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 112

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 112

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He was married March 7, 1872, to Miss Ralls, a native of Missouri. They had four children,

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three of whom are living. Adela, Etta and Elmer. In 1883 Mrs. Montgomery died. In 1885 Mr. Montgomery was married a second time, to Miss Magdalena Glockler, a native of California. Two daughters have resulted from this marriage-Gertrude and Caroline. Mr. M. is a member of the order of K. P. and I. O. O. F.

UDGE WILLIAM THOMPSON, Justice of the Peace of Napa Township, has been a resident of California since 1856, and of Napa for abont five years. He was born in Houston, Texas, in 1848. His father, Major J. H. Thompson, a native of Kentucky, was an officer in the army of the Republic of Texas, serving in the war of Texas against Mexico, under General Sam Houston. His mother was Miss Absola Thompson, a native of North Carolina, who died while Judge Thompson was an infant. His father soon removed to Ark- ansas, and in 1856 crossed the plains to Califor- nia, settling at Benicia, Solano County, where he engaged in the practice of law. In 1857 he removed to Fairfield, in the same county, where he built the first house, continuing his law practice and serving as District Attorney for several years. Young Thompson was educated in the Fairfield public schools, and at the age of seventeen commenced to learn the drug busi- ness with Stockman Bros., where he remained for two years. After acting as agent for Wells, Fargo & Co. at Lakeport for eighteen months, he returned to Fairfield and took charge of Dr. M. S. McMahon's drug-store for four years. He studied law for three years with his father, and then engaged in the law office of Murphy, Shackleford & McPheters, at Salinas. In 1874 he went to Arizona, and became identified with mining interests about fifteen miles from Globe, in what was known as the Mineral Creek min- ing district. He became the first Recorder of that district. After remaining there three years, for the next three years he was engaged in

prospecting through New and old Mexico and Arizona. Returning to California he located in Tulare County, where he farmed for a year, and was then for two years in charge of the Kaweah Cana !. In 1874 he came to Napa, and engaged in the furniture and auction business, in which he continued until elected to his pres- ent office. While living in Tulare County he was married to Mrs. Anna J. Enlow, a native of Arkansas. They have three children: Annie Belle, Charles H. and an infant. One child, Benton Merlin, died in his second year. Judge Thompson is a member of the Ancient Order of Druids, of the Improved Order of Red Men, of the United Endowment Associates and the Royal Argosy. In 1871-'72 he was Assistant Engrossing Clerk of the State Senate. Is a member and secretary of the County Central Committee of the Democratic party. The fact that he has been twice elected to his present office in a strong Republican town is a gratify- ing evidence of his personal popularity. He is now again reading law, and expects, when he shall retire from his present position, to per- manently engage in the practice of his chosen profession.

ENJAMIN DEWELL, one of the earliest pioneers of California, emigrated from Indiana in 1845. The company with which he came started for Oregon, but, on ac- count of there being no roads or ferries, their progress was necessarily slow, and after passing Salt Lake their guides advised them, on account of the lateness of the season, to cross the moun- tains into California, which they did, arriving near Sonoma in October. They were six months and one day on the journey. Mr. Dewell made his first permanent settlement in 1850, in Guilicos Valley, lying between Santa Rosa and Sonoma, where he commenced im. proving land which he had selected for a home. He planted an orchard and vineyard, and maue other valuable improvements, which he had to

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abandon after two years, as his location proved to be within the limits of a grant.

In 1846, the war with Mexico having been inaugurated, the few Americans who had come to settle in California organized into a company for self-protection. In the spring of 1846 they captured Sonoma, which was held by General Vallejo and a small garrison. There were thirty-three Americans, who surprised the garri- son at daylight, and effected a capture withont difficulty. Mr. Dewell, with the assistance of two comrades, were the manufacturers of the celebrated Bear Flag. In 1854 he came to Upper Lake with his family and located on his present farm, his being the second family to to settle in what is now Lake County. He has 160 acres of as good land as can be found in any country, on which he raises grain, hay and stock. He also has a large orchard. He was married in 1850, to Miss Celia Elliott, a native of Missouri. They have nine children, living: Samuel M., Orlena and Lnella (twins), Elmer E., May, Lottie, John, Charles W. and Irene. Sarah E. and Jane are dead. Mr. Dewell is a member of the I. O. O. F., of long standing. Politically he is thoroughly Republican.

OUIS SCHAFFERS, the proprietor of the Fashion Stables and a prominent citizen at Livermore, was born in the city of New York, October 30, 1854. In 1875 he came to San Francisco by rail, and was for a while em- ployed in Oakland as a butcher for other parties, and then until the fall of 1882 he carried on the business there for himself. Then selling out he went to Livermore and continned in the same business for a year, and finally purchased the well-known Fashion Stables of Jones & Wilkinson, which he now conducts with a fine patronage, as he is able to furnish a goodly number of handsome "turn-outs," etc. He is Republican in his political views, and has been of considerable service to his party, taking a prominent part in politics for fifteen years. In

1885 he was elected Town Marshal; in 1886 Town Trustee, and in 1888 re-elected; in 1889 he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Fire De- partment, which position he now holds.

He was married in Oakland, October 24, 1889, to Miss Caroline Fougure, and their two children are named Arthur L. and William.

L. MARTINELLI, whose vineyard and dairy rauch is six miles from Napa, on the Carneros Creek, known as the Falk- land Ranch, has been in California twenty years, and for the past fourteen has been a resident of Napa County. His ranch comprises 1,360 acres, mostly rolling land, on which he formerly kept from 300 to 400 head of dairy cattle, but during the past two years he has reduced his dairy stock, and has engaged more extensively in general farming, having at present only about seventy head of milk stock. Most of the dairy product was butter for the San Francisco market, of which he used to ship from 1,200 to 1,400 pounds per week, but on account of the low price he has reduced production to a com- paratively small amount. He is now putting in about 300 acres of wheat. He had on this place the first vineyard planted in Napa County, by Mrs. John B. Scott, the wife of the original owner. This vineyard was of the Mission variety, and being an inferior grape Mr. Marti- nelli has finally rooted them ont. He has now only abont five acres in vines. He was born in the town of Maggia, Ticino, Switzerland, his parents being Fidele and Maria (Riccioli) Martinelli, natives of that country. He attended the usual schools of the town until he was fourteen years of age, when he came to America, proceeding directly to California by way of the Isthinus. He obtained employment at once in the dairy business in Marin County for two years, then for one year in Sonoma, finally en- gaging in dairying on his own account in Sonoma County. In the fall of 1875 he re- moved to his present place, renting at first and

12. Thomas

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later purchasing the ranch, where he has lived ever since. He was married in 1881, to Miss Ida Welch, a native of Vallejo, and danghter of Philip and Elizabeth (McConnell) Welch. They have four children, Mary, Edward, Loretta and Rosa. Mr. Martinelli is a member of the Young Men's Institute, of Napa, and is a firmn adherent of the Democratic party.

CADENASSO, a well-known orchardist of the famous Capay Valley, was born

a in Genoa, Italy, in February, 1835, a son of Angelo and Mary Cadenasso. He came to America in 1862, proceeding at once to this State, landing at San Francisco, where he re- mained several years, engaged in vegetable gardening on rented ground. He was afterward in the livery business, which he sold out, and in 1872 went to Yolo County, where he rented land until 1878. He then purchased 160 acres in the Capay Valley, of which he has since sold a portion. His ranch at present contains about thirty-five acres, all in choice fruit trees and vines, now producing crops. On a part of his place is located the railroad station named in his honor, Cadenasso, which promises to be a thriving town.

Mr. Cadenasso was united in matrimony, December 16, 1876, to Miss Antoinetta Daneri, a native of Chiavari, Italy, who came to Amer- ica and to California in 1872. They have six children, namely: Silvio, Clelia, Atilio, Aurilio, Ida and Mantio.

S. THOMAS, deceased .- This gentleman, who came to Yolo County in an early day, was associated with her business in- terests for many years, and his career, therefore, becomes of special interest in this volume. The following sketch is gleaned from data row available:

He was born in Connectient, December 20, 45

1810, but at an early age accompanied his parents on their removal to New York State, where he grew to manhood. He was there mar- ried, October 12, 1840, to Miss J L. Wallace, a native of New York State. About 1835 they removed to Wisconsin, and from there, in 1853, Mr. Thomas crossed the plains to California with his family, making the trip by the usual methods employed in those days. He located at Placerville, where he tried his fortune at mining for one day only. This limited ex- perience satisfied him, however, and he was soon thereafter engaged in merchandising. In 1855 he left Placerville and removed to Yolo County, located at Knight's Landing, where he estab- lished a store and engaged in the grain busi- ness, building a warehouse for that purpose. While there he was associated, at different times, with J. D. Laughenauer and W. W. Brownell, the firms being, respectively, Thomas & Laughenauer and Thomas & Brownell. About 1868 he sold out his business interests at Knight's Landing, removed to Oakland, and while there entered into partnership with W. G. Hunt in the grain business, with headquar- ters at Woodland, their office being where the Bryns Hotel now stands. After a residence of one year at Oakland, Mr. Thomas removed to Vallejo, where the firm built a large grain ware- honse, and thereafter carried on business at botlı places. Two years after removing to Val- lejo, Mr. Thomas disposed of his warehouse in- terests there, and came to Woodland, which was thereafter his home. He still remained a mem- ber of the firm of Thomas & Hunt, which be- came widely known throughout the Sacramento Valley, and was in active business until the time of his death, which occurred August 10, 1882. He was a stanch Republican in his political preferences, but was in no sense a politician. However, while a young man in Wisconsin, he had held the office of Sheriff of the county in which he resided. He was an enterprising, pub- lic-spirited man, and besides his handscme resi- dence built several brick blocks there, which are still the property of his family. He was a

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man much respected for his sterling traits of character, and was honored and greatly respected by the entire farming community, with which he had long been engaged in business, as well as by his neighbors in Woodland. His death was mourned and deplored as a loss to the county. His widow is yet a resident of Woodland Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were the parents of two chil- dreu, both of whom have grown to maturity, and are residents of this city, viz .: Addie E., wife of F. E. Baker; and C. F., whose sketch follows:

F. THOMAS, one of the foremost young inen of this community, who holds no less a position than that of cashier of that great financial institution, the Bank of Wood- land, was born in Sutter County, California, January 22, 1859. Soon after his birth the family removed to Yolo County, and with the exception of a year at Oakland and two at Val- lejo, he has been a resident of this county ever since. After receiving a common school educa- tion he was, at the early age of fourteen years, placed in charge of the extensive grain ware- houses of Thomas & Hunt, at Woodland and Black's. At the age of sixteen he embarked in the merchandise business, which claimed his attention until October 1, 1877. He was then but eighteen years of age, yet was tendered the position of accountant in the bank. Con- sidering his youth and the importance of the position, this office would seem as novel as it was flattering, yet his business success already won justified the judgment of įthe bank officials in their selection. He assumed the duties of his new post with his accustomed matter-of-fact determination, and so ably and satisfactorily were his duties performed that in 1883 he was advanced to the position of cashier. It is probable that he was then the youngest man serving in that capacity in a bank of such prom- inence in the United States, yet the position was well filled to the entire satisfaction of the bank's officers and customers, and it is safe to

say that there is not in California a inore popu- lar bank official.

Mr. Thomas is deeply interested in the wel- fare and prosperity of Yolo County, and is. always ready and willing to identify himself with any movement having for its object the advancement of the interests of this community. The business ability which won for him his position in the bank has also been called into play in the handling of outside investments, a number of which he has. Besides considerable Woodland realty, he has 5,000 acres of country land, located in Yolo, Colusa, Stanislaus and Tehama counties.

Mr. Thomas was married, January 26, 1880, to Miss Agnes Bullock, daughter of the late J. P. Bullock, who was one of this county's oldest and best citizens. Their cottage on First street is a model of beauty and comfort.

Mr. Thomas enjoys the fullest confidence of his employers, and is deeply interested in the welfare of the bank, as lie considers it a great honor to be connected with an institution of such standing, which, as is well known, is seeond to none in this State.

He enjoys the highest respect of the people of Yolo County, and people of all classes, rich and poor, are proud to call him friend.

ILLIAM M. MENDENHALL, one of the most prominent citizens of Liver- more and a pioneer of California, was born April 22, 1823, in Greene County, Ohio, the son of William and Sarah (Peterson) Men- denhall, who removed to the Territory of Mich . igan in 1831 and followed farming amidst the dense forest. In 1845 the subject of this sketch, in company with twelve other adven- turers, purchased pack-mules and an outfit, and on the 17th of August started on their perilous journey across the plains, by way of Forts Lar- amie, Bridger and Hall to the then almost nn- known country of California, before it was brought into notoriety by Marshall's gold dis-

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

covery. They encountered on their journey, of course, many privations and difficulties; were attacked by Indians many times; delayed by deep snows and snow-storms in the Sierra Ne- vada Mountains; were scantily provisioned at times, and suffered on account of hunger, thirst, etc.

They arrived at Sutter's Fort on Christmas day, and after resting a short period there Mr. Mendenhall enlisted in a volunteer company of rangers for the purpose of fighting the Indians who were becoming very troublesome to the whites, and after killing several of them the tronbles were temporarily suspended. Provid- ing himself with a passport, he went to San Francisco, and then crossed the bay eastward to the locality where Oakland is now situated, and there engaged in getting out shingles, at the rate of $5 per 1,000; but in a short time, after war had been declared between the United States and Mexico, he joined the Federal forces under Fremont and served with him during the early part of the war, being discharged at Santa Clara in 1847. About this time he purchased property in San José and followed ranching a year. This proving unsatisfactory, he sold out and moved to Oregon, but in a short time re- turned to California, locating in Contra Costa County, where lie engaged in stock-raising for a number of years; and finally he moved into Alameda County and purchased 650 acres of land in the beautiful Livermore Valley, -where a large portion of the city of Livermore now stands,-and carried on farming until 1869, when he laid out the town of Livermore by con- verting 100 acres of his place into town lots. He gave twenty acres of land and the right of way to the Central Pacific Railroad Company. He has also been very generous in his donations to other business enterprises and to the reli- gions denominations. To the Methodists, for example, he gave two lots and $100 cash for the erection of a church; to the Presbyterians, twelve lots, or two and one-eighth acres; for a grist-mill site, five acres; to John Aylward, a half block of land as an inducement to bring

water to the town, in 1871; for a college, land and the loan of money for a fine building, now owned and managed by Professor J. D. Smith, etc., etc. The grist-mill referred to was de- stroyed by fire in 1885. Mr. Mendenhall has also been one of the chief promoters of the Livermore Gas Company's works, and is now president of that corporation. He has been in many ways identified with the local interests of the community. He is a member of the Amer- ican Legion of Honor, Livermore Council, No. 1,070.

He was married in Santa Clara, April 18, 1847, to Miss Mary A. Allen. This was the first marriage of " Americans " sonth of the Sac- ramento River in the State of California. They have had ten children, of whom nine are living, namely: James M., Elizabeth, Emma, Ella D., David, Archer, William, Aswold, Ascny and Etta.

MONGINI has a ranch of 140 acres about three and a half miles from Napa, on which is a small family orchard of vari- ons fruit and nut-bearing trees, and forty acres of vineyard. He has also a small winery, with storage capacity for 25,000 gallons. He pur- chased this place abont eleven years ago, and began planting it out in grapes and his family orchard. Fifteen acres have been in fruit for about ten years, and the remainder has come into bearing at intervals since that time. He was born in Toriglia, Province of Genoa, Italy, in 1839, and worked as a lad in the silver and quicksilver mines of Sardinia until he came to America in 1868. He was married in 1866 to Miss Theresa Navonia, a native of the same province in Italy. There are three children living: Louise, Joseph and Frederic. Remain- ing in New York for some time after arriving in this country, he reached San Francisco in 1870, and at first worked in San José and Liv- ermore, and a few months in Napa. He then returned to San Francisco, where he remained

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for about eight years; but, remembering the beautiful vineyards of his native land, and its wonderful resemblance in soil and climate to that of Napa Valley, he decided to settle there, and purchased his present ranch, in the enltiva- tion of which he has been very successful. Mr. Mongini has heretofore sold the most of his grapes to the wine cellars in Napa, but this year (1889) he has made them all into wine, and has on hand about 12,000 gallons.

ON. HIRAM BAILEY, of Livermore, is a native of Ontario County, New York, born January 10, 1832, and was there reared and educated. In 1852 he came to Cali- fornia, leaving New York on the steamer United States, making the trip via Panama, and landing at San Francisco from the steamer Isthmus, March 24, 1852. He first went to Marysville, where, however, he did not remain long, but soon went to Contra Costa County, near the Alameda line, were he remained six months. He then went to the Moraga red- woods, where he was engaged in making shingles, posts and rails, and hanling the lum- ber by oxen into the valley. He came to this county on the 29th of August, 1855, and hav- ing learned the carpenter's trade in his New York home he undertook and carried to com- pletion the building of a house for José, son of Robert Livermore. That house was located on what is now known as the Robertson ranch, some three miles or more east of Livermore. After a couple of years in this vicinity as a car- penter, he gave up that trade and embarked in cattle dealing, which engaged his attention nn- til 1860. Ile then commenced farming abont four miles and a half northeast of Livermore, and so continued until 1874, when he moved into Livermore. In the spring of 1874 he was elected Assessor of Murray Township, being the first one elected in that capacity for the town- ship under the new law. Retiring from that position two years later, he was for the next

year in the butchering business. Later, he held the position of Deputy Assessor for two years. In the fall of 1882 he was elected Supervisor of this district, and served a term of two years with credit in the board, in which he was chairman of the Franchise Committee. In 1886 he was elected to the General Assembly of California, and in that body was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, and a member of the Enrollment Committee. In the fall of 1888 he was again chosen by the electors of the dis- trict to a membership in the Board of Supervi- sors of Alameda County, in which he is an influential and active working member. He is chairman of the Hospital Committee, and a mem- ber of those on Roads and Bridges, Franchises, and Auditing.

Mr. Bailey was married in this county, on the 24th of June, 1860, to Miss Cassimira Fantes, step-daughter of Robert Livermore. They have had five children, four living, viz .: Josie, Albert (who died at the age of twenty-two years and five months), Rebecca, Willie and Mamie.

Mr. Bailey is a member of Mosaic Lodge, No. 218, F. & A. M., and of Doric Chapter, R. A. M., of Livermore; of Oakland Command- ery, K. T .; of Livermore Lodge, No. 219, I. O. O. F., and of the local lodge, A. O. U. W.

Mr. Bailey has always taken an active part in public affairs, and has lent his best efforts in behalf of the people's interests; hence he has always been popular, and the interests of the county are considered thoroughly safe in such hands as his.

M. ADAMS has for the past twenty-five years been a resident of California, and for the past five years an occupant of his ranch two and a half miles from Napa, on the Sonoma road, where he has an orchard of twenty- five acres and a vineyard of fifty acres. In the orchard are French and English prunes, two acres; peaches, two acres; apples, two acres; and the remainder in Bartlett and Winter

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Nelis pears; while the vineyard comprises mostly Golden Chasselas and Zinfandel grapes.

Mr. Adams was born in New Hampshire, in 1837, and in his youth completed a course at Amherst (Massachusetts) College, graduating in 1856. He then caine to Chicago, where he en- gaged in teaching for about four years in the public schools. Next he was engaged in the wholesale coal trade for Price, Morris & Co. In 1862 he enlisted in the Chicago Mercantile Battery, with which he served under Sherman at the battle of Arkansas Post, in a severe skir- mish on Black River, and in four other sharp engagements before arriving at Champion Hills, In the noted engagement at the latter point he suffered a bullet wound in the leg, which re- quired two years to be healed. About four months after receiving this wound he was dis- charged for disability. As soon as it was pos- sible, he went to work, taking the position of Chief Clerk for the First Commissary at Chi- cago for about two years. He then came to California, by the Panama route, arriving in San Francisco in 1866. First he engaged in mining for two years, in both Nevada and Cali- fornia; next he was a teacher in Oakland Col- lege,-an institution afterward purchased by the State and converted into the preparatory de- partment of the State University. After a service there of nearly four years, he was for eleven years principal of the high school at Sac- ramento. In 1884 hie purchased his present home of 160 acres. Mr. Adams is a member or the Masonic order of Sacramento Com- mandery, No. 2, K. T., and of the Chapter; and he holds demits, as his lodges are too dis- tant for his attendance. His parents were O. M. and Fannie (Stearns) Adains, natives and residents of New Hampshire.

ACOB HANNA, proprietor of the Liver- more Roller Mills, is a native of Illinois, born in Warren County, near Monmouth, August 18, 1853, his parents being William

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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 112

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