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 31
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mine, which has an eight-hundred-foot shaft on the main ledge of the Mather lode. Mr. Reichling has prosecuted his business interests with such energy that he has won most desirable success and is to-day one of the wealthiest residents in Jackson.
In 1861 occurred his marriage to Miss Antonie Kroll, a native of Ger- mary, and they have six children, namely: Oscar, Walter. Olga, Lilly, Clara and Wanda. The daughter Clara is now the wife of David C. Cham- bers. Mr. Reichling is one of the oklest representatives of the Masonic fra- ternity in Jackson and also has a membership relation with the Chosen Friends. In politics he has been a lifelong Republican, unswerving in his support of the principles of the party. He and his family occupy a nice home in Jack- son and have the respect of all those who know them. He has been the architect of his own fortune and has builded wisely and well. His life has ever been an honorable, active and useful one, and over his business record there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. his reputation in business circles being at all times unassailable. Such a history certainly demonstrates the truth of the fact that honesty is the best policy, and should serve to enc urage others to pursue a course that will at all times bear the closest investigation.
FREDERICK P. GROHS.
Frederick P. Grohs, residing in Auburn. Placer county, California, is a well known old settler of the state, coming in 1852. He was born in Ger- many October 7. 1827. His parents. John and Catherin ( Meseck ) Grohs, emigrate1 to the United States in 1837, bringing with them the subject of this sketch, who was then twelve years of age. They settled in Philadelphia, where the father engaged in the manufacture of hats during the remainder of los hie. They were members of the Lutheran church and highly respected.
Mr. Grobs, the only child, attended the public schools of Philadelphia and liter learned his trade, that of butcher. Influenced by the goil excite- ment in California, he crossed the plains in 1852, the route overland being that wear almost lined by newly made graves of the victims of cholera, which was making such ravages in the ranks of the emigrants. There were twenty- nine in Mr. Grobs' company, and, notwithstanding the fact that they were all attached by this disease, all recovered and arrived safely at their destinations. Dir. Grobs first lived in "Hangtown" and from there went to Sacra- mente. arring in Auburn in the fall of 1852, where he engage l in placer- ming a -bett distance below the town. There he, with two others. average 1 twenty nine dollars a day for some time. He afterward went to Sacramento and engaged in the butcher business. At first he was paid a salary of one hundred and twenty five dollars a mouth, but later owne la meat market and remained there in business until the summer of 1855. when he removed to Nevada City. At the latter price he opened a meat market and continued in bu iness until 1860. Next he removed to Dutch Flat, where he carried on his butchering business until 1873. During this year he removed to
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Auburn, where he was engaged in the brewing business for ten years. In 1882 he went to southeastern Oregon and turned his attention to cattle-raising, in which business he has since continued. He has had as many as ten to twelve hundred head of cattle at one time.
Mr. Grohs was married in 1859 to Miss Louisa Brandeau, a native of New Orleans and a daughter of John Brandeau. The union was blessed with nine children, the surviving members being : Emma, now her father's house- keeper ; Minnie, the wife of Dr. William Martin and a resident of Benicia; Jewel, the wife of Emory Carpenter, residing in Sacramento; Frank, who is in Oregon, attending to the interests of the firm there, and Lollye, who is at home. Mrs. Grohs is now deceased, her death having occurred in 1897. Her daughter Emma now presides over the home and with her Mr. Grolis is spending the evening of an active and successful life. He and his family have many friends among the early settlers of the state.
Mr. Grohs was made a Master Mason at Dutch Flat in 1863. He is also a member of the chapter of Royal Arch Masons and of the I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Democrat.
JOHN H. GRAVES.
John H. Graves, who is now acceptably filling the position of auditor and recorder of Glenn county for the third term, is an esteemed resident of Willow and belongs to the class of representative self-made men whose sterling worth and determined purpose have led to their advancement in life. He was born in Macon county, Missouri, January 21, 1868, and is a son of Anderson R. and Mary ( Pierce) Graves, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Missouri. The father died in Macon county, Missouri, May 7. 1884. at the age of fifty-four years, and his wife passed away at that place April 17, 1870, when only twenty-six years of age, leaving three children, all of whom are yet living.
John H. Graves was reared upon the home farm until after the death of his parents. He obtained his education in the district schools and in a business college. being graduated in the Stockton Business College in the class of 1891. During his youth he worked as a farm hand and his early life was one of arduous toil. He was a young man of eighteen years when, in 1887, he came to California, locating in Glenn county, where he has since made his home. It was after this that he pursued his commercial course, feeling the need of more advanced educational facilities in order to be well prepared for the practical and responsible duties of life. He devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, elected him to the office of county recorder and auditor, being the second auditor of Glenn county. Twice has he been re-elected to the position, so that he is now filling his third term,-his long continued service being an unmistakable proof of his fidelity to duty and the ability which he manifests in discharging the tasks that devolve upon him. He has always
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ber of the Independent Order of Foresters. He is recognized as one of the leading citizens of Glenn county, honorable in business, faithful in friend- ship, and ever true to the duties of public life.
LYMAN C. TIBBITS.
As the proprietor of a well conducted drug store in Columbia Mr. Tib- bits is widely known, and his name also appears upon the roll of honored pioneers who a half century ago came to California to establish in the midst of this wild fastness homes for themselves and families and to utilize the resources of the state and turn them to purposes of civilization, thus trans- forming California from a vast unpopulated district to a state of great numerical strength, of boundless business enterprises and of marked influence in the affairs of the nation.
Mr. Tibbits was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, October 1. 1843, and is of Welsh and German descent. His great-grandfather. Allen Tibbits, was born in Wales, but, bidding adieu to the land of his birth, he crossed the briny deep to the new world, becoming a pioneer of the Empire state. Three generations of the family were born there, and representatives of the name were prominent in affairs that figured on the pages of New York's history. Oliver Tibbits, the grandfather of our subject, was one of the heroes of the Revolution. His son, John Powers Tibbits, was a native of Onondaga county, New York, and after arriving at years of maturity he married Miss Rachel Johanna Bartlett, a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, and a descendant of Josiah Bartlett, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The father of our subject became a practicing physician in Ohio, and in the year 1849 took up his abode in California, when it was still in its territorial regime. He journeyed westward by way of the isthmus of Panama and engaged in mining in Eldorado county, on the middle fork of the American river. He was fortunate in his mining ventures, securing three thousand dollars in a short time. With this capital he then returned to his family in Ohio, and in 1850 brought his wife and children to the Pacific coast. They crossed the little narrow neck of land connecting the two continents and on it- western shore embarked on Pacific waters, ultimately reaching San Fran- cisco, on the 5th of July, 1850. Dr. Tibbits established his home in Sonora and there engaged in the practice of his profession, his two little sons being the first white children in the town. One was nine, the other seven, years of age, and they became general favorites in the mining camps, where the presence of white children was a new thing. In the spring of 1856 the family removed to Iowa Hill, in Placer county, where Dr. Tibbits practiced his profession for ten years. On the expiration of that period he went to Idaho for a time. making money rapidly, for all prices were high, whether in professional service or in exchange for any of the commodities needed by man, their principal business being mining, taking out about seventeen thon- sand dollars. Ile returned to San Francisco and from that city made his way to Columbia, where he spent his remaining days, an esteemed and hon-
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ored resident of the town. He passed away in 1885, at the age of eighty years, and his estimable wife died in 1881, at the age of seventy years. Mr. Tibbits of this review is the only surviving son. His sister is now the wife of Captain Alonzo Green and resides in Almeda county, California. Her husband was one of the pioneers of the state and built the City Hotel in Sonora.
Lyman C. Tibbits began his education in the public schools at Iowa Hill and later continued his studies in the Durant Institute, at Oakland, Cali- fornia, now the State University. He acquired a knowledge of the drug business in San Francisco, where he was a representative of that department of mercantile trade for eight years, on the expiration of which period he came to Columbia in order to be able to care for his parents, who were then well advanced in years. He opened a drug store in this town and has since successfully conducting it, meeting with success. He enjoys a liberal patron- age, which has come to him in recognition of his honorable dealing and reasonable prices and his earnest desire to please those who give him their business support. His efforts, however, have not been confined to one line, as he is now interested in the Green and Tibbits consolidated mine, out of which they have taken nine hundred dollars. He is also one of the owners of the Jim Budd mine, for which the stockholders have been offered ten thousand dollars, but declined to accept that sum, as the mine is a very val- table property. Mr. Tibbits is also the owner of the old family homestead and of other realty in the town, including one of the fine residences of Colum- bia, which was erected under his supervision.
His home life is very pleasant. In 1880 was celebrated the marriage of Lyman C. Tibbits and Miss Helen Clark, a native of Edinburg. Scotland, who, however, had resided in San Francisco from her tenth year. Three children have come to bless their home. all bright sons, namely : John P., William J. and Lyman C. In public affairs of the city Mr. Tibbits is deeply interested, withholding his support and co-operation from no movement cal- culated to prove of public benefit. He has had the honor of being the post- master of the town for a number of years and his administration has been characterized by promptness and fidelity. He is independent in politics and fraternally has been associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for thirty years. In the line of his profession he is comprehensive and accurate and is well qualified to dispense drugs for medicinal purposes. knowing well of their properties and the effects produced thereby. In the circle of his acquaintances there is no man who has more friends than Mr. Tibbits, and they have been won and are being retained by his attractive per- sonality, his outspoken devotion to the best interests of the community and his adherence to high manly principles.
CLAUDE I. McLAINE.
In some parts of California it is not usual to find important positions filled by natives of the state, for reasons which will be obvious to every student of the history of that part of the country. A notable exception to this rule
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is Claude 1. McLaine, who was born at Oakland, Califorma. November 19, 1876, and is in charge of the interests of the Sierra Railroad Company at Carter's, Tuolumne county ..
Mr. McLaine is a son of Donakl McLaine, of highland Scotch ancestry, who was born in Prince Edward Island in 1830 and was educated and re- mained there until he was twenty-one years oldl. when he sailed around the horn 10 California. He landed at San Francisco and began mining in Ama- dor county, where he was one of the original silver miners. Later he es- tablished a bank at Volcano in that county and was a successful business man there until he returned to San Francisco, where he was prominent in business and other circles until his death July 8. 1889. He was one of the executors of the Mclaughlin estate, was a leading Democrat and was widely known in the Masonic fraternity, and as a citizen he was a leader in all patriotic public movements. He left a widow and five children, four of whom are living at this time. Mrs. McLaine is now in her fiftieth year. Their daughter Cora is the wife of E. C. Farnsworth, of Visalia, Tulare county, California. Carrie B. married B. Mason, a newspaper man of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. William Laughlin is a clerk in the Crocker-Woolworth bank at San Francisco.
Claude I. McLaine, who is not only the local representative of the Sierra Railroad Company at Carter's, but is Wells-Fargo Express agent there also. He was educated in the public schools at San Francisco and at Stanford Uni- versity. After completing his education he went to Jamestown . and took up railroad work, being an assistant to the agent, where he remained for one year and then went to Sonora, where he was assistant agent for one year previous to assuming the agency at Carter's on February 1, 1900, and has proven himself to be a bright and capable young business man of much promise. Politically he is a Democrat. and though he is not an active politician be is not without influence in his party.
JOIIN H. ROBERTS.
Captain Roberts-for by that title he is generally known-is one of the enterprising citizens of Sacramento, belonging to that class of representative Americans whose success in life is the outcome of their own well directed labors. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, February 22. 1832, and is a son of John Thomas Roberts, who was born in Denby. northern Wales, in 1793. and became a contractor and canal builder. In 1827 he came to the United States, after which he was selected by the North Wales'Missionary Society to learn all he could of the Welsh Indians, supposed to be in the Yellowstone country. Ile went up the Missouri river from St. Louis, on the first steam- boat : but the obstacles in the river and the hostility of the Indians in the terri- tory through which the boats were forced to pass caused him to abandon the project. Lieutenant Colonel Lewis had visited those Indians in the early '50s and found in use among them one hundred words of the Welsh tongue. An ·MI adobe church of Santa Fe, New Mexico, is also supposed to have been built
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by these Welsh Indians. The father of our subject died in Sacramento, at the age of ninety-one years, and the mother, Margaret, nec Williams, who was born in the isle of Anglesey, off the coast of Wales, died in Sacramento when about seventy-two years of age. In their family were five children, three of whom grew to maturity ; but our subject is now the only one living.
Captain Roberts spent the first eighteen years of his life under the paren- tal roof and then started out for himself. In 1850 he came westward with his parents, locating first at Nevada City, where he engaged in mining until 1852. He then secured control of flatboats owned and run by his father, and in 1866 he began operating steamers on the river. He is now the owner of a number of the steamers in use on the Sacramento river and is thus extensively con- nected with the transportation interests of the capital city. His capital, ac- quired by his own efforts, has been judiciously invested and to-day he is num- bered among the wealthy residents of this section of the state.
In September, 1869, the Captain was married, by the Rev. A. Benton, to Miss Minerva Walrath, of New York. They have a wide acquaintance in Sacramento and enjoy the friendship of many. The Captain was a member of the "freeholders' " committee who framed the charter of Sacramento City. He cast his first vote for General Scott and is now a Republican in politics.
If those who claim that fortune has favored certain individuals above others will but investigate the cause of success and failure, it will be found that the former is largely due to the improvement of opportunity, the latter to the neglect of it. Fortunate environments encompass nearly every man at some stage in his career, but the strong man and the successful man is he who realizes that the proper moment has come, that the present and not the future holds his opportunity. The man who makes use of the Now and not the To Be is the man who passes on the highway of life others who started out ahead of him and reaches the goal of prosperity far in advance of them. It is this quality in Captain Roberts that has made him a leader in the business world and won him a name in connection with shipping interests that is known throughout the state.
THOMAS CAROLUS BIRNEY.
While the disposition to do honor to those who have served well their race or their nation is prevalent among all enlightened people and is of great value everywhere and under all forms of government, it is particularly appro- priate to, and to be fostered in, this country, where no man is born to public office or to public honor, or comes to either by inheritance, but where all men are equal before the law, where the race for distinction is over the road of public usefulness and is open to every one who chooses to enter, however humble and obscure he may be, and where the advantageous circumstances of family wealth count, in the vast majority of cases, for but little or nothing. According to a true democratic doctrine they should never count for any- thing at all. Under our system, whose very existence depends upon the 16
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virtue of the people themselves, who are not only the source of all political power but on whom also depends the very existence of our free institutions, those who have distinguished themselves in the public service, whether in statemanship or in arms or in whatever sphere of usefulness, should not fail of recognition. Mr. Birney has long been an active factor in the public life of California and has left the impress of his individuality upon the legislation of the state. His residence in Tuolumne county dates from 1857. and through the intervening years he has ever labored for the welfare of his community and of the entire commonwealth.
A native of Ohio, Thomas Carolus Birney was born in Cuyahoga county on the 17th of March. 1835. Ilis father, Timothy Birney, was a native of county Down, Ireland, and obtained his education in that country. When nineteen years of age he crossed the Atlantic to Canada, but after a short time he removed to Ohio, where he found and married Miss Jane Carroll, a native of Westmeath, Ireland. In 1842 they removed to Livingston county, Mich- igan, residing at Meadville until 1848, when they became residents of Bunker Hill. Michigan, the father purchasing a farm in that locality, upon which he spent his remaining days. He lived to be over eighty years of age, and his wife passed the eighty-fourth milestone in life's journey. In 1852 he had visited California, making the journey by way of the isthmus of Pan- ama. He was accompanied by his two sons, Timothy and Charles, and in his mining ventures met with a fair degree of success. After some time he returned to his farm in the east, taking with him gold enough to gain a good start in business. Eight sons and two daughters were born of this marriage, but only three of the number are now 'living, and Thomas C. Birney is the only representative of the family in California.
.As stated Mr. Birney came to California in 1857 and worked in the different mining camps until 1863, meeting with only moderate success. In the fall of that year he was elected district assessor on the Democratic ticket and >> capably filled the office that he was re-elected and served for four years. He was then chosen as tax collector of revenue district No. 2 in Tw huumne county, and later, by popular suffrage, was made county assessor. in which position he served with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents until the fall if 1875. He was continued in that office altogether for six years, or until December, 1875. when he resigned, having been elected a member of the state legislature. He represented his county in the general assembly in a creditable manner, devoting his best efforts to the welfare of the community and for the advancement of the social, moral, material and political interests of the state.
For some time Mr. Birney was engaged in the lumber business, and in 1878 he became connected with quartz-mining, which industry proved to him a gratifying source of income. He opened the Keltz mine and took out con- sHlerable gold, and then sold his interest for three thousand dollars, after which he prospected for a time. In 1881 he was again elected to the legis- lature and served during the regular session and a special term. He has always been an active member of the Democratic party, attending its con-
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ventions and doing everything in his power to advance its success along legitimate lines. His prominence as a political leader is well merited, for he has a thorough understanding of the issues before the people and his patriotic spirit is well known. With local interests he is actively and deeply interested in securing a successful termination of all movements that are inaugurated. He is now serving as the president of the Tuolumne County Agricultural Association and is devoting much of his time toward the conduct of credit- able county fairs. He is also a representative of the mining interests, hav- ing been one of the heavy stockholders in the Ham & Birney mine, in which he did considerable development work and then sold the mine for fifteen thousand dollars. He is now a half-owner of the Bald Mountain mine and part owner and lessee of the Tansey mine, both of which he is operating, maintaining his residence at Sawmill Flat in order to be near his mining interests. He also has a good home in Sonora.
In 1869 Mr. Birney was united in marriage to Mrs. Catherine Smith, whose maiden name was Boyle. She is a native of New York and by her former marriage had a son who has been adopted by the subject of this review, and is now known as E. G. Birney,-an active business man of Sonora.
Mr. Birney has been a valued member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the past thirty years, representing both the subordinate lodge and the encampment. While undoubtedly he has not been without that hon- orable ambition which is so powerful and useful as an incentive to activity in public affars he has ever regarded the pursuits of private life as being in themselves aboundantly worthy of his best efforts. He has subordinated public ambition to public good and has sought the benefit of others rather than the aggrandizement of self.
JOHN F. SERSANOUS.
Among the native sons of San Francisco still identified with the interests of California is numbered John F. Sersanous, whose birth occurred the Ist of January, 1856, in the year which the great "pathfinder." John C. Fre- mont, was a candidate for the presidency of the United States on the ticket of the new Republican party. His father, Michel Sersanous, was born in Paris, France, and was a merchant and hotel proprietor. In 1854 he became a resident of California, locating in the state when it was the scene of many mining ventures and new-formed enterprises. He died in Yuba county, and his wife, the mother of our subject, has also passed away. She was a native of Ireland and by her marriage became the mother of five children.
John F. Sersanous was reared and educated in Yuba county, California. and in 1870 went to Colusa and began learning telegraphy, with P. L. Wash- burn, as a preparation for life's work. While thus engaged he sold news- papers in order to meet his expenses. In 1871 he went to Princeton and took charge of the telegraph office at that place. In 1873 he took charge of the Wells-Fargo express office and also engaged as a clerk in the general mer-
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