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 104

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 104

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).

ILLIAM J. BIDWELL came to this State in 1852, when a lad eight years of age. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 30, 1844, the son of John H. and Elizabeth (Hayburn) Bidwell, the for- mer a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania. Grandfather Henry Hayburn was a native of the Emerald Isle, who came to the United States when a boy.

Upon their arrival in California, Mr. Bid- well's father settled at Horsetown, Shasta County, and mined during the winter of 1852. He then engaged in the blacksmith and wagon- making business, which he followed until 1858. In that year they removed to the western part of the county and took up 160 acres of land. After remaining on it three years he sold out, went to Shasta and worked at his trade. William learned the trade with his father, after which he removed to Millville and opened a shop of his own. His father died in 1875 and his mother in 1877. After working at the black- smith business in' Millville for sixteen years, Mr. Bidwell removed to Burney Valley, opened a store and also, in connection with his brother, carried on blacksmithing. They afterward sold their store and shop and purchased 600 acres of land and engaged in stock-raising. He raises both horses and cattle. His ranch contains meadow, grain and pasture land, and is also adapted for fruit, as he has a fine apple orchard on it.

Mr. Bidwell was married, in 1871, to Miss Mary A. Harrington, a native of Iowa. They

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have had five children, all born in Shasta Connty, and all living, namely: Elma, John N., Williamn J., Burney and Nellie. Mr. Bidwell is a Re- publican. In 1888 he was elected one of the Supervisors of the county, and since he has been a member of the board he has favored the many improvements which have been made, such as building new roads and fine bridges and the construction of the court-house and jail. These much needed improvements are of great value to the county and reflect credit on the Board of Supervisors, who so earnestly labored for the public benefit. A number of times Mr. Bidwell has held the office of school trustee in his dis- trict. He is an active member of the fraternity of Odd Fellows, having passed all the chairs of the order.

In connection with his mining experience, Mr. Bidwell states that he has taken out as much as $50 per day in placer mines.

ENJAMIN FRANKLIN ALLISON, Principal of the schools of Redding, Shasta County, California, was born in Missouri, February 8, 1860. He comes of good old Rev- olutionary stock, the ancestors of his family having settled in the colonies at an early period in the history of this country, and having been active partipants in the Revolutionary struggle. His grandfather, John Allison, was one of the pioneers of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, and his father, James W. Allison. was born there. Mr. Allison's mother, nee Laura A. Martin, was also a native of Kentucky. His parents had five children, of whom he was the third. He is now the only survivor of the family.

Mr. Allison received his education in Keu- tucky and Ohio; graduated at the academy at Greenville, Kentucky, and afterward in both the scientific and classical courses of the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. He is also a graduate of the commercial course of Kentucky University at Lexington. IIis first intentions were to enter the medical profession,

but his natural talent and adaptation for teach- ing became so apparent that he turned his at- tention to the profession of teaching. For the past twelve years he has been a successful teacher. He had charge of the Columbia High School, Kentucky, from 1881 till 1883; was superintendent of the Hamilton College, Texas, from 1883 till 1886; conducted the Apopka public schools, in Florida, three years; and came to Redding and took his present position April 1, 1889. His school work here, as it has been elsewhere, is thorough and systematic. Everything goes on like clock-work, withont friction or disorder. As a teacher, Professor Allison is regarded with high esteem by both pupils and patrons. In the higher departments of the school the young ladies and gentlemen of his classes are thrown entirely upon their honor for deportment, and their conduct is such that it reflects credit not only upon themselves but also npon their worthy instructor.

In 1888 Professor was united in marriage, in Texas, to Miss Mary Hart, a native of Iuka, Mississippi. At the time of their marriage she was a teacher of ability and experience. Mr. Allison and his wife are members of the Presby - terian Church. Social and affable, they are valuable acquisitions to the good society of the city of Redding.

IDNEY M. TAYLOR, the senior member of the firm of Taylor & Dean, sash, door and blind manufacturers of Redding, Califor- nia, is a native of Halifax County, Nova Scotia, born July 26, 1848. His father, John Taylor, was a native of Scotland, and his mother, nee Jane Henderson, was born in the north of Ire- land. She emigrated to America with her par- ents when ten years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor had four children, of whom the subject of this sketeh was the youngest. He received his education and learned the trade of carpenter in his native place. From there he removed to Boston, Massachusetts, and worked at his busi-

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ness there three years, after which he located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he engaged in the manufacture of sash and doors for Smith & Parker, remaining with them eleven years. Then he was in the same business there three years for himself and had the misfortune to be burned out. After that he removed to British Columbia, where he built a shop and com- menced business. His next move was in 1887 to Red Bluff, Tehama County, California. There he accepted the position of foreman of the Sierra Lumber Company's mill and re- mained there two years. Then he came to Red- ding, where he is now well established in busi- ness. He and his partner, Mr. Dean, built their planing-mill, with barley crusher attached, in the spring of 1890 and are meeting with fair success in their enterprise.

Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Rebecca E. Taylor, a native of Halifax County, Nova Scotia. Their union has been blessed with four children: Earnest, Stewart, Estella and Viola, all born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Politically Mr. Tay- lor is a Republican. He is a good citizen and a reliable business man. He is an excellent mechanic and takes charge of the mill while his partner does the office work.

P. MINEAR & SONS .- Mr. Minear was born March 10, 1828, at Saint George, at that time Randolph County, Virginia, left his home (which had then be- longed to the family for more than a hundred years, and is still held by them) for Cali- fornia and arrived in San Francisco March 26, 1850. He first engaged in grading lots on Clark's Point in that city, and continued in that business for abont one year; then until May, 1854, he manufactured lumber for a San Fran- cisco company, composed of three men, with headquarters at Bolinas in Marin County. The company then failed. One ran away to Mexico, one died, and nothing could be made out of the third. At this time the company owed Minear

$40,000, which he sued for, attached the com- pany's property, got judgment by confession for $30,000 and collected the money. Besides this debt, Minear had expended about as much inore sawing and peeling logs, making roads. and getting ready for another summer's work. This was a great loss to Minear, but he closed busi- ness, paid his debts, and had but little money left.

In the meantime he had sent to lowa for his brother-in-law, Henry M. Stemple, and sister, Eliza, his wife, to come to California, bought and gave them a farm of 600 acres of fine land, at Tomales, in Marin County, which the family still own and live on; and after he wound up his business at Bolinas he went to Rainier, Orc- gon, on the left bank of the Columbia, where he met Miss Lucretia M. Moody, of Illinois, and February 28, 1856, they were married. They have had six children, four of whom are living: three of these are married: Clara C. married Colonel E. C. Boudinot, April 16, 1885, and they live at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Mr. Boudinot is a prominent lawyer of the Sonth. John I. mar- ried Eva D. Minear, of Iowa. They have one child, born May 22, 1888, named Asby Pool; M. married Ward P. Winchell, a Lieutenant Engineer in the United States Navy, January 3, 1889, and they have one child, born July 23, 1890, whom they have named Dorothy Colonna.

After his marriage Mr. Minear moved to California, but returned to Oregon the same year, and entered into the mercantile business, in connection with huumbering, built and rebuilt one steam saw-mill three times in one year, as it was burned down as often; also one water saw-mill, which was burnt up the same year. His loss that year in saw-mills alone was not less than $40,000; but so great was his trade that he rapidly recovered.

All went well until 1862, when the big flood of the Columbia River ruined nearly all the farms along the river. Mr. Minear lost $30,000 to 840,000. Determining then to change base again, he took ox teams and went further up the river (to the Dalles) and contracted to fur-

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nish cord-wood to the river steamboats, out of which he made $10.000 in six months. This was in 1862. The ensuing winter he put his oxen, about seventy-five head, in charge of an Indian chief, who returned them all in fine con- dition the next spring. He hauled wood until June, 1863, when he loaded his twelve big ox teams with miners' supplies for Idaho, arriving at Placerville November 3, 1863, in a terrific snow storm. There was no feed in the country, and his cattle nearly went crazy before he could get them out. He made $19,000 on this trip.

In the spring of 1864 he finished his wood contract, bought a fine stamp quartz-mill, loaded it on his teams with a good supply of provision for his own use, all that twelve big teams could pull with six to eight yokes of oxen to each wagon. In short the whole outfit belonged to Mr. Minear; besides he had about $35,000 in money. By the end of the next year all was gone, and he was $40,000 in debt! That is one of the dark sides of mining.

In 1868 he left Idaho to join his wife and children at San José, where the children were going to school; but, as the combined capital of both himself and his wife was at that time only seventy-five cents, he could not long reman idle. Borrowing $50 he moved to San Francisco, but meantime all their clothing was destroyed by fire! but it was not long until he got the appoint- inent as superintendent of three companies in Idaho, each at a salary of $300 a month, and very soon after he was elected superintendent of five other companies, with total salary of $2,650 a month; and in less than twelve months after his and his family's clothing was burnt up he had made $85,000! He continued in business until he had accumulated nearly half a million dollars.

Then he went East, got into railroad specnla- tion,-new and deep water,-and again his money went! It seems never to have been any trouble for him to make money out of mines, and just as easy to lose it in something else. He made $150,000 ont of Arizona mines in one summer. He again tried Idaho, but this time on Wood

River among the lead and silver mines; took in a large concentrating plant, spent abont $75,000, and, like most of the big operators in that sec- tion, failed. The ore was of too low grade as a rule to stand the high railroad charges; besides, the ore does not extend to a great depth.

Mr. Minear then bought the Amador gold mine for $20,000, and after spending on it abont $300,000 of his own. and others' money, under the immediate direction of his son, John 1. as superintendent. A. P. as he is familiarly called, went to London and sold the property for. $1,250,000, part cash and part stock. It was organized in London under the name of. " Amador Gold Mine, Limited." It continned John I. Minear as its superintendent, at $500 a month, who is now in charge of the property and enjoys a fine reputation as a mining and business man. The younger brother, W. C., has charge of the machinery for John I., but is now in partnership with .Jo. Catlow in south- ern Oregon, raising fine horses.

From the Idaho Weekly Avalanche of Angust 31, 1889, we learn that Mr. Mincar built the first telegraph line through that Ter- ritory from the State of Nevada to Washington Territory, 500 to 600 miles long, at a time when everything was expensive. It cost about $100. 000. Many of the old residents of Silver re- member the procession of five or six hundred strong, with three bands of music made up of all classes of people and headed by the governor of the Territory, who all marched out on the road three miles to meet Minear on his arrival from San Francisco, at the opening of telegraph communication with the outside world.

Mr. A. P. Minear has bought some mining property in Julian Mining district, San Diego County, and has gone down to open them up. He took down a quartz-mill, saw-mill and his own team, with a good supply of everything necessary to open and carry on a big mining en- terprise; and it is his intention to have his two sons with him if he can, John to act as superin- tendent and W. C. as machinist.

The elder Minear has always been a " rustler,"

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and his children are like him in that respect* The greater the task before him, the greater the effort put forth to overcome difficulties. He and his sons do not smoke or drink, taking their pleasure in their work. The Minears are numerous in Ohio and West Virginia, and are to be found in many parts of the West. They are a hardy, industrious, long-lived people.

A. P. Minear has been a Master Mason for inany years. John I. is a Royal Arch Mason.

OLLA FULLER, one of the successful business men of Red Bluff, is a native of Massachusetts, born June 26, 1850. His parents, Luther and Mary F. (Gates) Fuller, also natives of Massachusetts, came to Califor- nia in 1852. In 1862 his father died. The subject of this sketch was the oldest of a family of five children. He attended the public schools and subsequently took a course of study at Heald's Business College, San Francisco. After leaving school he was employed for three years as a clerk for Mr. E. Rose of Chico. He then en. tered into partnership with Mr. Ackerman, in the meat-market business, and continued that for two years. After this Mr. Fuller became interested in and ran a mill for two years. In April, 1881, he came to Red Bluff and opened his grocery and provision business. He began on a small scale, gave strict attention to his work, gradually built up a good trade and is now doing a fine business. He counts among his customers many of the best citizens of Red Bluff and vicinity, and his trade extends from twenty to thirty miles out of the city.

Mr. Fuller was married in 1885 to Miss Jennie Ferson, a native of New Hampshire, and a daughter of Mr. H. D. Ferson, now of Chico, California. They have two interesting children, both born in Chico-Pauline and Dane. Mr. Fuller is a member of the I. O. O. F. His political views are in harmony with the Repub- lican party. He has been a member of the County Central Committee four years and has

twice been elected City Trustee. In 1890 he was elected a delegate to the Republican State Convention. He resides with his family in a comfortable home on Jefferson street

RS. CATHARINE JACKSON HUD SON, of Woodland, was the first wife of Eden R. Jackson, a native of Ohio who came to California in 1860, locating upon a ranch about seven miles south of Woodland, where he lived until 1873, when he disposed of the place and purchased property in town. He died December 24, that year, leaving a wife and four children: Halsey. G., Andrew, Metta and an unnamed infant now deceased. December 2, 1875, Mrs. Jackson married her present hus- band, John G. Hudson, who is now engaged in the manufacture of shoes in Oakland. By this marriage there is one son, named Frederick. Mrs. Hudson was born in Ohio August 13, 1833, and is an estimable lady, moving in the best circles of society.

R. JOHN M. WEST, a prominent physi- cian of Red Bluff, was born in Athens, Illinois, December 22, 1837. His remote ancestors came to this country from England and settled in the Sonth long before the Revo- lution. His father, J. C. West, was a native of Tennessee, a strict Methodist and a farmer. His grandfather, Jacob West, was a soldier in the war of 1812. The Doctor's mothier, Eliza (White) West, was a native of Kentucky. Ile is one of a family of eight children, only two of whom survive.

The subject of this sketch took his first course in the Missouri Medical College, and graduated from the Rush Medical College, February 27, 1864. He entered the Union army as contract surgeon in June, 1862, and was with the Twenty-eighth Illinois Regiment, doing regi- ment and hospital service. It was after leaving

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the army that he graduated and commenced the practice of his profession in Springfield, Illi- nois, where he continued until 1877. In that year he came to California, located in San Fran- cisco and practiced medicine until 1880, when he came to Red Bluff. Here he established a medical practice and has met with eminent suc- cess. A love for the study of medicine caused Dr. West to make it his life profess.on, and it is with a deep interest and untiring zeal that he engages in its practice.

Since coming to Red Bluff, Dr. West has purchased property on Washington street, be- tween Oak and Sycamore, where he has erected a handsome and commodious home. He is also interested in farming lands and fruit culture.

In 1863 he married Miss Susie Lockwood, a native of Connecticut. To them have been born three children, viz .: Jacob H. and Edna, born near Springfield, Illinois, and Neva, born at- Red Bluff. Mrs. West is an interesting and amiable lady, and an earnest and efficient mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church of Red Bluff.

Politically the Doctor's views are in harmony with Democratic principles. Twice he has been elected Coroner and Administrator of his county, and he now (1890) holds that position. He is a blue lodge, Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason, and is also a Knight of Pythias.

OSEPH COOK, a horticulturist near Wood- land, is the son of George Cook, a native of Virginia, who died in Kentucky. Jo- seph was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, July 14, 1814, and October 5, 1837, he mar- ried, in that State, Miss Elizabeth Chiles, who was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, March 10, 1821. In 1843 they moved to Missouri, and made their home there until the spring of 1853, when theycame over land with ox teams to California, locating in Yolo County, on a ranch situated on the Willow Slough. The ranch then belonged to his wife's brother. IIis wife and Mr. Chiles' wife were the only women

in that neighborhood. In 1860, Mr. Cook bought a squatter's right to 160 acres, and lived thereon till 1878, when he sold it and bought twenty acres near Woodland and set it in fruit.

He has seven children, namned and born as follows: George T., born September 3, 1838; Mary B., January 12, 1841; John M., April 6, 1844; Julia L., October 27, 1847; William J., November 30, 1852; James R., November 28, 1857; and Susie, August 14, 1865. Mary B. is now the wife of William Gibson; Julia L. is the wife of Isaac Keys, and John M. married Miss Lulu Horton.

JENRY M. ALLBRIGHT was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, November 11, 1833. His maternal ancestors had been residents of that State for more than a hundred years. His father, Frederick All- bright, was born in l'ennsylvania. He married Elizabeth Orenbaum, a native of Virginia, and by her had ten children, the subject of this sketch being the youngest except one. When he was twelve years of age the family removed to Indiana, where he attended school and also learned the blacksmith's trade. At the age of eigliteen years he had a shop, carried on busi- ness and supported his aged parents. They lived in Indiana until 1854, when the father's death occurred. In that year they came across the plains with ox teams to California, and had a pleasant journey of one hundred and sixty- five days.

Mr. Albright came to Red Bluff in 1860, and has been a resident of this city for thirty years. In November, 1860, in connection with his brother Lewis, he opened a shop in a wooden structure, erected that year, and together they continued in business for six years. At that time he bought out his brother's interest and has since conducted the business alone. After a few years he built a briek shop, 150 feet deep and a part of it sixty feet wide. This he sold

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and, in 1884, built his present brick shop, 40 x 60 feet, in which he is doing a wagon- manufacturing and blacksmith business. He has been an exceedingly hard worker and still holds the trade of many of his first customers. Mr. Allbright has been attended with success, and, in 1881 built an attractive home for him- self and family.

He was married, in 1858, to Miss Adaline Wright, a native of Kentucky. Three children were born to them, two of whom are living, namely: Frederick, who is attending the Dental College at San Francisco, and Frankie, who is at home with her parents. Mrs. Allbright is a member of the Baptish Church. Mr. Allbright was a Union man during the war and has since been a Republican. He is one of Red Bluff's most creditable citizens, who by sturdy blows with is brawny right arm, has made himself independent.

EPHTHA JEANS, dealer in fresh meats at Winters, Yolo County, is a son of B. F. Jeans. Both his parents were natives of Kentucky, and he was born in Pike County, Missouri, June 28, 1842. In 1866 he came overland to California, stopping at Vacaville two months and then locating at Smith's Land- ing, where he purchased a band of dairy cows, drove them to the Humboldt River, and win- tered there, but in the spring of 1860 went to Idaho and ran a dairy for three and a half months. Disposing of his stock there he returned to Vacaville and was engaged in the butcher busi- ness there three years, when he sold out, in 1875, and located in Winters, where he now con- ducts a neat butcher shop, or meat market, doing a good business. The town of Winters was started during the spring preceding the autumn in which he settled there.

He was married in Solano County, in 1874 to Miss A. Starks, and they have four children, named Frank L., Ida, Mabel and Robert H. She died in 1881, and he afterward married

Mrs. Swan, and by this marriage there is one child, Veda by name.

AMES CAMPBELL, a farmer near Davis- ville, is the son of M. and Agnes (Crummy) Campbell, natives of Ireland, and was born June 10, 1837. In 1848 the family removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and two years afterward to Lee County. Illinois, where the father died in 1856. Mr. Campbell, our subject, then resided in Kansas four years and then, in 1860, came to California. The first year here he worked in the mines; the second year in the lumber busi- ness; the next six years he drove a inule team between Sacramento city and Virginia City, and next went to Davisville and rented land of Green & Hutchinson, for six years, and finally, in 1876, he purchased the place where he now lives, which contains 265 acres, a mile west of Davisville.

In 1867 Le was united in marriage with Ellen Fitzgerald, in Sacramento, and their four chil- dren arc: Ella, born in 1869; Mary, 1872; Frank, 1876; and Charlie, 1879.

OHN CLEMENTS was born near New Orleans, Louisiana, June 21, 1844. His father, Henry Clements. was born in Bris- tol, England, and his mother, Rebecca (Row- land) Clements, was also a native of England. The ancestors of both were purely English. Mr. and Mrs. Clements arrived in Louisiana from their native land the day previous to the birth of their son John. They afterward removed to St. Louis, Missouri, but the father, being a strong Union man, found that place uncongenial to him during the agitation preceding the war, and he removed to Bloomington, Illinois. Later he returned to St. Louis and resided there for a number of years. At this writing (1890) he is a resident of Red Bluff, and is sixty-eight years of age.

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The subject of this sketch was educated at St. Charles College, twenty miles west of St. Louis. . In 1862, when eighteen years of age, he enlisted in the Union army, Company K, Eighty-second Illinois Infantry, and while engaged at the battle of Lookont Mountain, he received a wound in the shoulder. When he recovered he was placed in detached service, United States Military Railway, under General McColum, of Ohio, and continued in that service until the close of the war.

In 1865 he returned to Chicago and from there went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he en- gaged in the service of the Union Pacific Rail- way Company. The road was being built across the continent at that time, and he remained in the employ of the company until they reached Promontory. Then he came to California, first to Sacramento and then, June 21, 1868, to Red Bluff. When he arrived at this place he was in poor health and had only $42 in his pocket. With Mr. George Champlin he engaged in the sheep business. Being an engineer, the charge of the Red Bluff water works was offered him and he accepted the position, running them nearly four years. He was then appointed Postmaster of Red Bluff by President Hayes and was reappointed by President Garfield, holding the office for about eight years. After this he engaged in the grocery business. He began on the corner of Main and Oak streets, and had the inisfortune to go through two fires, sustaining a loss of over $13,000. Since then, with remarkable courage and enterprise, he built one of the most substantial business blocks second only to one other fine building in the town. It is a large brick block with two stores below and offices above. Mr. Clements is now conducting his grocery business on Walnut street and enjoys a good trade.

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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 104

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