Fresno County

History

SOURCE:  Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California - Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892

FRESNO COUNTY

 

FRESNO PRIOR TO COUNTY ORGANIZATION

 
           When the state was first organized into counties, February 18, 1850, the territory now comprising what is Merced, Mono, Mariposa, and Fresno counties was called Mariposa. This portion of the San Joaquin valley about the year 1835 was almost a terra incognita, having been visited by the trappers only, as previously stated.
           At about that time an expedition into this part of the valley was undertaken by Lieutenant Moraga of the Mexican army, then stationed at the presidio of San Francisco, who in command of a company of soldiers in June pursued into the valley of the San Joaquin some Indians who had been committing depredations upon the settlers in the coast valleys. Moraga, with his command, crossed the San Joaquin near the mouth of the Tuolumne river, and traveled in a southeasterly direction to the Merced river, a distance of about forty miles, the whole of which had to be accomplished without water. The weather being very hot, it is no wonder that they called the river in whose waters they slaked their burning thirst and laved their throbbing temples, El Rio de la Merced, the river of mercy.
          Resting here a few days the party continued their journey southeastwardly until they arrived at a small stream along the banks of which they found myriads of beautifully variegated butterflies, which in the Spanish tongue are called las mariposas; hence Moraga named the creek El Arroyo de las Mariposas, which name it has since borne, with only the final s omitted. The Mexicans are noted for giving beautiful and appropriate names to their towns , ranches, rivers and mountains, as well as other natural objects. They seem to have been actuated by a grateful feeling or religious sentiment, sometimes having in view the beauties of nature, as in the case of Las Mariposas; at others being moved by a profound feeling of gratitude to God for what they acknowledged as a "gift" or "mercy," as in the case of La Merced.
             In 1851, the north boundary of Mariposa County was the 38th parallel on the east side of the Sierras, which corresponds very nearly with the north line of Mono County and included Mono lake. The line extended down the Sierra to the headwaters of the Tuolumne and thence followed that river westerly to the San Joaquin and on to the Coast Range. It followed the Coast Range to a point opposite the mouth of King's river, and thence followed that stream to the Sierras, and thence to the Nevada line. The population of this large territory was, by the census of 1850, 4,379. Out of this territory was formed Merced County, in 1855, with the county seat at the ranch of "Turner and Osborn," on Mariposa creek, about eight miles from Merced. Lieutenant Governor Samuel Purdy was at the time president of the Senate, and W. W. Stowe speaker of the House. Mariposa County was represented in the Senate by Major A. McNeil, and by E. Burke and Thomas Flournoy in the Assembly. In 1856, Fresno county was formed from the territory, and in 1863 Mono County was organized.
            A history of Fresno County could not be well given without at least a brief review of the incidents and conditions of the mother county, Mariposa, of which the present territory of Fresno formed a part in the pioneer days of California. The broad plains and beautiful rivers of the section then embraced in Mariposa County was inhabited by many Mexican ranchers, who with their fatted herds enjoyed the greatest freedom; and who exhibited in person a royal hospitality toward the wayfarer, often furnishing guides and horses at the command of a stranger, for many days' journey, with the only injunction, "Cuando buelva no dye de venier a verme."
           Later the mining interest predominated, but for a short time however, as the husbandman's plow no sooner turned the soil than a bountiful yield gladdened the hearts of the many households whose habitations began to deck the plains, and in a few years hamlets and villages took the place of lowing herds, and to-day Mariposa County as it now exists is more noted for its far-named Yo Semite valley than for anything else. It is said that when the Mariposa Gazette was started there was not a white woman in the town.
           Soon thereafter several white families moved in, and the editor at once began complaining of the crying children. The writer has not been able to ascertain his name, which is of little consequence, however, as he must have been a soured old bachelor, and of no consequence to women and an unpleasant monument to his own sex, who enjoy the music of children and the companionship of women, the safeguards of society and the noblest work of the great Creator.  An old miner says he will never forget the time when the miners heard there was a woman coming into camp. All quit work and marched four miles down the road to meet her. Several large arches were erected over the road, and a band of music led the march into town. The town was alive with miners when they got there who came from the hills to get a glimpse of the woman and participate in the celebration. The first woman who arrived started at once into the pastry business, and sold pies for $5 apiece! Sometimes the miners complained of the pies, but the woman who made them say if they didn't like them they needn't buy any, as she was not particular whether she sold pies for $5 anyway. Those were days when every one felt as independent as a lord.
           During the summer of 1851, Coarse Gold Gulch became a prominent mining camp, and in the fall of that year an election for county officers foe Mariposa County was held. At this election there was polled at the Texas Flat precinct 150 votes. "Jim" Wade was elected to the Assembly, and Captain Bowling Sheriff, whose opponent, Judge Ramsey, afterward became County Judge of Monterey County. By the first of October, 1851, the Indians having threatened war Coarse Gold Gulch was deserted, only four or five miners remaining, among whom was William Abbie; but before December many returned, among whom were C. P. Converse and T. C. Stallo, who opened a store about one and a half miles below Texas Flat. This was placed in charge of Samuel H. P. Ross, who became known as "Alphabet" Ross, who was afterward District Attorney of Merced County. 
             Asa Johnson with three negroes and a wench, Mary, also arrived in December and engaged in mining. During the summer of 1852, Johnson killed a man by the name of Thomas Larabee; Johnson was tried and acquitted and finally left the country. What became of the negroes is not positively known; it was reported that Mary was murdered while on her way back to Texas, in company with another negro.
             In the spring of 1852, Stallo and Converse discontinued their store on Coarse Gold Gulch, and James N. and C. F. Walker, two brothers, erected a store there, which they continued until 1859. In 1852, John Letford and one Carson erected a store at Fresno Crossing, but soon sold out to J. L. Hunt and J. R. Nichols. The latter sold his interest to James Roan.  In August, 1852, three Frenchmen, whose names were not ascertained, went on a prospecting tour to the Yo Semite country, near the Yo Semite valley. They were attacked by a band of Indians. Two of the Frenchmen were killed, and one escaped, making his way toward the settlement. Arriving at Coarse Gold Gulch the latter part of August, and having told his story, a party of thirty miners went back with him to find the remains of his unfortunate comrades. Their bodies were found near the valley, and were decently buried.
            In October, 1854, J. M. Shannon and S. B. Coffee came to Fresno County and settled at Coarse Gold Gulch, at a place since owned by Andrew Johnson. They engaged in the raising , buying and butchering of hogs, and did a profitable business for three years. There were a large number of Chinese in the placer mines during the time, and pork sold at 25 cents and upward per pound. Jeff. Shannon did the peddling and had little opposition in business. He sold pork at his own price, and in addition to that he weighed the meat he sold, and the gold dust he took in exchange therefore, on his own scales: hence the large profits.
            Among the first settlers at Upper King's river were a Mr. Pool. who established the first ferry across the river; William Y. Scott, the second sheriff of Fresno County, and after whom the settlement once known as Scottsburg was named; William W. Hill, the Smoat family, the Akers family, P. W. Fink, John A. Patterson, A. M. Darwin, E. C. Ferguson, William Hazelton, C. F. Cherry, William C. Caldwell, Jesse Morrow, afterward proprietor of the popular "Morrow House;" Richard and William Glenn, William Deakin and others. They all engaged in agriculture and stock-raising, and in a few years after the first settlers had located there the settlement became the largest in the county, and for a few years held the balance of power politically; and a candidate for office who could secure a fair majority at the King's River precinct considered himself sure of election. The first settlers were good, old-fashioned people who cared little for politics or the outside world; they stayed at home, tilled the soil, raised stock, made money, and were contented and comparatively happy; and while they formed the largest settlement in the county, its history is stained with less crime or deeds of violence than many smaller communities. A defeated candidate after the fall election of 1863, unjustly and perhaps maliciously observed that the King's River people reminded him of a flock of sheep, - "As the bell-wether goes, so go they all."
           King's River was in later years given the name of Centerville, which it still bears, but has been stripped of much of its former business by various rival towns springing up in close proximity. Near by at one time there were discovered, and for a time worked, mines of quicksilver, called New Idria, and at one time were considered very valuable, worth at least $5,000,000. Years of litigation, however, has prevented all parties from realizing profits from its valuable deposit.
           In 1854 one Whitmore established a ferry at Lower King's River. It was for many years known as Whitmore's Ferry. Subsequently Whitmore was killed, and the property passed into the hands of O. H. Bliss, who maintained the ferry for several years, but afterward discontinued it, and built a substantial bridge across the river.
           In 1855, George Grierson, Otto Froelich and Gomer Evans settled at Millerton, engaging in the mercantile business. Evans afterward removed to San Francisco; Grierson went back with his family to Denmark in 1868; Otto Froelich continued in the mercantile business, having purchased Grierson's interest, and in 1872 removed to Fresno. In 1854 Alexander Ball erected the first saw-mill in Fresno County, some fifteen miles east of Millerton. Later C. P. Converse erected a saw-mill in Crane vallley, and later still George McCollough and Thomas Winkleman erected one still lower down on the north fork of the San Joaquin river. All of these mills have long since been obliged to give way to the more rapid motor, steam. Fort Miller was established in 1852, under General Miller. The name of Rootville, by which the mining camp situated about a mile below the fort was designated, was changed to Millerton, in honor of General Miller. Captain Jordan, who was for a time quartermaster at the fort, commenced the construction of a dam across the San Joaquin river for mining purposes in 1853. The remains of both dam and ditch can yet be located. Millerton was a thriving village in 1853. Among the foremost settlers there were C. P. Converse, T. C. Sallo, Hugh Carlin, T. J. Allen, Hugh A. Carroll, Charles A. Hart, L. C. Hughes, Dr. Du Gay, Ira Stroud, Colonel Henry Borrough, John McLeod, William Rousseau and others.
             In 1854 Ira McCray and George Rivercrombie settled at Millerton, and in partnership engaged in the hotel and livery business, which they conducted successfully. Later McCray purchased his partner's interest and continued the business alone.
             The principal amusement indulged in by the miners in those days were rifle and pistol practice and  a game of cards called "rounce," and sometimes an indifferent horse-race was gotten up; But Shannon took a new departure in the way of getting up races. In the summer of 1856 Shannon and "Jim" Roan made up a foot-race between two young squaws. Jeff. trained a young squaw known by the euphonious name of mustang, and Roan trained another named Chutaluya. Quite an interest was manifested in this race, and considerable money was bet. On the day appointed for the race a great crowd assembled to witness the speed of the contestants, and when the squaws appeared upon the track, Mustang dressed in red, and the other in blue, a deafening cheer rent the air, and both squaws looked eager for the fray; and when the word "Go" was given away they went, each doing her best. The result was, Mustang came out s few feet ahead, and was declared winner, and Jeff. won about $150 on the race. L. A. Holmes, then editor of the Mariposa Gazette, in commenting on the race, observed that if roan had kept his squaw in as good training as Jeff. kept his, the result of the race would have been different.
           Judge M. B. Lewis, who was a Texan soldier under General Sam Houston, was an early settler and one of the commissioners for the organization of the county, and was in early days an Indian agent on Fresno river.

FORT MILLER IN WHAT WAS CALLED GOOD TIMES

 
            When the Legislature created Fresno County, Millerton was designated as the county seat. The mines on the bank of the river were then yielding rich returns, and the county official, as also the officers and men at Fort Miller, had a very agreeable time with Millertonians, and everything was conducted in a loose, careless style. County court at Millerton was adjourned one day in order to give the jury an opportunity to attend a horse-race, and the Board of Supervisors would adjourn twenty times a day in order to go and take a drink.
            No further Indian troubles being apprehended, Fort Miller was evacuated in September, 1858,  and was placed in charge of T. C. Stallo, with authority to take care of and preserve the property for the government.

FRESNO COUNTY ORGANIZED

 
              Fresno County is the geographical center of the State. Previous to 1856 the vast territory now contained within the limits of Fresno County was embraced in Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare counties. In that year the people living within the territory petitioned the Legislature, and on the 19th of April, 1856, the county of Fresno was organized, with the county seat at Millerton. For the purpose of county organization, even commissioners were appointed, viz.: Charles A. Hart, Ira McCray, James Cruikshank, H. M. Lewis, H. A. Carroll, J. W. Gilmore and O. M. Brown. In accordance with the provisions of the act creating the county, the commissioners met at McCray's hotel, Millerton, on the 26th of May, 1856, and there organized and elected James Cruikshank chairman, and H. A. Carroll secretary. All the members of the commission were present except Gilmore and Lewis. An election was ordered for the 9th of June, and the following precincts established:
 
       Precinct.                                          Place of Election.
          No. 1 - Near the Chowchilla, at C. A. Yancey's
          No. 2 - At Leach's store, on the Fresno.
          No. 3 - At Hunt's, on the Fresno.
          No. 4 - At Ashman's Store, on Fine Gold Gulch
          No. 5 - At Upper Camp
          No. 6 - At Gaster's.
          No. 7 - At Mone City.
          No. 8 - At Millerton.
          No. 9 - At Firebaugh's.
          No. 10 - At King's River Ferry.

 BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTY

 
 
               Looking over the act of the Legislature establishing the county of Fresno, passed April 18, 1856, it is difficult to understand the boundary of the same. It says: "Beginning at a point where the Stockton road to Millerton crossed the Chowchilla, known as Newton's Crossing; thence down said stream on the north side with the high-water mark, to the sink of the same, at the lower molt of cottonwood timber; thence south forty-five degrees west to the south boundary of Merced County; thence in a southeasterly direction with the present southwestern boundary of Tulare County, south forty-five degrees west from the point on King's river, where the line dividing township fifteen and sixteen south crosses the same; thence with the said dividing line to the summit of the Sierra Nevada; thence north forty-five degrees east to the eastern boundary of the State of California; thence in a northwestern direction with said State line to a point north forty-five degrees east from the place of beginning."
            The reader will have observed the conflicting features in the boundary given. The same law made it the duty of the county surveyor, under the direction of the board of supervisors, to make a survey, and mark the limits and boundaries of said county. From the sink of the Chowchilla, the statute calls for a line running thence south forty-five degrees west to the south boundary of Merced County. It seems that the Legislature meant to say the southwesterly boundary of Merced County. Taking that to have been the intention of the act, there was no difficulty in fixing that line.
           August 5, 1856, the supervisors resolved that Hewlett Clark and James Smith be appointed as commissioners on behalf of Fresno County, to meet a corresponding number from the counties of Mariposa, Merced and Tulare, to ascertain the amount of indebtedness due to those counties.  These commissioners determined the amount and the matter was amicably settled.
           In 1857 the county surveyor, O. M. Brown, ran the line dividing Fresno from Tulare, Mariposa and Merced counties. Several ineffectual attempts have since been made to take territory from Fresno and add to joining counties.
           In April, 1872, the counties of Mariposa and Fresno caused a joint survey to be made, establishing the limits  and bounds of each county as per act of the Legislature passed April 1 of that year. The surveyors were R. B. Thomas and M. B. Lewis. The expense to each county was $207.70. There had been for some time a dispute between Merced and Fresno counties in regard to the boundary line. This was also amicably settled in 1873, each paying equally the cost of the survey.
           The county is bounded north by Merced and Mariposa, east by Mono and Inyo, south by Tulare and west by Monterey and San Benito counties. The Sierras form the eastern potion of the county, and here attain the greatest elevation of all mountains in the United States. Mount Whitney is more than 15,000 feet above sea level; Mount Shasta, heretofore considered the highest, is but 14,442 feet. Whitney, however, is in Tulare County. Mount Goddard, Mount Tyndall and others are more than 14,000 feet above sea level.
           Among the glaciers and snow gorges of this grand region are the sources of King's and the San Joaquin rivers, the waters of which are so readily utilized for irrigating purposes on the broad, productive plains upon which are now established many prosperous colonies and flourishing cities; and towns and villages are springing up magic like, from the profitable industries made possible to establish, by the water led to the valley from nature's unlimited storehouse in the great Sierra Range. Her nature has prepared an eternal, inexhaustible reservoir with ample water supply for irrigating every acre of land in the valley  and for all other purposes, provided it is properly distributed and not used wastefully. In this respect is Fresno County more favored than any other county in the State, and her enterprising citizens are turning this water supply to advantage as will be seen by the many thousand acres now yielding the husbandman from $250 to $300 per acre, where, before irrigated, - that is, before the vast system of irrigation was established, - the jack-rabbit would not venture, fearing death from thirst. This feature will be fully treated elsewhere.
              The western slope of Fresno's Sierras is covered with beautiful pine, fir and tamarack forests, scattered through which are numerous groves of the Sequoia gigantea, or "big trees." Some individual specimens of these forest monarchs are among the largest in the State; and their grandeur, considered with the weird pictures of the higher Sierras, or glacial region, accord to Fresno County some of the most sublime scenery in America.
              The western boundary of the county is the summit of the Mount Diablo spur of the Coast Range. This part of the county has in the past been nearly entirely devoted to stock-raising, When irrigated all the semi-tropical fruits grow well. In these mountains, about eighty miles from the city of Fresno, is the celebrated New Idria quicksilver mine, one of the most valuable in the world. Petroleum and gold are also found in abundance in these mountains; nature seems to have placed the timber supply, the great irrigating fluid and precious metals in the Sierras on the east, and the coarser metals, fuel and lighting supplies in the Coast Range on the west.

THE FIRST JAIL ERECTED IN THE COUNTY 

 
             September 15, 1856, the Board of Supervisors awarded a contract to build a jail at the county seat, to Henry Borroughs, the cost to be $6,000. On the 23d of February, 1857, the supervisors accepted from the said Borroughs the jail that he had built. It was not a substantial structure, constructed of stone, brick and wood, with mud for mortar, and here and there a little iron-work.  When finished, a day was appointed for its acceptance by the board of supervisors. A German who had been so indiscreet as to be caught stealing a watch, was confined in the new jail, when the supervisors, accompanied by Colonel Burroughs, went to inspect the structure and ascertain if it was done according to plans, etc. The prisoner informed the colonel that he would scratch out of that institution in less than twenty minutes; in fact he had removed two or three brick to show the colonel how easy was the undertaking. The colonel became alarmed, and begged the prisoner "for God Almighty's sake not to scratch out until it was accepted by the Board of Supervisors," otherwise he would be a ruined man! The prisoner seems not to have been entirely void of honor and sympathy for his fellow man, as he remained in the jail until the building was accepted; and then, with the aid of a ten-penny nail, scratched out and made his escape!
              There was a proposition to build

 A NEW COURTHOUSE AND JAIL

 
in 1863, and the clerk advertised for plans, bids, etc. Receiving none the matter was dropped until May, 1866, when the supervisor's decided to erect a courthouse and jail, and instructed the clerk to issue bonds to the amount of $20,008 to pay for the same.
             The contract for constructing the two buildings was awarded to C. P. Converse & Co., for $17,008.25. Subsequently changes were made in the plans and several thousand dollars added to the cost. The construction of the new stone and brick courthouse and jail began in the winter of 1866, at Millerton, and was completed in the summer of 1867.
             They were substantial buildings, the jail especially at that time being second to none in the State; but when in 1874 the county seat was removed to Fresno, the entire town of Millerton was abandoned, and the splendid courthouse left standing alone. It is proper here to remark, that with the advent of the Central Pacific Railroad in the spring of 1872, the foundation was laid upon which the present city of Fresno has builded so well, and which became the county seat soon thereafter.

REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY SEAT

 
             The railroad having been extended through the San Joaquin valley, and farming having in measure supplanted mining and stock-raising, the center of population changed and a restive desire prevailed to have the county seat removed from Millerton to some more central point. Accordingly a petition was presented to the Board of Supervisors, on February 12, 1874, asking that an election be called to select some more central point. The board accordingly ordered an election to be held on the 23d of March, at which the question was disposed of with the following result:
             For Millerton, 93 votes; Centerville, 123; Lisbon, 124; and Fresno, 417. Fresno having received a majority of all the votes cast, was fixed as the county seat.
            At this election, A. J. Thorn was elected County Treasurer.

THE PRESENT COURTHOUSE AND JAIL

 
            The County was also authorized to issue bonds to the amount of $60,000, for the purpose of erecting a courthouse and  jail at the new county seat. The county officers removed to Fresno September 25, 1874, where they occupied a temporary building, size 24 x 80 feet, erected by J. L.  Smith. This building was sold, after being vacated, to A. J. Thorn, for $146, September, 1875. The corner-stone of the new courthouse was laid September 18, 1874, under the supervision of the Masonic order, composed of members of Merced and Fresno lodges, Dr. Titus, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the State of California, officiating. A procession was formed headed by Woodman's band, and composed of Masons, Odd Fellows, county officials and citizens. The exercises were opened with a song by the choir, composed of Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. J. C. Hoxie, Mrs. Wm. Lambert, and Messrs. Wm. Faymonville, A. W. Burrell and S. W. Geis. Mrs. Phillips presided at the organ. The Hon. C. G. Sayle, on behalf of the supervisors, addressed the assembly as follows:
          "Ladies and Gentlemen: The Honorable Board of Supervisors, on behalf of the citizens of Fresno County, are now about to commence the erection of the grandest and noblest edifice that has ever been planned or contemplated in this county. The said edifice, when completed, is expected to stand the heats of summer and the storms of winter for a period of 1,000 years or more; and in order to perpetuate the present history of this county, the Board of Supervisors deem it their duty, in accordance with ancient customs, to invite the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of the State of California to lay the corner-stone this edifice. Here they may deposit the usual mementos and items of history, for the benefit of future generations, when by the lapse of time this edifice shall have crumbled to dust. And now, in  behalf of the supervisors and citizens of Fresno County, we hereby invite Dr. Titus, Most Worshipful Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of California, to lay the cornerstone of this edifice, and present the proper working tools to the Grand Master."
            There were deposited in the corner-stone the following articles: Copy of the act of the Legislature fixing the county seat at Fresno; copy of the act authorizing the issuance of courthouse and jail bonds; copy of said bonds; copy of joint report of the county auditor and treasurer of Fresno County; names of Fresno County officers; copy of the great register of Fresno County; Fresno Expositor, Vol. 1, No. 4, May 18, 1870; also Vol. 5, No. 25, October 7, 1874, same paper; San Francisco Daily Examiner, October 5, 1874; Daily Alta California, October 7, 1874; Sacramento Record, October 7, 1874; Oakland Daily News, October 6, 1874; Dixon & Faymonville's Map of Fresno County, also the town of Fresno, contributed by the firm mentioned; Holt Bible, contributed by Dr. Leach; business card of Whitlock & Young; one $20 gold piece, United States coin of 1874, contributed by A. W. Burrell; one $10 gold piece; one $5 gold piece; one $2.50 gold piece; one $1; one half-dollar, one quarter-dollar, one ten-cent coin, - of silver; one five-cent; one  three-cent and one two-cent nickel coins; and one copper coin, of the United States, contributed by the Board of Supervisors; list of sheriffs of Fresno County, contributed by J. Scott Asman; historical notes of the first twenty years of San Joaquin valley, containing a copy of the original treaty of peace between the Indians and whites, made at Fort Barber in 1851; and a copy of the muster roll of the Volunteer Battalion of 1851, under Major J. D. Savage, contributed by W. T. Rumble and Dr. Lewis Leach.
            Judge E. C. Winchell delivered an ableoration.
            The courthouse is 60 x 90 feet, three stories high and surmounted with a cupola, from which one can look north and south in the valley until the extent of vision id arrested by the vision. From this elevation one can view with reverential awe and wondering admiration the snow-capped peaks of the grand Sierras miles away to the east, and away to the west the Coast Range serves to rest the eye after spanning the vast plain. The courthouse is suitably divided into county offices, court rooms, etc., and is fifty-seven feet high above the grade, and the entire height from grade to top of the figure which surmounts the dome is 112 feet. This figure represents Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom. The entire walls of the building are of brick covered with cement. The three arches are ornamented with figures of the Goddess of Justice. The building is very ornamental as well as convenient, comfortable and substantial, is provided with all the modern conveniences, and is a credit to the designer as well as to those who supervised its erection, being an edifice of which the citizens of Fresno city and county should feel proud.
            The contract for the erection of the building was let May 14, to the California Bridge and Building Company of Oakland, represented by its president, A. W. Burrell, for $56,370. The building was delivered to the county completed the 1st day of August, 1875. The grounds surrounding this edifice are well graded, and the many varieties of ornamental trees show a wonderful growth, already resembling a shady forest. The commanding appearance of the courthouse, surrounded by the well-kept, pleasant park, is and always will be an attractive feature of the city of Fresno.

MILLERTON  

            
            Having followed the courthouse to completion at Fresno, let us resume the passing events at Millerton, where a military fort was established in April, 1851, on the south bank of the San Joaquin, about one mile above the town of Millerton, and called at the time Fort Barber; it was soon afterward changed to Millerton. Here the Indian treaty  was signed. The last serious Indian difficulty occurred in the summer of 1856, with the Four Creek Indians. The soldiers stationed at Fort Millerton under Colonel Livingston, a company of fifty men from Fresno County, also a force of volunteers from Tulare County, joined Colonel Livingston's forces and soon the Indians were subdued. particulars of this Indian war will be found in the history of Tulare County.
             In 1857 Ira McCray erected a stone hotel at a cost of $15,000, and did a thriving business until 1863, when reverses set in, and in 1866-'67 his fine hotel and ferry-boat were William Warren Olney was sent with a force of United States troops to occupy Fort Millerton, owing to a rumor of an uprising in the valley in favor of the Southern Confederacy. Nothing of the kind occurred, and the troops and citizens got along together in good style. Soon afterward the fort was abandoned and the building sold.
            In 1870 the census showed 113 school children in Millerton. The last business transacted in the courthouse at Millerton was by the Plus Ultra Mining Company, and they held their last meeting in their new quarters, Fresno.
           The first meeting of the county supervisors in Fresno was October 5, 1874. Their first official act was to levy a tax  for county purposes. The Expositor of September, 1874, said: "The glories of Millerton have departed; one by one the buildings are being moved to Fresno. Last week Faymonville's and Dr. Leach's were torn down for removal, and Judge Sayle's residence and office is following.  Also Dixon's residence will soon go, and thus Millerton in a manner died for the time and gave life to the new town of Fresno. 

ELECTIONS AND OTHER PROCEEDINGS

 
            At the first election, held June 9, 1856, 383 votes were cast and the following officers were elected: County Judge, Charles J. Hart; County Clerk and Recorder, James Sayle, Jr.; Sheriff, W. C. Bradly; County Treasurer, Geo Rivercrombie; District Attorney, J. C. Craddock; County Assessor, J. G. Ward; County Surveyor, W. W. Bourland; Coroner, H. A. Carroll; Supervisors, J. A. Patterson, John R. Hughes and J. M. Roan.
           The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held June 23, 1856, at which John R. Hughes was elected chairman. At this meeting the county was divided into three supervisor districts and judicial townships, and Hewlett Clark and Hugh Carlin were appointed Justices of the Peace for township 2, - Howard for township 3, and D. J. Johnson and Thomas J. Allen for district No. 1.
           At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors August 4, 1856, the salary of the county judge was fixed at $2,500, and that of the District Attorney at $1,000.
           In February, 1857, James E. Williams appears as one of the super-visors. The records do not show whom he succeeded, but circumstances lead to the conclusion that he took the place of J. A. Patterson. May 4, 1857, at the meeting of the board, Clark Hoxie has succeeded John L. Hunt as supervisor.
          In 1857, the supervisors ordered the tax collector to receive gold-dust in payment of foreign miners' license, at $14 per ounce, and the treasurer is instructed to receive it at that figure. Officers received liberal prices in those days. That the prisoners were well cared for is instanced by a bill presented to the board at its session in 1857, for feeding and guarding a prisoner for thirty-two days. For this service, $6 per day was demanded. Ten dollars per day was allowed commissioners when doing business for the county. The salary of the county judge was reduced this year to $1,500 per annum. At the meeting of the board in August, 1857, S. W. Rankin succeeded John R. Hughes as supervisor, and Clark Hoxie became chairman. This year an additional precinct was established at Temperance Flat.
             In 1857, W. Y. Scott was elected Sheriff; James Sayle, Jr., Clerk; James T. Cruikshank, District Attorney; J. G. Simpson, Assessor; T. C. Stallo, County Surveyor. During this year there were five supervisors elected, viz: Clark Hoxie, R. T. Burford, James Smith, J. W. Rankin and J. E. Williams. The average vote cast for the successful candidates at this election was about 130.
             On the 9th of August, 1858, the board established a precinct at Whitmore's  Ferry, on Lowe King's river, and ordered an election at which C. D. Simpson was elected supervisor of District No. 1; H. E. Howard, District No. 2, and A. S. Bullock, District No. 3, also J. M. Roan, Representative. Two hundred and sixty-four votes were polled.
             At the election September 7, 1859, fifteen precincts were established.  At this election James Sayle, Jr., was elected County Judge; C. J. Johnson, Clerk; J. Scott Ashman, Sheriff; George Rivercrombie, Treasurer; W. H. Crane, Assessor; M. B. Holt, Surveyor; Justin Esery, J. R. Royal and A. J. Carmack, Supervisors. About 200 votes were cast at this election.
            The first County School Superintendent was E. C. Winchell, appointed by the Board of Supervisors February 6, 1860. There were then five school districts in the county. At the November election of 1860, L. G. Carmack, G. B. Abel and J. B. Royal were elected Supervisors. At this election the total vote for President was 469, of which Lincoln received 53, Douglas 22, Breckenridge 271, and Bell 123. This is a strong showing as to the sentiment and sympathy of the majority. At the September election, 1861, J. J. Johnson was elected County Clerk; J. J. Johnson, Sheriff; George Rivercombe, Treasurer; E. C. Winchell, District Attorney; John C. Walker, Surveyor; Thomas J. Allen, Assessor; E. S. Kincaid, Superintendent of Schools; Ira McCray, Coroner; R. Reynolds, J. L. Hunt and W. H. Parker, Supervisors. The latter was chairman of the board.
            At the September election, 1862, James Smith was elected Assemblyman; H. S. Quigley, Superintendent of Schools;  and J. L., J. Blackburn and J. G. Simpson, Supervisors.
           At the general election held for State and county officers in September, 1863, 461 votes were cast. J. W. Freeman was elected State Senator; J. M. Walker, Assemblyman; J. Scott Ashman, Sheriff; William Faymonville, Clerk; Stephen Gaster, Treasurer; Alex. Kennedy, Assessor; N. L. Blackman, Public Administrator; Ira McCray, Coroner; S. H. Hill, Superintendent of Schools; John L. Hunt and W. H. Hill, Supervisors.
            At the judicial election in October of this year, 360 votes were cast, and J. M. Bondurant was elected District Judge and E. C. Winchell County Judge.
            At the Presidential election in 1864, Lincoln received 92 votes and McClellan 359. J. G. Simpson was elected Supervisor. At the September election, 1865, J. W. Freeman was again elected to the Senate, and R. P. Mace to the Assembly; J. Scott Ashman, Sheriff; William Faymonville, Clerk; C. J. Sayle, District Attorney; Stephen Gaster, Treasurer; W. C. Wyatt, Assessor; J. C. Walker, Surveyor; Clark Hoxie, Public Administrator; Ira McCray, Coroner; S. H. Hill, Superintendent of Schools; and S. S. Hyde, Supervisor.
           At the judicial election, October, 1865, 343 votes were polled, and M. B. Lewis, Absalom Yarbrough, J. W. Patrick, and James Sutherland were elected Supervisors. H. C. Daulton was elected Supervisor in 1866.
           At the general election, September, 1867, 372 votes were polled. Hon. R. P. Mace was elected to the Assembly; J. N. Walker, Sheriff; A. G. Anderson, Clerk; S. B. Allison, District Attorney; William W. Hill, Treasurer; W. S. Wyatt, Assessor; Frank Carroll, Coroner; T. O. Ellis, Superintendent of Schools; John C. Walker, Surveyor; J. R. Jones, Public Administrator; John G. Simpson, Supervisor.
            At the judicial election, October , 1867, A. C. Bradford was elected District Judge and Gillum Baley, County Judge.
            At the Presidential election in 1868, 453 votes were cast, the Democratic electors receiving 381, and the Republican electors 72 votes. J. G. Simpson and John Boston were elected supervisors.
            At the election in September, 1869, Thomas Fowler was elected to the Senate and P. C. Appling to the Assembly; J. N. Walker, Sheriff; Harry S. Dixon here enters the political arena as County Clerk; S. B. Allison, District Attorney; W. W. Hill, Treasurer; T. W. Simpson, Assessor; S. H. Hill, Superintendent of Schools; J. C. Walker, Surveyor; Ira McCray, Coroner, and H. C. Daulton, Supervisor.
            At a special election held September 7, 1870, Michael Donahoo was elected Supervisor, to succeed John G. Simpson.
            At the September election in 1871 there were 729 votes polled. H. S. Dixon was elected County Clerk; J. N. Walker, Assemblyman; J. Scott Ashman, Sheriff; C. G. Sayle, District Attorney; W. W. Hill, Treasurer; T. W. Simpson, Assessor; T. O. Ellis, Superintendent of Schools; M. B. Lewis, Surveyor; T. W. Rich, Public Administrator; W. J. Lawrence, Coroner; and T. F. Witherspoon, Supervisor. At the judicial election in October of the same year, Gillum Baley was elected County Judge.
             At the Presidential election in 1872, 348 votes were polled, of which Grant received 111, and Greeley 237, notwithstanding the vile epithets applied to the Democratic party by the latter gentleman but a few years previously. At this election H. C. Daulton was elected Supervisor.
             At the election in September, 1873, 762 votes were cast. Tipton Lindsey was elected Senator; J. W. Ferguson, Assemblyman; Leroy Dennis, Sheriff; W. W. Hill, Treasurer; A. M. Clark, Clerk; C. G. Sayle, District Attorney; M. B. Lewis, Surveyor; T. O. Ellis, Superintendent of Schools; and J. N. Musick, Supervisor.
             At the September election in 1875, 897 votes were cast. J. D. Collins was elected Assemblyman; A. J. Thorn, Treasurer; A. M. Clark, Clerk; J. Scott Ashman, Sheriff; J. A. Stroud, Assessor; W. H. Creed, District Attorney; M. B. Lewis, Surveyor; R. H. Bramlet, Superintendent of Schools; T. W. Simpson, Coroner; and I. N. Ward, Supervisor. At the judicial election this year, Gillum Baley was elected County Judge.
             At the Presidential election in 1876, there were 1,306 votes cast, of which Tilden received 968 and Hayes 338. Thomas P. Nelson was elected Supervisor; Thomas Fowler was elected Senator; R. P. Mace, Assemblyman; E. Hall, Sheriff; A. J. Thorn, Treasurer; A. M. Clark, Clerk; R. H. Bramlet, Auditor and Superintendent of Schools; W. H. Cree, District Attorney; C. D. Davis, Surveyor; N. P. Duncan, Coroner; and Thomas Waggoner, Supervisor.  C. G. Sayle represented the county in the General Assembly in 1879. Previously, and including this year, the general elections had been held in the odd years. The new constitution in 1879 changed elections to even years, and in May, 1880, E. T. Griffith was elected to the Assembly; Dr. Chester Rowell was elected to the Senate in 1879; S. A. Holmes was elected as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention held in 1879, which formed the present State Constitution and which was indorsed by 9,000 majority at the election in May,1880. This year, S. A. Holmes was elected Superior Judge; E. J. Griffith, Assemblyman; A. M. Clark, Clerk; H. M. Bramlet, Auditor; E. Hall, Sheriff; A. J. Thorn, Treasurer; W. D. Grady, District Attorney; W. H. McKinzie, Assessor; C. D. Davis, Surveyor; and R. H. Bramlet, Superintendent of Schools.
           In 1882, the Board of Supervisors redistricted the county so as to conform to the law at the time allowing five supervisors to the county. They therefore described and bounded five districts, and they further ordered that each of said districts should constitute a judicial township, and said townships to be numbered from one to five, corresponding with the supervisor districts. 
          In June, 1882, B. A. Hawkins and A. A.Smith were appointed members of the County Board of Education.
          Holding offices in this county does not seem to have been so popular and desirable in years past as now, from the foregoing resignations and causes thereof.
          In November, 1856, O. M. Brown was appointed County Surveyor; Joseph Smith, Public Administrator; John G. Simpson, County Assessor; and Dr. Du Gay, Coroner. These appointments were made to fill offices vacated by those elected resigning.
          In 1857, the sheriff and Board of Supervisors could not agree, and the former resigned, to avoid more serious complications, George S. Hardin was appointed to fill the vacancy. In November, 1862, Wm. Faymonville was appointed County Clerk, the office being vacated by the death of D. L. Johnson.
          February, 1863, Thomas J. Allen resigned the position of Assessor, and Wm. M. Mathews was appointed to that office.  Hon. James Smith, Assembly-man, died during the session of the Legislature, and in February, 1863, Hon. J. N. Walker was elected to fill the vacancy. In April, 1863, Alex.  Kennedy was appointed Assessor, W. M. Mathews having resigned. Hon. E. C. Winchell resigned his position as District Attorney, having been elected County Judge, and February, 1864, C. G. Sayle was appointed to fill the vacancy. September 22, 1866, S. Gaster, having been found a defaulter to the amount of $6,000, left the county, and George Grierson was appointed County Treasurer to fill the unexpired term. Michael Donahoo, having resigned as Supervisor for the second district, J. N. Musick was appointed to fill the vacancy. The death of County Treasurer W. W. Hill, in 1874, made it obligatory upon the County Board to appoint a treasurer to fill the unexpired term, which they did in the person of N. L. Bachman. March 23, 1874, A. J. Thorn was elected Treasurer. At the September election of that year, Austin Phillips was elected Supervisor, having previously been appointed to fill the unexpired term of Major Witherspoon.
            A list of county officials will be found elsewhere in this work.

THE "LONE REPUBLICAN."

 
            In 1854 one Payne had a store on Fine Gold Gulch, which was in charge of J. S. Asman and one Aldrich, the latter doing the chores and making himself generally useful about the premises. This man Aldrich was then and for several years afterward the only Republican in that portion of the territory since forming Fresno County, and finally was known all over the State as the "Lone Republican" of Fresno. He had many good qualities, and, although bordering on "fanaticism"  (so considered at that time perhaps in that community), was undoubtedly sincere in his political convictions; and although he would discuss the current political topics with more vehemence and in ruder language than is employed by well-bred gentlemen, he was still liked by the mass of the people, and everybody seemed to be "old Aldrich's" friend.
            The Republican Governor who was elected at this time sent a fine new hat to the county clerk to be given to this "lone Republican." He declined wearing it until the county should give a Republican majority. More than three decades have passed, and the county has always been Democratic. The hat and the lone voter have passed away, but many Republicans have come to stay, and this year, 1890, Thomas J. Kirk, a stanch Republican, has been elected County Superintendent of Schools. There are many Republicans in the county, and the two parties are working in harmony for the general welfare of the county.

EARLY COURT INCIDENTS

 
           In 1856, T. J. Allen kept a restaurant and bar at Roan's store, and also officiated as justice of the peace. Meat, drink and justice were dealt out in the same room. In August, Dr. Lewis Leach sued a Frenchman in Justice Allen's court, claiming something like $350. A jury trial of three jurors was had, and a verdict for the plaintiff for the full amount claimed was rendered, and judgment entered accordingly, notwithstanding justice courts had jurisdiction only in cases where the amounts did not exceed $200. On the last day of grace for taking an appeal, which was on Saturday, James Cruikshank, a lawyer of Millerton, came to Justice Allen to take an appeal in the case, on the good and sufficient  ground that the judge had exceeded his jurisdiction. The boys, having been previously warned of his coming, were ready for him, and as soon as he entered the house they commenced plying him with the best "tarantula juice" they had, and at 12 o'clock that night, when the legal time for appealing had expired, Cruikshank was (in the language of the boys) "gloriously" drunk. Of course, the appeal papers were not perfected; he was carefully put to bed, and next morning, Sunday, was politely informed that the time for appealing had passed. He took in the situation at once, acknowledging that he had been euchered, and went sorrowfully back to Millerton, muttering curses, not loud, but deep, and swearing vengeance on all and every one who had been instrumental in frustrating the object of his mission.

CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS

 
           Making little mention of crimes prior to county organization, numerous homicides and murders have been committed in different parts of the county to the present time. Many of the later, and even very recent, atrocious crimes are fresh in the memory of the citizens of today. It would require a good sized volume to detail the crimes committed in the county since its organization, although the people were no worse here than elsewhere in the State. A sufficient number of crimes will be here mentioned to show the lawlessness which prevailed in the past, and the lax manner and indifference with which the law was formerly administered by juries. We will avoid going into unpleasant details as much as we conscientiously can, of the many atrocities which were committed and now stand, and must for all time, as black stains upon the records of the county. We would gladly drop the curtain and forever hide the scene from memory's eyes, if by doing so all would be wiped from history. Such, however, cannot be, and our duty as historians is to relate and not to make history. Therefore we will make but brief mention of a few facts, not going into the limitless field of details.
          Here we wish to impress upon the reader the fact that this county has been but a repetition of others in regard to a lawless period; and when speaking of a period when lax methods were used to enforce law, it should be borne in mind that during that period there were as good citizens in Fresno County as were to be found in the world. They were in the minority, perhaps. Now the whole scene is changed, law and order rule, and morals are cultivated, and rights protected equal to any locality in older communities. The law-breaker must avoid Fresno now or take the consequences, as by the present generation justice is speedily meted out to all. No better people are to be found than Fresnoans.
           July 5, 1852, at Fresno Crossing, Gus. Gray shot and killed Tom Overton. Gray was tried and acquitted. In 1855 John Donaldson and Henry Morris, who were engaged in mining on the San Joaquin river above Millerton, were murdered in their tent at night. Their bodies were found riddled with buckshot. One of the bodies was dragged from the tent and stuck full of arrows, to convey the impression that it was the work of Indians; but no one believed other than white fiends committed the crime, and that for robbery. Several white men, among whom was the notorious Billy Ferguson, were suspected of the crime, but no evidence was obtained to fasten the deed on any one, and soon it was in a measure forgotten.
            At the first county election held at Roan's store, in 1856, the vote was large and stimulants appear to have flowed copiously, if not freely, until finally one George Bingham became boisterous and "spoiling" for a fight. Armed with an axe-helve he attacked Frank Kerrins, who shot Bingham in the groin, from the effects of which he died. Kerrins was also shot in the thigh by some unknown party, as Bingham had no pistol. Kerrins was tried for killing Bingham, and acquitted at Mariposa, but was afterward killed there by a Chinaman.
            In 1856 two Italians who kept store about 200 yards from Roan's store, had their establishment  burned to the ground one night, and no clue was had as to the incendiaries.
            Numerous such crimes could be cited, but we pass to more recent fields, pausing on the way to make mention of the trial of "Gabe" Moore. Gabe was the slave, in Arkansas, of Richard and William Glenn, early settlers on King's river, and was brought by them to this State. Gabe was as black as the ace of spades, and, as were many of the pioneers, without a wife. At that time there was an Indian agency on King's river, near Centerville, under the control of one Campbell, who had inaugerated among the squaws the custom of Brigham Young, and had without law taken unto himself several of the best appearing dusky maidens. He was a man of some consequence, aside from possessing several of the feminine sex, and a man of determination as well as ferocious disposition. It seems that Gabe looked with a covetous eye upon some of Campbell's fair maidens, and, having a melon patch in the near "bottoms," was somewhat popular with these dusky belles, - only when they wanted melons, - greatly to his exasperation. Finally one of them, with grievous lamentations, reported to her lord (Campbell) that in her case the incident of the Sabine women had been re-enacted, and that Gabe was the actor. Campbell was in a rage and swore he would take Gabe's life. The latter in great fright fled to, and appealed for the protection of, his former masters, which they readily gave. In those days every man was a law unto himself, might taking the place of right in many instances. However, Campbell finally consented to submit the case to a judicial settlement. The case was brought before a justice of the peace. There was no lawyer within twenty miles. The entire community assembled at the justice's cabin; Gabe was arraigned before the judge; W. W. Hill, a man of much honor as well as strong sense, appeared as his counsel; a jury was impanneled, and the trial proceeded. Gabe pleaded not guilty, in fear and trembling, and to the end of his days refused to admit that his plea was untrue, although the belief then was and continued to be that he was guilty, whether as charged or not. The prosecutor's witnesses were all Indian women. Neither the prosecution, the defense nor the court could extract anything intelligible from them, but enough evidence was heard to cause the court to submit the case to the jury. The case continued well into the night, and stimulants were introduced and freely used to keep their spirits alive and their eyes awake. Without entering into detail as to argument of counsels, Gabe was unanimously acquitted. Years afterward Gabe was asked why he committed such a cowardly crime. He replied, with a chuckle and a grin peculiar to his race, "Ah, massa, 'omen war a scace article dem days!"
            In 1863 robberies of Chinese and mining camps became frequent, bold and troublesome. There seems to have been an organized band for that nefarious business, among whom are mentioned Jim Rains, --------Jackson, Al. and John Dixon, --------McDowell, -------------McIntyre, ----------Hosler, and Jim  Hall (the latter afterward shooting and severely wounding C. S. McKeown). The purpose if the band seems to have been to rob all races and classes who might be weak to resist their combined force. The law-abiding citizens bore with their depredations during 1863, but in 1864 forebearance with them had ceased to be a virtue. Accordingly, a company of twelve men was silently organized, and one dark night in mid-winter they repaired to the haunts of the outlaws. Either the desperadoes had word of their coming or there was not the necessary concert of action, as but one of the band was caught that night, --- Al. Dixon, ----and his dead body was found hanging to a tree the following morning. This had the desired effect, and the remainder of the band vacated the county, except Rains, who persisted in his lawless career until he finally met with a like fate as that of Al. Dixon. This second object-lesson of the rope in a measure put a stop to such lawlessness in the county.

EARLY COLONIES OF FRESNO COUNTY-

THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COLONY

 
         This was the colony of Fresno County. Had colonization upon the dry plains of this great valley been an easy matter, it is safe to say there would have been no colonization upon them, as the favorable conditions necessary to make colonization easy would have caused the lands to have been settled many years since by individuals of small means. preparing to irrigate is no small undertaking, as water-rights must be secured across large intervening tracts owned by capitalists, etc. Farming by irrigation requires the highest order of agriculture. Even the most favorably situated land needs preparation - leveling, dyking and ditching - before it can be planted. These require not only knowledge and skill, but they take time and require money. In the meantime the farmer must live on his means, and cannot depend on what he expects to raise. For said reasons the rich, productive lands of the valley lay unimproved for many years. The land was acquired and held in vast tracts by capitalists, who used it for grazing purposes during the winter months, when their flocks and herds were driven from the mountains by snow. Here and there a solitary farmer had ventured to sow grain on the too dry soil, and harvested defeat, besides receiving the taunts and ridicule of the sheep men who had in a measure crowded out the cattle men, and now stood in fear themselves of being driven out by the agriculturists. As will be seen elsewhere, M. J. Church was the prime mover in bringing about colonization conditions and possibilities in Fresno County.
             Bernard Marks, of San Francisco, may be said to be the father of colonization in Fresno County. He had been a successful miner and teacher. His investments on the San Joaquin river having been seriously damaged by an overflow of that stream, his attention was called to the fine lands in  Fresno County by Professor William A. Sanders, and after carefully surveying the situation decided that colonization could be made successful, and he at once proceeded accordingly. The plan devised by Mr. Marks for what he afterward called the Central California Colony has been in the main followed by many colonies which have since grown up and made Fresno County and city the marvel of the State, and wonder of all who for the first time behold what has been accomplished within a few years, owing to the distribution of water through the fertile valley lands.
               Mr. Marks contracted with Wm. S. Chapman for twenty-one square miles of the best lands in the valley, then nearly surrounding the town of Fresno. For the beginning of the enterprise he selected six square miles in the center of his large tract, and this he divided into 192 twenty-acre farms, each one-eighth of a mile wide and a quarter mile long. Twenty-three miles of avenues were laid out, the Fresno Canal and Irrigation Company's canal was extended through this land in three capacious branches. The miles of avenues were at once set along their borders with a variety of choice ornamental trees, which now give an attractive and beautiful appearance to the farms and country, and also were set many choice fruits, figs, cherries, white walnuts, etc. The first planting of vineyards was to an extent a failure, owing to the newness of the canal, which failed to furnish a sufficient water supply that year.
              Among the first colonists who settled here in 1875 as especially deserving of mention, being hopeful and always cheerful and encouraging in words and deeds to others more dependent, was Dr. Watson, a natural nobleman, who saw obstacles but to overcome them, mistakes but to correct them, etc. The stockmen spent hours striving to dishearten the already despondent colonists. Stories of blasted crops, deadly climate, mercury 130 degrees in the shade, birds dropping dead from heat, fruit baked on the trees before ripened, sand-storms, hot winds, etc., made it "impossible" for families to live here; yet through the encouragement of such leading pioneer citizens as J. W. Ferguson, of the Expositor, Dr. Lewis Leach, Otto Froelich, Wm. Faymonville and others, the young colony weathered through the storm of adversity encountered the first year.
            But chief among the elements of success was the fact that Wm. S. Chapman owned the land on which the colony was founded. He not only owned more land at the time than any other man in the State, but made better use of it than large landed men generally do. By the exercise of wise enterprise and intelligent use of large sums of money in improving lands, he greatly enhanced the value of his large possessions in the valley. He was a man highly esteemed and respected throughout the valley, and yet he had little faith in the success of Mr. Mark's colony enterprise. More than a year after the work was commenced at the colony, he consulted with Mr. Marka as to purchasing the interests of the few settlers and abandoning the undertaking; but Mr. Marks seemed wedded to his pet undertaking and said the best way out of it was to persevere through it; and the two united in pushing improvements, and their success is better shown by the many prosperous colonies in the county to-day than it is possible to portray in this work. Volumes would be required to tell the half which has been accomplished in Fresno County by the colonists since the beginning in 1875. A large proportion of the first settlers in this colony were Scandinavians, - Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians. Their honesty, industry, intelligence and very social, home-like natures contributed largely to their success.
           In 1878 "The Washington Irrigation Colony" was organized by J. P. Whitney, Wendell Easton and A. T. Covell, and was soon a prosperous settlement. S. A. Miller, who was editor of the Fresno Republican, deserves much praise for his untiring aid to the colony enterprise. He founded the Nevada colony, and M. J. Donahoo, one of Fresno County's foremost enterprising citizens, gave the new colony an impulse by improving in hand-some style the first land purchased. Among the many citizens who were attracted to the colony, settled and gave great aid to it, were J. S. Goodman, John Rae Hamilton, Colonel Forsyth, J. W. Pugh, Henry Donnelly and F. A. Woodward.
              Space will not permit naming each and every colony planted and grown to wonderful proportions, which has made the desert blossom as the rose and produced millions of wealth in Fresno County within a few years. We can but give the great growth, and wealth-producing communities in general, showing what irrigation and colonization have done, and can and will do, for all irrigable lands in this great valley, which ere long will be the Eden of America, if not of the world.
             Many enterprising citizens from Southern States - Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee -- settled in Fresno County soon after the war, many of whom had attained prominence in both the judicial and political arenas, the two present superior judges among the number. There was a settlement known as the Alabama Colony, settled in 1868, some of whom became prominent in Fresno County and filled responsible positions. Among the many who comprised this settlement were the Dixon family, Mississippians -- Judge R. L. Dixon, sons and daughters. One of the sons, now residing in Fresno, was for two terms county clerk and became one of Fresno's distinguished lawyers, an enthusiastic advocate and a formidable opponent, honorable and conscientious, who has a heart as large as his brain. He was the first attorney for Fresno city.
                The Alabama settlement was at the time the only colony on the plains south of Mariposa Creek for agricultural purposes in the sense of grain farming. From that creek to Tejon Pass, no grain worthy of mention was grown; the vast acres were held in company by numbers of stock-raisers, all of whom warned the colonists that grain could not be successfully and profitably grown there. All their supplies had to be transported from Stockton by wagon. A few had comfortable cabins, from material hauled from Stockton; the many had rude board cabins and some of the young men lived in tents, and the first year, owing to excessive drought, their crops in a measure died before maturing; and, to add to their distress, the stock roaming at will on the plains played sad havoc with their stinted products. H. S. Dixon, in an animated manner, recently related to the writer his experience during those trying times. He said that after a hard day's toil, and feeling almost driven to despair at the gloomy prospect, he was forced to stand guard at night to protect his scant crop from the mighty herds of stock, and after many nights' watching to have it finally consumed.
              This brave, hopeful, patient little band had brought with them from their Southern homes a love of fun and vein of humor, which was shown by the names some of the young men gave their homes. The Pickenses called theirs the "Cradle of Innocence;" and one bachelor called his "Hell's Half-Acre". This seems more appropriate for the region at that time. Major Reading named his place Elkhorn, having found a horn of that animal near where he built. The Dixons called their "Refuge." It is a mystery which none are able to solve why this name was adopted, as there seemed to be little to justify it. Certainly it was no refuge from stock roaming the plains and devouring the crops of those pioneers.
            In 1870 others came from the South and settled in this community. Judge Dixon did not come with his family until this year, his sons, James P. and H. S., having located here as before stated. The judge's family consisted of four sons and a daughter.
            Agriculture did not seem to prosper with these people, the majority of whom removed to other localities, and those who remained drifted into more congenial and lucrative occupations; and in 1874-'75 the place contained few of the original settlers.
            Fresno Colony, founded by Thomas Hughes and sons in 1880, has proven a main factor in making the city of Fresno prosper as it has. This colony immediately joins the city on the south. Within a short space of time the 2,880 acres were sold to enterprising colonists. None have done more to develop Fresno County's resources and to build up and beautify Fresno city than have Thomas Hughes and sons. The Hughes Hotel is the finest in that city, and equalled by few in the State. A personal history of Thomas Hughes will be found elsewhere in this work.

CLIMATE

 
               The true Californian never tires of dilating upon "the climate." Be it in the ice-bound regions of the Sierras at mid-winter, or in the heat and mid-summer of the great valleys; in the fogs along the coast, or in the sand-storms of the plains, -- he will assert "it is the finest climate in the world." And few who have experienced a few months here will attempt to refute it. As climate, more than any one condition or property, determines the comparative as well as the intrinsic value of a country for man's habitation, it should be given a place here. All other conditions may to a certain extent be changed by human agency, but climate remains a steadfast servant to its mistress, nature. Man can remedy such defects as scarcity of timber and water, unproductive soil, etc. Nations are planted and and prosper in the midst of these adverse surroundings, but climate unaltered outlasts the labor of races. Human adventures are not bound to frost or heat, and yet homes are not made of choice too near either extreme. In the location of a settlement and selecting a home, climatic conditions form the first and chief factor. Men pierce the frozen barriers of the north, or brave the wasting heats of the south in search of wealth, but seek a mild, congenial clime in which to found a home to spend their money and enjoy declining years.
             The general characteristics of the climate throughout the valley will apply to Fresno County. She has some special features which others have not, and which enables her to be the excelsior raisin-producing county of the State.  There are some disadvantages as to climate, it is true, but less perhaps than in any other region of like area. The general climatic conditions are favorable to industrial pursuits above almost any other locality of like latitude. The snow limit is far above the valley, and while the effects of a rigorous winter are never felt, there is still enough of cold to give a bracing reaction to the animal system, and to render in a measure a hardy condition of plant life. "At no point between the Rocky Mountains and the Black sea can be found the snow line with so high an altitude as on the Sierras." Consequently we find here conditions not to be seen within thousands of miles eastward on this parallel, namely, a flora peculiar to two zones. The nutritious fruits and grains of the temperate belt, as well as the rich products of semi-tropical plants, mature here side by side and ripen in due time, and fruits grains and flesh retain their freshness and sweetness for a season seldom equaled in the extreme heat which at times prevail in mid-summer. This can only occur where there is an extreme low humidity. A stranger on learning that this great valley is not in the snow zone, seeks for the cause of such remarkable mildness of climate. He sees on the west the Coast Range, a spur of a mountain system with an altitude of from three to five thousand feet; on the east the Sierras from six to nine thousand feet high. Thus is formed a natural barrier, shutting out much of the cold northers, and enclosing a body of air measurably isolated, tending to hold an even temperature. The great and chief cause of the year-long summer in this great valley is that portion of the Japan current turned toward our coast and skirting it from Victoria to Central America. This readily accounts for the temperature of this valley, which seldom falls below 27 degrees in Fresno County, and frequently rises to 110 degrees in the shade during mid-summer, a temperature closely approaching that of Florida, with no corresponding average on the Eastern continent west of the Black sea.
             The mildness of thus climate in winter is due to the set of the Japanese current, "Kuro Sivo," against the coast, as does the Gulf Stream of the Atlantic against the coast of Great Britain. Its bracing coolness is due to the constant prevailing winds of the coast which blow from the northwest, impinging upon the mountains along the coast and following the direction of the ranges. These ranges are generally sufficiently lofty to bar the ingress of the northerly sea-breeze into the interior. But at San Francisco and several other points near there, gaps made by the outflowing of water-courses and other depressions admit these winds, the speed of which is accelerated during the day in summer, as they rush inland, because the bright sun sets the plains glowing, rarefies the air, and sends it upward. Thus it is that a vast store of sea-breeze tonic is drawn through tunnels as it were, and properly tempered when reaching the valley, so that it makes the most delightful, invigorating climate in the world. Sunstrokes are unknown in this valley. The sea-breeze enters the great interior valley with uncomfortable force, as well as a degree of frigidity. With no obstacles to impede or deviate its course, it pursues the broad line of the great river of the south (San Joaquin) fresh and cool, gratefully tempered and modulated as it commingles with its first meeting the soft warm air of the interior, and spreads out over the wide expanse of green tules in which the valley terminates. In this way, by one of nature's laws, the whole basin is filled daily, during the summer with the invigorating atmosphere of the ocean, aided somewhat in the night by the descending cool air from the snowy crests of the Sierras.
            With a temperature thus equalized and an atmosphere thus daily refreshed, the valley of the San Joaquin possesses a climate eminently conducive to both the health and comfort of man. Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties are so located as to receive the full benefit of this balmy atmosphere. While it is claimed that the climate of California in general is much like that of Italy, this will apply more particularly to the southern half of the San Joaquin valley. As we leave the ocean and go inland the influence of the trade-winds decreases and the heat of summer and cold of winter increases. Another effect of these sandy plains is to create a daily sea-breeze from the southwest return trade-winds that prevail on the coast as surface winds during the summer months. Each day after the sun rises over these great plains, they become heated and increase the temperature of the air over their surface. This air rises, and as the whole current of cool air is from the ocean on the west it rushes in to fill the vacancy. A gentle southwest wind may be blowing on the coast at night or in the morning; and by eleven or twelve o'clock the full force of the sun's rays are felt, the gentle breeze has increased to a brisk wind and continues until evening, after the setting sun has withdrawn his rays and the sandy plains have radiated its heat into space. The gentle southwest wind resumes its sway until the next day, when from the same coarse the high wind is again repeated. Whatever may be the direction of the wind in the forenoon, in the spring, summer and autumn months it almost invariably works round toward the west in the afternoon. So constant is this phenomena that in the seven months from April to October inclusive, there were but three days in 1890 in which it missed, and these were rainy days, with the wind from the south or southwest.
             In regard to the health of this valley, and especially of Fresno County, to say nothing of the sanitary effect of the rapid dessication and curing of the spontaneous vegetable productions when the dry season commences, this daily atmospheric current is constantly sweeping away in their incipiency the miasmatic exhalations and pestilent fermentations which would otherwise, incubate and breed undisturbed over the rich bottom lands. Epidemics and virulent infections are almost unknown in this great valley; and especially is this true in the three southern counties. The mild and genial temperature tends to stay the development of pulmonary affections and diseases of the respiratory system.

THE THERMAL BELT

 
              There is a warm stratum of air in the hills a few hundred feet above the valleys. This semi-tropical belt varies. In some localities it is very marked, and in others it is much less so. At night, during the frosty seasons, the cold air settles in the valleys, displacing the warm air which rises. At daylight a heavy frost may be seen in the valleys, -- heaviest along the water courses,---while in the warm belt, a few hundred feet above (in some cases not more than sixty), the most delicate flowers and shrubs are untouched.
              The soil on the hills in this belt has often great depth, and is admirably adapted to fruit culture. Like the valleys, the lands are covered only by scattered groves of trees, and little of it too steep for easy cultivation. It is specially adapted to growing semi-tropical fruits. Here in Fresno County, oranges, lemons, limes, almonds, English walnuts, prunes and pomegranates grow well and yield a certain and bountiful crop of as fine size and flavor as any in the State, and there are thousands of acres of this excellent fruit land yet idle in Fresno County.

RAIN FALL AND HUMIDITY

 
                The season of rain in this section of the valley generally begins in October and ends in May, though it sometimes rains in June. It is rare that rain falls longer than two or three days at one time, and the intervals between rains vary from a few days to a month, and even six weeks. The "rainy" or "winter" season in some respects is the pleasanter season of the year. As soon as rains begin to fall grasses begin to grow, and by the middle of November pastures and hills are green; and, as soon as the ground is in condition to plow after the first rains, farmers sow their grain.
               December is usually a stormy month. Mercury seldom falls below 37 degrees above zero in the valleys. Occasionally there is a thin coat of ice over small pools of standing water; and December is usually the month of heaviest rainfall. And yet no one can predict with any degree of certainty as to the coming rain. The oldest inhabitant seemingly knows little more than the recent "tenderfoot" as regards the weather. The heaviest rainfall sometimes comes in February.
              In January one begins to realize a feeling of approaching spring in the air. Almond trees blossom and the robins come, and grass and wheat grow rapidly.
              February is growing month  and very pleasant, resembling the month of May in the Eastern States. The peach and cherry trees bloom in February.
              March, here as elsewhere, is liable to be more boisterous than any other month.
              Vegetation grows rapidly in April, and cereal crops are assured if a sufficiency of rain falls during this month. As a rule no rain falls after this month.
              May is the month of roses and flowers in general, and the paradisiacal month of the year here as it is elsewhere where literature has most prevailed.
              During the first portion of June the grasses begin to cure and become hay, standing in the field, and stock graze and grow fat thereon.
              On an average there are 220 perfectly clear days in a year, without a cloud, in the San Joaquin basin; eighty-five days wherein clouds are seen (though in many of them the sun is visible), and sixty rainy. Italy cannot surpass that. From April 1 to November 1 there are in ordinary seasons fifteen cloudy days, and half the days are clear from the 1st of November until the 1st of April.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE COUNTY 

 
               These are extensive, beyond what one at first can imagine.
               The discovery of gold early brought the hardy miners to this region, but aside from the early placers no great developments have been made toward opening up the great and inexhaustible mineral deposits, or to determine the extent of gold and silver quartz mines.  Fresno's placers constituted a large portion of what was called the "Southern Mines," in order to distinguish them from the first discovered "diggings" east and north of Sacramento. Years before  the organization of Fresno County the hills and lower mountains of the Sierras were alive with miners, some of whom made rich "strikes" and amassed fortunes in a short time. Gold dust was then the medium of circulation, and property was valued in ounces of the pure metal, instead of dollars and cents. There is no attainable data as to the actual amount of gold taken in dust and nuggets from these placers, but it certainly amounted to millions. Gold was reported to exist on the San Joaquin as early as 1849. Major Savage employed Indians to procure gold, and the placers continued to be developed, and in 1865 the leading merchants fixed a scale of prices at which they would accept gold dust, namely: San Joaquin River or Bar dust, $15.50 per ounce; Fine Gold Gulch, Cottonwood, Long Gulch, and all taken out in small gulches between the San Joaquin and Fresno rivers, except Coarse Gold Gulch, at $14 per ounce; Coarse Gold Gulch, $16.50; Temperance Flat, $14; Big Dry Creek, $16.50, Sycamore Creek,  $17.50; Fresno River, $15.50. Placer mining brought the early prosperity of the county. The mining of to-day is confined principally to quartz in the Sierras. In the low hills along the Sierra range, in the eastern part of the county, numerous deposits of copper are found. The veins all carry silver and gold, but in small quantities. In the higher mountains gold-bearing quartz of a promising richness have been discovered, all bearing more or less silver. Silver-bearing ore in large quantities have been discovered in the slate range, near the summit of the mountains, as also some rich deposits of base metal or argentiferous galena.
            The first quartz mill erected in the county was at Coarse Gold Gulch - a ten-stamp mill. Various and valuable mines are located within the county, and only await development to yield an immense treasure. One cause of delay in developing the mineral interests of this county is the lack of railroad transport-ation. This cause will soon be removed, as soon there will be built from Fresno a railroad direct to the mineral and timber region of the Sierras. Another and principal region why capital is not used in developing the mineral resources of the county is, that better returns for money invested can be had from fruits, - grapes, prunes, peaches, apricots, etc., which yield larger profit for money invested than do the great majority of gold mines.
            Mineral springs, both hot and cold, are found in this county. The Rogers Hot Springs are possessed of remarkable remedial properties, highly recommended for rheumatic, neuralgic and scrofulous complaints. On the upper San Joaquin, near the toll-house, are also remarkable springs, one of which boils up like a geyser, through a cone-like mound of cemented matter. Sulphur Springs, near Millerton, were purchased by a company incorporated in 1873. They are situated about three-quarters of a mile from the old court-house. As the geology of the county is given in that of the valley, no definite features are to be mentioned here.

FOSSILS AND PETRIFACTIONS IN FRESNO COUNTY

 
            The most interesting of fossil discoveries was the exhumation of the mammoth and of man - "proof positive of the existence of both at the same time," and that "both occupied this country together with saurians the remains of all three being found in the same gravel deposit and stratum." The above is quoted from a history made of Fresno County in 1882. It is somewhat surprising to the writer that the broad claim should be made "proof positive" by one who has seen the wonderful conformations of California, and note the laws of nature as applied to other regions being here set aside. The strata are here more disturbed and thrown out of order than in any other country. The remains of the mastodon might have been thrown up from a burial place of centuries, and again submerged with that of man at a time when he, too, was destroyed by the mighty throes of Mother Nature. Finding the remains of mastodons, saurians and man in one common sepulcher proves nothing more than that they are there together; it does not even tend to prove they lived at the same period in the same locality. It is said that the first mastodon remains were found on the Fresno river, some distance above what is known as the adobe bottom. It measured twenty-two feet in length; the tusks were eleven feet, and curving upward; at the base they were five feet apart. The legs were short, but very heavy. The whole structure was complete, but with all the care and wisdom of the discoverers, they were unable to put the bones together so as to reproduce the animal. The next specimen found was on Dry creek, but for want of care the discoverers did not preserve the remains. No tusks were found with these remains, which were said to be larger than the first named. A pair of tusks some seven feet long were found in Holland Hollow, but no other remains. In 1858 some miners unearthed the remains of a huge mammoth, but no records were kept of them.
              As has already been stated in the geological summary of the valley, the Coast Range mountains contain numerous petrifactions. There was a wonderful "find" of a human petrifaction in Cantua canon near the Coast Range, in December, 1890. S. L. Packwood and I. N. Barrett of Fresno City were working in said canon on December 12, where Packwood owned a timber claim. They were seeking a suitable site to construct a dam to divert the waters of the canon upon a piece of land which was to be brought into cultivation, when Mr. Barrett discovered a human foot protruding from the bank of the stream. Both men viewed the object with amazement, and were the more surprised on feeling the foot and finding it to resemble stone. Their curiosity led them to unearth the remains, and soon they decided to take them to Fresno. The weight was about 500 pounds. Arriving at Fresno, the petrifaction attracted all, and several of the medical profession made a thorough examination, and took measurements of the petrifaction and pronounced it genuine and not of a "Cardiff" nature. The general appearance of the body led to the conclusion that he was a fine specimen of the Castilian race. He measured six feet four and one-half inches in height, foot eleven and one-half inches in length, length of arm sixteen and one-half inches, and length of forearm, twelve inches, and length of legs thirty-six inches. This is the most wonderful petrifaction found in the county and preserved.
           There is so much to interest the average man in California aside from investigating nature's wonders that there is no doubt that wonderful petrifactions lie undisturbed in the foothills and the valleys bordering thereon.

 FOREST GROWTH

 
            Almost the entire western slope of the Sierras is covered with dense forests of lumber yielding timber. There is no timber of commercial value elsewhere in the county.
            Picea amabilis (red fir) grows in vast forests on the Sierras in this county, on all ridges and spurs from 6,000 to 10,000 feet altitude. It grows thickly upon the ground, has a fine clean body, and is a good timber tree, but is often attacked by dry-rot while standing.
           Picea grandis (white or balsam fir) is scattered far and wide throughout the forests. It is largely sold on the markets as mountain pine, and is used principally as dimension stuff and rough boards.
           Pinus Lambertiana (the sugar pine), next in value to the redwood as a timber tree, grows at an altitude of 4,000 to 7,000 feet, - rarely higher. It is one of the finest trees indigenous to Fresno County, sometimes growing to a diameter of twelve feet. It now furnishes the bulk of the finishing lumber used in this part of the State.
           Pinus ponderosa (yellow or pitch pine) forms a large percentage of the lumber used in the valley known among lumberman as mountain pine. There are large forests of this tree, especially on the lower slopes of the mountains. It is used largely for floors.
           Sequoia gigantea (the "big trees" of California), also known as the Wellingtonia gigantea (among the British botanists) and Washingtonia gigantea (among the earlier American botanists, by way of opposition), have cones about two inches long, ovate, terminal, solitary, and with numerous prickled stipitate scales. The honor of the discovery of the great trees is in dispute, as is also the derivation of the name Sequoia. There is but one grove of these trees between the San Joaquin and King's river, but on the south side of the latter stream is the largest grove of these trees in the world, and some of the largest trees are in Fresno county and included in a national park.
           The most extensive of the "big tree" groves in this county is the one in the Sequoia basin, about forty-two miles due east of the city of Fresno. Its area is far in excess of the Calaveras grove, being 3,600 acres, and the trees on it being larger than any found elsewhere. Mixed with the Sequoias is a plentiful growth of other trees, mostly yellow and sugar pine, also some cedar and fir. Six miles further east in the Boulder creek basin is another grove covering 1,800 acres.
            South of the first-named grove is another, situated partly in this county and partly in Tulare county, and which was recently set aside by Congress as a national park, under the name "General Grant National Park," General Grant being the name of one of the largest Sequoias in the grove. The Fresno portion of the park embraces sections 31 and 32 of township 13 south, range 28 east of Mt. Diablo meridian. In this grove is a portion of a fallen Sequoia ninety feet long and hollow. A  man on horseback can ride through it nearly the full length without being in the least cramped.
            Some of the prostrate trees in the Boulder creek basin have been measured, the largest being 350 feet in length. The trees in this grove range from 250 to 325 feet in height. The average diameter is from sixteen to twenty feet, while many measure from twenty-four to twenty-six feet.
            The Sequoia basin grove contains still larger trees, specimens twenty-seven feet in diameter being frequently encountered. Both this and the previously mentioned grove are owned by a lumbering firm, which has a sawmill in operation on the ground. There is enough timber on their property to keep the mill running steadily for fifty years at its present capacity, which is very large.
            The Sequoia yields from 10,000 to 100,000 feet of lumber. The average yield of a Sequoia is about 20,000 feet.
            Libocedrus decurrens (California white cedar) is scattered throughout the forests, and is largely used as fence posts. The trees grow very large, reaching a height of 200 feet, and is an excellent timber for under-ground use.
             The Digger or bull pine (Pinus Coulteri) grows only on the lower hills and flats. It is a scraggly, worthless tree, and is fit for nothing except kindling or light fire-wood. Its cones are very large, and contain great quantities of nuts, which in times past the Indians relished very much; hence the name "Digger pine." There is a great amount of pitch in the cones, and the Indians would build a fire and hold them over it until the pitch melted and thus released the nuts. These cones are now the delight of camping parties in the mountains, and many pleasant hours are spent in the early night around the cheerful and high blazing fire which they are famous for making.
            Pinus monticola (mountain pine) grows up on the higher ridges, and is as yet beyond the reach of lumbermen. It is a sugar pine and grows very tall and erect.
            Black pine, or tamarack (Pinus Jeffreyi) grows around the mountain meadows from 5,000 to 10,000 feet altitude, and is very durable when kept off the ground. It is very pitchy, and grows in dense forests. It is very resinous, producing a fine chewing gum.
            The valley portion of the county is almost treeless except along the streams, but water and cultivation soon changes all this. In a remarkably short time fine groves of poplar and eucalyptus are grown when water is applied.
            The oak growths extend far up on the foothills on the side of the valley, and at an elevation 2,500 feet the forest belts are met. For size and density of growth these forests compare favorably with those of other sections of the world. Here, as previously stated, are vast growths of pine, cedar, spruce, Sequoia and fir. These vast pineries constitute the lumber supply of the whole country. Sawmills have been built and immense flumes have been constructed, by which the lumber is cheaply and rapidly transported to the valley. These sources of lumber supply are practically inexhaustible.

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta

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