William M. Mendenhall 1823 – 1911 / DeAnza Expedition Campsite
[Located at the Livermore Civic Center is a two-sided monument. Side 1 is a marker dedicated to William M. Mendenhall, founder of the town of Livermore. Side 2 is a marker marking this site as a campsite of the Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition of 1975 -76]
[Side 1:]
William M. Mendenhall
1823 – 1911
Pioneer settler, a descendant of Quakers who emigrated from England with William Penn. He crossed the plains on horseback in 1845. Was a member of Fremont’s Battalion in 1846 and soon after engaged in farming near San Jose, then near Danville. Came to Livermore Valley in the late 1850’s. In 1869, in honor of the completion of the railroad through the Valley, he laid out a new town. His plan included gifts of land for a depot, for schools, churches and other civic needs. He named the town in honor of his friend and neighbor
ROBERT LIVERMORE
the first settler of the area.
This memorial is contributed to the City of Livermore by the Livermore Rotary Club in recognition of our City’s Centennial Year, 1969.
Rotary International
John Sarboraria
President Livermore Rotary Club
[Side 2:]
De Anza Expedition 1775 - 76
Lt. Colonel Juan Bautista de Anza by decree of Carlos III of Spain led an expedition near this site – The mission being to colonize the San Francisco Bay Area.
Campsite No. 102 is 11 miles from here out Tesla Road
Dedicated April 4, 1976.
Marker can be reached from South Livermore Avenue.
Courtesy hmdb.org
