USA > California > A Volume of memoirs and genealogy of representative citizens of northern California, including biographies of many of those who have passed away > Part 15
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In 1867 he was elected sheriff of Calaveras county, and has held the office continuously by re-election since except during the period mentioned. when he engaged in quartz mining and was not a candidate. Whether a candidate on the Democratic ticket or an "independent" candidate, has always been a matter of indifference to him: he has been elected by flattering majorities. Sometimes he has had no political nominee in the field against him, while twice some of the would-be leaders of the Democratic party wanted to give the office to some one else, for obligations thus acknowledged, and his name did not appear on any ticket : but just before election he announced himself as an independent candidate and was the only such candidate in the field, and he was re-elected to the office by his usual large majority,-of from four to five hundred. Forty-five years have elapsed since he was first appointed a deputy sheriff and thirty-three since he was first elected sheriff of Calaveras county.
From 1855 until the office was segregated from the sheriff's office, he was foreign miners' tax collector, and deputy sheriff of Calaveras county, and was elected to the office of tax collector and assessor for three terms, after it became an elective office, up to 1867, when he was elected sheriff of the county.
Politically Mr. Thorn is a Democrat, but not a strong partisan, and cares little for politics when it comes to filling local offices with good or poor men. His public spirit is such that he has always taken a helpful interest in every movement which in his good judgment has promised to benefit the town and county.
Sheriff Thorn's official history is one of peculiar interest, and there is enough in it that would make exciting reading to fill a volume. His success and popularity have been well earned, for he has many times risked his life.
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against great odds, in the interest of order and justice, and has almost invar- iably captured the criminals he went to take, and recaptured the only criminal who during his long career as sheriff was successful in breaking jail. He has never shrunk from any duty that confronted him, and has never asked any man to do any dangerous or disagreeable work for him. No amount of money could hire him to hang a man, nor would he hire any man to hang a man for him : but in pursuance of his official duty he has hanged and assisted in the execution of five in the same spirit in which he would have met any other obligation to the public. No officer in California has accomplished more than he in ridding the state of desperadoes, who have made life and property insecure, and he has always commanded the respect of the criminals he has arrested, and no mob has ever taken a prisoner from him, although three different attempts have been made.
Some of Sheriff Thorn's most dangerous experiences may be briefly referred to here, and the writer regrets that there is not space to relate them in detail. In the month of June, 1855. soon after he was appointed deputy sheriff, the notorious Sam Brown, or "Long Haired Brown," as he was sometimes called, and Bunty Owens, killed two Chilanoes over a monte game at Upper Calaveritas, and in fleeing from the place were closely pur- sued by the infuriated Chilanoes, upon whom they turned and fired, mortally wounding one of them, when the pursuit was abandoned by the Chilanoes. A messenger was then dispatched to young Thorn at San Antonio, notifying him of the affair, who immediately summoned to his aid one of the men employed by him in mining, by the name of Edward Hopkins, and going before Judge Spencer, some three miles distant, Thorn swore out warrants against the murderers and started in pursuit, traveling about all night in search of them, and early the following morning obtained information that they were at John Hick's cabin, on O'Neil's creek, with four of their friends. Proceeding thereto, and arriving in sight of the place. Brown appeared with rifle in hand, which he immediately raised to his face, taking aim at the approaching officers: but Thorn, thinking Brown too brave a man to fire on them before hailing them kept right on, while Hopkins, apparently not pos- sessing that confidence in Brown, staved back in the rear. Thorn had pro- ceeded but a short distance toward the place when Brown lowered his rifle off of him, and Thorn said that he never felt so happy as he did about that time. Arriving at the cabin, Thorn placed Brown and Owens under arrest. and Brown remarked to Thorn that he had just arrived in time, as he had intended "skipping the country," using his language, immediately after eating his breakfast.
On leaving the place with his prisoners, to take them before Judge Spen cer's court, some three or more miles distant therefrom, Brown asked the favor of Thorn to be allowed to pack his rifle along with him, as he believed that they might be attacked on the way by the Chilanoes, and which under the circum- stances was granted him. The examination before the justice of the peace lasted two days, and was one of the most exciting that ever occurred in the county, as about one hundred Chilanoes gathered about the place, besides which
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over forty of the prisoners' friends were present; and, as the ill feelings between the two opposing factions were at a fever heat, it was all that Thorn could do to prevent a bloody conflict. It became an open secret that Brown's friends intended to take him away from Thorn; so the latter called on some of his friends to remain with him during the night; but they all framed excuses for not so doing : so he sat all night alone on a box, with a six-shooter in hand, to prevent the execution of their intentions, and stop the sale or giving away of liquors to any one there, which was obeyed by the proprietor of the bar.
At the conclusion of the examination before Orrin Spencer, justice of the peace of the township, when they were committed a friend of Brown's, by the name of Lafayette Choiser, attempted to hand him a loaded revolver, which Thorn snatched and knocked him down. Another friend of Brown's, by the name of Alfred Richardson, then swore out two warrants on false accusations against two Chilanoe desperadoes, who were standing with their kind in a crowd close by, and who it was believed would try to kill Thorn, if he attempted to serve them. Thorn understood the situation perfectly, but the warrants had been issued and placed in his hands, and it was his duty to serve them, and he served them without hesitation and came out of the affair in safety.
That day Thorn, with two assistants, took Sam Brown, Bunty Owens and the two Chilanoes referred to, to Mokelumne Hill, and placed them in the county jail. Brown was sent to San Quentin only for a few years. after which he returned to Calaveras county, and in a short time went to Carson City, and Virginia City, and was afterward killed by Van Sickle, on Carson river, who had a record of seventeen men that he had killed in his life-time!
A blacksmith by the name of Anderson and another man were killed at Greenwood Valley, Eldorado county, in 1857. or thereabouts, by a Chilano desperado named Santiago Molino, who made his escape and for whom large rewards were offered for his arrest, dead or alive, by the citizens of that place and Georgetown, and notices sent to the officers throughout the state. Deputy Sheriff Thorn used his best efforts in the case and finally ascertained that Molino was at Col-o-ro, a small mining camp in Mariposa county, in company with three more of his countrymen of the same ilk. Selecting Fred Wesson, a worthy assistant, they started and arrived at the above camp in two days thereafter, and late in the evening ascertained the cabin in which he and his associates were stopping, a short distance from Col-o-ro, to which they went, and, entering the cabin, found only two of the occupants therein ; but Thorn soon recognized one of them as the man wanted and commenced asking him a few questions when suddenly Molino sprang from his bed, seized his six-shooter and attempted to use it: but they wrested it from him and informed him that they were officers and that he was their prisoner.
On leaving the cabin for camp, Thorn took charge of Molino, while Wesson took charge of the other man, and on the way Molino made a des- perate break for liberty, closely pursued by Thorn, who fired at him with fatal effect; and on Wesson's arrival at the scene, with the other Chilanoe in
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charge, Thorn requested him to go to the camp to procure the help of the only three Americans in the place, to take the body to camp, while he remained there. Some fifty or more of the Chilanoes came pouring into the little place and looked daggers at the officers, who watched their actions closely ; but no demonstrations were made on their part. The coroner's jury rendered a com- plimentary verdict in the case to Thorn. No reward was ever asked for, or paid by the parties offering it.
About this time, while Jesus Be-a-lova, a Mexican horse-thief and mur- derer, was under sentence of death at Mokelume Hill, and. three days before that set for his execution, was taken out by Thorn and an assistant officer, to be photographed, at the request of his mother: and on the return back to the jail, some little distance away, Thorn's assistant, claiming that he had forgotten something. left Thorn alone to proceed back to the jail with his big burly and unironed prisoner, when, like a flash, he turned on Thorn and seized his pistol; whereupon Thorn threw him down and alighted astraddle upon him, and, catching hold of the barrel of the cocked weapon, turned the muzzle from his person, and ramming his finger of the other hand up the Mexican's nostril, held him securely until assistance came!
One night at a toll-house near West Point, John McDonough and Gwin Raymond was badly shot through a window from the outside. The house was then entered by the two would-be murderers, and robbed of considerable money, etc., one of whom was captured, while the other, whose name was Charles Williams, escaped through the darkness. Shortly afterwards Deputy Sheriff Thorn found out where he was, near Princeton, in Mariposa county. chopping wood in the forest, and, riding up to him, demanded his surrender, when Williams rushed at him with an ax, uplifted, with the evident intention of splitting his head open: and when Williams got so close that the situation began to look unhealthy to Thorn, he shot him down.
Soon afterward Thorn was elected sheriff the first time, he and Constable Mathews started in pursuit of the Kinney Said murderers, and on their way stopped over night at Columbia, Tuolumne county. After supper Thorn, not anticipating any trouble, handed Mr. Fallon, the landlord, his weapons to keep over night, being too heavy to pack. Later in the evening Thorn and Math- ews' attention was called to three Mexicans, well mounted and dressed, who rode up in front of Kelly's livery stable, on a back street. The officers, proceed ing over to the stable, recognized them as men wanted by Sheriff Lincoln of Santa Cruz county for highway robbery, and Thorn, seizing one of the men by the collar and bridle of his animal, ordered him to dismount. which not being complied with, Thorn hauled him off of his horse, at the same time going after the Mexican's weapons, who also held on for possession, while another jumped off his horse, at whom Mathews fired and who ran into a dark har- ness room, and while Thorn was thus engaged in tusseling for the possession of the weapon the other Mexican opened fire on him with three shots, at close range, wounding him, however, but slightly, under the armpit, while another passed through the rim of his hat, and then the desperado ran away. as another party fired at him in order to save Thorn. Securing his man and
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placing him in Mathews' charge, Thorn entered the room and brought out the other Mexican, both of whom, with their outfits, were taken by Mathews and assistant to Calaveras county, while Thorn started for Mariposa in search of the Said murderers, one of whom he secured in that county and from whom lie obtained a full confession of his participation in the above murder, and in a short time captured the other in Amador county, near Oleta, who was afterward hung, while the former was sentenced for life at San Quentin state prison.
While Thorn was a deputy sheriff under High Sheriff Paul, and was returning home from a sheriff's sale, at the old Bascoe ranch, of a lot of stock, accompanied by his wife, on horseback, in traveling along the trail in the evening two disguised men on horseback were seen a little distance ahead, on the side of the trail, under a tree, apparently awaiting and watch- ing for them; so Thorn drew his revolver, and as he approached nearer them they made towards the trail on which he was traveling, apparently to head him off, whereupon he immediately covered them with his weapon and demanded of them what they wanted and what they were doing, at which they halted a moment, in a hesitating manner, and then turned around and rode off a short distance and stopped, and the officer and his wife proceeded ; but, still coveting the money which the officer had from the proceeds of the sale, they followed them along on the side of the trail some little distance, when Thorn, not desirous of another attempt at a hold up, especially under the circumstances. let their horses go at full speed and thus left the would-be highwaymen in the lurch. Some time afterward Thorn found out who the parties were, but the attempted crime was then outlawed.
Sheriff Thorn has had many very risky experiences during the many years that he has held his position, and has also been very successful in saving the tax-payers of his county many thousands of dollars by securing con- fessions of guilt from many of the criminal element. Notably amongst the number was that of Charles E. Bolton, alias Black Bart, the Po 8, who con- fessed his guilt to Thorn in the presence of Captain A. Walker Stone, of San Francisco, the captain ably assisting him on that occasion, through which a large amount of stolen treasure was recovered and restored to Wells, Fargo & Company, and Bolton pleaded guilty to the charge in the superior court of Calaveras county, thus saving the county a long and expensive trial, with probably no conviction.
M. J. AZEVEDO.
Probably every civilized country on the face of the globe has furnished its representatives to California, and Mr. Azevedo, the well known member of the firm of Azevedo & Company, of Sacramento, claims Portugal as the land of his birth. His natal day is February 22, 1836, and he is the eldest of a family of nine children, whose parents were J. A. and Orso Marrionna Aze- vedo, both natives of the Azores islands, and now deceased. The subject of this review obtained his education in the place of his nativity and was reared to farm life.
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In 1854, at the age of eighteen years, he determined to seek a home in America, believing that thus he would improve his financial condition. Accord- ingly he sailed for Boston and at that port joined a whaling fleet for a two- years' cruise, which was attended with a fair degree of success. His next voyage was around Cape Horn to California, and on reaching the Golden state he left the vessel and joined the army of gold-seekers. For five years he engaged in mining in Butte county and prospered in his undertakings. On the expiration of that period he went to Sacramento and purchased land near Freeport and engaged in farming for thirteen years. He then returned to his native land, where he continued until 1889, when he again visited California and began buisness as a member of the firm of Azevedo & Company, pro- prietors of the Eagle Winery. The firm was organized and incorporated in April, 1889, since which time it has done a lucrative and thriving business. They manufacture all kinds of wines and brandies and have on hands a large stock of old wines whose rich quality and rare flavor enable the manu- facturers to secure the highest market prices. They ship not only to all sec- tions of Califorina, but also to many eastern cities, and their output is quite large. The business is conducted along progressive lines and the plant is equipped with all the conveniences and accessories that will promote the business.
While in his native land Mr. . Azevedo was united in marriage to Miss Marie Adelaide Azevedo, and they now have four children : Mary; Frank M .; Joseph M. and Amelia, the elder daughter being now married. Mr. Azevedo and his family are consistent members of the Catholic church and are well known in the community where they make their home. He is an energetic bus- iness man, devoting his time and energies to the conduct of the winery and his success is the outcome of his own efforts.
WILLIAM O. CLARK.
Through his long connection with the interests of Amador county Will- iam O. Clark has so lived as to win universal respect and consideration from his fellow men. Ile now resides on his farm of two hundred and thirty acres pleasantly located two miles west of Plymouth. He is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Madison county, that state, on the 25th of June, 1817. a year after its admission into the Union. He is of English descent, both his paternal and maternal grandfathers. John Clark and David Keeler, having emigrated to the colonies in 1749. They became residents of New England; and Timothy B. Clark, the father of our subject, was born in Fair- field county, in 1765. He married Polly Keeler, and in the early history of Methodism they united with the great reform movement and became promi- nent in church work, the father serving as a class-leader for many years. During the pioneer epock in the history of Indiana they made their home in that state, and in 1829 removed to Illinois, the father securing one hun- dred and sixty acres of dand in what is now the heart of Chicago, Clark street, in that city, being named in his honor. He had the credit of building
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Past Grand Worthy Patriarch Sons of Temperance of California.
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the first frame house in what is now the great metropolis, and was an active factor in the upbuilding and improvement of the city, whose commercial in- terests now largely rule the continent and have had an important influence upon the trade of the world. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812 and again performed military service in the Black Hawk war. He died in 1840, at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife lived to the age of sixty-eight years. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom only three are now living, namely : H. B. Clark, of Drytown; E. J. Clark, a prominent resi- dent and the president of the Davis County Bank at Farmington, Utah; and William O., of this review.
Mr. Clark, whose name introduces this sketch, pursued his education in an old log schoolhouse of Chicago, where he was a schoolmate of Chief Justice Blodgett and Royal Barber. the latter an eminent lawyer of Joliet. In 1832, when Black Hawk's warriors were burning the houses and driving the whites in Illinois west of Chicago on Indian creek, where they had the mas- sacre and burned the houses on the head waters of the Illinois river, W. O. Clark drove the wagon filled with fleeing women and children from their burn- ing houses to Fort Beggs, and when it became too dangerous there he assisted his father with the rest of them to Fort Dearborn, Chicago, when General Scott arrived and relieved them from further danger.
After putting aside his text-books Mr. Clark became deeply interested in the question of temperance, which was then largely agitating the country, the reform movement being then in its incipiency. He became an enthusiastic ad- vocate of the cause, traveling and lecturing for ten years and doing a great work in liberating men from the power of intoxicants. Throughout the long years of his life he never wavered in his allegiance to temperance principles, but at all times, both by precept and example, has advocated the abolishment of the liquor traffic. He has made a close study of the subject and is familiar with the effects of liquor upon the human system, as well as upon the moral and mental welfare of the race. So active and earnest has he been as a cham- pion of temperance movements that he has six times been elected grand worthy patriarch of the Sons of Temperance in the state of California. He was chosen a delegate to represent the temperance cause of California in the ?ld- tional convention which assembled in Chicago June 27, 1900, and which nomi- nated John G. Woolley for the presidency of the United States. On his way home he lectured in Illinois, Missouri, Idaho, Utah and California. He has lectured in all of the important cities of the country, has spoken in Madison Square Garden in New York and has made a journey around the entire world, visiting Europe, Asia, Africa, China and Japan, also spending some time in the Holy Land. He made the journey at his own expense in order to ob- tain a more complete and accurate idea of the history and conditions of the people who dwell on the earth. He is now eighty-four years of age, and for sixty-five years he has labored untiringly and assiduously in upholding the cause of temperance, meeting his own expenses during the greater part of the time. He was reared in the Methodist church, and is possessed of the earnest Christian faith and belief; but, realizing that his temperance labors could be
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more effective if he was not connected with any particular denomination, he has not joined any single organization. He is possessed of the highest spirit of tolerance, which is dominated by the kindliness, forbearance and self-sac- rifice that became the guide to the world when exemplified in the life of the lowly Nazarene almost twenty centuries ago.
In 1850 Mr. Clark came to California and assisted in establishing tem- perance work in San Francisco and Stockton. It was a movement greatly needed in this mining locality, where the men, released from the restraints of home and civilization, were too apt to wander into the ways of wickedness. He had the honor of serving as the chairman of the meeting called under the trees at Sutter Creek which voted to form the county of Amador, and since that time he has made the county his home, never changing his address through the past fifty years. In 1850 he brought to the county the first seed wheat and barley ever introduced here, making an experiment at grain-growing. This formed the nucleus of the great grain-growing industry in this section of the state. At all times he has been the advocate of progress and improvement as well as reform, and no history of northern California would be complete without the record of his life, so intimately has he been associated with the work of advancement. He built the first brick building in Amador county, and during twenty-five years of the most prosperous epoch in the history of Drytown he was the owner of a mercantile establishment there, receiving gold dust most of the time in exchange for the commodities which he handled. The gold dust he shipped to the mint in San Francisco, where it was converted into currency. His efforts as a merchant were continued with excellent suc- cess, and the money which he made he expended largely in his temperance work, meeting all the expenses of his travels and lectures.
Monday, August 6, 1855, marks the date of the atrocious Rancheria mur- der, the story of which is briefly told in the life of George Fisher, who was a conspicuous figure in trying to prevent the wholesale slaughter of citizens in Drytown and Rancheria. It must be remembered, however, that Mr. Clark was one of the most active citizens in trying to subdue this outlaw band, and his hospitable nature caused his home to be the rendezvous for many women and children, where they had fled for safety. The following day, when terror reigned supreme, when reason and judgment were supplanted by vengeance and retaliation by the strong hearts of men that were bleeding with sympathy for their friends who had been so cruelly murdered, it was the voice of the excited and enraged citizens to drive out entirely the Mexican population of that locality, claiming that they had shielded the secret of the murder. At this junction, while ropes were around the necks of some of the victims. Mr. Clark jumped upon a stump and in a moment secured the attention of his au- dience and in a few well directed words pleaded that they not act hastily, that they select a judge and jury and collect evidence against these men and be thus convinced that they were not hanging innocent men. Ile was successful in bringing about a more equitable feeling, and as a result only three were hanged. A few who were bent on the total annihilation of the Mexicans were
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