Contra Costa County CA Archives History - Books .....Township No. 5 1882
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Book Title: History Of Contra Costa County, California

TOWNSHIP NUMBER FIVE.

   Geography.—Township Number Five is bounded on the north and east by the San
Joaquin river; on the south by Alameda county, and on the west by Townships
Numbers Two and Four.

   Topography.—The topography of this township is varied. Along the northern and
eastern portions, which lie on the San Joaquin, we have a level plain, which
continues for its whole eastern face, fronted by a large area of tule delta,
intersected by many creeks and sloughs. Its center, south and west is extremely
hilly, with fertile valleys lying between the ridges, while the canons, through
which gambol the smiling rivulets, are shaded with a variety of woods. In the
coal region we have bold, bald mountains, proclaiming the wealth which lies
concealed within their bosoms; while the plain—the commencement of the great
valley of the San Joaquin— is most fair to look upon.

   Soil.—Like in Township Number Four, many parts are suited to the rearing of
fruits and vines, while in the valleys the soil is especially adapted to the
cultivation of the cereals. In the San Joaquin district more rain is required
than in those vales farther inland, and it must be a hard year indeed when an
average crop is not forthcoming. The reclaimed tule lands are found to produce
very fine crops, while they are also utilized for pastoral purposes.

   Products.—Chief among the products of Township Number Five is coal. In the
valleys and on the sloping foot-hills grain is grown in large quantities, while
fruits and vines do well in the inland dells, away from the heavy breezes which
sweep the San Joaquin district.

   Timber.—In many portions of the township we have a variety of timber, the
hillsides and canons being covered with a most luxuriant growth. Beyond for
domestic uses, however, they are of little practical value. Somewhat to the east
of Antioch we have a patch of considerable extent of chaparral and scrub-oak,
which is the only one of this nature in the county.

   Climate,—The climate of Township Number Five may be classed as being warm and
dry, in the summer, the temperature ranging from 70° to 80°, and not unseldom
attaining, when a north wind prevails, to 95º or 100° in the shade. It is,
however, free from fogs; and though a strong westerly wind blows, it is tempered
by its journey of fifty miles from the ocean and produces a happy medium between
chilling mists and torrid heat.

   Early Settlement.—Would it were possible to banish grim death, preserve the
ancient settler in his pristine vigor, and retain him with his memory
unimpaired; were such things possible, then 'twould be an easy task to pen the
recollections of the courageous men who were the harbingers of joy and comfort
to what is now a fertile district and a contented people. The history of
Township Number Five takes us back nearly half a century. In or about the year
1836, there settled upon the New York Rancho, not far from the place now called
Barker's Pass, Jose Miguel and Antonio Mesa, who made application to the Mexican
Government for a grant of the place to the extent of two leagues. The boon was
granted under the name of Los Medanos. During the same year, application was
made for a grant of the Canada de los Vaqueros Rancho by Mirando Higuera and
Alviso, who settled upon it; and the Rancho Los Meganos, consisting of three
square leagues of land, was granted to Jose Noriega. During the year following,
1837, Noriega sold the Rancho to Dr. John Marsh, who settled upon it in the same
year, and occupied it until 1856.

   Let us, however, turn to inquire who Dr. Marsh was? The better to answer we
will quote his own words, as found in a letter written from his ranch in 1846,
to Hon. Lewis Cass. The Doctor says: "I left the United States in 1835 and came
to New Mexico, and thence traversing the States of Chihuahua and Sonora, crossed
the Rio Colorado at its junction with the Gila, near the tide water of the Gulf
of Mexico, and entered this territory at its southern part. Any more direct
route was at that time unknown and considered impracticable. I have now been
more than ten years in this country, and have traveled over all the inhabited
and most of the uninhabited parts of it. I have resided eight years where I now
live, near the Bay of San Francisco, and at the point where the rivers
Sacramento and San Joaquin unite together to meet the tide-water of the Bay,
about forty miles from the ocean. I possess at this place a farm, about ten
miles by twelve in extent, one side of which borders on the river, which is
navigable to this point for sea-going vessels." With almost prophetic instinct
the Doctor concludes the paragraph with these words: "I have at last found the
Far West, and intend to end my ramblings here." Twenty years later he was most
foully murdered.

   Here did Dr. Marsh dwell in a small adobe house, not far from where he
afterwards constructed his famous "Stone House." Therefore it will be seen that
he was the first native-born American who ever resided permanently within the
township now under consideration, or, indeed, within the county, as comprised
within its original territorial limits.

  Until about 1847, and during the first ten years of his residence on his
ranch, his only neighbors were those Spanish families who owned the lands, viz:
the Mesas on the New York Rancho, Mirando Higuera on the Canada de los Vaqueros,
Salvio Pacheco on the Monte del Diablo, and Ygnacio Sibrian on the San Miguel;
all then considered to be adjoining Ranches, the haciendas or dwelling places
upon each being from twelve to fifteen miles away from his. Of those living
further away, from twenty to forty miles distant, were Jose Maria Amador at the
San Ramon Rancho, Pacheco and Castro on the Rancho also called San Ramon,
Ygnacio Martinez at Pinole, Moraga at the Redwoods, Valencia at the Acalanes,
the family of Francisco Castro at San Pablo, the vaqueros of William Welch on
the Welch Rancho, and the widow of Felipe Briones, with her family, on the
Briones Rancho.

  It is hard to conjecture a more solitary life than this for an educated,
society-loving American.

  He was not thus to remain long a solitary stranger in a land of beautiful
solitude. We have seen that Hon. Elam Brown and others soon cast their lot in
the county. Again, on the discovery of gold, more foreigners, as the
Californians called them, arrived, and among these the second settlers, other
than native-born, in the township.

  This honor belongs to the Smith family, whose fortunes we have followed in our
remarks on Township Number Four. It is our province now to tread in their
footsteps during their first settlement in Number Five.

   On the arrival of the two brothers, Joseph H. and W. W. Smith, in the
vicinity of Dr. Marsh's residence, it was natural that he should without delay
have sought their acquaintance; he, therefore, about July 14, 1849, proceeded to
New York of the Pacific to meet them, and offered the hospitalities of his
house, which were gladly accepted. The generous pioneer furnished the horses on
which the journey should be made, W. W. Smith acacompanying the ladies and
children, and Joseph and Beener remaining behind. The journey is described as a
tedious one; however, cheered by the evergreen oaks on the Marsh creek, the
lighter green cotton-wood, and the occasional glimpse among the thick foliage of
a running stream, all took courage and finally reached the Doctor's hospitable
roof. The return journey was made by Marsh Landing, and here the Doctor offered
the Smiths ten acres of land each, advising them to embark in stock-raising.
Parting with the Doctor at this point, the two brothers walked on to the spot on
which now stands the town of Antioch, where they each located a quarter section
of land. Here were they wont to come for the purpose of cutting firewood to
supply the New York House. On December 24, 1849, they erected their tents on the
property and broke ground. In the course of these operations a man named Lincoln
was observed approaching, who, on coming up, expressed his regret that the
Smiths should have located on land on which he had cast longing eyes. [Their
presence, however, did not deter him from laying out a garden and building a
cabin on the land; while this land was a source of endless and vexatious
trouble, to relate all of which we have not the space.] Before the date above
named, all the lumber for building a permanent residence had been deposited on
the ground, and it was on their farm that they passed their first Christmas in
California; but the building wherein they spent the hallowed day was only
composed of a carpet fashioned into a tent, placed upon a strip of land on the
quarter-section sought to be obtained from the United States.

   This place by common consent received the name of Smith's Landing, while the
point to the east of the present town site was called Smith's Point, and was
fenced in as a part of the two quarter sections mentioned above. The line of
demarcation ran near where the quarter-section line came, half a mile east of
section thirteen, on which the town of Antioch is built.

   In September, 1850, hearing of the arrival of a ship-load of would-be
settlers in San Francisco, Mr. Smith hastened thither and found a number of
families who wished to obtain land. Captain George W. Kimball, his brother, S.
P. Kimball, four or five Hathaways, a Mr. Marshall and son, Mr. Douglass, and a
Mr. Dennison, accepted his invitation, and proceeded to settle at Smith's
Landing. Here a street was laid out, running east hy compass, and each family
that wished to settle upon land was presented with a lot to build upon.
   Some time prior to these events Mr. Smith, while on a journey from Santa
Clara, encountered two brothers, Deacon John Pulsifer and Dr. Joseph Pulsifer,
who were on the lookout for land whereon to settle. He told them of there being
space enough for their wants on the banks of the San Joaquin, and invited them
to accompany him, which they did. On their arrival they made an excursion of
circumnavigation around the tules, and returning whence they started, commenced
the erection of a cabin on the site on which afterwards stood the Sawyer Carter
stables. These Pulsifer brothers then laid out a garden on the flat above the
point, and when the rains commenced began to plow and plant. For the dry season
they arranged a windmill and a pump for raising water from the tules, making one
of the finest gardens in 1851-52 within ten miles. By the united work of all, a
fence and ditch were completed from the tules on the east to those on the west,
in the Spring of 1851, to keep stray animals off its precincts.

   July 4,1851, a basket picnic was held at the residence of W. W. Smith, then
standing on the high ground, near where the Antioch Ledger office now is; the
all-absorbing topic of the clay was: "What shall we name our town?" Between
thirty and forty men, women and children had gathered from far and near. A
chairman was chosen, and several names proposed; among them "Menton," after a
steamer that plied on the river, that she might be induced to stop at the town.
Another proposed that it be "Paradise," but Deacon Pulsifer arose, and remarked
that "there were many claimants to the lands in California, and they might lose
their lands, and then it would be "Paradise Lost." W. W. Smith proposed that,
inasmuch as the first settlers were disciples of Christ, and one of them (Rev.
Joseph H. Smith) had died and was buried on the land, that it be given a Bible
name in his honor, and suggested "Antioch," and by united acclamation so was the
little town christened.

   Among the others to build at this early date were the Kimballs, whose names
are indelibly associated with the fortunes of Antioch, and several more who
constructed residences to the east of Captain Kimball's first house. A ship's
galley was moved to a lot near the present handsome brick school-house, where
the first school was taught by Martha Douglass; she in turn being succeeded by
Adelia Kimball.

   Among the residents who located this year we have the name of John C.
O'Brien, still a resident of Antioch.

   It should have been mentioned, however, that the families named above had
hardly settled in their new homes, when the little town was visited by cholera
in its worst type. The first to be seized with the dread disease, was the little
five year old daughter of Mr. Smith, who happily recovered under the unceasing
care of her anxious parent; but it was not so with the Hathaways—they lost the
father of the family, two sons, and the wife of an elder brother, all within a
few days of each other. Fortunately the epidemic disappeared as mysteriously as
it had appeared, leaving one or more invalids in every household. On board a
schooner, lying at anchor in the stream, between Antioch and Collinsville,
several deaths occurred, after its ravages had ceased on shore.

   In the year 1851, Antioch had direct communication with San Francisco, by a
schooner commanded by Captain Miller. This, too, was a particularly dry season,
all vegetable life in the San Joaquin district having been blighted, while to
procure hay, the residents of Antioch had to go as far as Diablo valley to cut
hay, and transport it thence to their homes, by way of Kirker's pass. The road
then traveled is now closed to the public.

   As early as the year 1852, a company was formed in Antioch for the
manufacture of bricks, by J. C. McMaster, Barker, and others. The house leased
to them was that of Mr. Smith, which stood on the site of the Ledger office, and
close to the Palace Hotel. The brick kilns were where Mr. Hard's house now
stands. Communication with San Francisco was this year maintained by Captain
Charles Bartlett; while among the new comers in 1852, we have the name of Robert
R. Fuller.

   In 1853, Messrs. H. Lock from San Francisco, and James Henderson and family
located in the district. The first named gentleman built a house and planted
trees to the west of the town. The latter, with his wife, Mrs. Jane Henderson,
commenced the business of butter and cheese-making, which she continued for a
number of years. They built a house where Mr. Stickler now lives, but
subsequently moved to the "Iron House" where Mrs. Henderson died in 1862. J. C.
McMaster and G. W. Kimball also embarked in the dairy business in Antioch in
this year, while Swain and Wattles commenced operations in the same line, on
land leased from Dr. Marsh. On the death of Mr. Swain their interest in the
lease was purchased by Mr. Fuller, who still continues in the business. In this
year, too, Frank Somers and Dr. Samuel Adams came to this part of the county
from the mines, and from the Eastern States there arrived Ezra Clark with two
children, Charles, and George Clark with his wife. The two families originally
settled on what is now the Wells Tract, situated south of the Antioch burying
grounds, while Charles had his location on the lands east of the tides and
Pittsburg Landing. This gentleman finally joined his brother Ezra at Somersville
where he was part owner and agent of the Pittsburg mine— at which place he
ultimately died—while George Clark transferred his residence to the vicinity of
Mount Diablo, near where Captain Mitchell had located a claim on what is now
known as Mitchell's canon. Dr. Adams took up his location at Oak Springs, after
the death of Mr. Kirker. In this same year, 1853, G. W. Brown and ____ Westcott
built a store in the "Sand Hills" about half a mile below Marsh Landing, their
principal customers being the hay-cutters, rather than the farmers, who had not
then commenced the cultivation of wheat. Indeed it was in this or the following
year that that cereal was first produced, the locality being between Kirker's
pass and Antioch, and the producers Mr. McMasters and Captain Kimball who were
engaged in the dairy business. The next store in the district was that of Martin
Hamburg. It was first situated about five miles above Marsh Landing, on the bank
of a sheet of water that had acquired the name of Dutch slough, whence there had
been cut a channel to the high land, and saving the expense of a road and wharf
on the tule lands, thus making a central point for the residents of the Iron
House and Eden Plains districts. The place is now known as Babbe's Landing.
After doing a large and prosperous business here, Mr. Hamburg moved to Antioch,
where he built a store and dwelling house of brick two stories in height, on the
land surveyed for a town site. In 1853, W. W. Smith constructed a wharf between
Antioch and the Beever House on the slough west of the town, where steamers were
wont to land the United States mail. Among the residents who located in the
Township in 1853, we have the names of D. P. Mahan, the present efficient
Sheriff of the county; Frederick Babbe, in what is known as the Iron House
district, and Charles V. Smith at Antioch. In 1853, the Fuller family acquired,
by purchase, the land hitherto occupied by Swain and Darby, and regular
religious services were commenced in the residence of W.W. Smith, and
subsequently continued in that of Mrs. Fuller and others.

   In these early days there were a few of the Pulprones Indians still
remaining, who were, however, afterwards swept away by small-pox and other
diseases, large quantities of their bones having been found later, bleaching in
the sun on the San Joaquin plains. In the year 1875 one of their residences to
which was given the name of the "King's Palace," was discovered. This is a room
excavated out of the sandrock, situated about four miles south of Byron Springs,
and though once evidently the abode of human beings, is now the haunt and
shelter of sheep and hogs.

   During the next few years the country settled up slowly, although the little
town of Antioch kept up its progressive start. As the families arrived in the
village, each vied with the other to make it a pleasant abode, while a charming
unanimity in all their actions was the result. Among the early settlers we find
the names of William R Forman, in 1857; Ferdinand and Christian Hoffman and John
G. Chase, in 1858; William Newman, in 1859; and William Gilchrist and Andrew
Portman, in 1860. Of course there were many more to settle during that period,
bat we have failed to gather their names; indeed, it was not until after the
year last mentioned that the valley commenced to be fully settled—who these were
the biographical sketches at the end of this work will illustrate.

   We learn that in the year 1861 Dr. Patterson resided at the Point of Timber
Landing; Henry Gallagher came to the land east of Bowman's present place; and
Ferdinand and Christian Hoffman located where they now are near Byron. There was
a man named Dickey engaged in the stock business in the district, while one Jabe
Wilson kept the "Red House," now occupied by Mr. Sanders. In 1802 the Point of
Timber district was visited by a severe flood, when Dickey, becoming disgusted,
left; for the same reason Dr. Patterson moved to the land now in the occupancy
of George Cople and J. Christiansen, but finally removed from the section
entirely. This portion of the township commenced to settle up in this year,
1862, and during the Spring, Jabe Wilson sowed the first grain in the district,
a twenty-acre field of barley, but before it matured he disposed of it to Fred
Bowman, who, on account of rain, was compelled to cut the "lodged" grain for
hay. The principal industry of these early times in the Point of Timber district
was sheep farming, but as the lands came to be taken up and fenced, the sheep
were "crowded out."

   It seems to be generally accepted that coal was first discovered in this
township by W. C. Israel, and that the discovery was made in 1859. We are
disposed to think, however, that such must have been made a year earlier, for we
have it from the columns of the Contra Costa Gazette of December 11, 1858, that
Messrs. Rountree, Walker and Dickson discovered coal on November 24, 1858, about
half way from the base of Mount Diablo and Antioch, and distant from the San
Joaquin about five miles. "It is two miles from the vein discovered by Mr.
Israel." In connection with his father and brother George, W. C. Israel opened
the vein he had discovered at Horse Haven, six miles south of Antioch, for a
short distance; but not having capital to work it, they disposed of their
interest to James T. Watkins, and ____ Noyes, who, either from want of knowledge
or capital, failed in opening the vein so as to make the working of it
successful. They abandoned the mine in 1861, since when it has not been opened.
The vein is very much broken, and hence, is unreliable. In 1860 W. B. Stewart,
T. K. Shattuck and William Hillegas located the Central mine, and in 1861
commenced an opening, but it was not until 1864 that any quantity of coal was
taken out. The Empire mine was started in the Fall of 1876 by J. C. Rouse and
George H. Hawxhurst, which, with the Central, is now owned by Messrs. W.
Belshaw, Egbert Judson and J. C. Rouse. In 1877 the Empire mine was connected
with Antioch by a line of railroad six miles in length, which was extended by a
branch to the Central mine during the past year. On the Marsh grant is another
mine, the property of the Brentwood Coal Company, while there are several others
in the Diablo coal fields, which we have already noticed.

   Dr. Marsh's grant was not finally settled until 1862, but the United States
Courts were slow in giving titles to lands in dispute; it was not until 1869,
seven years later, that Mr. Smith received his documents. The New York grant was
not patented until 1872.

   We will now refer the reader to a short history of the town of Antioch, as an
especial subject fraught with considerable interest:

   ANTIOCH.—In the preceding remarks we have seen how the town of Antioch had
its birth, grew into prominence as a center of commerce, and now we will attempt
to follow its individual interests up to the present time. The reader will, we
have no doubt, agree with us that recapitulation is unnecessary, therefore we
will commence with the years dating after 1860.

   On March 1, 1863, we find that the steamer Pert was put on as a ferryboat
between Antioch, New York and Collinsville, Solano county, by Captains Turner
and Cosine. After the death of the first-named gentleman, his sons continued the
business in the Antioch for about ten years, when it was discontinued, all the
ferrying being now done by the steamers that ply to Sacramento and Stockton. On
June 7th, of this year, we notice the death of William Wyatt. He was a native of
North Carolina, but prior to coming to California in 1852, had lived in
Missouri. His generesity of disposition and readiness to help forward every
genuine charity, were characteristics well known to his friends, while by the
world at large he was highly esteemed. The year 1864 may be remembered as the
one in which the subject of railroad communication was first mooted. On
September 10th a public meeting was held at Antioch, Charles P. Marsh, Chairman,
when a resolution, promising the hearty co-operation of the citizens in a
railroad project connecting Oakland and Antioch, was passed. Such was the
cheapness of coal at this period that a company was formed at Antioch, in 1864,
for the purpose of smelting copper, the ore used being chiefly obtained from
Copperopolis; this scheme has died a natural death.

   October 30, 1868, the dwelling-house of Dr. J. R. Howard, with all his
belongings, books, papers, and family keepsakes, was destroyed by fire. On May
16, 1369, a new Congregational Church was dedicated at Antioch by the following
gentlemen: Revs. Messrs. Warren, of San Francisco, J. J. Powell, Wood and
Graves. The body of the church is thirty by fifty feet, besides the pulpit,
rostrum and choir, with thirty-six pews to hold five persons each. The jutting
front tower is surmounted by a belfry from which a graceful spire rises up some
forty feet, and terminates at an elevation of eighty feet from the ground. The
cost of the edifice was in the vicinity of two thousand three hundred dollars.
In this year George A. Dodge, upon a block of the most elevated ground in the
place, was engaged in constructing a reservoir, by excavation and embankment,
with a view to supplying the town with water. His scheme contemplated the
confining of the darn by a circular embankment, averaging fifty feet in breadth
at the base, and a diameter of one hundred and thirty feet across the top of the
basin. Up to this time the distribution of the fluid had been by means of
cartage, and pumps by wind-power; with the accession of never-failing steam and
pipes a great benefit was conferred upon the community.

   About one o'clock on the morning of Sunday, August 23, 1871, a fire broke out
in Main street, Antioch, in or about the wash-house of the Griffin Hotel
(American Exchange), a north wind blowing with great violence at the time. At
that hour the inhabitants were, of course, generally asleep, and the fire
obtained a good headway before it was discovered. The extreme dryness of the
tinder-like houses in full flame, fanned by the furious north wind, raised a
running mountain of fire that appalled the hearts of the suddenly awakened
sleepers. In a few minutes after discovery, it lapped on to and enveloped Chase
& Robbins livery-stable, filled with hay, on the corner of Main and Brown
streets; then on with a wild sweep it took in McCoy's two-story shop on the
opposite corner, then his dwelling in the rear. Thence D. Cleaves' dwelling, and
a vacant house where Knapp once lived, at the extreme south of the second block
from where it started. Here it slowly lulled in the calm of exhaustion, though
like a wounded serpent it hissed and raged with surging head and protruding
tongue for more hopes to crush and more homes to waste, darting the venom of
floating brands and detached flame in clouds upon everything for two hundred
feet from its halt. Not more than forty minutes had elapsed before all this line
of houses were smoke and ashes. In the meantime the fire had extended north to
Griffin's two-story lodging-house more slowly, but in equal mockery of any hope
to stay it with the means at command. From this it soon caught the main hotel
building, which was two-stories high, about seventy feet square, and elevated in
location, in and a little above the most dense portion of the town. When this
got well fired up, it finished, and lighted up a picture both grand and awful.
The scene is described thus: "Here, as we stood at the cross of the main streets
at two o'clock in the morning, in a sudden brightness as of a noonday sun, a
roaring mountain of flame fanned and whirled by the rushing north wind—all
around a scramble of life, with fearful odds against the scramblers—a village of
terrified inhabitants, running hither and thither, of all ages, sexes and sizes,
and in every condition of dress and undress; in and out of houses and across
streets, carrying, scattering, pulling and pitching every conceivable article of
furniture, buggies, wagons and stages, in heaps into the streets for safety,
scarce a sound to be heard from a lip save the involuntary, 'Oh God!' as some
heart shrank at the fall of their hopes and their homes. But the good servant
and bad master, heedless of all misery in the picture, still swept on east to
McCartney's dwelling next to the hotel, then McCartney's variety store, then
Tapperner's shoe store, then Hop Lee's wash-house, which was torn down. Here a
truce was declared on that line, and the monster slept upon his laurels in the
smoke and ashes of two blocks of the town, except two houses, one of which was
nearly torn down."

   Six places of business and four dwelling houses were lost sight of when the
flames died away. Eighteen thousand dollars' worth of property was destroyed,
upon which there was about ten thousand dollars of insurance.

   In the records of the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa county, we find
the following petition for the incorporation of the town of Antioch, under date
February 6, 1872. We reproduce the document and the names attached thereto, as a
matter of curiosity and interest:

   "We, the undersigned (being a majority of the Town of Antioch, and qualified
electors and residents thereof for more than thirty days last past, the said
town containing more than two hundred inhabitants,) do now most respectfully
petition Your Honorable Body to incorporate the said town, under the name of
Antioch, the same being about one mile in width by about three miles in length
(but not exceeding the same), and situate on the San Joaquin river, adjoining
the New York grant in this county, as per plat or map hereto attached; said town
to be incorporated for police purposes, and other purposes, pursuant to the
statutes of this State. And your petitioners will ever pray, etc. M. Dolan,
Joseph Galloway, M. A. Morrisey, Cyrus Cheney, William Jones, Oliver Wolcott, H.
Gardner, M. S. Levy, W. Kountree, J. C. McMaster, Charles Kohn, J. J. McNulty,
H. W. Fassett, George Miller, G. S. Carman, R. B. Hard, Stephen Jessup, Francis
Williams, Abraham Low, Stephen Abbott, Job E. Warren, T. O. Carter, Jay Tuttle,
George McCoy, J. A. Chittenden, George W. Brown, S. Franklin Pitts, J. T.
Gossan, Van W. Phillips, Joseph Ott, Robert West, F. Wilkening, James Martin, G.
B. Robbins, Wm. C. Johnson, James Ewing, Frederick Vollmer, I. Lobree, Charles
Wein, D. Macartney, Joseph Scheirwelup, J. R. Howard, H. Rietoro, Oscar M.
Jessup, H. L. Farland, P. Griffin, J. H. Lewis, A. Brown, S. T. Page, H. W.
Brewer, Joseph L. Smith, R. R. Fuller, John Skillconn, R. U. Fuller, Henry N.
Baker, Charles Peers, Ferdinand Stain, W. A. Brunkhorst, George P. Rochford,
George Thyarks, James Conroy, George Grunewald, Albert Brinck, G. W. Kimball, T.
N. Wills, D. Mayon, H. H. Dearien, D. N. Cleaves, J. E. Bollinger, R. J. Wally,
R. G. Houston, James T. Gushing, John W. Strickler, George Perry, S. S. Pitts,
J. Nicholson, M. H. Jacobs, T. Aug. Heinoch, John B. Turner, Thomas Martin, G.
E. Wright, A. M. Marble, H. B. Reed, J. P. Abbott, Joseph Baules, E. J. Fuller,
James Gard, John Tappeinen, Peter Dolan, Christian Humble, Frank McFarlane,
George A. Swain, H. A. Foster, P. McDermott, H. Williamson, H. Seers, R. Taylor,
S. B. Joslin, Warren Abbott, D. P. Mahan, M. Hornberg, J. Strickfield, Joseph P.
Barron."

   December 8, 1873, we have to record the death of J. J. McNulty, a member of
the County Court, which passed appropriate resolutions on his demise; while, on
the 29th of the same month, a Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry was instituted
with the following officers: J. P. Walton, Master; William Davidson, Overseer;
J. Wills, Lecturer; W. J. Smith, Steward; W. G. Sellars, Assistant Steward; W.
W. Smith, Chaplain; G. W. Kimball, Treasurer; James Darby, Secretary; D. K.
Benedict, Gate-keeper; Mrs. P. B. Benedict, Ceres; Mrs. S. A. Sellars, Pomona;
Mrs. Jane. C. Smith, Flora; Miss Alice Wills, Lady Assistant Steward. On March
13, 1875, a Fire Company was organized in the town; while on January 24, 1878,
the Advent Christian church was dedicated, the house being Gothic in style of
architecture, thirty-two by fifty-two feet in dimensions, and costing two
thousand dollars.

   Captain George W. Kimball, one of the best known pioneer residents of Contra
Costa county, died at Antioch, November 18, 1879. He had been a resident of the
town since his arrival in California in 1850. In command of a ship built under
his direction and supervision in Maine by an association composed of lumbermen,
mechanics and seamen, who cut the timber, built the ship, he made the voyage in
her to this State. In a published sketch of Captain Kimball's life, he thus
speaks of occurrences after his arrival in Antioch in 1850: "My brother (S. P.
Kimball) and I hired men and cut hay on Sherman and Kimball Islands. I took it
to San Francisco in my scow and sold it for sixty dollars per ton.

   "Mr. Smith afterwards moved away from Antioch, so that I became the first
permanent settler. I built two small wharves for receiving coal. I was the first
Postmaster, first Notary Public, first Justice of the Peace, and first School
Trustee in Antioch. I supposed I owned the section I lived on until 1865, as I
had bought all the titles I knew of. Garcia told me his New York ranch did not
reach me, but they finally located it over my claim, and covered my
improvements, and the Courts said it was all right.

   "After the New York Grant took my land, I bought a few parcels of land to
save some improvements, and then fled to the tule island opposite Pittsburg
Landing with my stock. I spent part of two seasons there, dairying and raising
hogs. I also bought the litttle island opposite Antioch; from this island my
son, Edgar H. Kimball, supplies Antioch with milk."

   Captain Kimball was known as a man of generous and humane feelings, marked
intellectuality, originality and independence of thought; and though infirmities
of age had somewhat withdrawn him from the active currents of neighborhood
intercourse, his death made a vacancy long to be regretted.

   In regard to early surveys of the town, we have learned that in 1862, Messrs.
Wyatt and O'Brien entered upon the State Tule lands, situated to the west of the
town, and having it surveyed, laid it out into blocks and lots, these lying to
the west of what is now Galloway street. On this land Wolf & Co. built a brick
store, while Kimball & Co. had a store on the plot of ground known as Morrisey's
corner. Galloway and Boober then paid a thousand dollars to Captain Kimball for
one block of land, but finally purchased the west half of section thirteen and
the east half of section twenty-five, embracing the town and what is now Mr.
Wills' farm, which they had laid out, and is now known as the Eddy survey. It
may be mentioned that Mr. Wolf died on the cars while on his way to San
Francisco, September 12, 1878.

   The manufacturing industries of Antioch are not a few, while their history is
interesting. As long ago as 1852 a company was formed for making brick at
Antioch, by J. C. McMaster, _____ Barker and others. The remains of dilapidated
kilns and trenches may still be seen in their unornamental simplicity. No less
than four attempts have been made to establish potteries in the town, but only
one survives the shock of time, the Albion. Antioch, however, boasts a
distillery, finer than which there is none on the Pacific Coast. The
establishment is an immense one, with a prosperous and increasing trade. We have
already alluded to the smelting works, founded in 1864. In 1875, a company was
organized for the purpose of preparing tules for the manufacture of mattresses
and such like articles of upholstery. In 1878 Mr. Cooley embarked in, and has
since successfully perfected the enterprise of making tule covers for bottles
for the San Francisco market.

   Communication between Antioch and the outside world was started in January,
1851, by Captain Miller, who had a schooner plying to San Francisco. In the
following year Captain Charles Bartlett continued the trade in a like craft,
purchased for the especial purpose of conveying butter, eggs, cheese, and such
other freight, and returning with passengers and goods. For the convenience of
the boats, W. W. Smith constructed a platform between Antioch and the Beener
House; and about 1859, Mr. Galloway, and in 1871, Mr. Boober, constructed the
present Granger wharves.

   It will be remembered that the first postmaster in the district was John
Beener, located at New York of the Pacific, the official name being Junction. He
was succeed by H. F. Toy. In 1852 the name was changed and the office moved to
Antioch, G. W. Kimball being appointed postmaster. During the visit of that
gentleman to the mines, J. C. McMaster was deputed to attend to the duties of
the office, who in turn was succeeded by Mr. Eddy.

   The first cemetery belonging to Antioch was situated to the south of the
town. Here, under the wide-spreading branches of a white oak tree, was the Rev.
Joseph H. Smith, committed to the earth from whence he sprang. After the town
site had been surveyed, two blocks of land were set apart and fenced in as a
burial-ground, where most of the dead in the district found their last resting
place. This "God's Acre" soon became crowded; then a company was formed by the
Free Masons and Odd Fellows, and a tract of land, located among the live oaks,
two miles and a half from town, selected. Hither are being gradually removed the
bones of those buried within the town limits.

   In the year 1864 there were two Grange Associations started in the township
—one at Antioch and the other at Point of Timber. The first mentioned purchased
a wharf and fixtures from Mr. Boober, for which they paid ten thousand six
hundred dollars, dividing the land accompanying it into small lots to suit
purchasers, thus hoping to liquidate the debt. They built a good hall at each
place, but the Antioch Grange Association failed in its operations, and is now
defunct property, without value.

   In the year 1877, or thereabouts, the proprietors of the Empire mine
completed a narrow gauge railroad from the mine to the water front at Antioch,
where there are all the appliances for shipping coal. While in the matter of
railroads for public uses we may remark that there was a survey for a line from
Antioch to Visalia, Tulare county, made in 1871, and much of the stock
subscribed, but the scheme was not carried out by its projectors. In the
meantime the Central Pacific Railroad had stretched out its octopus arms, and
completing their line from Oakland to Tracy, the first train passed through
Antioch September 9, 1878.

   In conclusion of our remarks on the town, we boldly assert that Antioch is
destined to be a very important commercial and manufacturing point so soon as
capitalists take the trouble to inquire into its numerous advantages. It is
situated far enough from the ocean—about fifty miles—to escape the harsh trade
winds to which other places nearer the Bay of San Francisco are subjected; is at
the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, and being at the head
of ocean navigation has a depth of water at low tides of twenty-four feet, where
the largest ships can load and go to sea with ease. Vessels can also lie in
fresh water while in port, which is a great advantage, as it cleans their hulls
from barnacles and other parasites.

   The channel from Suisun bay to Antioch was surveyed in July, 1878, by General
B. S. Alexander, who pronounced the lowest depth of water at low tide to be
twenty-two feet. The General, at that time, expressed the opinion that the
advantages of Antioch as a shipping point were unsurpassed. He stated that the
channel is not tortuous; that with the prevailing westerly winds ships could
easily sail directly to the wharf; that the anchorage is good, with plenty of
room and no hidden dangers, and that during the high tides vessels drawing
twenty-five feet of water could go to sea. One of its great advantages as a
grain shipping point is that the wheat from those immense valleys, the
Sacramento and San Joaquin, can be brought to this point in barges, which can
easily navigate the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers for hundreds of miles
north and south, but which are too frail to live in the rough waters of the
Carquinez Straits and San Francisco Bay. There is also ample room for
warehouses, as the deep water front extends for over two miles.

   In addition to the advantages above enumerated, Antioch has unrivalled
facilities for the establishment of manufactories of many descriptions, among
which may be mentioned woolen mills, flouring mills, foundries and potteries.
For the latter there is an unlimited supply of the best quality of potters'
clay, from which, it is claimed, the finest porcelain can be made; there is both
soft and hard clay in various colors, with different proportions of kaolinite,
silica, feldspar, lime, magnesia, etc. Mr. I. Nicholson is now extensively
engaged in working this clay, although his operations are confined to the
manufacture of stove linings and piping. For manufacturers requiring steam
power, fuel is plentiful and cheap, as there are hundreds of tons of coal
brought into the town daily by rail, from mines which are only five or six miles
distant. Another advantage which manufacturers here could have is that they
would not be confined to the water outlet for the transportation of their
productions, as the San Pablo & Tulare Railroad runs past the town.

   Among other advantages, which go to make a large and prosperous city,
possessed by Antioch, is an immense area of the finest agricultural lands. An
illustration of what this land is capable of is related by a prominent merchant
of Antioch. From this gentleman's statement it appears that a certain party
purchased a quarter-section of land in that vicinity for fifteen dollars per
acre, and seeded it in wheat. His first crop paid for the land, and left him a
surplus of six hundred dollars. Wheat is not by any means considered the most
valuable crop that these lands will produce, as they are peculiarly adapted to
grapes and fruits of various kinds.

   THE ANTIOCH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.—Was organized June 25, 1865, with the
following members: D. S. Woodruff, J. P. Walton, Almira Walton, Francis A.
Barrett, Mrs. Agnes Barrett, Mrs. M. H. Boothby, Miss Ida Fuller. Following are
the names of the several pastors in the order in which they served: Rev. B. S.
Crossley, Rev. C. Morgan, Rev. James Wood, Rev. Albion Johnson, Rev. T.
Beaizley, Rev. William N. Meserve, Rev. E. O. Tade, Rev. C. T. K. Tracy, Rev.
John Carrington, Rev. C. R. Hager. Present pastor, Rev. C. R. Hager. During the
pastorate of Rev. James Wood, the Congregational church was built, mainly
through his exertions. The building is hard-finished, with bell tower and
steeple, and will seat about two hundred people. The present membership, May,
1882, is twenty-nine. Following are the present officers of the church:
Trustees—H. W. Brewer, S. Broacher, G. F. Hawley; Clerk, Charles H. Smith;
Treasurer, G. F. Hawley; Moderator, William W. Smith; Deacons, H. W. Brewer, S.
Broacher.

   METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.—This sketch, we inform the reader, is not
confined to the history of the church at Antioch alone, but to the entire
Methodist organization in the eastern portion of Contra Costa county.

   In the year 1867 Rev. W. S. Corwin was appointed to the charge of the eastern
portion of Contra Costa, and in the following year was succeeded by Rev. Noah
Burton, who, shortly after his arrival, organized a Board of Trustees, as
follows: Thomas Murphy, Thomas McCabe, R. C. Pennington, Alonzo Plumley and
William S. Paige. In this year a parsonage was built at Point of Timber. In
1869, Rev. C. A. E. Hertell was appointed to the work, then called Point of
Timber and Eden Plain. This gentleman remained in charge until September, 1872,
the name being changed in 1871 to Point of Timber and Antioch.

   In 1870, Rev. V. Righmeyer was sent to Clayton and Somersville, where he
remained two years. In 1872, Rev. J. H. Jones was appointed to Somersville and
San Joaquin, which included Antioch and Point of Timber, and remained two years.
In 1874, Rev. A. C. Hazzard supplied the work; in 1875, Rev. E. Jacka was
appointed to Point of Timber, and Rev. Wm. Gafney to Somersville, both remaining
one year. In 1876, Rev. J. M. Hinman was appointed to Point of Timber, and Rev.
G. G. Walter to Somersville and Antioch, at the latter of which places he
remained three years. In 1877, Rev. William Gafney was appointed to Point of
Timber, where he remained three years. In 1879, the parsonage was moved to
Brentwood, and Mr. Gafney took charge of Somersville and Antioch also, preaching
at Point of Timber, Eden Plain, Brentwood, Antioch and Somersville. In 1881,
Rev. E. A. Winning was appointed to the work now called Point of Timber and
Antioch. The church has a small house of worship at Somersville, while the
present membership of the whole charge is about fifty.

   ANTIOCH LODGE, No. 175, F. AND A. M.—This lodge was organized October 12,
1865, with the following charter members: Francis Williams, Rozwell Hard, J. P.
Walton, D. H. Cleaves, Norman Adams, Stephen Jessup, J. J. McNulty, J. C.
O'Brien, John E. Wright, Richard Charnock, Jackson W. Ong, Thomas Cryan, E. T.
Mills. The officers Under Dispensation, dated May 21, 1865, were: Francis
Williams, W. M.; Seth W. Bedford, S. W.; John C. O'Brien, J. W. On the Charter
being granted, the following officers were elected: Francis Williams, W. M.;
Seth W. Bedford, S. W.; John C. O'Brien, J. W.; John E. Wright, Treasurer; Mark
Kline, Secretary; Norman Adams, S. D.; Stephen Jessup, J. D.; Emory T. Mills,
Tyler. The lodge, which is in a flourishing condition, has a membership at
present of forty-six, owning their hall in partnership with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. The names of the officers serving for the current term
are: J. P. Abbott, W. M.; N. W. Smith, S. W.; S. H. McKillips, J. W.; J. C.
Rouse, Treasurer; W. R. Forman, Secretary; A. K. P. Nason, S. D.; M. H. Jacobs,
J. D.; John G. Chase, Tyler.

   SAN JOAQUIN LODGE, No. 151, I. O. O. F.—Was instituted January 11, 1869, the
following being the charter members and original officers: William Girvan, M. S.
Levy, George Thyarks, R. Eddy, F. Wilkening. The Lodge is in a flourishing
condition, with a membership of fifty-two on the roll. The officers for the
current term are: A. A. Waldie, N. G.; A. M. Groves, V. G.; W. H. Dobyns, R. &
P. S.; D. Macartney, Treasurer; H. W. Baker, W. H. Dobyns, and William Renfree,
Trustees.

   ANTIOCH LODGE, No. 37, A. O. U. W.—This Lodge was organized by D. D. Barrows
in June, 1878, with the following charter members and officers: H. W. Baker, P.
M. W.; Henry F. Beede, M. W.; E. L. Wemple, G. F.; Louis Dahnken, O.; William H.
Dobyns, Recorder; John S. Killicum, Fin.; L. Meyer, Receiver; H. W. Brewer, G.;
H. C. Wenig, I. W.; Albert T. Beede, O. W. The present membership of the Lodge
is forty-five, who hold their meetings in the Hall of the Masons and Odd
Fellows. The present officers are: H. W. Baker, P. M. W.; H. F. Beede, M. W.;
Wm. H. Dobyns. F.; R. P. Taylor, O.; E. L. Wemple, Finan.; A. K. P. Nason,
Receiver; G. D. Darby, G.

   ARIEL CHAPTER, No. 42, ORDER OF EASTERN STAR.—This Chapter was organized
March 30, 1880, by Grand Worthy Patron, C. L. Thomas, with the following charter
members: Elizabeth Williams, Alice Parkison, Katie E. Forman, Malvina G. Abbott,
Alice Rouse, Mrs. T. B. Jacobs, Annie F. McKillips, Alyszan R. Jessup, Mary E.
Frink, N. W. Smith, Mary E. Smith, C. H. Frink, G. Rouse, J. P. Abbott. The
first officers to serve were: George C. Wright, W. Patron; Elizabeth Williams,
Matron; Mrs. Alice Rouse, Associate; C. H. Frink, Secretary; Mrs. Mary E. Frink,
Treas.; Mrs. A. R. Jessup, Condt.; Mrs. Bertha Jacobs, Asst. Condt.; Miss Anna
Mckillips, Ada; Miss Kate E. Forman, Ruth; Miss Mary E. Smith, Esther; Mrs. N.
G. Abbott, Martha; Miss Allie Parkison, Electa. The Chapter, which is in a
flourishing condition, has a present membership of thirty, while the officers
serving for the current term are: M. G. Abbott, W. Matron; A. C. Hartley, W.
Patron; M. E. Frink, S. M.; G. Rouse, Sec.; N. W. Smith, Treas.; Mrs. A. R.
Rouse, Condt.; Mrs. R. Metcalf, Asst. Condt.; Louisa Willis, Ada; Kate Forman,
Ruth; Mary E. Smith, Esther; Allie Rouse, Martha; Mrs. Frank Pitts, Electa; J.
C. Rouse, Warder; S. H. Mckillips, Sentinel. The Chapter meets on the first and
third Mondays of each month, at the Masonic Hall.

   YOUNG MEN'S TEMPERANCE AND LITERARY SOCIETY.—This association was organized
April 8, 1882, with the undermentioned Charter Members: James Carolan, Charles
Smith, R. H. Parkison, Cellus Biglow, John Tope, Frank Biglow, F. M. Wills. The
present officers are: James Carolan, Ch. T.; Charles Smith, Marshal; R. H.
Parkison, Secretary; Cellus Biglow, Sentinel; John Tope, V. T.; Frank Biglow,
Chaplain; Frank Wills, Treasurer. The society's rooms are opposite the store of
Rouse, Frink & Co., and are fitted up in a neat style, chiefly by subscriptions
from the people of the town. Here all newspapers and periodical publications are
free to the public. Meets every Wednesday evening at 8 P. M.

   ANTIOCH FIRE DEPARTMENT.—On December 18, 1874, the citizens of Antioch met
and organized the Fire Department of that town, D. P. Mahan being Chairman and
Francis Williams, Secretary. On a resolution being put that all those in favor
of such an organization should sign their names to the roll, the following
signatures were thereupon affixed: Francis Williams, D. P. Mahan, William C.
Johnson, M. S. Levy, Clarence Maclay, Stephen Jessup, S. B. Joslin, Charles
Peers, John W. Gunn, John G. Chase, John S. Killicum, J. H. Patterson, Fred.
Wilkening, Van Phillips; L. Dahnken, William Renfree, Joseph W. Galloway. The
following officers were then elected: Francis Williams, President; M. S. Levy,
Secretary; S. B. Joslin, Treasurer; Stephen Jessup, Foreman; Fred. Wilkening,
First Assistant; Louis Dahnken, Second Assistant. The Department is now composed
of thirty-one members, with the following officers: H. F. Beede, President; D.
Macartney, Secretary; S. B. Joslin, Treasurer; I. Nicholson, Foreman; F. M.
Wills, First Assistant; J. G. Kaiser, Second Assistant.

   ROUSE, FORMAN & CO'S LUMBER YARD.—This enterprise was started in the year
1864 by Mr. Galloway, who conducted it until 1877, when it was purchased by the
present owners who now manage the concern. All building material is here
supplied, the lumber used being imported from Oregon and Washington Territory,
for which a sale is found in the surrounding district, large quantities being
shipped up the Sacramento and San Joaquin by both boat and sail. Antioch is
essentially a distributing point. Rouse, Forman & Co. usually carry a stock of
from one and a half to two millions of feet of lumber.

   ALBION POTTERY.—I. Nicholson, Proprietor. The first establishment of an
enterprise of this nature was by I. Lobree in 1865, which was discontinued in
1869. In 1868, Mr. Nicholson embarked in his present enterprise, on the site it
now occupies at the corner of Wyatt and Robinson streets. Here he is engaged in
the manufacture chiefly of chimney and sewer pipes, Terra Cotta, and stove
lining, in which he gives employment to from six to eight men. The buildings are
one story in height, and cover a space of one hundred by one hundred and fifty
feet.

  PIONEER SODA WORKS.—This was among the first establishments of the kind in the
county. It was started by John Gagen, who conducted it until it passed into the
hands of John Reilly in 1881. Here all manner of aerated waters are
manufactured, including soda, ginger-ale, sarsaparilla, cider, etc.

   THE WEEKLY ANTIOCH LEDGER.—Was established March, 26, 1869, by Messrs.
Townsend and Wait. Mr. Wait shortly after retired, and for a time Mr. Townsend
continued the paper alone. In December, J. P. Abbott purchased a half interest.
The following year Mr. Townsend disposed of his interest to E. G. Fuller, who,
in 1872, sold out to H. A. Weaver. Mr. Abbott retained his half interest during
this time, and in May, 1873, purchased Mr. Weaver's interest, thus becoming sole
proprietor. Mr. Abbott continued to conduct the paper up to November 1, 1881,
when he leased it to Charles H. Smith, who is at present the editor and
publisher. Mr. Smith is a native of the county, having been born upon the slope
of Mount Diablo, above Clayton, in October, 1855. He entered the Ledger office
as an apprentice in December, 1879. The Ledger has always been a strong
Republican journal.

  ANTIOCH DISTILLERY COMPANY.—In the Spring of 1869 this enterprise was started
by George Russell, William Knight and George Gruenewald, and had a capacity of
one thousand gallons. In the following year it was consolidated with the Brannan
street, Pacific and South San Francisco distilleries, and became a stock
company. It was continued thus for only six months, when Mr. Jost purchased the
Antioch distillery, which he continued until the Fall of 1876. Nothing was done
on the premises till the Spring of 1879, when Mr. Jost was joined in partnership
by Aaron Adler, the firm name being Jost & Adler. Since that time many valuable
improvements have been made, such as new machinery and warehouses, while the
capacity has risen to two thousand four hundred gallons per day, on which a
revenue of two thousand one hundred dollars per day is paid. The goods
manufactured are Bourbon, Rye and Spirits, as well as the German compressed
yeast, of which are turned out about two thousand pounds per week and shipped to
the San Francisco market. The present proprietors are Jost & Adler, who employ
about twenty men, George Miller acting as superintendent.

   BRENTWOOD.—This little village receives its name from Brentwood in Essex,
England, whence the family of Dr. Marsh originally came. Here the owners of the
Marsh Grant donated a tract of land for the purpose of laying out a town, the
necessity for such having sprung from the advent of the railroad. The first
building to be erected was the store of Louis Gruneaeur, in the Fall of 1878; he
was immediately followed by Joseph S. Carey, who constructed a blacksmith's
shop, and moved into it November 25, 1878, since when several excellent
residences have been built. The village now comprises one hundred residents,
three stores, three saloons, a school-house built in 1879, a handsome railroad
depot, and a fine warehouse, the property of Fish & Blum, of Martinez.

   BYRON.—This is another hamlet on the line of the railroad, located about five
miles northwest of Brentwood, and a like distance from the county line. It is
situated in the midst of a fine agricultural district, and two and a half miles
from the famous Byron Springs. The first house built was the very excellent
hotel of F. Wilkening, in 1878. It now comprises, besides that building, one
store, three saloons, two blacksmith shops, Fish & Blum's handsome warehouse,
one harness shop, one livery stable, and a population of about sixty souls.
There is also a fine depot and a post-office.

   BYRON HOT SPRINGS.—Are located about two miles and a half from the village of
Byron. "These springs," says Rev. W. W. Smith, of Antioch, "have been known
since 1849 to the American settler, and before that time to the Indians, who had
often tested their healing qualities, whether taken internally or applied
externally." The locality is not especially captivating as a place of resort, it
being entirely devoid of shady walks and romantic scenery. He who visits Byron
Springs must do so for the benefit of his health, and not for a pastime. We have
been unfortunate in procuring an analysis of the different waters, but from our
own unscientific research, we are prepared to vouch for their containing
sulphur, soda and salt, in large quantities. There are five of these springs
utilized for bathing purposes, having commodious accommodation for this purpose;
while fifteen of them are maintained solely for drinking. Each has a name
consonant with its peculiar properties; but perhaps the most appropriate is that
known as the "Surprise," which, in fact, usually proves a surprise, in more ways
than one. The hotel has capacity for forty guests, while there are five cottages
besides, suitable for families and coteries of friends. The time is not far
distant when the curative properties of these waters will become more widely
known—then Byron Springs will earn a name second to none in the world, as a
place where healing the sick may be attained without the aid of allopathic
powders and homeopathic globules. There is stage connection with Byron Station.

  EDEN PLAIN AND POINT OF TIMBER.—These two places, one being a continuation of
the other, derive their names, the first from the wonderful fertility of its
soil, the other from the peculiar form in which the belt of timber that then
covered that section grew. It was V shaped, the point coming to the vicinity of
the site of the store now kept by James A. Salts, at that place. The Eden Plain
school-house is about eight miles east of Antioch, while that of Point of Timber
is eight miles farther south. These two tracts are peculiarly adapted for fruit
and grain growing, the largest orchard being possessed by Mark Walton. The lands
of the Point of Timber district are wider than those of Eden Plain, from east to
west, the ground on Kellogg creek being moister than that on Marsh creek. The
Point of Timber Landing was burnt in the Winter of 1881-82 by tule fires, and
although it was the property of the neighboring farmers, it never proved of any
great practical utility or monetary advantage to them.

   POINT OF TIMBER LODGE, A. O. U. W.—This lodge was instituted April 12, 1879,
by D. G. M. W., H. G. Oliver, with the following charter members: George R.
Dement, R. M. Vanderhoof, M. T. Plantz, H. C. McCabe, E. Bustard, Isadore
Lippman, G. W. T. Carter, Henry Wilkening, George Cople, Peter Weiss, C. J.
Preston, W. J. Casselman; the original officers being: H. C. McCabe, M. W.; C.
J. Preston, P. M.; George R. Dement, Receiver; Isadore Lippman, Financier; R. M.
Vanderhoof, Overseer; G. W. T. Carter, Recorder; Peter Weiss, Guide; H.
Wilkening, I. W.; E. Bustard, O. W. Trustees: H. Wilkening, C. J. Preston, E.
Bustard, The lodge, which is in a flourishing condition, has a membership of
thirty-six, while the officers for the current term are: H. C. McCabe, P. M. W.;
G. W. T. Carter, M. W.; William H. Johnson, F.; Melvin Graver, O.; James A.
Salts, Recorder; Alonzo Plumley, Receiver; C. J. Preston, Financier; I. Huey,
G.; Henry Wilkening, I. W.; George Cople, O. W.

   EXCELSIOR LODGE, No. 349, I. 0. G. T.—Was organized March 7, 1869, by Rev. A.
C. McDougall, with the following Charter members: C. M. Carey, Mrs. B. F. Carey,
Henry Wells, J. S. Netherton, Calvin Carlton, D. K. Berry, A. Richardson, Miss
Belle Eachus, Libious Perkins, Miss Ella Paige, J. T. Carey, Volney Taylor, Mrs.
Mary Berry, Miss E. A. Berry, Alonzo Berry, Mrs. Laurie Carey, A. V. Taylor. The
original officers were: C. M. Cary, W. C. T.; Mrs. B. F. Carey, W. V. T.; H.
Wells, W. C.; J. S. Netherton, W. Sec.; C. Carlton, W. F. S.; D. K. Berry, W.
T.; A. Richardson, W. M.; Cora Carey, W. D. M.; Ella Paige, W. I. G.; Volney
Taylor, W. O. G.; Belle Eachus, W. R. H. S.; Miss E. A. Berry, W. L. H. S.; J.
F. Carey, P. W. C. T. The lodge was organized in the old Pioneer school-house,
but in 1871 was moved to the new school-house, and in 1876 transferred to the
Point of Timber Grange hall. It is in a flourishing condition and has a present
membership of fifty-nine. The officers serving for the current term are: W. J.
Estus, P. W. C. T.; F. M. Preston, W. C. T.; Emma Andrews, W. R.H. S.; Annie
Wallace, W. L. H. S.; Eugenia Wallace, W. V. T.; Volney Taylor, W. Sec.; Ida
Burres, W. A. S.; W. M. Moore, W. F. S.; Lovina Plumley, W. T.; F. J. Netherton,
W. M.; Ida Plumley, W. D. M.; Mary Taylor, W. I. G.; Charles Plumley, W. O. G.

  POINT OF TIMBER GRANGE, No. 14, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.—This Grange was
organized May 21,1873, and is the out-growth of the Point of Timber Farmers
Protective Club. It was instituted by the State Deputy, W. H. Baker, with the
following officers: R. G. Dean, Master; M. A. Walton, Overseer; J. H. Baldwin,
Lecturer; J. B. Henderson, Steward; A. Richardson, Asst. Steward; A. Plumley,
Chaplain; Thomas McCabe, Treasurer; J. W. Carey, Secretary; C. M. Carey,
Gate-Keeper; Mrs. J. H. Baldwin, Ceres; Mrs. C. M. Carey, Pomona; Mrs. J. B.
Henderson, Flora; Mrs. J. W. Carey, Stewardess. The Grange is in a prosperous
condition, and owns a handsome commodious hall at Point of Timber. The officers
for the current term are: Volney Taylor, Master; C. J. Preston, Overseer; Mrs.
S. J. Wills, Lecturer; A. Plumley, Steward; Mrs. George Cople, Asst. Steward;
Mrs. Richardson, Lady Asst. Steward; Thomas McCabe, Chaplain; Lovina Plumley,
Treasurer; Mary J. Carter, Secretary; A. Richardson, Gate-Keeper; Ellen Carter,
Ceres; Ida Plumley, Flora; M. E. Jaquillard, Pomona; Trustees, G. W. T. Carter,
Volney Taylor, S. M. Wells.

   JUDSONVILLE.—This is the camp attached to the Empire Mine, and receives its
name from Egbert Judson, one of the proprietors. The Central Mine is a
continuation of the vein being worked by the Pittsburg Company at Somersville,
and was located by W. B. Stewart, F. K. Shattuck and William Hillegas in 1860.
Here is Stewartsville. In 1861 they commenced an opening, but it was not until
1864 that coal in any quantity was taken out. The mine was worked continuously
until 1876, when, owing to the death of some of the parties interested, it lay
unoperated for five years. Operations were commenced under a new organization in
1881.

   The Empire Mine was started in the Fall of 1876 by John C. Rouse and George
H. Hawxhurst, the hoisting works being erected in that year, and has since been
running. These are now the property of W. Belshaw, Egbert Judson and J. C.
Rouse. In 1877, the mine was connected by a railroad, six miles long, with the
landing at Antioch, while, during the past year, a branch track, two miles and a
half in length, to the Central Mine, has been completed.

   Near these mines is the village of Judsonville, the first house erected in it
being the hotel, then and now conducted by N. A. Tyler.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; THE BEAR FLAG WAR; THE MOUNT
DIABLO COAL FIELDS; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST
AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS; FULL
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING
THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AMD OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO: W. A. SLOCUM & CO., PUBLISHERS
1882.


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