San Joaquin
County History
History of San Joaquin County, California with Biographical Sketches - Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA - 1923
CHAPTER XXVI
MOSAICS OF HISTORY
P. T. BARNUM, the great New York showman, visiting Stockton, gave a lecture in the Methodist Church, North, for the benefit of that denomination. His subject, "How to Be Healthy, Happy and Rich." Although the single admission was one dollar, the church was crowded, and for two hours he held spellbound his audience.—June 10, 1876.
The order of distribution of the Hubbard estate has been made by the court. Mrs. Maria Hubbard is to receive all of the property, aggregating nearly a half million dollars, and is to deed to each of the daughters, May and Lila, $100,000 worth of the property. The estate consists of $50,000 worth of property in Stockton; $80,000, property in San Francisco; $65,000, farming land; $200,000 in secured mortgages; $26,000 in bank stock; household furniture $1,000, and Masonic hall stock $1,000.—April 7, 1890.
For the past few days Captain Weber has had an engineer employed taking levels on his farm on Cherokee Lane for the purpose of digging a canal for irrigation and drainage. He is the first gentleman in the valley to plan a system of canals for irrigation on a large scale, and his enterprise and forethought has demonstrated the fact that the application of water is the most practical way of irrigating the soil.—October 5, 1865.
James Ruddick of the "Old Lodge" saloon, is the owner of a fine sword, formerly owned by General U. S. Grant, who in early days stayed at Knights Ferry with his brother-in-law, Lewis Dent. Later Judge A. E. Baine came into possession of the sword and he gave it to Mr. Oullahan, he in turn presenting it to Mr. Ruddick. It is a straight sword with a black leather scabbard.—March 22, 1867.
Messrs. Matteson & Williamson are preparing to erect a three-story building on the site of their present shop on Main Street near California. The building will cover a space 50 by 75 feet and will cost about $10,000.—June 17, 1878.
J. D. Peters, who is one of the most extensive wheat buyers in the state, has purchased as high as 10,000 tons in a single day, and he estimates that since 1856, when he first began buying, he has bought in this valley alone over 600,000 tons of wheat and 300,000 tons of barley, besides making large purchases from other parts of the state and from Oregon.— July 3, 1878.
The new street car line along California Street is now finished and yesterday, for the first time, the cars were run. The line extends from Main and Center Streets to the Asylum gate on Park Street. About 8 o'clock Captain Smith, accompanied by one of the drivers, leading a horse, proceeded to the steamer wharf, and there, hitching onto a "bob-tailed" car, it was drawn over the graveled street to the turntable and run onto the track. The car attracted considerable attention as it ran up Main Street. George H. Tinkham was the driver on this pioneer line.—May 19, 1875.
At his residence on the French Camp road, near this city, March 25, 1883, Captain William H. Moss died aged 85 years. Captain Moss was born in Virginia and came to California in 1861, at the breaking out of the Civil War, and being wealthy, started the San Francisco Democratic Press with Beriah Brown, a noted secessionist, as editor. When Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, the mob destroyed the Press and two months later, June 13, 1865, Captain Moss issued the Daily Examiner and published the paper up to the time of his death. Captain Moss was born in very humble circumstances, but his energy and indomitable will overcame all obstacles and he died one of the wealthiest men in this section of the state.—March 27, 1883.
The Stockton Combined Harvester & Agricultural Works about two years ago established a car department and made a success of the enterprise from the start. Orders are now being filled for about forty combination street cars; ten for San Diego, twelve for Portland, Oregon, and six for Seattle. The Stockton street car company has also ordered four more new cars.—March 16, 1890.
On Monday afternoon, a little after 5 o'clock, Pat Breen, an old resident of Stockton, was shot and killed at his home on the Moquelemos grant. The previous day Breen sent a dispatch to the sheriff's office saying, "I want some help at your hands. There is a mob coming here tomorrow, led by Christ Heild and Bill Crawford." A party of thirty armed men on horseback and in a wagon rode to Breen's place. Several of them crowded upon the front porch, and one of them, drawing his revolver, smashed in a panel of the door and shot Breen as he was trying to barricade it. He died in about ten minutes, his wife and two small children witnessing this most cowardly and brutal murder.—September 5, 1882.
The new county hospital building near French Camp is almost ready for its patients. The house will be ready for occupancy long before the weather is sufficiently settled and the roads dry enough to admit the moving of the patients.—January 25, 1895.
A beautiful fountain, with a brick and cement basin, twenty feet across, has been erected on Courthouse Square. The artesian well was capped with a four-inch pipe, and the water plays some three feet above the outlet.—June 14, 1860.
Joseph M. Cavis, who has been a resident of Stockton since 1860, died at 8 o'clock yesterday morning. He was born in New Hampshire in 1825, graduated from college in 1846 and began immediately to study law. In 1852 he came to California and located in Columbia, Tuolumne County. He there engaged in mining until 1855 and then resumed his law practice. In 1861 he was elected to the Senate from Tuolumne County and served two terms. Tuolumne at that time contained some of the brightest minds in California, among them J. M. Barber, James Coffroth, J. W. Mandeville, Leander Quint, N. M. Orr and J. W. Cavis. In 1863 Mr. Cavis was elected district judge and served for six years. He came to Stockton in 1869 and again took up the practice of law. In 1875 he was the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, with Timothy G. Phelps as governor. Cavis stumped the state making some fine logical speeches, but the ticket was hopelessly defeated because of the actions of Congress on the Chinese immigration. Mr. Cavis in 1876 was appointed postmaster and held the office until 1889, the last term through the Cleveland administration. He was postmaster under four presidents —Harrison, Garfield, Arthur and Cleveland. Mr. Cavis also served one term as judge of this county, and for twenty years he was a member of the Congregational Church and took an active part in church work. Throughout his San Joaquin life he was a campaign speaker and made no statements unless he believed them true. Hence his speeches carried great weight. As a lawyer he took no cases where he believed his client in the wrong, and as a judge so sympathetic was he, in condemning a murderer to be hanged one day, the tears rolled down his cheeks.—January 5, 1892.
Yesterday afternoon the board of police and fire commissioners held a meeting and adopted the following resolution: "Whereas, large bodies of people are congregating in this city in connection with the railroad strike, and a break is liable to ensue and the force of regular police would be inadequate to quell the trouble and protect life and property; therefore be it "Resolved, that L. C. Mowry, O. B. Harvey, S. L. Lawrence, J. C. Sullivan, George A. Black, Thorn McCloud, W. H. Woodbridge, L. M. McLaren, W. R. William, A. G. Payne, J. W. Webb and F. E. Butterfield be appointed special policemen, with compensation fixed at $2.50 per day."—July 4, 1894. (This refers to the railroad strike only.)
The new steamer recently built by C. M. Small on the north bank of Mormon Channel, 400 tons carrying weight, is now at the wharf loading with wheat for San Francisco. She is in command of T. C. Walker and is named Alice Garratt, after a daughter of William T. Garratt of San Francisco, one of the stockholders.—August 2, 1873.
The Stockton Dramatic Club organized last Saturday evening and elected the following officers: Louis B. Noble, president; J. A. Hosmer, vice-president; C. H. Platt, secretary, and Walter B. Starbird, stage manager; committee on plays, J. E. Budd, J. H. Hosmer and W. B. Starbird. The following correspondence was received and answered: "Gentlemen, would it not be possible for you to give a dramatic entertainment for the benefit of the Kansas sufferers. Our citizens would support it liberally. Signed: J. D. Peters, A. W. Simpson, H. H. Hewlett, L. M. Cutting and others." In response: "We will be most happy to play at any time for a charitable object and will name Monday, March 6, 1875, as the date for the Kansas sufferers. We will then present the play of 'Caste,' followed by the laughable farce of 'Toddles.' "—February 22, 1875.
The concert and ball given in Mozart hall last evening was the most brilliant affair ever given in this city. The ball was preceded by a concert by the Fourth U. S. Artillery band of San Francisco, and some of the leading vocalists of the state, among them Mrs. R. K. Marriner, Walter C. Campbell and S. D. Mayer, the famous organist. The elite of Stockton were present. Among them were noticed Mrs. W. A. Simpson, N. M. Orr, Dr. Clark, George E. McKensie, Otis Perrine, Dr. J. M. Kelsey, Wm. Bivens, the Misses Julia Weber, Alice Brown, Kittie Henderson and Mary Marshall.—December 12, 1873.
A hurricane and tornado accompanied by hail and a heavy rain passed over Milton yesterday at 1:15 o'clock. The hurricane was only eighty yards in width, lasted only a few minutes, but it almost destroyed the town. A dwelling and new blacksmith shop belonging to John Grider was blown to pieces. A. D. Fox's new hall was blown off of its foundation. John's hay barn was completely demolished. The new schoolhouse was blown eight feet away. Flying timbers filled the air, roofs were blown off and several persons severely injured.—December 17, 1873.
Saturday evening last, Chas. Dohrmann, of the firm of Dohrmann & Company, grocers, and Miss Pauline Wetzlar, assistant teacher in the Stockton Seminary, were married at the First Presbyterian Church by the Rev. E. S. Ely. The edifice was crowded with the friends of the happy couple.—June 23, 1870.
The Odd Fellows will soon begin the erection of a handsome three-story brick building on the corner of Main and Hunter streets, the estimated cost being $45,000. The building in size will be 67x96 feet and the foundation walls 43 inches in thickness on solid hardpan. The basement will be seven feet in height, the lower story fifteen feet, the second story fourteen feet and the third story twenty feet. The members expect to dedicate their new building the latter part of next year.—August 3, 1867.
Yesterday in Odd Fellows' hall we were shown eight magnificent new chairs manufactured in San Francisco to order at a cost of fifty dollars each. They are of the Queen Elizabeth style of construction, manufactured of straight grained Eastern oak, and upholstered in plush, in colors suitable to each station.— October 2, 1865.
Joseph D. Peters will soon erect a handsome two-story residence on Sutter Street, near Lindsay. It will be complete in every particular and add materially to the appearance of that aristocratic locality.—Sept. 4, 1861.
Governor Irwin has appointed William H. Hall, a son of John B. Hall, as state engineer, with a salary of $6,000 per year. Mr. Hall, whose well-known reputation as an engineer has been gained by years of service, is a young man reared in Stockton and educated in our public schools. Stockton has sent forth three famous engineers—William Hammond Hall, John Hays Hammond and Ewald Grunsky. All three were reared in Stockton and attended our public schools.—April 12, 1876.
Dr. W. P. Tilden, who was a hotheaded Union man, fired a salute of thirty-four guns because of the news that North Carolina has refused to secede from the Union. The secessionists were angry that a state official should publicly rejoice, and one of the inquired, "Has the firing of a cannon and the raising of flags a tendency to cure insanity?" Tilden replied: "While injurious to none of the cases under by treatment, it is beneficial to some classes of insanity, the victims of which are extremely sensitive to every expression of patriotism, whether by the firing of cannon or the raising of flags. This class is peculiar to the United States and in the clinic of medicine is known as secessia." It was Dr. Tilden who first introduced the custom of giving dances for the most insane patients, a custom continued for several years, as they were helpful to many of the unfortunates.—November 22, 1861.
Mr. Garnett, who is farming on the ranch of Dr. F. W. Todd on Roberts Island, expects to sow the entire 262 acres to barley. When he began work it was virgin soil, nothing but tules, but he succeeded in plowing some 200 acres, for which he receives $5 per acre. He has been plowing under green tules ten feet in height.—November 7, 1878.
Yesterday morning Samuel L. Terry died at his father's home of a complication of diseases. Mr. Terry was one of the brightest young lawyers in California. Born in this city in 1855, he attended the public schools, studied law with his father and received his license to practice at the age of twenty-one years. In 1822 he was elected city attorney, accepting the office only two days before election. He was a past president of the Native Sons, an Odd Fellow and a Mason, and in 1880 was elected as the highest state officer of the Knights of Pythias. He was one of the most popular young men of the community and his loss will be deeply felt. —April 2, 1885.
The sale of the postoffice site was completed yesterday, when United States District Attorney William M. Garber paid to J. M. McCarty $17,500. This was all that the Government would allow for the property, the citizens being compelled to make up the difference—$4,000. A number of lots were purchased and deeds for their sale were recorded yesterday. The property, 121 by 124 feet, was purchased from Mrs. Elizabeth Slaughter, Matthew and Margaret McCarty, James and Ida White, and Clara and James C. Gage. The full amount paid was $21,490. Of this amount Mrs. Slaughter received $10,750, Mr. McCarty and wife $4,875, J. M. White and wife $3,428, and Clara Gage $2,437.—July 27, 1892.
A wealthy drunk was picked up in the bowling alley last Monday by Officer Myers, and on being locked up $150 in money and $450 in gold dust was found on him. He was captured none too soon for the safety of his coin.—July 29. 1858.
A large number of the friends of Henry A. Moore and wife assembled at their residence Saturday evening to assist in celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedding. The worthy couple, with their five children standing around them, looked as happy as when twenty-five years ago they stood at the altar in Boswell, Ark. Their wedding trip was a six months' voyage across the plains. Mrs. Moore is a sister of John R. and Charles Williams, Mrs. Debnam and Mrs. Edward Moore.—February 26, 1878.
Workmen are now engaged in erecting electric towers in different parts of the city. The masts are 100 feet in height and one will be placed on Weber Point, one at the corner of Fremont and Hunter Streets, another at the southwest corner of Washington Square.—March 21, 1888.
The Board of Supervisors yesterday let the contract to remove the remains in the county hospital cemetery to Otto Von Detten, fixing his bond at $500. He was the lowest bidder and will receive for removing the county dead, consisting of bones only $1.74 each; for the partly decomposed bodies $2.97, for the remains of smallpox patients $5 each, and for those who died of diphtheria $3.97.—January 4, 1894.
The Young People's Literary Society of the Congregational Church presented the play "Caste" in the theater last week to a crowded house. All of the players did remarkably well, especially Flora Baker and Esther Eccles and Lulu Hogan as "Polly," the servant. Miss Baker has never appeared before on the stage and Miss Hogan, always good in lively parts, reminds us of the piquant Alice Harrison of the California theater. The farce of "Box & Cox" closed the performance.—May 10, 1878.
Weber's Garden is one of the most attractive places in Stockton. It is situated in front of the steamboat landing on the peninsula and to make it secure, Captain Weber has spent thousands of dollars in bulkheading the banks of the channel. In a high enclosure is his private garden, and residence. Surrounding this is a public garden open to visitors. This garden has cost Captain Weber thousands of dollars. It is our only park.—August 26, 1861.
Henry H. Hewlett has sold the property on the northwest corner of Main and Hunter Streets to L. and A. Meyer of San Francisco. The lot, 20 by 50 feet, was sold for $16,000. The Meyers intend to buy adjoining property, it is said, and erect a fine brick building. The National Bank, which now occupies the corner, will be moved in September to the Yosemite Building.—July 13, 1892.
Schuyler Colfax will arrive this afternoon by stage from Mariposa, and he will be met at the Agricultural Society's grounds by Mayor Gray, the Common Council, Odd Fellows and citizens, and escorted into town. This evening he will speak in Agricultural hall on the Pacific railroad, after which he will visit Charity lodge of Odd Fellows in social session and confer the degree of Rebekah, Mr. Colfax being the creator of this degree on August 15, 1865.—May 20, 1868.
The rat killing pit at Fred Gerlach's U & I saloon on Center Street was the scene of considerable commotion last evening. About fifty men had gathered to see lively young dogs kill rats. A little later two Mexican women well filled with seltzer water went into one of the boxes and called for liquor. One was armed with a revolver, and just as the rat killing became most exciting the woman in some manner accidentally fired the revolver. In about two minutes the back room was cleared, the men rushing and tumbling over each other trying to get into the open. They believed the police were after them and in the scramble one of the big glasses in the transom was smashed into a thousand pieces. The police were called, not to arrest the men, but the Mexican woman.—October 22, 1893.
Carriages were flying about the city at all hours last night, carrying well dressed ladies and their guest to and from the leap year ball in Masonic hall. It was a very select affair, consisting only of twenty-four couples, and was greatly enjoyed by the merry dancers and about 100 invited guests. The Misses Ackerley, Kelsey and Baggs furnished the favors, and the German was led by Misses Elliot and Jackson. The young ladies called for their guests and partners in carriages and through the evening acted as attendants and managers of affairs. Among those who took part were the Misses Elliot, Cutting, Kelsey, Trahern, Simpson, Tully, Sharp, Taylor, Creanor, Debnam, Littlehale, Bours and Mrs. H. S. Smith. The gentlemen present were Ralph and Frank Lane, Bert Moore, George Sperry, George Wilhoit, Charles Hutchinson, Robert Reid, Frank West, W. G. Starbird, H. W. Earle, Frank Stewart, J. D. Young, William Bours, Eugene Grunsky, Eugene Wilhoit and Theodore Elliott.—January 3, 1888.
Under the direction of the Philomathean Society, a spelling match, in which teachers, pupils and citizens took part, was held in Mozart hall last evening. Over 400 persons were present to witness the contest, the first prize, $10 in coin, was won by B. F. Bagley, a member of the society and a school trustee. The second prize, a $10 order for photographs from J. P. Spooner, was won by Miss Minnie Harkness, the first high school pupil to graduate at the age of seventeen years. Thomas Louttit took third prize, a Webster dictionary.—April 10, 1875.
A reception was tendered the Stanford Glee club by Mrs. Phil B. Fraser and her daughter, Mary, yesterday afternoon from two until five o'clock. Mrs. Fraser was assisted in receiving by Mrs. David S. Rosenbaum, Mrs. Bert C. Moore, Mrs. Ralph P. Lane and Misses Hart and Dudley. The spacious rooms were beautifully decorated with smilax, cut flowers and evergreens.—April 1, 1894.
The old town clock, which so faithfully measures the lapse of time and rings the hours on the city hall bell, was imported to this city in 1867 by Charles Hass, the jeweler. He purchased the clock in Boston and it was exhibited in the agricultural fair that year. James Littlehale, by his own exertions, then succeeded in getting $500 in subscription for the purchase of the clock, the city and county officials appropriating a like amount, $1000 in all. A cupola and clock tower were then erected upon the court house by James Brown (father-in-law of Supervisor Tretheway) and the clock first began timing the hours in October, 1868,—April 12, 1880.
The Presbyterian Church was filled to the doors last evening, it being the occasion of a lecture by the Rev. Robert McKensie on "The Abiding Elements in Scottish Character." The lecture was delivered for the benefit of the Caledonian Society, and during the evening Miss Maggie Hubbard, the organist, played several Scottish songs dear to every son of Scotland, among them being "The March of the Comarin Men," "The Campbells are Coming," and "Bonny Prince Charley," with pleasing effect. Mrs. Gertie Starbird sang several Scottish songs and charmed the audience with her magnificent voice. Joseph Fyfe introduced the lecturer, who gave a most interesting account of the Scots, land and people.—May 24, 1879.
There is considerable complaint among the teachers of the public schools regarding their contracts. The school trustees bind the teachers to teach one year, while there is no contract compelling the board to keep the teacher any length of time. The contract has been signed by many teachers reluctantly, as several young who hoped to get married during the year believe they will have to teach the entire school term.—July 7, 1894,
The Forefathers' festival was celebrated Saturday evening in the parlors of the Congregational Church, it being an annual observance of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, December 20, 1620. Fully 200 members of the church sat down to an inviting feast of salads, mince and pumpkin pie, coffee, etc. The toastmaster, C. W. Norton, first called on the Rev. Irving Lovejoy to respond to the toast, "The Pilgrim Fathers." Other toasts were: "The Congregational Idea in Other Churches," Rev. Thomas A. Boyner; "The Pilgrims and the Sunday School," R. W. Drury; "Reminiscences of Our Church," Mrs. Hannah Thresher; "The New Building," Rev. R. H. Sink; vocal selections were rendered by Frankie Brown, Tom Kenyon and Annie Dewey.—December 12, 1902.
Last evening Walter R. Henderson, at the residence of his parents on Hunter Street, gave one of the swellest parties of the season. The preparations made to insure the pleasure of the guests were elaborately and carefully arranged. The floor of the north and south parlors were covered with canvas, and the handsome chandeliers and walls were decorated with flowers and evergreens, the artistic work of Dr. Henderson's talented daughter Ella. The guests all appeared on the floor in dominoes and after the twelve dances unmasked. During the evening the dining room was open to the guests and bountifully supplied tables were spread with refreshments of all kinds. Over sixty couples were present and among the dominoes we noticed Mrs. Henderson in brocaded satin with point lace, diamond ornaments; Ella Henderson, in garnet plush and silk, trimmings of lace and natural flowers; Delia Wolf in embroidered black velvet and satin, diamonds; Emma Gerlach, nun's veiling and satin, trimmings of Spanish lace; Gertie Biven, pink silk, satin trimmings; Belle Davis, pink domino, diamonds; Nellie Blossom, pink domino, diamonds; Mrs. Chas. J. Hass, white silk, embroidered skirt, pink crepe trimmings of satin and Spanish lace, diamonds; Susie Chase, pink domino; May Goodell, pink domino; Abbie Gray, nun's veiling, Spanish lace trimmings, diamonds; Hannah Gray, light blue silk, lace trimmings, diamonds; Sophia Belding, cardinal satin with gray silk, diamonds; Mamie Huggins, cream colored moire silk, lace trimmings, with natural flowers; Lottie Weaver, white grenadine over black with natural flowers; Bessie Trahern, white satin and plush, lace overdress, diamonds; Carrie Parsons, garnet plush and brocaded satin, with flowers.—February 6, 1883.
The San Joaquin Medical Society held its annual meeting July 28 at the residence of Dr. W. R. Langdon, corner of American and Fremont Streets, and Dr. Elias A. Stockton was elected president; Charles A. Ruggles, vice-president; W. R. Langdon, second vice-president; Samuel Langdon, George A, Shurtleff and A. T. Hudson, censors, and F. W. Todd, secretary and treasurer.—August 1, 1878.
A. J. Hahn has purchased the interests of his sister, Mrs. Julia Brueck, in the Commercial Hotel and hereafter it will be personally conducted by him. At that time, 1894, the hotel was doing a fine business and the principal boarding patrons were the mechanics who worked in the vicinity. At the time I was driving the street car mules on the San Joaquin Street line and I took dinner in the hotel. There were three long tables and all the food except tea and coffee was placed on the table before the dinner bell rang, You should see the boarders tackle the food ! And eat, well some of them had no manners. Pies, equally distant apart, were cut into four pieces and set upon the table. Some of the boarders would grab half a pie. I know, I like pie.—October 16, 1894.
A large crowd collected upon the wharf yesterday to witness the departure of the two splendid steamers, the Sophie McLane and the S. B. Wheeler, as they were about to try their respective capacity for speed. A gallant cheer arose from the spectators as they left, and there was great excitement as thousands of dollars have been bet on the results.—Aug. 15, 1851.
A few days since Henry Tinkham, the butcher, lost a number of fat sheep in a rather peculiar manner. He had nearly 500 sheep in a corral on the Sam Miller ranch, Mariposa road. During the night quite a large number escaped from the corral and entering adjoining wheat field began eating the green wheat. Before they were discovered they had eaten so much of the wheat that some of them died from overeating.—May 6, 1870.
A. S. Rider, who was one of Stockton's best known citizens, passed away yesterday. He was born in New York in 1830 and died in his sixtieth year. On August 21, 1851, he and James C. Gage started for California and arrived October 8. Mr. Rider went into the draying business in partnership with Jerome Meyers. In 1852 Mr. Gage bought out Meyers and the two young men continued in partnership for several years. They went into the sheep and cattle business in 1857, pasturing their stock where now lies Banta. Later Mr. Rider engaged in the livery business, being the pioneer hackman of the city. In 1861, October 11, he married Miss Sarah McLellan, whose mother kept the Crescent Hotel. In 1853, the date of the organization of the company, he joined Eureka No, 2 and remained in active service eight years. For nearly thirty years he led the parade for the exempts.—March 9, 1890.
The head of the notorious bandit Joaquin Murietta, cut off by Harry Love and his companions, and afterwards exhibited throughout the county, in a glass jar preserved in spirits, was levied upon the other day by the sheriff and sold to a fool bidder for $11.—June 4, 1856.
Last Saturday afternoon at 2:30, as several hundred persons gathered on the El Dorado Street bridge to see the working of a new pump, the boiler of the old threshing engine exploded, scattering death and destruction in every direction. In a moment the street was strewn with horribly mutilated bodies and with wounded and disfigured victims. Fifteen were instantly killed and many badly wounded. Among those instantly killed were Robert Johnson, father of R. B. Johnson; James Curry, a pioneer blacksmith; W. C. Adcraft, Michael Crowell, Charles Creanor, son of Judge Creanor; S. B. Clowes, G. W, Felts, William Allen, James Cosgrove, H. B. Bishop, a student; John M, Kirkpatrick, grain and hay dealer; M. E. Folsom, E. R. Avery, the engineer; Foo Lee, and Arthur Tinkham. Among the wounded were Eyman Barbour, William Keyes, Charles Harris, H. Brown, Frank Coburn, Nicola Milco, Alexander Gall, Charles Williams and J. M. Harry. Immediately all of the flags were pulled down to half mast and fire and church bells tolled the sad news. The following day the city was clad in mourning and everywhere funeral processions were seen burying the dead.—February 27, 1879.
The most important event of the present theatrical season will be the opening of the Yosemite Theater on Tuesday evening, July 12, and the reappearance of Charles Frohman's stock company of New York, in the industrial play, "The Lost Paradise." The auction sale for choice of seats in the Yosemite Theater was held last evening in Masonic hall. J. H. Barth was the auctioneer and the choice of box seats was first sold. The premium was in addition to the regular prices. The lower boxes and loges sold at $10 each, and the upper at $8.50 each. The orchestra and the three front rows in the dress circle sold for $1.50 each, and the remaining seats at $1 and 75 cents. H. C. Shaw started the box sales at $5, it was run up to $20 by George Sperry and was sold to Shaw at $22.50. He selected the second box from the stage on the right hand side. George Sperry took the loge on the left hand side for $10; James M, Littlehale, loge for two, right hand, $10; Frank D. Cobb and J. M. Kile, loge No. 3 left and No, 4 right hand, $13 each. George Wolf paid $8 for box G, and Arthur Levensky $7 for box E. C. E. Owens and Dave Rosenbaum $5.50 each for choice of seats. There were 295 seats sold at a premium of $295. This, together with the boxes, made a total premium of $374.—July 8, 1892.
An invitation is extended to all persons interested in the movement for the establishment of a public coffee house, under the management of the W. C. T. U. to attend a meeting in the Central Methodist Church tomorrow evening. They have rented the store on Main Street near El Dorado formerly occupied by Elliott & Beigle, and are now fitting it up. They propose to sell coffee and cake at cost.—March 8, 1884.
Yesterday afternoon about 4 o'clock an alarm of fire was heard and as the old fire bell began clanging a heavy black column of smoke was seen in the vicinity of Simpson & Gray's lumber yard. It was soon learned that the Sperry flour mills were in flames, and in a remarkably short space of time the firemen were upon the ground. The Weber, taking water from the channel, was the first to play upon the fire, it being its month to keep up steam. It took the Eureka several minutes to get up steam from its cold boiler, and set at the cistern at the corner of Main and Commerce Streets, it soon pumped it dry and was obliged to go to the channel for water. The Old Betsey, by Chief Israel Rolf's order, was also put into service. The fire, which it is supposed started from spontaneous combustion in the second story, soon enveloped the entire building, and the mill was soon a seething furnace of heat. After raging about three hours the east wall fell with a crash and the mill was in ruin. The four-story building was erected in 1852 for a flour mill, but it proved a losing speculation. It remained idle for many years, but in the '70s it was purchased by the Sperry Flour Company and remodeled and refitted with the latest improved machinery, with a capacity of 600 barrels of flour per day. The total loss, including the dwellings of Edward Hickman and John Milan, is about $200,000, partly covered by insurance.—April 3, 1882.
Died in this city, January 17, 1864, Clotilde, wife of Charles Grunsky. She was the mother of Ewald and Lottie Grunsky, two of the first high school graduates, the former now of national fame as an engineer, the latter widely known as a public school teacher.
As Lieutenant Merriam of the 1st California Cavalry was passing the Cumberland Presbyterian Church on Sunday last he noticed a small secession flag flying from one of the back windows. The rebel flag has two red and one white stripe and seven stars in a field of blue. The lieutenant immediately captured the flag and brought it to this office. Secessionists, even though they be ministers, should be be very careful about waving disloyal flags in a loyal community. There might be trouble. —October 26, 1863.
Assessor C. O. Burton reported the value of city property $1,130,965; improvements $775,700. The total valuation was placed at $2,835,407, an increase over previous year of $246,678. Mayor Buffington in his inaugural address gave the revenue of the city as follows: From taxes, $48,000; licenses $6,000; harbor master $17,000; rent of city property $5,000; fire department $2,000; hospital, streets and wharves $16,000; schools $7,000; interest $20,000; contingent $10,000. There was a balance of $23,000, which he hoped would be used in the liquidation of the debt. The second expense was very heavy, the committee paying $1,250 a year for two rooms in the McNish building for the boys' school, The monthly expense of the four schools, averaging fifty pupils to each school was $525.—March 5, 1854.
At the close of banking hours Saturday $1,188 had been received for the benefit of the yellow fever sufferers of the South. With various sums yet to be collected, the amount will probably reach $2,000. The following request was sent to the Dramatic Club: "Deeming it to be the duty of the citizens to assist in providing funds for the victims of the yellow fever scourge of the South, we request you to give a series of entertainments for the benefit of the fund. (Signed) Fifty Citizens." In compliance with the request the club will produce on the evening of September 20 and 21 the two famous dramas, "The Octoroon," and "Caste." The following persons will appear in "The Octoroon"; George Peyton, a planter, John E. Budd; Salem Scudder, a Yankee, W. B. Starbird; Jacob McClosky, a shyster lawyer, James H. Budd; Pete, the negro, George E. McStay; Wahnotee, an Indian, William M. Gibson; Paul, a yellow boy, Miss Ella Block; Colonel Sunnyside, a planter, M. S. Thresher; Captain Ratts, Willis Wilkins; La Toche, Lincoln Ruggles; Sambo, George Young; Zoe, the Octoroon, Louise Cahill of San Francisco; Dora Sunnyside, Minnie Clifford; Mrs. Peyton, Mrs. M. S. Thresher; Dido, the cook, George Young. The orchestra of eight pieces will be under the direction of Emile Dreyfous. —September 4, 1878.
The body of Samuel Clarke, the engineer who was drowned by the derailing of the locomotive on the trestle work in Yolo County, was brought here last evening and taken to the residence of his brother, Dr. F. R. Clarke. The funeral will be held this afternoon at the residence, 215 Oak Street. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Odd Fellows will attend the funeral. Mr. Clarke was sixty years of age and commenced work on the Sacramento division of the Central Pacific in 1866. In 1892 he wrote a letter to the officers, stating that during his twenty-one years' service he had covered a distance of 1,000,051 miles with only two accidents. He was selected by the Brotherhood as their representative pallbearer at Senator Stanford's funeral.—July 14, 1894.
On Saturday last, while speeding his mule on Main street at the rapid gait of three miles per hour, one of the drivers of the street car line stopped his car to purchase some candy. A short distance from the store he again checked his speed, to pump a drink of water and wash down the candy. The five passengers on board were much amused at the coolness of the driver.—August 6, 1883.
A game of baseball was played yesterday on the green in the northern part of the city near Dr. R. W. Henderson's residence. About forty young men took part, sides being chosen with Mr. Nelson, the school teacher, and Mr. Denning as chiefs. An interesting game of ten innings was played.—January 16, 1867.
A workman while digging the foundation for the Hickman building, corner of Weber Avenue and Levee, at a depth of five feet below the surface, unearthed a Mexican half dollar bearing the date 1723. The question is, how did it get there? The rare and valuable coin was sold to Perk Sampson of the Eureka saloon for three dollars.—January 20,1867.
The property situated at the corner of Main and Center Streets and known as the Chestnutwood & Moore property, was sold at administrator's sale some time ago to Henry Cowell, the wealthy Santa Cruz lime dealer, for $6,250. The property was owned by George Crossmore, deceased. When the sale came up for confirmation by the court, yesterday, David S. Rosenbaum raised the bid to $9,120, and it was sold to him. The lot, 60x100 feet, is covered by a two-story brick building.—October 3, 1894.
All of the members of the Royal Arch Masons who could be found yesterday were served with summons to answer the suit of Powell S. Lawson in Sacramento to prevent his expulsion from that branch of Masonry. Lawson for over thirty years has been a Royal Arch Mason, and for twenty-five years a Knight Templar. He is a man of wealth and an ex-president of the Sacramento pioneers. The suit is one of many phases of the conflict which has arisen in many Masonic jurisdictions over the so-called Scottish Rite. Lawson is a member of the consistory that is said to be looked upon by Knights Templar as clandestine, inasmuch as it confers twenty-six degrees, including that of the Templar, without asking the local commandery of the order. In some places these consistories confer the twenty-nine degrees from "ancient craft" or "blue lodge" to the thirty-second degree. The charge against Lawson is the violation of an unwritten but well understood law against soliciting persons to enter the Masonic body and he is charged with soliciting a Royal Arch Mason to enter the Scottish Rite consistory of which he is a member. The meat of the conflict in most cases is the reaching out of consistory workers in the Scottish Rite, below the Knights Templar instead of requiring the candidate to become a Knight, a prerequisite to admission to the higher degrees, sometimes called "ineffable." The short cut was at one time so cheap in Chicago that a Master Mason could get the twenty-nine extra degrees at an expense of ten dollars to twenty dollars, while to go through the intermediate degrees would have cost $100.—August 7, 1898.
The magnificent pipe organ in the Central Methodist Episcopal Church was heard in all of its beautiful combinations last evening when Professor Carl of New York gave a recital. The grand tones of the instrument were new to many persons who had not previously heard it. The professor thoughtfully introduced some old-time melodies to interest the people who love the songs of their childhood days. The ladies' trio by Clara Lefflers, Albertina Parker and Mrs. Bender was heartily applauded and the instrumental quartet comprising Professor Steele, John Patterson, Theodore Elliott and Sam Frankenheimer was well received.—September 4, 1895.
Died suddenly at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. George Gray, Dr. Joseph Hammond, age seventy-eight years. Doctor Hammond was one of Stockton's pioneers. He arrived in the city in 1850. Six months previous he shipped to California a frame house by the way of Cape Horn, and sailed a few days later. By coincident he and the vessel with the frame house entered the Golden Gate the same day. The house, loaded on a scow, was towed up the San Joaquin River to San Joaquin City, where it was put up. A year later the house was removed to Stockton, and later sold to O. P. F. Kallenbach, a Stockton pressman.—January 2, 1870.
David S, Terry, one of our most prominent citizens, is soon to visit the Atlantic States. Mr. Terry came with the first settlers to Stockton and by his integrity and ability as a lawyer has succeeded in laying the foundation for a large fortune."—September 11, 1852.
"Yesterday D. S. Terry, one of our most valuable citizens, returned, bringing with him a wife, a most valuable acquisition to society in San Joaquin County." (Little thought Mrs. Terry that in less than five years she and her husband would be the center of the most exciting event in California; and that thirty-five years later Sarah Althea Hill would supplant her place in her husband's love.)—February 22, 1853.
The comet, that splendid vision of the heavens, never before appeared so brilliant as last evening. It was truly magnificent, and doubly discounts all the fireworks shows ever seen. It is wandering to the southwest and it is said to be 50,000,000 miles from us.—October 5, 1858.
Some 200 of the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hale gathered at their residence on California Street, Tuesday evening, May 29, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of their wedding. The presents were numerous and beautiful, the most costly being a 150 piece china set which was presented by friends. The twain were again united by H. T. Dorrance, and letters, of congratulations were received from the Rev. E. L. Rexford, Unitarian minister in San Francisco, and from Mrs. Hale's former pastor, J. H. Farnsworth, of New Bedford, Mass. The gift of Mrs. Pickering from Rockport, Mass., was a poem, beautiful in thought and sentiment, of which the following was the first verse:
There is a holy tie that binds
Two loving hearts in one:
Through weal and woe, in storm and calm,
Till life's long race is run.
This holy tie ordained of heaven,
And sanctified below,
United two fond, faithful hearts
Twice ten long years ago.
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler