A memorial and biographical history of northern California, illustrated. Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy...and biographical mention of many of its most eminent pioneers and also of prominent citizens of today, Part 103

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1000

USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of northern California, illustrated. Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy...and biographical mention of many of its most eminent pioneers and also of prominent citizens of today > Part 103

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Camden is a native of England, born January 29, 1817, of English parents. He was educated in England, and in 1834, when seven- teen years of age, emigrated to New York, re- mained there for some time and vibrated he- tween there and Louisiana up to 1845, when he came to the Pacific Coast. He was one year at Valparaiso, and three years in Peru, and a large portion of the time at Cerro Pasco silver

mines, where he, with associates under contract with owners, successfully drained mines still rich, but abandoned for fifty years or more through lack of local energy and machinery to do it. From there he went to San Francisco, arriving on the 2d day of October, 1849. In the following March he left San Francisco in search of the month of the Trinity River. From the first to the last of March there were thirteen vessels that left with passengers with that object in view. His vessel, the Jacob M. Ryerson, was the first to enter Eel River. Dis- covering that they were wrong, they came out of the river and passed into Humboldt Bay. His company joined the Sonoma Company that came overland, and located the town of Union- ville (now called Arcata). He, in company with Levi H. Tower and two others, left the bay to go to the Trinity Mines, some ninety miles dis- tant, after ascertaining the direction to take, from one of the Sonoma party who had come through in the fall. Mr. Camden set his com- pass for their course and the party started, be- ing the first white men that went from the coast to the mines, although four others had crossed to the coast the previous fall. They were some five days in crossing and fifteen miles ont of course when they got across. They established a ferry at the junction of the south fork and the main Trinity, and left John Hind- man, who had crossed with them, in charge of the ferry, who afterward was driven away by hostile Indians, escaping in the dark after fight- ing them several hours with rifle and gun from lris puncheon cabin; and Messrs. Camden and Tower mined on the Trinity and the Salmon rivers until the fall. In November, 1850, he came to Shasta County, where the Tower House now is, built by Mr. Tower, within a few yards of where the Tower House now stands, and in the avenue a little north of it they made their first camp and slept in their blankets, a few rods to the southwest of this spot. Mr. Cam- den, in 1852, built his house where he has since resided, with his family, but for the last twenty years they have spent their winters in their

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home at Oakland, where he has large property interests. Their home near the Tower Honse is a beautiful and ornamental spot, surrounded with all kinds of fruit and nnt trees grown in the sub-tropical zone. (The orchards were planted mostly by Levi H. Tower, now deceased, who was Mrs. Camden's brother.) For years this orchard was the principal one north of Marysville. They also have many nice flower- ing plants, and such a home makes a delight- ful retreat. The creek where Mr. Camden did placer mining for several years runs in front of the honse, and only a short distance from it. It was in this creek and bars adjoining that he made his first permanent start in California. It was not as rich as some of the mines, but its yield was very uniform, his average work being from $10 to $30 per day to the man, and his richest pan of dirt $650 in fine gold. He mined that creek for nearly a mile, and fol- lowed the business there until 1866, taking out over $80,000; and, nnlike most '49ers, he has kept it and added to it greatly. He has been engaged in many other enterprises, such as or- charding, water-ditching, saw-mill, the turnpike road and later quartz-mining. In 1861 he built the Camdeu turnpike from Shasta to Tower House, a distance of twelve miles. Previous to that time the traffic of the country was car- ried on with pack mules, there being no wagon roads further than Shasta.

Mr. Camden conceived the idea to build this road over a very rough, mountainous conntry. It was a great undertaking, but proved benefi- cial to himself and the community. It winds its way through and over the mountains, in somne places ent out of solid rock, and forms many loops and abrupt turns. The whole road is an easy grade, is kept in good condition and affords its far-seeing and wise projector and builder a nice income in tolls; and it has greatly aided in the settlement and development of the connty. He also :maintains a good covered bridge on this road. He owns one-third inter- est in the Iron Mountain of Shasta Connty, containing vast quantities of iron, silver and

copper. The complete silver reduction works here built cost $80,000. The mine is 130 feet wide and three-fourths of a mile in length. Here they are taking out large quantities of silver and give employment to fifty men. The iron ore in this mountain is of the finest qual- ity known.

Mr. Camden was married in 1852, to Miss Philena Tower, a native of Rhode Island, and a danghter of Jason and Philena (Howard) Tower, her mother being a native of Massachusetts. Their union has been blessed with three dangh- ters, all born in Shasta County, namely: Ada H., Grace and Mary Electa, who is now the wife of Clarence Wetmore, of Oakland.

. Mr. Camden is not a politician, but is a Re- publican and holds himself independent. ' His parents in England were Episcopalians, and he was raised in that faith. There is not a particle of ostentation or display about him,-just a plain, substantial gentleman,-and those who know him best will not attribute any vanity to him for having furnished the facts for the story of his successful life to be placed in a history of Northern California,-a country in which he cast his lot and with which he has been identi- fied for the last forty-one years, during its set- tlement and prosperity.

This sketch would not be complete with- ont a further account of the Tower House and of its original founder and former pro- prietor, who was one of those most en- ergetic and enterprising men known to all in that day and highly esteemed. Among his early [doings was the building of the Globe Hotel in Shasta, in 1851. In 1852 was the building of the present commodions Tower House and planting of the orchards, the trees being procured, some over the Isthmus of Pan- ama and some from nurseries in Oregon, at ex- tremely high cost. A few years later, mostly through his energy, the wagon road over the Trinity and Scott mountains was commenced and built; also the first preliminary free wagon road from Tower House to Shasta and a bridge over Clear Creek by his means and efforts, where be-

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fore nothing but mule trails existed. Many other enterprises of the early history of Shasta County he aided by his energy and ineans.

Of the Tower House and its surroundings- and it is a delightful place-perhaps we can not do better to describe it and show the material and taste possessed by some of the early pio- neers of California, who could then make an Eden like this out of a wilderness, than to copy in part from a description written some ten years ago by the then proprietor of a Colusa County paper, and headed " The Home of the Camdens."

" It was our pleasure to visit during the fall monthis the home of Mr. Camden. It was somewhere in 1850 that he settled in Shasta County on or about the site of his present home; bnt in those days Mr. Tower, a brother-in-law of Mr. Camden, owned the Tower House property, which included the present comfortable retreat of Mr. Camden. There is perhaps sixty acres of land which might properly be called valley. * *

* Mr. Tower, who was a practical sort of man, seems to have discovered and mapped out, very early, the beauties of the place whichi bears and will continue to bear, through ages to come the name of the projector and founder. * * * In this glen in the mountains thirty years ago Mr. Tower laid the foundation of the present beautiful and magnificent property, and to-day the great, broad avenue of walnut trees leading up from Clear Creek to the Tower House is one of the most magnificent sights to be seen in the country. Mr. Tower died in 1865, when the property passed into the hands of Mr. Charles Camden, since which time he has continued to improve it. *

* It is in this place that Mr. Camden now passes the me- ridian of life, surrounded by the cultured and amiable members of his family, seven months of the year, and the other five being spent in Oak- land, where he owns a residence."

Mr. Tower sailed early in 1849 from Boston around Cape Horn in the ship Edward Everett, which he and about forty associates partly owned. Their company, formed on starting,

was intended to be joint and mutual in all their undertakings here; but, like scores of other com- Inunity partnerships, in less than a month their company was scattered in every direction,-some to the mining regions, some to business in San Francisco and other towns, according to inclina- tion or taste-all bent upon making a fortune individually instead of through association as first intended. Mr. Tower's first venture was a machine shop, for which he was fully compe- tent, having been engaged before starting in the United States armory in Springfield, Massa- chusetts; but the mines were the great attac- tion above all others, and, as before noticed, he left San Francisco in March, 1850, for the Trinity mines.

OHN R. COOK, editor and proprietor of the Lakeport Democrat, was born Novem- ber 15, 1845, in Matagorda, Texas. His father, H. L. Cook, was one of the early pio- neers of that State. John R. entered a printing office when he was about twelve years of age, where he remained a number of years, thorough- ly learning the art of printing, and before he had arrived at the age of eighteen he became editor and proprietor of a paper in his native Statc. He came to California in 1868, first locating in Lower Lake, Lake County, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits for several years, first as a clerk and afterward on his own ac- connt. In 1872 he removed to Lakeport, where he was engaged in different lines of business until 1879. April 1 of that year he purchased the Bee-Democrat, a journal which resulted from the consolidation of the two leading news- papers of Lake County, viz .: the Lake County Bee and the Lake Democrat. The Lakeport Democrat has been the official county paper ever since it has been under the management of Mr. Cook. As it name indicates, it is strictly Democratic in politics, but Mr. Cook is inde- pendent and progressive, and is a zealons worker for the general interests of his town and.

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county, as well as his party. He therefore en- joys the confidence and estcem of the entire cominunity, irrespective of politics. The Demo- crat is a bright newspaper, ably conducted, and will compare favorably with the leading county papers of the State. Mr. Cook has large and commodious offices and press-room, supplied with paper and job presses, employs an able corps of assistants; therefore, all work from his office is promptly done and in the finest style of the art. He is a member of the State Demo- cratic Central Committee, which important position he has held for the past six years. He fraternizes with the Masons and Odd Fellows, and has filled all the principal offices of the lodges of each of those orders.

REDERICK MILLER, a prominent rancher and business man of Yolo County, was born. May 10, 1841, in Washington County, Maryland, the son of Charles and Rosannah (Myers) Miller, both of whom were born and died in Maryland. Mr. Miller came honestly by his occupation as farmer, for his father was that before him. He was brought up and educated in his native county, and there remained till 1860, when, at the age of nineteen years, he set out for California, the route chosen being across the Isthmus of Panama.

The voyage to Aspinwall by steamer North- ern Light, and from Panama te San Francisco by the Sonora, was a long and tedious one of twenty-five days.

Mr. Miller stayed but a short time in San Francisco. Coming on directly to Yolo County, hc accepted a position and worked for wages at $30 per month for three years, at the expira- tion of which time he bought, in partner- ship with N. Myers, a ranch two miles east of Woodland, where he iarmed for two years; then sold out, going to his native home, by way of Nicaragua; remained there two years, but with the taste of California, was determined te return to share some of the blessings of this

great and gloriens State, being one among the number to witness the driving of the golden spike connecting the two roads Central Pacific and Union Pacific He landed in California the second time in June, 1867, when be at once rented 800 acres of land, for a number of years, where he made the foundation of his present business; also became a prominent stockholder in the Bank of Woodland. In 1887 he purchased 320 acres of his present home, for $18,000; the following year bought 160 acres, for $10,000, and in 1887 purchased the last 160 acres, for $13,500, com. pleting the section or 640 acres, which can be sold for $100 per acre at the present time. The above figures plainly show that Mr. Miller did not get his land at Government prices, and.justly deserves the name of a shrewd business man, and by his honesty and faithfulness to his business has become one of Yolo County's first and best- known men. Ou this fertile ranch he raises large crops of grain and carries on generally farming. He is a member in high standing of the Masonic order, being connected with the blue lodge, No. 156, Chapter No. 46, and Cem- mandery No. 21.

He was married to Miss Ella Diggs, a native of Yolo County, born October 5, 1855, the accomplished danghter of D. P. Diggs, a sketch of whose life will be found on another page. To them were born two children: Norman B., November 29, 1880, and Marie M., bern De- cember 6, 1886.

OSEPH MATHEWSON .- The early set- tlers of California are fast passing away, and their places are being filled by native sons and daughters of the Golden West and by enterprising men and women from other States and countries. Among those came to this ceast during the early history of California the name of Joseph Mathewson will be remembered by many.

Ile was born in Aberdeen, Scotland; was a soldier in the English army; came te United the

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States before the Mexican war, and served thic United States as a soldier in that war; spent eight years in New Orleans; and came to Cali- fornia in 1855, and followed inining for several years at French Gulch. . Mr Mathewson was married at New Orleans, in 1842, to Eliza Leon- ard, a native of County Wexford, Ireland. She emigrated to England when eleven years of age. To them were born six children, five daughters and a son, three born in New Orleans and three in French Gulch, uamely: Josephine, wife of Charles McConnell, of Redding, California; Mary Jane, wife of Christopher Renica; Eliza, wife of Thomas Simpson; Katie, wife of Mead Everhart; Margareta, wife of Luke McDonald; and William W., who resides at San Francisco.

While at Red Bluff, in 1876, Mr. Mathewson contracted a severe cold which terminated in pleurisy, and which caused his death. He was buried at that place.

Mrs. Mathewson was one of the early settlers of French Gulch. During the early mining times she kept boarders. She had poultry, hogs and cows, and supplied the miners with plenty of wholesome food at four bits per meal. From transients she received from six bits to a dollar for a meal. She now resides at French Gulch in her pleasant home on one of the principal streets of the town. She owns two other dwelling houses, and has a one-third interest in the J. I. C. Mine, which is now being worked successfully, and has accumulated $20,000.

UGH H. SHUFFLETON .- The ranks of the brave pioneers who came to California in 1849 are rapidly becoming thinned. No class of people are more worthy of having their names enrolled on the pages of history than these daring Forty-niners. The subject of this sketch is one of the deserving citizens who braved the dangers of the plains and moun- tains, of disease and hunger, and savage bands, and made a home for himself and became one of the founders of the great State of California.

Mr. Shuffleton was born in England, of respect- able parents, May 27, 1830. IIis parents emi- grated from England to America the year he was born, 1830, and settled in Hoosick Falls, Renssalaer County, New York; moved from there to Fairfield, Jefferson County, lowa Ter- ritory, in the fall of 1839. The Indians were not removed from this portion of the Territory until the following spring, 1840. Mr. Shuffle- ton's mother was killed by lightning at this place in 1842, and his father died in 1846, leaving four children, three boys and one girl, who are all now living in California. In the winter of 1848-'49 Mr. Shuffleton went in with five others and bought eight yoke of oxen, two wagons and a general outfit for California; left Fairfield April 1, 1849, crossed the Missouri River at Council Bluffs May 1 and arrived in the Sacramento Valley, at the place now called Vina, October 8.

In a short time he took out $1,000 in clear gold dust at that place. He then went into a river-damming speculation with others, and dropped his pile as quickly as he had found it. After that he purchased a mule and made the journey over the trail to the town of Shasta, then the Redding Upper Springs, which con- tained a few log cabins in which the business was done. That was in 1850. He engaged in inining for some three years, using the old- fashioned rocker process, averaging ten dollars per day. He found fifty-one dollars in a single pan of dirt. Another and a larger find was a $65 Inmp, which he picked up in Clear Creek, five miles above Shasta.

In 1853 Mr. Shuffleton made a trip East, and after being absent about nine months returned with a drove of cattle. In 1855 he was married, in Shasta, to Miss Ann V. Apperson, a native of Virginia. With the stock he brought from the East he conducted a dairy business, receiv- ing seventy-five cents per gallon for milk, making about $500 per month. To accommo- date his increasing herds, he removed to the southwest of Shasta, in 1859, purchased a claim of 160 acres of land, and took 300 head of cattle

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there. All the lands in that vicinity were then free pastures and he had full scope for his stock. On that property he has since resided and con- tinued the cattle business, not always with snc- cess, for, in 1862, the hardest winter known here, he lost 200 cattle. He is now also raising hogs, sheep and horses. In speaking of the prodnetions of his soil, he says he has twelve acres of alfalfa which he irrigates and ents four erops per year, getting from it sixty tons of hay. Without irrigation he raises large crops of corn.

Mr. Shintheton organized the first school dis- trict in his part of the county, and by subserip- tion raised the money with which to build the school-house. In 1860 he was elected Justice of the Peace and has held the office continuously for twenty-five years. For ten years he has been a Notary Public. In 1888 he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors of the connty, in which capacity he is now acting. Since the Rebellion he has cast his vote with the Republican party. The last time he voted with the Democrats was for Stephen A. Douglas. Mr. Shuffleton is a blue lodge and chapter Mason. He is also a member of the American Legion of Honor.

By his first marriage he had three children, born to him in Shasta County, namely : Isabella, Mary and Edward T. In 1861 the relentless hand of death took this loving wife and kind and affectionate mother from them. Six years later Mr. Shuffleton married Mrs. Mary Tipton. By her former marriage she had two sons. By her present husband she has one son, to whom they have given his father's name, Hugh H.

OSEPH R. KETTLEWELL .- One of the most prominent merchants and citizens of northern Napa County, is the gentleman whose name heads this article. During the seventeen years of his residence in St. Helena he has seen that lively little town grow from a population of 300 persons to upward of 2,500,

while the sourrounding country has received a like or even greater accession-a progress and prosperity towards which he himself has aided not a little by his energy and publie spirit. Mr. Kettlewell was born. May 13. 1825, in Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania, his father being Joseph Kettlewell, a carpenter and builder as well as a farmer of that section. The family removed to Belmont County, Ohio, when the subject of this sketch was two years old, and resided there for six years when in 1833 they went to Wheeling, West Virginia. Here Joseph re- ceived his education and laid the foundations of diligence and economy that, with his natural good judgment, made him what he is to-day, a man of property and influence wherever known. When eighteen years of age he started out in life for himself, carrying with him little but the paternal blessing and a good upbringing to make the beginning. He had in faet only the sum of "six bits," in addition to his wardrobe, but he had energy and honesty, which are worth far more than anything else in making one's way in the world. He went first to Wheeling, West Vir- ginia and worked at his chosen trade of black- smithing for one year, when he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and for ten years carried on a shop. In 1854 Mr. Kettlewell started West, removing to Iowa City, Iowa, where he carried on a prosperous business until in 1863 he deter- inined to come to California, setting out for the journey over the plains with his young family in April of that year. For a year he tarried on the way .- at Austin, Nevada, engaging in min- ing as well as his trade. Thence he came on down to San Francisco, reaching there in July, 1864. For eight years Mr. Kettlewell carried on a lucrative trade until in 1872, the health of his wife being much impaired, he rented his shop and came up to St. Helena on a visit. Mrs. Kettlewell's health being much better here, he determined to settle here, purchased the block on Main Street, which is still his property, and opened a shop. Having acenmulated a comfortable living and being desirons to extend his opportunities, Mr. Kettlewell gave up work

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at his trade ten years ago, although the shop was not finally closed out until last year (1888). Thirteen years ago he began a mercantile busi- ness on the site of his present fine store in general hardware, agricultural implements, paints, oils, etc., etc. The present store was built in 1884, and is a handsome brick sturcture 39 x 75 feet in size, two stories in height. It cost $10,000 to build and, 43,000 bricks were consumed in its erection. It is by far the best and finest building in St. Helena, well finished and fitted. Adjoining it is another structure equally as good of the fine sandstone that is a feature in St. Helena. Mr. Kettlewell owns 85 x 300 feet on the corner, fronting three streets, a most valuable property, upon the centre of which his homestead is situated. . In addition he owns much other valuable property both in the town and in the country adjoining. Mr. Kettlewell was mar- ried April 15, 1847, to Miss Eliza Paul in Cincinnati. Mra. Kettlewell was born August 11, 1825, but was left an orphan at an early age, her parents being carried off by cholera. They have four sons, all of whom are prosper- onsly following in the footsteps of their father, and are all actively engaged in business. Joseph A., the eldest, carries on the leading boot and slioe store in St. Helena; George W., the second, is a well-to-do farmer in Franz Valley, Sonoma County; James O. has a large car- riage and painting business in St. Helena; and Ben F., the youngest, is an equal partner with his father in the hardware business. All are happily married, and the heart of Mr. Kettle- well is gladdensd by the sight of promising grandchildren growing up at his knees. The youngest son, B. F., has been Town Trustee on two several occasions and has held other public positions. Mr. Paul, his wife's brother, is a prominent editor and politician of Iowa City, and has represented his county in the State Legislature for sixteen years together. While residing in lowa City, Mr. Kettlewell also took an active part in politics, but has confined him- self strictly to business since his residence in St. Helena.

In conclusion it should be stated that Mr. Kettlewell is one of the solid citizens of Napa County, and is equally respected for his busi- ness qualifications and goodness of heart. He is one of our best examples of a self-made man, one who has made his way by hard work, good judgment and strict integrity, and his career is one that can be wisely studied by the rising generation.

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A memorial and biographical history of northern California, illustrated. Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy...and biographical mention of many of its most eminent pioneers and also of prominent citizens of today, Part 103

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1000

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1000