USA > California > A history of the new California, its resources and people; Vol I > Part 44
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first constitutional convention of the state and also to the first state legisla- ture. He was the pioneer nurseryman at San Jose, and was engaged in fruit-raising until the closing years of his life. His long and useful career came to an end at San José in 1898, when he had attained the great age of eighty-eight years.
Mr. Aram's mother, Sarah M. (Wright) Aram, who died in 1872, has also an important place among the pioneers of California. She was a de- scendant of some of the early English settlers to this country, her earliest American ancestor being one of three brothers, and one of them also became the forefather of a governor of New York. She was born in Vermont, and accompanied her husband on the long journey across the plains. She dis- covered gold on the south fork of the Yuba river in October, 1846, over a year before Marshall's find created the great gold excitement of 1848. The immigrant party had camped on the south fork, and as they had found a delightful spot for both man and beast they remained several days to rest and clean up. The women scooped out a hole by a little tributary of the river, as a place in which to wash their clothes, and on the day they packed up to leave Mrs. Aram took to the men several bright particles that she had found by her improvised washtub. One of the pieces was the size of a pea, and to test it the men hammered it out on a wagon tire until it was as large as a dime piece. The men became excited over the discovery, but just at this time General Fremont's men arrived and advised them to hurry away to avoid the greaser bands. When Marshall's find created the rush the men who had composed that overland party hurried back to that old camping ground, only to find that every foot of it had been staked. It turned out to be one of the richest placer diggings in the state.
Mr. Eugene Aram has one sister, Mrs. Sarah M. Cool, of Los Angeles. Mr. Aram was educated in the public schools of San Jose, and was graduated from the University of the Pacific in 1870 with the degree of A. B. He soon afterward took up the study of law with Judge D. S. Payne, then county judge of Santa Clara county. He was admitted to practice in 1873 and for a few years had an office in San Jose. During the early eighties he went to Arizona and was a member of the legislature of that territory in 1885. He then returned to California and located in Woodland, Yolo county, where he resumed his practice, and in 1894 was elected senator from the sixth sen- atorial district, serving during the sessions of 1895 and 1897. He then lo- cated in Sacramento, where he has carried on his practice ever since. He was the partner of the late General A. L. Hart until the latter's death, and then for a short time was associated with Archibald Yell, now warden of the state penitentiary. Since then he has been engaged alone in his general law practice, having also more or less corporation business.
Mr. Aram is a strong Republican, and has been an attendant at county and state conventions, having been a member of the county central com- mittee throughout his residence in Yolo county. In his election to the state senate he defeated Edward Leake, a brother of the famous Sam Leake. During his senatorial term he had charge of the appropriation of three hun-
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dred thousand dollars for the improvement of the Sacramento river. This was the first appropriation made for this purpose, and Mr. Aram's policy was to get the federal government interested in state improvements by first having the state take the initiative and subsequent developments have shown how successful he was in his efforts. The first work done under the appro- priation was the jetty at Newtown shoals, which was the means of much general improvement, and the vast benefits arising from this enterprise made it an easy matter to secure a second sum of two hundred thousand dollars at the last legislature to be devoted along the same lines.
Mr. Aram was married in 1875 to Miss Lizzie Jasper, a daughter of J. M. C. Jasper, of Wheatland, Yuba county. She died in 1892. Mr. Aram affiliates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
LOUIS F. BREUNER.
Louis F. Breuner has for fifteen years been closely identified with the business interests of Sacramento, and is one of the best known and one of the most progressive and enterprising men of that city. Anyone acquainted with the business interests or the material improvements of the city within the last few years could point out numerous instances where Mr. Breuner's individuality and energy have left a permanent impress for welfare and upbuilding. K street, on which his principal business interests are centered, is almost a monument to his business acumen and foresight, and the fact that it is the most important thoroughfare of trade in the city is due to his efforts. He has devoted himself to a business life since an early age, and his interests now extend to many parts of the west.
Mr. Breuner claims the distinction of being a native son of the city where his career has been centered. He was born in Sacramento, August 15, 1869, a son of John and Katherine (Keuchler) Breuner, both natives of Germany and of prominent German connections. John Breuner came to this country in 1849 and arrived in California in 1852. He engaged in the furniture business in Sacramento and occupied a prominent position there until his death in 1890. He held high degrees in the Masonic order. His wife is still living, and makes her home in New York. There are four children besides Louis F., his brother John being president and manager of the San Francisco houses of the John Breuner Company, and has been associated with his brother Louis in many of their enterprises.
Louis F. Breuner was educated in the public schools of Sacramento and later a business college of the same city. At the age of twenty, owing to the illness of his father, he and his brother took charge of the furniture business in Sacramento, and at his father's death they succeeded to the business. A year later they added to their stock carpets, house-furnishing goods and crockery, and ten years later opened a store in San Francisco at 261 Geary street, John taking charge of this house. The John Breuner Company is incorporated, and has a capital stock of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, being one of the largest mercantile concerns in the state. It also has large stores in Reno, Nevada, and in Stockton, California.
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Mr. Breuner was president of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce for two years from 1900, being the youngest man ever elected to the presi- dency of the chamber, and as such he took an especial interest in the general welfare of his city and the county, at the same time taking an active part in the work of the Sacramento Development Association, of which he is still a member.
Mr. Breuner was married in Cincinanti, Ohio, June 14, 1893, to Miss Clara L. F. Schmidt, a native of that city, and their union has been blessed by four sturdy sons, Louis, Clarence, Richard and Wallace. Past-president of Sunset Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West, he has been a member of that organization since the age of twenty-one years; has served as dele- gate to the grand parlor, and at one time took a prominent part in its coun- cils. He stands high in Masonic circles, is a Knight Templar and a Shriner and an officer of the grand commandery, and is the youngest past-com- mander in the state. He is a member of the Sutter Club of Sacramento and the Union League Club of San Francisco.
ALDEN W. CAMPBELL.
Whether the elements of success in life are innate attributes of the in- dividual, or whether they are quickened by a process of circumstantial de- velopment, it is impossible to clearly determine. Yet the study of a suc- cessful life is none the less profitable by reason of the existence of this uncertainty, and in the majority of cases it is found that exceptional ability, amounting to genius, perhaps, was the real secret of the pre-eminence which many envied. So it appears to the student of human nature who seeks to trace the history of the rise of Alden W. Campbell, a typical American of the best class. He is yet a young man but has achieved a success that many an older resident of California might well envy.
Mr. Campbell was born in Boulder county, Colorado, in 1875, his par- ents being William R. and Lydia R. (Wilson) Campbell, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Michigan. In the year 1877 the father brought his family to California, locating in Sacramento, where he has since engaged in the planing-mill business. The son attended the public schools of this city and also a night school of Sacramento, and his technical training was received through the medium of the International Correspon- dence schools of Scranton, Pennsylvania. During the time that he was pre- paring himself for his chosen field of labor at the night school he was award- ed several silver medals as a competitor in architectural drawing, these medals being given by the California State Agricultural Society. The first was awarded him in 1894 and again he was a successful competitor in 1895, 1896, 1899, 1900 and 1902 .. At the age of sixteen years he entered upon his business career in the employ of Silas Carle, a pioneer builder of California, operating throughout the state. It was under him that Mr. Campbell first gained a knowledge of the builder's art, and for three years he remained with his first employer. Later he was with the Sacramento planing mills for two years and there he gained his knowledge of interior finishing and
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woodworking. In 1897 he entered the employ of the United States civil service department in the postoffice building, remaining there for five years, during which period he devoted his leisure time to study and to preparing plans for many of the residences of Sacramento, including the Waite build- ing on Sixth street between I and J streets. He also made the plans for the Coleman residences, and upon the completion of this work he was granted a certificate by the state board of architecture, permitting him to follow the profession of an architect. At that time Mr. Campbell severed his con- nection with the government and established an office at Sixth and J streets in the Casey building. In the summer of 1903 he prepared plans for and superintended the construction of the public school building at Davisville, California, which was erected at a cost of nine thousand dollars. He also made the plans and superintended the erection of the colonial residence of Robert Brown near Swingle Station, Arthur Dam at Wheatland, and at the present writing in 1904 is engaged in preparing plans for an opera house at Davisville, and a four-story apartment and office building and several resi- dences to be erected in this city.
One of the reasons of his success is the fact that he combines with the- oretical knowledge of the trade practical experience. It is his intention to further advance in his chosen field of labor by pursuing a two years' course of study in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. He is a young man of laudable ambition and sterling purpose, and has already won for himself an enviable reputation as an architect. Mr. Campbell is recog- nized as a prominent member of the Odd Fellows society in Sacramento, and is also identified with the Foresters of America, the Red Men and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His interest in political questions is deep and sincere, and he gives an earnest support to Republican principles, believing that the platform of the party contains the best elements of good government.
NATHANIEL ELLERY.
Nathaniel Ellery, who is filling the position of state highway commis- sioner of California, although one of the younger men active in political circles, has already attained an influence of considerable strength, and back of this is a progressive and patriotic citizenship that well fits him for posi- tions of public trust and leadership.
He is a native son of California, his birth having occurred in Eureka on the 18th of July, 1872. He is a son of Franklin and Elizabeth (Bulkley) Ellery, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Pennsylvania. Both were descendants of old Puritan families of New England, and in each line we find representatives who served the country in the Revolutionary war, seeking the independence of the nation. In the summer of 1849 the father left Boston upon a sailing vessel which rounded Cape Horn, and in the spring of 1850 arrived in San Francisco. The discovery of gold had at- tracted him to the far west and for eight years he followed mining with varying success. However, his labors in that direction met with a fair financial return, and he afterward went to Eureka, Humboldt county, where
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he engaged in merchandising for many years, or up to the time of his re- tirement from active business life in 1889. He is now living in Eureka, California, at the age of seventy-two years in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. He has been actively identified with the business development of the west, and his enterprise and strong determination have been the founda- tion of his successful career. His family numbered four daughters and three sons.
Nathaniel Ellery, whose name introduces this record, pursued his edu- cation in the public schools of his native city and in Stanford University, in which he matriculated in 1891. He there pursued a four years' course and was graduated in 1895, at which time the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Civil Engineer were conferred upon him. In 1899 he was elected surveyor of Humboldt county, California, and after serving for two years resigned to accept the appointment of state highway commissioner, which position he has filled to the present writing in 1904. The duties of the office he has dis- charged with capability and fidelity, and his efforts have been effective in the establishment of an excellent system of public roads through the state. His practical knowledge of civil engineering enables him to do this work in a most able manner, and his public service has been acceptable alike to the people of his party and to the population of California.
In December, 1899, Mr. Ellery was united in marriage to Miss Lulu I. Fraser, of Oakland, California, a daughter of Samuel W. Fraser, of that city. They now have a pleasant home in Sacramento celebrated for its generous and gracious hospitality, and the circle of their friends is very extensive. Mr. Ellery belongs to Humboldt Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and is also identified with the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political support is given to the Republican party, and he is well known in fraternal and political circles, where his genial manner and genuine worth have gained for him high regard and warm friendship.
ERNEST MARTIN HOEN.
Ernest Martin Hoen, of notable ability as an architect, is following his profession in Sacramento and in San Francisco. He was born at Santa Rosa, California, in 1872, a son of Berthold ("Barney") and Marie (An- dersen Gade) Hoen. The father, a native of Germany, came to America when eleven years of age, located in Baltimore and in 1849 arrived in Cali- fornia, having made the long and wearisome journey around Cape Horn. He located first in San Francisco, where he engaged in the commission business. He was burned out three times with the three great fires of San Francisco, each time losing his entire fortune. In 1852 he with his cousin went to Santa Rosa and was the father and pioneer of that city. Later he went to Windsor, nine miles north of Santa Rosa, California, where he was extensively engaged in the manufacture of wines, following the pursuit up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1884. He belonged to a family noted for artistic skill, the members of the firm of A. Hoen & Company,
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lithographers, of Baltimore, being his brothers. They are recognized as among the leading representatives of their line in this country.
The mother of Mr. E. M. Hoen was a native of Denmark and a repre- sentative of an old and distinguished family of that country. She came to this country following the death of her sister, Mrs. G. Conzelman, who some years before had located in St. Louis, Mrs. Hoen being at that time twenty- one years of age. Her stepfather, Neils Gade, was one of the foremost musical composers of the nineteenth century and died at Copenhagen, Den- mark, at the age of eighty-four years. Another brother, Carl Andersen, was one of the noted writers of that country and died in 1888. Both the author and the music composer were men of national fame and their loss was greatly deplored in their own land and in other countries where their abilities had made them known.
Ernest M. Hoen is the third in order of birth in a family of two sons and two daughters; Mary E., Bertholda and Carl A. Hoen being the other members of the family. He began his education in the public schools of Santa Rosa and at the age of fifteen entered the Manual Training School of the Washington University at St. Louis, being graduated with the class of 1889. On returning to California he took up architecture as a profession and for three years was connected with the firm of McDougal & Brothers, architects, of San Francisco, while through the succeeding five years he was associated with James Seadler of Sacramento and Fresno. After conduct- ing business for five years on his own account he formed a partnership with Mr. Seadler, in July, 1903, with an office in the Rialto building, San Fran- cisco, and another in Sacramento. The firm enjoys a good patronage, hav- ing won a reputation that places them among the leading architects of the central portion of the state, and evidences of their skill are manifest in many fine modern structures in different sections of the west and in the two cities in which they maintain business headquarters and in Fresno.
In 1899 Mr. Hoen was married to Miss Edna Lewis, a native of Sacra- mento and a daughter of L. L. Lewis, a retired merchant and one of the early settlers and prominent business men of Sacramento county, taking an active and helpful part in its early improvement and in the development of its natural resources, thus promoting its prosperity. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoen has been born a son, Martin Lewis. In his social relations Mr. Hoen is a Mason and also an Elk, while politically he is a Republican. His atten- tion, however, is chiefly given to the development of his business, wherein he has already won for himself a creditable position, gaining the success which in a profession can be attained only through merit and comprehen- sive knowledge of the work connected with the chosen field of labor.
WILLIAM BECKMAN.
The history of William Beckman shows how potent an element is per- sistent purpose in the active affairs of life. Dependent upon his own re- sources at an early age, coming to California in the days of its mining ex- citement, he has steadily worked his way upward. Being imbued with a
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laudable ambition to attain something better than he had previously enjoyed he has steadily advanced in those walks of life demanding intellectuality, business ability and fidelity, and to-day commands the respect and esteem not only of his community but of all who know him throughout the state. He is at the head of an important banking institution, and in financial circles his name is honored because of the straightforward policy he has ever fol- lowed and because of his just dealings with all with whom he has come in contact.
Mr. Beckman is a native of the Mohawk valley of New York, his birth having occurred there in December, 1832. His parents, Frederick and Mary (Danaman) Beckman, were both natives of Germany, and in 1819 came to America, settling in the Mohawk valley, where the father engaged in busi- ness as a contractor and bridge-builder. In his native country he had done military service, being colonel of one of the Hussar regiments at the battle of Waterloo. He died in the year 1847.
William Beckman, the youngest in a family of two sons and two daughters, began his education in an old log schoolhouse in DuPage county, Illinois, to which district he had gone when nine years of age, joining his sis- ter and brother-in-law there. He was thus reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life, his early years being spent upon a farm on the western prairie. He left school at the age of fourteen years, and since that time has been de- pendent entirely upon his own resources, so that whatever success he has achieved has come to him as the direct reward of his labors. He engaged in driving a stage between the age of fourteen and nineteen years, and al- though one of the youngest men in the employ of John Frank & Company, he was made superintendent of the Illinois division. When he was twenty years old he came to this state, arriving in 1852, having made the trip by way of the isthmus route. He at once started for the mining districts of Trinity county, but after nine months spent in search for the precious metal, in which his hopes of reaping a fortune were only partially realized, he came to Sac- ramento and here engaged in the hotel business, conducting a hostelry known as the Noys Houn. Later he was proprietor of the Crescent City Hotel, and upon his retirement from the hotel business he turned his attention to farming, locating at Florin, where he remained for fifteen years. In 1874 he sold his land, and the succeeding two years were spent in traveling not only in this country but abroad. He visited many scenes of modern and his- toric interest in the old world, becoming familiar with different countries, their people and their customs and gaining the culture and broad knowledge which only travel can bring. After his return to the new world he estab- lished, in 1879, the People's Savings Bank of Sacramento and was elected its president. He has continued at the head of the institution up to the pres- ent time and has made it one of the safe and reliable financial institutions of this part of the country. It is strictly a savings bank and now has large deposits, so that the business has become a profitable one. It is managed along safe, conservative lines, and Mr. Beckman is acknowledged as one of the capable and thoroughly trustworthy financiers of central California.
In 1853 occurred the marriage of William Beckman to Miss Mary
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Webber, a native of Illinois and a daughter of John Webber, who was born in Lorraine, France. They became the parents of one daughter, Mary, who is the widow of the late attorney general, A. L. Hart. Mrs. Beckman died in 1868, and after three years Mr. Beckman was united in marriage to Nel- lie Sims, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Austin Sims, who came with his family to California in the early '6os.
Mr. Beckman belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is the only representative of the lodge whose membership connection there- with dates back to 1853. He is also identified with the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. In politics he is an earnest Republican and while re- siding upon his farm served as county supervisor for ten years, covering the decade between 1862 and 1872. In 1875 he was nominated for the posi- tion of state treasurer, but was defeated, although he ran fifty thousand votes ahead of his ticket, a fact which certainly was a compliment to him and indicated his personal popularity and the regard reposed in him by those who knew him. He served as railroad commissioner for four years during the administration of Governor Markham, and at the same time was fire com- missioner of Sacramento city. While undoubtedly he has not been without that honorable ambition which is so powerful and useful as an incentive to activity in public affairs, he regards the pursuits of private life as being in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts. In community affairs he is active and influential, and his support is readily and generously given to many measures for the general progress and improvement. His life history is certainly worthy of commendation and of emulation, for along honorable and straightforward lines he has won the success which crowned his efforts and makes him one of the substantial residents of California's capital.
SAMUEL ROBERT HART.
Samuel Robert Hart, a prominent practicing lawyer of Sacramento, and for some years a leader in the public life of city, county and state, is a Cali- fornian by birth and one of the most worthy of her native sons. He is a man distinguished for self-attainment in his business and professional ca- reer, for since he was thirteen years old he has been in the thick of the strug- gle of life, earning his own bread and by his own efforts building each suc- ceeding stepping stone in his career of advancement. He is acquainted with every phase of the rancher's, herder's, and cowboy's rough and tumble life. He has also engaged in merchandising, and then, when twenty-four years of age, tackled law with the same energy and determination he had displayed in his previous enterprises. His literary preparation for this exacting pro- fession was very meager, and he had to lay a foundation for his studies be- fore he could get well started in his progress for admission to the bar. He succeeded, however, and has since been numbered among the representative legal minds of the state, enjoying a fair share of public patronage and its en- tire confidence and favor, and likewise the high esteem of his fellow citizens in all stations of life.
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