A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolomne, and Mariposa, California

Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, 1892

Merced City

CONTENTS

Location and Advantages
The Beginning
Merced District
Organized as a City
Banks
Merced Academy
Merced Light and Gas Works
El Capitan Hotel
New Flouring Mill
Other Items
Societies
Newspapers

Merced, the principal town and county seat of Merced county, is the most important point on the Southern Pacific railroad between Stockton and Fresno, and has a large supporting country. Much has been done towards the improvement of the lands tributary to the city, but this process is yet only in its infancy. There can be no doubt of the favorable location of Merced for a prosperous inland city. The foundation is laid so well that the ultimate results must be gratifying to those who have pinned their faith to the city. There are scores of thousands of acres of land for which this place is the center, and whereon only water was needed to make them productive in a high degree. The water system is not excelled for completeness in the world; therefore there can be no doubt of the future of Merced when the movement to develop the resources of these lands expands as it will.

Merced is called the Fountain City, and there is evidence of the appropriateness of the title to every passanger on the railroad trains passing through the city, as the waters of the Crocker-Huffman canal, playing from the large fountain in the park maintained by the canal company, close by the El Capitan hotel and railroad station, working under direct pressure from lake Yo Semite, make a beautiful display which attracts all beholders.

The distance of the city from San Francisco is 152 miles by the railroad line. The large number of handsome brick business blocks give the place a prosperous appearance, which is borne out by the condition of the community. There are also many handsome residences and a few which are especially fine for a city of this size. Church and school buildings are also very credible.

In 1870 the Contract and Finance Company, a corporation then related to the Central Pacific Railroad Company, purchased a section of land where Merced now stands, with a view of locating a town at this point, the location being an excellent one on account of its being on high, dry and sandy ground.

The real start of the town, however, was in 1872, when the company placed the lots on the market. On the 8th day of February of that year a public auction sale was held, which was attended by a large number of prospective investors not only from the surrounding region but also from points as remote as Stockton, Sacramento and San Francisco. The town site had been laid out by survey in blocks surrounded by streets eighty feet wide, and alley-ways twenty feet in width running through them. The lots were 25X150 feet and 50X150 feet in size. A great portion of the lots in the business portion of the town were sold, and they brought prices ranging from $125 to $500. The first half-lot sold, 25X150 feet, was that now occupied by the Cosmopolitan saloon and restaurant, which was purchased by J. C. Smith, and which brought %575, the highest price realized in the sale. The second sale was that of the half lot adjoining, which was bought by S. T. Simon for $495.

After the auction, sales still went on rapidly, and improvements were carried on at a lively pace.

Commencing with the first of February, the railroad had a temporary eating and lodging house in operation, and the accomodations for guests thus afforded were supplemented by a similar effort by C. S. Evans. In April the erction of El Capitan Hotel was begun, and while it was building, the proprietors secured a palace car, which they had switched onto a side-track, and conducted it as a hotel for their guests while their fine new building was in course of erection.

A. M. Hicks opened a meat market in February, 1872, and Washburne and Macready started a livery stable about the same time. Other establishments of various kinds soon put in an appearance, and by the end of the year the town was fairly launched, and well equipped in almost every line of business.

The Board of Supervisors set Merced off as a new district in May, 1872, and appointed as new officers, M. Smythe, justice of the peace, and Thomas Patterson, constable. In August, the town being entitled to two justices, R. Simpson was also appointed in that capacity.

In 1872 Merced school district was formed, but as no public school was started owing to an informality in the creation of the district, a private subscription school was started. The first session of public school commenced on the 21st of July, 1873, with a principal and assistant teacher.

Merced was organized as a city by vote of the people at an election held on the 30th of March, 1889.

Officers were elected as follows: Trustees - M. D. Wood, president; W. L. Silman, E. T. Dixon, J. A. Jones, W. H. Turner; M. S. Huffman, Treasurer; J. O. Blackburn, Clerk; H. L. Rapelje, Marshal.

The present Board of Trustees was organized April 21, 1890. The roster of officers is now as follows: Trustees - E. T. Dixon, President; W. L. Silman, G. Garibaldi, J. R. Jones, W. H. Turner; M. S. Huffman, Treasurer; W. O. Moore, Clerk; George M. Yoakim, Marshal.

Under city organization Merced has made considerable progress in the way of public improvement. The city owns six acres of land in the southeast portion, for which $1000 was paid, and which is utilized as a place from which to haul dirt used in street grading. A street grader of the most improved pattern is also used on the streets. In the two months of October and November, 1891, over $5,000 was spent in the grading and graveling of streets.

Notwithstanding improvements, however, the close of 1891 found the city out of debt, and with about $7,000 in the treasury.

The city is well protected from fire in more ways than one. The splendid Crocker-Huffman water system, giving the water a pressure of ninety feet, can throw a stream of water through the double hydrants over any building in town save the El Capitan Hotel without the use of engines. But this alone is not relied upon. There is a fine fire department, and it may be truthfully said that there is no more thoroughly protected city on the Pacific coast than Merced.

The equipment of the department consists of a Silsby steamer, one hand engine, two hose reels, over 1,000 feet of hose, and two hook and ladder outfits.

The Eureka Engine Company was the original fire-fighting organization of Merced, and it did efficient service while in the field. It was disbanded on the 3d of February, 1891.

The El Capitan Hose Company is now the dependence of the city for men in case of fire. It started with the following roster of members and officers: George Conway, foreman; R. Barcroft, first assistant; Fred Logamarsino, second assistant; Alfred Kocher, secretary; E. A. Hicks, F. J. Logamarsino, J. B. Garibaldi, E. B. Jolly, John Canevaro, Henry Lessman, D. K. Stoddard, J. L. Droulard. The membership has rapidly increased, and is now more than double the original.

The City Hall is a two-story brick structure, occupying a ground space of 40 X 30 feet, which will be added to. It was built by public-spirited citizens of Merced, and turned over to the city as a gift. In this building the El Capitan Hose Company and their fire appliances find a home.

The Merced Cemetery Association was incorporated August 7, 1879, with six trustees; as organized, they were as follows: George E. Isaacs, president; Mrs. Rowena G. Steele, secretary; Philip Bedeson, secretary; C. E. Stevens, Robert J. Steele and H. J. Ostrander. The cemetery property is tastefully laid out and well kept.

There are two other cemeteries adjacent to Merced - The Masonic and Odd Fellows' - which occupy adjoining tracts. They receive the care and attention usually bestowed upon such property by their societies.

The Commercial and Savings Bank of Merced, which is one of the foremost financial institutions of the great San Joaquin valley, is mentioned at some length in the Crocker-Huffman Canal, and the history of its founder, C. H. Huffman, who has done so much for this county, elsewhere in this volume.

The Merced Bank was organized on the 6th of April, 1875, with an authorized capital of $200,000, and has since organization transacted a large commercial business. Its officers are: John Ruddle, president and director; Frank Howell, cashier and director; C. Landram, A. Ingalsbe, C. C. Nelson, A. Zirker, and James D. Price.

The Merced Security Savings Bank was incorporated March 11, 1873, its authorized capital stock being $300,000. Its officers are: G. H. Fancher, president; L. R. Fancher, vice-president; W. W. Westbay, cashier; G. H. Fancher, J. W. Mitchell, L. R. Fancher, W. A. Aldrich, W. H. Turner and W. W. Westbay, directors. This bank, like the others doing business at Merced, is a strong institution and very prosperous.

The Merced Academy was opened in January, 1888, in the city of Merced, and has since enjoyed a properous career. Besides the regular academic course, there is a commercial department, where a good business education may be acquired. The academy is housed in its own building, a handsome and commodious three-story structure, adjoining the Presyterian parsonage. Prof. Albert McCalla, Ph. D., is in charge, aided by a full corps of assistants.

The Merced Electric Light Company was incorporated in June, 1888, with W. E. Dean, of San Francisco, as president, and D. C. Bates secretary, who are the principal officers, as well. The capital stock is $100,000. The builder of the works was A. C. McSwain, who still remains in charge as superintendent. The plant is one of 1,000 sixteen-candle-power lights, and is of the Heisler system. They have an engine of 300 horse-power, and a battery of two steel boilers, all of the latest and best construction, and sixteen miles of wire is used in their circuits. The full capacity of the plant is utilized in lighting the buildings and streets of merced, and the enterprise is a success financially and otherwise.

The Merced Gas Company with a capital of $100,000, is officered the same as the Electric Light Company. The works were built by local capitalists in the summer of 1882, and passed under the control of W. E. Dean, the present principal owner, in 1884. In 1888 the Merced Gas Company was organized as at present existing. They supply the city of Merced with a good quality of coal gas, and have about six miles of mains. A. C. Swain has been superintendent since January 1, 1885.

There are several hotels in Merced, but the principal one is the El Capitan, which was opened on the 1st of June, 1872, by H. A. Bloss. The object in building a hotel of this magnitude in this new town was largely to accommodate the tourist travel to the Yo Semite valley, leaving the railroad at this point. The house, which is four stories in height and very spacious, with a large court in the center, was erected at a cost of $70,000 for the building, and $30,000 for the furnishings, and can accommodate 200 guests. Mr. Bloss died in February, 1884, after which his widow conducted the house for a year, since which time the well-known landlord, C. E. Fleming, has had control.

At the time of this writing (April, 1892), there is a movement well under way, having for its object, the construction of a large roller mill at Merced. A number of enterprising capitalists and business men of Merced have identified themselves with the project and a determination is expressed to make the plant one that shall be capable of holding its own with the products of the fine establishments with which it will come in competition.

There are in the city of Merced many convenienced for pleasure and for the transaction of business that have not been enumerated, and the city is well equipped in every way. There are fine and well-stocked stores of all descriptions, well appointed livery stables, two warehouses of large proportions - the Huffman and the Grangers' warehouses - a number of good hotels and restaurants, and, in fact, everything that goes to make up a prosperous business town and thriving county seat of a progressive county.

Merced Lodge, No. 208, I.O.O.F., was instituted September 21, 1872, with the following charter members: John Levinsky, Solomon Silver, Charles A. Chapman, Orchard G. Scott, Jacob Kocher, Wilson E. Elliott, Abraham I. Rosenthal, Augustus Johnson, John C. Spofford, Charles E. Evans, Richard Johnston and Sam Wyatt. The lodge has made a splendid record, and has done some noble work, one instance of which was that of supporting for fourteen and a half years the four children of John Becher, a deceased member. These children were all given the advantage of a good education, and are now self-supporting, and have repaid by their gratitude the efforts of their benefactors. The present officers are as follows: Edwin T. Hadley, J.P.G.; Edward R. Alvord, N.G., Lawrence H. Bradley, V.G., Abraham I. Rosenthal, treasurer; Robert N. Hughes, recording secretary; James Leonard, permanent secretary; Louis Wegner, warden; Nathaniel S. Rogers, conductor. The lodge is in splendid condition, and has a membership of 222.

San Joaquin Encampment, No. 46, I.O.O.F., was instituted February 16, 1874, with the following charter members: Samuel C. Bates, P.C.P, Charles A. Chapman, Peter Robert Murray, William Cotterell, E. W. Stoddard, Ernest Schoenfeld, Samuel F. Deardorff. This encampment is very prosperous, has sixty-two members at last report, and is honored by having as a member the present Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of California - James Leonard. The officers at this writing are: Edward R. Alvord, C.P.; Edwin T. Hadley, H.P.; George W. Atwood, Treasurer; James Leonard, Scribe; Abraham I. Rosenthal, S.W.; Lawrence H. Bradley, J.W.; Robert H. Wallace, O.S.; John A. Artman, I.S.; John Reininghaus, guide; George W. Landess, First W.; William B. Croop, Second W.; Theodore Diefenderfer, Third W.; William H. Hamlin, Fouth W.; Henry Clow, First G. of T.; William H. Cook, Second G. of T.

La Grange Lodge, No. 99, F. & A.M., held its first meetings under dispensation, and was organized under charter May 8, 1856, at La Grange, Stanislaus county. The charter members were: John O. Callbreath, John Meyers, William Nelson, C. M. Wells, John B. Hockett, Byron Woodworth, Samuel Hoyt, John J. Willis, A. Elkins, S. P. Simon, J. H. Cook, Thomas Payne, and others. La Grange having largely lost its early prestige of the prosperous mining days, and much of its population, the lodge declined to a great extent, and in 1873 was moved to Merced, where the first meeting was held February 15, 1873. The present officers are: Frank Horace Gould, W.M.; Charles Simon, S.W.; Hiland H. Worden, J.W.; Carter Landrum, Treasurer; james Leonard, Secretary; Aaron Badt, S.D.; John G. Elliott, J.D.; Joseph Leeson, Marshal; George B. Cook and Albert Pitzer, Stewards; George W. Yoakum, Tyler. The lodge is now in excellent condition, and has a membership of seventy-five. The present efficient secretary, James Leonard, has held that position for more than ten years consecutively.

Calaveras Chapter, No. 12, R.A.M., was organized under dispensation granted September 18, 1855, at Murphy's Camp, Calaveras county; its charter was dated May 3, 1856. The original members were: Alexander H. Putney, Ira Taylor, Milton Maupin, Lewis Weber, Nathaniel W. Greene, William H. Barnes, C. K. Gillespie, Charles Johnson, W. C. Crespin, J. W. Griswold, Hugh G. Platt, and A. Tibley. The first officers were: Alexander H. Putney, High Priest; Ira Taylor, King; and Milton Maupin, Scribe. The chapter was moved to Copperopolis in 1865, and the first meeting held there December 27, 1865. The change was not permanent, however, as another removal was effected a little more than two years later, to Snelling, then the county seat of Merced county, where the initial meeting was held January 8, 1868. Here the chapter made a longer stay, but finally found its permanent seat at Merced, where it first met on the 11th of March, 1874. The name was then changed to merced Chapter. There is now a membership of forty-five, and the condition is prosperous, there being a substantial sum in the treasury. The present officers are: William L. Silman, High Priest; Robert Gracey, King; Charles E. Fleming, Scribe; Carter Landrum, Treasurer; James Leonard, Secretary; Aaron Badt, C. of H.; Albert Pitzer, P.S., Charles Simon, R.A.C.; Adolf J. Zirker, M. of 3rd V.; John H. Simonson, M. of 2nd V.; Ebenezer Stoddard, M. of 1st V.; Thomas A. Hall, G.

Yo Semite Lodge, No. 30, Knights of Pythias, was instituted January 12, 1875, and its first officers were the following: Henry Newman, P.C.; C. S. Peck, C.C.; James M. Dunlap, V.C.; George P. Lee, Prelate; C. C. Livingston, K of R. and S.; S. A. King, M. of F.; Robert N. hughes, M. of E.; A. J. Meany, M. at A.; E. M. Stoddard, I.G.; H. W. French, O.G. This lodge became in time a splendid organization, and maintained the first uniform Rank on the Pacific coast. Another honor which it holds is that of being the first Pythian lodge on the coast to build and own its own hall. Pythian Castle, the property of the lodge, is a building of handsome architecture, and was erected at a cost, including furnishings, of $15,500. It was built in 1884, and dedicated on the 1st of January, 1885, at 2 o'clock p.m. The lodge is yet an important one, and has eighty members. The officers for the present term are as follows: A. G. Clough, P.C.; Frank H. Farrar, C.C.; Thomas Mack, V.C.; H. W. French, Prelate; W. M. Sell, M. of E.; Thomas F. Carrigan, M. of F.; Robert N. Hughes, K. of R. and S.; D. K. Stoddard, M. at A.; A. C. Hall, I.G.; M. Goldman, O.G.; John H. Simonson, Charles Harris and Robert N. Hughes, Trustees.

Court 36, U. A. O. D., was organized with the following charter members: John Noffzizer, H. W. Leeker, John K. Becknell, William M. Hughes, George Reuter, G. Garibaldi, Martin Van Horn, Gregory De Georgi, Alfred D. Turner and Jacob Kocher.

Merced Lodge, No. 74, A. O. U. W., was established December 30, 1878, and its first officers were: Hiram Newton Rucker, P.M.W.; Edward T. Dixon, M.W.; John B. Ralston, Foreman; Robert S. Clay, Overseer; Thomas C. Law, Recorder; Edward J. Hamilton, Financier; Morris Goldman, Receiver; Peter R. Murray, Guide; Aaron Badt, I.S.; Joseph Leeson, O.S. The officers for the present term are: John K. Becknell, P.M.W.; Thomas C. Law, M.W.; Alfred G. Clough, Foreman; Joseph Leeson, overseer; R. F. Bartlett, Recorder; Abraham I. Rosenthal, Financier; Adolph J. Zirker, Receiver; James Leonard, Guide; Nicholas Breen, I.S.; George Kleinlein, O.S. There have been eight deaths to members to this time. The lodge owes nothing, and has money in the treasury. One of its members, James Leonard, has been District Deputy for ten years.

Y.M.I., No. 87, of Merced, was organized June 3, 1888, with the following charter members: T. E. Collins, W. T. Doyle, E. Huzzie, A. A. Killen, M. J. O'Brien, H. J. Droullard, C. Arnoldy, J. J. Hayes; William Fahey, J. McNamara, D. F. Griffin; P. McNamara; M. J. McGlynn, J. B. Ivers, John Ryan, Thomas Doyle, F. McMahon, M. Horan, J. M. Griffin, D. D. McAuliffe, J. C. Crowe and M. J. Nolan.

Court Fountain City, No. 7,800, A. O. F., was organized April 24, 1890, by S. A. D. Jones, Edwin T. Dixon and George Baudet.

Hancock Post, G. A. R. of Merced, was one of the organizations of the past, but not now in existence. It had a sufficient membership to maintain an organization, and its failure to continue in the field must be attributed to lack of interest.

The Chosen Friends had an organization in Merced for a time, but were not prosperous, and at length discontinued their meetings.

The same statement applies to the lodge of the American Legion of Honor, which had an existence here for a time.

Merced Lodge, No. 76, F. & A.M., was organized at Snelling, October 12, 1865, and elected officers as follows: Elbridge G. Rector, Master; Samuel P. Jackson, S.W.; George P. Lake, J.W.; Isaac H. Jacobs, Treasurer; Peter D. Wigginton, Secretary; James M. Strong, S.D.; Coates, J.D.; William L. Means, Tyler; Ephraim J. Simon and J. Newton Ward, Stewards. This lodge went out of existence in October, 1879.

The first newspaper published in Merced county was the Merced Banner, which issued its first number on the 5th of July, 1862, with Robert J. Steele as editor and Mrs. Rowena Granice Steele as assistant editor. The material employed was hauled by ox-team to Snelling from Knight's Ferry, where it had been used in the publication of the Stanislaus Index, a paper which had lived out a brief career of usefulness in the one-time capital of Stanislaus. The Banner was a Democratic paper, and had an eventful career during those troublesome days of the civil war, and the office was partially destroyed by a party of men who came for that purpose in February, 1864. The material was righted as near as possible, and publication proceeded, but the proprietors soon sold out to a man named Pierce, who changed the name, but continued his publication for only a few weeks. The paper was resurrected under a new name by Fred Lawrence, who conducted it for a short time.

The Merced Herald commenced publication with the old Banner material in 1865, under the proprietorship of James W. Robertson and P. D. Wigginton. Mr. Robertson purchased the interest of his partner after six months, and was the sole proprietor until, in 1867, he sold out to L. W. Tollott. In August, 1868, R. J. Steele purchased the office and the material, and conducted the Herald thereafter until it went out of existence, to give plave to a new paper.

The San Joaquin valley Argus was first published August 22, 1869, at Snelling, with a new outfit purchased by R. J. Steele, who had discontinued the Merced Herald, to succeed it with the new publication. The paper was moved to Merced in 1873, and the first paper issued at the new county seat on the 5th of April, not an issue having been missed. Publication was stopped in December, 1875, owing to financial troubles. In April, 1876, having repurchased the old press and material of the defunct Banner and Herald, Mr. Steele resumed the issue of the Argus, and continued until April, 1877, when new troubles caused the paper to again stop. It re-appeared, however, in January, 1878, with Mrs. R. G. Steele as editor and proprietor, who published the Argus until it was succeeded by the Sun in 1891.

The was established in 1886 by Mrs. R. G. Steele, and its publication was continued by her, along with the Weekly San Joaquin Valley Argus, until succeeded by the Sun.

The Merced People was first issued by Harry H. Granice on the 23d of March, 1872, who published it during its existence of a little over three months, but discontinued it on account of lack of support.

The Merced Tribune was started in march, 1872, by L. F. Beckworth, as a Democratic journal. Its last publisher was Edward Madden, who died in 1874, and the material passed into the hands of the publishers of the Express.

The Merced Express was started January 23, 1875, by the Merced Publishing Company, with the material of the late Tribune. This company was composed of P. D. Wigginton, A. J. Meany, Patrick Carroll, Samuel C. Bates and E. M. Stoddard, who continued as proprietors until succeeded in ownership April 17, 1875, by F. H. Farrar, who had been previously engaged as manager. In November, 1875, he sold an interest in the paper to W. P. Stoneroad. In March, 1877, the latter's brother, N. B. Stoneroad, purchased the interest of Mr. Farrar, and continued a part owner until he sold his interest to W. L. Howell. There were no further changes until January, 1882, when Joseph A. Norvell purchased the interest of Mr. Stoneroad. The firm then became W. L. Howard & Co., and so continued until 1884, when by purchase of the remaining interest Mr. Norvell became sole proprietor. The paper assumed its present size, that of an eight-column folio, with the issue of January 2, 1892. The Express is an able Democratic journal, and has a firm hold in Merced city and county.

The Merced County Sun (weekly) and the Merced Evening Sun (daily) are successors to the San Joaquin Valley Argus and t he Merced Journal from January 19, 1891, and take the number and volume of the Argus, thus giving the Sun claim to the title of pioneer in the newspaper field for Merced county. The purchase of the two newspapers which gave way for the Sun was accomplished by the present owners, J. H. Rogers and C. D. Radcliffe, two very bright newspaper men, who have made both their daily and weekly issues useful and attractive. Since their start in Merced they have put in a two-revolution intermediate Campbell press, for which power is furnished by a gas engine. The special issue of the Merced County Sun for January 1, 1892, all set up and published in the office, and entirely free from displayed advertisements, was one of the most creditable newspaper accomplishments that California has afforded, all things considered. Brief sketches of the editors are appended:

Justus Hubbard Rogers was born April 20, 1861, in Carroll county, Illinois. He lived on a farm until fourteen years old, when he moved with his parents to Polo, Illinois, where he received a high-school education, after which he took a preparatory course at Mount Morris College. Later he attended Lake Forest university, but did not finish the literary and classical course he enterred upon. In 1881-'82 he taught the Fremont (Illinois) school. In the spring of 1882 he went to Dakota Territory and acted as deputy clerk of the District court of Aurora county until the fall of the same year, when he was elected county surveyor of Aurora county, Dakota Territory. In July, 1884, he resigned his office to go to Arizona. In the fall of the same year he came to California, where he worked at the printer's trade, which he had learned when a lad. In April, 1887, he started the Orland News, which paper he conducted until the fall of 1890. Selling his property at Orland he came to Merced and interested himself in the publication of the Sun, with C. D. Radcliffe. He was married in 1887, to Miss Minnie Hood, and is the father of two boys, one three and the other one year old.

He was secretary of the California Press Association for 1890-'91, and has done considerable miscellaneous literary work for the San Francisco press. Mr. Rogers is an able young man, and one of unusual energy. While conducting his newspaper at Orland he compiled and published the history of Colusa county, a very creditable production, and a labor of great magnitude..

Charles Daniel Radcliffe, who is associated with Mr. Rogers in the publication of the Sun, is a native of Illinois, born in Bureau county, in 1866. He commenced an apprenticeship to the printer's trade in 1880, and after acquiring the trade worked for four years as a type setter and reporter on various papers in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska. In 1887 he came to California, and located at Colusa, when he purchased a half-interest in the Herald of that place, and in the following year became its sole owner. He made a reputation in Colusa as an efficient newspaper man, which his work on the Sun has not lessened. He disposed of his interests in the northern county to associate himself with his present partner in the latter enterprise. He was married in December, 1887, to Miss Frances Martin.

Mr. Radcliffe, like his partner Mr. Rogers, it will be seen from the foregoing brief sketches, is a young man who has won recognition for himself by his own efforts in a field where nothing but merit can live.

The Merced Star as ably edited and conducted by Messrs. Thomas and Charles Harris, both of whom are practical printers and newspaper men of experience. The Harris brothers founded the Star in 1880, and its first number appeared on June 17 of that year. In politics the Star is Republican, and the principals of the party are ably advocated in its columns, yet the editorials cover a wide range of subjects, fully covering the issues of the day. The paper is a seven-column folio in size and form, and its appearance typographically is creditable to the publishers.

The Merced Journal was established April 26, 1889, and appeared regularly as a weekly journal until January, 1891, when the publisher, J. F. McSwain, sold out to and was succeeded by Messrs. Rogers & Radcliffe with the Sun.