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 57
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family, who had no sons. While there Mr. Mallows attended school in the winter months and worked on the farm through the summer, working with Mr. Kimball until he became of age. About that time his friend and employer clied and our subject then went to Chicago, where he arrived without a dollar. Ile began to learn the ship carpenter's trade and continued in that city until his emigration to California, in 1856. Shortly before his removal he had left the city and rented a farm near by, but soon after he had his land plowed he resolved to seek a home in the Golden state. This resolution came to him while he was working in the fields. He unhitched his team and drove the horses to the house. The man from whom he had rented the farm asked. "Have you broken down?" Mr. Mallows replied, "No; I am going to California:" and go he did. He came by way of the isthmus route, and when he had arrived in California he had only twenty-five cents in his pocket.
The first man he met here was Mr. Judd, his old Chicago employer, who offeredI him work at eight dollars per day ; but he declined it, saying that he had come to mine. He proceeded to Sacramento, where he met another old friend, Mr. Madden, whom he had known in the east. From him he bor- rowed five dollars and at Folsom he secured work at a dollar and a quarter per day. After working four days he was told he would have to pay his board at the rate of a dollar per day, and at this he was so offended that he left the table and remained outdoors all night, refusing to again enter the house! The following morning he started in search of work, making his way up the . Auburn road, and he met a man whom he asked if he knew where he could get a position. The man replied, "Mr. Harlan hires nearly every one that comes along, and he resides six miles below Auburn." Mr. Mallows therefore proceeded to the Harlan ranch, where he was informed that they needed no more help. Mr. Mallows, however, offered to work for his board until he could do better. and he was set to work building a fence. He had caten little supper and no breakfast, and no one asked him if he had had a meal that day. He worked at the fence until two o'clock in the afternoon. He had heard no bell nor was he asked to dinner, and getting extremely hungry he went to the house and asked about dinner. Mr. Harlan said, "Why didn't you get dinner? Make me a cup of black coffee and get din- ner." Mr. Mallows replied that he had not been told to do that, and was not much of a cook, but woukl do the best he could. He found coffee. a ham and some bread, in that way appeasing his hunger. At night he went into the store, where Mr. Harlan was as drunk as could be and all the men were drinking freely. He was then asked to tend bar, but declined. His employer then told him to put some money in the safe and handed him five thousand dollars. Hle did not know how to open the safe and hid the money under some papers on top of it. In the morning he was asked for the money and handed it to his employer, who said. "We need you; you must never leave me :" but Mr. Mallows replied that he must do better than work for his board. A few days later Mr. Harlan asked him how he would like to engage in mining, and said : "1 will sell you my mine for three hundred dollars and you can pay me when you take the money out of the mine." The bargain
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was concluded in this manner and Mr. Mallows had his partner from Folsom join him. They at once began working that mine and remained there until the Washington gold excitement broke out.
They went to Virginia City with about twelve hundred dollars each, but sank it all in unprofitable speculations. After a year passed there Mr. Mal- lows started back on foot with seven dollars and a half in his pocket. He had to pay a dollar for meals and the money was all spent. Mr. Mallows and his partner slept out one night in the snow without blankets, building a big fire, and from time to time changed their position to another side of the fire in order to keep warm. At four o'clock in the morning they heard the roosters crow and found that they had camped within a short distance from a house. They proceeded on their way to North San Juan, and there our sub- ject met a friend from the east ; but he was too proud to mention to him his condition, although he had had nothing to eat for four days! In passing the Buena Vista ranch he saw potatoes in a field and pulled up some and tied them in his handkerchief. Proceeding along the road a short distance he and his partner stopped and built a fire, and as soon as the potatoes were fairly warm they began to eat them. In their hungered condition the potatoes seemed more palatable than many expensive meals they had had. This was in the fall season and the fire spread through the dry leaves, extending rapidly. The boots, lower part of the trousers and the coat tails of the men were burned. In the morning they enjoyed again a good breakfast of potatoes. The potatoes had become very black in the fire, and as the men had no water with which to wash them they somewhat resembled negroes in their appear- ance after partaking of their morning meal. They came to a milk ranch owned by a Mrs. Barker, and there they asked for a drink of water, but the kindly woman gave them milk instead and allowed them to wash their faces there.
Again they started off happy and soon afterward Mr. Mallows began working for his friend Madden, who was building a road near Colfax. After being thus employed for a month our subject took the contract to build a mile of the road, at a dollar per rod and furnish all the tools. He had worked only half a day on the job when his partner left him and he built the entire mile of road alone. It formed a portion of the road between Colfax and Dutch Flat. When his contract was completed he became boss of the gang of chain men and superintended the road to its completion. He received for his pay a six-horse team, and for two years, in 1861-2, he engaged in teaming from Sacramento to Dutch Flat, thus making some money. He afterward graded a piece of land, on which he laid the foundation and built the hotel and barn at Marlow Station, on Canyon creek, above Dutch Flat. While located there he purchased the depot site at Cisco and built the Terminus Hotel there, at a cost of ten thousand dollars, opening it for business on Thanksgiving day of 1866. That enterprise proved profitable. Mr. Madden had leased his property and raised the money for part of the hotel, becoming the silent partner, Mr. Mallows to have the management of the enterprise. Not long afterward Madden purchased a bill of goods in San Francisco and
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sent it out to Mr. Mallows, who refused to receive it, saying he did not need it and would not take it. This made trouble between the partners and Mr. Madden raised the money and purchased Mr. Mallows' interest in the hotel, the latter getting about what it had cost him,-ten thousand dollars. A month later Mr. Madden was sold out.
In 1867 Mr. Mallows returned to the east and on again reaching Cali- fornia located at Dutch Flat, in 1869. He worked as foreman in the mines for the Cedar Creek Mining Company, for five dollars a day, and was thus engaged for four seasons. In 1875 he purchased the Dutch Flat Hotel, which he has since successfully conducted and has thus become one of the wealthy men of the town. To quote his own words. "I have had three meals a day at any rate since 1860." He is justly accounted one of the substantial citizens of his community. In addition to the hotel property he owns twelve or fourteen dwellings in the town, is the proprietor of a brewery and has an interest in eight thousand acres of valuable land. He is also the owner of the Golden Shaft mine, on which he has built a good eight-stamp mill. He is likewise the owner of the livery stable of the town. He is a very liberal and kindly man, a popular hotel proprietor and has a wide acquaintance throughout the northern portion of the state.
In 1861 Mr. Mallows was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Stewart, who died in 1870, and in November. 1872, he wedded Mrs. Mary Starr, who by her former husband had two children, whom they have reared : Minnie. now the wife of Fred Trousdale. of Dutch Flat: and Nettie, the widow of Walter Parrett and a resident of San Francisco. They now have nine grand- children.
In early life Mr. Mallows was a Democrat, but his love for the nation caused him to vote for President Lincoln and since that time he has been a stanch Republican. He has never been an office-seeker, but has served his district for six years as school director and is a warm friend of the cause of education. His life has been a varied one in its experience, but though his career has been checkered he is now enjoying a well earned prosperity and is surrounded by hosts of warm friends who entertain for him high regard.
HENRY EUDEY.
Henry Eudey, the honored president of the Amador County Bank, has passed the seventieth milestone on life's journey, and his activity in connection with the industrial and commercial interests should put to shame many a younger man, who, grown weary of the struggle and trials of busi- ness life, would relegate to others the burdens which he should hear. Mr. Eudey is acknowledged to be a man of excellent business and executive ability, and belongs to that class of representative American citizens who, while promoting individual prosperity, also contribute to the public welfare and success.
A native of England, he was born in Cornwall, on the 22d of March, 1829. and is a representative of an old Cornish family that for many gen- erations was connected with the mining interests of that section of the
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"Merrie Isle." His father, Alexander Eudey, was born in Cornwall, in 1789, and through a long period was a mining superintendent. He mar- ried Miss M. A. Gribble, a native of his own town, and they became the parents of fourteen children, six of whom are still living, and a large num- ber of their descendants are now scattered throughout the western states. They were originally Episcopalians in religious faith, but afterward became connected with the Methodist church during the early history of that de- nomination. The father attained a ripe old age, and the mother lived to be eighty-two years of age, her death occurring in North Carolina, where some of her children resided for a number of years. The father spent his last days in California, whither he came in 1854, his demise occurring at Dutch Flat in the same year.
Mr. Eudey, of this review, spent his boyhood days in the town of his nativity and was educated under private instruction until his fourteenth year, when he began to earn his own living. For six years he was his father's assistant in the office of the mine superintendent, and on the expira- tion of that period he went into the mines and gained a practical knowl- edge of their operation. The one in which he worked contained copper and tin ore. In 1852, when twenty-three years of age, he went to Australia, attracted thither by the discovery of gold which had been made only a short time before. He prospected and mined in that country for two and a half years, meeting with the usual success of a pioneer gold hunter, who makes money easily and spends it just as rapidly. In the summer of 1855 he came to California, locating in Grass Valley, Nevada county. He engaged in placer mining at Dutch Flat, and in connection with his brother Joseph began hydraulic mining at that place. Returning to Grass Valley, they built a five-stamp mill, which they operated successfully for a number of years, taking out considerable gold and furnishing employment to a number of workinen. They took out the gold in the summer and operated the mill during the winter seasons. In 1860 Mr. Eudey went to North Carolina to visit relatives, and was induced by them to remain, assuming the super- intendency of one of the copper and gold mines of that state and for ten years was connected with their development; but his health failing him he went to New York, where he remained for nine months. On the expira- tion of that period he journeyed westward to Wisconsin, on a visit to rela- tives, after which he removed to Ogden, Utah, and conducted the Utah Hotel for three years. During all this time, however, his thoughts contin- ally reverted to California, and at length he determined to again establish a home in the Golden state. Selling out his hotel interests he returned to Grass Valley and accepted the position of foreman and secretary of the Eclipse mine, in Inyo county, where he remained for three years, on the expiration of which period he went to Arizona on a prospecting and mining trip. He continued in that territory for three years, but found that his expenses were greater than his income and accordingly returned to Grass Valley, whence he came to Jackson, Amador county, in 1881, to accept the foremanship of the Zeila mine, which position he retained for seventeen years. He has since resided in this city, and his business interests have
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been attendell With success. As he advanced upon life's journey Mr. Eudey felt that his Mabors were too ardnous as foreman of the Zeila mine and accordingly retired. Ile then purchased stock in the Bank of Amador County, now the only incorporated bank within its borders, and his son, Frederick, became its cashier. Later he bought more stock and was elected its president. Ile now owns four-fifths of the stock of the bank, and under his management he has made the institution a very popular and profitable one. In its control he is associated with his son Frederick, and their busi- ness is constantly increasing in volume and importance. lle still retains large mining interests, being a stockholder, director and secretary of the Argonaut Mining Company, which owns the mine and mill adjoming the Kennedy mine in the suburbs of Jackson. He is also a stockholder in the Central Enreka mine in Amador county. He is one of the promoters of the Fremont Consolidated Mining Company, this property covering the okl Guver, the Fremont, the north Gover and the Loyal lead mines, all of which are operated by the company, which has secured adequate means for the prosecution of the business in the best possible manner. Mr. Eudey, whose wide mining experiences have certamly made him an excellent judge, con- siders the property as very valuable. He is a man of resourceful ability and of sound judgment, and whatever he undertakes he carries forward to suc cessful completion. Throughout his entire life Mr. Eudey gave his politi cal support to the Democracy until free silver became the paramount issue. and has kept well informed on the issues and questions of the day, but has never sought political preferment.
lle was married in 1873 to Miss Elizabeth Reese, a native of Wales, the wedding being celebrated in Sacramento. They now have seven chil- dren. Frederick, Alexander, John, Frank, Mark, Inez and Bertha; and the family circle still remains unbroken by the hand of death. The sons are now in business and the daughters are attending school. The family have a very pleasant home in Jackson, and Mr. Eudey also owns a ranch in the suburbs of the town. Like others of his name, he and his family attend ser- vices and contribute to the support of the Episcopal and Methodist churches, and they enjoy the esteem of all with whom they have been brought in contact. Mr. Fudey has a wide acquaintance among the prominent men of this section of the state, and his genuine worth has made him popular in all circles. He has watched the entire development of northern California since the days when its mountain regions and beautiful valleys were the haunts of the red men, and has borne no unimportant part in the develop- ment of the rich resources of the state .- a work that has placed California among the foremost of the commonwealths of this great western district.
JOHN P. FISHER.
The fellow oftveis of John P. Fisher, taking cognizance of his ability and trustworthiness, called him to the office of county clerk. auditor and recorder of Eldorado county, and in that capacity he is now serving, his cred- itable course showing that the confidence reposed in him was well merited.
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Throughout his entire life he has resided in California and is deeply interested in all that pertains to its advancement in lines that contribute to the public good. Born in San Francisco, on the 8th of August, 1863. he is a representa- tive of one of the pioneer families.
His father, John Fisher, came to the Pacific coast in 1849, before the state was admitted into the Union. He was a native of Hamburg, Germany, and acquired his education in the Fatherland. Believing that he might better his condition in the new world, he sailed from his native city on the brig Helene, landing at San Francisco, and in August, 1849. he went to the mines at Gold Bluff, Trinity county. Subsequently he went to Yreka and operated in the North mines, with excellent success, taking out about twenty-five thousand dollars in gold dust. In 1853 he made a trip to old Mexico, remaining in the land of Montezuma until the spring of 1854, when he returned to California, as he expected, "broke" and barefoot! With others he had chartered a vessel to go to Mexico, and they were robbed by a band of Apache Indians, barely escaping with their lives. On again reaching California Mr. Fisher went to Angel's Camp; but high water caused him to leave that place and he returned to San Francisco. He had no money, but soon secured a government cou- tract for hauling sand and gravel to the fortifications at Fort Point and Alca- traz. Soon afterward he established a brick-yard and built up a very exten- sive business at California City, continuing in that industry until 1860, when he engaged in the shipping business at San Francisco. He built schooners and carried on general freighting. with excellent success, receiving a patron- age which necessitated the ownership of a number of schooners. He is still the proprietor of several vessels, but at present is not actively identified with business interests, having put aside the more arduous cares of life to enjoy a rest to which former toil and his advanced years justly entitle him. He has passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey, and in the evening of life receives the veneration and respect of his fellow men by reason of an upright career.
John Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Mary McConnell, a native of county Meath, Ireland. Their only son and child is John P. Fisher, the subject of this record. The mother departed this life on the 9th of August, 1889, at the age of sixty-three years.
John Peter Fisher was educated in San Francisco, being graduated in the Lincoln grammar school with a class of seventy-seven boys, and having completed the high school course in the class of 1879; and he also was gradu- ated in a business college in 1882, and thus well prepared by theoretical train- ing, he put his knowledge to a practical test by accepting a situation with the firm of Andrew Crawford & Company, where he soon demonstrated his ability to master the problems of business life. He remained with that house for five years, on the expiration of which period he removed to Greenwood. Eldorado county. Fond of the outdoor life of the woods and particularly attracted by the sports of the huntsman, he for some time engaged in hunting and trapping. He is a splendid marksman and secured much game, which brought good prices on the market and proved a source of income until 1890. During that time
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he attained great celebrity as a hunter and was considered excellent authority on subjects pertaining to guns, ammunition and hunting, including a knowl- edge of the haunts and habits of game. In the winter of 1888-9 he was caught in the snow, which reached a depth of fifteen feet on the summit of the Sierras. where he suffered such severe hardships during that winter that he decided to give up the business. Subsequently he accepted a position in the employ of the American Land & River Company as an accountant and cashier, con- tinuing with that corporation until 1895. He was next appointed deputy assessor of Eldorado county and came to Placerville. Subsequently he received the appointment of deputy sheriff and tax collector, and his services were so well performed that he was made a candidate of the Republican party for clerk, auditor and recorder. Ile was elected by a majority of two hundred in a Democratic county, a fact which indicates his personal ability and the con- fidence reposed in him. In these offices he is now serving and is a very popular and trustworthy official.
On the 4th of December, 1892, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Summerfield, a native of Eldorado county and a daughter of J. M. Summerfield, who came to Placerville, then Hangtown, on the 7th of .August, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher now have one son, James Wesley. Our subject holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Ile is a thoroughly capable public officer, a liberal and progressive citizen, and for many years he has been known for his sterling qualities and his fearless loy- alty to his honest convictions.
HENRY DANIELS.
Henry Daniels is filling the position of coroner of Nevada county and is numbered among the prominent business men of Grass Valley, where he is successfully engaged in the furniture trade. He is one of the worthy citizens that the little Welsh nation has furnished to America and in his life he displays the strong purpose, fidelity and reliability so characteristic of his race.
Mr. Daniels was born in Wales, October 24, 1856, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Johnson ) Daniels, who are still living in the old world. The father is a farmer by occupation and our subject was reared in that pursuit. At the age of twenty two years he bade adieu to home and friends and crossed the ocean to the new world, taking up his abode in California. For a short time he engaged in farming near Marysville and thence came tor Grass Valley, where he accepted a clerical position. Later he purchased the express and jobbing business, which he conducted for nine years, meet- ing with very creditable success in the undertaking. On the expiration of what period he established his furniture store on Mill street, where he carries . large and well seleted line of all the latest improved styles of furniture He is also conducting an undertaking and embalming business and in both lepartibents receives a liberal patronage.
In 1888 Mr. Daniels was elected coroner for a term of four years, and
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for the second time is now filling that position, proving a competent official. He votes with the Republican party and is stanch and earnest in his advo- cacy of its principles. For several years he has served as a member of the fire department of Grass Valley and does all in his power to promote its welfare and upbuilding. In fraternal orders he has a wide acquaintance, being identified with the Knights of Honor; Chosen Friends; Knights of Pythias; Rathbone Sisters; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of the chapter and Eastern Star; the Improved Order of Red Men; the Ancient Order of United Workmen; and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His home relations are pleasant, for he was happily married on the 3d of Sep- tember, 1884, to Miss Josephine Gill, a native daughter of California, the father, Thomas Gill, being among the pioneers of the state in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels now have two interesting children,-Ernest and Flor- ence,-and they have also lost two,-Marguerite and Roy. Mr. Daniels has lived an honorable and upright life, has won prosperity through deter- mined purpose and indefatigable effort, and at all times has enjoyed the esteem of his fellow men by reason of those sterling qualities of manhood which in every land and every clime awakens admiration and regard.
RUDOLPHUS C. DAVIS.
A man's reputation is the property of the world. The laws of nature have forbidden isolation. Every human being submits to the controlling influence of others, or, as a master, wields a power for good or evil on the masses of mankind. There can be no impropriety in justly scanning the acts of any man as they affect his public, social and business relations. If he be honest and successful in his chosen field of endeavor, investigation will brighten his fame and point the path along which others may follow. One whose record will bear the closest scrutiny and stand the test of public criticism is Rudolphus C. Davis, a prominent business man and mine owner of Columbia, Tuolumne county. He is a loyal citizen and true gentleman whom the community numbers among its valued residents. His identifica- tion with California dates from 1853.
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