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 115

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 115

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" If all our wise men would adopt Captain Niebaum's plan a great and radical change would soon take place in the wine business. His motto is, 'quality, not quantity.' He allows no spoiled or inferior grapes to get into his wine-press; everything has to be in a healthy and sound condition. Even after the grapes are picked they are subjected to a careful ex- amination and thoroughly sorted over. Some may say that Mr. Niebanm is wealthy and can afford to be very particular; that the wine busi- ness with him is a diversion; and that he does not carry it on entirely for profit. We will not dispute this; but still we say that all our wine inen should do as he did, and no matter how pinelied in circumstances a man may be he can well afford to. As Mr. Niebaum says, wine- making is like making butter; cleanliness is the most essential thing if you wish to be successful and get a good price for your product. It re- quires considerable time to go through this sort- ing process, but it makes the business donbly remunerative in the end, as your wine is bound to be of a superior nature and will readily com- mand a much better price than it would if it were partially made form a mixture of rotten and sour grapes. There is no disputing the fact that a cellar half full of good, sound wine is worth much more than one full of an inferior type. If this plan would be universally adopted, the change that would take place would startle our people; instead of resting on the bedrock, the business would take a.bound and soon rank as one of the leading industries of the State, which position it should now occupy. Our wine-makers should adopt the motto, ' Quality, not Quantity.'"

No foreign matter, such as antisepties, or fuehsin or artificial coloring are used in the pro- duction of the Inglenook wines, and Nature's laboratory alone accomplishes this devont con- summation.

The Inglenook distillery is also well worthy of mention. The same serupnlous cleanliness pervading the cellar is found here. The still is of the most approved modern make and so con-

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stituted that the fusel oil is eliminated by a slow distillation, and as no pomace is used the brandies are free from that disagreeable odor and taste so frequently found in our native brandies. The Inglenook brandies are distilled from wine made from the Challosse and the Folle Blanche, which are the true Cognac grapes. Some of the brandies of the vintages of 1883 and 1885 can certainly vie in flavor and bouquet with the so-called Sazeracs, Martells of 1834 (?), and with the guarantee that the Ingle- nook brandies are absolutely and medicinally pure.

Inglenook is now in full charge of Mr. Ferdi- nand A. Haber, who has been in Mr. Niebaum's employ there for a number of years. It was he who in the autumn of 1886 presented a sample of Inglenook wines at a meeting of the Wine and Spirit Traders' Society in New York, lead- ing importers, when they pronounced them better than any other California wines they had ever seen.

The Inglenook wines are offered to the public in the glass only, being bottled at the vineyard in California, protected by its trade-mark, and the Pure Wine stamp of the State of California, which guarantees the absolute purity of the wines; the bottles are wired, bearing the seal of the proprietor of the vineyard.

Four qualities of red wines, Zinfandel, Extra Fine Claret, Medoc type, Burgundy; and Sau- terne (Sauvignon and Semillion), Chasselas (Gutedel), Hock (Tranimer), Burger (Chablis), Riesling (Johannisberg and Franken), form the delectable list of the Inglenook produet, exclu- sive of brandies. The vintages of 1882-'83, as marked upon the bottles, are as undoubted as the purity of the wines, and, in order to place these wines in the hands of the Eastern con- snmers, the following esteemed concerns, old reputable firms, have been appointed agents: Messrs. H. B. Kirk & Co., New York city and Brooklyn, New York; Brintnall & Co., Boston; Win. Donoghue, Rochester, New York; Philip Becker & Co., Buffalo, New York; J. H. Ma- gruder, Washington, District of Columbia;

Fecliheimer Bros., Detroit, Michigan; Stanton & Co., Chicago, Illinois; Mr. Joseph Thomp- son, Atlanta, Georgia; Clarke & Walker, Den- ver, Colorado, and F. Hollander & Co., New Orleans, Lonisiana.

The foregoing facts are mainly compiled from a pamphlet entitled " The Wines and Vines of California," and from an article in the Argonaut of Jannary 12, 1891,-both which contain also an immense number of additional details with reference to the wine interests in general, but too technical for a work like this and do not refer to the subject of this article. Suffice it to say chat Captain Niebanın set out in the first place with the high ambition to eclipse the prodnets of all other wineries and vineyards in California, with respect to quality, and has had the head to succeed.

The San Francisco office is at 122 Sansome street.

ICHARD OWENS, a successful citizen and rancher of Tehama County, is a native of Wales, born October 8, 1836, the son of William and Ellen (Williams) Owens, both natives of the same country. They were the parents of five children, four of whom are now living. Mr. Owens, our subject, came to America in 1857, when twenty-one years of age, and worked in the State of Wisconsin for two years. In 1859 he came to Tehama Coun- ty, where he has improved his fine ranch and sinee resided. He purchased 400 acres first, then took the homestead, in 1866, and later 285 acres was purchased, and he now has 1,085 aeres of choice fruit land, with a nice dwelling-honse and good farm buildings. Their home is sur- rounded with flowers and shrubs. He built his present residence in 1872.

In 1865 he was married to Miss Ellen Jones, a native of his own country. Their union has been blessed with four children, all born at their home and all living excepting one. Their names are: Mary Jane, Richard Roy and Vera

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Edna. The one they lost, their eldest, Maggie Ellen, died at the age of two years.

Mr. Owens is raising on his ranch hay, grain and stock. He has sown as high as 400 acres in a single year, and he has harvested 6,666 bushels in a year. He is breeding im- proved Clydesdale horses and Durham cattle. Mr. Owens purchased a portion of his place from a man who camped on it under a tree, and was there shot by Indians. The early days of trouble and danger have passed away, and the residence with its flowers and well-tilled fields and fine stock take the place of the rnde life of the past. Mr. Owens now goes over his ranch on a swift gray horse. without danger from the Indians. He is a Republican in his political views, and is now one of the substantial farmers of that section.

AMES T. LILLARD, deceased, formerly the proprietor of the Lillard House at Davisville, was associated with the history of Yolo County since its earliest days. He was born in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, a son of Thomas and Eliza Lillard, natives also of the same State. Left an orphan at the age of twelve years, he was with relatives until he was eighteen, when he served a year in the Mexican war, under Doniphan. He then was at his na- tive home until 1849, when he came overland to California, in company with Hudsby, the man who established Hudsby's Cut-off on this trip, which occupied the time from May to September. Mr. Lillard followed mining two years on the Yuba River; then conducted a hotel at Wash- ington, Yolo County, two years; the next two years he was employed by J. C. Davis, at Davis- ville, which place was named after Mr. Davis; and finally Mr. Lillard purchased 600 acres of land of him and engaged in agricultural pur- snits, continuing until 1885, when he sold out and moved to Davisville and built the Lillard House, of which he was proprietor until his death, which occurred Jannary 6, 1889. He

was a member of the Pioneer Society and of the I. O. R. M. He was married in 1854, to Miss Mary A. Mear, now deceased. By that mar- riage there were two children: Henry R., de- ceased, and Eliza, now the wife of Berlan Seasel. Mr. Lillard was again married, October 21, 1861, to Miss Susan S. Hoy, a native of Ken- tucky, and they also had two children: James J. and Edna A., both of whom are now de- ceased. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Lillard has conducted the house, and in such a manner as to maintain its good reputation. It is situated at the foot of Main Street near the depot, and is well known to the traveling public.

C. SCHWEER, a prosperons fariner of Alameda County, was born in Murray

o Township, this county, May 28, 1865, and was a boy when his parents moved with him to the town of San Leandro, where he was a pupil in the free schools until 1874, when they removed to Murray Township, and there our subject completed his school education. In 1880 he became a farmer and for a number of years past has been managing a large farm for his widowed mother, comprising several hun- dred acres of rich land. By perseverance lie has brought it to a high state of perfection, making it one of the best improved farms in that section of the country. He is a Republican and takes a prominent part in local politics; in 1888 he was a delegate to the county conven- tion. He is yet unmarried and not a member of any secret organization.

LBERT KOOPMAN, a prominent rancher near Pleasanton, has a farmi of 300 acres two miles northeast of the town in the Amador Valley. He was born in San Francisco, this State, June 28, 1866, and when very young his parents moved to Pleasanton, where he grew up and was educated, completing his

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school days at Livermore College in 1879, since which time he has been an occupant of his pres- ent farm. Thirty acres of his place is in vine- yard, which averages three tons of grapes to the acre. The product he sells to the wineries. He also has fifteen acres of orchard in a good vari- ety of fruit; the remainder of the farm is util- ized in general agriculture and stock-raising.

The subject of this sketch is the son of John and Catherine Koopman, natives of Holstein, Germany, who came to America in 1852; the father died in 1873, and the mother is still liv- ing, a resident of Alameda County. Mr. Koop- man, at San Francisco, August 27, 1887, mar- ried Miss Dinah Fieldman, of Pleasanton, and they have an infant daughter.

ILLIAM H. AND BENJAMIN F. BUR- LAND are the enterprising and hospi- table proprietors of the well-known Rose Hotel in the flourishing town of Pleas- anton, in the Amador Valley. The building, which is conducted as the only first-class hotel in the place, is a large three-story frame strue- ture, well ventilated and furnished, and is patronized by the health and pleasure seekers of San Francisco and other Bay cities. The grounds are well shaded by handsome trees and shruberry, with croquet plats, etc.

The senior member of the firm was born at Sacramento, May 10, 1857, and was three years of age when his parents moved to Watsonville, where his younger brother and present partner was born. Their parents were Robert and Jemima (Hudson) Burland. The father was a native of Boston, Massachusetts, where he was reared and educited and learned the cabinet- making trade. He came to California in 1849, by way of Panama, and was engaged in mining several years. The mother, a native of Iowa, crossed the plains to California in 1850; they are both still living. William H. was educated at Watsonville, and was employed as a clerk in a general store until 1877. He then went to

Seattle, Washington; returning to Watsonville three years later, he remained until 1889, being for a time in charge of one of the grain-ware- houses of that place. Next he purchased the stock of the Watsonville Transfer Company, enlarged the business and gave employment to a number of men for three years, and handling also all the outside business of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express. He sold out this place to a good advantage, leased the Scott Hotel and conducted it for two years. Then he engaged in the buy- ing and selling of stock in the interest of J. Lincott until 1889, when he moved to Pleas- anton and took charge of the Rose Hotel.

He was married at Irvington, October 15 1880, to Miss Ida Livley, a daughter of Joseph Livley, M. D., who came to California in 1850. They have one child, a daughter. Mr. Burland politically is a Republican and takes an active part in local politics, and fraternally he is a member of Pajaro Lodge, No. 110, F. & A. M. at Watsonville.

OHN K. SCHUERLEY, a farmer near Woodland, who is widely known for his generous disposition, good humor and cordial sociability, was born June 1, 1831, in Würtenberg, Germany, a son of Bernard and Mary (Mains) Schuerley. His father, a farmer by occupation, died in Germany, his native country, in 1846, at the age of sixty years. John K. was accordingly brought up to farm life, and was educated at a governmental agri- cultural college, spending three years at the institution. The ensuing three years he was foreman of a large estate in Switzerland, owned by a German nobleman. In 1854 he emigrated to America from Havre de Grace, landing in New York after forty-two days' voyage, and forty-two persons died of the cholera on the way across the sea. He went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged upon a farm near by for two and a half years; then he was employed in the city by a large lumber company, contractors and

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builders until the spring of 1860, when he re- turned to New York city, and took passage on the North Star for the Isthmus, and thence on the Golden Gate for San Francisco. He first visited Coloma, where the prospect was poor, and then went to Woodland, and soon found employment on the far.n of F. C. Ruggles near that place. In 1862 he started a brewery, in company with A. Miller. The building was erected at a little distance from where Wood- land now is, and afterward moved to his present location on Main street in the western part of town. Mr. Schnerley operated the institution successfully nntil 1880, when he sold it and moved npon his present property, consisting of 240 acres of choice land which he purchased in 1877, adjoining the city limits; seventy-five acres is planted to choice varieties of grapes. In 1875 Mr. Schinerley made a trip to Europe, returning in 1876. He is yet nnmarried, and his sister, Bertha A. Weber, is mistress of his home.

TTO SCHLEUR, one of Woodland's enter- prising business men, now engaged in a bakery there, was born September 20, 1846, in Hanover, Germany; a son of William and Matilda (Struck) Schleur. His father was a merchant and passed all his life in Germany. At an early age Otto learned the baker's trade, and continued to follow it until he came to America in 1866. Landing at New York, he came almost immediately to California by way of the Isthmus. At first, in this State, he was engaged eighteen months in a bakery at. Waslı- ington, opposite Sacramento, at $35 a month. In October, 1877, he established a bakery at Woodland, in which he has ever since been in- terested. His institution is a fine one, well patronized. Mr. Schleur is also a stockholder in the Yolo Brewery, and in the Buffalo Brew- ery at Sacramento, and he owns eighty acres of choice land near town, devoted to wine and raisin grapes. He is a member of Woodland Lodge, No. 111, I. O. O. F.

He was married in 1873, to Miss Anna Dinzler, a native of California. Of their eleven children, there are seven living, namely: Tiilie, Eddie, Willie, Annie, Ralph, Birt and a babe unnamed.

HILIP V. WENIG, dealer in fresh and salt meats on Neal street, Pleasanton, was born at Saxe-Meiningen, July 8, 1845, and was reared to the butchers' trade with his father, Christian Wenig; his mother's name be- fore marriage was Maria Hasfeldt. He camne to America in 1866, and for the first two years was employed as a journeyman butcher at Baltimore, Maryland, and in 1869 he came by way of Panama to California. After stopping a short time at Haywards, he followed his trade two years at San José, and for two years again he was at Alvarado; in 1873 he returned to Haywards, where he formed a partnership with Adam May in the butcher's trade, and carried on business there until 1875, and then until 1885 he was at Suñol, when he finally came to l'leasanton, where he has since been prospering in his trade. He raises much of his own stock for slaughter on the 160-acre ranch three miles west of town, which he owns. He was married at Suñol, March 1, 1879, to a native of Hol- stein, Germany, and they have a son and a daughter.

HARLES N. MORETTE, manufacturer of and dealer in saddles and harness at Pleasanton, was born February 10, 1869,

at Middletown, Lake County, California, the only child of J. P. and Christina Morette (now deceased). The father was a native of Luxem- burg, and the mother, of Alsace, both in Ger- many. They emigrated to America in 1854. settling at the point named, where the father became an active politician. Charles received his schooling at Shasta, where he began the

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trade of harness-making, which he finished at Livermore, the family having moved to that place. They subsequently removed to Santa Cruz, where the elder Morette and the son were engaged in a brewery. Returning to Liver- more, the latter resumed work at his trade, and is now carrying a large and handsome stock ofj goods, at an eligible location. He has also been connected with the fire department of Livermore for two years. He has traveled some for the sake of seeing the world, visiting Oregon, Washington and many other points in the Northwest. He was married September 29, 1888, and has one daughter, named Chris- tina.

W. KOOPMAN, general merchant at Pleasanton and a prominent citizen of Alameda County, was born at Pleasanton, December 3, 1868, the second son of John and Catherine (Stindt) Koopman, natives of Ger- many, who came to America in 1860. Our sub- ject completed his school education at the College of Livermore, then spent three years in Europe, returning in 1889, and now he is in conpany with his brother Albert and his mother, now Mrs. Thiessen, in the management of a large and well-known mercantile establish- ment at Pleasanton nuder the name of H. W. Koopman. Although a young man, he has already, by his industry and fidelity to honest business principles, built up a good and flourish- ing trade, and is a popular citizen.

OSEPH GERMESHAUSEN, one of the proprietors of the Yolo Brewery and an old time-honored citizen, was born March 25, 1836, in Germany, and came to America in 1854, traveled extensively through the Southern States and Mexico, and settled in Platte County, Missouri, where he remained until 1861. He then came by ox teams to California, stopping

first, however, until the next year at Virginia City. He then purchased laud near Plainfield, Yolo County, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits there until 1881, on 320 acres of rich bottom land, which he still owns. In 1881 he purchased his present interest in the Yolo Brewery, which establishment ranks among the first in the State. He is an enterprising citizen, and has a neat and tasteful residence on Court street, which he built in 1887. He was married in 1868, to Miss Mary Beck, a native of Ger- many, and they have five sons and four daugh- ters.

ILLIAM KUHN, a retired business man of Woodland, was born October 17, 1814, in Prussia, a son of George and Anna (Rena) Kuhn. The father was a tradesman and farmer, and died in 1868 at the age of seventy-six years. William learned thic brewer's trade and followed the same in his native country until he came to America in 1869, landing at New York city and spend- ing only one week there; and then he came by rail to California. First he endeavored in vain to find employment in his line at Marysville, and then at Sacramento, but was soon employed upon a ranch and in a chiccory factory. In the spring of 1871 he began to work at the Colum- bus Brewery in Sacramento, and after a time for the Pacific Brewery, of the same place; next he conducted a saloon on J street, between Sixth and Seventh, which place is remembered by many old-timers. In 1872 he came to Wood- land and was employed by the Woodland Brewery; afterward he became a partner with the same, and snstained that relation until 1888, and November 1, that year, he sold out and has lived a somewhat retired life. His beauti- ful residence on Fourth street was built in 1889. and it is indeed a model of neatness and beauty. He also has a very fine property adjoining. He is a member of the society of the German I. O. R. M., lodge No. 124. Socially and as a citi-

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zen Mr. Kuhn has attained a high standing, while his business reputation was always nu- tarnished. He was married in 1887 to Miss Anna C. Sekaumdoffel.

ETER A. TOCKER is the senior partner of the firm conducting the well known Fashion Livery, Feed and Sale Stables on Main street, Pleasanton, adjacent to the Rose Hotel, where they are prepared to furnish lively and fashionable turn-outs at reasonable rates. Mr. Tocker was born in Germany, Sep- tember 16, 1848, the second son of Christ and Annie (Smith) Tocker. His father died in 1880, and his mother is still living, in the old country. Our subject was brought up as a farmer in his native land until 1872, when he came to America, locating at Monmouth, Illi- nois. There he followed farming for five years. In 1877 he came to San Lorenzo, Alameda County, California, and followed agricultural pursuits there for eleven years. During his residence at San Lorenzo he spent one year with his parents and old associates in Fatherland. On his return to this country he located at Pleasanton and established himself in his present business. He is a member of Eden Lodge, No. 204, A. O. U. W., of San Lorenzo, is still nn- married, and is a whole-souled, good-natured German whom it is a pleasure to meet.

R. II. B. MEHRMANN, of Pleasanton, was born in Buffalo City, Wisconsin, October 17, 1864, his parents being J. F. and Katherine Mehrmann, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America in 1849. They had two sons: Ferdinand and H. B. The family moved to Chicago, where the latter attended school until 1874, and then they came to the Golden State, locating at Oakland, where our subject completed his education. At the age of eighteen years he began the study of medi-

cine with the determination of going up to the head of his profession, and this he found an easy matter, under the instruction and assistance of his father, in the old eclectic practice. He com- pleted the whole inedical course of four years in the Oakland Medical College, where he becaine an instructor in physiology and anatomy, two years in each class. After practicing in Oak- land until 1889 he went to Pleasanton, where he has now a lucrative practice. He is also largely interested in a sandstone quarry, two miles southwest of the town of Sunol, which is a new industry, the stone being very fine for building and curbing. The stone is so well stratified that it is easily and economically re- moved from its place and shipped. It stands well the fire and water tests, receives a high polish and bids fair to become one of the prin- cipal building materials of this district. The Doctor is a member of several benevolent societies, including the Chosen Friends, Red Men and Druids of Oakland. He is a Repub- lican in his political principles and takes an active part in politics. He was married April 12, 1888, at San José, to Miss Annie Curdts, of that city.

C. BUFORD, dairyman near Woodland, was born in July, 1840, in Kentucky, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Shropshire) Buford, natives of Kentucky. Thomas was a farmer and turfman, and died in Kentucky in 1876, at the age of about seventy years. The subject of this brief notice was reared on a farm. At the age of twenty-one years, in 1862, he entered the Confederate service (although his father was a strong Union man), and served three years. Afterward he lived in Kentucky, until 1879, engaged in farming and mercantile business and trading in live-stock. He then moved to Marion County, Kansas; and then to Cowley County, and remained there until 1887. In December, this year, he came to California and located in Yolo County, one mile fromn

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Woodland. His dairy is the second in extent in the county. He intends to purchase land in Yolo County and make his permanent home there. Ilis increasing patronage comprises the best citizens of Woodland. He is a member of Crab Orchard Lodge, No. 420, F. & A. M., of Ken- tucky. He was married in 1883 to Miss M. Berry, a native of Virginia, and they have had one child. By the two former marriages Mr. Buford had five children. The names of the children are: Bessie, Thomas K., Kennedy, Clara L., Fannie M. and Chelsea C.

OHN FRICK, of Livermore, was born in Monroe County, near Waterloo, New York, December 24, 1843, and in 1861 came to California by way of Panama. For the first two years after his arrival in this State he engaged in the butchering business at San Fran- cisco; for the next four years, in the same busi- ness at San José, and finally, in 1867, he located near Livermore, where he is cultivating 160 acres in grain. He has also another quarter- section of land, nine miles southeast of Liver- more, which is devoted principally to grazing.

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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 115

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