USA > California > A history of the new California, its resources and people; Vol II > Part 30
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In 1863 in San Francisco was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Burnham and Miss Sarah J. Gibbons, a native of England. They have become the parents of three children : James G., Genevieve B. and William H. The daughter is now the wife of Fred D. Marsh, who is Mr. Burnham's partner in his real estate operations. The family is prominent in the social life of the city and the hospitality of the best homes of this locality is freely accorded them. Mr. Burnham gives his political allegiance to the Republican party and in Masonry he has attained high rank, belonging to the lodge, chapter and commandery and also to Islam Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Society of California Pioneers, being its youngest representa- tive of those who arrived in 1849. He belonged to the vigilance committee of 1856, and has ever been found on the side of law and order, standing as a splendid type of the citizenship that promotes the material development, political stability and moral status of a community.
JOHN NICHOLL.
John Nicholl is known in central California as the Duke of Richmond, because he is the founder and practical builder of a town which has already reached quite extensive proportions and promises to be one of the leading industrial centers of this part of the state. His history partakes almost of the nature of the marvelous, so successful has he been in his various enter- prises since he came to the west a poor man but a half century ago. He has, indeed, been an important factor in business circles and the splendid results that have attended all of his undertakings have been so marked that
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his methods are of interest to the commercial world. He has based his busi- ness principles and actions upon strict adherence to the rules which govern industry, economy and unswerving integrity. His enterprise and progres- sive spirit have made him a typical American in every sense of the word and he well deserves mention in this history. What he is to-day he has made himself, for he began in the world with nothing but his energy and willing hands to aid him, but with keen discernment he. has recognized and improved business opportunities, has guided his actions along modern lines of business development and has found in each advanced stage a broader scope for activity and wider field for the exercise of his splendid ability.
John Nicholl was born in the north of Ireland in November, 1822. His father, William Nicholl, also a native of that country, was at one time a soldier of the English army and died in the year in which his son John was born. The mother, Mrs. Mary Nicholl, was a native of county Antrim, Ire- land, and died in California about 1883. It was in county Antrim, Ire- land, that John Nicholl of this review was reared and educated. With the exception of two years at employment in Scotland, he remained a resi- dent of his native land until about twenty-seven years of age, when he de- termined to try his fortune in the new world, having heard favorable re- ports concerning its opportunities and advantages. Accordingly he crossed the Atlantic in 1849 and for four years was engaged in furnishing stone used in the building of many of the brownstone front residences of New York. He arrived in California in January, 1853, and at that time his cash capital con- sisted of twenty dollars. He possessed the resolute spirit, however, which is undeterred by any obstacle that can be overcome by determined pur- pose and honorable effort. He at first engaged in farming at San Leandro, where he remained until 1857. On reaching California he had at once en- tered into a business arrangement with William O'Connell, who was an active politician in San Francisco and who was tired of ranching, whereby he was to operate the latter's ranch on shares. He did this for two years, during which time he cleared six thousand dollars on wheat. In 1857 he removed to San Pablo and was identified with agricultural interests until 1895. On removing to that place he purchased two hundred acres with the money which he had earned from the sale of his wheat. Early in the '6os he pur- chased three hundred and sixty acres more adjoining the original tract and in 1867 he went to Ventura county, California, where he invested in one thousand acres of land, constituting a part of a Spanish grant. As oppor- tunity has offered for judicious investment he has taken advantage of it, and in this way has owned and controlled important realty interests. In 1869 he purchased one-quarter of a block on Ninth and Washington streets in Oakland from the late J. E. Whitcher, and in 1876 he erected thereon the first brick business block, costing $85,000, on Washington street. In 1871 he bought tide lands in San Francisco bay comprising six hundred acres and held them for thirty years, on the expiration of which period he sold to a syndicate at a large profit. During this time Mr. Nicholl was also one of the owners of the famous San Pablo ranch, which was in litigation for thirty- five years in the famous case of Henry F. Emeric versus Henry V. Alvarado, as
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administrator of the estate of Juan B. Alvarado. The costs of this suit were more than those of any other land case ever tried in California, and the decree was handed down by Hon. J. C. B. Hebbard in 1891. Upon the settlement of this case Mr. Nicholl, who for thirty-five years claimed and was awarded 400 acres in the San Pablo ranch, took in lieu thereof one hun- dred and fifty-two and eighty-one hundredths acres at Point Richmond. He believed that the Santa Fe Railroad would be built through that section and his prediction proved true, for in 1898 he sold fifty acres of land to that company for eighty thousand dollars. He afterward purchased two hun- dred and thirty-six and forty-nine hundredths acres adjoining Point Rich- mond and laid out the town of Richmond, becoming its founder and builder. He has already erected forty houses of his own upon this tract. There are in all two thousand homes in Point Richmond and the population is now be- tween five and six thousand. Mr. Nicholl has every reason to believe it will become a great manufacturing point. The Southern Pacific and Santa Fe roads have already constructed their lines through the town and the Standard Oil Company has erected one of its largest refineries in the country at that place with an eight-inch pipe line carrying oil a distance of two hundred and twenty miles from Bakersfield to the refinery. This line carries six hundred thousand gallons per day in addition to that brought in by cars. Point Richmond is on the bay thirteen miles from Oakland, has six miles of water front and has excellent natural advantages, while already its ma- terial resources have been promoted through the enterprise and activity of Mr. Nicholl and others who have become prominent in business affairs there. The town now contains two daily papers and a bank, called the Bank of Richmond, which was organized in 1901 by Mr. Nicholl and his son John H. with a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars. Mr. Nicholl also organ- ized the John Nicholl Company in 1898 with a capitalization of four hun -. dred thousand dollars. This is a close corporation, being composed of father and children. He is also the president of the Richmond Water Company, which started from almost nothing, but is now capitalized for two hundred thousand dollars. This company supplies water to the district of country in and around Richmond and pumps to an elevation of two hundred feet from the artesian wells. It is also a close corporation composed of the mem- bers of the Nicholl company and the representatives of the Tewksbury estate. In addition to his many other interests and investments Mr. Nicholl is now engaged in raising lima beans in Ventura county. He has eight ten- ants upon his land there and derives an annual revenue of six thousand dol- lars from that source alone.
John Nicholl was married in November, 1853, to Miss Agnes Booth Hodge in New York city, and came to California via Panama with his bride. She was born in the north of Ireland and they traveled life's journey to- gether for about forty-two years, when in 1895 Mrs. Nicholl was called to her final rest. Three sons and five daughters were born of this marriage: John H., born December 15, 1855, in San Leandro, California : Joseph L., a farmer of Contra Costa county, California: William B., a physician of Livermore, this state: Jeanetta, the wife of J. C. Weir, of Vacaville, Cali-
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fornia; Mary E .; Hester H .; Lulu G., the wife of A. J. Willson, of Oakland ; and Agnes B., the wife of H. F. Clark, of Ventura. The eldest son, now making his home in Oakland, is closely associated with his father in busi- ness, being the secretary and manager for the corporations above mentioned. He was married in November, 1889, to Lillie Newton, of Ogden, Utah, who was born in Manchester, England, and is a daughter of Thomas Newton, a velvet manufacturer of Manchester. Three children have graced this mar- riage: John, who is now in school; and Mazie and Lulu.
Mr. John Nicholl continued to maintain his residence in San Pablo un- til 1895, when he established his home in Oakland, where he is now living. He belongs to that little group of distinctively representative business men who have been the pioneers in inaugurating and building up the chief in- dustries of this section of the country. He early had the sagacity and prescience to discern the eminence which the future had in store for this great and growing country, and, acting in accordance with the dictates of his faith and judgment, he has garnered, in the fullness of time, the generous harvest which is the just recompense of indomitable industry, spotless in- tegrity and marvelous enterprises, which because of their great scope and' the amount of capital involved well entitle him to the name which his fel- low citizens have conferred upon him, that of Duke of Richmond. In per- sonal appearance resembling the great Gladstone, before Mr. Nicholl was called the Duke of Richmond his friends nicknamed him Gladstone. For determination and aggressiveness he has had no equal in California. This was shown in the famous San Pablo rancho litigation which lasted thirty- five years. He fought every inch of the way under the most trying opposi- tion and came out the victor. "A child could lead him but no man could drive him." To the future generations his life will be interesting reading. He not only looks like Gladstone, but his career for over fifty years stamps him as being of the Gladstone type.
HUBERT N. ROWELL, M. D. .
Hubert N. Rowell, M. D., has for the past fifteen years been a prom- inent medical practitioner of Berkeley, and also quite influential and active in the public and social affairs of the city. He has devoted himself with much energy and enthusiasm to the study and practice of his profession, and has made a success not only in the practical work of his calling but also in the experimental and research departments of the science, taking much part in the instructional and association work among the medical fraternity of the county and state.
Dr. Rowell was born in Boston, Massachusetts, August 20, 1866, being a son of Rev. N. L. Rowell, D. D., and Mary J. (Dickenson) Rowell. His father was a native of New York state and of a very old American family, and his mother was born in Peterboro, New Hampshire, representing a family that traced its lineage back to the Plymouth Rock settlers.
Dr. Rowell received his early education in the public schools of New York city. He came out to California in 1881, and in San Francisco attended
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the high school and a private college. In 1887 he entered Cooper Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1890 with the degree of M. D. After an extensive post-graduate and hospital experience in San Francisco and New York city, he located at 2146 Shattuck avenue in Berkeley, where he has since carried on a very large and profitable practice among the repre- sentative citizens of the city. He served as health officer for seven years. and is now a member of the board of health of Berkeley, Alameda county. He is lecturer on the diseases of children in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at San Francisco. He is now medical director of the Industrial Home for the Adult Blind of California. He is a member and past presi- dent of the Alameda County Medical Association and a member of the Medical Association of the State of California. He is influential in Repub- lican politics, and is a member of the county central committee. He is one of the prominent Masons of the state. He has membership with Durant Lodge No. 268, F. & A. M .; Oakland Lodge of Perfection, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite; Gethsemane Chapter and the Rose Croix Com- mandery; DeMolay Council; Oakland Consistory; and the Islam Temple of the Mystic Shrine.
In 1892 Dr. Rowell married Miss Henrietta E. Kingdom, a daughter of Henry Kingdom, a prominent mining operator of Sierra county, Cali- fornia. They have two children, Alice Ruth and Richard K.
HARMON BELL.
Harmon Bell, a prominent lawyer of San Francisco, California, dates his birth in Oakland, Alameda county, this state, March 23, 1855, his parents being the Rev. Dr. Samuel B. and Sophia (Walsworth) Bell.
Samuel B. Bell was born in Orange county, New York, and his wife in Cleveland, Ohio, both being descended from Revolutionary ancestors. In 1853, as home missionaries of the Presbyterian church, Dr. Bell and his wife came to California, and he was the first pastor of the first Presbyterian church in Oakland, which he built. He was also one of the organizers and founders of the College of California, now the University of California. His whole life was given to religious and educational work, and he died in 1897, at the ripe old age of eighty-one years.
Harmon Bell, after having received his education, at the age of twenty- one years took up the study of law. He was admitted to practice at the bar in 1878, in Kansas City, Missouri, and devoted his time and attention to his profession there until 1898, when he returned to San Francisco. While in Kansas City he served one term, 1881-82, as a member of the state legisla- ture. Since his location in San Francisco he has been actively identified with the practice of law here. He is chief counsel for the San Francisco, Oak- land & San Jose Railway, the Oakland Transit Consolidated Railway and other corporations.
January 16, 1880, Mr. Bell married Miss Catharine Wilson, a native of California and a. daughter of A. C. J. and M. A. Wilson, early settlers of Santa Barbara. They have two children, Traylor W. and Joseph Samuel.
Hammnell-
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Politically Mr. Bell is a Republican. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and has received the commandery and Mystic Shrine de- grees ; and is a member of the order of the Native Sons of the Golden West : belongs to the Sons of the American Revolution.
JOHN P. COOK.
John P. Cook, county clerk of Alameda county, California, is a native of the " Golden West." He was born in San Francisco, November 30, 1869, son of Peter and Margaret (Kinslea) Cook, both natives of New York state, of English descent, and alike representatives of old American families. Peter Cook came to California in 1860. He had learned the printer's trade in early life and upon his arrival in San Francisco, in 1860, he secured employ- ment on the Bulletin. Later he engaged in business in that city for himself, under the firm name of Kane & Cook, and carried on a general printing busi- ness there successfully for a number of years, up to 1901, when he retired.
John P. Cook attended the common and high schools in Oakland and was two years a student in the University of California, from 1891 to 1893. Then he entered the employ of the firm of Whittier, Fuller & Company as clerk, and remained with them until 1895. That year he was appointed deputy in the county clerk's office. As such he performed faithful and accept- able service and gained a wide acquaintance, and in 1902 his popularity was attested by his election for a term of four years to the office in which he was deputy.
June 15, 1897, Mr. Cook married Miss Sadie Briggs, of Woodland, California, daughter of John R. and Julia Briggs, who were among the early settlers of Yolo county. The fruits of this union are three children, Julia Virginia, Alma Mildred and an infant.
Mr. Cook's support, politically, has always been given to the Republican party, and in both local and state politics he takes an enthusiastic interest. He maintains fraternal relations with the F. and A. M., Elks, N. S. G. W., Eagles and W. O. W.
S. D. WATERMAN.
S. D. Waterman, present city superintendent of the Berkeley public schools, is one of the leaders in educational movements in the state, having been connected with the public schools of California since 1870. He has been engaged in educational work nearly all the active years of his career, having begun shortly after the close of his service as a soldier in the Civil war. He has been a very successful educator, and the public schools of Berkeley are especially indebted to him for much of their splendid progress and continued high standard of work.
Mr. Waterman was born in Litchfield, Maine, September 14, 1842. His father's family were among the earliest settlers in Massachusetts, and his mother's people are connected with the best families in England and Scotland.
Mr. Waterman fitted for college at the academy in his native town, and was graduated from Bowdoin College in August, 1861, just one month before
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he was nineteen years of age. He then enlisted in the Third Massachusetts Infantry, and after serving his time of enlistment in the army went west and settled in Louisville, Kentucky. During his three years' residence in that city he was a teacher and the principal in one of the ward schools. He re- ceived a call to the superintendency of the schools at Greencastle, Indiana, and filled the office there for two years, until his removal to California in 1870. For twenty years he was engaged in high school work in Stockton, and for several years prior to his removal to Berkeley he was principal of the school. The Stockton high school was one of the first schools in the state to be ac- credited by the university authorities. This happened during Mr. Water- man's regime.
On his removal to Berkeley in 1890 Mr. Waterman assumed the prin- cipalship of the high school in that town, and in 1898 was elected city super- intendent. He has filled this office to the satisfaction of the patrons of the schools, and the schools have made excellent progress under his supervision. The Berkeley schools are equal to any in the state. In 1882 Mr. Waterman was the Republican nominee for the office of state superintendent of public instruction, but was defeated with the rest of the ticket.
Mr. Waterman is a member of Durant Lodge, F. & A. M., at Berkeley; of Berkeley Chapter, R. A. M., at Berkeley; and of Lookout Mountain Post, G. A. R., Berkeley.
THEODORE KYTKA.
Theodore Kytka stands at the head of his profession as an expert in hand writing. He was born March 22, 1863, in Austria, a son of Johan and Anna Kytka. His father was a retired officer of the Imperial Guards . of Austria. In his early youth Theodore Kytka removed to Vienna, where his uncle, Adolph Kytka, who was imperial court counsellor to Emperor Francis Joseph, arranged for him to attend the technical and art school of Vienna until he reached the age of twenty years. About that time he entered the Austrian army and served for a year. He was twenty-one years of age when his uncle died, leaving him a portion of his estate, and he then started out to see the world. After leaving Vienna he visited Trieste, Egypt, eastern Asia and all the northern European countries. He studied various languages and is now conversant with six different tongues, all of which he speaks flu- ently. In 1884 he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, landing at New York city. Soon afterward, however, he made his way to Chicago and be- came connected with the Chicago Herald. He installed and introduced the first process-engraving plant for illustrating purposes in connection with the daily newspaper in America, being engaged by Walter Wellman, the now famous Arctic explorer and correspondent, who was at that time managing editor of the Herald. In 1886, following the great Haymarket riot in Chi- cago, Illinois, there arose a question as to the authenticity of some German and Polish handwriting, which was in the possession of District Attorney Grinnell. It fell to the lot of Mr. Kytka to examine the writing of many of the anarchists, and his report was to the effect that the chirography was that of August Spies, who was subsequently tried, convicted and hanged, together
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with his four associates. This was Mr. Kytka's first case as an " expert " on handwriting, a work that has since made him famous and renowned throughout the world.
In 1888, after leaving Chicago, Mr. Kytka studied the Bertillon system for identifying criminals. This was introduced into Joliet (Illinois) Peni- tentiary at that time, and it was mainly through the efforts of Mr. Kytka that it was introduced in San Francisco during the term of Chief Justice Lees. In 1892 Mr. Kytka arrived in San Francisco, where he followed process photography and pen work. At the same time he devoted his attention to the analysis of handwriting, and after the death of Senator James G. Fair was employed by his son, Charles Fair, to act as expert in deeds and marriage contracts and the disputed pencil will, all of which he subsequently proved in court to be forgeries. To demonstrate these facts before the court and jury and to supply the multitude of. lawyers in the case with a proof that they desired, it required over twenty-three thousand photographs varying in size from eight by ten inches to seven by fifteen feet, the court allowing him for his service a well equipped laboratory valued at fifteen thousand dollars, and twenty-six thousand dollars additional in cash. Since that time Mr. Kytka has devoted his entire attention to the analysis of handwriting. His field of research comprised the study and analysis of paper, ink, pencil, pen, chem- istry, macrophotography and photo-micrography, the study of microscopy and various methods adopted by forgers, which at times are so ingenious and clever that the ordinary writing teacher or bank cashier would be utterly baf- fled in an attempt to prove that there was anything wrong in the writing. The most clever forged draft that was ever accepted and honored by a bank cashier was that of Carl Becker, "the king of forgers," who raised a twelve dollar draft to twenty-two thousand dollars. It was through the six-foot macro-photograph that the method of his forgery was exposed. Mr. Kytka has qualified in many courts in the United States and Canada, and has ac- quired the highest reputation as a demonstrator of disputed handwriting, his services having been sought and utilized in many hundreds of cases, both civil and criminal, and a large number of these have attracted to him world- wide attention. His entire energy is now devoted to his laboratory and ex- perimental work, for he wishes to leave behind him a work which will show the various methods of forgeries employed in the different civilized coun- tries and also the system of identifying handwriting with absolute certainty.
On the 31st of August, 1887, Mr. Kytka was united in marriage to Miss Alice Dutard Kleinclaus, a native of San Francisco and a daughter of Charles and Theckley Kleinclaus, who were pioneer settlers of California, arriving in this state in 1849. Mr. Kytka belongs to the San Francisco Microscopic Society and to the California Camera Club. Mr. Kytka is a member of the United States Revolver Association and is one of the best revolver shots in this country. In manner he is pleasant and genial, and his courtesy and def- erence for the opinions of others has won him friends throughout the coun- try, wherever he has gone. In his profession he has attained the highest rank and the value of his work to the world cannot be overestimated.
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COLONEL GEORGE W. BAUER.
Colonel George W. Bauer, who was, December 17, 1903, elected cap- tain commanding Naval Militia of California, is one of the prominent young business men of San Francisco, one of the most energetic and pro- gressive engaged in the advancement and promotion of the interests of the state naval militia, and active and public-spirited in numerous social and civic organizations, giving his time without stint and affording his in- fluence to enterprises which have for their aim the welfare and growth of his native city and state.
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