topography. — The  surface  of  the  entire  township  is  almost  perfectly  level. 
The  land  is  rolling  in  places,  but  not  hilly.  One  is  reminded  very  much,  in 
passing  through  it,  of  the  prairies  of  Illinois  and  Iowa. 

Soil. — The  soil  of  this  township  is  alluvial  in  formation  and  character. 
It  is  a  sandy  loam,  for  the  most  part,  with  scarcely  any  adobe  m  it.  It  is 
very  fertile  and  productive,  and  the  finest  farms  in  Solano  county  are 
located  here.     Everything  about  these  farms  betoken  thrift  and  prosperity. 

Climate. — The  climate  in  this  township  differs  very  materially  from  that 
in  the  townships  in  the  southern  parts  of  the  county.  Here  the  sea 
baeeze  is  shorn  of  its  dampness  and  force,  and  sweeps  as  gently  over  the 
country  as  a  zephyr.  Ordinarily  the  temperature  is  several  degrees  higher 
here  than  at  Suisun.  A  person  will  often  find  a  linen  coat  burdensome  in 
Dixon  at  4  p.  M.,  and  after  a  40  minutes  ride  on  the  train  arrives  at  Suisun, 
and  finds  that  he  needs  an  -  overcoat.  The  wind  prevails  from  the  north 
more  here  than  further  south,  and  this  wind  is  burdened  with  sultry  oppres- 
sive heat,  and  also  oftentimes  with  electricity,  which  seems  to  oppress  and 
enervate  everything.  Fortunately  these  siroccos  are  not  very  common. 
The  atmosphere  is  comparatively  free  from  malarial  poisons,  and  is,  on  that 
account,  quite  healthful. 

Products. — The  principal  products  of  this  township  are  wheat  and  barley. 
Fruits  and  vegetables  do  quite  well  in  all  parts  of  the  township,  though  but 
little  more  is  grown  than  home  consumption  demands,  except  along  the  line 
of  Rio  Los  Putos,  where  are  some  of  the  finest  orchards  and  gardens  in  the 
State.  In  this  section  oranges,  figs,  dates,  olives,  lemons  and  bananas  thrive 
equal  to  any  section  of  the  State,  and  the  quality  is  said  to  excel  that  grown 
in  Los  Angeles  county. 

Early  Settlement. — To  this  township  belongs  the  honor  of  having  the  first 
permanent  white  settler  in  Solano  county.     In  1842  Wm.  Wolf  skill,  then  a 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  281 

resident  of  Los  Angeles,  secured  a  grant  from  the  Mexican  government  for 
a  tract  of  land  one  league  in  width  and  four  leagues  in  length,  lying  on  either 
side  of  Rio  Los  Putos.  Some  time  during  the  same  year  he  sent  his  brother, 
John  R.,  with  a  band  of  cattle  to  take  possession  of  the  new  grant,  accord- 
ing to  law.  From  this  time  on,  an  occasional  settler  would  locate  somewhere 
on  the  Rio  Los  Putos,  until  in  1852  there  was  quite  a  neighborhood,  with 
houses,  ranging  from  three  to  ten  miles  apart.  Upon  the  outbreak  of  the 
gold  fever  the  most  practicable  road  to  the  mines  from  San  Francisco  passed 
from  Benicia  to  Sacramento,  through  this  settlement.  For  the  accommoda- 
tion of  these  travelers,  Elijah  S.  Silvey,  in  1852,  built  a  house  and  stock 
corral.  He  at  first  called  his  house  the  "  Half-way  House".  In  those  early 
days  the  trail  was  not  very  well  defined,  and  the  belated  traveler  was  liable 
to  lose  his  way  and  wander  about  the  plains  all  night.  To  obviate  this, 
Silvey  used  to  hoist  a  red  lantern  high  in  air  every  night,  so  that  it  might 
serve  as  a  beacon  light  to  the  wanderer,  and  guide  him  safely  into  the  haven 
of  Silvey's  hotel.  The  hardy  pioneer,  Silvey,  came  to  an  untimely  death  by 
accidentally  falling  from  a  porch.  His  widow  still  lives  on  the  old  site  of 
those  early  scenes  of  the  early  life  of  California  and  of  Solano  county.  The 
next  building  at  this  point  was  a  blacksmith  shop,  built  by  Messrs.  Wm. 
Dryden  &  Noble.  On  Christmas  day,  1856,  Geo.  A.  Gillespie  began  the 
foundation  of  a  store  building.  From  this  time  on  Silvey ville  began  to 
assume  quite  goodly  proportions,  and  reached  its  zenith  about  1865,  at 
which  time  there  were,  perhaps,  150  inhabitants  in  the  town.  Quite  early 
a  post-office  was  established  at  this  place  with  E.  S.  Silvey  as  post-master. 
It  was  called  Putah.  There  was,  at  one  time,  a  telegraph  office  there  also. 
But  all  this  is  now  among  the  dead  past,  and  another  quarter  of  a  century 
will  banish  all  traces  of  the  town,  and  only  in  legend  and  on  these  pages 
will  any  knowledge  of  it  exist. 

The  history  of  Silveyville  would  remain  incomplete  without  honorable 
mention  being  made  of  a  newspaper  being  published  at  that  place,  by  Wm. 
J.  Pearce.  The  type  was  set  and  the  forms  made  up  in  Silveyville,  but 
they  were  sent  to  Sacramento  to  be  printed  from.  The  paper  was  strongly 
Democratic,  and  soon  after  the  editor  got  into  a  political  altercation  with 
one  Dr.  J.  C.  Ogburn,  a  strong  Union  man,  in  which  Pearce  shot  the  doctor, 
and  was  forced  to  flee   the  country. 

Dixon. — The  place  to  which  all  the  business  and  houses  of  Silveyville 
went  was  Dixon.  In  1868  the  C.  P.  R.  R.  was  completed.  Seeing  a 
probability  of  its  completion,  and  realizing  the  fact  that  it  was  a  good  point 
at  which  to  build  a  town,  W.  R.  Ferguson  purchased  an  acre  of  land  from 
Thomas  Dickson,  and  built  a  dwelling-house  upon  it.  This  was  the  first 
house  built  in  the  town.  He  immediately  afterwards  erected  a  stone 
building.     On  the  7th   day  of  July,  1868,  he  opened  his  store  for  public 


282  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

patronage.  The  next  building  was  erected  by  Bernard  Greinburg.  He 
used  it  for  hotel  purposes.  It  was  called  the  "  Empire."  Messrs.  Eppinger 
&  Co.  were  the  next  to  engage  in  a  mercantile  enterprise  in  the  town.  The 
second  family  which  located  in  town  was  that  of  Jasper  Kattenberg.  The 
town  was  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  Thomas  Dickson,  who  donated  ten  acres 
for  the  purposes  of  a  depot  and  town  site.  The  difference  in  orthography 
is  accounted  for  in  the  fact  that  the  first  consignment  of  goods  which  came 
to  the  town  were  marked  "  W.  R.  Ferguson,  Dixon."  The  spelling  being 
simpler  it  was  at  once  adopted  by  all.  The  present  population  is  about 
1,200.  It  was  incorporated  by  a  special  Act  of  the  Legislature  during  the 
session  of  1877-8.  It  is  a  beautiful  town  nestled  amid  a  grove  of  shady 
trees,  which  gives  it  a  cosy  and  cheerful  appearance.  It  is  growing,  and 
evidences  of  prosperity  are  visible  on  all  sides. 

Free  and  Accepted  Masons.— Silveyville  Lodge,  No.  201,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was 
organized  June  25,  1869,  at  Silveyville.  It  was  moved  to  Dixon  September 
12,  1871.  The  following  named  gentlemen  were  its  charter  members : 
James  W.  Howard,  Wm.  H.  Wells,  H.  E.  McCune,  John  P.  Kirsch,  Walter 
Ellis,  Wm.  Killibrew,  B.  Meyer,  Henry  Goeffort,  J.  S.  Garnett,  Chas.  Wolf, 
C.  M.  Robinson,  Daniel  King.  The  following  gentlemen  have  been  honored 
with  the  office  of  W.  M. ,  J.  W.  Howard,  W.  H.  Wells,  Jas.  A.  Ellis,  A. 
Hockheimer,  John  Sweeney.     The  present  membership  is  65. 

Royal  Arch  Chapter. — Dixon  Chapter,  No.  48,  R.  A.  M.,  was  organized 
February  9,  1875.  The  charter  members  were  as  follows :  J.  A.  Ellis,  A. 
Hockheimer,  A.  G.  Summers,  B.  Ethiger,  H.  Eppinger.  J.  C.  Merryfield,  H. 
Wilcox.  H.  Goeffort,  H.  E.  McCune,  John  Sweeney,  Geo.  C.  McKinley,  M. 
Blum,  Wm.  Steele,  D.  Longmire,  A.  Fraser,  J.  C.  North,  J.  P.  Kirsch,  E.  M. 
Tyler,  J.  W.  Sallee.  The  following  gentlemen  have  been  elevated  to  the 
dignity  of  High  Priest :  Jas.  A.  Ellis,  John  Sweeney,  H.  Eppinger,  George 
C.  McKinley.     The  present  membership  is  51. 

Rebecca  Degree  Lodge. — Hyacinthe  Rebecca  Degree  Lodge,  No.  26,  was 
organized  May  26,  1875.  The  present  officers  are  Jas.  K.  Vansant,  N.  G. ; 
Mrs.  Sarah  McPherson,  V.  G. ;  Edward  Weihe,  R.  C. ;  and  Mrs.  Nancy  Van- 
sant, Treasurer.     The  present  membership  is  70. 

I.  0.  0.  F.— Montezuma  Lodge,  No.  172,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  organized  June 
20,  1870.  The  following  named  gentlemen  comprise  its  charter  members  : 
R.  S.  McKinley,  D.  Mack,  J.  D.  Carey,  Wm.  M.  Bernard,  Geo.  W.  Smith, 
Thomas  Kelley,  James  M.  Clark,  John  Patterson,  T.  A.  Buckles  and  R.  E. 
Hewitt.  The  following  named  gentlemen  have  had  the  honor  of  presiding 
as  N.  G.'s :  Wm.  Bernard,  T.  A.  Buckles,  R.  E.  Hewitt,  J.  Kline,  A.  Kirby, 


THE   HISTORY   OF    SOLANO   COUNTY.  283 

R.  R.  Neirell,  J.  Fredrickson,  V.  A.  Collins,  P.  Siebe,  I.  Rhodes,  J.  K.  Van- 
sant,  W.  H.  Northcutt,  Charles  Schirmer,  R.  C.  Christian,  A.  J.  Kasten, 
Edward  Weihe.     The  present  membership  is  100. 

Knights  of  Pythias. — Othello  Lodge,  No.  31,  K.  of  P.,  was  organized  June 
29,  1875.  The  following  named  gentlemen  were  charter  members  :  E.  L. 
H.  Bibby,  J.  B.  Bloom,  S.  Blum,  J.  R.  Creighton,  John  Ferguson,  John 
Fredrickson,  H.  Goeffort,  R.  D.  Hopkins,  D.  B.  Huff,  Wm.  Johnson,  Wra. 
Johnson,  C.  W.  Johnson,  J.  0.  Johnson,  J.  D.  Johnson,  A.  Levy,  S.  G. 
Little,  J.  P.  Martin,  C.  J.  McCoy,  E.  Wenf elder,  H.  A.  Ross,  E.  W.  Striplin, 
Dr.  A.  H.  Pratt,  Chas.  Schirmer,  F.  A.  Schnitzlein,  P.  Siebe,  Wm.  Simms, 
Wm.  Straub,  J.  Sweeney  and  H.  West.  The  following  gentlemen  have 
been  honored  with  the  office  of  Chancellor :  R.  D.  Hopkins,  John  R. 
Creighton,  H.  A.  Ross,  Dr.  A.  H.  Pratt,  J  F.  Hamilton,  S.  G.  Little  and  P. 
Olmstead.     The  present  membership  is  about  40. 

Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars: — -Dixon  Lodge,  I.  0.  G.  T.,  was 
organized  February  5th,  1870.  Following  are  the  charter  members:  Mrs. 
Julia  A.  Ferguson,  J.  R.  Beane,  E.  H.  Beane,  J.  C.  Graves,  Thomas  Pritch- 
ard,  C.  M.  Daffield,  J.  Sullivan,  Mrs.  A.  F.  Beane,  Mrs.  M.  Bernard,  G.  S. 
Dudley,  Mrs.  E.  Dudley,  H.  McGale,  Thomas  Doody,  L.  A.  Moore  and  J.  F. 
Cook.  The  following  members  have  held  the  office  of  Worthy  Chief  Tem- 
plar: J.  R.  Beane,  Mrs.  F.  A.  Beane,  J.  M.  Dudley,  Joseph  Kline,  H.  Ever- 
ingham,  J.  H.  Peters,  W.  B.  Wyman,  Rev.  George  Morris,  W.  H.  Northcutt, 
A.  R.  Storey,  M.  T.  Sickal,  J.  K.  Bateman,  W.  T.  Mayne,  Wm.  Olmstead, 
Miss  Ella  Hoovey,  George  Martin,  and  Stewart  McBride. 

Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen: — Dixon  Lodge,  No.-  50,  A.  O.  U.  W., 
was  organized  September  11th,  1878.  The  present  officers  are :  A.  J.  Kasten, 
M.  W.,  A.  J.  Buckles,  P.  M.  W.,  Charles  Donahoe,  G.  F.,  Charles  Schrivner, 
O.  B.  Ethiger,  Receiver,  J.  M.  Dinsmore,  Financier,  A.  R.  Storey,  Recorder. 
The  present  membership  is  27. 

Bank  of  Dixon: — The  Bank  of  Dixon  was  organized  and  incorporated  in 
October,  1873,  but  was  not  opened  for  business  until  April,  1874.  The 
authorized  capital  stock  is  $500,000.  The  original  board  of  directors  was 
as  follows:  J.  S.  Garnett,  S.  G.  Little,  James  Millar,  Ed.  Wolfskill,  Hanse 
Rohwer,  James  Porter  and  D.  B.  Huff.  The  presidents  of  the  bank  have 
been,  S.  G.  Little,  James  Millar,  J.  C.  Merryfield.  The  cashiers  have  been, 
Ed.  Wolfskill,  H.  B.  Sheldon,  G.  W.  Wyman,  A.  J.  Kasten  and  Robert 
Harkinson. 

The  Dixon  Fire  Company : — This  company  was  organized  October  15th, 
1872.     Their  present  aparatus  consists  of  one  Babcock  engine,  hooks,  lad- 


284  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

ders,  and  other  appliances  necessary  to  make  them  a  very  efficient  depart- 
ment. The  following  gentlemen  have  acted  as  foreman :  J.  Fredrickson,  W. 
A.  Dashiel,  E.  Weihe,  H.  Eppinger,  W.  S.  Hinman,  George  King,  Owen 
O'Niel,  George  Frahm. 

Catholic  Church: — This  church  building  was  erected  in  1868,  by  Rev. 
Father  Auger.  It  is  located  on  Second  street,  between  A  and  Mayes 
streets.  It  is  a  frame  building,  48x32,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  140. 
From  floor  to  ceiling  is  16  feet.  The  ceiling  is  hard-finished,  walls  wains- 
coted, and  finished  with  redwood  tongued  grooved  and  painted.  The 
pastors  who  have  served  this  church  are,  Rev.  Fathers  Auger,  McNaboe, 
Powers,  Moore,  Ward  and  Nugent. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South: — Was  organized  in  Solano 
County,  in  the  town  of  Suisun  and  vicinity,  in  the  year  1852  or  1853. 
Afterward  a  society  was  formed  near  the  present  site  of  Vacaville.  This 
was  called  the  Vacaville  circuit. 

A  neat  and  substantial  stone  church  was  built  at  Rockville  in  1858. 

In  1861  the  M.  E.  C.  South  built  a  college  known  as  Pacific  Methodist 
College,  at  Vacaville.  Its  first  president  was  Rev.  J.  C.  Stewart.  After 
the  first  year  Rev.  W.  T.  Luckey,  D.  D.,  was  elected  president,  which  position 
he  held  for  eight  years. 

Rev.  J.  R.  Thomas,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was  the  next  president.  In  1871  this 
college  was  removed  to  Santa  Rosa,  Sonoma  County,  where  it  is  now 
located. 

Three  years  ago  a  beautiful  church  building  was  erected  at  Elmira.  The 
church  at  Vacaville  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1877,  where  it  was  rebuilt  a 
few  months  thereafter. 

In  the  Fall  of  1878  a  church  was  purchased  in  Dixon,  and  a  minister  was 
sent  by  the  conference  to  fill  the  pulpit.  There  are  at  present  three  min- 
isters actively  engaged  in  the  work,  residing  in  the  county.  Rev.  J.  C. 
Simmons  presides  at  the  present  time. 

M.  E.  Church — Dixon  and  Binghamton. — In  the  month  of  March,  1858, 
a  few  persons  living  in  and  around  old  Silveyville  desiring  to  worship  God 
according  to  Methodistic  belief  and  forms,  organized  themselves  under  the 
direction  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Leach  into  a  methodist  class,  which  numbered 
twelve  persons,  viz.:  J.  W.  Leach,  preacher  in  charge;  John  A.  Leach,  Marian 
Leach,  Ellen  Proxil,  Emily  West,  Charles  West,  Charles  K.  Seeley,  Solena 
Seeley,  John  J.  Reed,  Joseph  Reed,  E.  B.  Reed  and  Wm.  Reed.  At  the  close 
of  the  year,  these  twelve  had  increased  to  upwards  of  thirty  souls.  They 
held  their  meetings  in  a  school  house  about  one  mile  and  a  quarter  north  of 
Silveyville.     This  was  the  rise  of  methodism  in  this  place  and  its  increase 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  285 

for  the  first  year.  From  1859  to  1863,  the  society  was  without  any  regu- 
larly appointed  minister,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  it  maintained  its  exist- 
ence ;  only  two  persons,  namely,  Charles  and  Emily  West  are  left  from  the 
original  twelve  ;  during  this  period  of  struggling  without  a  pastor.  They 
worshipped  in  a  hall  over  a  saloon  in  Silveyville  and  were  strengthened  from 
time  to  time  by  the  labors  of  Rev.  Father  White  and  Rev.  Henry  Howlit. 
In  1863,  J.  W.  Murphy  was  appointed  to  the  work.  He  found  the  small 
band  badly  scattered,  but,  by  indifatigable  effort,  made  quite  an  increase  in 
the  society.  He  was  a  man  of  robust  constitution,  fiery  disposition,  radical 
in  views,  plain  spoken — a  man  for  the  times.  He  was  succeeded  in  1865  by 
Rev.  A.  P.  Hendon,  who  was  regularly  appointed  to  the  work. 
A.  P.  Hendon  reorganized,  gathered  in  others  of  like  faith  and  entered 
upon  the  field  with  renewed  vigor.  The  result  was  success ;  methodism 
became  a  settled  fact  in  this  place  during  his  pastorate.  In  1866,  under  his 
management,  a  fine  church  edifice  was  erected  in  Silveyville,  at  a  cost  of  four 
thousand  three  hundred  dollars.  A.  P.  Hendon  was  a  young  man  of  rare 
qualities,  tall,  slim  and  gaunt,  rather  eccentric,  positive  and  thoroughly  de- 
voted to  his  work.  He  was  followed  by  Dr.  Morrow,  who,  by  his  personal 
character  and  pastoral  qualifications,  endeared  himself  to  the  hearts  of  all. 
The  work  under  him ,  flourished  and,  at  the  close  of  his  two  years'  labor, 
there  were  ninety-eight  persons  connected  with  the  church.  The'  following- 
year  the  circuit  was  divided,  W.  S.  Corwin  was  stationed  at  Silveyville  and 
S.  L.  Hamilton  appointed  to  Binghamton ;  little  is  known  of  the  growth  or 
struggles  of  the  society  this  year,  save  that  there  was  some  increase  in  the 
work.  Geo.  Larkin  succeeded  W.  S.  Corwin  in  1869.  Bro.  Larkin,  owing 
to  difficulties  that  arose  in  the  church,  did  not  finish  the  year.  S.  L.  Ham- 
ilton, of  Binghamton,  filled  the  pulpit  of  Silveyville  the  last  part  of  the  year. 
In  1870,  Bro.  G.  R.  Belknap  was  appointed  to  Silveyville  and  I.  B.  Fish  to 
Binghamton.  The  M.  E.  Church  was  moved  by  Bro.  Belknap  from  Silvey- 
ville to  Dixon,  a  flourishing  town  on  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad,  three 
miles  southeast  of  Silveyville,  where  it  now  stands.  In  1871,  the  two  parts 
of  the  work  that  had  been  divided  were  again  united,  and  J.  M.  Hinmin 
was  appointed  to  take  charge.  He  labored  for  one  year  and  left  only  forty- 
six  on  the  entire  work  in  full  fellowship.  He  was  succeeded  by  J.  H. 
Peters  in  1872.  There  was  an  increase  during  this  year  of  twenty-nine.  J. 
H.  Peters  remained  on  the  work  for  three  years,  doing  faithful  service  and 
building  up  the  society  in  all  its  departments,  at  the  close  of  his  pastorate 
he  reports  seventy-seven  members  in  full  connection.  Arnold  was  appointed 
his  successor  in  September,  1875.  Bro.  Arnold,  on  account  of  ill  health, 
retired  before  the  close  of  the  year  and  S.  Snidery  sent  to  complete  the 
year.  W.  T.  Mayne  was  placed  over  the  circuit  in  1876,  and  built  an  addi- 
tion to  the  parsonage  with  $1,000.  The  work  proving  too  hard  for  him,  at 
the  close  of  the  year   the  circuit   was  again  divided  and  T.  H.  Woodward 


286  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

was  appointed  to  Binghamton  in  connection  with  Rio  Vista ;  during  this 
year  the  M.  E.  Church  South  was  organized  out  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
Dixon,  which  drew  heavily  upon  the  original  society.  The  following  year 
the  two  fractions  of  the  work  were  again  united  and  T.  H.  Woodward  was 
appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  entire  held.  The  work  looked  discourag- 
ing, but  a  sweeping  revival  broke  out  during  this  year,  Rev.  J.  W.  Ross  was 
present  holding  meetings  day  and  night  for  three  weeks  ;  again  the  society 
sprang  to  its  feet  and  persons  were  added  daily  to  the  church.  The  society 
at  the  present  numbers  about  100,  and  owns  about  seven  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  property  in  Dixon.  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  1863  and 
now  numbers  about  seventy.  Alex.  McPherson  is  the  present  Superintend- 
ent ;  Trustees  :  Judge  Merryfield,  J.  M.  Dudley,  N.  Earns,  E.  L.  Mann,  J.  M. 
Bell,  D.  S.  Stuart  and  W.  R.  Ferguerson. 

Dixson  Baptist  Church.  — This  church  was  organized  at  Pleasant  Retreat 
school  house,  Vaca  Valley,  Solano  county,  October  19, 1856.  Its  constituent 
members  were :  Rev.  Daniel  King,  Rev.  Joseph  Roberts,  William  G.  Fore, 
Thomas  C.  Maupin,  H.  E.  McCune,  Lewis  Huchinson,  Sidney  C.  Walker, 
Mrs.  E.  Roberts,  Mrs.  Susan  King,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Fore,  Mrs.  A.  R.  Maupin,  Mrs. 
M.  J.  Walker,  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Williams,  Mrs.  Barbara  B.  McCune.  Rev.  J. 
Roberts  preached  a  sermon  from  I  Peter,  2,  4,  5.  "To  ivhom  coming,  as 
unto  a  living  stone,  disallotved  indeed  of  men,  but  chosen  of  God  and  prec- 
ious. Ye  also  as  lively  stones,  are  built  up  a  spiritual  house,  an  holy  priest- 
hood, to  offer  up  spiritual  sacrifices,  acceptable  to  God  by  Jesus  Christ." 
The  text  seemed  a  truly  prophetic  one,  and,  together  with  the  earnest  ser- 
mon, was  attended  by  the  Divine  blessing  to  the  little  band  of  humble  be- 
lievers, which,  like  a  river  of  life,  clear  as  crystal,  has  never  ceased  to  flow, 
The  church  had  the  ministerial  labors  of  Revs.  Roberts  and  King,  until  June. 
1857,  when  the  latter  was  chosen  pastor,  in  which  relation  he  was  held  with 
much  love  and  esteem  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Dixon, 
October  3,  1877.  This  venerable  servant  of  God  was  thus  the  leader  of  this 
church  for  more  than  twenty  years,  and  was  an  example  to  them  in  faith, 
in  perseverence,  in  well-doing,  in  sacrificing  for  Christ  and  his  cause.  In 
the  organization  Lewis  Huchinson  was  chosen  Secretary  and  Sidney  Walker 
Deacon. 

The  school  house  was  used  as  a  meeting  house  until  January,  1860,  when 
the  Hall  of  the  Academy  in  Vacaville,  the  property  of  Rev.  Mr.  Anderson, 
was  obtained  as  a  meeting  place  for  one  Saturday  and  Sunday  in  each  month, 
for  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  per  year.  The  church  held  its  meetings  there 
until  March  1861,  then  moved  to  the  Dry  Slough  school  house,  which  then 
stood  near  the  present  Batavia.  In  this  place,  regular  monthly  meetings  were 
held.  At  the  meeting  of  the  church,  held  April,  1861,  a  report  of  a  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  H.  E.  McCune  and  T.  S.  Bayley,  of  the  Baptist  Church 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Fairbairn  and  Mr.  G.  B.  Stevenson,  Esq.,  of  the  Presbyterian 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  287 

Church,  0.  S.,  together  with  one  outside  party,  whose  name  we  do  not  find, 
submitted  a  report,  consisting  of  a  written  agreement  to  build  a  meeting 
house  at  Silveyville,  to  be  owned  and  used  jointly  by  the  two  denominations. 
This  report  was  adopted  by  both  churches,  and  work  of  building  went  on. 
This  house  was  dedicated  on  the  third  Sunday  in  November,  1861,  Rev.  Dr. 
Peck,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  Rev.  D.  King,  of  the  Baptist  Church 
officiating.  These  denominations  held  this  property  in  partnership,  with 
great  harmony,  until  May,  1868,  when  the  Baptists  bought  the  half  interest 
of  the  Presbyterians,  and  became  sole  proprietors  of  the  property.  This  was 
the  home  of  the  Baptist  Church,  where  their  labors  were  greatly  blessed, 
until  October,  1876,  when  the  church  dedicated  its  brick  building  at  the 
town  of  Dixon,  where  it  still  holds  its  meetings. 

The  Rev.  Daniel  King,  being  much  of  the  time  of  his  long  pastorate  of 
this  church  enfeebled  by  sickness,  and  more  latterly  by  age,  the  church,  by 
his  request,  employed  the  following  ministers  as  assistants  to  the  pastor:  In 
January,  1860,  Rev.  Orin  Critenden  was  employed,  who  served  with  great 
zeal  and  efficiency  until  April,  1863.  Then  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Barnes  was  em- 
ployed for  one-half  of  his  time,  until  May,  1868,  and  then  they  employed 
all  his  time,  until  January  8th,  1871.  From  then  until  June  1st,  1872,  Rev. 
D.  King  labored  alone  as  pulpit  supply,  and  then  Rev.  John  T.  Prior,  of 
Georgia,  was  called  as  an  assistant  to  the  pastor,  and  continued  for  one  year. 
In  November,  1872,  Rev.  J.  L.  Blitch  began  to  preach  to  the  church  as  an 
assistant  to  the  pastor,  and  continued  as  such  until  the  death  of  Rev.  D. 
King,  which,  as  above  stated,  was  October  3d,  1877.  Then  he  was  chosen 
pastor  of  the  church,  and  continued  to  serve  as  such  until  July,  1878.  The 
church  then,  through  their  committee  on  pulpit  supply,  engaged  the  services 
of  Rev.  0.  C.  Wheeler,  Rev.  C.  A.  Bateman,  Rev.  C.  C.  Bateman,  Rev.  C.  A. 
Buck  bee,  Rev.  John  Frances,  Rev.  C.  W.  Hughes  and  Rev.  James  E.  Barnes. 
The  last  named  began  to  supply  the  pulpit  on  September  7th,  1878,  and  lias 
continued  to  do  so,  and  is  still  doing  so  at  the  present  writing. 

Including  the  constituent  members,  this  church  has  had  connected  with 
it  249  members,  and  now  has  a  membership  of  106.  They  have  a  church 
property  worth  about  $12,000. 

Newspapers — Dixon  Tribune: — The  "Tribune"  made  its  appearance  at 
Dixon  on  the  14th  day  of  November,  1874.  R.  D.  Hopkins  editor,  and  R. 
D.  Hopkins  &  Co.  publishers.  About  one  year  after  it  was  started  Hopkins 
became  sole  proprietor,  and  continued  its  publication  until  April  1,  1877, 
when  it  went  under  the  present  management  of  Alfred  B.  Nye.  The 
"Tribune"  was  started  as  a  neutral  paper  in  politics.  In  1875  it  was  Demo- 
cratic. Under  the  management  of  Mr.  Nye  the  paper  is  independent  and 
non-partisan.  Size,  24x36  inches.  It  is  a  weekly,  and  has  a  circulation  of 
about  600  copies. 


288  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


SUISUN. 


Suisun  Township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  those  of  Elmira,  Vacaville 
and  Napa  county  ;  on  the  west  by  the  townships  of  Green  Valley  and 
Benicia ;  on  the  south  by  Suisun  bay,  and  on  the  east  by  Montezuma,  Den- 
verton,  and  Maine  Prairie  townships.  It  is  the  largest  in  the  county,  and 
was  originally  one  of  the  two  first  divisions  into  which  Solano  was  parti- 
tioned. Included  in  it  are  the  following  islands,  which  form  a  portion  of 
the  delta  of  the  Sacramento  river,  which  debouches  into  the  bay  above 
named :  Joice,  Grisley,  Hammond,  Wheeler,  Gray.  Rich,  Long  Point,  Rowe, 
Chips,  and  two  smaller  ones  not  named.  The  present  limits  of  the  town- 
ship were  settled  on  June  27,  1866,  and  took  its  name  from  the  Suisun 
Indians,  who  were  the  lords  of  the  soil  when  the  settlement  of  the  district 
was  commenced.  Suisun  has  an  area  of  110,000  acres,  10,000  of  which  are 
water,  its  general  characteristics  being  a  large  level  plain  of  some  six  miles 
square  in  extent,  which  opens  out  on  the  east  into  the  vast  valley  of  the 
Sacramento.  The  Potrero  hills  occupy  about  twelve  sections  of  this  ex- 
panse, and  are  surrounded  on  either  side  by  swamp  and  overflowed  lands, 
except  a  narrow  neck  of  low  valley  on  the  north  side.  The  higher  ridges 
are  two  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  recede  in  elevation  as  they  approach  the 
border  of  level  land  adjoining  the  tule  swamps.  It  is  also  well  watered, 
the  principal  stream  within  its  limits  being  the  Suisun  creek,  which  has  its 
rise  in  the  adjoining  county  of  Napa,  thence  flowing  in  a  south-easterly 
direction,  empties  into  the  Salt  marsh,  nearly  a  mile  and  a  half  east  of 
Bridgeport.  Its  springs,  marble  and  other  quarries  are  also  famous ;  it 
will,  however,  be  unnecessary  here  to  dwell  upon  them,  as  an  exhaustive 
description  thereof  will  be  found  on  page  91  and  the  following,  of  this 
work. 

Early  Settlemerd. — As  has  been  previously  remarked,  the  Suisun  Indians 
were  the  original  occupiers  of  this  fertile  domain,  while  Rockville,  a  small 
town  at  the  foot  of  the  valley  would  appear  to  have  been  their  head- 
quarters ;  at  any  raue,  in  1850,  they  moved  their  lares  et  penates  from  there 
to  Napa  county.  It  has  been  shown  in  our  chapter  on  Mexican  grants  that 
in  January,  1837,  Francisco  Solano,  the  chief  of  this  tribe,  applied  for  a 
grant  of  the  land  which  he  claimed  belonged  to  him  by  right  of  primo- 
geniture, which  was  finally  made  to  him  in  January,  1842.  The  applica- 
tion of  Solano  was,  in  1839,  followed  by  one  from  Jose  Francisco  Armijo,  a 
Mexican  by  birth,  requesting  that  the  lands  known  as  Tolenas  should  be 


\ 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  289 

ceded  to  him,  which  was  done  in  March,  1840.  It  was  subsequently  decreed 
by  the  Supreme  Court  of  California  that  owing  to  the  non-approval  of  the 
Departmental  Assembly  of  the  cessions,  the  grants  were  informal:  there- 
fore, in  1849,  the  title  to  the  land  held  by  Solano  was  acquired  by  General 
Vallejo  by  purchase,  while  that  of  Armijo,  upon  the  death  of  the  elder,  by 
his  son  Antonio,  in  the  same  manner.  In  1846,  we  hear  of  one  Jesus 
Molino,  an  Indian,  having  certain  ground  under  cultivation  at  or  near 
Rockville,  while  in  the  spring  of  1847  Daniel  M.  Berry  with  his  family 
settled  in  the  valley  and  pitched  his  tent  on  land  now  farmed  by  Joseph 
Blake.  He  was  in  the  spring  of  1849  followed  by  Landy  Alford,  who  located 
on  the  site  of  the  farm  of  Lewis  Pierce,  and  Nathan  Barbour,  who  had  crossed 
the  plains  with  him,  but  had  gone  to  Sonoma  and  thence  to  Benicia,  but  so 
few  were  the  people  that  in  1847,  when  Captain  Von  Pfister  made  his  jour- 
ney to  Sacramento,  then  Sutter's  Fort,  there  were  only  three  houses  within 
what  was  then  Suisun  township,  namely,  the  adobes  of  Molino  at  Rockville, 
Berry's  residence  and  the  Armijo  rancho.  In  December,  1850,  there  also  came 
to  the  valley  J.  H.  Bauman,  a  German,  who.  camped  on  arrival  at  or  near  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  Bucher,  afterwards  moving  to  various  places  as  a 
sheep  herder  until  1853,  when  he  settled  in  the  Montezuma  hills.  He  is  now  a 
resident  of  this  valley.  In  this  year  Robert  Waterman,  an  old  sea-captain, 
of  thirty  years'  standing,  also  arrived  from  New  York  City.  He  now  oc- 
cupies a  beautiful  farm  a  few  miles  to  the  northwest  of  Fairfield.  In  1851, 
E.  F.  Gillespie  (deceased),  a  native  of  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  came  to  the  upper 
end  of  the  valley.  There  also  permanently  located  in  this  year  on  what  was 
called  the  Island,  now  the  site  of  Suisun  City,  Captain  Josiah  Wing,  who 
had  during  the  previous  summer  commenced  running  boats  up  the  creek  to 
the  embarcadero.  In  October,  1851.  there  also  arrived  James  G.  Edwards 
who  settled  on  the  farm  of  John  McMullen.  Colonel  D.  D.  Reeves  came  to 
the  township  on  November  14,  1852,  and  built  a  blacksmith  shop  on  the 
farm  occupied  by  Mr.  Ledgewood,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  1857, 
when  he  moved  into  Suisun  city,  and  in  conjunction  with  his  brother  Co 
P.  Reeves,  erected  some  of  the  largest  and  most  substantial  brick  buildings 
in  the  town.  In  this  year  there  arrived  also  J.  B.  Lemon,  the  present 
County  Treasurer,  and  Allen  C.  Miller,  and  last,  though  by  no  means  least 
among  the  early  settlers  who  had  helped  to  subdue  this  valley  to  fertile 
grain  fields,  establish  manufactories  and  well  conducted  business  enterprises, 
are  the  names  of  John  M.  Jones,  Under  Sheriff,  who  settled  in  1853,  Asa 
Crocker,  in  1854,  John  W.  Pearce,  in  1856,  D.  E.  and  D.  M.  Stockman,  the 
former  in  1856  and  the  latter  arriving  in  1858,  when  there  also  located 
J.  Frank  and  Moses  Dinkelspiel.  In  1857  there  came  William  J.  Costigan. 
In  1860  R.  D.  Robbins  arrived;  P.  J.  Christler  in  1862,  while  among  the 
first  settlers  were  J.  B.  Hoyt  and  E.  P.  Hilborn ;  we  have  been,  however, 
unable  to  glean  the  precise  date  of  their  arrival.  - 
19 


290  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

Suisun  City. — This  city  stands  on  an  island  in  the  midst  of  the  tule  lands 
which  form  a  marshy  desert  lying  between  the  Potrero  hills  and  Benicia. 
As  far  back  as  the  year  1850,  Curtis  Wilson  and  Dr.  John  Baker  sailed  up 
the  Suisun  creek  in  an  open  boat,  and  landed  on  the  present  site  of  the 
city.  To  them  is  due  the  honor  of  its  discovery.  They  did  not,  however, 
remain  long  enough  to  give  them  the  rights  of  residents  of  the  place,  but  it 
is  supposed  left  in  search  of  places  bearing  a  more  captivating  impress. 
Mention  has  been  made  of  Captain  Josiah  Wing  having  been  engaged  in 
the  running  of  schooners,  or  other  craft,  to  this  island  in  the  summer  of 
1850  and  of  his  settlement  on  it  in  1851.  In  this  year  he  built  the  first 
building  erected  on  the  present  site  of  the  city,  it  being  a  warehouse,  on  the 
place  now  occupied  by  the  livery-stables  of  George  W.  Hall,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Plaza,  situated  opposite  the  Post-office.  In  the  summer  of  this 
year  the  first  store  was  opened  by  John  W.  Owens  and  A.  W.  Hall,  while 
in  the  following  years  others  came  and  commenced  building  up  the  city  of 
Suisun.  In  the  year  1868  a  petition  signed  by  the  residents  of  the  now 
flourishing  country  town  was  handed  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the 
county,  requesting  that  steps  might  be  taken  whereby  Suisun  should  re- 
ceive the  rights  and  privileges  of  a  city,  which  prayer  was  granted  on 
October  9th  of  that  year,  when  she  developed  into  an  incorporated  city. 

Suisun,  as  it  is  to-day,  is  a  flourishing  little  town  of  about  1,800  inhab- 
itants. Its  streets  are,  as  a  rule,  well  filled  with  people,  while  its  stores 
of  which  there  are  some  very  handsome  ones,  appear  to  have  a  fair  share  of 
business.  It  is  connected  with  Fairfield,  the  county  seat,  by  a  plank  walk 
of  nearly  a  mile  in  length,  there  being  situated  half  way  between  the  rival 
towns  the  California  Pacific  Railroad  depot,  under  the  charge  of  J.  C. 
Maxwell. 

Fairfield. — This  little  town  is  the  county  seat  of  Solano,  it  having  at- 
tained to  that  proud  distinction  by  a  vote  of  the  people  canvassed  on  Septem- 
ber 2,  1858,  when  it  was  declared  to  be  the  choice  of  the  voters  by  a  major- 
ity of  404  over  Benicia.  This  selection  of  Fairfield  was  made,  in  the  first 
place,  on  account  of  its  central  position,  and  secondly  on  account  of  the  gift 
to  the  county  by  Captain  R.  H.  Waterman  of  certain  lands,  should  the 
county  seat  be  legally  located  there.  The  town  site  was  surveyed  by  Capt. 
Waterman  and  A.  E.  Ritchie,  and  the  plat  filed  for  record  on  May  16,  1859, 
and  the  new  County  Capital  named  in  honor  of  the  birthplace  of  the 
Captain  in  Connecticut.  The  first  residence  erected  on  it  was  that  of  J.  B. 
Lemon,  the  premises  being  those  now  occupied  by  him.  Fairfield  is  a  pretty 
little  town  of  considerable  promise,  and  possessing,  as  it  does,  the  county 
buildings,  there  is  considerable  bustle  to  be  observed  during  the  sessions 
of  the  different  Courts.  Its  houses,  for  the  most  part,  are  enclosed  by  neat 
fences  and  well  kept  gardens,  vineyards  and  orchards,  while  the  streets  are 
wide,  though  not  much  worn  by  traffic. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  291 

Court  House  and  Jail. — On  September  13, 1858,  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
met  and  canvassed  the  votes  of  the  general  election  for  that  year,  and, 
among  other  things,  it  was  declared  that  Fairfield  had  been  selected  as 
the  county  seat,  and  also  a  new  Board  of  Supervisors  were  elected,  viz :  J. 
G.  Gardner,  D.  B.  Holman,  and  E.  F.  Gillespie.  The  new  Board  met  and 
organized  on  the  2nd  day  of  November  following. 

The  county  records  having  been  moved  from  Benicia,  and  a  temporary 
Court  House  built  and  certain  buildings  rented  from  Waterman  and  Wil- 
liamson, for  the  temporary  use  of  the  county  officers,  on  November  18, 
1858,  the  following  order  was  entered  in  the  minutes  of  the  Board  :  "  Or- 
dered by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  that  specifications  of  a  plan  for  the 
Court  House  and  jail,  for  Solano  county,  be  advertised  for  in  the  Solano 
County  Herald  for  the  term  of  two  weeks,  and  that  the  amount  of  fifty 
dollars  be  allowed  to  the  architect  whose  plans  shall  be  received  and 
approved  by  the  Board.  Said  specifications  to  be  handed  in  on  or  before 
the  5th  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1858.  Said  jail  to  be  35  feet  square  ;  the 
Court  House  to  be  40x50  feet,  to  contain  rooms  for  the  county  officers  and 
jury  rooms." 

On  January  21,  1859,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  passed  an  order  requesting 
"  our  Senator  and  Assemblyman  "  to  pass  an  act  authorizing  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  to  levy  a  special  tax,  for  the  term  of  two  years,  of  fifty  cents 
upon  each  one  hundred  dollars,  upon  the  assessed  value  of  property  of  said 
county,  for  county  purposes ;  for  the  purpose  of  building  Court  House  and 
jail  for  said  county.  On  the  following  day  the  plans  and  specifications, 
submitted  by  James  H.  White  for  a  Court  House  and  jail  for  Solano  county, 
were  accepted  and  approved. 

On  February  9,  1859,  the  vote  adopting  the  plans  and  specifications 
submitted  by  James  H.  White  was  reconsidered,  and  the  plans  and  specifi- 
cations submitted  by  George  Bordwell  were  accepted  and  adopted  February 
10,  1859.  Ordered  that  sealed  proposals  be  received  for  building  the  Court 
House  and  jail,  according  to  the  plans  and  specifications  of  George  Bordwell, 
adopted  by  the  Board,  up  to  the  14th  day  of  March,  1859,  and  that  the 
same  be  advertised  by  the  Clerk  in  the  Solano  Coibnty  Herald  for  thirty 
days  ;  and  it  is  further  ordered  that  George  Bordwell  be  appointed  architect 
to  superintend  the  erection  of  said  buildings.  March  14,  1859,  they  met  to 
open  the  proposals  received,  and  award  the  contract  for  building  the  pro- 
posed Court  House  and  jail.  Bids  were  received  as  follows  :  From  William 
B.  Carr,  $28,400;  A.  Barrows,  $38,500 ;  George  W.  Cord,  $28,200;  E.  M. 
Benjamin  and  N.  Smith,  $27,200 ;  C.  Murphy,  T.  Collins,  and  J.  J.  Doyle, 
$31,200  ;  Samuel  T.  Carlisle,  $37,745;  J.  J.  Denny,  $31,000  ;  John  B.  Sanford, 
$27,350 ;  William  McCarty,  $29,500 ;  Charles  B.  Tool,  $34,300 ;  Larkin 
Richardson,  $24,440.  The  bid  of  Larkin  Richardson  being  the  lowest,  the 
contract  was  duly  awarded  to  him,  upon  his  filing  a  bond  in  the  sum  of 


292  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

$48,880,  being  twice  the  amount  of  his  bid,  the  conditions  being  that  the 
buildings  were  to  be  completed  according  to  the  plans  and  specifications — 
the  jail  by  September  1,  1859,  and  the  Court  House  by  September  1,  1860. 
Subsequently  an  order  was  made  that  the  Court  House  should  be  built  on 
Union  Square  so  as  to  front  on  Union  street,  and  to  run  40  feet  back  to  the 
centre  of  the  square  east  and  west,  and  that  the  jail  be  located  on  a  line 
with  the  Court  House,  eastward,  half  way  of  the  block ;  and  it  was  further 
ordered  that  the  County  Surveyor  run  the  necessary  lines. 

And  it  was  also  ordered  that  the  architect  superintending  should  be 
allowed  seven  per  cent  upon  the  contract  price  ($24,440)  for  his  services. 
The  percentage  was  afterwads  changed  to  eight  per  cent. 

It  appears  that  an  Act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  in  accordance  with 
the  request  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  for  on  April  11,  1859,  the  Board 
ordered  that  a  tax  of  fifty  cents,  upon  each  hundred  dollars  of  the  taxable 
property  of  the  county,  be  levied  and  assessed  for  the  building  of  the  Court 
House  and  jail,  in  pursuance  of  the  provisions  of  an  Act  of  the  Legislature. 

On  September  1, 1859,  the  following  appears  on  the  minutes  of  the  Board: 
"  Whereas,  the  contract  for  building  a  county  jail  and  Court  House  was 
awarded  to  Larkin  Richardson,  and  the  time  for  the  delivery  of  the  same, 
completed,  has  arrived ;  be  it,  therefore,  resolved,  that  the  said  Richardson 
be  and  he  is  hereby  required  to  deliver  to  the  county  the  said  jail,  finished 
according  to  his  contract,  and  upon  his  failing  to  do  so,  to  be  held  respon- 
sible for  all  damages  ;  and  that  he  be  furnished  with  a  copy  of  this 
resolution." 

November  10,  1859,  the  following  order  is  entered  upon  the  minutes : 
"  Ordered  that  the  public  building  known  as  the  jail  in  Fairfield  be  now 
received  from  the  contractor,  Larkin  Richardson ;  the  Board  reserving  the 
right  to  claim  damages,  and  Richardson  reserving  the  right  to  subsequently 
present  his  bill  for  extra  work." 

And  it  was,  thereupon,  ordered  that  the  prisoners  (which  had  heretofore 
been  confined  in  the  jail  of  Contra  Costa  county)  be  removed  to  the  Fair- 
field jail. 

On  March  12,  I860,  the  contract  was  let  to  A.  P.  Jackson  to  fit  up  the 
court  room  and  offices  in  the  new  Court  House  for  the  sum  of  $1,994. 
Jackson's  contract  was  subsequently  cancelled,  and  on  April  21,  1860,  a  new 
contract,  for  fitting  up  the  rooms,  was  entered  into  with  J.  W.  Batcheller, 
at  the  sum  of  $1,963. 

On  April  21,  1860,  the  following  order  was  entered :  "  Ordered  by  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  Solano  county,  that  the  public  buildings  of  said 
county,  known  as  the  Court  House  and  jail,  in  Fairfield,  be  and  the  same 
are  hereby  received  from  the  contractor,  Larkin  Richardson.  The  said 
Richardson  hereby  giving  up  and  releasing  all  claims  and  demands  against 
the  said  Board  of  Supervisors  on  occount  of  said  buildings ;  the  said  Board 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  293 

having  made  the  said  Richardson  an  allowance  in  full  amount  due  on  the 
original  contract,  and  for  all  extra  work  done  on  said  buildings." 

On  the  completion  of  Batcheller's  contract,  shortly  after,  an  order  was 
made  for  the  county  officers  and  courts  to  remove  from  the  temporary 
buildings  used  into  the  new  Court  House,  which  was  at  once  complied  with, 
and  these  buildings  are  in  use  at  the  present  date. 

The  old  frame  Court  House,  used  temporarily,  was,  a  few  years  after  the 
completion  of  the  new  building,  removed  to  the  present  Court  House  block 
and  placed  on  the  west  side  of  the  Court  House,  about  the  same  distance 
from  it  as  the  jail  is  upon  the  east. 

The  Hall  of  Records. — At  the  session  of  the  Legislature  of  1877-8,  an 
Act  was  passed  authorizing  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Solano  county  to 
issue  $15,000  of  bonds,  bearing  seven  per  cent,  per  annum  interest,  to  create 
a  fund  to  be  called  "  The  Court-House  Improvement  Fund,"  and  also  to  levy 
an  annual  tax  for  their  redemption,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  fire-proof 
addition  to  the  Court  House  for  the  safe  preservation  of  the  records  of  the 
County  Clerk's  and  County  Recorder's  offices.  In  1878,  these  bonds  were 
prepared  and,  after  advertising  for  proposals  to  purchase  them,  were  sold  to 
Sutro  &  Co.,  Bankers  of  San  Francisco,  for  $15,356.  The  board  then  pro- 
ceeded to  build  the  desired  edifice,  plans  and  specifications  were  prepared 
by  George  Bordwell  (the  former  architect  of  the  Court  House)  which 
were  approved  and  accepted  and  proposals  were  immediately 
invited  for  the  erection  of  said  fire-proof  building.  A  large  num- 
ber of  bids  were  received  and,  at  the  opening  thereof  by  the  board,  the 
contract  was  awarded  to  Richard  and  John  McCann,  of  San  Francisco,  for 
the  erection  of  said  building  according  to  the  plans  and  specifications,  at 
the  sum  of  $11,597.  The  building  is  located  twenty  feet  from  the  Court 
House  on  the  west  side ;  and  is  sixty  feet  long  by  thirty  feet  in  width,  and 
two  stories  in  height,  and  is  fire-proof  in  all  particulars,  connecting  with  the 
Court  House  by  an  iron  bridge,  crossing  in  the  second  story.  The  contract 
was  let  in  July,  1878,  and  it  was  completed  in  November  of  that  year  ;  the 
furnishing  contract  was  let  to  John  B.  Lucksinger  &  Co.,  of  San  Francisco, 
for  $2,000 ;  and  after  all  the  extra  work  done  by  both  contractors  was  paid 
for  and  certain  other  extra  articles  furnished — the  whole  outlay  amounted 
to  the  sum  of  $15,400. 

This  building  has  the  Recorder's  office  on  the  first  floor,  with  an  excellent 
fire-proof  vault  for  the  records  in  the  rear  of  the  front  office,  and  the 
County  Clerk's  office  in  front  on  the  second  floor,  with  the  Supervisor's 
room  in  the  rear — being  one  of  the  best  arranged  and  satisfactory  buildings 
of  the  kind  to  be  found  anywhere  in  the  agricultural  counties  of  the 
State. 


294  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

M.  E.  Church — Fairfield. — The  first  methodist  sermon  preached  in  Suisun 
Valley  was  at  the  house  of  D.  M.  Berry,  in  November,  1849,  by  Rev.  Isaac 
Owens.  Rev.  S.  D.  Simonds  was  the  first  regularly  appointedcircuit  preacher 
and  his  jurisdiction  embracing  "  all  north  of  the  bay."     He  was  appointed 
February  1,  1851.     Rev.  M.  C.  Briggs  had  preached  occasionally  prior  to 
this.     The  first  class  or  society  was   organized  by  S.  D.  Simonds,  in  the 
Spring  of  1851,  the  following  were  members  :     Jas.  Dorland  and  his  wife, 
Benjamin  Davisson,  Jasper   S.  Sheldon  and  Charlotte  Berry.      The  first 
Sunday  school  was  organized  the  last  of  March,  1851,  at  D.  M.  Berry's  by 
S.  D.  Simonds,     S.  D.   Simonds  was    succeeded   in  August,  1851,  by  Jas. 
Corwin ;  he  traversed  the  same  territory  until  February,  1853.     The  head- 
quarters of  this  extensive  circuit  was   at  Sonoma.     In  February,  1853,  E. 
A.  Hazen  was  appointed  to   Suisun  and  Napa  circuit ;  he  remained  until 
May,  1855  ;  during   this  time  a  small  church  was  built  about  three  miles 
west  of  Suisun,  which  was  known  for  years  as  the  "  Valley  Church."     In 
May,  1855,  Jas.  Corwin  and  Colin  Anderson  were  appointed  to  the  circuit 
as  colleagues.     In   September,  1857,  Jas.  Hunter  was  appointed  and  the 
Suisun  circuit  established.     He  remained  until  September,  1859  ;  during  the 
year  1858,  lots  were  secured  in  the  then  newly  laid  out  town  of  Fairfield, 
and  about  the  same  time  the  present  parsonage  was  erected.     In  September, 
1859,  Rev.  J.  W.  Hines  was  appointed;  he  remained  two  years,  until    Sep- 
tember, 1861 ;  during  the  first  year  of  his  pastorate  the  construction  of  the 
present  brick  church  in  Fairfield  was  commenced,  but  remained   unfinished 
until  the  next  year ;  it  was  then  completed  and  dedicated  in  the  Summer 
of  1861.     Its  total  cost  was  about  $8,000.     In  September,  1861,  Jas.  Corwin 
was  appointed  pastor.     In  September,  1862,  H.  J.  Bland  was  appointed.  In 
September,  1863,  W.  S.  Urmy.     He  remained  until  September,  1865  ;  during 
this  time  the  debt  on  the  brick  church  was  paid  and  it  has  since  remained 
free  of  debt ;  during  this  period  the  Valley  Church  was  sold  and,  after  re- 
moval, was  converted  into  the  present  school  house  in  Gomer  District.     The 
subsequent  pastors  have  been  as  follows  :     September,  1865,  W.  S.  Corwin  ; 
September,   1866,  John  Daniel ;  September,  1867,  W.  S.  Turner ;  August, 
1869,  R.  W.  Williamson ;  September,  1870,  0.  S.  Frambies ;  August,  1871, 
A.  R.   Sheriff;  September,  1872,  J.  M.  Hinman;  September,   1874,  E.  E. 
Dodge;  September,  1875,  G.  D.   Pinneo;  September,  1877,  M.   D.    Buck; 
September,  1878,  R.  E.  Wenk,  present  incumbent.     During  these  years  the 
church  has  had  fluctuating  prosperity.     The  present  membership  is  thirty. 
A  Sunday  school  has  been  maintained  throughout  the  whole  history  of  the 
church ;  the  present  number  is  sixty  ;  Superintendent,  R.  E.  Wenk. 

Grace  Church,  Suisun — Episcopal : — What  is  now  known  as  Grace 
Church  was  the  first  place  of  worship  erected  in  Suisun,  being  built  A.  D. 
1857,    under  the   auspices  of  the   "Old    School    Presbyterians."     Captain 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  *>95 

Richie  of  Fairfield  offered  a  lot  in  that  town  ;  but  the  people  of  Suisun  offered 
to  give  the  land  and  put  up  the  building.  Their  proposition  was  accepted, 
and  Mr.  Joseph  Merrill  received  the  contract  for  building  the  Church.  Mr. 
Reubin  Pringle  gave  the  lot.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wood  was  the  first  minister  in 
charge.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fairburn,  who  only  remained  a 
short  time,  as  the  zeal  of  the  people  had  weakened,  and  he  was  not  sup- 
ported. The  church  remained  without  a  pastor  for  some  time,  and  in  the 
year  1861  it  was  sold  to  the  Methodists.  The  first  minister  of  this  denomi- 
nation was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Baily.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  following  named 
ministers :  Rev.  W.  B.  Gober ;  Rev.  0.  P.  Fitzgerald ;  Rev.  Samuel  Brown ; 
Rev.  O.  Fisher ;  Rev.  A.  P.  Anderson ;  Rev.  T.  E.  Barton ;  Rev.  Samuel 
Brown ;  Rev.  T.  H.  B.  Anderson ;  Rev.  Samuel  Brown ;  Rev.  W.  F.  Comp- 
ton.  The  first  Episcopal  service  was  held  April  28th,  1867,  by  the  Rev. 
Henry  G.  Perry,  at  that  time  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Benicia.  These 
services  were  continued  by  the  same  clergyman,  at  intervals,  until  August 
25th,  of  the  same  year,  when  he  resigned  the  mission  to  the  Bishop  of  Cali- 
fornia. The  parish  was  organized  July  28th,  and  the  Bishop  made  his  first 
visitation  in  company  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Perry,  August  25,  1867.  From 
this  time  until  1872  the  following  clergymen  held  service  at  this  place  : 
Rev.  Messrs.  Smith,  Gray,  Breck,  Cowan,  Powell,  Brotherton  and  Kelly.  In 
the  winter  of  1872  the  church  was  purchased  by  the  Episcopalians,  and  the 
Rev.  Geo.  R.  Davis  was  called  from  Nebraska,  and  assumed  the  rectorship 
of  the  parish,  March  10.  Before  the  year  closed  he  accepted  a  call  to  Ma- 
rysville,  and  the  parish  was  again  vacant.  On  the  sixth  Sunday  after  Trinity, 
1873,  the  Rev.  T.  E.  Dickey  took  charge  of  the  parish,  and  on  the  28th  of 
September,  1874,  he  resigned  his  rectorship,  and  accepted  a  call  to  Silver 
City,  Idaho.  The  Rev.  Giles  Easton  held  services  in  this  church  from 
August,  1875,  to  May,  1878.  The  present  rector,  Rev.  E.  C.  Cowan,  as- 
sumed his  duties  on  the  1st  of  August,  1878. 

St.  Alphonsis,  Catholic: — Was  established  about  the  year  1860,  Father 
Dyeart  officiating.  He  was  followed  by  Fathers  Ougar  and  McNaboe,  the 
latter  being  still  in  charge.  The  construction  of  the  present  church  edifice 
was  begun  in  1868,  and  a  debt  of  $6,000  incurred  by  its  building,  which  has 
been  entirely  liquidated  under  the  able  management  of  Father  McNaboe. 
This  year  (1879)  they  are  building  an  addition.  The  membership  of  this 
church  is  about  three  hundred. 

The  above  history  is  taken  from  the  county  atlas,  as  no  other  could  be 
obtained,  notwithstanding  repeated  efforts  to  get  it — indeed  such  has  been 
the  case  with  the  churches  of  the  Catholic  persuasion  throughout  the 
county. 

The  Congregational  Church,  Suisun: — Preliminary  steps  were  taken  at  a 
meeting  held  at  the  residence  of  E.  P.  Hilborn,  on  October  30,  1876,  J.  W. 


296  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Warren,  D.  D.,  presiding,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  congregation  to 
worship  under  the  Congregational  form  of  religion,  at  Suisun,  when  a  com- 
mittee was  selected,  who  appointed  to  meet  on  the  5th  of  November  follow- 
ing, to  take  into  consideration  the  formation  of  a  permanent  organization  of 
that  body.  Success  would  appear  to  have  attended  their  efforts,  for  we 
find  the  22d  day  of  December  of  the  same  year  set  apart  for  the  holding  of 
appropriate  inaugural  services,  the  following  churches  being  represented  by 
their  pastors:  First  Congregational  Church  of  San  Francisco;  Plymouth 
Congregational  Church  of  San  Francisco;  First  Congregational  Church, 
Oakland;  Congregational  Church,  South  Vallejo;  Congregational  Church, 
Dixon;  Congregational  Church,  Sacramento;  with  J.  H.  Warren,  D.  D., 
Superintendent  of  American  Home  Missions.  The  sermon  was  preached  by 
J.  E.  Dwinelle.  The  first  membership  numbered  seventeen,  who  were  under 
the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Brier,  Jr.  All  the  services  of  this  church 
have  been  held  in  an  edifice  erected  by  the  people  of  Suisun,  on  Morgan 
street.  In  July,  1878,  Mr.  Brier  resigned,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  A.  F.  Hitchcock,  the  present  incumbent.  Not  the  least  interesting 
record  in  connection  with  this  church  is  its  admirable  Sunday  School,  the 
classes  of  which  give  frequent  exhibitions,  each  of  them  being  attended  with 
more  than  ordinary  success.  The  first  superintendent  of  the  school  was  C. 
W.  Childs,  the  present  holder  of  the  position  being  A.  C.  Wood.  The  church 
membership  is  about  twenty-seven,  while  the  number  of  school  children  is 
sixty. 

4 

Suisun  Lodge,  No.  55,  F.  and  A.  M.: — This  lodge  was  chartered  by  the 
Grand  Lodge  on  May  4,  1855,  the  chartered  members  being  J.  H.  Griggs, 
Miles  Dean,  W.  B.  Brown,  C.  Manka,  S.  Maupin,  P.  0.  Clayton,  Charles 
Maul,  Sampson  Smith,  Jacob  Cutter,  Philip  Palmer,  D.  D.  Reeves,  John  W. 
Owen,  M.  A.  Long,  A.  P.  Jackson  and  G.  W.  Hays.  The  lodge  was  instituted 
in  the  Armijo  adobe,  in  Suisun  Valley,  and  held  a  number  of  its  meetings 
there  during  the  year  1855.  Shortly  after,  however,  a  move  was  made  by 
the  brethren  to  erect  a  lodge  building,  and  the  result  was  that  in  the  Fall 
of  1855  a  neat  wooden  structure,  two  stories  in  height,  was  erected  at  what 
was  then  known  as  Barton's  Store,  in  Suisun  Valley.  The  lower  story  of 
the  building  erected  was  used  as  a  school-room,  and  the  upper  story  was 
used  by  the  craft.  In  1856  the  town  of  Suisun  began  to  assume  some  im- 
portance, and  the  brethren,  after  considerable  parleying,  decided  to  move 
the  lodge  to  Suisun,  and  just  at  that  time  Bro.  Hiram  Rush  began  the  erec- 
tion of  a  large  brick  store-room  in  Suisun,  and  the  brethren  bargained  with 
him  to  add  a  third  story  to  his  building  for  a  lodge-room  for  the  Order. 
This  he  did,  the  lodge  paying  all  the  expenses  of  the  third  story,  and  on  its 
completion  Bro.  Rush  deeded  it,  the  property,  with  a  right  of  way  of  ingress 
and  egress.     For  about  twenty-three  years  the  lodge  has  occupied  its  present 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  297 

« 

hall,  and  which  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  comfortable  and  suitable  Masonic 
halls  in  Solano  County.  The  lodge  has  prospered  from  the  first,  and  at  the 
present  time  numbers  about  seventy-five  members.  The  present  officers 
are:  W.  G.  Davisson,  W.  M.;  J.  Frank,  S.  W.;  William  Leithead,  J.  W.;  Co. 
P.  Reeves,  Treasurer;  George  A.  Gillespie,  Secretary;  J.  B.  Richardson,  S. 
D.;  John  A.  Lockie,  J.  D.;   N.  Anderson,  Tyler. 

Suisun  Lodge,  No.  78,  I.  0.  O.F.: — Was  organized  September  13,  1858, 
by  C.  W.  Hayden,  D.  D.  G.  Master  District  No.  15,  with  John  Doughty,  D. 
M.  Stockman,  J.  M.  Duncan,  A.  E.  Charles  and  J.  Frank  as  charter  mem- 
bers. On  the  night  of  its  institution  W.  H.  Stephens  and  W.  Farmer  be- 
came members  by  deposit  of  card,  and  T.  J.  Owen,  M.  Meehan,  M.  Dinkel- 
spiel,  Albert  Knorp  and  M.  A.  Wheaton  were  admitted  by  initiation.  The 
first  officers  of  the  lodge  were  as  follows:  N.  G.,  John  Doughty;  V.  G.,  D. 
M.  Stockman;  R.  S.,  J.  M.  Duncan;  Treas.,  J.  Frank;  R.  S.  N.  G.,  M.  Dinkel- 
spiel;  L.  S.  N.  G.,  Albert  Knorp;  R.  S.  V.  G.,  T.  J.  Owen;  L.  S.  V.  G.,  W. 
H.  Stephens;  Warden,  M.  A.  Wheaton;  Cond.,  A.  E.  Charles;  I.  G,  W. 
Farmer;  O.  G.,  Maurice  Meehan. 

The  first  meetings  of  the  lodge  were  held  in  the  second  story  of  the  brick 
building,  over  J.  Frank  &  Co.'s  store,  and  continued  to  be  held  at  that  place 
until  about  the  year  1866,  when  the  lodge  made  arrangements  with  the 
Masonic  lodge  and  moved  into  their  hall.  In  1872  the  lot  and  building 
where  the  present  hall  now  stands  was  purchased,  at  a  cost,  including  the 
improvements  for  hall  purposes,  of  about  $8,000.  The  new  hall  was  dedi- 
cated April  26,  1873,  R  G.  Master  Charles  N.  Fox  presiding.  This  hall 
is  a  beautiful  one,  well  ventilated,  and  with  its  present  furniture,  which 
was  recently  purchased  at  an  expense  of  about  $1,000,  places  it  among  the 
most  pleasant  halls  of  the  Order  in  the  State. 

From  the  time  of  its  organization  228  persons  have  held  membership 
therein,  and  its  present  roll,  from  last  report,  numbers  113.  The  following- 
Past  Grands  have  held  the  appointment  of  D.  D.  G.  Master  for  this  district: 
John  Doughty,  1860-61;  M.  Dinkelspiel,  1864-65;  Henry  Hubbard,  1866- 
67;  Valentine  Wilson,  1868-69.  The  lodge  at  present  is  nearly  out  of  debt, 
and  its  assets  amount  to  about  $13,000. 

The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are  as  follows:  C.  N.  Edwards,  N.  G.; 
John  R.  Morris,  V.  G.;  Rev.  A.  F.  Hitchcock,  R.  S.;  H.  Hubbard,  P.  S.; 
George  W.  Greene,  Treas.;  John  Henry,  Warden;,  J.  M.  Jones,  Cond,;  J.  W. 
Kerns,  I.  G.;  W.  J.  Morris,  O.  G.;  George  T.  Whitley,  R.  S.  N.  G.;  Fred. 
Frank,  L.  S.  N.  G.;  H.  Hansen,  R.  S.  V.  G.;  H.  Manuel,  L.  S.  V.  G.;  Frank 
Whitby,  R.  S.  S.;  William  Trudgeon,  L.  S.  S. 

Suisun  Lodge,  No.  Jfi,  A.  0.  U.  W.: — This  lodge  was  organized  September 
3,  1878,  the  chartered  members  being  D.  M.  Miller,  Rev.  A.  F.  Hitchcock, 
John  Krause,  and  ten  others.     The  first  officers  elected  to  serve  were:  J.  M. 


298  THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO    COUNTY. 

Gregory,  P.  M.  W.;  Alexander  Dunn,  M.  W.;  H.  Robinson,  F.  W.;  S.  G. 
Palmer,  0.;  0.  R.  Coghlan,  Recorder;  A.  P.  Spence,  Financier;  John  Henry, 
Receiver;  W.  N.  Bowen,  Guide;  John  Wagoner,  I.  W.;  C.  F.  Montgomery, 
O.  W.  The  objects  of  this  Order  are  too  well  known  to  be  stated  at  length. 
It  embraces,  in  addition  to  the  mutual-aid  principles  common  to  many  secret 
societies,  an  insurance  of  $2,000  on  the  life  of  each  member.  Its  system  of 
mutual  aid  and  life  insurance  is  almost  entirely  free  from  the  risks  and 
failures  of  ordinary  life-insurance  companies.  The  Order  now  numbers 
over  10,000  members  in  this  State,  and  is  rapidly  increasing,  as  it  meets  the 
wants  of  the  great  mass  of  men  who  wish  to  make  provision  for  their  fami- 
lies in  the  safest  and  most  economical  way. 

Bank  of  Suisun:-  -This  bank  was  established  February  7,  1876,  with  an 
authorized  capital  of  $100,000,  under  the  management  of  R.  D.  Robbins 
president,  and  W.  Wolf,  cashier,  the  directors  being  R.  D.  Robbins,  C.  F. 
D.  Hastings,  E.  P.  Hilborn,  W.  H.  Turner  and  J.  B.  Hoyt.  It  does  an  ordi- 
nary banking  business,  and  corresponds  with  the  Anglo-Californian  Bank 
of  San  Francisco,  and  J.  and  W.  Seligman  &  Co.  of  New  York. 

Suisun  Fire  Department. — The  history  of  the  Fire  Department  of  Suisun 
City  may  not  unfairly  be  said  to  have  commenced  March  24, 1860,  when  the 
Solano  Herald  (A.  R.  Gunnison,  editor,)  modestly  urged  the  necessity  of  an 
organization,  and  said  that  "  the  first  step  in  the  matter  of  preparation  is  to 
build  two  or  more  cisterns  on  the  plaza,  which  may  be  kept  always  full  of 
water  and  ready  to  meet  any  emergency."  "A  large  force-pump,  with  hose 
attached,"  was  considered  sufficient  apparatus  for  a  beginning.  In  the  next 
issue  of  the  paper  an  anonymous  advertisement  appeared,  calling  for  "  a  pre- 
liminary meeting  of  firemen,  April  4th,  at  Wheaton's  Hall,"  inviting  all  to 
be  present  who  "  were  interested  in  the  matter  of  protection  against  fire." 
At  the  time  specified,  as  appears  by  an  item  of  April  7th,  a  meeting  was 
held  and  "  a  committee  was  appointed  to  take  the  matter  into  consideration, 
ascertain  the  cost  of  cisterns,  force-pumps  and  other  apparatus,  and  report 
April  11th  at  Chrisler's  Hall.  The  next  week's  paper  contained  an  item 
headed  "  Fire  Wardens,"  showing  that  "  at  a  meeting  of  those  interested  in 
protection  from  fire,  Messrs.  D.  Ballard,  D.  E.  Stockton,  and  J.  B.  Lemon, 
were  elected  Trustees,  to  receive  the  money  subscribed  by  the  citizens,  ex- 
pend the  same  in  building  cisterns  and  superintend  the  construction  thereof." 
Another  item  shows  that  "  at  a  meeting  of  Union  Fire  Co.  No.  1,  held  on 
April  11th,  John  S.  Miller  presiding,  T.  J.  McGarvey,  J.  Frank,  and  P.  A. 
Wood,  were  appointed  a  committee  on  laws,  and  they  thereupon  presented 
a  copy  of  the  Constitution  and  By-laws  of  Weber  Co.  No.  1.  of  Stockton, 
which  was  adopted  with  slight  amendments.  The  first  officers  elected  were: 
Win.  J.  Morris,  Foreman;  J.  C.  Owen,  1st  Assistant;  T.  J.  McGarvey,  2d 
Assistant ;  D.  Ballard,  Secretary ;  J.  H.  Marston,  Treasurer. 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  299 

After  a  season  of  struggles  sufficient  means  was  finally  procured  to  pur- 
chase an  engine,  and  it  reached  town  on  the  steamer  Rambler  August  22, 
1861,  escorted  by  Ex-Chief  F.  E.  R.  Whitney,  and  half  a  dozen  of  the  "How- 
ard" boys  of  the  Fire  Department  of  San  Francisco.  It  was  manufactured 
by  Hunneman  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  in  1857,  and  was  the  last  one  made  by  that 
firm  for  that  city  prior  to  the  introduction  of  the  steam  engines  now  in  use 
there.  The  reception  was  enthusiastic,  and  the  "  boys  "  had  a  good  time  at 
the  "  social  hop  "  in  the  evening.  In  June,  1862,  the  paper  referred  to  the 
needs  of  the  department,  and  recalled  the  facts  that  since  the  first  advocacy 
of  its  formation  "  the  company  had  constructed  two  capacious  cisterns, 
furnishing  an  ample  supply  of  water,  at  a  cost  of  $400,  and  purchased  an 
engine  at  a  cost  of  $1,600,  and  still  owed  for  550  feet  of  hose."  September 
12,  1862,  John  W.  Owen  and  his  associates  in  title  donated  the  lot  whereon 
the  present  engine-house  was  built.  Since  its  formation,  the  company  has 
passed  through  various  grades  of  adversity  and  occasional  prosperity,  but 
since  April  8,  1874,  when  the  present  foreman,  John  T.  Hammond,  was  ap- 
pointed to  its  leadership,  it  has  been  steadily  progressing  toward  perfection 
and  efficiency.  It  is  now  out  of  debt,  owning  its  house,  lot  and  apparatus, 
and  is  fairly  officered  and  manned.  Five  public  and  two  private  cisterns  in 
different  parts  of  the  town,  averaging  a  capacity  of  10,000  gallons  each,  help 
to  insure  the  place  against  devastation  by  fire. 

Suisun  and  Fairfield  Water  Company. — Was  organized  as  a  joint  stock 
company,  with  one  thousand  shares  of  one  hundred  dollars  each,  on  April 
24,  1866.  The  officers,  after  permanent  organization,  were:  Samuel  Breck, 
President ;  M.  Dinkelspiel,  Vice-President ;  F.  O.  Staples,  Treasurer  ;  George 
A.  Gillespie,  Secretary,  and  W.  K.  Hoyt,  Superintendent.  There  were  five 
directors,  from  which  the  above  officers  were  elected,  except  Hoyt.  The  re- 
maining director  being  D.  M.  Stockman.  The  tanks,  pumps,  etc.,  were  erected 
on  land  bought  by  the  company,  formerly  owned  by  John  Doughty  and  W. 
S.  Wells,  situated  about  one-half  mile  from  Fairfield.  Work  was  commenced 
soon  after  organization  and  completed  March,  1868.  There  is  a  large  "  main" 
laid  from  the  tanks  through  Fairfield  to  the  south  side  of  Suisun,  a  dis- 
tance of  1^  miles,  and  is  made  of  cement,  the  smaller  ones,  leading  to  dwel- 
lings, etc.,  are  iron.  The  present  officers  are :  E.  P.  Hilborn,  President ; 
Lewis  Pierce,  Vice-President ;  Harvy  Rice,  Treasurer  ;  D.  M.  Stockman,  Sec- 
retary, and  Josiah  Wing,  Jr.,  Superintendent.  The  company  have  erected 
this  year  (1879)  two  new  tanks  of  10,000  gallons  capacity,  and  one  tank- 
house. 

Suisun  City  Mills. — At  the  head  of  the  industries  of  California  stands 
the  growing  of  wheat;  second  in  the  catalogue  is  the  manufacture  of  flour. 
The  latter  branch  is  steadily  increasing,  to  keep  pace  with  the  demand,  and 
the  rapid  progress  being  made  in  the  cultivation  of  wheat. 


300  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

First  among  the  industries  of  this  town  is  the  turning  of  wheat  into  flour. 
The  flouring  mill  of  Suisun  is  not  only  an  honor  to  the  city,  but  a  credit  to 
the  county.  Solano  county  being  one  of  the  banner  wheat  counties  of  the 
State,  a  milling  interest  has  obtained  here  that  deserves  more  than  a  pass- 
ing notice  in  this  volume. 

J.  G.  Edwards  and  S.  C.  Reed  commenced  the  erection  of  a  frame  mill  on 
the  site  where  the  present  brick  structure  stands,  May  1, 1854.  It  was  a 
two-story  building,  in  which  were  but  two  run  of  stone,  and  was  only  used 
as  a  custom  mill.  It  was  run  by  steam,  and  did  its  first  work  on  October 
1st  of  that  year.  In  order  to  give  place  to  a  larger  and  better  structure, 
this  mill  was  torn  down  and  moved  away  in  the  spring  of  1858,  a  portion  of 
which  is  now  the  Roberts'  Hotel. 

This  firm  the  same  spring  commenced  the  erection  of  what  is  known  as 
the  Suisun  City  Mills.  It  turned  its  first  wheel  in  October  of  that  year. 
The  main  structure  is  42x52,  three  stories  high.  The  foundation  story  or 
basement  is  a  solid  system  of  stone  masonry,  two  feet  thick.  The  two  stories 
above  the  basement  are  brick,  with  pitch  and  gravel  roof  over  all.  On  the 
first  floor  is  where  the  wheat  is  received.  There  are  elevator  spouts,  screen 
spouts,  and  a  garner  in  which  the  wheat  is  dampened  for  grinding,  also  the 
line  of  shafting,  which  drives  the  stones  above,  are  located  on  this  floor  On 
the  second  floor  are  four  run  of  stone,  supported  by  wooden  hurst  frames, 
one  wheat  garner  and  one  revolving  wheat  screen.  In  the  third  story  is 
where  the  wheat  cleaning  is  done.  There  are  two  smutters,  one  National 
cut  separator  and  one  suction  fan.  There  are  also  three  hoppers,  two  for 
wheat  and  one  for  middlings,  which  feed  the  stones  below.  On  this  floor, 
but  separated  from  the  cleaning  room,  is  the  bolting  chest  and  five  reels. 

To  the  east  and  rear  of  the  main  building  is  the  engine  room,  30x60  feet, 
built  of  brick,  in  which  is  a  forty-horse  steam  engine,  the  main  shaft  of 
which  rests  on  a  solid  stone  foundation,  thereupon  hanging  a  balance  wheel 
weighing  one  ton. 

To  the  south  of  the  engine  room  is  located  the  boiler  room,  in  which  are 
two  (36)  tubular  boilers,  sixteen  feet  long. 

S.  C.  Reed  sold  his  interest  in  this  mill  to  Jerry  Marston,  in  October,  1859, 
and  the  enterprise  was  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Edwards  &  Mars- 
ton  until  July,  1860,  when  Edwards  sold  to  Stockman  Bros.  D.  E.  Stock- 
man sold  to  Marston  in  1866,  and  D.  M.  Stockman  on  August  3, 1867.  This 
firm  erected  during  the  year  1866  a  warehouse,  one  and  two  stories  high,  of 
brick,  running  east  and  north  of  the  main  building.  It  is  62x110  feet,  with 
a  capacity  of  one  thousand  tons.  The  office  occupies  a  portion  of  this  room, 
and  there  is  also  a  car  track  running  the  entire  length  of  the  building  to  the 
slough  dock,  which  affords  the  shipping  facilities  for  the  entire  building. 

Jerry  Marston  sold  to  E.  P.  Hilborn  &  Co.,  July,  1872,  who  are  at  present 
conducts  the  business,  with  Richard  P.  Le  Gro  as  manager. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  301 

Suisun  Glee  Club. — This  club  was  temporarily  organized  at  the  residence 
of  D.  M.  Stockman,  on  June  14,  1878,  and  took  permanent  shape  by  the 
adoption  of  a  constitution  on  the  12th  of  July  following,  with  D.  M.  Stock- 
man, President ;  T.  G.  Whitley,  Treasurer  and  Secretary,  and  J.  K.  Bateman, 
Director.  The  present  officers  are  S.  B.  Saunders,  President ;  T.  G.  Whit- 
ney, Secretary  and  Treasurer,  and  J.  K.  Bateman,  Director.  The  member- 
ship is  thirty-seven.  This  club  has  already  rendered  the  Cantata  of  Queen 
Esther,  on  four  occasions,  with  marked  success,  and  in  a  manner  which  would 
put  into  the  shade  towns  and  societies  of  greater  pretensions ;  indeed,  so 
much  musical  talent  is  seldom  found  in  so  small  a  compass.  Let  the  Suisun 
Glee  Club  proceed ! ! ! 

News  Papers: — The  first  paper  published  in  Suisun  Township  was  the 
Solano  County  Herald.  The  first  number  of  this  paper  was  issued  on  the 
2d  day  of  October,  1858.  This  paper  had  been  published  at  Benicia,  having 
been  established  there  in  November,  1855,  by  Messrs.  George  and  Cellers. 
At  the  time  of  its  removal  to  Suisun  it  was  under  the  management  of  Wm. 
J.  Hooton  &  Co.,  the  late  Judge  Wm.  Wells  being  the  other  member  of  the 
firm.  It  was  printed  in  a  building  on  the  south  side  of  the  plaza.  Decem- 
ber 17,  1859,  J.  G.  Lawton,  Jr.,  assumed  control  of  the  paper  as"  editor  and 
publisher,  although  he  had  been  the  editor  previously.  On  the  10th  of  May, 
1860,  the  management  was  again  changed,  Powers  &  Gunnison  assuming  con- 
trol, with  Gunnison  in  the  editorial  chair.  Later  in  that  year  E.  E.  Hatha- 
way became  connected  with  the  business,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to 
O.  B.  Powers  &  Co.  In  1862,  H.  Hubbard  &  Co.  began  the  publication  of 
'the  Solano  Press,  and  continued  the  publication  until  September,  1866,  when 
they  disposed  of  their  interest  to  G.  A.  Gillespie  and  Woodford  Owens.  In 
the  fall  of  1869  the  Press  and  Herald  were  consolidated,  and  a  new  name 
given  to  the  paper.  It  was  called  the  Solano  Republican.  October  13th, 
1875,  O.  B.  Powers,  who  was  the  sole  proprietor,  disposed  of  the  paper  to 
Messrs.  C.  F.  Montgomery  and  W.  N.  Bowen.  Previous  to  this  the  paper 
had  always  been  a  six-column  folio.  At  this  time  the  subscription-list  did 
not  exceed  one  hundred,  and  the  advertising  patronage  was  merely  nominal. 
The  size  of  the  paper  was  increased  to  a  seven-column  folio  the  second  issue 
under  the  new  management.  The  business  prospects  of  the  paper  began  at 
at  once  to  get  brighter.  The  subscription-list  was  increased  during  the  first 
year  to  nearly  one  thousand,  and  the  advertising  patronage  increased  in 
proportion.  In  the  spring  of  1877  a  quarter-medium  Nonpariel  job  press 
was  purchased,  and  a  full  assortment  of  job  type.  In  October,  1877,  the 
paper  was  again  enlarged,  to  a  six-column  quarto,  (8  pages)  and  in  June, 
1878,  it  was  again  enlarged,  to  a  seven-column  quarto,  which  is  its  present 
size  and  form.  Feb.  14th,  1879,  the  management  again  changed  hands, W.  N 
Bowen  disposing  of  his  interest  to  L.  L.  Palmer,  and  the  business  is  now 


302  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Montgomery  &  Palmer,  with  C.  F.  Mont- 
gomery as  editor  and  L.  L.  Palmer  as  associate  editor.  The  Republican  is 
a  fearless  defender  and  advocate  of  the  rights  of  the  people,  and  is  a  wel- 
come weekly  visitor  to  nearly  every  house  in  the  upper  portion  of  Solano 
county. 

The  Solano  County  Democrat,  with  Thompson  &  Sinthicun,  publishers, 
was  established  at  Suisun,  April  30,  1868.  In  1870  it  was  moved  to 
Vallejo. 

The  County  Hospital. — This  building  is  situated  about  three  miles  to  the 
east  of  Fairfield,  the  county  seat,  and  covers  an  area  of  30x64  feet.  It  is  a 
building  two  stories  high,  on  the  first  floor  there  being  the  office  of  the 
physician  and  drug  store,  the  dining  room,  general  sitting  room,  and  six 
small  wards,  and  bath  houses  as  well.  On  the  upper  floor  there  are  four 
large  wards,  while  in  the  rear  there  is  an  addition  for  cook,  stewards,  and 
store  rooms.  It  is  throughout  fitted  with  every  modern  improvement,  its 
system  of  drainage  being  connected  with  a  creek  at  the  distance  of  a  quarter 
of  a  mile.  The  physicians  are  Doctors  A.  T.  Spence  and  W.  G.  Downing, 
both  gentlemen  well  practiced  in  their  profession.and  much  liked  in  the 
district. 

The  Embarcadero  : — Time  was  when  the  scene  was  busy  on  this  landing 
place.  Before  the  railroad  came  to  fly  off  with  the  large  profits  of  grain 
from  the  upper  part  of  the  country,  wagons  by  strings  were  wont  to  arrive 
to  start  their  precious  sacks  of  cereals,  boxes  of  fruit,  and  hampers  of  vege- 
tables to  market,  on  board  of  schooners,  sloops,  and  steamboats  which  then 
plyed  to  this  point.  A  warehouse  of  considerable  proportions  was  con- 
structed for  the  storage  of  freight,  and  all  "  went  merry  as  a  marriage  bell." 
To-day  a  few  regular  traders  arrive  and  depart  at  stated  intervals ;  while  a 
steamer  makes  the  journey  to  San  Francisco  thrice  a  week.  On  the  wharf 
are  deposited  tons  of  cobble  stones,  procured  in  the  mountains  near  Kock- 
ville,  and  heaps  of  marble  from  Swan's  quarries,  awaiting  shipment  to  San 
Francisco,  there  to  be  utilized,  but,  there  is  not  much  sign  of  life,  for  portions 
of  the  warehouse  have  fallen  in  and  much  desolation  abounds. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  303 


D.ENVERTON. 


Geography :  —  Denverton  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Maine 
Prairie  township,  on  the  east  by  Rio  Vista  Township,  on  the  south  by 
Montezuma  township,  and  on  the  west  by  Suisun  township.  It  is  rect- 
angular in  shape,  and  is  a  little  longer  north  and  south  than  east  and  west. 
Nurse's  slough  extends  through  a  portion  of  the  south-west  portion.  It  is 
navigable  for  small  craft  as  far  up  as  Denverton.  The  western  boundary 
line  is  the  Mt.  Diablo  meridian  line.  Hence  it  lies  in  range  1  east,  and  it  is 
in  range  4  north,  Mount  Diablo  Meridian. 

Topography: — The  western  and  northern  portions  of  the  township  are 
comparatively  level,  but  the  southern  and  eastern  portions,  including  a  large 
part  of  the  central  portion,  is  quite  hilly.  This  is  especially  eo  of  the  south- 
eastern portion,  which  extends  into  the  heart  of  the  Montezuma  hills. 

Soil: — The  soil  in  this  township  is  as  varied  as  the  State  itself.  The 
southwest  portion  is  a  salt-marsh,  on  which  the  tule  thrives.  It  is  not  con- 
sidered productive.  Further  northward,  the  soil  is  alluvial  and  adobe  in 
sections,  and  white  alkali  and  hardpan  in  other  sections.  The  belt  of  alkali 
and  hardpan  extends  along  the  northern  portions  of  it.  The  eastern  and 
south-eastern  portions  are  almost  exclusively  adobe,  and  is  very  rich  and 
productive.  Of  course  nothing  but  a  short,  wild  grass  ever  grows  on  the 
alkali  land.  It  is  used  principally  for  grazing  purposes.  There  is  a  gravel 
belt  of  very  peculiar  formation  extending  through  the  western  portion 
of  the  township.  It  seems  to  be  the  bed  of  some  old-time  and  long- 
since-forgotten  stream,  although  at  present  it  is  not  in  the  least  depressed  as 
compared  with  the  adjacent  land.  The  boundary  lines  of  this  gravel  belt 
are  clearly  definable,  to  a  single  rod.  The  gravel  ranges  in  size  from  a  pea 
to  a  boulder  a  foot  in  diameter.  This  is  an  interesting  topic  for  the 
geologists  to  discuss. 

Climate: — The  climate  of  this  township  is  very  similar  to  Rio  Vista. 
The  cold,  damp  west  winds  sweep  the  entire  surface  of  the  country,  making 
the  weather  delightfully  cool  in  mid-summer,  while  only  a  few  miles  to  the 
northward  they  are  suffering  with  heat. 

Products:  —  Wheat  and  barley  are  the  only  grains  which  thrive  to  any 
great  extent  in  this  township.  Little  or  no  fruit  or  vegetables  are  grown 
except  in  occasionally  favored  spots.     The  yield  of  the  former  is  fair  on 


304  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

most  of  the  arable  land  in  the  township,  but  they  are  grown  with  unusual 
success  in  the  Montezuma  hill  section. 

Schools : — The  school  interests  are  represented  by  two  districts,  viz  :  Den- 
verton  and  Montezuma.  Only  one  teacher  is  employed  in  each  of  these 
schools,  and  the  attendance  is  not  very  large. 

Churches : — The  Cumberland  Presbyterians  have  a  church  building  and 
organization  near  the  location  of  the  Montezuma  District  School-house. 
This  church  organization  is  the  outgrowth  of  a  Sunday  school,  started  in 
November,  1864,  with  Mr.  Parish  as  Superintendent.  The  building  was 
erected  in  1870.  In  1875  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  It  was  rebuilt  in  1876. 
The  organizing  members  were :  Mrs.  E.  D.  Carey,  Wm.  Wight,  Mrs.  T.  R. 
Stewart,  Daniel  Barnett,  Nancy  Barnett,  Jas.  L.  Barnett,  Sam'l  Barnett. 
The  pastors  have  been,  Rev.  D.  E.  Bushnell,  who  served  till  Jan.  1,  1874, 
and  Rev.  J.  M.  Crawford,  who  has  served  the  church  ever  since.  It  is 
known  as  the  Shiloh  church.  This  is  the  only  church  building  or  organiza- 
tion in  the  township. 

Totuns : — Denverton  is  the  only  town  in  this  township.  It  is  located  10 
miles  east  of  Fairfield,  at  the  head  of  navigation,  on  Nurse's  slough,  and 
was  formerly  called  Nurse's  Landing.  Its  name  was  changed  to  Denverton 
in  1858,  at  which  time  the  post-office  was  established  there.  It  was  so 
named  in  honor  of  J.  W.  Denver,  at  that  time  member  of  Congress  from  this 
district.  It  contains  a  few  houses  and  perhaps  50  inhabitants.  It  is  sup- 
plied with  city  water — a  private  enterprize  of  Dr.  Nurse's. 

Early  Settlement : — The  first  house  erected  in  the  township  was  built  by 
Dr.  S.  K.  Nurse  in  1853.  The  entire  country  was  then  one  great  stretch  of 
wild  oats,  reaching  to  a  man's  shoulder  while  on  horseback,  through  which 
herds  of  elks,  antelope  and  deer  roamed  at  will.  This  building  was  soon 
followed  by  a  residence  erected  by  D.  K.  Barry,  located  about  one-half  mile 
to  the  eastward  of  Nurse's  house.  The  old  house  was  standing  in  1878,  on 
its  original  site.  In  1854  Dr.  Nurse  built  a  store-house.  He  also  con- 
structed a  wharf,  with  100  feet  frontage.  It  has  since  been  extended  to  300 
feet.  Mr.  Stewart  and  his  son  Samuel,  the  Arnolds,  Daniels,  Cooks,  and 
others,  followed  in  rapid  succession,  until  the  land  was  all  taken. 

Etcetera: — In  1866  Dr.  Nurse  erected  a  fine  brick  store  building.  In 
1867  he  built  a  brick  warehouse,  60x160  feet,  with  a  storage  capacity  of 
2,500  tons.  The  post-office  was  established  in  1858,  and  Dr.  Nurse  ap- 
pointed postmaster ;  he  has  held  the  office  without  interruption  ever  since, 
thus  making  him  an  incumbent  for  21  years.     He  is  probably  the  veteran 


m  / 


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t; 

NEW  YC 

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THE    HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY.  305 

officeholder  in  Solano  county,  if  not  in  California.  In  1875  Dr.  Nurse  con- 
structed a  telegraph  line,  connecting  Denverton  with  Suisun.  In  1876  this 
line  was  merged  into  the  Montezuma  Telegraph  Company,  of  which  Dr. 
Nurse  has  always  been  president.  In  1870  the  Good  Templars  erected  a 
building  for  lodge  purposes.  The  lodge  has  thrived  and  sustained  a  good 
membership  at  that  place  for  a  great  many  years.  Nurse's  Slough  is  the 
intended  outlet  of  the  drainage  canal  which  it  is  proposed  to  open  from  the 
head  of  Cache  slough  to  the  head  of  Nurse's  slough.  The  canal  will  pass 
diagonally  through  Denverton  township,  but  Maine  Prairie  and  Rio  Vista 
townships  would  be  the  ones  who  would  reap  the  benefit  of  this. 

Denverton  Lodge,  I.  0.  G.  T. : — Was  organized  November  16,  1866,  with 
twenty-three  charter  members.  The  dedication  took  place  in  Dr.  S.  K. 
Nurse's  hall,  where  they  continued  to  meet  until  1870,  then  in  the  School- 
house  in  Denverton  until  after  the  erection  in  November,  1871,  of  their 
new  hall.  The  charter  officers  were  Judge  J.  B.  Carrington,  W.  C.  T, ;  Mrs. 
S.  K.  Nurse,  W.  V.  T. ;  and  Miss  E.  D.  Kerry,  Secretary. 


20 


306  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


MAINE    PRAIRIE. 


Geography : — Maine  Prairie  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Silvey- 
ville  and  Tremont  townships,  on  the  east  by  Yolo  county  and  Rio  Vista 
township,  on  the  south  by  Rio  Vista  and  Denverton  townships,  and  on  the 
west  by  Elmira  township.  It  is  located  in  range  2  and  3  east  and  5  and  6 
north,  M.  D.  M.  Linda  slough,  an  offshoot  from  Cache  slough,  and  quite 
a  stream  of  water,  forms  the  line  of  division  between  it  and  Rio  Vista 
township  on  the  south.  Prospect  slough,  another  offshoot  of  Cache  slough, 
is  the  boundary  line  between  it  and  Rio  Vista  township  on  the  east ;  Cache 
slough,  from  its  intersection  with  Prospect  slough,  extends  in  a  northwest- 
erly direction  through  the  township  for  a  distance  of  about  ten  miles  ;  near 
the  head  of  Cache  slough  it  branches,  and  the  north  branch  is  known  as 
Bounds  slough ;  Cache  slough  is  navigable  for  small  vessels  and  light 
draught  steamers. 

Topography : — The  entire  surface  of  this  township  is  almost  a  perfect 
level.  The  southeastern  portion  of  it  is  tule  land,  which,  as  you  pass  north- 
ward or  westward,  passes  off  into  a  vast  level  plain. 

Soil: — We  are  sorry  that  we  cannot  say  as  much  in  favor  of  the  soil  in 
this  township  as  in  some  others  in  the  county.  Of  course  the  tule  land  is 
the  usual  rich  alluvial  soil  of  that  class  of  land,  but  the  most  of  the  other 
land  is  composed  of  alkali  soil  and  "  hard  pan,"  as  it  is  called,  old  "  salt 
licks,"  and  "  buffalo  wallows,"  are  numerous  in  that  class  of  land.  There  is 
some  adobe,  and  it  is  the  most  productive  of  all  the  land  except  the  tule. 
A  number  of  years  ago  the  most  of  the  land  bordering  on  the  tules  on  the 
west  side  of  them  was  entered  by  settlers  in  small  tracts  from  80  acres  to 
640.  In  less  than  five  years  every  settler  had  found  out  his  mistake  and 
had  left  for  a  more  productive  section,  and  to-day  their  deserted  houses  dot 
the  plains,  a  sad  faced  finger-board  pointing  to  blasted  hopes  and  wasted 
fortunes.  Where  those  hardy  pioneers  hoped  some  day  to  see  happy  homes 
and  prosperous  families,  there  is  nothing  but  desolation.  All  these  farms 
have  been  bought  up  by  persons  for  sheep  ranges. 

Climate  : — The  climate  of  this  township  is  milder  than  that  in  Rio  Vista 
on  its  south,  yet  not  so  warm  as  that  in  Tremont  on  its  north.  Being  so 
level  the  winds  have  a  fair  sweep  across  the  vast  stretch  of  plain  and  moor. 
The  barrenness  of  these  plains  causes  the  heat  to  reflect  to  a  great  extent, 
and  rising  from  the  earth  it  mollifies  and  tempers  the  cold  damp  sea  breeze, 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  307 

making  it  one  of  the  most  delightful  zephyrs.  But  on  the  other  hand, 
when  the  north  wind  blows,  it  converts  it  almost  into  a  veritable  sirocco. 
In  common  with  the  entire  county,  it  is  very  healthful. 

Products  : — The  principal  products  of  the  township  are  wheat  and  barley. 
A  considerable  number  of  the  farmers  in  the  township  are  engaged  in 
dairying  on  a  limited  scale.  The  yield  of  grain  is  seldom  very  great  to  the 
acre.  Fruit  and  vegetables  grow  but  very  indifferently  in  all  parts  of  it, 
except  in  the  tule  land. 

Early  Settlement: — Maine  Prairie  Township  was  mostly  settled  in  the  Fall 
of  1861,  and  in  the  years  1862  and  1863,  it  being  included  in  what  was  known 
as  the  Luceo  grant,  which  was  previously  in  litigation  but  finally  decided  in 
favor  of  the  United  States,  was  immediately  opened  as  public  land  for  entry, 
the  survey  being  made  in  the  Summer  of  1862.  Among  the  earliest  settlers 
in  this  vicinity  were  Mr.  J.  F.  Brown,  J.  B.  Jameson,  Sherman  Brown,  who 
came  in  1861,  Albert  Bennett,  D.  B.  Brown,  James  Ourk,  H.  N.  Bentley,  in 
1862.  The  above-named  are  nearly  all  of  the  first  comers  that  remain  until 
the  present  time,  very  many  having  remained  but  a  few  years,  others  coming 
to  take  their  places.  The  early  settlers  being  mostly  thorough-going  Ameri- 
can citizens,  they  thought  the  first  thing  to  do  was  to  establish  schools  and 
have  a  place  for  meeting;  so  a  school  district  was  petitioned  for,  taking  in 
all  vacant  territory,  it  being  about  ten  miles  square,  known  as  the  Maine 
Prairie  School  District;  since  which  time  the  districts  of  Bingham  ton,  Morn- 
ing Light  and  Enterprise  have  been  carved  out.  A  subscription  was  at 
once  started,  and  some  six  or  seven  hundred  dollars  was  received,  with 
which  two  school-houses  were  enclosed  and  made  to  answer  the  purposes  of 
school-room  and  church,  free  to  all  denominations,  one  at  what  is  now  Bing- 
hamton,  and  one  at  Maine  Prairie  Landing,  George  King  (now  of  Dixon),  J. 
B.  Jameson  and  Albert  Bennett  being  the  trustees.  For  several  years  all 
efforts  in  this  direction  were  heartily  seconded  by  the  older  settlers  who 
were  carrying  on  business  at  Maine  Prairie  Landing — Mr.  J.  C.  Merrithew, 
John  N.  Utter,  Widow  Lewis  (the  hostess  of  Maine  Prairie  Hotel),  Deck  & 
Co.  (Mr.  Deck,  H.  Wilcox,  W.  D.  Vail),  J.  k  Charles  S.  Gushing,  merchants. 
On  the  completion  of  the  C.  P.  Railroad  the  main  business  of  Maine  Prairie 
was  cut  off,  the  thousands  of  tons  of  grain  and  other  products  being  trans- 
ported by  rail  to  market,  instead  of  being  shipped  by  water  at  the  landing. 

Mr.  W.  D.  Vail  at  present  carries  on  the  business  of  warehousing,  lumber- 
yard, etc. 

Captain  James  A.  French  has  a  large  and  well  filled  store.  F.  W.  Petrus 
carries  on  blacksmi thing  in  all  its  branches;  also  owns  a  farm,  a  mile  or  so 
out  of  town,  which  he  farms. 

The  Widow  Lewis  keeps  the  only  hotel  in  town. 

The  public  school  at  present  is  taught  by  Miss  Lizzie  Furgerson. 


308  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

Formation  of  a  Military  Company: — During  the  Summer  of  1863,  when 
the  country  was  in  great  excitement  growing  out  of  our  civil  war, our  patriotic 
and  loyal  citizens  thought  it  advisable  to  organize  a  military  company. 
Many  were  more  than  anxious  to  enroll  themselves  as  soldiers,  subject  to 
the  call  of  the  State.     The  company  was  speedily  formed,  under  the  laws  of 
California,  and  enrolled  as  a  company  of  the  State  militia,  receiving  the 
name  of  "Maine  Prairie  Rifles,"  on  the  19th  day  of  September,  1863,  Leland 
Stanford  then  being  Governor,  and  William  C.  Kibbe  Adjutant  General. 
About  sixty  men  were  enrolled  at  the  organization,  subsequently  numbering 
seventy-two.     At  the  first  election  of  officers  Albert  Bennett  was  elected 
captain  (still  residing  at  Maine  Prairie);  John  Low  (now  of  Capaz  Valley), 
first  lieutenant,  A.  S.  Hopkins  (now  of  Sacramento)  and  James  Bingham 
other  lieutenants.     Binghamton  was  chosen  as  the  headquarters  of'  the  com- 
pany.    It  was  soon  decided  by  the  company  to  build  an  armory,  resulting 
in  the  erection  of  a  brick  fireproof  building,  about  35x50  feet,  one  story  high. 
The  many  meetings  of  the  company  for  drill,  target  practice,  picnics  and 
other  things  which  grew  out. of  the  formation  of  the  company,  had  a  most 
salutary  and  happy  influence  in  binding  the  whole  community  together  in 
that  harmony  and  good  feeling  for  which  Binghamton  has  been  so  noted. 
The  company  continued   in  a  healthy    condition    until    disbanded.       The 
"  Maine  Prairie  Rifles,"  together  with  about  half  of  the  companies  of  the  State, 
were  disbanded  under  the  administration  of  Governor  Haight;  Albert  Ben- 
nett, having  been  the  captain  of  the   company  during  its  existence,  being 
from  time  to  time  almost  unanimously  re-elected.     The  company  sold  its 
armory  to  Mr.  D.  L.  Munson,  who  was  engaged  in  merchandising,  he  fitting 
it  up  for  a  store,  adding  another  story  for  a  public  hall.     The  building  was 
subsequently  sold  to  the  school  trustees  for  a  school-house — the  former 
school-house  having  been  destroyed  by  fire — the  lower  story  being  fitted  for 
school  purposes,  the  hall  being  for  public  use.     Mr.  F.  M.  Righter  is  the 
the  present  efficient  and  popular  teacher. 

Lodge  of  Good  Templars  : — Was  organized  at  Binghamton,  June  9,  1863. 
Mr.  H.  N.  Bentley  and  wife,  Jos.  Bingham  and  wife,  O.  Bingham,  and  G.  W. 
Frazer  and  wife  being  among  the  charter  members.  It  became  a  large  and 
flourishing  lodge,  numbering,  at  one  time,  about  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  members.  It  has  continued  from  its  organization  until  the  present  time 
without  a  break — nearly  sixteen  years.  At  present  its  membership  is  about 
thirty. 

The  late  H.  N.  Bentley  was  one  of  its  most  efficient  and  earnest  workers. 
A  book  containing  the  names  of  those  initiated,  from  the  organization  until 
now,  is  kept,  showing  at  present  nearly  four  hundred  names. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  309 

The  M.  E.  Church  of  Binghamton  : — Was  organized  about  the  year  1865. 
There  had  grown  to  be,  during  the  two  previous  years,  quite  a  large  and 
flourishing  society,  under  the  name  of   "  Union  Service,"  as  the  christian 
population  was  of  almost  all  denominations.     A  large  Sunday  School,  in  the. 
meantime,  had  developed. 

The  M.  E.  Church,  with  its  accustomed  shrewdness  and  tact,  made  the 
first  organization  as  a  church.  Nearly  all  fell  in  with  the  new  order  of 
things,  and  thus  was  permanently  established  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Bing- 
hamton, always  having  a  good  influence  on  the  community  at  large.  The 
Sunday  School  was  carried  on  without  being  especially  under  the  control 
of  the  M.  E.  Church  until  November  11,  1866,  when  a  resolution  was 
adopted  "  to  reorganize  and  place  the  school  under  the  especial  care  and 
supervision  of  the  M.  E.  Church."  Mr.  Geo.  C.  Mack,  now  of  Westminster, 
Los  Angeles  county,  was  chosen  Superintendent. 

Binghamton  and  Dixon,  at  present,  constitute  the  circuit ;  T.  H.  Wood- 
ward, preacher  in  charge. 

Protestant  Methodist  Church : — About  the  year  1865  an  organization  of 
the  Protestant  Methodist  Church  was  made  at  Maine  Prairie  Landing. 
Among  its  movers  were  Rev.  T.  New,  Rev.  G.  B.  Triplett,  and  Revs.  Dunton 
and  Graves,  and  a  few  others.  The  enterprise  entirely  failed  in  a  year  or 
two. 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church: — About  the  year  1871  a  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  was  formed  at  Maine  Prairie  Landing  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Bushnell,  then  of  Suisun,  now  of  San  Jose ;  continuing  his  ministrations 
until  his  removal  to  San  Jose,  since  which  time  Rev.  J.  Naff.  Crawford  has 
afficiated  as  pastor. 

The  town  of  the  township  is  known  by  the  township  name — Maine 
Prairie.  It  is  a  shipping  and  trading  point  at  the  head  of  navigation  on 
Cache  slough.  It  lies  eighteen  miles  north-east  of  the  county  seat.  In  the 
year  1859  Capt.  Merrithew,  in  company  with  J.  H.  Utter,  located  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  slough,  and  began  a  general  merchandise,  grain,  and 
lumber  business.  The  following  year,  1860,  H.  G.  Deck,  H.  Wilcox,  and 
W.  D.  Vail  formed  a  co-partnership,  known  as  Deck  &  Co.,  and  began  a 
general  merchandise  business  on  the  north  side  of  the  slough,  opposite  Mer- 
rithew &  Utter.  In  1860  a  hotel  was  built  by  George  King,  and  other 
houses  rapidly  followed  until  quite  a  little  village  was  built  up  ;  but  the 
flood  of  1862  swept  things  here  as  at  Rio  Vista.  There  was  nothing  left 
to  mark  the  site  of  the  town.  The  water  stood  twelve  feet  deep  in  the 
streets,  and  as  deep  for  miles  in  every  direction,  which  was  lashed  into  a 
seething  sea  by  the  howling  south-east  storm  winds,  sweeping  everything 
from  existence,  and  blotting  the  town  out  of  existence  in  its  relentless  fury. 


310  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

As  soon  as  the  waters  had  subsided  most  of  the  settlers  came  back  again  ; 
but,  while  some  rebuilt  on  the  old  site,  many  preferred  to  go  farther  up  the 
slough  where  the  land  was  a  trifle  more  elevated.     Accordingly  Mrs.  Rebec- 
ca Lewis  surveyed  a  town  plat  on  her  ranch  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile 
above  the  old  site.     This  new  town  received  the  name  of  Alton,  being  so 
named  by  a  pioneer  settler  in  the  town,  Mr.  S.  R.  Perry,  a  former  resident 
of  Alton,  Illinois.    The  first  business  conducted  in  the  town  was  by  Cushing 
Bros.  (C.  S.  and  J.  H.)     They  were  dealers  in  general  merchandise.     Perry 
&  Co.  were  the  next  to  locate  here.     The  firm  consisted  of  S.  R.  Perry  and 
Wm.  0.  Palmer,  both  now  residing  in  Rio  Vista.     They  carried  a  full  stock 
of  general  goods,  also  dealt  in  grain  and  lumber.     They  built  a  handsome 
brick  store  building,  also  an   extensive   warehouse,  both  of  which  stand 
to-day.  as  mute  witnesses  to  the  fact  that  "  The  best  laid  plans  of  mice  and 
men  gang  aft  aglee."     The  buildings  were  erected  before  the  railroad  era  in 
California,  and  there  was  no  more  promising  point  for  a  business  of  that 
nature  in  the  State.     The  grain  from  all  the  valleys,  away  to  the  north  and 
westward,  centered  there  for  shipment,  and  the  amount  shipped  from  there 
yearly  was  exceeded  by  no  place  in  the  State  except  Stockton.     The  year 
of  1863 -was  an  uncommonly  bountiful  one,  and  in  the  fall  the  grain  came 
teeming  forth  from   all   directions  in   enormous  quantities.     One  team  is 
reported  to  have  drawn  36,800  pounds  of  wheat,  at  one  load,  from  Putah 
creek.     During  this  year  there  were  50,000  tons  of  grain  shipped  from  this 
point  alone.     It  is  said  that  it  was  a  common  occurrence  to  see  180  wagons 
in  town  with  grain  in  a  single  day.     But  it  might  be  of  interest  to  note 
that  during  the  following  season  only  one  load  of  barley  was  brought  to 
the   town.     This  was  a  dry  year,  and  a  hard  one,  too,  it  proved  for  the 
farmers  of  California.     Mrs.  Lewis  built  a  hotel  there  during  the  year,  and 
continues  to  this  day  to  dispense  rest  and  refreshments  to  the  weary  traveler 
who  chances  to  stray  so  far  away  from  the  line  of  ordinary  travel.     The 
post  office  was  established  in  1862,  Capt.  J.  C.  Merrithew  being  appointed 
postmaster.     A  branch  office  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  was 
established  there  in  1870.     Since  the  days  of  railroads  the  town  has  been 
on  the  down  grade.     The  immediate  surrounding  country  would  support  a 
town  of  any  size,  and   the   outside  supply  was  shut  off,  of  course,  by  the 
railroad.     The  town  looks  old ;   the  buildings  are  unpainted,  rickety,  and 
dilapidated.    A  general  air  of  lonesomeness  and  desolation  seems  to  pervade 
the  place,  and  a  stranger  is  glad  to  get  away  from  the  place.     It  is  a  good 
shipping  point,  and  the  time  may  come  when  it  will  regain  some  of  its  pris- 
tine glories,  but  this  is  doubtful. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  311 


MONTEZUMA. 


Geography: — Montezuma  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Denver- 
ton  township,  on  the  east  by  Rio  Vista  township,  on  the  south  by  the  Sac- 
ramento river  and  the  bay  of  Suisun,  and  on  the  west  by  Suisun  township. 

Topography : — By  far  the  major  portion  of  this  township  consists  of 
large,  steep  hills,  known  as  the  Montezuma  hills,  from  whence  the  township 
derives  its  name.  To  one  traveling  over  the  level  plains  of  the  northern 
townships,  these  hills  seem  like  small  mountains,  and  it  is  a  great  surprise 
to  strangers  to  learn  that  they  are  cultivated.  On  the  southern  and  western 
borders  there  is  a  belt  of  swamp  and  overflowed  land,  but  it  bears  a  small 
relation  to  the  entire  township. 

Soil: — The  soil  of  the  Montezuma  hills  is  mostly  adobe,  and  it  is  unex- 
celled for  growing  grain,  but  is  of  little  use  for  other  purposes.  The 
marsh  soil  is  alluvial,  but  as  it  is  a  salt-marsh,  it  is  good  for  but  little  except 
pasturage. 

Climate: — The  trade  winds  sweep  over  this  township  with  great  force, 
bearing  with  it  more  or  less  dampness.  It  is  very  healthful  throughout, 
even  on  the  marsh  land.  The  climate  cannot  be  called  delightful,  although 
it  is  in  California,  but  is  doubtless  preferable  for  many  reasons  to  warmer 
sections  further  north. 

Products: — The  principal  products  are  grain  and  hay.  Wheat  and  bar- 
ley thrive  magnificently  on  these  hills,  while  the  growth  of  wild  oats  is  still 
luxurious  wherever  they  have  a  chance.  Fruits  and  vegetables  do  not  thrive 
very  well;  the  adobe  soil  is  too  stiff  and  cold  for  vegetables,  while  the  strong 
winds  destroy  the  trees. 

Industries: — The  principal  industry  of  the  people  is  farming,  but  the 
fishing  for  salmon,  and  canning  the  same  has  of  late  years  assumed  consid- 
erable proportions.  There  are  two  canneries  located  at  Collinsville,  and  one 
on  Chipps  Island.  The  three  combined  have  a  capacity  of  about  60,000 
one-pound  cans  a  day.  They  afford  employment  to  about  300  men,  and 
about  250  more  are  engaged  in  catching  the  fish. 

Early  Settlement: — Among  the  first  houses  built  in  Solano  County  was  one 
erected  in  this  township.  It  was  an  adobe,  and  still  stands,  and  is  occupied 
by  Mr.  L.  P.  Marshall.      This   house  was   constructed   in    1846,  by    L.  W. 


312  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

Hastings.  He  was  a  Mormon  agent,  sent  into  California  to  seek  an  eligible 
site  for  the  location  of  a  colony  of  Mormons.  He  chose  this  point,  at  the 
head  of  Suisun  Bay,  and  near  the  junction  of  the  two  great  rivers  of  the 
country — Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin — and  laid  out  a  town  site.  Owing 
to  the  fact  that  there  was  no  timber  land  conveniently  located,  the  Mormons 
refused  to  settle  there.  Bayard  Taylor,  in  his  "Eldorado,"  mentions  the 
"Montezuma  House,"  as  it  has  always  been  called, ""as  "the  city  of  Monte- 
zuma, a  solitary  house,  on  a  sort  of  headland,  projecting  into  Suisun  Bay, 
and  fronting  its  rival  three-house  city,  New-York-of-the-Pacific."  Hastings 
established  a  ferry  between  the  site  now  occupied  by  Collinsville,  and  the 
Contra  Costa  side  of  the  bay,  for  the  accommodation  of  travelers  passing 
either  way.  This  was  probably  the  first  ferry  ever  established  on  the  Sac- 
ramento or  San  Joaquin  rivers.  Hastings  remained  at  this  place  about 
three  years,  but  when "  the  gold-excitement  broke  out  he  went  into  the 
mines.  In  the  winter  of  1853,  L.  P.  Marshall  and  his  sons  John  and  C.  K., 
arrived  from  the  States  with  a  band  of  cattle.  In  passing  down  the  Sac- 
ramento river  they  came  upon  the  adobe  house  built  by  Hastings,  and 
were  glad  to  take  shelter  in  it  from  the  storms.  The  house  was  in  a  very 
dilapidated  condition,  but  was  easily  repaired,  and  served  well  the  purpose, 
of  a  shelter.  In  and  about  the  house  they  found  numerous  appliances  for 
the  manufacture  of  counterfeit  coin,  such  as  crucibles,  dies,  copper,  etc.  It 
is  supposed  that  a  band  of  counterfeiters  had  found  the  place  deserted,  and 
taken  possion  of  it.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  Hastings  had  used  them 
in  coining  money  to  be  used  by  the  Mormons  when  they  arrived.  Hastings 
had  a  sqatter's  claim  to  the  premises,  which  was  bought  by  John  Marshall 
for  his  father  (the  latter  being  at  the  time  absent  from  the  State)  who  gave, 
as  a  consideration,  two  mules  and  six  head  of  cattle,  all  valued  at  $1,000 
The  second  house  built  in  the  township  was  a  frame-building,  erected  by 
F.  O.  Townsend,  in  1853.  It  was  located  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Kir  by  farm.  Lucco  laid  claim  to  all  the  land  in  this  and  Denverton  town- 
ship as  a  Spanish  grant,  but  he  failed  in  establishing  his  claim,  and  in  1855 
the  land  was  declared  to  be  Government  land,  and  open  for  pre-emption. 

Collinsville: — Collinsville  is  the  only  town  in  the  township ;  it  is  a  ship- 
ping port  on  the  Sacramento  river,  just  at  the  de  bouchure  of  that  stream. 
In  1859,  C.  J.  Collins  pre-empted  the  land  where  the  town  now  stands.  In 
1861,  he  surveyed  a  town  plat  and  built  a  wharf  and  store ;  previous  to 
this  time  the  steamers,  which  plied  the  Sacramento  river,  had  never  stopped 
at  this  point.  The  embryotic  town  was  christened  for  its  projector — Col- 
linsville. Some  time  during  the  same  year  a  post  office  was  established 
here,  and  Geo.  W.  Miller  was  appointed  the  first  Postmaster.  In  1867,  Mr. 
Collins  sold  his  property  to  S.  C.  Bradshaw,  and  he  changed  the  name  of  the 
place  to  Newport.     The  old  Calif ornians  well  remember  Newport  and  the 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  313 

enterprise  displayed  by  its  proprietor  in  the  disposition  of  town  lots,  and, 
perhaps,  a  few  at  the  East  have  cause  to  remember  him  also ;  huge  maps  of 
an  extensive  town  plat  were  placed  into  the  hands  of  agents,  who  visited 
all  the  principal  Eastern  cities,  and  sold  and  resold  lots  covering  all  the 
swamp  land  in  that  section ;  excursions  were  gotten  up  in  San  Francisco, 
and  a  person  paid  a  certain  amount  ($10,  we  think)  for  a  round  trip  ticket, 
which  included  a  claim  to  a  town  lot  in  the  flourishing  (on  paper)  town  of 
Newport.  At  the  end  of  about  five  years,  the  property  again  changed 
hands,  E.  I.  Upham  becoming  the  owner ;  he  changed  the  name  back  to  the 
original,  and  so  it  continues  to  this  day.  Mr.  Upham  is  an  energetic  man, 
and  he  has  made  quite  a  business  and  shipping  point  out  of  the  town ;  two 
lines  of  steamers  stop  there,  going  each  way,  daily  ;  it  is  connected  with  the 
outside  world  by  the  Montezuma  telegraph. 

Schools  and  Churches: — There  is  only  one  school  house  in  the  township  ; 
this  one  is  situated  near  the  town  of  Collinsville  ;  strange  to  note,  there  is 
not  a  church  in  the  township.  Here  is  a  broad  and  fertile  held  for  some 
zealous  missionary. 

It  is  also  the  chief  salmon  fishing  ground  in  California,  and  large  num- 
bers are  shipped  daily  to  San  Francisco.  At  certain  seasons  of  the  year  there 
are  vast  numbers  canned  for  export  to  various  parts  of  the  world. 

The  village  has  two  hotels,  three  saloons,  billiards,  etc.,  two  stores,  post- 
office,  telegraph  office,  and  an  agency  of  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co.'s  Express. 

The  first  salmon  canning  establishment  in  California  was  erected  here  by 
A.  Booth  &  Co.,  who  afterwards  discontinued  and  was  succeeded  by  E.  Cor- 
ville  &  Co.  who  have  carried  on  the  business  for  two  years.  Other  canneries 
have  since  been  erected  and  are  now  conducted  by  the  Sacramento  River 
Packing  Co. 


314  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


VACAYILLE. 


Boundaries: — In  the  last  apportionment  of  Solano  county  into  townships 
on  June  27,  1866,  that  of  Vacaville  is  ordered  as  follows :  Commencing  at 
the  N.  E.  corner  of  section  18,  township  5  N.,  R.  1  E.;  thence  west  on  sec- 
tion line  to  S.  W.  corner  of  section  3,  township  5  N.,  R.  1  W.;  thence  north 
to  the  N.  E.  corner  of  section  3,  township  5  N.,  R.  1  W.;  thence  west  on  the 
township  line  to  the  boundary  line  of  the  Armijo  rancho  at  the  N.  W.  cor- 
ner of  said  township ;  thence  north  and  west,  following  said  boundary  to 
the  county  line  at  the  S.  E.  corner  of  Napa  county;  thence  northerly  along 
the  boundary  line  between  Napa  and  Solano  counties  to  Putah  creek  ;  thence 
down  said  creek  to  a  point  one  mile  W.  of  Mount  Diablo  meridian ;  thence 
south  on  section  lines  to  the  S.  W.  corner  of  section  No.  1,  township  6  N., 
R.  1  W.:  thence  east  two  miles ;  thence  south  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Topography :  — The  area  of  Vacaville  township  is  66,790  acres,  and  is 
diversified  into  mountains  and  valleys  of  the  finest  soil  in  the  county.  A 
spur  of  hills  extends  from  its  boundary,  and  runs  nearly  north  to  the  Putah 
creek,  the  range  having  a  general  average .  of  three  miles  in  width ;  the 
slopes,  benches  and  valleys  being  renowned  for  early  fruits  and  vegetables. 
West  of  these  hills  lies  Pleasants'  valley,  which  extends  to  the  above  men- 
tioned creek;  also  famed  for  its  particularly  genial  climate  and  growing 
properties,  it  sending  the  first  fruits  and  vegetables  into  market  from  any 
part  of  the  State.  The  great  Vaca  valley,  formerly  known  as  the  Ulattis> 
lies  to  the  north-east  of  that  of  Suisun,  is  five  miles  in  length,  and  one  and 
a  half  broad:  it  runs  between  two  ranges  of  hills  of  considerable  altitude* 
and  opens  into  the  Sacramento  valley.  It,  and  its  two  off-shoots,  Lagoon 
and  Pleasants'  valley,  are  the  admiration  of  all  travelers.  This  township  is 
also  well  favored  as  regards  streams ;  for  we  find  that  the  Sweeny  creek 
rises  in  the  Vaca  hills,  six  miles  north  of  the  town  of  Vacaville,  flows  in  a 
north-easterly  direction  for  the  distance  of  eight  miles ;  thence  in  a  south- 
easterly course  to  the  vicinity  of  Maine  Prairie,  and  empties  into  Cache 
slough.  There  is  also  the  Ulattis  creek,  which  rises  in  these  hills,  about  five 
miles  west  of  the  town,  and  after  flowing  in  an  easterly  direction  finds  its 
way  into  the  west  branch  of  Cache  slough ;  and  the  Alamo  creek,  which 
rises  about  four  miles  from  Vacaville,  as  also  the  Pleasants'  valley  creek, 
which  flows  in  a  north-easterly  direction  through  the  valley  of  that  name, 
and  discharges  itself  into  the  Rio  de  los  Putos. 


THE      HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY.  315 

Early  Settlement : — The  first  settlers  in  this  portion  of  Solano  county,  as 
has  been  mentioned  elsewhere,  were  the  two  Spaniards,  Vaca  or  Baca,  and 
Pena,  who,  having  received  a  grant  from  the  Mexican  government,  settled 
here  in  the  year  1841.  In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  all  the  grants 
of  land  of  those  days,  these  early  pioneers  commenced  the  erection  of 
houses,  the  tilling  of  land,  the  planting  of  trees,  and  the  rearing  of  stock. 
Adobe  residences  were  constructed,  wherein  they  dwelt ;  while  others  were 
erected  in  far  off  corners  for  the  shelter  of  their  herders  and  laborers.  Fol- 
lowing the  Vaca  and  Pena  families,  were  Albert  Lyon,  John  Patton  and 
three  others  who  came  with  them,  namely,  J.  P.  Willis,  and  Clay  Long. 
These  men  entered  into,  the  then,  only  occupation  which  offered  itself,  that 
of  stock-raising.  Two  or  three  years  later  there  arrived  J.  H.,  W.  B.,  and 
Garard  Long,  who  were  shortly  after  followed  by  Marshall  M.  Bayse.  This 
was  in  the  year  of  '49.  In  1850  there  came  Dollarhide  and  his  three  sons. 
Up  to  this  year  there  had  only  two  women  arrived  in  the  valley,  they  being 
the  wives  of  Messrs.  Lyon  and  Hollingsworth ;  though  where  the  latter 
family  located  we  have  been  unable  to  trace.  In  1848,  Hollingsworth,  and 
a  companion  named  Newman,  while  on  their  way  to  the  mines,  were  mur- 
dered by  Indians.  The  bodies  were  shortly  after  found  by  one  of  the  Messrs. 
Longs  and  a  party,  while  on  a  prospecting  tour,  and  by  them  decently 
buried.  Hollingsworth's  family  remained  in  Vaca  valley  for  ten  or  twelve 
years  after  his  death,  when  they  broke  up  and  removed  to  various  parts  of 
the  State.  Settlers,  after  this  era,  would  appear  to  have  arrived  more,  rap- 
idly. 

In  1851,  J.  P.  Long  brought  with  him  the  first  flock  of  sheep  that  had 
ever  crossed  the  plains  to  this  State.  They  were  three  thousand  in  number 
— he  started  with  ten  thousand  head — which  he  drove  to  Vaca  valley.  Mr. 
Long  remained  in  the  township  until  1854,  when  he  returned  to  Missouri, 
and  in  1859  went  to  Texas,  where  he  follows  farming,  besides  having  a 
large  cotton  plantation. 

In  1852,  Edward  McGeary,  John  Fisk,  Mason  Wilson,  McGuire  and  his 
family,  J.  G.  Parks,  W.  R.  Miller,  Richardson  and  S.  W.  Long,  and  W.  A. 
Dunn  and  family,  located  in  the  township,  and  affairs  partook  of  a  settled 
appearance.  The  wonderful  fertility  of  the  district  had  been  tested,  and 
the  rank  growth  of  vegetation  was  fast  falling  before  the  arts  and  sciences 
of  agriculture  and- commerce. 

Let  us  glance  at  the  Vacaville  township  of  to-day  ! 

As  viewed  from  the  head  of  Pleasants'  valley  no  more  picturesque  land- 
scape can  be  found  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  Golden  State 
than  that  stretching  to  the  southward.  This  glorious  glen,  though  compara- 
tively prescribed  in  breadth  is  possessed  of  a  soil  of  the  richest  kind  of  al- 
luvial sediment,  formed  mostly  from  the  debris  of  the  adjacent  mountain 
sides.      Within  the  scope    of   vision  there  is  nought  to  be  seen  but  one 


316  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

vast  orchard  and  vineyard,  arriving  at  a  perfection  which  could  only,  in  less 
favored  spots,  be  attained  by  the  tenderest  care  of  forcing  and 
training.  Passing  below  the  above-mentioned  natural  conservatory, 
the  eye  wanders  over  the  wider  and  more  extended  Yaca  val- 
ley.      Here     the     orchards     become     less     large     and     vast     fields     of 

grain     present     themselves "  long      fields     of     barley     and     of      rye," 

as  Tennyson  hath  it;  though  on  this  occasion  the  latter  cereal  gives 
place  to  wheat,  a  prospect  which  brings  with  it  rare  content,  content 
to  the  eye,  as  it  rests  on  the  limitless  expanse  of  green,  and  content  to  the 
mind  as  the  thought  is  flashed  back  of  the  number  of  hungry  mouths  and 
eager  hands  which  will  be  fed  and  aided  by  the  produce  of  these  fields,  in 
every  quarter  of  the  habitable  globe. 

The  first  settler  in  Pleasants''  valley  was  J.  M.  Pleasants,  who  located 
there  in  the  year  1851.  Mr.  Pleasants  has  some  eight  hundred  acres  of  val- 
ley and  hill  land,  that  along  the  banks  of  the  creek  being  well  adapted  for 
the  growing  of  fruit  and  vegetables,  while  back  towards  the  hills  the  soil  is 
admirably  adapted  for  the  cultivation  of  grain.  The  hills  offer  abundant 
pasturage.  Mr.  Pleasants  has  here  a  very  fine  orchard.  To  the  south  of 
his  lands  lie  the  Pleasants'  valley  school,  while  at  no  great  distance  is  the 
mill  lately  erected  by  him.  The  motive  power  is  oxen  working  on  a  tread- 
wheel.  Five  of  these  animals  are  now  used,  but  these  have  been  found  to 
be  inadequate  to  perform  the  required  task;  the  power,  therefore,  will 
shortly  be  augmented  by  the  addition  of  others.  Everything  is  ground  in 
this  mill,  from  barley  to  XXX  flour. 

The  residence  of  W.  J.  Pleasants  is  situated  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
creek  to  the  mill  in  the  midst  of  a  splendid  orchard  and  fine  grounds.  This 
gentleman  is  the  possessor  of  one  thousand  and  fifty  acres  of  magnificent 
valley  and  hill  lands. 

As  a  criterion  of  what  can  be  done  in  the  matter  of  fruit  trees  and  grape 
vines,  we  would  here  enumerate  the  numbers  of  each  that  a  few  of  the  prin- 
cipal growers  have  on  their  lands:  John  Dolan,  Sr.,  has  about  ten  thousand 
vines  and  about  one  thousand  each  of  peach  and  apricot  trees ;  M.  R  Miller 
has  one  hundred  acres  in  fruit  and  vines  alone  ;  L.  W.  Buck  has  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-six  acres  on  his  ranch,  ninety  of  which  he  has  in  cultivation, 
where  he  has  twenty-seven  thousand  vines  of  choice  varieties,  fourteen 
thousand  having  been  set  out  this  spring  (1879);  twelve  thousand  cherry 
trees,  as  well  as  a  large  number  of  apple,  peach,  and  apricot ;  he  has  also  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  orange  and  lemon  trees  in  a  most  flourishing  con- 
dition, with  every  prospect  of  a  speedy  maturity ;  while  W.  W.  Smith  has 
as  many  as  four  thousand  cherry  trees  in  a  prosperous  condition.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  particular  line  of  cultivation,  as  we  have  already  mentioned, 
there  are  several  large  farms  throughout  the  district,  that  of  Dr.  W.  J.  Dob- 
bins, which  contains  about  fourteen  hundred  and  ninety-five  acres,  being 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  317 

among  the  largest.  In  May  of  this  year  a  visitor  to  the  district  writes : 
"  The  crop  prospect  in  that  section  is  simply  immense.  The  grain  crop  could 
not  look  better,  and,  judging  from  the  present  outlook,  there  will  be  a  heavy 
yield  this  year.  The  outlook  for  fruit  is  very  encouraging  indeed.  The 
trees  are  fairly  groaning  under  their  burden,  and  we  noticed  limbs  which 
had  broken  off,  owin^  to  the  amount  of  fruit  on  them.  We  were  informed 
that  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons  of  fruit  were  shipped 
daily  from  Vacaville  during  some  months  of  the  year.  This  will  give  a 
person  some  idea  of  the  amount  of  fruit  grown  in  that  section." 

Vacaville. — On  August  21,  1850,  Manuel  Cabeza  Vaca  deeded  to  Wil- 
liam McDaniel  nine  square  miles  of  land,  the  consideration  for  which  was 
that  McDaniel  should  lay  out  a  town  site  on  one  of  the  square  miles,  name 
it  Vacaville,  and  deed  M.  C.  Vaca  certain  lots  in  said  town,  as  well  as  pay 
the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars.  Here  follows  the  document :  "  Deed  of 
Manuel  Cabeza  Vaca  to  William  McDaniel.  August  21,  1850.  Considera- 
tion $3,000.  Doth  grant,  bargain,  sell  and  convey  unto  second  party,  all 
his  right,  title  and  interest  in  and  to  a  certain  tract  of  land  in  the  County 
of  Solano,  and  known  and  described  as  follows :  The  point  at  which  the 
boundary. of  this  tract  of  land  was  found  is  one  mile  and  a  half  a  mile  due 
north  of  the  point  where  the  county  road  crosses  the  water  beach  or  arroya 
deoagua  about  one  mile  and  a  half  east  of  said  Manuel  Cabeza  Vaca's 
Rancho,  thence  due  west  to  the  base  of  the  mountains  in  a  southerly  direc- 
tion three  English  miles,  thence  due  east  three  English  miles,  thence  due 
north  three  English  miles,  thence  west  to  the  place  of  beginning.  So  as  to 
include  three  English  miles  square  or  nine  square  miles  of  land,  and  it  is 
hereby  agreed  that  the  said  McDaniel  is  to  lay  off  on  any  one  mile  square  of 
said  land  a  town  to  be  called  Vacaville,  and  1,055  of  the  lots  in  said  town 
are  to  be  deeded  to  him,  the  said  M.  C.  Vaca,  said  lots  to  be  average  lots. 

his 

Signed,  Manuel  x  Cabeza  Vaca.  [seal] 

mark 

Witness  :     L.  B.  Mizner. 

Acknowledged  August  21,  1850,  before  B.  D.  Hyam,  N.  P. 
Recorded  August  22,  1850. 

William  McDaniel,  on  August,  1850,  deeded  to  L.  B.  Mizner,  an  undi- 
vided half  interest  in  this  tract  of  land.  They  laid  out  a  town  site  about 
the  centre  of  the  township  and  in  accordance  with  the  deed  of  M.  C.  Vaca 
named  the  place  Vacaville,  deeded  to  him  two  hundred  lots  on  October  16, 
1850.  The  town  was  surveyed  by  E.  H.  Rowe  and  a  plat  thereof  duly 
recorded  on  December  13,  1851.  So  much  for  the  birth  of  the  town  of 
Vacaville.  The  first  building  was  erected  in  1850  by  William  McDaniel ; 
the  second  one  put  up  was  a  rude  edifice  used  as  a  hotel  by  James  McGuire. 


318  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

The  first  store  was  opened  by  E.  F.  Gillespie  on  block  No.  16,  it  being  a 
small  tool-house  owned  by  Mason  Wilson.  The  following  year  he  removed 
to  a  building  he  had  erected  on  block  No.  20,  having  previously  purchased 
the  entire  block.  The  stone  building  is  still  standing  and  is  the  property 
of  M.  Blum.  The  first  death  which  occurred  in  the  township  was  in  the 
year  1852,  it  being  that  of  a  stock-raiser  named  McGuire,-who  also  kept  a 
house  of  entertainment  in  the  village.  The  situation  of  the  town  is  very 
beautiful,  surrounded  as  it  is  by  such  extensive  farms  ;  it  is  a  most  ex- 
cellent point  for  trade,  the  places  of  traffic  of  all  kinds  doing  a  thriving 
business.  About  two  years  ago  Vacaville  was  laid  low  by  a  fire  which  to- 
day leaves  no  traces.  The  business  houses  are  located  on  either  side  of 
Main  street,  west  of  the  Ulattis  creek  and  embody  all  the  variety  of  stores 
required  for  the  center  of  a  largely  populated  district. 

Vaca  Valley  and  Clear  Lake  Railroad  Co: — Chief  among  the  interests  of 
the  town,  and  which  adds  considerably  to  its  prosperity  is  the  railroad 
which  now  extends  fiom  Elmira  to  Madison  in  Yolo  county  passing  through 
Vacaville  and  Winters.  In  the  summer  season  this  line  does  a  prosperous 
business  in  freight  and  passengers.  At  present  its  managers  are  busily  en- 
gaged in  supplying  the  C.  P.  R.  R.  with  gravel  for  ballasting  their  track. 
The  road  was  incorporated  and  built  in  the  year  1869  from  Elmira  to  Vaca- 
ville to  accommodate  the  shipping  of  fruit  and  vegetables.  In  1876  it  was 
extended  to  Winters,  Yolo  county.  In  1877  it  was  incorporated  as  the 
Vaca  Valley  and  Clear  Lake  Railroad  Co.,  and  extended  to  Madison,  Yolo 
county,  making  the  entire  distance  now  laid  about  thirty  miles.  The  officers 
are :  President,  A.  M.  Stevenson ;  Treasurer,  T.  Mansfield ;  Secretary,  E. 
Allison ;  General  Superintendent,  G.  B.  Stevenson  ;  General  Freight  Agent, 
T.  Mansfield. 

Churches.  Baptist  Church: — The  Baptist  Church  of  Vacaville  was 
organized  in  the  chapel  of  the  California  College  with  seventeen  constituent 
members.  Mr.  P.  C.  Dozier  was  elected  church  clerk ;  Professor  M.  Baily 
being  requested  to  fill  the  pulpit  when  no  other  preacher  was  provided  by 
the  church.  Ministers  from  abroad  filled  the  duties  until  February,  1873, 
when  Rev.  J.  B.  Saxton  was  appointed  pastor  and  W.  J.  Sandefur,  church 
clerk.  Mr.  Saxton  resigned  his  charge  in  August,  1877,  as  did  also  Mr. 
Sandefur,  since  when  the  following  gentlemen  have  officiated  as  church 
clerk :  Prof.  Kelly,  J.  T.  Wallace,  C.  C.  Bateman,  M.  Young  and  J.  Donald- 
son. On  October  13,  1877,  the  Rev.  S.  A.  Taft,  D.  D.  was  elected  to  the 
pastorate  and  served  for  several  months.  In  January,  1879,  the  Rev.  W. 
Gregory,  D.  D.  was  called  to  the  pulpit  and  is  the  present  incumbent.  The 
following  have  been  the  Deacons  since  the  organization  of  the  church : 
Professor  M.  Baily,  elected  February  8,  1873,  Messrs.  Brier  and  Walker, 
elected  February  9,  1878,  and  J.  Donaldson  on  March  16,  1879. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  319 

The  Church  of  Seventh-day  Advents  : — In  December,  1877,  there  came  to 
Vacaville  B.  A.  Stevens,  who  commenced  a  series  of  lectures  which  resulted 
in  the  organizing  of  a  church  community  under  the  above  doctrine,  consist- 
ing of  between  fifty  and  sixty  members.  This  congregation  has  been  ever 
since  kept  up  by  the  indulgence  of  the  members.  There  is  no  resident  pas- 
tor, but  occasionally  the  pulpit  is  supplied  from  San  Francisco  or  elsewhere. 

The  Christian  Church : — This  church  was  organized  in  1855  about  two 
and  a  half  miles  from  Vacaville  with  eleven  members,  but  shortly  after 
they  moved  into  the  town.  Before  this,  1874,  their  membership  numbered 
two  hundred.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  McCorkle  who  remained 
with  his  congregation  for  two  years  when  he  was  followed  by  various 
preachers,  the  last  being  Alexander  Johnson.  The  value  of  the  church 
property  is  $1,500. 

Davis  Hotel : — This  house  is  situated  on  the  northeast  corner  of  block 
No.  14  and  fronts  Main  street.  It  was  built  by  Mason  Wilson  in  1858  and 
finished  in  October  of  that  year.  The  main  building  is  30x65  feet,  two 
stories,  of  brick  ;  there  is  an  L  18x45  feet,  two  stories  high  with  a  kitchen 
extending  east  which  is  12x16  feet,  all  of  brick,  while  the  establishment 
contains  thirty  rooms  as  well  as  a  large  double  parlor.  The  building  cost 
$14,000  including  fixtures.  On  April  20,  1874,  it  was  purchased  by  E.  S. 
Davis,  when  his  brother,  J.  F.  Davis,  took  charge  of  it  and  has  been  the 
proprietor  ever  since.  To  the  west  and  rear  of  the  hotel  is  a  garden  with 
neatly  laid  out  walks,  ornamented  with  flowers  and  beautified  by  shade 
trees,  while  to  the  east  of  the  property,  and  having  the  same  owner,  is  a 
grove  of  Eucalyptus  trees  fronting  Depot  street,  forming  a  favorite  resort 
for  picnics  and  such  like. 

California  College : — This  institution  was  started  by  Professor  Anderson, 
of  San  Francisco,  in  the  year  1855,  as  a  private  school,  the  building  being 
one  of  the  earliest  erected  away  from  the  city  of  Benicia  and  the  rising 
town  of'Vallejo.  This  school  Professor  Anderson  maintained  until  the  year 
1858  ;  it  was  a  frame  building,  but  his  undertaking  having  been  crowned 
with  a  certain  amount  of  success  he,  in  the  meantime,  erected  a  building  of 
brick  50x80  feet  as  a  College,  while  attached  to  the  principal  erection,  at  a 
distance  of  about  75  feet,  a  temporary  structure  was  built  two  stories  in 
height.  There  was  also  constructed  a  boarding-house  of  brick  for  the 
female  department,  and  other  houses  in  the  grounds,  for  the  males.  The 
building,  as  originally  erected  by  Mr.  Anderson,  was  situated  on  the  south 
side  of  Ulattis  creek,  on  block  No.  8. 

In  the  year  1861,  or,  possibly  later,  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Stewart,  by  dint  of  ex- 
treme labor,  received  an  endowment  from  the  people  of  Solano,  and  the  ad- 


320  THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

jacent  counties,  to  the  amount  of  $20,000,  which,  with  the  interest  on  this 
sum,  was  the  Pacific  Methodist  College  started  by  the  Pacific  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South.  Its  first  President  was  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Stewart, 
who  would  appear  only  to  have  served  a  year.  The  next  President  was 
the  Rev.  W.  T.  Lucky,  D.D.,  an  office  he  maintained  until  the  spring  of 
1865.  During  his  regime,  though,  it  was  then  reported  for  political  reasons, 
the  college  was  burned.  This  did  not,  however,  interfere  with  the  pros- 
perity of  the  school,  for  on  the  destruction  by  fire  of  the  principal  edifice,  a 
temporary  use  was  made  of  a  tent  until  after  the  exhibitions.  The  fol- 
lowing term  was  commenced  in  a  boarding-house  arranged  for  the  purpose, 
whre  they  continued  until  the  completion  of  the  present  building,  which  is 
of  brick.  Considerable  delay  was  caused,  however,  in  the  attempt  to  con- 
struct the  edifice  of  concrete  ;  this  was  a  failure,  from  the  consequences  of  a 
storm  which  washed  all  the  necessary  amalgamations  away.  The  loss  to 
the  M.  E.  C.  S.,  was  considered  to  be  between  five  and  six  thousand  dollars. 
Almost  immediately  thereafter,  a  brick  building  of  60x90  feet  was  in  the 
the  course  of  construction  on  an  elevation  of  land  overlooking  the  town 
that  had  been  originally  owned  by  Mason  Wilson,  who  had  exchanged  it 
for  other  property  to  the  M.  E.  C,  S.,  and  which  was  completed  in  the  year 
1866  at  a  cost  of  $25,000.  Shortly  after  the  erection  of  the  new  college, 
Dr.  Lucky  resigned  the  presidency  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Gober,  who  held  the  position  for  one  term  and  was  in  turn  succeeded  by 
Rev.  J.  R.  Thomas,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  who  held  it  until  1871,  when  the  College 
was  removed  to  Santa  Rosa,  in  Sonoma  county. 

The  College  then  would  appear  to  have  changed  hands,  as  will  be  gleaned 
from  the  following  excerpt  from  the  report  of  C.  L.  Fisher,  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  Education,  at  the  fourteenth  anniversary  of  the  Pacific 
Baptist  Association  held  at  Petaluma,  Sonoma  county,  in  October,  1871  : 

"  On  the  first  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1870,  we  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  well  known  college  property  of  the  Southern  Methodist  denomination 
at  Vacaville,  Solano  county,  California,  valued  at  $25,000.  By  the  payment 
of  $4,000  on  the  3d  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1870,  this  property  was  formally 
accepted  by  our  denomination  through  an  Educational  Convention  duly 
called  for  that  purpose ;  who  also  at  that  time  elected  a  Board  of  Trustees, 
to  whom  was  intrusted  its  future  management  and  control,  and  who 
adopted  a  Constitution  and  By-Laws  for  their  guidance.  Being  thus  at 
once  put  in  possession  of  a  property  valuation  sufficient  to  enable  us  to 
secure  a  college  charter  under  the  laws  of  our  State,  on  the  day  of 

the  present  month  such  charter  was  duly  received  under  the  name  of 
"  California  College." 

"  On  the  4th  day  of  January,  1871,  by  the  election  of  the  aforesaid 
Trustees,  Professor  Mark  Bailey,  of  Petaluma,  assumed  the  Presidency  of 
the  College  and  opened  its  first  session  with  fourteen  scholars.     Since  that 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  321 

time  its  cause  has  been  onward ;  its  influence  widening ;  and  under  God's 
blessing,  with  the  fostering  sympathy  and  encouragement  which  is  due  from 
us  as  a  denomination,  its  success  assured." 

A  settlement  made  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Barnes,  and  appended  to  the  report 
quoted  above,  shows  the  amount  received  up  to  May  16,  1871,  to  be 
$2,971  38.  Of  this  amount  there  was  paid  to  teachers,  agent,  and  inci- 
dental expenses,  $1,193  15,  leaving  a  balance  of  $1,778  23  to  be  paid  on 
notes  given  for  the  purchase  of  the  college. 

As  is  seen,  Professor  Mark  Bailey,  who  was  the  first  President,  held  his 
office  until  the  spring  of  1873,  when  Dr.  A.  S.  Morrell,  of  Kentucky,  was 
elected.  In  November,  1875,  he  was  superseded  by  the  election  of  T.  W. 
G.  Green,  who  held  office  until  May,  1877,  when  Dr.  S.  A.  Taft,  of  Santa 
Rosa,  was  chosen  President  until  1878,  when  the  present  Principal,  Dr.  U. 
Gregory,  was  elected. 

Endowment : — In  April,  1873,  at  a  convention  held  at  Vacaville,  there 
was  subscribed  the  sum  of  $3,700,  a  large  portion  of  which  was  given  by 
the  residents  of  the  town  for  the  purposes  of  endowment,  which,  in  the 
same  summer,  J.  B.  Saxton,  on  the  same  plan,  increased  by  $6,000,  when 
the  financial  work  was  handed  to  Dr.  Morrell,  who  swelled  the  amount  by 
84,000. 

The  institution  has  in  money  and  remunerative  land  $20,000,  as  an  en- 
dowment. A  valuable  farm  of  255  acres,  within  two  miles  of  the  college, 
has  been  given  by  Deacon  Lankershim,  of  the  Metropolitan  Church,  San 
Francisco.  The  Trustees  have  authorized  the  President  to  raise  a  fund  of 
$3,000,  the  semi-annual  interest  of  which  is  to  be  applied  in  the  purchase 
of  books  for  the  college  library,  which  now  contains  about  2,500  volumes. 
The  Degrees  of  Master  of  Arts  and  Bachelor  of  Arts  are  conferred. 


21 


322  THE  HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


GREEN  VALLEY. 


Geography: — On  June  27,  1866,  the  boundaries  of  Green  Valley  town- 
ship were  finally  ordered  to  be  as  under :  Commencing  at  a  rock  mound 
on  the  crest  of  hills  in  section  34,  township  A,  N.  R.  3  W.,  established  by  R 
N  orris  for  a  boundary  between  Napa  and  Solano  counties ;  thence  northerly 
along  the  boundary  line  of  said  counties,  to  the  north  line  of  township  5,  N. 
R.  3  W.;  thence  east  along  said  township  line  to  the  dividing  ridge  running 
to  the  peak  called  "  Twin  Sisters ; "  thence  southerly  along  said  divide  to 
Suisun  creek,  passing  on  the  line  of  A.  Blake  and  William  Brown's  land ; 
thence  down  said  creek  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Hiram  Macy's  land ; 
thence  south  to  the  north  line  of  section  16,  township  4,  N.  R.  2  W.;  thence 
west  to  Cordelia  slough ;  thence  down  said  slough  to  the  north  line  of  sec- 
tions 31  and  32,  township  4,  N.  R.  2  W.;  thence  west  along  said  north  line 
to  the  boundary  line  of  Solano  and  Napa  counties. 

Topography : — This  picturesque  valley  lies  to  the  eastward  of  the  Suscol 
hills,  four  miles  east  of  Suscol  valley,  is  six  miles  in  length,  one  and  a  half 
in  breadth  and  derives  its  name  from  a  large  portion  of  it  being  green  the 
year  round ;  it  is  watered  by  the  Green  Valley  creek  which  rises  in  the 
south-west  corner  of  township  5,  N.  R.  2  W.,  and  runs  in  a  south-easterly 
course  for  about  eight  miles  and  finally  empties  itself  into  Cordelia  slough 
at  Bridgeport. 

Green  Valley  : — This  is  without  doubt  the  acme  of  perfection  as  regards 
scenery,  no  finer  could  scarcely  exist  anywhere.  Starting  from  Bridgeport 
and  taking  a  northerly  direction,  following  the  creek  as  it  meets  us  with 
many  a  babble  and  rush,  we  enter  the  narrow  gorge  which  brings  us  into 
Green  Valley  proper.  To  the  left  are  the  bold  and  well  defined  mountains 
which  separate  Solano  from  Napa  county ;  to  the  right  are  those  which 
mark  the  boundary  of  Suisun  valley,  while  in  front  is  a  prospect  of  ravish- 
ing beauty  of  hill  and  glade,  interspersed  with  wooded  knolls  and  shady 
ravines,  which  almost  defy  description.  On  either  side  are  well  laid  out 
grounds  having  residences  placed  in  the  midst  of  gardens  gladdening  the 
eye  with  every  color  of  flower  and  foliage,  while  on  the  hill  sides  appear 
acre  upon  acre  of  grape  vines,  arranged  with  the  regularity  and  perfection 
of  extreme  nicety.  After  passing  through  what  may  be  termed  the  throat 
of  the  vale,  the  scene  extends  into  a  wide  amphitheatre  of  untold  glory ;  at 
the  upper  end   are   the  famous  Green  Valley  falls  developing  a  prospect 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  323 

which  repays  any  amount  of  fatigue  and  toil.  From  either  hand  the  speak- 
ing rills  pour  their  murmuring  waters  into  the  parent  stream,  after  purling 
down  the  mountain  sides  in  many  a  beauteous  rapid  and  cascade ;  shady 
pools  give  promise  of  rare  sport  to  the  followers  of  the  gentle  art,  high 
rocks  suggest  the  lair  of  snakes  and  other  creeping  things ;  wild  flowers  n 
inaccessible  spots  add  quietude  to  the  scene,  while  the  swooping  hawk  high 
over  head  acts  as  a  terror  to  the  merry  songsters  as  they  Hit  in  frightened 
excitement  from  branch  to  twig  and  back  to,  branch  again.  Our  feeble  pen 
can  give  no  semblance  of  an  idea  as  to  the  beauty  of  this  scene  ;  appreciation 
can  only  be  attained  by  seeing  it  for  oneself. 

Grape  Groiuing  Interest : — This  enterprise  was  commenced  by  John  Voly- 
pka,  an  Austrian,  who  located  a  farm  at  the  foot,  or  near  the  foot  of  the 
"  Twin  Sisters  "  mountain  in  the  spring  of  1858,  planting  a  vineyard  at  that 
date  and  commencing  the  manufacture  of  wine  in  1863.  In  the  fall  of  1860 
Henry  Shultz  planted  out  a  vineyard,  being  joined  by  his  brother  in  the 
fall  of  the  year,  the  firm  now  being  C.  Shultz  &  Co.  They  have  on  their 
grounds  a  wine  cellar  38x100  feet  in  dimensions  in  which  are  about  twenty- 
five  casks  with  a  capacity  of  from  five  to  thirteen  hundred  gallons  each. 
In  the  cellar  there  are  also  ranged  pipes  and  barrels,  making  the  entire 
capacity  in  the  vicinity  of  about  ten  thousand  gallons.  S.  F.  Jones,  the 
largest  manufacturer,  settled  in  Green  Valley  in  the  year  1860,  where  he 
has  erected  a  very  complete  cellar  capable  of  containing  fifty  thousand 
gallons,  and  having  all  the  necessary  appliances  appertaining  to  an  estab- 
lishment of  this  nature.  From  Mr.  Jones  we  learn  many  most  interesting 
facts  connected  with  the  making  of  wine.  He  has  ninety  acres  laid  out  in 
vines  from  which  he  distills  about  six  thousand  gallons  per  acre  when 
crops  are  good.  Henry  Brown  also  commenced  the  business  in  1863.  The 
foregoing  are  among  the  more  important  names  interested  in  the  develop- 
ment of  this  special  trade  ;  there  are,  however,  many  others,  but  want  of 
space  precludes  our  mentioning  all,  save  those  of  the  principal  manufacturers. 

Cordelia  : — Next  to  Benicia  this  is  the  town  of  longest  life  in  the  county. 
Originally  it  was  situated  in  Green  Valley,  about  one-half  mile  north  of  the 
present  town  of  Bridgeport,  on  the  old  stage  road  between  Sacramento  and 
Benicia.  As  far  back  as  the  year  1853  there  was  a  post  office  established 
here,  but  it  was  afterwards  removed  to  Rockville  and  thereafter  to  Bridge- 
port. The  place,  which  now  only  exists  in  name,  has  been  the  scene  of 
many  of  the  meetings  of  the  early  county  conventions,  but  the  require- 
ments of  the  times,  plus  the  railroad,  have  absorbed  it. 

Bridgeport  : — The  successor  to  the  glories  of  the  above  described  town 
is  a  station  on  the  California  Pacific  Railroad  situated  about  fifteen  miles 


324  •    THE   HISTOEY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

from  Vallejo.  It  is  located  upon  the  banks  of  a  navigable  slough  which 
falls  into  Suisun  bay,  and  is  situated  at  the  entrance  to  Green  valley.  It 
has  one  Episcopal  church,  a  school,  railroad  depot,  hotel,  box  factory,  etc., 
and  possesses  a  population  of  about  three  hundred  souls. 

Rockville  : — This  hamlet  lies  on  the  old  stage  road  about  five  miles 
west  of  Fairfield.  A  stone  church,  a  school  house,  and  a  solitary  village 
blacksmith's  establishment  make  up  the  present  city.  It  formerly  had  a 
post  office,  hotel,  and  store,  but  now,  Ichabod,  the  glory  is  departed !  Rock- 
ville  is  a  veritable  "  deserted  village."  It  has  a  slight  history,  however,  if 
little  else,  for  here  was  the  headquarters  of  the  Suisun  Indians,  and  indeed 
in  this  locality  was  the  first  cultivation  of  grain  carried  on.  Here,  too,  was 
the  anvil's  music  first  heard  from  the  forge  of  John  M.  Perry,  who  was 
wont  to  produce  in  those  good  old  days,  a  rude  ground  tearer  or  plough  at 
the  moderately  low  figure  of  $65. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  325 


ELMIRA. 


Geography : — On  May  22,  1871,  it  was  ordered  by  the  Board  of  Supervi- 
sors that  a  new  township  should  be  formed  out  of  portions  of  Vacaville, 
Silveyville,  and  Maine  Prairie  townships,  the  boundaries  being:  "Beginning 
at  the  south-west  corner  of  the  south-east  quarter  of  section  No.  3,  town- 
ship 5  N.,  R.  1  W.,  Mount  Diablo  meridian  and  base  ;  running  thence  north 
seven  miles  to  the  quarter-section  corner  on  the  north  line  of  section  3, 
township  6  N.,  R.  1  W.;  thence  along  said  township  line  six  miles ;  thence 
along  quarter-section  lines  south  seven  miles." 

Topography : — The  topography  of  Elmira  township  is  not  hard  to  desig- 
nate. It  is  that  portion  of  the  plain  of  Suisun  valley  described  in  the 
foregoing  boundaries.  Comparatively  speaking,  not  an  inch  of  it  is  there 
but  what  will  fructify  and  produce ;  still,  from  its  position  and  the  want  of 
any  perennial  streams,  it  is  a  matter  of  difficulty,  in  the  seasons  of  drought, 
which,  happily,  though  rare,  will  occur  in  California,  to  find  water  save  by 
the  digging  of  wells,  and  this  has  been  done  to  some  purpose. 

Settlement : — The  settlement  of  Elmira  township  is  coeval  with  that  of 
the  Suisun  valley.  In  the  days  when  it  was  settled,  and  for  many  years 
later,  Elmira  was  still  a  portion  of  other  townships.  As  the  increase  of 
population  made  itself  felt,  the  necessity  to  make  a  new  partition  arose,  and 
thus,  those  who  erst  belonged  to  the  adjacent  townships,  suddenly  found 
themselves  included  in  entirely  new  boundaries. 

Elmira. — The  thriving  little  town  on  the  line  of  the  California  Pacific 
Railroad,  formerly  called  Vaca  Station,  was  renamed  after  the  city  of 
Elmira,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  It  is  the  junction  of  the  above  named 
railroad,  which  passes  in  a  direct  line  through  Solano  county ;  and  the  Vaca 
Valley  and  Clear  Lake  Railroad,  which,  up  to  the  present  time,  has  thirty 
miles  of  track  laid  to  Madison,  in  Yolo  county,  with  stations,  of  much  com- 
fort and  easy  of  access,  at  Vacaville,  and  Winters,  on  the  Yolo  county  side 
of  Putah  creek,  on  the  route  to  its  terminus.  Elmira  is  located  on  the 
south-west  quarter  of  section  19,  township  6  N.,  R.  1  W.  The  plat  of  the 
city  was  filed  for  record  October  20,  1868.  The  site  comprises  about  forty 
acres  of  ground,  and  was  originally  the  property  of  Stephen  Hoyt,  who  laid 
out  the  town  in  1868. 

The  settlement  of  the  county  may  be  said  to  have  commencd  with  ■  the 


326  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

location  of  Stephen  Hoyt,  Charles  Pearson,  and  Jediah  Williams  in  1853. 
In  1854  Hazen  Hoyt  and  Allen  Van  Fleet  settled  near  the  present  town  site, 
while,  at  much  about  the  same  time,  Wellington  and  James  Boone  became 
settlers  on  what  is  usually  known  as  the  Hawker's  place.  The  first  crops 
of  barley  were  raised  by  Stephen  Hoyt  and  A.  Van  Fleet.  Sacramento,  at 
the  time,  was  the  principal  market  for  the  products  of  the  township. 
Elmira  is  distant  ten  miles,  in  a  north-easterly  direction,  from  the  county 
seat  of  Fairfield.     The  population  is  about  500. 

The  churches,  and  schools  as  well,  are  creditably  represented ;  while  its 
commercial  relations  are  fairly  prosperous,  there  being  two  stores,  doing  a 
general  merchandise  business,  two  hotels,  two  warehouses,  a  lumber  yard, 
livery  stable,  and  three  blacksmiths'  shops,  as  well  as  extensive  premises, 
the  property  of  both  railroad  companies. 

In  connection  with  the  prosperity  of  Elmira,  we  should  not  omit  to 
mention  the  name  of  John  H.  Barrett,  the  present  County  Assessor.  His 
residence  is  in  the  town.  He  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  elected  for 
the  township ;  has  the  welfare  of  the  embryo  city  in  his  thoughts ;  while  a 
community  may  well  feel  grateful  at  having  so  energetic  a  member  in  its 
midst. 

/.  0.  0.  F.,  Elmira : — This  Lodge  was  organized  January  15,  1873,  the 
first  officers  being :  John  H.  Barrett,  N.  G.;  M.  D.  Cooper,  V.  G.;  L.  David- 
son, Recording  Secretary ;  J.  A.  Collier,  Treasurer. 

A.  0.  U.  W.; — This  is  a  new  order  in  the  country,  and  had  been  only 
instituted  but  a  short  time  when  we  made  our  appearance. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  329 


VALLBJO. 


ALVORD,  LUKE,  was  born  in  Syracuse,  State  of  New  York,  on  Septem- 
ber 16,  1812,  and  remained  in  that  city  and  neighborhood  working  at  his 
trade  and  farming  until  February,  1850,  when  he  sailed  in  the  "  Tennes- 
see" for  California,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  in  April,  having  been 
detained  in  Panama  three  weeks  awaitino-  her  arrival.  At  once  went  to 
Tuolumne  county,  at  Wood's  creek,  four  miles  above  Jacksonville,  and 
remained  there  engaged  in  mining  until  July  12,  1851,  when  he  left  to 
return  home.  In  February,  1853,  he  again  left  Syracuse  for  California, 
on  this  occassion  accompanied  by  his  family.  On  his  arrival  he  went 
back  to  the  mines,  moving  from  place  to  place,  principally  in  Sacramento 
and  Amador  counties,  having  lived  for  twelve  years  in  Volcano.  In  1867, 
he  came  to  Sacramento  city  and  in  the  following  year  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Vallejo,  where  he  has  remained  ever  since.  Is  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  and  was  foreman  on  the  grain  elevator  when  it  was  built.  Mr. 
Alvord  married  at  Syracuse  on  November  12,  1834,  Miss  Henrietta  S- 
Childs  of  Saratoga,  New  York,  by  whom  he  has :  Cass,  born  September 
13,  1836 ;  Marion,  born  May  9,  1840,  died  1844;  and  Helen  Burnett,  born 
August  30,  1845,  married  at  Volcano,  1867,  Professor  W.  H.  Tripp,  of 
Vallejo. 

ANDERSON,  M.  D.,  WALTER  DUNCAN,  was' born  in  Tatamagonche* 
Colchester  county,  Nova  Scotia,  April  17,  1840.  At  fourteen  years  of  age 
he  moved  to  Canada,  where  he  resided  for  seven  years,  at  the  expiry  of 
which  he  returned  to  Nova  Scotia  ;  thence  to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  where 
he  studied  medicine  and  graduated  at  the  Harvard  Medical  School  on 
March  9,  1864.  Dr.  Anderson  practiced  for  three  months  in  the  Magda- 
len Islands,  two  years  in  Wallace,  Nova  Scotia,  and  on  December  23, 1866, 
came  to  Vallejo,  where  he  still  resides.  Married  Mary  Jane,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Wallace,  machinist,  on  5th  February,  1879. 

ASPENALL,  WILLIAM,  arrived  from  Panama,  in  the  ship  "  Harriet  Rock- 
well," in  June,  1850.  On  landing  in  San  Francisco,  he  found  letters  in- 
forming him  of  the  whereabouts  of  former  friends  and  companions  in 
arms,  of  the  Mexican  campaign,  among  them  being  Col.  James  M.  Stuart, 
Postmaster  of  the  present  House  of  Representatives,  Major  Cooper  and 


330  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

N.  K.  Swope,  ex-Captain  of  Mexican  fame.  Mr.  Aspenall  soon  after 
started  for  the  southern  mines,  and  *  arrived  in  Jamestown,  Tuolumne 
county,  in  July,  1850,  and  there  engaged  in  mining,  with  some  success, 
for  two  years.  In  1852,  the  Scott-river  excitement  broke  out  and  he, 
with  five  others,  determined  to  organize  themselves  into  a  party  and  pro- 
ceed thither.  At  that  time,  provisions  were  exhorbitantly  high.  They 
purchased  a  pack  train  of  mules,  in  Sacramento,  consisting  of  fifteen  head 
besides  saddle  animals,  loaded  them  with  flour,  sugar  and  tobacco,  and 
made  a  successful  voyage  to  Trinity  valley.  When  here,  the  Indians 
stampeded  the  animals  belonging  to  the  expedition,  when  everything  was 
lost  save  two  mats  containing  two  hundred  pounds  of  China  sugar.  The 
entire  party  got  snowed  in  when  crossing  the  Trinity  mountains,  being 
twenty-one  days  in  working  their  way  to  the  summit,  which  is  known  as 
the  Devil's  Backbone.  They  endured  many  hardships  on  this  occasion ; 
food  was  scarce  ;  they,  therefore,  contented  themselves  with  mule's  flesh 
and  sugar ;  yet,  ultimately,  arrived  at  Scott's  river  bar  in  time  to  take  a 
hand  in  the  Rogue-river  war,  which  was  then  being  carried  on  against 
the  Indians ;  the  hostilities  were  soon  terminated  on  the  capture  of  fifty 
squaws  by  Governor  Joe  Lane.  We  next  find  Mr.  Aspenall  in  Oregon,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Willamette  river,  where  he  had  built  himself  a  log- 
cabin,  but,  getting  weary  of  the  solitude  of  the  Oregonian  forests,  in  1852, 
he  once  more  returned  to  California  and,  for  a  second  time,  proceeded  to 
Jamestown,  Toulumne  county,  where  he  was  appointed  Deputy,  under 
his  friend,  Sheriff  Swope.  In  March,  1853,  he  was  joined  by  his  family 
from  New  Orleans,  who  had  sustained  shipwreck  on  their  journey.  In 
1854,  Mr.  A.,  with  others,  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  contest  which  re- 
sulted in  the  location  of  the  county  seat  of  Tuolumne  county,  at  Sonora, 
whereupon,  he,  with  Charles  M.  Scott,  ex-Member  of  Congress,  James  M. 
Stuart,  already  mentioned,  and  Captain  Arnix,  left  Jamestown,  the  two 
first  going  to  the  county  seat  at  Sonora,  while  the  latter  came  to  Vallejo, 
where  they  purchased  some  property,  Arnix,  after  a  while,  giving  up  all 
his  possessions,  on  account  of  faulty  titles.  Mr.  Aspenall  now  erected  a 
store  in  Vallejo,  which  was  opened  on  June  1,  1855.  It  was  his  original 
intention  to  make  this  a  one-storied  building,  but,  finding  a  few  Brother 
Masons  in  the  city,  he  added  another  story  to  it  and  helped  to  start  a 
Masonic  Lodge  in  September,  1855,  and  the  Odd  Fellows'  Lodge  in  the 
same  building  in  October  of  that  year.  Was  elected  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  in  1856,  for  Vallejo  Township,  and,  on  the  incorporation  of  the 
city  of  Vallejo  by  the  Legislature,  in  1865,  Mr.  Aspenall  was  on  the  first 
Board  of  Trustees.  In  1874.  he  once  more  was  elected  to  the  Board  of 
Trustees  and  became  their  President  for  two  years,  and,  in  1877,  was 
again  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Vallejo  township,  a  position 
which  he  still  holds. 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  331 

AYLWARD,  THOMAS,  was  born  in  Quebec,  Lower  Canada,  where  he  re- 
mained till  October  G,  1837,  when  he  left  for  New  York,  arriving  there 
in  the  same  month,  where  he  bound  himself  apprentice  sailmaker  with 
Stout  &  Blackledge,  144  South  street.  In  1846  he  went  to  Virginia, 
being  employed  in  the  Gosport  Navy  Yard  as  sailmaker  for  five  months 
and  twenty-seven  days,  where  he  assisted  in  fitting  out  the  men-of-war 
"Mississippi,"  "St.  Lawrence"  and  "St.  Mary's."  Returned  to  New  York 
in  May,  1847,  when  he  was  dispatched'  in  charge  of  some  men  to  New 
London,  Connecticut,  where  he  worked  for  three  months.  He  then  was 
removed  to  Sag  Harbor,  remaining  there  three  months,  and  was  again 
changed  to  Greenport,  Long  Island,  when,  at  the  end  of  six  weeks,  he 
went  back  to  New  York,  and  shortly  afterward  returned  to  Greenport, 
where  he  stayed  till  November  5,  1848.  It  was  Mr.  Aylward's  intention 
to  have  left  Greenport  on  November  3d,  but  owing  to  a  terrific  snow- 
storm which  prevailed  he  delayed  his  depaiture,  and  well  for  him  that  he 
did  so,  for  the  train  which  he  should  have  traveled  by  was  run  into  and 
more  than  twenty  lives  lost,  and  a  large  number  wounded,  those  who 
escaped  having  done  so  by  jumping  into  the  snow.  He  remained  in  New 
York  till  March  12,  1849,  when  he  sailed  in  the  ship  "Salem,"  owned  by 
a  stock  company,  who  were  on  board,  the  captain,  George  Douglas,  being 
part  owner.  Spending  eighteen  days  in  Hio  de  Janeiro  and  fifteen  at 
Talcahuana,  they  arrived  at  San  Francisco  October  12,  the  voyage  having 
occupied  precisely  seven  months.  The  day  after  Mr.  Aylward  arrived  he 
set  to  work  at  his  trade,  making  as  high  as  one  hundred  dollars  a  day, 
but  this  he  was  forced  to  relinquish  on  account  of  a  neuralgic  affection, 
which  the  fogs  of  San  Francisco  enhanced.  He  therefore  got  his  party 
together,  chartered  a  schooner  and  sailed  for  Stockton,  en  route  for  the 
mines.  From  Stockton  they  went  to  the  Chinese  Camp  in  Tuolumne 
County,  where  he  remained  a  fortnight,  and  then  removed  to  Murphy's 
Camp,  prospecting;  and,  returning  to  Chinese  Camp,  took  his  whole  party 
back  to  Murphy's,  in  Calaveras  County,  in  March,  1850,  and  there  re- 
mained until  November  21, 1853,  when  he  left  for  San  Francisco.  It  was 
now  Mr.  Aylward's  intention  to  go  to  the  Amazon,  but  he  did  not.  Sev- 
eral of  his  party  started  thither,  however,  but  nearly  all  of  them  perished 
from  cholera,  in  Callao.  One  month  after  returning  to  San  Francisco  he 
went  into  business  as  a  sailmaker,  on  the  corner  of  Clay  and  Davis  streets, 
which  h'e  carried  on  till  May,  1856.  He  then  sold  out,  and  recommenced 
mining  operations  in  Oroville,  Butte  County,  remaining  there  six  days, 
when  he  moved  to  Forbestown.  In  October  he  left  this  district  for  San 
Francisco,  and  commenced  working  as  a  journeyman  sailmaker,  and  as 
such  continued  till  1858,  having  occasional  jobs  in  the  Mare  Island  Navy 
Yard.  In  the  Spring  of  that  year  he  restarted  on  his  own  account,  at  the 
corner  of  Clark  and  Davis  streets,  remaining  in  business  there  till  May, 


332  THE  HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

1860,  when  he  left  his  partner  in  charge  and  once  more  went  himself  to 
the  mines,  his  destination  Toeing  Washoe,  now  known  as  the  district 
around  Carson  and  Virginia  Cities.  Remained  there  till  October  20,  and 
again  returned  to  San  Francisco,  remaining  at  his  business  till  the  Spring 
of  1861,  when  he  was  called  to  the  Navy  Yard  at  Mare  Island  as  a  jour- 
neyman sailmaker,  was  put  in  charge  of  the  sailmakers'  department  in 
1865,  and  remained  in  charge  till  the  23d  of  February,  1872,  when  he  was 
superseded,  along  with  fourteen  others.  In  1876  Mr.  Ay  1  ward  visited  the 
Centennial  Exhibition — his  first  trip  to  the  Eastern  States  since  he  first 
left  them  in  1849.  He  sojourned  there  three  months,  during  which  he 
visited  Missouri,  Kentucky,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Boston,  Portland, 
Quebec,  Montreal,  and  elsewhere,  and  started  for  California  on  the  13th 
of  July,  1876.  Is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  California  Pioneers,  of 
which  association  he  is  one  of  the  charter  members ;  he  being  also  a 
member  of  the  Vallejo  Lodge,  No.  64,  I.  O.  G.  T.  Mr.  Aylward  has  made 
nearly  all  the  sails  for  the  several  vessels  which  have  been  built  in  Vallejo. 

BERGWELL,  GUSTAF,  (deceased),  born  in  Sweden  in  1810,  and  came  to 
America  in  or  about  the  year  1840,  and  to  California  via  Panama,  arriving 
at  Monterey  July  4,  1849.  In  that  year  he  commenced  the  dry-goods 
business  in  San  Francisco,  which  he  continued  up  to  the  fire  of  1851, 
when  he  moved  to  Sonoma,  where  he  remained  till  1855,  and  moved  to 
Vallejo  in  the  following  year,  where  he  died  on  July  10,  1871  ;  since 
which  time  his  mercantile  affairs  have  been  carried  on  by  his  widow. 
Mr.  Bergwell  was  a  member  of  the  Vallejo  Pioneer  Association,  being 
Vice-President  of  the  society  for  some  •"•  time.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Scandinavian  Society  of  San  Francisco.  Married  in  Grace  Church, 
in  that  city,  April  20,  1852,  Miss  Laura  Kamp,  a  native  of  Denmark,  by 
whom  there  are  two  children — Jennie,  born  in  Sonoma,  February  4, 1853, 
married  William  York,  April  17,  1873 ;  and  Gustaf  A.,  born  in  Vallejo, 
July  14,  1861. 

BINGHAM,  GEORGE,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  May  1,  1820.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  bookbinding,  with  the  firm 
of  R.  P.  de  Silver  &  Co.;  and  the  next  year  he  shipped  on  board  the 
sloop-of-war  "  Dale,"  as  first-class  boy,  and  sailed  to  join  the.  Pacific  squad- 
ron, of  which  Commodore  Jones  was  in  command.  Was  present  at  the 
hoisting  of  the  American  flag  at  Monterey  in  August,  1831,  when  the 
coast  was  taken  by  the  United  States  Government,  eight  days  after  re- 
turning it  to  the  Mexicans.  Remained  on  the  coast  about  two  months, 
then  sailed  to  Callao,  where  he  was  transferred  to  the  "  Yorktown,"  and 
proceeded  to  New  York,  where  he  arrived  in  July,  1843.  From  1843  till 
1846  he  remained  in  the  Eastern  States,  and  in  the  latter  year  he  volun- 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  333 

teered  for  the  war  in  Mexico.  In  December  of  that  year  left  Philadelphia 
to  join  the  expedition ;  was  present  at  the  capture  of  Vera  Cruz,  Cerro- 
Gordo,  taking  of  Conteras,  Cherubusco,  Molino  del  Rey,  Chapultepec, 
and  the  storming  of  the  city  of  Mexico ;  was  with  the  forces  two  years, 
when,  on  the  proclaiming  of  peace,  he  returned  home,  where  he  remained 
until  1849,  when,  on  May  5th,  he  sailed  for  California,  and  arrivedin  San 
Francisco  September  15,  1849.  On  arrival,  joined  the  police  force  on  its 
first  organization,  under  Malachi  Fallon,  John  W.  Geary  being  Alcade. 
Resigned  in  the  spring  of  1850,  and  went  to  the  mines  at  Long  bar, 
Yuba  river,  immediately  prior  to  the  discovery  of  gold  in  that  part ;  re- 
maining there  one  month  he  started  for  Slake  creek,  staying  there  until 
the  Gold  Lake  excitement,  when  he  proceeded  thither.  From  there  he 
went  to  Grass  Valley,  now  American,  and  followed  up  the  different  ranges 
of  mountains  between  the  Pitt  and  Feather  rivers  to  the  head-waters 
of  the  latter  at  Goose  lake,  but  found  nothing.  Returned  to  Nelson 
creek,  where  he  struck  good  claims ;  stayed  there  a  few  day,  then  went 
to  the  east  branch  of  Feather  river  and  arrived  at  Rich  Bar,  where  he  re- 
mained two  weeks,  after  which,  he  returned  to  San  Francisco.  Remained 
in  that  city  five  months,  establishing  himself  in  a  saloon,  but  was  burnt 
out  in  the  fire  of  November,  1850.  After  this  catastrophe  he  once 
more  returned  to  Feather  river ;  but,  not  being  successful,  he  proceeded 
to  Yreka,  where  gold  diggings  were  found  in  Humbug  creek.  In  1851 
Mr.  Bingham  again  arrived  in  San  Francisco,  paid  a  visit  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands  ;  returning  shortly  after,  he  proceeded  to  the  southern  mines,  in 
Sonora,  from  whence  he  went  back  to  Yreka,  and  remained  there  six 
months,  at  which  time  the  Gold-beach  fever  started  every  one  in  that  di- 
rection, he  amongst  the  others.  In  June,  1853,  he  found  his  way  to  Scott's 
bar,  and,  after  two  months,  again  removed  to  San  Francisco,  staying  there 
for  some  time,  when  he  once  more  departed  for  Sonora,  and  lived  there 
seven  years,  at  the  end  of  which  he  returned  to  San  Francisco,  and  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  rebellion,  enlisted  in  the  Second  Cavalry,  (Sacramento 
Rangers)  in  Company  F,  in  which  he  remained  for  nine  months,  serving  in 
the  Provost's  Guard  at  San  Francisco,  receiving  his  discharge  there  in 
1862,  when  he  came  to  Vallejo.  From  1865  he  worked  for  six  years  in 
the  completing  of  the  capitol  at  Sacramento,  and  returned  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, where  he  sojourned  for  one  year,  then  locating  in  Vallejo  in  1873. 
In  1876  visited  the  Centennial  Exhibition,  and  finally  came  back  to  Val- 
lejo, where  he  has  since  resided.  Is  a  member  of  the  Vallejo  Pioneer's 
Association.  Mr.  Bingham's  grandfather  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
under  George  Washington,  and  his  father  took  part  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  married  in  the  Sandwich  Islands  in  1850,  and  has  one  daughter, 
Madeline,  who  was  born  in  Honolulu  in  1851.  ' 


334  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

BROOKS,  WILLIAM  S.,  was  bom  in  Franklin  County,  New  York,  in  1820. 
When  quite  young  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  New  Orleans,  and  at 
twelve  years  of  age  returned  to  Brooklyn,  New  York.  In  1832  shipped 
on  board  the  "Henry  Clay,"  then  the  largest  vessel  sailing  out  of  the  port 
of  New  York,  and  made  a  voyage  to  Liverpool,  England,  following  a  sea- 
faring life  up  to  1846,  when  he  shipped  in  the  United  States  sloop-of- 
war  "Prebble,"  as  convoy  to  Stevenson's  regiment,  which  was  then  on 
its  way  to  California,  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco  in  March,  1847.  The 
vessel  lay  two  months  in  that  harbor,  during  which  time  a  party  of  eight- 
een men,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Lanman,  afterwards  Commodore, 
was  despatched  up  the  Carquinez  straits  in  search  of  a  boat  reported 
missing,  which  was  conveying  $80,000,  or  thereabouts,  pay  for  the  troops 
at  Sutter's  fort.  (The  boat  has  never  since  been  heard  of.)  On  the  cruise, 
landed  at  what  is  now  called  Mare  Island,  where  he  remained  about  two 
weeks.  On  making  the  island,  they  saw  two  wigwams  standing  where 
the  magazine  and  flagstaff  now  are,  while  on  the  Vallejo  side,  there  was 
one  at  the  foot  of  Main  street,  of  to-day.  Since  then  he  has,  on  more 
than  one  occasion,  dug  up  the  bones  of  Indians  who  had  been  buried  on 
the  spot  where  Woods  Hotel  is  built,  on  that  street.  On  another  occasion, 
a  party  landed  where  Starr's  flour-mills  are  now,  in  South  Vallejo,  to 
shoot  beef,  but  after  killing  one  animal,  the  cattle  gave  chase,  when  they 
were  driven  back  to  the  boat.  Up  till  1850  was  in  government  employ, 
on  board  of  men-of-war,  during  which  time  he  visited  China,  Japan, 
and  the  Sandwich  islands ;  then  shipped  on  board  the  Revenue  brig 
"Lawrence,"  and  was  wrecked  in  her  outside  the  heads  at  the  Golden 
Gate  in  1852.  Afterwards  was  employed  in  the  Appraiser's  store  of  the 
Custom  House  in  San  Francisco,  where  he  remained  seven  years  and  four 
months,  then  came  to  the  Navy  Yard  in  Vallejo,  in  1858,  where  he  has 
ver  since  been  employed.  Has  been  Acting  Gunner  of  the  U.  S.  S.  "In- 
dependence," guard  ship  at  the  Yard,  and  is  now  Machine  Tender  to  the 
sectional  docks  there. 

Mr.  Brooks  married,  firstly,  at  San  Francisco,  B.  M.  Maguire,  in  1856, 
(died  1858)  by  whom  he  has  one  son,  William  Charles,  born  1856.  Sec- 
ondly, Catherine  Irena  Coen,  married  1860,  by  whom  he  has :  George  T., 
born  October  30,  1862 ;  Mary  Emma,  born  April  8,  1865  ;  James  C,  born 
June  26,  1868 ;  John,  born  March  26,  1870  ;  Gertrude  B.,  born  January 
26,  1873,  Loretta  Anna,  born  January  28,  1876 ;  and  Angeles  Agnes,  born 
February  18,  1878. 

BROWN,  CALVIN,  Civil  Engineer  in  charge  of  Department  of  Yards  and 
Docks,  Marelsland,  a  gentleman  of  rare  attainments,  was  educated  at  Rox- 
bury  Grammar  School, 'Mass.,  where  he  graduated  in  1828.  In  1834,  he 
commenced  the  study  of  civil  engineering  in  Boston,  serving  undejr  several 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  335 

of  the  leading  engineers  of  the  time,  when,  in  1841,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
post  of  Civil  Engineer  to  the  United  States  Navy  Yard  at  Kittery,  Maine, 
where  he  remained  five  years,  during  which  time  he  carried  on  the  con- 
struction of  the  Quay  wall  at  that  place,  where  was  first  introduced  into 
the  United  States  the  practice  of  blasting  rocks  in  deep  water.  Thereaf- 
ter he  was  engaged  in  sundry  works,  principally  railroads,  until  1852> 
when  he  was  appointed  Civil  Engineer  at  the  Navy  Yard,  Norfolk,  Vir- 
ginia. During  his  term  of  office  of  nine  years  at  this  post  he  superin- 
tended the  erection  of  a  lame  number  of  the  buildings  there,  and  carried 
on  the  construction  of  the  Quay  wall.  In  1861  Mr.  Brown  was  ordered 
from  Norfolk  to  Mare  Island,  where  he  has  been  ever  since,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  from  1S64  to  1809,  when  he  constructed  the  large  dam  and 
reservoir  at  Pilercitos  valley  for  the  Spring  Valley  Water  Works,  and  ex- 
ecuted the  surveys,  designs  and  location  of  the  canal  and  locks  at  the 
Willamette  Falls,  Oregon.  For  a  portion  of  the  time  he  was  connected 
with  the  Board  of  Commissioners  on  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad,  and  was 
subserpiently  appointed  one  of  the  Government  Commissioners  both  on 
that  and  the  Southern  Pacific  line  of  railroads. 

On  May  13,  1869,  he  was  reappointed  Civil  Engineer  to  the  Mare  Is- 
land Navy  Yard,  and  continues  to  hold  the  office.  During  his  connection 
with  the  yard  Mr.  Brown  has  made  most  of  the  additions  on  that  admira- 
bly fitted-out  establishment.  He  has  constructed  a  large  portion  of  the 
foundry  and  machine  shops,  built  the  saw  mill,  the  ordnance  and  the  office 
building,  one  of  the  large  timber  sheds,  the  iron-plating  shop  ;  superin- 
tended the  construction  of  the  Marine  Barracks,  and  was  one  of  the  su- 
perintendentents,  with  Dr.  J.  M.  Brown,  U.  S.  N.,  of  the  Naval  Hospital. 
Designed  and  built  the  stone  Dry  Dock,  one  of  the  largest  in  the  world, 
as  far  as  it  has  now  progressed ;  superintended  the  construction  of  the 
new  powder  magazine,  and  also  that  of  the  reservoir,  known  as  Lake 
Rogers.  Not  the  least  of  the  many  distinctions  to  which  Mr.  Brown  may 
lay  claim  is  that,  from  under  his  training,  several  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished engineers  of  the  day  have  developed  and  are  now  a  credit  to 
their  country  as  well  as  to  the  scientific  preceptor,  who  labored  with  them 
during  their  tutelage.  His  family  are  among  the  oldest  in  the  country, 
having  come  to  America  in  the  year  1632.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  at  Roxbury,  Mass.,  now  known  as  Boston  Highlands,  on  March 
25,  1816,  and  married,  in  1838,  Miss  Susan  W.  Sager,  of  that  place,  by 
whom  he  has  now  living  Harriet  E.,  born  1840 ;  Frank  E.,  born  1841,  and 
Wilfrid  L.,  born  1846. 

BROWN,  SAMUEL,  born  in  Ireland  in  1826,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1843,  first  settling  in  New  York  city,  where  he  remained  until  1856, 
when  he  came  to  Vallejo.     Followed  the  sea   from   1843  till  1856,  but  on 


336  THE   HISTOEY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

coming  to  California  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  May,  1870,  he  opened 
his  present  meat  market,  on  Virginia  street,  in  Vallejo.  Married  in  New 
Orleans,  1854,  Catharine  Morris,  a  native  of  Ireland,  by  whom  he  has 
Mary  M.,  Robert  H.,  Samuel  J.,  Martha  M.,  and  Catharine. 

BROWNLIE,  ALEXANDER  J.,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Arkansas,  Octo- 
ber 3,  1851.  Accompanied  his  parents  to  California  in  1852,  being  the 
first  white  child  to  arrive  in  Vallejo.  Was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  city.  Is  now  a  civil  engineer  in  the  employ  of  the  Navy  Yard  at 
Mare  Island,  where  he  has  been  continuously  engaged  for  thirteen  years. 
Was  appointed  City  Clerk,  April,  1878.  Is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
Golden  State  Lodge  and  Mount  Moriah  Encampment,  also  Vallejo  Lodge ; 
No.  64,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  and  takes  a  prominent  interest  in  all  matters  of  public 
benefit  to  Vallejo  and  its  community. 

BROWNLIE,  JAMES,  Grocer  of  Vallejo,  was  born  in  the  villiage  of  Car- 
luke, in  Lanarkshire,  Scotland,  on  the  loth  day  of  August,  1836.  In  1858 
he  left  his  native  shores  for  California,  arriving  in  the  month  of  July  of 
that  year,  when  he  settled  in  Vallejo,  but  shortly  after  removed  to  Beni- 
cia,  where  he  was  employed  by  the  Pacific  Mail  Co.  to  repair  the  old 
steamship  "  Oregon."  After  three  months  he  started  for  the  Klamath 
river,  in  Humboldt  county,  and  engaged  in  mining,  but  in  four  months 
returned  to  Vallejo,  and  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  carpenter  and  joiner, 
which  he  continued  until  1869,  when  he  established  his  present  business. 
In  March,  1869,  Mr.  Brownlie  married  Miss  Mary  Howie,  the  daughter  of 
Peter  McMillen,  of  Campbelltown,  Scotland,  having  issue  one  son,  John 
Alexander. 

BROWLIE,  JOHN,  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  passed  his  early  years 
in  that  part  of  Great  Britain,  where  he  was  apprenticed  for  some  time 
to  the  grocery  trade,  in  Glasgow.  On  October  7,  1852,  with  some  of  his 
relations  who  had  revisited  the  "  land  o'  cakes,"  he  sailed  from  Liverpool 
in  a  Cunard  steamer  for  New  York,  where  he  remained  a  short  time, 
and  then  took  passage  for  California  in  the  S.  S.  "  N  orthern  Light,"  but 
was  landed  at  Acapulco,  from  whence  he  proceeded  to  Barbacos  ;  thence 
up  the  river  by  native  boat  to  Gorgona,  from  which  place  he  performed 
the  balance  of  the  journey  on  foot  to  Panama.  The  hardships  of  this 
walk  were  trying  to  our  youthful  voyager  ;  when  but  halfway  his  boots 
gave  out  and  were  discarded ;  in  crossing  the  rivers  he  held  on  to  the 
tails  of  mules,  and  was  thus  ferried  over ;  and  on  the  next  day  completely 
prostrated,  he  and  his  party,  with  whom  he  had  caught  up,  reached  their 
destination,  only  to  find  that  their  steamer  for  San  Francisco,  for  which 
they  had  tickets,  had  been  burned  in  Valparaiso.     The  "  Cortez  "  was  on 


Iy 


'T;-'^ 


THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY.  337 

the  berth  for  California,  but  she  was  full ;  a  passage,  could  not,  therefore, 
be  procured  by  her ;  thus,  in  the  meantime,  with  so  large  a  party,  money 
gave  out,  and  he  was  obliged  to  dispose  of  his  through  ticket,  so  as  to 
provide  the  means  of  subsistence  for  the  company,  and  rely  on  the  prom- 
ise that  money  should  be  remitted  to  him  from  California.  Shortly  after 
his  companions  sailed  for  the  Golden  State,  leaving  the  subject  of  our 
memoir  alone,  moneyless,  and  friendless,  in  Panama.  With  that  resource 
»  which  the  hardy  sons  of  Scotia  derive  from  their  early  training,  Mr. 
Brownlie  cast  about  him  looking  for  employment,  whereby  to  occupy  his 
time,  and  provide  food;  this  he  soon  obtained  in  the  Louisiana  hotel,  at 
the  wages  of  sixty  dollars  per  month  ;  but  such  is  the  fatal  effects  of  the 
climate  that  but  few  live  to  see  the  month  out.  While  at  his  avocation 
in  this  hostelry,  he  was  prostrated  by  a  swelling  of  the  feet  from  jiggers, 
contracted  during  his  bare-foot  tramp  across  the  Isthmus,  to  add  to  which 
he  was  seized  with  the  Panama  fever,  but  stoutly  refused  to  be  taken  to  the 
hospital ;  day  by  day  he  got  lower,  when  an  event  occurred  which  may 
have  done  much  towards  preserving  the  life  of  John  Brownlie.  Let  us 
tell  it  in  his  own  words  :  "  It  was  a  Sunday  morning,  when,  by  luck,  who 
should  come  to  my  relief,  but  an  uncle — one  whom  I  had  not  seen  since  I 
was  a  child.  Of  course,  I  did  not  know  him,  nor  he  me,  until  he  asked 
after  my  parents,  and  his  brothers  and  sisters.  I  was  so  charmed  that  I 
jumped  right  gut  of  my  sick  bed.  He  asked  how  I  came  to  be  at  Pan- 
ama, and  how  I  came  to  be  left  by  the  party  ;  after  explaining  which,  he 
told  me  that  he  had  just  bought  a  ticket  for  California,  and  if  I  wanted 
to  get  there  he  would  give  it  to  me,  while  he  returned  to  Toboga  (where 
he  had  been  working  for  some  time),  to  earn  enough  to  pay  his  passage 
by  another  steamer."  Thus,  by  the  merest  chance,  at  noon  on  the  day  on 
which  he  parted  with  his  new-found  relative,  Mr.  Brownlie  steamed  away 
from  Panama  on  board  the  "  Winfield  Scott,"  bound  for  San  Francisco. 
On  this  voyage  he  again  endured  much  suffering,  and  though  many  of  his 
fellow-passengers  died,  he  lived,  happily,  to  arrive  at  his  destination,  after 
a  passage  of  eighteen  days. 

On  arrival,  he  fortunately  met  his  uncle,  Robert  Brownlee,  and  with 
him  went  to  Vallejo,  arriving  when  the  Legislature  was  about  to  meet 
and  at  once  obtained  work  there  ;  on  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment to  Benicia,  he  followed  them,  and  being  employed  in  that  city  for  a 
short  time,  he  finally  went  to  Mare  Island  and  obtained  labor  with  the 
Dry  Dock  Company,  who  were  then  constructing  the  sectional  dock ;  from 
laboring  work  he  rose  to  be  a  helper  in  the  blacksmith's  shop,  and,  being 
of  an  economical  turn  of  mind,  he  soon  purchased  a  share  in  a  livery 
business  ;  after  a  lapse  of  some  time  he  eventually  became  the  sole 
proprietor,  and  has  ever  since  kept  a  stable  in  Vallejo.  In  1858,  in  con- 
junction with  his  livery  business,  Mr.  B.  purchased  a  farm  of  500  acres, 
22 


338  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

and  matters  progressed  favorably  for  him  until  the  year  1873,  when, 
being  connected  with  the  Vallejo  Bank,  he  was  forced  into  the  position  of 
Cashier  of  that  concern  by  the  Directors  and  Stockholders ;  but  such  was 
the  revulsion  in  business  at  the  time  that  the  Bank  was  wound  up,  and 
all  creditors  satisfied.  Mr.  Brownlie  visited  his  native  land,  in  the  years 
1857,  and  '67,  and  made  the  tour  of  the  three  kingdoms ;  has  served 
as  a  Notary  Public  for  two  years  ;  a  Supervisor  for  one  term  ;  and  is  now 
besides  his  above  mentioned  business,  a  real  estate  agent ;  and  also  agent' 
for  a  Fire  and  Life  Insurance  Company.  Mr.  B.  was  born  in  the  year 
1833,  and  married,  December  22,  1874,  Miss  Margaret  Wakely,  by  whom 
he  has  Gracie  May,  born  October  16,  1875,  and  Robert  Arthur,  born  Nov. 
11,  1878. 

BROWNLEE,  ROBERT,  emigrated  to  America  in  the  year  1836,  and  set- 
tled in  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  sojourned  four  months,  working 
at  his  trade  of  stone  cutter.  In  September  of  that  year  he  proceeded  to 
North  Carolina,  and  was  employed  for  thirteen  months  in  the  capital  of 
that  State ;  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  moved  to  Arkansas,  arriving  in 
Little  Rock  on  Christmas  day,  1837.  He  there  prosecuted  his  calling  for 
four  years,  working  on  the  Capitol  and  State  Bank,  when  he  embarked 
in  the  cultivation  of  land.  In  1848  he  retired  from  the  occupation  of 
farming,  and  commenced  prospecting  for  lead,  getting  blown  up  during 
this  employment.  Mr.  Brownlee  was  a  resident  of  the  State  of  Arkansas 
altogether  thirteen  years.  In  1849  the  world  was  set  agog  by  the  dis- 
covery of  gold  in  California,  and  he  was  one  of  the  many  hardy  sons  of 
toil  who  crossed  the  plains,  enduring  all  its  hardships,  hoping  occasionally 
against  hope,  and  putting  aside  any  knowledge  of  fear;  laboring  incessantly 
to  buoy  up  those  who  were  bordering  on  despair,  allaying  the  woes  of  the 
suffering  and  cheering  the  despondent.  In  this  year,  after  a  journey  oc- 
cupying six  months  and  a  half,  coming  by  way  of    Santa  Fe,  this  band 

•  crossed  the  Colorado  river  in  the  latter  end  of  August  and  entered  Cali- 
fornia, the  land  of  promise,  on  the  first  day  of  September,  1849.  For 
days  before  this  event,  water  with  them  had  been  scarce,  the  canteens 
which  they  wore  slung  over  their  shoulders  being  nearly  empty ;  at 
last,  however,  pools  of  water  were  discovered,  and  he,  riding  at  the  head 
of  the  cavalcade,  was  the  first  to  lave  his  parched  throat  with  the  wearily 
looked  for  liquid.  Dipping  his  pan  deep  into  the  pool,  to  procure  the 
water  in  its. coolest  state,  he  found  it  on  drinking  to  be  potently  charged 
with  alkali ;  to  resort  to  the  first  rude  method  of  counteraction,  namely, 
the  eating  of  quantities  of  fat  pork,  was  the  work  of  a  moment,  and  he 
recovered  ;  not  so  two  of  the  others,  who,  even  when  cautioned,  recklessly 
partook  of  the  beverage,  both  dying  in  great  suffering  on  the  evening  of 
the  same  day.     They  were  buried  by  their  comrades,  while  one  of  the 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  339 

number,  gifted  above  his  fellows  with  the  power  of  speech,  offered  up  a 
prayer  at  their  graves,  which,  for  impressive  eloquence,  Mr.  B.  asserts  he 
has  never  heard  equalled.     From  the  oldest  to  the  youngest  there  was  not 
a  dry  cheek.     Let  us  now  follow  the  fortunes  of  Mr.  Brownlee.     He  ar- 
rived in  Mariposa  county  in  the  first  rains.     He  labored  in  the  mines  for 
six  days,  in  the  first  hour  and  a  half  of  which  he  dug  up   eightv  dollars 
worth  of  ore,  his  only  implements  being  his  jack-knife  and  tin  pan.     This 
was  in  October,  1849.     With  this  sum  he  entered   into  partnership   with 
John  W.  Clarke  of   Vermont,  who  had  also  been  moderately  lucky,  pur- 
chased a  team  of  six   pack-mules,  and  commenced  what  is  known  as  a 
"packing"  business,    between   Stockton  and   Ajuafria,   two  towns,    one 
hundred  miles  apart.     The  first  trip  took   these   two  pioneers  some  six 
weeks  to  accomplish.     The   roads  were  so  bad  from  the   excessive  rains 
that  the  hardships  endured  were  sufficient  to  deter  men  of  less  persever- 
ance ;  always  at  their  destination,  however,  such   matters  were  treated 
lightly,  for,  after  all,  their  business  prospered,  and   miners  would  pay  a 
dollar  and  a  quarter  per  pound   for  tea  and  flour,  while  other  necessaries 
commanded  as  high   a  price.     Mr.  Brownlee   thus  describes  some  of  his 
experiences  on  this  eventful  first  trip.     On  leaving  the  Stanislaus  River, 
an  eight-mule  team,  drawing  a  boiler,  was  come  up   with,  but  such  was 
the  deplorable  state  of  the  roads  that  mules,  boiler  and  truck  had  sunk 
into  the  mud,  nothing  being  left  to  view  but  the  heads  of  three  mules  and 
the  highest  point  of  the  boiler.     Here  was  a  fix  !    What  was  to  be  done  ? 
Quick  of  resources,  desperation  lending  wit  to  native  acumen,  the  team- 
sters incontinently  drove  their  animals  on  to  the  boiler,  from  which  perch 
they  daintily  picked  their  steps  on  to   the   backs  of  their  less  fortunate 
brethren,  one  after  the  other,  until  once  more  terra  Jirma  was  reo-ained. 
There  were  four  of  these  adventurers — -James  Mc Vicar,   Mr.  B.,  his  part- 
ner, and  a  negro.     During  a  blinding  snow  storm  they  proceeded  on- 
wards; and   arrived  at   Dry  Creek,  where  each  mule  had  to  be  repacked, 
the  cargo  having  shifted,  on  account  of  the  many  slips  and  falls  which  the 
quadrupeds   had  sustained.     On    relieving   them  of   their   burdens    and 
placing  the  sacks  of  flour  on  the  clay,  the  first  two  tiers  sank  out  of  sight, 
causing  no  inconsiderable  damage.     There  was  not  the   wherewithal  to 
build  a  fire  whereby  food  might  be  prepared,  so   they  supped  on  flour, 
mixed  with  water,  and  raw  fat  pork ;  cold  and  hungry,  they  lay  on  the 
saddle  blankets,  striving  to  wheedle  the  gentle  goddess — the  four  of  them 
— Mr.  Brownlee  next  to  the  negro.     During  the  night  the  snow  and  sleet 
ceased,  and  a  hard  frost  set  in,  making  the  cold  intense.     The  water  in  a 
pair  of  long  boots,  the  property  of  the  darkey,  froze  to  a  solid  mass,  which 
was  not  perceived  until  he  had  tried  to  put  them  on ;  but,   whether  on 
account  of  the  size  of  his  feet  or  the  frigidity  and  rigidity  of  the  ice,  they 
would  not  be  coaxed  into  their  proper  resting  place  till  thawed   by  the 


340  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

water  of  a  convenient  stream.  The  morning,  however,  lent  a  brighter  aspect 
to  the  state  of  things,  for  daylight  showed  where  fuel  was  to  be  obtained, 
a  hearty  meal  was  made  off  coffee  and  flapjacks,  which  they  enjoyed,  for, 
on  the  principle  of  hunger  being  the  best  sauce,  McV.  would,  now  and 
again,  observe,  "Eh,  man,  Bob,  but  aren't  they  good  !"  On  the  following 
day  the  Tuolumne  River  was  gained,  in  another  snow  storm,  they  camp- 
ing in  a  "  wash  "  of  the  river.  This  night  a  splendid  fire  was  built.  Three 
large  trees,  which  were  lying  in  the  bed  of  the  now  dry  stream,  were 
piled  over  with  brush  and  set  alight,  while  the  banks  gave  shelter  from 
the  driving  sleet  and  snow  ;  and  comparative  comfort,  with  a  certain 
amount  of  satisfaction,  was  being  taken  out  of  the  burning  mass  of  tim- 
ber, some  forty  feet  in  length.  Of  a  sudden,  without  the  slightest  warn- 
ing, their  gigantic  hearth  was  seen  to  float  away ;  the  water  rose  with  in- 
credible speed,  so  that  they  were  wet  to  their  waists  while  securing  their 
packs.  At  length  all  was  made  snug,  and  the  quartette,  climbing  up  to 
the  fork  of  a  tree,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  now  rushing  stream,  in  the  driv- 
ing snow,  philosophically  awaited  the  dawn  of  day.  Of  such  were  the 
hardships  endured  on  this  memorable  journey. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1850,  the  subject  of  our  memoir  established  a 
store,  having  a  mule  team  in  connection  therewith.  The  former  combined 
all  the  mining  luxuries  cf  a  boarding-house,  ten-pin  alley  and  card-room, 
as  well  as  the  agency  for  Adams'  Express.  At  the  time  when  the  first 
snow  fell,  Mr.  B.  found  himself  with  a  large  accumulation  of  staple  goods 
for  which  there  would  be  a  ready  market;  he  therefore  turned  out  his 
animals  to  pasture  on  what  was  known  as  the  Texine  ranch,  when  on 
one  day  he  was  informed  that  a  force  of  Indians  had  been  seen  driving 
them  off.  This  was  a  cause  of  the  hastening  of  another  Mariposa  war. 
On  the  receipt  of  this  intelligence  Major  Burney,  then  Sheriff  of  the 
county,  raised  a  company  of  twenty-two  volunteers  started  in  pursuit, 
and  overtaking  the  Indians  engaged  them  for  three  or  four  hours,  when 
they  fled  leaving  behind  them  partially  eaten  portions  of  the  beasts  which 
had  been  cooked  between  the  time  of  their  capture  and  the  conflict.  At 
this  juncture  the  war  had  assumed  proportions  which  were  likely  to 
develop.  The  Major,  therefore,  appealed  to  Governor  Burnett  at  San 
Jose  for  aid,  when  he  despatched  Neely  Johnson  to  organize  three  com- 
panies of  militia  in  Mariposa  county,  Mr.  Brownlee  being  suttler  of  the 
battalion,  and  as  such  he  found  himself  possessed  of  a  large  amount  of 
scrip,  paid  to  him  by  the  force,  which  he  wished  to  have  recognized  by 
the  officers  of  the  State.  To  gain  this  was  the  object  of  his  first  visit  to 
Vallejo  in  1851,  on  which  occasion  he  remained  only  two  months,  return- 
ing to  Mariposa  county,  and  thereafter  visited  Sacramento  in  1852  on  the 
same  errand,  after  which  he  once  more  went  back  to  Mariposa,  wound  up 
his  affairs  and  started  to  return  to  Scotland,  but  having  missed  the  steamer 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  341 

from  San  Francisco  to  Panama,  he  remained  for  three  weeks  in  Val- 
lejo.  On  the  1st  day  of  March,  1852,  Mr.Brownlee  sailed  from  San  Fran- 
cisco, visiting  en  route  Arkansas  and  Kentucky,  where  he  met  his  wife, 
went  to  Scotland,  but  in  two  months  from  his  arrival,  having  visited  a 
few  of  the  most  noteworthy  places  in  his  native  land,  once  more  turned 
towards  the  United  States  and  landed  in  New  York,  where  he  was 
married  soon  after  his  arrival.  In  October,  1852,  we  find  Mr.  Brownlee 
on  his  second  voyage  to  California,  on  this  occasion  accompanied  by  his 
bride  and  his  brother,  his  wife  and  son,  traversing  the  route,  not  by  the 
plains  as  he  had  done  three  years  before,  but  by  the  more  pleasant  and 
swifter  one  of  Panama,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  in  the  end  of  Novem- 
ber, and  having  pleasant  recollections  of  Vallejo,  immediately  thereafter 
proceeded  thither,  where  both  families  located  in  December,  1852. 
Early  in  the  next  year  he  commenced  farming  and  a  dairy  business  on  a 
small  scale,  purchased  a  tract  of  fifty  acres  of  land  two  miles  north  of  the 
town  limits,  which  he  afterwards  exchanged  with  General  John  B.  Frisbie, 
in  1857  for  his  present  place,  now  in  Napa  county,  but  which  was  then 
in  that  of  Solano.  Since  his  arrival,  up  to  the  present  time,  Mr.  Brown- 
lee has  been  inseparably  connected  with  Vallejo  and  its  associations,  and 
though  he  does  not  reside  in  the  county,  he  is  still  spoken  of  by  all  as 
the  most  reliable  source  of  information  in  regard  to  the  doings  in  early 
days.  His  residence  is  a  magnificent  two-storied  building,  having  rooms 
of  fine  proportions,  situated  about  fourteen  miles  from  Vallejo ;  he  farms 
over  1,100  acres  of  land,  650  being  in  Solano  county,  while  this  season  he 
has  under  wheat  and  barley  no  less  than  1,100  acres.  The  line  of  rail- 
road to  Sacramento  from  South  Vallejo  passes  his  gate,  while  there  is  an 
averagely  good  road  to  his  dwelling.  A  more  genial  companion,  a  bet- 
ter citizen  or  hospitable  host  does  not  exist  than  Robert  Brownlee. 
He  was  born  at  Bunkle,  in  the  parish  of  Oambusnethen,  in  the  county  of 
Lanark,  Scotland,  in  1813,  married  Annie  Lamont  October  24,  1852, 
born  in  Tamhorn,  in  the  Carse  O'Gowrie,  Perthshire,  Scotland,  in  1834, 
by  whom  he  has  Robert  A.,  born  October  14,  1853,  (the  first  white  boy 
born  in  Vallejo) ;  Mary  J.,  born  August  1,  1855  ;  Margaret  R.,  born  June 
4,  1857 ;  Gracie  A.,  born  July  10,  1862  ;  George,  born  February  23,  1864 ; 
William,  born  November  25,  1866,  died  March  17,  1868  ;  and  Frederick 
J.,  born  August  19,  1870. 

BROWNLEE,  THOMAS,  was  born  in  Cambusnethan,  Lanarkshire,  Scotland, 
in  the  year  1816,  where  he  remained  until  the  year  1842  when  he  emi- 
grated to  America  and  settled  in  the  State  of  Arkansas.  In  the  year 
1846  he  enlisted  in  the  Arkansas  Regiment,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Yell,  and  with  it  served  in  the  Mexican  war  for  one  year,  being  present 
at  the  engagement  at  Buena  Vista.     On  the  expiration  of  his  service  he 


342  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

returned  to  Arkansas  and  there  remained  till  1852  when  he  came  to 
California,  and  was  in  that  year  among  the  very  first  to  settle  in  Vallejo 
where  he  was  the  original  blacksmith  of  this  now  thriving  city.  Is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Benicia  Lodge  of  F.  and  A.  M.,  being  one  of  the 
few  originators  of  that  lodge  who  are  now  living ;  is  also  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Masters  Lodge  of  F.  and  A.  M.  of  Vallejo.  Married  June  29, 
1849,  Mary  Lamont,  by  whom  he  has  Alexander  J.,  Annie,  and  John. 

BUTLER,  0.  H.,  was  born  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  in  May,  1829,  and  there  re- 
mained until  1833,  when,  with  his  parents,  he  moved  to  Michigan,  resid- 
ing there  until  1842.  In  this  year  he  went  to  Illinois,  and  worked  at  his 
trade  of  a  mason  at  Chicago,  Bloomington,  Peoria,  and  finally  settled  there. 
In  1855  he  moved  to  Livingston  county,  Mo.,  where  he  resided  until 
1862,  when  he  crossed  the  Plains  to  California,  and  settled  at  Woodland, 
Yolo  county,  and  there  established  a  brick-yard,  combining  this  business 
with  that  of  a  contractor.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  moved  to  Santa 
Kosa,  Sonoma  county,  and  there  erected  a  flour  mill,  with  water  power,  on 
Markwest  creek.  This  enterprise  he  conducted  for  five  years,  when,  in 
1869,  he  sold  his  property  and  came  to  Vallejo,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. Was  appointed  Quarterman-mason  on  the  Navy  Yard  at  Mare 
Island,  July  22,  1872,  and  is  still  employed  there.  He  married  July  22, 
1851,  Julia  A.  Michael,  of  Bloomington,  Ills. 

CALLENDER,  JOHN,  was  born  in  Bucks  county,  Pa.,  November  16,  1822, 
and  after  two  years  residence  here  he,  with  parents,  moved  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  learned  the  carpenters'  and  joiners'  trade,  following  that  oocu- 
pation  until  March  19,  1852,  when  he  started  for  California,  arriving  in 
San  Francisco  on  the  13th  day  of  August  following.  Having  brought 
his  carpenters'  tools  with  him,  he  work  in  the  city  for  one  month,  when 
he  came  to  Vallejo  on  the  ship  "  Empire,"  it  being  the  same  he  crossed 
the  ocean  on  to  San  Francisco.  We  record  his  arrival  here  on  September 
13,  1852.  There  being  no  house  in  which  he  could  live  he  had  to  remain 
on  the  boat  until  a  temporary  dwelling  was  erected  on  Mare  Island,  in 
which  he  lived  until  the  Navy  Yard  was  established  there  by  the  Gov- 
ernment, when  he  moved  on  the  Vallejo  side,  and,  in  company  with  John 
North,  opened  the  Central  House,  but  continued  working  at  his  trade.  In 
1859  he  commenced  the  livery  business,  and  in  1864  established  the 
undertakers'  trade,  both  of  which  he  has  followed  to  the  present  time. 
Married  Catherine  Fraser,  daughter  of  James  P.  Fraser,  a  native  of  Phil- 
adelphia, Pa.  They  were  married  in  Vallejo,  September,  1858.  They 
have  had  three  children,  all  of  which  are  deceased.  Mr.  C.  has  served 
two  terms  as  Supervisor,  and  in  1871  ran  for  Sheriff  and  was  only  beaten 
by  653  votes,  which  was  owing  to  the  "  tape- worm  ticket." 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  343 

CARMAN,  A.  S.,  is  a  native  of  the  province  of  New  Brunswick,  where  he 
was  born  on  September  7,  1849.  Entered  a  mercantile  and  ship-building 
firm  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and,  after  remaining  there  two  years,  entered 
the  employment  of  a  mercantile,  ship-building,  and  grindstone  manufactur- 
ing company,  where  he  continued  for  one  year,  when  he  left  for  California, 
arriving  there  in  September,  1867,  and  entered  into  the  lumber  business 
with  Houghton  &  Lee,  of  Vallejo.  Afterwards  was  engaged  by  the  firm 
of  Doe  &  Moore,  of  South  Vallejo,  as  salesman  and  later  as  bookkeeper, 
who  having  sold  out  to  Pope  &  Talbot,  he  was  appointed  manager  to  the 
new  firm,  a  position  which  he  still  occupies.  Married  in  November,  1876, 
to  Miss  Estelle  Davenport,  of  Monterey,  a  native  of  Michigan,  and  has 
one  son.  ' 

COLHOUN,  EDMUND  R.,  U.  S.  N.,  Commandant  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  May  6,  1821  ;  appointed  midshipman  from 
Missouri,  April  1,  1839  ;  attached  to  sloop  "'Marion,"  Brazil  Squadron, 
1839-41 ;  frigate  "  Congress,"  Mediterranean  and  Brazil  Squadrons,  1842- 
44 ;  Naval  School,  Philadelphia,  1845  ;  promoted  to  passed  Midshipman, 
July  2,  1845  ;  frigate  "  Cumberland,"  Home  Squadron,  1846-47.  Com- 
modore Colhoun  took  part  in  the  Mexican  war,  being  present  at  the 
first  attack  on  Alvarado,  under  Commodore  Connor,  and  that  at  Tabasco, 
under  Commodore  Perry,  which  resulted  in  its  capture.  Served  as  passed 
Midshipman  on  board  the  armed  prize  schooner  "Novata";  attached  to 
the  receiving  ship  "  Philadelphia,"  1850-51  ;  frigate  "  St.  Lawrence,' 
Pacific  Squadron,  1851-53;  resigned,  June  27,  1853.  Re-entered  the 
service  as  Acting  Lieutenant  in  1861;  comm?.mded  steamers  "Shawsheen" 
and  "Hunchback,"  North  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron,  1861-62.  Was 
present  at  and  took  part  in  the  following  engagements :  Battle  of  Roan- 
oke Island,  February  7  and  8,  1862 ;  capture  of  Newbern,  March  14, 
1862 ;  engagements  on  the  Blackwater  river,  below  Franklin,  Virginia, 
October,  1862 ;  received  his  commission  as  Commander  November  17, 
1862;  commanded  steamer  "  Ladona,"  North  Atlantic  Blockading  Squad- 
ron, 1863;  commanding  monitor  "  Weehawken,"  South  Atlantic  Block- 
ading Squadron,  1863  ;  was  present  at  the  different  actions  with  Forts 
Sumter,  Wagner,  Beauregard,  etc.,  from  July  10  to  September  15,  1863 ; 
commanded  the  monitor  "  Saugas,"  North  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron, 
1864-65  ;  engaged  Howlett's  Battery  on  James  river,  June  21,  and  again 
on  December  5,  1864 ;  took  part  in  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Fisher, 
December  25,  1864,  and  the  different  engagements  therewith  until  its 
capture  on  January  15,  1865  ;  was  on  special  duty  at  New  York,  1866 ; 
Fleet  Captain,  South  Pacific  Squadron,  1866-67,  and  commissioned  as 
Captain  1869;  commanded  iron  clad  "Dictator"  1869-70;  appointed 
in   1873  to  command  the  flag-ship  "  Hartford,"  on  the  Asiatic  Station ; 


344  THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

was  in  command  of  that  Station  four  months,  when  he  was  transferred 
to  the  "  Richmond "  flag-ship,  on  the  South  Pacific  Station,  where  he 
served  from  August,  1874,  to  July,  1875.  The  Commodore's  next  official 
duties  were  in  connection  with  the  Centennial  Exhibition  at  Philadelphia, 
where  he  was  three  months,  when  he  was  placed  on  the  Examining  Board 
at  Washington,  serving  on  it  for  six  months.  Promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Commodore  April  26,  1876,  and,  having  been  appointed  to  Mare  Island 
Navy  Yard,  he  relieved  Admiral  Rodgers  of  the  command  April  17, 1877. 
Commodore  Colhoun  is  married  and  has  a  family. 

CONDON,  JAMES,  born  in  Ireland,  in  1826,  and  came  to  America  in  1848, 
first  settling  in  New  York.  In  1855,  he  came  to  California  and  located 
at  Sacramento,  engaging  in  the  nursery  business  in  connection  with  A.  B. 
Smith,  whose  agent  he  was  until  1862.  In  that  year  he  went  back  to  the 
Eastern  States,  returning  to  California  in  1864,  and  once  more  settled  in 
Sacramento,  where  he  stayed  four  years,  after  which  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Yolo  county,  and  remained  there  until  he  took  the  management  of 
the  White  Sulphur  Springs  near  Vallejo,  where  he  now  resides.  In  1855, 
he  married,  in  New  York,  Miss  Rose  Maclean. 

CONNOLLY,  HENRY,  was  born  in  1826,  in  the  county  of  Fermanagh, 
Ireland,  from  whence  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1846,  and 
settled  in  New  York  city,  remaining  there  till  1853,  when  he  left  for 
California  and  settled  in  San  Francisco.  In  1857,  he  removed  to  Vallejo, 
where  he  commenced  business  in  the  Washington  Hotel,  which  he  carried 
on  for  many  years  and  which  property  he  still  owns.  In  connection  there- 
with, he  opened  a  livery  business  'in  1859,  which  he  still  continues.  Mr. 
Connolly  also  opened  a  wholesale  wine  and  liquor  store  in  1875.  He 
married  Catharine  Elliott  in  1853,  who  was  born  in  county  Fermanagh  in 
1826. 

DARE,  JOHN  T.,  is  a  native  of  Brook  Haven,  Long  Island,  New  York, 
and  born  March  27,  1843.  Here  he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
and,  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  went  to  sea  as  a  cabin  boy,  going  up  through 
all  the  different  grades  to  that  of  first  mate.  This  occupation  he  followed 
eight  years.  In  May,  1861,  he  arrived  in  San  Francisco  on  the  ship  "  W. 
L.  Richardson,"  being  second  in  command  of  that  craft,  but  left  her  on 
his  arrival  and  shipped  for  the  South  Sea  Islands  and  return.  In  1862, 
went  to  Shoalwater  Bay,  oystering,  returning  the  same  year  with  a  large 
number  of  oysters,  planting  them  in  San  Pablo  bay ;  but  the  high  water 
in  the  Winter  of  1862-3  destroyed  them.  The  following  year,  read  law 
with  C.  Greenwich  Howard,  of  San  Francisco.  About  the  time  of  the 
El  Dorado  Canyon  or  Colorado  river  gold  excitement,  he  went  to  that 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  345 

locality  and,  after  experiencing  the  changeable  fortunes  incident  to  a  miner, 
he  returned  and  settled  in  Los  Angeles,  and  was  engaged  in  driving  team 
for  other  parties.  Next  we  find  him  in  the  employ  of  the  Government, 
under  Major  Morris,  at  Drum  Barracks",  running  trains  across  the  desert. 
During  Brigadier  General  John  S.  Mason's  expedition  through  Arizona 
1  Territory,  Mr.  Dare  accompanied  them  as  master  of  transportation.  After 
making  a  complete  tour  of  the  Territory,  he  selected  Prescott,  in  the  Ter- 
ritory, as  a  place  of  residence  ;  here  he  established  the  first  pony  express 
from  Prescott  to  California,  via  Fort  Mojave,  riding  the  pony  himself, 
without  escort,  through  bands  of  hostile  Indians,  for  six  months ;  then 
run  a  wagon  train  from  Prescott  to  Colorado  river.  In  1867,  he  was 
elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the  Arizona  Legislature,  and  was  the  framer 
of  several  bills  which  still  are  a  part  of  the  laws  of  that  country.  Soon 
after  the  expiration  of  his  office,  the  large  wagon  train  he  was  then  run- 
ning, was  captured  and  destroyed  by  Indians,  his  train-master  losing  his 
life  in  the  battle.  Becoming  disgusted  with  the  country  on  account  of 
the  hostilities  of  the  savages,  he  returned  to  California,  settling  in  Vallejo, 
in  1868.  Here  he  worked  at  various  occupations,  then  a  freight  clerk  in 
the  office  of  Cal.  P.  R.  R.,  and  eighteen  months  thereafter  was  A.  D.  Starr 
&  Co.'s  cashier  and  book-keeper.  In  the  Fall  of  1877,  he  was  elected  to 
the  lower  house  of  the  State  Legislature,  doing  the  State  excellent  service 
in  framing:  and  working  through  the  Bank  Commission  Bill,  also  the  Fish 
and  Game  bills,  and  a  strong  advocate  of  the  Postal  Savings  Bank  bill. 
He  has  made  a  continuous  residence  in  south  Vallejo  since  his  coming  in 
1868,  and  is  now  one  of  its  business  men.  Married  in  this  place  Miss 
Anetta,  eldest  daughter  of  George  H.  Martin,  of  Albany,  New  York,  on 
January  18,  1872,  their  children  are  Ellen  S.,  Starr  D.  and  Edith. 

DEININGER,  F.,  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  in  1832.  In  1856,  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  San  Francisco,  where  he  remained  but  a  short 
time,  then  removed  to  Los  Angeles  where  he  engaged  in  the  brewery 
business.  In  the  Summer  of  1857,  he  established  a  brewery  at  Long 
Bar,  Yolo  county,  and  the  same  time  commenced  farming  on  a  large  scale 
nine  miles  from  Marysville.  In  1866,  he  moved  to  Meadow  Lake,  Nevada 
county,  and  opened  a  brewery  there,  which  he  continued  until  1870,  when 
he  established  a  like  undertaking  in  Vallejo,  in  which  city  he  now  resides. 
Married  at  Marysville,  in  1858,  Madelina  Young,  by  whom  he  has  :  Jessie, 
Louisa,  Daisy,  Jacob,  Mary,  Lena,  Maggie  and  Rose. 

DERWIN,  MICHAEL  S.,  was  born  in  County  Galway,  Ireland,  in  1812, 
and  resided  there  till  1834,  when  he  emigrated  to  America,  first  settling 
in  Philadelphia.  In  1837  he  went  to  the  Florida  war,  being  connected 
with  the  quartermasters'  department,  and  leaving  there,  came  to  New 


346  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

York  in  March,  1841,  proceeding  thereafter  to  Philadelphia.  In  that  city 
he  embarked  in  a  grocery  business,  which  he  continued  till  1848,  when 
he  moved  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  lived  till  1852,  in  which  year  he  left 
for  California,  via  Panama,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  on  February  28th 
of  that  year.  In  March  he  paid  a  flying  visit  to  Vallejo,  and  thence  pro- 
ceeded to  Stockton,  from  which  place  he  went  to  the  mines  in  Tuolumne 
County,  where  he  engaged  in  mining  for  one  year.  At  the  end  of  that 
period  he  returned  to  San  Francisco  and  began  draying,  which  business 
he  prosecuted  for  eight  months.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1853  he 
returned  to  Philadelphia  and  then  to  New  York,  in  which  city  he  started 
the  wholesale  and  retail  liquor  trade.  In  July,  1854,  he  once  more  turned 
towards  the  Golden  State,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  in  August,  and  took 
up  his  abode  there  until  January,  1855,  when  he  moved  to  Vallejo  and 
located  in  that  city,  and  was  employed  for  fifteen  months  in  the  Navy 
Yard  at  Mare  Island.  In  1856  he  started  for  the  mines  in  Oregon,  so- 
journing there  for  one  year  and  a  half,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he 
came  back  to  Vallejo,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1870  Mr.  Derwin 
visited  his  friends  in  Philadelphia,  and  having  returned  to  Vallejo,  em- 
barked in  the  grocery  business.  Mr.  D.  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Der- 
win &  McCudden,  is  married,  and  has  a  family. 

DOYLE,  JAMES,  born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  December  25,  1828,  and  re- 
sided there  till  1846,  when  he  went  to  New  York  City,  and  on  April  1, 
1852,  sailed  from  there  on  the  ship  "North  America,"  for  California, 
arriving  in  San  Francisco  September  1  of  that  year.  Remained  in  that 
city  till  1855,  and  then  proceeded  to  Vallejo,  where  he  has  since  remained 
a  permanent  resident.  Mr.  Doyle  started  the  Pioneer  Marble  Works  in 
Vallejo  in  1862,  which  he  still  owns,  and  was  elected  Constable  for  the 
Township  of  Vallejo  on  September  5,  1877,  and  commenced  his  official 
duties  in  the  month  of  March  following.  He  married  in  New  York,  De- 
cember 25,  1849,  Anna  Fleury,  by  whom  he  has  Sarah  A.,  Thomas,  Mary 
E.,  Addie,  Jonas,  Robert  E.,  Annie,  Elizabeth,  Charles  and  Gertrude. 

DRAKE,. SIMON  S.,  farmer,  Section  16,  post-office,  Vallejo;  was  born  in 
Chichester,  New  Hampshire,  September  15,  1831,  and  remained  there  till 
1848,  but  did  not  leave  the  State  till  the  Spring  of  1854,  when  he.  moved 
to  Fillmore  County,  Minnesota,  there  engaging  in  general  merchandising, 
pre-empting  land,  and  farming,  until  the  early  part  of  1857,  when  he  re- 
turned to  the  Eastern  States  and  settled  in  Massachusetts,  but  remained 
there  only  two  years.  On  January  6, 1859,  he  sailed  from  New  York,  via 
Panama,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  in  February,  and  immediately  went  to 
Sacramento,  and  there  worked  on  a  dairy  farm  till  the  following  Septem- 
ber, when  he  proceeded  to  South  San  Francisco  and  entered  the  employ- 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  347 

ment  of  John  J.  Haley,  then  proprietor  of  the  International  Hotel.  In 
the  Spring  of  1860  he  moved  to  Contra  Costa  County,  and  rented  a  farm 
from  Victor  Castro,  but  in  the  following  Spring  he  left  that  portion  of 
the  country  and  sought  employment  in  the  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,  in 
the  plumbers'  department.  Leaving  Mare  Island  in  the  Fall  of  that  year, 
he  proceeded  to  Idaho  Territory,  and  commenced  mining  on  Newsom 
Creek,  which  he  prosecuted  till  November,  1862,  keeping  also  a  miners' 
store,  when,  at  that  date,  he  once  more  returned  to  San  Francisco.  In 
February  of  the  following  year  Mr.  Drake  proceeded  to  Austin,  Nevada, 
and  was  employed  as  engineer  at  different  mills  till  1865,  when,  on  Feb- 
ruary 10th,  he  once  more  went  to  San  Francisco,  from  which  city  he  pro- 
ceeded to  his  home*  in  the  East,  on  the  loth  of  the  month.  While  at 
Lynn,  Massachusetts,  he  engaged  with  his  brothers  in  the  grocery  and 
provision  business,  which  he  continued  till  April,  1866,  when  he  left 
for  Minnesota,  and  from  thence  went  to  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  arriving 
there  July  4,  1866.  He  next  proceeded  to  Ray  County,  Missouri,  where 
he  worked  as  an  engineer  for  two  years.  On  October  7th,  1868,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mirza  C.  Craven,  and  soon  after  left  for  California,  but 
after  a  few  months  returned  to  Missouri  for  his  wife,  coming  back  to  Cali- 
fornia in  November,  1869,  and  settled  on  his  present  farm  of  360  acres. 
Mr.  Drake  is  a  member  of  the  Grangers,  as  well  as  of  the  Ancient  Order 
of  United  Workmen  and  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  has  by 
his  wife  three  children — Walter  Frank,  born  in  Ray  County,  Missouri, 
September  18,  1869;  Harry  Clyde,  born  April  14,  1871,  at  Vallejo;  and 
Joey  Howard,  born  September  23,  1872. 

EDWARDS,  WILLIAM  P.,  was  born  in  London,  England,  on  July  8,  1821, 
and  in  1837  came  to  New  York,  to  which  place  his  father  had  preceded 
him.  Was  employed  in  different  mercantile  houses  in  New  York  and 
Philadelphia  until  May  5,  1849,  when  he  set  sail  from  the  latter  city  in 
the  bark  "  Ralph  Cross  "  for  San  Francisco,  where  he  arrived  November 
5,  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Edwards  had  brought  with  him  a  machine  for 
cutting  shingles,  which  he  erected  on  what  was  known  as  the  Widow 
Reed's  Ranch,  in  Marin  county,  but  he  was  forced,  after  giving  it  a  trial 
to  succumb  to  the  want  of  experience  in  this  particular  industry.  Mr. 
Edwards  thereafter  went  to  the  Middle  Fork  of  the  Yuba  River,  to  a 
place  called  Snow  Camp,  in  the  summer  of  1850,  but  returned  to  San 
Francisco  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  and  after  a  time  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits,  which  he  continued  until  1865,  when  he  settled  in 
Vallejo.  Has  been  Secretary  of  the  Association  of  California  Pioneers 
since  its  formation,  with  the  exception  of  two  terms,  he  is  also  a  member 
of  Vallejo  Lodge  No.  64,  I.  O.  G.  T. 


348  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

EGERY,  B.  D.,  of  the  firm  of  Egery  &  Lamont,  was  born  in  Penobscot 
county,  Maine,  on  December  12,  1838,  remaining  there  until  1859,  when 
he  came  to  California.  First  engaged  in  mining  in  Butte  county,  remov- 
ing therefrom  one  year  after,  when  he  removed  to  Chico,  and  from  there 
to  San  Francisco,  from  whence  he  went  to  Owen's  river,  where  he  again 
engaged  in  mining.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he  obtained  employment  as  a  clerk 
in  San  Francisco,  at  which  he  remained  until  January,  1867,  when  he  left 
for  Vallejo  and  opened  a  grocery,  fruit  and  provision  store,  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  the  following  June.  He  then  became  a  clerk  with 
E.  T.  Starr.  In  September,  1869,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  John 
E.  Williston,  whose  interest  his  present  partner  purchased  in  Septem- 
ber, 1870,  when  the  firm  of  Egery  &  Lamont  was  started.  Mr.  Egery 
married  November  24,  1871,  Miss  Carrie  G.  Lambert,  a  native  of  Phila- 
delphia, who  was  born  in  1846,  by  whom  he  has  Lambert  D.,  John  A., 
Benjamin  C,  and  Eugene. 

FARNHAM,  JOHN,  Clothing,  Gents'  Furnishing  Goods,  Trunks  and  Valises. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Bucksport,  Maine,  in  1840,  and  in 
1860  took  to  the  sea  as  a  profession,  which  he  followed  for  four  years. 
In  the  natural  course  of  his  calling  he  arrived  in  San  Francisco  in  1863, 
and  proceeding  to  Mare  Island  he  at  once  obtained  employment  in  the 
Navy  Yard.  In  1867  he  returned  to  his  native  town  and  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business,  under  the  style  and  firm  of  S.  A.  &.  J.  Farnham.  In 
1868  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in  that  firm  and  once  more  returning  to 
California  came  to  Vallejo  and  established  his  present  business,  under  the 
name  of  Farnham  &  Voorhees,  which  partnership  continued  until  the 
year  1871,  since  when  he  has  been  alone.  Mr.  F.  has  also  a  dry  goods 
business  in  Salem,  Oregon.  Vallejo  has  few  more  public  spirited  citizens 
than  John  Farnham.  In  1877  he  was  elected  to  fill  the  chair  of  the  Re- 
publican County  Committee ;  again  in  1878  the  like  honor  was  con- 
ferred upon  him,  and,  never  being  behind-hand  where  duty  in  the  public 
interest  is  demanded,  he  has  served  on  the  Board  of  Education,  and  filled 
other  responsible  offices.  In  1868  Mr.  Farnham  married  Mary  L.,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  J.  Ketcham,  of  Brandon,  Vt.,  who  was  born  in  1841.  In 
this  connection  an  episode  occurred  which  may  here  be  mentioned : 
When  returning  home,  in  1867,  the  "  Santiago  de  Cuba,"  the  steamer  on 
which  he  had  taken  passage,  was  wrecked  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey, 
near  the  city  of  Atlantic ;  seven  of  the  passengers  were  drowned,  but  Mr. 
Farnham,  at  the  imminent  risk  of  his  own  life,  succeeded  in  saving  that 
of  Miss  Ketcham,  the  young  lady  whom  a  year  later  he  made  his  bride. 
The  union  so  romantically  forecast  has  been  blessed  by  three  children, 
John  W.,  Frank  B.,  and  Mary  Louise. 


THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  349 

FORSTENFELD,  M.,  was  born  in  Germany  in  the  year  1841,  and  came  to 
America  in  March  1855,  and  settled  in  New  York,  where  he  remained  till 
1861,  at  which  time  he  came  to  California  and  first  resided  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, remaining  there  until  1863,  and  then  removed  to  Vallejo.  In  July, 
1875,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Jacob  Steffen,  in  keeping  a  meat 
market,  which  business  they  still  continue.  He  married  in  Vallejo,  in 
September,  1867,  Miss  Lizzie  Snider,  a  native  of  New  Orleans,  who  was 
born  February  9,  1852. 

FRISBIE,  ELEAZER,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1829,  and  remained 
there  until  September,  1846,  when  he  sailed  for  California  with  Steven- 
son's Regiment,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  in  March,  1847.  Was  quar- 
tered in  that  city  till  the  spring  of  1848,  when  he  accompanied  a  detach- 
ment of  his  regiment  to  the  mines  to  look  for  deserters,  of  whom  there 
were  a  number.  This  service  occupied  two  months.  The  force  was  em- 
barked on  a  government  schooner,  which  took  ten  days  to  reach  Sutter's 
Fort  (Sacramento)  from  San  Francisco.  On  the  return  they  took  some 
Government  horses,  and  drove  them  to  the  city,  after  which  Mr.  Frisbie 
was  taken  ill  with  a  fever,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  did  not  recover 
for  a  whole  year.  In  1848  the  regiment  was  disbanded.  He  then,  by  the 
advice  of  his  physician,  proceeded  to  Sonoma  for  the  benefit  of  his  health, 
and,  after  recovering,  opened  a  store  in  that  city,  remaining  there  until 
1850,  when  he  removed  to  Benicia,  and  carried  on  a  butchery  business, 
shipping  meat  to  San  Francisco  for  two  years.  About  this  time  the  city 
of  Vallejo  was  started,  he  therefore  moved  thither.  In  1854  Mr.  Frisbie 
was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  served  as  an  Associate  Justice,  and  was 
the  first  regularly  appointed  postmaster  for  the  city  of  Vallejo.  an  office 
he  held  from  1855  to  1857.  Mr.  F.  resided  continuously  in  Vallejo,  from 
1851  to  1865,  when  he  removed*  to  Russian  River  Township,  Sonoma 
county,  CaL,  and  there  lived  till  the  fall  of  1870,  being,  for  that  period, 
engaged  in  farming.  In  that  year  he  returned  to  Vallejo,  and  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Cal.  P.  R.  R.  Co.  as  wood  agent.  In  1872  was  in  the  em- 
ployment of  the  Vallejo  Land  and  Improvement,  and  Vallejo  Gaslight 
Companies,  as  collector,  till  Nov.,  1875 .  In  February,  1876,  he  commenced 
a  dairy  business,  at  Point  Farm,  one  mile  from  South  Vallejo,  which  he 
still  carries  on,  shipping  large  quantities  of  milk  to  San  Francisco  daily, 
as  well  as  supplying  the  surrounding  district.  Mr.  Frisbie  married  at 
Fairmount,  N.  J.,  June  25,  1858,  Carrie  E.  Klink,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  by 
whom  he  has  seven  children  living ;  John  B. ;  Steven  H. ;  Cynthia  J.  • 
Phcebe  A. ;  Edward  E. ;  Carrie  E. ;  Alice  K. 

FRISBIE,  JOHN  B.,  the  second  son  of  Eleazer  B.  Frisbie  and  Cynthia 
Cornell  Frisbie  was  born  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  on  the  20th  day  of  May  A.  D. 


350  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

1823,  and  after  having  finished  his  academic  course  of  study  at  the  Al- 
bany Academy,  entered  the  law  office  of  District  Attorney  Wheaton  one 
of  the  ablest  lawyers  at  the  New  York  Bar ;  with  whom  he  remained 
for  four  years  or  until  he  was  of  legal  age  and  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  courts  of  the  State  of  New  York.  He  immediately  took  a  prominent 
position  in  the  politics  of  the  State,  and  received,  for  a  young  man,  a  large 
patronage  and  remunerative  business ;  after  some  two  years  of  close  at- 
tention and  continued  study,  having  somewhat  of  a  martial  spirit,  he  was 
elected  Captain  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  Guards,  acknowledged  to  be  the 
best  drilled  and  finest  looking  independent  company  of  the  State.  At 
this  time,  1846,  war  existed  with  Mexico,  and  a  number  of  the  officers 
and  privates  of  this  corps  being  desirous  to  enter  the  army  in 
the  campaign  against  Mexico,  Captain  Frisbie  joined  them  and 
recruiting  a  full  company  in  the  city  of  Albany,  he  attached  it  as 
Company  I  to  the  regiment  of  Col.  Jonathan  D.  Stevenson,  then  at 
Governor's  Island  and  about  to  sail  for  the  then  distant  Province  of 
California.  The  regiment  arrived  after  a  six  months  passage  at  San 
Francisco,  then  nothing  more  than  a  little  hamlet  situated  in  a  little  cove 
of  the  harbor  and  called  "  Yerba  Buena."  This  was  in  March,  1847,  and 
the  resfiment  continued  in  service  until  disbanded  after  the  close  of  the 
war  in  July,  1848.  Capt.  Frisbie  then  immediately  engaged  in  business 
with  Gen.  Vallejo  and  occupied  himself  in  the  management  of  that 
gentleman's  extensive  estate,  and  in  projecting  great  public  improvements 
at  both  the  cities  of  Benicia  and  Vallejo.  To  secure  the  location  of  the 
Mare  Island  Navy  Yard  at  Vallejo  he  purchased  the  island  from  Victor 
Castro  and  obtaining  from  Commodore  Appleton  P.  Jones  and  Gen.  Per- 
sifer  F.  Smith  and  other  influential  gentlemen  a  favorable  report  for  that 
locality.  The  government  made  it  the  United  States  Naval  Station  of 
the  Pacific.  Not  satisfied  with  the  achievement  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  new  city,  with  indomitable  will  he  set  to  work  to  open  up  railroad 
communications  with  the  interior  of  the  State  and  inaugurated  the  Cal- 
ifornia Pacific  to  connect  the  cities  of  Marysville  and  Sacramento  with 
Vallejo.  This  road  was  speedily  built  and  for  a  time  gave  a  marked 
impetus  to  the  growth  and  importance  of  the  town.  The  population 
rapidly  increased,  fine  wharves  and  warehouses  were  built  and  it  speedily 
became  the  great  shipping  port  for  the  whole  of  the  northern  portion  of 
the  State.  Branches  or  feeders  to  the  main  line  were  then  projected  to 
tap  the  valleys  of  Napa  and  Sonoma  and  the  Russian  river  country,  but 
the  immense  expenditures  consequent  upon  the  prosecution  of  these  im- 
provements so  embarrassed  the  original  company  that  they  were  compelled 
to  succumb,  and  the  road  and  its  property  fell  into  the  hands  of  a  rival 
company,  whose  business  interests  were  antagonistic  to  the  growth  of  the 
little  city  ;  as  a  consetpience  Vallejo  soon  lost  its  prestige   of  becoming  a 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  351 

great  commercial  city,  and  in  its  decline  carried  ruin  to  its  projectors  and 
disappointment  to  all  interested  in  its  welfare.  But  Gen.  Frisbie  was  not 
the  man  to  yield  to  mere  temporary  embarrassment  and  fortunately  at 
this  time  (our  relations  with  the  neighboring  republic  of  Mexico  being  in 
a  critical  condition)  he  was  called  to  Washington  to  confer  with  the  au- 
thorities, and  was  dispatched  by  the  President  and  Secretary  of  State  to 
the  city  of  Mexico.  As  the  result  of  his  mission  amicable  relations  were 
established  between  the  two  countries,  and  the  President,  Gen.  Diaz, 
recognized  by  our  government.  But  Gen.  Frisbie  during  his  residence  in 
the  city  of  Mexico  became  so  captivated  with  'the  country  and  was  so 
generously  treated  by  its  people  that  he  determined  to  make  it  his  future 
home  and  he  removed  his  family  to  Buena  Vista,  a  beautiful  suburb  of 
the  city  of  Mexico,  and  is  now  engaged  in  developing  some  very  rich 
mines  in  the  Real  del  Monte  district  some  sixty  miles  from  the  capital. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  Gen.  Frisbie  has  always  been  pre-eminently  a  public 
spirted  man,  of  great  energy,  enterprise,  and  of  unbounded  hospital- 
ity and  in  all  public  positions  was  ever  regarded  as  the  peer  of  the  ablest 
men  among  all  the  pioneers  of  the  golden  State. 

FRISBIE,  LEVI  C,  the  elder  son  of  Eleazer  B.  Frisbie  and  Cynthia  Cor- 
nell Frisbie,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Albarfy,  N.  Y.,  on  the  1st  day  of  May 
A.  D.  1821;  after  a  preliminary  course  of  education  in  his  native  city,  he 
completed  his  academic  term  in  the  Buffalo  Academy  and  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  William  Bry  and  surgery  with 
Dr.  Alden  March  in  the  year  1837,  and  graduated  at  the  Albany  Medical 
College  February  23,  1841.  Immediately  after  receiving  his  diploma  he 
commenced  practice  with  his  old  preceptor  in  the  city  of  Albany  and 
continued  the  same  without  interruption  until  the  year  1850  ;  when  from 
overwork  during  the  cholera  epidemic  of  1849,  his  health  became  so  un- 
dermined as  to  necessitate  entire  suspension  of  business  and  compel  him 
to  seek  mental  quietude  and  physical  recuperation  from  travel  and  change 
of  scene  and  association.  After  four  years  thus  spent  his  health  was  so 
far  restored  as  to  enable  him  to  resume  practice  in  the  year  1854,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  an  active  practitioner  of  his  profession  in  the  city 
of  Vallejo  and  is  now  the  oldest  one  in  the  county  of  Solano.  He  has 
been  twice  elected  president  of  the  medical  society  of  his  native  county 
and  has  officiated  as  the  first  President  of  the  Pacific  Medical  Society, 
comprising  the  counties  of  Solano,  Sonoma  and  Napa.  In  the  year  1851 
in  connection  with  Gen.  Vallejo  and  Gen.  John  B.  Frisbie  he  laid  out  the 
plan  of  the  city  of  Vallejo,  which  the  same  year  by  a  majority  vote  of 
the  people  of  the  State  and  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  Legislature  became 
the  capital  of  the  State.  In  the  year  1858  he  married  Adela  Vallejo  the 
second  daughter  of  Gen.    Vallejo,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  now  the 


352  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

wife  of  D.  McCarthy,  Jr.,  Treasurer  of  the  city  of  Syracuse  in  the  State  of 
New  York.  The  Doctor  is  now  in  his  fifty-eighth  year  and  having  de- 
voted the  best  years  of  his  life  to  his  profession,  has  retired  from  active 
practice,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  ample  competence  is  content  to  pass 
the  remainder  of  his  days  among  the  people  and  amid  the  scenes  he  loves 
so  well. 

FROST,  JAMES,  M.  D.,  arrived  in  California  in  1856  and  settled  as  an 
apothecary  on  Mare  Island,  where  he  continued  till  1866,  when  he 
removed  to  Vallejo  and  opened  his  present  place  of  business.  Doctor 
Frost  graduated  at  the  Medical  Department  of  the  State  University  in 

1877,  and  is  now  one  of  Vallejo's  practicing  physicians.     On  May  18, 

1878,  he  was  elected  to  fill  the  high  position  of  President  of  the  Board  of 
Health,  which  honor  he  still  retains,  with  credit  alike  to  himself  and  his 
fellow  citizens ;  is  also  examining  physician  to  the  United  Order  of 
Workmen,  as  well  as  holding  the  same  position  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  The  subject  of  our  memoir  married  on  February  6,  1859,  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Foley,  of  Albany,  New  York,  by  whom  he 
has  six  children,  Arthur  H.,  Edmund  F.,  Mary  E.,  Amelia  G.,  Frances  J., 
and  Elizabeth  E. 

GOOKIN,  THOMAS  P.,  was  born  May  9, 1824,  in  Portsmouth,  New  Hamp- 
shire, where  he  remained  till  the  year  1848,  when  he  went  to  Boston, 
Mass.,  residing  there  until  January  1,  1849,  on  which  date  he  left  for 
New  York  City,  sailing  therefrom,  on  January  27,  for  California,  and 
arrived  in  San  Francisco  on  July  6th  of  the  same  year.  Has  since  been 
a  permanent  resident  of  this  State  and  county.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Pioneer's  Association  of  this  place. 

GORHAM,  ABRAHAM,  foreman  painter  in  the  Department  of  Yards  and 
Docks,  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,  was  born  in  England,  October,  1826.  In 
1837  he  went  with  his  parents  to  South  Australia,  where  he  served  his 
apprenticeship  to  the  painter's  trade,  and  in  1850  came  to  California,  arriv- 
ing in  San  Francisco  in  August  of  that  year,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade. 
In  1852  he  leased  the  boarding  house  known  as  the  Thistle  Inn,  which 
then  stood  near  the  corner  of  Sansome  steeet  and  Broadway,  carrying 
it  on  with  good  success  till  1854,  when  he  went  to  Santa  Clara  valley  and 
pursued  farming  for  one  year.  In  April,  1855,  he  came  to  Vallejo,  and 
entered  into  partnership  with  David  Hudson  in  the  building  and  painting 
business,  which  he  prosecuted  for  one  year ;  and  in  1858  he  commenced 
work  on  Mare  Island,  where  he  has  been  engaged  most  of  the  time  since. 
In  1864  Mr.  Gorham  purchased  the  property,  known  as  the  Eureka 
Hall,  which  he  owned  till  1878. 


iJ 


$  K  //u*M*^ 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  353 

He  married  in  October,  1848,  Miss  Elizabeth  Ide,  by  whom  he  has, 
Henry,  born  in  August,  1849  ;  George,  born  in  August,  1851  ;  Abraham 
James,  born  September,  1853 ;  Thomas  Robert,  born  March,  1856  ;  and 
Franklin  Walter,  born  Marcb.,1865. 

HANKS,  J.  G.,  a  detective  of  Vallejo,  was  born  in  Summit  county,  Ohio, 
on  August  6,  1829,  where  he  resided  until  1849,  when  he  sailed  from  New 
York  on  May  13th  for  Calfornia  on  board  the  ship  "  Far  West."  Off  the 
coast  of  Barbados  they  were  wrecked,  and,  being  picked  up  by  a  whaling 
vessel,  were  taken  to  Panama.  On  the  voyage  up  the  Pacific  coast  our 
subject  once  more  suffered  shipwreck  in  the  loss  of  the  "Chimera,"  at 
Monterey.  He  per  force  landed  and  found  his  way  thence  to  San  Fran- 
cisco on  foot.  Mr.  Hanks  arrived  in  Solano  county  on  March  11,  1850, 
coming  first  to  Vallejo,  and  after,  going  to  Benicia,  and  there  opening  a 
blacksmith's  shop.  Leaving  this  business,  however,  he  next  proceeded  to 
the  mines  in  El  Dorado  county,  but  in  1855  once  more  returned  to  Val- 
lejo only  for  two  months,  when  he  again  went  to  the  mines  and  there 
stayed  until  1860.  We  next  find  Hanks  mining  in  Nevada.  Here  he 
became  a  member  of  the  police  force  of  Virginia  City.  After  five  years 
service  he  established  an  express  line  at  Crystal  Peak,  Cisco,  which  he 
maintained  till  1869,  when,  in  connection  with  his  father,  he  commenced 
an  hotel  business  at  Truckee,  being  also  Deputy  Sheriff  of  the  county, 
under  C.  Gentry.  Has  been  instrumental  in  several  of  the  noted  captures 
of  both  this  and  the  State  of  Nevada,  and  to-day  enjoys  the  confidence  of 
the  officials  and  his  friends.  In  1871  he  established  a  brickyard  in  Val- 
lejo, many  of  the  buildings  of  the  city  being  manufactured  from  material 
off  his  premises. 

HARRIER,  DANIEL  W.,  Groceries.  Born  in  Maryland,  in  1834,  but  re- 
moved to  Bedford  county,  Penn.,  with  his  parents  when  still  very  young. 
In  March,  1852,  he  emigrated  to  Jefferson  county,  Iowa,  leaving  it  in 
1854,  for  California  ;  he  first  settled  in  Sierra  county  in  August  of  that 
year,  and  at  once  commenced  mining  operations.  In  1861  he  removed  to 
Nevada  City,  Nevada  county,  and  started  a  livery  stable,  at  the  same 
time  running  the  stage  and  express  line  from  that  point  through  Lake 
City,  North  Bloomfield,  Wolsey,  Moore's  Flat,  and  Eureka  South,  a  dist- 
ance of  thirty  miles.  In  March,  1866,  the  subject  of  our  memoir  came  to 
Vallejo,  and  taking  charge  of  the  Metropolitan  Hotel  (now  the  Sherman 
House) ;  he  remained  its  occupant  for  eighteen  months.  Seceding  from 
the  hotel,  Mr.  Harrier  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  stock  buying,  purchas- 
ing, also,  in  connection  therewith,  the  butchering  business,  of  John  Burch- 
am.  This  transaction  was  effected  on  August  5th,  1868,  and  the  above 
undertaking  was  carried  on  by  him  until  the  month  of  December,  1875. 
23 


354  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

On  the  27th  of  January,  1879,  he  purchased  the  business  of  J.  E.  Willis- 
ton,  in  the  premises  now  occupied  by  his  grocery  store.  D.  W.  Harrier  is 
one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  city.  He  was  among  those  who  started 
the  Vallejo  Bank,  and  was  its  President  from  1876  to  1878.  In  1873 
he  was  elected  City  Trustee,  which  office  he  held  for  two  years  ;  served 
on  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  1876 ;  and  was  enrolled  a  School  Trustee 
in  the  fall  of  1877.  Mr.  H.  married  March  5,  1865,  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Walker, 
the  daughter  of  John  Lee  of  this  city.  Their  children  are,  Lizzie  R., 
Lewis  G.,  Victor  V.,  Jessie  V.,  Daniel  W.,  Maud,  and  Austin. 

HARVEY,  HONORABLE  JOEL  AINSWORTH.— The  subject  of  this  me- 
moir was  born  on  June  24, 1838,  at  Herkimer,  in  the  county  of  that  name, 
State  of  New  York.  His  early  days  were  passed  on  the  slopes  of  the 
Hassancleaver  Hills,  and  at  the  Fairfield  Academy,  New  York,  where  he 
was  grounded  in  that  education  which  has,  in  after  life,  so  well  fitted  him 
for  the  prominent  positions  which  he  has  since  maintained,  with  credit  to 
all.  In  1857  he  left  the  Eastern  States,  and  located  in  Elgin,  Ills.,  which, 
after  a  residence  of  about  two  years,  he  left  for  California,  in  the  spring 
of  1859,  taking  the  route  across  the  Plains,  and  arriving  in  the  Golden 
State  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  at  Placerville.  At  the  time  the  great 
Washoe  excitements  of  1860  were  the  talk  of  every  one  and  stirred  all 
into  a  phase  of  excitability,  recalling  the  halcyon  days  of  the  earlier  dis- 
coveries, he  with  the  rest  penetrated  into  Nevada,  but  not  having  a  like 
fortune  with  others,  he  drifted  back  with  the  unlucky,  and  finally  halted 
at  Genoa,  in  Carson  Valley,  then  the  capital  of  Western  Utah. 
.  When  the  Territory  of  Nevada  was  first  organized,  Mr.  H.  was  ap- 
pointed Clerk  of  Douglas  county,  of  which  Genoa  was  the  county  seat, 
and  retained  the  position,  from  term  to  term,  until  the  first  month  of  the 
year  1867.  While  retaining  this  responsible  office,  he  studied  law  with 
such  success  that  he  was  admitted  to  its  practice,  and  during  the  follow- 
ing year  removed  therefrom,  and  resided  successively  at  San  Francisco, 
Reno  and  Wadsworth,  being  employed  at  the  latter  place  as  agent  for 
Wells,  Fargo  &  Co.,  whence,  in  1869,  he  was  transferred  to  their  Vallejo 
office.  In  1871  Mr.  Harvey  organized  the  Vallejo  and  San  Francisco  Ex- 
press, the  affairs  of  which  he  managed  until  1874,  when  he  was  elected 
to  the  County  Clerkship  of  Solano  county,  which  distinguished  position 
he  held  for  two  terms,  and  was  then  nominated  by  the  Republican  party 
for  County  Judge,  but  was  defeated  by  the  present  holder,  Judge  John 
M.  Gregory,  Jr.  In  March,  1878,  he  resumed  his  practice  at  Vallejo, 
where  he  now  resides.  The  honorable  career  of  Mr.  Harvey  has  thus  far 
culminated  in  his  being  sent  to  the  Convention,  in  June,  1878,  as  county 
delegate,  he  having  received  the  largest  majority  of  any  delegate  on  the 
Republican   ticket.     He    married  August   13,   1863,  Alameda  L.    Hub- 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  355 

bard,  at  Carson  City,  IS  evada,  by  whom  he  has  one  son  and  five  daughters, 
viz :  Joel  H. ;  Amanda  L. ;  Mary  A. ;  Inez  A. ;  Blanche  L.,  and  Maude  F. 

HILBORN,  THE  HONORABLE  S.  G.— The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  na- 
tive of  Winot,  Androscoggin  county,  Maine,  having  been  born  there  on 
December  9, 1834.     In  early  lire  he  and  his  brother,  E.  P.  Hilborn,  were  left 
orphans,  when  the  labor  of  working  the  home-farm  devolved  upon  these 
two  youths.     In  the  meantime,  E.  P.  Hilborn  emigrated  to  California,  in 
the  midst  of  their  agricultural  pursuits,  leaving  his  brother  to  attend  to 
the  farming  business,  and  his  education  ;  which,  as  the  following  record 
shows,  was  crowned  with  success  for  both,  E.  P.  Hilborn  being  now  a 
prominent  grain  merchant  of  Suisun.    Mr.  Hilborn  received  the  elements  of 
that  education  which  has  brought  him  into  such  prominence  in  California, 
first  at  Bethel  Hill,  Oxford  county,  Maine,  and  afterwards  at  Tuft's  Col- 
lege, where  he  graduated  in  1859  ;  afterwards  becoming  principal  in  Oak 
Grove  Academy,  Falmouth,  Maine,  where  he  remained  a  year,  at  the  end 
of  which  he  entered  the  law  office  of  the  Hon.  William  Pitt  Fessenden,  at 
Portland,  Maine,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1861.     In  this  year  he  emi- 
grated to  California,  arriving  at  San  Francisco,  via  Panama,  in  the  month 
of  August  of  the  same  year.     Having  passed  a  few  months  in  the  office 
of  Whitman  &  Wells,  a  legal  firm  of  Suisun,  he  removed  to  Vallejo,  and 
there  established  himself  in  the  practice  which  he  now  enjoys.     The  Hon, 
S.  G.  Hilborn  is  a  man  of  mark  in  his  county,  as  his  public  record  will 
show,  while  privately  he   is  known  to  be  worthy  of  the  highest  esteem 
and  respect.     Since  his  arrival  in  Vallejo  he  has  held,  in  order,  the  follow- 
ing places  of  trust  and  honor :    City  Attorney,  in  the  year  when  it  was 
incorporated ;  a   City  Trustee  for  two  terms ;   Supervisor  and   Senator ; 
while  his  last  work  of  distinction  has  been  in  connection  with  the  Consti- 
tutional Convention,  to  which  he   was  a  delegate.     Mr.  H.  has  also  prac- 
ticed his  profession  with  marked  ability,  and  has  been  retained  in  a  large 
number  of  the  leading  and  most  intricate  cases  that  have  had  their  inci- 
pience in  the  county.     He  is  President  of  the  Vallejo  Land  Improvement 
Company,  as  well  as  a  participator  in  other  schemes  of  a  public  and  pri- 
vate nature.     He  married  Lou  E.,  second  daughter  of  Caleb  and  Louisa 
Root,  a  native  of  Madison  county,  N.   Y.,  in   1863,  and  has  one  child, 
Grace  A. 

HOBBS,  ISAAC,  (deceased,)  born  in  Sanford,  Summerworth  county,  State 
of  Maine,  27th  November,  1821.  In  the  yeai  1839  he  left  his  birthplace 
and  went  to  South  Boston,  but  remained  there  only  a  short  time.  From 
there  he  proceeded  to  Great  Falls,  New  Hampshire,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade,  that  of  millwright,  remaining  there  till  1844,  when  he  went  to 
to  Glowchester,  New  Jersey,  being  employed  in  his  own  trade  till  the 


856  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

spring  of  1847,  when  he  went  to  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  and  set  in  opera- 
tion the  machinery  of  several  cotton  mills  in  that  place.  In  March,  1849, 
he  started  across  the  plains  to  California.  '  On  reaching  Gila  river,  he,  in 
company  with  three  others,  manufactured  a  "  dug-out,"  and  proceeded 
down  the  Pino  river,  calculating  that  the  jouney  would  only  occupy  three 
daysman d  laid  in  provisions  accordingly,  but  they  were  twenty- one  days 
on  the  trip,  and  on  getting  to  their  destination,  found  the  rest  of  the 
the  party  had  preceded  them  by  eight  days.  Continued  the  journey  to 
San  Francisco,  where  they  arrived  in  October,  1849.  Mr.  Hobbs,  asso- 
ciated with  some  others,  organized  a  company,  and,  going  to  Bodega 
erected  a  saw-mill,  but  at  the  time,  lumber  could  be  secured  in  San  Fran- 
cisco for  the  simple"  freight ;  the  mill  was  therefore  not  put  in  operation. 
He  again  returned  to  San  Francisco  andembarked  in  thebusiness  of  a  house- 
carpenter,  at""  sixteen  dollars  a  day,  wages.  This  was  in  the  summer  of 
1850  ;  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  visited  the  southern  mines  and  engaged 
in  prospecting  until  the  spring  of  1852,  at  which  time  he  began  farming 
on  the  Feather  river,  but,  contracting  fever  and  ague,  in  the  fall  of  the 
year  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  agriculture  and  return  to  San  Francisco. 
In  April,  1853,  he  returned  to  the  Atlantic  coast  and  his  native  home,  and 
on  May  31  of  the  same  year  married,  at  McConnellville,  Ohio,  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Maxwell,  at  the  residence  of  her  sister,  Mrs.  C.  L.  Barker;  she  was 
born  in  Chester  county,  Pa.,  October  18, 1826.  With  his  bride  he  returned 
to  California  via  Panama,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  November  5,  1853, 
when  he  once  more  commenced  business  as  a  house-builder,  which  he 
continued  till  1855,  when,  with  his  family,  he  came  to  Vallejo  and  en- 
gaged as  millwright,  on  Mare  Island.  In  the  fall  of  1859  he  moved  to  Eel 
river,  Humboldt  county,  and  began  farming,  and  remained  there  till  the  sum- 
mer of  1861,  when  they  returned  to  Solano  county  and  located  160  acres  of 
land,  in  section  34,  township  4,  range  3,  on  the  Suscol  ranch,  but  on  March  3, 
1863,  a  bill  was  passed  by  Congress  giving  the  land  back  to  its  original 
owner,  (who  claimed  it  under  the  Spanish  grant,)  when  they  were  removed 
by  the  Sheriff  of  the  county.  Mr.  H.  then  returned  to  Vallejo,  in  1865, 
and  was  elected  Sheriff  in  1869  for  a  term  of  two  years.  Once  more  Mr. 
Hobbs  visited  (in  1876)  the  scenes  of  his  youth,  as  well  as  the  Centennial 
Exhibition,  returning  to  Vallejo,  but  never  again  engaged  .in  active  busi- 
ness up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  February  12,  1878. 
He  was  a  Mason  of  old  and  high  standing,  as  also  a  member  of  the  Val- 
lejo Pioneer  Association.  Their  children  are:  Mary  B.,  born  at  Vallejo 
April  17,  1857  ;  Ida  S.,  born  April  7,  1859 ;  Eunice  Esther,  born  at  Eel 
river,  Humboldt  county,  February  26,  1861 ;  Charles  B.,  born  in  Sulphur 
Spring  valley,  Solano  county,  August  22, 1863  ;  Heila  Grace,  born  in  Val- 
lejo, November  21,  1865,  and  Maxwell,  born  May  17,  1872.  There  are 
two  infants  deceased :  George,  born  August  17,  1855,  and  died  July  27, 
1864 ;   Isacc,  born  December  21,  1865,  and  died  September  27,  1869. 


THE     HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  357 

HUBBARD,  JOHN  E.,  retail  dealer  in  domestic  wines,  cigars,  etc.,  was 
born  in  Santiago,  Chile,  South  America,  in  1842,  and  in  1848  came  with 
his  parents  to  San  Francisco,  where  his  father  opened  the  first  brass 
foundry  and  coppersmith  shop  on  the  coast.  Remained  in  San  Francisco 
till  1852,  when  the  family  removed  to  Santa  Clara  county,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  being  sent  to  school  there.  In  1857  he  accompanied  his  pa- 
rents back  to  Chile,  and  with  them  returned  to  California  after  a  stay  of 
two  years  in  South  America.  In  1860  Mr.  Hubbard  proceeded  to  Santa 
Clara,  and  there  was  engaged  by  the  firm  of  Hobich  &  Bros.,  general 
merchants,  as  clerk ;  in  1862  he  returned  to  San  Francisco  and  entered 
the  office  of  the  Provost  Marshal,  continuing  there  till  1864,  when  he 
visited  the  Eastern  States  with  his  father  and  sister.  At  the  end  of  four- 
teen months  he  returned  to  California,  and  having  resided  for  four  months 
at  Benicia,  he  went  to  San  Jose,  where  he  was  employed  for  the  best  part 
of  four  years  in  the  firms  of  T.  W.  Spring  &  Co.,  and  N.  Hayes.  In  1869 
he  once  more  visited  San  Francisco,  where  he  was  appointed  a  Deputy 
Sheriff.  He  visited  Mexico  and  Oregon  in  1870,  and  arrived  in  Vallejo 
in  the  fall  of  that  year,  after  which  he  proceeded  to  Napa,  Humboldt  bay, 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  in  1871,  returned  to  Vallejo,  where  he  has 
since  permanently  resided.  He  opened  his  present  business  in  February, 
1877.     Is  unmarried. 

HUBBS,  THE  HONORABLE  PAUL  K.,  (deceased),  one  of  that  class  of 
Pioneers  whose  memory  those  who  are  left  behind  delight  to  honor,  and 
who  labored  to  bring  the  State  of  California  into  the  proud  position  of 
being  one  of  the  foremost  in  the  Union,  was  a  descendant  of  another  class 
of  Pioneers,  his  ancestors  being  of  that  band  of  Quaker  families  who 
emigrated  from  England  to  America  in  Anno  Domini  1650,  and  settled  in 
Rhode  Island.  He  was  born  on  March  27,  1800,  near  Woodstown,  in 
Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  and  received  his  schooling  in  Philadelphia, 
where  he  was  well  grounded  in  the  necessary  education  of  the  period. 
Early  in  life  Mr.  Hubbs  essayed  work  on  a  farm,  which  in  a  sketch  of  his 
life  he  describes  thus :  "  My  father  again  moving  to  the  old  homestead 
and  requiring  all  possible  help,  I  had  to  leave  the  old  frame  school- 
house,  corner  of  Race  and  Juniper,  and  at  eleven  years  old  take  charge 
of  a  team  and  go  through  a  course  of  agricultural  studies  ;  more  health- 
ful I  thought  to  the  body  than  the  mind.  All  the  steam  then  that  con- 
tributed to  the  plowing  was  raised  from  the  person  of  man  and  horse- 
The  reaping  was  done  as  in  the  time  of  Ruth.  We  shelled  corn  by  hand 
across  an  iron  bar  and  done  flail  threshing  on  rainy  days,  nor  was  our 
mowing  accomplished  by  patent.  Don't  talk  about  good  old  times ; 
those  were  weary  days  to  the  farmer — up  before  daylight  to  wade  through 
snow  and  sleet  and  slush  and  rain  and  ice  to  prepare  and  donate  feed  for 


358  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

horses  preparatory  to  a  day's  work,  ending  late  in  the  evening.     Yet  the 
toil  and   hardship   of   the   day  gave   us  good   appetites  and   sweet  sleep 
preparatory  to  a  renewal   of  the  same  lack  of  variety,  save  the  change 
from  storm  to  sunshine  and  from  sunshine   to  storm,  and   from  intense 
cold  to  man-melting  heat.     Thanks   to  Almighty   God,  the  small   com- 
munities of  those  days  were  strictly  honest,  with  rare  exception.     The 
Bible  and  the  newspaper  were  read  with  equal  confidence  in  their  truth." 
Mr.  Hubbs  did  not  long  pursue  farming  as  an  occupation,  for  he  shortly 
afterwards  received  a  position  in  a  wholesale  dry  goods  store  on  No.  23 
North  Front  street,  Philadelphia,  and  while  there  it  happened  that  Judge 
Kinsay,  after  whom  he  had  been  named,  had  arrived  in  the  city  to  pur- 
sue his  professional  practice,  and  at  once  took  young  Hubbs  in  hand, 
keeping  him   reading  law  or  attending  law  courts  during  the  evening. 
About  this  time  he  entered  into  his  first  mercantile  transaction  on  his 
own  account.     He  had  been  noticed  by  the  mate  of  a  vessel  trading  to 
Porto  Rico,  who  inquired  how  much  capital  he  had  at  his  disposal.     The 
reply  was  "  nine  dollars."     With   this  sum  his  friend  advised  him  to  in- 
vest in  twelve  barrels  of  apples,  which  he  did  ;  his  goods  were  taken  by 
the  brig,  and  two  months  thereafter  he  found  gazetted  in  the  morning 
paper  of  Imports  "  20  bags  coffee  to  Paul  K.  Hubbs."     From  his  extreme 
youth,  then  but  13  years,  he  had   some  difficulty  in   convincing  the  Cus- 
toms authorities   of  his  honesty ;  eventually,  however,  his  produce  was 
cleared,  a  position  in  the  store  was  granted  to  him  whereat  he  might  dis- 
pose of  his  consignment,  which  he  soon  did,  realizing  the  sum  of  $140,  to 
him  a  fabulous  outturn  indeed.     He  was  not  carried  away  by  this  turn 
of  Fortuna's  wheel,  however,  for  with  the  proceeds  of  this  venture  he  in- 
vested still  further,  always  attended  with  a  reasonable  profit.     Mr.  Hubbs 
next  visited  New  York  for  the  first  time,  on  certain  legal  business,  which 
place  he  reached  by  stage   and  steamer,  the  latter  commanded  by  Cor- 
nelius Vanderbilt,  with  whom  he  had   a  little  passage  of  words,  which 
would  appear  to  have  made  so  deep  an  impression   on  the  Captain  that 
the  point  urged  by  Hubbs  was  gained.     At  this  period  the  British  were 
before  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  was  alarmed.     Citizens  were  called 
upon  to  throw  up  breastworks  over  the   Schuylkill   and  other  defensible 
points  in  the  construction   of  which  he   entered  with  the  vigor  of  youth, 
and  shortly  after,  when  on  a  collecting  tour  in  Virginia,  he  saw  the  havoc 
of  war  and  the  ruins  of  houses  and  homesteads  occasioned  by  the  hos- 
tilities which  then  raged  between  the  United  States  and  the  British.    On 
his  return,  through  the  failure  of  the  firm  in  which  he  had  served,  Mr. 
H.  found  himself  out  of  employment,  and  after  for  a  while  suffering  the 
heartburnings  and  misery  of  seeking  for  work,  answering  advertisements 
and  seeing  his  little  ready  coin  dwindling  into  insignificance,  he  was 
taken  into  the  counting-house  of  J.  and  M.  Brown  and  M.  D.  Lewis,  the 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  359 

leading  firm  of  Philadelphia,  with  whom  he  worked  as  book-keeper 
and  afterwards  as  cashier,  and  at  the  end  of  a  lease  of 
faithful  service  he  was  established  by  the  firm,  whose  business 
had  greatly  increased,  in  a  branch  of  the  house  situated  on  the 
south  side  of  Market  street,  under  the  name  of  Paul  K.  Hubbs,  in 
which  he  was  admitted"  a  partner,  which  in  1826,  at  the  time  of  a  great 
crisis,  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent,  and  the  assets  divided.  As  a 
proof  of  the  marvelous  uprightness  and  proper  feeling  of  Mr.  Hubbs,  the 
following  anecdote  is  taken  from  his  note  book  :  "  Nicholas  Biddle,  then 
the  great  financial  spirit  of  the  United  States,  remarked  one  day  to  a 
coterie  at  the  Exchange,  as  I  passed,  'There  goes  the  sharpest  man  of 
Market  street!'  I  heard  it,  and  it  pained  me.  I  sought  almost  imme- 
diately an  interview  and  remarked,  'Mr.  Biddle,  you  have  ruined  me;  I 
heard  your  remark  as  I  passed;  we  are  all  of  us  afraid  of  sharp  men. 
Say  that  I  am  industrious  and  know  my  business,  but  don't,  I  pray  you, 
ever  call  me  sharp.'  '  Well,  Hubbs,'  said  he,  'this  only  convinces  me  that 
I  was  right,  but  I  am  enlightened  by  the  truism  of  your  suggestion! '  "  In 
his  manhood,  though  attending  with  strict  devotion  to  the  cares  of  his 
business,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  found  time  to  take  a  part  in  the 
philantrophies  of  the  time,  which  were  then  being  largely  cared  for  by 
Mathew  Carey,  a  name  which  will  remain  engraven  on  the  early  history 
of  Philadelphia  as  an  advocate  of  American  manufactures  and  home  in- 
dustry generally.  In  1827,  Mr.  H.  erected  the  first  calico  print  works  in 
Pennsylvania  at  "The  Lagrange,"  on  the  Pennepack  near  Bustleton,  now 
the  twenty-third  ward  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  in  1828  we  find 
him  acting  as  Secretary  for  "  The  Society  of  Internal  Improvement 
of  Pennsylvania,"  having  associated  with  him  Chief  Justice  Tilghman, 
Peter  S.  Duponceon,  John  Sergeant,  John  J.  Borie,  Charles  J.  Ingersoll, 
and  five  merchants  who  formed  an  active  committee  of  ten.  It  was  dif- 
ficult to  obtain  a  Legislature  willing  to  take  hold  of  so  vast  an  enter- 
prise. Mr.  Hubbs  thus  describes  a  session  where  a  startling  innovation 
was  mooted ;  "  The  committee  was  assembled  at  the  '  Indian  Queen,' 
Fourth  street,  one  evening.  The  sub-committee  reported  the  situation 
above  named.  John  Sergeant,  (candidate  for  Vice-President  with  Mr. 
Clay  afterward),  Chairman  of  Committee,  in  his  seat  and  I  at  his  side  as 
Secretary.  We  were  busy  about  details,  when  Mr.  Ingersoll  came  in. 
He  at  once  commenced :  '  Mr.  Chairman,  I  have  a  matter  that  I  deem  to 
be  of  great  importance  to  the  committee ;  I  think  we  can  eclipse  New 
York.  I  am  reliably  informed  that  transportation  can  be  successfully 
made  at  cheap  rates  by  running  wagons  prepared  for  the  purpose  over 
parallel  bars  of  iron.  The  experiment  has  been  successfully  tried  at  an 
English  colliery,  reducing  their  expenses  two-thirds,  with  mere  play  for 
the  horses.     Let  us  apply.'    Mr.  Ingersoll!'  ejaculated  Mr.  Sergeant  from 


360  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

the  chair,  '  we  are  just  completing  our  well  laid  plans  of  success  in  mak- 
ing a  grand  canal,  and  I  hope  you  will  not  come  here  with  your  flights  of 
fancy.'  '  Well,'  says  Mr.  Ingersoll,  'dig  your  ditch,  but  I  shouldn't  be 
surprised  to  see  it  some  day  covered  by  parallel  bars  of  iron.'  This  was 
the  first  I  ever  heard  of  railroads,  and  I  took  occasion  to  remark  that 
'  such  a  thing  might  do  in  England,  but  our  Pennsylvania  frosts  would 
forbid  it  here.'  We  went  on,  and  after  wonderful  log  rolling  obtained  a 
law  and  a  canal  and  a  final  debt  of  $42,000,000  to  Pennsylvania."  In 
1830  he  visited  Europe,  staying  at  many  of  the  most  picturesque  spots  in 
Great  Britain,  and  happened  to  be  in  London  at  the  time  of  the  corona- 
tion of  King  William  IV.,  which  is  thus  amusingly  described  by  Mr. 
Hubbs  :  "  My  banker  was  too  late  for  Westminster  Abbey,  but  obtained 
me  a  stand  in  a  parlor  nearly  opposite  St.  James'  Palace,  whence  the 
cavalcade  would  issue,  and  where  the  children  of  the  Lord  Mayor  and 
myself  could  see  everything  of  the  move.  The  Duchess  of  Kent  would 
not  let  little  Vic,  then  some  fourteen  years  old,  go  in  the  procession. 
Earl  somebody,  one  of  Billy's  naturals,  fixed  up  the  whole  matter,  and 
Vic's  place  was  not  the  right  one,  and  she  didn't  ride  then ;  but  she  did 
afterward,  God  bless  her !  William  looked  very  like  old  General  Cadwal- 
ader.  The  Queen  had  a  square  face  and  a  princely  Dutch  nose  indicative  of 
bad  humor.  They  shouted,  'Long  live  King  William  the  Fourth ! '  I 
shouted,  '  Hurrah  for  Billy  Guelph  ! '  I  thought  that  was  about  the  right 
sort  of  American  manner,  and  let  it  out."  After  his  sojourn  in  England, 
Mr.  Hubbs  crossed  over  to  France  with  which  he  was  much  charmed,  and 
after  visiting  many  places  of  mark  he  once  more  sailed  to  America  in  the 
packet  "  Sally,"  commanded  by  Captain  Pell,  but  as  the  voyage  thither 
was  undertaken  solely  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  his  wife  to  share  with 
him  the  pleasures  of  sight-seeing,  he  once  more  sailed  from  American 
shores.  The  port  of  destination  this  time  was  Marseilles,  through  the 
Straits  of  Gibralter  and  up  the  Meditereanean,  and  again  he  landed 
in  la  belle  France  ;  and  on  April  4,  his  son  Anthony  was  born  in  Lyons ; 
and  it  was  in  this  city  that  he  received  his  first  taste  of  Revolutionary 
France,  in  the  year  1834. 
From  this  city,  Mr.  Hubbs  made  the  tour  of  Europe.  To  follow  him 
on,  which  is  impossible,  for  want  of  space ;  and  early  in  1836  he  took 
ship  for  home  from  Havre ;  but  encountering  a  hurricane  in  the  English 
Channel,  being  saved  from  shipwreck  on  the  rock-bound  coast  of  Devon- 
shire, as  it  were,  by  a  miracle,  he  landed  in  New  York  without  further 
adventure,  and  proceeded  thence  to  the  home  of  his  youth.  The  change 
found  in  Philadelphia  after  so  protracted  an  absence  was  very  marked. 
Men  whom  he  had  left  struggling,  he  found  in  opulence ;  while  those  who 
were  at  the  top  of  the  ladder  of  commercial  and  financial  fame  had  suc- 
cumbed to  make  or  mar  no  more.     In  1837  Mr.  Hubbs  owned  the  Mil- 


THE    HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY.  361 

hausen  Print  Works,  then  located  below  the  Navy  Yard,  in  Philadelphia, 
which  were  destroyed  in  September,  1839,  by  fire,  through  mismanage- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  fire  company  ;  but  with  that  rectitude  of  mind 
which  has  always  characterized  his  dealings,  and  that  perseverance  which 
would  stand  no  brooking,  he  paid  off  every  dollar  lost  by  the  fire,  and 
bought  in  a  large  portion  of  the  Pennypack  Mills.  Hereafter  he  took 
part  in  the  politics  of  the  State,  which  led  him  into  much  prominence, 
and  in  1841  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  Third  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
militia,  which  had  a  share  in  the  subduing  of  the  fanaticism  that  culmi- 
nated in  the  church  riots.  In  the  midst  of  the  great  excitement  of  the 
retirement  of  Henry  Clay,  whom  Col.  Hubbs  in  his  sketch,  eulogizes  in 
glowing  terms,  he  was  offered  by  Mr.  Tyler,  the  Consulate  at  Paris,  and 
subsequently  by  Mr.  Polk,  the  like  position  at  San  Francisco,  which  he 
declined,  for  what  were  to  him  good  and  sufficient  reasons  ;  and  was  pres- 
ent in  Washington  during  the  excitement  of  the  declaration  of  war 
against  Mexico.  Mr.  Dalles  was  then  enthusiastic  to  procure  California 
as  well  as  Oregon,  then  comprising  what  is  now  all  west  of  the  Missouri 
between  42  and  49  of  latitude  ;  and  it  was  when  in  the  Capital  that  he 
was  first  introduced  to  General  Winfield  Scott,  the  veteran  and  accom- 
plished Chief  of  the  American  army. 
A  new  era  now  opened  itself  for  Col.  Hubbs.  California  had  become 
the  popular  talk  of  the  Eastern  States  ;  he  had  read  Emory's  Notes  on  the 
country  south  from  Salt  Lake  to  California,  and  Fremont's  Rocky 
Mountain  and  California  campaign ;  then  came  reports  of  gold,  he,  there- 
fore, for  his  star  had  not  latterly  been  in  the  ascendant  as  regards  finan- 
cial success,  determined  to  emigrate,  his  first  idea  being  to  attempt  the 
overland  journey,  which  he  agreed  to  undertake  in  company  with  his 
cousin,  Ira  Burdsall,  Frank  Tilford,  a  Mr.  Wingate  and  Bryant,  the 
author  of  "  What  I  saw  in  California."  Falling  sick,  however,  this 
journey  was  given  up  by  him,  but,  nothing  daunted,  he  wound  up  his 
affairs,  resigned  his  posts  of  honor,  responsibility  and  trust  and,  notwith- 
standing inducements  of  a  flattering  order  being  held  out,  he  finally  sailed 
for  California  on  May  3,  1849,  in  the  ship  "  Susan  G.  Owens,"  his  wife 
and  children  accompanying  him.  His  description  of  the  scene  on  the 
wharf  is  full  of  pathos  and  teems  with  humane  feeling,  clothed  in  words 
which,  though  in  prose,  vie  in  interest  with  the  immortal  lives  of  Childe 
Harold's  Farewell  from  the  halls  of  his  youth.  The  good  ship,  with  its 
precious  freight  of  human  beings,  proceeded  on  its  journey  and,  with  the 
exception  of  one  or  two  disagreeables,  incidental  to  a  long  sea  voyage 
touched  at  Rio  de  Janiero  and  Valparaiso  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco  at 
noon,  on  October  12,  1849.  The  first  impressions  of  Californian  life  are 
graphically  described  by  his  son,  for  Col.  Hubbs  did  not  live  to  finish  the 
sketch  of  his  life  with  his  own  pen.     In  December,  1849,  we  find  the 


362  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Colonel,  along  with  his  eldest  son,  en  route  to  the  San  Jaoquin  valley, 
finally  reaching  Stockton  one  week  after  leaving  San  Francisco.  The 
description  of  the  city  of  Stockton,  as  it  then  was,  is  worthy  of  being- 
quoted  :  "  The  inhabitants  were  employed :  some  in  gambling,  others  in 
prayer,  and  every  diversity  of  occupation.  Some  of  those  who  were  the 
strongest  advocates  of  temperance,  when  in  the  Eastern  States,  might 
here  be  seen  dealing  out  liquor  with  greater  vigor  than  all  the  others  of 
the  same  profession.  Shoemakers  by  trade  would  here  be  lawyers  by 
occupation.  The  mud  was  knee-deep,  and  most  of  the  inhabitants  ap- 
peared as  though  they  liked  it  too  well  to  brush  it  off,  and  to  wash  their 
faces  or  comb  the  hair,  that  they  considered  was  a  once-a-month  job."  In 
this  canvass  cosmopolitan  city,  the  Hubbs',  father  and  son,  purchased  a 
camping  outfit  of  frying-pan,  bean-kettle,  coffee-pot,  cups  and  plates  of  tin, 
butcher  knife  and  other  necessary  impedimenta  and  started  for  the  Stanis- 
laus river,  which  they  reached  on  the  second  day,  crossing  at  Hyslop's 
Ferry  and  camped  at  Texas  Jack's  ranch,  where  they  were  entertained  by 
"  Big  Mouth  Bill,"  "  Three-fingered  Jack,"  and  others  of  like  kith.  Here 
he  located  640  acres  of  land,  three  miles  above  Texas  Jack's,  opposite 
Cotton's  Ferry,  and  named  it  Camp  Washington,  the  ford  being  called 
Hubbs'  Ford.  These  acres  are  now  known  as  the  rising  town  of  Oakdale. 
Here  a  house  of  six  feet  square,  composed  of  rushes,  closed  in  on  the 
eastern  and  southern  sides,  was  erected ;  and,  though  it  did  not  keep  out 
the  wild  beasts,  with  which  the  country  then  abounded,  it  served  the 
necessary  purpose  of  a  shelter.  These  two  carefully  nurtured  gentlemen 
here  commenced  the  veritable  hardships  of  a  pioneer's  life,  trees  com- 
menced to  drop  under  their  untiring  axes,  a  vegetable  garden  was  planted 
and  then  he  sent  for  his  wife  and  children  and  went  to  Stockton  to  re- 
ceive them,  but  the  usually  trim  Colonel  was  scarcely  recognizable  in  his 
slouch  hat,  grown  beard  and  carelessly  tied  neck -handkerchief .  The  warm 
and  affectionate  heart  still  was  there,  however,  and  as  proper  arrange- 
ments as  could  be  made  in  those  days  were  perfected,  and  the  family  pro- 
ceeded to  their  home  on  the  Stanislaus,  Mrs.  Hubbs  being  the  first  white 
lady  to  cross  its  waters,  where  they  were  received  with  much  joy  by  their 
eldest  boy.  So  great  a  novelty  was  the  appearance  of  a  lady  on  the 
Stanislaus,  that  the  news  of  her  arrival  spread  like  wild-fire,  and  she  was 
visited  by  hundreds  of  rough  looking  miners  who,  notwithstanding  their 
uncouth  exterior,  held  soft  and  warm  hearts  within,  and  would  feel  quite 
homesick  in  the  presence  of  the  fair  gentlewoman.  While  he  lived  in 
Tuolumne  county,  which  then  swarmed  with  horse  thieves,  assassins  and 
outlaws,  their  house  was  often  the  haven  where  the  outraged  traveler 
sought  protection,  which  was  always  obtained,  while  in  the  sketch  from 
which  this  memoir  is  condensed,  we  gather  that  that  desperado,  Joaquin 
Murietta,  was,  under  an  assumed  name,  a  constant  visitor   at  his  house ; 


THE    HISTORY    OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  S63 

judge  of  the  surprise  on  recognizing  the  head  of  the  outlaw  as  the  same 
individual  who  had  so  often  petted  his  children  and  partaken  of  his 
hospitality. 
In  1850,  Colonel  Hubbs  entered  public  life  in  California,  as  Alcalde,  or 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  for  Tuolumne  ;  and,  in  the  following  year,  he  was 
elected  to  the  Senate,  by  the  Democratic  party  from  Tuolumne  county, 
and,  in  December,  1851,  he  with  his  family  arrived  at  Vallejo,  then  the 
State  Capital,  ready  to  enter  upon  his  Senatorial  duties.  Col.  Hubbs  fol- 
lowed the  fortunes  of  the  Legislature  on  its  cruises  in  search  of  a  perma- 
nent location ;  he  fought  hard  against  every  bill  which  favored  the  removal 
of  the  capital,  as  he  considered  it  an  unnecessary  expense  to  the  State. 
To  him  is  the  credit  due  of  introducing  the  Bill  entitled  "  Providing 
Revenue  for  the  support  of  the  Government  of  this  State,"  one  of  the 
most  popular  bills  of  the  time,  although  it  had  some  enemies.  He  was  also  in 
connection  with  the  Honorable  Frank  Soule,  the  framer  of  the  bill  which 
was  enacted  and  which  formed  the  basis  of  the  existing  laws  enCOUrag- 
ing  the  system  of  education  for  the  young  at  general  expense,  which  is 
so  great  a,  pride  to  the  State.  Col.  Hubbs  was  President,  pro  tern.,  of  the 
Senate,  and,  while  occupying  the  Chair  of  that  body,  performed  an  act 
for  which,  to  this  day,  the  citizens  of  San  Francisco  feel  grateful,  for 
having  saved  much  to  her,  as  also  it  did  to  the  State,  when  the  first  of 
the  bulkhead  scheme's  bill  came  up  on  its  final  passage.  His  was  the 
casting  vote  which  was  given  in  favor  of  the  city  of  San  Francisco  and 
against  the  project  of  throwing  the  whole  water  front  of  that  city  into 
the  hands  of  speculators.  Colonel  Hubbs  was  one  of  the  most  industri- 
ous of  Senators,  he  worked  earnestly  in  the  cause  of  education,  for  which 
he  was  afterwards  rewarded  by  being  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Educa- 
tional Department,  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  ;  but  it  is 
not  only  in  this  sphere  alone  in  which  he  shone,  the  Acts  he  laid  before 
the  House  are  too  numerous  to  mention  in  this  place,  suffice  it  to  say  that 
they  were  all  devised  for  the  benefit  of  the  State.  He  had  at  heart  the 
design  to  enact  just  and  wholesome  legislation,  that  served  alike  for  the 
best  interest  of  the  agriculturist  as  well  as  the  miner ;  while  he  had  the 
forethought  to  make  the  foundation  for  the  preparatory  necessities  of  the 
large  influx  of  population  which  afterwards  found  its  way  to  the  shores 
of  California.  During  his  tenure  of  office  as  State  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction,  the  number  of  schools  in  the  State,  in  three  years,  in- 
creased from  twenty  to  three  hundred  and  sixteen,  while  the  advance  in 
attendance  was  from  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  fourteen  to 
twenty-six  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty.  Many  of  his  friends  desired 
to  renominate  him  for  a  second  term,  while  others  wished  that  he  should 
become  a  candidate  for  the  United  States  Senate,  both  of  which  he  de- 
clined, favoring  an  intimate  friend,  Andrew  J.  Moulder,  to  be  his  successor. 


364  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

At  the  death  of  his  wife,  which  took  place  on  September  30, 1856,  Colonel 
Hubbs  retired  from  public  life  and,  having  visited  Puget  Sound,  he  set- 
tled at  Port  Townsend,  Washington  Territory,  following  his  profession  of 
attorney  and  counsellor  at  law ;  he  succeeded  in  building  up  a  large  prac- 
tice and  was  known  throughout  the  Territory  as  one  of  its  most  eminent 
lawyers  and  statesmen.  In  1860,  he  was  elected  to  the  Territorial 
Council,  representing  the  counties  of  Jefferson,  Claim  Island  and  What- 
com. In  the  following  year  he  was  chosen  President  of  the  Council  and, 
in  1866,  he  was  prominently  spoken  of  as  a  probable  candidate  for 
Congress ;  business,  however,  called  him  to  California,  and  he  ultimately 
located  at  Vallejo.  While  a  resident  of  this  city,  he  was  one  of  its  mov- 
ing spirits,  he  occupied  many  positions  of  trust ;  to  him  is  due,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  establishment  of  an  Episcopal  Church  in  Vallejo.  On  Tues- 
day, November  17,  1874,  at  noon,  he  was,  to  all  appearances,  well,  shortly 
after  he  was  taken  ill,  and  at  five  minutes  to  two,  in  the  afternoon  of  that 
day,  he  died,  honored  by  all ;  respected  by  all ;  loved  by  all,  and  without 
an  enemy. 
Colonel  Hubbs  married  Miss  Eliza  Hedelius,  in  1830,  daughter  of  Capt. 
Hedelius,  who  fought  with  Paul  Jones  on  the  Bon  Homme  Richard,  to 
join  whom  he  ran  away  from  an  English  University.  They  leave  Paul 
Kinsey,  born  near  Nashville,  Tennessee,  on  September  20,  1832.  He  is 
now  a  resident  of  Washington  Territory.  Anthony  was  born  in  Lyons, 
April  4,  1832 ;  is  now  book-keeper  in  the  State  Controller's  office  at  Sac- 
ramento ;  Virginia,  born  in  1841  ;  Charles  Henry,  born  September  17', 
1843,  now  of  Vallejo.  In  1857  Col.  Hubbs  married  secondly  Margaret 
Gilchrist,  at  Benicia,  by  whom  he  had  Bayard  Ingersoll,  born  Octobe'r  19, 
1858,  and  Helen  May,  born  May,  1862. 

HUBBS,  CHARLES  H.,  third  son  of  the  Hon.  Paul  K.  Hubbs,  was  born  in 
Pennypack,  now  a  portion  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  on  September  17, 
1843,  and  accompanied  his  parents,  in  the  ship  "  Susan  G.  Owens,"  leav- 
ing Philadelphia  May  3d,  and1  arriving  in  San  Francisco  October  12, 1849- 
He  first  attended  Doctor  Vermehr's  school,  then  the  only  one  in  that  city. 
During  the  legislative  sessions  of  1852  and  1853  was  Page  of  the  Assem- 
bly, being  Chief  Page  in  the  latter  year,  with  Virgil  C.  Bartlett  and  Wil- 
liam Fosbender  as  assistants.  During  these  sessions  he  received  ten  dol- 
lars a  day  as  compensation,  and  out  of  the  salary  saved,  a  sum  of  twenty- 
five  hundred  dollars,  which  was  invested  for  him  by  his  father,  the  inter- 
est paying  for  his  schooling  and  other  necessaries.  Was  educated  at  the 
Collegiate  Institution,  Public  School,  and  High  School  of  Benicia,  and  in 
1857  entered  the  telegraph  service  as  messenger  in  the  Benicia  office.  During 
the  fall  of  the  year  he  came  to  Vallejo,  for  the  purpose  of  instructing  W. 
W.  Chapman  in  the  art  of  telegraphy,  and  in  April,  1858,  when  the 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  365 

Northern  Telegraph  was  being  constructed  from  Marysville  to  Yreka,  by 
Messrs.  Strong  and  Hubbard,  he  accepted  a  position  on  that  line,  being 
the  first  operator  at  Tehama,  where  he  taught  Charles  Harvey.  While 
there  was  promoted  to  be  Chief  Operator  on  the  line.  From  thence  he 
proceeded  to  Horsetown,  where  he  was  preceptor  in  telegraphy  to  Judge 
James  N.  Eby,  and  after  Frank  W.  Blake  at  Weaverville,  Trinity  county, 
whence  he  returned  home,  having  resigned  his  position.  He  next  went 
to  Shaw's  Flat  and  there  received  propositions  to  proceed  to  Napa  to 
open  the  office  of  the  line  which  was  being  extended  from  Vallejo  to  that 
city.  This  he,  however,  only  held  for  a  few  weeks,  when  he  was  called 
by  his  father  to  accompany  him  to  Washington  Territory.  In  1865,  when 
James  Gamble,  the  General  Superintendent,  was  extending  telegraphic 
communication  from  California  through  Oregon  and  Washington  Terri- 
tory,  to  meet  the  Collins'  line,  which  was  proposed  should  cross  at  Behr- 
ings  Straits  to  Asia,  Mr.  Hubbs  again  entered  the  telegraph  service,  and 
was  appointed  agent  at  the  Swinomish  station,  which  was  the  office  where 
all  the  business  between  the  offices  north  of  that  station  had  to  be  repeated. 
In  1868  he  was  transferred  to  Fort  Vancouver,  and  here  purchased  a  book- 
store, which  business  he  followed,  in  conjunction  with  that  of  telegraphy 
and  photography.  In  1869  he  sold  out  his  book-store  and  proceeded  to 
Stockton,  Sacramento,  and  Marysville,  in  the  employ  of  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  Co.,  when,  in  October,  1870,  he  was  installed  as  Manager 
of  the  Vallejo  office. 

In  1875  Mr.  Hubbs  was  appointed  a  Notary  Public  by  His  Excellency 
Governor  Irwin,  and  reappointed  in  1877.  In  the  following  year  he  was 
selected  by  Governor  Robinson  Commissioner  of  Deeds  for  New  York. 

In  1876  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  Val- 
lejo Township,  and  took  strong  grounds  against  excessive  taxation  and  in 
favor  of  promoting  the  advancement  of  the  educational  interests  of  Val- 
lejo, which  was  appreciated  by  his  constituents,  who  re-elected  him,  giv- 
ing him  the  largest  vote  of  any  candidate  who  had  opposition  for  office. 

HUNTER,  JAMES — Is  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  of  Scotch  parentage,  who 
had  moved  to  the  place  of  his  nativity  a  few  years  previous  to  his  birth,  on 
March  27,  1827.  In  1840  his  parents  emigrated  to  America,  settling  near 
Cedar  Rapids,  Linn  county,  Iowa ;  where  James  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  On  May  1,  1849,  Mr.  Hunter  and  his  brother  left  Iowa  City, 
Iowa,  crossed  the  Plains,  arrived  at  Lawson's  rancho  on  the  23d  of  Octo- 
ber following.  During  that  winter  he  prospected  for  gold  at  Bidwell's 
Bar,  and  meeting  with  fair  success,  but  left  the  place  the  following  spring, 
going  to  Feather  River,  where  his  mining  operations  were  more  remune- 
rative. In  1851  he  located  on  the  southeast  branch  of  Feather  River,  but 
in  the  fall  of  that  year  moved  to   Shasta  county,  Cal.,  and  was  the  pro- 


366  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

prietor  of  a  feed  and  sale  stable.  From  here  he  came  to  Vallejo  township, 
settling  on  his  present  farm  in  the  Suscol  hills.  Here  he  owns  844  acres 
of  fertile  valley  land,  and  in  Mendocino  county  3,500  acres,  as  well  as  a 
saw-mill  and  store. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
connected,  by  direct  descent,  with  the  best  Scottish  blood,  and  came  hon- 
estly by  the  virtues  which  have  characterized  and  advanced  his  private 
life.  He  was  never  actively  engaged  in  politics,  but  during  his  long  resi- 
dence and  business  career  in  this  county,  is  regarded  as  an  excellent  citi- 
zen, a  quiet,  energetic  business  man,  enjoying  the  marked  respect  and 
esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  friends. 

Married,  by  the  Rev.  Pierpoint,  Presbyterian  minister,  at  Petaluma, 
Sonoma  county,  Cal.,  Miss  Celia,  daughter  of  Samuel  C.  Stewart,  on  Oct. 
25,  1858.  James  William,  born  Aug.  5,  1859,  Flora  J.  born  Aug.  16, 1861, 
Sarah  A.  born  April  20,  1863,  Harry  S.  born  Feb.  4,  1873,  Alena  Maud 
born  Sept.  12,  1875,  are  their  living  children.  Maggie  Bell,  born  Oct.  12, 
1865,  died  April  1,  1877;  Frank  Guss,  born  Jan.  27, 1868,  died  March  22, 
1877 ;  John  Calvin,  born  Sept.  19,  1870,  died  March  23,  1877.  These 
children  died  of  small  pox. 

JEFFERIS,  P.  E.— Born  in  Chester  county,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1828,  where 
he  remained  till  1846,  having  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  at  Union,  in 
that  county.  He  then  removed  to  Wilmington,  Delaware,  and  having 
resided  there  for  eighteen  months  went  to  Philadelphia  and  engaged  in 

the  dry  goods  business  until  1851,  when  he  came  to  California,  arriving  in 
San  Francisco  on  February  8,  1852.  In  that  year  he  went  to  Nevada 
county,  and  for  eighteen  months  prosecuted  mining,  at  the  end  of  which 
he  returned  to  Philadelphia  and  embarked  in  the  furniture  business,  con- 
tinuing it  up  to  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  once  more  sailed  for  Califor- 
nia. On  his  arrival  he  proceeded  to  Sierra  county,  leaving  it  in  the  fol- 
lowing summer  for  Nevada  county,  where  he  commenced  the  livery  busi- 
ness, which  he  prosecuted  for  about  fourteen  years.  On  February  8,  1869, 
he  visited  Vallejo,  but  it  was  not  till  May,  1870,  that  he  permanently 
settled  in  that  city,  when  he  obtained  employment  on  Mare  Island  Navy 
Yard,  at  which  he  was  engaged  till  1874,  when  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  Foreman  House-Joiner,  in  the  Department  of  Yards  and  Docks, 
a  position  which  he  still  holds.  Mr.  Jefferis  married  in  Philadelphia,  on 
September  26,  1854,  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Hinecle,  of  that  city,  by 
whom  he  has  Ida  Florence  ;  Lizzie  H. ;  Mary  L. ;  and  Enos  P. 

JONES,  REV.  EDWARD  INSKIP,  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  December 
3, 1844,and  came  to  San  Francisco  in  May,  1850,  where  he  attended  the  Pub- 
lic Schools,  continuously,  till  May,  1856.     He  accompanied  his  parents  to 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  367 

San  Jose,  in  1862,  whither  they  had  gone  to  farm.  Mr.  Jones  attended 
the  "  University  of  the  Pacific."  at  Santa  Clara,  and  taught  school  over 
two  years,  at  intervals,  between  1862  and  1867.  Had  ministry  in  view, 
and  made  preparations,  while  at  college  and  during  his  teachings,  but 
began  the  study  of  law  in  May,  1867,  at  San  Francisco.  Was  admitted 
to  the  Supreme  Court  of  California  in  April,  1870,  and  practiced  in  that 
city  till  September,  1871,  at  which  time  he  joined  the  California  Confer- 
ence of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Was  appointed  to  Ferndale, 
September,  1871  ;  to  Eureka,  September,  1873,  and  to  Vallejo,  Septem- 
ber, 1876.  Mr.  Jones  married  October  8,  1876,  Theresa  I.,  daughter  of 
A.  F.  Broderick,  of  Eureka,  Humboldt  county,  who  was  born  in  Colches- 
ter, Nova  Scotia,  on  March  1,  1861,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Broderick, 
born  February  14,  1878. 

KENNEDY,  JOHN  E.,  general  merchandise,  insurance  agent  and  notary 
public,  was  born  in  the  count}1-  of  Kerry,  in  Ireland,  in  1833.  In  1849  he 
emigrated  to  America,  settling  in  Boston,  Massachusetts.  In  1854  he 
arrived  in  California,  and  in  1856  proceeded  to  Mare  Island.  Two 
years  later  he  returned  to  Boston  on  a  visit,  but  came  back  the  same  year. 
In  1867  his  present  business  was  first  established,  and  he  was  enrolled  a 
notary  public  in  1876.  Mr.  Kennedy  was  the  first  assessor  after  Vallejo 
received  its  charter;  while  he  is  agent  for  the  Imperial  of  London,  London 
of  London,  Northern  of  Liverpool,  and  Queen  of  Liverpool  fire  insurance 
companies,  with  aggregate  cash  assets  of  $38,000,000.  In  1863  he  married 
Catherine,  daughter  of  John  Deermy,  of  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  who 
was  born  in  1843,  by  whom  he  has  no  issue. 

KITTO,  SAMUEL,  is  a  native  of  Cornwall,  England,  having  been  born 
there  on  April  19,  1830.  In  1851  he  came  to  San  Francisco,  in  the  ship 
"Fairlie,"  of  London.  On  his  arrival  he  at  once  proceeded  to  Rich  Bar,  on 
the  North  .Fork  of  Feather  River,  and  began  mining,  remaining  there  till 
1858,  when  he  paid  a  visit  to  Old  England,  being  absent  for  eight  months. 
He  returned  to  his  mining  interests  in  1859;  after  which  he  came  to 
Vallejo,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Kitto  has  been  a  trustee  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  since  1869;  is  also  a  prominent  mover  in  the  Temperance 
cause,  in  which  he  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest.  In  1873  he  was 
elected  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Good  Templars'  Home  for  Orphans,  a 
position  which  he  still  holds.  He  married  in  Vallejo,  May  9,  1861,  Miss 
Margaret  Carter,  a  native  of  Ireland,  by  whom  he  has  Margaret  Loftee, 
born  April  5,  1862;  Edward  August,  born  May  29,  1864;  Harriet  Eliza- 
beth, born  November  27,1865;  Samuel  Henry,  born  October  10,1868; 
and  Lilian  May,  born  April  30,  1873. 


368  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

KLINK,  REV.  NATHANIEL  B.,  pastor  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Vallejo, 
was  born  in  the  townhsip  of  New  Scotland,  county  of  Albany,  State 
of  New  York,  on  February  5,  1823.  His  early  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  public  schools.  He  spent  three  years  in  the  Albany  Acade- 
my, when  Dr.  T.  Romeyn  Beck  was  principal,  and  entered  Union  College 
in  1845,  and  graduated  July  26,  1847.  In  the  Fall  of  1848  he  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  of  Princeton,  and  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion in  May,  1851.  From  this  latter  seminary  he  went  directly  to  Oneida 
Valley,  where  he  passed  one  year  in  missionary  labor.  Thence  he  moved 
to  West  Galway,  Saratoga  County,  where  he  remained  until  June,  1853, 
when  he  was  called  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Balston  Spa,  where  he 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor.  Resigned  this  charge  in  1855,  and 
was  then  called  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Fairmount,  Huntendon 
County,  New  Jersey,  remaining  there  until  December,  1859,  when  he  re- 
signed this  charge  and  came  to  California.  He  arrived  in  San  Francisco 
with  his  family  on  December  26,  1859,  but,  remaining  there  only  a  few 
days,  at  once  proceeded  to  Vallejo,  where  he  has  since  resided,  with  the 
exception  of  one  year  and  three  months,  when  he  was  acting-pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Sacramento.  Mr.  Klink  married,  in  1853,  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Timothy  Seymour,  a  deacon  in  the  North  Dutch  Church, 
Albany,  New  York,  by  whom  he  has  a  family. 

KLOPPENBURG,  DANIEL  WILLIAM,  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
November  16,  1822,  where  he  remained  till  1840,  when  he  came  to 
America,  first  settling  in  New  York  City.  Here  he  remained  till  August, 
1846,  and  then  joined  Colonel  Stevenson's  regiment,  which  was  bound  for 
California,  but  was  persuaded  by  his  brother  not  to  proceed  with  it.  On 
August  2,  1846,  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  in  partnership  with  his 
brother  opened  a  saloon  in  that  city,  which  he  continued  till  April  2, 
1849,  when  he  sailed  for  California,  in  the  steamer  "Lewis,"  of  Cincinnati, 
for  -St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  thence  went  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  in  com- 
pany with  three  men  who  were  to  be  his  companions  across  the  plains. 
On  arriving  at  St.  Joseph,  however,  the  party  broke  up  and  their  impedi- 
mento  sold  at  auction.  Mr.  K.  reserved  to  himself  one  mule,  and,  having 
purchased  a  horse,  using  the  mule  as  a  pack  animal,  started  on  horseback 
to  cross  the  plains  to  California  alone.  After  three  days'  travel  he  over- 
took a  party  of  Bostonians,  and  kept  in  their  company  until  he  reached 
Fort  Laramie.  Here  the  whole  cavalcade  converted  their  train  into  one 
for  pack  animals,  setting  fire  to  the  wagons,  with  such  articles  as  could 
not  be  conveniently  taken  with  them,  and  again  started  on  their  journey, 
he  traveling  with  them  till  they  made  Smith's  trading  post  on  Bear 
River,  where,  seceding  from  the  party,  he  proceeded  alone  to  Green  River, 
Indian  Territory.     While  pursuing  his  solitary  ride  he  was  taken  seriously 


THE  HISTORY   OF  SOLANO  COUNTY.  869 

ill,  and  for  three  days  lay  in  the  sage-brush.  Fortunately  he  soon  re- 
covered, and  finding  his  animals  had  not  strayed  from  his  vicinity,  he 
once  more  was  on  the  move,  and  when  nearing  the  fifty  mile  desert 
at  the  Sink  of  the  Humboldt  River  he  fell  in,  by  chance,  with  a  single 
traveler  from  St.  Louis.  With  him  he  crossed  the  weary  waste,  the  two 
keeping  company  till  they  reached  the  Golden  State. 

Mr.  Kloppenburg  first  began  mining  at  Wever  Creek,  near  Hangtown 
(now  Placerville),  where  he  continued  for  a  short  time,  and  then  went  to 
Sacramento,  and  there  remained  till  the  Spring  of  1850,  when  he  moved 
to  Marysville;  from  thence  to  Rough  and  Ready  mines,  in  Nevada  County, 
and  here  engaged  in  mining  with  good  success  till  1851,  when  he  returned 
to  Marysville  and  entered  into  partnership  with  a  Mr .  Kennedy,  in  the 
bakery  business.  In  the  Fall  of  1851  he  went  to  Greenwood  Valley,  El 
Dorado  County,  and  pursued  mining  operations  till  the  Spring  of  1852, 
when,  in  company  with  others,  he  took  up  a  claim  at  Spanish  Bar,  on  the 
American  River,  where  he  worked  till  driven  away  by  the  rainy  season. 
He  again  commenced  the  bakery  business  at  Spanish  Bar  Bridge,  which 
he  continued  till  early  in  1853,  at  which  time  he  went  to  Michigan  Bluffs, 
in  Placer  County,  and  established  a  like  connection  at  that  place,  continu- 
ing it  till  1856,  when  he  left  for  San  Francisco.  In  the  Summer  of  1857 
Mr.  K.  proceeded  to  Sacramento,  where,  on  August  3,  1857,  he  married 
Margaret  A.  Harrison.  He  then  returned  to  Michigan  Bluffs,  bought  back 
his  former  business,  and  in  connection  with  it  opened  a  hotel,  which  he 
carried  on  till  1867,  during  which  time  his  establishments  were  twice 
burned.  In  this  year  the  subject  of  this  sketch  returned  to  San  Fran- 
cisco and  started  a  grocery,  which  he  managed  till  1868,  when  he  removed 
to  South  Vallejo,  and  engaged  principally  in  the  draying  business.  Mr. 
Kloppenburg  is  a  member  of  the  Vallejo  Pioneer  Association,  and  of  the 
Naval  Lodge  of  F.  and  A.  M.,  No.  83.  His  children  are  Annie,  Otto  and 
William,  and  two  deceased — Eddie  and  Etta. 

LAMONT,  JAMES  A.,  born  in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  in  1842,  July  9th, 
where  he  resided  for  the  first  six  years  of  his  life,  after  which  he  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  and  remained  there 
two  years,  thence  moved  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  afterward  to  Boone 
county,  Kentucky,  where  he  resided  for  five  years.  Came  to  this  county 
with  his  parents  in  1854,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  several  years. 
In  1865  Mr.  Lamont  graduated  at  the  Benicia  College  and  Law  School, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  practiced  in  Napa  and  Grass  Valley,  Nevada 
county,  for  a  year  and  a  half,  when  he  returned  to  Nashville,  to  wind  up 
the  estate  of  his  parents,  remaining  there  three  years.  In  1869  he  re- 
turned, and  in  September  of  the  following  year  purchased  the  interest  of 
J.  E.  Williston,  and  became  partner  in  the  firm  of  Egery  &  Lamont.  He 
24 


370  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

married,  in  San  Francisco,  January  17, 1878,  Miss  Sara  D.  Barry,  a  native 
of  New  York,  who  was  born  in  December,  1853,  by  whom  he  has  one  son, 
James  Barry. 

MALLETT,  GEO.  F.,  Assistant  Naval  Constructor.  Born  in  the  town  of 
Topsham,  Lincoln  county,  Maine,  October  23,  1832,  where  he  remained 
until  1849.  He  learned  his  trade,  that  of  shipwright,  at  Bath,  Maine, 
where  he  remained  until  October,  1856,  when  he  emigrated  west  and  set- 
tled in  Berlin,  Wis.,  remaining  there  twenty  months,  when  he  returned 
East,  and  on  June  5,  1858,  he  sailed  from  New  York,  on  the  steamer 
"  Moses  Taylor,"  to  the  Isthmus,  where  he  took  the  steamer  "  John  L. 
Stephens,"  arriving  in  San  Francisco  June  28th  of  the  same  year,  follow- 
ing his  trade  in  San  Francisco  and  Benicia  until  November  20,  1861,  at 
which  time  he  came  to  Mare  Island,  and  on  March  14,  1870,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Foreman  Shipwright,  when,  on  January  22,  1872,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Assistant  Naval  Constructor,  which  position  he  still  holds,  giving 
satisfaction  to  all.  Mr.  Mallett  married  his  first  wife,  Mary  D.  Hilton,  in 
Bath,  Maine,  January  29,  1854.  She  was  born  in  Maine  in  1826,  and 
died  July  26,  1859.  Married  his  present  wife,  Mary  E.  Speck,  February 
22,  1863,  by  whom  he  has  Mary  E.,  born  April  24,  1864 ;  Lena  B.,  born 
August  13, 1867,  and  died  December  28,  1877  ;  Carrie  W.,born  March  31, 
1869 ;  George  F.,  born  September  19,  1872  ;  Levi  C,  born  July  26,  1874, 
and  William  H.,  born  September  25,  1876.  Mr.  Mallett  is  a  member  of 
the  F.  and  A.  M.  Lodge,  No.  87,  and  also  Past  Master  of  same  institution, 
as  well  as  Past  High  Priest  of  the  Naval  Chapter.  He  was  appointed  to 
select  the  Masonic  Cemetery,  and  has  very  prominently  identified  him- 
self with  other  orders. 

MUCH,  U.  S.  N.,  GEO.  W.,  the  Naval  Constructor  at  Mare  Island,  is  a 
native  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  born  on  22d  June,  1825.  Here  he  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  his  academical 
learning  at  the  Stockdale  Academy.  Here,  also,  he  learned  and  became 
proficient  in  the  ship-carpenter's  trade.  In  1846  he  went  to  New  Orleans, 
thence  down  to  the  swamps  of  Louisiana,  cutting  live  oaks  for  ship  tim- 
bers. For  two  years  he  followed  this  pursuit,  then  returned  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  married,  in  November,  1848,  Miss  Eleanor  W.,  daughter  of 
George  W.  Barn,  formerly  of  Maryland.  About  this  time  he  went  into 
business — pertaining  to  his  trade — on  his  own  account,  which  he  con- 
tinued, at  intervals,  until  1858,  when  he  was  employed  in  the  Navy  Yard 
as  foreman  of  the  construction  department.  On  May  17,  1866,  went  into 
the  regular  naval  service,  and  appointed  Assistant  Naval  Constructor ;  at 
the  same  time  received  oiders  to  report  at  Charlestown  Navy  Yard, 
Boston,  Mass.     In  1869  returned  to  Philadelphia  Navy  Yard,  where  he 


THE   HISTORY   OP  SOLANO   COUNTY.  371 

remained  until  April  15, 1871,  when  he  was  promoted  Naval  Constructor, 
and  repaired  to  the  Washington  Navy  Yard.  Came  to  Mare  Island  Navy 
Yard  in  June,  1873,  where  he  has  been  an  able  and  efficient  officer,  at 
the  head  of  the  Construction  Department. 

MACDONALD,  REV.  DAVID  F.,  D.  D.,  Rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascen- 
sion, Vallejo,  is  a  native  of  Rosshire,  Scotland,  having  been  born  there 
in  the  year  1837.  He  received  his  early  education  in  Inverness,  the  capi- 
tal of  the  Highlands,  and  thereafter  prosecuted  his  studies  at  the  Edin- 
burgh University,  at  which  seat  of  learning  he  received  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts.  In  1854  he  was  sent  with  Letters  Dismissary  by  the  Lord 
Bishop  of  Moray  and  Ross,  the  present  Primate  of  the  Scottish  Episco- 
pacy, to  the  Bishop  of  California,  and  arrived  in  that  State  in  September, 
1855,  and  was,  shortly  after,  ordained  by  Bishop  Ingraham  Kip  in  the  old 
Trinity  Church,  in  San  Francisco,  his  being  the  first  Episcopal  ordination 
held  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

In  the  following  year  he  was  directed  by  the  Bishop  to  assume  charge  of 
the  missionary  district  of  Benicia,  where  he  performed  service  in  a  tem- 
porary building  fitted  up  for  the  purpose.  While  there  Doctor  MacDon- 
ald  was  the  spiritual  adviser  of  Beverly  Wells,  the  first  criminal  hanged 
in  Solano  county.  From  Benicia  he  was  moved  to  Coloma,  El  Dorado 
county,  where  he  continued  his  missionary  labors  for  two  years,  and  built 
a  church,  and  established  a  congregation  at  Hangtown  (now  Placerville). 
In  1859  he  was  called,  as  Rector,  to  St.  John's  Church,  Stockton,  where 
he  labored  for  two  years  further,  and,  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  he 
proceeded  to  North  Carolina,  and  followed  the  fortimes  of  the  Southern 
army,  until  peace  was  declared.  At  this  period  he  was  the  recipient  of  a 
call  to  St.  James',  Olean,  Western  New  York,  where  he  remained  three 
years,  and  from  there  was  called  to  Sag-Harbor,  Long  Island,  having 
charge  of  the  Episcopal  Church  there  for  seven  years.  In  1875  he  went 
to  Sharon,  Conn.,  and,  at  the  end  of  two  years,  assumed  charge  of  Baxter 
County  School,  Arkansas,  for  one  year ;  he  then  went  to  Dardanelles,  in 
that  State,  where  he  erected  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  was 
Rector  until  1878,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Church  of  the  Ascen- 
sion at  Vallejo.  Was  created  a  Doctor  of  Divinity  in  1859.  Dr.  Mac- 
Donald  married,  first,  in  1865,  Nellie,  only  daughter  of  Daniel  Judd,  of 
Hinsdale,  Western  New  York,  who  died  in  1869,  by  whom  he  has  Flora, 
born  in  1866  ;  and  Katie,  born  in  1869.  He  married,  secondly,  at  Trinity 
Church,  New  York,  August  13,  1874,  Susannah,  daughter  of  George  W. 
Whitaker,  of  the  Manor,  Oxford,  England. 

McCUDDEN  JAMES,  dealer,  in  wood,  coal,  lumber  and  groceries,  was  born 
in  the  county  of  Fermanagh,  in  Ireland,  in  1837,  and  arrived  in  the  United 


372  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

States  in  1853,  first  settling  in  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  remained 
some  years,  when  he  came  to  California,  in  1857.  In  1861  he  opened  the 
Union  Hotel  in  Vallejo,  remaining  its  proprietor  for  ten  years.  In  1874 
his  present  business  was  established,  and  two  years  afterwards  he  first 
started  in  the  lumber  trade.  Mr.  McCudden  is  one  of  Vallejo's  most  hon- 
ored citizens;  his  election  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  1877  proving 
the  estimation  in  which  he  is  held. 

McDERMOTT,  ROBERT,  born  in  Ireland  in  1841,  and  came  to  America 
in  1842  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Lower  Canada,  where  they  re- 
sided till  1848,  when  they  moved  to  Upper  Canada.  In  1859  he  crossed 
to  the  United  States,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  McComb  county,  Mich- 
igan, remaining  there  till  1860.  In  April  of  this  year  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
A.,  Ninth  U.  S.  Infantry,  and  was  stationed  in  the  Detroit  -Recruiting 
district  for  some  time,  when  he  went  to  the  North  Pass  of  the  Rocky 
mountains,  where  he  got  his  discharge  under  the  Minor's  Act.  He  re- 
mained in  that  section  of  the  country  till  the  fall  of  1863,  when  he  again 
enlisted  in  the  First  Oregon  Infantry,  and  served  till  the  end  of  the  war. 
Arrived  in  Vallejo  in  June,  1867,  and  purchased  the  one-half  interest  of 
F.  O'Grady,  in  the  Empire  Soda  Works.  Married  April  19, 1869,  Catha- 
rine Monaghan,  a  native  of  Ireland. 

McDONALD,  T.  P.,  born  in  Galena,  Joe  Davies  county,  Illinois,  March  21, 
1850,  and  in  1857  moved  with  his  parents  to  Nevada  county,  California, 
where  he  remained  till  1867,  when  he  came  to  Vallejo,  and  entered  into 
the  employment  of  E.  McGettigan,  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business,  until 
1875,  when  he  became  clerk  at  the  Howards,  filling  that  position  till  Sep- 
tember, 1878,  when  he  formed  his  present  partnership  with  James  Ward. 
Mr.  McDonald  has  been  a  member  of  the  Vallejo  Rifles  since  1869;  held 
the  office  of  Second  Lieutenant  for  four  years,  and  was  promoted  to  be 
First  Lieutenant  in  May,  1877. 

McDONALD,  WILLIAM,  born  in  Frostburg,  Alleghany  Co.,  Maryland,  in 
1850,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to  California  in  1854,  first  settling  in 
San  Francisco,  where  they  remained  three  months,  and  then  accompanied 
them  to  Vallejo.  In  1867  he  began  an  apprenticeship  in  the  bricklayer's 
department  in  the  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,  where  he  was  employed  till 
elected  City  Marshal  by  the  Republican  party  in  1878.  Mr.  McDonald's 
father  died  in  Vallejo,  Sept.  19th,  1875 ;  his  mother  is  still  living,  how- 
ever, and  makes  her  home  with  him.  He  married,  May  29th,  1870,  Miss 
Mary  Brown,  by  whom  he  has  two  children :  Amelia,  born  April  8,  1871, 
and  William,  born  February  10,  1875. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  373 

McGETTIGAN,  EDWARD,  was  born  in  County  Donegal,  Ireland,  March 
20,  1840,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1856,  arriving  in  New  York  in 
January,  1857.  He  at  once  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  sojourned 
one  year,  at  the  end  of  which  he  sailed,  via  Panama,  for  San  Francisco, 
arriving  there  in  June,  1858.  He  lost  no  time,  but  went  to  the  moun- 
tains and  engaged  in  mining  in  Butte  county.  In  May,  1859,  he  located 
in  Vallejo.  In  1862  he  established  the  Vallejo  Brewery  in  company  with 
A.  Murray  and  James  McGarvey,  but  sold  out  his  interest  in  1865. 
Shortly  after  this  date  he  opened  the  Empire  Soda  Works.  In  1874,  the 
Vallejo  Brewery  was  in  the  market ;  he  therefore  purchased  it,  changing 
its  name  to  the  Pioneer  Brewery,  after  having  first  rebuilt  and  refurnished 
it. 

To  Mr.  McGettigan,  aided  by  General  Frisbie,  is  due  the  building  of  the 
street-car  railroad  in  Vallejo,  whereby  real  estate  was  improved  to  the 
extent  of  many  thousands  of  dollars,  enhancing  thereby  the  condition  of 
many  of  the  poorer  class  of  citizens.  He  was  twice  elected  to  fill  the  re- 
sponsible position  of  City  Trustee ;  how  well  he  discharged  the  duties  of 
that  office,  the  records  of  the  corporation  can  truly  attest ;  and  as  one  of 
the  Directors  of  the  Saving  and  Commercial  Bank,  his  true  honesty  is  best 
told  by  the  valuable  services  rendered  in  placing  that  institution  upon  a 
sound  and  solid  basis,  rendering  that  aid,  which  the  general  crash  de- 
manded, by  surrendering  the  earnings  of  twenty  years'  toil  to  meet  his 
obligations  and  perpetuate  his  honor  and  integrity  as  a  man  and  a  worthy 
citizen.  Mr.  McGettigan  is  also  largely  interested  with  General  J.  B. 
Frisbie  in  the  following  mines  in  New  Mexico :  Consolidated  Hidalgo, 
and  Esperanza  Consolidated,  ventures  which  bear  every  promise  of  being 
both  valuable  and  fruitful.     He  married  in  1864,  Miss  Mary  A.  O'Grady. 

McINNIS,  J.  A.,  (grocer)  was  born  in  Prince  Edwards  Islands  on  March 
4,  1838,  where  he  remained  till  1855,  being  raised  on  a  farm ;  emigrated 
to  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1855,  and  engaged  in  working  at  different  occupations 
till  June  7,  1857.  at  which  time  he  joined  the  U.  S.  Navy  as  a  marine 
and  was  stationed  at  the  Charleston  Navy  Yard,  making  a  cruise  on  tha 
U.  S.  "  Merrimac  "  to  the  South  Pacific  Squadron ;  stationed  there  till 
1860 ;  returned  to  Norfork.  Virginia,  and  was  transferred  to  Charlestown 
Navy  Yard,  Mass.;  remained  on  duty  as  a  non-commissioned  officer  till 
September,  1861 ;  transferred  to  headquarters,  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
joined  the  Marine  Batallion,  under  Major  John  G.  Reynolds,  and  joined 
the  expedition  under  Commodore  Dupont  and  General  W.  T.  Sherman, 
which  left  Handon  Rose,  Virginia,  for  Port  Royal,  South  Carolina,  from 
which  port  they  sailed  in  October  following  on  the  Ship  Transport 
"  Governor."  On  this  voyage,  while  off  Cape  Hatteras,  they  encountered 
a  terrible  hurricane,  the  steamer  being  wrecked  in  the  gale,  losing  one 


374  THE  HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Corporal  and  six  privates,  and,  after  thirty-six  hours,  without  food  or 
drink,  the  battalion  was  picked  up  by  the  U.  S.  S.  "  Sabine."  On 
arriving  at  Port  Royal,  the  fleet,  under  Commodore  Dupont,  bombarded 
Fort  Beauregard  and  Fort  Walker ;  silenced  their  batteries,  and  General 
Sherman's  forces  and  the  Marine  Battalion  landed  and  took  possession  of 
the  forts ;  remained  there  on  duty  till  February,  1862 ;  joined  an  expedi- 
tion, fitted  out  at  Port  Royal,  under  General  Cushman  and  Dupont,  and 
proceeded  to  Ferendino,  Florida.  On  arriving  there  the  rebels  deserted 
the  fort  and  batteries,  and  a  portion  of  the  army  was  landed  and  took 
possession  of  the  town,  fort,  and  batteries.  The  expedition  then  pro- 
ceeded to  St.  Augustine,  Florida.  On  arriving,  the  rebels  retreated,  and 
a  portion  of  the  army  landed  and  took  possession  of  the  town,  fort,  and 
batteries.  Returned  to  headquarters  at  Washington,  D.  C,  remaining 
there  off  duty  till  December  1,  1862 ;  proceeded  then  under  orders  to 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  and  joined  a  command  under  Major  A.  C.  Garland 
and  proceeded  by  steamer  for  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,  California.  While 
en  route  from  New  York  to  Aspinwall  on  the  passenger  steamer  "  Ariel," 
she  was  captured  and  made  prisoner  by  the  Confederate  States 
"  Alabama,"  (Captain  Semmes).  All  the  command  were  made  prisoners  of 
war,  their  armor  equipment  and  military  stores  being  captured  and 
taken  on  board  of  the  "Alabama."  After  twenty-six  hours  Captain 
Jones  of  the  "Ariel "  signed  a  bond  to  the  Captain  of  the  "Alabama,"  and 
was  relieved  and  proceeded  on  their  passage  to  Panama,  and  arrived  at 
Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,  California,  December  28,  1862.  Detailed  on 
service  at  San  Francisco  till  1864 ;  stationed  at  Marine  Barracks,  Mare 
Island,  as  First  Sergeant  till  June,  1876,  when  he  left  the  service  and 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Vallejo.  Mr.  M.  was  elected  one  of 
the  city  Trustees  in  March,  1878,  an  office  which  he  now  holds. 

McKNIGHT,  ANDREW,  block  and  pump  maker,  was  born  in  Liverpool, 
England,  February  11,  1825,  where  he  served  his  apprenticeship  under 
George  Roberts.  In  July,  1848,  he  sailed  from  that  port  to  America,  and 
arrived  in  upper  Canada  in  October;  in  the  succeeding  year  removing  to 
New  York,  which  he  left  for  California  in  February,  1860,  arriving  in 
San  Francisco  March  14th  of  that  year.  In  June,  1861,  he  located  in 
Vallejo,  where  he  has  since  resided,  being  employed  principally  on  the 
Mare  Island  Navy  Yard.  Mr.  McKnight  married  in  New  York,  Septem- 
ber 30,  1852,  Miss  Mary  Crawford,  a  native  of  County  Tyrone,  Ireland, 
by  whom  he  has  Andrew  J.,  born  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  September  1, 
1853 ;  Richard,  born  October  13,  1855  ;  Mary  A.  C,  born  November  19, 
1857,  married  to  Georgo  W.  McGill,  of  Vallejo ;  Joseph  Thomas,  born  in 
San  Francisco,  April  19,  1861,  and  died  April  16,  1862 ;  Elizabeth,  born 
in  Vallejo,  April  16,  1863 ;  Agnes,  born  March  25,  1866,  and  Samuel 
James,  born  October  2,  1870. 


THE     HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  375 

McKNIGHT,  ANDREW  J.,  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  September 
1,  1853,  and,  with  his  parents,  came  to  California  in  1859,  residing  first 
in  San  Francisco.  In  June,  1861,  he  accompanied  them  to  Vallejo,  where 
they  are  now  located.  Mr.  McKnight  holds  the  office  of  Deputy  Marshal 
of  the  city  of  Vallejo.     He  is  unmarried. 

McLEOD,  JOHN  C,  was  born  in  Inverness,  the  Capital  of  the  High- 
lands of  Scotland,  on  March  19,  1801,  but,  at  the  age  of  three  years,  he 
was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Pictou,  Nova  Scotia,  whither  they  had 
emigrated.  Here  he  served  an  apprenticeship  to  a  ship- carpenter,  and, 
when  seventeen,  sailed  on  the  ship  "  Harvest  Home  "  to  Whitehead,  Eng- 
land, where  he  completed  the  learning  of  his  trade,  and  from  which 
place,  in  1823,  he  sailed  for  New  York  City,  where  he  settled.  In  1828 
he  joined  the  ship  "  Sampson,"  a  vessel  bound  for  London.  At  that  port 
he  shipped  on  board  the  East  India  Company's  ship  "  Duke  of  Sussex," 
in  which  he  made  a  voyage  to  Calcutta  and  Bombay,  at  which  place  he 
arrived  during  the  ravages  committed  by  a  cholera  epidemic  in  1832. 
From  Bombay  the  vessel  proceeded  to  Canton,  China,  where,  having 
loaded  a  cargo  of  tea,  he  sailed  for  London;  here,  in  1833,  he  joined  the 
schooner  "  Bonanza,"  and  in  1834  landed  at  Monterey,  California.  Here, 
and  at  Santa  Cruz,  Mr.  McLeod  remained  for  eighteen  months,  trading 
with  the  Mexicans  and  Indians  in  tallow  and  hides,  when  the  vessel, 
taking  Mr.  McL.  and  his  freight  on  board,  sailed  for  London.  From  the 
metropolis  of  Great  Britain  he  once  more  returned  to  New  York,  and 
shipped  on  board  the  "Champlain"  to  Liverpool,  sailing  thence  to  Canton, 
China,  and  Manilla,  in  the  Phillipine  Islands,  where,  securing  a  cargo  of 
rice,  they  returned  to  Canton.  From  this  port  our  voyager  traded  to 
Batavia,  in  the  island  of  Java,  in  rice,  at  the  end  of  which  he  again 
returned  to  New  York  in  1838.  For  the  next  ten  years  Mr.  McLeod 
passed  most  of  his  time  in  trading  between  that  city  and  Liverpool,  until, 
in  December,  1849,  he  sailed  for  Panama  in  the  steamship  "Philadelphia." 
On  arrival  there  he  took  passage  in  the  "  California  "  and  arrived  in  San 
Francisco  in  January,  1850,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  Benicia,  where 
he  commenced  working  at  his  trade  in  the  employ  of  the  Pacific 
Mail  Company.  There  he  remained  until  August,  1851,  when  he  went 
to  the  Southern  mines,  prosecuting  that  life  in  Sonora  and  other  places  for 
a  short  time,  after  which  he  made  for  Sutherland's  creek,  Wood's  creek, 
and  other  mining  localities,  until  he  returned  to  San  Francisco  and 
worked  at  his  trade.  This  was,  however,  but  for  a  little  while,  for 
shortly  after,  in  1853,  we  find  him  established  in  a  building  and  repair- 
ing yard  in  Redwood  City,  a  business  he  continued  with  much  success 
until  1860,  when  he  came  to  Vallejo  and  has  since  found  employment  on 
Mare  Island  Navy  Yard.     Mr.  McLeod  married  in  Jersey  City,  Novem- 


376  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

her  25,  1842,  Mary  Farrier,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  died  in  Valjejo, 
March  9,  1878,  by  whom  there  are  three  children  living:  Mary  J.,  Sarah 
E.,  and  Isabella. 

McPIKE,  A.  J.,  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  Illinois  having  been  born  on 
February  10,  1832.  In  the  year  1852  he  emigrated  to  California  crossing 
the  plains  with  an  ox-team  having  left  his  home  on  March  23d  and 
arrived  at  Hangtown  (now  Placerville)  on  September  22  of  the  same  year- 
Remained  at  Reservoir  Hill  near  Placerville  during  the  winter  of  1854, 
organizing  and  teaching  a  common  school  but  not  meeting  with  sufficient 
encouragement  he  abandoned  that  profession  and  took  his  departure  for 
Sacramento,  arriving  there  in  January,  1855,  when  he  in  company  with 
two  others  engaged  in  the  traffic  of  young  cotton- wood  trees.  His  next 
enterprise  was  that  of  freighting  from  Sacramento  to  Yankee  Jims,  Au- 
burn, Iowa  Hill,  etc.,  with  a  six-mule  team.  In  June  of  the  same  year  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  three  others  and  contracted  to  build  about 
four  miles  of  flume  on  the  old  Eldora  ditch  from  Michigan  Bluffs  up 

,  Eldora  canon,  which  enterprise  was  surmounted  in  spite  of  many  difficul- 
ties. In  May,  1862,  Mr.  McPike  came  to  Vallejo,  but  in  common  with 
others,  in  the  following  October  he  went  to  Washoe,  arriving  in  Virginia 
city  on  the  23d  of  that  month.  At  this  time  he  visited  all  the  principal 
mines  and  worked  in  one  of  the  most  celebrated,  and  thereafter  took  a 
situation  in  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of  Sydnor  &  Carlyle  as  salesman, 
remaining  with  them  and  their  successors  Sloat  &  Finney  until  Septem- 
ber, 1863.  The  White  House  was  just  being  completed  ;  he  leased  the 
same  and  carried  on  the  business  successfully  for  two  years,  when  he 
sold  out  on  account  of  failing  health,  and  visited,  in  August,  Plumas 
county,  and  there  invested  in  hydraulic  and  gravel  mines.  In  October 
he  revisited  Virginia  city  where  he  married,  immediately  after  returning 
to  Genesee,  on  Grizzly  Creek,  where  he  had  established  his  residence. 

At  the  time  Mr.  McPike  had  taken  an  active  part  in  local  politics  and 
the  Democratic  party,  to  which  he  had  always  adhered,  having  been  that 
year  successful,  he  was  tendered  the  position  of  Deputy  Sheriff  by  the 
Sheriff  elect,  James  H.  Yeates,  which  he  accepted,  still  retaining  his  mining 
interests,  but  Yeates'  election  was  contested  by  the  Republican  nominee, 
Stephen  J.  Clark,  and  given  by  the  Courts  in  favor  of  the  former,  but  on 
appeal  to  the  Supreme  Court  the  decision  of  the  lower  Courts  was  re- 
versed and  Clark  installed  in  the  office.  In  the  whole  of  the  transac- 
tions connected  with  this  case,  which  at  the  time  created  much  interest, 
the   subject  of  this   sketch  took  a  prominent  part. 

In  May,  1867,  he  returned  to  his  mining  interests  at  Genesee  and  Grizzly 
Creek,  in  August  of  the  following  year  sold  out  at  a  great  sacrifice, 
and  in  September  following  moved  to  Chico,  Butte  county,  residing  there 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  377 

until  March,  1869.  On  the  17th  of  that  month  he  arrived  in  Vallejo, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  From  1869  to  1872  he  was  employed  as 
book-keeper  and  salesman  to  W.  Stannus  Shellhorn  and  William  and  W. 
N.  Stannus,  and  in  July,  of  the  latter  year,  he  was  tendered  ■  the  position 
of  book-keeper,  cashier  and  collector  to  the  Vallejo  City  Water  Company, 
a  position  which  he  still  holds.  In  March,  1874,  Mr.  McPike  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  Vallejo,  having  again  been  elected 
in  1876  ;  in  this  year  he  was  also  Secretary  to  Naval  Lodge,  of  F.  A.  M., 
as  well  as  for  the  Naval  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  and  is  now  Most  Worthy 
Patron  of  Silver  Star  Chapter,  O.  E.  S.,  No.  3,  and  has  been  agent,  at 
Vallejo,  for  nearly  three  years  of  the  iEtna,  of  Hartford,  Insurance 
Company.  In  1876,  was  appointed,  by  Governor  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  Com- 
missioner of  Deeds  for  the  State  of  New  York,  and  has  received  a  like 
position  from  Governor  Grover,  of  Oregon. 
Mr.  McPike  married,  at  Virginia  city,  October  3,  1864,  Miss  Bettie  Hali- 
day,  by  whom  he  has :  La  Fayette,  born  on  Grizzly  creek,  June  25,  1865; 
Willie,  born  October  31,  1867  ;  Andrew  Jackson,  born  at  Vallejo,  August 
30,  1869 ;  Henry,  born  December  5,  1871.  Mrs.  McPike  died  March  27, 
1874.  He  married,  secondly,  November  3,  1874,  Miss  Minerva  Domigan, 
of  Sonoma,  and  has:  Charley,  born  January  30,  1876;  and  Mary  M. 
born,  November  20,  1877. 

MURPHY,  CHARLES,  born  on  Bere-island,  in  the  bay  of  Bantry,  about 
1822.  At  the  age  of  three  or  four  the  family  moved  to  the  main  land, 
within  a  mile  of  the  town  of  Castletown,  Berehaven,  county  Cork,  Ire- 
land. Sailed  from  Liverpool  in  the  ship  "  Torilento,"  and  landed  in  New 
York  in  June,  1840 ;  after  remaining  there  some  time  went  to  New  Lon- 
don, Connecticut,  then  returned  to  New  York.  In  1844  went  to  Phila- 
delphia ;  thence  to  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  from  there  to  Norfolk,  where 
he  sailed  in  the  clipper  ship  Viola,  Capt.  Fitzerald,  for  Chagres,  and  sailed 
for  San  Francisco  in  the  brigantine  Soledad,  84  passengers  from  Norfolk, 
Va.  Went  to  Sacramento  on  a  sloop,  the  passage-money  being  $32  ;  then 
staged  to  Sutter's  mill,  Coloma.  Two  days  after,  started  for  Ford's  bar 
on  the  middle  fork  of  the  American  river.  Returned  to  Sutter's  post 
office.  Went  on  a  prospecting  trip  ;  failed  to  get  anything.  Next  went 
to  Georgetown  ;  started  for  the  North  Yuba,  via  Kelly's  bar,  north  fork  of 
American  river,  and  Johnson's  ranch,  on  Bear  river.  Some  time  after 
went  on  the  Gold-lake  expedition,  where  he  met  his  friend  Michael  Kane, 
of  Front  street,  feeding  on  wild  potatoes  and  leeks.  In  January,  1852, 
while  searching  for  mules  the  Indians  had  driven  off,  was  shot  through 
the  arm  and  laid  up  three  mpnths.  On  August  28,  1852,  with  four  or 
five  others,  discovered  and  located  the  Buttes  quartz  mine ;    laid  claim  to 

1500  feet.     Afterwards  engaged  in  the  building  business  in  San  Fran- 
cs o  o 


378  THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

cisco;  next  went  to  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard  and  there  worked  a  year:  this 
was  in  1859.  Next  employment  was  the  building  of  St.  Francis  Cotholic 
church,  at  Vallejo.  Lastly,  the  excavation  for  the  stone  dry  dock,  for 
which  he  claims  $90,000.  The  case  is  set  for  trial  in  April,  1880.  At 
present  he  is  attending  to  his  vineyard,  about  three  miles  from  Napa  City, 
and  a  farm  of  800  acres,  two  miles  distant  from  the  same.  Resides  at 
Vallejo.     Is  married,  but  has  no  family. 

NORTH,  JOHN,  dealer  in  groceries  and  provisions;  was  born  in  Nova 
Scotia,  in  the  year  1823.  In  1841  he  first  left  his  home,  and  was  variously 
employed  in  different  parts  of  the  Eastern  States  until  1852,  when  he 
arrived  in  San  Francisco,  and  resided  there  till  the  beginning  of  1853, 
when  he  moved  to  Mare  Island  and  managed  a  boarding-house,  for  Seacor, 
Harmon  &  Co.,  continuing  there  until  the  winter  of  1854,  when  he  again 
returned  to  San  Francisco  and  engaged  with  Jones  Coll,  in  the  dairy 
business,  and  once  more  returned  to  Vallejo,  having  purchased  the  interest 
of  Joseph  Turner  in  the  Central  Hotel,  he  remaining  interested  in  that 
establishment  for  one  year.  In  1855  he  retired  from  the  hotel  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Vallejo,  for  the  purpose  of  rearing  stock. 
In  1865  Mr.  North  disposed  of  his  ranch,  and,  accompanied  by  his  wife 
went  to  visit  their  relatives.  On  arriving  at  Amesbury,  they  found  that, 
in  the  interval  between  leaving  California  and  arriving  at  their  destina- 
tion, by  a  strange  fatality,  Mrs.  North's  mother  had  died  in  Massachusetts, 
while  his  own  had  departed  this  life  in  Nova  Scotia — a  double  stroke  of 
ill-news.  Now  Mr.  North  invested  in  a  farm  at  Wenham,  Massachusetts! 
upon  which  he  resided  for  twelve  months,  when  he  disposed  of  it  and 
went  to  Nova  Scotia,  returning  to  Amesbury  and  engaging  in  the  grocery 
business.  In  1869  he  again  arrived  in  California,  and  in  1870  established 
himself  in  his  present  business.  Mr.  North  married  in  1865,  in  St.  Louis, 
Sierra  county,  Matilda,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Elizabeth  Osgood,  of 
Amesbury,  Massachusetts. 

O'BRIEN,  THOMAS  E.,  is  a  native  of  New  York  City,  having  been  born 
there  on  January  26,  1850.  In  1852  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  first  settled  in  San  Francisco.  When  five  years  of  age  he 
accompanied  them  to  Vallejo,  and  in  1871  he  went  to  Sacramento,  where 
he  was  employed  for  three  years  in  an  auction  house,  when,  in  1874,  he 
returned  to  Vallejo  and  opened  his  present  place  of  business  as  a  furni- 
ture dealer. 

O'GRADY,  FRANK,  born  in  Columbia  county,  New  York,  in  1848.  In 
the  year  1854  he  went  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Rockford,  Winne- 
bago county,  Illinois,  and  followed  the  movements  of  the  Illinois  Central 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  379 

railroad  till  it  reached  Galena,  and  from  thence  to  Grant  county,  Wiscon- 
sin. In  1861  he  removed  to  California  and  served  his  time  as  carriage- 
maker,  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  five  years.  "Went  into  partnership 
in  1870  with  his  brother,  who,  having  died,  he  associated  himself  with 
R.  McDermott,  in  the  Empire  Soda  Works.  Is  Captain  of  the  Val- 
lejo  Company  of  Rifles,  National  Guard  of  California. 

PEARSON,  GUSTAVUS  0.,  was  born  at  Ravenna,  Portage  County,  Ohio, 
July  17th,  1827,  and  with  his  parents  went  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  arriving 
early  in  June,  1832,  at  the  time  when  an  Indian  war,  known  as  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  was  at  its  height.  Chicago  was  an  insignificant  trading  post, 
guarded  by  a  stockade,  called  by  courtesy  Fort  Dearborn.  There  was  no 
harbor  or  wharf.  Vessels  that  occasionally  visited  this  remote  post  an- 
chored some  distance  from  shore,  landing  passengers  and  discharging 
freight  with  small  boats  on  the  sandy  beach  of  the  lake,  near  the  outlet 
of  the  sluggish  stream  called  Chicago,  or  Skunk  River,  by  the  aborigines. 
Upon  arrival  the  Pearsons  were  kindly  invited  by  Colonel  Whistler,  who 
was  a  friend  of  the  family  and  in  command  of  the  fort,  to  reside  inside 
the  stockade.  They  remained  until  the  arrival  of  General  Scott,  with 
troops,  in  July  of  1832.  These  troops  came  by  steamer — the  first  that 
broke  these  prairie  solitudes  with  the  roar  of  steam.  Cholera  made  its 
appearance  immediately  after,  causing  an  exodus  from  the  place  of  all 
who  could  leave.  Mr.  Pearson's  father  took  his  family  to  Danville,  Illi- 
nois, one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  south  of  Chicago,  which  was  the 
nearest  point  of  safety  from  Indians,  a  company  of  rangers  being  stationed 
there. 

In  1836  the  father  of  Mr.  Pearson  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Northern 
District  of  Illinois,  which  embraced  a  number  of  counties  in  the  eastern 
and  northern  parts  of  the  State.  A  residence  in  the  district  was  required, 
and  he  removed  to  Joliet,  Will  County,  Illinois. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  well  grounded  in  the  classics  at  an  early 
age,  having  received  the  care  of  a  kind  and  scholarly  father  as  well  as 
excellent  teachers :  attended  Bishop  Chase's  Jubilee  College  in  Peoria 
county,  Ills.;  the  Clarkson  Academy,  Monroe  county,  New  York,  and 
Alleghany  College,  Meadville,  Pennsylvania. 

In  1844,  to  gratify  his  father,  rather  than  follow  his  own  inclinations, 
he  began  the  study  of  law  with  Judge  McRoberts,  in  Danville,  Ills.  The 
year  following  a  position  was  secured  with  Joel  A.  Mattison  (afterwards 
Governor  of  Ills.)  at  Joilet,  Ills.,  who  carried  on  an  extensive  and  diversi- 
fied business  —  wholesaling  and  retailing,  manufacturing,  contracting, 
banking,  etc.  The  fundamental  principles  acquired  in  this  practical 
school  of  business  ripened  into  a  knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  life  which 
were  of  inestimable  advantage  to  a  young  man  who  had  determined  on 
becoming  a  merchant. 


380  THE   HISTORYFO   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

In  1847,  a  Mr.  Ingersoll  headed  a  small  company,  composed  of  persons 
residing  in  the  vicinity  of  Joilet,  and  started  for  Oregon  and  California, 
across  the  plains.  Mr.  Mattison  held  a  power  of  attorney  for  disposing 
of  an  amount  of  property  left  by  Ingersoll.  The  year  following  instruc- 
tions came  from  Ingersoll  (who  had  reached  California  a  short  time  before 
gold  was  discovered)  to  dispose  of  his  property  ;  purchase,  and  ship  live 
hundred  barrels  of  dried  apples,  by  water,  to  San  Francisco,  and  give 
whatever  remained  to  his  relatives  —  that  he  was  a  millionaire,  etc.  A 
member  of  the  Ingersoll  company,  named  Cutting,  returned  to  Joliet  in 
September,  1848,  and  brought  $2,700  in  gold  dust  which  he  had  taken  out 
of  a  claim  with  pan  and  shovel  in  three  weeks.  This  man  confirmed  all 
that  Ingersoll  had  written.  The  people  of  Joliet  were  not  exceptional ; 
the  whole  country  was  wild  with  excitement  concerning  the  new  El 
Dorado. 

Mr.  Pearson  was  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  adventure ;  and 
although  offered  every  inducement  by  Mr.  Mattison,  even  that  of  a  part- 
nership interest,  if  he  would  remain,  fitted  out  a  wagon  and  ox  team, 
started  for  California,  March  18,  1849 ;  passed  through  Illinois  and  Iowa  • 
crossed  the  Missouri  river  at  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  May  1st,  arriving  at  Salt 
Lake  City  in  June,  remaining  until  September.  While  among  the  Latter 
Day  Saints,  Mr.  Pearson  familiarized  himself  with  the  working  of  their 
institutions  ;  reaped,  with  a  sickel,  five  acres  of  wheat ;  threshed  it  with 
a  flail,  and  winnowed  it  with  the  wind,  by  pouring  the  grain  with  a  meas- 
ure from  a  staging,  upon  a  wagon  cover  spread  upon  the  ground  :  forty 
bushels  of  clean  wheat  —  one  fifth  of  the  amount  —  was  his  reward  for 
this  labor. 

Brigham  Young,  who,  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  season,  had  been  more 
than  friendly  towards  the  emigrants,  showed  his  true  character  as  soon  as 
they  were  in  his  power.  He  offered  them  the  alternative  of  joining  the 
Mormon  Church  or  making  a  wagon  road  from  Salt  Lake  city  to  Cali- 
fornia by  way  of  Severe  river,  Rio  Virgin,  Mohave  river  and  San 
Bernardino ;  frankly  declaring  that  it  was  an  arduous  and  dangerous  un- 
dertaking, but  a  service  the  "  Gentiles  should  perform  for  the  Saints"  as 
they  intended  to  colonize  the  country  along  the  route  as  soon  as  it  was 
opened.  A  majority  of  the  emigrants  destined  for  California  chose  road 
making,  however  difficult,  to  mormonism  and  its  abominations.  Mr. 
Pearson,  with  a  party  not  encumbered  with  families,  were  first  to  start  on 
this  journey  of  more  than  seven  hundred  miles,  over  rugged  mountains, 
through  deep  gorges,  across  arid  deserts,  without  guides  or  knowledge  of 
the  country  to  be  traversed,  which  was  infested  with  hordes  of  savages 
ever  on  the  watch  to  murder  and  plunder.  Constant  vigilance  was  re- 
quired on  the  part  of  this  little  band  of  pioneer  road  makers ;  many  lives 
were  lost,  and  many  hair-breadth  escapes  made,  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  381 

with  another  member  of  the  company,  when  in  pursuit  of  mules  that  had 
been  stolen  the  night  before,  were  decoyed  into  an  ambuscade  and  fought 
their  way  back  to  camp,  several  miles  distant.  At  Archilet,  or  Hernan- 
dez Spring,  Nevada,  where  they  stopped  to  recruit  the  starved  animals, 
several  young  men  volunteered  to  push  forward  for  California  on  foot, 
taking  only  what  could  be  carried  upon  their  backs,  giving  the  remainder 
of  their  provisions  and  use  of  their  teams  to  the  starving  and  destitute 
families  that  had  overtaken  the  pioneer  company  at  several  points  on  the 
route.  After  great  suffering  from  hunger  and  thirst,  having  gone  two 
days  and  nights  without  water  or  food,  this  party  of  volunteers  reached, 
Cocomungo  ranch,  forty  miles  southeast  of  Los  Angeles,  remaining  for 
several  weeks,  until  the  arrival  of  their  teams.  These  wagons  were  the 
first  that  ever  passed  through  the  Cahon  Pass,  which  had  been  considered 
only  practicable  for  pack  mules. 

Mr.  Pearson  took  passage  by  schooner  from  San  Pedro,  arriving  in  San  Fran- 
cisco the  last  of  November,  1849.  His  first  night  on  shore  was  quite 
different  from  what  travelers  experience  at  present.  His  bed  was  the  sand 
of  North  Beach,  wrapped  in  his  blanket,  with  the  rain  pouring  down  upon 
him.  Not  to  be  idle,  he  accepted  a  situation  for  a  few  days  in  an  auction 
store,  until  he  could  get  passage  to  Sacramento  on  the  "  McKim,"  paying 
$25  from  San  Francisco  to  Sacramento,  on  his  way  to  Bidwell's  bar,  on 
Feather  river,  where  he  prospected  the  middle  fork  of  that  river  as  far 
up  as  the  American  bar.  Returning  to  Marysville,  procured  an  outfit 
and  started  for  the  head-waters  of  the  Yuba,  prospecting  the  Rough  and 
Ready,  Grass  Valley  and  Nevada  districts,  discovering  some  rich  diggings. 
The  idea  at  that  time  was,  that  vast  aggregations  of  coarse  gold  could  be 
found  at  or  near  the  heads  of  the  rivers  and  creeks  flowing  from  the 
snow-clad  summits,  and  the  highest  point  that  could  be  reached  at  that 
time,  on  account  of  snow,  was  Poor  Man's  creek ;  this  proving  rich,  (the 
first  pan  of  dirt  prospecting  over  seventy-five  dollars),  the  summer  of 
1850  was  passed  here,  good  luck  attending  the  labors  of  our  prospector, 
who,  coming  to  San  Francisco  in  September,  sent  a  portion  of  his  acqui- 
sition to  an  uncle  in  Pennsylvania,  for  investment,  purchased  a  stock  of 
goods  for  the  southern  mines  with  the  balance.  Owing  to  want  of  rain, 
no  mining  could  be  done.  He  sold  out  immediately  and  went  to  Ows- 
ley's bar,  on  the  Yuba,  where  he  engaged  in  butchering,  and  running  sev- 
eral quick.silver  machines.  In  February,  1851,  he  purchased  mules  and 
started  for  Rich  bar  and  east  fork  of  Feather  river,  with  mining  outfit 
and  provisions  ;   was  there  at  the  time  of  the  famine,  when  flour  com- 

,  manded  $3  00  per  pound.  Spent  several  months  prospecting  on  the  head- 
waters of  Feather  and  Yuba  rivers  ;  secured  claims  on  Durgon  flat,  near 
Downeyville,  wintering  at  Toll's  dry  diggings.  Returned  to  Chicago  in 
October,  1852,  where  he  built  the  Rock  Island  House,  on  the  corner  of 
Twelfth  and  Clark  streets,  the  first  hotel  in  that  part  of  the  city. 


382  THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

In  the  fall  of  1853  Mr.  Pearson  came  again  to  California  and  engaged  in 
farming,  near  Sacramento  city,  upon  land  that  was  regarded  as  worthless, 
by  the  Spaniards.  The  first  crop  of  wheat,  sown  in  February,  yielded 
over  forty  bushels  to  the  acre  of  grain,  weighing  sixty-three  pounds  per 
bushel.  Fruit  trees  and  a  vineyard  were  set  out,  which  proved  the  land 
to  be  far  superior  to  the  bottom,  or  overflowed  ground,  which  General 
Sutter  declared  was  all  that  could  be  cultivated. 

In  the  summer  of  1855,  a  party  from  Sherlock's  creek,  Mariposa  county, 
started  for  Yosemite  valley,  the  Indians  saying  there  was  mucho  oro 
(much  gold)  there ;  instead  of  which,  they  found  the  now  famed  "  land 
of  mountain  and  the  flood."  August  15th,  1855,  this  party,  among  them 
Mr.  Pearson,  laid  claim  to  the  valley,  hewing  the  bark  from  the  side  of  a 
huge  pitchpine  tree,  standing  at  the  west  or  lower  end  of  the  valley,  near 
where  the  trail  crossed  the  Merced  river ;  upon  the  bared  trunk  they  set 
forth  their  claim  to  the  valley,  with  the  names  of  the  claimants,  eleven 
in  number. 

In  1856  Mr.  Pearson  returned  to  Chicago  and  embarked  in  the  general  com- 
mission business  with  marked  success,  until  the  year  1867,  when  failing 
health  compelled  his  retiring.  In  1867  he  located  at  Vallejo,  which,  from 
its  position,  favored  milling  and  grain-shipping  ;  when  returning  to  Cali- 
fornia he  brought  the  plans  for  a  grain-elevator,  and  outlined  the  plans 
for  operating  it  by  a  company — which  was  organized.  There  being  no 
statutory  provision  relative  to  warehouse  receipts,  he  drafted  a  bill,  which 
failed  to  become  a  law.  Mr.  Pearson,  fully  aware  of  the  necessity  of  such 
a  law,  in  order  that  the  enterprise  should  be  successful,  withdrew  from 
any  active  participation,  but  gave  the  company  his  plans,  from  which  was 
erected  the  first  and  only  grain  elevator  on  this  coast.  After  repeated 
failures,  Mr.  Pearson  finally  succeeded  in  having  this  warehouse  bill  passed 
April  1,  1878.  The  advantages  derived  from  such  a  law,  by  all  classes, 
is  manifest  throughout  the  Northwestern  States. 

A  partnership  was  formed  in  1868  between  Mr.  G.  C.  Pearson  and  Mr.  A.  D. 
Starr,  under  name  of  Pearson  &  Starr,  for  carrying  on  a  general  com- 
mission business.  They  located  and  built  the  Starr  mills,  at  Vallejo,  one 
of  the  largest  and  best-arranged  mills  in  the  world.  The  firm  was  dis- 
solved about  the  first  of  January,  1871,  Mr.  Pearson  selling  out  to  Mr. 
Starr.  September  13,  1864  Mr.  Pearson  married  Hattie,  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  Judge  A.  C.  Brown,  of  Ogdensburg,  New  York.  They  have  had 
four  children — three  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Though  determined  and  positive  in  character,  with  decided  convictions,  Mr. 
Pearson  is  not  sectarian  in  religious  matters,  nor  a  partisan  in  politics. 
He  writes  and  speaks  his  sentiments  freely,  never  hesitating  through  fear 
of  being  unpopular.  His  predelictions  are  democratic,  and  sympathizes 
with  the  people.     He  shuns  notoriety,  and  has  never  accepted  a  nomina- 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  383 

tion  or  held  any  office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  "  Old  Settlers'  Society," 
of  Chicago.  The  records  of  said  society  being  burned  in  the  great  fire, 
he,  in  1876,  presented  the  old  records — which  he  had  kept — to  the  His- 
torical society  of  that  place. 

POWELL,  ABRAHAM,  lumberman,  of  Vallejo.  Was  born  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  on  the  24th  day  of  January,  1828.  At  the  early  age  of 
twelve  he  visited  the  West  India  islands,  with  Captain  John  Rue.  In 
1841  he  sailed  from  his  native  city  in  the  bark  "  Madoline,"  Captain  Wil- 
liam Shanklin,  to  Europe,  making  the  return  trip  in  the  same  vessel.  This 
voyage,  which  occupied  the  lengthy  period  of  seventy-three  days, 
was  of  the  most  tedious  nature,  and  the  hardihood  of  the  young  voyager 
was  much  tested,  for  provisions  ran  out  among  the  steerage  passengers,  of 
whom  there  were  a  great  number,  so  that  all  on  board  were  necessarily 
placed  on  the  meagre  allowance  of  one  bran  biscuit  and  a  quart  of  water 
per  diem  for  three  weeks,  a  lesson  of  endurance  which  has  not  been  lost 
on  our  hero  through  his  stirring  life.  In  his  early  days  Mr  Powell  was 
employed  in  the  Navy  Yard  in  Philadelphia,  and  there  learned  the  trade 
of  a  ship-joiner  and  civil  engineering,  under  his  father,  remaining  at  this 
occupation  until  1849.  On  the  2d  December,  1846,  he  married  Sarah  L., 
daughter  of  James  Paxon,  of  Philadelphia,  the  ceremony  being  performed 
by  the  Reverend  Thomas  Brainard,  at  what  was  then  known  as  the  Old 
Pine  Street  church.  Mrs.  Powell  was  born  on  23d  October,  1829,  in  the 
native  city  of  her  husband. 

The  intelligence  of  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California  having  now  taken 
the  world  by  storm,  every  face  looked  eagerly  toward  the  New  Dorado, 
and  Mr.  Powell,  among  thousands  of  others,  started  for  the  land  of  gold. 
Leaving  Philadelphia,  his  family,  and  early  associations,  he  took  passage 
on  the  brig  "  Osceola,"  on  the  16th  day  of  January,  1849,  and  on  the 
morning  of  Sunday,  the  5th  August,  after  a  voyage  of  202  days  round 
Cape  Horn,  twelve  of  which  were  passed  at  Rio  de  Janiero,  in  the  Brazils, 
and  fourteen  at  Talcahuana,  on  the  coast  of  Chili,  he  anchored  in  the 
beautiful  bay  of  San  Francisco.  Mr.  P.,  with  characteristic  energy,  was 
up  and  doing.  He  entered  into  partnership  with  one  of  his  fellow-passen- 
gers named  William  Butcher,  in  the  business  of  builders  and  joiners. 
They  had  brought  out  many  of  the  necessaries  for  carrying  on  their 
trade — even  the  frame  work  for  houses  was  not  forgotten — and  at  once 
established  themselves  in  San  Francisco,  on  Jackson  street  above  Kearny, 
having  erected  their  own  premises,  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  old 
Philadelphia  Engine  house,  No.  12.  Orders  now  came  in  fast ;  their  first 
was  to  build  the  old  Philadelphia  auction-house,  for  Berry  &  Middleton,  on 
Jackson  street.  At  this  business  did  he  continue  till  the  beginning  of 
1850,  when  he   returned  to  the   Eastern   States,  via  Panama.     Finding 


384  .      THE  HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

himself  once  more  in  the  town  of  his  birth,  he  assumed  his  old  position 
in  the  Navy  Yard,  where  he  continued  till  September,  1854,  when  he  re- 
ceived the  responsible  post  of  master-joiner  to  the  yard  at  Mare  Island, 
in  California,  a  new  station  just  established  on  the  Pacific  coast. 
On  the  5th  of  September,  after  only  a  very  few  days  preparation,  we  find 
Mr.  Powell,  this  time  accompanied  by  his  family,  once  more  turned  towards 
the  golden  west,  and,  on  the  1st  October,  1854,  he  reported  his  arrival  to 
Captain  D.  G.  Farragut,  assumed  the  dutiesof  his  office,  and  resided  on  the 
the  island  for  three  years,  from  which  time,  until  the  year  1858,  he  had 
full  control  of  all  the  building  operations  in  the  yard.     Between  the  years 
1858  and  1861  Mr.  Powell  went  home  on  furlough,  and  again  returned  to 
Mare  Island  and  filled  his  former  position.     In  1864,  in  conjunction  with 
his  own  legitimate  employment,  he  was  called  upon  to  perform  the  duties 
of  Civil  Engineer,  both  of  which  offices  he  continued  to  fill  up  to  July, 
1865,  when  he  finally  severed  his  connection  with  the  Government.     In 
this  year  he  commenced  the  lumbering  business  in  Vallejo,  a  branch  of 
industry  which  he  still  pursues.     Mr.  Powell  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Society  of  California  Pioneers,  and  in  1869,  on  the  occasion  of  the 
fete  given  to  that  body  when  the  Central  and  Union  Pacific  Railroads 
were  joined,  he,  accompanied  by  a  portion  of  his  family,  made  the  excur- 
sion to  New  York,  attended  the  banquet  tendered  to  them  at  Delmonico's 
on  the  13th  October,  and  returned  to  the  State  in  the  following  Novem- 
ber.    In  1874  once  more  did  Mr.  Powell  visit  the  Eastern  States,  on  this 
occasion,  to  be  present  at  the  death,  as  he  was  led  to  expect,  of  his  mother, 
who  had  reached  the  ripe  age  of  88  years.     On  such  an  errand  he  thought 
not  of  tide  nor  time,  but  traveled  night  and  day,  and  on  arrival  found  that 
his  mother  still  lived ;  whether  the  sight  of  her  son,  now  full  of  years  and 
blessed  with  much  of  the  world's  goods,  gave  her  a  new  lease  of  life,  or 
what  other  cause  soever,  suffice  it  to  say,  that  she  rapidly  improved  in 
health,  and  it  was  not  till  full  three  years  after  that  she  was  called  to 
"  that  bourne  from  whence  no  traveler  returns,"  at  the  old  age  of  91.    Mr. 
Powell  is  a  man  of  vast  and  varied  information ;  his  conversational  pow- 
ers are  of  the  most  captivating  kind,  abounding  with  anecdote  and  full  of 
humor,  while,  as  a  citizen,  he  is  held  high  in  the  esteem  of  the  public. 
Added  to  these  qualifications,  a  goodby  list  in  themselves,  he  is  a  prominent 
Mason.     He  was  Master  of  Naval  Lodge  while  working  under  dispensa- 
tion, and  was  continued  so  after  the  charter  was  received  from  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  California,  while  he  holds  high  degrees  in  both  the  York  and 
Scottish  Rites  of  Masonry.     Mr.  Powell's  family  consists  of  James  H., 
born  in  Philadelphia,  Nov.  2,  1847  ;  Mary  L.,  born  in  Philadelphia,  May  1, 
1851 ;  Abraham,  born  on  Mare  Island,  August  8, 1855  ;  Priscilla  Florence, 
born  in  Vallejo,  June  10,  1864  ;  Eva  Paxson,  born  April  2,  1866  ;  Lurena 
Blanche,  born  May  19,  1868 ;  Fannie  Elizabeth  Vallejo,  born  February 
17,  1858,  died  March  5,  1863. 


THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  385 

Mr.  Powell  was  one  of  Vallejo's  first  School  Directors,  and  for  many  years 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  City  Trustees,  and  chairman  of  the  same ;  also, 
one  of  the  founders  of  its  charter. 

RICHARDSON,  HENRY  DOUGLASS,  was  born  in  Maumee,  Ohio,  October 
18, 1847.  His  father's  name  was  George,and  mother's,  Mary  Louisa  Richard- 
son, who  moved  from  the  place  of  his  birth  about  one  year  thereafter  to  the 
city  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  in  which  place  he  was  apprenticed  to  the 
printing  business,  which  he  was  engaged  in  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Rebellion.     At  the  time  of  the  raid  into  Pennsylvania,  in  1863,  the  74th 
regiment  of  the  N.  Y.  S.  N.  G.  was  called  out  and  sworn  into  the  national 
service.     At  the  time  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  drummer  in  com- 
pany "  G,"  of  that  regiment,  and  with  them  went  to  the  scene  of  conflict. 
After  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  the  riots  at  New  York  and  other  cities 
took  place,  the  regiment  was  transferred  from  Pennsylvania  to  New  York 
city,  where  it  remained  until  the  riots  ceased,  when  they  were  ordered 
back  to  Buffalo  and  there  mustered  out  of  the  U.  S.  service.     Immedi- 
ately  following,   Mr.   Richardson  shipped    in  the  navy,   for  one   year, 
sent  to  New  York,  and  was  attached  to  the  U.  S.  S.  store  ship  "  Courier," 
that  was  employed  in  carrying  ammunition  and  provisions  to  the  South 
Gulf  squadron.     The  last  voyage  in  this  ship  was  from  Boston  bound  for 
New  Orleans,  which  place  she  never  succeeded  in  reaching  as  she  ran  on 
the  reef  at  Lyniard's  Keys,  Abbaco  Island,  and  was  sunk  within  an  hour 
after  she  struck,  in  the  dead  hour  of  night.     The  crew,  with  Mr.  Richard- 
son among  the  number,  were  enabled  to  reach  the  shore  by  the  aid  of  the 
ship's  small  boats  in  safety.     The  island  was  barren  of  vegetation,  but  the 
crew  were  enabled  to  subsist  on  bread  that  was  saved  and  large  green 
turtles  that  were  caught.     For  sixteen  days  they  remained  on  the  Island, 
until  one  of  the  boats  that  had  been  fitted  up  and,  with  a  crew,  of  which 
Mr.  Richardson  was  among  the  number,  sent  to  Nassau,  N.  P.,  for  assist- 
ance, which  was  secured  in  shape  of  a  schooner  that  was  lying  in  that 
port,  partly  loaded  with  old  junk  that  had  been  gathered  for  shipment  to 
the  United  States.     The  schooner  came  to  the  island  for  the  remainder  of 
the  crew,  some  ninety  in  all.     But  before  she  was  ready  to  depart  for  the 
States,  the  yellow  fever  broke  out  that  caused  a  further  detention  on  the 
island ;  several   of    the   castaways   sickened  and,  in  a  short  time,  died. 
Finally  the  scourge  abated,  and  the  vessel  proceeded  to  New  York  and 
went  into  quarantine  and  the  crew  transferred  to  the  U.  S.  S.  "  Union," 
from  which  ship  Mr.  Richardson  was  discharged,  his  term  of  enlistment 
having  expired.     From  New  York  he  went  back  to  his  home  in  Buffalo, 
and  remained  until  just  before  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he   re-enlisted 
in  the  navy  and  again  went  to  New  York  ;  and,  at  that  time,  the  U.  S.  S. 
"  Pensacola  "  was  being  fitted  out  for  the  Pacific  Squadron,  and  to  which 
25 


386  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

man-of-war  Mr.  Richardson  was  sent  aboard  as  ship's  printer.  The  vessel 
came  out  to  California  in  1867,  calling  in  at  all  of  the  principal  ports  on 
the  Atlantic  as  well  as  the  Pacific  side  of  the  continent.  In  1869,  his 
service  having  expired,  he  went  to  San  Francisco  and  started  in  the  print- 
ing business  for  himself,  but,  it  not  proving  as  remunerative  as  expected, 
he  sold  the  establishment  and  came  to  Vallejo,  February  22,  1870,  and 
secured  a  position  on  the  "  Vallejo  Evening  Chronicle,"  where  he  remained 
for  some  three  years,  and  then  was  engaged  in  the  cigar  and  tobacco  trade 
for  himself,  on  Georgia  street,  opposite  the  Bernard  House,  for  a  year  and 
a  half,  after  which  time  he  gave  it  up  and  went  to  work  on  the  navy 
yard,  in  charge  of  the  government  printing  office,  and  remained  until 
March  1,  1879,  when  he  secured  a  position  as  "local"  on  the  "Vallejo 
Evening  Chronicle,"  where  he  is  engaged  at  the  present  time.  Mr.  Rich- 
ardson is  a  Republican  in  politics,"  and,  during  his  residence  in  Vallejo,  has 
three  times  been  elected  as  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  County  Conven- 
tion. On  March  23,  1876,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Alice  Pratt,  of 
and  at  Grass  Valley,  California,  who  was  born  in  Utah,  May  29,  1858, 
and  is  now  21  years  of  age.  The  lady's  father  and  mother's  name  was 
Mr.  W.  O.  and  Mrs.  C.  Pratt.  They  have  had  two  children  born  unto 
them,  one  of  whom,  a  daughter,  Mabel  Alice,  is  living ;  the  first,  also  a 
daughter,  having  died  when  an  infant.  Mr.  Richardson  is  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  other  societies.  In  the  Odd 
Fellows'  Order  he  has  attained  the  highest  rank  obtainable  in  the  Subord- 
inate and  Encampment  branches  of  the  Order,  and  for  the  past  four  years 
has  been  successively  elected  to  the  office  of  M.  W.  District  Deputy  Grand 
Master,  of  that  Order,  for  this  District,  comprising  all  of  the  Lodges  in 
Solano  county.  Mr.  Richardson,  at  one  time,  was  President  of  Neptune 
Hose  Company,  and  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  Library 
Association  at  its  organization.  He  has,  at  various  times,  been  solicited 
to  accept  the  nomination  for  office  under  the  county  or  city,  but  has  de- 
clined each  and  all  that  have  been  tendered  him. 

ROBINSON,  A.  T.,  was  born  in  Bristol,  Waldo  County,  Maine,  Septem- 
ber 14,  1828.  '  In  1836  he,  with  his  parents,  moved  to  Montville,  Waldo 
County,  Maine,  where  he  was  engaged  with  his  father,  farming,  until 
twenty-one  years  old,  when  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Ellsworth,  Hancock 
County,  Maine.  Commenced  business  on  his  own  account  in  the  butcher's 
trade.  Here  he  married  Mary  L.,  daughter  of  Captain  James  Plummer, 
of  Bristol,  Maine,  on  June  12,  1853.  In  March,  1854,  they  came  to  Cali- 
fornia, on  the  ship  "North  Star"  to  Panama,  then  on  the  "Yankee  Blade" 
to  San  Francisco,  arriving  on  May  6th  of  that  year,  but  went  to  Nevada 
City  shortly  after,  working  in  a  livery  stable  owned  by  John  A.  Lancaster. 
Eight  months  thereafter  purchased  some  mines,  which  he  operated  until 


THE  HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  387 

the  Fall  of  1857,  when  he  came  to  the  Sacramento  Valley,  in  Yolo  County, 
where  he  farmed  and  raised  sheep.  During  his  residence — in  1859  or 
I860 — he  purchased  one  half -interest  in  the  livery  stable  of  John  A.  Lan- 
caster, at  Nevada  City,  from  Mr.  Saxly,  the  junior  partner  of  the  firm. 
He  sold  his  interest  about  four  years  ago.  He  maintained  a  continuous 
residence  in  Yolo  County  until  1870,  at  which  time  he  came  to  Vallejo, 
buying  a  stock  of  goods  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack.  A.  J.  Plummer  is  now  his 
partner,  and  they  are  doing  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Plummer  & 
Robinson.  Since  Mr.  Robinson's  residence  in  Vallejo  he  took  an  active 
part  in  organizing  the  Vallejo  Savings  and  Commercial  Bank,  and  was 
appointed  one  of  its  directors,  being  a  heavy  stockholder.  During  the 
bank's  financial  troubles  a  few  years  since,  and  when  all  thought  it  must 
surrender,  Mr.  Robinson  accepted  the  position  as  its  president,  and  was 
one  of  the  number  who  paid  all  its  indebtedness,  again  placing  it  on  a 
solid  foundation,  and  then  resigned  his  position.  His  children  are  Thomas 
L.,  born  June  23,  1858;  Elmore  E.,  born  February  5,  1862;  Mary  L.,  born 
December  3,  1866;  Ralph,  born  August  23,  1869. 

ROE,  GEORGE,  was  born  in  Elmira,  New  York,  August  28,  1854.  He 
came  to  California  in  March,  1870,  with  his  parents,  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Suisun,  Solano  county,  where  he  clerked  for  several  months  in 
Dr.  J.  F.  Pressley's  drug  store.  In  the  Fall  of  1870  the  family  moved  to 
Vallejo,  and  in  December,  1871,  young  Roe  entered  the  office  of  the  "So- 
lano Democrat,"  a  weekly  paper  published  by  Thompson  &  Linthicum,  as 
•  printer's  devil.  He  was  soon  promoted  to  the  case,  and  afterward,  when 
his  employers  started  the  "Daily  Independent,"  he  was  made  city  editor. 
Subsequently  he  purchased  the  material  of  the  office,  and  commenced  the 
publication  of  a  daily  morning  paper. 

RONEY,  JAMES,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 20,  1847,  and  here  received  the  ordinary  elements  of  education  as 
well  as  the  academical  branches  of  learning.  When  only  sixteen  years  old 
he  went  out  to  defend  the  honor  and  integrity  of  his  country  he  loved  so 
well,  enlisting  in  Company  B,  Second  Pennsylvania  Artillery,  serving  in 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  honorably  discharged  at  the  close  of  the 
war.  April  1,  1869,  he  emigrated  to  this  State,  coming  via  the  Isthmus, 
and  settled  in  Vallejo.  On  June  30, 1874,  he  bought  the  "Vallejo  and  San 
Francisco  Express,"  and  is  now  transacting  the  business  with  Mr.  Good, 
the  firm  being  Good  &  Roney.  Married,  in  Vallejo,  Miss  Anna  E.,  daughter 
of  William  Shillingsburg,  on  July  31,  1870.  William  S.,  born  April  19, 
1872;  Isabella  M.,  born  August  18,  1874;  Walter  A.  and  George  A.,  born 
December  18,  1876;  and  Jessie,  born  March  26,  1879;  are  the  names 
of  their  children. 


388  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

SAUNDERS,  JAMES  0.,  born  in  Gottenburg,  Sweden,  on  December  13, 
1819,  remaining  there  till  he  was  bound  apprentice  to  Captain  James  Nye, 
on  board  the  brig  "  Fornax,"  in  which  he  sailed  for  New  Bedford,  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  arrived  on  November  10,  1830.     Was  with  Captain 
Nye  for  two  years,  when  he  left,  but  still  continued  to  follow  the  mercan- 
tile marine  till  1837,  when  he  returned  to  Sweden  to  visit  his  mother,  and 
in  that  year  brought  her  out  to  America.     In  1843  he  first  shipped  in  "  the 
service,"  and  served  in  the  "Falmouth,"  sloop-of-war,  one  year,  afterward 
in  the  "Constitution"  for  thirty  months,  during  which  he  sailed  round  the 
world,  having  visited  China  and  other  countries,  arriving  on  the  Pacific 
coast  on  January  1,  1846,  off  Monterey.     Immediately  after  proceeded 
with  the  squadron,  under  Commodore  John  P.  Sloat,  to  Mazatlan,  where 
they  anchored  for  three  months;  after  which  he  sailed,  calling  at  Val- 
paraiso and  Rio  de  Janeiro,  convoying  eight  vessels  from  the  latter  port 
to  Boston,  where  they  paid  off  in  1846.     In  the  Fall  of  the  same  year  he 
reshipped  in  the  "Edith,"  belonging  to  the  Quartermasters'  Department, 
and  sailed  for  the  coast  of  Mexico,  acting  as  a  transport,  and  remaining 
there  until  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  when  he  returned  to  New  York,  in 
June,  1847.     Mr.  Saunders  next  purchased  a  sloop,  and  sailed  out  of  New 
York  for  six  months ;  and  having  reshipped,  ultimately  came  back  to  New 
York,  and  remained  there  till  1849,  when,  on  March  2d,  he  sailed  in  the 
ship  "Loo  Choo,"  of  Boston,  for  California,  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco 
on  September  8th  of  that  year.     He  lost  no  time  in  going  to  work,  first 
as  a  lighterman,  but,  only  remaining  at  this  occupation  for  two  weeks,  he 
went  to  Hangtown,  now  Placerville,  and  stayed  there  a  week,  and  finally 
left  in  disgust.     He  then  moved  to  Sacramento,  and  there  bought  a  lighter, 
and  started  for  San  Francisco.     On  the  way  he  and  his  partner  chopped 
four  cords  of  wood,  which  they  sold  on  the  journey  for  twenty-five  dol- 
lars per  cord.     On  arrival  at  San  Francisco,  went  to  chopping  wood  on 
Mission  Bay,  and,  bringing  it  round  to  the  city,  he  sold  the  four  cords  at 
fifty  dollars  each.     He  now  employed  himself  with  lightering  until  the 
end  of  June,  1850,  when  he  returned  to  the  mines,  going  to  the  Yuba 
River,  at  a  place  called  Indian  Valley.      Stayed  there  two  months,  and 
returned  to  San  Francisco,  and  again  engaged  at  lightering  till  Novem- 
ber, when  he   went  to  the  southern  mines  in  Garota,   Big   Oak  Flat, 
where  he  settled  down  for  the  Winter,  having  built  himself  a  log  cabin 
and  made  all  snug.     In  the  Spring  of  the  following  year  proceeded  to 
Maxwell's  Creek,  remaining  there  six  weeks ;  then  returned  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, where  he  arrived  on  May  4,  1851,  two  or  three  days  after  the  big 
fire,  when  the  whole  city  was  in  ashes.     Mr.  Saunders  now  shipped  on 
the  "Northerner,"  for  New  York,  arriving  there  in  June,  and  after  two 
months  he  removed  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  where  he  lived  two  years,  and 
once  more  sailed  for  California,  arriving  on  April  1, 1854.     After  sojourn- 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  389 

ing  in  San  Francisco  for  three  months  we  again  find  Mn  S.  on  the  Feather 
River,  where  he  worked  till  the  month  of  November,  when  he  again 
sought  San  Francisco  and  recommenced  boat-work,  which  he  continued 
till  March  1,  1855,  when  he  came  to  Vallejo  and  got  employed  in  the 
Navy  Yard  on  Mare  Island,  where  he  has  been  ever  since.  Is  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Vallejo  Pioneer's  Association.  Mr.  Saunders  married,  in 
Boston,  July  26,  1851,  Miss  Josephine  Gunnison,  by  whom  he  has  living: 
John  0.,  born  August  17,  1853;  James  H.,  born  August  1,  1856;  Charles 
F.,  born  March  8,  1857;  Annie,  born  October  ,  1864;  and  Maria  E., 
born  December  25,  1869. 

SHEEHY,  ROBERT,  grain  merchant,  was  born  in  the  county  of  Kerry, 
Ireland,  in  1821,  and  came  to  America  early  in  1849.  The  spring  of  the 
following  year  found  him  struggling  in  the  human  tide  which  had  set 
towards  California;  arriving  in  Tuolumne  County,  he  first  engaged  in 
the  occupation  of  mining  in  May,  1850,  but,  only  remaining  there  four 
years  and  a-half ,  he  started  for  the  Eastern  States,  crossed  the  plains,  and 
purchasing  cattle,  returned  by  the  same  route,  bringing  his  stock  with 
him,  and  once  more  entered  the  Golden  State  in  1855,  establishing  himself, 
in  the  Suscol  Valley,  at  that  time  included  in  Solano  County.  In  the 
year  1858,  he  commenced  farming  on  a  large  scale,  an  occupation  which 
he  now  combines  with  his  other  business.  Mr.  Sheehy  is  the  proprietor 
of  3,000  acres  of  land  in  Napa  county,  a  fine  estate,  which  includes  large 
tracts  of  pasture  lands.  In  1869  he  removed  with  his  family  into  the  city 
of  Vallejo,  where  he  still  resides.  Mr.  Sheehy  married  in  Napa  county, 
on  the  8th  of  January,  1860,  Miss  Margaret  Tormey,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
who  was  born  in  1840,  by  whom  he  has  five  sons,  John  P.,  Augustine  L., 
Robert  V.,  Francis  B.,  and  Eugene  V.  P.;  and  five  daughters,  Ellen  S., 
Mary  A.,  Josephine,  Louisa,  and  Ada  M. 

SHIRLAND,  H.  R.  FRANCIS,  butcher,  of  Vallejo,  was  born  in  Westhaven 

Rutland  county,  State  of  Vermont,  on  September  22,  1818.  In  1828  went 
to  school  in  Potsdam,  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York  State,  remaining 
there  until  he  was  eleven  years  of  age,  when  he  was  seized  with  a  desire 
to  see  foreign  lands,  and  ran  away  to  sea ;  made  two  voyages  to  the  West 
Indies,  and  was,  on  his  return,  again  sent  to  school  at  the  Castleton,  and 
afterwards  to  Poulteney  Seminaries,  in  Rutland  county,  from  whence,  he 
worked  with  Peter  Comstock,  in  his  store  at  Petersville,  Washington 
county,  where  he  stayed  for  two  years ;  was  then  steward  of  the  Troy 
House,  in  Troy  City,  for  two  years,  after  which,  he  went  to  Howard's 
Hotel,  where  he  remained  five  years  and  six  months.  In  July,  1846,  he 
left  the  United  States  and  visited,  in  turn,  South  America,  the  East 
Indies,  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Madagascar,  Mauritius  and  Isle  of  France ; 


390  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

made  an  attempt  to  cross  the  Egyptian  Desert  from  Suez,  in  the  Red  Sea, 
to  Alexandria,  on  the  Mediterranean,  but  did  not  go  further  than  Aden, 
in  Arabia,  from  whence,  he  returned  to  Bombay,  in  the  East   Indies, 
where  he  took  ship  and  went  to  London,  England.     He  then  visited 
Bremen,  in  Germany,  Havana  in  Cuba,  thence  back  to  New  York.     At 
this  time  the  city  was  in  a  state  of  the  most  intense  excitement,  on 
account  of  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California.     Mr  Shirland,  therefore, 
only  remained  eight  days  there,  when  he  started  for  Chagres,  on  the 
Atlantic  side  of  the  Isthmus,  in  the  steamer  "  Falcon,"  calling  at  Charles- 
ton, Savannah,  and  Havana,  thence  to  port  of  destination.     On  arrival  he 
hired  a  canoe,  with  one  Indian  and  a  boy,  to  take  him  up  the  Chagres 
river,  landed  at  Gorgona,  and   performed   the  rest  of  the  journey  into 
Panama  on  foot.     The  year  was  the  eventful  one  of  1849.     At  this  time 
there  were  two  thousand  one  hundred  persons  at  Chagres  in  one  day 
awaiting  passage,  and  no  vessel  to  take  them,  but,  there  was  one  which 
had  her  full  complement  on  board,  and  to  her  captain  Mr.  S.  agreed  to 
pay  fifty  dollars  coin,  as  well  as  work  his  passage,  to  be  allowed  to  proceed 
in  the  ship,  which  he  did,  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco  about  18th  May, 
1849.     At  once  proceeded  up  the  river  to  Embarcadero,  now  Sacramento, 
where  there  were  but  four  houses,  belonging  to  Sam.  Brannan,  Priestly  & 
Co.,  Davis  &  Rider,  and  Jones  and  Brown.     The  city  had  been  then  already 
surveyed  and  divided  into  town  lots.     The  first  person  he  met  on  the  river's 
bank  was  Professor  Sheppard,  of  Harvard  College,  who  had  come  to  the 
Pacific  coast  on  scientific  explorations,  but  was  then  attired  in  the  typical 
costume  of  the  Californian  pioneer,  and  driving  an  ox  team.     Mr.  S.  im- 
mediately   commenced   the   transporting   business,,   to    the   mines,   with 
thirteen  yoke  of  oxen,  divided  into  three  wagons.     In  his  first  trip  up  to 
Rose's  Bar,  on  the  Yuba,  with  one  division  of  his  outfit,  he  cleared  the 
sum  of  $3,300.     He  followed  teaming  with  good  success  till  June,  1850, 
when  he    sold   out  for    $76,000,    with  which,  he   purchased  from  the 
Kelsey's  the  entire  Clear  Lake  country,  of  sixty-four  miles  square,  with 
all  the  stock,  numbering  ten  thousand  head  of  cattle  and  a  thousand 
horses.     This  was  a  most  disastrous  speculation,  for  in  eight  months  after 
the  purchase  he  was  dragging  his  way  to  the  mines  with  three  mules  and 
an  old  horse.     In  February,  1851,  he  arrived  on  Salmon  river,  during  the 
epoch  of  the  memorable  starvation,  when  he  carried  about  $800  in  his 
bosom,  but  could  not  buy  a  breakfast  anywhere.     In  1852,  along  with 
Capt.  Best  Reynolds,  John  Chapman,  Bill  Stevens,  and  others,  discovered 
the  first  quartz  ledge  on  the  South  fork  of  Scott's  river.     A .  hundred 
pounds  of  this  rock  was  despatched  to  Mofiett  &  Co.,  assayers  of  San 
Francisco,  who  returned  $13.90  as  the  proceeds,  on  the  strength  of  which, 
he,  with  his  comrades,  purchased  machinery,  shipped  it  to  Oregon,  and 
thereafter  brought  it  350  miles  overland  to  the  river,  and  erected  the  first 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  391 

quartz  mill  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State.  This  adventure  too  was  a 
failure.  The  following  spring  returned  to  Salmon  river  and  bought  out 
a  man  named  Jessup,  and  all  that  season  cut  a  quantity  of  timber.  In 
the  winter  of  1853,  he  and  Best  built  the  first  saw  mill  on  the  Salmon 
river,  getting  the  machinery  from  San  Francisco  via  Humboldt  bay,  and 
conveying  it  on  mules  to  the  place  of  erection.  The  mill  was  a  success. 
In  that  year  built  three  miles  of  flume  in  different  "riffles."  After  re- 
maining there  till  the  fall  of  1854,  having  achieved  a  certain  amount  of 
success,  he  determined  to  revisit  the  Eastern  States,  and  with  that  view 
purchased  a  ticket  in  the  "Yankee  Blade,"  on  the  voyage  in  which  she 
was  lost.  He  did  not  go  on  board  the  ship,  however,  but  went  to  Placer 
county  and  engaged  in  quartz  mining.  In  1855  commenced  business  as 
a  butcher  at  Gold  Hill,  Placer  county,  which  he  carried  on  till  1860,  when 
he  moved  to  the  Allison  Ranch  mine,  in  Grass  Valley,  Nevada  county, 
where  he  stayed  till  1865.  In  that  year  followed  up  the  Meadow  Lake 
excitement,  after  which,  went  as  butcher  with  the  workmen  on  the 
Central  Pacific  Railroad,  remaining  with  them  till  its  completion  in  1869. 
Remained  at  Truck ee  until  October  of  that  year,  when  he  came  to  Vallejo 
and  opened  a  butcher  store,  which  business  he  still  continues.  Is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Vallejo  Pioneer  Association.  Mr.  Shirland  married  in  1856, 
Miss  Mary  Orr,  of  New  York  City,  at  Pine  Grove,  Placer  county,  who 
died  in  1865.  By  her  he  has  one  daughter,  Frances,  born  December  17, 
1861. 

SIMONTON,  GEORGE  W.  The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  on  April 
21, 1824,  in  Waldo,  now  Knox  county,  Maine,  where  he  received  his  early 
education  and  resided  until  December,  1859.  In  1848  Mr.  Simonton  en- 
tered that  career  which  has,  in  after  life,  placed  him  at  the  head  of  that 
long  list  of  teachers  in  California  whose  scholars  are  now  fast  coming  into 
prominence  in  the  world.  The  first  school  in  which  he  taught  was  that 
in  Prospect,  Waldo  county,  prior  to  which  he  had  been  associated  with 
his  uncle,  Dr.  Putnam  Simonton,  at  Searsport,  a  most  accomplished  gen- 
tleman, and  from  whom  young  Simonton  received  much  of  that  learning 
which  has  stood  him  in  such  good  stead.  His  next  tuition  was  under- 
taken in  the  seminary  of  the  Hon.  M.  C.  Blake,  the  present  Judge  of  the 
Criminal  Court  of  San  Francisco,  after  which  he  entered  an  academy 
taught  by  Rev.  Edward  Freeman,  with  whom  he  remained  until  the  year 
1848,  when  he  became  Principal  of  the  school,  and  as  such  continued  till 
1859,  when  he  retired,  on  account  of  failing  health.  On  December  1, 1859, 
he  sailed  from  New  York  city,  by  way  of  Panama,  and  arrived  in  San 
Francisco  on  the  day  after  Christmas  of  that  year.  He  at  once  pre- 
sented himself  before  the  Board  of  Education,  and  being  examined  re- 
ceived a  first-grade  certificate.     Remaining  in  San  Francisco  but  a  short 


392  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY. 

time  he  proceeded  to  Benicia,  and  there  received  a  school  certificate  for 
the  county  of  Solano  from  Dr.  Woodbridge,  and  proceeded  to  the  Green 
Valley  District,  in  1861.  Here  he  remained,  teaching  school,  till  1864, 
when  he  came  to  Vallejo,  and  there  took  charge  of  the  public  schools  on 
September  2,  1864.  At  the  time  of  his  taking  charge  of  these  schools 
there  were  but  seventy  scholars,  while  his  daughter,  a  young  lady  of  some 
fifteen  years  of  age,  was  the  only  assistant  teacher  procurable ;  here  Mr. 
Simonton  labored  until  1872,  when  he  received  a  well-earned  leave  of 
absence  for  one  year.  Proceeding  to  Ukiah  City,  Mendocino  county,  Cal., 
he  there  purchased  a  private  school,  but  giving  it  up  in  May,  1873,  he 
returned  to  Vallejo,  and,  assuming  his  former  duties,  continued  to  per- 
form them  until  December,  1874.  Mr.  Simonton  was  elected  to  the  posi- 
tion of  County  Superintendent  of  Schools  in  1863,  filled  the  office  for 
six  years,  and  is  now  employed  in  the  Constructor's  Department  in  the 
Navy  Yard  on  Mare  Island.  He  married  March  4,  1847,  Harriet  A.  Ross, 
of  Rocklin,  Knox  county,  Maine,  who  died  January  3,  1868,  by  whom  he 
had  eight  children,  there  being  now  living,  Fred.  W. ;  Sophia  A. ;  Frank 
R. ;  Willis  E.  and  James  G.  Married  secondly,  Mrs.  E.  J.  Monroe,  a  na- 
tive of  New  York  State,  on  April  16,  1870. 

SMITH,  JAMES  G.,  is  a  native  of  Cheltenham,  England,  having  been  born 
January  27,  1836.  He  came  to  America  in  1857,  and  having  spent  one 
winter  in  Rochester,  New  York,  went  westward,  and,  on  arrival  at  Fort 
Leavenworth,  Kansas,  he  enlisted  as  a  cattle  drover  to  the  Government, 
for  the  purpose  of  driving  stock  to  Salt  Lake  City.  Was  there  discharged, 
and  in  company  with  fourteen  others,  made  the  journey  to  Sacramento 
on  foot,  arriving  there  in  November,  1868.  His  first  permanent  settle- 
ment was  made  at  Feather  river,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  hav- 
ing remained  there  for  two  years,  in  the  winter  of  1860,  went  to  the 
mines  at  Nevada  city.  In  the  fall  of  1864  he  arrived  at  Vallejo,  and 
opened  his  present  studio,  where  he  carries  on  the  business  of  photo- 
grapher. Married  at  Vallejo  March,  1865,  Adelaide  A.,  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Ingolls,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  by  whom  he  has  Cheltie  A. ;  Waldo  E. ; 
Alfred  G. ;  and  Saxon  I. 

STEFFEN,  JACOB,  born  in  Germany,  in  1841,  where  he  remained  until 
1857,  and  then  emigrated  to  America,  and  settled  in  New  York  city,  re- 
siding till  1863,  when  he  came  to  California.  He  first  took  up  his  abode 
in  San  Francisco,  but,  in  1865,  moved  to  Napa,  but  only  sojourned 
there  two  years,  when  he  came  to  Vallejo,  and  in  1872  commenced  his 
present  business.  In  1875  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Mr.  M.  Fors- 
tenfeld,  under  the  style  of  Steffen  &  Co.,  in  a  meat  market,  which  they 
still  continue.     Is  unmarried. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  393 

TAYLOE,  M.  D.,  WILLIAM  E.,  Medical  Inspector  U.  S.  Navy,  was  born 
near  Richmond,  Virginia,  December  7,  1837.  Early  in  life,  his  parents 
removed  to  Winchester,  Virginia.  Received  his  education  at  the  Win- 
chester Academy.  Graduated  in  medicine  at  the  Winchester  Medical 
College  in  April,  1859.  Entered  the  U.  S.  Navy  as  Assistant  Surgeon  on 
the  3d  of  July,  1859.  His  first  service  was  on  board  the  U.  S.  S.  "  Sa- 
vanna," flag-ship  of  the  Home  Squadron,  from  October,  1859,  till  Novem- 
ber, 1860.  Joined  the  U.  S.  S.  "  St.  Mary's,"  at  Panama,  in  January,  1861. 
Remained  on  board  this  vessel  till  May,  1862,  during  which  time  she 
visited  a  number  of  ports  on  the  Mexican  coast,  and  spent  several 
months  at  San  Francisco  and  Mare  Island.  Returned  to  the  Eastern 
States  in  June,  1862.  Promoted  to  the  grade  of  Surgeon  U.  S.  Navy 
September  5.  1862.  On  special  duty  at  the  Naval  Rendezvous  and  Naval 
Asylum,  Philadelphia,  till  December,  1862 ;  then  on  duty  on  board  the 
U.  S.  steam-sloop  "  Iroquois,"  and  subsequently  on  board  the  U.  S.  steam- 
sloop  "  Tuscarora,"  serving  in  both  vessels  off  the  Wilmington  blockade 
until  the  spring  of  1864 ;  then  ordered  to  the  U.  S.  receiving- ship  "Ohio," 
at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  remaining  there  until  the  spring  of  1866 ;  then 
ordered  to  the  U.  S.  iron-clad  steamer"  Meantonomoh,"at  New  York,  in 
which  vessel  he  made  a  cruise  to  Europe,  returning  to  Philadelphia  in  July, 
1867.  Placed  on  waiting  orders  until  October,  1868  ;  then  ordered  to  the 
Navy  Yard  at  Mare  Island,  Cal.  Reported  for  duty  at  that  station  Novem- 
ber 26, 1868.  In  November,  1871,  ordered  to  the  U.  S.  S."Pensacola;"  from 
that  ship  to  the  U.  S.  S.  "  Saranac,"  in  December,  1872 ;  made  a  cruise  of 
three  years  in  these  two  vessels.  Detached  from  the  "  Saranac  "  Novem- 
ber 30, 1874,  and  ordered  to  the  Navy  Yard,  Mare  Island,  Cal.  Promoted 
to  the  grade  of  Medical  Inspector  U.  S.  Navy  on  the  31st  of  December, 
1876.  Detached  from  Mare  Island  on  the  first  of  October,  1878.  On  the 
first  of  November,  of  the  same  year,  reported  for  temporary  duty  in  charge 
of  the  Naval  Hospital  at  Mare  Island,  Cal.  Remained  there  until  De- 
cember 31,  1878  ;   then  detached,  and  placed  on  waiting  orders. 

Dr.  Taylor  was  married  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  October  20,  1863,  to  Miss  Char- 
lotte W.  Irwin,  a  native  of  that  city.  He  has  an  only  daughter,  Grace 
Lee  Taylor;  born  in  Charlestown,  Massachusetts. 

THOMPSON,  J.  D.,  born  in  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  March  27,  1846 
and  resided  there  until  1859,  when  he  moved  with  his  parents,  to  Monroe 
county,  Iowa.  In  1861  he  returned  to  his  native  county,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  left  for  California,  arriving  in  Honey  Lake  valley,  Lassen 
county,  California,  in  August,  1862.  Here  he  engaged  in  freight  and 
staging  till  1867,  when  he  went  to  San  Francisco,  coming  to  Vallejo  on 
March  10, 1868,  being  variously  employed  until  1873,  when  he  established 
his  present  draying  business.     Mr.  Thompson  married  April  28,  1872,  Miss 


394  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO  COUNTY. 

Jennie  Currier,  by  whom  he  has  Frankie  J.,  born  July   11,  1873,  and 
Charlie,  born  September  8,  1876. 

THOMFSON,  H.  M.,  born  in  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  February  25, 1852, 
where  he  stayed  with  his  parents  until  1858,  when  they  moved  to  Mon- 
roe county,  Iowa.  In  the  spring  of  1855  he  returned  to  the  place  of  his 
birth,  and  came  to  California  in  August,  1874,  and  took  up  his  permanent 
residence  in  Vallejo.  He  married,  November  8, 1877,  Miss  Emma  J.  Ham- 
ner,  a  native  of  Ray  county,  Missouri,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter, 
Alice  V.,  born  October  8,  1878.  Mr.  Thompson  is  occupied  in  the  busi- 
ness of  a  drayman. 

THORNTON,  T.  A.,  is  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England,  where  he  was  born 
in  the  year  1826.  In  1847  he  emigrated  to  New  York,  and  from  there 
to  Massachusetts  and  back  to  New  York,  and  finally  sailed  for  California 
March  5,  1852,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  in  the  following  April.  He  was 
variously  employed  at  his  trade  of  machinist,  and  at  the  mines  until  No- 
vember, 1853,  when  he  came  to  Mare  Island  and  commenced  working  in 
the  sectional  dry  dock,  as  Engineer.  Has  been  Dock  Master  there  since 
1877.  Is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  one  of  the  building  association 
for  the  construction  of  the  hall.  Is  also  a  vestryman  of  the  Church  of  the 
Ascension.  Married,  March  29,  1859,  Margaret  McDowell,  a  native  of 
New  York  city. 

TOBIN,  J.  F.,  was  born  in  Kilkenny  county,  Ireland,  on  August  15, 
1830.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  left  the  green  shores  of  his  native 
country,  arriving  in  America  in  1849  and  settled  in  New  York,  from 
which  place  he  emigrated  to  California,  landing  in  San  Francisco  on 
July  9,  1855.  He  remained  here  only  a  few  months  and  proceeded  to 
Vallejo,  where  he  at  once  embarked  in  the  occupation  of  a  butcher,  a 
business  he  still  continues.  In  connection  with  this  trade,  Mr.  Tobin  has 
been  largely  interested  in  farming  and  stock-raising  enterprises,  while  at 
this  writing  he  is  classed  among  the  largest  land  holders  in  the  county 
he  owning  no  less  than  three  thousand  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Tobin  is  a  man 
of  much  sterling  worth ;  is  esteemed  by  his  fellow-citizens,  while  his 
energy  has  brought  him  to  the  position  which  he  now  holds  among  his 
compeers.  He  married  in  San  Francisco,  October  12,  1860,  Miss  Catha- 
rine Lynch,  by  whom  he  has  a  family  of  five  children  living :  William 
J.,  born  Sept.  1,  1861 ;  Lizzie,  born  June  13,  1863 ;  Marie  E.,  born  Dec. 
18,  1868;  Lilly  A.,  born  Jan.  1,  1872;  and  Cecilia,  born  Dec.  6,  1878. 
Two  children  have  died,  Martin  E.  and  James  F. 

VANDERBILT,  WILLIAM  W.,  was  born  in  New  York  in  the  year  1815, 
where  he  studied  and  engaged  in  the  profession  of  a  machinist  and  engineer > 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  395 

and  afterwards  as  shipbuilder ;  was  for  many  years  in  the  service  of  his 
cousin,  Commodore  Vanderbilt,  of  New  York.  He  was  Chief  Engineer 
of  the  pioneer  steamer  "  California  "  when  she  made  her  voyage  to  this 
coast.  In  1849,  he  visited  Benicia  and,  in  this  connection,  relates  that 
water  was  so  deep  there  that  the  steamer  was  made  fast  to  the  shore, 
where  she  rode  in  perfect  safety.  Mr.  Vanderbilt  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  Pacific  Mail  Company  from  1849  to  1869,  and  for  ten  years  was  their 
General  Superintendent  of  the  Bureau  of  Hulls  and  Machinery,  during 
which  time  he  designed  and  superintended  the  construction  of  many  of 
the  company's  largest  steamers.  Having  retired  for  some  time,  he  again 
entered  the  service  of  the  P.  M.  S.  S.  Co.  in  1873,  which  he  left  in  the 
following  year  to  superintend,  in  the  interests  of  Phineas  Burgess,  of 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  the  rebuilding  of  the  single  turreted  monitor 
"  Comanche,"  and  the  construction  of  the  double  turreted  monitor  "  Monad- 
nock"  now  building  at  Vallejo.  Is  a  life  member  of  the  Society  of  Cali- 
fornia Pioneers  of  San  Francisco,  and  is  a  member  of  long  standing  of  the 
fraternity  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  He  was  married  in  New  York, 
in  July,  1840,  to  Miss  Sarah  Remer,  by  whom  he  has  two  daughters  who 
are  married  and  living  in  Vallejo. 

WALKER,  WILLIAM,  lumberman,  was  born  in  Perth,  Scotland,  and 
came  to  America  in  the  year  1842,  settling  in  Albany,  New  York,  and 
after  at  Schenectady,  New  York  ;  when,  after  a  year  in  each  place,  he  went 
to  Detroit,  Michigan.  In  this  State  he  commenced  farming  in  Lexington 
county,  but,  in  1852,  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California,  with  his  family, 
arriving  at  Hangtown,  now  Placerville,  in  August  of  that  year.  There 
he  remained  for  about  eighteen  months,  when  he  removed  to  Sacramento 
and  thence  to  Benicia,  and  commenced  working  in  the  establishment  of 
the  P.  M.  S.  S.  Co.  as  a  machinist.  Mr.  Walker  remained  eighteen  months 
at  Benicia  and,  on  February  1,  1854,  came  to  Vallejo,  where  he  has  re- 
sided ever  since.  For  the  past  sixteen  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
lumber  trade.  He  married,  first,  Jane,  daughter  of  William  Allen,  of 
Ayrshire,  Scotland,  on  November  6,  1848,  who  died  in  April,  1877,  and 
secondly,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  McKay,  on  August  18,  1878. 

WARD,  JAMES,  of  the  Bernard  House  saloon,  was  born  in  Ireland  on 
December  18,  1843,  and  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1849,  settling  in 
Franklin  county,  New  York,  where  he  lived  five  years,  after  which  he 
moved  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York.  In  June,  1862,  he  emigrated 
to  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin,  and  returned  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  New 
York,  in  1865,  coming  to  this  State  on  May  25,  1867,  and  in  December  of 
that  year,  settling  in  Vallejo,  where,  up  to  the  commencing  of  his  present 
business  in  December,  1876,  he  was  engaged  in  various  pursuits*  Married 


396  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Mary,    daughter   of    James   Rice.   September   21,    1877,  and   has   three 
children :  John  F.,  Mary  Ann  and  Margaret. 

WENIGER,  CHARLES,  resides  at  the  Summer  Resort,  about  one  mile  dis- 
tant from  Vallejo.  He  was  born  in  Prussia,  September  13,  1824.  In 
1842  he  emigrated  to  America,  and  settled  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
where  he  remained  till  the  outbreak  of  the  Mexican  war,  when  he  en- 
listed in  the  6th  Infantry  of  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  and  proceeded  to  the  scene 
of  hostilities,  being  present  at  some  of  the  principal  engagements.  After 
one  year  and  nine  months'  service  he  was  honorably  discharged ;  he  then 
returned  to  New  York,  remaining  there  until  1850,  when,  on  January  6th, 
he  sailed  for  California,  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco  on  February  23d. 
He  soon  started  in  the  liquor  business,  carrying  it  on  till  1855,  when  he 
removed  to  Vallejo,  and  opened  a  restaurant.  Sold  out  this  business  in 
1859,  and  entered  on  his  present  premises,  which  is  a  great  resort  for  the 
lovers  of  sport  for  that  portion  of  the  county.  Married,  May  16,  1855. 
Frederika  Ovir,  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  by  whom  he  has  Julia ;  Charles ; 
George  ;  Emma ;  Peter ;  John  and  Fannie. 

WENTWORTH,  JOHN,  was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Maine,  on  January  14, 
1827,  and,  when  an  infant,  was  moved  by  his  parents  to  Waldo  county,  in 
the  same  State,  where  he  remained  till  1845,  when  they  returned  to  Lin- 
coln county,  and  settled  in  Thomaston.  Here  he  attended  the  Academy, 
but  being  possessed  of  a  restless  and  adventurous  spirit,  the  quiet  life  of  a 
school-boy  became  monotonous  to  him ;  he,  therefore,  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een, sailed  in  the  ship  "  Mountaineer,"  on  a  voyage  to  Europe,  the  cruise 
occupying  six  months.  On  his  return  he  now  joined  the  ship  "  Pyramid," 
and  again  visited  Europe,  and,  making  the  return  voyage,  he  was  there- 
after, in  1848,  landed  at  Cairo,  Ills.,  from  whence  he  returned  home  by 
way  of  Cincinnatti,  Ohio.  On  his  arrival  at  Thomaston  he  bound  himself 
apprentice  to  Nathan  Reed,  a  ship-carpenter  of  that  place  ;  remaining  at 
his  trade  till  1851,  when  he  proceeded  to  Virginia,  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
curing ship's  timbers,  but  remained  there  only  a  short  time,  when  he  again 
returned  home,  and  resided  there  till  January,  1853.  In  this  month  he 
sailed  for  California,  and  arrived  at  San  Francisco  on  February  19  of  that 
year.  He  at  once  proceeded  to  El  Dorado  county,  and  engaged  in  mining 
till  1854,  when  he  returned  to  the  Eastern  States,  remaining  there  but 
three  months,  when  he  once  more  proceeded  to  El  Dorado.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1854,  he  came  to  Vallejo,  and  obtained  employment  on  Mare  Island, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade.  In  1862  he  left  the  Navy  Yard,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming,  which  he  pursued  for  four  years.  In  1867  Mr.  Went- 
worth  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Solano  county,  which  office  he  held  for 
two  years.  In  1869  he  began  business  as  a  real  estate  agent/and  con- 
tinued it  till  1875,  when,  on  May  27th  of  that  year,  he  was  appointed  Fore- 
man  Shipwright  on  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard.     He  married  at  Union, 


THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  397 

Maine,  October  22,  1852,  Miss  Maria  D.  Cummings,  a  native  of  that  place, 
by  whom  he  has  John  W.,  born  in  Vallejo,  October  3,  1858,  and  George 
A.,  born  September  1,  1862. 
WILSON,  E.  J.,  is  a  native  of  New  York,  having  been  born  in  that  State 
in  the  year  1829,  being  in  the  earlier  years  of  his  life  engaged,  principal- 
ly, in  the  manufacturing  and  lumber  interests.  On  the  twentieth  day  of 
February,  1856,  he  sailed  for  California,  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco  in 
the  following  month,  and  remaining  there  but  a  short  time  he  proceeded 
to  Shasta  county,  where  he  resided  for  one  year,  being,  for  the  most  part, 
engaged  in  mining.  In  1857  he  came  to  Vallejo,  where  he  has  ever  since 
been  identified  with  many  of  the  interests  of  that  city.  Mr.  Wilson  is 
President  of  the  Vallejo  Savings  and  Commercial  Bank  ;  Vice  President 
of  the  Vallejo  Land  and  Improvement  Association  ;  and  is  President  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  to  which  office  he  was  elected  in  1876.  He  mar- 
ried in  1851,  in  New  York,  Miss  Helen  M.  Chamberlain,  by  whom  he  has 
George  W.,  born  in  1852,  and  Hattie,  born  in  1862. 

WILSON,  JOHN,  farmer,  in  Vallejo  Township,  was  born  in  county  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  America,  in  1851,  first  settling,  for  a  few 
months,  in  Philadelphia,  and  left,  on  December  25,  1851,  for  San  Francis- 
co, which  he  reached  on  March  4,  1852.  On  his  arrival  he  proceeded  to 
Hangtown,  now  Placerville,  remaining  there  till  the  following  May,  being 
engaged  principally  in  mining  operations ;  he  then  moved  to  Solano  county, 
and  was  employed  by  Curtis  &  Clark,  the  former  owners  of  his  present 
estate,  with  whom  he  stayed  till  1855,  when,  together  with  his  brother, 
Joseph  Wilson,  they  purchased  a  drove  of  400  head  of  horses,  and  took 
them  to  New  Mexico,  where  they  were  exchanged  for  4,000  head  of  sheep, 
which  latter  the  brothers  drove  back  to  their  homes  on  the  Suscol  Ranch, 
the  undertaking  occupying  about  sixteen  months.  In  1857  Mr.  Wilson 
purchased  a  portion  of  his  present  farm,  900  acres  of  which  he  owns,  and 
has  under  the  finest  and  latest  improvements.  He  is  a  large  breeder  of 
stock,  the  horses  reared  by  him  being  among  the  finest  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Wilson  married  in  San  Francisco,  October  10,  1870,  Lavonia  Wright, 
a  native  of  Oswego,  New  York ;  they  have  one  son,  Edward. 

WILSON,  JOSEPH,  farmer  in  Vallejo  township,  is  a  native  of  county  Ty- 
rone, Ireland,  where  he  was  born  in  April,  1826.  In  1846  he  emigrated 
to  the  United  States,  and  settled  in  Philadelphia,  but  embarked  from 
there  in  December,  1851,  arriving  at  San  Francisco  on  March,  4,  1852, 
and  at  once  proceeded  to  Hangtown,  now  Placerville,  and  Weaver ville, 
where  he  engaged  in  mining  until  May,  1852,  when  he  came  to  Solano 
county,  in  company  with  his  brother  John,  and  found  employment  with 
Curtis  &  Clark,  the  former  owners  of  the  estate  now  owned  by  the  broth- 
ers Wilson.  In  1858  he  purchased  and  now  possesses  854  acres  of  land, 
comprised  in  the  finest  farming  district  in  the  county.     Mr.  Wilson  mar- 


398  THE  HISTOEY  OF   SOLANO  COUNTY. 

ried  in  Lake  county,  Indiana,  January  15, 1866,  Miss  Margaret  W.  Young, 
a  native  of  Logan  county,  Ohio,  by  whom  he  has  Jennie  Belle,  born  Octo- 
ber 10,  1866  ;  John  Andrew,  born  July  9,  1868  ;  Joseph  Ross,  born  Octo- 
ber 7,  1873 ;  Eldana  Agnes,  "born  April  22,  1876,  and  George  Wallace, 
born  January  4,  1879. 

WILLISTON,^  JOHN  EDWARD,  the  subject  of  our  memoir,  was  born  in 
Portsmouth,  Norfolk  county,  Virginia,  October  14,  1841,  where  he  con- 
tinued, with  the  exception  of  three  years,  until  1855,  when  he  went  to 
Boston  and  there  attended  school.  On  April  20,  1858,  he  embarked  for 
California.  Came  up  on  this  side  on  board  the  steamer  "  John  L.  Ste- 
phens," arriving  in  San  Francisco  May  15th  of  that  year,  and  came  di- 
rectly to  Vallejo,  to  join  his  father,  who  was  at  the  time  Assistant  Civil 
Engineer  on  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard.  On  July  4th  of  the  same  year  Mr. 
Williston,  Sr.,  with  his  son,  left  for  Victoria,  en  route  for  the  Fraser  river, 
on  board  the  clipper  ship  "  E.  F.  Willetts,"  but  returned  from  British  Co- 
lumbia in  the  following  November,  per  steamer  "  Santa  Cruz,"  and  settled 
in  Vallejo,  where  the  latter  has  since  resided.  Mr.  John  E.  Williston 
was  employed  in  various  branches  of  business  up  till  1866,  when,  in  part- 
nership with  Mr.  H.  B.  Bell,  he  opened  a  grocery  store,  but,  unfortu- 
nately, in  1869,  the  establishment  was  destroyed  in  the  great  fire  ;  with 
that  perseverance,  however,  for  which  he  is  so  famous,  Mr.  Williston  im- 
mediately rebuilt  his  grocery  and  continued  its  business  until  January 
25,  1879,  when,  on  account  of  failing  health,  he  sold  his  interest  to  Mr. 

D.  W.  Harrier.  He  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Solano  county,  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party  at  the  general  election  of  September  1,  1875,  and  the  like 
honor  was  for  the  second  time  conferred  upon  him  on  September  5, 1877; 
he  has  also  served  for  two  years  on  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  City  of 
Vallejo.  Mr.  Williston  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  of  Mount  Moriah  Encampment,  as  also  a  member  and  Secretary 
of  the  San  Pablo  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  was  also  a  member  of  Naval 
Lodge  and  Naval  Chapter  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  member  of  California  Com- 
mandery  No.  1,  of  San  Francisco.      Married  March  29,  1869,  Miss  Sarah 

E.  McLeod,  by  whom  he  has  Edgar,  Eugene,  John  E.,  and  Alice  B. 

YOUNG  ANDREW  J.,  born  in  Lincolnville,  Waldo  county,  Maine,  on  March 
20,  1829,  where  he  resided  until  1850,  when  he  moved  to  Rockland,  Knox 
county,  at  which  place  he  learned  the  trade  of  ship  carpenter,  remaining 
there  till  1859,  when  he  emigrated  to  California,  crossing  the  plains, 
and  first  settling  in  San  Francisco,  where  he  sojourned  until  1870,  when 
he  located  in  Vallejo,  of  which  city  he  is  still  a  resident.  Married  K. 
Ingraham,  at  Rockland,  Knox  county,  Maine,  on  August  16,  1855.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Young  have  an  adopted  daughter,  Efiie  E.,  married  to  Andrew 
B.  Hall,  of  Petaluma,  Sonoma  county. 


THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  399 


SUISUN. 


ALDEN  E.  B.,  of  the  firm  of  E.  B.  Alden  &  Co.,  of  Napa  and  Suisun,  was 
born  in  Lincoln,  now  Knox  county,  Maine,  January  1, 1839.  He  received 
the  benefit  of  the  public  schools  until,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  he  left 
home  to  engage  in  mercantile  pursuits.  Went  to  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1864, 
where  he  remained  the  most  of  the  time  until  February,  1869,  at  which 
time  he  emigrated  to  California,  remaining  in  San  Francisco  for  about 
nine  months  ;  from  thence  removed  to  Vallejo  and  became  employed  on 
the  Navy  Yard  at  Mare  Island,  where  he  remained  until  1875,  at  which 
time  he  became  associated  with  Mr.  A.  P.  Voorhees,  in  mercantile  trade. 
The  firm  removed  to  Napa  city  in  the  spring  of  1876,  and  in  September 
1878,  Mr.  Alden  established  a  branch  of  their  business  in  Suisun,  of  which 
place  he  has  since  been  a  resident  with  his  family.  Married  in  Sacra- 
mento, October  12,  1870,  Lydia  E.,  daughter  of  Benj.  F.  Webster,  of  Knox 
county,  Maine.  Their  children  are  :  Bertram  F.,  born  January  5,  1873  ; 
Evie  E.,  born  February,  1875,  died  the  following  July;  Edith  May,  born 
February,  1878. 

BARBOUR,  NATHAN,  was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y,  January  12, 
1813.  When  twenty-one  years  old  he  moved  to  Kentucky,  then,  after 
three  years,  to  New  Orleans,  La.,  trading  on  the  Mississippi  river,  thence 
to  Andrew  county,  Mo.,  where  he  abode  until  coming  to  California  in 
1846,  crossing  the  plains  with  an  ox-team,  and  came  to  the  banks  of 
Feather  river,  in  October  of  that  year.  A  full  account  of  Mr.  Barbour's  so- 
journeyings  are  given  in  the  county  history,  up  to  his  coming  to  his  present 
place  in  Suisun  valley.  Married  Miss  Nancy,  daughter  of  Landy  Alford, 
May  9,  1846.  She  died  October  15,  1868.  Armelia  (deceased),  Eli,  Nan- 
cy, Nathan,  Julie,  Nellie  May,  and  Florence  Katie  are  their  children. 

BATEMAN,  J.  K.,  County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  a  native  of  High- 
land county,  Ohio,  was  born  January  14,  1850.  From  a  very  early  pe- 
riod of  his  life  he  was  a  lover  of  books,  and  while  attending  the  public 
schools  in  his  birth-place  made  rapid  progress  in  his  studies,  finishing  his 
academical  education  in  the  National  Normal  School,  of  Lebanon,  Warren 
county,  Ohio.  In  after  life  the  classic  poets  were  added  to  his  store  of 
intellectual  enjoyment.  September,  1868,  then  only  eighteen  years  old,  he 
commenced  teaching  public  schools,  which  occupation  he  followed  up  to 
the  time  he  was  elected  to  his  present  office,  on  September  5, 1877.    Came 


400  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

to  California,  arriving  August  31,  1873,  settling  in  this  county  at  Elmira, 
and,  after  two  years,  went  to  his  former  home,  remaining  one  year,  then 
returned  to  this  county,  settling  in  Dixon.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  Sui- 
sun,  Cal.,  beloved  by  his  many  friends  and  respected  by  the  citizens  of 
the  place  in  which  he  lives. 

BATEMAN,  JOHN  M.  K.,  is  a  native  of  Highland  county,  Ohio,  and  born 
11th  December,  1837.  Received  his  education  at  the  National  Normal 
School  of  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  the  New  Jersey  State  Normal  School  at 
Trenton.  Left  Ohio  in  May,  1874,  and  came  to  California,  first  settling 
at  Riverside,  San  Bernardino  county;  thence  to  Oakland,  and  Dixon, 
Solano  county,  thence  to  Santa  Cruz,  and  in  June,  1878,  came  to  Fair- 
field, this  county,  taking  charge  of  the  public  schools,  which  place  he  now 
occupies.  On  September  19, 1868,  married  Euphemia,  daughter  of  Charles 
McNeill,  who  was  for  five  years  a  member  of  the  Colonial  Legislature  of 
Ontario,  Canada.  Mrs.  Bateman  was  born  in  Canada,  March  30,  1842. 
Their  living  children  are  Victorian,  Mary  Margaret  and  Sarah  May.  Lost 
three — Minnie  Este,  Leonard  and  Daisey. 

BAUMAN,  J.  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Germany,  July 
6,  1823.  Emigrated  to  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  in  1842;  thence  to 
Seneca  county  in  the  same  State.  In  1849  he  crossed  the  plains,  with 
a  horse  team,  arriving  in  Sacramento  September  1st  of  that  year.  Lo- 
cated on  the  North  Fork  of  the  American  River,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  mining,  but  in  due  time  returned  to  Sacramento,  coming  down  on 
the  Sacramento  River,  where  for  a  short  time  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Came  to  Suisun  Valley  in  December,  1850,  camping  on  a  farm  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  Buther.  He  made  a  continuous  residence  in  and  around 
this  valley,  herding  cattle,  until  June  14,  1853,  at  which  time  he  returned 
to  Ohio.  On  his  return  to  California,  in  the  Spring  of  1854,  he  came  via 
Boone  County,  Missouri,  buying  a  herd  of  cattle,  which  he  brought  across . 
the  plains,  arriving  in  the  Montezuma  Hills  at  a  place  now  known  as 
Bauman's  Ravine,  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  Bauman,  as  he  was  an  early 
settler  in  the  hills,  arriving  there  in  the  Fall  of  1854.  Came  to  his  present 
residence  in  January,  1862.  Married  Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  John 
McMullen,  September  20,  1860.  John,  Elveng  H.  and  Lottie  May  are 
their  living  children.     They  have  lost  two,  Clarissa  and  Flora. 

CHRISLER,  P.  J.,  was  born  in  Ontario  County,  New  York,  July  4,  1831, 
and  here  he  was  educated.  In  1854  he  emigrated  to  St.  Joseph  County, 
Michigan,  where  he  married  Sarah  M.  Pulver,  daughter  of  Fletcher  Pul- 
ver,  of  Lyons,  Wayne  County,  New  York,  January  4,  1858.  She  was 
born  March  14,  1838.     They  emigrated  to  this  State,  and  immediately 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY'.  401 

settled  in  Suisun  City.  Mr.  Chrisler  was  first  engaged  in  the  produce 
trade,  on  his  arrival  in  this  locality,  but  afterward  changed  to  that  of  a 
grocer.  In  June,  1870,  he  moved  to  Vaca  Valley,  five  miles  northwest 
from  Vacaville,  erected  a  house,  had  a  Post-office  established,  over  which 
he  presided  as  postmaster,  platted  the  ground  for  the  purpose  of  founding 
a  village,  which  he  named  Tolenas;  but  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of 
water  the  project  was  abandoned,  and  he  returned  to  Suisun  the  same 
year.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  sewing  machine  trades,  as 
well  as  having  established  one  of  the  most  important  insurance  offices  in 
this  county.  Leslie  J.,  Minnie  A.,  Jennie  Gertrude  (the  last  deceased), 
Sarah  E.,  William  A.,  Charles  D.  and  Peter  Spencer  are  the  names  of  his 
children. 

CLAYTON,  DAVID  J.,  a  native  of  Logan  County,  Kentucky,  born  January 
30,  1812,  where  he  lived  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  he  moved  to 
Simpson  County  with  his  parents,  where  he  resided  about  thirteen  years 
on  a  farm.  He  then  went  to  Jackson  County,  Missouri,  and  farmed  for 
thirteen  years  longer.  In  March,  1848,  he  married  Miss  Rebecca  Jane 
Shaw.  On  May  15,  1850,  he  emigrated  to  California,  crossing  the  plains 
with  ox  teams,  and  arrived  in  Sacramento  in  September  following.  He 
prospected  about  the  country  until  February,  1851,  when  he  returned 
East,  via  Panama,  being  on  the  trip  three  and  a  half  months.  On  May  6, 
1852,  he  again  returned  to  California,  bringing  with  him  his  wife  and  two 
children.  He  arrived  in  Suisun  Valley,  Solano  County,  October  23, 1852, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  known  as  the  Baker  Ranch,  where  he  lived  one 
year.  He  then  settled  on  his  present  ranch,  consisting  of  five  hundred 
and  twenty-five  acres,  situate  about  seven  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of 
Suisun  City,  at  the  upper  end  of  Suisun  Valley.  Mary  B.,  deceased, 
James  D.,  Henry  B.,  Martha  S.  and  William  L.  are  the  names  of  their 
children. 

COGHLAN,  0.  R.,  was  born  in  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  January 
22,  1847.  Here  he  attended  the  public  schools  for  four  years.  In  1859 
he  went  to  Richmond,  Kentucky,  where  he  worked  in  a  printing  office 
till  1861,  when  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Here  he  became  reduced 
to  the  most  abject  poverty,  and  in  order  to  gain  an  honorable  livelihood 
he  worked  in  a  market  garden  until  September  29, 18G2,  when  he  enlisted 
in  the  Twenty -ninth  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  afterward 
attached  to  Blair's  Brigade,  in  Steel's  Division,  Sixteenth  Army  Corps. 
On  December  29,  1862,  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the  right  breast, 
while  engaged  in  battle  at  Chickasaw  Bayou,  or  Haines'  Bluff,  and  on 
this  account  was  honorably  discharged  July  29,  1863.  Returning  to  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  followed  the  common  avocations  of  life  till  September 
26 


402  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

1864,  when  he  took  a  course  of  studies  in  the  preparatory  department  of 
McKendring  College,  at  Lebanon,  Illinois,  remaining  until  January,  1865; 
thence  to  Memphis,  Tennessee,  where  he  clerked  in  a  wholesale  saddlery 
house,  and  by  industry  and  honesty  was  promoted  to  assistant  bookkeeper, 
and  on  January  1,  1866,  took  charge  of  this  department.  Emigrated  to 
California  September,  1872,  settling  in  this  county  in  November  of  that 
year.  Commenced  the  study  of  law  with  Judge  W.  S.  Wells,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  January,  1874.  Was  elected  District  Attorney  in 
September,  1877,  and  is  the  present  incumbent.  Married,  on  February 
23,  1876,  Madge  Redman,  daughter  of  C.  C.  Redman,  Esq.  of  Santa  Rosa. 
Mary.  R.  is  their  only  child. 

CROCKER,  ASA.  This  well  known  old  settler  came  to  Suisun  City  in  the 
Spring  of  1854,  with  Captain  Josiah  Wing,  working  for  that  gentleman, 
and  afterward  opened  the  first  restaurant  in  that  village.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  the  bark  "Terror,"  via  Cape  Horn,  arriving  in  San  Fran- 
cisco June,  1853.  For  a  short  time  he  was  on  a  coasting  vessel,  and  for 
five  months  was  employed  on  the  ferry-boat  "Ion,"  plying  between  Be- 
necia  and  Martinez;  then  up  the  Suisun  Bay,  on  the  schooner  "Ann  So- 
phia," to  Suisun,  settling  as  above  stated.  He  is  a  native  of  Barnstable 
County,  Massachusetts,  and  born  March  24,  1836,  coming  to  California 
from  this  place.  Married  Miss  Anna  B.,  daughter  of  William  Pearson, 
September  8th,  1861.  Horace  L.  and  William  Sherman  are  his  living 
children.     Frank  M.,  deceased. 

DAVISSON,  OBEDIAH,  was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  July  27,1810; 
here  he  was  educated,  and  learned  in  the  ways  of  farming  ;  married  Hulda 
Wyatt,  September,  1832.  In  1845  they  moved  to  Holt  county,  Missouri ; 
thence,  crossing  the  plains  to  California  in  1854,  settled  in  this  township, 
and  on  his  present  farm  in  September  of  that  year.  Has  served  in  the 
capacity  of  School  Director,  and  ever  takes  a  lively  interest  in  the  educa- 
tion of  the  young. 

Thomas  Davisson,  his  son,  was  also  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  coming 
with  his  parents  to  this  place,  and  has  always  lived  with  them.  He  mar- 
ried Letta  Owens,  September  9,  1875. 

DAVISSON,  W.  G.,  was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  August  22,  1833. 
Emigrated  to  Holt  county,  Missouri,  in  1845,  from  which  he  came  to 
this  State,  crossing  the  plains  with  an  ox-team,  settling  in  this  township 
the  first  of  September,  1852.  After  working  in  different  places  he  bought 
his  present  farm  and  moved  to,  and  has  occupied  it  since  1854.  Has  held 
the  office  of  School-director,  and  through  his  influence,  as  well  as  others, 
their  school  library  contains  an  excellent  selection  of  books,  which  denotes 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  403 

a  high  standard  of  intelligence,  not  only  for  Mr.  Davisson,  but  for  the 
community  in  which  he  lives.  Married  Miss  Clara  E.,  daughter  of  Josiah 
King,  of  New  York  State,  on  June  19,  1866.  Their  children  are  :  Clara 
Gustavia,  Ada  Francis,  William  Sherman,  Lula  Adell  and  John  G. 

DOWNING,  M.  D.,  W.  6.,  the  subject  of  our  memoir,  was  born  in  Scot- 
land county,  Missouri,  October  7,  1853.  His  parents  went  to  St.  Louis  in 
1862,  where  young  Downing,  after  the  usual  course  of  instruction  in  the 
grammar  school,  graduated  at  the  St.  Louis  University  in  1869.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  in  the  Missouri  Medical  College,  in  1870, 
and  took  his  degree  of  M.  D.  in  March,  1873.  In  order  to  better  .fit  him- 
self  for  a  practitioner,  he  repaired  to  the  St.  Louis  City  Hospital,  remain- 
ing three  years.  January,  1877,  he  emigrated  to  Suisun,  Solano  county, 
Cal.,  where  he  has  practiced  his  profession  with  marked  success. 

DUNN,  ALEXANDER,  County  Clerk,  Solano  county,  California,  was  born 
in  Piatt  county,  Missouri,  May  7, 1841,  and  emigrated  to  California,  cross- 
ing the  plains  with  his  parents,  and  arriving  at  Placerville  October  10 , 
1850 ;  from  thence  proceeding  to  the  Suisun  valley  December  24  of  the 
same  year  where  they  located  four  miles  north  of  Fairfield,  the  present 
county  seat.  Mr.  Dunn  attended  the  first  school  ever  taught  in  that  part 
of  Solano,  then  kept  by  John  Doughty,  and  in  July,  1852,  he  moved  with 
his  father  to  Vaca  valley,  who  died  there  on  July  5,  1873.  In  1867  he 
moved  to  Mendocino  county,  and  in  1869  took  charge  of  the  "  Mendocino 
Democrat,"  continuing  its  editor  for  three  years,  when  he  returned  to 
Vacaville.  Mr.  Dunn  graduated  in  the  Pacific  Methodist  College  at  Vaca- 
ville  May  14,  1864.  In  1873  Mr.  Dunn  was  a  candidate  for  the  office  of 
County  Surveyor,  but  was  defeated  by  A.  H.  Gunning,  who  appointed 
him  his  deputy ;  Mr.  Gunning,  however,  resigning  before  the  expiration 
of  his  term,  Mr.  D.  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  on  July  12,  1875, 
in  which  he  was  confirmed  at  the  general  election,  held  on  September  1, 
1875.  On  September  5,  1877,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  County 
Clerk,  and  continues  to  exercise  the  functions  of  that  position.  He  mar- 
ried September  25,  1865,  Jennie,  daughter  of  J.  E.  Elder,  of  Sacramento 
county,  by  whom  he  has  Eagan  Lee  and  Virginia  Ann. 

EDWARDS,  JAMES  G.,  born  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  April  24, 
1822,  and  resided  there  till  1826,  when  he  moved  to  Franklin  county, 
Alabama,  from  whence  he  proceeded  to  Hampstead  county,  Arkansas,  in 
1837 ;  after  which,  in  1849,  he  emigrated  to  California,  coming  across 
the  plains,  and  arriving  October  1st,  of  that  year,  at  Lawrence  bar, 
Feather  river.  Engaged  in  mining  for  two  years,  and  then  came  to  Sui- 
sun valley,  in  October,  1851,  and  settled  on  what  is  now  the  farm  of  John 


404  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

McMullen.  Removed  into  Suisun  city  in  1854,  and  in  1860  came  to  his 
present  farm  of  160  acres,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Married,  June  13, 
1856,  Therza  Jane  Stone,  a  native  of  Missouri,  who  died  August  2,  1867. 
He  has,  Alice,  born  June  18,  1857 ;  Laura,  born  April  24,  1859 ;  Mary, 
born  December  13,  1862  ;  Charles  Henry,  born  May  6, 1865,  and  Alabama 
Josephine,  born  July  23,  1867. 

FITCH,  WILLIAM  WAYNE,  was  born  near  Auburn,  New  York,  Octo- 
ber, 22,  1816,  and  removed  to  Genesee  ceunty,  near  where  now  stands 
the  town  of  Nunda,  Livingston  county,  in  1818.  Received  a  course  of 
academical  instruction  at  Wyoming,  Genesee  couuty,  studied  and 
practiced  surveying  and  engineering  under  Colonel  Elisha  Johnson  at 
Rochester,  New  York.  Served  under  the  orders  of  the  Provincial 
Parliament  in  exploring  railroad  routes  in  Canada  west ;  engaged  in 
preliminary  surveys  for  a  railroad  company  in  Ohio ;  removed  to  De- 
troit, Michigan,  in  1837,  was  engaged  on  public  works,  government  land 
surveying  and  private  undertakings  of  a  like  nature.  Came  overland  to 
California  in  1849  and  engaged  in  mining.  In  1854,  began  surveying 
land  grants  under  Colonel  J.C.Hays,  U.  S.  Surveyor- General  for  California, 
and  was  elected  County  Surveyor  for  Solano  county,  in  1865,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  till  1873,  and  was  re-elected  in  1877,  and  now  holds  the 
office.     Mr.  Fitch  joined  the  Advent  Christian  Church,  July  4,  1877. 

GILLESPIE,  EDGAR  FERGUSON,  (deceased,)  among  the  most  worthy  of 
the  pioneers  of  Solano  county  was  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  born 
at  West  Farms,  Westchester  county,  New  York,  December  7,  1822,  and 
died  at  Suisun  on  June  22,  1875.  Mr.  Gillespie  when  but  eight  years  of 
age  removed  to  North  Bend,  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  with  his  parents 
and,  on  their  death,  he  changed  his  residence  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where 
he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  wholesale  drug  store  until  1848,  when, 
in  connection  with  his  oldest  brother  he  commenced  business  in  Dubuque, 
Iowa.  The  gold  fever  breaking  out  in  1849,  he  sold  his  interest  in  his 
store  to  his  brothers  and  came  across  the  plains  with  an  ox  team,  arriving 
in  this  State  in  November  of  that  year.  He  first  engaged  in  mining  at 
Hangtown,  now  Placerville,  until  the  Summer  of  1850,  when  he  entered 
into  a  mercantile  business  at  that  place  with  Henry  K.  Curtis.  During 
the  Fall  of  that  year  Mr.  Curtis  had  occasion  to  visit  Suisun  valley  and 
was  so  much  pleased  with  the  country  that  he  immediately  located  two 
claims — one  for  himself  and  one  for  his  partner.  In  1851,  the  store  was 
disposed  of  and  they  took  up  their  residence  in  the  valley  and  engaged  in 
haying  and  farming  until  1853,  when  they  sold  their  possessory  rights  to 
David  and  P.  O.  Clayton.  In  1854,  Mr.  Gillespie  started  in  business  in 
Vacavilie,  where  he  resided  for  ten  years,  being  Postmaster  of  that  dis- 


THE   HISTOKY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  405 

trict  for  a  great  portion  of  that  time.  On  September  1,  1858,  he  was 
elected  Supervisor  for  the  third  district  and  was  a  member  of  the  board 
when  the  county  seat  was  removed  from  Benicia  to  Fairfield.  On  Sep- 
tember 2,  1863,  he  was  chosen  to  fill  the  responsible  position  of  Sheriff 
and,  on  taking  possession  of  his  office,  removed  with  his  family  to  Suisun, 
where  he  resided  up  to  the  day  of  his  death.  On  the  completion  of  the 
California  Pacific  railroad,  he  was  appointed  station  agent  at  Fairfield, 
and  he  was  also  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Suisun  township,  October 
20,  1869.  In  1872,  he  was  appointed  deputy  recorder  by  George  C. 
McKinley  and,  in  1873,  he  was  selected,  by  the  people  at  the  general  elec- 
tion held  on  September  3,  to  succeed  that  gentleman  in  the  office.  Mr. 
Gillespie  married  in  May,  1855,  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  Captain  J.  H. 
White,  of  San  Francisco,  who  died  October  4,  1874,  by  whom  there  were 
ten  daughters  and  two  sons,  viz.:  Delia,  Mary  Ida,  Luella,  Clara,  Jennie, 
Sarah,  Emma,  Augusta  S.,  Effie,  surviving ;  and  John,  Edgar  and  Cornelia, 
dying  in  infancy. 

GILLESPIE,  GEORGE  A.,  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  on  December  7, 
1830.  His  parents  and  the  other  children  of  the  family  were  born  at 
West  Farms,  Westchester,  New  York  ;  when  he  was  yet  an  infant,  the 
family  removed  to  Ohio  and  located  on  a  farm  near  North  Bend,  and 
about  eighteen  miles  from  the  city  of  Cincinnati.  Here  ten  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  and  here  his  parents  died  ;  the  father  dying  when  he  was 
of  the  age  of  six  years,  and  his  mother  following  the  father  to  the  grave 
four  years  later.  In  February,  1842,  the  family  of  children  returned  to 
St.  Louis  and  for  one  year  George  attended  the  private  schools  in  the  city, 
and,  in  1843,  the  family  separating,  he  was  sent  to  Kemper  College,  an 
Episcopal  institution  of  learning,  located  near  St.  Louis.  In  1844,  he  left 
the  college  and  went  to  live  with  his  eldest  brother,  who  was  located  in 
Boonville,  Missouri,  and  while  here  for  two  years  he  attended  Kemper's 
Academy,  closing  his  school  days  at  this  institution.  After  clerking  in  a 
hardware  store  at  Boonville  for  a  time,  in  1847  he  returned  to  St.  Louis 
and  took  a  situation  with  Joseph  S.  Pease,  one  of  the  pioneer  wholesale 
hardware  dealers  of  that  city.  He  remained  with  Pease  until  the  great 
fire  of  May,  1849,  at  which  his  employer  was  burned  out  and  rendered 
almost  bankrupt.  In  a  few  months  he  went  into  the  employment  of  Hon. 
Henry*  T.  Blow,  the  then  owner  of  the  Collier  White  Lead  Works,  as 
paying  teller  in  the  purchasing  office  of  that  establishment,  and  remain- 
ing with  Blow  until  March,  1850,  when  he  embarked  "  the  plains  across  " 
to  California,  journeying  from  the  Missouri  river  to  Sacramento,  in  the 
then  unprecedented  time  of  eighty-three  days,  and4arriving  in  Sacramento 
on  the  10th  day  of  July,  1850.  After  remaining  in  Sacramento  a  week 
or  two  to  rest  from  the  arduous  trip,  he,  in  company  with  two  of  his    St. 


406  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Louis  companions,  left  for  the  mines  and  located  at  Rough  and  Ready,  in 
Nevada  county,  where  he  spent  the  Winter.     In  the  Spring  of  1851,  he 
sold  his  claims  at  Rough  and  Ready  and  visited  his  brother,  Edgar  F., 
who    was   then  keeping  store  in  Hangtown,  now  Placerville,  and   from 
here  he  went  to  Horse-shoe  Bar  on  the  American  river,  near  Auburn,  to 
see  another  brother,  who  shortly  after  returned  to  Ohio.     He  at  once  en- 
gaged in  mining  and  remained  in  this  locality  until  April,  1852,  when  he 
joined  his  brother,  Edgar,  who  had  located  in  Suisun  valley,  in  this  county 
the  year  before.     During  the  Summer  of  that  year  he  and  his  brother 
engaged  in  cutting  and  baling  hay  and  conducting  a   hay-yard  at  Sacra- 
mento city.     In  the  Fall   they  gave  up  the  hay-yard  and  commenced 
preparations  for  planting  a  crop  of  barley,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Clayton  Place,  at  the  head  of  the  valley.     The  primitive  farming  of  this 
period  presented  many  novel  features  and  more  serious  obstacles.     There 
being  no  lumber  for  fencing  or  building  purposes,  ditches  were  dug  and 
the  crests  of  the  sod  covered  with  the  branches  of  the  valley  oaks  to 
warn  away  the  numerous  bands  of  cattle  and  horses,  and  prevent  their 
intrusion  upon  the  newly  sown  grain.  Plenty  of  hay  could  be  cut  in  the 
Summer  but,  for  want  of  proper  shelter,  it  could  not  be  preserved  for  use 
in  the  Winter,  and  the   old  system  of  stacking,  so  much  in  vogue  in  the 
Eastern  States,  here  proved  an  absolute  failure  ;  and   barley  being  very 
scarce  and  rating  at  an  enormously  high  figure,  feeding  the  working  ani- 
mals after  the  common  method  was   out  of  the  question;  therefore,  the 
animals  were  nightly  turned  out  upon  the  grass  to  obtain  sustenance  ;  and 
each  morning  were  caught  up  and  harnessed  to  the  plow  for  the  daily 
task  of  plowing  an  acre  or  an  acre  and  a  half.     And,  during  the  Winter, 
bread-stuffs,  in  the  valley,  became  inconveniently  scarce.     To    get   flour 
was  an  impossibility ;  and  shorts  rated    in  Benicia  at  $20  per  hundred 
pounds ;  and,  owing  to  the  excessive  rains  of  the  season  and  the  miry 
condition  of  the  trails,  it  was  next  to  impossible  to  obtain  any  provisions 
from  Benicia,  accordingly,  the  settlers  in  the   upper  part  of  the  valley, 
during  the  most  of  that  Winter,  had  to  rely  for  breadstuff  on  a  few  sacks 
of    shelled   corn,  which    was,  fortunately,  in  possession  of  one  of  their 
number,  and  this  corn  was  prepared  by  first  grinding  it  in  a  rough  iron 
hand-mill,  and,  with  this  meagre  preparation,  it  was    mixed   into  bread 
batter,  without  so  much  as  a  partial  acquaintance  with  the  time-honored 
sieve.     It   made    wholesome   food,  however,  and   the  civilized  plague  of 
dyspepsia  was,  to  these  hardy  pioneers,  wholly  unknown.     Game  and  the 
bands  of    wild  cattle  ranging  in  such  vast  numbers  in  the  Suscol  hills, 
furnished  the  settlers  with  meat,  with  occasionally  a  piece  of  salt  pork  to 
flavor  the  savory  dishes  prepared  by  the  more  experienced  cooks.     Hunt- 
ing, shooting  matches,  and  an  occasional  scrub-horse  race,  furnished  the 
only  amusement  of    the  times,  until  female  immigrants  became  more 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  407 

plenty,  when  the  coarser  sports  of  the  men  gave  place  to  the  more  civil- 
ized pastime  of  the  country  dance. 

The  yield  of  the  soil  at  this  cropping  was  extremely  good,  and  in  one  or  two 
cases  as  high  as  seventy  bushels  of  barley  per  acre  was  realized.  The 
harvesting  commenced  about  the  20th  of  June,  and  the  grain  was  cut  with 
the  old  style  cradle,  and  bound  into  sheaves,  and  threshed  by  the  tramp- 
ing of  horses,  or  the  services  of  an  endless  chain  machine — there  being  one 
or  two  of  the  latter  brought  to  the  valley.  Nearly  all  of  the  products 
of  the  valley  of  that  year  were  sold  at  Sacramento,  being  shipped  there 
from  the  Suisun  Embarcadero  by  sail  vessel,  and  the  barley  bringing,  in 
that  market,  an  average  of  three  and  one-half  cents  per  pound. 

Mr.  Gillespie  continued  farming  until  the  summer  of  1856,  excepting  per- 
haps a  year  intervening,  when  he  went  into  the  employment  of  John 
Doughty,  one  of  the  first  storekeepers  at  Cordelia,  to  manage  that  gentle- 
man's business,  while  he  was  absent  representing  the  people  of  the  county 
in  the  Legislature  of  the  year  1855.  On  Christmas  day  of  1856  Mr.  Gil- 
lespie commenced  the  foundation  of  the  first  store  and  second  building  in 
Silveyville,  where  he  remained,  merchandising,  until  the  fall  of  1859,  when 
he  sold  to  the  firm  of  Deck  &  Co.,  and  then  engaged  in  sheepraising.  In 
the  spring  of  1860,  he  was  appointed  Deputy  County  Assessor,  under 
Capt.  E.  H.  Von  Pfister,  the  then  County  Assessor,  and  remained  with 
him  until  the  work  of  the  year  was  finished,  resigning  in  the  month  of 
December.  In  January,  1861,  he  was  elected  Engrossing  Clerk  of  the 
State  Senate,  and  again  in  1862  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position.  Re- 
turning to  the  county  again,  in  the  summer  of  that  year,  he  located  at 
Maine  Prairie,  to  buy  wheat,  as  the  agent  of  Gen.  John  B.  Frisbie,  who, 
that  year,  had  commenced  the  business  of  shipping  grain  to  Liverpool. 
The  rejection  of  the  Suscol  grant  by  the  courts,  shortly  after,  put  an  end 
to  the  General's  wheat  speculations,  and  Mr.  Gillespie  left  his  employment, 
and  engaged  in  the  drug  business  at  Maine  Prairie,  in  partnership  with 
Dr.  S.  K.  Baker, — remaining  there  until  the  March  of  1864,  when  he  went 
into  the  Sheriff's  office  at  Fairfield,  under  his  brother,  who  was  Sheriff, 
as  deputy  and  jailor.  At  the  end  of  the  term,  in  March,  1866,  he  removed 
to  Suisun  City,  and,  during  that  summer,  was  the  active  projector  and 
and  first  secretary  and  superintendent  of  the  present  Suisun  and  Fairfield 
Water  Company.  In  September  of  that  year,  in  partnership  with  Wood- 
ford Owens,  Jr.,  he  purchased  the  Solano  Press,  a  newspaper,  published 
at  Suisun,  and,  under  the  firm-name  of  Geo.  A.  Gillespie  &  Co.,  continued 
the  publication  of  that  newspaper  until  the  latter  part  of  1869,  when  the 
Solano  Press  and  Solano  Herald  were  merged  into  a  new  paper,  called 
the  Solano  Republican,  published  by  Powers  &  Gillespie.  This  firm  con- 
tinued the  publication  of  the  Republican  until  1872,  when  Mr.  Gillespie 
sold  his  interest  to  his  partner,  0.  B.  Powers,  and  soon  after  removed  to 


408  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Antioch,  in  Contra  Costa  county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  business  for 
about  two  years,  returning  to  the  county  in  1874,  to  go  into  the  Record- 
er's office,  as  a  deputy,  under  his  brother,  whose  failing  health  incapaci- 
tated him  from  attending  to  the  duties  of  his  position.  Recorder  Gilles- 
pie dying  before  his  term  of  office  expired,  William  Wolf  was  appointed 
Recorder,  and  Mr.  Gillespie  was  reappointed  deputy  under  him,  and  re- 
mained in  the  office  to  the  close  of  the  term,  in  March,  1876.  Having  been 
elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Suisun  township  the  fall  before,  he  then 
opened  an  office  in  Suisun,  and,  for  the  term  following,  was  an  acting 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Notary  Public.  In  March,  1878,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Deputy  County  Clerk  under  Alex.  Dunn,  which  position  he  holds 
at  the  writing  of  this  book. 

Mr.  Gillespie  is  a  man  of  positive  convictions  and  of  activity  of  character, 
and  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  his  name  appearing,  all 
along  through  the  annals  of  the  county,  for  the  past  twenty-seven  years. 

In  1862  Mr.  Gillespie  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Crousy,  a  native  of 
Auburn,  New  York,  who  is  well  known  in  musical  circles  as  a  good  vo- 
calist and  an  excellent  piano  performer,  besides  enjoying  the  distinction 
of  being  a  Past  Worthy  Grand  Matron  of  the  adopted  Rite  of  Eastern 
Star,  of  the  State  of  California.  To  this  union  two  children  were  born, 
a  son,  named  Guilford,  and  a  daughter,  named  Rena,  born  respectively  on 
October  16th,  1863,  and  July  19th,  1871. 

GOODWIN,  B.  H.,  a  native  of  Oxford  county,  Maine,  born  Nov.  22, 
1829,  where  he  was  educated  and  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  which 
he  has  followed  as  a  business  ever  since.  At  the  age  of  20  he  went  to 
Southborrow,  Mass.,  and  remained  a  short  time,  thence  back  to  his  birth- 
place on  a  short  visit,  thence  to  Rockford,  Mass.,  where  he  worked  at 
trade  for  about  four  months,  after  which,  he  proceeded  to  Boston  and 
started  on  a  whaling  voyage ;  went  around  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to  the 
Oakheart  Sea,  and  from  there  to  the  Sandwich  Island,  where  he  remained 
about  four  months,  when  he  returned  to  Oakheart  Sea,  and  from  there  to 
the  Islands,  where  he  remained  and  worked  at  trade  four  months  longer, 
and  then  shipped  again  for  the  Oakheart  Sea,  where  he  remained  several 
months,  following  trade  and  whaling,  when  he  again  returned  to  Sand- 
wich Islands.  After  remaining  here  about  six  months  came  to  San 
Francisco,  arriving  May,  1856.  After  remaining  one  month  in  Auburn, 
Placer  county,  he  came  to  this  county  and  settled  in  Benicia,  where  he 
remained  until  December,  1856.  He  then  returned  to  Sandwich  Islands, 
and  remained  through  the  winter,  and  in  the  spring  returned  to  Benicia, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  until  September,  when  he  came  to  this  valley 
and  worked  at  trade  near  the  marble  quarry,  about  four  miles  north-east 
of  Suisun.     About  two  months  later  he  settled  in  Fairfield,  where  he 


THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  409 

built  a  shop,  in  company  with  J.  Foster,  which  they  conducted  but  a  few 
months,  when  Mr.  Goodwin  went  to  Suisun  and  worked  for  Sim.  Ramsay 
for  about  one  year,  when  he  bought  Mr.  Ramsay  out,  and  entered  into 
partnership  with  L.  H.  Fowler.  They  remained  together  about  one  year, 
after  which  he  worked  for  different  parties  for  about  one  and  a-half 
years,  when  he  again  settled  in  Fairfield,  where  he  has  been  doing  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  ever  since.  Mr.  Goodwin  married  Miss  Catherine 
Cronan,  October  30,  1859.  Minnie  E.,  Katie  L.,  (deceased,)  Katie  E., 
Benjamin  C.  (deceased,)  Laura  E.,  George  P.,  Nellie  F.,  (deceased,)  are  the 
names  of  their  children. 

GREGORY,  JOHN  M.,  second  son  and  third  child  of  Hon.  John  M. 
Gregory,  and  Amanda  M.  Wallace,  was  born  March  6,  1840,  at  Williams- 
burg, Virginia;  removed  to  Richmond  in  1841,  and  lived  in  and  near 
Richmond  till  the  fall  of  1860;  entered  Richmond  Baptist  College  in 
March,  1853,  and  graduated  in  June,  1857,  with  the  degree  of  B.  A.;  then 
went  to  the  University  of  Virginia  ;  remained  there  three  sessions  and 
graduated  in  1860,  as  Master  of  Arts ;  then  commenced  the  study  of  law 
with  Thomas  Wallace,  his  mother's  brother,  and  continued  the  study  of 
law  with  his  father,  until  the  month  of  May,  1861  ;  entered  the  Confed- 
erate Army,  joining  the  Richmond  Light  Infantry  Blues,  an  infantry  com- 
pany commanded  by  Capt.  O.  J.  Wise,  a  son  of  General  Henry  A.  Wise, 
to  whose  brigade  the  company  was  attached ;  served  for  two  months,  and 
then,  in  August,  1861,  joined  the  Rockbridge  Artillery,  attached  to  the 
Stonewall  Brigade,  as  a  private,  and  remained  in  that  company  until 
February,  1863 ;  was  then  appointed  1st  Lieutenant  of  artillery,  and 
was  assigned  to  duty  with  Col.  Win.  Allen,  chief  advance  officer  of 
Stonewall  Jackson's  corps ;  was  then  assigned  to  duty  as  Chief  of  Ad- 
vance of  the  artillery  of  the  same  corps ;  was  afterwards  promoted  to 
Captain  of  Artillery,  and  left  the  army  at  Appomattox^C.  H.,  after  the 
surrender  of  Gen.  Lee  ;  then  resumed  the  study  of  law,  but  carried  on 
the  lumber  business  at  the  same  time,  until  the  fall  of  1868 ;  came  to 
California,  by  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  arriving  in  October,  1868  ;  taught 
school  until  September,  1869,  and  then  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law, 
at  Vallejo,  Solano  county  ;  was  City  Atttorney  and  City  Clerk,of  Vallejo, 
and  in  December,  1873,  was  'elected  County  Judge,  of  Solano  county, 
and  served  four  years  ;  was  re-elected  in  October,  1877,  and  is  now 
County  Judge.  Was  married  May  1,  1872,  to  Evalyn  T.  Craven,  third 
daughter  of  Rear- Admiral  Thos.  T.  Craven  U.  S.  N.,  and  now  has  two 
children,  John  M.  Gregory,  Jr.,  born  in  Suisun,  Solano  county,  June  26, 
1875,  and  Thos.  Craven  Gregory,  born  at  the  same  place,  October  4, 1878. 

GREEN,  GEORGE,  is  a  native  of  Middlesex  county,  Mass.,  where  he  was 
born  May  15,  1828,  and  was  educated   in  his  native  county.     In  1840, 


410  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

moved  to  Wooster  county  in  that  State,  residing  there  until  September 
15,  1852,  at  which  time  he  emigrated  to  California,  remaining  in  Sacra- 
mento for  three  months.  Soon  after  the  fire,  which  occurred  in  that  city 
November  25,  1852,  he  settled  in  San  Francisco,  remaining  till  1853,  when 
he  returned  to  Sacramento.  In  February,  1855,  he  came  to  Suisun,  Sola- 
no county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Married  Georgia  S.,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Spiller,  from  western  Massachusetts,  September  21,  1871.  Mr. 
Green,  for  many  years,  has  been  engaged  in  stock-raising,  and  is  now  with 
Harvey  Rice  in  the  butcher  business. 

HAILE,  HONORABLE  R.  C.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of 
Smith  county,  Tennessee,  receiving  his  early  education  at  Nashville,  after 
which  he  moved  to  Sumner  county,  and  there  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits from  the  years  1836  to  1839.  On  the  17th  November,  of  the  first- 
mentioned  year,  he  married  Miss  Susan  C,  daughter  of  Joseph  Seawell, 
when  he  proceeded  to  Lafayette  county,  Miss.,  and  was  respectively  em- 
ployed in  school-teaching,  book  -keeping,  and  clerking.  Here  he  remained  till 
the  spring  of  1849,  at  which  time  he  emigrated  to  California,  crossing  the 
plains  with  an  ox-team,  (leaving  his  family  at  Lafayette)  and  arrived  at 
Sacramento  on  October  7th,  of  that  year.  At  this  place  Mr.  Haile  re- 
mained but  a  short  time,  when  he  went  to  Nevada  City,  and  there  pur- 
sued mining,  which  he  followed  for  about  a  year ;  he  next  moved  to 
Napa  valley  and  farmed,  in  partnership  with  L.  C.  Burroughs,  and  Major 
John  H.  Seawell ;  with  this  occupation  was  combined  that  of  lumbering. 
The  partnership  was  dissolved  in  1857,  when  Mr.  Haile,  still  continuing 
farming,  added  merchandizing  to  his  business.  In  the  fall  of  1858  he 
sold  out  and  purchased  his  present  property  in  Suisun  valley,  consisting 
of  510  acres,  situated  about  seven  miles  northwest  of  Fairfield,  where  he 
has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Haile  has  taken  a  very  prominent  lead  in  the  affairs  of  the  State  in  the 
section  in  which  he  has  resided.  In  the  year  1853,  when  in  Napa  county, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Supervisoral  chair,  which  he  occupied  for  three 
years.  In  1855  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  from  the  same  county, 
serving  during  the  session  of  1856.  In  Solano  county  he  has  twice  rep- 
resented the  district  in  the  Legislature,  in  the  sessions  of  1869-70  and 
1877-78 ;  while  he  has  served  as  a  School  Trustee  ever  since  his  arrival 
in  it. 

Mr.  Haile's  life,  however,  has  not  been  all  a  pleasant  sunshine.  We  have 
mentioned  above  that  when  first  coming  to  California  he  had  left  his  wife 
in  Lafayette  ;  in  1851  he  returned  for  her  and  his  family,  and  commenced 
the  fatigue  of  crossing  the  plains,  with  them,  at  the  same  time  having  in 
charge  100  head  of  cattle.  When  at  Platte  river,  Mrs.  Haile  was  siezed 
with  cholera,  from  the  effects  of  which  she  succumbed  on  June  2,  1852- 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  411 

Here,  far  away  from  friends,  on  the  lonely  waste  of  an  unknown  border, 
was  this  fair  pioneer  buried,  near  Fort  Kearney,  on  that  river,  leaving 
naught  but  a  mound,  heaped  by  loving  hands  ;  the  last  tender  offering  to 
a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  by  her  sorrowing  husband  and  children.  On 
September  21, 1853,  Mr.  Haile  re-married,  Mrs.  Susan  D.  Sears,  of  Suisun. 
His  children  by  his  first  marriage  are :  Joseph  S.,  born  August  16,  1837  ; 
Martha  A.,  born  March  27,  1839 ;  Leeman,  born  November  25, 
1840;  Sarah  J.,  born  September  16,  1843;  John  W.,  born  August  23, 
1846 ;  and  Susan  H.,  born  December  1848.  By  his  second  wife  there 
are  :  Harriett  E.,  born  July  13,  1854 ;  James  H.,  born  May  22,  1857 ; 
Lucy  W.,  born  July  27,  1859 ;  Richard  C,  born  November  13,  1862. 
Leeman  died  June  13,  1873. 

HALE,  DAVID,  is  a  native  of  Oakland  county,  Michigan,  and  born  Nov. 
19th,  1839,  where  he  was  educated  and  followed  farming.  In  1860,  he 
emigrated  to  California,  landing  in  San  Francisco  on  April  24th,  of  that 
year.  On  April  25th,  he  came  to  Suisun,  and  was  employed  by  J.  B. 
Hoyt,  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  for  four  years,  aiter  which  he  followed 
teaming  six  years  over  the  Sierra  Nevada  mountains.  In  1869,  he 
bought  what  was  known  as  the  Ewing  ranch,  comprising  one  hundred 
acres,  three  and  a-half  miles  west  from  Suisun.  September  8,  1869,  he 
married  Laura  P.  Wing,  a  native  of  Maine.  Louisa  A.,  and  William,  are 
their  children. 

HAMMOND,  E.  A.,  a  native  of  Simpson  county,  Ky.;  born  October  8, 1837. 
At  the  age  of  one  year  he  moved,  with  his  uncle,  David  J.  Clayton,  to 
Jackson  county,  Mo.  (he  being  an  orphan),  where  he  lived  until  15  years 
old,  when  he  emigrated,  in  company  with  his  uncle,  to  California,  crossing 
the  plains  with  ox  teams,  arriving  in  Suisun  valley  October,  1852.  He 
worked  at  farming  in  this  county  until  1856,  when  he  went  to  Sonoma 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  the  sheep  business,  remaining  there  one 
year,  and  thence  to  Napa  county,  and  engaged  in  the  cattle  trade,  where 
he  remained  about  two  years.  He  then  returned  to  this  county  and  set- 
tled in  the  upper  end  of  Suisun  valley,  where  he  farmed  for  one  year,  and 
then  turned  speculator,  dealing  in  horses  and  cattle,  and  working  by  the 
month  until  1867.  Married  Miss  Catherine  Ives,  April  7, 1867.  He  then 
rented  a  farm,  which  he  occupied  for  about  two  years,  in  Napa  county, 
and  then  purchased  a  farm  in  Pope  valley,  Napa  county,  where  he  re- 
remained  for  four  years.  He  then  returned  to  this  county,  and  farmed 
the  widow  Clayton  farm,  in  Suisun  valley,  which  he  conducted  one  year. 
After  farming  in  different  parts  of  this  county  and  Napa  for  a  few  years, 
he  made  a  trip  to  Texas,  where  he  remained  about  eight  months,  when 
he  returned  to  California,  and,  after  working  for  a  few  months  as  a  farm 


412  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

hand,  leased  the  ranch  where  he  now  resides,  in  Suisun  valley.  Mary  F., 
Charles  C.  (deceased),  James  S.,  and  William  E.  are  the  names  of  their 
children. 

HOOPER,  THOMAS  P.,  the  proprietor  of  the  Fairfield  Hotel,  was  born  in 
Essex  county,  Mass.,  November  28,  1840.  Here  he  received  his  primary 
education.  In  May,  1857,  he  emigrated  to  this  State,  settling  in  Benicia, 
completing  his  education  at  the  St.  Augustine  College  in  that  city.  He 
was  appointed  Deputy  Recorder,  which  position  he  filled  fourteen  months, 
and  then  moved  to  Collinsville  and  followed  merchandizing,  and  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster.  In  the  fall  of  1875  he  was  elected  County  Auditor; 
the  following  spring  permanently  locating  in  Fairfield.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  his  office  he  bought  the  Fairfield  Hotel  and  has  since  been  its  pro- 
prietor. Married  Anna  E.  Nichols,  daughter  of  Capt.  Moses  Nichols,  of 
Benicia.     Their  children  are  Minnie  S.,  Lillie  E.,  and  Frank. 

HOYT,  W.  K.,  is  a  native  of  Fairfield,  Franklin  county,  Vt.,  and  was  born 
on  August  7,  1829.  Here  he  received  his  primary  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools.  Moved  to  New  York  City  in  1846,  and  resided  with  his 
uncle,  W.  K.  Hoyt,  a  lawyer  in  that  city,  and  received  his  academical  edu- 
cation at  the  "  Mechanics  High  School."  His  father  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  that  city  some  time  after  Mr.  Hoyt  arrived  there,  engaging  in 
the  drug  trade.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  went  to  Saratoga  county,  N. 
Y.,  from  which  he  emigrated  to  California  via  the  Isthmus,  and  arrived 
in  San  Francisco  February  3,  1852,  settling  on  Spring  Flat,  El  Dorado 
county,  where  he  was  engaged  principally  in  mining,  but  a  portion  of  the 
time  was  employed  as  a  farmer.  In  October,  1859,  he  came  to  Suisun} 
Solano  county,  and  for  over  three  years  was  engaged  in  the  butcher  busi- 
ness, but  in  the  fall  of  1863  sold  out  and  went  to  Austin,  Nevada  Terri- 
tory, and  was  one  of  the  electors  who  cast  a  vote  for  the  first  constitution, 
of  that  State.  On  his  return  to  Suisun,  in  1865,  he  was  elected  Super- 
intendent of  the  Suisun  and  Fairfield  Water  Works,  and  in  the  meantime 
was  engaged  in  the  grocer  trade  in  company  with  E.  D.  Perkins,  but  sold 
his  interest  in  the  store  to  that  gentleman  a  few  years  ago  and  has  since 
pursued  various  occupations.  Was  the  Republican  nominee  for  County 
Treasurer  in  1877,  and  is  the  present  candidate  for  that  office  by  the  same 
party.  Married  in  Sacramento,  Cal.,  Miss  Hannah  E.,  daughter  of  G.  A. 
Hoyt,  a  native  of  Lower  Canada,  March  5,  1859.  She  was  born  April  30, 
1841. 

HUBBARD,  HENRY,  came  to  California  with  a  company  organized  at  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut,  on  barque  "  Selma,"  Captain  Sellew,  arriving  in  San 
Francisco  October  5,  1849 ;  resided  in  Sacramento  the  following  winter, 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY  413 

a  time  of  "  high  water."  and  great  suffering  among  many  of  the  people  at 
that  place.  In  the  spring — 1850 — he  went  to  the  mines  at  Caldwell's 
Diggings,  now  Nevada  City,  and  followed  mining  and  trading,  in  what 
are  now  Nevada,  Yuba,  and  Placer  counties,  with  the  exception  of  the 
time  occupied  by  a  visit  to  his  friends  in  his  native  State  and  the  State 
of  Georgia — from  May,  1852,  to  October,  1853 — until  July  5,  1856,  at 
which  time  he  settled  at  Suisun,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1861,  he 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Associate  Justice  of  the  Court  of 
Sessions,  and  up  to  this  time  has  held  the  position  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
— nearly  ten  years.  In  1862,  soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  war  of 
the  Southern  rebellion,  with  the  aid  and  encouragement  of  others,  he  estab- 
lished the  newspaper  called  the  Solano  Press,  through  which  to  uphold 
and  encourage  all  friends  of  the  cause  of  his  country,  and  continued  its 
management  until  the  fall  of  1866,  when  he  retired.  It  can  be  truthfully 
said  that  he  has  been  specially  interested  in  all  matters  of  public  interest 
in  his  adopted  home. 
He  was  born  in  Bloomfield,  Connecticut,  May  24,  1820,  and  received  his 
early  education  at  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  at  the 
Connecticut  Literary  Institution,  at  Suffield.  Married  Clarissa  Eliza- 
beth House,  in  1846,  who  died  in  1868.  He  again  married,  January  26, 
1878,  Elizabeth  (Alderman)  Jackson.  Has  two  children  by  his  first  mar- 
riage— Henry  F.,  and  Julia. 

JONES,  JOHN  M.,  the  Under-sheriff  of  Solano  county,  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  Kentucky,  March  30,  1832.  In  1836  he,  with  his  parents,  moved 
to  Howard  county,  Missouri,  but  after  one  year,  settled  in  Scotland  county 
in  that  State,  where  Mr.  Jones  received  his  early  education,  and  finished 
the  same  at  the  State  University,  in  Boone  county.  In  1853  he  crossed 
the  plains  with  an  ox-team,  also  bringing  a  drove  of  cattle,  which  he  dis- 
posed of  and  settled  in  Suisun,  in  September,  of  that  year.  During  the 
years  1855-6  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  trading,  having  built  a  build- 
ing for  that  purpose  in  the  rear  of  Reeve's  corner  brick  block.  He  after- 
wards engaged  in  the  lumber  trade,  under  the  firm  name  of  Jackson  & 
Jones,  which  he  continued  until  his  appointment  as  Under-sheriff,  in  1857, 
by  Sheriff  B.  T.  Osborne,  which  position  he  held  during  the  official  term. 
In  the  years  1860-1  we  find  him  engaged  in  the  livery  business,  which  he 
had  bought  of  Mr.  Barton,  when  he  moved  to  Austin,  Lander  county, 
Nevada,  but  returned  to  this  county  in  1866,  engaging  in  farming  until 
March,  1876,  when  he  was  again  appointed  Under-sheriff,  which  position 
he  now  fills.  Married,  in  this  county,  Isabella,  daughter  of  Hugh  Pen- 
nel,  November  19,  1857.  The  names  of  their  living  children  are  :  Jennie, 
Helen,  Etta,  and  Katie.     James  L.  died  in  infancy. 


414  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

KENNEDY,  W.  T.,  born  in  Fredericks  county,  Maryland,  October  5,  1814. 
Here  he  was  educated.  December  16,  1835,  he  moved  to  Lafayette,  Ind., 
where  he  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  saddle  and  harness  business,  and 
followed  it  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  moved  in  1844.  After  going 
to  Keokuk  to  reside  three  months,  he  returned  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and 
on  December  16,  1848,  started  for  California  via  New  Orleans  and  the 
Isthmus,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  May  22, 1849.  For  several  years  after 
coming  to  this  State  he  was  engaged  in  mining,  and  after  drifting  around 
for  awhile,  following  different  occupations,  he  came,  on  August  15,  1856, 
to  Suisun  city,  where  he  has  since  resided.  On  December  12,  1858,  in 
this  town,  he  married  Annie  Maloney.  They  have  five  children,  whose 
names  are  as  follows  :  Willie  T.,  Anna  Laura,  George  H.,  Mary  C,  and 
John  Francis. 

KERNS,  J.  W.,  was  born  in  New  York  City,  June  19,  1842.  When  four 
years  old  he  went,  with  his  parents,  to  Rochester,  New  York,  where  he 
received  his  primary  education.  After  remaining  here  about  ten  years 
he  moved  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  where  he  learned  the  tinner's  trade,  and 
was  employed  in  the  railroad  shops,  doing  their  tin  and  copper  work,  up 
to  the  time  he  left  for  New  York  City,  in  May,  1861,  taking  passage  on 
the  steamer  "  North  Star,"  for  California,  landing  in  San  Francisco  in  July 
of  that  year.  From  here  he  went  to  Sacramento,  working  at  his  trade 
for  three  months,  when  he  moved  to  Downieville,  Sierra  county,  Cali- 
fornia, following  the  same  occupation  until  July,  1863;  thence  to  Virginia 
City,  remaining  until  November  of  that  year.  Returned  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, and  remained  until  December,  1863,  when  he  came  to  Suisun,  work- 
ing for  F.  J.  McGarvey  and  others,  when  he  went  into  business  for  him- 
self, June,  1873,  being  that  of  a  hardware  and  tin  store.  Married,  October 
25,  1876,  Miss  Josie  Odell,  of  Sacramento.     She  was  born  August  5, 1855. 

KINLOOH,  JOHN  G.,  a  native  of  this  county,  born  in  Benicia,  Solano 
county,  California,  April  13, 1855.  Came  to  Suisun  in  company  with  his 
parents  in  December,  1859.  Here  he  lost  both  father  and  mother.  His 
father,  James  W.  Kinloch,  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina.  He  died 
February  9,  1861.  His  mother,  a  native  of  Florida,  died  February  11, 
1878.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  Suisun,  at  the  high 
school,  after  which  he  entered  the  store  of  E.  D.  Perkins,  as  clerk,  in  1873, 
and  has  since  been  constantly  in  his  employ.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
ability,  and  not  only  has  the  confidence  of  his  employer,  but  has  the  esteem 
and  good  will  of  all  who  know  him. 

LAMONT,  GEORGE  A.,  was  born  in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  June  19, 1844. 
In  1847  moved  with  his  parents  to  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  and  in  1850 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  415 

proceeded  with  them  to  Boone  county,  Kentucky,  where  he  commenced 
his  early  education.  In  September,  1854,  they  came  to  Solano  county 
and  settled  in  Vallejo,  where  he  received  the  ground  of  that  education 
which  has  since  stood  him  in  such  good  stead.  In  1861  he  went  to  the 
Collegiate  Institute  at  Benicia,  where  he  graduated  in  1863,  taking  a  high 
position  in  the  law  department.  Was  admitted  to  practice  in  1865,  and 
was  elected  District  Attorney  in  1869,  taking  his  seat  in  1870.  Came  to 
Fairfield  in  1876,  where  he  has  since  continued  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. Married  Hattie  E.,  daughter  of  John  E.  Yount,  and  has  one 
daughter,  Ellen. 

LE  GRO,  RICHARD  P.,  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Maine,  July  4, 
1844.  Here  his  parents  died,  and  he  went  to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  re- 
siding there  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  in  1861,  when  he  en- 
listed in  the  Twenty-fifth  Maine  Volunteer  Infantry,  a  regiment  raised 
for  the  nine  months'  service,  and  honorably  discharged  at  the  expiration 
of  the  term.  In  1863  we  find  him  in  Norfolk,  Virginia,  whither  he  had 
gone  to  work  in  the  gas-works,  with  a  brother-in-law,  for  nine  months; 
after  which  he  returned  to  Boston,  again  enlisting,  in  the  regular  army, 
serving  three  years,  and  discharged  at 'the  barracks  in  Omaha,  Nebraska, 
in  1868.  After  returning  to  Boston  on  a  visit,  he  came  to  Suisun,  arriving 
October,  1868,  securing  a  place  in  the  Suisun  City  Mills,  which  he  still 
occupies.  Married,  in  this  city,  Miss  Kate,  daughter  of  C.  D.  Smith,  July 
4,  1872.     Bertie  L.  and  Eva  A.  are  their  children. 

LEITHEAD,  WILLIAM,  native  of  Roxburgh,  Scotland,  born  March  28, 
1838.  His  parents  emigrated  to  Canada  when  he  was  but  six  months 
old.  Here  he  received  his  education,  and  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  emigrated  to  California,  arriving  in 
San  Francisco  June  3,  1859,  and  immediately  came  to  this  county,  where 
he  labored  on  a  farm  for  nearly  two  years,  when  he  went  to  Nevada  and 
followed  teaming  for  sixteen  months,  and  then  returned  to  this  county, 
and  worked  for  S.  K.  Nurse  two  years.  In  June,  1865,  he  returned  to 
Canada  and  spent  three  years,  and  one  year  in  Illinois,  returning  to  this 
county  in  1869.  After  following  his  trade  one  year  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing with  his  brother  James,  for  two  years.  In  the  Spring  of  1874  took  a 
trip  to  Carson,  and  returned  in  the  Fall  of  1875,  since  which  time  he  has 
followed  his  trade.  In  February,  1879,  he  purchased  a  farm  of  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres,  four  miles  due  north  from  Suisun,  and  will  make 
farming  his  business  in  future. 

LEMON,  JOHN  B.,  son  of  the  Honorable  J.  M.  Lemon,  was  born  in 
Clark  county,  Indiana,  on  December  19,  1825,  and  ten  years  later  he 
moved  to  La  Porte,  Indiana,  at  which  place  he  was  educated.     In  1849  he 


416  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

came  to  California,  and  was  one  of  that  great  number  of  pioneers  who 
have  done  so  much  to  place  this  State  in  the  proud  position  it  holds  in 
America.  On  first  arriving  Mr.  Lemon  settled  in  El  Dorado  county,  where 
he  resided  two  years,  occasionally  engaging  in  mining;  while,  during  the 
Winter  of  1849-50,  he  was  located  at  Kelsey's  Dry  Diggings,  where  he 
opened  and  managed  a  store  for  general  merchandise.  From  thence  he 
went  to  Coloma,  where  he  remained  a  short  time  and  pursued  the  same 
occupation.  In  the  Spring  of  1850  he  transferred  his  interests  to  Green- 
wood Valley,  and  was  the  first  to  establish  a  mercantile  store  in  that 
place;  and  in  the  following  Spring  returned  to  Indiana,  and  at  La  Porte 
married,  on  April  1,  1852,  Miss  Hattie  A.,  daughter  of  Dr.  A.  Miller,  of 
that  place,  after  which  he  returned  to  California,  driving  across  the  plains 
a  herd  of  cattle.  In  September,  1852,  he  settled  in  Green  Valley,  Solano 
county,  where  he  resided  until  May  1,  1856,  at  which  date  he  purchased 
the  interest  of  Jones  &  Samuels  in  their  dry -goods  store  in  Suisun  City, 
which  he  in  turn  sold  out  in  1861,  and  embarked  in  the  occupation  of 
sheep  raising,  being  at  one  time  the  largest  buyer  of  wool  in  the  county, 
Mr.  Lemon  has  been  inseparably  connected  with  the  political  history  of 
the  county  since  his  residence  in  it,  and  has  been  elected  to  the 
prominent  position  of  County  Treasurer  on  the  several  general  elections 
held  on  September  6,  1865,  September  4,  1869,  September  1,  1875,  and 
September  5,  1877.     His  children  are,  H.  Jennie,  Mamie,  Dennie. 

MANKA,  CHRISTLEY,  was  born  in  Bautorte  county,  Va.,  April  23,  1814, 
and- resided  there  till  1836,  when  he  went  to  Montgomery  county,  Indiana  ; 
thence  to  Peoria,  Ills.,  where  he  stayed  for  a  short  time,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Lewis  county,  Mo.,  where  he  remained  till  1849,  when  he  made 
the  trip  across  the  Plains  to  California,  arriving  at  Sacramento,  (Sutter's 
Fort,)  on  September  17th  of  that  year.  Went  to  the  mines  on  Yuba 
creek  shortly  after,  where  he  stayed  for  a  few  months,  and  then  went  to 
the  Upper  Yuba,  and  there  principally  engaged  in  storekeeping  and  min- 
ing till  June,  1852,  when  he  came  to  this  district,  and  has  been  a  contin- 
uous resident  in  the  township  ever  since,  except  during  the  years  1864-5, 
when  he  was  a  resident  of  Bridgeport,  after  which  he  came  to  his  present 
abode  and  farm  of  one  hundred  acres. 

MARSHALL,  CHARLES  KNOX,  County  Recorder,  and  a  native  of  Howard, 
county,  Mo.,  was  early  sent  to  district  schools,  where  he  laid  the  founda- 
tions for  a  higher  education,  which  he  received  in  Benicia,  Solano  county, 
at  Charles  M.  Blake's  Collegiate  Institute,  now  known  as  St.  Augustine's 
Academy.  At  the  age  of  twelve  his  parents  moved  from  Howard  county, 
Mo.,  to  Saline,  where  the  subject  of  this  memoir  abode  until  1852,  when 
he  came  to  this  State,  settling  in  Yolo  county.     January,  1853,  he  settled 


:rr' 


^n/^^7^^    <y7/4*is 


THE     HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  417 

near  Collinsville,  Solano  county,  but  subsequently  made  a  permanent  resi- 
dence in  Benicia.  He  was  born  January  10,  1837.  Leona,  daughter  of 
Alexander  Irvine,  was  the  name  of  his  wife,  now  deceased.  Pauline  and 
Lulu  are  their  children. 

MAXWELL,  J.  C,  is  a  native  of  Niagara  Falls,  Niagara  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
born  June  10,  1854.  He,  with  parents,  moved  to  Chicago,  Ills.,  in  1857  ; 
thence  to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  in  1864,  where  he  attended  the  common  schools 
of  that  city  ;  then  sent  to  the  Shattock  Grammar  School,  at  Faribault, 
Minn.,  remaining  three  years,  and  there  acquired  those  fundamental  les- 
sons that  eventually  ripened  into  a  liberal  knowledge  of  the  practical 
affairs  of  life.  His  parents,  in  the  meantime,  having  moved  to  Omaha, 
Neb.,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  repaired  at  the  close  of  his  school 
days,  and  was  appointed,  by  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Co.,  as  telegraph 
operator,  commencing  this  work  in  the  fall  of  1869.  In  the  fall  of  1874 
he  emigrated  to  this  State,  settling  in  Davisville,  Yolo  county,  and  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  C.  P.  P.  R.  Co.  for  one  year  and  three  months,  when  he 
was  transferred  to  Suisun,  as  station  agent  for  that  company,  which  office 
he  is  in  possession  of  at  the  present  writing. 

MILLER,  ALLEN  C,  is  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
born,  October  30,  1832.  In  1833  his  parents  moved  to  Erie,  Pa.,  and  his 
father,  Dr.  A.  Miller,  was  engaged  in  business  with  John  A.  Tracy,  under 
the  firm-name  of  Miller  &  Tracy.  The  family,  in  1842,  emigrated  to  La 
Porte,  Ind.,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  education,  under 
the  direction  of  Prof.  Cummings.  Here  Mr.  Miller's  father  died,  and  he  with 
his  mother  and  brother-in-law,  J.  B.  Lemon,  came  to  this  State,  settling 
in  Green  Valley  township,  Solano  county,  in  September,  1852.  The  fol- 
lowing year  we  find  him  mining  at  Jackson,  Amador  county,  Cal.,  in  the 
Placer  diggings ;  but  in  July,  1856,  he  returned  to  this  county,  and  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  pursuits  till  April,  1864,  when  he  took  up  his  abode 
in  Suisun  City.  Has  been  Deputy  County  Treasurer  since  the  election  of 
John  B.  Lemon  to  that  office.  Mr.  Miller  has  maintained  a  continued 
residence  in  this  county  since  his  coming  here,  except  one  year's  visit  to 
La  Porte,  Ind.,  which  he  made  in  1867. 

MILLER,  JOHN,  born  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  August  19,  1834.  Emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  in  1851,  settling  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  from 
which  place  he  emigrated  on  February  22, 1856,  settling  in  San  Francisco, 
Cal.  Came  to  Suisun  in  1865,  and  opened  his  bakery,  which  business  he 
has  followed  to  the  present  time.  He  was  educated  in  Germany,  and 
those  principles  of  honesty  and  integrity  are  deep-seated  in  his  character, 
which  makes  him  respected  wherever  he  lives.  Margaret,  a  native  of 
27 


418  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Ireland,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Lyons,  he  married  April  26, 1866.     Mary, 
Freddie,  and  Celia  are  his  children. 

MILES,   JAMES  L.,  born  in  Davidson  county,  Tennessee,  near  Nashville, 
March  3,  1822.     His  mother  died  when  he  was  about  eight  years  old ;  his 
father,  H.  D.  Miles,  married  a  second  wife.     He  remained  on  the  farm 
where  he  was  raised  until  he  was  about  sixteen  years  old ;  he  then  left 
the  old  homestead  and  walked  one  hundred  miles  to  the  mouth  of  Cum- 
berland river,  or  the  town  of  Smithland,  in  Kentucky,  where  he  engaged 
as  a  common  hand  on  the  steamboat  "  Rio,"  H.  H.  Harrison,  commander: 
he  continued  to  be  engaged  in  steamboating  on  various  boats  and  in  dif- 
ferent capacities  until  the  5th  of  April,  1850,  when  he  left  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  for  California.     The  last  five  years  of  his  steamboating  he  was  en- 
gaged as  pilot  on  different  boats.     He  left  Nashville  in  company  with 
Stephen  J.  Buckhout  and  wife,  and  Thomas  L.  Bowers,  for  California. 
Bowers  and  himself  arrived  at  Hangtown  on  the  20th  of  August,  1850  ;  he 
worked  in  the  mines  until  the  latter  part  of  September,  then  he  walked 
to  Sacramento  city,  where  he  hired  to  one  Capt.  Harding,  to  mow  grass, 
down  below  the  city,  where  he  worked  until  he  was  taken  sick  ;  he  then 
returned  to  the  city,  and  remained  there  a  few  days,  until  he  felt  able  to 
travel ;  he  then  walked  to  Suisun  valley,  where  he  arrived  the  21st  of 
October,  1850,  with  just  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  in  his  pocket, 
and  all  the  clothes  he  had  in  the  world  he  had  on  his  back,  and  one 
blanket.    He  walked  to  Benicia,  and  gave  seventy-five  cents  of  his  coin  for 
dinner ;  he  then  returned  to  Suisun,  located  here  and  went  to  work  at 
whatever  work  he  could  get,  receiving  four  dollars  per  day  for  work.    He 
married  Mary  J.  Quentien,  daughter  of  Allen  Quentien,  the  18th  day  of 
December,  1851.     She,  in  company  with  her  father  and  brother  William, 
and  a  negro  man,  Isaac,  crossed  the  plains  in  1850,  and  settled  in  Suisun 
valley  in  October;  she  and  her  father  were  from  Mill  creek,  four  miles  from 
Nashville,  Davidson  county,  Tenn.     He  commenced  to  farm  in  1851,  rais- 
ing barley  and  potatoes;  he  shipped  the  first  produce  (potatoes)  from  Sui- 
sun City,  in  July,  1852;  he  shipped  them  on  the  schooner  "Ann  Sophia," 
Josiah  Wing  captain  and  owner.     The  potatoes  were  sold  in  San  Francisco 
for  9f  cents  per  pound.     November  5,  1857,  he  returned  to  his  native 
State  on  a  visit ;  returned  to  California  in  February,  1858.     In  December, 
1858,  moved  to  the  Montezuma  hills,  and  lived  on  a  ranch  near  Nurse's 
Landing,  taking  care  of   cattle ;  moved  from  there,  in    1861,  six  miles 
northwest  of  Bio  Vista,  where  he  lived  eight  years  ;  his  wife  died  here, 
the  16th  of  February,  1866,  and  left  him  with  an  only  child,  and  she 
blind  ;  sold  his  ranch  here  in  October,  1869  (480  acres);  then  returned  to 
Suisun  Valley,  and  in  July,  1870,  bought  a  farm  of  ninety  acres,  of 
Lewis  Pierce,  where  he  now  lives.     Married  a  second  wife,  Malinda  An- 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  419 

geline  McKinley,  June  7,  1877,  she  having  three  children:  Samuel,  Eliza- 
beth J.,  and  Alice  Lee.  He  crossed  the  plains  with  mule  teams ;  was  one 
hundred  days  from  the  Missouri  river  to  Hangtown,  now  Placerville. 

MURRAY,  ALEXANDER,  is  a  native  of  Earltown,  Colchester,  Nova  Scotia. 
Born  May,  1847.  He  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker  in  his  native  coun- 
try, and  worked  at  it  until  May,  1868,  when  he  emigrated  to  California, 
and  settled  in  Suisun,  this  county,  working  at  his  trade,  where  it  is  hoped 
he  will  last  long  enough  to  repair  all  the  soles.  This  done  and  his  mis- 
sion will  be  complete. 

McCREARY,  D.,  was  born  in  York  county,  Pa.,  July  13,  1830,  and  with 
parents  moved  to  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  educated.  In  1848 
went  to  Ashland,  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  and  in  1854  emigrated  to  Cali- 
fornia, crossing  the  plains  with  J.  L.  Sanborn,  arriving  in  the  Suisun  val- 
ley in  August  of  that  year.  He  paid  Mr.  Sanborn  $100  to  be  taken 
across  the  plains,  all  the  money  he  possessed.  Having  in  early  life 
learned  the  gunsmith's  trade,  he  was  selected  as  the  blacksmith  for 
the  party,  he  being  the  nearest  approach  to  that  kind  of  a  workman 
among  their  number.  A  horse  which  he  brought  with  him  he  sold  before 
arriving  in  the  valley  for  $200,  but  sent  the  money  home.  It  will  be  seen 
he  commenced  life  in  this  country  without  means,  but  by  prudence  and 
economy  he  gathered  together  a  sufficient  amount  to  buy  a  portion  of  his 
present  estate,  southwest  from  Suisun,  and  has  since  added  to  it,  until 
now  he  owns  760  acres  of  fine  valley  land.  He  moved  to  Suisun  City  in 
1878,  to  educate  his  children.  Married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  McKnight, 
a  native  of  St.  Joseph  county,  Ind.,  April  24,  1866.  They  have  Sadie  and 
Howard. 

MCDONALD,  D.  0,  of  the  firm  of  Hall,  Hill  &  McDonald,  was  born  in 
Nova  Scotia,  April  8,  1848.  Emigrated  from  his  native  country  to  Cali- 
fornia, settling  in  this  county,  near  Collinsville,  in  1869 ;  the  following- 
year  he  came  to  Suisun,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  until  September, 
1877,  when  he  joined  partnership  in  the  livery  business  with  the  above 
gentlemen. 

PALMER,  A.  M.,  LYMAN  LUTHER,  was  born  August  30,1850,near  Medora, 
Macoupin  County,  Illinois.  His  father's  name  was  Luther  Bateman 
Palmer,  a  native  of  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Louisa  A.  Brainard,  a  native  of  Addison  county,  Vermont ;  entered 
college,  October  21,  1866,  at  Blackburn  University,  Carlinville,  Illinois  ; 
graduated  with  honors  from  the  Classical  Department,  June  12,  1873, 
receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.     June  11,  1877,  he  had  the 


420  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

honor  of  having  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  conferred  upon  him  by  his 
Alma  Mater.  June  25th,  1873,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Maria  Frances  Nantz.  She  was  horn  near  Carlinville,  Macoupin  county, 
Illinois.  Her  father's  name  was  Edmund  Walton  "Nantz,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Louisa  Julia  Bainbridge. 
June  26,  1873,  L.  L.  Palmer  and  wife  started  for  California,  and  located 
at  Rio  Vista,  when  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  for  a  while.  He 
was  Principal  of  the  Public  School  for  one  year,  spent  a  part  of  a  year 
in  Oakland,  being  connected  with  the  press  of  that  city,  returned  to  Rio 
Vista  and  taught  another  year,  and  then  began  the  publication  of  the  Rio 
Vista  Gleaner.  In  February,  1879,  he  became  connected  with  the  Solano 
Republican,  and  at  present  resides  in  Suisun.  He  has  three  daughters, 
the  oldest,  Sarah  Estella,  was  born  November  23, 1874  ;  the  second,  Vesta 
Louisa,  was  born  October  21,  1876,  and  the  third,  Clara  Belle,  was  born 
December  19,  1878. 

PALMER,  S.  G.,  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  the  youngest  son  of  Phillip 
and  Ann  A.  Palmer,  was  born  in  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  August  14th, 
1840,  removing,  with  the  family,  to  Johnson  county,  Missouri,  in  1844. 
Here  he  remained  till  1853,  when,  with  his  parents,  he  removed  to  Solano 
county,  Cal.,  where  he  has  maintained  a  continuous  residence,  locating  in 
business  in  Suisun  city,  in  1867. 

May  5th,  1865,  he  united  his  fortunes  with  Elizabeth  T.  Smith,  daughter 
of  C.  D.  Smith.  The  result  of  the  union  being  a  handsome  business 
competence,  and  the  family  supplement  of  two  bright  children,  Ethel  A., 
and  Clyde  H.  October  15th,  1870,  Mr.  Palmer  was  commissioned  Post- 
master, at  Suisun  city,  his  commission  being  signed  by  Postmaster-Gen- 
eral John  A.  J.  Creswell,  which  position  he  still  fills.  In  May,  1879,  he 
was  elected  to  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  somewhat  responsible, 
though  not  lucrative  office,  of  Town  Trustee.  In  addition  to  his  public 
services,  in  a  Federal  and  Municipal  capacity,  he  also  served  Cristal 
School  District  one  term,  as  Assessor  and  Collector,  and  has  ever  mani- 
fested a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  true  education,  and  the  general 
dissemination  of  wholesome  knowledge ;  having  himself  enjoyed  the  ad- 
vantages of  a  liberal  education,  and  the  conferment  of  the  College  degree 
of  A.  B.,  in  May,  1864,  after  patiently  pursuing  the  necessary  course  of 
study  to  entitle  him  thereto. 

PANGBURN,  GARRETT  HENRY,  a  native  of  Albany  county,  N.  Y., 
was  born  May  18,  1838.  At  the  age  of  ten  his  parents  moved  to  Sar- 
atoga county,  N.  Y.,  and,  after  a  few  years,  to  Belvidere,  Boone  county, 
Ills.,  and  two  years  thereafter  went  to  Sparta,  Monroe  county,  Wis.  Mr. 
Pangburn   started   for  California  April  8, 1861,  crossing  the  Plains  with  a 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY  421 

horse  team,  and  arrived  in  Butte  county,  where  he  settled,  in  July  of  that 
year.  November,  1862,  he  came  to  this  township,  where  he  has  since 
permanently  resided.  Married  Adeline  Russell,  daughter  of  Landy 
Alford,  Nov.  16,  1863.  There  children  are  Lillie,  Ida  May,  Arthur, 
James  Francis  Marion,  Julia  Belle,  and  Maud. 

PEARCE,  JOHN  W.,  an  old  settler,  of  Solano  county,  was  born  in  Bristol 
county,  Rhode  Island,  July  17,  1829.  When  a  little  over  seventeen 
years  old,  he  went  to  Fall  River,  Mass.,  and  was  apprenticed  to  S.  L. 
James  &  Co.,  to  learn  the  carpenters  and  joiners  trade,  remaining  with 
them  until  twenty -one  years  old.  In  1850,  went  to  New  Bedford,  Mass., 
where  he  remained  until  1854,  when  in  March  of  that  year  he  arrived  in 
this  State,  settling  in  San  Francisco.  Two  years,  thereafter,  he  came  to 
Suisun,  where  he  has  maintained  a  continuous  residence.  Married  Angie 
B.  Davis,  an  adopted  daughter  of  Dr.  Archer,  on  Dec.  7,  1863.  She 
died  in  Suisun,  October  2,  1872.  Maud  M.,  born  October  1,  1864,  is  their 
only  child. 

PERKINS,  E.  D.,  is  one  of  Solano's  old  settlers,  who  was  born  in  Canada,  (his 
parents  being  then  citizens  of  the  United  States,)  March  15th,  1834.  His 
parents  came  to  Rock  county,  Wis.,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  re- 
ceived his  education,  and  married  Ellen  Rittenhouse,  daughter  of  William 
Rittenhouse,  of  Green  county,  Wis.  They  emigrated  to  this  State, 
settling  in  Suisun  city,  in  1861.  In  the  fall  of  1871,  Mr.  Perkins  was 
elected  County  Treasurer  and  Tax  Collector,  and  in  1873,  elected  Sheriff, 
which  office  he  held  two  years,  and  doing  the  county  excellent  service,  in 
bringing  to  justice  several  noted  criminals,  prominent  among  which  was 
the  capture  and  conviction  of  "Black  Jack,"  a  noted  safe  breaker.  At 
the  time  he  was  serving  the  county  as  Sheriff,  he  was  also  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  trade,  with  W.  K  Hoyt,  but  afterwards  bought  Hoyt's  interest 
and  is,  at  present  writing,  the  sole  proprietor.  Clara,  Herman,  Dorman, 
Hayden  Ellen,  and  Jessie,  are  his  children. 

QUICJC,  W.,  is  a  native  of  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  September 
29th,  1835.  Here  he  received  his  education,  and  worked  at  farming, 
until  about  nineteen  years  old,  and  emigrated  to  California,  crossing  the 
plains  in  1854,  and  located  in  Napa  county.  In  1855,  he  went  to  Vallejo, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  draying  during  the  winter,  and  then  came  to 
Suisun  Valley,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming,  from  1856  to  1863,  at 
which  time  he  went  to  the  mountains,  mining  for  one  year,  and  returned 
to  Suisun  Valley.  In  1869,  we  again  find  him  in  the  mines,  where  he 
stayed  four  years.  He  again  returns  to  this  county,  and  settled  in  the 
Montezuma  hills,  working  for  W.  B.  Brown   one  year,  after   which   he 


422  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

farmed  on  his  own  account.  In  the  fall  of  1875,  he  bought  the  ranch 
where  he  now  resides,  and  is  located  about  three  miles  north-west  of 
Suisun. 

RICE,  HARVEY,  was  born  in  Marlboro,  Middlesex  county,  Mass.,  April  3, 
1827.  He  was  educated  in  Marlboro,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  during 
the  summer,  and  taught  school  in  winter,  for  a  livelihood.  Emigrated  to 
this  State  in  1849,  coming  via  Cape  Horn,  locating  in  Benicia,  June  10, 
1850.  The  following  year  he  moved  to  San  Francisco,  purchasing  stock 
in  Oregon  for  the  trade  in  California.  In  the  fall  of  1851  he  made  Sac- 
ramento his  home,  pursuing  the  butcher  business  as  well  as  the  stock 
trade,  but  changed  his  residence  to  this  county  in  June,  1855,  settling  on 
a  rancho  in  the  Suisun  valley.  In  1863  he  came  to  Suisun  City  and,  the 
following  year,  opened  his  butcher-shop,  and  at  the  present  writing  is  the 
proprietor. 

RICHARDSON,  J.  B.,  is  a  native  of  Le  Roy,  Genesee  county,  N.  Y.,  where 
his  parents  had  settled  in  1810,  there  being  only  three  log  houses  in  the 
city  of  Rochester  when  they  passed  through  that  place.  Mr.  Richardson 
has  traced  his  genealogy  to  one  Amos  Richardson,  who  emigrated  from 
England,  in  1640.  He  was  born  on  June  10,  1827,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation at  his  birth-place.  In  1848  he  moved  to  Lafayette  county,  Wis- 
consin, and  was  by  occupation  a  farmer.  Returning  to  his  former  home 
in  1851,  where  he  married  Miss  Kate  Richardson,  from  Le  Roy,  Genesee 
county,  New  York,  on  May  15, 1850.  They  returned  to  Wisconsin,  where 
they  abode  until  1860,  then  emigrated  overland  to  Suisun,  Solano  county, 
Cal.,  arriving  September  4th,  of  that  year.  On  his  arrival  here  he  was 
entirely  destitute  of  money,  and  in  order  to  gain  a  livelihood  for  himself 
and  wife,  worked  at  "  whatever  his  hands  found  to  do,"  until  appointed 
Assistant  Assessor,  November  16,  1865.  When  the  law  was  changed, 
in  July,  1875,  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Collector  of  U.  S.  Internal  Rev- 
enue, which  office  he  now  holds.  He  has  steadily  pushed  ahead  in  his 
special  avocations,  and  those  with  whom  he  has  had  business  associations 
aver  that  his  efforts  have  been  crowned  with  success.  Belle  Eliza,  and 
William  Manning,  are  their  children. 

ROBBINS,  R.  D.,  was  born  in  Bodoingham,  Sagadahoc  county,  Maine,  Febru- 
ary 19,  1839.  He  was  educated  at  the  Maine  Wesleyan  Seminary,  in  his 
native  town.  Leaving  home  in  1860,  he  took  passage  on  a  ship  in  New 
York  on  March  20th,  of  that  year,  for  California,  crossing  the  Isthmus  on 
April  20th,  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco  on  the  25th.  Coming  directly 
to  the  Suisun  valley,  he  commenced  life  among  strangers,  first  as  a  hired 
hand  under  Mr.  Pearson,  then  hauled  stone  for  the  Fairfield  church,  for 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  423 

Nathan  Richardson,  and  afterwards  burning  lime  for  James  Burnett,  and 
on  August  1,  1860,  commenced  work  in  a  lumber  yard  at  Suisun,  for 
Nickison  &  Crowell.  May,  1862,  he  bought  one-half  interest  in  a  lum- 
ber-yard, of  C.  Kurlbaum,  the  firm  then  being  Hook  &  Robbins.  In  July 
following  he  purchased  the  lumber  interest  of  Nickison  &  Crowell,  and 
in  January,  1864,  Mr.  Robbins  bought  out  his  partner,  J.  S.  Hook,  and 
has  since  been  the  sole  proprietor.  In  additien  to  his  large  lumber  inter- 
ests, he  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  establishing  the  Bank  of  Suisun, 
of  which  he  is  President.  It  will  be  seen  that,  step  by  step,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  rose  from  poverty  to  a  position  among  the  wealthy  men 
of  our  county,  envied  by  many.  It  is  also  a  striking  illustration  of 
what  pluck,  energy  and  honesty  may  accomplish.  Mr.  Robbins  married 
Sadiatha  McCullah,  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of 
John  McCullah,  on  January  19,  1871.  Their  children  are,  R.  D.,  Mary 
Emma,  John  Lloyd  McCullah,  and  Minnie  Hoyt. 

ROBINSON,  D.  D.  S.,  W.  H.,  office  and  residence,  Suisun.  Is  a  Canadian  by 
birth.  Being  left  an  orphan  when  quite  young,  he  had  the  varied  tug 
for  existence  common  to  all  boys  who  have  no  home,  and  who  have  from 
childhood  to  be  the  architects  of  their  own  fortunes.  At  ten  years  old  we 
find  him  in  the  town  of  Brantford,  C.  W.,  sub-clerk  in  a  grocery,  wages 
two  dollars  per  month ;  but  before  he  was  eighteen,  he  had,  by  his  own 
efforts,  accumulated  over  $1,200.  With  this  sum  he  determined  to  obtain 
an  education,  and  with  this  object  left  his  native  land  to  attend  Oberlin 
College,  Ohio,  he  being  in  sympathy  with  the  principles  of  freedom  and 
manhood  held  and  taught  in  that  noted  institution.  Here  he  spent  six 
years,  and  then  chose  dentistry  as  his  life  pursuit,  studying  with  Dr.  J.  P 
Sidall,  of  that  place,  and  receiving  his  diploma  from  the  Ohio  College  of 
Dental  Surgery,  in  Cincinnati.  He  first  practiced  in  Ashtabula,  Ohio ; 
then  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  from  1865  to  1875. 
Four  years  ago  he  made  California  his  home.  During  his  boyhood  he 
visited  the  neighboring  town  of  Paris — a  few  miles  from  Brantford,  C. 
W.,  his  own  home — and  while  at  church  there,  the  first  look  at  a  little 
girl  sealed  his  door,  matrimonially.  That  little  girl  was  Clara  Hawkins. 
On  the  29th  of  June,  1864,  at  her  own  home  in  that  town,  they  were 
married.  She  is  now  his  wife.  May,  Leo,  Clara,  and  Marsa,  are  their 
children.     "Ad  Astra  per  aspera." 

RUSH,  B.  F.,  was  born  at  Fourteen  Mile  House,  Sacramento  county,  Gal., 
Oct.  12,  1852.  When  two  years  old  he  came  to  this  county  with  his 
parents,  settling  on  the  ranch  where  he,  at  this  writing,  resides,  in  the 
Potrero  Hills.  Received  his  primary  and  academical  education  in  Oak- 
land and  San  Francisco.     Attended  the  Military  Academy  in  Oakland, 


424  THE   HISTOEY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

and  afterwards  Heald's  Business  College.  In  1870  to  75  he  followed 
book-keeping,  after  which  he  returned  to  his  home,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising.  Hiram  Rush,  his  father,  died  Dec.  4,  1869,  and 
since  October,  1875,  he  has  been  sole  manager  of  the  entire  ranch,  com- 
prising 5,100  acres.  He  married  June  20,  1876,  Miss  Anna  M.  McKean, 
a  native  of  Astoria,  Oregon.  She  was  boi*n  April  13th,  1853.  Richard 
Ira,  born  July  19,  1877,  and  Frederick  Winn,  born  March  14, 1879,  are 
the  names  and  births  of  their  children. 

SPENCE,  M.  D.,  ALEXANDER  PERSINGER,  was  born  Dec.  30, 1834,  at 
Columbia,  Boone  county,  Mo.  Entered  the  Preparatory  Department  of 
the  State  University  of  Missouri,  in  1851,  and  graduated  July  4,  1856, 
after  which  he  took  two  courses  of  medical  lectures  at  the  St.  Thomas 
Medical  College  of  Missouri,  receiving  his  degree  from  that  institution 
March  2,  1858.  Has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine 
up  to  the  present  time.  Came  to  California  March  1,  1877,  and  located 
at  Suisun  City,  April  1,  1878. 

STAPLES,  EARNEST  H.,  is  a  native  of  York  county,  Maine,  where  he 
was  born,  on  October  14,  1856.  When  about  one  year  old  his  parents 
moved  to  Portland,  Maine,  where  they  lived  about  three  years,  and  emi- 
grated to  California,  via  Panama,  arriving  in  San  Francisco,  Nov.  13, 1859. 
In  1861  they  came  to  Suisun,  Solano  county.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  sent  to  St.  Augustine's  College,  at  Benicia,  in  1869,  completing  parents 
education  during  the  five  years  he  attended  school  there.  About  one 
year  thereafter  he  served  as  a  cadet,  about  six  months,  on  a  Pacific  mail 
ship,  running  between  San  Francisco  and  Panama,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  Suisun,  and  engaged  as  book-keeper  for  Lewis  Pierce,  for  a 
term  of  six  months,  and  afterwards  followed  the  same  occupation  for  E. 
D.  Hilborn  &  Co.  In  October,  1877,  he  went  on  a  rancho,  at  Cannon 
Station,  where  he  has  since  lived  and  farmed  1,040  acres  of  land.  On  * 
August  11,  1878,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  M.,  daughter  of  D.  J.  Reese,  of 
Vallejo. 

STAPLES,  F.  0.,  a  native  of  Cumberland  county,  Maine.  Born  October 
29,  1825,  where  he  received  his  primary  education  and  resided  with  parents 
until  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  when  he  entered  a  drug  store  as  clerk 
in  Saco,  York  county,  Maine,  where  he  remained  about  three  years,  when 
he  engaged  in  the  book  and  stationery  business,  which  he  followed  for 
five  years.  He  then  went  back,  and  lived  with  his  parents  for  two  years, 
when  he  went  to  Birchforce,  York  county,  and,  in  company  with  his 
brothei  Samuel,  bought  a  farm,  where  he  lived  and  farmed  for  three  years* 
after  which  he  clerked  again  in  a  drug  store,  this  time  in  Portland,  Me., 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  425 

where  he  spent  four  years.  He  then  emigrated  to  California,  via  Panama, 
arriving  in  San  Francisco  November  13,  1859.  Leaving  his  family  in 
San  Francisco  he  proceeded  to  Suisun,  this  county.  His  place  of  resi- 
dence being  divided  between  Suisun  and  San  Francisco,  until  1861  when 
he  moved  his  family  to  Suisun,  where  he  has  resided  continuously  ever 
since.  In  1869  he,  in  company  with  R.  B.  Cannon,  bought  a  ranch  at 
Cannon's  Station,  consisting  of  1,040  acres,  but  in  1877  he  bought  out 
Cannon's  interest,  and  he  and  his  son  Earnest  H.  now  own  and  conduct 
the  place  together.  Mr.  Staples  married  Miss  Sarah  W.  Cardwell,  daughter 
of  Francis  Cardwell,  of  Greenwood,  Oxford  county,  Maine,  on  November 
25, 1851.  Ida  E.,  born  August  29, 1852,  and  died  October  8, 1855  ;  Earnest 
H.,  born  October  14,  1856  ;  Julia,  born  June  2,  1866,  and  died  June  19, 
1866 ;  M.  C,  born  December  11,  1868,  are  the  names  of  their  children. 

STOCKMAN,  DAVID  E.,  (deceased),  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
February  7,  1833.  Moved  to  Loudonville,  Ohio,  from  which  he  emigrated 
to  California,  settling  in  Suisun  in  November,  1856.  While  in  this  State 
he  continuously  resided  in  Suisun,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  months 
before  his  death.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Engine  Company, 
and  the  Light  Dragoons ;  for  a  long  time  Chairman  of  the  Union  County 
Committee  ;  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  and  was  identified  with 
nearly  every  public  interest  in  this  community. 

STOCKMAN,  D.  MERRILL,  a  native  of  New  York  city,  arrived  in  Suisun 
March  1858.  His  brother  having  preceded  him  to  this  county  is  the 
reason  why  he  chose  this  valley  for  his  future  home.  He  had  formerly 
resided  in  Orange,  Essex  county,  New  Jersey,  where  his  parents  had 
moved  when  he  was  quite  young.  In  1836,  we  find  them  in  Delaware 
county,  Ohio,  and  again,  in  1844,  took  up  their  abode  in  Ashland  county. 
Here  Mr.  Stockman  was  educated,  and  from  whence  he  started  for  this 
State  in  December,  1857.  He  was  born  August  22,  1830,  and  married  on 
April  9,  1862,  Miss  Emma  A.,  daughter  of  T.>  C.  Everets,  M.  D.  Their 
children  are  May  Ella,  Lillie,  Emma  and  Carrie ;  D.  Merrill,  their  only 
son,  was  drowned  in  this  town. 

SWAN,  HONORABLE  THOMAS  M.,  is  a  native  of  Harden  county,  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  was  born  March  14, 1819,  and  is  the  fourth  son  of  Thomas 
Swan.  After  receiving  his  common  school  education,  he  was  sent  to 
Elizabethtown  to  the  Harden-county  Academy,  where  all  the  languages 
were  taught,  from  which  he  graduated  with  honors.  Commenced  the 
study  of  law,  first,  with  Jesse  Craddock  and  afterwards  with  Gov.  John 
L.  Helm,  of  Kentucky;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1842,  after  which  he 
practiced  law  in  his  native  county.     He  was  elected   to  the  lower  house 


426  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

of  the  legislature  for  the  sessions  of  1848-9,  filling  that  office  with  dis- 
tinction. Emigrated  to  this  State,  via  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  settling 
in  Benicia  on  January  27, 1851.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  District 
Attorney  for  Solano  county,  and,  in  1853,  was  elected  County  Judge.  In 
1859,  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the  California  Legislature  and 
again  in  1855.  Came  to  Fairfield  on  May  9,  1858,  for  over  twenty  years 
he  has  worked  for  the  improvement  of  the  Tolenas  Springs. 

TURNER,  W.  H.,  is  a  native  of   Macdingburg,   Virginia,   and  was  born 
December  27,  1816,  where  he  received  his  education  and  lived  on  a  farm 
with  his  parents  till  twenty  years  old.     At  the  age  of  twenty-three,  he 
emigrated  to  Cape  Girardeau  county,  Missouri,  where  he  married  Susan 
J.  Elliott,  July  23,  1839.     Here  he  lived  and  was  engaged  in  farming  for 
seven  years,  when  he  moved  to  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  where  he  pur- 
sued farming  for  two  years  ;  came  to  California,  leaving  his  family,  cross- 
ing the  plains  with  an  ox  team,  arriving  in  Nevada  city,  September  15, 
1850,  at  which  place  he  followed  mining  about  five  months,  after  which 
he   went  to  Red  Bar,  Trinity  river,  going  into  partnership  with  J.  B. 
Rentchler,  where  he  remained  about  eight  months,  then  went  to  San 
Francisco,  going  East  via  the  Nicaragua  route,  landing  in   New  Orleans, 
thence  up  the  Mississippi  river,  Mr.  Rentchler  going  to  St.  Louis  and  Mr. 
Turner  stopping  at  Cape  Girardeau,  where  he  met  his  family.     After  re- 
maining there  about  two  months,  he  again  crossed  the  plains  to  this  State 
with  an  ox  team,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  six  children  and  four  men. 
He  arrived  in  Suisun  valley,  August  28, 1852.     Five  days  after  his  arrival 
he  left  his  family  in  a  small  cabin  about  four  miles  north  of  Suisun,  under 
the  protection  of  a  gentleman,  and  he,  with  three  men,  went  to  Trinity 
river,  to  look  after  his  mine  he  had  previously  located,  but  only  remained 
about  four  days,  and  then  returned  home,  settling  on  a  farm  about  four 
miles  north  of  Suisun,  building  a  house,  the  timber  for  which  he  brought 
from  the  Napa  red-woods.     In  December,  1860,  he  came  to  his  present' 
farm  of  238  acres,  situated   about   four  miles    north-west  from  Suisun. 
His  wife  died  October  11,  1867.     The  names  of  the  children  by  this  mar- 
riage are,  John  H.,born  September  12, 1840,  and  died  July  9, 1866  ;  Cebi- 
ner  C,  born  May  13,  1842  ;  Richard  W.,  born  December  27,  1843  ;  Louisa 
J.  Shaw,  born  January  2,  1846,  died  April  15,  1871 ;    Juliette  A.,  born 
April  21,  1847 ;   William  W.,  born  February  4,  1849  :   Thomas  B.,  born 
November  4,  185»3,  and  died  January  28,  1876  ;   Charles  M.,  born  August 
19,  1855  ;   Frank,  born  August  23,  1857,  and  died  December  6,  1863. 

Mr.  Turner  again  married,  on  September  27,  1871,  Miss  Salina  V.  F.  Rogers, 
in  Virginia,  and  the  following  are  his  children :  William  H.,  born  August 
12, 1872 ;  George  K,  born  August  3,  1874 ;  Edward,  born  September  19, 
1876,  and  died  October  3,  1876 ;   Leland  J.,  born  November  15,  1877. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  427 

TAYLOR,  WILLIAM  H.,  is  a  native  of  Des  Moines  county,  Iowa,  and  born 
March  1,  1845.  Here  he  resided  until  1852,  when  he  emigrated  to  James- 
town, Tuolumne  county,  Cal.,  coming  via  the  Isthmus,  and  arrived  at  that 
place  in  December,  of  that  year.  After  two  years,  he  returned  to  Iowa,  and 
remained  there  until  1856,  when  he  again  came  to  California.  At  this 
time  he  settled  in  Oroville,  Butte  county,  Cal.,  where  he  married  Eliza- 
beth J.,  daughter  of  J.  M.  Vance,  M.  D.,  then  a  resident  of  that  place. 
In  March,  1875,  he  came  to  Suisun,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Vance  &  Taylor.  Their 
children  are,  Mary  Alice,  James  Vance,  Hattie  May,  and  Jennie  Belle. 

VANCE,  M.  D.,  JAMES  MONROE,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Rogers ville,  Hawkins  county,  East  Tennessee,  27th  January,  1827.  Some- 
time during  the  year  1832  his  parents  moved  to  Battle  Creek,  Marion 
county,  Tenn.,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  primary  edu- 
cation. During  his  eight  years'  residence  at  this  place  his  father  died, 
and  he  was  then  sent  to  live  with  a  brother  in  Jackson  county,  Alabama, 
finishing  his  education  at  the  Missouri  Academy.  In  1840  he,  with  his 
brother,  took  a  residence  in  Arkansas,  where  Mr.  Vance  taught  school  two 
years,  then  went  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  commencing  the  study  of  medicine 
with  P.  H.  Lane,  M.  D.,  and  afterwards  attended  the  Memphis  Medical 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  January  28,  1848.  Moved  to  Arkan- 
sas, where  he  married  Mary  Butler,  daughter  of  John  Butler.  They 
changed  their  residence  to  Waldron,  Scott  county,  Ark.,  where  he  not  only 
practiced  his  profession,  but  was  appointed  Land  Commissioner,  and  spec- 
ulated in  lands,  as  well  as  carrying  on  a  mercantile  business.  Emigrated 
to  California,  settling  in  Oroville,  Butte  county,  in  1856,  where  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  in  1859.  Came  to 
Suisun  March  1,  1875.  His  children  are  Mrs.  Lizzie  J.  Taylor,  Dr.  A.  W., 
and  John  B. 

VEST,  JOHN,  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Roberts'  House  in  Suisun,  and  was 
born  in  Ireland,  December  15,  1826.  He  came  to  America  when  nine 
years  old,  with  his  parents,  settling  in  Washington  county,  N.  Y.  In 
1851  he  started  for  Calif ornia,  arriving  on  June  13th  of  that  year,  locating 
in  San  Francisco.  Was  engaged  in  mining  for  several  years,  after  which 
he  moved  to  Marysville,  thence  over  the  mountains  to  Storey  county,  Ne- 
vada, in  1862  ;  thence  to  Washoe  county,  and  on  December  2,  1869,  came 
to  this  township,  settling  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Rush  rancho.  He 
afterwards,  in  company  with  Thomas  Melburn,  bought  a  farm,  which  they 
now  own.  Moved  to  Suisun,  where  he  married  Mrs.  Margaret  Roberts, 
and  has  since  been  in  charge  of  the  Roberts'  Hotel. 


428  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

WATERMAN,  ROBERT  H.,  for  many  years  a  commander  in  the  Mercantile 
Marine,  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  March  4,  1808.  In  1820,  he 
shipped  on  board  a  sailing  vessel  as  a  cabin  boy,  and  -passed  through  all 
the  positions  and  grades  of  offices  to  master  and  owner  of  a  full-rigged 
ship.  The  latter  office  was  conferred  on  him  in  1833,  which  he  continu- 
ously held  until  1851.  Has  five  times  sailed  around  the  world.  He 
with  Captain  A.  A.  Richie,  came  to  Fairfield,  buying  four  leagues  of  land, 
in  1848,  after  which,  Captain  Waterman  permanently  located  here  in  1850. 
He  is  the  founder  of  the  town  of  Fairfield,  and  great  credit  is  due  him 
for  taking  a  lively  interest  in  all  that  goes  to  make  the  county  in  which 
he  lives  prosperous.  Married  Miss  Cordelia,  daughter  of  David  Sterling, 
of  Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  in  1846. 

WELLS,  JAMES  T.,  was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Missouri,  on  September 
24,  1845,  and  when  quite  young  he,  with  his  parents,  moved  near  Quincy, 
Lincoln  county,  Illinois,  and  in  1856  they  emigrated  to  this  State,  coming 
via  Nicaragua  route,  arriving  on  January  19th,  of  that  year.  They  im- 
mediately settled  in  this  valley,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Received  his 
primary  education  at  the  University  of  the  Pacific,  at  Santa  Clara,  Cal., 
and  finished  the  same  at  the  Napa  Collegiate  Institute.  He  was  first 
appointed  Deputy  Sheriff  in  1871,  and  has  since  held  that  position  with 
the  exception  of  a  short  time  while  engaged  as  a  Deputy  Assessor.  Mar- 
ried Frances  L.  Donaldson,  July  5,  1872.  She  died  December  18,  1875. 
Carrie  Pearl  is  the  only  child  by  this  marriage.  He  again  married,  Carrie 
Johnson,  daughter  of  C.  Johnson,  Esq.,  on  June  6,  1878. 

WENDELL,  J.  F.,  was  born  in  Farmington,  Franklin  county,  Maine,  on 
January  21,  1845.  On  October  2,  1854,  he  arrived,  with  his  parents,  in 
San  Francisco,  via  Nicaragua,  and  accompanied  them  to  Crescent 
City,  Del  Norte  county,  where  his  father  had  been  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers,  in  1849.  He  studied  law  with  Judge  J.  P.  Haynes,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  May,  1867.  In  the  fall  of  1869  Mr.  Wendell 
came  to  Vallejo,  where  he  located  as  a  practicing  lawyer,  continuing  his 
profession  in  that  city  until  elected  to  the  position  of  District  Attorney, 
in  1871,  when  he  transferred  his  residence  to  Suisun,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  Mr.  Wendell  occupies  a  prominent  position  among  the  legal 
lights  of  Solano  county.  He  married,  November  12,  1874,  Emma  G., 
daughter  of  James  W.  Kinloch,  by  whom  he  has,  Susie  S.,  born  Decem- 
ber 25,  1876,  and  an  infant,  born  February  8,  1879. 

WING,  JOSEPH,  (deceased.)  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Bon- 
stable  county,  Massachusetts,  April  4,  1799.  He  married  in  his  native 
place,  Mercy  F.  Crosby,  a  native  of   the  same  county.     They  moved  to 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  429 

Monroe,  Madison  county,  N.  Y.;  thence  to  Hillsdale  county,  Michigan,  Mr. 
Wing  coming  to  California  in  1849;  but  his  family  returned  to  Massa- 
chusetts, joining  Mr.  W.  in  August,  1852.  After  Mr.  Wing's  arrival  in 
San  Francisco,  in  1849,  he  kept  store  in  the  ship  "  Diantha;"  which  he 
had  brought  with  him  from  Boston.  He  commenced  running  a  brig  to 
Suisun  Island — as  it  was  then  called — in  the  fall  of  1850,  and  for  some 
time  did  nearly  all  the  carrying  business  of  the  place.  He  was  a  man  of 
worth,  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  Morris,  of  San  Francisco, 
Chilbysworth  C,  of  Roberts  Island,  and  Joseph,  Jr.,  are  their  children. 

WING,  Jr.,  JOSEPH,  was  born  in  Medina,  Monroe  county,  N.  Y.,  September 
1,1838.  He  moved  with  his  parents  to  Hillsdale  county,  Michigan,  and 
with  his  mother  to  Bonstable  county,  Massachusetts,  and  emigrated  to 
California,  arriving  in  August,  1852,  settling  in  Suisun.  His  father  had 
previously  settled  here.  He  is  now  Manager  of  the  water-works,  a  trust 
he  has  held  with  credit,  both  to  himself  and  the  company  with  whom  he 
is  associated.  He  married  Grace,  daughter  of  Daniel  McDonald,  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  on  December  29,  1877.  Ruby  Elmer  is  their  only 
child. 

WOLF,  WILLIAM,  is  a  native  of  Germany,  where  he  was  born  March  8, 
1840,  and  educated  in  the  German  language.  Emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1853,  where,  locating  in  New  York  City,  he  finished  his  educa- 
tion. In  1859  he  went  to  Tallahassee,  Florida,  engaging  in  general  mer- 
chandising. Returning  to  New  York  City  in  1863,  engaging  in  manufac- 
turing and  importing.  May  12,  1869,  he  moved  to  and  settled  in  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  and  in  August,  1870,  came  to  Suisun,  Solano  county,  where 
he  has  since  maintained  a  permanent  residence.  Was  appointed  by  George 
C.  McKinley,  Deputy  County  Recorder,  and  re-appointed  to  the  same 
position  by  E.  F.  Gillespie  in  1874,  which  position  he  held  until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Gillespie  in  1875,  when  he  was  appointed  County  Recorder  by 
the  Board  of  Supervisors.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office,  in 
March,  1876,  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  of  Cashier  of  the 
Bank  of  Suisun.  January  28,  1868,  he  married  Carrie,  daughter  of 
Raphael  Meyer,  of  New  York  City.  Acldie,  their  only  child,  was  born 
February  27,  1869. 

WOLFSKILL,  MATHIAS,  was  born  in  Howard  county,  Mo.,  August  11, 
1810,  where  he  resided  for  forty  years,  when,  on  May  16,  1850,  he,  with 
his  family,  left  for  California,  and,  enduring  the  hardships  of  a  journey 
across  the  plains,  arrived  at  the  ranch  of  his  brother,  John  R.  Wolfskill, 
on  Putah  Creek,  on  September  30th  of  that  year,  and  resided  on  the 
banks  of  that  stream  until  he  moved  to  his  present  property  in  Suisun 


430  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

township,  in  the  fall  of  1866.  His  ranch  comprises  seven  hundred  acres. 
He  married,  September  1,  1831,  Permelia  Ashcroft,  by  whom  he  has  two 
children  alive,  John,  a  resident  of  San  Diego  county,  and  Joseph  C,  who 
resides  with  his  father. 

WOODS,  JOHN,  was  born  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  November  5,  1825,  and 
in  1833  moved  with  his  parents  to  Kosciusko  county,  Indiana,  where  his 
father  died  and  he  was  educated.  In  the  year  1849  he  crossed  the  plains 
to  California,  by  ox-team,  and  on  arrival  settled  in  Napa  county,  where 
he  engaged  for  a  short  time  in  mining,  and  afterwards  in  farming  and 
stock-raising,  which  he  continued  until  1860,  when  he  came  to  this  county 
and  located  in  Suisun  valley,  where  he  has  since  maintained  a  continual 
residence.  Was  elected  Public  Administrator  of  Napa  county  in  1855, 
Assessor  for  Solano  county  in  1875,  and  has  held  for  several  years,  at  dif- 
ferent times,  the  minor  positions  of  School  Trustee  and  Road  Master.  In 
1852  Mr.  Woods  paid  a  visit  to  his  home,  returning  in  the  following  year. 
He  married  Cynthia  A.,  daughter  of  J.  W.  Aldrich,  of  Solano  county,  and 
has  Nellie,  Warren  A.,  Clara,  Sarah,  and  John. 

BERRY,  GEORGE  M.,  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Tennessee,  May  6,  1837. 
When  about  two  years  old,  he,  with  his  parents,  moved  to  Christian  county, 
Ills.,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a  farmer  until  1849,  when  they  changed  their 
place  of  residence  to  Sangamon  county,  in  that  State.  In  the  spring  of 
1863,  Mr.  Berry  left  home  for  California,  crossing  the  plains  with  mule 
teams,  arriving  in  Suisun  valley  on  July  26,  1863.  Here  he  worked  for 
other  parties  for  eighteen  months,  and  then  rented  the  land  known  as  the 
Barbour  tract,  for  four  years ;  then  bought  a  portion  of  the  Keeney  tract, 
four  miles  west  of  Suisun,  which  he  sold  in  1877.  He  married  Nancy 
Barbour,  September  5,  1869.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Barbour,  a 
pioneer  settler  in  this  county.  George  M.  is  their  only  child.  Mrs.  Berry 
was  born  in  Suisun  valley,  September  24,  1851. 

Note. — The  above  was  received  too  late  for  insertion  in  its  proper  place. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  431 


GREEN  VALLEY. 


BALDWIN,  J.  M.,  was  born  in  Troy  township,  Bradford  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, June  14, 1826,  where  he  resided  until  October  16, 1852,  at  which 
time  he  left  for  California,  via  New  York  City,  arriving  in  San  Francisco 
November  18,  1852.  Having  previously  learned  the  carpenter's  and 
joiner's  trade,  he  engaged  in  that  pursuit.  The  Winter  of  1852  and  the 
year  1853  he  spent  in  Sacramento,  after  which  he  moved  to  Amador 
county,  working  in  the  southern  mines  for  three  months ;  thence  to  Placer- 
ville.  El  Dorado  county,  working  at  his  trade.  In  May,  1854,  went  to 
Oregon,  but  after  two  months  returned  to  San  Francisco.  July,  1854, 
moved  to  what  was  then  called  Mormon  Station,  Nevada,  where  he 
eno-aged  to  build  a  grist  and  saw  mill.  He  afterwards  went  to  Carson 
Valley,  followed  farming  until  the  Fall  of  1864,  when  he  came  to  Green 
Valley  township,  purchasing  his  farm,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mar- 
ried Miss  Carrie  Cary,  September  11,  1864.  Katie,  Bertha,  J.  Monson, 
and  Carrie  Louise,  are  their  children. 

BIHLER,  HENRY,  born  in  Effingen,  Grosherzogehun,  Baden,  on  Septem- 
ber 16,  1831,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  New  York 
City  in  1850,  and  next  day  went  to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  where  he  re- 
mained for  five  years.  In  1856  he  came  to  Napa  county,  California,  and 
carried  on  the  business  of  butcher  in  the  city  of  that  name  for  thirteen 
years.  In  1869  he  moved  to  Cordelia,  where  he  carries  on  his  occupation 
of  a  butcher.  He  married,  May  9,  1858,  Agatha  Hock,  by  whom  he  has  : 
Louisa,  born  February  21,  1859  ;  Wilhelmina,  born  October  1,  1860  • 
Mary  Agatha,  born  July  15,  1862  ;  Sophia,  born  September  19,  1864  ; 
William  Henry,  born  May  27,  1366,  since  dead ;  William  Henry,  died 
September  6,  1867  ;  Othilea,  born  September  14,  1868 ;  Frederick  W. 
born  December  22,  1870;  Bertha,  born  December  15,1874,  and  George 
Henry,  born  January  20,  1876. 

HATCH,  A.  T.,  native  of  Elkhart  county,  Indiana;  born  January  31,  1837. 
When  six  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Niles,  Michigan,  where  he 
attended  common  school  for  five  years.  He  then  went  back  to  Elkhart, 
and  attended  school  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Michigan 
City,  Indiana,  and  clerked  in  a  grocery  store  for  his  father  for  one  year 
His  father  had  a  bar  in  connection  with  the  store,  and  as  the  whisky 
business  was  distasteful  to  A.  T.  he  left  home,  having  only  $17  in  his 


432  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

pocket,  and  went  to  Marquett,  Indiana,  and  clerked  for  $10  per  month, 
for  one  year,  and  afterwards  worked  in  a  flouring  mill  at  $15  per  month 
for  six  months,  when  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  whole  affair, 
which  position  he  held  for  one  year,  when  he  resigned.  He  then  went  to 
Cincinnati,  and  clerked  in  a  large  dry  goods  house  about  four  months, 
after  which  he  clerked  in  a  hardware  store  for  about  one  year,  when  he 
emigrated  to  California,  crossing  the  plains  with  a  drove  of  sheep.  A 
gentleman  in  company  with  Mr.  Hatch,  C.  C.  Goodrich,  walked  all  the 
way,  cooked  for  the  company,  and  stood  guard  every  third  night.  The 
company  started  from  Council  Bluff's  May  22,  1857,  and  arrived  at  Big 
Meadows,  in  Plumas  county,  September  8th,  the  same  year.  He  immedi- 
ately went  to  the  North  Fork  of  the  Feather  river,  and  mined  for  Daniel 
Kirkham  about  three  months,  afterwards  engaged  in  mining  and  sheep- 
herding  for  some  time,  and  finally  bought  an  interest  in  the  Dutch  Hill 
mine,  where  he  mined  with  good  success  until  September  1860.  He  then 
made  a  trip  to  Michigan,  and  on  March  14,  1861,  he  married,  at  Cass 
county,  Michigan,  Miss  Mary  Graham.  On  April  3,  1861,  he  and  his 
newly-wedded  wife  started  for  California,  with  horse  team,  bringing  a 
band  of  horses  across  with  them.  Arrived  at  Mountain  Meadows  August 
22,  1861.  In  November  he  went  to  Cordelia  county,  where  he  and  wife 
worked  for  $40  per  month,  and  in  the  spring  he  bought  a  ranch,  and  after 
farming  it  one  year  lost  his  ranch,  owing  to  a  defect  in  the  title.  He 
then  leased  it  for  one  year,  and  on  October  12,  1863,  he  went  to  Lander 
county,  Nevada,  where  he  prospected  for  a  short  time,  and  then  went  to 
Monmouth  district,  where  he  located  several  mines,  among  which  was  the 
Niagara  Falls,  and  from  which  he  extracted  a  handsome  fortune.  In 
January,  1871,  he  went  to  San  Francisco,  and  in  February  following  he 
came  to  this  county  and  bought  the  place  where  he  now  lives,  consisting 
of  264J  acres,  situated  about  three  miles  north  of  Cordelia.  Has  reared  a 
family  of  three  children,  one  of  whom  is  living,  as  follows :  Arthur  T., 
born  August  28,  1864,  and  died  June,  1870;  Mary  E.,  born  June  2,  1868; 
Jennie  P.,  died  September,  1871. 

HUMPHREYS,  JAMES  H.,  of  Cordelia,  was  born  in  Harrodsburg,  Kentucky 
October  9,  1824.  He  received  his  early  education  in  Georgetown  in  that 
State,  and  in  1839  removed  to  Hannibal,  Missouri,  with  his  parents.  Ten 
years  later  he  emigrated  to  California  and  prosecuted  mining  for  two 
years  at  Placerville  and  vicinity.  In  the  years  1851-53  he  was  in  trade 
in  El  Dorado  county,  and  in  the  following  year  he  located  on  the  Sacra- 
mento and  Placerville  road  and  dealt  in  hay  and  grain.  In  1855  Mr. 
Humphreys  moved  to  Folsom,  and  there  acted  as  agent  for  the  Natoma 
Ditch  Company  for  five  years.  In  1860  he  went  into  business  in  Lin- 
coln, Placer  county ;  in  1863  moved   to  Colfax ;  thence,  in  1865,  to  Sisco, 


THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY.  433 

Placer  county,  from  which  place  he  went  to  Truckee  in  1868,  and  in  1872 
located  in  Cordelia,  where  he  has  since  prosecuted  his  trade,  selling  dry- 
goods.  Is  postmaster  of  the  district.  He  married,  October  1858,  Kathe- 
rine  Sullivan,  who  was  born  in  Boston  December  19,  1840,  by  whom  he 
has:  Alice  M.,  born  1859;  Katie,  born  1861  ;  Harry  J.,  born  1863;  Daisy, 
born  1868;  Maggie,  born  1871;  Charles,  born  1874,  and  Frank,  born  1876. 

JEWELL,  W.  T.,  is  a  native  of  Sacramento  city,  California,  where  he  was 
born  on  September  26,  1855.  His  earlier  years  were  passed  at  the 
Seminaries  of  Calistoga,  in  Napa  county,  and  Rio  Vista,  Solano  county, 
after  which  entered  business  as  clerk  in  the  post  office  at  Calistoga, 
where  he  served  during  the  years  1875-6.  In  the  month  of  August  in 
the  latter  year  he  was  employed  as  operator  in  the  telegraph  office  at 
Yountville,  in  the  same  county,  and  in  April,  1878,  he  moved  to  Cordelia 
and  took  charge  of  the  telegraph  office  for  Cal.  P.  R.  R.  Co.  there,  and 
on  February  1,  1879,  he  became  agent  for  Cal.  P.  R.  R.  Co.  and  Wells, 
Fargo  &  Co.,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

JONES,  F.  S.,  was  born  in  Windsor  county,  Vermont,  March  1,  1828,  where 
he  was  primarily  and  academically  educated,  first  in  the  common  schools, 
second  in  the  Woodstock  University.  He  changed  his  place  of  residence 
in  1849  to  Brighton,  Mass.,  and  emigrated  to  this  State  in  1853,  crossing 
via  the  Isthmus,  settling  in  San  Francisco,  five  years  after  which  he 
moved  to  Sonoma  where  he  abode  ten  years  when  he  came  to  his  present 
farm  in  Green  Valley  township,  since  maintaining  a  permanent  residence. 
He  is  the  largest  grape  grower  in  the  valley  as  well  as  the  most  extensive 
manufacturer  of  all  kinds  of  wine,  which  is  fully  set  forth  in  the  town- 
ship history.  Married  in  Sonoma,  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Swift,  a 
native  of  Henry  county,  Kentucky,  in  1858.  Mary  J.,  Frederick  H.  S., 
and  Luman  H.  are  their  children. 

PITTMAN,  C.  J.,  (deceased.)  Born  in  England  in  the  city  of  Bristol, 
in  the  year  1824,  and  emigrated  to  California  in  1850,  where  he  engaged 
in  hotel  keeping  in  Grass  Valley,  and  conducting  the  International  Hotel 
in  San  Francisco,  after  which  he  moved  to  Grass  Valley,  there  also  pur- 
suing the  same  occupation.  In  1854  he  returned  to  England  and  having 
married^  he,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  returned  to  the  United  States  and 
landed  in  New  York  City,  but  only  sojourned  there  six  weeks.  Mr.  Pitt- 
man  once  more  started  for  California  in  the  fall  of  1854,  on  board  the 
steamer  "  Sierra  Nevada,"  and,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  he  became  pro- 
prietor of  the  City  Hotel  there,  which  he  carried  on  for  some  time.  In 
1855  he  settled  in  Cordelia,  where  he  kept  a  hotel,  and  moving  once  more 
in  1862,  he  built  the  Bridgeport  house,  which  establishment  is  now  kept 
by  his  widow. 
28 


434  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Mr.  Pittman  married  in  Bristol,  England,  Louisa  J.  May,  of  that  city,  May 
28,  1864,  by  whom  there  is  an  only  daughter,  Carrie  E.  J.  He  died  in 
1864. 

PIERCE,  LEWIS,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  York  county, 
Maine,  and  born  March  16,  1832.  Here  his  father  died  when  he  was  but 
five  years  old,  and  at  the  age  of  ten  he  took  up  a  residence  in  Baldwin. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  removed  to  Bedford,  York  county,  Maine,  where  he 
was  educated  in  a  Grammar  school.  It  is  no  easy  task  to  give  the  reader 
an  idea  of  the  sufferings,  hardships  and  toils  this  boy  experienced,  thrown 
into  the  world  as  he  was  and  on  his  own  resources  to  obtain  a  livelihood 
at  the  age  of  ten.  But  with  a  courage  that  is  commendable  in  one  so 
young,  and  a  determination  to  surmount  all  obstacles  be  they  great  or  be 
they  small,  he  went  at  work  with  a  will,  saved  his  earnings,  and  in  March, 
1851, — then  but  15  years  old — had  sufficient  funds  to  pay  for  a  passage  on 
the  steamer  "  Pacific  "  to  San  Francisco,  arriving  July  2d  of  that  year. 
For  five  years  after  his  arrival  in  that  city  he  was  apprentice  to  a  baker, 
after  which  he  did  business  on  his  own  account  for  five  more  years,  then 
came  to  Suisun  with  a  few  thousand  dollars,  engaging  in  the  grain  trade 
amassing  a  fortune  equalled  by  few  in  this  county.  Married  Miss  Nellie 
B.  Staples,  January  22,  1874.  On  a  plateau  in  a  westerly  direction 
from  Suisun,  on  the  banks  of  Suisun  Creek,  stands  Mr.  Pierce's 
handsome  new  residence.  The  location  is  one  of  the  most  picturesque 
and  attractive  to  be  met  with  in  this  part  of  the  county.  It  commands 
a  magnificent  view  of  the  bold  mountains  that  fringe  the  western  border 
of  Suisun  valley.  Half  encircling  it,  is  a  grand  amphitheatre  of  cliffs 
dotted  with  timber,  grass  lands  and  cultivated  fields.  The  building  is  of 
wood,  two  stories  above  a  basement  of  cut  stone,  constructed  in  a  most 
substantial  manner,  and  in  an  unique  and  highly  attractive  style  of  archi- 
tecture. It  is  finished  and  furnished  in  a  manner  appropriate  to  such  an 
enterprise.  This  house  enjoys  a  happy  combination  of  the  useful  and  the 
beautiful.  It  is  a  well-lighted,  ventilated,  convenient  and  cheerful  home. 
Everything  pertaining  to  its  construction  is  substantial,  heavy,  rich  and 
elegant,  but  not  gaudy. 

SOHULTZ,  C,  &  Co.  The  brothers,  C.  and  Henry  Shultz  are  natives  of 
Hamburg,  Germany.  The  latter  came  to  California  in  1853,  and  in  the 
spring  of  that  year  went  to  the  mines,  remaining  until  1855,  when  he 
came  to  this  county,  settling  near  Bridgeport  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. In  1858  moved  to  Sacramento  county,  returning  that  fall  buying 
his  present  farm  in  Green  Valley  township.  Mr.  C.  Shultz  came  from 
Germany  in  1860  joining  his  brother  in  business  in  the  fall  of  that  year. 
He  married  Anna  Schacht  in  1871.     Their  children  are  Maggie  C.  S.,  and 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  435 

Gesine  Henry.  These  brothers  are  engaged  in  manufacturing  wine  from 
their  own  vineyard,  a  full  account  of  which  appears  in  the  history  of  this 
township. 

WILSON,  CURTIS.  After  receiving  the  foundation  of  a  practical  educa- 
tion, in  the  year  1848,  with  the  rest  of  the  world,  Mr.  Wilson  emigrated 
to  California,  first  proceeding  to  Oroville,  Butte  county,  where  he  engaged 
in  mining.  He  only  continued  at  this  occupation  for  one  year,  when,  in 
1850,  he  came  to  the  Suisun  valley  and  embarked  in  the  occupation  of 
farming.  In  1852  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Constable  for  Suisun 
township,  which  position  he  held  until  the  year  1855,  when  he  was  called 
upon  to  take  his  seat  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Green  Valley  town- 
ship. Mr.  Wilson  was  elected  to  the  office  at  the  general  election  of  1855 
and  filled  the  position  until  1879,  a  lengthy  period  of  twenty-four  years. 
In  the  year  1860  he  was  one  of  the  Associate  Justices  of  the  Court  of 
Sessions.  In  1867  he  came  to  Cordelia,  and  in  the  following  year  was 
appointed  station  agent  of  the  California  Pacific  Railroad  Company  and 
agent  for  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co.,  which  he  held  until  this  year. 

On  February  7,  1866,  Mr.  Wilson  married  Miss  Melia  A.  Gilmore,  who 
was  born  in  Rockbridge  county,  Virginia,  April  14,  1829,  by  whom  he 
had  an  only  child,  Thomas,  who  died  March  24,  1870.  Mr.  Wilson  was 
born  in  Wayne  county,  Illinois,  June  18,  1827. 


436  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


BENICIA. 


BENNETT,  WILLIAM  F.,  is  a  native  of  England,  born  at  Birmingham, 
August  23,  1822,  and  left  his  home  at  the  age  of  seven  for  Australia, 
where  he  served  an  appenticeship  as  carpenter  in  Sydney,  remaining 
there  until  1849,  when  he  sailed  for  San  Francisco,  arriving  in  August. 
After  two  weeks  he  came  to  Benicia  and  began  work  at  the  Government 
Barracks,  where  he  was  employed  on  and  off  till  1874,  when  he  went  to 
Australia  and  sojourned  for  three  years,  again  returning  to  Benicia,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  B.  married  Mary  Ann  Boornes,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  March,  1874,   she  being  born  Septembr  2,  1833. 

BROWN,  JOHN  R.,  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia  in  1845,  where  he  learned 
the  business  of  tanning  and  currying.  He  resided  there  until  1855, 
when  he  went  to  Woodburn,  Mass.,  remaining  there  till  1859,  when,  in 
May  of  that  year,  he  went  to  California  and  resided  in  Tuolumne  county 
for  one  year,  when,  in  the  spring  of  1860,  he  went  to  Santa  Clara  valley, 
where  he  began  farming.  In  the  fall  of  1861  he  purchased  an  interest  in 
a  stock  farm  on  King's  river  and  began  the  raising  of  stock,  when  the 
the  flood  of  1862  swept  away  most  of  the  cattle.  This  disgusted  him 
with  the  business,  so  sold  out  and  returned  to  Santa  Clara  valley,  where 
he  found  employment.  He  then  went  to  Stockton  and  began  tanning  on 
a  small  scale.  On  March  16, 1866,  he  came  to  Benicia  and  again  engaged 
in  the  tanning  business.  Messrs.  McKay  and  Chisholm  being  afterwards 
in  partnership  in  the  same  business. 

Mr.  Brown  married  Annie  Ross  in  1863,  by  whom  he  has  two  children, 
Anna  L.  and  Elma  D.  Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  has 
held  office  in  the  City. 

BURNS,  JAMES,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  the  year  1840,  and  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1864,  first  settling  in  California,  for  the  last  ten 
years  of  which  he  has  been  in  this  county,  and  for  the  last  five  years  on 
his  present  farm.  Married,  in  1871,  Mary  Linehan,  by  whom  he  has 
John,  Mary,  Julia,  Katie,  Dennis,  and  an  infant. 

CHISHOLM,  A.,  is  a  native  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  was  born  in  1845.  In 
1865  he  went  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Boston,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  business  of  tanning  and  currying,  remaining  only  a  short 
time,  when  he  started  for  California,  first  settling  in  Santa  Cruz,  where 
he  resided  for  a  little  over  a  year.  He  then  came  to  Benicia  and  con- 
nected himself  in  the  same  business  in  1867,  which  he  still  continues. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  437 

CLYNE,  JAMES,  manufacturer  of  wagons,  carriages,  and  agricultural 
implements,  was  born  in  County  Longford,  Ireland,  February  22,  1847. 
In  1863  he  came  to  California,  and  on  September  20th  of  that  year 
arrived  in  Benicia.  There  he  served  his  apprenticeship  with  Charles 
Crawford  Allen  at  his  trade.  In  1868  he  established  himself  in  the  busi- 
ness which  he  still  continues.  Married  in  San  Jose,  May  14,  1871,  Mary 
Donlon,  by  whom  he  has  Joseph  F.,  born  February  14,  1872 ;  Mary  M., 
born  September  9, 1874 ;  Frederick,  born  February  23,  1877,  and  Therese, 
born  March  25,  1879. 

CUMMINGS,  FRANCIS,  is  a  native  of  Prince  Edward's  Island,  having 
been  born  November  18,  1839,  where  he  lived  till  the  age  of  18,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  tanning  and  currying,  when  he  went  to  South  Hing- 
ham,  Mass.;  thence  to  Woburn,  Mass.,  where  he  resided  until  1873.  En- 
listed in  Company  G,  5th  Mass.  V.  I.;  serving  one  year,  and  participating 
in  a  number  of  engagements  in  North  Carolina,  under  Major-General 
Foster,  18th  Army  Corps ;  after  which  he  was  honorably  discharged,  and 
returned  to  Mass,,  where  he  resided  till  1873,  when  he  emigrated  to  Cali- 
fornia, first  settling  in  Benicia  on  16th  of  June  of  that  year,  and  estab- 
lished a  tannery,  a  history  of  which  will  be  found  in  its  proper  place. 
Married  in  Woburn,  Mass.,  Martha  C.  Richardson. 

DALTON,  ALFRED,  was  born  in  London,  England  March  13,  1830.  At 
the  age  of  13  he  went  to  sea,  which  he  followed  till  1852,  during  which 
period  he  visited  his  native  place  several  times.  He  arrived  at  San  Fran- 
cisco in  July,  1852,  on  the  clipper  ship,  "Antelope."  Thence  he  went  to 
Sutter  Slough,  and  engaged  in  gardening  and  chopping  wood.  He  re- 
mained there  until  April,  1853,  when  he  was  obliged  to  leave  on  account 
of  a  flood  ;  and  having  made  some  slough  boats,  was  enabled  to  drift  down 
with  the  current  to  old  Rio  Vista,  where  he  resided  till  the  flood  subsided, 
which  was  about  three  weeks.  Thence  he  went  to  Cache  Creek  Slough, 
and  fixed  a  tent  in  the  fork  of  a  tree  for  fear  of  another  flood,  and  con- 
tinued the  same  occupation  until  1855,  and  came  to  Benicia  in  July  or 
August  of  that  year.  In  1859  he  laid  the  first  pipe  to  supply  the  city  of 
Benicia  with  water.  In  I860  he  purchased  a  schooner  and  traded  in 
general  merchandise  on  the  Sacramento  river,  and  returned  to  Benicia 
January  1,  1862,  where  he  has  since  remained.  Mr.  Dalton  has  held 
the  office  of  School  Director  for  six  consecutive  years,  being  elected  in 
1873.  He  is  now  clerk  of  the  Board,  and  supervisor  of  this  county,  being 
elected  September,  1878,  on  the  Republican  ticket. 

Mr.  D.  married  Mary  Kenny  in  1857,  at  Benicia,  who  died  in  1871,  by  whom 
he  has  a  family  :  John  H.,  Alfred,  Willie,  James  C,  George  E.,  Ella  Flor- 
ence, living,  having  lost  four  children — one  daughter  and  three  sons.  Mr. 
D.  married  again  in  August,  1873.  Emma  Carr,  by  whom  he  has  no  issue. 


438  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

DEMING,  CAPTAIN  JOHN,  (deceased,)  was  born  in  Preston,  Connect- 
icut, January  9,  1792,  where  he  resided  till  1808,  when  he  went  to  sea,  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  old,  was  commander  of  a  vessel  following 
the  sea  for  many  years ;  his  last  sea  voyage  being  on  the  ship,  "  Iowa," 
which  brought  General  Riley  to  the  State  of  California,  and  landing  at 
Monterey,  the  place  for  which  they  were  chartered,  early  in  1849.  From 
there  they  proceeded  to  Benicia,  where  he  afterwards  was  engaged  as  a 
pilot,  between  Benicia,  Vallejo,  and  San  Francisco,  for  many  years.  He 
married  Clarissa  Hillard,  in  Preston,  Connecticut,  September  11,  1817. 
She  was  born  in  Preston,  January  29,  1792,  and  died  in  New  York  City 
December  18,  1846.  By  this  union  they  had  six  children.  Ann 
Louisa,  born  July  10,  1821,  who  married,  in  New  York  City,  Charles 
Edward  Shea,  died,  in  New  York  City,  July  27,  1857,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren and  her  husband  died,  in  New  York  City,  November  21,  1859* 
Their  third  son,  Edward,  was  born  March  18,  1826,  and  was  married 
in  Peakskill,  N.  Y.,  on  March  18,  1850,  to  Esther  McCoord.  He  died 
in  -New  York  City,  March  1,  1852,  leaving  an  only  son,  who  is  now  re- 
siding in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Clarissa  J.,  born  June  19,  1829,  in  New 
York  City,  died  June  23,  1830.  Charles;  born  in  New  York  City,  Octo- 
ber 29,  1832,  died  November  30,  1833.  Charles  Benjamin,  born  in 
New  York  City,  March  29,  1837,  now  residing  with  his  brother,  John  F., 
was  married  to  Mrs.  Annie  G.  Corwin,  on  August  12,  1868.  John  F. 
Deming,  proprietDr  of  Glen  Cove  Ranch,  the  second  of  the  family,  was 
born  in  New  York  City,  July  9,  1823,  where  he  resided  till  February, 
1849,  when  he  sailed  for  San  Francisco,  arriving  there  in  the  latter  part 
of  June,  1849.  He  immediately  proceeded  to  the  mines,  on  the  north' 
fork  of  the  American  river,  and  prosecuted  mining  for  a  few  months 
when  he  returned  to  Sacramento  in  December,  1849,  and  began  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  business  on  K  street,  when  the  flood  of  1850  swept 
away  all  of  his  possessions.  He  then  proceeded  across  the  river.  In 
April,  1852,  he  returned  to  New  York,  and  on  December  16,  1852,  was 
married  to  Mehetabel  C.  Geron,  she  being  born  in  Blooming "  Grove } 
Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  December  12,  1823.  Mr.  D.  returned  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1853,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  Benicia,  where  he  ^remained 
as  book-keeper  until  the  spring  of  1855,  and  again  returned  east,  where 
he  remained  one  year.  In  June,  1856,  he  again  returned  to  California, 
this  time  being  accompanied  by  his  wife,  and  settling  on  their  present  es- 
tate, where  he  now  owns  460  acres  of  land,  all  under  good  improvements. 
Their  family  consists  of  two  children;  Clara,  born  November  19,  1858? 
and  Henry  B.,  November  14, 1861. 

DILLON,  PATRICK  W.,  farmer  and  stone  cutter,  Section  28,  Benicia  Town- 
ship, Post-office  Benicia,  was  born  in  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  February 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  439 

3,  1820,  where  he  resided  till  May,  1840,  when  he  sailed  for  America, 
arriving  in  New  York  City  in  June  of  that  year.  He  at  once  proceeded 
to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  resided  three  months ;  thence  to  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  and 
remained  one  year.  He  then  proceeded  to  Youngstown,  on  fourth 
Niagara,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  during  the  summer  of  1842,  and 
from  there  he  went  to  Toronto,  Canada,  where  he  spent  the  winter  of  1842, 
and  '43.  In  March,  1844,  he  went  to  New  York  City,  and  worked  till 
1846,  when  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  went  to  St.  Johns,  New  Bruns- 
wick, where  he  was  employed  till  May,  1847.  He  again  returned  to 
New  York  and  carried  on  his  trade  till  Janaury,  1849,  when  he  sailed 
for  California,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  July  8,  1849,  and  remaining 
in  the  city  for  a  few  weeks  helping  unload  vessels  at  eight  dollars  a  day. 
He  then  proceeded  to  the  southern  mines,  on  Wood's  creek,  and  worked 
two  months  at  mining  with  good  success.  He  then  went  to  Mogason's 
Creek,  and  from  there  to  Mariposa,  Mariposa  county,  but  meeting  with 
poor  success  he  returned  to  Mogason  Creek  with  a  colony  of  Texans,  who 
settled  there  for  a  short  time,  and  continued  mining  in  different  .places 
till  May,  1851,  during  which  time  he  endured  many  hardships.  The 
stories  told  by  Mr.  D.,  during  his  life  spent  in  the  mines,  are  very  interest- 
ing, but  for  want  of  space  we  will  have  to  omit  them.  In  May,  1851,  he 
came  to  Benicia,  bringing  with  him  eighteen  hundred  dollars,  which  he 
invested  in  the  wharf  built  at  Vallejo  while  the  Capitol  of  the  State  was 
situated  at  that  place. 
In  1851,  he  opened  a  stone  quarry  on  his  fruit  farm,  and  in  connection  with 
the  other,  started  the  Pioneer  Stone  business  in  San  Francisco,  and  among 
the  contracts  taken  by  him,  is  the  St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, and  many  other  buildings.  In  1856,  he  purchased  his  present  farm, 
now  consisting  of  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  seventy-six  acres  of 
tule.  He  married,  at  St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  San  Francisco,  Bertha  G. 
Jordan,  January  6,  1856,  she  having  been  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
January  29,  1830. 

DURNER,  GEORGE  ADAM.  G.  A.  Dinner  was  born  at  Weilheim,  in  Wur- 
temburg,  Germany,  February  16,  1827.  In  his  early  life  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  a  tailor,  and  has  pursued  his  trade  ever  since.  In  1847  he  left 
Germany  for  America,  and  arrived  in  New  York  in  April  of  the  same 
year. 

While  working  at  his  trade  in  New  York  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
one  Rosy  Anthers,  the  youngest  daughter  of  the  family  of  that  name,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  1851.  She  was  born  at  Algei,  in  Damstadt, 
Germany,  September  10,  1831,  and  came  to  America  in  1848,  and  resided 
in  New  York.  In  1858  Mr.  Durner  left  New  York  for  California,  by 
way  of  the  ocean,  and  was  followed  the  year  afterwards  by  his  wife  and 


440  THE   HISTOEY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

children.  He  arrived  in  San  Francisco  the  forepart  of  May,  but  re- 
mained there  only  one  month,  after  which  he  came  to  Benicia,  where  he 
built  himself  a  splendid  home  and  has  resided  ever  since,  except  at  one 
or  two  intervals. 

In  1863  he  went  to  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  where  he  worked  both  at  his 
trade  and  at  mining,  for  about  six  months,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Benicia.  He  then  worked  at  his  trade  until  1874,  when  he  was  employed 
by  the  firm  then  known  as  Brown,  McKay  &  Co.,  tanners,  as  night  watch- 
man, and  has  remained  there  ever  since,  although  the  firm  is  now  known 
as  McKay  &  Chisholm. 

The  products  of  his  marriage  were  eleven  children  ;  five  were  born  in  New 
York,  two  of  whom  died,  both  girls,  and  the  remaining  six  were  born  in 
Benicia,  one  of  which,  a  son,  died  some  two  years  ago.  At  present  he  has 
living  three  sons,  named  John  George,  Charles,  and  Henry,  the  fourth 
son,  Georgie,  having  died  September  21,  1870.  His  daughters,  five-  in 
number,  are  named  Katie,  Elizabeth,  Matilda,  Annie,  and  Henrietta.  The 
two  former  are  married  and  live  at  present  in  Benicia.  The  remaining 
children  are  at  present  at  home  going  to  school. 

His  eldest  child  and  son,  John  G.,  is  at  present  employed  as  traveling  agent 
for  W.  S.  Townsend's  Steam  Candy  Factory,  San  Francisco. 

The  second  son,  Charles,  was  for  a  while  employed  as  salesman  in  a  large 
clothing  house  at  San  Francisco,  after  which  he  came  to  Benicia  and 
started  a  business  for  himself,  known  as  Durner's  Palace  of  Sweets.  He 
is  but  nineteen  years  of  age,  being  born  January  14,  1860.  He  has  a 
thriving  business  and  is  doing  well. 

His  third  son,  Henry,  was  rather  unfortunate  in  being  born  a  cripple,  March 
23,  1862,  being  but  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  received  a  somewhat  ad- 
vantageous education,  having  entered  St.  Augustine  College  when  but 
thirteen  years  of  age,  in  August,  1875.  He  graduated  here  on  June  1, 
1878,  with  the  first  honors  of  his  class  and  of  the  school.  He  was  but 
sixteen  years  of  age,  still  he  was  chosen  to  deliver  the  valedictory  address 
on  the  occasion  of  his  graduating,  which  won  for  him  the  hearts  of  many 
strangers.  On  September  28,  1878,  he  was  appointed  Page  of  the  Con- 
stitutional Convention,  then  assembled  at  Sacramento,  by  the  President 
pf  that  body.  He  remained  there  the  full  session,  which  lasted  until 
March,  4,  1879,  since  which  time  he  has  been  studying  law  at  his  home  in 
Benicia. 

Mr.  Durner  is  considered  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  law-abiding  citizens 
of  Benicia.  He  is  honest  and  upright  in  all  his  dealings,  and  his  charac- 
ter is  without  a  stain.  His  moral  character  can  not  be  exceeded,  and  he 
is  a  diligent  employe,  aiming  to  do  everything  to  the  interest  of  his  em- 
ployers. He  has  lived  a  quiet  life,  never  mixing  himself  in  political  af- 
fairs, and  always  casting  his  vote  according  to  his  sound  judgment. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  441 

ENOS,  JOSEPH,  was  born  in  1834.  Iu  1852  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  and  followed  the  sea  for  seven  years.  In  1859  he  settled  in  Bed- 
ford, Mass.,  where  he  remained  a  short  time,  and  in  1860  came  to  Califor- 
nia, and  worked  in  the  mines  for  two  years ;  thence  he  came  to  Benicia, 
where  he  has  since  resided  on  his  farm  of  195  acres.  Married  to  Mary 
Roderick  in  1869,  by  whom  he  has  a  family  of  five  :  Constantine,  born 
1870  ;  Joseph,  born  1872 ;  Mary,  born  1874 ;  John,  born  1875,  and  Isa- 
bella, born  1877. 

FISCHER,  JOSEPH,  was  born  in  Switzerland,  March  7,  1823,  where  he 
received  his  education.  In  1844  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  first 
settling  in  Staten  Island,  fourteen  miles  from  New  York,  where  he  found 
employment  on  a  farm.  He  remained  there  one  year,  when  he  went  to 
New  York  City,  residing  there  until  the  spring  of  1849,  during  which 
time  he  was  employed  in  various  ways.  On  March  7,  1849,  he  started 
across  the  plains  for  California,  and  arrived  in  Sacramento  September  20, 
1849,  where,  after  about  ten  weeks,  he  went  to  Benicia,  and  engaged  in 
butchering,  with  Lawrence  Graber,  which  they  continued  two  years,  at 
the  expiration  of  which  they  had  saved  some  money.  His  partner  wished 
to  return  to  the  States,  and  died  in  Salt  Lake  City.  Mr.  Fischer  then 
took  another  partner,  John  Gorring,  but  a  dissolution  occurred  inl861, 
since  which  time  he  has  conducted  the  business  alone.  Mr.  F.  married 
Catherine  Hall  in  May,  1854,  by  whom  he  has  three  children. 

GRAY,  SAMUEL  C,  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  October  11, 1816,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  early  education.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  went  to  Baltimore,  and 
from  there  came  to  California.  Married  Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of  Chaun- 
cey  Wetmore,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  December  14, 1847.  In  January,  1849, 
started  for  California,  by  way  of  Panama,  where  they  waited  seven  weeks 
for  the  steamer  "Panama,"  and  arrived  at  Benicia  June  3,  1849.  Had 
remained  in  Benicia  in  business  until  elected  County  Treasurer  in  1861. 
Has  been  in  business,  in  the  leather  trade  in  Benicia,  since  June,  1867. 
Was  a  Trustee  of  the  city  of  Benicia  for  seven  years,  until  he  left  for  San 
Francisco.  Is  the  author  of  the  interesting  lecture  on  "  Recollections  of 
Benicia  "  in  this  work. 

HANBRICK,  PETER,  was  born  in  Rhenish  Prussia,  July  13,  1825,  where 
he  remained  till  1849,  serving  an  apprenticeship  at  the  blacksmith  trade 
for  two  years,  when  he  emigrated  to  America,  first  settling  in  Boston* 
Mass.,  where  he  resided  until  1851,  when  he  sailed  for  California,  Decem- 
ber 18th,  on  the  ship  "  Flying  Child,"  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco  April 
12th.  He  immediately  proceeded  to  the  mines  in  Nevada,  and  continued 
mining  till  1871,  but  during  this  time  he  visited  his  native  place.     He 


442  THE   HISTOEY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

then  returned  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  lived  till  1878,  when  he  came 
to  this  county  and  engaged  in  farming  and  the  manufacture  of  wine. 
Married  Mrs.  Mary  Diet,  June  19,  1871,  who  was  born  in  Europe  Decem- 
ber 18,  1853,  and  who  has,  by  her  first  marriage,  two  children.  Mr.  Han- 
brick  has  three  children :  John,  born  July  8,  1872  ;  Benjamin,  born  No- 
vember 10,  1875  ;  Clara,  born  March  17,  1878. 

HASTINGS,  D.  N.,  was  born  in  Newton,  Massachusetts,  December  17, 1821, 
and  at  six  years  of  age  went  to  Brighton  with  his  parents,  where  he  re- 
mained five  years,  when  he  removed  to  Wollertown,  Massachusetts,  and 
resided  there  three  years.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  left  home  and  went 
to  Boston,  where  his  time  was  spent  in  the  provision  business,  the  last 
seven  years  of  which  being  hard  work.  On  September  5,  1849,  he  left 
Boston  for  New  York,  and  sailed  thence  on  the  bark  "  Florida  "  on  Sep- 
tember 12th.  At  that  time  it  being  impossible  to  obtain  a  through  ticket 
to  California,  but  could  secure  one  to  Chagres,  Panama,  where  he  re- 
mained four  days,  and  continued  his  journey  to  Chagres,  arriving  in  San 
Francisco  December  1,  1849.  On  the  Sunday  following  he  was  engaged 
in  carpentering  at  $12  per  diem,  when,  at  the  end  of  one  week,  he  was 
put  in  charge  of  eight  men  at  $20  per  diem,  and  resigned  that  position 
on  February  1,  1850.  He  then  proceeded  to  Sullivan's  creek,  and  turned 
his  attention  to  mining,  and  worked  for  eight  days,  taking  out  $40,  when 
he  started  for  Stockton,  a  distance  of  fifty-six  miles,  when,  after  a  week, 
he  went  to  San  Francisco,  and  was  engaged  to  work  in  Fulton  Market, 
on  Washington  street,  remaining  there  until  May  6th,  when  he  was  sent 
to  Benicia,  and  opened  a  butcher  shop,  where  he  built  himself  a  small 
market,  12x14  feet,  which  he  occupied  four  months.  A  year  afterwards 
he  purchased  a  lot  and  carried  on  his  business  there  until  May,  1852,  when 
he  sold  out,  leased  his  property,  and  returned  East  to  bring  out  his  family. 
They  sailed  on  the  ship  "Onward,"  via  Cape  Horn,  and  arrived  in  San 
Francisco  December  11,  1852,  going  to  Benicia  the  same  day,  there  find- 
ing the  Sheriff  in  possession  of  his  property.  It  cost  him  $1,600  before 
he  could  recover  it,  after  which  he  engaged  again  in  the  business  of 
butcher,  combining  stock-raising  with  great  success,  till  1860,  when  he 
sold  his  business  and  retired,  owning  at  the  time  three-fifths  of  44,000 
acres  of  land.  He  now  possesses  3,000  acres.  Mr.  Hastings  has  never 
been  a  politician,  although  he  held  office  under  the  city  government  of 
Benicia,  and  is  at  present  one  of  the  City  Trustees. 

The  main  house  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Hastings  was  built  by  Dr.  Wood- 
bridge,  from  whom  he  purchased  it  in  1852,  and  has  resided  in  it  ever 
since.  Mr.  Hastings  planted  all  the  trees  with  his  own  hands.  The 
property  was  originally  owned  by  eleven  men,  it  having  been  purchased 
in  lots  the  ultimate  size  being  75x125  feet.     The  house  at  first  was  20x30, 


THE    HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  443 

with  a  kitchen  8x12  feet,  made  of  dry-goods  boxes,  which  was  rebuilt 
and  is  now  34x36  feet,  the  size  of  the  lot  being  270x450  feet.  There 
are  over  seven  hundred  trees  in  the  enclosure.  Water  is  brought  from  a 
piece  of  land  owned  by  Mr.  Hastings  over  9,000  feet  to  the  house.  The 
Seminary  is  also  supplied  in  the  same  way.  Mr.  Hastings  has  five  chil- 
dren :  George  A.,  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  December  8,  1846 ;  William  F.> 
born  in  Boston,  August  25,  1848  ;  Hannah  M.,  born  in  Benicia,  March  8 
1857  ;  Alice  (twin),  born  September  5,  1862 ;  Eben  J.  (twin),  born  Sep- 
tember 5,  1862. 

HOYT,  JOSEPH,  born  in  Belknap  county,  N.  H.,  November  14,  1830. 
Here  he  received  his  education,  and  when  sixteen  years  old  went  to  Essex 
county,  Mass.,  where  he  learned  the  stone-cutter's  trade,  afterwards  going 
to  Virginia,  following  this  occupation,  but  returned  to  his  native  home, 
and  in  1853  came  by  the  way  of  Nicaragua  to  California,  arriving  in  San 
Francisco  in  December  of  that  year.  Here  he  resided  until  the  spring  of 
1854,  when  he  went  to  the  mines,  but  settled  in  Benicia  in  July  follow- 
ing. February,  1855  went  to  Mare  Island,  working  for  the  Government, 
but  in  1857  moved  to  Salt  Point,  Mendocino  county,  Cal.,  where  he  had 
the  contract  of  cutting  the  stone  which  was  to  build  the  north  battery  at 
Alcatraz  Island,  San  Francisco  bay.  Returned  to  Mare  Island  that  year, 
removing  to  Contra  Costa  county  in  1859,  engaging  in  the  stock  trade- 
Again  in  1862  we  find  him  in  Benicia,  where  he  has  since  made  it  his 
home.  Was  elected  to  the  office  of  County  Assessor  in  1871,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  agent  for  S.  C.  Hastings.  Married  Ellen  A.  Haggarty, 
at  Vallejo,  in  1855.  They  have  Nellie  J.,  Olivia  R,  Andrew  J.,  Joe  H. 
Orville  L.,  Charles  H.,  Walter  D.,  and  Maggie  E. 

KINSTREY,  THOS.  T.,  was  born  in  New  York  City,  August  30,  1819, 
where  he  resided  till  1852,  when,  on  March  19th,  he  sailed  for  California 
in  the  ship  "  Pioneer."  After  being  wrecked,  he  arrived  in  San  Francisco 
September,  1852  ;  thence  coming  to  Benicia,  and  began  business  as  boiler- 
maker  for  the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company.  In  1864  he  commenced 
his  present  business,  which  he  has  since  continued.  Mr.  K.  married  Laura 
Valentine,  in  1854,  by  whom  he  has  a  family. 

KUHLAND,  WILLIAM,  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1835,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1852,  first  settling  in  New  Orleans,  where  he  resided  until 
1858,  when  he  came  to  California.  He  resided  in  Tuolumne  county,  and 
began  his  trade  of  boot  and  shoe  maker,  at  Chinese  camp,  where  he  lived 
till  1861,  when  he  moved  to  Copperopolis,  Calaveras  county,  where  he 
continued  his  trade  for  two  years  and  a  half,  when  he  came  to  Benicia, 
August,  1867,  where  he  again  worked  at  his  trade,  and  in  1870  he  began 


444  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO  COUNTY. 

his  business  in  the  sale  of  gents'  furnishing  goods.  Mr.  Kuhland  married 
Mary  Seibert,  in  1856,  by  whom  he  has  four  children  :  Lewis,  Kate,  Lillie 
and  Mary.     Mr.  K.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Benicia. 

McKAY,  THOMAS,  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia,  in  1845,  where  he  resided 
till  1862,  when  he  went  to  Woburn,  Massachusetts,  remaining  there  until 
1865 ;  thence  going  to  California  and  settling  in  Benicia,  where  he  be- 
came a  partner  of  the  firm  of  Brown  &  McKay.  In  1878  partnership 
was  dissolved,  and  since,  the  firm  has  been  McKay  &  Chisholm,  engaged 
in  the  business  of  tanning  and  currying.  Mr.  McKay  married  Louise 
Harris,  July  26,  1876,  she  also  being  a  native  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  born 
February  14,  1852.  He  has  an  only  child,  George  Arthur,  born  Septem- 
ber 7,  1877. 

McNALLY,  BERNARD,  farmer ;  was  born  in  County  Cavan,  Ireland, 
November  12,  1847.  In  1860  he  came  to  America,  first  settling  in  New 
York  City,  where  he  resided  eight  years,  when,  in  1868,  he  came  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  settled  on  his  present  property.  Married  at  San  Francisco, 
August  18,  1873,  Mary  Fitzpatrick,  a  native  of  County  Cork,  Ireland. 

MIZNER,  LANSING  BOND,  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Illinois,  on  the 
5th  day  of  December,  1825.  His  father  was  educated  for  the  law,  in 
Geneva,  New  York,  and  settled  in  Illinois,  in  1821,  where  he  died  eight 
years  thereafter.  His  mother  was  the  only  daughter  of  Dr.  Caldwell 
Caines,  a  leading  member  of  the  convention  which  formed  the  first  con- 
stitution of  Illinois,  and  niece  of  Shadrack  Bond,  the  first  Governor  of 
that  State. 

Mr.  Mizner  was  educated  at  Shurtliff  College,  Alton,  Illinois,  and  in  1839 
went  with  the  American  Legation,  to  New  Granada,  in  South  America, 
where  he  became  familiar  with  the  Spanish  language.  Returned  to  Illi- 
nois in  1843,  and  resumed  his  studies  at  the  same  college,  and  read  law. 
In  1846  he  joined  the  Third  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  en  route  for  the 
Mexican  war,  and  was  appointed  Commissary  of  the  Regiment.  On  arriv- 
ing at  Carmarqo,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  he  was  detailed  as  Interpreter, 
on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Shields,  and  ordered  to  join  Gen.  Wool's  column,  then 
invading  Mexico  from  Texas.  Was  the  bearer  of  dispatches  to  Gen.  Taylor 
through  the  enemy's  country,  alone,  from  the  Rio  Grande  to  Monclova  and 
Saltillo,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  in  February,  1847. 
Returned  to  Illinois  in  July,  of  that  year,  and  resumed  the  study  of  law. 
Arrived  in  California,  via  New  Orleans  and  Panama,  on  the  20th  day  of 
May,  1849,  and  in  the  same  month  settled  in  Benicia,  purchased  real  es- 
tate, and  a  quarter  interest  in  the  mercantile  firm  of  Semple,  Robinson  & 
Co.,  the  then  owners  of   the  ship  "  Confederation "  and  her  East  India 


THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY.  445 

cargo  of  goods.  Took  an  active  part  in  electing  the  delegates  to  the  Mon- 
terey Convention,  which  formed  the  first  Constitution  of  California,  and 
on  the  formation  of  the  State  government,  was  elected  an  Associate  Jus- 
tice of  the  First  Court  of  Sessions,  of  Solano  county. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Mizner  was  appointed  by  President  Pierce  Collector  of 
Customs  for  the  Northern  District  of  California,  which  then  included 
all  that  part  of  the  State  north  of  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  and  west  of 
of  the  Sacramento  River,  to  the  Oregon  line ;  the  Custom-  House  being 
located  at  Benicia. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  in  1861,  Mr.  Mizner  took  strong  grounds 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and  has  ever  since  been  a  firm  Repub- 
lican, and  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  in  1865,  from  Solano  and  Yolo 
counties.  At  the  Session  of  1867-8,  was  chosen  President,  pro  tern.,  of 
the  Senate,  and  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Commerce  and  Nav- 
igation, and  also  of  the  Committee  on  Swamp  Lands. 

As  early  as  1852,  Mr.  Mizner  began  to  take  a  deep  interest  in  connecting 
Benicia  by  rail  with  the  interior  of  the  State,  and  was  a  Delegate  to  the 
Convention,  held  in  San  Francisco  in  that  year,  on  the  general  subject  of 
Railroads.  In  1866,  he  was  sent  as  a  special  agent  to  Washington  City, 
to  procure  Congressional  aid  for  a  railroad,  from  Benicia  to  Marysville, 
and  succeeded  in  having  a  bill  passed  through  the  Senate  making  the  usual 
land  grant  for  that  purpose  ;  but,  for  want  of  time,  it  failed  in  the  Lower 
House,  since  which  time  he  has  been  the  active  leader  in  securing  the 
completion  of  the  great  Overland  Railroad  through  Benicia. 

Mr.  Mizner  was  admitted  to  practice  law  in  the  7th  District  Court  of  Cali- 
fornia, on  November  5,  1850,  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State 
March  9th,  1860,  and  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  Dec. 
6,  1866,  and  has  been  almost  continually  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  ever  since  the  first  named  date.  He  is  a  permanent  resident 
of  Benicia,  has  a  wife  and  seven  children,  the  oldest  son  a  graduate  of 
the  State  University  of  California,  Class  of  1879.  Mr.  Mizner  is  a  life 
member  of  the  Society  of  California  Pioneers. 

NICHOLS,  J.  B.,  was  born  in  Fall  River,  Mass.,  June  17,  1844,  where  he 
remained  till  about  nine  years  old,  when  he  went  with  his  parents  to 
California,  first  settling  in  Benicia,  where  he  has  since  resided,  being  chiefly 
engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  Nichols  married  Mary  K.  Freeman,  December 
25,  1866,  who  was  born  in  Michigan,  September  21,  1847,  and  by  whom 
he  has  five  children.  Mary  0.,  born  October  10,  1867,  Clara  B.,  born  Dec. 
5,  1869,  Joseph  T„  born  April  26,  1871,  Hattie,  born  August  5,  1873,  and 
Oscar  H.,  born  January  17,  1877.  Mr.  Nichols  is  a  member  of  the 
Solano  Lodge,  No.  22, 1.  O.  O.  F. 


446  THF  HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

NICHOLS,  WILLIAM  H.,  was  born  in  Berkeley  county,  Massachusetts, 
March  20,  1819,  where  he  resided  till  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he 
went  to  North  Carolina,  remaining  there  thirteen  years,  and  being  en- 
gaged in  merchandizing,  lumbering,  and  ship  building.  In  1849,  he  re- 
turned to  Massachusetts,  and  the  following  winter  went  again  to  North 
Carolina,  and  settled  up  his  business.  He  sailed  from  New  York,  on 
board  the  steamer  "  Crescent  City,"  June  1,  1850,  via  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama,  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco  August  24th.  He  immediately 
proceeded  to  Sacramento  county,  where  he  engaged  in  mining  for  about 
a  year. 

In  November,  1851,  he  came  to  this  county  and  purchased  his  present 
place,  but  returned  to  the  mines,  which,  in  November,  1852,  he  left  and 
permanently  settled  where  he  now  resides.  For  the  last  ten  years  Mr. 
Nichols  has  carried  on  a  hay  and  grain  business  in  San  Francisco.  His 
farm  consists  of  167  acres,  all  of  which  is  under  good  improvement.  He 
married  at  Fall  River,  Massachusetts,  August  17,  1843,  Eliza  Dean,  and 
has  five  children  ;  Joseph  B.,  William  D.,  Abbie  A..  Nathan  D.  and  Mary  G. 

OPPERMAN,  JULIUS,  was  born  in  Brunswick,  Germany,  in  1831,  and 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1854,  first  settling  in  New  York  City, 
where  he  worked  as  a  tailor  till  1857,  when,  in  the  spring  of  that  year, 
he  came  to  California,  via  Panama.  While  in  New  York  he  enlisted  in 
the  Regular  Army.  From  San  Francisco  he  proceeded  to  Vancouver, 
Oregon,  which  was  the  headquarters  of  the  4th  Infantry.  He  was  after- 
wards stationed  at  Humboldt,  remaining  there  three  years  and  eight 
months.  While  at  the  latter  place  he  acted  as  Hospital  Steward  for  a 
time,  thence  he  went  to  Hooper  Valley,  the  port  of  Fort  Gaston,  to  estab- 
lish a  new  military  post,  where  he  remained  till  November,  1861,  when 
the  regiment  was  ordered  East ;  but,  on  arrival  at  San  Francisco,  he  ob- 
tained his  discharge  on  January  17, 1862,  where  he  again  worked  at  his 
trade  till  May  of  that  year,  and  on  the  28th  came  to  Benicia,  where  he 
has  since  resided  and  carried  on  his  present  business. 

Mr.  Opperman  married  Maria  Mitchell,  a  native  of  Ireland,  at  Humboldt, 
Cal.,  September  3,  1860,  and  has  a  family ;  Katie,  Mary,  Lewis,  Joseph, 
Julius,  and  William.  Mr.  O.  has  been  Secretary  of  Phoenix  No.  2,  and 
an  exempt  fireman  for  several  years. 

O'DONNELL,  JOHN,  farmer,  was  born  in  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  in 
1824.  In  1847  he  emigrated  to  America  and  farmed  in  Onondaga  county, 
New  York,  till  1852,  on  January  5th  of  which  year  he  sailed  from  New 
York  for  California,  being  shipwrecked  on  the  voyage,  arriving  ultimately 
in  San  Francisco  in  April  of  that  year.  In  1852  he  proceeded  to  Benicia, 
where  he  remained  two  years,  then  moving  to  his  present  farm,  consisting 
of  230  acres.  Married  in  San  Francisco,  September  7,  1856,  Ellen  Kelly, 
by  whom  he  has  Mary  F.,  Anna  Eliza,  John,  and  Thomas  W. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  447 

PERIN,  AARON,  was  born  on  March  4,  1806,  and  has  a  twin  brother, 
Moses,  who  is  living  thirty  miles  back  of  Sandiago,  Cayuga  county,  New 
York,  where  he  resided  till  1810,  when  he  with  his  parents  sailed  down 
the  Ohio  and  located  in  Madison,  ten  miles  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where 
he  remained  until  1814  ;  thence  he  went  to  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  near 
Cannonsville,  where  he  lived  till  about  1840  ;  after  which  he  removed  to 
Scott  county,  Iowa,  and  remained  there  until  1846,  when  he  went  to 
Dubuque,  where  he  worked  at  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  On  February 
24,  1852,  he,  with  his  family,  started  for  California  across  the  plains,  and 
arrived  in  Benicia  early  in  October  of  same  year,  continuing  his  trade 
until  1877,  when  he  retired  into  private  life.  Mr.  Perin  married  Eliza- 
beth Simpson,  March  3,  1825,  she  being  born  in  Kentucky,  and  died  May 
6,  1847,  in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children :  Mary,  born 
November  16,  1829  ;  Zackariah  Taylor,  born  April  18,  1847,  still  living; 
Rachel,  Simpson,  John  A.,  William,  Theodore,  Isaac,  deceased.  Mr.  Perin 
married  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Lucy  A.  McMan,  December  19,  1847,  she 
being  born  August  27,  1808,  by  whom  he  has  no  family. 

PRESTON,  WILLIAM  E.,  farmer,  is  a  native  of  England,  and  came  to 
America  about  1847,  first  settling  near  Buffalo,  New  York,  where  he 
worked  on  a  farm  for  two  years.  He  then  moved  to  Michigan,  and  there 
resided  till  the  year  1852,  thence  removing  to  New  York  City,  from 
whence  he  sailed  in  that  year  for  California.  On  arrival  he  proceeded 
to  the  southern  mines  in  Tuolumne  county,  and  there  remained  four 
years.  We  next  find  Mr.  Preston  farming  on  what  is  known  as  the 
Pearson  tract  in  Napa  county,  where  he  lived  till  1871,  then  purchasing 
a  ranch  in  Contra  Costa  county  he  removed  thither  for  ten  months, 
when  he  finally  settled  on  his  present  farm  of  90  acres.  Married  in 
1860,  Eliza  Jane  Powers,  by  whom  he  has  Willie  F.,  Mary  G.,  Carrie 
Belle,  and  Catherine  F. 

QUIGG,  CHARLES,  was  born  in  County  Deny,  Ireland,  in  1831,  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  1845,  settling  in  New  York  City,  where  he 
remained  till  January  20,  1851,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  boiler 
maker,  when  he  sailed  on  board  the  "  Brother  Jonathan  "  to  Nicaragua, 
thence  to  San  Francisco  on  the  ship  "  Pacific,"  arriving  there  March  16, 
1851.  There  he  stayed  but  three  or  four  weeks,  when  he  came  to 
Benicia  and  engaged  to  work  at  his  trade  in  the  service  of  the  Pacific 
Mail  Steamship  Company.  In  1863  he  opened  his  present  place  of 
business.  Mr.  Quigg  is  an  exempt  fireman  and  has  held  the  office  of 
Roadmaster. 

RAUM,  E.  C,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  October  23,  1818,  where  he 
remained  until  1828,  when  he  removed  to  Franklin  county,  Pa.,  staying 


448  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO  COUNTY. 

there  nine  years,  when  he  again  moved  with  his  parents  to  Wooster,  Ohio. 
When  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  went  to  Jefferson  county,  Iowa, 
remaining  there  about  one  year,  spending  a  part  of  his  time  in  Iowa  City. 
He  then  proceeded  to  Lake  Superior  copper  mine,  when,  after  the  lapse 
of  nine  years,  again  returned  to  Jefferson  county  and  began  a  grist  mill, 
which  business  he  conducted  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion.  In 
1862  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California,  first  settling  near  Woodland, 
Yolo  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  but  at  the  end  of-  two  years 
was  compelled  to  leave  on  account  of  drought.  Thence  he  went  to  Car- 
son valley,  Nevada,  where  he  remained  four  years,  when  he  went  to 
Marysville,  and,  in  July,  1868,  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  of  gloves. 
Mr.  Raum  married  his  first  wife  in  Jefferson  county,  Iowa,  April  2,  1857, 
Louisa  Muller,  by  whom  he  has  five  chil  iren  living.  She  died  in  1875. 
Married  his  present  wife,  Mary  F.  Acres,  at  Benicia. 

RIDDELL,  GEO.  HUSSEY,  was  born  at  Nantucket  May  25,  1810,  where 
he  resided  till  sixteen  years  of  age  and  went  to  Boston  and  six  years  after- 
wards returned  to  Nantucket  engaging  in  the  business  of  dry  goods.  In 
1849  he  left  New  York  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco  December  1,  1849, 
thence  coming  to  Benicia  on  December  8,  where  he  again  carried  on  a 
business  of  general  merchandise.  In  1855  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  to  which  office  he  was  again  elected.  In  1864  he  was  elected 
County  Auditor  and  held  that  office  two  years.  During  the  re-election  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  he  was  chairman  of  the  County  Committee.  Through 
his  perseverance  the  county  gave  a  majority  of  between  four  and  five 
hundred.  Mr.  Riddell  married  Emma  G.  Barnard  at  Nantucket  Septem- 
ber 2,  1833,  she  being  born  October  14,  1814,  by  whom  he  has  four  chil- 
dren, George  William,  Mary  C,  Henrietta  and  Herbert. 

ROSE,  ELISHA  L.,  is  a  native  of  Ledyard,  New  London  county,  Connecticut, 
where  he  was  born  in  July,  1828.  On  August  20,  1849,  he  sailed  from 
New  York  City  on  the  bark  "  Curtis "  for  California,  arriving  in  San 
Francisco  on  March  8th  of  the  following  year.  After  working  at  his 
trade  as  a  carpenter  in  San  Francisco  for  two  weeks  he  moved  to  Benicia, 
and  there  following  his  occupation ;  among  other  buildings  built  the  old 
Solano  Hotel.  Shortly  after  he  tried  his  luck  at  mining  but  in  1851  he 
returned  to  San  Francisco  and  engaged  for  three  or  four  months  at  ship 
work.  After  this  he  moved  to  Contra  Costa  county  where  he  started  a 
chicken  ranch,  when  in  the  fall  of  1852  he  established  himself  on  his 
present  property.     Is  unmarried. 

RUEGER  JOHN,  is  a  native  of  Switzerland  and  born  on  January  9,  1817. 
In  1834  he  came  to  the  United  States  settling  in  Washington  City,  where 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  449 

he  remained  two  years  and  a  half  when  he  returned  to  Switzerland.  In 
1848  he  again  came  to  America  and  in  1849  crossed  the  plains  to  Cali- 
fornia locating  where  Marysville  now  is.  He  was  unable  to  perform  any 
labor  until  1850,  when  he  began  the  erection  of  a  brewery,  it  being  the 
first  built  outside  of  San  Francisco  in  the  State.  In  1855  he  disposed  of 
the  business  and  came  to  Benicia  where  he  again  engaged  in  brewing. 
Mr.  Rueger  was  elected  City  Treasurer  of  Benicia  in  May,  1878,  for  a 
term  of  one  year.  He  was  married  in  Switzerland  to  Barbera  Shorwart 
in  1838,  who  died  in  1842,  by  whom  he  has  two  children,  Eliza  Matilda 
and  John.  In  January,  1843,  he  married  his  second  wife  Elizabeth 
Wartenweiler  by  whom  he  has  one  son  Carl  who  is  at  present  in  Nevada. 

RYERSON,  A.  P.,  (deceased)  was  born  in  Patterson,  New  Jersey,  Decem- 
ber 11,  1822.  When  about  thirteen  years  of  age  he  went  to  New  York 
and  there  learned  his  trade  of  silversmith,  which  he  followed  up  to  1849, 
when  he  came  to  California  passing  his  first  year  in  Los  Angeles.  In 
1850  he  made  a  trip  back  to  New  York  but  returned  in  the  same  year 
and  settled  in  Benicia  where  he  conducted  a  hotel,  and  in  1855  settled  on 
his  present  farm  where  great  improvements  have  been  made.  Situated 
on  the  farm  is  what  is  known  as  the  Ryerson  Cotton-wood  Grove  cover- 
ing ten  acres  of  land,  one  of  the  few  clusters  of  trees  to  be  found  in  the 
township  of  Benicia.  The  trees  are  raised  from  seeds  planted  by  Mr. 
Ryerson  in  the  year  1858.  The  residence  is  situated  midway  between 
Vallejo  and  Benicia,  and  was  up  to  his  death  on  June  17,  1874,  kept  as  a 
place  of  entertainment  by  Mr.  Ryerson.  He  married  at  Benicia,  Esther 
Bower,  on  March  1,  1855,  by  whom  there  is  a  large  family,  viz.:  Henri- 
etta, Isaac,  Adrian,  Virginia,  Alice,  George  L.,  Clara  M.,  Joseph  G.  and 
Anna  Rebecca,  who  are  now  alive.     Mrs.  Ryerson  resides  on  the  farm. 

SAGE,  TIMOTHY,  was  born  in  Middleton,  Connecticut,  November  12, 
18  L3,  where  he  remained  till  the  age  of  sixteen  when  he  began  the  man- 
ufacture of  Britannia  ware  at  Yalesville,  Connecticut,  and  stayed  there 
until  twenty-one  years  old  when  he  returned  to  Middletown,  when  in  1845 
he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  engaged  in  the  same  business  till 
the  spring  of  1850.  In  April  of  the  same  year  he  started  for  California 
across  the  plains  arriving  at  Sacramento  the  latter  part  of  August.  He 
then  went  to  the  mines  on  the  north  fork  of  Dry  Creek  for  a  short  time 
and  did  very  well.  In  the  spring  of  1851  he  came  to  Benicia  where  he 
has  since  resided,  having  started  a  brick -yard  which  business  he  carried 
on  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years.  He  is  now  engaged  in  farming.  Mr. 
Sage  married  Mrs.  Perlina  Booth,  September  20,  1853,  by  whom  he  has 
one  son  Charles  P.,  born  November  3,  1857,  having  lost  five  children, 
Edward  T.,  Henry  B.,  Nelson,  William  and  Lillia.  Mr.  Sage  is  a  Mason. 
29 


450  THE   HISTOEY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

SPALDING,  CHARLES,  was  born  in  Maine,  February  9,  1819,  and  went 
with  his  parents  when  young  to  Suffolk  county,  Massachusetts,  near  Boston, 
where  he  remained  till  1849,  when  he  started  for  California  via  Cape 
Horn,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  in  September,  whence  he  proceeded  to 
the  mines  in  Shasta  and  where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1850  when 
he  went  to  Sacramento  and  began  business  in  general  merchandise  which 
he  continued  till  the  fall  of  1851.  He  then  went  to  Colusa  and  engaged 
in  the  same  business  till  1868  when  he  came  to  Benicia  and  erected  the 
Benicia  Flouring  Mill  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Spalding  was 
engaged  in  taking  the  census  of  the  county ;  was  also  resident  of  Marshall 
in  1870.  Mr.__Spalding  married  Mary  A.  Silsby  at  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, April  30,  1843,  who  died  in  Benicia  January  3,  1876.  Their  only 
child  Edward  A.  was  drowned  in  the  Sacramento  river  at  the  age  of  nine 
years. 

VON  PFISTER,  E.  H.,  among  the  California  pioneers  Benicia  claims  sev- 
eral who  still  reside  here  and  were  of  the  most  important  citizens  of  the 
State  in  the  days  of  '48,  '49  and  '50,  and  some  were  her  citizens  who  have 
long  since  passed  away,  whose  names  will  forever  grace  the  pages  of 
history  of  this  part  of  the  United  States.     Of  the  former,  we  propose  to 
give  herewith  a  brief  biographical  sketch  of  one  who  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Benicia  for   over  thirty  years :     we  allude  to  E.  H.  Yon  Pfister. 
"  Von,"  as  he  is  familiarly  called,  first  came  to  the  coast  of  California  in 
1846 ;  being  so  well  pleased  with  the  climate,  he  determined  to  settle  in 
the  State.     With  this  object  in  view,  he  went  down  to  the   Sandwich 
Islands  and  purchased  a  stock  of    general  merchandise  and  returned  to 
this  State  in  March,  1847.     He  had  intended  to  open  a  store  at  San  Jose, 
but,  while  yet  at  Yerba  Buena  (San  Francisco),  Dr.  Semple,  the  founder 
of  the  city  of  Benicia,  had  heard  of  the  advent  of  the  enterprising  Yon 
Pfister.  and  he  determined  that  the  new  stock  of  goods  and  its  owner 
should  be  brought  to  Benicia.     So  he  went  to  San  Francisco  in  a  whale- 
boat,  and  succeeded  in  getting  Mr.  Yon  P.  to  at  least  consent  to  visit 
Benicia.     Embarking  in  the  whale-boat  with  the  Doctor,  they  occupied 
four  days  in  making  the  voyage.     They  made  soundings  all  the  way  up 
to  verify  the  claims  made  by  the  Doctor  that  Benicia's  location  was  un- 
surpassed for  commercial  purposes.     Yon  Pfister  says,  being  a  sea-faring 
man,  and  finding  a  fine,  ample  channel  for  deep-sea  vessels,  and  the  result 
of  his  observations  being  that  almost  all  large  commercial  cities  were  sit- 
uated near  the  head  of  navigation,  concluded  this  was  the  place  for  him 
to  locate.     He  purchased  an  unfinished  adobe  building,  and,  after  putting 
it  in  condition,  opened  out  his    stock  of    goods  in  August,  1847.      The 
building  is  standing  and  is  still  his  property ;  it  is  situated  in  the  rear  of 
Jos.  Ewing's  store,  on  First  street.     His  trade  was  of  a  very  satisfactory 


THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  451 

character.     The  prices  obtained  for  goods  were  much  the  same  as  those  of 
the  present  day.     There  was  very  little  cash.     The  standard  currency  of 
those  days  was  hides,  valued  at  $1   50  each,  which  were  frequently  styled 
"  California  bank-bills."     Corn,  barley  and  other  articles  of  produce  were 
readily  taken  in  lieu  of  coin.     Early  in  May,  1848,  one  evening  while  a 
number  of  persons  were  assembled  in  Von's  store  talking  over  the  pros- 
pects of  the  State,  a  gentleman  present  said  a  good  coal  prospect  had 
been  found  near  Mount  Diablo.     Another  said  if  that  was  true  and  coal 
should  be  found  to  exist  in  quantity,  a  great  future  was  in  store  for  Cali- 
fornia ;  but  without  coal  he  did  not  think  much  of  the  State's  prospects. 
A  stranger,  who  had   been  a  quiet  listener   to  the    conversation,  said: 
"  Gentlemen,  I  have  something  here  which,  if  it  is  what  I  think  it  is,  will 
beat  a  coal  mine  and  make  this  the  greatest  country  in  the  world."      He 
then  produced  a  little  buckskin  bag  holding   about  $100  worth  of  gold- 
dust.  The  dust  varied  in  size  from  a  flax-seed  to  a  good-sized  pea.  This  he 
handed  around  for  the  inspection  of  those  present.     He  said  his  name  was 
Bennett,  and  that  the  "  stuff"  had  been  found  in  Coloma  while  digging 
the  race  for  the  Sutter  mill.     Thinking  it  might  be  gold,  he  had  brought 
it  down  to  Sutter's  Fort  to  find  out ;  but  as  there  were  no  chemicals  there, 
he  was  on  his  way  to  Monterey  to  submit  the  metal  to  Governor  Mason. 
If  *it  was  gold,  there  was  any  quantity  of  it.     The  Beniciaites  were  quite 
incredulous.     A  few  days  after  this   there  was  a  great  rush   down  the 
river  and  by  land  of  people  who  possessed  samples  of  the  new  discovery. 
Some  carried  it  in  old  stockings,  old  boots,  and  anything  that  would  hold 
the  yellow  dust.     Some  of  those  who  came  down  the  river  had  old  rattle- 
traps of  boats  which  required  constant  bailing  to  keep  afloat ;  pieces  of 
blankets  were  utilized  for  sails,  and  all  were  greatly  excited.     About  this 
time  Samuel  Brannan,  Esq.,  who  had  been  a  shipmate  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  came  along,  and  said  gold  had  really  been  discovered  and  that 
the  mines  were  good.     He  advised  Von  to  pack  up  his  goods  and  go  to 
the  mines  with  them.     This  he  did.     He  chartered  Dr.  Semple's  flat-boat, 
and  in  six  days  reached  Coloma  with  his  goods.     At  Sacramento  he  was 
joined  by  Brannan  with  an  equal  quantity  of  goods,  and  the  firm  of  Von 
Pfister  &  Brannan  did  a  thriving  business  until  October,  when  the  former 
sold  out  and  left  the  mines.     In  the  spring  of  1849  he  returned  to  Benicia 
and  rented  the  adobe  building  where  stands  the  present  Benicia  Brewery  > 
and  opened  a  hotel.     He  paid  $500  a  month  rent,  and  $150  per  month  for 
a  cook ;  $125  each  for  two  stewards  ;  $100  each  for  a  housekeeper  and 
barkeeper.      Notwithstanding   these  heavy    expenses,    Mr.    Von    Pfister 
cleared  $12,000  in  eleven  months.     During  his  long  residence  in  Benicia 
he*  has  been  three  different  times  the  proprietor  of  the  Solano  Hotel.    The 
first  deed  on  the  records  of  the  county  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Von 
P.     He  has  filled  official   positions  of  honor,  trust  and  importance.     Von 


452  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

has  always  had  great  faith  that  the  future  of  Benicia  was  that  of  no  ordi- 
nary town,  and  acquired  considerable  real  estate  in  the  place  with  this 
belief.  In  '48  or  '49  he  sold  a  lot  on  the  corner  of  Pine  and  Dupont 
streets,  San  Francisco,  for  $2,500,  and  immediately  invested  the  money  in 
Benicia  property,  which  he  still  holds ;  and  there  are  none  here  who  are 
not  pleased  to  congratulate  the  old  gentleman  that  the  time  is  near  at 
hand  when  there  will  be  a  full  realization  of  his  fondest  hopes  of  Benicia's 
prosperity. 

WALSH,  CAPTAIN  JOHN.— The  oldest  inhabitant  of  Benicia,  Captain 
John  Walsh,  deserves  more  than  an  ordinary  notice.  It  is  but  seldom 
that  a  man  is  permitted  to  outlive  God's  statute  of  limitations  —  with  as 
clean  a  record  as  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  leaves  behind  him.  He 
was  born  on  the  25th  of  October,  1797,  on  Prince  Edward's  Island,  Nova 
Scotia,  of  Irish  parents.  He  went  to  sea  at  the  early  age  of  twelve,  in 
the  year  1809,  as  a  "  sailor  boy  "  with  his  uncle  on  the  ship  "  Partheon  ;" 
but  "  mine  uncle  "  being  too  harsh,  young  Walsh  went  ashore  at  Liver- 
pool, and  his  uncle  never  heard  of  him  until  some  ten  years  later  he  met 
him  in  command  of  a  ship  at  Gibralter.  In  1818  young  Walsh  was  first 
officer  of  the  ship  "  Honqua,"  sailing  to  China ;  and  on  her  he  came  into 
the  Bay  of  San  Francisco  in  that  year,  and  stopped  at  the  Presidio,  now 
Fort  Point,  and  at  Goat  Island  ;  and  on  the  same  voyage  he  went  into  the 
Columbia  river,  Oregon,  which  latter  place  he  visited  in  command  of  a 
Government  vessel  forty-two  years  later.  He  afterwards  commanded  the 
ship  "  Gray  Hound;"  and  in  1825  was  sent  by  Messrs.  Perkins  &  Co.,  of 
Boston,  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  in  command  of  the  ship  "  John  Gilpin," 
where  he  ran  his  vessel  as  a  regular  packet  from  Valparaiso,  in  Chili,  to 
Canton,  for  more  than  twenty  years,  having,  on  a  short  visit  to  Boston  in 
1830,  married,  and  returned  to  Valparaiso  with  his  wife,  where  seven 
children  were  born  to  them,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead.  The  last,  the 
wife  of  Col.  D.  Fergusson,  died  in  the  city  of  Mexico  some  two  years 
since ;  and  soon  after,  his  venerable  wife,  who  had  been  his  companion 
for  nearly  forty-six  years,  also  died,  leaving  the  old  man,  now  over  eighty 
years  of  age,  alone  in  the  world — the  last  leaf  on  the  tree — his  kindred 
have  all  perished,  save  only  the  children  of  the  deceased  daughter.  But 
in  place  of  kindred,  hosts  of  friends  surround  the  old  man  in  his  declin- 
ing years;  hundreds  who  have  partaken  of  his  hospitality  in  Valparaiso, 
San  Francisco  and  Benicia,  now  take  pleasure  in  extending  acts  of  kind- 
ness to  him.  He  settled  in  Benicia  in  1849.  Here  he  filled  the  position 
of  Deputy  Collector  of  Port  for  many  years ;  and  the  records  at  Wash- 
ington show  that  he  was  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  trustworthy  officials 
ever  in  the  employ  of  the  Government.  He  has  spent  much  of  his  time 
in  building  and  ornamenting  his  beautiful  home  here,  which  has  been 


THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  453 

open  to  his  many  friends,  and  especially  to  the  Army  and  Navy,  for  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century;  and  notwithstanding  his  May  of  life  is 
fallen  into  the  sear  and  yellow  leaf,  that  which  should  accompany  old  age, 
,  as  honor,  love,  obedience,  troops  of  friends  he  has.  May  the  date  of  his 
decease  long  remain  blank  on  his  family  tomb. 

WESTABY,  RICHARD,  is  a  native  of  England,  having  been  born  in  Hull, 
November  22,  1822,  where  he  served  an  apprenticeship  of  seven  years  as 
ship  carpenter.  At  the  age  of  20  he  went  to  sea,  and  followed  that  occu- 
pation till  1850  when  he  arrived  at  San  Francisco,  and  engaged  in  the 
same  business,  when  he  was  burned  out  in  the  big  fire,  on  June  22,  1851. 
He  then  took  the  mail  steamer  for  Panama,  returning  to  Benicia  in  August, 
1851.  In  1858  and  1859,  he  visited  his  native  land,  and  the  scenes  of 
his  childhood. 

Mr.  W.  married  Elmer  Miles  Raper,  at  Hull,  November  22,  1846,  who  died 
at  Benicia,  February  22,  1876.  Mr.  W.  has  two  children,  Elmer  and 
Margaret,  both  married. 


.. 


454  THE  HISTOKY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


VACAVILLE 


AMMONS,  HENRY  B.,  born  in  Richmond,  Madison  county,  Kentucky,  in 
1821,  and  in  the  year  1826,  moved  with  his  parents  to  Montgomery  Co., 
Missouri,  thence  to  Howard  county,  where  his  father  died  in  1846.  He 
then  moved  to  Clay,  where  he  enlisted,  1846,  in  1st  Regular  Mounted 
Volunteers,  commanded  by  General  A.  W.  Doniphan,  Co.  C,  under  Captain 
O.  P.  Moss,  and  with  it  took  part  in  the  Mexican  war.  With  his  regi- 
ment he  went  from  the  frontier  to  Santa  Fe,  thence  to  Chihuahua,  Buena 
Vista  and  New  Orleans,  where  he  obtained  his  discharge  in  1 847.  After 
his  return  home  Mr.  Ammons  entered  into  mercantile  pursuits,  which  he 
continued  till  1849,  when  he  came  to  California  by  way  of  the  plains,  ar- 
riving at  Long's  Bar,  Butte  county,  in  September  of  that  year,  where  he 
embarked  in  merchandising.  In  1852,  he  moved  to  Solano  Co.,  Cal., 
where  he  set  about  stock  raising.  At  the  general  election  of  1853,  Mr. 
Ammons  was  elected  County  Assessor,  which  office  he  held  for  two  years, 
and  then  was  appointed  a  Deputy  Sheriff  for  two  years  following.  He 
afterwards  engaged  imfarming,  until  1871,  when  he  was  made  a  Notary 
Public  which  office  he'  now  holds. 

BAKER,  GEO.  H.,  born  April  9,  1852,  in  Vermont,  where  he  was  edu- 
cated, and  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  California, 
making  the  trip  by  water,  landing  at  Sacramento  June  4,  1867,  and  re- 
sided there  one  year,  where  his  father  followed  farming.  From  there  Mr. 
Baker  went  to  San  Francisco  for  two  years,  thence  to  Colusa  Co.,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  settled  in  this  county  in  the 
spring  of  1875,  still  working  at  his  trade,  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Vaca  Valley,  containing  twenty  acres,  and 
added  fifty  acres  thereto  in  the  spring  of  1878,  all  of  which  is  adapted  to 
the  raising  of  cereals  and  fruit.  He  married,  December  16,  1877,  Miss 
Luella  Hawkins,  who  was  born  January  3,  1858,  by  whom  he  has  one 
child,  Duff  G.,  born  October  8,  18?8. ' 

BASSFORD,  H.  A.,  was  born  June,  1854,  in  Benicia,  Solano  county,  Cali- 
fornia, and  in  1862  moved  with  parents  to  Napa,  Napa  county,  but  the 
family  returned  to  Solano  county,  settling  in  Lagoon  Valley,  in  June,  1869, 
where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  now  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  Mar- 
ried Miss  Addie  Lassell,  of  San  Francisco,  on  September  5,  1876.  She 
was  born  in  October,  1857,  in  Smithfield,  Maine.     They  have  one  child. 


THE    HISTORY    OF   SOLANO    COUNTY.  455 

BASSFORD,  J.  M.,  was  born  in  Benicia,  Solano  county,  June  25,  1852, 
which  he  left  with  his  parents  in  1858,  and  settled  in  Napa  county. 
Moved  with  Mr.  Bassford,  Sr.,  into  this  county  June,  1 868,  and  located 
on  what  is  known  as  the  Sunny  Dale  Farm,  three  miles  west  of  Vaca- 
ville,  where  he  resided  until  September  5,  1876,  when  he  took  charge  of 
the  Barker  Tract,  known  as  the  Cherry  Glen  Farm,  containing  308  acres, 
where  he  now  resides,  and  is  engaged  in  raising  fruit  in  great  abundance. 
He  married  Miss  Ida  C.  Barker,  September  5,  1876.  She  was  born  in 
Napa  county,  Cal.,  Dec.  31,  1857,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Lillie  C, 
born  June  13,  1878. 

BRINCK,  H.  W.,  was  born  September  20,  1844,  in  France,  and  there  edu- 
cated; emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1869,  settling  in  New  York  City 
for  three  years,  engaging  in  various  occupations  until  the  fall  of  1873, 
when  he  came  to  this  State,  and  stopped  in  San  Francisco  one  year.  The 
fall  of  1874  he  came  to  this  county,  with  his  brother  William,  and  settled 
on  the  ranch  they  now  own,  consisting  of  210  acres.  Married  November 
20,  1877,  Miss  May  E.  Manning,  a  native  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Henry  Koy 
is  their  only  child. 

Mr.  Brinck's  brother,  William  Brinck,  was  born  in  Alsace,  France,  Octo- 
ber 15,  1849,  where  he  was  educated.  As  is  shown  he  came  to  this  coun- 
try with  his  brother  in  the  fall  of  1874,  where  he  still  resides. 

BUCK,  L.  W.,  was  born  July  8,  1834,  in  Trenton,  Courtland  county,  N.  Y. 
Was  educated  in  Homer,  N.  Y.,  at  Courtland  Academy,  and  on  Septem- 
ber 10,  1856,  married  Anna  M.,  daughter  of  Dr.  M.  B.  Bellows,  of  Seneca 
Falls,  N.  Y.  She  was  born  September  23,  1834.  Emigrated  to  Clinton, 
Iowa,  in  1865,  where  he  resided  till  the  spring  of  1874,  at  which  time  he 
came  to  California,  locating  in  Vacaville,  Solano  county,  in  March  of  that 
year;  and  on  October  1,  1874,  he  moved  to  hie  present  farm,  formerly 
known  as  the  old  Weldon  rancho,  consisting  of  156  acres,  in  said  township^ 
where  he  has  since  permanently  resided.  In  August,  1862,  Mr.  Buck  was 
commissioned  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  "H,"  157th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  but 
resigned  in  February,  1863,  on  account  of  ill  health,  returning  to  his 
home  in  New  York  State.  His  children  are  Emma  L.,  Frank  H.,  Nellie 
M.,  Fred  M.,  and  Anna  M. 

CAMPBELL,  ROBT.  G.,  born  November  3,  1814,  in  Kentucky.  In  1831 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Missouri,  where  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade, 
and  followed  it  and  farming  as  a  business  until  1850,  when  he  emigrated 
to  California,  and  arrived  at  Hangtown,  now  Placerville,  on  August  20th 
of  that  year.  At  once  proceeded  to  the  Sacramento  valley,  on  the  Ameri- 
can river,  and  was  among  the  first  who  raised  grain  in  that  valley.     He 


456  THE   HISTOEY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

farmed,  teamed,  and  mined  until  1854,  when  he  came  to  Vaca  valley,  So- 
lano county,  and  settled  on  the  place  now  owned  by  Mr.  Butcher,  and 
farmed,  in  company  with  A.  D.  Starke,  for  one  year,  moving  in  the  fall 
of  1855  to  a  place  then  known  as  Wolf  place,  about  a  fourth  of  a  mile 
east  of  Vacaville,  and  in  company  with  Dobbins  and  Starke  put  in 
grain  for  the  sole  purpose  of  providing  hog-feed,  thinking  it  more 
valuable  for  that  purpose ;  from  here  moved  upon  another  tract,  a 
portion  of  the  Barker  grant,  and  soon  after  purchased  the  plot  (squat- 
ter's title)  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  followed  ranching  from 
this  time  up  till  1866,  when  he  sold  out  his  interest  and  turned  his 
attention  to  carpentering,  continuing  this  until  1869,  when,  in  partner- 
ship with  Starke,  be  went  to  Oregon  and  bought  horses,  bringing  them  to 
this  State  on  speculation.  This,  however,  not  proving  sufficiently  lucrative 
he  went  back  to  his  trade,  working  at  it  till  1872,  when  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  G.  M.  Gates,  and  dealt  in  live  stock  for  about  two  years- 
Was  appointed  Road  Master  of  Vacaville  township  in  March,  1875,  which 
office  he  still  holds. 

CONNELLY,  JAMES,  born  March  15,  1828,  in  county  Roscommon,  Ireland. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  made 
his  home  in  Boston  for  about  four  years,  where  he  carried  on  a  farm.  In 
June,  1855  he  started  for  California,  making  the  trip  by  water,  and  on 
arrival  settled  in  Napa  county  and  commenced  farming.  On  November 
2,  1856,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Fleming,  of  San  Francisco,  who  was 
born  in  county  Waterford,  Ireland,  March  24,  1834,  and  at  once  located 
in  Pleasant  valley,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land,  which  he  dis- 
posed of  after  residing  on  it  over  six  years.  He  next  purchased  fifty-six 
and  one-quarter  acres  in  the  Gibson  Canon,  about  two  miles  north  of 
Vacaville,  where  he  cultivates  fruit,  etc.  His  only  living  child  is  Alice  F., 
born  July  4,  1866. 

CUMMONS,  JOHN  HARBERT,  born  January  21, 1843,  in  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  from  whence  he  moved  with  his  parents,  at  the  age  of  four  years, 
to  Bates  county,  Missouri.  In  the  Spring  of  1857  started  with  his  father 
for  California,  driving  a  band  of  cattle  across  the  plains,  and  arrived  at 
Stockton  on  November  18th  of  that  year.  From  this  place  they  proceeded 
to  Calaveras  county,  and  farmed  until  1862,  when  he  left  for  Aurora,  Ne- 
vada, and  here  married,  March  19,  1864,  Miss  Margaret  Parry,  who  was 
born  August  6,  1844,  in  South  Wales,  Great  Britain.  In  1865  moved  to 
Colfax  and  built  the  first  house  in  the  town;  thence  to  Truckee  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  proceeded  to  Alameda,  where  he  put  up  the  first 
turn-table  on  the  coast,  for  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad  Company.  Mr. 
C.  now  took  up  his  residence  in  Vallejo.  In  1873  he,  however,  moved  to 
San  Francisco,  but  in  June,  1877,  he  returned  to  Solano  county,  and 
located  at  Vacaville.     He  has  a  family  of  six  children. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  457 

DAVIS,  W.  B.,  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Kentucky,  September  5, 1828, 
which  he  left  with  his  parents  in  1835,  for  Missouri.  When  in  this  State 
he  commenced  the  occupation  of  farming,  which  he  successively  pursued 
in  Caliway  county  for  three  years,  and  Macon  county  until  1850.  In 
this  year  he  left  for  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  arrived  at  Green  River, 
where  he  traded  with  the  Indians  and  emigrants,  as  well  as  run  a  ferry 
over  Green  River.  Here  he  remained  five  years,  after  which  he  came  to 
California,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Davis  married,  in  December, 
1846,  Miss  Emeline  Wells,  by  whom  he  has  Francis  A.,  born  March  6, 
1848;  Clara  P.,  born  December  22,  1851;  George  W.,  born  September  18, 
1860;  Eva,  born  July  28,  1863;  and  Jessie,  born  September  22,  1867. 

DAVIS,  I.  F.,  is  a  native  of  Canada,  where  he  was  born  April  13,  1826. 
Here  he  was  educated,  and  where  he  first  engaged  in  farming,  but  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  time  he  resided  there  he  followed  the  lumber  trade. 
In  November,  1868,  he  moved  to  Norton,  Essex  county,  Vermont,  where 
he  kept  a  hotel.  Here  he  remained  until  August,  1873,  when  he  sold  his 
furniture,  rented  the  hotel,  and  returned  to  Canada,  but  only  remained 
there  till  December  10  of  that  year,  when  he  left  Montreal  for  California, 
arriving  in  Oakland,  December  of  that  year,  where  he  settled  for  nearly 
four  months,  residing  with  his  brother,  E.  S.  Davis.  From  Oakland  he 
came  to  this  town,  where  he  has  been  the  proprietor  of  the  Davis  House. 
Married  Miss  Minerva,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Green,  of  Canada.  They 
have  Emma  F.  and  William  H. 

DAY,  M.  D.,  EDWARD  W.,  born  in  Baltimore  county,  Maryland,  in  1831. 
His  father,  during  the  Rebellion,  was  a  real  estate  agent  and  farmer,  and 
at  the  time  the  advance-guard  of  Stewart's  Cavalry  made  a  raid  through 
Baltimore  county  he  had  the  "Stars  and  Stripes"  floating  from  the  flag- 
staff in  front  of  his  house.  The  rebels  sought  to  pull  it  down,  but  were 
told  by  Mr.  Day  that  if  any  one  attempted  so  to  do  he  would  certainly 
be  killed  in  the  venture.  They  did  it;  and  he  shot  one  man  and  wounded 
another,  and,  finding  it  growing  too  warm  for  him,  he  effected  his  escape 
to  Baltimore  City,  where  he  remained.  On  his  departure  the  rebels 
burned  his  house  and  everything  belonging  to  him.  He  was  at  the  time 
seventy-five  years  of  age,  and  died  nine  years  later,  when  eighty-four. 
His  son  Edward,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  in  1853,  having  passed  through 
a  course  of  medical  studies,  and  graduated  from  the  University  of  Mary- 
land, left  in  that  year  for  California,  which  he  reached  in  May,  and  with 
his  brother  went  to  the  mines  about  twelve  miles  from  French  Corral. 
Shortly  after  his  brother  sold  out,  and  they  both  went  to  Rogue  River 
Valley,  Oregon,  where  they  prosecuted  mining  at  Jackson  Creek  and 
vicinity,  but,  the  Indians  becoming  troublesome  and  committing  great 


458  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

depredations,  the  valley  inhabitants  were  forced  into  hostilities,  which 
eventuated  in  a  treaty  that  was  observed  for  only  one  short  year,  when 
the  same  tactics  were  again  pursued  by  the  aboriginals.  At  this  juncture 
volunteers  were  called  out  by  the  Governor,  and  on  their  formation  Doc- 
tor Day  acted  as  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  Southern  Battalion  of  the 
Oregon  Volunteers.  They  waged  war  with  the  Indians  for  eight  or  nine 
months,  with  the  result  of  the  enemy  being  dispersed.  In  the  year  1858 
he  left  Oregon,  and  in  June  came  to  Vacaville,  where  he  now  resides. 

DOWNEY,  D.  M.,  was  born  in  Pietobury,    Pennsylvania,  September  23, 

1838,  where  he  followed  farming  until  he  emigrated  to  this  State  in  Oc- 
tober, 1858,  locating  at  San  Francisco;  thence  to  Sacramento,  and  from 
there  to  Nevada,  where  he  remained  only  one  month,  prospecting  among 
the  mines,  then  came  to  Solano  county  and  settled  in  Vacaville,  and 
located  on  a  farm.  In  the  Spring  of  1865  made  a  trip  to  Oregon,  but 
after  two  months  returned  and  visited  his  native  State,  and  was  gone 
three  months.  With  the  exception  of  two  visits  he  made  in  the  East  in 
1876  and  1877,  he  has  been  a  permanent  resident  of  this  county. 

DUTTON,  DAVID  DEWEY,  was  born  in  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  in  the 
year  1816,  April  4th,  where  his  father  was  a  farmer.  In  his  boyhood  he 
left  home  and  went  to   Illinois  and  engaged  in  farming  until  the  year 

1839,  when  he  crossed  the  plains  to  Oregon  in  company  with  D.  G.  John- 
son, Charles  Klein,  Peter  Lassen,  J.  Wright,  William  Wiggins  and  others, 
and  there  remained  one  winter,  when  they  sailed  for  California  in  the 
vessel  "  Lausenne,"  and  were  three  weeks  in  reaching  Baker's  Bay,  a 
distance  of  only  ninety  miles.  On  the  3d  of  July  the  ship  left  the  mouth 
of  the  Columbia  River,  and  after  being  out  thirteen  days  arrived  at 
Bodega,  a  harbor  then  in  possession  of  the  Russians.  Here  a  dilemma 
arose  of  quite  a  threatening  character.  The  Mexican  Commandant,  Gen- 
eral Vallejo,  sent  a  squad  of  soldiers  to  prevent  their  landing ;  however, 
at  this  crisis  the  Russian  Governor  arrived  and  ordered  them  to  leave, 
which  they  did.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  did  not  land,  but  started 
with  the  vessel  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  where  he  remained  for  one  year, 
being  employed  in  the  American  Consul's  store.  From  there  he  next 
sailed  to  the  Society  Islands,  staying  at  Otaheite  for  about  six  months, 
when  he  left  for  Valparaiso,  in  South  America.  Here  he  resided  for  six 
months  and  thence  to  Callao,  then  went  to  Pata,  a  port  much  frequented 
by  whalers,  and,  after  six  months,  took  passage  for  Guayaquil  in  Colum- 
bia, South  America.  Six  months  after  he  returned  to  Valparaiso  and 
there  set  sail  for  California,  having  entered  into  arrangements  to  construct 
a  mill  in  that  country  for  a  Mr.  Smith.  He  landed  at  Bodega,  the  very 
port  from  which  he  had  previously  sailed,  and  starting  thence  he  paid  his 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  459 

way  by  work,  after  building  the  mill  at  port  Bodega,  until  he  gained 
Sutter's  Fort — now  Sacramento — where  he  was  employed  at  his  trade  of 
a  carpenter.  From  the  Fort  he  removed  to  Butte  county  and  commenced 
farming  operations,  which  he  continued  for  several  years  in  that  district, 
and  in  1846  located  in  Solano  county  and  engaged  in  stock  raising  and 
farming,  the  lands  of  which  he  eventually  sold  out,  but  still  owns  prop- 
erty in  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  Mr.  Dutton  married  February  19, 
1856,  Miss  Martha  J.  Pearson,  who  was  born  in  1829,  and  has  children 
born :  Ellat  Lovina,  born  September  1,  1857 ;  Charles  Dewey,  born 
September  11,  1860;  Wallace  Newton,  born  October  8,  1863;  David 
Willoughby,  born  August  20,  1866  ;  Cora  Belle,  born  September  7,  1869  ; 
Esther  Maud,  born  September  27, 1872;  Nina  Martha,  born  April  5, 1876. 

ESQUIVEL,  ANTONIO  MARIA,  born  September  10, 1826,  in  New  Mexico 
and  came  to  California  August  10,  1854,  working  for  wa^es  until  1866, 
when  he  commenced  the  yearly  purchase  of  land  as  mentioned  below:  In 
1866,  320  acres;  1867,  90  acres;  1868,  680  acres;  1869,  120  acres;  1870, 
280  acres;  1872,1,000  acres;  making  a  total  of  2,490  acres,  all  adapted 
to  grain  growing,  situated  nine  miles  west  of  Dixon  and  five  and  one-half 
north  of  Vacaville.     Mr.  Esquivel  resides  on  his  property. 

EVERSOLE,  HENRY,  born  March  27,  1835,  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  of  the  latter.  On  March  5,  1854,  he 
left  his  home  and  came  to  California,  arriving  at  Grizzly  Flat,  El  Dorado 
county,  on  September  5th  of  that  year,  and  remained  there  until  August  15, 
1858,  following  his  trade  of  a  carpenter,  with  mining,  until  he  came  to 
Vacaville,  Solano  county.  He  married,  May  4,  1865,  Miss  Isabella 
Creighton,  born  September  26,  1845,  in  Davis  county,  Iowa,  by  whom  he 
has  Effa  Jane,  born  November  15, 1866;  Elton  Mantz,  born  April  24,  1869; 
Mary  Olive,  born  November  12,  1870;  and  Frank  Creighton,  born  May 
11,  1876. 

ELLIOTT,  JAMES  MONROE,  is  a  native  of  Harrison  county,  Kentucky, 
having  been  born  there  July  1,  1820.  Removed  with  his  parents,  when 
fifteen  years  of  age,  to  Washington  county,  Missouri,  where  he  remained 
one  year ;  thence  to  St.  Louis  county,  Missouri,  and  remained  until  he 
was  twenty-five.  In  1846  returned  to  Washington  county  and  married, 
March  5th  of  the  above  year,  Miss  Celia  A.  Paul.  In  the  spring  of  1849 
he  emigrated  to  California,  crossing  the  plains  with  an  ox  team,  in  com- 
pany with  a  brother  and  several  neighbors,  leaving  behind  his  wife  and 
two  children.  Arrived  at  Hangtown,  now  Placerville,  on  September 
15,  1849,  and  followed  mining  until  the  end  of  January,  1850,  when  he 
embarked  on  the  steamer  "  Panama,"  at  San  Francisco,  for  the  Eastern 


460  THE  HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

States ;  arrived  home  on  March  20th,  and  on  April  4th,  following,  started 
to  re-cross  the  plains  with  his  family  and  several  friends.  At  Independ- 
ence, Missouri,  they  were  joined  by  several  other  gold  seekers,  making  a 
train  of  about  forty  wagons.  Here  Mr.  Elliott  was  appointed  Captain  of 
the  train,  as  he  had  experience  on  the  plains  and  was  acquainted  with 
the  lay  of  the  land.  At  Fort  Hall  the  company  became  disorganized, 
having  had  a  good  deal  of  sickness  from  cholera  and  fever.  It  was, 
therefore,  decided  to  turn  their  faces  towards  the  Oregon  line,  as  the 
direction  they  were  then  pursuing  seemed  to  entail  destruction  to  man 
and  beast.  Thus  they  moved  northward  and  landed  in  Linn  county,  at 
the  forks  of  the  Santiam  river,  where  he  had  one  section  of  land  donated 
to  himself  and  his  wife  by  the  Government.  On  this  tract  they  resided 
for  seventeen  years.  In  the  fall  of  1867  Mr.  E.  came  to  Solano  county 
and  farmed  for  one  year ;  thence  to  Mendocino  county  for  five  years, 
making  farming  and  stock  raising  his  business.  In  1874  he  returned  to 
this  county  and  settled  in  Lagoon  valley,  purchasing  the  Scanlett  ranch, 
containing  320  acres,  and  followed  farming  and  stock  raising  until  1877, 
when  he  sold  his  property  and  moved  to  the  town  of  Vacaville  in  order 
to  give  his  children  school  advantages.  Mr.  Elliott  has  eight  children, 
four  boys  and  four  girls:  Erastus  P.,  Amanda  J.,  Mary  E., Adelaide, 
Sophronia,  Winfield  S.,  James  L.,  and  William  P. 

GETCHINS,  WILLIAM  W.,  was  born  in  Green,  Chenango  county,  New 
York,  August  30,  1828.  At  the  age  of  twelve  he  moved  with  his  parents 
to  Luzerne  county,  Pa.,  and  in  the  year  1851  emigrated  to  Illinois.  In  the 
year  1850  he  came  to  California  and  worked  in  the  mines  until  1861, 
then  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and  different  speculations  in  Shasta 
county.  He  next  left  for  Oregon,  where  he  once  more  followed  mining, 
and  in  the  year  1866  returned  to  Shasta  and  passed  about  two  years 
there,  when  he  proceeded  to  Siskiyou  county,  and,  after  four  years  there, 
settled  in  Vacaville,  Solano  county,  November,  1875,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  saloon  business. 

JOHNSON,  W.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  left  his  home  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born 
on  December  15,  1837,  and  went  to  Black  Hawk  county,  Iowa,  and 
remained  there  for  only  a  short  time,  removing  to  Leavenworth,  Kansas, 
from  which  place  he  proceeded  to  Salt  Lake  City.  From  this  point  he 
joined  a  party  who  were  on  the  point  of  leaving  for  Arizona,  but  hearing 
that  the  Indians  were  hostile  they  altered  their  course  and  made  for  San 
Bernardino,  in  Southern  California,  arriving  there  in  the  winter  of  1857- 
58.  Hence,  Mr.  Johnson  proceeded  to  Los  Angeles,  and,  obtaining 
employment  with  one  Will  Wolfskill  for  eighteen  months,  he  next  left 


THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY.  461 

for  Pleasants'  valley,  where  he  was  occupied  but  for  a  short  time,  when  he 
commenced  farming  on  his  own  account.  This  he  continued  only  for  one 
year,  when  he  returned  to  the  employ  of  Mr.  Pleasants,  remaining  with 
him  three  years,  when  he  purchased  the  place  on  which  he  now  resides, 
engaging  in  the  pursuit  of  raising  fruit  and  grain.  He  married  Florence 
Powell,  September  5,  1873,  who  was  born  July  28,  1853.  He  has  one 
child,  Benjamin,  born  July  8,  1875. 

KIDD,  W.  B.  R.,  was  born  May  14,  1826,  in  Fentress  county,  Tennessee, 
where  he  was  educated.  Married  Miss  Jane  Williams  of  Tennessee,  in 
October,  1848,  who  died.  In  October,  1863,  married  Mi's.  Jane  Upchurch, 
and  in  ]  870  left  native  State  with  family,  and  went  to  Clinton  Co.,  Ky., 
where  he  followed  farming  and  trading  for  two  years.  Emigrated  to 
California  July,  1871,  and  landed  at  Stockton,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  when  he  returned  to  his  native  State,  where  he  remained  until 
June,  1874,  when  he  returned  to  California,  and  settled  in  Stockton  for  a 
short  time  ;  and  thence  to  Union  Island,  where  he  resided  about  one  year. 
Came  to  this  county  in  February,  1877,  and  settled  in  Lagoon  valley,  pur- 
chasing the  old  Scarlett  ranch  of  J.  M.  Elliott,  comprising  330  acres  of 
land,  where  he  now  resides.  Has  a  family  of  nine  living  children  —  four 
by  first  wife,  and  five  by  second,  as  follows  :  Mary  E.,  born  July  21, 1849  ; 
Elsie  L.,  born  June  4,  1850  ;  Millie  Ann,  born  Dec.  6,  1853 ;  Margaret 
Jane,  born  Jan.  11,  1855;  Laivery  J.,  born  July  27,  1864;  Granville  T., 
born  Dec.  12,  1866 ;  Johnny,  born  Nov.  26,  1871  ;  William,  born  Nov.  26, 
1875  ;  Viola  Jane,  born  May  26,  1878. 

KORNS,  LEVI,  was  born  February  16,  1829,  in  Pennsylvania ;  and  at  the 
age  of  one  year,  moved  with  his  parents  to  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  educated.  Emigrated  to  California,  on  January  5,  and  arrived  at 
Sacramento  February  27,  1852 ;  thence  to  Marysville,  where  he  remained 
one  year  farming ;  from  here  he  went  to  Oregon ;  but  after  a  stay  of  only 
nine  months  returned  to  this  State,  and  engaged  in  farming  at  Yreka, 
where  he  also  worked  in  the  mines  five  years ;  and  in  the  fall  of  1858 
visited  his  native  State.  In  September,  1859,  he  came  back  to  California 
and  located  in  Vaca  valley.  Purchased  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres,  known  as  the  "  Bunker  Hill  "  ranch,  in  1870,  on  which 
he  now  resides.  Mr.  Korns  married,  August  21, 1878,  Mrs.  Hattie  Thomp- 
son, of  Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  who  was  born  May  25,  1841. 

LONG,  S.  W.,  was  born  in  Versailles,  Kentucky,  March  17,  1822 ;  and 
when  still  young  moved  with  his  parents  to  Clay  county,  Missouri.  In 
1846  he  enlisted  and  took  part  in  the  Mexican  War,  under  Captain  O.  P. 
Moss,  Col.  Doniphan,  and  General  Taylor,  in  Company  C,  1st  "Regiment 


462  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Mounted  Volunteers.  In  the  following  year  was  discharged ;  and  return- 
ing home,  he  remained  there  until  1849,  when  he  started  across  the  plains 
for  California,  arriving  at  Sacramento  on  August  7,  1849,  having  per- 
formed the  long  journey  in  four  months,  and  meeting  with  neither  let  nor 
hindrance  on  the  way.  Mr.  Long  passed  one  year  at  the  mines  at  Long's 
Bar;  and  in  March,  1850,  he  came  to  Vacaville,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. 

MARSHALL,  R.  C,  received  his  education  at  the  Western  Reserve  Col- 
lege, at  Hudson,  Summit  county,  Ohio,  and,  after  a  term  of  three  years, 
he  taught  school  for  six.  In  1850,  he  emigrated  to  California  and  reached 
El  Dorado  county,  where  he  engaged  in  placer  and  quartz  mining.  In 
1855  he  was  joined  by  his  family  and  settled  in  Grizzly  Flat,  where  he 
resided  until  1858,  when  he  moved  to  Vacaville  on  a  visit,  but  during  his 
stay  his  residence  at  Grizzly  Flat  was  consumed  by  fire;  he,  therefore,  did 
not  return  thither  but  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Vacaville.  Mr. 
Marshall  was  born  in  Weathersfield,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio. 

MORTON,  HENRY,  born  in  Genesee  county,  New  York,  January  4,  1839. 
Came  to  California,  June,  1864,  by  sea  and  the  Isthmus  of  Panama, 
landing  in  San  Francisco,  but  soon  after  proceeded  to  Vacaville,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  farming. 

PENA,  DEMETRIO,  is,  without  doubt,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in 
the  county ;  born  in  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  in  1826,  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  California  in  1840  and  arrived  in  Los  Angeles,  where  they  re- 
mained one  year,  and,  in  1841,  came  to  Vacaville.  His  father,  in  com- 
pany with  Manuel  Vaca,  took  up  ten  leagues  of  land  in  and  around  Vaca 
valley,  including  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Vacaville.  In  1844,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  in  company  with  his  father,  moved  on  his  present 
rancheria  in  Lagoon  valley,  comprising  800  acres.  He  married,  in  1849, 
Miss  Inez  Berryessa,  of  Sonoma,  by  whom  he  had  a  family  of  twelve 
children,  there  being  now  alive  :  Neavis,  David,  Juan,  Seto,  Isabella  and 
Frederica. 

PLEASANTS,  WILLIAM  J.,  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Kentucky,  May  31, 
1834.  His  parents  went  to  Missouri  in  1835  and  followed  farming  until 
1849,  when  they  emigrated  to  California,  arriving  first  at  Bidwell's  Bar, 
in  1849,  and,  in  1850,  they  moved  to  Pleasants'  valley,  Solano  county. 
He  married,  December  3,  1857,  Miss  Nancy  Hopper,  by  whom  he  has 
eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters :  Sarah  Alice,  born  Nov.  11, 
1858 ;  Ansal  Putnam,  born  Feb.  6,  1861 ;  Emma  Belle,  born  Mar.  18, 
1863 ;  Lydia  Tolitha,  born  Feb.  28,  1865  ;  Wm.  James,  Jr.,  born  June  30, 
1867;  Laura  Frances,  born  Dec.  16,  1869  ;  Thomas  Royal,  born  Aug.  5, 
1872 ;  Russel  Mason,  born  Dec.  18,  1874. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  463 

ROGERS,  JAMES  ROE,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  November  14,  1826, 
and,  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  moved  with  his  parents  to  Missouri,  where  he 
remained  until  Spring  of  1850,  when  he  emigrated  to  California,  making 
the  trip  across  the  plains  with  ox  teams.  He  first  settled  in  Sacramento, 
where  he  bought  a  hotel  on  the  road  leading  from  that  city  to  Bear  river, 
Grass  valley  and  Nevada.  This  business  he  followed  until  early  in  1857, 
when  he  left  for  Poor  Man's,  Nelson  and  Hopkins'  creek,  on  Feather  river, 
and  from  there  to  Middle  Yuba,  where  he  worked  until  the  Fall,  whence 
he  proceeded  to  the  southern  mines.  In  the  Spring  of  1853,  he  paid  a 
visit  to  the  State  of  Missouri,  once  more  crossing  the  plains  in  the  Fall  of 
the  following  year  and  located  in  Santa  Rosa  valley,  Sonoma  county,  en- 
gaging in  stock  raising.  In  the  Fall  of  that  year  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
five  hundred  acres  in  Elmira  township,  on  which  he  now  resides.  Mr. 
Rogers  married,  first,  in  Sacramento,  September  15, 1853,  Miss  Mary  Ann 
Williams,  she  died  June  4,  1865  ;  and,  secondly,  January  14,  1866,  Miss 
Laura  C.  Church,  of  Dixon,  who  was  born  June  15,  1844.  His  family 
consists  of  six  children,  four  by  his  first  and  two  by  his  second  wife ; 
their  names  are :  Ann  Eliza,  born  October  9,  1854,  died  January,  1857  ; 
Commodore  Perry,  born  February  17,  1857 ;  Seldon  M.,  born  April  26, 
1859 ;  Zilla  N.,  born  September  25,  1861 ;  Celia  May,  born  May  30, 1873; 
and  Bertie  Agnes,  born  January  16,  1876. 

SCARLETT,  J.  E.,  was  born  May  8, 1853,  in  Iowa,  and  at  the  age  of  seven 
years,  moved  with  his  parents  to  Oregon.  In  1862,  came  to  this  county 
with  his  father,  W.  W.  Scarlett,  and  settled  in  Suisun  valley.  In  1874, 
returned  to  Oregon  and  remained  one  year,  when  he  returned  to  this 
State  and  county,  and  entered  the  Baptist  College,  at  Vacaville,  which  in- 
stitution he  attended  for  three  years.  He  then  went  to  Los  Angeles, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  butchering  business,  for  a  short  time ;  thence  to 
Bakersfield,  where  he  engaged  in  same  business  until  1879.  On  April 
1st,  1879,  he  returned  to  this  county  and  settled  in  Vacaville,  buying  out 
James  Rogers,  in  the  butchering  business,  and  entered  into  partnership 
with  Geo.  F.  Wooderson,  where  .he  still  continues  the  business. 

SEAMAN,  H.,  was  born  in  Prussia,  October  12,  1826.  In  1837,  emigrated 
to  United  States,  and  lived  in  Ohio  until  1852,  when  he  emigrated  to 
California, -crossing  the  plains,  and  landed  at  Sacramento  in  July  of 
the  above  year,  where  he  resided  for  seven  years,  running  a  hotel  the 
major  portion  of  the  time.  In  January,  1859,  came  to  this  county,  and 
settled  upon  the  present  farm  he  now  owns,  comprising  2,200  acres,  in 
Putah  canon,  about  four  miles  west  of  Winters.  Married  Miss  Ellen 
Ryan,  August,  1865.  She  was  born  in  November,  1834,  in  county  Lim- 
erick, Ireland.  Has  had  one  child,  John  Henry,  who  was  born  August 
19,  1867,  and  died  March,  1874. 


464  THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

SMITH,  W.  W.,  born  May  11,  1832,  near  Glasgow,  Barren  county,  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  received  his  early  education,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty 
moved  to  Abingdon,  Illinois,  where  for  five  years  he  worked  at  the  trade 
of  cooper.  Next  entered  the  Abingdon  College,  but  after  two  and  a  half 
years  was  obliged  to  relinquish  his  studies  on  account  of  sickness.  In  the 
spring  of  1864  he  emigrated  to  California,  first  settling  in  Napa  city,  June 
1st,  of  that  year,  where,  in  the  following  .fall,  he  purchased  the  farm 
known  as  the  Spring  Garden  Nursery ;  he  also  bought  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Henry  Bassf ord,  but  continued  to  reside  on  that  first  named  for 
ten  years,  with  the  exception  of  one  year  which  he  passed  on  that  in  So- 
lano county.  In  the  fall  of  1873  he  acquired  the  tract  of  land  on  which 
he  now  lives,  which  comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty -five  acres,  about 
one-half  of  which  he  has  set  out  in  fruit  trees.  He  married,  March  12, 
1857,  Miss  Matilda  C.  Marshall,  who  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Mo.,  by 
whom  he  has  had  three  children,  two  of  them,  Genevra,  and  Rosa  Ophelia 
are  still  living. 

STAHL,  J:,  was  born  March  14,  1844,  in  Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania, 
on  September  10,  1864 ;  entered  the  army,  Company  G,  93d  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers,  was  in  the  battles  of  Petersburg  and  Sailors'  Run,  and 
remained  until  the  close  of  the  war,  20th  June,  1865,  when  he  returned 
home  to  his  native  State.  In  August  of  the  above  year  he  went  to  Illi- 
nois, and  worked  at  his  trade  (wheelwright)  until  the  fall  of  1866,  when  he 
returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  remained  but  a  short  time.  Emigrated  to 
this  State,  making  the  trip  by  water,  in  1866,  landing  in  San  Francisco 
on  November  6th.  He  went  directly  to  Amador  county,  and  worked  on 
a  farm  until  spring  opened,  when  he  went  to  San  Louis  Obispo,  at  which 
place  he  remained  but  a  short  time.  Came  to  this  county  June  16,  1867. 
In  the  fall  of  1869  he  returned  to  the  place  of  his  birth ;  thence  to  Illi- 
nois, where  he  spent  the  winter,  and  in  the  spring  of  1870  went  to  Texas, 
remaining  a  short  time;  thence  to  Missouri;  thence  to  Iowa,  and  in  1871 
returned  to  California,  and  settled  in  Vacaville,  this  county,  where  he  still 
resides  and  follows  his  trade. 

THISSELL,  G.  W.,  born  April  25, 1829,  in  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  educated,  and  learned  the  trade  of  carriage-making,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  he  left  his  native  State,  March,  1849,  when  he  started  for 
California.  He  stopped  in  Mashaska  county,  Iowa,  with  his  brother 
Ezra,  until  March,  1850,  when  he  set  out  on  his  long  trip  across  the  plains 
with  an  ox-team,  and  landed  at  a  town  known  at  that  time  as  Hang- 
town,  and  is  now  known  as  Placerville,  October  16,  1850,  where  he  fol- 
lowed mining  until  May,  1851,  when  he  established  a  hotel,  and  in  July 
was  one  of  the  parties  who  formed  a  company  and  commenced  the  second 
tunnel  that  was  ever  run  in  the  State,  after  which  he  found  very  rich 


THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY1.  465 

diggings,  taking  out  as  high  as  $125  to  the  pan.  Followed  mining,  in 
connection  with  the  hotel,  until  6th  of  January,  1852,  when  he  returned 
to  native  State,  and  from  there  to  Iowa,  when  he  married  Miss  Asberrene 
Chambers,  May  8,  1851,  who  was  born  February  5, 1831,  in  Bartholomew 
county,  Indiana.  In  March,  1853,  again  emigrated  to  this  State,  re-cross- 
ing the  plains  with  ox-teams,  and  again  settled  in  Hangtown,  and  fol- 
lowed same  business  as  in  1850-1  until  July,  1855,  when  he  came  to  this 
county  and  settled  in  Suisun  valley,  and  followed  farming.  In  July, 
1857,  took  up  his  abode  in  Pleasants'  valley,  settling  upon  the  present 
tract  of  land  upon  which  he  now  resides,  comprising  165  acres,  adapted 
to  fruit-growing.  Has  6,000  fruit  trees,  most  of  which  are  apricots  ;  also 
10,000  grape  vines,  all  foreign  varieties.  Has  a  family  of  six  children,  as 
follows  :  Mary  E.,  born  June  6, 1852,  on  the  loop  fork  of  the  Platte  river ; 
John  N.,  born  November  29,  1856  ;  George  W.,  born  April  25,  1858 ;  W. 
E.,  born  July  4,1861;  Sarah  E.,  born  July  15,  1865;  Minnie  L.,  born, 
May  23,  1870. 

TROUTMAN,  GEORGE  W.,  born  in  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  March, 
1836,  where  he  received  his  education.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  went  to 
Illinois,  and  until  the  spring  of  1855  followed  farming,  when  he  emigrated 
to  California,  and  settled  in  Sierra  county,  there  working  in  the  mines 
until  August,  1861  ;  he  then  came  to  this  county  and  purchased  a  tract  of 
land,  between  Vacaville  and  Elmira,  which  he  worked  till  the  spring  of 
1866,  next  moving  to  Vacaville,  and  from  there  on  to  property  bought  by 
him  in  Gibson  Canon,  where  he  resided  from  1874  to  1876.  He  after- 
wards disposed  of  this  tract  and  purchased  an  adjoining  piece  on  the 
south,  containing  ninety-three  acres,  upon  which  he  now  has  his  residence. 
Married  May  15,  1872,  Miss  Essie  Gamble,  who  was  born  in  Beloit,  Rock 
county,  Wis.,  in  December,  1854,  and  has  one  child  living,  Susan  Irean, 
born  July  22,  1875. 

W00DERS0N,  G.  F.,  born  in  Bangor,  Maine,  October  10,  1849.  When 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  left  school  and  entered  the  Provost  Marshal's 
office,  under  Captain  Elijah  Low,  as  clerk,  remaining  there  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  the  office  was  abolished  in  November,  1865.  He  then 
went  into  the  employ  of  Bicker  &  Ireland,  dealers  in  and  importers  of 
crockery,  where  he  stayed  until  October,  1868,  when  falling  into  ill-health 
he  went  to  the  north  of  Vermont,  sojourning  there  until  July,  1875,  when 
he  came  to  California  and  settled  in  Vacaville,  going  into  the  employ  of 
Gates  &  Long,  butchers,  until  October,  1877,  when  he,  in  partnership  with 
J.  R.  Rogers,  bought  out  the  firm,  and  have  since  carried  on  the  business. 
Married  Miss  Susan  B.  Pease,  August  1,  1872,  at  Coaticooke,  Canada,  who 
was  born  April  25,  1856.  Had  one  infant,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years. 

30 


466  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


MAINE  PRAIRIE. 


ELLIOT,  GEORGE  T.,  is  a  native  of  Genesee  county,  New  York,  and 
born  October  12,  1834.  His  father  died  when  he  was  but  two  years  old, 
and  at  the  age  of  eleven  he  was  sent  to  reside  with  James  Relya,  in  the 
pineries  of  Allegany  county  N.  Y.,  who  agreed  to  give  him  an  education. 
Young  Elliot  was  furnished  with  an  abundance  of  work,  but  no  school- 
ing, which  did  not  accord  with  his  inordinate  love  for  knowledge.  For 
three  years  he  was  subjected  to  this  treatment,  but,  during  the  time,  man- 
aged to  master  Dayball's  Arithmetic,  by  diligent  application  during  his 
leisure  moments,  and  after  the  toils  of  the  day  was  over,  and  many  times 
midnight  found  him  at  his  studies.  Returned  to  his  native  county — being 
only  fourteen  years  old — engaged  in  farming  during  summers,  and  at- 
tending schools  during  the  winter,  and  in  1854  graduated  at  the  Warsaw 
Academy,  in  his  native  State.  After  traveling  in  Upper  Canada,  and  all 
the  Western  States,  finally  settled  near  Rockford,  Winnebago  county, 
Ills.,  where  he  was  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  store,  having  full  charge  of  the 
business,  until  he  was  obliged  to  seek  other  employment  on  account  of 
over  work  and  ill  health.  After  regaining  his  health  he  taught  school 
two  terms.  Moved  to  Cheshire  county,  New  Hampshire,  in  1855,  taking 
charge  of  a  wooden  manufacturing  establishment  for  one  year.  Married 
here  Sarah  L.  Trowbridge,  on  March  12,  1856.  She  was  born  December 
24,  1838,  at  Swanzey,  Cheshire  county,  New  Hampshire,  and  is  a  grad- 
uate of  Mount  Csesar  Seminary.  Mr.  Elliot  moved  near  Watertown,  Jef- 
ferson county,  Wis.,  where  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff,  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  duties  of  his  office,  taught  school  in  winters,  also  studied 
law.  In  1859,  went  to  Columbia  county,  Wis.,  where  he  farmed  and 
taught  school.  After  one  year  he  returned  to  Cheshire  county,  N.  H., 
taking  charge  of  a  blooded  stock  farm,  remaining  until  April,  1861,  when 
he  emigrated  to  this  State,  making  the  trip  by  steamer,  settling  on  the 
Wolfskill  grant  in  this  county.  In  June,  1864,  he  took  a  claim  in  Maine 
Prairie  precinct,  six  miles  from  Maine  Prairie,  where  he  has  since  main- 
tained a  continuous  residence,  and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 
Although  he  pre-empted  only  160  acres,  he  now  owns  about  1200  acres  of 
land.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  political  affairs  of  the 
county,  making  his  first  speech  at  a  primary  election  in  old  Washington 
Hall,  at  Silveyville,  in  1863.  In  1872,  during  the  Greeley  campaign,  he 
lectured  in  several  counties  through  the  State,  under  the  direction  of  the 
county  committee.     In  1876,  addressed  large  audiences  in  the  counties 


THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  467 

down  the  coast  for  Hayes.  Has  lectured  on  temperance,  and  made 
speeches  all  through  this  county.  Has  been  Deputy  Grand  W.  C.  T.,  and 
in  that  capacity  lectured  in  many  of  the  counties  of  the  State,  as  well  as 
before  the  district  session  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  in  Yolo  county,  in  1877. 
Has  practiced  his  law  profession  in  Maine  Prairie  for  the  last  three  years. 
In  every  position  which,  in  his  eventful  life,  he  has  been  called  to  fill,  Mr. 
Elliot  has  been  successful  in  the  highest  sense.  He  has  left  an  untar- 
nished record  and  unspotted  reputation.  As  a  business  man  he  has  been 
upright,  reliable  and  honorable.  In  all  places,  and  under  all  circum- 
stances, he  is  loyal  to  truth,  honor  and  right,  justly  valuing  his  own  self- 
respect,  and  the  deserved  esteem  of  his  fellow  men,  as  infinitely  more 
valuable  than  wealth,  fame,  or  position.  None  excel  him  in  unselfish 
devotion  and  unswerving  fidelity  to  the  worthy  recipients  of  confidence 
and  friendship. 
Hattie  Eleanor,  born  Aug.  12,  1857,  George  Albert,  born  June  15,  1860,  died 
January  25,  1876,  John  F.,  born  February  25,  1863,  Chas.  R.,  born  Sept. 
6,  1866,  Joseph  D.,  born  May  20,  1870,  and  died  July  10,  1870,  and 
Harold  E.,  born  October  18,  1874,  are  his  children. 

TUCK,  J.,  born  in  York  county,  Maine,  January  22,  1823.  When  about 
seven  years  of  age  he  went  with  his  parents  to  Niagara  county,  New 
York,  where  he  lived  about  seven  years.  His  parents  then  died  and  he 
went  to  Lawrence  county,  Michigan,  where  he  made  it  his  home,  but  was 
in  Ohio  a  portion  of  the  time  until  about  eighteen  years  old.  He  then 
went  to  Illinois  and  farmed  and  run  a  threshing  machine  for  five  years. 
From  here  he  went  to  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  and  farmed  for  about 
four  years  when  he  went  to  Appleton  and  engaged  in  grocery  and  lumber 
business  until  the  fall  of  1851,  when  he  emigrated  to  California  via 
Panama.  In  January,  1852,  he  settled  on  the  Vaca  grant,  about  two 
miles  east  of  Vacaville,  where  he  lived  for  about  four  years,  and  then 
settled  on  his  present  farm  about  two  and  a  half  miles  south-east  of 
Batavia.  He  married  Ella  Eugle  August  21,  1869.  She  was  born  in 
Indiana,  December  13,  1840.     Frank  E.  and  Geo.  C.  are  their  children. 


468  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


RIO   VISTA. 


BEGUHL,  HENRY,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Mecklenburg,  Germany,  where 
he  received  his  education.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  sailed  in  a  Ger- 
man ship  as  carpenter,  this  being  his  trade,  which  he  followed  for  three 
years.  He  left  the  ship  in  New  York  City  and  came  to  California  in 
January,  1852,  and  stopped  in  San  Francisco  about  six  months,  thence 
proceeding  to  Redwood  City  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  1855, 
then  purchased  a  fourth  interest  of  the  sloop  "  Caroline,"  of  which  he  was 
in  command  till  1859,  when  he  sold  his  interest  and  left  for  San  Francisco. 
Married  February  6,  1859,  Miss  Amelia  C.  Jurgensen  who  was  born  in 
Holstein,  Germany,  July  26,  1836,  and  the  day  after,  coming  to  Solano 
county,  he  settled  on  a  quarter  section  where  the  Shiloh  church  now 
stands,  but  sold  out  in  the  following  June  and  moved  upon  the  ranch, 
containing  640  acres,  where  he  now  resides,  four  miles  west  of  Rio  Vista- 
When  Mr.  Beguhl  first  located  there  was  only  one  house  between  him 
and  Sacramento.  He  has  owned  real  estate  in  the  county  since  1855. 
His  living  children  are  Lena  A.,  born  November  7,  1859  ;  Mary  E.,  born 
January  4,  1863 ;  Johannah  A.,  bom  October  29,  1865  ;  Henry  J.,  born 
August  19,  1867  ;  John  P.,  born  November  1,  1869 ;  Minnie  M.,  born 
April  10,  1873  and  Bertha  C,  born  August  10,  1875. 

BROWN,  D.  B.,  was  born  in  Exeter,  Penobscot  county,  Maine,  April  22, 1848: 
When  six  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Wilmington,  North  Carolina, 
remaining  there  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  when  they  emigrated 
to  this  State,  settling  at  Oroville,  Butte  county,  in  the  winter  of  1862, 
where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  school.  After  clerking  in  a 
hotel  at  Marysville  for  some  time  he  went  to  the  mountains  of  Yuba 
county,  working  in  a  saw  mill,  afterwards  engaged  in  mining  one  year  or 
over,  after  which  he  went  to  San  Francisco,  attending  Heald's  Business 
College,  graduating  in  1867.  He  then  followed  clerking  for  a  period  of 
two  years,  a  portion  of  this  time  being  in  the  employ  of  the  Merchants' 
Forwarding  Line  and  Meeker,  James  &  Co.  of  San  Francisco.  He  then 
went  to  Benicia  in  the  employ  of  J.  G.  Johnson,  J.  W.  Jones  and  J.  Hoyt ; 
from  here  he  went  to  Collinsville  in  employ  of  T.  P.  Hooper,  where  he 
remained  for  two  years,  and  then  went  to  Emmaton  and  stopped  two 
years ;  thence  to  Antioch,  clerking ;  then  to  Vallejo,  and  from  there  to 
Isleton,  Sacramento  county,  and  built  a  saloon  which  he  conducted  about 
one  year  and  then  took  up  his  abode  in  Amador  county  and  clerked  in 


THE     HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  469 

store  for  some  time,  and  then  came  back  to  Isleton,  and  from  here  to  Rio 
Vista  where  he  rented  River  View  Hotel  which  he  runs  at  the  present 
time.  Married  September  18,  1878,  Miss  Sarah  A.  Pease,  who  was  born 
September  26,  1852,  in  Columbia  county,  Wisconsin. 

BRUNING,  JOSEPH,  was  born  in  Vichtee,  Grand  Duchy,  Oldenburg,  July 
18,  1822.  When  about  twelve  years  old  he  went  to  the  city  of  Amster- 
dam where  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  general  merchandise  stoi'e  for 
about  six  years,  after  which  he  followed  the  sea  for  twelve  years.  In 
1850  he  came  to  this  country  and  landed  in  San  Francisco  and  immedi- 
ately went  to  the  mines  on  Yuba  river.  He  then  went  to  San  Francisco 
and  enjrao-ed  in  the  hotel  business  which  he  followed  until  1858,  when  he 
came  to  this  county  and  settled  on  the  Los  Ulpinos  grant,  the  present 
site  of  Rio  Vista,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since,  carrying  on  farming  on 
a  large  scale.  Has  also  several  large  and  commodious  warehouses.  Mr. 
Bruning  married  Miss  Gertrude  Blase  April  25,  1855.  She  was  born  in 
Osnabrick,  Germany,  July  25, 1829. 

BUTLER,  N.  C,  born  in  Tennessee,  January  16, 1826.  When  about  eighteen 
months  old  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  where 
they  lived  for  three  years,  and  then  moved  to  Warren  county  where  they 
lived  until  1839  when  they  emigrated  to  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  where  his 
father  built  the  second  house  ever  erected  in  that  city.  He  died  Novem- 
ber, 1845.  N.  C.  remained  there  until  1850  when  he  crossed  the  plains 
to  California,  arriving  at  Washington  on  the  Yuba  river  September  26th 
of  the  same  year,  leaving  his  mother  at  Iowa  City  who  is  still  living  at 
the  advanced  age  of  76.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  mined  at  Washington 
for  about  one  month  and  then  went  to  New  Town  where  he  mined  until 
March  of  the  next  year.  He  then  went  to  Bidwell's  Bar  on  Feather  river 
where  he  mined  for  about  two  months  and  then  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing at  Little  Grass  Valley  for  about  three  months.  He  then  mined  on 
the  Alabama  Bar  on  the  Yuba  river  until  September.  He  then  mined 
for  about  one  year  at  Sucker  Flat.  He  came  to  this  county  in  fall  of 
1852  and  settled  in  Suisun  valley,  two  miles  west  of  Suisun,  on  80  acres 
of  land,  where  he  farmed  for  one  year.  He  then  went  on  to  the  farm 
commonly  know  as  the  Lewis  Winn  place,  situated  in  the  upper  end  of 
Suisun  valley,  where  he  farmed  for  one  year.  He  then  bought  80  acres 
adjoining  the  first  farm  that  he  lived  on  when  he  first  came  to  the  county, 
where  he  farmed  until  1856.  He  then  bought  33  acres  of  R.  H.  Water- 
man  about  two  miles  north  of  Fairfield  where  he  lived  until  the  fall  of 
1859,  when  he  moved  to  Fairfield  where  he  made  a  business  of  training 
horses,  and  held  the  office  of  Constable  for  four  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1869  he  moved  upon  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  about  eight  miles 
north-west  of  Rio  Vista.     He  owns  and  farms  320  acres  of  land. 


470  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Mr.  Butler  married  Miss  Paulina  Barker  in  December,  1853.  -She  was  born 
in  Estill  county,  Kentucky,  April  18,  1825.  Their  children  are  Mary  E., 
deceased,  Arthur  W.,  Henry  W.,  Leathie  J.,  Mary  E.,  Lulu  B.  and  John  H. 

CARTER,  ROBERT  C,  is  a  native  of  Reding,  England,  and  born  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1834,  emigrating  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1841,  the 
family  taking  up  their  residence  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  where  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city,  and 
where  he  resided  until  March,  1852,  when  he  came  to  California,  remain- 
ing in  San  Francisco  until  1859,  when  he  came  to  old  Rio  Vista,  in  com- 
pany with  his  father,  Robert  Carter,  who  had  come  to  this  State.  They 
carried  on  a  fish  cannery,  it  being  the  first  one  operated  on  this  coast. 
This  business  they  followed  until  their  buildings  were  swept  away  by  the 
flood  of  1862.  The  subject  then  moved  to  Rio  Vista  and  conducted  a 
small  cannery  business  until  1865,  when  he  opened  a  tin  store.  In  1875, 
he  originated  and  carried  out  the  plan  for  supplying  his  town  with  water 
from  the  river.  Married,  February  3,  1865,  Miss  Susan  Davis,  of  New 
York  City,  and  born  May  13,  1838  ;  have  one  child  living,  Robert  D.,  born 
January  6,  1866. 

CURRIE,  ALEXANDER,  was  born  October  30,  1844,  in  New  Bruns- 
wick, where  he  was  educated  and  followed  farming ;  emigrated  to  Cali- 
fornia, settled  in  Solano  county  in  October,  1868.  He  purchased  at  that 
time  160  acres  of  fine  farming  land,  located  seven  miles  west  from  Rio 
Vista.  Although,  when  he  came  to  this  place  there  were  no  farms  among 
the  "  hills,"  and  all  among  these  hills  and  down  the  valleys,  as  far  as  the 
eye  could  reach,  wild  oats  grew  in  profusion,  but  now  how  changed !  All 
around  are  well-kept  farms,  groves  and  fruit  trees.  Mr.  Currie  com- 
menced life  on  this  farm  with  one  dollar  in  money,  but  now  he  has  a 
beautiful  home,  showing  what  perseverance  and  determination  will  do. 
Mr.  C.'s  father  and  mother  came  with  him  to  this  country ;  his  father, 
John  Currie,  was  born  May  17,  1792,  and  died  January  3,  1875.  His 
mother  was  born  March  16,  1806,  and  died  July  12,  1875. 

DOZIER,  W.  G.,  born  in  Georgetown,   South  Carolina,  on  May  5,  1833. 

Entered  U.  S.  Naval  Academy  April  1,  1850 ;  remained  in  the  navy  until 
latter  part  of  December,  1860  passing  through  the  various  grades  to 
lieutenant,  when  he  resigned  and  returned  to  South  Carolina  on  her 
seceding  from  the  Union.  Served  in  the  naval  branch  of  the  State  forces 
until  turned  over  to  the  Southern  Confederacy ;  remained  in  the  C.  S. 
navy  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  surrendered  at  Appomattox  C.  H., 
Va.  Held  several  commands  during  the  war  and  served  at  various  places 
from  New  Orleans  to  Richmond.     Was  married  to  Mary  B.  Atkinson,  in 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  471 

Georgetown,  South  Carolina,  on  December  22,  1859,  and  by  her  had  five 
sons.  This  lady  was  born  near  Georgetown,  South  Carolina,  in  August 
1835,  and  died  and  was  buried  there  December,  1868.  In  1869,  Mr.  D. 
moved  to  California  and  located  in  Rio  Vista,  this  county. '  While  acting 
as  agent  for  the  P.  C.  S.  S.  Co.  at  San  Diego,  California,  he  married  Miss 
Louise  M.  Williams,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  S.  Williams  of  that  place. 
They  have  two  children,  a  daughter  and  son.  He  is  now  a  member  of 
the  mercantile  firm  of  Wilcox,  Ruble  &  Dozier,  at  Rio  Vista. 

EMIGH,  T.  P.,  born  in  Saratoga,  New  York,  January  24,  1840,  where 
he  was  educated  and  followed  farming  until  1862,  when  he  emigrated  to 
California,  via  Panama,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  April  26,  of  same  year, 
with  $7  00  in  pocket  and  $100  in  debt.  He  immediately  hired  out  to 
S.  Daniels,  in  Alameda  county,  and  worked  at  farming  for  eighteen 
months,  after  which  he  rented  a  farm  at  Lakeville,  Sonoma  county,  which 
he  conducted  for  one  year.  He  then  bought  the  milk  route,  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, known  as  the  "  S.  F.  Dairy,"  which  business  he  followed  for  two 
years.  He  then  came  to  this  county  and  settled  on  the  ranch  known  as 
the  Gardiner  ranch,  just  north  of  Rio  Vista,  where  he  farmed  for  three 
years,  the  last  year,  however,  he  had  charge  of  the  Bruning  warehouse. 
In  the  Fall  of  1870,  he  took  a  flying  trip  to  his  native  State,  where  he 
remained  only  one  month.  After  his  return,  he  went  into  partnership 
with  Captain  James  Johnson,  where  they  conducted  the  Bruning  ware- 
house, in  connection  with  the  lumber  business  for  two  years,  when  they 
bought  Perry's  Landing,  which  is  now  known  as  New  Town  Landing, 
where  they  have  three  large  warehouses  and  deal  extensively  in  lumber. 
Mr.  Emigh  married  Rachel  Lawhead,  September,  1869,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
Their  children  are  William  J.,  Nellie  M.,  Milton,  James  P. 

FERGUSON,  WM,  born  in  Province,  New  Brunswick,  Canada,  Sept.  11, 
1872,  where  he  received  his  education,  and  learned  the  carnage  maker's 
trade,  which  he  followed  until  October,  1865,  when  he  went  to  Massachu- 
setts, and  resided  about  one  year.  In  1866  he  returned  to  Canada  on  a 
visit,  and  from  here  came  to  California,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  Nov. 
29,  1866,  and  from  here  to  Mission  San  Jose,  and  followed  his  trade  for 
about  8  months.  He  then  returned  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  remained 
for  a  short  time,  and  then  came  to  this  county,  locating  in  fall  of  1867, 
taking  up  his  abode  in  Binghamton,  where  he  resided  for  two  years.  He 
then  went  to  Sacramento,  where  he  remained  about  5  months ;  thence  to 
Rio  Vista,  in  March,  1870,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since,  with  excep- 
tion of  one  year,  (part  of  1870  and  1871),  up  to  the  present  time.  He 
carried  on  wagon-making  and  blacksmithing.  Married  August  19,  1874, 
Miss  Mary  Cook,  of  Rio  Vista.     She  was  born  Aug.  15, 1853,  in  Province, 


472  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Canada.     Have  2  children,  Mary  Edith,  born  June  1, 1876 ;  William  C, 
born  July  19,  1877. 

FISCUS,  JOHN  B.,  is  a  native  of  Armstrong  county,  Pa.,  having  been  born 
there  February  27.  1843.  Until  eighteen  years  of  age  he  followed  the 
pursuits  to  be  found  on  a  farm,  when  he  essayed  his  fortunes  in  the  oil 
regions,  continuing  there  for  two  years.  In  1862  he  started  for  Califor- 
nia, crossing  the  plains,  but  stopped  in  Nevada,  from  July  4,  1862,  until 
March,  1865,  where  he  had  charge  of  a  stock  and  hay  ranch ;  then  he  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Golden  State,  and  settled  in  Solano  county,  in  the  town  of 
Rio  Vista,  where  he  clerked  in  a  hotel  and  post  office  until  a  year 
ago,  since  when  he  has  kept  a  livery  stable.  Was  appointed  Deputy 
Sheriff  of  Solano  county,  in  1875,  and,  June  3,  1878,  was  appointed  Con- 
stable for  Rio  Vista  township,  both  of  which  offices  he  continues  to  hold. 
Mr.  Fiscus  married  April  2,  1863,  Miss  Ida  Squares,  who  was  born  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  October,  1852,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Chester  S. 
born  January  14,  1875. 

GARDINER,  JOHN  Hn  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  where  he  received  a  com- 
mon school  education,  finishing  with  an  academical  course  in  Philadel- 
phia. On  leaving  school  he  entered  a  dry  goods  store  in  that  city,  where 
he  remained  five  years. 

Upon  becoming  of  age  he  received  an  engagement  to  take  charge  of  a  branch 
store  of  a  large  dry  goods  house  doing  business  in  Baltimore.  During  his 
connection  with  the  house  he  resided  at  intervals  in  the  States  of  Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee,  Illinois  and  Maryland.  Upon  the  receipt  of  the  news 
of  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  he,  with  a  party  of  seven  others, 
embarked  for  this  State,  leaving  Baltimore  in  the  latter  part  of  December, 
1848,  in  the  schooner  Sovereign,  the  vessel  having  on  board  a  company 
of  125  passengers.  The  schooner  landed  at  Porto  Bello,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Chagres,  the  passengers  ascending  the  river  and  thence  by  mules  to 
Panama.  There  being  no  established  communication  with  California  the 
party  chartered  a  vessel — the  bark  John  Ritson,  of  Marysport,  England — 
and  sailed  for  San  Francisco  in  February,  arriving  on  the  18th  day  of 
May,  1849,  after  a  tedious  voyage,  prolonged  partly  by  the  vessel  being 
obliged  to  put  into  Acapulco  for  supplies  of  provisions  and  water.  Re- 
maining in  San  Francisco  but  a  short  time,  he  proceeded  to  Sacramento, 
and  thence  to  the  mines — then  known  as  New  Diggings,  now  the  town  of 
Auburn. 

Notwithstanding  the  large  pay  at  that  time,  Mr.  Gardiner  abandoned  the 
mines  and  returned  to  San  Francisco,  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  mer- 
cantile affairs — his  last  day's  work  as  a  miner  being  rewarded  by  more 
than  one  hundred  dollars  worth  of  gold  dust,      The   party   of   seven 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  473 

members  remained  together,  and  engaged  in  merchandising,  having  three 
stores  in  operation  in  the  city,  erecting  the  first  building  that  stood  upon 
the  south-west  corner  of  Montgomery  and  Washington  streets.  The  con- 
cern of  Cooper  &  Co.  prospered  largely,  and  soon  found  themselves  pos- 
sessed of  a  large  stock  of  goods,  they  doing  a  large  wholesale  trade.  The 
great  fires  that  laid  waste  the  city  in  1850  swept  away  all  they  had,  and 
the  party  broke  up.  Getting  together  a  stock  of  assorted  merchandise 
Mr.  Gardiner  and  another  member  of  the  old  firm  opened  store  at  Santa 
Cruz,  where  he  remained  six  months.  Retiring  again  to  San  Francisco 
he  continued  in  the  mercantile  business,  in  which  occupation  he  contin- 
ued until  his  removal  to  this  county. 

During  the  year  1867  he  revisited  the  Eastern  States,  extending  his  trip 
to  Europe,  visiting  Holland,  Belgium,  Switzerland,  Germany,  Italy, 
France,  England,  etc.  After  his  return  to  the  State  he  married,  and  soon 
thereafter  moved  to  his  present  pleasant  home  on  the  bank  of  the  Sacra- 
mento river,  at  Rio  Vista. 

In  1876  Mr.  Gardiner  and  his  wife  visited  the  Eastern  States,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  attending  the  Centennial  Exhibition,  and  paying  a  last  visit  to 
his  former  home — attending  the  sessions  of  the  National  Agricultural 
Congress,  as  a  delegate  from  California. 

In  the  formation  of  society,  in  the  early  days  of  San  Francisco,  he  was 
amongst  the  foremost,  being  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Mercantile  Library, 
serving  as  Director  and  Secretary  in  the  institution,  and  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Society  of  California  Pioneers,  being,  at  the  present  time, 
Vice-President  of  the  Society. 

He  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  all  matters,  both  political  and  social, 
pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  country  ;  and  it  can  be  truthfully  said  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  that  he  has  always  regarded  toil  as  manly  and 
ennobling  ;  and  after  passing  through  an  honorable  yet  checkered  life,  he 
is  now  enjoying  the  comforts  of  a  happy  home,  beloved  by  his  wife  and 
friends,  and  respected  by  the  citizens  of  the  State  in  which  he  lives. 

GURNEE,  JACOB,  was  born  in  Rockland  county,  N.  Y.,  June  16,  1820, 
where  he  was  educated  and  lived  until  about  fifteen  years  old,  when  he 
moved  to  Westchester  county,  where  he  was  employed  in  a  brickyard 
until  1840  ;  he  then  went  to  Stratton  Island,  where  he  found  employment 
on  a  schooner  which  run  between  the  above  place  and  New  York  City, 
where  he  was  employed  until  1850.  He  then  took  the  steamer  "  W.  J. 
Pease"  for  San  Francisco,  arriving  Jan.  19,  1851,  being  nearly  one  year 
making  the  trip.  After  remaining  in  San  Francisco  about  three  months 
went  to  mining  on  the  American  river,  where  he  remained  six  months, 
after  which  he  followed  boating  on  the  San  Francisco  bay,  until  March; 
1852.     He  then  took  passage  on  the  steamer  "  Independence,"  for  New 


474  THE   HISTORY  OF  SOLANO   COUNTY. 

York  City ;  but  returned  to  California  in  about  three  months,  and  followed 
mining  at  Downieville  for  a  short  time  ;  after  which  was  engaged  as  pilot 
on  the  Sacramento  river  until  1862  ;  then  took  charge  of  a  large  ocean 
steamer  which  was  lying  at  anchor,  for  about  seven  years.  In  January, 
1870,  bought  the  "  Eclipse  "  saloon  at  Bio  Vista,  which  he  still  owns  and 
has  charge  of  at  the  present  time.  Married  Miss  Caroline  Eddie  in  1841, 
who  died  in  1849,  leaving  two  children — William,  and  Harriet.  Married 
his  present  wife,  Miss  Mary  Ann  Higgings,  28th  day  of  February,  of  the 
year  1867. 

JOHNSON,  CAPT.  JAMES,  was  born  in  Denmark,  Aug.  26, 1836.  At  the 
age  of  twelve  years  commenced  following  the  sea.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
years  went  to  England,  and  shipped  on  a  vessel  bound  for  Melbourne, 
Australia.  Paid  the  gold  mines  there  a  short  visit.  Left  Australia  on  the 
ship  "  James  T.  Ford,"  bound  for  Callao,  Peru,  where  he  shipped  and  was 
employed  as  Quartermaster  on  the  mail  steamers  plying  between  Valpa- 
raiso and  Panama,  for  about  six  months,  arriving  in  San  Francisco,  Sept. 
1852.  Followed  the  sea,  with  slight  interruptions,  until  1859,  when  he 
made  a  trip  to  his  native  country,  returning  after  an  absence  of  four 
months.  Purchased  a  schooner  shortly  after  his  return,  which  he  com- 
manded, and  continued  in  the  coasting  and  inland  trade  until  1870,  when 
he  located  at  Rio  Vista,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  T.  P.  Emigh,  in 
the  warehouse  and  lumber  business.  In  1872,  bought  their  present  place 
of  business,  Newtown  Landing,  formerly  Perry's  Landing.  They  employ 
in  their  grain  and  lumber  business,  two  schooners  — "  St.  James,"  and 
'  Wonder,"  which  were  built  and  owned  by  Mr.  Johnson  before  his  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  Emigh.  Mr.  Johnson  married  Miss  Catherina  C.  Lorentzem 
February  6th,  1863,  a  native  of  Denmark.  Their  children  are  James, 
Frederick  C,  Otto  J.,  Hannah  C,  William,  Adeline  C,  Lena  C,  Katie, 
Selma. 

MENZIES,  THOMAS,  was  born  in  New  Brunswick,  June  13,  1832, 
where  he  received  his  education  and  followed  farming.  Married,  January 
4,  1855,  Miss  Margaret  Currie,  who  was  born  January  4,  1834,  in  New 
Brunswick.  Mr.  Menzies  came  to  California  by  water,  in  1866,  and  set- 
tled in  Petaluma,  where  he  resided  and  worked  on  a  farm  for  one  year. 
Came  to  this  county  September  16,  1867,  and  pu. chased  160  acres  of 
land,  where  he  now  resides,  six  miles  west  of  Bio  Vista  and  nine  miles 
east  of  Denverton.  He  farms  in  all  320  acres.  Has  reared  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  ten  of  whom  are  living:  James,  born  January  17,  1856; 
John  C,  born  June  17, 1857,  and  died  January  9, 1872;  William  W.,  born 
July  5,  1859;  Dora  A.,  born  November  1,  1861;  Thomas,  born  November 
8,  1863;  Bobert  A.,  born  April  2,  1866;  David  S.,  born  June  4,  1868; 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  475 

Eliza  J.,  born  March  21, 1870,  and  died  December  31, 1871 ;  Emma  J.  and 
Edward  A.  (twins),  born  October  23,  1872;  Maggie  E.,  born  March  22, 
1874;  John  B.,  born  July  22,  1877. 

PIETRZYCKI,  M.  D.,  MARCEL,  was  born  April  25, 1843,  in  Galicia,  a  Polish 
province  of  Austria,  where  he  was  educated  as  an  apothecary  and  chemist. 
Came  to  the  United  States  in  1866.  Took  up  his  abode  in  Hazleton, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Arnold  part  of  1866 
and  1867.  Emigrated  to  California  in  the  Fall  of  1867,  and  settled  in 
San  Francisco,  receiving  the  appointment  of  an  apothecary  in  the  German 
Hospital,  where  he  remained  for  five  years,  during  part  of  which  time  he 
attended  the  Pacific  Medical  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1872.  In 
1873  went  to  Stockton  to  practice  his  profession,  remaining  there  about 
five  months.  Came  to  this  county  in  November  of  the  same  year,  and 
settled  in  Rio  Vista,  where  he  now  resides  and  practices  medicine.  Has 
always  taken  an  active  part  in  enterprises  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of 
the  town.  Was  twice  elected  School  Trustee,  also  Clerk  of  the  Board. 
Took  a  very  active  part,  and  in  fact  was  one  of  the  prime  movers,  in  estab- 
lishing the  Montezuma  Telegraph  Line  from  Suisun  to  Rio  Vista.  He 
married,  June  29,  1876,  Miss  Mary  Warren,  of  San  Mateo,  daughter  of 
Rev.  J.  H.  Warren,  Superintendent  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society  of 
the  Congregational  Church. 

POND,  DAVID  A.,  born  in  Carlton,  Green  county,  Illinois,  February  24, 
1840,  where  he  was  educated  and  followed  farming.  Married  Miss  Ma- 
tilda Ferguson,  June  24,  1863.  She  was  born  February  27,  1845,  in  Carl- 
ton, Illinois.  In  October,  1873,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  emigrated  to 
California  and  settled  at  Rio  Vista,  this  county.  Was  employed  as  a 
butcher,  by  different  firms,  up  to  about  two  years  ago,  when  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  James  U.  Chase,  and  carried  on  butchering,  but  on  Octo- 
ber 25, 1878,  Mr.  C.  sold  out,  and  the  firm  is  now  known  as  Pond  &  Knox, 
where  they  are  doing  business.  Has  had  two  children,  but  both  are 
dead.  Edward,  born  February  23,  1866,  died  July  27,  1868;  Clara,  born 
December  13,  1868,  died  May  31,  1874. 

SICKAL,  M.  T.,  born  in  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  January  23,  1850,  where 
he  resided  until  April,  1858,  when  he  set  sail  with  his  parents  for  Cali- 
fornia, via  Panama.  Arrived  at  San  Francisco  May  15th,  same  year. 
Came  immediately  to  Benicia,  where  he  remained  but  a  short  time,  cross- 
ing the  straits  to  Martinez,  Contra  Costa  county,  going  to  school  most  of 
the  time  until  January,  1868,  when  he  entered  the  State  Normal  School 
at  San  Francisco,  where  he  remained  five  months,  when  he  came  to  this 
county,  and  taught  school  near  Dixon  for  four  months.     He  then  entered 


476  THE   HISTOEY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

a  business  college  at  San  Francisco,  remaining  three  months,  when  he 
again  taught  school,  this  time  in  Contra  Costa  county,  for  one  year.  He 
then  entered  the  State  Normal  School  again,  where  he  remained  for  three 
months.  He  again  taught  school  for  five  months,  in  Sutter  county,  when 
he  once  more  returned  to  the  State  Normal  School,  where  he  remained 
until  he  graduated,  March  15,  1871.  He  then  returned  to  this  county, 
and  taught  in  Dixon  for  two  years,  being  the  first  teacher  to  grade  the 
Dixon  school.  He  then  taught  the  Los  Angeles  City  Grammar  School 
five  months;  then  entered  St.  Augustine's  Academy  at  Benicia,  remaining 
but  three  months,  when  he  went  to  French  Corral,  Nevada  county,  where 
he  taught  one  year;  then  returning  to  Dixon,  he  taught  the  school  there 
for  five  months,  then  taught  the  Silveyville  school  one  year.  He  then 
settled  in  Rio  Vista,  where  he  has  been  continually  engaged  in  teaching 
ever  since.  Mr.  Sickal  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Brane,  July  3,  1878,  who 
was  born  in  Yuba  county,  June  9,  1858. 

SIDWELL,  J.  M.,  was  born  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  January  7,  1827. 
When  about  eleven  years  of  age  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  finished  his  education  and  lived  until  1850, 
when  he  went  to  Green  Bay  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  followed  lum- 
bering and  hunting  for  about  two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1852  emigrated 
to  California,  making  the  trip  across  the  plains,  with  ox  teams,  in  five 
months  and  sixteen  days,  arriving  at  Marysville,  September  24,  1852, 
where  he  stopped  one  week,  then  went  to  Forbestown,  on  Feather  river, 
where  he  mined  until  May,  1858,  when  he  came  to  this  county  and 
worked  on  the  Twin-house  farm  for  five  months.  He  then  opened  a 
store  on  Sleightman's  farm,  where  G.  H.  Gardiner  now  lives,  just  above 
Rio  Vista — the  first  store  ever  started  in  that  neighborhood.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  merchandise  business  there  until  May,  1854,  when  he  moved 
on  to  Grand  Island,  Sacramento  county,  when  he  again  opened  a  store 
and  remained  until  the  fall  of  1857,  acting  at  the  same  time  as  Postmas- 
ter of  Georgiana  post-office.  He  then  sold  his  goods  to  A.  G.  Westgate 
and  came  back  to  this  county  and  entered  into  partnership  with  Col.  N. 
H.  Davis — who  owned,  at  that  time,  the  land  where  old  Rio  Vista  was 
built — and  built  the  town  called  Brazos  Delrio,  afterwards  changed  to 
Rio  Vista.  The  post-office  was  then  moved  to  Brazos  Delrio,  and  Mr. 
Sidwell  retained  the  office  till  1859,  when  in  that  year  the  name  of 
the  town  was  changed  to  Rio  Vista,  also  post-office,  and  was  contractor 
on  the  levees  until  1862.  The  town  was  then  flooded  out  and  washed 
away.  Mr.  Sidwell,  then  in  company  with  S.  R.  Perry,  W.  K.  Squires, 
and  Isaac  Dunham,  contracted  with  Mr.  J.  Bruning  for  the  right  to  build 
the  present  town  of  Rio  Vista.  Mr.  Sidwell  built  the  first  hotel  in  this 
town,  which  he  conducted  for  some  time.     He  then  commenced  contract- 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO  COUNTY.  477 

ing  again,  building  levees,  flood  gates,  etc.,  which  he  has  followed  ever 
since.  Mr.  Sidwell  married  Miss  Annie  Elliott,  May  14,  18G4.  She  was 
born  in  Termanah  county,  Ireland.  Names  of  children ;  John  R.,  Sarah 
E.,  Maiy  L. 

SMYTH,  HON.  MICHAEL,  is  a  native  of  Ottawa,  Canada,  where  he 
was  born  October  4,  1832.  Here  he  was  educated  and  worked  on  a  farm 
and  at  lumbering,  until  about  twenty  years  old,  when  he  emigrated  to 
California,  via  the  Nicaragua  route,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  December 
20,  1853.  He  at  once  settled  in  Crescent  City,  Del  Norte  county,  and 
thence  to  Silver  Diggings,  residing  in  the  latter  place  about  two  months, 
when  he  returned  to  Crescent  City,  settling  on  a  farm,  on  which  he  re- 
mained till  November,  1862,  when  he  went  to  Idaho,  Idaho  county.  Af- 
ter two  years  in  this  place  he  settled  in  Ada  county,  and  kept  hotel,  as 
well  as  farming  and  merchandising.  He  was  elected  to  the  Lower  House 
of  the  Legislature  of  that  Territory  one  term,  serving  his  constituents  in  a 
way  that  reflected  credit  and  honor  to  himself  as  well  as  them.  He  was 
afterwards  elected  School  Superintendent,  but  his  own  business  demanded 
his  attention,  and  he  was  forced  to  decline  serving.  The  winter  of  1867 
he  spent  in  Albany,  Oregon,  and  the  following  spring  purchased  three 
hundred  cattle  and  came  to  this  State,  adding  two  hundred  more  to  the 
band  on  the  road.  Having  brought  the  cattle  to  Solano  county,  and  sold 
them,  he  settled  near  Dixon,  but  after  three  months  moved  on  a  farm  at 
Poland's  Landing,  where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  bought  a  ranch 
about  nine  miles  west  from  Rio  Vista,  but  in  1873  he  sold  out  and  perma- 
nently settled  in  that  place.  In  1875  Mr.  Smyth  was  appointed  Notary 
Public,  which  office  he  still  continues  to  hold.  Married  Miss  Maria  Killo- 
ran,  in  November,  1852.  She  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to  this 
country  when  twelve  years  old.  James  L.,  Charles,  George  W.,  Robert 
C,  and  Frank  H.,  are  their  living  children.  Lost  three  ;  Edward,  Mark, 
and  John. 

SQUIRES,  WILLIAM  K.,  was  born  in  West  Cornwall,  Litchfield,  Conn., 
December  18,  1817,  where  he  received  his  education  and  lived  until  about 
21  years  of  age.  He  then  went  to  Brooklyn,  New  York,  where  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  some  time,  and  then  acted  as  de- 
tective, constable  and  sheriff  for  about  seven  years.  In  January,  1848,  he 
married  Miss  Margaret  J.  Brandow,  who  was  born  in  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  July 
13,  1824.  In  1852,  he  left  his  wife  and  daughter,  Ida  I.,  in  New  York, 
and  emigrated  to  California,  via  Panama.  He  mined  on  the  Cosumnes 
river,  in  Sacramento  county,  for  about  one  year,  when  he  went  to  Sacra- 
mento city  and  followed  fishing  for  three  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time  he  made  a  trip  to  New  York,  and  returned  with  his  wife  and 


478  THE  HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

daughter  by  water ;  spent  one  year  on  the  Isthmus,  as  foreman  of  Pan- 
ama car  shops,  after  which  he  settled  in  Sacramento  and  engaged  in  the 
fish  trade  until  1857.  At  the  time  of  the  Frasier  river  excitement  he  re- 
paired to  this  place,  and  was  engaged  as  a  ship  carpenter  for  about  one 
year  at  Fort  Langley.  He  then  made  a  contract  with  the  Hudson  Bay 
Fur  Company  to  furnish  them  salmon  for  six  months,  and  with  assistance 
of  two  men,  would  frequently  furnish,  at  forty  dollars  per  ton,  as  high 
as  twelve  tons  a  day.  Mr.  Squires,  Russion  and  Thompson  were  the  first 
parties  who  fished  a  gill  net  in  Frasier  river.  After  completing  his  con- 
tract he  came  to  this  county,  and  settled  in  old  Rio  Vista,  where  he  built 
a  hotel  in  1859,  it  being  the  first  public  house  erected  in  the  place.  He 
remained  here  until  the  flood  of  '62,  when  he  came  to  new  Rio  Vista,  and 
built  the  house  he  now  keeps.  In  1870,  he  leased  his  hotel  and  moved 
to  San  Francisco,  where  he  resided  for  three  years,  when  he  returned,  and 
has  had  charge  of  the  house  ever  since.  He  was  Deputy  Sheriff  of  Yolo 
county,  in  1857.  In  1863,  he  was  appointed  Post-master  of  Rio  Vista, 
which  position  he  held  for  over  six  years. 

STOLL,  CHARLES  M.,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  October  21,  1849, 
where  he  received  his  education.  Left  his  native  State  in  1866,  and  emi- 
grated to  California,  visiting  all  the  prominent  places  on  his  trip,  and 
landed  at  San  Francisco  December  4,  1866,  and  from  here  he  went  to 
Sacramento,  where  he  remained  until  1868,  when  he  went  to  Marysville, 
thence  to  Red  Bluff,  and  worked  at  his  trade,  harness-making.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1869,  went  to  Sacramento  county  ;  from  here  to  White  Pine,  wftere 
he  remained  until  May  1,  1869,  when  he  visited  Virginia  City ;  thence 
back  to  Sacramento,  and  from  there  to  Rio  Vista,  where  he  opened  a  har- 
ness shop  on  the  12th  of  May,  1869,  where  he  still  resides  and  carries  on 
his  business.  Married,  October  8,  1871,  Miss  Ellen  Bowman;  she  was 
born  April  17,  1853,  Augusta,  Maine.  Has  reared  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living :  Frederick  Chas.,  born  May  29,  1872;  Ida, 
born  June  31,  1874 ;  Minnie,  born  January  14,  1878,  and  died  June  22, 
1878. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  479 


ELMIRA. 


BARRETT,  J.  H.,  the  County  Recorder,  was  born  in  Morris  county,  N.  Y., 
June  12,  1836.  His  parents  moved  to  Lake  county  Illinois,  in  1845, 
where  the  subject  of  this  memoir  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  In 
1853  he  emigrated  to  this  State,  first  settling  in  Downieville,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  mining  until  1862,  when  he  was  appointed  Internal  Reve- 
nue Assessor.  October,  1867,  he  came  to  Elmira,  this  county,  and  has 
maintained  a  continued  residence  in  that  place.  When  his  township  was 
first  organized  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  has  been  re-elected 
at  the  expiration  of  his  office  to  the  present  time.  Was  appointed  County 
Recorder  May  6,  1878.  Married  Alice  E.  Bushnell,  daughter  of  George 
Bushnell,  a  native  of  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.  Their  only  child  is  Edith 
May. 

MARCH,  RUDOLPH  BUCKHART,  born  September  18,  1822,  in  Howard 
county,  Missouri.  April  16,  1857,  he  came  to  California,  crossing  the 
plains,  and  settled  in  Napa  county,  and  there  farmed  until  the  spring  of 
1862,  and  then  came  to  this  county,  taking  up  a  quarter  section,  and  pur- 
chasing soon  after  a  like  quantity,  making  a  total  of  320  acres,  situated 
about  four  miles  south-east  of  Elmira.  In  the  fall  of  1877,  sold  out  his 
ranch  and  moved  to  Elmira  town,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the 
livery  business.  Mr.  March  married,  May  21,  1844,  Miss  Rachel  Bradley, 
a  native  of  Howard  county,  Missouri,  who  was  born  October  17, 1829,  and 
has  thirteen  children,  viz.:  Dudley,  born  December  23,  1844 ;  Crecy  Ann, 
born  August  28,  1845  ;  William  F.,  bom  May  3,  1849;  Richmond,  born 
May  8,  1851 ;  Savannah  Elizabeth,  born  August  15,  and  died  September, 
1853  ;  Alfred,  born  August  23,  1855  ;  Mary  Jane,  born  August  21,  1857  ; 
H.  Thomas,  born  October  18, 1859;  Alice,  born  November  5, 1861 ;  Angeline, 
born  July  11,  1863  ;  Silas  R.,  born  June  10,  1866  ;  Walter  R.,  born  May 
3,  1868,  died  February  13,  1869 ;  Joseph,  born  December  28,  1869,  died 
January  9,  1870. 

MELBOURN,  THOMAS,  native  of  Boston,  Linkinshire,  England,  born 
June  20,  1829,  where  he  was  educated.  Emigrated  to  United  States, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  He  first  took  up  his  abode  in  Mt.  Mor- 
ris, New  York,  where  he  remained  for  some  time.  After  visiting  several 
other  places  in  the  State,  working  most  of  the  time  at  farming,  he  finally 
settled   in   Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where   he   married,  October  10,  1855,  Miss 


480  THE  HISTORY  OF  SOLANO  COUNTY. 

Susan  Dudley.  She  was  born  in  the  city  of  London,  March,  1837.  Mr. 
W.  and  wife  emigrated  to  this  State  in  1859,  arriving  in  Suisun,  this 
county,  on  November  30th,  of  the  above  year.  On  December  1st,  the 
next  day  after  his  arrival,  he  was  employed  by  Jackson  &  Combs,  in  the 
warehouse  known  now  as  the  Pierce  warehouse ;  and  from  here  he  worked 
at  farming  and  various  occupations  until  about  four  years  ago,  when 
he,  in  company  with  Mr.  Vest,  purchased  a  tract  of  land  known  as  the 
"  Mile  Square,"  about  seven  miles  north-east  of  Suisun,  upon  which  he 
now  resides.  Mr.  M.  is  an  extensive  farmer,  and  is  one  of  Solano's  solid 
men. 

McMURTRY,  JOSEPH,  born  December  22,  1836,  in  Calloway  county,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  was  educated.  In  the  spring  of  1853  he  emigrated  to 
California,  crossing  the  plains  with  his  two  uncles,  William  and  Calvin 
McMurtry.  The  subject  of  *this  sketch,  having  parted  company  with  his 
relations,  arrived  in  Sierra  county,  August  20,  1853,  and  worked  in  the 
mines,  and  filled  the  position  of  a  clerk  in  a  general  store  until 
the  fall  of  1858,  when  he  paid  a  visit  to  his  native  State,  but  returned  in 
the  following  spring  to  Sierra  county,  where  he  started  the  express  busi- 
ness, between  Downieville  and  Minnesota,  in  the  above  county,  combining 
with  it  the  duties  of  mail  and  paper  carrier,  which  he  followed  for  two 
years.  In  March,  1862,  he  came  to  Solano  county,  and  settled  on  a  ranch 
near  Elmira,  where  he  remained  until  September  1,  1868,  when  he  moved 
to  the  farm  he  now  occupies  and  owns,  comprising  five  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land.  Married,  April  16,  1861,  Miss  Anna  Barrett,  in  Centre- 
ville,  Suisun,  who  was  born  June  15,  1842,  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  has  a 
family  of  eight  living  children,  and  one  dead,  namely :  Joseph  B.,  born 
January  8,  1862,  died  June  3,  1869  ;  James  T.,  born  September  5,  1863  ; 
Anna  S.,  born  January  29,  1865  ;  George  C,  born  August  25, 1867  ;  Louie 
L.,  born  August  25,  1869 ;  Frank,  born  May  31,  1871 ;  Clara,  born  No- 
vember 10,  1872  ;  Gracie,  born  October  14,  1874 ;  Eugene,  born  Novem- 
ber 5,  1876. 

WELLS,  J.  C,  born  in  Tyler  county,  West  Virginia,  November  15,  1819. 
At  the  age  of  twelve  years  moved  with  his  parents  to  Monroe  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  received  his  education.  He  resided  here  until  1855,  and 
in  April  of  the  above  year  moved  to  Linn  county,  Iowa,  and  followed 
farming  until  1864,  when  he  emigrated  to  California,  crossing  the  plains 
with  a  horse  team,  and  landed  in  Vacaville  August  15th  of  the  same  year, 
and  settled  on  the  plains  southwest  of  Elmira,  where  he  resided  for  two 
years.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  near  Dixon,  where  he  resided  for 
one  year  ;  he  then  located  on  his  present  farm,  one  mile  west  of  Elmira, 
comprising  160  acres.     April  26,  1873,  Mr.  Wells  and  son  Bazzleel  took  a 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  481 

trip  to  Ohio,  and  returned  in  about  six  weeks,  since  which  time  he  has 
resided  upon  his  ranch.  Married  March  4,  1852,  Miss  Accia  Wells.  She 
was  born  October  1,  1833,  in  Tyler  county,  West  Virginia.  Eliza  J., 
Charles  T.  (deceased),  Temperance  V.,  Bazzleel,  and  Florence  B.  are  the 
names  of  their  children. 

Wait  not  till  my  hands  are  at  rest 
Ere  you  fill  them  full  of  flowers ; 
Wait  not  for  the  crowning  tube  rose 

To  make  sweet  the  last  sad  hours. 

* 

Wait  not  till  my  eyes  are  closed 

For  the  loving  look  and  phrase, 
But  while  you  gently  chide  my  faults 

The  good  deeds  kindly  praise. 

The  words  you  would  speak  beside  my  bier 

Fall  sweeter  far  on  the  living  ear ; 
O  fill  my  life  with  sweetness, 

Ere  I  should  die  to-night! 

WIGHT,  P.  M.,  was  born  near  Bloomfield,  Davis  county,  Iowa,  on  March 
2,  1850.  In  August,  1862,  moved  near  Kirksville,  Adair  county,  Mo.,  a 
city  of  several  thousand  inhabitants,  which  was  nearly  destroyed  in  an 
engagement  between  the  armies,  which  numbered  about  five  thousand  sol- 
diers, during  the  late  Rebellion.  During  the  spring  and  summer  of  18G2, 
there  were  several  skirmishes  between  the  Union  troops  and  the  bush- 
whackers, in  and  around  this  city.  At  the  above  place  he  was  educated 
and  from  which  he  removed  to  California  in  1870,  settling  on  his  present 
estate  of  160  acres,  in  Elmira  township,  Solano  county.  Here  his  father, 
E.  R.  Wight,  died  August  26,  1873,  since  which  time  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  has  been  manager  of  the  homestead  rancho. 


31 


482  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


DENVERTON. 


ARNOLD,  OSCAR  D.,  was  born  in  Ripley  county,  Indiana,  September  3, 
1837.  When  about  two  years  old  he,  with  his  parents,  moved  to  Stark 
county,  111.,  where  he  received  his  primary  education.  In  1853  emigrated 
to  California,  via  Nicaragua  route,  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco  on  May 
22d  following.  He  went  direct  to  Shaw's  Flat,  Tuolumne  county ;  stayed 
three  months  with  his  father  in  a  store  which  he  had  opened  there.  In 
October  of  that  year  his  father  sold  out,  and  the  family  came  to  Solano 
county,  settling  in  the  Montezuma  hills.  In  1859  Oscar  entered  the 
Ulattis  Academy  at  Vacaville  and  remained  one  year,  after  which  he  fol- 
lowed threshing  and  horse-breeding  for  one  year.  In  the  fall  of  1861  he 
rented  his  father's  farm  till  May,  1864,  when  he  went  to  Nevada,  with 
2,000  head  of  sheep,  which  he  sold,  and  then  returned  to  his  father's  farm 
in  1865.  Was  foreman  of  the  place  until  the  fall  of  1869.  In  August, 
1870,  moved  on  the  Harmon  rancho,  where  he  lived  until  1871,  then 
bought  his  father's  rancho  of  900  acres  of  land,  which  is  situated  about 
three  and  one-half  miles  from  Denverton,  where  he  has  since  lived.  Mar- 
ried Miss  Emily  Wein,  July  12,  1870.  She  was  born  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa, 
^January  7,  1850.  Ora  A.,  Eugene  L.,  Alma  P.,  and  Oscar  D.,  are  the 
names  of  their  children. 

BARKWAY,  R.  H.,  was  born  in  Suffolk  county,  England,  Sept.  24,  1832, 
where  he  resided  twelve  years,  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Michi- 
gan, and  attended  school,  and  farmed.  In  1853  he  emigrated  to  Califor- 
nia, arriving  in  San  Francisco  in  December  of  that  year,  and  settled  in 
Santa  Clara  county,  taking  charge  of  a  ranch  for  C.  J.  Collins,  for  a  term 
of  four  years ;  after  which  he  bought  one  hundred  and  five  acres  of  land 
in  that  county,  on  which  he  made  valuable  improvements.  Here  he  lived 
for  seven  years,  when  he  lost  the  entire  farm,  it  being  in  one  of  the  Span- 
ish grants.  He  then  came  to  Solano  county,  settling  on  a  farm  at  Bingham- 
ton,  where  he  resided  for  five  years ;  thence  to  his  present  place  about 
eight  miles  west  of  Rio  Vista.  While  Mr.  Barkway  was  in  Santa  Clara 
county,  he  attended  a  University  at  North  Santa  Clara  four  terms.  He 
is  a  licensed  preacher,  and  has  been  engaged  in  pastoral  work  for  the  last 
twenty-five  years.  Married  Mary  E.  Weaver,  by  whom  he  has  Annie, 
Edward  K.,  Fannie  F.,  Hattie  M.,  (deceased)  and  Abbie  E. 

BUCKLEY,  TIMOTHY,  a  native  of  Cork  county,  Ireland,  was  born  Dec. 
10,  1832,  where  he  received  his  education  and  worked  at  farming  until 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  483 

April,  1854,  when  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  settling  on  a  farm 
about  three  miles  from  Boston,  Massachusetts ;  came  to  California,  via 
Panama,  in  1861,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  on  November  6th,  of  that  year, 
where  he  was  employed  as  a  laborer  until  June,  1866,  wlien  he  came  to 
this  county,  settling  in  Denverton  township,  on  160  acres  of  land  he  pur- 
chased at  that  time,  situated  seven  miles  west  of  Rio  Vista.  He  married 
Miss  Bridget  Lane  in  July,  1864 ;  she  was  born  in  Cary  county,  April  14, 
1829. 

FOTHERINGHAM,  JOHN,  born  in  Saline,  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  July  24, 
1822,  where  he  received  his  education,  and  learned  the  trade  of  pattern- 
maker, in  a  foundry,  which  he  followed  until  the  spring  of  1851.  Married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Drysdale,  April  5,  1851.  She  was  born  July  17,  1828,  in 
Alva,  Stirlingshire,  Scotland.  He  emigrated  April  7,  1851,  the  second 
day  after  marrying,  for  America,  and  went  to  Boston,  where  he  resided 
for  eighteen  months,  when  he  came  to  California,  his  young  wife  return- 
ing to  her  native  country.  He  stopped  in  San  Francisco  for  two  years, 
and  followed  his  trade,  and  then  returned  to  Scotland  for  his  wife,  believ- 
ing that  California  was  the  place  for  him  to  reside  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  returned  with  his  wife  August  14,  1857,  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  San  Francisco,  where  he  remained  until  July,  1867,  when  he 
came  to  this  county  and  purchased  320  acres  of  land,  where  he  now 
resides,  eight  miles  north-west  of  Rio  Vista,  and  seven  miles  south-east  of 
Denverton.  Has  four  children  living,  as  follows :  James,  bom  May  25, 
1852  ;  Mary,  born  Dec.  23,  1857  ;  Nettie,  born  March  12, 1865  ;  Elizabeth, 
born  Nov.  27,  1870. 

KERBY,  CLINTON,  was  born  in  Green  county,  East  Tennessee,  June  8, 
1826.  His  parents  moved  to  Jackson  county,  Missouri,  where  Mr.  Kerby 
was  educated.  In  1850  he  emigrated  to  California,  crossing  the  plains, 
arriving  in  Sacramento,  September  22d,  of  that  year ;  went  to  Dry  town, 
in  Amador  county,  and  kept  a  hotel  about  three  months.  He  afterwards 
opened  a  hotel  in  lone  valley,  which  he  conducted  until  December  5, 
1851,  when  he  returned  to  the  East  via  Panama.  May,  1852,  he  again 
crossed  the  plains  to  this  State,  bringing  350  head  of  cattle,  and  arrived 
in  Sacramento  the  following  September.  He  kept  his  cattle  in  Sacra- 
mento county  until  the  fall  of  1855,  when  he  took  them  to  Sonoma 
county,  and,  after  two  years,  brought  them  to  this  county.  In  the 
fall  of  1858  he  bought  1,700  acres  of  land,  situated  about  fou,r  miles  south 
from  Denverton,  where  he  now  resides.  On  April  15,  1873,  he  married 
Miss 'Emily  A.  Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  July  20, 
1843.  Their  children  are  Clinton  and  James  H,  who  were  born  in 
Sacramento,  California:  Clinton,  August  15,  1877;  James  H.,  December 
30, 1878. 


484  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

NURSE,  S.  K.  This  prominent  citizen  of  Solano  county  was  born  in  Mon- 
roe county,  New  York,  February  12,  1820,  in  which  place  he  received  his 
early  education,  residing  there  until  1839  when  he  moved  to  Oakland 
county,  Michigan,  and  for  one  winter  taught  school  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1840  he  returned  to  his  native  county  and  in  the  following  winter 
again  taught  school  in  the  district  where  he  had  been  educated.  In  the 
following  spring  he  left  for  Ohio  and  then  commenced  the  hard  work  of 
his  life :  for  a  portion  of  the  year  toiling  at  a  threshing  machine,  and  in 
others  varying  it  by  school  teaching.  In  1842,  in  spring,  Mr.  Nurse  pro- 
ceeded to  Rochester,  New  York,  and  there  commenced  the  study  of  med- 
icine and  dentistry  which  he  prosecuted  till  that  fall  when  he  took  the 
field  as  a  dentist,  traveling  as  such  until  the  autumn  of  1845,  when  he 
attended  a  course  of  medical  lectures  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Once  more  we 
find  Mr.  Nurse  as  a  traveling  dentist,  and  in  1847  he  entered  a  telegraph 
office  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  In  the  May  following  he  removed  to  Spring- 
field, Illinois,  being  employed  in  the  office  as  a  telegraph  operator,  where 
he  continued  until  December  31,  1848,  when  he  sailed  by  way  of  Panama 
to  California,  arriving  in  San  Francisco  on  May  19,  1849.  His  first  sum- 
mer in  the  Golden  State  Dr.  Nurse  passed  in  the  mines,  then  in  company 
with  L.  B.  Mizner  of  Benicia,  run  a  stage  some  two  months  from  that 
place  to  Sacramento  when  the  steamer  "  Senator  "  arrived,  which  closed 
that  business.  Late  in  the  fall  he  went  to  San  Jose,  Santa  Clara  county ; 
in  the  following  spring  he  departed  for  the  southern  mines;  and  in  May, 
1850,  he  came  to  Benicia,  Solano  county,  where  he  resided  but  a  short 
time,  sailing  thence  for  South  America,  in  which  country  he  remained  one 
year  being  engaged  in  railroad  surveying.  On  January  6,  1852,  he  once 
more  arrived  in  Benicia  where  he  lived  until  the  month  of  May,  1853, 
when  he  settled  in  Denverton,  then  a  portion  of  Montezuma  township, 
and  built  the  first  house  erected  there,  it  being,  in  size,  twelve  feet  square. 
Since  those  days  times  have  greatly  changed.  Mr.  Nurse  now  possesses 
a  large  warehouse  and  store  on  the  grounds  where  he  located  in  1853. 
He  has  handed  his  name  to  posterity  in  the  well-known  "  Nurse's  Land- 
ing," a  point  of  export  of  grain ;  while  in  1855  he  was  elected  on  the  first 
Board  of  Supervisors  which  sat  for  the  county.  He  has  occupied  the 
position  of  Postmaster  at  Denverton  for  the  last  one  and  twenty  years  ; 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  and  was  a  member  and  Master  of 
Benicia  Lodge,  No.  5,  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  State  ;  while  he  has  held 
the  office  of  High  Priest  to  the  Solano  Chapter,  No.  43. 

Mr.  Nurse  has  once,  in  1852,  paid  a  visit  to  his  native  State  of  New  York, 
remaining  there,  however,  but  four  months.  He  married  December  2, 
1863,  Mrs.  D.  A.  Nurse,  who  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  New  York, 
June  5,  1830  ;  she  being  a  widow  of  D.  A.  Nurse — a  brother  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch — who  resided  here  as  early  as  1853.   The  circumstances 


THE   HISTOKY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  485 

of  his  death  are  not  out  of  place  here.  Mr.  Nurse  and  wife  were  on  their 
way  east  to  make  a  visit.  They  sailed  from  San  Francisco  on  the  steamer 
"  Golden  Gate,"  accompanied  by  Miss  Katie  Cogswell,  a  sister  of  Mrs. 
Hollister,  formerly  of  Suisun  township.  The  steamer  started  out  well 
laden  with  human  freight,  and  was  considered  one  of  the  best  on  the  line. 
When  she  arrived  near  Manzanillo,  on  the  coast  of  Mexico,  on  July  16, 
1862,  she  burned  to  the  water  edge,  and  nearly  all  the  passengers  were  lost, 
and  among  the  number  was  D.  A.  Nurse  and  Miss  Cogswell.  Mrs.  Nurse 
was  rescued  after  being  three  hours  in  the  water.  She  took  the  next 
steamer  for  San  Francisco,  arriving  there  without  accident.  The  follow- 
ing year  she  was  married  to  Dr.  S.  K.  Nurse  as  above  stated. 

PREVOST,  L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Belgium,  September  6, 
1827,  and  here  was  educated  and  raised  as  a  farmer.  In  1850  he  engaged 
in  the  grain  trade  on  his  own  account,  successfully  following  it  until  1853, 
when  he  emigrated  to  California,  locating  in  Alameda  county  ;  thence  in 
1858  to  Contra  Costa  county  ;  thence  to  Sonoma  county  in  1866  ;  coming 
to  this  county,  settling  in  Denverton  township  and  buying  four  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  land  one-half  mile  west  of  where  he  now  lives.  The 
place  is  now  owned  by  Prevost  &  Girard,  and  is  situated,  five  miles  east 
of  Denverton  and  eight  miles  north-west  of  Rio  Vista.  Mr.  Prevost  has 
followed  farming  continously  since  arriving  in  California. 


486  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


MONTEZUMA. 


ARNOLD,  JAMES  W.,  born  in  Stark  county,  111.,  May  29,  1844,  where  he 
resided  until  May,  1853,  when  he  emigrated  to  California,  with  his  parents, 
via  Nicaragua.  He  went  to  Tuolumne  county,  where  he  remained  but  a 
short  time,  and  then  came  to  this  county,  November,  1853,  and  attended 
common  schools  until  1863,  when  he  entered  the  University  of  the  Pacific, 
at  Santa  Clara,  which  he  attended  for  two  years.  He  then  enlisted  in 
the  Mexican  War,  under  General  Ochsa,  serving  under  him  during  one 
summer.  He  then  taught  school  in  Nevada  county  during  the  summer  of 
1866,  and  returned  to  this  county  and  located  on  a  quarter-section  in  Rio 
Vista  township,  where  he  lived  one  year.  He  then  prospected  through 
Los  Angeles  county,  looking  for  a  place  to  locate.  In  the  fall  of  1868  he 
returned  to  this  county,  and  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Hargrave,  January  15, 
1869.  He  then  spent  about  four  months  in  Santa  Clara  county,  and  then 
returned  to  this  county,  bought  a  band  of  sheep  and  drove  them  to  Merced 
county,  where  he  remained  until  April,  1877.  He  then  returned  to  this 
county,  and  remained  in  the  same  business,  until  the  spring  of  1878, 
when  he  settled  at  Bird's  Landing,  and  engaged  in  the  meat  business, 
where  he  now  resides.  Is  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Montezuma  township. 
John  D.,  William  0.,  James  P.,  and  Gloria  E.  are  his  living  children. 

BIRD,  JOHN,  was  born  in  Onondaga  county,  New  York,  September  8, 
1837,  where  he  was  educated  and  lived  until  the  fall  of  1859,  when  he 
emigrated  to  California,  via  Panama,  arriving  at  San  Francisco  October 
29.  After  spending  about  two  months  in  Santa  Rosa,  he  went  to  Marin 
county,  where  he  was  employed  about  three  years  as  foreman  on  a  farm. 
In  August,  1862,  he  went  to  Sacramento  county,  where  he  had  charge  of 
a  dairy  and  stock  farm  until  1865,  when  he  came  to  this  county  and  pur- 
chased about  1000  acres  of  land  and  started  a  shipping  point,  storage  and 
commission  business  ;  a  portion  of  which  took  in  the  present  site  of  Bird's 
Landing.  He  has  resided  here  ever  since.  During  the  year  1876,  he  held 
the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Montezuma  township.  Married  Miss 
Emily  J.  Hargrave,  May  6,  1869;  she  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Illinois, 
June  5,  1847.  Henry,  born  January  25,  1870 ;  Walter,  born  November 
11,  1871 ;  Albert  S.,  born  October  12,  1873 ;  John,  Jr.,  born  March  10, 
1878,  are  their  living  children. 

BOND,  J.  C,  born  in  Suffolk  county,  New  York,  October  23, 1846,  where 
he  received  his  education  and  learned  the  ship-carpenter's  trade,  which 
occupation  he  followed  until  about  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  emi- 
grated  to   California ;  crossing  the  plains   by    rail  and  arriving  at  San 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  487 

Francisco  in  October.  He  farmed  in  Alameda  county  for  one  year  and  in 
Sacramento  county  for  about  sixteen  months,  and  in  the  Spring  of  1872, 
settled  in  Montezuma  township,  this  county,  where  he  has  since  lived, 
his  principal  business  being  farming.  He  has  been  appointed  once  and 
elected  twice  to  the  office  of  Constable.  In  1877,  he  was  appointed 
Deputy  Sheriff,  by  J.  E.  Williston,  which  office  he  has  held  ever  since.  Mr. 
Bond  married  Miss  Julia  E.  Baldwin,  November  25,  1866,  daughter  of 
Edward  Baldwin,  of  Suffolk  county,  New  York. 

DONELL,  WILLIAM,  was  born  in  Ireland,  July  2,  1834,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  education  and  lived  until  about  eighteen  years  olds  when  he 
emigrated  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm  and  in  Linsey's 
Rolling  Mills  for  about  eighteen  months,  when  he  went  to  Iowa,  where 
he  followed  farming  for  about  six  years.  April  28,  1862,  he  started,  in 
company  with  eight  other  men,  for  Carson  City,  Nevada,  but  on  their 
way  they  changed  their  minds  and  went  to  Idaho,  arrived  at  Elk  City, 
Idaho,  in  July.  After  mining  there  for  about  three  months,  he  went  to 
Portland,  Oregon;  from  there  he  went  to  Port  Gamble,  Washington  Terri- 
tory, where  he  remained  until  April,  1863,  when  he  came  to  California 
and  worked  in  Yuba  county  on  a  farm  for  a  short  time,  and  then  came  to 
this  county  in  May,  1863.  He  worked  at  different  places  in  Suisun  valley 
and  Montezuma  hills  until  1874,  when  he  settled  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives,  consisting  of  320  acres,  and  located  about  two  miles  north-west 
from  Bird's  Landing.  Mr.  Donell  married,  September  19,  1872,  Miss 
Addie  E.  Galbrieth,  daughter  of  James  Galbrieth.  William  H.,  Addie  H., 
Ettie  S.  and  Ida  M.,  are  their  children. 

HOOPER,  THOMAS  T.,  born  in  Salem,  Mass.,  Dec.  26,  1811,  where  he 
was  educated,  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  worked  at  the  same 
until  1849,  when  he  emigrated  to  this  State,  leaving  Boston,  Nov.  30, 
1849,  sailing  in  the  ship  "  Nester ;"  rounding  Cape  Horn,  arrived  in  San 
Francisco  June  6,  1850 ;  coming  direct  to  Benicia,  working  at  his  trade 
until  October  of  that  year,  when  he  went  to  Fort  Van  Cover,  Oregon, 
where  he  was  employed  by  the  Government  for  six  months.  He  went  to 
San  Francisco ;  worked  until  August,  '51  ;  then  went  East,  and  returned 
to  Benicia,  May,  '52  ;  then  kept  hotel  in  Benicia  one  year  ;  then  went  to 
San  Francisco,  as  clerk  in  Post-office,  one  year ;  returning  to  Benicia  in 
the  fall  of  1854,  when  he  was  appointed  Postmaster,  and  held  said  office 
eight  years,  when  he  came  to  his  present  farm,  consisting  of  1,000  acres, 
located  in  this  township,  and  situated  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  north- 
west from  Bird's  Landing,  there  being  only  a  few  settlers  in  the  township 
at  that  time.  Married  Lavina,  D.  Proctor,  July  20,  1837.  She  died  July 
28,  1863.  Thomas  P.,  and  George— died  August  27,  1848— are  the  child- 
ren by  this  marriage.  He  again  married,  Augusta  M.  Foster,  December 
27,  1868. 


488  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

HOSKING,  WILLIAM,  a  native  of  England,  born  in  1835,  arrived  in  Cali- 
fornia in  1858  ;  mined  in  Sierra  county  till  1862  ;  and  from  here  went  to 
Virginia  City,  Nevada,  and  engaged  in  mining  and  stock  dealing  till  1870, 
when  he  returned  to  California ;  bought  the  wharf,  store  and  hotel  at 
Collinsville,  where  he  is  at  present  engaged  in  business.  Married  in  Vir- 
ginia City  in  1868,  Miss  Elizabeth  Gordon,  Rev.  Mr.  Wicks,  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  officiating.  Have  one  daughter  —  Mary  Jane  Elizabeth  —  born 
April  7,  1871. 

MEINS,  ROBERT,  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  New  York,  January  20, 
1837,  where  he  was  educated  and  raised  a  farmer.  He  immigrated  to 
California,  leaving  January  20, 1860,  coming  via  Panama,  arriving  in  San 
Francisco,  February  19th,  of  that  year.  He  only  remained  in  the  city  a 
few  days  when  he  went  to  Sacramento ;  then  he  came  to  this  county, 
and  we  date  his  residence  here  in  April.  1860.  He  was  first  employed  on 
a  ranch  as  foreman,  which  position  he  retained  two  years,  after  which  he 
was  employed  by  Dr.  S.  K.  Nurse  in  a  general  store  at  Denverton, 
remaining  three  years.  Married  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Spencer,  November 
20,  1865,  who  was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Ohio,  May  4,  1842.  She  died 
August  20,  1876.  Mr.  R.  Meins  came  to  his  present  farm,  containing  136 
acres,  after  marriage,  said  farm  being  located  on  Montezuma  slough,  two 
miles  north-west  of  Bird's  Landing.  He  has  erected  a  large,  commodious 
warehouse,  capable  of  holding  1,200  tons  of  hay  and  the  same  amount  of 
grain.  Carrie  J.,  born  June  17,  1867 ;  Ida,  born  December  17,  1872,  are 
the  names  and  births  of  his  children. 

PAGE,  W.,  was  born  in  England,  May  7,  1830.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  and  lived  in  Oneida  county.  New  York,  as  a 
dairyman  until  March  7, 1859,  when  he  started  for  California,  crossing  the 
plains  with  an  ox  team,  and  followed  the  business  of  farming  in  this 
county  up  to  March  15, 1877,  when  he  engaged  in  business  in  Collinsville 
and  follows  it  up  to  the  present  time.  He  married  Mrs.  Alice  Helstrup, 
(widow  of  E.  Helstrup)  December  25.  1876.  She  was  born  in  Boston, 
August  24,  1851.  She  having  two  children  by  her  first  husband,  one 
daughter,  named  Edith,  born  August  21,  1871,  and  one  son,  named  Ches- 
ter S.,  born  June  5,  1873 ;  also  two  children  by  the  second  marriage, 
Mary  Page,  born  July  23,  1877,  and  W.  Page,  born  May  1,  1879. 

UPHAM,  E.  J.,  was  born  in  Kennebec,  Maine,  November  26,  1836,  where  he 
was  educated  and  resided  till  1854,  when  he  emigrated  to  California  by 
way  of  the  Nicaragua  route,  arriving  in  San  Francisco,  October  1st  of 
that  year.  Went  direct  to  what  is  now  Del  Norte  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming,  as  well  as  lumbering,  until  1861,  when  he  came  to 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  489 

Solano  county,  settling  on  the  ranch  he  now  owns,  consisting  of  160 
acres,  and  has  added  certain  amounts  from  time  to  time  until  he  now 
owns  6,000  acres.  He  has  been  a  large  stock  raiser,  but  for  the  past 
three  years  has  turned  his  attention  to  grain  raising. 

WINTER,  H.  E.,  was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  on  January  27,  1832. 
Here  he  received  his  education.  When  seventeen  years  old  he  emigrated 
to  Elkheart  county,  Indiana,  where  he  remained  one  winter,  thence  to  St. 
Joseph  county.  Here  he  apprenticed  himself  to  a  shoemaker  for  three 
years,  then  went  to  Goshen,  county  seat  of  Elkheart  county,  Indiana, 
following  his  trade.  Four  years  thereafter  he  located  in  Middleburg, 
clerking  in  a  store  for  two  years,  and  returned  to  Goshen,  following  the 
same  occupation  in  a  hotel,  City  Hall,  etc.,  until  April  18,  1861,  when  he 
started  overland  with  horse  teams  for  this  State,  arriving  in  Sacramento 
in  August  following.  After  working  in  that  city  one  month  he  went  to 
Bloomfield,  Sonoma  county,  working  at  his  trade  six  months ;  thence  to 
Suisun,  this  county.  Two  months  thereafter  he  made  a  short  trip  to 
Sacramento  and  San  Francisco,  and  returned  to  Suisun,  opening  a  boot 
and  shoe  shop  in  the  fall  of  1862.  In  March,  1871,  moved  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, remaining  five  years,  then  came  to  Bird's  Landing,  where  he  now 
resides. 


490  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


TREMONT. 


AGEE,  CHRISTOPHER  C,  is  a  native  of  Buckingham  county,  Virginia, 
where  he  was  born,  February  26,  1826.  When  about  six  years  old  he  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Charleston,  and  there  received  his  education.  In 
1839,  his  parents  again  removing,  he  accompanied  them  to  Lewis  county, 
Mo.,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  seven  years, 
and  then  started  in  business  on  his  own  account,  which  he  continued  for 
four  years.  In  1849  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California,  arriving  at  Sacra- 
mento on  September  4th  of  that  year,  when,  shortly  after,  he  and  his 
brother  (W.  W.  Agee)  built  the  first  store  ever  opened  in  Nevada  City, 
Cal.  He  also  worked  at  the  mines  with  very  good  success.  In  1852  he 
returned  to  Missouri,  and  purchased  and  improved  a  farm,  on  which  he 
resided  for  five  years,  and  then,  selling  out,  he  proceeded  to  Iowa  Point, 
Kansas,  on  the  Missouri  river,  and  again  engaged  in  trade,  which  he  car- 
ried on  for  about  four  years,  when  he  sold  out,  still  holding  his  private 
property,  and  went  with  an  ox-team  to  Pike's  Peak,  but  not  meeting  with 
encouragement,  at  the  end  of  two  months  he  returned.  Mr.  Agee  then 
traded  his  private  property  at  Iowa  Point  for  land  in  Carroll  county,  Mo., 
and  also  bought  another  farm  in  north-eastern  Missouri,  where  he  resided 
for  two  years ;  then  he  located  in  Illinois,  where  he  speculated  for  a 
couple  of  years,  when  he  sold  his  Missouri  possessions,  and  once  more 
started  for  California,  with  mule  and  ox-teams,  accompanied  by  his 
brother-in-law,  J.  A.  Ellis;  arrived  in  Sacramento  September  4,  1865. 
On  arrival  he  rented  a  tract  of  land  from  Judge  Curry,  which  he  farmed 
for  ten  years,  residing  on  the  ranch  for  the  first  three  years,  the  remainder 
being  passed  in  Dixon.  He  also  farmed  four  hundred  acres  of  his  own 
land  in  Yolo  county,  and,  in  November,  1877,  he  moved  on  to  the  place 
where  he  now  lives,  situated  four  miles  north-east  of  Dixon.  Mr.  Agee 
married  March  4,  1852,  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Ellis,  who  was  born  in  Oldham 
county,  Kentucky,  December  18,  1832,  and  has  had  Mary  E. ;  William  E. ; 
Susan  ;  and  Walter  L. ;  all  of  whom  are  deceased ;  and  living,  Charles  F. 
and  Lillie  C. 

CLOUTMAN,  JOSEPH  F.,  born  in  New  Hampshire,  May  3, 1825,  and  when 
seven  years  old  moved  with  his  parents  to  Kittery,  Maine,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  education.  In  1841  or  '42  he  proceeded  to  Boston,  Mass.,  and 
there  was  employed  in  a  grocery  store  for  one  year,  when  he  commenced 
to  learn  the  trade  of  a  house  and  sign  painter.     In  1849  he  came  to  Cali- 


THE   HISTORY    OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  491 

fornia,  by  way  of  Cape  Horn,  arriving  at  San  Francisco  September  14, 
of  that  year.  On  arrival  he  settled  at  Sacramento,  and  followed  his  trade 
until  the  following  year,  when  he  removed  to  the  mines,  there  remaining 
for  six  months ;  he  returned  to  Sacramento,  and  once  more  established 
himself  as  a  painter,  which  he  continued  till  1858.  In  this  year  Mr- 
Cloutman  settled  in  Yolo  county,  Cal.,  farming  and  keeping  a  dairy  there 
for  three  years,  at  which  time  he  moved  into  Solano  county,  and  located 
on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  On  September  3,  1862,  he  was 
elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Tremont  township,  which  office  he  held 
for  eight  years.  On  September  6,  1871,  was  elected  Supervisor  of  Dis- 
trict No.  3,  and  held  that  office  for  three  years,  being  for  two  years  Chair- 
man of  the  Board.  Was  finally  elected  Constable  of  Tremont  township 
on  September  5,  1877,  an  office  which  he  continues  to  hold.  While  a 
resident  of  Sacramento  Mr.  C.  was  twice  burned  out  and  twice  flooded 
out.  He  married  in  1846  Miss  Mary  J.  Whitehouse,  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  where  she  was  born  October  7,  1827,  by  whom  he  has  Addie 
C. ;  Miriam,  (dead) ;  George  F. ;  Charles  H. ;  Willie  F. 

FOSTER,  GEO.  W.,  was  born  in  Lafayette,  Missouri,  November  11,  1829, 
where  he  received  his  education  and  farmed,  until  the  spring  of  1853, 
when  he  started  across  the  plains  for  California,  arriving  at  Lake  Wash- 
ington, October  19,  of  the  same  year,  and  then  ran  a  ferry  boat  for  two 
years.  At  this  time  he  made  a  return  voyage,  via  Panama,  to  his  home, 
returning  at  the  end  of  two  months  to  the  Golden  State,  accompanied  by 
his  mother  and  four  sisters,  and  settled  on  the  place  where  he  now  re- 
sides, at  Tremont  Station.  Mr.  Foster  owns  and  farms  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land ;  he  is  also  proprietor  of  the  warehouses,  and  con- 
ducts the  shipping  of  all  grain  from  that  point  to  San  Francisco  and  other 
ports.  He  married  October  17, 1860,  Miss  Gincey  L.  Wall,  who  was  born 
July  1,  1843,  in  his  native  county,  and  has  Mary  J'.,  (deceased) ;  William 
W. ;  Arthur  T. ;  Everett  E. ;  Elnore  P. ;  Ethel. 

GUTHRIE,  B.  J.,  born  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  November  28, 1828,  and  when 
three  years  old  removed  with  his  parents  to  Lawrenceburg,  Kentucky, 
where  he  received  his  primary  education  ;  when  thirteen,  he  again  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  there  finished  his  schooling.  When 
here,  his  parents  died.  Mr.  Guthrie  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  and  com- 
menced life  as  a  cabin-boy,  on  board  a  river  steamer  ;  after  which  he  be- 
came a  steward,  and  finally  a  pilot,  on  the  Mississippi  river.  In  April, 
1852,  he  proceeded  across  the  plains,  to  California,  and,  arriving  at  Dia- 
mond Springs  in  July,  he  opened  a  hotel,  which  he  managed  until  June, 
of  the  following  year,  when  he  went  to  Prairie  City  and  mined  until  Jan- 
uary 1,  1864,  when  he  settled  on  a  farm  about  three  miles  south-west  of 


492  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Davisville,  where  he  now  resides.  He  owns  nine  hundred  and  fifty-five 
acres  in  Solano  county,  and  thirty-two  in  Yolo  county.  Mr.  G.  married, 
December  11, 1856,  Miss  Bettie  A.  Judd,  who  was  born  in  Trumble  county, 
Ohio,  February  26,  1835. 

HYDE,  SEPTA  FILMORE,  was  born  in  Vermont,  June  7,  1819.  When 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  removed  to  Clinton  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
finished  his  education ;  here  he  settled,  and,  in  company  with  his  brother, 
S.  E.  Hyde,  carried  on  a  large  machine,  blacksmith,  and  carriage  shop. 
In  1849  he  transferred  his  business  to  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
also  engaged  in  farming,  until  his  starting  for  California,  in  April,  1852, 
accompanied  by  his  wife,  nee  Miss  Caroline  Moore,  whom  he  had  married 
on  February  9,  1843.  Embarking  at  St.  Louis  for  St.  Jo.,  while  on  board 
the  steamer,  Mrs.  Hyde  died  from  the  effects  of  an  attack  of  cholera,  and 
after  her  burial,  her  afflicted  husband  prosecuted  his  lonely  journey  across 
the  plains,  with  his  two  young  children — Phoebe  R,  and  Asa  F.,  the  eldest  of 
them  not  yet  being  four  years.  On  arriving  in  California  he  proceeded 
to  Placerville  and  worked  in  the  mines  till  January,  1853 ;  he  then  went 
to  Diamond  Springs,  where  he  labored  at  lumbering  up  to  November, 
1856.  In  1855,  moved  to  Amador  county,  and  was  engaged  in  lumbering, 
when  he  settled  on  the  place  where  he  now  lives,  ten  miles  north-east  of 
Dixon,  situated  in  Tremont  township,  on  the  county  line.  Mr.  Hyde 
was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Tremont  township  on  October  18, 
1871 ;  an  office  which  he  still  continues  to  fill ;  has  been  a  Notary  Public 
for  the  district,  and  was  mainly  instrumental  in  the  establishment  of  the 
first  school  district  in  Tremont.  He  married,  secondly,  July  7, 1855,  Miss 
C.  J.  Saunders,  who  was  born  in  Lewiston,  Niagara  county,  N.  Y.,  May 
25,  1829,  by  whom  he  has  Lena,  Fred  W.,  Leland  S.,  Carrie  M.,  Alvert. 
The  children  by  his  first  wife  are  the  above-named  Phcebe  K.  and  Asa  F. 
Hyde. 

HYLAND,  WILLIAM,  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  the  year  1828,  and  emi- 
grated to  Maryland,  where  he  resided  until  1856,  when  he  came  to  Cali- 
fornia, via  Panama,  arriving  at  San  Francisco  February  14th,  of  that 
year.  He  engaged  in  mining  at  Webber  Creek  until  August,  when  they 
removed  to  Tremont  township,  and  located  there  till  May,  1857,  when  he 
returned  to  the  mines,  sojourneying  there  up  to  the  month  of  February,  of 
the  following  year,  and  then  re-located  in  the  Suisun  valley,  on  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  situated  about  four  and  a  half  miles  north 
east  of  Dixon  City.  Mr.  Hyland  married,  September  26,  1852,  Miss  Ann 
McCann,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  died  April  21,  1877,  from  the  effects  of 
an  accident  caused  by  a  horse,  when  aiding  hor  husband  in  some  farm 
work.  Their  family  consists  of  Mary  A.,  Anna  Eliza,  Maria  J.,  Emma, 
(deceased)  William  H.,  Alice  G.,  Arthur,  Allen  A.,  Florence  E.,  Nettie  F. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  493 

SNEAD,  S.  M.,  is  a  native  of  Campbell  county,  Virginia,  where  he  was 
born  September  10,  1823.  When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  joined  the 
Mexican  expedition  under  General  Scott,  where  he  served  for  three  years, 
returning  to  Virginia  at  its  close,  and  commenced  to  learn  a  trade.  In 
1849  emigrated  to  California,  and  engaged  in  mining  until  1852,  when  he 

.  began  draying  in  Sacramento  in  the  following  year.  He  next  went  to 
the  Eastern  States,  returning  in  1854,  bringing  with  him  a  drove  of 
horses,  and  settled  on  a  ranch  on  Cache  creek  slough,  where  he  engaged 
in  stock  raising  until  1861.  This  year  he  moved  to  the  farm  on  which 
his  family  have  resided  since  his  death,  on  January  25,  1879.  Mr.  Snead, 
May  1, 1858,  married  Miss  Mary  McGuire,  who  was  born  in  New  Orleans, 
July  12,  1840.  Their  children  are :  John  R.,  Samuel  R.,  Stephen  L., 
Katie  A.,  Minnie  L.,  Winneford  F.,  and  Lucinda  M. 


494  THE    HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 


SILVEYVILLE. 


BROWN,  0.  P.,  received  his  early  education  in  Howard  county,  Missouri, 
where  he  was  born,  June  11,  1820.  He  studied  in  1838-40,  and  prac- 
ticed it  in  that  State  until  1845,  when  he  moved  to  Iowa,  and  located  in 
Fremont  county,  where  he  again  prosecuted  his  legal  business  until  1853, 
when  he  emigrated  to  San  Joaquin  county,  California,  and  made  farming 
his  principal  occupation.  In  1874  he  commenced  a  law  practice  in  Dixon, 
which  he  continued  for  about  a  year,  and  in  1875  was  elected  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  Silveyville  township,  an  office  which  he  still  holds.  Mr. 
Brown  married,  in  1843,  Miss  Francess  Frigitt,  who  was  born  in  Clay 
county,  Missouri,  December  27,  1825,  by  whom  he  has  Lizzie  T.,  James  J., 
(deceased),  Hiram  P.,  (deceased),  Bennett  C,  Ann  B., Prentiss,  and  Francis  C. 

COLEMAN,  NAPOLEON  B.  S.,  born  in  Woodford  county,  Kentucky,  Janu- 
ary 25,  1831.  In  September,  1848,  he  graduated  at  the  Commercial  Col- 
lege at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  in  the  Spring  of  the  following  year 
went  to  Jackson  county,  Missouri,  and  entered  into  partnership  with  John 
F.  McCauley  in  the  commission  business.  In  May,  1853,  this  firm,  in 
company  with  two  more  gentlemen,  purchased  about  2,000  head  of  cattle, 
and  crossed  the  plains  to  California,  arriving  at  Sacramento  September 
13th  of  that  year.  In  the  following  year  the  quarternal  partnership  was 
dissolved,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  proceeded  to  Volcano,  Jackson 
county,  California,  and  opened  a  mercantile  and  mining  business,  being 
joined  in  these  operations  with  his  brother,  J.  W.  Coleman,  now  a  promi„ 
nent  stock-broker  of  San  Francisco.  In  1859  Mr.  N.  B.  S.  Coleman 
arrived  in  Silveyville  township,  in  Solano  county,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
five  miles  southeast  of  the  present  site  of  Dixon  City,  but  at  the  time 
there  was  only  one  house  in  the  corporation  limits,  which  was  owned  by 
Thomas  Dickson.  Mr.  C.  prosecuted  farming  till  1872,  when  he  moved 
into  Dixon,  where  he  has  since  resided,  being  engaged  in  real  estate  oper- 
ations, farming  and  stock-raising.  In  1869  he  was  elected  County  As- 
sessor, and  served  for  a  term  of  two  years.  He  owns  about  1,000  acres 
of  land.  On  March  13,  1855,  Mr.  C.  married  Miss  Martha  J.  Kelley,  who 
was  born  July  5,  1836,  by  whom  he  has  eight  children,  viz.,  Eugene  F., 
Alvin  L.,  John  W.,  Fannie  S.,  Napoleon  B.  S.,  Mattie  L.,  Lulu  M.  and 
Cimrie  E. 


THE   HISTORY  OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  495 

COTTEN,  JAMES  W.,  born  in  Polk  county,  Illinois,  December  28,  1832. 
In  that  State  he  received  his  early  education,  which  he  finished  in  Mills 
county,  Iowa.  In  1851  he  went  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  where  he  re- 
mained one  year,  and  then  proceeded  to  St.  Louis,  and  there  learned  the 
trade  of  a  sawyer.  October  22,  1855,  Mr.  Cotten  left  for  California,  by 
way  of  Panama,  landing  in  San  Francisco  December  11th  of  that  year.  On 
his  arrival  he  proceeded  to  Amador  county,  where  he  passed  that  Winter, 
and  in  the  following  Spring  started  for  the  mines  in  Placer  county,  where 
he  stayed  until  1857,  and  then  repaired  to  the  Suisun  valley,  there  farm- 
ing for  one  year,  on  a  location  near  Dixon;  on  the  expiration  of  which 
he  transferred  his  labors  to  San  Jose,  where  he  engaged  in  the  lumber 
trade.  In  the  Fall  of  the  year  1859  Mr.  C.  returned  to  Illinois,  and  there 
embarked  in  the  like  business,  which  he  gave  up  at  the  end  of  two  years 
and  went  back  to  his  former  home  in  Iowa.  In  1864  he  started  for  Idaho 
Territory,  in  company  with  George  Russell,  and  went  into  the  hotel  busi- 
ness on  the  Weiser  River*  In  the  following  year  he  again  began  farming, 
which  he  continued  till  1868,  when  he  returned  to  Dixon  and  re-engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  gave  up  in  1872,  and  opened  agencies 
for  real  estate  and  insurance.  Was  appointed  a  Notary  Public,  October 
31,  1874,  and  on  March  6,  1878,  was  commissioned  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  Silveyville  township — positions  which  he  still  continues  to  hold.  Mr. 
Cotten  married,  November  29,  1873,  Miss  Priscilla  J.  Evans,  who  was 
born  in  Amador  county,  California,  April  24,  1857,  and  has  an  only  child, 
Lucy  May,  born  January  2,  1875. 

CURREY,  ROBERT  J.,  is  a  native  of  Benicia,  Solano  county,  California, 
having  been  born  there  December  30,  1851,  where  he  remained  until  the 
Spring  of  1860,  when  he  went  to  New  York  and  stayed  one  year.  In 
1864  he  was  sent  to  Santa  Clara  College  for  two  years,  and  from  there  to 
a  seminary  in  Oakland,  Alameda  county,  where  he  studied  for  three 
years.  In  the  Fall  of  1870  he  entered  Yale  College,  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, and  graduated  in  1873;  after  which  he  returned  to  the  Pacific 
Coast,  and  in  the  following  Spring  was  appointed  Aid  on  the  United 
States  Coast  Survey,  which  position  he  resigned  in  1875,  and  located  on 
a  farm  four  miles  north  of  Dixon,  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  the 
owner  of  640  acres. 

DASHIELL,  W.  A.,  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  Maryland,  on  May  6, 
1825.  In  the  years  1835-40  he  attended  college  in  New  Jersey.  In  the 
following  year  he  entered  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  June,  1845.  He  next  traveled  through  the  West- 
ern States  until  the  spring  of  1849,  when  he  came  to  California  and 
engaged  in  stock  raising  in  Sacramento  until  1853,  when  he  left  the 


496  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

Pacific  coast  for  Missouri,  and  there  purchased  sheep  and  cattle,  with 
which  he  returned  to  this  State,  arriving  in  Los  Angeles  in  December, 
1853 ;  and  from  thence  proceeded  to  Sacramento,  there  following  his 
avocation  until  1856,  and  then  moved  into  Solano  county.  From  1859 
to  1862  he  was  traveling,  after  which  he  once  more  settled  in  this  county; 
was  agent  for  the  California  Pacific  Railroad  Company  for  three  years 
when  it  first  came  through  Dixon,  since  then  he  has  been  dealing  in 
stock  ;  is  an  insurance  and  real  estate  agent ;  held  the  office  of  Assessor 
for  the  Third  District,  to  which  he  was  elected  September  4,  1867.  Mr. 
Dashiell  married,  December  25,  1854,  Miss  Hester  McKinley,  who  was 
born  in  Illinois,  April  19,  1834,  by  whom  he  has  :  Matilda,  Katie,  Char- 
lotte, (dead)  Edward  E.,  Agnes,  George  B.,  Fred.,  Annie,  Benjamin,  Hester, 
Robert,  and  Jessie. 

DICKSON,  THOMAS,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  on  June  4,  1800.  In 
1804  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Allegany  county,  New  York,  and 
remained  there  for  about  fifteen  years,  when  they  moved  to  Indiana.  In 
1832  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war ;  in  1835  emigrated  to 
Iowa,  and  in  1853  came  to  Diamond  Springs,  California,  prosecuting 
mining  for  one  year.  In  the  following  year  he  forsook  the  gold  region 
and  removed  to  Solano  county  and  rented  a  piece  of  land  one  mile  in  a 
north-easterly  direction  from  where  the  city  of  Dixon  now  stands.  Mr. 
Dickson  built  the  first  house  within  the  corporation  limits  of  that  city  in 
the  year  1855,  which  he  has  since  enlarged.  He  has  engaged  in  farming 
ever  since  he  settled  in  the  county.  Mr.  D.  married,  in  1833,  Miss  J.  P. 
Hood,  a  native  of  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  who  was  born  December  13, 
1813,  by  whom  he  has :  Elizabeth  F.,  born  February  1,  1834 ;  William 
B.,  born  April  16,  1836 ;  Martin  A.,  born  January  2,  1840 ;  Henry  A., 
born  March  31,  1843  ;  Nathan,  born  August  12,  1846  ;  James,  born  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1849,  (since  dead) ;  Eva  B.,  born  July  14,  1853,  and  James, 
born  December  4,  1855,  (since  deceased). 

DINSMORE,  REV.  J.  3YL,  was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania, 
February  19,  1851.  In  1861  he  removed  to  Lawrence  county,  where  he 
received  part  of  his  education,  which  he  completed  in  Ohio.  In  1875  he 
attended  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the 
following  year  proceeded  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  entered  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  of  that  city  and  graduated  April  26,  1878,  after  which 
he  left  for  Dixon,  Solano  county,  and  took  charge  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  there,  he  being  now  the  resident  pastor. 

DUDLEY,  J.  M;,  was  born  in  Oswego  county,  New  York,  September  7, 
1830.  In  1836  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Indiana,  where  he  received 
his  education,  and  after  taught  school  during  the  winters  of  1849-50-51. 


THE   HISTORY   OF  SOLANO   COUNTY.  497 

In  1852  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California,  and,  on  arrival  at  a  place 
where  Dayton  in  Nevada  State  now  stand,  Mr.  D.  was  stricken  down 
with  fe.ver  and  confined  to  his  bed  for  several  months.  As  soon  as  able, 
after  his  recovery,  he  went  to  the  mines.  On  account  of  sickness  he  was 
delayed  in  Carson  valley  during  the  winter  of  1852-53.  After  his  recov- 
ery he  mined  in  Gold  Canon.  As  soon  as  the  snow  had  sufficiently 
melted  he  continued  his  journey  and  settled  on  the  Sacramento  river, 
where  he  farmed  for  three  years.  In  1856  he  removed  from  thence  to 
Dixon,  this  county,  near  where  he  now  resides.  On  first  arriving  in 
this  section  he  taught  school  at  Silveyville  for  four  terms,  since  when  he 
has  given  his  undivided  attention  to  farming.  Mr.  Dudley  served  two 
terms  as  Legislator  in  1862-G3,  and  in  1873  was  defeated  for  the  Senate 
by  H.  E.  McCune.  He  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention 
which  was  convened  at  Sacramento  in  September,  1878.  Mr.  D.  is  a 
Republican  in  politics.  He  married  November  24,  1857,  Miss  Elizabeth 
F.  Dickson,  born  in  Madison  county,  Illinois,  February  1,  1834,  by  whom 
he  has :     Lucy  J.,  Earl  D.,  Frederick  M.,  George  D.,  and  Elizabeth. 

ELLIS,  JAMES  ADDISON,  (deceased),  was  born  May  1,  1842,  in  Lewis 
county,  Missouri.  At  the  commencement  of  the  late  war  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Col.  Glover's  regiment  of  Union  troops,  and  was  engaged  in 
north-west  Missouri  in  the  darkest  days  of  that  section.  Mr.  Ellis  was 
wounded  in  a  skirmish  in  Marion  county  and  for  many  months  lingered 
between  life  and  death,  but  finally  recovered.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  fraternities,  and  also  a  Granger,  in  which  he 
occupied  a  prominent  position.  In  1864  he  married  Miss  Henrietta 
Johnson,  and  came  to  California  in  the  following  year,  since  which  time, 
up  till  his  death,  he  was  a  citizen  of  Solano  county,  residing  near  Dixon 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  left  a  farmily  of  two  girls,  Carrie  E. 
and  Emma  M.,  who  now  reside  with  their  mother  on  the  farm  in  Silvey- 
ville township. 

FRAHM,  GEORGE,  is  a  native  of  Schleswig  Holstein,  Germany,  having 
been  born  there  on  June  27,  1851.  In  1867  he  emigrated  to  California, 
arriving  in  San  Francisco  in  August  of  that  year,  and  proceeded  without 
delay  to  the  San  Joaquin  valley,  where,  in  company  with  his  brother,  he, 
being  one  of  the  first  agricultural  settlers,  commenced  farming  operations, 
which  he  continued  until  1871.  Left  that  section  of  the  country  and 
proceeded  to  Sacramento,  where  he  started,  as  an  errand  boy,  in  a  whole- 
sale candy  factory,  and  by  good  conduct  and  application,  worked  his  way 
to  the  positions  of  salesman,  book-keeper,  and  manager,  respectively.  In 
1875  he  removed  to  Dixon,  Solano  county,  and  jointly,  with  his  brother, 
purchased  the  City  Hotel;  he  bought  out  his  brother  on  July  1,  1877, 
32 


498  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

since  when  he  has  conducted  the  establishment  alone.  In  1876  Mr. 
Frahm  was  instrumental  in  the  building  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church, 
in  Dixon,  and  became  President  of  its  Building  Committee.  In -1878  he 
was  elected  foreman  of  the  Fire  Company ;  and  is  one  of  the  City  Trust- 
ees, as  also  City  Treasurer.  Mr.  Frahm  married  August  17,  1877,  Miss 
Amelia  Hall,  a  native  of  Solano  county,  who  was  born  March  6,  1859. 

HALL,  RICHARD,  was  born  in  Ireland,  March  11,  1819.  When  four  years 
old  he  accompanied  his  mother  to  Canada,  his  father  being  dead.  He 
there  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker,  which  he  followed  till  seventeen 
years  of  age,  when  he  removed  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  and  again 
prosecuted  his  calling  till  1849,  when  he  transferred  the  scenes  of  his 
labors  to  Illinois ;  farming  there  till  the  spring  of  1853,  in  which  year  he 
started  across  the  plains  for  California  with  an  ox  team,  arriving  in  Sac- 
ramento September  10,  of  that  year,  and  worked  at  his  trade  until  Octo- 
ber 5,  1854.  At  this  time  he  took  passage  for  the  Eastern  States,  on 
board  the  steamer  "  Yankee  Blade,"  from  Sacramento.  When  seventy 
miles  from  Santa  Barbara,  she  struck  a  rock  and  became  "a  total  wreck, 
fortunately,  with  no  loss  of  life,  but  much  discomfort.  This  catastrophe 
was  the  cause  of  Mr.  Hall  once  more  turning  his  face  towards  the  port 
which  he  had  just  left,  and  there  re-purchased  his  former  place  of  busi- 
ness. In  the  fall  of  1854  he  settled  on  the  Wolfskill  and  Barker  grant 
where  he  farmed  till  1857,  when  he  located  on  the  tract  of  land  on  which 
he  now  resides,  two  miles  north  of  Dixon.  On  first  arrival  here  Mr. 
Hall  carried  on  a  hotel,  in  connection  with  his  farm ;  the  former,  however, 
he  gave  up,  in  1869.  As  far  back  as  1861-2,  he  was  the  proprietor  of 
the  Union  Hotel,  in  Sacramento.  He  married,  first,  on  December  1, 1839, 
Miss  Frances  N.  Hayne,  who  died  November  6,  1868,  leaving  him  ten 
children.  Secondly,  he  espoused  Mrs.  Amelia  Audnup,  September  29, 
1871,  who  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  August  21,  1822. 

MACK,  DARIUS,  born  in  Vermillion  county,  Indiana,  February  24,  1829, 
In  1854,  he  left  his  native  State  and  emigrated  to  California,  arriving  at 
Sacramento  in  February,  1854.  He  first  kept  a  ferry  for  his  brother,  A. 
H.  Mack,  at  Sutterville  for  one  year,  after  which  he  opened  a  hotel  at  the 
same  place,  and  then  went  to  Folsom  where,  in  company  with  his  brother, 
H.  B.  Mack,  he  managed  a  small  store  and  mined  during  three  years.  In 
1857,  he  settled  near  Dixon,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  He  married, 
May  21,  1860,  Miss  Cynthia  J.  Cotten,  who  was  born  Febrnary  10,  1847. 
by  whom  he  has:  James  H.,  born  May  4,  1861 ;  Darius  W.,  born  Decem- 
ber 26,  1862,  deceased  1863 ;  Hozra  B.,  born  February  6,  1866  ;  Sophonia 
J.,  born  November  5,  1867,  deceased  1878  ;  Lottie  L.,  born  December  11, 
1872. 


THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  499 

MAYES,  JOHN  S.,  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Indiana,  March  29,  1829, 
and  went  to  Missouri  with  his  parents  when  five  years  old.  In  April, 
1850,  he  started  for  California,  arriving  at  Placerville  August  7,  of  that 
year,  and  worked  in  the  mines  until  1853,  when  he  commenced  teaming, 
an  occupation  he  followed  up  to  1856,  where  he  settled  on  his  farm,  situ- 
ated in  the  suburbs  of  Dixon,  where  he  now  resides.  He  married,  April 
23,  1868,  Miss  Francis  A.  Hood,  who  was  born  in  Iowa,  June  20,  1850. 

MERRYFIELD,  JUSTICE  C,  is  a  native  of  Wyoming  county,  New 
York,  having  been  born  there  on  February  7,  1818.  In  1836,  he  went  to 
Ogle  county,  Illinois,  where  he  resided  until  1850,  and  in  that  year  came 
to  California  across  the  plains  with  horse  team  ;  arrived  in  Placerville  in 
July  and  worked  in  the  mines  about  one  year  when  he  moved  to  a  farm 
in  Sacramento  county,  residing  there  until  January  1,  1857,  when  he 
located  on  anotheV  farm  two  miles  north  of  Silveyville,  Solano  county, 
where  he  lived  until  1864,  when  he  settled  in  Silveyville,  and  has  since 
resided  there.  September  4,  1861,  was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
Vacaville  township  and  held  the  office  for  that  and  after  for  Silveyville 
township  until  he  resigned,  December  29,  1874.  In  1876,  was  elected 
President  of  the  Bank  of  Dixon,  a  position  he  now  holds ;  is  a  Director 
and  one  of  the  Auditing  Committee  of  the  Granger's  Bank  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, to  which  he  was  elected  in  1874.  In  1873,  was  elected  one  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  State  Grange  and  was  re-elected  three  times, 
he  is  now  serving  his  fourth  term  as  Master  of  Dixon  Grand  Lodge.  Is 
Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  California  College  at  Vaca- 
ville. Mr.  Merryfield  has  been  thrice  married.  He  married,  third,  Mrs. 
Lizzie  Crathers,  August  10,  1876,  who  was  born  in  Oakland  county > 
Michigan,  January  9,  1843. 

McKINLEY,  GEO.  C,  born  in  Madison  county,  Illinois,  July  2,  1832.  In 
1840,  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Missouri  and  then  commenced  his 
studies,  which  he  finished  in  Gonzales  county,  Texas,  whither  he  went  in 
1845.  In  1852  he  emigrated  to  Los  Angeles  county,  California,  along 
with  his  father  and  mother,  but,  as  there  was  much  trouble  in  that  district 
in  respect  to  land  titles,  at  the  end  of  seven  months  they  left  for  Sac- 
ramento ;  when  here  he  was  employed  in  the  nursery  and  vegetable  garden 
of  Paul  Hamilton,  where  he  continued  for  three  years.  In  1855,  Mr. 
McKinley  made  another  trip  to  the  southern  counties  of  the  State  in 
quest  of  land,  but  finding  the  former  stumbling  blocks  still  prevailing  he 
remained  but  a  short  time  and  then  returned  to  Sacramento,  from  whence 
he  made  for  Lynchburg,  near  Oroville,  and  for  two  months  pursued  min- 
ing and  finally  returned  to  Sacramento.  On  October  6,  1856,  he  and  his 
parents  settled  on  the  knoll  south  of  Dixon,  where  the  cemetery    is  now 


500  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY. 

located,  and  there  pitched  their  tents,  which  was  soon  followed  by  the 
construction  of  a  dwelling  house.  Mr.  McKinley's  father  was  an  un- 
fortunate passenger  on  board  the  steamer  "  Washoe  "  when  she  blew  up 
near  Rio  Vista,  on  September  4,  1864,  when  he  received  injuries  which 
resulted  in  his  death  at  Sacramento,  September  21,  1864.  His  mother 
still  resides  with  him.  In  September,  1871,  Mr.  McK.  was  elected  County 
Recorder,  an  office  which  he  held  for  two  years.  He  married,  December 
17,  1860,  Miss  Emeline  Benton,  who  was  born  in  Jo.  Daviess  county,  Illi- 
nois, September  28,  1842,  by  whom  he  has :  William  B.,  Addison  B., 
Charlotte,  deceased,  George,  Robert  L.,  Sidney  S.,  Paulina,  Lucino  D. 

McPHERSON,  ALEXANDER,  is  a  native  of  Nova  Scotia,  where  he  was 
bom  in  July,  1836.  In  1855  he  emigrated  to  California,  landing  in  San 
Francisco  early  iu  October  of  that  year  and  proceeded  to  Sierra  county 
and  commenced  mining,  a  pursuit  which  he  labored  at  until  1861,  when  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  from  Charles  Pearson, 
in  Maine  Prairie  township,  Solano  county,  which  he  managed  until  1873 
and  then  sold  out.  He,  thereupon,  acquired  the  adjoining  farm  on  which 
he  resided  until  1878,  when  his  house  was  destroyed  by  fire,  compelling 
him  to  take  up  his  residence  in  Dixon,  where  he  now  resides.  He  married 
Miss  Sarah  Newell,  in  September,  1861. 

NYE,  ALFRED  B.,  was  born  at  Stockton,  San  Joaquin  county,  Cal,  Octo- 
ber 25,  1854,  but  resided  principally  in  Tuolumne  county,  until  six  years 
of  age,  when  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Plymouth  county,  Mass., 
where  he  remained  till  1871.  In  this  year  he  returned  to  Calif ornia,  and 
commenced  acquiring  the  printer's  trade  in  the  office  of  the  "Vallejo 
Chronicle;"  subsequently  became  the  local  editor  for  that  publication,  and 
in  April,  1877,  purchased  the  "  Dixon  Tribune  "  newspaper,  of  which  he 
is  the  present  editor  and  publisher. 

REDDICK,  HARDIN,  was  born  in  Stokes  county,  North  Carolina,  June 
13,  1810.  Here  he  was  educated.  In  1835  moved  to  Monitau  county, 
Missouri,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1849,  when  he  came  the 
"  overland  route  "  to  California,  arriving  in  Sacramento  on  August  18th 
of  that  year.  He  removed  to  Yuba  county,  this  State,  soon  after,  where 
he  prosecuted  mining  for  ten  days ;  when  he  was  prostrated  with  sickness 
for  eleven  months,  enduring  all  the  sufferings  incident  to  a  camping  life. 
On  his  recovery,  he  returned  to  Missouri,  via  Panama,  engaging  in  farm- 
ing for  two  years,  and  returned  to  Sacramento,  Cal.,  in  September,  1853, 
and  soon  after  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  His  early  resi- 
dence here  was  replete  with  hardships,  he  having  to  live  under  a  tent  for 
the  first  month.  Married  Susan  Dearing,  October  29, 1835  ;  she  was  born 
in  Stokes  county,  N.  C,  February  3,  1818.  Their  children  are  John  W., 
Sarah  A.,  and  Catherine. 


THE    HISTORY    OF    SOLANO    COUNTY.  501 

ROHWER,  HANS,  was  born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  February  25,  1832. 
In  the  spring  of  1852  he  emigrated  to  Iowa,  and  remained  there  till  1854. 
In  this  year  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California,  arriving  at  Placerville 
October  25th,  and  engaged  in  mining  until  September,  1856,  when  he  set- 
tled on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  about  one  mile  south-east  of  Dixon. 

SILVEY,  ELIJAH  S.,  received  his  early  education  in  St.  Charles  county, 
Missouri,  where  he  was  born,  March  26,  1819.  In  1849  he  came  to  Cali- 
fornia, accompanied  by  his  wife,  whom  he  married  on  March  2,  1843,  and 
his  two  children,  arriving  at  Benicia  in  October,  of  the  same  year,  where 
they  resided  until  1851.  In  this  year  they  returned  to  Missouri,  and  in 
the  next  (1852)  once  more  crossed  the  plains  to  California,  bringing  one 
hundred  milch  cows  with  them,  and  settled  on  the  plains,  where  Silvey- 
ville  now  stands.  The  Silveys  were  the  first  settlers  in  this  section  of  the 
county,  and  gave  their  name  to  one  of  the  townships  of  Solano  county. 
Mr.  S.  kept  a  hotel  and  saloon  at  the  time  of  arrival,  but  a  few  years 
thereafter  people  commenced  to  locate,  and  a  considerable  town  sprung 
up,  which  was,  however,  removed  to  Dixon  on  the  completion  of  the  rail- 
road in  that  quarter,  Mr.  Silvey  died  November  11,  1869.  His  widow 
is  the  oldest  settler  at  Silveyville.  Their  children  are  ;  Elmira  J.;  born 
December  19,  1846  ;  Lucy,  born  April  30,  1848  ;  George  R.,  born  Novem- 
ber 4,  1850  ;  Edward  A.,  born  June  28,  1853 ;'  Edmund,  born  October  10, 
1856  ;  James,  born  May  24,  1858 ;  Florabelle,  born  November  4,  1861 ; 
Lee  E.,  born  July  11, 1867. 

SIMMONS,  Jr.,  REV.  J.  C,  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  Georgia,  having  been 
born  in  Butts  county,  May  26,  1827,  and  graduated  at  Emory  College, 
Oxford,  Georgia,  in  1848,  after  which  he  ministered  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  South,  in  that  State.  In  1852  he  was  sent  to  Califor- 
nia as  a  missionary,  reaching  San  Francisco  February  26th  of  that  year. 
He  was  sent  to  Grass  Valley,  Nevada  county,  Cal.,  filling  that  appoint- 
ment for  two  years.  In  1854  he  moved  to  Stockton,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was  sent  to  Mariposa,  and 
thence  to  San  Jose,  remaining  two  years  at  each  place,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed Presiding  Elder  of  the  San  Francisco  district,  a  position  which  he 
held  for  one  year ;  he  then  moved  to  Sacramento,  and  there  ministered 
for  two  years,  In  the  fall  of  1862  he  moved  to  Santa  Clara,  remaining 
there  one  year,  thence  proceeded  to  Petal uma,  Sonoma  county,  where  he 
ministered  for  two  years  and  a  half,  and  during  the  third  year  was  elected 
Professor  of  English  Literature  in  the  Pacific  Methodist  College  at  Vaca- 
ville,  a  position  he  retained  until  the  removal  of  the  institution  to  Santa 
Rosa,  in  Sonoma  county,  in  1870.  The  following  year  he  was  employed 
as  Sunday  School  Agent  for  the  Conference,  and  in  the  fall  of  1871  was 


502  THE   HISTORY   OF   SOLANO    COUNTY. 

appointed,  for  the  second  time,  Presiding  Elder  for  the  San  Francisco  dis- 
trict, holding  the  office  for  one  year.  In  1872  he  was  stationed  at  San 
Jose,  after  which  he  left  for  Santa  Rosa,  where  he  was  Presiding  Elder 
for  that  district  for  four  years.  In  the  fall  of  1877  he  was  appointed 
agent  for  Pacific  Methodist  College,  but  during  the  year  was  moved  and 
stationed  in  San  Francisco.  In  1878  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  General 
Conference,  held  in  Atlanta,  Georgia,  in  May  of  that  year,  and  in  October 
he  moved  to  Dixon,  and  has  since  had  pastoral  care  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  South  there.  In  the  fall  of  1877  Mr.  Simmons  was  ap- 
pointed to  deliver  the  quarter-century  sermon  at  the  session  of  his  Con- 
ference held  in  Santa  Rosa.  In  1852  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
the  Pacific  Annual  Conference,  and  is  the  only  effective  member  now  left. 
Mr.  S.  married,  June  28,  1853,  Miss  Margaret  R.  Campbell,  of  Madison- 
ville,  Hopkins  county,  Ky.,  by  whom  he  has  five  children :  John  C,  Jr ; 
Mary  Blythe,  William  A.,  James  H.,  and  Mardis  C. 

SMYTHE,  PETER,  was  born  in  Ottawa  county,  province  of  Ontario,  Cana- 
da, May  10,  1836,  and  there  received  his  early  education.  In  the  fall  of 
1853  he  emigrated  to  Oregon,  and  engaged  in  mining  operations,  at  Sail- 
or's Diggings,  for  one  year,  when  he  moved  into  Klamath  county,  where 
he  embarked  in  farming,  which  he  prosecuted  for  nine  years.  In  June, 
1863,  Mr.  Smythe  came 'to  Silveyville  township,  Solano  county,  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  about  three  miles  from  Dixon,  where  he  remained  till  1868, 
and  then  moved  into  that  city,  being  employed  in  different  mercantile 
firms  until  1874,  when  he  started  in  the  lumber  business  for  himself,  in  a 
yard  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  railroad  and  north  of  the  depot.  In 
1861-2  he  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Klamath  county,  Cal., 
and  has  served  one  term  in  a  like  capacity  in  Silveyville  township,  hav- 
ing been  elected  thereto  in  1874.  In  April,  1878,  on  the  incorporation  of 
the  City  of  Dixon,  Mr.  S.  was  elected  City  Trustee,  and  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Board  was  elected  Secretary,  which  office  he  still  continues  to 
hold.  He  married  May  3,  1868,  Miss  Anna  Brown,  a  native  of  Edenderry, 
King's  county,  Ireland,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Christiana  M.  J.  T. 

TIMM,  PETER,  born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  November  18,  1836,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  cabinet  maker.  He  then  emigrated  to  Iowa,  and 
worked  on  a  farm  for  four  years.  In  1859  he  crossed  the  plains  to  Cali- 
fornia with  an  ox-team,  arriving  at  Placerville  September  20th  of  that  year. 
For  his  first  two  years  he  engaged  in  mining,  and  then  embarked  in  farm- 
ing, after  which  he  worked  at  his  trade  in  San  Mateo  county,  until  1864, 
when  he  settled  on  a  ranch,  about  five  miles  east  of  Dixon,  on  which  he 
resided  for  four  years  ;  he  then  sold  out,  and  purchased  that  on  which  he 
now  lives,  situated  half  a  mile  north-east  of  Dixon.     In  1872-3  Mr.  Timm 


THE     HISTORY   OF   SOLANO   COUNTY.  503 

was  Deputy  Assessor  of  the  northern  end  of  the  county,  and  in  1874-5  he 
was  Tax  Collector  for  the  whole  of  Solano.  When  the  City  of  Dixon 
was  first -started,  Mr.  Timm  moved  a  large  proportion  of  the  houses  from 
Silveyville  and  Maine  Prairie.  He  is  a  Steward  of  the  Society  of  Dixon 
Grangers,  No.  19.  He  married,  in  May,  1867,  Miss  Cecilia  Benk,  who  was 
born  in  Holstein,  December  25,  1846,  by  whom  he  has  Laura  A. ;  Henry ; 
William;  Louisa. 

UDEL,  DOCTOR  0.  0.,  (deceased),  was  born  in  Ohio,  June  8,  1820,  where 
he  received  his  education,  and  graduated  in  medicine.     When  twenty- 
four  years  of  age  he  went  to  Iowa,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  which  he  continued  for  five  years.     In  1850  he  came  to  Cali- 
fornia, crossing  the  plains  with  horses,  which  were  stolen  from  him  when 
near  Salt  Lake ;  he,  therefore,  was  forced  to  undertake  the  balance  of  the 
journey  on  foot,  accompanied  by  his  four  companions,  which  was  accom- 
plished by  their  arrival  in  Yuba  county,  where  he  remained  till  the  fol- 
lowing year,  and  then  returned  to  Iowa.     In  1852  he  once  more  crossed 
the  plains ;  on  this  occasion,  bringing  with  him  his  wife  and  two  children, 
as  well  as  a  drove  of  cattle.     He  now  settled  near  Winters,  but  on  the 
Solano  county  side  of  the  Putah  creek,  and  confined  himself  to  the  rais- 
ing of  stock  and  farming,  which  he  followed  as  long  as  he  lived.     In 
1860  he  located  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  widow,  situated  four 
miles  west  of   Dixon.     He  died  there  on   December  11,  1872.     Doctor 
Udell  married,  November  6,  1848,  Miss  Caroline  Winton,  who  was  born 
in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  17,  1827.    Their  children  are : 
Alva,  David,  Edwin,  Olivia,  May,  Carrie  (deceased),   George,   Blanche, 
Ralph,  Grace. 

WEIHE,  EDWARD,  born  in  Germany,  July  30,  1830.  In  1850  came  to 
California,  and  for  five  years  engaged  in  mining  in  El  Dorado  county. 
For  the  next  four  years  he  followed  the  cigar  trade  in  San  Francisco,  and 
for  two  years  more  in  Stockton,  whither  he  has  moved  his  business.  Mr. 
Weihe  then  proceeded  to  Mokelumne  Hill,  Calaveras  county,  and  there 
opened  an  establishment  for  general  merchandise,  which  he  continued  for 
nine  years,  when  he  removed  to  San  Francisco,  and  commenced  a  produce 
business,  which  he  carried  on  for  two  years.  In  1871  he  settled  in  Dixon, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  liquor  and  cigar  trade,  in  connection  with  which 
he  carried  on  an  exchange  and  broker  business.  Mr.  Weihe  married, 
November  17,  1863,  Miss  Minnie  Trencehel,  who  was  born  in  St.  Louis,' 
February  12,  1843,  by  whom  he  has  Gustavus  A.  P.,  Otto  A.,  Frederick 
W.,  Bertie  E.,  Florence  C.