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 80
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In 1875 Mr. McRae was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Kerr, a native of St. John, New Brunswick, and unto them have been born six chil- dren, of whom five are now living: Lizzie, a successful school-teacher now in the State University; Clarence, a student in Atkinson College, of Sacra- mento; and Lester, Russell C. and Cecil, at home. Mr. McRae and his family attend the Presbyterian church, of which he is a trustee. He assisted largely in the erection of the house of worship and is very liberal in his con- tributions to church and charitable work and to all movements that are cal- culated to benefit the town. He is recognized as one of the most liberal and progressive citizens of Roseville and withholds his support from no enter- prise that is calculated to advance the social, material, intellectual and moral welfare of his community. He is a strong advocate of temperance and of all that will benefit humanity. Of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he is an exemplary member and is now serving as its treasurer. In politics he is an unswerving Republican. His marked capability in business, his watch- fulness, his indefatigable industry and above all his honorable methods have made him one of the most prosperous citizens of the community, and at the same time he has won that good name which is rather to be chosen than great riches.
GEORGE E. LUKENS.
George E. Lukens, a prominent business and professional man of Auburn, Placer county, California, is a native of Wabash county, Indiana, born April 2, 1851. The Lukens family is of Scotch origin and its first representatives in this country were residents of Massachusetts. Abraham Lukens, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was in early life a Philadelphian. At an early period in the history of Ohio he moved west to that state, and it was there that his son Mathias, the father of George E., was born. In 1834 the family went over into Indiana and settled on Eel river. in Wabash county Mathias Lukens married Miss Nancy Rentz, a native of Williamsport. Penn- sylvania, who survives him and is now seventy-three years of age. He died in 1897, at the age of seventy-eight years. For many years they were prom- inent and active members of the Baptist church, he serving as the clerk of the church. To them were born nine children, of whom five are now living. two of the number being in California,-Charles A., of Placerville, and George E.
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George E. Lukens was educated in Wabash Seminary and Franklin Col- lege and pursued a course in the Albany Law School, of which last named institution he is a graduate, with the degree of Bachelor of Law, in the class of 1885. He came to California in 1873, and on the 15th of December, 1880, he was married to Miss Dora B. Cram, a native of Eldorado county. Subsequently taking up the study of law, he applied himself to the same and was duly admitted to the bar. Then he was elected and served two terms as the district attorney of Alpine county. It was after this, in 1884. that he returned east and entered the Albany Law School. Coming back to Cali- fornia after his graduation the following year, he located at Clarksville. He practiced there and at Placerville until 1898, when he came to Auburn. Here he purchased a residence and a store, and. in addition to having a supervision over the store, continues his practice. The store, in which they carry a stock of both new and second-hand goods, was purchased for his sons, and it is the intention to turn it over entirely to them as soon as they become of age. Mr. and Mrs. Lukens have five children, namely : S. Guy, Judson Earl, Nancy P., Gladis G. and Dora May. Mr. Lukens is politically a Republican and fraternally a Knight of Pythias.
ABRAM M. HILTS.
A respected resident of Knight's Ferry, Abram Miles Hilts arrived in California in 1852, reaching Stockton on the 6th of September. Almost the width of the continent separates him from his birthplace, which is Schoharie county, New York, his natal day being September 28, 1833. The family is of German lineage, for his grandfather, Theobald Hilts, emigrated from Ger- many to the new world, locating in Schoharie county, New York, among its pioneer settlers. There Christian Hilts, the father of our subject, was born. He married Jannette Schell, also a native of that county and they were respected farming people, members of the Presbyterian church. Their lives exemplified their Christian faith. Three children were born of their mar- riage, of which Mr. Hilts and his sister Catherine now survive, the latter being the wife of Menzo Watson, of Selma, Alabama. Both the father and the grandfather of our. subject lived to be eighty-eight years of age, and the mother was eighty years of age when called to her final rest. Their fidelity and worthy principles won them the respect and friendship of all with whom they came in contact.
Mr. Hilts of this review was seventeen years of age when he left home and entered upon an independent career. Ile had previously learned the carpenter's trade. lle came to California by way of the isthmus of Panama, and after spending four years in Stockton he removed to Knight's Ferry, where he engaged in the express Imsiness with his uncle. They also pur- chased gold dust and their speculations in the precious metal proved profit- able. Later Mr. Hilts conducted a livery business for three years. On sell ing out he turned his attention to merchandising in Copperopolis, where he remained until the town began to decline, for the mining interests of that
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region became exhausted. He then returned to Knight's Ferry and followed carpentering until 1870, and then under the administration of General Grant he was appointed to a government position in the appraiser's department of the custom-house, where he was employed for eighteen years, or until the middle of President Cleveland's first term, when he was succeeded by a Democrat. Again he went to Knight's Ferry and was engaged in agricult- ural pursuits in Stanislaus county, having fourteen hundred acres of wheat and pasture land. This, however, is now rented and he has retired from active business, having acquired a handsome competence that enables him to put aside business cares and enjoy life as he sees fit, his necessities being sup- plied by the fruits of his former toil.
In 1858 Mr. Hilts was married to Miss Susan R. Bishop, a native of Zanesville, Ohio, and a lady of English lineage, and who, after a useful life, passed away January 24. 1884. Four children blessed their union, namely : Sarah B., born November 1, 1862, who is now acting as her father's house- keeper ; Violet B., born June 24, 1868, and now the wife of William Cowin, a railroad employe : Callie F., born February 2, 1871. now the wife of Henry L. Clark, whose home is at Port Costa ; and Janette S., the oldest of the chil- dren, born April 13, 1860, died in September, 1871.
Mr. Hilts was reared in the Democratic faith and supported Douglas, but at the time of the Civil war he became a strong Union man and joined the Republican party, which gave so many defenders to the government when it was imperiled. He has since voted with that party, being an inflexible adherent of its principles. An honorable retirement from labor is a fitting reward of a well-spent life, and this Mr. Hilts is now enjoying. Through many years he vigorously prosecuted his business interests, and his diligence, indefatigable energy and strong resolution enabled him to conquer all the difficulties and obstacles in his path, and to wrest fortune from the hands of fate. His characteristics are those which go to make up an honorable man- hood, and through the years of his business career he ever enjoyed the con- fidence and respect of those with whom he was associated.
JOHN F. LIMPINSEL.
In the business affairs of Placerville John F. Limpinsel is a prominent factor, conducting there a well equipped grocery, in which he is meeting with creditable success, having a large patronage from among the best citizens of the place.
Mr. Limpinsel is numbered among the native sons of Eldorado county. his birth having occurred on the 18th of August. 1862. His father, Fred Limpinsel, a native of Germany, in 1853 crossed the Atlantic to the United States and came to California in 1851. The following year, by way of the isthmus of Panama, he came to the Pacific coast and for a number of years was engaged in placer mining in Eldorado county. Like others, he both made and lost money. sinking considerable in mining speculation. He was the owner of several placer and quartz mines, among which are the Limoinsel
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mines, owned by his son John and considered a very valuable property. It is located on the Mather lode in the city of Placerville. He married Miss Margaret Miller, also a native of the fatherland. Ilis death occurred March 31, 1884, when he had reached the age of sixty-eight years, and his wife, surviving him about five years, passed away February 3, 1889, at the age of sixty-seven.
John F. Limpinsel acquired his education in the public schools of Placer- ville and is a graduate of both the public school and the academy. On putting aside his text-books he accepted a clerkship in a store in Placerville and was employed in that capacity for seven years, acting for a time as a salesman in the store of which he is now the proprietor. In 1889 he acquired an interest in the business, entering into partnership with George Schiff. This connec- tion was maintained for eight years, on the expiration of which period Mr. Limpinsel purchased his partner's interest and became the sole owner of the business, which has steadily increased until he is now the leading grocer of his town. He has by close application and honorable methods won very gratifying success, and in addition to his store he owns valuable mining prop- erty and considerable real estate, including residences and other realty in the town.
He was one of the organizers and charter members of Placerville Parlor, No. 9. N. S. G. W .. and in it he has filled all of its offices, being now a past president. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Foresters of America. In Eldorado county he is known as a prominent, reliable business man and richly deserves his prosperity, and his friendship is most highly prized by those who know him best.
MANFRED O. SMITH.
When the era of California's rapid progress and development dawned upon her the majority of the citizens of the rapidly growing commonwealth gave their attention to mining, and the hillsides and river beds yielded of their rich metals, promoting individual wealth and the general prosperity of the land. In later years, when it was found that all could not profitably fol- low mining, some of the Californians began to attempt other industrial work, and it was found that California offered boundless advantages to the agri- culturist and the horticulturist. For many years identified with mining inter- ests in the state, Mr. Smith is now known as one of the fruit-growers, and from his orchards fine fruit is shipped to the various markets of the coun- try. He is a man of resolute will, of strong determination and of indefatigable energy, and thus he has worked his way upward to a place among the sub- stantial citizens of the community in which he is located. He came to Cali- fornia in 1854 and is now living near Knight's Ferry.
1 native of the Green Mountain state, Manfred Orlando Smith was born in the town of Waterford on the 3d of February. 1836. His grandfather David Smith, was a native of Rhode Island, and at an early date emigrated to Vermont, where Samuel Smith, Jr., the father of our subject, was born,
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in Waterford, in 1806. Having arrived at years of maturity he married Miss Wealthy Foote, also a native of Vermont, born in Middlebury. In 1814 he came to California, by way of the isthmus route, making his way across the little narrow neck of land on the back of a mule. On reaching the California coast he proceeded to Knight's Ferry, and aided in building the first grist- mill in the town. For some years he engaged in mining. His wife had (lied in the east, leaving five children, but only two are now living, namely : Manfred O., of this review; and Mrs. Ellen Britt, a widow who is now the proprietor of the Duncan Hotel at Santa Cruz.
Mr. Smith of this review came with his father to California and with him was engaged in mining at Goat Hill, also on the flat beside Knight's Ferry. The company turned the river and mined the entire flat. For a number of years .Mr. Smith engaged in searching for the precious metal, meeting with fair success, and then purchased a ranch. a mile and a half west of Knight's Ferry. He planted a portion of this in fruit and sold it in 1863. It is now a fine fruit ranch, owned by David Emart. He then pur- chase.1 the land in Knight's Ferry, becoming the owner of nine acres, the entire amount being utilized for fruit-raising purposes. He grows the finest varieties of fruit of every discription, his principal crops, however, being oranges, peaches and prunes. His place is very attractive, everything being conducted in an orderly manner, while in matters of horticulture Mr. Smith is extremely well versed and his opinions are largely received as authority by the people of the community. On the place is a commodious and com- fortable residence, and his orchard and his grounds show that he is a man of excellent taste and of marked enterprise. Any shipment of fruit which bears his name as the shipper is regarded as reliable, being exactly as it is rep- resented.
He votes with the Republican party, but has neither time nor inclination for public office. His business claims his entire attention, and having been well-directed it has brought to him a good return.
LEANDER D. MARKS.
Leander D. Marks, of Placerville, is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in St. Lawrence county, on the 3d of June, 1821. He has therefore almost reached the eightieth milestone of life's journey. His record has ever been that of a man true to the duties of public and private life, faithful in friendship and honorable in business. He is a representa- tive of one of the early families in New York. His grandfather. Reuben Marks, reared his children in the Empire state and among the number was Richard Marks, the father of our subject. He was born in New York and when he had attained manhood he married Miss Annie Bristol, also a native of that state. They were industrious farming people, faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both attained the age of sixty five years. In their family were eight children, but Leander Douglass is now the only survivor.
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In 1834 the parents removed with their children to Ashtabula county. Ohio, and the father entered land from the government. There amid the wild scenes of frontier life Leander D. Marks was reared to manhood and in the public schools acquired his education. At the age of twenty years he went to Watterdown, Canada, where he was engaged in the manufacture of farming implements, such as scythes, sickles and rakes. While residing there he met the lady whom he afterward made his wife and who for the past fifty- eight years has been to him a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey. She bore the maiden name of Harriet Griffin Kent and was a daughter of William Kent. Their marriage was celebrated in 1842 and four sons were born to them in Canada. Hoping to more rapidly acquire a competence for his family in the west, Mr. Marks came to California in 1859 by the way of the isthmus of Panama, and the following year he sent for his wife and children. On the voyage one of the children had a violent attack of diphtheria, but owing to the tender and unremitting care of the mother his life was saved and with her little sons she reached her destination in safety. They settled in Amador City, where Mr. Marks was first engaged in school-teaching. Later he became the proprietor of the Scott Hotel, then the only hostelry in the town. Subsequently he removed to San Joaquin county, locating ten miles below Ione, where he purchased a ranch. He made many improvements thereon and learned later that it belonged to a Mexican grant. and he and many other settlers were thus ruthlessly dispossessed of their property and he lost all he had made. He then rented the old Chapman place and in 1864 came to Placerville.
In this city Mr. Marks turned his attention to the grocery business and next engaged in teaming over the mountains from Placerville to Virginia City. Nevada. Along that route at short intervals were hotels and between four and five thousand teamsters were engaged in hauling goods. Later he became interested in freighting from Shingle Springs to Placerville. that time the teamsters over the mountains were registered and at the depot they had to await their turn to get their load. It was a time of wonderful business activity, owing to the rapid development of the silver mines in Nevada. In 1867 Mr. Marks was called to public service, being elected a justice of the peace, and such was his ability in the office that he was elected again and again, filling the position for twenty years. His decisions were strictly fair and impartial and during all that time not a single opinion that he rendered was reversed. This was a splendid record and shows him to be a man of high rectitude of character and large intelligence. He has done an insurance business in Placerville and has had the agency of the firemen's fund since 1873. He also represents several other companies and has enjoyed the con- tinuous patronage of many people. Another enterprise which has claimed his attention is a meat market, which he conducted for three years. He is now in a measure retired from active business and resides with his good wife in a neat cottage, which he erected in 1880. A daughter was born to them in California, whom they named Grace Darling. In her seventeenth year cleat claimed her ard they felt their loss keenly. Three of their sons are
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still living .- Watson S., Henry K. and Louie,-who are all men of high respectability.
Mr. Marks came to California about the time the Republican party was formed. He espoused the cause of the Union and the restriction of the exten- sion of slavery, and has ever been a stanch advocate of the party upholding the supremacy of the national government during the Civil war, which has stood as a protector of the American industries and American rights, and is now upholding the honor of the flag upon the foreign soil that the fortunes of war have given to this country. His wife is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church and both are members of the society of Chosen Friends, and having passed the seventy-fifth anniversary of their births they have received from the order the benefit of one thousand dollars each. Through fifty-eight years they have traveled life's journey together, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity, and now in the evening of life they are resting side by side in the companionship of love which has been growing brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
THOMAS F. SNEDIGAR.
Thomas F. Snedigar is a prominent pioneer farmer of Stanislaus county, owning a large tract of land four miles west of the town of Oakdale. In the year which witnessed the arrival of so many of California's prominent pioneers-1852-this gentleman cast in his lot with the early settlers and through the period which has since elapsed he has been an important factor in the development and progress of the state.
Mr. Snedigar was born in Pike county, Illinois, December 25, 1840, and is of German lineage, his ancestors having been early settlers of Kentucky. in which state his father, Japtha Snedigar, was born and reared. He removed to Pike county, Missouri, and afterward to Pike county, Illinois, where he married Miss Mary Jane Richardson, a sister of Thomas Richardson, one of California's prominent pioneers, whose history appears elsewhere in this work. The father of our subject died when the son was only two years of age, and he was reared by his uncle, Thomas Richardson, with whom he came to California in 1852, crossing the plains. He was then but twelve years of age and during much of the journey he walked. driving his uncle's loose stock. He enjoyed the free life very much, although the journey con- tinned for six months. Buffaloes were killed on the plains and thus the party was provided with fresh meat. Mr. Snedigar has always looked back to that trip with pleasure. As a boy he had lived upon the farm, never going away from home except for visits in the neighborhood, and it was an entirely new and pleasant experience. Until he was twenty-two years of age he resided with his uncle, assisting him in stock-raising. He then secured one hundred and sixty acres of land, and as his financial resources have been increased he has added to his property until he now owns sixteen hundred acres, on which he raises wheat, hay and fruit. He has a good resi- dence and farm buildings and is one of the prominent agriculturists in his
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section of the state. The wide fields of grain with their billowy harvests give promise of excellent financial return, and the extensive orchards stocked with fine varieties of fruits are also a source of income.
On the 24th of March, 1864, Mr. Snedigar married Miss Emeline C. Dotson, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of John Thomas Dotson, who with his family came to California in 1853. Mr. Snedigar has had twelve children, seven of whom are living, namely: W. S., a physician in Stock- ton, California: Otis J., who is operating a farm near his father's home; Dertha, now the wife of Clarence Petty. of Stockton: Olie F., who is a student in the State University : Marietta. Catherine and Thomas, who are at home. The mother died in February, 1897, and in July, 1898, Mr. Snedigar was again married, his second union being with Miss Hady C. Millark, a daughter of Julius and Tilla ( Waler ) Millark, both natives of Germany, who came to this country in 1881 and are farmers living in Henry county, Illi- nois. Mrs. Snedigar came to California in 1896. Their children are Charles Hanfred and Lenard Llewellen.
Mr. Snedigar is a Republican, but the honors and emoluments of public office have had no attraction for him. He is an active and useful member of the United Brethren church, serving as one of its trustees and superintendent of the Sunday-school. He gives his support to every measure and movement calculated to prove of public benefit along material, intellectual and moral lines. For forty-eight years he has been a resident of California and is widely and favorably known throughout the northern portion of the state.
LORENZO D. ADAMS.
When a man, or a select number of men, has set in motion the occult machinery of business, which materializes into a thousand forms of practical utility. or where they have carved ont a fortune or a name from the common possibilities, open for competition to all, there is a public desire, which should be gratified, to see the men, so nearly as a portrait and a word artist can paint them, and examine the elements of mind and the circumstances by which such results have been achieved. The subject of this sketch finds an appropriate place in the history of those men of business and enterprise in the state of California. His career has not been helped by accident or luck, or wealth or family or powerful friends. He is, in its broadest sense, a self-made man. being both the architect and builder of his own fortune.
Lorenzo Dow Adams is a native of Beloit, Wisconsin, horn on the 5th of April. 1846. Ilis father. William Norton Adams, was born in Rochester. New York, and wedded Miss Mary Vine, a native of Norwich, England. He was a carpenter, buildler and millwright and in 1852 he came to California by way of the Nicaragua route. The vessel on which he took passage sailed to Greytown, and with others he there obtained a boat and rowed up the Chag- res river. He spent a number of months at Lake Nicaragua and then came on a steamer to San Francisco, after which he went to Nevada county and engaged in mining at ten dollars per day. He saved his money and soon
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sent for his family, consisting of his wife and five children, who joined him in 1857. They made the journey by the isthmus route and soon were established in their new home in the Golden state. The children were : John Quincy ; Anna, now the wife of Aleck Miller ; Benjamin Franklin, who is in Oregon; William Perry, who is engaged in the butchering business at Sheridan; and Lorenzo Dow. They settled in Nevada county above Bear river, where the father had secured a farm. In 1874 they removed to Sheridan and engaged in the hotel business, conducting a good house at that place until 1886. The father then went to Oregon, where he secured a claim and for a number of years spent his time in that state and in California, but he died at Sheridan in 1892, at the age of seventy-six years. He was a very industrious and energetic man, a good citizen, a faithful husband and father, and those who knew him respected him for his sterling worth. His wife passed away several years previous to his (death.
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