Recollections - Early Life in the San Ramon Valley
G. B. Drummond, Editor
What was life like in San Ramon Valley in the 1850's and 1860's ? The author of these Recollections, James Dale Smith, tells us about the Fourth of July in 1853, about bear hunting in the Las Trampas hills with Livermore founder William Mendenhall, and about the early settlers in the Danville - Alamo area. He knows, because he was raised near Danville beginning in 1850 when his father built the second house in the Valley. These are the memories of his childhood as he wrote them in 1925.
After graduation in 1866 from McClure's Military Academy in Oakland, he taught in both public and private schools in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties until 1876 when he took over Livermore College. He was also active in his later years as an orchardist and viticulturist.
The editor of Smith's Recollections is G. B. Drummond, a long-time local historian in Livermore Valley. Activities in his field include an active membership in the Livermore Heritage Guild and participation in historical activities in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties with E Clampus Vitus.
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