San Mateo County Gazette News
January 1860
(Transcribed by Chris Havnar)

MARRIED
At San Mateo, Jan. 1st, 1860, by Judge B.F. Fox, Charles N. Fox of this
place, to Miss Lucy Taylor, of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

DIED
At Piscadero, Santa Cruz county, Dec. 25, 1859, Mrs. Mary Walker, wife of
Eugene Walker, aged 30 years.  (Mrs. W. was formerly from McKean County, Pa.)

TAX SALES - INJUNCTION - We last week omitted to mention that the sales of
property of delinquent tax-payers was regularly made by John Ames, Esq.,
Under Sheriff, with the exception of the property of Horace Hawes, who
enjoined the sale, so far as his advertised real estate was concerned.  The
Court having been asked for, and having granted this specific injunction,
the sale of his other property was not restrained.  By this oversight,
which could scarcely be believed to have occurred in a legal matter so
interesting to Mr. H., his personal property was left unprotected by legal
barriers, and a number of his cattle were seized.  Before they were sold,
however, Mr. H. payed his taxes, "under protest."

REV. THOMAS STARR KING - It is stated in the Boston papers that the Rev.
Thomas Starr King, of that city, has received from the Unitarian Church in
San Francisco a loud call to become their pastor, in the shape of an offer
of $6000 salary per annum.

Sheriff's Sale
By Virtue of a Judgment of Foreclosure of Mortgage, and order of sale
issued out of the District Court of the Twelfth Judicial District of the
State of California, in and for the County of San Mateo, in the suit of J.
MORA MOSS vs. AUGUSTIN HARASZTHY and J.R. SNYDER, and to me duly directed
and delivered, by which I am commanded to make the sum of fifteen hundred
and ninety-five 60-100 dollars ($1595.60.100) with interest from the date
of said judgment, at the rate of one per cent per month, and sots of suit,
amounting to the sum of one hundred and eight dollars and five cents,
($108. 5-100) also the sum of forty-nine dollars and forty-four cents,
($19.44-100) for taxes paid thereon for and on behalf of said plaintiff;
also, the sum of seventy-seven dollars and seventy-seven cents, ($77.
77-100) counsel fees, together with the costs and charges of making such
sale, I am commanded to sell the following described piece or parcel of
land, to wit:
All that certain tract, piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being in
the County of San Mateo, and forming a portion of the rancho commonly know
known as and called the Domingo Feliz Rancho, and bounded and described as
follows: commencing on the western bank of the south branch of the San
Mateo Creek, in the valley known as the Canada Raymundo, at the northeast
corner of the three hundred and eight-four acre tract owned by said party
Augustin Harazthy (courses by true meridian, magnetic variation fifteen
degrees seventeen minutes east,) thence along the said side of said creek,
as follows,  North thirty-eight degrees forty-five minutes west, eighty
chains forty-three links; thence north forty-five degrees fifteen minutes
west, six chains seven links, thence, north thirty-seven degrees east, two
chains eight links, thence due north twelve chains fifteen links, thence
north fifty degrees forty-five minutes west seventeen chains seventy-two
links; thence north twelve degrees thirty minutes west, fifteen chains
eighty-five links, thence, south, eighty-two degrees east, three chains
fifty-five links; thence north sixteen degrees thirty minutes west, five
chains and seventy links, thence leaving said creek at angles thereof due
east, forty chains; thence at right angles due north, forty chains; thence
at right angles due west forty chains, to the top of the mountain, thence
along said top of said mountain, as follows; due south sixty chains south
fifteen degrees twenty-five minutes east, twenty-four chains forty-one
links; south ten degrees twenty minutes west, twelve chains seventeen
links; south fourteen degrees ten minutes east, seven chains thirty-six
links to the northwest corner of the aforesaid three hundred and
eighty-four acre tract, thence at right angles , and descending the
mountain due east one hundred chains seventy-two links along the northern
line of said former tract to the place of beginning, containing six hundred
and forty-five 53-100 acres of land.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that on MONDAY, the 30th day of January, A.D. 1860,
in front of the Courthouse doors, at Redwood City, at 2 o'clock P.M., I
will sell the above described piece or parcel of land to the highest and
best bidder, to satisfy said judgment and all costs.
SILAS HOVIOUS
Sheriff San Mateo County
By John Ames, Under Sheriff
Dated, Redwood City, Jan. 7, 1860
  **

MAHONEY ARRESTED - Monday last, the notorious Lewis Mahoney was arrested,
near Searsville, on suspicion of having a stolen horse in his possession.
He was brought before Justice Teague, and upon the examination, it was
shown that the horse answered the description of one which had been stolen
in San Francisco a few days previously.  The prisoner was then committed to
the jail of San Francisco, where he was delivered by Wm. Krysher and
assistant.  The evening after his arrest, the thief led some of our
citizens on a chase to Mayfield, after an imaginary accomplice, who he said
was to have met him there, that evening.  On arriving there, of course no
such person could be found.  It was Mahoney's old ruse, hoping to effect
his escape.  On his previous visit to this place he was conducting two
police offices from San Francisco on a like errand with like result.  This
notorious individual lately escaped from the Napa jail, with three fellow
criminals, and has just "turned up" in this adventure.  He appears to
escape all other officials to be retaken by those of San Mateo.

A NEW SAW MILL - We are informed by Mr. Jones, senior in the firm who owned
the gang-mill in the Redwoods, which was lately destroyed by fire, that
another excellent mill is being erected by the firm, near the site of the
former one.  The machinery for the new mill will arrive from San Francisco
in a few days.  A new engine, of about the same power as that which was
burned, and entirely new machinery throughout, will be used, including a
new patent feeding apparatus.  The saws will consist of an upright, a large
circular, and an edger.  These, it is believed, will turn out nearly as
much lumber as the old gang-mill, as under the new arrangement, the
increased speed secured by modern inventions in gearing, etc., will nearly
compensate for the disparity in the number of saws - it being remembered
that the old gang of saws were necessarily run very slow.
 The new structure will be, in point of strength, etc., quite as good as
the former, if not a better, and will cost but a trifle more than one-third
the price of the old one.
 When it is recollected that but a few weeks ago this firm sustained a loss
of over thirty thousand dollars by the destruction of their mill, the
indomitable spirit of enterprise exhibited by Jones & Co., elicits the
admiration of all.  It is of such men that energetic communities are
formed.  We wish them entire success.

THE RETROSPECT
The County of San Mateo is the smallest county, in the strictest sense of
the word, in extent, and perhaps in population, in the State.  It was
formed out of territory originally comprised in the southern portion of the
County of San Francisco, and was first organized under the Act of the
Legislature of 1856, known as the "Consolidation Act" - an Act repealing
all the charters of the City of San Francisco, reducing the County of San
Francisco to about one-fourth its original extent, and consolidating the
Government of that city and county, and providing for the organization of
the County of San Mateo.  Horace Hawes, esq., we believe, was the author of
that bill.  Mr. H. enjoys an enviable reputation as a close and careful
draftsman, and he certainly displayed much ability in getting up this law.
Still, it was too great a work to be made perfect in the first attempt, and
while, in its general working, it has been found highly beneficial, weak
spots have been found in it, which from time to time, have needed
repairing.  Such, particularly, was the case with reference to that portion
of the law which related to the organization of this county.  The bill
provided for the election of county officers on the second Monday in May
1856, and that the officers should immediately assume their duties, and by
another section the act was to take effect on the first of July, following.
 In compliance with the terms of the bill, an election was held in May
1856, for the election of county officers, and for the choice of a county
seat.  At this election, ballot-boxes were stuffed and every species of
fraud perpetrated, to such an extent that when the returns came in it
seemed that there had been nearly two thousand votes cast in a county where
there were less than one thousand inhabitants.  According to those returns,
Belmont was chosen as the county seat.  B.F. Fox was elected County Judge,
W.T. Gough, District Attorney; Robert Gray, County Clerk; Barney Mulligan,
Sheriff, William Rogers, Treasurer; Charles Fair, Assessor, John Johnson,
Charles Clark and Benj. Fenwick, Supervisors.  Immediately after this
election, steps were taken by B.G. Lathrop and others to contest it.  Five
separate cases were made up, and on the 10th of June1856, in the County
Court sitting at Belmont, with Joseph Porter acting as County Clerk, the
case of Ackerson vs. Mulligan was called, with all the cases depending on
the same points.  All were decided by the trial of this one.  Messrs. Duer
and Lake appeared for the contestants, and Mr. Richards for the defendants.
 After a full hearing, the votes from three precincts were thrown out.  The
result was to place the county seat at Redwood City, instead of at Belmont,
and to declare the following named persons county officers: County Judge:
B.F. Fox; District Attorney, W.T. Gough; Clerk, B.G. Lathrop; Sheriff, John
W. Ackerson; Treasurer, Curtis Baird; Assessor, S.B. Gordon; Supervisors,
John Johnson, Charles Clark and James Berry.  We believe the other offices
were not contested.  These persons immediately took possession of their
offices, and the records and courts were removed to Redwood City.
 Soon after this, a case was made upon the relation of John McDougall
against John Johnson, to test the election upon another point, the defect
in the law, above referred to.  This case was decided at the October term,
1856, of the Supreme Court, and resulted in declaring the whole election
void.  Meanwhile, the whole machinery of a county government had been in
full operation - assessments made, taxes collected, courts held; judgments,
civil and criminal, rendered, and upon the rendition of this judgment, our
officers found themselves in a rather critical position.  They, however,
put on a bold front, and continued in the execution of their duties as
officers de facto, and at the general election in November, without any
proclamation, and without law, except the general law of the State,
strained to meet the purpose, a few votes were cast for county officers,
and the same persons again declared elected, except Messrs. Johnson and
Clark.  No votes were cast for Supervisors in those townships - the First
and Second.  Thereupon the Clerk, believing that vacancies existed in these
two offices, called a special election to fill them.  This election was
held early in January 1857, and at it David S. Cook and D.W. Connelly were
elected, and immediately took their seats in the Board.
 When the Legislature of 1857 assembled, it found our county in full
operation, but without legal organization; a condition of affairs which
demanded from that body immediate attention.  More than this, there was in
the county treasury about four thousand dollars, which had been collected
for the State, and that Government were very anxious to get hold of it, but
there was no law by which the State could legally claim it, not could the
county be compelled to pay it over.
 In this dilemma, the Legislature promptly passed an act legalizing all the
acts of our officers, and confirming them in office until their successors
should be legally chose, and the officers of the county them paid over to
the State the money of which it them stood in need.
 Soon after this, Hon. T.G. Phelps, Senator from the Fifth District, and a
resident of this county, introduced an "Act to re-organize and establish
the County of San Mateo," which, with some amendments, became a law on the
eighteenth day of February 1857.  Under this act another election for
county officers was held in May, 1857, which resulted in the re-election of
all the former incumbents except Mr. Gordon, who, we believe, was not a
candidate.  C.E. Kelly was elected assessor in his place.  Under this
organization the county has ever since been in successful operation.  Some
doubts were entertained for a time, as to the duration of the terms of the
officers then elected, and particularly as to the office of the County
Judge, owing to which, in September, 1858, under a proclamation of the
Governor, another County Judge was elected - Horace Templeton, Esq. - and
the right to the office contested between him and Judge Fox.  This contest
resulted in favor of the latter, and we believe that question is now
definitely settled.
 In September 1857, Mr. Gough having resigned the office of District
Attorney, C.D.  Judah Esq., was elected in his place, and Hon. S.B. Gordon
was chosen to the Assembly, a position which had been held the previous
year by Hon. Rufus Murphy.  In 1858, Hon. D.W. Connelly was elected to that
position, and M. Wolf, R.S. Thornton, and J.V. Diller, Supervisors.  In
December, 1868, Mr. Judah resigned, and C.N. Fox was appointed District
Attorney.  In September, 1858, another general election for county officers
was held, when several of the former officers were elected, and the
following new ones: Member of Assembly, Hon. W.B. Maxson; Sheriff, Silas
Hovious; Treasurer, C.E. Kelly; Assessor, J.D. Rose; Surveyor, A.I. Easton
- the latter position having been, till that time, held by Alex. Garbi.
 Since the organization of our county, it has probably doubled in its
population, trebled in the number of its families, and has gradually,
steadily increased in the amount of its taxable property.  Its taxes have
ever been the lightest in the State, its government has been in good hands,
and has been safely and economically conducted, and it is now the only
county in the State whose warrants are worth one hundred cents on the
dollar - and hard to find at that.  In 1858 the first brick building, the
courthouse, was erected, at a cost of ten thousand dollars - a price so
low, considering the character of the work, and the usual cost of public
buildings in California, that is has excited the wonder of every stranger
that has visited it.  In 1859, four brick building were erected by private
enterprise, each of which has been heretofore noticed in this paper.  On
the ninth day of April, 1859, the first number of the San Mateo County
Gazette, the pioneer paper of the county, was issued.  The undertaking was
one of some risk, but thus far it has prospered beyond the expectations of
its most sanguine friends, and, thought it will be some time yet before a
newspaper can become a money-making institution in the county, yet the
Gazette is a fixed fact.
 Such is a brief outline of some of the leading incidents in the early
history of our county, put in a form which if it does not amuse, will aid
in preserving them for reference in the future.

Everybody was taken by surprise a few days since, by receipt of
intelligence that Milton S. Latham had received the nomination, at the
hands of the Democratic members of the Legislature, for United States
Senator in place on Hon. D.C. Broderick, deceased.  Several ballotings were
had last week for this nomination, without success, and Mr. Latham not
being a candidate.

SPECIAL NOTICES,
J.B.PAINTER, (Late O'Meara and Painter,) DEALER IN
TYPE, PRESSES, PRINTING MATERIAL, PAPER, CARDS,
And PRINTERS' STOCK; generally,
132 Clay street, near Sansome, San Francisco
  **

Mc Cabe & Fox,
COUNSELLORS AT LAW
OFFICES - 101 Merchant street, San Francisco
And in the Court-house, Redwood City
JAMES McCABE, San Francisco
Chas. N. FOX, Redwood City
   **
H.A. Scofield,
Attorney and Counsellor at Law
REDWOOD CITY, SAN MATEO COUNTY
Office - Corner Third and A streets
  **

DEATH OF MR. LANGAN - Mr. Patrick Langan, aged fifty-three years, died last
week on his ranch in Canada Raymundo.  He was one of our oldest settlers,
having come to the county in 1849, from Chili.

DEATH OF MR. DRISCOLL - Mr. Richard Driscoll, well known to the residents
of this place as the contractor who built several brick buildings here last
summer, died Monday last, in San Francisco, after an illness of about two
months.  He was much respected by all who made his acquaintance.  We regret
to state, that it is believed Mr. D.'s sickness and other misfortunes, had
so reduced his means as to leave his family, at the time of his death, in
very destitute circumstances.

THE NEW MILL - Jones & Co., are pushing on their new mill rapidly.  Last
week the engine and heavy cast-iron bed for its support, were brought up
from San Francisco, and on Thursday last the immense weight of metal was
placed upon wheels after much labor, and conveyed to its destination.  The
mill will be in operation in a short time.

HAWES' RANCH - Redwood Farm, more commonly known as "Hawes' Ranch," has
been leased for three years, from the 1st February next, by Capt. E. Beale.
 The lessee has already commenced breaking up a portion of the farm, and
purposes putting in about two hundred acres in wheat and barley.  The ranch
contains two thousand and twenty acres, no portion of which has, we are
informed, been put in gain until the present season, the land having been
used exclusively for raising hay and for grazing purposes.  We congratulate
Mr. Hawes on having secured a good tenant, and it is also a source of
congratulation to the farmers in this vicinity, that the farm has fallen
into the hands of a good citizen and neighbor, and one of experience and
enterprise.

NEW WAREHOUS - We are informed that the firm of Fonda & Grey, of San
Francisco, have purchased land upon and in the neighborhood of the
beautiful hill to the east of the county road, near Belmont, including an
eligible site near the embarcadero, upon which they intend to erect a
warehouse and other buildings for future use in business - with perhaps,
the addition of country residences.

THE NAPA SILVER MINE - The vein of ore recently discovered, containing
traces of silver, is at the base of Mount St. Helens, standing at the head
of Napa valley.  Only a small specimen has been assayed, sufficient only to
determine the fact that the ore in question does contain silver, in the
proportion of 8 to 10 ounces to the ton.

WRECK OF THE STEAMSHIP NORTHERNER
The bark VICKERY, which reached San Francisco on Saturday, from Humboldt
Bay, was the bearer of the very painful news of the wreck of the steamer
Northerner.  She was lost near Cape Mendocino, on the afternoon of
Thursday, Jan. 5th, the next day after leaving San Francisco.  Nearly forty
lives were lost.  We make a synopsis of the news from the Humboldt Times:
 The Northerner, Capt. W.L. Dall, struck a sunken rock, about five o'clock,
on Thursday, 5th January, about two miles below Blunt's Reef.  Capt. Dall
was on deck when she struck, and immediately ordered the pumps set in
motion.  The ship swung off the rock instantly after she had struck, but it
was soon ascertained that the pumps, which were all in good working order,
were wholly incapable of keeping her afloat for any length of time.  She
was then headed for shore, and run in till she struck, when an anchor was
let go.
 As soon as the steamer struck, a boat was launched, and all the ladies
except two got into it.  Mr. Birch, the second officer, then got in a boat
and succeeded in getting one of the ladies off the other.  Miss Gregg
positively refusing to leave the wreck unless her brother, in whose charge
she was, could go with her.   Capt. Dall then tried to swing her into the
boat with a line, which he could not do.  Mr. French, seeing the young lady
still on the wreck, got his boat off from shore, and in going under the
stern of the vessel, the boat capsized, and he, it is supposed, was crushed
between his boat and the stern of the ship - Miss Gregg and her brother
were drowned - It is Capt. Dall's opinion  that both could have been saved
if she had gone into Mr. French's first boat.
 Capt. Dall had a favorite cabin boy, to whom he handed $500 in coin after
the steamer struck, but when he lowered him to the line he told him to drop
his money.  The boy, however, hung on to the money, was washed from the
line to the stern of the wreck, and was supposed to be lost.  Very much to
the Captain's surprise, however, when he reached the shore his boy was
there, all right, with his $500.
 Capt. Dall, Mr. Barry and the Purser were the last to leave the ship.  Mr.
Barry was positive he could not reach the shore, and was carried away by
the first sea that struck him, and was seen no more.  The Purser reached
the shore by the line.  He lowered himself, and being washed over by
several seas, was thrown from the line, when he swam ashore.
 The following is a list of the passengers and crew known to be lost and
missing:
Mr. Bloomfield, bound to Victoria, lost; Del Schnieder, bound to Portland,
lost; Switzer, Portland, lost; Mr. Perkins, Steilacoom, lost; Mr. Mecker,
Steilacoom, lost; Mr. Kelly, Portland, missing; Farrell, Portland, missing;
Samuel Gregg and sister, Portland, lost; Mr. Rainsey, Portland, missing; C.
Thomas, Portland, missing; Andrew Hunter, Portland, missing; Mr. Taylor,
Puget Sound, missing; Mr. Trefor, Portland, lost; Mr. Daly, Portland,
missing; Mr. Greenshield, Portland, missing.
 Officers and crew known to be lost: - Mr. French, first officer; Mr.
Gladwell, river pilot; Mr. Barry, Wells, Fargo & Co's messenger; Mr.
Nation, first engineer; Mr. Mayhood, third officer.
 Nine of the steward's crew, one fireman, one coal-passer, five sailors,
the carpenter, and one man working his passage, and fourteen of the ladies
had been recovered and buried in separate graves, so as to be known.

STABBING - A Mexican named Juan Perez, on the 23d ult., in the Canada
Raymundo, had an altercation with another Mexican known as Juan Largo, who
he stabbed, and made his escape.  Deputy Sheriff Hovious, has since been in
pursuit of Purez (as spelled), and on Friday last succeeded in discovering
his retreat, in Santa Clara county, below Mayfield.  The prisoner was
brought before Justice Mee, and on Monday last after an examination, was
admitted to bail in the sum of five hundred dollars.

FIRE - A small dwelling owned by Capt. Greer, at Woodside, was burned up on
Monday evening last.  The fire was unquestionably the work of an
incendiary.  A man, whose name we were unable to learn, who had occupied
the house, and who was found leaving under suspicious circumstances soon
after was arrested, but before an examination could be held he made his
escape and has not since been heard of.

Sheriff's Sale
By virtue of an order of sale issued out of the Twelfth Judicial District
Court, in and for the County of San Mateo, and State of California, and to
me duly directed and delivered, for a final Judgment and decree of
foreclosure, rendered in said Court, on the twenty-first day of December,
A.D. 1859, in favor of E.W. BURR and E.F. NORTHAM, and against JOSE RAMON
VALENCIA and JOHN GARDINER, for the sum of five hundred and fifty dollars
and thirty-three cents, ($550. 33-100) and the costs of suit, amounting to
sixty-four dollars and sixty cents, ($64. 60-100) together with five per
cent per month, interest, from the date of this Judgment, until satisfied,
with all accruing costs, I am commanded to sell the following described
pieces or parcels of land to wit:  one undivided thirteenth part of one
undivided eightieth part of all that certain tract of land or rancho, known
as the Buri Buri, or Sanchez Rancho, situate, lying and being in the County
of San Mateo, bounded and described as in the original Grant of said
Rancho, to Jose Sanchez, now in the office of the United States Surveyor
General, for the State of California, also one undivided thirteenth part of
one undivided fortieth part of that certain tract of land or rancho,
described above as the Buri Buri or Sanchez Rancho aforesaid, and all the
estate, right, title, and interest, property, possession, claim, and
demand, whatsoever, which the said defendants had therein, on the day of
the date of said mortgage to wit: the ninth day of February, A.D. 1858, or
at any time since then, and every part and parcel thereof, with the
appurtenances.
 Notice is hereby given, that on Thursday, the 16th day of February, A.D.
1860, between the hours of 9 o'clock, A.M., and 5 o'clock, P.M., in front
of the Court-house doors, of San Mateo County, at Redwood City, I will sell
the above described pieces or parcels of land, at Public Auction, for cash
in hand, to the highest and best bidder, to satisfy said Judgment,
interests, and all costs.
SILAS HOVIOUS
Sheriff San Mateo County
By John Ames, Under Sheriff
Redwood City, January 25, 1860
   **

THE WATERS OF SAN MATEO
Applications are now pending before the County Judge of this County on the
part of two different Water Companies of San Francisco, for the appointment
of commissioners to ascertain and assess the compensation which shall be
rendered to the owners of adjoining lands, for the right to take away the
waters of the San Andreas valley, and the head waters of the San Mateo, and
carry them into San Francisco - and also for the necessary lands over which
to carry them.  These cases were up for hearing two weeks since, but the
land-owners very properly resisted the application, and after considerable
discussion pro and con, the further hearing was postponed until the 27th
day of February next.