The Immigrant Chinese Influence on the
Bay Area and Pinole
By George R. Vincent, Co-founder Pinole Historical Society
The history of the Chinese in North America did
not begin with the building of the transcontinental
railroads; it began 100 years earlier.
Many sea captains in the late 1700s had Chinese
servants, and they remained as house servants when
their bosses settled ashore.
The largest influx of Chinese to this country was
during the California Gold Rush. Chinese miners
traveled usually as indentured servants to San Francisco
and then to the gold fields. Their objective was to make
their fortunes and return home.
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However, many also came to stay,
farming and fishing as they had in
China. Large numbers were employed in
low-paying manual labor work such as
building railroads and Delta levies. As the
railroad progressed, Chinese settlements
grew along its route and remained there.
Although the Irish were the largest
minority in California, the Chinese were
more visible in numbers and dress and
became the targets of discrimination
and more restrictive laws and taxes. For
example, the Foreign Miners’ Tax was
enacted to supposedly end unfair job
competition from the Chinese. Yet, the
truth was the Anglo population would
not work for lower wages, as did the
Chinese. The racial component surfaced
as the source of bigotry and conflict.
In 1882, the Federal Chinese Exclusion
Act was passed, forbidding Chinese
immigration into the United States.
This and subsequent acts remained
in effect until 1943, when they were
repealed as a goodwill gesture to China,
our ally in World War II.
By the time Pinole was incorporated
in June 1903, its 695 residents were
accustomed to door-to-door merchants. The Chinese,
in particular, were a familiar sight among merchants
of diverse ethnic backgrounds selling their wares from
house to house.
One of the earliest peddlers was called Riley. He
would come from San Francisco by train with fruits
and vegetables in two baskets supported by a pole.
Keeping his records on customer fence posts, Riley
vended his wares between Pinole and Rodeo.
Riley