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 60
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Edmund Christopher Snowden was born in England in 1838, and there spent the first fourteen years of his life. Then he accompanied his relatives to this country. They located on a farm in the state of New York. After leaving the farm he tried several branches of business, after which he took up the study of medicine and was preparing himself for a professional life when the Civil war broke out. In the meantime he had taken up his abode in Texas, but on the opening of hostilities he went north to Illinois. There in 1861, in answer to President Lincoln's call for one hundred thousand vol- unteers for three years' service in the suppression of the rebellion, he enlisted and went to the front as a member of Company E, Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was with his command in Missouri, Kentucky, Ten- nessee, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama. and participated in nearly all the actions in which it was engaged. At Belmont he was wounded. a ball passing through his hand. At the expiration of three years he re-enlisted, becoming a member of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. with which he remained until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged.
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After the war Mr. Snowden resided for some time in lowa. From there he removed to Concordia, Kansas, and engaged in the drug business, and was thus occupied at that place until 1874. the year he came to California, His first location in this state was in Santa Cruz county, where he opened a drug store. He remained there, however, only a short time, coming thence to Anburn. Here he engaged in the drug business and was very successful. Hlaving for his motto "Live and let live," he conducted his store on a liberal basis, and soon acquired a large trade. From time to time he made investments in property, acquiring both city and farm realty. His residence is modern and attractive, is located on the top of a hill, and commands a pleasing view of the town.
Mr. Snowden has been twice married. In 1871 he wedded a Mrs. Jack- son, with whom he lived most happily until her death in 1889. She left no children. On the 13th of May, 1891. he married Miss Bertha E. Meyer, and the following year. on the queen's birthday. a little daughter was born, whom they named Frances Victoria, and who is now the sunshine of their home.
Mr. Snowden has all his life harmonized with the Republican party, not. however, being active as a politician. For a number of years he has served the town of Auburn as a trustee. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity.
THOMAS CONLON.
Thomas Conlon, a leading representative of the insurance business and one of the early settlers of Amador county, who for more than forty-three years has been a reliable business man of Jackson, was born in county Clare. Ireland, on the 12th of July, 1836, his parents being Daniel and Anna ( Hayes) Conlon. They have two children, and the mother died in early life. after which the father was again married, his second marriage being blest with five children. Ile lived to a ripe old age and commanded the respect of all who knew him.
Mr. Conlon, of this review, obtained his early education on the Emerald Isle and in 1852 bade adieu to friends and home preparatory to seeking his fortune in the new world. On the 19th of May he hoarded the sailing vessel William Tell, bound for the harbor of New York. The ship carried one hundred and forty five passengers in addition to the crew and Mr. Conlon made some pleasant acquaintances on board. After forty-five days spent on the water they reached the American port and Mr. Conlon remained for some time in New Jersey and New York, where he followed farming and was also employe l as a clerk in a dry goods store in New York city. Subsequently he came by steamer to San Francisco and went direct to Mokelimne Hill, where he operated a placer-mining claim. He was associated with three part- ners and they took out from seventy-five to one hundred dollars' worth of gold per week. Later Mr. Conlon removed to Butte City. Amador county. and was also engaged in placer-mining at Scottville, where he took out a gold
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nugget of large size. On account of its size he valued it very highly, but it was stolen from him. He met with average success in his mining ven- tures and at length came to Jackson to fill the office of county clerk. He after- ward served as the clerk of the district court and as a deputy assessor for eight years, and for a similar period was a deputy sheriff. During his long public service he discharged his duty with marked ability and promptness, and over the record of his official life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He is now serving as a notary public and is very extensively engaged in the insurance business, representing several good insurance companies, chief among which are the North British and London Assurance corporations.
In 1895 Mr. Conlon was united in marriage to Miss Ella Lanord, a native of Calaveras county and a daughter of John Lanord, a California pioneer. Their marriage has been blessed with two little daughters, one of whom is living and is named Anna C., in honor of Mr. Conlon's mother. Our subject and his wife are members of the Catholic church. He has kept well informed on the political issues of the day and since becoming an American citizen has exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party and is a stalwart advocate of its principles. He is a charter member of Jackson Lodge, No. 138, A. O. U. W., and enjoys the high regard of his brethren of the fraternity. In his business life he has met with creditable success and is regarded as a citizen of the highest worth.
WILLIAM A. FREEMAN.
The pioneers of a country, the founders of a business, or the originators of any undertaking that will promote the material welfare, or advance the educational status and moral influence of a community, deserve the gratitude of humanity. Mr. Freeman is numbered among the early settlers of California, and is now a representative citizen and a trustee of Auburn.
He was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, on the 9th of October, 1837. His father. Abel Freeman, was born in Vermont and married Sarah Camp- bell, and became the father of eight children. In 1841 he removed with his family to Ohio, William A. being four years of age. Not long after the father went to Illinois to seek a location in what was then a new country, and was there taken sick and died. The means of communication were then so prim- itive that he had been dead for several months before the sad news reached his family. They were left comparatively poor in a new country and the support of the children devolved upon the widowed mother.
Mr. Freeman, of this review, remained with his mother until his seventh year, when he went to live with a family in Delaware, Ohio, continuing a member of that household for seven years. He then made his way to the neighborhood in which his mother was living, near Columbus, Ohio, and continued to serve as a farm hand in that locality until his twentieth year.
In the meantime gold had been discovered in California and toward this Mecca the pilgrims of the east turned their faces. Mr. Freeman was among the number who sought a home on the Pacific coast. He sailed on the Goklen
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Age and after crossing the isthmus he took passage on the Moses Taylor. This was his first experience on the salt water and he was very seasick. Two of the passengers on board were buried in the ocean ere they reached San Francisco. When our subject landed at the Golden Gate he went directly up the river to Sacramento and thence to Forest Hill, working in the mines by the day. Later he engaged in lumbering and teaming, which work con- tinued to occupy his time for seven years. With the capital he had then acquired through his own efforts, he purchased an interest in the Paragon mine at Bath, and during his three-years ownership of a part of its stock the mine declared dividends to the sum of thirty-one thousand dollars. On the expiration of that period Mr. Freeman soll his interest for twenty-five thou- sand dollars, realizing a handsome profit, for it had only cost him eleven thousand, five hundred dollars. Subsequently he removed to Oakland and engaged in the produce business for three years, when he returned to Forest Hill and purchased the Young America mine, which he operated for three and one-half years, then selling the property to a French company. Ile made money out of this investment also. A million dollars were afterward taken from the mine.
Removing to Auburn, Mr. Freeman purchased the Freeman Hotel, for ten thousand dollars, and for seventeen years conducted this house with emi- nent success, selling the property for twenty-eight thousand and five hundred dollars. He also retired with realty to the value of eight thousand dollars, which he had purchased with the profits of his hotel. He is now the owner of Black Hawk mine at Forest Hill, which adjoins the Mayflower and is con- sidered a valuable property. Two and one-half miles from Auburn is located a quartz mine which he owns and which is now bonded to a San Francisco company for thirty thousand dollars. He is also the owner of a farm of one hundred and eighty acres, on which he is growing stock and fruit, and both departments of work annually contribute to the augmenting of his capital.
A life long Republican he is unswerving in his support of the principles of that party, and he has had the honor of serving as a trustee of Auburn since the incorporation of the city, with the exception of two years. He has ever exercised his official prerogatives in support of those measures calculated to advance the material progress and substantial upbuilding of the city, and for his progressive, energetic methods he deserves much credit, as they have contributed in no small degree to the advancement of Auburn. In November, 1000. he was elected county supervisor, with the largest majority ever given a candidate in his district.
For more than thirty years he has been a faithful member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows; he also belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men and to the Knights of Pythias. Ile was married in Jasupry, 1870, to Miss Flizabeth Laycock, a native of Illinois, returning to that state for his bride. They have three children : Charles Il .. now a practicing physician at Angel's Camp, Calaveras county : Rose and Edgar, who are with their parents.
Mr. Freeman is a strong, active, well preserved man, full of life and vigor, and ready for any emergency. Deprived of a father's care in early life,
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in his youth he was thrown upon his own resources and from his seventh year he has practically earned his own living. As the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well. Indolence and idleness have never found a place in his character, and he has mastered all difficulties through determination and perseverance. In business affairs he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable, and justice has ever been maintained in his relations with his fellow men.
WILLIAM TREWARTHA.
Among the young business men of Angel's Camp, Calaveras county, Cali- fornia, none are more pleasantly or conveniently located than is the subject of this sketch. He is the proprietor of the drug store of the town and has gained the confidence of his patrons to such a degree that success has attended his efforts almost beyond expectation.
William Trewartha was born at Confidence, Tuolumne county, California, March 17, 1871. He is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth .A. ( Oliver) Tre- wartha, both of English birth, who in 1863 came from their native home to the United States, locating immediately in California. He settled in Mariposa county, where he engaged in mining, which occupation he has followed ever since and now resides in Sonora, one of the highly respected citizens. Of a family of nine children, seven are still surviving.
Vr. Trewartha, of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of his native county and engaged in the study of pharmacy under the instruction of his brother Samuel, a graduate of the state board of pharmacy. After com- pleting his course Mr. Trewartha remained with his brother in Tuolumne county for several years, but in 1892 he opened his present place of business. His capital was small, but the same careful methods and thorough under- standing of drugs which made him reliable during his stay with his brother in this business has enabled him to build up here a fine trade, and he has the satisfaction of owning both the store and the house he occupies.
Mr. Trewartha was married, in 1894. to Miss Fannie Drown, a native of San Jose, and they have been blessed with one bright little son, Oliver.
The parents of Mr. Trewartha are members of the Methodist church, and he was reared in that faith also, but Mrs. Trewartha is a member of the Congregationalist church. Socially our subject is popular and has identified himself with the I. O. R. M., the Foresters and the K. of P. In politics he believes in the principles of the Democratic party, is intelligently informed upon all of the important issues of the day, does his own thinking and makes a valuable citizen.
JACOB L. SARGENT.
.Amador county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state of California, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which are certain to preserve continuous
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development and marked advancement in the material upbuilding of the sec- tion. The county has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have controlled its affairs in official capacity, and in this connection the sub- ject of this review demands representation as one who has served the county faithinlly and well in positions of distinguished trust and responsibility. He was formerly a member of the state legislature, and by his commendable course honored the commonwealth which thus honored himn.
Mr. Sargent is a native of San Joaquin county, California, his birth hav- ing occurred on the 4th of July. 1871. The family is of English origin and was established in New Hampshire in 1630. Many of its representatives have been prominent in the public affairs which form a part of the history of the nation. His grandfather. Jacob Sargent, was a captain in the Revolutionary war. serving throughout the entire struggle which brought independence to the nation. Subsequently he emigrated westward. becoming one of the first settlers of Chicago, where he built the old Canal House, which he conducted up to the time of his death, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. AAndrew Jack- son Sargent, the father of our subject, was born in New Hampshire and mar- ried Miss Julia Moffatt, a native of county Mayo, Ireland. The wedding was celebrated in Chicago, and by way of the isthmus route they came to California, in 1853. locating in Sacramento. After a short time, however. they removed to San Joaquin county, taking up their abode near Stockton, where Mr. Sargent's brothers. J. L. and R. C. Sargent, owned a large stock ranch. At a later day, however, our subject located on Mokelumne Hill, where he engaged in stock-raising and in the butchering business with his brother. B. V. Sargent. He next engaged in mining on the middle fork of the Mokelumne river, where he continued for a number of years, and also mined in the state of Nevada and on Reese river near the coast. Subsequently he returned to Calaveras and Amador counties and became the owner of various large mining interests. In 1800 he removed to Salinas. Monterey county, where he improved a fruit farm, making it his home until he sold the prop- erty and removed to Lodi, San Joaquin county. He is now living upon his old stock farm, and is accounted one of the trustworthy and reliable citizens of the community. In his family were seven children, four of whom are living, namely : Elizabeth, who was the wife of S. Wilson and is now a resi- dent of Jackson: Frank Webster, who served as deputy county clerk, and is at present under sheriff of Monterey county: James Richard Hardenberg. who is living on the stock farm near Lodi: and Jacob L., who resides on one of the old homesteads on Middle Bar, near Jackson.
Mr. Sargent, of this review, was reared to manhood under the parental roof and in early life became identified with the business interests to which his father gave his attention. Hle is now the owner of a number of valuable mining properties and one hundred and sixty acres of land. the three great fissures of the Mather lode running across the property. His residence is situated on a knoll overlooking the river and is surrounded by magnificent trees, forming a most attractive and picturesque home. Mr. Sargent acquired "is early education under the direction of his mother and later attended the
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San Joaquin Valley College and the Santa Clara College, but his eyesight becoming defective he was forced to leave the latter institution just before his graduation. Later he engaged in teaching school for a number of terms in Amador county, and was the candidate of his party for superintendent of schools, but was defeated by thirty-two votes. He has always been an active Democrat, has kept well informed on the issues of the day and has attended many of the county and state conventions. In 1892 he was elected a mem- ber of the state assembly, and in that session was made chairman of the com- mittee on education. He did effective work in the interest of the schools and was largely instrumental in securing the passage of the bill reforming the school law of the state. He was also a member of the committee on mines and mining, on constitutional amendments and on prisons and reformatory institutions. He proved a very useful and faithful member of the house, and his record was indeed creditable.
In 1891 Mr. Sargent was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Quinn, a native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and to them have been born three chil- dren .- Dorothy. Jacob L. and Robert M. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent are mem- bers of the Catholic church, and are well and favorably known in the com- munity where they have so long resided. He has made a good record as a talented member of the legal profession, but his time and attention are more largely given to mining and he is now actively interested in the development of the mineral resources of the state. As a public officer he has been courteous, obliging and thoroughly capable, and these facts have not lacked recognition on the part of the people, who have accorded him due commendation. His popularity in the community is unmistakable and he is justly entitled to con- sideration in this work as one of the representative men of northern California.
WILLIAM B. HAMILTON.
William B. Hamilton is one of the best known and most popular officials in Sacramento county. A man of splendid character and of unusual ability, for years he has been connected with public affairs and has made a record which commends him to public confidence and assures him the highest respect of the community. For twenty years occupying the position of county clerk, he has manifested marked integrity and fitness in the office, and, with the multitude of delicate duties which his public service has caused him to discharge, he has acquitted himself with such singular credit as wholly to disarm envious partisan criticism and steadily add to his deserved popularity. In fact he has usually been the candidate of all parties in seeking office. Few men have been so fortunate in public life. On starting out with the determination to administer every public trust with honesty. to regard him- self as the servant and never as the master of the people and to be courteous and obliging to all, his ability supplied all else that was necessary to insure his success and popular esteem. Endowed in a large measure with personal magnetism, a thorough gentleman at all times, bright and entertaining and
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full of that sparkling energy which always charms, he makes friends more readily than it is possible for most men to do.
Mr. Hamilton is a native of England, born in 1848, of Scotch and English ancestry. llis parents came to America, however, when he was only about a year old, landing in New Orleans in 1849. The father, in that year. con- tinued his journey to California with the adventurous and determined pio- neers who were attracted hither by the report of the Marshall goll discovery at Coloma. In 1854 the family, who had been left in Ohio, followed the father to the land of gold, by way of the Nicaragua route, across the isthmus, locating in Eldorado county, at a place called American Flat, where they resided until 1856. At that time Eldorado county was probably the most populous county in the state excepting San Francisco, and had equal repre- sentation with the latter. It was also then the mining Mecca of the world. The gold that was discovered at Coloma by Marshall was the lodestone that attracted the ambitious youth from the eastern states and Europe : it brought about the upbuilding of California by enterprising and talented men in all the walks of life, and thus a great commonwealth was laid by men of worth, nearly all of whom have now passed away; but their work is still appreciated by this generation and will be by posterity through all time to come.
In 1856 the Hamiltons removed to Sacramento, and in the capital city of California the subject of this review acquired his education, being thus fitted for the important responsible duties which were later to devolve upon him. During the formative period of his life, when his character and impressions were being molded, he was fortunate in having for his friend, counselor and adviser the late James W. Coffroth, a brilliant lawyer and orator and a mag- netic leader of men. It was under the direction of this gentleman that MIr. Hamilton received his training as a law student. In 1874 he was appointed 1x Judge W. R. Cantwell to the position of clerk of the police court of Sac- rameplo, and in 1876 he received the appointment of deputy county clerk under the late A. A. Wood, and continued in that position through the terms of Colonel T. 11. Berkey and Charles N. Coglan. In 1884 Mr. Hamilton was elected county clerk of Sacramento county by a majority of one thousand three hundred and one, and two years later was re-elected by a plurality of three thousand, and at each subsequent election, with one exception, he received the voice of the people, not of parties, and has been elected by a very large majority. In 898 he was elected for the fourth term, so that he is the pres- ent incumbe i of the office ; and when his time for retirement will have come, in 1902, los political life will have extended over twenty-five years which is a sufficient . mmentary on his high standing in the community and his irreproachable course in office.
Mr. Hanuljon is well known in social circles, and hokls membership in the following fraternities: A. F. & A. M., Improved Order of Rel Men, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Benevolent Order of Elks, and Del Paso Outing Club. He is a great lover of the gun and rod. In manner he is plain and unassuming, qualities which have won him the regard of many friends. llis courtesy and affability are innate traits of his character, and
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are manifest at all times and under all circumstances. His manner is genial, his sympathy broad, his temperament kindly. He wins friends wherever he goes, and holds friendship as most inviolable. True worth at all times wins recognition from him, and he believes in the fraternal spirit which so endears a man to the great masses, for in his dealings and manner of address he knows no rich, poor or middle classes. In all his associations he is valued for his high standard of manhood, his courteous bearing and his individuality. Where the prominent men of the community are representatives of the best manhood, the future of the state opens constantly with the most brilliant promises, for it is manly men who make the history that the world delights to read, and who develop civilization and encourage the realization of the fondest hopes of the race.
GEORGE ALLEN.
In the death of George Allen, on the 6th of September, 1896, Sutter Creek and northern California lost one of their most prominent and highly respected citizens. As the day with its morning of hope and promise. its noontime of activity and its evening of completed and successful effort, ending in the grateful rest and the quiet of the night, so was the life of this hon- ored man. His career was a busy and useful one, but although an earnest business man devoting his whole daily time and attention to the further devel- opment of his commercial and industrial interests, he never allowed the pur- suit of wealth to warp his kindly nature, but to the end of his career was a genial friend and courteous gentleman with whom it was a pleasure to meet and converse.
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