First San Diego Courthouse

“On April 15 1850, the newly formed County of San Diego held its first election for government offices. Hungarian immigrant Agoston Haraszthy, having just arrived in San Diego in 1849, and the Irish-born Philip Crosthwaite both ran for the office of County Sheriff. Haraszthy won with 107 votes over Crosthwaite with 47 votes. At the time of the election, the County of San Diego was 40,000 square miles and included what is now San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial Counties, with a recorded population of nearly 800. Haraszthy served a one-year term as sheriff and left to become a legislator in the State Assembly. During his term as sheriff, he was charged with the duty of keeping the peace, executing writs and warrants, collecting county taxes, and attending all sessions of courts of record held in the county. He was also the keeper of the county jail and was responsible for the detention of all legally incarcerated persons. Haraszthy's two most notable events were his winning "high-bid" to build the first jail of cobblestones, and the Native-American uprising led by Antonio Garra which eventually led to Garra being convicted of murder and shot by a firing squad. To help him carry out the duties of his office, he named Joseph Reiner as his first deputy. Reiner was also later elected as Sheriff of San Diego County.

Agoston Haraszthy is also known by some as "The Father of California Wine", as he pioneered many varieties of grapes and wine-making processes in California. He began the Buena Vista Vineyards, which is still in operation today. He lived a very full and colorful life until his untimely death in Nicaragua, where reportedly an alligator ate him as he attempted to cross a river on his newly purchased plantation there.” -- from a sign inside the reconstructed courthouse.

Portrait of Judge Oliver S. Whithersby in the Reconstructed Courthouse

“The district court held its first session in this courthouse on May 6, 1850, and convened here until 1869. The California legislature elected Oliver S. Whitherby the first district court judge of San Diego County, by a joint vote, for a term of two years. At the end of this term the people were to elect the next succeeding judge. The term of office was for six years.” — from a sign inside the reconstructed courthouse.

Image on display in the reconstructed Courthouse. “San Diego was incorporated by the California State Legislature in 1850. Bean, the last alcalde of San Diego, was elected mayor in the first election under the charter on June 16. Bean was the first U.S. mayor of San Diego and served from 1850 until 1851. While mayor, he illegally "sold" City Hall and city pueblo lands to himself and his drinking buddy Cave Couts (the City Hall was recovered).” - Wikipedia

“The iron jail cell … was the size and construction of the original Courthouse jail.” — from a plaque in the reconstructed Courthouse.