USA > California > Tuolumne County > A history of Tuolumne County, California : compiled from the most authentic records > Part 27
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L. F. JARVIS.
The subject of this sketch was born in Surrey, Hancock County, Maine, on August 23, 1819. He received his primary education at the common schools of Surrey and Ellsworth, and his academic learning at Exeter, N. H., and at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Cumberland County, Maine. He studied law in Bangor, with Judges Hathaway and Shepley, and after being admitted to the Bar practiced his profession at Ellsworth. In 1849, he came round the Horn to this State, landing in San Francisco on April 7, 1850. He first settled at San Jose; thence going to the
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
south fork of the American River, where he was engaged in miniug. He came to this county in 1851, and took up a residence at Columbia, and soon after moved to the place where he now lives, giving it the name of Vine Springs. Mr. Jarvis has sixty acres of land planted with grape vines, and an orchard of the same size. He has an excellent wine cellar, and all the necessary appliances for making fine wines. Near his house are two large springs, the water of which is conducted by means of a hydraulic ram to the house, and by ditches to the wine cellar and other parts of the farm. Mr. Jarvis married Mary A. Robinson now deceased), a native of Ellsworth, Maine.
Mr. Jarvis has in his possession a number of rare and invaluable heirlooms, the large and richly chased silver tankard presented to Sir William Pepperrell by the mayor of the city of London after the capture of Louisburg, also a large and beautiful silver candlestick, belonging to Sir William, and in his parlor hangs a life-size portrait of St. Paul, by one of the masters, which though nearly 250 years old, is in perfect preservation and appears almost to start from the canvas.
MAJOR R. C. BARRY
Was born in Great Britain of Irish parents, in 1806, says the Union Democrat. Settling at an early age in Texas, on the breaking out of the war which resulted in the inde- pendence of that State, he became a noted actor therein. Strong decision of character marked him, while his educa- tion hardly deserved the name, for hardly could he read or write. The obstinate man retained throughout life a hatred to Mexicans, which extended to all foreigners.
He served through the Mexican War, and after peace was made, came through Mexico to California, in a company in
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
which were many of his old fellow-soldiers. Barry came up from San Francisco in company with Alfred Luckett, Dr. Bell, Joshua Holden, A. Elkins and Captain Alonzo Green, all of them settling in what afterwards became Sonora. A large population soon arriving, made it neces- sary to devise some way of keeping the peace, and Barry, on account of his decision of character and indomitable resolution, was chosen Justice. This position pleased the Major vastly, and he maintained the dignity of his Court in the highest degree, never allowing its decrees to meet with aught but the deepest respect. His docket, consist- ing of loose papers, was unfortunately burned in one of the many disastrous fires which have ravaged Sonora. A small portion of this great curiosity is now extant, and has been incorporated in the body of this work. Much of that which is going the rounds of the press, purporting to be Barry's docket, is a base forgery, revealing its character by internal evidence.
Major Barry died in Alameda County about 1870.
DAVID LEVY.
The subject of our sketch was born in Prussia, Germany, on June 22, 1843. The same year his parents came to the United States, first settling in New York City, thence go- ing to Sabine Parish, Louisana, but afterward returned to New York. From this place the family came to this State via the Isthmus, landing in San Francisco in the Fall of 1852. Joel Levy, the father of David, had previously paid California a visit in 1850, and returned East, then bringing out his family as above stated. After a few weeks' stay in San Francisco they moved to Sonora, where the father en- gaged in mercantile pursuits. In the fire of 1854, Mr.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Levy's business house was burned, and he moved with his family to Celumbia. Here this old pioneer and respected citizen of Tuolumne County lived until March 9, 1881, when he went to reside with two of his sons in Australia, and where he died on the 10th of November, 1881. David Levy, the subject under special consideration, was taught in commercial affairs, and in 1867 began business on his own account, in Columbia. This he followed until 1869, when he sold out and went to Australia to visit his brothers, returning in 1872. Since that time Mr. Levy has discovered the Tuolumne, Magnolia, and Ribbon Rock mines, on the Stanislaus River, and he is confident that these locations rank among the foremost in this county. Since March 1, 1882. Mr. Levy has been a resident of Sonora.
HON. THOMAS C. BIRNEY
Was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on March 17, 1835. At the age of seven his parents took him to Livingston County, Michigan, thence moving to Ingham County, in the same State, where young Birney received his primary education in the common schools, finishing his scholastic learning at the Union School at Jackson, Michigan. In 1857, the subject of our memoir came to this State via the Isthmus of Panama, and at once settled at Sawmill Flat, in this county. Here he engaged in mining, which occupa- tion he followed until 1863, at which time he was elected District Assessor, his district embracing the second town- ship of this county. He was his own successor in 1865. In 1867, he was elected. District Collector, and continued to hold that office for two years. In 1869, he was elected County Assessor, and continued in the office until De- cember, 1875, when he resigned to take his seat in the Lower House of the Legislature. He was re-elected to the same
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office in 1881, and is the present incumbent. Mr. Birney has been engaged in quartz mining for many years, still following that occupation. He married Cathrine Boyle, a native of Jefferson County, New York.
O. L. BEMIS
Was born in East Hartford, Connecticut, on the 2nd of September, 1813. When eighteen years old he moved to the State of New York, thence to the southern States; leaving there for California in 1849, via Panama, on the steamer of the same name, he arrived in San Francisco on November 1, 1849. He remained in that place during the Winter, and in the following Spring came to Sonora, and was engaged in the clothing and shoe business until the Fall of 1851; then he opened the Eureka Hotel, which stood nearly opposite the present City Hotel, on Washing- ton street. The Eureka was burned in the great fire of 1852, and Mr. Bemis, in 1855, opened the Plaza Hotel, which property he afterwards purchased. This hotel was also destroyed by the conflagration of 1861. Mr. Bemis now moved to Virginia City, where he lived one year, then returning to Sonora he purchased the City Hotel, and to the present writing has been the only proprietor. There he married Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Lindsey, a native of Massa- chusetts. She died April 16, 1878.
CHARLES B. RUTHERFORD.
This gentleman was born in Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts, in September, 1835. Leaving there when ten years of age, he settled in Canandagua, New York, growing up and attending the Academy with Henry H. Haight, afterwards Governor of California.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
In 1849 Mr. Rutherford, holding a position in the ser- vice of the United States Government, was located at San Antonio, Texas. In 1852 he went to Sonora, having ar- rived in this State a few weeks previous. Taking a partner, , he erected a cloth tent on Washington street, it being just after the great fire, and commenced business as painters. The Hook and Ladder Company had just been organized, and Mr. R. painted all the paraphernalia required by its one hundred and fifty members During his stay in So- nora he erected the brick building which Dr. Sears now occupies; also the brick residence of Mr. John Cowie.
Leaving Sonora in 1861, Mr. R., after three years spent in various parts of the State, located permanently in Oak- land, and carries on the painting business at 1014 Broad- way. His family comprises three children.
H. B. McNEIL AND C. C. BROWN,
Who practiced law here, are still remembered as intelligent and respected members of the Bar. The latter, after a succesful career, died in Sonora on the 8th of March, 1868. The former, after serving as County Judge, succeeding Hon. Chas. Randall, removed to San Francisco, where he now resides.
HENRY M. PEASE
Was born in Williamson Couniy, Illinois, on April 22, 1856. He was reared in his native county and at Carbondale. He left the latter place for this State, arriving on the 27th of March, 1875, and settled in this county. He followed min- ing for a period of six years, when he bought an interest in the principal livery stable at Sonora and retains it to the present writing.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
THE HESLEPS,
Joseph, William G. and Frank, have been important in the past years of the County. Of these brothers, the tragic fate of Joseph has been told, while William died in Ari- zona. They were public spirited men, and men whose words and actions were always on the side of the right.
Among their numerous acts of public spirit was the pre- sentation of the cannon known as the Heslep Gun to the City of Sonora.
This piece of ordnance, says the Independent, was cast at the Government foundry at Pittsburg, Penn., for the armament of a man-of-war, but fell into private hands shortly after, and was placed on a privateer destined for service in the Mexican War. Subsequently seized by the U. S. Marshal, the gun was sold, together with the ship bearing it, and it became the property of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, by whom it was placed on board of the old steamer " Panama," for use as a signal gun. On the breaking up of that vessel at San Francisco, the gun was bought by Mr. Joseph Heslep, and by him presented to the citizens of Sonora, being then placed on " Cannon Hill," where it remained until the beginning of the Rebel- lion, when some discontented parties chopped up the wooden carriage, and hauled the gun down to Main street. Indignation being evoked by this act, a meeting of citizens was held, and the mischievous parties were made to remove the gun to a suitable site. Later in its history it was rolled down into Sonora Creek, where it remained for a half dozen years, or until 1873, when it is said to have been in use as a bumper to guard the corner of Oppenheimer's store. Dissatisfied with this, the citizens removed it thence in the Centennial year to a situation at Greaser Gulch, on the road to the "French Garder," where it has since re-
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mained. It lies at present on the ground, and is without carriage or protection from the elements.
Its dimensions are as follows: Outside length, ten feet eleven inches; length of bore, nine feet; calibre, five and two-tenths inches. The weight of the piece is four thou- sand seven hundred and sixty pounds, and it is a naval Paixhan, or Columbiad, of the best pattern, and is calcu- lated to throw an eighteen pound round shot, it being smooth bore.
A portion of its history has been the endeavor of certain officials to sell it to the junkmen, half a cent per pound being offered; but as the reflecting citizens do not see in this a becoming way to treat a valuable and munificent present, whichi, at the same time, by its associations, has become really memorable, probably no such thoughtless or disrespectful act will be accomplished.
Sonora and Tuolumne possess many relics, which in fu- ture years will lend an interest scarcely felt now, And should public sentiment strongly favor their preservation, future generations will gratefully thank the careful and considerate for their protecting care.
C. C. WHEELER,
The present popular and genial proprietor of the Windsor House, corner of Ninth and Washington streets, Oakland, was an inhabitant of Tuolumne in former years. He was born in Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, in 1834, but was reared in Norridgewock, in that State. His life has been mainly spent in mining and business pursuits in Cal- ifornia and Australia, he having spent three years in the search for gold in the latter country, and, after much travel, locating and mining at Table Mountain, near Shaw's Flat. One year of farming on Johnson's ranch succeeded
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to the four years spent at the Flat, and then Mr. W., hav- ing in the meantime married, proceeded to Oakland, and established the first of the express lines connecting San Francisco with the towns (then small) on the opposite side of the Bay. Merchandising at Placerville, Solano County, and similar pursuits at Healdsburg, Sonoma County, suc- ceeded to the express business, and finally, in the Centen- nial year, he returned to Oakland, and opened the excellent and convenient hotel which he now conducts.
Mr. Wheeler married Miss Angeline G. Stetson, in Co -. lumbia, during his residence in Tuolumne. The officiating clergyman, Mr. L. Hamilton, was called upon twenty years later to officiate at the china wedding of the married couple, all the parties residing in Oakland. This pleasant circumstance has received a tinge of melancholy from the recent death of Mr. Hamilton.
Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have two children.
HON. J. F. ROONEY.
Judge Rooney is a native of Cold Springs, New York, and was born on the 27th of July, 1836. His parents took him to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1840. Mr. Rooney was placed under the instructions of a private tutor, and this method of laying the foundation for a thorough education was pur- sued for a number of years. He then entered Sinsinawa Mound College, in Wisconsin, receiving there his academi- cal education. The Judge came to California via Panama, in 1862, arriving in San Francisco on the 19th of July. On the 28th of the same month he arrived in Sonora, where he has since lived. Here he studied law, and was called to the Bar in November, 1863, commencing and continuing to practice in Sonora. In September, 1877, he was elected District Attorney. This position seemed to be but the
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
stepping-stone to higher honors, for in December, 1879, he resigned that office to be sworn in as the Superior Judge ot Tuolumne county, to which office he had been elected. Evidently Judge Rooney's motto through life has been "Aut vincere aut mori "-to conquer or die. When we con- template his career we may well suggest the idea. One who has, without tho aid of any one, gained an honest living, a liberal education, and reached a high and honorable posi- tion while still young, must glance over his past life with feelings of pride when he thinks that what he is, and what he has, are due entirely to his own unaided resources. He married Virginia, daughter of Dr. W. E. Eichelroth, and has two children.
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JOHN COWIE.
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on March 11, 1821, he went to Dundee when quite young, and there learned the machinist's trade. In Dundee he married Elizabeth Mc- Gregor, on September 8, 1851. She was also born in Scot- land, on the 26th of November, 1830. They came from their native country to California, rounding Cape Horn, and landing in San Francisco in February, 1854. Here they resided for a time, then moved to Benicia, Solano county, and thence to this county, in March, 1858, and settled finally in Sonora. Mr. Cowie employed himself in the Gem mine, constructing and erecting the necessary machinery to carry on the work. Mr. Cowie lost all his possessions while engaged in this mine, however, and moved to Angels' Camp, taking charge of the Altaville Foundry. He bought an interest in the Sonora Foundry in 1863, and returned to this place, where he has since resided. Anna (now Mrs. Denniston), William B., Wallace McGiven and Marietta E. are the names of their children.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
ROBERT FERRAL,
Editor of the Union Democrat for several years, subse- quently editor of a paper at Aurora, Nevada, later on moved to San Francisco, and getting admitted to the Bar, ran for office, being elected Judge of one of the criminal courts in that city, which position he now holds. Demo- cratic in politics and extremely energetic, his controversies with the opposing political sheets in Sonora were absorb- ingly interesting. Many incidents of these disputes are still treasured in the memories of the old-timers.
E. F. HUNTER,
Also an attorney, whose volatile, active temperament got him into a number of scrapes, among which the shooting of Drake and the killing of the boy McKenna, at Sacra- mento, were conspicuous. For the latter offence he was tried, and the jury disagreeing, a change of venue was had to Amador County, where, on the second trial, a verdict of not guilty was rendered. Shortly after, Hunter returned to his old home in Ohio, and his subsequent history is un- known.
COLONEL (OR CAPTAIN) THOMAS R. STODDART,
` Was for many years a noted character in Tuolumne. Originally a man of intelligence and education, he passed his life amid stirring scenes in Texas, Mexico and other distant lands, eventually finding his way to Tuolumne, eswhere he exercised his talents in various ways to gain a livelihood, but with meager success. As a newspaper cor- respondent he had few equals, his letters signed "Cosmo- rama," in the Tuoluinne Courier, and other communications
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from time to time, entitling him to a good standing among writers. He prospected, he did ornamental writing, as cards, diplomas, etc., and he taught writing school. At a later date his mind became weakened and nature gradually broke up. During these later years he was a resident of Sonora, where he lived the solitary life of a bachelor. Interested in military affairs, the old soldier joined the Tuolumne Rangers. Afterwards he was a member of the fire department of Sonora, and almost the last recollec- tions that the people retain of him is the spectacle of Colonel Tom parading at the head of the firemen, proud and erectly conscious of his imposing figure, and grandly bearing the beloved Stars and Stripes, in whose defence he had given freely of his best blood. His last years were divested of care by the ministrations of kind friends, and the veteran sank peacefully to rest a few years ago.
OTIS GREENWOOD.
A prominent man was Otis Greenwood, whether re- garded from his attainments and prominence as a law- yer or his remarkable persistence and success as a practical joker. Interesting stories are related of him, among which the Knight-Eastabrook duel takes a prominent place.
Falling out about some trifling dispute and imagining that their honor was impugned, two men, H. Knight and Eastabrook, residents of the vicinity of Sonora, determined to resort to arms for a settlement. Eastabrook, once a pop- manufacturer of Shaw's Flat, accepted Knight's challenge, and choosing pistols as the weapons, began, under Jim Stuart's and Jack Cole's fostering care, to perfect them- selves in marksmanship. To Eastabrook the affair was a serious reality; but between his opponent, the two seconds
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
(Coles and Stuart), the surgeons (Drs. Walker and Claw- son), and the bottle-holders (Otis Greenwood and Judge L. Quint), a hoax had been arranged which was to include the whole town. Meeting on Cannon Hill, in view of the entire population, who had been drawn out by the report of the interesting event, the principals exchanged shots, but as the weapons had been loaded by Major Ball with cork bullets covered with tinsel, the damage to life and limb was not important. However, as arranged by pre- concerted measures, Knight fell, and was carried from the field, while his adversary congratulated himself upon remaining uninjured and proclaimed himself " High-cocka- lorum of Tuolumne County!" The Sheriff appearing at this juncture, caused the victorious duelist to seek safety in flight. But it was not long before the truth of the mat- ter becoming known to him, he returned to his old habita- tion.
What added more to the hilarity of the proceeding was a mishap to Greenwood. By previous collusion, doses of a nauseous and violent medicine had been prepared by the physicians to be administered allopathically to such of the surrounding crowd whose excited state of mind would allow them to mistake jalop for gin or croton for cornjuice. By a natural error (or was it the Doctor's intention?) Mr. Greenwood himself became the victim, and furnished a patient's fee to the man of sells and a jest to the community for many days.
Few who dwelt in Sonora in 1857 have forgotten the " Royal Order of G. S., Mighty and Terrible," who held meetings in their "Hall of Comparative Orations," and who were supposed to have charge of the morals of the town; but whose chief and only object consisted in origin- ating and carrying out practical jokes.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
The prince of jokers, Lawyer Greenwood, held a promi- nent part in their deliberations, and the honored gentleman who officiated as the other second in the before mentioned duel, was also a star of magnitude. Many of the familiar names in Sonora's history were on the list of this unique organization; names, it is sad to think, of those who are now no more.
One of the characteristic tricks of this band of humorists was the never-to-be-forgotten Honorable Judge Garland episode. Miss Annette Ince and her sister, with their com- pany of actors, were performing at Valleau's Theater, then standing on the corner lot on Washington street next south of Mr. Cady's store. Among their numerous admirers was one Garland, an inhabitant of San Joaquin County, who had followed the Misses Ince on their travels to the mines, while under the influence of a tender feeling for one of the ladies, as well as being stage-struck to a remarkable de- gree. Aside from these peculiarities, the man was a good- natured specimen of the genus " crank." No sooner had these facts become known than the " G. S." took him in hand, their first care being to obtain his confidence and regard. This they effected easily; and then commenced a series of tricks and impositions the like of which were cer- tainly never before played upon any man. Upon the open- ing night of the theater, the unsuspecting Garland was seen in the dress circle, seated upon a raised dais, a huge wooden sword pendant at his side, a paper cap upon his head, and an enormous blue medal, heart-shaped and a foot in diameter, upon his breast, and bearing the mystic letters, G. S. Surrounding him were the brethren of that order, each with a wooden sword, and bearing a similar badge. These constituted the " Committee of Honor and Safety." The effect of this upon the unsuspecting actresses was ridiculous beyond description.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
After the play was over, G. was taken to the Placer Hotel, where he attempted to address an audience gathered in the street, but being given a glass of whisky in which was a powerful medicine, he soon had to cease; when, leaving the stand for the City Hotel, he was pursued by the crowd, and taking to his heels, he made quick time to the hotel, amid cries of " Hang him!" etc. The exertion and the medicine were too much for him, and he remained for several days under the kind charge of those good Sa- maritans, the "G. S., Mighty and Terrible." During this time a new joke was concocted; and the unhappy Garland was induced to display his histrionic talents (a weakness with him), and to this end a week was spent in drilling him in the part of Macbeth, and in preparation for his appear- ance before the public. On the stage, he came out at the "dagger scene," dressed in a single garment-a sort of smock frock-with his arms and legs painted as the ex- uberant fancy of the "G. S." had dictated. All the acces- sories were in keeping with the actor, and probably no such scene was ever witnessed on any other stage.
The poor fellow was sent away from Sonora armed with a gigantic parchment diploma, ornamented with a seal the size of a soup plate, and certifying his good standing in the order "G. S." at Sonora, and asking that the imaginary society below would take good care of him. This paper he was commanded to keep in his possession at all times, and to guard it as he would his life, and the dupe actually de- prived himself of sleep for more than one night that he might be assured of the safety of the precious document.
Otis Greenwood came to Tuolumne from Massachu- setts, and, entering upon the practice of the law, be- came prominent and well known throughout the county. Although possessed of admirable talents, and achieving quite a degree of success, his unfortunate addiction to drink
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kept him from the full measure of success which, with steadier habits, he would have earned, and brought him to the grave, in 1863, at the early age of thirty-four years.
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