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 24
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Ja April. 1854. he went to Siskiyou county. He took with him sixty- three ! eof of brood mares, but at the Oregon line the Indians stampeded the Nursesand he lost all I ut the ones they were riding. Subsequently Mr. Adams waged in mining on the Klamath and Scott rivers, where again his efforts Were Attended with splendid success. Ile with others in Jackass claim, opp - -ne Soon - Bar took ont twichundred and seven pounds of gold in one day, one There weighlily fourteen pounds. At Clarksville, in the spring of 1850, Mr. Ashift- Geduld a piece worth five hundred and thirty dollars. Like other pio- freer mindre. He beth male and lost money in different speculations, but al- together que with prosperity in his search for the precious metal.
Wish a bay he let read Blackstone. In 1853 he was interested in a ditch ver wiech there was litigation, and this led him to continue his study of law. Ibe made his first case of French Bar in 1855. where he was opposed by Cap- 1.00 J. D. Fair and Kentuck Lewis, another prominent lawyer of that time ; but his marked ability enabled him to win his suit. When it was appealed he -necee led in having the appeal dismissed. Ilis success encouraged him, and. Having a natural taste for the law, he resolved to devote his energies to prac- tice and in 1862 was admittedl to the bar. His career as a member of the legal
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fraternity was somewhat unlike that of lawyers in the east, for the unsettled con- dition of the state made continuous practice impossible. He was a volunteer in the Rogue River Indian war and was elected the captain of his company. After his admission to the bar he volunteered for service in the Union army with the California troops and was sent on detached service to Idaho, being stationed for a time at Bannack City, where he served as provost marshal.
After the war Judge Adams took up his abode in Grant county, Oregon, and was soon regarded as one of the most prominent citizens of the place. He served as county treasurer and county judge and was elected to the Ore- gon assembly, but his seat was contested and before the close of the session he lost it. He practiced law in Oregon until 1868, after which he practiced at different times in Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties and in San Fran- cisco and Oakland. In 1898, on account of his wife's health, he removed to Placerville, where he soon acquired a large and distinctively representative clientage. He occupies an eminent position in the ranks of his profession in this county. He has been interested in business ventures and has met with ser- eral financial reverses, losing heavily in going security for a friend. He also lost a large number of cattle in one of the severe drouths that visited Arizona.
In 1860 Judge Adams was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Miller, a daughter of Henry Miller, who came to California in 1854. She was born in North Carolina, and their union has been blessed with two daughters : Mrs. E. R. Tutt, of Oakland; and Mrs. H. A. Barklew, of Fresno. Mrs. Adams is a member of the Methodist church and a lady of Christian culture who enjoys the high esteem of many friends.
Judge Adams has been an Odd Fellow since 1857, a Mason since 1868. and in the latter has attained the Knight Templar degree, and also belongs to the Mystic Shrine, and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which in 1890 he was the grand master workman of the state of California. He is also an esteemed member of the Society of California Pioneers and of the So- ciety of Veterans of the Mexican war.
In politics he is an unswerving Republican, and four times has canvassed the state in behalf of his party, being one of the leading political speakers at the time of the election of General Grant. Although a veteran of three wars and familiar with the hardships and trials of pioneer life, he is still a well preserved man. His record has ever been honorable and straightforward, commending him to the confidence and regard of all with whom he has been associated. Socially he is held in the highest regard by many friends who de- light in doing him honor.
DAVID REESE.
One of the well known farmers of Sacramento county is David Reese, who was born in Llsaint, Carmarthenshire, Wales, August 7. 1849, his par- ents being John and Elizabeth (Anthony) Reese, who were also natives of that place. The father was born in 1819 and followed shoemaking until thirty-five years of age, when he came to the United States, crossing the
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Atlantic from Liverpool to New Orleans, where he arrived after a voyage of eight weeks. He was accompanied by his wife and three children, and they proceeded by the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Kansas City, where they made preparations to continue their journey across the plains to Salt Lake City. Oxen hauled their goods across the long stretches of dry plains between Missouri and Utah, but at length they reached the latter place and the father made a settlement in that state. There he carried on stock-raising for six years, after which he sold out and in 1860 started for California. He spent two months of that year on the Sierra Nevada mountains and in Octo- ber arrived in the city of Sacramento. Purchasing land in San Joaquin township, he made his home there until his death, which occurred on the 11th of September. 1869, his wife passing away on the 6th of February, 1889.
In their family were five children: Catherine, the wife of John B. Brown, a resident of Sacramento county; David; John; Elizabeth, the wife . f \\. W. Kilgore, a resident of Colusa county ; and Thomas, who died while crossing the plains to Utah. The father was a Republican in his political Affihations, casting his first presidential vote in America for Abraham Lin- coln, in 1860. Ile was a stanch advocate of the principles of the party but never sought office. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Thomas and Mary Reese. spent their entire lives in Wales, where the former followed The occupation of shoemaking. The maternal grandparents were William And Elizabeth Anthony, also natives of Wales, and the grandfather was a Mrmer by occupation.
David Reese spent the first four years of his life in his native village, and then accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. He obtained his education in this county, and during his youth aided in the development and cultivation of the home farm. He was twenty years of Abe at the time of his father's death, and upon him devolved the care and wolflagement of the homestead. Ile superintended that property until his warmage. which occurred in October, 18-9, when Miss Myra Kilgore became las ofic. Their union has been blessed with seven children, and the family cinde vet remains unbroken by the hand of death. In order of birth the cinbfren are as follows: Edward E., born August 2, 1880; Ethel E., born September 1. 1882: Percy D., born May 31, 1884; John K., born December . 4886: Frank L., born July 14. 1880: and Nellie completes the family. The enlest son is now a student in the law office of Johnson & Shields, and Mit suchel lijw in Hastings Law College, but the others of the family are
Nuer Mis marriage Mr. Reese purchased a farm, upon which he now resole it was meta tract of three hundred and ten acres and no improve- imais Wol been made upon it save of a primitive character. He also has we Timidrot amos fifty acres in Colusa county, and his landed possessions ofteselle Bergate six Hundred and forty acres. His home farm is under fury Inggir -te of affinvation, the fields, being well tilled and all the acces- write ami am @mences of a entry home of the nineteenth century are hand diere. Mr Kevse is continually making additional improvements, and
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his labors have resulted in making the Reese property one of the most val- uable and attractive in this section of Sacramento county.
Mr. Reese gives his political support to the Republican party, and his first presidential vote was cast for General Grant in 1868. He has never sought office and is in no sense a professional politician, but at the present time he is capably serving in the position of under sheriff. He is a charter member of the Odd Fellows Society of Florin and of the Florin Grange, in which he has filled all the offices. He and his family attend the Methodist and Baptist churches. His life has been in a way uneventful, yet has been characterized by strict fidelity to duty at home, in business and in public office. He has witnessed the greater part of the wonderful growth which has transformed California from an uninhabited region to one of the lead- ing commonwealths of the Union, and among the pioneers he well deserves mention.
THE MACOMBER BROTHERS.
The history of pioneer life has long rivaled in interest the tales of bat- tles and of life on the tented field. Without the roar of cannon and musketry or the inspiring notes of fife and drum, hosts no less brave and determined have gone forth into the wilderness to reclaim it for purposes of civilization and have fought the hard battle of conquering the wild land, the sturdy forest and the rocky fastnesses of the earth, making eachi yield of its treasures such elements as can be utilized for man. This is an arduous labor and one to which are due recognition and commendation; and therefore in preparing a history of California it is with pleasure that we introduce the life records of such worthy pioneers as the Macomber brothers, whose identification with the state antedates the formation of its territorial government.
The Macomber brothers, of Sonora, California, are actively identified with the industrial interests in their section of the state, where they are extensively and successfully engaged in the manufacture of cider from apples. They also manufacture pickles, champagne cider and vinegar, and deal in grain and dried fruits. Under their capable management, owing to executive force and keen discernment, their business has assumed extensive propor- tions, bringing to them a very desirable prosperity.
The Macomber brothers are highly respected California pioneers who arrived in Hangtown in April. 1850. They were natives of the Empire state, born in Utica. George Macomber was born in May, 1814, and was long associated with his brothers under the firm name which is still main- tained. He was a thoroughly reliable business man and a representative California pioneer. His death occurred on June 3. 1900, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. Henry S. Macomber was born in December, 1836, and Frederick Macomber in February, 1838, and since their brother's death they have continued to conduct the business.
As stated above, they arrived in California in the year 1850. They left the Empire state the previous year and secured an outfit in St. Louis, Mis-
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souri. Thus oubit consisted of horses, a wagon and mining utensils and a large supply of provisions. They traveled much of the way with Johnson Lawton's train, but during the latter part of the journey they came on ahead, following trails and cut-offs that shortened the distance. On the journey, whey in company with the train, they had much trouble with the Indians. At Gudse creek a large number of the savages were hidden in the willows which are abundant along the banks of the stream, and from that retreat they orelom the emigrant -. One of them received a shot through his head, but the travelers immediately returned the fire and drove the Indians out of the willem -. Later they could be seen like the shadow of a great cloud on the mooiein side, as they passed over out of range of the guns of the white men. At Green river the Indians succeeded in stampeding all the stock the emi- grant- possessed all again the party started out in pursuit and succeeded killing four of the Indians, capturing the stock and securing forty Indian jamie- Jesides. As they neared California they met supply wagons which hal been sent out to meet the needy emigrants. They were obliged to pay Very high prices for provisions, but the Macomber brothers had no need to Tuy. as they had brought plenty with them. They followed the Fremont trail and had no trouble in getting water or finding their way, for they were guided by a Mr. Ayres who had previously crossed the plains.
On arriving in Hangtown the Macomber brothers proceeded to the -010h mines and engaged in the search of gold at Angel's Camp, on Angel's vreck, where they worked for about six months, meeting with excellent suc- They removed to Jamestown. Tuolumne county, where they secured a good claim and mined with rockers on Blackstake Gulch. Success also tended their efforts at that place, for they took out from forty to two hun- dred and fifty dollars per day. The diggings were very shale, only from a fort to a foot and a half deep. The brothers remained there for about two years and also mined at Maloney and Murphy before leaving Calaveras county. They had very rich claims at those places and their success far surpassed their highest expectations. They also mined at Table Mountain, having One of the best claims there and taking out what might be considered a fab- minuts amount of gold. At Shaw's Flat and Wood's creek they also did well. They usually worked the claims out pretty close, as they thought, Thy sold the last one for one thousand dollars. They mined in Volcano in woher county. but did not meet with as good success there as they had
When they abandonel mining the Macomber brothers purchased the Wiley & Morgan sawmill and fifteen hundred acres of heavily timbered land, salding of that property until they were the owners of twenty-six hundred They operated the sawmill with excellent success until a fire swept mer that section of the country and destroyed their mill and lumber to the value of al'ont one apl a half millions feet of lumber and eighty thousand dekers invested! Sin afterward they sold the timber land and the sawmill alte and came to Sonora, where they purchased the Morse orchard. com- prising Twenty-two acres of lan 1. located in Sonora, and planted apples, pears,
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grapes and other fruits. From that beginning they have developed a very extensive business, dealing in fruit, cider, vinegar, champagne cider and pickles. In each department they have met with very gratifying success and their products are shipped all over the country and to some foreign ports, the superior quality insuring them a ready sale in all markets. They have a plant well equipped for carrying on their work and the volume of their business has annually increased until its magnitude represents a large outlay of capital and a proportionate income derived from the sale of their goods.
In their political views the brothers are Republicans, who take a deep interest in the welfare of the party, doing all in their power to promote its growth and success. They have a wide acquaintance through the state in which they have so long ranked among the more successful business men, and they belong to that class of honored pioneers to whom California owes her present progress, prosperity and advanced position. They aided in lay- ing wide and strong the foundation upon which has been reared the super- structure of the commonwealth that it is the pride of the entire nation. Their labors have contributed largely to the growth and upbuilding of their portion of the state and no history would be complete without mention of the Macom- ber brothers.
The above limited biography does not include their individual enter- prises and has been taken from the diary of Henry S. Macomber.
J. A. JENKINS.
J. A. Jenkins is a well known civil engineer of Grass Valley, and for several years was actively associated with railroad-building in this state. Thus has he contributed to the material growth and advancement of the commonwealth, and at all times, not only in the line of his business but also in other ways, he has manifested a deep interest in the progress of the state, doing all in his power to promote the general welfare.
Mr. Jenkins is of English birth, his natal day being November 24, 1866. His parents, John H. and Elizabeth (Martin) Jenkins, were also born in England, and the father, a miner by occupation, came to California in 1860, locating at Grass Valley, where he yet follows his chosen vocation. His son, J. A. Jenkins, was reared and educated in Nevada county, and on com- pleting his course in the public schools entered the State University at Berke- ley, where he pursued a complete course in civil engineering, and was grad- uated at that institution in the class of 1890, and later was employed on the government geological survey. Subsequently he went to Oakland, Cali- fornia, and was employed in the city engineer's office for some time. He next made a trip to Central America, aiding in railroad surveys, and after almost a year had passed he returned to the Golden state. He secured a position in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, in the engineering department, making surveys through California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. continuing with that corporation until 1896, when he returned to Grass Valley and established his office on Main street. He was the deputy
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county surveyor in 1898, and at the present writing is filling the position of city engineer, being the first incumbent to hold that office in the town. He is the superintendent of the new sewer system and has discharged his (luties in a most capable manner, for his knowledge along the line is com- prehensive and exact. He is also energetic and industrious, and these qual- ities render him a very competent official, and one in whom his fellow towns- men may well place their trust.
In politics Mr. Jenkins is a stalwart and earnest Republican, doing all in his power to secure the success and adoption of the principles which con- stitute his party's platform. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fra- ternity and the Knights of Pythias. Almost his entire life has been passed on the Pacific coast, and he has ever been deeply interested in the growth and prosperity of this section of the state. His efforts have been effective along the line of progress, and he justly deserves mention among the rep- resentative men of Nevada county.
S. B. SMITH.
S. B. Smith, public administrator, now residing in Sacramento, is one of the worthy citizens that England has furnished to the new world, his birth occurring in Somersetshire on the 29th of March, 1835. His father, Samnel Smith, a native of England, was a hat manufacturer in the country of his nativity, and after coming to the United States engaged in business. He died in Beloit, Wisconsin, at the age of seventy, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Jeffries, and who also was born in England, died in Beloit, at the age of seventy-two years.
S. B. Smith spent his early childhood in the place of his nativity, and there worked in the hat factory, which was owned by his grandfather and of which his father was the foreman. In 1851 he crossed the broad Atlantic to the new world, and took up his abode in Beloit, Wisconsin, where he partially learned the patternmaker's trade. Subsequently he removed to Fond du Lac. Wisconsin, and in 1856 became a bookkeeper for a lumber firm at that place. Four years later he left the Mississippi valley for the Pacific coast. Journeying westward to Nevada City, he secured employment there as a ditch agent, and in the spring of 1862 he continued on his way to the Salmon river, in Siskiyou county. California. The year 1863 wit- nessel his arrival in San Francisco, where he became the foreman of the Street Railroad Company. He entered the employment of that corporation in a very louable capacity. but his marked ability won him rapid advance- ment. Subsequently he went to Fort Point, as the foreman of the labor gang of the United States engineering department, and in 1869 became a resident of Sacramento, where he opened a store known as the Chicago C. (). D. Auction House. That he successfully conducted until 1876, when he sold out and went east, and in October of the same year returned to Sacra- thento and purchased a half interest in an auction house, with which he remained for ten years. In the fall of 1886 he was elected public admin-
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istrator, on the Republican ticket, for a term of two years, and has ever since been engaged in the settlement of estates and other business of similar char- acter by appointment of the judges of the superior court, and in 1897 was re-elected to the office of public administrator for the full term of four years. He has probably handled more estates than any other man in the county, and his reputation for honesty and fidelity is irreproachable.
On the 3d of January. 1856, in Beloit, Wisconsin, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Helen Mar Gates, a native of New York, who died at Sacramento, at the age of sixty years. She was the mother of six children, four of whom are yet living, namely: Mrs. F. I. Whitney, who has one child; Mrs. L. E. Thorp, who also has one child; Dottie, at home; and Samuel A.
For forty-two years Mr. Smith has been a member of the Odd Fellows order and has passed all the chairs in the grand and subordinate lodge and encampment. In 1856 he joined the new Republican party, which took an advanced stand in favor of many political reforms and in opposition to the further extension of slavery. He has since been identified with that party, believing it to contain the best elements of good government. His long resi- dence in Sacramento has made him widely known, and throughout his hon- orable business career he has won the confidence and good will of his fellow townsmen in an unqualified degree.
JOSEPH BRAY.
Among those who have been successfully identified with mining inter- ests in Tuolumne county is Joseph Bray, a well known resident of Sonora, where his prominence is indicated by the fact that he is now a member of the board of trustees of the city, having been chosen to that office by the vote of his fellow townsmen. He has been a resident of this place since 1862, having come to the west when a young man full of determination, ambition and resolute purpose. He was born at Phillips, Franklin county, Maine, on the 10th of May, 1835, and comes of a family that had its origin in Eng- land. His paternal grandfather emigrated from that country to New Eng- land, locating in Portland, Maine, at an early period in the development of the Pine Tree state. Melzar Bray, the father of our subject, was born in Portland, and after arriving at years of maturity he married Miss Betsy Clark, a native of Franklin county. They were Methodists in religious faith. The father was an industrious farmer and followed his chosen occupation until his death, which was occasioned by quick consumption in the forty-ninth year of his age. His wife passed away some years previously. leaving seven children, Joseph being then but a little lad of six summers. Five of the family still survive, Morris Bray being now a resident of Santa Clara county, California.
Joseph Bray was educated in his native state and reared on his father's farm. On the bright sunshiny days of summer he took his place in the fields, performing his share in the labor that resulted in securing good crops.
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Throughout Tas residence in the cast he was connected with agricultural pur- suits. At longtit he determined to try his fortune in California and by way of the isthmus of Panama came to the Pacific coast. He experienced much rough sailing on the voyage, the great waves dashing over the ship until the vessel seemed in imminent danger, but at length they reached the harbor of San Francisco in safety, at 2 p. m. on the 13th of May. 1861. Mr. Bray then proceedel t > Stockton, but followed farming on the plains in the employ- ment of a Mr. Davis, who was largely engaged in handling stock. His wages were more than double what he would have received for the same work in Maine and he was pleased with the change made. Later he came to Sonora, which has been his home since 1862. In this locality he began mining on his own account just a half mile from the town, and was success- ful from the beginning. He became interested in the Bonanza mine, which had been worked in 1852 but was abandoned. When it was reopened Mr. Bray bought out a claim in it in 1876, and he and his partners afterward took out geld to the value of three hundred thousand dollars. A little later he ยท Id his interest for seven thousand dollars. He afterward engaged in loan- ing money and also worked at the carpenter's trade. He has a large brick shop in a good locality on the main street of the town and is one of Sonora's well to-do citizens.
In politics Mr. Bray has been a lifelong Republican and for eighteen years he has served as one of the trustees of the city. No higher testimonial of his efficient service could be given. He has exercised his official prerogative to advance the best interests of the county in securing the improvement of the streets and in the building of substantial bridges, all of which have been f great value to the town. He is a faithful and progressive city officer who richly deserves the gratitude of his fellow townsmen. He is most true and loyal to every duty and no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed.
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