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 70
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Mr. Rhodes was reared in the faith of the Methodist church, and the highest principles always actuated his life. He was a valued member of the Masonic fraternity, in politics was a Democrat and was a liberal and pub- lic-spirited citizen, giving freely of his means to promote the best interests of the county in which he lived. His home was celebrated for its generous hospitality, the latchstring always hung out and the guests were ever sure of a hearty welcome.
By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes three sons and one daughter have been born, but only two of the number are living, namely: W. H. H. and C. W. Rhodes. The father departed this life in 1881, at the age of sixty-six years, and the mother was called to her final rest on the 29th of .August. 1898, at the age of eighty-three years. Their surviving sons now own and operate the ranch. The elder, W. H. H. Rhodes, who has kindly furnished us the history of the family, was born in Missouri, on the 11th of January, 1840, and was twelve years of age when he accompanied his mother to California. He was educated in the Methodist College at Vacaville, and since that time has given his attention exclusively to farming. being recognized as one of the most capable, prominent and successful agriculturists and stock- raisers in this portion of the Pacific coast. He was married in 1876 to Miss Mary Baker, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Green Baker, who came to California at an early day. Their marriage was blessed with a son and daughter : Leonidas B. and Margaret. The mother died in 1891. She was a woman of natural refinement and character and of sterling worth, and in the community where she resided was greatly beloved so that her loss was deeply felt not only by her family but by many friends.
C. W. Rhodes was born on his father's ranch in 1854, and is now his brother's assistant and partner in carrying on farming and the stock-raising industry. They annually produce large crops as the result of the practical business methods which they follow and the natural productiveness of the soil. They annually harvest and sell large amounts of hay and grain and keep on hand many hundred head of sheep and cattle. Their business policy com- mends them to the confidence and regard of all. for they are reliable in all transactions and have a strict regard for the ethics of commercial life. W. H. H. Rhodes is a prominent Mason, and, having taken the symbolic degrees. became identified with the chapter and commandery of Stockton. For the past fifteen years he has been the secretary of the Keystone Lodge. No. 161. F. & A. M. of Milton. Both the brothers are identified with the Democratic party and exercise their right of franchise in suport of its men and measures.
CHRISTIAN CONRAD DRESCHER.
The prominent citizen of Jamestown, Tuolumne county, California, whose name is above, was a pioneer in the state in 1850. He was born of Ger- man parents, in Germany. September 2, 1831. His father, Daniel Drescher, was born and reared in Germany and there married Miss Johannah Roth- schlay, also a native of the "fatherland." Ile emigrated to America with
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his wife and nine children and settled on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Marion county, Missouri, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in his sixty-sixth year, October 8, 1850. Three of his sons and five of his daughters survive and Mrs. Elizabeth Moss, one of Mr. Drescher's sisters, lives at Ventura, Ventura county, California.
When Mr. Drescher came with his father and mother and eight brothers and sisters from Germany, he was eight years old. He was brought up to hard work on his father's farm in Missouri and acquired some education in common schools near his home. Early in 1850, in company with a brother- in-law and a cousin and two other young men, he crossed the plains from Missouri to California. They started with five yokes of oxen and two horses. At a Mormon station in Carson valley they exchanged their cattle for some horses and were thus enabled to cross the mountains and make the remainder of their journey on horseback. Coming by way of the old Georgetown trail, they stopped at the "old works" ranch and Mr. Drescher began mining for wages in Rock canyon at Georgetown, and was paid one hundred dollars a month and his board for his services. Later he mined on his own account on Dry creek, four miles below Georgetown, and was moderately successful.
In March, 1851, Mr. Drescher went to Onion valley, on Feather river, and thence to Jamison creek. He helped to open the mines at Eureka North and lost some money there, though the mines afterward proved valuable. In 1852 he returned to Eldorado county and resumed placer-mining in his old camp on Dry creek. In 1853 and in 1854 he took out considerable gold at Murder Bar, on the American river, but invested in a flume enterprise and lost what he had made, and in November of the last mentioned year he went to Columbia, Tuolumne county, and mined there successfully for some time. From there he went to Jacksonville, where he remained eleven years, mining in the river with good results, but the money he made there he lost by investment elsewhere, and he later mined on Curtis creek, until 1868, when he turned his attention to quartz-mining, to which he has since en- tirely devoted himself. He took four thousand dollars out of the H. H. Haight mine on Curtis creek, but expended it in the development of the prop- erty, and was the owner of the Tarantula mine near the Shawmut mine, which was discovered by a Mexican in 1862. The discoverer took a large amount of gold from the Tarantula mine and then abandoned it. It was relocated in 1872, on the first day of March, by Mr. Drescher, who took out ten thou- sand dollars and who is one of its owners at this time. It is considered a valuable property and is bonded for five hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Drescher was personally acquainted with Joaquin Murietta, the noted Mexi- can outlaw who was at that time ( 1851) associated with William Burns, the American scout during the Mexican war. He also was present in Georgetown, Eldorado county, in October. 1850, when the Englishman accidentally shot his wife in an attempt to take from her the large eleven-pound nugget which he had previously found in Hudson Gulch, in Oregon canyon, to pay a gambling debt. At the death of his wife he was lynched by the miners.
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Mr. Drescher's home at Jamestown is a pleasant one and he is regarded by his fellow citizens as a man of patriotic public spirit. Politically he is a Populist, but he is not an active politician and has never sought or accepted office. A thorough, practical temperance man, he never uses liquor or tobacco and is influential so far as is possible to induce others not to use them. In 1879 he married Mrs. Gertrude Newcomb, the widow of George Henry New- comb and a daughter of Edmond Parnell, who came to California in 1851 and is proud of the title of California pioneer. Mr. and Mrs. Drescher have no children. Mrs. Drescher, by her former husband, had four children, two of whom are living. Their daughter. Emma Estella, is the wife of George A. Sharrock and lives on a farm at Rough and Ready. Tuolumne county; and Gertrude May is the wife of Charles II. Deane and lives near Merced, Merced county.
THOMAS WHEELER.
Thomas Wheeler, now deceased, belonged to that sturdy band of pio- neers who conquered the wild conditions of California that existed in the middle of the century, and thus aided in laying a foundation for the present prosperity and advancement of the commonwealth. He came to the Golden state in 1850, from Saline county, Missouri, which was the state of his birth, his natal day being October 16, 1827. The family is of Welsh line- age, and the paternal grandfather of our subject was one of the early set- tlers of Kentucky, while Samuel Wheeler, the father of our subject. was born, reared and educated in that state : and Mrs. Wheeler, the mother of our sub- ject, was born and reared in Tennessee.
After the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope he crossed the plains with ox teams, joining a company that was six months in making the journey. They met with no misfortunes on the way, escaping the Indians and the epi- demies which decimated so many of the emigrant trains, arriving safely in San Francisco in October, 1850. It was his intention to engage in mining, but he saw his opportunity to enter another line of industry, for the large number of mining men created a demand for food supplies that made the production of any articles of food a profitable source of income. Mr. Wheeler engaged in raising cattle, with headquarters in San Joaquin county. In this enterprise he met with prosperity. In the early days he received very high prices for his cattle and there was always a good market for his stock. for he raised high grades and retained his patronage through honorable and correct business principles. He became possessed of a fine ranch of seven thousand acres, which he left to his family. It is located in Stanislaus county and is a very valuable property. In 1861 he sold his cattle and turned his attention to the raising of sheep, continuing successful in that business up to the time of his death, having upon his ranch from five to ten thousand sheep. He was thoroughly conversant with the best methods of conducting such an industry and his sound judgment and careful management in business affairs brought to him an excellent financial return.
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In his political views Mr. Wheeler was a Democrat and socially he was identified with the Masonic fraternity. His home life was a pleasant one and was instituted on the 29th of February, 1860, when there was celebrated his marriage to Miss Louvicia Thompson, a native of Virginia. She was a daughter of John and Mary ( Williams) Thompson, both natives of Vir- ginia. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children, six of whom are yet living, namely : Josephine, the wife of J. P. Churchill, of Yreka, California ; Samuel Henry, a large stock-raiser, living in Reno, Nevada ; May Visa, the wife of J. W. Churchill, also a resident of Yreka; Rees Thompson resides on the home farm ; and the eldest daughter. Mary Ella. is living at home. Maggie Lee died March 5. 1895, and John Thomas, an attorney, living at Winnemucca, Nevada. Mr. Wheeler was a man of the highest probity of character, his name being synonymous with all honorable dealing. He was most energetic and enterprising and through the exercise of those qualities he gained a place among the substantial citizens of Stanislaus county. His death occurred on the 17th of October, 1899, when he was seventy-two years of age, and he left to his family not only a valuable estate but also the price- less heritage of an untarnished name. His widow still resides on the ranch with her son Rees, and they are together managing the place. He completed his literary education in the high school of Oakland, where the family resided for a number of years, while his business training was received in Heald's Business College in San Francisco, in which he was graduated in 1891. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is identified with the Benevolent Order of Elks. In his native county he is highly esteemed in social and busi- ness circles, being true and faithful to every duty in every relation of life. Thoroughly reliable in all his dealings, he possesses the high regard and con- fidence of all with whom he has come in contact.
DR. GEORGE F. PACHE.
Occupying a position of esteem and prominence in his native state, George Florian Pache, the subject of the present review, a physician of the highest standing, is located in Angel's Camp, Calaveras county, California, engaged in the practice of his profession. He was born in Stockton, California. June 30. 1865. the eldest son of a family of four boys and two girls, all of whom are still surviving. Joles P. Pache, his father, was born in Paris, France, in 1831. being a lineal descendant of J. Pache, who was the minister of war in 1792, mayor of Paris in 1793, and an author of a work on metaphysics. .After receiving a collegiate education in Paris, Mr. Pache came to California. in 1852, and located in Stanislaus county. In 1858 he went to Stockton, San Joaquin county, where two years later he was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth Chicard, of the old Chicard family, possessors of large landed estates of Bordeaux, France. After a long and useful career Mr. Pache passed away. in 1894. at the age of sixty-two years.
Dr. Pache was educated in Stockton, receiving his medical education in Cooper Medical College, in San Francisco, at which he graduated in 1889,
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coming to Angel's Camp in 1890. Ilis success was immediate, as he possesses those qualities which command the confidence and respect of the community, combining the kind manner of the physician with the skilled touch of the surgeon. He has served the county as coroner and public administrator for two terms of office. He is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Foresters, the Chosen Friends, and the Druids, being examining physician for all of these fraternal organizations. Besides owning considerable valu- able property in the neighborhood, he is also a stockholder in the Lightner and Oriole mines, being a director in the former. A large modern residence, combining comfort and luxury and well equipped offices, has recently been completed. Dr. Pache has hosts of grateful patients and scores of friends, and is a man most highly esteemed in his part of the state of California.
O. S. BUCKBEE.
There is no doubt that the state of California is rich in mineral deposits. When gold was first discovered there and prospectors rushed in from every point, the necessary implements for search of the yellow metal were few ; but now the machinery required to operate a successful mine is complicated and requires a practiced eye and trained intelligence properly and surely to pro- duce results. The subject of this review has been a miner, is the son of a miner and so thoroughly understands the science of mining that his appoint- ment to the position of superintendent of the great Angel's Quartz Mining Company is but a just reward of merit. He was born in Quincy, Plumas county, California, January 11, 1862, and was a son of John R. Buckbee. who came to California during the gold excitement. He was of Holland ancestry, was born in New York city, in 1828, and died July 25, 1872. He was an educated man, a lawyer by profession and after an experimental sea- son in mining. in Hangtown, removed into Plumas county and there opened a law office. His ability was so great that he was soon made district attorney and later was honored by an election to the state legislature. In 1854 he returned east, going by way of the isthmus, his previous trip having been around the Horn, and in central New York married Miss Malana Sears, a daughter of Thomas Sears, a veteran of the war of 1812. Four years later he crossed the plains to his old home in Plumas county, where he again engaged in the practice of his profession. Previous to the war of the Rebel- lion he had been a Democrat. but then joined the Republican party and ever after took a deep interest in the affairs of the nation. Mr. Buckbee was an old and valued member of the Masonic fraternity, holding its highest de- grees. Mrs. Buckbee survived her talented husband for many years, her death having occurred January 16, 1900, in San Francisco. Six children were the result of this marriage, four of whom are surviving: Alva C., now in the custom-house in San Francisco: Lorna, a resident of the same city: and the remaining sister of our subject. Flora S., is the wife of Thomas H. Reynolds, who is the state manager of the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany and is also a resident of San Francisco.
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O. S. Buckbee was educated in the public schools of San Francisco and for a number of years was in the treasury department of the government, at Washington city, also serving in San Francisco. He has made mining the business of his life for the past thirteen years, having mined and studied mines in British Columbia, in Alaska, and in Washington, as well as his native state. In 1898 he came to take charge of the mining property of the present company at Angel's Camp, since which time he has been fully em- ployed in looking after its interests. It is very valuable property and he is preparing to penetrate to lower levels.
Mr. Buckbee was married June 15, 1900, to Miss Edna L. Bryan, a daughter of Joseph Bryan, a relative of William J. Bryan, the presidential nominee. She was born in San Andreas February 27, 1876.
A stanch and outspoken Republican, Mr. Buckbee does all he can in sup- port of his party. He is proud of his state, anxious and willing to exert every influence to profit her, and is one of the men best fitted in the world for the position he holds.
ISAAC N. NEELY.
A resident of Milton, Isaac Newton Neely dates his connection with California from 1852 and is a pioneer liveryman in the town in which he makes his home. He was born in Greeenville, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of September, 1830, and is of Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch descent. His grandfather, David Neely, with four brothers left the Green Isle of Erin for the new world and took up their abode in South Carolina, taking part in the events which formed the early annals of the state. John Neely, the eldest son of David Neely and the father of our subject, was born in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, the family having in the meantime left the Keystone state. There he was reared and after attaining his majority he married Miss Martha Simpkins, a daughter of Peter Simpkins, one of the early settlers of Westmoreland county. After their marriage they removed to Grant county, Wisconsin, taking up their abode there in 1847, when Wis- consin was still a territory. The father was a resident of that locality throughout his remaining days, and on the 4th of July. 1854, he passed away, at the age of forty-eight. His good wife survived him for some time, attaining the age of three-score years and ten. This worthy couple were the parents of nine children, but Isaac Newton Neely is now the only one in California.
He was a young man of twenty-two when he crossed the plains for the far west, traveling in a train composed of thirty wagons. On the 26th of April. 1852, they crossed the Mississippi river, on the seventeenth of May the Mis- souri river and on they traveled over hot sands and through the mountain passes until they reached the Humboldt, when Mr. Neely left the party and drove the first team that ever covered the distance from one end of the Honey Lake valley to the other. He arrived in Shasta county on the 20th of August. 1852, and there began mining, but soon afterward was taken ill with chills and
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fever. He started for Sacramento during the holidays, but was -o ill that the party with which he traveled camped at what is now known as Red Bluff. There they spent the winter, living on venison and using ground barley for coffee. Mr. Neely was in a very critical condition and other members of the party suffered with smallpox. They endured many hard- ships and trials that winter, but on the 6th of March, 1853. he had recovered sufficiently to return to Shasta, whence he made his way to Weaverville, going afterward to Whiskytown, where he engaged in conducting a hotel through the summer, making considerable money. In the fall of the same year he engaged in mining at Jackass Flat, and also followed mining near Bidwell's Bar on Feather river. There was no rain, however, and as the water supply was low Mr. Neely went to Hangtown, where he engaged in mining through- out the winter of 1853. meeting with very poor success, however. Possess- ing considerable skill as a violinist, he engaged to play at night until twelve o'clock, receiving five dollars each evening for his services. He would follow mining through the day, often working in the rain, but fate did not seem to vouchsafe him much return for his labor in that direction and he accordingly changed his occupation.
Ilis great fondness for dancing led some of the residents of the locality to solicit him to establish a dancing school and for two years he made con- siderable money in that way. In 1856 he went to Volcano, Amador county, where he again took up mining, remaining there w til 1858. investing his money in a tunnel, which proved a failure. Mr. Neely next followed team- ing from Sacramento to Jackson, Sutter Creek and Volcano, and his industry in that work brought to him gratifyng prosperity during the ten years in which he followed the business, as there were no railroads and all goods had to be hauled by team and the price of transportation was high. On abandon- ing that work he engaged in logging for the Eureka, Amador and other mines in the vicinity of Sutter creek and in that business he lost between five and six thousand dolars. In 1872 he moved his family to Sacramento in order to afford his children good educational privileges, and there he accepted a position in the store of Booth & Company, while liter he was employed in the hardware store of Gillis Mott & Company. He opened a livery stable in Copperopolis in 1883. conducting it successfully for seven years, when he sold ont for fifty-five hundred dollars. Ile then established his livery barn in Milton, in 1892, and purchased the livery stable in Jackson in 1898. Both are conducted under the name of the Pioneer Livery. Mr. Neely is an expe- rienced horseman who keeps good stock and does a reliable and successful bit-i ness, his earnest desire to please his patrons securing to him the liberal sup port of the public. He has a wide and increasing acquaintance among the pioneers of the state.
On the last day of January, 1858. Mr. Neely had married Miss Sarah Williams, of Volcano, and to them have been born six children: Walter P., who lived to be thirty-seven years of age and died October 15, 1897: May Irene, the wife of Elijah Thomas, a resident of Sonora, California; Robert William, who is in Redding, California ; Mattie, the wife of Frank Schotell,
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a resident of San Francisco; Hattie, who resides in New York city; and Edward, who makes his home at Angel's Camp. While the family were residing in Sacramento the mother died, in 1877, after a happy married life of nineteen years. In 1883 Mr. Neely was united in marriage with Mrs. Maria Martin, a native of Boston, Massachusetts. By her former marriage she had three children : Richard, who is now in the recorder's office in San Francisco; Ella, the wife of Hon. A. Caminetti, of Jackson, Amador county ; and Henrietta, whose very superior vocal powers have awakened the highest admiration. She is now pursuing her studies in Paris. Mr. and Mrs. Neely have a delightful home in Milton and its generous hospitality is enjoyed by a large circle of friends. Mrs. Neely is a member of the Congregational church and is a lady of refinement and culture. He is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has filled all the chairs in both branches. of that fraternity. In 1856 he voted for Fremont and has since been a stanch Republican. He has passed through many vicissitudes in his business career, has met reverses and encountered many trials, but by persistent purpose has overcome these and has advanced to a creditable standing as one of the substantial residents of his community.
JAMES S. JACK.
Those characteristics of the Scotch race which in many ways have made it predominant wherever it has obtained a foothokl, have been influential upon the fortunes of the family of Jack, of which James S. Jack, the county clerk, auditor and recorder of Calaveras county, California, is a representative. Mr. Jack is a native of the Golden state and was born in Fresno county, October 20, 1872, a son of James B. and Maria (Uriell) Jack. His great-grandfa- ther in the paternal line came early from England to Virginia; and Thomas Jack, his grandfather, was born there, but passed most of his life in Ten- nessee. James B. Jack, a son of Thomas Jack and father of James S. Jack, was born in Tennessee in 1838, and in 1856, at the age of eighteen years, crossed the plains to California and located in Calaveras county, where the town of Sheep Ranch has since come into existence but where there was at that time nothing but a comparatively small mining camp. He mined there. but was not lucky and became a farmer in San Joaquin county. Later he was an early settler in Fresno county, where he devoted himself to farming and stock raising. He died as the result of an accident November 16, 1895, aged fifty-seven, and his widow, now fifty years old, lives with her son at San Andreas. They were married in San Joaquin county, in 1865, and had two children : James S. Jack, the subject of this sketch ; and a daughter named Mary, who is now Mrs. E. R. Campbell, of Angel's Camp, Calaveras county.
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