A Volume of memoirs and genealogy of representative citizens of northern California, including biographies of many of those who have passed away, Part 34

Author: Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago, Standard Genealogical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 902

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 34

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REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Sir Fikke carried will kom letters of introduction to promment busi- Der dont Se Today Why secured him a position as drayman there; an lo werde the town the mines and made his way to the Cosumnes moveTheanine ar Thg Fr. Iuni that proved an unprofitable camp, he Widing any Sie up they doMars per day. The following spring he was the 1 DE come out eight hundred dollars. He then joined a runter co weer juro calm were engaged in turning the river out of its Vous, len ofer spending much time and labor there the venture proved for fot le alen went to Polkeville, now Plymouth, Amador county. Aile wing there by a short time he continued on his way to Taylor God's ww Dry creek .. Where he successfully mined for a time, he and his partners taking mount eighty dollars there in one day and securing other val- - All ut the same time he mined on Dry creek and each of - the partners tok ont eight hundred dollars in the winter of 1854. On Jus din n the creek below the town Mr. Fisher secured on an average InMan source per day for three of four months, so that the place proved findichir Wiser than many of his companions, he saved his money, and t monde fue reverses at times, as most of the miners did, he was gen- vel stressful and had thus accumulated some good capital.

The trinder who to-day passes through the beautiful valleys and thrive- mig woung towns of California can scarcely realize the condition of things It eiffel only forty, forty, or fifty years ago. On one occasion it was auk cred that twenty five or thirty armed Mexicans had gone to the lower color Lok dinlered supplies. An old man made his way from the ranch Ah De modo smot fold wi the arrival of the Mexicans and said they were money Them on inschief, and probably would attempt to rob the town. The Object Merfis. George Durham and Henry Herring, began to make wwwmet ier i Fedt without telling the citizens what they were doing - shi Mayo was mummihent. They then went to the rancheria to try to indre puan are Ten ; and as they approached the house the Mexicans 1. several shots were exchanged, but the Mexicans marg of female their cape The firing occasioned great surprise to the pad afc 100, - son afterward the Mexicans came down, built a fre vel sommal no the bell serve the town. Mr. Fisher, Bob Casner and TOS Kay portlet to the deputies to make up a party to go to the ranch- I Feel pour Just the deputies only laughed at the idea. The 1000000- "bu Dywy womit' th agdate the question and appointed one of le 0 00000% co (co wiem in the place where the Mexicans were sup- Na co ffe deputies, however, gave the Mexicans the To the Nosel Mex fouil gone back to the rancheria and por locie. Mr Gefur's, the owner of the store there, after To cones det led been deposited by the miners. f can teo stowerndl doBors. Mr. Fisher and eleven com- es tos Me do dead and dying people proved a Their bent Lyents, was a powerful man and had -ou Tem blad thirty three times. They found

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Mrs. Diming stabbed and dying in the yard, and her little child there with her! Mr. Fisher and the others succeeded in getting her to bed, but she soon after expired. Several bands of settlers went out in search of the desperadoes and a number of the Mexicans were caught and hung on the limbs of the tree under which Mr. Francis had been found dying.

When trying to arrest some of the Mexicans in Sonora, the sheriff of Phoenix was shot by two men, who, however, were afterward caught, brought back and hung. Such were the scenes all too common in those early days, but righteousness at length prevailed as the result of the efforts of the better element and the work of civilization and progress has been car- ried forward so steadily and rapidly that California ranks to-day among the leading commonwealths of the Union.

In 1856 Mr. Fisher was engaged in driving a team used in hauling goods from Sacramento. Later, however, he resumed mining at Forest Home, and after taking out two thousand dollars sold his claim, for twenty- five hundred dollars. In 1857 he returned to Drytown, where he spent the winter, and in April, 1858, he went to New York city, where he remained for a year. He then again returned to California.

At the time of the Fraser river excitement, some friends wished him to go to the new gold fields, and he decided to do so; but circumstances led him to change his mind and it proved very fortunate that he did. He continued his mining operations in this section of the state until 1860, when he once more went to New York, remaining for two years, during which time he was induced to engage in the stock business, buying cattle for the New York market. He hired a man who was supposed to be a good judge of stock, and they purchased three hundred head, which they shipped to New York, after which the man got drunk, leaving Mr. Fisher to manage the rest of the deal alone. Being inexperienced, he was able to get back only the money which he had invested. He was in New York at the time Lincoln passed through on his way to Washington to be inaugurated. but the president-elect traveled quietly with only a few friends and there was no excite- ment attached to his arrival or departure. Mr. Fisher also saw the first seventy- five thousand volunteers as they marched from New York to Washington. It was an inspiring sight and manifested to those who saw it the loyal spirit of the north.

Not long afterward Mr. Fisher returned to California, where he con- tinued his mining operations. During the war times there was great excite- ment in Amador county, the feeling being very high between the friends and opponents of the Union. Mr. Fisher arrayed himself on the side of the national government and was active and prominent in his efforts in keeping the secession element in check and thus holling California in the Union. He joined a company of one hundred Union men formed for self- preservation and it was through the efforts of such loyal citizens that the state was retained as one of the northern commonwealths. At the time of the election he took a prominent part in electing the Republican candidate for sheriff, and was afterward appointed deputy, in which position he per-

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1wwwoutro venire, discharging many of the duties of the office 1muglia the muy- This he acquired a very wide and favorable .cum so He roomne I to his mining operations, and in 1871, when audang on the Omtefla mbe, was again appointed deputy sheriff, being Ver abike and value in Arresting the criminals and law-breakers who at - His political support has ever been given I To logowhony borg, and he is most earnest in his advocacy of its prin- one More all ils son- he continued his connection with the mining pers and/ or for malgache years has been an extensive stockholder sounds splot -rolling properties in Amador county. His business affairs one For well gal av gyably that he is now the possessor of a handsome waitjersey wides sydd lig enjoyed by his daughter and her children.

1 40 fole rm we visit to the east, Mr. Fisher was united in mar- Y ARETE MS. Larimerim Tooms, who came with him to California in 1863, amil or do lares badheil helpmeet in life's journey until her death in 1800 Ft penteen reairs Mr. Fisher flas made his residence in Jackson. 1 che mer are Astry Toown in Amador county, where his reliable and fight for fase commended him to the confidence and good will of all. His In Tony 7: 4 1 o wie ting the past and present of California and as une ce it- Twoud - free name is deeply engraved on its history. He is uni- bemale boseoul and coremed and his record is one which reflects credit a male and has komor to the commonwealth in whose progress and wolire ave is so decoll concerned.

BENJEAMIN FRANKLIN BUTTERFIELD.

Fort wwwelare not numerous in California at this time, but this title T-5-T Began Fraukon Butterfield, of Jamestown. Tuohimne county, homo -if who cvewiinl career it will be attempted here to give.

Hn Rotew PMJEera in Gofftown. New Hampshire, July 24. 1817. Faro ese name Wand ancestors. His father, also named Benjamin Mới Doorpesto 02 75000 in New Hampshire, March 29. 1782, and ma' - no Barron, who was born in that state July 14. 1785, and died De mon Ferra Aby Te 00000ge. The elder Butterfield was a farmer and ilarante in hy al moff les agricultural interests and removed to Bos- Yay, glupe To do it Pr The der of seventy eight years. Of the eight chil- bestsay ol fully Maria ( Barron ) Butterfield, only two are

who- Datesild. the subject of this sketch, was educated in li texive siME and carly became a clerk in a store, where rol Comoegy of business. His business took him to mos fet the illeopery of gold in California, and there de ent rionevent hp to that time. He was of an ono to led doepel from a clerk to a navigator on No Teste Yoo beat fall of bard work and interesting ne in og ano be decided to seek more wealth in Cali-

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fornia. He paid about two hundred dollars for passage on the California, on her first trip to the land of gold, and arrived at San Francisco, California, Feb- ruary 28, 1849, with about five hundred dollars in cash and a determination to succeed if success should be possible. He was unaccompanied by any rela- tive or friend and was truly a stranger in a strange land. With his eyes turned toward the gold field, he came direct to Jamestown from San Francisco and has lived there continuously ever since, during a period of fifty-one years, and has won a reputation as an honorable and successful business man.

On board the California Mr. Butterfield made the acquaintance of a young man named Erastus Sparrow, from Buffalo, New York, and they came on from San Francisco to Jamestown together. From San Francisco they came up the river to Stockton and they "packed" their belongings from Stockton to Mlur- phy's and Angel's. When they arrived at the Stanislaus river they found it too much swollen to cross, and as the wet season was on and there was no prospect that it would soon be any lower, they found it necessary to devise some means of getting to the opposite shore. With this purpose in view, they utilized a rub- ber bed which they carried, by filling it with air and placing slats under it as a partial support. On this raft, so oddly constructed, they loaded their property and made a safe passage to the other side. Others, observing their success, offered to pay them for their assistance in crossing the stream, and Mr. But- terfield was paid one and two dollars by others whom he helped over the river. With the rubber bed as his stock in trade he ran a ferry there for some, and afterward sold the bed to another enterprising pilgrim for one hundred dollars, and he states that the purchaser made money with it also! He has seen nails sold for one dollar each, and once saw three dollars paid for a paper of tacks !

His first day as a miner is fresh in his memory. He states that he made a little hole in the bed of the creek with his shovel and in a few hours panned out nearly an ounce of gold. He and Sparrow opened a supply store in a tent and paid a man an ounce of gold per day to assist them, and at the end of the year the fellow had so much gold that he was spoiled for work and left their ser- vice. Mr. Butterfield's first permanent store was located an eighth of a mile down the river bank from his present location. After he had acquired a good property and was thinking of selling out and going to some other point, nearly everything he owned was destroyed by fire and he found himself confronted with the necessity of practically beginning life anew. This he could do at Jamestown, where he had won an excellent business reputation, better than among strangers, and he remained and has been one of the leading men of the town to this day.

In 1856 Mr. Butterfield returned east and was married October Ist of that year, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Miss A. M. Currier, who came back with him to California, by way of the isthmus of Panama, and they have had six children, as follows : Frankland Francisco, Sparrow R. F .. Benjamin K. Grogan, Annie B., Minnie R. and Gay Heber. Annie B. died March 16, 1897. aged thirty-one years. Frankland Francisco is the efficient local agent of the Wells-Fargo Express Company. Sparrow R. F. is the postmaster at James- town and is filling the office to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. Mr.

NEPRESENEITIL E CITIZENS

Current. Veertig dingder The large , I his store, Which she manages jo y nummerstor nogales that they see- remarkable business ability. Mrs. Urze Todo spot storcon tec her feleri and family and is one of the honored priser no here of The suite Often referred to by his friends as a "grand gonnec. Mr Rogerfield- living retired from active business and occupies place Thiyli in the -Teem of all who know him. He is a stanch Republican UGE Wi- fi Tresty five Years the postmaster of Jamestown, where he was until A believer in the teachings of Christ, thế to do to é mico be lia- Taiped his life has been "do right." and he has always model to tos felice men the consideration for their interests required by

JACOB L. COOMBS, M. D.

The Hory cor phonemy life has ever proved a tale of thrilling interest, often co alive tootemade action any episode upon the stage. while deeds of heroism mi saler Teore been wy hore commendable, even if more frequent, upon the To l dl biflo It requires great courage and patient endurance to leave com- Toconde formes at a long settled community and face the hardships of life on The fourkey, deprived of many of the conveniences and privileges known to thir ober flements, but a resolute band of men came to the Pacific coast, and this eobowof the country now rivals in its advantages, privileges and improve- works th wider east.

The Sat Dr. Coombs was one of the early residents in this section of the I . 01 Pits a witness to the greater part of the growth and upbuilding of Wie Goldno site. Ile was born in Lexington, Kentucky, June 6, 1829. His File the Boy Lane Coombs, was a native of Virginia, resided in Maryland Ter & we Nemes and later in Pennsylvania. Among his ancestors were those worked with tile Revolutionary struggle and the war of 1812. His wife TeseDemolen ssime of Elizabeth .A. Forney and was a native of Pennsylvania. fore hed gespor- had resided for many generations. The Rev. Isaac Coombs med liecinie bed three children, and the parents are now deceased. Dr. Lyodby the elder child, was reared and educated in Chambersburg. Pennsyl- Forum Where he lozanoins professional study under the preceptorship of Dr. En Brelsaire The pursued his first course of lectures in the medical depart- man of Wolnego Dimensity, and was graduated in medicine and surgery ESze Tes home wyom. Thereafter he was connected with the regular army o bygge of nok Gagoof 10 di ty with the First United States Rifles. In 1854 Teniendo beatorg To Corvallis, Oregom, where he remained for ten years. Onrite De grens the clo hoy he served as assistant surgeon in the United Hop ulicy A patron Tlug Tocated at Fort Yamhill and at Fort Hos-

Droning forthe mts Dr Combs located in Portland, where he ab DEST 0pj . 1866 came to Grass Valley, where he prac- De Fame the total me the He always kept abreast with the advances wool senelies sterne Bigfoot the intervening years, and his knowledge

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of medicine was comprehensive and profound. His marked skill and ability was the means of securing to him a very liberal patronage, and his success was well deserved.

December 4, 1855, in Polk county, Oregon, occurred the marriage of Dr. Coombs and Miss Sarah H. Chamberlain, a native of Michigan and a daughter of Aaron Chamberlain, who crossed the plains to Oregon in 1844. They had four children, namely: Aaron L., Manlie W., Elizabeth A., the widow of George W. Fleming, and Jessie, the wife of Charles E. Fleming, of Nevada county. Dr. Coombs was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men. He had a wide acquaintance throughout northern California and was highly respected as a successful business man of integrity and ability. For a quarter of a century he resided in Grass Valley and enjoyed the warm regard of his fellow men by reason of his possession of those sterling traits of character which in every land and in every clime com- mands admiration and regard. July 4. 1900, he passed away, after a short illness, leaving his family and a host of friends to mourn his demise.

U. S. GREGORY.

It is of the greatest importance that the public offices be filled with men who are trustworthy, efficient and reliable. The perpetuity and welfare of the nation depends upon the honorable business integrity and executive ability of its officials, and as the nation is but the aggregate of the various communities it is necessary that each separate state and county be represented in its official positions by men who are true to the trust reposed in them. That Mr. Gregory is fully worthy the confidence given him by the public is indicated by the fact that he is now serving for the third term as the sheriff of Amador county, and he has also been the representative of his district in the state legislature. He has resided in California for more than thirty years, and in the community where he has made his home he has been an integral factor in promoting the general good.

A native of Texas, Mr. Gregory was born on the Ist of July, 1849, and is of Scotch descent. His father's ancestors, who came to America with Lord Baltimore, located in Virginia, and U'mbleton Gregory, the father of our sub- ject, was born in the Old Dominion. He served his country in the war of 1812 and afterward removed to Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri, successively. He was a successful farmer and stock-raiser, and also a slave-holder. He dis- approved of the movement of secession, but when the south had fully deter - mined upon that course his sympathies remained with the people among whom he had been reared. He married Miss Mary Hewitt, a native of Iowa, and to them were born eight children, of whom two sons and four daughters are liv- ing. Mr. Gregory's mother was the third wife, and by these three unions the father had twenty-one children. He was a consistent Christian man, upright and honorable in all things and was a member of the Methodist church, South. He died in 1864, at the age of sixty-five years. One of his sons, John Gregory, was killed in the war with Mexico, and three other sons served in the Confed-

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erdoc army miring the Civil war, one as captain in a regiment of Texas volun- teer-, the other int the staff of General Forrest with the commission of captain. When nily thirteen years of age U. S. Gregory left home, and during the 1. - t two years of the war was in Tennessee and northern Alabama, where he witte sed madeof that great struggle between the two sections of the country. With General Lee's surrender he returned to his home and found that his father Hal they the previous year, that the property was destroyed, the negroes free and that a chaotic condition reigned. In June. 1868, he came to California, taking up is abode in lone, Amador county, where for a number of years he was snoressfully engaged in the Inmber business. He was also the owner of lumber mterests in Nevada and had mining property in the British possessions, Vemg parf wwner of the Cassaiar mines. In 1881 he returned to Ione, where he comlucte 1 a harness, hardware and drug store. After the organization of the twenty-sixth agricultural district, composed of the counties of Sacramento and Amador, he was elected its president and held the office for seven years, exercising his official prerogatives to advance the farming interests of this sec- tion of the state. His labors were very effective and he was regarded as a most capable official. Further political honors awaited him, for, in 1884 he was elected a member of the general assembly and served on several important com- mittees, among which were committees on mines and mining and county gov- ermuTert For the third term he is now filling the office of county sheriff and will have served in that capacity for ten years on the expiration of his present term He is prompt, reliable, courageous and fearless in the discharge of his duty, influenced by no political associations or personal favoritism. He has I cen particularly successful in arresting the criminals that have infested this seco of the state, including a notorious band of counterfeiters, and Amador county is now practically free from crime. Mr. Gregory is regarded as a Gib- tobar wi strength and protection by the law abiding citizens and with feelings whilehe has those who have no regard for justice and right. His course has Tagit esteistent, winning him high regard.

Ju March. 1871, Mr. Gregory was married to Miss Ella Fythian. a native HEFiles, sotto them Have been born two children : Mary L., who is now clerk- my woher Geler's office; and Charles Joseph, who is now serving as one of I Porter 'Sdeputies. Mr. Gregory has been a lifelong Democrat, active in sup- P.1111 86 pomiy, and stically he is connected with the Ancient Order of United VOMmen in which he is a past master. A citizen of honor and worth. he has a onde soppaun prec, and his circle of friends is very extensive.

I RANK MOODY.

Que the dangushed members of the bar of Glenn county, California. is Tofue - 4 Muy Ww bestem ah eminent position as a representative of tre Ukecal prode-2000, schiffe Ingars that many an older practitioner might Wcacef Across we are me memality, whose mind is keenly analytical and why antemente wooly at banks, he has gained many notable forensic tri-

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umphs and is accounted one of the distinguished lawyers of his section of the state.

A native of Missouri, the Judge was born in Platte county, that state, on the 15th of February, 1867. His father, James Moody, was a native of Ken- tucky and a farmer by occupation. During his boyhood he removed to Mis- souri and subsequently emigrated to California, spending his last days in Los Angeles, where he died, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Jasper and was born in Virginia. Her death occurred in Missouri, when she had attained the age of forty-eight years. In their fam- ily were ten children, seven of whom are yet living, one of the number being a minister of the Baptist church, while two are members of the legal profession and another brother is devoting his energies to educational work.

The Judge spent the first sixteen years of his life in the state of his nativity, and then, with his father, crossed the plains to California. He was reared at his parental home and acquired his elementary education in the district schools. but home courses in reading added largely to his knowledge ; and when he took upon the study of law he had a broad fund of general information to serve as a foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional learning. He was twenty-two years of age when he began reading law in the office and under the direction of James G. Scarborough. He continued with that gentleman for four years, during which time he applied himself earnestly to the mastery of the principles of jurisprudence, and on the expiration of that period he was admit- ted to the bar in Los Angeles, on the 7th of April, 1891. For two years there- after he remained with his former preceptor, gaining a practical knowledge of the methods of courtrooms, and then removed to Santa Ana, where he con- tinued for three years.

When that period had passed he came to Glenn county, locating in Willow, where he has since made his home. During his residence in Santa Ana he served as assistant district attorney, and his experience and study continually added to his fund of knowledge and made him one of the best informed law- yers at the bar in this section of the state. He throws himself easily and natur- ally into an argument, with a self-possession and deliberation which indicates 110 striving after effect. There is, on the other hand, a precision and clearness in his statements and acuteness and strength in his arguments which speaks a mind trained in the severest schools of investigation, and to which a close reasoning is habitual and easy. In November, 1894, he was elected a judge of the super- ior court for a four-years'term, and upon the bench his record was most credit- able. His decisions were extremely fair and impartial, being based upon a thor- ough knowledge of judicious principles, accurately applied to the points in litigation.

On the 28th of April. 1897, occurred the marriage of Judge Moody and Miss Rita French, a daughter of Milton French, one of the esteemed residents of Glenn county. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church and occupy an enviable position in social circles where true worth and intelligence are received as a passport into good society. In his social relations the Judge is . a Mason and enjoys the warm regard of his brethren in the craft. In politics

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A Volume of memoirs and genealogy of representative citizens of northern California, including biographies of many of those who have passed away, Part 34

Author: Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago, Standard Genealogical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 902

Author: Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago, Standard Genealogical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 902