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 99
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Mr. Currey took up his residence in Loomis in 1886 and built the second residence in the town. He has planted many fruit and ornamental trees here and is now living in a pleasant home amid comfortable surroundings, having through the years of his active and honorable career acquired a handsome com- petence. He was married in 1869 to Miss Elizabeth Freeman and unto them was born a son, Harry, who is now a resident of Sacramento. After the death of his first wife Mr. Currey was married, on the first of July. 1884. to Miss Amelia Cutsgar, a native of Prussia, who has since been to him a faithful help- mate and companion on life's journey. She is a member of the Catholic church. He is not identified with any religious organization, but socially is con- nected with the Red Men, and in politics he is a Democrat, but at local elections where no issue is involved he votes for the man rather than the party, regard- ing merely his fitness for the office. His life has been quietly passed but the
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elements of his character are those which constitute honorable manhood and in the localities where he has resided he has enjoyed the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fellow men.
SILVESTER M. SPRAGUE.
In the year 1858 Silvester M. Sprague came to California and is now iden- tified with business interests in Iowa Hill. He is a native of Vermont, born April 22, 1848. His father, Lucius Sprague, was born in Hanover, Germany, and in 1850 emigrated to California, casting in his lot with the mining popula- tion that laid the foundation of the present prosperity and progress of the com- monwealth. He became one of the first settlers in this portion of the state and one of the fourth owners of the North Star mine, out of which he took consid- erable gold. He had various other mining interests and later was engaged in freighting from Colfax to lowa Hill, receiving seventy-five dollars per hun- dred-weight for hauling goods to this place. Later he removed to Sacramento, where he continued to reside up to the time of his death, which occurred in July, 1895, at the age of seventy-three years. He was a stanch Republican and a strong Union man during the Civil war and was a thorough, upright citizen. His wife died in Auburn, California, in 1864, leaving five children, three of whom yet survive, namely : George, a resident of San Diego, California; Sil- vester M .; and Mary, wife of John Faferty, of Sacramento. Charles died at Colfax, California, in the twenty-second year of his age, and Julia died in Sacramento, at the age of twenty. She was married and left a son, Ernest Williams.
Mr. Sprague, whose name introduces this record, acquired his education in the public schools and early in life began dealing in plaster-paris statues on Market street, in San Francisco. On the 20th of May, 1864, in answer to the call of this country for vounteers to put down the rebellion, he enlisted in Com- pany B. Second Regiment California Infantry, under Captain Fairfield. He served at Fort Green, California, participated in several engagements with the Indians and received an honorable discharge in San Francisco in 1865. He had been promoted to corporal.
After the close of the war Mr. Sprague came to Iowa Hill and was in the pottery business for fifteen years. At the same time he was connected with numerous mining enterprises, operating the Blue Wing and Washington and the Aurora mines. He took out large quantities of gold, but the law prohibiting hydraulic mining ended his operations, and all the mining machinery and the valuable property is now standing idle. Mr. Sprague is a stockholder and superintendent in the General Green and the Dewey Consolidated drift mine and is a part owner of the Oriental and Reeta quartz mines and in the Last Chance gravel mine. He also has a farm of three hundred and twenty acres- the Fallbrook place-four miles from Lincoln, in Placer county. This is a grain and fruit farm and is a valuable property, yielding excellent returns. Mr. Sprague has other real-estate interests, being the owner of the Arcade building
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and also of one of the finest residences in Iowa Hill, where he resides with his family.
In 1876 occurred the marriage of Silvester MI. Sprague and Miss Mary Smiley, a native of Canada and a sister of John Smiley, one of the pioneers of this state. They now have five children, as follows: Elsworth, who is now the proprietor of a meat market : O. L., who is engaged in business in Sacramento ; Nellie, wife of Samuel Watts, deputy county clerk at Auburn ; and Adelbert and Budd, who are at school. They were all born in Iowa Hill.
Mr. Sprague has always been a very active member of the Republican party, attending all of its conventions and doing everything in his power to promote the growth and insure its success. He may well be termed a leader of his party in the county and his labors have been very efficacious in promoting its welfare. He served for some years as deputy county assessor. yet has never been an aspirant for political honors. For twenty-seven years he has been connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, was one of its charter members at Iowa Hill and has filled the office of receiver. He is in full sympathy with all the progressive movements about him and watches the outcome of events with the keenest interest. He has been a leading factor in the progress of Iowa Hill. Educational, church and social interests owe their promotion in a considerable degree to him. For many years has this place been his home, years largely devoted to the public good.
THOMAS B. HARPER.
The history of northern California would be very incomplete and unsatis- factory without a personal and somewhat extended mention of those whose lives are so closely interwoven with the development of the state. Among this number is Thomas B. Harper who is classified among the pioneers of 1849 and is now one of the most highly respected citizens of Lincoln. He is a native of Virginia, his birth having occurred in Dinwiddie county, on the 19th of Sep- tember. 1831. His Scotch ancestors, who were the founders of the family in America, became early settlers of the Old Dominion. His father, William Halloway Harper, was born in Virginia and was married there to Miss Sarah Warshin Scott, by whom he had eight children, all born in that state. The father died in Virginia in 1836, and his widow with her children afterward removed to Missouri in 1837. becoming identified with the farming interests in that part of the country. There the mother lived until her death, which occurred in the fifty-seventh year of her age.
Thomas Burrell Harper, of this review, was only five years of age when his father died, and when a little lad of six summers he accompanied his mother to Missouri, where he was reared and educated. He is now the only survivor of the family. In 1849 he crossed the plains with oxen, traveling with a wagon train of twenty-two wagons, accompanied and commanded by William Pope. They were organized like a military company, the men taking turns in doing guard duty from the time they left Missouri until they arrived at Bear Valley, California. One of the company was drowned while en route, but aside
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from that no casualties happended and all reached the Golden state in safety. They left their old homes on the 17th of April and reached their destination on the 23d of August. Mr. Harper engaged in prospecting and mining in Bear river but did not meet with very good success. His brother, George B. and a friend, Benjamin Tucker, were his partners, but both have long since passed to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns. Leaving Bear Valley they went to Sacramento and thence pro- ceeded up Clear creek and while there their efforts were attended with but little success. They also went to Trinity county and later returned to Sacra- mento. In February, 1850, they proceeded to Nevada county and in their mining operations on the South Yuba for a time took out no inconsiderable quantity of gold. Subsequently Mr. Harper and his brother went to Jackson, Amador county, where again they were successful in their mining operations.
Our subject was also at Michigan Bluff and while at that place he was elected assessor of Placer county, which office he filled during the years of 1859 and 1860, at the same time conducting a store in Auburn. In 1863 he became the agent for the Bear River Ditch Water Company and the same year was elected district assessor, discharging the duties of that office in a capable manner, and at the same time owning and conducting a livery stable. His next venture was as owner of a store in Lincoln, where he has since done a good business, enjoying the confidence and respect as well as the patronage of the public.
He was elected justice of the peace, served in 1893-4 and in 1897 was again chosen to that position, which he is still filling. He is a man of intelligence and good judgment and weighs carefully the evidence and the law applicable to it and his decisions have never been reversed by the higher court. It will thus be seen that through the years of an active business career Mr. Harper has also been frequently honored with public office and he has ever discharged his duties so as to win the commendation of those concerned.
In 1864 occurred his marriage to Miss Frances Rebecca Nickerson, a native of Missouri, who came to California in 1850 with her father, James R. Nickerson, who still survives and is now in the eighty-third year of his age, a respected and honored pioneer living in Nevada county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Harper were born two daughters, but both have passed away .- Laura, when only fourteen months of age, and Hattie, in her twentieth year. She was a beautiful and lovable young lady, a favorite in social circles and her death was deeply mourned by her parents and all who knew her. Mr. and Mrs. Harper have a delightful home which stands near his place of business and is surrounded by trees and beautiful flowers of their own plant- ing. Mr. Ilarper is the proprietor of a book and stationery business, and is the news agent of the town. He likewise owns his own justice courtroom. He is a member of the Pioneer Society at Sacramento and is a prominent Mason, having joined the order at Michigan Bluff in 1858. He attainel the sublime degree of Master Mason at Auburn in 1859, and is a Royal Arch Mason. For four terms he served as master of the Gold Hill Lodge. No.
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32, of Lincoln, while of the chapter he is past king. In 1854 he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has filled all of the chairs in both branches. He has been district deputy grand master of the encampment, and is past master workman of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. and Mrs. Harper have a wide circle of friends in Placer county where they have so long resided and possess the happy faculty of drawing them closer as the years pass by. Sterling qualities of character insure them high regard and in the history of California they well deserve honorable mention.
JOHN A. LEE.
The various states of the Union have furnished their quota of citizens to California, and the different characteristics seen in different portions of the country have combined in making an amalgamation that contains the best elements of all. The shrewdness and ingenuity of New England, the conservatism of the east, the substantial qualities of the south and the pro- gressiveness of the middle states have contributed to the upbuilding of this commonwealth of the Pacific coast, of which the entire country is proud.
John Andrew Lee came to California from Indiana. He was born in Fort Wayne, that state, on the 9th of September, 1841, and was of English and Scotch ancestry. His great-grandfather James Lee was the progenitor of the family in America and established his home in New York. There Henry Lee, the grandfather, was born, reared and married Miss Margaret Courter, a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch lineage, becoming his wife. They removed to Indiana and reared their family upon a farm in what was then a new and largely undeveloped country. They were industrious, honorable people and in the Presbyterian church held membership. The father de- parted this life in the sixtieth year of his age, and the mother passed away at the age of seventy-two. They had five children, but as far as is known Mr. Lee is the only one living.
Upon his father's farm the subject of this review was reared. Through- out the long summer days he worked in the fields, plowing. planting and harvesting, and through the winter months he pursued his education in the public schools. At the early age of fourteen years he began to earn his own livelihood, working as a farm hand. He was an active, stout and will- ing boy and earned fifteen dollars per month. As he grew older he was paid twenty-five dollars per month, which was considered high wages for farm help at that time. He also learned the cooper's trade, which he followed in Chicago, Illinois, and in St. Joseph and Kansas City, Missouri.
In 1875 Mr. Lee arrived in Sacramento, California, and followed cooper- ing in that city and in San Francisco until 1877, when he came to Rocklin and entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, acting as engine wiper for three years. He worked in the blacksmith shop for two years and was a machinist's helper for two months. Since then he has been stock inspector and boiler-maker, keeping the boilers of the locomotives in repair. For twenty-three years he has been one of the most faithful and
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reliable employes of the company. He possesses excellent mechanical ability, thoroughly understands the work with which he is connected, and is very conscientious in its execution.
In 1873 occurred the marriage of Mr. Lee and Miss Mary Steel, a native of Utah, and unto them have been born four children, namely : Mary Bell, who became the wife of J. D. Thomas and died in the twenty-sixth year of her age: John Walter; James Garfield ; and Alice. Mr. Lee is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellow's, and in his political affiliations is a Democrat. In 1898 he was elected as one of the trustees of Rocklin and has since served in that capacity, taking a deep interest in all that pertains to the prosperity of his town. He and his family occupy a nice residence which he erected in 1889. He is a citizen of intelligence and marked industry and richly deserves the comforts of life which have come to him through his honest toil.
WARREN C. GREEN.
Of the mercantile interests of Georgetown, Warren C. Green is a well known representative, and he is also prominent in mining. Of California he is a native son, his birth having occurred in Placer county on the 22d of July, 1862. His father, R. P. Green, was born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1824, and engaged in lead-mining at Galena, that state. He came to Eldo- rado county at an early epoch in the development of California and engaged in placer mining and mercantile business.
In 1859, however, he returned by way of the water to Platteville, Wis- ·consin, where he was married. Then he again came across the plains to the Pacific coast. They were annoyed by the Indians and the men in the train stood guard all night to give the warning if the savages should make an attack. On other occasions they traveled all night in order to escape the red men. On the second trip Mr. Green was accompanied by his wife and brother. On again reaching the Golden state the father of our subject located near Placerville, where he continued mining, and later in Placer county. In 1864 his wife died, in the twenty-fourth year of her age, leaving to him the care of their two sons, Edwin and Warren C. He then discontinued mining and was in the stock business for some years in Colusa county. In 1880 he and his son Edwin removed to Montana, locating at Corvallis. They were eleven months traveling by wagon, spending the winter at Salem and reach- ing the Bitter Root valley on the 26th of July, 1880. There the father located on four hundred and eighty acres of land, on which he erected a good home, making it his place of abode until his life's labors were ended in death, on the 24th day of February, 1895, when he was in his seventy-first year. Edwin Green is the proprietor of the well known Plaza shoe store in Placer- ville. He married Emily Gardner and they have five children : Ruth, Walter. Frank, Hazel and DeWitt. The Green brothers are rated among the most enterprising business men of the county and W. C. Green is thie proprietor of the leading mercantile establishment at Georgetown.
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Warren C. Green was educated in the public schools of Eldorado county and in Colusa county, and at the age of eighteen he put aside his text-books to learn the more difficult lessons in the school of experience. He engaged in mining as a common laborer and was employed in that way for five years, after which he served as a foreman of mines for two years. On the expiration of that period he became a mine owner and mine superintendent, but con- tinned his active connection with the development of mines until January, 1899. when be purchased a general mercantile store in Georgetown. He has since conducted this enterprise and has found it a profitable source of income, but he is still largely interested in the development of the mineral resources in this part of the state, and has seven hundred acres of mining land four miles east of Placerville. For a number of years he has been one of the most active and successful mining men in his county and he has in his pos- session thirty-two pieces of pure gold taken from mines in which he was interested, that are valued at from twelve to one hundred dollars apiece, the value of the entire collection being nine hundred dollars. Mr. Green has also purchased and soll mining properties, and at one time he was largely inter- ested in mining land on the Georgetown divide, which he sold to the Two Channel Mining Company, mostly formed of Indianapolis capitalists.
Mr. Green was married in 1881 to Miss Mary Hoxie, of Placerville, a native of that place and a daughter of P. P. Hoxie, a California pioneer. They have four children,-Ruby, Stella, Edwin and Myrtle. Mr. Green is an active member of the Republican party and for thirteen years has served on the Republican county central committee, his efforts proving of great benefit. He is a man of marked business ability, never making an engage- ment which he does not fulfill and never incurring an obligation which he does not meet. His prosperity is the result of his diligence, capable manage- ment and keen sagacity.
EDWARD C. KAVANAUGH.
Edward Charles Kavanaugh, the popular proprietor of the Forest House, at Forest Hill, is a native son of California. He was born at Michigan Bluff. Placer county. July 29. 1872. His father, Edward Kavanaugh, was born in Ireland and came to the United States when he was fifteen years of age, in company with an older brother.
After a rough and perilous journey the brothers landed in New York and from there went to Philadelphia where they remained until 1852, at which time Edward Kavanaugh crossed the plains to California. The journey overland was made especially dangerous by repeated attacks by Indians. One member of the company was killed and much of the stock belonging to the little band of travelers was stolen. Finally reaching Hangtown Mr. Kava- naugh engaged in placer mining and remained there for several years, meet- ing with the usual fortune of prospectors and miners of those days. Leav- ing Hangtown, he went to Iowa Ilill, and later to Grizzly Flat and Michigan Bluff, where he made several claims on the north fork of the American river.
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Here he met with gratifying success, taking out a well paying quantity of gold, but like many others he lost considerable money in other mining enter- prises. In 1870 he married Mrs. Ann Williams, widow of John Williams, also a native of Ireland. She had two sons, Thomas and Jolin, the former an electrician in Sacramento and the latter associated with Mr. Kavanaugh in the hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Kavanaugh had six children, of whom five are living : Edward, the subject of this sketch; Annie, wife of Henry L. Banks; Arthur, a miner ; Kate and Maggie, who are in school. The father departed this life in 1895, aged sixty-five years. His wife survives him and is now sixty-three years of age. Both were members of the Catholic church and in that faith reared their children.
Edward C. Kavanaugh, the eldest son, was educated in the public schools of his native county and became clerk in the Rea House at Forest Hill. Later he accepted a position in a wholesale liquor house in Sacramento. In 1896 he and Richard Thomas rented the Forest Hill House and for two years the partnership was continued. Mr. Kavanaugh purchased his partner's interest and has since conducted the business with gratifying success. He now owns the Forest Hill House and leases the Rea House, the entire hotel business of the town being in his hands. His livery stable is the only one in the town and he also owns a stage line.
Mr. Kavanaugh was married. in 1897, to Miss Annie McHole, a native of his own town, daughter of Patrick McHole, a prominent California pioneer, who was a member of the state legislature and held other important offices of honor and trust and for many years was the proprietor of the Orleans Hotel in Auburn. Placer county. Mr. and Mrs. Kavanaugh have a bright little son, Emmet, who is the pride and joy of his parents. Mrs. Kavanaugh was reared in her father's hotel and her experience and business ability have been of inestimable value to her husband. The hotel patrons are made to feel at home and are most agreeably cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Kavanaugh, who make a charming host and hostess. They have many friends through- out the whole county.
Mr. Kavanaugh is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge in Forest Hill and was one of its first officers. He is also a Native Son of the Golden West. Mr. and Mrs. Kavanaugh are members of the Catholic church. As a boy of seventeen Mr. Kavanaugh began business life for himself. He has by honorable methods and business sagacity gained a place for himself at the front and enjoys well deserved success.
SAMUEL N. WHALLON.
Samuel N. Whallon is a native of Minnesota, born at Bloomington Ferry, on the 24th of September. 1853. His grandfather, Samuel Whallon, was a native of New Jersey. His son, Charles Henry Whallon, the father of our subject, was born in the state of Illinois, whither the grandfather removed in the early history of that commonwealth. Having arrived at years of maturity Charles H. Whallon was married in the Prairie state to Miss Ann 50
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Eliza Ames, a native of Vermont, and soon afterward they removed to Min- nesota, becoming pioneers of that portion of the country. So new and wild was the region that at one time they were obliged to take refuge in Fort Snelling to escape massacre at the hands of the Indians. The father cleared and developed a new farm in Minnesota, carrying on agricultural pursuits until his death, which resulted from typhoid fever when he was in the forty- fifth year of his age. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belongs. She still survives him and resides in San Francisco, at the age of seventy years, respected by all who have the pleasure of her acquaintance. In the family were three sons and a daughter, and three of the number are still living.
Samuel Norton Whallon, the eldest child and the immediate subject of this review, conned his lessons in the public schools of Minnesota, mastering the branches of English learning usually taught in such institutions. When quite young he began to earn his own living as a farm hand, continuing in that line of work until his twentieth year when he learned the trade of a steam and gas fitter in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following that pursuit in the Mississippi valley for six years. In March, 1877, he came to California, locating in Oakland, and was engaged in the package express business be- tween San Francisco and Oakland for a short time. He then went to Truckee, in the employ of the Truckee Lumber Company, and subsequently entered the service of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, with which he has been connected since 1881. He served as locomotive fireman for six and a half years, after which he was promoted to locomotive engineer, and during the past twelve years, or since 1888, he has been one of the most reliable and competent engineers running on the Sacramento & Truckee division over the steep mountain grades of Placer county.
In 1884 Mr. Whallon took up his residence in Rocklin and since that time has been one of its liberal and progressive citizens, taking an active interest in all that pertains to its welfare. He has erected one of the hand- some cottages of the town and in it resides with his family. He was mar- ried, in 1890, to Miss May Cady, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Leonard Cady, formerly of that state. Their union is blessed with two inter- esting children,-Clarence Norton and Ava Winone. Mr. Whallon is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and in the Masonic fraternity has attained the Royal Arch degree, while of the Odd Fellow's lodge he is also a representative. His political support is given the Democracy and in April, 1900, he was chosen by his fellow townsmen as one of the trustees of the town and is now officially serving in that capacity with due regard to the best interests of Rocklin, laboring earnestly to promote its up- building along all lines of progress.
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