Mendocino County, CA History

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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History of Mendocino County California - Alley, Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1880
 

NEWSPAPERS.
 
        Some one has very truthfully remarked that the United States is a 
country where every man carries a newspaper in his pocket, nor does he keep it 
there all of the time either, with its light hid "under a bushel," as it were, 
in the dark recesses of his vesture, but at every odd moment of the day, and 
often far into the night, he may be seen conning its contents, perusing with 
avidity and evident pleasure and interest its every line and word. The Americans 
are pre-eminently a reading people, and the result of it is evidenced on every 
hand. The groomsman is better posted on the issues of the day than the 
capitalist whom he drives in his carriage. The servant girl now reads too much, 
so they who employ her say, and is too well posted to do her drudgery in the 
slavishness of ignorance that once pervaded them as a class. While the 
tradespeople, the mechanic and the small dealer, all share freely and equally 
with the best in the land, in the great intellectual feast that is spread every 
morning broadcast throughout the land. The cities have their morning and evening 
dailies, and every country town of any size, and often the merest hamlet, boasts 
its hebdomadal folio, or quarto, which serve their office well and truly. Nor 
has Ukiah been behind the towns and cities in this respect, for from her early 
youth she has had a paper published within her precincts.
 
        The Herald.�In November, 1860, the first number of this paper was issued 
by the late Hon. E. R. Budd. It was a small folio, but was always full of news, 
except when the proprietor was absent, and left the columns in the charge of 
some subaltern. In those early days, before the roads were thoroughly 
established, and regular communication with the city had thereby, oftentimes in 
the winter season Ukiah became practically weather bound for weeks at a time, 
and some curiosities in the size and color of paper are to be found among the 
old files of this paper. In politics it was Republican.
The Constitutional Democrat.�This paper was established in 1864 under the 
proprietorship of A. T. Perkins & Co., and the editorial supervision of Hon. 
William Holden. In politics it was Democratic, first, last, and all the time, 
and as it was born of a political travail, and with a political destiny, having 
the bone and sinew of the party in Mendocino county as its sponsors and 
godfathers, and the strong right arm of the champion of the cause to nurse it, 
it grew and developed into a mighty organ, but not so much can be said of its 
local columns, as they were often left to shift for themselves, and had, too 
frequently to be content with the husks of " dead ads."
 
        The Democratic Weekly Dispatch.�This journal was established in October, 
1873, by Mat. Lynch, and was known as the Independent Weekly Dispatch. It was, 
in politics, what its name indicated up to the date of the death of its founder, 
February 20, 1874. Mrs. Belle Lynch, widow of the deceased proprietor, assumed 
control, such being the expressed desire of her husband before his death. 
Shortly thereafter, the name of the paper was changed to that of the Democratic 
Weekly Dispatch. While it was a well conducted independent newspaper, under Mr. 
Mat. Lynch's management, under that of Mrs. Belle Lynch it became rich, racy and 
spicy, and always true to the faith of the Democratic party. March 16, 1878, 
Gambee & Hoffman became the proprietors. E. B. Gambee became proprietor August 
2, 1878, and retained sole control till July, 1879, when C. J. Williams was 
associated with its publication. On the 10th Of April, 1880, H. A. Peabody and 
A. W. Sefton, under the firm title of Peabody & Sefton, purchased the paper, and 
are now laboring to build it up to that standard of excellence and influence 
which it should hold. Like all country newspapers, it has had its ups and downs, 
has won victories and met with defeats. It has had the largest circulation of 
any paper in the county, and that was during the period of Mrs. Lynch's reign, 
and it has been in as great disfavor with the public as any paper could possibly 
desire to be placed. Under its present management it has a bright prospect 
before it, and will undoubtedly soon stand in. the front ranks of journalism, 
where it rightly belongs. It is a wonderful war-horse for the Democracy, and 
deserves the patronage of every member of that party in the county. There is a 
fully equipped job office connected with this paper, and as both its proprietors 
are practical printers of long standing and eminent skill, good work is the 
natural result.
 
        The Ukiah City Press.�This paper first threw itself upon the mercies of 
the public July 4, 1877, under the tutelage of its owner and projector, E. J. 
Handley, lately from Modesto. There had been no Republican newspaper in the 
county since the Herald sold out to the Mendocino Democrat. In recognizing the 
need of an organ and exponent of the faith that was in them, the Republicans of 
the county warmly welcomed the advent of the Press. Mr. Handley continued in 
charge of it until October, 1878, when he went East, leaving the paper in. the 
hands of an attorney to sell, and its management in his foreman's charge. 
January 1, 1879, it was purchased by A. O. Carpenter, and in February Mr. 
Charles S. Paine became associated with him under the firm name of Carpenter & 
Co., since which time the Press has continued a sprightly, dignified, 
independent newspaper, devoted to local news and the discussion of home topics 
of interest, the fostering of home enterprises and the development of the 
industrial interests of the county. That its independence of thought, 
unequivocal expression of opinion on all leading topics is appreciated, is best 
made known by its subscription list and the commendation it receives alike from 
political friends and opponents. It has a very large bona fide circulation, 
which is steadily increasing. A fine job office is connected with it, and many 
tasty specimens of typographical skill have emanated from its hands.
 
        The Mendocino County Democrat.�This paper is published in Ukiah by 
Alexander Montgomery. This is all we know about it, and repeated solicitations 
failed to elicit further facts.
 
        SAW-MILLS.�The first mill built in Ukiah township was located on the 
Ackerman creek, about five miles northwest of Ukiah. E. Pryor put it in 
operation in 1859, and it continued to run till 1868. Its machinery consisted of 
a sash saw, and a set of buhrs, and its capacity was three thousand feet per 
day; it was driven by water. The grist machinery was taken to the Cleveland mill 
in Coyote valley, and the sawing apparatus to the Hatch mill in Sherwood valley.
        The second saw-mill put in operation in Ukiah township was built by 
Stephen Holden in 1861, and was located in the ca�on about two miles west of 
Ukiah; it was run by water-power, and had an over-shot wheel fifty feet in 
diameter. The saw was a sash; and the capacity of the mill was small; not being 
over one thousand feet daily. It was run for about three years, and the 
machinery was then taken to Pryor's mill.
 
        FLOUR-MILLS.�The first grist-mill built in the township was erected by 
John Barham in 1858, and was located about four miles southeast of Ukiah, on 
Mill creek. It has at present two run of stone, and a small barley-cracker, and 
has a capacity of fifteen barrels every twelve hours; its power is both steam 
and water.
A grist-mill was run in connection with the saw-mill by E. Pryor, and was built 
in 1859. But little is known of this mill now, except that the machinery was 
subsequently taken to the mill in Coyote valley.
        The present Ukiah City Mills were originally located at Calpella, and 
the machinery was moved to Ukiah, in 1867, by H. Wichelhausen. In 1874, William 
Isbell became the propropietor of the mill, and since that time great 
improvements have been made, and in fact the building has been almost entirely 
rebuilt. There are now two run of buhrs, and the capacity is thirty barrels 
every twelve hours. There is a barley-cracker which is also used for grinding 
corn.
 
        UKIAH WATER-WORKS.�The water with which the City of Ukiah is supplied 
comes from a beautiful stream, which flows down out of the mountains to the 
westward of town. A dam is placed across the brooklet, and the water conveyed in 
a flume a distance of seventy-five yards, where it is deposited in two tanks, 
each twenty feet long, ten feet wide and ten feet high. From thence it is 
conducted in mains to and through the town, and service pipes lead to the 
houses. The tanks are located about one mile west of the plaza, and the water 
has a good head on it in any part of the city. The water is most excellent for 
all purposes, being clear and pure, but in the summer season it is not desirable 
for drinking purposes, being of course quite warm. Good water is also found by 
digging for it.
 
        MAXIM GAS-WORKS.�On the 23d day of February, 1872, permission was 
granted to the Maxim Gas Company by the Board of Supervisors to lay mains and 
pipes in the streets of Ukiah. The company had a capital stock of $5,000 and the 
shares were held at $50 each. The original machinery could supply one hundred 
and fifty lights, but only about one-half of that number were used. It did not 
prove to be a paying institution and it finally suspended, and the apparatus was 
purchased by a private party. The capacity of the machinery has since been 
increased to two hundred and fifty lights. The gas is generated from gasoline.
 
        UKIAH BREWERY.�This enterprise was set on foot by ----- Closner in 1869, 
and in 1875 it became the property of its present proprietor, S. Wurtenberg. Its 
capacity is five barrels at one brewing, and the stock used, both barley and 
hops, is grown in the valley. The territory supplied by this brewery embraces 
the entire northeastern portion of Mendocino county. It is put up in bottles and 
kegs for the market.
 
        UKIAH CITY SCHOOLS.�The building now in use for school purposes, was 
erected by a joint-stock company for a seminary in 1870, but that enterprise 
failed for lack of patronage. The building was constructed of brick and is a 
very fine one, costing $12,000, originally. In 1871 the trustees of the Ukiah 
school-district purchased it for $9,000, including the tract of ten acres which 
D. Gobbi had donated to the seminary. There are four school-rooms in it, and it 
is amply sufficient for all the needs of Ukiah at present, and will be for 
several years to come.
 
        UKIAH BUSINESS DIRECTORY.�Below we append a classified statement of the 
business interests of Ukiah City: General merchandise, eight; grocery stores, 
one; saloons, seven; shoe store, one; shoe shops, three; drug stores, two; 
hotels, three; restaurant, one; bakery, one; millinery stores, three; blacksmith 
shops, two; livery stables, four; meat markets, two; barber shops, three; 
gunsmith, one; stove and hardware stores, two; furniture stores, two; harness 
shops, two; jewelry stores, two; photograph gallery one; tailors, two; 
wagonmakers, two; painters, two; lumber yards, two.
 
        PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY.--Lawyers, fourteen; physicians, five; dentists, 
three.
 
        THE FUTURE.�The future outlook for Ukiah is certainly flattering, and 
while it may not increase very fast in size its growth will be steady and 
substantial. The one need above all others is a railroad, which there is a 
strong probability will be put in operation to that point at no great distant 
day.