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 21
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In 1855 Mr. Peck returned to Polo, Illinois, to marry the lady whom he had wooed ere he started for the west. On the 9th of September Miss Sarah Allen became his wife, and she is still living, their happy married life covering a period of forty-five years. The lady is a native of Ireland. and during her childhood was taken by her parents to Illinois. Mr. Peek brought his bride to his new home in California, and their union was blessed with seven children, namely: W. G., who died in infancy: Frank Wilson. now the postmaster at Mokelumne Hill : Henry .Allen, a resident of Fresno, California: Millie, John C. and Thomas .Allen, all at home: and Alice. the wife of Harry Jones, a son of one of the prominent pioneer settlers of Jack-
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son. They have a large farm and reside near her father. Mrs. Peek is a member of the Presbyterian church and a lady of most estimable qualities.
Mr. Peek belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Legion of Honor, and has always been a stanch advocate of Republican principles. At an early date he was elected one of the supervisors of Cala- veras county and was also chosen to represent his district in the legislature. being a member of the house during the sessions of 1873-4. He was for eleven years the efficient postmaster at Mokelumne Hill, and in those positions discharged his duties with faithfulness and fidelity. Probably no man in this section of the state has as wide an acquaintance, and certainly none is held in higher regard, for his business career has ever been straightforward and his private life has been true and honorable, commending him to the con- fidence and regard of all with whom he has been associated. He is a citizen of the highest respectability, and his identification with the interests of his adopted state have been of material benefit thereto.
COSTANTINO C. BOTTO.
Costantino C. Botto is now deceased, but many of the residents of Sutter Creek remember him as a most reliable and worthy citizen of Amador coun- ty, who by his well spent life commanded the respect of his fellow men. He was born in Italy, near Genoa, in 1824, and was indebted to the schools of his native land for the educational privileges he received. He was there married to Miss Theresa Grillo, and two children blessed their union ere their removal to the new world.
In 1858 Mr. Botto bade adieu to friends and home, coming to Cali- fornia, where he met with good success in the placer mines and continued in that business for five years, at the expiration of which time he opened a boarding-house at Sutter Creek and also became a partner in the building of a ditch to bring water to the mines. That enterprise proved very success- ful and profitable. After some time he sold his interest therein to the Blue Lake Water Company. Subsequently he dealt successfully in liquors for a number of years, but in the meantime his father had died in Italy and he returned to his native land, whence he brought his mother to California, car- ing for her during her remaining days. In 1860 he purchased forty acres of land on Sutter Hill, a very desirable property, overlooking the town of Sutter Creek. Thereon he erected a fine residence, which he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred in 1879. in the fifty-fifth year of his age. He had brought from his old home in Italy, Italian chestnut and olive trees and Italian soft-shelled walnut trees, which he planted on his ranch, meeting with success in the cultivation of those products. He hardly knew what the word "failure" meant, for he possessed such determination and energy that he carried forward to completion whatever he undertook. Mr. Botto was a member of the Catholic church and his family are also communicants of the same denomination.
His good wife still survives him, at the age of sixty-nine years, and
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she and her interesting family reside at the old homestead. There were ten children, of whom five are yet living, namely: Anna, the wife of James Bona : Louisa, at home : Emil, who is managing the farm and carrying on the business : and Mary and Matilda, twins, the former the wife of Thomas Gor- man, the latter the wife of Wilfred Dennis. Mr. Botto, the father, was a man of generous impulses, purposeful and energetic. and he left to his family a com- fortable property. His son, Emil, was born at the old home in Sutter Creek, on the 28th of November. 1861, and is now successfully managing the es- tate. The members of the family are all widely and favorably known in the community and it is with pleasure that we present this record to the read- ers of this volume.
JOHN M. FULWEILER.
When we take into consideration the qualities which tend to make a successful lawyer, it can plainly be seen that advancement at the bar de- pends not upon influence, environment or wealth, but upon individual merit, the mastery of scientific principles and the ability to apply them to the points at issue. Mr. Fulweiler has gained the position of distinction in connec- tion with the legal fraternity of Placer county, and his marked prestige is indicated by the large clientage which he now enjoys. He resides at Auburn, where he is a well known citizen.
.A native of Ohio, he was born in Cincinnati, on the 17th of October, 1833. and is of Swiss lineage. From the land of the Alps came his an- cestors and located in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1700. Albert Ful- weiler. the great-great-grandfather of our subject, was the progenitor of the family in this country ; and John Fulweiler. the grandfather, and Abram Ful- welier, the father, were both natives of Lancaster county. They were farm- ing people and mill-owners and actively connected with the agricultural and industrial interests of their community. At an early date the members of the family were Lutherans in their religious faith, but afterward became Methodists.
Abraham Fulweiler was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Schrote, of Maryland. She was of Welsh descent. Her father served as a soldier in the war of 1812. The representatives of the Fulweiler family are widely scattered, many of the family living in North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and Illinois, as well as California. The parents of our subject had ten chil- dren. eight daughters and two sons, and five of the former still survive. The mother died in her fortieth year and the father was killed in a runaway ac- cident when seventy two years of age. He was a fervent minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and through his deep devotion to the cause he preached for the denomination,-carrying the "glad tidings of great joy" to the people without wishing for or receiving anything in payment for his services. After the death of his first wife he was again married, and there were two daughters and four sons by that union. In 1850 he came to Cali-
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fornia, where he remained until 1852, when he returned to the east, and in the fall of the same year he brought his family to the Pacific coast. Both times he made the journey across the plains, and when he had reached this state he settled in Nevada county, where he devoted his life to business and church work. He was both an excellent German and English scholar and could preach in either language. During the Civil war he was a strong Union man and made many speeches in favor of the Republican party and the Union cause. He had marked influence with both the German and Eng- lish speaking people.
Mr. Fulweiler was educated in the city of Cincinnati and in Dubuque, Iowa. He was but seventeen years of age when with his father he crossed the plains to California, in 1850. He followed mining in Siskiyou, Nevada and Placer counties until 1865. He was often the possessor of much wealth, but he sank his money again in mining operations, being one of the fearless and enterprising citizens, always ready to risk his capital in operations that promised well. In 1865, owing to injuries received while mining, he was forced to abandon that pursuit and in consequence took up the study of law. In 1869 he was admitted to the bar, and in 1871 he was elected district at- torney of Placer county. He discharged the duties of his office so capably that he was re-elected in 1873, and during his incumbency conducted much tax litigation with the Pacific Railroad Company, arising from the adoption of the codes which brought about a new revenue system, and were appealed to the highest courts of California and of the United States. For thirty years he has been a member of the bar and is well known among lawyers for the wide research and provident care with which he prepares his cases. In 1875 he was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the state of California, and in 1878 he was admitted to practice in the United States circuit court for the ninth district of California. He has ever since held a leading position as a prominent practitioner and has a large and distinctive- ly representative clientele.
In 1865 Mr. Fulweiler was united in marriage to Miss Mary Dunevant, a native of Belleview, Illinois. They have one of the nicest homes in Auburn, surrounded by thirty acres of ground with an orchard and everything need- ed to contribute to their comfort and pleasure. Mr. Fulweiler has advanced to a high degree in Masonry. He is a representative of the blue lodge, capitular, cryptic and chivalric Masonry, and for six years he served as the master of Eureka Lodge, No. 16. F. & A. M. He was the high priest of Delta Chapter, No. 27. R. A. M., for four years, and for two years has been the worthy patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, of which his wife is also a valued member and officer. He likewise belongs to the Grand Council of Chosen Friends and is a past master workman of Covenant Lodge. No. 97, Ancient Order of United Workmen.
In politics he is a stanch Republican, his allegiance dating from the organization of the party. He has rendered it much valuable service, hav- ing for eighteen years served as the chairman of the Republican county cen- tral committee. He keeps well informed on the issues of the day and is able
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to support his position by intelligent argument, and in many campaigns his political addresses have contributed in a large measure to his party's suc- cess. He is probably best known, however, in connection with the practice of law. From the beginning of his career as a legal practitioner his efforts have been attended with success. He has mastered the science of juris- prudence, and his deep research and thorough preparation of every case com- mitted to his care enables him to meet at once any contingency that may arise. His cause is fenced about with unanswerable logic, and his argu- ments are strong, clear, decided, and follow each other in natural sequence, forming a chain of reasoning that his opponent finds very difficult to over- throw. His delivery is graceful, his voice clear and ringing, and his elo- quence carries all before it : it is not the adornment of words or flowery phrases, which often obscure the thought, but the eloquence born of the occasion and inspired by a sense of true justice of human rights and liberties.
BOLDAMER E. LETANG.
Boldamer E. Letang is the well known proprietor of the Jackson Gas Works of Jackson, Amador county, a native of Montreal, Canada, was born on the 13th of April. 1850, and he is of French lineage, the family having been founded in Canada several generations ago. His parents, Calist and Mar- garet ( Proulx) Letang, were both natives of Canada and were honest and industrious farming people who reared eight children, six of whom are now living. The mother departed this life when in her sixty-ninth year, and the father passed away in his seventy-second year. They were devout mem- bers of the Catholic church and their lives were in harmony with their pro- fessions.
Mr. Letang, whose name introduces this review, was educated in the parish of St. Lawrence, and in 1880 came to Jackson, Amador county, where for some years he was engaged in the operation of mining machinery. be- ing first located at the Lincoln mine. He then came to Jackson and operated the machinery of the Zeile mine, with which he was connected for about seven years. In 1891. in partnership with V. S. Garbarine, he leased the Jackson Gas Works and after a year he bought out his partner, and all the stock from the other stockholders, becoming the sole owner. He has since operated the plant with excellent success. He not only manufactures and sells gas for illuminating and cooking purposes but deals in gas stoves and is capable of doing all kinds of repair work on the same. His business is one of the progressive enterprises of the town and contributes much to the com- fort and convenience of the inhabitants. He is an expert machinist and an active and honorable business man whose well directed efforts have secured to him a comfortable competence.
Mr. Letang is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degrees of the blue lodge in his native town. In politics he is a Republican and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, but has never sought office. his time and energies being given to other interests.
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RICHARD SHERBURN.
L'pon one of the finest farms of central California there resides an honorable and venerable man who has passed the eighty-fifth milestone on life's journey, and in the evening of life is accorded that respect and deference which should ever be shown old age. Though his years are many, his vigor is that of a man much younger, and his interest in the affairs of life is still active. His pleasant home is celebrated for its hospitality, and the courtesy of the old-time school always meets those who are guests beneath his roof. The qualities that constitute the true gentleman have made Mr. Sherburn one of the leading and representative citizens of Sacramento county, and it is therefore with pleasure that we present the record of his life to the readers of this volume.
A native of Yorkshire, England, he was born on the 14th of November. 1814. and is a son of William and Margaret Sherburn, who spent their entire lives in that land, where the father engaged in gardening. He was more than eighty years of age at the time of his death, and his wife was about eighty when called to the home beyond. Richard Sherburn was reared upon the home farm and acquired a good practical English education. Having arrived at years of maturity, he was married, on the 11th of April, 1848. to Miss Ann Brookville, who was born in Derbyshire, England, March 3. 1817, a daughter of John and Maria ( Pitts) Brookville. Her father died in Derbyshire, where for some years he operated a hat factory. He was also the proprietor of a store in London. His wife spent her last days in Yorkshire, England.
Soon after their marriage Mr. Sherburn and his young bride started for the new world. crossing the Atlantic on the old sailing vessel Patrick Henry on her first trip. They did not tarry in the east but made their way to the Mississippi valley, locating in Dane county, Wisconsin, where Mr. Sherburn engaged in farming until 1852. In the spring of that year they started for California, making the overland trip with oxen. They were five months upon the way and endured the usual hardships that fell to the lot of the early pioneers who crossed the hot and barren plains and climbed the steep mountains which barred the path to the Pacific coast. Their little son. William H., then only five years of age, rode horseback nearly all the way. On reaching the Golden state Mr. Sherburn embarked in merchandis- ing in Sacramento, in partnership with a Mr. Prentice, but the same year a fire destroyed their property. However, with characteristic energy they began business again: but the floods came on and destroyed their store and stock to even a greater degree than the fiery element had done.
Therefore Mr. Sherburn determined to devote his energies to agricul- tural pursuits, and removed to his present farm, about three miles south of Sacramento, the place being locally known as Sutterville. When he first came he made his way to the farm in a row-boat from San Francisco, for all of the country was under water, the site of his present home being the only tract of dry land visible for many miles. In connection with farming Mr.
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Sherburn also kept a tavern for twenty-seven years after settling upon the farm. Few men in central California have done more to advance the agri- cultural interests of this garden spot of the world than he. He placed his land under a very high state of cultivation and the fields were made to blossom as the rose. All modern improvements were added, and the progress of the times has been manifest in the new methods of farming and the improved machinery which has been utilized at Sutterville. It has been only about three years since Mr. Sherburn put aside the active cares of business life and has lived retired, his farm being now rented to his grandson.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sherburn are two in number. William H., a merchant of Sacramento, was married, and it is his son George who rents the old family homestead. He, too, is married and has a little son, Harold W., who was born on this homestead, as was George R. Sherburn. John B., the second son, was married, and died at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving two daughters, both of whom are now married, and each has a child, so that Richard Sherburn, of this review, has three great-grand- children.
In his political views Mr. Sherburn has been a stalwart Republican since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856. He filled the office of justice of the peace for six years, and for many years was a member of the school board. He was largely instrumental in establishing the first school in this locality, and the first teacher, S. L. Rogers, boarded 111 his family. He has ever labored untiringly to promote the cause of education, realizing the importance in the affairs of life. Both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church, of which they have been com- municants for more than fifty-five years. The family is one of the oldest and most highly esteemed in Sacramento county. Mr. and Mrs. Sherburn are a polite and courteous old-time English couple, whose friends are desirous that they may be spared to reach the century mark. In the evening of life they are surrounded by the comforts that former toil has enabled them to secure, and they enjoy the friendship and warm regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact.
WINFIELD J. DAVIS.
The name of no resident of Sacramento is more inseparably connected with the journalistic interests and intellectual progress of this section of the state than Winfield J. Davis, who has been identified with a number of the leading papers of Sacramento county. Of Welsh lineage, he was born in U'tica, Oneida county, New York. December 5. 1851, his parents being Will- iam and Elinor ( Parry ) Davis. In 1862 the family removed from the Em- pire state to California, making the journey by way of the isthmus route. The father purchased a ranch near Lincoln, in Placer county, where he re- sided until 1869, when he came with his family to Sacramento. Thus reared on a farm, our subject became familiar with all the duties and labors that fell to the lot of the agriculturist. Before coming to Sacramento, however,
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he began the study of shorthand, in 1867, having a small book entitled The Young Reporter. His lack of elementary text-books was a great hindrance to him in his work, but he persevered until he became one of the leading shorthand reporters on the Pacific coast. He entered the first grade of the grammar school of Sacramento September 19, 1869, in the midst of the school year, and was graduated April 22, 1870, in the first rank with ten others in a class of thirty-four. Among his classmates were many who have attained prominence in the various walks of life, including Mrs. Ella Haskell Cummins, the celebrated writer of juvenile literature, and the late C. F. Crocker, who became the vice-president of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.
After his graduation at the grammar school Mr. Davis pursued a high- school course until January, 1871, and on the 2d of February, of that year, he entered the office of the Bee to learn the printing trade. In June of the same year he became an employe of the Daily Union, his service being that of compositor and shorthand reporter. His first task in the latter line was the reporting of the proceedings of the Republican state convention held in June, 1871, at which time Newton Booth was nominated for governor. At the close of the legislative session in 1872 he was engaged as one of the local editors of that paper, under the direction of Captain J. D. Young, late state printer. On the 7th of October. 1879, Mr. Davis was admitted to the bar. In the meantime, on the 3Ist of August. 1874, he was appointed, after a competitive examination, official shorthand reporter of the sixth district court, by Judge Ramage, the district comprising Sacramento and Yolo coun- ties. He was retained in the office under Judge Denson, and filled the po- sition until the abolition of the court by the new constitution. When the superior court was organized to take its place he was appointed official re- porter of the superior court and held the office until January, 1897. In that capacity he reported some of the most important cases that have ever been tried in the courts of the state.
He has also been prominent in political affairs and is unwavering in the advocacy of Republican principles. For several years he was the chair- man of the Republican city central committee, and during the Blaine cam- paign of 1884, also the Swift campaign of 1886, and the Markham cam- paign of 1890, he was the chairman of the Republican county central com- mittee, having the general supervision of those campaigns throughout the county, in which there was a loss to Republicans of but one candidate on the county ticket. On Saturday night immediately before the presidential election of 1884 it was discovered that the Hon. Frank D. Ryan, the Repub- lican nominee for representative to the state legislature from the eighteenth district, was ineligible by reason of the fact that he had not lived in that particular district for a year, although he had been born and reared in an adjoining district in the city. Mr. Ryan, therefore, resigned his position on the ticket and the nomination was tendered to Mr. Davis. The campaign, while brief, was a hotly contested one, but our subject won the election by a vote of one thousand four hundred and ninety-eight against a vote of eight
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hundred and twenty-tww for Hon. H. M. La Rue, the Democratic candidate, who was a popular man and at that time was the speaker of the assembly. During the ensuing session of the legislature Mr. Davis was the chairman of the house committee on public buildings and grounds and a member of the committees on ways and means, claims, and water rights and drainage. During that session large appropriations were secured for the improvement of public buildings and grounds in Sacramento county. It was in that legis- lature also that the exciting measures concerning irrigation were brought forward, to settle which two extra sessions were called.
Mr. Davis is also prominent in connection with the journalistic inter- ests and literary work of the state. His contributions on historical and po- litical subjects have been frequently seen in the leading magazines and news- papers and have awakened very favorable comment. In the winter of 1888-9 he compiled the historical portion of a large volume, entitled The Govern- mental Roster of the State of California, of which five thousand copies were issued by the legislature. In 1892 he published his "History of Political Conventions in California." a work that is standard authority on the his- tory of politics in the Golden State. In his library he has the largest col- lection of books and documents relating to the history of California that can be found in the state outside of the state library and a few in San Fran- cisco.
On December 7. 1891, Mr. Davis was elected a member of the board of education of the city of Sacramento, and was re-elected to the office at the first election under the new charter om November 7. 1893. He was then chosen president of the board, and filled that office for four years. During his presidential terms he wrote an elaborate history of the public schools. that was published by the city government and received warm com- mendation from the federal and state ellucational departments. Mr. Davis is the historian of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers: also an honorary member of the Sacramento Biographical Union. He was commis- sichel major and engineer officer of the National Guard of California De- cember 3. 1881. and served on the staffs of Brigadier Generals John F. Sheehan, Llewellyn Tozer and John T. Carey. Mr. Davis has long been ac- countel bne of the leading factors of the public life of Sacramento, and his name is so inseparably connected with the judicial, political and journalistic history of central California that this work would be incomplete without the record of his life.
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