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From: Su Jacobsen <>
Subject: [CASANFRA-L] Stockton History - Hutchings'
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 12:17:26 -0800

>The following is an extract of the history of Stockton, CA, from Hutchings'
>California Magazine:
>
>This flourishing commercial city is situated in the valley of the San
>Joaquin, at the head of a deep navigable slough or arm of the San Joaquin
>river, about three miles from its junction with that stream. The luxurian
>foliage of the trees and shrubs impress the stranger with the great
>fertility of the soil, and the unusually large number of windmills of the
>manner of irrigation. So marked a feature as the latter has secured to teh
>locality the cognomen of "the City of Windmills".
>
>The land upon which the city stands is part of a grant made by Gov.
>Micheltorena to Capt. C M Weber and Mr. Gulnac, in 1844, and who most
>probably were the first white settlers in the valley of the San Joaquin;
>although some Canadian Frenchmen in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company
>spent several hunting seasons here, commencing as early as 1834.
>
>In 1813, an exploring expedition under Lieur. Gabriel Morago visited this
>valley and gave it its present name - the former one bring "Valle de los
>Tulares", or Valley of the Rushes. At that time it was occupied by a large
>and formidable tribe of Indians, called the Yachicumnes, which in after
>times was for the most part captured and sent to the Missions Dolores and
>San Jose, or decimated by the small pox, and now nearly extinct. Under the
>maddenting influrence of their losses by death from that fatal disease, they
>rose upon the whites, burned their buildings and killed their stock, and
>forced them to take shelter at the Missions.
>
>In 1846, Mr. Weber, reinforced by a number of emigrants, renewed his efforts
>to form a settlement; but the war breaking out, compelled him to seek refuge
>in the larger settlements until the Bear Flag was hoisted, when Capt. Weber,
>from his knowledge of the country, and the devotedness of those who had
>placed themselves under his command, was able to render invaluable aid to
>the American cause.
>
>When the war concluded in 1848, another and successful attempt was made to
>establish a prosperous settlement here, but upon the discovery of gold, it
>was again nearly deserted.
>
>Several cargoes of goods having arrived from San Francisco, for land
>transportation to the southern mines, were suggestive of the importance of
>this spot for a foundation of a city, when cloth tents and houses sprung up
>as if by magic. On Dec 23, 1849, a fire broke out for the first time, and
>the "linen city" as it was then called, was swept away at a loss of about
>$200,000. Almost before the ruins ceased smouldering, a new and cleaner
>"linen city" with a few wooden buildings was erected. In spring, a large
>number of the cloth houses gave place to wooden structures, and now, being
>in steam communication with San Francisco, the new city began to grow
>substantially in importance.
>
>On March 30, 1850, the first weekly Stockton newspaper was published by
>Radcliffe and White, conducted by John White. On the same day, the first
>theatrical performace was given in the Assembly Room of the Stockton House,
>by Mssrs. Bingham and Fury.
>
>On May 13 following, the first election was held - the population numbering
>about 2400.
>
>June 26, a fire department was organized and J.E. Nuttman elected Chief
>Engineer.
>
>On July 25 an order was received from the County Court, incorporating the
>City of Stockton and authorizing the election of officers.. On August 1850,
>the election was held for municipal officers when seven hundred votes were
>polled, with the following result: Mayor - Samuel Purdy, Recorder - C. M.
>Teak, City Attorney - Henry A. Crabb, Treasurer - George D. Brush, Assessor
>- C. Edmonson, Marshall - T. S. Lubbock.
>
>On May 6, 1851 fire broke out and nearly destroyed the entire city at a loss
>of $1,500,000. After this, several brick buildings were erected.
>
>In 1852, steps were taken to build a City Hall, and about the same time the
>south wing of what is now the State Asylum for the Insane, was erected as a
>General Hospital, but which was abolished in 1853, and the Insane Asylum
>formed into a distinct institution by an act of Legislation. IN 1854 the
>central building was added, and in 1855 the kitchen, bakery, dining rooms
>and bathrooms were also added.
>
>On Feb. 1, 1856, another fire destoryed property to the amount of $60,000;
>and on July 30, another fire caused losses of about $40,000.
>
>Of churches, there are: Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal,
>Catholic, Methodist Episcopal South, First and Second Baptist, Jewish,
>German Methodist, and African Methodist.
>
>There are two daily newspapers published here, the San Joaquin Republican -
>Conley and Patrick proprietors, and the Stockton Daily Argus, published by
>William Biven.
>
>Of public schools, there are four - two grammar and two primary - in which
>there are about 200 daily scholars and four teachers, one to each school.
>There are also four private Seminaries - Dr. Collins', Dr. Hunt's, Miss
>Bond's and Mrs. Gates'.
>
>Stockton has the deepest artesian well in the state, 1002 feet in depth of
>250 gal/min to a height of 11' above the plain. The temperature of the
>water is 77 degrees.
>
>Several stages leave daily for different sections of the mines.
>
>One of the principal features connected with the commerce of this city is
>the number of large freight wagons, laden for the mines; these have, not
>appropriately, been denominated, Prairie Schooners and Steamboats of the
>Plains. Some have carreid as high as 32,000 lbs of freight.
>
>Extracted by Su Jacobsen
>
>

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