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 72
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In 1864 Mr. Crawford returned to Philadelphia and was there marrie 1 to Mrs. Mary Rogers, also a native of Milford, Ireland. She came to Amer-
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ica in the same ship in which her future husband crossed the Atlantic, being then the young wife of Mr. Rogers. Her first husband died and subsequently Mr. Crawford returned to Pennsylvania, where he made her his bride. They lived together happily for a number of years and were then separated by death, Mrs. Crawford being called to the home beyond. Our subject exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party but has never sought or held office, nor has he been connected with social or fraternal organizations. His attention in former years being given to his business affairs and the acquirement of a competence that now enables him to enjoy an honorable retirement from labor.
WILLIAM J. RICHARDS.
William J. Richards, who is now serving as the treasurer of Tuolumne county, was born in the same county which is still his home, his birth having occurred in Springfield, in 1860. The family is of English lineage. His father, John Richards, was born in Camborne, Cornwall, England, and was there reared and educated and learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1847 he came to America, locating in Chicago, and in 1851 he made his way direct to Sonora, California, where for a time he was in the shops of Major Ball. Subsequently he removed to Springfield and erected a shop of his own, carrying on business there with success until 1871, when he took up his abode in Columbia, carry- ing on blacksmithing until his retirement from active business life. In August, 1858, he married. in San Francisco, Miss Jane Polk, a native of Devonshire, England. They had known each other from childhood in their native country, and now their destinies were united by ceremony. Four chil- dren were born unto them in Tuolumne county, namely: W. J., Frederick ( .. Jessie A. ( the wife or Dr. W. W. Eastman ) and . Albert .\. The father was a good mechanic and an industrious man. He and his family are highly respected in the county in which they have so long resided and in which their children were all born and educated.
William J. Richards was the eldest child and in the public schools of Springfield and Columbia he acquired his education. He afterward mastered the blacksmith's trade, working with his father. Subsequently he was deputy postmaster for eight years in Sonora, filling the office with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Ile has always been a Republican in his political affiliations and in 1898 was nominated by his party for the important office of county treasurer. Notwithstanding that Tuolumne county is Democratic, he was elected to the office by an encouraging majority, show- ing that he is popular in his native county. His fellow townsmen recognize his ability and give their support, and, as in the post-office, he is proving an obliging, efficient and capable officer.
In February, 1896, Mr. Richards was united in marriage to Miss May Wight, also a native of Springfield. They were friends from childhood and on the date mentioned their destinies were united by the marriage ceremony One bright little daughter has come to bless their union, whom they have
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named Ada Mae. They have a beautiful cottage in Sonora and are among the most highly respected people there, enjoying the warm regard of a large circle of friends, many of whom have known them from their early childhood days. Mr. Richards is a citizen of sterling worth. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree, and his fidelity to the public trust is never questioned.
WILSON A. BISBEE.
In Calaveras county and throughout this section of California the Tower & Bisbee ranch has a wide reputation and is a conspicuous factor in agricultural circles. Mr. Bisbee, one of the proprietors, was born in Unity, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, on the 5th of August, 1831, and is of Irish lineage, his ancestors having become early settlers of the old Granite state and of Ver- mont, taking up their abode in this country when the Atlantic coast was still a province of Great Britain. When the yoke of British oppression became intolerable and the colonies declared their independence, ancestors of our subject joined the army that established the republic. John Wilson, the father of our subject, was born in the Green Mountain state, and about 1815 he mar- ried Miss Annie Perkins, also a native of Vermont. In 1850 he removed to Ohio, accompanied by the subject of this sketch, who was then in his nine- teenth year. An older son had preceded them to the Buckeye state. The wife and mother died in Ohio, in the fifty-ninth year of her age, and the father after- ward went to Michigan, spending his last days in Athens, where his death occurred when he had reached the very advanced age of eighty-four years. He had three sons, but only two are now living, one being a resident of Ohio.
Wilson A. Bisbee received his education in Vermont, accompanied his father to Ohio, and in 1854 came to California, when twenty-three years .of age. He chose the Panama route and arrived in San Francisco on the 7th of October. Like all the emigrants of the western coast he has given his atten- tion to mining, following that pursuit for a short time in Calaveras county, during which time he took out a few hundred dollars. In 1855 he came to his present location and here met Jacob S. Tower, who had been his neighbor in the east. They formed a partnership and began farming and stock-raising, receiving good prices for their products. They made a specialty of sheep- raising, having as high as two thousand sheep at one time on his farm. The boundaries of their farm were extended by additional purchase until they became the owners of two thousand four hundred and eighty acres, and the place was improved with many modern accessories and conveniences, including a large residence and extensive barns. Their home became a popular resort for teamsters and other travelers and the Tower & Bisbee ranch thus became well known, gaining a very desirable reputation for the cordial manner in which the guests were received and for the bounteous repasts served by Mrs. Tower and her assistants.
The partnership between Mr. Tower and Mr. Bisbee continued with the greatest harmony and good feeling until it was broken by the death of Mr.
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Tower in May, 1880. They conducted a bachelor's hall until 1863. when Mr. Tower married, Mr. Bisbee continuing to live with them as one of the family. The most pleasant relations always existed between them, unmarred by any words of disagreement or vexation, even own brothers seldom living in such entire harmony as did Mr. Tower and Mr. Bisbee, and the latter felt very deeply the loss of his partner and his friend. In addition to his owner- ship in the ranch our subject is largely interested in the Central Hill gravel mine at Murphy's, from which considerable gold has been taken and on which there is a twenty-four-hundred-foot tunnel.
Mr. Bisbee is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having received the sublime degree of Master Mason in Keystone Lodge, No. 161. F. & A. M .. at Milton. He has since been an active and honored member of the order, squaring his life by its tenets and manifesting in his connection with his fel- low men the upright principles it inculcates. In his political affiliations he is a Republican. His motto has been to be honest and to attend strictly to his own affairs. This rule closely followed has gained him prosperity, and at the same time has won him the respect of all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.
BENJAMIN HODGE LEWIS.
Among those who have been distinctively conspicuous in connection with the substantial upbuilding and legitimate progress of the attractive little city of Vallicita, Calaveras county, very definite recognition must be given to him whose name initiates this paragraph. It has been his fortune to be identified with the town from the days of its early establishment and with every advance movement he has been connected, being recognized as one of the leading and enterprising business men of the place and as one who has contributed liberally and with enthusiasm to every canse which has had as its object the growth and prosperity of Vallicita.
Mr. Lewis arrived in the Golden state in 1853. He was born in Nash- ville, Tennessee, in the vicinity of the birthplace of James K. Polk, his grand- father having been one of the first settlers of that portion of the state. The vatal day of our subject is August 28. 1834. He is descended from Vir- ginian ancestry, related to the Lees, Washingtons, Greens, Houstons and other prominent families of the Old Dominion who bore an active part in shaping the policy of that state in colonial days and were participants in the war of the Revolution. The ancestry may be traced back to Earl Lewis, an English nobleman, who was the progenitor of the family in the south. The father of our subject was married. in Tennessee, in 1826, to Miss Eliza J. Shaw, also a native of that state and a daughter of Rev. Shaw, a Presbyterian minister of Tennessee, who owned extensive property interests and many negroes, whose services were utilized in the operation of the plantation. Three children were born imto them in Tennessee. In 1849 the father came to Cali- fornia, crossing the plains to this state, after which he began mining in Vol- cand. Amador county. Subsequently he went to Sacramento and conducted a
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race track at Brighton. In 1850 he removed to Sonoma county and founded the town of Petaluma, but the title was faulty because of a Spanish land grant and he removed to Carson valley, where he purchased a large drove of cattle from emigrants. He then put them out to pasture in the valley, and when they were in good marketable condition brought them to Cali- fornia, where he sold them at a fair profit. Later Mr. Lewis engaged in mining at Vallicita, successfully continuing his search for the precious metal for a number of years. His prominence as a citizen and his fitness for public office led to his election as one of the supervisors of the county, in which capacity he served for four years.
When the Civil war broke out he was a strong Union man and enlisted in a company of which he was elected captain. He joined General Connor's regiment, which was stationed at the fort southeast of Salt Lake city for the purpose of quelling any insurrection among the Mormons. He was thus made chief of the staff of General Patrick Connor, with the rank of adjutant general, and while stationed there formed the acquaintance of Brigham Young and was a potent factor in keeping peace among the peculiar band of relig- ious people there. Mr. Lewis continued in the service of the government until the close of the war, after which he returned to Vallicita and was again elected supervisor of his district, serving four years. Being now well advanced in the evening of life he retired from active business, and in 1891 he was called to his final rest, when eighty-nine years of age. His wife's interest in her father's estate caused her to remain in the south for several years after her husband came to California, and she spent only a portion of her time in this state, her death occurring in Texas, in the eightieth year of her age.
Benjamin H. Lewis, whose name introduces this review. is now the only survivor of the family. He was educated in the old Jackson College. in Columbia. Tennessee, pursuing the law course there, after which he was licensed to practice. The year 1853 witnessed his arrival on the Pacific coast. He made the journey with William T. Lewis, a relative, sailing from New Orleans and arriving safely in San Francisco, where our subject secured the position of delivery clerk in the San Francisco post-office. Later he obtained a clerical position in the custom-house of that city. In 1855 he came to Vallicita, where he engaged in mining at Kelly's gulch. taking out consider- able gold. He found one nugget worth one hundred and six dollars, and he and his companion took out on an average of about two ounces of gold each day. In 1857 he was appointed tax collector, in which capacity he served for some time, collecting all the different taxes on licensed money. Subsequently he was elected justice of the peace. filling that office for eight years, and through his fair and impartial administration he "won golden opinions from all sorts of people." Since that time Mr. Lewis has engaged in the practice of law. He was associated with John Reddick in all appeal cases from justice courts in which he was interested. and later with Frank Solonski. During the past forty years he has been recognized as a leading member of the bar in his section and has maintained his high position by
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reason of his continued study and his comprehensive familiarity with the principles of jurisprudence. He has improved three fine homes in California and came to his present place of residence in 1870. Here he has one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he is raising fruit and stock, and is spend- ing the evening of a very active, useful and honorable life under the shade of the trees which his own hands have planted.
In 1859 Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Mary Isabell, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Ewin Isabell, one of California's early set- tlers. Ten chiklren have been born unto them, namely: Green Hampton ; Mary Auhaline. now the wife of Charles McPort; Ewin; Sarah, the wife of Dennis Burns: Eliza, the wife of Clay Hallock; Robert E .; Martha, the wife of Albin Lunberg; Hall. Ellen and Benjamin H.
Mrs. Lewis is a valued member of the Methodist church and the family is one of prominence in the community. Mr. Lewis gives his political sup- port to the Democracy and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, thus being able to support his position by intelligent argument. The record of Mr. Lewis is that of a man who has by his own efforts worked his way upward to a position of affluence. His life has been one of industry and per- severance, and the systematic and honorable business methods which he has followed. together with his diligence and ability in his profession, have won him the support and confidence of many. Without the aid of wealth he has risen to a position among the most prominent men of the state, and his native genius and acquired ability are the stepping stones on which he mounted.
JOHN B. DOYLE.
A prominent resident of Tuolumne county, California, who is also a public official, is John B. Doyle, the clerk and auditor of the county. Although an old resident of the county, his birth took place in Janesville. Rock county. Wisconsin. July 11. 1857. His father, Edward Doyle, was born in Kilkenny. Ireland, in 1829, coming to America when he was fourteen years of age. completing his education in New York city. In 1856 he married Miss Ann Pryor, also a native of Ireland, in Granville, Washington county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle removed to Wisconsin and in 1859 started to California. by way of Pike's Peak, located finally in Tuolumne county, at Columbia. Here Mr. Doyle engaged in mining and farming, taking out considerable gold. which, however, was sunk in other enterprises. His farming was very suc- cessful, enabling him to secure for his family a comfortable home, and at the time of his death. July 4. 1899. he was the owner of five hundred acres of land. Mrs. Doyle had passed away in 1890, and both of them had been devout members of the Catholic church, good and worthy citizens. Their family of five children grew to maturity, with the exception of one, and our subject is the oldest. The others are : O. J., on the homestead : E. J., living in Sonora : T. P .. a musician : and F. J., who died at the age of seventeen, of apoplexy.
Our subject was educated in the schools of Tuolumne county and then engaged in farming. In 1886 he was elected one of the supervisors of the
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county, which office he filled satisfactorily until January, 1899, when he was elected to the office of county clerk and county auditor, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the former official. His public service has been very accept- able to all classes, although in politics Mr. Doyle is a Democrat.
The marriage of Mr. Doyle took place in 1886, to Miss M. E. Duffy, and two sons, Edward and John, have been born of this union. Socially he has long been an active member of the I. O. O. F., and is also connected with the Chosen Friends. He is well and favorably known in the community, where his honesty and ability in the public service are recognized. He has made the county his study for so long a time in official capacity that he is considered peculiarly fitted for the position which he now fills.
FRANK J. SOLINSKY.
The bar of Calaveras county, California, has long had a high reputation for the attainments and character of its legal practitioners. One of the best known of these at this time is Frank Joseph Solinsky, of San Andreas, a native son of California, who was born at Chinese Camp, Tuolumne county, August 17, 1857. Mr. Solinsky comes of Polish ancestry, and C. W. H. Solinsky, his father, was born, reared and educated in Poland, and in 1838 came to the United States and in 1849 to California. His father served with the rank of captain under Generals Scott and Taylor in the war with Mexico, and was proud to have fought in that invincible army, which knowing not defeat never paused in its onward march until the Mexican capital had fallen. He came from New York around the Horn and located in Tuolumne county, and was a miner and banker at Chinese Camp, where he represented the Wells-Fargo Express Company as its agent until his death, which occurred April 5, 1896, when he was eighty-one years old. He was made a Master Mason in 1857, was an unswerving Democrat and was long a leader in public affairs, whose advice was sought and respected. He married Miss Mary A. Sprague, a native of the state of Maine, of New England ancestry, and the daughter of Joseph Sprague, an early settler in California, and they had three children : William H., who is a druggist in San Francisco; Margaret, who married T. W. Jackson, of Sonora; and Frank Joseph, the immediate subject of this sketch.
Frank Joseph Solinsky was educated at the University of California, at which he was graduated in the class of 1877, with the degree of Ph. B. After his graduation he taught mathematics in that institution for two years, and in 1881 he was graduated at the Hastings Law College with the degree of B. L. He began the practice of his profession in July of that year, and dur- ing the eighteen years that have followed has been very successful, giving his attention to general practice and making a feature of mining law, and has been connected with many prominent cases in this and other courts of the state.
Politically he is a Republican, and as such he was elected district attorney of Calaveras county and served four years in that office, in the performance
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of the duties of winch he prosecuted several noted criminals, most of whom were convicted and sent to the penitentiary and one of whom expiated his crime on the gallows. In 1890 he was nominated for the state senate, but as the late J. B. Reddick, his law partner, was that year nominated for lieu- tenant governor of the state, he declined the honor in order to give his atten- tion to their large and increasing law practice. Mr. Reddick was elected and Mr. Solinsky devoted himself so assiduously to his legal work as to make it markedly successful.
Mr. Solinsky is well known as a Mason and is a member of the blue lodge and chapter and has seven times been elected master of his lodge. Ile is a charter member of the order of the Sons of the Great West and has the honor of having been its first president ; and he is a past master workman of the local lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He married, in 1882. Miss Winnie Syme, a native of Calaveras county and a daughter of the late John T. Syme, and they have three sons,-Frank, Elbert and Edward.
FRANK BROWN.
Frank Brown, who is occupying the position of postmaster at Milton, is also a prominent factor in commercial circles there as the proprietor of the leading mercantile establishment. He was born in Cornwall, Addison county. Vermont, on the 2d of December, 1857, and therefore almost the breadth of the continent lies between his birthplace and his present abode. He is a son of Frank and Nancy ( Dwyer ) Brown, and is of English and Irish lineage. Ilis parents, however, were both natives of the Green Mountain state, and to them were born seven children while they were residing in Cornwall. Five of this number are yet living. The mother died in 1887. in the fifty-seventh year of her age, but the father is yet a resident of Cornwall, Vermont, and is now eighty-six years of age. The sons are Alexander, who came to Cali- forn'a in 1872 nd is now a prominent citizen of the state, residing at Milton : he has served in the general assembly and is now a member of the state board of equalization : and Daniel, who is a well known business man in Stockton.
Frank Brown, the third son, was educated in the public schools in his native town. He continued his studies in the Middlebury high school, after which he graduated in the Middleton College, with the class of 1882. Sub- sequently he spent two and a half years in the Empire state, as a traveling representative for a Middlebury marble house doing a wholesale business. In 1885 Mr. Brown came to California and accepted the position of salesman in the mercantile house of his brother Alexander. On the expiration . f three years he became a partner in the business and in 1890 he purchased his brother's interest. bec ming sole proprietor of the store, which he has since successfully conducted, and is enjoying a large patronage. He deals in men's furnishing goods, boots, shoes and notions and is recognized as an enterprising merchant. Hle has made a close study of the public needs and is thoroughly in touch with the progressive methods of the west.
In 1886 Mr. Brown was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland,
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filling the position until after the change in the presidential administration; but when Cleveland was again elected as chief executive of the nation he was once more honored with the appointment and is now serving in a manner creditable to himself and highly satisfactory to his constituents. He has been a life-long Democrat, being prominent in the work of the party and doing everything in his power to secure the adoption of its principles. He has been a member of the Democratic county central committee for twelve years, and of the Democratic state committee for eight years, and his opinions carry weight in political councils, his sound judgment and comprehension making his ideas of value in party management. He was elected a justice of the peace by the Democratic party in 1886. '88 and '90. Socially he is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all the chairs. He also belongs to the D. K. E., a college fraternity. Mr. Brown owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fresno county and has a business building and lot in Mendota, California, in addition to his property interests in Milton. Suc- cess has crowned his well-directed efforts, and industry has been the key which has unlocked for him the portals of prosperity. He is a gentleman of broad education and genial manner, of sterling worth, and is both popular and prominent in social, business and political circles.
BELTAZA SHARP.
There are probably few pioneers remaining in California who have I'ved here longer than has the subject of this sketch or who more richly deserve the honors accorded to those who earliest subjected themselves to the trials and privations of this then wild and savage-peopled land of gold and of infinite promise. Beltaza Sharp came of good old German ancestry and was born in 1821, in that part of France which is now a part of Germany. His parents died when he was a small boy and he attended school in his native town until he was about sixteen years old, and then, in 1845, came to Amer- ica and located at New York. In 1846 he enlisted as a marine in the United States service in the war with Mexico. He served under Captain Harvey and was present at the taking of Vera Cruz. After that historic engage- ment he was transferred to Commodore Perry's vessel, which went to Tishen and Elzado and thence to Santa Cruz and back to Havana, whence it went direct to the Brooklyn navy yard, where it was outfitted for a trip around the Horn to San Francisco. This vessel. the Ohio, then the largest warship in the United States navy, was manned by twelve hundred men and arrived at San Francisco in 1848.
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