History of Northern California

1891

Biographies

J. L. Logan

…undertaker and dealer in furniture, at St. Helena, was born November 5, 1829, at Beaucoup, Washington County, Illinois, the son of David and Margaret (Phillips) Logan. He remained at home until he reached his nineteenth year, working upon his stepfather’s farm at first and afterward learning the trade of carpenter. His education was gained in the country schools of the section and by diligent toil at night, winning in this was a thorough training. In 1858 he removed to Centralia, Marion County, and engaged successfully in the furniture and undertaking business; continuing this until March, 1864, on account of failing health, he sold out and crossed the plains with his family.

At the beginning of the war he enlisted a company at Centralia to go into a certain regiment. He failed to agree with the Colonel, however, and so went directly to General Logan, and they were mustered in at Carbondale under him as Company A. At the time of raising this company, Mr. Logan pledged himself to bring his men all back dead or alive after their term of service was over; and he did so, at great peril and loss to himself, although, unfortunately, most of them came home in boxes. The regiment to which the company belonged was with Grant in the series of his terrible engagements in Kentucky and Tennessee. Mr. Logan received a commission to visit the battlefields and prepare and bring back to their friends the dead not alone of his company but also of the whole county. Although at the time no civilian was allowed at the front, by daring and skill he obtained an interview with General Grant, who so much admitted his courage that he gave him a special pass. He spent thirty-five days on the battle-field, doing a great deal of good and finally shipping back no less than thirteen car-loads of bodies of dead and wounded, with their baggage, who were sent back by special train under his care. Among those were all his own company save only twenty-two persons, left alive. This deed of heroism nearly proved his end, for as a result of his efforts he became a severe case of blood poisoning.

Upon recovery, however, he set out for the trip across the plains, hoping to recuperate on the way. He bought fourteen head of mules and horses and four wagon-loads of drugs, liquors, etc. San Jose was his first stopping place, but he soon came up to Oakland and engaged in the real-estate business there and in San Francisco; yet he suffered serious losses from the dishonesty of parties whom he had trusted. As an undertaker and embalmer Mr. Logan has few equals in the State. By means of a preparation devised by him he was enabled to keep dead bodies almost an indefinite time, being most successful in preparing them for shipment to all parts of the world on a special guarantee of perfect condition. Once, on a test, he prepared a body and it was deposited in the vaults at San Francisco, where it lay for six months, at the end of which time it was found in perfect preservation,--a fact very surprising to the undertaker and physicians of the day. In fact, Mr. Logan’s discoveries in this direction are the basis of the whole modern system of embalming, and aroused attention in all parts of Europe and America. Mr. Logan has been very active in all matters of benefit to St. Helena, as the incorporation of the town, the laying out of a cemetery, etc. Logan’s addition to St. Helena was laid out by him on his ranch at the south of town, where his fine residence is situated.

He was married November 15, 1849, to Miss Unity J. Livesay, of Washington County, Illinois. They have seven children: J. Melvin, engaged in the cattle export trade to Europe; M. Hill, a successful physician of San Francisco; Minnie Adelle, the wife of D. B. Carver, the banker of St. Helena; C. Mead, a printer formerly, and proprietor of the Daily News at St. Helena; now engaged with his father in furniture and undertaking; Aura Pearl, Daisy Bell and Lee Ross, who are at home. (Pages 341-342)

Francis Cunningham

…a farmer near Black’s, Yolo County, was born November 12, 1830, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Gilbert) Cunningham, both natives of that State. His father, a tanner by trade for over sixty years, died in that State in 1885, and his mother died in 1876. Of their nine children, two sons are living in California. In 1859 Mr. Cunningham came by water to California. For the first year and a half he followed gold mining at Oregon Bar in Placer County. Then he settled on land about one and a half miles from where he now lives, and at length he sold it, in 1867, and purchased where he now resides. The present ranch, of 160 acres of fine land, is owned by himself and his brother Jacob, and they intend to devote it mainly to fruit raising. They already have twelve acres of figs and three of prunes. Jacob was born in Pennsylvania, in 1845, and came to California in 1868. He married Miss Nellie Murphy, and they have three children:--Maud, Winnie and Jacob. Francis is yet unmarried. (Page 342)

Hial N. Maybee

…nurseryman and orchardist, near Lakeport, was born in Canada, August 6, 1835. His parents were natives of Dutchess county, New York, and moved to Canada, then back to Michigan.

Hial received a common-school education while at home with his parents in Michigan. He afterward attended Bacon, Bryant & Stratton’s Mercantile College in Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1859. He then went to Stevens’ Point, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the wholesale lumber business, in partnership with his brother. He remained in business in Stevens’ Point until 1865. In the spring of that year he sold out and went to New York city, where he took passage on the steamer Golden Rule, which was wrecked on Ronkador, on French Keys, May 29. There were 1,000 passengers on board, all of whom excepting one escaped to the reef, where they subsisted for eleven days. On June 9 they were rescued by the gunboat Georgia, and taken to Aspinwall, from where they came to California and arrived in San Francisco, July 1. Mr. Maybee first settled in Nevada, Marin County, where he bought land and engaged in dairying for seven years. In 1872 he sold out and went to Alameda, where he engaged in contracting and building. In 1876 he went to Buckeye Valley, five miles west of Ione in Amador County, where he engaged in farming and nursery business. He also worked some at carpentering, having secured several contracts from the railroad company. In 1881 he returned to Alameda, where he again followed the business of contracting and building for two years. In 1883 he came to Lake County and bought land two miles south of Lakeport, where he now resides. He has forty-one acres of land, which he devotes principally to nursery and small fruits. He has a nursery stock of about 50,000 trees. He has one acre planted in strawberries of different varieties, which yield an enormous quantity of luscious fruit. He also has black berries, currants and other small fruits, the acreage of which is increasing each year. He has two fine, flowing artesian wells on his premises; also an excellent spring from which he conducts water to his residence through pipes for general uses.

Mr. Maybee has been twice married. His first wife was a Mrs. Carpenter, of Lincoln County, Maine, to whom he was married in 1873, and who lived only a short time after their marriage. In 1885 he was married to Mrs. Meyers, a native of Germany. She has two daughters from her first marriage, who are living in the old country. Mr. Maybee is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W.

(Pages 342-343)

Honorable James Kerson Smith

…grocer at Woodland, California, was born in Richmond, Virginia, June 10, 1831, son of William N. and Ann (Brown) Smith, who moved in 1839 from Virginia to Glasgow, Howard County, Missouri. The mother died in Virginia about 1833 or 1834, and the father survived until 1878, dying in Missouri. Mr. Smith was brought up in the latter State from the age of eight years to the age of nineteen. In 1850, with a party from his neighborhood, he started across the plains for California, arriving at Hangtown on the last day of August. He followed gold-mining, mostly in Nevada and Yuba counties, until 1868, when he came to Yolo County. While living in Nevada County he was elected to the Legislature, serving during the years 1857-’58, and while in Yuba County he was a member during the sessions of 1867-’68.

On arriving in Woodland, Yolo County, he first engaged in furniture and undertaking for a number of years, and during that time served one term on the Board of Supervisors of this county, being elected in 1875. In 1880 he was elected County Clerk and served three years: on his election to this office he disposed of his furniture business. Being a candidate in 1883, he was defeated by M. O. Harling, the present county clerk. He then purchased the interest of C. B. Culver, who was in the grocery trade in partnership with T. S. Spaulding, and the firm became Smith & Spaulding. In 1885, having become a candidate, he was elected County Treasurer and served a term of two years; being renominated for the same position, he was defeated. He then bought the interest of M. O. Harling in the grocery firm of Harling, Frazer & Company. He is now a member of the Town Board of Trustees, having been elected in May, 1888, and is the only Republican member of the board. He has been a member of the Masonic order ever since 1854, and has been for the past three or four years the Masonic Inspector for the nineteenth district. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the A. O. U. W., in which latter order he is financier.

Mr. Smith was married in 1859 at Nicolans, Sutter County, to Miss Abbie O. Gilman, a native of the State of Maine, but brought up in Illinois. She came to this State in 1854 with her brother-in-law, Dr. D. Ray, at one time a resident of Yolo County. Mr. And Mrs. Smith have one son and five daughters.

In 1887 Mr. Smith made a visit to his old home in Missouri, which after a lapse of thirty-seven years presented many remarkable changes, but the most extraordinary change witnessed on the trip was the difference in the mode of travel between the older States and the coast, the time being reduced from four or five months to as many days.

During the Fraser River mining excitement, which began in 1858, Mr. Smith was one of the many who repaired to that point, the journey being exceedingly difficult. He went by steamer from San Francisco to Whatcom on Puget Sound, and thence by pack animals crossing the Cascade Mountains. At some of the points on the way he had to do considerable excavation in order to make his road, being the pioneer over that route. It is well known that nearly every one that went to that region returned without finding anything of value. (Pages 343-344)

Timothy Maloney

…”Rocklands,” the large and beautiful vineyard belonging to Mr. W. B. Bourn in the upper part of the Napa Valley, is properly considered one of the finest in the county. It consists of 400 acres of land, of which 120 acres are in vines, all of fine varieties, about the borders of which and along the driveways are planted some 500 fruit trees, pears and cherries for the most part. Since November 17, 1880, it has been under the charge of Mr. Maloney, and shows the marks of a careful and well-kept place, everything being in a thrifty growth and in apple-pie order. Along the southern side of the vineyard, and along the creek that flows beside it, is a massive and altogether unique wall built of the stones gathered from the surface of the vineyard. Some of it is twenty-five feet wide and six feet high, representing a tremendous amount of work. The whole vineyard is perfectly drained by tile laid at suitable distances. The balance of the estate makes a fine farm, where Mr. Bourn is raising some fine horses and stock, raising his own hay, grain, etc.

Mr. Maloney, the foreman of this place, is a native of County Kerry, Ireland, where he was born in 1844. He came to America in 1866, and in the fall of 1867 made his way to California, coming via Panama. He began work in the vineyards at once, being employed on Judge Hastings’ place, near Rutherford, during 1868-’69. He then pre-empted 160 acres in Spring Mountain and went into the wood business and the raising of cattle, hay, etc. He then came to St. Helena and engaged in teaming until 1880, when he took charge of “Rocklands.”

Mr. Maloney was first married in October, 1869, in Napa City, to Miss Faley. She died in 18--. In May, 1890, he was married secondly to Miss Kilduff, a native of St. Helena. He has four children. Neely, the eldest, is learning the machinists’ trade at the Risdon Iron Works, San Francisco; Mary, the second child, is learning the dress-making business in the same city; and the others, Tom, Richard and Nellie, are at home and going to school. It is needless to say that Mr. Maloney is a Democrat. He is a self-made man, well respected wherever known. (Page 344)

C. D. Mooney

…is the proprietor of one of the leading business houses of St. Helena, and takes rank among her most forward young business men. He carries on a general grocery and provision business, buying produce as well, his country trade being excelled probably by none in the town. The location of the store is on Hunt Avenue, and during the five years it has been carried on by Mr. Mooney the business has been made by his energy, enterprise and popularity a leading one.

Mr. Mooney was born August 26, 1861, in Jefferson County, New York, where his father, Thomas Mooney, was a farmer. The latter now conducts the blacksmith shop a mile below St. Helena. Back East he was engaged in buying and selling produce and was in general business, but by signing with another met with serious reverses. As a result he came to California, where his family followed him in 1874. In March, 1880, in company with his son, C. D., he put up the blacksmith shop, and was assisted by the latter until 1883, when on account of a severe kick from a horse C. D. retired and left the business entirely to his father. Mr. Thomas Mooney is a native of Ireland, but when nine years old came with his parents to America, settling near Watertown, New York, where members of the family still reside. He married a Miss Reid, whose parents came originally from Glasgow, Scotland, and settled near Kingston, Canada. They had a family of eight children, five boys and three girls.

Mr. C. D. Mooney, the eldest son, was brought up as a blacksmith, serving three years at the trade. When he came to California with the rest of the family, in 1874, he went to work first for Mr. Inman, in his nursery. Then in partnership with his father he put up the blacksmith shop below St. Helena, as already mentioned. While shoeing a horse he met with a serious accident from a kick, and was forced to give up the business. In February, 1883, he went to ranching on a place above town, carrying it on until October, 1884, when he sold out and in November following began the business which he is still carrying on. He was married in June, 1884, to Miss McArron, a native of San Francisco. They have three children, a daughter and two sons. Such in brief is an account of the life of Mr. C. D. Mooney, an active, successful and thoroughly self-reliant one. When he landed in St. Helena he had only 50 cents, but he has made his way since without calling upon any one for assistance, and has made it well. He has two brothers and one sister in the county, their names being F. T. and W. D., brothers, and Mrs. Jennie Tyrrell, whose husband is conducting the Napa carriage factory. (Pages 344-345)

John A. Lechleiter

…manufacturer of all kinds of farming implements, wagons, carriages etc., at Winters, is the son of George (a native of Lorraine, France) and Geneva (Krenzberger) Lechleiter, a native of Germany. His father is now running a wholesale tobacco store in Lincoln, Illinois. He was born in 1854, in Louisiana, within fifty miles of New Orleans, and came to California in 1870, landing in Sacramento. After residing there a year he went to San Francisco and remained there until 1877, when he married and went to Honolulu. While in San Francisco he built the omnibus for the Lick House, and also for the Baldwin Hotel and the Russ House, also many other large transfer wagons and hacks, and he prosecuted the same trade also in Honolulu. Returning from the Sandwich Islands in 1879, he opened a carriage shop at Maxwell’s in Colusa county, in April, 1881, where he flourished for eight years; and then, in 1889, he settled in Winters, Yolo County, where he has a fine shop and a prosperous business. The works are run by a ten-horsepower engine, the model for which he had made by Mr. Williams, of Colusa County.

Mr. Lechleiter married Susan M. Webster, a native of Tennessee, in Oakland, November 29, 1877, and their two children are Emma Elvira, born February 17, 1880; and Frank T., August 30, 1881. (Page 345)

William Budworth

…a prominent citizen of Livermore, was born at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1837; moved with his parents to Wisconsin, and then to St. Louis, Missouri, remaining there some two years; then to Wisconsin again, where he was in business until 1850; next to St. Louis again, where he was connected with the transfer business, until some time in 1852, when he started by ox teams for California. Arriving August 17, he located first in Amador County and followed mining there until 1859, when he moved to Centerville, where he remained about nine years, and then he came to Livermore, where he has since remained. In 1869 his son, George T., was born, the first white boy born in Livermore. Since his location at his present place he has been connected with hay-pressing and steam threshing throughout this and adjacent counties. Each of his machines gives steady employment from June to November to seventeen men.

Mr. Budworth, at Centerville, in 1864, was joined in marriage to Miss Margaret Walker. Their children are Margaret, George, Benjamin, Emma, John, Wesley, Nellie, Bertha and Albert. Mr. Budworth is a member of Vesper Lodge, No. 62, A. O. U. W., at Livermore. (Pages 345-346)

Leonard Coates

…fruit-grower and nurseryman, proprietor of the Napa Valley nurseries, has been a resident of California for the past fourteen years, and of Napa nearly that entire time. In 1878 he began business in a small way in a nursery on the old Magnolia farm, six miles north of Napa, purchasing the stock owned by J. M. Thompson, of the Suscol nursery. He pushed this business energetically, until now his nursery is known all over the State, and he ships stock to points all the way from San Diego on the south to Shasta and Humboldt counties on the north. He has now a ranch of ninety acres, four miles from Napa on the Big Ranch road, known as Sausal fruit farm, forty-five acres of which are now in orchard five years old, and seven acres one year old. This is divided as follows: twenty-two acres in peaches, fifteen in prunes, French, silver and golden; about seventeen in Japanese plums, Kelsey-Japan and Satsuma, and one acre planted with a variety of oranges, berries and other fruits. This forty-five acres he purchased in 1886, but he has lately added another tract of the same size, which he proposes to devote partly to orchard and partly to alfalfa, the intention being eventually to make of this place a model fruit farm. His plans are fully matured, and he h=now has a fine residence and other buildings erected that are in keeping with this idea. Mr. Coates commenced operations in California by working the first year on the old Magnolia farm, for Professor Heald, and the next year in different parts of the State, in order to familiarize himself with the various peculiarities of climate and soil and their adaptability to different kinds of fruit. Meanwhile an offer was left open by Professor Heald to furnish him land to begin work upon. His nursery is now situated just below Napa, occupying the space between the railroad and the Napa River for the distance of half a mile. He will have this season over 150,000 trees for sale, besides a large stock in dormant bud for the following year.

He was born in Saffron-Walden, Essex, England, in January, 1855. His parents were W. T. and Emma (Harrison) Coates, now residents of Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, of which town Mr. Coates, Sr., is the Mayor. He attended private schools in Bedfordshire, graduating at the collegiate school at Luton in the same county, in 1870. He first entered mercantile life, in which he continued for nearly six years, but failing health and the advice of his physicians decided him in favor of out-door pursuits. Having had a little experience as an amateur horticulturist, and a taste for study in that direction, his attention was turned toward California, where he arrived early in 1876.

He was married in 1881, to Miss May Crow, a native of this State and daughter of A. M. and Sarah (Stark) Crow, pioneer settlers of California. They have one child, Ronald, born in 1884. Mr. Coates is a charter member of the State Horticultural Society, and for three years past one of its directors. He has lately returned from a six months’ visit to Europe, during which trip he gave particular attention to the opportunities of disposing of California fruits and fruit products abroad. He was lately called upon to lecture upon these subjects before the Horticultural Society of Yuba and Sutter counties, and has been invited to address the State Horticultural Society and the National Grange upon “California Fruits Abroad.”

(Page 346)

Daniel Fisher

…one of the old and well-known farmers of Yolo County, residing near Woodland, dates his birth November, 1821, in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, a son of Henry and Margaret (Stavely) Fisher. Henry Fisher was a miller by trade and also followed farming. He moved to South Bend, Indiana, in 1837, and in 1857 came overland to California and died three weeks after his arrival here, at the age of sixty-two years. Daniel, the subject of this notice, was reared on a farm, and lived in South Bend with his parents. In 1844 he started out in life for himself, going first to Ohio, most of the way on foot, through mud and rain, to Holmes County, where he learned the trade of weaving figured coverlets, and followed the same for twelve years, until 1857, when he came to California, that journey occupying the time from March to September. The trip was a pleasant one, although the emigrants generally suffered a great deal, over 500 being killed by Indians that year. On arrival here Mr. Fisher at once rented land and began farming it. In 1858 he purchased a squatter’s title to his present home, consisting then of 160 acres, three miles southeast of Woodland. In 1864 he made a purchase of 160 more adjoining, and since then he has had one of the best farms in the county. It is now well stocked with substantial buildings and other improvements. The land is specially adapted to alfalfa, and he carries on general farming and stock-raising. In religious matters he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in political a Republican.

In 1846 he married Miss Margaret Shuder, a native of Ohio, and they have four sons and three daughters, namely: Henry; Emma, wife of Ira Dopkins; Elizabeth, wife of Alexander Stamp; Frank; Charles; Amelia, now Mrs. Henry Jeans; and Edgar H. (Pages 346-347)

Joseph O. McKown

…druggist at Livermore, was born in New York city February 11, 1863, the son of Joseph O. and M.E. McKown, of Louisville, Kentucky, who moved to San Francisco in 1869. At the age of nine years he was sent of Livermore, where he received his education, in Livermore College. Returning to San Francisco, he became clerk in a drug store for five years. In 1883 he moved to Livermore, and was employed six months as a clerk in the drug house of M. A. Scott, when the proprietor died, and then Mr. McKown became owner of the establishment, and has since been managing the business upon his own responsibility, with success. The Postal Telegraph and the Sunset Telephone have their offices in the same building, for which Mr. McKown is agent. He has also purchased the stationery business of G. Beck, and he has other interests in Livermore. Since February, 1890, he has been Postmaster. Although a young man, he has already made a splendid reputation for business. In Freemasonry, he is a member of Oakland Commandery, No. 11, K. T., and of Mosaic Chapter, No. 66, at Livermore; and he is also a Senior Warden of Livermore Lodge, No. 218, F. & A. M. (Page 347)

Gus Anderson

…a farmer at Yolo County, was born January 13, 1831, in Sweden, and sailed for New York in 1852. He lived there until 1859, and then came across the plains and mountains to California, first locating in Butte County. In the spring of 1860 he came into Yolo County, and was employed by the man who owned the place which he, Mr. Anderson, now occupies. He purchased it in 1864, 160 acres of good land.

March 2, 1873, at Mr. Wolfram’s place near Black’s, Mr. Anderson married Miss Mary Bopp, a native of Switzerland, and they have a family of five children: George, Oscar, Andrew, John and Anna. Mr. Anderson is an industrious citizen, as nearly all Swedes are. (Page 347)

C. H. Wente

…a vineyardist near Livermore, was born in Hanover, Germany, August 19, 1851. In 1881 he came to America, landing at New York and coming directly to Kansas, where he was engaged in farming for six months near Topeka. Then he came to California, stopping in San Francisco and in Contra Costa County for a short time, and then he was engaged in the vineyard and winery at St. Helena, Napa County, for a year; then he was in the same business in Lake County; and finally, in 1884, he went to Livermore and purchased a vineyard of fifty acres, twenty-eight acres of which were in vines five years old and yielding 120 tons of grapes annually. At the present time the same acreage yields more than that. He has a large winery on his farm, and last year made 50,000 gallons of wine, and increased the capacity 20,000 gallons this year, a large portion of which is shipped to New York and Philadelphia; besides, he supplies a large local trade. Now the entire farm is a vineyard. He has his bottling department and office at 33 Post Street, San Francisco. Twenty acres are in the highest type of clarets and white varieties.

August 19, 1884, in Oakland, he married Barbara Trautwein, and they have three children living, namely, Ida M., Caroline F. and Charles F. (Pages 347-348)

G. Bustelli

…vineyardist and wine manufacturer of Livermore, is a native of Ticino, Switzerland, born February 14, 1838. He was educated and taught school there until 1886, when he came to America, landing in New York. He came by steamer, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, to California, arriving August 28, and remained in the city of the Golden Gate four months. Spent some time in Sonoma County, returned to San Francisco, engaged in a wine cellar for a year; about 1871 he went to the Napa Valley, where he was employed by Mr. Von Bever, in a wine cellar, and there made the first 5,000 gallons of wine that was stored in what is known as “Uncle Sam’s Cellars.” Von Rever’s establishment, now owned by C. Carpy, is a present the largest of the kind in Napa Valley. From Napa Mr. Bustelli went to St. Helena, where he was in the same business three years; and in 1884 he came to Livermore and purchased property, in partnership with Mr. Aguillon, and now, under the firm name of Aguillon & Bustelli, he is engaged in the business already mentioned. Their output of wine in 1884 was 60,000 gallons. Since then they have made 70,000 to 80,000 gallons annually, and this year (1890) their product will exceed 100,000 gallons, the most of which will be disposed of by wholesale, a few thousand gallons being consumed by the local trade. They also have a distillery, in which they manufacture a fine quality of grape brandies. Mr. Bustelli is a member of the fraternities of F. & a. M., I. O. O. F. and K. of P. (Page 348)

A Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California: Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company, 1891

Transcribed by Janice Giachino, March, 2007 Pages 341-348

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Martha A Crosley Graham

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