San Joaquin

County History

History of San Joaquin County, California with Biographical Sketches - Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA - 1923

CHAPTER XV

SAVED TO THE UNION

        IN a former chapter we observed that the Democratic party carried every state and San Joaquin County election from 1850 to 1860, save the election of 1855, and that the southern wing of the party controlled by David S. Terry and William M. Gwin dominated the politics of the state. We further observed that David C. Broderick, the northern party leader who was opposed to slavery, was fast advancing toward the principles of Republicanism and taking his followers with him. The Southerners believed that something must he done to block his progress and that something was to kill him, not by any brutal method but by the "honorable code of dueling." The South believed that slavery was a divine institution and the freedom of the slave spelled ruin to the principal industries, sugar and cotton. They also believed in state's rights and that a state could secede from the Union if it so desired. They also believed and arrogantly declared that they had the right to take their slaves into any free state in the Union. The North on the other hand opposed slavery in any part of the Union. They declared that there should be no slavery north of Mason and Dixon's line, as provided in the Missouri Compromise, and they denied the right of any state to secede from the Union. The political condition is thus explained that we may know the causes which led up to the Civil War, as recorded in this and the following chapters.

Secession Threats

        The South believed or professed to believe that the Republican party had been organized to destroy slavery, and they surmised that Abraham Lincoln was to become the future leader of that party. At a meeting in Savannah January 23, 1860, says McMasters in his History of the United States, it was "resolved that if Seward or any other Republican were elected President it would be a just cause for for dissolution." Iverson of Georgia, said in the senate he was sure the irrepressible conflict must go on until it ended with the extinction of slavery in the Union, and he intended to urge the Southern States to dissolve the Union on the election of a Black Republican President by a sectional Northern party opposed to and hostile to Southern slavery. Clingman of North Carolina stated that there were hundreds of disunionists in the South, and he believed the election of a Black Republican President would give them sufficient cause to dissolve it. William M. Gwin of California said the South must prepare for resistance if a Republican President be elected and he showed that by seizing Federal property within her limits before the President was inaugurated she could make it impossible for him to administer government in the South.

Birth of the Republican Party

        Some persons may wonder what the South had to do with politics in Stockton and San Joaquin County—everything. California is a part of the Union, San Joaquin County is an important part of the state, and if the state was again ruled by the Southern Democracy, then it would play into the hands of the Southern Confederacy. To defeat this purpose was the object of the Northern men, and they proposed to save the state to the Union through the Republican party. This party which is today the ruling national power was born in Michigan in February, 1854. The people in the town of Jackson, irrespective of party, assembled and resolved that they would throw old organizations to the wind, form a new party and make non-extension of slavery the issue. At a second meeting the name Republican was proposed for the new party. The idea of a new party to be called Republican spread from state to state and it was organized in California in time to vote for John C. Fremont for President. In San Joaquin County a few men assembled in a room on the southwest corner of Weber Avenue and San Joaquin Street in July, 1856, and these men, John M. Buffington, C. C. Firely, Dr. George R. Warren, John Tucker, Madison Walthall, Jr., B. P. Baird and Dr. W. R. Kerr, held a consultation regarding the organization of a Republican party. At a subsequent meeting on August 2 they organized by electing J. M. Buffington, president, and C. C. Firely, secretary. They nominated Samuel Myers and Dr. W. R. Kerr for the assembly and S. Locke for state superintendent of schools. On the same day the first number of the Stockton Gazette was issued as a Fremont and Dayton paper with John W. Damon, a Congregationalist minister, as editor. The paper soon died for want of support, but the party kept its grip and in 1860 swept the state.

        Although the war clouds were hanging over the states beyond the Rockies, in Stockton they did not even cast a shadow, and when on New Year's day the sun arose above the Sierras there was not the least indication of the war soon to engage the entire nation. It was the Sabbath day. Friends greeted friends as of old, and many a "Happy New Year" was drunk before the bar of the New York, St. Charles, Magnolia, The Shades and the Weber House. On Monday many of the society ladies kept open house, announcing the fact in the papers, and throughout the day hacks were seen bearing fashionably dressed young men from house to house on their New Year calls. Refreshments were plentifully provided, and all were welcome. The day passed pleasantly and ended with the Eureka Engine Company's third annual ball.

The City Election of 1860

        Although there was no outward signs of trouble, there was an inward fire in the breasts of the Republicans to keep this state in the Union regardless of the cost and they were determined that no disloyal man should have any part in the management of the government, county or state. The first test came in the May election. The Democrats assembled at City Hall and nominated Henry T. Compton, father of former City Surveyor Compton, for mayor and V. M. Peyton for street superintendent. The Republicans, formerly Whigs, were without an organization, a party or a press advocate. All of their utterances were published in the Daily Argus, owned and edited by William Biven, a presumed Douglas Democrat. A few days before the election they put forth an independent ticket, with E. S. Holden as candidate for mayor. He was a very enterprising citizen, then the leading druggist in the city, and very active in the formation of the District Agricultural Association. Notwithstanding the handicap of the Republicans, the Democrats were badly defeated, electing only three candidates for minor offices. In the election, politics cut no figure. Dr. Holden was elected by a vote of 493, his opponent receiving 228 votes. V. M. Peyton, then a member of the Democratic city committee, had no opposition for superintendent of streets and polled 651 votes. For future reference and to note the political growth today, let us read by wards the vote for mayor. E. S. Holden ran as follows: First Ward, 208; Second Ward, 158; Third Ward, 127. The ward boundaries were similar to those of the present day. Mr. Compton's vote was 97 in the First Ward, 95 in the Second and 36 in the Third.

The Fourth of July

        Time rolled us on to the Fourth of July, 1860. It was a beautiful day, and Billy Wall's old iron cannon, afterwards thrown into the channel, welcomed the sunrise. At sunset again rang out thirty-three guns for the "Union of State and the Flag of Our Union Forever." A. C. Bradford was grand marshal of the procession, assisted by Thomas K. Hook. In the line, led by the Stockton Cornet Band, Richard Condy, leader, marched the Stockton Blues, Captain P. Edward Conner in command, they being followed by the Stockton Turnverein, led by August Weihe, after them coming the fire department, and citizens on horseback. Marching to the grove on Park Street, between Sutter and San Joaquin, Rev. David W. McDonald, the Episcopal rector, offered a prayer to the God of all, that peace might continue throughout the land. Thomas Colwell read the Declaration of Independence and Newton Booth delivered "a masterly production—a speech which spoke to the reason and the feelings." The council had appropriated $350 for fireworks, and these were set off on Fremont Square, but being old, having been shipped around Cape Horn, they were a failure.

State and National Democratic Conventions

        We must now pass from local to national events. The national Democratic convention was called to meet at Charleston, S. C., April 28, 1860, and in preparation for this event, J. P. Hoge, the chairman of the Democratic state committee, called a convention to assemble at Sacramento January 29, to elect delegates to the Presidential convention. San Joaquin was entitled to ten delegates to the Sacramento convention, and the Democrats met in the City Hall February 24. John McMullen was elected permanent chairman and William Harper, secretary. The delegates elected were Thomas W. Lane, John McMullen, farmer and cattle dealer; David F. Douglas, San Joaquin's first Senator; John C. White, a wealthy farmer; H. C. Patrick, part owner of the Republican; P. E. Conner, founder of the Stockton water­works; William H. DeVries, father of our ex-Congressman; J. H. Lathrop and Edward Canavan. The convention assembled in Sacramento at the time appointed. It met in the First Baptist Church, but so deep was the interest and so large the crowd that it was compelled to adjourn to the Forest Theater. The Democratic press of the state had declared in favor of Daniel S. Dickerson of New York as Presidential nominee, and he was indorsed by the convention by a vote of 282 to 65. Vincent E. Greiger offered a resolution that Stephen A. Douglas be the last choice of the convention. This resolution was laid on the table. Two Democrats from San Joaquin, Major L. R. Bradley, afterwards Governor of Nevada, and C. M. Creanor, the district judge, were anxious to take the long, dangerous and weary ocean journey to Charleston, and Major Bradley was one of the elect. Upon arrival in the city since so famous, the California delegation learned that their nominee was not in the fight, for the contest lay between Stephen A. Douglas, the "Little Giant" of Northern Democracy, and John C. Breckinridge, the champion of the South. The delegates from the cotton land, failing in their effort to force the convention to adopt a pro-slavery platform, withdrew from that body, followed later by the California delegation. The convention nominated Douglas for President and William Johnson for Vice-President. Those who withdrew met, at Richmond, June 11, adopted the platform which was rejected by the Douglas convention and nominated John C. Breckinridge for President and Joseph C. Lane of Oregon for Vice-President. The Republican convention on May 16 had nominated Abraham Lincoln for President, and May 19 the Constitutional Union (peace) party had placed John Bell before the people.

        The National Republican convention was the first to assemble and June 13 the news was received in Stockton that Abraham Lincoln had been nominated for President. On receiving the news the Stockton Republicans fired one hundred guns in honor of the event. The split in the Democratic party and the nomination of John C. Breckinridge for President was received here July 18. The news created considerable excitement, for Breckinridge was the well-known champion of slavery and state's rights. There was much speculating regarding the election of the Douglas Democratic nominee, Stephen A. Douglas, or the Southern nominee, John C. Breckinridge, but it was finally conceded that the contest lay between Breckinridge, the slavery advocate, and Abraham Lincoln, who had declared in his famous speech in the Douglas-Lincoln debate, "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved. I do not expect the house to fall; but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other."

        The campaign opened in August and William M. Gwin said in his Stockton speech, August 29, "I am for Breckinridge and Lane, first, last and all the time. I am willing to sink or swim, survive or perish with them and the party they represent. Our standard bearer, John C. Breckinridge, is one of the greatest men of the earth. He will administer and advance the glory of the country." The Stockton Republicans in order to successfully carry on the contest organized a Lincoln and Hamlin club, and they published an advertisement in the Stockton Independent calling on all persons who wish to secure the election of Abraham Lincoln for President to assemble in the court house for the organization of a Lincoln club. A large number of Republicans assembled and S. T. Nye was elected president of the meeting, I. S. Locke vice-president and Charles Belding, secretary. The meetings of the club were held in the Baptist Church on Center Street, and planting a flagstaff they raised aloft a large banner bearing the inscription "Lincoln and Hamlin Club." Their first campaign meeting was held August 28 from a small flag decorated platform in front of the Weber House. The officers of the meeting were: President, I. S. Locke; vice-president, Samuel Myers, the French Camp rancher; B. S. Rowe, H. B. Post, the Cherokee Lane farmer; Alexander Burkett, the flour mill owner; S. T. Nye, then a commission merchant; Perry Yaple, a .barley mill man, later of Ripon; Dr. Moses Hammond, Willard Sperry, flour mill man; George Gray, lumber dealer, later mayor of city; Charles Grunsky, later county clerk; James Littlehale, banker; and Charles Belding, soda manufacturer and farmer. The speaker of the evening was Thomas Fitch of Wisconsin, later known as the silver-tongued orator of Nevada. The campaign was hotly contested, Governor Weller, Senator Latham, Senator Gwin, Frank Tilford, Joseph Budd and A. C. Bradford speaking for Breckinridge and Thomas Fitch, Charles Tuttle, Henry Edgerton, A. A. Sargent, George W. Tyler and Henry B. Underhill espousing the cause of Lincoln.

The Election of 1860

        On election day, November 6, the Democratic organ said, "Today the great struggle is to come off throughout the United States which is to settle the destiny of the United States of North America. It is the turning point in the world's history." In San Joaquin County the vote was close between Lincoln and Breckinridge, although the Republicans had no newspaper to advocate their cause. The Breckinridge party, although weakened by the secession of the Douglasites, carried both city and county by a small majority, the Republican party, then but four years old, being a good second. I can show the political situation of that day in no better way than by recording the vote. The city vote was: Breckinridge—First Ward, 239; Second Ward, 161; Third Ward, 137; County, 1,374. Doug las—First Ward, 105; Second Ward, 134; Third Ward, 190 ; County, 733. Lincoln—First Ward, 195 ; Second Ward, 93 ; Third Ward, 190 ; County, 1,131. Bell—First Ward, 32; Second Ward, 22; Third Ward, 28; County, 199. The vote for senator was as follows: F. M. Warmcastle (Breckinridge, Dem.), 1,300; D. J. Staples (Rep.), 1,034; D. A. Inman (Bell), 876. For assemblymen; L. R. Bradley (Breckinridge,Dem.), 1,337; Thomas Laspeyre (Breckinridge, Dem.), 1125; William Garrard (Douglas, Dem.), 1,047; William H. Lyons (Douglas, Dem.), 1,032. George Gray, Samuel Myers, J. L. Downing and B. P. Baird were other candidates. The strongest Republican precinct was Woodbridge, and it gave Lincoln 128 votes, Breckinridge 90, Douglas 54, and Bell 13. The strongest Breckinridge precinct was Orr's Store, which gave Breckinridge 78, Lincoln 27, Douglas Bell 11. Kerrick's, another Breckinridge stronghold, gave him 55, Lincoln 13, Douglas 6. Lincoln carried the state, receiving 38,744 votes, Douglas 38,023, Breckinridge 33,975, and Bell 9,136.

        The die was cast, Lincoln was elected President and the states of the South began seceding from the Union. Here upon the Pacific Coast it was rumored that the Southern sympathizers intended to form a Pacific Republic of the states of Oregon, Nevada and California, and the Stockton Republican gave color to that report when it said, on January 1, 1861: "What may be the future of events no man can tell. The most profound statesmen cannot say today whether the present confederacy will be in existence on the first day of January, or whether there will be at that time a Northern, a Southern, and a Pacific Republic." Everything was favorable for such a republic, for the Buchanan administration had placed as officers in the Mint, the Customhouse, the Postoffice and other Federal positions men known to be in sympathy with the Southern cause. The commander-in-chief of the Pacific Coast forces, Brevet Brigadier-General Albert Sidney Johnson, was of Southern birth, and John B. Floyd had secretly sent to the Benicia arsenal 18,000 stands of arms. The condition of governmental affairs in the state was equally favorable for the formation of a new republic, and sixty-five merchants of San Francisco telegraphed as follows to the Secretary of War, August 28: "A majority of our present state officers are undisguised and avowed secessionists, and the balance, being hostile to the administration, are advocates of a peace policy at any price."

Bear and Secession Flags

        While the citizens of Stockton were excitedly discussing the future outlook, Duncan Beaumont, an old resident, and at that time the county surveyor, increased the excitement by floating at the masthead of his yacht, then anchored at the foot of Miner Avenue, a very peculiar flag. It was four-by-six feet in size, and upon the blue cloth was painted a single white star, a grizzly bear and a pine tree. Neither he nor anybody else dreamed of the effect. As soon as the citizens learned of this flag the Stars and Stripes were unfurled from all the engine houses and many other buildings of the city, and Mr. Beaumont in short order pulled down his strange flag. What was the object in raising it? The Stockton Republic said: "It was to be used as a California flag should the Union slide." Mr. Beaumont, in great anger, declared he would raise a British, French or Russian flag if he saw fit. Upon the day following, January 17, some unknown party stretched a banner across Main Street, fastening it to the roofs of the Holden drug store and the theater building. In one corner of this banner  were the stars and stripes, in the center a large eagle and beneath the bird a grizzly bear. The flag attracted a large crowd throughout the day and that night someone cut it down. But it was again raised, and hung in place for several days. These two events greatly inflamed the public mind, and the hope was publicly expressed that, "this flag-raising folly would not be repeated."

It was repeated, however, in February, by Madison Walthall, one of the charter members of the Baptist Church, and at that time a farmer in Douglas township. He, on his farm, hoisted a bear flag, and the Argus called him a "disunionist." This epithet offended Mr. Walthall and in a newspaper card he declared: "I can say we are not disunionists. Everybody knows what the bear flag means. It means that when the Union is dissolved we intend to be independent—not before."

        These incidents, strongly indicating the truth of the rumors of the Pacific Republic, awakened the sleeping patriotism of the lovers of their country. The result was seen February 22, when, as if by one impulse, every Union man declared his principles. Everybody who owned a flag flung it to the breeze, and those without a flag bought one. Flags were everywhere seen upon staffs, fences, trees and buildings and the boys upon the streets carried them by the dozen. Wells Fargo's flag­staff was loaded with them. The procession of that day, partly due to the Stockton Cornet Band, which voluntarily gave its service, had never before been equaled. Shortly after midnight the guns began saluting the coming day, and at sunrise "there was a perfect roar of cannon." At the same hour the band was stationed upon the roof of the Corinthian Building, and, as the flag was flung to the wind, the "Star Spangled Banner," followed by "Yankee Doodle," was borne out over the little town. The procession comprised the Stockton Blues, the Turnverein, carrying a German revolutionary flag, the Fire Department and citizens.

        The enthusiastic celebration of February 22, 1861, was due, no doubt, to, the stirring news received the previous day. This intelligence, then twelve days old, had been wired from St. Louis to Fort Kearney, thence, by pony express traveling at top speed over mountain, desert and river, it reached Fort Churchill, and from that point the principal events were telegraphed ahead, while the pony speeding on brought the full particulars. These are the headlines that appeared in the California press February 21 over matter dated St. Louis, February 9: "The Union Men Have Carried the Virginia Convention—The Secessionists Elected only About Thirty Members. Secession Movements Go on in the South. Texas Has Passed Her Secession Ordinance. Charleston Is Quiet—Fort Sumter Has Not Been Re-enforced. The Ultimatum of South Carolina Has Been Presented and Responded To—The President Says He Has No Power to Negotiate for the Surrender of Government Property, which He Is Bound to Protect. The President-elect Will Leave Springfield for Washington on Monday Next, February 11." We all know from history the events that rapidly followed this report. President Lincoln secretly journeyed to the White House, his friends believing that a plot had been formed to assassinate him. The seceding states, February 4, formed a Southern Confederacy and on the 18th elected Jefferson Davis president. The attack on Fort Sumter came April 12, and two days later the fort was evacuated by Major Anderson. Then came the call of President Lincoln, April 15, for 75,000 men, followed April 19 by the attack on the Massachusetts troops in the streets of Baltimore, and the death of Colonel Ellsworth of the New York Fire Zouaves, who was instantly killed because he pulled down the secession flag from the top of the Arlington Hotel in Alexandria. Ellsworth, then about twenty-five years of age, the pride of Chicago and New York, was the first victim of the war. This created great indignation in Stockton and the first war song heard in this city was the composition, "Ellsworth, the True and the Brave." The music, a solo and chorus, was first heard, I believe, at a Sunday evening service in the Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Wilkins singing the solo.

        Semi-monthly came the war dispatches, the excitement constantly increasing. Many persons declared the news was nothing but fakes and sensations got up for the purpose of intensifying the feeling between the North and the South. April 17 the Democratic paper on El Dorado Street said: "The news by pony express is fearfully sensational, extremely alarming and tremendously warlike, but unfortunately for its reliability savors of gammon and enterprising newspapers." Southern men and Northern men were of this opinion, until the guns of Fort Pickens were fired upon the old flag. Then there was a change of sentiment among those of the North, and when the news of the surrender of Fort Sumter was learned, so intense was the excitement that the citizens seemed to have forgotten all about the city election. "We have never seen before such supreme indifference manifested in this matter as at the present time," says a writer of the time, "for neither party held any primaries or conventions, nor was any public notice given of the election until a few days before it took place. Then a list of nominees was sent to the Republican with the name of E. S. Holden for mayor. Later another list was published with J. P. D. Wilkins, a Douglas Democrat, for mayor. The election was very quietly conducted and results as follows: Mayor, E. S. Holden, 462, J. P. D. Wilkins, 234; city collector, V. M. Peyton, 356, H. W. Gillingham, 187; marshal, B. F. Sanborn, 411, J. E. McKensie, 258 assessor, Charles Belding, 273, T. S. Strout, 413.

The Famous Woodbridge Meeting

        A few days after the city election an event took place at Woodbridge that finally united the Lincoln and Douglas men, and opened the eyes of many Northern men to a realizing sense of the situation of political affairs in California. The Southern men were active, vigilant, watchful, waiting only for an opportune time to carry out their plans. The state officials were their friends and so were the officers of the army. No United States troops could possibly reach California inside of sixty days, while troops from the South, marching through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona could enter the state in less than three weeks. The Northern men were asleep. To arouse them to action here in San Joaquin, George T. Tyler took the lead. A young man, then thirty years of age, having just arrived from the East, he had located in Stockton. Unswerving in loyalty to party, educated in law, strong in body and fearless in action, he believed that if he could by some means cause the Southern sympathizers to show their hand the Lincoln and Douglas partisans would act. How could this be accomplished? The breaking up of a Republican meeting, Tyler believed, would have the desired effect. Thus it was planned and Woodbridge was the place selected. Although it had given Lincoln the largest precinct vote, yet it was said "the woods are full of secessionists." Quietly it was given out that May 11, 1861, a Union club would be formed in Woodbridge. At the time appointed Tyler and a few friends, all well armed, drove in an open wagon to the town. Over 300 persons were there assembled. The meeting was held in a carpenter shop, and Tyler was elected chairman. Written by him, a series of resolutions were introduced, and by some twenty speakers for nearly four hours, they were heatedly discussed pro and con. Finally the first resolution was put by the Chair, "Resolved, that we will support the Union cause, peacefully if we can, forcibly if we must." There was much confusion, Mark A. Evans, then county treasurer, jumping upon a bench, revolver in hand and shouting to Tyler: "You'll never live to see those resolutions enforced." Immediately there was an uproar. Pistols and knives were drawn, and the chairman, after several unsuccessful efforts to obtain a vote on the resolution, adjourned the meeting to the street. They took opposite sides and then it was seen that three to one the advocates of the "peace policy" outnumbered the "coercionists." The meeting was broken up, and the news was telegraphed to all parts of the state.

The Republican County Convention

        Tyler thus scored his first point. His next move was in the Republican convention. It assembled in the City Hall June 15, and in the convention there were many Douglas Democrats. The day previous the news was received that Douglas had died June 3, and a few days before his death he again said to his party men, "Stand by the Union; the insurrection must be crushed." The convention was composed of seventy-seven delegates, among them being the following-named: Charles Belding, C. O. Burton, H. S. Sargent, Jerome Myers, George Gray, Samuel Elliott, George M. Doll, Dr. Charles Grattan, H. B. Underhill, M. S. Thresher, R. S. Johnson, William P. Miller, Andrew Wolf, Joseph M. Long, George E. Childs, Alfred Starkweather, Peter Jahant, J. M. Perley, Shubel Dunham and John Sharp. The convention was called to order by Thomas J. Keys, the Stockton blacksmith.

        As permanent officers, Charles Chamberlain was elected president, E. S. Holden and John Thompson, vice-presidents, R. S. Johnson and C. O. Burton, secretaries. In its platform, the convention candidly proclaimed these principles: "Whereas, the Government of the United States is now defending itself against a war waged upon it without justification or decent excuse by certain seceded states, a war manifestly, for the overthrow of our Government—therefore be it unanimously resolved, First, that at this time indifference is impossible to the patriot and neutrality is cowardice, if not premeditated disloyalty. Second, that the people of California will hail with joy an honorable adjustment (for peace); at the same time they are, above all things, for the Union and its flag, and against all assailants, no matter who they are, from whence they come or with what power armed.' " The nominees for officers were many, but the convention was very cautious regarding the nominees, for they had agreed in a previous mass convention to place none upon the ticket but men of undoubted loyalty to the party and for county judge, D. J. Staples, afterwards president of the Fireman's Insurance Company of San Francisco; J. M. Kelsey, then a farmer; John B. Hall, the well-known attorney; C. C. Rynerson, farmer, and George W. Tyler were placed in nomination. Tyler was nominated on the first ballot, his vote, seventy-three, exceeding by ten the combined votes of his opponents. The nomination for sheriff resulted in a most exciting and bitter contest, because of the placing in nomination of William Biven, editor and proprietor of the Stockton Argus. He was a popular citizen, highly regarded and respected as a gentleman, but some were suspicious as to his loyalty. On the first ballot the result as announced was William Biven 47, Thomas H. Hook 29, Andrew Wolf 14, C. C. Rynerson 33, Samuel Fisher, stage owner, 27. The names of Mr. Wolf and Mr. Fisher were then withdrawn. The result of the second ballot was: Biven 59, Hook 48, Rynerson 35. It was evident that Biven was the choice of the majority, but the leaders were resolved to down him. To accomplish this result, it was necessary to know the delegates who were voting for Biven. To learn this, a motion was made and carried that the next ballot for sheriff be viva voce. The result called was: Biven 62, Hook 51, Rynerson 30. The lowest nominee was then withdrawn. Then some of the leaders, approaching Biven's friends, succeeded in convincing a few of them that Biven was an unreliable nominee, and on the fourth ballot Hook was nominated by a vote of 76 to 54 for Biven. Biven, exceedingly angry, immediately left the hall and from that date he advocated the Southern cause. The loyalty of many in the convention was doubted, and because of this another very unusual proceeding was carried out. The convention was not permitted to vote for the delegates to the state Republican convention. Austin Sperry, George R. Warren, Eli Amsbaugh, George W. Tyler, Joseph M. Long, S. H. Benedict, D. J. Staples and Thomas M. Mosely were secretly selected by somebody as delegates.

        As my readers will have noticed by the account of the proceedings of the Republican convention, before the coming of July 4, 1861, the lines had been clearly drawn, and all citizens had been called upon to take their stand either for or against the Union. In the celebration of that day not a Southern man took part. The old flag was everywhere seen. It floated from flagpoles, windows, fences and windmills. The boys wore badges bearing the motto, "The Union forever," and the girls wore dresses and sashes made of the national colors. Thousands of strangers crowded the sidewalks, as the procession passed along Brigadier-General Connor, in full-dress uniform riding a white horse, was the center of all eyes, for hundreds had never before seen an army officer. He was the grand marshal, his aides being H. T. Huggins and T. K. Hook.  After marching along the principal streets, the procession halted in the Park Street grove, there to listen to a prayer by Rev. B. F. McDonald, the national song by thirty-four children, reading of the Declaration of Independence by Allen Lee Bours, an oration by Rev. David D. Dryden, the singing of "Flag of Our Union" by the children and the benediction by Rev. Clarence King. Refreshments were then provided for the military and the Fire Department by the ladies. The procession then reformed and marched back to Weber Avenue, where it was dismissed. The collation and the reforming of the procession were events not customary, and the object was to keep the men in a body so that they could act immediately, for trouble was anticipated. Trouble was foreshadowed at sunrise by the pastor of the Methodist Church, South, who attempted to prevent the ringing of the bell, and later by a rumor that, as the procession would pass the Eagle Hotel, a young lady of the South would wave a Confederate flag from the balcony. Horses had been attached to the engine and hose carriages, the firemen marching behind their machines. As they marched past the hotel they looked for the new flag. No flag was seen, however, as the lady's friends had persuaded her not to carry out her threat. Each soldier had three rounds of ammunition ready for any emergency, and the firemen declared if that flag was seen they would capture it or tear down the building in the attempt.

The Secessionist Pastor

        The excitement of that day was at a fever heat, intensified by the unwise action of the Rev. L. D. Hargis, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. It had been the custom to ring all of the church bells at sunrise and sunset, but the pastor instructed the janitor not to ring the bell, as he was opposed to mixing religion with politics. The janitor, however, as was his custom, began ringing the bell. As its peal fell upon the ears of the pastor he sprang from his bed, and, running across the street to the church, half dressed, he ordered the janitor to stop ringing the bell. He then took the keys, locked the door and returned to the parsonage. Mr. Schultz, the janitor, then crossing the street, informed Stephen Davis, the contractor and shipbuilder, what had taken place, and the latter quietly said: "Wait a few minutes, and I guess we will ring the bell." Davis was a strong Union man—a Massachusetts Yankee—and going over to the church, the two men crawled through the window and began ringing the bell. Again the minister came rushing over, and, unlocking the door, ordered Davis to stop; but Davis simply smiled. Then the reverend gentleman attempted to stop the ringing by hanging to the rope. Immediately Mr. Davis took a half hitch of the rope around the pastor's wrist, tightening it as in a vice, and the pastor yelled and quickly loosened his hold. He then retired and the bell was rung some length of time. The news of the attempt to stop ringing the bell soon spread throughout the town, and as I stated, it intensified the excitement, for many Union men had subscribed to the purchase of the bell, as well as toward the church. Then the Union men declared, "We'll ring the bell at sunset, or know the reason why." The disunionists replied. "The bell shall not be rung," and one secessionist, Tom Coldwell, a lawyer, boastfully remarked, "If the bell is rung, it will be over my dead body." As the shades of evening began falling across the valley, men began assembling in front of the church. At this time Captain Weber's small cannon was at the wagon shop being repaired, and under command of Israel Rolf the men, wheeled the cannon to the front of the church and loaded it with scraps of iron, bolts, etc., declaring that if the bell were not rung they would blow down the building. At sunset several hundred men had assembled, among them many "fire eaters," the name given to the loud, boasting disunionists. As the fire bell began ringing, the door of the church was forced open and immediately men began ringing the Methodist bell. Coldwell, with his revolver in his hand, stepped inside and put his hand on the rope. Immediately Nathan Coombs (the uncle of Orrin Henderson) struck him a John Sullivan blow in the face and he landed on the sidewalk. This ended the affair. The Union men cheered and yelled, and for over an hour's time the old bell rang out "Union, Union forever !"

The Democratic State Convention

        The San Joaquin political campaign of 1861 was the most exciting, important and intense of any in the state's history. The Republican state convention had assembled at Sacramento June 18th, and one member of the committee on resolutions was George W. Tyler of Stockton; Leland Stanford, the choice of the convention for governor, was nominated on the first ballot. On July 11 the Breckinridge Democrats also assembled at Sacramento. To this convention the San Joaquin Democracy sent twelve delegates. The proxies were numerous, but the following were in attendance: William Lanius, W. D. Aylett, A. R. Campbell, J. H. Woods, Peter Megerle, C. L. Benedict, F. A. Martin, John Canevan (D. F. Douglas, proxy), B. F. Langford (H. C. Patrick, proxy), D. J. Oullahan (D. S. Terry, proxy) and Thomas Laspeyre. This was the famous convention in which that brilliant and gifted young Virginian, Edmond Randolph, made the speech of his life. He died two months later, September 8, of consumption. As he ascended the platform to speak, the stillness of death possessed that memorable body, for the young man came from a long line of eloquent orators, and the convention knew that he was intensely aroused over the events then taking place in the South. It is said that Randolph's eyes were fairly aflame as he spoke and he said in his peroration: "For God's sake, gentlemen, tell me of battles fought and won. Tell me of usurers overthrow that Missouri is again a free state, no longer crushed under the armed heel of a reckless and odious despot. Tell me that the State of Maryland lives again; and, oh, gentlemen, let us read, let us hear at the first moment that not one hostile foot treads the soil of Virginia. If this be rebellion, then I am a rebel. Do you want a traitor, then I am a traitor. For God's sake, speed the ball; may the lead go quick to his heart, and may our country be free from this despot usurper that now claims the name of President of the United States." Under the inspiration of a speech such as this, perhaps it is not surprising that the convention should resolve: "That we are opposed to the employment of force by the general Government against the seceded states for the purpose of compelling obedience and submission to Federal authority." The third resolution declared: "in favor of the recognition of the independence of the Confederate States, and a treaty of amity and peace

between them and the United States Government as the alternative which will terminate the horrors of civil war and bring back peace and happiness to our distracted country."

        The San Joaquin delegates returned from the Sacramento convention, and July 20th the party assembled in the City Hall and "heartily indorsed and reaffirmed the principles and policy, adopted by the convention presided over by the Honorable Todd Robinson in June last." Among them the 113 delegates assembled to nominate county officers were J. D. Peters, Gilbert B. Claiborne, Frank Moss, George W. Trahern, Daniel Rothenbush, Jesse Mitchell, Moses Marks and J. R. W. Hitchcock. They were called to order by the chairman of the County Committee, Postmaster William Lanius. Thomas Laspeyre was chosen as president, Dr. J. A. Aull and James Shephard, vice-presidents, and George Tilgham, secretary. In the platform was the following: "The Democratic party has a mission to accomplish to defeat Black Republicanism under whatever name it rears its head. It must not fear the pressure from without, the clamor and the cry of treason, but its members should stand firm, resist the advocates of civil war, and strike for peace and the Constitution."

The Budd-Underhill Debate

        The campaign opened early. On August 5 George W. Tyler and Henry B. Underhill, candidates for county judge and district attorney, respectively, addressed the citizens in front of the Weber House. They also challenged Joseph H. Budd and A. C. Bradford to discuss the question of the day during the campaign. The conditions were that each speaker should occupy three-quarters of an hour, the last speaker of each side to have the privilege of occupying all of the time not taken up by his colleague; that there should be no hissing or interference with any speaker; that the discussion should be opened by the Democrats the first night, by the Republicans the second night, and so on alternately throughout the campaign. Immediately the challenged party accepted the conditions. Budd was Underhill's opponent for district attorney, and August 10 Budd began the argument for the Democracy, followed by Underhill. In twenty precincts they discussed the issues, ending at the Sixteen-Mile house, September 2, two days before the election, and to the voters was left the decision whether or not Tyler and Underhill had "polished their opponents cleaner than a shotgun," as was prophesied by the Republican editor.

Exciting Meeting at Woodbridge

        The assemblages were quiet and orderly until the meeting of August 24 in Woodbridge. Two chairmen were selected; Dr. C. H. Ober, who on December 17 of the same year, died by poison, taken by mistake, represented the Breckinridge Democrats, and W. H. Bellville presided for the Republicans. Budd made the opening speech. There was no disturbance until Tyler, the last speaker, began his reply to Budd. Then some in the meeting began to converse loudly, and at times hissing was heard. Tyler, who was very quick-tempered, controlled his temper for a time, but as the insults continued he finally declared that any person who would disturb that meeting or any other was no gentlemen but a scoundrel and he (Tyler) would step off the stage and settle the disturbance in one minute. The remark created still greater confusion, but order was finally restored and Tyler finished his argument. After the meeting there were loud cheers for Jeff Davis and Beauregard.

        On the list of speaking places stood Liberty, a Democratic stronghold. A fight there was anticipated, and Tyler and his friends journeyed thither well armed. The meeting was scheduled for Saturday night, August 31. There was good order until Tyler began. In vigorous language he scored the Southern Democracy, and his auditors, not in sympathy with the speaker, began to hiss and talk loudly. The chairman of the meeting tried to quiet them, but failed. Then Bradford and Budd tried to pacify the disturbance. Tyler continued speaking, but finally his patience was exhausted, and drawing his revolver and laying it upon the table, he exclaimed, "I'll kill the first man who makes any more disturbance !" The crowd cheered and Tyler was given a quiet hearing.

Tyler's Assault on Budd

        Two days after this disturbance the only quarrel between men of high standing in this community occurred, and it certainly speaks well for Stockton's       

law-abiding citizens that so exciting a campaign could be conducted with such good temper. The trouble referred to was caused by a letter published by George W. Tyler, in which he declared that Budd had made no effort to stop the noise at Liberty. The two men met in the Court House the next morning, and Tyler in answer to Budd's question, admitted that he was the author of the letter. Budd then exclaimed, "It is false." "You lie," answered Tyler, and, catching his opponent by his long beard, he struck Budd a severe blow. Bystanders then separated the combatants. Ill feeling had existed between the two speakers since their debate, August 23, at the Boston House. After that meeting Budd reported that Tyler had said, "If we cannot carry this election by ballot, we will by bayonets." Tyler, in a statement published August 25, denied making that statement. He admitted saying, "If that party (the Democratic) is not beaten this fall by ballots it will have to be beaten ere long by bayonets." Continuing he said, "Should any attempt be made by them to place California in a position to aid treason and rebellion in the shape of a Pacific republic, I would resist such an attempt to the bitter end and shed the last drop of my heart's blood if necessary to prevent so dire a calamity.

        Those were indeed the "times that tried men's souls" and to carry both state and county election the Republicans had planned well the campaign. Adopting Tyler's idea, the committee sent blank lists to some "hard shelled" Republican in each voting precinct. He was requested to fill out the blank, writing therein the name of every voter and his political faith and then mail it to the committee. This was faithfully obeyed, and then strong leading Republicans were sent forth under the command to go forth into the county and preach the gospel (of Republicanism), not to every creature, but to every Douglas Democrat, convincing him of the error of his ways, and bidding him repent and join the Republican ranks. Many merchants of Stockton, following the example of San Francisco merchants, in a published address said: "We, the undersigned, believing the coming election to be the most important of any that has been held in our county, and believing it to be the duty of every true patriot to make any reasonable sacrifice for the public good, will close our respective places on election day." This card was signed by forty-three business firms. At the same time twenty-nine Douglas Democrats declared over their signature: "We, who have heretofore acted in opposition to the Republican party, fully endorse the actions of the San Francisco merchants, and recommend our friends and fellow-citizens to go and do likewise." The San Francisco merchants said: "The dreadful consequences that must arise from the division of the Union men of this state, and the possible election of the secession McConnell ticket, render it an imperative duty to forget all party preferences and look only to the salvation of our state from ruin and devastation that will follow any success of the secessionists here.

        At that time there were no processions but the night before the election, meetings were held in front of the St. Charles Hotel. A. C. Bradford and David S. Terry interrupted by tumultuous cheering, told their auditors why they should cast their ballot on the morrow for McConnell. The Weber House echoed to moderate hurrahs as George W. Tyler, Elbert Weeks and Enoch Gove declared that before the setting of another sun Leland Stanford would be the next Governor of California. On the election morn Democrats and Republicans each opened his party newspaper and anxiously read the editorial of the day. Said A. C. Russell in the Democratic organ: "We ask voters today to consider the awful responsibility which rests upon them, and dismiss all feeling of hatred, revenge, pride and passion, and vote calmly and with judgment. You are today to decide whether you wish every house, North and South, to be a house of mourning. You are to vote whether ruin, poverty and despair shall pervade the land, and all for no practical good. We have given you our solemn warning." From Samuel Seabough, of the Stockton Independent, came these assertions: "You are to cast today the most important vote of your lives. You are to declare whether this country is for or against maintaining the Federal Constitution; for or against civil war in California. If you sustain the entire Union county ticket—you fix the character of this town and county as loyal, peace loving, and opposed to civil war. If you suffer defeat you permit it to go abroad that the people of San Joaquin are not to be trusted in their loyalty, and the great county will lend her moral, if not her physical, aid to revolutionize the state." As trouble was anticipated, twenty citizens were sworn in as special policemen. There was nothing for them to do, for all the citizens were too busy obtaining votes either to quarrel or get drunk. No disturbance took place, although all the saloons were running full blast. The two bands of music that had the previous evening enlivened the audiences were again at work, and, drawn in wagons through the streets, the Republican band played patriotic airs. The band engaged by the Democrats played marches, waltzes and polkas only. A gentleman from Kerrick's precinct told us in the Mail some time since how a dozen teamsters' votes were cast in that precinct by proxy, long after the teamsters were driving their mules toward their mountain destinations. The votes were accepted, for the watchword was, "Lose not a vote; get them honestly if you can, fraudulently if you must." Both parties worked every trick and scheme known to the politicians, but the race was too hot for the Democracy. San Joaquin County, which had given the Democratic nominee, Milton S. Latham, a majority of 1,597 over Stanford in 1859, now rolled up 1,837 for Stanford, 1576 for McConnell and only 414 for Conness. The city gave Stanford 827, McConnell 488. I here record the full county vote for the Republican and Breckinridge Democratic ticket, that we may see who were the first officeholders of the party that for nearly twenty years elected a full county ticket: Senator, C. H. Chamberlain, 2079. W. D. Aylette. 1617; assemblyman John Thompson, 2110, Samuel Myers, 2160, John H. Woods, 1591; county judge, George W. Tyler, 1996, J. K. Shafer, 1720; sheriff, Thomas K. Hook, 2010, John W. O'Neal, 1709; county clerk. H. E. Hall, 1984, S. R. Chalmers, 1616; recorder, Roley E. Wilhoit, 2115, J. M. Neal, 1376; treasurer, J. M. Kelsey, 2075, Mark A. Evans, 1633; district attorney, Henry B. Underhill. 2145, Joseph H. Budd, 1570, Cyrus Collins, 2107; surveyor, George E. Drew, 2107, Duncan Beaumont. 1684; assessor, Joseph M. Long 2070, J. F. Neeley, 1604; administrator, L. C. Van Allen, 2085, N.E. Noel, 1593; superintendent of schools, Cyrus Collins, 2019, Alfred N. Blake, 1659.

Union Men Rejoice

        In 1863 President Lincoln proclaimed a day to be given to prayer and fasting. Services were held in the Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Robert Happersett preaching the sermon. On a former occasion, when Lincoln appointed September 26, 1861, as a day of fasting and prayer it was almost universally observed for the future of the nation look dark and gloomy but now the day was scarcely noticed. The citizens took it for enjoyment, and the storekeepers were on the lookout for the silver dollars and the greenback. Kipling's admonition to the English people—Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Let us for­get, lest we forget—would have been applicable to Stockton's citizens, for Grant and Sherman were sweeping the land and Farragut and Porter were cleaning the sea, and the people seemed to forget Garfield's sublime cry, "God reigneth." The Union men were now in no mood for prayer. They wanted to yell, and yell they did with all the lung power within them when the news came September 8 of the second Bull Run battle, this time the bull running south instead of north. Saturday evening the news was received and the Union men went wild. All the bells of the city were rung, the cannon was fired, the Fire Department turned out with its engines and a band of music marched the streets, rockets and Roman candles were burned, and in every possible manner men gave vent to their feelings. As a finish, the speakers' stand was carried to the front of the Weber House, men immediately began speaking, and the people cheered until they were hoarse.

        The state election was soon to be held. The Union County Committee at this time comprised seventeen members, C. O. Burton being chairman and Charles Grunsky, secretary, committee assembling May 16, called a convention to be held in the City Hall June 13 to nominate a county ticket and elect delegates to the state convention at Sacramento June 17. At the appointed date the convention met, every delegate being a well-known Union man. The delegates were called to order by C. O. Burton, then just appointed as postmaster. M. S. Thresher was elected temporary chairman and I. R. Wilbur and G. C. Holman of Lockeford, secretaries. Preliminary business being completed, the convention adjourned until one o'clock. Again assembling, M. G. Cobb, a prominent lawyer, was chosen chairman, and Holman, secretary. On motion of Thomas R. Mosely all the county officers were nominated viva voce. The resolutions passed by the by the convention had in them a defiant tone, for the news from the East was very encouraging to the Union cause. Among the most prominent were the following: "Resolved, that the old flag must wave triumphantly over every inch of soil owned by the Government, Resolved, that when the last traitor in the land shall have laid down his arms and submitted unconditionally to the lawful authority of the Government of the United States, then we shall be in favor of peace, but not until then. Resolved, that this county can and will give 600 majority for the Union ticket in September next."

Hook's Sensational Speech

        When nominations for sheriff were called for, Thomas K. Hook's name was presented. This was a surprise, for many in the convention questioned his loyalty. When called upon to appear before the convention, Hook, knowing that his loyalty was doubted, made the most sensational speech ever heard in a San Joaquin convention. Trembling with emotion, he said in part: "Let me be accused of everything that is offensive in the eyes of God and man, place me in the lowest grade of criminals if you will, but in Heaven's name don't charge me with being disloyal to my Government. When this convention shall have adjourned, let each delegate go home assured that if a drop of disloyal blood shall flow in my veins, if I can find out its location, it shall see the light." He was nominated unanimously. The nominations were in nearly every case repetitions of the nomination of 1861. R. E. Wilhoit was named for recorder, J. M. Kelsey for treasurer, George E. Drew for surveyor and Morris H. Bond for coroner. The entire ticket was elected.

        The success of the ticket was due to the formation of Union clubs throughout the county. I have no positive data regarding the formation of the first club, but French Camp seems to have the honor. A club was formed there May 18, 1861, with Samuel Myers as president and F. J. Woodward as secretary. July 2, 1863, a Union club was formed and met in the Davis schoolhouse on Cherokee Lane. John Grattan, then one of the hardest of party workers, was president and William D. Ashley, secretary. Other clubs were formed throughout the county, but the principal club was in Stockton. Two years previous there had been a Republican club, but as a Union organization, a club composed of both Democrats and Republicans, its formation dates from July 29, 1863. A few days before that date this call was published: "Union men, attention. There will be a meeting in the City Hall Monday evening for the purpose of forming a Union club. Let all those who are in favor of laying aside all party names and associations and are opposed to copperhead and secession Democracy, and their peace propositions attend and enroll themselves upon the side of our country and Government."

        Hundreds signed the roll. At that time General Grant was hammering at Vicksburg and General Meade was gathering his forces at Gettysburg. Then came the most terrible battle of the war on the first three days of July, and General Robert E. Lee, that grand man and heroic leader, fled towards Richmond in defeat. The following day Vicksburg surrendered. The news was received at Stockton Saturday evening, July 9, and at the club meeting that night, Rev. Hendrickson, pastor of the Baptist Church, was called upon for a speech and he declared that the rebellion was "on its last legs." Hendrickson, who soon after the close of the war took charge of the First Baptist Church, San Francisco, was the most eloquent pulpit orator in Stockton. Let me quote the closing remarks of his sermon, August 6, 1863: "My fellow citizens, stand by your country, obey her laws and defend her constitution against all enemies, and, by the blessings of God she will stand firm amidst the wildest storm of human passion. Her glories will shine forth with even increasing brilliancy, and the rectitude and grandeur of her sway will be enjoyed until the end of time. When from the pine forests of Maine to the rock-ribbed mountains of California and to the evergreen glades of Florida will be heard the magic shout, Alleluia, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth; for He has caused our country to triumph gloriously." The victories of Grant, Meade and Halleck could not be passed silently by, and on July 11 there was a jollification previously unsurpassed. All the business houses and residences of Union men were brightly illuminated. The bells were rung and the cannon's boom and the rockets' red glare gave proof through the night that something was doing in Stockton. The Union Guard, Stockton Light Dragoons, the First Cavalry, California Volunteers, companies G, I, K, and M., together with the Union clubs of the county, paraded the streets led by the Stockton Cornet Band playing continuously the tunes, "John Brown," "The Union Forever," and "The Red, White and Blue." The speakers' stand had been placed in the street, and Charles H. Chamberlain, afterwards senator and author of the famous bill giving the negro equal rights in a court of law, addressed the audience. He was followed by Samuel Myers, Rev. Hendrickson, Thomas B. Shannon, Cornelius Cole and M. G. Cobb. Frank Pixley was expected, but he sent a telegram saying: "Illness in my family prevents me being with you tonight. When Lee is annihilated, Richmond captured and Charleston burned, I will visit Stockton and preach the funeral oration of the rebellion." Till midnight the people lingered, then, moving to the wharf, witnessed a beautiful sight as the steamer Cornelia, brilliantly illuminated, came slowly up the channel.

        The Democrats assembled in county convention July 20, under very discouraging circumstances. They had no chance whatever of electing their state or county ticket, and their party organs, the San Joaquin Republican and the Stockton Argus, had been suppressed by the order of Brigadier-General Wright. The delegates, among whom were John B. Hall, N. C. Hilke, Frank Moss, John Quinn and Samuel Eldridge, elected William H. Lyons, chairman and L. R. Chalmers of Collegeville and William Biven, secretaries. The convention protested against the many arbitrary acts and usurpations of President Lincoln, and condemned as tyrannical the arrest of C. L. Vallandigham of Ohio, who had denounced the draft. They also declared the Stockton Beacon their official advocate, Biven having started this paper after the suppression of the Argus.

The Campaign of 1863

        The campaign of 1863 was very lively, Joseph H. Budd, John B. Hall, Samuel A. Booker, Charles Weller and Joe Hamilton speaking for the so-called Democrats and Moses G. Cobb, George Tyler, Charles H. Chamberlain, Henry B. Underhill, Joseph W. Cavis and Wm. L. Dudley defending the Union cause. One of the largest meetings of the campaign was that held in Agricultural Hall August 27 and "an immense audience filled every spot in the spacious building." It was in part a military meeting as the speaker of the evening was Colonel Van Arman of the 127th Illinois Regiment, and in his honor many of the vice-presidents were military men. The meeting was called to order by C. O. Burton, chairman of the Union County Committee. Colonel Oscar M. Brown was elected as president and Captains T. A. Storms, L. E. Lyons, T. K. Hook, C. J. Jennings, J. L. Merriam and L. M. Gardner, vice-presidents and Lieutenant P. S. Rowe and George Vaugh, secretaries. During the speaking an "Independent" extra was read telling of the bombardment of Fort Sumter by the Federal army. "The audience were perfectly wild with excitement and cheer upon cheer rent the air as the reading progressed." At its conclusion the people arose to their feet and gave three cheers for Colonel Gilmore, the commander of the Federal forces and the band at the same time struck up "Yankee Doodle." At intervals the Euterpean club sang patriotic songs, and a quartette comprising Mrs. J. P. D. Wilkins, Mrs. Edward Delano, Wm. Cobb and Amos Durant sang the "Flag of Our Union," which was loudly encored. Cheers were then given for the army and navy and the success of the Union ticket.

        The Union party, October 14, over twenty days previous to the election, had their big celebration. The city workers, assembling in the afternoon, marched to the Mormon Slough bridge over Center Street and after greeting the county delegation escorted them into the city. That night the streets were lively. There were salutes by the Stockton Light Artillery, two bands of music (one from San Francisco), a procession with some 1500 torches and transparencies in line, fireworks and speaking. For the first time Hunter Square was occupied as the political assembly room, with the arch of God overhead and the stars of the Union shining. As the procession was led into the square, rockets, stars and blue lights filled the air. The space was crowded, over 5000 persons being present; some had come over twenty miles to listen to those eloquent speakers—Frank Pixley, William Higby and Henry Edgerton—and until the midnight hour the speakers proclaimed the party principles. It seemed as if the very air was then saturated with Unionism, for even the boys caught the fever. About 150, with Frank Wilkins as grand marshal and George R. Sanderson and George Warfield as aids, October 19 formed a torchlight procession and marched the streets. They were led by fife and drum, Herbert Condy playing the fife and Willie Browning the snare drum. After an hour's parade they returned to the hall and listened to addresses from H. B. Underhill and Rev. Mr. Buel of San Francisco.

        In the meantime General W. T. Sherman had been making his famous march through Georgia and in the twilight hour of September 3, 1864, the telegraph flashed across the continent the splendid news, "Atlanta has fallen," and that night around the Democratic headquarters all was darkness and silence, but around the Union stand noise was King. The Union men had a good laugh on the Democrats over the old iron cannon that had for so many years belched forth fire and smoke.

Some spiteful persons had toppled the old gun into the slough. The Democrats had fished it out and they had fired salutes for McClellan that afternoon. At night it rattled the windows livelier than ever before because Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, had been destroyed by Sherman's army. The occupation of Atlanta by the Federal troops, many of them negroes, gave rise to a negro melody, which was sung in church by Mrs. Wilkins: Look out dar now, we's agoin' to shoot, Look out dar, don't you understand Babylon is fallen, We's agoin' to occupy this land." Sherman marched quickly from Atlanta to the sea, and George F. Root then composed the war song, "Marching through Georgia."

The State Campaign of 1864

        The state campaign opened in September, and on the 17th the Union party's first meeting was addressed by Judge S. H. Brockway of Calaveras and A. A. Sargent of Nevada. The same evening the Democracy held a meeting in front of the St. Charles Hotel and Samuel H. Beeker introduced the first speaker, Charles L. Weller, as "just out of Alcatraz, put in by General McDowell's orders." Weller, one of the shining lights of the party, was at that time chairman of the State Central Committee. Because of remarks made at a political meeting he was arrested and confined on the island.

        In three weeks, however, he was released, after giving $25,000 bonds and taking the oath of allegiance. The Democrats, who had worked very hard all through the campaign to carry the county for McClellan and Pendleton, held their biggest meeting Saturday evening before the election. Early in the afternoon the farmers from many miles distant began to assemble in the city, and at 7 o'clock the procession began forming. In the line were hundreds of torches and banners, and the novel feature was a company of horsemen, each rider carrying a new broom with the inscription, "The Democrats Will Sweep the State." The showing they made was a surprise to their opponents, and their paper declared: "The procession was well arranged and had a very fine appearance." About 9 o'clock the voters gathered at their old stamping ground, and their local speakers declared the war a failure and the government a despotism.

        As the election day drew nigh a large number of business men published the following notice: "We, the undersigned merchants and traders in the city of Stockton, believe that the coming election to be the most important of any that has yet been held in our state; and we believe it to be the duty of every true patriot to make any reasonable sacrifice, for the public good, do hereby mutually agree with each other; that we will close our respective places of business on the coming election day to wit, Wednesday, the second day of September, 1863. Wm. P. Miller, J. Pierce Underhill .Co., Webster Bros., Mills & Doll, Louis M. Hickman, C. J. Newcomb & Co., Alfred Blake, R. B. Parker & Co., V. Marratt, Thomas & Albert Ecstrom, H. C. Hilke, Timothy Paige, Kierski Bros., Henderson & Belding, Harry F. Fanning, Charles G. Ernest, Rufus B. Lane, George Natt, Louis Hansel, Wm. B. Young, John O. Keefe, H. S. Chase & Co., Baker & Hamilton, H. S. Sargent, Jones & Hewlett, M. L. Abramsky, Stockwell & Mosely, Adolphe Dolhaguy, Thomas Gallagher, Seifert & Fell, Nash & Fogg, Mrs. R. Johnson, Dohrmann & Smallfield, Thomas Cunningham, Peter Mengel, Wm. Christian. McShane & Oullahan, Owens & Moore, Geo. H. Sanderson, Richard Condy, H. M. Gage, H. Barly, Wm. Fogarty & Co., H. P. Bridges, M. L. Bird, J. P. D. Wilkins, H. O. Mathews, H. S. Matteson, Keep & Briggs, Woodman & Stockwell, L. Howard, John McLean, Roseman & Yates, Sidney Newell, and John T. Hickinbotham. The polls opened at 8 o'clock and closed at sunset, and at midnight the guns were roaring, the bands playing and the voters cheering for the city had gone Lincoln, 717; McClellan, 389. Neither did the Democrats get comfort from the county, for as soon as the votes of each precinct were counted, a rider upon the dead run brought the returns to the Union headquarters, and the result figured up: Lincoln, 1849; McClellan, 1429. Over the result of the contest the Union men rejoiced November 12, the telegraph having brought the news of Lincoln's reelection.

Close of the War

        The army of the North was now pressing harder and closer the army of the South, and the people saw not far distant the time of which they sang: "When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah !" But to thousands of homes Johnny would never march back: 227,000 had fallen in Southern fields. This thought suggested George F. Root's pathetic ballad: "We shall meet, but we shall miss him; There will be one vacant chair; We shall linger to caress him. While we breathe our evening prayer." In rags and tatters, sometimes with scarcely enough to eat, the brave boys in gray manfully struggled for the cause they believed to be right, but against the powerful, well-fed army led by Sherman and Grant they were helpless. Robert E. Lee, one of the grandest men and bravest generals the nation has ever produced, finally gave way and on April 9, 1864, he surrendered to General U. S. Grant.

        The news reached Stockton at 8 o'clock in the morning of April 10th, and never again will such a scene be witnessed as on that day. In their triumphant shouts of joy, it seemed as if men's hearts would leap from their breasts, so happy were they that the terrible strain was at an end. Immediately a detachment of the light artillery fired a national salute, under the command of Sergeant Charles F. Whale. At the same time all the bells of the city began their joyous peal, and heard above them all was the big fire bell. Continuously for over three hours the steamer Cornelia's bell sounded, " 'Tis well, 'tis well," and the fireman of the Globe foundry shoveled in coal, while the shrill whistle blew for many hours. The musicians in those days, like the minute men of the Revolution, were always ready and were called out, a procession was formed, the firemen with their engine being on hand, and they marched the streets, cheering, cheering. cheering. For change they would halt, and some speaker, jumping upon a cannon would address the excited listeners. All the business houses were closed, and all the morning the people marched, sung war songs and hurrahed.

Grant's Picture Brought $600

        Finally the marchers halted in front of the Guards' Armory on the avenue. Rev. Lyford, then here in the interest of the Chairman Commission, mounting a cannon, began to address the crowd. To him was handed for the benefit of the commission a large pen and ink sketch of General Grant, the work being done by an insane asylum patient. Quick as a flash he caught the temper of his audience, and extolling the victory of Grant, he finally exclaimed, "How much am I bid for the man on horseback?" The bidding started at $20 ran up to $100, and it was sold to Charles T. Meader, then the copper king. He handed the auctioneer $100 in gold for the portrait. It was then sold to Captain Cushing of the steamer Cornelia for $50, then to R. T. Moseley for $100, to Meader again for $30, to Cushing for $20, to Andrew W. Simpson for $50, to L. U. Shippee for $30, to Kelsey for $50, and finally to Meader for $25. The picture all told brought $600, and for many years Mr. Meader kept it as a precious memento of the war. The procession was then dismissed and at 4 o'clock the light artillery, parading the streets, fired a 200-gun salute. That night the city was ablaze with light. All the dwellings were illuminated, and more music and a torch­light procession enlivened the night. Men, women and children "felt just as happy as a big sunflower that nods and bends in the breeze." little dreaming that before the close of another week they would be in gloom and despair and the city hung in black.

The City in Gloom

        Such was the fact, for on the morning of April 15th, at 8 o'clock, the news came: "President Lincoln is dead: shot last night by T. Wilkes Booth, while attending a play in Ford's Theater." The news for a time stunned the minds of the Unionists and they moved aimlessly. At once the stores were all closed, the bells began tolling, and half-hour guns were fired throughout the day. Men with blanched cheeks and quivering lips, stood in groups upon the street corners, talking over the terrible deed, some fearful of a most terrible ending of the war, others crying for revenge. Some believed a massacre or riot would be the result, and, as we know, a riot did take place in New York, and Garfield's clarion notes ringing out upon the air. "God reigns, and the Government at Washington still lives," calmed the rising storm. In California we had no Garfield, but we had men of equally good sense and poise, and by their counsel and advice all trouble was averted.

Last Tribute to Lincoln

        April 19th the nation paid its last tribute to the dead hero. In this city from sunrise to 11 o'clock, the hour set for the funeral cortege to move, the artillery fired half-hour guns. Early in the day the people came upon the streets in mourning, over 1000 wearing badges with the inscription: "We loved him in life: we mourn him in death." The Masons, Odd Fellows, military and citizens formed the procession, the catafalque being drawn by four black horses, colored footmen walking at the head of each horse. The memorial exercises were held in Agricultural Hall. There was not a foot of standing room. First came the dirge by the band, a selection from the opera "Aida." "Rest, Spirit, Rest:" prayer J. D. Gassman of the Episcopal parish: hymn by the Presbyterian choir, "Sweet the Sleep When Christians Die:" oration by Rev. Dr. Hendrickson: benediction by Rev. T. W. Ross. In closing this chapter on San Joaquin County in the Civil War, I quote the closing lines of Dr. Hendrickson's splendid oration, for the thoughts spoken to that mourning assemblage nearly sixty years ago regarding our country's future, are as seen in the late Allied War, a part of history. Taking his text from the book of Samuel, "And the King said unto his servants, know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel. The Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness," the speaker said: "The beauty of Israel is slain upon the high places how are the mighty fallen. Let the heavens be darkened; let the ocean play its mighty dirge upon the eastern and western shores; let the winds catch up the mournful strain and bear to Heaven the miserere of the nation's grief. Our country has a high destiny. Her work is not yet finished. She has a high mission to fulfill. Standing in the front rank of nations, her flag —resplendent with beauty—high in the heavens, she will lead on the world to peace and liberty and the righteousness of the milliennial age. Then among the names that were not born to die, will stand in eternal unity—Washington the father and Lincoln the saviour of his country."

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler