Chapter I: 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 Rivé-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