Sixty Years of California Song
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SIXTY YEARS OF CALIFORNIA SONG
Margaret Blake-Alverson
M.B. ALVERSON
1913
[Transcriber's Note: Numerous typographical errors and misspellings
(especially of non-English words and names) in the original text have
been corrected in this e-text, where the correct spelling could be
confirmed.]
[Illustration: "Should Auld Acquaintance be forgot?"
Margaret Blake-Alverson
_Webster Photo, Oakland, 1912_]
Address all correspondence to
MRS. MARGARET BLAKE-ALVERSON
1429 SECOND AVENUE
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
_Copyright 1913 by_
MARGARET BLAKE-ALVERSON
_All rights reserved_
_Man must reap and sow and sing;
Trade and traffic and sing;
Love and forgive and sing;
Rear the young with tenderness and sing;
Then silently step forth to meet whatever is--and sing._
TO MY FRIENDS EVERYWHERE I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE THIS BOOK.
IF AS A SINGER AND A TEACHER OF SINGING I HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN THE
BETTERMENT OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES, THEN HAS MY WORK BEEN WELL
DONE AND I AM CONTENT.
MARGARET BLAKE-ALVERSON
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
JANUARY, 1913
FOREWORD
This book has been written for friends and musical associates of more
than half a century.
The author's life has been a busy one, often with events of public
import, and so it may be that this volume has value as history. Those
who should know have so affirmed.
It is hoped that old-time Californians will find the book good
reading. The later generations of students and musicians will be
interested in the story of one who helped to prepare the way for them.
The narrative tells somewhat of the Christian ministry of a noble
father, of the writer's career as a public singer and of reminiscences
of many associated musicians, efficient factors in the development of
music in California to the high place it holds today.
Some mention is made of distinguished divines and men of note in the
professions and in business. The part taken by the author in political
campaigns and in the activities of the Grand Army of the Republic will
appeal to patriots.
Some chapters on the singing voice and its cultivation are the
fruitage of a wide experience of many years. A list of pupils for
three decades is added.
The illustrations have been at once a labor of love and an
extravagance of money cost, but it is believed that the reader will
find in that feature alone justification for the publication.
THE TEXT
Antecedents and Childhood 1
Our Trip to California via the Isthmus and Early Days There.
First Church Choir in Stockton 13
Stockton in the Fifties. Benicia Seminary. Genesis of Mills
College. Distinguished Pioneers. Marriage 33
How I Made the First Bear Flag in California 43
Boston. Dedham Choir, 1858. The Civil War.
Musicians. Return to California. Santa Cruz 48
Music in Santa Cruz in the Sixties. Return to San Francisco.
How and Why I Became a Dressmaker. Opera. Music in
San Francisco in the Seventies 59
Lady of Lyons Given for the Fire Engine Fund, Santa Cruz.
Flag-Raising at Gilroy Hot Springs. Visalia Concerts 69
On the Road with Dick Kohler, Mr. Vivian, Walter Campbell,
Mr. Wand and Charles Atkins 75
Early Music and Music Houses. Musical Instrument Makers.
Old-Time Singers 83
As a Church Choir Singer in Cincinnati, Stockton, Benicia,
Dedham, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, San Bernardino and
Oakland. Rev. Starr King, Howard Dow, Henry Clay
Barnabee, Carl Zerrahn, J.C.D. Parker, Carlotta and
Adelina Patti, Jenny Lind, Joe Maguire, Georgiana Leach,
Sam Mayer, Harry Gates 92
Golden Jubilee of Song Service, June 12, 1896 108
Camilla Urso's Festival, 1873. Madame Anna Bishop, The
Loring Club, Alfred Wilkie, Frank Gilder, D.P. Hughes,
Ben Clark 112
St. Patrick's, St. Mary's, St. Ignatius' Cathedrals. Episcopal
and Jewish Music. J.H. Dohrmann. The Bianchis 123
Great Musical Festival in Aid of the Mercantile Library, 1878.
At Gilroy Springs 130
Authors' Carnival, 1880, President Hayes and General Sherman
Present 137
Vacation Episodes at Deer Park, July 4, 1893 145
In Oakland. Sad Accident. With Brush and Easel. Kind
Friends 152
Party at Dr. J.M. Shannon's Home in 1907 157
Lee Tung Foo 161
What I Know of the Voice and of Teaching 167
Tremolo 172
More About the Voice 179
Political Campaigning. Work as a Patriot on National Holidays
and with the Grand Army of the Republic. Flag
Raising at Monterey 183
Repertoire and Other Data. Distinguished Musicians and
Singers of the Last Century 203
Reminiscences of Early California Musicians and Singers 216
Reminiscences of Later California Musicians and Singers 227
With My Pupils 248
A List of My Pupils 262
THE ILLUSTRATIONS
Mrs. Margaret Blake-Alverson, 1912 _faces Title_
Heirloom Jewel _faces page_ 4
Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Henry Kroh and Family,
Stockton, 1852 _faces page_ 12
Coat-of-Arms of the Blake Family _faces page_ 16
Steamer "American Eagle," Sacramento River, 1852.
Home of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Henry Kroh, Stockton, 1853 _faces page_ 20
First Presbyterian Church, Stockton, Built in 1849,
the First Protestant Church in California _page_ 25
Pioneer Home of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Henry Kroh, Stockton,
1851 _page_ 26
Associated Musicians and Singers, 1853 to 1879: Richard
Condy, Mr. Schnable, Lizzie Fisher, Ellen Lloyd, Mary Jane
Lloyd, Mrs. Anna Bowden Shattuck, Judge H.B. Underhill,
Carrie Heinemann, Mrs. Taylor _faces page_ 28
Business Men of Stockton, 1852: Austin Sperry, James Harrold,
Wm. H. Knight, Geo. Henry Sanderson _faces page_ 32
Reminiscent of Benicia in the Early Fifties: Benicia Young
Ladies' Seminary, 1852; Benicia Courthouse, 1853; Prof.
Jos. Trenkle, Prof. Schumacher, Prof. Beutler, Prof. Paul
Pioda _faces page_ 36
Masonic Sheepskin, London, England, 1811. Capt. Chas.
Blake _faces page_ 38
Major-General Benj. Lincoln, of the War of the
Revolution _page_ 39
Sacred to the Memory of Mrs. Mary Kroh-Trembly, Pioneer
Organist, Stockton, 1852 _page_ 42
First Graduating Class, Young Ladies' Seminary, Benicia,
Founded 1852: Mary E. Woodbridge, Mary Ridell, Mary
Hook, Mary E. Walsh; Principal, Mary Atkins; Teachers,
Sallie Knox, Kate Sherman; Pupils, Mary O'Neill, Agnes
Bell _faces page_ 44
First California Bear Flag, Made by Mrs. Blake-Alverson in
Stockton, 1852 _page_ 45
Dedham, Mass., Church Choir, 1861, Men Singers _faces page_ 48
Dedham, Mass., Church Choir, 1861, Women Singers _faces page_ 52
Typical Concert Programme of the Early Sixties in
San Francisco. Oratorio of Samson _page_ 56
Santa Cruz Choir, 1867: F.A. Anthony, Belle Peterson,
Chas. A. Metti _faces page_ 60
Church of the Advent, San Francisco, 1880. Roman
Catholic Church, San Bernardino, 1888. Calvary
Episcopal Church, Santa Cruz, 1864. Pilgrim
Congregational Church, Oakland, 1893 _faces page_ 64
Associated Musicians and Singers of the Seventies
and to Date: Sam'l D. Mayer, Mrs. Alfred Abbey,
"Joe" Maguire, Frank Gilder, Walter C. Campbell,
Mrs. Augusta Lowell-Garthwaite, H.S. Stedman, Mrs.
Mollie Melvin-Dewing _faces page_ 68
Ministers with Whom Mrs. Blake-Alverson Has Been
Associated: Rev. Dr. J.K. McLean, Rev. P.Y. Cool,
Rev. V.M. Law, Rev. "Father" Akerly, Rev. Giles A.
Easton _faces page_ 76
Wm. H. Keith, Baritone, Pupil of Mrs. Blake-Alverson,
1881 _faces page_ 80
Music House of Kohler & Chase, 1851 and 1910. Andrew
Kohler, Quincy A. Chase, S.J. Bruce _faces page_ 84
Heads of Pioneer Music Houses, San Francisco:
William G. Badger, Matthias Gray, Julius R. Weber,
C.H. McCurrie _faces page_ 86
Music House of Sherman, Clay & Co. C.C. Clay,
Leander S. Sherman _faces page_ 90
First Church Choir in California, Stockton, 1852:
Margaret R. Kroh, Sarah R. Kroh, Emma J. Kroh, Ann
L. Kroh, Mary M. Kroh, Sir Geo. Henry Blake, James
Holmes, Wm. W. Trembly, Wm. H. Knight _faces page_ 92
Henry Clay Barnabee, Opera Singer, Associate of
Mrs. Blake-Alverson in Boston, Mass., in 1861 _faces page_ 96
Organists of the Early Years in San Francisco:
Richard T. Yarndley, Gustav A. Scott, Chas. H.
Schultz, Frederick Katzenbach _faces page_ 100
Floral Tributes Presented Mrs. Blake-Alverson on
Her Fiftieth Anniversary of Song Service,
June 12, 1896 _faces page_ 108
Pen Sketch of Mrs. Blake-Alverson, Made by Richard
Partington. Sixtieth Birthday, June 12, 1896 _page_ 111
Mrs. Blake-Alverson on Her Fiftieth Anniversary as
a Public Singer, Sixty Years of Age, Oakland,
June 12, 1896 _faces page_ 112
Mme. Anna Bishop, Prima Donna, Teacher and
Associate of Mrs. Blake-Alverson _page_ 115
Associated Musicians, 1860-1913: Hugo Mansfeldt,
Sir Henry Heyman, J.H. Dohrmann, Alfred Wilkie _faces page_ 116
Original Members Loring Club, San Francisco, 1873.
French Horn Quartette, San Francisco, 1895: Geo.
Fletcher, Wm. E. Blake, Nathaniel Page, Geo. Story _faces page_ 118
Organ St. Patrick's Church, San Francisco, 1875.
J.H. Dohrmann, Organist and Choir Director _faces page_ 124
Eminent Divines for Whom Mrs. Blake-Alverson has
sung: Rev. Dr. A.M. Anderson, Stockton, 1852; Rev.
Dr. Eells, Rev. Dr. Scudder, Rev. Dr. A.L. Stone,
the Right Rev. Ingraham Kip, Rev. John Hemphill,
Rev. Dr. H.D. Lathrop _faces page_ 128
Musical Directors, May Festival, San Francisco,
1878: John P. Morgan, Carl Zerrahn, Rudolf Herold _faces page_ 132
Bouquet of Artists, May Festival, San Francisco,
1878 _faces page_ 134
Authors' Carnival, San Francisco, 1880: Mrs.
Blake-Alverson as Charity Pecksniff; H.G.
Sturtevant as Pecksniff; Alice Van Winkle as Mercy
Pecksniff; Dolly Sroufe, Italian Booth; Henry Van
Winkle, Cervantes Booth _faces page_ 140
Mme. Bowers, Etelka Gerster, Julie Rive-King,
Associates and Friends of Mrs. Blake-Alverson _faces page_ 144
Deer Park Cabin, Lake Tahoe, Dedicated July 4,
1893. Col. Richard Parnell, Sole Survivor of the
Battle of Balaklava _faces page_ 148
Mrs. Blake-Alverson in 1852, 1864, 1874, 1880,
1905 _faces page_ 156
A Group of Friends, Distinguished Singers in the
Seventies and Eighties: Mrs. Margaret C. Pierce,
Mrs. Sarah Watkins-Little, Mrs. Blake-Alverson,
Mrs. Helen Wetherbee, Mrs. Marriner-Campbell _faces page_ 160
Lee Tung Foo, Pupil in the Nineties _faces pages_ 164 _and_ 166
Mrs. Blake-Alverson and Her Two Sons, Wm. Ellery
Blake, George Lincoln Blake _faces page_ 172
Associated Musicians and Singers, 1854-1900:
Frederick Zech, Henry Wetherbee, Adolph Klose, S.
Arrillaga, William P. Melvin, John W. Metcalf, Wm.
M'F. Greer _faces page_ 176
Trophies and Tributes Presented Mrs. Blake-Alverson _faces page_ 180
"Sam" Booth, Popular Political Poet and Campaign
Singer in San Francisco in the Seventies _page_ 184
Mechanics' Institute Fair, 1879. Mrs. Blake-Alverson
in Costume _faces page_ 188
Civil War Mailing Envelopes, 1861. Co. K, Seventh
California Volunteers, Capt O.P. Sloat, from San
Bernardino, 1898 _faces page_ 192
Stephen W. Leach, Musical Director, Buffo Singer,
Actor in San Francisco in the Seventies and Eighties _faces page_ 228
Joran Quartette, 1883: Lulu, Pauline and Elsie
Joran and Mrs. Blake-Alverson _faces page_ 246
PORTRAITS OF PUPILS
FACES
PAGE
Akerly, Mrs. 240
Allison, George 244
Ames, Lucille E. 268
Avan, Clara 224
Bassford, Mrs. Mayme 236
Beam, Edith 196
Beam, Mary R. 204
Beretta, Chelice 208
Bishop, Biddle 196
Bisquer, Marceline 272
Blake, Mrs. William E. 212
Bonske, Hazel 272
Bouton, Cloy 208
Bradley, Dolores 256
Brainard, Birdie 196
Brainard, Carrie 196
Brainard, Mrs. Hattie 196
Bruce, Florence 240
Bruce-Schmidt, Mrs. Winona 244
Bruce-Wold, Mrs. Ruth 240
Bullington, Marie 272
Caldwell, Mrs. O.B. 240
Case, Mrs. J.R. 220
Caswell, Mabel 208
Champion, Rose 236
Christofferson, Jennie 236
Cianciarolo, Lucia 268
Collins, Dr. Addison 208
Collins, Mrs. Minnie M. 208
Cooke, Grace 260
Crandall, Harry 236
Crew, Josie 212
Crossett, Louisa 212
Culver, Susan 220
Cushing, Lillian 224
Davies, Alice 256
Deetkin, Marjorie 268
Derby, Hattie 224
Dickey, Lorena 244
Dobbins-Ames, Mrs. Grace E. 220
Dowdle, Everett S. 212
Dowling, Gertrude 252
Dowling, Leo 260
Drake, Mabel L. 244
Faull, Rose 196
Faull, Sophia 196
Ferguson, Dolores D. 244
Flick, George 240
Foo, Lee Tung 164 and 166
Garcia, Louisa 240
Gerrior, Maud 256
Glass, Mrs. Louis 204
Graves, Bessie 196
Graves, Gussie 204
Greer, Yvonne 272
Griswold, Geneva 256
Harrold, Elizabeth 204
Harrold, Mary 204
Hermansen, Christine 260
Hitchcock, Ruth A. 260
Hunt, Elsie Mae 236
Jackson, Geo. 256
Jones, Ethel 212
Jones, Ilma 260
Jory, Lilian 208
Keith, William H. 80
Kiel, Stella 252
Kimball, Lorena 244
Koch, Ada 220
Kroh, Blanche 256
Kroh-Rodan, Mrs. Mary 252
Krueckle, Anna 252
Lahre, Freda 240
Lanktree, Elizabeth 236
Lanktree-Kenney, Mrs. Sue 240
La Rue, Grace 212
Lessig, Mrs. Chas. 212
Louderback, Mrs. Caroline 252
Louderback, Jean 244
McMahan, Bernard 244
McMaul, Juliet 244
Monnet-Swalley, Mrs. Emma D. 224
Mulgrew, Margaret 272
Munch, Mrs. Emma A. 268
Nagle-Pittman, Mrs. Ethel B. 240
Newell, Bessie G. 220
Noonan, Elsie 236
Oakes, Margaret 212
Osborn, Anita 260
Peterson, Geo. G. 220
Peterson, Minnie 224
Peterson, Pauline 224
Pollard, Daisy 208
Pollard, Etta 208
Ramsey, Peter 256
Rayburn, Mrs. Cora 236
Riley, Mrs. Edna 268
Riley, Ruth 268
Sanford, Alice M. 268
Sanford, Edw. H. 256
Shaw, Lauretta 220
Shultz, Sarah 272
Sroufe, Georgia 196
Sroufe, Susan 196
Sroufe-Tiffany, Mrs. Dollie 196
Starkey, Irma 268
Stewart-Jolly, Mrs. May 204
Stewart, Sue 208
Teague, Mrs. Walter E. 272
Thomas, Edward 224
Tregar, Mme. Annie 204
Valentine, Inza 252
Valentine, Stella 252
Van Winkle, Ada 196
Victory, Arthur 236
Whitney, Mae 204
Wood, Dr. J.B. 224
Woodworth, Leslie E. 256
Worden, Nettie 204
Zimmerman, Charlotte 224
CHAPTER ONE
ANTECEDENTS AND CHILDHOOD
As far back as I can remember my life was associated with music.
Father and mother were both highly gifted. In our family were three
boys and seven girls, and each possessed a voice of unusual
excellence. The looked-for pleasure every day was the morning and
evening worship at which the family gathered in the sitting room to
hear the word of God explained by my father, Rev. Henry Kroh, D.D. The
dear old German hymns, Lobe den Herren, O Meine Seele, Christie, du
Lamm Gottes and others, were as familiar to me as the English hymns of
today, such as Nearer my God to Thee and All Hail the Power of Jesus'
Name. We were not blessed with children's songs, as are the children
of today, but sang the same hymns as the older members of the
congregation.
Father was descended from a royal Holland family. One of his ancestors
was the favorite sister of Admiral Theobold Metzger, Baron of Brada,
Major-General of all the Netherlands, who died of paralysis in the
sixty-sixth year of his life, February 23, 1691, in the house of the
Duke of Chamburg. He had gone with other lords and nobles of the land
to Graven Hage to swear allegiance to William III., King of Great
Britain, who had just come over from London as the regent of the
Netherlands. Even the physician in ordinary, who was sent by the King,
was unable to save him. By order of the King his body was placed in a
vault in the church on High Street in Brada, March 19, 1691, with
extraordinary honor and ceremonies. He had acquired large possessions
and wealth, therefore the King ordered that the large estate of the
deceased should be taken care of, and placed it under the care of
William von Schuylenburg, council of the King. At the same time notice
was sent to all princes and potentates in whose countries there was
property of the deceased to support His Majesty in this undertaking.
Three weeks before his death he had made his will and had given the
name of his parents and his five brothers and two sisters.
His sister Barbara was my great-grandmother. After the death of my
granduncle some of the family came to America. They were not aware of
the death of their distinguished brother and the heirs did not claim
the vast fortune, which amounted to 20,000,000 guilders at that time
and now with compound interest should be to 200,000,000 to 300,000,000
guilders, and is still in the possession of the King and in the
treasuries of the Netherlands. The heirs have been deprived of it all
these years, although they have from one generation to another fought
the case. At the same time the authorities of Holland are not a little
in doubt and are embarrassed for reasons to justify keeping the
Metzger von Weibnom estate for Holland.
But the reason of all their decisions, answers and refusals is the
unmistakable intention to keep the estate for themselves, even at the
cost of truth, justice and honor. The will has been suppressed. We
have proof that General Rapp in 1794 at the occupation of Brada had
taken the will, dated February 2, 1691, from the city magistrate to
carry it to Strassburg for safety. The will has never been executed.
I purposely made this break in my narrative of my childhood in justice
to my distinguished father who should have occupied the place that
belonged to him by right and title, as he was one of the original
heirs mentioned in my uncle's will--the grandson of his favorite
sister, Barbara Metzger von Weibnom. My father was a minister. He was
Christ-like with his people, and it was beautiful to behold with what
reverence the people approached him. He had the mild blue eye the
poets write about, his voice was soft in its tenderness when
addressing any member of his flock. His bearing was dignified and
reverent, and he was a delightful person to know. He was always
hopeful, no matter what difficulties arose in regard to the finances
of the church. In the true sense of the word he was a father to his
people and his family. His elders were all devotion and with them his
word was law. In all the years of his ministry I cannot recall any
unhappy situation with his congregation. Sadness came only when
parting, to be sent to work in another church. He was a great pioneer
founder of churches, and the Synod sent him first in one direction,
then another.
In consequence of these changes I traveled a great deal in childhood.
No sooner had father succeeded in getting a church started and in
good running order than he would be sent to some other section of the
country. In Virginia, where he was born and bred, he was ordained at
the age of twenty-five and soon had a promising charge in Berks
county, Pa. From there he was sent to Evansville, Ind. It was while he
was filling the pulpit at Womensdorf, Pa., that he met Miss Mary
Stouch, to whom he was married in the year 1819. Six children were
born to them while at this pastorate. The church in Evansville had
been without a pastor for over two years and father was called to fill
the position. The parting between the pastor and his people was
particularly sad. My mother had to leave her girlhood home for the
first time in her life.
Oh, what a sad journey it was for them. It was made by stage and boat
and my parents had six young children. Many a time in my childhood I
heard the sad tale repeated. And the reception at Evansville was still
sadder as the church had been closed and the building almost destroyed
by the vicious element and unconverted people who desired no religion
to interfere with their ungodliness. Many attempts had been made to
restore the building, but those who attempted it were stoned and
driven away. When father arrived the people of the congregation who
remained advised him not to do anything with the church, for he would
meet the same fate as his predecessors. But father was not daunted. He
visited the church and the sight of God's house in such a condition
made him more determined to do the work for which he had come. After
calling several members together he gave out the announcement that he
would open the church on the following Sabbath at all hazards. He
asked all of the faith to come to his home Saturday evening. About
fifty responded, and during the business meeting of the evening seven
elders were chosen. When all was satisfactorily adjusted, pastor and
people spent the hours in prayer until midnight.