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 93
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Mr. Burnett was engaged in mining on Wood's creek where he took ont eighteen thousand dollars the first winter. Farther up the creek he afterward engaged in mining with good success, and for four years he followed that occupation. He then purchased cattle and brought them to his present loca- tion in 1865. Since that time he has been successfully engaged in stock-raising and farming and in his business affairs he has met with very desirable suc- cess. To-day he is the owner of two thousand acres of land, constituting a fine farm in an excellent location. His broad acres are under a high state of cul- tivation. All are devoted to use as pasture lands whereon his herds of cattle graze, being thus fitted for the market. In 1898, while he was in the moun- tains, his residence was destroyed by fire and he is now preparing to erect a new home. He has various other farm buildings upon the place, all kept
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in good repair, which indicates the thrift that characterizes everything on his farm.
Mr. Burnett is a stanch Democrat, but is not an office-seeker. He has never joined any societies, giving his attention strictly to his business affairs and in this way he has prospered, becoming one of the successful men of Stan- islaus county. He enjoys a very enviable reputation in business circles, being straightforward and honorable in all his dealings. His life serves as an illus- tration of what may be accomplished through determined purpose and resolute effort, guided by sound judgment, and should serve as a source of encourage- ment and inspiration to others who have to depend upon their own resources.
FRANCIS M. COTTLE.
More than a century ago Washington said that "farming is the most honorable as well as the most useful occupation to which man devotes his energies." Truth is eternal, and therefore the utterance of the Father of his Country stands to-day, as it did then, without question. Farming has been the basis of all prosperity and this is so in California as in other states, although mining and fruit-growing have had, too, an important part in pro- moting the progress of the state. Among the representatives of the agricult- ural interests of Stanislaus county is Francis Marion Cottle, who came to California in 1853 and now owns a fine farm a mile east of Oakdale. He was born in Lincoln county, Missouri, on the 23d of March, 1837, and is of English and German descent, although for many generations the family has been found in America. The grandfather of our subject was a resident of Woodstock, Vermont, and at an early day removed to Missouri, where he became one of the pioneer, settlers of the state. Ira Cottle, the father of our subject, was born in Lincoln county, Missouri, and was there reared to manhood and married Miss Sarah Smithers, a native of Kentucky. He fol- lowed farming as a means of livelihood and was one of the energetic and enterprising agriculturists of his community. Both he and his wife died in the same year, leaving four children, of whom Mr. Cottle is now the only survivor.
In 1853 he crossed the plains with oxen in a party of fifty men, who brought with them much stock. When they reached the Platte, Mr. Cottle's uncle, Zora Cottle, and his son, accompanied by our subject, started on ahead, making their way direct to Stanislaus river. They brought with them a band of cattle, Francis M. Cottle being in his seventeenth year when he drove the stock across the plains. Here he continued in the stock business until 1865, during which time he made two trips to Los Angeles to purchase cattle. In partnership with his uncle he had as high as four thousand cattle at one time. This region was then one vast plain over which the stock had an unlimited range and as the country afforded pasturage and there was little money outlay in raising stock the business proved a very profitable one.
In 1865 Mr. Cottle purchased one thousand and fifty acres of land, including the site of what is now Burnett Station, and he to-day owns five
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hundred acres,-a very valuable tract which is improved with a good frame residence and all modern accessories and conveniences. For the past thirty- five years he has devoted his energies to fruit-raising and has had as high as twenty-five hundred acres planted to that crop. Sometimes his fields have given an immense yield and other times a very light one, but he has prose- cuted his business with diligence, doing the best he could to secure good returns, and his career has been one of prosperity.
In 1869 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cottle and Miss Hattie L. Kennedy, a native of Missouri and a daughter of John Kennedy, who came to California in 1857. Four children were born to them, of whom three are now living, the eldest, Ira Stephen, being with his father on the farm. Zora Ernest is in Tuolumne county and Francis Marion is at school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cottle were reared by Methodist parents and in early life became members of that church. He long gave his political support to the Democracy, but is now somewhat independent in his political views. His time and attention has been given untiringly to his business interests. The qualities which insure success are his for he is a man of unfaltering energy and resolute purpose. He enjoys an enviable reputation as a worthy citizen and as one of the pioneers of the Golden state.
JOHN F. MCSWAIN.
John F. McSwain is one of the ablest lawyers practicing at the Merced county bar, having the mental grasp which enables him to discover the salient points in a case. A man of sound judgment, he manages his case with mas- terly skill and tact and is regarded as one of the best jury advocates in the county. He is a logical reasoner and has a ready command of English. That Mr. McSwain enjoys the confidence of his fellow townsmen as a citizen and by reason of his professional ability, is shown by his election to the office of district attorney of Merced county, in which capacity he is now serving.
A native of Missouri, Mr. McSwain was born in Audrain county, on the 5th of December. 1853, and traces his ancestry back to Scotch emigrants who left their native country and became settlers of North Carolina. In that state the grandfather, Daniel McSwain, was born, while the maternal grandfather, John Fruit, was a native of South Carolina, also of Scotch line- age, both becoming honored pioneers of Kentucky, and there James Mc- Swain, the father of our subject was born, reared and educated.
After his removal to Missouri he was married in that state to Miss Martha Fruit, and there continued to reside throughout the residue of his days. passing away in 1861, at the age of fifty years. His wife, with her six children, subsequently crossed the plains to California, making the jour- ney with oxen and mule teams. An uncle, Isaac Fruit, was of the company and Grandfather McSwain was in command. He had previously crossed the plains in 1849, 1852 and 1854. and again made the journey in 1862. He was a minister of the Christian church, a man of marked ability and one of California's brave pioneers. On various occasions he was in command of
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different companies which made the long journey across the stretches of sand and through the mountain fastnesses of the west, leading them safely to the Golden state. Four of the six children of the MeSwain family that crossed the plains with the mother are still living. They located in Merced county about forty miles north of the present city of Merced. In 1884 the honored pio- neer mother passed away. Her son, Daniel W. McSwain is now a resident of Modena county, and one of the sisters, Mrs. Patterson, resides near him. The other surviving sister, Mrs. J. A. Hamilton makes her home near the Merced river.
John F. McSwain, of this review, was but nine years of age when he arrived in California. He was educated in the public schools and in early life engaged in raising wheat and stock, but thinking that he preferred a professional to an agricultural life he took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1895. since which time he has practiced in Oakland and Merced. He is well qualified for his chosen calling and he prepares him- self for his cases with great care, studying the authorities that bear on the point in litigation. His devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial, and he has already gained an enviable position as a representative of the legal fra- ternity.
In 1884 occurred the marriage of Mr. McSwain and Miss Sarah R. Price, a native of Merced county, and a daughter of Thomas Price, one of the valued pioneer settlers of the state. Their union has been blessed with two children : Thomas R. and John Floyd. Mr. McSwain is a worthy mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity and in politics he has always been a Democrat in his belief. He held the office of auditor and recorder in Merced county, entering upon its duties in 1881 and satisfactorily filling the position for four years. He then filled the office of county sheriff for two years, and after- ward practiced law in Oakland and San Francisco from 1890 until 1896. He then returned to Merced and in May, 1900, was appointed district attorney so that he is the present incumbent in that office. Almost his entire life has been passed in California and he takes a deep and commendable interest in its progress and advancement.
ERNEST A. VICTORS, M. D.
Dr. Victors is one of the younger representatives of the medical fra- ternity in Nevada county, and is a prominent accession to the medical brother- hood in Grass Valley, his ability having gained him a creditable place in con- nection with his chosen calling. He was born in Santa Clara county, Cali- fornia, September 16. 1874. his parents being Albert and Maria ( Roberska) Victors. The father was of German birth, and came to America in 1866. after which he wedded Miss Roberska, who was born in South Carolina and was of German lineage. For many generations the Victors family has numbered among its members distinguished physicians and surgeons.
The Doctor, whose name introduces this review. is the eldest in a fam- ily of four children, and to the public schools of Alameda county, California,
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he is indebted for his preliminary education, which was later supplemented by a course in the State University, at Berkeley, where he was graduated with the class of 1895. Determining to make the practice of medicine his life- work, he then entered the Cooper Medical College, of San Francisco, and was graduated in 1898. He had had considerable clinical experience in the hospitals of that city, and in the year 1899 he opened an office in Grass Val- ley, where he has already won a good patronage. His knowledge of the science of medicine is quite extensive and very accurate, and his laudable ambition combined with a deep human sympathy and strong intellectual force, will no doubt win him prominence and gain him a leading place in the front ranks of his professional brethren as the years pass by.
JAMES WADDELL.
James Waddell, the train master and agent of the Southern Pacific Railroad at Rocklin, has spent his entire life in the Golden state. He was born in Pine Grove, on the 28th of September, 1854, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families, his father, John Waddell, having come to Cal- ifornia in 1850. He was born in Kilrain, Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, on the 28th of November, 1819, and was a son of Thomas Waddell, a native of Edinburg. Scotland, who served as a soldier under the Duke of Wellington and fought in the battle of Waterloo. Subsequently he resided in the Em- erald isle, and during his residence there the birth of John Waddell occurred. The latter afterward went to Scotland, in which country he was married, in 1842, to Miss Katie Strain. The same year they emigrated to New Zea- land, living in that country until 1849, when. on Christmas day, they sailed as passengers on the schooner Vulcan for California, arriving in Placer county in June, 1850. There were one hundred passengers on board, some of them being intoxicated, and in a fight which ensued the compass was broken and they were driven about by wind and wave for a long time. Mrs. Waddell had her three little sons with her. They were put on short rations. having but one poor little sea biscuit and a little water each day. They suf- fered greatly, enduring such an existence for ten weeks. They were then sighted by a whaling vessel, under the command of Captain Babcock, who came on board, gave them their bearings and they then sailed into the harbor at Guam. There they remained for a month, being kindly treated by the citizens, fed and cared for without pay.
After arriving in Placer county John Waddell followed his trade of boot and shoe making and also conducted a hotel at Pine Grove. He was a very strong and active man, noted for his athletic prowess, but while performing some feat of strength he injured one of his legs. This resulted in the for- mation of a tumor, which when cut out was found to weigh twenty-five pounds! It was cut out twice, but still continued to grow and it was finally decided that if his life was to be saved the limb must be amputated : but during the operation he died ! This was in 1859, when he was forty years of age.
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His religious faith was in harmony with the views of the belief of the Pres- byterian church and he was a good husband, a loving father and faithful citi- zen. His loss to his wife and children proved a very great one. He had made considerable money, but had invested much of it in mining enterprises that proved unprofitable, so he had but little to leave to his family. His wife was born in Scotland, in 1826, and is now living in Rocklin, at the age of seventy-four years, one of the highly respected pioneer women of Cali- fornia. She became the wife of Mr. Connor and was the mother of fifteen children, but only three of the number are living. She is for the second time now a widow. Her surviving children are Thomas, of Nevada; Mary F., now the wife of James Burchard, of the Burchard Hotel, of Rocklin; and James.
In taking up the personal history of Mr. Waddell of this review we present to our readers the life record of one whose long residence here has made him widely and favorably known. He was educated in the public schools of Rocklin until fourteen years of age, when he began to earn his own living as messenger boy for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. By close attention to his duty and as a result of his experience and ability which he has shown, he has been advanced step by step to his present position in the empoye of the company, being now train-master and agent at Rocklin. For thirty-one years he has been a competent and trustworthy employe of the road. On the completion of his service as messenger boy he worked in the roundhouse, later was fireman, brakeman, switchman, yard-master and con- ductor in succession, and at Truckee he was train-master for two years. Since 1888 he has been the train-master and agent at Rocklin, and his oblig- ing manner, courteous disposition and faithfulness to duty have made him popular.
In 1880 Mr. Waddell wedded Mrs. Ida Euretta Cross, a native of Waterford, New York, and a daughter of S. C. Clow, of the Empire state. who came to California in 1860, and died at Rocklin, in 1897, one of the highly respected citizens of that place. Mrs. Waddell had one child by her first husband, who is now acting as a clerk in her stepfather's office. Mr. and Mrs. Waddell have three children: Myrtle E., Ida M. and James C. They have a nice home, standing in the midst of handsome, well-kept grounds, and the surroundings and furnishings of the place indicate the refined and cultured taste of the owner. Mr. and Mrs. Waddell are valued members of the Order of Rebekah, which they joined on its organiza-
tion at Rocklin. She was its first noble grand and is a past noble grand. He was also the first noble grand of the subordinate lodge, and has also filled all of the chairs of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is one of the active and substantial members of the fraternity, taking a deep inter est in its growth and upbuilding. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Foresters. He and his family enjoy a high standing and the esteem of a host of friends in the state of which he is a most creditable native son. but those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his warmest friends, indicating an upright career.
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WILLIAM D. COMSTOCK.
William Dutton Comstock, who a few years ago was the mayor of Sac- ramento and whose history has been closely interwoven in other ways with the municipal affairs of this city for some years past, is a native of New Hampshire, his birth having occurred in Jaffrey, Cheshire county, that state, on the 19th of May, 1839. He is the third in the family of five chil- dren, whose parents were Jonathan J. and Roaney (Dutton) Comstock, who also were born in the Granite state. Both the paternal and maternal ancestry were for several generations natives of New England, and the line of descent can be traced back to early influential families of German and Welsh extraction who resided in that section of the country. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, and with the labors of the field and meadow William D. Comstock early became familiar. He assisted in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting from early spring until the crops were garnered in the autumn, and then through the winter season pursued his education in the district schools of his native state. On attaining his majority Mr. Comstock went to Boston, where for several years he occu- pied a clerkship in a mercantile establishment.
In the spring of 1864 he started for the new Eldorado of the west, tak- ing passage on the steamer Champion, which sailed from the Atlantic coast for Panama. After crossing the isthmus he boarded the historic steamer Golden Age, which arrived in San Francisco on the 27th of March. He mnade but a brief stay in the metropolis, going thence to Sacramento, where he was again employed for a time as a clerk. Later he began business on his own account as a dealer in furniture and has since conducted that enterprise, meeting with prosperity in the undertaking. His present place of business is located on Fifth street, near the corner of K street, and his ware-rooms are well filled with the most modern patterns of furniture in all grades. He carries a large stock ready to meet the public demands from all classes, and his honorable business methods and earnest desire to please have secured to him a liberal patronage.
In Sacramento, on the 24th of November, 1867, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Comstock and Miss Susan F. Gregory, a native of Mis- souri, who was reared by her paternal uncle, Dr. E. H. Gregory, a physician and surgeon of St. Louis, whose reputation is almost world-wide. He has probably won more medical titles than any other representative of the pro- fession in that city. He is a professor of the St. Louis Medical College, and surgeon-in-chief of the Mullanphy Hospital, which owes to him its national reputation. He was the president of the American Medical Asso- ciation, one of the greatest honors that can be conferred by the profession in the country. He has also been the president of the State Medical Society and at the present tinte is the president of the St. Louis Surgical Society. Although he is now nearly seventy years of age he has one of the largest surgery practices in the central Mississippi valley, his patronage extend- ing far beyond the confines of St. Louis. He has performed some of the
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most wonderful operations known to science and he yet possesses the activity of a man of much younger years, and the indications are ilat hun- persi great usefulness will continue for some time to come. Ile is & man af amilie able disposition and of genial manner. He is a close student, who Jis par only kept abreast of the times and the progress that is continually long made. but has also been a leader in scientific investigation along the Ines of medical and surgical practice. The fact that he has the largest con-billone practice in the city is an indication of the reputation which he enjoys 500Me his professional brethren. The grandfather of Mrs. Comstock was Wilham Gregory, a celebrated attorney of Fredericksburg, Virginia, in which city he was born. Later in life he was made the president of the Princeton Law College, of Kentucky. On the maternal side Mrs. Comstock is descended from the Nye family, of Pennsylvania, and representatives of the family became California pioneers of 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock have one daughter, Sophia P., a young lady of culture and innate refinement. She is a graduate of the Sacramento high school of the class of 1889, and on leaving that institution she matriculated in the State University at Berkeley, where she was graduated with honors in the class of 1893. Since the fall term of 1897 she has been engaged in teaching Latin and also some of the English branches in the Elk Grove Union High School, where she is greatly esteemed, both by teachers and scholars. Mr. Comstock and his family occupy a leading position in social circles, and all who pass through the portals of their cultured home enjoy a most cordial hospitality.
ELDAD A. CLIFFORD.
This well-known citizen of Stanislaus county is one of the largest stock- raisers in this portion of the state and has been largely instrumental in improving the grade of stock raised in this section of California. His efforts have therefore been of public benefit, for the improvement of stock adds to its market value and the wealth of the agricultural class is thereby augmente 1. The rich pasture lands of the Pacific coast provide excellent opportunities to the stock-raiser, and this industry has become a most important feature in the commercial interests of the Golden state.
Mr. Clifford's farm is located two miles east of Knight's Ferry and he has been a resident of the state since 1852, coming here a young man of twenty-one years. He was born in Danville, Caledonia county, Vermont- on the 12th of April, 1831. His grandfather, Joseph Clifford, was born in Scotland. At an early day he emigrated to the Green Mountain state. where liis son. Rufus, the father of our subject, was born and reare . 1,s a companion and helpmate on life's journey, he chose Miss Ly lia Ballger. a native of Hartland, Vermont. They became industrious farming people and worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church and spent their entire lives in Vermont, the old homestead continuing their place of abode The father passed away at the age of seventy-two years, but the mother attained the very advanced age of ninety-two years. They were the parents
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of nine children, six of whom are living. William R. Clifford, a brother of our subject, came to California and died in Stockton, this state, in 1865.
Eldad Alexander Clifford acquired his education in his native town and in his youth worked at farming and in a cotton factory in New Hampshire. where he remained until allured by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast he made his way to California, by way of the isthmus route. On reaching this state he went direct to the placer mines at what was then called Poverty Hill, a mining camp formed of tents. For three years he engaged in placer mining through the winter season and in the summer months followed team- ing, hauling goods from Stockton to Sonora, Columbia and Chinese Camp. For fourteen years he followed teaming, finding it a profitable venture, for as there was no other means of transportation the teamsters commanded good prices for their services. Mr. Clifford afterward traveled as a salesman for a wholesale liquor and cigar house, and at the same time purchased hides and tallow. For six years he devoted his time to the purchase of pelts and hides, and then purchased a flock of sheep. For twenty-four years he was engaged in the sheep-raising industry, having as high as eight thousand sheep upon his ranch at one time and realizing from his labors in one season as high as eleven thousand dollars. In 1898 he sold his sheep and is now in the cattle business, having five hundred head of cattle. He breeds Hereford cattle and his herd includes thirteen thoroughbred bulls. Thus he has greatly improved his own stock and that of his neighbors, so that fine grades of Hereford cattle are found upon the markets and command excellent prices.
On the 24th of April, 1868, Mr. Clifford was united in marriage to Miss Ella Wilkins, a native of St. Catherines, Canada, a daughter of Elijah and Sarah Wilkins. Her father is now in the eighty-eighth year of his age, but her mother has passed away. Mrs. Clifford was reared in Stockton and in Stanislaus county where she now makes her home. She is well known, hav- ing many friends among its best people. Mr. Clifford gives his political sup- port to the Republican party, but has never sought or desired public office, his attention being given closely to his business interests, which have resulted in bringing to him an excellent financial return.
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