Daniel Builds Home in San Jose, California
February 23 put things on launch. February 25,
left home at 9:00 AM by land with wagon, detained at Mission. Camped near Ranchos. Next
day it was rainy and cold. Camped under a tree in a tent and the next day, Wednesday 27
camped in the wagon in Pueblo. Thursday, February 28 arrived home at 4:30 PM. March 1,
1850, went to Embarcadero and worked on my house. Commenced plowing alone and worked on
Marshall's house in exchange for property. March 6, worked on my house and the next three
days worked on Marshall house. March 10 went to Embarcadero. As stated before, it was less
than three weeks after Daniel and his wife moved into their first new home in San
Francisco that their first daughter, Ann Francis, was born on February 19, 1848. In the
early part of April when he finished and moved into his new home in San Jose, California,
their second son, James Theophilis Stark, was born April 26, 1850.
For the past two years, since the discovery of
Gold at Coloma, San Francisco had become infested with ruffians from all parts of the
globe in search of the yellow metal. This brought the darkest days San Francisco had ever
witnessed. Crime was rampant and the city government was too inefficient or too
indifferent to suppress it.
Some of the Ship Brooklyn's passengers were
sworn in as guards. One guard who especially rendered valuable assistance was George W
Sirrine, later a resident of Mesa, Arizona. He was a wheel-right in the east where he had
experience in the police force. It was he, who arrested Jack Powers, leader of the outlaws
in a meeting that was being addressed by Sam Brannan. He also helped in obtaining
evidence, which the Naval Authorities used to eliminate over fifty of the desperados. Some
of them had been sniping on the war vessels in port.
Daniel's
Brother, James, the Actor, Arrives
Before leaving San Francisco to move into their
new home in San Jose, California, Daniel said they were favored with a visit by his
brother James, the actor. It was a