The town name. PLEASANTON was due to a clerk's mistake in spelling General Alfred Pleasonton's name.

General Alfred Pleasonton was born in Washington, D.C. in June, 1824 and is noted primarily for inadvertently giving Pleasanton it's name.

Along with a small group of Californians, he fought with the Union Cavalry and he was highly praised for his exploits as an officer. About the same time, the Confederate Army defeated the Union at Chancellorsville in May, 1863, and John W. Kottinger was developing a plan for a small settlement back in California Alisal.

Some histories of the beginning of Pleasanton, reflect the theory that Kottinger named the town after "his friend", General Pleasonton. However, there is no evidence to bear out that theory, and no records to show the two had ever met.

It is assumed that Kottinger combined his knowledge of the General and his feelings that this particular area was a pleasant one in which to live, thus ''Pleasanton''.

Pleasonton resigned in 1868 when the army was reorganized. He died in 1897, and was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

To see a reproduction of the original article and edition of Pleasanton Pathways, visit: December 10, 1983 Pathways.