A Volume of memoirs and genealogy of representative citizens of northern California, including biographies of many of those who have passed away, Part 88

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 88

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Mr. Wilson also sailed from Philadelphia on board the ship Westmore- land, bound for Liverpool. After they had been out for a few days they picked up the crew of the ship May T. Sterrit, of Maine, which had been dis- mantled. They then had to scuttle the ship. as it was in the track of other vessels. The many voyages which Mr. Wilson has made have brought many experiences into his life unknown to most people. He has touched at many ports. learning much of the different countries and their inhabitants. For a time he served on the Sonora as quartermaster, and while discharging his (luties on that ship he became acquainted with Miss Mary O'Malley, who gave him her hand in marriage on the 4th of November, 1856. Three children have been born unto them, two of whom are living, namely : William J., who is now a prominent fruit buyer and shipper of Newcastle; and Mary Jane. the wife of J. F. Madden, of Newcastle. Mrs. Wilson departed this life on the 3Ist of August. 1801. She was a faithful wife and a kind and loving mother, and her loss was deeply mourned by her family and numerous friends. Tn 1893 Mr. Wilson married the lady who now bears his name, and who in her maidenhood was Miss Mary Ann Agnes Shepherd. Their only child died in infancy.

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When Mr. Wilson decided to make California his place of residence he located in Newcastle. He made considerable money there, but owing to the continued illness in his family this money was rapidly expended. When he came to Newcastle in 1865 he had only about two hundred dollars. His first work in that town was for the noble pioneer, John H. Mitchell. He con- tinued to engage in mining for nine years, but in the meantime he became the possesser of a home and an acre of ground in the town, and on his land he planted fruit trees which soon brought him an excellent return, his fruit sales amounting to one thousand dollars per year. His success in this venture led him to look for more land, and for two years he bought fruit from his neighbors, paying cash, and packed it on his shoulders and wheeled it on a wheelbarrow for over a mile, as he was not able to purchase a horse and wagon. This he did to keep the trade, as he had much opposition, the neigh- bors sceing that he was making a success of the business. At length he pur- chased the eighty acres of fruit ground which he now owns, built thereon a nice frame residence and planted a large orchard, which is now producing. He was among the first to engage in shipping fruit in this locality, and to him is due the credit of making the first shipment of a car-load of fruit that left Newcastle. It was sent to Mrs. Astretta, of Denver, and the freight on it was nine hundred dollars! The first boxes of fruit that were sent out of the town went to V. Elliott, of Virginia, Nevada. Following an honorable and reliable business course, he has built up a large trade, and his increasing busi- ness necessitated the building of a packing house in Newcastle. For a num- ber of years the business was carried on under the firm name of William J. Wilson, Sr., & Son, but more recently Mr. Wilson has given up the ship- ping business to his son, while he devotes his entire attention to his farm. He has made a splendid record as an industrious and indefatigable worker. a successful fruit-grower and an honorable business man. He is now the possessor of a good property. does not owe a dollar, and rightly deserves the prosperity which his industry and ability have brought to him.

WILLIAM SAWTELL.

The business interests of Roseville are well represented by William Saw- tell, a leading merchant of that place. He is a native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Shellsburg. Lafayette county, on the 19th of October. 1853. His grandfather. Daniel Sawtell, was a pioneer of Ohio, from which state he removed to Wisconsin in an early day, conducting a hotel at White Oak Springs during the early period of the development of his section of the state. He attained the age of seventy years, having survived his wife for some years. His son, Edwin Sawtell, the father of our subject, was born 'n Ohio and accompanied his parents on their removal to the Badger state, where he became an influential and successful farmer. For thirty years he served as justice of the peace of his township and made a most competent official, his rulings being strictly fair and impartial.

In 1851. when only sixteen years of age, he crossed the plains to Cali-

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fornia and engaged in mining with excellent success at Hangtown, now Placerville. In 1852 he returned to his home and friends in the east, taking with him about five thousand dollars. With this capital to serve as a nucleus for business enterprises he married Miss Mary Jane Nedvill, a native of Wis- consin and a daughter of Captain Nedvill. In 1887 they returned to Cali- fornia, locating in Roseville, where the father departed this life when sixty- seven years of age. His estimable wife is still living, at the age of sixty- seven, and is respected by all who have the pleasure of her acquaintance. Ten children were born unto them and six sons and three daughters are still living.

William Sawtell is the eldest of this numerous and highly esteemed fam- ily. Excellent educational privileges fitted him for life's practical duties. He pursued his studies in Platteville, Wisconsin, being graduated at the normal school at that place in 1877. Subsequently he engaged in teaching for one term in his native state and in 1878 he came to California, where he accepted a clerkship in the store of J. D. Pratt, filling that position for seven years. He became the confidential clerk and was largely intrusted with the affairs of the house, for his ability and fidelity had been fully attested.

After his marriage Mr. Sawtell turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, which pursuit he followed for four years, when he embarked in merchandising on his own account in Roseville, in connection with P. V. Sigger. After two years the latter sold his interest to W. H. Wearine and the connection between Mr. Sawtell and Mr. Wearine continued for two and a half years, when Mr. Wearine and his wife both died and Mr. Sawtell pur- chased the interest of the heirs in the business, which he has since conducted alone, under the firm name of Sawtell & Company, his wife being the silent partner. They carry a large stock of general merchandise and by their liberal and honorable business methods have secured a very large trade. In con- nection Mr. Sawtell also deals in hay and grain.

He was married, on Christmas day of 1885. to Miss Stella Shellhouse, who was born in Placer county, a daughter of the honored pioneer Martin Shellhouse, who had come to this state in 1849. locating near Roseville. He was a man of influence in the early days and served as a justice of the peace. He died in 1854, but his wife still survives him and is now in the sixty-fifth year of her age. U'nto our subject and his wife have been born two interest- ing children .- Ernest Carlton and Gladys. They attend and support the Methodist church and Mr. Sawtell is liberal toward all enterprises designed to benefit the town. He votes the Republican ticket, but is not an office-seeker. preferring to give his time and attention to the business affairs whereby he is now annually augmenting his capital.

A. A. VAN VOORHIES.

Often do we hear it said that those who have attained distinguishing honors or gained marked success were men who arose to eminence through sokantageous circumstances, and vet to such carping criticism and lack of appreciation there needs be made but one statement, that fortunate environ-

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ments encompass nearly every man at some stage of his career, but the strong man and the successful man is he who realizes the intrinsic value of minor a- well as great opportunities : who stands ready to take advantage of circum- stances and who even moks adverse conditions until they serve his end. A. A. Van Voorhies is one who has recognized the opportunities for ac- complishment in everything presented, and to-day is recognized as one of the wealthy merchants in the city of Sacramento. To plan and control success fully an extensive commercial enterprise requires ability as marked as that which is demanded in professional life. Mr. Van Voorhies is one who forms his plans readily, is determined in their execution and manifests in the discharge of his duties keen discrimination and unflagging industry.

He manifests in his life many of the sterling qualities of his Holland ancestors. In the year 1660 four brothers of the name of Van Voorhies left the little country of Holland for the new workl. One of these, the original American ancestor of our subject, settled in what is now Bergen county, New Jersey, near the present manufacturing city of Paterson. The grand- father. the father. John Van Voorhies, and our subject were all born in the same house in that town. John Van Voorhies married Sarah Storms, who also was a representative of an old Holland family, and during the boyhood days of our subject the parents removed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he acquired his education in the common schools. At the age of seventeen he returned to the east after having served an apprenticeship with Mr. Volland, a harness and saddlemaker of Ann Arbor, under whose direction he became an expert workman.

He continued his trade in the metropolis until 1853. when he resolved to seek a home on the Pacific coast. The tide of emigration was at that time bearing many of the most resolute, enterprising and reliable young men of the country to the west, and he, too, sought a home beyond the Rockies and became an important factor in the development and upbuilding of central California. He made the journey by way of the isthmus route, and arrived in San Francisco in November. 1853. Almost immediately afterward he obtained a position in the harness establishment owned by J. Madison, then one of the leading harness-hardware dealers on the coast. For two years he remained with that gentleman and then went to Placerville, Eldorado county, where. in 1855, he established a wholesale and retail harness house. The venture proved a successful one and he carried on business there until January 1, 1869, when he came to Sacramento and purchased an interest in the wholesale harness business of R. Stone & Company. In 1880 they removed to Nos. 322-324 J street, where they established an extensive plant and made arrangements for carrying on business on a large scale, for their increased trade demanded greater facilities. In 1882 Mr. Van Voor- hies purchased the interest of Mr. Stone and the present firm of .1. A. Van Voorhies & Company was established, his partners being L. C. Montfort. R. C. Irvine and G. A. Phinney. With the passing years and under the able management of Mr. Van Voorhies, one of the most extensive enterprises of Sacramento has grown up. The output of the factory is very large and a

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wholesale business is carried on by them. Their goods are sold to the trade, their patrons being found along the Pacific coast and through many of the western states. The business has grown to very extensive proportions and a large force of workmen are employed. The quality of harness and saddlery which they manufacture is one element of their success, and combined with this is the well known reliability of the house.

Mr. Van Voorhies has been twice married. In his early manhood, Miss Harriet Wadsworth, a native of Connecticut, became his wife, and to them was born a daughter, Harriet, who became the wife of George A. Phinney, of Sacramento. In 1873 Mr. Van Voorhies was united in marriage to Miss Georgie Montfort, a daughter of Harry Montfort, one of the prominent pio- neers of the state, and they now have a son, whose name is Ralph Henry.

While residing in Eldorado county, Mr. Van Voorhies took an active part in political affairs. but the increasing demand of his business has pre- vented him in late years from engaging actively in political work. A prom- inent Mason, he belongs to Union Lodge, Sacramento Chapter and Sacra- mento Commandery, and is a warden of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church. His Christian belief influences his life. Although making no pre- tentions, he nevertheless manifests in his daily conduct the principles which underlie Christianity, and which have been the uplifting power among men through almost twenty centuries. In manner he is modest and unassuming. and, while we wish to enter upon no fulsome encomium, yet the commendation for his fidelity and principles, his honorable business career and his pleasing qualities in social life will be but the reiteration of the judgment passed upon him by his fellow men.

MARK McCORMICK.

Mark McCormick, who is the owner of a large ranch in the Milton dis- trict of Calaveras county, was born in Ovid, Seneca county, New York, on the 27th of March, 1822. His paternal grandfather, David McCormick, was a native of Edinburg. Scotland, and on taking up his abode in the new world located in Ovid, New York. When the colonies, no longer willing to stand the oppression of the mother country, entered upon a war to sever all allegiance to Great Britain, he joined the army and loyally fought for the independence of the nation. He lived to enjoy the freedom of the republic for a long period, passing away at the very advanced age of one hundred and five years, while his wife lived to be ninety years of age. They were Presby- terians in religious faith and were people of the highest respectability. Their son, Alexander McCormick, the father of our subject, was born in Ovid, New York, and as a companion and helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss Polly Nichols, a lady of Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry, born in the Keystone state. In 1847 they removed to Michigan, settling in Washtenaw county, where they spent their remaining days, the father dying at the age of seventy-four, while his good wife attained the ripe old age of eighty-five. They were the parents of five children.

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Mark McCormick, the only survivor of the family, was educated in the common schools of the Empire state and his identification with California's interests came through his desire to gain a fortune in the gold fields. In order to reach the Pacific coast he sailed on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and gulf of Mexico to the isthmus of Panama, where he took passage of the George Law, which afterward sunk off Cape Hatteras and all on board were lost, together with much treasure, which was being taken to the east. At the time that Mr. McCormick made the voyage there were ten hundred and twenty-five passengers aboard the vessel, and a first-cabin pas sage cost him three hundred dollars. He arrived in San Francisco on the 9th of March, 1851, and went directly from that city to Stockton. He began mining at Boston Bar, on the Calaveras river, and in eight months he took out forty-two hundred dollars, never lesing but one day in the whole time. His partners recklessly expended their money, while he save 1 his and was thus enabled to get a good start in business life. How ever. that fall he was taken ill and his doctor bills and other expenses amounted to one thousand dollars. He continued to mine until 1854 and then engaged in merchandising until 1856, making some money in that way. In the spring of 1857 he returned to the east by water, and again by the water route came to California, locating at Jenny Lind. In the collection of a debt he was obliged to take a saloon : but, not liking the business of running it, he soon sold out, going to Rich Gulch. Through the succeeding ten years he engaged in mining on North Hill, and then turned his attention to other pursuits, becoming a representative of the sheep-raising industry in 1871. He was successfully connected with that enterprise for seventeen years, hay- ing as high as three thousand sheep at a time. He made considerable money and continued in the sheep-raising business until the election of President Cleveland, when he sold his sheep and retired. He owns two thousand acres of land, and on the place is a commodious and pleasant residence and many of the most modern improvements. His fields are under a high state of cul- tivation, and in addition to farming he is the owner of some valuable mining interests.

In 1881 Mr. McCormick was united in marriage to Mrs. Ellen Long, the widow of Daniel Long. They have one daughter. Annie, who is the wife of William H. Perry and resides near her parents on land which Mr. McCor- mick has given to her and her husband. Throughout his entire life Mr. McCormick has made it his rule of action to do right to the best of his ability and his name is synonymous with integrity and honorable business trans- actions.

IIe has been a life-long Republican and has been honored with sever 001 -3 offices. He served as a supervisor for four years, was a constable and for t time a deputy sheriff for four years, during which time he proved him if at most active and fearless officer, doing much to rid the county of the higher iv- men and murderers that then infested it. He was an excellent shot and hp 1 many battles with the lawless class, and on a number of occasions min uly escaped with his life. At one time he came upon four desperate criminals. Te

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was alone, and before he could draw his revolver fifteen shots had been fired at him. He decided to stand and fight. for if he ran he would likely be killed. So he gave battle to the inen, killed three of them and shot the fourth through the body, but from the wound the man ultimately recovered. Mr. McCormick also was injured. His hat was pierced by a bullet and he was shot in the neck just above the collar bone, while another bullet was imbedded in his hip. No time-tried veteran upon the field of battle has displayed greater bravery in the face of danger than did Mr. McCormick during his service as a deputy sheriff. and it needed such men to subdue the lawless element which then menaced life and property in the early days of California's development. He deserves the gratitude of his fellow men, for his services were very valuable and recom- mended him to the highest regard of all who recognized fidelity to law. In his business affairs he has prospered, gaining that success which is the reward of honorable effort. He is well and favorably known by the citizens of the county and the pioneers of the state, and merits honorable mention among the representative men of the locality.

JOSEPH E. TERRY.

Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Sacramento who occupies a more enviable position than Joseph E. Terry in mercantile and financial cir- cles, not alone on account of the brilliant success he has achieved but also on account of the honorable, straightforward business policy he has ever followed. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution ; and his close application to business and his excellent management have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is to-day his. It is true that he became interested in a business already estab- lished, but in controlling and enlarging such an enterprise many a man of even considerable resolute purpose, courage and industry would have failed : and he has demonstrated the truth of the saying that success is not the result of genius, but the outcome of a clear judgment and experience.

Joseph Emmett Terry was born in Sacramento, California. December 2, 1863. and is a representative of one of the oldest families of New England. The ancestry can be traced back to Samuel and Ann ( Lobdell ) Terry, who re- sided in Springfield, Massachusetts, at a very early period in the development of the old Bay state. Samuel Terry was the founder of the family in America. whithier he came either from England or Ireland. His son, Ephraim Terry, was a native of Kentucky and married Hannah Eggleston, also a native of that state. Their son, Samuel Terry, was born in Lebanon, Kentucky, July 21. 1700. He married Sarah Webster, who was born in Kentucky May 5. 1701. and his death occurred on the 18th of January, 1798. His son. Elisha Terry, was born August 8, 1743. and became the father of Truman Terry, whose birth occurred in North Marlboro, Massachusetts, November 5. 1781. He followed farming as a life occupation and died in Ischua, New York, March 12, 1861. Ile wedded Ann Ball, who was a relative of George Washington. She was born in Danville, Kentucky, May 16, 1783. and died in Ischua, January 14.

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1839. Their son, Dr. Marsena Terry, was the grandfather of our subject. He was born in Homer, New York, April 15, 1804, and was for many years a prominent physician of Steuben county, that state. About 1836 he removed to Sheridan, Chautauqua county, New York, and later took up his residence in the vicinity of Bath, Steuben county. He died in Waterford, New York, July 17. 1891, at the age of eighty-seven years. He married Anna Mott, who was born in Newburg, New York, in 1804. and died in Painted Post, that state, August 18, 1867.

Wallace E. Terry, the father of our subject, was born in Harford, Cort- land county, New York, January 1, 1832, and accompanied his parents on vari- ous removals during the period of his boyhood. He was reared principally in Bath, Steuben county, and his education was completed in the academy at Prattsburg and in Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, New York. He afterward en- gaged in teaching for three terms in Campbell, same state, and having deter- mined to make the practice of law his life work he prepared for that vocation as a student in the office of Barns & Bonham, at Bath. In January, 1852, while in. Judge Barns' office, he became interested in California and its possibilities, owing to favorable reports received from his brother-in-law, E. C. Thompson, who had recently returned from that state and was organizing a small party to visit the Pacific slope. Mr. Terry decided to accompany them and took pas- sage on the new steamer, Sierra Nevada, on the first trip to the isthmus. After being detained there for eleven days they proceeded on their way to San Fran- cisco, arriving at their destination forty-two days after leaving New York. The voyage from Panama was made on the old steamer New Orleans, which carried a thousand passengers, twice as many as there were good accommoda- tions for.

The party with which Mr. Terry traveled proceeded on through Sacra- ment to to Coloma and Georgetown, and at the latter place engaged in mining for six months. Mr. Terry's experiences were rather rough for a young man who had thus far enjoyed the privileges of student life in the luxurious east. In September the company dissolved and Mr. Thompson returned to the Atlan- tic coast, but Mr. Terry made his way to Sacramento. He there suffered an attack of typhoid fever, but, recovering, he engaged in school-teaching at Wash ington, across the river from Sacramento, where he had thirty pupils, but a disastrous fire occurred in November of that year, in which Sacramento was almost entirely destroyed, and as many of his scholars came from that city his school was thereby broken up. His next step was to accept a clerkship in the office of L. P. Simpson, a lumberman on Second street, one of the principal deal ers in his line in the city. In his employ was another young man, Joseph F. Friend, who had come to the west from Gloucester county, Massachusetts and who had been imbued with the enterprising business spirit of New York city. A friendship sprang up between the two young men, and believing that they might conduct a prosperous business on their own account they rented a tract of land opposite the Simpson yard, where they established business in 1853. under the firm name of Friend & Terry. The history of this extensive enterprise is an indication of the growth of the capital city, for their trade has increased cor-

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respondingly with the development of Sacramento. Before the partnership was formed Mr. Terry became interested in the New England sawmill. about nine miles above Auburn, which mill cut between three and four million feet of lumber annually. It was this fact which led to the formation of the partnership which continued through many years, and which resulted in the establishment of one of the leading industrial concerns in central California. Seven years after the firm was established they purchased a grant on the south side of MI street, between Front and Second streets, and removed their yards to that place. The business proved profitable from the beginning and incidentally led to a number of operations in other departments of trade. In 1855 the firm of Friend & Terry was commissioned by San Francisco parties to buy hides, tal- low and wool to export to New York, and during the next four years large amounts of money passed through the hands of this firm for that purpose alone. Men were sent out in every direction to purchase this commodity, which had received very little attention in the past-in fact had even been cast aside in mining camps as being practically worthless. Later deer and bear skins, horns, old copper and lead and even wild mustard seed were added to the first articles they collecte'l for shipment. These goods were sent to the east by vessels which rounded Cape Horn, while every "prairie schooner" returning from the mountains brought in more or less of the articles, with perhaps enough lumber to make up a full return freight. At first the sum of one dollar each was paid for a dry hide, but after a year or two English buyers entered the field and a lively competition carried the price up to six and eight dollars. As the New York houses could make no profit off of the hides purchased at that rate. the business declined, but in the meantime the lumber interests of Friend & Terry had assumed quite extensive proportions, and the firm had gained a place among the leading lumber merchants of the state. When the Central Pacific Railroad was in process of construction, between 1861 and 1868, this firm fur- nished most of the material used by the corporation. Many million feet of Oregon and redwood lumber, timber, piles, ties and telegraph poles were brought up the river by sailing vessels, and with the powerful aid of steam der- ricks were transferred to waiting cars to be conveyed to the place where the work was carried on.

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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 88

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