anaheim-gazette 1945-12-06

Looking Backward By C. K. HOLCOMB I came to Fullerton in September, 1888. When we arrived in Los Angeles over the Santa Fe railroad, my father had to purchase local tickets to reach our destination. So he went to the ticket window in the Santa Fe station and asked for six tickets to Fullerton. The tickets that he received said Los Angeles to La Habra. He told the ticket agent that he wanted tickets to Fullerton; the agent said the railroad station is named La Habra but it is in the townsite called Fullerton. The railroad later changed the name of the station to Fullerton. At that time there were only a few small orchards of oranges and walnuts, grapes being the principal product. The hundreds of acres of green vineyards, with great loads of luscious grapes was indeed a beautiful sight to an Easterner's eyes. There was a bountiful harvest of grapes that year, but it was the last large crop. In two or three years the vines were all dead and the day before, The Stearns Ranchos Company was composed of Edward F. Northam (uncle of the well known Bob Northam to "old timers") Edward Martin, C. B. Pollhemus, Geo. H. Howard, A. W. Bowman and Abel Stearns. The oil fields surrounding Fullerton were in these holdings. By the way, it might be interesting to know that Abel Stearns came from Massachusetts to California, when California belonged to Mexico. Stearns had to renounce his American citizenship and become a citizen of Mexico and join the Catholic church in order to do business out here. I am indebted to Mr. John P. Zeyn for some of the early history of Anaheim. Mr. Zeyn was one of the original members of the first "Vineyard Society," had been Mayor of Anaheim and always took an active part in its affairs. He told me that the colonists had a great deal of trouble during dry years in keeping the half At that time there were only a few small orchards of oranges and walnuts, grapes being the principal product. The hundreds of acres of green vineyards, with great loads of luscious grapes was indeed a beautiful sight to an Easterner's eyes. There was a bountiful harvest of grapes that year, but it was the last large crop. In two or three years the vines were all dead and the stumps had been pulled up and were used for fuel. The year before we came to California, the Reverend and Mrs. Chamberlayne, who were located in New York, on account of Mrs. Chamberlayne's health, were sent by the Missionary Society of the Methodist church to Anaheim to establish a Methodist church in that town. What Mrs. Chamberlayne lacked in physical strength, she more than made up in religious fervor. She was utterly opposed to intoxicating liquor, its manufacture and use and let it be known publicly that she would pray to God every morning and night for the destruction of the Anaheim vineyards. She was ridiculed and her statements were considered as the vagaries of a diseased mind, and a good joke by many interested in the liquor business. The destruction of the vines was a great blessing in disguise. The land that had been in vines was planted to oranges and walnuts and Orange county became the center of a great and prosperous industry. In looking up some old records, I found that Mr. A. Langenberger, one of the early merchants of Anaheim stated, "I estimate that an acre of vines would produce 3 tons of grapes, which would be made into 450 gallons of clear wine, giving a gross profit of $90.00 per acre." From the records that I have seen during that time, the banks of Anaheim, when solvent, only had from $75,000.00 to $85,000.00 total resources. Of course a great many of the colonists owned stock in and carried accounts in Los Angeles banks. I am indebted to Mr. John P. Zeyn for some of the early history of Anaheim. Mr. Zeyn was one of the original members of the first "Vineyard Society," had been Mayor of Anaheim and always took an active part in its affairs. He told me that the colonists had a great deal of trouble during dry years in keeping the half-starved range cattle out of their vineyards. Anaheim was surrounded by a live willow hedge and a wide deep ditch. There were gates to get in and out of the colony. One time a big black bull broke into his vineyard, tore up the vines and he shot and buried it. A few days later Don Abel Stearns came to him and said, "John, did you see a big black bull around here anywhere?" Mr. Zeyn said that he had not lately. Then Stearns said, "That bull cost me $400.00. Next time, at least save the skin for me." Another vineyardist, who was not a member of the original Colony, had a vineyard east of town. A herd broke into it and he shot and killed 16 head where the Santa Fe depot now stands. I recollect that a member of one of the first families to settle in Placentia told me that Judge Pierce, the well known justice of the peace of the Anaheim township, owned what is now known as the C. C. Chapman ranch. A herd of cattle broke into his grain field to get green feed and he shot and killed several head. He feared that the Vaqueros would "try to get him" so he kept out of sight for a while, but one night a band of them came and commenced shooting at his house. He threw himself flat on the floor and after a good many shots had been fired the Vaqueros left, feeling sure they had killed Pierce. Some time later these Vaqueros saw Pierce and fled in great haste as they believed that it was a ghost. The Colonists were industrious and hospitable, and one of the best illustrations of practical charity is related in a book called "Fifty Years Of Masonry in California." Toward the close of the war between Texas and Mexico, the Mexican army captured 100 Texans. The Mexicans were being beaten and were retreating and did not think they had sufficient force to guard, or food for so many captives—so they blind-folded these captives and compelled each prisoner to reach into a pan containing fifty white fifty colored beans. The getting a white bean were prisoners, the others were A man named Boswell who had taken a white After the Mexicans had been en out and he was free, B started life anew, was m and had several children stress of war, together with ordeal which he had been undermined his health and terminated to take his family emigrate to California. P all his belongings into a two wagon they started their journey His wife was taken sick and He buried the body somewhere New Mexico and he and the dren continued on their jour They arrived in San Diego in He could not find work in Diego and they told him the best place to find work w Anaheim as that was the prosperous place that they Sheep Shearing, an Early Industry Besides having vineyards the early settlers grew crops of grain and herded droves of sheep on lands surrounding Anaheim. From the Anaheim Gazette in February, 1880, we read, "Hitherto the grain crops of Anaheim have been barley and corn, but this year the farmers have nearly all put in wheat. The variety is Odessa wheat, but it has been re-baptized, and is known all through the southern portion of the county as Anaheim wheat." In that year some 40 ranchers including Orangethorpe and Placentia had sowed 2264 acres in wheat. There were also a great many sheep in Anaheim township with herds owned as follows: Theo Rimpau about 3000, Charles Wagner 3000, D. Bastanchury 12,000, Alex Ferguson 4000, Joseph Jordan 6000, Charles Hilmer 4000, Alex Henry 2500, Davis & Bro. 2500, John Meredith 2500, other owners 50,000, making about 80,000 head. Sugar Beet Culture Once Popular Here Sugar today occupies the attention of many Anaheim citizens, but only because of its scarcity. Back in the 80's, sugar was a leading subject with the citizens, but for a different reason. Sugar beet raising flourished in this area for a number of years during the last century. An important portion of the districts' revenue came from that agricultural product. History records one ill-fated venture in connection with it. Much local capital was invested in a sugar refinery, which was constructed north of Anaheim. The project failed, and many of the town's people lost heavily as a result. Heavy beet shipments were consigned by rail here to refineries elsewhere. The slow process of shovelling them from the wagon to railroad cars inspired the late Timothy Carroll to invent a tilting wagon box, which, driven alongside the cars, allowed the beets to be dumped, direct without handling. The invention proved successful and Carroll is reported to have reaped a fortune from royalties permitting its manufacture throughout the country. EARLY CHURCH NOTICES A column in the first issue of The Gazette listed the following, under "Church Notices": Presbyterian church, Rev. L. P. Webber, pastor; Congregational, Rev. J. Bates; Methodist, Rev. A. Blaud, and Union Sabbath School. S. D., Phil Davis, J. D., T. J. Kearns and E. H. Pullen, stewards. A peculiarity of the members of the original Vineyard Society, founders of Anaheim, was that there was not a farmer among them and only one who had any experience in wine making. One of the members had worked in a brewery in San Francisco a few months. Their first attempts at wine making were failures, but the German habit of persevering finally brought success and their product was in good demand. There is one thing that the writer has never been able to figure out from a financial accounting angle. How were these colonists able to make and sell their wines and brandies at less than the government tax and make money doing it? I have been told that they took great care in keeping the stamps in a good clean workable condition and placed them on the containers so that they were not liable to be mutilated. The Grand Balls given by Native Daughters in "Reiser's Opera House" are never to be forgotten by those fortunate enough to attend them. Beautiful decorations, Shoneman & Blanchard's orchestra from Los Angeles. The Grand March, waltzes, polkas, two steps, Oxford Minuet and the old fashioned square dances. all his belongings into a two horse wagon they started their journey. His wife was taken sick and died. He buried the body somewhere in New Mexico and he and the children continued on their journey. They arrived in San Diego in 1869. He could not find work in San Diego and they told him that the best place to find work was in Anaheim as that was the most prosperous place that they in San Diego knew anything about. The wife of one of the Anaheim settlers looked out one very rainy morning and saw a wagon and two worn horses not far from her home so she went over to see what was there. She saw Boswell and his children huddled in the wagon, wet through, everything they had was sopping wet. She took them in, found dry clothing and fed them. Her husband was a Mason and he found that Boswell was a Royal Arch Mason. Anaheim had no Masonic lodge at that time but there were several Masons living there. They got together, helped Boswell to get work, found him industrious and gave him 10 acres of land. Phil Davis, a merchant, started a subscription to raise money to buy lumber for a house to live in and it was built for Boswell and his children. The Masons who did all this secured a charter and Anaheim Lodge No. 207 was organized in October, 1870, and was 75 years old this year. Thomas Casad, who lived on what is now South Main St., Santa Ana, was W. M., W. M. McFadden of Placentia was S. W., G. W. Vance J. W., Theodore Reiser, treasurer, Wm. M. Higgins, The Grand Balls given by Native Daughters in "Reiser's Opera House" are never to be forgotten by those fortunate enough to attend them. Beautiful decorations, Shoneman & Blanchard's orchestra from Los Angeles. The Grand March, waltzes, polkas, two steps, Oxford Minuet and the old fashioned square dances. When one stops and thinks of these original colonists, pioneers in a new, untried, distant undertaking; the determination, hard work and will to go ahead and make a success in the first California Co-Operative Growers organization, which in spite of unexpected obstacles continued on to a successful completion, words fail. I often regret that I did not appreciate and make a record of the facts related to me by those early settlers. John Wagner of Placentia, crossing the Isthmus of Panama, Mr. Zeyn's eight months sailing vessel trip around the Cape Horn from Germany, Senor De La Guerra of Yorba and many others. It is difficult to piece scraps of information, covering fifty or sixty years, from memory. For humanity sweeps onward, where today the martyr stands, On the morrow crouches Judas with the silver in his hands. Far in front the Cross stands ready and the crackling fagots burn, And the hooting mobs of yesterday, in silent awe return To gather up the scattered ashes into History's golden urn. C. E. HOLCOMB. MIRACLE-MILE SANDAI 1.00 Regular 1.99 Value ALL SIZES KIRBY 106 WEST CENTER ST. use None pared... repared! A Home of Sympathy, Beauty Tranquility CKS, CAMPBELL & KAULBARS FUNERAL DIRECTORS SINCE 1871 251 North Lemon—Anaheim To Mrs. Henry Kuchel and "Ted" Kuchel On the Anaheim Gazette's 75th Anniversary CLE-MILE NDALS RED BIEGE BROWN PATENT XMAS ... Gift... SLIPPERS BUY 'EM NOW! * MEN'S * WOMEN'S * CHILDREN'S UNLIMITED SELECTION BY'S EST CENTER ST.