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 9
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He had property enough at Kelsey to have kept himself comfortably all his life, but he would neither sell nor work it. His poverty was the result of his inability to take care of himself under any circumstances that could have been devised; and it seems now as though the state might have given him a small appropriation to supply him with the necessaries of life and yet render him unable to gratify his strong passion for drink.
Mr. Marshall was a Spiritualist and claimed that he had always been aware that there was a great work for him to do, and that he had been guided and caused to make the discovery by spiritual influences. Be that as it may, he certainly did make the first valuable discovery of California gold. Although naturally capable of better things, he deteriorated until he was
inost unprepossessing in appearance and untidy of person. His cabin was again reeking with tobacco and redolent of creasote. His objectionable traits became so pronounced that public feeling was much against him, yet he had good qualities. He was very hospitable, was fond of children and the lasting regard which his friends entertained for him shows that there were the true elements of worth in his character. He was an unfortunate being, misunderstanding and misunderstood, born to unhappiness and sorrow.
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His discovery of gold on the 24th of January, 1848. was the first dis- covery of the great gold deposits of the Sierra Nevada, and he was the first one to bring the value of the mineral resources of the state to the world's knowl- edge ; and for that he is justly entitled to credit. He died in Kelsey, on the morning of the 8th of October, 1885. at the age of seventy-four years and ten months. He had arisen and dressed himself that morning, but was found lying dead on his cot. His remains were interred at Coloma, and Placer- ville Parlor, No. 9, Native Sons of the Golden West, instituted the move- ment which resulted in the erection, by the state, of the monument, which on the 3d of May, 1890, was placed on a hill overlooking the river where he made his famous discovery. The monument is a marble pillar on which suitable inscriptions have been chiseled, and upon it stands the bronze statue of the brave pioneer who made the discovery of gold and thereby materially increased the wealth of California, of the United States and of the entire world.
JAMES MADDUX.
James Maddux, deceased, who resided in Sacramento, was born in Clinton county, Illinois, on the 21st of June, 1821, and is a son of Wingate and Sarah Maddux, both of whom were natives of Maryland. The father was of French extraction and at an early day he and his young wife removed from the south to Clinton county, Illinois, locating on a farm in that state. Mr. Maddux followed agricultural pursuits throughout his life and was called to his final rest in 1824, his wife surviving him for seven years. They had eight children, but Mrs. Susan Adams, a widow living in Berkeley, California, is the only surviving member of the family. She is now in her ninety-first year and retains all her faculties with the exception of her hearing, being yet an intelligent and energetic old lady.
The subject of this review was reared on the home farm in Clinton county, Illinois, and acquired his education in the public schools of that state. At the age of sixteen, his parents having died in the meantime, he and his brother David accompanied their sister Susan and her husband to Van Buren county, Arkansas. James remaining with his sister until twenty-one years of age. In 1842 he and his brother established a general mercantile store in Clinton, Arkansas, and were so successful that in 1846 they opened a branch store in Louisburg. that state, both undertakings being crowned with a high degree of prosperity. They also owned a cotton gin in Clinton, which brought to them a good financial return. In 1850 they sold both stores and gin and started across the plains to California. They organized a company of eighteen men, furnishing all of the provisions and the complete outfit. They traveled with horse and mule teams and their journey was a pleasant one, being terminated when they arrived at Sacra- mento, in August of that year. In the capital city Mr. Maddux and his brother opened a grocery and provision store, which they conducted until 1855. when David was elected county treasurer and James Maddux was appointed deputy. After their official term had expired they established a
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clothing store, which they conducted most successfully for three years. James Maddux was then appointed deputy assessor and occupied that posi- tion until his death, which occurred July 2, 1866.
In May, 1847, he married Miss Sarah Jane Mason, a native of Arkansas, born in Little Rock, November 18, 1832. She was a daughter of Dudley D. and Christina ( Bird) Mason, the former born in Connecticut, of French extraction, while the latter was a native of Kentucky and of German lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Maddux became the parents of six children, four of whom are yet living, namely: Sarah, the wife of G. B. Crawford; Mrs. Varena M. Rush; J. N., a foreman in De La Montanya's hardware store in San Francisco; and Joseph M., a respected citizen of Sacramento. Mr. Maddux was a self-made man, a loving and devoted husband and father and was greatly admired and esteemed by all who knew him.
THE FOX BROTHERS.
The firm of Fox Brothers is one which needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for in the control of a leading drug store in Placerville they are widely known as merchants of enterprise and ability. Albert Sher- man Fox, the elder brother, was born November 17, 1865, and Jay E. Fox was born on the IIth of March, 1871. Their father, John Fox, was a Cali- fornia pioneer of 1852. He was born in Ohio, on the 10th of July, 1829, and was descended from an oldl eastern family. He crossed the plains to Califor- nia with the emigrants of 1852, making a safe journey across the long stretches of sand and over the mountains. Hemade his way directly to Placerville, where he engaged in placer mining, following the same business at different placer diggings in the county. In this he met with fair success and extended the field of his labors by conducting a blacksmith shop at Shingle Springs, whence he removed to Placerville, where he established himself in business. His indus- try and honorable efforts brought to him a high degree of success which is well merited and now he is living a retired life, surrounded by many of the com- forts of life which have come to him as the reward of his former toil. He is also enjoying the respect of friends and neighbors, for his upright life has commended him to their confidence and regard.
John Fox was united in marriage in 1865 to Miss Lorinda Pelton, a daughter of Samuel Pelton, who also came to California in the days of its early development. They became the parents of four children, the daughters being Hattie, now the wife of Thomas Brown; and May, at home with her parents. The sons are the members of the well-known firm of Fox Brothers.
Albert S. Fox acquired his elementary education in the public schools of his native town and his professional training at the College of Pharmacy in San Francisco, and being graduated in 1889, while his brother was grad- uated at the same institution in 1892. The former engaged in clerking in San Francisco for some time, and was also employed in a similar capacity in Oakland. He then returned to his native town and opened a drug business, in which he has since continued. They are young men of progressive spirit
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and determined purpose, and to their business devote their entire attention. In the community where they were born and reared they have received a liberal patronage and now have a very large trade. They have a thorough understanding of the nature and uses of drugs and their earnest desire to please, their uniform courtesy and their reasonable prices have brought to them very gratifying success. They reside with their parents and sister in Placer- ville. and are young men of prominence in the city.
Albert S. Fox is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Methodist church. He is serving as a trustee in the latter and is also the organist and leader of the choir. He has marked talent in both instrumental and vocal music and is a valued addition to the musical circles of the city. Both brothers are members of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and Jay E. Fox is connected also with the Order of Foresters. He is now serving as one of the aldermen of his town. They are young men of unquestioned integrity. reliable and enterprising in business and popular in social circles.
Samuel Fox, the grandfather of the brothers sketched in the above brief notice, was born in Pennsylania, whence he removed to Ohio, where he fol- lowed farming and died, in 1849, at the age of fifty years. He married Mary Barbra, a native of Virginia, who is yet living, on her farm in Iowa, in the ninety-sixth year of her age. Their children are: Eliza, who died in 1859; Albert ; Mrs. Angeline Fisher ; William; Mrs. Maggie Lyons; Dan, and John, -all living in Iowa excepting Jolin, who is living in Placerville.
Samuel Pelton, the father of Mrs. John Fox, was born in Massachusetts. in 1801, and there married Miss Margaret P. Bixby, a native of Vermont. He afterward moved to Canada, where he practiced law until 1853, when he came to California and followed mining at Rose Springs, and also practiced law and acted as a justice of the peace. He built the Sunrise Hotel at that place, which he conducted, with good returns. He died in 1882, aged eighty-one years, and his wife died in 1883, at the age of seventy-seven years. Their children are : Sylvester and Milo, both deceased; Mrs. Sarah Langdale, living in New Haven, Connecticut ; Mrs. Lorinda Fox, of Placerville, California: Steven and Samuel, of Shingle Springs: Mrs. Margaret Toby and Mrs. Emma Fox. both deceased: Mrs. Louisa Wing, of White Oak, California; and Mrs. Sylvia Gray, of Oakland, also in this state.
ELIJAH C. HART.
Perhaps there is no part in this history of more general interest than the record of the bar. It is well known that the peace, prosperity and well- being of every community depend upon the wise interpretation of the laws. as well as upon their judicious framing. and therefore the record of the various persons who have at various times made up the bar will form an important part of this work. A well known jurist of Illinois said, "In the American state the great and good lawyer must always be prominent. for he is one of the forces that move and control society. Public confidence has generally been reposed in the legal profession. It has ever been the
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defender of popular rights, the champion of freedom regulated by law, the firm support of good government. In the times of danger it has stood like a rock and breasted the mad passions of the hour and finally resisted tumult and faction. No political preferment, no mere place, can add to the power or increase the honor which belongs to the pure and educated lawyer." Elijah C. Hart, of Sacramento, is one who has been honored by and is an honor to the legal fraternity of California. He stands to-day prominent among the leading members of the bar of the state,-a position which he has attained through marked ability,-and he is serving as the judge of the superior court, to which position he was elected in 1896.
Elijah Carson Hart was born in 1856, in an emigrant wagon, on the banks of the Carson river while his parents were crossing the plains to California, and his middle name was given to him on account of the place of his birth. His parents were Indiana people, his father having been an attorney of the Hoosier state. Proceeding on their journey they at length arrived at Nicolaus, in Sutter county, California, where the father followed various business pursuits, while Elijah acquired his early education in the schools of the neighborhood. When he was twelve years of age the family removed to Colusa county and there he entered upon an independent career as an employe in the office of the Colusa Sun, where he became familiar with the "art preservative of all arts."
As the years passed it was shown that he was deserving of the public confidence and trust, and in 1878 he was elected city clerk of Colusa, but refused to accept the position by reason of the fact that he had been offered editorial control of the Oroville Mercury and preferred to enter upon the latter position. He controlled the editorial chair of the Mercury from May, 1878, until December following, when he became the editor and proprietor of the Willow Journal, which he published until 1884.
In that year he came to Sacramento and entered upon the study of law with his brother, ex-Attorney General A. L. Hart. In 1885 he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the state, and in March of the following year was elected city attorney. He soon rose to prominence as a represen- tative of the legal profession and much important litigation was entrusted to his care. His forcible presentation of cases before court and jury won him many notable forensic victories and his fellow members of the bar gave him their respect on account of the breadth of his judicial wisdom, the soundness of his logic and his strength in presenting his cases. In 1896 he was elected a judge of the superior court and upon the bench he has shown the utmost fairness and impartiality in his decisions, which are models of judicial soundness. He has a thorough understanding of the law and his opinions are based upon a just regard for precedent and equity.
On the 20th of May, 1878, in Colusa, Judge Hart was united in mar- riage to Miss Addie Vivian, a grandniece of the celebrated Kit Carson, in whose honor was named the river upon the banks of which occurred the birth of our subject, and who in consequence was given the name of Carson.
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The Judge and his wife occupy one of the most hospitable homes in Sacra- mento and their circle of friends is very extensive.
In political circles Judge Hart is a very prominent factor, being regarded as one of the leading representatives of the Republican party in Sacramento. In November, 1888, he was elected to the general assembly, receiving the largest majority ever given a Republican in the nineteenth assembly district. In the session of 1889 he introduced the Glenn county bill and advocated its passage in the most persistent manner. The address which he delivered when the bill came up for final passage was heartily applauded and was considered one of the most brilliant addresses during that session. In 1892 he was elected to the state senate and his strong mentality and thorough understanding of legislative measures and methods left an impress upon the work of the upper house that will long be felt. During the gubernatorial campaign of 1898 he was the secretary of the Repubican state central com- mittee and his labors were most effective in promoting the interests of his party. For a time he was engaged in the practice of law in connection with the late Judge G. G. Davis, but upon his elevation to the bench he retired from the firm. His course, whether in the private practice of law, in the legislative councils of the state, or upon the bench, has ever been above sus- picion. The good of the nation he places before partisanship and the wel- fare of his constituents before personal aggrandizement. He commands the respect of the members of both house and senate, and in private life. where friends are familiar with his personal characteristics, he inspires friend- ships of unusual strength, and all who know him have the highest admiration for his good qualities of heart and mind.
BENJAMIN F. RICHTMYER.
In the days when California was first becoming known to the settlers of the east and its wonderful privileges and advantages were being utilized by the white race, Benjamin Fanning Richtmyer came to the Pacific slope. He was for many years a highly esteemed citizen of Amador county, his upright life winning him the respect of all with whom he came in contact. He was born in Schoharie county, New York, January 17, 1824, and was of German lineage, his ancestors having been among the early settlers of the Empire state. His father. Peter H. Richtmyer, was born in New York, in 1797, and having arrived at years of maturity married Miss Harriet Fanning, a native of the same state. They were farming people, industrious and enterprising, and were consistent members of the Dutch Reformed church. The father passed away on the 23d of April, 1892, at the advanced age of ninety-five years.
Benjamin F. Richtmyer, whose name introduces this review, was edu- cated in his native state, and in 1850, attracted by the opportunities afforded in California, he crossed the plains and opened a general mercantile estab)- lishment in Drytown, Amador county. He also became the owner of a marble quarry, which he developed, shipping its products to San Francisco and to
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other points in the state. A man of resourceful ability, he did not confine his efforts to one line, but extended his labors into many fields and was prom- inent in the development of the rich resources of the state. He became one of the owners of the Seaton quartz mine, and had various other mining in- terests. His worth and ability also led to his selection for public service, and he was appointed postmaster of Drytown, filling the office during the adminis- tration of President Buchanan, and holding this position until 1872, and he was also placed in charge of the first telegraph office in Drytown, which posi- tion he held till he came to Jackson. For more than forty-two years he acted as the agent of the Wells-Fargo Express Company, and in 1871 he was again chosen for public office, being elected the county clerk of Amador county, and in 1872 he removed to Jackson. He proved a very efficient and capable officer, and upon his retirement from that office he received his party's nomi- nation for state senator, being always found equal to any trust the people of the county or state chose to repose in him, but declined the honor offered him, preferring to give his undivided attention to his personal affairs. At the time of his retirement from public life (in 1874) he was again appointed agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Company, and he became the owner of the Jackson water works, both of which he successfully conducted until his death. He was a man of resolute purpose, of keen discrimination and of sound business judg- ment, and carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. Soon after his term expired as county clerk he was again made agent for the Western Union Telegraph Company, this time in Jackson, and in connection with other duties he was a notary public and was for seven years agent for the Home Mutual Insurance Company of California.
On the Ioth of September, 1855, Mr. Richtmyer was united in marriage to Miss Celina Vannatter, a native of New York and a daughter of Jacob Vannatter, an honored patriarch who now resides with his daughter, Mrs. Richtmyer. He has reached the very advanced age of ninety-seven years, but his mental faculties are unimpaired and he yet enjoys good health. Mrs. Richtmyer is devoted to her aged and honored father, doing all in her power to make his last years pleasant. Her only child, a little daughter named Emily Helen, died at the age of four months. The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Richt- myer was ever pleasant. He possessed excellent musical ability, performing nicely upon the violin and other instruments. Thus many a pleasant hour in his early life was passed. He was very domestic in nature and when business hours were over he could always be found at his home where his happy dis- position was shared by his amiable wife. It seemed that he could not do too much to promote the welfare and happiness of his wife, and at his death he left to her a good income. She has a host of warm friends in Jackson where she has so long resided, and the hospitality of the best homes is extended to her. Mr. Richtmyer was called to his final rest in 1809. His life had been one of ceaseless activity in business affairs, of loyalty in citizenship and of fidelity in friendship. All who knew him commended him for his sterling qualities of character, being unexceptionable in his habits and if possessed with any faults at all, they were the amiable ones of being too generous and 5
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unsuspecting ; and in his death Jackson and Amador county lost one of their most valued representatives. Since his death, Mrs. Richtmyer has as- sumed the responsible charge of the water works, a business which her hus- band labored with such untiring efforts to perfect, and under her careful at- tention and wise discrimination it continues to prosper and grow in volume. She has absolute control of and personally superintends it in all its depart- ments, which affords her a great deal of pleasure in furthering the good work which her husband begun.
WILLIAM T. ROBINSON.
The ancestors of Colonel William Thomas Robinson, of Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras county, California, came from old England to New England. His great-grandfather, John L. Robinson, of Virginia, was a captain in the Revolutionary army under General Washington and afterward settled in Kentucky, where he was a friend and companion of Daniel Boone and was with him on many a desperate fight with the Indians. His son, John L. Robinson, the father of Colonel Robinson, was born at Lexington, Ken- tucky, in 1788, and was married at St. Louis, Missouri, to Miss Elizabeth Bryan, who was a daughter of Dr. Jack Bryan and an aunt of Hon. Will- iam Jennings Bryan, the Democratic nominee for the presidency in 1896 and 1900. Colonel William T. Robinson was born at Frederickstown, Mad- ison county, Missouri, September 7. 1839, one of ten children of John L. and Elizabeth ( Bryan ) Robinson, born in Missouri.
In 1849 the family crossed the plains to California. Colonel Rob- inson, who was only ten years old at the time, remembers that the whole family had the gold fever and that one of his brothers, who was only four- teen years old, quietly outfitted himself with crackers and sugar and started on ahead of the others, filled with an ambition to reach the gold fields first. The party was made up of Madison county people and numbered one hundred and twenty-five men, women and children. The Sioux Indians gave them much anxiety and at one time a party of them formed in front of the emigrant train and demanded tribute. They were given flour and sugar and the emigrants were permitted to go on. Emigrants who set out for Cali- fornia in 1849 loaded themselves down with provisions to such an extent that they were obliged to throw them away and they were left to decay or to be utilized by people who needed them more. Buffalo were numerous on the plains, large herds of them were seen frequently, and the emnigrants were in some danger of being trampled down by them if the animals should happen to be stampeded in their direction. After a hard journey of seven months. the Robinsons arrived, September 7. 1849, at Potter's ranch on Deer creek, near the site of the present city of Chico. The family located at Sacramento city, but were driven out by the flood which came soon afterward and went to Plumas on Feather river, where they settled on land which afterward become known as Plumas ranch. There Mr. Robinson died in 1851, aged sixty-three years, and his wife died two weeks later, aged
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fifty-five years, and there two of their daughters also died. The farm con- sisted of a section of land upon which some improvements had been made by this time, and the family, kept together by Jesse B. Robinson, the eldest son, remained there for a time. Jesse B. Robinson, now aged eighty-two years, lives at U'pper Lake, Lake county, California.
Soon after the arrival of the Robinsons in California, Colonel Robinson and his brother next older leased a placer-mining claim at Mormon island, on the American river, and in two months cleaned up two thousand dollars. They were lucky enough one day to get seven hundred dollars. In 1850 they went to the present site of Nevada City, where they took out about an ounce of gold a day each. They returned home before the death of their parents and at the request of the latter went back to Missouri to com- plete their education at Arcadia, that state ,making the trip by way of the isthmus of Panama. They remained at school until 1855, when Colonel Robinson was fifteen years old and his brother was seventeen, and then started to cross the plains alone with pack animals. At the Platte river they were overtaken by their brother, Frank, who was returning from a trip east, and after they reached the Humboldt river they were followed several days by a party of Indians, but saved their scalps by sleeping in the dark a mile or two away from the fire by which they had cooked their supper. night after night, until the pursuit was abandoned. As the boys had guns and the Indians had no weapons of longer range than bows and arrows the latter did not dare venture too near in the daytime.
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