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 44
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survived him, attaining the age of eighty-four years. They were members of the Methodist church and people of the highest respectability.
Mr. Burdge was educated in his native state and crossed the plains to California in 1850 with an ox team. He bought his outfit in St. Louis, Missouri, and came in company with the Holly family. The emigrants were visited by sickness and Mr. Holly died with the cholera at Big Blue river. The horses were stampeded and part of the company followed them for two days and succeeded in recapturing them. Mr. Burdge escaped the cholera, and though he experienced many of the hardships of the long journey across the plains he arrived safely at John's Crossing, on Bear river. There he engaged in mining with excellent success, taking out gold to the value of nine thousand dollars within four months. The following year he returned to the east by way of the water route and brought his wife and three chil- dren, two daughters and a son, across the plains to California.
Ile had been married in 1844 to Miss Melissa Hurt, a native of Mis- souri. While they were en route to California she was stricken with the cholera, but recovered and all of the family safely reached their destination. They located on a farm a short distance northeast of the site of Lincoln, and there for some years Mr. Burdge engaged in the stock business, his efforts being attended with prosperity. He had as high as five hundred head of stock, mostly cattle, which he sold in the different mining camps, receiv- ing good prices, and thus augmenting his income. After five years spent in that business he went to the mines in eastern Oregon, taking with him a company of men, and in 1862 he continued his mining operations at Canyon City, where he was located three years. In all his undertakings he was prosperous and gradually his capital increased, as the result of his earnest efforts. He went with pack animals by way of the Humboldt and down the Owyhee river. He brought back with him about one thousand dollars and since then has been engaged in various business pursuits. He owned some of the land on which Lincoln has been built and aided in erecting the first house in the town. In 1885 he built the Burdge hotel and was a most popular landlord for some years, but he is now living retired, having through diligence and enterprise in former years acquired a capital that now enables him to put aside the more arduous duties of life. He and his estimable wife reside in the pleasant home with their daughter, Mrs. Sanders, and their granddaughter and her husband, Mr. Sartain. While they were liv- ing on the ranch in Placer county a daughter was born to them, Lydia, who is now the wife of Mr. Berger, who resides in Lincoln.
Mr. Burdge had been previously married in New York, in 1835, to Miss Maria Merritt. She died in 1837, leaving him with a little daughter, Catherine, who is now the wife of Nathaniel Ackerman, of New York city. It is therefore sixty five years since he was first married, while his present faithful wife has lived with him for fifty-six years. They have passed their golden wedding day and are highly esteemed among the honored pioneers of California.
Mr. Burdge was made a Freemason in St. Clairsville, Belmont county,
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Ohio, in 1839, and received the Royal Arch degrees in Fayette, Missouri, in 1845. He has been warden of the blue lodge and king of his chapter, and is now one of the oldest Masons of the state. He cast his first presi- dential vote for Andrew Jackson and his last for William McKinley in 1900. In politics he has always been independent, voting for the man whom he considers best qualified for office and for the principles which he believes will best promote the public good. He has been a man of great physical endurance, of strong mentality, earnest purpose and honorable life, and though he has never sought public notice and has lived in a quiet and unobtrusive manner he has nevertheless commanded the respect of all, for such qualities can not be hid.
GEORGE A. GRAY.
George A. Gray, an undertaker and embalmer of Nevada City, was born in Nevada county on the 18th of May, 1853. His father, John H. Gray. was a native of New York and a representative of the fourth generation of the family in America. Prior to that time his ancestors lived in England. In 1850, when the tide of emigration was carrying many eastern men to the Pacific coast, he came to California and for some time was engaged in farming in Solano county, whence he came to Nevada county in 1851, devot- ing his energies to agricultural pursuits and in mining in this locality. August 28, 1852, he married Miss Eliza J. Jenkins, who was born in Wis- consin July 6. 1834. Her parents resided in Cornwall, England, and in the early '30s came to the United States, settling in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Gray became the parents of five children, all born in Nevada county. The father died June 4. 1897, and the mother is living in San Francisco.
George A. Gray, the eldest of the family, was reared and educated in the place of his nativity, and in 1880 established the undertaking business, which he has since successfully carried on, having a well equipped estab- lishment and carrying an excellent line of goods. He has also served his fellow townsmen in public office, having been elected county coroner in 1889 for a two-years term. At this writing he is serving as deputy coroner under Henry Daniels. He has also served for two terms as the city treasurer, retiring from that office in 1894.
On the 24th of November, 1895. Mr. Gray led to the marriage altar Miss Ida C. Young, of Washington, Guernsey county, Ohio, a daughter of William Young, who came to California in the latter part of the '50s. They have three children : Earl V., Clarence R. and Elsie E. Mr. Gray is identified with both the subordinate lodge and encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has filled all of the local offices and is past district deputy. He is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, in which he has served in many official capacities, and is a member of the N. S. G. W., Hydraulic Parlor. He is also a member of Nevada Lodge, No. 13. . 1. F. & A. M. In politics he is an earnest Republican, deeply interested in the success of his party. He is a man of most genuine worth, whose courtesy
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is unfailing and whose integrity is above question. Without ostentation or any desire for place, he has labored most earnestly for the welfare of Ne- vada City, and his efforts have redounded to its credit and benefit.
JOHN R. TYRRELL.
John R. Tyrrell, whose name is found on the roll of leading law prac- tioners of Nevada county and among the representative citizens of Grass Valley, is a native of England, his birth having occurred in the town of Hale, of the 30th of January, 1868. His father, Samuel Tyrrell, was also a na- tive of England, and at an early age learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed throughout his entire life. He came to America in 1868, and for a time was engaged as a mine machinist at Virginia City, Nevada, after which he came to Grass Valley, making a permanent location at this point. His wife and family joined him a year or two later and he was continuously employed as foreman blacksmith in this section of the state up to the time of his death, which occurred July 10. 1890. His wife, whose maiden name was Alice Jones, was also of English birth, her parents being James and Jane (Oliver ) Jones. On the paternal side the ancestry can be traced back to the Welsh and for many generations representatives of the name were whole- sal. merchants of Wales. The Oliver family belonged to the French nobility anl held large landed estates in France.
John R. Tyrrell was the third of the family of five children, all of whom are vet living. He was reared and educated in Nevada county, pursuing his studies in the public schools of Grass Valley, and later he pursued a commercial course in a business college at San Francisco. He served an ap- prenticeship as a machinist in the Union Iron Works in that city, but during that time devoted all his leisure hours to the study of law, after the work of the day was done, for it was his desire and intention to become a mem- ber of the legal fraternity. The acquisition of knowledge in this way pre- pared him to enter Hastings Law College, but circumstances intervened to prevent him from carrying out his plans and he returned to Grass Valley, where for two years he was engaged successfully in dealing in hay and grain ; however, he rever abandoned his plan of becoming a member of the bar and worked continually to that end. In 1893. under the new charter of Grass Valley, he was elected a justice of the peace and police judge for a period of four years, and in the prosecution of his duty he found an excellent oppor- tunity to continue his law studies. Improving every spare moment, after holding the office for a year he passed a creditable examination before the supreme court and was admitted to practice in 1895. since which time he has been a member of the Grass Valley bar. A close student. he has a compre- hensive knowledge of the various branches of jurisprudence and has been very successful in conducting criminal as well as civil cases. He prepares himself with great thoroughness and precision, and when before a court or jury is ready to meet every possible attack and to give his authority for the wwwition which he takes concerning litigated interests. There has come to
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him a liberal patronage and he is now occupying a position of distinctive preferment in connection with the bar of his adopted county. Mr. Tyrrell is also interested in mining, and at the time of this writing is associated in the work of developing the old Lincoln mine, of whch he is now the owner, under the name of the Independent mine, which promises to become a very valuable property in the near future.
Mr. Tyrrell has also been prominently connected with the military com- panies of Grass Valley and for several years he was a member of the Cali- fornia National Guard. During the Spanish-American war he held the rank of first lieutenant of the Eighth Regiment of California Volunteers, and re-' mained in active service during the war. Politically he is a stanch and stead- fast Republican and has rendered his party valuable service as a member of the county central committee, for which he was the secretary for four years. He was elected a state senator at the last election to represent the people of the third senatorial district, comprising the counties of Nevada, Sierra and Plumas, by the largest majority ever received by any candidate for that office, and in his own county ( Nevada ) he ran over four hundred ahead of his ticket. thus confirming his position as a popular, honorable young man, appreciated by the people. His term of office will expire December. 1904. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend and he is now a mem- ber of the school board, and formerly served as secretary of the board of school trustees. Popular in fraternal circles, he is identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows of San Francisco, the Knights of Pythias of Auburn, the Ancient Order of Foresters of Grass Valley, the B. P. O. E. of Grass Valley, and the Improved Order of Red Men, also of Grass Valley. In the last named he has filled all the offices, and is now one of the leading grand officers of that lodge.
Mr. Tyrrell was united in marriage, on the 3d of September, 1889. to an estimable young lady. Miss Minnie M. Harding, a daughter of Samuel Harding, one of California's prosperous farmers who came to the Pacific coast from the Blue Grass state. They have an interesting family of three bright sons, Samuel E., John B. and Park S. For all these years Mr. Tyrrell has been to the people of Grass Valley the personification of honor and honesty in all life's relations and his public service has been most com mendable. He holds friendship inviolate and in business life he is most true and faithful to the trusts commended to his care. He has reached a position of prominence and influence as a citizen and lawyer with which a much older man might well be satisfied.
CLAEBORNE WAYNE EVANS.
Among the able, progressive, successful and prosperous practicing physi- cians of Stanislaus county, California, none has attained higher rank than the subject of this sketch, who is a leading citizen at Modesto. Dr. Evans was born in Cleburne county, Alabama, July 1, 1859, and is descended from English and Dutch ancestors, who settled early in the south. William Henry Evans, his great-grandfather, was a pioneer in Alabama and was the American progenitor
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of In- family. The Evanses were prominent in the history of both Alabama and South Carolina and were active participants on the patriot side in the Revo- lutionary war.
Dr. Evans, who was the second child of his parents, came to California in 1871. when he was about twelve years old, and here completed his English and classical education. He was graduated in medicine in the medical department of the University of California, in the class of 1881, and began the practice of his profession at Modesto. He at once identified himself with local inter- ests and was accorded the esteem of the general public to an unusual degree, and, being a talented, well equipped and enthusiastic physician and surgeon, he -con acquired a large and remunerative practice in Stanislas and adjoining counties and took a high place professionally in his part of the state. He has served the county eighteen years as county physician and has charge of the county hospital.
Dr. Evans is an extensive land-owner and devotes himself in his leisure time to raising trotting horses and thoroughbred cattle. He keeps ten of his best horses in his own stable and loses no time when called to attend to a patient or when he drives into the country for business or pleasure, and it is not probable that there is another physician in the state who has a stable of faster forses for his own driving. He is the owner of a splendid herd of Hol- stein-I.Friesian cattle purchased by him from the Leland Stanford estate, which are considered as fine as any in the state. He is an active member of the Democratic party and takes a deep interest in all public questions, whether of national or local importance, and his public spirit is such that he has proven a helpful friend to every interest affecting the advancement of the beautiful little city of Modesto, and his residence is one of the most attractive and hos- pitable there.
In 188t. soon after receiving his medical diploma, Dr. Evans married Miss Bessie MeLean, a daughter of Dr. S. M. McLean, an eminent physician and sur- geom of California, who was at the time Dr. Evans's partner. Mrs. Evans bore her husband children named Herbert M. (now at the California State Univer- sity). Maron and Sammel M. ( students in the high school), and died when the Somn last named was an infant. Dr. Evans' present wife was Miss Minnie Hurd, a native of California, who has borne him a son named John . A. and a daughter named Martha Jean.
J. T. RODDA.
One of the most extensive and successful fruit growers of northern Cal- iFornia is J. T. Rodda, who has been actively identified with the welfare and development of Nevada county since 1855. His efforts have been very effec- tive in promoting the horticultural interests of this section of the state. and in this establishing an industry which has become an important source of revenue to the people of the community. His marked business and executive ability, his careful management and his sound judgment have given him rank among the substantial residents of his locality, and no history of this section of
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the state would be complete without the record of this honored pioneer, who for forty-five years has made his home here.
A native of England, J. T. Rodda was born in 1832, the third in a family of eight children, whose parents were John and Nancy Rodda, both natives of the same land. The father died in 1870 and the mother passed away in 1880. Their son, whose name heads this review, was reared and educated in the land of his birth and during his minority devoted much of his time and attention to agricultural pursuits. When about twenty years of age he bade adieu to home and friends and came to America, first locating in Pennsylva- nia. Subsequently he went to the Lake Superior mining region and for some time was engaged in taking minerals from the mines of that locality. Subsequently he returned to England, where he continued for a year, and in 1855 came to California, making a location at Grass Valley, where he has resided continuously since. For five years he was actively connected with the mining interests of this section, and for two years he followed farming.
He then spent thirteen years as a market gardener, and on the expiration of that period established his present nursery, on Auburn street, where he has large and well selected grounds, tastefully laid out with a view of pro- ducing the best results. He owns considerable land and is now extensively engaged in the cultivation of fruit, making a specialty of Bartlett pears. He is one of the largest growers of this fruit in the county, having about one hundred acres planted with pear trees. His grounds are equipped with suitable out-houses for the care of his fruit and also hot-houses for the early devel- opment of plants. He not only raises fruit but also gives considerable atten- tion to the cultivation of flowers, shrubs and ornamental plants, and has worked up a good trade along that line. In his business career he has met with cred- itable success, and his efforts have been so discerningly directed along well defined lines of labor that no one will claim that his prosperity is not well merited.
Mr. Rodda was married in 1882, to Miss L. C. Klinestine, and now has three sons : Albert, John and William.
JOHN NICHOLLS.
John Nicholls, the senior member of the banking firm of W. & P. Nicholls. at Dutch Flat, Placer county, California, was born in Cornwall, England, September 30, 1846, and is a representative of an old English family. Will- jam Nicholls, the father of John, left England in 1852 and came to California, pioneering in its mining districts. He was engaged in placer-mining at Plac- erville, Georgetown and Forest City, and met with gratifying success. In partnership with his brother Philip, he became the leading gold-buyer of For- est City, Sierra county, and for years the two were engaged in buying and pack- ing gold across the mountains to San Francisco. While thus occupied they subjected themselves to much fatigue and exposure incident to the unsettled condition of the country. At times they carried as much as one hundred thousand dollars in gold dust on their pack mules, and more than once were
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attacked by robbers. By prowess and bravery, however, they always managed we keep Hafif treasure In 1800 they came to Dutch Flat and established a banking bu-mess, which they conducted successfully un to the time of their deith, und which their sons are still conducting. William Nicholls departed th's life bp 1877. He was a man of the highest business integrity and great courage, and. in short, possessed these sterling characteristics which made him what he was, the highest type of a California pioneer. He had married, in 1845. Miss Jane Nicholls, a distant relative, who died in England in 1864. Of their three children, two are living .- John and William.
John and William Nicholls were reared and educated in England, and in 1865. the year following their mother's death, they came to this country to join their father in California, making the voyage via New York and the isthmus of Panama and landing in due time at San Francisco, whence they came directly to Dutch Flat. Here John Nicholls and his cousin William siteceeded to the banking business established by father and uncle. as above Gated. They are also interested in various mining operations and other business enterprises and have been uniformly successful in whatever they have Welertaken. Thus they have rightly gained a standing among the most prom- ment Business men of the county.
In San Francisco, February 21, 1878, John Nicholls married Miss Olive Wiem. and they are the parents of four children, namely : John Carrol, Robert Julian. Sydney Walton and Jennie Esbella. The eldest son. John Carrol, has recently graduated at the University of California. The Nicholls' home s one of the most commodions and attractive residences in Dutch Flat and Mr. Nicholls and his family are held in high esteem by the citizens of the place.
For a number of years Mr. Nicholls has been an enthusiastic Mason, and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. In Masonry he has advanced through the degrees of the blue lodge. chapter and commandery, and at this writing he is filling the office of treasurer in the blue lodge. Also he belongs to the Independent Order of Red Men. Politically he is a Democrat, and on one occasion allowed his name to be used as the candidate of his party for the state assembly. He is not, however, what may be termed a politician, and he has never sought official honors, preferring rather togive his undivided attention to his extensive business interests.
LEWIS M. SCHRACK.
No history of northern California would be complete without a record of Lewis M. Schrack. Ile carved his name deeply on the annals by reason of his active and honorable association with events that contribute toward the substantial upbuilding and progress of this portion of the state. He is num- bered among the pioneers of 1850, and for many years Calaveras county accorded him rank among her best citizens, a man whom to know was to respect and honor.
Ile was born in the town of Norristown. Montgomery county. Pennsyl- vania, on the 25th of July, 1818. Ilis parents. Lewis and Phebe ( Griffith )
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Schrack, were both natives of the Keystone state, and our subject was of German and Welsh lineage. His father and mother spent their entire lives at Norristown, the former dying at the age of sixty years, the latter when fifty-eight years of age. They were members of the Episcopalian church and their daily conduct was in harmony with their professions, honor and integrity characterizing them in all life's relations. Thus they commanded uniform confidence and respect, and to their children they were examples of righteousness. They became the parents of nine children, about half of whom lived to mature years and had families of their own.
Lewis M. Schrack acquire:l his education in Philadelphia, and in early manhood removed to Red River county, Texas, where he was engaged in merchandising for a number of years. He was married, in Paris, Texas, on the 6th of May, 1849, to Susan Bartlette Holman, and six weeks later crossed the plains to California.
While en route they were attacked by Indians, were robbed and had to fight their way through. Mr. Schrack brought with him to the Pacific coast a company of forty men, who arrived in California in the spring of 1850. He had purchased the oxen, secured the outfit and altogether expenled about ten thousand dollars which was to be paid back to him, but he received back not a cent of what he had expended.
One of the Indian chiefs possessed a written record, stating that he was a good Indian. This record had become badly worn and the red man prom- ised not to molest Mr. Schrack and his party if the former would write a new record for him. Mr. Schrack then inscribed on a piece of paper that it would be best to look out for this chief ; but one of the boys reading over his shoulder, laughed at what was written. This angered the Indian, who attempted to scalp him and would not receive the paper. Mr. Schrack was then obliged to write a record similar to the one that was worn out; but he believed that the chief merely wanted to use this to get the confidence of the emigrants and put them off their guard. When the writing was given to the Indian the party continued on their way, considering they had a narrow escape.
They arrival first at San Diego and came up the coast to San Fran- cisco, where the father of our subject engaged in the hotel business until the following June, when the hotel was destroyed by fire and he lost everything he possessed. He then went to Vallejo, built a hotel and there entertained the members of the legislature. Subsequently he made his way to the Mokel- umne river, where he engaged in mining, spending the winter at Mokelumne Hill. On the 21st day of August, 1851, he camped on the site of the farmn. He saw that there was water there; and as the place was on the direct trail from Stockton to the mines he decided that it was a favorable location, and entered from the government one hundred and sixty acres of land. Ile estab- lished a stage station and conducted a wayside hotel, which was well pat- ronized, for there was much travel in those days and a pressing need was felt for such a place of entertainment, many guests taking accommodations there for the night. Mr. Schrack thus become widely and favorably known. his qualities being such as to commend him to the friendship and confidence of all. In his business affairs he prospered, gaining a very desirable competence. Ile
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