History
of Northern California
1891
Biographies
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D P. DIGGS, a rancher of Yolo County, and a worthy old pioneer of '49,
has had life-history of more than usual variety and interest, and it is
with great pleasure that we give, the biography a prominent place in the
pages of our work, as is due to its historical importance.
Mr. Diggs was born April 8, 1827, in Montgomery County, Missouri, and is the son of Captain and Jane (Pace)
Higgs. Captain Diggs, his father, was born in the State of Vermont,
while his mother was a native of Madison County, Kentucky. The father
served his country throughout the war of 1812, being in command of a
company of soldiers. He was a farmer by trade, and was one of the
earliest as well as most respected settlers in Missouri. The subject
of this sketch was brought up in Montgomery County, arid received his
education in the schools of the section. In 1848 he went to New
Mexico, in connection with the Mexican war, but returned to Missouri
in 1849, and set out at once for California, crossing the plains
with ox teams. He went directly to Coloma and found work for six months,
driving a team at Sutter's celebrated mill, being employed by the
owners of the mill at $350 a month and board. Mr. Diggs built the corral
that stood beside the old warehouse in those early days. On the
Fourth of July, 1849, Mr. Diggs and others, did honor to the day by
hoisting a home-made American flag on the gable end of their cabin. It
was constructed out of red, white and blue shirts, with oak leaves
for stars. In 1850 he went to Yolo County, there being then just three
settlers on Cache Creek, when he went there. He is now the owner of
350 acres of exceedingly fine land, all well improved and under fence.
It lies five miles northwest of Woodland. In conclusion, we should
say that Mr. Diggs is a type of our best American citizen, diligent,
progressive and prosperous.
He is married to Miss Janet E.
Hines, who was born in Ray County, Missouri, in 1837. They have six
children, as follows: Mary A., Elnorah A., Irvine P., Sarah S., Maria H.
and Marshall M. [Pages 701 - 702]
G W. WHITMAN, a well-known farmer of Contra Costa County, was born in
Green-briar County, Virginia, September 21,1809, the son of
William and Elizabeth (Erwin)Whitman. The father, a farmer by vocation,
was a native of the State of New York, and the other was a native
of Virginia. At the age of seventeen years the subject of this notice
went to Chillicothe, Koss County, Ohio, and four years subsequently'
to Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana, where he studied law for three
years; he then made his home at Cambridge, that State, until 1849, when,
in October, he sailed from New York State to California, byway of
Cape Horn, landing in San Francisco May 6 following. He followed mining
at various points throughout this State, mostly in Merced County. In
1863 he went to Sonoma County and, owning a large tract of land there, he devoted all his attention to his fruit-raising and wine-making.
In 1883 he settled upon his present place of 228 acres eight miles from Martinez, where he has a fine orchard of thirty acres and a splendid
vineyard of fifty acres, de-voted to table grapes.
Mr. Whitman
married Miss Nancy Smith, who was born in Tennessee, January 1, 1809, and they have two children, — Henry H., born January 5, 1837; and
Addie, August 7, 1831.Mr. Whitman was State Controller of California in 1854; and previously, from 1842 to 1847, he was Judge of the
Probate Court of Wayne County, Indiana, resigning his office during the
latter year. [Page 701]
GEORGE W. PARDEE, a native of England, was born in Liverpool,
February 18, 1852. His father was a seafaring man, and was captain
of a vessel. In 1854 he emigrated to America and settled in Maryland.
Here George W. received a limited education in the common schools.
When quite young he went to Baltimore, where he served an apprenticeship,
learning the blacksmiths' trade, remaining in the same shop for seven years.
He then went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he worked for a year and a
half as a journeyman. In 1869 he went to Denver, Colorado, and remained three years, working the first year for
Ed. Westcote, and the next two years for George Tritch and William Allender.
He then went to Georgetown and worked for Hood & Burnett, who were
running the New England mine, a year and a half. He then went to Rosita,
Colorado, where he worked at his trade two and a half years. In 1874 lie
came to California, remaining about eight months in San
Francisco. In 1875 he came to Middletown, Lake County, and worked
till 1877, then came to Lower Lake. After working two years here, he
engaged to work for the Sulphur Bank Quicksilver mine, in Lake County, where
he remained for four years. He then returned to Lower Lake and engaged in
business for himself where he has remained till the
present time. Being industrious and honest, he has been successful and
has the confidence and esteem of the com- munity in which he lives.
He owns three houses and lots, beautifully located in the best part of
the town of Lower Lake, one of which he occupies as a home: the
others are occupied by tenants.
He was married in 1879, to Miss
Mollie Allen. They have two children, William and Lucetta, aged ten
and five years respectively. Mr. Pardee is a member of the I. O. O. F.
Page [700-701]
F A. ALLEN, a farmer northwest of Woodland, is a son of Ambrose and Valeta " (Clark) Allen, natives of New York State who moved about
1836 to Illinois, where the father, a farmer by occupation, died in
1875, an exemplary member of the Christian Church and of the Odd
Fellows' order; the mother died in 1876. The subject of this sketch
was born in 1855, in Pike County, Illinois, where he grew up and
received his education. In 1871 he went to Missouri, where he remained three
years, and then he came to California by rail. In 1879 he purchased his
present place of eighty acres, six miles and a half northwest of Woodland,
where he is engaged in the raising of grain,
clover and live-stock.
For his wife he married Miss Susan F. Crellin, in Yolo County; she was born in 1857, in that County, and
both her parents are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have three children: John R., Maud and Eentie. [Page 700]
CROCKETT M. CRAWFORD, a native of Lake County, California, was born
in Lakeport, April 14, 1860. He received his education in the public
schools and the Lakeport Academy. He has been teaching in the schools of
the County since 1881. He was elected to the State
Legislature, November, 1888. He introduced a bill in the last session
of the Assembly to provide free text-books for the public schools of
the State, which passed both houses, but was vetoed by Governor R. W. Waterman. He also introduced what was known as the "Omnibus
Educational bill," which be- came a law. The object of this bill was to
perfect the school law. He has been principal of the Upper Lake
schools for the past three years.
He was married June 6, 1885,
to Miss Nora Graham, who is also a native of California. They have
two children : Velma and Amy, aged five and two years respectively. He a
member of Lakeport Parlor, No. 147, N. S. of G. W. [Page 700]
I J. ELY, a farmer at Cacheville, Yolo County, is a son of Warren E.
and Emily (Uthsbock) Ely. His father was born in Ken-tucky in 1811 and
settled in Ralls County, Missouri, in early day, and continued there in his occupation of farming until his death; he was a Freemason of
high standing. Themother, born also in Kentucky, in 1818, died in
Ralls County, leaving five children, all sons.
The subject of this
sketch, the eldest of these sons, was born in that County, March 6, 1856,and
received his school education there. In1857 he came overland with ox teams
to California, being about six months on the
road and suffering much privation. He earned his way by driving
cattle the first three months and acting as cook the remainder of the
time. At Genoa, Nevada County, he left the train and walked to
Placerville, better known in those days as Hangtown; but three days
after ward he went to Folsom and mined in Placer County, near by, for
three months. Soon afterward he located at Cacheville, Yolo County,
where he has since remained. His first work in that County was
baling hay, which he followed five years, and he then, in 1864, purchased
his present ranch of 800 acres of well improved land. He
has also 330 acres in Sutter County, which is rented; a part is in
clover and a part in pasture.
In 1866, in Yolo County, he
married Miss Mary Strode, who was born in 1842 in Missouri, and died
in May, 1886, leaving the following five children: Emily J., Belle,
deceased, Nora, Ervin, deceased, Cheston, deceased, Frank E.,
Rodney E. and Leslie S. [Page 699]
WILLIAM S. MONTGOMERY was born in Marion County, Missouri, December 25, 1848. His father, Alexander Montgomery, died in California, April 1,
1885, at the age of sixty-three years. His mother, Susan (Martin)
Montgomery, is still living and resides in Woodland. They had a family of
fifteen children, eleven of whom are living. Four died in infancy. Alexander
Montgomery came to California in 1850, and engaged in mining for about one
year. In January, 1851, he came to Yolo County, and took up Government land and began to improve it. The next
winter he returned to Missouri, and in the spring of 1854 he started
across the plains with his family, for his new home in California, where
he arrived in September.
William S. received his education in the
public schools of Yolo County and in the Hesperian College at Wood-
land. In 1876 he went to Willows, Colusa County, where he built a
business house and engaged in the hardware trade. In 1877 he sold
out his business and went to Lassen County and took up land, on which he
remained seven years. He then found out that his claim to the land
was worthless, owing to the negligence or dishonesty of the land
agent. He therefore disposed of his improvements for what he could
get, and vacated the land. He then returned to Yolo County and took
charge of his mother's farm, which he has superintended ever since.
It contains 320 acres, which is principally devoted to the raising of
grain. He owns forty acres of land, which he is preparing to plant
in fruit.
He was married March 7, 1872, to Miss Ralls, a native
of Missouri. They had four children, three of whom are living. Adela,
Etta and Elmer. In 1883 Mrs. Montgomery died. In 1885 Mr. Montgomery
was married a second time, to Miss Magdalena Glockler, a native of
California. Two daughters have resulted from this marriage — Gertrude
and Caroline. Mr. M. is a member of the order of K. P. and I. O. O.
F. [Page 702]
WILLIAM THOMPSON, Justice of the Peace of Napa Township, has been
a resident of California since 1856, and of Napa for about five
years. He was born in Houston, Texas, in 1848. His father, Major J.
H. Thompson, a native of Kentucky, was an officer in the army of the
Republic of Texas, serving in the war of Texas against Mexico, under
General Sam Houston. His mother was Miss Absola Thompson, a native of North
Carolina, who died while Judge Thompson was an infant. His father soon
removed to Arkansas, and in 1856 crossed the plains to
California, settling at Benicia, Solano County, where he engaged
in the practice of law. In 1857 he removed to Fairfield, in the same
County, where he built the first house, continuing his law practice
and serving as District Attorney for several years. Young Thompson was
educated in the Fairfield public schools, and at the age of
seventeen commenced to learn the drug business with Stockman Bros.,
where he remained for two years. After acting as agent for Wells,
Fargo & Co. at Lakeport for eighteen months, he returned to Fairfield
and took charge of T)r. M. S. McMahon's drug-store for four years.
He studied law for three years with his father, and then engaged in the
law office of Murphy, Shackleford & McPheters, at Salinas. In 1874 he
went to Arizona, and became identified with mining interests about fifteen
miles from Globe, in what was known as the Mineral Creek mining district. He became the first Recorder of that district. After
remaining their three years, for the next three years he was engaged in
prospecting through New and old Mexico and Arizona. Returning to California
he located in Tulare County, where he farmed for a year, and was then for
two years in charge of the Kaweah Canal. In 1874 he came to Napa, and
engaged in the furniture and auction business, in which he continued until
elected to his present office. While living
in Tulare County he was married to Mrs. Anna J. Enlow, a native of
Arkansas. They have three children : Annie Belle, Charles H. and an
infant. One child, Benton Merlin, died in his second year. Judge
Thompson is a member of the Ancient Order of Druids, of the Improved
Order of Red Men, of the United Endowment Associates and the Royal
Argosy. In 1871-'72 he was Assistant Engrossing Clerk of the State
Senate. Is a member and secretary of the County (Central Committee
of the Democratic party. The fact that he has been twice elected to his
present office in a strong Republican town is a gratifying evidence of his
personal popularity. He is now again reading law, and expects, when he shall
retire from his present position, to permanently engage in the practice of his chosen profession. [Page 702-703]
BENJAMIN DEWELL, one of the earliest pioneers of California,
emigrated from Indiana in 1845. The company with which he came
started for Oregon, but, on ac- count of there being no roads or
ferries, their progress was necessarily slow, and after passing Salt
Lake their guides advised them, on account of the lateness of the
season, to cross the mountains into California, which they did,
arriving near Sonoma in October. They were six months and one day on
the journey. Mr. Dewell made his first permanent settlement in 1850,
in Guilicos Valley, lying between Santa Rosa and Sonoma, where he
commenced improving land which he had selected for a home. He
planted an orchard and vineyard, and many other valuable improvements,
which he had to abandon after two years, as his location proved to
be within the limits of a grant.
In 1846, the war with Mexico
having been inaugurated, the few Americans who had come to settle in
California organized into a company for self-protection. In the spring
of 1846 they captured Sonoma, which was held by General Vallejo and
a small garrison. There were thirty-three Americans, who surprised the garrison at daylight, and effected a capture without
difficulty.
Mr. Dewell, with the assistance of two comrades, were the manufacturers
of the celebrated Bear Flag. In 1854 he came to Upper Lake with his
family and located on his present farm, his being the second family to
to settle in what is now Lake County. He has 160 acres of as good
land as can be found in any country, on which he raises grain, hay and
stock. He also has a large orchard. He was married in 1850, to Miss
Celia Elliott, a native of Missouri. They have nine children, living:
Samuel M., Orlena and Luella (twins), Elmer E., May, Lottie, John,
Charles W. and Irene. Sarah E. and Jane are dead. Mr. Dewell is a
member of the I. O. O. F., of long standing. Politically he is
thoroughly Republican. [Page 703-704]
LOUIS SCHAFFERS, the proprietor of the Fashion Stables and a
prominent citizen at Livermore, was born in the city of New York,
October 30, 1854. In 1875 he came to San Francisco by rail, and was for
a while employed in Oakland as a butcher for other parties, and then until
the fall of 1882 he carried on the business there for himself. Then selling
out he went to Livermore and continued in the same business for a year, and
finally purchased the well-known Fashion Stables of Jones & Wilkinson, which
he now conducts with a fine patronage, as he is able to furnish a goodly
number of handsome “turn-outs," etc. He is Republican in his political
views, and has been of considerable service to his party, taking a prominent
part in politics for fifteen years. In 1885 he was elected Town Marshal; in
1886 Town Trustee, and in 1888 re-elected; in 1889 he was appointed Chief
Engineer of the Fire Department, which position he now holds.
He was married in Oakland, October 24, 1889, to Miss Caroline Fougure,
and their two children are named Arthur L. and William. [Page 704]
A L. MARTINELLI, whose vineyard and dairy ranch is six miles from
Napa, on the Carneros Creek, known as the Falk- land Ranch, has been in
California twenty years, and for the past fourteen has been a resident of
Napa County. His ranch comprises 1,360 acres, mostly rolling land, on which
he formerly kept from 300 to 400 head of dairy cattle, but during the past
two years he has reduced his dairy stock, and has engaged more extensively
in general farming, having at present only about seventy head of milk stock.
Most of the dairy product was butter for the San Francisco market, of which
he used to ship from 1,200 to 1,400 pounds per week, but on account of the
low price he has reduced production to a comparatively small amount. He is
now putting in about 300 acres of wheat. He had on this place the first
vineyard panted in Napa County, by Mrs. John B. Scott, the wife of the
original owner. This vineyard was of the Mission variety, and being an
inferior grape Mr. Martinelli has finally rooted them out. He
has now only about five acres in vines.
He was born in the town of Maggia, Ticino, Switzerland, his parents being Fidele and Maria (Riccioli)
Martinelli, natives of that country. He attended the usual schools
of the town until he was fourteen years of age, when he came to America,
proceeding directly to California by way of the Isthmus. He obtained
employment at once in the dairy business in Marin County for two
years, then for one year in Sonoma, finally en- gaging in dairying on
his own account in Sonoma County. In the fall of 1875 he removed
to his present place, renting at first and later purcliasing the ranch,
where he has lived ever since.
He was married in 1881, to Miss Ida
Welch, a native of Vallejo, and daughter of Philip and Elizabeth
(McConnell) Welch. They have four children, Marj, Edward, Loretta
and Rosa. Mr. Martineili is a member of the Young Men's Institute, of
Napa, and is a firm adherent of the Democratic party.
[Pages 704-705]
N CADENASSO, a well-known orchardist of the faiuous Capay Valley, was
born in Genoa, Italy, in February, 1835, a son of Angelo and Mary Cadenasso.
He came to America in 1862, proceeding at once to this State, landing at San
Francisco, where lie remained several years,
engaged in vegetable gardening on rented ground. He was afterward in
the livery business, which he sold out, and in 1872 went to Yolo County,
where he rented land until 1878. He then purchased 160 acres in the
Capay Valley, of which he has since sold a portion. His ranch at present
contains about thirty-five acres, all in choice fruit trees and
vines, now producing crops. On a part of his place is located the
railroad station named in his honor, Cadenasso, which promises to be a
thriving town.
Mr. Cadenasso was united in matrimony,
December 16, 1876, to Miss Antoinetta Daneri, a native of Chiavari,
Italy, who came to America and to California in 1872. They have six
children, namely: Silvio, Clelia, Atilio, Aurilio, Ida and Mantio.
[Page 704]
C S THOMAS, deceased.— This gentleman, who came to
Yolo
County in an early ‘ day, was
associated with her business interests for many years, and his career,
therefore, becomes of special interest in this volume. The following sketch
is gleaned from data now available:
He was born in Connecticut,
December 20, 1810, but at
an early age accompanied his parents on their removal to
New York State,
where he grew to manhood. He was there married, October 12, 1840,
to Miss J L. Wallace, a native of New York
State. About 1835 they removed to
Wisconsin, and from there, in 1853, Mr. Thomas
crossed the plains to California
with his family, making the trip by the usual methods employed in those
days. He located at Placerville,
where he tried his fortune at mining for one day only. This limited ex-
perience satisfied him, however, and he was soon thereafter engaged in
merchandising. In 1855 he left Placerville
and removed to Yolo
County, located at Knight’s Landing,
where he established a store and engaged in the grain business, building a
warehouse for that purpose. While
there he was associated, at different times, with J. D. Laughenauer and W.
W. Brownell, the businesses being,
respectively, Thomas & Laughenauer and Thomas & Brownell. About 1868 he sold
out his business interests at Knight’s Landing, removed to
Oakland, and while there entered into partnership
with W. G. Hunt in the grain
business, with head-quar- ters at Woodland,
their office being where the Bryns Hotel now stands. After a residence of
one year at Oakland, Mr. Thomas
removed to Vallejo, where the
firm built a large grain ware- house, and thereafter carried on business at
both places. Two years after removing to Vallejo,
Mr. Thomas disposed of his warehouse interests there, and came to
Woodland, which was thereafter his home. He still
remained a member of the firm of Thomas & Hunt, which be- came widely known
throughout the Sacramento Valley, and was in active business until the time
of his death, which occurred August 10, 1882.
He was a stanch Republican in his
political preferences, but was in no sense a politician.
However, while a young man in
Wisconsin, he had held the office of Sheriff of the
County in which he resided. He was an enterprising, public-spirited man, and
besides his handsome residence built several brick blocks there, which are
still the property of his family. He was a man much respected for his
sterling traits of character, and was honored and greatly respected by the
entire farming community, with which he had long been engaged in business,
as well as by his neighbors in Woodland.
His death was mourned and deplored as a loss to the County.
His widow is yet a resident of
Woodland Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were the
parents of two children, both of whom have grown to maturity, and are
residents of this city, viz.: Addie E., wife of F. E. Baker; and C. F.,
whose sketch follows: [Page 704]
C F. THOMAS, one of the foremost young men of this community, who
holds no less a position than that of cashier of that great financial
institution, the Bank of Wood- land, was born in Sutter
County,
California, January 22, 1859.
Soon after his birth the family removed to Yolo County, and with the
exception of a year at Oakland and two at Vallejo, he has been a resident of
this County ever since. After receiving a common school education he was, at
the early age of fourteen years, placed in charge of the extensive grain
ware- houses of Thomas & Hunt, at Woodland
and Black’s. At the age of sixteen he embarked in the merchandise business,
which claimed his attention until October 1, 1877.
He was then but eighteen years of age, yet was tendered the position of
accountant in the bank. Considering his youth and the importance of the
position, this office would seem as novel as it was flattering, yet his
business success already won justified the judgment of [the bank officials
in their selection. He assumed the duties of his new post with his
accustomed matter-of-fact determination, and so ably and satisfactorily were
his duties performed that in 1883 he was advanced to the position of
cashier. It is probable that lie was then the youngest man serving in that
capacity in a bank of such prominence in the
United States, yet the position was well
filled to the entire satisfaction of the bank’s officers and customers, and
it is safe to say that there is not in California
a more popular bank official.
Mr. Thomas is deeply interested in the welfare and
prosperity of Yolo
County, and is. always ready and
willing to identify himself with any movement having for its object the
advancement of the interests of this community.
The business ability which won for
him his position in the bank has also been called into play in the handling
of outside investments, a number of which he has. Besides considerable
Woodland realty, he has 5,000 acres of country land, located in
Yolo, Colusa, Stanislaus and Tehama counties.
Mr. Thomas was married,
January 26, 1880, to Miss Agnes Bullock, daughter of
the late J. P. Bullock, who was one
of this County’s oldest and best citizens. Their cottage on
First Street
is a model of beauty and comfort.
Mr. Thomas enjoys the fullest confidence of his employers,
and is deeply interested in the welfare of the bank, as he considers it a
great honor to be connected with an institution of such standing, which, as
is well known, is second to none in this State.
He enjoys the highest respect of the people of
Yolo County, and
people of all classes, rich and poor, are proud to call him friend.
[Pages 704 - 705]
J MONGINI has a ranch of
140 acres about three and a half miles from Napa,
on which is a small family orchard of various fruit and nut-bearing trees,
and forty acres of vineyard. He has also a small winery, with storage
capacity for 25,000 gallons. He purchased this place about eleven years ago,
and began planting it out in grapes and his family orchard. Fifteen acres
have been in fruit for about ten years, and the remainder has come into
bearing at intervals since that time. He was born in Toriglia,
Province of Genoa, Italy,
in 1839, and worked as a lad in the silver and quicksilver mines of
Sardinia
until he came to America
in 1868. He was married in 1866 to Miss Theresa Navonia, a native of the
same province in Italy.
There are three children living: Louise, Joseph and Frederic. Remaining in
New York for some time after arriving in this
country, he reached San Francisco
in 1870, and at first worked in San Jose
and Livermore, and a few months
in Napa. He then returned to
San Francisco, where he remained for about eight
years; but, remembering the beautiful vineyards of his native land, and its
wonderful resemblance in soil and climate to that of
Napa
Valley, he decided to settle there,
and purchased his present ranch, in the cultivation of which he has been
very successful. Mr. Mongini has
heretofore sold the most of his grapes to the wine cellars in
Napa, but this year (1889) he has made them all into
wine, and has on hand about 12,000 gallons. [Page 707]
HIRAM BAILEY, of Livermore,
is a native of Ontario County,
New York, born January 10, 1832,
and was there reared and educated. In 1852 he came to
California, leaving New York
on the steamer United States,
making the trip via Panama,
and landing at San Francisco
from the steamer Isthmus, March 24, 1852.
He first went to Marysville, where, however, he did not remain long, but
soon went to Contra
Costa
County, near the
Alameda
line, were he remained six months. He then went to the Moracra red- woods,
where he was engaged in making shingles, posts and rails, and hauling the
lumber by oxen into the valley. He came to this County on the 29th of August, 1855, and having
learned the carpenter’s trade in his New York
home he undertook and carried to completion the building of a house for
Jose, son of Robert Livermore. That house was located on what is now known
as the Robertson ranch, some three miles or more east of
Livermore. After
a couple of years in this vicinity as a carpenter, he gave up that trade and
embarked in cattle dealing, which engaged his attention un- til 1860. lie
then commenced farming about four miles and a half northeast of
Livermore, and so continued until 1874, when he moved
into Livermore. In the spring of
1874 he was elected Assessor of Murray Township, being the first one elected
in that capacity for the town- ship under the new law. Retiring from that
position two years later, he was for the next year in the butchering
business. Later, he held the position of Deputy Assessor for two years. In
the fall of 1882 he was elected Supervisor of this district, and served a
term of two years with credit in the board, in which he was chairman of the
Franchise Committee. In 1886 lie was elected to the General Assembly of
California, and in that body was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture,
and a member of the Enrollment Committee. In the fall of 1888 lie was again
chosen by the electors of the district to a membership in the Board of
Supervisors of Alameda County, in which he is an influential and active
working member. He is chairman of the Hospital Committee, and a member of
those on Roads and Bridges, Franchises, and Auditing.
Mr. Bailey was married in this County, on
the 24th of June, 1860, to Miss Cassimira Funtes,
step-daughter of Robert Livermore. They have had live children, four living,
viz.: Josie, Albert (who died at the age of twenty -two years and live
months), Rebecca, Willie and Mamie.
Mr. Bailey is a member of Mosaic Lodge, No. 218, F. & A.
M., and of Doric Chapter, R. A. M.,
of Livermore; of Oakland
Command- ery, K. T. ; of Livermore Lodge, No. 219, I.
O. 0. F., and of the local lodge, A.
O. U. AV.
Mr. Bailey has always taken an active part in public
affairs, and has lent his best efforts in behalf of the people’s interests;
hence he has always been popular, and the interests of the County are
considered thoroughly safe in such hands as his. [Page 707]
O M ADAMS has for the past twenty-five
years been a resident of California,
and for the past live years an occupant of his ranch two and a half miles
from Napa, on the Sonoma road, where he has an orchard of twenty- five acres
and a vineyard of fifty acres. In the orchard are French and English prunes,
two acres; peaches, two acres; apples, two acres; and the remainder in
Bartlett and Winter Nelis pears; while the vineyard comprises mostly Golden
Chasselas and Zinfandel grapes. Mr.
Adams was horn in New Hampshire, in 1837, and in his youth completed a
course at Amherst (Massachusetts) College, graduating in 1856. He then came
to Chicago, where he engaged in
teaching for about four years in the public schools. Next he was engaged in
the wholesale coal trade for Price, Morris & Co.
In 1862 lie enlisted in the Chicago
Mercantile Battery, with which he served under Sherman at the battle of
Arkansas Post, in a severe skirmish on Black River, and in four other sharp
engagements before arriving at Champion Hills, In the noted engagement at
the latter point he suffered a bullet wound in the leg, which required two
years to be healed. About four months after receiving this wound he was
discharged for disability. As soon as it was possible, he went to work,
taking the position of Chief Clerk for the First Commissary at
Chicago for about two years. He then came to
California, by the Panama route, arriving in San Francisco in 1866. First he
engaged in mining for two years, in both Nevada
and California; next he was a
teacher in Oakland
College, — an institution afterward purchased by
the State and converted into the preparatory department of the
State University.
After a service there of nearly four years, he was for eleven years
principal of the high school at Sacramento.
In 1884 he purchased his present home of 160 acres. Mr. Adams is a member or
the Masonic order of Sacramento Commandery, No. 2, K. T., and of the
Chapter; and he holds demits, as his lodges are too distant for his
attendance. His parents were O. M.
and Fannie (Stearns) Adams, natives and residents of New Hampshire. [Page
708]
JACOB HANNA, proprietor of the Liver- more Roller Mills, is a native
of Illinois, born in
Warren
County, near Monmouth,
August 18, 1853, his parents being William and Rebecca
(Cresswell) Hunna, the former a native of Indiana, and the latter of
Ohio. The father removed to
Illinois in an early day, and opened up one among
the first farms near Center Grove, in that State. In 1860 the family came to
California
by water, landing at San Francisco
from the steamer Golden Gate. The steamer was
destroyed by fire on her next trip. After
one year without permanent settlement in the State, the family located at
Gilroy,
Santa Clara County,
where Mr. Hanna, Sr., embarked in the lumber trade, and was so engaged until
his retirement from business a few years ago.
Our subject grew up in Gilroy,
and there received his education, with the exception of a commercial course
taken at the Pacific Business College, San Francisco,
in 1875. He then re- turned to Gilroy
and was connected with the lumber business there until the summer of 1879,
when he went to Texas. He
engaged in the cattle business, not far from Austin,
which employed his attention until the summer of 1886, when he returned to
California. In the spring of 1887 he came to
Livermore, for the purpose of buying an interest in
the roller mills, and has resided here ever since, being known as one of the
most enterprising citizens.
Mr. Hanna was married at Gilroy,
April 30, 1879, to Miss Clara R. Rea, daughter
of Hon. Thomas Rea, one of the
leading citizens of Santa Clara
County, and sister of State Railroad
Commissioner Rea. They have three children, all boys, viz.: Thomas R.,
“Walter J. and Samuel C.
The Livermore
Roller Mills, which Mr. Hanna has
conducted successfully, were built about the fall of 1884, by W. F. and
Antone Laumeister. They carried on the business until the summer of 1887,
when Jacob Hanna purchased the interest of Antone Laumeister.
In the spring of 1889 he also bought
out W. F. Laumeister, and carried on
the milling business alone until May, 1890, when he took into partnership
Mr. George Orbell, a practical miller. The mill building has a frontage of
sixty feet by a depth of seventy, and is two stories in height. The plant is
equipped with three stand of rolls, and has a capacity for turning out fifty
barrels per day. The mill runs mainly on custom work for the local market,
the principal output being wheat flour, though considerable barley is also
ground. Recent improvements have been made in the way of re- fitting and
remodeling, and the mill is now considered to be excellently equipped for
the work before it.
The mill is equipped with a forty-horse- power engine,
which Mr. Hanna uses in operating his electric light system for
Livermore. The
A Waterhouse arc system is. in use here, and the plant was put in by Messrs.
Hanna and Laumeister in 1888, the latter’s interest being subsequently
purchased by Mr. Hanna. He uses a twelve-light machine, though but eleven
lights are used in illuminating Livermore,
which is done under a contract with the city.
Mr. Hanna is certainly deserving of credit for his
enterprise, which has redounded to the benefit of
Livermore. Though but a young man, there is no one
who has been more active in the matter of improvements and advancement.
[Pages 709 - 710]
D F MAJERS, one of the well-known farmers of
Contra
Costa County,
dates his birth February 22, 1831, in
Madison County, Kentucky. His mother, whose maiden name was Ellen Harris,
was a native of Ohio, and is
now aged seventy-four years; his father, Isham Harris, a native of Madison
County, Kentucky, is a brick-mason by trade, and is still .living, at the
age of eighty-five years, in Cass County,
Missouri. When the subject of this sketch was but
ten years of age, he was taken by his parents to
Ashtabula County, Ohio, where
he grew up, attending school, etc. At the age of twenty-five years he
started for the land of gold, then apparently situated in the region of the
golden sunset. Leaving Kansas
City,
Missouri, May 1, 1854,
with a train of several wagons and twenty- six persons, he worked his way by
driving stock, and landed in Martinez
November 1, 1854; and ever since then he has
been a farmer of Contra Costa County. He has prospered in his business, and
now has a tine residence and is enjoying a beautiful home, three miles from
Pacheco in Ygnacio
Valley. This place of 263 acres he purchased in
1880, known then as the old H. K. W. Clark’s
place. Clark
was a great land lawyer in Oakland,
who was accidentally shot on this place by his son. Mr. Majers has put upon
this place all the improvements now visible there.
In 1867 he returned to Ohio
and brought back with him to California
his newly wedded wife, Sarah Darmon, a native of the
Buckeye
State, born October 1,
1841; and tiiey now have one son. by name Edward, who
was born April 19, 1869. Mr. Majers is a member
of Facheco Lodge, No. 117, L O. O. F. [Page 710]
F M BEE, a farmer of Yolo
County, is the son of Frederick and
Katherine (Maxwell) Bee, natives of the State of New
York. The mother died at the home where her only
son, the subject of this sketch, resided, August 18, 1889; and the father is now
at San Francisco, acting as Chinese Consul. The farm, belonging to both
father and son, is now man- aged by the latter. Born in
New York State,
he was brought to California
when an infant by his parents, who came by way of the Isthmus.
On arrival in this State, the family
was first located in Hangtown, where the elder Mr. Bee engaged in mining and
in the management of a provision store, employing a large number of men in
the former industry. Arriving at the age of sixteen years, Mr. F. M. Bee
attended a boarding-school at Oakland
and quit at the age of eighteen, intending to follow book-keeping; but his
health failed and he began work upon his father’s ranch in
Sonoma
County, near
Petaluma. Two years afterward,
November 1, 1888, he came to his present ranch, intending to
remain faithful in the service and care of his father, as he had already
done for his mother up to the time of her death. She was fifty-eight years
old when she died. Mr. Bee is yet un- married, and is the only child. Upon
the ranch of 140 acres of well-improved land, he is engaged principally in
the raising of wine and table grapes. [Page 710]
EDWIN Z.
HENNESSEY has resided in this
State and in Napa since 1884. He
was born in Decatur,
Illinois, in 1863, his parents being William
and Susan (White) Hennessey. His father was one of the brothers whose name
has become famous the world over as the distillers of the celebrated
Hennessey brandies in various parts of Europe, and he established a
distillery at Paw Paw, Michigan, which lie conducted for a number of years.
The Doctor received his early education in the public schools of
Decatur, and began his preparation for a medical
career by becoming proficient as a druggist. He then entered the office of
Dr. E. S. Elder, of Indianapolis,
Indiana, who was at that time secretary of the State Board of Health, and
Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in the State Medical
College of Indiana. While with Dr. Elder he attended lectures and graduated
as an M. D. in the class of 1883. He acted for some time as interne at an
orphan asylum, after his graduation, and coming to
California
he commenced the practice of medicine in Napa
in 1884. Here he has been fortunate in building up a large and successful
practice, especially in surgical operations, holding the position of Surgeon
of the County
Infirmary, and meeting with exceptional success
in the conduct of that institution. Dr. Hennessey has an elegant home in
Napa
as the result of his extensive practice. He
was married in 1884 to Miss Lottie Fisher, a native of
Indiana, and daughter of Andrew and Nellie (Farrie)
Fisher, of Indianapolis.
He is a member of Napa Lodge of the
Improved Order of Red Men, of the Napa
County and State Medical societies,
and of the Sydenham Medical Society of Indiana. [Page 711]
THEODORE GORNER, a prominent business man of
Livermore, was born in
Hamburg,
Germany,
October 31, 1850, and
emigrated to
America
in 1866. Arriving in San Francisco
October 3 of the latter year, he began the trade of harness-maker and
followed it there two years; and then he was in the same business in
Oakland
until 1873. In 1874 he located in
Livermore,
purchasing the harness
establishment
of George Beebe, which he still carries on. He is also in the general
auctioneering business in company with other gentlemen, and deals in real
estate and other property, under the firm name of Dutcher, Gorner & Mc-
Donald. Mr. Gorner also carries a large stock of wagons, carriages and other
vehicles, in which he has about $3,000 invested. His business is growing
upon his hands. He also has a furniture and upholstering establishment,
established in 1884, and now, with a partner, under the firm name of Gorner
& Wilkinson, has a stock of $8,000. Mr. Gorner has been City Treasurer three
years, and in 1878-‘79 he was Town Clerk one year. He is a member of the
I.O. O. F., is a charter member of the society of Sons of Hermann, of
Livermore, which was established in 1887, with a
membership of eighty. He is also an active Republican.
Mr. Gorner was married in Oakland,
March 28, 1874, to Miss Katie Pink, of that
place, and they have five children: Dora, Katie, Walter, Alma and Elsie.
[Page 711]
V SLADE, a farmer near Winters, Yolo
County, was born
December 8, 1822, in Baltimore
County,
Maryland, a son of Abraham and Elizabeth
(Pierce) Slade, natives of Maryland.
The father, a farmer by occupation, remained a resident of that County until
his death, which occurred in 1856; the mother died at the same place a few
years later. Mr. Slade was brought up
on a farm, working on the home place until he was thirty years of age.
He then spent two years in
Illinois
as a farm laborer, and in 1859 he came overland by ox teams to
California, the journey occupying the time from
April to September. The first two years in this State he was in Solano
County, and then for some time alternately in Solano and Yolo counties; and
then he purchased land in Sonoma County, which he occupied for two years;
then he sold out there, in 1875, and purchased his present property, three
and a half miles east of Winters. This is a very tine place; the residence
is so situated that an observer there obtains a very tine view of all the
country around. The farm comprises about 260 acres of choice bottom land,
well set to vines and other fruits. He also raises a great many vegetables.
He has packing sheds and all necessary equipments for carrying on the fruit
business.
He was married, in 1843, to Elizabeth Mathews, a native of
Maryland, and of their seven children two sons and
three daughters are living. [Page 712]
PATRICK CALLAHAN, engaged extensively in the rearing of live-stock,
especially sheep, near Livermore.
He was born in County
Donegal, north
Ireland,
February 21, 1840, and was brought up in agricultural
pursuits. In 1862 he went to Melbourne,
Australia, and was engaged in mining in
that vicinity five years. In 1867 he left that country and landed in
San Francisco
August 28, 1868, where he was occupied for a
year in water delivery. In 1869 he went to Livermore
and purchased a ranch, where he carries on general farming and raises
live-stock, especially sheep, of which he always has on hand 3,000 to 8,000
head. The fleece is an annual average of fif- teen pounds to the head. Mr.
Callahan has been identified with several prominent enterprises in the
County, among them the Farmers’ Union. He is a stanch
Democrat, and has been for nine years one of the Town Trustees.
He was united in matrimony
May 21, 1873, in San Francisco,
to Miss Mary McBride. The names of their four children are: John R., Mary
E., Margaret A. and William H. [Page 712]
GEORGE C. STANLEY, a prominent citizen of Livennore, was bon November 15, 1839, in
Randolph,
Vermont, where he was educated and learned
the trade of wood- turning. In 1860 he came to
California
by way of Panama,
landing in San Francisco. For
the first year he was engaged in various occupations, and then he went to
the Cariboo country and followed mining about a year. Then he came to
Centerville, this State, and engaged in teaming over the Sierra Nevada
mountains for a period of three years; next he followed ranching for a abort
time near San Jose; then he located at Pleasanton for three years, in the
same business; and finally, selling out that place, he went to Livermore and
purchased another farm, which he still occupies. He also deals in real
estate, and has been engaged in general mercantile business. He is a member
of Vesper Lodge, No. 62, A. O. U. W., at Livermore.
In November, 1870, in Livermore.
he married Mellie Patterson, who died leaving one child. Mr. Stanley, October 20, 1879, married Miss Emma Reed, and
they have two children: George R. and Leiand. [Page 712]
WILLIAM A. PRYOR is a native son of the Golden West and an
enterprising “3 business man of Shasta. He was l)orn Vallicita,
Calaveras County, California,
June 16, 1853. His father, Joseph Pryor, was one of
the well known and highly respected pioneers of Calltbrnia. He was born in
Cornwall, Eng- land, June 16, 1826, of English
parents. In 1846 he emigrated to Australia
and engaged in mining. He married Miss Priscilla Thomas in 1849. She and her
ancestors were English people. Soon after their marriage they came to
California, where Mr. Pryor was successfully engaged
in mining for some time in Tnolumne and Calaveras counties In 1854 they came
to Shasta
County and purchased a ranch,
located twelve miles west of Shasta, known as the Dr.
Hulen
Ranch. This they farmed for nine or ten years. In 1863 they came to
Shasta and lived here for several years, until 1878, when they removed to
Red Bluff. They were residing there in 1879 when Mr. Pryor’s death occurred.
His bereaved family and the Masonic fraternity, of which he had been a
worthy member, gathered around his last resting place and repeated their
beautiful and impressive burial service. He was a kind and affectionate
husband, an indulgent father and a most worthy citizen, and he died in the
full strength of matured manhood, in his fifty-fourth year,
lamented by all who knew him.
William A. Pryor, the subject of this sketch, was the
second son of a family of four children. His
education was obtained in the public schools of Shasta. When fifteen years
of age he went to learn the drug business and remained in one store eight
years. Then for a time he was prescription clerk in a drug store in
Sacramento. After
this lie was clerk and book-keeper for J. E. Church, of Red Bluff. In 1884
he purchased his present drug business in Shasta, where he has a nice, well
kept stock and enjoys the trade of the town. In 1885 he was appointed
Postmaster at Shasta and served until 1889, when he resigned.
In 1885 he was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Litsch,
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Litsch, also well known early settlers of this County. Mr. Litsch was a
native of Ger- many, born at Renchen, Grand Dutchy of Baden, in 1823; came
to the United States
in 1849, and across the plains to California
in 1851. Upon his arrival in this State he engaged in mining in
Placerville,
El Dorado County.
In 1852 he worked at his trade, that of baker, in
Sacramento, and in the same year went to Colusa,
where he was employed as a baker until the middle of 1853. After the fire at
that place he purchased a team and was engaged in teaming for a time, when
he located in Shasta, where he purchased a bakery’ of Messrs. Potts & Muff.
In 1854 he built the two-story brick store in which Mr. Pryor’s drug store
is now located. In 1870 he engaged in the brewing business and carried it on
success- fully until the 28th day of May, 1884, when his death
occurred.
Mr. and Mrs. Pryor have one daughter, Alice Maud, born in
Shasta. Mr. Pryor is manager of the Shasta telegraph office. He is a charter
member of Shasta Parlor, No. 35, Native Sons of the Golden West. He is also
a member of Castle Lodge, No. 62, K. of P, Red Bluff.
Mr. Pryor’s mother, an amiable lady, resides with her son
in Shasta. [Pages 712 - 713]
B F. THOMAS, a resident of Livermore,
was born in Boston, Massachusetts,
November 7, 1885. After receiving his school
education he worked there in railroad shops for a year. In 1855 he came by
sail around Cape Horn to the
Golden
Coast, arriving in
San Francisco the next year, after a voyage of six
months and a quarantine of four months at Rio Janeiro, where eighteen of the
twenty-four of the ship’s crew died of yellow fever. The first two years in
this State Mr. Thomas was a grocer in
San Francisco; next he had charge of William
Hayward’s boat in freighting between Haywards and San
Francisco
by river, and driving stage between Haywards and San
Antonio, now Oakland,
while he made his home in Oakland,
until 1858, when he began work as a carpenter. After being employed as a
journeyman for three years, he began contracting and building, and acted in
that capacity for ten years, and then he purchased and began to operate a
steam thresher throughout Alameda County, and he is still connected with
that business, giving steady employment to twenty-two men and the same
number of horses to each machine. He has been a resident of
Livermore
six years; is a member of Livermore Lodge, No. 218, F. & A. M.; of Sycamore
Lodge, No. 129, I. O. O. F., of Hay
wards, and of the Encampment also of that place. [Page 713]
PATRICK FLANAGAN, wagon and carriage manufacturer at
Livermore, was born ^k. in
County Galway, Ireland,
February 28, 1850, and when he was a small
child his parents left him with relatives while they emigrated to
America. Some years later he came also and
joined them at Litchfield,
Connecticut, where they were residing. He
learned the black- smith’s trade at Salisbury,
Connecticut. In 1868 he went to
Bridgeport, same State, and was engaged in the
manufactory of Hoskis & Sons, in the building of wagons and carriages,
blacksmithing, etc. In 1875 he came by rail to
California
and worked as a journeyman blacksmith in the shop of John Aylward at
Livermore
for about four years, and in 1880 he established himself in business in that
town. For his wife he took in wedlock
Miss Annie Nevin, October 2, 1884. The names
of their three children are Annie M., Thomas E. and Mary. [Page 713]
A Memorial &
Biographical History of Northern California :
Chicago :
The Lewis
Publishing Company, 1891
Transcribed by Martha A Crosley Graham, 10 October 2008 - Page Numbers listed with Biography
Site Created: 10
September 2008
Martha A Crosley Graham
Rights Reserved:
2008
