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 108

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 108

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H. SLAVENS, dry-goods merchant at Woodland, is the son of H. and Lydia (Goodman) Slavens. His father, a native of Kentucky, and a farmer and drover, died in Iowa in 1869; and his mother, born in Indiana, is still living in Ottumwa, Iowa. In 1855 Mr. Slavens, when seventeen years of age, eame to California, landing first at Stockton, where he worked at odd jobs, mostly farm work, until he came in 1883 to Woodland, where he has sinee been successfully engaged in mercantile busi- ness. For several years he was on Main street; but the present year, 1890, he opened a dry- goods and clothing store opposite the old stand and near the Capital Hotel. The establishment is now known as the Star Clothing House, and they carry a large stock of taney goods and are well known throughout the county.

Mr. Slavens was married in 1881, to Emma Canion, who was born in Santa Clara County, and their two children are: Harold, aged five years, and Effie, one year.

ERMAN KUHN, a tinner at Woodland, is the son of Stephen and Katharine Kulin, both natives of Germany; the father died in that country in 1864, and the mother is still living in Sacramento, at the age of sixty-seven years. Mr. Kuhn was born in Germany, in 1851,

and at the age of seventeen years emigrated to America, landing at New York city, and thence he came by water to California, landing in San Francisco in 1867. He then learned the trade of tinner of D. Wyman, on J street, between Ninth and Tenth, Sacramento; and after work- ing there three years he moved to Woodland and was employed by C. D. Morin, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; and after working for him three years he entered partner- ship with C. Rosenkrans in the tinware trade, and at the end of two years he purchased the interest of his partner, and since has conducted the business alone; he enjoys a good patron- age. He has held the office of Constable two years; is a member of Lodge No. 24, (). C. F., and of Woodland Lodge, No. 43, K. of P.

He was first married to Lizzie Hummer, in 1875, who died in 1878, leaving two children, -Herman and Willie. He was married the second time to Lydia Bower, a native of Ger- many, and they have three children,-Lydia, Josie and Vilio.

TEPHEN SPURLOCK RUSSELL, Dep- uty County Clerk of Colusa County, was born in Whiteside County, Illinois, March 6, 1839. His father, Rev. Benjamin H. Russell, was a member of the Illinois Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, but sinee 1852 has been a member of the Cali- fornia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He now (April, 1890), resides at Knight's Landing, Yolo County, in the enjoy- ment of a hale old age. He has been in the ministry fifty-seven years. The subject of this sketch was brought to California by his parents. In 1858 he left home and began the battle of life for himself. In the early part of that year he went to Colusa County and entered the em- ploy of Case & Goodhue at Grand Island, where he remained two years. He then went to Sut- ter County, where he served as Deputy County Clerk for eight years. About 1877 he went to

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Los Angeles, where for a time he was engaged in the Grange store, at the same time carrying on extensive farming operations outside of the city. Returning to Colusa County in 1879, he accepted the position of Depnty County Clerk, which position he has ever since held, except a short time spent in the vicinity of Red Bluff.

In 1872 he was united in marriage with Miss Marcella G. Newell, a daughter of George New- ell, then residing near Sonoma, and since near Gayoso, Pemiscot County, Missouri.

RANK G. HASKEY, County Superin- tendent of Schools, has been a resident of California almost thirteen years and of Napa County abont eleven years. He was born near Carlinville, Maconpin County, Illinois, December 22, 1850; was edneated at Blackburn University in his native town, and in Septem- her, 1871, commenced teaching in that vicinity and has nearly ever since been engaged in edu- eational work.

In February, 1877, he came to California, and has been engaged as a teacher in the pub- lic schools of Napa County for abont eleven years. In 1886 he was elected for four years as Connty Superintendent of Schools. He has been a member of the Board of Education of Napa County for the past ten years and was president of the board for two years. He is a member of Napa Lodge, No. 18, I. O. O. F., of which he is Past Grand.

In 1880 he married Miss Adella Gosling. daughter of ex-Supervisor Caleb Gosling, of Berryesa Valley, and they have two children, Daphne Elizabeth and Mary Adella.

PALMER, sexton of the Woodland Ceme- tery, is the son of Alvia and Rhoda 6 (Bordman) Palmer, natives of New York State; his father died when the son was nine years old, and the mother is still living in Sand-

ers County, New Brunswick, at the age of seventy-eight years. The subject of this brief sketch was born in Marion County, Ohio, No- vember 18, 1837, and was ten years of age when his widowed mother moved with him to Michigan, where he received three months schooling. After a residence there of ten years, he moved to Illinois and lived there eight years; then resided for a short time in New Brunswick, and finally, in 1880, he came to California, since which time he has resided mostly in Yolo County. He has 160 acres of land near Madison, and he has had the situation of sexton of the present cemetery six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary E. Flem- ing, is a native of Pennsylvania, and they were married in 1860, in Mercer County, Illinois. Their two living children are: Adelia A. and Robert C., and there are two deceased, Charles and Harry. Mr. Palmer is a member of Graf- ton Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Lodge No. 215, A. O. U. W., and Post No. 65, G. A. R.

ATTHIAS DANY is the fashionable merchant tailor of Red Bluff. He is a native of Austria, born February 18, 1859. His father, Matthias Dany, Sr., was a native of Bohemia, and his mother was an Anstrian. Mr. Dany's parents were farmers and to that life he was reared. He received his education in his native town, learned his trade, and then spent three years and two months as a soldier in the Anstrian army. In 1884 Mr. Dany came to New York and worked at his trade in that city for Delnry, a fashionable tailor. He then went to Boston, where he con- tinued work at his trade, getting an insight into the best methods of making fashionable cloth- ing in the most fashionable cities of the United States.

In September, 1885, he eame to San Fran- cisco and soon afterward located in Chico, where he worked a year. He came to Red Bluff in 1886 and established himself in business here

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

on Main street. He employs four first-class workers in his tailor shop and does the leading business in the city. He was burned out in the beginning of the present year (1890), but he established himself in another building the same day.

Mr. Dany is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a go-ahead and enterprising business man and takes an interest in the affairs of the city and State of his adoption.

W. DOW, manager of the Ecadanti Hotel at Woodland. This hotel was erected in 1889 and furnished December 19 that year, and is ably conducted by the gentleman whose naine appears at the head of this brief notice, who took charge the nineteenth of that month, opening by a large ball, for which two special railroad trains were run. Mr. Dow was born in 1855 in New Hampshire, has traveled a great deal, been manager of several hotels in the United States, and is therefore well qualified to attain the popularity he enjoys in this com- munity. His hotel is owned by a company in Woodland. In 1875 he was united in marriage vith Miss Panline Avery, and they have a fam ily of four interesting children, named: Harry D., Arthur S., Helen L. and Alice A. Mr. Dow is a member of the Union Lodge, No. 79, F. & A. M., at Bristol, New Hampshire.

F. FISHER, who ranks as a leading citizen of Calistoga, has lead a very " busy, active and useful life, and has proved himself possessed of the sterling inde- pendence and go-ahead instincts that we recognize as the best characteristic of the American people. A sketch of Mr. Fisher's life, although necessarily short and imperfect, will yet be found of unusual value and interest, and we are glad to present it herewith.

Mr. Fisher was born December 14, 1834, in

Tuscarawas County, Ohio, his father being a farmer of German parentage, being born in Stuttgart, Germany. His mother was also of German descent, but born in Pennsylvania. Mr. Fisher was brought up on a border Western farın, as fariners' boys of that day were raised, to hard work and economical habits, and gain- ing thereby the energy and independence that have made him the man he is. He came to California in the spring of 1856, via Panama. During his stay upon the Isthmus occurred the riots of that year, which took place under his eyes. Upon reaching California Mr. Fisher engaged in the stage business at Napa for the late Hon. Nathan Coombs of that city, running a line from Napa to Benicia, remaining with Mr. Coombs for seven years. Later Mr. Fisher started a line of stages from Napa to Calistoga after Brannan bought and improved the hot springs at the latter point. This line also served the white sulphur springs at St. Helena. When the railroad was built up the valley as far as Oakland Mr. Fisher became agent for the railway at that point, continuing there until the road was extended to Calistoga. He then be- came messenger for the Pacific Union Express Company on the route from Calistoga to San Francisco, a position he held until the company sold out to Wells-Fargo some eighteen months later. Then Mr. Fisher put on a line of stages between Healdsburg and Calistoga, doing a large and profitable business until the con- strnction of the Donahne line up through Sonoma County took away the profits. He then sold out and purchased the livery stable and business formerly conducted by Clifford in Calistoga. He immediately organized the Clear Lake & Navigation Company and began to run a line of stages from Calistoga into Lake County. Of this company he was general superintend- ent and a director as well as stockholder. He had four partners, -- such men as Tibureio Parrott and others. After two years he bought out the lives from the company, continuing the livery business. Finally, in 1884, he sold out the stage line to Mr. Wellington and the Lodi

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

stable to Mr. Spiars, the present proprietor, in 1886. It is as a live stage and livery man that Mr. Fisher made his reputation as a man of nn- conquerable spirit and enbending integrity, hard-working, energetic and untiring, he won the confidence and esteem of every one and gained almost a national reputation for prompt- ness and ability.

After selling out his stage and stable busi- ness, it would seem as if Mr. Fisher had earned the right to spend the remainder of his life in ease and comfort; but no, he at once turned his attention to benefiting his chosen town of Cali- stoga. He went to work to build water-works, constructing a reservoir in Fieg's Cañon a couple of miles away, piping down to the town, giving an inexhaustible supply of pure, cold water at the pressure of seventy pounds. By this means Calistoga has been greatly benefited, though at no personal gain to Mr. Fisher. He was also largely interested in having the town incorporated, and thus clearing the place of the strong rowdy and saloon element that formerly predominated, raising the license for saloons from $15 to $400 a quarter and diminishing their number from fourteen to four. He is a Republican in politics and a most active and effective worker for his party, always striving to benefit the better side and to advance the general good, public-spirited and generous in good causes. He was the chairman of the last Republican convention at Napa, but although active and influential yet never a self-seeker. He possesses the most handsome and comfort- able risidence in his town and is rightly con- sidered as the leading citizen. At present he is engaged in the real-estate and insurance busi- nes, conducting most of the business of the town in that direction.

Mr. Fisher was married in 1874 to Miss Ag- nes M. Safley, a native of Iowa and of Scotch parentage, the daugliter of Andrew Safley, now deceased, one of the prominent older settlers of the county. They have had three children: Howard F. and Alice Hortense, one son and one daughter, being still alive, and promising to re-

produce physically and mentally the good examples of their parents. Such in brief is an account of the busy life of W. F. Fisher, the pioneer stage man of Napa County, a man of immense determination and consequently of de- served success.

EORGE H. FOREE, a Lakeport merchant, was born in Solano County, California, in July, 1853, and was early left an orphan. He first graduated at Lincoln Grammar School in San Francisco and afterward at Heald's Business College in the same city. He was then for several years engaged in various oc- cupations,-bookkeeping, clerking in a store and mining; in the latter he was employed about seven years, in Siskiyou, Klamath and El Dorado counties. In 1883 he went to Lakeport, Lake County and bought the hardware store of Tate & Co., and lias ever since been engaged in that trade, with varying fortune. Ilis store has been twice burned,-in 1885 and 1887; and his dwelling was burned in August, 1888, the fire in each case catching fron adjoining build- ings. He is still a bachelor, but his sister has resided with him since his first arrival in Lakeport.

ILLIAM HAYS, a prominent farmer near Madison, Yolo County, was

born in Monroe County, Kentucky, in 1838. His father Jacob Hays, was all his life a farmer, and is still living, in Woodland; and his mother, whose maiden name was Naney Rhiraid, died in Davis County, Missouri, whither the family had moved in 1847. In 1855 Mr. Hays went to Iowa, remaining there ten months and then started for California without a dollar, working his way through by driving cattle, and reaching Sacramento in Sep- tember, 1856. He at once went to Sonoma County and worked at odd jobs for a year, and

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similarly in other counties until 1860, by which time he had two horses. He then rented a piece of good farming land in Yolo County, and cultivated it until 1868, when he came to the place where he now resides, three miles west of Madison, and where he has 620 acres of well-improved land and raises grain and live- stock; has some very fine horses.

He was first married in Yolo County in 1867, to Miss Albinia Cloyed, and they had four children, all of whom are living. By his second marriage Mr. Hays was united with Miss Melissa White, in Yolo County, in 1878, and they have had one child, now deceased. The chil- dren living are Albertie and Albert, twins, Alice G. and Inowa N. Mr. Hays is a member of Madison Lodge, No. 135, F. & A. M.

LIAS SEABOLD, a prominent fariner three and a half miles west of Madison, Yolo County, has 465 acres there, upon which he raises wheat and barley. He was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, October 5, 1827. Ilis parents, Nicholas and Elizabeth (Zindel) Seabold, natives of the father-land, died when he was a small boy. At the age of twenty years he came to America, landing at New Orleans, and at once went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remamed a year and a half, then he spent six months at Quincy, Illinois; and then he came to California, in 1850, stopping at Placerville, having been four months and a half on the journey. He followed mining for some time in the neighborhood of Placerville, spent three months in Sacramento, then mined five months on the Salmon River, returned to Sacramento again with the intention of going East; but on arriving there he changed his mind, concluding that if other people could stand it here he could. Accordingly, he bought a team in Sacramento and went to freighting, following that business from October, 1851 to 1867; he then entered Yolo County, where he has since remained, pur- chasing that year the place which he still oc-

cnpies. For his wife he married Ellen Kegan, who was born in Ireland in 1837, their marriage taking place in Placer County, January 29, 1859. Their children are: Elizabeth J., who was born in March, 1872, and Annie S., who was born in March, 1874.

MEZGER, proprietor of the bakery and restaurant in Woodland, was born in Europe, in 1846, and in 1856 he was brought to America, landing at New York city. Within seven years he learned his trade in the Pine Bakery, and then came by water to San Francisco, in 1866, and a short time afterward to Yolo County, where he was first engaged upon a ranch for three years; and then he went to Woodland, worked for Otto Sloan. Four- teen years afterward he bought the place on Main Street in Woodland, which he now oc- cupies, near the Bank of Woodland. He mar- ried Mary Orlner, who was born in 1870, and they have six children: Otto C., Max J., Bertha M., Harry, Eruest and Lawrence.

S. DOWNS, M. D., one of the oldest prac- ticing physicians of Northern California, was born in the city of Haverhill, New Hampshire, April 14, 1831. He received his early education in the schools of Newbury, Vermont. At the age of fourteen he went to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he studied medi- cine with Dr. Edward Cox, for five years. In 1847 he went to Chicago, where he attended one session of the Rush Medical College. He then went to St. Louis and entered the St. Louis Medical College, where he graduated in 1848. In the spring of 1849 he crossed the plains to California, arriving at Sacramento in July, where he engaged in the practice of medicine, uninterruptedly for the following ten years. In 1859, having lost his health, through over- work and exposure incidental to the practice of

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his profession, he went to Lakeport, Lake County, where he practiced for three years. Ilaving. regained his health, he then went to Napa City where he engaged in practice with Dr. W. W. Stillwagon until 1864. His health again failing him, he returned to Lakeport, where he has since resided and followed his profession, and where he has established a very pleasant and comfortable home. He was married, in 1858, to Miss Kate Sheridan, a daughter of Hon. James E. Sheridan, who has served in both branches of the California Legislature. He was a cousin to General Phil H. Sheridan. They have three children: Frank, Charles S. and Ernst.

Frank is in business in San Francisco, Charles S. in the drug business in Oakland, and Ernst, the youngest, is reading medicine with his father.

ILLIAM H. FISHER is one of Red Bluff's promising young men. He is a native of Ontario, Canada, born June 23, 1864. His parents, John and Frances (Bishop) Fisher, were natives of England, and were the parents of three children, of whom he is the youngest. The family removed to Iowa. where the subject of this sketch was educated, and where the father died. William H. and his mother subsequently engaged in the restaurant business. In 1876 they removed to Minnesota, continuing in the same business there. They sold out in 1884 and came to California, locat- ing in Red Bluff. For two and a half years Mr. Fisher clerked, first for Mr. J. S. Daven- port and later for Mr. Rolla Fuller. He then bought out Mr. Davenport and succeeded him in business. He has a fine location and an ex- tensive trade, his business extending out thirty miles from the city.

Mr. Fisher is a member of the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Republican. His parents were Methodists. He, however, is not a member of any church. He is an intelligent and prac- tical business young man, and enjoys the

confidence of his patrons and all who know him.

RANK HIDER, hardware merchant at Woodland, was born in Germany, in 1851, and is now a true and honest citizen of Woodland, prospering in his trade and having a large establishment. He settled there from San Francisco in August, 1809; he had come to San Francisco from Germany ten years previ- ously and learned his trade there, namely, that of tinsmith. His parents, Christ and Johanna (Konig) Hider, were natives of Germany. His father was a baker by trade, and died in Germany, at the age of sixty-four years, in 1870; and his mother died in 1874, at the age of sixty-five. Mr. Frank Hider married Miss Therese Bottcher in Germany, in 1874, and their children are Emily, Frank, Adele, and Hattie. Mr. Hider is a member of Woodland Lodge, No. 24, K. of P., and of Woodland Lodge, No. 43, O. C. F.

J. GAREY, a fariner and stock-raiser on Cache Creek, in Yolo County, is the son of William and Sarah (Glower) Garey. Ilis father was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, in'1801; was a brick-mason by trade; put up the first briek building in St. Louis, Missouri; came to California in 1849, and was engaged in farming most of his life-time on Cache Creek until a few years before his death, which took place in December, 1888. G. J.'s mother, a few years younger than his father, died in the same place.

The subject of this sketch was born in Iowa in 1837, and came overland to California in 1852, stopped at Bidwell's Bar, Butte County, where he mined for two years. Afterward he came to Yolo County, and in 1870 settled on Cache Creek. where he has since remained. raising grain and stock. His home ranch con-

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tains 141 acres of well improved land; and be also has 500 acres of grazing land, on which he pastures 400 cattle. He is not yet married; is a member of Woodland Lodge. No. 81, F. & A. M., and also of Chapter No. 46.

ALFRID BURKMAN, superintendent of the brick department of the Union Press Brick and Terra Cotta Company of San Francisco-whose works are situated at Vallejo-has been engaged in the manufacture of brick for the past nine years. Born in Lands- krona, Sweden, in 1850, he attended the public schools up to the age of fifteen years; then, nntil nineteen, he was learning the machinist's trade, and then commenced traveling as a journeyman, working in machine shops in Germany three years, Vienna one year, Constantinople three years, various cities in Asia, then Greece, Italy and Switzerland. Then, after spending three years in his native country, he came, in 1879, to the United States, and for three years was employed in machine shops in Chicago, especi- ally in the machinery department of the And- erson Pressed-Brick Company; and while there he invented a number of improvements, taking ont five patents, three of which were for reduc- ing the various kinds of clay to fine powder, and two for a brick-pressing machine for pressing the dry clay into brick; and somne of his devices were used by the Anderson Company. In November, 1886, he removed to the Pacific coast, first locating at Los Angeles, where he was engaged by a pressed- brick company; and while there he invented another reducer and an improved brick-pressing machine, for which he received patents. His machine is now used by the Los Angeles com- pany and by the works at Vallejo. These bricks are intended more for ornamental purposes than anything else, selling for $40 per thousand, while the ordinary brick sells for about $10. However, by means of the machinery invented by Mr. Burkman, brick can be made by the dry

process, not so finely finished, and consequently not requiring expensive labor, that could be sold almost as cheaply as the fine-finished brick and that would stand four times the pressure. The brick made by the common process require drying for a number of days and additional handling, while brick made by Mr. Burkman's process are ready for the kiln immediately. Mr. Burkman is now superintendent of the brick department of these works and a stock- holder. The establishment has a capacity of 12,000 bricks in ten hours, and it can be easily enlarged to double its present capacitv.

Mr. Burkman was married in Chicago, in 1880, to Miss Mary Jones, a native of Sweden, who died in 1885, leaving one child, Werner. Mr. Burkman is a member of the First Swedish Lodge, No. 479, I. O. O. F., of Chicago. He still retains stock in the Los Angeles Pressed- brick and Terra Cotta Company.

EORGE CAHILL, a merchant tailor of Lakeport, was born in Kingstown, Ireland, November 1, 1840. When he was ten years old, he went to London, England, where he learned the tailor's trade. In 1858 he came to New York city, where he worked at his trade as a journeyman for several years. About the year 1856 he went to Chicago and engaged on his own acconnt in the merchant-tailoring busi- ness, where he was very successful. In 1871 he was burned out by the great fire, by which he lost about $15,000. In 1872 he came to California and engaged in business in San Fran- cisco, where he remained abont one year. IIe then went to Eureka, Humboldt County, where he engaged in the tailoring business for seven or eight years. He then went back to San Fran- cisco, where he worked for one year, and finally came to Lake County and engaged in the iner- chant-tailoring business. He carries about $2,000 worth of stock, employing four hands, and is one of the successful business men of Lakeport. He owns real estate in the town of

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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 108

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