USA > California > A history of the new California, its resources and people; Vol I > Part 54
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Dr. G. C. Simmons is a member of the American Medical Association, the State Medical Society, the California District Medical Society, the Sacra- mento Society for Medical Improvement, and was treasurer of the state society in 1894, while of the Sacramento Society he was the president in 1895. He is now examiner for a number of insurance companies and has been an examining surgeon for the Native Sons of the Golden West since the organization of that society. The name Simmons has come to be a synonym in Sacramento for skill in medicine and surgery, and father and sons have attained enviable positions in connection with the profession, which is accorded by many the highest rank among the callings to which man can devote his energies.
MICHAEL J. DESMOND.
Michael J. Desmond, who for the fifth consecutive term is filling the office of city clerk of Sacramento, and is one in whom the public trust is well reposed because of his unquestioned loyalty to the municipal welfare, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1861, his parents being William and Ellen (O'Leary) Desmond, both of whom were natives of Ireland and came to the United States in their childhood days, settling in Boston in 1852. They were reared in the same locality on the Emerald Isle and after attaining to years of maturity they were married. The father was a black- smith by trade, and about the close of the Civil war he came to California, locating first at San Francisco, where he conducted a smithy for some time. He was joined in 1868 by his family, his children being three in number, two sons and a daughter, of whom Michael J. is the eldest.
Between the ages of four and seven years Michael J. Desmond pur- sued his education in Boston and afterward attended the public schools of Sacramento, the family removing to this city in 1871. He left school at the age of fourteen years, and was then apprenticed to learn the boiler- maker's trade, at which he became an expert workman. He was employed in that capacity for eighteen years or until 1894, when he was elected clerk of the police court of Sacramento, and served in that office for two years. In 1896 he was again called to public office, being elected city clerk and re- elected in 1898, 1900, 1902 and 1904, so that he is now serving for the fifth consecutive term, which will cover an incumbency of ten years without interruption. He is careful and methodical in the discharge of the duties of the office, and the work is done with a scrupulous regard to exactness and details that makes his administration of the office a model one.
In the year in which he was first elected city clerk Mr. Desmond was also married, his union being with Miss Mary Morley, a native of New Jer- sey and a daughter of William and Mary Morley, who came to California in 1877, locating in Sacramento. They have two children, Gerald and Will- iam. Mr. Desmond is a member of the Elks lodge and also is connected with the Woodmen of the World, while in his political affiliations he is a Democrat. In the city which has been his place of residence for a third of a century he is widely known, and his large circle of friends, found among
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all classes of people, indicates that his life record is one that commands for him regard and good will.
GEORGE WOODWARD DUFFICY, M. D.
Among the native sons of California now living in Sacramento is Dr. George Woodward Dufficy, whose birth occurred at Marysville in 1871. He is a representative of old pioneer families of the state, his parents being Michael C. and Edwina (O'Brien) Dufficy. The mother was a native of Dubuque, Iowa, and was brought to California by her parents in 1849, coming across the plains with an ox team after the primitive manner of the times. They traveled for long weeks, but at length safely reached their destination, the family home being established in Marysville. Her father was a physician and engaged in practice in Marysville and Sacramento up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1873. He was one of the first representatives of his profession in this part of the state, and his labors in behalf of his fellow men were of marked value to them, although his practice brought to him many hardships and difficulties incident to the long rides which he was forced to take through a frontier country.
Michael C. Dufficy, the father, was born in Ireland and came with his parents to America in his early boyhood, the family locating first in New Orleans. In the early '50s they made their way to California, locating in Marysville, where Mr. Dufficy met and married Miss Edwina O'Brien. He was a lawyer by profession, but after coming to the Pacific coast engaged in merchandising in Marysville, conducting his store there from 1854 until 1876. He also conducted the Western Hotel for eight years, afterward was proprietor of the St. Nicholas Hotel and later of the Brooklyn Hotel of San Francisco for two years. He continued in the hotel business until 1886, and in 1890 removed to San Rafael, where he now resides. He has filled the office of justice of the peace.
Dr. Dufficy, the sixth in order of birth in a family of thirteen children, was a student in St. Ignatius College at an early day, and was afterward graduated from a grammar school at San Rafael. He later returned to St. Ignatius College in 1889 and was graduated on the completion of a course in pharmacy in the class of 1893. It was his intention, however, to become a physician and surgeon, and to this end he entered the medical department of the University of California, in which he was graduated with the class of 1898. He then came to Sacramento and was for two years resident physician of the Sisters Hospital. On the expiration of that period he engaged in general practice, in which he has continued up to the present time with constantly growing success.
In 1901 Dr. Dufficy was married to Miss Evelyn Rackliffe, a daughter of the late Levi Rackliffe, ex-state treasurer of California. Dr. Dufficy and his wife are widely known in Sacramento and the circle of their friends is continually growing as the circle of their acquaintance is widened. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Y. M. I., and in his professional relation is connected with the Sacramento County
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Medical Society and the California State Medical Society. His political support is given to the Democracy.
WILLIAM J. HASSETT.
The life record of Hon. William J. Hassett is another proof of the fact that in America the way to public honor is over the road of public use- fulness and activity. With no special advantages in his youth, he entered upon his business career empty-handed, and by sheer force of character, unfaltering perseverance and capability worked his way upward, long main- taining a creditable and responsible position as a representative of indus- trial interests in Sacramento. It was his known reliability in business, com- bined with his loyalty and progressiveness in citizenship, that won him the highest office within the gift of his fellow citizens, and as mayor of Sacra- mento he is now giving to the municipality an administration which is characterized by business-like methods and dominated by the spirit of reform and improvement.
Mr. Hassett was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1839, and is a son of James J. and Helen E. (Moylan) Hassett, both of whom were natives of Ireland and emigrated to New York city in 1830. In the year 1838 the family became residents of Philadelphia, and the father was there an employe of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad for many years. Both lie and his wife died in that city in 1880. Mrs. Hassett was a mem- bor of the Moylan family to which General Stephen Moylan also belonged. He served as a member of General Washington's staff and had command of the cavalry branch of the army during the Revolutionary war.
As a pupil in the public schools of his native city Hon. William J. Has- sett pursued his studies until fourteen years of age, when he was indentured to learn the printer's trade, in January, 1854. He followed that pursuit in Philadelphia until 1863, making consecutive progress in efficiency and skill. Making his way to California in 1863, he located in San Francisco, where he worked at the printer's trade until 1866, when he returned to Philadelphia and was married. He returned to the Pacific coast with his wife and re- sided in San Francisco until 1885, when he came to Sacramento to accept a position with A. J. Johnston as manager of his printing establishment, remaining in charge for eighteen years, conducting a business which proved profitable to both and making the enterprise one of the leading printing busi- nesses of the city. The work executed under his direction was always of fine quality, and he kept in touch with the improvements continually being made in the printer's art. He resigned his position only when elected mayor of the city in 1903.
A Democrat in his political views Mr. Hassett has always taken a deep and active interest in local and state politics and has exerted considerable influence in behalf of the party. He was a candidate for railroad commis- sioner for the first district on the Democratic ticket, in 1902, and was de- feated, although he ran ahead of the party ticket, carrying his own county by sixteen hundred and fifty majority. When nominated for mayor of Sac-
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ramento he was more successful, and is now the chief executive of the city, in which he has made for himself an enviable record for reliability in busi- ness, loyalty in citizenship and fidelity in friendship and now has added to these admirable qualities unswerving faithfulness in office.
ROBERT JAMES LAWS.
Robert James Laws, who died October 20, 1904, was connected through- out his business career with railroad construction, and at the time of his death was superintendent of the Sacramento division of the Southern Pacific Railroad. He was born in Albany county, New York, in 1847. His an- cestral history is one of long and close connection with America, for in the early part of the seventeenth century his ancestors came from England and founded the family in Virginia, being among the earliest colonists of the Old Dominion. The Laws family were active in support of the cause of inde- pendence at the time of the Revolutionary war, and they built the first gov- ernment fortifications-Fortress Monroe, near Norfolk, Virginia. Bolitha Laws, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia and became a con- tractor and builder, following that pursuit in New York city for many years or up to the time of his retirement from active life. He executed many im- portant contracts in the Empire state, including the building of some of the first cotton and woolen mills at Cohoes, New York. He died in 1865, at the age of fifty-five years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Anne Adams and was also a native of Virginia, died during the cholera epidemic of 1853.
Robert James Laws, the third in order of birth of their eleven chil- dren, began his education in the public schools of his native state, afterward attended a preparatory school in Troy, New York, and later became a stu- dent in Cooper Institute in New York city, continuing his studies until nine- teen years of age. He afterward became connected with the American Tele- graph Company in the telegraph instrument manufacturing department, and after serving there for three years he went to Troy, New York, where he entered the mathematical and surveying works of W. & L. E. Gurley, with whom he continued for two years.
Mr. Laws arrived in California in April, 1868, and here entered the employ of the chief engineer of the Central Pacific Railroad Company-S. S. Montague-in the surveying department. He was thus employed until 1876, when he entered the operating department as road master on the Sac- ramento division. When two years had passed he was transferred to Oak- land with jurisdiction as roadmaster on the western division between Oak- land and Sacramento, and in May, 1880, he was engaged by D. O. Mills and H. M. Yerington to go to Nevada to build what is now the Carson & Colorado Railroad. After completing the construction of this line he re- mained in charge as assistant superintendent and chief engineer until April, 1902. In the meantime the road became the property of the Southern Pa- cific Railroad Company, and he was transferred to Sacramento in April, 1902, as superintendent of the Sacramento division, which position he filled
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till his death. Throughout the years of his residence in the west he had been connected with railroad service, largely in the line of civil engineering and construction work, and his efficiency was acknowledged by his long con- tinuance in the employ of one road and its successor. Since preparing for this field of labor his course had been marked by steady and consecutive progress, and his business course had therefore been one of success.
On the IIth of June, 1874, Mr. Laws was united in marriage to Miss Anna Louise Church, a native of New York. Four children have been born to them: Robert Graham; Charlotte C., the wife of D. F. Beldin; Alice W .; and Clara V. The friends of the family in Sacramento and in other places in which they have lived are many. Mr. Laws had the warm frater- nal regard of his brethren of the Masonic lodge. His political support was given the Republican party, but while he kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day, the honors and emoluments of office had no attraction for him, as he found his time and attention fully occupied by his business duties.
WILLIAM B. HAMILTON.
William B. Hamilton has occupied the position of county clerk of Sac- ramento county continuously since the Ist of January, 1885, with the excep- tion of the years 1891 and 1892, and his present term will continue for almost three years longer. He has been victorious at various elections, and at the last election, held in the fall of 1902, he received the unanimous support of his fellow citizens, the opposition party placing no nominee in the field. That he is most popular and has the unqualified confidence and trust of his entire community is plainly indicated by this fact. No words of commendation can be said that will speak in stronger terms than his continuity in office, for the people, independent of politics, believe him to be the right man in the right place, and he can undoubtedly retain the position as long as he cares to fill it. Confidence of this kind so magnificently expressed is a tribute of which any man should be proud. It would be almost tautological in this connection to say that his service has been characterized by the utmost capability and fidelity to the trust reposed in him, for this truth has been shadowed forth between the lines of this review, and yet it is but just to say in a record that will descend to future generations, that no county clerk of Sacramento county has been more loyal and efficient in the discharge of the tasks which the office imposes upon him.
Mr. Hamilton is a native of England, born in 1848, and is of Scotch and English parentage, his father having been born in the land of the hills and heather, while his mother was a native of " merrie " England. The son was but a year old when his parents came to America, locating in New Or- leans. During the following year the father was carried westward in the tide of emigration that was steadily flowing to the Pacific coast, while his wife and children remained for a short time with friends in Kentucky and Ohio. They then joined the husband and father in California, making the journey by way of the Nicaragua route, and at length arriving in American Flat in Eldorado county. The father was engaged in business at that place
Photo by Bushnell.
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at the time, and it was at American Flat that William B. Hamilton spent his early childhood.
In 1856 Mr. Hamilton came with his parents to Sacramento, where he has since made his home, covering a period of almost half a century. His education was acquired in the public schools of the capital city, after which he took up the study of law in the office of Coffroth & Spalding, who were eminent attorneys in this city in an early day. The death of James W. Cof- froth, the senior partner, occurred in 1874, and as Mr. Hamilton was without financial resources he was forced to enter upon the first work that presented itself which would yield him an honorable living. He secured a position of . clerk of the police court under Judge W. R. Cantwell and upon the expiration of his term in 1876 was appointed deputy county clerk under A. A. Wood, and held that clerkship during the succeeding terms of Colonel T. H. Berkey and C. M. Coglan. During this period of service Mr. Hamilton became widely known and won great popularity, so that at the expiration of Mr. Coglan's term in 1884 he received the nomination for the office upon the Republican ticket. He was elected by a large majority and in 1886 was the unanimous choice of his party for a second term. His vote at this election was much larger than at the previous one, and again in 1888 he received the unanimous endorsement of his party for the position. He was not placed in nomination at the following election, but in 1892 was again nominated and elected, and at all subsequent elections has been victorious. As before stated, he had no opposition in 1902, the Democrats recognizing the fact that it would be utterly impossible to elect a man, and at the same time many of the leading repre- sentatives of the Democratic party were his strong friends and earnest sup- porters.
Mr. Hamilton, notwithstanding the fact that he has been remarkably successful in politics and wields a wide political influence, is known through- out the county by the name of " Billy," a term which indicates not familiarity, but warm personal friendship, which is of a lasting and enduring quality. He is easily approachable and his genial kindly manner is such as wins warm regard and close companionship.
Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Masonic fraternity and stands high in its ranks. He is also connected with the Red Men, the Elks and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. An ardent lover of field sports, he has indulged his taste in this direction and for a time was president of the Foresters Gun Club. He is also a member of the Del Paso Outing Club.
If the life history of Mr. Hamilton were written in detail it would fur- nish many an incident more thrilling than any found on the pages of fiction, for he has had many interesting and oftentimes exciting incidents, such as were met by pioneer settlers who, living in California in the days when mining excitement was at its height, met conditions that have been seldom faced in the development of the new world. He is an only child and has devoted his life to the care of his parents, finding his chief pleasure in giving happiness to his father and mother. His step-father died in 1897, and he is now devot- ing his time to his mother's comfort and welfare. The father came to Cali- fornia at an early epoch in the history of its progress and upbuilding, and
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Mr. Hamilton, then but a boy, gained a close and intimate knowledge of Indian customs and spoke the language of the Wallies with great fluency. For a number of years, until about six years ago, a bowed, decrepit old Indian came to Sacramento every September to visit Mr. Hamilton. He was once a man of gigantic frame and strength. It was the old chief Coppa-hembo, once the head of a powerful tribe that dwelt in the foothills of the Sierras, but like the race in general the tribe has almost disappeared, vice, indolence, " fire-water " and the encroachments of the white men having worked the ruin of the Sons of the Forests. Coppa-hembo, whose name means bear- slayer, was an exception, however, to the general rule of Indians, being a man of sober, temperate and careful habits, and until the date of his death six years ago at the age of one hundred years, he lived in humble style with his squaw, riding in his canoe upon the waters that flowed through his native district. In 1854 Indians were very numerous about American Flat and there were several tribes with their chieftains, Coppa-hembo heading one tribe. At that early period there were few white boys in the mining regions, and little Billie Hamilton, then a sturdy independent lad of six years, was a favorite with everyone, Indians as well as miners. One day Coppa-hembo's tribe had a dispute with another tribe and came to blows. They were arranged on opposite sides of the mountain near American Flat and the arrows and bullets were falling thick and fast. Little Billie heard the shots, and, boy-like, heed- lessly went to the spot, although warned away by the Indians, all of whom knew and liked him and who cried out, " Wheelano," " come away." Never- theless he stayed and watched the fray. Presently there was a lull in hostili- ties and Coppa-hembo, taking advantage of it, sprang upon a pine stump and began an oration, striving to pacify the opposing bands. He was a great orator, but his efforts were without effect, for in the midst of his pacific address an arrow whistled across the gulch and was buried in Coppa-hembo's thigh, bringing the brave old chief to the ground. Overcome with grief at the fall of his friend, Little Billie forgot all danger and ran to his side, striving to assist him. This put an end to the battle, for the Indians knew that an injury done to the boy would mean a terrible revenge on them executed by the miners. Coppa-hembo never forgot this instance and every year witnessed the touching spectacle of this old chief, very feeble in the evening of his life, making his way to Sacramento to renew old memories and associations with Mr. Hamilton. They always went to a restaurant where they would have a salmon broiled in a peculiar way, a special treat to the Indian, and they would sit long over the rustic feast. The old chief's death occurred in Irish Creek in 1898, and his funeral was attended with much pomp and display. Among the last words which he spoke were, " Don't forget to remember me to the little boy Wheelano."
On one occasion in 1862 Mr. Hamilton's friendship for the little daugh- ter of the Piute chief, whose braves had donned war paint in Carson basin, probably saved from extermination a large party that he was with. This party was allowed to go through unmolested, but immediately afterward the Indians started upon the work of massacreing the whites. Such are some of the experiences which came to Mr. Hamilton in connection with pioneer times,
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and upon memory's wall hang many pictures of those early days, his mind forming a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
GEORGE B. CAMPBELL, M. D.
Dr. George B. Campbell, who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Sacramento, possesses all the requisite qualities of the success- ful physician, for, added to his broad and accurate learning concerning the principles of his profession, he has a genial manner and sunshiny, hopeful nature which cannot fail to have its effect upon his patients. His courteous sympathy as well as his professional skill has gained him prestige during the five years of his residence in the capital city. .
Dr. Campbell, born in Randolph county, Missouri, in 1861, is a son of Camillus D. and Sarah E. (Bennett) Campbell, both of whom were natives of Randolph county, Missouri, and were descended from ancestry long resi- dent in America. The Campbells resided in Kentucky, the Bennetts in Vir- ginia, and both families, noted for loyalty at the time of the Revolutionary war, sent their sons to the field to fight for liberty. Camillus D. Campbell is still living on the old homestead in Missouri. The Doctor has one sister living-Cora, the wife of William Rogers, of Missouri, whose people were from Tennessee and were also of an old colonial family represented in the war for independence.
Upon his father's farm in Missouri, Dr. Campbell was reared, working in the fields through the summer months. His education was acquired in the public schools of the county and at the age of nineteen years he was married. For two years he then engaged in farming, and later engaged in business as a pharmacist at Cairo, Missouri, there conducting his store until 1889. His work in that direction had awakened his interest in the profession of medi- cine, and on disposing of his drug store he entered the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons, in which he pursued a complete and thorough course and was graduated with the class of 1892, the degree of Doctor of Medicine being conferred upon him at that time.
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