San Joaquin County
Biographies
CAPTAIN CHARLES M. WEBER
CAPTAIN CHARLES M. WEBER,
deceased, the father of the city of Stockton, was born February 16, 1814, in
Hombourg, department of Mont Tonnerre, which province the next year after the
battle of Waterloo, passed from the French government into the kingdom of
Bavaria. His parents were German. His father, a Protestant minister, desiring
him also to enter the ministry, gave him an academic education, and was just
starting him in a collegiate course when his health failed, and he had to quit
students’ life. His tastes led him into mercantile pursuits, to which he was
well adapted.
In 1836, accompanied by a young cousin
named Engelmann, he emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans in the winter.
It had been his intention to visit a relative, Judge Hilgard, a resident of
Belleville, Illinois, but who, in Germany, had been a Judge of the Court of Appeals,
and whose son is now Professor Hilgard, of the State University at Berkeley,
California. The Mississippi river being blocked with ice, the cousin of our
subject pushed on for Illinois overland, but Mr. Weber determined to remain in
New Orleans, which he did, and again became interested in commercial pursuits.
In 1837 the yellow fever appeared in the South, and Mr. Weber was one of the
victims. After his recovery he went to Texas, where he served under Sam Houston
against the Mexicans. In 1840 he was again taken sick, and acting under advice
left that region. In the spring of 1841 he was in St. Louis on his way to visit
his relatives at Belleville, Illinois. While in St. Louis he became intensely
interested in the “country by the Pacific shores,” through meeting intending
emigrants, and reading the glowing description published by Dr. John Marsh, a
resident of San Joaquin valley, and he decided to postpone his visit to his
relatives and to visit that new land. When he departed he left his papers with
some parties in St. Louis, who sent them to Judge Hilgard. The latter supposed
that young Weber had died, and was so considered for a long time thereafter. He
came overland with the famous Bartelson party, elsewhere described in this
volume. His intention was to remain only through one winter and then return to
Louisiana and Texas. He spent the winter at Sutter’s Fort, as overseer and
assistant for the Swiss captain. While there he found a quantity of seeds which
had been laid away and apparently forgotten. They had been sent to Sutter by
William G. Ray, of the Hudson Bay Company, as a friendly expression of good
will. Mr. Weber planted this seed as an experiment. There was a variety,
comprising among other things three kinds of tobacco and several varieties of
flowers and vegetables. The experiment proved a grand success, and in the
spring Sutter’s Fort seemed like an enchanted fortress built in the midst of
perennial gardens.
During this winter Jose Jesus (pronounced
hozay hasoos), the celebrated chief of the Siyakumna tribe, visited the fort,
and Captain Weber cultivated amicable relations with him, which proved of great
advantage in subsequent years. In the meantime he saw with piercing eye obscure
signs that California would eventually become one of the United States, or at
least a separate government from Mexico, and he therefore knew which way to
cast his anchor. In the spring he visited San Jose, and concluded to remain.
Establishing a copartnership with Guillermo (William) Gulnac, he was enabled to
do a very large business. They built in 1842, and thenceforward ran a flouring
mill at San Jose, made sea biscuit, manufactured shoes, soap, etc. They were
the first manufacturers of shoes in this State.
By the advice of Weber, who was not yet a
Mexican citizen, Gulnac petitioned Manuel Micheltorena, July 14, 1843, for a
grant of eleven square leagues of land (about 48,747 acres), to be located in
the vicinity of French Camp in the San Joaquin valley. The reasons why Weber
preferred the east side of the river were, first, the belief that the river
might form the line between Mexico and the segregated province in the case of
division; and secondly, the greater safety in being on that side which was
protected by the Hudson Bay trappers, during a portion of the year at least.
About this time the commercial partnership was dissolved, the Captain becoming
the successor to the business, and Gulnac, together with his eldest son Jose
and Peter Lassen, took their cattle and Captain Weber’s upon the land applied
for, first making their headquarters where Stockton now is; but, as the Hudson
Bay trappers had left for the summer, they began to fear molestation by the
Indians and moved their camp to the Cosumnes river where they would be near
Sutter’s Fort for protection.
The attempt to settle the expected grant
failed because of the fears of Gulnac, and Captain Weber obtained a passport
from the Alcalde of Sane (sic) Jose and visited Sutter’s Fort, with the view of
seeing the Indian chief Jesus and making a treaty with him if possible. He was
successful, as the chief was at war with the Mexicans, and Weber promised to
aid him in case of war between Americans and native Californians, or Mexicans.
This friendly alliance remained unbroken to the end. The chief advised the
building of the American village at the present site of Stockton, and agreed to
provide all the help necessary in the tilling of the soil and to furnish a war
party when called upon to defend the settlers’ property against either Indians
or Mexicans. The Captain was generous in his presents, and a friendship was
started at the interview that lasted during the life of Jesus. The San Joaquin
river was indeed practically the line between Mexicans and that portion of this
valley defended by Jesus.
January 13, 1844, the Governor of
California granted Gulnac the tract of land of which he had petitioned, known
as “El Rancho del Campo de los Franceses,” which in English means “The French
Camp Ranch,” and this was afterward transferred to Captain Weber.
The next conspicuous period in the
Captain’s life was that which he devoted to the Micheltorena war, given at
length in the chapter on the conquest of California. He continued his residence
at San Jose from 1842 to 1847, engaged in merchandising, when he settled upon
the peninsula here which still remains as the old homestead. This in the prime
of his life was kept in tasteful style. Speaking of his gardens in 1860, the
eminent traveler and writer, Bayard Taylor, says: “We were greatly delighted
with our visit to Captain Weber, who has transformed a tract of land between
the two arms of the slough into a garden. There is no more delightful villa in
existence. A thick hedge, outside of which is a row of semi-tropical trees,
surrounds the peninsula. The gate opens into a lofty avenue of trellis work,
where the sunshine strikes through pulpy branches of amethyst and chrysolite,
while on either hand beds of royal roses of every hue fill the air with odor.
The house is low but spacious, with wood-work of the natural redwood, scarcely
less beautiful than mahogany. Vine-covered verandas surround it and keep off
the sun, and every window discloses a vision of plants that would be the glory
of any greenhouse on the Atlantic coast. In Mrs. Weber I found an old
acquaintance of my former visit. Well I remember the day when hungry, hot and
foot-sore I limped to the door of her father’s house on a ranch in the valley
of San Jose and found her reading a poem of mine. Her father saddled his horse
and rode with me to the top of the mountain, and her own hands prepared the
grateful supper and breakfast that gave me strength for the tramp to Monterey.
The garden delighted us beyond measure. The walks were waist-deep in fuchsias,
heliotrope and geraniums. The verbenas grew high above our heads, and the
pepper-trees, with their loose, misty boughs, hailed us as do friends from
Athens. A row of Italian cypresses, straight and spiry as those which look on
Florence from San Miniato, were shooting rapidly above the other growths of the
garden. How they will transform the character of this landscape when at last
their dark obelisks stand in full stature!”
For many years this garden was open at all
times to the pubic; but the unexpected floods of 1861-’62 and city improvement,
wharves, etc. ruined the garden’s plan and necessitated the removal of plants
and trees, many of which have been transferred to the grounds of St. Agnes
Academy.
After his location upon his ranch here,
the history of Captain Weber’s life and that of the city of Stockton are so
nearly identical that to continue his biography we must refer the reader to the
history of the city in this volume, especially to almost every improvement and
enterprise that has made Stockton the fine city we behold it to be. He was
remarkable for his liberality, donating ground to every church that applied to
him, to the city and county and other parties, and giving many sums of money,
and devoting many days of his time to the poor and needy. In August, 1850, the
city of Stockton came into existence, and August 28, 1851, he deeded all the
streets, channels and public squares to the city.
He took much pride in the Rural and San
Joaquin cemeteries, donating a large portion of the purchase money of the
Rural, also giving the land occupied by the San Joaquin cemetery (Catholic).
St. Agnes Academy has a garden to which he gave much attention during his later
years. He gave the land, obtained the plants and flowers, and spent much of his
time at work there. He gave much of his attention to protecting the city from
overflow, and under his direction and aid the city built a bulkhead on
Stanislaus street, dug a canal along East street and also along North street,
Captain Weber superintending the whole of the work in person and assisting in
filling in North street at considerable personal expense. He put at least
$30,000 into the improvement of California street, which was only one of a
large number of streets on which he spent his money and time. When the natural
course of events made the property in this valley very valuable, squatters
began to give him much trouble, and the heirs of Gulnac, spurred on by
designing men and a combination of lawyers, attempted to wrest from him that
which was his; and in defending his title and that of those to whom he had sold
he spent vast sums of money. When this litigation commenced, he had valuable
property in San Francisco, and this was sacrificed to get money to fight the
schemers. If he had let this property here go, he would have been better off.
After getting squatters off his land, he would often reverse his tactics, and
befriend them to a greater extent than if he had allowed them to take his land.
He finally received an incontestable patent with Abraham Lincoln’s signature
attached.
When the civil war broke out, Captain
Weber at once showed where he stood, in no half-hearted manner; and his
influence was powerful in moulding and solidifying the Union sentiment of this
region. The flag of our country needing to be more conspicuously displayed, the
patriotic Captain sent to Oregon, purchased a pole 120 feet high in length for
a flag-staff, and placing on the top the large letters “U. S.,” he planted the
staff on an island to the west of his residence, and from it floated, after every
Union victory, the country’s flag, which could be seen for miles. The island
became known as “Banner Island,” which name it still retains. Unknown parties,
sympathizers with the Confederates, several times went in boats and cut the
halyards. Mr. Weber then placed a large watchdog on the island to guard the
flag. On the night of September 29, 1861, some miscreants ran up a small
secession flag on the staff, as well as on others in the city. Early the next
morning, which was Sunday, Captain Weber noticed what had been done, and
hurrying to the spot found his favorite dog dead by his post of duty. The
Captain’s indignation knew no bounds. Tearing down the rebel flag, he rammed it
into the mouth of a cannon which he had at the base of the flag-staff, and as the
old Union flag ascended, the gun was fired, blowing the secession rag from its
mouth! Thirteen more guns were fired for the Union, and by noon the enthusiasm
of the supporters of the Government having been aroused by the incident, there
was only one flag flying in Stockton, and that the common flag of the country.
Captain Weber was married November 29,
1850, to Miss Helen Murphy, a member of one of the noblest bands of emigrants
that ever settled a new country, the celebrated Murphy party of 1844. They and
their descendants all became prominent, and they form to-day the strongest
family, in many respects, in the Santa Clara valley.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Weber, viz: Hon. C. M. Weber, who has represented Santa Clara County (in which
he makes his home) in the Legislature of California; he is an extensive
rancher, and manages the interests of the estate in Santa Clara valley. Miss
Julia H. Weber is the second child and only daughter; she is respected by all
who know her. The second son and youngest child is T. J. Weber, a bright young
man of business ability, who manages that portion of the estate not under his
brother’s charge.
Mrs. Weber’s father was Martin Murphy,
Sr., and her mother’s maiden name was Mary Foley. She is a cousin of Bishop
Foley, diocese of Detroit, and bore the same relation to the late Bishop Foley
of Chicago.
Captain C. M. Weber died May 4, 1881, of
pneumonia. The funeral was conducted with the impressive ceremonies of the
Catholic church, by Archbishop Alemany, of San Francisco.
In this sketch only an outline of the
Captain’s career has been attempted, as much of the history in other portions
of this volume relates to him so closely. Otherwise, this sketch would occupy
many more pages of this volume. His estate at the time of his death was worth
about $400,000, but it might have been millions had he been as careful of his
own interests as many men.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 441-444. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Genealogy Databases