CHAPTER THREE
During the Merriam years between 1875 and 1880 the population had already seen some pretty good growth. As was said earlier, the first census of record in 1880 listed ninety-eight residents which included 16 families, several individuals, some un-named groups, 12 of which were farmers and 10 were sheep raisers. Mostly descendents from the original homesteaders.
The Merriam family and Couts heirs were still the predominant families at this point but by 1882 the area was on the map and on the minds of others wanting to find a better life. California seemed like it would be a good place to find that better life. So they started their travels by train, boat, wagon, stagecoach and even horseback from Mexico, France, Ireland, several US States and other parts of California. Some ended up just passing through. But in 1882 James Barham and his son John arrived here and filed a “Notice of Intention” for their claim of 151 acres. This was located across Rancho Santa Fe, then “C” Street, the area that is currently San Marcos High School, and running along what would become Encinitas Rd now San Marcos Blvd. These roads were mostly paths and wagon trails, but for James it was the start of a new community called Barham. He became the “Road Overseer” for the local district. Son John opened a general store on the property. The business drew folks from around the area and did well. John had also put up a steam flouring mill and a “whiskey mill”. Hmm?! They also built a school since the only other school in the area was all the way over at Twin Oaks Valley. The Barham family was growing and in 1884 John filed for an additional 75 acres. This patent was bordered by “C” Street, Encinitas Rd and what is now Discovery. But that was also the year that legal systems were being recognized and the Couts heirs filed a number of legal actions against the Barhams. Not a lot of information on the outcome of these actions as the system was still in its infancy, but the whole thing was presumed to be over land and boundaries. John Barham with wife and 8 children left the area in 1887. James Barham, the town founder and his wife had also moved away but returned in 1888.The town of Barham was already deteriorating and would later be known as “shanty or shabby town” depending on who you talked to.
A tremendous amount of growth and change had occurred up to this point. There were businesses, schools, churches, a railroad, more immigrants and even the influence of some pretty scrupulous promoters promising incredible “Deals” to be had in the area. The quiet open area of The Valley of St Mark was disappearing. There were now three distinct communities, Rancho San Marcos, Twin Oaks Valley and Barham each functioning separately, and a few independent settlers here and there, everyone knew future development and progress was to come.
CHAPTER 4
In the 1880’s in San Marcos saw some significant changes. The area was getting a lot of attention but not all of it was good.
With some false advertising and high pitched sales techniques by an unscrupulous promoter from Chicago in the early 1880’s, incredible deals were being promised to a goodly sized group of German and Dutch immigrants. Deals like ownership of a town lot, 5 acre plots for farming, plenty of clean water, good schools and all for the delicious sum of only $200.00 (paid in advance of course) in the community of Olivenhain. However, when these folks arrived after a tiring and strenuous journey all they found was dry brush-covered land with no accessible water or amenities of any kind. Most of the disappointed buyers were skilled cabinet makers, bakers, taylors, and cigar makers. Most knew they wouldn’t be able to stay or make a living for their families at this place. A few hardy souls persisted. Some returned to Chicago while for others moving on was their only choice. Several had heard that there could be a way to provide for their families not far to the north in an area called San Marcos. By 1884 a few folks found jobs with Major Merriam. It wasn’t their dream job and many had to trek about 8 miles from a community called Meadowlark for work on Monday morning then return on Saturday to their home. Certainly not what their hard earned $200.00 investment was to accomplish. Some did eventually homestead near the Merriam land.
The new town of San Marcos was built in 1887 near Grand Ave and C Street, now Rancho Santa Fe Road
In 1887 Rancho San Marcos, the 8,877 acres owned by Isadora, Cave Couts widow, was sold to the San Marcos Land Company. The intention was to divide the acreage into tracks for sale. That’s when the town of San Marcos was established, located one mile north of Barham at the intersection of what is now Grand Ave. and Rancho Santa Fe. The town of Barham was deteriorating so some of the business establishments moved to the new community of San Marcos, including the school, relocated to what is now the Alvin Dunn Elementary School.
A main reason for the failure of Barham was the construction of the Santa Fe Railroad which was over a mile north of town. Back then that was a stretch to far for convenience. In 1887 the Santa Fe Railroad announced the laying of tracks through the Valley, but the tracks were actually put down one mile from the center of San Marcos which really disappointed the citizens. The tracks officially opened in January 1888. By 1896 San Marcos had its own store, post office blacksmith, railroad depot and school but local prosperity was beginning to stall. In 1903 to prevent San Marcos from suffering the same fate as Barham, the people of the town picked up their homes and moved a couple miles east along the tracks to what is now Mission Rd. and Pico. (I would like to have seen that!) By 1905 San Marcos had every convenience including rural mail delivery and telephone service, but farming was still the main
This was the original train station, located at Las Posas and Mission Road
CHAPTER FIVE
So many people were finding their way to Southern California in the 1880’s it became known as the “Southern California Land Boom”. The building of the railway from Oceanside to Escondido and points east opened the entire area to all kinds of commerce, residential development, more diverse farming, livestock and sheep ranches, education, religious and medical needs. Even the Gold Rush, with promises of riches and a better life, were calling the adventuresome. That, however, didn’t always pan out. (Sorry, I thought that was funny) With all the progress of the time, life was not close to being easy. Many of the settlers had come from larger more cosmopolitan cities like Chicago or New York or San Francisco. The Old West was developing but the Far West was yet to be conquered. Work days were long, needed materials not always easily available or very costly, and travel even south to the more developed San Diego was a long trek. But things were changing.
So let’s take a tiny side trip and see how the neighboring communities may have also played into San Marcos development back then. Most of Southern California was originally populated by the Luiseño Indians mentioned in the first chapter. The area was then visited by the Spaniards, followed by the Mexican immigrants and folks from across the States and even other parts of the world.
Oceanside was one of the first communities to grow due to the Mission established by Junipero Serra, the favorable harbor access and the train. The ships and trains, from cities like San Francisco or Los Angeles that started developing in the early 1820’s, brought heavy equipment and supplies as well as workers and hopeful new residents who may not have been able to travel such long distances before. Even a Mexican Mayor of San Diego chose to live in Oceanside for a couple years because of new business opportunities.
Union Square, San Francisco 1885
Carlsbad became famous because a former sailor, Doug Frazier by name, who decided to dig a well and offer water at the train station. It turned out that this wasn’t just any water. It was found to be chemically similar to water found in some of the most renowned world spas. One of the most famed spas in particular, located in the Bohemian town of Karlsbad in the Czech Republic was responsible for the city’s name of Carlsbad. Marketing of this special water inspired growth throughout the area.
Vista on the other hand didn’t develop as quickly do to the “scarcity” of good water, plus there were reportedly some changes in the political condition making life somewhat challenging for the less fortunate. The facts of this are not quite clear. Vista did have the very first successful winery in the country with many acres of good grapes, but was later shut down during the prohibition era.
Escondido, still with many of the Luiseño/Kumeyaay Indians in the area was mostly farming, cattle, chicken and sheep ranches, and honey (Bees) production. Many of these endeavors were also prominent in San Marcos. During the Mexican/American War of 1846-48 the Battle of San Pasqual was fought southeast of Escondido. Kit Carson was noted as a predominant participant on the American side of the conflict. There is a park named after him in Escondido and a Historical Museum of the famed battle out in the San Pasqual area off Old Highway 78.
Many of our San Marcos settlers came from or through one of these communities first. You can see that some of our early history grew from near and far, and how so much attention influenced the development of our fine city. Between 1875 and up to 1925 San Marcos can account for 46 prominent families that played a big part in the city’s history. Some of these will be highlighted in future chapters. There is more to come, keeping in mind that you are only getting a small snapshot of our city’s history.
