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 109
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Lakeport valued at $7,000, and $1,000 worth in Kelseyville. He is a member of the order of the Iron Hall, and also of the Chosen Friends.
OHN ABSHIER, foreman of Goble Bros.' ranch, in Yolo County, is a son of Elizur and Mary (Reed) Abshier, natives of Iowa. His father, a farmer, came to California in 1863. He had four children, of whom John is the youngest. He was born in Lee County, Iowa, in 1863, and was but five months old when his parents crossed the plains to this State, and ever since then he has been a resident of Woodland, of which place also the Goble Bros. are resi- dents. He has always followed agrienltural pursuits, and in 1885 took charge of their ranch of 160 acres, where he raises clover prin- cipally. His wife, whose maiden name was Parr, is a native of this State, born in 1853, and they have two children,-Leroy and Lenora.
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DWARD VON PESSL is the intelligent and gentlemanly superintendent of the Schramsburg wine cellars, Napa County. He is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born on the 2d of April, 1862, a son of Edward and Eva (Schieffmann) Von Pessl. Commencing his education in the government schools of his native land, he received their training until fourteen years old, then attended college at Amberg for five years, and was graduated in 1881.
In 1883 he came to the United States, and to Napa Valley, California, direct from New Or- leans. Having selected the wine business as his field of operation and determined to learn it from its fundamental principles up, he entered the employ of Mr. Schram as a workman in the vineyard. He next went into the cellar, and was placed in charge thereof in 1887. There is no detail in cellar handling of the Sehramsburg wines that does not receive the
benefit of his intelligent supervision, and some of the credit for their great reputation must be conceded him. Mr. Von Pessl has a ranch of his own in Douglas County, Oregon, near Ross- burg, comprising 250 acres, which is operated by his brother John.
Hosts of visitors to the Schram vineyards and cellars are under obligations to Mr. Von Pessl for courtesies and kindness shown them therc.
R. WILLIAM D. CLARK, a prominent citizen and physician of Cottonwood, was born in the city of San Francisco, Califor- nia, October 22, 1863. He is the son of T. P. Clark, a California pioneer, who came around the Horn in the ship Sarah and Eliza, and after a voyage of 213 days arrived in San Francisco September 17, 1849. He was one of the prom- inent members of the Vigilance Committee, which took such an active part in the early days of this State. He was a contractor and builder by trade, having built many of the fine build- ings which now adorn the great and beautiful city of San Francisco. He has also been a prom- inent Mason, being a member of Occidental Lodge of San Francisco, F. & A. M., and has received the thirty-second degree in the order. He is a native of Fairfield, Monroe County, Connecticut, born August 31, 1823. After nearly three years' residence in California he returned to the East, in 1852, via Panama, and in the same year brought his young wife to the Golden State. She was formerly Miss P. Dible, a native of Seymour, Connecticut, and the daughter of Lyman Dible, an early settler of that State. They were the parents of seven children, five girls and two boys.
Our subject, the youngest child, was educated in his native eity, and in his fourteenth year was obliged on account of poor health to give up his studies and go to the country for a time. He remained on the ranch of his sister, Mrs. B. F. Davidson, of Capay Valley, until he reeov-
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ered his health, and then returned to the city and resumed his studies. He spent a year at the high school, under the charge of Professor William T. Reid, when sickness again com- pelled him to give up study. In 1879 he took a course in the California Business College, and after receiving his diploma he went into the office of Dr. William F. Hale, one of San Fran- cisco's most prominent physicians. In 1881 he entered the Medical Department of the Univers- ity of California, finished the course in 1884, and at once engaged in practice. In 1885 he removed to Cottonwood, Shasta County, where he built and stocked the first drug store in the town, which he conducted in connection with his general practice.
In 1888 Dr. Clark married Miss Lillie Sim- inons of San Francisco, a graduate of the Nor- mal School. She and the Doctor, with other young business men of the place, are doing what they can to build up and improve their town. The Doctor has been an industrions student, and takes a deep interest in surgery. He has been very successful in his practice, and enjoys the confidence, respect and patronage of many of the best citizens of Cottonwood and the sur- rounding country. He is a bright, pleasing and talented gentleman, interested in his State and county, and always holds himself in readi- ness to help any enterprise that has for its ob- ject healthy growth and improvement. He is also Vice President of the Northern Medical Association.
W. BROWN, blacksmith and wagon- maker at Woodland, is a son of Hanford
O and Keziah (Penn) Brown. His mother, a native of Virginia, is a grand-niece of the colebrated William Penn, and is now living in Ralls County, Missouri, at the age of eighty- four years; and her mother lived to the age of 101 years, and her grandmother to the age of 104 years. For eight years the latter was blind, but four years before her death she re.
covered her sight so that she could see without glasses. Mr. Brown's father, also a native of Virginia, was a blacksmith by trade and moved to Ralls County, Missouri, in 1828, where he died, in February, 1875.
The subject of this brief mention was born in New London, Missouri, March 18, 1838. He arrived in California August 12, 1887, and November 7 following he opened his present shop. His oldest son, William P., is now a partner in the business.
Mr. Brown married Melinda Caldwell, in New London, September 26, 1859, and their children are William P., George A., James H., Eliza L. and Ruth C.
RED MARTINELLI, a wholesale vegetable dealer of Woodland, was born in Italy, a son of Francisco and Teresa (Contana) Martinelli, and came to San Francisco in 1869. Eight years afterward he moved to Woodland, where he is now conducting a large wholesale and retail vegetable trade, running several wagons throughout the county. He opened his present place in 1887, and is driving a prosperous business. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows, and has the reputation of being an industrious and honorable citizen.
HOMAS J. ROBBINS, was born in San Antonio, Texas, March 30, 1845. His parents were natives of Tennessee. They were
among the early settlers of Texas. In 1847 they moved to Ray County, Missouri, where they remained till 1852. In that year they crossed the plains to California and settled in Sonoma County. In 1868 they returned to Missouri.
Thomas J., the subject of this sketch, re- ceived his education in the public schools of Sonoma County. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in the Second Regiment California
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Volunteers, Company D. The regiment ren- dezvoused from September to November, 1861, at San Francisco, awaiting orders. In Novem- ber it was ordered to Fort Collins, near the line of British Columbia. From Fort Collins they returned to San Francisco, and were then ordered to Fort Gaston, Humboldt County, where they remained till 1868, when the regi- ment was ordered to San Francisco for final discharge.
After being discharged, Mr. Robbins traveled over the State for two years, making no per- manent settlement. In 1868 he came to Lake County, where he worked in quicksilver mines for ten years. In 1878 he discovered a valuable compound, which he named " Oil of Orioto, " and on which he secured a patent February 24, 1880. This remedy has proved to be very efficacious, in many diseases, both for man and beast, and has become justly celebrated through- ont the State. Mr. Robbins was married January 8, 1868, to Miss Hester Ann Good- win, a native of Salt Lake, Utah. They have seven children: Ada, Minnie, Lena, Hila, Hugh, Willie Leroy and Martin. He is a member of Rosseau Post, No. 64, Grand Army of the Republic, located at Kelseyville, Lake County.
UGUST DIENDONNI, a farmer residing in Woodland, is the son of Joseph and Mary (Darras) Diendonni, natives of France. The father died at Knight's Landing, Yolo County, in 1879, at the age of seventy- four years; his mother died in France, in 1854. August was born in the Province of Lorraine, France, and in 1853 came to California around Cape Horn, all the way on a sailing vessel named Sacramento. He at once went into Yuba Connty and mined for two weeks on Foster Bar; thence he went to Marysville, and from there to Sacramento, where he remained three years, employed as a gardener; he then came to Yolo County, settling in the sink of Cache Creek, where he lived one year. Then he purchased
a ranch on the Sacramento River, which he oc- cupied until 1879, when he moved to Woodland, in 1883, and purchased his present place, ad- joining the grounds of the Catholic seminary. He still has five acres there and ten acres be- tween Woodland and Cacheville, in grapes.
He married Mary Alexander, who was born in Sacramento, and they have seven children: Eugene, Josephine, Edmond, Frank W. E., Louis, Mary M. and Charles A.
B. SPAGNOLI, attorney and counselor at law, at Jackson, was born in Pied- o mont, Italy, November 13, 1840. He received his education in Italy, France and Switzerland, having finished at Vevay. In 1854 he came with his parents and a younger brother direct to San Francisco, and from there on to Amador County. They first engaged in mining for a few months, after which they opened a store of general merchandise. His father died September 24, 1863, aged fifty-four years, and his mother March 17, 1873, at the age of sixty- six years.
SYLVESTER G. SPAGNOLI, his brother, was born September 22, 1845. and is now Deputy County Clerk, which position he has filled for the past six years.
Louis J., the subject of this sketch was ap- pointed Deputy County Recorder and Auditor of Amador County, March 1, 1866, which position he held for four years, having been re- appointed in 1868. In 1869 he received the nomination for County Clerk, by the Demo- cratic party, and was elected. In 1871 he was again the nominee of his party for Clerk, but was defeated, the Republicans having elected the entire ticket. In March, 1871, his term of office not having expired, he obtained a leave of absence from the State Legislature, and returned to Italy on a visit to his old home and the scenes of his childhood. On his return he formed a law partnership with Judge R. M. Briggs, with whom he continued in the practice
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of law till 1876. He was then appointed Deputy County Clerk, which position he held till 1880. He then opened an office and en- gaged in the practice of law till 1884, when he formed a partnership with Judge Curtis H. Lindley. Judge Lindley had been a Superior Judge of Amador County previous to this partnership, having been appointed to fill the unexpired term of Judge George Moore, de- ceased. This partnership lasted for three years. From 1887 to the present time Mr. Spagnoli has conducted the law business alone. In 1871 he was appointed a Notary Public by Governor H. H. Haight, which office he has held uninter- ruptedly to the present time.
Mr. Spagnoli has been twice married: first to Miss Isabella Bryant, a lady from Maine. They had two children: Sylvester N. D. was born December 14, 1872, and has received a collegi- ate e Incation in Santa Clara College and is now engaged in the drug business in Jackson. Ur- bano G. D. was born December 27, 1873, and is now attending school in Jackson. Mrs. Spagnoli died Angust 8, 1874. In 1882 Mr. Spagnoli was again married, to Miss Ida Bell Kerr, a native of California. They had three children, Lizzie M., Ernest B. D., and Roma V. Mr. Spagnoli is a member of Amador Lodge, No. 60, F. & A. M., Sutter Chapter No. 11, and has also taken the Scottish rite, the highest degree in Masonry. He is also a member of Jackson Lodge, No. 138, A. O. U. W., and Jackson Council, No. 80, Chosen Friends. He is progressive, energetic, attached to his pro- fession and consequently is successful, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
S. HASKIN, a farmer of Lake County, was born November 11, 1821, in Trimble County, Kentucky. Ilis father was a native of Virginia. A. S. Haskin remained in his native State till 1866. In that year he went to Marion County, Missouri, and in 1868
he went to Saline County of the same State, where he was for twelve years engaged in farm- ing. In 1880 he came to California and settled in Fresno County, where he remained three years. He then went to San Lonis Obispo County, where he remained until 1888, when he came to Lake County. He owns 108 acres of excellent land, all under cultivation. It lies about six miles south of Lakeport on the High- land Springs road, and is beantifully located. He raises grain and stock. He was married February 17, 1843, to Miss Lucy Mothersead, a native of Virginia. Her parents moved to Kentucky when she was three years old. They have nine children: Armsted G., America M., Sarah Ann, Narcissa J., Mary E., Octavie C., Or- retta T., Annie Lee, Thomas E. Octavie and An- nie are at home with their parents. The other chil- dren have made homes of theirown. Mr. Haskin was a inagistrate for the county in which he lived in Kentucky, for twelve years. Although he has always been actively engaged in farming and other laborious pursnits, time has dealt gently with him, and his present appearance is that of an energetic, middle-aged man, in the prime of life. In politics, Mr. Haskin affiliates with the Democratic party.
AMES H. COMBS, a farmer of Lake County, was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, December 21, 1832. In 1842 his parents moved to Independence, Missouri. Ilis father died in 1849. In 1850 James H. returned to Monnt Sterling, Kentucky, to finish his education. He graduated from the Mt. Sterling Academy, an institution of note in that part of the State, in 1852. In 1853 he crossed the plains, with ox and mulo teams, to Califor- nia. He first settled in San Ramon Valley, where he remained one year. Ile then went to San José, where he remained about two years. In 1856 he returned to Missouri, where he re- mained till 1872. He then returned to Califor- nia and settled near Redwood City, where he
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engaged in farming. In the fall of 1875 lie came to Lake County and settled in Lakeport, where he resided for two years, not engaging in active business on account of poor health. In 1887 he purchased his present farm, on which he has since resided. He has 140 acres situated about three miles south of Lakeport on the Kel- seyville and Highland Springs road. He raises grain and fruit. He has five acres in fruit trees, including a general variety. He is also engaged to some extent in raising horses.
Mr. Combs was married July 15, 1860, to Miss Elizabeth Marshall, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Marshall, natives of Kentucky. They have six children: Robert Marshall, M. Sue, Carrie H., James H., Jr., Marshall R. and Bessie.
Mr. Combs is a member of the A. O. U. W.
H. CHAPMAN, residing on Brown's Valley Road, about a mile from Napa,
O has a ranch of forty-three acres, of which twenty are in orchard, about fourteen in full bearing and six coming into bearing. There are about six acres of cherries, five of peaches, and the remainder in apricots, prunes and a variety of fruits. These were mostly planted by Mr. Chapman, there being two acres of young orchard on the place when he came here in 1867. The rest of the place he planted at dif- ferent times since he came here. He is one of the pioneers, as he arrived in California in December, 1850.
Mr. Chapmau was born in New London, Connecticut, April 5, 1830, was brought up on a farm, and in his twentieth year came to Cali- fornia. Not having the means to pay the large passage fee then required, he managed to secure an opportunity to work for his passage, on the barque Autumn, leaving Connecticut in June and arriving in San Francisco, after a seven months trip around the Horn, in December. For a little more than a year he engaged him- self in mining near Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras
County. For the next four years he was en- gaged in various pursuits, with varying success. In 1855 he returned to Connecticut, and while there married Elizabeth Lamb, a native of that State. During the next year he came again to California, by way of Panama, bringing with him eight hives of honey bees,-one half of thein throngh successfully. For the first year after that he was engaged in the bee industry, in- creasing his stock largely and then selling and trading. them all off for real estate and other property. After a year and a half in California he went again to the East and remained three years on a farın he purchased in Connecticut. About 1860 he returned again to California, where he remained ever since. After engaging in farming in Brown's Valley for a number of years, he in 1869 located on his present place, which he afterward purchased. For six years Mr. Chapman was Road-master of the Brown's Valley road. He is a member of Napa Lodge, No. 18, I. O. O. F. His fine residence is sur- rounded by a beautiful grove of evergreen trees and magnificent Monterey cypress hedge.
By his first marriage Mr. Chapman had six children, who are yet living, namely : Frank N., William E., Emeline, now the wife of Dolom McCord, of Tulare County; Henrietta, now the wife of William Bartram, of Martinez; Flora, the wife of Mr. Bernard, of Napa, and Georgia now Mrs. Ellworth Leonard of Napa. In 1874, Mr. Chapinan was again married, this time to Hannalı Christenson, a native of Norway, and by this marriage there are five children living: Ed- ward, Julia, Lyman, Lena and Hazel.
RANK W. BUSH, whose ranch is situated a inile and a half from Napa, has been a resident of this county for the past thirteen years. The ranch comprises 132 acres, of which thirty-two are in bearing orchard. This is di- vided into eight acres of peaches, nine of French prunes, eight of Yellow Egg plumbs, two of Italian prunes and five of Oregon Silver prunes.
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To this Mr. Bush will add six acres more of the last mentioned. This year was the first crop. The peach trees bore heavily for their age-four years-there being about 1,000 boxes of the fruit. Most of these were sold to families in Napa for home canning, as they were of superior quality. The later varieties are shipped to San Francisco, where they brought the highest price in the market, namely, $1 and $1.25 per box, being of especially fine quality. There were only about three tons of prunes and plums in the rest of the orchard. Besides the above there were about four acres in small fruits and family orchard. The remainder of the ranch is devoted to general farming.
Mr. Bush was born in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1864, and brought up on his father's farm, which was situated within the city limits, and on which there was an orchard that had been largely cared for by Mr. Bush. He graduated at the commercial college of that town. For about three years he was employed in a pork- packing establishment and then came to Cali- fornia in 1876. The first two months were devoted to looking over California, in which examination he went as far south as San Diego. The result was that he decided to settle in Napa Valley, and accordingly in 1877 he purchased his present ranch. This he conducted as a gen- eral farm until 1885, when he planted out his present orchard. He has been School Trustee in this district for three years.
His parents were John D. and Anna (Myers) Bush, pioneer settlers in Iowa. In 1876 Mr. Bush married Miss Susie Sullivan, a native of that State, who died in 1887, leaving five chil- dren: Edith, Jennie, Nellie, Frank and Mabel.
ETH T. KEITHLY, a Lake County farmer, is a native of Harrison County, Indiana, born April 29, 1836. When he was quite young, his parents moved to MeDon- oughi County, Illinois, where his father engaged in farming. In 1860 S. T. came to California
and settled in Yolo County, where he remained till 1865. He then went to Sonoma County, where he bought a small farm, on which he lived for ten years. In the fall of 1875 he sold his farm and came to Lake County, and bought the farmn on which he now resides. He has 144 acres of land in Big Valley, lying between the Kelseyville road and Clear Lake, which he de- votes to the, raising of wheat. He was married February 23, 1865, to Miss Sarah Ann Peugh. They have six children: Jacob A., David E., Georgia, Adda, Lem and Lillian A.
ON. ANTHONY CAMINETTI, attorney at law, Jackson, was born near Jackson, Amador County, July 30, 1854. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Amador County, after which he graduated in the grammar schools of San Francisco, in 1867. From March 14, 1871, to October, 1873, he attended the University of California, at Berkeley. His health failing him at this time, he took a position in a store, in which ca- pacity he served about three years. In 1870 he came to Jackson and studied law in the office of J. T. Farley, where he remained till 1877. He was then elected District Attorney, and at the expiration of his term was re-elected for a second term, which expired in 1882. In the fall of that year he was elected to the State Legisla- ture, to represent Amador County. In 1886 he was nominated in joint convention of Amador and Calaveras counties, on the Democratic ticket, for State Senator, and was elected. In 1880 he was an alternate elector on the Hancock and English ticket. In 1888 he was an elector on the Cleveland ticket, and received the high- est number of votes of all of the electors on the tieket. He is a member of the order of Native Sons of the Golden West, and is Past President of Excelsior Parlor, No. 31. Mr. Caminetti was married May 26, to Miss Ella Martin, a native of Tuolumne County, California. They have two children: Farley Drew and John B.
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Mr. C. is the author of the bill for the erec- tion of a monument to Marshall, the first discoverer of gold in California, and is also president of the commission. He also secured the location for the " Agricultural Experimental Station " for the foot-hill section of California. He also introduced the bill, which was passed, locating the Preston School of Industry, a reform school for boys. Mr. Caminetti is strictly Democratic in his political views; is progressive and liberal in his ideas, and consequently has the respect and support of a large number of friends.
OHN D. STEPHENS, of Woodland .- In a historical volume of Northern California such as this, treating of the country within its territorial limits in all its varied phases from aboriginal times to the present day, the most prominent feature must necessarily be the known history of the days since the discovery of gold in 1848. As many of the men who made that history and were the authors of this region's progress from a condition of nature to its present position as one of the finest spots and proudest commonwealths in the American Union, are yet living and still in the front rank of trade and enterprise, a recital of their indi- vidual narratives, and the part they have taken · in the great work, becomes at once interesting and an essential portion of this volume. One truth that particularly attracts the attention of the historian in collecting material for it is the fact that the principal impetus to this growth has been given, not so much by the political leaders as by men in the private walks of life. Of this latter class it is probable that Northern California affords no better example than John D. Stephens, with whose name this sketch com- mences, and a brief outline of his career, giv- ing some of its salient points, is herewith appended.
He was born in Cooper County, Missouri, where the town of Bunceton now stands, Sep-
tember 23, 1826. His father, Joseph Stephens, was born in Virginia, of Welsh and German parents, who came to this country prior to the Revolutionary war. He removed from Vir- ginia, and in 1817 settled in Missouri. He was a stock-raiser and farmer and kept packs of hounds and large numbers of horses for the chase, a sport to which he was greatly attached, and one of the frequent occurrences in which all ages joined with delight. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Catharine Dickson, was descended from Josiah and Isa- bella (Reed) Dickson, both of whom were born in Scotland and emigrated to America in colo- nial days. The Stephens family in Missouri occupied a high place in the community, and then as now their influence was felt in civil and political circles. Among its members most prominent in later days was the late Joseph L. Stephens, nephew of our subject, who was a banker and capitalist, a prominent factor in State politics, and but few years ago a leading candidate for Governor of the State. When just merging into manhood he responded to General Gaines' call for troops for the Mexican war by promptly offering his services in behalf of his country, and though the youngest of a company of about 110 men he was unani- mously chosen as its Captain.
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