A Volume of memoirs and genealogy of representative citizens of northern California, including biographies of many of those who have passed away, Part 73

Author: Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago, Standard Genealogical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 902

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 73

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In 1849 Mr. Sharp began mining at Wood's creek. From there he went to Whisky Hill and thence to Cooper's Flat. Later he mined on the Amer- ican and Feather rivers, taking out about an ounce a day. While working on the Feather river, forty miles above Marysville, he and others determined to go to Gold Hill. The winter season had set in and at Independence Bar they were obliged to turn back because of deep snow, and they sold their provisions, receiving for their flour one dollar per pound. Returning to their

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claim they mined there from 1852 to 1855, when Mr. Sharp went to New- ark, New York, and married Miss Margaret Bare, who was born in his own native town and after this marriage came out with him to California. They located at Jamestown and there Mr. Sharp built a good residence, in 1860, on a thirty-acre farm, which he devotes to the cultivation of fruits and veg- etables and on which he has established a profitable dairy. Mrs. Sharp lived until July, 1896, and their married life, covering a period of forty-one years, was a most happy one. They had thirteen children, of whom nine are living, namely : Eddie. William and Annie, all of whom are members of their father's household and the last mentioned of whom is his housekeeper; Tillie Julia; Elizabeth, who married Joseph Delear; Maggie, who is the wife of William Fitzgerald: Emma, who married James Barry: Mary, who married C. F. Artley, of Jamestown, and Katie, who married William Baker. All of Mr. Sharp's children live near him in Tuolumne county and he esteems it a priv- ilege to be able to see them often and is justly proud of the fact that they are all respected by all who know them. The family are all faithful members of the Catholic church. Mr. Sharp is a Republican and is a faithful worker for the interests of his party, but he is not a politician in the sense of desiring to hold public office. His life has been an upright, industrious and useful one and his large circle of friends rejoice with him in its material rewards, because all who know him know how richly he deserves them.

JOHN C. EARLY.

In every part of the United States natives of Virginia have made their mark, and this is no less true of California than of the south, of the middle west and of the east. John C. Early, one of the most respected citizens of Calaveras county, was born on his father's farm in Franklin county. Virginia, in 1830, and is a member of one of the most respectable families of that state, his grandfather and the grandfather of General Jubal .A. Early, of the Con- federate army, having been brothers. Melchizedek Early, the father of John (". Early, was born in Virginia also, and married Louisa Ferguson, a native of that state. In 1835. after they had had three children born in Virginia, Mr. and Mrs. Early, with their little family, started for Pike county, Missouri, and Mrs. Early died by the way in St. Charles county. Mr. Early died in Pike county in 1865. the day after the surrender of General Robert E. Lee to General Grant. He had then attained his sixty-sixth year and recalled with regret the days when his people had been wealthy and influential planters in the south.

John C. Early, who is the only surviving member of his family, crossed the plains to California in 1850, with horses and mules and arrived at "Hang- town" August 1. His party consisted of himself and eight other young men. and they had two wagons, with four teams to each, and were well armed. but were not molested by any one and made the journey without any unusual adventure. Mr. Early passed the winter of 1850-51 at Auburn, Placer county. and early in the year last mentioned began mining on the north fork of the

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American river and did well. The following year he mined on Randolph Flat, Nevada county, with satisfactory results, taking out in one day one hun- dred and seventy-five dollars' worth of ore. Then he tried and made a failure of farming in Colusa county and resumed mining. In July, 1856, he went to Oroville and mined there, meeting with good fortune. In November of that year he went to San Andreas, where he continued mining until 1863. The war between the north and the south was now well advanced, and, being a southerner by birth, he deemed it his duty to bear arms in defense of south- ern principles. Accordingly, returning to Missouri, he enlisted in Company E, Second Regiment Missouri Mounted Riflemen, and served under General Forrest in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, participating in the battle of Tupelo. Mississippi, and in many other engagements and skirmishes, with- out receiving a wound and serving continuously until after the surrender of General Lee. At the close of hostilities Mr. Early took the oath of allegiance to the United States and has since been a thorough American, knowing no north and no south.

He remained in Missouri until 1871, and then returned to California and became one of the owners of the Sheep Ranch mine, one of the dividend- paying properties of Calaveras county, and after considerable wealth had been taken out of it he sold his interest in it to Haggin and his associates for one hundred and eight thousand dollars, and the mine has yielded good profits to this day. Mr. Early has other valuable mining interests and has proved him- self a business man of much ability.

In 1880 Mr. Early married Miss Mary M. Steel, a native of Placer county and a daughter of John Steel, a prominent citizen, a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, and has a pleasant home at San Andreas in which to spend the evening of an eventful and successful life. Mr. and Mrs. Early have two daughters, Rhoda and Mary, whose presence adds attractiveness to their parents' home. Mr. Early is a life-long Demo- crat and is influential in the councils of his party, and he is a prominent mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his family occupy a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens. He has several times visited his former homes in Virginia and Missouri.

LUKE SANGUINETTI.

With two of the most important industries that have contributed to the development and prosperity of the far west-mining and merchandising- Mr. Sanguinetti has long been identified. His entire life has been passed on the Pacific coast and the spirit of enterprise and progress so characteristic of the west is manifest in his life. He resides at Vallicita, where he was born April 21, 1864, a son of John Sanguinetti, who, as the name indicates, was a native of sunny Italy. In the year 1850 he became a resident of Cali- fornia and engaged in mining in Vallicita, meeting with only moderate suc- cess, however. At the present time he is living retired from business cares. Under the soft Italian skies he was married to Rosie Canappa, also a native

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of Italy. They became the parents of the following children, namely : John; Catherine, who died at the age of thirty-five years, leaving five children; Mary, now the wife of AAngelo Malatesta; Luke: Richard; Daniel, who died in his seventeenth year: Henry, Charles and Louis.

In taking up the personal history of Luke Sanguinetti we present to our readers the record of one who is widely known in Calaveras county. The public schools of his native town afforded him his educational privileges. The greater part of the population of Calaveras county are identified with mining interests and thus our subject entered upon his business career. He worked for wages, later mined on his own account and is now financially interested in various mining properties, including the Mountain Eagle mine, the Manitou mine and the Gold Hill quartz mine, all producing properties. In 1892 he had the opportunity of purchasing at a bargain a large general- merchandising store in Vallicita and has since successfully managed that busi- ness. He carries a large stock of everything demanded by the people of the town and vicinity and enjoys the patronage of many customers. He has a large fire-proof building in which he carries on business, and an extensive warehouse in which his surplus stock is stored.

In 1895 Mr. Sanguinetti was united in marriage to Miss Martha Mitchell, one of the native daughters of Vallicita, her father being A. M. Mitchell, one of California's carly settlers. She assists her husband in the store and is a very agreeable saleslady. Our subject has been a life-long Democrat, but the honors and emoluments of public office have no attraction for him. He is an expert mining man and finds great pleasure as well as profit in gold min- ing. In all his business relations he has commanded the confidence and good n ill of his fellow men by his honorable and systematic methods, his fairness and his enterprise. He carries forward to successful completion whatever he unclertakes and as the result of his sound judgment and unfaltering industry he is now accounted one of the substantial representatives of mercantile and mining interests of the state of his nativity.

WILLIAM H. STEFFLER.

The vicissitudes of the miner are illustrated in the career of nearly every Californian. Some who came for gold and failed to find it remained to grow up with the country, and many who did so acquired in one way or another mining properties more valuable than they sought at first. William H. Stef- fler has a career in California which dates back forty five years. He was born in Wurtemberg. Germany. July 24, 1837. a son of Henry and Frances ( Brandecker ) Steffler, who are members of two old German families. His father died in 1849, leaving a widow and only child in comfortable circum stances for the time being. but with the prospect of having sooner or later to look out for themselves. The boy had begun to acquire an education at the age of six years and soon gained. besides a knowledge of mathematics and German, some knowledge of French, Greek and Latin. By the time he was fifteen years old he was very well equipped educationally to undertake the

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battle of life, and, his mother having already come to the United States, he joined her at New Orleans, in 1852, and was there employed for a year as a clerk in a grocery. He then became an office boy in the St. Charles Hotel and was employed in that celebrated house for several years, saving enough money to pay his way to California. He started early in 1855, going by the Nicaragua route, and landed at San Francisco May 27. He went directly to Sacramento city, where he was employed in a restaurant at forty dollars per month, but he was soon caught by the mining fever and after two months' stay there went to Mokelumne Hill, but did not immediately engage in min- ing. He found employment in a restaurant and in January, 1856, went to San Andreas and began mining on his own placer claims. His gains were small. however, and did not equal good wages, though he took out one day ore worth thirty-five dollars and at another time he and a partner took out fifty-five dollars' worth in one day. He continued mining with varying suc- cess until 1864. when he was quite ready to go to work on salary again and accepted a clerkship in the store of J. Banq, at San Andreas, which he retained for five years, at the expiration of which time he found other employment. His mother came to him in 1872, and he bought a ranch near San Andreas and engaged in farming. Later he mined again, then became a salesman in the store of Dasso & Tiscornia, at San Andreas. From that position he again went to the mines and he has been interested in mining one way or another to the present time. As far back as 1861 a friend of his put his name on a copper-mining claim near Altaville. Mr. Steffler has owned that mine to the present time, and he also owns fourteen-fifteenths of the stock in the German Ridge mine which adjoins it, and these holdings in their entirety constitute a valuable mining propery.

Mr. Steffler is a Republican, and in 1888 was elected the treasurer of Calaveras county by his party and was re-elected in 1890, 1892, 1894 and 1898, and in the two elections last mentioned had no opposition. His care for details, his accuracy and the courtesy with which he treats all who have business at his office combine to make him a model county treasurer, and there are many who predict that he will be again elected to the position. Mr. Steffler has passed the chairs in both branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was first noble grand, and a charter member of the lodge of Rebekah at San Andreas, was district deputy in 1883 and has represented the order in the grand lodge of the state. He ranks high as a citizen and is personally one of the most popular men in the county.

HERMAN CHRIST.

Modesto, Stanislaus county, California, has several old business men who have been identified with its leading interests in nearly all periods of its progressive history, and there is not one of them who is held in higher este m than Herman Christ, who established the Modesto bakery in 1873 and has managed it continuously and successfully ever since.

Herman Christ was born in Frankenhausen am Kypfhauser in Germany,

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September 20, 1844, a son of Albinus and Amelia Christ, natives of the "fati- erland." Albinus Christ was a forwarding agent, a member of the Lutheran church and a man of high character, who lived to be seventy years oldl. His good wife, also a Lutheran, died in her thirty-sixth year. Herman Christ was educated in Germany and came to the United States in 1864 and located in Philadelphia, where he was employed as a baker for two years. In 1866 he came to California, by way of the isthmus. He worked at his trade at Stockton and San Francisco until 1873, when he came to Modesto and purchased the lot on which his fine business block now stands. He opened his bakery in February of the year mentioned in a small building which stood on the lot and which was later destroyed by fire. He purchased an adjoining lot. thus acquiring a frontage of fifty feet, and in 1891 built upon the prop- erty a good brick structure, one-half of the ground floor of which is occupied by his bakery. the other half by a grocery, the upper stories being fitted up for use as a lodging house. Mr. Christ owns another good business building in the town, that in which the hall of the Druids is located, and has eight acres adjoining the town line on which he grows oranges and grapes. He is a man of much publie spirit and is active and influential in local politics as a Democrat and has served the city as trustee for five years. He is an Odd Fellow, a Druid and a Knight of Pythias, and has been the treasurer of his lodge of Odd Fellows and prominent in his encampment, and has been the treasurer also of the Druidical body with which he is identified, and is respected not only in fraternal circles but in social and business circles as well. He has advanced to his present good station in life by honesty, industry and perseverance and richly deserves the success he has achieved.

In 1873 Mr. Christ married Miss Amalia Simon, who was born in Niederalben, Rheinpreuhsen, Germany, who bore him seven children, two of whom are living, viz. : Annie and Bertha. Their mother died in 1886. The following year Mr. Christ married Mrs. Charlotte Muller, a sister of his first wife, who has a son by the name of Philip Muller. By her union with Mr. Christ she has one son, named Ernest.

FREDERICK H. BAKER.

Prominent business interests in and at Carter's, Tuolumne county, Cali- fornia, are in the hands of a class of men many of whom are young and some are natives of the state. Frederick H. Baker, of the firm of Baker Brothers, proprietors of the Baker Hotel at Carter's, and part owners of the town site of that fast growing place, was born at Carter's, December 4. 1875, a son of Rock Baker, who was born and reared in Canada and came in 1865 to California, where he was happily married to Miss Lizzie Ingalls, a native of Ireland.

In 1873 Mr. and Mrs. Baker located at Carter's, on a farm which Mr. Baker purchased and which is now a part of the town-site and on which he farmed until his retirement from active business. He now lives with his son, Mrs. Baker having died in 1885. at the age of thirty-five years, leaving

ROCK BAKER

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memories to husband and children of a faithful wife and indulgent mother. Mr. and Mrs. Baker had seven children, four of whom died in infancy. The three surviving children are Laura Belle, born April 1, 1882; Joseph Frank- lin, born September 23. 1873 ; and Frederick H.,-all of whom are well known and highly respected at Carter's. In July, 1888, Mr. Baker again married, his choice being Miss Mary E. Murphy, and to them was born one child, named Roy. In the spring of 1894 Mr. Baker was legally separated from his wife, and the courts gave Mrs. Baker the custody of the child, which she later had christened under the name of Roy Connolly, taking the name of her present husband.

Frederick H. Baker has passed all his life thus far at Carter's, where he was educated in the public schools. April 20, 1897. he and his brother, Joseph F. Baker, bought the hotel since known as the Baker House, which is the oldest hotel at Carter's. It is a large, conveniently arranged building, with a frontage of one hundred and twenty-six feet, extending back sixty feet from the street and containing forty-eight well furnished rooms, and its location is central and convenient. Under the management of the Baker Brothers this hotel has been very successful and has gained an enviable repu- tation among the traveling public. The real-estate interests of the brothers are considerable and they have bought one hundred and seventy-four busi- ness and residence lots in the old and new town ( for Carter's is growing from its original site toward the railroad), and are doing much toward the general development of the town, and also own several good undeveloped mining claims. Joseph F. Baker married Miss Kate Kennedy and the two brothers and their father all live at the hotel and with Mrs. Joseph Baker give personal attention to the management of the house. The family is a most respectable one, well and widely known throughout the state, and the Bakers, father and sons, are influential Republicans but are not office- seekers for themselves.

FRANK KUHN.

The rich fields and the broad prairies of California afford excellent opportunities to the agriculturists and stock-raisers. Mr. Kuhn now owns and operates a large farm in Felix post-office. in Calaveras county. He was born in Prussia, on the 20th of August. 1828, and his ancestors for several generations resided in that land. His parents were James P. and Barbara (Cook) Kuhn. The father died at the age of fifty-nine years, and the mother afterward crossed the Atlantic to New York with her two sons and three daughters. They remained in the east for ten months and thence crossed the plains with horse teams to California, being three months upon the way from Council Bluffs to Stockton. John, the only brother of our subject, was drowned on the journey, and other than this they met with no serious trouble on the journey. After arriving at their destination the chil- dren worked at whatever they could get to do to provide for their own sup- port and for the support of their mother. She died in the sixty-sixth year of

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her age, and only two of the family now survive. The sister of our sub- ject. Lena, is the wife of Jacob Wagoner and a resident of Stockton.

Frank Kuhn, whose name introduces this sketch, took up his abode upon his present farm in September, 1856, securing a squatter's right to one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he made many improvements. building a good frame residence and several barns. As his financial resources have increased he has judiciously invested his money in land, and at one time his ranch comprised three thousand acres. Some of this he has since given to his sons and he now has twenty-three hundred acres. For twenty- two years he was successfully engaged in the sheep-raising business, having as high as ten thousand head of sheep at one time. His average number. however, was about two thousand, and he also has nearly four hundred head of cattle in his pastures. There are also several fine gold prospects on his land, which he is now developing. It is entirely through his own unaided industry that he has become one of the most prosperous agriculturists in the county, having a handsome competence that now supplies him with all the comforts that go to make life worth living.

Mr. Kuhn was happily married, in Chicago, Illinois, in 1853, to Miss Catherine Even, a native of Luxembourg. Germany, and unto them in Cali- toinia have been born five children, namely: Frank W .; John W .; Lena, the wife of William Bach: Josephine, the wife of Robert Callehan : and Cath- erine, now the wife of Peter J. Prowse. John is still at home and assists his father in the management of the farm. There are also seven grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn were reared in the Catholic faith. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought or desired office, his attention being given in an undivided manner to his business affairs. We often marvel at the suc- cess of young men of American birth who work their way upward. but cen- tainly still greater credit is due to those who come from foreign lands and have to learn our customs, methods and manners of doing business. Mr. Kuhn, however, readily adapted himself to new conditions, and his life illus- trates most forcibly the possibilities that lie before young men and the reward that may be earned through indefatigable effort and laudable ambition.

GEORGE II. DUNLAP.

The efficient service intrusted to Mr. Dunlap is one which calls forth the character of the man, displaying his ability, fidelity and trustworthiness. He is now serving as the manager of the stock at the Preston School for Boys near Ione, and is a well known and highly esteemed resident of that city. From all sections of the Union California has gained her citizens, and mene those whom Wisconsin has furnished to the Golden state is num- bered Mr. Dunlap, who was born on the 19th of April, 1845. He is of Dutch and Irish lineage, his ancestors having come to this country in the Mayflower. His great-grandfather. John Dunlap, resided in New York and ilis father. George Dunlap, was born in Onondaga county, that state. He removed to Sauk county, Wisconsin, and there was united in marriage to

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Miss Christianna Hatch, by whom he had seven children. In 1872 the mother died, at the age of forty-eight years. She was an excellent woman whose earnest Christian life exemplified her belief in the Baptist faith. Mr. Dunlap followed farming in Wisconsin until the spring of 1874, when he came to California and located at Silver Mountain, in Alpine county. His death occurred at Murphey's, Santa Clara county, in 1894, when he had reached the eightieth milestone on life's journey. He voted with the Republican party and was a worthy citizen, his characteristics being such as commanded confidence and esteem. With one exception all of his children are living.

Mr. Dunlap of this review was educated in Wisconsin, and when he entered upon his business career followed the pursuit to which he had been reared. that of farming. The year 1870 witnessed his arrival in California. Two years later, in Carson City, Nevada, Miss Ella Ford became his bride. She was a daughter of Richard H. Ford, a native of New Hampshire, who came to the Golden state in 1853. He is a representative of one of the pio- neer families of New England, his ancestors having been among the first settlers of Plymouth, Massachusetts. For many years he was actively identi- fied with the ministry of the Methodist church and is still living, at the advanced age of ninety years, making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap. By the marriage of our subject and his wife eight children have been born, of whom six are living, namely: Ethel, now the wife of William Musser ; Francis, Belle. James, Fred and Helen,-all with their parents. Mrs. Dunlap is an active and valued member of the Methodist church, doing much to promote its work and upbuilding. Since 1872 Mr. Dunlap has been a worthy and acceptable member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has filled all of its chairs and has exemplified its beneficent principles in his daily life. He is also a Forester, and his eldest son, James, is a past president of a Parlor of Native Sons and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Prominent in the ranks of the Republican party, Mr. Dunlap of this review has done efficient service in its behalf as a member of the county central committee. At the Preston School he was for a number of years assistant electrician and is now the manager of this stock. He is a very active and capable man and has made his services of great value in the management of the Preston School for Boys.

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A Volume of memoirs and genealogy of representative citizens of northern California, including biographies of many of those who have passed away, Part 73

Author: Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago, Standard Genealogical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 902

Author: Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago, Standard Genealogical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 902