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 53
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On the Ist of July, 1856, occurred the marriage of Mr. Mills and Miss Cecilia Berbush, a native of France, who died several years ago, leaving two
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children .- Eugenia C. and Franklin H.,-both residents of San Francisco, The daughter is now married.
Mr. Mills gives an unswerving support to the Republican party, for its platform embodies his ideas of governmental policy. He has served upon the board of city trustees for fifteen years, and was county supervisor for three years, discharging his duties in an acceptable manner. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and affiliates with the uniformed rank of the order. Although more than seventy-one years of age he is still fond of the chase, and each fall enjoys a few weeks in hunting in the mountains in search of deer and other large game. He has been identified with this section of the state from the period of its earliest development, when the majority of its citizens were miners drawn hither by the hope of gaining a fortune through their search for gold. All the accessories of civilization have been intro- duced with the passing years, and with the work of progress Mr. Mills has been entirely in sympathy, doing all in his power to advance the substantial welfare of the community.
DANIEL S. COLLINS.
A member of the board of city trustees of Grass Valley, Mr. Collins was born in the place which is yet his home, July 9, 1868. His father, Daniel Col- lins, Sr., was a native of Ireland, born in 1822. When a youth of eleven years he crossed the briny deep to the new world, and in 1850 came to Cali- fornia, where for some time he engaged in mining. Subsequently he devoted his energies to merchandising in Nevada City, and for eleven years was the county assessor of Nevada county. He also filled the office of city marshal of Grass Valley for several years, and died in 1888. In 1860 he was married to Miss Hannah Finnegan, a lady of Irish birth, who came to the west in 1852 and is now residing in Grass Valley. In their family were ten children, the subject of this sketch being the fifth in order of birth.
Daniel S. Collins acquired his education in the public schools of his native town and there spent his childhood and youth. Up to 1899 Mr. Collins engaged in various pursuits, but since then has occupied a responsible posi- tion in the grocery house of Clinch & Company. one of the largest estab- lishuments in that line in northern California.
On the 12th of May, 1894, Mr. Collins was happily married to Miss Marietta Bennallack, a native of Nevada county and a very estimable lady. She died March 14, 1897, leaving a son, Donald. Socially Mr. Collins is con- nected with the Native Sons, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Honor, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also connected with the fire department and is prominent in the public affairs of the city. For two terms he served as a deputy in the county assessor's office, his father then being his superior in that position. In 1892 he was elected public administrator for a term of two years. In 1898 he was elected a member of the city council. in which position he is now serving, and for three years was a member of Com- pany H, California National Guard, in which he held the rank of corporal.
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He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and is earnest in his advocacy of its priciples. He with- holds his support from no movement or measure calculated to prove a public benefit and is ranked as one of the representative and progressive men of his native town, where he has a large circle of friends who entertain for him high regard.
HENRY BRYAN.
This is distinctively an age of machinery and one in which the ingenious and judicious inventor often reaps the rewards of his enterprise. Henry Bryan, of Modesto, Stanislaus county, California, the owner of the Modesto machine shops and planing-mill, is one of the best known inventors and machinists in California. He was born in the state of New York, July 5, 1835, and is a descendant of Quaker ancestors, who settled early in New England. His grandfather Bryan was a Connecticut Yankee and his father, H. C. Bryan, who was born in New York, married Miss Elizabeth Yates, a native of that state and a daughter of Captain Peter Yates, who participated in the battle of Bemis Heights and witnessed the surrender of General Burgoyne to General Washington. H. C. Bryan began life as a farmer, but later became a manufacturer of farm implements. He was an estimable citizen and a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, and died at the age of fifty-three years, his wife surviving him until she had passed the eighty-sixth anniversary of her birth. Of their five children only two are living.
Henry Bryan was educated in the public schools in the state of New York and has given his whole life to mechanics, having learned the machinist's trade under the instruction of his father and elder brother. He came to Cali- fornia in 1884 and to Modesto in 1886, when he established the important business to the upbuilding of which he has since devoted himself. He has built a large machine shop, which is fitted up with expensive machinery so various in kind that he is able to do all kinds of iron and steel work in his line, and is the originator and patentee of six valuable inventions, the last of which is an attachment for reapers, an improvement for oiling, which does away with friction and prevents machines from setting the field on fire. Many hundreds of these attachments are already in use and the sale is constantly growing and extending. Mr. Bryan has proven himself a thorough mechanic, expert in everything pertaining to such machinery as is in his line, and is recognized as an inventive genius of much ability. His public spirit has impelled him to assist many movements for the public good.
He is an earnest Democrat and is not without influence in the councils of his party ; but he has resolutely refused every political office which has been offered him, his taste leading him to devote himself exclusively to his business. He is not married and has never joined a secret society, but his geniality and real interest in the welfare of his fellow citizens have won him many stead- fast friends, not only in Stanislaus county but also throughout central California.
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SAMUEL W. PEARSALL.
Samuel W. Pearsall, deceased, of Mokelumne Hill, was one whose mem- ory covered a long period of advancement in American history. He was a veteran of the Mexican war and a California pioneer of 1849. He was born in New York city, on the 220 of August, 1821, and on the 26th of Septem- ber, 1846, he joined the American army for service in the Mexican war, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry S. Burton, of Stephenson's regi- ment. They sailed from lower California in the steamship Lexington and landed at Santa Barbara on the 4th of July, 1847. A small party was sent to hold that place and they were besieged there for thirty-one days. The United States frigate Independence afterward landed troops at San Jose and they were taken prisoners. Four months later Lieutenant Hallock arrived from Mexico and thirty-one veterans were called for to go and rescue the prisoners. Mr. Pearsall was one of the men who started on horseback. under the command of Lieutenant Hallock, at two o'clock in the morning, on this difficult mission. They rode sixty-five miles, passed the enemy and rescued their fellow soldiers, who were Lieutenant Duncan, Lieutenant Wallace and Sergeant Boyd of Campany A. On the return trip they succeeded in cap- turing a number of the enemy, but the others afterward ambushed the Amer- ican troops and a fight ensued, in which Mr. Pearsall was shot in the side. However, they fought their way back to Santa Barbara, although they had had no food or drink for thirty-six hours. There were about one hundred and two American soldiers at Santa Barbara and the enemy numbered twenty-five hundred, of whom twelve hundred fought them in the day time, while the remainder of the Mexican force engaged them in battle at night. The Amer- ican soldiers became so exhausted that the men would fall asleep standing up; but soon ships came to their relief, one being the Independence and another under Commodore Jones. Both landed men for the relief, five hundred in all, and the besieged Americans were this permitted to obtain some rest. The fighting, however, continued for six weeks before the news was received that peace had been declared.
The discovery of gold in California attracted Mr. Pearsall and others of his companions to the mines, they being among the first to engage in the search for gold. Our subject prosecuted his mining operations on Big Bar, on the Mokelumne river, and experienced all the hardships and trials of the time. Prices of provisions were very high, bacon selling for two dollars and a half a pound, flour at a dollar per pound, oysters at sixteen dollars a can, while shoes sold for twenty-five dollars a pair, boots for eighty dollars, blankets for one hundred dollars and wash-pans brought from sixteen to twenty dollars each! Fifty cents apiece was paid for nails and twelve dollars for a dozen of eggs : but Mr. Pearsall and his partner secured from sixty-four to sixty-seven ounces of gold daily and thus were able to afford the exorbitant prices asked. In 1851 a number of Frenchmen secured a rich claim at Mokelumne Hill, but some trouble arose between them and the Americans and a fight ensued, which resulted in the Americans obtaining possession of the claim. Mr. Pearsall
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did not think the matter entirely just. but after the Frenchmen left he secured a claim at that point, out of which he took a great quantity of gold. Subse- quenly he conducted a saloon, which proved a very profitable venture, bringing him from two to five hundred dollars every twenty-four hours! Subsequently he dissolved the partnership and had charge of the bar of the first Parker House. After the fire at that place lie removed to Mokelumne Hill, where he resided until his sudden death. August 2, 1900, from heart failure, in the eight- ietli year of his age, while his memory was still clear and filled with many interesting reminiscences.
During the Civil war Mr. Pearsall served his country against the Apache Indians, and the California troops had many fights with those blood-thirsty savages, the commander going on the supposition that "there were no good Apaches unless they were dead."
He was one of the oldest survivors of the first miners of Mokelumne Hill, and the early settlers and the native sons of California ever regarded him with much respect. The government paid him a pension of twelve dol- lars a month and he occupied pleasant quarters, a bedroom and living room, furnished him by Frank W. Peek. There he lived in peace and contentment with a record of service in the Mexican war and as a '49er that few could equal.
HENRY BERNHARD.
Henry Bernhard, a prominent merchant and native of Auburn, Placer county, California, was born on the 11th day of October, 1856, and is a son of the pioneer, Benjamin Bernhard. Benjamin Bernhard is a native of Germany. He was born in 1832, and in 1852, at the age of twenty. emigrated to this country, stopping first at St. Louis. From that city he came, via the isthmus route, to California. Upon his arrival in this state hie located at Sacramento, where he spent one year, removing thence to Auburn and from this point carrying on a freighting business, which was then very profit- able. He freighted from Sacramento to most of the mining camps, and continued the business successfully until the building of the railroad, which put an end to the freighter's profits. After this he purchased a ranch, on which he engaged in fruit-culture, in connection with which he built a dis- tillery and manufactured both wine and brandy, being as successful in this as in his other ventures. There sailed in the same vessel from Germany with Mr. Bernhard a young lady by the name of Teressa Howe. On the voyage they became fast friends and after their arrival in this country were happily married. To them have been born seven children, only two of whom are now living .- Henry and Annie.
Henry Bernhard was reared and received his education in his native town. His first business venture was in the mercantile line in Carson City. where he remained three years, and also spent three years in Bodie in the same business. From the latter place he returned to Auburn, opened a large stock of general merchandise in a store building owned by himself in the
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center of the town, and here he has since conducted a successful business and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the people among whom he was reared.
Mr. Bernhard was married in 1883 to Miss Annie Grennan, a native of Vallejo, and they have four children .- Fred. Mabel, Joseph and Alton. Their home is one of the handsome residences of Auburn and their friends are many.
Mr. Bernhard is a member of the I. O. O. F. and in politics is a Democrat, active and influential in the councils of his party. He holds to the Catholic faith, in which he was reared.
WALTER ROBIE.
For forty years Walter Robie has resided in California and is therefore one of the honored pioneers of his portion of the state. He has not only wit- nessed the entire growth and development of his locality but has also ever borne his part in the work of progress, and his name should be indelibly inscribed on the pages of history. The breadth of a continent lies between his present home and his birthplace, for he is a native of New Hampshire. He was born on the 25th of November, 1826, of New England ancestry, and is a son of John Robie, who was reared and educated in the old Granite state. He made farm- ing his life work, following that occupation as a means of providing a liveli- hood for his family. In New Hampshire he married Miss Sophia Gibbons, also a native of that state, and they became the parents of six children, of whom only three are now living. In religious faith the parents were Congregational- ists. The father lived to the advanced age of eighty-six years and the mother passed away at the age of seventy-nine.
Mr. Robie, of this review, spent his boyhood days in Canada and attended the common schools. He was a farmer until the discovery of gold in California caused him to abandon the plow and seek his fortune on the Pacific coast. He accordingly sailed on the Republic from New York city and on reaching the isthmus he and his fellow passengers went up the river in small boats, and reaching the Pacific coast they took passage on the vessel called the Tennessee, bound for San Francisco, where Mr. Robie arrived in safety in 1850. After about a week spent in that city he went up the Sacramento river to the present capital of California and thence to Georgetown, where he engaged in placer - mining, continuing there until the ist of January, 1857, at which time he went to Sacramento, taking with him about three hundred dollars, which he had secured in his mining ventures. From Sacramento he proceeded to San Fran- cisco, thence to San Andreas and to the Mokelumne river, where he engaged in mining with good success : his largest find of gold in one piece was six dol- lars, and his largest day's work netted him eighty dollars. After leaving the Mokelumne river he returned to San Andreas, where he continued mining through the three succeeding months. He then purchased an interest in a store, about three miles from the town, and engaged in selling goods for two years, on the expiration of which period he took up his abode at North
Walter Rochie
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Branch, a trading post, where he continued for two years. He also had a store at Jenny Lind, which he retained for five years. His next venture was in the stock business in Calaveras county, with headquarters at Jenny Lind, meeting with ereditable success in his undertakings. Later he turned his atten- tion to the sheep industry, raising both cattle and sheep, and in connection with his son still carries on business along that line. He has had upon his ranch as high as six thousand sheep and two hundred head of cattle at one time, his business thus being carried on on a very extensive scale. He owns three thousand six hundred and eighty acres of land, on which is a good resi- dence pleasantly situated near the town of Milton.
In 1862 occurred the marriage of Mr. Robie and Miss Berry Reed, a native of Massachusetts. They lived happily together for twenty-six years, when, in 1888, the union was broken by the death of the wife, who was to him a faithful companion and helpmeet on the journey of life. They have two children: Walter J., who is now associated in business with his father ; and Georgiana, the wife of Chandler Huntington, a resident of Milton. Mr. Robie now resides with his daughter. He has been a life-long Republican, unswerving in his advocacy of the principles of the party since its organiza- tion. He is a man of high moral character and of genuine worth. In all his business relations he is popular and influential. His marked financial and executive ability have gained him pre-eminence in agricultural circles, while his pleasant personality and unquestioned integrity have won for him the respect of all.
WILLIAM G. LORD.
Activity in business affairs, when directed by sound judgment, always results in obtaining a due measure of success, and the enterprise and energy of our subject have been such as to win to him a comfortable competence. For more than forty years he has resided almost continuously in Grass Valley and during that time has labored earnestly and perseveringly to advance the welfare of the city and promote its substantial improvement. He is a native of the Keystone state, his birth there having occurred on the 28th of Janu- ary, 1854. His parents, George and Mary J. (Goyne) Lord, were both of English birth, and for many generations their families resided in the "Merrie Isle." They became the parents of six children, William G. being the eldest. The father left England when a mere lad. crossing the Atlantic with his parents and the family locating in Pennsylvania, where George Lord was educated and reared to manhood. In early life he learned the trade of the machinist, which he followed for many years, making that his chief occupa- tion. In 1858 he came to California, taking up his abode in Grass Valley and for several years he was chief engineer of the Idaho mines and superin tendent of other mining properties. He also followed merchandising and thus became an active factor in the business and industrial life of the com- munity. His death occurred in 1897.
Mr. Lord, whose name introduces this sketch, was a child of only four
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years when he came with his parents to the golden west. He was for some years the foreman of mines, and a practical engineer for a period of twelve years. In 1882 he engaged in the livery business, with which he has since been connected. He has a large number of roadsters, which he has care- fully selected for their excellent points, and is prepared to meet the demands of the public along his lines of business. His efforts to please, his honorable dealing and his reliability have secured to him a large business. He has not confined his labors, however, to this one undertaking, but is the man- ager of the Sunset Telephone Company, whose offices are located in his building. His efforts have been productive in increasing the volume of the business done by the company, and in fact he was instrumental in having the line extended to the city. The system is a perfect one and its value and utility to the town are now widely recognized.
Mr. Lord votes with the Republican party and is deeply interested in political affairs, well informed on the issues of the day that affect the wel- fare of the state and nation. He holds membership in the Masonic fra- ternity, the Knights of Pythias lodge and with the uniformed rank of the order, and has filled all the offices in the organization. Elected a member of the city council in 1898, he uses his official prerogatives in support of the measures of progress and reform, yet withal is practical in his advocacy of the questions which are introduced for consideration by the board.
On the 25th of May, 1880, Mr. Lord was united in marriage, in Virginia City. Nevada, to Miss Jennie Pedlow, a native of Pennsylvania, and they now have five children, namely : Ethel, Anne, Clifford, Percy and Vivian. Mr. Lord is a man of liberal views and progressive ideas. In business he sustains an unassailable reputation and in all life's relations has won respect and con- fidence.
W. S. WEYMOUTH.
A prominent representative of the mining interests of Amador county residing in Drytown. Mr. Weymouth was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on the 23d of May. 1858, and is of English lineage, his ancestors having emi- grated from Portsmouth. England, to the new world at a very early day. The grandfather. Shadrach Weymouth, was a prominent Methodist minister and lived to an advanced age. His son. Warren Weymouth, was born in Vermont, was educated for the ministry, and when a young man began preach- ing the gospel of peace on earth, devoting his entire life to the holy cause. Hle exercised marked influence for good and it has been an unalloyed bene- diction to all who knew him. He married Miss Charity Fenno, of North Springfield, Vermont, and they had four children, all of whom are living. One of the sons, George Weymouth, was a member of the United States congress, representing the fourth district of Massachusetts, and served his second term in that high office. Another son, Charles, is a Vermont farmer, and both daughters are married and reside in the old Bay state.
W. S. Weymouthi, the subject of this review, obtained his early educa- tion in the public schools of Massachusetts, and was fitted for a business
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career by an apprenticeship at the trade of carriage trimming. In 1883 he came to Amador county, California, in order to settle up an estate, and was so favorably impressed with the opportunities of the golden west that he resolved to make his home here. He became interested in the rich mineral resources of the great Mather lode which crossed Amador county, and since that time has been extensively engaged in mining, being connected with vari- ous valuable mining enterprises. He was the superintendent of the Cosmo- politan mine for six years, and with other gentlemen of prominence is now largely interested in the Pocahontas mine near Drytown, comprising one of the main fissures of the Mather lode. His investments have been carefully made and now bring to him rich financial returns.
Mr. Weymouth was married in 1889, to Miss Sarah A. Anderson, a na- tive of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and they now have three interesting daughters,-Myrta, Hester and Helen. Their pleasant home is the center of a cultured society circle in Drytown, and all who pass beneath its portals enjoy a most gracious hospitality. Mr. Weymouth is now serving as junior warden of Drytown Lodge, No. 174. F. & A. M. He is a Republican in his political preferences, and is a citizen of a high order of intelligence and ability, being among the valued representatives of mining interests in this section of the state. He has a strict regard for the ethics of commercial life. is straightforward and honorable in all his dealings, and at the same time is energetic, ambitious and progressive. These qualities insure to him a successful career, and in the future, as in the past, his advancement along material, as well as social and intellectual lines, will be continuous.
M. J. DILLMAN.
It is a well attested maxim that the greatness of a state lies not in its machinery of government, nor even in its institutions, but in the sterling qualities of its individual citizens, in their capacity for high and unselfish effort and their devotion to the public good. Regarded as a citizen Mr. Dillman belongs to the public-spirited, useful and helpful type of men whose ambitions and desires are centered and directed in those channels through which flow the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number. and it is therefore consistent with the purpose and plan of this work that this record be given among those of the representative men of the state.
A native of Illinois, Michael Joel Dillman (or Jo Dillman, as he is familiarly called ) was born on his father's farm near Plainfield, that state, on the 7th of November, 1860, and is a son of W. P. and Sarah J. ( Rhodes ) Dillman. He was a lad of twelve years when with his parents he came to Sacramento, where he acquired his education in the public schools, being grad- uated with the class of 1876. In his seventeenth year he left school and went to Reno, Nevada, where he entered the employ of the First National Bank as office boy, and through his fidelity to duty and his close application he won continual promotion until at the end of four years he was appointed assistant cashier, in which position he remained until 1884. Believing more
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