USA > California > A history of the new California, its resources and people; Vol II > Part 47
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RICHARD SWEASEY.
Sundry business interests have claimed the attention of Richard Sweasey, and by intelligent and well directed efforts he has steadily advanced toward prosperity, finding in unwearied industry the key which unlocks the por- tals of success. He is a native son of Indiana, his birth having occurred in that state in 1849, his parents being William J. and Esther (Croucher) Sweasey, both of whom were natives of London, England. In the year 1850 they came to California, and William J. Sweasey, by reason of forceful character and capabilities for leadership, became recognized as one of the prominent and influential residents of San Francisco. In 1854 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature and in 1856 he came to Hum- boldt county. where his prominence still continued, for he was here chosen
Richard Bucasey
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to represent his district in the framing of the present state constitution. In matters that shaped the governmental policy of California he took a deep and active interest, and his course was ever characterized by the most patriotic citizenship. His business interests, too, were extensive and important, and for a number of years he was associated with his son Richard in the con- trol of enterprises that contributed to the prosperity and development of this portion of the state as well as to the success of the owners.
Richard Sweasey, reared and educated in Eureka, has from the period of his early manhood been closely associated with industrial and commer- cial activity in this part of the state. Joining his father, he engaged in mer- chandising and was one of the eight founders of the Eel River and Eureka Railroad, owning an eighth interest. They also built a number of sailing vessels and the old steamer Humboldt. In 1892 Mr. Sweasey purchased his father's interests and became the manager of the Humboldt Steamship Com- pany, which built the steamer Humboldt, running between Seattle and Alaska. He is now managing owner and president of the company and is the principal owner of the steamer, valued at two hundred thousand dollars. The main office is in Eureka. In 1879, in connection with H. L. Ricks, he instituted the present water system of Eureka, building the plant and piping the water from the Elk river, a distance of six miles. This he operated un- til 1903, when the partners sold out to the present owners. For the past thirty-eight years Mr. Sweasey has been engaged in the real estate business, and in 1903 he turned his attention to the livery business, which he has car- ried on extensively, having eighty head of horses and a very large and com- plete line of fine carriages and other vehicles. This is one of the most ex- tensive livery enterprises in California and the largest in the northern part of the state.
In public affairs Mr. Sweasey has also been prominent and influential, and his deep interest in the welfare and progress of his city has been mani- fested by active co-operation in all movements tending to promote the gen- eral good. When Eureka was incorporated he was elected its first treas- urer, and has also been chosen supervisor and acted as president of the board. In this capacity he laid the cornerstone of the Eureka courthouse. As the champion of many public measures he has furthered the interests of his fel- low townsmen, and all unite in recognizing the value of his labors and effort.
In 1872 occurred the marriage of Mr. Sweasey and Miss Annie M. Wil- son, a native of Maine and a daughter of George Wilson, of an old New England family that was established in Humboldt county in the early '50S. Three children have been born of this marriage: Lena, the wife of Dr. H. G. Gross, of Eureka; Frank R., who is an attorney of San Francisco; and Shirley B., at home. Mr. Sweasey belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is also a member of the Order of Pioneers of Humboldt county. He stands as a high type of our western American manhood, alert and en- terprising, recognizing possibilities and utilizing time and opportunity to the best advantage. In his business affairs he has prospered, for he carries for- ward to successful completion whatever he undertakes and his course has ever been marked by a business integrity that is above question.
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FRED PIERSON TUTTLE.
Fred Pierson Tuttle, a prominent lawyer of Auburn, Placer county, has lived in this place all his life, and is the son of an original forty-niner, so that he is a typical Californian in all the best senses of that term. He has been engaged in the practice of his profession for over twenty years, and in addition to ranking high among the successful legists of this part of the state, has also been identified with other affairs of importance both to his own welfare and to the community.
Mr. Tuttle was born in Auburn, Placer county, California, September 28, 1857, being a son of Charles Albion and Maria L. ( Batchelder ) Tuttle. His father was born in Leroy, Genesee county, New York, and died in Cali- fornia, June 23. 1888, having been one of the most honored citizens of the state for nearly forty years. He crossed the plains to California in 1849, and for the first five years was engaged in mining. He began the practice of law in Placer county in 1854, having been admitted to the bar in Wisconsin in 1844. He was state senator from Placer county during 1853-4, and was a member of the assembly in 1868. Governor Stanford appointed him supreme court reporter in 1863, and from then until 1878 he issued twenty- one volumes of reports. He was chairman of the first Republican state con- vention in California, and was elector on the national electorate when Lincoln made his first race for presidency, and he stumped the state in support of the rail-splitter candidate. He belonged to an old American family that was planted in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1640 from England, and later mem- bers of which took a prominent part in the Revolution. His wife, Maria L. Batchelder, was born in East Avon, New York, and died in 1868, and was also of an old Connecticut family, with date of settlement in 1660, and who emigrated to western New York in 1800. There are two sons of the family beside Fred Pierson : Frank L. is superintendent of the Railway Distributing Circular Company of Chicago; and Charles is a practicing attorney in Auburn.
Mr. Fred P. Tuttle attended the public schools of Auburn, and after his graduation from the Sacramento high school he entered Yale College, from which he graduated with the degree of A. B. in the class of '77. He then entered the first class of Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, and took his LL. B. degree in 1881. For two years he practiced law in Oakland, and since then, for over twenty years; has been prominent in the legal circles of Auburn. He was in partnership with his father until the latter's death. in 1888, and since then has been alone. He has been an active Republican, representing his party in nearly all the state and county conventions, and has been chairman of the county central committee. He was elected to the office of district attorney in 1886 and was re-elected in 1888. He is a director in the Herman Mining Company, a large corporation of Nevada county, and is also secretary and attorney for the company. He is attorney in this part of the state for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, and is attorney for the Penryn Fruit Company, which deals extensively in green fruits. He was captain of Company D of the Second Regiment of the Cali-
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fornia National Guard at Auburn for three years. He has fraternal affilia- tions with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Native Sons of the Golden West.
Mr. Tuttle was married in Oakland, December 19, 1877, to Miss Susie H. Davis, a native of Oakland and a daughter of Dr. J. P. M. Davis, who was of a southern family of English descent, and who came from Mississippi to California as one of the pioneers, and was the first mayor of the city of Oakland. Mrs. Tuttle died December 20, 1895, leaving three sons and four daughters, as follows: Charles A., practicing law in Auburn; Ragland, who is in his junior year in the California State University; and F. P., Jr., in high school; Margaret R., the wife of F. W. Fitch, railroad agent at Towle, Nevada county ; Cecelia B., Dorothy C., Susan H., who are in the public schools. Mr. Tuttle married, in San Francisco, February 22, 1899, Miss Cecelia Burk, who was born in Pennsylvania, and her mother was a sister of General Nagle, who was a prominent figure in Santa Clara county, Cali- fornia. Mrs. Tuttle is of Scotch descent, and her family goes back to the Revolutionary period. She is a lady of much energy and executive ability, and became especially well known through her prominence in originating the "postal system" among the soldiers of the Spanish war. This consisted of the distribution of postal cards among the soldiers, with a request that they write to their parents, and the results were quite gratifying, and she became known as the "Postal Card Lady." She was also prominent at the same time in Red Cross Society affairs.
ALEXANDER M. DREW.
Alexander M. Drew is one of the old and prominent citizens of Fresno, where his varied interests and activities have been centered for over twenty- five years. He is highly esteemed for his personal worth and stability of character as also for the fact that he is a man of self-achievement largely. He came to Fresno when a young man, and from one stone of progress advanced to another until he is now among the financially well-to-do and the men of affairs influential in the public and business matters of the city and county.
Mr. Drew was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, in January, 1858, a son of Elisha and Caroline (Smith) Drew, both natives of Vermont and of old American families. His father was a carpenter by trade, but spent the greater portion of his useful life as an Illinois farmer.
Mr. Drew's early life was passed on his father's farm, and he attended the various public schools of Stephenson county. When twenty years old, in 1878, he came out to California and located in Fresno, where he has lived ever since. For the first ten years his principal occupation was teach- ing school, but at the same time he engaged in studying law. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1887, having throughout this period of preparation for a larger career maintained himself and family in comfort and firmly estab- lished himself in the city. In 1888 he began the practice which he has con- tinued with marked success to the present. Outside of his profession he
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is best known in business circles as the vice president and head of the American Vineyard Company, which devotes four hundred and thirty acres to the culture of the Thompson Seedless Raisin, the most extensive enter- prise of its kind in the state. He also takes an active part in the Califor- nia Raisin Growers' Association, and has presided at its meetings for the past five years.
Mr. Drew takes an active part in local and state Republican politics. He affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, and is past grand master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and served as head of the order in California in 1897. Mr. Drew was married in 1881 to Miss Abbie E. Pratt, a native of Maine and a daughter of Holman Pratt, of Clinton county,, Maine, and of an old American family in that part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Drew have three children : Leslie M., Arthur H. and Gertrude S.
JAMES F. COONAN.
James F. Coonan, who is engaged in the practice of law in Eureka, was born at San Francisco in 1856, and is therefore one of the native sons of California. His parents, Michael and Catherine (Mulhair) Coonan, were both natives of Ireland. The father came to San Francisco in 1849 by way of the isthmus route, and after reaching his destination was the boss steve- dore, controlling that industry from 1850 up to the time of his death. He was captain of the Montgomery Guards, of the Emmet Rifles and of the Mission Guard, three well known military organizations at an early day. He was also connected in a similar manner with the Maghaer Guards, which was the third regiment of the California National Guard. He died in the year 1868, having for three years survived his wife, who passed away in 1865. Their living children are James F., of this review, and three daugh- ters-Mary, the wife of T. J. Bailey, of San Francisco, Elizabeth, who is employed in the United States mint; and Sarah.
When the father died he left a small estate, which went to the support of his daughters, and Captain J. J. Walworth, the father's partner, was ap- pointed guardian of Mr. Coonan. At the end of three years, when Mr. Coonan was fifteen years of age, he left his guardian's home and started out upon an independent business career. He had attended the public schools of San Francisco up to his thirteenth year. When he began earning his own living he found employment with the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany as a messenger boy, and in course of time was promoted to the posi- tion of office boy in Superintendent Gamble's office. While thus engaged he became an expert telegraph operator. In 1872 he removed to Humboldt county as a repair operator, and in that capacity traveled from Petrolia to Kibesillah in Mendocino county, a distance of one hundred and thirteen miles over an unimproved tract of land, there being no wagon roads. It was during this time that Mr. Coonan practically educated himself. By pri- vate study he mastered the rudiments of grammar, arithmetic and rhetoric, which in his busy life he had practically forgotten. In 1879 he was trans- ferred by the company to Eureka, and remained as manager of that office
A. F. Conan
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until the Ist of January, 1884, during which period he devoted his leisure hours to the mastery of law. Desiring to get a practical knowledge of the law, he accepted the Democratic nomination for county clerk of Humboldt county and succeeded in overcoming the usual Republican majority of eight hundred, being elected to the office by a majority of two hundred votes. In 1886 he was re-elected and thus served for four consecutive years. At length he refused further nomination and entered upon the practice of law, being admitted to the superior court on the same day in which he surren- dered his office of county clerk. Subsequently he was admitted to the su- preme court in 1894. At the solicitation of the Democrats of Humboldt county Mr. Coonan accepted the nomination for assemblyman from the sec- ond district, and although defeated ran three hundred votes ahead of his ticket. The same year he acted as chairman of the Democratic central com- mittee, a position which he has filled on several. occasions since.
In 1883 Mr. Coonan was married to Miss Mary Ohmann, a native of Humboldt county, California, and a daughter of Ignatz Ohmann, one of the early settlers of the county. Three children have been born to them: Clar- ence, Evelyn and Madaline. Mr. Coonan belongs to the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows and also to Mount Zion Encampment and Canton Eureka of the Patriarchs Militant, in which organization he is on the staff of the brigadier general. He is also a member of the Veteran Odd Fellows So- ciety of Humboldt county and of Bay City Lodge, A. O. U. W. He has been a member of the city council of Eureka for several years, also a second vice chairman of the Democratic state central committee. He has brought to the discharge of his professional duties the same powers and qualities of mind that distinguished him in earlier years-illuminating intelligence, un- wearied industry and a thoroughiness of investigation that has given him com- plete mastery of the subjects to which his work relates.
HENRY HUCKINS.
Henry Huckins, whose business interests are represented by valuable mining properties in California and who makes his home at Nevada City, was born April 14, 1872, at North San Juan, in Nevada county, California. His ancestral history is one of close connection with American interests from colonial days. The ancestors of the old world were natives of Ger- many, but representatives of the name came to the new world when this country was still numbered among the colonial possessions of Great Britain. When the colonists attempted to throw off the yoke of British oppression, members of the family joined the patriot army and fought for the cause of independence. In Maine the Huckinses were largely interested in shipping. Robert Huckins, the father of our subject, was born in the Pine Tree state and came to California in 1851. He established a livery stable at Cherokee, but after conducting it for a short time he purchased an interest in a gravel mine at Badger Hill and also bought the Shady Creek mine. By the latter investment, however, he lost thirty thousand dollars owing to floods. He served as marshal in North San Juan and after the floods had
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destroyed his property he gave much of his attention to politics. He was elected supervisor of Nevada county from the fourth district, comprising Rough and Ready township, and was re-elected at the two subsequent elec- tions. In political circles he was recognized as a popular leader and a man who had the confidence and support of his fellow citizens. In 1861 he volunteered for service in the Civil war, but no company was formed in this portion of the state and he therefore did not go to the front. He mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Hartman, who was born in Massachusetts, and who was a daughter of a Scotch physician. She came across the plains with her parents in 1850. In the previous year her father, Dr. Hartman, had made the journey to California, locating at Sebastapol, and in 1850 he re- turned to New England for his family. Robert Huckins died in the year 1896, but his wife still survives and makes her home in Nevada City. There were three sons in the family, Robert and Shelby being interested with their brother in a quartz mine near Blue Tent, three miles from Ne- vada City. The two sisters are Mrs. William Coverdill, of North Vallejo, and Miss Lucile Huckins, who resides in San Francisco.
Henry Huckins, whose name forms the caption of this review, began his education in the public schools of his native county and afterward at- tended the high school at Nevada City. At the age of seventeen he began teaming, which business he followed from West San Juan to Nevada City, during a period of four years driving a six-horse team. On the expiration of that period he established a grocery store, which he conducted for a year and a half, and when the Spanish war was inaugurated he sold out and turned his attention to the cyanide business. He had continued in the lat- ter pursuit only a short time when he volunteered for service and recruited Company I of the Eighth Infantry Regiment of the United States Volun- teers. This company was not called to the front, but was sent to do garri- son duty at Fort Vancouver, Washington, to relieve the Fourteenth Regi- ment of United States Regulars, and was discharged at the end of eight months' service at the Vancouver barracks. Since that time Mr. Huckins has given his attention to leasing mining properties and prospecting. He is interested in a number of valuable mines, and located what is now known as the Quartz Quarry, a property which is situated on the North Yuba river, two miles from North San Juan. This promises to develop into a large mine, and it has been sold for a good figure to. WV. M. Kleyn-Schoovel, of San Francisco, who is largely interested in mining in Eldorado county. Mr. Huckins has also bonded the Round Mountain Champion, a promising mine near Nevada City. Having spent his entire life in this part of the state and having made a close study of mining interests, he now has a broad and comprenhensive knowledge on the subject, and his labors are proving of value in the development of the rich mineral resources of this part of California.
Mr. Huckins gives his political allegiance to the Democracy, but does not seek office or take an active part in the work of the organization. He served for two years as a member of Company I of the Second Regiment
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National Guard of California, holding the rank of sergeant. He is a young man, possessing the enterprise and energy so characteristic of the west, and already his labors have been attended by a very gratifying measure of success.
WV. H. MARTIN.
The one industry which more than all others has been the source of California's prosperity and upbuilding is mining, and of this great division of labor William H. Martin is a representative. He has been for many years actively associated with the development of the state along this line, and he is a representative of that class of our American citizenship that con- tributes to the general progress and prosperity, while promoting individual successes. His business career is one which will bear close investigation and scrutiny, and which demonstrates the force and value of untiring energy and perseverance in the active affairs of life.
Mr. Martin is a native of England, his birth having occurred in that country on the 24th of February, 1847. His father, Robert Martin, also a native of England and a representative of a prominent English family, in- dustriously followed his trade of a machinist for forty-five years. He wedded Miss Mary Harper, also a native of England, and he and his wife were closely allied with local religious interests.
William H. Martin spent the first seventeen years of his life in the land of his birth and then embarked for California, making his way to the Golden state over the Panama route and arriving in Grass Valley, Nevada county, in 1864. He at once turned his attention to mining and to the development of kindred industries and has since spent his energies in that direction. His unwearied industry has been a resultant factor in his success, and his life history proves conclusively that prosperity may be attained through persist- ent effort. When his labor had brought to him sufficient capital he began investing in mining lands, and in 1876 purchased the Mayflower mine in Nevada City. He has since been its principal owner and manager, and his thorough and practical understanding of mining methods is indicated by the success which has attended his efforts in this direction. This is both a quartz and a gravel mine and has several separate ledges of free-milling ore. There is a double hoist and work has been carried on to a depth of seven hundred feet. No hydraulic work, however, has been done since 1881. In connec- tion with the mine there is a twenty-stamp mill, which is well equipped. Mr. Martin has also driven five miles of tunnel. The principal ledge is a blanket ledge and the property consists of six or seven claims, two miles from Nevada City. Mr. Martin is also interested in other important mining properties in Sierra county, and in 1884, associated with prominent and re- liable business men of this locality, he erected the Miners' Foundry Plant, at Nevada City, in which is built every class of mining machinery. Of this Mr. Martin is the present manager and one of the principal owners. He is likewise connected with financial circles in Nevada City, being vice president of the Nevada County Bank.
On the 24th of June, 1874, Mr. Martin was married in Sierra county,
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to Miss Elizabeth Chorley, a native of England and a daughter of James . Chorley, a machinist who represented a prominent English family, whose estate is now in chancery. They have one son and two daughters, Robert, May C. and Lillie B. The son is working at the Mayflower mine and study- ing mining in that practical way. He spent three years as a student in the Military Academy at San Rafael, and afterward attended the San Francisco Business College. The family home has been maintained here for forty years. In his political views Mr. Martin has been closely allied with the Democratic party and has served as a member of both state and county central committees at various times. In 1894 he was elected assessor of Nevada county, and in 1900 was chosen as county supervisor for a term of four years and in 1901-2 served as chairman of the board. At this writing, in 1904, he is serving for the third term as a member of the city board of education. Community affairs awaken his deep interest and many more- ments and measures receive his hearty endorsement and substantial co-opera- tion, and thus as a citizen as well as business man he has become an active and influential resident of Nevada county and one whose worth is widely acknowledged.
HENRY C. SCHROEDER.
Henry C. Schroeder, who is the present county assessor of Nevada county and has held that important public office for six years, is one of the strong and aggressive young business men of this section of the state, and has found out and filled most creditably an honorable place in life's activities. He is a native son of California, and his best successes have been gained in the county where he was born and reared.
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