San Luis Obispo County CA Archives History - Books .....Introductory 1883
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com August 4, 2006, 4:06 am

Book Title: History Of San Luis Obispo County, California

HISTORY
OF
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

BY MYRON ANGEL.

INTRODUCTORY.

HAPPY are the people," says " Montesquieu, "whose stories are brief in the
history books." Such were the thoughts of a philosopher who regarded history as
the record of but wars, battles, and sanguinary strife; the contests of kings
and the intrigues of royal courts; the splendors and luxuries indulged by royal
tyrants; the deeds of great generals who led to slaughter the servile and
obedient masses at the pleasure of the autocratic power or to satisfy a personal
ambition. The great libraries of the world are filled with vast tomes whose
pages are crimsoned with the blood of the nations whose history they relate.
Bronze and marble and granite have been molded and hewn and piled in monuments
commemorative of oppressive rulers, licentious despots, and successful warriors.
All the energies of the past ages have been devoted to the aggrandizement of the
great, to the exaltation of the few, and the ennoblement of crime committed by
power. The condition and deeds of the simple people were left to the lyric
poets, to the romancist and the obscure story-teller, whose writings could not
bear the dignity of history. The people were ever the sufferers; downtrodden and
divested of all the rights of manhood; of a voice in the Government; of the
acquisition of property; of the choice of religion; of the attainment of
knowledge; and of the pursuit of happiness. To them history was but a record of
their misfortunes, and well may it have been said, "happy was a people without a
history."

  But with modern advancement the spirit of mankind has changed. The people, as
contradistinguished from their rulers, have risen to an appreciation of their
strength and a knowledge of their rights, and other institutions than dynasties
and crowns; other classes than titled nobility, and other individuals than kings
and conquerors fill the field and furnish themes for the historian.

  California, the fairest and happiest of lands, has a history to pack volumes
with the most pleasant, interesting, instructive, and exciting details, yet thin
would be its pages and dull its reading were it confined to a record of her wars
and the tales of prowess of her military chieftains. Her history bears the
bright features of a romance rather than the dark character of a tragedy. A
romance gave her the mellifluous name she bears, and incited the conquistadores
to her discovery. The first explorations of the coast, whose records are lost
amid moldering archives, seem like voyages to fairy land, so enveloped are they
in the misty shadows of the distant past. Her settlement by the mild-mannered
missionaries of the meek and lowly order of Franciscans creates a sympathy for
their self-imposed privations and an admiration for the religious enthusiasm
that led them to the unknown land as the humble associates and instructors of
the savages. Around them is thrown a halo of a reverential feeling as we observe
their progress of development; as we attempt to exhume their story; as we
reflect upon their simplicity, weakness, and devotion, the lovely land in which
they had located, their surroundings of wild country, and dark-skinned children
of nature, and as we witness the crumbling ruins of their crude but pretentious
structures, in an architecture of a past age and a strange people. We find a
further romance in the happy pastoral life of the ranchero period, when great
leagues and countless cattle made the wealth of the landed proprietors, and the
graceful caballero and their fleet horses careered like centaurs over hill and
plain, when the dark-eyed senoras and senoritas delighted in the dance, and
maintained a society on the calm Pacific shore so different from the busy,
ambitious world of the distant East. These scenes are interrupted by a short
season of war, which, but for the imprudence of the officers in command, would
have been bloodless, and California would have finished her course unmarred by
the hand of violence. The brief contest was but an exciting episode in the story
preparatory for a greater surprise, which arises almost to a superstition, and
is the crowning fabric of the romance. California becomes El Dorado, the land of
gold, and from the civilization of the Middle Ages advances at a bound to the
front rank of enlightened States. To these events are added the story of an
excitement and movement of people not witnessed since the crusades; a progress
and prosperity unequaled in the world, and all in a climate so lovely as to
inspire with enthusiasm whoever mentions the subject.

  To write of these is as if one were writing a romance and still adhere to the
rigid facts of history. Happily it is a history in which the tales of war are
not conspicuous. California, in the nature of her settlement, resources, and
development, has played an important part in the affairs of the world, and made
more history than many of the States that count double her years and population.
Her gold revolutionized the commerce of the world, and her vast area of
mining-land which she opened to all mankind so exalted labor that the theories
of all governments were changed, and greater comfort and liberties and
civilization permeated to the lowest stratum of society. The conditions of life
were advanced a century by her development. Manufactories were stimulated, great
fleets were set in motion, capital was emboldened to the grandest enterprises,
the financial security of the nation was fixed, commerce enlivened, and all
countries of the world made to know each other.


  These encomiums are due to California in whole and to every part. Our history
is to be of San Luis j Obispo County, but the history of the county so blends
with the early history of the whole that to make it complete we will first
relate the principal events pertaining to the entire country to the time when
the State was created and the county organized. Till then San Luis Obispo was an
undivided part of the whole, and the history of California was her history.   
To this history we introduce our readers.

  The ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY is a work combining the
labors of different persons in their different parts under the general direction
of THOMPSON & WEST, the publishers. In its preparation every source of
information has been sought to render it a complete and authentic history—the
State and County archives, the files of newspapers and magazines all books and
publications that could be obtained relating to the subject, old letters and
diaries, scrap-books, and interviews with all who could or would relate the
incidents of the past and the facts of the present—all has been gleaned that
seemed possible, and from these and with such aid as others have kindly given we
have compiled and written the History.

  Throughout the volume the writings and statements of others will be found. To
these we wish to make the due acknowledgment. The writings and lectures of Hon.
Charles H. Johnson are familiar to the people of San Luis Obispo, and from them
we have drawn at liberty. No person has paid greater attention to the early
history of this section than he, being a resident of the county for upwards of a
third of a century, and to no one could we go for a more intelligent source or
more willing informant. Mr. Johnson is a student of a wide range, a close
observer, and careful writer, and willingly imparts his accumulated knowledge to
others. To this veteran pioneer we render our thanks and express the heartfelt
wish that his declining years may pass as pleasantly as his past has been useful
and honorable. To W. W. Hays, A. M., M. D., we are under obligations for much
valuable assistance and many courtesies, whose scientific attainments and
careful observations have aided us in the presentation of many facts of the
geology, meteorology, and archaeology of the county, and from whose excellent
library we have drawn much of interest. To the venerable John M. Price we
express our thanks for pleasant interviews and courteous hospitality. Mr. Price
is one of the remaining few of that brave and stalwart body of English-speaking
people, who, in manhood's prime, cast their lot in this secluded quarter of the
earth, becoming as of the native born, and aiding in its strength and
development. He is still well and vigorous, a living link uniting the era of the
quiet past with the active present. Facts obtained from those who took part in
the scenes of the distant past; saw the country as it then existed, and familiar
with its social condition and political affairs, are doubly worth the statements
and the reflections of those who have not, and we regard it as an important
feature of this work that it has the opportunity to record the evidence of a
living witness, for soon the last must pass from the stage of life. A biography
of Mr. Price and frequent mention of him will be found in this volume. To Hon.
Frederick Adams we are indebted for information upon land matters, resources,
area and ownership of the great ranchos in the eastern part of the county, and
for his kindness in enabling us to visit that extensive and interesting region,
and for information upon other important subjects.    To Mr. E. W. Steele we
shall in vain attempt to express the deep obligations we are under for
attentions and assistance at all times and in many ways. As one of the most
energetic and enterprising business men of the county he has taken a warm
interest in the history and liberally assisted in its success. To Mr. C. H.
Phillips we express our grateful acknowledgments for much information furnished
and the earnest and important assistance rendered. To Rev. R. W. Summers we are
owing for light thrown upon the history of the prehistoric races which once
occupied this land, whose careful researches among ancient cemeteries have
preserved much for the country and added important knowledge to the world. To
Messrs. D. D. and J. H. Blackburn and D. W. James of Paso de Robles we are
indebted for kind courtesies and many items of interest of the early history of
the county of which they have so long been a prominent and conspicuous part. To
Mrs. Marcus Harloe (nacio Flora Sparks) we are happy to doff our sombrero in
recompense for important matters of history kindly related and supplied. Mrs.
Harloe is a daughter of Captain Isaac J. Sparks, a pioneer of 1832, and to the
manor born. We will hope that her grand estate of the Huasna will during a long
life afford her a happy home. To Messrs. Edward G., William, John, and Ramon
Dana, of Nipomo, we return our thanks for items and documents of interest. To
Hon. P. A. Forrester we are indebted for information regarding the mineral
resources and reminiscences of the mining excitement of 1863-4. To the various
county officers we return thanks for courtesies extended, and to Hon. Nathan
King, County Clerk, who kindly allowed us the privileges of his office and aided
us in searching the records.

  To the newspapers of the county we owe much. The files of the San Luis Obispo
Tribune during the fourteen years of its existence are full of the history of
the county, and from its many volumes liberal extracts have been made. The
founder of the paper and its editor for a number of years, Hon. Walter Murray,
was peculiarly qualified for the work, and by his writings did much in
preserving a great deal of valuable historical matter. Being a resident, of
California from the date of the conquest, familiar with the Spanish language, a
lawyer of prominence as well as a capable editor, he became conversant with many
historical incidents which he took the pleasure to record. The succeeding
editors, Mr. O. F. Thornton, and Mr. G. B. Staniford, have also added their
quota of interesting matter. To the people of San Luis Obispo we feel under
lasting obligations, and will ever hold them in kind remembrance for their
universal courtesy. Coming as a stranger we were welcomed with a hospitality
characteristic of a noble and generous people, and in our HISTORY we shall have
but one thought^ to do justice to all and to our subject and in our future life
to endeavor to reciprocate the favors so kindly bestowed.

  In the preparation of this HISTORY we have consulted and drawn from many books
and public documents, to enumerate all of which would be tedious and useless.
The great mass of matter gathered and the many histories published under the
direction of Messrs. Thompson & West have been carefully studied and appropriate
matter selected. The "Annals of San Francisco;" Colton's " Three Years in
California;" Dana's " Two Years before the Mast;" Bryant's " What I Saw in
California;" Hall's " History of San Jose;" Farnum's " Travels in California;"
Fremont's " Explorations;" Lieutenant Parke's "Reconnoissance of a Pacific
Railroad route in 1853-4;" Palou's "Life of Junipero Serra," and numerous other
standard and not standard works have been read for data, correction, and
statistics, and such extracts taken as necessary to make our history. Many of
the above-mentioned and others are referred to as the work progresses.

  With these authorities, the assistance given us by those previously mentioned,
and with the recollection of some events, we write the HISTORY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO COUNTY. We do not aim at originality nor claim grandeur of style, but by
faithful and diligent work in the brief time allotted, we hope to have written
and compiled a volume valuable to the county, and of confident reference for the
seeker of information and of statistics, as well as a pleasure to the readers.

  To our patrons we owe a double acknowledgment, as without their aid no such
history could be written, and no such book could be published. Each and all are
worthy of public commendation. By their liberality and enlightened enterprise
they aid in the preservation of important historical matter which would
otherwise pass into oblivion as the generation of pioneers passed away; have
preserved in lasting and elegant form the features and biographies of the
living, active men of the present; the views of the homes and farms of the
people; the state of the finances of the county and city; the political record
of those chosen to office, the whole presenting a faithful delineation of the
condition of the county and state of society contemporary with their lives. The
history may be imperfect and incomplete, but with its object and its contents we
believe it invaluable, and with confidence present it to our patrons.


Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
CALIFORNIA

WITH

Illustrations and Biographical Sketches
OF ITS
PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.


OAKLAND, CAL.
THOMPSON & WEST

1883.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sanluisobispo/history/1883/historyo/introduc416nms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/

File size: 15.2 Kb