Monterey County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter XXIII Other Towns 1893
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Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of The Coast Counties Of Central California.

CHAPTER XXIII.
OTHER TOWNS-CASTROVILLE.

CASTROVILLE is a thriving railroad town, situated in the midst of a rich farming
country, and near to tide-water at Moss landing. Its population, according to
the Federal census of 1890, was about 640 souls, and probably it is something
more than that number at the present time. The school census of 1892 would
indicate that its population must be over 1,000. The town was founded by Juan B.
Castro, in 1864. It has a Protestant and a Roman Catholic Church; also lodges of
Odd Fellows, Masons, Good Templars, etc. The Enterprise is the name of its
bright, saucy, independent local paper, published by Miss Louise E. Francis,
editor and proprietor. The Enterprise maintains a regular W. P. A. column,
(Women's Press Association), and a W. C. T. U. column. The editor evidently
believes that women, by combining and working for their own elevation and
independence, can improve their condition, as men, in modern times, have vastly
bettered theirs, by similar methods. The Enterprise favors strongly one cause
which would greatly benefit not alone Castroville and the Salinas valley but the
entire State, namely, the subdivision of the big ranches.

  The following school statistics for 1892, are drawn from the latest annual
report of County Superintendent Wood:

  Castroville has two schoolhouses and four teachers. Pupils between five and
seventeen: boys 112, girls, 119, total, 231; children under five 88; under
seventeen, 319; enrolled, boys 108, girls 106, total, 214; pupils, grammar
grade, 49; primary, 165.

  Current expenses: teachers, $2,800; rents, etc., $522.61; total, $3,322.61.
Receipts: State, $1,750; county, $1,450; balance 1891, $287.23; total,
$3,487.23. Balance June 30, 1892, $164.62.

  Value of lots, buildings and furniture, $4,000; library and apparatus, $600;
total, $4,600.

GONZALES

is a thriving town on the railroad, about seventeen miles southerly, and up the
valley from the county seat. The town has several churches; and its schools are
excellent,.being taught by three teachers, in two school-houses. Number of
children—boys, 75; girls, 77; total, 152. Enrolled in grammar grade, 33;
primary, 74; total, 107. Children under  5, 96; between 5 and 17, 152; total
under 17, 248.

Receipts of moneys from all sources                 $2,537.27
Expenditures,                                        2,269.11
Balance June 30, 1892,                                 268.16

  The census of 1890 gave Gonzales a population of only 359. The school census
would certainly indicate a much larger population, at least twice that number in
1892.

  The Gonzales Tribune is edited and published by Thos. Renison, who has also
ably represented the people of his county in the Legislature (in 1889).

  The Baptist Church of Gonzales was organized May 31, 1883. The first pastor
was S. C. Keech; the other officers were Geo. J. Boekenoogen and Thos. F. Faw,
deacons; D. K. Edwards, clerk; Thos. F. Faw, treasurer. A Sunday-school was
organized in 1874, by D. K. Edwards, which has been kept tip ever since. Mr.
Edwards and Mr. Faw have been its superintendents. November, 1883, a church
edifice was commenced, and completed in the following spring, at a cost of about
$3,100. It was dedicated, free from debt, July 13, 1884, by Rev. Dr. W. H.
Pendleton, of San Francisco, but now of Los Angeles. Two lots, fifty by one
hundred and forty feet, were donated by the Gonzales brothers. The church
supports a permanent pastor, and owns a parsonage and grounds.

  Moss landing is the principal shipping point of the Salinas valley, being
located at the mouth of Salinas river. Captain C. H. Moss, from whom the landing
takes its name, commenced shipping grain from that point in 1866. It has large
warehouses. The landing is accessible at nearly all seasons of the year.

KINGS CITY,

although only six years old, is a thriving town on the railroad, some forty-five
miles southerly from Salinas city, with a population in 1890 of upward of 250.
The newly organized Sperry Flour Company has a mill at Kings City, with a
capacity of 250 barrels of flour per day. The town has a fine schoolhouse and
its school facilities are excellent.

  Kings City is worthily and zealously represented in the journalistic line by
the Settler, under the direction of Mr. W. A. Beebe. The location of the town is
such that it is bound to prosper. Los Burros mines and Jolon connect with the
railroad at Kings City. There is a fine bridge across the Salinas river, built
by the county, at this place. Kings City has excellent public schools.

  St. Mark's Episcopal Church at Kings City was built in the year 1890, the
first services having been held here in June 1888. The church was dedicated by
Rev. N. F. Nichols, D. D., April 2, 1891. The cost of the church building was
$1,050.

  Rev. J. S. McGowan was active in building this church, as well as St. Paul's
at Salinas; St. Luke's Church at Jolon and St. John's at San Miguel; all these
churches were consecrated free of all debts.

  The other towns along the railroad are Chualar and Soledad, near the old
mission of the same name, San Lucas, San Ardo and Bradley, the most southerly
town in the county. San Lucas has a newspaper, the Herald, published by Eugene
Rogers; and Bradley has the Mercury, published by J. Maloney.

  St. Luke's Episcopal church at Jolon was built in 1884, the first services
having been held, on the first Sunday after Easter, in 1883 The church was
consecrated by Bishop Kip, D. D , LI, D., October 11, 1885. The cost of the
building was $1,250. This was the first Protestant church in the community and
is yet the only one.

  Natividad is one of the oldest towns in the county, and in the ante-railroad
times, it was a station on the coast line of stages. It is six miles northeast
of the county seat, and at the foot of the Gabilan range of mountains.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."-Macaulay.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.


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