Contra Costa County, CA History

Transcribed by Sally  Kaleta

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SOURCE:  The History of Contra Costa County, California
Edited by: Frederick J. Hulaniski
Publisher: Elms Pub. Co., Berkley, CA 1917
 
CHAPTER VII
 SETTLEMENT AND EARLY HISTORY
 
 
      Contra Costa County became a definite locality in 1850, created by the 
California legislature that opened its initial session at San Jose on December 
15, 1849.  At that time twenty-seven counties were established.  In later years, 
by subdivision, they were increased to fifty-eight.
      General M. G. Vallejo, who was probably better informed on early 
California history than any other man of his period, in a report to the 
legislature on the derivation of the names of the several counties, paid this 
tribute to Contra Costa County:  "The name signifies 'Opposite Coast,' and the 
country is so called from its situation opposite San Francisco, in an easterly 
direction.  It is undoubtedly one of the most fertile counties in the State, 
possessing rich agricultural lands, which embrace an interior coast of thirty 
leagues, extending along the bays of Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Pablo, the 
Straits of Carquinez, the Bay of Suisan, and the San Joaquin River;  a 
circumstance which, united to its mild climate, will render it very important.
      "The pueblo of Martinez is its chief town, and the 'New York of the 
Pacific,' as well as other towns on the shores of San Pablo and the San Joaquin, 
will soon effectually contribute to its importance."  So spake General Vallejo 
half a century ago.
      When the treaty of peace was signed with Mexico in 1848 there was but one 
American citizen living permanently in the region that we now know as Contra 
Costa County.  This solitary representative of the United States was Doctor John 
Marsh.  He lived at the base of Mount Diablo, and later came into considerable 
prominence , Elam brown, the founder of Lafayette, was also among the early 
illustrious citizens of Contra Costa County.  He was a member of the 
Constitutional Convention which met at Monterey in September, 1849.  The 
constitution was completed after six weeks of deliberation and was adopted by 
the people at an election on the 13th of the following November.
      Another citizen mentioned in the chronicles of the times was Captain Seth 
M. Swain, of Martinez.  To him belonged the distinction of carrying the first 
mail up the Sacramento River, in the schooner "John Dunlap."  All the mail was 
in one bag, and Captain Swain received six hundred dollars for the voyage, 
although the total amount of postage on the mail amounted to less than sixty 
dollars.  
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
 
      Contra Costa County originally comprised 1500 square miles of territory, 
but in 1853 it was reduced nearly one-half, the portion which Contra Costa 
County lost helping to form the newly created Alameda County.  The ceded 
territory constituted the southern and western half of Contra Costa County.  
After this change she retained, as at present, 877 square miles.
      The act to form Alameda County was passed by the legislature in session at 
Benicia.  The county of Santa Clara was represented in the assembly by Henry C. 
Smith and W. S. Letcher, Contra Costa County was represented by H. W. 
Carpentier. Then, as now, San Jose was the county seat of Santa Clara County, 
and Martinez occupied a similar position in Contra Costa County.  The desire for 
a new county arose out of the fact that the inhabitants of Santa Clara County 
residing near where Oakland is today were compelled to cross a range of 
mountains to reach their county seat, San Jose, thirty miles away.  A petition, 
signed by citizens of both counties, asking that a new county be formed, was 
presented to the legislative act of 1853 was passed which made Contra Costa and 
Santa Clara counties the parents of Alameda.
      Commenting on this topic in a "Centennial Paper," published in the Contra 
Costa Gazette in 1876, Doctor J. R. Howard wrote:  
      "By the creation of Alameda County we lost more than half of our 
shore-line on the San Francisco Bay, and a valuable territory of land, with not 
less than three prosperous and handsome trade centers now clustering and growing 
on the opposite coast.
      "Still Contra Costa County has a most enviable natural position on the map 
of the State, with advantages possessed by few other counties.
      "It is now bounded by the San Joaquin River, Suisun Bay, Straits of 
Carquinez, and San Pablo Bay on the north; by San Francisco Bay and Alameda 
County on the west; by Alameda County on the south; and San Joaquin County on 
the east.  The map shows our geographical position to be about midway of the 
coast-line of the State, immediately in front and contiguous to the great heart 
of the State, with a shore-line of seventy miles or more on our northern border, 
along the magnificently linked system of bays, strait, and main rivers of the 
interior."
      A comparison of the original boundary with the present boundary, as taken 
from the records, will make apparent to the reader the amount of territory lost 
by Contra Costa County.  At the risk of being tedious, both are here given in 
full.  
      The original boundary as established by the legislature in 1849, was as 
follows: "Beginning at the mouth of Alameda Creek and running thence in a 
southwesterly direction to the middle of the bay to the Straits of San Pablo; 
thence up the middle of the Bay of San Pablo to the straits of Carquinez; thence 
running up the middle of said straits to the Suisun Bay, and up the middle of 
said bay to the mouth of the San Joaquin River; thence following up the middle 
of said river to the place known as Pescadero, or Lower Crossing; thence in a 
direct line to the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, which is on the 
summit of the Coast Range, near the source of Alameda Creek; thence down the 
middle of said creek to its mouth, which was the place of beginning, including 
the islands of San Pablo, Coreacas, and Tesoro.*  The seat of justice shall be 
at the town of Martinez."
      The present boundary, as established by the legislature on March 25, 1853, 
when Alameda County was formed from the southern part of Contra Costa County and 
a slice of Santa Clara County, is as follows: "Beginning in the Bay of San 
Francisco, at the northwest point of Red Rock, being the common corner of Marin, 
Contra Costa, and San Francisco [counties]; thence up the Straits and Bay of San 
Pablo, on the eastern boundary of Marin, to the point of intersection with the 
line bearing south twenty-six and one-half degrees east, and about six and 
one-quarter miles distant from the southwest corner of Napa County, forming the 
common corner of Marin, Solano, Sonoma, and Contra Costa [counties]; thence to 
the Straits of Carquinez; thence up said straits and Suisun Bay, to the mouth of 
the San Joaquin River; thence up said river to the confluence of the west and 
main channels thereof, as laid down in Gibbe's map; thence up said west channel 
to a point about ten miles below Moore and Rhode's ranch, at a bend where the 
said west channel, running downward, takes a general course north, the point 
being on the westerly line of San Joaquin County, and forming the northeast 
corner of Alameda, as laid down on Horace A. Higley's map, to the easterly line 
of San Francisco City and County; thence due northwest along said easterly line 
of San Francisco, four and one-half miles, more or less, to the place of 
beginning, the county seat, Martinez."
*Tesoro is a Spanish word meaning treasure.*
 
SENATORIAL DISTRICTS 
 
 
       In the first division of the State into counties Contra Costa County 
elected a State senator jointly with Santa Clara County;  and  this method of 
procedure remained in force until 1854, when it elected a joint senator with San 
Joaquin County.  A change was again made in 1862, whereby one senator served 
Contra Costa and Marin counties, which situation still remains in effect.
       
JUDICIAL DISTRICTS     
 
       When California  was divided into judicial districts, on March 29, 1850, 
John M. Watson became judge of the Third District, which comprised the counties 
of Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterey.  In 1853 Contra Costa 
was attached to the Seventh Judicial District, which included, Solano, Napa, 
Sonoma, and Marin counties.  Change followed change, and in March, 1862, the 
county was placed in the Fourth Judicial District, being in the following year 
annexed to the Third District.  It became a part of the Fifteenth District in 
1684, and remained so until the adoption of the new constitution, establishing 
the various superior courts.
 
THE COURT OF SESSIONS
 
       In the early days of Contra Costa County all the county business was 
transacted by the Court of Sessions.  These courts were authorized by the 
legislative act of April 11, 1850.  The court comprised the county judge, who 
presided at the sessions, assisted by two justices of the peace.  The latter, 
who sat at associate justices, were chosen by their brother justices from the 
entire number elected in the county.  All the intricate civil machinery of the 
county was administered by this court, and, according to reports of the period, 
it succeeded admirably.  The numerous duties of the court included the 
examination and settling of all accounts charged against the county; the 
auditing of the books of all officers who handled county funds; the directing 
and raising of funds through taxation on real and personal property; the 
management of public roads, turnpikes, canals and bridges; and the division of 
the county into townships and the establishment of election precincts.  The 
preceding list, which covers only a few of the most important duties of the 
court, would indicate that the positions held by these officials were no 
sinecures.
      The first county judge of Contra Costa County after its creation was F. M. 
Warmcastle, who took office on April 17, 1850.  The associate justices were 
Absolom Peak and Edward G. Guest.  Thomas A. Brown, a son of Elam Brown, was 
county clerk.  The first sheriff of Contra Costa County was Nathaniel Jones.
      One of the first acts performed by the Court of Sessions, on April 17, 
1850, was the partitioning of the county into three townships, comprising 
Martinez, San Antonio, and New York (now Pittsburg).  A further peep into the 
records of the period reveals the fact that on May 13, 1850, the court convened 
and ordered that all real and personal property of the county be assessed, and 
fixed the amount of tax thereon for county expenses at twenty-five cents on the 
hundred dollars.  A like sum for the construction of public buildings was 
ordered collected.  The county clerk was directed to secure a suitable building 
for temporary use as a courthouse.  On June 3, 1850,  the county clerk was 
directed to receive sealed bids for the erection of a county jail.
      On August 19th of the same year the court fixed the license to be 
collected on certain occupations.  To vend goods, wares and merchandise, with a 
capital of five thousand dollars or less, a license of twenty dollars per annum 
was collected.  The vender of spiritous, vinous, malt, and fermented liquors had 
first to pay a license of fifty dollars per annum.
       On the same date a license was granted to Oliver C. Coffin (ominous 
name!) to establish a ferry between Martinez and Benicia, after he had filed a 
bond in the amount of two thousand dollars.  The court permitted him to charge 
the following fares: For each foot man, $1; man and horse, $2.50; single horse, 
mule or ox, $2; wagon, $5; carriage, $4; each head of sheep or hogs, 50 cents.
        In early times the roads of Contra Costa County were few and far 
between.  Here and there they wound about over the country, following the lines 
of least resistance, in many instances only enlarged trails.  Naturally, one of 
the first acts performed by the Court of Sessions was the establishment of road 
districts and the creation of new highways.  This step was taken on July 20, 
1850, when seven road districts were established.  Two districts were defined 
between Martinez and Pueblo de San Jose, the overseers appointed being N. B. 
Smith and Joseph Rothenhostler.  The streets of Martinez comprised district 
three, and A. Van Herne Ellis was placed in charge of them, as supervisor.  
District four was the road traveled from Martinez, by way of the home of Silvio 
Pacheco, to New York of the Pacific (now Pittsburg).  Henry F. Joye was 
appointed overseer. The road from the Moraga Redwoods to its intersection with 
the Martinez and San Jose highway was designated as district five, its overseer 
being E. Miller. Elam Brown was appointed overseer of district six, the road 
that connected his rancho with that of Vicente Castro, and which intersected the 
road from the Moraga Redwoods to Martinez. District seven extended from the 
crossing of the San Joaquin River to the Pueblo de San Jose, and was placed in 
charge of Greene Patterson.  At the same meeting of the court an order was 
established requiring all able-bodied men between the ages of eighteen and 
forty-five to perform their share of road work during five days of each year.
        From this time forward rapid strides were made in the building and 
improvement of roads.  On July 15, 1852, orders were issued for the laying out 
of the road between Oakland and San Pablo.  By 1860 there were seventeen road 
districts within the county limits.  Today no better roads are found elsewhere 
in the State of California than in Contra Costa, for which condition the 
citizens of the present age are vastly indebted to the zeal of pioneer 
road-builders.  The modern phases of Contra Costa roads will be discussed in 
another chapter.  
 
SETTLEMENT AND EARLY HISTORY
 
 
      The first Board of Supervisors for Contra Costa County was elected June 
14, 1852, comprising the following five members: William Patten, Samuel H. 
Robinson, Victor Castro, Robert Farrelly, and T. J. Keefer.  Upon the board 
devolved all the duties of administering county affairs, previously performed by 
the Court of Sessions.
      A glance at the assessment report made by Supervisor Samuel H. Robinson, 
on July 23, 1852, throws considerable light on the large landholdings of the 
period, these being whole or in part of the old Mexican land grants.  The 
largest individual holdings were those of W. Castro, who was assessed $82,704 on 
27,568 acres, at the rate of three dollars an acre.  Silvio Pacheco paid taxes 
on an assessment of $141,696, covering his rancho of 17, 712 acres, at eight 
dollars an acre.  The land holdings of Doctor john Marsh, which also comprised 
17,712 acres, was assessed at one dollar an acre.  The farm of Jose Jesus 
Vallejo, which covered 19,926 acres, was assessed at 99,630.  These are but a 
few of the largest holdings.  The assessment-roll shows scores of others ranging 
from one thousand to ten thousand acres.
       The Board of Supervisors continued in existence until replaced by the 
Court of Sessions, on March 25, 1854.  Following an act of the legislature, 
passed March 20, 1855, the Board of Supervisors again came into being, and since 
then has remained permanent in county affairs.
       Passing on to the year 1856, it is found that on the 17th of November the 
Union Hotel, of Martinez, was destroyed by fire, and with it most of the records 
of the county treasurer, Robert E. Borden, who was also proprietor of the hotel. 
 He made a report to the Board of Supervisors, showing that a thousand dollars 
was saved, but that nineteen hundred was lost.  Concurring in the belief that 
the loss was unavoidable, the board succeeded in having Borden relieved of the 
obligation of making good the loss.  
      An act of unusual magnaimity on the part of a county official was recorded 
on the 5th of February, 1861.  On that date Judge Thomas A. Brown released the 
county from paying him six thousand dollars, this sum being a portion of his 
salary for four years as county judge.  The salary provided by law was 
twenty-five hundred dollars a year, but Judge Brown declared in a favor of a 
salary of one thousand dollars a year, which sum he drew, and at the end of his 
term refunded to the county the accrued six thousand dollars.  
      No unusual events are recorded during the intervening years until June 20, 
1868, when an election was held, submitting to a vote of the people the 
proposition for the county to make a donation to Martinez & Danville Railroad 
Company.  This was to aid in the construction of a railroad from Martinez to 
Danville.  The proposition was defeated by a vote of 391 in favor to 522 
against.
      Further records for the year for the year 1868 show that the courthouse 
sustained grave damages from the great earthquake of October 21st, and that the 
District Court was compelled to meet in the carpenter shop of E. W. Hiller, the 
former office being considered insecure.  On October 23rd extensive repairs were 
begun on the courthouse.  The record for 1868 ends with the authorization of R. 
B. Hard to build a calaboose at Antioch.  For the benefit of the uninitiated, it 
is here explained that the word calaboose is derived from the Spanish phrase el 
calabozo (the jail).  The granting of permission to build calabooses forms no 
small part of the records of those days.
     That coyotes were still numerous in 1876 is evidenced by the action of the 
Board of Supervisors, on February 9th of that year in offering a bounty on the 
scalps and ears of these canny pests.
      The trend of the times is eloquently set forth in the brief record of the 
vote on Chinese immigration, at the election of September 7, 1879. For Chinese 
immigration 16 votes; against Chinese immigration, 2039 votes; majority against 
Chinese immigration, 2023 votes.  Such was the laconic but decisive verdict.
      Early in  1880 a number of franchises for the erection of wharves were 
granted to Port Costa, a hamlet then fast coming into prominence as a shipping 
point and also because it was there that the steamer "Solano" landed its 
western-bound trains from the Atlantic.  The records of the year show also that 
the Northern Railroad Company had over twenty-three miles of railroad in the 
county, while the San Pablo & Tulare Railroad Company had more than thirty-four. 
 The former was valued at $13,060 a mile, and the latter at $11,200.  An 
official seal for the Board of Supervisors was ordered on July 7, 1880.  The 
design chosen was a sheaf of grain, a horn of plenty, with grapes and melons, 
all surrounded by the words, "Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, 
California."
     During 1880 the public debt of the county, amounting to $94,100, was 
funded, and bonds bearing interest at six per cent and payable semi-annually, 
were directed to be issued on August 4th.  One month later another debt of 
$38,000 was ordered funded by the issuance of bonds bearing interest at the 
above rate.  
      Contra Costa County was rapidly emerging from pioneer conditions.  Small 
but thriving towns were springing up all along her water-front; shipping was 
receiving a great impetus from her numerous products, including millions of 
bushels of grain, which were marketed all over the world; orchard and vegetable 
gardens were thriving in her fertile valleys; roads and schools were rapidly 
improved and railroad communication was steadily increasing.
      Turning from the pioneer days, the commercial growth of the county and its 
cities will be taken up in the succeeding chapters.