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 38
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Company, and later to Los Angeles, California. Subsequently We spent two years with the Enterprise Brewing Company of San Francisco, and in 1893 he came to Grass Valley, leasing the old City Brewery of Thomas Hutch. Ketit- ting that plant he has since conducted business there, and he now has a large local trade in Grass Valley and in Nevada City. His product is considered the best on the market of (6 th places, and throughout the county the volume of Ints business has re ie ied extensive proportions.
In 1870 Mr. Michell was united in marriage, in Boise. Idaho, to Miss Annie Roblin, a lady of English birth, who came to America in 1840. She resided in Elkgrove, La Fayette county, Wisconsin, for some time and then grossel the plans to the Pacific coast. in 1852. Mr. Michell gives his political support to the progressive wing of the Democratic party, but has never sought w desired office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business, in when he has met will gratifying success. Socially he affiliates with Clay Ige. A. F. & A. M .. of Dutch Flat.
JAMES D. MONARY.
A native of Kentucky Mr. MeNary's birth occurred in Muhlenberg county on the Other January, 1850. His father, Hem. William C. MeVary, was born To Fayette county, that state, in September, 1801, and was a farmer by occupa- Don. Removing with his parents to Muhlenberg county in 1811, he there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring September 19, 1875. when his age was seventy-four years. He was an old-line Whig in politics and took a very Active part in advocating the issues of the day in which he believed. For Wmumber of years he served as a member of the state legislature and was a recognized leader in matters of public moment. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. William McNary, were among the pioneer settlers of Kentucky, and for many years the name was inseparably interwoven with the history of Ull .: state. The mother of our subject was in her maidenhood Miss Nancy B. Wilkins. She was born in Todd county in 1811. In October, 1891. she came to San Jose, California, where she died in April, 1895. at the age of eighty-four years. Of their four children, the following are living : James: Dr. W. T. MeNary, of San Jose, California : and Jennie, the widow of Dr. T. II. Moore, of Farlington, Kentucky.
James D. MeNary spent his childhood days upon the old home farm. continuing there until twenty-six years of age. He pursued his education in the district schools and in Greenville. Twice during his youth his father removed to Greenville, but afterward returned to the farm, so that his surroundings in his minority were mostly of a rural character. It is a noticeable fact that the majority of the leading men of our community have spent their early lives upon farms. At the age of twenty-six. however. Mr. MeNary leil the parental rovi and went to Evansville, Indiana, where he took a course in a commercial college. He afterward returned home to settle up his father's estate, and'on the 27th of October, 18;7. arrived in the Pacific crest, and a few days later took up his abode in Colusa. He
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first engaged in the hotel business as a clerk, and later was an agent for the Sacramento Transportation Company, continuing with this organization for a year. Subsequently he spent some years in grain dealing, and then became agent for a number of insurance companies, which he represented until 1887. In the meantime he became connected with the furniture and undertaking business in Colusa, but in 1894 he disposed of his furniture, continuing the undertaking, and has since carried on operations along that line. In 1898 he was elected coroner and public administrator, receiving a majority of two hundred and seventeen in a Democratic county. He is not only a stanch Republican but is an advocate of temperance principles, and did not use a single dollar in the saloons in order to win the favor and the votes of men who could be bought in that way.
On the 15th of November, 1883 .. Mr. McNary was united in marriage to Miss Retta Deter, who was born in Yolo county, California, August 21. 1859. and they now have five children,-Miriam. William Campbell, Verda Rhea, John Deter and Annie Christine. Both Mr. and Mrs. McNary are consistent and faithful members of the Methodist church, take an active part in its work and for the past six years the former has served as a Sunday- school superintendent. Mrs. McNary is a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Mr. McNary has always abstained from the use of all intoxicants. By precept and example he has advocated temperance princi- ples, and he often speaks upon the question. Though not pretending to be an orator, if called upon he can discuss his subject fluently, logically and in an entertaining manner. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity. the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Independent Order of Foresters and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is active in all those bodies.
JOSEPH DIXON.
Joseph Dixon, the proprietor of a meat market in Towle, dates his residence in California from 1854. He was born in Kennebec county, Maine, on the 12th of November, 1831. His father, Moses Dixon, was of Russian ancestry and was born in New England. He resided in the state of Maine from his sixteenth year until his death, in his eighty-second year, at which time he was called to the home beyond. He wedded Miss Nancy Whitten, a native of Maine and they had twelve children, including twin sons and twin daughters. Only five of the number. however. are now living. The mother attained the age of sixty-four years.
Joseph Dixon, their fifth child, attended school in the place of his na- tivity. His advantages in that direction were somewhat limited and he was largely self-educated, having obtained considerable knowledge in the dear school of experience. When a boy he worked hard on the farm. reared in the rugged simplicity of a country home where hard work was esteemed honorable and idleness a vice, where the artificial elements of society had not entered, but industry and the faithful discharge of every duty, no mat- ter how humble, were the precepts, and the performance of each day, the freedom of outdoor life, the necessity of early rising. regularity and prompt-
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ness In the discharge of the daily tasks,-all these inculcating habits of thought and action which have made him a practical and reliable business man. He was about twenty-one years of age when the news of the dis- covery of the rich gold fields in California reached the east and led him De leave his native state. Full of the spirit of adventure and with a strong determination to gain a fortune if possible in the mines, he made his way to the Pacific coast by way of the Nicaragua route, arriving safely in San Francisco. Som afterward he made his way to Foster's Bar on the Yuba river, where he first engaged in mining. For about ten years he continued his search for gold in the different mining camps, but the largest nugget which he found was worth about fifty dollars, while the greatest return he received for a single day's labor amounted to one hundred dollars. He was most fortunate in his mining experiences on the American river, and, like most others who sought a fortune in the gold fields, he met with suc- cesses and reverses: and when he abandoned the mines at the end of ten years he had only about two thousand dollars. He opened his first meat market at You Bet. in Nevada county, and later did business at Gold Run; but for the past seventeen years he has successfully conducted a market in Towle. During his long residence in the county he has supplied meat to a large patronage and has met with fair success in his undertakings. At the same time he has won a good name, which is rather to be desired than great riches, and he is well known and highly respected by the pioneer set- tlers of the county.' as well as the later arrivals.
Mr. Dixon was married in 1876 to Miss Celia Waters, f Forest Hill. and they now have two children .- George L. and Martha N. Mr. Dixon is a strong Republican in his political inclinations, having been identified with that party since the Civil war. He owns a pleasant home in Towle, in : dition to his market, and is justly accounted one of the reliable and re- pointed then f lis community.
EDGAR M. BANVAARD.
Elgar M. Banvardi of Alta. Placer county, is one of the most highly reflected old after- of the slate, his residence in California covering a period V ative of New York city, he was born on the 31st I December, 1820, and is of French lineage, his ancestors having been early .ettlers . f America's metropolis. His grandfather and his father. both of r hom bare the ninthe of Daniel Banyard, were also natives of New York city. The father renewed to Rochester, New York, where he was engaged in Active Im-iness front 1822 until 1825. In the latter year he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, which was then a far western district, the work of progress civilization lowving been sefreely begun in that portion of the country. He remained in the gebeery business in Cincinnati for five years and then whove 1 t . LeiG-Ville, Kentucky, where in 1830 he resumed merchandising in the grocery lino. continuing at that place for four years. In 1834 he took up his Whole in Peria. Illinois, whence in 1839 he removed to St.
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Louis, Missouri, his death occurring there in February. 1840, when he was forty-six years of age.
In early manhood he married Miss Maria Hunt, also a native of New York city. There the wedding was celebrated. She was a descendant of an old Holland Dutch family that was established in New York at a very early period in its existence. They had eight children and the mother attained the very advanced age of eighty-five years. Mr. Banvard is now the only surviving son of the family. Two of the sons, Benjamin H. and Daniel, crossed the plains with ox teams in 1849 and were engaged in mining in this state until 1860, when Daniel died, after which Benjamin returned to the east, his death occurring in Chicago, Illinois.
Mr. Banvard, of this review, was educated in Peoria, Illinois, and be- gan his business career in the mercantile establishment of Alter & Howell, of Peoria, Illinois. Determining to seek a home and a fortune in the far west, he made his way to California by the isthmus route. On the 14th of January, 1851, he wedded Miss Abby Shurtleff, a native of Morgan county, Illinois, and a daughter of Milton Shurtleff. She was born February 23, 1829. The young wife remained in the east for three years and then joined Mr. Banvard in his California home. He had tired of his mercantile ex- periences, and, as potatoes were commanding a very high price in the Golden state, he with a partner engaged in the raising of that vegetable, making it his first business venture on the Pacific coast. They rented forty acres of land near Oakland and raised a very large crop, but the price of potatoes went down and they lost considerable money. His next venture was that of painting and paper-hanging, and he followed that business for about two years, making from six to eight dollars per day. Subsequently he met Dr. Crandall, an acquaintance from the east who advised Mr. Banvard to go to Auburn, and accordingly he arrived at that place in 1855. The Doctor was the treasurer of Placer county and the secretary of the Bear River Ditch Company. He made Mr. Banvard his deputy treasurer and he also performed much of the work of the secretary for the Doctor, by whom he was paid one hundred dollars per month and also given his board. He was continued as the deputy treasurer of the county, under Treasurer Philip Stoner, and in 1860 was elected the treasurer of the county, on the Union ticket, discharging the duties of the office so capably that he was re-elected in 1862. His connection with the county finances therefore covered a period of eight years and was one in which he gained the highest commendation, for he proved himself to be entirely trustworthy and reliable.
In 1866 Mr. Banvard removed to Alta, where the Central Pacific Rail- road had just been built. He purchased the Depot Hotel and was its popu- lar landlord for eighteen years. In 1869 he was elected a member of the state assembly and for four years he represented his district in the law-mn ;- ing body of the state. His prominence was shown by the fact that during the two sessions he was chairman of the finance committee. He has been a lifelong Democrat, unfaltering in the support of the principles of the party, and he has taken an active interest in the work of the party conventions. His efforts have contributed in a large measure toward securing Demo-
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Ci cu sitevess anl & a county and state officer he gave to the duties of his positione the files: attention.
After three years spent in California. Mr. Banvard returned to the east for Dis wife, making the journey by way of the isthmus of Panama. They returned by way of the Nicaragua route, bringing with them their first-born en. Louis llowell, who is now the secretary in the train dispatcher's office my Sacramento, a young man of intelligence and ability. Their second son, charles bulgar, was born in Auburn on the 7th of June. 1857. and is now engaged in a large sawmill in Tuolumne county. Mr. Banvard is now, in 1900g in t'ie eightieth year of his age, and his wife has reached the age of seventy one years. They are a well preserved old couple and deserve hon- Orable mention among the pioneers and prominent citizens of their adopted state. They have a nice home at .Alta and several other dwellings, and three hundred and twenty acres of farming land, and are passing the evening of a well spent life in peace and comfort. Mrs. Banvard is an estimable lady who -Mares with her husband in the high regard which is uniformly given him. AT :. Banvard has borne an active part in the work of developing California from its printive condition to its present state of progress, and in public and private life he has commanded the respect, confidence and good will of los fellow meo.
GEORGE C. MCMULLEN.
This gentleman has for many years been one of the leading representa- tive of the agricultural interests of Sacramento county, and is also a man of prominence in political circles. Ile is now occupying the position of cuir coroner, and in the discharge of his duties manifests the business- bke prompmess and keen discernment that have brought him success in the Glinels of legitimate trade. He owes his prosperity not to the inherited wwwwith a Wie of ancient ancestors, but to his industry and resolute pur- pose. And ifthis he has justly won the proud American title of self-made man. Mit Me Mullen was born in Perry county, Ohio, January 27. 1838, and kof Tolen MeMuffen, who was a prosperous farmer and stock-dealer of iles krim. llis paternal grandfather. John McMullen, was a probate norge of cartonia in a very early day. John McMullen, the father of our Aligen gime to California in 1857 and spent his last days in Solano county. Moje he died at the age of seventy seven years. His wife was in Tor amanslettfico .I Miss Susan Kemper, who was also a native of Perry county, Olje and often Solano county, at the age of sixty-nine years. In their fandly wers Feyen chiffren, and with the exception of two daughters all are
Chru ( McMillen was a youth of seventeen years when he accom- jwat hne parents of their removal to Missouri, and two years later he wok with theroto Collins. the journey being made across the plains with offpuff. After some years residence in Solano county he came to Sacra- Wany. remifts. Th 1874. and purchased a fine ranch of two hundred and forty
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acres, known as Lizzie's Vineyard and situated within a short distance of Brighton. There he carried on business for a number of years, bringing his ranches to a high state of perfection. He cultivated fruit, with excellent success, and also engaged in trading and dealing extensively in land and in breeding and raising high grades of horses and other stock. He became the owner of a farm of seventy-six acres, near Brighton, and was numbered among the representatives of the agricultural and horticultural interests of Sacramento county until December, 1896, when he established an undertaking business in Sacramento.
Mr. McMullen is well known in political circles and has earnestly ad- vocated the principles of the Republican party since 1864. when he supported Abraham Lincoln. At the previous election he voted for Stephen A. Doug- las, but through the past thirty-five years he has been unwavering in his allegiance to the political organization that stood by the Union in the Civil war and is now upholding American interests in our colonial possessions. In 1884 he was elected supervisor of the county, and in November, 1888, was chosen by popular ballot for the responsible position of sheriff, in which he discharges his duties with promptness and fidelity. In 1898 he was elected county coroner and is now filling that office. Frequently called to public office his election demonstrates the confidence reposed in his fidelity to the public trusts.
On the 25th of September, 1859, Mr. McMullen was united in mar- riage to Miss Rhoda E. White, and to them have been born five children : George Ebner, Irvine H., Lyda A., Winfield E. and Edith. The family is one of prominence in the community, having many warm friends in the city and county of Sacramento. Mr. McMullen was formerly a member of the Grange and is highly regarded in agricultural circles.
ISAAC N. MCCAULEY.
The subject of the present writing is a prominent resident of Angel's Camp. Calaveras county. California, where he is engaged in the dairy business. He is a son of an old pioneer who crossed the plains in 1850, with an ox team, and met with many and exciting experiences. Mr. McCauley was born in Carrollton, Greene county, Illinois, January 1, 1831, and was the son of James McCauley, of English and Irish ancestry. Pioneer blood was in his veins, his grandfather McCauley having been a pioneer of Licking county. Ohio. James McCauley was married to Sarah Jane Taylor, of Ohio, and re- moved to Galena, Illinois, in 1818. At that time Galena was unknown to fame and was but a hamlet. He removed to Carrollton. Greene county, where Mrs. McCanley died, and the bereaved husband took his three boys-Edward. Thomas and Isaac-and started. in the spring of 1850. on the long journey to the land of gold. Misfortune met the company on the Platte river in the form of Asiatic cholera, where Isaac McCautley almost lost his life.
L'pon reaching the Humboldt river, he met with an exciting experience. which he yet remembers. In company with a member of the company he left
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the train mo wieder to enjoy a little luck shooting, and crossed the river where game -coinedMet abundant. Their pleasure was of short duration, huskder, is the v san severed some Indians in a clamp of willows, some three hun- drel vares alsoin. They suddenly lost interest in duck shooting and debated the best and never expeditions way in which to reach their companions. Hostily re-crossing the river, they ran as rapidly as possible in the direction of their compamous, but the Indians were mounted and soon gained upon them. Dis- carding costs and shoes, the unlucky men flew onward, the savages in the meantime pausing to pick up the garments, thus giving Mr. Mccauley and fr- companion a few minutes' more chance of escape. When they saw their enemies gaming upon them they would stop and point their guns at them, tlm- inghtoing them away for a short time, but they were pretty nearly exhausted before they came up with the train. Assistance was then procured and the Inchans gave up the pursuit. Soon after, however, some forty In- drabs strongned the company, all well armed and ready to fight : but the captain of the emigrants made peace with them by giving presents, and the train you permitted to pass. It was learned later that another party of emgrant- jod wet the band and been murdered by them. The horses new began to show signs of exhaustion and the journey was necessarily skin. mit Ly- passing before pause was made, on Placerville creek. Min- ting was ong ged in at Placerville with fair returns, and successful efforts Were made on the Mokelumne river. James McCauley's health began to fail and why cantlie dysentery broke out in the camp on the north fork of Jakson erock be succumbed and died, in the fall of 1850.
Orr Paljet. Isaac Mccauley, also had the disease, but recovered and in the spring of 18si located a camp about three miles from the town, on Yngre ; cook, abere succes attended their mining efforts. Those were law- les filles mla Meyen was killed in some brawl which resulted in a feud and yor shiref's party was the object of attack by a band of Mexicans in the que They Were made prismers and told that they must appear be- methe upo postoje 100 In the march in that direction another tent i din ning- cadre and the wide party was marched onward. being concur in de ppedlør numbers of the Mexicans. However, news of thy Mbimde la rosebol the Americans in the town and some three hundred cato ir ill : ne te. Kopiering three of the Mexicans, to whom they ad- nm . . winny anyag the rest of the party so effectually away that
og podle wo man of the widing districts, Mr. MeCanley finally ser- tol on ve po rion pomocy see Undred and sixty acres of land. near Angel's ( 100 0001 - Tag 8000 28folk engaged in conducting a dairy for a num- bet a year The keep Undt shirts toforly cows and supplies milk to the We Specialize vo- purple, And 25. 1867. to Miss Sarah J. Selkirk, pol the eye le & mas for san. The eldest son. James, died in infancy; (The office. Borte 11 Frank O som William A .. assist their father in his Me mot ADe Mecanles con a pleasant home, shaded by trees
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of their own planting, and enjoy the respect and esteem of the community. ;They take great interest in the tales of pioneer life, few having had more thrilling experiences than the genial subject of this sketch.
Mr. McCauley is a member of the Masonic fraternity and in politics is a Democrat, although he votes generally for the man rather than the party. In religion he and his excellent wife follow the Golden Rule, making that their line of conduct; hence their influence is felt for good in the neighbor- hood.
ALFRED J. AMICK.
At a time when California was in its primitive condition, when the Spanish settlements in the south were widely scattered and the work of improvement in the central and northern sections of the state had scarcely been begun, Alfred Jefferson Amick came to the Pacific coast. The year 1849 witnessed his arrival. Mining camps were established in various parts of the state, owing to the discovery of gold, but many of the now leading cities and towns had not sprung into existence. The prosperous ranches of the present day were then wild tracts of unclaimed land and the whole state awaited the awakening touch of civilization.
Mr. Amick was born in North Carolina, on the 12th of February, 1829, of German ancestry who were early settlers of the south. His father, Abra- ham Amick, was also a native of North Carolina, as was his wife, who bore the maiden name of Jemimah Low. He lived to be sixty-eight years of age, while his wife reached the age of seventy-nine. They were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and were people of the highest re- spectability. In their family were eleven children, of whom eight are still living, and these are scattered over various sections of the country. In 1835 the family removed to Missouri, becoming pioneers of Morgan and Cooper counties, in the development of which they took an active part. The po- litical faith of the family was Democratic.
Alfred Jefferson Amick, their second child, was reared on his father's farm, his education being obtained in the common schools. In February, 1850, he attained his majority and in April of the same year started across the plains to the newly discovered gold fields of California, with the in- tention of making his fortune and then returning to his Missouri home. With five others he fitted up two wagons with everything necessary for such a trip, each wagon being drawn by six yoke of oxen. His uncle David Amick and his brother William Amick were members of the company. At Fort Kearney the other three members of the party decided to return, but lie and his uncle and brother continued on their way across the long and arid plains where many emigrants were dving of cholera. Just before they reached the Platte river the uncle did of that disease and was buried by his two nephews. He was the tenth man of the train who had been stricken down and it seemed as though death would wipe out the entire company. Mr. Amick, of this review, also became ill. Of the seventeen that had died
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